Tags
Absentee Voting, Bernie Sanders, District of Columbia Primary, Divided Democrats, Hilliary Clinton, Robert Reich, Rocky De La Fuente
I live in Washington, DC, and the only ballot I can cast that counts on a national level is the one for the Presidency.
DC has a primary election on June 14, 2016 with three names on the ballot: Hillary Clinton, “Rocky” Roque De La Fuente, and Bernie Sanders.
Since I will be out of town on June 14th, I filled out and mailed my absentee ballot today.
I voted for Hillary Clinton.
It was an easy vote to cast.
Given these candidates, there is no doubt in my mind that the former Senator and Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, is the most qualified and capable candidate of the three.
While I am attracted to much of Sen. Sanders’ analyses of what is not right in our country, I could not vote for him. I do not believe his qualifications or capabilities match Hillary’s.
I understand the enthusiasm of Sanders’ followers and that of much of the younger generations’. I hope they will fight to the end of the convention for Sanders, and if he is not the nominee, then I hope they will get behind Clinton. (If, though it seems unlikely, Sanders is the nominee, I will vote for him in the general election.)**
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind between Clinton and Trump which candidate I would trust in the White House. Trump, though he speaks to and/or for a significant portion of individuals in our country, has not shown the temperament nor the qualifications necessary to lead our country. Clinton, though she has not shown good judgment in regard to her emails and in many ways is likely to perpetuate some of the policies that don’t speak to important problems in our country, she is qualified and capable to deal with the enormous burdens of the presidency. On the issue of Supreme Court nominations alone, I think her potential appointees will reflect more of what I believe are the directions the Court and our country needs to move.
I will vote for Hillary (or Sanders if he’s the Democratic candidate) in the General Election.
**Robert Reich’s Advice for Divided Democrats.
Richard Margolies said:
I also cast my absentee ballot last week because I too will be out of town. And I too found it easy to vote my choice. But unlike my good friend Richard, I happily voted for the only visionary in either party, Senator Sanders. We have all heard the campaign narrative put out from the brand name moderate about experience. I believe Senator Sanders’ judgement based on his vision, and his courage are crucial. And he brings independents and infrequent or new voters to vote Democratic when we also have to take back the Senate and the House.
Whomever prevails in the primary, I invite Richard and anyone who reads his blog to join me in getting out the Democratic vote in Ohio, one of the four swing states. Richard worked with me in Columbus in 2012 for Barack’s reelection. I will spend the week prior to the election doing this fundamental and interesting work. Please email me for more details at richard@maccoby.com.
Richard Margolies
Anon-2 said:
One interesting point: I’ve been predicting for months that Biden will be the nominee…..and only now are stories like that showing up in the mainstream press.
As things stand now…Trump and Clinton are the worst candidates in our lifetimes. Trump’s rise is simply fueled by anti-establishment sentiments. The fact that a fool like Sanders can give such a strong fight shows how weak Hillary is. (I call him a fool, because I believe he actually believes what he says….as opposed to a knave like Robert Reich, who doesn’t believe anything he says, but if he told the truth, he wouldn’t be able to date co-eds).
Anon-2 said:
*in case you were wondering about the thoughts of the right. Confirmation bias is so boring, no?
Fruzsina Harsanyi said:
Richard, I agree with everything you said. I think it’s time to stop talking about why Hillary isn’t the perfect candidate and turn tepid support into a clear stand as you did with your vote. The stakes are too high.
The Duke of Brooklyn said:
I vote in FLA and did so in March.
I, too, voted for Clinton. In my
Semi-humble opinion, she is — without a
Doubt the most qualified all all these
Candidates…..
Being a Brooklyn boy, I have always
Liked Bernie and much of what he stands
For….BUT, he is a “back Bencher” and
Will always be so. He has no sense
Of governing—that’s where Clinton,
From day one, Will be at her best!
Although she has a few “warts”, this
BS about her being a lair or dishonest
Is just political garbage! She is no
More honest or dishonest than any of them in
DC. Given a chance, I think she has
The potential to be a great leader.
DC.
Nancy Cedar Wilson said:
AND THE FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT OF THE US of A!!! That is a biggie!!
Land Wayland said:
Hillary has been in the midst of the highest levels in DC for 20 years. And she has acquitted herself very well. She is bright, a good study, has seen the dark side of politics, truly grasps the details of many domestic and foreign problems, kens Congressional fifedoms, and understands the difference what would be optimum and what would be doable. She will not need a year or two to learn how the White House works.
Sanders is the voice crying from the wilderness that we need once every three election cycles to wake us up and take the next step and he has given those who want to move the country forward an opportunity to be heard and galvanized just as Trump, who wants to move the country back to something he can’t define or, to paraphrase Mr. Justice Roberts, doesn’t even know it when he sees it who has given caucasian middle-aged men an opportunity to thump their chests and be heard.
Whether Hillary will try to ally with Sanders’ supporters by talking sympathetically about their concerns or will talk tough (or be pointedly silent) about two or three of Trump’s topics is unknown. but she may not have to say very much of substance. If the flow continues to go as it is going, pieces will continue to fall off the Trump soap-box racer (as built by a 14-year old amateur) and he won’t make it to the bottom of the hill, without a wheel falling off. and the whole thing skidding off the track.