2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Susan Sarandon: Trump Might Be Better for America Than Hillary Clinton [View all]Nanjeanne
(4,950 posts)would be better for America. She is saying that if Clinton wins - the Third Way DLC establishment Beltway part of the Democratic Party will feel that middle-of-the road, incremental, safe, Republican-lite is the right road to victory. It will be 8 years of Clinton and very very difficult for real progressive candidate to boldly challenge her. I don't know when another strong progressive with bold ideas will be in the right place to challenge an even more entrenched establishment.
If Trump is elected - real progressives will be able to point to Clinton's loss as the reason to reject those Third Way DLC policies and more progressives in the Senate and House - and new ones looking to run - will possibly be emboldened to embrace the Bernie Sanders policies that were so popular. I think with a Trump win - the progressive part of the Democratic party will have a much stronger chance of seriously challenging the establishment part. I think Progressives have a much better chance of winning 4 years after a Trump presidency than they do after 8 years of a Clinton one.
Now . . . that doesn't mean I would ever vote for Trump. But I am still debating whether I could actually vote for Clinton since some things are very important to me that she doesn't support. But I don't live in a swing state so I think I may, this time, be able to stick to my principles and vote Democrat for any down ticket that is on my ballot. I don't know if I would have that luxury in Ohio or Florida. But I know I like the idea of not having to vote for what I consider the lesser of two evils in this coming election.