The Democrats tried to stop President Trump. They couldn’t stop him in the courts, they couldn’t stop him with the mainstream media, so they shut down the government. They have taken the mask off.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (on Fox News)
This fall has become open season on RINOs (Republicans In Name Only) and DINOs (Democrats in Name Only). Just ask John Bolton (long-time RINO), whose grand-jury indictment has generated zero sympathy from MAGA Republicans. Or Chuck Schumer (newly minted DINO), whose failed filibuster has invited left-liberal scorn. To wit, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) just posted on Twitter-X: “Senator Schumer is no longer effective and should be replaced.” It’s a sign of the times.
Quite simply, Donald Trump has forced both parties toward extreme populist politics. Country-club Republicans, like Bill Kristol – once a Bush insider – are now powerless pundits (he’s on CNN). Collegial Democrats, like Harold Ford (D-TN) – once a member of Congress – are now a rarity (except when Ford’s on Fox News). With both political parties plagued by philosophical and behavioral diremption, it’s impossible to predict next year’s mid-term elections, or who will run for president in 2028.
Don’t scoff, because 1,805,000 Virginians just elected a black Democrat who texted that he’d put “two bullets to the head” of a white Republican, and 1,036,000 New Yorkers just elected a Muslim Democratic-socialist who’s guilty of antisemitism. Jay Jones (D-VA) and Zohran Mamdani (D-NY) are reasons a plenty to doubt the future of the Democrat Party.
Start with the personalities: do Democrats have anyone that can do what Trump’s done? Can they lose DINO’s like Joe Manchin (D-WV) and still elect U.S. senators in swing states, let alone a U.S. president? Because what Trump accomplished was considered impossible and proven wrong – twice? Give Trump his due, the man can turn out low propensity voters and keep party members in line.
When RINO exodus became real in Trump’s first term, his popular-vote totals still jumped from 62.9 million (2016) to 74.2 million (2020) to 77.3 million (2024). And, rather than kick Trump to the curb after two impeachments and four indictments for eighty-eight criminal counts, most GOP politicians directed their wrath at “deranged” Democrats and “dishonest” deep state. Somehow, and against all odds, this Republican president has risen again and again – and that is an irrefutable fact.
So…who’s gonna grow the Democrat Party? Right now, liberal pundits have Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the inside rail for their party’s presidential nomination, primarily because both get so much Big Media exposure, and their states are reliably blue. That’s actually an admission of the party’s weakness, if one looks at California’s and New York’s 2024 presidential results and 4-year net out-migration.
From 2020 to 2024, the Democrat popular-vote advantage for president dropped by 1.8 million in California and 953,000 in New York. If Newsom and AOC are such great spokespersons, then why did their two “reliably blue” states lose 2.7 million liberal voters in 4 years? And, if the Newsom and AOC brand of “liberalism” is so great, why was net out-migration from 2020 to 2024 1.46 million in California and 884,000 in New York (source: USCB)? No joke, who wants these states as role models?
The Democrat rebuttal is, of course, their resounding victories in New Jersey and Virginia two weeks ago, which could just as easily be a dead cat bounce for their party. Because the number’s don’t lie:
- Since 2018, the share of new registered Republicans is up 9%, against a 8% drop for Democrats
- Since 2020, 4.5 million voters have become Republicans in the 30 states that share party registrations
- Since 2020, there was an 8.5 million shift from Democrat to Republican in the popular vote for the House
- Democrat favorability ratings have hit record lows; 19% in Quinnipiac’s latest poll
With the Supreme Court poised to strike down Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965, I would not bet the ranch on today’s Democrat Party. Especially because Leaders We Deserve (David Hogg’s far-left organization) are committed to purging DINO’s from the House in the 2026 primaries, which is what Treasury Secretary Bessent (quote up top) means by Democrats taking “the mask off.”
The truth behind Schumer’s Filibuster can only hurt Democrats, starting with the intra-party backlash against the aging Schumer. The same progressives demanding he “fight harder” and “hold the line longer” are now calling for his ouster. Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Mike Levin (D-CA) and Shri Thaneder (D-MI) said Schumer “must step down…has not met this moment and Senate Democrats would be wise to move on from his leadership…It’s high time we replace Senator Chuck Schumer.” Those Democrats ARE the problem, because they put politics before we the people.
This view was confirmed by the Democrats who voted to re-open the government, like Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH): “This was the only deal on the table (and) waiting another month wouldn’t deliver a better outcome.” And Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA): “Lawmakers know their constituents expect them to vote for it – if they don’t, they’ll be replaced by someone who will.” Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) cut right to the chase: “It’s past time to put country over party and get our government working again for the American people.” And Rep. Adam Gray (D-CA) nailed it: “We shouldn’t run a government by thinking chaos is a negotiating tactic.”
In closing, there are “normal” Democrats like Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D-WA), “Holding hungry Americans hostage has been a case study in why most Americans can’t stand Congress,” and Rep. Donald Davis (D-NC), “To help my constituents, I voted to reopen the government.” And “honest” Democrats like Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME): “I just voted to reopen the government, and get critical programs up and running again. This government shutdown is the result of hardball politics driven by the demands far-left groups.” The grand question, therefore, is who becomes the DINO: Golden or Ocasio-Cortez?
If it’s AOC, say “goodbye” to the Democrat Party.