One thing about a possible Sanders nomination.....

[Happy Hoosier]

... is at least we would know.

I am not a fan of Senator Sanders. Although I share many of policy goals, I think his political style is disastrous, and his history, is electoral suicide.

BUT.... if he gets the nomination at least we will know. If he wins, by some miracle, people like me can relax and shut-up.

And if he loses, at least we can finally put to rest this notion that somehow he will be our political savior. I mean, the hard-core Berners will always find some reason it's not Bernie's fault, but for the rest of us, we can finally move past this guy... although the party will be wrecked for at least a generation.

[bucolic_frolic]

1. Democratic Party is being divided again by Bernie mania

He's not popular enough among the rest of the party, and dampens his base for anyone but him. This seems to me is the Trump-Putin playbook. Dictators against Democracy, just like World War II era.

I agree with you, yes we will know mid summer if Trump is reelected or not.

[cherryinpa]

2. Yes 100%

Yes, exactly.

Look at the positives, this is the last election we're going to have to manage the Bernie bro's.

Because regardless of win-lose or draw, Bern sure gonna be running in 2024!

[relayerbob]

3. If he loses, Democrats will be "put to rest" by Trump's goon squads

[Happy Hoosier]

4. One reason I am scared to death right now.

I'm not sure the Republic can meaningfully survive another 4 years of Trump.

[UniteFightBack]

5. It can't...especially with the apathy of the American people....it can't. By the time folk put down

their god damn iphones and look up it will be too late.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. Assuming Bernie is the nominee (God help us), what would he have to do

to appeal to the millions of voters who aren't either angry Millenials or elderly Marxists? How can he actually win a general election, and how would he have to change his strategy? It's an article of faith that candidates appeal to the party's base to get the nomination but have to swing to the middle to win the general election. Will Bernie do that or is he too wedded to his rigid ideology to budge?

For starters, he's going to have to get rid of the bomb-throwers and internet trolls who are currently managing his campaign - Sirota, Gray, Turner, et. al - and hire normal professionals who have managed presidential campaigns before. He's going to have to smile once in a while and not yell so much, pretend to have a sense of humor, and pretend to like and care about human beings, not just "the people" in the aggregate. His shtick is appealing to voters' anger and sense of victimhood at the hands of the billionaires, and that's been the key to his success so far. Granted, this did work for Trump (with different targets) and still does, so maybe if Bernie makes people feel even angrier and more victimized he can win those votes. But Bernie personally is about as warm and welcoming as a brick wall. He doesn't give off a vibe of compassion and friendliness and warmth like Bill Clinton and Obama did, so he's going to have to be able to fake it.

And he's going to have to explain away the socialist stuff (although if you have to explain yourself you're probably losing). "Socialism" is still the kiss of death in this country and he's stupidly painted that target on his own back. He seems unable to explain the mushy difference between "democratic socialism" and "social democracy," and keeps insisting that the Nordic models he favors are socialist countries, which they most definitely are not. Bernie has to avoid getting all tangled up in explaining political and economic doctrine because he's not very good at it.

I am not hopeful. Bernie is a rigid ideologue who hasn't changed his ideas or acquired any new ones since the '60s. For all his success among an unrepresentative segment of the party, he'll be toast in the general unless he moves toward the middle as all candidates have done, selects a running mate who isn't like him, and stops yelling long enough to listen to others.

[Butterflylady]

7. When he loses

We'll know this time around exactly who to blame.

[dalton99a]

8. The Revolution will be in the good steady hands of Nina Turner and comrades

[highplainsdem]

9. I suspect AOC has some ideas about who should take over if Sanders is no longer in charge.

I've already seen lots of Sanders supporters online saying AOC should run for president in four years.

[Happy Hoosier]

12. I need a drink.... NT

[brooklynite]

10. Of COURSE we won't know...

The DNC will be blamed for "not trying to help".

The Russians will be blamed for cheating.

The media will be blamed for "bias".

Voters will be blamed for "I have mine" greed.

Everybody but Sanders will be blamed.

[Happy Hoosier]

11. For the hard cores, I think you're right. NT