Hate to be right and all, but this is what I wrote on January 5 in my annual predictions column. I just predicted Donald Trump would win the presidency, and this is what followed … (Please note, I did not vote for Trump, never even considered it. But I call ‘em like I see ‘em, Nostradamus-style.) “As to the why? Because we no longer live in a two-party system. We live in a four-party system. You’ve got “regular” Republicans and Democrats, and then you have the MAGAs and the far-left loonies. Now here’s the thing: The far-left loonies have vastly overplayed their hand. You think “regular” Democrats give a hoot about DEI? No, they want a fair, colorblind system. Do you think “regular” Democrats want illegal immigrants being bussed into their towns? Absolutely not. Do you think “regular” Democrats think there should be tampon dispensers in men’s bathrooms? They do not. As a result — and here’s the prediction — Independents and Democrats are going to break right this cycle. Which means: The Republicans gain control of the Senate and hold onto the House.” I mean, not too shabby, eh? Which brings me to my next, unasked for, prediction: Until the Democrats start shunning people who end their emails with “she/her” or “he/him” or “they/them” or any combination thereof, they ain’t gonna win jack shizz at the national level. Yes, yes, the economy was an issue, and sure, incumbents around the world have had a tough go of it post-COVID, but the far-left’s insistence that it’s their way or the highway caused a ton of people to hit the highway. Back in the old days — you know, like 2014 — being a “far left liberal” meant that you thought weed should be legal, gay people should be allowed to get married, and racism was bad. Today, being a “far left liberal” means that you think weed should be legal, gay people should be allowed to get married, and racism is bad. And … Israel had no right to defend itself or even exist, people should be allowed to identify as cats, second graders should be exposed to gay and transgender material in public schools, the police should be defunded or disbanded, if you’re not “anti-racist,” whatever that means, you’re part of the problem … Should I go on? I’ll go on … Straight white men are the devil, people should be hired based on their race, color, creed, or sexuality and not on their merits, the climate is more important than gas prices, the borders should be more or less open, socialism is probably the way forward … And on and on and on. I know sooooo many people who voted for Biden in 2020 but broke for Trump in 2024 basically due to the above. The Democrats used to be the party of the working class. Now it’s the party of the upper class who can afford to care about progressive issues. All. Day. Long. Independents broke hard for Trump. Every exit poll showed it. He picked up like 20 points in independents across the country. This crossed racial, religious, gender, you name it. Most Americans are simply not that interested in progressive causes. Pretty simple, looking back at it (or looking forward at it, as I did in January). But here’s the thing: We eventually, as a people, break toward the progressive. After all, Black people aren’t slaves anymore. Women can vote. People — even in red states! — can be gay. Are we perfect? Hell no. Not even close. We have a long way to go before “perfect” even enters the chat. But we’re OK. Better than most. In the meantime, though, pandering to the far-left and their litany of complaints got the Democrats punched in the face. If they have any hope of retaking the White House in 2028, they better find a candidate who is man enough — yeah, it probably should be a man, as I said, we ain’t perfect yet — to tell the far left to reel it in. Someone who is more center-right than far left. We need to clone Bill Clinton.