Is this rock bottom yet?
The political world gasped at the dismal Democratic Party approval numbers released yesterday in new polls from NBC News and CNN. The former poll showed that only 27% of Americans held a positive view of the party, with only 7% holding a “very positive” view. Both are record lows for the poll. The CNN results, which found the Democrats’ approval at 29%, set the record for that poll as well.
Theories abound for the Blue Team’s blues.
Is it their policies? Many have pointed to the party being on the wrong side of several “80/20” issues, especially on cultural values and immigration. CNN’s resident lib-slayer Scott Jennings has too much fun rubbing this in their faces five nights a week.
Is it their politics? On Monday morning MSNBC political analyst Molly Jong-Fast blamed their woes on messaging this morning on Inside with Jen Psaki. “Biden world was very good on policy,” she said, “grew the economy, but very bad on politics, right? Unable to communicate with voters.” In Jong-Fast’s view, America was humming along by the end of Biden’s term — no problem with cost of living or illegal immigration. It’s surprising she didn’t mention the low cost of kale.
Is it their current crop of leaders? The rows of mopes and scolds at President Donald Trump’s speech to the Joint Session of Congress cemented what we suspected: that the Democratic talent pool is shallow. As Mel Brooks would say, you either got it or you ain’t — and this crew just ain’t.
Is it the contrast with Trump? Public reaction to the Joint Session speech is likely only now showing up in polling. These numbers probably reflect a post-speech bounce for the president. It was an unusually successful bit of political theater. The devastating split screens still linger in the mind.
It’s all of these things, of course. The Democrats are on the wrong side of important policies, are terrible at politics, are led by dullards, and Trump is on a historic roll.
Whatever the exact proportions of these issues make up the Democrats’ demise, the real story of this moment is that “small d” democracy is positively flourishing right now. That’s because, for more than any other time in recent history, the will of the people is being accurately reflected in our politics.
The people handed the keys to the government to Republicans by awarding them the presidency, congressional majorities, a majority of governorships, and a majority on the Supreme Court. They voted for a government that would allow Trump to steamroll through Congress, for a secure border and a mass deportation program, and for a Department of Government Efficiency to make mincemeat of government bloat.
They also voted for Democrats to be powerless right now – to be placed in time-out until their tantrum subsides. It is no coincidence that these dismal numbers coincide with Senate Democrats capitulating on the short-term funding bill. A deeply unpopular party with scant governmental power has no business interfering in the business of governing.
BERNIE SANDERS CALLS FOR MAJOR CHANGE TO THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
Sen. Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) is taking a beating right now for not shutting down the government, but he saved his party from digging itself an even deeper hole. And deep down, the rest of them surely know it.
Until their numbers stop nose-diving, this is the Democrats’ lot right now. They should take the opportunity to rebuild and rebrand. Or at least to collect themselves and end the embarrassment.
For now, here’s a slogan they might recognize: This is what democracy looks like!