“Claim no easy
victories,” said Guinea-Bissau revolutionary
Amilcar Cabral. I say to the Democrats, don’t
try to claim the hard ones either. Democrats
were grinning from ear to ear after the
victorious election results from coast to
coast. Not so fast, Dems.
The elections
were definitely a referendum on trump
authoritarianism. It was also a high-five to
the Democrats who dared to break through the
political malaise with the new tactics, ideas,
messaging, and policies. True, the Dems’
favorability numbers are not as low as the
president’s, but the Democratic Party has the
lowest approval ratings in thirty years. The
Party has been chasing its tail since an
estimated 10-15 million Democratic voters
said, “Talk to the hand,” and sat out the 2024
election. The consequences of that voter
apathy and anger have contributed to our
current situation.
Dems have been
duckin’ and dodgin’ confrontations with the
bully in the White House. A bully, mad with
power, who is blatantly abusing the office in
multiple ways and daring anyone to stop him.
The November 4 elections were a bright spot
that is slowing down the MAGA machine and has
the potential to be pivotal in the months
leading up to the 2026 mid-term elections.
There were
significant outcomes in the recent elections.
In California, a historic voter turnout led to
the passage of Prop 50, which will enable a
redistricting map favoring Democrats. New York
voters elected Zohran Kwame Mamdani, a
democratic socialist named after Ghanaian
president Kwame Nkrumah. Virginia, which has
been a target of Trump’s harsh policies,
including the government shutdown, sent a
strong message by reclaiming the state’s
executive branch. Additionally, New Jersey
elected its first female governor. Across the
country, Democrats were elected or reelected
as mayors, prosecutors, council members,
judges, governors, and more.
Voters hit the
streets in the No Kings protests, letting the
MAGA minions know of our disgust with their
trashing of the Constitution and their fascist
policies. It was also a gigantic nod to
Democrats that we had their backs when they do
the work of the People.
The Democrats
who stood up, showed some courage, and
expressed new ideas received voter support,
like California Governor Gavin
Fight-Fire-With-Fire Newsom. In three months,
his campaign was able to galvanize millions to
the polls in response to MAGA’s illegal
redistricting campaign to steal the 2026
mid-term elections.
Constituents
urged Democratic lawmakers to stay firm on
their demands during the government shutdown.
Many were willing to endure hardships for the
greater good, leading to the longest shutdown
in history. The people had a successful day at
the polls. Then eight traitors emerged.
Senators
Richard Durbin (IL), Angus King (ME),
Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), Jacky Rosen (NV),
Maggie Hassan (NH), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), John
Fetterman (PA). and Tim Kaine (VA) all broke
ranks from their caucus to betray the
strategy. Their treacherous actions mean that
the key demands, like affordable healthcare,
have been sacrificed. These senators are all
either retiring or not up for reelection soon.
In other words, they had nothing to lose.
Except for their integrity, if they care.
Trump has
caused irreparable harm to this country in
ways that we do not fully know or understand -
harm that will set us back for generations.
People have been slow to take decisive action,
perhaps waiting for the executive,
legislative, or judicial branches of
government to kick in and check the
overwhelming abuse of power.
The vote is a
powerful tool for participation in a
democracy, but it cannot compare to the
strength of a united effort at all levels to
halt and correct the dangerous path this
country is on. History must be written to tell
the story of a nation’s powerful, sustained
resistance to save a broken democracy.
