"Now, not after it is too late"

A few days ago I wrote that "We shall not break out of [Trump's chokehold] until the American people say Enough. And then do something about it. We can get to the options

later. First we must get to that word." A day later, Norman Ornstein, 2012's coauthor of It's Even Worse Than It Looks, suggested a few avenues for getting there in a Substack post titled "Our guardrails are failing us: But with discipline, Democrats can get the message out."

About what Ornstein proffers, below, I have some brief thoughts, including doubts, ambivalence, agreement and disagreement. This is a tough subject of strategy and tactics, so feel free to add any suggestions of your own. I'll get my one disagreement with Ornstein out of the way; it concerns what he seems to reject as a tactical driver of public opinion.

Mass demonstrations will become more dangerous because Trump will use them as an excuse to deploy the military.

I can think of no more profitable way to alert the heretofore oblivious to Trump's military police state. Demonstrations must be impeccably peaceful, of course. This should obviate the danger that Ornstein foresees, although uniformed recklessness is always potential. That, however, comes with the territory. Pre-protest training in nonviolent resistance would be immensely helpful.

We need to think about a general strike, which might underscore to the press and the uninvolved public that this is not normal and that the dangers to every element of our civil society, governing system, and fundamental decency are palpable.

The idea of a general strike is appealing. Yet I submit a caveat, and it's a big one. There's a website dedicated to sign-ups for such — generalstrikeus.com. Its existence is months old. Yesterday afternoon I took a look, and saw this: "Needed," 10,626,051 strikers; "Committed," 373,974. Not very encouraging.

First and most important, congressional Democrats need to counterbalance Trump’s flood-the-zone approach with message discipline, which has been lacking. Democrats can force coverage of one issue or theme in a day—to plug the hole in the dam and make the media cover your message.

The first step: create a shadow government, including a shadow Cabinet, consisting of prominent outside experts and key lawmakers who can use their stature and experience to counter the predations and lies of their counterparts.... Start the morning with a press conference featuring a member or expert and have all members pursue that message during morning hours, floor sessions, special orders, and in committees. Use social media to reach audiences beyond the true-believing base—and use experts to develop a broader strategy to hook audiences seemingly beyond reach. And, of course, pursue the daily message on legacy media television and radio channels.

I'm all for message discipline and pounding an issue a day — its underlying theme: the Trumpist terror of authoritarianism. The trick lies in persuading the media to cover the message. That's where more of Ornstein's "experts" come in. The Dems need to hire a powerhouse public relations firm, since it appears rather evident that they stink at relating to the public.

Minority members can’t convene formal hearings and committee meetings, but there is no impediment to shadow hearings and meetings in Washington and around the country—especially in red districts and states! Commendably, many congressional Democrats have done just that.

Shadow hearings, outside experts, social and mass media, all good. But there's nothing like in-person contact with voters — old-fashioned retail politics, if I may expand somewhat on what strikes me as Ornstein's best suggestion. And no need to limit activity to incumbents. Challengers in every competitive district should be staging regular town halls, demanding debates and engaging with voters, one on one.

Senate Democrats ... have additional power: delay and obstruction.... Democrats need to do this for every Trump nominee sent to the Senate for confirmation, judges and executive branch nominees alike.

Under a 2013 rule change, executive branch and judicial nominees, excluding those for the Supreme Court, can be confirmed with a simple majority vote. But nominations can be delayed by, for instance, withholding unanimous consent to proceed. So yes, please proceed.

Get tough on appropriations, even if it means the government shuts down (and make clear the shutdown was because of Republican radicalism and bait-and-switch chicanery).

Damn right.

I'll leave you as Ornstein does.

All of this requires a different mindset by congressional leaders and a willingness by legislators to have their regular lives discomfited by more work and longer hours. If we were only at the edge of autocracy and if other institutions were stepping up, this might not be necessary. But we are not in normal times, or even times that are abnormal but within boundaries, with dangers and damage that could be ameliorated or reversed with an election or two. This is unprecedented in terms of the danger and damage. It requires different thinking and different responses. Now, not after it is too late.

* This piece is cross-posted at my Substack page; subscribe to be notified of new posts, no cost.