The informal presidential candidate selection process is effectively over and it is time to assess.
The Republicans have to decide whether they really want their candidate and the Democrats have the “Bernie” problem. In a nutshell, Sanders attempted a hostile takeover of the Democratic Party and appears to have failed.
In the process he attracted many young voters who were not among the party faithful. In fact, it seems to be unclear what about a third of those voters want since they are prepared to support Donald Trump if Bernie is not a candidate and another third say they won’t support the party’s candidate.
Taking Trump at his word, he promises to do a number of things contrary to our Constitution, laws and treaties. Those young voters do not know what a lawless presidency might mean to the country. They need to study the history of the Nixon administration.
And while Bernie has vowed not to run an independent campaign, it seems a large number of his supporters may sit out a close election, which will produce the same effect as a third party; those people may have been too young to remember the effect of Ralph Nader’s 2000 campaign on the results in New Hampshire and Florida and ultimately on the final result.
When it comes to election results, it has been said that we get what we deserve. That may be true but only if we fully understand the consequences of our actions.
Richard A. Hesse
Hopkinton