After the Fall

Democratic Strategy After the Midterms - And Beyond

With Democrats likely to flip the House and possibly the Senate in the midterms, the question is what they should do – or can do – to address the excesses of the Trump administration that are result of his malignant narcissism -- including retribution against political opponents, his violent rhetoric and his undermining of democratic institutions for personal and political gain. But it is also important to distinguish his personal narcissistic crusades from the administration’s policy positions that are not only anti-democratic but destructive to the American people and our standing in the world.

While it easy to identify great harm from Trump’s narcissism, everything from his portrait on government buildings to the proposed monuments to himself and his capture of government agencies for his political and financial gain. What is harder to sort out are the conservative MAGA policy goals that his administration is pursuing, albeit with anti-democratic overreach. While some of us Democrats would like to simply undo most or all of what Trump has done, it is more important to focus on our goals for the future, while at the same time working to repair the damage that Trump has done to the country.

Foreign policy may be at the top of the list, most specifically the war with Iran. It would be foolish to downplay the threat that a nuclear Iran poses, which is why successive administrations have used diplomacy – including sanctions, strict verification and tough agreements – to contain the threat. Trump ripped up these agreements, which meant Iran could go back on the path to a nuclear bomb. Clearly, starting a war with Iran has made the situation worse, and future administrations will struggle to get us back to where we were before the war.

However, the disaster of the Trump administration should not be a signal for retrenchment from the world. The danger is that the isolationist, anti-war sentiment on both the right and left could make things even worse. The last thing America should do is retreat from the world, especially as our dominance as a world power is waning. And Democrats should not embrace the populist isolationist perspective of MAGA just because it is politically expedient.

There are lots of other policy areas where Democrats should resist the temptation to overreact simply because they are politically popular or anti-Trump. A tougher attitude toward the NATO countries, for example, has been warranted, even though Trump’s antagonistic approach completely backfired. In the domestic arena, immigration is an issue that requires compromise on both sides in order to find a comprehensive solution. Undoing the unconstitutional excesses of the Trump administration is only the first step in creating a humane and constructive solution to the immigration issue.

Trump did not create the discontent and dysfunction in America, and his fall from power will not end it. A change in the global economic order and America’s huge debt mean that we will have to devise new solutions in areas from healthcare and social security to government regulation and industrial policy. Reducing the social safety net is inevitable and will mean pain for many Americans. The cost of health care – not to mention housing and a host of other goods and services – will continue to increase and will require major reforms that will mean suffering for most Americans.

As we regain the reins of power, Democrats have to be honest with our citizens. We cannot solve any of these problems overnight. Trump promised to do that and look what happened. It’s time for a clear-eyed look at where we stand as a country. This means realistic proposals to our goals as a nation and the sacrifices they will entail. Americans are ready for this conversation. They have been lied to with empty promises by both parties and Democrats should be the party to finally tell the truth. Part of that truth is that Trump and MAGAism must be fully discredited, but that will be only the beginning in restoring trust in government and starting on a constructive path to America’s future.

Hoyt Hilsman is an author, former Congressional candidate and current Chair of the United Democratic Headquarters in Southern California.