Letter to My Party

Where Are You?

Dear Democrats,

Lifelong member here, former local ward committee chair, very good soldier. I hope that by the time I press “publish” on this, it will be irrelevant, and I’ll look like an ass.

Where are you?

This is an attempted coup. Most of us understand that there is a lot of good activity happening. Brave attorneys general and non-profits are filing lawsuits aimed at the illegal activity we are seeing in multiple places. Governors are standing up and vowing to fight. This is work that they should be doing. But in the face of lawlessness, when some institutions have been weaponized and others are under immediate attack, we need some clear, unified leadership. There are marauders in the village, clearing their path by firing good public servants and stealing data, and they are attempting to destroy our way of life, our system of government. We need someone to assure Americans that though this is very, very bad, we have the ability to act. We have each other. We have options. And obligations.

It has become apparent in the past two weeks that this isn’t about ideology. It’s about money. The coopting of the idealogues (who were more than willing to sell their souls) was just part of the plan. Is Trump even in control anymore? That’s a question I’d be asking at the outset, because he won’t like it.

Let me be clear. When I say “you,” I am not entirely sure who I am talking about, because there is no obvious opposition leader. That’s the problem. Is that because you have not been able to agree in your closed-door meetings who it should be? Who will play Navalny in the American version of this play which originated in Russia and then toured Hungary and some other places? Some of you have been great, communicating clearly what is happening and what it means. Some of you have been utterly tone deaf and people who love you should tell you to step away from the keyboard. Some of you have effectively sidelined others of you who have these skills. But it feels like you’re all out there singing arias, when you should be leading a chorus. What we need is someone who is a great communicator – and you have several of those. We need a daily assessment of what is happening and what it means. It should be a daily press briefing, or an FDR-style fireside chat. Professor Snyder wrote before the inauguration about “The People’s Cabinet,” a shadow group to follow the government leaders and comment on what’s happening. They do it in other countries, and it’s a sound strategy. We have the talent. But is has to be orchestrated. Media will cover it. The de-fanged legacy media will cover it, as will, more importantly, emerging outlets that I have come to rely on as it becomes clear that many traditional outlets are capitulating in advance to assuage Trump and appease their stockholders.

I do get it. Members of a deliberative body have always had the luxury of blaming others for an inability to get things done. We’re past that intra-party and partisan bickering here though. We really need a shadow executive, in addition to the shadow cabinet.

Some people ARE communicating effectively, sounding alarms that should be sounded and most are offering hope, even in the face of crippling confusion. Writers are doing it. Snyder, Rebecca Solnit, Arnand Ghiridiharas, and a half dozen others. Why are they exhibiting more leadership and better analysis than my party is?

I also want to acknowledge that dissent seems more dangerous than it ever was before. But your people, and many other Americans and people all over the world are anxious and afraid, and you signed up to be leaders. That’s the job.

We’re in a battle. Time to start acting like we are. If you need me, I am here, gathering my people.