We all have preferences! And Wow, it is refreshing, exciting and honestly amazing to see many of our Progressive ideals as a part of the mainstream after so many years in the political desert.
Think about it, we regularly see liberal talkers on political talk shows, having broad and substantial conversations about ideas like Universal Healthcare, the environment, the right to privacy, ending this unmitigated disaster of a war and many other issues that are deeply important to us.
What is thrilling is that these beliefs are are talked about as something that can happen with the only caveat being how these things are instituted not IF they can be accomplished.
I have been enjoying the inner family snarking, the sibling rivalry and the general feeling of "My guy is Better than your gal! or Our girl has more to offer than your guy!!"
But I have been very disturbed by this new strain of diary that is saying "If your guy/gal is nominated, I will vote for a republican or anyone else." This is very dangerous and undermines the larger goals we as Democrats/Progressives should stand together for.
But we must be careful not to create a circular firing squad, conscious to not throw the baby out with the bath water, to not pollute and destroy the positive political environment we find ourselves in.
There is a strain of idealist that really believes that if everyone doesn't see it their way, then they are going to take their toys home and burn the house down on the way out. It essentially happened to Gore in 2000 when there were more than enough progressive votes out there to have an administration that would have been imperfect BUT far better than the nightmare we have had to live through. (I know I have been scolded, I recognize that you can do anything with YOUR vote that you want) But really, has the last seven years been worth it?
Please, lets have rivalry, disagreements and debates. Lets be silly, snarky, funny, shameless in our passion and open with our opinions BUT no matter what, lets remember that at the end of the day we have three serious goals.
1- A quality Democrat in The White House (These are both great candidates)
2- A working majority in the House of Representatives
3- A Working majority in the Senate
4- Thoughtful liberal judges appointed to the Supreme Court
Ultimately we must be clear, thoughtful, fair, conscious of each other and on the same page with regards to the final outcome here. We are making history but lets make sure that the story is one of our sucessess not just who we nominated!
KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE.
KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE!