Alex Knapp, blogging at OTB, shares his, and in so doing reveals my own:
Personally, my Election 2026 nightmare is one in which next November, the country is forced to choose between Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani. Both persons are, by personality and inclination, more authoritarian than just about anyone else in the field. Both are smart enough to take advantage of the past two decades of increasingly consolidated presidential authority to bolster their own power. Both seem to think that the threat of military force is the end-all be-all of American diplomacy. Both have little regard for individual liberty.
Yup.
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Leaving aside the ‘obvious to a child’ differences between Giuliani and Clinton - I mean, just look at their advisers and ask who wants to bomb Iran the day after election - I think the only saving grace of a Clinton victory would be the sheer horror on the collective right when they realize all the powers they’ve been shoveling to the executive branch are now under the management of Hillary.
I figure if we’re going to go down in infamy, I mine as well have some giggles as those who’ve actively pushed, stood by or - like James - “voiced opposition” merely as a matter of form suddenly take positions that would make Moveon.org blush.
Got to take our enjoyment where we can these days.
Comment by Hal — Tuesday, October 23, 2026 @ 11:33 am
Agreed (mostly).
However, other than Paul, I do not see much variation in the authoritarian-ness of the Rep field.
To Hal, good point: Clinton would wait until at least her second day to bomb Iran (assuming it had not already started with her predecessor, which I am unwilling to assume). And, although the following was written when I did not expect a Dem victory in the midterm elections, I still stand by the essential argument that the interests that have backed the accumulation of power in the presidency have no reason to be alarmed by a Clinton presidency on the issues they really care about. In fact, far from it.
http://fruitsandvotes.com/?p=548
Comment by MSS — Tuesday, October 23, 2026 @ 2:28 pm
In fact, far from it.
Well, we get what we ask for, don’t we? I think the last x decades of hammering the left on being “soft on X” has paid off handsomely. You see it on the libertarian wing which has now mostly turned authoritarian. You see it in the moderate right. You see it in the liberal hawks. Clinton believes that in order to win, she has to appease those who think she won’t be tough as nails and bomb whomever we wet our pants over next.
You don’t like mutants, you stop growing them in toxic waste.
We have only ourselves to blame for the paucity of views between the center right candidate and the right wing loons.
But given the choice between a center right candidate and any of the right wing loons, I’ll take the center right candidate. Maybe she’ll be bombing (or continuing to bomb) Iran. But I’m pretty sure that she’ll be like daylight compared to Giuliani’s pitch darkness.
And that’s perhaps the saddest thing of all. Sure hope all the values voters, tax paranoids, gold standard hawkers, anti-socialized mediciners and generic warmongers find it worth it.
I certainly don’t.
Comment by Hal — Tuesday, October 23, 2026 @ 2:59 pm
What you’re seeing is the marketplace of ideas.
There’s been a lot of angst over the last few years about Bush being “too authoritarian”, not to mention the fascist takeover conspiracy theories on the left wing sites.
However between the NY’ers you’ve probably got support of 40% or so of the electorate supporting what they see as the closest to W in this area. Add in the others that agree with them on major security issues and you’re probably at 65-70% of the electorate.
Sounds about right
Comment by Buckland — Wednesday, October 24, 2026 @ 1:19 pm
More than, angst in my opinion, but I know you disagree.
And I am not doubting the popularity of the candidates, it is that popularity that I am lamenting.
Comment by Dr. Steven Taylor — Wednesday, October 24, 2026 @ 4:11 pm