In our typically hyper-partisan body politic, seldom do Democrats or Republicans give the other any measure of deference, much less respect. The mainstream media shovels vitriol into the blazing partisan inferno and partisan hacks use the intense heat to keep the electorate polarized. As a result, neither side generally engages in debating ideas, but rather routinely employs insults of their opponents. The incessant bickering stokes partisans, but wearies average Americans, so good ideas get little hearing.

To be clear, the polarization is somewhat petty, but it is well founded. Historically, Americans' political parties argued about how to govern, but always in accordance with the Constitution. With Democrats lurching leftwards for over half a century, they have finally during the past couple decades been subsumed by avowed socialists who are determined to rewrite the Constitution, if not eliminate it. Today’s Democrat Party has little in common with Harry Truman’s or John F. Kennedy’s Democrat Party.

The Democrat Party long claimed the mantle of the “working man’s party”; they were fiercely patriotic and in the tradition of classic liberalism, held free speech to be inviolate. The recently concluded and already forgotten Democrat National Convention (DNC) in Chicago tried in vain to hide the radical leftist policies of the Biden-Harris administration and deceive Americans into believing the old-time Democrat Party was still alive.

Implementing destructive, overreaching environmental and tax policies, Democrats have pushed American manufacturing offshore, so President Trump handily won over blue-collar workers with bold tariff and tax policies that would retrieve American manufacturing jobs. Union leaders bloviated at the DNC, but their rank-and-file members are not onboard.

The DNC took great pains to get delegates to don camouflage hats and chant “USA”—an uncommon occurrence at recent Democrat National Conventions. Usually preferring the rainbow flag, convention delegates waved American flags inside while their supporters and detractors burned them outside. This departure didn’t fool Americans, who recall it’s Democrats who regularly take a knee or ban the display of the American flag as racist and triggering.

The modern Democrat Party has absolutely abandoned free speech in favor of censorship. Colluding with big tech and social media, Democrats and their henchmen in the federal government have been silencing or shadow-banning conservatives for years. They also have no compunction about eliminating political opponents through lawfare. They have indicted Trump for all kinds of frivolous allegations, but they also file myriad lawsuits to keep opponents off the ballot. In this cynical tactic, Democrats are oddly bipartisan.

With a name synonymous with the glory days of the Democrat Party, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sought the Democrat presidential nomination, but he was quickly rebuffed by the Democrat machine. Democrats rigged their primary so Biden could not be challenged and when he collapsed, they again circumvented the primary process to anoint Kamala Harris without her receiving a single primary vote in two election cycles. Undeterred, RFK Jr. reconfigured his campaign for president as an independent, but he quickly drew the vicious ire of his former party. He was maligned and targeted as much as Trump.

Despite overwhelming odds and opposition, RFK ran a robust campaign and got traction in early polling; he was affecting the conversation. RFK is a mixed bag, to be sure. On some issues, he is still quite liberal, like climate change, universal healthcare, high taxes, and big spending. Yet on others he is in sync with Trump, like closing the border, ending endless wars, rooting out corruption in the food and pharmaceutical industries, and restoring free speech.

But above all, like Trump, RFK loves America! And unlike Biden or Harris, RFK wants to make a difference for the American people. He has long said he did not want to be just a spoiler in the upcoming election, so when he recognized he had no viable path to the White House, he set aside his ego and determined how he could best achieve his goals.

Surprising both Democrats and Republicans, RFK Jr. decided his best course to serve the American people is to ally himself with Trump. To help working Americans, RFK agrees with Trump that we must secure the border and stem illegal immigration. He is also acutely concerned with the health crisis in America from processed (poisoned) food, overmedicating Americans, and questionable vaccines. Regarding the Chinese virus debacle, he understands it was an attack and the response was mishandled. And finally, he believes the erosion of free speech is the greatest threat to democracy.

RFK still loves the Democrat Party of his father and uncle, but he loves America more. Democrats and the media are apoplectic about RFK’s endorsement of Trump, so they have unleashed a torrent of vile ridicule against him. However, contrast RFK with Harris. RFK will expound on the issues, making the case for his policies, while Harris eschews any details, hiding behind the so-called "joy" or "relief" she feels for her candidacy. The glaring difference is that RFK genuinely wants to solve problems and Harris simply covets power.

Democrats’ obsession with their leftist agenda and vindictiveness only illustrates the Democrat Party is no more; it is now the socialist party. Americans sensed this transformation, but the existence of one last old-time Democrat who would put his personal political fortunes aside for the good of the country proves that RFK Jr. is the last of the Democrats.

RFK Jr. will not become conservative or a Republican, but he is genuine, has integrity, and loves this country more than his career. He will work with Trump to resolve the issues he sees as most important. Like the days of old, he will advocate for Americans and vigorously debate his ideas for the benefit of all. That’s what the American people expect—not the partisan preening that solves nothing.

The Democrat establishment hates RFK Jr., and the Republican establishment hates Trump, so with this unlikely team, the American people will be the winners.

“But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens” (Exodus 18:21).

Pete Riehm is a conservative activist and columnist in south Alabama. Email him at peteriehm@bellsouth.net or read all his columns at http://www.renewamerica.com/.