PPPPPP -- Why Don't Democrats Do This?

The new Supreme Court nominee was chosen from a list prepared by the Federalist Society, a deeply conservative Republican organization dedicated to packing every level of the judiciary with the most right-wing judges possible.  They begin to identify and cultivate their candidates as early as law school.

The Trump Administration has been staffed almost entirely by individuals recommended by the Heritage Foundation, a deeply conservative Republican PAC/advocacy group.  Heritage is led by Jim DeMint, former Tea Bag Senator from South Carolina.  When he quit the Senate a few years ago, he said he felt he could be more influential in the Heritage Group.  The Swamp Creature Cabinet proves that DeMint was right.

Virtually every bill introduced by the GOP at the state level can trace its origin to the American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC.  This deeply conservative Republican group, funded by the Koch brothers, generates an endless stream of what they call "model legislation" -- would-be state laws that push all the right wing's hot buttons.  Local lawmakers merely tweak the language a little bit, or maybe not at all, and voila! -- it's a new anti-abortion bill in Iowa, or a new open-carry gun law in Florida, or what have you. 

And of course, Republicans have no equal when it comes to gerrymandering.  Democrats gerrymander too, but not with the gleeful, shameless abandon of the GOP.  Their redistricting approach after the 2010 census was so blatant, so racist, so vote-suppressive, that their maps have been repeatedly overturned upon legal appeal.  But they simply don't give a shit, even after they get sued.  They will exert their will now and deal with consequences later.

PPPPPP is an old acronym for Proper Preparation Prevents Piss-Poor Performance.   And clearly, Republicans take this to heart and are properly prepared to take advantage of every opportunity, and they do so without conscience.

Why don't Democrats do the same thing?  Why don't we plan and why aren't we as prepared as the R's?

• As the big-tent party, Democrats accept, even encourage, a range of opinions and will tolerate a degree of dissent.  Republicans robotically toe the line and stick to their prescribed talking points.

• Democrats find so much of what the Republicans try to get away with to be, well, undemocratic, and hence unpalatable.  Republicans have no such dietary restrictions.

• But the biggest reason why the D's don't do the same long-term planning is, quite simply, we've never really tried.

I suggest it's time we try.
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(Inspired by a faithful reader and driveway conversationalist.)