Trump loves to chant ad nauseam that he will defend America against the Socialists. It;s one of his most popular talking points at his vapid rallies.
So what do Democrats seem intent on doing? Nominating a candidate that screams about being a Socialist. Incredible.
9
Bernie's opponents are Establishment Dems old enough to have got a dose of McCarthy anti Communism. But times have changed. The Republican President is Putin's devoted admirer and Socialist Sanders was cheered at a FoxTownHall after talking about Medicare for All. Here's a head to head poll where the Socialist label on Sanders made no difference:
https://www.vox.com/2020/1/31/21113780/bernie-sanders-socialism-electability-primaries
3
STOP IT!
STOP IT!
STOP IT!
I'm tired of hearing the Bernie bashing. He may very well be the Democratic nominee, and I'd be overjoyed if he was.
Could he lose? Yes.
Could any of the other Democratic candidates lose? Yes.
Did McGovern lose in 1972? Yes.
Did Stevenson, Humphrey, Mondale, Dukakis, Kerry, Gore, H. Clinton -- all Republican-lite centrist Democrats -- lose? Yes.
Let's at least not make it a self-fulfilling prophecy.
It's time for the NYT to start treating Bernie with respect, and start publishing op-eds from people who are actually in his corner.
I'm a 67 year old upscale engineer. Not a naive 18 year-old.
15
Bernie helped bring us Trump once. Don’t let him do it again! Spoiler Alert!
7
America turns to socialism.
Russia turns to capitalism.
The world goes round and round.
3
It’s over. Just brace for Trump’s second term.
2
M & M is the sweet answer to our sour experience with the current executive Mike and Michelle, Bloomberg and Obama) can be the adult alternativ. M & M is a clear path to unity.
1
When not pointedly totally ignoring him, the New York Times has historically downplayed and denigrated Sanders candidacy.
Oh, that the editors could see their way to giving him the wealth of attention and what aboutism they lavished on Trump.
A journalistic mirror reflecting the times or outlandishly obvious prejudice at play?
4
Dear Sanders voters:this life-long Democrat will never vote for a ticket with Sanders in either president or VP position so your votes and hopes are a guaranteed win for Trump and his racist clans. Way to go. Learn this—your anger feeling is a fool’s game.
4
Imagine that! A candidate who galvanizes his young supporters! A man who promises to end wars! A hero who stands up to the Establishment!
And his name is........drumroll........GEORGE McGOVERN!
3
Bernie is the perfect person to beat Trump. He'd win any debate simply because he sees Trump for who he is, a dumb entitled baby, not this magical figure that many have been tricked into believing he is.
5
I support Warren, but I think Bernie might just be the one to beat trump. Remember he's a Democratic Socialist, not a socialist. You guys are writers, chose your words carefully. I am sick of the over analyzing by the media and very poor word choice. Stop picking apart every Democratic candidate as you cherry pick the disgusting behavior coming from the White House and the Senate.
7
Have you ever noticed how four years at the helm brutally and utterly age even relatively young presidents?
Sanders will start out at 79 if elected. With his fiery temper and a heart attack under his belt...
Sorry. Just being realistic the same way I am being realistic about Biden and Bloomberg.
Once in your late 70's every little ailment takes a tremendous toll on a person's health and vigor.
Heck. I would not even vote for my eternally idealistic hero, Che Guevara if he was 79.
I am sixty and believe me, I feel every year in my body, even though I have always taken good care of it.
Bernie has unfortunately way too many angles the Trump political / media machine can attack.
And yes, Bernie may have solid support from 25% of Democrats, but he needs 100% to beat Trump. And let us be realistic, from experience, we know Bernie supporters will not vote for any other Democrat candidates and without 100% support no Democrat can beat Trump.
You can criticize me, call me names if you'd like. But come November, I hope I don't have to say "I Told You So".
2
This synopsis from a sample of seven NYT op-ed writers is misleading. The three who vehemently oppose Bernie Sanders are like lead-off hitters for the paper, whereas the four who are more open-minded about him are barely second-stringers at NYT. If you consider the rest of the op-ed lineup and THEIR opinions regarding Bernie - you've got yourself one establishment newspaper. It's clear that NYT is desperately trying to preserve the status quo and their comfortable position within it. But the people aren't having it - and sending THEM to the minors.
2
This author operates unde pretense that there is somewhat balanced coverage of Bernie Sanders by NYT and mainstream media - yet most of us know that 'the emperor has no clothes'. Pete Buttigeig was destroyed in the last debate by a unique and errant critical(!) question addressed to him by the press (ABC), Lindsey Davis. Pete babbled on without answering her question about the rise of marijuana incarceration in South Bend during his tenure. My google search found ONLY this fringe video clip (below) of the extraordinary exchange. Had Bernie Sanders been damaged like this in a debate you could be sure it would be ALL OVER the media.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVE9C9EoMcg
(Roland Martin's youtube channel)
2
Now contributing even more to
Mayor Pete. We can’t let the fraud Sanders lose us this election like he did in 2016. Send Sanders home...Support Buttigieg!
2
It’s discouraging to see a young person mouthing the same tired platitudes mouthed by the NYT and it’s Boomer dominated editorial page. Why is it that the NYT goes all in on the divisive identity angle while ignoring the economic precariousness that should be front and center? Hint, liberals on the coasts love to signal their virtues but when it comes to paying more in taxes they are solidly conservative.
1
Opening with Bernie’s ethnicity and following with a people say... line of thinking; this is far below what I expect of NYT journalism. Do better.
5
Bernie was a decent mayor...
Pete is a decent mayor...
Mike was an outstanding mayor...
You've got about 4 weeks to milk this VT dairy cow...
1
Trump and other Republicans who oppose Sanders are white nationalists who are anti-Semitic and hate Sanders because he would be the country’s first Jewish President. The NYT and other media talk endlessly about the first female President but say not a word about the country’s first Jewish President.
1
Having healthcare ,antitrust laws,labor unions and access to a college education is not socialism! It's what modern democracies around the world have(except for USA!USA!USA!)
What a bunch of imbeciles we've become.
6
"Democratic" Socialist ?
Seriously ?
If I put "Democratic" in front of Communist, does that make Communism different, and somehow, better ?
Baloney.
The guy is a Marxist.
1
NYT should have endorsed Bloomberg already. Bernie or burst!
"His strength in the primaries?" As of today, there has been one - ONE - primary. ONE. In a Eastern seaboard state. That is predominately WHITE. The thing in Iowa was a (botched) caucus.
The main thing to worry about with regard to Sanders is how much air he is sucking out of the momentum for other candidates who might actually be able to govern. All he can do is talk; after over 30 years in Congress, he's never actually accomplished much.
1
Look-People trust PBS for their Kids, for their Documentaries, for the New. Watch Democracy Now every morning and get just the facts-no commercials. Bernie Sanders is Solid is PBS message
2
More worrisome is what Chuck Todd alluded to. Whether you agree or disagree with the term "brown shirts", Sanders' base and those legions of organized trolls ATTACKING anyone who dares say a single thing about their cult leader is frightening.
They're doing the same thing the Trump youth, the bots, the Russians are doing and quite a few articles and essays are looking into the new political landscape. Either have billions to buy your way to the presidency, or have hundreds of thousands of internet attack trolls doing your bidding, unwittingly... or not so unwittingly.
It's no wonder Bernie has such a large following among the youth. The DNC, the Left, Progressives have been playing a numbers game, banking on the youth to swell their ranks and these kids have now been RADICALIZED, and I don't use the term lightly. Preying on a young person's innate sense of justice to INDOCTRINATE them.
Before Parkland and Greta Thurnberg, I can't recall that many kids 10 and up marching, screaming, foaming at the mouth and berating adults in their midst. By the time they're in college, it's no wonder they no longer know reason or moderation. Everything is radical, extreme, and polarized.
Bernie has encouraged all that and by the same token, inflicted great damage to the party as a whole, ensuring that in the years to come, ideology will veer further left, always, in turn ensuring defeats in the House and Senate, no bipartisan legislation passed, and no Democratic president in the WH.
1
The Republican attack machine has not even started on Sanders yet, and when it does, beware. If he is nominated, the GOP will scream "communist" non-stop at the top of their lungs until Election Day, and it's going to scare every undecided voter into figuring four more years of Trump and their 401K doing well is better than what the GOP will say is "this communist coming to take YOUR money, YOUR property, and hand it out to lazy college students and people who don't want to work for a living." And that'll be the end of it. In 2016, I *knew* that Sanders was going to divide the Democrats and put Trump in office, and I was right.
1
Bernie’s last stand. The DNC allowed him to run - I look forward to the next generation: Andrew Yang, Pete B, Cory Booker, and Kamala Harris getting their due. I laud the candidates who are making way for one candidate. I hope that Bernie will chastise his “followers” who are Trumpites in disguise. Bernie must take responsibility for the election of Trump. Not again!!!
1
There are vulnerabilities in every single candidate. Even Booker being a vegan could have been a problem. But the really egregious flaws are staring everybody in the face- the execrable Trump's flaws-more than flaws but brazen undeniable crimes.
All of the Democrat candidates would be better than Donald.
3
Sanders and Buttigieg each won 9 delegates in NH. But Buttigieg won 14 delegates in Iowa to Sanders 12 delegates. Yes, even though Sanders won the popular vote in Iowa, Buttigieg got 2 more delegates than Sanders. Go figure.
That means Pete Buttigieg has a total of 23 delegates vs. 21 for Sanders. It's delegates that count in determining the ultimate winner of the entire Democratic primary. So, thus far, Pete Buttigieg is the front runner.
And I think Buttigieg has a better chance of beating Trump than Sanders. Buttigieg has more broad appeal to both progressives and moderates. Sanders is a socialist -- and Trump would have a field day with that! Americans mostly detest socialism -- at least they think they do. I believe most American don't understand what Democratic Socialism is, and they don't care. As soon as they hear the word "socialist" or "communist" (and many Americans think these are the same thing) they freak out. Trump and the GOP will take maximum advantage of that. So will Faux Noise and Rush Limbaugh to the extent he's able to continue with his vulgar, racist radio screeds.
What we Democrats care about the most is getting the impeached, illegitimate Trump out of the White House before he does any more damage to the government, the national debt and the environment. I just think Buttigieg is more likely to succeed at replacing Trump than Sanders.
2
I like Bernie's ideas but as long as "socialism" remains a dirty word in this country progress as some of us understand this term will be elusive. I remember a woman at a tea-party rally who was quoted as saying, "they better not touch my Medicare!" Obviously, she didn't recognize Medicare as being a form of socialized medicine. Such ignorance gave us Trump and such ignorance may serve again to force the Trump mis-administration upon us for four more years.
1
My vote gpes to Norman Thomas, a solid Socialist. The best man in the race - and a much better public speaker. Too bad he lost the election in 1928, and the next five elections after that. A good man, but a loser, if vote-getting is the measure of a man. Bernie Sanders will get crushed in 2020, and the next five elections after that.
1
We were a socialist during the depression. All those agencies: WPA, CCC...
Any time the government mores in big to a beleaguered nation, it a nod toward socialism.
Bernie's socialism is capitalism with a social touch. Just what this country needs. How much more of this dictatorial administration are we going to tolerate?
3
Bernie is running for the Executive Office. Executives execute. Simple as that. After nearly 30 years in the Senate,he has failed to execute on but a handful of Vermont-centered legislation. As a long term socialist, he has failed at legislating any of his ideas.He has been unable to build any government coalitions of interest within the Senate. And, finally, he is not a Democrat. He is the left's caricature of Trump--a cranky outsider come to hijack a party to which he does not belong. Democrats, wake up!
2
I’ll take my chances with Bernie.
None of the centrists inspire people, they will do even worse than Clinton against Trump.
The columnists are completely clueless writing in their shiny offices. They just don’t understand Bernie’s success or worse, try to push the board’s agenda with baseless arguments or arrogant predictions of how the election will go.
No one is covering the beautiful story of the 1.5 million little people sending their money to Bernie, outraising corporations and billionaires who expect favors for their money. Sad and shameful.
3
Great. If Bernie ends up being the nominee, we’ll have the Trump of the Left against Trump. Liberal Bluster against Right-Wing Bluster. Left Outrage vs Right Outrage.
I’ll still support Bernie but I wish we could have a substantive candidate like Warren.
1
Another article attacking Bernie? Surprise, surprise.
Keep doing that to divide the democratic party and another four years of Trump is coming.
2
Please, no. I had it with angry, old, bloviating men who are incapable of - and uninterested in - compromise. Let’s not exchange one nightmare for another.
2
Perhaps if Democratic-leaning columnists would support Sen. Senders, instead of joining in painting him with all the stereotypes that the Repubs would like to use against him, he would be a stronger candidate in November. Just a thought.
3
Bernie is another George McGovern. His policies have no chance of being enacted. Free college and Medicare for is all dead on arrival. Giving free stuff to people does not work! Someone has to pay for all this free stuff? Who? Medicare is not cheap insurance, all the drug benefits cost thousands of dollars and you need supplemental insurance to pay for gaps in coverage. The average employer plan is many times better than Medicare. Bernie is selling snake oil. Democrats need to win the senate in 2020. If Bernie is the nominee, the only way to stop Trump is for the Democrats to control both Chambers of the Congress. We must stop all these crazy judges Trump is appointing!
If Bernie gets the nomination who will he choose as his running mate? Discuss.
3
A big question - if Bernie is not the Democratic nominee, will his vote for whoever is nominated? As we saw in 2016, Bernie is a sore loser. He took his time getting behind Hillary, which split the party. That is one reason we ended up with Trump.
Whoever the nominee is must form a coalition. So far none of the candidates has done that.
1
Bernie Sanders would be a good Democratic candidate to take on Trump . He has independent ideas to take on Trump and I am sure he has the support of the young , the women and the Asians , Hispanics, Blacks and moderate Whites to beat Trump . The contrast between Bernie and Sanders could not be more stark and different . One is a thinking man who has the support of the under dog , whereas the other has the support of the Right Wing Whites ,and the bigoted Americans of middle America liviing in their own bigoted world , the so called base of Trump . It would be a fascinating contest to watch and I sincerely hope that the Americans would topple Trump from his pedestal along with the spineless Republicans led by Mitch McConnel who voted for Trump in the farce of an Impeachment trial held in the senate That would be a fitting end to the Trump era and the beginning of being accountable for all his misdeeds , manipulation, lies during his presidency .
2
Ironic that Trump got himself impeached for going after Biden, who was not a contender.
2
I really can't understand how Bernie can be scarier than Reagan,little Bush or Trump most vehicles have more gears with which to go forward. I certainly prefer a President who is brave intelligent and empathetic to a president who can improve the self image of a cowardly lion, a tin man and a scarecrow.
2
2016: 60% for Sanders in NH. 2020: 25% for Bernie in NH. Maybe a second question mark and an exclamation point is needed to make this headline current.
Bernie wins the nomination I'll sit this one out
Bloomberg wins I'll go door to door
wannabe vs the real deal
Why not Ms. Nancy Pelosi? She would be absolutely fantastic!
Earth to Timothy Egan, this is also the Gilded Age.
He just barely came out ahead of Buttigieg and the media has lost its mind. NO, it nowhere near means that Sanders is the front runner of anything.
As a matter of fact, he came within a hair of barely losing to Pete..a complete newcomer....AGAIN.
I thought the Times was just saying Sanders was going to run away with this? Nope, he was nowhere near running away with it. I don’t know why you’re intent on crowning Sanders... no such thing has happened..not even close.
Sanders currently benefits from his loyal base, strong infrastructure and organization. He has been running against a doddering Biden, a divisive Warren and a host of other second rate players. The most telling numbers are the lack of turnout in the primaries. He doesn’t excite the base nor do other candidates. Socialist President vs Trump is a complete loser. Trump is terrible but he will get the vote out, execute flawlessly, and represents the American dream with a strong economy. Sanders says the American dream is dead, we need to be like other Socialist Countries and that this about the powerful vs the disenfranchised poor. A complete loser of a campaign. The Democrats incredibly poor execution are going to relegate us to another 4 years of Trump. Mike Bloomberg or Klobuchar are the only people who can beat Trump
You still don't get it. The United States IS a socialist country -- socialism for the rich. Competition and innovation are buzz words that have nothing to do with reality. And just like the old Soviet Union, the major industries are planned -- to reward the biggest richest "capitalists" in the country, who got bigger and richer after the 2008 Great Depression. Why? Because trillions of dollars, taxpayer dollars, were handed out to them (over 1.5 trillion to JP Morgan). Who are the real socialists? Jaimie Daimon, Jeff Bezos, Donald Trump. Sanders will eviscerate them all -- which is why they hate him and will do everything in their power, including little pieces like this designed to demoralize his followers. Is the GOP good at demagoguery? They can take a lesson from the NYT "opinion" section.
Why not try the left, America?They were right about
*Iraq
*Vietnam
* Climate change
* Allende
*Trump
* Slavery (I know about the Dem/GOP switch over history. I am talking left/right not Dem/ GOP
* Civil rights
* Rock n' Roll- America's finest export
They are not by any means perfect but why not give them a try?
1
He’s poison. He was poison in 2016 and he is poison now. He is the reason Hillary lost in 2016 and now here he is in 2020 to re-elect this monstrous criminal.
I dare one over the top Sanders supporter to name one moderate voter who is going to vote for higher taxes in order to supply free health care to illegal immigrants....ones that will be walking across his open borders in droves. Because those are just two of the things this guy is proposing. And it gets worse.
Nominate him and we’ll be in real trouble...all of us.
If Trump and the a Republicans could pick their favorite candidate to run against, it would be Sanders. Tonight was a win for team Teump,
1
I like Bernie's ideas but I am afraid most Americans haven't as yet reached a degree of acceptance of these ideas. I recall a woman at a tea-party rally who was quoted as saying, "they better not touch my Medicare!". Obviously she wasn't aware that Medicare is a kind of socialized medicine. As long as "socialism remain a dirty word in this country certain "advanced" ideas will have to either be abandoned or disguised
4
There's two things to be concerned with in this election. The trajectory of the Republican party, what it's willing to accept to stay in power. The other is the Democratic Party and its slightly less glaring rot and corruption. If you honestly think the Democratic party isn't thoroughly corrupt and unable to effectively solve the problems of Americans after Iowa your either blind or haven't been paying attention. Trump is a symptom not a cause. In order to fight the symptoms that lead to him you need to address the causes that brought him to power. Cultural fear, economic stagnation, authoritarianism etc. In order to do that the Democratic party must be a viable choice presenting solutions to those issues. For that to happen things need to change. Sanders is the only one offering any meaningful difference. I honestly believe electing another run of the mill Democrat will just be kicking the can down the road. Pete, Biden, Klobuchar are all so deeply indebted to the corrupt patronage networks of the Democratic party they couldn't fix anything even if they wanted to. Although we already know they can't even if they did after Iowa. That makes Bernie the only viable choice.
3
I'm a reader of the political writer class (and over educated and with experience working in the U.S. Senate during the time of the last presidential impeachment) so I appreciate all the analysis. However, taking a step back, and flipping the lens to what these folks were saying 5 years ago about Trump, it sounds all too familiar. It's not that I don't believe in the intelligence of the writerly political class; rather I think that once again the country is witnessing/experiencing another social upheaval and the rules or norms or past wisdom of what works and doesn't work in presidential elections has all gone out the window, again.
I will admit that I supported Bernie against Hillary in 2016, but I wasn't gung ho on him this time around. Now I am, because he represents revolution and I am done with measured, incremental change.
9
How many Sanders bashing articles will appear in corporatist publications today? He has definitely moved into first place as the candidate the rich and powerful fear most.
We must not let the the rich and powerful select the Democratic nominee again. If they do Trump will win in 2020.
14
If Trump and the republicans wants to label Sanders as a communist, Sanders and the DNC simply need to show and run ads were Trump is actually acting like an autocratic dictator. Bill Maher has a great “Dictator checklist” that which Trump meets on almost all the qualifying factors.
9
The last 2 Presidents--Obama and Trump--ran as "anti-establishment candidates. Democrats Mondale, Dukakis, Kerry, Gore, and Hillary Clinton, all running as "centrists", lost.
Don't let the pundits tell you that Sanders can't beat Trump. He's beating him in the "head-to-head" polling. And don't let them tell you that the "socialist label" will destroy him. The GOP called Obama a socialist, and they'll do the same to ANY Dem nominee. Sanders is running for healthcare and education for all, to continue FDR's New Deal. While the other candidates will deny that they're socialists, get defensive, and run to the right to prove it---alienating the young people we need to win--Sanders can explain what he stands for and hit back.
Sanders is winning amongst working class voters, young voters, and people of color. That's how we win in November.
16
Bernie's biggest following is from young people who have not experienced the failures of socialism, but have experienced the failures of capitalism. The levels of failure in socialism are profoundly worse. Find an older Russian, Cuban, or someone from any other actually socialist place, and ask them why they left. Because it's better here. Yes, many countries have government run healthcare. They also don't have a Republican Party like ours, that wants to make government for all fail, and do everything they can to make it happen. Do you really want someone like Trump to be your healthcare CEO? Take Canada for as an example. It took Canada 20 years to go from private to public health care. There were doctor's strikes. Doctors only working half a year due to pay limits. It was adopted province by province. So, if Canada, a very white nation of then about 20-25M, had problems, just think of what it would be like here with 325M very diverse folks. Even Obamacare, which is Romneycare, only operates in 37 states. 80M Americans, or 50% of our work force work at big corporations with private health care. Some really like it, although most agree, it's too expensive. Medicare can be worse in other ways. I've advocated for elderly patients told they had to leave top tier hospitals a day after surgery, despite being unable to walk, because Medicare would not pay for another night. Ask Bernie if he used his fancy Senate entitled Tricare, or Medicare for his heart attack.
4
Very convincing - our system is most expensive system in the world, but yet we can not keep people's in hospitals more than one day, but, God forbid, to try to change it. Better elect Trump, because he is such convenient excuse for not changing anything.
11
To paraphrase the first and second law of thermodynamics into lay terms, Bernie can’t win and he can’t even come close.
3
I just wonder how would Sanders be perceived if he had proposed the same policies that he advances and NOT declared himself a democratic socialist. Would these proposals be deemed as "dangerous" and "radical" as they are now just because the term socialist is put next to his name. And what are all these people who have SS, Medicare, unemployment benefits, subsidies to oil, farmers, peanut and milk producers, aid to dependent children, ALL SOCIALIST measures, have to fear of a simple term? If Sanders were to be elected, all of his proposals would be greatly modified because he will never have a Congress that is totally aligned with his ideas, but he might propel it to make important and necessary changes that would benefit a greater number of people.
Free College for all? change to scholarships for students whose family income is $50,000 or less.
Medicare for all? change to Medicare for all who want it and Medicare for people 55 years old who lose their jobs.
Sanders may not make it to presidency or even to the nomination, but people should learn not to be deceived by terminology and look to the feasibility of proposals.
10
But how families with 50k can pay for college that cost 25 K? How are you going to pay for Medicare for 55 plus those who lost the job especially in time of recession? And what about other people who could not afford premiums and deductibles? You should look at the problems not only what will be cheaper for some individuals, but what will be better for society as whole.
1
@yulia Well, the scholarship can be a full scholarship. The Medicare can be subsidized. It's always a question of where the country wants to put its money. For one, we could spend much less on arms and put the money into social services.
4
@Frank Casa
It wouldn't make any difference how Bernie Sanders identified himself. The corrupt DNC would move heaven and Earth to keep him from getting the nomination because he presents a threat to their corporate donors.
In 1988 Jesse Jackson called himself a Democrat and proposed nearly identical programs for socialized medical care, jobs for all and much higher taxes on the rich, but the DNC thwarted his nomination in favor of the ridiculous Michael Dukakis. It's the policies, not the terminology, that matter as Sanders' strong support outside the DNC and the corporatist press reveals.
5
As we are shaped by the falsehoods and outright lies promoted by the institutions supporting them, much of what I have written in response to the columns published here and in other news outlets throughout the years has to do with the use of supernatural belief as a tool of suppression.
Uncertainty is introduced during infancy and reinforced throughout life by either well meaning but equally misled leaders or more ominously those who have no qualms with regard to exploiting the subtly fostered fear of death.
Far from aiding and assisting humanity, supernatural beliefs were designed from their inception as a means to urge war or lessen that costly suppression through peaceful means.
That after thousands of years we are still led by men who utilize this tool of social control speaks to the unallayed fear brought on by not only the ignorance of fact, but also the teaching of falsehoods.
Today more than other period of time in our history the President is stoking the fires of unfounded fear and fanning the flames of ignorance to benefit himself and his economically connected friends.
While I have no expectation thoughts of this sort will be met with approval or more likely even considered, there is little to be done but expose the foundation of our male dominant society.
Either of the women leading this race would be a far superior choice than any of the men.
2
His strength in the primaries?
I would vote for him were he the Democratic candidate, but many Democrats won't forgive him for his role as spoiler in 2016. From there, his support goes down with independents and Republicans.
He is the candidate Trump wants to run against, splitting the majority opposition in a replay of the last UK election.
Will Trump be difficult to beat? Only because he will go to any length to cheat.
He can boast of the best American economy ever but it isn't true.
It is just like one of the 6 bankrupt companies he destroyed, running on debt stimulus, with record trade deficits, stimulative monetary policy - and only reaching 2% GDP growth.
He can only win by cheating with foreign assistance, but this time Democrats, Independents and former Republicans have been warned.
It will take tactics, resources, messaging and smart candidates willing to listen and analyze, not just shout prescribed inflexible solutions.
I would vote for any Democrat over Trump, but Sanders will not bring the unity we need.
3
@David Parsons His role as a spoiler?
Fact: more Bernie supporters voted for HRC in 2016 than Hillary supporters voted for Obama in 2008.
And Hillary's support was almost purely Democrats, Bernie's included many independents and even some Republicans.
Fact: Bernie participated in more campaign events for Hillary than she did for Obama.
Who deserves to be called a "spoiler"?
5
I would vote for Sanders against Trump, but would add Democrats to the list of "deplorables" who think a president should mold the country in his image rather than, say, traffic-manage what is, at its root, largely autonomous and self-managing.
1
President Trump would love to have a debate with Bernie Sanders. It certainly would be fun to watch as President Trump trounced him in the process. He is a pro at this and would not hesitate mentioning that Mr. Sanders is a socialist. He would also state the differences between the two. At the end, President Trump would make Mr. Sanders look like a very undesirable choice. If you want free stuff, vote for Bernie Sanders. Of course, nothing is ever free. Intelligent voters know this and will vote for President Trump. He will remain in office.
3
Intelligent voter? Don't the college- educated people actually support Sanders rather than Trump?
2
@KMW
So those people at Trump's "horror show" rallies yelling "lock her up" are intelligent?
1
For all those worried about Sanders, he won more under-30 votes in NH than anyone else combined. The youth vote in Iowa rose 33% over 2016, giving Sanders a majority of the votes there. It's time to retire the axioms about a socialist (really a social democrat) winning in the United States. People are tired of healthcare, housing, and education costs galloping past wage growth. People see that the earth is burning, and want a green new deal. People want to reverse the unacceptable wealth inequality in this country. The political realignment is coming. You'd do well to see it through.
14
Trump will work Sanders into such a lather he'll have a massive coronary by the 2nd debate.
Let's be honest . . . Sander's is old, in ill health and rich from writing books that appeal to those who want to live a pipe dream at someone else's expense.
I'll vote for him but in no way is he beating Trump.
5
@DDG
I guess you didn't see the pictures of a massively overweight Trump in Bloomberg's TV ads. When it comes to staying alive, i would submit Trump who will be almost in his mid seventies by the time the election rolls around, is the one that could be more problematic going forward.
You can only survive so long with no sleep and night after night of tweeting.
3
Many people including journalists who talk about socialism and capitalism in this country have no real depth of understanding of those two words mean.
US has always been a socialist country in spirit - practicing 'corporate socialism'. It's what some call crony capitalism: Privatize profits and have the taxpayers bear the losses.
What we really need is democratic capitalism which is capitalism played by the rules which is what Bernie Sanders calls 'democratic socialism'.
18
This is a straw man argument.
You can argue that Bernie means Scandinavian-style democratic socialism, rather than the bad kind of socialism more closely related to Marxism.
But that argument will not hold up when the American public sees clips of Bernie praising the Soviet Union after traveling there. Or clips of Bernie defending Chavez in Venezuela. Or clips of Bernie praising Nicaragua and denouncing the USA while people chanted “Every yankee must die.” Or find out about how Bernie had a portrait of Lenin in his office. Or find out about how Bernie called the Iranian hostages “CIA dupes.”
Will you just tell us not to believe our lying eyes and the fake media, the way Trump does? Will you expect everyone to believe that Bernie has changed, even though the mantra of Bernie supporters since the last election is that Bernie hasn’t changed his message and ideology in 40 years?
I have yet to hear a Bernie supporter specifically address these points other than to offer platitudes or deflections. You should do it now, before the national election.
1
I think it is time for our pundits to stop thinking for us. We are not children who still need our parents to make decisions for us. (Well actually, it is more like half of us Americans if not all are able to think for ourselves.) We have 48 states to go. We have only just begun. And judging from New Hampshire, it looks as if voters are dang serious about making the right choice. By the time we tally all the votes cast by all of the electorate in our 50 states, we will know who America wants to defeat Donald Trump. But our job will have just begun. The next and final task will be to unite behind and for either Bernie, Pete, Amy, Elizabeth, Biden, or maybe even Bloomberg. If we refuse to do that, then we are complicit in the birth of a dictatorship.
10
President Trump received record numbers in New Hampshire. He will most certainly win against Bernie Sanders. The U.S. is not ready for a socialist president.
6
Sanders is indeed a moderate Social Democrat, his agenda being to bring the US back from the savage capitalism swerve since Reagan and more in line with most other developed Western countries, where health care, education and labor rights are considered necessary human rights . . . A debate between Senator Sanders--talking intelligently about bread and butter issues, health care, loan debts, raising the minimum wage, etc.--and President Trump--raving incoherently about his own unappreciated greatness and how Bernie is a would-be Communist tyrant--would not be the great success for Trump that the G.O.P. seems to imagine it would be.
13
Obvious choice for anyone who wants to live in a just and fair society.
Bernie, is the Rawlsian candidate par excellence. You would go to sleep in the USA without worrying who you may wake up as the next morning.
That is happiness. That is Justice. That is a civilized nation.
Bernie Sanders, may he live a long and health life and bless us all as our President starting in November 2020.
24
Your “happiness” will turn into your worst nightmare if he is nominated. Period.
I have voted for the Democrats for 30 years, but I will not vote for Sanders if he becomes the nominee. It is very simple: I think his policies would be disastrous not only for the country but also for my family. He is as far left from where I stand as Trump is to the right. If he becomes president (at this point he seems unlikely to beat Trump but maybe he will), I really hope the Senate remains in Republican hands. I, like others such as Kerry and Obama, am devastated about how the far left is destroying our party.
6
Not gonna happen. Nominate Bernie, re-elect Trump, even absent Russian intervention, which is gonna happen. Polarization is a losing strategy. Democrats: Get a grip, all that matters is beating Trump. This task would be hard anyway, but with the manipulation that is sure to happen will have to be overwhelming. Sanders is not the solution.
10
The Democratic Party establishment (of which the Times should be considered an unofficial mouthpiece) isn't afraid the Bernie will lose to Trump. They are afraid that he will WIN. Unfortunately for them, the majority of of not just Democrats, but also independents would be quite pleased if he did.
President Sanders? Get used to saying it.
21
@Christopher Yes, I feel the same. Families like the Trumps, Bidens, Clintons, etc. -- doesn't matter if they are D or R -- are corrupt: both Trump and Biden have placed their family members with no real experience into high-paying/ high-status positions merely on family ties while the rest of us strive just for a decent wage, secure job, adequate healthcare, affordable education, and roof over our heads. Then you have the university admissions scandals with the wealthy not just buying positions for their kids into selective colleges but using those bribes to get tax deductions.
I think people see this type of stuff and are just fed up. It's not a class war based on nothing but on actual events that have been happening for decades. To the elite, these are just abstract issues so they don't understand them but for the majority of people, it's their lives. It's not about wealth, it's about inequality and unfairness. Few people would have problems with billionaires if they contributed their fair share to this nation and stopped trying to cheat everyone else.
5
Afraid of what? A lame duck Carter-type presidency with the accompanying economic crash? It’s not something to fear, really. It isn’t something to hope for either, though.
1
Sanders needs to tell his supporters to stop the negativity directed at the other candidates. I find it highly disturbing to listen to them boo at fellow democrats. It makes me not trust his campaign or supporters.
13
Sanders can and will be elected. He is the leader we need NOW when enough is enough in terms of people going bankrupt because they get sick, the fossil fuel industry putting short-term profits ahead of our planet, the richest members of our society amassing a hugely disproportionate share of the wealth in our country, the racism and injustice of our justice system, and so many more areas of our society that have not worked for most Americans for far too long. If you’re afraid of the change Bernie brings, ask yourself why. Our country is not a zero-sum-game. Other people — your neighbors, the people who serve you coffee or drive your Ubers, your children’s teachers — can live healthier and happier lives, with greater security, without you having to lose anything! Vote for change and a better, more equitable society. It’s what your kids and grandkids want!
20
Bernie Sanders has never been, and never will be, a Democrat. How can he be the leader of the Democratic Party?
The parallel to Jeremy Corbyn leading the Labour Party seems, if not exact, pretty darn close. And look how well that worked out.
8
Can't we just swing the pendulum back to the middle instead of pushing it so hard that it breaks?
7
I volunteer for the Sanders campaign and it's absolutely right his supporters are beautifully diverse. At a tabling event with multiple other Democratic candidates, our table had the most supporters. Other tables had less. The Yang table had 2 Asian-Americans, the Buttigieg and Warren tables, a few older Caucasian women. Our table had a two Caucasian seniors (one male/ one female), two middle-aged Asian-American women, two Caucasian guys in their mid 20s, one Caucasian young woman, and two young Latinx students.
We had a few people stop by who grew up in the EU or were formerly EU citizens and they gave us a thumbs up, noting that Sanders is hardly left-wing and would be considered center in their countries.
15
So that means his mystical policies won’t turn off millions and millions of moderate voters? The goal is not to have the greatest variety of supporters. The goal is to beat Trump. Sanders goofy wish list will lose and our entire Democracy may well collapse. See how much good all his different followers do then.
1
Bernie reminds me a bit of Eugene McCarthy in 1968. I was ten years old at the time, curious about politics because the Vietnam War was dominating the headlines, particularly as the Democrats made their way to Chicago that August for the infamous convention. I worry that if Bernie wins the 2020 nomination he will switch to reminding me more of George McGovern in 1972.
7
I saw Robert F. Kenedy campaigning for President in Brooklyn in 1968.
The tremendous enthusiasm and hope he generated, and the vast diversity of his supporters, was very, very similar to the Sanders campaign of 2020.
7
When I look at Amy Klobuchar or Pete Buttigieg i do not see candidates who are living in the past, desire power for power's sake or who dislike Bernie or even disapprove of his policies. I see candidates who are sincerely concerned for our country, agree with Bernie's ideas but have a different idea of how to achieve them and want desperately to remove Trump from the White House.
I hesitate to say this because I know how sensitive to criticism Bernie supporters are, perhaps justly, and you too are patriots and wish the best for our country. But this is not the 2016 election and we should let those grievances go. Bernie may win the nomination and he should be the nominee in that case, but if not please do not blame the winner for his loss.
His winning the election relies on a ground swell of support which is problematic at best and the republicans will mount an attack of hatred and lies the likes of which we have not seen. Who will withstand this and win the minds of independents necessary to defeat Trump?
5
Sanders will NEVER be president. In fact, even if his narrow lead over Buttigieg in New Hampshire holds, he really LOST because while he talks about building a grand coalition, his percentage of votes when compared to 2016 is DOWN. For Sanders, it was NOT a good night. Speaking of how the night went, Biden and Warren are DONE. If Warren couldn't do better than 9% in a neighboring state which shares much with her own, WHERE is she going to come out on top? And while I like Biden and respect him, his time has PASSED. He's done. Klobuchar got a boost because of her moderate stances during the last debate but it won't hold to take her to the top. I deeply respect Buttigieg but I don't think this is his time to beat our gangster-president. I have recently come to the conclusion that Bloomberg MUST be the nominee and he will need a woman running mate. Klobuchar might have a shot at that, or possibly Harris. No more pundits, please. Biden, Sanders and Warren will NOT be president of this country. Buttigieg MIGHT but Bloomberg WILL.
9
@ManhattanWilliam
A Bloomberg/Klobucher ticket strikes me as being "just the ticket" to replace the Trump horror in Washington. I don't like the suggestion that someone could "buy" their way into office but until America's awkward election process is revamped money will remain a prime consideration in every election. I would like to see Buttgieg and Warren in cabinet posts.
ManhattanWilliam, neither Bernie Sanders nor Mike Bloomberg is really a Democrat. Can you imagine either of them being the head of the Democratic Party?
The things that are wrong with America - besides all the chaos and carnage wrought by Trump - are decades in the making, and all stem primarily from a "trickle down" system, created by Reagan, but aided and abetted by corporatist Democrats along the way.
Do you really think that facts like the wages - adjusted for inflation - of the working and middle class have not risen in decades, and that life expectancy has actually gone DOWN in the last three years for the first time in decades, that these things haven't been noticed, and felt deeply by people? MSM pundits chirp about how great the economy is doing, but they're only looking at Wall St. and meaningless numbers like unemployment which tells nothing of the wages of these jobs, nor whether they're part-time and with no protection from dismissal at-will. Were all the "experts" really asleep and not notice the things that gave rise to the anger and frustration that led to Trump being elected as a de facto protest candidate? Apparently.
People are demanding a change from the Status Quo. And nominating another "moderate" who will only compromise away any meaningful change isn't going to satisfy them. Electing Sanders will actually force the Republicans to negotiate because he won't engage in "pre-emptive compromise" like the rest of the "moderate" Democrats have and will. Proof of his strength lies in how terrified the Establishment of both parties are. They're scared that the People are finally getting their voice.
15
Thanks for illustrating the problem with Sanders supporters. They have their heads in la la land...a place that has absolutely NOTHING to do with reality. Revolution?...there is not going to be any “revolution.” Come back down to earth.
It’s getting so obvious at this point. Every single day these opinion pages eject anti-Sanders into the atmosphere, continuously repeating the assertion that he cannot win against trump
All polling shows the opposite, that he is in fact the strongest of all the democratic candidates in a head to head against trump. In addition, he has vastly more support among young voters than any other candidate, and more minority support than anyone except Joe Biden. Buttigieg has literally almost zero minority support, making his current nomination push meaningless because he is utterly non-viable in the general election. Same goes for warren, and sorry also for Bloomberg. The recordings of his own racist words keep coming and no amount of money can convince black voters he is their guy.
Bernie Sanders also has a grassroots legion — donors and volunteers from all over the country who are organized and energized around getting Bernie elected. They make more calls, send more texts, and knock on more doors than anyone. No other candidate has anything comparable, and it’s why Bernie Sanders is going to win in November.
27
I don't think that we needed another article merely rehashing the Times's relentless anti-Sanders campaign, none of which recognizes how in 2016 and today he more than any other candidate has accurately analyzed what is wrong and what needs to be done to restore equity and care to our deeply unequal society.
28
After a forty year hiatus, with the election of Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren, the USA would return to being a proper democracy, authentically concerned to "promote the general welfare", to form "a more perfect union" and to "bend toward justice". To be again "the leader of the free world" and a "light unto all nations" not an outlier of it leading them to social strife and ecological devastation.
19
Tonight's results are rather a bit surprising to me. I knew Pete and Bernie would be at the top, But Amy doing that well, and Warren and Biden doing THAT badly is unexpected.
If you had asked me the odds that Amy would actually win more votes than Biden and Warren combined, I wouldn't even have been able to take a guess ... yet that seems to be how it is shaking out.
I don't even know what to think about that.
Even more bizarre, SC will shake everything up again. First state not made up of old white people.
Even more bizarre is that a large percentage of the vote - over 80% - is now in (as of about 11PM EST), and none of the major media outlets have yet called a winner. This is shockingly close. Probably bad for Bernie - he won in 2016 in a landslide, and while he'll win tonight, he'll barely squeak it out.
As the conventional wisdom says, every candidate has the same opponent against which they are measured, and that opponent's name is "expectations". Does matter if you win or lose against an opponent, what matters is whether you did better or worse that expected. And by that measure, in NH, Bernie lost; Liz and Biden lost badly, and Pete and Amy won.
But the biggest (and for Democrats, probably most disturbing) news of the night is tepid voter turnout. Same thing happened in Iowa. Not nearly the numbers that Obama commanded. Would have thought that after 3+ years of Trump (and the intense visceral hatred of progressives) turnout would have been huge. It isn't.
2
JRC, you seem not to have followed many elections. It usually doesn't take long for the winners to emerge. Bernie Sanders is clearly the favorite for the nomination. Biden and Warren probably lost too badly to recover.
In some ways your favorites Buttigieg and Klobuchar are tonight's winners, but things don't look good for them going into Nevada and then South Carolina, and then into Super Tuesday. They probably peaked tonight.
That doesn't mean that Bernie Sanders will be the Democratic nominee. But that's where, in my opinion, the smart money is. That's where I placed my bet.
8
He is the favorite for the nomination after two small states????! One that he lost the delegate count in? When did that happen?
I often wonder if Trump will allow a fair election in November. I'm not saying he can stop, totally, all people voting, but clearly he is severely ethically challenged and is on full tilt now that the majority of the Senate refused to carry out an honest trial.
3
In 2016, Trump got elected largely because he wasn't "Hillary." Could that be the same way Bernie gets elected? He's not "Trump"?
7
Nearly anyone can Run. But only a few can actually be a Spoiler, and hand the Election to Trump. AGAIN.
Thanks a lot.
2
Bernie was the spoiler last time. He did the Right’s dirty work for them and helped put Trump in office. We can’t let him do it again.. we’ll lose our Democracy.
Independents can vote in the New Hampshire Democratic primary, and probably will since there's no point in an Independent's voting in the outcome-obvious Republican primary. So if Sanders wins in New Hampshire it might give us an indication of how he'd do with the national electorate. Watch for the party breakdown in the exit polls to see this.
55
@Howard Why not just say the truth? Why not just say what everyone knows. Sanders can't win and isn't going to win. He hasn't expanded the Democratic electorate. If Sanders is the nominee he will split the party in two. Moderate suburban voters will not vote for Democratic Socialism. Independent swing voters will hold their nose & vote for Trump. Sanders has contempt for the Democratic establishment & intends to eviscerate them once elected. The DNC will not co-operate in their own demise. They will try to undermine his campaign in ways both large & small as they did in 2016. Sanders has demonstrated time & time again that he doesn't have the temperament to be POTUS. Last year he called for giving incarcerated felons the right to vote. The Boston Marathon Bomber kills three people, maims & injures 280 more. Bernie’s concern? That he gets his absentee ballot. What will be the reaction when Sanders travels to swing states with Michael Moore & he tells women’s underrepresentation in Congress a form of “gender apartheid.” Or when AOC, says in Texas, “I’m here because Senator Sanders has actually committed to breaking up ICE.” Sanders' codependents are writing the GOP attack ads. If this election is about kitchen table issues: jobs & affordable education there's no way we lose. If it's about Medicare for All & more illegal immigration there's no way we win. We can win with or without progressives. We can't win without swing & centrists voters. Sanders will lose in a landslide.
1
@Howard
Bernie barely squeaked by in NH.
The real winners were Amy and Pete.
But the top winner was Mike Bloomberg.
Biden crashed, fleeing NH to give his speech in South Carolina, where he said that American blacks will propel him to victory. What about American whites who have sent him to political hell?
He may not even win South Carolina at this point.
Looking better and better for Mike.
1
A thought about turnout in Iowa.
The Senate impeachment farce was an emotional gut punch for anyone who cares about this country. A lot of us were of a mind to hole up at home, and I suspect Iowans felt the same.
But we’re really, really mad. Expect turnout to increase as the process continues and don’t be surprised to see the highest turnout ever in November.
Because we’re really, really mad.
As for Bernie, ehh, not my first choice. But he’s a good decent human with some good ideas. He’d be fine. I’d vote for fungus at this point.
Did I say how mad I am?
123
@Chickpea
Mad doesn't describe how I feel. Trump needs to be removed and redlined. As for Bernie, he was a 60's radical that never grew up. I would be more worried about him if he was increasing the voter pool, which he is not.
1
@Chickpea
Chickpea - Mad here as well. Mad that my country has been highjacked by corporations and the 1%, leaving the rest of us in the dust. Leaving California for my home on the East Coast because it's too expensive here and too hot (for me, anyway).
I won't vote for a fungus (has to be a person to get on the ballot) but will - with great enthusaism - vote for Senator Bernard Sanders. Go Bernie go!
3
I hope that Sanders supporter, of which I was one in 2016, carefully look at recent history here in Maryland in 2018. This a a Blue state with a significant African American population. The Democrats nominated a very progressive candidate for governor, Ben Jealous. It was us grassroots Sanders supporters who worked hard to help get Jealous the nomination. The man is a biracial son of two people who worked in the Civil Rights movement. But in the summer of 2018 the Koch Brothers and Republican PACs went all-out in with television ads to SCARE moderates that Jealous would tax them to death. These ads blanketed the airwaves. And what happened? A do-nothing Republican governor won reelection.
I think of this every time I hear a Sanders supporter say he definitely would have won in 2016 and is a lock to win this November.
56
@Greg Apples and oranges. Hogan is a pretty decent guy and surprisingly popular in Maryland. I might also mention he has stood up to Trump (the never Trumpers wanted him to run against Trump). Add to this, Maryland (on the whole) is generally doing well which supports a middle of the road, do nothing sort of candidate - because why fix what mostly ain't broke? Um, the rest of the country not so much... and the Trumpster - yikes!
2
@Greg Well said. Sanders supporters believe, but they haven't a clue if he can actually win. He consistently polls poorly among women and minorities, in many places no better than Buttigieg, who is eviscerated for this. Any polls that show Sanders beating Trump today are only 'mile markers' points come November.
3
@Greg A foolish comparison Greg. Hogan is not a right wing Trump republican. Moreover, Jealous had some real basic flaws as a candidate.
1
I support Bernie’s candidacy for President. Based on my personal opinions and beliefs, Bernie is the candidate who most closely represents my views. I’m overjoyed that there is a candidate in my lifetime that I can really get behind and support wholeheartedly. That being said, if Bernie doesn’t win the nomination, I will enthusiastically support the candidate who does. Defeating Trump is paramount. Unless the Democrat Party sabotages his candidacy, I think you will see most Bernie supporters supporting the eventual nominee. Having lived through Trump’s first term, there’s just no way any progressive can stomach the thought of a second term. What I fear, actually, is the opposite: moderate Democrats, the pundits, the “woke 1%” etc. not getting behind a progressive like Sanders or Warren. The attacks on cable news and in newspaper editorials are already in full swing and will increase after Bernie wins New Hampshire and California. Democrats will finally have to ask themselves, which is the lesser of two evils? Oh, the irony. Me, I‘ve been forced to make that choice in virtually every election during my lifetime.
142
@Noel Oh yes, those Bernie supporters will support the Democratic nominee, just like they supported Hillary in 2016. I have been a Libe3ral all my life but I am so sick and tired of how they latch onto candidates (Ralph Nader anyone?} who have no chance of winning giving the country two of the worst presidents in US history.
You DO NOT vote for the person you most agree with. You vote for the one who comes closest to what you believe and WHO CAN WIN.
GROW UP!
20
@Noel Here, here! Hoping for Sanders, contributing to Sanders as well as Democratic Senate candidates in KY, SC, IA, and AZ (small donations) , but WILL vote for the Democratic nominee. Wonderful to have a candidate such as Sanders, but the entire field seem worthwhile.
29
@Mark Esposito Is this your idea of coalition building? Can't wait to work with you, pal.
25
First of all, Bernie Sanders is just too old to be elected to a four-year term as president, even if his health is good, and his mind is completely clear for now. And the party can nominate an equally good or better candidate who doesn't have that liability.
beyond that...As you mention, Bernie Sanders deserves a fair amount of credit for "mainstreaming" important issues in the Democratic debate.
There's no question that Bernie's heart is in the right place. When it comes to his judgment, his leadership ability, his alpha-ness, things get much more complicated.
One way to put it is: he makes a heck of a prophet--but he is not suited to be a king. A Nathan--but not a David. We need prophets, voices of conscience, to temper the ambition of politicians, especially presidential candidates. That is quite different from saying that those voices of conscience should lead us.
Think of William Jennings Bryan or Adlai Stevenson. Our history would have been poorer without them. But should they have been presidents?
34
@Just Ben It would be difficult to listen to his yelling like an Old Testament prophet for the next few years!
1
@Just Ben An answer to your question: yes.
3
I am against socialism. I think people should work until they drop dead. No one should have a pension. I think young people who want to go to college should amass hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt so they end up living in cheap apartments for the rest of their lives and can't buy homes or start families. I think health care should only be for the wealthy so that people who become ill have a choice, die or go into debt. I think the one percenters should keep as much of their wealth as they can and pass it on untaxed to their descendants so they can become non contributing members of society and the middle class assume the tax burden for running the country.
I could go on but I hope you get the idea. We are a country and should provide for the greater benefit of all are citizens and not be blinded by the word "socialism". If we divide ourselves into rich vs. poor and try to hoard every dollar then there is no reason to remain the "United States" lets just end it all now anoint Trump king. I am nauseated by what is happened to this so called country.
319
@John Smithson Sanders is a Democratic Socialist. In France, where I live, the quality of life is so much better than in the US because of programs just like the ones Sanders promotes - I'm supporting him and will vote for him in the primary of my home state. Sanders is the best candidate to beat trump because he is viewed as an "outsider" - just as trump was in 2016.
16
@John Smithson your answer here is incorrect - when Bernie says he is a democratic socialist - social welfare is exactly what he is talking about! Learn more about what he really cares about and fights for and I think you will come to respect and appreciate him. Don't get lost in your definitions of his words
3
@Richard
An interesting “modest proposal” a la Swift. Recipes for the poor fricassed to follow?
1
The negative press coverage Sanders has received has probably suppressed the amount of support he has received. This suppression is more likely when voters are subjected to unflattering "horse race" type reporting which can't analyze problems the country faces and then compare these problems to the solutions offered by candidates. The article says that the U.S. "is not socialist," but Sanders discussed extending programs like Medicare and Social Security which are "American." A 2018 Gallup poll found socialism more popular than capitalism in the United States. When will analysts in the media start reporting on the popularity of various problems generated by capitalism and the unpopularity of these problems, e.g. lack of job tenure, wages that don't keep pace with inflated, inflated healthcare costs, indifference to environmental needs in the name of profit, greed and lack of commitment to paying a fair share of taxes, and the like?
91
@Jonathan M Feldman The popularity of socialism? From whom? Anyone who has lived in a socialist place? Of course not. The old bromide is still apt: If you are not a socialist in your 20's, you don't have a heart, if you still are in your 60's, you don't have a brain. Go and ask your Cuban, Russian, Polish and Hungarian older friends how much they loved socialism. Then ask why they came here? Hint, because it's better, warts and all. And, once again, no Denmark is not socialist. It's capitalist with big social programs which will increase taxes rates for everyone by 20-60%. Look up their tax rates, and compulsory military service while you are at. I am sure no one in their 20's in America can imagine this, but in order to have those big social programs, you will have to cut defense spending by 70%. That means a draft (for a year in Denmark), and likely for both genders here, if we want true equality. Welcome to actually being a Social Democrat. Free social programs are not actually free.
How can anyone forget that the policies put forward by Bernie Sanders and considered too progressive, became part of the National dialogue? They helped shape the policy platform of the DNC in 2016.
How can anyone forget Bernie Sanders filibustering in 2010 against extending Bush era tax cuts put forth by Joe Biden and Mitch McConnell? He stood alone and spoke for almost 9 hours.
Bernie leads in the polls because he speaks for the majority of those of us in the 99%. President Bernie Sanders sounds wonderful to me...like a breath of fresh air.
117
@DLG oh yes! Me too. I'm an American living abroad but I am passionate about America and nothing would make me and my ex-pat friends happier than hearing those words, President Bernie Sanders!
4
@DLG
Life in a fishbowl is oh so sanguine.
I disagree with Timothy Egan I support Bernie Sanders and I'm 72 The majority of my friends and Facebook acquaintances in my age group, aslo favor Sanders over other Democratic candidates. What is wrong with Demoratic socialism? Nothing, I posit. It's a cradle to grave concept of government, with higher taxes providing the very essential things that are needed by people during their lifetimes. As this country is now, many people are headed for premature death due to financial inability to obtain medical care. Most bankruptcies are due to medical bills too high to pay There is not enough daycare, and both the quality and reimbursement of daycare workers and teachers in public schools should be raised. I could go on and on, but most people have at least a nodding acquaintenance with the "Democratic Socialism" espoused by Bernie Sanders. If you are not familiar yet with his ideas, I think that you should make the effort to read up on them. ~ Susan Williams, MD,
94
@Carol Whitman I agree with Susan Williams. As a geriatrician, it was still shocking to me to read comments in these webpages about how many seniors see physician-assisted suicide as their "long-term healthcare plan." Physician-assisted suicide makes sense for some patients with intractable symptoms or terminal/ chronic disabling illnesses but many commenters note they were looking closely at it due to their precarious financial situation, not for health reasons.
14
@Carol Whitman Let us be clear about this. Sanders will become POTUS. Trump was a fluke whose 2016 win was an actual loss in terms of the popular vote, and it would have been a much greater loss had the massive voting purges of minority voters by white Republican swindlers been properly addressed and defended. There are signs that their crooked firewall of voter suppression is cracking in 2020. Stacy Abrams in Georgia is spearheading a movement to put these criminal tactics in check. If successful, it will devastate Trump's political campaign to scam the country again. If only the Electoral College doesn't ruin the results of our upcoming popular vote.
It will certainly be a difficult task for President Sanders to lead this country with so much hate being generated by the outgoing Trump mobster clique who will be screaming for revenge and violence against our beloved democratic process.
2
It's time for corporate pundits and reporters to actually try to understand what Sanders stands for, and why he's so popular.
First and foremost, universal healthcare is not some "far left" dangerous proposal. It's what the rest of the world enjoys, and it works beautifully. And for a fraction of the cost of America's system. And covers everyone. And doesn't require co-pays. And doesn't sink people into bankruptcy.
Got that? It's what the world has. And so should we.
Once corporate pundits figure that out, they'll also figure out that Bernie Sanders' other proposals are also rational and desperately needed.
Start figuring it out, pundits. Right now!
228
@Sean -- but will their corporate masters allow those pundits the freedom to figure it out?
"Never argue with a man whose job depends on not being convinced."
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it."
Take your pick.
30
@Sean Your assuming the job of pundits is to honestly analyze the political landscape and then inform the electorate through their greater wisdom and experience. That is wrong. Their job is to be cheerleaders for particular issues. Once you understand that the bias is rational.
4
It seems it really is too much to ask for a positive opinion piece on Sanders. What a horrifying future to contemplate, to have universal health care, the rich paying their fair share, more environmental protection, a real effort to combat climate change, a living wage,...why is the press and the Dem establishment so rabidly against these common sense reforms?
21
Great. Let's exchange one old demagogue populist for another. I despair of this country. Where did reason, pragmatism, and common sense go? Especially among the millenials, who seem to be primarily interested in class warfare and a free lunch.
6
@Caroline
#1. Trump is no populist.
#2. "Reason, pragmatism & common sense exist only in the eye of the beholder, don't you agree?
#3. Statistics show that our millennials have been greatly disadvantaged by the Trump economy.
"Ms. Bruenig views the panic over Mr. Sanders’s rise as proceeding less from average Democratic voters, who view him more favorably than any other candidate, than from centrist party insiders, who fear losing control."
In a nutshell.
And what about the rest of us?
Good luck?
GO Bernie!
38
"Egan ..... but stresses that socialism is popular only among young people."
As a former young person who spouted such ideas, I can say that they are the result of a combination of ignorance and the lack of having faced real responsibility.
Young people grow up and then realize that capitalism may not be the ideal, but it is the best that there is.
The US will not elect a socialist under any circumstances (and in any form), but I am sure that Mr. Sanders is Mr. Trump's favorite candidate.
6
@Joshua Schwartz
Try taking away those socialist programs, Social Security and Medicare, and then you'll see how socialist older people really are.
Sanders does a great job in leading an economic class war against the rich but mainly appeals to younger voters, many of whom have probably never paid taxes or have had a full-time job. A more moderate candidate would have better chance of defeating Trump who only survives politically because of the right wing media machine that produces a constant stream of lies which has resulted in tens of millions believing in an alternate reality. Therefore the Democrats have to get a good proportion voters who are not sure whether to vote Democrat or Republican and who not living in an alternate reality but have a good grasp of the truth. These are not voters that Sanders are not likely to get since democratic socialism does not appeal to them.
4
@Bob Sanders appeals to older voters too. I am an older boomer who lived through the wonderful years of the 1960s and I am supporting the Sanders campaign.
I support him because I want more life chance for young people, an expansion of Medicare to Medicare for All and I would be happy to pay more taxes for this! As it stands now a large bite of my taxes go for war, military bases and golf weekends at Mar a Lago!
19
@Bob Volunteers at the Sanders events I've been to are not necessarily young: 30-50% of them, including myself, are over the age of 40. In fact for people under 50, he's the front-runner candidate. At the tabling event I was at this weekend, 30% of the volunteers were over 65.
Taxes? There are plenty of young people who have been working since their teens and have paid taxes. Not to mention there are things like sales tax that affect people regardless of income.
3
President Bernie Sanders. He is far too liberal so this is almost an impossibility. He would destroy our democracy and the country. This is what the Democratic Party is very concerned with. It is extremely unlikely that we will ever have a President Sanders.
3
There is not one democrat candidate that you can trust with your gun ownership rights and the future of the Second Amendment. Bernie included. That's why Trump is going to get all of the votes of America's gun owners. Trump is the only one that they (we) can trust. He can be forgiven a lot if he upholds his promise to protect the Second Amendment.
1
@JW What does 'protect the Second Amendment' mean, exactly? Does it mean no background checks required at gun shows? Does it mean unlimited size clips? Does it mean concealed carry must be respected everywhere? Is any 'pro-gun' legislation protected by the 2nd? What about poison gas - it's a weapon? What about 50 cal machine guns, or bazookas? Where is the line where you will respect the right of your fellow citizen to have some legitimate concern about what his next door neighbor is playing with, or what his child might be exposed to at the local elementary school?
30
Sanders is a professional protester, and while likable to work with in the Senate, he's accomplished NOTHING.
He's great on the stump complaining about America. But he's done nothing of substance. Can you name something?
Moderates/Moderate Republicans/Moderate Democrats will never pull the lever for this gentleman. Trump has a boatload of moral failings, but he still gets credit for a strong economy, and no one wants to tamper with it.
Times are good.
10
@Thomas Penn in Seattle
This again.... Bernie was an Independent while in Congress. With respect, if you know how bills are sponsored and passed in our two-party system you should understand that his seven bills is actually pretty good. The people of VT have elected him over and over again by wide margins mainly because of his OTHER accomplishments, involving amendments, committee work, filibustering, etc.. Please name an Independent congressperson who has significantly more accomplishments than Bernie has, in your eyes. Just look how the platforms of all the current democratic candidates have been shaped by this one guy.
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@carl bumba
Good points, thanks. Take a look at Angus King, an Independent, passed the Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013, that's a milestone; and I know that not because I'm a civics expert!
Vermont is an outlier politically to the rest of the country.
3
@Thomas Penn in Seattle
Thanks! That act was from a Republican bill sponsored by John Kline. (King did vote for it though.) King only had THREE bills passed (and one was local, involving Acadia National Park). VT may be an outlier to the country; but if you look at the distribution of Bernie's support in 2016 - by precinct - as well as his grass-roots donor base then and now it's clear he's the candidate with the broadest support in the country, except maybe Trump.
6
Here's how bad it is.
Sanders supporters are crowing about a "lead" in the polls that represents support of around 25% of Democrats, c/o a divided field where 75% of the voters prefer some other candidate. And that's among the "friendlies" in the primary.
Trump is pushing a narrative of Morning in America and Bernie is talking about the minimum wage and people living in their cars. He talks a lot about the "working class" but little about actual work. Instead, he offers social welfare and handouts.
And by now we should know, no one's keeping score on Trump. Voters hear what they want to hear.
How can the party that once represented working America be so out of touch as to not see the problem with this?
5
Sanders has the largest percentage of Independent voters among all candidates. He can win unless centrists stay home. Even when he does win, I don't expect the NYTimes to cover him fairly .
54
I love the ring of, "President Bernie Sanders".
Finally, a government that works for all people and not just the donor class.
Go Bernie, go!
65
I, for one, can’t wait! I know it’s still a long shot and even if Bernie wins he’ll face an uphill battle in the Senate (even from Democrats), but imagine what it would be like to have the flexibility to choose a career or job prospect without worrying about your health insurance? Imagine not having to postpone parenthood indefinitely because you don’t know when you’ll be able to afford it? Imagine not having to base your choice of neighborhood on the schools available to your children because most schools would be well funded? And don’t even get me dreaming about college! These things that are standard entitlements in many other countries I can only dream about tentatively...
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@Ro
Elizabeth Warren has extolled all of the same ideas but has plans to boot!
Oh look...this *daily* article again...
It really seems like the NYT is trying as hard as it can to divide the Democratic electorate and get Trump re-elected .
Shame on you!
129
@R
I never would have thought so, but looking back the last 4 years, I think you're right. And why not. More Trump means more drama to report on.
27
@Morgan -- "More Trump means more drama to report on."
Probably. But no actual Winning.
On the other hand -- just think if this NYT could report some Good News, for a change:
NO one died this year for lack of Healthcare;
NO familes went Bankrupt and lost their Homes because one of them got sick;
A million people started new businesses, or bought homes or started Familes because crushing Student Debt was no longer crippling both them, and our Economy.
Woudn't you rather write those stories, New York Times? I bet we'd prefer to Read them.
2
@R NH results:
Sanders and Warren 35%
Buttigieg, Klochubar, Biden 53%
Yup, Sanders sure has the majority of Democrats with him!
I cannot believe that anyone who lived through the last few election cycles could seriously contend that Sanders’ record makes him vulnerable to Republican slander. The Republicans depicted Obama as a socialist who hated America. They depicted John Kerry as a liar & a coward. They have no scruples, and a big enough megaphone to make a chunk of the population believe whatever they say. They could turn Saint Francis into a Stalin in the minds of their Fox-news-addled voters.
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@Martin I also can't believe they don't appreciate what Sanders could do to disrupt Trump's image as a strong man fighting for the common American man and woman.
17
@GRW
I suspect a number of them will vote for Trump - especially if their stocks are doing well.
4
@Martin I put forth a similar argument with many people. Do people seriously think they don't have ammo against the other Democratic candidates? Do they think that if Bloomberg, Biden, Warren, Buttigieg, Klobuchar, etc. were elected, the Republicans would magically cooperate or be less stubborn? The only thing that will happen is we will get even less than we need because moderate D's will put forth proposals that are ALREADY compromises. (See Obama.) They seem to have missed out on Negotiation 101: always ask for more than you want at the beginning because it's highly likely you have to bargain down.
9
I'm consistently amazed at how Sanders is attacked by the NY Times and other 'mainstream' media outlets. Same thing as 2016, and see how that worked out? The fear-mongering about Bernie Sanders being the nominee is little more than the moaning death-rattle of the bourgeoisie. If the Republicans can put forth Donald Trump (of all people), can't the Democrats support someone who, for decades, has advocated for the working class over the capitalists? Or are both parties merely an illusion of choice?
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@Mark
My amazement matches yours. The New York Times cannot and will not give Sanders fair coverage.
1
Hello President Sanders. Goodbye Wall Street and good bye healthcare insolvencies from out of control medical greed ... oh yeah, and good bye student loans
73
"The 'Bernie Bro' narrative" has NOTHING to do with the gender or race of his supporters. It has to do with those among his supporters who refuse to vote for anyone but Bernie, who helped spread (quite likely with Russian backing) the false narrative that the 2016 Dem primaries were somehow rigged against Bernie. That narrative ignores the swarms of African American voters in the South who overwhelmingly supported Hillary, thus giving her a lead Bernie supporters elsewhere could not overcome. We need to let go of this false narrative and "vote blue no matter who" -- Bernie, Bloomberg, or just about anyone in between.
12
I'm consistently amazed at how Sanders is attacked by the NY Times and other 'mainstream' media outlets. Same thing as 2016, and see how that worked out? The fear-mongering about Bernie Sanders being the nominee is little more than the moaning death-rattle of the bourgeoisie. If the Republicans can put forth Donald Trump (of all people), can't the Democrats support someone who, for decades, has advocated for the working class over the capitalists? Or are both parties merely an illusion of choice?
28
Is this Fox News or the times?
Your corporate bias is showing; disappointing,
135
@Casi Stop with the false comparisons and get a grip on reality. A large majority of Democratic voters are currently splitting their support among non-Sanders/Warren candidates, but you would think from the NYT comments that Sanders is way out in front. He's not. He is supported by a fairly small percentage of the overall electorate. If his supporters want others to get on board with him they had better get some humility.
8
@Casi
Yes! Let's see some Democratic infighting!
C'mon brokered convention! I need some Debbie Wasserman-Shultz in my life!
Conundrum, I despise Trump but also despise the thought of open borders...
8
@Roberta
And who is it that advocates open borders?????
10
@Roberta
Obama had illegal immigration under control. Even with his policy of destroying families and jailing toddlers the numbers went through the roof under Trump.
I’m so sick of The DNC, CNN, and The NY Times doing everything in their power to undermine Bernie Sanders. Their all starting to look as bad as the Republicans-the will of the people doesn’t matter anymore.
140
@Jim
The Socialist candidate has a solid base.
However, tonight in NH he barely squeaked by in a state that he was supposed to sweep.
Pete and Amy came out of nowhere to show us that America will not elect a Socialist who calls for a Revolution.
We will support someone who absolutely, positively can destroy Trump and take back the Congress.
We want our country back and cannot risk 4 more years of the psychopath.
Mike will get it done.
Count on it.
1
You forgot MSNBC
1
@Jim
Fox News and Putin want him to win so Trump can say as he did at the SOTU that he will defeat socialism.
1
Could the NYT sort out roughly how many millions of dollars in Bernie's campaign chest come from Republican donors and Russian donors?
7
The pundits you choose are DC and Manhattan types, who are not used to being around real heroes like Bernie Sanders. Most voters don't much care about labels: "socialist" as an insult passed its prime after the 1950's, and has declined every since.
Bernie is actually the only pragmatic candidate. Avoid bloody and useless wars. Tax the rich. Make health care cheaper by making private health insurance disappear. Prosecute drug pusher corporations who continue to sell us all manner of opium and painkillers that have no health value, but plenty of hazard. Treat all Americans humanely.
The fact that we elected Trump, even if we cheated, should drive the best of us to action this time around. We will no longer tolerate violent and greed crazed corporate puppets in our government. If that happens, we return to being what America once was- in 1894, 1926, and 1969.
46
"For the first time Sanders leads Biden in a national poll."
Well, about time. What took so long?
The only time Biden made sense and was right was when he an attendee at his South Carolina town hall and told him to " Go and vote for Trump."
Bernie versus Trump offers the best choice for November. No other candidate comes close.
28
@Bhaskar
correction:
The only time Biden made sense and was right was when he admonished an attendee at his South Carolina town hall..
1
Bernie desperately wants cult followers even if means he will ensure Trump's reelection. He hates all aspects of capitalism and wants a revolution. Unfortunately we already are in the midst of a GOP revolution to overthrow the Constitution. Bernie would be perfectly happy if he recreates the violence at the Democrat convention in 1968.
6
@LVG
What in the world makes you think that Bernie would be happy about violence?
@LVG Odd. Does Bernie run the Chicago police? Or was it was the Russians who beat up peaceful protestors. Them or the Chinese. Or the Nicaraguans. Or the Venezuelans. Or did I miss the big poster of Bernie decked out in police riot gear waving his night stick, and viciously attacking defenseless young people -- that must be why the young favor him.
Such endless skepticism and passive/aggressive disdain about Bernie Sanders coming from the NYT. The first three voices presented are clearly against Sanders --why these three first?
And the articles for further reference, the first Atlantic article "Bernie can't win" was written by Bush's speech writer. Is this even-handed reporting? I don't think so! People say Bernie Sanders is unrealistic and voting for him is unrealistic --I say the old way of corporatism is unrealistic!
112
You mean “President Donald Trump.” Because just like in 2016, that’s what The Bern and his supporters are going to give us.
17
@Mike Bernie is actually so unelectable, that even if he loses the nomination to someone else, them losing the general is would still be his fault.
Best thing that could happen to this country.
56
Establishment Democrats are not afraid that Bernie cannot win, they are afraid of losing their own power. It is 2020, not 1990, but the moderate “Republican Lite” democrats are still living in the past. Bernie’s proposals are no different than ones considered the norm in places like Denmark, Norway, France, Germany, and Sweden. Is it any wonder that Europeans think that Americans are backward?
206
@Barbara Dayan
I don't know if you've noticed but a wide swath of Europe is in open rebellion to the leftist European policies of the last three decades. I would stop using European politics as a counterpoint to how conservative we are here in America.
Europe's left overplayed their hand. You are advocating to send us on our way to making the same mistake.
9
When people get backed tightly enough into a corner, they eventually will fight back no matter the odds. Unfortunately, it may come to that if we continue down our current economic path. Greed is the real culprit.
17
As an establishment Democrat I can say that I am afraid he cannot win and we will have Trump for four more years.
9
I am an erstwhile Republican, currently a registered Libertarian. Trump is awful. The end results of socialism are hideously evil. My mother was the sole member of her family to evade a lifetime of soul-crushing servitude to the socialist state behind the Iron Curtain after World War II. She was fortunate to marry an American GI in postwar Europe. She observed years later that Americans don't know how good they have it. This remains as true today. Feckless American youth of the early twenty-first century, their political opinions shaped by aggressively leftist professors and entirely ignorant of history, need only look toward today's Venezuela to see the latest example of a society ruined by socialism. In the coming election, I will vote for the non-socialist Democrat with the best chance of dislodging Trump. That Democrat will be neither Sanders nor Warren. Socialist statism was the murderous scourge of the last century. It is beyond sad that many Americans are oblivious to the evil that lies at the end of the socialist road.
5
Finland, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Sweden . . . why not mention those places if you're going to mention Venezuela? Venezuela ceased to be a democracy years ago. It has no relevance in this discussion.
77
@Stolid Citizen Bernie Sanders position is more akin to the socialist-democracies of late 20th C. Europe, not Stalinist totalitarianism. I too am against repeating history, but the nationalist, autocratic presidency of Trump and many European countries, is closer to a repeat of the causes/effects that led to Hitler & Stalin than Bernie Sander's ever could be. The analog from the past that is more accurate for Bernie Sanders is FDR's presidency and his New Deal. Consider the crossroads we are at and which path leads to a potentially better future...
45
@Stolid Citizen
"Socialism" has come to mean many different things depending on what lens the person defining it is looking through.
I don't think the version of socialism Sanders has in mind is the "murderous scourge" version. It is more like the European welfare (another fraught word) state which has as its founding principle the idea that a country's citizens should look after each other, in other words, the government acts for the common good.
Free university tuition for all who qualify to go, and universal health care are two expressions of this principle. Contrast the situation in places like Sweden against the monumental debts and inequality of access for higher education and medical care in the US. These are certainly capitalist "scourges" in their own right.
21
Sanders will win the Presidency because he can expose Trump as the counterfeit populist that he is. Trump did not win the Presidency because he promised to continue Reaganomics. He won because under-informed, desperate working-class Americans who know that our government has been captured by the rich for their pleasure put their faith in him as an outsider who would change that status quo. Despite the conventional success of this economy, the swamp has not been cleaned up. The working classes are still hurting. Wages have not substantially increased. Most working Americans are not earning a living wage. Most working Americans with children struggle to cobble together a workable childcare plan. Most working Americans are working harder than their parents did for less money. They have less vacation time than their Northern European counterparts. I could continue but you get the picture. Sanders’s agenda highlights all of these points. Trump has no answer for them. As I pointed out two years ago when his tax-cut bill first became law, Trump is a politically inexperienced businessman who benefited from working-class angst but who after his election to the Presidency became co-opted by the Republican establishment and pushed into adopting a traditional Republican economic agenda.
77
Reaganomics was just Trumpism with a charming front man. Nothing ever trickles down. It’s a debunked economic theory.
16
This Opinion piece is about 3 months behind, but yes, Bernie is going to win the nomination and then the presidency. Every real democrat will vote for him and he brings out the youth and people that somehow still call themselves independents. He has the strongest record of any candidate running and by the numbers he is the most popular politician in America.
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@Eli Goldstein
Every 'real democrat'? Give me a break.
13
@Eli Goldstein
Bernie isn't even a real Democrat. He's an independent. He is on his way to literally destroying the Democratic Party all the while requesting that they help him do it by throwing the DNC apparatus behind him.
Bust out the popcorn everyone. Wasserman-Shultz will have her moment in 2020!
6
I’m a real Democrat and I won’t vote for Bernie.
2
If Bernie had not run in 2016 Hillary Clinton would have been elected.
If Bernie is the nominee in 2020 he will again throw the election to Trump.
Bernie Sanders should drop out immediately and strongly urge his supporters to back whoever the Democratic Party nominates.
I loath Donald Trump but I am not a fan of Bernie Sanders, whose selfishness has given us the worst president in US history.
16
@Mark Esposito If Hillary had chosen Sanders as her Vice President she would be in the White House today!
1
President Bernie Sanders? Yes.
175
@Greg Gerner
As a Trump voter, I say YES! Please make the socialist Bernie Sanders your candidate.
9
@Greg Gerner
I can see the oppo research now. Trump is going to have a field day with those old college photographs and visits to Cuba. He's always been very outspoken. I can't wait to see what Americans think of all his little soundbytes.
BERNIE! BERNIE!
2
@Greg Gerner
If Sanders stays as a top choice, I want badly to see who his VP might be and who his cabinet choices will be.
1