Are Hillary and Bernie really the best that Democrats can do?

[TeddyR]

This discussion thread was locked as off-topic by GP6971 (a host of the General Discussion forum).

The party of FDR and JFK can't find a better candidate? I was talking to my wife tonight about the candidates and we agreed that we'll both probably vote for Bernie in the primary -- and certainly for whomever the Dems nominate in the GE -- but neither is particularly great. We are both lifelong Dems and big Bill Clinton and President Obama supporters. We were excited about President Obama but feel sort of "meh" about Hillary and Bernie. Hillary has a ton of baggage, including (whether her supporters agree or not) the email issue, which legitimately could lead to criminal charges, and even if not shows a serious lack of judgment. And Bernie is good on a lot of issues, but he's also a recent convert to the party, which makes me a bit hesitant, and he reminds me a bit of Dukakis.

The party was united behind Bill Clinton, and Obama excited a lot of people, but I'll vote for Hillary or Bernie simply because they are the nominee, not because either is a great candidate. At the same time, the Republicans will probably end up with Trump or Cruz as their nominee, perhaps two of the least qualified candidates (other than Palin) in a long time. Where are the great leaders who can unite this country and get something done?

Are there any Dems that aren't running that might be better? I'm not sold on Biden, but maybe Warren?

[Trajan]

1. We are handed a delightful candidate

I'm tired of waiting for you to find your perfect candidate ... It's not like we have to wait ...

[peacebird]

2. Bernie is the most honest candidate for the people put forward in many years.

[elias49]

4. THAT'S a fact

which can't be said of Clinton. As close to organized crime as you can get.

[daleanime]

32. +1

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

3. If I remember correctly, Warren declined to run,

many times.

[cheapdate]

5. Mounting a serious and credible campaign to be the president

of a country of 300 million people is something that very few people can do. At one point in 2015, there were 26 candidates for the Democratic nomination, although you only really heard about the top few.

[elleng]

6. No, of course not,

but like others, you have ignored Martin O'Malley.

'Neither one of them can really point to a record of bringing people together and bridging divides to get things done. Senator Sanders has always been a bit of a loner, God bless him, in the United States Senate, not a coalition building, and that’s what it takes to get things done. There’s a different combination of votes on every issue and a different combination of coalitions. And Secretary Clinton famously in the very first debate declared she was proudest to declare that all Republicans are her enemy. That’s not a real good way to begin a candidacy. So I don’t believe that all Republicans are our enemies and I don’t believe that all millionaire and billionaires are our enemies, anymore that I believe that American Muslims or immigrants are the cause of our problems. And in my own history, I’ve brought people together in a very divided city on one of the toughest issues there is, given the legacy of slavery, and that is public safety. And then as governor, Republican members of the Senate and the House said that they were over to the governor’s mansion to break bread more in my first year than they were in their own governor’s prior four. Marriage equality, repealing the death penalty, those things weren’t easy. They didn’t get done on the first try, but they did get done with some Republican votes. That’s what you learn as an executive, you have to pick up the phone. It’s not enough to be convinced of the soundness of your own policy choices, you have to pick up the phone and call members of both parties and particularly members of the opposite party.'

http://time.com/4191712/martin-omalley-iowa-hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders/

Martin O'Malley:

1. Ended death penalty in Maryland
2. Prevented fracking in Maryland and put regulations in the way to prevent next GOP Gov Hogan fom easily allowing fracking.
3. Provided health insurance for 380,000
4. Reduced infant mortality to an all time low.
5. Provided meals to thousands of hungry children and moved toward a goal for eradicating childhood hunger.
6. Enacted a $10.10 living wage and a $11. minimum wage for State workers.
7. Supporter the Dream Act
8. Cut income taxes for 86% of Marylanders (raised taxes on the rich).
9. Reformed Maryland’s tax code to make it more progressive.
10. Enacted some of the nation’s most comprehensive reforms to protect homeowners from foreclosure.

Mother Jones magazine called him the best candidate on environmental issues.
Article here:
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/12/martin-omalley-longshot-presidential-candidate-and-real-climate-hawk

O'Malley's plans:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12813600

[hifiguy]

18. I would be extremely surprised if O'Malley

doesn't have a bright future in national politics. I think highly of him.

[Autumn]

7. The party of FDR and JFK didn't find Bernie. We people did.

[CharlotteVale]

13. [phone]

[hifiguy]

17. Indeed. If FDR magically returned to life today

hale and hearty, DWS would push him into the Potomac,wheelchair and all.

[Nye Bevan]

8. What do think of Martin O'Malley?

I think he's very impressive and will be the nominee should Hillary need to withdraw for any reason.

[Cal33]

9. O'Malley is OK with me. He's young enough to wait 4 or 8 years. I'm glad

he is running now. This is giving him the exposure that he needs for future elections.

[NorthCarolina]

10. Not sure what you define as "best", but I can tell you what I define it as.

Senator Bernie Sanders is hands-down and without a doubt, the BEST Democratic Candidate I have ever had the privilege to vote for in my entire voting career (and that's longer than I would like to admit). Honesty and compassion for your fellow man are extremely rare qualities in a politician, but Bernie has lived it for over 25 years. I expect my public servants to be public servants and do the peoples work, and not simply taking advantage of a sweet situation for personal gain.

I feel damn lucky to have this once in a lifetime opportunity to vote for a candidate of character and truth.

Anyway, that's my opinion.

[pangaia]

28. I would guess I have a longer voting career than you do,

if only because I have a longer voting career than most people. :&gt )

Bernie Sanders IS a Once In A Lifetime opportunity for America!

[trueblue2007]

11. YES they are. especially HILLARY

[hifiguy]

12. IMO Bernie may be the best candidate for the presidency

since Robert Kennedy. Not sure what you are looking for.

[onecent]

15. I'll drink to that hifiguy....

[hifiguy]

16. Eeyup!

[LiberalElite]

20. +1,000,000 eom

[TeddyR]

34. Better than Bill Clinton or Obama?

Why? If he wins the nomination he certainly won't have the popular support of either.

[Odin2005]

14. Bernie is the best candidate we have had in a long time.

[LiberalElite]

19. Sanders is NOT a recent convert to the party

he caucused with the Democrats all along in the Senate.

[CommonSenseDemocrat]

25. As an Independent ...

[JonLeibowitz]

27. I doubt that made a difference to the democratic caucus when they saw the vote totals.

[kydo]

21. Um, well yeah. Actually they are both excellent candidates

I think maybe your question should be, "Is that the best republicans can do?" Cause their line-up is a joke. Makes for great entertainment though. So I guess it's not all a wash. Still pretty sad that's all they can muster.

[ananda]

22. Sanders is the best any party can do!

He's great!

[davidn3600]

23. What's bad was the Democrat primary was being heavily regarded as a coronation for Hillary

I think that scared a lot of folks from throwing their hat in. And in the end, it might hurt the party and country. We didnt get the debates and the throwing around of ideas.

[doc03]

24. I agree out of a nation of about 350 million this is the best we can come up with

I am talking both parties. sad

[saltpoint]

26. Three Democrats are in the race

at this point. There are cases to be made for any of the three.

The herd has thinned, but early on about two dozen Republicans were running. And every single one of them sucked.

[Thinkingabout]

29. Hillary is the best qualified candidate running, has experience and

Knowledge to hit the ground running the first day.

[Voice for Peace]

30. You must be joking

Bernie will be historic. Already is.

[Andy823]

31. No they are not the best

O'Malley is the best but the MSM has made this a two person race just like DU has, and they overlook the facts that O'Malley has better plans, they are all in writing for everyone to see, and has done many of the things the other two talk about, but have not done themselves.

He may be behind, but the votes are not in yet, so we will see what happens.

[GP6971]

33. Locking. Wrong Forum

Please repost in GDP.

Thank you