Trump’ s Medieval Long Game
Trump and his ilk are playing a brilliant game. First they have located the Democratic party’s weak spot which is the Progressive wing. He knew exactly how to beat them because he had already beaten a similar foe in the Tea Party. You get into the castle to sack it by convincing those with the most fear that opening the gate is in their best interest. The mainstream GOP were betrayed by their own base and to stay alive politically they went along with the coup to keep their seats. Our Progressive wing has now opened the gates to our castle. And once again instead of turning on that base to protect the castle our elected officials have chosen to go along with it to keep their seats. And how the Senate turned on Franken is a perfect example.
The Progressives showed groups that value “masculinity” and “power” like the Black community that the party cannot be relied on and will sell out power for principle. Thus going along with coup and thus handing Trump (Putin?) exactly what he wants which is unchecked power. So both party’s have created a circular firing circle and that leaves Trump to do what he wants and how he wants it. AND it will protect the majorities maybe even enhance them in 2018. There is a way to check this but I fear that the current leadership may not have the stomach for the task. When will the party realize that they are cooperating in delivering to Trumps base everything they want at our own expense?
The Democratic party has abandoned liberalism. Liberalism allows for evangelicals to have a place, it allows fiscal conservatives to have a place. This is because liberalism is a philosophy not a philosophical base for activism. And this is quickly becoming a young versus old issue. As the younger evangelical base moves more to the middle amid a renewed focus on the social Gospel. As suburban Whites want more results from their government despite desiring that same government to do it in a fiscally responsible way. The way is clear to long term majorities across the country. The issue is the small progressive base that controls leadership top to bottom. The candidates that are needed to win majorities nationwide are being discouraged from running or being beaten at local conventions. The candidates who emerge are far left to meet the activist base but out of line with the voting base. As a result the blue wall has receded and receded every year to the point that it kept the party from capitalizing on one of the weakest presidential candidates of all time.
What is the way forward? First the leadership has to come to terms with the fact that there are liberals who are pro life. Progressives needs to understand that you can be a Democrat yet desire budgets that balance. It’s not a vice to demand an end to every increasing budgets and governments. Why can’t a governmental unit have multiple functions that expands the role of government and can do it without hiring more people? We have to expand our tent and the best way to do this is to once again embrace our liberal philosophy.
Liberalism is no vice. Please let that sink in. If the Democrats ever want to be credible again, if they ever want to be a true national party again it must embrace liberalism and in very full throated way embrace liberalism as the political philosophy going forward. Liberalism is no vice and we need to stop running towards socialism and realize that only expanding and diversifying our base will work going forward.
