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I have attempted to create every possible scenario concerning the likely Democratic presidential nominee, and each one is more depressing than the last. As much as I cannot imagine American democracy surviving another four years of Donald Trump, neither can I imagine the Democrats putting together a viable ticket to defeat him.
Bernie’s ahead. Bernie has the momentum. College kids love Bernie. Bernie’s not really a socialist, he’s a… insert whatever term you find most palatable—even though the Trump campaign will bombard us with all sorts of awful, lurid, fearmongering claims and descriptions.
But those would be untrue and inaccurate, you say. Yes, exactly. Tactics like that are the trademark of the Trumpster and his henchmen. Whatever you can imagine as to distortions and lies, it’s likely that these will be exceeded tenfold by the Republican machine. It’s their specialty: Lies R Us.
Okay, so not Bernie. I recently read an proposal suggesting that all the moderate Democrats get together and agree on a single person to represent them as the only way of stopping the freight train that Bernie has become, with the rest of them dropping out and throwing their support behind the chosen flag bearer.
Sure, I can see it now.
“Joe, Amy, Pete, Mike,” as head of the national Democratic Committee, “I am pleased that you have all agreed to come here to make a momentous decision in the service of the Democratic middle, and for the sake of the country. Oh, by the way, Elizabeth won’t be coming. She was insulted to be associated with the term ‘middle,’ and vowed to keep on fighting, fighting, fighting, till she had no fight left in her fight.
“You guys keep on splitting the vote, and unless we can all unite behind a single centrist, Bernie’s going to be the candidate and we all lose. So today, right now, let’s agree that we’ll back one person, and all the others drop out on the spot and throw their wholehearted support behind the chosen one.”
“Spectacular idea,” chimes in Mayor Mike, ‘that’s what I’ve been saying all along. I’ll be glad to have you all behind me. Right, Joe?”
“Uh, I don’t think that that’s what Barack would want. You know he always liked me best. So, I’ll be happy to accept the backing of you all, and if you don’t mind, your money as well. We’re a little short this month.”
And, of course, Amy and Pete loved the principle, but had their own unique solution.
So, with another nice idea down the toilet, this leaves us where? Sadly, back where we started, without a single candidate who can unite Democrats and attract all those out there who want some reason not to vote for Trump.
Am I to become a Bernie fan eventually, based on the fact that he’s the only alternative? Perhaps I will, but I don’t think that a sufficient number of others will follow that path to get an electoral college victory.
Then I repeat to myself over and over that if Bernie can win the Democratic nomination, not only will he be a viable candidate, he’ll be also be a successful one.
Then I remember that as the Democratic standard bearer, George McGovern received 17 of the 270 electoral votes needed to win and Walter Mondale 11.
Then I get truly depressed.
