Here They Come Again: The Kind of Neoliberal Democrats Who Prefer Trump to Sanders

 westslope wrote:
 

I'd prefer a no-party system.

I believe that Sanders would make a far better president than the current one.  I would expect him to back off on some of his more damaging rhetoric aimed at rich people and corporations.

Too bad, many will vote against him out of fear.


Question:  How many other rich western countries have a 2-party system?  

 sirdroseph wrote:
 

I haven't read up much on the history of third-party situations in the US but they never seem to last very long. Bernie's followers seem to me like they're devoted more to the man than his platform; some pundits describe it as a cult of personality like the one surrounding Trump. If things were otherwise I'd think you'd see more bleeding of support to Elizabeth Warren.

If you are right, sirdroseph, and Bernie's rise signals the splintering of the Democratic party then it could mean a prolonged run of GOP dominance. Tolerance of dissent and difference of opinion within the GOP is gone. GOPers are not going to divide and squabble like the Dems do.

If you're wrong, then I'm not sure how long a third party centered around Bernie's platform would last. I don't see his proposals having much chance of being enacted, even if he becomes POTUS. They'd be too expensive, economically disruptive and politically challenging to succeed in the near-term time frame that Bernie is pushing.

Bernie is gonna get Trump re-elected. It's like having Ralph Nader as the Dem nominee.

Imagine the folks who are disliking Trump, but are Republicans. Will they jump ship to vote for someone who crows "socialism!"? Of course not. They'll stick with the GOP instead of swerving so far left.
Even the moderate Dems and undeclared are going to have second thoughts about him. And that plays right into the tightly grouped Trump-forward voting block's unanimity.

Bernie bros are just thinking about how much they want to have their voice heard and get things for free - but they're gonna find out that they should've had a bigger perspective. Sigh.

 ScottFromWyoming wrote:
 
In an NYT op-ed piece, history professor Michael Kazin argues that Bernie Sanders has permanently transformed the policy positions of the Democratic party.  In Kazin's words:  "Every remaining candidate for president now endorses either Medicare for All or a robust public option, doubling the minimum wage, much higher taxes on the rich, legislation to facilitate union organizing and a transition to an economy based on sources of renewable energy."


Bernie Sanders Has Already Won
Whether he captures the White House or not, he has transformed the Democratic Party.

The Pundits Wrote Off Bernie’s Candidacy. In Iowa and New Hampshire, He Proved Them Wrong.

 miamizsun wrote:
 

He did well but the Heather Cox Richardson take on it is that Sanders and Warren (Lefter than the rest) took 1/3, Amy, Pete, et al (centrist) took 2/3

 miamizsun wrote: 
Yep.  Hopefully it would be the beginning of the quickening that will splinter the duopoly into more like minded groups offering more choices.

it seems like bernie needs to come out from under the dems and do his own thing

i mean if we believe there are forces in his own party conspiring to hold him back

my "what would spock do" app says it sounds logical