In the wake of the Trump juggernaut, the Democrat Party is drifting in generational disarray. While amusing for Republicans, this dire situation is acutely debilitating for Democrats, because Democrats are well practiced at denying reality, so even admitting they have a problem is extremely difficult. Kamala Harris’s drubbing by President Trump with men is inescapable, so Democrats are resolving to woo men, particularly minority and young men back into the androgynous Democrat fold.

The problem is Democrats are certain they are just misunderstood by men, so they must simply improve their messaging or more precisely reeducate men. The Democrat Party is begging donors to fund a $20 million study called “Speaking with American Men” or SAM for short. The SAM study will research syntax, language, and content that will resonate with men. It also includes ideas to reach men where they think they are like advertising in the gym, on video games, and during sports events. The View’s Joy Behar cut through the chaff and demanded Democrats just spend the $20 million to “teach men not to be sexists.” Behar’s bluntness was probably not helpful to Democrats, but she correctly exposed Democrats just don’t understand men.

The deeper problem with the SAM effort is that it is absurdly performative and abjectly superficial. Products of the virtual culture, Democrats sincerely believe slick packaging can sell any crappy ideas. Still mired in identity politics, Democrats delude themselves that with targeted marketing they can win over groups not individuals. They wrongly believe if they come across as a “gamer,” “gym rat,” or “sports fan,” men will roll over and buy their bad ideas.

Obvious to average Americans, it’s not the messaging, it’s the message. Long ago abandoning common sense, Democrats just have bad ideas. They push policies with 20% support and oppose policies with 80% support; yet they are still puzzled why they keep losing. Most men embrace common sense, so when they see Democrats advancing policies contrary to common sense, they just walk away.

Instead of trying to repackage bad ideas, Democrats must take account of their failed policies and perhaps reconsider offering viable solutions. Open borders was a supremely bad idea. It increased brutal crime across the board and was devastating to American workers driving down real wages with cheap illegal labor. That cynical wrong-headed policy was specifically objectionable to men determined to protect and provide for their families. Further, Democrats routinely uphold criminals’ rights while ignoring victims. Wired to defend the defenseless, this is utterly repugnant to men.

The radical transgender agenda is killing the Democrat Party. Real men intrinsically know boys don’t belong in girls’ sports; it’s patently dangerous and unfair. Incessantly scaremongering widespread destruction from Climate Change threats that never come to fruition has become tedious with constant scolding we must forfeit quality of life; men are not buying it anymore. Always calling for more profligate spending and giving away free stuff, real men turn away because they want to earn their own way. Men inherently resist being made dependent on anyone.

The SAM approach is very cynical; it assesses men as just another shallow group that can be bought with hollow platitudes. Democrats also forget they spent the last few decades deriding masculinity as toxic and insisting feminism is the future. When men are not wanted, they just leave. Worse, this concept that men can be fooled by clever consultants manufacturing some macho charade is insulting; they must think men are stupid. Men are attracted to authenticity and those that lead by example. Showing up to the gym but never working out is insincere and pretentious; men can see that, and they reject it.

An examination of current Democrat male leadership amply demonstrates the party’s dilemma. Awkward and frail Senator Chuck Schumer. Boring and uninspiring House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Greasy foo-foo Governor Gavin Newsom. Cringey and goofy Governor Tim Walz. Maternity leave champion Pete Buttigieg. Smarmy and uncouth Congressman Eric Swalwell. Rude and snarky David Hogg. This pathetic cast evokes little more than hopelessness and pity.

If you must hire consultants to learn how to relate to men, that pretty much sums up Democrats’ futile desperation. For now, Democrats are unlikely to dig out of this hole anytime soon because they are still sadly convinced they only have a messaging problem. Until they focus on a better message and propose viable sensible policies, there is little expectation men will return to the Democrat Party. If Democrats want to regain men, they need to purge their beta male infestation.

The collapse of current radical silly Democrat Party policies and philosophies is good for America, but the demise of one our major parties is not good for the Republic. The Republican Party is only the nominal choice for conservatives because the Democrats offer nothing workable or worthy, but the Republic needs a loyal and venerable opposition. Without a robust competition of ideas, the quality of ideas erodes, and governance suffers.

The Democrats pervasive problem with men may be a real opportunity for a new party.

“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” (Proverbs 27:17).

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