2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumRepublicans afraid of running against Bernie, want Hillary instead.
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@NRCC @BernieSanders is outpacing @HillaryClinton in the polls. We have to stop him. Now. RT if you agree!
The NRCC has good reason to be very worried about Bernie's effect on congressional races. He has the potential to massively change the composition of the house, especially if he works as hard on GOTV as he's talking about doing. I just attended a Bernie rally where 95% of the attendees were students. If he can energize them to come out he could enter the White House with a majority in the Senate and House, in spite of all the gerrymandering.
Polls are showing Bernie doing really well among independents. An Independent Voter Project poll puts Sanders far ahead of the competition as this Dailykos article reports:
Poll of Independents: Sanders 45%; Trump 26%, HRC 9%Poll of Independents: Sanders 45%; Trump 26%, HRC 9%
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Could-Bernie-s-Coat-Tails-by-Rob-Kall-Bernie-Sanders-2016-Presidential-Candidate_House-Of-Representatives_Nrcc-National-Republican-Congressional-Committee-150930-198.html
That's been my line of thinking all along. The GOP's ONLY chance of winning is against Hillary. Looking at the big picture, it is not a difficult thing to understand.
The establishment fears Bernie. No if's and's or but's about it.
Fred Sanders
(23,946 posts)tularetom
(23,664 posts)Those clever republicans actually want to run against Bernie because they are terrified of the awesome might of Hillary Clinton. But they are afraid that if they push Bernie too hard, Democratic voters will become suspicious that its all a scam and switch to Hillary. So, sly rascals that they are, the republicans are claiming that they'd rather run against Hillary so the Democratic voters will smell a rat, support Bernie and then he will be the nominee and the republicans won't have to run against Hillary.
But you have seen through their sneaky ploy and awakened the nation to their duplicitous game!
erronis
(14,955 posts)Uncle Joe
(58,112 posts)NewJeffCT
(56,827 posts)works even better for me because I'm part Sicilian.
Uncle Joe
(58,112 posts)That was so apropos.
NewJeffCT
(56,827 posts)just about everybody was perfect in their roles.
"but only slightly less well known is - never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line..." keels over dead.
merrily
(45,251 posts)kidding, of course.
Tommy2Tone
(1,307 posts)stevenleser
(32,886 posts)conservative pundits. First it was Biden, now it's Sanders.
They don't want to face Hillary. They have thrown the kitchen sink at her and she still leads all of their candidates.
dreamnightwind
(4,775 posts)and want to damage her before she gets to them.
artislife
(9,497 posts)'nuff said.
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)Put him up next to Walid Shoebat and Joementum. Film at 11.
artislife
(9,497 posts)Geronimoe
(1,539 posts)They say the are afraid of Bernie but they think you'll figure it is smoke & mirrors and really Hillary, so it really is Bernie.
840high
(17,196 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)Logical
(22,457 posts)randys1
(16,286 posts)ibegurpard
(16,685 posts)She is too compromised and her record won't allow her to.
kenfrequed
(7,865 posts)She cannot run against the banks or Wallstreet as easily and there is a lot of rage that can be tapped on that score. Bernie speaks more plainly and attracts a lot more energy and vitality to the thing.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)Runner by 20 points in NH and elsewhere across the country he has become the most likely to beat any one of their candidates. So the RNC says they have to stop him.
Lol, good luck with that since it's been tried already by Hillary's supporters. To no avail. And he's attracting many of their own base to his campaign.
Left Ear
(81 posts)and then return it to the people of New York.
Bernie still wins.
roguevalley
(40,656 posts)840high
(17,196 posts)sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)However, they don't need to spend any money trying to discredit him, that's already being done by Hillary supporters. They may as well wait until he wins the nomination.
Evergreen Emerald
(13,069 posts)The constant attacks on Clinton by the right-wing, and the admissions of the Senate leader-to-be show the opposite. They want Clinton gone. Their goal is to attack her relentlessly until the unthinking public nods like lemmings in agreement, and provide someone else in the General. They know they would have no problem taking on Sanders.
They have not attacked Sanders once. They are salivating at the thought of running against him in the general.
Qutzupalotl
(14,230 posts)They just don't have as much to work with vs. Sanders. They have the "socialist!" label and some bad writing from decades ago.
AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)But he hands their asses to them in the form of simple truth.
Evergreen Emerald
(13,069 posts)aimed at Clinton or Obama.
AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)nt
Evergreen Emerald
(13,069 posts)My mistake. Continue with your one-sided conversation. I am sure you will not disagree with yourself.
AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)He doesn't have to because he has the truth on his side. Perhaps you missed him speaking at Liberty U. That is a prime example of how he deals with stupid RW talking points.
cprise
(8,445 posts)She doesn't need to go to Liberty U to hear them: She already belongs to a RW cabal called The Family.
Nitram
(22,671 posts)Jim Lane
(11,175 posts)You write, "They are salivating at the thought of running against him in the general." I'm guessing that some of them are. In 1980, many of us (I plead guilty here) were salivating at the thought of running against Reagan in the general. Obviously, someone so extreme would be an easy opponent.
The moral of the story is that the opposing party's saliva is not a reliable election predictor.
As to what the Republicans really think -- it's probably a mix. Right now they're attacking Clinton because they see her as the most likely nominee, and I agree with that assessment. Are they leaving Chafee-O'Malley-Webb alone because they think one of them would tank in the general? No, they're leaving them alone because they think an attack would be a waste of time.
If I were a Republican strategist, my thinking about the two Democratic front-runners would be:
* If Clinton runs, we'll have the advantage of Clinton fatigue, especially if we don't run Bush. We'll also have a great GOTV aid; we've been demonizing her for so long that our base will be sure to turn out to vote against her. We'll also pick up some misogynists. We'll have the problem of women turning out to break that last big glass ceiling.
* If Sanders runs, we'll have the advantage of painting him as an extremist. We'll say that about Clinton, too, but it will be easier against Sanders, and we'll get more help from the corporate media. Nobody in America will be able to go a day without hearing or reading the words "Sanders" and "socialist" in the same sentence. We'll also pick up some anti-Semites. We'll have the problem of previously apathetic non-voters (especially younger people) turning out because their perception is that, for the first time, there's a major-party candidate who represents significant change.
I'm guessing that different Republican strategists would weigh these competing considerations differently. Having reached their different conclusions about whom they'd rather oppose, they would then also reach different conclusions about tactics; should they dissemble about their preference, or try to fake the Democrats out by (for once) telling the truth?
My bottom line is that what Republicans say on this subject is pretty much worthless.
DisgustipatedinCA
(12,530 posts)FreedomRain
(413 posts)nt
moobu2
(4,822 posts)NealK
(1,791 posts)Tommy2Tone
(1,307 posts)How dare you speak logic in this post.
Metric System
(6,048 posts)that word. Yes, I know he calls himself a Democratic Socialist, but the s-word is what the GOP will focus on. The general election outcome will make Democrats long for Dukakis.
AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)Sanders will just make them look stupid.
AmericanHare
(44 posts)because for the past 8 years they have incorrectly applied it to Obama. If you go around calling a capitalist a socialist, and people see he's not a socialist, then to use that same attack against the next guy is, quite frankly, old hat.
stopwastingmymoney
(2,028 posts)MillennialDem
(2,367 posts)was 7-8 years old. How is that election at all relevant to a massive chunk the electorate?
Scootaloo
(25,699 posts)Gothmog
(144,005 posts)The idiots at the National Review are now urging conservatives to support Bernie Sanders and this support is not because the National Review has the best interests of the Democratic party in mind http://www.nationalreview.com/article/420262/bernie-sanders-republicans-myra-adams
This is a call to action for every Republican anxious to win back the White House in 2016. Bernie Sanders, the socialist U.S. senator from Vermont, is now surging in his quest to win the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination. He is attracting media attention and large crowds, and is invigorated by a New Hampshireprimary poll showing him only 10 points behind frontrunner Hillary Clinton.
After a GOP power player sent me a piece from left-leaning Salon headlined Hillary Clinton is going to lose: She doesnt even see the frustrated progressive wave that will nominate Bernie Sanders, my heart went pitter-patter, beginning to sense an opportunity. But it was not until I saw a headline in The Hill warning that the Sanders surge is becoming a bigger problem for Clinton, accompanied by It may be time for Hillary Clinton to take the challenge from Sen. Bernie Sanders more seriously, that I was truly motivated to join Team Bernie and rally my fellow Republicans to do the same.
Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/420262/bernie-sanders-republicans-myra-adams
The GOP is urging people to support sanders because the conservatives know that they can not beat Hillary Clinton. The author of this article actually made a contribution to Sanders.
NorthCarolina
(11,197 posts)roguevalley
(40,656 posts)Bernie on the other hand is telling people why they SHOULD vote for him. He wins.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)cprise
(8,445 posts)...some magical strategizing ability to them (the way we usually do) which gives them the power of reverse-psychology over us. And anyway, they have become very splintered since Bush2.
We know it for ourselves: Bernie is the stronger candidate largely for the same reason Obama was... he's got a great record and is to the Left of Clinton.
The more progressive Candidate *IS* the one with the greatest crossover appeal! The "swing" voter is disappearing and turning into a different animal -- The deeply concerned Independent. That is what pain does.
People who are pushing Clinton as the 'realistic' choice are trying to sell a realism that looks like 2014. The establishment must be brought to heel (and I mean take a back seat here) or else watch people stay at home in droves.
global1
(25,169 posts)AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)He will destroy them with simple truth, and they know it. Their whole existence is built upon bullshit. He threatens that.
procon
(15,805 posts)I can't connect the dots, but whatever floats your boat.
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,705 posts)House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is, at this moment, the Democrats best pal. He went on Fox News last night to talk up his campaign to replace outgoing House Speaker John Boehner, and he ended up saying out loud and on television the one thing Republicans arent supposed to say about the House Select Committee on Benghazi: its all about taking down Hillary Clinton:
procon
(15,805 posts)Considering the OPs source, this claim was snort worthy at best.
kenfrequed
(7,865 posts)Democrats and progressives generally don't give a shit about whatever bullshit scandal that GOP have cooked up.
We care about policy. Bernie's policy is better. Done.
RoccoR5955
(12,471 posts)Charlie McCarthy?
I often wonder.
DemocratSinceBirth
(99,705 posts)ZM90
(706 posts)brooklynite
(93,880 posts)It's October, a year beforehand. This is an effort to spook the base into coughing up more money and Bernie Sanders is "scarier" to that base. The NRCC knows that REGARDLESS of whether Sanders or Clinton is the nominee, Republicans will hold the House from 2016-2020, and possibly beyond that, since most liberal activists (including Bernie's) pay scant attention to the Governorship and State Legislative races that are critical to the management of redistricting.
Left Ear
(81 posts)living in a bubble of entitlement. The support that Clinton enjoys so much was always soft, and it's continuing to go elsewhere for the hard support.
In reality, Clinton's hard support is about 25% when it is all said and done.
brooklynite
(93,880 posts)...and they tell me Sanders is a risk for the General Election.
roguevalley
(40,656 posts)I can say stuff too.
oasis
(49,152 posts)brooklynite
(93,880 posts)As I've pointed out before, my profile says who I am; feel free to check my FEC filings.
Ed Suspicious
(8,879 posts)...and I just don't give a shit. You're betting the wrong horse.
brooklynite
(93,880 posts)NRCC is raising money. They're using the bogeyman that opens the most wallets of their supporters.
NealK
(1,791 posts)But I'm living on an island along with Elvis, Marilyn and Hendrix is my best buddy.
-Sincerly, Jim Morrison
frylock
(34,825 posts)brooklynite
(93,880 posts)Right now, Bernie Sanders isn't Barack Obama.
(FYI - a progressive candidate that most people here would respect told me "If Sanders wins (the nomination), we're in trouble".)
frylock
(34,825 posts)brooklynite
(93,880 posts)Please show me a solid case for how he wins a national election against a $1 b + funded Republican.
frylock
(34,825 posts)brooklynite
(93,880 posts)frylock
(34,825 posts)even has a little crossover appeal with disenfranchised Republicans. What are Hillary's numbers looking like with those groups?
840high
(17,196 posts)brooklynite
(93,880 posts)Ron Green
(9,821 posts)She lines up with their big-picture goals, and keeps the rabble roused on Culture War issues.
It's been much the same with Obama: The mouth breathers scream "Socialist! Muslim! Kenya!" while he surrounds himself with Summers and Geithner and Arne Duncan. What's not to like?
Hillary would have 'em woman-hating all the time, all LGBT and abortions up in here, while Wall Street and the Pentagon keep comfortable.
If we want a political transformation, we have to make it real.
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)Ron Green
(9,821 posts)Look, we may not accomplish what needs to be done in this cycle; and many diehard HRC "fans" aren't helping the overall process. But Bernie Sanders' campaign and message is the one chance I've seen to move the needle sufficiently to salvage a representative democracy. Throwing the kitchen sink at Hillary just serves to keep going the same kind of mudslinging/marketing that people are familiar with. Above all, don't change the paradigm.
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)Maybe I have had the misfortune of seeing it much more up close and personal than many of you, but it's relentless and it is not a token effort.
Ron Green
(9,821 posts)masses. But it doesn't even rattle the teacups compared to what Bernie's momentum will bring, if that's ever allowed to emerge.
As I say, HRC is part of the game, albeit a target right now. She'd be welcome at the Head Table.
dreamnightwind
(4,775 posts)NealK
(1,791 posts)stevenleser
(32,886 posts)What Republicans think.
NealK
(1,791 posts)stevenleser
(32,886 posts)You can focus on me and I will focus on the actual issues being discussed.
NealK
(1,791 posts)Lol!
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)NealK
(1,791 posts)You swallowed the whole fishing pole.
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)NealK
(1,791 posts)stevenleser
(32,886 posts)instead, doubled down on your stupid bait.
NealK
(1,791 posts)Now it's time for me to go to bed. So Buh-bye!
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)Congratulations on proving you meant something stupid.
NealK
(1,791 posts)stevenleser
(32,886 posts)I don't think we have talked before.
BTW, still waiting for you to endorse Hillary since Bernie has appeared on Fox.
NealK
(1,791 posts)stevenleser
(32,886 posts)NealK
(1,791 posts)What a pathetic fail.
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)now that you have found out this awful news about Bernie.
NealK
(1,791 posts)He doesn't work for them BTW.
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)I don't work for them either. I always find it interesting when people assert or imply something (instead of asking) when they clearly have no idea what they are talking about.
So either you are ok with me and ok with Bernie doing it, or you should endorse Hillary or O'Malley now.
NealK
(1,791 posts)stevenleser
(32,886 posts)That has no bearing on our conversation.
NealK
(1,791 posts)Your colaboration with Fox won't change people's minds because you are not Bernie Sander. Get it now?
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)There is nothing special about Bernie's appearances on Fox. He makes the same arguments any Democratic politician, strategists and pundits make.
So you just accused Bernie of being a Fox collaborator. (And note the word is spelled with two 'l's)
NealK
(1,791 posts)Are you defining yourself as a pundit? Well, have a good night.
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)nothing special about his appearances that haven't been said by other Democratic politicians, strategists and pundits appearing there.
Do try to stay on topic.
NealK
(1,791 posts)Goodbye now.
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)the definition of 'obsessed'.
Along with a lot of other things.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)The Entrenched Establishment has a lot to be worried about.
restorefreedom
(12,655 posts)too much baggage, no crossover appeal, crappy policy
bernie...a message that is resonating with people on both sides of the aisle, tremendous crossover appeal, no negativity, and a plan that really works for the people. And no baggage. The GOP knows they are toast if Bernie gets the NOM.
NorthCarolina
(11,197 posts)bunnies
(15,859 posts)wow.
?1442490338
NorthCarolina
(11,197 posts)The difference in support for Bernie vs Hillary among independents is, as you say, striking. It is also very telling, and a great indicator of who the Democrats should be getting behind.
bunnies
(15,859 posts)If this trend holds and Indies vote... its over.
frylock
(34,825 posts)Divernan
(15,480 posts)In a general election she would motivate a massive turnout from the GOP base, and they'd vote straight ticket for all Republicans on the ballot.
AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)They don't know how to deal with it.
AnAzulTexas
(108 posts)AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)She was glad to count those votes before. #ByAnyMeansNecessary
Robbins
(5,066 posts)Republicans want to run against Hilary.I suspect real reason Mccarthy said truth was to help her numbers for primary.
Bernie is one they don't want to run agiainst.
The GOP platform for 2016 is to run against Hilary Clinton as it was in 2007/2008.Once again the platform is being thrown out the
window.
Orrex
(63,086 posts)There's a clear air of desperation in that dismissal, in no small part because it conveniently omits the real difficulties that a Sanders candidacy will face if he miraculously wins the primary.
A Simple Game
(9,214 posts)They, Republicans and Democrats, exist in the big bubble that is Washington DC and they know that Bernie is the big needle that will burst that bubble. They don't know how to fight him so hope that along with the media just ignoring him will allow Hillary to win the primaries. They have very little chance of winning even if Biden gets in the race because he doesn't hurt Bernie, he hurts Hillary.
If Bernie wins that means money is not the boss, that the voters are the boss, and there goes the gravy train. Money will not keep their jobs and when they do the voters bidding to keep their jobs instead of the money's bidding they lose their money. The 1% then lose their influence which causes them to lose their advantage.
They all have nothing and the desperation is starting to show.
Orrex
(63,086 posts)It's a one-dimensional, facile rationalization. Sanders certainly wouldn't use that tactic. Why do you his supporters?
leftofcool
(19,460 posts)A Simple Game
(9,214 posts)Why would you ask me a question I already answered? I can understand if you don't believe my reason, but would like a response that gives what you think is a better reason, either for or against.
If you don't think they fear Bernie, give us some insight as to why.
Orrex
(63,086 posts)You're making a positive claim and demanding that we disprove it.
Nope, the burden is on you to support your own claim. Prove that the GOP, or Clinton, for that matter, is afraid of Sanders. The claim is made again and again, to the point that it's become an unquestioned article of faith among his supporters. If you can't prove it, then you should admit that it's simply wishful thinking.
I've never seen any proof of it beyond its assertion by the faithful. Certainly Sanders himself would never make such a baseless claim; why does his base insist on repeating it?
A Simple Game
(9,214 posts)because you would refuse to believe any of it.
Orrex
(63,086 posts)I have a long and well-established history on DU of admitting error when I am shown to be incorrect.
I know that it's important for some of Sanders' supporters to believe that only stubborn fools and sell-outs refuse to come into the fold, and that they "fear" Sanders, but the reality is much more straightforward.
I do not believe that Sanders can win the general election. His poll numbers are lovely, and his fundraising is lovely, but I simply don't believe that he can win on the national stage. I'll vote for him if, miraculously, he wins the nomination, but I don't believe it will happen.
And even if he does win, what will he accomplish once in office? Are you anticipating a strong pro-Sanders majority in Congress?
Do tell.
Response to NorthCarolina (Original post)
Name removed Message auto-removed
WI_DEM
(33,497 posts)but that doesn't mean that Bernie wouldn't run a tough campaign.
cprise
(8,445 posts)...hoping the corporate media will fall into line if they repeat their accusations enough (you know, like the good old days). They feel like they're in the wilderness, and they are desperately jonesing for their corporate news unreality bubble from the mid 90s - late 2000s.
And they know the Clinton-smearing (not that its *all* lies) will have little effect on Democratic primaries. And if it did, there are other Third Way potential candidates in the wings.
What help RWers *are* getting from the media is in their reluctance to mention Sanders at all. They are not prepared to field real leftist positions in their hourly news cycles without some serious cognitive dissonance.
For now, the media bigwigs can tell themselves that polls mean nothing this early (implying that their coverage now is capricious and self-indulgent). When that self-delusion wears thin, they no doubt hope to have some kind of 'containment' strategy against a real progressive candidate like Sanders.
WillyT
(72,631 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)and there is no Democratic nominee who would motivate more of their cave-orc base to come out and vote than she would. She's the dream candidate of the Repigs.
HRH as the nominee guarantees an extra 1-2 million Repig votes, nationwide.
FlatBaroque
(3,160 posts)What does occur to me though is that there needs to be a massive effort in recruiting and vetting candidates. Making sure that the third way garbage that is waiting in the wings does not benefit from the surge and Bernie's coattails. Rather, solid progressives should be positioned now to plan for the surge in voter turnout.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)There just isn't much reality here anymore.
zappaman
(20,605 posts)Or as I call it BS LAND.
NorthCarolina
(11,197 posts)They were banking on the inevitability of HRC at the time, and Bernie had not even announced yet.
Times they are a change'n! It's best to keep up to date.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)leftofcool
(19,460 posts)cprise
(8,445 posts)and they're swimming in cognitive dissonance. Hating Clinton recalls their old sense of purpose and certainty, and its how they used to get the media to act as a reliable echo chamber for them.
Nevertheless, on the issues Clinton is the best Dem candidate for them, and recognition of that is just dawning on some of them.
dreamnightwind
(4,775 posts)Many many people are so disillusioned with the Republicans and the faux alterrnatives pushed by corporate-owned Democrats that they no longer feel like any of them are worth getting behind.
Bernie completely changes that.
If he can win the nomination, we can have authenticity and people-power behind our party once again, which will lead to many of the "ex-pat" independents coming to the Democratic side, where any reasonable person belongs if we can just get control of our party back from the third way types.
Good God, we're up against Republicans, who in no way repreent the interests of anyone other than the very very rich, and we struggle to defeat them running third-way corporatist Democrats.
Most people don't feel the Democrats are much better, you know, "they're all crooks". Change that, and you change everything. Bernie changes that, Hillary doesn't.
NorthCarolina
(11,197 posts)that "Bernie changes that, Hillary doesn't". Well stated.
MasonDreams
(756 posts)The Berlin Wall came down in 1989."Socialist" won't even work & its only one word.
FEEL THE BERN YET??? signed building dreams one brick at a time.
dreamnightwind
(4,775 posts)Last edited Fri Oct 2, 2015, 07:29 AM - Edit history (1)
They'll say "tax cuts for the rich" and "we can't afford it". He'll say to raise mega taxes on the rich, and exactly what he will spend it on (things people want!). To "we can't afford it", hopefully he'll ask why we can't afford to live as well as Norway or Sweden, being the great source of wealth generation that our country is. I agree with you, I don't think they're used to debating our actual policies, and probably don't have the vocabulary to do so.
hootinholler
(26,449 posts)Personally I am amazed you were able to discover the obvious plan.
Yes, the sure do. Yes if we all hang together we can accomplish just that.
This is a good sign that the campaign is being taken seriously.
YOHABLO
(7,358 posts)run against:
Coulter: I wish Fox News would go a little easier on Hillary Clinton. Shes the one we want to run against. Could you guys just back off? Because I feel like Im living through this, I feel like this is déjà vu again. We used to say, Oh, the next president isnt going to be a guy named Barack Hussein Obama. Our next president could be Sen. Bernie Sanders, if you people keep this up.
nolabels
(13,133 posts)I don't know if were Ben or Jerry that said it, but it was pretty unequivocal in the statement about people wanting the real thing almost every time
stevenleser
(32,886 posts)should be regarded with less than a grain of salt.
libodem
(19,288 posts)Get ready for the 'Sanders Republicans'.
Moderate Republicans have to be hungry for a message that resonates economically and isn't about terror and the security state, or the end times crazy talk, or trumping up fear of black and brown people. They have to hate the clown car worse than we do.
MasonDreams
(756 posts)Hillary has the "center"& sane right. Bernie's Left & GOP's insane
Baltimore18
(45 posts)Hepburn
(21,054 posts)Who can blame the Repukes? They are full of BS and lies and Bernie is the real thing. While I do not dislike Hillary, she does have a lot of negatives attached to her with the general public that can be played upon and used by the Repukes. Bernie does not. Yes, there is the "socialist" issue, but most of the public appear to be more interested in what he says and not what he is labeled.
treestar
(82,383 posts)Why aren't they digging for scandals, problem votes, etc?
NorthCarolina
(11,197 posts)otherwise the Hillary camp would be using them instead of simply slinging "He's a Socialist for gods sake", or "He's BFF's with Hugo Chavez" and silly crap like that.
treestar
(82,383 posts)No one can be in public life without something - with Obama it was Rev. Wright, birthers, claiming no one knew him at the colleges he went to, association with Saul Alinsky- if BS is a socialist they should be able to find something.
NorthCarolina
(11,197 posts)The Hillary camp DID try to manufacture a bogus convoluted personal link to Hugo Chavez and you see how well that worked out for them. Seems they dropped that line of attack post haste doesn't it? Of course, because it was laughable at best, and yet much was spent in fabricating it...why?
leftofcool
(19,460 posts)stevenleser
(32,886 posts)... if he somehow wins the nomination, the day after he is nominated, an ad will start running that compiles all the times he self identified as a Socialist and will talk about the failed Soviet Union, Eastern Europe under communism, etc.
Bernie is a non-starter. The GOP knows Bernie gets 40% in a national election tops.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)the Republicans are simply assuming that Hillary will be the Democratic nominee, and are simply getting what they see as a head start running against her.
They are barely aware of Bernie, and simply dismiss him as a socialist who obviously won't get the nomination. So they're concentrating on the supposed nominee, calculating that by the time she gets the nomination, she'll be such damaged goods that it won't really matter who they nominate, their candidate will win.
I think they're wrong in that I believe Bernie will get the nomination.
Tommy2Tone
(1,307 posts)Time to blow some smoke and party. Some of us have started early.
Beacool
(30,244 posts)They have attacked her job performance, her personal life, her marriage, her husband, her daughter, they have called her from a liar to a whore; yet she still stands ahead of the pack. The last Clinton the Republicans defeated was Bill in 1980 when he lost the governorship of AR for one term. They have never defeated them again.
libodem
(19,288 posts)He should start printing: "Another Republican for Sanders", yard signs now, so there will be enough.
If they want the best Republican candidate Hillary has more experience and is way more qualified than anything out of that clown car. You'd think that would be the flock to crossover.
But if anyone is looking for a genuine human being with heart and a mind, the independents and the moderates will hear Bernie's message. He's the real deal.
Maineman
(854 posts)d_legendary1
(2,586 posts)-She's not likable.
-She's full of scandals (both true and untrue).
-Big time [link:http://www.slate.com/blogs/outward/2015/10/01/hillary_clinton_on_gay_rights_a_new_email_is_troubling.html|waffler.
]
-And for those who remember a Slanderer.
So yes, there are plenty of reasons to want to go up against Clinton instead of Sanders. Her baggage can turn off the Democratic voter base, assuring a right wing victory. I'll vote for her if she gets the nod, but that doesn't mean others will (and sadly that cost Democrats elections).
NealK
(1,791 posts)Only way to win. K&R
DCBob
(24,689 posts)Good grief.