If Democratic Party leaders aren’t re-watching last week’s debate in Houston, they should. If they have watched it and aren’t freaking out over what they see, it’s fair to ask  whether they actually want Donald Trump to win a second term. That session was a debacle for the party and the field: Nearly three tortuous hours of tails wagging dogs, petty sniping, and a lack of vision all the Lasik surgery in the world couldn’t cure. The knock from Republicans, Never-Trumpers, and moderate Democrats ...

The knock from Republicans, Never-Trumpers and moderate Dems is that most of the 2020 candidates are too far to the left and out of touch. Last week’s display confirmed it. This was a definitive example of a party controlled by its fringe elements, preferring purity over victory....

Americans are already voting in the midterm elections. Next week, after another ugly election cycle, we’ll achieve some level of clarity on the political direction of the United States for the next two years. But a different party in power won’t suddenly bring about progress on those issues that confront us today and that will confront us again next week. Clarity should not be confused with change. While the Democratic Party appears poised to take control of the House of Representatives, its a...