“Whoa…There is absolutely no way that the Republican Party can ever come back from this…”

These were my thoughts as I watched the hyperventilating news coverage of January 6th. In retrospect, I’m sure I said this with my arms crossed and a smug look on my face, casting sideways told-you-so glances at the other inmates in the dayroom. There are few things in this world as satisfying as being right—and the majority of these things are beyond the reach of prisoners. So, I was enjoying my little victory lap.

Of course, I was also thinking “this is a dark day for America” and “I can’t believe this happening here” yada yada . . . But mostly I was relishing the nationally televised unravelling while mentally waving bye-bye to the clown car of congressional sycophants and enablers that had started popping up in DC ever since the man Himself came down the escalator.

Fast forward three and one half years . . .

As the balloons fell over the Fiserv arena in Milwaukee and the final words of Donald Trump’s 90-minute speech echoed throughout America and the world; on a night that featured a black, female, lifelong Democrat school teacher from North Carolina, a powerful monologue from son Eric, a shot of adrenaline from Hulk Hogan, a fist-pumping performance from Detroit’s Kid Rock, and a testosterone-fueled introduction from the UFC’s Dana White; with the crowd on their feet cheering for their bandaged candidate, five days after an assassination attempt, projecting strength and calm, surrounded by his wife, children and grandchildren . . . The Republican Party looks anything but dead. On the contrary, they look unified.

Contrast those images—all the strength and momentum and clarity of message—against the disarray and dysfunction of the Democratic Party. Who’s their leader? A “well-meaning elderly gentleman with memory issues” currently offline with Covid, but even on his most lucid days, a man who has difficulty illustrating the successes of his administration? A low-polling, former prosecutor Vice President who made a career out of disproportionately incarcerating the same demographic she would need to win? A young and charismatic governor from one of the battleground states? At this point it feels like Democrats are already four touchdowns behind with only minutes left in the game. Is a quarterback change really going to help? Maybe. Theoretically, if they went into their August convention with a candidate who could generate enthusiasm, a month from now we could be asking, “Did Republicans peak too early?” But on the day after the RNC, that sure feels like a longshot. I’m not even certain Michelle Obama could win this election.

Personally, I’d let Biden go out on his own terms. I’d treat him with the honor and dignity and respect he deserves. Then after the inevitable blowout loss, I’d go back to the drawing board, do a full postmortem on a party that has lost its way and begin the rebuild project. With the average American as its cornerstone and a message of hope and prosperity as its polestar.

Seems like a daunting task with all the momentum flowing in the other direction. I’m sure the MAGA strategists were feeling the same way in the aftermath of January 6th with the subsequent raids and indictments and underwhelming midterms. But if the rise and fall—and rise and fall—and rise (with a clenched fist) of Donald Trump has taught us anything, it is this . . . In America, anything is possible.

—July 19, 2024