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2016 Postmortem

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NanceGreggs

(27,813 posts)
Tue Dec 27, 2016, 11:01 PM Dec 2016

WE Are NOT the Problem [View all]

As is normal after an election, the losing party engages in a lot of introspection and asks the looming question: Where did we go wrong?

But this was by no means a “normal” election – nor is it a “normal” loss when the loser is the one with the backing of the majority of voters, and the winner has clearly demonstrated that he is not fit for office.

I think what we need to focus on is the fact that Democrats are not the problem, nor are our policies, nor is our message. The problem is gerrymandering, voter suppression, a complicit media, unverifiable vote counts – and now we have the added components of Russian interference, and James Comey clearly having used his office for partisan purposes.

In other words, while we’re busily distracted looking under the hood searching for a mechanical failure, the GOP goes about stealing the car – one hubcap, one tire, one fender, one taillight at a time.

This election wasn’t about Democrats having the “wrong message”, or having forgotten its core values, or having ignored certain portions of the populace. The Democrats have always been on the side of the working-class; we have always fought to maintain and strengthen the safety-nets that get our fellow citizens by during the worst of times. WE have always been on the side of The People.

We didn’t lose this election because we didn’t “connect” with people – we lost because many of the people we connect with weren’t allowed to vote. We didn’t lose because we had a failed strategy – we lost because the GOP, via James Comey and the Russians, had a “strategy” all their own.

We didn’t lose because our candidate had too much “scandal-ridden baggage” – we lost because the MSM never even mentioned the hundreds of scandals the Republican candidate was, and continues to be, involved in. Despite thirty years of unrelenting attacks by the GOP, Hillary’s “baggage” was two carry-on suitcases when compared to Trump’s cargo-hold full of steamer trunks bulging with lies, deceit, and outright theft.

We didn’t lose because we don’t say the right things – we lost because what we have to say is continually drowned-out by FOX-News et al. We didn’t lose because we chose the wrong candidate – we lost because their candidate was backed by a well-oiled machine that pursues the dismantling of fair elections.

We didn’t lose because our candidate failed to exemplify Christian values – we lost because so-called “Christian” leaders told their flocks that a self-proclaimed “pussy-grabber” was chosen by God.

I try to be patient with the “but we have to figure out what HRC/Dems did wrong, so we can correct our course in future” comments – most of which seem to be centered on “I told you so – you shoulda picked my guy” rather than any real concern about future political endeavours. But the truth is that as long as we are not focusing on how to fight GOP tactics, the integrity and honesty of our candidates will always be a fatal flaw rather than a vote-getter.

This is not to say that our Party and it’s members should never be criticized, or that election strategies shouldn’t be continually scrutinized, discussed, and altered when and where warranted. However, given our present circumstances, endlessly blaming ourselves and our Party for “what went wrong” is to ignore the fact that what’s wrong is not who we are, but who our opponents are, and what depths they will sink to in order to undermine us.

We lost to an ignorant, lying bigot whose entire life has been spent enriching himself by cheating and stealing from hard-working Americans, with a complete disregard for anyone’s welfare but his own. We lost to a self-aggrandizing, mentally unstable idiot who outsources the very jobs he claimed he would now protect. We lost to a bloviating, immoral bully who has deliberately encouraged xenophobia, misogyny, intolerance, and racism – and has promoted violence as a means to an end.

This was not a loss to a candidate with a superior strategy, a better “image”, a more worthy message. It was a loss to a man who – despite his obvious failings as a candidate and as a human being – had the support of a party that consistently undermines fair voting practices, controls the airwaves through the likes of Limbaugh and Alex Jones, and has learned to rely on the mainstream media to NOT do its job, all while looking the other way as our sworn enemy, Putin, promoted a puppet who will do his bidding as opposed to the bidding of the American people.

That said, it seems rather pointless to be arguing amongst ourselves about how an ad buy here, or a rally there, or a speech delivered in a different tone would have changed the outcome of this election. We were never up against a “better candidate”; we were up against a party that is without scruples. We were up against a party that will lie, cheat, steal in order to “win”, with absolutely no regard for the welfare of the country, or the well-being of its citizens.

Declaring that we shoulda-coulda won this election if only we’d done this, said that, chosen a different candidate, campaigned here rather than there, spent more time on this topic as opposed to that topic, is meaningless. The damage has been done, and we are now facing a pResident who stands for everything we as Democrats abhor, and that we as citizens will suffer the consequences of.

If you want to continue tinkering under the hood, so be it. Just remember that while you’re trying to figure out why the car stalled-out in the middle of the highway, the Republicans are busy constructing road-blocks, shutting down on-ramps, draining the gas tank, and devising ways to ensure we ain’t going nowhere, no how, no way.

Playing the Blame the Democrats Game is always fun for some. But it doesn’t move us forward an inch; it doesn’t solve the problems we face. And I, for one, am sick and tired of those who think that playing that game is going to get us anywhere. We have a clear and recognizable enemy that needs to be fought - and guess what? That enemy ISN'T us.

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WE Are NOT the Problem [View all] NanceGreggs Dec 2016 OP
off to greatest with you, and, as always, spot on, nance. niyad Dec 2016 #1
Out of the park again, my dear Nance! CaliforniaPeggy Dec 2016 #2
K&R. n/t FSogol Dec 2016 #3
K & R. Bigly! stopbush Dec 2016 #4
K & R & S madamesilverspurs Dec 2016 #5
BINGO!!!!!!.N/T asuhornets Dec 2016 #6
So, with all these factors that aren't the Democrats fault Fiendish Thingy Dec 2016 #7
True! Dustlawyer Dec 2016 #15
The incumbent re-election rate was even higher than normal this year. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #27
We're all ears. NanceGreggs Dec 2016 #21
The one thing I would say is more outreach to rural areas in purple states. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #30
Yes, precisely the reason Obama said he would have been reelected if allowed to run... and he would have using his tried and true strategies. InAbLuEsTaTe Dec 2016 #32
Obama probably would have won even if his campaign was run just like Clinton's. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #33
Obama is a MASTER strategist... he woulda run rings around that Nazi bastard regardless. InAbLuEsTaTe Dec 2016 #34
Obama/Trump debate? maddiemom Dec 2016 #65
I agree, not that Hillary did badly, but, let's be honest, she's no Obama, one of the greatest orators and genuine politicians in our lifetime. InAbLuEsTaTe Dec 2016 #66
I am a former college debater and Hillary Clinton did great in the debates Gothmog Dec 2016 #105
One thing I wish they had done treestar Dec 2016 #71
The HRC campaign definitely should have done this. Even her own ads were mostly about Trump. nt MadDAsHell Dec 2016 #78
Nance-I volunteer a great deal of my time on voter protection efforts and I would like to know the Gothmog Dec 2016 #108
Those are all things beyond the Democrats control Fiendish Thingy Dec 2016 #45
Throughout the campaign ... NanceGreggs Dec 2016 #46
Trump's negatives were higher. If Trump won the candidate with highest negatives won. delisen Dec 2016 #52
Welcome to DU gopiscrap Dec 2016 #144
Sanders would have been a very weak general election candidate Gothmog Dec 2016 #110
If Hillary had been convinced not run Fiendish Thingy Dec 2016 #128
Two things that I have heard Ghost OF Trotsky Dec 2016 #56
You hear, but don't listen. Objectivity is something you should strive for. Dustlawyer Dec 2016 #69
Well said LiberalLovinLug Dec 2016 #90
Yes mountain grammy Dec 2016 #131
You Nailed It. Berlin Vet Dec 2016 #106
Welcome to DU! Dustlawyer Dec 2016 #114
Thank You Berlin Vet Dec 2016 #115
Clinton did this. GreenEyedLefty Dec 2016 #130
The claim that Democrats did not try to stop voter suppression is sad Gothmog Dec 2016 #117
Misogyny was a huge part of Hillary losing. stopbush Dec 2016 #102
As the father of two daughters, I am so sad about this Gothmog Dec 2016 #112
The Primaries are over uponit7771 Dec 2016 #63
Disagree what we have to do is start paying attention treestar Dec 2016 #70
+1000 Snarkoleptic Dec 2016 #8
+10,000!!!! Dustlawyer Dec 2016 #17
I can't rec this enough. THANK YOU!!!! LaydeeBug Dec 2016 #9
+1000000000000 ailsagirl Dec 2016 #13
K&R! gademocrat7 Dec 2016 #10
Thank you. mac56 Dec 2016 #11
K&R baldguy Dec 2016 #12
+10,000 for the truth in your post, BG! eom BlueCaliDem Dec 2016 #80
This a thousand times mcar Dec 2016 #14
H.L. Mencken The Wizard Dec 2016 #16
Very well said. Thank you! spooky3 Dec 2016 #18
Nance, I'm being serious here-- volstork Dec 2016 #19
THANK YOU!!! pnwmom Dec 2016 #20
Kick baby, kick Hekate Dec 2016 #22
great post bdamomma Dec 2016 #23
I don't blame the Democrats one bit for losing this election elmac Dec 2016 #24
ITA 100%! True_Blue Dec 2016 #25
Thank you, Nance! Cha Dec 2016 #26
THANK YOU Nance Skittles Dec 2016 #28
P.S. Cha Dec 2016 #29
That statement is so true Cha. oasis Dec 2016 #88
Perfect! Thank you, Cha! spooky3 Dec 2016 #129
You're Welcome, spooky! Cha Dec 2016 #132
K & R ...... Wounded Bear Dec 2016 #31
So you keep saying but there was a difficult primary for a reason aikoaiko Dec 2016 #35
The primary was essentially over by mid-March and arguably after Super Tuesday. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #37
Arguably what made it over in March was the hastily declared superdelegate votes... aikoaiko Dec 2016 #41
I don't think the superdelegates had much, if any, bearing on the results. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #43
I don't think so at all. The superdelegate count was touted constantly by her surrogates and minions aikoaiko Dec 2016 #44
Even if it was touted as much as you claim, and I don't think it was... Garrett78 Dec 2016 #47
It's not hard to look up... TCJ70 Dec 2016 #59
"Superdelegate touting" could fall under "media complicity" in Nance's OP. n/t intheflow Dec 2016 #48
And yet, we were beaten about the head and neck with the 'results' and the 'insurmountable lead' AtheistCrusader Dec 2016 #82
The insurmountable lead had nothing to do with superdelegates. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #84
Historically incorrect. AtheistCrusader Dec 2016 #86
No, it isn't. You can dig up my posts and the posts of many others making that very point. Garrett78 Dec 2016 #89
K & R & s kaitcat47 Dec 2016 #36
K&R brer cat Dec 2016 #38
Well Said - We're Up Against a Party that Cheats to Win dlk Dec 2016 #39
Democrats have always been too reluctant to call out the Republicans for what they are--treasonous Akamai Dec 2016 #40
what about the senate races? recount now Dec 2016 #42
Why can't it be "both/and?" intheflow Dec 2016 #49
+1 coco22 Dec 2016 #51
It's a sure fire way to lose another close election... Yurovsky Dec 2016 #53
you don't carry out a post-mortem by standing in the morgue going "the patient is SO NOT dead!" Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #100
Word. OrwellwasRight Dec 2016 #101
"Get busy fixing the goddamn boat and quit bitching about who put the fucking holes in it." The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2016 #107
But why would you ignore who was putting the holes in it? That makes no sense. kcr Dec 2016 #125
KnR Hekate Dec 2016 #50
Quite right lunasun Dec 2016 #54
Good post! Here's a little factoid that blows my mind and disgusts me beyond words: PearliePoo2 Dec 2016 #55
The Projections Berlin Vet Dec 2016 #111
K&R!!! secondwind Dec 2016 #57
Sorry, no. zipplewrath Dec 2016 #58
K&R Gothmog Dec 2016 #60
Great essay... Mike Nelson Dec 2016 #61
+1, " The problem is gerrymandering, voter suppression, a complicit media, unverifiable vote counts" uponit7771 Dec 2016 #62
YES! maddiemom Dec 2016 #64
Excellent points, as usual. And one other factor was the candidate who forgot.... George II Dec 2016 #67
Let's not forget the Rudy Giuliani's in this. FBI was feeding him info illegally. ffr Dec 2016 #68
K&R!!! horseshoecrab Dec 2016 #72
My sentiment exactly lunatica Dec 2016 #73
Trump won on the basis of a massive voter death wish, courtesy of Fox "News." Paladin Dec 2016 #74
k&r! DesertRat Dec 2016 #75
Thank you! lark Dec 2016 #76
"Doesn't move us forward an inch" - Ok, so what does? MadDAsHell Dec 2016 #77
TIM KAINE/DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ 2020! Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #103
There's a winning team! The Velveteen Ocelot Dec 2016 #113
Smells like victory to me! Especially since DWS can speak to "concerned soccer moms" Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #116
Thank you, Nance ladym55 Dec 2016 #79
Always been on the side of the working class? NAFTA. TPP. Repeal of Glass-Steagall. AtheistCrusader Dec 2016 #81
I love the car stealing analogy! pandr32 Dec 2016 #83
BAM! NastyRiffraff Dec 2016 #85
It's not your right to vote that protects you from dictatorship: paulkienitz Dec 2016 #87
Fill the seat on the bus and bring your technology nolabels Dec 2016 #91
Here we go again, another "feel good" post that refuses to face reality mtnsnake Dec 2016 #92
I don't understand the motivation OrwellwasRight Dec 2016 #95
Spot on! dionysus Dec 2016 #97
Thank you for your posts NeoConsSuck Dec 2016 #127
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh, Wrong, but thanks for playing! HenryWallace Dec 2016 #93
I think the ones who aren't crying in their beer right now kcr Dec 2016 #124
Re this JustAnotherGen Dec 2016 #145
AGREE! WestCoastDem42 Dec 2016 #94
If our party isn't fighting the MSM, we are the problem. nt JCanete Dec 2016 #96
K & R Scurrilous Dec 2016 #98
Hmmm. Maybe "2016 Post-Mortem" isn't the best forum for you, then. Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #99
Who are the people ... NanceGreggs Dec 2016 #118
Well I fall somewhere in between those two extremes, I guess. Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #120
The thing is ... NanceGreggs Dec 2016 #135
I am sure we agree on some things, and disagree on others. Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #137
It's always about Bernie. NanceGreggs Dec 2016 #138
You seem a bit obsessed with that man. Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #139
I'm not the one ... NanceGreggs Dec 2016 #140
Bringing who up? Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #141
Apologies. NanceGreggs Dec 2016 #142
That's alright. Warren DeMontague Dec 2016 #143
Democrats and Hillary Clinton were not the problem Gothmog Dec 2016 #104
Flat out willfully delusional. See Congress. See State Legislatures. See Governor's Mansions TheKentuckian Dec 2016 #109
This. BlueWI Dec 2016 #122
Agree. mountain grammy Dec 2016 #134
100% correct - but good luck trying to get some on this board to admit it Midwestern Democrat Dec 2016 #136
K&R n/t lordsummerisle Dec 2016 #119
K&R Very clear and spot on. Jakes Progress Dec 2016 #121
Excellent post, and you are so right. nt raccoon Dec 2016 #123
The gerrymandering has been there since 2011. The Democrats had 5 years to so something about it. MarkCross7 Dec 2016 #126
Yes, yes, yes! Amaryllis Dec 2016 #133
we can walk and chew gum at the same time. Also, the same pols who betrayed key segments of base... yurbud Dec 2016 #146
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