Thread by @SallyAlbright

Unless you've followed horse racing for a really long time, you've probably never heard of Tabasco Cat.

Tabasco Cat was sired by a horse named Storm Cat, considered the most expensive stallion in history. His trainer was Wayne Lucas, his jockey was Pat Day. These are Bold Face Names in thoroughbred racing.

In other words, Tabasco Cat was an investment

In 1993, there was a terrible tragedy. Tabasco Cat trampled his owner, or someone in his owner's family, causing permanent injury and irreparable brain damage.

The owners didn't shoot him, or sell him, or do anything they wouldn't have normally done. They kept racing him.

Tabasco Cat was the 9:1 favorite in the 1994 Kentucky Derby. He was bumped coming out of the gate (ironically by the horse who went on to win.) He made up a lot of ground but never quite recovered. He placed sixth.

I was there, it was crazy.

Tabasco Cat went on to win the Preakness, and then the Belmont.

That's right, if not for a freak incident, Tabasco Cat would have been the Triple Crown winner of 1994. It didn't quite happen, but there's no question: Tabasco Cat was a champion.

Some people thought the owners were cold and heartless. How could they keep that horse around? How could they cheer for him? How could they celebrate his victory?

But Tabasco Cat was not a cherished family pet. They knew that horse was mean as shit. Huge, ornery, he raced with full blinders. Tabasco Cat was born and bred to compete.

That horse was an investment. They'd spend a lot of money breeding and training and competing, and they knew they had a champion on their hands. They focused on that.

Even without a Triple Crown, Tabasco Cat made them a cool fortune

There's a saying in politics:

Republicans want to fall in line, Democrats want to fall in love.

It's true. Everyone saw how fast the GOP fell in line when Trump became the presumptive nominee.

We Democrats tend to romanticize our politicians. I'm as guilty of it as anyone. They aren't just our champions, they are our super heroes. We put them on pedestals, we project our version of morality on them. In some cases, it borders on worship.

And when they don't live up to our unreasonable expectations, it feels like a personal betrayal. We aren't disappointed, we're angry. We want vengeance. We want to throw them out of office and cut all ties.

Even with our allies, our champions, we demand adherence to subjective personal standards over professional performance. We'll sacrifice progress, and position, in the name of purity.

Republicans don't do this. They know Trump is flawed, but he hates the same people they do and has the power to fuck with those people, and that's more important. "Christians" know Roy Moore is terrible, but he'll get them that Supreme Court Justice. The means justifies the end.

I've been criticized for wanting to "win at all costs" but we aren't competing for a blue ribbon at the county fair. What good is purity if it allows GOP to undo decades of Democratic accomplishments and destroy everything we care about?

Tabasco Cat was not bred for pony rides at children's birthday parties.

Presidential candidates are probably not going to come have a beer with you.

Politicians, like artists and athletes, can disappoint you personally without losing their capacity for great accomplishment.

Democrats would be much better off if we could stop expecting our leaders to be perfect. It's never going to happen.

We need to let our leaders do what we elected them to do - enact our legislative agenda

If we keep taking every disappointment as a personal affront and letting emotion overrule reason, we're going to keep losing.

I don't understand how anyone who cares about this country and our Democratic values could ever think that's okay.
/fin