Chaotic neutral How the Democrats lost their soul in the center

This irreverent polemic debut alleges that Democrats "give up when they should fight" and have a "broken" view of how politics works. Political scientist Burmila traces the roots of the problem to the breakup of the New Deal coalition between Southern Dixiecrats and Northern liberals amid the push for civil rights legislation in the 1960s, and details how the shift from bread-and-butter economic issues to more elusive demands for racial equality and women's rights contributed to the declining influence of labor unions and the increasing sway of "moneyed interests" over Democratic politicians. A new breed of pro-market, tough-on-crime, anti-bureaucracy Democrat clamored for change in the 1980s and, with Bill Clinton's election in 1992, returned the party to the White House and majority control of Congress. But the bet on the electoral dominance of the growing professional middle classes turned into a self-fulfilling race to centrist mediocrity, Burmila argues. He calls for Democrats to remember their roots as a party for the poor, the marginalized, and the working classes, and to recommit to the state's role in pursuing social justice. Throughout, Burmila combines deep research and sophisticated history lessons with acerbic wit (Donald Trump is "a store-brand dictator, the perfect synthesis of Kim Jong-Il and Don Rickles"). This smart and entertaining screed packs a punch. (Sept.)

What's the matter with the Democratic Party? Burmila explores a slate of problems, from poor messaging to ideological inconstancy. "If you have yet to conclude that the Republican Party is a malignancy that needs to be destroyed rather than appeased or reasoned with, this is the wrong book for you." So writes the author in an opening gambit to a discussion that finds fault--sometimes a touch excessively, but with cause--with what he regards as the appeasing tactics of Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, who were both too eager to compromise during their presidencies. A larger problem is that while the Democrats are asking to steer the ship of state, they're not offering persuasive arguments for why they should be trusted to do the job. The Republicans, courtesy of Newt Gingrich, Mitch McConnell, and their ilk, have developed a "scorched earth approach to politics" that in essence says "shove off" to anyone not a true believer. On the other hand, Obama contorted himself to enlist both left and right in a struggle in which one side had no interest in compromise. His successors at nearly every level of electoral politics, Burmila argues, have yet to seize on successes, however partial, and to improve on half victories like the Affordable Care Act, which, he notes, did not reform health care nearly as much as it could have. What to do? Burmila admits that he is stronger on pinpointing problems than coming up with solutions, but some of his fixes make eminent sense, including finding true remedies for the economic struggles of working people rather than kowtowing to the wealthy elite. Otherwise--and Burmila suggests this is the likelier outcome--the Republicans will win, about which he writes, "On the plus side, you might be dead before some of the worst parts happen. See? There's always a positive." Food for thought for the progressive side of the aisle. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.