Enough is Enough
Exactly 80 years ago, in 1946, Republicans took control of Congress with a simple message: “Had enough?”
The same slogan is enough for Democrats in 2026.
“Had enough” of Trump’s chaos, cruelty, corruption and incompetence?
“Had enough” of his lying?
And, now, “had enough” of war and rising prices?
A columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Dick Polman, wrote this in 2006 about the 1946 elections and the Republicans’ “Had Enough?” message:
“The GOP that year had only a national slogan, not a platform. They basically tapped into the public’s postwar weariness about inflation (20 percent), housing shortages, meat rationing, and labor strife – all of which became identified with the Democrats, who had ruled Congress and the White House for the past 13 years. The Republicans didn’t ever say how they would cure any of those ills (except for a vague promise to root out communism) – but they picked up 13 Senate seats and 56 House seats that November, giving them majorities in both chambers, simply by making the race a referendum on the ‘in’ party.”
What worked then will work now – in North Carolina and nationally.
In our recent statewide poll, Question 45 was: “Starting in 2011, Republicans have controlled both the North Carolina House of Representatives and Senate. For each of the following pairs of statements, please choose the one that best describes the job they have done.”
- By 57-27%, voters said Republicans were “mostly interested in their own political careers” instead of “serving the people of North Carolina.”
- By 55-27%, they said Republicans “don’t really understand problems facing working people.”
- By 52-27%, they said Republicans are “concerned most with the needs of corporations and wealthy special interests” rather than “the needs of small business and people like you.”
- By 46-25%, they agreed that Republicans had “reduced educational opportunities for children and young people.”
- Also by 46-25%, they said Republicans are “all about Donald Trump” instead of “people like you.”
Those are winning messages in a 50-50 state.
Democrats should resist their usual – and usually laudable – urge to offer a positive alternative.
For one thing, it won’t be easy to undo the damage Republicans in Raleigh and Washington have done to every community in North Carolina.
For now, for this year, “Had enough?” is enough.
Enough is Enough
Exactly 80 years ago, in 1946, Republicans took control of Congress with a simple message: “Had enough?”
The same slogan is enough for Democrats in 2026.
“Had enough” of Trump’s chaos, cruelty, corruption and incompetence?
“Had enough” of his lying?
And, now, “had enough” of war and rising prices?
A columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer, Dick Polman, wrote this in 2006 about the 1946 elections and the Republicans’ “Had Enough?” message:
“The GOP that year had only a national slogan, not a platform. They basically tapped into the public’s postwar weariness about inflation (20 percent), housing shortages, meat rationing, and labor strife – all of which became identified with the Democrats, who had ruled Congress and the White House for the past 13 years. The Republicans didn’t ever say how they would cure any of those ills (except for a vague promise to root out communism) – but they picked up 13 Senate seats and 56 House seats that November, giving them majorities in both chambers, simply by making the race a referendum on the ‘in’ party.”
What worked then will work now – in North Carolina and nationally.
In our recent statewide poll, Question 45 was: “Starting in 2011, Republicans have controlled both the North Carolina House of Representatives and Senate. For each of the following pairs of statements, please choose the one that best describes the job they have done.”
- By 57-27%, voters said Republicans were “mostly interested in their own political careers” instead of “serving the people of North Carolina.”
- By 55-27%, they said Republicans “don’t really understand problems facing working people.”
- By 52-27%, they said Republicans are “concerned most with the needs of corporations and wealthy special interests” rather than “the needs of small business and people like you.”
- By 46-25%, they agreed that Republicans had “reduced educational opportunities for children and young people.”
- Also by 46-25%, they said Republicans are “all about Donald Trump” instead of “people like you.”
Those are winning messages in a 50-50 state.
Democrats should resist their usual – and usually laudable – urge to offer a positive alternative.
For one thing, it won’t be easy to undo the damage Republicans in Raleigh and Washington have done to every community in North Carolina.
For now, for this year, “Had enough?” is enough.