I worked hard to help Barack Obama become President of the United States in 2008. We fought a very rough battle to defeat Hillary Clinton for the nomination and when she conceded graciously and embraced her opponent to join forces in taking the White House back from the Republicans, I immediately began hoping that the forces of history and politics would put me in a position to work hard for her in 2016. America’s first black president, followed by America’s first woman president? That is something worth fighting for, something I am proud to be a part of.
The photograph in this diary captures my favorite moment in the 2008 primary, and it shows many of the reasons that I am more excited than ever to see Hillary win the nomination and the White House. I forget exactly when she had that drink on the plane, but it was near the end of the nasty scuffle with Barack. It shows a real human being, very comfortable with herself. It shows a person that I want to lead our country.
When all politics are set aside, I think we can each get a good idea of who a candidate is by seeing how they act and move and smile and laugh. Barack Obama was a terrible disappointment to me, as a teacher, when he sold out the entire American public school system to the testing industry and continued the billion dollar empire of Jeb Bush and company. Barack Obama is still the best person who has been President of the United States in my lifetime, in my view.
I was born when John F. Kennedy was president, so I have seen a few. This past 8 years has been so wonderful, watching caring loving intelligent passionate hilarious brilliance in the form of Barack and Michelle Obama. Nobody else even comes close. Politically, there have been many failings. Personally, I have loved every minute of it. I can’t wait to see Hillary and Bill back in the White House, especially because this time they are grandparents. Babies on the lawn, joy on the horizon. Don’t get me wrong, the Clintons can’t hold a candle to the Obamas when it comes to melting into a glowing ball of love magic, but I still see them as the best people in the 2016 race.
Suffice it to say that I don’t feel the same human quality in Bernie Sanders. It’s just not there for me, sorry. Not trying to judge, and it very well could be my own personal sensors, but it is what it is.
As for the politics, I completely understand the passion and the power of the Bernie Sanders and his ideas. Unfortunately, I am convinced that he would not be able to implement any of them. Jimmy Carter is a great person who became a tragic figure politically, and I could see an even worse fate for Bernie if he were elected. Honestly, the corporate connections that are used to attack Hillary will be very powerful tools for her to move our country forward. The progress that Barack Obama has made over the last 8 years was not gained without major sell-outs on many issues. That’s the way the game is played, and Bernie is nowhere near a major player. The idiocracy of the Republican party still looms in Washington. Corporate interests have an unbeatable stranglehold on the system. Trying to change the entire game would be impossible.
Hillary Clinton could very well become the most successful progressive President of the United States that we have ever seen. I am confident that she will make massive strides in fixing income gaps, women’s rights, racial issues, LGBT equality, and healthcare for all. She will stay beholden to the testing industry and our public schools will continue to be destroyed, but even my personal pet issue does not dissuade me from seeing the big picture. Hillary is totally stocked with all the tools needed to win the real political battles that actually get things done in Washington. I look forward to celebrating her nomination in July and her victory in November.
Thanks for listening, good luck to us all.