Image courtesy of the New York Times
Good morning,
BOTH EXTREMES PRESENT CHALLENGES; ONLY ONE THREATENS DEMOCRACY
A friend of mine commented the other day that I have been unfair to the right by highlighting their obstruction of President Biden’s agenda, citing examples of where Democrats were not engaging with Republicans in good faith in prior political disputes. While there is some truth to that, there is a question of the magnitude and frequency of the right’s actions (including, but not limited to, the McConnell packing of the Court to deny Obama of a nominee and shift the balance of the Court). But, more importantly, the position of the “loyal opposition” has extended beyond obstruction of policy matters on ideological grounds to the pouting vote against the recent Veterans’ bill (which Republicans previously supported) and the knowing propagation of lies about elections, the undermining of voting rights, attacks on law enforcement, and fomenting of violence.
This person also noted that there are policies pursued by the left that are irresponsible and of questionable cost and efficacy. While there have been some notable examples of overreach from the left, the recent compromised climate bill was an example of spending being reined in through negotiations within the Democratic Party (the Republicans absented themselves from the debate). Republicans are right that spending and the mortgaging of the future needs to be brought under control (of course, that may also mean that we need to tighten tax loopholes as well). And of course bills continue to be bloated with pork. Further, there is good reason to address how our educational system is endanger of being reconstructed to value political indoctrination over reading, writing and arithmetic. I’m also quite concerned with some of the anti-Israel (and sometimes dangerously close to antisemitic) rhetoric coming from the left.
Yet there are claims the right makes about the position of the Democratic Party’s position that are just plain wrong. I know of no significant figure in the Democratic Party advocating for abortion in the third trimester when there isn’t risk to the mother, no attempt to completely open our borders to unlimited immigration, no “false flag operation” on January 6th, and no groundswell of support for “taking away all our guns.”
THE GREATEST THREATS
All this having been said, claims about the left’s “wokeness overreach” and free spending pale in comparison to the real threats to our democracy that are coming from the right. There are real issues with the Court’s love of broad Executive power, the attempt to politicize the civil service (under the guise of “gutting” the “deep state”), states’ rights that takes away the rights reserved to individuals under the Constitution, and questionable interpretations of the Constitution that read some clauses broadly and others narrowly, depending upon the ultimate political policy objective. And it is from the Grand Old Party that we see the slavish fealty to Donald Trump, his lies about the election and his attempts to subvert our democracy.
We are witnessing the systematic dismantling of many of our rights and the political manipulation of our democratic institutions on the State level—and we’re watching it in real time. Non-partisan election officials are being pushed aside by partisan legislatures and elections for Secretary of State in several states offer up candidates who continue to parrot the dangerous canard that our elections can’t be trusted (there are currently several Republican nominees for Secretaries of State that are in this camp).
Until the left poses the same risk (which it may in the future but doesn’t now), the right poses the gravest threat. And it’s not just from the “far right” that the racist dog-whistling, attacks on law enforcement and perpetuating of the “big lie” continues. It comes, frighteningly, even from many “mainstream” Republicans. The sort of rhetoric that speaks of the left in apocalyptic terms, that claims ridiculous conspiracy theories (many involving alleged child porn and sex trafficking) or that there is a “deep state” trying to destroy our way of life, is irresponsible. This sort of rhetoric brought on the January 6th insurrection and continues to energize more than its share of violence, most recently with the attack on the Federal building in Cincinnati. Violence begets violence and I believe we have not seen the worst of the political violence that will come.
YET THERE IS NO HONOR IN ONE STRATEGY
We are today witnessing crazy, unqualified Trumpists being nominated by the Republican party. The nomination of people like J.D. Vance, Dr. Oz, and Herschel Walker certainly weakens the Republican narrative and offers little in the way of policy, while continuing to recite Donald Trump’s most ridiculous claims. That seems great for the Democrats and gives hope that the Senate will remain in their hands, even if the House likely falls to the Republicans. Let’s just hope the Democrats don’t take this gift for granted and will choose to run on policy and the accomplishments of the Biden administration, more than simply an anti-Trump agenda or the “my opponent’s unfit” agenda (even though it may be true in a number of these races).
But there is another thing going on in Congressional primary races and some state races. As Ben Van deBunt notes, Democratic funders and politicians are giving big money to MAGA folks in Republican primaries in the hopes of running against weaker candidates, which sounds like a great idea if they win. As a result, many of these whacky candidates are winning their primaries, which the Democrats believe will make winning the general elections easier. But they are putting these dangerous people in a position to win—as one never knows how unforeseen events can affect how people vote. It’s a risky (and disingenuous) strategy. What if the strategy backfires and voters who are voting the Republoican party line, seeking change, vote for these crazies? The strategy is irresponsible and immoral and ultimately may prove dangerous.
WHAT ABOUT THE MIDDLE?
In the midst of all of this, some people point out that the time is right for the middle to emerge from the shadow of both parties. Bruce Goren makes the following suggestion regarding the “No Labels” movement:
“With regard to your "Why Can't we Just Get Along" I would suggest directing your readers to NoLabels.org, an organization dedicated to creating a safe space in Congress for Democrats and Republicans to sit down together and find common ground. Whether one deems their mission a pipe dream or not, it is the only organization of its kind making a difference in this regard...see the Problem Solvers Caucus in the House. To overcome our continual march towards greater polarization, one needs to carve out a better way, not just become the mirror image of what you detest. Then again, I could be wrong....”
It is hard not to favor this movement. But when it starts talking about a third party candidate representing the “rational middle,” it gives me pause. The presence of a third party candidate yields a bad result nearly every time. The last time a real third party stood a chance was when former President Teddy Roosevelt ran as the “Bull Moose Party” candidate in 1912, against his chosen successor William Howard Taft. When he did, he split the vote, ensuring the election of Woodrow Wilson, both a Southern racist and an idealist who was late to see the threat of World War I and naively allowed the remapping of the world after that war that included crippling economic punishment of Germany, sowing the seeds of the next war.
If indeed a middle party emerges, it brings with it the danger that a minority candidate captures the presidency. And while perhaps a good idea at some point, in 2024 it likely will siphon votes away from the Democratic nominee. I doubt the base that supports the Trump narrative (estimated at between 30-35% of voters) will be moved. Again, through good intentions the Democrats may find their actions may yield unforeseen and devastating consequences. Of course, if Liz Cheney runs as an alternative candidate, she might pull votes away from Mr. Trump, Mr. DeSantis or whomever is the Republican nominee.
MORE ON “NUMBER SONGS”
A while back I played a little game of listing songs that had a number in their title. Some folks suggested additions of songs I’d missed:
Jill Holloway suggested Four Women. Adam Torson suggested 76 Trombones, noting he could not imagine how a “musical theatre man” could have missed that one.
Meanwhile, Ira Waldman noted 26 Miles, reciting the lyric, “26 Miles Across the Sea, Santa Catalina is a waiting for me. Santa Catalina, the Island of Romance, Romance, Romance, Romance.” And then, to add insult to injury, he commented, “Not sure how you missed this one.” You’re right—I’m not sure how I missed it either!
Have a great day,
Glenn
From the archives:
Hey Glenn. Thanks for the recent shoutouts. Makes me feel appreciated. As for the third party concept, No Labels has been consistent in their mission to not be a third part, but a means of facilitating and supporting Democrats and Republicans who want to actually govern and legislate by sitting down with the other side and finding common ground. Rather than the initiative sponsored by Andrew Yang, No Labels is organizing an effort to qualify on all 50 state ballots to be ready to run a bipartisan ticket (a Democrat and Republican) in 2024 IF, and only IF, the two candidates are seen as extreme and No Labels has determined that there is a path to winning. They will not run anyone just to be a spoiler. The purpose of No Labels is to help make Congress work, not to blow it up.