Staff Reports
This week brought a blunt moment in the post‑midterms fight: The Bulwark’s editor Jonathan V. Last published a subscriber column urging Democrats to “Destroy Trump’s political standing,” and veteran Democratic strategist James Carville told a podcast audience the base wants to “humiliate Donald Trump” and watch him “wither in anguish, in misery, in pain.” If you needed a reminder that some on the left want pure political revenge, you got it loud and clear.
What They Said: Bulwark’s “Destroy All Monsters” and Carville’s Call
Jonathan V. Last’s piece, headlined “Destroy All Monsters,” argues Democrats should make it their single mission to finish off President Trump’s standing and power. His line is simple: “Destroy Trump’s political standing. You think he’s finished? … Hit him again.” On the same beat, James Carville—no shrinking violet when it comes to blunt talk—said the Democratic base wants to humiliate Trump and watch him suffer. Those aren’t metaphors for a policy debate. They are a strategy memo disguised as anger.
Why This Matters: Midterms, Control, and White House Moves
The timing isn’t an accident. Democrats have new leverage in Congress after last month’s midterms, and the question now is how they will use it. The Bulwark column and Carville’s outburst are both part of the same political atmosphere: pressure for aggressive oversight, public investigations, and legislative moves that would put the President on defense. At the same time, Never‑Trump figures like Bill Kristol and allies are pushing a different GOP—one that embraces open immigration and investor‑first policies—so the real aim here is to weaken Trump and the populist coalition that elected him. Toss in recent White House staff shifts and the stage is set for a knock‑down political year.
Why the “Destroy” Playbook Will Backfire
Here’s the politics lesson some elites keep missing: humiliation works great for fundraising and punditry, but it supercharges the target’s base. Tell millions of voters you want to “humiliate” their leader and watch them tighten up, not fold. The Never‑Trump crowd imagines replacing a populist movement with a polished, globalist GOP. Good luck selling that to kitchen‑table voters who want secure borders, good jobs, and respect. The harder Democrats and their media allies push for political retribution, the more likely they are to hand Trump and his allies a campaign theme they can use for years.
So What Should Republicans Do Next?
Don’t flinch, but don’t feed the trolls either. Push back with facts, hold hearings on your terms, and remind voters why they chose the populist message in the first place. Mockery and revenge are tempting television fodder for the left and the Never‑Trump elite, but they’re lousy policy. If Democrats insist on ruthless aggression, Republicans should meet force with competence, clarity, and a little humor. After all, when your enemies are shouting “destroy,” a calm, steady rebuttal and a campaign that shows results looks pretty good by comparison — and it’s a lot more effective than watching personalities grind each other into pulp for clicks.
