Democrats are making a mistake, but too stupid to stop

Tuesday, September 02, 2025

In every one of the 30 states that track party registration, Democrats have lost ground to Republicans " roughly 4.5 million voters net between 2020 and 2024. You can blame maps, turnout or disinformation " but you also have to look inward. Here's the hard truth: our candidates are often good. Our brand is not. Protest has turned into a kind of performance art. The louder we got, the fewer people felt welcome. Men found podcasts that told them they still had value. Disaffected young people found movements that offered them belonging without requiring a language test. Meanwhile, we just kept offering more outrage " mainly at each other.

Posted by boaz at 06:25 AM | 69 COMMENTS | permalink

Comments

"Men found podcasts that told them they still had value"

Jesus. If this is what did the trick for them, then they weren't men to begin with.

#1 | Posted by Zed at 2025-09-02 07:01 AM

Protest has turned into a kind of performance art.

The mistake is making everything a "protest."

Dems think they inherited the mantle of the 1960s but they've turned it into a caricature by thinking they always HAVE to "protest" something. Anything.

As Ian Malcolm said, they were so preoccupied with whether they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.

#2 | Posted by jpw at 2025-09-02 08:02 AM

"Men found podcasts that told them they still had value. Disaffected young people found movements that offered them belonging without requiring a language test."

Those are essentially the same reasons disaffected young people join gangs.

#3 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-09-02 08:34 AM

Those are essentially the same reasons disaffected young people join gangs.

Or join progressive movements.

#4 | Posted by boaz at 2025-09-02 08:56 AM

Progressive movements don't appeal to your need to feel like you're a big powerful man.

Progressives assume men already know they're a man, which is not a safe assumption for men who can't define manliness for themselves and instead have Joe Rogan define that for them.

Like when Joe Rogan said during pandemic if you are driving a car and you're wearing a mask, you're a -----.

About the only one who can call all this out for what it is is comedian Bill Burr.

#5 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-09-02 09:05 AM

"Dems think they inherited the mantle of the 1960s but they've turned it into a caricature by thinking they always HAVE to "protest" something. Anything."

Horse manure. There are still plenty of real issues where protest is necessary; just protecting the civil rights gains made during the sixties is a constant battle. Let's start with "woke" which right wingers like to demonize as an unnecessary overreach which is utter nonsense. Let's start with the demonized term of "DEI." So what legitimate argument does any one have with "Diversity, Equality or Inclusion?" How are issues under the "woke" umbrella such as Voting Rights laws not fair and just? Is anyone claiming those laws weren't necessary because of the efforts of Southern states to deprive black people of their right to or that they aren't still doing it? Is anyone seriously questioning that? There are other important issues under the "woke" banner. Gay rights for one; the Neanderthal right wing Justices on the Kangaroo Court are hinting at overturning marriage equality. So, gay people shouldn't have the same right to marry who they choose as straight people? "Woke" covers many issues of basic fairness and decency towards all citizens of this country.The anti-woke crowd offer no reasonable arguments against the concept which pleases right wing White Nationalist conservatives who are just todays version of the racists and homophobes from the 1960's who were flat out wrong then and still are.

#6 | Posted by danni at 2025-09-02 09:33 AM

You're wasting your breath Danni.

JPW will never go to any protest except maybe a pro 2A protest.

He's a lot like Eberly in terms of politics being beneath him.

#7 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-09-02 09:41 AM

There are still plenty of real issues where protest is necessary

I never said there weren't.

JPW will never go to any protest except maybe a pro 2A protest.

Not even that.

What's funny is y'all are showing exactly why the author is correct. But, you won't see it.

#8 | Posted by jpw at 2025-09-02 09:48 AM

Interesting article.....

"We're moving away from a politics centered entirely around emotional purity and moral performance. That doesn't mean abandoning values. It means recognizing that emotional intensity isn't the same thing as persuasion. That voters, especially working-class ones, are looking for clarity, stability and dignity " not lectures about their shortcomings. It means realizing that inclusive language is important, but performative inclusivity " adding every possible adjective to a sentence so you don't get yelled at " doesn't build coalitions. It makes people afraid to speak."

Emotional intensity isn't the same thing as persuasion......that's sage advice for everyone.

#9 | Posted by eberly at 2025-09-02 09:48 AM

Including you.

The Dems biggest mistake is not addressing bread and butter issues.

They are too beholden to billionaires. It's a bad look and a worse reality.

Face it. Both parties are Whores for the obscenely wealthy.

It's expected from Republicans.

It looks like Betrayal coming from the Democrats.

That's perhaps unfair?

Life is unfair.

The Democratic Party is going to have to become the Party of the middle class and poor if they want to break out.

The ultra wealthy already have captured the Republicans long ago.

#10 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2025-09-02 10:01 AM

I think a lot of voters are pragmatic enough to know that you have to play the game to have a shot at winning.

And when policy is viewed, not shallow nonsense like donor lists, you do see a difference between them that runs counter to the absurd narrative people believe now.

The Dems problem isn't playing the game, it's thinking you can move away from the middle and the associated unaffiliated voters who dwell there and still win national elections.

#11 | Posted by jpw at 2025-09-02 10:04 AM

The middle Never decide anything.

They are reactionary, never proactive. Always motivated by Fear.

Look at the way the Dems sandbagged Biden and then lost with Kamala.

Pure Fear.

A brave party would have had an open convention. Not anointed a losing candidate without any primary.

#12 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2025-09-02 10:09 AM

The truth is that many people have believed Trump's Lies, and they will continue to do so until the consequential pain becomes too much to ignore.

#13 | Posted by Corky at 2025-09-02 10:16 AM

What's funny is y'all are showing exactly why the author is correct. But, you won't see it.
#8 | Posted by jpw

Oh, I see it. I agree with the author. But there's a few things that are glossed over:
"No one talked about the policy debate. They talked about the sign."
Who's "They?" Seeing as this piece is on Fox News, it's an easy guess.

The problem Democrats keep making is thinking that there's room for discussion at all.
Republicans can't even have a policy debate about e.g. trans bathrooms in schools.
Republicans will tell you trans is a mental illness, just like Republicans said about gays fifty years ago.
And there is no discussion or debate that is capable of changing that.
So the policy discussion is short-circuited from the outset.
They can't accept trans kids in school any more than our military could accept gays in BillJohnson's time.

"You can't use logic to dissuade someone who didn't use logic to reach their viewpoint in the first place."
This is the brick wall Democrats keep banging their heads against.

Trump's immigration policy was never logical to begin with.
So pointing out logical consequences falls on deaf ears.
Democrats keep thinking people are capable of learning from their mistakes.
Democrats don't learn from their own mistakes.

#14 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-09-02 10:18 AM

The middle Never decide anything.
They are reactionary, never proactive. Always motivated by Fear.
Look at the way the Dems sandbagged Biden and then lost with Kamala.
Pure Fear.
A brave party would have had an open convention. Not anointed a losing candidate without any primary.

#12 | Posted by Effeteposer

LOL on the national level, they decide most things from POTUS to the outcome in swing states and swing districts.

You only think they're reactionary because you don't understand them-they are quite consistent in what they vote for and what their policy goals are.

Your Dem "sandbagging" example isn't what you think it is. That wasn't the middle, sport, that was the left because her identity politics matched theirs and because they are obsessed with forcing the first woman POTUS, giving us Trump both times.

You're giving a prime example of what I'm talking about while imagining it's an argument against me. It's quite funny, actually.

#15 | Posted by jpw at 2025-09-02 10:23 AM

"You only think they're reactionary because you don't understand them-they are quite consistent in what they vote for and what their policy goals are."

Are you one?

#16 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-09-02 10:27 AM

I tend to be, yes. L

Which is why I break with the Dem party fairly regularly.

(That doesn't mean I agree with the Repubs, more often than not I'm voting against the Repubs, not for the Dems)

#17 | Posted by jpw at 2025-09-02 10:59 AM

The Dems biggest mistake is not addressing bread and butter issues.
~ Poser

Been saying this for sometime now. Its not complicated, for instance, do you think Americans really need to:

"have a policy debate about e.g. trans bathrooms in schools."

Really, thats a pressing issue for America? As a parent of a young teen daughter, its not debatable. Have a nice day.

Trump's immigration policy was never logical to begin with.

Yet it seems to be working at the border.

The truth is that many people have believed Trump's Lies

One thing I have noticed is no one cares anymore about political lies, both sides do it an incredible amount.

What they want is results, and clearly the Republicans are getting their constituents results they care about.
Democrats are stuck like Snoofy on delivering transwomen into young girls bathrooms.... not a winning strategy.

#18 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-09-02 11:49 AM

Emotional intensity isn't the same thing as persuasion

If you watch any political rally today, its nothing but emotional intensity, the more intensity the more "likes".
The wilder it becomes. The emotional intensity gets attention.

But they just come off looking like idiots.

#19 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-09-02 11:51 AM

- both sides do it an incredible amount.

One side has a Guinness World Record Level Holder Liar, who also happens to be the worst possible imaginable human being to ever inhabit the WH.

"Both sides" is an incredibly poor argument.

#20 | Posted by Corky at 2025-09-02 12:14 PM

-The Dems biggest mistake is not addressing bread and butter issues.

can you be more specific? What is a bread and butter issue?

#21 | Posted by eberly at 2025-09-02 12:15 PM

"One thing I have noticed is no one cares anymore about political lies, both sides do it an incredible amount."

despite the faux outrage, most folks hold themselves accountable for their own hypocrisy.

People lie.....many people lie all the time.

People rationalize lying in themselves and others.

Politicians lie and there is a certain amount of tolerance for it.

#22 | Posted by eberly at 2025-09-02 12:18 PM

"Guinness World Record Level Holder Liar"

do you believe that?

Because all the time here I read "when Trump(or the GOP) tells you he's going to do something....believe it!!"

To be honest....I think you believe Trump way more than I do.

#23 | Posted by eberly at 2025-09-02 12:20 PM

Kamala Harris was a bad candidate.

Gavin Newsom would have closed the deal and humiliated Trump Bigly in the process.

The DNC in their "infinite wisdom" decided that an open primary would be too "divisive".

They didn't give the Voters any say at All.

Why? Beats Me.

I have my suspicions though.

Big Stinky Fear that the "Wrong" type of candidate would win.

Because the Centrist types fear change and all.

Like Fake Doctor Boy.

#24 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2025-09-02 12:21 PM

- do you believe that?

It's more about the maths than belief:

www.google.com

#25 | Posted by Corky at 2025-09-02 12:33 PM

Big Stinky Fear that the "Wrong" type of candidate would win.

Because the Centrist types fear change and all.

Like Fake Doctor Boy.

#24 | POSTED BY EFFETEPOSER

Like I said, you don't understand them.

Because you, for some unknown reason, think you're smart and have it all figured out.

Had nothing to do with "duhhhhh fear of change" and everything to do with she was a poor choice.

In 2020 and 2024.

But go ahead, keep pontificating duhhhhh FeARz!!

#26 | Posted by jpw at 2025-09-02 01:11 PM

just protecting the civil rights gains made during the sixties is a constant battle.

Shut up Danni. That's none of your business anymore, if it ever was. You are a white, feminist lesbian.

Havent your kind done enough to destroy the black community? How about you leave us alone, we got it.

#27 | Posted by boaz at 2025-09-02 01:20 PM

Civil rights is everyone's business.

It's amazing how anti-American you are while claiming to be so patriotic ...

#28 | Posted by jpw at 2025-09-02 01:31 PM

How about you leave us alone, we got it.

#27 | POSTED BY BOAZ

Last I checked Danni is an American.

The 1st amendment says GFY.

And you obviously don't "got it".

#29 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-09-02 01:42 PM

How many black Americans in Trump Cabinet?

'Racist as hell': Trump's cabinet is almost all white, and he keeps firing Black officials

A day after Donald Trump announced that he was firing Lisa Cook, the first Black woman to serve on the board of governors of the Federal Reserve, the White House proudly released a photo.

It showed Trump, his cabinet and other officials giving a thumbs-up. Of the 24 people in the Oval Office, only one was Black.

For those who have studied the US president's long and troubling history of racism, the two events were more than mere coincidence. They were indicative of a man who has recently brought white nationalist perspectives from the margins back to the mainstream."

www.theguardian.com

#30 | Posted by Corky at 2025-09-02 02:00 PM

I can smell.Comrade Boazo's propaganda like most can smell Orange Adolf's diaper, without even opening topic.

#31 | Posted by a_monson at 2025-09-02 02:47 PM

#28,

Patriotic? WTF does that have to do with the white liberal woman destroying the black family unit?

No one disputes that the liberal white woman/feminist has hurt blacks immensely. So I don't know what you idiots are talking about.

#30,

Yall can take that racist bull and GFY. Everyone knows Trump isn't racist. No one is buying that anymore.

#32 | Posted by boaz at 2025-09-02 03:08 PM

The Black family unit was destroyed, on purpose, by the drug war Nixon and Reagan ran.

#33 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-09-02 03:09 PM

- Everyone knows Trump isn't racist.

Ah, so that's why there's only 1 of 24 Cabinet Members is black, and why he's firing black people daily.

His father was a notorious racist, and so is the son.

#34 | Posted by Corky at 2025-09-02 03:12 PM

The Black Family must have been pretty weak to begin with if Pregnant SoyBoys can bring it down.

The Black Family is simply too weak for this world.

"ONLY THE WEAK WILL FAIL!"

#35 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-09-02 03:13 PM

-No one is buying that anymore.

I thought the left was starting to learn that when they moved on to fascist and communist....and pedo.

But apparently not.

#36 | Posted by eberly at 2025-09-02 03:20 PM

No one disputes that the liberal white woman/feminist has hurt blacks immensely.

You're such a f%^*ing idiot with this kind of s%^#.

You live in such a pathetic, insular little bubble.

#37 | Posted by jpw at 2025-09-02 03:21 PM

"the drug war Nixon and Reagan ran."

LOL

#38 | Posted by eberly at 2025-09-02 03:21 PM

"If you can't figure out Trump is racist, you just might be a Redneck."

#39 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-09-02 03:22 PM

"Stupid liberal white women!"

www.naacpldf.org

#40 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-09-02 03:37 PM

The Black family unit was destroyed, on purpose, by the drug war Nixon and Reagan ran.

#33 | Posted by Alexandrite

No, we were just ripe for the pickings by that time.

Our culture was the key. Liberals knew it. So they went after our women, and they succeeded.

#41 | Posted by boaz at 2025-09-02 04:39 PM

You're crazy.

#42 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-09-02 04:41 PM

Even Nixon's DOJ knew Trump was a racist.

#43 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-09-02 04:41 PM

No
#41 | POSTED BY BOAZ

Boaz, you're consistent with those ignorance.

Black women have taken over the Democratic Party and are making it their own.

You're too stupid to realize you support to old white man party.

Are you an old white man? You sure act like you wish you were.

#44 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-02 04:45 PM

Boaz isn't crazy. He's just stupid.

#45 | Posted by jpw at 2025-09-02 05:04 PM

Crazy stupid.

#46 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-02 05:05 PM

JPW,

It was refreshing to read you trying to make a case with reason instead of just attacking everybody and everything. I hope that it continues.

#47 | Posted by BellRinger at 2025-09-02 05:39 PM

Nah,

Just a black man who has woken up.

#48 | Posted by boaz at 2025-09-02 05:39 PM

Just a black man who has woken up.
#48 | Posted by boaz

Oh great.
Now you're Woke?
Lmfao dude.

How's it feel knowing if the cops murder you the first and last thing the cops and the Republicans will investigate is your criminal record?

#49 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-09-02 05:52 PM

Nah,
Just a black man who has woken up.

Posted by boaz at 2025-09-02 05:39 PM | Reply

So you're woke now?? ROFLMMFAO HEHEHEHEHE THAT'S HILARIOUS.

#50 | Posted by LauraMohr at 2025-09-02 05:55 PM

I can't resist wanting to know how White women caused Freddie Gray and Eric Garner and Philandro Castile.

#51 | Posted by snoofy at 2025-09-02 05:59 PM

The Black family unit was destroyed, on purpose, by the drug war Nixon and Reagan ran.

#33 | Posted by Alexandrite

IMO it was putting them in "projects"; and welfare system rewarded single moms over family; who thought that these were good ideas?
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Burning House
How federal housing programs failed Black America.
www.thenation.com

#52 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-09-02 06:32 PM

So the CIA wasn't caught selling crack in Black neighborhoods? Get lucid.

#53 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-09-02 06:33 PM

So you're woke now?? ROFLMMFAO HEHEHEHEHE THAT'S HILARIOUS.

#50 | Posted by LauraMohr

Only if your name is LoriMoreOrLess.

Woke doesn't mean awakened. Unlike woke, woken isn't related to social awareness

#54 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-09-02 06:35 PM

So the CIA wasn't caught selling crack in Black neighborhoods? Get lucid.

#53 | Posted by Alexandrite

Well looking at US history, there's all sorts of agencies doing BS, like Obama/Holder selling guns, Bush; But it had little affect on the overall issue we are discussing.

Its a great distraction though.

#55 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-09-02 06:37 PM

Even Nixon's DOJ knew Trump was a racist.
#43 | Posted by Alexandrite

Weren't most Democrats at that time?

#56 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-09-02 06:46 PM

The Black family unit was destroyed, on purpose, by the drug war Nixon and Reagan ran.

#33 | Posted by Alexandrite

To be fair Johnson's war on poverty had already taken a bite, it was unintentional to be sure but it still had a large impact.

#57 | Posted by TaoWarrior at 2025-09-02 07:02 PM

yes what's so funny....

www.google.com

#58 | Posted by South_American at 2025-09-02 09:12 PM

"So where are the strong, and who are the trusted?
And where is the harmony, sweet harmony?"

Elvis.

#59 | Posted by South_American at 2025-09-02 09:15 PM

*and Nick...

#60 | Posted by South_American at 2025-09-02 09:18 PM

"Everyone knows Trump isn't racist."

Words of a complete idiot.

#61 | Posted by Angrydad at 2025-09-02 09:48 PM

------- idiots like Bo-@ss ain't worth the effort.

#62 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-09-02 11:09 PM

The Black family unit was destroyed, on purpose, by the drug war Nixon and Reagan ran.

#33 | Posted by Alexandrite at 2025-09-02 03:09 PM | Reply | Flag:

I like how you conveniently leave out the 1994 crime bill written by Senator Joe Biden...

#63 | Posted by lfthndthrds at 2025-09-03 10:26 AM

I like how you conveniently leave out the 1994 crime bill written by Senator Joe Biden...
#63 | POSTED BY LFTHNDTHRDS

Oh please it was already going through its falling apart from the economic and housing situation the government put them in, in the 60-70s.
This just seemed to put a punctuation on the efforts.

To be fair Johnson's war on poverty had already taken a bite, it was unintentional to be sure but it still had a large impact.
#57 | POSTED BY TAOWARRIOR

Thats what I said, but I am supposedly a "Russian Bot" ... LOL.

#64 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-09-03 11:07 AM

#64

Russian bots like stopped watches can still be right twice a day. :P

#65 | Posted by TaoWarrior at 2025-09-03 05:49 PM

So you're woke now?? ROFLMMFAO HEHEHEHEHE THAT'S HILARIOUS.
#50 | Posted by LauraMohr
Only if your name is LoriMoreOrLess.
Woke doesn't mean awakened. Unlike woke, woken isn't related to social awareness
#54 | Posted by oneironaut at 2025-09-02 06:35 PM

That is a confusing description. Can you elaborate?

#66 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2025-09-03 06:55 PM

He cannot.

#67 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-03 06:55 PM

Patriotic? WTF does that have to do with the white liberal woman destroying the black family unit?

Was her name Karen?

#68 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-09-04 12:08 PM

I like how you conveniently leave out the 1994 crime bill written by Senator Joe Biden...
#63 | POSTED BY LFTHNDTURDS

Admit it, if that bill was written by Reagan, BushSr or Trump, you'd fully support it.

Well, Trump can't write. The man is near illiterate.

But if he signed it into law, you'd fully support it.

#69 | Posted by ClownShack at 2025-09-04 12:20 PM

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