Advice for Democrats in 2020: stick to the issues, contrast the policies and issues that you are proposing to address and solve the most pressing problems in this country with those of Trump. And, based on his record, he has none of substance or value. Do everything possible to contribute to a rational, civil debate.
However, if Trump throws down the gauntlet right at the start of the campaign, if he indicates that he intends to fight dirty, if he wants to go to war, then it’s an entirely different matter. If he resorts to the low-level tactics that he is prone to do then fight back. Be civil but pull no punches in pointing out the many things that this pseudo-president has done that clearly make him unfit to be the leader of this country.
Yes, there is hope that Trump won’t even be the GOP candidate for president in 2020, because his behavior is getting more and more bizarre with each passing day, and he could have a total meltdown at any time. But you can’t count on that happening and, therefore, you must develop strategies to use against him when he runs for reelection.
In the past, one of the Democrats’ weaknesses in presidential and other elections was that they do not come out fighting and, too often, take a defensive stand against their opponents. That has to change in 2020. When the formal campaign gets underway and the two opposing candidates make their speeches and take part in debates, we can be sure that Trump will use every dirty tactic in his arsenal to demean and discredit the Democratic candidate.
If he is up against Biden you can bet he will be talking about Biden and his son Hunter as being involved with illegal dealings in Ukraine. He will attack Biden relentlessly. If Warren is his opponent he will refer to her as Pocahontas and use other means of character assassination against her. If its Sanders he will call him a Socialist of the highest order.
When Trump does that he will leave himself open to counter attacks by the Democratic candidate. He is a living example of the pot who calls the kettle black. He is a man who has plenty of skeletons in his closet and tons of examples of his unethical and immoral behavior.
Here’s a list of the various things that Democrats will have in their arsenal to use against him when he launches his attacks on them, which he will most certainly do. They don’t need to resort to name-calling, all they need to do is, tell the truth, to point out what has already been fully documented about him by the national media.
Democrats will need to use nationwide commercials, newspaper op-eds, talk shows, and others means by which to show the American people that he has never made the interests of this country and its people his top priority, that his personal interests are paramount, and that is why he is totally unfit to be president. Here are the most glaring examples of his terrible policies and bizarre behavior that will serve to take him down:
*His disrespect for women: show that famous video in which he and Billy Bush were standing next to a bus and having a great time recalling when they took advantage of women who were no more than sexual objects to them. The video includes these misogynistic remarks by Trump: “I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ’em by the pu–sy. You can do anything.”
*His attempts to destroy Obamacare: which would take away medical coverage from some 30 million Americans. He tried to force Senate Republicans time and again to kill this healthcare system. John McCain was the one who threw the monkey wrench into his attempts.
*His determination to reduce Medicare and Medicaid funding: how in the world can one of this president’s major objectives be to take away or water down the healthcare coverage of many millions of Americans? That’s sick.
*Funding cuts for the Food Stamp Program: this program currently covers some 40 million Americans. He doesn’t want to see that this program is running effectively or that it needs some reform. He wants to, slowly but surely, bring an end to it, not by helping people to be more self-sufficient but, rather, by taking food off their tables.
*His cruel, pathetic immigration policies: which are designed to keep out as many immigrants as possible, those who are seeking asylum. His separation of more than 70,000 little children from their parents is the height of cruelty.
*Obstruction of justice: as detailed in Volume 2 of the Mueller report he committed at least 5 acts of obstruction of that investigation. Also, his audacious attempts to get the Ukrainian president to investigate Joe Biden and his son in exchange for $400 million in military aid, and a visit for that president at the White House, are an act of bribery and extortion.
*Reputation as a pathological liar: The Washington Post has documented over 13,000 lies and cases of misinformation by him. He is a master of the art of lying, like none other in presidential history.
*Refer to the book by Bandy Lee: she and 26 other top American psychiatrists contributed to the book entitled, “The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump” which strongly warns all Americans about the unstable mental condition of this president.
*His war against the national media, the free press: calling journalists the enemy of the people and accusing them of spreading false and fake news. That’s one of the first things that those who are determined to install an autocratic government do.
*Disdain for various minorities: in particular Hispanics and Muslims. All one has to do is listen to what he says about these Americans and it becomes clear that he has no use for those with a different color of skin or a different religious faith than most Americans.
*Strong ties to dictators/autocrats: Putin of Russia, Kim Jung Un of North Korea, Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, and his subservience to them. He grovels at Putin’s feet, shows his love for Kim, and looks the other way when MBS commits a high crime.
*Destruction of the Iran Nuclear Agreement and the Paris Climate Accord: why in the world would Trump want to destroy two extremely important agreements with other countries, initiated with the best of intentions. Both were working very effectively and should never have been canceled. That is pure madness.
Millions upon millions of Americans will be reminded of the low level at which this president operates. He is not an individual of integrity, honesty, ethics, and morality. His past will come back to haunt him.
The one thing that Democrats need to do is to use great wisdom when using one or more of these many examples of Trump’s total lack of character and low-level morality. They should concentrate on critically important issues that are of great concern to the American people; show how they have ways to deal with these pressing problems.
They should use the Trump shallowness of character only when necessary as a form of counter punching. When Trump resorts to insults, denigration, and personal attacks, then strike back and expose him for what he is, nothing more than a pseudo-president who is unfit for office.
It will be a disgrace to this country’s democracy, a dark stain on the soul of America if this lowest of the low individual is even allowed d to run for reelection. But, if he runs, he must not be just defeated, he must lose in a massive landslide when the American people show their disgust and revulsion at what he represents. He must be taught this lesson: If you live by the sword, you die by the sword.
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