2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Why "Call it, Skinner" May Very Well be the Wosrt Idea That We Will Come to Regret [View all]srobert
(81 posts)1. Hillary is the candidate and defeats Trump. After her first four years, in 2020 Americans begin evaluating why things aren't getting better. Answer: we shouldn't have elected "liberals". Let's go find another Ronald Reagan to save us from "Liberalism". Democrats respond by moving further to the right.
2. Hillary is the candidate, but Trump wins. After his failed Presidency, in 2020, Democrats begin evaluating why we didn't win in 2016. Answer: we should have supported the candidate with a better chance of defeating Trump. We shouldn't have thrown the progressives under the bus by backing the "third way Democrat". Let's not make that mistake again.
3. Bernie is the nominee and wins the Presidency, in which case we begin embarking on a process of bringing real progressive change starting next year. His coattails manage to flip the Congress over to more progressive Democrats if not in the 2016 election, then in the 2018 election.
When I see the number of young people supporting Bernie, I know that we will eventually have more progressive government that Bernie is advocating, if not in this decade, then in those to follow. It is simply a matter of when. With Hillary as the nominee under either of the first 2 scenarios, it will take longer. But even longer yet if she should win, locking in the 3rd way approach of the Democratic party establishment most likely four years longer. I don't want Trump to become President. But party loyalty is a two way street. And the party has not been loyal to my kind for decades.