Instead of a corrective response to Trump’s post-constitutionalism, the Democratic vision seems to be an assertion that he’s merely not abandoning constitutional values in the right way.
This article is from The Editor’s Corner, with insights, short-posts, links, and general ramblings from Editor/Owner Justin Stapley.
Shortly after the 2016 election, I saw a moment where many centrists, independents, and Democrats were understanding the monstrosity the modern presidency had become as Donald Trump wielded its power in ways that horrified them. There was even a substantial uptick in the use and support of federalism and the checks and balances of our constitutional system.
I thought a great positive outcome could arise from the Trump era as a more significant portion of Americans came to understand the presidency had grown far too powerful. I sensed, for a fleeting moment, a desire was welling up in the hearts of Americans to reel back the power of the presidency so that every election did not feel so damn consequential.
This moment, at least for now, has been eclipsed by Democrats who are entirely missing the barn. Their argument against Donald Trump isn’t any corrective response to post-constitutionalism but an energetic declaration that he’s merely not abandoning constitutional values in the right way.
Every Democratic candidate that has come and gone, to one extent or another, would have amounted to a doubling down of the socialistic progressive policies that so many Americans rejected when they held their nose and voted for Donald Trump.
Even Joe Biden, for however much his resurgence has signaled a rejection of Bernie’s hard-left democratic socialism, is still running on a platform to the left of even Obama. It’s becoming more and more likely that, amazingly, Democrats may actually need another four years of Trump to learn the lessons they should have learned the night of November 8th, 2016.
This article is adapted from a segment of From the Hawk’s Nest, a recurring newsletter written by Justin Stapley.
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