Karl Rove says Bernie Sanders could beat Donald Trump in 2020

[karynnj]

106. I agree

I think that he was most appealing to people who were to some degree disaffected with the status quo. He represented a huge change in direction -- as did Trump, but in very different directions. For some, both validated that the reason for their personal lack of success was that the system was stacked against them.

The difference was that Bernie was repeating things he had said for at least 30 years and he really believed that the solutions he proposed were the solution. Trump, on the other hand, was a charlatan, using these people -- with no intention of doing anything to help them. No, building a wall would not help them, nor the huge tax cut for the wealthy, nor undermining the ACA.

What we need is a vision, policy plans and a leader who could provide the leadership to try to make a better world. If that leader lacks the media valued "charisma" or grassroots energy, that has to come from us. Example in point - every Democrat will have a climate action program that will start with rejoining Paris and reversing the Trump reversals of Obama's executive orders ... and will differ in policy from there. The ENERGY is very likely to come from the grassroots, the cities and the blue states and most of all from activists.

The only thing the leader must have is the vision, the ability to chose good people to put in power, and the ability to listen to them and others and make decisions on where the administration has to go. ALL of those supposedly lacking in charisma people had an abundance of experience and had demonstrated they had those abilities. Those skills - not being superficially charming - are what adults should look for in the person they want for President.

One other thing I would note is that from what I have heard, while most people who worked for Bernie when he was mayor agree he was genuine in the positions he took - he was not always easy to work for. I know a few people who worked for Kerry. All of them respect him as a person as well as the statesman he is.