Expecting a Miracle? Think Again!

[MineralMan]

Politics is messy. Government is complex. Political leanings are confusing. Winning is hard. Unity is difficult.

We live in a nation of some 320 million people. Winning a presidential election takes roughly 70 million people to vote for a candidate. Every one of those 70 million has an individual view of how things should be and of what they think are the highest priorities.

Democrats want positive changes. That's probably the main thing we have in common. What changes? Well, that varies in the minds of individual Democrats. We all want changes. We're all beyond frustrated with the Trump administration.

So, how do we get the changes we want? We do it by voting for the Democrats on our ballots, from top to bottom. That's because we only get changes if Democrats win enough elections to have majorities in state and federal legislatures and in the executive branches of our state and federal governments.

We don't get those changes if Republicans win those elections.

We have 24 candidates running for the Democratic nomination for President. Each has ideas. Each has history. Each has supporters. One of those will be the nominee. Which one? I don't know, and neither do you. Really, it doesn't matter, though. The one who gets the nomination will be the one with the broadest appeal to primary voters.

Will it be your favorite? Maybe. Maybe not. But, the nominee will be a Democrat who seeks to make changes that will benefit everyone in the United States.

Who is the opponent? Donald J. Trump. The opponent isn't one or another of the Democratic candidates.

Let's get that straight, shall we? Let's not try to destroy the Democratic candidates we don't prefer. Let's not double down on toxic news and declare any candidate to be the worst choice as President. We already have the worst choice, and he's running again as a Republican. Let's not make the Democratic primary race a race to demonize any candidate. Primary voters will decide who will be the nominee. That person will be a Democrat who wants to make positive change happen.

Let's remember that, please.

[Funtatlaguy]

1. +1

[Arkansas Granny]

2. "Will it be your favorite?" My favorite will be the Democrat opposing Trump on the ballot.

[zipplewrath]

3. Sit down, shut up, and follow the crowd.

Got it.

[redstatebluegirl]

6. No, vote for your candidate in the primary.

Don't vilify other Democratic candidates during the primary to the point we can't unify to elect the democratic candidate.

In 2016 we had way to many people who said it was their candidate or none. They constantly whined about their candidate being cheated. That is not a way for us to get our candidates elected.

If you have a candidate that you like a great deal, give them money, give them your time and put out the positives they bring to the table to woo other voters. After that, if that person is not the candidate, get behind the Democrat.

Nobody is telling you to sit down and shut up. Politics is a messy business as was seen in 2016.

[zipplewrath]

7. Villify

Villify: To point out someones political weaknesses.

[Politicub]

8. No one is saying that. Not a single person. If you expect to be coddled for your

precious vote, then I think you're always going to be disappointed. No one has time for that.

The OP was saying that there is not one candidate that will meet all of the wants and expectations of the 70 million people it will take to win the presidency.

Don't put words in people's mouths.

Our task, and it's a formidable one, is to beat Trump. We have to unite around the nominee to do that. And, the nominee and her/his campaign will need to keep people engaged. There is a weird Trump cult that has formed, which can also be described as a movement. To counter it, we need every vote that we can muster.

But, no one is going to twist your arm and beg you to vote if that's what you are expecting.

On edit: The primaries are the time to express your issues and get whatever is eating at you out of your system (unless they are ad hominem attacks, then you are best served to keep that to yourself).

[TCJ70]

9. There is actually one person on this site who insists that only Biden can win against Trump...

...so if we don't all fall in line immediately we are ruining our chances of winning. At least, one that I know of.

[Politicub]

10. That is not "Sit down. Shut up. And follow the crowd."

That is a passionate voter who is concerned about who can win. I don't know who you're talking about, but I'm sure he or she is concerned and wants to win. I don't know, though, since I can't read the operation of someone's mind.

But there's a big gulf between "we all need to support a nominee and not criticize because it hurts them in the general" and "sit down and shut up".

No one is making anyone shut up unless they break a DU rule.

[TCJ70]

11. Here's my evidence:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287149219#post146

he is the only one that will stop Trump

Only Biden can win

all of those who just want a 'progressive' candidate won't face the fact that these candidates will lose

Follow the crowd, ya dummies. You gonna back a loser?

I am damned if I will go along with another left left attempt at destroying the candidate most likely to win

Sit down, shut up, and stop pointing out my candidates flaws!

There's a huge problem on this site with people conflating valid criticism with DESTROYING, SLAMMING, and HITTING a candidate when a potentially negative story comes out. This attitude isn't limited to any one candidate either.

[Politicub]

12. You worry too much about something you have no control over.

People are going to post whatever they post.

As for the post in the link, you can post something like it or an opinion that counters it. The poster's sentiment will not change DU to suddenly bend to his or her will.

What you say is about the only thing you can control. Use your voice.

[brooklynite]

4. All valid points, except...

"Let's not try to destroy the Democratic candidates we don't prefer."

Far too many people here interpret ANYTHING critical about their preferred candidate as "bashing" / "a hit job" / "destroying", etc.

[marylandblue]

5. What we say here doesn't matter, so we should be able to speak freely.

Every criticism we make is being said by people with much bigger mouthpieces than any of us - politicians, pundits, twitter stars and repeated on forums all across the internet.

So there is no need to hide our thoughts and feelings. Just use what you learn here to make your own choices and influence those around you.

[MineralMan]

13. Of course you can speak freely.

So can I. And so I will.