It is a common assumption of the Trump era that America is undergoing a turbulent and protracted political realignment that could reverberate for decades.
Trump was a revolt against the Great Awokening, with its Orwellian speech codes and forbidden topics.
Like it or not, white people are still the biggest demographic in the US, and since more women than men identify as LGBTQ, straight white men are the biggest demographic in the US. And the Democratic Party's message to them is not welcoming, to put it mildly.
The democrats have a problem with men, and while they are doing yeoman's work getting politically motivated women out to the polls, they have reached the point of diminishing returns outside of solidly blue areas.
I don't think the militant feminist base of the Democratic Party is interested in extending an olive branch to this estranged demographic group, and that will be an obstacle.
Not even wordy anti-Trump hit pieces seem likely to do much to raise the fortunes of Democrats.
On the matter of "disengagement," could it be that Americans have -- outside of the far Right and far Left political fringes -- largely just soured on the noise, the inanity and notably the inauthenticity of where our American politics is rapidly descending?
I wouldn't bet the farm on a Democratic midterm comeback, not with most eyes focused during the coming year on a party either hopelessly listless at sea, or anchored by a socialist/Left coalition that may see the real fight an intraparty one that further diminishes any Democratic hopes in 2026.
Americans are restless for change, to be sure, but change for the better, and change that best addresses their central concerns. To date, despite his stumbles, often self-inflicted, it's advantage Trump and, more broadly, the GOP on that score; not Democratic statism, much less socialism.
Trump's erratic, often idiotic policies and repulsive public personality offer Democrats a wide open gate to walk through to win in 2026 and 2028. The rule of thumb for them to start winning: stop damaging the party brand by being crazy. Let go of the extreme DEI nonsense; support secure borders and meaningful enforcement of immigration laws; stop the gratuitous bashing of men; forego all the "white supremacy" talk; stay compassionate toward people who are genuinely transgender without surrendering to transgender mania; support fair and effective policing and banish all defund the police chatter; discard the socialist utopian beliefs that will soon lead to conspicuous failures of government in NYC and Seattle.
A large percentage of Americans is worried about their financial prospects and fear being ruined by medical costs if a family member gets sick or injured. Most people still think America overall is a good but flawed country, not the root of all evil like the far Left of the Democratic party mostly believes. Stay sane and moderately liberal and the Trump coalition will scatter, including many to a revamped Democratic party.
The odds that Democrats will take my advice given who controls Democratic primaries? Nil.
I suspect the old guard is about to have a lot of turnover, retirements, in the near future.
Once the replacements come forward, predictions will come much easier. Continue to the left at their risk, and a high one at that.
Trump is losing some of his support but the Democrats aren't doing well to pick up those voters. If he adjusts and picks up a win or two, they'll be back quickly. And in any case, he's not running next round.
Many are making a big deal out of the recent election but that wasn't what many think. Those states were leaning Democrat or solid Democrat areas to begin with and planning a future around that result is risky at best.
Watch NYC because once the excitement dies down from his supporters you'll see reality set in. If it's anything but wildly positive (anyone taking bets on that one?), the whole party will get painted with that brush going forward. Also remember, he had no credible Republican opposition and only beat a clearly corrupt and discredited Cuomo, who gathered a losing but significant number of votes.
Dems might have bigger problems than the politics of fear. Trump, at age 80, is term limited by law and life. Lousy Dem policy has no expiration date, and it will not always have Trump to distract from massive failure.
Obscene Government spending spurring historic inflation. Even Bill Gates now admits, Dem near religious reverence for Green policy was mostly mania. Toss in the Border debacle. None were minor policy missteps.
Trillions in federal spending wasted, with little or nothing to show for it. Even Western Europe, long early converts to the Church of Green, are leaving the religion. The notion Trump polarized the electorate over immigration is laughable. Dems purposefully dissolving the Southern Border and ignoring decades of immigration law, polarized the electorate over immigration.
When the US had orderly, limited, vetted immigration, few on either side of the aisle ever gave the topic much thought. Than Dems waved in 10-12 million unvetted people, with no regard for immigration law, and without shelter or healthcare for them. Federal and state costs for migrant care under Biden are estimated to total roughly a 1/2 trillion dollars. A housing shortage became a housing emergency in many cities. Nor is there any reason to believe the next Dem WH will not immediately dissolve the Border again, at their first opportunity.
Trump is undoubtedly the Dem MVP, but Trump is neither eligible for another term, nor young. Dems desperately need a talented Quarterback and a totally new play book. Alas, training camp does not look overly promising.
I'm not sure when it was that orderly limited vetted immigration from the south was happening, certainly not before Saint Ronald's 3,000,000 person amnesty. From then until midway through the Obama years it was the Republicans who supported massive waves of low wage workers up across our southern border. Trump is the first of either party to say "stop". Both parties suck up to the donations of the corporate class.
As usual there are so many topics covered in a Vassallo essay that by the time I finish reading I'm wanting to comment on things far removed from the question in the title. The title however does corral all those errant political deviations into a theme.
The realignment is here, and it will be hard to budge. There's a mixing and a sorting, and many of both parties are feeling unanchored. Listen to the pro free trade and open border libertarians on the right, they win on taxes but for how long, and what of health care. Absorbing the working class can lead to indigestion.
On the political tribes quiz over the weekend I placed almost exactly as TLP did, except my dot was red. The quiz called me a Republican Populist. The color perhaps determined more by my vote than any difference in perspective from the Labor Party where TLP landed.
Trump was a revolt against the Great Awokening, with its Orwellian speech codes and forbidden topics.
Like it or not, white people are still the biggest demographic in the US, and since more women than men identify as LGBTQ, straight white men are the biggest demographic in the US. And the Democratic Party's message to them is not welcoming, to put it mildly.
The democrats have a problem with men, and while they are doing yeoman's work getting politically motivated women out to the polls, they have reached the point of diminishing returns outside of solidly blue areas.
I don't think the militant feminist base of the Democratic Party is interested in extending an olive branch to this estranged demographic group, and that will be an obstacle.
Not even wordy anti-Trump hit pieces seem likely to do much to raise the fortunes of Democrats.
On the matter of "disengagement," could it be that Americans have -- outside of the far Right and far Left political fringes -- largely just soured on the noise, the inanity and notably the inauthenticity of where our American politics is rapidly descending?
I wouldn't bet the farm on a Democratic midterm comeback, not with most eyes focused during the coming year on a party either hopelessly listless at sea, or anchored by a socialist/Left coalition that may see the real fight an intraparty one that further diminishes any Democratic hopes in 2026.
Americans are restless for change, to be sure, but change for the better, and change that best addresses their central concerns. To date, despite his stumbles, often self-inflicted, it's advantage Trump and, more broadly, the GOP on that score; not Democratic statism, much less socialism.
Trump's erratic, often idiotic policies and repulsive public personality offer Democrats a wide open gate to walk through to win in 2026 and 2028. The rule of thumb for them to start winning: stop damaging the party brand by being crazy. Let go of the extreme DEI nonsense; support secure borders and meaningful enforcement of immigration laws; stop the gratuitous bashing of men; forego all the "white supremacy" talk; stay compassionate toward people who are genuinely transgender without surrendering to transgender mania; support fair and effective policing and banish all defund the police chatter; discard the socialist utopian beliefs that will soon lead to conspicuous failures of government in NYC and Seattle.
A large percentage of Americans is worried about their financial prospects and fear being ruined by medical costs if a family member gets sick or injured. Most people still think America overall is a good but flawed country, not the root of all evil like the far Left of the Democratic party mostly believes. Stay sane and moderately liberal and the Trump coalition will scatter, including many to a revamped Democratic party.
The odds that Democrats will take my advice given who controls Democratic primaries? Nil.
I suspect the old guard is about to have a lot of turnover, retirements, in the near future.
Once the replacements come forward, predictions will come much easier. Continue to the left at their risk, and a high one at that.
Trump is losing some of his support but the Democrats aren't doing well to pick up those voters. If he adjusts and picks up a win or two, they'll be back quickly. And in any case, he's not running next round.
Many are making a big deal out of the recent election but that wasn't what many think. Those states were leaning Democrat or solid Democrat areas to begin with and planning a future around that result is risky at best.
Watch NYC because once the excitement dies down from his supporters you'll see reality set in. If it's anything but wildly positive (anyone taking bets on that one?), the whole party will get painted with that brush going forward. Also remember, he had no credible Republican opposition and only beat a clearly corrupt and discredited Cuomo, who gathered a losing but significant number of votes.
Dems might have bigger problems than the politics of fear. Trump, at age 80, is term limited by law and life. Lousy Dem policy has no expiration date, and it will not always have Trump to distract from massive failure.
Obscene Government spending spurring historic inflation. Even Bill Gates now admits, Dem near religious reverence for Green policy was mostly mania. Toss in the Border debacle. None were minor policy missteps.
Trillions in federal spending wasted, with little or nothing to show for it. Even Western Europe, long early converts to the Church of Green, are leaving the religion. The notion Trump polarized the electorate over immigration is laughable. Dems purposefully dissolving the Southern Border and ignoring decades of immigration law, polarized the electorate over immigration.
When the US had orderly, limited, vetted immigration, few on either side of the aisle ever gave the topic much thought. Than Dems waved in 10-12 million unvetted people, with no regard for immigration law, and without shelter or healthcare for them. Federal and state costs for migrant care under Biden are estimated to total roughly a 1/2 trillion dollars. A housing shortage became a housing emergency in many cities. Nor is there any reason to believe the next Dem WH will not immediately dissolve the Border again, at their first opportunity.
Trump is undoubtedly the Dem MVP, but Trump is neither eligible for another term, nor young. Dems desperately need a talented Quarterback and a totally new play book. Alas, training camp does not look overly promising.
I'm not sure when it was that orderly limited vetted immigration from the south was happening, certainly not before Saint Ronald's 3,000,000 person amnesty. From then until midway through the Obama years it was the Republicans who supported massive waves of low wage workers up across our southern border. Trump is the first of either party to say "stop". Both parties suck up to the donations of the corporate class.
As usual there are so many topics covered in a Vassallo essay that by the time I finish reading I'm wanting to comment on things far removed from the question in the title. The title however does corral all those errant political deviations into a theme.
The realignment is here, and it will be hard to budge. There's a mixing and a sorting, and many of both parties are feeling unanchored. Listen to the pro free trade and open border libertarians on the right, they win on taxes but for how long, and what of health care. Absorbing the working class can lead to indigestion.
On the political tribes quiz over the weekend I placed almost exactly as TLP did, except my dot was red. The quiz called me a Republican Populist. The color perhaps determined more by my vote than any difference in perspective from the Labor Party where TLP landed.