The diary that is currently at the top of the rec list is specifically bashing a recent diary of mine.
Now, I have made my commitment to support Hillary in the general, should she win the primary, unequivocally clear in numerous comments over the past 4+ months, but I am more than happy to do so again, and maybe I should have made this clear in ALL of my recent diaries, especially in my diary that is being bashed. However, that rec list diary completely misrepresents my position and the point I was making, or rather, the sentiment behind the question I was asking. Now, while I fully appreciate the sentiment of some democrats who feel disinclined to help Hillary win the general should she win the primary, due to their frustration with Hillary, that is not my position, nor has it ever been my position, nor do I recommend it to be your position, nor have I ever suggested such a response is wise to anyone, either online, or in my personal life, neither implied or even felt, and in point of fact, I think doing so is categorically foolish, in no uncertain terms --- akin to cutting off your nose to spite your face. Just so that we are clear. But I do get the frustration that is behind such sentiments. Sure. And, further, I believe, the sooner the Hillary supporters appreciate this somewhat prevailing frustration, and what is behind it, the sooner you will win the support of Bernie supporters, should Hillary win the primary.
Look, my diary which is being bashed was a direct response to several very specific comments, comments made by a long time kossack whom I have come to respect over the years --- come to respect greatly --- (and I stated my respect in my diary) --- comments explicitly quoted in my diary, wherein this Hillary supporter, whom, again, I deeply respected, felt that the way to respond to a diary discussing the issue of policy and Hillary's apparent allegiance to lobbyists was to cite polls, hence my question, “Are polls your political rudder?” Why? Because I wanted to get people to STOP citing polls, and to talk about ISSUES. And yet, the dairy bashing my dairy claims that diaries like mine and Bernie supporters like me are “running over those ideas and important issues,” hence I say to you that this top rec listed diary is promoting a meme that is a bald face lie. Rather, I AM ATTEMPTING the exact opposite..... namely, to get people (people whom I deeply respect) to focus on the issues and tell me why they support her at this early stage in the primary when Hillary is rather clearly, I believe, triangulating (aka, ‘Clintonian Triangulation’), and I have taken no small amount of time since Hillary’s 7/13 speech formulating a diary patiently analyzing in painful detail the very question of whether or not Hillary is triangulating, and what exactly “Clintonian Triangulation” is. Why did I take the time? Because, (a) to be fair to Hillary, and (b) I have seen several comments attempt to deny that Hillary's economic policy speeches are triangulation. Is this cognitive dissonance or denial? You tell me. If you don’t wish to read my lengthy in-depth analysis diary, here are several excerpts:
The fact that Hillary did not mention Glass-Steagall (an integral component of TBTF policy) in her speech is significant, however, after the speechconflicting messages were released from the Clinton campaign, so at this point, her position is still, I believe, unclear:
After the speech, Alan Blinder, an economist who the Clinton campaign says is advising the former first lady, told Reuters that Glass-Steagall was not going to be part of the candidate's economic platform.Is this triangulation? You tell me."You're not going to see Glass-Steagall," Blinder said.
A Clinton aide, however, refuted Blinder on Wednesday.
"She will be announcing her ideas for dealing with the continuing problem of 'Too Big To Fail' in the coming weeks, and nothing has been taken off the table," the aide said.
Are these positions (or lack thereof) indicative of triangulation? Again, you tell me:
- Hillary did not take a stand on TPP fast track; Bernie did. (I don't think a link or quote is required.)
- Hillary did not take a stand demanding employers provide paid vacation days; Bernie did.
- Hillary did not take a stand on Keystone XL Pipeline; Bernie did:
HILLARY: “And I’m sorry if people want me to. I have been very clear: I will not express an opinion until they have made a decision, and then I will do so.”
BERNIE: “It is hard for me to understand how one can be concerned about climate change but not vigorously oppose the Keystone pipeline.”
- Hillary did not take a stand on $15 national minimum wage; Bernie did:
Hillary Clinton on Thursday wouldn’t commit to supporting a $15 national minimum wage but said she is working with Democrats in Congress who are determining how high it can be set.
“I support the local efforts that are going on that are making it possible for people working in certain localities to actually earn 15,” Clinton said in a response to a question from BuzzFeed News during a press availability in New Hampshire on Thursday.
Is this triangulation, and does triangulation serve us, as a nation? What kind of leadership do you want? What kind of leadership do we need?
I have included a poll asking whether or not you you feel Hillary is triangulating, so please vote. Snark/pie responses are not welcome in the poll, nor in comments. This is too serious of an issue. If you want people's support for Hillary in the general, then I suggest you be respectful and leave the snark at the door. I may be asking you direct hard questions, too bad. This is politics. Grow a thick skin. These are questions that Hillary would rather not answer and anyone who deflects and helps Hillary get away with not answering these questions, is, I believe, betraying this nation because the answer to these questions could determine the very survival of our species, if the dire warnings by climate scientists are to be believed. And, if me saying that offends you, or if me asking these questions offends you, or if me demanding that Hillary answer these questions offends you, then I question where your priorities lie, because I mean no offense, nor do I believe it is fair for you to take it as such. And, if you are offended by such questions on these critical issues, you might want to consider why you feel honest questions about the critical issues that directly affects the survival of our species offends you. And, these are the issues that matter to the bulk of this community, and to this nation, to humanity, which is evidenced by Bernie's dominance of the rec list for 4+ months and by his growing inspired movement. Brow beating people, or bashing people under false pretenses will not make these questions go away. Face it. These questions just ain't going away and you are foolishly spitting in the wind, if you think they are. Nor should they. And, I suggest, the sooner that Hillary and her supporters respect and appreciate the gravity of these questions, and more importantly, are responsive to them, the sooner you/Hillary will win the support of the Bernie supporters. And let us also be clear, I have taken great pains to NOT echo RW talking points which might hurt Hillary in the general, although there is some unavoidable overlap.
And lastly, for the record, since rserven’s comment is cited, here was my response:
reserven, I have been a huge fan and supporter of you/your diaries for years, and I deeply respect your position and loyalty for your personal reasons. My hard questions still remain because they speak to issues that affect the very survival of humanity, which I have to wonder if you have also considered in your continued loyalty, and if not, I would ask that you do, but again, I do respect your position.In closing, if you want to criticize Bernie supporters for not supporting Hillary in the general, please go right ahead and do so, and no, it does not bother me in the least if or when you do, because I completely agree with you, abso-fucking-lutely, in case there are any doubts, but I do happen to think it is a far more effective strategy to acknowledge and respect their frustration, which is my approach, and even more so, I think the best approach is to challenge Hillary to also respect and be responsive to their frustration, because I believe their criticisms are entirely valid, though their response, I believe, is not, which was the very intent of my diary that was bashed. Giving Hillary a pass on those criticisms, or running cover for her, during the primary, is, however, I believe, a profound mistake. And worse, bashing someone under false pretenses will not win their support, but then again, (and let me freely repeat, yet again), Hillary already has my support in the general, even if you do bash me under false pretenses, and no, Hillary will not loose my support in the general, no matter what you do or say about me, because, again, I am not foolish and I am well aware of the fact that not supporting Hillary in the general, should she win the primary, is still a damn stupid move and nothing you say about me will change that. I do not base my support on you, or anything you say or do, and similarly, if you won't support Bernie because of something a Bernie supporter says, I think you are the damn fool. I base my support on the needs of this nation and the survival of our planet, and so should you. The GOP whackos would be disastrous in ways that I shudder to imagine. Yes, I do like Hillary’s policies. Yes. Sure. I like all of them. However, I think her policies are weaksauce incremental status quo solutions, but I agree with them. Sure. I am not sure she will follow through, but sure, I like them well enough. What I think they are, in a nutshell, (most notably with her position related to TBTF), are, effectively, "Penny-wise, pound foolish." Bluntly speaking, it is what I am NOT seeing in her policies that concerns me, not what I am seeing, which is the essence of the 'Clintonian Triangulation' (two-step) political rhetoric strategy, just so that we are crystal clear. AND NOTE: I am a seasoned veteran of the 2008 Obama-vs-Hillary DailyKos flamewars, and I really do NOT want us to devolve into that mess again, which left the Hillary supporters disenfranchised. I don't want EITHER side of this debate to be left that way, nor do I want folks leaving DailyKos in droves because of this, most certainly not during this primary or general election, because the only ones who will benefit from that are the GOP. Yes, in spite of any harsh criticisms, for the record, I have the deepest respect for this community, and will continue to, however you respond today, because in spite of all of this, I do believe kossacks serve the greater good and I have yet to find a site that comes even remotely close. And, this is not a hit-and-run diary, but I will not be responding in the comments, because I want to remain objective, and people are taking things way too personally, but I will read every comment and ponder what everyone says deeply and respectfully.I read and rec your diaries whenever I see them and will continue to do so. Please consider me a friend, no matter whom you support in the primary.
Peace. Namaste.
