Reed Galen: Democrats, Unload on Trump and MAGA Now
This article was originally published by The Home Front.
By Reed Galen
As you’re reading this, Trump’s vaunted ‘brain trust’ is in Mar-A-Lago sitting around a table of empty wine bottles and half-baked ideas. They went back into the field last night to test the damage Donald Trump’s conviction on 34 criminal counts will cause his campaign. To be sure, they polled other outcomes before the verdict, but I’d bet they left a judicial rabbit punch off the initial questionnaire.
Whatever Mitt Romney or any other pre-historic politician tells you, this outcome was TERRIBLE for Trump. The “this makes him more electable” line is poppycock to keep the Dear Leader happy and the minions in line. Even for Donald Trump, being a convicted felon, rapist, and seditionist is bad for a campaign.
Trump major domo (and Twitter coward) Chris LaCivita spent two days spewing out threats and attacks in all directions. He declared Larry Hogan’s US Senate campaign ‘ended’ for the heresy of respecting a jury’s verdict. From his family, to his inner circle, to simps such as Tim Scott, Trump’s world must reassure him that this will only boost his chances, and no, he won’t go to jail.
Who’s afraid of little old me? Chris LaCivita, known tough guy.
Now is the time to attack, attack, attack. We cannot and must not worry about whether this will ‘fire up the MAGA base.’ They’re always angry and aggrieved. What we want is them angry on our terms, not on theirs.
In politics, as in life, when opportunities present themselves, we must be ready, willing, and able to take advantage of them. The will is the most important part of this equation. The fortitude to take on Trump’s world face-to-face is often missing from the Democratic Party. We must not show timidity in the face of calamity.
Do NOT worry about upsetting MAGA media, Republican leaders, or voters. Pushing them to insanity is THE POINT. We have a chance, over the next 7-10 days to stay inside the Trump campaign’s OODA-loop. Listen to my explanation of the Boyd Cycle with Ken Harbaugh on his podcast here.
To ease your workload, I’ve drafted a brief memo to guide our actions during this window.
The Goal: Push Trump and MAGA further into crazyland.
The Strategy: Take a Holistic Approach to Politics. Let’s call it a “Campaign.”
– Drive coverage of any/all Republicans who have lined 100% behind Trump.
– Highlight those Republican candidates who are silent or weak on verdict. This will cause MAGA to turn on itself and conduct purification rituals.
– Highlight those conservative outlets who have demanded Trump drop out of the presidential race. Increase the pressure on Trump and his campaign by showing worried or disgusted Republicans that they’re not alone.
– Tie Trump to candidates in target races and states. In statewide and federal races, tie Republican nominees to Trump. Make them own his conviction and demand that they get in line.
– Ask this question of Republican and Independent voters: Do you want a convicted felon and rapist serving as President of the United States? Remind uninspired Democratic voters this is the consequence of their staying home.
– Democratic Senate: Subpoena Clarence Thomas, Ginny Thomas, Samuel Alito and Mother Alito immediately. Call up their AAA Team down on the 5th Circuit, and Judge Aileen Cannon, while you’re at it.
Trump is rampaging around. Use metaphorical rock salt to further enrage the monster and make all GOPers, officials, candidates, and voters, own him, his words, and his behavior. Propel him, his words, and his actions beyond the Acela Corridor and out into the states. For once, give them too many things to deal with all at once.
When the flywheel of MAGA insanity starts spinning, we must help it along. The longer they’re freaking out, the louder, more unhinged they’ll become. As this happens, Republican candidates will have to stay in line or risk Trump’s wrath. As they stay in place, more soft GOP voters and independents will wash their hands of the whole mess.
This is not complicated, but it requires adhering to a few basic principles:
– Be not afraid. Republican voters will find something to be upset about, it might as well be this.
– Commit the time, assets, energy, and resources to deploying the flamethrower to Trump and his people.
– Get over the “late money is the only good money” ethos you’ve been perpetuating for decades. Show fire, grit, and determination. Your voters and donors are waiting around for someone with a “D” behind their name to take brass knuckles to this guy.
– Keep it up. This insanity cycle will ebb, but keep it going as long as possible. Stay on mission. Stay on target.
– Discipline matters. Everyone, Democrats, NeverTrumpers, independents, need to lock arms together. If we do this, we can push MAGA back and leave them weak and disorganized.
– We don’t have to agree on EVERY thing. We need to agree on ONE thing: That Donald Trump should never occupy the White House again. Either we’re successful now and get to argue substance next year, or we’re fractured now and we can blame one another through the walls of our jail cells.
Reed Galen is a co-founder of The Lincoln Project, a pro-democracy organization founded by former Republican party strategists with the goal of defeating Donald Trump, and the author of The Home Front on Substack.
