I am worried about the 2016 general
election...very worried. And I think all progressives should be as
well. I fear all the elements are there to make this coming election
turn out, not just badly for the country, but for the entire world.
Let me explain.
Right now there are really only two
“main” candidates, one from each party; Hillary Clinton and Jeb
Bush.
Both Jeb and Hillary are backed by
their respective party's insiders. And with good reason. Both would
basically maintain the status quo; at least for the Wall
Street/Lobbyists/Military Industrial Complex constituencies. Those
big money contributors are fine with all this democracy stuff, so
long as it does not get in their way. And Hillary and Jeb would
insure that it would be business as usual for them.
Oh I know what the Hillary Moonies out
there are saying right now; “But Steve, Jeb Bush would be so much
worse than Hillary. By not supporting her you are risking putting
another Bush in the White House.”
Yeah, heard that. But I've never been
much of a fan of the “lesser of evils” voting theory. We've been
playing that game for a long time now and, surprise, surprise, mostly
we keep getting evils. Also, the vote is supposed to be a near-sacred
exercise in the democratic process. So I would like to vote for a
candidate that does not make me feel like I have to take a shower
after I caste my ballot.
And it's not just me feeling that way.
Nor is it just progressives either. Neither Hillary nor Jeb is wildly
popular with the growing number of folks who now call themselves
“independents,” or “undecided.”
And that's what makes this coming
election so dangerous. It's the kind of social/political/ideological
stew brewing out there that can make for unhappy surprises. When a
large portion of the electorate “throws the bums out,” they more
often than not end up electing even bigger and badder bums.
And, if you are looking for a baker's
dozen of just such bums, look no further than the GOP's backbenchers
angling for their moment in the national spotlight. ch on the GOP
side angling for the top job.
Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio, Donald Trump and
Rand Paul are a few. Oh, and remember Rick Perry? He has new
eyeglasses so he looks smarter -- though in fact he's as dumb as
ever.
So let's look ahead. What happens if
Hillary Clinton runs virtually unopposed and wins the Democratic
Party pole position. And, for now anyway, she is running unopposed.
Then there's Jeb. Unlike Hillary he's
not going to run such an easy primary. In fact since he announced his
“exploratory committee” the reception among the GOP base has been
something less than resounding. It would that even the GOP base has
Bush Fatigue.
After a couple of decades of pandering
to their social/religious wing-nut base, the GOP has all but lost
control of its own party, and maybe its own destiny as well. Which
could mean that Jeb bombs in the primaries. Instead one of the party
nuts could be hoisted to the party's nomination on the shoulders of
their now uncontrollable Tea Party-type delegates.
Again I hear the Hillary folks in my
head: “Well that would be great, Steveo. It would mean an even
easier win for Hillary in the general election.”
Maybe. But, if I've learned anything
about Hillary Clinton over the years it's that, the more you see and
hear of her, the less and less you like her. If Bush Fatigue is real,
so too is Clinton Fatigue. Though it may lay further beneath the
surface, there will be nothing more likely to dig it up than more
Hillary.
Simply put, Hillary grates. She is
un-genuine in the extreme. She is the most transparent political
panderer ever. Her private and public lives are rife with
contradictions. For example she plans to make income inequality a
centerpiece of her campaign. Really? Is this the same person who
takes $300,000 speaking fees from already hard-pressed universities,
demands the most expensive private jets and the presidential suites
whenever she travels and then, with a straight face, denounces
“income inequality.”
All that, and much more, is sure to
catch up with her as soon as she hits the stump this Spring. By the
time the general election rolls around Hillary Clinton's persona will
look like a Pit Bull's chew toy.
Will all that wear down Hillary's
progressive base? I feel it already. Many others do too. So it will
take it's toll, for sure. And that would be especially so among young
voters, who are far less likely to buy the “lesser of two evils'
rationalization.
Which could mean that, if indeed the
GOP nominates one of those true-blue, Yosemite Sam, crazy-as-
a-woodtick ultra-conservatives, an reenergize far-right just might be
enough to swing the race.
Meaning that the following Wednesday
morning we could wake up to learn Ted Cruz, or Rick Perry of Rand
Paul is going to be our next Command-in-Chief.
Stranger things have happen. But never
anything so dangerous to America and the world.
And if it does happen here, it would be
in step with the disturbing rightward trend we are seeing in several
western European nations and the near-fascist trend in several
eastern European and former Soviet territories. Troubled times are
fertile soil for reactionary, regressive forces.
There are ways to avoid such a fate
here at home. It's not complicated; more challengers and better
challengers – in BOTH parties. At this point the GOP is offering
plenty of challengers but to say the quality is lacking would be a
gross understatement. Meanwhile the DNC has apparently decided it
agrees with the way China wants to run elections in Hong Kong –
with an old horse DNC apparatchik.
Oh my....
