Power, Principles, and the Politics of Accusation: The Dems
This is the other half of a work done previously,
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The Democratic Party stands at the crossroads of American power struggles, ideological principles, and the charged rhetoric that is shaping modern political discourse. A well-known symbol and informal nickname for the party is the donkey. This association dates back to the 19th century and was popularized by political cartoonist Thomas Nast in the 1870s. The donkey symbol originally stemmed from the 1828 presidential campaign of Andrew Jackson, when his opponents called him a “jackass” to mock him. Jackson embraced the label and used the donkey image in his campaign materials. This led to the donkey becoming a lasting emblem of the Democratic Party, symbolizing qualities like stubbornness and determination.
This historical background highlights how political satire and public perception helped shape the party’s identity through this enduring symbol. At what point does a party become the focus of that satire? What about when it becomes the center of satire? Rewind to June 2020.
Photo: Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP
In the midst of a government shutdown, private party discussions are making their way to the public. What were they? Infighting. The loss in the presidential race in 2024 was largely due to how President Biden contributed to the Gaza genocide. Former Vice President Harris said,
I had pleaded with Joe, when he spoke publicly on this issue, to extend the same empathy he showed to the suffering of Ukrainians to the suffering of innocent Gazan civilians,” the former vice president writes in her book “107 Days,” out Tuesday “But he couldn’t do it: While he could passionately state, ‘I am a Zionist,’ his remarks about innocent Palestinians came off as inadequate and forced.
This article can easily be a collection of debacles of the Democratic Party. I return to the introduction. Has the Party become too stubborn, turning themselves into “jackasses”? Like the other public servants across the aisle, have they fallen for the trap of the soundbite? In the age of the selfie, or post-selfie, where you and I are promised a personal AI supercomputer that revolves around us, has the Democratic establishment become so determined in their stubbornness to keep their vote that it has become detrimental? From my vantage point, the GOP is more welcoming to younger voices. With the recent announcements of retirements from senior Democrats, I am hopeful for a fresh change, which includes a new logo.