Real-Politik: Time For Democratic Primary Voters To Get REAL

1) It pains me to say this - but one thing is for sure. The election campaign between the Democrats and Republicans in 2008 will not be about decency or idealism. It would be wonderful if it would be. We deserve it. But reality tells us otherwise.

2) And the 4-year presidential term starting in January 2009 - and the following 4-year presidential term will not be about decency or idealism. Even if there is a 60-seat Democratic majority in the Senate - which is highly unlikely - there will be bloody battles and fights.

3) The social conservatives who are such a vociferous but effective minority in this nation have had a grip on the US political agenda since 1980. They were and still are incensed about the social and civil changes of the 1960s. They are convinced that it was a liberal elite and media that drove Richard Nixon from the White House in 1974. They haven't stopped being mad about it. And they deeply resent Bill Clinton winning two successive presidential terms in the 1990s.

And most of all - they know that they are just one Republican presidential election win from overturning Roe versus Wade. And outlawing abortion in the USA.

4) They do not want to be "brought together" for a common, nobler purpose. They do not share the vision that there are no red states, no blue states -- only the UNITED States. They care about one thing -- and only one thing. They care about retaining the White House for the Republican Party. So that they can protect and prosecute the social agenda that they believe is a moral crusade.

They will do anything and everything to win. ANYTHING. And EVERYTHING.

Remember the transformation of Al Gore's image from earnest boy scout into serial liar...

Remember the transformation of John Kerry's image from boring stentorian senator into traitorous flip-flopper...

Those were NOTHING compared to what the hardcore conservatives will do this coming year.

5) They will do much more than vilify. They will destroy.

They will NOT stand by and allow the Democratic candidate win the presidency.

They don't want a populist at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

They don't want a woman in the Oval Office.

They don't want a black man in the White House.

They don't want anyone who will not give them what they want.

What they regard as a moral imperative.

Supreme Court justices who will overturn Roe versus Wade.

6) So the battle that will be fought in the nine months from February 6th (by which time the Democratic Party will almost certainly have selected its standard-bearer) till November 4th will be about one thing --- and one thing only.

Winning the election.

By whatever means are necessary.

And that will include the filthiest, most vile smear campaign that has ever been leveled at any Democratic presidential candidate.

Whoever the nominee is.

Hillary Clinton.

John Edwards.

Barack Obama.

(Listed above in strictly alphabetical order.)

7) Personally, I will wholeheartedly support whichever Democratic candidate wins the nomination.

8) But the Democratic voters who do not take the above incontrovertible facts into consideration are delusional and suicidal.

9) It's The SCOTUS Stupid!

Comments

[BASSRW]

Here at this time we will be soon casting our votes which for the first time since our founding fathers drew up the frame work on how and what we stood for our votes and the outcome of same shall determine in short order the continued longeivity of our Republic.

It seems from the destruction of one labor union (PATCO) and the signing of a giveaway trade agreement (NAFTA) we have slid down that slippery slope of total confusion and not one so called candidate really 'knows' what is good for our country, or how to even begin reversing and turning around this disastrous trend of near fanatical G8 trade agreements, immigration (more like an invasion)and economic woes that besought us this day.

We have reached that point in time here on Earth that one country (America-USA) cannot nor should we be attempting to fix everything wrong on Earth. Problems within our own borders are and must be our number one consideration or we simply are going to loose our country.

Yes, we have a few friends on the world stage but we can probably number them on one hand. The rest are along for the ride just to be there when our nation go's down the drink!.

That is so sad. We at one point had an oppertunity to really make a difference but the love of money got in the way as it has been predicted it would and now we have a almost fatal mess!.

NATO and the United Nations it would appear are a bad joke!. They will not be able to stop what is coming, not without cool and level and honest thinking heads running this governent. That is a combination of indivduals we seem totally unable to assemble if for just one short time.

John F. Kennedy had just one thousand day's, we probably have less!

GOD BLESS AMERICA

[JoAnnCr]

The question is, are we, the people, up to the fight? If we are, nothing will stop us. If we are not, heaven help us.

Unbeatable tickets?

Edwards/Obama 2008, 2012. Bill Clinton-Secretary of State.

Obama 2016, 2020.

Long term thinking is the only way and you've hit it right on the head: It's the SCOTUS, Stupid!

[sparkandy]

preaching to the dem party faithful will not result in a dem being elected. it didn't work last time, when the dems offered kerry and he was voted AGAINST. these same people are still voting and you can bet they'll have no trouble voting against hrc or bo. so, instead of offering a candidate who only appeals to the hard core dems, how about giving us someone to vote FOR - edwards.

[protagonia]

I believe in Dennis Kucinich with all my heart.

[realitytrumpsbull]

Vote Kucinich on the dem side, Paul on the GOP side, put em both on the same ticket and call it the Democratic­-Republica­ns, or better yet The Independents.

[mamacita]

If you listen to the talking heads, they're all convinced that Hillary will get the nomination. Why is that? I'd say that it's wishful thinking on the part of the Republicans. I'm guessing that GOP strategists have an Anti-Hillary campaign already mapped out. After all, they did very well against another Clinton, didn't they?

I'm convinced that if Hillary wins the nomination, Republicans will win the White House, and use every dirty trick in the book to do it.

[RepublicanBrain]

Wow, ignore the fact that Democrats have done nothing but smear campaigns for seven years, through out some absurd comments, and you've got basically what amounts to a call to war.

Perhaps Al Gore was a serial liar and John Kerry was a flip-flopper. Silly me, Democrats good, Republicans bad.

It must be fun to live in such a delusion dreamworld, Mr. Lewis. I so wish you'd send me a postcard while I work to fix the world.

[martinchill]

i suppose saying electronic voting machines are rigged is considered passé these days?

[VicPerry]

Oh. So confused was I, even after writing a long comment, that I went back to read previous Martin Lewis posts and came across the almost identical one from September. Sheesh. Dude, save it for November 08, okay? Your message - the oh my god, don't let the Republicans win - might make sense then. As for during the primaries, exactly what are the mad, mad, crazy, mad left wing idealists whom you apparently live in fear of going to do? It's not like anybody can vote for a third party during the primaries (or did you not know that, this not being England?) Get a grip. Get a calendar.

[VicPerry]

Uhh, what would you have Democratic voters do, oh wise one? What are they to "take into account" since according to your own post anybody who makes it to being the nominee will be smeared, how exactly is this supposed to influence a decision? And won't it be up to whoever is the nominee to actually campaign successfully? (something Gore and Kerry were woeful at, by the by. Blaming their pathetic showings on the "amazing" hijinks of the Republican smear machine is the usual sadass excuse making, the one thing we can count on from the Democratic Party and their apologists.)

Delusional? Suicidal?? What ARE you talking about. It is not up to the voters to conduct these candidates' campaigns for them, and there is NO WAY we can guess now who will do a good job of campaigning against the Republicans - no, sorry, there's no way, none of you people know the future. Especially you pundits.

Vote for the best candidate - that's the best you can do.

[Tellmethetruth]

Check out the RNC website - they are confident they can win the Presidency and take back Congress. How will they do that?

Agree with you - it will only get nastier.

[LizM]

You make some very strong arguments for the nomination of Joe Biden - especially point #9.

It is clear to me that Senator Biden is the only Democratic nominee for president who would not only beat any of the potential Republican nominees, including John McCain, but he would win a real governable majority.