As for the second term, we can’t forget that the Democrats basically threw the election. This election was a layup. An easy win. And they did absolutely everything wrong. I almost blame them as much as Trump for this mess.
Good case for that in 2016, sure. 2024, not at all.
The problem with Democrats winning elections (since 2016) has been the ideological purity tests their social-left demands from candidates, rendering them toxic to independents.
It'd be nice if internet SJWs grew up and realized that winning elections with "don't ask don't tell" is better than losing elections with overly socially progressive platforms.
It feels like a large chunk of the party would rather lose an election smugly than win it with compromise.
Republicans since 2014 have been in somewhat of the same mutually exclusive bind, which is why Trump emerged as the primary candidate. Turns out reconciling mutually exclusive promises is possible if you're willing to say things without intending to do them and bank on charisma and a cult of personality.
Tl;dr - Democrats need to cure their case of SJW Tourette's. When someone asks a question about trans rights, say "I support equality for all Americans, because that's what our Constitution promises" and leave it at that.
And I'd say the excesses are equal part tech bro neoreactionaries + nativist Heritage / Project 2025 folks, each of which contributed their own toxic ingredients.
It's rapidly becoming apparent that Trump doesn't actually care about much ideologically and generally blows whichever way the last person in the room asked him to.
Democrats should be diving into the details on progressive economic platforms every chance they get, as wholly, messily, and authentically as they can.
But yes, they should refuse to jump on progressive social landmines their opponents lay out.
What's your alternative and better suggestion?
Taking potshots is easy: putting down your own marker is hard.
This seems incredibly naive. Can you name any such reasonable candidate and explain why you think they would have won the election?
All Harris had to do was challenge Biden's position on the issue, and not parade Liz Cheney out on stage like the "disillusioned Republican vote" was a real thing.
At this point, I have lost all faith in the American electorate to rise above bigotry and see past social media propaganda.
I believe she did great during her nomination acceptance speech and during debate as well. But, you can’t make people understand something if they don’t want to.
She did mess up an opportunity to show that she wasn't just Biden v2 in an interview at some point, when asked what she might have done differently, there was nothing she could think of. Nothing at all.
That was an open goal to differentiate that she missed.
But I'm not sure it would have made a difference.
If she’d have given an eloquent response, at least she’d have escaped the damage she had got onto herself by saying nothing or no change.
She could have handled similar to how JD handled 2020 election integrity or peaceful transfer questions.
I always try to explain to him that these people he's complaining about are not exactly beloved by progressives, and that the issues they have with the candidates do not at all resemble the perception the right wing is trying to push. Progressives for example find Harris to be smart and capable, just part of the justice system which prioritizes conviction metrics over actual justice.
As much as this feels crazy to say, Biden was the most progressive president we've ever had in modern times.
She could have said that she would address some of the many boogie-men that the republicans created. I don't see how that would have helped. She was already running as a 90's republican to begin with.
She could have said she would push for universal healthcare, which she was not willing to do.
She could have said she would re-evaluate our relationship with Israel, that was not going to happen.
She would get student load forgiveness done. Hard to believe given all of the roadblocks there.
The only thing I can think of is saying she would get cannabis legalized. Definite missed opportunity there.
Me too, but that's why I'm not a politician with a legion of advisers :)
I get that she didn't want to bad-mouth Joe or accidentally criticise her own record as VP in the process.
I think the cannabis one might have made some difference - it's clear that the US is ready for it, she could have declared she wanted to hand the power to the states to make their own decisions by legalising it at a federal level, that sort of thing. Hard to tell even in hindsight!
On the other other hand, Biden won when the first-hand memory of what Trump was like was very fresh.
Well that sure worked out exactly how every single person with a functioning brain told them it would.
I wish there was a way to challenge - these corrupt and lying politicians - in court. Unfortunately, currently, Supreme Court is compromised as well.
They were also lying.
I always thought Biden was much smarter, well spoken, and honest than Tr*mp. Do you disagree?
I fundamentally disagree with how the USA is run. I believe it needs to be dismantled and increase the democratic processes. I guess I would wish my state to secede, considering the current failure mode of the federal state, if I were American.
This collapse has happened to every empire in history by the way.
Or I would probably move to Mexico or Canada or something.
I just don't get people and their nano aggressions.
I just agree with Carville that Dems can't make any change while losing so they should focus on winning.