As I type this the RNC convention has been over for a couple of days and, with that (and the 2020 DNC convention happening a week earlier) formalizes the race we already know with a renominated The Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago (a/k/a: electoral vote winner Donny on the Repub side) facing former Vice President Joe Biden (for the Democrats) in the 2020 Presidential election this November. In the wake of this we've all seen more than our fair share of emotions related to this from frustration over what Biden and the establishment Dems represent to the fake populism of the Repubs (despite it being easy to disprove) as well as varying degrees of enthusiasm while unrest rose once again in an American city (this time in Kenosha, WI following the shooting of Jacob Blake by a police officer and the protests that predictably erupted in the aftermath). However, that frustration has lingered on multiple levels in our society for a while and while it's still difficult to predict what will happen in November I do feel compelled to comment on some of the scnenrio we find ourselves in as we head towards another election that many will be sick of weeks before it actually happens.After watching clips from teh conventions (I work nights currently at the paying job) as well as reading various news sites and seeing what's going on these are my thoughts regarding the upcoming election. First let's get to the unavoidable fact that faces everyone who votes in the upcoming election:
THE MAD FUHRER OF MAR-A-LAGO HAS TO GO!!!!!
This is the first thing we must consider. While I won't badger people who are considering third party who are either expats or living in places so midnight blue it's just a couple shade variations from the cover of Black in Black (or Metallica's self-titled album (a/k/a: the black album) or the soundtrack to This is Spinal Tap, to name a couple for reference), I do need to point out that Biden (while very very far from perfect) will be less horrible than electoral vote winner Donny. Those disaffected voters in swing states should take that into account when making their choice. Also, electroal vote winner Donny's flirting with authoritarianism, if nto outright fascism, has been well documented over hsi terms ranging from the attempted Muslim bans to the decision to separate famil,ies seeking asylum at the border to his implying that neo-nazis were "very fine people: after the United the Right rally in Charlottesville, VA in 2017. Add to this reports from former minions of the Mad Fuhrer that he plans to be unleashed to do whatever he wants if re-elected and it's clear that we are at a very dangerous place in this country and leaving him in charge could cause everlasting harm.
Before anyone accuses me of being a Biden apologist I wish to make it clear that he's far from my first choice. However, in a country that where the electoral college chooses the actual President and an election structure that almost makes third party candidacies impossible to run (and often ridiculed when they kind of make headway) he's what we have against the Mad Fuhrer. To the extent possible, the best electoral choices for progressives will likely be downballot races if possible. We're in the crosshairs where parallels to Nazi Germany are getting closer (though still slightly out of reach) but other achievable authoritarian regimes such as apartheid era South Africa style regimes are in reach if Donny is allowed to keep power.
I know that not everyone who hates electoral vote winner Donny will go Riden with Biden. Third party candidates (as well as write in candidates) have long been around and will continue tinto future elections. However, before making that choice I do urge people realize the cost our country will face if the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago gets to keep this job (as well as his grift on claiming not to take a salary but making money off the Secret Service et al). What is obvious from the last four years is this - The Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago should've never been elected, should've never been in office, and HE HAS TO BE VOTED THE FUCK OUT - PREFERABLY IN A LANDSLIDE!!!!
THE DEMOCRATS ARE PLAYING A DANGEROUS GAME BY AIMING FOR NEVER DONNY REPUBS OVER THEIR BASE...
The Repubs caving into the demands of the Mad fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago is terrifying on some level but it is alos expected by this point as even many of those who were against him in the 2016 election have fallen in line, most apt on keeping their jobs and power than on doing anything that would actually help the American people. What;s more alarming is the path the Democratic Party chose - rather than go more progressive by choosing a candidate more in line with not just what its base wants (according to how issues poll) but with issues popular with many on both sides of the aisle in the rank and file, they chose a middle of the road platform that wouldn't aliente the Never Donny Repub.
The so-called Never Donny Repub, noted for media stances in opposition tio the Mad Fuhrer have a habitate mostly on cable news shows but the rare Repub politician who voices mild criticism tends to be upheld in these circles as a brave hero standing for the American people. The problem is these same politicans who occasionally criticized Donny voted with what he wanted most of the time. However, in an ear of Repub politics where 100% obedience to electoral vote winner Donny isn't nearly enough many of them either retired or lost their seats in the 2018 midterms. They still weren't as willing to go all the way after the Mad Fuhrer (possibly seeing state governor's races in the future and assuming they'd need Donny's help). While a number of former elected officials and former Repub minions from both the current and previous administrations are backing BIden, having seen what the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago has brought to the U.S. in his first term, this strategy has its obstacles.
First, while there may be a lot of never Donny Repubs in the media there aren't many amongst the rank and file. To be fair this strategy was beginning implementation earlier this year as the Mad Fuhrer's reaction to the coronavirus tended to cause more problems than solutions, angvering a lot of people. However, as the conventions wrap up the race appears to tighten in swing states, giving whatg earlier appeared to be a somewhat certain loss a tighter bump (some of it post convention as expected, some of it due to the amorphic apolitical part of the center that doesn't keep up on the news and is likely to believe talking points).
This, when added to the DNC's unfortunate path of trying to push porgressives out of the spotlight in order to appease suburbanites who may be disillusioned with Donny in hopes to get their vote rather than encourage possible new voters amongst their base makes for a dangerous strategy that, while it might be successful at the top of the ticket (and - WE NEED TO GET THE MAD FUHRER OF MAR-A-LAGO OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE) could backfire on down ballot races (state represenatives, Senate, House on the Federal level, etc) and could force people who might be willing to vote for Democrats into nihilism and not voting altogether.
While in the past a narrow victory may have been a strategy that could work to a poinbt, these aren't normal times. As such, previous talk of how we need a landslide should be more than rhetoric. Right now it appears it might backfire.
Why a part of me hopes what the DNC is trying to do gets Donny out of office, I am worried about how it could backfire - and how establishment Dems will blame everyone but themselves if it does.
ANY PREDICTIONS?
Hard to tell right now? Biden is holding on narrowly (within 10 points) overall in the polls but Clinton had a similar situation in 2016. Regardless, things are different in 2020 as we have four years of the Mad Fuher of Mar-A-Lago's record to judge from as well as a pandemic response that's made things worse in take into account. Still, the fact that a lot of people working on the ground for the Democrats are taking the approach that they have to act as if they;'re 5 to 10 points behind until election day makes things seem like something might have been learned since last year. I hope they have - since there's enough stress and fear in the world without foru more fucking years of The Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago.
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