We just fucking cannibalize each other fucking ourselves over and over.

[RandomNumbers]

21. Obama was exceptional. Clinton was highly competent BUT had both sides dragging her down, ALONG WITH

20 years of smears.

I don't recall an active anti-Obama movement on the left during the runup to Obama's election?

Yet many I knew personally, who called themselves "left" (and some still call themselves that, others I lost contact with so I don't know), attacked Clinton on social media for long after the primary, up to maybe less than a month from the election for those who grudgingly voted for her ... and others refused to vote for her entirely, or at least proclaimed that to anyone who would listen.

Trump NEVER should have been elected. He was elected in 2016 only because of the ankle weights Clinton had attached to her.

The only ankle weight Obama had was that he was black - that he soared above it anyway is credit to him, but not an equation we'll replicate easily with just any candidate. And the black motivation and turnout was incredible. Obviously the reich-wing has taken steps to reduce that in the future. And the left-wing arguably coddling up to abolish the police rhetoric? Won't go over well in places like Philly. Believe it or not, many city people actually like having police around to keep the drug dealers, robbers, and other miscreants somewhat tamped down (as long as it is done without abuse of law-abiding citizens, who btw are the ones who actually bother to vote).

edit to add: I supported Bernie in the primary. I generally prefer his policies over more centrist policies. But I didn't appreciate the failure to come together fully behind the nominee after the primary. (can you tell?)