2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: The question is now: Which is WORSE for America - Hillary or Trump? [View all]Xyzse
(8,217 posts)Hillary winning will depress progressive ideals, much like it has happened with Obama. There is a far rightward trend that has formed during his Presidency. In caving to their insane demands, it has legitimized their point of view, where the country has then been held hijacked by crazies. Then, he had the temerity to castigate Democrats who did not want to vote for his badly negotiated deals. This, will only continue with a Clinton presidency, and leave the Independents and new Democrats feeling what's the point.
When the choice is bad and worse, trying to figure out the degree quite often times leads to apathy and powerlessness.
It is why I keep saying now to concentrate on lower races.
No matter who, I am hoping that state races can mitigate the oncoming troubles looming.
I also did consider that perhaps Trump winning would energize Democrats to finally start moving again and fight for what is right, beyond the passive stances that they have been playing. To actually push for meaningful workable legislation.
Again, that is not a gamble I wish to play. However, I entered that in my mental calculations as well.
There are many reasons why, when trying to predict performance and being fair about it is hard, since the more factors you add, it tends to show items that may dampen effectiveness of either candidate, making their negatives come closer to an equivalency.
Items such as:
-Effect on their respective parties and opposition parties.
-Effect on Independents, and their constituents.
-How China would like to deal with them (yes, I paid attention to this too).
-Ability to get things passed.
-Negotiating style.
-What actual promises they have made.
-Who they are beholden to.
-The way the campaigned and were treated by the Establishment.
-How the Establishment views them.
-Would the premise of trying to preserve the status quo, (moving one step forwards and three steps back) which brings us to the brink of disaster slowly be better than going to a different direction which is probably the wrong way would lead to the better outcome?
-Their agendas. Would having the right agenda, but negotiated to the point of senselessness that creates unintended consequences be better than having the wrong agenda, but fought tooth and nail to try to make it better be more fruitful?
There are many others that I considered but have not enumerated. It is why in my calculations thus far... Hillary fares better than Trump but not by much, and I am not even convinced about it.
Which is besides the point since I can't see her winning at this time.
All that brings me back to my idea of concentrating on local races. I can only wish the Hillary supporters good luck. It would be a miracle to pull off a win in the GE.