Many will claim that it is best to compromise, get the best deal attainable as Trump and the Republicans attempt to destroy the New Deal, the Great Society, and Obamanomics. Many Americans made choices that will negatively affect their economic well-being, social status and health. The gullibility of many Americans is ever-present because at every turn, there are those who attempt to make the best of the situation that resulted from an inappropriate vote.

Progressive and conservative rags alike excoriated Daily Kos founder Markos Moulitsas for a harsh post pretty much scolding the gullible voter. Many reported it as a gleeful takedown of those who will see the fallout from their vote almost immediately. Many of us who are out there fighting for poor and middle-class policies feel the exasperation in those words, as many hoodwinked by the smoke, mirrors, and lies of the guardians of the plutocracy continue to achieve electoral results.

Sometimes good cop/bad cop is a necessary tactic. Progressives know that many of these voters screwed themselves. Multitactical approaches to attempt to get these voters’ attention are warranted. What is unwarranted is something progressives are excellent at doing to themselves: forming the circular firing squad that forgets who the enemy is. Let's all remember that the eradication of many ills is attained by attacking from various directions in different forms, using different techniques.

Here is the deal—President-elect Donald Trump is an illegitimate president, and it is imperative that all Americans treat him as such. This stance isn't sour grapes. Here’s why:

It is clear that Trump both encouraged the Russians to hack Hillary Clinton's campaign and that the Russians fed information to WikiLeaks to aid the Donald.

It is clear that Putin was involved in directing the Russian hack and that Trump was aware—and in fact encouraged the Russians to hack Hillary Clinton's emails.

Hillary Clinton won 3 million more votes than Trump did and as such, he has no mandate for the destruction of our social safety net. Most people voted for the policies supported by Hillary Clinton.

We cannot allow Trump to govern without vigorous opposition, lest it encourages future candidates to use the most evil seeds still residing in many to attain a hollow victory. Trump used racism, misogyny, xenophobia, sexism, and all the negative -isms in between to eke out an electoral majority.

Donald Trump and his allies continue to lie when they claim that Trump won by an electoral landslide, let alone won the election fairly. Any statements that claim Trump had a landslide win are patently false. They need that narrative because they want to justify massive changes to policy. Otherwise, there is no legitimacy for privatizing and cutting Obamacare, Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.

It is time for the Democratic Party to evolve. It is time for Americans to see them as fighters. Americans do not like Republican policies, but they sure do like to see someone they think is fighting for them. Democrats all over the country must see that. Democrats need leadership that is willing to get dirty. The best defense of the poor and the middle classis a potent offense, a strong public relations effort, and standing up for poor and middle class-centric policies. That is why one hopes Democrats elect a fighter like Keith Ellison to run the Democratic National Committee instead of another weak, complacent actor schooled in platitudes.

"The undemocratically illegitimate president” must be Trump's moniker, and we must fight to stop his and the Republicans' agenda to harm the poor and middle class.