In Washington, Democrats had time on their hands with Republicans in control of the White House, the Senate, and, until the midterm elections, the House. They could fill their days by promoting a policy agenda. Instead, they chose to concentrate on impeaching President Trump and running him out of town.

Among the Democratic presidential candidates, the focus is different. Their desire to impose a left-wing agenda on America is all-consuming — that is, a sweeping agenda a Democratic president would enact as FDR had done with the New Deal. But the presidential candidates are living on a different planet from their allies in Washington.