Ben-Meir makes fair points about the Democrats needing new blood and a sharper agenda, but the “last stand” language does him no favours. That kind of framing is exactly what the right thrives on - endless doom-casting and slogans about “existential threats.”

Democrats lowering themselves to that level just blurs the distinction.

Midterms are high-stakes, yes, but not extinction events. Politics is cyclical, and voters can shift quickly when one side overreaches. Treating 2026 like the final battle for democracy sounds more like Murdoch clickbait than strategy.

The real issue isn’t whether Gavin Newsom or Zohran Mamdani is charismatic enough to fight Trump, it’s whether Democrats can reconnect with voters on everyday concerns - jobs, housing, cost of living - while also defending democratic norms. Unless you’re Trump - the only politician who can brag about sexual assault, sneer at norms, and still be rewarded with incumbency - that takes patient persuasion.

If the Democrats want to look like the adults in the room, they shouldn’t mirror Trump’s melodrama. They should project competence, steadiness, and trust. That’s often what wins back disaffected voters, far more than grand “do-or-die” narratives.

Dearest chatbot John (premium) .

#…Democrats LOWERING themselves to that level just blurs the distinction…#

Democrats are unable to “lower” themselves any further; they are morally destitute, cast out, living permanently in outer darkness…in their own State of goodnight Dick. Hi ho.

Here’s my first vomit for the day, with what is becoming an habitual encounter with a domestic terrorist, this sicko author.

Get back to the Harbour Bridge where you belong; under the banner of Ayatollah Khomeini and other assortments of terrorist flags…and of course the selection of like minded thinkers such as Bob Carr, the squeamish small minded homosexual and the further collection of brain dead fags!

Diver dan,

Your whole reply is just bile and slurs. Not a word about tariffs, housing, or anything I actually wrote.

If that’s the best counter the right can muster, I’ll take it as confirmation my post landed.

I’ll take it as confirmation my post landed.
John Daysh,
Lol, the only real reason you et al get replies from those with more foresight & integrity than you is to hopefully prevent some gullible youngsters falling for your idealistic rhetoric. Don't confuse your good command of jargon with good sense !

This author is not Australian.
He is not in Australia.
He doesn't write about Australia.

Why Australians would be interested in his opinion on matters nothing to do with Australia, particularly his whining about Donald Trump, when our biggest worry is Anthony Albanese's wrecking of our own country ... well it's beyond me.