Down Ballot Disaster

[Horizens]

“If Sanders wins the nomination, {it} would place him in instant tension with those down ballot candidates — almost all down ballot candidates — whose Senate and House victories cannot possibly be won by running on the platform of Medicare for All and “democratic socialism” — the platform that Sanders has run on forever.

Even if the Democrats, against the odds, are able to take back the Senate while running behind Sanders, then Sanders would likely face a House led by Pelosi, and a Senate led by Schumer. These leaders will not cave to Sanders the way McConnell has caved to Trump, because on most policy issues, Trump and the Republican leadership are aligned in a way that Sanders and the Democratic leadership will never be aligned. But it seems more likely that Sanders as President would face a weakened House majority and a continued Republican Senate majority.”


Jeffry C. Isaac

Professor of Political Science
Indiana University, Bloomington

[Peacetrain]

1. Good read.. lots to think about

[YOHABLO]

2. This guy is a political science professor?

[maxsolomon]

3. Yes.

https://polisci.indiana.edu/about/faculty/isaac-jeffrey.html

[YOHABLO]

4. thanks

[McTwisty]

5. Perhaps it's time to replace some of them then...

I’m sorry but I fail to see what’s so extreme about Sanders. What is so extreme about Medicare for all or free public college or even just forgiving college debt?

What’s so crazy about taking the money out of politics?

What’s so crazy or extreme about any of his policies? All I hear is they won’t pass... But there’s not really a reason why; just it’s extreme.

I fail to see what’s so extreme.

[JudyM]

9. Good questions.

Research is bearing out the validity of his claims, e.g., that Yale study that came out this week demonstrating a net win on multiple fronts (morbidity, mortality, convenience and costs) if we switch to Medicare for all. The more voters learn, the more they’ll be open.

Welcome to DU, McTwisty.

[greenjar_01]

6. RIP Professor Isaac's mentions

His email inbox .edu will be fascinating reading over the next couple of days.

[Dennis Donovan]

7. Link?

[Horizens]

10. Link

https://publicseminar.org/essays/things-fall-apart-perhaps-but-this-is-not-such-a-good-thing-in-the-shadow-of-trump/

[Dennis Donovan]

11. Thanks!

[jimlup]

8. I think this is assuming a great deal about the electorate

One lesson we should have learned from '16 but didn't was that the electorate doesn't act as the so called "wise" ones claim ...

[stopdiggin]

12. 100% with the exception ..

In the (very unlikely) event that Sanders came through with House/Senate majorities .. I think Schumer and Pelosi would both work hard to advance the presidents' agenda .. within the framework of what the electorate would tolerate, and allow for preservation of those majorities.

In other words .. a sweeping win such as described would be seen (and acknowledged) a considerable mandate for the victors' agenda. And I think political leaders and party would push for as much of it as was politically possible. But the Democratic party is not going to cower and kowtow to any leader the way the Republicans have done.

[Cha]

13. KR