Why is Bernie so popular?

[kentuck]

He seems to be much more popular with Democrats in general than Democrats here on DU? Why is that?

Why do so many young people support him?

It's easy to simply ignore these questions but it might be useful to look a little more closely?

If Bernie is elected President, that does not mean that America becomes a full-fledged "Socialist" country tomorrow. There are guardrails called the US Congress. Until they are convinced of the benefits of Bernie's "socialist" ideas, we will remain mostly where we are today, in my opinion.

When we find ourselves in the minority, we might want to look a little closer at ourselves?

Just my opinion.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

1. Excellent post! All you have to do is listen to what Bernie is sayin... he speaks truth to power

and promotes economic and racial equality to light the way forward in a way that motivates working class and low-income voters to join Bernie's political revolution in droves. It's time we ALL climb aboard the Bernie Bandwagon... it's fillin' fast, but there's always room for one more!!


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[OneGrassRoot]

3. Can you be more specific though?

Is it really the nitty gritty of what he is saying or is it more the rebellion-against-the-establishment vibe in general that makes him so appealing?

(It's appealing to me - both his and Liz's message - but I do wonder what younger people are drawn to.)

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

12. Definitely both, but more of the former and less of the latter.

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[Historic NY]

129. Its like being stuck in a time warp...........

he has done nothing to ever advance any of what he spouts. JusT look at his home state. Look at what he has done not what he keeps saying he's going to do. He'll do nothing w/o support and that he does not have, where it counts in the Senate or the Congress.


[link:https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/bernard_sanders/400357/report-card/2018|]

[link:https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/bernard_sanders/400357/report-card/2019|]

Making noise doesn't count!!

[kentuck]

130. Which means:

The label of "Socialist" is only a label. The only way he can get anything done is as a Democrat.

[ehrnst]

70. Just don't ask him about his medical records....

or any of these examples of "speaking truth to power..."

Sanders: I'm 'prepared to work with' Trump

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said Wednesday he is willing to collaborate with President-elect Donald Trump going forward but warned he would "strongly oppose" the Republican should he continue to pursue his most extreme policy proposals.

Acknowledging Trump's success in taping into economic resentment in his astounding electoral win Wednesday morning, Sanders cast Trump's candidacy in a light similar to his own failed presidential run during the Democratic primaries.

“Donald Trump tapped into the anger of a declining middle class that is sick and tired of establishment economics, establishment politics and the establishment media," the senator said in a statement released Wednesday.

Trump And Sanders Try To Show New Hampshire They Can Reach Across The Aisle

In a presidential election season that’s seen plenty of partisan fights, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Bernie Sanders were among the candidates in Manchester, New Hampshire, Monday who were promising to reach across the political aisle if elected.

As WBUR's Fred Bever reported both men were out to demonstrate that they are practitioners of the art of compromise.

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/9/14/sanders-reaches-across-aisle-at-liberty-university.html




Sanders: I'm 'prepared to work with' Trump

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said Wednesday he is willing to collaborate with President-elect Donald Trump going forward but warned he would "strongly oppose" the Republican should he continue to pursue his most extreme policy proposals.

Acknowledging Trump's success in taping into economic resentment in his astounding electoral win Wednesday morning, Sanders cast Trump's candidacy in a light similar to his own failed presidential run during the Democratic primaries.

“Donald Trump tapped into the anger of a declining middle class that is sick and tired of establishment economics, establishment politics and the establishment media," the senator said in a statement released Wednesday.

[TomCADem]

2. Why is Trump So Popular Among Republicans?

Hr is insulting, throws would be Republican allies under the bus without a thought, whines that he is a victim of media bias, attacks the so-called establishment and deep state even though he is now leading it. He also is repeatedly shown to be a hypocrite about draining the swamp, yet Trump's voters buy his BS and ignore all evidence to the contrary.

Yet, he has stranglehold on Republican voters.

[ahoysrcsm]

165. Trump is a cult leader...

Have you ever tried holding a simple conversation with a cult member? Always, ALWAYS, ends up talking about their cult. Can't go one day at work without hearing about Trump.

[disndat]

4. No one has question

how Sanders is going to pay for his programs as they did E. Warren.

[womanofthehills]

115. Maybe stop giving so much money to the military industrial complex

and here's something novel - tax the rich.

[DanTex]

5. He's popular because his policies are popular, and people trust his consistency.

The young people thing I think has a lot of roots. First, young people tend to be more idealistic. Also, this particular generation of young people came of age during a time when the "miracle of capitalism" hasn't been all that miraculous. And they missed the cold war, so the whole "communism" thing seems dumb to them. And they're right about that, what Bernie proposes is commonplace in Western Europe and other parts of the world.

You're right that electing Bernie wouldn't turn America into a full-fledged socialist country. In fact, even if Bernie were able to enact every single thing on his platform, we still wouldn't be a "full-fledged socialist" country. We'd just become a "normal" country by international standards with decent labor protections, social benefits, and universal healthcare.

[aikoaiko]

15. All this and he is showing that lefties can fight as hard as anyone

He's not backing down whether up or down in the polls.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

16. THIS!! WELL SAID!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[ehrnst]

39. Yes, about that consistency....

Last edited Thu Feb 20, 2020, 01:05 PM - Edit history (1)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/02/18/bernie-sanders-wont-release-full-medical-records/4801735002/

[KayF]

148. well said

[mysteryowl]

195. Well said. A question remains, why is he so UN-popular on DU?

[DanTex]

196. I would guess that DU demographics lean older than the electorate as a whole.

I signed up back around 2001, after Bush stole the election. I was young, Bush v Gore was my first election. Now I'm less young, funny how that happens...

But at the time, there was no social media, and DU was really a lifeline for people who wanted to vent about how horrible the political situation was.

I think with twitter, facebook, etc., younger people now have other outlets to discuss things online, and so DU is more of an older crowd. DU is most popular with the under-40s.

Just a guess, I have no demographics or data to back this.

[mysteryowl]

198. Interesting, that could be.

[at140]

6. Sander's popularity is exposing the troubles

middle class is enduring in this period. Add high cost of college & student loans,
family incomes stagnant while cost of housing & healthcare keeps escalating,
85% of tax cut dollars going to top 10% with middle class thrown a bone, and Bernie's
all out agenda against climate change, are some of the reasons for Bernie's poll numbers.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

107. Simply put... Bernie has the backs of We The People. We've been lookin for our Champion

and it's BERNIE!!


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[Beringia]

7. You don't delve too deeply with your question

Why don't you try giving an answer from the perspective of one of the many types of people who see something good in him.

[kentuck]

13. I will leave that to you.

I am supporting Elizabeth.

[katmondoo]

155. I am looking but cannot find it.

[Zolorp]

8. Promising to give away free shit is popular?

[Bettie]

90. He's offering change

and boomers got a lot of advantages that later generations did not get.

College wasn't out of reach for them, climate change wasn't a pressing immediate issue, they could find good paying jobs even without a degree...then, Reagan ensured that all of that was beyond reach for most people, but by and large, the generations that came of age before him did fine.

I'd like to see public education expanded to include college/tech school.
I'd like to see people whose lives are crippled by student debt be able to move forward in their lives.
I'd like to see people not have to go bankrupt because they or a family member became ill.
I'd like not to ever have to see another go fund me for someone's kid to get chemo.
I'd like to see people working for the future of our planet, not kicking the climate change can down the road for the next person to deal with.

You call it "free shit"...I call it wanting a better life for everyone.

We're the richest nation on earth. We can do this and we should do this.

[mountain grammy]

146. Well said!

[Laelth]

159. +1 n/t

-Laelth

[John Fante]

184. Superb post.

[Garrett78]

190. Yep. A lot of folks recognize that we're running out of time to make the necessary changes.

The US is, as Howard Zinn said, "topsy-turvy." We need major fundamental change, and soon.

Young people especially are starving for leadership that will push for more than just status quo policy. And good negotiators know that you need to aim high, that you shouldn't ever start where you hope to end up.

[womanofthehills]

116. So healthcare for all and a living wage is now free shit

[at140]

121. Exactly,,,,,I got mine, heck with you!

Get sick and go bankrupt!
Thank goodness for Medicare, otherwise we would be in bankruptcy court already.
Her treatment is running up bills at $30,000/month!

[at140]

119. Raising minimum wage is NOT giving away anything

those folks work hard for their meager paychecks.

[Tweedy]

151. Rational investments

Educating the next generation is common sense

Loading them up with debt, losing beautiful minds in the process, is dumb.

Who would set up a system like the one we have got, complete with for profit colleges that advertise more than they educate?

This government is of, by and for us, not the kleptocrat who manufactures some loop hole.

"Free stuff" is what the for profit trump universities of this world get when their "students"/ aka suckers sign loan documents in return for absolute zero & a lifetime of crushing debt.... brought to you all by the American taxpayer

Ever notice how so often the politician shouting "free stuff" has his hand in the tax payer cookie jar? Moscow Mitch sure has built a lot of Mitch McConnell dog walking parks -- "free stuff!"

[ahoysrcsm]

166. Senator Sander talked about raising min wage in 2007 to $15 an hour.

at the time it was $7.25, 12 years later and its still... $7.25.

We could have had $8 or $9 but oh no, we had to go for the magical $15. 12 fucking years...

[at140]

168. I would raise minimum wage to $17.50/hour

Don't we want ALL Americans to live a decent life? Or should the top 10% keep getting richer while the rest are struggling?

[ahoysrcsm]

171. Why not $25?

It takes about that much to rent an apartment, health insurance, pay off student loans, put a % into a 401K, a little into savings, car payment, car insurance, etc.

Did you want to buy a house? Start a family?

Lets not forget about the Servers or Hospitality workers.

12 years its stagnated.

[at140]

172. A journey of 1000 miles begins with small steps..

Aim for what is achievable and practical before trying to reach for the moon.
$17.50 can be absorbed by the current economy.

[ahoysrcsm]

174. We are in agreement with the small steps...

I just don't see how a 140% increase is a small step. In 2007 Sanders was calling for a 100% increase to $15 and it went nowhere.

[at140]

179. $15 is already in place in many locations! Going to $17.50 is a small step right?

It was over-due when Sanders called for it in 2007. But administrations current and past did not get it done.
Sanders and Warren will get it done. You can bet on it.

[ahoysrcsm]

181. $15 min wage in many locations, Great! All over america... unfortunately no.

In 2020, a total of twenty-four states across the country will increase their minimum wage requirements for workers. Beginning on January 1, 2020, twenty states increased wages with Connecticut, Delaware, Nevada and Oregon set to increase their requirements later in the year.

$7.25 is the Federal Minimum Wage, the only one that counts when speaking of Federal office holders. States and local municipalaties have the right to be higher and I applaud them for that.

[bucolic_frolic]

9. It's generational demographic redistribution

Young people are not financially established relative to older people. They have debt, and love things that are free. Socialism promises free things. 60 year olds with a mortgage and home equity are not eager to have their financial bubble tapped by the government. Young blue collareds don't embrace socialism as much as their college grad peers.

Everyone wants a better deal explains both sides.

[ginnyinWI]

10. Here's what my daughter and son in law said:

Cause I can't understand it either.

They are the same age as Pete--or one year younger at 37. They think it is the anger. Young people are fed up with government, not unlike the Trump cult. They want a guy who can tear it all apart and start over. Not unlike the Trump cult!

I said that Sanders plans were too unrealistic. They said that you always ask for more and settle for some halfway measures. They said that Obama did the same over the ACA.

They are college educated, advanced degrees. They personally like Elizabeth Warren the best.

[handmade34]

52. "Not unlike the trump cult"

"ask for more and settle for some halfway measures" all good in a normal time, but right now it's "ask for more and settle for *another 4 years of republican rule*"

good for your kids! Elizabeth Warren is excellent choice

[ahoysrcsm]

167. 12 years the min wage has stagnated.

12 years Sanders has fought for $15 an hour. Coincidence...

[at140]

194. Elizabeth Warren is a rare opportunity for this country in 2020

It is the only chance to change the system, instead of just tweaking it.

When millions go bankrupt every year due to healthcare bills,
and when just ONE PERSON has accumulated more wealth than bottom 150 million Americans,
there is something seriously asunder in current system for many years starting with Reagan in 1980.
Direly need a revolution, not moderate changes to current system rigged for rich to get richer and
middle class marching in place and poor staying poor permanently.
Only Warren has the skills, energy and endurance to make a significant change.

[Rorey]

11. Would Sanders be an effective President?

It's a serious question. Without support of Congress, I just wonder what he thinks he can actually get done.

[juliuswest]

105. He'll have support from at least half of congress

The progressive caucus inside the House of Representatives is the largest group and democrats have a shot at flipping the Senate.

[LonePirate]

14. I suspect the average DUer is older than the average Sanders supporter. That affects everything.

Also, DU seems to be more concerned with stopping 45 whereas Sanders’ supporters are more concerned with fixing the problems they face in the world - poor wages and job prospects, income inequality, sky high housing and education costs, abominable health care if it exists at all, a world that is being destroyed, etc. For the real world Sanders’ supporters, none of the other Dems except for possibly Warren is talking about these issues. It is assumed that a Dem presidency will reset the foreign policy stumbles and restore stature and respect to the White House so those issues are of little importance.

[dubyadiprecession]

17. Bernie will energize more republicans to turn out to vote against him...

If he wins the nomination. We should all know by now, how republicans will react. We can’t win a General election, coming from the very far left.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

22. As I've said in a previous thread

I fear much of Sanders' success in the primaries is from Republicans crossing over. Trump has in fact encouraged his supporters to do such.

[JaneQPublic]

30. Scumbag GOPer Hugh Hewitt said he's voting for Bernie in the VA primary.

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/01/hugh-hewitt-gets-stomped-after-pledging-chaos-vote-for-bernie-sanders-hes-as-partisan-as-they-come/

It's a longstanding Republican tactic Limbaugh calls Operation Chaos.

[xmas74]

97. It's a classic tactic.

I crossed over in the 2012 Senate primary in Missouri to vote for the worst candidate: Todd Akin. A number of us did, hoping it was enough to give him the nomination. His nomination offered McCaskill the best chance in November. His comments about rape and pregnancy two days later were icing on the cake.

I've heard local Republicans already bragging about voting for Sanders via absentee ballot. The ones I've spoken with at other functions have stated they don't want Biden or Warren winning the nomination but feel confident about Sanders. (The other day one mentioned that he was afraid Bloomberg would get the nomination.)

[Skidmore]

47. Agree.

I think Republicans are very busy screwing around with our primaries. I'm very concerned about how a Sanders headed ticket will affect the House and any chance we have for a Senate majority. I don't think Sanders cares about this. The candidates he supported in 2018 mostly lost.

[womanofthehills]

117. but more independents will vote for him

[JaneQPublic]

18. "Why do so many young people support him?"

Free college tuition.

That and legal weed nationwide.

[PubliusEnigma]

20. so, selfishness??

[JaneQPublic]

23. Not any more than other voters. (nt)

[33taw]

106. Weed is becoming legal pretty much everywhere without Bernie.

Free college tuition and student debt relief are important. I think he was pushed hard on social media by Russians. Some of the supporters just hung on. If you look at his overall numbers, they have dropped since 2016. It is just harder to see because there are so many candidates in the primaries splitting the rest of the support.

[PubliusEnigma]

19. Why is Bernie not a Democrat?? Why not commit to the Party instead of using it for your own purposes

That's what Trump did. And you see what's left of the Party formerly known as the GOP.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

21. Because he makes extravagant promises to people

who don't understand how our government works and who therefore think presidents are able to create generous social programs by presidential fiat without the involvement of Congress.

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

25. THIS!!!!

Terrific

[berksdem]

57. could not have said that any better myself Velevteen! Kudos...

[Pachamama]

78. +100000

Exactly

I will also add because he appeals to the tribalistjv nature of many on the left.

Tribalism, especially toxic political tribalism is not what this country needs on either side of the aisle.

[Awsi Dooger]

111. Yes...extravagant promises that are not exposed on primary level

Everything changes if Sanders becomes the nominee. There will not have been a greater variance between how someone is viewed in June compared to October. Redefined doesn't begin to describe it.

[Bettie]

112. A lot of them DO understand how government works

but they are tired of "well, it will never pass, so we won't even try...here's a quarter measure that won't really change anything! Enjoy!".

If this had been the attitude in other times we wouldn't have Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid...or any social safety net at all.

Generally negotiating works best if you don't start by saying "this is the very least I can accept"...because you'll end up with less than you started with.

My kids and their friends believe in swinging for the fences, even if you don't get it all, you can move the needle.

[betsuni]

125. +1

[Hoyt]

126. Exactly. If I thought he could fulfill half is promises, I'd be for him too. Same for Warren.

In future, we can add Sanders -- or Warren -- to McGovern, Mondale, Dukakis.

[Sparkly]

139. Yes.

They forget that Republicans exist. I've seen it over and over with Nader and even Kucinich.

[Vivienne235729]

153. Yep. And some Democrats are in areas that are VERY moderate almost red.

You can't go far left in these areas without their constituents raising hell. They wouldn't get reelected. They have to move gradually.

[mountain grammy]

163. Most people don't think being able to see a doctor

When they’re sick is extravagant, just basic human dignity...Should we not fight for a better life, for a more humane and generous America?

Maybe we should just give up any hope for a fair redistribution of wealth or reparations for that matter. Let the raw greed continue to consume our planet because people just don’t understand how government works. Such naive children wanting a future.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

170. It's extravagant in the sense that he's making people believe that he can deliver it,

while the reality is that it will take years of incremental steps because it will be such a huge, complex change from the current situation. I'm not saying it shouldn't happen or that it's not a worthwhile goal, but Bernie seems to have made an awful lot of people think that if he's elected it will happen, immediately and magically. He doesn't seem to address the inconvenient fact that both houses of Congress would have to pass legislation vastly more extensive and controversial than the ACA (and include raising taxes a lot, which is never popular), and it was like pulling teeth just to get that. What I'm saying is that no politician should be writing checks his ass can't cash.

[mountain grammy]

197. Back in the 60"s when Democrats

were trying to pass Medicare, Ronald Reagan made an anti Medicare commercial telling us if Medicare passed it’d be the end of freedom in America. Democrats got it done. Same with Medicaid.
Now you’re saying it’s nearly impossible. We’re going backwards without the courage of our convictions. Guess I don’t understand how government works, but I’ve actually seen it work when the commitment and courage are present. Oh well. Guess it’s just too hard these days. Right?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

199. That's not the point. The point is that he's promising voters

that if he's elected he will give them whatever his version of medicare for all is (plus free college), and that's a promise he can't keep - because doing that is not within the powers of a president. If he was promising that he would support those goals and that he would do everything he could to promote such legislation and get Congress to pass it, fine. If he was also talking about electing representatives and senators who would be in favor of those goals and would offer bills in the House and vote for them in the Senate so he could sign them into law, great. But that's not what he's doing. He's telling voters that he's going to do it, but he doesn't tell them the truth, which is that he can't do it without Congress. And as things stand right now, Congress isn't gonna do it.

[mountain grammy]

200. So, what I hear you saying is

a candidate shouldn’t campaign on changing America for the better and lifting all Americans with good ideas and policies because they can’t do it anyway.. 🙄

Gotta give people something to hope for. But why hope when we don’t even know how government works? I think you’re being a bit condescending with that kind of thinking. Pretty sure most people who are following the campaigns know that Bernie isn’t promising anything, he’s just telling it like it is. We need universal health care. We’ve needed it for decades. If you don’t believe that, maybe you don’t understand America..

I understand our government isn’t working as it should, but is working for a radical right wing Christian agenda that will turn out very badly for all of us. Obviously, American government doesn’t need a majority to function..it just needs a bully with a radical religious following.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

202. A candidate shouldn't campaign on promising something he can't deliver.

It's dishonest to say, "Elect me and you'll get free health care and free college." An honest politician would say, "Elect me and I'll work with Congress to get legislation passed that will put us on the road to free health care and free college (or whatever)." What will happen if Bernie is elected (instead of going down in flames like McGovern did in '72, which is the more likely result) and he can't get a damn thing done because he gets stonewalled in Congress?

[mountain grammy]

204. Never once heard any of our candidates

Say elect me and you’ll ge free healthcare and college. Maybe you could post an actual quote of any Democratic candidate saying that.

[Boulevardier]

185. Gee, his voters must be real idiots.

[sarcasm]

[wisteria]

24. I know of no one who likes him-including me.

Media hype? He has only won one contest.

[ahoysrcsm]

173. It was a tie with Sanders receiving 9 delegates and Buttigieg receiving 9 delegates in NH.

[still_one]

26. He has about 30% support. Is that your measure of popularity?

What about the 70% who don't support him? Do they not count?

[jimfields33]

71. The others have 75-85 percent who don't support them

So why pick somebody whose even less desired. 30 percent is the top percentage this year and it’s bernie. I guess next maybe Biden with 19 percent which means 81 percent say no thank you.

[still_one]

79. Because that isn't how it works and you realize it. There are too many candidates running with

similar views, Amy, Pete, Biden and Sanders and Warren

Sanders isn’t the most popular candidate, and rules he agreed to and was for previously, he now is against

I anticipate an ugly convention, and another 4 years of trump

I hope I am wrong, and yes I will gladly vote for whoever the Democratic nominee is

[redstateblues]

27. Duh. Free College which will never happen

[jimfields33]

84. I wish colleges would step up and use their huge endowments

And knock 10 grand off every student. These colleges are flush with a ton of money yet they are charging incredibly high tuition and board. That’d sure be a nice start.

[MichMan]

205. How much do you think they will charge when the recipient pays nothing?

People think it means they will get to go to any college they want anywhere regardless of cost and someone else will pay for it.

[jimfields33]

206. I would imagine they'll apply like today.

If anything it will make acceptance to a university even harder since more will be applying

[samnsara]

28. tell that to the undecided trumpers we are trying to win over..that message is too scary for them

..if we dont get some of those folks on our side all this is for nothing. Youth..and voter/political virgins sometimes bring a lack of knowledge about how we got here in the first place and some dont mind walking on the edge of democracy to get what was promised them.

[Dream Girl]

29. I have a hunch that his supporters tend to be low information

They are taken in be his vision but they don’t understand how governments works. Yhey don’t get that 90% of his promises and ideas could never be implemented. There is this little thing called Congress that has to actually enact laws. Many of his ideas like free college would never pass. They seem to beli3ve his promises without understanding that they are pipe dreams. They are unsophisticated and so easily duped.

[rampartc]

31. you had best sit down for the money quote ......

"What makes Bernie Sanders so threatening to the Democratic establishment is that he stands for what millions of Democrats thought their party stood for all along." seth ackerman

[W_HAMILTON]

35. Bullshit.

What makes Sanders so threatening is that his bullshit lies about the Democratic Party not standing for the same sort of values he has results in depressing Democratic turnout and getting Republicans and their terrible values elected.

[beastie boy]

32. I believe Churchill answered this question back when:

“If a man is not a socialist by the time he is 20, he has no heart. If he is not a conservative by the time he is 40, he has no brain.”

He doesnt use the words "socialist" and "conservative" here in a political sense we are used to. He more likely meant something like "idealist" and "pragmatist", but in either case it explains Bernie's popularity with the young people.

My take is that young people don't have as much benefit of a hindsight to have experienced the multitude of nuances associated with the sentiment they espouse to. What sounds profound in theory, doesn't usually reflect in historical precedent. Realizing this only comes with the experience of living through it.

To your point of things not changing much if Bernie becomes President, that would make Bernie a piss poor leader. He is running on a platform of radical change in government. What scares me about Bernie is how he plans to accomplish it: he repeatedly stated that his intention is to build a "movement, and govern by mandate on behalf of the "people" (however he happens to define "people" at any given moment, in circumvention of the legislative branch whenever the legislators don't agree with his agenda. Scary indeed, if you come to think of it.

[tishaLA]

56. Churchill never said that

according to churchill.org
https://winstonchurchill.org/resources/quotes/quotes-falsely-attributed/

[beastie boy]

60. You are right. It had been attributed to a whole bunch of people

https://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/02/24/heart-head/

But, however wrongly, it is being attributed most often to Churchill in the rumor mill of social media.

[Evergreen Emerald]

33. I have my suspicions.

He needs to be vetted.

[Apollo Zeus]

45. So you think Hillary did a poor job of vetting Sanders? I don't

Here is the worst stuff they found on Sanders:
- honeymoon in Soviet Union
- weird piece he wrote in college
- had a heart attack

The Clinton have done 4 presidential campaigns -- they know how to vet their opposition.

[Evergreen Emerald]

50. Not Hillary, the press. Hillary did not go as negative as she could have.

Bernie will be vetted by the Republicans.

[ahoysrcsm]

175. A 2015-2016 heart attack? Damn, I thought it was just the 2019 heart attack.

Two heart attacks in less than 5 years? Nope, not gonna get my caucus vote.

Blue no matter who in the GE.

[Autumn]

34. He's the only politician that gives young people hope.

They never hear the words "We won't do that" or "We can't do that" They hear him say "Together WE can do that." And he's right. They realize that they don't have the luxury of remaining where we are today and that matters to them.

[Alliepoo]

36. I don't know any Dems that support him.

And imo-if he’s the nominee, we’re gonna get 4 more years of dump.

[womanofthehills]

118. I live in NM, and most people I know support Bernie

depends who your friends are

[Act_of_Reparation]

37. 2008

Progressivism is largely a response to the recession, the long-term effects thereof (particularly on young people), and the government's handling of it.

Failing to learn from this and address some of the issues that are turning people off to mainstream Democratic politicians is not to our benefit, despite what people around here will tell you.

[aikoaiko]

51. well said.

[Johonny]

38. How often does a candidate do as well as Sanders did in 2016 not ever get a chance at a run on top

of the ticket? It seems like a strong previous run is a huge asset. The very last Dem to win the nomination had a strong second place finish...

And I agree, the whole socialist country idea is stupid. Honestly Bernie has a strong record of taking the best deal that Dems can get through congress and voting for it. He's both an idealist and pragmatist.

[Dem4Life1102]

40. When you promise free stuff to a lot of people

you get popular.

[JudyM]

58. When you focus on the importance of a living wage and affordable healthcare and the climate crisis

and point out the greed and outsized influence of corporations and big donors that has been largely directing our government policies, you get popular.

Speaking truth to power. Calling oligarchy by name. Refusing to accept the fleecing of our economy. Caring about what working class people care about. Popular.

[Dem4Life1102]

59. Which all the candidates have done

at some point.

[JudyM]

64. Qualitatively different. That's why he's popular.

The largest faction of his base is AA women under 45... are you suggesting they’re only thinking about “free stuff” instead of being concerned about larger principles? That’s pretty dismissive.

[Dem4Life1102]

95. Don't put words in my mouth

That’s dishonest.

[JudyM]

98. Your words: " When you promise free stuff to a lot of people you get popular."

In response to the question of why he is so popular.

Those are your words, and most of his base is highly diverse.

Casting superficial aspersions on his supporters is convenient but hurtful.

[Dem4Life1102]

108. Maybe

But it’s also honest. Sometimes the truth hurts.

[JudyM]

109. Maybe it's largely projection. Maybe these disenfranchised people actually value more than

“free stuff.”

[Dem4Life1102]

114. Maybe

But Sanders largest block of supporters are young white males, hardly a disenfranchised group.

[JudyM]

122. Not true! You've bought into a complete falsehood.

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/gyzjmb/bernie-bros-women-under-45-make-up-a-larger-share-of-bernie-sanders-base-than-men
And

https://morningconsult.com/2020/02/11/sanders-takes-the-lead-but-bloomberg-and-buttigieg-reap-spoils-of-bidens-decline/

[Dem4Life1102]

132. Correction

College educated white males. And your charts don't dispute that but nice try at diversion.

[JudyM]

133. Research I've linked shows AA voters under 45 prefer Sanders, and that women under 45 comprise

the primary demographic of Sanders’ base. Do you have data that says otherwise? Please share it!

[Dem4Life1102]

134. So women are Bernie Bros?

So young college educated white men and women are the primary demographic. Still not a disenfranchised group.

[JudyM]

135. Reading comprehension:Sanders is top choice of AAs under 45, no parsing for education.

He is also the top choice of Latinos, at least in Nevada: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/483452-sanders-leads-among-latino-voters-poll

How much evidence will it take to dispel the false Bernie bros myth?
His base is not white men, and you haven’t offered a shred of evidence to support that. It’s baseless. Why would you hang on to it when offered evidence showing it’s false?

[Dem4Life1102]

136. Doesn't make them his largest block of supporters

So please stop trying to confuse things.

[JudyM]

137. I will post this again: women under 45 are his primary base, and many of them are AA. Here's proof.

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/gyzjmb/bernie-bros-women-under-45-make-up-a-larger-share-of-bernie-sanders-base-than-men

[Dem4Life1102]

141. Many of them?

Nice try.

[JudyM]

144. If you'd actually open the links...

[Dem4Life1102]

150. I did

and they confirmed most of Sanders supporters are white.

[Garrett78]

189. Excerpt:

Polling has continually proven that Sanders’ base is much more diverse than the figure of the Bernie Bro would suggest: An analysis of polling between November 2018 and March 2019 found both that Sanders was more popular among people of color than among white people, and that women supported Sanders just as much as men did, “if not more,” according to Vox.

[Dem4Life1102]

191. Nice spin

In raw numbers it’s mostly white people.

[Garrett78]

210. LOL. If that's what you mean, it's doubly true for every other candidate.

[Dem4Life1102]

211. Doubly??

[Sparkly]

140. What I've seen says it's still Biden.

[Politicub]

66. But it's not just free stuff. It's peace of mind and getting closer to a more perfect union.

It's short sighted to see his approach as merely providing free stuff. He wants to provide a full safety net from cradle to grave. That's the way society should be progressing, instead of the regressive society where our meager safety-net programs are under attack every day.

[Dem4Life1102]

94. And so do the other candidates

[nobuddy]

74. "free stuff"

or you know, stuff we pay for with taxes.

I never hear people denigrate the military industrial complex for getting free stuff.

[Dem4Life1102]

96. Then you must be new here

[kcr]

182. How about the roads we drive on. The schools we send our kids to.

The food we eat. It isn't magically safe to eat all on its own, you know, and they don't do that for free.

[at140]

169. Welcome to DU,

did you sign up to support candidate Bloomberg? Ok by me, welcome.

[LiberalFighter]

41. He only appears to be more popular.

His support is substantially less than in 2016 at this point.

[ehrnst]

42. The number that show up at the polls is the final arbiter on popularity

After all, Nader was pulling in crowds of 15,000 or more....

[LiberalFighter]

49. That was back when? Probably need to index those numbers to now. :)

But if it was Nader now not sure that he would draw large crowds like that.

And you are damn right about it being at the polls. Primary or General.

Too much is being misinterpreted from the polls.

[ahoysrcsm]

176. Nader?

I don't remember Nader running in one of the top two parties. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[ehrnst]

192. No one said that he did. I just said he drew huge crowds and was considered popular, and

that didn't pan out at the polls.

Is that clearer?

[awesomerwb1]

43. Easy, he offers u free everything

free college, m4a, wipe out your debts, "blow up" the DNC*, the mean bad old capitalistic system**.....

*Only when not running for prez

**Even though he's a millionaire thanks to it

[dem4decades]

102. I like he has 3 houses including a camp like most Vermonters.

I've stayed in several Vermont camps, none worth $575,000 though.

[jmg257]

44. Whats not to like? He is advocating against the system. He explains it very well in cold numbers.

He is the idealist of what many Dems would like to strive for - a system built to support the working class and minorities, not the 1%.

One where our voice matters in the government just as much as Bloomberg's.

He is the latest "change" candidate - so that which made Obama and trump popular.

NOT saying all his ideals are doable in this country - he gets pissed because HE thinks they should be. So he asks "why not?"

[jimfields33]

46. Because in 2016 bernie completely transformed the Democratic Party with issues

that were completely ignored. He singlehandedly brought important issues like income inequality, health care, 15 dollar an hour minimum wage and climate change to the Democratic Party for the first time in history. Bernie made the Democratic Party better.

[highplainsdem]

48. Yeah, right. No Democrat ever cared about income inequality, health care, higher minimum wage, and

climate change before Sanders enlightened us.

[ehrnst]

53. +1000.

[jimfields33]

73. Maybe cared. But didn't speak up at all

We owe bernie so much as a party. He invigorated us for the good. It’s stunning what he has singlehandedly did for America and the Democratic Party.

[handmade34]

54. seriously

oh man, I've been around a long time and these issues are as old as me

[ehrnst]

61. "Single handedly?" Um, no. Ted Kennedy was working on Single Payer back in 1971

Al Gore did more for awareness to climate change, getting a Nobel Peace Prize for it, than Bernie ever has both in office, and now that he's out of office.

Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy got CHIP into existence in 1997, actually delivering free healthcare in to more Americans than Bernie has ever been able to.

And Bernie was more than happy to support a $10 an hour minimum after Trump won the 2016 election...

A day after joining the Senate Democratic leadership, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders signaled Thursday he’s a willing ally if President-elect Donald Trump follows through on a number of promises to working Americans.

“He’s talked about the collapsing working class in America. He’s right,” Sanders said Thursday at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor.

In a roundabout way, Sanders praised the billionaire businessman and expected they could cooperate on campaign pledges to raise the minimum wage to at least $10 an hour, to force big pharmaceutical companies into lower prices for seniors and to preserve Social Security.

https://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/election/article115360103.html

it was Democratic Senator Patty Murray who introduced S.819 - Paycheck Fairness Act, not Independent Senator Sanders.

Bernie didn't make the Democratic party better, the Democratic Party generously allowed him to caucus with them, giving him a voice and a platform he would not have had otherwise, especially when our Party lent his POTUS campaigns the credibility of a major party. The Democratic Party made Bernie famous, even when Bernie was insulting the party as being no different than the GOP, and Bernie has monetized that fame to the point of becoming part of the 1% via book sales at Walmart and Amazon.

[jimfields33]

75. Ok. Do you think al Gore was able to have people to seriously look at it

Or was it bernie in 2016 when he insisted that the Democratic Party added it to the platform. I don’t remember climate change mainstream before 2016. It was discussed but not like that attention bernie brought to it.

[ehrnst]

91. That Pulitzer Prize was awarded to him for raising awareness of climate change.

Perhaps you don't remember the 1990's, but many of us do:

Among elected officials, Vice President Gore's environmental record is unparalleled. In June 1992, he chaired the U.S. Senate Delegation to the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It was the world's largest gathering ever of heads of state to focus on the environment. He also is the author of the national best-seller EARTH IN THE BALANCE: Ecology and the Human Spirit, which outlines an international plan of action to confront the global environmental crisis.

Last year, President Clinton and Vice President Gore unveiled the Global Climate Change Action Plan, a public-private partnership to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere while promoting economic development. Gore was instrumental in breaking the gridlock on the national wetlands policy and in forging an historic partnership between government and industry to develop a new generation of fuel-efficient vehicles. He recently unveiled the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program, an international project to coordinate the work of children, educators and scientists in monitoring the global environment.

https://clintonwhitehouse1.archives.gov/White_House/EOP/OVP/html/Enviro.html

And about the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize:

The Nobel Peace Prize for 2007 was awarded to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and former US Vice President Al Gore for their efforts to obtain and disseminate information about the climate challenge. In Gore's case, certainly, the award was grounded in his tireless campaign to put the climate crisis on the political agenda.

As early as in 1992, the year when he was elected Vice President of the United States, Gore was making himself known as a highly environment-conscious politician, among other things through his book Earth in the Balance: Forging a New Common Purpose, in which he took up the problem of global warming. Having lost the presidential election in 2000, he decided to use his influence to increase public awareness in the United States and other countries of the seriousness of the environmental situation. This goal he well-nigh achieved by means of his documentary film An Inconvenient Truth (2006).

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2007/gore/facts/

About an Inconvenient Truth:

The idea to document Gore's efforts came from producer Laurie David, who saw his presentation at a town hall meeting on global warming, which coincided with the opening of The Day After Tomorrow. Laurie David was so inspired by his slide show that she, with producer Lawrence Bender, met with Guggenheim to adapt the presentation into a film. Premiering at the 2006 Sundance Film Festival and opening in New York City and Los Angeles on May 24, 2006, the documentary was a critical and commercial success, winning two Academy Awards for Best Documentary Feature and Best Original Song.[4] The film grossed $24 million in the U.S. and $26 million at the international box office, becoming the eleventh highest grossing documentary film to date in the United States.[5]

Since the film's release, An Inconvenient Truth has been credited for raising international public awareness of global warming and reenergizing the environmental movement. The documentary has also been included in science curricula in schools around the world, which has spurred some controversy. A sequel to the film, titled An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power, was released on July 28, 2017.

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

Also - from the 2008 Democratic Party Platform, which preceded the 2016 party platform, and Bernie's involvement by 8 years.

We will lead to defeat the epochal, man-made threat to the planet: climate change. Without dramatic changes, rising sea levels will flood coastal regions around the world. Warmer temperatures and declining rainfall will reduce crop yields, increasing conflict, famine, disease, and poverty. By 2050, famine could displace more than 250 million people worldwide. That means increased instability in some of the most volatile parts of the world.

..............................

We are committed to getting at least 25 percent of our electricity from renewable sources by 2025.

Does that answer your question? Any questions on those other Democratic issues that you thought Bernie originated?

He singlehandedly brought important issues like income inequality, health care, 15 dollar an hour minimum wage and climate change to the Democratic Party for the first time in history.

May I ask where you heard that Bernie originated these Democratic issues, and that they weren't really on the Democratic Parties' or anyone else's radar, in all of history, before Bernie came to Capitol Hill? Don't assume that because Bernie talking about something was the first time that you paid attention that it was the 'first time in history' that the Democratic Party bothered to notice.

[CalFione]

55. We were all young and stupid idealists once too

The difference is that we didn't have the existential crisis of a Trump in the White House at the time.

We could afford to be for the pie-in-the-sky candidates, because even if they lost - the guy that won wasn't the literal worst person in the world.


And PS. People who are against Bernie Sanders' candidacy are *NOT* in the minority. They just are split between too many alternatives.

[ehrnst]

62. Real popularity is confirmed at the Polls. Nader was drawing crowds of 15,000

and appeared popular, but when it came down to the vote count, not so much.

[Alex4Martinez]

63. Bernie resonates with youth because youth have keen BS detectors.

It's as simple as that.

Bernie doesn't try to couch his words, he's consistent, he doesn't dodge questions, he's direct.

That's pretty fucking refreshing compared to most political players and candidates.

I think he would nail Trump easily based on his ability to mobilize young people.

[ehrnst]

67. Consistent? You mean like when he says he's going to release his comprehensive medical records

then doesn't?

or... Bernie Sanders in 1970s Senate race called millionaire senators 'immoral'

Mr. Sanders, who was running at the time as a member of the Liberty Union Party, a democratic socialist political party, told a local Vermont newspaper in December 1971 that it seemed “immoral” to him that millionaires represent the people of their states. They actually represent “the interests of corporations and big business their fellow millionaires,” Mr. Sanders told the Bennington Banner.

and then.. when he becomes a millionaire selling books at Walmart and Amazon...

"So again, I don't apologize for writing a book that was number three on the New York Times best seller, translated into five or six languages and that's that."

Sanders camp admits anti-Warren script was deployed in multiple early states

Sanders initially attributed the talking points to rogue staffers, and supporters launched an online campaign to convince people the document was fake.

That kind of "fucking refreshing" consistency?



https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2020/jan/09/bernie-sanders/did-biden-laud-paul-ryan-proposal-cut-social-secur/

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — As a congressman in the 1990s, Bernie Sanders expressed an openness to making “adjustments” to the tax and benefit structure of Social Security. He also praised an overhaul of the social safety net program signed into law by President Ronald Reagan that reduced benefits and increased taxes on working families.

Sanders’ presidential campaign and allies have highlighted similar remarks by Joe Biden to attack the former vice president and make the explosive charge that Biden was an outspoken proponent of slashing the program.

https://apnews.com/31c432f20acba807a569c7004abaf473


https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/list/?category=&ruling=false&speaker=bernie-sanders

[Politicub]

65. My take is that he represents a complete departure from the system that is no longer working

for most people today.

I would love to live in a democracy like Denmark which is perhaps the pinnacle of social democratic policies. I don't think I'm alone in feeling that way. I would gladly pay the additional taxes for the peace of mind that a real safety net would provide.

Every day we read or hear the current administration talking about shredding what bits of a safety net that are remaining. Even Klobuchar has her "dignity of work" bit, which is no different from the work requirements for insurance that conservatives favor.

[ehrnst]

68. Denmark has nearly twice the billionaires per capita as the US...

https://slate.com/business/2013/11/swedens-billionaires-they-have-more-per-capita-than-the-united-states.html

I'm not a fan of Billionaires, but Sweden clearly shows that the presence of them doesn't seem to be the demise of democratic socialism. They are an easy scapegoat/dragon to slay, but it's clearly a fiction that progressive welfare states do not inherently threaten the existence of billionaires in their borders.

Why do you think that Bernie feels a need to push this erroneous correlation? Is he just uniformed about Sweden's economic system, and the lack of even an established Democratic Socialist government's effect the existence of Billionaires?

[Politicub]

88. I have no problem with billionaires who don't use their money to make life harder for people.

It's not the money. It's what is done with one's riches that are important. Tax policies should be progressive, however, and tax income about a certain threshold more heavily.

And that's an interesting stat about Denmark. I think people will be more bold in their lives if they know that taking a risk won't mean medical bankruptcy, homelessness or ruin. I know that's the case for me.

[ehrnst]

93. But what do you make of Sanders' statements that Billionaires and not and will not exist in

a Democratic socialist government "like Sweden has?"

Do you think that he is just misinformed about how their economic system works?

[Politicub]

113. It was a strange comment. I don't know how Sweden's system

works (though I’m a huge Ingmar Bergman fan; their early film industry rocked), so I don’t know what Sanders was saying or meant.

[k2qb3]

69. I'm an older voter... it's priorities.

Bernie is focused on the right issues. That's why he's popular.

Bernie is not focused on the wrong issues, that's why he's way more electable than those that are think he is.

If you're not angry, you aren't paying attention.

[maxsolomon]

72. He ran last time, people know him.

The runner-up often gets the nomination the next time.

See: Hillary R. Clinton, 2008/2016.

[evertonfc]

76. popular?

[aeromanKC]

77. Dems lose the Senate with Bernie on the ballot

Bernie will be a lame duck on day one.

[NoMoreRepugs]

80. Personally I think he would get crushed in the GE,

Bernie to me is someone who over-promises and will under-deliver... absolutely sounds good, but then that damn reality gets in the way.

[roody]

81. He is consistent.

He is running on his principles, which he has held for 40 years. Anti-war, reproductive freedom, human rights.

[frazzled]

82. Who is it that said ...

Consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds?

Full quote:

“A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds, adored by little statesmen and philosophers and divines. With consistency a great soul has simply nothing to do. He may as well concern himself with his shadow on the wall. Speak what you think now in hard words, and to-morrow speak what to-morrow thinks in hard words again, though it contradict every thing you said to-day. — 'Ah, so you shall be sure to be misunderstood.' — Is it so bad, then, to be misunderstood? Pythagoras was misunderstood, and Socrates, and Jesus, and Luther, and Copernicus, and Galileo, and Newton, and every pure and wise spirit that ever took flesh. To be great is to be misunderstood.”


― Ralph Waldo Emerson, Self-Reliance

[madibella]

83. It's an intangible, like Trump's supporters. Some, (obviously not all) of his supporters

are more "fans" of the persona than the ideology. To me, that's what's so scary about his candidacy. I feel that some of his support is to prove or protest something.

My opinion of course.

[krissey]

85. He isn't so popular but the people he ahs makes lots of noise. Trump is not so popular, but again,

the people he has makes lots of noise.

[cynatnite]

86. I think he's selling a fantasy...

Most of what he wants would never get past congress. He has probably one of the most unrealistic platforms there is, IMO.

I don't get why more people aren't confronting him about this. Elizabeth Warren suffered a lot in the polls because of Medicare-for-all. Why hasn't he?

[HarlanPepper]

99. Problem is

A lot of his supporters don’t know how majorities in the senate work. And obviously in order to sell the fantasy he’s not going to clue them in on super majorities etc.

[LanternWaste]

87. Pandering works. Just my opinion, part II

[Fresh_Start]

103. +1 nt

nt

[HarlanPepper]

92. Free stuff is always popular

But that’s only part of it. Our populace is made up largely of unengaged low info morons. Simple solutions (which are often unrealistic solutions) to complex problems in a populist wrapping paper also has a great deal of appeal.

[Act_of_Reparation]

100. So are vapid bumper-sticker caliber yokel witticisms like "Free stuff is always popular"

But you know me, I don't like to complain.

[HarlanPepper]

101. But they often work

Which is one reason why Trump is President and will have an easy time with Bernie.

[musicman65]

104. People believe

in the tooth fairy,i guess

[Steven Maurer]

110. Pandering along with grievance politics...

...fits in well with the mood of whites, especially young white males, of the Democratic party. There is this idea put forward that the reason why things are harder these days than in the past, is because Democrats somehow have special political power that they're not using. If you imagine this to be true, it's easy to blame Democrats for what Republicans do.

That's why.

[BlueWI]

145. Sanders' support is quite high among Hispanic/Latino and black voters under 45.

Posts like this simply avoid acknowledging the diversity within Sanders' supporters.

Pandering, grievance politics - these are dismissive ways to talk about Sanders' supporters too. Why wouldn't a liberal voting bloc want politicians who share their values? Is it is a grievance to say that the economy and health care are tilted toward upper middle class and wealthy people, or is it the truth?

Democrats had a substantive majority in 2009 that it took a lot of work to get, and health care and the Reinvestment Act were significant achievements. But more of a full-court press to get more legislation was possible after that historic majority, and we weren't prepared to counter the backlash in 2010, with disastrous results. Sanders, like Dean in 2008, committed to grass-roots organizing and did so successfully, to the point where Sanders' fundraising is astounding without relying on big contributions.

Like him or not, Sanders has made substantive achievements that lead to his popularity with a core of voters. Can anyone else in the party learn from these successes and go on to win in the GE - that's the real question.

[maximusveritas]

147. The key is to speak to them the same, but without talking about raising taxes on everyone else

We need to let these voters know we will fight for them without promising them things we can't deliver and at the same time talking about raising taxes on everyone else who is also struggling to make ends meet on their own.

[BlueWI]

156. There are definitely overreaches in Sanders' rhetoric - I agree.

But there are underreaches in the rhetoric of other candidates.

The level of economic inequality got to a tremendously high level before broad structural solutions were advocated for, seriously and in a sustained fashion, by Democrats outside of the Sanderscrat/Warrencrat wing. Today's absurd level of inequality didn't develop overnight, and I still think there are big differences among Democratic candidates in how fundamentally income inequality is seen as a true crisis.

[Steven Maurer]

149. I think the facts disagree with much of what you're saying here:

- Democrats had a filibuster-proof majority in 2009 for a grand total of less than two months, and even that depended on the votes of Democratic senators like Ben Nelson of Nebraska and Senator Lieberman of Connecticut. The public wasn't even in favor of the Democrats doing as much as they did.

- Sanders is noted for is relative lack of achievements given his timeframe in office. Almost no sponsored bills, and an overall amendment record that is distinctly mediocre (unless you add the meaningless qualifier to trim it down to only roll-call amendments).

- Grievance politics is much more than remarking that "rich people have it better" or that we have a serious income inequality problem in this country. It's pretending that other Democrats are somehow responsible for it, and that Sanders is the only one who has ever proposed a solution (or that solutions aren't solutions unless they promise things that are mathematically impossible). It's purity trolling independents with angry (and often ignorant) sanctimony, driven largely by externalizing blame. Trump is a grievance politician as well, just white-grievance. He's doing remarkably poorly despite propping up the economy with deficit spending.

Sanders, in short, appeals to a "Bern it all down" mentality. This is fun, especially for younger leftists, right up until you realize that you need the votes of many of the the people you've decided to "bern". Not the Trumpsters, but the independents you've lumped in with them. And then it gets not-fun real quick.

[BlueWI]

154. A few quick points.

The Democratic majority was substantial, but not filibuster proof. All the more reason to have regarded that majority as a historic occurrence and be ready to create a higher volume of proposals. Republicans do this far better than Democrats - ask Scott Walker.

The question was why is Sanders popular, a different question than who would be most effective at building legislative coalitions. Making direct appeals for public support, however, helps create interest in structural change, and that's one of the things that Sanders gets right.

Grievance politics, purity, etc...these terms are simply reductive and represent the partisan views of Sanders among some Democrats. They're interpretations, not facts.

All of the polling data showing a more diverse coalition in support of Sanders is also being ignored in your post. Obviously, there are choices other than Sanders in the primary - I'm not even supporting him myself in the primaries. But the things he is successful at doing - creating a political brand that motivates a big core of voters, elevating the issue of income inequality, fundraising independently, taking younger voters seriously, appealing to disenfranchised people - are ignored too frequently. That is unfortunate, because we'd understand more about the electorate by studying why his particular approach to these issues has appealed to many in the Democratic base.

[ecstatic]

120. Social media created a character that

doesn't really match reality. I know people who are super low informed when it comes to politics, but they live on social media and support Bernie.

[Garrett78]

123. Tens of millions recognize that fundamental changes are desperately needed.

We're in grave danger as a society and as a species. The animating force in the US today is opposition to the status quo or just a general sense that life here is really fucked up.

[Bonobo]

131. In 2015, DU polled WIDELY in favor of Sanders

He was probably getting 70-80% support here.

Call it an exodus. Call it a purge. Whatever.

But this place was left predominately with more
Conservative people.

[TreasonousBastard]

127. I am on 3 Democratic town and county committees and, amazingly, the primaries aren't...

talked about all that much. We have a lot of important local races we're worried about, and our primary isn't for a while. Whenever Bernie's name does come up, however, it's usually accompanied by a groan.

There is a small clique of dedicated Bernistas at the fringes of the Party, and they regularly call for MFA and a few other things, but they are at the outer fringes. We don't know if they actually vote.

[TreasonousBastard]

128. Another thought-- never forget that half the population is below average.

[George II]

161. He's not all that popular. More turned out in NH last week yet he got half as many votes.

[lanlady]

138. Beats me

His record of actual accomplishments is very thin.
He comes across as a one-trick pony, lacking in any depth, not especially bright.
But for some reason, a lot of people think that non-stop lecturing of others while pointing your finger at them is a sign of greatness.

[mike_c]

142. I support Senator Sanders because...

...he proposes policies that I have wanted all my life-- support for the working class, health care reform, student debt relief, paycheck equity, broad civil rights protections, taxing the rich and profitable corporations, the Green New Deal, and so on. But what I especially like is his commitment to a truly alternative vision of American policy. Establishment dems during my lifetime have mostly run on promises to continue the status quo with little real change beyond their latest slogans and jingles. I have lamented that on DU for years-- democratic presidential candidates rarely distinguish themselves by proposing genuine, significant changes to American governance and life. Senator Sanders is not running on catchy slogans. He is proposing real changes that will improve all of our lives.

[McCamy Taylor]

143. He looks like a tough old coot who will give Trump what's what.

Dems do not want Kumbya this year. They want fisticuffs.

[pnwmom]

152. His 25-30% doesn't make him "so popular."

He started off with a great deal of name recognition, but he's the first choice of fewer voters than he was in 2016. So he's just down to his most loyal base.

[musicblind]

157. Because they fail to understand that liking a candidate and their ideas isn't enough.

A candidate and their ideas are only as good as they are electable.

I think all of us, or MOST of us, like Bernie Sanders. I know I do.

But, I also think MOST of us believe he is not electable.

FDR's ghost could sit atop our ticket and it would mean nothing if he couldn't win.

Politics isn't about what you want, it's about you can get, and we can't get Sanders in the White House.

[Tweedy]

158. Is he?

Wonder what people thought of the revelation that his advisers believe Medicare for all will never pass.

Bernie is adorable in his angry 😡 way. He is a bit stuck in the 1960's for my taste, "establishment," how heavy man!

Would suspect young people would prefer a candidate fully landed in the 21st century, but who can say but the young themselves

Hope to see a large surge in young voters, this is their future we are debating, after all! So far, no one has drawn them forth even so much as Barack Obama. Hope you are right and that will be changing.

Right now, Senator Sanders has a bit more than one quarter. Perhaps we should wait for a consensus, at least, before examining our consciences for what? the failure to become a Bernie Bro?

[George II]

160. He's about half as popular as he was several years ago.

[pansypoo53219]

162. i wanted him in 2016. i am unopposed to him this time, tho i like pete.

[ahoysrcsm]

164. Well...

1. Democrats on DU are a bit older.

2. Young people are naive.

3. It's easier to support socialism when going to college or working a part time job, still living with your parents... Living with your parents, yeah... that's called communism.

4. It will take a Blue Wave to keep the house and retake the senate, something I do not think Senator Sanders will be able to assist in.

5. How in the hell are we not in the minority NOW???

6. Your welcome to your opinion...

PS, I was a 2016 Sanders supporter who voted for HRC.

[democratisphere]

177. We know better.

[doc03]

178. Those guardrails in the US Congress failed to stop a full-fledged

fascist dictator from taking over.

[aeromanKC]

180. Operation Chaos led by the GOP and Putin

[Meowmee]

188. This as well

It is not clear how much support he really has

[Midwestern Democrat]

183. I'm not a Sanders supporter but I won't deny that he's talented at campaigning.

I have severe doubts that he could win a general election, but given all the obstacles he has - the Socialist tag, his age, the hatred of a large percentage of the party, a widespread fear that he would be a disaster in the general election - he obviously has political talent to be doing as well as he is.

[Buzz cook]

186. A simple message repeated with conviction.

It helps that what he argues for are the best policy and the problems he points out are real problems.

Stay on message, be positive, and reach as many people as possible.

[Meowmee]

187. Free college

Relief of student loan debt etc. the youth vote never comes out though no matter who the candidate is. They all, young or not, want a savior to deliver the so called revolution, which will never happen. 15% of his support in NH primaries was reported as unaffiliated voters who said they won’t vote dem in the general.

[myohmy2]

193. magnetic...

...personality...

[EveHammond13]

201. 1. College kids don't vote. 2. College kids are not the voters we need to target.

[lapfog_1]

203. Bernie is populist.

just like Trump.

They promise people that there is someone to blame for their perceived ills.

With Trump, it was immigrants (and people of color, muslims, etc)... with Bernie it is "millionaires and billionaires" (never mind that Bernie is a millionaire).


They promise "free stuff" to address the ills... with Trump "we will build a beautiful wall and Mexico will pay for it"... for Bernie it's "college tuition, health care, housing for everyone and millionaires and billionaires will pay for it"

None of the promises survive even a cursory examination for feasibility or payment. Doesn't matter, it sounds good to people who are living paycheck to paycheck and have a grudge that the economy "isn't working for them" (meaning that why can't they have a house in the suburbs, decent safe schools for their 2.5 children, and a 2 week vacation to Europe or Hawaii every year).

[liberalmediaaddict]

207. Americans like a patriarch

I've heard his die hard supporters refer to him as "Uncle Bernie." Similar to Reagan, Clinton, Obama and Trump supporters they see Bernie as a savior that will fix all of America's problems.

Plus Bernie portays himself as the underdog and anti-establishment. His supporters identify with that. They hate the political system and he wants to bring it down and start over.

I can't speak to why young people like him so much since I'm 48. Maybe they see him as a father figure who will keep them safe. Maybe it's that they simply want weed to be legalized.

[helpisontheway]

208. Well, they say the Russians are meddling in our primary. Perhaps they are helping Bernie because

he is an easier opponent for Trump to beat in 2020. By helping I mean in the same way they attempted to divide the party in 2016. Just like I believe they did with Jill Stein in 2016.

[beathimlikeadrum]

209. Is he?

Is he that popular? It seems like he's actually lost a huge percentage of his voters from 2016.