Maine was recently distinguished as the preferred first stop on a way toward making the Democratic Party relevant again. The “Come Together and Fight Back” tour chose Portland’s State Theater to launch its strategic mission to revitalize the Democratic base while reaching out to those red and swing state voters that view either major party as part of the problem rather than capable of real solutions for all that troubles America.

After their abject defeat to a complete neophyte, the Democrats are now beating the bushes early and hard in attempting to rebrand their capsized 2016 vision of Hillary Clinton sailing inevitably to victory.

That Portland, rather than Bangor, was chosen may seem a bit suspect as a supposed optimum engagement of possible crossover voters. Being the most progressive city in the vastly more liberal of Maine’s two congressional districts, Portland might appear somewhat disingenuously selected to provide a more news friendly opening venue.

Although his adopted party’s second choice as an almost president, Bernie Sanders was billed as the event’s headliner in an act of shoring up confidence in local and state Democratic luminaries and introducing Tom Perez as the incoming chair of the Democratic National Committee. No mention at all of she-who-must-not-be-named.

Having previously taken Maine by storm during his presidential bid, Sanders assured a significant turnout to a now born-again establishment proselytizing of his progressive initiatives by the very party that had confidently dismissed, and then merely lip serviced, his populist mojo only several months before. Now, he’s their grassroots savior to bring about a miraculous sea change, reintroducing voters to a party that once stood with the underclass by walking the walk rather than just talking the talk of lifting all boats.

Sometimes hindsight remains myopic.

Perez explained that the tour was starting in Maine because it was all about standing up and fighting back against a bully and Mainers already well know what governance by a bully is like. Choir Preaching 101. Of course, if your real goal is to convert someone, you might do far better by not mocking their previous political leanings. Perez continued character bashing LePage and Trump as if that partisan tactic had actually worked well in the recent election and four years of LePage bashing hadn’t resulted in an increased margin in his regaining the Blaine House. Like LePage, Trump won because he, not Hillary, successfully tapped into those who normally don’t bother to vote. The Democrats won the popular vote but lost anyway, because they didn’t think some blue-collar red and purple states were worth spending time on, as if having a lock on the working class was forever their entitlement.

While Perez emphasized the faults of the other side, Sanders emphasized that the most disappointing aspect of this presidential election was that over 40 percent chose not to participate. Those who sat out the election outnumbered those voting for Trump or the larger number choosing Clinton. If the imperiled two-party system is to break free of its current death spiral of continued take no prisoners combat, one or both parties must attract greater participation from those 40 percent politically missing in action.

Sanders continues to tap into a growing recognition that we are experiencing a fundamental top-down system failure that can only be corrected by participation from the bottom-up. While those at the top do extremely well, capitalism is no longer working for the majority of working America.

Like Perez, U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree’s tour contribution merely tossed predictable partisan grenades at the opposition, whereas Senate Minority Leader Troy Jackson’s warm-up act concentrated on a spin-free truth-telling populism later expanded by Sanders. Jackson straight out confessed his own disappointment in being part of Maine’s legislative failings versus the growing empowerment of citizen initiatives. Bold stuff.

While claiming fond familiarity with Maine, Perez lamely suggested it being time to “turn the page on LePage” as if totally unaware that everything including attempted impeachment has already been tried. Rather than stock one-liners, Perez’s stewardship of the DNC needs to convincingly demonstrate that Democrats are truly ready to cut ties with the Wall St. elite and embrace Sanders’ comprehensive socioeconomic overhaul.

So far, the anti-Trump “Resistance Movement” has created much needed activist fire in the belly of the left, but little actual dismantlement of the ruling power of the right. Forcing the “nuclear option” in a doomed Gorsuch line in the sand act of defiance only provided Mitch McConnell another feather for his cap.

Trump’s meteoric rise to power diminishes daily, regardless of all the frenzied coming together on the left to fight back. Beyond the sensationalized first 100, Trump’s days remain numbered by his own self-destructive incompetence. His polling numbers continue to decline as his recklessly assured greatness awaits fulfillment.

Trump will fail on his own as long as he continues to build an obsessive wall between Americans.

The Democrats will achieve far more in promoting their own party’s viability if they abandon continued obstruction for obstruction’s sake alone and redirect themselves towards being a receptive instrument for crossover populist advancement.

Gary Anderson lives in Bath.