✍️ We Must Walk and Chew Gum at the Same Time
Defend Democracy Now — and Prepare for 2026, 2028
As democracy faces relentless attacks from within, many of us are confronting today’s threats to our institutions and freedoms. Others are looking ahead to the 2026 and 2028 elections.
We don’t have the luxury of choosing just one. We need to walk and chew gum at the same time: defend our democracy in the present while reshaping and renewing the Democratic Party for the coming elections.
The rise of younger, more diverse voters — and growing backlash against authoritarian politics — makes this both an urgent fight and an opportunity.
That work begins now — with the candidates we encourage and support, the leadership we lift up, and the values we stand for.
I’m a committed Democrat; thus, the focus here is on that party.
🔄 Let’s Not Get Stuck Replaying the Past
We’ve had tough choices, heated primaries, and hard-fought elections. I’ve supported progressive candidates in the primaries and fully backed the party’s nominees in November. But relitigating past campaigns won’t help us win the next ones.
Instead, let’s apply lessons learned in winning and losing campaigns to defeat extremism and build a better, fairer future.
This isn’t about past or old arguments. It’s about who will be ready — and right — for 2026 and 2028.
🌱 Lift Up the Next Generation of Leaders
For the coming elections, the Democratic Party must lift up a new generation of leaders — candidates a decade or two younger than retirement age who represent the real, diverse America of today and tomorrow.
I’m a Baby Boomer who’s supported Democrats since 1972. But it’s time for my generation to step aside, not just to preserve democracy but also to refresh it.
This isn’t just about age; it’s also about mindset — leaders and emerging voices who understand today’s challenges and tomorrow’s opportunities.
We need leaders rooted in humane, worker-respecting, family-supporting, planet-defending values — not echoes of a pro-corporate, anti-government Republican Party.
They must campaign to win and govern with purpose. Without values, we’re empty. Without power, we’re irrelevant.
🧵 Stop Starting in the Middle
It’s tempting in tough political times to aim for the so-called center — to start negotiations from the middle in hopes of attracting consensus. But that’s often a losing strategy.
👉 You can’t find middle ground while standing on it. You have to start from where you truly stand — with your values, your community, and your side of the argument. Only then can you move toward real negotiation without losing yourself in the process.
👉 You can’t see the forest if you're lost in the trees — especially if you pretend all trees are the same. They’re not. Some are rooted in democracy. Some are root-bound in the status quo. Others are growing new branches. Some are rotted by authoritarianism.
To move forward, you have to gain perspective — and choose a path.
👉 You can’t rebalance a tilted system by sliding toward the weight of authoritarianism.
Picture a teeter-totter: If one side is overloaded — like Trump’s MAGA movement and what remains of the traditional Republican Party— sliding toward the center just lifts your end off the ground. The only way to restore balance is to add weight, energy, and people on your side.
We don’t need candidates who start negotiations by compromising away our values. We need candidates who stand firm for what we believe — and who listen, connect deeply, and know how to win.
🧑🤝🧑 About Third Parties
Yes, many people — especially independents and younger voters — are frustrated with the two-party system. And in theory, more parties might reflect more voices.
But under our current system, third parties rarely win. They often split the vote and make it harder to defeat extremism. That doesn’t mean they’re worthless. They raise vital issues, challenge complacency, and push debates forward.
But when the general election comes, we must unify behind the candidate most capable of winning — and defeating authoritarianism, extremism, and corporate capture.
Democracy itself is on the line.
⚖️ Act Now, Win Later
The next elections — including 2026 and 2028 — won’t save us unless we start reshaping the landscape now. That means backing candidates for every level of office who are:
Committed to progressive values
Serious about reaching voters and winning
Focused on the needs of future generations, not the nostalgia of the past.
New voters and new coalitions are shaping tomorrow’s politics — if we invest in them now.
We must face today’s threats while preparing for tomorrow’s victories — with bold leadership, fresh energy, and a party that reflects the people it serves.
If we want a future worth fighting for, we’ll need to walk and chew gum every step of the way.
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