Hardkill

Allan Lichtman actually recently published his latest book "Conservatism at the Core" which talks about what true American conservatism is and how corrupt it has been for over 100 years. I haven't gotten his book yet, but I definitely want to buy it and read it eventually.

What if Democrats lose again in 2026 in 2028 because either Trump and his party cancel those elections or because too many people stay home and not vote in large enough numbers for the Democrats because of how toxic their party brand is as well?

They only needed a simple majority in both chambers of Congress to pass this bill via budget reconciliation in the Senate and they got it done with razor-thin majorities in both the US Senate and US House.

I hope you're right. Though I don't see the light at the end of tunnel right now. There's no clear viable strategy at this point to save itself, let alone save the country.

According to the consensus of numerous Independent experts, it's the worst bill ever enacted since the mid to late 1800s. The Democrats better fucking figure out how to use this as major ammunition for the 2025 off-year elections, 2026 midterms, 2027 off-year elections, and the 2028 presidential election year. However, I fear that Trump and his party could steal or cancel all elections starting in 2026. I also fear that the Democrats and progressives will bungle it up again, especially in 2028.

1. The Democratic Party lost horrifically to Trump/MAGA. 2024 was winnable. But Democrats blew it — paralyzed between loyalty to Biden and fear of change. Now the far right controls the narrative and the government. 2. Biden’s exit cost them big. Yes, he was aging. But forcing him out late meant: Losing the incumbency effect Losing party unity Gaining confusion, infighting, and scrambled messaging 3. The DNC under Ken Martin is a slow implosion. He promised modernization and unity. Instead: Mismanaged 2024’s transition Alienated progressives and youth Failed to build long-term infrastructure 4. David Hogg got pushed out as DNC Vice-Chair. A young, energized activist removed for being too vocal. The message? "Sit down, fall in line, or get out." Great way to keep the next generation engaged, right? 5. And now? The DNC is facing a funding crisis. Donors are pulling out Grassroots enthusiasm is dead No vision, no inspiration — and it shows 6. The “Big Betrayal” bill gutted Biden’s biggest win. The Inflation Reduction Act — climate investments, tax reform — rolled back. Meanwhile, Trump-era tax cuts were extended. So… what did Democrats actually defend? 7. Trump owns the narrative. He speaks in emotion and clarity. Democrats speak in half-apologies and policy memos.You can’t beat propaganda with bullet points. 8. Right-wing media is a war machine. Fox, YouTube, TikTok, podcasts — cultural dominance. Democrats? Still living in the MSNBC bubble, clinging to legacy media. This isn’t just bad strategy. It’s suicide. 9. The courts are fully captured. SCOTUS has shredded: Voting rights Student debt relief Climate authority Executive power And Dems still won’t touch court reform. They act like the rules are fair. 10. Economic populism was the one unifying message — and they ran from it. The working class wants bold action. Democrats gave them donor-tested slogans. Trump moved into the anti-elite lane. Again. 11. Now they’re terrified of Zohran Mamdani. He won NYC’s mayoral primary on rent control, public goods, and worker-first messaging. The DNC is panicking. Why? Because he connects. Because he exposes their timidity. 12. I don’t think Gavin Newsom can save them either. I like some of what he’s done. I respect his pushback against Trump. But right now, he governs safely within the donor bubble. He hasn’t shown bold economic vision. Could he be pushed left like Biden was? Maybe. But I’m skeptical. 13. And I’m not just focused on him. There are leaders I respect: Josh Shapiro Tim Walz Andy Beshear Wes Moore But even the best of them can’t fix a party this broken — not alone. It’s the system that’s collapsing. 14. The party’s approval rating is at a historic low. That’s not about “messaging.” It’s about people giving up — on leadership, on vision, on a party that talks equity but won't confront power. And I’m starting to feel that too. 15. I’m not feeling optimistic right now. I want to believe we can turn this around. I want to believe someone will rise to the moment. But watching the same mistakes play out again — while the right consolidates power — is exhausting. This doesn’t feel like a crossroads anymore. It feels like decline. 16. Still, I believe in the people — not the institution. Maybe the Democratic Party can change. Maybe it has to be rebuilt from the ground up. Either way, it won’t be saved from the top. It starts with those of us refusing to settle. The party needs an exorcism. Or it needs to be replaced. * Sorry if I bolded too many words.

Yeah, I was thinking that too. I actually didn't realize until recently that Bush was responsible for the PEPFAR program which saved over 25 million lives around the world.

The Bush administration's wars in Iraq and Afghanistan were no doubt unmitigated disasters that cost over 6,000 American lives and trillions of dollars, failed to achieve lasting peace or stability, and left both countries in worse condition than before in many respects. Moreover, Bush ended his presidency with the worst recession since the Great Depression. However, do you think that all of the things that happened during the administration of Trump's 1st term including how he governed, eroded our democracy, and the historic amount of hard right judges he appointed on the federal level courts, what he's currently doing and more of what he will do during his 2nd term presidency all not worse than what Bush or any other past Republican president ever did?

But the policies of Trump/MAGA are more destructive to the country than even the policies of Reagan/Bush type of Republicans. The Republicans during presidencies of Eisenhower and Nixon had really good policies for the country some of which moderate if not progressive leaning for the country before the party shifted more and more to the far right.

I thought that was good, but I still worry about him being easily perceived as a woke urban coastal elite from San Francisco, especially with dominance of the right-wing media being able to magnify that,

Yeah, I agree with those points you made, but what are Democrats going to do to figure out there messaging and optics issue? How are they going to be able to agree enough as a whole that the Democratic Party is moderate to traditional leaning on social issues, but economically populist on economic issues instead of just having many Democrats on one side of the party who are too left wing on both social and economic issues on one side of the party and then having too many Democrats on the other side of the party who play it too safe by trying to present themselves as being ideologically to the “center” or being a “me too Republican”?

He undoubtedly won the Democratic nomination in a landslide.

That's very true. A mixed economy is the best way a society can function and thrive. It. also makes sure that neither the government nor big businesses become too powerful by having the public sector and private sector check and balance each other. However, I think more things need to be nationalized including: More of the healthcare industry being owned by the government. Having a parallel public option within the grocery system and publicly supported grocery stores in food deserts. Fully funded, fare-free public transit that’s reliable, safe, and green. More social housing or publicly owned housing, alongside some rent control and tenant protections. End private prisons and have all incarceration handled by the public sector. Public funding for independent journalism or publicly-owned platforms free from algorithm-driven profit models. Public broadband networks, especially in underserved rural or poor urban areas. Public banks at city/state/federal levels and a public postal banking system. Public ownership of electric utilities, or publicly-owned renewable energy companies. Ideally, this would more or less lead to: Universal single-payer insurance such as Medicare for All, but hospitals/doctors remain private or mixed Public utilities as options, public green energy investment, anti-monopoly reforms Public or postal banking coexisting with private banks Municipal broadband in underserved areas, with private ISPs still allowed Massive expansion of social/public housing, but private ownership remains More fare-free, publicly run mass transit, infrastructure investment Public grocery stores in food deserts alongside private stores Public drug manufacturing for essential meds only End private prisons, fully public control over incarceration (this is full control here

Yeah, that is certainly a real concern. Anything with the label socialism/communism is usually a killer for any candidate in American politics. Then again, Bernie and AOC have become successful members of Congress, even though Sanders in 2016 and 2020 in great part because he calls himself a socialist. We really have to see how this whole thing goes. Exactly! It really doesn't take that much more of a tax increase for the government and the people to get the funding they desperately need.