Left concern about HRC is NOT "hatred"...it's about what we stand for as a party and a country

[MineralMan]

45. When Hillary Clinton announces her candidacy, sometime after the

November, 2014 election, it will be good to have a number of conversations on that candidacy. Right now, declarations of intent not to vote for her in 2016 don't really mean much. Beginning in 2015, candidates for the Democratic nomination will begin to declare their intent to run. Each declaration will help us all define the election and decide whom to support during the primary elections in 2016.

But, right now, with no declared candidates, the discussion doesn't make a lot of sense, really. Even if we assume that Hillary will declare and run, there are no other candidates who have declared their intent to run. There's no way to compare candidates, since there aren't any candidates.

Where there is, though, is a crucial Congressional election in every state. All 435 House seats are up in this election. About 1/3 of Senate seats are also on the line in November. That's the election that is going to make the difference in the last two years of President Obama's term. That's the election that will determine how any appointments to the federal court system will go in Congress. That's the election that will make all the difference in progressive goals in 2015 and 2016.

The primaries are mostly over for the 2014 election. The candidates are deep into their campaigning and ramping up their efforts to be elected. That is where our attention is needed. The 2016 election can be addressed beginning immediately after this November's election, and it will quickly become the major topic on DU.

Right now, more than halfway through August of 2014, it's time to ramp up our GOTV efforts in our own and neighboring districts. It's a chance to maintain and even possibly increase our majority in the Senate. It's an opportunity to regain majority control of the House. We can do that. But if we lose our focus on what matters right now in our zeal for an election that is more than two years from now, we risk a great deal.

In 2016, there will be a Democratic candidate for President. Right now, there are 435 Democratic candidates for the House of Representatives who need our strong support. Let's do that. Then, after the November election, we can begin the painful process of fighting over who will be the Democratic candidate in 2016.

GOTV 2014 and Beyond!