Talarico Looks Like an Obama II



We all have our ideas about what is good or smart politics. I'm no different. Those who read this blog have to hear mine.

My thinking is millions of voters will go to the polls in the next two elections for the specific purpose of voting against Trump. Most of these voters, however, will not admit that is why or how they are voting. They will have convinced themselves they are voting for some reason more idealistic and loftier. An example of what they might say to themselves is, "I'm voting for a better country."

The job of Democrats, Libertarians, Socialists and whomever is to give those voters something that ends the sentence, "I'm voting for someone other than a Republican because..."  The sentence will not end in "...I hate Trump." It will be something else. That is what Texas Govitorial Candidate Talarico is doing so well.  

Talarico is telling Texans their state is too big and too important to yield to the narrow views of the far right. The Bible and its God are too big to be read as one-line rules. I could see him going national with something similar, our Constitution is too big to be violated by a thin-skinned President. We need idealism and principles. 

These, as readers here know, are not new. Nothing in politics is new. There is only finding the perfect fit of an old message to the prefect moment and to use against the perfect opponent. 

While not always all-important, a personal "narrative" is helpful in national politics. Obama had one, a black man coming from a humble background. Trump had one, he made lots of money. Kamala Harris did not have one. Talarico is studying to be a preacher. 

The year ahead will be great political theater.

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