Bernie isn't McGovern or Mondale, and it isn't 1972 or 1984 [View all]

[First Speaker]

We are a universe away from those days. Not only is the Cold War ancient history, but the Post Cold War World is gone, too. Redbaiting a Social Democrat isn't as easy as it used to be. And the whole political and social gestalt is primed for a shift away from the conservative consensus that's ruled since 1978, if the issues can be properly articulated by the right person. I think Bernie can be that person. And let's look at those elections. In both cases, the Dem was up against a powerful and ruthless--in the case of Nixon--or popular--Reagan--Republican. Vietnam and the conflicts of the 60s were still simmering in 1972--in fact, McGovern's defeat was really the last shout of the 1960s. And those disputes were much more polarizing than anything the past decade has seen, over the Mideast Wars. And let's face it--McGovern was a lousy candidate. (Eagleton, anyone?) And I doubt any Dem could have beaten Reagan in 1984, unless some proof of his--Reagan's--Alzheimer's had come out. As for Bernie--of course, the Fox News/right wing vomit machine will have a fit if he's nominated. But it's just possible he could isolate those people and win over the people in the middle, if he just tells the obvious truth and sticks to his message--a message that almost everyone knows is true. I believe firmly that Bernie Sanders can be elected President in 2016.