Don Shula taught me all I really needed to know about competition.
Covering the Miami Dolphins in my career as a sports anchor and reporter, I was fortunate to be part of the radio broadcast team on WIOD-AM in Miami FL. That gave me close access to the legendary NFL Head Coach, and one of my occasional tasks was hosting Shula’s weekly radio interview.
The rules were simple. Introduce the show, Shula would monologue about the most recently played game. Take a commercial break. Come back for the second segment, reintroduce the show and Shula, where he would talk about various strategies and matchups. Take the second commercial break. Return for the third and final segment, reintroduce the show, and Shula would go into detail about the next opponent. Thank the Coach, close the show.
Simple.
Then, there was the day I broke the rules in that second segment. I was just young and brash enough to think I could get away with it. My question to Shoes, (those close to him were allowed the nickname but NEVER to his face), was about losing a game on the final play of the game, which Miami had done on a last-second field goal by an opponent.
Shula leaned forward, ever so slightly, a tad closer to the microphone, squared that famous jaw, and locked me right in his gaze. For a moment, I saw my short career flash in front of my eyes, knowing I had changed the script. I steeled myself for what was to come.
“Ed”, he said, in itself a shocker because Shula rarely used names in doing interviews so as to not mice a single word, “a game is never lost on the final play of a game. It’s lost because players and the team failed to successfully execute the game plan from the very beginning. It is those failures, or that one failure, that puts you in a position to lose. Executing the game plan properly means never being a situation to let the opponent win in those final seconds”.
The analogy could not be more striking.
In the Presidential election of 2024, Democrats failed so often, so completely, that all Donald Trump and Republicans had to do was wait until the final seconds and crash the winning blow.
Democrats never had a solid, well thought out, reactive and proactive game plan to defeat Republicans. They hemmed, they hawed, they played from their heels and a position of weakness from Day One.
The victory by Trump, the MAGA conclave and what remains of traditional Republicans, (and make note they are three very separate entities), was a combination of their exceptional game plan, learned and taking advantage of past failures, and Democrats gaffing over and over again to put themselves in position to be hammered.
The Left’s game plan was so badly carried out, so many obvious mistakes were made, so many plays missed with the end result of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, a simple review proves how chaotic the Democrats game plan was against the Republicans.
Defeat must begin with Joe Biden. The man has been a loyal and faithful public servant to America, and his long career of service should never be discounted. Biden loves America, and has shown his resolve over decades. His decision to initially run for a second term was likely influenced by that deep love for America and a genuine belief in his ability to lead. But this dedication ultimately blinded him to the greater good—passing the torch to younger leaders more attuned to the challenges of today.
Despite Biden’s genuine commitment to serving America, his decision to run for a second term was widely perceived as out of touch with the demands of a rapidly changing political landscape, something top Party leadership knew was a major stumbling block, but they were too frightened of taking the bold step to dare challenge Biden. American demographics and disapproval was easy to see, yet the signs were ignored. Democrats relied on merely “hoping” they were wrong.
Many felt Biden’s choice to run again was driven more by ego and a desire to preserve his legacy than by an objective assessment of the country’s needs. His age, combined with declining approval ratings and obviously declining facilities, signaled the need for fresh leadership that could energize voters. By insisting on running again, he not only limited the party’s options but also left many Democrats yearning for new faces and ideas.
In the end, while both men are considered old by Presidential standards, Biden’s innumerable public bobbles, wobbles and mistakes, compared to what seemed boundless energy by Trump, (who did not have to run a country while running for office), made him seem ancient and feeble. Trump showcased anger and strength, and whether real or a great act, it captivated a large portion of the electorate who never once questioned his age. Democrats failed to realize the age issue was a straw man.
Instead of beginning to cultivate a new generation of Democratic leaders from the moment Biden was elected, he and the Party hunkered down in their belief that charting a new, and in many cases, successful course for the country, would be all they would need to defeat any challenge. Suddenly their future sight became myopic and muddled.
Biden and the Democratic Party underestimated Trump’s resolve and his proven ability to sway a large part of the electorate to believe in his rhetoric. Trump, with a full-throated machine in place that merely needed a fine tuning, and with his resolve to be a major historical American figure, out-maneuvered Democrats at almost every turn.
Vice President Kamala Harris, too, misjudged the moment. Like Biden, she meant well in her service, but she severely underestimated the need to distinguish herself as an independent leader rather than a mere extension of Biden’s administration. Her consistent alignment with Biden and weak-excuses on policy was a strategic error in the middle of the game that was a key to eventual defeat.
Instead of building her own profile and focusing on what it takes to be President, Harris focused on maintaining the “touchy-feely” party unity that Democrats were beginning to grow weary of. Given numerous chances, Harris failed to set her own course until it was far too late in the campaign. This left her vulnerable to the same criticisms aimed at the administration and made it difficult for her to rally support among younger and more progressive voters who wanted innovative solutions to today’s problems.
By not defining herself as a bold forward-thinking leader with truly original ideas, by mixing a consistent word salad of cliches and fist-pumping exhortations, Harris missed a valuable opportunity to create a distinct identity that might have appealed to undecided voters.
To them, and looking at the final numbers even some of those tired Democratic voters, she was a hollow suit. She was just more of the same.
When it became clear that Biden’s popularity was on the decline, party leaders should have encouraged him to step aside and made way for a fresh candidate. Instead, they took a weak, jellyfish style passive stance, letting Biden make the call while overlooking signals that his second-term campaign lacked the necessary momentum. This reluctance to embrace change cost the party dearly, as voters were left with an administration that seemed out of touch with pressing issues. Party leaders appeared unwilling to disrupt the status quo, hoping that a stable choice would shield them from a Trump resurgence. Ironically, this conservative approach only strengthened Trump’s chances as he positioned himself as an agent of change.
Yes, by the end of Biden’s tenure, it will be obvious that in many columns, America will be as strong as they have ever been. But this is 2024, a new type of electorate, and to discount their anger so easily was a huge mistake.
Additionally, many Democrats wrongly assumed that Donald Trump’s polarizing legacy would be enough to keep him from returning to the White House. His rampant lies, spewed propaganda, bad comedy act on stage and threats were all seen by followers as nothing of actual substance, merely Trump railing and vetting their own anger.
Trump’s support base remained resolute, and he continued to attract disillusioned voters who were fed up with the status quo. Many in the Democratic camp miscalculated the resilience of Trump’s appeal and the desire among Americans for a strong, clear vision for the future. Instead of countering Trump with a dynamic and inspiring alternative, Democrats presented a campaign that felt repetitive and uninspired, making it easy for Trump to seize the narrative and cast himself as the bold choice.
In essence, Democrats played right into his hands.
For the Democrats, the defeat should be a harsh lesson in political strategy. The American electorate is clearly ready for younger, more innovative leadership, but Biden’s decision, combined with the party’s inaction, denied voters that option. The next generation of Democrats must now grapple with the fallout, rebuilding trust and regaining momentum in an environment where Trump’s influence remains strong and has grown beyond even the GOP’s expectations.
In hindsight, Biden’s intentions to serve America were undoubtedly genuine, but his prolonged stay in the White House came at a cost. By ignoring calls for new perspectives and a fresh direction, the Democratic Party missed a crucial moment to connect with voters seeking change. If they are to remain relevant, Democrats will need to confront these mistakes, embrace new leadership, and ensure that future candidates truly represent the nation’s evolving values and aspirations.
They will do so going against an emboldened Republican Party, undoubtedly already planning their next step for 2028 and beyond.
Shula’s lesson is evident in the Republican victory over Democrats. Dems failed to execute their game plan, however terribly flawed it was. They second and third-guessed themselves into puddles. Trump and his machine took advantage of every mistake, and were left in the last seconds with every opening to victory before them. They took it, and in the end, made it look easy.
Still, there’s a new season beginning. Plenty of new chances for Democrats to plot a course back to victory. But Republicans know the weak spots, and they are far too emboldened to allow just one play to derail them.
Let the new games begin.
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