These first
days of the Trump administration have been amateur hour for sure. But Democrats
are making a mistake by mimicking some of Trump’s theatrics and demeanor in
their responses. We are in serious need to have at least some adults in the
room. Thus, my advice in these first 100-days is for the Democrats to look to a
“twist” of a timeworn British saying:
“Stay Calm, But Don’t Carry On.” We have plenty of children acting out, we desperately need
some cool and grownup behavior.
Democrats and
others who did not vote for Trump are not primarily to blame for the election
result. The Republican primary process and the weaknesses of alternative
potential nominees delivered us President Trump. The establishment’s lack of
understanding of the seething frustration of many, many citizens delivered us
Trump.
Trump will
hurt us all, but he is first and foremost a Republican problem. Establishment conservatives
and their surrogates have made a Faustian bargain in their effort to control
the White House. They now have as their leader a hedonistic, anti-trade, ethnic
nationalist, and Peron-like corporatist. Not exactly bedrock conservative ideals.
Democrats
through their hyperbolic responses over these last few days provide cover for
the Republican moderates. In effect, the Democrats are saying what the
Republicans would eventually be required to say. Democrats should stop carrying
on and start looking and acting like a more grown up and responsible opposition.
No one will listen to their criticism except fellow Trump haters. If McCain,
Graham, Collins and Ryan and others have to say it; eventually it might sink
in.
Trump’s
cabinet nominees are going to be appointed eventually. Democrats should have
presented polite, critical counterpoint at the hearings; setting up the record
for later use. Instead, they behaved badly and ineffectually with a boycott of
Mnuchin’s and Price’s confirmations for Treasury and HHS respectively. It was a
useless and distracting tantrum; not showing an alternative demeanor to the
Republican’s chronic obstructionism while they were in the minority. It only
fueled the invincibility of the Trumpians. The same will follow on the
nomination of Neil Gorsuch for the Supreme Court. Is he perfect; surely no, but
generally continues the status quo of Antonin Scalia. Sure, it was unconscionable
for the Republican’s to block Obama’s constitutional prerogative of appointment
for almost a year; but will it do any lasting good to behave uncivilly? Extreme
obstructionism will not work.
For
Democrats, this should be a time for proportionality and reality in their response
to Trump. If things go as they seem, Congressional Republican leadership will
eventually abandon their Faustian devil. If Democrats smartly do not take the
bait, it is the Republicans that will eventually rein in all the destructive
policies and tendencies of the Donald.
Public
demonstrations and the press can provide the emotional energy; the Democratic
leadership must be calm, smart, grown up and strategic.
But Democrats
also desperately need a fresh, new voice – think of the early Barack Obama.
Trump’s message is fear, isolation and bravado. Democrats need to harness hope,
access and confidence with a new communicator in this digital age.
It’s the long game Democrats should be
thinking about, not the pettiness of the day. We potentially have four years “to carry on”, but if the conservatives and
the country have their fill, perhaps Article 2, Section 4 of the Constitution will
come to the rescue before then.
