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Back in 2002, Ruy Teixeira took note of demographic trends that spelled good news for the Democratic Party's 21st-century prospects. Just two decades after the release of The Emerging Democratic Majority, he found himself wondering something else: Where Have All the Democrats Gone? With what appears to be the coronation of Kamala Harris, he and the gang consider how pessimism, disorderliness, and faculty lounge talk have thrown America's political coalitions for a loop.
Plus: Steve, James, and Rob finally get a chance to respond to the news that broke shortly after they wrapped last week; they make a couple of predictions for the VP's VP pick; and James calls on all Ricochet rhythmists to send the songs! (Buck Dharma kicks things off with "End of Every Song")
- Opening sounds: Bibi Goes to Washington, Biden “Becomes” Washington, Kamala cracks up
Hosted by James Lileks, Rob Long, and Steve Hayward, with guest Ruy Teixeira
Discussion (51)
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It has been years since I’ve commented on Rob‘s particular brand of bicoastal myopia. I guess it’s time.
Maybe when you’re a smart, culturally savvy media guy the urge to paint essentially everyone in America (that is, the union of the sets of Trump voters and Harris voters) as rubes who don’t understand that the electorate is divided almost down the middle, and to pose yourself as the only guy bright enough to see it, is irresistible.
But that’s not what prompts this comment. What I want to push back against is this idea, which Rob echoes, that this election is a contest between two extremists. I don’t think that’s true, other than in the relatively trivial sense of personality and style.
I think Trump has demonstrated himself to be a center-right moderate who is, surprisingly, pretty close to the historical political mainstream in America. His views, were anyone interested in looking past his often offputting personality, would be found to be pretty anodyne. That’s why he doesn’t feel compelled to lie about his intentions, a noteworthy honesty I have commented on before.
Do I have to even mention the contrast with the opposing party? Their candidate has to run from her record, to triangulate to the middle until she gets into office – just as our current oh-so-moderate president did.
The difference is that one of those two candidates truly is extreme, truly does embrace radical policy prescriptions, and pretends otherwise.
The other does not.
It would be worth talking about the virtues of their respective policies occasionally, rather than breezily bemoaning the sad state of the tribal electorate and their naïveté.
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Nice to hear Buck Dharma.
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Nailed it.
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@HenryRacette I tend to agree. Trump has said some extreme things BUT his 'action track' record is nowhere as extreme as the Biden/Harris rampage. What is immoderate about deregulation, energy independence, a stable $$, military strength?
What is traditional and moderate about Re-regulation, school lockdowns, the Kabul Kut & Run, etc??
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Did Rob just declare that "abortion is a killer"?
He meant to say that the abortion ISSUE is a killer -- for Republicans.
I can't believe that James did not make comment about that choice of words.
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