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2016 Postmortem

In reply to the discussion: Not ready to make nice [View all]

pat_k

(9,313 posts)
24. Absolutely. Demonstrations of real strength...
Sat Nov 5, 2016, 05:43 PM
Nov 2016

... and a willingness to fight for truly transformative change, win or lose. That is the only way to inspire those who have given up because "nothing really changes" to get back into "the game." It is the only way to win back the kind of majorities needed to enact "big things."

Bill Clinton got it right when he said:

When people feel uncertain, they'd rather have somebody that's strong and wrong than somebody who's weak and right.

And I would add, "Strong and Right" beats "Strong and Wrong" every time.

It is tragic that Bill Clinton, and now Hillary Clinton, themselves have failed, and continue to fail, to act in accord with those words.

We must put her in the White House. But once we get her there, we need to push her, and our so-called "leaders" in the House and Senate, to demonstrate strength and conviction to core principles.

And if, despite the odds, the psychopathic narcissist manages to win, the Democrats might as well go all out. Make it a REAL battle of ideas. Fight for things like universal healthcare; publicly funded college for all. Fight to REALLY do something about mass incarceration and the damage it has done -- pardons for every person currently imprisoned for possession of drugs for personal use; a clean record for those previously convicted for possessing a quantity that clearly qualifies as "personal use"; restoration of the vote for felons. Hell, if the Repubs try to lower taxes for the rich, don't just try to limit the decrease, go all out to kill it. Shame them. Go all out for a basic income. Put the case that we can become a moral, just, and equitable nation front and center. Commit to fighting to the finish, win or lose.

Who knows, perhaps more Dems will come to "see the light" if enough of use push hard enough.

We can, and will, mount the best "ground game" possible to win back the House and Senate. But, if we don't see a willingness to "Go Big" from the top, those who have opted out in apathy will not be inspired to get back into the game. If the Democrats stay on the incremental and practical path, it will severely undermine any chance we might have.
Not ready to make nice [View all] DonCoquixote Nov 2016 OP
I hear you clearly, and that is all good and fine, but first we have to get her in still_one Nov 2016 #1
If we want... pat_k Nov 2016 #21
Sorry, but DonConquixote is very wrong. Our nation Hortensis Nov 2016 #29
with all due respect DonCoquixote Nov 2016 #31
In short, there can be no bipartisanship... pat_k Nov 2016 #34
It is not a left/moderate/right "divide." It's more like this: pat_k Nov 2016 #33
Hear, hear! Glamrock Nov 2016 #2
AMEN....n/t BlueCollar Nov 2016 #5
I have not wanted to make nice with them since the Impeachment of President Bill Clinton. William769 Nov 2016 #6
There can be no "bipartisanship" with right-wingnuts pat_k Nov 2016 #8
Trust. Hillary knows exactly what shes doing. She is more qualified bushisanidiot Nov 2016 #10
Well said. nt ProudProgressiveNow Nov 2016 #13
We've got to elect her... pat_k Nov 2016 #19
short term leads to long term DonCoquixote Nov 2016 #25
Agree! UCmeNdc Nov 2016 #14
Go nuclear in the Senate. They are beyond redemption. BSdetect Nov 2016 #16
Absolutely. Demonstrations of real strength... pat_k Nov 2016 #24
Playing nice to evil never works out MyNameGoesHere Nov 2016 #26
to the alt-right types, I agree. But a substantial portion, if not most of the GE Trump voters, ericson00 Nov 2016 #45
which means that when the "sensible people" DonCoquixote Nov 2016 #48
Nothing but complete and utter annihilation of the GOP as it's constituted right now will do Blaukraut Nov 2016 #46
Normally I would have hated to say that DonCoquixote Nov 2016 #49
Exactly! Let's not normalize them by reaching across the aisle. The GOP needs a total overhaul. Blaukraut Nov 2016 #50
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