2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumTwo quotes
After reading posts like this one today: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1939772. I can't help think of two of my favorite quotes.
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend" & "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing".
Both seem to be here. First, let us not kid ourselves, Trump and the GOP ARE the enemy. Bernie Sanders (nor Hillary Clinton) are not. A Trump presidency with a GOP controlled congress would be a disaster for this country and set back progressive goals for decades. Does anyone really want Paul Ryan, Mitch McConnell and Donald Trump deciding the next 2 or 3 Supreme Court Justices, Tax policy, the future of Social Security?
Anyone that would stand by and refuse to vote for Bernie Sanders (or Clinton) is allowing Trump and the GOP to triumph.
Recent history has shown 2 things: When the left is divided as in 1968 and 2000, Republicans win. Also, when Republicans win; the Democratic party goes further to the right. This happened after 3 presidential defeats in the 1980s as well as after mid-term losses in 1992 and 2010.
So let's not kid ourselves. Whatever the outcome of the primaries, afterward we all need to unite together and defeat Trump and the GOP. Even if we have to hold our noses and vote for a candidate that we don't agree with 100% of the time. I'd rather one that I agree with 50% than one who will destroy this country and everything progressives have been fighting for for decades.
thesquanderer
(12,002 posts)At least in recent history, as I see it, the left has always been divided. The Republicans don't always win.
One of the 99
(2,280 posts)thesquanderer
(12,002 posts)The Obama/Clinton split was ferocious to the end. It was a nastier campaign than the current one. And earlier, John Edwards was making an even more substantial philosophical split, running to the left of both Obama and Clinton, and was basically only taken out sooner due to scandal. There were also lots of people in the Dem party who simply felt that a black man could not win the general. So yeah, there was plenty of division in 2008.
One of the 99
(2,280 posts)and elected President Obama.
thesquanderer
(12,002 posts)Very few people on the left are actually going to vote for Trump.
One of the 99
(2,280 posts)My fear is not that those on the left will vote for Trump but stay home and not vote at all.
VulgarPoet
(2,872 posts)i.e. the difference between a politician's campaign rhetoric, and what they do when they're in power. Sure, all this looks really pretty and all-- but how can I trust any of it?
One of the 99
(2,280 posts)All you have to ask is do you really want Donald Trump to be president.
pdsimdars
(6,007 posts)Once you say you're going to settle for second, that's what happens to you in life.
--- John F. Kennedy
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/j/johnfkenn166598.html
One of the 99
(2,280 posts)when the alternative is Trump.