On the one hand, I don't disagree, and I certainly don't think the right strategy is for Pete Buttigieg to sit on his hands and not say anything.<p>But, Republicans are no better. Like outside of a few key celebrities (and even within those key celebrities) are a bunch of people who look even more out of touch than the average Democrat. Trump and Elon Musk are maybe two of the greatest salespeople the world has ever seen (and within that all the implications that implies) But like, arguably even Pete Buttigieg, probably the best communicator in the party right now can't come close to them. The point of which is to just assess benchmarks. What is the art of the possible? We should certainly expect more of the leaders of the party, and I think everyone suspects there are core problems at the top, but the rank and file will probably always be sort of a median level of successful. Though we could go like the Republicans and just do some ideological purges.
I don't want the Democratic Party to pander to voters. I want them to provide a cohesive alternative - which they have done. What they haven't done as good a job with is articulating that alternative.<p>As has been the case for decades with the Democrats, if people had come out to vote, then Kamala would likely have won. But the turnout was down. Historically, that always favors the Republicans.<p>What were the people staying at home thinking? What we've heard is they were thinking something along the lines of both parties are the same, so it makes no difference, or they were grousing over how the Democrats weren't forthright about having a primary. Well, they're now realizing both parties <i>are not</i> the same, and those grousing about the lack of a primary are now feeling foolish for sitting out.<p>BUT - what I'm starting to get really sick of is liberals blaming our current woes on the Democrats. I'm sorry. You knew what Trump was and you knew what was at stake. If that wasn't enough to motivate you to get off your rear end and get to the polls, then that's on <i>you.</i>