Republicans have figured it out. Democrats have not. [View all]
The Democratic Party only has itself to blame for its journey to irrelevancy.
Republicans came out of the 2008 election unified and defiant in opposition to everything and anything Obama ever wanted to do. They decided that the best course of action was not to play nice with Obama, despite his historic mandate but to obstruct him at every turn. They knew the American people would not hold them to account on anything because Americans don't vote on whether one party plays by the rules or is nice and the other isn't. The American people have shown us time and time again they only value the perception of toughness.
So, Republicans rallied and obstructed Obama on everything. Despite Democrats having a near-super majority, the Republicans forced the party to work for every vote possible and then attacked, attacked and attacked.
And what happened? In 2010, Republicans won back the House in a historic landslide, nearly won back the Senate and reemerged from the smoldering heap Bush had left them - all in two years when, after the November, 2008 election, many people were writing the party's political obituary.
Hell, Republicans nearly ended up winning back the presidency just four years after Bush tanked the economy and left us demoralized in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Despite Obama winning reelection, Republicans dug in. They refused a gun control bill that was largely supported by the American voter and had bipartisan support. They shut down the government in 2013. And what did American voters do? They didn't hold Republicans accountable for any of it - they turned around and gave Republicans a stronger House majority in 2014 and control of the Senate.
Oh but it didn't end there! No, in 2016, when Antony Scalia died, Republicans openly REFUSED to even start hearings on Obama's replacement to the court. No hearings. No vote. They actively held open a seat because they could. Senate Republicans even hinted at opposing letting Hillary fill the vacancy. It was up to the voters, they said! Despite polls showing most Americans felt the seat should be filled, what happened? Republicans won the White House and held their majorities in the House and Senate. Trump was able to fill the seat ... no problem.
Democrats need to understand that there's no rules when it comes to preserving democracy. The party is sleepwalking to its own demise at this rate and it will be the result of refusing to fight the most corrupt administration in history because they're terrified of optics looking bad.
Republicans don't give a fuck. I hate Republicans but I envy their approach.
Trump is teetering politically and the Democrats are comfortable handing him a win. This is the path to a permanent minority if we're being honest.
No one sees the Democrats as fighters. They see them as weak-kneed capitulators. The problem with that is that perception also hits at a personal level.
How can you expect the Democrats to fight for YOU if they're so quick to roll over to the Republicans?
You want to know why Republicans win? Because people see them as fighters - and a party willing to do something ... even if it's radical.
Don't underestimate how well that plays to the median voter.
And there's nothing the Democratic Party is doing to reverse that perception.
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