|
By Albert Eisenberg
It’s 2026. America’s 250th birthday celebration is coming to Philly. The wheels have been hot-glued back onto the Eagles wagon. And our state’s senior U.S. Senator John Fetterman is more popular with Republicans than Democrats.
There have been innumerable strange occurrences in the last decade in politics, but almost none more so than Fetterman’s transition from 2022 progressive darling to bane of America’s left wing. Whether in his obstinate refusal to appease Hamas and their growing number of supporters in the U.S., insistence that borders should exist and be enforced, or calling out Democratic intransigence on the government shutdown, Senator Fetterman has emerged as a voice of reason to many in Pennsylvania — and an apostate to the Democratic base.
Polling shows that Fetterman enjoys solid approval ratings overall, most significantly with Republicans (62-21 approve to disapprove), and floundering marks with Democrats. And he shows no signs of relenting; In an era where aesthetics and statements matter more than actual votes (Fetterman sides with his Democratic colleagues much more often than not), there is no room for him to reassume the progressive posture demanded by activist Democrats.
Why It Matters. Senator Fetterman is living through a social phenomenon that so many of us know too well: that Democrats demand ideological conformity, and exile dissenters. It is their modus operandi for holding and maintaining power. Republicans, with all of our flaws, are just not like this. The Senator could make himself a happy home as a maverick Independent, and work his leverage within a grateful majority caucus — while giving himself an actual shot at winning reelection if he wants to run again in 2028.
With his party base and legacy media moving against him, now is the best opportunity for Fetterman — and those who yearn for normalcy and moderation in politics — to make a change.
Continue Reading
|
