Rex Murphy: Hillary Clinton's long, tortured, road ahead
Submitted by TheJerry on Sat, 05/14/2016 - 6:15pm
Rex Murphy of the National Post (Canada) has a great article about Hillary Clinton's long and painfully winding road ahead.
He sums it up as:
In Clinton's dreams, Sanders is The Monster from the Lagoon. Trump will annihilate her
It's a great short read from an outside perspective that I think really sums up current reality.
Comments
Link please? n/t
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
It's in there
just above the tags.
Euterpe2
Thanks. What a takedown. n/t
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
I don't much care for the way Rex Murphy
seems to think Bernie is an anachronism, "out of joint" with the times, who "could have tuned Pete Seeger's guitar," and that Bernie supporters are simply to young to know what they are seeing. (Not that being a Pete Seeger throwback is entirely a bad thing.)
On the other hand, his point about Hillary's campaign is correct.
Euterpe2
Me too.
The ones out of joint with the times are the ones who think Pete Seeger's ideals are passe.
What goes around comes around.
The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?
Oddly enough, Pete Seeger is far more known for the banjo,
Even though he did sometimes play a guitar. Seems like Rex Murphy may be a bit more out of touch than he realizes.
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
Also: It's "Creature from the Black Lagoon"
but why nitpick?
He does a nice job of summing up Hillary's mindset, even if his angle skews a little more msm than some prefer.
The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?
The National ComPost is a RW rag
and Rex Murphy is a wanker. Sorry to disabuse you.
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
Does it matter? It's an amusing article with more than a little
truth to it. Perhaps it's his stopped clock moment.
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even a stopped clock... (n/t)
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
You know what's interesting..
You know what's interesting.. the more we see the corruption of the LW (left wing) .. the more RW rags are making sense these days.
Truth doesn't depend on who says it
It stands or doesn't stand on its own. If the writer is as you say, then Bernie has won over even him.
Democracy. (Rolls eyes)
That's so, like, Thomas Jefferson, man. "We the People" LOL! Get with the times Bernie. People are so last century. Now it's all corporations and Offshore tax havens, mega mergers and credit default swaps.
Another Refugee from the Great Orange Purity Troll
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ah not really
I'm a Bernie supporter who's had it with 'serious analysts'. I don't think he puts down Bernie as ridiculous. I liked it. Short and sweet as far as what's going down with The Mad Bomber and the serious people who people the current New Democratic party's apparatchik.
Face it this primary has shown exactly how out of touch and rigged the Democratic party is and apparently was in 2008 when 'the one we had been waiting for' that was supposed to be us pulled a weaselly bait and switch and won.
The gloves are off and we've all seen up close and mean spirited the puppet string pullers. Ask me Obama was from his speech at Kerry's convention and before groomed and put in place as a back up to counteract the blow back from the Bushies. So here we are again voting for a choice hoisted on us by hook or crook by the pols who own and run the Dem. party. I liked the article it wasn't about Bernie as a persona per say but about the awfulness of the Dem. Party and the Clinton machine.
I agree with you,shah
TPTB knew that the American people were fed up with what Bush and the republicans had done to this country, especially when it came to the wars and income inequality.
So they ran the charming black man who came out of nowhere during the 04 campaign.
He promised us so much, yet delivered so little. Bait and switch.
I wish that candidate Obama was the president we got instead of the con man.
But he's still fooling people who think he's the greatest president since FDR.
However income inequality has gotten worse under him and the rich have gotten richer. The poor are hardly on the radar anymore and the middle class is shrinking.
He promised to end the Iraq war, yet there's troops back in Iraq.
He has a fucking kill list that is unconstitutional after Ford declared that the US couldn't assassinate people anymore, especially Americans without due process.
The use of drones in countries we aren't at war with goes against the Nuremberg principles.
And Hillary says that she is going to continue his legacy? Well, ain't that special?
I thought that was a sweet to the point article and I liked this part the best about her cashing in on IOUs and support from the fear she inspires among her allies.
But what is most gauling is that she bought the 33 delegates before she even declared that she was running for president.
It is NOT HER TURN
It should be the better candidate. Period and that is Bernie
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
Yes! So glad not to be part of her army of gender warriors
We see issues, not gender, and get disparaged for it. They see gender, not issues, and think they're somehow making a feminist statement.
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National Post of CA = WaPo
What passes for conservatives in The Great White North are represented by The National Post. It is inevitable in my estimation that the political view which dominates that editorial board will see the remaining American presidential candidates as less than desirable. Yet if one reads the entire post, one sees that while Drumpf is mentioned the least, it is in a somewhat disparaging mode. Sanders actually gets a begrudging kind of respect:
There is more.
The real loser in the eye of the author -as I see it- is the Democratic Party. He asks a fair question as to their dogged determination to force Hillary into the Oval Office over our objections:
I am astonished that a Canadian conservative would offer even a back-handed supporting comment to aid Bernie Sanders, much less this comment which isn't is uncomplimentary is it first looks. I'd love to know what motivated him to do so.
Vowing To Oppose Everything Trump Attempts.
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totally agree
see comments below
NatPost is more like WashEx in my view
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
I find it really interesting that so many of us
had such different takes on this article. I really liked it, and I wasn't offended in the least. I didn't see any of the author's compliments to Bernie as back-handed, and I thought the analysis was fairly spot on. It seemed to me to be legitimately praise-worthy, and Murphy certainly has Clinton and the Democratic Party pegged to an absolute tee.
Fuck, Canadian conservatives are probably more progressive that DLC neo-liberals.
I miss Colorado.
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The first half didn't bother me, and I read it again.
After reading it a second time, I guess I am not seeing the bad here. Normally, I pretty much detest (and disagree with) everything conservatives write. This time, I think that the author gave Sanders some legit kudos and assessed Clinton's self-inflicted situation perfectly.
Plus, where IS the party?!
I miss Colorado.
[deleted]
[deleted]
I took his Bernie criticism as being in "quotes"
Yes, he is as conservative a "shock jock" as Canada gets.
That means is probably center-right US, today.
But, anyway, I personally saw his descriptions of Bernie as being what Hillary and her supporters would think. Not his own opinion. Everything he said bad about Bernie is what I envision Team With Her would say.
This is a common rhetorical device used to denigrate the delusions of the person you are taking down.
And from a hard ass third-way DLC perspective, what Rex said is clearly what 3rd Way/DLC people believe. Thus I feel quotes.
From what I see of his other articles. He doesn't like Clinton, but he is not pro-trump in anyway. Is that not most of our positions, even if he comes from the right? His position seems to be that they are sort of MAD (Mutual Assured Destruction) and he takes schadenfreude from their battles.
____________________________________________________________________________
"I'm not interested in preserving the status quo; I want to overthrow it. "
-Niccolo Machiavelli
"Sorry Hillary"
-TheJerry
If you know the 2nd half was better, then
the first half didn't keep you from getting to it. Just sayin'...
He calls Bernie "awesome"
Nicely done, I thought, and some wonderful writing.
Bernie is the one who comes out well in this. The point is the incredible stupidity of the Democratic establishment.
Absolutely correct
thank you for reinforcing that. It's pretty obvious:
I hope that "shoot the messenger" isn't becoming a habitual ritual here too, but if it is, people should be advised that folks are a little savvier here than at other blogs.
This is spot on.
I try to turn him off whenever I can.
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
The article gave me the impression of the writer as a caustic
smartass, but sometimes that's okay.
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I liked this:
The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?
I read it and thought it was pretty much on.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Up against Trump the Implacable
Yeah! "When He Who Knows No Boundaries Whatsoever steps up to work his inexplicable magic" - exactly! LOL.
Wonderful article.
The problem is that you're not hearing
his caustic and supercilious tone of voice.
What appears reasonable in print comes off as arrogant, overbearing and pompous beyond belief when you hear him read his opinion pieces.
Honestly, he's a smug and scornful old curmudgeon -- and not an attractive "grand-uncle" one either. More like the distant relative who shows up every Thanksgiving to rant and rave at his leftist third cousins twice removed.
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
I'm right off 'tone'
I don't give a rats ass about 'reasonable' either. I take umbrage here as I'm the far lefty ranter and raver at Thanksgiving. I am the old curmudgeon at the table. Who cares. I liked what he wrote and I'm done getting all agitated about the persona of the writer just as I'm sick and done with looking at the persona of the pols. i liked the piece and agreed wholeheartedly.
Hard these days to get all worked up about what's PC or which pundirt, talking huge head is right or wrong, or a foe or ally. It's all up for grabs and indistinguishable when the differences between the players is so minuscule. I just don't give a shit who said what or what a dick they are. Hey in a world where the Dem's. tell me The Mad Bomber is better then Trump no way I'm going to believe that shit
On the other hand in a world that says here's what your looking at choice wise I open to hearing anyone but the 'serious people' they say are serious and know the skinny. Left right or the dreaded center. All of which are made up as there is only the one and only inevitable, incremental, pragmatic, possible 'world as we find it.' Axelrod, psalm, 2010 AD
Rex Murphy
I don't care if Rex Murphy is an awful human being and you hate his guts, but his POV in this particular opinion piece brilliantly and pithily captures the essence of the 2016 campaign.
He's a fucking right wing fascist. And you don't care,
as long as he hates Hillary.
You will be known by the company you keep.
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
You should really take it down a notch.
There is no need to get all pissy with people who happen to like this article, or to judge them and insinuate they support a "fucking right wing fascist". I thought Rex Murphy's phrasing was pretty goddamned cool.
Jesus.
I miss Colorado.
Hey shiz
Hope you and little shiz are good. Just got back from tipping LD at the hell hole. Talk about wrecking a good day.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Hey, woman!
Good to see you! I have been pretty in busy in meat space of late because my dad had a heart attack. (He is doing alright, though! Weak, but alright!) So that's why I haven't been around here more.
I pretty much hate Dkos now and spend very little time there lurking, if at all. I got so frustrated the other day that I actually logged in to make a comment to tell the Hillary bots to go fuck themselves. LOL, not in those exact words of course, but still.
Hope you and the mister and the fam are good! How is MI weather? WI is sucking ass, man. It snowed here last night, and I'm so very glad that Hillary is going to do not a goddamned thing about climate charge. :/ Grr.
I miss Colorado.
Freaking snow in Michigan too.
Sorry about your dad. Hope he is on the road to recovery. I'm still fighting the upper respiratory bug that sent me to hospital. When my grandson came home from school, he ended up in hospital with pneumonia. Oldest is looking for a sixth month lease in Boulder he can afford on his grad salary. Ain't no such thing. Damn, CO is an expensive chunk o' dirt.
Wishing you and your dad good health. Glad little shiz is well.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
You are far more polite
than I. Sure am glad to see you here
Hey, chickie!
Good to see you here, too! And, as you know, and I am totally not more polite than you are. LOL, I think you and I are about the same.
I miss Colorado.
Haaa, yes, indeed
I had my tongue sort of planted in my cheek when I wrote that. But only sort of--I seem to be cussing more than you lately, at least in print here, lol!
It's not like we're buying the newspaper or his latest book.
Taking a peek is free. And chances are we won't like any of his other articles, so we're hardly keeping him company.
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Exactly!
I miss Colorado.
It's a great article
Who cares about the writer's personality or whether he has an unpleasant voice? We're looking at the article.
I think Rex Murphy's article was brilliant; he portrayed Bernie
the way the press see him. It is a must read.
And for your reading pleasure (I got hooked on reading the comments to this article and this one is my nomination for the #1 comment:)
YOU try and write something better than that! Brilliniant, bloody brilliant!
Sea Turtle
Arkansas Scamalot
That commenter reads DK, I'd be willing to wager!
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
No. I violently dissent.
Murphy is a RWNJ wanker.
"The enemy of my enemy is not always my friend."
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
Apparently he reads better than he screeds
Tone and body language are filtered out of text communications (except for the judicious use of emojis ), so what might be outrageous if heard comes across as reasonable when read.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
OK! We get it!
What do you want others to do, not read it at all?
What will you do when that's simply an unreasonable demand? Because IMO, it IS. Can you simply understand that not everybody agrees with you here?
I liked this comment
Great snark
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
te heee
I didn't see that. Great snark. Love to see that on Twitter.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
I read the column as this journalist
using every usual slam against Bernie, against all the usual praise for Hillary, showing the damn irony.
I loved it.
It spoke truth to power.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
The NatPost is a
right-wing rag. I stopped my subscription years ago. Their editorials are full of RWBS and one of their top columnists is the insufferable Terry Corcoran (of climate change = junk science infamy).
Murphy appears occasionally on the CBC. He's an insufferable twit as well.
I shouldn't quote anything he writes in a positive way.
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
This comment
sounds like could have been written by Conrad Black.
Take anything linked to the NatPost with a pound of salt.
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
Also known in Canadian Leftist circles as
the "National ComPost."
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
I can't believe that people here are
recc'ing an article by Rex Murphy.
Just because he attacked HRC does not at ALL mean that he's "one of us".
Lookit, people, the National ComPost is a far-right-wing rag with as much credibility as the Washington Examiner. Their commentors, aside from Murphy, include the likes of Andrew Coyne, Diane Francis, Terry Corcoran (the climate change denier), Conrad Black (the felon and ex-Lord), and the quasi-fascist woman-hater Fr Ray deSouza.
Among their "guest columnists" are Charlie Cabbagepounder (Karl Kapsavasar, aka Charles Krauthammer).
And THESE are the sort of people you wish to associate yourselves with, simply because Murphy wrote an article which with you happen to momentarily agree?
No. No. A thousand times No.
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
Blind squirrel. Acorn. 'Nuff said.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
That is not normally considered to be
a positive statement, is it?
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
Well, Rex also believes that
we can't "afford" to stop climate change.
Burning the budget
You do not get to pick and choose which of Rex's columns you like and don't.
You don't give your crackpot columnists that right, do you? The stopped clock argument is no excuse. Murphy is a RWNJ, and just because he can't stand Hillary does not make him a friend of the Left.
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
Apparently you have read more of his articles
then we have, but most of us are commenting on 'this' article which we enjoyed.
I know that I haven't heard of him before, so I don't know his history as you do.
But I did like what he said about Hillary in 'this' one
Okay?
There were problems with running a campaign of Joy while committing a genocide? Who could have guessed?
Harris is unburdened of speaking going forward.
Seriously!
Wow, the vitriol is palpable. I think it's obvious that we're not supposed to read what this guy has to say, according to a couple of people here. So naturally, now, everyone is going to read it.
Which, I'm sure, is NOT the point of objecting to it. Perhaps, just perhaps, we should consider dialing that back a LOT?
How many times are you going to make the same argument?
We heard you the first time. But how absurd is your "don't get to pick and choose" line? Of course we do. We like this column. We will probably like nothing else. No one is saying he's our friend. We just like this column.
It's going to get worse. We'll probably like hearing Trump take her down, on some level.
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just because he's a rwnj doesn't mean he's always wrong
consider this drama that I've just written...
ok. Could the sky actually be blue? Or does the second part mean I should assume it's not?
This is Disinformation 101
Thank you!
Rex Murphy
Too bad he's Canadian; what a magnificent take on the unholy state of things in the States. I recently read yet another takedown of Bernie by a Clinton surrogate, probably Charles Blow in the NY Times, in which he claims that Bernie should leave the race, the delegate math is impossible, and concludes that Bernie is running a "zombie campaign" since he can't win. Bernie's only mission is to act as a spoiler in Hill's campaign, preventing her from running against Trump now, forcing her to spend money on ads in upcoming primaries, and "distracting" her from the prize.
The sad irony is that the winner, Hillary, is the one running a zombie campaign and the person who should be the winner is the loser. The topsy-turvey world of the Democratic party has put in the fix and there's nothing short of a blood-in-the-streets revolution that will set things right.
He's a RWNJ.
Nice company you keep.
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
Please stop implying that liking one article by a writer
one doesn’t know that much about is exactly the same as “keeping company” with them.
It’s McCarthyism.
I also suggest avoiding the use of “you” in that accusatory way. We try to discourage going personal with hostility here.
Great article!
Thanks for the link. I've never read this author before, and I really enjoy the way he writes. Good phrasing and shit.
Also too, I like the quote at the end a lot:
I went to a Bernie meeting tonight, and the energy for him continues still. Meanwhile, I'll be looking to lend a hand to BrandNewCongress.org, however possible.
I miss Colorado.
He's a climate change denier.
Did you LISTEN to what I've said??
He's a RWNJ.
He writes for a far-right rag that has climate change denial practically on its masthead.
He's been known to deny climate change as well.
But for you, the ONLY important thing is that he hates Hillary????
When Americans start stupidly and ignorantly praising Canadian crackpot journalists, and telling me "his views on climate change don't matter because he hates Hillary" and broken clocks and blind squirrels, then maybe I don't belong here any more.
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
I honestly do not know why you are freaking out
about this. It's not like any of us are gonna marry the guy or think he's swell or something. He wrote a good article. So what?
You're obviously invested in your anger over this, so have at it. I'm out.
I miss Colorado.
No he did not
write a good article. he wrote CRAP.
******************************
Muerte al fascismo. Muerte a la tiranía. colapso total de los que promueven tampoco. A la pared con el unico porciento%
This website is not TOP.
No one is going to jump on your ass like white on rice if you say something like that here. You can totally think it's crap. I can totally not think it's crap.
On caucus99percent, we adult pretty well.
I miss Colorado.
Exactly
Why do people not get that?
tapu dali...
we encourage diverse opinion and difference of opinion here, when done in a civil manner. We get it that you think he is a RWNJ, please tone the hostility down about 5 notches, OK.
THANK YOU!
n/t
Thank you, I will.
I think, being from Canada and a former NatPost subscriber, that I'm pretty familiar with Murphy and his newspaper. To know him/it is to despise him/it. One good (? opinions differ) article hardly negates his years of right-wing rants.
Let me know when you praise C. Krauthammer for one of his articles.
With that, I will now leave this particular subject. I have no desire to be antagonistic, so I'll just take a deep breath (or two) and move on to other matters.
Thanks for putting up with me, and have a great day!
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
I personally would never praise...
Krauthammer, but I think you know that and probably didn't mean "me" in the personal sense. But if someone does praise him it is their right here, and it's also your right to push back, in a civil manner. Discourse in a civil manner is all we ask here.
That’s the thing, as non-Canadians we don’t know Rex Murphy
but we do probably know Krauthammer. So that’s actually an illuminating analogy, and I for one have no trouble empathizing with your feelings of revulsion — just not the momentary use of fellow c99ers as the target of them.
One of the biggest, most damaging things we can do ANYWHERE
is to keep slaying the messengers with their every message. I would not castigate Charles Krauthammer if he said the same things this writer said, even though I find him to be a detestable person otherwise. Mind you, if I had read those things from Krauthammer, I'd wonder why he wrote them, but then I'd ask myself what he had to gain by doing so. If I couldn't come up with anything tangible other than "it's deadline and I have to write something", then I have to believe either he's screwed up royally or else he's woken up (and maybe even has a death wish? Who knows?) and he's not long for his masthead.
Worth keeping an eye on, just for that reason alone. I don't know this writer--is he nearing retirement?
Retired as radio show host last September, says Wikipedia.
Still does radio segments for other shows. Argues against man-made climate change. Delivers paid speeches to companies in the oil industry.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rex_Murphy
Thank you.
I didn't have to go to Wiki for that illuminating insight, but I'm glad you did.
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
And: I managed to communicate it without insulting anyone. n/t
Good work.
I have still to learn ...
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
Don’t we all, tapu dali. Don’t we all.
None of us are saints, none of us are Blogger Teresa.
Well, there you go!
Do you think what he has to say in the article which spawned this post is incorrect? After all, someone obviously paid him to write it.
Those in the twilights of their careers often are more illuminating than they were at the beginnings of them.
Even a broken
clock is right twice a day!
Sanders is in tune with the times . . .
Post 2008-economic crisis, his message has a lot more resonance than it did at any point prior to the 1940s. A lot of what he's saying had truth decades ago, but now, it's almost unavoidable and impossible to ignore. Canada weathered the economic crisis much better than the U.S. did thanks to high oil prices, better bank regulations (at the time) and a much stronger social safety net. So maybe that's why Murphy underestimates the relevance of Sanders message to the present. Canada may go through a U.S. crisis if oil prices stay low, but from 2008-2016 it hasn't experienced the same kind of crisis that we are still digging out from.
As far as Sanders pulling punches, I don't think he really deserves a ton of credit for this. If he had attacked Clinton earlier, I think it would have backfired in a Democratic primary, because Clinton is fairly popular within the party, and he was the unknown outsider. When he established himself and became better known, he had a little more freedom to sharpen the contrasts.
As far as the general election goes, I don't think Trump will necessarily be stronger against Clinton than Sanders has been in the primary. I think this is part of the reason that Clinton has lost her cool at times with Sanders -- he is hitting her with legitimate issues regarding conflicts of interest and character.
The thing that is damaging to Clinton aren't the 1990s scandals. Many were over-hyped and overdone. Benghazi has been beaten to death too. If the GOP plays those up, they are just playing to their base, and not to people outside of the Fox News bubble. Clinton's vulnerability is really more in terms of things like the Clinton Foundation and the pay-to-play big money politics that she has been involved with. The use of the private email server as a way of avoiding FOIA disclosures is an issue. Trump, however, isn't in a great position to exploit those lines of attack. Because he is an even bigger fraud. The second Sheldon Adelson starts writing $100 million to a SuperPAC to support Trump, the idea that Trump is "unbought" also evaporates with it. The biggest x-factor for the Dems really relates to the FBI investigation. If something comes of that, Clinton is in trouble. If she's cleared, and wins the nomination, though, I think she will have to make a number of other unforced errors in order to open the door for a buffoon like Trump. e.g. VP selection, antagonizing people within the party by moving too far to the right, etc.
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