The Resistance Was Right, But That’s Not the Point

The defeat of Alex Vindman in the Democratic Senate primary has been hailed as a sign that the “resistance” is over. However, this reading assumes that the resistance was solely about opposition to Trump, rather than about developing a broader political message.

One thing is clear: the resistance was right about Donald Trump. It accurately depicted him as a corrupt and authoritarian figure with problematic relationships with dictators like Vladimir Putin. The Mueller investigation and the first impeachment were essential steps in trying to hold Trump accountable for his actions, even if they ultimately failed to remove him from office.

Trump’s second term has seen him undermine America’s system of alliances, mock and bully Ukraine’s president, and praise Kim Jong Un. It’s not surprising that the resistance is no longer fashionable in liberal circles, given its association with institutional procedures deemed ineffective against Trump.

However, it’s a mistake to assume that the resistance was solely focused on these tactics. It was also about developing a political message that resonated with voters. And in this, the resistance succeeded: Democrats retook the House in 2018, despite a strong economy, and then defeated Trump’s reelection effort.

The real question is what comes next for the Democratic Party. Will it continue to abandon its most fervent opponents of Trump, or will it find new ways to mobilize opposition to his policies? How will this affect the broader politics of the country?

The Death of a Movement

The rout of resistance-era Democrats has been interpreted as a sign of a new era for the Democratic base. However, this reading assumes that the resistance was solely about opposition to Trump, rather than about developing a broader political message.

In reality, the resistance was always about more than just resisting Trump. It was also about developing a progressive alternative to his policies. And in this sense, it succeeded: Democrats retook the House in 2018, and then defeated Trump’s reelection effort.

If the Democratic Party abandons its most fervent opponents of Trump, it will not only be losing its moral compass; it will also be abandoning its core progressive values. The resistance was right about Trump’s corruption and authoritarianism, but that’s not the point. The point is what we do next.

The Failure of Resistance Politics

The failure of the resistance to remove Trump from office has been seized upon by his defenders as proof that the efforts were misguided or even counterproductive. However, this reading assumes that the resistance was solely focused on these tactics, rather than about developing a broader political message.

In reality, the resistance was never limited to cheering on Mueller or hoping to persuade Republicans to convict the president of high crimes and misdemeanors. It was also about inspiring a new generation of Democrats who were willing to take on Trump’s policies head-on.

And in this sense, the resistance succeeded: Democrats retook the House in 2018, and then defeated Trump’s reelection effort. The problem is not with the resistance itself, but with the Democratic Party’s inability or unwillingness to sustain its momentum.

The Rise of a New Opposition

As the Democratic Party abandons its most fervent opponents of Trump, a new opposition movement is rising in its place. This movement is not about nostalgia for the resistance; it’s about developing a new politics that can mobilize voters and challenge Trump’s policies head-on.

This movement is still in its early stages, but it has already shown signs of life: from progressive candidates running in primaries around the country to grassroots movements organizing against Trump’s policies.

The question is whether this movement will be able to sustain itself, or whether it will falter under the weight of party pressure. The answer to this question will depend on what happens next.

What Comes Next

As the Democratic Party grapples with its own internal contradictions, one thing is clear: the resistance was right about Trump, but that’s not the point. The point is what we do next.

Will the Democratic Party continue to abandon its most fervent opponents of Trump, or will it find new ways to mobilize opposition to his policies? Will it develop a broader political message that resonates with voters, or will it settle for incremental reforms that fail to challenge Trump’s agenda?

The answer to these questions will depend on what happens next. But one thing is certain: the resistance was right about Trump, and now it’s time to move forward.

The Resistance Will Continue

The truth is that the resistance will continue, even if its most visible leaders are no longer on the scene. It will be led by a new generation of Democrats who are willing to take on Trump’s policies head-on, and it will be driven by a new politics that can mobilize voters and challenge Trump’s agenda.

This politics will not be easy to build; it will require a deep commitment to progressive values and a willingness to challenge the status quo. But if it succeeds, it will mark a major turning point in American politics: a shift from resistance to renewal, from opposition to progress.