Power to the people, because it’s up to us
Issue #827 The Choice, Friday, March 21, 2025
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Remember when California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer were considered the leading (youthful) Democratic alternatives to the supposedly unfit, aged, and mentally incapacitated Joe Biden?
Remember hearing how much better life would be – and how much better our chances would be against Trump - if only Biden would step aside so that gorgeous, telegenic, made-for-TV politicians like these could swoop in and rescue us from the threat of Biden’s boring competence?
This was back when nobody except Biden seemed to recognize Kamala was standing right there, the invisible Black woman who was far more competent and far more ready than any other name being tossed around. This was also when saving the country from itself wasn’t considered enough of an achievement to merit a second term.
Yeah. Me too. Those were the days, right? Now it seems like democracy was just a dream of once-upon-a-time.
Yeah, well. It seems that now our twin matinee idols have both swung to the right, kissing the orange ring while still pretending to wear blue. And both of them are gearing up for a 2028 presidential run. That is, if there is still such a thing as an election in 2028 – or even if there is still such a thing as a president.
From Jack Lessenberry’s excellent Substack, Politics and Prejudices:
After Democrats took majority control of both houses of the Michigan legislature in 2022, she [Governor Gretchen Whitmer] wasted no time signing bills that overturned right-to-work, passed gun control measures, a clean energy package, civil rights protections for those who happen to be gay or transgender, and generally gave Republicans fits.
Then, however, Donald Trump was reelected last November, carrying Michigan in the process. Suddenly, there seemed to be a change in the tone coming from the statehouse.
Gone were the vitriolic attacks on Donald Trump, and in turn, he stopped saying anything about that woman from Michigan, of whom he had once said, “Lock her up.” Not only that, he reappointed her to the Council of Governors, making her the longest-serving member.
Soon afterwards, Ms. Whitmer stunned some Democrats by skipping their state convention to eat dinner next to President Trump at the National Governors Association. She then told Bridge magazine, an online Michigan publication that “if I can find common ground, I’m going to.”
Lessenberry is a longtime Michigan political commentator who knows a few things about how politics works in this state.
As for Gavin Newsom, this article from The Hill is just one of many pointing out the whiplash-inducing change of direction California’s governor took once Trump was elected.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s (D) new podcast hosting prominent supporters of President Trump is raising questions about his political strategy as he wraps up his tenure as governor and keeps the door open to a 2028 presidential run.
The first few episodes of “This is Gavin Newsom” have found the governor seeking common ground with conservative figures like Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon. The show has also seen Newsom break with Democrats on the issue of transgender athletes in women’s sports, calling it “deeply unfair.”
This may not be a four-alarm fire, but I’d say it’s definitely worth paying attention to, not because there aren’t Democrats who are refusing to bow down – Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez being two of the most prominent examples of Democrat resistance as they take their anti-oligarchy tour across the country to overflow crowds, even in red states – but because Newsom and “Big Gretch” were supposed to be two of the Democratic party’s top shining lights on the road to the Big Stage.
The fact that they are bowing the knee so soon suggests they either believe we have already lost the fight for democracy or they don’t believe saving democracy is worth the fight.
Because seeking common ground with someone who is seeking to destroy the nation is not an option worthy of consideration by anyone who says they want to represent us regular folk. It’s only an option to be considered by those who stand ready to sell us out.
Judging by the size of the crowds showing up for Bernie and AOC, not to mention the rapidly growing number of other protests and demonstrations across the country, I’d say Newsom and Whitmer are both paddling their way out to sea on an ice flow. To say they aren’t reading the room would be a gross understatement.
The people don’t want compromise. They want leaders. And if certain leaders don’t know which way to go, then the people are about to tell them where to go as they lead the way themselves.
Because the people, unlike certain leaders, are less and less confused about what the hell is going on right now.
So maybe it’s time for these lost leaders to catch up to the moment. Or get the hell out of the way before they get run over.
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