Did and Did Not

[Whiskeytide]

59. I didn't say he tanked her. My post is ...

... my thoughts on how past events might impact 2020. I agree that Bernie engaged a lot of new - mostly young - voters. That was a good thing. And many certainly did follow through and vote for the candidate in the general. I’ve seen those articles.

But at least some of Bernie’s appeal was that he was an “outsider”, and that he somehow represented a revolution against conventional politics.

I think his base is pretty entrenched in that mindset now. They will be even less likely to vote with the party this time around if he again doesn’t win the nomination. And, because many Dems in the party DO hold him at least partially responsible for trump, his presence in the primary will be even more contentious.

And that’s really my point. Because of 2016, and the perceptions of the two sides (right or wrong), the primary will be a bloodbath where Bernie is concerned. That plays quite well into Russian/republican trolling, which will amplify the carnage. That’s going to create deep bruising that won’t heal quickly. And all of that only benefits trump and republicans.

We are going to need the blue wave to dislodged the asshole in the White House and the republican minions elsewhere in government (natl, state and local). ANYTHING that tamps down the wave is risky and foolish, in my opinion. Bernie is going to run. I get that. The ever growing anti-trump sentiment is perceived as a great opportunity - kind of an “it’s now or never” play for a lot of candidates - perhaps especially Bernie.

But I think it’s folly for him. I don’t think he will come nearly as close to winning the nominations as he did in 2016 - precisely BECAUSE of what happened or what is believed by many to have happened in 2016. Yet, along the way he’ll do some damage. I don’t want damage. Too much is at stake.

Edited typo.