In the midst of the mayhem called Trumpworld comes this interesting article from The New York Times about a successful woman governor who also happens to be a moderate Democrat. Raimondo, a Rhodes Scholar, Harvard educated governor of tiny Rhode Island parlayed her centrist Democrat positions to a second term in the governor’s chair. She finds herself a tad lonely due to the flight of moderate Dems to the more energized progressive left-
It comes as no surprise that the Resistance currently favors the left. After two years of frenetic activism, Resistance voters are prepared to grab the reins of power and erase as much as possible all traces of Trump corruption and campaign dirty money avenues which helped to contort the outcome of the 2016 election. Likewise they want to obliterate government policy which contributes to bigotry and income inequality. This zeal makes these voters ready to slay any and all Trump/GOP dragons. Even moderate policy may be smacked down by the Resistance once they have achieved the levers of power.
What Raimondo suggests is that Dems should not get too far out ahead of their skis. (a phrase which means leaning too far forward in the moment may elicit a face plant.) She worries that the Dems in their haste to undo the wrongs committed by Trump and the GOP might alienate forces necessary to win the election. She believes that Winning the election should take precedence over all other priorities.
November, 2020 is a long way off. Plenty of events may occur which easily could change the political landscape from what it is today. And despite all polls to the contrary, the election is not a slam dunk for the Dems. Raimondo, reminds us that moderation may be the best strategy. The Resistance, despite the raw open wound which Trumpworld represents, must remember the lessons of the Treaty of Versailles which was written at the end World War I in 1919..
The viciousness of the terms against the defeated Germans in the Treaty of Versailles created hate and bitterness for the defeated Germans. This botched effort to engender peace ultimately helped force Worled War II. The historical lessons are: Be mature enough to create policy which promotes a better world but not at the expense of the defeated. . Treat the defeated with respect and stop thinking of them as the enemy. Look for ways to build bridges rather than to exact retribution. And don’t gloat – it elicits deep seated animosity.
Can the Resistance comply? For those of us in the Resistance, who are mad enough to wrestle a bear, this is a tough set of rules to follow. Let’s turn out attention to candidates who will bring our maturity level up to the task. Lets select candidates who can – turn antipathy into positive, strategic energy, attract voters from the middle and thus can win.
There have to be candidates who, among the 20 plus running, have the political acumen to pull it off.
Enjoy the article.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/26/opinion/sunday/gina-raimondo-2020.html