Tuesday, November 08, 2016

Party Time

The last presidential election cycle I advocated identifying three issues of personal importance and then seeing how the candidates align.  This presidential cycle is in some ways so much easier and in other ways tougher. 

It’s easy cuz the only viable candidate is Hillary Clinton.  Or, if it’s any different, all the other candidates are turrible.  Fucking turrible.  Trump is essentially an exercise in how badly the dumb and poor in America can be exploited.  Trump is entitled to be as dumb and evil as he wishes.  The sadness comes from so many Americans - those that aren’t evil at least - being so confused or fearful that they would gravitate to something as blatantly repugnant as Trump.

The main third party candidates (J. Stein and G. Johnson) are almost equally unacceptable.  They may arguably be better people than Trump, but their flaws are - with any cursory review of positions or qualification - are just plain bad.

Having in the past cast my ballot for or seriously considered third party, even a hopeless third party candidate remains extremely vital if but to give evidence to dissatisfaction or show an alternative to the status quo.  If the USA is stuck in a two party system, strong third parties have the power to shake and sway the parties. There just needs to be a strong 3rd option. 

It would be fun to pretend an independent B. Sanders or Liz Warren run. There are obvious reasons why – even if any Democrat were principled, ambitious and egotistical enough to break from his or her party – why he or she would not do so, chief being to not hand the victory to Trump.  And one might even defend by suggesting a vigorous primary challenge by Sanders shook and swayed Clinton’s social positions.

I have no idea who among the Republicans could inspire with an independent bid, since pretty much all the folks in the Republican primary were god awful. Moreover, the Republicans have become such a psychotic and reactionary hot mess, in some sense, the third parties have taken over, from the Koch bros and Tea Party in the legislature, and Trump as the nominee.  Panic and obstruction at all cost and at all times, yo. At this point, the alternative for the party would be to have a normal candidate, someone who actually followed longstanding Republican views.

Anyway, there should be no way a majority of deliberating citizenry would cast a vote for any of the other candidates. That’s the easy part.

The tough part is that for whatever reason – Clinton cannot muster enthusiasm. Unfair or not, I would guess this is due to the unstated fact that many Americans are misogynists. Folks delude themselves to favor a male sexual predator unqualified candidate in Trump rather than a woman.

Yet, since I count myself as the unenthused I have to find another rationale. (!) In the past, I championed Clinton - especially during her last presidential run, when I was crazy in love with her. Yet 2008, Democratic American rathered a black illegal alien Muslim dude than a woman. 

This cycle, I am reminded of former Prez J. Carter’s slight overstatement in describing his term: “We never dropped a bomb. We never fired a bullet. We never went to war.” I have dear issues that Clinton will definitely lead on, some important issues her non-support will likely not threaten, and a certain few issues that I know her non-support will be crushing. 

I just imagine America abetted nonstop wars abroad, and the privacy/liberty implications at home, and I cannot help but feel defeated.  Whether Iraq or wherever else, I think of the many fathers, mothers, sons and daughters living in bedlam and fear, surrounded by present or imminent devastation. Maybe the world’s problems have become so tangled that attempts to unwind only tightens, or American foreign policies are failed by political convenience, but America not being a beacon of comfort or aid but an agent of suffering seems likely to remain, or possibly worsen. This election cycle, I am not sure how peace ranks as an issue for me, but Clinton will almost surely not be a peace president. 

And that – following over a decade long martial aggression – feels like progress will not happen under Clinton.  I hope I'm wrong, but I'm not holding my breath. And for whatever reason, at this moment, continued American international belligerence overwhelms all the many other issues that I know a Clinton presidency will benefit. Whatever other progress that can be achieved, I feel, America – with a Clinton victory – will not correct a wayward course that is long fucking overdue for a correction.

In other words, what I want, what I feel would energize my vote, is a clear anti-war movement.  Eight or so years ago, I felt Clinton was that or take steps towards that. Today, I no longer feel that. So that’s the tough part.


There are only limited options on what a citizen can do on Election Day and any measured act or abstention is valid, in my opinion. I feel I’m all but certain to vote for Clinton, but I’m all but certain to debate this till I make it to the ballot box. Whee.