A week after the disturbing defeat of Kamala Harris, causing great distress and dismay among Democrats, including this author and blogger, it is important to learn from the disappointment and plan for the future.
The Democratic Party cannot move toward the center Right, if it means ever to offer a reasonable alternative.
However, that does not mean that it should adopt Bernie Sanders Left Wing type progressivism, which, despite what some say, would never be accepted by voters at large as an alternative in the future.
The party needs to continue to promote mainstream progressivism and liberalism, including labor rights, protection of the environment, and enforcement of basic civil rights for the growing Latino minority, African Americans, Asian Americans, gays and lesbians, and women, along with promotion of more voter education as to the details and effects of government policies.
The idea that Latino males, young people, and white women would think of Donald Trump as the better alternative is shocking, so therefore the need for greater voter education is essential.
And as the Democrats ponder their future, it is blessed with a multitude of qualified Presidential contenders!
This includes the following Governors:
Gavin Newsom, California
Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania
Wes Moore, Maryland
Gretchen Whitmer, Michigan
Andy Beshear, Kentucky
J D Pritzker, Illinois
Jared Polis, Colorado
Tim Walz, Minnesota
Josh Stein, North Carolina
Additionally, there are US Senators in the mix, including
Christoper Murphy, Connecticut
Jon Ossoff, Georgia
Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
Cory Booker, New Jersey
Also, present Transportation Secretary and former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg, who is rumored to be planning to run for Michigan Governor, to succeed Gretchen Whitmer, who is term limited from running for reelection in 2026.
To assume that Donald Trump and his party will be able to keep public opinion on his side over the next four years is failing to realize that it is certain there will be a major negative reaction to the agenda that is now being imposed on America by aggressive and extreme Right wing forces!
Democrats must be optimistic and willing to work hard for the future of common decency and empathy as part of American principles!
AOC asked voters who ticked the box for her and Trump why they did it. The responses were revelatory.
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/aoc-trump-democrats-listen-voters-rcna179762
When Biden was trying to run, the uncommitted vote against him was a warning sign.
James Carville says that the moment that doomed her campaign was her answer on “The View” when she was asked what she would have done differently from President Joe Biden.
Prior to the election, Vox warned that, should Trump win, his election would push the Democrats rightward or at least consolidate the moderate turn that the party has already taken.
https://www.vox.com/politics/378977/kamala-harris-loses-trump-2024-election-democratic-party
Kamala Harris Did Listen To Working-Class Voters. They Didn’t Listen To Trump.
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2024/11/12/kamala-harris-did-listen-to-working-class-voters-they-didnt-listen-to-trump/
Nancy LeTourneau explains about who voted for Trump.
https://immasmartypants.blogspot.com/2024/11/sorting-through-noise-to-try-and.html
It’s 3 factors that determined this election:
1) Post pandemic reality where nearly every incumbent party around the world lost
2) Race and misogyny
3) Right-wing media domination and disinformation
Democrats won ‘highly engaged’ voters and struggled with everyone else in 2024
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/democrats-won-highly-engaged-voters-struggled-everyone-else-2024-rcna179957
MSNBC ‘Morning Joe’ hosts meet with Trump to reopen lines of communication
https://apnews.com/article/morning-joe-trump-meeting-ring-cf4816dd28372a4c942d256df2e440ae
Jon Stewart Breaks Down Huge Problem With Joe and Mika’s Trump Visit
https://www.thedailybeast.com/jon-stewart-breaks-down-huge-problem-with-joe-and-mikas-trump-visit/
“Stewart argued that Democrats need to stop trying to play nice with the GOP.”
Donald Trump has nominated a Project 2025 author to lead the Federal Communications Commission.
https://newrepublic.com/post/188529/donald-trump-war-press-fcc-project-2025
Disappointed with Mika and Joe trying to normalize Trump.
‘Morning Joe’ meeting with Trump was driven by fears of retribution from incoming administration, sources say.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/19/media/morning-joe-trump-mar-a-lago-meeting-fears/index.html
Morning Joe suffers ratings nosedive after hosts met Trump at Mar-a-Lago.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/morning-joe-ratings-trump-meeting-mar-a-lago-b2650410.html
The Media and Trump: Not Resistance, But Not Acceptance
An increasingly accommodationist press spells danger for American democracy.
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/11/donald-trump-robert-kennedy-jr-media-press-accommodationist-sanewashing/
In a New York Times piece, Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan try and fail to adequately report on Trump’s nominees.
https://progresspond.com/2024/11/19/haberman-and-swan-try-and-fail-to-adequately-report-on-trumps-nominees/