2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumHow many ways can one say "Trump is awful" without becoming Political Muzak?
Listening to Clinton's "major speech" (which sounded like her usual campaign speech in a somewhat calmer tone of voice) what I really dread about this election became clear.
After an election that started out as a contest of issues in a time of ferment -- and a possible positive turning point for America and the Democrats -- will revert to enervating form.
Political Muzak from the Democrats. Awful cacaphony from the GOP.
Look, Trump is awful. We all know that. It's like saying "blueberries are blue."
Guess what else? Anyone else the GOP might have put up would be awful. The GOP has been awful for decades. That's baked into every election. Trump is more of an annoying loose cannon in his personal style than most GOPPERS. But even someone "respectable" like Mittens or Jeb would be awful to anyone on the center-left half of the spectrum.
The really disheartening thing is what the Democratic Party is choosing to put up against him. Political Muzak. No vision. No real desire for Liberal/Progressive Change. Just "hold the line, Trump is bad, our candidate is competent." And meanwhile, turning to the same Big Power, Big Money Wall St. Corporate backers to fuel the campaign....and buy the candidates.
Yeah I know. First Woman President. I agree it's an important milestone.....But the gender of the person presiding is of less consequence to our individual lives and futures if they are merely presiding over the continuing sale of America and the continued tranquilizing of Liberal/Progressive Reform within the Democratic Party.
Whatever the outcome of the nomination (and we all know what is most likely) the very large share of voters who have supported Sanders cannot be ignored and marginalized moving forward.
Political Muzak may eke out a victory over Trump, but in the long run it will not lead to constructive governing...or the long-term prospects of the Democratic Party.
auntpurl
(4,311 posts)and watching the clips that are available online so far. I find her incredibly inspiring and feel a great swell of pride when I watch her speak.
Your problem is one of personal perception, not an indictment on Hillary's ability to inspire.
JonLeibowitz
(6,282 posts)auntpurl
(4,311 posts)The climate deal with the Chinese, the Isreali ceasefire, Iran sanctions, etc.
She is such a remarkable stateswoman, with such deep and broad experience. I don't think I've ever seen anyone more qualified to be president. I feel incredibly proud that she will represent the States with the PM of my country of residence and all our other important allies around the globe. She already has strong relationships with them and they respect her. We are in such a good position to fix longstanding global issues with Hillary at the helm.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)The OP is right. There is no cure for Hillary. Sorry. No cure.
auntpurl
(4,311 posts)I understand what you're feeling. I cannot stand listening to Bernie Sanders speak. He grates on my every last nerve. Because I don't like him and I don't agree with him, something about him just drives me nuts.
But I understand that my own personal perception is not what some other people see. More people seem to respond well to Hillary than they do to Bernie. I've been on the other side; I know what that feels like. Sorry your guy lost.
ymetca
(1,182 posts)... the prover proves." - Robert Anton Wilson
msongs
(67,406 posts)Armstead
(47,803 posts)But I wouldn't expect you to care about that.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)It's immediate and real. It's a genuine person talking, not MUSAK.
We used to call MUSAK "canned." Hillary's speeches are canned.
And an audience of 250 paying guests?
That's pitiful
Trump and Bernie speak to thousands of people at a time, enthusiastic people.
Hillary is the most pitiful candidate any party has ever contemplated putting up.
It just gets worse and worse.
As for Hillary's foreign policy. If you like horror shows, lots of dead people with their innards hanging out on the dirt all over the Middle East and terror not just there but in Central and South America, Hill's foreign policy is just the show you want to watch.
Not for me.
Ferd Berfel
(3,687 posts)If she manages to pull this off - isn't it.
That approach of "Drumpf is terrible so I must not be so much" isnt' going to inspire very many.
only the sycophants will bite.
BeyondGeography
(39,374 posts)sufrommich
(22,871 posts)Armstead
(47,803 posts)He needs to be repetitious to get through the Corporate Iron Curtain
It bores the shit out of me personally because I already know what he's talking about and agree with it.
But most Democrats have been studiously avoiding those issues and subjects and instead concentrated on nice-sounding Muzak.
Bernie is trying to expand the frame, which requires repetition and sticking to the basics.
BeyondGeography
(39,374 posts)HRC doesn't light up my living room either, but she runs circles around Bernie from a knowledge standpoint. I'd like to see Bernie do this on the fly:
auntpurl
(4,311 posts)YouDig
(2,280 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)when nominating himself at the 1992 convention.
Oops, forgot, Jerry Brown is now "establishment."
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)Hillary memorizes and reads her speeches. She does not connect with audiences.
She read this speech to an audience of 250 paying guests.
Bernie and Trump speak to live audiences of thousands of people.
And here is Bernie today on the environment at a press conference.
He talks from his heart. That's why he moved up from 3% to where he is now in just over a year. Took Hillary 20 years to get where she is now in the polls. Pretty flimsy.
A lousy candidate she is.
Here is the link to Bernie's press conference. It was great.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017380305
I hope it is still there. I listened to it live.
emulatorloo
(44,124 posts)Skinner
(63,645 posts)Pointing out your opponent's flaws is part of the process. It provides useful information to the voters, and it can be very effective. It would be foolish for any serious candidate to refrain from negative campaigning in a general election context.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)tymorial
(3,433 posts)Immature blueberries are green.
immoderate
(20,885 posts)--imm
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)we're a severely polarized country with a political system that's dysfunctional by design.
life is not the West Wing.
Tarc
(10,476 posts)This is how you attack Trump, by highlighting his complete inability to govern.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)If she starts in with the 'Me too!' she loses.
qdouble
(891 posts)and they should reminded 100 times a day. It seems most Bernie supporters are perfectly fine with criticizing democrats on a daily basis, but somehow criticizing Trump is waste of time.
MisterP
(23,730 posts)she's Clinton in a way that all non-Clintons are not Clinton; and anyone who isn't Clinton is not Clinton; therefore Clinton is Clinton; Sanders and Trump are equally not-Clinton, therefore Clinton is more Clinton than either of them"