Democrats have a long history of struggling to win the presidency without a backlash to Republicans.
FDR was elected from the Great Depression.
Wealthy, war hero, good looking and speaking, Pulitzer Prize-winning JFK barely defeated mob-owned, far worse, Tricky Dick Nixon.
Carter was elected from Watergate.
Bill Clinton was elected from the very uncharismatic Bush 41 and a recession and 12 years of Republican debt.
Obama was helped greatly by the Great Recession.
My point is leading to the fact that 2020 is going to be a referendum election on the trump administration, giving Democrats an opening.
So, Democrats can offer a progressive nominee like Bernie or Warren, or a corporatist/centrist candidate, as they did with Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, like Cory Booker.
The election is likely to be less about the qualities of the Democrat, than simply having them be electable enough to defeat the Republican nominee, whether trump, Pence, or another.
That means, it’s a wasted opportunity if we again elect the centrist candidate who just tries to clean up the mess without rocking the boat, and continues the direction Reagan set the country on.
That direction is the reversal of the FDR era policies. What we need is not that: it’s the political ‘revolution’ to put us back at war againt plutocracy and empowering the American people.
And empowering includes economically, reducing inequality.
This isn’t really a national issue. It’s the party that will pick the nominee, and we should not lose the rare opportunity — as we did, possibly, this election — to get a progressive elected.
If it’s a backlash election as I think is likely, it’s up to Democrats to use it well.
Yes, this is early for 2020 chat, but I think it’s worth recognizing now.