We need a new label. I propose Trumpublicans/Trumpublicanism. Here's my case. I'd love your input!

[pat_k]

We have an overarching goal that every American who believes in the fundamental values reflected in our constitution can embrace. That goal is:

Legitimate government that effectively upholds the rule of law, serves the American people, ensures equality of opportunity, and protects our freedoms, our families, and our collective future as a nation.

This is a goal that transcends any specific policy. And it starts with the reality that Trump's executive branch is illegitimate to the core.

Our government has been co-opted and infiltrated by people who have NO PLACE in a legitimate American government. These people are defined by one or more of the following characteristics:

Does the bidding of Trump, no matter how corrupt, criminal, cruel, or destructive to our freedoms, our families, and our futures.

Abuses power to line their own pockets, the pockets of others in their gang, and the pockets of their billionaire backers.

Advances a racist agenda that seeks to purge African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, and other people of color from our history, our civil service, and our elected offices.

Advances a Christian Nationalist agenda. That is, they are committed to passing laws that impose their PERSONAL religious beliefs on Americans who DO NOT SHARE those beliefs. Seeking to pass such laws is both deeply Un-Christian and Un-American.

Is determined to deport as many people of color who have come to this nation from elsewhere as possible, regardless of whether they are naturalized citizens, documented, or undocumented.

We need a label for these people. A shorthand.

The label must be explicitly defined to exclude people who support policies that members of the Democratic Party strenuously oppose, providing that 1) the person is defined by none of the above characteristics, and 2) the policy is consistent with the fundamental moral principles reflected in our constitution.

We must be clear about that which is intolerable in a legitimate American government, and that which is a matter of legitimate public policy on which we have VERY strong views.

We need this label to give our electeds and candidates a blanket term -- a term we define -- for the intolerable agendas and intolerable people that WE MUST delegitimize and demonize NO Kumbaya shit when it comes to people who have no place in a legitimate government.

The label cannot be MAGA.
MAGA is too loaded. What we think MAGA stands for is often quite different from what people who call themselves MAGA think it stands for. Furthermore, the MAGA label is too broad in that it encompasses positions on matters of legitimate political policy.

The label cannot be Republicans/Republican Party.
What the label Republican Party represents is steeped in history and has way too much baggage. Yes, the Republican Party has been co-opted by people and agendas that are intolerable in a legitimate American government, but giving up an identify you're invested in for complicated reasons is not easy.

If we don't CLEARLY and specifically define the "enemy" their lies that Democrats hate all Christians, hate all MAGA, or hate all Republicans stick a lot better.

With the trumpublican label we have an answer when accused of generalized hate: No, we are committed to ridding our government of Trumpublicans -- that is, the people who have no place in a legitimate American government -- people who list defining characteristics with caveat on policy.

I think the label we need -- and that we should call on our electeds to use -- is TRUMPUBLICANS.

With rage at Trump growing, the label trumpublican has the benefit of tapping into that rage.

If you don't like trumpublicans/trumpublicanism, what would be better (and serve the purpose)?.

We can condemn trumpublicans while pointing out that not-all MAGA are trumpublicans, then running through the list of what defines a trumpublican. If a person still identifies with the MAGA label, but agrees that those things can't be tolerated, you may have an ally in purging our government of trumpublicans. Same thing with people who are not ready to give up their identity as a Republican. You may even inspire some Republicans to commit to purging the Republican Party of trumpublicans.

Make the case strong enough -- that the first step to making America America again is to purge trumpublicans from government -- and I think a lot of people who feel incredibly beaten down and demoralized by the rise of trumpublicans will be inspired to come out for Dems if it's clear Dems are serious and unified on destroying trumpublicans and trumpublicanism.

Of course we run on Universal Health Care, etc., but I don't think we're gonna make much progress if we don't get a hell of a lot clearer about unequivocally rejecting trumpublicans and trumpublicanism first.

See Heather Cox Richardson's Magyar's Example of Exposing an Illegitimate Political Party
https://youtube.com/shorts/rF70Wghr46I (3 min)

BTW, I don't think an effort to deligitimize and demonize the entire Republican Party would work here, but I think we can do the next best thing by delegitimizing and demonizing trumpublicans/trumpuicanism as shorthand for the truly intolerable autocratic, criminal, Un-American elements of the Republican Party. Sure, you can argue that they are all Trumpublicans, but the thing is, a lot of them don't see themselves that way.

Last ask. If you like the trumpublican label and notion about using it, what would you call a website promoting it?

I bought NoMoreTrumpublicans.com to hold it, but would love to hear ideas. The notion is to promote a campaign to lobby electeds, candidates, state parties etc to et on board, with incorporating in messaging. We need more of them talking the same language.

[dem4decades]

1. I like MAGA/ MAGA cultism. Short and sweet.lt eaves

A bad taste in everyone's mind

[Shellback Squid]

3. the distinction of the difference in the republican party

[pat_k]

5. You may reject the notion but a lot of people...

... who self-identity as MAGA do so for complicated reasons. At Braver Angels I've found a subset who hate the corruption, hate trying to pass laws that impose religion beliefs on other Americans, and so on. But they rationalize being "Red leaning" (in Braver Angels speak) for gun control, land management policy, or other things -- and plain old social pressure of being in the boonies of eastern Washington where it's part of the culture.

At least two guys I've talked to don't think anyone is running on doing anything about the corruption. They seriously hate trump. Probably won't vote at all, but a candidate serious about the corruption, even if the candidate advocated gun control, could have a shot at their vote because they don't think "scary" gun control has shot.

My point is that I think it would help Democrats a lot if they stopped demonizing whole classes of people and got clear about who, within those classes they are committed to purging from government. It's not about compromising policy positions to "reach" these folks. It's about standing strong and drawing lines in the sand that a lot more people on the right than you may think would be happy to hear.

[Shellback Squid]

2. I've been using "trumplicans" for months on FB

[pat_k]

6. I'm planning on starting a project to lobby electeds to...

... quit demonizing with blanket terms like MAGA or Republicans, define characteristics of the trumpublican subset, and focus on naming and demonizing that subset. They could at least take a shot at avoiding getting the backs up of people who, for whatever reason aren't ready to give up those broader labels yet --but who are seriously pissed off at Trump and the corruption, etc.

[calimary]

4. I like this whole essay!

But boy did you nail the objective that I think we all share!

“Legitimate government that effectively upholds the rule of law, serves the American people, ensures equality of opportunity, and protects our freedoms, our families, and our collective future as a nation.”

[DET]

7. Appreciate your Creativity and Enthusiasm, But...

I still like the term MAGAts. Short and sweet and everyone knows what it means. There are virtually no traditional Republicans anymore - anyone left in the party is a de facto MAGAt. There is just too little time before the midterms to explore the nuances of alternative labels.

[LudwigPastorius]

8. Trumpzis...and The Trumpzi Party.

[pat_k]

11. Thanks!!! I've got to try out in rhetorical context.

It's not really rolling off the tongue for me yet. Needs to percolate I think.

[FascismIsDeath]

9. I don't wanna mess with their party name. Trump is defined by MAGA. Thats just how it is.

[pat_k]

10. Some people who still ID as MAGA hate him, and some MAGA would be on board with ...

...purging Trumpublicans, as defined in the OP.

I think a different label -- one we have a clear definition for --avoids the problem of reachable MAGA shutting us out because we lump them all together as being as intolerable as he and his crew.

While I know a lot of people think that they ARE all intolerable, that has not been my experience at Braver Angels

[wnylib]

12. Too awkward to say.

[Your Uncle Bob]

13. Trump is "shit with legs".

He's not even a person, merely ambulatory excrement. Do not use his name ever again. 


His devoted followers?

"trumpcucks".  

This is intentionally emasculating. They are unable to satisfy their own life desires and remain wholly dependent on shit with legs(trump) for direction and contentment.  Purposely associate humiliation with something they adore. 

Take away their person-hood and dehumanize them.  Make them feel like submissive victims. Reiterate that they are nothing without their leader. They are "betas" entirely dependent on their "alpha" clown.  Use their insecurity against them.

State that their association with shit with legs(trump) makes them weak and dependent.  Ridicule and break their devotion to their movement.  They want feel strong and powerful.  Convince them they don't need shit with legs(trump) to feel that way.

Use language that cannot be reclaimed and used against you.
Think about how much money was made off of "Deplorable" merchandise.
Remember "I'd Rather Be A Russian Than A Democrat!" and "Grab me by the pussy" T-shirts.

Shit with legs(trimp) supporters love to affirm the Trump take over, and following absolute control, of the Republican party.
They would proudly wear "TRUMPUBLICAN!!!" on a US flag-colored t-shirt. There is no negative connotation to "Trump" or "Republican" for the trumpcucks. They would view this as a net positive.