In a re-print of his Wall Street Journal column at MSN, William Galston admonishes Democrats not to “hit the panic button”:
Rarely has a political party gone from confidence to gloom as quickly as Democrats did last week. In rapid-fire blows, impeachment foundered in the Senate, President Trump delivered a politically effective State of the Union address, and the Iowa caucuses imploded in a flurry of intraparty recriminations.
[…]
To those of us who have been around for a while, the Democrats’ abrupt descent into despair seems premature.
His next passage made me chuckle:
Compared with the Democratic divisions of 1968, today’s seem minor.
An interesting example to choose. Hubert Humphrey lost that election to Richard Nixon. But, more importantly, it precedes the creation of the entire complex system of primaries and superdelegates the Democrats have put into place. That didn’t happen until after the disastrous 1972 election. There is simply no comparison to be made between 1968 and 2020. That past isn’t just another country—it’s a different planet.
He continues:
This year, opposition to Mr. Trump among Democrats is pervasive and intense, making it likely that the party will close ranks behind its nominee.
Okay, you picked 1968. Let’s run with it. Opposition among Democrats to Richard Nixon was “pervasive and intense”, too. Honestly, that’s the only comparison I can make to the opposition to Trump. But Democrats emphatically did not “close ranks” behind Hubert Humphrey. Why? Let me suggest that, much as today, there was a cohort of Democrats who simply could not support the party’s chosen candidate. Shades of “Bernie Bros”.
He concludes:
The voters who will decide the 2020 election yearn for less conflict, for a brand of politics that focuses on solving problems rather than scoring points. If the Democrats offer the country such a choice, they may well prevail over an incumbent president who rarely reaches out to the 54% of voters who didn’t support him in 2016.
This seems to be my day for Jewish wisecracks. Here’s another one: As di bubbe volt gehat beytsim volt zi gevain mayn zaidah. If my grandmother had balls, she’d be my grandfather. At this moment Democrats seem more intent on emulating Trump than repudiating his truculent approach to politics.
I think democrats “learn nothing and forget everything†from past experiences. Just like Clinton’s impeachment backfired on republicans, the same seems to be happening, this time with the Trump impeachment tactic. Now, Schiff and Pelosi are talking about renewing another attempt at impeachment, with some throwing the threat towards AG Barr as well. It begs the question of, “Is that all Dems have – throwing political tantrums?â€
“At this moment Democrats seem more intent on emulating Trump than repudiating his truculent approach to politics.”
At this moment? Hmmm. Call me crazy, but I think the famous “Daisy” ad preceded Trump. I think Ted Kennedy’s claim that Republicans want to impoverish the elderly and make them resort to dog food precedes Trump. I think Al Gore’s claim that Republicans want to poison children by polluting precedes Trump. I think ads showing Paul Ryan dumping grandma over a cliff precede Trump. Should I go on?
What pisses off Democrats is a guy who fights back, and gives what he gets.
This is a serious question to anyone here. Just exactly what do the Democrats have to run on? Other than hate Trump, for which they must gin up issues.
Have any of the dire predictions of a Trump presidency come true?
Are things worse/or better, for the average Joe. If you say they could be better, why haven’t you done it before?
What admirable accomplishments do Democrats have to tout over the last three years other than bitching like angry old men over the last three years.
Its really thin gruel.
As Rush would say, there’s no reaching across the isle, no good faith negotiations with the loyal opposition. That would require good faith, and there is only power politics. So the Democratic Party in its current form must simply be defeated.
That’s what is being done and the reason for the wailing and gnashing of teeth.
I want the Democratic Party to be a viable opposition supporting a alternate platform to what Trump and the Republicans have. One that people other than losers and the ensconced entitled want and will support. Screaming they was robbed without any evidence besides what they fabricated, promising to bribe people to vote for them with taxpayer funds (yes, I know both sides do it, but not to the extend the current Democratic candidates are), and demanding that the entire economy be turned over to them because otherwise we’ll all die in eleven years ain’t that platform.
We may be at the irreconcilable faction stage of the late Roman Republic. A time when the Romans, who dominated the known world and lacked a uniting foreign threat, fell to squabbling viciously among themselves for power and profit, frequently using the thinnest of legalisms and precedents to attainder and destroy enemies. IMO Trump despite his wealth might be considered a rough equivalent to the populist Marius; who is his Sulla? Bloomberg? Mike certainly has displayed a tyrannical bent.
Dave- I told you my fear was that the Dems would try to replicate what Trump did. I just dont think being an angry A-hole citing conspiracy theory is going to win for a Democrat.
Whoa! I signed onto dum dum land. Let’s correct some stuff.
“promising to bribe people to vote for them with taxpayer funds (yes, I know both sides do it, but not to the extend the current Democratic candidates are)”
Largest unfunded spending bill in our history? Medicare part C by Bush. Increased deficit spending by $500 billion/year to finance growth? Trump. This is actual bribery since you are giving people stuff without having to pay for it. The Dems actually intend to pay for there spending. Remember that they are called the tax and spend party.
“As Rush would say, there’s no reaching across the isle, no good faith negotiations with the loyal opposition. ”
As McConnell would say, our number one priority is making sure Obama doesn’t get re-elected. Power politics? Merrick Garland anyone? Please dont cite the BS version of the hypothetical Biden rule. Use what he actually said.
“Call me crazy”
Yup, you are crazy. Just like jan you persist in this weird belief that you folks are morally superior somehow. The party that gave us Lee Atwater, Nixon and now Trump. In the context of Trump you guys are unable to hold a cogent discussion on moral issues. To be clear, once Trump is out of office and the GOP goes back to normal I dont think either side is morally superior. There are bums aplenty on both sides, you guys just conveniently forget about yours.
“This is a serious question to anyone here. Just exactly what do the Democrats have to run on?”
Health care (a topic the GOP doesn’t really care about), immigration reform (something useful instead of a wall you can climb over), climate change, education, doing away with rich people welfare (inequality). Lots of good stuff. Reinstate Iran treaty.
“Have any of the dire predictions of a Trump presidency come true?”
Dave, among others IIRC, predicted lots of scandals. Foreign policy is a mess. Dozens of young men with TBI just so Trump could strut for his supporters and aid his election. DOJ turned into his personal law department. Deficits way up. Trade deficit set a record in 2018 and set a record with Mexico this year (if you think that is important), Trump is trying to defund our infectious response team and CDC in general. That enough?
“Are things worse/or better, for the average Joe. If you say they could be better, why haven’t you done it before?”
The Clinton years. Unemployment about the same as now with LFPR better as I recall. Better growth in wages. Debt was reduced WHILE economy grew. When was the last time a Republican did that?
“Mike certainly has displayed a tyrannical bent.”
Live right next to NYC. What are you talking about?
Steve
Better growth in wages. Debt was reduced WHILE economy grew. When was the last time a Republican did that?
His name was Newt Gingrich.
You know, you could throw rhetorical punches all day, but it’s not persuaded me to vote for a hypothetical Democratic candidate that doesn’t exist.
They are all dividers, in fact, that’s their stock in trade.
So nancy Pelosi is responsible for the “Trump boom”? Who knew.
Steve