Why Bernie Sanders' radicalism can take out Trump

[babylonsister]

Why Bernie Sanders' radicalism can take out Trump
Nathan Robinson
When it comes to beating Trump, the Vermont senator is the person for the job. Nobody else comes close
Tue 19 Feb 2019 15.23 EST
Last modified on Tue 19 Feb 2019 21.52 EST


Now that Bernie Sanders is officially in the 2020 presidential race, it’s time to face the obvious truth: not only can he beat Donald Trump, he is also a better candidate to do so than any of the other current Democratic contenders.

At a critical moment when the left needs to unify in order to end Trump’s reign of cruelty and ineptitude, Sanders is the person for the job. Nobody else comes close.

For the last two years, Sanders has been setting the Democratic party policy agenda. His 2016 candidacy entirely shifted the political landscape, to the point where the majority of Democrats now view Democratic socialism favorably. Medicare for All and universal free college are so popular that they have almost become litmus tests for prospective candidates. In polls, Sanders is well ahead of the other currently declared candidates, and at this point he should be treated as the presumptive frontrunner.

Ironically given his age, Sanders has been embraced by millennials – even millennial women preferred Sanders over Clinton. The face of the young left, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, is a veteran of the first Sanders campaign. It makes sense. Young people have a sense of urgency about the future: we don’t want to live in a “neo-feudal” world in which corporations tell cities what to do, nor do we want to live on a ruined planet. We want our children and grandchildren never to have to worry about being unable to afford medical care. We want their public schools to be well-funded and their cities to be above water. We also want to be able to afford to have children in the first place.

The reasons that people on the left should support Sanders are obvious. Since his earliest days getting arrested for protesting segregation, Sanders has shown a firm commitment to advancing a progressive agenda. He’s someone we can trust: he has been “on message” for four decades, sounding pretty much the same over decades of speeches. He’s not someone whose ideals seem to have emerged conveniently just in time for their presidential campaign.

But even those who do not share Democratic socialist instincts should get behind Sanders. He’s a pragmatic choice. Nobody is better positioned to take on Donald Trump. Sanders has name recognition and widespread popularity. He knows how to campaign well, has a network of organizers, and can pack stadiums. He does well at town halls and in debates against Republicans.

more...

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/feb/19/bernie-sanders-perfect-weapon-trump?utm_term=Autofeed&CMP=fb_us&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR3WRSyI5GvznRzICsx9iUd9mZP9B5B95VwS0jXZaO4YbxTEy7HoKhl0F7E#Echobox=1550614219

[BannonsLiver]

1. ...

[BannonsLiver]

35. Meh, about all Bernie warrants.

But thanks.

[manor321]

2. Almost any of our candidates can take out Trump. He's a historically weak president.

[still_one]

10. Don't underestimate trump. He isn't that weak. And for those who believe Sanders could take trump

out in the general election, I sure wouldn't count on that, especially based on the mediocre record his endorsements had during the midterms.

The red and purple state states are not chomping at the bit for Sanders, and my state of California is going to favor Harris, and California has moved its primary up to Super Tuesday

I donated to Harris today, but still am undecided who I would like to see as our candidate.

Personally I think Biden has the best chance to take trump in the General Elections, though he hasn't announced yet

[KitSileya]

18. It's extremely worrisome that Trump doesn't attack Sen. Sanders.

He has attacked Sen. Warren ("Pocahontas" and Sen. Klobuchar ("snow woman&quot , but when Sen. Sanders announced, Trump was all smiles and positive words. We all know Trump attack those he is afraid of, and those he sees as a threat. Why doesn't he see Sen. Sanders as a threat?

Lately, there's been a dribble of video clips released of Sen. Sanders from the '80s, from when he visited Moscow. Why are they being released now? Who is releasing them? And why weren't they released in 2016? And more importantly, are there more damaging videos than the ones showing him in his underwear praising the USSR somewhere? Just waiting to be released in October 2020 - for example vids of him in Nicaragua where the audience shouted 'down with the yankees' when the Senator was on the stage?

[still_one]

22. I think his attack on our women candidates has more to do with his sexism aginst powerful women

and he definitely does not like it when women stand up to him and call him out for what he is

I am not sure about the videos you are referring to, but I do remember at least on internet forums his visits to Moscow and support of the Sandalistas(sic) were circulating in 2016.


I do find it curious though as you pointed out, his positive words for Sanders, but that could also be part of his strategy because he realizes that Sanders is a divisive source among Democrats, and he is trying to stir that division up

[KitSileya]

23. In just the last weeks, videos of Sen. Sanders have been shared on twitter

I won't link to them, as they will surely get my posts hidden. From what I gather, they're from the Senator's trip to Yaroslavl and Moscow, and may be considered...unconventional, shall we say. To fans of the Senator they'll be no surprise, I am sure, but for those less acquainted with him, seeing him shirtless, in briefs, singing Woodie Guthrie songs might be a bit eyebrow-raising. Though not a supporter of the Senator myself, I think it is perfectly in line with the essays he wrote and his opinions at the time.

[still_one]

24. Thanks

[ismnotwasm]

26. I saw them

Used correctly they will be devastating.

[Cha]

3. NO to BS.. Too Divisive.

Our Excellent, Qualified Dems, who are running, are more than capable of Uniting the Democratic Party and bringing people together.

[FreeState]

11. +1

Let’s hope it’s more civil this time. Just the actions of his supporters last time was enough to turn me off (and I voted for him in the primary).

I think the party needs to require a base number of years being registered as a Democrat. Simple changing registration isn’t enough.

[highplainsdem]

4. Go away, Bernie. You did enough damage last time.

[David__77]

5. Bernie Sanders is great!

...

[NanceGreggs]

6. I hate to bring up the obvious, but ...

... "Nobody is better positioned to take on Donald Trump. Sanders has name recognition and widespread popularity. He knows how to campaign well, has a network of organizers, and can pack stadiums. He does well at town halls and in debates against Republicans."

That's exactly what we heard in 2016 - and yet he never came close to winning the primary.

Apparently the majority of Democratic voters want something more substantive than a candidate who can "pack stadiums" - a skill that never translated into actual votes.

Just sayin' is all.

[Tarheel_Dem]

19. +1

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

7. Thanks for posting... I especially liked this part:

"For the last two years, Sanders has been setting the Democratic party policy agenda. His 2016 candidacy entirely shifted the political landscape, to the point where the majority of Democrats now view Democratic socialism favorably. Medicare for All and universal free college are so popular that they have almost become litmus tests for prospective candidates. In polls, Sanders is well ahead of the other currently declared candidates, and at this point he should be treated as the presumptive frontrunner."

There's a reason Bernie is the most popular of all the declared Democratic candidates so far. His leadership on issues that comprise his progressive agenda are finally giving the American people, who are sick of the current rigged system, what they've been hungering for.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!

[Trumpocalypse]

16. At this point in the cycle it's just name recognition

Not leadership.

[CentralMass]

8. Great article. Thank you.

[Garrett78]

9. I didn't even know The Guardian had a satire section.

[Cha]

17. lol

[MrsCoffee]

31. +1

[Maven]

32. LOL!

[emulatorloo]

13. Dunno, Warren seems like a better candidate to me

Accomplished
Policy Wonk
Gets under Trump’s skin

Of course, the Guardian’s MMV

[George II]

14. Joe Biden doesn't have name recognition? Really? The youngest person to ever be elected....

...to the Senate (he was a month too "young" to serve, and a month past the eligible age to be sworn in)

Sanders does "well at...debates against republicans"? When? The one debate against Ted Cruz?

[Cha]

15. It's pathetic.. thanks for calling

it out George. I'd rather have VP Joe Biden than BS.

[betsuni]

20. LOL

Advertisement for a new mouthwash that's the same as the old mouthwashes, just with a catchy slogan.

[pnwmom]

21. He lost the primary last time by 4 million votes, and I don't know any Hillary voters

who are feeling drawn to him this time around -- and meanwhile there are more than a dozen new candidates.

So I think he's already topped out. The same group that wanted him last time want him this time -- but it won't be enough.

[Demsrule86]

28. I agree with your analysis.

[still_one]

29. I am sure when Susan Sarandon and Cornel West endorse him, that will motivate those of us who voted

for Hillary in the general election

[Demsrule86]

25. I will not support Sen. Sanders. He is not a Democrat and has not released his taxes.

[Demsrule86]

27. I would also add the in 18, centrist candidates gave us back the House. This is sadly a center left

country.

[Delmette2.0]

30. Not one of our candidates is immune from the Trump/Russia

propaganda machine. They will make a mountain out of any molehill, they will make stuff up and repeat it endlessly. They think up shit that none of us ever could.

[Power 2 the People]

33. Absolutely!

He’s a pragmatic choice. Nobody is better positioned to take on Donald Trump. Sanders has name recognition and widespread popularity. He knows how to campaign well, has a network of organizers, and can pack stadiums. He does well at town halls and in debates against Republicans.

[forklift]

36. I think it is Bernie's authenticity that wins him followers

not his radicalism.

[lunamagica]

37. Authenticity? He demands tramsparency from others while he hides stuff about himself