2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumI'll give Madam President Four Years
I'll be frankly honest, Bernie Sanders was the first, and only, presidential candidate I really felt excited for. I believed, and still do believe, that he was the person this country truly needed. But he lost and I'm more than willing to give Hillary Clinton my time and vote because I believe there are things in the Democratic Party's platform worth fighting for. I am wary that Hillary won't implement that platform, but I KNOW Trump won't so I'll take a shot with her. So let's work to elect Hillary, give her a progressive Congress and then serve me a nice dinner of crow.
KMOD
(7,906 posts)She campaigned hard for all of it, and most of it she has worked at her entire career. Well, with the exception of that open primary nonsense.
Glad to have you on board. Stronger Together, Let's keep the White House Blue!!!
stronger together.
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)You don't need to act like the Sanders movement got nothing and act like you're entitled to accept surrender.
It's enough to call it a coalition and a partnership. That's essentially how the nominee has treated it...why can't you show the same good grace that she does?
KMOD
(7,906 posts)that Hillary would not implement the platform. She campaigned entirely on the platform. It is essentially, her platform.
R B Garr
(17,356 posts)Al Gore as the climate change original author and Bill Clinton presided over rollbacks of Reagan's tax cuts and raising taxes on the rich. Bill Clinton was one of the only presidents to leave office with a surplus. Let's require "good graces" to be equally applied from Bernie, as well.
Hillary talked about income inequality in her 2008 Democratic convention speech.
Yes, let's all show good grace.
Zambero
(9,560 posts)And that means Dem control of the House AND a minimum of 60 Senators. Until that happens, her best efforts would be to shore up the Supreme Court as vacancies occur, embark on a responsible diplomatic course, and block whatever agenda the GOP might have wanted to push.
Ken Burch
(50,254 posts)fleabiscuit
(4,542 posts)We were young. We were busting a gut with excitement to vote for him. It was our first vote as husband and wife. Had the radio on and while parking a news announcement came on and said Ronald Reagan had already won. Heartbroken we went in and voted for Carter, and all the Dem down tickets.
politicaljunkie41910
(3,335 posts)But I remember his running for re-election in 1980 because I was in the Army having just returned from overseas a few months earlier and being happy about registering and being able to vote for the first time at the polls and not absentee. Before i could make it home from work to change and go vote, they had called it and I was certain that my vote in California wouldn't count by then but I went anyway because Leon Panetta was my Congressman and he was running against some Republican so I had to go vote. I was very disappointed though at how early it was called. After that, I think that was when the networks agreed that in the future they would not call the election until the polls had closed in California.
fleabiscuit
(4,542 posts)Voted for Jimmy myself the first time he ran too. Hadn't met wife yet. I get a bit impatient at times with the temper tantrums some threw, it's a slow compromising process. I also think many younger voters were taken advantage of because of their inexperience. They aren't dumb, just dreamers holding on to magical thinking.
glennward
(989 posts)Our new banner should be "IT TAKES A CONGRESS TO RAISE A NATION"
unblock
(54,042 posts)so the practical impact for the next four years is through executive orders and senate-only stuff like appointments (particularly to the supreme court) and treaties.
sanders has already, and as president would have, advanced the progressive agenda through speeches and rhetoric; but actual accomplishments as president would not have been great, again, due to the republican house. but that would have set the stage for actual accomplishments down the road, once demographics turn the house democratic.
i'm happy with clinton as the nominee because i think the most important thing was simply to win. we need to finally get the supreme court back. ultimately, demographics will bring this country back to a progressive era.
sanders' policies were as close as just about anyone's to my own for years, but his time was not yet. it's unfortunate due to his age, but i think in eight years (once the new census is in effect) someone like sanders would be a formidable candidate and very accomplished president.
That Guy 888
(1,214 posts)That, unfortunately has been the attitude of the DNC leadership for too long. While they're taking a long-term view on election strategy, republicans are winning victories where they should be losing.
I'm interested in seeing if Clinton's top-down 50 state strategy is any more effective than Dean's more grass roots 50 state strategy that wasn't backed by the former DLC members in the DNC power structure.
fun n serious
(4,451 posts)Maru Kitteh
(28,899 posts)Those who have supported other candidates (including now Cheeto) have been subjected to a steady barrage of hateful distortions, misinformation and outright lies about HRC by the MSM and social media. It's powerful and takes a while to overcome.
Many will be pleasantly surprised when they discover that HRC is indeed a liberal progressive, and that she never, ever quits - she just keeps working hard and moving forward, for us.
ecodeathmarch
(34 posts)8 years of Hillary as POTUS then 8 years of Michelle Obama 🙏🙏🙏
adigal
(7,581 posts)for over 30 years.
Democracy????
Ya but people would actually have to vote for them. And MO would be the best president ever. But ya I get what you are saying
The Second Stone
(2,900 posts)The candidate with the most votes takes office.
Sen. Sanders got into the race with the intention of winning. I doubt seriously that he thought he would be president on inauguration day. He is not naive. But he did have ideas that brought new people into the process and changed the direction of policy formation. That's winning. It is something that will be built upon for generations to come: justice and equality.
This was something built with determination and faith, and it will be carried forward by all Democrats.
Contrast this with the swath of destruction coursing through the Republican Party as their selfish candidates could not agree on any policy or candidate other than the worst. That is defeat.
asimovecho
(22 posts)never ever forget Bernie nuts booing at DNC. Never.
LostOne4Ever
(9,579 posts)BlueMTexpat
(15,478 posts)you eat that "nice dinner of crow."
DemonGoddess
(4,992 posts)NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)In any case, I'm super glad to have you on board, even if you do have your doubts and suspicions... I think you'll be pleased and surprised.
#StrongerTogether
democrattotheend
(12,007 posts)I am fully on board with Hillary now and am even thinking about using some of my limited vacation time to campaign for her, if they will let me use the time in November.
But I think it is important to hold her accountable once she is elected. If she does an about-face on everything she promised Bernie and his supporters, I would not rule out supporting a primary challenger in 2020.
Agnosticsherbet
(11,619 posts)Without a Congress, there is nothing big she can do.