2016 Postmortem

CapnSteve

(219 posts) Thu Aug 18, 2016, 10:13 AM Aug 2016

Reality TV is NOT REAL.

It has become a bit of a cottage industry for me lately: talking fellow liberals off the ledge. Look, dear friends, Trump will be defeated in a landslide by Secretary Clinton in November, and if we turn out to vote, the Senate will flip as well. To explain this crazy campaign, just repeat after me: “Reality TV is not real.”

The GOP establishment is smart (evil, but smart); they saw, shortly after President Obama’s election in 2012, that they had NO CHANCE to win the 2016 presidential election if Hillary Clinton became the nominee. From the very beginning, they played the percentages and hedged their bets. Their strategy has three prongs:

1) Deny Hillary Clinton the Nomination: The GOP has been trying to destroy Hillary for 25 years, with little effect. The large unfavorable number for Hillary is not a result of this, it is the result of widespread misogyny. So the GOP waded into the Democratic primary and backed Bernie. It was a highly unlikely they would be successful, but they would be able to damage the party and create division where there was none.

2) Keep Their Powder Dry: While all of us, particularly the media, are hypnotized by the reality TV (say it with me: “Reality TV is not real.”) spectacle of the Trump campaign, the GOP is quietly funneling money and effort into senate, house, state and local races. Those who have their eyes on becoming president are “keeping their powder dry” and waiting for 2020 (or more realistically 2024).

3) Allow “Baby Hands” Trump to Distract: Trump is really, really good at reality TV. All of the media loves reality TV. And I do mean “all” media. Every time the media reports breathlessly on the latest outrageous lie tweeted or spoken by Trump, they become part of his reality TV campaign. It does not matter if you listen to left or right, the news cycle continues to be dominated by the Trump reality TV show.

So, what to do? Reality TV is not real. If you like reality TV (I do enjoy Big Brother, but I only watch it with my daughter!), feel free to watch a little of it. Then, turn off the TV, put down the smart phone and join us in reality. In reality, we have a chance to elect the first woman president, gain majorities in the house and senate, and create a wave of democratic victories across the country! Hillary is only 6 points behind in Texas. Step away from reality TV and into real life and Texas could flip blue!

Reality TV is NOT REAL!

3 replies

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Reality TV is NOT REAL. (Original Post) CapnSteve Aug 2016 OP

I'm going to quibble with your #1 JHB Aug 2016 #1

A quibble to your quibble... CapnSteve Aug 2016 #2

K & R ...... Wounded Bear Aug 2016 #3

JHB

(37,158 posts)

1. I'm going to quibble with your #1

Reply to CapnSteve (Original post)

Thu Aug 18, 2016, 10:44 AM

Aug 2016

The republicans have spent a quarter century throwing turdballs at the Clintons hoping that some flecks would stick enough to ruin them, and in the meantime a fogbank of steam rises off the ever-present pile of sloughed-off turdballs. They point with alarm at the white cloud and say "Y'know, where there's smoke...".

It's never been enough, but it has had an effect. Misogyny is the mallet, but the 25 years of mostly-horseshit "Clinton scandals" is the wedge.

And for the sake of not refighting the primaries, I'm just going to assume the second part was badly stated and that you didn't intend to claim that Bernie and the people who voted for him are dupes and/or agents of the Republicans.

CapnSteve

(219 posts)

2. A quibble to your quibble...

Reply to JHB (Reply #1)

Thu Aug 18, 2016, 11:11 AM

Aug 2016

"mostly-horseshit" - my point is that, for Hillary, it has been all horseshit. She simply is the most qualified candidate for president in a generation.

And, what I said was that the GOP waded into the primaries and supported Bernie. They did do that. They did create division and damage.

You are completely right: I did NOT claim "that Bernie and the people who voted for him are dupes and/or agents of the Republicans."

And, we took that division and damage and turned it into the most progressive Democratic platform ever, and energized a new generation of loyal progressives. You did notice that I said "We", right?

The only persistent damage the GOPers have done is dividing us. We means you, me, Bernie, Hillary, everyone.

Wounded Bear

(58,647 posts)

3. K & R ......

Reply to CapnSteve (Original post)

Thu Aug 18, 2016, 11:14 AM

Aug 2016

I don't watch reality TV. Never have, probably never will. Oh, I've seen a few scenes here and there, but I don't think I've ever been able to watch an entire show.

Go Hillary!

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