On Monday night I was pretty sure I was going to puke. I nearly did the first few minutes before the debate, having a coughing fit. I had been following what all the smartest political writers in the country were going to say: the corporate media was going to give Trump the first debate because, A. it’s in their interest to create a horse race (blame them for Trump winning and dragging us into WWIII, should that come to pass), and B. they had set the expectations so low for him it would be impossible for him not to win.
I don’t know if I feel better or worse that Trump self-destructed in the first few minutes. For ninety minutes I watched him act like a total lunatic who had no idea what he was talking about. I knew that already but I worry that a very large amount of people didn’t. Clinton kicked his ass and yet she isn’t winning by ten points. Hell, someone like Trump shouldn’t have ever been able to get this close, and it’s ridiculous that he did.
I’m not going to explain how this happened. We already know how, and rehashing it would be an exercise in boredom and misery for all of us. Instead, here’s what I’m asking every single one of you at Lawrence who is appalled at the idea of him getting the presidency.
Vote for Clinton.
Yes, she’s not Sanders. Yes, you really care about Jill Stein or Gary Johnson or Vermin Supreme but really if you don’t vote for Clinton and you don’t want Trump then screw you. You are directly responsible if he wins, even if you don’t vote at all. You lose your right to complain if you don’t vote. Taking the high ground isn’t an option right now. We have a man who admits he would bomb someone for making fun of him; that is terrifying. Do not do anything that could help him even a little bit.
If you are registered to vote in a swing state (Colorado, Arizona, Pennsylvania, Florida, Ohio, Iowa, etc.) vote there. If you’re from Illinois or Minnesota then vote in Wisconsin, it’s a bit too likely to tip for Trump. You don’t have an option if you don’t. This is not the time to indulge in fantasies about third parties showing you’re not part of the system. The system isn’t going to care you rebelled if it’s run by Trump. Don’t think Congress can slow him down. He’s going to be in charge of the Supreme Court. Even supposing that he dies in office or that he delegates most of the responsibilities to Pence, even one day of Trump in office is too many.
Now I know Clinton is not perfect, but she’s a great candidate being brought down by a 25-year campaign of misogyny and resentment by the Republican Party. If her name was Henry Clinton she’d be winning easily. She’s got four decades in public service. She helped take down Nixon. She’s fought against discrimination in schools and housing. She’s done pioneering work in legal rights for domestic violence victims. She’s been Secretary of State. She’s been a Senator. She’s kicked more ass working for America than you or I ever will.
The emails are not a legitimate attack when you consider that the Bush Administration deleted hundreds more than she ever did, and within the same amount of time.
So if you have any sense, you will have watched that debate and realized there’s only one real person to vote for, and that’s Clinton. If you want to watch it all burn down, then fine, vote for Trump, but realize the kerosene you’re pouring everywhere is getting on your clothes. You will not survive the blaze, not really. If you want to commit seppuku because of Bernie—who lost by three million votes and had nothing rigged against him—or for two people who are blatantly not going to win and would be just as much of a disaster (Johnson and Stein) then suck it up, vote for Clinton, and I’ll let you whine in my ear for as long as you want. Just please don’t take me down with you should Trump win. Please, keep us moving forward. Clinton is our last, best chance for that right now.
