Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumAn honest conversation about Bernie Sanders starts with one basic observation.
Bernie is hugely popular among Democrats, and his policies are supported by the majority of the American people.There is no "honest" conversation that doesn't start there. All the polls point there. He has the best favorability numbers among Dems. When Dems choose the candidate that represents their values/policies best, it is Bernie hands down. And even when Dems pick the candidate who they think is best to defeat Trump, Bernie is now catching up and passing the others.
Yes, there are some Dems who have issues with Bernie. But there are a lot more Dems who think Bernie is exactly what the doctor ordered. For those who don't like Bernie, the question to ask is why? Why is it that a guy who has been Independent his whole career, and who identifies as "socialist", a word that has been forbidden for decades in American politics, is the most popular Democrat in the field?
And, if we want honest answers, we need to drop all the false talking points. It's not that "70% of Dems don't want Bernie". It's not "the Russians". It's not because dumb young people just want "free stuff." It's because Bernie is where the majority of the Democratic electorate thinks the party should be.
I've seen people bring up that the Medicare for All would only get some 5 or 10 votes in the senate. People bring that up to show how pie-in-the sky Bernie's policies are. But that's entirely the wrong conclusion. The real question is, given that M4A is supported by a significant majority of Dem voters, why are the Democrats in the senate so far from the Democratic electorate on this and other issues?
I highly recommend the book "Listen Liberal" by Thomas Frank. Quick summary. For decades the Democratic Party has drifted towards the center on economic issues. On policies ranging from welfare reform, economic and financial deregulation, trade agreements, etc., the Dems have adopted positions in line with the "Beltway consensus" as expressed by the Washington Post editorial page. But the WP editorial page does not actually represent the views of rank-and-file Democrats. The Democratic establishment has drifted away from the Democratic electorate.
Thomas Frank is not some "Bernie Bro," he is highly intelligent, committed liberal Democrat. And he, like a majority of Democratic voters, doesn't see Bernie as some interloper trying to dupe the party, but rather as the leader of a movement attempting to bring the Democratic Party back to its working class roots.
And let me repeat the most important part of that last sentence. THE MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATIC VOTERS. We wouldn't even be having this conversation not for the fact that the MAJORITY OF DEMOCRATIC VOTERS agreed with Bernie and Thomas Frank about the need to reverse some of the drift to the center and move back towards the party of FDR.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
boston bean
(36,221 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
DanieRains
(4,619 posts)When is the last time you saw an interview of some family who lost a loved one because they couldn't afford insulin?
We are being "steered" towards the center while the ice melts.
Cover everyone as affordably as possible, and have the insanely rich pay for it. They don't pay for the pollution created to support their dividends.
Healthcare For All.
Do it.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ProgressDiv
(31 posts)to back up your "gut reaction" maybe do some actual research before blurting out "magical thinking". Herd mentality is a poor substitute for actual facts.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
boston bean
(36,221 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dalton99a
(81,468 posts)If they don't, the cadres will provide proper mass education
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ProgressDiv
(31 posts)Sniping with snark without engaging at all with the research and polling data presented is pretty much admitting you have no argument.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)No I don't have to figure out how to write something like this myself.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Nay
(12,051 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
KPN
(15,643 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
uponit7771
(90,335 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ProgressDiv
(31 posts)by the low quality fingers-in-the-ears "responses". Saying "this is false" when evidence has been presented and you have NOTHING to bring to the conversation does not reach the level of intelligent discussion.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
joethedrummer
(20 posts)Another empty self-righteous rebuttal ignoring the entire post they clicked on.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Dustlawyer
(10,495 posts)politicians whose only constituents are donors. There is a reason why we have the wealth inequality we do, our politicians perpetuate it with policies from well funded think tanks. To keep their seats they have done the dirty work to keep getting the donations. We are tired of a rigged game!
Bernie is upsetting that.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
blm
(113,050 posts)Who took their OWN decades of original research and remedies and built the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau?
Some make themselves an eager audience for bombast and rhetoric.
Some make themselves appreciative observers of remedial action.
And vote accordingly.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
DanieRains
(4,619 posts)Amerikkkkkkka!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
There is nothing in the original post that Elizabeth Warren would disagree with, that I can see. She is making the same case, and also appealing to the actual preferences of ordinary voters instead of the "Washington consensus".
The information presented (including research by Thomas Frank) is valid and supports both candidates. It also undermines the Biden, Pete, Klobachar, Bloomberg posture: centricism is not as popular as they think it is.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
blm
(113,050 posts)that the ONLY candidate actually tangibly upsetting the system is Warren. And she did it long before Sanders started running for president in 2015.
Rhetoric vs Action.
Sanders accepting the credit for Warrens decades of heavy lifting is horseshyt. And I am sick and tired of his rhetoric getting praise while her decades of work that actually made a difference gets........snake emojis.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,122 posts)to be our CHAMPION... finally we have someone who will look out for the working class on Main Street over the greedy bastards with their corporate interests on Wall Street!!
Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Bluepinky
(2,268 posts)You explained it so well. And it starts with taking corporate money out of politics. Either a candidate is beholden to big money corporations or to average people, make a choice, because he or she cant represent both.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
DanieRains
(4,619 posts)No way they will let Bernie, or anyone else make that happen.
Campaign dollars go to CNN, MSNBC, and Fox. Others too.
Catch 22.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Bluepinky
(2,268 posts)I see how the MSM is stirring things up with these Democratic primaries. There always has to be a controversy.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
DanieRains
(4,619 posts)Go0tta get eyeballs.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Autumn
(45,064 posts)will never believe or acknowledge your first sentence.
They believe we are all Russian bots and trolls.
Him winning the popular vote in the Caucus so far? Nah, the Bros and Russia cheated.
Young people overwhelmingly support him? Don't matter they don't vote.
Bernie gets a rise in any poll. That's a shit poll and besides polls mean nothing.
I could go on but you get my drift
You are one of my favorite people here but you are, as my Daddy always said, pissing in the wind if you think that conversation will happen.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
blm
(113,050 posts)along with other academics, the decades of painstaking research that went into the development of remedial policy proposals, and that some politicians in recent election years parrot as their own policy positions.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
DanTex
(20,709 posts)of actually winning the nomination right now. I was undecided until recently for that very reason.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
blm
(113,050 posts)And they feed into the dumbed down, hate-filled faction of his supporters. The snake emoji faction. The Warren copies Bernie faction who are unable to process the fact that, if anything, Bernie has been cribbing from Warrens DECADES of work, when he formed his policy positions.
And Warren is the only one of the two who can unify the party.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Bluepinky
(2,268 posts)Im just happy to see a progressive doing so well in the race. Wouldnt it be something if Sanders and Warren appeared together on the ticket?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
blm
(113,050 posts)Do you go around posting that Warren copies Bernie? Are you one of the Bernie camp who posted snake emojis on all references to Warren?
If you didnt then you are not part of the faction I described in my post.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Bonobo
(29,257 posts)Now you are my absolute favorite poster.
So clear eyed and logical.
No bullshit, no obfuscation. Straight to the point.
Like my man Bernie, in fact.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Lunch Lady
(32 posts)He's working for the change we need.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)If Bernie somehow manages to squeak out a nomination. He'll motivate ONLY those who want to come out and vote AGAINST HIM.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287570879
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Fiendish Thingy
(15,601 posts)(Since youre including those who didnt vote) So I guess he shouldnt have even run for president, right?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Yet another "whatabout" FAIL!
Want to try again?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Fiendish Thingy
(15,601 posts)By my calculations, 69% of American voters did not vote for Obama in 2008. What does that mean?
So, 91% of Nevada voters not voting for Sanders, what does it mean?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)These figures do not square with the "unbridled enthusiasm" and "highest turnout ever" and THRONGS of people who were GIDDY at the prospect of being able to finally vote for a Socialist. We need some perspective.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Thanks for helping me to make my point.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Yavin4
(35,438 posts)go even further to the right. The Republicans didn't drift to the center. There was no Republican Leadership Conference after 2008. There are no 3rd way Republicans.
That entire party became hardcore conservatives because they knew that the Dems would be center right.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
That's exactly what happened.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Alliepoo
(2,216 posts)Just nope.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
bucolic_frolic
(43,146 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
DanTex
(20,709 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
SidDithers
(44,228 posts)Sid
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
jalan48
(13,862 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
whistler162
(11,155 posts)declare the win and leave the field!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
JudyM
(29,233 posts)supercritical matters.
It really seems to me that we have not held the line on environmental protection and election security/gerrymandering, in particular. Now we have to play more than just serious catch-up, but go well beyond where we were before to strengthen our position.
We may not recover from McConnells destruction of our judicial system, and all the fallout that is ensuing, for decades. I do not recall our fighting tooth and nail, turning over every rock to get Obama's judicial nominees through... did we and I just missed it? It seemed like we tried and then assumed Hillary would get in and so pretty much let the fight go and waited for her win. To devastatingeffect, as we see... looming destruction of our democracy and the planet.
Of course it is the fault of the damned rethugs (and may McConnell and trump's cabal suffer in every possible way as soon as possible), and they have played far dirtier than we may have expected, but IMO we didnt adequately watch the gates, particularly on election interference as it was developing.
Any of the candidates would be fine in a normal election. But only Bernie and Liz are waving a banner of real repair of our Democratic infrastructure, which fundamentally requires peeling it back from large donor influence. Rather than being ignorant chumps, Sanders supporters may just be seeing a different, and possibly more accurate, reality.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
zentrum
(9,865 posts)And the vitriol around here is shocking. The majority of the American people are to the left of Congress.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
floppyboo
(2,461 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
edhopper
(33,575 posts)he has been so uncompromising that it is questionable if he can get anything done.
As he has not gotten anything done in the Senate.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ananda
(28,858 posts)Exactly right.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Mars and Minerva
(369 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
llashram
(6,265 posts)and no they are not.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ancianita
(36,043 posts)That honesty is the basis of all the rest of honest conversation that you say you want.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
DanTex
(20,709 posts)https://thehill.com/hilltv/what-americas-thinking/426780-poll-a-majority-of-voters-want-a-15-minimum-wage
https://thehill.com/hilltv/what-americas-thinking/412545-70-percent-of-americans-support-medicare-for-all-health-care
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2019/9/26/20883384/green-new-deal-poll-swing-districts
https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/461106-majority-of-voters-support-free-college-eliminating-student-debt
https://www.vox.com/2018/4/6/17086720/poll-corporate-board-democracy-worker-council-codetermination-union-labor
https://inequality.org/research/americans-support-breaking-big-banks/
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/29/business/economy/economy-politics-survey.html
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)KFF polling finds more Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents would prefer voting for a candidate who wants to build on the ACA in order to expand coverage and reduce costs rather than replace the ACA with a national Medicare-for-all plan (Figure 12). Additionally, KFF polling has found broader public support for more incremental changes to expand the public health insurance program in this country including proposals that expand the role of public programs like Medicare and Medicaid (Figure 13). And while partisans are divided on a Medicare-for-all national health plan, there is robust support among Democrats, and even support among four in ten Republicans, for a government-run health plan, sometimes called a public option (Figure 14). Notably, the public does not perceive major differences in how a public option or a Medicare-for-all plan would impact taxes and personal health care costs. However, there are some differences in perceptions of how the proposals would impact those with private health insurance coverage (Figure 15). KFF polling in February 2020 finds about four in ten Americans support both a Medicare-for-all plan and a public option (Figure 16). So while the general idea of a national health plan (whether accomplished through an expansion of Medicare or some other way) may enjoy fairly broad support in the abstract, it remains unclear how this issue will play out in the 2020 election and beyond.
https://www.kff.org/slideshow/public-opinion-on-single-payer-national-health-plans-and-expanding-access-to-medicare-coverage/
You're welcome.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)one with the best record for getting things accomplished.
One needs the temperament and people skills to make those promises a reality.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Orrex
(63,203 posts)If we're having an honest discussion, let's honestly and directly ask the poll respondents what they think of Sanders as a candidate and potential president. Instead, you're citing popularity of programs that most Democrats support, but you're equating that specifically to support for Sanders. That kind of three card monty won't win in November.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ancianita
(36,043 posts)-- How is a federal jobs guarantee paid for, again? Isn't it just tax churn?
-- OK on the $15 minimum wage
-- 30% either strongly or somewhat oppose M4A, and of the remaining 70% we don't know how many of them are even registered to vote -- campaigning without knowing registration #'s or political affiliations of this poll could be a crap shoot
-- OK on Green New Deal
-- sample of "registered voters" is murkey; first it's reported as "respondents," then "Democrats," so I can only conclude that it's a Democratic poll, overall. Cool for us, not a guaranteed issue across demographics. Just sayin.
-- sample problem; good luck with "money as speech" PAC opponents, who would call this soviet style communist, which might matter to Americans, other Bernie baggage weighed.
-- again, corporate PAC messaging would have a fearmongering field day with Bernie on this.
-- Why does Bernie get credit for Warren't wealth tax plan, again?
Thank you for the effort post. You've done alot of us a real service with these links.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
uponit7771
(90,335 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Watchfoxheadexplodes
(3,496 posts)There is a huge 26 trillion dollar hole now, then he tacks another glop of ice cream on his unrealistic pie.
How does it get paid for?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ancianita
(36,043 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Aviation Pro
(12,163 posts)Hes hugely popular with the infotainment media.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
wryter2000
(46,039 posts)Last edited Mon Feb 24, 2020, 02:18 PM - Edit history (1)
Large numbers of Democrats are angry at the 12% of his supporters who voted for Trump and therefore got us Trump. Hows that revolution working out for you? Plus, were getting the same crap this year from the usual suspects, some from high up in his organization.
Second, his policies may be popular, but when you label them socialist, they turn to poison. Yes, thats ignorant, but its the reality we have to live with.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ehrnst
(32,640 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Fiendish Thingy
(15,601 posts)Folks have to go through their own grieving process as the reality sinks in after Super Tuesday that, (if trends continue) Sanders will be the delegate leader and no other candidate can surpass his delegate count before the convention.
For some folks, this represents an emotionally charged, earth shaking paradigm shift filled with fears of catastrophe and an abandonment of normalcy and the status quo. Some will cling to fantasies of a brokered convention providing a candidate more in their comfort zone, but this scenario carries risks as great or greater than Having Sanders as the nominee, with fewer potential benefits.
Things are likely to get rough and raw around here before they get better (if they do).
Buckle up, March is going to be a bumpy month at DU - I hope we can be decent to each other, and gentle with those who are hurting as they cope with the changing reality before them.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Harker
(14,015 posts)and a heartwarming invitation to kindness.
Good for you. And all of us.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
fallout87
(819 posts)This seems to be lost on many that are preaching the doom and gloom of a Sanders nomination.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
rzemanfl
(29,556 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Moderateguy
(945 posts)Come back when Bernie starts winning that number...
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Sancho
(9,067 posts)...in Florida, M4A gets mixed support for example.
Honest conversations here do not start with the assumption that the "majority of democratic voters" agree with Bernie, nor do they conclude that Bernie is a "socialist".
Usually the discussions revolve around the personality of "yelling", the lack of specifics about funding, and transition to M4A when our state constitution allows for collective bargaining (Florida), and health care benefits are usually bargained. It would take decades to renegotiate some salary equivalent if health care became M4A.
Most Florida voters would prefer some action on a path to citizenship, a way to tax the tRumps and money launderers (none of the candidates have actually got a handle on that yet) without killing off a million IRAs, and climate change specifics.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
pnwmom
(108,977 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dlk
(11,561 posts)Last edited Mon Feb 24, 2020, 01:31 PM - Edit history (1)
Being able to work well with colleagues in Congress to pass legislation is basic requirement for an effective and successful president. Poking colleagues in the eye with insults is counterproductive and only diminishes that candidate and makes them look childish.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
dlk
(11,561 posts)There is a reason hes Putin's preferred candidate.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Eyeball_Kid
(7,431 posts)Job Two (tied with Job One): A blue Senate.
This is not just a political contest. It's for the survival of the nation.
So... anyone who can rid ourselves of the batshit crazy fascist and his sycophants will save the nation. Sanders is fine, Warren is fine, Biden is fine, Butti.... you get the message.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Garrett78
(10,721 posts)And winning behind an enthusiastic and passionate (and, yes, angry) base of youth and persons of color can change present realities. What seems like "pie in the sky" now can become reality if we fight hard enough.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Prue
(139 posts)The simple answer to your post is pretty straight forward - If Bernie is the super duper advocate of democratic values then why doesn't he proudly say he's a democrat?
The fact is - He's not a democrat. He is currently trying to "transform America" and hijack the democratic platform and make it his platform. If that's what most democrats want then that's totally fine but stop pretending that he's some great savior of the democratic party. He isn't. He's a socialist and he's trying to "transform America" into becoming a socialist country.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
mountain grammy
(26,619 posts)Ive been told right here on DU that Sanders supporters dont know how government works with no clue about how insulting that is.
The hyperbole about Sanders is off the charts here. Im so happy to finally see some pushback.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,122 posts)Johnnie: Congrats Dan, you are now the proud owner of a pair of custom Bernie All-Star Chucks...
perfect for canvassing the neighborhood on behalf of the next President of the United States... President Sanders!!
Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
cab67
(2,992 posts)What matters is how the conversation progresses.
Like a lot of people who really don't want Sanders to be the nominee, his opinions and policy plans are not the problem. They have nothing - zip, zilch, nada - to do with our concern.
Our concern is less with him becoming president and more with him becoming the nominee and NOT becoming the president.
Sanders is not nearly as baggage-free as many people seem to think. His record of real accomplishment is rather thin; he gives a good speech, but doesn't have much to show for turning his good ideas into working reality. A lot of us really do think he'd be squashed like a bug in the general election. (The polls comparing a particular Democratic candidate against Trump are meaningless and should be disregarded.)
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
scipan
(2,350 posts)You want me to throw away good evidence and just believe some declarative statements by you.
One function of the primary is to vet the candidates. Tell me why I shouldn't support him with facts based on evidence. It is telling that you try to preemptively throw out the head to head polls based on "they mean nothing".
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
cab67
(2,992 posts)They're taken before the devastating negative campaign Republicans are likely to throw at Sanders:
- his record of actual accomplishment is minimal.
- there's video of Sanders standing in front of anti-US crowds in Latin America, with the crowds chanting anti-US slogans.
- Sanders tried to send waste from Vermont to regions of Texas with large Latinx communities.
- he evidently stole his neighbors' utilities in the 1970's.
- he can credibly be accused of being a deadbeat dad.
- he's had a heart attack at an age when the median survival rate following one is less than 4 years.
- there's a difference between a Democratic socialist and a Communist, but the average voter will neither know about it nor care.
There's no such thing as a perfect candidate, but I really question whether it's a good idea to go after Trump with someone the Republicans can quickly brand as a Commie draft-dodging deadbeat-dad empty suit. It doesn't matter how many of these failings can be applied to Trump (esp. draft-dodging), nor will it matter whether these labels are misleading. They'd force Sanders (and the Democratic Party) onto the defensive at a time when we should be going on the offensive.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NNadir
(33,515 posts)...and frankly overwhelmingly white states with a fondness for popularism two very narrowly went for Clinton and went for the racist in chief, speak for the majority of Democrats.
There is honesty and there is arrogance.
Arrogance is the feature of the racist in chief, but is well known among digmatists on the left as well, who wish to claim that they speak for everyone.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Uncle Joe
(58,355 posts)Thanks for the thread DanTex.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(145,162 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(145,162 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
whistler162
(11,155 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden