I see, thanks.

After thinking about it, I would add that the bulk of the electorate still kiiinda trusted the MSM back in 2004, and the cultural hegemony of the political left was actually still growing stronger every year, until it crested in 2008/09.
In 2024, the clout of their media allies has completely evaporated and their cultural hegemony has been broken, probably forever.

Same story when it comes to their bench. Obama was a rising star since his 2004 convetion speech, a ton of people back then already said "this guy will be our first black president one day". Most thought his moment would come in 2012 or 2016, but he was clearly a future rockstar candidate they had waiting in the wings. Likewise, Hillary was an obvious candidate who would get her chance. Even back then, it was kinda obvious that she wouldn't make for the greatest candidate, but she was a big name and better than replacement level.

Do Democrats in 2024 have any prospective candidate up their sleeve who would be clearly above replacement level? Newsom, Shapiro, Warnock and Whitmer all have their strengths, but also glaring weaknesses.

Every year that passes since Covid makes someone who engaged in repressive Covid lockdowns look worse
Was unironic about Fetterman, he is the best candidate right now. The only one who actually appeals to voters from both parties and independents. And if he didn't have actual brain damage he's probably be taken seriously

that covid chit still hard to believe and all the chit that went with it. supposedly just to destroy one man, whos back now and it made him stronger than ever?

lefties loosing is legendary. nothing in history even comes close?

All Fetterman had to do was act seriously about getting re-elected even though his senate race isn't for quite a while from now.
Not the typical Democratic piss and shit on their constituents then clean up their act 12-18 months away from the election.

Sides against democrats on the 80-20 issues, stakes out centrist positions, rebukes his party for their excesses and is a tall white man, nobody views him as an empty suit, and he's one of the very few democrats to have relatively high favorability with republicans yet even as fringe democrats whine, he's still holding rock steady democrat approval and reasonable net approval overall. I mean if elections were held today he's the front runner.
/e its sure as fuck not Kamala LOL

This post was edited by Goomshill on Mar 16 2025 06:58pm

Fetterman doesn't look the part, though. Democrats are the party of high-trust establishmentarians and pro-institutionalists now, so I don't think 50 year old Shrek in a hoodie who regularly goes against their side's orthodoxy will appeal to their new, upscale suburban base.


Polls of the primary field this far out are always just a reflection of name recognition, which Kamala obviously still leads. But she's too tarnished from her 2024 loss, plus she has proven to be a middling political talent at best. No way she's the nominee again.

Uncle Fester may give lip service to middle America but he votes with the paedos every damn time.

This post was edited by Thebarba on Mar 16 2025 09:44pm

I tend to agree. It's glaringly obvious that after the retirement of Manchin, Fetterman is now the new "designated blue dog Democrat". He's saying a lot of the right things, but I won't give him credit until he actually casts a decisive vote against his party. Performatively voting for GOP bills or nominees in votes which the GOP was gonna win anyway isn't enough.

I think the next election will be decided more by how the US consumer wallet feels at that point than which candidate the dems decide to run.

The left has crumbled but the recession is brewing…

Well, the economy is always the most important factor for the political environment. If the economy turns sour, Trump and the GOP are fucked. If it's great on election day 2028, Democrats are fucked.

I do expect the economy in 2028 to be middle of the road, though. Kinda similar to 2016, when it was a neutral political environment and candidate quality played a huge role.