Calm down, establishment Democrats. Bernie Sanders might be the safest choice.

[Donkees]

“Moderate” candidates won’t be electable if they can’t speak to middle- and working-class frustrations.

By Robert B. Reich

Robert B. Reich is a former U.S. Secretary of Labor, a professor of public policy at the University of California, Berkeley and author of the forthcoming, "The System: Who Rigged It, How We Fix It."

Feb. 26, 2020 at 6:28 a.m. EST

Excerpts:


As wealth and power have moved to the top and the middle class has shrunk, more Americans feel politically disempowered and economically insecure. Today's main divide isn’t left versus right. It’s establishment versus anti-establishment.

The frustrations today are larger than they were four years ago. Even though corporate profits and executive pay have soared, the typical worker’s pay has barely risen, jobs are less secure, and health care less affordable.

The best way for Democrats to defeat Trump’s fake populism is with the real thing, coupled with an agenda of systemic reform. This is what Sanders offers. For that reason, he has the best chance of generating the energy and enthusiasm needed to regain the White House.

In a general election, Republicans would surely do everything they can to tag Sanders with the “socialist” label. But that hasn’t hurt him so far, partly because it doesn’t come with the stigma it once did.

Instead of hand-wringing about Sanders’s electability, maybe establishment Democrats should worry that a “moderate” Democrat might be nominated instead.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/02/26/calm-down-establishment-democrats-bernie-sanders-might-be-safest-choice/

[Jokerman]

1. K & R

[Sloumeau]

2. I remember when Robert B. Reich used to make sense.

However, he seems to make less sense nowadays.

[Fresh_Start]

13. he has a book to sell..and propaganda is doing well right now nt

nt

[CentralMass]

3. K&R

[comradebillyboy]

4. Safest for the Republicans I think.

[highplainsdem]

5. +1,000,000

[musette_sf]

9. + 1

[Awsi Dooger]

6. It reminds me of Floridians who tried to rationalize Andrew Gillum

We knew the state. We knew that moderate Gwen Graham fit the state but Andrew Gillum did not. Then once the shock set in that Gillum was indeed our nominee we had to make the most of it and pretend that the primary voters knew what they were doing.

There were numerous articles toward Gillum virtually identical to the Reich one toward Sanders.

Then November showed up. Floridians voted along typical patterns. Via forcing ideology we threw away a key governorship that should not have been losable in 2018.

[stopdiggin]

7. this. 1+

the idea that middle class/working class voters are ready for (or are going to vote for) "revolution" .... is absolute twaddle.

(there's a reasonable chance for some of these voters going against Trump, because they recognize him as a dick and an embarrassment to their country .. but "socialism" .. "free stuff for everyone" .. get fu**ing REAL!)

[uponit7771]

10. WHOA !!! Please make this an OP. I feel Biden gives us the best chance because of Swing State ...

... numbers that are harder to play around with than Sanders.

The cheating begins when democrats are within MOE

[stopdiggin]

11. this. 1+

the idea that middle class/working class voters are ready for (or are going to vote for) "revolution" .... is absolute twaddle.

(there's a reasonable chance for some of these voters going against Trump, because they recognize him as a dick and an embarrassment to their country .. but "socialism" .. "free stuff for everyone" .. get fu**ing REAL!)

[uponit7771]

8. Sanders has no historical swing state appeal vs Trump outside of MOE, Biden has the most

Swing states are what's most important

[Donkees]

12. *