Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumI believe that Sanders is not electable. You can argue, but this is true
Last edited Sat Mar 23, 2019, 11:10 AM - Edit history (1)
Sanders supporters may think this is not true. But it is. His ideas are ok, but he is not ok. If he were nominated as our candidate, we would have an in fight all over again. He was loyal, he was not loyal..blah, blah, and blah...This in fight is the very last thing we need .
I worked for George McGovern in 1972. (a while ago) His ideas were totally correct. He was almost from the beginning a poor candidate destined to lose. Terrible in fight from the beginning. Bernie is the same. He will lose. It is his stature, it is how he acts, it is offensive to some. He will cause an in fight in our party that will destroy our chances to win.
again...this in fight is the very last thing we need
....again... this in fight is the very last thing we need
We need to be totally united to beat them, complete and total. Sanders is not the person to do this. You may think so, but you are wrong. Sanders has made too many enemies in this party to gain total and complete support. Anybody that will unify our party is the answer..
Sanders is not the answer.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
mobeau69
(11,079 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)We do have to be concerned, enough to be sensible and realistic, about a 2016 redux.
But Sanders simply cannot win the primary election, is likely to be out though of course never withdrawing, by Super Tuesday. Surrounding himself with the kind of people who voted for Jill Stein, some of whom have actively worked to defeat Democrats, is pretty good evidence that he realizes it.
Thinking of which, only half of his anti-Democratic primary voters went to Stein or Johnson; the other 12% voted Trump. Makes me wonder how all his former and present staffers voted.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
getagrip_already
(14,250 posts)It goes like this. Bernie keeps a core of his base together, maybe 25% of the primary voter base. The other 75% gets diluted between all the other candidates and none gets to above 25%. BS would pick up some additional just because he would be a front runner, and media, and the russian bots supporting him.
So he could win with just a paultry minority of voters because all the good candidates spread out the remaining votes. It's very possible he could win the nomination with just 35%.
He would then get crushed in the general. A lot of our voters would just yawn and not show up. A lot of trumps 2016 voter base would return. The troll army would turn on him. He would have his political skin stripped from his body piece by piece.
He isn't electable, but could win the primary.
To stop him, people need to rush to the best candidate. Don't vote in your state with your heart. Vote to put a primary candidate in place that isn't a loser. Is mayor pete a great candidate? Possibly, but he isn't going to win the primary. Don't throw your vote away on him. Sorry Pete. My heart is with warren, but I would vote for biden in a second if I diidn't think she could win the primary (and at this point I don't think so).
I'm not going to throw my vote away and let BS get the nomination. He is our trump.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Autumn
(44,762 posts)who best represents my views and I'm not going to change that now. The primary candidates who best represent me are Bernie, Liz, Pete, and Inslee. One of them will get my vote in the primary and I'm hopeful that I will have the opportunity to vote for them in the GE. I'm not going to throw away my primary vote out of fear.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
getagrip_already
(14,250 posts)The primaries aren't all held on one day. By the time they get to the middle of the pack states, winners and losers are pretty clear. So if inslee is pulling 5% after 1/3 of the states have voted, it would be throwing your vote away to keep voting for him in later states.
Sure, he is your ideal candidate, but if that means your nightmare candidate gets in, pick another "good candidate" who has a shot.
I'm in MA, and that is pretty late in the process. Still, it has a not insignificant number of votes at the convention. I'm going to work to make sure those convention votes go to a non bs candidate.
I'm not going to vote my heart and give warren a vote if she clearly isn't going to make it. She will have other shots. She will still make a good cabinet secretary. Not everyone can be potus. And some absolutely shouldn't be.
Vote wisely.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Autumn
(44,762 posts)represents my values. If we have no real choice in a primary then perhaps the primary rules are the problem.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
emulatorloo
(43,982 posts)Always choose the candidate that is closest to me ideologically.
Rarely has my primary choice gotten the nomination.
I then knock doors, give what money I can, and enthusiastically talk up the nominee!
It is what we do
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)in general, varying mostly just in priorities and methods, and all of today's Republican candidates are inimical to them.
Principle, need, and intellect in alignment, as you say "It's what we do."
For all right reasons.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Autumn
(44,762 posts)The last campaign I knocked on doors for was Clinton in 08. Then I developed mobility issues. I maxed out in 16 to Bernie's campaign. There are four I have donated to this time but after the first debate I'll settle on one.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
emulatorloo
(43,982 posts)See them in an interactive setting will be great. I am still living part time in Iowa, so I am going to try to get off my lazy butt to see as many speak as I can. Hopefully ask some questions too
Sorry to hear about your mobility issues, I wish you all my best. Its not the same at all but my fibromyalgia came back in late 2018. Treatment is finally starting to help. Good thoughts to you!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Autumn
(44,762 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
calimary
(80,699 posts)I learned the hard way a LOOOOOOOONNNNNG time ago. I learned that my heart will lead me astray. My head, on the other hand, stays un-fogged by emotion, but rather, clear-eyed, practical, and realistic.
I learned this in multiple ways, both personal and professional. It ALWAYS worked out better for me when I ignored what my heart urged me to do, and followed my head. In jobs taken or abandoned, in matters of love, and of money. Emotions do not factor into it. Same thing holds for politics. Last time, for just one example, I loved Hillary alright, but my HEAD said she was objectively the best by far. Maybe its different for others, but not for me.
This is what I worry about, politically, though. That old saying that Democrats fall in love. Republicans fall in line. Well, in that respect anyway, this Democrat wont be following her tribe.
For me, itll ALWAYS be head-over-heart.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
G_j
(40,366 posts)will you support him if he is the nominee?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
hedda_foil
(16,368 posts)Prove your stats or admit that you're wildly exaggerating. Otherwise this is an unfounded smear pure and simple and unworthy of a DUer.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
lapucelle
(18,040 posts)Political science professor Brian Schaffner of University of Massachusetts, Amherst tweeted the data on Wednesday.
https://www.npr.org/2017/08/24/545812242/1-in-10-sanders-primary-voters-ended-up-supporting-trump-survey-finds
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
lapucelle
(18,040 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
hedda_foil
(16,368 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
lapucelle
(18,040 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)Link to tweet
The Hatemongering really worked.
Second, a lot of Bernie Sanders supporters werent big fans of Clinton. So Stein campaigning on the idea that Clinton and Trump were similar made it harder for Clinton to win over those voters even if Sanders voters didnt vote for Stein, they may have stayed home out of disgust.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/jill-stein-democratic-spoiler-or-scapegoat/
Mahalo, lapucelle
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
lapucelle
(18,040 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
calimary
(80,699 posts)All I can say about Jill Stein is that she was, and IS, nothing but an opportunistic infection.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)already had a perfect platform set up for her.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
calimary
(80,699 posts)That kind of margin made the difference in enough key districts to push a whole state over into trumps column in the accursed electoral college.
Was it out of spite? A latter-day Sore Loserman effect? A pouting response? If I dont get what I want then just screw everybody?
I swear - I DO NOT understand how a voter who preferred Bernie would switch to voting for donald trump! WTF????? How ON EARTH was trump ever gonna meet a Bernie voters expectations or desires or priorities??? HOW in Gods green earth???
Im gonna need a lot of help understanding that one! And to those who deliberately went that way because they were pissed off that THEIR man didnt get the nomination, hows that workin out for ya? Please explain.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Dream Girl
(5,111 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
onit2day
(1,201 posts)We've been through this before and that stat fails to mention these were mostly republican voters anyway.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
lapucelle
(18,040 posts)And if what you say is true, then what happens to the claim that BS brought new people into the party?
That assertion is a wonderful argument for closed primaries.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
onit2day
(1,201 posts)"Anti-democratic voters"? Really? Sounds like Bernie derangement syndrome to me. Sanders/Warren ticket is a real winner...not only for dems but for the country as well. Sanders made more campaign appearances for Clinton than any other legislator working hard to get her elected once she became the nominee encouraging all his supporters to vote for her yet look how you make him sound.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
getagrip_already
(14,250 posts)BS did campaign for dems, but mostly dems who supported him in the primaries. He only grudgingly mentioned hillary during his events. He mostly bashed trump.
So yeah, he wasn't really there for her. And as a result, he was complicit in trumps win.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)being Vetted now.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)his staff.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BlueFlorida
(1,532 posts)is their primary goal.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
onit2day
(1,201 posts)By a greater margin than Clinton. Polls also showed him winning over a wide margin of republicans as well as dems and independents. He stands for what voters all claim they want in policy polls taken. Did you see him take on Manuchin in Senate hearings or read his new book "Where We Go From Here". He's the real deal, hell even Trump tried to campaign off Bernie's agenda only with Trump it was all lies to get him elected. Just because you believe it doesn't make it so. Strongest ticket out there would be Sanders/Warren with the 'Now's the Time to Act meme. Seems all other candidates are Bernie lite. He's extremely electable and does not even relate to McGovern or that era
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TexasTowelie
(111,312 posts)after the polls in the 2016 election were in error?
Those polls were completely worthless.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BlueFlorida
(1,532 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,110 posts)Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)Link to tweet
?s=20
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
musicman65
(524 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Lazy Daisy
(928 posts)if Bernie wins the primary, some Democrats wouldn't vote for him in the general?
OMG, can't make this shit up.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Hassin Bin Sober
(26,272 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)I really doubt that sanders will break 15% in any southern primaries due to lack of African American support
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
sheshe2
(83,354 posts)Nina Turner did not. She voted for Jill Stein. Then there is Briahna Joy Gray, Stein voter. Both on his team.
Me, I am a Democrat and will always vote the Democratic winner. Always.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TexasTowelie
(111,312 posts)from voting or that they will not vote for the eventual nominee. However, those rules don't apply to the overall electorate and there are no loyalty oaths. There will undoubtedly be a group that either won't vote or who won't vote in the presidential race while marking the rest of the ballot, no matter who wins the nomination.
The election in 2020 is probably the most important since 2000 because in the following year state legislatures will have to redraw districts after the census data is released. While it would be terrible to see Trump reelected, the 2020 race will affect politics not only for the next four years, but the next decade. Democrats need a presidential nominee with long coattails. but the independent senator from Vermont is not that candidate in most regions of the country.
Current speculation is that there are about a half-dozen House of Representative seats in Texas alone that could flip from red to blue if there is a strong ticket and campaign funds are wisely allocated. There are also House and Senate races in other states that can be flipped, but if we pick the wrong candidate then we will lose those so-called "red states" for a decade or more and possibly some of the gains that we made in the mid-term elections.
The question that I have for Bernie's supporters is why they would want to put him in the toughest job in the world that ages the occupant about two years for every one year while in office? It almost seems cruel.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
onit2day
(1,201 posts)I can't get with any candidate who is against Medicare for all and the Green New Deal. That's like a slap in the face to FDR who got us the 1st NEW Deal Our very survival depends on going green immediately. We need bold action NOW not winners of popularity contests. Republicans flocked to Bernie because he was honest and stood for the people.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TexasTowelie
(111,312 posts)A ticket with two candidates from two New England states won't fly throughout most of the country. It would likely move Virginia and Nevada back into the Republican column. Colorado and New Mexico would become highly contested. Meanwhile, I doubt that ticket would flip any state from red to blue.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BlueFlorida
(1,532 posts)of David Sirota et al as they work in the Sanders campaign? Either way they win.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
vsrazdem
(2,176 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Trumpocalypse
(6,143 posts)will you support and vote for the eventual nominee regardless of who that is?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
sheshe2
(83,354 posts)Period.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
FBaggins
(26,697 posts)In a two-way race, no Democrat can win a state with a significant minority population without some support for that community.
But in a four-way or six-way race? Where others are splitting that block of votes? Of course they can.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
onit2day
(1,201 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TexasTowelie
(111,312 posts)The only states I see that meet your criteria are Alaska and Hawaii. Hawaii is reliably Democratic while Alaska trends Republican.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Socal31
(2,484 posts)Not specific to BS, so it should help everyone reading.
-What is the metric to differentiate between no support/support within a given demographic?
-Why is now the best time to determine who supports which candidates?
-Why do we assume the African American voting block votes in unity?
-Why do you feel BS is the current front runner? (Biden not declared?)
Bernie will not be getting my primary vote most likely. But I wouldn't actively work against him with generic statements that could be re-wrapped for almost every candidate.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LuvNewcastle
(16,820 posts)I wont be supporting Bernie in the primaries, either, and I wont work against him. I dont think hes going to get much traction this time. He doesnt look good and his age will be a factor along with the socialist philosophy. I could be wrong about that, but that is my intuition.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)Biden and Sanders has the highest polling of candidates among African Americans. I remember Biden where he was criticized by African Americans for saying that Obama was clean, articulate African-American.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
yardwork
(61,418 posts)Bernie isn't going to be anointed this time.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)BERNIE SANDERS IS BEATING KAMALA HARRIS 2-1 AMONG BLACK DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTERS, NEW POLL FINDS
THREE WEEKS AFTER launching his presidential campaign, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders is leading all other announced candidates in support from black voters, a new poll finds. The only potential candidate who polled better with African-Americans than Sanders, according to the poll by Morning Consult, is former Vice President Joe Biden, who has not announced a campaign.
Despite a persistent notion that his supporters are disproportionately white male bros, the new survey suggests that Sanders is actually slightly more popular among black Democratic voters than white ones, indicating that the narrative that developed during the 2016 campaign may no longer hold, if it ever did.
Sanderss support among black voters, at 28 percent, puts him in second place among that demographic, behind Biden, at 32 percent. He trailed Biden 31-25 among whites.
There appears to be a strong class element at play in the finding. The same poll found that the demographics Sanders is least popular with at 19 and 17 percent, respectively are Democrats who make more than $100,000 per year and Democrats who have post-graduate degrees (two qualities that typically, if not always, overlap). Because of structural wealth and income gaps, that population is heavily white.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/static.theintercept.com/amp/bernie-sanders-black-voters-2020.html
Right now Biden and Bernie are leading the polls it could be either one or someone else but it is misleading to claim Bernie Sanders base isn't diverse.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
yardwork
(61,418 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
yardwork
(61,418 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)Anyways it wasn't refuted so the credibility problem is on you.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
namahage
(1,157 posts)which of the "key takeaways" was that Sanders beat Harris 2-1 with African Americans?
For that matter, where on that poll does it say anything about how Harris did with African Americans?
Or are we just expected to take the Intercept's word for it?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
vsrazdem
(2,176 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
vsrazdem
(2,176 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)Link to tweet
But the problem Sanders faces in appealing to black voters was staring at him as he spoke for an hour recently at the gym of the Royal Missionary Baptist Church: Of the more than 1,600 people who came to see the candidate, fewer than 40 were black.....
Black voters played a critical role in picking the last two Democratic nominees, Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, and its hard to see a path to the Democratic nomination without significant black support.
About 25 percent of Democratic primary voters in 2016 were African American, and in key states, including South Carolina, the figure was much higher.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)The crowd was very diverse.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)Without support from African American voters, sanders will not be the nominee in the real world
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)At any rate he polls better than he does with older white people.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)I really doubt that booing Congressman John Lewis at the National Convention will help sanders win the support of this Demographic group. I really doubt that sanders will break 15% in the Southern Super Tuesday states but time will tell
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)It is owned by Jeff Besos after all . They ran like 20 negative stories on Sanders in a 24 hour period before the Michigan primary.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)Link to tweet
?s=20
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)I never been to a Bernie Sanders rally but that doesn't mean I don't support him. A campaign against candidates is fine but I'm not ready for another campaign against supporters especially since Im a people over party type of person so I certainly respect other candidates supporters unless they engage in toxic behavior but I don't hold their candidate responsible for it.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)I saw extremely toxic behavior. Real campaign carefully vet their delegates because these delegates (a) can change their vote at any time and (b) the delegates represent the candidate. The Clinton campaign vetted me and I helped to vet other delegates. In addition, the Clinton campaign was planning for four or five floor votes on credentials, platform and rules and so had whipping infrastructure in place. I had a whip who kept me informed as to what was going on through out the convention.
At the National convention, sanders sent one very weak text the Sunday night before the convention telling his candidates to behave and then did little or nothing to control his delegates. It was nasty I was there when the sanders delegates booed Congressman John Lewis. I was warned about this stunt 30 minutes before it happened by the Clinton campaign whip. According to my whip, sanders was asked to stop this stunt and declined.
I was at the Texas delegation breakfast when a group of sanders delegates marched in and demanded that we condemn Clinton and change our votes to sanders.
sanders spoke to the Texas delegation the next morning and his speech was again solely about himself. There was a mini-riot due to his delegates the prior morning and the only thing that sanders talked about was himself. sanders did nothing to deal with the fact that his delegates were out of control and did nothing to try to help Hillary Clinton win the general election.
Finally a group of sanders delegates yelled at my daughter and called her the c-Word because she would not try to get me to change my vote. My daughter was my guest at the national convention. Again sanders was asked to tell his delegates to behave during the convention and sanders refused
I saw other toxic behavior directed at myself but yelling at an attorney is a waste of effort. I would define that behavior as toxic
Combined this behavior with the fact that sanders new press secretary attacked John Lewis (see https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=30517 )and his new speechwriter was part of a racist scheme to suppress the vote of African Americans, I would be very surprised to see any significant support for sanders from this demographic group.
Link to tweet
Time will tell but I doubt that anyone can win the nomination of the Democratic Party without significant support from African American voters
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)As you say in the above post, Bernie is all about himself. Bernie will not unite the Democratic Party. He will divide the Democratic Party. So PEOPLE YOU want ...proof about this division...OK>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
proof about this division.......not hard to find............. READ ENTIRE THIS POST....THEN READ ENTIRE THIS POST AGAIN..
AND THEN READ THIS POST ALL 230 COMMENTS
...YES ALL 230 OF THE COMMENTS!!!!!!
...ALL THE COMMENTS...AGAIN...YES ....ALL ......THE COMMENTS...ALL.... THE COMMENTS.
OVER 230 COMMENTS.........................................that is the proof !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Bernie has already divided up the Democratic Party. He has done this about himself..
If Bernie is the nominee, this division has already been set into action...Bernie will not unite us, Bernie is dividing us right now. ............................................................................
We cannot win with Bernie. Read these posts, then decide..
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)This is normally an once in a life time experience. i had been working on voter protection and other issues for a long time including running war rooms and training poll watchers. sanders sent one very weak text the Sunday night before the convention that sort of asked his delegates to behave (it was a weak text and the Clinton campaign was not happy with it) and then did little or nothing to control his delegates. It was nasty I was there when the sanders delegates booed Congressman John Lewis. The Clinton campaign had a great whipping infrastructure in place and my whip kept me informed as to the various stunts being pulled by the sanders campaign/delegates. I was warned about the planned stunt of booing Congressman John Lewis 30 minutes before it happened by the Clinton campaign whip. According to my whip, sanders was asked to stop this event and declined. That incident will be used against sanders if he runs in 2020.
I was at the Texas delegation breakfast when a group of sanders delegates marched in and demanded that we condemn Clinton and change our votes to sanders. There was a mini-riot after this demand
sanders spoke to the Texas delegation the next morning and his speech was again solely about himself. There was a mini-riot due to his delegates the prior morning and the only thing that sanders talked about was himself. sanders did nothing to deal with the fact that his delegates were out of control and did nothing to try to help Hillary Clinton win the general election.
Finally a group of sanders delegates yelled at my daughter and called her the c-Word because she would not try to get me to change my vote. Again sanders was asked to tell his delegates to behave during the convention and sanders refused
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Thekaspervote
(32,606 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
GWC58
(2,678 posts)He cant, and wont.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Kahuna7
(2,531 posts)blather on about something something.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
onit2day
(1,201 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)Why did so few African American voters show up at sanders last event?
Hint, booing Congressman John Lewis at the national convention will result in even less support from this demographic group this cycle
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
We are Democrats and we vote for the Democratic winner.
BS's new pick for his campaign manager Nina Turner did not. She voted for Jill Stein. Then there is Briahna Joy Gray to be the national press secretary, she too voted third party. Jill Stein. Oh, and bashed John Lewis the other day as well.
https://www.palmerreport.com/analysis/bernie-sanders-hire-scandalous-two/16837/
Democrats vote for Democrats. I am a Democrat.
2. So what you're saying is
if Bernie wins the primary, some Democrats wouldn't vote for him in the general?
OMG, can't make this shit up.
We can agree on one thing. You can't make this shit up.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kahuna7
(2,531 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,110 posts)declared that they're running in 2020, that he needs to get out of the race for the good of his party. Riiiiight... I don't think so. But, thanks to the OP for the input.
Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
fleabiscuit
(4,542 posts)There is only one major market aggregator worth following (IMHO) that is putting up numbers, and it has been currently showing a 3 person race between Biden, Harris, and Sanders; Biden currently top by a small bit. And that changes every day. The remaining "candidates" really haven't pushed the numbers much; yet.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,110 posts)Sorry, I didn't realize Joe announced he's jumped into the race. When did that happen?! Did I miss it?! Bernie clearly leads Harris... and, of course, that could change. But, you missed my point... why should Bernie, the candidate currently leading the pack, withdraw from the race? When has THAT ever been suggested? Never to my knowledge.
Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
George II
(67,782 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
aidbo
(2,328 posts)..his fundraising numbers until July.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
George II
(67,782 posts)...by midnight on March 3, 2020.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,110 posts)Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
onit2day
(1,201 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,110 posts)people in this country are starving for. Bernie is more than worth a try and I guarantee he will not disappoint... he's someone we can trust to deliver the goods on a truly progressive agenda.
Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
pnwmom
(108,925 posts)not hold-your-nose-and-vote kind of support.
We need all hands on deck, working to get out the vote. It's a lot easier to imagine this with candidates who are not Bernie -- especially since he's been filling his campaign with Hillary-haters like Nina Turner and David Sirota.
You'll notice I'm not suggesting Hillary, either. Neither one should be our nominee.
Bernie lost the primaries by 4 million votes last time -- he wasn't even close. He won't get a majority this time, either, so we'll be facing a brokered convention. The worst way to face Trump in the fall.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
bobGandolf
(871 posts)Bernie has too much negative baggage from 2016.
Which, unfortunately, might very well cause some Dems. not to vote, or not vote for him.
We need some of the new Democrats to take charge.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
brooklynite
(93,873 posts)...knowing that it was hopeless.
In 1984, I spent a weekend driving a rally truck around NYC encouraging votes for Mondale. If the Mondale campaign couldn't bank the NYC vote, what chance did they have elsewhere?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
WeekiWater
(3,259 posts)Still a worthwhile point to make.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
yardwork
(61,418 posts)I'm asking a serious question. Dead serious.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)A lot of center-right people want to get rid of Trump, but a Sanders candidacy will guarantee his reelection.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Autumn
(44,762 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,110 posts)Yawwwwnnnnnnn!!
Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
vsrazdem
(2,176 posts)They start posting to bash him some more. It is getting a little sickening. Just look through the threads to see what has the most comments, and almost every time it is something about Bernie. Very telling. I don't see Bernie supporters bashing Kamala Harris or Beto every time someone posts something. Its almost desperate.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,110 posts)Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Cha
(295,926 posts)even more relevant today.. is that "BS is Not electable".
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
California_Republic
(1,826 posts)Such as Mayor Pete and homosexuality.
If Bernie is the nominee the democrats will united but we need independents.
Can he weather the socialist label?
They used John Kerreys military service against him. Youve got to know they will come hard at our candidate.
Stuart is right, for all candidates, we need to think about electability
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
mr_lebowski
(33,643 posts)He's an Afghanistan Vet, he went to Catholic School as a kid, and is now practicing Episcopal, he likes to talk about his faith (in a very moderate, Christ-like way, which I respect even though I'm atheist), and he's Married.
And he's sharp as a freaking tack.
Also, kinda sucks to say this, so apologies ... but you'd never 'know' he's gay, if you weren't told ... not in the way you 'know' ... with some folks? That works to his advantage as well. He basically is like the MODEL 'gay candidate', sorry to kinda stereotype, but he really is. Not sure we pull off a win with say, Nathan Lane ... in the current climate in the USA. Mayor Pete though? Different deal.
I have a decent amount of faith he can handle the attack machine ... if by no other means, just by emanating brains and goodness, which he seems to do effortlessly.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
True Dough
(17,096 posts)if by no other means, just by emanating brains and goodness, which he seems to do effortlessly."
YES!!!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
bobGandolf
(871 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Mr.Bill
(24,104 posts)and just flat out call him a Communist. Sure, that won't fool any of us here on DU, but the last election should be a lesson on how uninformed and easily misinformed the electorate can be.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)and proud of being more a source of division than of unity.
Republicans are naturally more vulnerable to Trump's reign of terror than Democrats would be to Bernie's attempts, if any, but it would not be a good time. AOC being an exception, Democrats are not as vulnerable to threats of primaries from the left as Republicans are from the right.
This time we have a large slate of incredibly good candidates. Every one of Bernie's plans, programs, and dreams is available elsewhere, with much less fuss and with even more good stuff he hasn't talked, or thought, about yet.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)Thank You!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)There are too many real democrats with long memories. We will not forgive or forget
To get the Democratic nomination, one needs the support of African American voters. Booing John Lewis at the national convention is not a good way of getting the support of this key segment of the base
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
GWC58
(2,678 posts)the last presidential primary after it was a known fact Sanders couldnt get the nomination yet he continued attacking Hillary. I found that to be just a wee bit divisive. 😡
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Devil Child
(2,728 posts)Sanders is one of the possible answers to the trump occupation.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
shanny
(6,709 posts)Sometimes the framing around here is a bit much.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Devil Child
(2,728 posts)Defeating trump is much more important to me than investing in this "don't vote for this candidate or else" mentality.
Take care shanny!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Socal31
(2,484 posts)So I am with you there. But Kamala will take that spot after the debates, imo.
I'm debating between Harris and the Mayor, with Harris leading in name recognition and electability.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)I think he'd be a even worse candidate than Hillary Clinton.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Socal31
(2,484 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)Weaker candidate than Hillary: Democrats cast deep doubt on Bidens 2020 value
Joe Biden is everything a Democratic political consultant should love: Hes experienced, well-liked, and his poll numbers look great against Donald Trump.
And yet many party strategists have a bleak assessment of his potential 2020 campaign: Its a bad, bad idea.
(Snip)
Strikingly, these conversations yielded a similar view: The Democratic political community is more broadly and deeply pessimistic about Bidens potential candidacy than is commonly known. While these strategists said they respect Biden, they cited significant disadvantages for his campaign from the increasingly liberal and non-white Democratic electorate to policy baggage from his years in the Senate and a field of rivals that includes new, fresh-faced candidates.
Among political professionals, there are deep concerns because we know the history, said a Pennsylvania-based Democratic strategist, granted anonymity to speak candidly about a party elder. We have reason to be skeptical of the hype.
We heard it with Hillary, and we saw it happened, the source added. And theres a lot of reason to think he would wind up a significantly weaker candidate than Hillary.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/campaigns/article226007090.html
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Socal31
(2,484 posts)Everyone who has chosen a candidate is campaigning, not debating.
I have my own reasons for not leaning Biden, but pretending he wouldn't be the favorite (initially) or couldn't pull it off is silly.
I think most of the field is electable against tramp.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)He is one of the 2 front runners now and I also think many Democrats can beat Trump which is why so many are running. This wasn't an OP-ed but an article quoting party pollsters, campaign strategists, etc.
I think by the time the general election comes his history of gaffes may come back to bite him as well as his history.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
R B Garr
(16,920 posts)Most of Bidens gaffes lately have been amped up by the usual suspects, and not just here. Much ado about not much.
Socialism, otoh, is a huge gaffe forced on Democrats by those who cant even agree amongst themselves what it is. It is a huge liability. No wonder Sanders didnt have the guts to start another party. Hes chosen instead to label Democrats with Establishment smears if they dont kowtow to his takeover. If you think Democrats want to be taken over by socialists, you are sadly mistaken. Especially socialists who voted 3rd party because they hate Democrats so much. Who needs it.
There is plenty of data to corroborate that Sanders is not electable the last couple elections.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)Only 3% polled view socialism as taking away personal freedoms. Democratic Socialism is easy to explain by pointing to Nordic Countries while the party is usually silent while Fox News & Republicans are comparing it to Venezuela which authoritarism isn't associated with Democratic Socialists. I remember people defending socialism over 10 years ago by pointing out tax rates in the early days of Keynesian economics.
I'm not worried about takeover when the third way took over the party ever since then has embraced the philosophy while treating anyone to the left of them like traitors while still expecting their votes. I do everything right this board wants me to do I vote for the more liberal option in a primary then vote for the nominee. I even voted for Krysten Sinema and she is my state's Joe Manchin.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,705 posts)Democratic Socialism =/= the Nordic Model
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
R B Garr
(16,920 posts)Most people dont spend much time thinking about Nordic countries. Socialism is a total liability and non-starter. Its just not helpful to saddle Democrats with that albatross.
More of the the myths about third way that are now decades old. Bill Clinton actually got elected in a time of choking Republican family values, etc. Thanks, Bill. He left a surplus for Al Gore, but Gore wasnt pure enough either. Al Gore was ahead of his time on climate change, but we got Bushs war instead. The purity standards are a big gift for the GOP.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
R B Garr
(16,920 posts)control aspect, which is why its demonized. People wont pay attention to it just because you like one politician.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
namahage
(1,157 posts)And the ACA socialized medicine, that what they REALLY meant was Obama was a champion of equality.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
I like Joe as a person but look where we are! The past is prologue to the present, and Biden is the past. We have moved on and we can't / shouldn't try to go back.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TexasTowelie
(111,312 posts)Wasn't there an OP this week about how Bernie hasn't evolved over his lifetime?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
betsuni
(25,135 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
treestar
(82,383 posts)but out in the real world, he is.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)He is too conservative for me. I would prefer Hillary Clinton.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
chillfactor
(7,566 posts)He is not electable!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
betsuni
(25,135 posts)All he has to do is bring his economic equality message to the people and not only will all Democrats vote for him (realizing how foolish they've been paling around with the establishment), but Independents and Republicans (especially in the swing states) will flock to the polls and finally vote in their own best interest. Easy!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)But here is the troubling reality for civically minded liberals looking to justify their preferred strategies: Hillary Clinton talked about the working class, middle class jobs, and the dignity of work constantly. And she still lost.
https://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2016/12/hillary-clinton-working-class/509477/
Yeah, BS "was deeply humiliated".. and he called our party "elite". right after the "rigging in" It was all about sanders.. and he got it wrong.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
sheshe2
(83,354 posts)Oh shit, I lost.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
yardwork
(61,418 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
rusty quoin
(6,133 posts)I always like a Democrat to win, and especially now.
His ideas have become mainstream, but he, who always said these things, is not the guy to carry it through.
Maybe thats true. Another one, Elizabeth Warren, is someone I love. Bernie and her have been fighting for the small guy a long time.
But I expect that if she takes a lead, there will be much talk here on why she cannot win.
I dont know how you guys know so much so early.
I have known stuff in the past too. I knew that McCain would win the Republican nomination way back, before he had a chance. I knew the Iraq War was a huge mistake. And I knew Coors lite was a shit beer.
But one thing I could not have predicted was that Trump would become ...heh...president.
I cannot predict anymore.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Mike Nelson
(9,903 posts)
reasons why he and others are not electable. I agree Bernie is probably not the strongest General Election candidate, but I wouldn't call him 100% unelectable. My main concern is that he plays into the Republicans' "Socialism!" scare tactic and he wouldn't be able to get anything done... at least, not as a Progressive. I suppose, like others, he might become a "moderate" President... I don't know how it would work... Elizabeth Warren seems better at explaining how to actually get some progressive things done... however, I'm very interested in hearing the others expand and explain. I am excited by several of the other candidates.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
RDANGELO
(3,430 posts)If we have a straight move to medicare for all, a lot of the people getting their health care through the employer are going to realize that they are losing coverage. They are going to get angry, and we will lose the election. His other problem is with all of his new social programs comes the question - how are you going to pay for it. I don't get this Bernie is divisive stuff.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Jarqui
(10,110 posts)I don't know that Bernie is not electable. If he had run against Trump in 2016, he probably would have won - he looked better head to head than Hillary.
But we're talking 2020 now. As much as I like Biden and Sanders, I'm looking for something new. Don't know for sure if I'll find it. But a number of candidates currently appeal. We'll see.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
shanny
(6,709 posts)Bernie looked better head to head than Hillary (strike that, I DO know why, but that doesn't change it).
That said, I do wonder if Bernie is the best candidate for this election. Maybe this board is not an indicator of the party at large but there is a large and virulent anti-Bernie faction here and I worry about PUMAs.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Jarqui
(10,110 posts)I don't worry or concern myself too much about that.
I have to look inside and decide which candidate seems most right for me. In early 2016, I was partial to Hillary. But as it developed, I liked Bernie's policies more. After I licked my wounds of disappointment, I supported Hillary as the Democrat and because I was so anti-Trump.
This time around, the slate is again clean. I will ultimately support whoever the Democrats select as I have for decades. I have to do a bunch of studying and following the various candidates to determine who I like most. I don't have a preference right now. I'm looking for something newer than Sanders or Biden but may not find it. I doubt I'll have an answer until we get some of the debates done.
In the interim, the anti-Bernie faction or PUMAS or whoever are just noise or distractions I have to cut through. I have to find my own way.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
shanny
(6,709 posts)I've been culling already though. I have several obvious discards, a few favorites and a bunch of people I don't know well. This is only the beginning.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Jarqui
(10,110 posts)A bunch I need to learn about.
There has been lots to like.
I think as a group, it is the strongest field I've ever seen assembled.
We're very lucky that way as long as we pull together when it's over.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JonLP24
(29,322 posts)I disagree about electability he is the most popular politician going up against Trump.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
OnDoutside
(19,908 posts)should be relentlessly hammered, and that non release should be disqualifying. Ten years is a minimum. Have we learnt nothing from Trump ?
That said, my gut feeling is that Sanders is in for the Primaries, and is not expecting to get beyond that, and that might explain the non release.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Mr Tibbs
(539 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Thekaspervote
(32,606 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
vlyons
(10,252 posts)will Bernie supporters stay home in the general if Bernie is NOT the nominee?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Freddie
(9,232 posts)But the number of people who would vote for any other of the great candidates in the race, but not Bernie, outnumbers them.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)too many did the last time?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)others to do the same.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Nanjeanne
(4,878 posts)facts show more Sanders supporters voted Clinton than Clinton supporters voted for Obama.
I think the young supporters of Sanders who did not vote for Clinton never would have. Those were not regular consistent voters. What gets lost in the narrative is that Sanders engaged a great number of new voters who were excited about his candidacy. Without him in the race, they went back to being nonvoters. If that happens again, and Sanders isnt the nominee, they may stay for another candidate but I doubt it would be for Biden.
So yes, regular voters who support Sanders will vote for another nominee in General as they did before. But potential voters who are excited about a Sanders platform who do not usually vote will probably stay home if its a Biden but would probably vote if its one of the other progressive candidates.
IMHO of course.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
lunamagica
(9,967 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Nanjeanne
(4,878 posts)life long Democrats. Cant speak to those who were typically nonvoters who were excited by Bernie and dropped out when he didnt win the nomination. Im sure there were many but those people were probably not going to vote anyway if Bernie lost.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
George II
(67,782 posts)Nina Turner, David Sirota, and Briahna Gray all voted for Jill Stein.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
bobGandolf
(871 posts)IMO, you are correct. Bernie has championed most Democratic concerns over his years in office but during his long tenure in D.C. he has also rubbed many Democrats the wrong way. This election is too important to take a chance. We need every single vote we can get to beat Trump, and Bernie does not get us the maximum number of voters.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Freddie
(9,232 posts)I couldnt agree more.
Wait til the GOP Slime Machine starts with him. The very term Socialist is simply not popular with Joe Sixpack whose votes we need. And theres skeletons in the closet. Sorry.
And as others have noted, when people realize they will lose the employer health insurance that they really like, forget it. Thats the reality we have to consider.
The Berniebots are already all over FB. If its not Bernie then forget it. I responded to him, so if hes not the nominee you want 4 more years of Trump, right? No answer.
WE. HAVE. TO. WIN. Electability is the #1 consideration. Also #s 2, 3, 4, you get the drift.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
KayF
(1,345 posts)after the so-called safe candidate lost to Donald J Trump, it's not as clear who's the "fool," to use your word.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)the Russian Interference and all the fucking idiot forces who assisted them getting trump rigged in.
I didn't vote for Hillary because she was "safe" .. to use your word.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
still_one
(91,965 posts)Democratic nominee by voting third party or not voting, and encouraging others to do the same.
In those critical swing states the Democratic nominee lost by less than 1%. In everyone of those swing states Jill Stein received 1% of the vote. It didn't take much either, just enough to sway enough naïve people that the SC didn't matter, and there was no difference between the two parties.
These were people like Nina Turner, David Sirota, Briahna Joy Gray, Cornell West, Susan Sarandon, and others who were able through the public airwaves, newspapers, and social to spread their influence
In addition, every Democrat running for Senate in those critical swing states lost to the incumbent, establishment, republican, and those Democrats were progressive by any standard.
Of course, it wasn't just these self-identified progressives who did their part, Comey, the media, and foreign interference also contributed, but their influence was just enough to push trump into the WH.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
R B Garr
(16,920 posts)Trump/Stein/Sanders. What changed was that this was allowed by our party....
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dalton99a
(81,073 posts)So it was really Trump/Stein/Sanders/Putin
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dalton99a
(81,073 posts)and of course, National Enquirer at every supermarket checkout
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)Hillary had the full force of the US M$M****** working hard against her.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Sherman A1
(38,958 posts)you are incorrect in your conclusion.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Kurt V.
(5,624 posts)be enthusiastic in your support. the one that generates the most enthusiasm wins.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)to unite early on.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
democratisphere
(17,235 posts)We need a rabid uniter, not a self-serving proven divider.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kanoko
(35 posts)And Democrats will support him.
Bernie's a fighter. He's outspoken.
An example of what lies ahead for Trump if Bernie wins the nomination:
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Cha
(295,926 posts)by his 3rd party hires who hate Democrats.
We have plenty of brilliant Dems who will "go toe to toe" with the fascistrump.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)How does that predict Democratic support for him?
It appears that he wants a campaign run by those who are not fans of the Democratic party.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
njhoneybadger
(3,910 posts)The country should have a Republican president. I guess to punish us for our rejection of him.
It reminds me of someone else we all know.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Nanjeanne
(4,878 posts)Last edited Fri Mar 22, 2019, 10:06 AM - Edit history (1)
fight to rid the country of Trump.
Yup.
ETÀ. I guess I have to be more specific so not to be understood. I think the post I responded to is full of crap and I was using irony.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Amimnoch
(4,558 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
dalton99a
(81,073 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)Are we going to be honest with ourselves?
What is the truth about Bernie Sanders?
Has he attacked others in ways that do not reflect our values?
Will he unite our party to win the election?
_______________________________________________________________________________
So, what is it going to be? What is the single most important aspect of an election? We got to work together to elect our candidate. The other side will throw everything at us to keep Trump in office, or his replacement. There can be no divisive fighting within our party if we are going to overcome "evil"...and Trump is "evil" as are his supporters..
...So, Bernie has already caused division. He hired someone who has not supported our candidates in the past (I discovered that right here in this forum) That alone should exclude him. Further he divides the party in his manner and stances. It is hard to put a finger on it, but he is divisive. We must win this election to reverse the damage that Trump has done. Again, we must win. Everyone here knows that.
.....The bottom line is very simple. If Bernie runs as our candidate, he will open the gate to attacks that will cause us to lose. You don't have to like that, but I believe it is the truth. That is his character. It is going to be rough enough to beat a sitting president, but Bernie will not win the final presidential election.
....Bernie is a repeat of McGovern. Sure, his ideas are correct and we like them. But in my opinion he will divide us, and we will lose. You can say what you want here, and that is what this is, but Bernie will not bring us together to win.
He already is divisive. Picking someone on staff who did not vote for our candidate?
...Think about that one. Will that bring the ..entire party together? You got your answer if you are honest with us and yourself. His ideas may be good, but he cannot win. It is that simple.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
kstewart33
(6,551 posts)The media will vet him this time around.
He is not electable because there is too much "socialist" material to use - speeches, writings, etc.
Trump is very skilled at creating a profile of an opponent and making it stick.
Many Dems are still ticked off because Bernie continued to attack Hillary after his chances of winning were nil.
He's old, he's obstinate (my way or the highway) his key hires to date aren't Dems, he won't release his tax returns, and there is way too much material that Trump will use.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Amimnoch
(4,558 posts)Lets see:
16x candidates.. Wheres all the friction? Between BS and everyone else. Some exceptions, but for the most part, just look at the main page.. A few posts of people promoting their choice, even fewer of other candidates posting something opposing another candidate.. The vast majority? People posting against BS, and people supporting BS opposing other candidates.
None that would dare post it here due to ToS, but theres a growing segment of anyone but Bernie or bust ers out there in places that dont have such rules.
His regular barrage of purity challenges helps with the primary effort, but damages the GE effort for whomever our ultimate candidate will be. Especially in the states that need to flip to hit that 270 to win point? The purity challenges arent so important to them. Especially in the Rust Belt area, the candidate that they feel will help alleviate their economic woes is the candidate they are going to select. Does anyone REALLY think that the Green New Deal is an important issue to Wisconsin, Ohio, and Pennsylvania? To Florida? Especially when, in the GE, Pissolini and the new Razi (Republican + Nazi) party are going to frame the environmental measures as something that will harm jobs and job potentials? Yes, thats a flat out fucking lie, but its a line that all evidence shows works for them.
Speaking of orange Pissolini, theres also those out there that every time they hear him speak, they blame BS for it. When they see children locked in cages? They blame BS for it. Is that fair? Maybe not, but that doesnt change the way people feel, or how it may affect their support and ultimately their votes. His campain staff choices this time around, especially with multiple prior Stein supporters certainly isnt doing anything to alleviate those feelings.
Our chances in the GE would have been so much better had he not chosen to run, but he is, so well just have to deal with it, and hope for better results this time around.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)Bernie hired someone, I found that out here, that did not vote for Hilary, but instead voted for an opponent Jill Stein ..
...That is it, and that is all. Will that bring our people together? Those that worked so hard for Hilary, are they going to work for that person who worked and supported someone other than our candidate?
You must understand we do not need in fighting. We need unity to win. As much as I like Bernie's ideas, he really doesn't have a clue. Bernie defines, "in fighting." That is what he does. With a whole lot of "in fighting" we will lose.
Look, I worked for McGovern. I knocked on doors and passed out literature. People brought up his fight with the party. OK..that happened 46 years ago.
... That is the last thing we need now. We need to win. Trump is evil and so is the republican party. Bernie will cause division, and he already has caused division. It is all about "Bernie" Not unity to win. To save this country we must win. Why in the hell has he appointed a "Jill Stein" person?
I know you don't like it, but with Bernie the divider, we will lose. It is that simple. Bernie divides us, and already has done so.
Just so you know, McGovern, the divider, lost 49 out of 50 states in the electoral college. He got one state. That is what this is about. We must win to overturn the evil that Trump has caused. We will not win with Bernie Sanders.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dalton99a
(81,073 posts)Yes, be careful - there is an impulse to hide what must not be seen
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Mr Tibbs
(539 posts)The supporters of the other candidates do seem to be obsessed with him though. But that's on them.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)Come back after you do that.
K?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
PubliusEnigma
(1,583 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Trump would mop the floor with him. It would be a bloodbath. He'd lose both the popular vote AND the Electoral College vote.
Why risk it? We have so many talented, brilliant, and energetic candidates to choose from. We need someone who has the STAMINA to be the Leader of the Free World. We need someone who can stand up and look our adversaries squarely in the eyes and let them know that it's a Brand New Day!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)is not going to play in middle America.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,705 posts)That being said I follow Trump's approval and potential 2020 match ups and am starting to believe Trump could actually get re-elected. He is an underdog, for sure, but a win can not be ruled out and that fills me with an existential dread.
IMO these Democrats have the best chance of defeating him, in order:
Biden
Beto
Booker
Klobuchar
Harris
Warren
Gillibrand
Sanders
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dalton99a
(81,073 posts)United and marching in lockstep like fucking Nazis
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,705 posts)But he is not such an overwhelming underdog that a win can entirely be ruled out. He's not Herbert Hoover in the Spring of 1930 , just waiting to be defeated.
His chances are anywhere between 1 in 3 and 2 in 5 and that fills me with an existential dread.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dalton99a
(81,073 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)that wants to raise taxes and give away all kinds of free stuff, right after everybody just got stung on their own tax returns.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
aidbo
(2,328 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
BobMcWan
(18 posts)and I appreciate your working for McGovern. I have a friend who is equally haunted by that event.
I am standing by man. He is the clear choice if, like me, you want someone who will not compromise with Medicare for All. Compromise will not work in this instance because we are addressing a market failure in US healthcare.
For me, anybody WILL unify our party. I'm voting for our nominee. I'm also banking on a lot of independents, young people and folks who have simply given up on politics to take up our cause. I believe Bernie is the reason I see so many younger faces in the various political circles I engage with, and for the time being I am willing to be a fool.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
RobertDevereaux
(1,841 posts)I so appreciate it!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
yardwork
(61,418 posts)Please detail the steps. I'm ready to hear.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)I believe that my state will vote for a democratic nominee, as it usually does. But what about other states? Those that decide the electoral college vote. Will they come through and vote for Bernie? Yes, there are the Republican States and the Democratic States. What about the others? Will the "if" states vote for Bernie. Or call them the "I don't know states" will they vote for Bernie?
...About compromising Medicare for all, or all social programs that need to be passed, that is not the issue. And it won't be the issue till after the election in 2020.
..The key as far as I see it, is to elect our candidate. Being golden on an issue may be important, but we have not got the issue maker elected yet. Who are we going to elect that will be able to push through an issue in a mixed Congress 18 months from now? If I could be sure that Bernie's drawbacks would not hurt in the regular election, maybe I would be strongly for him.
..My guess is that they will hurt him. These issues have already hurt him in some ways. Where are the tax returns? Ok. What about this person who worked for Jill Stern? Will Bernie be so far off the center that he is not electable? Is there some problem with Bernie not supporting our nominee if it isn't him?
..So we will all see hopefully how and why this turns out. I hope the best for all candidates, and most important that we win in November of 2020
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
radical noodle
(7,990 posts)Bernie would never get the electoral college votes here. Never. I won't say he can't win the primary here (although I doubt it) but I cannot see a way in hell he could win the general election.
I'll say something else at risk of an ageism accusation. When Bill Clinton ran against Dole, a lot of people said Dole was too old for them to vote for him. Dole was 73. Sanders is 77. Joe Biden is 76. It should be someone younger. I'm 71 and I know what aging does.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,705 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
aikoaiko
(34,127 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)Link to tweet
As for Sanders, he benefits this time around from 100 percent name identification. However, the flip side of 100 percent name ID is that hes no longer new, no longer saying things no one else will. Hes just as much of a democratic socialist as he was in 2016, but in the space of a few days weve seen that the energy isnt all on the left; its drifting toward a centrist, young, optimistic candidate. Voters follow the energy and the ethos. They dont carry around a thermometer gauging where on the scale of ideological purity each candidate rates.....
All you need to be is progressive enough to win a Democratic primary. Seeming more moderate than the Sanders clan is an advantage in the general election.
Why are pundits, the media and party insiders so convinced that ideological extremism equals energy/success? Part of it may be wishful thinking for progressives. However, part of the difficulty is linguistic. "Moderate sounds to many ears to mean mild-mannered, prone to compromise and wishy-washy in beliefs. Nonsense. If ever there was a radical moderate, a fervent centrist Democrat, its ORourke. And gosh, hes showing that can be exciting.
I doubt that sanders is going to be the nominee
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MadDAsHell
(2,067 posts)This may shock you, but your beliefs are not naturally truth.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
dogman
(6,073 posts)The tablets have been delivered from the mountain top. I think Biden might win if he could get Anita Hill to be his running mate.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
BlueWI
(1,736 posts)but electable is what electable does. No matter who the nominee is, the work has to be put in to actually win. And we don't actually know whose electable until they win - until the candidates and their campaign staff, and grassroots Democrats, and the party infrastructure, all coordinate their efforts and realize that every candidate in double digits in the polling is a potential asset to build a winning coalition.
That being said, I am not supporting Sanders this time because of high negatives within the party, and frankly, that was part of the problem with the eventual nominee last time. Most of us said the high negatives within the party were not important in 2016. I think they were important and are important, and if there are alternative candidates with lower negatives, that's probably a better direction. But everyone has to live with the fact that their preferred candidate may not win, or their least favorite candidate may win. For instance, I'm not a Biden supporter, but I'm not going to harangue his supporters with online harassment, and if Biden wins the nomination, I have an interest in seeing him win the presidency.
I don't get why it's so popular to try and hector people into agreeing fully with one candidate. It's better to have open and respectful discussion and recognize that there are genuine differences on the issues. The disagreements should be focused on the issues, and there's shouldn't be so much slandering the candidates as one-dimensional cartoon figures. That was the problem last time with Clinton, and so far, that is the problem thus far with Sanders. Like him or not, many core supporters of Democrats like Sanders. What will the party as a whole do to recognize why Sanders has support, and leverage this support into an election day win?
Last point - I really am skeptical about the over-focus on 3% third party margins in WI, PA, MI. Third party voters will always exist. Hectoring them into submission isn't going to happen. How do we appeal to the other 97% of voters and the 50% of non-voters - as well as states beyond WI, PA, and MI? So much scapegoating, so little critical thinking and strategy, is the biggest problem that puts 2020 at risk.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
we can do it
(12,118 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BlueWI
(1,736 posts)He was a wise man, a patriot, and had a very successful political career.
While he lost big in 1972, so did some other Democratic candidates (Dukakis, Mondale). But we don't hold up their name as mud as often as we do McGovern.
So, I respect your experience of course, but can we not turn an amazing man and leader (McGovern) into the standard reference for all lost campaigns?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Doodley
(8,976 posts)Democratic Party, and a candidate who represents our values without being seen as so far to the left that he/she will be branded "a socialist," "a communist," "an extremist," or "a risk to everything I have achieved," as Donald Trump would put it.
The election is a binary choice, and as horrendous as Trump is, people will flock to him in fear of seeing "a socialist" elected.
By the way, I am a socialist, but we have to live in the real world. We cannot risk Trump winning a second term. God, I don't know if I could personally survive it.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
pdsimdars
(6,007 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
robbedvoter
(28,290 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MarianJack
(10,237 posts)...that would make 1972 look like 1960. This election is too important to allow that to happen.
RESIST!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(68,352 posts)Can win a general. If Sen. Sanders is the nominee I will vote for and work for him. But I think he will lose badly.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Mjolnir1956
(12 posts)Good post and well said. Bernie is not the right guy and no matter how his supporters spin it this is a fact. His ideas are OK but he's a terribly divisive candidate ..Bernie is going to be savaged this time .All his past votes for the NRA, His Me Too issues from his last campaign, His taxes, His foundation, His wife's past will all be MRI'd daily and he'll not respond well..I only hope by Super Tuesday he's done and we can get on to picking a nominee who can beat Trump.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
thesquanderer
(11,955 posts)I think Dems will be united behind whoever gets the nomination. The key will be who can win the votes of non-Dems in November (esp. in WI, MI, PA). Remember, about 40% of the electorate is neither Dem or Repub... appealing to them is the key to victory.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
zentrum
(9,865 posts)Loved him last time but his time has passed.
But Biden has some problems as well. Anita Hill. Those videos of him taking her down wefre terrible. Working to delay desegregation by opposing federally mandated busing. I think he even worked with Strom Thurman. Wouldn't it be Joe's 3rd try at the ring? I think his time has passed too.
I'm really ready for some new Democrats.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gore1FL
(21,034 posts)There are much better arguments to make at this stage of the nomination process than this. It's really unclear at this time how the electorate will react to anyone at this early stage, much less calling anyone who might support him a fool.
Sanders may or may not be the answer. Let's start formulating the questions before we decide.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
man4allcats
(4,026 posts)Therefore you also admit that you don't KNOW Sanders is not electable. You say we can argue, but your premise is right regardless. I don't think it is. Further, I think you should substitute "Hillary" for :"Sanders" in your post and rethink what happened in 2016.
BTW, I voted for Hillary in the general.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)And, the Russians and all the idiots who enabled them happened in 2016.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
man4allcats
(4,026 posts)But if you insist, you gotta mouth. Back it up with some facts/statistics. I like numbers.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)notice?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
man4allcats
(4,026 posts)I remind you that everyone has one.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
man4allcats
(4,026 posts)I wouldn't have predicted the Biden v Trump numbers, but we'll see. Of course in the general, I will vote for our nominee, whether Bernie or otherwise. And for what it's worth, I think your grandma wears Salvation Army combat boots. 😎
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
quakerboy
(13,901 posts)Its not biden.
Its not harris
Its not beto or gabbard or booker or...
There is not currently standing on the field a candidate that meets the criteria you set forward, best I can tell. In the absense of which.. We all fight it out. There is no unity, except perhaps in our defiance of trump.
Even then.. I think that perhaps there are still some among us who are so offended by POC, Women, Elders, progressives, etc that they will work against whoever the party puts forward.
All we can do is do our best to hear the candidates, listen to what they bring to the table, do our best to ignore whatever irrelevancies the press bring us, have a free and fair primary, and hope that everyone sees the light by the time democrats choose a nominee.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
SFnomad
(3,473 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
RadicalProgressive
(7 posts)You're right, we should end the infighting. Why not unite behind the clear frontrunner, Senator Sanders, who also polls the best against Drumpf? He has been pushing for progressive values for decades, we know he wont abandon us once elected.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
OhZone
(3,212 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)words.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
SFnomad
(3,473 posts)This time Secretary Clinton isn't around but the same infighting is happening with BS. The common denominator between then and now .... BS.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)I agree with Jim Messina on this https://politicalwire.com/2019/04/17/messina-says-sanders-cant-beat-trump/
Said Messina: I think if you look at swing voters in this country they are incredibly focused on the economy. I think today you look at it and say that Bernie Sanders is unlikely going to be able to stand up to the constant barrage that is Donald Trump on economic issues.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
cstanleytech
(26,080 posts)I will personally provide him my full support because almost anyone is better than whats now contaminating the Oval Office.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
onit2day
(1,201 posts)To me you are out of touch making accusations like this toward our most electable candidate while supporting a very likable but unelectable center right candidate. We'll just have to disagree but your conclusions are just not logical or supported. Would you have said the same about FDR, because to me and many others that is who Bernie reminds us of, and McGovern never did remind me of FDR. A Sanders/Warren ticket is a lock on the presidency. The country demands action not talk.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Demsrule86
(68,352 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Sanders is not electable, I agree
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
madville
(7,397 posts)1. He can't win a majority of delegates in the first round at the convention
2. In the second round, if it got to that, the super delegates won't support him.
He has no path to the nomination.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)I used some words that could be offensive. About being a.. "fool".
... I am sorry if that offended anyone. I just want to win. My opinions are strong, but using those words was wrong. My apologies to anyone who was offended. I was wrong.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Eliot Rosewater
(31,097 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)..But I want to clarify one point. I will support whoever our party nominates, and that includes Bernie. If Bernie is the nominee, I will support him in every way that I can. I want our nominee to win over the current idiot who is president. Yes, I will send money if I can, and help in other ways if I can. This op is an opinion in March 2019. Things can change in the course of time. We are 19 months away from the next presidential election. Time will tell, and let's all say will support the nominee no matter who our party nominates. I will no matter who he or she is.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)As for myself I will vote for the Democratic nominee, even if it is Sanders.
But, I believe that if he is the candidate, the Republicans will win.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
McKim
(2,412 posts)I did read somewhere that there was a giant campaign against Sanders just being rolled out.
Is this part of that? I want all of Sanders and Warrens ideas out there way before we start talking about who is going to win. I will support their ideas and I will in the end vote for the Democratic Party candidate. Major forces want to kill universal health care for all and free college. Dont let them win. It is past time for the average person to benefit from their tax dollars invested!!!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
customerserviceguy
(25,183 posts)And your McGovern experience is quite pertinent here. I was still in high school when the 1972 election took place, and I was absolutely convinced that Nixon was politically dead. One of our high school teachers actually took a group of us to a McGovern campaign rally in a nearby large city.
The echo chamber I was surrounded by blinded me to the cruel reality that was about to come in November of that year.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)If he wins the nomination, which I think is unlikely in the extreme, the Republicans will use Sanders' own words to hang a huge sign around his neck that just reads: "SOCIALIST!"
That single thing would cost him the general election, I guarantee. Not yet is this country, state-by-state, given the electoral college system, ready to elect a self-proclaimed socialist as President. Not a freaking chance, and socialism is my philosphical preference.
It simply will not happen. The GOP will call any Democrat a socialist, but Senator Sanders is proud of the label and has referred to himself using that word again and again. The rest have not.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Aaron Pereira
(383 posts)Back the nominee even if you don't like the nominee. Encourage Democrats not to make the same mistake they made in 1972 when institutional support within the party went to Nixon. They left McGovern twisting in the wind and we all continue to pay the price.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)the next presidential election to save this country. No matter who our party nominates, I will do the very best I can to support our candidate.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)about "backing the nominee".. something a little bit closer in HISTORY!
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
The Hatemongering really worked.
Second, a lot of Bernie Sanders supporters werent big fans of Clinton. So Stein campaigning on the idea that Clinton and Trump were similar made it harder for Clinton to win over those voters even if Sanders voters didnt vote for Stein, they may have stayed home out of disgust.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/jill-stein-democratic-spoiler-or-scapegoat/
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)in 2016 voting for jill stein's fucking LIES?
Link to tweet
Link to tweet
The Hatemongering really worked.
Second, a lot of Bernie Sanders supporters werent big fans of Clinton. So Stein campaigning on the idea that Clinton and Trump were similar made it harder for Clinton to win over those voters even if Sanders voters didnt vote for Stein, they may have stayed home out of disgust.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/jill-stein-democratic-spoiler-or-scapegoat/
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Celerity
(42,666 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)trump is worried about three possible Democratic nominees https://politicalwire.com/2019/03/24/the-democrats-trump-fears-most/
The three candidates that seem to concern the Trump campaign most are Joe Biden, Kamala Harris and Beto ORourke. Thats in no particular order, and youll get a different answer depending on who you talk to.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)I'm tired of people shitting on the Democratic party.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Awsi Dooger
(14,565 posts)That opinion has nothing to do with my support of Beto. I did not follow the 2016 primary at all for two reasons: I thought Hillary was a cinch to get the nomination, and I thought a self-avowed socialist was a cinch to be ruthlessly picked apart toward defeat if he somehow managed the nomination.
It would be worse than any projection. So much fear out there. So many old videos. The turnout and passion argument is garbage. We were shoveled the same thing regarding Andrew Gillum here in Florida. Gillum wasn't anywhere close to as vulnerable as Sanders on ideology yet still had 46% of the Florida electorate saying Gillum was too liberal for the state. Translate that to a presidential race and we'll lose states we thought were a cinch.
Elections are won on preference, not turnout. Bernie Sanders would cost us too much in raw preference.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)..It isn't Illinois, or New York, or California...these states will vote for our party.
It is Florida, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin.. swing states as we call them. You name the rest..Oh I left out Ohio...yes that is one too.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Horse with no Name
(33,956 posts)Unfortunately this time around, Im all out.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)Link to tweet
Sanderss age, the socialist moniker he embraces and his 2016 campaign problem with women are not going to change during the race. Its unlikely his personality or his familiarity with foreign policy will improve, either. (The guy is 77, and if we have learned anything from Trump, it is that septuagenarians dont change their personalities nor attend to habitual deficits in knowledge.) Oh, and on Sunday he again promised to release his tax returns, which he promised over a month ago would be soon.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)There are posters who believe that we can nominate the most liberal/socialist nominee as possible and that candidate will easily win because everyone hates trump. It is their position that this is a historic opportunity to nominate someone would otherwise not be electable. This theory is wrong in that most POTUS are re-elected if the economy is good. Here is a scary study that shows this
Link to tweet
There are good reasons to doubt this study
Link to tweet
I do not believe that trump is assured of winning. If we want to win, Democrats need to nominate a strong nominee who is NOT too far out of the mainstream
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)There are posters who believe that we can nominate the most liberal/socialist nominee as possible and that candidate will easily win because everyone hates trump. It is their position that this is a historic opportunity to nominate someone would otherwise not be electable. This theory is wrong in that most POTUS are re-elected if the economy is good. Here is a scary study that shows this
Link to tweet
There are good reasons to doubt this study
Link to tweet
I do not believe that trump is assured of winning. If we want to win, Democrats need to nominate a strong nominee who is NOT too far out of the mainstream
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)Read this entire post. All 230 posts.
Bernie already has divided the Democratic party for/against him..Too late to discuss.."will this happen?"
This division already has taken place around Bernie. Last 3 sentences..
............Take it or leave it. But this is the truth!!!!!!!!!!!!!......................................................
................ see posts 266, 267, and 268
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)Link to tweet
"Can Bernie Sanders beat Donald Trump?" ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl asked Messina on the Powerhouse Politics podcast on Wednesday.
"No," Messina responded.,,,,
"I think if you look at swing voters in this country they are incredibly focused on the economy," Messina replied. "I think today you look at it and say that Bernie Sanders is unlikely going to be able to stand up to the constant barrage that is Donald Trump on economic issues."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
artislife
(9,497 posts)There are a lot of candidates who are barely making a splash. Good ones, like Inslee.
In this America, I see a lot of voters who won't vote for a woman or another person of color, because they mistakenly think that they have had their time. Like once was enough.
I find Biden and Sanders having the same problem. Age. Even Liz is getting there, but women do live longer than men on average.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
BeckyDem
(8,361 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Response to Stuart G (Original post)
doompatrol39 This message was self-deleted by its author.
doompatrol39
(428 posts)If they don't recognize that Trump is the bigger threat and decide to not support the Democratic nominee despite their misgivings, then yes we will lose. If they see the greater good and unite behind the nominee despite their need to have all their demands met then we will win.
See how that works?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
NanceGreggs
(27,813 posts)Those who love Bernie and those who loathe him surely have to agree on one point: he is an extremely divisive figure. We saw that in 2016, and we're seeing it again now.
Anyone who can't unite the Dem party certainly can't unite the country - which is going to be job one for the next POTUS.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)Nate thinks that it is possible for sander to win the nomination but this is not likely. sanders is not going to be the nominee of the party. sanders thinks that getting 30% of the primary vote is sufficient which means taking the fight to the contested convention. https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/bernie-sanders-can-win-but-he-isnt-polling-like-a-favorite/
Achieving a delegate majority could be hard for Sanders
You could also argue that the three winning candidates from the list Barack Obama and John McCain in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012 arent good comparisons for Sanders, especially from a The Party Decides standpoint where preferences among party insiders and activists are leading indicators of voter preferences. Romney, for instance, had the backing of the GOP party establishment as a potential consensus choice, whereas Sanders largely lacks it from Democrats. Obama was a rising star, rather than someone left over from a previous cycle, and gained a lot of momentum among party elites as the 2008 cycle wore on, even if they also liked Clinton. McCain, who ran against the party establishment in 2000 but was someone the party could live with in 2008, is in some ways the most favorable comparison for Sanders.
In many respects, however, Sanders is more similar to Jesse Jackson in 1984 and 1988, George Wallace in 1972 and 1976 or Ron Paul in 2012, candidates who represented important constituencies within their respective parties but who didnt have an obvious way to unite the rest of the party behind them or to win a delegate majority.
At times, Sanderss strategists actually seem to be leaning into the strategy of being a factional candidate. The Sanders campaign may have all kinds of reasons to feel aggrieved by how the party establishment has treated it, especially when it reads articles like the one in The New York Times that suggest the establishment is out to get it again! Nonetheless, the campaign hasnt sought to mend fences when conflicts have arisen this year. Instead, Sanders aides told The Atlantics Edward-Isaac Dovere that they think they can win the nomination with as little as a 30 percent plurality of delegates. Thats a risky strategy since it would necessarily entail a contested convention, where party insiders would play an outsized role. Nor would Sanders, a 77-year-old white man, reflect the various constituencies of the Democratic Party (and the demographics of the delegates themselves) as well as someone like Harris might.
sanders will not be the nominee if sanders only gets 30% of the primary vote. There are too many real democrats who have long memories and who will not forgive or forget. If this gets to a floor fight, the delegates for the other candidates will not support sanders and the super delegates will get to break any deadlocks after the first ballot.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)2020 will be a very close election if the economy is strong. Democrats have to pick a very strong nominee
Link to tweet
One election model from Alan Abramowitz, a political scientist at Emory University, suggests the economy will be the winning factor. His time for change model has a solid track record in predicting the outcome and direction of presidential races, and data he published last month show that, so long as the economy continues to grow at a 2 percent clip, Trump should be a favorite for reelection even if his job approval rating is as poor as it is now.
Indeed, its even better than that for Trump. The model calculates an average gain of 2.5 electoral votes for every one-point Trump shaves off of his net job disapproval. According to the model, even if gross domestic product growth slumps to 1 percent, Trump could win the minimum 270 electoral votes he needs for reelection by lowering his net job disapproval rating to 7 percent. Right now, that number is around 10 percent.
Media attention is focused on the Mueller report and other congressional investigations. But if the economy keeps its momentum, even that or Trumps failure to trumpet his success might not prevent him from winning a second term.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
musicman65
(524 posts)I worked for Nixon,this is much worse,,,,gotta' go !! orange one
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Otto Lidenbrock
(581 posts)In fact he didn't vote in any election until his name was on the ballot. For Mayor of Vermont. In 1981. Age 41.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Iggo
(47,489 posts)Don't go PUMA on us.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Beatleman
(29 posts)for Nixon,,,hope we have evolved from that,,I sure did,,,wow !!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
johannsyah
(58 posts)that Joe Biden is worse than Hillary Clinton? so many extreme Bernie bros have been posting it on Twitter and Facebook.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
mtnsnake
(22,236 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)Here is some polling that supports the concept that socialism is not in favor with American voters https://politicalwire.com/2019/05/06/most-believe-socialism-is-not-american/
Key finding: 42% have a negative opinion of socialism in general, with another 45% having a neutral opinion and just 10% holding a positive view of socialism.
Meanwhile, 39% of Americans have a positive opinion of capitalism in general, while 40% have a neutral opinion and another 17% hold a negative view of capitalism.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Stuart G
(38,365 posts)In New York City...who runs the subway system?....some private company, or some government agency?
Who owns that subway system? Who owns the airport?..Who owns the water department? Who provides the water?..etc...etc...etc...
......government agency???? is that socialism?? We should go on forever with this..couldn't we?
......There are so many agencies that are kinda socialistic, that there is not enough space for all of them..
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emmaverybo
(8,144 posts)actually support a Social Democracy or elements of one.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Celerity
(42,666 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)sanders is not trying to win a majority of the party but wants to get to the convention with 30% of the delegates. That is less likely now
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2019/5/15/1857658/-If-Bernie-loses-support-among-youth-what-s-left
However, what happens if he cant hold that core? This isnt 2016, with a binary choice between Bernie and a demonized establishment Democrat. This is a rich field, with credible candidates representing just about every key party constituency. There are candidates just as liberal as Bernie, yet not as polarizing. So would Bernies core supporters stick with him as they became better aware of this amazing field? Apparently not, according to the latest Morning Consult primary poll.
Sanders on the decline with 18-29 year-olds, reads the polling memo. Throughout March, Bernie Sanders had 45% of the first choice vote share among Americas youngest voters. That support has steadily declined and currently sits at 33%....
With Bernie Sanders at 19 points in this poll, hes a far cry from the 30 percent or so he wants for his force himself upon a brokered convention scenario (understanding that the popular vote and delegate allocation arent a one-to-one calculation, but close enough). Its been clear hes been maxed out for a whileboth his and his supporters ornery approach to politics dont lend themselves to big-tent embrace of a broader coalition. Quite the opposite, in fact.
He cant grow, and if he cant hold his most important supporters? His path to the nomination, already near-zero, becomes effectively zero.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
aikoaiko
(34,127 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)sanders official game plan was to get 30% of the primary vote and force a brokered convention. That is not going to happen now
Link to tweet
If sanders keeps on losing support, then he should hope that other candidates will carry his "message"
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
aikoaiko
(34,127 posts)But we have some debates to go. Joe has some splaining to do and anything can happen if Joe drops out.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
WeekiWater
(3,259 posts)Someone recently linked to your op trying to make the case Biden is unelectable. One of the cornerstones of their argument is that progressives are going to have a hard time choosing between Biden and Trump.
Here is the line:
progressives would be forced to choose between a corporate owned Democrat and Donald Trump
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)This polling would make it very difficult to win with a socialist candidate on the ballot https://news.gallup.com/poll/254120/less-half-vote-socialist-president.aspx
In spite of the expanded tolerance for diversity, candidates labeling themselves as socialists may struggle to gain traction in a presidential race, as Americans have not become more open to such a candidate. Even as political figures advocating socialist ideas have gained popularity in Democratic circles in recent years, less than half of Americans remain willing to give an avowed socialist candidate their vote. This creates a challenge for the Democratic Party, as it seeks to avoid alienating the Democratic socialists within its rank and file, while still aiming to win a national election.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
musicman65
(524 posts)being behind the Big desk,,with the RED PHONE ???
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)In addition to the Oppo that the GOP already had accumulated, this comes out with even more material that will show up in ads if sanders is the nominee
Link to tweet
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)Link to tweet
The new poll finds 54% say their best guess is that Trump will win the 2020 election, 41% feel he will lose. Americans are slightly more apt to say Trump will win now than they were to say Barack Obama would win a second term in May 2011, in a survey conducted just after the death of Osama bin Laden (50% thought Obama would win in that poll). The new numbers on Trump are a reversal from December, when a narrow majority of 51% said they thought Trump would lose his bid for re-election.
The shift over that time comes mostly among those who disapprove of Trump's handling of the presidency. In December, 81% in that group said they thought the President would lose, and now, that's fallen to 67%. At the same time, the share who approve of the President and think he will win has held mostly steady (88% now vs. 85% in December).
The dislike those disapprovers hold for Trump is palpable in the poll. Asked to explain in their own words why they disapprove of Trump, Trump's behavior is a central reason. The most frequently cited responses are lying (13%), racism (11%), incompetence (11%) and not acting presidential (7%). Immigration, named by 7%, is the only specific issue that merits mention by 5% or more.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)I do not think that the Democratic Party can win with a socialist on the ticket
Link to tweet
Lets start with the whole country. Less than half of Americans say theyd vote for a socialist for president. More say theyd vote for an atheist or Muslim, according to a Gallup survey in May. Thats the same as 2015 when Sanders first launched his presidency, despite his efforts during that campaign to warm Americans up to socialism. A Monmouth University survey in April finds 57 percent of Americans think socialism is not compatible with American values.....
If were not careful, were going to end up reelecting the worst president in American history, said former Colorado governor John Hickenlooper. (He got booed by a gathering of Democrats in San Francisco for saying that.) Its also notable that the most vocal proponents of dropping socialism from the campaign trail are at the bottom of the polls right now....
Republicans are downright giddy about all this. Whats a scarier term to the American public than socialist? And with one of the leaders in the Democratic Party embracing it, their pitch to voters that Democrats want to radically change the country to something unrecognizable just got a lot easier.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(144,005 posts)Link to tweet
First, socialism is a red flag for Republicans and Republican-leaners to a degree that progressive (which 40 percent of Republicans view favorably) is not. Theres not even all that much payoff among Democrats, since 33 percent of Democrats have a negative view of that term, while only 12 percent have a very positive view of socialism. If you want a Democratic nominee to have the broadest ideological appeal, the most unifying descriptor among Democrats is progressive (88 percent), not socialism (65 percent).....
First, socialism is a red flag for Republicans and Republican-leaners to a degree that progressive (which 40 percent of Republicans view favorably) is not. Theres not even all that much payoff among Democrats, since 33 percent of Democrats have a negative view of that term, while only 12 percent have a very positive view of socialism. If you want a Democratic nominee to have the broadest ideological appeal, the most unifying descriptor among Democrats is progressive (88 percent), not socialism (65 percent).
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(295,926 posts)The title of this OP never gets old.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden