Nobody wants to hear this, because it's a lot easier to talk stratagems and point fingers, but I think Democrat messaging was not and is not as awful as people make it out to be. People said they wanted concrete ideas. They got them. People said they were tired of having to go high when they go low. They got that. People say that identity politics got in the way, but it really wasn't in the way.
Yes, there was a huge misinformation campaign put forth. And unless and until some things about that are addressed, no amount of messaging is going to get through the firewall of GOP cruelty.
The people are the problem. And we can argue that they lack motivation or education or are being misinformed, but that just removes their accountability. A fair chunk of the people in this country choose a less enlightened path either because they somehow think it works or they want to be awful people. But in any case, they are choosing that.
So we are at the consequences phase of the operation. And I guess maybe the only real messaging choice for Dems will be whether or not to say "I told you so" or "Can we help you now? or would you like another helping of FAFO??"