The Democrats Are Incoherent. They Need a Shadow Cabinet.

“I’m not a member of an organized party. I’m a Democrat.” -- Will Rogers

I’ll not delve into what I’ll call the Trump Effect. But I am amazed -- incredulous, even –- about how Democrats are dealing with it. (Or perhaps more accurately, how they’re not dealing with it.)

In the United Kingdom and other countries, the opposition party/parties formally or informally designate people to follow sitting members of cabinet. As counterpoints, these individuals comment on governmental activity. They provide constructive criticism. They focus and advance minority party policy. They bring coherence. They add vision.

By way of quick examples, think about some of the respected individuals that the Democrats could bring to the fore as shadow cabinet officers. Former senator, secretary of state, and climate ambassador John Kerry. Former representative, chief of staff, defense secretary, and CIA director Leon Panetta. Former treasury secretary and Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellin. Economist and former labor secretary Robert Reich. Former jurist and attorney general Merrick Garland. Former senator and vice president Al Gore.

One can hope.

I close with another cheery Will Rogers quotation: “Democrats never agree on anything, that’s why they’re Democrats. If they agreed with each other, they’d be Republicans.”