As the results roll in tonight, it’s clear that Biden will be our nominee. I don’t think it’s a conspiracy theory to argue that the influential people in the upper echelons of the party did what they could to ensure that this was the result. Amy and Pete dropping out the day before Super Tuesday is sufficient evidence of that. I mean, why spend all that time, energy, and money and not only drop out, but endorse one of your chief rivals. I’m sorry, that’s not CT, that’s common sense.
I’m old enough, though, to know that the party putting its thumb on the scale is hardly unusual. Heck; although they’ve made an effort to make it seem like the voters were picking the nominee, they’ve never really relinquished the sort of power they exercised back in the old smoke-filled room days.
But, let’s look at the results of that in though. In the last 50 years, (heck, 52, but who’s counting...) the Democratic Party has only succeeded in electing 3 of its nominees. All of them benefited substantially by various extraordinary events. Carter, by Watergate. Clinton by Perot, and a recession. And Obama, by the end of capitalism (and, Sarah Palin….)
And yet, cycle after cycle, we’re pressured in different ways to select the most ‘electable’ candidate. Mondale and Dukakis and Gore and Hillary…. over and over again. What’s the definition of insanity again?
Whatever you think, the evidence is very much against tonight being a first step in the victory march of the General Election of 2020. In fact, history indicates strongly it’s the opposite. I’m sure in 2024 you’ll again be convinced to nominate someone who might appeal to moderates, but, in truth is not inspirational to anyone. And (s)he’ll lose again. And in 2028 and in 2032 and on and on until climate change ends human civilization. And when the moderates lose, and progressives complain, we’ll hear, completely contrary to all evidence, that the progressive would have lost far worse. Absent any, you know, actual evidence.
It’s generally thought that the adults are the ones who know better than to nominate a progressive. They’re the wise ones. We have to listen to them. All I can say is here we go again.
