The Establishment Limits

There is nothing wrong with your TV screen. Do not attempt to change the channel.

We are controlling the narrative. Whatever station you choose will tell you the same thing: get back in line. Or else. Do not move beyond the Establishment Limits.

We control who you imagine is electable. Nevermind if he stands for nothing and appears to understand even less. Nevermind if, when his face fills your screen, he only looks good because we’ve blurred everything you thought you knew.

You don’t need crystal clarity. You just need to participate in exactly the way we tell you to.

You are about to experience the awe and mystery which reaches from the inner mind to... The Establishment Limits.

(With apologies to The Outer Limits)

- Anita Bartholomew

The Electability Trap

Every Democratic presidential hopeful faces obstacles. Every one.

The two progressive candidates scare the establishment media, corporate, and political structure (although, if they had to choose, Bernie scares them more). The four establishment candidates face troubling claims of racism and/or sexism.

Here’s a short list of what might drag down each candidate’s chances:

- Sanders: Social democrat conflated with communist; relentless major media smears.

- Biden: Clueless racist remarks; treatment of Anita Hill; Burisma/Hunter.

- Buttigieg: Homophobes; racist cops/prosecutions during his South Bend tenure.

- Bloomberg: History of racist remarks; lawsuits over his sexist/abusive workplace behavior.

- Warren: (Mostly) white lies blown way out of proportion; backtracked on Medicare For All.

- Klobuchar: Abusive to employees; as a prosecutor, put away an innocent teen for life.

Democrats and other non-Republicans keep wringing their hands, trying to figure out who’s most “electable” versus Trump. They ask: who will Trump smear and how? Answer: everyone, in every way he can. So, forget smears. Trump is an equal opportunity one-man smear campaign, and truth is no obstacle to his insults.

The best choice you can make is someone who will do the most good for the most people.

What will excite voters enough to stand outside in long lines on election day, often in bad weather, many with little kids in tow, some traveling long distances, too many facing racist attempts to thwart their participation in the election? Why are they there, despite the obstacles? 

They're not doing that just to vote for a pleasant personality, or whoever might be considered by pundits to be the safest, most inoffensive, don't-rock-the-boat establishment favorite. They're there to vote for the chance at a better life for themselves, their kids, their parents--and maybe for you, too.Who offers the best chance for that better life? That's your most electable candidate.

- Anita Bartholomew