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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThere's no point in fighting Democratic candidates are wasting their time -- and hurting their chanc
There's no point in fighting Democratic candidates are wasting their time -- and hurting their chance
Democratic candidates are wasting their time and hurting their chances bickering over policies theyll never get to implement.
It was a sight to behold: a former vice president, two senators and a former mayor on a stage in New Hampshire a week ago, arguing over the impossible. Would Sen. Bernie Sanders deliver Medicare-for-all immediately, as he promised to do? Would doing so double the federal budget, as former vice president Joe Biden countered? Should they maybe go with Medicare-for-all-who-want-it, as former mayor Pete Buttigieg suggested? It didnt exactly roll off the tongue, but he has said it would put the United States on a glide path to something he called a Medicare-for-all environment. And what of the fact, raised by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, that Buttigieg tweeted a pledge two years ago to indubitably support Medicare-for-all?
Given what actually happens in the nations capital these days, the men and women on the stage may as well have been arguing over the price of unicorn at the local market and how theyd cook it. Set against the current political backdrop, the elaborate policy debates among the candidates seeking the Democratic nomination (Will college be free for everyone, or for everyone but the rich kids? Would a tax on wealth over $50 million be a flat tax or a progressive tax?) feel increasingly delusional.
ts not just because President Trump, an incumbent in a strong economy, stands a good chance of winning a second term. Even if one of the Democratic candidates were to beat him in November, they would become president, not emperor. As such, theyd have to deal with the Senate, an institution where fast and sweeping legislation is difficult to pass in any scenario, to say nothing of one dominated by Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. Using tactics that push the limits of whats acceptable, he has transformed the chamber from the cooling saucer the framers envisioned to a Sub-Zero freezer, a place where 300 bills passed by House Democrats dont even merit debate, let alone votes, even with the insurance policy of Trumps veto.
Its healthy to debate policy, but Democrats arent doing it in a vacuum. Research shows that contentious primaries hamper a partys performance in the general election. Candidates are bickering about blue-sky proposals with Sanders supporters destroying backsliders, Biden invoking segregationists to insist that legislative compromise works and Buttigieg going after Biden for his vote to invade Iraq 17 years ago but theyre having a semantic argument. The stalemate moots their differences. The next Democratic president will be lucky to seat a Supreme Court nominee. In a climate of such vicious and total partisan obstruction, the only real issue is electability.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/02/14/democrats-are-wasting-time-fighting-over-policies-senate-will-never-pass/?arc404=true
TwilightZone
(25,485 posts)In 1980, Carter's loss probably had more to do with Iran than the primary, which was no doubt contentious.
On the R side, the Reagan Bush primary was very contentious (Voodoo economics). Reagan won in November with Bush as his VP.
In 2004, the primary was very contentious, but is it a primary factor in why Kerry lost? Swiftboating comes to mind.
The Obama Clinton primary in 2008 was one of the most contentious in memory. Obama won and Clinton became his SoS.
In 2016, the problem was not necessarily the primary. It was arguably the aftermath.
Zorro
(15,749 posts)Chappaquiddick doomed Kennedy's chances to ever become president, yet it did not stop him from excoriating Carter during the primaries because he wasn't "progressive" enough. Thus we ended up with Reagan.
usaf-vet
(6,213 posts)Article's summary: Democratic candidates are wasting their time and hurting their chances bickering over policies theyll never get to implement.
My summary: I don't see how any of the programs the other Democratic candidates propose would stand any chance of getting passed with McTurtle in the Senate and Trump in the White House.
FIRST, BEAT Trump.