Like bidders at an auction, Democratic lawmakers waved paddles Tuesday night during President Trump’s joint address to Congress.

In terms of scoring political points, it was a no-sale for the party.

Flashing signs reading “Musk steals,” “False,” “Save Medicaid,” and “Protect Veterans” was all in the name of resistance, of course. They resisted as Trump listed examples of government waste, they resisted calls for drilling, they resisted his actions at the southern border. In essence, they resisted the very things that made voters put him back in the White House.

As The Hill reported, some Dems are arguing that their protests Tuesday had backfired and underscored why their party lost November’s election in the first place.

“We never learn,” one Democratic strategist said flatly.

“We can’t just be the party that barks at Trump, and I’m sorry, but that’s what we are. And until we learn that lesson, we’re going to lose.”

Another strategist was also miffed by the scene.

“He owned us,” the strategist said. “He made us look like what we are: (expletive) buffoons.”

In addition to the paddles, some Democrats stood to display “resist” messages on their shirts, then walked out. Rep. Al Green, a 77-year-old Texas Democrat, stood up minutes into Trump’s speech and heckled the president, waving his cane. When Green ignored House Speaker Mike Johnson’s calls to “take your seat,” he was ejected from the chamber.

And how did that play with viewers? According to a CNN flash poll, eight in 10 Americans who watched the speech said they saw Rep. Green’s interruption of Trump as inappropriate, with just 20% saying Green acted appropriately.

And if the petulant pols thought they turned sentiment against Trump, that same poll found that 66% believe Trump’s policies would take the country down the right path.

Hardly mission accomplished.

Pundits and strategists have been warning Democrats to recalibrate in light of the party’s Nov. 5 loss.

Former Obama staffers Jon Lovett and Jon Favreau outlined the problem in January to MSNBC.

“We have lost so much credibility with people, and we haven’t gotten the ability to break through to people. And so, like, yes, we are frustrated and upset,” Lovett said.

Favreau said Democrats needed to speak normally to voters, and that assuming people will vote Democrat because of their identity should not be an assumption.

They don’t seem to be getting the message, or rather, they’re hearing the message but are choosing to ignore it. Usually, after an election rout, the losing party has a “wait until the midterms” attitude, stressing the need to right their ship with a re-invigorated campaign.

If Tuesday night was anything to go by, the Dems’ campaign platform is “waaaaah.”

That’s no way to win over voters. But it is a good way to turn off independents and those on the fence.

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) summed up the scene succinctly, calling the protests “a sad cavalcade of self owns and unhinged petulance.”

“It only makes Trump look more presidential and restrained,” he posted on X Wednesday. “We’re becoming the metaphorical car alarms that nobody pays attention to — and it may not be the winning message.”

Dems, you’ve been warned. Again.