The Political Crisis within the Democratic Party: A Self-Inflicted Disaster

Democrats, who loudly warn about Republican's damage to democracy, are undemocratic themselves...

The political crisis now roiling the Democrats is a disaster of their own creation. It was not so much a conspiracy to cover up the extent of Biden’s senility as it was a strange act of collective self-delusion. - Ayaan Hirsi Ali

The Democratic Party is in a death spiral, facing a generational political crisis. President Biden's health issues and the internal power struggles have exposed deep fractures, and this raises serious questions about their supposed commitment to democratic principles.

President Biden's health has become the primary controversy. Reports and observations of his declining cognitive abilities have dominated headlines, though present for years, and it is creating a consequential dilemma for Democratic leadership. Until a few hours ago, rumors circulated that the president was actually dead. These issues continue to play into the massive conundrum of continued miscommunication. Rather than addressing these concerns, the party has been playing political chess, testing potential candidates behind closed doors and undermining the democratic process.

Another major challenge facing the Democratic Party is its inability to control its messaging and the rise of radical elements within its ranks. Their "big tent" approach, which intended to include a range of viewpoints and spectrums, has led to fragmentation. Extreme voices have gained prominence, overshadowing moderate policies and alienating centrist voters. It has also brought forth another major issue: identity politics.

Kamala Harris's nomination as VP is a product of identity politics. Being VP is not a guaranteed presidential nomination. This cannot be denied. I am not making a racial or gender situation out of this, but the reality is simply common sense. Harris's nomination seems driven more by her identity than her political skills or electability. There are clearly other candidates more capable of winning an election, but Democratic elites are blinded by the prospect of nominating the first female BIPOC president, focusing on making history rather than candidate capabilities.

This is not the first time the Democratic Party has found itself in such turmoil. The handling of the 2016 primaries, where allegations of bias toward Hillary Clinton over Bernie Sanders surfaced, marked the beginning of a series of contentious moments. The 2020 primaries saw a similar pattern, with the party’s elite allegedly influencing the process to favor Joe Biden. These actions have left a lasting impact on the party's image and credibility.

In three consecutive presidential elections, Democratic Party elites have subverted democracy to choose a candidate. In 2016, the Democratic National Committee manipulated money and processes to help Hillary Clinton defeat Bernie Sanders. In 2020, party elites pushed out Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar so Elizabeth Warren could split the progressive vote with Sanders, creating a path to victory for Biden.

This year, Biden and the DNC prevented a competitive open primary, and now Biden is deciding who will be the nominee for Democrats. Kamala Harris was deeply unpopular with Democratic voters in the 2020 primary, leading her to drop out after her polling plummeted to single digits. - Michael Shellenberger

What about radicals? Radical elements have always been part of political movements, but they should have limited influence. Historical examples, such as the anarchist movements of the early 20th century and the radical leftist groups of the 1960s and 1970s, reinforce their history of violence and disruption. Yes, there have been right-wing radicals throughout history, but the most pressing issue today has been radical leftists; movements like Antifa and radical social justice warriors highlight the ongoing challenge. Leftist radicals have also attempted to hijack the environmental movement, to the detriment of the environment (I follow this closely, and lead a few modest enviro efforts). If you zoom out, you can see how convenient it is for radicals to use the environment as a catchall to use violence and chaos to support their revolutionary message. You can also see how elements are used to further the leftist argument instead of actually tackling the situation at hand. A sad reality.

The Liberty Bell vandalized by protesters…Defacing a National Monument is a felony; think anyone will be arrested and charged?

The Democratic Party's messaging on issues like immigration and crime has been completely off-target. On immigration, their approach has appeared too lenient, refusing to address concerns about border security and illegal immigration effectively. Controlled immigration is a net positive. Uncontrolled immigration is chaos. America's current illegal immigration situation is bonkers. Countries should not have open borders. This lackluster approach to immigration by the Democrats has alienated many voters. Similarly, their stance on crime, often seen as overly sympathetic to offenders and lacking in support for law enforcement, shows weakness on public safety. These missteps in messaging have contributed to a growing disconnect with voters supporting law and order. My favorite crime-supporting psychobabble has been from activist journalists who blame the Marxist theory of "late capitalism" on crime when the glaring issue is soft-on-crime policies. Have a look at this drivel, if interested: The zombie CVS, a late-capitalism horror story.

Now Contrast this with that of the Republican Party, the GOP has faced its own internal conflicts, but their handling of these issues and their ability to present a united front have been much more effective. As recent as 2020 the GOP party seem unrepairable. Who could imagine that the GOP would be more unified than the Democratic Party? Such is life in 2024.