It's Panic Mode for the Democratic Establishment - NBCNews

[WillyT]

First Read: It's Panic Mode for the Democratic Establishment
by Chuck Todd, Mark Murray and Carrie Dann - NBCNews
Jan 20 2016, 9:24 am ET

<snip>

It's Panic Time for the Democratic establishment

No, Bernie Sanders likely isn't ahead in New Hampshire by 27 points, as yesterday's CNN/WMUR poll showed (the other polling just doesn't back that up). But 12 days before the Iowa caucuses and 20 days before the New Hampshire primary, there's something happenin' out there. And now he's viewed as enough of a legitimate threat that the Democratic establishment and the liberal wonks are piling on him as if he were the frontrunner. It started Monday after the debate, when liberal writers like Paul Krugman, Jonathan Chait, and Ezra Klein either blasted Sanders' single-payer plan or argued he'd make a poor president in these politically polarized times. Then yesterday, author Ta-Nehisi Coates criticized Sanders for proposing utopian prescriptions on economic matters (single-payer on health care, breaking up the big banks) but not on race (reparations for slavery). And last night for the attempted coup de grace, Democratic politicians ran to the New York Times to tell the paper that Sanders would damage the party at the top of the ticket because he's a democratic socialist. Some of the juiciest quotes:

•Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon: "Here in the heartland, we like our politicians in the mainstream, and he is not — he's a socialist."

•Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN): "It wouldn't be helpful [on downballot races] outside Vermont, Massachusetts, Berkeley, Palo Alto and Ann Arbor."

•Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO): "The Republicans won't touch him because they can't wait to run an ad with a hammer and sickle."

(And then don't miss David Brock on Bloomberg last night, labeling Sanders a "socialist… … He's got a 30 year history of affiliation with a lot of whack-doodle ideas and parties. Think about what the Republicans will do with the fact that he's a socialist in the fall.&quot

As the political-science crowd might say, this is "The Party Decides." Of course, it hasn't worked -- at all -- on the Republican side against Trump. So, did Team Clinton ever think it would have to come to this -- trying to destroy Bernie less than two weeks before Iowa?

<snip>

Link: http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/first-read-it-s-panic-mode-democratic-establishment-n500291

[onecaliberal]

1. They should proceed at their own peril. I for one would not take that lying down.

[roguevalley]

8. Ezra astonished me yesterday when he said 'Democrat party and the Republicans'. Astonishing

[blackspade]

14. That is a huge tell.

Anyone that calls it the "Democrat" party is either ignorant or a shill.

[onecaliberal]

18. He's been a shill his whole career.

All of these fuckers have been sucking on the corporate teet, they're going to fight tooth and nail to remain at the trough.

[restorefreedom]

2. WHAT is happening to chuck todd???

he used to be a total corporate hack in the tank for hillary. now he is sounding like an unbiased analyst....sing it chuckie baby!

oh and the party elites WILL NOT choose this time...the people WILL.

damn straight something is happening here...

https://m.

[Robbins]

3. I am from Missouri so i have to stand up for Missouri dem voters

many don't agree with Nixon and McCaskill at all.last poll out of Missouri had clinton with only 5 point lead over bernie In MO.and
this was before surge of last week and a half.

I consider Nixon and McCaskill to be worthless after ferguson.It would be nice for them to be as worried as what happened in
their own state as they are about Clinton.Harry Truman might not fit what they call mainstream.FDR defently wouldn't.

[global1]

4. The Dem Establishment Liked Bernie When As An Independent He Voted With The Dems....

They couldn't praise him enough. What changed?

[Robbins]

5. because he threatened their anoited one

plus he means what he says and corporists are scared of that.

[ChisolmTrailDem]

17. Almost every single Hillary poster here now were UUUUUGE fans of Bernie when...

...he was voting with them. And he was a freakin' hero when he did his marathon filibuster. To see them now trashing him illustrates a what stabbing someone in the back looks like.

[awoke_in_2003]

19. The bus has been outfitted

with a lift kit.

[MoonchildCA]

6. Just turned on MSNBC and Andrea was talking about the Claire McCaskill quote.

These Clinton people, including Andrea, are really in panic mode. Unfortunately, they have the airtime. They are now using the republicans' favorite tactic, fear.

It worries and frustrates me a bit. Fortunately, liberal minds are not quite as likely to be manipulated by fear.

[TheBlackAdder]

7. Clinton's reversal on Single Payer broke the camel's back. A level of hypocrisy unrivaled! nt

[thereismore]

9. Words like "panic" associated with the Clinton campaign out in the national media, <2 weeks before

Iowa.

I guess the MSM feel it too!

[Ferd Berfel]

10. The Corporate Oligarchy is getting REALLY Desperate

Like a wounded animal backed into a corner, they will become more dangerous to the rest of us over time

[Arugula Latte]

11. These people have learned nothing. NOTHING.

They are thick as bricks.

Here's a clue for the Republican-Lite Dem Establishment: It ain't '94 no more.

[fbc]

12. Hillary Clinton can only win in red states

You know, the states that are rendered inconsequential in a general election because they are always won by republicans.

[blackspade]

13. Blasting single payer and breaking up big banks.....

This is the Democratic primary, right?
Or has the establishment gone so far down the RW rabbit hole that they argue against bedrock principles of our platform?
Fucking hell.

[Geronimoe]

16. The PANIC is a clear indication that electing Bernie changes everything

no more feeding frenzy at K-Street. Called bribes or per SCOTUS aka free speech.