Democrats in the Senate managed to do the impossible, snatching defeat out of the jaws of victory. Now, not all Democrats voted to advance legislation that would end the government shutdown; only eight did the deed. Their timing was outrageous when they were on the verge of forcing Republicans to at least address Democratic concerns.

Despite conventional wisdom that initiating the shutdown was political suicide, Democrats succeeded in the off-year elections, strengthened their arguments, and even the most hardened GOP operatives were admitting defeat.

They had nothing to fear, as it turned out, given the John Fettermans of this world, and Dick Durbin, who, along with others, thought Joe Biden was the answer to national prayers. Throw in newly elected Virginia governor Abigail Spanberger, who, not long after she won, urged compromise.

Maybe Stephen Bannon has a point when he labels spineless Republicans as RINOs or Republicans in name only. Democrats should categorize DINOs as Democrats in name only. In the 1970s, they were dubbed “limousine liberals” because many of their members celebrated the Age of Aquarius by urging over-the-moon reforms and sending their children to private schools.

These so-called moderates resemble what Bannon refers to as “uniparty” politicians who desire an office, a paycheck, and recognition. The only differences between Democrats and Republicans are that the latter prefer doing nothing as a rule, with no significant decisions required. Democrats usually try to push reforms through — despite those in their number always urging compromise even before a bill is read. The “moderates” expect nothing and ask for less — unless it concerns more for Israel or Ukraine.

Progressive Democrats, as with MAGA Republicans, try to draw a fine line between parties. Zohran Mamdani’s victory over Andrew Cuomo demonstrates that platitudinous messaging will not triumph over sharp-edged campaign pitches. Moreover, baby-boomer politicians who spend a lifetime celebrating achievements largely made decades before, when they were in college, are no match for new ideas. Give Bannon and his crew credit; they are always in there pitching.

Not that they do not have their own problems. One suspects that Donald Trump has more in common with Cuomo than they suspect or even want to suspect. After all, Trump had no problems with the Democratic Leadership Council, whose philosophy was to urge change using pastels rather than bright colors. It is no wonder that Marjorie Taylor Greene, Josh Hawley, and several MAGA heavyweights are beginning to cast aspersions over their own “uniparty” faction.

After all, these types, such as Elon Musk, were more than happy to give money at another time to Democrats who embraced their techno-feudalist vision.