General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: DNC Rule Change: Want Dem nomination for President? Must be a Democrat and run and serve as a Dem [View all]DFW
(54,647 posts)The fact is that last time, when Sanders ran as a "Democrat," he split the party rather effectively, and then decided that he'd have more impact in a Hillary administration than in a Trump administration (DUH) and backed her in the general. But it would be naïve to say that much damage wasn't already done. If he runs as an independent, he knows full well what the likely consequences will be, and will adopt Nader's line from after the 2000 election: "Bush's win had nothing to do with me. Gore was a bad candidate." So if Sanders runs as an independent in 2020, splits our vote, and says "Trump's re-election had nothing to do with me. Harris/Booker/Kennedy/Biden/(whoever) was a bad candidate," are we supposed to nod our head in sad resignation, watching as what was left of our country is irrevocably lost?
I do not consider Sanders to be an idiot. I think he is quite compos mentis, and realizes full well what will happen if he mounts a third party run. Maybe somehow he can justify the consequences. For my part, I'm just happy my daughter who lives in the States has kept her German passport current.