I'm a longtime Hillary supporter, but

[cwydro]

Sanders has got me thinking.

I'd be happy for supporters of both to persuade me.

[cwydro]

1. Or none of either lol.

Bueller?

[rurallib]

2. I am leaning Sanders, but there is a lot to like about Clinton

Maybe this is the time that so many have waited for when they said they would like to be able to choose between two good choices.

My one big concern with Clinton is her ties to Wall Street. It was a concern I also had in 2008. But I also had a similar concern with Obama and Wall Street.

What I like about Sanders is that he is so open and has moved little in his stance on many issues. Yet he is open to new evidence should it come up.

So as of now I back Sanders, but could live with Clinton easily

[cwydro]

3. I guess I want a woman president so badly

that I close my eyes to some of what might bother me about her if she were a man.

A friend of mine recently said to me that we will have a woman president one day, but she's not the one. I'm starting to believe that.

However, I'm fully open to choice at this time. Sanders was essentially unknown to me, and I'm very interested in him now.

[rurallib]

6. believe me so do I. I have daughters

They are full adults now. But it is still time for a woman. Even though Sanders is at least the equal of Clinton on gender issues, perceptions really change just having a 'not a white man' in the driver's seat.

Based on issues, like many I would have loved to see Warren. But she says no and i respect that.

I am still hoping that Clinton will come out with some actual statements that she would stand up to Wall Street. So far she is equivocating and avoiding the issue. And I expect she will. One look at her donors tells you why.

[TexasBushwhacker]

37. Bernie is a secular Jew, and doesn't try to hide it

Electong him would be just as much a milestone as electing Hillary. And yes, I'm a woman.

[NCTraveler]

4. I will say this.

We get to go to the polls without holding our noses. We get to vote for someone, not against someone. That is beyond exciting. Enjoy making your decision. Either one you pick will have the opportunity to be great. Long time Clinton supporter here. Going to wait for the debates to determine who I will vote for in the primary. Looking to see how Sanders does now he is elevating himself.

[cwydro]

7. I feel the same way!

NC here also.

God, I just hope the Republicans don't win. We've seen that here in our fine state.

[NCTraveler]

8. I'm actually a Floridian.

I one day hope to have a news story written about me that starts "Florida woman......" I want to start a new trend away from "Florida man....."

I picked NCTraveler as my name because Western NC is one of my favorite places. I go up there once a year. I always find new things and so many of the people are amazing.

[cwydro]

10. I lived in Key West for 20 plus years.

Funny. I went to college in Boone and we always made fun of the Florida plates during the summer.

Then I became a Floridian.

Now I'm back here. Are you an actual Florida native? Those are as rare as Nautilus shells lol!

[NCTraveler]

13. Moved here before the age of five.

Over thirty five years ago. I use to go to Boone often. During the summer it was funny how many Florida plates are in Boone. I go up by Waynesville these days. Made a couple of connections in the Bryson City area. One of the poorest areas in the country and it is full of really great people. Assholes too. But good people for the most part. I'm going to the Keys end of this year. I would rather be getting in the car and heading up north. Real tough one to complain about. lol.

[cwydro]

15. Well, that makes you a FL native I think!

The mountains are full of great people, you are right.

Most of NC is fantastic.

I loved living in Key West, and I loved the craziness that is Florida.

[NCTraveler]

17. Many just don't get it when I say I love where I live. Tampa Bay area.

I am surrounded by the best of the best and the worst of the worst. I get to choose!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cwydro]

18. I ran in the Gasparilla race back in the day.

Florida is a great state!

That's why so many loons move there lol!

[Snotcicles]

5. Thats the beauty of the Democratic party. Not just any half baked cretin can raise to the top. nt

Last edited Mon May 4, 2015, 03:51 PM - Edit history (1)

[cwydro]

12. Now, I'm trying to think of a half-baked Dem cretin lol.

Many republicans come to mind.

[Snotcicles]

29. You'll be up all night now. nt

[hifiguy]

30. The last really bad candidate that ran as a Democrat in the primaries

was probably George Wallace in 1972, before the attempted assassination by Arthur Bremer. He was still selling racist bullshit then.

[TexasBushwhacker]

38. He was a Dixiecrat

Today he would be a Republican.

[Ruby the Liberal]

9. I like Hillary,

but am beyond excited that Bernie will have a voice in this primary. Give the country a chance to see that there are ideas out there that will benefit the country as a whole that don't involve getting the permission of our corporate overlords to approve implementation. I am sticking with him for as long as he is in the race - hopefully the nomination.

[cwydro]

11. I'm certainly leaning in that direction.

Actually embarrassed how little I knew about him.

[one_voice]

22. This is the type of conversation...

I like seeing here. Along with others in this thread.

I hope to see Martin O'Malley join the race too.

[Ruby the Liberal]

24. Indeed.

I too am a fan of the Governor.

[Gregorian]

14. What could Hillary possibly add that Bernie isn't already bringing to the table?

His 12 point plan is everything human beings want and need, unless you're a billionaire, or ideologue.

In a nutshell, I think Hillary is being nice to the powers that be in order to garner their acceptance, while Bernie has absolute principals that he will not compromise.

Somethings are not worth compromising, like health care, a smaller military, a fresh infrastructure, affordable education.

[cwydro]

16. ...

[Freelancer]

19. Choose Your Political Enemy's Most Formidable Enemy

I love Bernie Sanders. I really like Ralph Nader too, but he did some real damage with his White House runs -- and without any real chance of winning.

It sucks, I know, but sometimes we can't choose the one we like best, but the one that rattles the other side most.

[cali]

20. I don't like Ralph Nader and it's fucking absurd to implicitly compare them as YOU

just did. Let me explain, in simple terms, why:

Bernie is running in the Democratic Primary. That means he is not running as an independent.

He has said quite explicitly that he will SUPPORT the nominee of the Democratic Party.

Is this too difficult to grasp?

Welcome to DU.

[H2O Man]

21. Two choices:

[1] A person doesn't have the intellectual capacity to understand the difference between running in a democratic primary, versus running 3rd party in a general election; or

[2] A person purposely pretends they are the same thing, hoping to discredit the person who entered the democratic primary.

[Freelancer]

27. Thanks for the reply

First -- of all the people that the Republicans would like to see run against Hillary, Warren is #1 and Sanders has got to be #2. Both separate Hillary from segments of her base support, and force her to make left-leaning statements during the Democratic race that can be used as snippets in political ads by them to drum Fox News watchers into a frenzy.

Second -- If Hillary proves not to be liberal enough for him, will Bernie Sanders feel compelled to run as an independent in spite of what he's said about supporting the Democratic nominee? A lot will come down to how much mud gets slung during the campaign, I suppose. If you deny that there is the potentiality of a schism resulting in an independent run by Bernie Sanders, then I don't think you're being entirely honest with yourself. It's a very real possibility.

I'm glad that Bernie has said he will support the Democratic Nominee. I hope that holds after the rigors of the campaign.

Thanks for the reply. It felt VERY welcoming.

[cali]

28. No one is forcing her to do anything. That's just nonsense.

Primaries are about a contest of ideas and variances in governing philosophies. Are you suggesting Hillary shouldn't have any primary opponents?

Hillary does just fine giving Fux all the snippets their nasty little heart desire, all on her own- like the stupid comment a couple of weeks before Bernie announced, that we need to topple the 1%. talk about your soundbite.

Fucking stop it: No Bernie will not run as an independent under any circumstance if he loses. He said yesterday on This Week that there is NO WAY he would do that and that he'd endorse the winner. END OF FUCKING STORY.

disgusting dishonest crap implying that he'd go back on his word.

fuck that noise.

again, welcome to DU.

Keep it honest.

[Freelancer]

33. Re: No one is forcing her to do anything. That's just nonsense

Honestly, Let me put it this way:

[For the purpose of discussion (a la 'Backstrom') let's say I'm Bernie Sanders.]

I'm and Independent, well known Progressive with a capital 'P', a liberal's liberal -- I have ZERO chance of being elected president by fly-over country. I am most definitely NOT a team player. Why am I running for the Democratic nomination for President? Because, to me, Hillary Clinton is too close to Wall Street and, in my eyes, not even a liberal. To me (Bernie Sanders), the difference between JEB Bush and Hillary Clinton is so minute, that I don't give a tinker's damn which one is elected president. What matters to me is to put my ideas out there, and to put a spotlight on what I know to be critical issues -- even if doing so forces Hillary Clinton to the left and damages her chances with swing voters in the general election.

[Again, for the purpose of discussion, I'm speaking as Bernie Sanders.]

I've just dropped out of the race for the Democratic Nomination. My supporters are furious with the dismissive attitude of the Clinton Campaign. They refused to even engage with us in a serious debate -- giving us the political equivalent of a pat-on-the-head ... a "there you go again, Bernie" each time we tried to engage them on serious issues. My supporters aren't vast in numbers, but galvanized. I'm unsatisfied with the coverage my cogent arguments have gotten in the media. My people are urging me to run as an independent. It would mean going back on the promise to endorse the Democratic nominee, but it would mean another few months of getting my issues a full hearing and reaching the American people. Isn't that why I got into this in the first place? Of course I'll run.

Bernie Sanders -- like Ralph Nader -- knows he has no shot at becoming president, and is running to inform the public, come hell or high water. Other Democrats are vying for the nomination to win the presidency. That is the difference.

[cwydro]

26. But, I really don't have any enemy

that I know of.

I want us to win. I also want a good president.

[Freelancer]

36. Re: But, I really don't have an enemy

That's sweet.

Admittedly, the word enemy is too harsh. Instead, maybe we should just say we like the politics of everyone on Earth better than theirs.

[one_voice]

23. Nice thread....

good way to start a discussion.

definite rec.

[cwydro]

25. Well, thank you.

I rarely start threads.

Sincerely interested in my fellow Dems' views.

[Puglover]

31. I support Bernie for the primaries.

I hope he wins. If it's Hillary I'll support her, as will 99.99 percent of DUer's despite the hand wringing of a few that are just sure DU is seething with stealth trolls.

The primaries (as they say) are for falling in love. After they are done you fall in line.

[Rex]

32. Do you want Ted Cruz in office...there persuasion done.

[cwydro]

34. NO!

Oh god no.

[Rex]

41. It is one reason I will be voting for whomever wins the primaries.

Ted Cruz as POTUS would be the end of the country for us liberals and progressives.

[cwydro]

35. Can someone tell me why Biden is

not a choice?

[TexasBushwhacker]

39. I think he knows he can't beat Hillary n/t

[bigwillq]

40. I think Sanders is a refreshing choice

I think he has a lot of good ideas, speaks the truth (as much as a politician can), seems to be on the side of the middle class, the poor, believes there is a problem when Wall St. controls Congress. I think Sanders is what this country needs.

I think Hillary is nothing more than apart of the DC insider crowd that has helped turn this country into a mess. Sure, she has a good voting record on some progressive policies, but it's not anything unexpected from a Democratic Senator from New York.

I would prefer a politician like Sanders over Hillary.

If Hillary wins, fine. I would be cool with it. But I am hoping for someone like Sanders.