Dear Democratic Party:

How are you faring, exiled on the island of the politically inconsequential? I know it’s lonely. You’re frustrated by having won the popular vote four of the six presidential elections this century, only to have two victories to show for your efforts.

But politics is the ultimate cyclical enterprise. I have no doubt you will return to prominence. The question remains: When and how soon?

The answer is entirely up to you. You can’t pursue the fool’s gold of immediate gratification that risks making you look peevish and insular.

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California congressman drafts articles of impeachment, but Bay Area reps aren’t onboard The perceived blood in the water of a weakened president has seemingly buoyed your outlook. Rep. Al Green of Texas recently wasted no time giving a speech on the empty House floor, demanding impeachment proceedings.

Many of your faithful raced to their respective social media outlets with youthful exuberance to post Green’s words, which was as meaningful as a half-off sale on manual typewriters.

How can you call for impeachment without facts? Or does a 2-minute clip followed by myriad talking heads debating it on cable television suffice? Granted, former FBI Director James Comey’s testimony before the Senate Intelligence Committee offered strong evidence that the president could have obstructed justice. But the operative words continue to be “could have.”

Moreover, the political makeup of Congress suggests that without the proverbial smoking gun, impeachment is nothing more than a fanciful notion.

Assuming President Trump were impeached, then what? The fact remains, should impeachment come to fruition, you would still be hurting.

Whatever happens to the president won’t cure what ails your party. You have no bench strength; your farm system is nearly non-existent. Regardless of the reason, you’re largely noncompetitive in far too many states. You have an almost myopic focus on the White House with little emphasis on the other races that comprise our democratic form of government.

Stop clinging to the false narrative that the low-income white voter is the new kingmaker in American politics.

You want to know why you lost? First, pick up a mirror. Then go to those who voted in 2008 and 2012 but did not vote in 2016. It would only have required a total of 77,000 votes in Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania to produce a different outcome.

As for impeachment, let me share a lesson my father gave me.

He was a blue-collar Democrat, union member. He detested Richard Nixon. We watched on television as Nixon resigned from office. A smile came across my face. My father looked at me asking: “Why are you smiling?”

I knew the tone was one of displeasure, I sheepishly responded: “This is good. Right?”

My father said, “It’s not good for the country!”

Impeachment, which is not a conviction, is still not good for the country.

It is a rare occurrence in American politics. Nixon did not have the votes to survive so he resigned in disgrace. Andrew Johnson was impeached not for any illegal malfeasance, but for his unwillingness to align with the “Radial Republicans” in Congress. And then there was Bill Clinton.

What these scenarios have in common is none were good for the country. So stop with such nonsense. Let the facts dictate the course of action. If you must comment, do so with judicious remarks that place country over politics, rather than snarky invectives that serve only to momentarily pacify some on social media.

Meanwhile, you have some heavy lifting to do, internally and externally. Get rid of the so-called super delegates. It’s an undemocratic way to choose a presidential nominee. Go into the hinterlands and make your case to the legions that have joined the Apathetic Party.

You must establish a raison d’être that is more persuasive than, “At least I’m not as bad as the other guy!”

Remember, it’s not the president’s boorish behavior, late-night tweets, or his seemingly disinterest in authentically governing that has you exiled. I suspect you already know the latter point to be true.

Sincerely,

A philosophical liberal who believes two strong political parties are best for America, rather than be beset with one that cannot win and the other that can’t govern.

Byron Williams is a contributing columnist. Contact him at 510-208-6417 or byron@byronspeaks.com.