Michael Davidow

, Radio Free New Hampshire

Andy Warhol rose to prominence by depicting soup cans. Later he turned to celebrities, electric chairs, crashes, and currency. He prospered from his creations yet retained his wit. He held distinctive views on celebrity especially. In time ahead, he foresaw, all would enjoy brief renown. Celebrity carried little weight for Andy.

Maine Democrats have confirmed his insight. An oyster cultivator called Graham Platner burst onto the scene to challenge Susan Collins for the Senate, the final moderate Republican remaining. He joined the primary as a fiery progressive and easily defeated the favored establishment contender. All were captivated. Elizabeth Warren visited him. The New York Times placed him alongside Mamdani and AOC. Then his bid collapsed.

First he needed to address his Nazi tattoo. Next he needed to account for harsh remarks online. Then he needed to respond to complaints from numerous women. Finally he could only attempt and fail to address a rape claim from one accuser. He withdrew and his party had to select a substitute quickly. Platner departed with a sharp statement showing contempt for those who resisted the initial choice. He had indeed been furious throughout.

Consider him briefly, however. He had been specifically sought for the contest and reportedly hesitated at first. Campaign professionals from elsewhere arrived seeking a candidate aligned with their goals. One had aided Bernie Sanders in Massachusetts. Another had backed Mamdani in New York. Another had instructed at Berkeley. Thus they all understood their aim for Maine: idealistic notions.

They found Platner, who appeared suited to elite socialism, since he presented as struggling yet hailed from a prosperous household. He attended private institutions, his family funded his residence, and his mother served as chief client for his enterprise (she ran an upscale eatery). Above all he was a veteran with a turbulent history and talent for repeating current progressive slogans: the poor lack medical access, the wealthy hold excess funds, and Israel is wrong. He had gained notice in local causes and impressed his visitors with his blunt style and command of plain speech. The outcome was a swift ascent to brief renown and private disappointment. Experts endure such setbacks. Novices retreat.

Insights emerge yet they clash. Those who selected him from obscurity and thrust him into the race insist voters are furious, so furious they accept even a furious man with a Nazi tattoo, and the national party must accept it. Those who resisted him insist this cycle of novelty will feature unproven eccentrics and the national party must proceed cautiously. His prior supporters now emerge to label him a Bernie supporter who simply dislikes women, since the Democratic leadership clings to its core explanation for defeat (opposing Hillary Clinton led to Donald Trump, and the sole motive for resisting Clinton was her gender) (simple, orderly, and mistaken). The Trump-aligned Republicans (now the entire party) are amused, since their rivals appear unable to manage basic tasks. And Sue Collins waits and observes.

One last note on that Nazi tattoo. Platner denied recognizing it and claimed youth and poor judgment. Yet the reality is, few cared.

For many difficult years, Israel supporters could reply to critics directly: it could not achieve accord with groups like Hamas and Hezbollah because those entities rejected peace and sought only Israel destruction. None could counter that. Yet current progressives can, and their reply mirrors Hamas and Hezbollah: Israel, unique among nations, holds no right to exist. That old Soviet claim is now progressive creed. Passed through French theory and altered by American racial focus, it is also spreading through the Democratic party. So here is another insight. Sue Collins has endured so long, she may soon gain allies in her party moderate wing: Democrats unable to return home. I wonder if Republicans are prepared for that.

Davidow authors Radio Free New Hampshire for InDepthNH.org. He has also written Gate City, Split Thirty, and The Rocketdyne Commission, three novels on politics and promotion that together create The Henry Bell Project, The Book of Order, and The Hunter of Talyashevka, Chanukah Land can be located here. And his newest novel Interdiction can be located here.