Elmira, I always appreciate your insights. I agree that Democrats--and Republicans--need to address the inequality gap that's been growing for decades. But Trump lost an election too, in 2020, and he won in 2016 only because the electoral college trumped the popular vote. This year many Democrats were re-elected even as the Democratic presidential nominee lost, and Harris' signature issue--reproductive rights--won in many states that voted for Trump. All of this seems to suggest that it's not Democratic policies or condescension that has been uppermost in voters' minds in recent years. Instead it points to what you describe-- to economics being their priority issue in presidential elections, and one that hurts Republicans as well as Democrats if they are the incumbent when the economy feels depressed to individual voters even if the macro numbers look good to economists. Is it possible that being in the opposition during this administration might allow Democrats to call out the hypocrisy of Trump's fake economic populism and coalesce around a set of policies that would actually improve the lives of the working class?
Thanks for this Almaz. Your point is valid- voters rejected the incumbent, who as a mixed raced woman already started from a disadvantage. And our electoral college system enabled not only Trump but others to ascend to the White House without popular support. It doesn’t change my view that the Democrats are out of touch - and that this is what voters rejected. The party needs a leader like Obama, as I write in my column, or Bill Clinton, who mastered the art of connecting with people and feeling their pain. Bill Clinton won back the White House for the Democrats after 12 years largely because George HW Bush was out of touch. Every election is unique, dependent on the moment and the individuals involved. This time it was a perfect storm against Harris, who tried to tell her immigrant middle class family story, but leaned too much on “vibes.” I don’t blame her. It was not her fault. But her party - my party - needs to wake up.
Elmira, I always appreciate your insights. I agree that Democrats--and Republicans--need to address the inequality gap that's been growing for decades. But Trump lost an election too, in 2020, and he won in 2016 only because the electoral college trumped the popular vote. This year many Democrats were re-elected even as the Democratic presidential nominee lost, and Harris' signature issue--reproductive rights--won in many states that voted for Trump. All of this seems to suggest that it's not Democratic policies or condescension that has been uppermost in voters' minds in recent years. Instead it points to what you describe-- to economics being their priority issue in presidential elections, and one that hurts Republicans as well as Democrats if they are the incumbent when the economy feels depressed to individual voters even if the macro numbers look good to economists. Is it possible that being in the opposition during this administration might allow Democrats to call out the hypocrisy of Trump's fake economic populism and coalesce around a set of policies that would actually improve the lives of the working class?
Thanks for this Almaz. Your point is valid- voters rejected the incumbent, who as a mixed raced woman already started from a disadvantage. And our electoral college system enabled not only Trump but others to ascend to the White House without popular support. It doesn’t change my view that the Democrats are out of touch - and that this is what voters rejected. The party needs a leader like Obama, as I write in my column, or Bill Clinton, who mastered the art of connecting with people and feeling their pain. Bill Clinton won back the White House for the Democrats after 12 years largely because George HW Bush was out of touch. Every election is unique, dependent on the moment and the individuals involved. This time it was a perfect storm against Harris, who tried to tell her immigrant middle class family story, but leaned too much on “vibes.” I don’t blame her. It was not her fault. But her party - my party - needs to wake up.
Great piece making sense of our moment. So well done.