And They're Off! The Democratic Candidates for 2020

[Karl Henning]

     Bernie is good to keep pressure on from the left, forcing Dems to advocate Dem programs, maybe more popular versions but recognizably what Dem voters and lots of other people would like to see.

Yokay.

[Karl Henning]

If you look at recent national polling for the Democratic presidential contest, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is either a few points ahead or about 10 points behind former vice president Joe Biden.

Look at Iowa polling, however, and you will see a very different story. The USA Today/Suffolk University poll released on Monday showed, "Biden (18 percent) led Warren (17 percent), [Pete] Buttigieg (13 percent), Bernie Sanders (9 percent), with Tom Steyer, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar and Tulsi Gabbard tied with 3 percent each." Considering Sanders won more than 49 percent of the vote in the 2016 Iowa caucuses, his current standing suggests that the 2020 Sanders campaign is a pale imitation of its 2016 incarnation.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/10/22/all-eyes-iowa/

[Karl Henning]

If you look at recent national polling for the Democratic presidential contest, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is either a few points ahead or about 10 points behind former vice president Joe Biden.

Look at Iowa polling, however, and you will see a very different story. The USA Today/Suffolk University poll released on Monday showed, "Biden (18 percent) led Warren (17 percent), [Pete] Buttigieg (13 percent), Bernie Sanders (9 percent), with Tom Steyer, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar and Tulsi Gabbard tied with 3 percent each." Considering Sanders won more than 49 percent of the vote in the 2016 Iowa caucuses, his current standing suggests that the 2020 Sanders campaign is a pale imitation of its 2016 incarnation.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/10/22/all-eyes-iowa/

Buttigieg may not possess Obama's soaring rhetoric, but as Obama did in 2016, Buttigieg has a fresh face, a preternaturally calm demeanor and a talent for challenging rivals without sounding nasty. As Buttigieg assumes the role of the straight-talking moderate willing to call foul when super-progressive candidates over-promise what they cannot deliver, he may benefit from a wide divide among Iowa voters on the electability vs. "shares my values" question. A remarkable 58 percent of respondents in the USA Today/Suffolk University poll say the "most important thing for Democrats is to nominate a presidential candidate who can defeat Donald Trump" while only 35 percent say it is more important thing that Democrats "nominate a presidential candidate who reflects my priorities and values."

[71 dB]

Can you give an example or two of criticism of Sanders you thought might have been justified, or of specific aspects of his policies you're less inclined towards, or of a time you thought he might have misspoken or made a gaffe?

Is is this picture completely rose-tinted? Is any and all criticism "corporate dishonesty"?

There are some things that Bernie can be blamed for that are justified critisism. Kyle Kulinski for example has criticised Bernie for not supporting BDS. If you criticize Bernie for these justified reasons you doing good journalism, but the corporate media doesn't do that.

[71 dB]

If you look at recent national polling for the Democratic presidential contest, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) is either a few points ahead or about 10 points behind former vice president Joe Biden.

Look at Iowa polling, however, and you will see a very different story. The USA Today/Suffolk University poll released on Monday showed, "Biden (18 percent) led Warren (17 percent), [Pete] Buttigieg (13 percent), Bernie Sanders (9 percent), with Tom Steyer, Kamala Harris, Amy Klobuchar and Tulsi Gabbard tied with 3 percent each." Considering Sanders won more than 49 percent of the vote in the 2016 Iowa caucuses, his current standing suggests that the 2020 Sanders campaign is a pale imitation of its 2016 incarnation.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/10/22/all-eyes-iowa/

More corporate smearing. 2016 there were MUCH fewer candidates so of course nobody gets 49 % at the moment. Also, corporate media cherry picks polls were Bernie does poorly. Why poorly? Often because landline has been used meaning more old people and less young people (where most of Bernies support is). So they can plant the narrative to people's head that Bernie is a has been. He IS NOT!!

[Muzio]

CNN Poll: Biden's lead in Democratic primary hits widest margin since April

Former Vice President Joe Biden continues to hold a comfortable lead in the Democrat presidential primary field, according to a CNN poll released Wednesday.
Biden has 34 percent support among Democrats/Democrat-leaning independents who are registered to vote while Sen. Elizabeth Warren only registers 19 percent support. Sen. Bernie Sanders has 16 percent while Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Kamala Harris only have six percent support each. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former Rep. Beto O'Rourke end up with three percent support.

Political analysts believed the fourth Democrat debate hosted by CNN would shake up the race, as Biden continued to deliver an underwhelming performance and other candidates targeted Sen. Elizabeth Warren. And respondents seemed to agree with this assessment. When asked "which candidate do you think did the best job in the debate?" Warren was ranked number one with 28%, Biden second at 15%, and Bernie Sanders third at 13%.

Yet Biden's support jumped ten points from the last poll taken in September, from 24 percent to 34 percent. Warren only increased her support by one percent.

Article and video: https://www.cnn.com/2019/10/23/politics/cnn-poll-biden-lead-increases/index.html

[drogulus]

Buttigieg may not possess Obama's soaring rhetoric, but as Obama did in 2016, Buttigieg has a fresh face, a preternaturally calm demeanor and a talent for challenging rivals without sounding nasty. As Buttigieg assumes the role of the straight-talking moderate willing to call foul when super-progressive candidates over-promise what they cannot deliver, he may benefit from a wide divide among Iowa voters on the electability vs. "shares my values" question. A remarkable 58 percent of respondents in the USA Today/Suffolk University poll say the "most important thing for Democrats is to nominate a presidential candidate who can defeat Donald Trump" while only 35 percent say it is more important thing that Democrats "nominate a presidential candidate who reflects my priorities and values."

     You can choose what you think is most important while supporting any of the candidates. I can think Biden reflects my values or has the best chance to beat Trump, one or both.

     I like Mayor Pete, while also liking over-promisers because what their promises say about what they will try to accomplish. While there is no exact ratio between what's attempted and what's accomplished, I'm looking for even a small advantage swinging for the fences might get. It might result in getting everything Mayor Pete wants instead of what Mayor Pete would get.

[Karl Henning]

"Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), unabashed in his democratic socialist agenda, has the support of Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), three of the most liberal new members of Congress. Some polls show him beating Trump in key states, though many Democrats are skeptical."

[Muzio]

Lying conservative news site Breitbart cannot conceive of publishing anything containing a kernel of truth, according to the GMG intelligentsia.  Thus, I leave the following for its entertainment value:

Exclusive — Impeachment Backfiring: GOP Polling Memo Shows Public Turning Against Democrat Efforts to Oust Trump

A memo by the Republican National Committee (RNC) that contains internal GOP polling data shows the American public, even Democrat voters, are turning against the Democrat Party's "impeachment inquiry" into President Donald Trump.

The memo, obtained exclusively by Breitbart News, shows independent voters nationwide en masse oppose impeachment—with 54 percent opposed and only 34 percent in favor.

Complete set of lies found here: https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/10/23/impeachment-backfiring-gop-polling-memo-shows-public-turning/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=daily&utm_campaign=20191023&utm_content=Final

[JBS]

Bernie's influence can be seen in how medicare for all isn't considered anymore a "fringe" idea (as if a system that every other country has is "fringe". No, the for profit system in the US is the "fringe" one.)    Many candidates have advocated some kind of Medicare-for-"all" system to get support among voters because about 85 % of Democratic voters support medicare-for-all and it's a winning issue, but they have also backpedaled (even Warren is a bit wishy washy) a bit to not scare their billionaire donors away. Pete Buttigieg for example has his version where you have current system co-existing with medicare for all system, but that IS NOT single payer system and doesn't have the cost benefits of single payer! It woulf lead to cherry picking of the private sector while driving ill people to the public sector ruining the whole idea of flattened risk pool. The donors like that, because it keeps the mafia aka health insurance companies in place, but that's not a winning stragedy!

Bernie's problem is corporate media which hates him and covers him negatively and dishonestly and also older people. Among young voters he dominates massively (he's support among young voters is ~45%, as much as the next three candidates, Warren, Biden and Buttigieg combined). Young voters can make Bernie the next president. All they have to do is vote!

Actually AOC has done much more to make MfA a focus of progressives than Bernie.

[JBS]

More corporate smearing. 2016 there were MUCH fewer candidates so of course nobody gets 49 % at the moment. Also, corporate media cherry picks polls were Bernie does poorly. Why poorly? Often because landline has been used meaning more old people and less young people (where most of Bernies support is). So they can plant the narrative to people's head that Bernie is a has been. He IS NOT!!

Older people are more likely to vote than young people. Therefore polls should have a heavier proportion of older respondents.

[JBS]

There are some things that Bernie can be blamed for that are justified critisism. Kyle Kulinski for example has criticised Bernie for not supporting BDS. If you criticize Bernie for these justified reasons you doing good journalism, but the corporate media doesn't do that.

Since BDS is simply the latest iteration of antiSemitism, that's a case of Kulinski being wrong and Sanders being right.

[SimonNZ]

Lying conservative news site Breitbart cannot conceive of publishing anything containing a kernel of truth, according to the GMG intelligentsia.  Thus, I leave the following for its entertainment value:

Exclusive — Impeachment Backfiring: GOP Polling Memo Shows Public Turning Against Democrat Efforts to Oust Trump

A memo by the Republican National Committee (RNC) that contains internal GOP polling data shows the American public, even Democrat voters, are turning against the Democrat Party's "impeachment inquiry" into President Donald Trump.

The memo, obtained exclusively by Breitbart News, shows independent voters nationwide en masse oppose impeachment—with 54 percent opposed and only 34 percent in favor.

Complete set of lies found here: https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/10/23/impeachment-backfiring-gop-polling-memo-shows-public-turning/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=daily&utm_campaign=20191023&utm_content=Final

Now google "impeachment poll" and see how that aligns with every other one.

[Karl Henning]

I'm sure that's what "internal GOP polling data" shows.

[Karl Henning]

The troll doesn't appear to realize that the other thread is for Donald J. Shrivelpecker

[schnittkease]

Actually AOC has done much more to make MfA a focus of progressives than Bernie.

According to who?

Older people are more likely to vote than young people.

Historically, yes, but I believe that this cycle will be different.

[Madiel]

The troll doesn't appear to realize that the other thread is for Donald J. Shrivelpecker

It's rare that the term "troll" is thoroughly apt, but in this case the behaviour is demonstrating its aptness.

[71 dB]

Actually AOC has done much more to make MfA a focus of progressives than Bernie.

Bernie was the one who inspired AOC to get into politics.

[71 dB]

Older people are more likely to vote than young people. Therefore polls should have a heavier proportion of older respondents.

That's how it has been, but it's about how much you can inspire people. The US has extremely low turnout in elections because most people are not inspired because most of the time politicians don't give anything to vote for.

[71 dB]

Since BDS is simply the latest iteration of antiSemitism, that's a case of Kulinski being wrong and Sanders being right.

BDS is "the latest iteration of antiSemitism" for dumb people brainwashed by the corporate media. For non-brainwashed people it's about the human rights of Palestinians. It is actions against the GOVERNMENT of Israel, not Israel as a country, people of Israel or Jews. People who were against the Obama administration were not anti-USA. They were anti-Obama.