2016 Postmortem

Huge percentages of Americans believe some of the most ridiculous things imaginable. Some are truly ignorant (it doesn't help that we have a dreadful ratings-focused media that promotes false equivalencies), while others simply believe what they want to believe. And studies have made it clear that "Facts Backfire."

And let's not kid ourselves, racism, sexism, misogyny, xenophobia and heterosexism takes precedence for a lot of folks. There's an immense amount of hatred for persons of color, women, LGBTQ, non-Christians and the poor. Consider how the audience responded to Megyn Kelly reading some of Trump's most misogynistic quotes. Or how the audience reacted when Ron Paul was asked in a debate if people without health insurance should just die.

A large percentage of the electorate simply can't be reached by the Democratic Party. I'm not sure dumbing down the message is going to win over the likes of those who voted for Trump. For which there was no excuse.

But voter suppression can be addressed. And Democrats can do more to give voice to those who are struggling--find folks who can speak at rallies instead of just speaking for them. And, yes, Dems can do more outreach to the rural areas of purple states like Obama did...but that's not the same as buying into the ridiculous "working class whites" narrative promoted by some at DU.

40% of eligible voters don't vote in presidential elections and 60% don't vote in mid-term elections. Democrats finding a way to engage even a fraction of the disengaged would make a big difference.