And They're Off! The Democratic Candidates for 2020

[Christabel]

Trump Derangement Syndrome = more Trump.  And his daughter in 2024.  Bets?

[SimonNZ]

He's more likely to get the rules changed to allow him a third term (or unlimited terms).

[Karl Henning]

He's more likely to get the rules changed to allow him a third term (or unlimited terms).

The Quisling Senate will affirm that the change can be made by Executive Order, without need of any Constitutional Amendment.

[Karl Henning]

Mississippi & Missouri appear to have been called for Biden; neither of them any surprise.

[Karl Henning]

Mississippi & Missouri appear to have been called for Biden; neither of them any surprise.

Indeed, rather a blowout in both states.

[Karl Henning]

Early exit polling in MS has Biden at 96% (!!!) among 60+ black voters.

[Karl Henning]

Biden is projected to win Michigan; if so, that is probably it for Bernie:  He probably does not have a realistic path to the nomination.

The Sanders campaign, in idealistic denial, says they think they'll do better as the night wears on.

[Karl Henning]

Alas for Bernie, the "rock star"

"allies couldn't possibly be more indicative of vote preference than polls. In a 2012 survey from Pew Research, 10 percent of Americans reported having attended a political rally or speech. Compare that to 58.6 percent of eligible Americans who voted in that year's presidential election. Way more people will vote than attend rallies."

[SimonNZ]

Did the source of that quote say anything about people who attend rallies but don't vote? Who may like the theater and tribalism but care little beyond that?

[Karl Henning]

Did the source of that quote say anything about people who attend rallies but don't vote? Who may like the theater and tribalism but care little beyond that?

Not that I read . . .

'Attending a rally is very different from voting - John Sides: "The benefits you might get from a rally — a chance to express your passion for a candidate, be inspired or entertained by their speech, enjoy the company of other supporters — depend on going to the rally. If you don't go, at best you'll hear a few soundbites from the speech on the news. You won't feel the excitement. You won't get to see the show, as it were. You'll lose out. But voting is entirely different. Perhaps the key benefit you'll get from an election — seeing your preferred candidate win — doesn't really depend on whether you vote. Obviously your one vote is very unlikely to determine the outcome of the election. You won't necessarily lose anything if you stay home on Election Day. You could stay at home and still be cheering after the returns come in. In other words, the free rider problem looms large when it comes to voting, but much less so when it comes to attending a rally." [WashPost]'

[Karl Henning]

"South Carolina Rep. James E. Clyburn, whose endorsement was instrumental in launching Biden to victory in his home state — a win that changed the course of the race over night — said on NPR that it was time to "shut this primary down," starting with the cancellation of a debate scheduled for Sunday in Phoenix.

"Guy Cecil, the head of Priorities USA, a major Democratic political action committee, said "the math is now clear" and announced the organization would throw its considerable weight behind Biden.

"On the left, Ilya Sheyman, former head of the progressive political group MoveOn, sent "love and care" to Sanders and his campaign even as he signaled his belief the Democratic race was over.

""We need unity in Nov. to stop Trump, win Senate & build future," he wrote on Twitter."

[Madiel]

The Quisling Senate will affirm that the change can be made by Executive Order, without need of any Constitutional Amendment.

Sidenote: I was astonished when I first discovered that "quisling" was actually somebody's name.

[Marc]

Sidenote: I was astonished when I first discovered that "quisling" was actually somebody's name.

(Another sidenote: 'Quisling' has been used as a nickname for 'traitor', even in the Netherlands, for at least a few decades after the war.)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vidkun_Quisling

[Herman]

He's more likely to get the rules changed to allow him a third term (or unlimited terms).

Trump is from 1946. He would be 78 at the 2024 elections and I doubt he could keep up the pace. At some point the pharmaceuticals necessary to keep going will take their toll. It's pretty much the question if he just doesn't dissolve into incoherence.

Also, let's hope Biden defeats Trump in this election.

[71 dB]

Looks like the progressives are defeated again. Congratulations to the top 1 %. Oligarchy is working nicely. Congratulation to JBS, you can keep your privite insurance, no evil communist will come and take it away. Now that the DNC is getting rid of Bernie, they can even take their time to think about who they really want against Trump. Biden's cognitive decline is a convenient excuse to switch the candidate. Brilliantly played by the DNC I must admit!

Bernie's mistake: Being Mr Nice Guy. People, especially older people get their "information" MSM which is pure propaganda for the top 1 %. Progressives need to be aggressive and HAMMER away things that the SMS isn't saying or lies about. Bernie should have NEVER called Biden his friend. No, instead he should have HAMMERED how Biden is not for working people, how Biden takes money from the rich and does their bidding. Ideologically people are on the side of Bernie. It's about getting people to vote for you. In every State and exit polls show medicare for all is above water, yet people have been voting for anti-medicare for all candidates.

Also, let's hope Biden defeats Trump in this election.

A miracle is needed for that. We'll see if the DNC changes the candidate they send agaisnt Trump, but things look really miserable as they are. Bernie was nice to "friend" Biden. Trump won't be. He's already attacking Biden. Even if by a miracle Biden beats Trump it means the US has a "nothing will change" president suffering from cognitive decline (God knows how bad it's in a couple of years).

I am completely depressed about all of this and therefore I am "checking" out of American politics. There is no othe option for me anymore than total ignorance of the problems of the World. People like me just can't take this, it's too much. I'm back to Elgar avatar and American's can fuck up everything. That's apparently all they can do. Poor planet Earth.

[Marc]

[...]
Also, let's hope Biden defeats Trump in this election.

Yep. Let's hope.

[...]
I am completely depressed about all of this and therefore I am "checking" out of American politics. There is no othe option for me anymore than total ignorance of the problems of the World. People like me just can't take this, it's too much. I'm back to Elgar avatar and American's can fuck up everything. That's apparently all they can do. Poor planet Earth.

Also, let's hope that true Bernie supporters from the US of A have a straighter spine.

[André]

Poju, all you seem to be capable of is blame, blame, blame. When things don't go your way you act like a 3 year old. Very trumpian.

[71 dB]

Poju, all you seem to be capable of is blame, blame, blame. When things don't go your way you act like a 3 year old. Very trumpian.

Bernie supporters worked hard for change. Knocking millions of doors. Donated money ($46 million in February). Tried to get their parents/uncles/friends/dog/cat to vote for Bernie. I don't blame these people. They are the best of America. People of compassion, justice and hope. If their hard work had been enough I would be dancing here. Looking at the election results it doesn't look that way, does it?

What do you expect me to be capable of doing exactly? I'm just evaluating the facts and it ain't pretty...

[JBS]

Looks like the progressives are defeated again. Congratulations to the top 1 %. Oligarchy is working nicely. Congratulation to JBS, you can keep your privite insurance, no evil communist will come and take it away. Now that the DNC is getting rid of Bernie, they can even take their time to think about who they really want against Trump. Biden's cognitive decline is a convenient excuse to switch the candidate. Brilliantly played by the DNC I must admit!

Bernie's mistake: Being Mr Nice Guy. People, especially older people get their "information" MSM which is pure propaganda for the top 1 %. Progressives need to be aggressive and HAMMER away things that the SMS isn't saying or lies about. Bernie should have NEVER called Biden his friend. No, instead he should have HAMMERED how Biden is not for working people, how Biden takes money from the rich and does their bidding. Ideologically people are on the side of Bernie. It's about getting people to vote for you. In every State and exit polls show medicare for all is above water, yet people have been voting for anti-medicare for all candidates.

A miracle is needed for that. We'll see if the DNC changes the candidate they send agaisnt Trump, but things look really miserable as they are. Bernie was nice to "friend" Biden. Trump won't be. He's already attacking Biden. Even if by a miracle Biden beats Trump it means the US has a "nothing will change" president suffering from cognitive decline (God knows how bad it's in a couple of years).

I am completely depressed about all of this and therefore I am "checking" out of American politics. There is no othe option for me anymore than total ignorance of the problems of the World. People like me just can't take this, it's too much. I'm back to Elgar avatar and American's can fuck up everything. That's apparently all they can do. Poor planet Earth.

You have two premises that most Americans don't share
--that rich people are bad people.  You seem to be disgusted that rich people even exist.
--that every problem can be solved by government control (either a direct program or by strict regulation)

You also falsely believe that Bernie's plans have any realistic chance of getting through Congress.

And of course you continue to mistake progressive propaganda for an accurate presentation of the facts.


I want everyone to get good health care.  I think Medicare for All will get everyone poor to mediocre health care.  That's why I don't like it.  If getting rid of the biillionaires was necessary for everyone getting good health care, I would be for getting rid of them.  But if it's not necessary, then I don't care.  I'm not offended by the existence of rich people, or by people having profitable businesses.  And I don't see why Bernie's preferred end result, bureaucrats controlling broad sectors of American life, would be better than having the "one percent" in control.   That's why I see progressivism as just another form of elitism.  If you were against elitism, you should have been against both progressivism and the "one percent".  They are two sides of the same coin. 

There are also other programs Bernie proposes, beyond health care.  All of them are based on the idea of substantial government control.  He only has one tool in his tool box.  That's why he would be a bad President, and that's what's wrong with the Progressive agenda. 

You also ignore the fact that Biden's policy goals largely agree with Sanders, even if his actual plans differ.  You also ignore the fact that any Democratic administration would be staffed by people who share those same goals.  A Biden administration would be a progressive leaning administration. 

[Karl Henning]

Looks like the progressives are defeated again.

You can stop whingeing anytime.

A miracle is needed for that [defeating Trump].

No miracle, just voter turnout, which, not coincidentally, is exactly where Bernie and progressives choked.