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Move the Goalposts
The real trick to win a political fight isn't to win the individual arguments. Though those matter. The real key is to move the whole playing field.
That's why it's important to aim high. Even if you don't get everything you want, you get part of it, and you're that much closer to what you really wanted for the next time you start after it. And it's important to have a bunch of active extremists on "your side". Because then you can let them do the clamoring, and present yourself with "Well, you can deal with me, or with them." They'll do a lot of the heavy lifting on making things you want more mainstream, just by getting them out there.
But the main thing is to concentrate on the whole picture, not each fight. Even if you "lose" but move everything else in your favor, you're getting ahead. Where will your opponents stand when you've moved the ground out from under them?
The Republicans have gotten really good at this. It's time for the rest of us to remember how to do it.
That's why it's important to aim high. Even if you don't get everything you want, you get part of it, and you're that much closer to what you really wanted for the next time you start after it. And it's important to have a bunch of active extremists on "your side". Because then you can let them do the clamoring, and present yourself with "Well, you can deal with me, or with them." They'll do a lot of the heavy lifting on making things you want more mainstream, just by getting them out there.
But the main thing is to concentrate on the whole picture, not each fight. Even if you "lose" but move everything else in your favor, you're getting ahead. Where will your opponents stand when you've moved the ground out from under them?
The Republicans have gotten really good at this. It's time for the rest of us to remember how to do it.