2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumWife Just Switched Her Vote To Bernie..Holy S***
Eight years ago I politely debated everyday with my wife when it was Obama vs Hillary but no matter what I said she was not changing her vote from Mrs. Clinton. And I understood why. I thought (and still do) that Hillary would make a terrific president but I believed candidate Obama would be even more amazing. And despite all of our friendly arguments she voted for Hillary and I voted for Barack in the primary.My wife has been a HUGE Hillary fan since Bill was president. She read both books the Clinton's wrote and has followed her entire career.
Four weeks ago my 13 year old, non political, internet whiz daughter overheard my wife and I talking about the primary. I am not sure yet who I will vote for and my wife was talking about all the positives of Hillary. Our just turned teenage daughter said to my wife, and I will never forget this, "You should vote for Bernie Sanders. He really cares about everyone."
After we both got over our shock (and the ensuing stunned silence) at our little girls first political statement EVER she replied. "Hillary cares too sweetheart but I promise I will check out Bernie." And she did.
Two weeks ago my wife started emailing and texting me multiple Bernie Sanders videos and articles. This past Monday she told me she is voting for him. I am still in shock. I never believed for a second that Sanders had a chance to beat Clinton. Now I do because if my wife changed her vote almost anyone can.
As for myself I am still undecided. I hesitated even posting this because some of the nastiness around here. It hurts me to read some of my fellow Democrats trashing this wonderful woman. But I had to post it. I have been married for 20 years and I thought there were no surprises left from my better half.
And one more thing. My daughters name is Chelsea! Fourteen years ago wife insisted we name her after the Clinton's wonderful daughter. Clinton supporters please don't get too angry with me. I sincerely have not made up my mind yet but our family believes we have two terrific candidates and we will vote for whoever wins.
Uncle Joe
(58,378 posts)Thanks for sharing, Nightjock.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)Of course, we're both Socialists.
elleng
(131,028 posts)Martin O'Malley:
1. Ended death penalty in Maryland
2. Prevented fracking in Maryland and put regulations in the way to prevent next GOP Gov Hogan fom easily allowing fracking.
3. Provided health insurance for 380,000
4. Reduced infant mortality to an all time low.
5. Provided meals to thousands of hungry children and moved toward a goal for eradicating childhood hunger.
6. Enacted a $10.10 living wage and a $11. minimum wage for State workers.
7. Supporter the Dream Act
8. Cut income taxes for 86% of Marylanders (raised taxes on the rich).
9. Reformed Marylands tax code to make it more progressive.
10. Enacted some of the nations most comprehensive reforms to protect homeowners from foreclosure.
Mother Jones magazine called him the best candidate on environmental issues.
Article here:
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/12/martin-omalley-longshot-presidential-candidate-and-real-climate-hawk
florida08
(4,106 posts)Excellent bonafides
elleng
(131,028 posts)raindaddy
(1,370 posts)elleng
(131,028 posts)jwirr
(39,215 posts)on so many things that if anything happened the other would be able to take it from there.
raindaddy
(1,370 posts)fredamae
(4,458 posts)Would also give O'Malley an inside track to the Whitehouse later down the road.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Liz Warren can do more good in the Senate than as VP and she's a worthy successor to Ted.
Dems to Win
(2,161 posts)O'Malley has a lot of strengths to recommend him, including his age.
tblue37
(65,457 posts)good VP. (That is, of course, an essential test that McCain totally failed.)
Mr. Evil
(2,853 posts)ms liberty
(8,588 posts)a kennedy
(29,689 posts)Left Coast2020
(2,397 posts)That sounds like as unstoppable ticket. Yes, Senator Warren--if she wanted it.
Dawgs
(14,755 posts)JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)Thanks for keeping us posted about Martin O'Malley.
elleng
(131,028 posts)He's better than 'good,' considering his experience.
Dems to Win
(2,161 posts)Admiral Loinpresser
(3,859 posts)appalachiablue
(41,159 posts)and Juan Gonzales. They asked him about the debates, the campaign, BLM and the recent Freddie Gray settlement in Balto. The video can be viewed online or the FSTV Channel on Dish and Direct TV.
elleng
(131,028 posts)redruddyred
(1,615 posts)you know it's bad news when your republican frontrunner is treating the political process as a continuation of his dying reality tv career.
I wonder if this is an actual real "thanks obama" moment; having a black president got all the racists in this country politically aware and organized.
glad o'malley's speaking up. someone has to.
gateley
(62,683 posts)I'd heard him referred to as a Hillary clone (not in a good way) so I didn't pay much attention.
I'll look into him -- thanks, pal! :wave:
elleng
(131,028 posts)HE's my guy this time around, gate. I'm sure you'll be impressed.
gateley
(62,683 posts)Do you know if he's included in the first debate?
And I have to laugh -- another "underdog" -- but I have faith that you can pick them!
elleng
(131,028 posts)He's SURELY in the debates, while I suspect hrc (and maybe even Bernie) would rather he not be.
Media sucks; DNC moreso.
gateley
(62,683 posts)I don't mean to bestow sainthood on Bernie, but I think he'll be glad to get someone who might be more simpatico to his ways of thinking than some of the others. I don't think Bernie's goal is TO WIN NO MATTER WHAT -- he wants what's good for the country.
Saint Bernie. Sheesh -- where did that come from?
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)I didn't have to do a thing, all he did was listen to Bernie and he was sold.
His mother, step-father and son are also converts.
Great op, I hope no one gives you crap over it.
virtualobserver
(8,760 posts)YouTube does not work as well for Hillary.
beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)This is how he's reaching the young'uns who don't watch the traditional boob tube.
Lorien
(31,935 posts)Or is it just an "I like her" decision? Pro fracking, Pro TPP, anti Wall street reform? https://www.isidewith.com/
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Thanks for posting.
Old Crow
(2,212 posts)Regardless of how things go in 2016, I'm sure your daughter's first political statement will be remembered within the family forever.
I just hope her interest in Bernie proves prophetic!
Avalux
(35,015 posts)I know your daughter isn't old enough to vote yet, but look what she's managed to do! I have three daughters all under the age of 30 and we have many conversations about Bernie and his popularity on the net and social media; he really is creating a huge movement. Those who are depending on young voters to stay home this time are going to be in for a real shock. My 23 year old said that people her age are angry that older people have screwed up their future and are going to do something about it.
Good for your wife. She got Berned!!!!
bvar22
(39,909 posts)The movement was already there. Obama took advantage of it with a lot of Populist Promises he never intended to keep.
Then OWS brought the movement To-the-Streets, changed the American dialog,
and pointed out (Big Time) Income Inequality, the basic unfairness of modern America,
and the fact that the lower incomes are being SCREWED by the Billionaires.
Of Course, OWS is just another incarnation of a movement that started over 100 years ago
with the fight for Unions and Labor rights.
....BUT, Bernie is certainly riding the crest of "the movement",
and scoring high points for the beauty of his ride and his ability to listen to The People
who actually shower AFTER work.
Ride, Bernie, RIDE!
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)after Obama spent so much time 'reaching out' to Republicans, wasting the most important time in his Presidential time in office. I really thought they'd be so turned off they wouldn't bother to vote for another generation. I'm amazed that so many are willing to try again with Bernie.
Marty McGraw
(1,024 posts)aidbo
(2,328 posts)demmiblue
(36,873 posts)Your wee little internet whiz just happens to have a good head on her shoulders.
Dems to Win
(2,161 posts)Sure feels like it. In 2008, young people often convinced their parents to vote for Obama.
840high
(17,196 posts)just like your wife. Go Bernie!!!
appalachiablue
(41,159 posts)~ If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. ~ Thomas Paine.
secondwind
(16,903 posts)kracer20
(199 posts)Your story reminded me of when I heard on the radio that Bud Light overtook Budweiser as the #1 beer. It wasn't 24 hours later that my dad informed me that he switched from Bud to Bud Light...coincident or not, I got a kick out of it.
in_cog_ni_to
(41,600 posts)I'll never forget the first time I ever heard him speak on the House floor, during my 24/7 CSPAN watching days. My back was to the TeeVee and when I heard his speech, I thought, "Who on earth is this amazing man?" I turned around and saw Bernie Sanders! I have said for years that if he ever ran for President I was voting for him - no matter who else ran in the Primary. He has never given a floor speech in the House or Senate (that I actually heard), that I didn't agree with.
He's honest, passionate about We The People, he's been on the correct side of every major issue and has been consistent for 40 years.
He's the candidate I have been waiting for for a long, long time!
You have a smart daughter and she's very insightful!
Go Bernie!
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)reminds me of the Jaws movie poster, where Jaws was coming up to munch some unsuspecting swimmer. Needs a tiny Hillary above, heh.
rainbow fish
(42 posts)Hillary Clinton doing the nae nae (with the Jaws theme) and Bernie rising along..
retrowire
(10,345 posts)I'm only joking. lol
Babel_17
(5,400 posts)Thanks for sharing that story.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)madokie
(51,076 posts)I like that he talks to us in a way that we can understand and never has to back up because he said something wrong. The man is a saint if ever there were one. I love him
WillyT
(72,631 posts)mountain grammy
(26,638 posts)When Grandpa expressed his support for Hillary, the girls said..."no way, Grandpa, Bernie Sanders is the one."
aikoaiko
(34,178 posts)Bubzer
(4,211 posts)There's still a lot to be discussed before the nominee gets determined.
OnionPatch
(6,169 posts)She asked me if I knew who Bernie Sanders was and proceeded to tell me I should vote for him. Wow. I was able to tell her I'd been listening to Bernie since she was in preschool on the Thom Hartmann Show's "Brunch with Bernie". She was impressed.
I think Bernie really resonates with the younger generations. And apparently his appeal doesn't stop there.
DisgustipatedinCA
(12,530 posts)He cares not a thing for party labels either.
I know that my stories, and the other stories in this thread, are anecdotal. But after a few million iterations, anecdotal information becomes something else altogether.
artislife
(9,497 posts)I had a lot of "Ready for Hillary" posts shared onto my facebook wall from all kinds of friends.
Now, it is only Bernie quotes and at least 4 of the Hillary people have switched over. The number of Boomer Women is large. Those are the ones that stick out the most, because most of them have a connection to her from when she was First Lady.
All my Xer and Millenial friends are Bernie supporters.
cadaverdog
(228 posts)Wonderful post, Nightjock, and it got me thinking...I have a lovely niece who has no idea who Bernie Sanders is, and she is an Asst. Principal at a middle school! So I was just thinking, if you still have those emails from your wife, maybe you could post a few of the links that I could forward to my niece. I have a feeling your wife has a better list than the ones I have picked out so far. Heck, I would be happy to forward the entire emails, with your wife's permission, and explain her journey from Hillary to Bernie. I'm sure her story would be a lot more powerful than anything I could write. But of course if she doesn't have the time, I completely understand.
How lucky you are to have such an open-minded and intelligent spouse. I think that might be more fun than mine, who rarely disagrees with me. It's good to have our ideas challenged now and then.
Again thanks so much for a delightful post.
John Poet
(2,510 posts)Bluzmann57
(12,336 posts)Add another one to the Bernie camp. And good on your daughter for noticing too.
Bluzmann57
(12,336 posts)My parents (85 and 82) are lifelong Democrats and are all in for Bernie as well. The train is rolling now. Bernie/O'Malley. Great ticket!
demosincebirth
(12,541 posts)djean111
(14,255 posts)dpatbrown
(368 posts)I think it was yesterday that I posted what I think is the key and you have been doing it. Get folks wondering about "Bernie", and many will go find out. That's three fourth the sale. And when they learn the character of this man and all the others remarks from so many of you, its a sell. Remember to get his name out when you are out in public. As you know, because I'm sure it is happening to you.
The two teenage girls who live next to me, were jumping up and down when I pounded in my Bernie lawn sign.
Fumesucker
(45,851 posts)[font size="9"]Feel the Bern![/font]
to your very smart family.
Rockyj
(538 posts)You made my evening!
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)This show that if people get to know Bernie and what he stands for that they will be surprised.
Elmer S. E. Dump
(5,751 posts)d_legendary1
(2,586 posts)Excellent way to end and excellent post! Wish I could rec this more than once!
gateley
(62,683 posts)Even if I STRONGLY disagree/dislike the eventual nominee -- I'll be the first in line to cast my vote for the D.
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom