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“I can live with Donald Trump winning,” is what elected Democrats privately admit to New York Times columnist and Vox cofounder Ezra Klein, in discussions that are so far off the record that Klein’s notes have been tucked away in that Indiana Jones warehouse.
KleinappearedthisweekonTheBulwarkPodcastwithhostTimMiller,wherethewell-connectedoperativesaid,“I’vehadtopDemocratssaytomebasicallysomethinglike,‘Idon’tknowwhyalltheseDemocratswhothinkDonaldTrumpisanexistentialthreattodemocracyareactingthewaytheyare.ButthereasonI’mactingthewayIamisbecauseIdon’tthinkthat.'”
KleindescribedatypicalconversationwiththoseunnamedelectedDemocratsgoinglikethis:
“Youdon’tknowhowthepartycanreplacehim.Youdon’twanttobeblamedforanyofthis.Youjuststayquietandwalkthecalmpathtodefeat.”Ithinkitisclear…Peopleareweighingthissetofthings.Like,“ItwouldbequiteunpleasantformepersonallytocomeoutagainstthepresidentasanelectedofficialintheDemocraticpartyandweighingwhat