General Discussion

brooklynite

(96,882 posts)

96. well, I have 45 years as a Democratic activist...

Thu May 21, 2015, 02:27 PM

May 2015

...and one of the lessons I learned from supporting many candidates who ended up losing was not to confuse my personal hopes and dreams with political reality.

Bernie Sanders' political experience comes in a small state where he can meet voters personally, and in one of the most liberal States in the country. The national political landscape is far larger (including the need to campaign in multiple States at once) requiring a substantial campaign warchest for advertising and permanent staff -- yes, that's distressing and we'd all like to change the system, but it won't change before 2016. And for all of her weaknesses vs Obama in 2008, Hillary Clinton did far better than he did in Battleground States like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Florida.

Add to that, polling OVER TIME has shown that Hillary Clinton is popular with all of the Democratic Party's constituent group. In fact, her LOW point in the past year is higher that her HIGH point in 2007/2008.

Bottom line, Bernie Sanders has to effectively be as popular and successful as Barack Obama was. I don't see that happening.

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Two reasons I could never support Hillary. [View all] Dawgs May 2015 OP

K&R! marym625 May 2015 #1

Never is a strong word Fast Walker 52 May 2015 #2

I'm sure she'll tell me exactly what I want to hear... until 11/8/16 corkhead May 2015 #14

I can't argue with that-- that being said, Fast Walker 52 May 2015 #61

Why take chances on someone "changing" when we have someone who has been consistent? arcane1 May 2015 #77

+1,000 Scuba May 2015 #118

Never is a good for when 840high May 2015 #98

Do you feel better now? /NT DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #3

Huh? Dawgs May 2015 #15

Who do you think should be in a Democratic President's cabinet. sabrina 1 May 2015 #46

Eric Holder... The Republican corporatist that he is. Agschmid May 2015 #64

Hillary isn't my first choice, but I could still support her. dawg May 2015 #4

dawg, I was confused by you response to Dawgs. morningfog May 2015 #6

Understandable. dawg May 2015 #13

Who... sendero May 2015 #18

a Cabinet of rivals, eh? MisterP May 2015 #93

Will you be leaving DU during the primary? leftofcool May 2015 #5

They don't have to. morningfog May 2015 #7

Why would you need to leave during the primary? I'm confused. el_bryanto May 2015 #9

No. There's no rule that says I MUST support the nominee. n/t Dawgs May 2015 #16

You just have to stop bashing her MaggieD May 2015 #24

You're right. I will stop (if I ever start) bashing Hillary if she ever wins the nom. n/t Dawgs May 2015 #27

I think you will run very fast to the voting booth, yeoman6987 May 2015 #32

I'm supporting Bernie until a Democratic nominee is selected. Dawgs May 2015 #40

Lol. I won't run either and I hope Bernie wins yeoman6987 May 2015 #74

If Ted Cruz is 50-50 with Hillary we are fucked. Agschmid May 2015 #66

"if I ever start"? Look to the top of the page! George II May 2015 #67

"Not supporting" is bashing? OK. n/t Dawgs May 2015 #73

True but you can't advocate third party when she is the nominee. hrmjustin May 2015 #60

Is that question relevant to anything? sabrina 1 May 2015 #47

It's nice having a solid non-sequitur to support your choices rock May 2015 #8

The first photo is of Tim Geithner, of course... DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #11

I guess if you were bailed out you could say that. But for the people I know who lost their jobs sabrina 1 May 2015 #50

I lost everything in the Great Recession... DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #62

So, by supporting Clinton, you are in fact supporting another economic crash.. eloydude May 2015 #68

Wow, thank you./NT DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #87

Are you really trying to state that Clinton will orchstrate a Bush-esque crash? Sheepshank May 2015 #109

Her economic policies are in question eloydude May 2015 #110

So you would prefer the choices made by a Republican? yardwork May 2015 #10

That's not a problem, as Hillary will not be the nominee. NYC_SKP May 2015 #12

Heh. If she loses in the general Erich Bloodaxe BSN May 2015 #58

No. I'm supporting Bernie Sanders. Dawgs May 2015 #17

In all seriousness, could anyone be worse than those two pusbags? nt hifiguy May 2015 #101

Yes. Watch what happens is a Republican gets elected. yardwork May 2015 #108

Geithner was a pick by both Obama and McCain Mnpaul May 2015 #119

And on that basis you assume there are no other differences. yardwork May 2015 #120

You were the one who claimed a Republican pick would be different Mnpaul May 2015 #122

Do you know the kind Jeb Bush or Scott Walker will select? brooklynite May 2015 #19

Yes, that's why I'm supporting Bernie to win the primary and then beat one of them for President. Dawgs May 2015 #20

Present a convincing argument as to how Bernie wins a national campaign... brooklynite May 2015 #22

Sure. All of us supporters of candidates beside Hillary should just give up. Dawgs May 2015 #30

Funny - I thought we were on a political blog... brooklynite May 2015 #75

That's not what you were doing, and you know it. n/t Dawgs May 2015 #79

he has better ideas questionseverything May 2015 #92

I've asked this question several times on this site, never got an answer.... George II May 2015 #95

A year before the 2008 election, bvar22 May 2015 #99

People more to Bernie fans liking workinclasszero May 2015 #29

Nothing but the best of course. Another someone from Goldman Sachs.... think May 2015 #34

Yep. Just look at the current lineup. Who appointed Exilednight May 2015 #90

That needed to be said. Wilms May 2015 #115

You forgot to include 2 more reasons. Fuddnik May 2015 #21

I understand exactly what the OP means. SoapBox May 2015 #23

You missed Hillary's economic BFF. Chan790 May 2015 #25

Ok when Hillary wins the democratic nomination workinclasszero May 2015 #26

Will post later Android3.14 May 2015 #35

The minute Hillary is declared the official nominee workinclasszero May 2015 #37

Are you putting words in my mouth? Because it feels like it. n/t Dawgs May 2015 #42

At least a dozen reasons why I WOULD support Hillary Zambero May 2015 #28

Hillary will not be the nominee. Here is my prediction: RufusTFirefly May 2015 #31

Darn plausible Android3.14 May 2015 #36

This why you are wrong. Bernie does not have upaloopa May 2015 #43

...and that prediction is based on...? brooklynite May 2015 #71

More than 40 years as a Democratic activist and political junkie? RufusTFirefly May 2015 #78

well, I have 45 years as a Democratic activist... brooklynite May 2015 #96

I think there is a good chance of that happening and it IS my preference. nt Bonobo May 2015 #117

So, if Hillary wins the Democratic nomination, you'd support the addition of 1 or 2 more... Nitram May 2015 #33

No. I'd probably vote (not support) for her. Dawgs May 2015 #44

In this thread? Wilms May 2015 #116

These are Obama appointees. lark May 2015 #38

I'm going to point this out more often. yardwork May 2015 #121

At least it's not because she's female. classof56 May 2015 #39

Why are you rolling your eyes? Dawgs May 2015 #49

You're wrong, and I'm rolling my eyes because I want to. classof56 May 2015 #56

Great response, class. sheshe2 May 2015 #112

Thanks, friend. Needed that! classof56 May 2015 #123

Bernie isn't going to select anyone. upaloopa May 2015 #41

Great. Another, 'the nomination is over already' response. Dawgs May 2015 #45

Yes I do. Consider it tough love. upaloopa May 2015 #52

Indeed -- cold, dispassionate analysis is better than insubstantial faith brooklynite May 2015 #70

How are Bernie supporters unrealistic? Dawgs May 2015 #76

It's unrealistic that Sanders would be nominated, but somehow realistic that Cruz would. arcane1 May 2015 #89

You say and I say father founding May 2015 #48

I Can't Wait Until Elizabeth Warren Endorses Hillary Corey_Baker08 May 2015 #51

Disappointing, but it would not get me to support Hillary. djean111 May 2015 #54

No I Am Anticipating A United Democratic Party Corey_Baker08 May 2015 #65

She might, but it wouldn't make any sense. n/t Dawgs May 2015 #80

Bernie first, but I will support the nominee aintitfunny May 2015 #53

I will support the Democratic nominee. Beacool May 2015 #55

Just to be clear, did I say I would refuse to vote for Hillary in the general? n/t Dawgs May 2015 #81

Well, what does this sound to you? Beacool May 2015 #94

Voting for someone to avoid a republican president is different than supporting. Dawgs May 2015 #113

If she is the nominee I will support her AgingAmerican May 2015 #57

how do you know? samsingh May 2015 #59

I don't know. I do know her history though, and I don't want to risk it. n/t Dawgs May 2015 #84

Interesting that you use two people she had nothing to do with to justify not supporting Clinton. George II May 2015 #63

Interesting that you don't know her history. n/t Dawgs May 2015 #83

Oh, but I do, and she didn't choose either of them to be Treasury Secretary George II May 2015 #85

Well, if you know her history then you should know that exactly the type of person she would pick. Dawgs May 2015 #86

Her "history" is that she's never chosen a Treasury Secretary. George II May 2015 #88

That's part of her history. Dawgs May 2015 #91

One More Big Problem colsohlibgal May 2015 #69

Yep. This too. n/t Dawgs May 2015 #82

These guys were why I couldn't get too enthusiastic about Obama deutsey May 2015 #72

There are a million reasons not to support the Republican candidate... Mike Nelson May 2015 #97

That is a mighty powerful argument. hifiguy May 2015 #100

never as, even if she wins the primary and is our democratic nominee? nt seabeyond May 2015 #102

It's like Jeb's neocons. Spitfire of ATJ May 2015 #103

Are you talking about the primary and general or just thd primary? hrmjustin May 2015 #104

Post removed Post removed May 2015 #105

Dawgs IIRC you were a diehard Obama supporter during the '08 primaries. Maven May 2015 #106

I was a supporter because he appeared to be anti-war. Dawgs May 2015 #114

I often can't support Republicans for obvious reasons Dem2 May 2015 #107

This message was self-deleted by its author 1000words May 2015 #111