I hadn't really ever directly connected the two, but yeah the Democratic party has always had problems organizing. Hopefully, if we are forced into a similar situation, we get it right this fucking time.
No parties like this bullshit two party Winner Takes all bullshit, if we're going to pretend like democracy is a viable option. If anything can be said of the differences between back then and now, I would guess that overall the Democratic party at least appears to be more humble in the past than it is now despite being humiliated by a clown is such as Trump. The party's and this country's eventual downfall I think could be boiled down to everyone that isn't in the Oligarchy's Breast Pocket, being unwilling to compromise or even speak their neighbors, who might disagree with them.
Either the left bites the fucking bullet and humble itself enough to figure out some way of getting through to at least a chunk of the Republican voter base, or get really comfortable with becoming fascist itself and propagating its own brand of violence, to the point of killing.