Graham PLATNER!

[QueerDuck]

9. You're right that "anti-establishment" energy is a powerful motivator...

... but at the same time, there is a clear distinction between challenging the status quo to build something better and simply picking fights for the sake of it... or primarying stalwart, effective Democrats simply because they are incumbents.

When we taunt our own coalition partners, we aren't "throwing the bastards out", we're actually just shrinking our own tent. We also risk losing the institutional knowledge and experience that actually gets legislation across the legislative finish line.

Progress is rarely made by those who hold out for perfection. Instead, it is made by those who understand how to build coalitions, cultivate friendships, and embrace the difficult compromises necessary to inch closer to our goals. There is more value in achieving meaningful change than in walking away with nothing but the pride of refusing to budge.

We can absolutely channel that energy into productive work, like pushing for stronger policy or better representation, without making the process unnecessarily toxic. But... time will tell which path people choose.