What liberals should do if Donald Trump wins

The election has been too close to predict throughout the 2024 cycle, but Donald Trump has been gaining momentum ever since he survived an assassination attempt and thrust his fist into the air with the American flag as a backdrop as blood streamed down his defiant face.

The newly iconic photo of that moment galvanized Trump supporters; and if he wins, that will be the image historians point to as the moment everything changed.

So, what should Democrats do if he wins?

For the Democratic establishment if Trump wins

Democratic leaders should acknowledge that it was a bad idea to fight ire with ire.

Tim Waltz calling conservatives “weird” was risky. It was understandable, but risky. Joe Biden calling Trump supporters “garbage” was an unforced error.

Waltz, when he delivered one of the lines that will define this campaign, was a prospective running mate for Kamala Harris. Potential VPs can deliver fiery soundbites. (Anybody remember Sarah Palin?) Presidents, however, can’t speak that way.

Opinions: What conservatives should do if Harris wins

Biden has had a long history of putting his foot in his mouth, even before the disaster of a debate that led to the Harris candidacy. But this “garbage” comment will go down as the worst of them all.

Conservatives were proud of the insult and used it to rally the common man.

Democrats need to apologize to Michelle Obama. She said a long time ago that “when they go low, we go higher.” They should have remembered.

For liberal up-and-comers: Speak plainly

Liberals explain too much. Too many things are in shades of gray, and too many explanations start with “well, actually.”

“Defund the police” became a rallying cry that killed the “Black lives matter” momentum. (And I’m talking about the movement, not the organization.) The economy ended up as a pin on Trump’s lapel simply because he claimed victory. Harris and friends tried to add context and explain how their plan was supported by leading economists.

But everyday people looked at their grocery bills and wondered why the nation was funding a war in Ukraine and supporting immigrants who were in the country illegally.

Let’s assume the Democrats are right and that their plan is best. It’s too complicated for everyday voters to trust.

Liberal leaders need to speak plainly. Trump and the Republicans have mastered that.

For future Democratic candidates: Get tough

Democrats need to get tough. The party needs to get behind someone who could plausibly win a fistfight.

It’s unfortunate, but it’s a reality that America has twice had an opportunity to elect an abundantly qualified woman only to watch half the nation decide to back Trump, who had never held office before 2016.

Trump’s raised fist showed, yet again, that America loves an action hero.

Arnold Schwarzenegger won California to become “The Governator.” Ronald Reagan got the nation to “win one for the Gipper.” (Twice.) And Barack Obama solidified his candidacy by shooting 3-pointers as his high school buddies told everyone that his nickname was “Barry O’Bomber.”

Democrats need someone to take their complicated positions and distill them into action-movie tagline — then get behind Mark Kelly like the Avengers get behind Captain America.

After that, it would be smart to work harder to eliminate sexism so that little girls know that they really can grow up to be whatever they want to be.

For liberal voters: Don’t check out

A Trump win is likely to fill therapists’ waiting rooms and trigger people into trying to move to Canada.

Everyone needs to relax and find something to do. Start with getting involved in local elections, like school boards or state legislatures.

Even if Trump dismantles the Department of Education, school funding is determined at the state level and curriculums are decided locally.

A grassroots push to restore protections from the Voting Rights Act would be smart, too.

It would be disastrous to give up and check out, politically.

But liberal voters have to go from annoying to effective if they have any hope of shaping the nation in their image.

For all progressives: Understand abortion

Democrats don’t seem to understand their opponents; otherwise, they’d be able to attract more of them.

Consider abortion. Conservatives aren’t buying the women’s health care argument. They see it as a smokescreen for the ability to terminate unwanted pregnancies.

For them, it’s simple: “A woman’s right to life? How about the life of a helpless baby in the womb?”

They point to statistics compiled by the Pew Research Center after an analysis of government data that shows the overwhelming majority of abortions are performed on unmarried women (87%) in their 20s and 30s (88%).

Conservatives don’t think abortion should be contraception, and they’re not interested in arguments to the contrary.

One last thing: Listen to Middle America

There’s a lot more to be done. If you think Trump is a Nazi or wants to become a dictator, then you’ve got a nation to defend.

Republicans leveraged the fight over transgender rights and who should be allowed to compete in girls’ and women’s sports. If you think this is frivolous, then you’ve got to redirect the conversation.

There are issues of border security and U.S. involvement in foreign wars.

And, of course, gas prices.

But for me, I’d like to see Democrats start with praying for their enemies and the nation as they go about focusing their efforts on how to win everyday voters.

Maybe that starts with driving through the middle of the country instead of flying over it?

Reach Moore at gmoore@azcentral.com or 602-444-2236. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @SayingMoore.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Opinion: What if Trump wins? A guide to moving forward for Democrats