The Democrats Have A Listening Problem

For years, people would say that the Democrats had a messaging problem, which is true. However, their messaging problem is secondary to a listening problem. 

For example, in 2014, as Wisconsin began to feel the real impact of Act 10, people wanted someone to take on Scott Walker and reverse the Republican attack on workers. Instead, Mike Tate and the Democrats forced Mary Burke, a millionaire who said she liked parts of Act 10, on us. They weren't listening, and Burke lost.

In 2016, we were calling for Hillary Clinton to come to Wisconsin. She didn't listen to us, never came to the state, lost the state, and the election to Donald Trump.

In 2024, people from all over the country said that they didn't want their tax money going to Benjamin Netanyahu's genocide against Palestine. But Kamala Harris told us she was talking, so she didn't listen, and then we got a Trump presidency again.  

Jeff Simpson and I would complain about this until we were blue in the face. And the establishment Democrats would only say, "Sit down, shut up, and vote the way we tell you to vote."  Needless to say, it rarely worked out well for them.

Unfortunately, this year isn't looking any better.  The people are calling for an end to the corruption. They are calling an end to the grift. And they are calling for an end to the rich not paying their fair share. 

So what does the Democratic establishment do?  They give us Sarah Rodriguez, who takes PAC money left and right, including from the power company after she voted their way.  They give us Sarah Godlewski, a millionaire who doesn't have to pay taxes. 

Unfortunately, Godlewski is a given because no one good is running. But if the establishment forces a Rodriguez-Godlewski ticket, there could be a serious enthusiasm gap, like there was in 2024.. And if they should lose, the Dems will just do what they always do. Blame the voters they didn't bother listening to.

Good job, guys.