We are going to lose to Trump in November.

[MineralMan]

At least we are if we don't stop demonizing our candidates for the nomination soon.

As long as we continue to label everyone but our favorite as the enemy, we are feeding Trump the food he likes the best.

Our primary campaign has pretty much gone fully negative at this point, and it doesn't look like it's going to change.

That, my fellow Democrats, progressives and Democratic Socialists, is a losing strategy.

What a shame!

[rzemanfl]

1. I don't think the demonization is spread at all equally. n/t

[MineralMan]

9. No, of course it isn't.

But, we all know that there are only three, or maybe four, real contenders. Those are getting the bulk of the negativity and downright demonizing.

Today, I'm seeing Briahna, the Jill Stein voter, demonizing Bloomberg. Before, she was demonizing Biden.

Every candidate has something negative that can be brought up. Those things should be, so the candidate can explain, apologize, or whatever.

We don't do that, though. We beat our candidates over the head with even the smallest negatives, over and over again.

Do you think Briahna will vote for Biden or Bloomberg, if they end up being the nominee? Of course she won't, and she'll encourage others to do as she does.

Me? I'm voting for our nominee, no matter who he or she is. But, I have just one vote. Many, if their favorite does not get the nomination, will reject the nominee. It won't take a huge percentage of people doing that to hand Trump another term.

I'm discouraged, to tell you the truth. Not just here, but nationally in the real world of voters.

[rzemanfl]

10. I agree with you. Our cat should be able to beat Drumpf.

Sure as hell though, someone would point out she sometimes pees over the edge of the litterbox.

[hlthe2b]

2. I don't always agree with you, MM, but on this, I agree totally. It is devastating to see our own

cueing up all the material needed for Trump to prevail, while demoralizing our own.

ANY of them over Trump. ANY of them!

[Turin_C3PO]

3. I agree.

We’re doing Trump’s work for him. Bloomberg and Sanders are my least favorite but I’ll work like hell to assure they beat Trump in November if one of them gets the nomination . Eyes on the prize.

[Bluepinky]

4. I agree, any of the candidates would be better than what we have now.

Totally tired of the insults directed at our candidates, mostly Bernie and now Bloomberg.

[Dopers_Greed]

5. I'm prepared to be crushed in November

When we have full-on fascism in the US, with no prayer of any progressive policies ever being implemented again.

I hope that the left-wing of our party will be happy.

[Codeine]

16. I'm starting to lean your way,

which frankly fucking sucks. I never believed Trump could win in 2016, and I was confident he’d be out this time but now I’m losing hope.

[dawg day]

6. I agree... but all have to stand down...

Biden and Buttigieg are more polite when they go after each other, but they could knock it off.

[Stuart G]

7. I agree.

[NRaleighLiberal]

8. we are humans, and thus we default to tribal behavior, sadly

[DanTex]

11. Agreed, although I wouldn't say that this is "fully negative."

It's gotten more negative in the last few weeks, but overall I think it's been quite civil by historical standards. 2008 was pretty rough. 2016 was not as rough as 2008, but they still got into it. This year is more cordial than 2016, at least so far.

But, yeah, demonizing our own candidates during primaries doesn't help the primary objective of defeating Trump.

[blueinredohio]

12. I'm hoping when the nominee is chosen we will all come together.

[Pacifist Patriot]

13. I don't know.

1992 was pretty brutal, and we prevailed against an incumbent with very high approval ratings in the aftermath of Gulf War I.

Hillary and Obama went at it tooth and nail in 2008 and we got a relative newbie in the White House over a war hero (albeit with a nitwit as a running mate).

This feels like a "twas ever thus" experience to me. Primaries are brutal, but then you can absolutely win if the party rallies behind the nominee. My fear isn't the negative campaigning now, which is sadly par for the course once actual primary voting begins. It's the damned purists who can't bring themselves to hold their noses and vote for the Democrat and sit it out or split for a third-party candidate who cannot possibly win. That's how we would lose to Trump. Hmmm...upon reflection, seems a little too familiar for comfort, doesn't it?

[CrispyQ]

14. I fear you are right.

There were too damned many candidates. And too many unqualified ones. I haven't followed the primaries so I don't know what the process was, but Williamson and Yang are not even remotely qualified to run the country, yet they got way more exposure than Michael Bennett, a proven statesman.

"Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good," is never more true than in politics. I was way more idealistic with I was young, but I was also practical and always voted blue no matter who. Elections are not the time to pout or make personal statements. Bernie Sanders was right, back in 2015 when he said, there are two ways to the White House in this country and one is through the Republican Party and the other is through the Democratic Party. At the federal level at least, we are still a two party system.

[melman]

15. Be the change you want to see in the world

[NurseJackie]

17. I think the outcome is inevitable. At this point, I'm looking for a silver lining.

[musicman65]

18. The way we see it is

if we don't stop with the inner attacks and not come up with a clear plan,we will have 4 more years of dump
We all agree he has to go,but getting to that point is hard to drive home especially with the mixer b.s.same old crap,no such thing as a freebee folks....

[lostnfound]

19. Going to lose because it's being manipulated. Nt

[Beringia]

20. Don't you rail against Bernie sometimes