Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

I am pretty sure Katy Tur wasn’t always such a bootlicking sycophant.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

President Musk and Trump are both poorly raised, coddled 8 year old boys.

Fear or fury? The choice is ours.

You passed on an opportunity to be offended? What are you even doing here?

People are complicated. Love is not.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

If ‘weird’ was the finish line, they ran through the tape and kept running.

I’m starting to think Jesus may have made a mistake saving people with no questions asked.

Conservatism: there are people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

It looks like winning debates is a black job!

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

This country desperately needs a functioning fourth estate.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the gop

We know you aren’t a Democrat but since you seem confused let me help you.

You are so fucked. Still, I wish you the best of luck.

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it’s not glory.

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Ben Wickler for DNC

Ben Wickler for DNC

by | 47 Comments

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Today, the country we love needs the Democratic Party to be stronger. To unite. To fight. And to win.

In Wisconsin, we run a permanent campaign. We organize and communicate year-round, in every community—and it works. We’ve ended GOP control and unrigged our state.

What has made a difference here can make a difference everywhere. So I’m running for Chair of the Democratic National Committee—to UNITE, FIGHT, and WIN across every state and territory in our country.

Not only is he an organization-builder and fighter, he looks like he could be John Cole’s son.

Reader Interactions

47Comments

  2. 2.

    Andrew Abshier

    Either him or North Carolina’s DNC chair, Anderson Clayton.   NC won five statewide races, kept a Democratic Supreme Court justice, and ended the R’s veto-proof majority in the state legislature, so she has chops, plus she’s young and has a big future ahead of her.

    Whichever one loses needs to move to Florida and take over the Florida Democratic Party.  We’re way past due for a good FDP chair; Nikki Fried has been a disappointment.

  4. 4.

    trollhattan

    Can he shiv a guy? Baby face+nerd glasses and a bespoke Japanese stiletto, that’s a combo I support.

  12. 12.

    Jude

    I’m in WI. I worry a bit about his good nature. There’s a certain lack of imagination with people in my state on how cruel, vicious, and cutthroat it is out there. I realize he’s been amazing in WI and I have absolute respect. That said, if we don’t get our knives out and start fighting for our country’s life, it’s over.

    Signed,

    Someone who wanted fierce Sally Yates for Biden’s AG over what turned out to be the worst/nicest AG in United States history.

  13. 13.

    RepubAnon

    First thing we do, we either fire all the top Democratic Party campaign consultants, or hire them – and put them to work for someone like Tulsi. They’re all trapped into thinking that ideas that worked for Bill Clinton still work today.

  14. 14.

    Geminid

    @dc: Yeah, Anderson Clayton just started, and she and North Carolina Democrats have a multi-year project ahead of them. North Carolina is an important state.

  15. 15.

    LeftCoastYankee

    And all the “experts” suggesting Rahm Emanuel need to get a retirement mug and sent to the “Sitting this one out” Cafe.

  18. 18.

    dnfree

    We went to Door County Wisconsin in September. We go nearly every year, but this was later than usual, so we saw plenty of election signs as we passed vertically through the state from Illinois. The ubiquitous generic Democratic sign was white lettering on blue and said simply “Vote for Democrats/They vote for US”. The corresponding generic Republican sign, red white and blue with an exclamation point, was “Save America! Vote for Trump”. We were underwhelmed by the comparison.

  19. 19.

    Itinerantpedant

    I’m from Wisconsin. You SOBs can have him when you pry him from our cold dead hands.

    There’s still work left to do here.

  23. 23.

    Melancholy Jaques

    I’m ready for it. We’ve seen positive changes in Wisconsin since the white voter revanche that swept the Great Lakes states. Let’s look at what worked and do it everywhere.

  24. 24.

    LeftCoastYankee

    @Baud:

    Mostly media types who are drama-stirring or conservatives pretending to be offering “advice”.

    Basically people who should be ignored.

    ETA: opinion pieces in the Chicago Tribune and the Hill.

  28. 28.

    gene108

    What exactly does the DNC chair do? Outside of fundraising and sending out messages on social media, they don’t seem to have any specific job.

  29. 29.

    mjg

    While at MoveOn, Ben Wikler was a leader in the fight to save the ACA in 2017. He is smart, energetic/tireless, a great speaker and motivator. I think the world of him.

  30. 30.

    Raflw

    @mjg: From a 2017 PBS Snoozhour story:

    WHAT DOES THE PARTY CHAIR DO?

    The chair is the Democratic National Committee’s top executive. [Former] Chairwoman Donna Brazile says they “must be fearless … must have courage,” but there’s no absolute job description.

    The post is part cheerleader, part fundraiser, part organizer and recruiter, part public messenger. It’s a much more visible role when a party no longer occupies the White House, since the president is de facto leader of his own party. Presidents also name their own party chairs, with the national committee operating essentially as a political arm of the Oval Office. The losing party’s chair, though, is elected by its national committee members.

    …Senate Minority Leader and House Minority Leader remain the highest ranking Democrats in Washington, but the DNC chair will play a major role in framing the party’s arguments and identity, while charting a strategy to turn those into votes in upcoming elections.

  31. 31.

    pajaro

    He is absolutely great.  He helped Wisc. claw its way out of one of the worst partisan gerrymanders in the country.  He know how to win in hostile terrain.  Don’t confuse his optimistic demeanor with weakness or wishy-washiness.  The DNC would be lucky to have him, and the contrast with Rahm could not be greater.

  33. 33.

    Another Scott

    I like Wikler.  I like O’Malley too – he makes a decent case for his candidacy on his Twitter thing.

    It looks like the vote for Chair isn’t until February 1, 2025.

    I’d like to hear Wikler and MOM, and any others running, debate what the party did right and what it can and should do better. And see how good they are at building enthusiasm and real-world commitments to do the work. Vibes are important, but so is building a team that can do the work.

    We’ve got many good and talented people working to lead us into the future. That’s a very good thing.

    Best wishes,
    Scott.

  34. 34.

    Princess

    Wikler has worked with Franken and Sherrod Brown; he’s written comedy and did a podcast with Aaron Swartz. He’s really impressed me as an on line communicator and motivator.

    I read that Mallory McMorrow from Michigan might be interested too. She could also be good.

    i think Martin O’Malley has skills but I don’t think he brings us anything new.

  35. 35.

    WaterGirl

    @Princess: Wikler has the proven track record doing the job.

    The only Aaron Swartz I know of is the fellow who killed himself over 10 years ago after a disgraceful over prosecution.

    That one haunts me.

  36. 36.

    ChrisSherbak

    I like Wikler and he’s done a lot to keep WI out of the wilderness of MAGA ness. BUT I’d want to know how all of his good ideas didn’t turn WI blue for Harris and lost by ~30k votes with ~300k registereds not voting. If the proposal is that it would have been way way worse without his efforts, OK. But arguing from a negative isn’t the best move. I’ve always appreciated his energy and candor and have donated to WI Dems because of him, but we’ll see if what he has is enough to shift many years of “let’s get busy every 2 years around 6  months before the election.” He seems to get that’s a losing strat, but can he convince lazy Dems in safe seats to move AND reluctant Dems in Red states to give it a go. From what I can see, he’s the best we have going and lucky for it.

  41. 41.

    neldob

    I so wish people whould use the word ‘work’ and not the word ‘fight’ when they are talking about work and not actual fighting. It cheapens the word fight so that it can be used and disowned which puts non-fighters at a disadvantage.

  44. 44.

    Armadillo

    @watergirl @chrissherbak I guess this is a question for Mr.Mix as well. I like the idea of year round contact / campaigning (and Mr.Mix’s prior post on this) but don’t recallnhearing about it being done by anyone including Republicans until the aftermath of this election. Have I been under a rock? The answer may well be yes.

  45. 45.

    dww44

    @Trivia Man: the only time I ever saw a DNC chair come and mix with us really little peeps was in 2006 when Dean came to the center of the state.  Everyone else just goes to Atlanta.  We need statewide organizing beginning now.

  46. 46.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @John Cole:

    he looks like he could be John Cole’s son –

    the poor bastard

    When on occasion someone mistakes me for someone else & after being disabused says, But you look just like him, my kneejerk reply is That poor sonofabitch.

    Great (grayed?) minds & all that…

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