We and our vendors use cookies and similar methods (“Cookies”) to recognize visitors and remember their preferences. We also use Cookies for a variety of purposes, including analytics, to measure marketing effectiveness and to target and measure the effectiveness of ads. You can accept or reject the use of Cookies for individual purposes below. Some vendors process your data on the basis of their legitimate interest - you can object to such processing below. Your preferences will be saved in a cookie named “fides_consent” for a maximum duration of 12 months, as well as in your registered user account if you are logged in. If you previously accepted these methods through our prior banner, then we will use your data for targeting. Your preferences will apply on nytimes.com, as well as our News, Cooking, Games and Audio apps. Your preferences here are unrelated to Apple’s App Tracking Transparency Framework.
Supported by
By Frank Bruni and Bret Stephens
Mr. Bruni is a contributing opinion writer; Mr. Stephens is an opinion columnist.
Bret Stephens: Hi, Frank. I hope you had a great summer. I know President Trump is going to be a frequent topic of discussion, dismay and disgust in this and many future conversations between us. But can I begin by broaching a subject that’s just as depressing? The Democratic Party, I mean ….






