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[The media is] reacting the way they think theyre supposed to react to maintain [their] neutral bona fidesby policing norms and obsessing over how itll affect the horserace; by neither validating [nor] invalidating the critique. Thats not to say their reaction is unimportant, if it persists unanswered or successfully drives Democrats into retreat, the idea that Democrats overplayed some ill-defined hand will crystalize into public opinion. As we learned during the Trump presidency, the best way to normalize the critique, to get journalists to accept that it is just part of our discourse now, is to just plow ahead with it, over their sniffing, until it no longer seems extraordinary even to them.

As Beutler went on to point out, all Democrats should want GOP extremism and criminality to remain the thematic center of politics at least between now and the election. That Mitch McConnelldesperately wants to change the subjectis a clear indication that Democrats shouldnt just allow fascism or semi-fascism to happen.

Chances are, the Democrats wont retain majorities in both houses of Congress. But they cant do much about the countrys historical tendency to reward the party out of power in the midterms, nor can they alter the reality of electoral math or partisan gerrymandering, or the rude mechanics of a systemthats tilted toward the Republican Partyin multiple ways.

The good news is that should Democrats come up short, it will be due to these realities and not because they ran on a bunch of bad policy ideas or bankrupt ideological beliefs. The partys popular positions will survive a defeat in 2022, as will its case against the GOPs authoritarian turnwhich, lets face it, will onlyget worse. There is an equally important election in 2024. Democrats have good ideas and better enemies. Thats why they should all possess the confidence of Lindsey Graham.

The rest is here:
Democrats: Steal This Move From Lindsey Graham - The New Republic