Meet the New Boss. Same as the Old Boss.

Opinion|Four More Years! Four More Years! Wait. Four More Years?

Gail Collins: Well, Bret, here we are. Neither of us is crazy about staggering into another four-year Trump term, but I’ll bet you can come up with a more optimistic spin than I can. Go to it.

Bret Stephens: Well, here’s one hope: Donald Trump’s return to power will serve as a wake-up call for a lot of liberals, including liberal journalists, who lost touch with the concerns and values of regular Americans — people who didn’t enjoy having their common sense insulted by being told that there wasn’t a crisis at the border, or that their inflation concerns were overblown, or that President Biden’s memory was fine, or that racial identity should be the dominant consideration in choosing a Supreme Court justice or a vice president. Maybe it will inspire Democrats to do better as an opposition party.

Any chance?

Gail: Hey, I see some excellent subjects for debate there. However, there’s no doubt that the Democrats will try to develop younger options when it comes to presidential candidates. Particularly when the nation’s stuck with a chief executive who will soon be in his 80s and who has already lost a step or two or 10.

Bret: You’re referring to Trump, right? I think you’re mistaking purported senility for confirmed scurrility.

Gail: Good point. And as to the policies — I’ll bet you that any serious attempt to expel all the immigrants who are here illegally will lead to a shortage of workers that will make food prices higher, not lower. Major tax cuts for the rich will lead to higher deficits and worse inflation.

Bret: It’s not a political winner if Democrats tell working-class Americans, including Latino and Black Americans, that they want to flood the labor force with desperate migrants who are willing to work in construction or meatpacking or service jobs for longer hours and less money.