We're not voting for Bernie

[tecelote]

He's a nice guy and all. But, we're voting for his policies.

That's why attacks against Bernie don't work.

That's why attacks against Trump don't work. His supporters also look at his policies first and foremost.

The difference between the two is not seen as personal but about political policy.

We are on the right side. We have honor, integrity, and the truth on our side. We believe science over any politician. We love our country and are doing our best to build a better world for our children.

That's why Bernie will win.

Ironically, it just might be our children that vote Bernie in.

[PuffedMica]

1. Income inequality has to come to an end.

[zackymilly]

3. So we all get 3 houses if Bernie wins? We're all going to be equal, right? n/t

[PuffedMica]

4. not with your logic

[True Blue American]

6. Do not forget

The chicken in every pot!

I am the first one to know inequality has to end but also know without a Democratic Congress nothing will be done. The Presidency is not the end all. People are fickle, they scare easy. That was proven after the ACA was passed. Republican scare tactics worked until they began to realize Republicans were taking away the few things they gained.

They played the hate Hillary scare just enough so Trump could slither across the finish line.

I will wait to see just how dumb voters are this time.

[zackymilly]

8. Majority of voters don't know the difference between a Socialist, Communist, Democratic Socialist

These labels will scare them into not voting for Sanders.

[True Blue American]

9. I am old enough to know.

Am also sure I am a very moderate Democrat.

[zackymilly]

13. Good, but most voters I come in contact with in my southern state don't know or care.

It's like rooting for a football team to them.

[True Blue American]

20. Well, I live

In the Southwestern portion of Ohio whose Ancestors came here during the 40’S and 50’s migration for jobs. Their minds have not changed a lick from one generation to the next.

[paleotn]

80. Southern state?

If they're white, the vast majority aren't voting for a Democrat anyways. So who cares? In my old county in NC, it's just us edumacated folks and the hippy dippys that vote for Democrats. All other white people are pre-programmed from the pulpit and centuries of racism to vote Republican no matter what. Reason number 2,765 why I don't live there anymore.

[BComplex]

116. The Southern Baptist pulpit in the south is where most white people get their politics

And it's as rightwing as MAGAts get.

[LenaW]

28. There's generally two types of people

One looks at those three labels and uses right wing talking points - even if they aren't personally right wing - to deliberately blur the distinctions between the three terms. They specifically seek to dumb down the general population and are happy to take advantage of that ignorance. They do it because they have a better chance of winning people over to their candidate if those people aren't well informed.

The other has a discussion with someone, realizes they are confused about the distinctions between the terms, and takes time to talk about them. Those are the people who think they have the best chance of winning someone over to their candidate if that person is well informed.

[MisterFred]

73. Heh. You realize that Biden's going to be called a socialist, too, right? nt

[zackymilly]

74. Maybe, but I haven't seen any videos of Biden calling himself one. n/t

[blue cat]

121. You realize that Biden doesn't call himself a socialist.

I’m tired to trying to explain to people who say they won’t vote for a socialist.

[MisterFred]

122. Yep. But in my experience the people who won't vote for a socialist will also

call Biden a socialist. Meaning Fox News watchers.

[LakeArenal]

77. His last challenge to the Democratic Establishment

Sunk Bernie.

For me and I bet many of his colleagues.

Well not really his colleagues because he’s not a Democrat.

[thesquanderer]

119. I don't think those terms have much relevance for most folks under 60-ish. n/t

[Bettie]

39. Do you think Sanders is the only Democratic candidate that they

can do that to this cycle?

They will do it to anyone we run. Warren, Biden, Pete, Amy...none of them would be immune from it, there would just be different approaches.

[TTUBatfan2008]

105. Valid point Bettie...

I seem to remember Mayor Pete said during one of the debates a number of months ago, "The Republicans are going to call us socialists and communists no matter what we propose. We might as well try to do the right thing for the public."

[Perseus]

82. That is not what Bernie is talking about, be real

DISCLAIMER: I will vote for Biden if he becomes the nominee, I just don't think he is the best candidate at this time, has not proved it, his debates have been under par, and not in a golf kind of way.

Biden's smirk in that picture, I wish someone would change it. Maybe its me reacting to it after a sarcastic comment from a Biden supporter...Anyway, that is not what Bernie is advocating, not what his agenda is about.

Have you gone on Bernie's website? Can you point out any entries that advocate "Socialism"? What is it that makes you believe that Sanders agenda compares to "Socialism" and not "Social-Democracy"?

So many people love to shout "Socialism", and I would bet that 80% or higher do not have any idea what it is, and more would not be able to tell what country practices socialism, and they would not because there are no socialist countries, there are communist-dictatorships, but no socialist countries...there are though Social-democratic governments, such as the Scandinavian countries that Sanders has modeled his agenda of government, and they are the happiest countries in the World...

[aka-chmeee]

91. Saw a pic on Lisa Casey's All Hat No Cattle site which would seem to address this...

It's a group photo, Captioned "Group photo of everyone Bernie Sanders has lifted from poverty".

[link:http://all-hat-no-cattle.blogspot.com/|

(Haven't looked into "How to post a photograph on DU&quot

[zackymilly]

106. Lol all pictures of himself. n/t

[redstateblues]

107. Everybody gets to be a millionaire like Bernie! Yay!

[brutus smith]

2. Bernie can and will win the primary and the GE.

[Walleye]

5. No. We are voting for the best person to win the presidency.

This is not a referendum on specific proposals.

[Autumn]

7. I don't vote for whatever person is there. I vote for the person who best represents my needs and

values. To me, that's Bernie Sanders.

[Walleye]

10. To me, it's Democrat who can win.

I don’t have any issues with any of their policies

[Autumn]

12. That would be Bernie. nt

[Walleye]

16. If elections were won on faith, we'd be fine.

[Autumn]

21. And? Isn't that what you base your choice on? Bernie beats Biden by a wider margin against

Trump, according to several polls.

[pazzyanne]

34. According to most polls, Hillary beat tRump.

How did that work out?

[maddiemom]

51. She beat Trump by nearly three million votes.

Polls ask individuals, not the electoral college.

[Walleye]

84. Exactly

[pazzyanne]

94. Point is that the polls showed her winning.

The polls don't factor in the electoral college.

[maddiemom]

118. That WAS my point.

[Autumn]

99. Trump is losing support in two of the blue wall states.

I think Bernie will do well in PA, MI and we will see what happens with WI. Bernie has a good ground game.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/new-poll-shows-trump-faltering-in-blue-wall-states-he-carried-in-2016/

President Trump is in the Oval Office in large part because of his narrow victories in Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, three states traditionally considered a "blue wall" which crumbled for Democrats in 2016. However, a new poll indicates that Mr. Trump may have trouble holding onto two of those states in 2020.


A Quinnipiac poll released Thursday found all top Democratic candidates leading Mr. Trump in Pennsylvania and Michigan. He trails Joe Biden, Amy Klobuchar and Michael Bloomberg by 6 to 8 percentage points in Pennsylvania, and Bernie Sanders tops Mr. Trump by 5 percentage points in Michigan.

It's not all bad news for the Trump campaign, however, since the president leads all Democrats in Wisconsin by 7 to 11 percentage points.

[Demsrule86]

97. He will not beat Trump after the vetting from the GOP begins...hell will be unleashed.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

50. You just described Bernie perfectly... Bernie is the Democrat who polls best against Dolt45.

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[True Blue American]

11. Same here.

The person who best represents my moderate Democratic values. I make no excuses.

[Autumn]

15. I make no excuses either, honesty is always good.

[Walleye]

18. Keep on believing. Maybe it will work this time

[Autumn]

23. Third time isn't always the charm.

[MrsCoffee]

54. I need someone who is going to be around to fight the good fight.

Bernie Sanders seems more interested in spending his last days fighting my party.

[Evergreen Emerald]

108. That is how Trump was elected

They did not care if he was a lying, sexist, criminal as long as he rolled back the environmental protections, and stacked the courts and the Senate with radicals.

[Autumn]

111. Wrong. The EC elected Trump, not the voters. nt

[paleotn]

83. Both..proposals and who's judgement we trust.

At least that's the way it's supposed to be and not some half ass episode of American Idol.

[honest.abe]

14. Unfortunately you get the whole package with your vote.

Bernie will be an easy target for the GOP attack machine if nominated and we will have 4 more years of Trump.

[Autumn]

17. Any democrat running is an easy target for the GOP attack machine.

They don't roll over and play nice.

[honest.abe]

38. The are levels of "easy" and Bernie tops out the charts.

imo.

[Autumn]

40. I disagree. IMO

[dlk]

19. Someone should clue in our children that Bernie's agenda requires Congress passing it

Bernie can’t legislate his agenda by himself. This is where his skill at working with others would play out. Someone should further clue in our children that not voting gives two votes to a Trump voter. If we are to be successful, beating Trump comes ahead of everything else, of course. However the successful Democratic candidate will also require a proven track record of bringing the disparate factions in Congress together in order to achieve a common goal.

[True Blue American]

22. 100%

[dlk]

25. I'm surprised these facts aren't receiving more attention in the media

If facts matter, that is.

[True Blue American]

29. So am I.

I posted the same thing above. Without a Democratic Congress none of these grand plans will happen.

At least Jamie Harrison is now on MSNBC right now. Running against Lindsey.

[Autumn]

24. Young people know that. They aren't stupid. Bernie has told them he can't do it by himself.

[Walleye]

30. No. Not stupid. A little bit prone to magical thinking

[Autumn]

33. No more so than some older people.

[Walleye]

36. True

[treestar]

59. Older people aren't the ones who need

"inspiration" to vote.

[Mariana]

88. The majority of older people were inspired to vote for Trump in 2016. nt.

[Maggiemayhem]

75. It's the older people who have magical thinking.

Every Sunday.

[Walleye]

76. Huh?

[True Blue American]

31. Young people

Have not lived long enough to know all that. They get caught up in the excitement of promises without a thought of how to pay for them.

President Obama dug us out of the Bush recession.2 wars fought off budget. The next President now has a trillion dollar hole. All those glorious plans take money.

[Autumn]

37. Young people are afraid that they might not live long enough if they don't

vote for the person they trust on their main issues. They sound pretty smart to me. They also know that a lot of that trillion dollar hole is money spent on things that are not necessary and don't benefit them or their planet. I think a lot of people live in a small bubble and they don't hear what the young people have to say.

[Autumn]

46. Young people aren't asking for freebies. They are asking for the same shot at the American dream

that the last generation got.

[treestar]

60. No prior generation had public college

paid for by taxes as elementary and high school.

[Autumn]

64. And in prior generations an education wasn't as expensive as it is now.

[treestar]

67. Whether or not, it wasn't paid for as a public function.

I doubt it ever can be, as Americans will not pay those kinds of taxes.

[Autumn]

71. It does seem some Americans are rather selfish. I'm not going to spend all morning responding to

your comments. Have a nice day.

[treestar]

72. Fine, I'm not going to feed your delusions

any more. You have just proven my point.

[FoxNewsSucks]

100. Californians did,

until St Ronnie Raygun ended it. Seemed to work out pretty well, and educated a lot of people.

[brush]

114. Calif. had free college. When?

[dlk]

41. Some know it, some don't. You might be surprised.

Bernie’s ability to build coalitions of disparate factions is key. It’s not hard to ramp up support from people who agree with you, preaching to the choir, as it were. The challenge is ramping up those who are only somewhat in agreement or not at all in agreement to build a winning coalition. If you think Bernie is best positioned to persuade non-believers, more power to you. Sadly, there are too many Americans who don’t understand the basic mechanics of governance.

[Autumn]

44. Don't bet the farm on that. Bernie has a very broad coalition.

It's not just bros: Sanders wins with a diverse coalition

Analysis: The Vermont senator's victory in Nevada should strike fear in the hearts of his rivals and critics, with his electorate reflecting a cross-section of the party.

LAS VEGAS — Put "Bernie Bros" on the back-burner.

It's the army of sobrinos and sobrinas — the Spanish words for nephews and nieces — who should strike fear in the hearts of Bernie Sanders' rivals for the Democratic presidential nomination and party elites after he ran up the score among Latino voters in the Nevada caucuses Saturday. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., and other Latino backers of Sanders refer to him fondly as their "tío," or uncle.

Sanders was the choice of 54 percent of Hispanic caucus-goers Saturday on his way to steamrolling to the most convincing victory of the primary season, according to an NBC entrance poll. His closest competitor, former Vice President Joe Biden, racked up 14 percent, with no other candidate cracking double digits.

Those results signaled that the energy Sanders has poured into building a more diverse coalition than his failed 2016 campaign is paying off at just the right time. He can now stake the first claim — less than two weeks before the "Super Tuesday" contests in 14 states — to having won a state where white, Hispanic and black voters are all represented in substantial numbers.

"If you can’t put two out of those three together, you should start figuring out your exit plan," Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., said of most of Sanders' rivals — excluding Biden and former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg — in a telephone interview.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/it-s-not-just-bros-sanders-wins-diverse-coalition-n1141251

[dlk]

45. There's winning a primary and there's winning a general

They are very different in voting preferences. It is possible to like someone’s ideas but not believe they would be the most effective, either at beating Trump or at governing.

[Autumn]

47. Bernie has proved that he has the ability to build a coalitions of disparate factions.

Sadly there are too many Americans who don't or refuse to understand that young people and others have realized that those old basic mechanics of governance are not working for them or their future.

[dlk]

48. Many young people get it and so do I

Money has permeated corrupted our government. Turning this around will take a tremendous amount of skill and effort.

[Autumn]

49. There is a tremendous amount of skill available out there to turn it around.

What is lacking is the will to do it.

[Demsrule86]

92. No he hasn't...and those campaigns that depend on young voters are doomed to lose...and not so many

young voters in the blue wall states....older Demographic...these are states that we must win.

[Autumn]

96. Between the two of us that's one opinion out of two, yours. Mine differs. nt

[treestar]

58. Yes they are. What have they been doing about the Congress?

The Senate, especially? In red states? Demanding that the current Democrat be primaried?

[Autumn]

62. Yes young Liberals are demanding that the current Democrat be primaried. In your imagination.

[treestar]

63. What are they doing then, to elect the Blue Dogs

in red states in order to get the Senate?

[Autumn]

68. Not as much as you, I'm sure.

[treestar]

70. This is irrelevant. I am not claiming Bernie

can get a single thing he has promised out of the Senate.

What are the people who claim bernie will usher in progressive heaven doing?

[pazzyanne]

35. Agree 100% nt

[treestar]

57. Exactly. What Senate campaigns are they working on?

Why do they think all it takes if the Presidency and a "bully pulpit?" Maybe it really is a dictatorship with the President as a dictator? That's my pet peeve - the saying the President "runs the country." The President is not that powerful - that is why we have freedom. We're complaining about the Dotard attempting it.

[FoxNewsSucks]

101. A lot are aware.

That's why we got The Squad, Katie Porter, and a lot of other good reps in 2018.

One thing to keep in mind is that young people, and a lot of older people like me, want someone we believe will at least TRY to accomplish those things.

We've had enough of being told "Oh, we can't pass that, so we won't try" and "Republicans won't go along with this". Enough of ceding an outcome to republicons before the negotiating even begins.

Right or wrong, the perception is that "establishment-type" candidates probably won't even try to do much more than maintain corporate status quo.

[Zambero]

103. THIS

Being able deliver on promises made is everything. For some perspective, consider Obama's 2008 election mandate, to include having both houses of Congress with a 60-seat "filibuster proof" Dem majority in the U.S.Senate. Even so, Obama was barely able to achieve a very modest ACA package with no public option (thanks to Lieberman), along with increased infrastructure funding, and the auto industry rescue (the latter paid back). All of this had universal GOP opposition despite a pressing need to prevent the U.S. economy from going over a cliff. After all, McConnell's highest priority was holding Obama to one term, damn the consequences. At this point, the GOP is even more partisan, and we will be lucky to get a slim Senate majority come January. Aspiring to provide Medicare for all, free college, and massive financial shifts to cover cost of these and other goals are commendable in principle but little more than pipe dreams from a practical standpoint. Building on what we have in place is the best bet at this point, and not losing what we have gained is arguably even more important. If Sanders is somehow elected, his lofty proposals will crash and burn right out of the gate, rendering him as a "failed" president and tarnishing the Democratic brand from that point forward. Amy, Liz, and Pete are worthy candidates, but I don't see any of them gathering enough momentum to secure the nomination. Bloomberg has already hit a ceiling, proving that massive TV ads alone aren't likely to close the deal. That leaves Joe. Hopefully the other candidates will recognize the writing on the wall, and will agree to coalesce around Biden sooner rather than later.

[Doremus]

110. Someone should clue in the children that the Senate isn't going to suddenly

roll over and pass Democratic legislation, no matter who the president is.

'Going along to get along' is probably the least effective of all negotiating techniques, exceeded only by 'get an inch, give a mile' and the ever favorite 'lay down for Mitch'.

Time for some new blood? No, let's repeat everything from the last 40 years and see if it works this time.

[Aussie105]

26. Joe or Bernie?

Honestly, looking at it from a distance, and as someone who can't vote in the next election anyway, either of them are better than Trump.

Joe and Bernie have more in common than they have differences. They both want to make things better for the common man.

Pick the blue tablet, not the red, when you vote.
Wear the blue ribbon, not the red.
Eat the blue jelly beans, not the red.
Eat the blueberry jam, not the strawberry jam.
Buy a blue car, not a red one.
Paint your front door blue, not red.

AND . . . Vote Blue, no matter Who!

[stewrat]

27. Normally I would care about universal healthcare, climate change & lbgt right but not this election,

the only thing I care about is the integrity of our constitution, republic and balance of power. That is the imperative and I firmly believe Biden is the best choice to repair the damage done.

[True Blue American]

32. Right now, true.

We need a stable, person with experience.

[BeckyDem]

42. CBS morning news doesn't generally cover income inequality stories, not much at all.

This week the issue was covered and focused on who is it exactly that is living in their car.

Well, one family of four has a young autistic child and he is so distraught over not having a home, it is so hard for him to deal with the situation. His father makes 17 an hour and is not able to receive any housing assistance as a result.

We have failed Americans BY DESIGN, not by accident. This is unsustainable and Bernie's popularity reaches many because of stories like this one. There are thousands of others like it.

Thank you for your OP, it is spot on.

[MrsCoffee]

52. Yes, lots of similarities in the two campaigns and their supporters.

Not sure why anyone would tout this as a good thing.

Cults of personality are not looking at policies first and foremost. He “could shoot someone on fifth avenue and get away with it” is not about Trump’s political policies for fuck’s sake.

What an absolutely bizarre post.

[TlalocW]

53. Well, I'm not voting for him. His campaign texted me last night

I've never given any campaign my number or permission to text me, and that's a big no-no in my book.

TlalocW

[frazzled]

65. My husband got an unsolicited text from

Elizabeth Warren last night. We rarely give out our cell numbers to anyone but friends and family (ok, when traveling it is sometimes given to the airline for contact; things like that.)

This started happening to me in the most recent gubernatorial race, and I thought it might just be illegal. People were complaining, and the news outlets said the candidate claimed that if it appears on your voter registration it’s ok. Well, our cell numbers are not on our registration, which was made back in the day when we didn’t even have cells.

[JudyM]

66. His campaign would've gotten it from the main Dem database.

[Martin Eden]

55. We won't get the policies if they can't pass in Congress

I voted for Bernie in the 2016 primary and I give him credit for making progressive policies more mainstream in the Democratic Party, but I have two enormous concerns with him in 2020:

I think he is among the least likely candidates to win the general election. Beating Trump is of paramount importance.

Even if elected, I sincerely doubt his sweeping policies would be enacted into law. Keeping the House and winning back the Senate are absolutely necessary to implement any major policy change, and I'm not convinced Bernie helps in down ticket races. Even with Democratic majorities in both houses, there are too many moderate D's in purple districts unwilling to take a chance on what will be widely perceived as a radical socialist agenda.

The election of Bernie Sanders and the enactment of a Green New Deal require a much deeper and wider political revolution than I think exists in America at this time. Bernie has operated outside of the Democratic Party during his political career because he hasn't been a good fit inside it.

Lacking deep and wide support inside the Democratic Party establishment and being unpopular among D's in Congress does not bode well for an effective presidency. At his age Bernie would be a one term president, and the same goes for Biden & Bloomberg.

Keeping the White House and Congress in the 2024 election very much depends on success and widespread acceptance of the the presidential administration taking office in January 2021.

I think success requires a Democratic president with strong support from within the party, which rules out Sanders and Bloomberg.

I want a progressive agenda for our country, but in the real world of Washington politics I think making Bernie Sanders the Democratic nominee for president would be counterproductive to actually accomplishing our policy goals.

All of our candidates are proposing solutions that would take us towards health coverage for all Americans, affordable education, environmental sustainability, and progress on a host of other issues -- but passing actual legislation requires winning the election and having broad support in Congress.

I like Bernie Sanders. I believe his heart is in the right place, and I understand why he and his policy agenda have captured the hearts of those who very much want him to be president.

Sadly, I think making him the nominee of the Democratic Party is more likely to result in disaster than enactment of progressive policies.

[treestar]

56. His policies won't see the light of day

None of the D candidates would fail to sign those policies into law.

You'd been talking about how to flip the Senate instead.

What Senate campaigns are we working on? I haven't seen any mentions of any of them here.

[myohmy2]

61. +1...

...the time has come for the 99% to take control of their own destiny...

...we're not voting for BERNIE, we're voting for US...

[IluvPitties]

69. Funny that you, inadvertently, equate Trump and Bernie...

[Apollo Zeus]

104. The OP's point was that running on policies is more effective

than running on negatives.

[MAJones]

78. Nonsense.

Nonsense. Of course we are voting for the person. What good does it do to vote for a person with specific policies if that person has no plans for how to enact and enforce those policies. Bernie has no plans only ideas. Vote for the person who can actually get things done, Elizabeth Warren!

[warmfeet]

81. I will be voting for the Democratic nominee in the general election.

Nothing can change until the current abomination is gone. The first step is to get rid of the orange abomination.

[walkingman]

85. I don't think it is as complicated as you guys are making it.

The key to winning is that everyone should vote for the candidate that they prefer in the primary. If someone doesn't have a majority of the vote then we decide at the convention. Then every Democrat should vote for our nominee...period. No sulking away with feelings hurt, not pissing and moaning, but united to beat Trump.

Everyone should remember that no matter who our candidate is, they are far better that Trump. It is not that difficult. If we lose because people sit out over the nominee then I guess it wasn't really that important....was it?

Personally, I sick of listening to these nasty people who are racist, batshit crazy, and tired of listening to their nasty rhetoric every stinking day. Time to reject the tribalism and UNITE TO WIN.

[bitterross]

86. YES, You ARE voting for the man. This is EXACTLY why attacks on Trump DON'T work.

We're voting for his policies and not him, is such utter rubbish.

It takes a leader to effect compromise. The ACA didn't get passed because Congress voted for it. It got passed because Obama worked his ass off to form coalitions and make deals. The New Deal got passed because FDR led the way. The Civil Rights Act got passed because LBJ led the way.

Trump's supporters don't give a damn about policy. They are part of a cult. When they're independently polled they are far more left than most GOP policies.

THEY VOTE FOR THE MAN, not the policies. They vote for their cult leader.

[Gothmog]

87. Joe Biden is the strongest general election candidate

Link to tweet

[ananda]

89. Exactly!

Same here.

[Demsrule86]

90. I am not voting for Bernie in the primary...I like some of his policies but don't think he can win

a general.

[NoMoreRepugs]

93. The Coronavirus changes everything. A disorganized

response by the DUMP administration hands the Democratic Party an unbelievable opportunity in my opinion. Last week I was of the opinion only Biden stood a chance of winning, now I’m not sure voter suppression and Putin will be able to overcome the backlash from the virus response whomever our candidate is.

Adjusting my tinfoil hat while I finish my breakfast.

[Sympthsical]

95. Bernie haters will never get it

He’s not even my guy. I’m voting for Warren. But the more they align against him, the more I see them aligning against my interests. They’re not against him, they’re against me.

You can’t win my vote being against me and the policies I want.

They need to stop.

They never will. He did the unforgivable in 2016.

He ran.

[ehrnst]

124. Bernie can't win the 2020 primary without HRC voters.

So there's that.

[David__77]

98. Thank you.

...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

102. "His (Trump) supporters also look at his policies first and foremost."

In my humble opinion that is the most baseless take ever. Trump voters support him because they like his WWE heel personality, the fact he hates the same people they do, and they think he is smiting their enemies.

[Codeine]

109. But that's not how the chief executive works.

It really does come down to the man and their individual personalities and skillsets.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

117. Trump is the dullard who believed

Trump is the dullard who believed the government could literally negotiate hospital rates on a per case basis to ensure health care for all.

[Vivienne235729]

112. So, you're voting for feel good. Not necessarily do good.

Bc he has no real viable path of implementing his policies. Again, he isn't liked in congress. He berates all the Democrats who are there as "establishment dems" and he's leading this "revolution" against them. So who is going to work w him?

[Apollo Zeus]

113. Brand versus Offer

I'm frequently misunderstood because I am obsessed with strategy. My focus on what works and what doesn't often puts me at odds with those who are closer to cheerleader-mode even though we all want to win.

In marketing/advertising there are two types of campaigns: brand and offer. A brand campaign says simply 'Coke is better than Pepsi' or 'It's not just a car, it's a ___(brand name here, eg. BMW)____. Brand campaigns are designed to raise the price that consumers are willing to pay for a given product because of the reputation of the company behind the logo/label on it. Brand campaigns are increasingly ineffective and can be counterproductive when they set off a person's bullshit detector. Brand campaigns are very expensive and it's hard to measure their impact in detail so they tend to be favored by high margin products like cosmetics, high end booze and clothing, or by companies whose reputation is damaged like BP, Boeing and all the others that advertise during, for example, Sunday morning news shows

Offer campaigns say things like "Get $20,000 off a BMW this week" or "Pepsi gives you 12oz for the same price as 6oz of Coca-cola." Offer is king in the internet age because people are increasingly cynical and cash-strapped.

Bernie's campaign is offer -- M4A, $15/hr, etc. Specific offers.

A brand campaign can run against an opposing brand campaign and offer can compete with offer but a brand campaign can't stop an opposing offer campaign. Brand doesn't close the deal. Any effective brand campaign has to be paired with offer. You can create the impression of a great brand but you can't cash in on that without offer. On the other hand an offer campaign can run without a brand campaign, especially in a world where big brands are increasingly seen as too slick and manipulative to trust.

[Hortensis]

115. Tecolote, populist followers vote AGAINST "the establishment"

that normally outvotes them. That's their big motivating passion.

Sure, some like you are drawn to join those crowds by shiny idealistic images dangled before you.

But BOTH Sanders and Trump's populist movements are dominated by antagonistic, resentful types, most socially conservative but wanting progressive programs for themselves, who are motivated by very negative desires to destroy the systems so many others do well under. Those unhappy white male Democrats who joined Sanders and Trump? Too much equality.

One guess what messages both the Sanders team puts out to draw that kind, but you can always just go look if imagination fails.

Btw, understanding that your movement is dominated by aggressive destroyers, not by socialist idealists who imagine good for everyone, you shouldn't be surprised to learn that successful populist leaders often take their movements down very different, and far meaner, roads than the ones they claimed to rope in idealists. Mean populists have to be fed, and good populist leaders have to keep them happy or be eaten themselves. Just look at the one in power now.

[thesquanderer]

120. re: "Trump's supporters also look at his policies first and foremost."

Nah. Trump has a cult of personality.

[brooklynite]

123. "it just might be our children that vote Bernie in. "

Apparently they're not voting him in in South Carolina. Maybe there was concert to go to?