who to support in the Dem. primary for Prez in16. a good rule of thumb: applying the Buckley rule

[arely staircase]

Conservative icon William F Buckley once said that conservatives voting in GOP primaries should vote for the most conservative candidate who could actually win the general election. Replace the word conservative with progressive/liberal and it is a good idea for Dems. Who is electable is subjective, but if all dems followed it while applying their own elect ability standard it works. Then in the general vote for the most progressive plausibly electable candidate again.

Simple.

[msongs]

1. would that be another "liberal republican" lol nt

[arely staircase]

2. huh? nt

[winter is coming]

3. Simple? Sounds like the soft bigotry of low expectations.

"Electability" is nothing more than a wild-ass guess as to how others will vote. As such, it's likely to get you a "safe" candidate, but not necessarily a good one, and perhaps not even the one who'd win if we voted for the candidate we feel will best represent us.

Giving "electability" primacy implies that there's something wrong or unpopular with progressive positions. I've read many lectures over the years on how progressives need to be more "pragmatic", but none of them have specified which position is it that progressives hold which is so unpopular with the electorate.

[arely staircase]

4. sorry I disagree

I supported BHO over HRC in 08 for this reason and could support warren against the same if she showed her chops in early primaries . But warren isn't running. Now I do have the luxury of a late primary so elect ability is easier for me.

[oldandhappy]

5. I am sort of busy with the 2014 primary in my state.

I'll think about this in 2015. In the mean time I am watching to see who has books coming out this summer and fall, ha ha. A sure sign of someone running is the book.

[arely staircase]

6. I am concentrating on wendy davis and building a real dem party here.