2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumBernie hasn't just exceeded expectations, he's exceeded
them at every turn. Fundraising, of course, but also debating, appeal, etc. But the reason I bring this up is because he's tougher than you think and a far cannier politician than most people know. He will be a fierce general election candidate if he wins the nomination. And if he wins the nomination, he'll have defeated the vaunted Clinton machine.
I believe he's absolutely a stronger nominee than Hillary.
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daleanime
(17,796 posts)And if you want any kind of blue wave he's the only choice to make. 
Uncle Joe
(65,135 posts)Thanks for the thread, cali.
He's remained true to his core beliefs of equality and justice (The American Way! Corny, huh?) while winning several campaigns in which he was the "under dog".
In a sports analogy, he's the New England Patriots while she's the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Rocky the Leprechaun
(222 posts)My Denver Broncos was an underdog throughout the playoffs because they thought Manning was too old and too broken to play in the playoffs.
End result? Super Bowl Champions. Defense wins championships. Bernie has a defense. Clinton doesn't.
Better analogy.
nolabels
(13,133 posts)John Elway knew from two years ago in the last superbowl their defense let them down. He got Wade Philips and helped him plug the rest of machine in. Manning was too old to play the game the way the Panthers wanted to play the game but plenty good enough to play the game the way the Bronco's wanted to play the game. Yea, defense, the game superman Cam Newton has yet to learn how to play.
The word "defense" is a misnomer as understood by word definition. In pro football, the defense is the advantage quotient, humiliate the offense and score on defense. The double edge sword that strikes both ways. In such a defense the idea of waiting back in the weeds and waiting, then a counterattack as they come forward. The disadvantage is set against the initial move in the scenario
virtualobserver
(8,760 posts)Hillary could not attack the Republicans on campaign finance...it would be laughable.
Iraq War? Please....and if it is Trump....He will attack Hillary for voting for it and on her speech nest egg.
kgnu_fan
(3,021 posts)
Dustlawyer
(10,539 posts)This is her Achilles heal, she can never release them because her Wall Street protection racket will be exposed, much like Romney and his tax returns.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)
cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom
Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)ambitions, as you well know. They won't go down easily, that's a given but it is
without a doubt the most fierce challenge the status quo within the Democratic
party has ever had in my short life time.
If Sanders loses, even if he endorses Clinton, I do not see how they go back
to politics as usual..for every rightward turn she may take to "get things done"
she'll have a wall of opposition from Sanders activists..they only want our votes,
and then we should go away, that is not likely to ever be the case again.
They thought it was wrong to want to primary Obama in 2012? If she wins, that
former idea will look like a walk through the park.
firebrand80
(2,760 posts)That he far exceeded my expectations. Hell, I suspect that he's exceeded his own.
I don't agree that he would be a good GE candidate, unless the GOP nominates Trump. Then again, this looks like the cycle that all traditional political prognostications have to go out the window.
TTUBatfan2008
(3,623 posts)The party should not have discouraged so many from running. Bernie is a flawed general election candidate, but so is the person with an open FBI investigation and at least half the country that despises her in the first place.
firebrand80
(2,760 posts)A relatively uncontested primary doesn't do the nominee any good.
TTUBatfan2008
(3,623 posts)I think Biden, Warren, and maybe a few others should have jumped in.
firebrand80
(2,760 posts)You won't convince me that she's not kicking herself after seeing how well Bernie is doing
TTUBatfan2008
(3,623 posts)She would have been a stronger candidate than either Hillary or Bernie.
cali
(114,904 posts)as a candidate.
JonLeibowitz
(6,282 posts)
SusanaMontana41
(3,233 posts)And she's authentic. Just like our Bernie.
Alan Grayson is circulating an online petition promoting Warren as SCOTUS nominee. Not sure how I feel about that.
closeupready
(29,503 posts)But she made her decision, and I respect that.
cali
(114,904 posts)He said repeatedly that he would only run if no other progressive ran.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)
Utopian Leftist
(534 posts)the ears of God/dess. Sanders + Warren = an unbeatable match made in heaven! If only Warren can be persuaded . . . .
firebrand80
(2,760 posts)I don't think that's necessarily a good match. If I were him I would pick someone that strengthens the ticket on foreign policy issues and strengthens his standing with minority voters without detracting from his core message. (I have no idea who that might be)
JonLeibowitz
(6,282 posts)it would never happen because the only danger of Hawaii going to the GOP is if too many people get high on election day.
nxylas
(6,440 posts)I don't have anything to back this up, it's just a gut feeling, but I can't help suspecting that several potential candidates bought into the inevitability meme. If you were someone with presidential ambitions, say, 18 months ago, you could be forgiven for thinking "I don't want to be the one to lose to Hillary. I'll have more chance of success if I wait until 2020 or 2024".
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)vs Republicans. I think once clinton diehards get on board they will see how much fun it is backing a relatively clean candidate who has a strong and simple message along with the moral highground, this thing is gonna snowball like Obama's campaign or more.
TryLogic
(2,291 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)Bernie has more integrity than anyone this side of Paul Wellstone and Elizabeth Warren.
He would mop the floor with any of the klowns.
Plucketeer
(12,882 posts)
PWPippin
(213 posts)
BigBearJohn
(11,410 posts)
valerief
(53,235 posts)
EdwardBernays
(3,343 posts)This is his first national campaign, it's staggering.
tk2kewl
(18,133 posts)it's interesting how that unelectable label isn't being placed on him by Hillary supporters much anymore. kind of one of those rubber/glue things for them to avoid at this point i suppose.
gregcrawford
(2,382 posts)... with memories not quite as long as one full circuit of our aquariums. Obviously true for some, but certainly not all. We remember what she has said and done.
Memory also becomes a problem when one must keep track of all of one's prevarications and outright lies. Very demanding and quite tiresome.
Bernie Sanders, who is one of my senators, bears no such burden; he simply tells the truth. Truth in any form is to most political operatives of any ideological persuasion as water was to the Wicked Witch of the West. They definitely don't care for it.
And then there's the whole "I, me, mine" thing versus "We, our, us." Pick one. Like Bernie, I prefer the second.
Plucketeer
(12,882 posts)Hillary's like SO MANY politicians that likely wish YouTube would cease to exist. BERNIE is the exception to that rule. Hell, he'll INVITE you to check out what he said - five - ten - twenty years ago! Why? Cause it only makes him look better!
TTUBatfan2008
(3,623 posts)YouTube is one of Hillary's worst enemies and it is one of Bernie's best friends. The video from back in the day does not lie.
DUbeornot2be
(367 posts)...as we're witnessing, truth is kryptonite to politics as usual. The establishment politicians have been so busy learning how to beat up on other dishonest people that they have absolutely no idea how to counter Bernie and his integrity.
It really us a thing of beauty!
Truth trumps politics sometimes...
democrank
(12,598 posts)He`s one tough cookie....courageous, principled and authentic.
No amount of money and no amount of Status Quo machinery will force a giant chunk of Democrats to warm up to Hillary.There`s a reason so many call her cold and calculating.
Plucketeer
(12,882 posts)rarely come packaged in a physique that looks like Schwarzenegger or Stallone. Bernie's one of those otherwise anonymous faces in a crowd that would spring in response if an incident occurred - if an out-of-control vehicle were bearing down on some kids or some such impending doom. We've all known or have heard of folks like this - folks that selflessly throw themselves into a situation that others would run from. That's our Bernie. Not afraid - not intimidated by the supposed "odds" against him - a person who's INTEGRITY does not come down to a coin toss. He's the RARE politician whose heart isn't the color of a hundred dollar bill. He understands that HE is not the point of his quest for the Oval Office. He's not in this to insure the tradition of male presidents is not trampled and he's also not in this because he's calculated it's "his turn". Bernie sees the masses thirsting for justice and equality and he's showing us how to turn those spigots on to satisfy our needs.
Truth be told, Bernie - in at least one respect - IS your typical politician. He's responding to the source of his campaign monies - US. In essence - those of us who've contributed are members of a union. We're a union whose mission is to OUTBID (and outwit) the wealthy hijackers of our country! And Bernie Sanders is our chose union leader. Ya gotta live the guy! I know I do.
Dragonfli
(10,622 posts)Bernie is what this country needs right now.
SammyWinstonJack
(44,316 posts) Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)Dragonfli
(10,622 posts)Once he shows he can get past their cheating, he will have been prepared for the already out Republicans (whom I respect by the way, no matter how loathsome they are because they are at least not stuck in the closet of a false flag party)
leftupnorth
(886 posts)Is that they're decent enough to stab you in the front.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)Dems to Win
(2,161 posts)He's honest, authentic, and trustworthy, and his message rings true for Americans.
Dragonfli
(10,622 posts)He is also much more favored by the poor that stopped voting because they got shat on no matter who they voted for in modern times, but during my canvassing (I live in a very poor neighborhood) they have been asking for registration forms from me and many want to vote again because of him.
There is also the matter of the young first time voters that are not just willing to vote for him, but have finally found someone again they are enthusiastic to vote for. Even the polls that tend to never call first time voters (relying on past voters for information) have him pegged as the most electable candidate the Democrats have running against the Republicans, the Greens like him and many are changing affiliation to be able to vote for him in states like mine with closed primaries.
His biggest strength and reason for most of the above is, he is trustworthy, it shows and people will overwhelmingly tell you they trust him, he is authentic and therefore youtube proof and he is fighting exclusively for the people and not corporate sponsors which he proves every day by refusing their dirty money and even their filthy dark PAC money.
Authenticity and sincerity is nearly impossible to fake, but people see both in him.
Finally, at the end of the day most people are running out of money and credit and saddled with debt, not savings all after record profits are recorded by most corporate entities for many a quarter these past years and so they are angry, and his issues are all about helping them get back a fair economy, he is fighting for them and they know it.
He is our strongest by far and unless the primary is rigged by super-delegates (meant to keep out grass roots supported candidates according to DWS) he will win the GE, unfortunately I take DWS at her word regarding keeping out grass root politicians, so if he does not win the primary by a cheat proof majority, we will have a visibly dirty candidate in Hillary Clinton that wil simultaneously depress the progressive vote (although the Democratic bits of it used to ignoring the sulfuric stench of the lesser of two evils may hold their noses somewhat) while at the same time bringing out Republican voters in very large, some might say extreme numbers just to vote their now generational hatred of her. I hope DWS wakes up, or this will be the worst year in over a century for Democrats in both houses and the executive.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)Unlike Hillary, Bernie
1) has YUUUGE appeal to Independent voters
2) is Not under an FBI investigation
3) is Not noted for lying and corruption
4) Has a 3 decades long record of achievement at Federal level.
5) Needs no on-the-job training as to how Wash. DC works, he already KNOWS.
retrowire
(10,345 posts)Utopian Leftist
(534 posts)I would add to it:
6) Not a neo-liberal, but a true Progressive
Bernie will represent MY beliefs for a change (rather than representing only "moderates" or conservatives).
amborin
(16,631 posts)
Orsino
(37,428 posts)I called Sanders a long shot, and still think that may be true, but he's doing about as well as I'd dared hope. Good on folks for listening.
I must have underestimated Americans' hunger for progressive change.
TryLogic
(2,291 posts)Discourages it.
GreenPartyVoter
(73,393 posts)
mhatrw
(10,786 posts)than Sanders' new, fresh and widely appealing ideas for hope and change make him is completely unfathomable to me.
artyteacher
(598 posts)I thought he lost the debates, not counting Internet polls.
I guess he is getting a lot of donations, some not quite legal.
And he was predicted to win NH.
Maybe I'm missing something.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)
A much stronger nominee. She is disliked by many, she is under FBI investigations, her record of being untruthful will be brought up times 10 by the Republicans, plus her strong ties to Wall Street, not to even mention the Clinton Foundation. If we want a Democrat in the While House, Bernie has a stronger chance of winning.
Betty Karlson
(7,231 posts)We keep hearing about "just you wait until the GOP starts with Sanders".
No, actually: I can't wait until Sanders is unleashed on the GOP. He could bury them in the mother of all reallignment landslides. He may well exceed all expectations there!
Lorien
(31,935 posts)JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)
Karma13612
(4,981 posts)top of the heap candidate.
Thanks for this diary.
Now, lets get this one DONE!!!!
Feeling the Bern
(3,839 posts)and he is all out of a bubble gum!
Nitram
(27,749 posts)Sad.
SciDude
(79 posts)I will never vote for another Clinton and my entire family (of Democrats) agrees.
Left Coast2020
(2,397 posts)No citizen should settle for the lesser of 2 corporate evils.
Our revolution is growing. We can't stop. We need to keep going till we cross the finish line first. The millions of people already in this revolution need to tell other people to make this movement BIGGER!
Notice I said "we"
It doesn't get any better than that.