American humorist Will Rogers once famously said “I’m not a member of any organized party. I’m a Democrat.” As a lifelong Democrat, that quote has always bothered me because it can ring true. Organizing Democrats can be like herding cats, and organizing effectively to defeat would-be-despot Donald Trump is our biggest challenge right now.
I am doubly worried about Will Rogers’ quote as the November presidential election approaches. We have the tools and the talent to win. But do we have the passion and the commitment? Democrats can defeat Putin-loving Trump and his party of sycophants if we become, and remain, organized. But will we?
There are few who argue President Biden had a bad debate on June 27. He could not push back effectively against a fire hose of lies and disinformation from Trump. As a felon, business fraud and adjudicated rapist, Trump is not a legitimate candidate to begin with and should be nowhere near the Republican nomination. And now the highest court in the land has given him carte blanche to violate the law and sow chaos in a second term.
But a bad night for Biden is not our main problem now. We are engaged in a cultural civil war that is deeply partisan. Republicans are dedicated to tearing apart the federal administrative state, or “deep state” as they like to call it, that works to represent all citizens and seek a smaller, more timid federal government that will not interfere with their beliefs and their ability to make and keep as much money and power as possible.
Given all that is going on, what do we Democrats do now? Baptist minister, activist and talk show host Al Sharpton said it best. “Are we going to whine or are we going to win?” Our future path is clear. We get behind Biden and Harris right now and get to work knocking on doors, staffing the Democratic headquarters, running phone banks and mailing postcards. We talk to our friends and neighbors and write letters to the editor with copies to our legislators and social media posts.
I don’t know about you but just this once it would be great to prove Will Rogers mostly wrong about Democrats. We’ll all sleep a lot better at night if we can.
I usually don’t respond to MAGA talking points but Renee’s assertion that the U.S. is mainly a republic is false. We are both a republic and a democracy. Republic is just a MAGA term used in a radical effort to allow Trump toady legislators to seize more power from the people. You could say that democracy is to republic as monarchy is to kingdom. If MAGAs love the word “Republic” so much we should remind them that North Korea and Iran are republics. We should also ask them what the “R” stood for in U.S.S.R.
My family has been Democrat since at least Roosevelt era. The damage done to our country under the Biden “syndicate” has been severe. We will have non-stop massive influx across our borders and Pay for it All! We are seeing the downfall of this country and it has to do with the People that have taken over my Party of Democrats. We are losing the Republic to WEF/WHO, etc. – the “insiders” and they are also in Both parties, by the way. We have all been fooled and it’s going to be a rough decade ahead. Don’t worry, Democrats will… Read more »
Renee, the damage done in our country was done by the former president who showed lack of civility; he disrespected and damaged reputations of everyone who disagreed with him. His idea of an immigration law was to build a border, separate families and put children in cages. He decimated environmental laws; installed far right Supreme Court Justices of whom two have taken outrageous bribes. These justices have now taken away any accountability for presidential crimes with their new immunity ruling. And last, but not least, we had a president who refused to concede an election and called upon his followers… Read more »
I agree with most of your post. I too am a lifelong party loyalist, but Republican not Democrat. After Mr. Trump’s loss in the last election and his response to it, I rejected him as an acceptable candidate. My background, education and original choice of career was based on three values: honesty, integrity and patriotism. I found it extremely difficult to vote for the candidate from either of the two major parties. With the formation of the “No Labels” party, I felt that it might be a possible solution to my dilemma. With its discontinuation earlier this year I still… Read more »
I could have written your post if you switched Democrat and Republican. I’ve been registered Republican for decades and almost always voted for them (still have an independent streak, so no straight tickets – I vote individuals). Now I am voting straight ticket – against Republicans who support Trump, which I think at this point is all of them. Trump and his followers have destroyed the America I grew up in and have more revenge/destruction planned, both for our country and our planet. Biden might be old (as is Trump), but his team is doing a mostly good to great… Read more »
Thank you for your thoughtful column. I too am a lifelong Democrat and you have inspired me to stop complaining and start campaigning!