Do nothing but increase productivity

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It’s barely been six weeks since inauguration and I don’t know about you, but the prospect of nearly four more years of this shit show has me a little bit depressed. And the Democrats appear to be even more useless than usual in reining this in or, you know, propose an alternative that might appeal outside the faculty club. James Carville, who used to be very good at this game (he is widely credited for Bill Clinton’s victories) has an oddball suggestion: The do-nothing plan.

With no clear leader to voice our opposition and no control in any branch of government, it’s time for Democrats to embark on the most daring political maneuver in the history of our party: roll over and play dead. Allow the Republicans to crumble beneath their own weight, and make the American people miss us. Only until the Trump administration has spiraled into the low 40s or high 30s in public approval polling percentages should we make like a pack of hyenas and go for the jugular. Until then, I’m calling for a strategic political retreat.

I have yet to win a presidential election on behalf of my choice candidate, so it is with a certain humility that I raise my hand in mild protest. I get what he’s saying. But please, let’s not assume people will magically want what they rejected a few months ago just because Trump is as bad as everyone knew he would be.

We badly need a credible, viable and appealing alternative. Sexy, even. Something that makes people want to vote for it, with no need to hold their nose.

I don’t follow American politics as closely as I used to, so I don’t have a good grasp of who’s up and coming and interesting. I like New Jersey Senator (and former Newark mayor) Cory Booker. And this one fellow who caught my attention because he was on Ezra Klein’s show a few weeks back, Representative Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts.