2016 Postmortem
In reply to the discussion: Howard Dean claims that Hillary is our best bet for 2016. I disagree. [View all]JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)Bernie can win in the general elections.
Further, the idea that Hillary can work better with the Republicans in Congress has no basis in fact.
Bernie actually has been able to work better with Republicans.
He worked with Ron Paul on auditing the Fed.
He works with Republicans on veterans' affairs.
Hillary is the bete noir, the black beast, one of the most hated figures yet by Republicans. The idea that she can work better with Republicans than Democrats has no basis in fact.
I would say it is a ludicrous idea but I will be accused of using my freedom of speech to insult her.
I'm not insulting her, however, when I say that. She is the only First Lady to have been subpoenaed to a federal grand jury. The amount of hate spewed at her by the right wing is just insane.
The Republicans make a blood sport of going after her, and we are supposed to believe that once she is elected, they will throw away their imaginary knives and start working with her?
I remain unconvinced. I just don't think that will happen.
Bernie doesn't try to approach the Republicans on their home turf. He will go over the Republicans' head and speak to Republican and Democratic voters about issues. He will raise the argument above the usual partisan bickering and onto the plane of fighting over issues.
Why do I predict that he will do that?
Because that is what he is doing in this primary season. That is simply how he thinks and communicates.
Watch his interviews. He can turn the most demeaning, utter put-down of a question into a discussion of an issue that Americans agree on with him.
That's why he doesn't need to do negative campaigning. He likes to talk issues. He thinks issues. He is a problem-solver.
In my life, I have never seen a candidate like Bernie Sanders.
It isn't that Hillary is so dreadful; it is that Bernie Sanders is just so amazing.
Hillary would make a great Secretary of Health & Welfare. I am totally on board with her on women's and children's issues. I think Bernie wants strong policy initiatives in those areas too.
It's just that Bernie would make a much better president than any of the other candidates.