Talking points

Met with a guy this morning about the Orange County Dems "County to County" initiative. My mom and I are trying to figure out how to move the needle up in Person County, where she is from and where we own property.

Then I get back to my desk and read that Kudlow is trying to push the "phase two" tax cut concept even before he is fully in the saddle as National Economic Advisor. It occurred to me that the Democrats really need to figure out how to articulate the value proposition of government per se. We have let the Republicans define the agenda ("the state is bad") for all too long. The underlying thread to most of it is:

1. The government takes hard-earned money that you owned and gives it to people who don't deserve it (mostly people of color)
2. You should be able to do whatever the fuck you want to. Regulation is bad

The Republicans have defined the narrative for too long, because they have figured out the simple themes and have been able to pound them hone relentlessly by staying on message.

We need an equally simple counter narrative.