2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Sadly, over the Hill [View all]NanceGreggs
(27,813 posts)... that linked to the same piece:
In 2008, I was a staunch Obama supporter. I thought HRC's campaign was off-track, often focused on her opponent's negatives as opposed to her own positives, and was far too reliant on some really, REALLY bad advice from many who influenced her strategies.
As I said in that piece, "That was then, and this is now."
Hillary has matured, as an individual and as a politician, since 2008. She has learned from her mistakes, and is now going forward with a lot more experience under her belt - including the experience of having been Secretary of State. Her perspective has been changed by that experience and maturity, and her ability to actually listen to what the country's citizens want and need has been amazingly on point. That's undoubtedly why she's the front-runner this time around.
In 2008, I had a choice between HRC and Obama - I chose to support Obama, and NO regrets in having done so.
Right now I have a choice between HRC and BS - and I support Hillary 100%, without hesitation or reservation.
The cry of the Bernistas has been that Bernie hasn't changed his mind about anything in four decades. They call that "consistency" - I call it an inability to adapt to an ever-changing world. I find it remarkable that Bernie supporters think that HRC's paying attention to polls and surveys that reflect what voters want is somehow a negative. I would think that ANY presidential candidate - or president - should be more than willing to hear what's being said by the citizenry, and act accordingly. A president's job is to represent the people - not tell them what HE thinks should be done.
Do I want a president who is swayed by the voices of the country's citizens? You're damned real I do.
It's simple. Being POTUS is the most important position we, the people, can elect any individual to fill. In 2008, I felt that Obama was the right person for the job. And here in 2016, I think Hillary is the right person for the job.
Like HRC, I realize that the times change, the needs and wants of the citizenry change, and the world around us changes on a daily basis. These changes require a president who can adapt to those changes and address them - not a president whose mindset is hopelessly lost in the past as though nothing has changed at all.
The fact remains that Hillary is the front-runner, has more endorsements, delegates, and support than either BS or MOM. She remains ahead in the polls, and apparently appeals to more voters as representative of what they want than either of her opponents. The Bernistas can continue to dismiss that reality all they want - but that reality won't be changed.
So yes, I was against Hillary being the Party's nominee in 2008. And yes, I am FOR Hillary being the Party's nominee in 2016.
I have the ability to look at things in the context of the here-and-now - and I am supporting the candidate who has that same ability, rather than the candidate who chooses to pretend that we're all living in the same world he's been stuck in for forty years.