the US has long resisted Empire. If it is an Empire it is generally a more traditionally isolationist and anti-expansionist one. Also the only one that negotiated and purchased most of its territory. Not saying the US isn’t a Hegemony. Post WW2 The US slid into the prior British position of global naval hegemony. Prior to that the US tended to be more the odd nation that stood between the Western Powers and the East Acting as a moderator.(kicking open Japan notwithstanding.)
As for the Chinese Property ownership. Too much is made of that without recognizing it for what it actually is. It’s not a Chinese attempt to invade by other means. You can’t actually do it that way. Rather it is the Chinese people squirreling always money in ways that the CCP cannot steal. As the Chinese standard of living has increased, Banking options available to Chinese Citizens and Small Businesses are limited, corrupt, and under the control of the party. So instead they sneak the maximum amounts they can out, and buy property in the US and Canada, Because US and Canadaian Laws protect property rights, and Beijing can not touch it. It insures that if or when they choose to depart China, they have a secure nest egg that can’t be confiscated at the border. It’s not the CCP seeking to claim US land. It’s individuals including wealthy highly placed CCP members stashing money for when the mob comes for them.
And yeah the DNC needed to go into rebuild mode in 2016. They didn’t. Obama let Hillary strangle all the new talent in its crib between 2008 and 2016. Insuring that there were no viable establishment younger Dems to stand against the Progressive Nutbags in 2018. Hillary got beat by a young charismatic upstart in 2008. So she made sure There were no more such people to challenge her again. Suddenly they aging stalwarts found themselves facing loony leftists that nobody was paying attention to (just exploiting). The truth is the Dems are so divided and so disorganized, that they likely have no hope of pulling off their Hail Mary cheat by mail scheme, nor challenge the election results to force it to the House. They will lose badly in November, they know it. But they are still fighting to keep the money flowing in, and to stave off the Progressive takeover. If they lose badly enough in November they will face a Whig type moment which will leave them shattered. With the Dems confined to the NE or mid Altlantic, NY, NJ, etc, and the Progressives in the Pacific NW.