The Democrat Who Wants to Make Politics Boring

Russell Berman: “If you’re a Democrat looking for razzle-dazzle in your politicians, Representative Jake Auchincloss might disappoint you. During an October swing through South Carolina, Auchincloss told a group of military veterans, ‘I think we have to make politics boring again,’ drawing more nods and chuckles than whoops of approval.”

“At times the 38-year-old Auchincloss, young and ambitious though he is, seems to embody the change that he seeks in the world. Spend enough time with him, as I did over the past several months, and you’ll learn more than you ever wanted to know about the evils of ‘cost disease’ (and why inflation is worst in industries such as health care and education), the travails of family-owned pharmacies, and the importance of tutoring in public schools. You’ll be bombarded by an impressive and occasionally overwhelming array of statistics and factoids…”

“Most of all, you will discover that Auchincloss has plenty of serious ideas about how the Democratic Party can earn back the trust of voters and use government to improve the lives of Americans. What he does not have right now is an obvious place to go with all of them.”