The strategy is clear enough, and was on full display tonight. It was brutally hard to watch. But the strategy is clearly in focus now. The only way Mitch and Cheetoh win is by demoralizing the rest of us. Sucking the air right out of the room.
Their strategy:
1. Elections are suspect. Democracy (here, at least) has seen better days.
2. The courts (which we're stacking) will probably decide this one anyway.
3. Candidates are unhinged (so are the moderators). The process is chaotic and nothing matters.
4. Maybe this is a good year to sit out the November election. Find something better to do.
5. We're counting on depressing the electorate, and then depressing the vote.
And this is the new normal, the narrative Cheetoh wants to sell in Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan and here in NH. If you once believed in the capacity of the people of move us forward, admit it. It's over. If you once believed in the responsibility of elected leaders to honor the Constitutiion, admit it. Not happening here. If you once hoped you had a viable choice, an electoral choice that was consequential, admit it. We're off the tracks now. The train has jumped the tracks.
In light of their perverse campaign of dis-information and dis-orientation and de-moralizing leadership, we can and we must reject this narrative. This is the buckle up part. This is the confess your cynicism, but get your ass to a polling place part. This is the democracy is up to us part. We know how to do this.
So here's our story:
1. Elections matter. Democracy is about a lot of things. Elections are critical. To belong here, to take responsibility here--is to vote. Even if you're compromising in the choice you make in a particular race.
2. Elections matter. If we all vote, if we all vote, if we all vote, this thing won't go to the courts. And the stacked court won't make this decision for us. (I'm talking to you, Wisconsin. I'm talking to you, New Hampshire. I'm talking to you, Pennsylvania and Michigan.)
3. Elections matter. We do have a choice. The incumbent is unhinged and dangerous (and probably a national security risk in a dozen ways).
4. Elections matter. This is not the year--there is NEVER a year--to sit out a November election. (I wish I could vote for Elizabeth Warren this year, but that dream died in the spring. So I have to take a deep breath--and vote for the best candidate remaining.)
5. Elections matter. If I don't vote, Cheetoh has beaten me. If you don't vote, he's beaten you. And we cannot, we will not let this happen, right? Because elections matter.
