A Political Theory of Everything

Democrats believe America is defined by its sins, not its achievements.

Allan J. Feifer | May 31, 2026

If you are a worried conservative, take a deep breath and try to relax. If you follow politics closely these days, as many conservatives do, you are likely to be agitated and suffering from high blood pressure. My political awareness began sometime around Goldwater's run for president. Those were good times, even though LBJ soundly trounced Goldwater by almost 23%! Yet, the next day, there were no riots in the streets, no calls for violence, or anyone marking that day as the beginning of the end of America. We took it in stride as Republicans and conservatives do. And, as a country, we were relatively happy, patriotic Americans even when we lost. Even Dems, when they lost, mostly handled disappointment the same way back then. 

My, how things have changed.

LBJ was many things, but today's progressives would disown him. They'd say he's "A corporate, establishment Democrat masquerading as a reformer" or "A war hawk who can't be trusted with foreign policy" or "A relic of the past who doesn't understand modern progressive priorities" and "Good on civil rights, but that's not enough" or lastly "Another Biden‑style moderate who talks big but won't deliver structural change." In other words, they would skewer him as a DINO—a Democrat in name only. He, like Kennedy, would have no place in American politics, and the left would destroy them both. So much for any connection between Democrats back then and what they call themselves today, bearing zero resemblance to what Democrats once stood for. 

Mid-century Democrats like Truman, Kennedy, and Johnson rooted their politics in a muscular, unapologetic Americanism that treated patriotism as a civic duty rather than joining a cult. They, too, believed the United States was a force for good in the world, spoke openly about our greatness,........

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