Buddies with former President Bush, buddies with future President Trump...
Oh. My. God. It’s happening again. I saw it coming in 2000, and I see it coming now. Only this time it’s worse. Last time, I saw an idiot about to ascend to the Oval Office because our party had nominated a milquetoast candidate tied to a (to many of us) disappointing president who had betrayed us at every turn: the Crime Bill, NAFTA, Gramm-Leach-Bliley, Welfare Reform, and more!
Some Democrats still blame Nader for the loss in 2000, but the fact is, our party nominated a candidate who couldn’t even win his home state. The fact is, our party nominated a candidate who promised more of the same, which didn’t seem like such a great thing to a lot of people. The fact is, capitulation and surrender to the right wing is not a great strategy if the goal is to win elections. To win elections, you have to differentiate your candidate and give people something to vote FOR, not just a foil to vote against.
Heck, we should thank Nader for getting those people out to vote at all. Nader voters damn sure weren’t going to pull the lever for another RepubliDem. Nader voters were there in 2008 when we were promised change. If they had succumbed to apathy and cynicism (How many times have we all heard, “What’s the point? They’re all a bunch of lying scumbags!” when trying to get non-political friends and family to vote! You’d think we’d get it by now!) they might have stayed home in 2008.
I just hope Bernie voters come back when they have something to vote FOR because the writing is on the wall. Most will not vote for Hillary. I will vote for Hillary. I don’t happen to think Hillary is all that bad. I didn’t think Gore was all that bad. But I’m a die hard, and “not all that bad” is good enough for me. It’s not enough to win elections though.
Get ready for President Trump. We’re about to nominate the very worst possible candidate.
