Staff Reports
Another day, another win for moderates in the Democratic Party as Rep. Cori Bush finds herself kicked to the curb in her attempt to snag yet another term in office. Representing Missouri’s 1st Congressional District, Bush, a member of the infamous “Squad,” discovered that the progressive dream of transforming the party into a leftist utopia is alive and well in the minds of some voters—just not hers. Wesley Bell, a more moderate opponent backed by pro-Israel super PACs, proved too tough to beat, adding another notch in the belt of moderate Democrats who are tired of the Squad’s antics.
The results of this election cycle hit the progressive left like a bag of hammers. Bush joins a parade of other “progressive” champions who thought their brand of politics was still in vogue. Following the exits of Rep. Jamaal Bowman and many others—including a veritable “who’s who” of progressive losers like Marie Newman, Jamie McLeod-Skinner, and Nina Turner—one has to wonder if the left is finally grasping the concept of voter fatigue. It’s almost as if voters are saying, “Enough with the incessant radicalism; we want someone who can actually get things done.”
Democrats vote out another progressive as Harris, Walz seek to move party to the left – https://t.co/qtd7fFafpE – @washtimes
— Kerry Picket (@KerryPicket) August 7, 2024
Despite what might have been a juicy campaign narrative, Bush ended up sounding more like a disgruntled reality TV contestant than a seasoned politician. As the results rolled in, the self-proclaimed champion of the people vowed to continue her battle against the powerful AIPAC. Meanwhile, in the real world, Bell’s ability to raise nearly $5 million dwarfed her efforts, leaving her flabbergasted at how money and party backing can still matter, even in a progressive space.
There’s no denying that this particular race was a big-ticket affair, featuring ads that slammed Bush for her antics and her squeaky-clean but questionable voting record. Criticism came not just from opponents but even from her party leaders regarding her lack of support for a bipartisan infrastructure law that promised significant improvements for Missouri. Instead of hopping on that train, Bush opted to hold out for something that fit her checklist. Voter corpses turned over in their graves as she purportedly neglected crucial issues in favor of agenda items that only the most radical of Democrats could stomach.
As for her prospects, Bush is not just facing electoral backlash. There’s also a federal investigation lurking in the shadows over her questionable hiring practices, where she allegedly funneled campaign funds to pay her husband for security services. While she insists there’s nothing to see here, her record of using the police as punching bags during the Ferguson riots doesn’t exactly help her credibility. The citizens of her district appear more inclined to prioritize effective governance over radical proclamations and personal scandals.
In a time when moderate voices are steadily regaining ground in the Democratic realm, all eyes will now switch to the next member of the Squad to face the music: Rep. Ilhan Omar. The stakes are raised as she preps for her primary, with many wondering if she’ll suffer a similar fate to her fallen comrades. Meanwhile, with the likes of Kamala Harris and her running mate Tim Walz pushing the party further left—a real-life version of “Mad Max: Fury Road”—the party faces a reckoning: is it time to bring the radicals back to reality?
