Democrats Embrace Mediocrity: A Party Adrift in a Funhouse of Confusion and Commentary
The Left: Democrats in a Mediocre State
According to Joe Klein at Sanity Clause, Democrats have “nothing of substance to communicate.” The party’s various revitalization proposals are merely “shallow, reactive clichés” that do not address the “significant failure to manage public institutions” or recognize that “the lawyers creating waves of regulations and the unions obstructing effective governance are contributing factors to our issues.”
We are left with mere platitudes, akin to an “overweight postal worker who refuses to deliver your mail to your slot.”
A party that once embodied “idealism, charisma, and the exhilaration of being part of the world’s greatest nation” has become obsolete because it has “renege on its commitments to the populace: it ceased to govern efficiently.”
Cultural Critique: A Party Trapped in the Funhouse
As Martin Gurri from City Journal suggests, “the essential question in contemporary American politics” revolves around the future of the Democratic Party.
The first step for the Democrats is acknowledging “the magnitude of their rejection by the electorate.” For any change to occur, party leaders must apply pressure, yet currently the party lacks “true leadership.”
Thus, “the mythology resurfaces. Trump is again portrayed as the reincarnation of Hitler” — “the dreadful sequel to a film that already flopped.”
Why is this happening? Despite the “standing ovations and perpetual smiles” from the media and other entities under their influence, the party, which has lost “all branches of the federal government,” remains blind to the “frowns of the general public.”
The Democrats need to “re-establish a connection with reality” and leave behind “shiny illusions that lead nowhere.”
Democracy Watch: Biden’s Farewell Warning
Joe Biden’s farewell warning about an impending “abuse of power” was sheer “projection” — a reflection of the left’s tendency to excuse its own misdeeds, claims Kimberley A. Strassel at The Wall Street Journal.
The left’s “claim that a ‘tyrant’ is disassembling democracy has justified their violation of norms.”
Even after Donald Trump’s departure in 2021, they persisted in “disregarding the guardrails.”
Biden’s attorney general has targeted a former president and rival, even conducting a raid on his residence. They have engaged in lawfare, restricted civil liberties during COVID, and evaded both Congress and the Supreme Court.
Their “guiding principle” has been: “In the name of preserving democracy, we, the virtuous, are entitled to destroy it.”
For the moment, Republicans are not resorting to such tactics. However, if this trend continues, the Democrats will have “no one to blame” but themselves.
Focus on Albany: Hochul’s Health-Care Oversight
During her State of the State address, Gov. Hochul “surprisingly offered little commentary” on Medicaid, despite the fact that the “extensive health plan covers a third of the population and consumes one-fourth of state revenue,” notes Bill Hammond from the Empire Center.
“Hochul’s near-absence of discussion was troubling — as issues like “escalating Medicaid costs,” “unnecessary enrollment,” and other challenges “require the governor’s immediate attention.”
If “affordability” is meant to be “more than just a catchy phrase,” she needs to address these challenges and “confront the healthcare industry.”
Her “absence of a healthcare plan” is surprising, particularly since she created a Commission on the Future of Health Care in 2023, which is yet to present its initial recommendations.
New Yorkers seeking “stronger healthcare leadership can only wish that her budget reveals some surprises.”
Internet Update: Biden’s Unfulfilled Broadband Promise
“Four years ago, the Biden administration vowed to provide reliable internet access to 25 million people in rural America,” reminds Madeleine Rowley from The Free Press.
Yet, the “$42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program has yet to connect a single user.”
The delays are attributed to “bureaucratic sluggishness, the difficulty of establishing new government processes across all 50 states, and a preference for costly, high-quality fiber-optic cables over cheaper options.”
Additionally, there is a DEI component requiring participation from “businesses owned by minorities and women.” So far, only Louisiana has received federal clearance to begin hiring internet service providers.
Sen. Ted Cruz has suggested that Team Trump might accelerate the process, as “states will no longer be hindered by unlawful and burdensome bureaucratic red tape.”
— Compiled by The Post Editorial Board