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2016 Postmortem

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WillyT

(72,631 posts)
Wed Jan 20, 2016, 11:36 AM Jan 2016

It's Panic Mode for the Democratic Establishment - NBCNews [View all]

First Read: It's Panic Mode for the Democratic Establishment
by Chuck Todd, Mark Murray and Carrie Dann - NBCNews
Jan 20 2016, 9:24 am ET

<snip>

It's Panic Time for the Democratic establishment

No, Bernie Sanders likely isn't ahead in New Hampshire by 27 points, as yesterday's CNN/WMUR poll showed (the other polling just doesn't back that up). But 12 days before the Iowa caucuses and 20 days before the New Hampshire primary, there's something happenin' out there. And now he's viewed as enough of a legitimate threat that the Democratic establishment and the liberal wonks are piling on him as if he were the frontrunner. It started Monday after the debate, when liberal writers like Paul Krugman, Jonathan Chait, and Ezra Klein either blasted Sanders' single-payer plan or argued he'd make a poor president in these politically polarized times. Then yesterday, author Ta-Nehisi Coates criticized Sanders for proposing utopian prescriptions on economic matters (single-payer on health care, breaking up the big banks) but not on race (reparations for slavery). And last night for the attempted coup de grace, Democratic politicians ran to the New York Times to tell the paper that Sanders would damage the party at the top of the ticket because he's a democratic socialist. Some of the juiciest quotes:

•Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon: "Here in the heartland, we like our politicians in the mainstream, and he is not — he's a socialist."

•Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN): "It wouldn't be helpful [on downballot races] outside Vermont, Massachusetts, Berkeley, Palo Alto and Ann Arbor."

•Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO): "The Republicans won't touch him because they can't wait to run an ad with a hammer and sickle."

(And then don't miss David Brock on Bloomberg last night, labeling Sanders a "socialist… … He's got a 30 year history of affiliation with a lot of whack-doodle ideas and parties. Think about what the Republicans will do with the fact that he's a socialist in the fall.&quot

As the political-science crowd might say, this is "The Party Decides." Of course, it hasn't worked -- at all -- on the Republican side against Trump. So, did Team Clinton ever think it would have to come to this -- trying to destroy Bernie less than two weeks before Iowa?

<snip>

Link: http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/first-read-it-s-panic-mode-democratic-establishment-n500291




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They should proceed at their own peril. I for one would not take that lying down. onecaliberal Jan 2016 #1
Ezra astonished me yesterday when he said 'Democrat party and the Republicans'. Astonishing roguevalley Jan 2016 #8
That is a huge tell. blackspade Jan 2016 #14
He's been a shill his whole career. onecaliberal Jan 2016 #18
WHAT is happening to chuck todd??? restorefreedom Jan 2016 #2
I am from Missouri so i have to stand up for Missouri dem voters Robbins Jan 2016 #3
The Dem Establishment Liked Bernie When As An Independent He Voted With The Dems.... global1 Jan 2016 #4
because he threatened their anoited one Robbins Jan 2016 #5
Almost every single Hillary poster here now were UUUUUGE fans of Bernie when... ChisolmTrailDem Jan 2016 #17
The bus has been outfitted awoke_in_2003 Jan 2016 #19
Just turned on MSNBC and Andrea was talking about the Claire McCaskill quote. MoonchildCA Jan 2016 #6
Clinton's reversal on Single Payer broke the camel's back. A level of hypocrisy unrivaled! nt TheBlackAdder Jan 2016 #7
Words like "panic" associated with the Clinton campaign out in the national media, <2 weeks before thereismore Jan 2016 #9
The Corporate Oligarchy is getting REALLY Desperate Ferd Berfel Jan 2016 #10
These people have learned nothing. NOTHING. Arugula Latte Jan 2016 #11
Hillary Clinton can only win in red states fbc Jan 2016 #12
Blasting single payer and breaking up big banks..... blackspade Jan 2016 #13
This message was self-deleted by its author LiberalArkie Jan 2016 #15
The PANIC is a clear indication that electing Bernie changes everything Geronimoe Jan 2016 #16
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