If that’s meant to be people who made an argument for coalition politics and not straight up forfeiting an election to the worst presidential candidate anyone could find lying around to stuff into a diaper and a suit and put behind a podium… that’s not really the same thing.
Gavin Newsom is not, at the moment, running for president. He’s not sitting opposite some extreme right-winger serving as a disappointing but necessary defensive line between us and things getting much worse. He’s an asshole who happens to be a Democrat and is the current governor of a state where he’s actively making things worse. He, like Harris, would clearly be leaning toward the right to try to win center votes.
The reasonable strategic move to make for anyone who wants the government in the US to shift to the left is to make it clear that while his humiliating Trump is useful, he is not a viable candidate. Supporting him now would be backing a lame horse that’s literally still in the stable during a time where we should be finding the healthiest, fastest horse we possibly can. That is not the same as if he were in an election right now and were the only way to prevent a Trump from getting into office.
I’m trans. I hope Newsom falls off a cliff. But if he had been running against Trump instead of Harris I would have held my nose and checked the box, because strategy isn’t about throwing a fit until you get the scenario you want, it’s about doing what you can with the hand you’ve got.
Right now what we can do is toss his ass away and draw another card from the deck before we end up being forced to play him.
I’m trans. I hope Newsom falls off a cliff. But if he had been running against Trump instead of Harris I would have held my nose and checked the box, because strategy isn’t about throwing a fit until you get the scenario you want, it’s about doing what you can with the hand you’ve got.
I’m trans too, fwiw. I’ve reached a slightly different conclusion, though I respect yours:
I am going to pre-commit not to vote for Newsom. I’m going to encourage as many people as I can to pre-commit. If Progressives pledge not to vote for him, and the DNC knows they’re serious, Newsom will lose the primary. He’ll lose because it will be apparent to DNC superdelegates that Progressives won’t show up for him, and that without the Progressive vote Newsom will not win the election.
Basically, it’s like nuclear war: if you’re nuked, you shouldn’t retaliate, because nuking back would wipe out all of humanity, instead of half. But your enemy must know that you’ve pre-committed to retaliate, otherwise they will nuke you.
It’s a stupid game equilibrium but inevitable, IMO.
because strategy isn’t about throwing a fit until you get the scenario you want, it’s about doing what you can with the hand you’ve got.
This is an important thing to point out. I am some what reminded of the meme where the democrats are represented as a stopper that keeps the a wheel from moving back left. I get their complaint and it is valid, but abstaining from elections is doing a similar function. It is also rather privileged as they are not feeling the pressure for why harm minimization is important.
On a somewhat historical approach revolutionaries are oppressed and kept down, and that does mean that those in power have implicitly give up all bargaining power by refusing dialog. I feel that in a sense we have done similar to ourselves electorally. We won’t participate and organize there, so no one will ever take us seriously and our issues are never heard. Voting lesser evil is not a long term solution, but it is lower effort than organizing a new third party. Even still it is less effort than picking up a rifle and holding down a trench. I get that in the discourse it feels like the fastest way (unfounded assumption that war is ever fast)and that sentiments for a total revolution is always around the corner. Given that we won’t have any third party organization now I don’t see how it will form and put our ideas out in more chaos. Presumably the most informed on the subject matters and theory are also the most bought in and going to be leaders, who cannot be bothered to commit an evening to the lowest effort civic engagement.
I think we have some good leaders in AOC and Mamdami to start some foundations, but I fear apathy might mean no shows and they genuinely lose their seats or have to make even more compromises than they otherwise have to. I hope we can all go to primaries and vote for progressive candidates (even encourage them to go third party if they have to). Also remember that we have more than just presidential elections happening on the same ballot.
If that’s meant to be the DNC, okay.
If that’s meant to be people who made an argument for coalition politics and not straight up forfeiting an election to the worst presidential candidate anyone could find lying around to stuff into a diaper and a suit and put behind a podium… that’s not really the same thing.
Gavin Newsom is not, at the moment, running for president. He’s not sitting opposite some extreme right-winger serving as a disappointing but necessary defensive line between us and things getting much worse. He’s an asshole who happens to be a Democrat and is the current governor of a state where he’s actively making things worse. He, like Harris, would clearly be leaning toward the right to try to win center votes.
The reasonable strategic move to make for anyone who wants the government in the US to shift to the left is to make it clear that while his humiliating Trump is useful, he is not a viable candidate. Supporting him now would be backing a lame horse that’s literally still in the stable during a time where we should be finding the healthiest, fastest horse we possibly can. That is not the same as if he were in an election right now and were the only way to prevent a Trump from getting into office.
I’m trans. I hope Newsom falls off a cliff. But if he had been running against Trump instead of Harris I would have held my nose and checked the box, because strategy isn’t about throwing a fit until you get the scenario you want, it’s about doing what you can with the hand you’ve got.
Right now what we can do is toss his ass away and draw another card from the deck before we end up being forced to play him.
I’m trans too, fwiw. I’ve reached a slightly different conclusion, though I respect yours:
I am going to pre-commit not to vote for Newsom. I’m going to encourage as many people as I can to pre-commit. If Progressives pledge not to vote for him, and the DNC knows they’re serious, Newsom will lose the primary. He’ll lose because it will be apparent to DNC superdelegates that Progressives won’t show up for him, and that without the Progressive vote Newsom will not win the election.
Basically, it’s like nuclear war: if you’re nuked, you shouldn’t retaliate, because nuking back would wipe out all of humanity, instead of half. But your enemy must know that you’ve pre-committed to retaliate, otherwise they will nuke you.
It’s a stupid game equilibrium but inevitable, IMO.
There we go, that’s the most complete and correct answer. High five internet friend.
This is an important thing to point out. I am some what reminded of the meme where the democrats are represented as a stopper that keeps the a wheel from moving back left. I get their complaint and it is valid, but abstaining from elections is doing a similar function. It is also rather privileged as they are not feeling the pressure for why harm minimization is important.
On a somewhat historical approach revolutionaries are oppressed and kept down, and that does mean that those in power have implicitly give up all bargaining power by refusing dialog. I feel that in a sense we have done similar to ourselves electorally. We won’t participate and organize there, so no one will ever take us seriously and our issues are never heard. Voting lesser evil is not a long term solution, but it is lower effort than organizing a new third party. Even still it is less effort than picking up a rifle and holding down a trench. I get that in the discourse it feels like the fastest way (unfounded assumption that war is ever fast)and that sentiments for a total revolution is always around the corner. Given that we won’t have any third party organization now I don’t see how it will form and put our ideas out in more chaos. Presumably the most informed on the subject matters and theory are also the most bought in and going to be leaders, who cannot be bothered to commit an evening to the lowest effort civic engagement.
I think we have some good leaders in AOC and Mamdami to start some foundations, but I fear apathy might mean no shows and they genuinely lose their seats or have to make even more compromises than they otherwise have to. I hope we can all go to primaries and vote for progressive candidates (even encourage them to go third party if they have to). Also remember that we have more than just presidential elections happening on the same ballot.