Okay, everyone, let's try to figure this out. What on EARTH are the Democrats thinking? Why is Debbie Wasserman Schultz still making public appearances? Why is she retaining leadership positions? Why is Hillary heaping praise upon her?
Debbie is at this point the Ted Cruz of the Democrats: a symbol everyone hates and is ready to boo even if they don't know why they're booing. And there's plenty of reason to boo! Not only has she been "meh" on fundraising, but this email leak makes it look like she was sabotaging Bernie's campaign.
And yes, as damning material goes, there's nothing you didn't already know in the leak. Oh, the political establishment circles its wagons to undermine candidates who say they're going to disrupt the establishment? Powerful people take measures to retain their power? They trade money for favors? Oh no, what a terrible shock, this is not at all the way the system is designed to work.
For now, the worst that anyone's been able to find in the emails are a few staffers expressing a general dislike of Bernie. But even if there turns out to be something worse in there, I wouldn't be mad at Debbie for doing politics — that's just reasonable behavior for someone whose goal is to rule the nation. I'm exasperated that someone who is now so universally disliked is still being allowed in front of cameras.
Predictably, she was booed at a press appearance today. It was supposed to be a breakfast meeting for delegates, but it turned into a circus swarming with Bernie supporters who heckled her. This is just how it's going to be from now on: everywhere she goes, people are going to be mad at her, and the story isn't going to be "look at all the good she's doing" but "look at all the anger she's provoking."
After we gleefully enjoyed the mess at the Republican Convention, the last thing we need is an even meaner display from the Democrats. There are exactly two ways this election can go: Hillary Clinton will be the next president, or Donald Trump will be the next president. It's going to be one or the other. Anything that doesn't help Hillary win helps Donald win. And at this point, every time Debbie's in the news, it's helping Donald Trump win.
And yet Hillary seems completely oblivious: "I am grateful to Debbie," Hillary wrote (yeah, I bet you are). "There’s simply no one better at taking the fight to the Republicans than Debbie—which is why I am glad that she has agreed to serve as honorary chair of my campaign’s 50-state program to gain ground and elect Democrats in every part of the country, and will continue to serve as a surrogate for my campaign."
Ack! Gosh! No! Stop! Hillary! People don't like her! What are you doing! You're campaigning for elected office — the one job that you have right now is to pander for ratings, and you just hugged Doctor Pulaski when what we need is Beverly Crusher.
"You will see me every day between now and Nov. 8 on the campaign trail, and we will lock arms and we will not stand down," Debbie said. Oh God, Debbie, no. Stand down. For Heaven's sake, stand down. Get out of the way. One Ted Cruz is enough.
Until this morning, the plan was for Debbie to open and close the convention — but now it looks like she won't be gaveling the opening, and I'm guessing that means she won't be there to close it, either.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump's popularity has been rising for weeks, and Hillary's has been plunging.
Ughhhhhhh.
