I've changed my mind...

[targetpractice]

I'm sure nobody cares what I think... But here it is...

I love Pete Buttigieg, and he has been my DU primary candidate preference since this primary group was started earlier this year. I've been tempted to change a few times... However, I had an honest moment with myself yesterday... I imagined that I was in an old school NYC voting booth, and realized that I would proudly and definitively flip the switch and pull the lever for Bernie Sanders.

I came to this after listening to impeachment witnesses these last couple of weeks... Their competence and conviction made me proud of government, and what a career of consistent public service means. I am comforted that these people are handling things that I don't need to worry about every day... And, I really miss feeling comfortable and secure with my government... I believe Bernie has, and has always had, our best interests in his heart and mind.

So, I'm for Bernie now... And, he looks and sounds great after some tune-up work on his ticker!

[Sloumeau]

1. I respect you for giving your choice for President a lot of thought.

Bernie Sanders has a lot of great qualities, and he's been fighting the good fight for a long time. Although he's not my first choice, I would be proud to vote for him in the General Election should get the nomination. No matter who you pick, things will probably be OK. The way I see it, we have at least nine candidates that are about 1000 times better than Trump. Enjoy the ride.

[brooklynite]

2. Bernie's a very nice guy who will lose the election and likely lose us the House as well

[Act_of_Reparation]

3. umad?

[brooklynite]

4. Why would you suggest that?

I've worked in Democratic politics since I was 18. I analyze each race dispassionately based on the candidates and the voters. Sanders couldn't get mainstream voters to support him in the 2008 Primary, and he won't be able to attract mainstream voters in a General Election. Add to which, Freshman Congresspeople that I know think that having him at the top of the ticket will bring them down as well.

[thesquanderer]

8. re: "Sanders couldn't get mainstream voters to support him in the 2008 Primary"

He didn't run in 2008, but I assume you meant 2016. But actually, he got plenty of mainstream support in 2016.... in fact, polls generally showed him beating Trump in a GE scenario much more easily than Hillary (who was, as we saw, polling too close for comfort). The problem isn't that he couldn't get the mainstream voters he would need for the general, it was that he could not get enough of the Dem party faithful to win the nomination against Hillary in the first place.

And as JonLP24 said, polls also showing him beating Trump in 2020... in fact, out of all our candidates, he is second only to Biden in how well he polls against Trump. If you don't think Sanders could beat Trump, then perhaps you think that none of our candidates except Biden can beat Trump. I imagine quite a few people think that. I hope it's not true.

[JudyM]

21. Highly rec your post. Truth said not often enough in the muck slung at him by a select few here.

[JonLP24]

5. Sanders beats Trump in almost every poll

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_sanders-6250.html

I know it doesn't matter much because things can change but I think Sanders can beat Trump as well as other candidates. I believe he can turn out non-voters who have given up on politics & young voters.

The main thing that can hurt him is the constant negative campaigning against Bernie Sanders could hurt him in the general election but so far he has been able to withstand the strongest attacks which come from Democrats. Republicans have nothing except "he's honest because he's a socialist" and "crazy Bernie".

[brooklynite]

7. "non-voters who have given up on politics & young voters" didn't show up in 16 or 18...

You go to the election with the voters you have.

[JonLP24]

9. You go to the election with the voters you have

With Sanders I think he can expand the electorate like Obama.

[brooklynite]

10. Obama didn't expand the electorate on the left...

He attracted people in the center. If you recall, he won NC for the first time in 1976 and took one of the EVs in Nebraska.

[JonLP24]

11. I didn't mean just the left

Though I think most people are naturally left wing. The right wing survives by a lot of propaganda like climate change is a hoax.

Obama ran to the left of Bush especially on issues of war on terror & violating civil liberties that he moved away from. One of the things Obama did signal he would be to the right of the party is charter schools Arne Duncan reforms which turned out to be a disaster.

[Celerity]

13. 'young voters" didn't show up in 16 or 18...'

2018 we showed more than Boomers and older

WE younger voters WERE the Blue Wave, as Boomers and older are FAR more likely to vote Rethug (I personally am a 23yo Zennial, ie a border Gen Z Millennial, ie born 1992-98)


Gen Z, Millennials and Gen X outvoted older generations in 2018 midterms

https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/05/29/gen-z-millennials-and-gen-x-outvoted-older-generations-in-2018-midterms/

[brooklynite]

17. So, "You young voters" support moderate candidates? Because that's what got us the blue wave.

[Celerity]

18. if that was who won the primary, that is who we voted for, with a very few exceptions (and only one

of those, the since set-up and run-out Katie Hill, was a flip from R to D)

[blm]

6. I hear you. I always vote for the most competent anti-corruption candidate

because I want to see good government in action. It gives me faith to see honest government workers in place.

[BannonsLiver]

12. These testimonials feel so organic.

[targetpractice]

14. Thanks, BannonsLiver...

I've been a DU member since 2001 and don't post frequently... I do so when I have something on my mind.

So, thanks for your lovely reply. Folks like you make the internet wonderful a wonderful place to hang out.

[BannonsLiver]

15. You're welcome.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

19. The OP has been a member for 18 years and is a donor.

[BannonsLiver]

20. Ok

[Uncle Joe]

16. Welcome aboard targetpractice

and thanks for sharing.