So Kos said what he always says, which is that this community supports Democrats. He also lays down the law for how he wants his site to run and people freak out because they take it as an insult (which it is not) or feel they are being censored (which they are...you want to write your anti-whomever rant, blogger’s a free platform...go start there as Kos and many of us did way way back in the day. If you want to contribute here, there are rules and they are made by the guy who runs the place). They want a rigorous debate or the right to perpetuate their dislike of the current front runner and I understand that. Bernie’s awesome. Hillary’s less awesome than Bernie. If you are passionate about someone, that passion often results in a backlash against your person’s competition...like I hate USC football because I went to UCLA (it doesn’t mean USC is a bad school or their team is bad, I just root against them because it is natural and reflexive).
But politics shouldn’t be reflexive or reductive (which they totally always are, I know). Especially for progressives, who should naturally seek to move the world forward to a better place for everyone and work for the opportunity to do so. Progressives shouldn’t embrace futility or hyperbole (He’s the greatest! She’s EVIL! etc. etc. ad infinitum). Progressives shouldn’t give up hope.
This blog community means more than POTUS elections. It is about every election great and small and if the one candidate that stirs your soul is unavailable for realistic election (I love Sen. Sanders. I write novels about Vermont and my dream is to teach writing at a small Vermont college...it makes me sad that we are not yet a country that will elect him and I hope this is not true and that he pulls this out...), you cannot give up the fight nor ignore the reality that the Democratic party still needs you to be passionate.
So you cannot be passionate about the presumptive nominee. I get it. I really really do. Still vote for that person because that person is still going to do things that benefit the country. I promise you this is true. They may will do things that do not match your beliefs or your passions. They will disappoint you and piss you off. Case and point: Arne Fucking Duncan. At the end of the day, however, I’m not sorry I voted for Obama twice.
So you cannot be passionate about the POTUS nominee. I get it. I really really do. Then do what Kos says and find a candidate to be passionate about at your local, state or national level and go be as passionately progressive about that person. Get that person elected. Use this community to help! That’s what it is here for almost all the rest of the time it is not swallowed up with POTUS stuffs. Don’t quit a huge group over one candidate or because you cannot voice things about that candidate here.
Be here for the many many candidates who you still really want to help get the things done you want the government to do.
Please stay.