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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...
... 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.
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I hear you clearly, and that is all good and fine, but first we have to get her in
still_one
Nov 2016
#1
I have not wanted to make nice with them since the Impeachment of President Bill Clinton.
William769
Nov 2016
#6
to the alt-right types, I agree. But a substantial portion, if not most of the GE Trump voters,
ericson00
Nov 2016
#45
Nothing but complete and utter annihilation of the GOP as it's constituted right now will do
Blaukraut
Nov 2016
#46