Political conditions are looking extremely favorable for Democrats. In special and off-year elections across the country, they have drastically improved on Hillary Clinton's margin almost everywhere — most astoundingly in Virginia, where Ralph Northam won the governorship by a comfortable 9 points, and in Alabama, where Doug Jones knocked off Roy Moore for the open Senate seat.
But over the weekend, both victors revealed the danger of milquetoast centrist liberalism at this moment in history. In an interview with The Washington Post, Northam seemingly discarded his campaign promises to push for the ObamaCare Medicaid expansion, suggesting that it needs to have Republican-style means tests and work requirements instead. Jones, meanwhile, suggested that he might vote with the GOP, and said that it was time to put President Trump's numerous sexual harassment and assault allegations behind us. [snip]
Northam justified this by vapid knee-jerk centrism. "Virginians deserve civility," he told the Post. "They're looking for a moral compass." Actually, what they're looking for is the Medicaid expansion, which is supported in the state by 69 percent of voters, according to a recent poll. Health care was rated as the most important issue by a 39-percent plurality of voters in exit polls — and that group broke 77-23 for Northam. As for a "moral compass," one could do worse than an all-out attack on the party that just finished running a viciously racist, conspiracy-mongering campaign for governor.We need to keep an eye on this, and Virginia Democrats -- whose energy propelled Northam into office in a landslide -- apparently need to keep him from going squishy right off the bat.
Ed Burmila at Rolling Stone sees the same pattern:
... Democrats have developed a habit over the last four decades of trying to get their voting base fired up during elections without delivering a whole lot once in power. They think Americans, and liberals in particular, want to see bipartisanship – lots of hand-holding and playing nice. By the time they wake up from that fantasy, it may be too late.After dispensing with Northam's self- inflicted wound, Burmila has this to say about Jones:
Doug Jones, meanwhile, flubbed a softball question by saying it's time to "move on" regarding accusations of sexual assault and misconduct against Trump. A more forceful, even if noncommittal, answer would have been so simple: I look forward to hearing what these women have to say. Donald Trump is remarkably unpopular right now. What could Jones gain by being gentle? If ever there is a time to score points by taking a whack at Trump, this is it.
Democrats like Jones depend heavily on the support of women, especially African-American and Hispanic women. It's not fair to make too much of a single comment, but we can forgive some of the people who worked hard to elect him if they take it as a bad sign.This pretty well sums up our thoughts in this time when our country is threatened as at no other time since the Civil War, and one party is hellbent on holding onto power at any cosrt:
The Democrats, of course, have accomplished some things while in power; health care reform in 2009 is an obvious example. But they are maddeningly stuck on the idea that taking the high road and extending an olive branch to Republicans – who have no intention of compromising – is what voters want.
What Democratic voters would like to see from their party are results. A lot of Americans are working their asses off to fight back against Trump. If it's too much to ask for elected officials who will do the same, the Democratic Party in 2020 will once again be scratching its head and wondering why the voters it relies on most heavily didn't show up.Once more, elected Democrats: these are not normal times. The opposition went around the bend and over the cliff a long time ago. They're now well underway in the process of deconstructing America and obstructing justice. If you can't wake up and find your footing even at this late stage, we're all in for a sh*tload of trouble. That's why it's so important for us to not assume the fight is over when Democrats win. In these instances, the fight's only begun.
