How Democrats Stay Woke and Win in 2028

After Donald Trump’s victory last November, two important questions cropped up. The first, “how will Trump govern?” is in the process of being answered. That answer? “Ninety miles an hour.” Welcome to creative destruction.

The second question was “Will the Democrats learn needed lessons and reform their party?” Answer: “It doesn’t look like it.” They’re still at odds with the majority of Americans “and,” as Mel Brooks might say, “loving it!”

Democrats are charging off in all directions. Gavin Newsome wants us to believe that he’s turned away from the progressive nonsense he’s always heartily embraced, but few are buying what he’s selling.

Charles Shumer, posing as an adult, refused to shut down the government and earned the outrage of Democratic extremists. Other Democratic officeholders got the message – don’t cross the left.

Strangest of all was the “Fighting Oligarchy” tour put on by 83-year-old Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Octavio-Cortez. It’s a weird effort to convince Democrats and, I suppose, anyone, that the way to get back the working class is with the same socialist claims Sanders has voiced for decades. Why he’s taken on AOC as his sidekick to spread the word that the DNC has stuffed back down his throat numerous times, most recently in 2016 and 2020, is anyone’s guess.

Now, Sanders is an old-guard socialist for whom the politics of class come naturally and at least somewhat believably; he looks and sounds the part. But AOC? In this context (and others), she’s just a bad joke. AOC, socialist friend to blue-collar workers? She’s never seen a dress costing the average worker a month’s salary she won’t model and be photographed wearing. Imagine her storming the barricades in heels, a designer dress and matching hand bag splashed with the message “Tax the Rich!” As low comedy it’s fine, but great politics? Not exactly.

Plus, labor economics isn’t quite her strong suit. CNN’s Jake Tapper, who’s not anyone’s idea of a tough interviewer for leftists, tore her to shreds over her $40 trillion healthcare plan that she had no clue about how to pay for. Her support for unlimited immigration is a tad off kilter from working class values.

Then there’s Minnesota Governor Tim Walz who’s decided that doubling down on progressive rhetoric is the way to go. Someone might explain to Walz that progressivism was decisively defeated last November, but why go to the trouble? Walz passed his sell-by date long ago. Now he’s an old white male trying to be the face of a Democratic progressivism that despises, well, old white males. You figure it out; I can’t.

Meanwhile, no less than the New York Times is heading the opposite direction. Not two weeks ago, the Gray Lady opined that “The Democrats are in Denial about 2024” and need to make sense to voters about crime, immigration, COVID, Biden’s mental incompetence, identity politics, trans issues, etc.

Then it posted a 13,000-word essay that as much as screams that the Biden Administration lied more or less constantly to the American people about the war in Ukraine.

As this opinion piece pointed out, Democrats are in trouble when even the NYT abandons them.

In short, Democrats are flailing, trying and failing to figure out who they want to be. Unsurprisingly, their favorability ratings have hit an all-time low of 27%.

So what are the chances for serious reform that could bring them into some semblance of alignment with everyday Americans? Not good and, as usual, Donald Trump – and Trump Derangement Syndrome – are the biggest reasons why.

For almost nine years, Democrats, progressives, liberals and anti-Trumpers of all stripes have been utterly unhinged about everything Trump. The concept of a balanced assessment of him as a man and a president is completely beyond these people. For four years, he wasn’t even in office, but the insanity went on undiminished.

But now he’s not only president, but PRESIDENT!!! He’s got the pedal to the metal and hurling IEDs in every direction. Who can guess what’s next?

And there’s more - Musk Derangement Syndrome. Musk bothers almost as many people as Trump does and the response to him is every bit as screechy and unthinking.

The point is that, with Trump, Musk and everything they’re doing and going to do, it’s impossible for Democrats to take a breath and think seriously about who they are, how they’re seen and what they might do to improve. It’s just not on their “To Do” list. TDS is far too ingrained, far too reflexive for them to even imagine setting it aside in favor of critical thought, even if doing so would benefit the party.

And the problem isn’t just Trump. The Left’s embrace of progressive ideas is all too real. They’re not about to give up their cherished notions that the country is irretrievably racist, you can be any sex you want, using children for medical experimentation is a good idea, climate change is an existential threat to humanity, unlimited immigration is no problem, etc.

And it’s all going to continue. Trump will be Trump, progressives will be progressives and TDS will be TDS. Where’s the opportunity for reform? Nowhere.

But here’s the kicker; the one thing that could save Democrats is, as always, Donald Trump. At the rate Trump is going, four years from now, we’ll all be so exhausted and confused that we’ll vote for anyone who’s not him or associated with him. J.D. Vance will try in vain to differentiate himself from Trump, but the country will be ready for change, any change. Democrats may well take back the government in 2028 just by showing up.

Which is quite the irony. Their hysteria about Trump will thwart the sort of change the Democrats need to win, but they’ll win in 2028 anyway and Trump will be the reason. And, having continued to clutch progressivism to their bosom, they’ll convince themselves that progressivism is what We the People really wanted all along, exactly like Walz is saying.

And then they’ll set about undoing everything Trump has done.

Eh, it’s a long way to 2028.