Unlike 2016, when his victory over Hillary Clinton came as a shock to many Americans, Trump was no surprise in 2024. The Democratic Party had the benefit of four years to ensure that this would not happen again. Yet as in 2016, Democrats appear to have failed to win over the electorate in a race against a uniquely unpopular candidate — this time one with multiple impeachments, indictments, and criminal convictions.
The short-lived Biden campaign and subsequent Harris campaign opted to try to beat Republicans at their own game, by tacking rightward on issues such as immigration, criminal justice, and climate. After President Joe Biden dropped out, the Democratic Party rejected calls to stop providing arms to Israel’s war on Gaza. Instead, Harris touted the endorsements of conservatives such as Liz Cheney. The strategy was a ploy to woo moderates and conservatives wary of a second Trump term, but it may have alienated key voting blocs.
Locking up Trump wouldn’t have kept the Republicans from winning. They’d have just found another candidate willing to say the same things.
I don’t know. it would have been hard for them to change the figurehead of the cult. it also would have sent a clear “Don’t do that” signal vis a vis insurrection and treason. Especially because Trump absolutely would have split the vote from jail.
fact is Trump has barely seen any consequences at all for his actions, and now he never will, and that’s on democrat’s and Biden’s DOJ in particular. (And yes. Biden could have lit a fire under Garland if he wanted. Not doing your job is grounds for firing, even if Biden can’t dictate day to day or specific courses of actions.)
One doesn’t guarantee the other. Trump had something special that nobody else seems to have. I doubt they could get that lightning in the bottle again.