[Pelham]

“All the saber-rattling hinders that, and turns off a demographic that we could win on the issues. “

I take it that ‘saber-rattling’ translates as ‘sending foreign nationals back to their own country’ or ‘enforcing the law’, something that comes in a distant second to ethnic pandering in your mind.

[highball]

I take it that ‘saber-rattling’ translates as ‘sending foreign nationals back to their own country’ or ‘enforcing the law’, something that comes in a distant second to ethnic pandering in your mind.

'Saber rattling' in this context is tough talk that nobody actually thinks could become public policy. Makes us feel better, but alienates voters who would agree with us on enough issues to vote our way.

We don't even end up with small measures that way.