@hightor,
It's rich when someone calls a president who has made good on more campaign promises than any other I can recall...a
phony, and then suggests that "really good politicians" are anything but that.
The old school politician Dowd seems to revere, the one that promises everything and delivers on almost nothing has been the personification of
phony in millions of American eyes for some time now.
The man clearly has flaws (who doesn't?), but they have been exaggerated to such a degree by his opposition that they seem trivial to his supporters.
I really believe that the day of the charismatic, inspirational politician is over. It ended when Obama who had the skill, made the promises and underdelivered, was succeeded by Hillary Clinton.
Bernie has his fanatics and Warren and Biden have tepid fans but none of the candidates are going to inspire a following such as politicians of the past have. Democrats will support and vote for them but they are not going to do so with fervor. If hatred for the other guy is your #1 motivating tactic, you're in trouble...especially when you have enough good things going on so that voters in the privacy of the voting booth can think "Man, I can't stand the guy but do I really want to take the chance of messing with a good economy?" If the Democrats were talking about tinkering around the edges, they might, but if they have it wrong (and of course I think they do), they are going to plunge us into a recession.
Mayor Pete is the closest thing to the bright young inspirational candidate like Obama or JFK, but he beams insincerity from his McKinsey developed smile. He's not polished, he's slick and that comes through.
I don't know that the Democrats are doomed or that Trump has changed the game forever, but he has changed the game for now and there was no one on that stage who can play it or, I think, overcome it.