It seems that the American political landscape has evolved shifted beyond recognition over the past few years. Remember when you actually believed the President if he cited a statistic or even recounted a personal anecdote?
https://www.politifact.com/personalities/donald-trump/
If I'm speaking completely honestly, I find it difficult to feel much enthusiasm about where politics is headed in general, let alone next year's election. Just search the word "moderate" on Twitter and you're met with an onslaught of impassioned young voters who know what they want and hold no prisoners. It's become a dirty word among Democrats. The debate last night (which I didn't watch because I was very, very busy watching Frasier) has been noted for showcasing the undeniable discord within the party - Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders seem to be worlds away from John Delaney, John Hickenlooper, and all the other second-rate moderates that are supposed to be appealing to voters like me.
Is it obvious that I'm unimpressed? I'm not so sure that the problem is entirely the candidates, either. Increased partisan polarization has left little, if any, respect for remaining calm in the face of catastrophe. It's no secret that this administration is an absolute nightmare. Trump has stacked the deck with unqualified, deeply partisan sycophants whose only service is to Trump's ego, not the American people. The internal unrest is overwhelming to follow - there's always some new poor SOB that got booted out for saying the wrong thing to the president. To add insult to injury, Trump's most vehement supporters are Bible-thumping white evangelicals (Seriously, how did he earn immunity in a community so eager to chastise and shame?). Coming from a religious upbringing, the thought of anyone who claims to live by the teachings of the Bible supporting this man is particularly comedic. The hypocrisy runs deep in this country.
What I'm trying to say is that I fully understand from where the outrage stems, trust me. I see Trump and his cronies for what they are, and I want them out just as much as the liberals do. It's not surprising that the "natural answer" would be to veer more left - after all, if Trump won by "shaking things up," shouldn't the Democrats do the same thing?
Personally, I think Democrats are making a huge mistake. So are the debate moderators, when they ask about immensely unpopular policies such as abolishing private health insurance and decriminalizing border crossings. I love to cite polls like this one that remind me that not all hope is lost, but there seems to be an increased tolerance threshold for political extremism in this country. Americans are desperate for change. There's something appealing about any politician presented as a potential alternative to Trump, even when they're obviously trying to push their own agenda. Are we supporting a candidate who will beat Donald Trump, or one who will promote the "right" policies? The two may not be synonymous.
You're frustrated. I'm frustrated. We're all frustrated. These circumstances are not ideal for voting for the best candidate. Yet "best" is a subjective term, and if it means beating Trump, is that enough? Let's vote with our minds in 2020, not our hearts. The stakes are pretty damn high.
