The fact that there are few moderates in either party is the cause of Washington gridlock. Broad consensus on almost anything is impossible and even compromise is elusive.

Moreover, the powerful backlash movement against Trump shows no interest in picking an earnest, sober nominee who wants to move the ball forward with three yards and a cloud of dust. Its stars are bomb-throwers like Ocasio-Cortez who, so far, are skillfully using a fawning mainstream media and social media to rally like-minded voters into all-or-nothing battles.

If that approach prevails, as seems likely, and the Democrats nominate someone who embraces the radical, socialist-leaning ideas being proposed, Christie and Rove could be right that Dems will be committing political suicide and giving Trump a second term.