This is a unique election, certainly the most bizarre in modern American history. An election that should have been a referendum on one of the most successful Presidencies in our lifetimes, will instead be a referendum on a man wholly unqualified to seek the office, let alone, serve in it.
In my mind, this election is going to come down to convincing voters who would normally reject Hillary Clinton in any other cycle to embrace her in this one. Not just to disavow Trump, but to affirmatively embrace her. The Dallas Morning News, a conservative paper that has not endorsed a Democrat in over 75 years affirmatively embraced Hillary Clinton this past month in a brilliant editorial. Tell your independents, your centrists, your #Never Hillary progressives, and especially your #Never Trump conservative friends and neighbors, to read this editorial and get back to me on her fitness for office.
It begins pretty boldly:
There is only one serious candidate on the presidential ballot in November. We recommend Hillary Clinton.
I’ve said this since day 1, and count me as one of her most consistent critics here. I voted for Bernie in the primary, I’ve met the man, I love the man, and I love the cause he stood for. But there was only one potential President on either party’s debate stage this cycle, and that was always Hillary Clinton.
The Dallas Morning News continues:
We’ve been critical of Clinton’s handling of certain issues in the past. But unlike Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton has experience in actual governance, a record of service and a willingness to delve into real policy.
This woman is flawed, ethically and politically, and that will never change. This woman is also the most capable policy mind of her generation, including her predecessor and her husband. That will never change either. And on a whole, it is the latter more than the former that determines a successful presidency.
Resume vs. resume, judgment vs. judgment, this election is no contest.
In Clinton’s eight years in the U.S. Senate, she displayed reach and influence in foreign affairs. Though conservatives like to paint her as nakedly partisan, on Capitol Hill she gained respect from Republicans for working across the aisle: Two-thirds of her bills had GOP co-sponsors and included common ground with some of Congress’ most conservative lawmakers.
As President Barack Obama’s first secretary of state, she helped make tough calls on the Middle East and the complex struggle against radical Islamic terrorism. It’s no accident that hundreds of Republican foreign policy hands back Clinton.
I love that Hillary loves Israel, I love that Hillary tells Snowden where to stick it, and I love that she continues to stand up to our enemies. That she keeps it 100 when the far left wants to play drum circles to stop ISIS and blames America for Putin’s aggression. Or when the far right continues to deny the national security threat posed by climate change and xenophobia. Now is not the time for American retreat, we will get that under President Trump, the Kremlin’s candidate this cycle. Now is the time for a liberal committed to women’s rights, gay rights, and economic fairness who is strongly committed to preserving America’s predominance in the world. We need that combination in these uncertain times. When the very ideals of the West are attacked by radicals defaming Islam or nationalists defaming our flag. America is not only ready for her, it needs her.
Jasiu says
I see no reason to debate who was the original birther, Trump’s policy position on anything… If I’m talking to someone, I keep it simple: One candidate is qualified. One is not. Really, really “not”.
If I’m in need of immediate life saving surgery and there are these two people to choose from to perform it, which do I choose? One is an experienced surgeon. I don’t get the “warm fuzzies” when talking to her and there have been a few blips in her medical career, but she’s a surgeon nonetheless.
The other person has never set foot in medical school but claims to know more than doctors do. When he does talk about medical issues, he shows an alarming lack of understanding of even the basics and is quite condescending to those who disagree with his take.
The choice is easy. There is absolutely no reason to even listen to the non-surgeon’s ideas for which technique to use for the surgery because it is clear that he has no idea how to go about the job at hand.
Clinton is qualified for the job. Trump is not. Not much more to the story.
Christopher says
Toby to Bartlet on his re-election campaign: “Make it about smart and not, qualified and not, competent and not.
(As an aside I just happen to have a Google ad on my screen right now for Aaron Sorkin’s master screenwriting class.)
jconway says
johntmay says
Will the airline continue to have a first class and second class, with all the perks going to the folks I can’t see because the curtains are drawn as soon as the plane takes off? Will we not get an in-flight meal in the cheap seats where folks like me sit and forage for peanuts in the seat cushions as we smell the chateaubriand and roasted vegetables being delivered to those in the front seats? That’s the airline that her husband was CEO. Those were the seats where they met their circle of friends, friends that they have deep relations with to this day.
Will is be that airline? I hope not.
Christopher says
…as long as we all get to our destination.
johntmay says
We’ll never get to my destination if we have a two class society.
Christopher says
…explaining their ability for fly a plane. Take Rick Perry for example:
“There are three things you need to know about flying a plane. The first is how to take off; the second is how to land; the third is…well…er…um…nope, I can’t come up with it – oops!”
scott12mass says
you would just have Dukakis put on the helmet, he wouldn’t have to say anything.
fredrichlariccia says
and to quote underground anti-Fascist Paul Henreid to Humphrey Bogart in the last scene of CASABLANCA : ” Welcome back to the fight. Now I know our side is going to win.”
Fred Rich LaRiccia
jconway says
I’ve been meaning to draft a post like this for awhile and it felt good to post.