Populist Reform of the Democratic Party
In reply to the discussion: I'm taking stock. [View all]merrily
(45,251 posts)Before him, it was Carter and many people who had worked for Carter were no longer in the game. Ayers was certainly no New Dem and they had spent a lot of time together. Wright was no new Dem, etc. He had given the keynote speech at the convention that had nominated Kerry and Edwards, who certainly seemed liberal. Besides, how many liberals were there at the time? Also, as I have admitted many times, at that time, I didn't yet understand that the party had divided sharply. Besides, by Super Tuesday, my realistic choices were Hillary or Obama.
The reason I picked Obama to support originally (November 2007) was that I thought he had the best chance of winning the general. And, while I know I am not realistic on this, except maybe as to Bernie, I don't think it's on me to parse who a candidate hangs with or to parse his words with a laser. I think it's on him or her to tell me where he she stands, and without slicing and dicing words for plausible deniability when a candidate becomes POTUS.
But, yes, this time I am better informed and more cynical. However, I may never be cynical enough to "out-slick: the pros and that is sad from just about every possible perspective.