A Sorry State of the Union (written 10/12/2024)
TW: Politics/Trump/Divisiveness/Congress/Bullshit
JFK’s influence on politics is still seen today in terms of appearance and glamour. Reagan’s storytelling and use of anecdotes have become staples for nearly every politician. However, have you ever considered the long-term impact of Trump on politics, especially on the left? Are you tired of the repetitive rhetoric within the political echo chamber? Could this echo chamber have allowed Trump’s influence to take root?
I dislike Bernie Sanders, but look at how the DNC treated him. The divisiveness in politics is not one-sided.
Trump has had a more significant impact on the Democratic Party than Barack Obama, which has been confirmed for nearly a decade. The pro-Trump and anti-Trump movements will continue to shape politics for decades.
For example, we are now willing to accept any candidate because of the mindset, “if Trump can win…” At no other time would the following candidates have been considered plausible:
- A 77-year-old small-state socialist
- A 37-year-old mayor from Indiana
- A white Irishman from Texas with a history of drunk driving pretending to be Hispanic
- A liberal law professor from Massachusetts who claimed Native American heritage and didn’t run for office until her 60s
- A forgettable former HUD secretary
- A state prosecutor who openly dated a married man and whose current husband doesn’t deny “forcefully hitting” an ex-girlfriend
- An elderly, stuttering, white establishment politician known for being overly familiar with women.
At what other time would Bobby Kennedy Jr.’s bizarre candidacy be considered legitimate? Did you ever think that unconventional figures would make it to the debate stage while moderate politicians like Amy Klobuchar struggle for attention?
Trump’s example has lowered the bar significantly, and qualities that would have disqualified a candidate in the past are now acceptable. This erosion of traditional political norms should concern us all.
Donald Trump became president through cable TV following an Obama administration that largely ignored “cable chatter.” Now, no Democrat can afford to do the same.
There is a noticeable lack of ‘message discipline’ on both sides. It was a hallmark of effective campaigns for candidates to rise above unsavory aspects of politics and focus on policy. However, many top-tier Democrats today are not adhering to this principle, and those who do seem to be losing ground.
Campaigns’ style and approach have also declined, with cringe-worthy viral TikTok videos, livestream haircuts, and attempts to appear relatable on Instagram by doing mundane activities like sharing a beer.
The era of understated and reserved presidential style seems to be behind us.
Moreover, deficits no longer seem to matter to anyone. I remember Bill Clinton, George Bush Jr., and Obama discussing social security issues without simply deferring them.
What about being a unifying force? Bush Sr. aimed to create a “kinder, gentler nation.” His son called himself a “uniter, not a divider.” Obama and Biden asserted that they do not only serve a liberal America, while Hillary Clinton claimed to be a progressive for all sides.
Joe Biden has tried his best to rise above the fray, but he was shaped by a different political era, and look where that has led him now.
It’s disappointing that everyone seems to align themselves on one side or another of the same divisive coin.
