Unlike 2016, when his victory over Hillary Clinton came as a shock to many Americans, Trump was no surprise in 2024. The Democratic Party had the benefit of four years to ensure that this would not happen again. Yet as in 2016, Democrats appear to have failed to win over the electorate in a race against a uniquely unpopular candidate — this time one with multiple impeachments, indictments, and criminal convictions.
The short-lived Biden campaign and subsequent Harris campaign opted to try to beat Republicans at their own game, by tacking rightward on issues such as immigration, criminal justice, and climate. After President Joe Biden dropped out, the Democratic Party rejected calls to stop providing arms to Israel’s war on Gaza. Instead, Harris touted the endorsements of conservatives such as Liz Cheney. The strategy was a ploy to woo moderates and conservatives wary of a second Trump term, but it may have alienated key voting blocs.
The way modern democracies die is they democratically elect authoritarian leaders who erode and dismantle that democracy. Parties don’t matter. It’s the people who do it to themselves. Sad but true.
I mean yeah but that didn’t need to be now. Harris basically threw the race and that’s part of why this disaster came to be. Even assuming American democracy was nearing the end of its lifetime, it should’ve had a few more decades in it. The popular will to defeat Trump was there.
Harris didn’t do anything any good pol wouldn’t do. The popular will was not there, as the results displayed.
Huh? Look at her campaign’s treatment of the Uncommitted movement, among others, and say that again. Harris was openly antagonizing her voters, relying completely on not being Trump ala Hillary Clinton and courting right wing voters at the cost of her base. And if you don’t believe it, well, take it up with Bernie.
Fringe groups always think they have more political power than they do, and always feel picked on.
Liberals will do any amount of mental gymnastics to point the finger at anyone but themselves.
Harris lost Michigan by less people than voted Uncommitted during the primaries. They might be a “fringe group,” but Harris sure could’ve used some of their votes, don’t you think?
If Harris would have won all the votes cast for Democratic Senators in each state, she would have won with 270 electoral votes.
Fringe groups will do all sorts of mental gymnastics to make everything about them.