The Grand Illusion
Donald Trump’s popularity is at an all-time low, which is hardly surprising, given the fashion in which he’s managed to diagnose accurately the concerns of the majority of Americans and then adopt solutions that have managed not only not to solve those problems, but to worsen them, likely with more terrible “solutions” to follow, possibly including a long-standing Iran mess.
Despite this, popular support of both political parties is even less than the support for Trump. Yet neither political party seems able to recognize this or to craft and/or implement any solutions. The Republicans continue to drink the Trump Kool-Aid, while the Democrats campaign on the anti-Trump bandwagon, failing to recognize just how unsteady and uncertain that position is.
Given Trump’s vengeful and vindictive nature, it’s easy to see why Republicans have fallen into line like sheep, even if that line may well lead to the electoral slaughterhouse.
But why have only a handful or two of incumbent Democrat politicians also been near mute? Right now, there are 214 Democrat Representatives in the House, and 45 Democrat Senators (not counting two independent senators who usually vote with the Democrats). But I follow politics moderately closely, and I can only come up with possibly 20 Democrats who seem to be taking visible public stands against the idiocy of so many of Trump’s failing policies.
Part of that may be that the national media doesn’t cover those politicians who have taken such stands in their states and districts. Another part is fear of incurring Trump’s public wrath, which can be costly, especially for those who must defend themselves against Trump’s vicious and frivolous lawsuits. But what I find most interesting is, from what I can tell, that many of those Democrats who have stood up aren’t exactly the wealthiest of individuals.
For example, Senator Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, who has been quite outspoken, is anything but wealthy. Nor are Chris Deluzio, Maggie Goodlander, Chrissy Houlahan and Jason Crow, all of whom joined Slotkin and Mark Kelly in pointing out that military officers are required not to carry out illegal orders, all of whom Trump singled out for reprisal.
Unhappily, that leaves quite a few Democrat Senators and Representatives who’ve not been particularly outspoken or active against the various Trump idiocies. But while the Republican members of the House and Senate may be wise, in terms of personal political survival, by keeping their heads down, I don’t see that strategy benefiting Democrats that much, especially after the coming mid-term elections.
But then, few politicians think beyond their next election.
I’m wondering how much of it is because there’s no leader.
Kamala Harris lost the election after being hamstrung by Biden. If she’d won the primaries, she’d have a leadership position to come from, but no. Her situation is much more ambiguous.
Somebody needs to step up. But the traditional method of becoming the policymaker, the primaries, are still months away…
There’s also the legitimate issue that too many people who WOULD be leadership of the opposition party are making the wrong choices.
Just the other day we had Newsom discussing how we SHOULD ban trans kids from playing sports, Harris had similar miss-steps during the campaign.
Now, Trans people are 1% of the populace at best, and I’m not claiming our issues are singularly important over every other concern, but actively alienating us and thus anyone with genuine empathy and allyship is not the way to win people over.
The more progressive leaning side of things lacks a singular leader because we are not a singular group the way MAGA is. You have everything from significantly centrist democrats who really aren’t far enough away from republicans to matter in a lot of ways and then you continue having groups all the way to the geniuses who wouldn’t vote for Harris because she wasn’t progressive enough.
And that’s the difference, when it comes to an election, during the Election I was not a fan of Harris, but, it’s like the NBA playoffs, there’s only two teams really playing so you have to pick the one that is the best choice. But once that election passes If you want to unify as a leader you have to lead and represent all of your bloc, not just the centrist ones that are easy.
Well, since I’m a strong Elissa Slotkin supporter (and campaign contributor), I’m glad you recognized that she’s been among those who have been speaking out against presidential insanity. But it also seems to me that Mark Kelly, Gavin Newsom, Cory Booker, J.B. Pritzker (who is quite wealthy), and many others have been equally consistent in their vocal opposition.
I think the biggest hiccup there is too many of them have Some aspect that prevents them being a singular voice and rising to the top.
Folks like Slotkin or AOC are the right kind of leaders we need, but they seem to struggle against their peers as much as their opposition. And even the left still has a heavy dose of misogyny going on which might damage their efforts as it did Clinton and Harris.
Then you have folks like Book and Newsom who are solid but too centrist and so get a lot of opposition from the more progressive part of the left.
I love Kelly, I’m an Arizona, I’d support him but I worry he’s too smart/focused on results to get the level of popular support he would need.
I hope we find a voice and obviously whomever opposes the insanity will have my vote regardless of how well I align with them… But I worry in the meantime.
I also see Haekkem Jeffries and other representatives on MS Now constantly. That said, I’m not sure any Democratic reps can do more harm to Trump than letting Trump open his mouth on his own. The more important thing is how they legislate and they have been united in that regard the past year.
I will, however, add that there are some very few instances where a voice must be heard. And one of those instances (the worst) happened this week when Trump issued his post (recall Trump’s posts are policy according to the WH) threatening genocide against the country of Iran. Well, folks it doesn’t get worse than that. Soon after I saw a signed list of House members (50 as I recall) and senators (another 20?) that signed on for impeachment of Trump for his threat. I checked that list while watching on TV and did not see my house reps name. I immediately sent an email to him and asked why he had not signed that declaration. I then informed him that I would not be voting for him this Fall should his name not appear (and yes, he’s a member of the party I support). So, this is one case, LEM, that voices must be heard. But everything Trump does no longer requires a collective gasp as gasping has failed to deliver change.
For a collective gasp to work, one must have at least a smidgen of a sense of shame or guilt. Trump clearly has neither.
His ‘first thought, best thought’ habit reminds me of a child between the ages of 3-5.
Rather more like some Roman emperors up to 69AD.