• There are two objective truths about American politics today: one, the Conservative base has never loved anyone so much as Trump; and two, the Conservative base has never hated anyone as much as Hillary. Not Pelosi, not AOC. So, I’ll agree with you that she could afford no mistakes. Thing is, Democrats aren’t - by and large - the raging hypocrites Republicans are. Trump gets away with anything with his base, whereas we (I’m assuming you’re liberal) can recognize Hillary’s gaffs.

    But you can not downplay that one moment. Trump lost none of his base with “grab 'em by the pussy,” because his base already mostly agree with him in that sort of thing. But that speech with the coal segment was threatening a group of people who should have been voting Democrat; it was the nail in the coffin for Democrats as champions for the blue-collar class. It underscored years of Republican messaging about the liberal elite; it proved them right (in the eyes of that demographic).

    Trump lost the Republican party no feminist votes with his comment; I think Hillary did lose votes, and maybe the election with hers. The open mike cock-up didn’t help; that was embarrassing for those of us supporting her.

    Reagan started a turn in politics; I think Hillary’s mistakes completed the turn. About this graph? Sure, coming from anyone else maybe it wouldn’t have gotten quite the reaction. And that’s why what’s-their-butt above shouldn’t have gotten the downvotes: because you could predict the reaction. Hillary deserved better, but because of who she is and how she’s perceived, and how visible her comments are, she can’t afford to be cutting things close. The party can’t afford her giving any rope to conservatives to hang us with.

    • mindbleach
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      7 months ago

      I do not disagree that Hillary’s presence is a net negative. But her presence is the negative.

      What she does, or what she did, counts for approximately dick. “In the eyes of the Republican demographic,” she could say exactly what they wanted to hear, and it would still count against her. The Idiot lost no votes among the cult because they’re a fucking cult. They do not care what anyone says. They don’t mean things when they say words.

      Fixating on words is the mistake. These people don’t give a shit what anyone says. They’re only looking at who says it.

      Fretting about how people respond to her, once they’ve made clear they’ll respond to anything she says like she’s the devil, is not useful. The nature of bad faith is that there is no right answer.