Governor Gavin Newsom says he is inviting the prominent followers of President Trump to his podcasts to know why the Democrats “are kicking their ass.” I should look in the mirror.
Newsom personifies much of what he thinks is wrong with the Democratic Party.
Moreoover, the Democrats have not really been kicking their ass. Most of the competitions that the party is having a nervous collapse, such as last year’s presidential elections, were quite close.
There is no great mystery about the results of 2024, regardless of what Newsom says. Several losses could have become victories with better candidates and messages, most crucials at the top of the ticket.
The governor of California began his podcasts “This is Gavin Newsom” at the beginning of last month, saying that he wanted to involve people with whom “in disagreement” to shed public light on why the Republicans were whipping the Democrats in the elections.
That caused controversy among many democratic politicians and activists, as well as some media commentators. They have criticized the governor for giving an unnecessary voice to Trump’s reinforcements and his right -wing causes while Bandly does not go back.
The concept of podcast generation is fine if the governor can adapt while adding the lack of housing, housing affordability, forest fires, climate change and a red ink budget. A great “yes”.
Podcasts could help the governor sell their agenda to the public and improve their national profile for a possible 2028 presidential offer.
But it is ridiculous to rationalize them as a way to discover what is sick of the Democratic party. The newspapers, television and the Internet are full of opinions about all sides.
A ‘toxic’ brand
Participantly striking was the governor’s recent interview with the Times Taryn Luny reporter, a Newsom observer.
Newsom told Luna that he is inviting conservatives in podcasts “to have civil conversations to try to be understood at this time of such polarization.”
“Because our parties kick their ass,” he continued. “Because the brand of the Democratic Party is toxic. Because people do not believe we make any sense. They believe we make noise. They do not believe we support them. Llusas the generic ones.” “They do not believe we have their values.
“They think we are the elite. We talk to people. We talk about people. People. They think we think we are smarter than other people, that we are so critical and full of Odelves … We have lost the way.”
Therefore, the governor of California seems to understand what millions of Americans, particularly magician voters, think of the Democrats.
But it is a hyperbole to maintain that the party received its “rear” last year. That is a language reserved for kicks in the back of Democrats Walter Mondale by Ronald Reagan in 1984 and George McGovern for President Nixon in 1972, and Republican Barry Goldwater by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
Democratic vice president Kamala lost the vote of the determining electoral university due to a decisive margin, but barely lost the popular vote in 1.5%. It is not exactly a defeat.
The same in the Senate. The Democrats lost limited control, but the Republicans only won a majority of three seats.
In the House of Representatives, the Democrats really obtained a gain of two seats, but the Republicans retained thin control of rash by five seats.
In California, the Democrats won three seats in the camera and now exceed the Republicans from 43 to 9.
The Democrats suffered a triafect loss of Washington’s power, but not a beautiful, nothing that a more attractive presidential candidate could not have remedied.
Newsom participated in the debacle at the top, which was caused by a physical president in Declive Biden insisting on running for re -election. That stole the significant primary party that could have allowed another candidate to generate national support.
“I will go to the end of the earth for this type,” said Newsom, one of Biden’s most burning roots. In fact, the governor was about the United States disturbing for the 81 -year -old president.
Rooting Biden
Instead, two realistic Democrats of California, the former president of the House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, and the successful Senate candidate Adam Schiff, pressing Biden to resign.
When Biden finally retired, it was in mid -July and too late to help the party a lot. No presidential aspiration had the strength to play Harris at the National Convention. And the delegates, especially Newsom, were like deer in the headlights.
Harris was too Ter for Biden to run a winning race. She refused to challenge her policies and avoided the two definitive problems of the campaign: illegal immigration and inflation. Another candidate seasoned by primary battles could have been better against the very defective Trump and tried thugs for other Democratic candidates.
Newsom is a Democrat who kicked his butt last year. He and democratic legislative leaders were vehemently opposed to proposal 36, a voting initiative to increase the punishment for repeated retail theft and drugged crimes, including mortal fentanyl. The governor even tried to assemble the measurement of the ballot.
Voters approved the proposal of more than 2 to 1.
That was an example of a democratic politician who did not have voters “” values ”, as Newsom would say.
“Make noise?” A rap in the governor is that it makes a lot of noise announcing great plans, but does not always continue with promised results. The new housing construction is an example. Reducing the lack of housing is another.
Elitism? A scar in Newsom’s legacy will always be the episode of French laundry.
He attended the birthday dinner of a lobbyist friend with several people at a Ritzy and Super Caro restaurant in Napa Valley wine. That not only exhibited elitism, but highly hypocritical. It happened during the Covid-19 block when the governor urged the Californians to bend down at home, avoid mixing and wearing masks. There was no mask alignment at the birthday party.
“Did you lose our way?” Democrats need a new leader to follow.
Next time, at least they will join the proven path of choosing primary elections of the presidential candidate. No one needs a podcast to learn that it has “damn sense.”
George Skelton is columnist of Los Angeles Times. © 2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.
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