And They're Off! The Democratic Candidates for 2020

[SimonNZ]

not that I care what Cenk thinks, but...

Young Turks founder: Warren 'clearly won the debate'

"The Young Turks founder Cenk Uygur said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) "clearly won" Wednesday night's Democratic debate after she made pointed attacks at former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was making his debut in a Democratic primary debate.

"Elizabeth Warren came with a two-by-four — she crushed, clearly won the debate," Uygur said on Hill.TV's Rising Thursday. "[...]

[71 dB]

Bernie Sanders is the FIRST presidential candidate to win the popular vote in all first three states. Kyle Kulinski says the race is over. Bernie Sanders will win the plurality of delegates. The question is will he win also the majority of delegates? If not, the Dems will do everything to rob him the nomination and a million progressives have to go to Milwaukee with pitchforks. It can turn bloody! 

not that I care what Cenk thinks, but...

Young Turks founder: Warren 'clearly won the debate'

"The Young Turks founder Cenk Uygur said Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) "clearly won" Wednesday night's Democratic debate after she made pointed attacks at former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was making his debut in a Democratic primary debate.

"Elizabeth Warren came with a two-by-four — she crushed, clearly won the debate," Uygur said on Hill.TV's Rising Thursday. "[...]

Pretty much everyone on the left (yes, including Kyle Kulinski) thought Elizabeth Warren had the strongest debate performance. She NEEDED a very strong debate, because her campaign is struggling badly. She ruined it herself taking advices from corporates and attacking Bernie.

[Mirror Image]

If Sanders is elected, the Democratic Party that I knew and once admired will cease to exist. That's all there is to it. He's an extremist who claims equality for all people but is nothing more than a hypocrite as he's worth over a couple of million. But remember that it's okay for him to have more than you do.

[Mirror Image]

Maybe it might be a good idea for 71 dB to stick to Finnish politics since he doesn't have the first clue about what actually happens in the US.

[drogulus]

If Sanders is elected, the Democratic Party that I knew and once admired will cease to exist. That's all there is to it. He's an extremist who claims equality for all people but is nothing more than a hypocrite as he's worth over a couple of million. But remember that it's okay for him to have more than you do.

     It's certainly OK for him to have more than I do. He wrote a book, I didn't.

[Mirror Image]

     It's certainly OK for him to have more than I do. He wrote a book, I didn't.

It's good for you think that, because he agrees that he should have a lot more than you do in more ways than one, which he does and always will, especially if he's elected el presidente.

[Herman]

If Sanders is elected, the Democratic Party that I knew and once admired will cease to exist.

He's most likely not going to win the General Election, partly because Putin prefers Trump, partly because Bernie won't get out the maximum vote (like yours). If he loses it's bye bye Bernie, he can sit and stew in Vermont.

If he wins he's obviously going to be a one termer. He's old and he's one-tone. Chances of him getting much done aren't huge either. After that it's bye bye Bernie.

The D Party should use the next three years to think real hard about what they're doing that's keeping them from success, in spite of the demographic majority they have (expressed in popular vote victories turned into electoral losses). It's amazing that there are dozens of guys ready to run for president, and f*cking none of them thinks it's worth their while to take back the Senate (which would have been the way to impeach and remove Trump.)

I'm not saying these candidates are stupid, but these debates with what? ten candidates shouting at each other are self-defeating. However the obverse, those candidates who assume they have earned the candidature (HRC, Biden) are equally disastrous.

The DNC needs to get its shit together.

[amw]

I obviously have a very low opinion of the Democratic Party but my initial impression that none of the candidates are remotely savvy even as politicians seems to have also been the opinion of the voters so far.

Sanders can probably beat Trump but Trump is sufficiently unpopular that anyone with a positive favourability rating could beat him (which already excludes HRC, Bloomberg and Gabbard). But Sanders is not a good politician—he doesn't use media to his best advantage, he struggles to shape narratives or stay on message, he's basically a crotchety old man kept alive by his popular policy proposals (expanding Medicare to cover everyone, free college, Green New Deal—whatever that means) and a fatally divided opposition.

The only politician I know of at the moment who displays the kind of slickness and media savvy I associate with an Obama, (Bill) Clinton or Reagan is Alexandria Ocasio Cortez of my home city, and she's a) in no position to run for president until 2028 and b) I wouldn't vote for her if she did.

I consider myself a socialist (although not a democratic one) but the entire Sanders & Ocasio platform is essentially european style social democracy à la the UK Labour Party and I'm not sure that stands up well when voters have a choice between it and mass deportations of foreigners/revolutionary violence against the oppressed. Not that I think a more centrist politician would be any more successful, though. Trump is a fluke who shouldn't have made it in, since he's terrible at actually using his power; but in 8 years or so the Republicans will run someone like Tucker Carlson or Rush Limbaugh and win 47 states. For now, though, we can at least enjoy the spectacle.

[71 dB]

If Sanders is elected, the Democratic Party that I knew and once admired will cease to exist. That's all there is to it. He's an extremist who claims equality for all people but is nothing more than a hypocrite as he's worth over a couple of million. But remember that it's okay for him to have more than you do.

Bernie is the kind of social democrat for working people the Dems should be. There is already a party for the 1 %, the Reps. It doesn't make sense both parties serve the 1% while 99 % gets screwed. Bernie is not an extremist. His policies is commonsense normal stuff in other countries. He has NEVER said people can't own differently. He is not for equal outcome. He is for equal opportunity. Totally different. 

Maybe it might be a good idea for 71 dB to stick to Finnish politics since he doesn't have the first clue about what actually happens in the US.

In what way have I demonstrated not having a clue? What actually happens in the US? The people are sick and tired of oligarchy and that's why Bernie wins. You on the other hand show complete ignorance of US politics with you stupid opinions about Bernie.

[71 dB]

     It's certainly OK for him to have more than I do. He wrote a book, I didn't.

A book that sold well. Also, as an old person he has cumulated wealth. He is one of the least wealthy Senators. Mirror Image has fallen completely to the smears of corporate media. I can't believe how idiotic people here are. How can you appreciate classical music for being sucn a simpleton? Maybe people here just don't follow politics at all and instead listen to classical music all the time?

[Herman]

Bloomberg's "What do I miss here? A socialist with three homes?" comment in the debate was deeply disingenuous even by debate standards, coming from somebody sits on 60 billion, or whatever it is.

There is no contradiction between having some form of affluence and wanting to change the world for better, plus Bernie's wealth pretty much amounts to a very good retirement fund, rather than that he's got so much cash (like Bloomberg) that he can trow millions away in stupid ads.

It mostly demonstrates that indeed one of the easiest ways to make some money is go and be a presidential candidate and have someone write your autobio.

[milk]

If Sanders is elected, the Democratic Party that I knew and once admired will cease to exist. That's all there is to it. He's an extremist who claims equality for all people but is nothing more than a hypocrite as he's worth over a couple of million. But remember that it's okay for him to have more than you do.

I don't buy that Sanders can be branded as a hypocrite. I don't believe that his weak point is that he secretly or surreptitiously feels that no one should be rich except him, that he doesn't believe what he says or that he really lives contrary to his beliefs. I've read this before, especially on the right, that the fact that Sanders has a summer house means that he's living contrary to some supposed ideal according to which everyone will be totally equal and capitalism will disappear.
I do think he CAN be painted as an honest extremist. Or at least someone that's too extreme. I fear that's the way he could lose. I think Sanders' plus point is his genuine honesty and integrity. I doubt Sanders has changed very much in the last 30 years. This may not make him the strongest candidate; he may turn out to be a Goldwater or a McGovern.
What I really think is silly is the idea that he's really a greedy guy. I just don't think that's going to sell.
I don't know if his ideas are workable or reasonable. Some kind of healthcare system that covers everybody is completely rational and mainstream in the world. The lack of it shows what a dumb country the U.S. is. Education in America is ridiculously expensive. On the other hand, I bet you can find a lot of old positions of Sanders that will come off as kooky now. Plus, I can't say I trust where the left of the left is coming from these days.

[71 dB]

37 % of Bernie's supporters in Nevada were first-time caucus-goers. A good sign for the possibility of expanding the electorate and generating high turnout in a general election.

[Ratliff]

If Sanders is elected, the Democratic Party that I knew and once admired will cease to exist. That's all there is to it. He's an extremist who claims equality for all people but is nothing more than a hypocrite as he's worth over a couple of million. But remember that it's okay for him to have more than you do.

Maybe he's an extremest (if you consider emulating Norway as extremism) but I don't see that he is a hypocrite. He doesn't say everyone should have the same wealth. He says that the government should do more to give everyone the same opportunity to accumulate wealth, by better access to education, health care, various kinds of social support. The fact that he advocates a tax policy in which he would personally have to pay more tax is not hypocrisy. That is called being selfless. That used to be considered a good thing.

[Ratliff]

I'm not thrilled with the prospect of Sanders being the nominee. What he advocates won't get enacted, and he may be too far from center to be elected. The last thing we need is a reprise of the McGovern candidacy. On the other hand, Biden should give up. Mainly he sells himself as the electable guy, and if that were true he should, maybe, win some elections.

My dream tickets would be Booker/Klobuchar, or maybe Klobuchar/Booker,  or maybe Warren/Booker, or maybe Booker/Warren. Dreams often don't come true.

[71 dB]

I'm not thrilled with the prospect of Sanders being the nominee. What he advocates won't get enacted, and he may be too far from center to be elected. The last thing we need is a reprise of the McGovern candidacy. On the other hand, Biden should give up. Mainly he sells himself as the electable guy, and if that were true he should, maybe, win some elections.

Bernie's presidency would be an inside/outside thing. Bernie in the White House, the people on the streets demanding change. It's a complete change of political culture and even if he only gets 20 % of his agenda that alone would mean substancial improvements for regular people.

My dream tickets would be Booker/Klobuchar, or maybe Klobuchar/Booker,  or maybe Warren/Booker, or maybe Booker/Warren. Dreams often don't come true.

So basically you dream about maintaining the status quo that gave us Trump? Why?

[drogulus]

     My dreams don't make sense enough to form a ticket.

I'm not thrilled with the prospect of Sanders being the nominee. What he advocates won't get enacted, and he may be too far from center to be elected.

    He'll sign what lands on his desk whether it's BernieCare-for-All or something more moderate as viewed by the ideology police who say nothing can happen until it does.

[Karl Henning]

I'm not thrilled with the prospect of Sanders being the nominee. What he advocates won't get enacted, and he may be too far from center to be elected. The last thing we need is a reprise of the McGovern candidacy. On the other hand, Biden should give up. Mainly he sells himself as the electable guy, and if that were true he should, maybe, win some elections.

My dream tickets would be Booker/Klobuchar, or maybe Klobuchar/Booker,  or maybe Warren/Booker, or maybe Booker/Warren. Dreams often don't come true.

Agreed that at this point, Biden should go away, but he's determined to try to succeed in the South Carolina primary. If Bernie edges him there, perhaps even he may see the light.

[drogulus]

It's good for you think that, because he agrees that he should have a lot more than you do in more ways than one, which he does and always will, especially if he's elected el presidente.

     I didn't know he felt that way. Now I hate him.

[71 dB]

It's a slow process: 72 percent of Nevada precincts reporting:

Sanders 47.5 %
Biden 20.8 %
Buttigieg 13.7 %
Warren 9.4 %
Steyer 4.5 %
Klobucher 4.0 %

Klobuchar losing to Steyer. That's embarrassing