Hardly anyone I know or have spoken with over the last week or so would characterize either Boston’s Michelle Wu or Washington, D.C.’s Muriel Bowser as stupid people. On the contrary, both are bright, articulate, driven, and accomplished women, neither of whom would be in their respective leadership positions without possessing the innate toughness and smartness required for the rough and tumble world of big city politics. Having said that, what could possibly account for their bizarre anti-cooperative positions with respect to 1.) aiding in the enforcement of Federal law in connection to illegal immigrants and 2.) working collaboratively with other agencies in restoring safe streets to the residents of the nation’s capital city.

Resistance to the Orange bogeyman makes for great airtime, copy, and exposure on the national political scene. Afterall, what is more righteous than the ability to stand in opposition to Donald Trump’s dictatorial insistence that the laws regarding illegal immigration should be enforced, laws passed by the Congress of the United States. As well, how dare anyone put national guard troops on the streets of any city, or F.B.I. agents, DEA agents, Homeland Security officers, etc., especially if the Gestapo like “occupation” results in a precipitous drop in crime. This is where Michelle, Muriel, and their political party start running into the weeds. It is obvious that there are people in the country who do not belong here and should be removed, and just as equally obvious that people have a right to be safe when they walk the streets of the place they live in. When elected representatives actively thwart the efforts being carried out to accomplish both objectives for the good of the people they are elected to protect, it is time for them to step aside. Democratic mayors of blue cities, not just the two cities in question, are less exasperated at the actions of a totalitarian president than they are at seeing the failure of their own policies on crime and illegal immigration thrown into stark relief. Democrats are failing to see themselves as the party of lawlessness and criminality. They have become so consumed with hatred of Donald Trump, so determined to undermine and destroy his presidency, that they’ve totally lost any sense of what effective governance looks like, or even the ability to engage in rational policy discourse. Allowing the continuance of sanctuary cities that shield criminal illegals, or the failure to put a stop to the violent carjackings resulting in the maiming and even murder of innocent victims may be perceived as sound Democratic domestic polices to crow about, but to any reasonable-minded person, it does not. It’s even possible that Democrats could win a bunch of votes if they made the collective decision to stop their temper tantrums and back common-sense politics like supporting law and order.

Resistance is indeed noble, especially in the face of egregious wrongs. But if actions are a reflection of intelligence, then Democrats, whether in Boston or Washington, have to know that stupid is as stupid does.