Under Obama, McConnell famously described the GOP’s role as the party of no. In Trump’s presidency, the firebrands in the democratic party have decided to try on the mantle.
The difference between a rebel and revolutionary is leadership. A rebel just stands against. A revolutionary leads to somewhere new. Obstructionism in government is a rebellious act, it denies and rejects. As James Dean taught us rebels are cool but they don’t change the world usually. The rebel stances are defined in the negative. They can stop but not build.
As the democrats recover, the notion of unstoppable share of electorate returns. This is a false truth, millennials are more likely to identify as conservative than Boomers pre Reagan. 1980 taught us about permanent party allegiances. The coalition as it stands is made of individuals claiming to be a demographic. Each with their own vision and agenda. United against piecemeal policies of the opposition.
Where do the Democrats wish to bring us? Open borders or protectionist trade? Monopolies or competitive small businesses? Bringers of democracy or an island in the world?
I think Obama’s charm and intelligence gave the illusion of a grand theory but standing by the president isn’t a vision of the future. Standing against him isn’t one either as the current chaos in DC shows. If any third party bothered to build a nationwide local network and a strong state presence, we could have been looking at the dawn of a new age. Instead we’ll have to settle for this unending sunset until someone chooses to govern.
-E.C. Fiori
The Radical Centrists 