Well blow me down! GOP friend posts Pro-Bernie FB meme.

[Atman]

The guy is a long-time friend, lives in Florida. He's a gun totin' Commie hatin' good ol' boy with no time for us lazy liberals. So imagine my shock when I opened FB yesterday and saw this post from him: "We're incarcerating more citizens than we're educating. This country is really starting to suck." It was followed by a graphic of Bernie Sanders' platform!

This could get interesting.

[Agschmid]

1. It already is.

[smiley]

2. I've had the same experience...

and it's what makes me believe Bernie truly has the message to draw the votes from both parties. The question is will the establishment allow it?

[NJCher]

16. what can they do about it?

Cher

[hootinholler]

23. Plenty

Stay out of the kitchen in California Bernie.

[emulatorloo]

27. So the DNC killed RFK?

Fascinating.

[hootinholler]

30. There's a leap

Not in evidence.

[emulatorloo]

31. So not an oblique reference to the Califoria kitchen at the Ambassador Hotel in '68?

Ok good, glad to hear I misinterpreted!

So what do you mean about Bernie staying out of kitchens in California? Did something happen I missed?

[hootinholler]

33. You got the reference correct

The DNC being behind it is not in evidence.

[NJCher]

32. I don't understand

Stay out of planes I understand. Kitchen, no.



Cher

[smiley]

35. plenty...

I think I would be naive to assume the GOP is the only party capable of vote tampering.

[jeff47]

36. Plenty of ways to help Clinton and hurt Sanders

The most visible at the moment is the very late start to the debates, and the very small number of debates. IA and NH will see 4 debates before they vote. SC and NV have a slim chance of getting a 5th. There's no way to fit another in between NV and Super Tuesday. So most likely, we'll get all the way through Super Tuesday with 4 debates.

The DNC also controls the format and exposure of those debates.

Then there's the attacks the establishment can unleash. Have some sitting Democrats attack anyone other than Clinton because the establishment can promise something in return. Like no significant primary opponent, or committee assignments, or promises to not block their favorite cause.

Then there's the McGovern strategy: actively help the Republican campaign. It will be used if Sanders wins the nomination.

[Sancho]

3. Some of us have been saying for quite a while that Bernie attracts a subset of conservatives.

Of course I get flamed most of the time, but I've seen the "Archie Bunker" types support some of Bernie's plans, but don't like the typical clown car.

Who knows, but they appear to be conservative, not billionaires, working white, gun owners. They also rant against big corporations, think Bernie is sympathetic to gun ownership, and don't always agree with over-policing.

At any rate, this subgroup shows up in some polls as Bernie supporters who report being "conservative", and also are probably part of the crowds appearing in rural, white states. Even though he is "progressive", Ed Schultz was on the edge of this group: outdoor sportsman, initially in favor of the oil pipeline to save jobs, and less often railing about minority/immigration issues.

The subset also has a tinge of sexism and is usually more male.

I've definitely seen the stereotype here in Florida.

[ram2008]

28. There is truth to this

Just saw a conversion happen on my Facebook today. Retired cop always posting conservative, anti-Obama crap on FB, my cousin pointed out something that Bernie has said and he said he'd do some research. A few comments later and he said he checked his website, liked what he was saying and was converted and will support Bernie even though he's a socialist.

This is an archie-bunker ol' retired Irish cop guy from a working class family. I was shocked, but there is some potential there. I think these people would've been Obama supporters had it not been for their racial reservations/Faux news fearmongering about him. They're not very politically educated and are anti-establishment types-- I think they feel as if they've been ignored, and shafted- they're angry.

[artislife]

37. Why not? After 40 years people are going

to start to notice that they have been taken for a ride. It really helps that we don't have just 3 major stations on tv and that the internet is still pretty free with information coming in from all walks of life.

It makes keeping the status quo the same all that more difficult.

[SteveG]

41. Bernie connects with working class types

who are more concerned with economic issues than social issues.

[NCcoast]

4. I think Bernie is going to pull people in from left, right and center

Just having anyone stand up and say, at long last, it doesn't have to be this bad, we don't have to keep careening toward the abyss. I think this thing is going to get completely out of hand, I think Bernie is going to awaken at least some of the vast ranks of the demoralized and despondent non voters. If he can quicken just a few percent of the zombie electorate out there, it's going to be a landslide. I think that's what's coming. I believe the inevitability of the tsunami will be apparent well before the first caucus in Iowa. If it does go that way there will be an opportunity to organize congressional candidates behind Bernie. Then we'll be getting somewhere.

[Fast Walker 52]

5. Bernie is the *sane* candidate for people who want real change

and his positions are common sense and popular-- for all sides of the spectrum. So yes, I agree.

[marble falls]

12. Certainly makes him a populist, doesn't it!

[global1]

17. That Will Be The Key To His Revolution....

After he wins the nomination he goes to the states with gerrymandered districts and endorses congressional candidates that can break the gerrymandering and win Congress back for the Dems that will help him make good on his platform.

Go Bernie!!!!!!

[Stevepol]

18. Organizing the down-ballot candidates is essential BUT

will somebody, anybody, please PLEASE put a bug in Bernie's ear about THE VOTING MACHINES!!!!!!!!!!!!

These machines are routinely tilted now and unless a very bright light is shone on the specific races, they will be tilted just enough to eke out victories where everything seemed fine, maybe a 5% pre-election margin for the Dem turns into a 3% victory for the bad guys.

And he needs a mantra: VERIFY THE VOTE!!

[NCcoast]

22. Agreed

It's just another one of those threads the main stream media will never pull on. They know where it would lead.

[canoeist52]

6. I'm getting the same experience here.

Some through the GMO food issue.
Some through the corruption in govt.
Some through making Saudi Arabia pay to fight ISIS.
The most are due to taking care of our veterans issue

Who knew that issues mattered to voters?

It is heartening to see.

[mmonk]

7. The truth matters when it gets by all the media filters.

[Android3.14]

8. Maybe

I'd love to think this was about Sander's universal appeal. I also think he will pull many votes from the conservative side, but only in the GE.

At this point it's obvious the GOP populist is The Donald.

I'm thinking memes like this are mostly from some pretty stupid people who think the GOP could more easily beat Bernie Sanders than Clinton.

[tazkcmo]

19. The difference between Trump and Sanders...

The people I've been talking to that express interest in Trump aren't likely to vote or GOTV types. I always ask these Trump Humpers who they voted for in 2012 and who they're voting for in local congressional elections...they answer nobody and don't care, in that order. Compared to ardent Clinton, Sanders and O'Malley supporters who are knocking on doors, making phone calls and are registered to vote and know who their reps are. A few I've spoken to are actually undocumented or have parents that are undocumented, if you can believe it! (I work in food service and work with at least 7 undocumented workers or children of undocumented parents that I know of) All anecdotal, I know. Most of these people are all hot air and will not vote.

[Android3.14]

20. Let's ask the conservatives who are expressing support for Sanders...

Those same questions. I'm not literally asking you to do that, but I'd be curious as to the result.

No argument about the difference between Trump and Sanders.

[secondwind]

9. blow me down, indeed! can I share this? n/t

[Cryptoad]

10. you can blow me down

that some are just now having this quantum leap.

[aikoaiko]

11. Yep, and with many states with OPEN or semi-open primaries...anything can happen

States that use an open primary

There are 14 states that use a purely open primary process:
Alabama
Arkansas
Hawaii
Michigan
Minnesota
Missouri
Montana
North Dakota
South Carolina
Tennessee
Vermont
Virginia
Wisconsin

The following states use a semi-open primary system:
Alaska: Parties may decide who may vote in their primary election. Republicans hold a closed caucus for nominating candidates, but Democrats, Libertarians and the Alaskan Independence Party all hold open primaries.[8][5]
Georgia: Voters do not register with a party, but voters must declare an oath of intent to affiliate with the party in whose primary they participate.[5]
Illinois: Voters do not register with a party; however, they must publicly choose which party's ballot they will vote at the primary election.[9]
Indiana: Voters do not register with a party, but the ballot they get depends on their voting history, or which party they have voted for most in the past.[10] Known as a "modified open" primary, voters must have voted for a majority of a party's candidates in the last general election in order to vote in the primary. If the voter did not vote in the last general election, the he/she is must vote for a majority of that party's candidates in the general election; however, this is difficult to enforce.[5]
Mississippi: Voters do not register with a party, but they must support the nominations made in that party's primary.[5]
North Dakota: Voters do not register with a party. Republicans hold a caucus that requires voters to have supported the Republican party in the last general election, or to do so in the next one.[5]
Ohio: Voters must affiliate with a party in order to vote in its primary; however, they do not choose their affiliation until they request that party's ballot in the primary.[11]
Texas: Voters do not have to register with a party. At the primary, they may choose which party primary ballot to vote on, but in order to vote they must sign a pledge declaring they will not vote in another party's primary or convention for that year.[5][12] Voters must affiliate with the same party in runoff primaries as in the previous primary for that year.[5]

http://ballotpedia.org/Open_primary

[Babel_17]

13. Sanders might be appealing to people's resentment of the system

People see a system that isn't handling peoples needs and which has a disdain for change. People are angry at the system and see the system as being against Sanders.

Therefore, Sanders must have good qualities going for him, to be so opposed by that bunch. Sanders is basically running on "We can do better, and we will do better when we start taking care of the 99% instead of the 1%". And he is saying that with a credible conviction that people are buying into. People agree with his core message, and they agree he is sincere about it.

If they don't see similar from someone more in alignment with their politics, then Sanders is going to look appealing even though on some issues he's not their guy.

[marble falls]

14. Any chance you could post a link? He sounds like a bunch of guys I know shaking off their "Tea" buzz

[Atman]

24. I don't want to link to a friend's FB page.

I don't really think that is fair to him.

However, he has lived under the horrible, corrupt Rick Scott regime since day one, and he is a very smart guy. He is a structural engineer who owns his own business. His success over the last several years has led him to travel around the world, including a few trips to the Middle East, and I've seen his perspective change (or "evolve," if you will). I don't think there is any chance he'd vote for Clinton because she is pretty much more of the same, but he does understand the very changes that Sanders is campaigning on. He loves the ol' home town and he's seen more and more of the 1% move in and buy up land and get special laws passed just for them. He has always struck me a pretty fair guy.

[artislife]

38. good answer!

He chooses who his friends are, keep his privacy!

[I hate liars]

15. This is evidence of the false divide promoted by our media...

There are many issues of importance to both Democrats and Republicans, left and right in this country. And many wedge issues hyped by ratf*ckers and corporate media that don't reflect what's really important to Americans in their daily lives.

What attracted me to Bernie is the lack of artifice and hidden agendas in his platform, words, and track record. That some conservatives react positively and for the same reasons is a hopeful sign.

[safeinOhio]

21. Put a Sanders bumper sticker on my car

and have had a lot of young, college age, folks honk and stop and talk to me.. I'm seeing excitement from that crowd, that usually says home on election day. College age kids stopping to talk to a 66 year old guy.

[xynthee]

25. I hope he's registered as a Dem!!

Sounds like he'd be reluctant to do so, but who knows???

[questionseverything]

26. many repubs are fiscally conservative

and they do not want to pay for the inmates that are non violent offenders

there are also repubs that have a conscience and do not want to fill prisons just because they are for profit prisons and the state has guaranteed to keep them full

this is just one area where the far left and far right agree

[kenn3d]

29. The Emerging Left-Right Alliance to Dismantle the Corporate State

This probably should be a separate OP... but it seems more or less on topic to the thread so...

[rhett o rick]

34. The Democratic Party Elite are afraid of this very thing. Republicans switching

for Sanders. Their biggest nightmare.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

39. my right wing boss says...

he will vote for Bernie if he beats Hillary

landslide?

[cui bono]

40. This is why we need to send him to the general election.

He can and will win if we do!

My colleague who only votes for presidents and has always voted Republican said he likes Sanders and will vote for him if given the opportunity.

Hillary will never draw from the Republican Party, too much baggage. They will not vote for her.

[L0oniX]

42. Bernie leans left and attracts republicans. Hillary leans right, looses the left and...

gains nothing. Shocking!