The Democrats are lost. For eight years, they brought Donald Trump to trouble all beings, and despite the best efforts of the party, news media, intelligence reporting agencies, Hollywood and activists, he has returned. Worse, they don't know how to get out, but in all their infights, three proposals are shaped among the factions: progressive, pragmatist, and possum.
Progressive is the most obvious. Like vegans and atheists, their politics is the first thing they tell you. These Democrats don't advise retreat from politics that has lost them so much in the first place. “Democrats have been playing dead for years,” progressive icon Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) argued last weekend.
The cause is their religion and you should not underestimate the cult.
Progressive blames Joe Biden for his defeat and truly believes that if they could communicate better, Americans would have agreed to have the answer.
True transgenderism has not been tested …You know. That kind of thing.
Their old guards are visible, from Sanders to the old man in a ponytail who waving his wand and muttering old gospel songs. Many professional Democrats are embarrassed by them (and last year's primary took out some bigger, less intelligent things). Still, they have a strong network of support between activists and (now deceased) nonprofits. Furthermore, they maintain a revolutionary spirit. The cause is their religion and you should not underestimate the cult.
Progressive has problems. They stick to their principles and lack a trustworthy champion who is considered a serious presidential candidate. Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) may be a rare exception. The Blue State Democrat has become one of the Trump administration's most consistent voice critics. Unlike many of his colleagues, limiting opposition to the procedural fight, Murphy is directly challenging Republicans with substantial issues such as trans rights and foreign aid.
Then there is a pragmatist (or a pragmatist who pretends). These men and women are taking part in strategic retreats, pulling back from the most radical Democratic board (in the smallest constituency) and trying to maintain it too important (or too sacred) to abandon.
These Democrats include many governors, but are most notably captured by California's Gavin Newsom. For a long time, Newsom has read polls, felt the winds change and has returned from his most progressive position in the past year. Last week, Newsom sparked rage among progressives when he admitted to conservative activist Charlie Kirk that the man who controls women in sports was “deeply unfair,” admitting Trump's ads on the issue were “devastating” to former Vice President Kamala Harris.
Men playing in women's sports are the perfect example of narrow concessions on threats, intimidation, and losing issues in small constituencies that use money to pose as a massive cultural movement.
Even CNN admits this. Later last week, one poll by the outlet showed that 94% of Republicans, 67% of Democrats and 64% of independents agreed to Newsom. “79% of the country rarely agree to anything,” says data reporter Harry Enten.
I said“But they actually agree with the idea of opposing transgender female athletes in women's sports.”
Former Transport Secretary Pete Battigeg also fits in this lane. After Trump took office, he removed his pronouns to infamous from his X bio, and in February he even criticized his own party's dedication to awakening politics as a “Portlandia” skit. (Remember: this is the same guy who called the highway “racist.”)
The reasons for these sudden heart changes are clear:
The people's ambition. Progressive is absolutely furious about it, and this makes sense. Little inspires the hatred of faithful people like an apostate.
On the other side of this lane are potential party leaders who have not suffered much from the political excess of the Democrats' decade-long moral crusades, including Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Kentucky Gov. Andy Besher.
Like most “centrist Democrats”, Shapiro enjoys a reputation for his own moderation and enjoys more by how much his allies have gone to the left. However, winning the swing state lost by two of the past three democratic presidential candidates has a lot of weight in a democratic circle. Those speculating about the Democratic future are turning their eyes to him and Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman's brand of swing state liberalism.
On his side, Beshear attracted attention for his victory in a full-fledged red state, but comes with some warnings. First: Last name. “Beshear” draws a large amount of water into the bluegrass state. It's unlikely that other Democrats will win there (even if they have the same policy). Details: He looks good on paper, but he's not a very inspiring politician, so you might not hear much from him.
Although they are less progressive than many of their peers, Shapiro and Besher are primarily pursuing a third path in the Democratic Party: playing Possum. The strategy was first expressed by former President Bill Clinton strategist James Kerrville.
I know when to stay quiet This may explain this third pass better. A good example is Hakeem Jeffries (DN.Y.), a leader in the House minority, who called for a quiet chapel ahead of the president's speech to Congress last week. While he informed the Democratic Party's position, he was moved away from the spotlight in an early skirmish in the administration.
But so far, Jeffries has shown little ability to suppress progressives. As far as casual observers are concerned, their attitude towards Congress and civil rights cosplay could also be the face of the party.
Lowering is clearly not a path out of the forest, but it could be a rather good temporary strategy. First, how will more street theatres help, as Americans thoroughly reject Harris' progressive records and Democrats have few megaphones they did during the presidential election? Second, the White House is at its peak in its power, but Republicans are notorious for stumbling on themselves. The time for a political comeback has never ripened right after a major defeat.
Progressive doesn't like it a bit. Certainly, another aspect that connects team practicality with team possum is Progressive's negligence against both the team.
Progressives outweigh the frontrunners in the upcoming presidential election, but don't count them. As I said,
Don't underestimate the cult.
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