Honestly, we should just create a new standing rule going forward. Past a certain level of election loss, everyone serving in say, the three highest ranks, is prohibited from serving in that level of leadership for the next ten years, or perhaps indefinitely. Maybe any time the opposition party gains a trifecta in Washington. If there is one single thing national-level Democratic leadership should be concerned about, it should be preventing the situation that we've been in since Trump was re-elected, with Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress, the White House, and SCOTUS.

There are plenty of skilled people that can fill those ranks. And the old guard can still offer advice and counsel to their replacements - they just don't get to make real decisions anymore. This should apply to both party leaders and within Congress itself. Maybe the top 3 Democrats in the House, Senate, and top the levels of the hierarchy at the DNC are all barred for ten years from holding such roles, any time Republicans control the House, Senate, and Presidency. (I leave out SCOTUS as that conflict is far too long term for reasonable accountability. Doesn't seem fair to hold folks accountable for problems that take decades to correct.)

There are plenty of people to fill those ranks. There are plenty of people with national-level party leadership experience, and there are plenty of people in the top ranks of state party leadership that can transfer a lot of those skills to the national level. We do not have a problem of lack of skill. We have a problem of a lack of accountability.

Is it draconian? Sure. But it would damn well be effective. And no one has a right to these roles. If a few otherwise effective leaders get culled in the process, oh well. A barred Senator can still serve in the Senate; they just aren't allowed to run the Senate. A barred DNC executive could still be involved in DNC circles - still help with campaigns, still help with fundraising. Still, if truly skilled, retain a lot of soft power through their ability to offer wise and sage advice. But they're just not allowed to actually run the party anymore.

I think the main problem is we have two Democrat parties. Long have the Establishment Democrats been in power, but it's time for the progressives to take back the party. Basically seems to be coalescing around the DSA, which is fine by me so far.

The bad news is that progressives are a minority. But if we can browbeat the establishment in letting us have some victories like in healthcare and other social safety nets, maybe we can sustain enough voter involvement to actually make some progress.