by Pa Rock
Citizen Journalist
For an old Bernie supporter like me, yesterday's Hillary victory in New York was disappointing, though not surprising. It was one she had to win - a loss there would have been catastrophic, a clear signal that her showboat was sinking.
But she won - and won big - breaking a long streak of Sanders' victories in smaller states. (Donald Trump, the "other" New Yorker in the race, handily won the Republican primary.)
In other years with a different field of candidates, this ballot battle in the vote-rich Empire State might have foretold the end of the race for the Democratic nomination, but Sanders appears to be hanging tough and is stating a determination to plod on to the convention. His supporters, many of whom are young and enthusiastic novices to the political process, have worked hard to make their candidate a viable alternative to Clinton's expected nomination, and they deserve to reap the reward of seeing Bernie's name put in nomination at the Democratic National Convention this summer. Anything less would be a betrayal of their enthusiasm and valiant efforts.
Assuming that Hillary is not derailed by any surprise scandals and becomes the nominee of the Democratic Party, I will vote for her in November. It would be lunacy not to - or to vote for someone like Trump, Cruz, Kasich, or Ryan - but my vote for Hillary is likely to be the extent of the support that I throw her way. I can't bring myself to send money to someone who has become a multi-millionaire solely as a result of being involved in the American political process. That just does not feel right.
My car bumper and tree-shaded front yard will be used to promote some down-ballot candidates. Missouri has an excellent chance of maintaining a Democratic hold on the governorship by electing our current attorney general, Chris Koster, to that position, and our young secretary of state, Jason Kander (the youngest statewide officeholder in the nation), is giving Senator Ol' Roy Bunt cause for concern as he runs against Blunt for his senate seat. I have already donated to both of these fine Democrats and will again. There is also a top-flight independent candidate running to oust our current Republican state representative - and as there are no Democrats in that race, I am supporting her- enthusiastically!
New York's primary results would have probably been a lot different if Independents had been permitted to vote in the Democratic and Republican primaries - as they were in some of the more politically progressive states. Chasing after those Independent votes will likely be very high on Hillary's "to-do" list this fall.
Good luck with that, Hill.
Citizen Journalist
For an old Bernie supporter like me, yesterday's Hillary victory in New York was disappointing, though not surprising. It was one she had to win - a loss there would have been catastrophic, a clear signal that her showboat was sinking.
But she won - and won big - breaking a long streak of Sanders' victories in smaller states. (Donald Trump, the "other" New Yorker in the race, handily won the Republican primary.)
In other years with a different field of candidates, this ballot battle in the vote-rich Empire State might have foretold the end of the race for the Democratic nomination, but Sanders appears to be hanging tough and is stating a determination to plod on to the convention. His supporters, many of whom are young and enthusiastic novices to the political process, have worked hard to make their candidate a viable alternative to Clinton's expected nomination, and they deserve to reap the reward of seeing Bernie's name put in nomination at the Democratic National Convention this summer. Anything less would be a betrayal of their enthusiasm and valiant efforts.
Assuming that Hillary is not derailed by any surprise scandals and becomes the nominee of the Democratic Party, I will vote for her in November. It would be lunacy not to - or to vote for someone like Trump, Cruz, Kasich, or Ryan - but my vote for Hillary is likely to be the extent of the support that I throw her way. I can't bring myself to send money to someone who has become a multi-millionaire solely as a result of being involved in the American political process. That just does not feel right.
My car bumper and tree-shaded front yard will be used to promote some down-ballot candidates. Missouri has an excellent chance of maintaining a Democratic hold on the governorship by electing our current attorney general, Chris Koster, to that position, and our young secretary of state, Jason Kander (the youngest statewide officeholder in the nation), is giving Senator Ol' Roy Bunt cause for concern as he runs against Blunt for his senate seat. I have already donated to both of these fine Democrats and will again. There is also a top-flight independent candidate running to oust our current Republican state representative - and as there are no Democrats in that race, I am supporting her- enthusiastically!
New York's primary results would have probably been a lot different if Independents had been permitted to vote in the Democratic and Republican primaries - as they were in some of the more politically progressive states. Chasing after those Independent votes will likely be very high on Hillary's "to-do" list this fall.
Good luck with that, Hill.
1 comment:
This election aside, I generally think that it is improper to deny unaffiliated voters their voice in these primaries. Not so long ago in Kansas the Democratic primary was open while the Republicans were closed. One year it happened that there was a ballot question and a voter had to declare for a party in order to vote for or against that question.
Then the Democrats decided to close their primary process. Since then we have been using the caucus system. The unaffiliated can still come and change their registration to participate. By and large the change the affiliation status is unacceptable to those Independent minded voters to whom I have spoken. Many of the party regulars believe that as a matter of polity only Democrats should have a say in who their candidates will be.
The issue gets a little more testy in Kansas where Governor Sam Brownback has done all he can to eradicate moderate Republicans from his party. He launched an all out war to elect hard right wing members to the the State's House and Senate. Now the state is on the verge of bankruptcy because he has decided to codify trickle down economics into the state's tax code. Republicans here must decide whether to stay and fight for the heart and soul of their party, abandon it for a new party called the Moderate Party, become unaffiliated voters, or join the Democratic Party.
If the "real" Republicans can regain control of their party then the free ride for wealthy corporations will end, the state's treasury will again become solvent, schools will be fully and suitably funded, the state pension plan will be made whole, and our infrastructure projects will resume. In short there will be prosperity at the state level.
If the reckless right wing Republicans continue their death grip on the Kansas GOP, then it will take realignment by the former Republicans and the unaffiliated to wrest control of the State House from the ideological zealots and ALEC oriented Republicans.
The game is afoot, as the Governor had his minions announce yesterday that we are headed for another $350,000,000 shortfall. He proposes three forms of radical austerity to correct his failed experiment. Many Kansans are steadfast in saying "NO MORE CUTS" and I think the legislature is listening. The legislature reconvenes on Wednesday and this is an election year.
The Chinese are right, it is a curse to live in interesting times.
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