Posted on 10/11/2016 3:27:27 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Hillary Clinton’s progressive critics treat Donald Trump’s defeat as a foregone conclusion at their own risk. Trump’s collapse in the polls, and the ensuing disarray in Republican ranks, has emboldened Clinton’s progressive critics, who believe the window to pressure her into being a more progressive president will close once she’s elected next month.
“If there is ever a time for you to put principle in front of party and start criticizing the Democratic candidate, to start pressuring them to actually become a meaningful alternative, this is it,” wrote the progressive critic Freddie DeBoer. “You get to decide in the next couple weeks: you can stand for a party or you can stand for principles.”
The latest disclosure of leaked Democratic Party emails—hacked, according to multiple federal intelligence agencies, by Russian intelligence operatives seeking to influence the outcome of the coming election—has provided abundant source material to critics who see things the same way DeBoer does.
There’s plenty of interesting information to be gleaned from the leaks, and presumably more interesting information to be gleaned from future ones, which can be pieced together to create a fuller, clearer picture of the fairly full, clear picture we have of Clinton. But if you’re going to take an instrumentalist approach to writing about Clinton, it’s worth asking whether this particular approach—vehement criticism at the height of the campaign—is an effective strategy for shaping governance, as DeBoer suggests.
For instance, criticizing Clinton as a form of progressive advocacy could nudge her issue positions slightly left, or affect staff-hiring considerations, but it could also narrow her victory margin enough to preserve Republican control of the Senate or House, which would be horribly contrary to the goal of moving federal policy in a more progressive direction.
This is obviously distinct from the question of how campaign journalists who cover Clinton should approach the leaks (accurately, proportionately, without fear or favor); or how people who want to undermine Clinton will interpret them (as ungenerously as possible). But progressive Clinton critics who support her reluctantly, or who don’t support her but hope for the progressive-most outcome in November, are likely working against interest if they treat the election as a foregone conclusion and go to town.
Over confidence
“...forgone conclusion at their own risk...”
Well, they know how many illegals are in the country, the number of “refugees” living here, the number of people to be registered who are living in the cemetery and the number of Progressive loyals working in the election boards.
Sounds like sound mathematics to me.
Just saying.
IMHO
I don’t even think the media sees a “collapse” in the polls honestly. They just want us to believe it.
If I’m reading the article correctly it is basically advising progressives to not stand on principle and hold their noses and vote for Hillary. Sure wikileaks has told us she’s a lying conniving, big bank loving pro fracking hypocrite but that shouldn’t stop you from voting for her. Coming from the New Republic I’d say that’s pretty amazing, not that they’re advocating it just that they’re admitting it.
The Fat Lady has not sang yet! The Opera aint over! Still another debate to go—anything can (and will) happen.
In 2004, John Kerry’s team was celebrating. CNN reporter even addressed him as ‘Mr. President’ — until more votes were counted.
In 2012, Mitt Romney’s team was celebrating. Many TV news commentators were calling him ‘Mr. President’ — until more votes were counted.
In mid spring 2016, many commentators were questioning whether Trump could attain the 1,237 magic number of delegates. On the first ballot, he got 1,725. Then, they switched to question whether he could get 270 Electoral votes.
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