(1) Everyone assumes their backseat predictions are correct (and few were correct in 2016, as you point out)
(2) Everyone assumes we can defeat Trump if we just pick the right formula. The truth is, that might not be the case.
(3) Approximately half of this country is insane. Trump is not the problem, he's the symptom. We just may have to accept that we live in horribly divided, proto-fascist country. Resting all of our hopes on the democratic process in that case is horribly naive.
26
A more thoughtful article than the others in today's NYT perhaps, more humble...which is refreshing, but if Bernie Sanders does turn out to be unelectable surely some of the blame must rest with the NYT, CNN and other media which seem to be doing their utmost best to detract from his success.
27
Articles by NYT columnists questioning the “electability” of Sanders should have links to articles written in 2016 by the same writers that assured voters that Hillary would certainly beat an “unelectable” Donald Trump.
30
"Et tu, Brute?"
22
One more person at the NYTimes erasing Elizabeth Warren. When was this memo sent?
23
I worry that a black man with a Muslim sounding name and little experience could ever be elected President, and he would certainly have no coattails. He'd for sure have a Republican Congress to deal with.
I also worry that a con man with an extremely shady past and a reputation for racism and misogyny could ever be elected President, and he would have no coattails. He'd for sure have a Democratic Congress to deal with.
48
Folks should research before becoming apoplectic about socialism in America.
See: https://www.vox.com/2020/1/31/21113780/bernie-sanders-socialism-electability-primaries
9
I have to laugh at those who fear Bernie Sanders because he is a “radical socialist”. Well, perhaps in the American experience that might be true but by the standards of anywhere else in the world Bernie would be considered quite moderate. Those who truly fear the sort of “socialism” that Sanders proposes should pull their children out of team sports because there too is the idea of collective action working towards a common goal. That’s how dangerous the man is when put in the larger context.
30
Sanders is an honorable, honest man who speaks for the masses that were abandoned by the Democratic Party when they went after the wealthy donors. He has done a tremendous job of organizing and has a very strong and loyal base, There is a good argument that he was robbed of the nomination in 2016.
If he is able to go to the convention with a near majority of the delegates needed to win, it would be a disaster for the party to reject him. His supporters would not support the nominee in large numbers and there may be a mass movement to a third party that would guaranty an authoritarian dictatorship in this country.
Over the next 8 months the criminals in the administration and their republican cult lackeys will continue their criminal ways. Sanders can win if the party gets fully behind him and Bloomberg continues softening him with body blows. Bloomberg and the Democratic Party need to work hard on the Senate as well. The republicans have to be destroyed.
97
Mr. Kristof, like other Times columnists, can worry about Bernie Sanders being the Democratic nominee all he wants (though worrying is not very healthy for anyone), but there is nothing he can do about it if Sanders, in the Democratic primaries, gets a majority of the delegates come next summer's Milwaukee convention. At this point, he is likely to have a plurality of the delegates since his supporters -- like them or hate them -- seem to be the most steadfast, and he has money and momentum. What will be the result if Sanders has, say 40% of the delegates he needs, and the next candidate has only 25% or 20% but is nominated in the kind of deal we saw in old-time conventions (when the party required a two-thirds vote), as in 1924 with 100-plus ballots at Madison Square Garden? What will happen if, as in Chicago in 1968, the party ignores candidates who won primaries and instead nominates a candidate who won no primaries (as with Hubert Humphrey) or very few?
The Democratic primary voters will vote for whomever they choose, and pundits are powerless to affect the outcome.
7
"...Supporters of Sanders believe that he would greatly increase turnout, but there was no sign of that in Iowa or New Hampshire..."
Indeed. And as we all know, the only states that matter are Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. True, those states have more than their fair share of low-income, disaffected whites that make up the bulk of Bernie's base. But many of those folks consider themselves centrists. I can't see Bernie inspiring those folks to turn out. And he has completely alienated suburban women and Black people, who are important constituencies.
The biggest problem with Bernie, and what we saw in IA and NH, is that he has a hard ceiling of support. Not what you want in a nominee.
101
@Cousy
How is it possible that you would think IA and NH are evidence that Bernie has a hard ceiling of support? Do you honestly believe Bernie is going to hemorrhage voters just because many people voted for other Democrats first? That's breathtakingly cynical.
Bernie has the largest support among nonwhites, 8 more points than Biden in a recent Monmouth University poll (who has the second largest support of all other candidates). A majority of Bernie's supporters are women, not men.
Hilary lost the three states you mentioned because she failed to inspire voters to come out... and Bernie won two of them in the 2016 primary.
46
And Klobuchar and Bloomberg have a chance of increasing voter turnout?
The (grassroots) excitement of their bases overwhelms me.
28
@Cousy
All politicians have a hard ceiling of support. Bernie's is around 60%, which is higher than anyone else running on either side of the aisle.
28
A moderate lost 2016. Why do people continue to believe that a moderate will prevail in 2020?
381
Clinton lost (barely) because people didn't think Trump could possibly win so they stayed home to express their displeasure. This time around, we all know Trump can win and more people will show up. Has nothing to do with Clinton being a moderate.
52
@woodyrd
Not to mention that Clinton was running with both her own baggage and Bill's. A Democrat who was not Hilary Clinton, running with the same platform, would have won.
44
@woodyrd If the turnout in Iowa (and even New Hampshire) is anything to go by, I don’t think your point stands up to reason.
Trump has a 49% approval rating. I travelled all around Trump country on my motorcycle just after the election. People were patting themselves on the back for a job well done and just assumed I felt the same way.
Clinton lost because the country has turned to progressive politics (on both the right and the left). Trump understood that. And Sanders does too. The Democrats will lose unless Sanders is the nominee, it’s that simple.
29
Those terrible far left Democrats!
They want universal healthcare like all the other first world countries.
They want to continue public education with two years of trade school or community college.
We are the richest industrial country on the planet GDP / capita. But we have poverty those other countries don't and the highest incarceration rate in the world.
Those terrible liberals want to protect the air and water and stop global warming.
They want to give women birth control so they don't have unwanted pregnancies and don't have to consider having an abortion.
Shades of Karl Marx!
We pay around $11,000 per capita for healthcare compared to the $5,500 the other first world countries pay.
They get universal coverage and we have parts of the US with infant mortality rates of a second world country. Seriously, look it up.
With the savings to healthcare, we could pay for the additional two years of education.
And maybe that would decrease poverty and crime. Then we would get more people working and paying taxes instead of paying for welfare and prison.
I can't believe how far left these new Democrats want to take us.
What would the Founding Fathers be saying today?
In the meantime, the 2017 Republican tax bill just increased the deficit.
Again.
The deficit is increasing from $600 Billion to $1 Trillion.
To be paid for by ourselves, our children, and grandchildren. Every Republican senator voted for it. Not one Democratic Senator voted for it.
513
@Independent Democrats tell us that there is nothing wrong with deficit spending. Paul Krugman says we are too sensitive about debt and running deficits.
5
@Independent I don't think any of us is disagreeing that those are admirable goals. The point of the article is how is he going to accomplish any of those things? We need a Democratic majority in the Senate. Even if we get that, there aren't enough Democratic Senators behind those goals, especially the ones like Doug Jones who are from conservative states. Presidents can't get anything done if they can't get Congress behind them.
23
@Independent
All of the Democratic candidates agree on these aims. And, more likely than not, all of the Democratic candidates, including Mr. Sanders, would be able to get roughly the same amount done, depending on their own governing skills and on whether or not they can take the Senate.
They all agree with everything except for the deficit thingy. Obviously the trillion dollar deficit caused by the Trump tax-cut-for-the-rich is unacceptable. But in and of themselves deficits are a healthy and normal aspect of responsible government finance. Oh and the deficit is and will be much larger than what you say here. The tax-cut-for-the-rich alone will be responsible for a three trillion deficit over the next ten years. That's what the Republicans mean when they say it will pay for itself.
17
Under the guise of worrying about electability, Nicholas Kristoff, sadly, shows us his true colors. He is against Bernie Sanders for the same reason most of the people who write for the NY Times are, because he might have to pay slightly higher taxes or lose his health care plan. All his past columns focusing on the poor, the dispossessed, the weak, the down trodden both here and especially abroad, are shams.
Perhaps Mr. Kristoff has never heard of the "Overton window". When the public is asked questions that show the real benefits they would reap and the outrageously unequal country we live, they always choose the sort of policies and platform on which Bernie Sanders is running. This has been true for 40 years. The problem is those people don't have any money to contribute to democratic party members and Wall Street does so of course, the democrats go where the money is and then do the bidding of big business.
President Obama was in office for 8 years, the first two of them he had majorities and yet he never touched the Federal minimum wage which is still a shocking $7.25/hour. Who could live on that wage? No one. But Bernie Sanders was excoriated by HRC for pushing to raise it to $15. Mr. Kristoff should be ashamed of himself.
237
@lzolatrov I think you might have missed the point. I have the same concerns as he does. I do not think my parents or their friends, who are Democrats, would welcome Bernie as a candidate.
37
@lzolatrov I don't understand how, on the basis of Kristof's fear that Bernie can't get elected, you can proclaim that "All his past columns focusing on the poor, the dispossessed, the weak, the down trodden both here and especially abroad, are shams." You are in effect claiming to know his mind and his heart, which is hard enough to do even with friends and family, let alone with journalists who (I'll take the liberty of assuming) you have never even met.
22
@lzolatrov
You aren't painting an accurate picture of Obama. He had a little problem called the Great Recession to deal with, which was on the verge of becoming another Great Depression. You folks have no idea how bad things could have become. It took everything he had and everything Pelosi had and everything Sanders himself had for that matter to get the ACA passed.
11
Yes, this all makes a lot of sense. Voters rejected Hillary because they thought she was too cozy with Wall Street and did not represent their interests, so now they are going to throng to a man worth $50 billion who looks upon them like someone in a 90th floor NYC penthouse would the "little people" scurrying at street level. In the Gallup poll 49% are now happy living in Trump's America, but before we become too smug at their ignorance, there are millions who will vote for Bloomberg on the basis of an onslaught of TV commercials and nothing more, as if he's toothpaste. Like Trump, he can't even be bothered to listen to the voters he hopes to represent directly; Trump addresses them from the center of an arena and Bloomberg from a studio. We're just a nation of absolute dolts at this point.
179
@stan continople I actually like Bloomberg based on my experience living and working in NYC while he was mayor. He was highly effective. Imagine a liberal sanctuary City like New York elected him 3 times. We are practical and he is solid on liberal issues as well as an excellent administrator. Scandal free, too. I don't agree with everything he did, but overall he was a huge success. I really believe he, not Bernie, had the ability to undo a lot of Trump damage.
16
It’s simply not true that Bloomberg hasn’t been engaging communities in person.
14
@stan continople Voters didn't reject Hillary, the electoral college did. Hillary beat Trump in the popular vote.
9
Nicholas Kristof has spent decades puling on about inequality and social injustice and climate change. But when push comes to shove, and the American people are clamoring for substantive, structural change and a break with a status who that has left the richest 26 individuals holding as much wealth as the poorest 3.8 billion, he ends up here--coming down firmly on the side of the establishment. Kobuchar received a "D" from the Center for Biological Diversity for her horrific environmental record. Her record as a prosecutor of African-Americans was dismal. One could go on. It's clear, though, when liberals, Mnuchin, and the Blank Fiend of Goldman Sachs are all on the same page, we are being given a rare glimpse into the ugly and corrupt nature of the System as it now stands. We had all better hope Bernie wins.
1076
@John Sanbonmatsu I don’t disagree, but I wonder: what would Bernie get done with McConnell still sitting in his seat as Master Obstructionist?
43
@Avi Black What any of these moderates get done with McConnell still sitting in his seat as Master Obstructionist? I can tell you one thing, if you start negotiations already conceding to many points of other side, you are not going to get very far. However, if you start negotiations without having first made concessions, you are in a stronger position to get at least some of what you want.
164
@Avi Black, the question is what does a centrist get done even with congress on their side? I can name one thing: somewhat less conservative judges. That's it. And then they generally lose control of at least one house at the midterms anyway and get to blame that for their lack of movement on progressive issues (that every democrat will promise to get those Bernie votes) on congress. The fact is that most of these democratic socialist ideas are actually popular. Most people don't want our neighbors going bankrupt because of healthcare costs or having crippling debt to go to college. We're also not so keen on having millions of people living in poverty, including many who have to live in tents on street corners. And then there's climate change! Sure, let's have another so-called moderate, a politician that in any other democratic society would be considered a conservative, at the helm. Why not leave an uninhabitable world to our grandchildren?
146
Whew! My head is spinning from all you op-ed divinators doing your thang!
You just sell your tout sheets all this horse race season long, but electability is no parlor game of intellectual crystal ball,
You gotta know the stamina, the stride, the sinew strong, will we be cheering her or him on when they round the final bend or ripping our stubs up just when the race is nigh run?
Electability is an active, dynamic quality of a politician’s drive to win, resilience, fire-in-the-belly, adaptability to the battle course at hand, and all their armory measured and to hand.
Hillary blew it in the last 2 weeks by her flagging energy level drained in her hubris of the moment and her chanting Greek retinue resting off their guard.
Who truly in their guts must be President?
5
What were Hillary's coattails? Dems went for the "safe bet", but even winning more votes across the country did not move the Hill needle, in a year that was heavily in Dems favor for the Senate seats. Lousy bet.
Come to think...safe was the word in 04, 88, 84, 80, too. In fact, the only time since LBJ that Dems won the Prez with over 50% was the si, se puede 08 campaign, which was run as left (no matte how the admin worked after).
Safe bet seems the sure loser. Particularly against a GOP incumbent.
Anyone running for The Hill has the great position of running against a 2nd term for Caligula, but also as a check on a Dem Prez. Taking back Constitutional powers. Right ON!
Senate? Collins gone. AZ & CO Dem. Forget Jones... Get to work.
What deep red state Dem delegates should do, as they did not in 16, is defer to support the choice, if clear, of the Blue States.
Finally...not Warren anymore? What does Klobuchar say she will do, aside from win in Red regions? I only hear boilerplate triangulation. She will lose because...
...she's boring.
But at least she isn't bogus. Like the Dukakis sounding guy who wraps himself in fuzzy feel good wording
Finally...si, NO PUEDE didn't win 08...
3
Nick you can recommend any till you are blue in face. Better would be to wait and see what the rest of the country thinks, until at least Super Tuesday. Then revisit your recommendation, ok?
We have just had one caucus one primary, it’s too early to start hyperventilating. A lot can happen between now and November. Unicorn dreaming, William Barr could be impeached? And so on..
3
I might suggest it is time for the Democratic party to go bold and take the risk. We've had our fill of milk toast candidates, Hillary, Kerry, Mondale, Dukakis with only Obama and Bill Clinton breaking thru to succeed. All have been moderates, the track record is less than stellar (particularly the Republican light aspects of those who managed to actually win the White House). Nobody believe Ronald Reagan would win, same for Trump (save for Michael Moore, and he is an avid Sanders supporter). I say go for it and support the candidate who wins the nomination. We need bold change and perhaps Bernie can make such happen.
2
I lived in Vermont for 20 years. There is a list of people that have underestimated Bernie Sanders since Nick interviewed him in 1981. It is a long list.
5
Do not compare Bernie Sanders with Jeremy Corbyn. Corbyn didn’t lose because he was a socialist. He lost because he was a dithering second-rate politician who alienated much of his own party and constituents. A Bernie Sanders socialist could easily have beaten Boris Johnson. Whether or not a democratic socialist can win in America is an open question. I’d certainly take one over a president who kowtows to the Russians and shows no respect for our Constitutional democracy.
5
The time is now for a Sanders Revolution. The people aren't going to wait any longer. So many issues have become critical and require a Sanders presidency to rectify. As has been true in the past, I don't believe many of the Old Guard political followers, such as Mr. Kristof, as much as I respect him, are as aware as our new generation of Americans. I believe I am in tune with the electorate, even at age 57. I could be wrong, but I pray I'm not.
5
@Kurt By the way, I also like Amy Klobuchar as a candidate. But I don't believe she is better than Bernie, or that she would be a successful candidate against Trump.
4
Greens plus the kids in an energetic base... Bernie would get all of the green party vote too. Bloomberg won't get them like Bernie will.
5
NO!!
An interesting point from the New Hampshire Primary is that neighboring Socialist Stooges Sanders (VT) and Warren (MA) garnered only 35% of the total votes.
Pretty much seems as if their outreach fell on their "peoples' collective" faces.
CTW
1
The idea that Klobuchar can beat Trump is delusional.
8
I agree that senator Sanders would not have the coattails to turn the senate blue. However, what Democratic presidential candidate would? Doug Jones won in Alabama because Republicans nominated a pedophile. That is not going to happen this time. Kansas? Kentucky? Nebraska? Louisiana? Oklahoma? Democrats have no shot in these states or any other red state to win a senate seat. Not now or anytime in this decade.
4
Instead of all the negative columns why not do some research and offer suggestions to Sanders on how he can accomplish the policies he is proposing. They are popular policies and all the negative reporting is ridiculous. Now offering suggestions (helpful ones) would be a change as opposed to all the early hand wringing because a DNC preferred candidate does not as yet seem to be leading the pack. Quite frankly, while I do not as yet know who I will vote for, these negative articles are turning me off the NYT. They smack of bias. I was turned off in 2015-16 and seem headed that way again.
7
Where is Senator Warren in all of this? Why do you not even mention her?
2
I'm not affiliated with any political party. (Independent) and vote moderately, conservative. Looking at the Democratic choices so far the Only one that I can get behind and vote for at this point is Amy Klobuchar. I think there are a lot of swing voters that would agree with my assessment.
I think Kristof has hit the nail on the head with his assessment and really hope that Amy will be the one on the ballot to vote for in the upcoming election.
3
The 2020 Democratic presidential candidate must win the electoral college votes of all the states that Hillary won in 2016, plus win in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania (the easiest current prospects - more likely than Ohio, North Carolina, Florida or Arizona). That would allow the Democrats to prevail. Is there any chance Bernie could win all those states? I don't think so - he would have to keep the independent voters Hillary attracted, plus add additional minority, independent and/or Democratic voters in additional states. I believe the only candidates who could do that are moderate ones. The increased turnoun that Bernie supporters claim would occur if he were on the ballot is unlikely to materialize. The turnout in the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries was not higher than usual, and higher voter turnout failed to translate to a victory for Beto O'Rourke, Tracy Abrams, or Andrew Gillum in 2018. Bernie is not only unlikely to win, but could lead to a Republican takeover of the House. Just think of the harm Trump will do in a second term if the Republicans have total control of Congress!
That said, I think this editorial underestimates Amy Klobuchar. She has more strengths than merely being strong in swing states. She has actually accomplished quite a bit in her 10 years in the Senate. Neutral sources rate her as an effective senator. Bernie, however, has accomplished little in his 30 years in the Senate and is rated as ineffective by objective sources.
1
@jaklayman
So many people remarking "I don't think so" and " I believe" and assertions of "Unlikely" out there these days.
And yet, there dozens and dozens of state-specific, candidate-specific, general-election polls out there to look to for concrete data.
And in addition to the obvious fact that he is responsible for moving the party back to the left and shaped the platforms of every single Democratic candidate who've all adopted his positions, there is plenty of concrete information about Senator Sanders' achievements we can rate for ourselves.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/2/12/1483928/-What-has-Bernie-ever-accomplished
2
I remember in 2016, you said Hillary was more electable. It goes to show you that neither you or anyone else knows what electability means. We have to stop talking about electability because we will lose the election to Trump trying to outsmart the electorate. Trust your instincts and vote for the one you think would make an amazing president.
8
I, too, was a 12/13 year old volunteering in McGovern's campaign. My political experience began at age 8 in RFK's campaign, and I volunteered consistently in campaigns through my law school years (running a national nonprofit, I do not have as much time anymore). When I was bright-eyed about the political process, it was more about ideaology.
As much as my views align with Sanders' (and Warren's), I don't see him winning. His views are too progressive for the majority of this country. Even if he does win, and the Senate gets more Democrats, it is highly unlikely that Congress will pass Medicare for all, free college tuition, and other so-called socialist agendas.
One aspect of Sanders that I don't care for is his method of speaking, which is more like shouting. He seems angry. After Trump, the country needs someone who is less divisive with a calm demeanor - someone like Mayor Pete. It is unfortunate, that he has minimal support from the African American community. His age and experience won't matter with someone that intelligent. Plus, we all know that presidents and members of Congress rely heavily on advisors and aides.
I don't care for Klobuchar at all, even more so after reading about how she treats her staff. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/22/us/politics/amy-klobuchar-staff.html. Anyone who is thinking of supporting her needs to read this article and others about her abusive and demeaning behavior., which she excuses as being "hard" on her staff.
3
Things to Come
Kerching, not so much, cash flow diminished,
Late income bump per Bern is diminished;
Now down to business, gotta hide what we’ve got
Overseas in a lock box, my own bumper crop -
Safety first - must conceal all hidden assets
Wherever I can …in waterproof caskets
To exhume, I’ll wager, in the fullness of time
For distribution – will sealed and signed;
Bernie’s a snoop with high moral fervor
Who’ll punish the rich, act the disturber
Of rich lives and lifestyles, banking on hate
To snatch and retrieve what was once on our plate;
Raise the white flag; there’s no pity for you,
The election’s decided, it’s too late to sue.
3
I think that St. Bernie and the Sanderistas seriously better stop treating every analysis as a criticism, and every criticism as an attack, and every attack as an example of neolibcorporatistselloutism.
A primary, folks, is supposed to get at weaknesses as well as strengths. It’s supposed to make candidates stronger in a sort of trial by fire. It’s spozed to give voters a chance to see what’s there and make an intelligent choice. When you flip out and start screaming every time your guy takes a hit, what you’re doing is attacking that whole idea. Especially if you do it in ways that really can’t be distinguished from trump and Trumpism.
Sorry if you don’t like this. But Sanders has some ‘splainin to do:
1. What EXACTLY is his Medicare plan? What does it offer, and I mean the details? What’s the plan for getting 150 million or so Americans to give up their $10-15 grand in employer bennies, accept higher taxes, and take a gov plan instead?
2. What EXACTLY is wrong with our trade pacts? What’s the plan on limiting Chinese expansionism, since we trashed TPP?
3. How will we get back into the Paris Accords? The JCPOA?
4. What’s the theory on NATO? What is our plan on Brexit?
5. What do we need to do on infrstructure? Not the pieties....I want to see plans.
Don’t bother chanting platitudes. Don’t tell me that St. Bernie will wave a wand. Take it down a couple notches, and gimme some details.
Because otherwise, you’re just Trumping.
11
@Robert
I hate to do the what aboutism. But seriously, the questions you ask aren't addressed by buttigieg/klobuchar/bloomberg either. And what relevance does brexit have to this election? Also, where is the comparison to trumpism? Where is the racism? Where is the hate? Where is the rampant misogyny?
4
If he's the frontrunner maybe you should think about getting behind him. I mean, if you want to get rid of Trump.
9
So Trump punishes the twin brother of a decorated Army Officer, causes a career prosecutor to resign from the Justice Department, attacks both a sitting Federal Judge and a juror in the same case, BUT YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT BERNIE SANDERS???
10
Logic for dummies:
The candidate who wins the democrat nomination for president has the best chance of beating Trump. Who else would have a better chance of beating Trump. A candidate who doesn't win the democratic nomination.
7
You talk about someone that is a do-er, rather than just a talker. You never mention Warren. Why?
7
Argument after explanation after just name it. Whats strikes me though- me and my one vote- is how weird it is to see this second guessing and hand wringing over Bernie - the most established candidate- except Biden whose established credentials are totally erased because he always looses. And especially in the NY Times- I have no idea where Mr Kristof was last race- but the Times itself has a serious track record with dissing Sanders. They need to come clean because its definitely looking like group think over there. Here. Everywhere when you throw Main Stream Media in the discussion.
8
If Bernie were to win we’ll all feel the burn in our pocketbooks!
5
"That said Sanders raises some red flags." No, Nicholas, not "red flags" --"Red Christo Central-Park-sized banners".
2
What? No mention of Elizabeth Warren regarding electability? Have you counted her out already? I recall the Times Editorial Board endorsed Klobuchar and Warren.
3
I'd have to agree somewhat with James Carville. Democrats need to recognize that bringing change is not about electing a person for a single office but rather creating and sustaining a movement for electing a group of like minded office holders. This is true locally, statewide, and nationwide.
In 2018, the majority of Democrats who won midterm elections were moderates. I am sure that they had support from dissatisfied republicans.
Another thing, do you think republicans and their pal Putin like the democratic infighting? You can bet on it.
My no. 1 priority is to elect a new president (I'd vote for Mitt Romney if he could defeat Trump). So whomever gets the Democratic nomination will get my vote.
But please don't think and vote "your candidate" or bust. Not voting is a vote for the status quo. If you have spent your time, money, and passion for "your candidate", is it too much to ask for follow through?
1
Bernie Sander is wining! He is the leading candidate. He can help turn the country around and take it away from the plutocrats and corporation who have stolen it from the citizens.
We understand that The NYTimes is greatly influenced by Wall Steet and the likes of Goldman Sachs and that you folks are ripping that we the citizens might take our Republic back.
Never-the-less Bernie is winning!
7
As a Sanders supporter I really liked this piece. It was clear-eyed about the potential pratfalls of his candidacy without being an unfair hit piece.To Sanders’ left-leaning detractors, I say that a lot of the language used to describe him (at this point at least, with a few viable candidates left) is vague and speculative. People don’t know Sanders yet per se, they only know what is said about him (and the doubt expressed about his viability) on cable news — the talk surrounding him more than the substance of what he outlines. If the field is winnowed down with Sanders in front, we’re going to see his message come into sharper focus. It will be clearer to voters. And the common sense approach of his policies (by the standards of the rest of the modern west, at least) will stand in sharp relief to Trump’s corruption as well as the GOP’s favoring of hyper-capitalism over everyday Americans. Voters will see him not as far-left, but as — unlike Trump — a true populist with plans, dignity and principles who has meaningful strategies to address the grievances that Trump stirred up but has done nothing to help. His campaign has already started telegraphing this strategy with the “we already have socialism, but only for the rich” line. Sanders will face GOP propaganda but so will any candidate (even Klobuchar). Trump paints the party with a broad brush and it would be silly to concede anything to his rhetoric. The only question: will the center-left media validate these attacks?
6
I would be quite happy with either Sanders or Warren, the two most progressive candidates, but will probably vote for whoever the Democratic Party nominates.
I agree that whatever candidates want, they -need- the support of 2 houses of Congress. Kristof's description of "coattails" creates a tradeoff - between a more progressive candidate less likely to get 2 houses, and a less progressive candidate more likely to get 2 houses. And, like most tradeoffs, the ideal point is somewhere in the middle, not one of the extremes. Yes, that does suggest Klobuchar or Buttigieg, not Sanders, Warren or Biden.
However, this is not the only perspective.
We also face two major, existential threats, not just as Americans, but as a species: Climate change and its rapidly increasing rate, and the continued existence and spread of nuclear weapons.
We also face problems which are big and growing, but, however many people they will kill, do not threaten our existence as a species: Extremes of wage and wealth inequality, worsened by tax cuts that balloon our debt. Inadequate and expensive medical care. Upcoming exhaustion of social security, and an aging population with inadequate pensions. A decaying infrastructure, with water, energy, and transportation networks each needing trillions.
We need candidates who can deal with both the existential and the non-existential problems. Their complexity and magnitude suggests that we need one of the two progressive candidates.
5
This, we the voting public do know; Sanders is a much better [human being] than the bellicose, irascible, vindictive, and soulless Trump. Trump's strategy is to feed his base raw meat (xenophobia) and make immigrants public enemy number one. Trump makes lies with the truth and instills fear (GOP fears his reprisal). Somehow, voters find him irresistible, and unfortunately, voters perceive him as a viable candidate in our current social/political environment. Trump could care less about the working class and blue-collar workers that so passionately support him. He is a despot, spoiled brat from Fifth Avenue that is deaf and apathetic to the sufferings of common folk. Joseph Goebbels himself could not orchestrate a better racist/dictatorship strategy for Trump. It is sad and despicable that choosing between Sanders or Trump has to be so difficult for voters. Trump has used the United States Constitution as his own personal Kleenex. Mr. Kristof, at this point, any democratic candidate would be a better choice for the future of the country. The greatness of the United States was not built by being fearful, apprehensive, and embracing uncertainty. Many voters are tired of the Left or Right rhetoric. People will ask, "Are you to the Left or to the Right?" The [people] want to move and progress FORWARD (housing, a living wage, and healthcare). We currently spend over $600 billion on the military (taxpayer money funded).
5
I wish that all of the Democrats over 60 who were permanently scarred by Nixon's defeat of McGovern in '72 would perhaps at least try to listen to those of us who cut our political teeth in the 80's. Our formative political experience was the '84 election where the Democratic establishment held off an insurgent Jesse Jackson in favor of a midwestern moderate named Walter Mondale. Paired with Geraldine Ferraro, the ticket lost every state except Minnesota and D.C., managing to get only 13 electoral college votes, four fewer than McGovern! Now, if you want to say that these two elections can't be compared, well, precisely! And neither give us any real guidance in determining what strategy will take back the White House and Congress this time.
5
I hate the "electability" argument. When you make your decision based on the opinion of political "experts", who are in turn basing their opinions on anecdotal opinions of other voters, you have lost your individual voice. The candidate who is the most electable will be known when the votes are counted, not before. Let the candidates make their pitches. Let the people decide who is best qualified. Stop trying to sway them with these political guesses that have proven so wrong in the past.
6
When we try to guess who other people might vote for, we usually get it wrong. Michael Dukakis and John Kerry come to mind. Obama became President because we had the courage to choose the candidate who inspired us, over the “safe” choice.
4
Even if the Democrats nominate John Delaney, Doug Collins will have a difficult time holding onto his seat in Alabama, particularly after his courageous vote in the impeachment trial. I don’t expect Republicans will nominate a child molester again. And flipping a senatorial seat in Kansas, even if the Republicans don’t nominate Kris Kobach, will be difficult. So laying those races at Bernie Sanders’ door seems unfair, and more likely displays political animus.
I’m also somewhat skeptical of the historical trends displayed by the Gallup poll. Sixty-seven percent of Americans would have voted for a Catholic in 1958? Then why was Kennedy’s nomination and election such a big deal? More than half the country thought a woman should be president in 1958? But ten years later they weren’t qualified for more than a secretarial job? As for the modern results, the reason socialism gets a bad rap is how the question is asked. If Gallup were to ask Americans whether they thought that an American with policies like FDR could be a effective president or if they supported policies like those of politicians in the German Social Democrats (like Willy Brandt or Helmut Schmidt or Gerard Schröder — hardly revolutionaries), I suspect the answer would be different. Simply asking the average person if they would vote for a socialist is like asking if they would vote for a child molester.
2
Bernie has promised to run as and Ind if he is not the D chosen one. That would fragment the vote and give it to Trump. Bernie's cult will sulk and either vote for Trump or not vote. Two cults do not a country make.
What is the essential difference between Trump and Bernie? Little. Both make promises with either no intention to deliver or no ability to deliver. If Bernie does win he may not carry the Senate or House as many centrists will fade away. He would be a WH sitter with no support.
Putin will smile.
1
@Harold Anthony where did you get that mistaken information that you spread without confirming its veracity?
5
Love Bernie, but given his self-imposed label as a"Socialist", (whatever that means -- so was the President who started the national electric grid almost 100 years ago; so was the President who started Social Security and Medicare), I think it's a no-go for the presidency. As a physician, the thing that worries me most is his relatively fragile health. S/P an MI on the campaign trail? No chance with a lot of us. As for Amy, I do not personally like her. (I've heard that her staff says she can be a tyrant.) I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think Bloomberg has the best chance of election. I also believe that this is a sign of how sick our electoral system -- and indeed, our democracy -- have become, that only billionaires can become President in this nation. Thankfully, it looks like Bloomberg is on "the right side" of some politically important issues (such as climate change). Nevertheless, what a sad place for our country finds itself.
2
@Katherine Perhaps you missed the recent study that demonstrated that being told sanders is a socialist had no effect voters' preference for him over Trump.
5
Thank you for your article. Personally, I am split between who can beat Trump and those candidates whose policies I support. Do I vote with common sense or do I vote with what I know to be true for our country. This is my dilemma.
Electability is hard to define with so many outside actors intervening.
2
Read the editorials form 1932 and FDR was a radical who couldn't get elected. Maybe it's time for a "radical" who might actually change things. Maybe it's an "all or nothing, do or die, what have we got to lose' moment for America. The wolves are at the door and the GOP is inviting them in. If Trump loses I can see him calling the election invalid and challenging the law to remove him. He's shown he doesn't give a hoot for the Constitution, the law or morality.
7
It appears to me that the Democrats are happily on their way to snatching defeat from the jaws of victory yet again. I guess they don't care if we get four more years of Trump. I'm not sure our country can survive four more years of him.
1
Jeremy Corbyn is abrasive, egocentric and irritating - he lost on personal qualities, xenophobia and misinformation. Remember that Boris Johnson and those prosecuting the Brexit effort told voters during the original referendum lead up that NHS (UK's National Health Service) would benefit from Brexit to the tune of some 300 million pounds. This argument would not have had any traction were it not for UK citizens' fondness for a national health system that covers everyone. Thus a conservative movement used a "socialist" argument for a "socialist" government program to gain a xenophobic and Russophilic end. Tories rule Parliament powered more by dislike of Corbyn and fear of immigrants/nationalism than by fear of Labor's policies. Gauge the potential for Sanders's movement becoming an irresistible wave less on Bernie himself or the "socialist" label (which many voters read as "like Sweden") and more on how harmonious Sanders's policy goals and philosophy are with voters who thought the populist Trump was their champion, and have been betrayed by his autocratic focus and lack of accomplishment. The factors that brought Trump to power are still largely extant: health care and drug costs, educational costs, senior care, immigration and trade. Farmers and others negatively affected by tariffs have not seen their lives and businesses improved by Trump. This is not about "socialism," but social needs. On that score, Bernie touches millions where their concerns lie.
2
Can you just get on board, please, Mr. Kristof? Your hand-wringing here indicates you would rather frighten people than make true change in a vastly unfair and broken society that is heading for an apocalypse, if we pay any mind to climate science. No situation is perfect or guaranteed, but have you seen this Sander's kind of enthusiasm and dedication before? Maybe if you and your colleagues in the media stopped worrying how you were going to get along without pharmaceutical ads and really spoke to what needs to happen to bring some semblance of equity and humanity back to our country, you might see that Sanders is the real deal. Klombacher, sigh. How could you suggest her, given your avowed viewpoints. It is so disspiriting to see this kind of cowardice.
6
What’s actually dispiriting is to see pseudo-leftists lecture their betters on how their betters better, “get on board.”
It isn’t really the socialist economic policies that create a Venezuela. It’s this kind of menacing guff.
2
It seems to me that Bernie supporters just aren't listening to unemployed or working class people who live in rural areas in the middle of the country - the ones who elected Trump, and absolutely hate Bernie, because they fear "Socialism" and "Communism" more than they fear anything else.
These rural voters in states who WIN the electoral college don't care about Bernie supporter's constant drumbeat of "oligarchs" and "corporate masters", etc. They firmly believe that Bernie will tax them to death in order to pay for welfare programs for lazy people and "illegals" and take away their freedoms, and that America will turn into Venezuela. They don't want a revolution, they just want a job, their guns and their religion. It's as simple as that. Again, they are the voters who win the electoral college.
2
@Sydney I have seen no data supporting your contentions. Have you?
4
Yes, Sydney, you're right. Bernie and his overconfident supporters are neither listening to or speaking to the majority of people in the country. They seem to forget about the huge number of devoted Trump supporters out there mobilizing in every part of the country. Big mistake that we are all going to pay a terrible price for. Why can't they learn to stop just preaching to the choir? They'll all be scratching their heads when Trump wins again and blaming everyone but themselves. I hope I'm wrong and he wins, but I'm afraid that's wishful thinking.
2
@civiletti, the stark, grim numbers are out there for anyone to see if they actually care to look.
1
My favourite ball cap reads "Bernie 2016". Bernie is one of my first list heroes. I would like him to be elected to the presidency.
But Americans are ignorant about "socialism". Most cannot differentiate between socialism and communism, to their own hurt. The Republicans are praying Bernie will be nominated because the majority of Americans will not vote for one whom they perceive as a "communist" or close to it. So the U.S. will be presided over by one who is as close to being a Fascist as makes no difference.
The greatest cause of bankruptcy is medical bills.
I pray for miracle.
Kenneth Jackson
1
@Kenneth Jackson It seems you have missed the recent study demonstrating that calling sanders a socialist does NOT reduce voters' preference for him over Trump. opinions without supporting information are not worth very much.
2
If Sanders wins, he will have already accomplished the most important thing, getting rid of Trump.
3
Though doth protest too much - Nicholas Kristof has just shown his true colors. I'm a very strong Bernie supporter, as are many of my friends and family, and we all understand that he likely won't be able to pass all the idealistic legislation he professes into law due to it having to pass through the houses. This is true for ANY of the candidtates. Come on everyone, stop being so hysterical about Bernie. BTW plenty of dems in Kansas support Bernie, according to a good friend in her 60s who lives there.
2
Every time I read a negative article about Sanders in the NYT, I immediately make another online contribution to his campaign. Kristof is another hit man for the Eastern political establishment. Sands is really the only candidate who has a chance to defeat Trump.
6
When do we start enlightening those voters who claim they won’t vote for a socialist that many of our most cherished programs are “socialist”? How many of those people, most likely older adults, love social security and Medicare? Maybe the goal should be educating them.
But the bigger issue with your column? Did you delete the Elizabeth Warren paragraph? The candidate who honestly spelled out her Medicare for All plan, with real numbers? Who actually doesn’t call herself a socialist, but who appreciates the role of regulated markets? The one with middle class roots, who was a single mom, went back to school, and raised herself by her bootstraps...with help from the government and family. She too can pull this country together if the media doesn’t write her off.
1
"Yet I keep thinking of how British voters recently overwhelmingly re-elected a deeply flawed conservative leader over a socialist challenger."
I only take exception with the above sentence in your excellent op-Ed.
Yes, the Brits re-elected the deeply flawed Boris Johnson instead of Jeremy Corbyn, a man famous for his avowed anti-Semitism.
1
At this stage of the campaign the opinions of Mr. Kristoff, other pundits, and Times commentators (including me) are, as John Nance Gardner once described the vice presidency, "not worth a bucket of warm spit".
I love Senator Sanders and in an ideal world all his policies would be implemented and the population would live happily every after.
But America is no fairytale nation. Guns, mass shootings and deaths, the largest military on the planet by orders of magnitude, illegal, barbaric and endless wars, racism, income and wealth inequality off the charts, drug and alcohol addiction and a nation in which the 40% hates the 60% and increasingly and predictably vice versa. It's all because of American capitalism. Exhibit one, the culmination of corruption and the icon of extreme capitalism: the impeached and illegitimate lawless 45.
Bernie Sanders and his fully-implemented policies seem like the perfect cure for all this. Hence his popularity.
But this is cold-hearted, capitalist, let-them-die-in-the-streets America! You cannot achieve anything as ethical and as fair as democratic socialism in a country in which the 40% are filled with anger, distrust, racism and hate. This angry 40% has disproportionate, anti-democratic clout due to the Electoral College, the anti-democratic (and anti-Democratic) US Senate, and the corruption of money in politics (legalized bribery, AKA "campaign contributions").
Bernie Sanders? You just can't get there from here. Sorry. My answer is a moderate and a highly-gifted man: Mayor Pete. I think he MIGHT be electable.
2
I would vote for a Socialist, but not one who honeymooned in Russia and owns three houses and wants to see a world with no billionaires. Doesn’t anyone remember what search was like before Google. Don’t you remember driving all over town and spending exorbitant prices before Amazon. Of course they wouldn’t mean anything if there wasn’t a Microsoft. All billionaires.
2
@Richard wow you must meet a lot of people who have never once in their youth made a mistake.
1
Trump is a divisive leader: drawing harsh us and them lines and using schoolyard bully tactics. Bernie is a divisive leader rallying people against the inequalities of our ridiculous version of capitalism. Having another 6 months of each of them rallying "their bases" into more us-and-them fervor will come at significant cultural cost to this country.
Who wants that? Who benefits most from that? Who would spend a lot of time to make sure things are aligned to make that happen? Who has shown that he has the influence to do something like that? Putin.
Why would he bother? It attacks the thing he fears most: a functional open responsible and accelerating democratic/capitalistic society, that might otherwise reasonably choose to start leaving the oil and gas in the ground, which would leave him (and the american oligarchs supporting the republican party) with nothing.
If we as Democrats get pulled into the reactionary response of choosing the opposite of Trump, at some level we're choosing the same thing as Trump. Instead of transcending (the ridiculous and the incompetent and the embarrassing), we're aligning with and re-enforcing the us-and-them narratives. We're doing what Putin would want.
I worry that 2016 was proof that Putin could name a president and that 2020 will be proof that he can name the candidates.
Don't pick a candidate who can beat Trump. If you do, you've already lost. Pick someone who can transcend the us-and-them trap. Then we all win.
3
For all the hoopla with so many Americans who are "screaming from the rooftops" about corruption, lawlessness, money in politics and a government that doesn't serve them anymore, why is that the establishment, including the DNC itself and some who comment in the NYT, go out of their way to marginilize and ostracize Bernie Sanders one of the very few high profile "uncorrupted" politicians left in America?
I guess it is because the establishment is angry that Bernie can't be bought and he won't "get in line" therefore making him EXACTLY the type of President America needs in these times of chaos and deep divisions within America.
1
And yet, you’re demanding that everybody get in line behind your very own chosen pennant.
From another country, it seems.
1
Wow, four anti-Bernie op-Ed’s in one day.
Trump is a reaction to the opposition. Maybe if the Democrats focused on topics that people care about, i.e. Bernie Sanders’ agenda, instead of hysterically chasing down every rabbit hole from the Russiagate hoax to the impeachment farce they might be able to increase their chances of removing Trump.
Democrats have to find democracy within their own ranks.
The establishment has spent an equal amount of time attacking anyone on the Left instead of uniting. Clinton and Obama seem to dislike Sanders as much as Trump.
The NYTimes is openly hostile to Bernie. MSDNC is even worse.
The Democratic Party is a now a phony "opposition" party.
Both parties are owned by warmongering self-worshipers. Trump is firmly in their pocket and they have no problem with Trump getting re-elected.
Startling the number of people who consider themselves Democrats who insist that billionaires are not a problem, racist prosecutors are "progressive" centrists, and single payer healthcare (used all over the world including in our own Medicare program) is some kind of pipe dream.
It appears Karl Rove was right about a permanent Republican majority; he just didn't mean it the way we all assumed.
4
Why isn't anyone talking about Klobuchar's dismal environmental record? According to Center for Biological Diversity Action Fund-
Klobuchar fails miserably! She got a score of 1 out of 10. The only candidate that scores 10 is Bernie Sanders.
2
Do we really think, in our heart of hearts, that ANYONE who is considering voting for Trump is really going to actually vote for a dem? I'm sorry, but what am I missing? If someone is willing to vote for the most corrupt and cruel administration in modern history then they will be convinced not to because Bloomberg is at the top of the ticket?
1
If hand-wringing and second-guessing guessing by good guys with readership, unethical journalism by corporate-controlled media, and scheming and manipulation by the DNC results in someone OTHER than Bernie losing to Trump, you can bet that the Democratic Party will be dead in the water and this country will never recover. I predict that the base will be so disaffected and jaded that an entire generation of voters will check out once and for all.
Place your bets, folks. Mine is on democracy, the front-runner, and the millions of volunteers and donors who, understanding better than most the scope of our crises and which solutions being proposed have any meaningful chance at being effective, represent the only real passion in this election season. They are your hope. Good luck getting them to work for Democratic candidates in Alabama and Kansas after doing everything in your power to keep their choice from being elected.
I’m concerned that so many followers have made Sanders the vessel for their hopes and dreams. I’m concerned that in the unlikely event he wins the WH, they have outsized expectations for what he can accomplish. When he doesn’t accomplish those things, will they become more cynical? Will they imagine conspiracies?
Of course it’s impossible to know which comments are from genuine supporters and which are from trolls. I have a neighbor who’s a Trump supporter but poses online as a Sanders supporter.
3
So your point is that given Sanders' support in swing states, he is the most electable?
1
I do not understand the sheer amount of vitriol at the author for this article, he presents his opinion in a clear and concise way. A Bernie candidacy will make a Trump re-election very possible, if not a certainty. They both appeal to the same population, and Trump simply does it better by not alienating those who have the capitalist mindset.
3
We can read and think for ourselves, and the fact is most Democratic voters, including this one, are gravely concerned about Bernie's ability to win swing states voters. If popular vote ruled this wouldn't be an issue. Perhaps in 2021, Democrats will have the good sense to pursue the National Popular Vote bill passage across the country. But, we have had enough of Trump and Republicans' detrimental effects on this country and abroad. We are not convinced that most Americans are open to the ideal of being governed by an avowed socialist even though he is social socialist as opposed to a corporate socialist, which most American are.
Bernie's stance on Medicare for all and open borders is too extreme; I don't want to trade one extreme for another.
Furthermore, Kristof is one of the most objective and fair journalists in the nation. If he is concerned, we all should be.
6
"Frankly, we have no idea." That's right. So I'll be voting for the person whose stood up for my values all my life.
1
"In the end, Amy Klobuchar might be the strongest Democratic nominee in swing states. And because she projects “Midwestern unthreatening,” it would be difficult to demonize Senate candidates for associating with her."
Democratic primary voters need to remember that the Electoral College vote is what matters. Amy is not my favorite candidate, but if she has the best chance to win swing states, I hope she gets the nomination.
Bernie has many good ideas, but most have little chance of being implemented in the short term, and so unless he can increase turnout (like Obama did) he would be a mistake.
3
Well, I admire you and agree with almost everything you write. BUT...
I’m am sure that if the media had not brainwashed Democrats during the last election with the “Hillary had more chance than Bernie” we probably would had Bernie as president right now. Hillary was not more electable than Bernie in my opinion, but that is what the media repeated over and over and here we have Trump.
It would love if everyone with power to influence voters just report the news and give each candidate time and opportunity to express their ideas. We as voters, should be given the opportunity to decide ourselves.
We are all different, with different opinions and and so are the candidates. All candidates seem to be honest, at least as of now. They all have similar ideas, and none of them seem to have as much baggage as Hillary. Technically, all of them are electable.
So I beg for the electability topic to go away during the primary season, to allow voters to make up their mind.
3
" I have a record going back almost four decades of misjudging political talent."
Mr. Kristof: Look at all the experts who made firm assertions in 2015 that Trump could never win. Even Trump didn't believe he'd win -- and of course he really didn't; Hillary won. But the US is not a democracy. And who could have appreciate the magnitude and effectiveness of the Russian military professionals who were very experienced in propaganda and social media? And the hackers working hand-in-hand with WikiLeaks? Or the Trump's campaign's willingness to break the law by conspiring with the Russians and Wikileaks? (Yes, Mr. Mueller, they did!) Or Comey's huge blunder? And the confluence of all this: ie. the perfect storm. It was one in a million, but it all happened.
Mr. Kristoff, you are too modes. Your political predictions are as good as anybody else's and I love reading your articles.
1
Bernie Sanders has a lot of qualities I admire. But he's also an ideologue with some of the classic blind spots of adherence to the socialist paradigm: chief among them, a vision of achieving lofty goals while giving short shrift to the practical details of how they're to be achieved. It's a case that he and his campaign staff need to make, pronto, or his candidacy is done for.
Sanders' most ambitious proposals require an awful lot of revenue- and programs like Medicare For All and Free College For All entail continual funding on a permanent basis, not merely the sort of temporary budget increases associated with an upgrade in infrastructure and environmental protection and a transition away from fossil fuels energy. His campaign website contains a wide array of promises and (very general) proposals. But there's nothing about where the money required to achieve them is to be raised. And an policy outline like that isn't a serious platform- it's a wish list, like something to be sent to Santa at the North Pole.
How is all this stuff to be paid for? A revamp of the tax code, likely requiring tax increases not merely for the top 1%, but probably more like the top 10% or 20%? A national VAT tax, which is the basis of revenue for European social democracies? How much revenue would a financial transactions tax really raise?
Bottom-line calculations are needed here. Without that, I'm more inclined to support Amy Klobuchar, whose proposals are both substantive and doable.
1
I've been trying to understand the vitriolic responses to criticisms of Sanders from his supporters. Some are horribly offensive and don't bear repeating. But most seem to reflect an almost instinctual hostility toward anything that could burst the bubble of the idealism that powers his campaigns.
Progressives are making a huge wager that other Americans will share their passions and preferences, and eventually come around to supporting Sanders. Instead of worrying about the "establishment" or "corporate Democrats," they should worry about what happens if the promise of a "feel the Bern" campaign fails to materialize in a General Election. There may not be enough motivated young people to power their imagined blue wave in November. And if Sanders were to fail to deliver as the nominee, progressive goals will be lost for a generation or more.
2
I suggest pundits worry less about Sanders and more about Trump. Can Sanders defeat Trump? Who knows? Can anyone defeat Trump? Who knows? I suggest we pick a candidate whose heart and mind seems to be in the right place and go with him/her. For me, that candidate is Sanders (Warren is a close second). I don’t view the other candidates as being committed to advocating for the real changes I believe we need to address the inequalities in our society. it is not enough to go back to the good old days pre Trump. Those good old days led to Trump.
The media’s incessant handwringing over Sanders electability may well be a self fulfilling prophecy. I understand that his election doesn’t mean that his agenda will be fully enacted, but it does ensure that his ideas will be vetted. I believe he will be a forceful advocate for those ideas and that he will campaign for a Congress and Senate that will give fair consideration to those ideas.
Playing it safe isn’t safe anymore. There is no safe.
5
The challenge is having candidates w/the authenticity & commitment to address inequality, injustice, the militarization of our police, prisons, and immigration systems, & to reduce military spending to pre-9/11 levels. Only one candidate has been consistent on these issues and that is Bernie Sanders.
In negotiation, one does not start where people expect things to reach agreement. One starts with a vision of an America where the quality of life is achieved for all in an #EconomyforAll. Any Democratic candidate will have trouble enacting policies and appointing judges if the Senate does not flip (remember Merrick Garland).
What Bernie and, to a lesser extent, Warren (remember her?) advocate is a restructuring of priorities for first time since conservative revolution that began with the election of Reagan in 1980. Incrementalism advocated by the moderates will not achieve a just and equitable society now. Reallocating federal dollars to the military, wealthy Americans and corporations and greatly expanding our prisons to incarcerated a disproportionate number of people of color. For our nation to provide a standard of living and quality of life (lowering our astronomically high suicide rate) that competes with and hopefully exceeds that of Scandinavian countries, we do need a revolution. It is time privileged Americans feel discomfort, and hard working Americans are supported to create a better life for their children and future generations.
1
Sanders only "won" two very white (and small) states, which account for only 2% of the electorate (and one of which is adjacent to his home state of VT) --- by infinitesimal margins (and a smaller percentage than he achieved against Clinton in 2016); and if we total the tallies of the more centrist candidates, the electorate in both NH and IA would still seem to indicate that voters have not "anointed" a strong front runner yet -- so pundits and journalists shouldn't be so quick to write the final chapter of the Democratic primary slog to the convention -- and on to November, when in fact, the ink on the first sentence is barely dry. The result is that voters in all the other US states and territories may believe that their choices have already been narrowed for them, when a number of viable candidates are still running. Indeed there is a reason the two women in the race are receiving the lion's share of endorsements from newspaper editors across the country. Why many journalists aren't giving Warren and Klobuchar more coverage, but already anointing Bernie the putative front runner (when even Pete has beaten him by a hair in both contests so far) mystifies me. So too, is why anyone thinks it's a swell idea to coalesce behind a guy pushing 80 who just had a heart attack (regardless of his policies) for the most demanding job in the world.
5
Nicholas, surely you aren't naive enough to be bothered by the fact that what Bernie is talking about will be hard to pull off, should he become president. You know as well as I do that that's how this game works.
Wouldn't it be enough if we elected a president who has proven his ability to stick to his (fair and equal) values?
3
We don't know if Sanders can beat Trump but I can assure you that you won't beat Trump by depending on moderate votes without motivated progressive voters. Many of those voters won't show up unless you have Sanders/Warren on the ticket.
5
Let’s believe for a moment that your bald assertion is true. It isn’t, but keys roll with it. Could you be numerate for a moment and tell us the approximate number of such voters you believe to exist in Florida, Ohio, pa, and mi—the four states that will decide the election. Now, please contrast thus with the number of white working class voters in those states who voted for Obama twice then trump.
If you run the numbers honestly you’ll quickly realise how insignificant and wrong your claim is.
Honestly, I’m beginning to wonder if a certain percentage of the unicorn chasing, always innumerate, sanders commenters here aren’t really Cambridge analytica plants pro trump.
2
Thanks for the threat. I’m sure that Trump thanks you too.
For Sanders to win, he needs to appeal to voters beyond his group of fervent supporters. I agree with Kristof that he needs to make great use of his coattails...otherwise his calls for free college, Medicare for all, etc will be a pipe dream. Even Trump with a majority in both houses (until 2018) hasn't been able to realize his wall and other grandiose campaign promises. Like many campaign promises I take them all with a grain of salt as they are nice to have but we'll see.
In the face of Trump's erratic behavior the idea of putting an upper limit on the age of those seeking the Presidency is a reasonable proposition.
Senator Sanders is beyond the any of those upper limits—in his case it isn't his erratic behavior but his heart condition and the rigors of the Presidency.
We have had one Democratic party caucus and one primary election, both in small states which at best represent about 4% of the Democratic voters and Bernie is the front runner? Come on Mr. Kristof and Bernie supporters, get real.
I'm disappointed in you, Nick. I buy your books and talk to others about many of the same issues you care about. It's surprising and saddening that you'd take this position. Of all the candidates Bernie Sanders is the one who will sincerely and genuinely address the problems behind the deaths of despair. He has been saying the same things for 50 years. You have to know that he isn't a socialist in a "seize the means of production" and burn things down style that the right wing shouts about. Healthcare and opportunity for everyone isn't a radical leftist idea anywhere but here.
Your politics should be firmly aligned with his. Why are you coming down on the side of incremental change where that approach is exactly what got us Trump in the first place?
Your concerns about Sanders being able to get senators elected seems odd and a stretch. Sanders would have beaten Trump. Many Trump voters had been Obama voters before him and went the way they did became they felt they weren't being listened to. They were angry and thought to blow the system up. If there had been a real populist, someone who cared about them in that election, we would not have ended up with Trump.
The establishment does not want real change. They are very uncomfortable with the idea of Bernie Sanders. Is it really the electability of various senators that is behind your concern? You might examine your thoughts and feelings for fairness and consistency.
4
Democrats' best chance of winning is as a team. Each candidate would be vulnerable in a one-on-one rumble with Trump. But they could win both the White House and Congress as a big-tent coalition, led by a candidate pledging to form a parliamentary-style cabinet of rivals, leading an administration with the full range of democratic views, and marshalling a focused campaign to take control of Congress.
Polls show broad support for, most democratic planks, governance by compromise, and action, not stalemate.
So Democratic presidential candidates should pledge if elected to appoint rival candidates to positions in the administration;
work out differences as collaborators;
and work vigorously for the election of democratic senators and representatives.
3
I have to agree with a couple of thoughts. . . Advertising the Democratic candidate as a self-declared socialist is going to turn off a majority of Republican voters, as well as some Democrats. I wholeheartedly agree that Amy Klobuchar is the best candidate! She is honest, articulate, and smart, and has done really good work in the Senate. I think many Republicans would vote for her because she is more moderate.
4
and...
when Bernie Bros. say "If you don't want Sanders to win you aren't a Democrat or progressive." they actually mean, "It is OK if Trump and the GOP win as long as ideological purity is preserved."
5
I don't think the explanations are honest. Go to graph2 at: Bit.ly/EPI-study
It shows from 1945 to 72 GNP went up 100% (doubling) & the median (meaning everyone's) wage in lock step w/ it. (Is this when America was great?)
Since 72 the median wage has been flat even tho GNP is up another 150%. 90% of those gains went to the <1%. The GNP is >$22 Trillion. This means that for the last 48 years the <1% have been splitting up tens of trillions among themselves (maybe 5,000 families)
Since some wages have gone up (health/tech) & some have in good unions have floated (7%); we know that the vast majority of America's 160 million workers & their families have experienced 48+ years of decline in an economy that has grown 150%!
Before 72 we had FDR's demand side economics.
After 72 we had supply side economics.
Demand uses wages to grow demand to grow GNP to fulfill demand. Supply uses wage suppression to grow supply. At the extremes each of these achieve a saturation level which means its time to switch policy bias to the other. In late 1970s we had stagflation which is why we went to supply side. In 1998 we had the dot com bubble which indicated supply side saturation. We should have & our now 22 years late switching back to demand.
Our system is based on free contract. That means the distribution of resources/money is a function of bargaining power.
<1% have used their resources to stay in supply side.
Bernie wants to return us to FDR's demand side.
Trillions are at stake.
2
It really feels like there is a coordinated effort to keep trying to split the Democrats by oped pages making everything a horse race where everyone is looking for reasons to lose. I determine my primary vote based on who has an ideology closest to mine. When my candidate ultimately is not nominee I will begrudgingly vote for the NOT Republican candidate. That is what you have to expect as a progressive in America, If I was going to estimate I would say in the Democratic party there are probably 30-35% of voters who would identify as progressive, probably not enough to carry the nomination. If by some weird math either Warren or Sanders does win the nomination I totally expect that the Democratic party centrists will throw the election because they don't want to lose control of the party infrastructure that keep the progressives at bay within the party. Still I can only hope that is not the case and the neo-liberal wing of the party will support the candidate wholeheartedly because "Trump" am I right?
6
Greetings Mr. Nick,
Your record shows to be consistently kind & warm hearted.
Appreciate You — Props!
I respectfully submit that, like many, your arguments are weakened by an inability to get fundamental.
"Initial conditions rule in complex systems." Stewart Brand
I'm saying that you, and many of your colleagues, would better served if you took your pattern recognition for the 4.54 -billion-year sample of evolution.
I submit the patterns will reveal that our problems are more fundamental than policy can address.
eg
From physicist & complexity scientist, Yaneer Bar-Yam:
“In simpler times, judging a policymaker based upon values or claims made sense. Today they can’t tell what their actions will cause.”
“In the environment in which we live, the complexity progressively becomes higher and higher and it’s basically like we’re making random choices.”
So, what are "we" supposed to do? I don't know.
But like a homicide detective said, "Before you connect the dots, you gotta collect the dots."
I suggest that we collect fundamental dots.
eg
I've criticized David Brooks.
His recent article re family structure and children in The Atlantic is quite good, because he invokes a fundamental: Biology.
I don't think Sanders or any politician can fix our problems.
I've even wondered about a "benevolent dictatorship" — which obviously isn't Trump — more of an Eisenhower-like figure? But strongly suspect the reaction would be violent, i.e., myriad unintended consequences would emerge.
3
@anthropocene2 Apologies for the early typos / omissions. My bad.
The media generally seems to want to ignore Buttigieg. Does anyone remember that Buttigieg is neck and neck with Sanders, and actually has 1 more delegate?
Buttigieg actually inspires people when they hear him speak. He may sink in future primaries, but we don't know that.
He's young, but brilliant, and more mature in his thinking than most of the other candidates. Don't discount him.
I plan to vote for him on March 10 in Idaho. Won't count for much in Trump country Idaho, however.
1
@Pat Boice I agree Buttigieg is brilliant. I know he wants to be elected President. I don’t know why. What is his agenda? And just to be clear, brilliance and wisdom aren’t necessarily the same thing. Just not sure he is ready. Just not sure who he is.
4
How do Democrats ride the coattails of an Independent?
3
That would explain why they’d rather grab hold of those of former Democrat Donald Trump
1
Two things -- One, I want more review of 1972 and why McGovern lost so bad. Obvious analogies. And Two, I think losing might be ok if it's done right. If Sanders puts a whole new national dialogue in place for months, at the highest levels, where his ideas can really change America by awakening it , AND thereby creates a new ethos that can be pursued at state and local levels -- ie where a 'revolution' really needs to start -- then it is acceptable to lose. Trump isd not going to take America thyat much further than where it was already going and gone -- remember Reagan? W? Kissinger? America is not France regrettably and Trump is not Mussolini. He's a likeable guy because he's not nuts. He's just a kind of goof. We'll survive. These non-presidential candidates like Buttiegieg and Klobuchar are not going to win. They remind me a lot of Hillary -- well-meaning but America ain't gonna buy it. Let Bernie face off. He'll change this country - for the better - win or lose.
Bernie will be 79 when he takes office if he wins. He has heart disease. Would you want to fly across country on an airplane piloted by a 79 yr old with heart disease?
His motives are good but his answer to everything is to take down the super rich and use their money to fund everything.
I don't know who I support yet but I do know who I don't and that is all of the old white men running. Bernie, Biden and Bloomberg have all had 70 plus years to make things happen. It is someone else's turn.
3
@Kris Bennett
When 2020 rolls around, Trump will be 74 going on 75 and looking at the Bloomberg"s ads and the size of Trump's waistline, I would put my money on Bernie.
A person can't go on forever staying up all night "tweeting".
1
What a great ticket: Klobuchar and Buttigieg! Centrists, intelligent, articulate and honest!
3
Authentic? Why did it take three days, until he was able to wave on his way out of the hospital, for him to reveal he'd had a heart attack?
2
Whether he can win or not, Sanders would be a terrible president. He can’t lose without crying foul, he’s an ideologue that fair majority of Americans will never agree with. Trump is dying to run against him.
4
All these boomer pundits that were so sure that boring corporatists like Gore, Kerry and Hillary would win should exercise an ounce of humility...but No, its not going to happen.
The older boomer generation of democrats are eternally stuck in 1972. They are unable to escape their Reagan-era conditioning. Regan's long dead but his ghost still haunts them.
2
So you're not going to vote for a candidate whose positions you support because you think that other people won't support those positions so you're going to vote for a candidate whose positions you don't support.
Why not vote for the candidate who most closely represents what you want, and use your platform to urge others do the same?
Everybody is smarter than everybody else. And we end up being dumber than everyone else [and governed by President Donald Trump].
6
Mr. Kristof: I'm a huge fan of your work. You consistently show great courage in reporting from hotspots around the world. Your heart is in the right place.
But right now, you are contributing to a self-fulfilling prophecy about Sanders. (The Times as a whole does this, and has been consistently since he became a candidate in the 2016 election. Your paper reported the New Hampshire results by saying "Well, Bernie won, but if you add up the votes of three other candidates, they add up to more than Bernie got." Well, guess what? That was true for ALL the candidates -- nobody had more votes than the highest three other candidates combined.)
You are setting us up for a repeat of 2016. Then as now, the DNC took an anybody-but-Bernie stance, to the point of cheating against him, giving the Clinton campaign access to the Sanders mailing lists. By doing that, they gave Trump the election (with some help from Comey and Putin). Nobody, but nobody, likes Clinton. But she was declared "electable."
You want to know who can get voters to vote for him? Look at who IS getting voters to vote for him! This isn't complicated. This time around, the DNC types are hoping Bloomberg can buy the nomination away from Sanders. Bloomberg is a racist pig. He's also a long-time Republican. It's shameful that anyone is looking to him as the savior of the Democrats.
If you and the Times and the DNC and Putin work hard enough at making Sanders unelectable, Trump will win.
5
First of all, Trump was "unelectable". Remember that when you start pontificating about elect-ability.
Consider that there may be a vast difference between what people say when asked the question, "Would you vote for a gay man for president?" .. and the reality of a person's private choice when standing alone in the voting booth. I think a vision of two men standing on a stage kissing would not play well in many corners of the country or world. People know that. It might not be fair, but look at what we ignore now in terms of fairness.
1
You may not have noticed that a President with a real , clear, positions (as Sanders has) can wield an enormous amount of power even if the Congress is not all his.
But we have noticed that you, like most of the Times staff and contributors, are very committed to the Hillary Wail. While she still does control the Media, the Times in the lead, and the DNC mechanism, she lost. With her internal political power, she and a few billionaire friends found Peter. She has a clear penchant for losing. Or is it her handlers, who also have a long history of losing?
The more these penthouse pundits hand wring about about Bernie, the better he does. It's actually a point of honor for Bernie to be despised by these running-dog journalists for the democratic establishment.
Bernie for the poor. Bernie for the powerless.
2
Kristof may be right about Sanders, but America is ready for a woman as president, particularly a woman of color.
I believe Bernie can be the best person to bring the country back (and the world, for that matter) from the brink of social, financial, and climate ruin. However I understand that many are turned off by the title "socialist", because it is too often confused by "communist". ("Social" security???) Bernie or someone needs to decouple the link between Socialist and Communist. If the DNC can make clear the distinction, we have a chance.
You worry too much.
The primary season has just started. Trust the voters and not the DNC.
Trump is not popular. He had no coat tails in 2018, in fact he was a detriment in purple states.
Women hate him and they vote. Minorities hate him and we hope they vote. Young people hate him and if given the chance they will vote.
3
I worry about Bernie Sanders’s egotism ( I was first to endorse this, I can do it best) he sounds a lot like Narcissistic Personality Disorder Trump. I don’t think he tolerates people with a different perspective. He is too old. Get that too old. I am 76 and I know too old when I see it. We need young blood. We have had way too many old white men. I will vote for Attila the Hun if he is the Democratic candidate come November. But Democrats must hold the house and take the senate. I don’t think Bernie is a good head of the ticket. And the behavior of his followers resembles a cult like you know who’s.
4
“96 percent say they could support a black candidate”
I’ll bet you $100 this is not true.
I really liked this piece though, thanks for writing it.
1
A Bernie Sanders (Pres.)/Elizabeth Warren (VP) ticket, with a strong voter turnout to remove any and all Republican Senators who have voted for a continuation of the miserable wars in Near Asia and weakened attempts to change the American infrastructure to address global warming would be a welcomed change in the USA.
Most Republicans and most Democrats are part of the War Machine. Most US citizens do not have the information they need to choose a conscientious wise candidate who would step by step address current mega-problems in this country.
Once we got Osama bin Laden, the logical step would have been to withdraw from Afghanistan and not waste American lives there. We should never have invaded Iraq. We should not be starving the people of Iran and Trump has succeeded in uniting emotionally Iraq and Iran.
Russia bombs hospitals in Syria near the Turkish border, and the current president does and says nothing, and innocent people are expected to perish in NW Syria.
A million people stand in the streets in a mass demonstration in Iraq to demand that the USA respect the vote of their Parliament to get our troops out. (The US left vast swaths of Iraq radioactively ruined, causing birth defects in Iraqi babies and cancers and birth defects in GIs and their children.)
Trump takes the pollution controls off of semis on our highways, making the haze worse, and breathing more difficult.
Hate groups stage a comeback under him.
WHY would we reelect him or any warmonger? Stupidity?
2
The salient and obvious point so many have made, and indirectly alluded to here, is that Sanders, whatever his virtues, is too easy to demonize. While trump, whatever his inadequacies and they are legion, is better (along with his fetid gang of TV and online supporters) at demonizing other people than any politician in history. In other words, Sanders is just too fat and juicy a target for attacks to take a chance on.
2
Ok, I get it. The New York Times pundits don't want Sanders as the democratic candidate for president. What can I say. You have all made so many accurate predictions in the past. Guess I better give up my hopes for a president who wants a future for my grandchildren.
6
All the money makers said “HRC can’t lose”. Guess what! She did. Corporatists should stop bashing BERNIE and his supporters. It bad form and bad politics.
3
@Maggie
You're making the argument that Sanders can win votes away from Trump.
@Maggie
I really hope that if Bernie gets the nomination, you would consider voting for him. Otherwise...
You and I are on the same page, and it may not surprise you to hear that I voted last week for “MB" as I have begun to describe the former mayor of your fine city. Your pal Tom is “paging Mike Bloomberg” as I recall, and I — like you — genuinely like and respect Amy whom I encourage via twitter. I used the medium to tell the Bloomberg campaign that I hoped I was taking advantage of “the bloomberg bargain” which — hopefully — becomes a part of American history. I would advise the man to apologize sincerely for "stop and frisk” and lead a national conversation about race as part of his campaign. I actually think he could write some history.
1
@Lee Eils If Trump had said what Bloomberg said, the entire pundit corps would be devouring him right now, and deservedly so. But--except for Charles Blow--the New York Times columnists, including this one, have given Bloomberg a pass.
Unfortunately it's not at all surprising, even if if it's hypocritical and actually shocking.
"Throw them up against a wall", Bloomberg said.
Stop trash talking please.
A Trump re-election is assured if Democrats - in the media and the Party - continue to trash Sanders.
No Dem should be waging any sort of campaign against any candidate in their Party.
The focus of all discussions should be why a candidate a best qualified.
Putting other Dems in a bad light - that they are not qualified or unelectable - is only fodder for the Trump 2020 campaign.
3
Ask yourself this: Which candidate scares Trump and his lockstep fanatics the most? Which candidate scares Democrats, swing voters and Independents the most? There is no perfect candidate. Only the one who can defeat the despot.
1
Why no mention at all of Elizabeth Warren? Don't count her out yet.
2
“Can he win, and if so, can he help elect a Democratic Senate so he can accomplish something?”
No and, quite literally, LOL. Those are the answers.
2
All the Bernie Bros, refusing to hear the siren call of reality, will pave the road to Trump’s re-election. One wonders how many of those posting are actually Trumpers, stoking the flames.
4
Amy's support of Cargill means that I would never consider voting for her.
1
Why can the Democratic Majority for Israel run attack ads against Sanders? It's a 100% certainty that some of their money comes from a foreign country (Israel.) How is this any different than the Russians running Facebook ads against Hilary Clinton?
3
Here in South Florida, Democrats flipped 2 long time Republican seats with moderate Dems. When my neighbors hear the words Socialist and Socialism, they immediately think of Cuba, Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia. A moderate Dem can assuredly carry Florida. A self described Socialist? Not a chance.
3
Please. Can you at least endorse Warren over Klobuchar? Klobuchar has no charisma, has a spotty environmental and racial justice record, and actively discredits progressive ideas. That she runs as the 'midwesterner' that can speak for all midwesterners is particularly problematic. She and Buttegeig both have basically ZERO support in the African-American and Latino communities. Her idea of a 'big tent' is to include anti-choice democrats and basically completely ignore the democratic base, which is diverse. Says a lot that Kristof is promoting her in this essay.
3
I actually can't see the difference between Klobuchar and your average run-of-the-mill Republican.
3
That’s probably because you’re not familiar with her. Go to her website to learn more about her platform.
Every candidate in the Democratic race is a progressive. They all have the same goals, just different ways of achieving them.
We need to stop drawing false equivalences between Democratic pragmatists and Republicans. There isn’t a single Republican who would support a public option or action on climate change. Not a single Republican supports reversing Citizens United or McCutcheon. And the list goes on.
1
Why do you really think he is not electable? He has over a million paying followers NOW! Why do you want ANOTHER Republican lite moderate Democrat who will truly make no headway against the greed of the Oligarchy of the wealthy, the corporations, and the MIC and who have destroyed not only our democracy but our environment? Compromising hasn't worked, and your paper reports its failures daily and then balks at supporting the one candidate that is sincere about making some necessary changes. The whole staff at the NYT needs to take a deep breath and realign themselves.
5
We know what the path to victory looks like because we followed it in 2018. Nominate candidates who appeal to voters in swing districts.
If we’re smart we can win both houses and the presidency. Then we can make real progress.
1
if he gets the nomination I'll hold my nose and split the ticket
n 2014, Klobuchar sided with Obama’s farm bill that cut 8.7 billion in food stamps. Klobuchar supports copper mining in Minnesota’s greatest treasure—The Boundary Waters. Klobuchar co-sponsored the bill to give 6,650 acres to PolyMet. Klobuchar co-sponsored a bill that among other things delisted gray wolves from the endangered species list. The last time wolves were kicked off the list they were hunted right back onto it by Klobuchar’s rural base. Klobuchar has also been criticized for going around the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to build the St. Croix Crossing bridge. Most significantly, Klobuchar has not had a clear stand on the Line 3 pipeline which would violate the rights, land and water of Native American communities specifically.
https://www.counterpunch.org/2020/01/24/ak-46-the-case-against-amy-klobuchar/?fbclid=IwAR1xVUhXYfwn5M3H7Lv32EQeTn1EKN0EpIB_eqtomniTn-LxWGYxeDgPVP8
4
Bernie is getting help inadvertently from two sources, an autocrat impeached President and lily-livered Repulican Senators. These two go a long way to ensure a Democratic majority in the Senate.
1
How is it that you don't mention Elizabeth Warren?
1
The heart of the matter is to elect a Democratic, get Trump out. The question is who can bring the Democrats to the Senate? . Strategists need to gather the group and candidates need to figure themselves out. Our democracy is at stake. Trump, Miller, McConnell, Barr, Kushner and the rest of his henchmen have to go....we all agree on this point. I do not believe Sanders can bring a Democratic Senate. I am not thrilled with Klobuchar’s record.
Trump has succeeded in decimating Biden’s electability. I like Biden for the experience he would bring but do wonder whether too much damage has been done. I think Bloomberg should agree to one term with Buttigieg as his VP. Bloomberg has the $ to beat Trump and he ran NYC, and Mayor Pete is authentic and intelligent. Together I believe these two men can defeat Trump.
Personally I would like to see one of the candidates take a deep look at the Border. Trump won his campaign on “Build the Wall”. Every issue is embedded in this...Shedding light on what is actually happening would set in motion a platform for a Democratic candidate. Mike Bloomberg, Pete Buttigieg ...take a look at the Border as your compass.
Frankly, the quagmire “electability“ debate never has gained traction in the US because the bulk of fickle voters is overly caught up in sensationalism.
Could someone, anyone who supports Bernie actually write an article in this paper that argues for a Bernie candidacy and presidency? Just one? Could just one strong column be written that demystifies the big bad S-word socialism? Why are you pandering to the same old fear, the same false narrative about electability (remember in this very paper when most of the columns were screaming about how electable Biden was, where are they now? On to the next myth to propagate!), when this is exactly the kind of opportunity that appears so rarely to really inject some change into this broken broken system. So what if Bernie doesn't get everything done look how much he has already shifted the discourse in this country. Why do you pander to the same defeatism that just about every columnist in the NYTimes subscribe to? Let's have some REAL Rational debate and exposure to the issues not knee jerk fear mongering.
6
Where was Trump tested before he became president? Oh yeah, the Bankruptcy courts. Sorry, I forgot.
1
It is a trivial fact that everyone seems to forget: history actually does not repeat itself. It moves forward although it has kinks along the way.
People who have the disease of comparing the present conjuncture to some time in the past (McGovern, Eugene Debs, FDR, even Barry Goldwater) to 2020 USA under a crazy man (surprisingly Nero or Caligula do not make the cut!) is plain nonsense. This is today. A society that is in its last legs pretending it is a democracy. A nation that has lost its moral compass, even for on that was founded on theft and prospered thanks to the basest of human institution: slavery.
We need Bernie more than ever. He is a man who dedicated his life to installing Rawlsian Justice principles to our society. It is his time. Please don’t stay in the way. The millions who send him their lunch money will steamroll you over. That is how history works.
3
Bernie is every bit as divisive as Trump. I volunteered for Bernie last time, but now support Buttigieg whole heartedly.
A Bloomberg/Booker ticket would win in the end.
1
More reasons for me to write another $20 check for Bernie Sanders.
3
A socialist will never win the general election. Period. Full stop.
4
I wish 'The Newsroom' wasn't cancelled so I would see how they would handle Bernie and 2016 election.
1
Bloomberg is the only Democrat candidate who can beat Trump. He will choose Amy to be his running mate.
2
First, turnout was high in NH. Second, they have open primaries so 50% of the voters were not registered Democrats. Third, I'll red-flag you! Fourth, you would rather believe bookies than your own perceptions. Bernie Sanders has the best chance against Trump, and Trump deserves no chance at all; look at the many lawsuits pending against him and the fact that a lot of his collaborators are in jail. He is a bona fide crook.
Please flip the Senate!
2
I noticed that Mr. Kristof ends with a positive comment about Amy Klobuchar.
Amy Klobuchar has detailed plans for 100 actions during the first 100 days of her Presidency:
https://medium.com/@AmyforAmerica/amys-first-100-days-b7adf9f91262
Here are just a few of them:
Prioritize cybersecurity and protect our elections and other American infrastructure from cyber attack.
Update the standards for reviewing both horizontal and vertical mergers to ensure vigorous antitrust enforcement.
Make a plan to connect every household to the internet by 2022.
Impose full sanctions on Russia for hostile act against the United States and its allies.
Crack down on money laundering and tax evasion.
3
"In the end, Amy Klobuchar might be the strongest Democratic nominee in swing states."
That's something I would expect a CNN/ MSNBC political hack to say, not Nicholas Kristof! Just because you weren't great at predicting political talent in your youth doesn't mean that you now need to revert to echoing the political "conventional wisdom" of the hour. You're so much better than that, Mr Kristof.
How does conventional wisdom even inform this moment?The Democratic voters are scurrying from candidate to candidate looking for a winner like herds of cattle looking for shelter. Polling at this point reflects group think more than it reflects a true belief in a single candidate.
The media narrative that there's a clear division between the "moderates" and the "progressive" wing of the party is just that - a narrative. I assure you there are voters that have fluttered between Warren and Biden and Klobuchar, and have bounced from Bernie to Buttigieg.
We're living in an age where large portions of the electorate (conservatives, even!) support a very un-Christian, Manhattan elitist, who dodged the draft and embraces Putin, so I wouldn't give too much credence to what conventional wisdom says wins in November.
We have enough to worry about, fearing another 4 years of Trump. How about we not project that fear onto ourselves.
1
The centrist hand-wringing and pearl-clutching is palpable. I count four pieces on the front page fretting over the possibility of a Sanders presidential ticket, so much so that one writer lit the Bat-Signal for Michael Bloomberg. Buying an election should be anathema to Democrats, yet here we are with a writer from the esteemed NYT opining that a billionaire whose legacy is the proliferation of broken windows policing is the savior of the Democratic Party.
45
@Vincent I'd prefer buying an election, as you put it, to another 4 years of Trump. I'd suggest that everyone who runs is buying an election in one way or another, because they'll get money from donors to run their campaigns. The fact the Bloomberg doesn't have to solicit outsiders for money makes it easier for him. But, people still have to vote for him.
The money factor in elections is a problem which no one has been able to solve, and it wasn't helped by Citizens United. Campaign rules would have to be revamped in order to make a level playing field possible. Until then, we have the system we've got.
7
@Vincent You know what else is palpable? The Bernie-worshiping, which to me is not different than the Trump-worshiping. I am not interested in raving "heroes". I want work horses who turn the soil, like most Americans do every day.
5
Two days ago, the moderators here graciously allowed me to say that the election could come down to a choice between democratic socialism and fascism. I raise this point again, in the context of Nick's piece, because I have to wonder whether the polling organizations have ever surveyed that question. Failing to ask that question, or in fact asking it, arguably channels public opinion in one direction or another.
Similarly, I wonder whether the pollsters have asked people whether they would. in the same way they ask about socialists, women, gay people, etc., support a fascist. Of course, that question is complicated by the fact that next to no one would self-identify as a fascist. (Nevertheless, as I said two days ago, there are criteria to make that judgment.)
That kind of complication, however, could cut in many directions. My impression is that in the South, in the 50's and 60's, people advocating for integration were often called communists. Indeed, if memory serves, Senator Graham not that long ago smeared the members of "the squad" as such.
Given that the Republicans will tar any Democratic ticket as socialists, this may be a battle Senator Doug Jones is going to face, no matter who the Democratic presidential nominee is.
1
How in the world do you media pundits have the temerity to declare that "Sanders is now the front-runner to win the Democratic nomination"? After two small non-representative states have weighed in (one of them with serious flaws in their caucusing)? How do you do that? "We're still in the very beginning stages of this primary — 98% of the delegates for our nomination are still up for grabs, and Americans in every part of our country are going to make their voices heard." Those of the words of Elizabeth Warren. Sure, it would be great if she'd done better in the first two states. But to count out anyone at this stage is just wrong.
1
"in some ways, this is an echo of 2016, when Republicans could not coalesce around a rival to Trump"
This of course, did not matter since the lack of a rival meant that Republicans coalesced around Trump for the general election. The same could happen for Sanders except that Kristof clearly is against him.
All of us seem to agree that Trump should be evicted from the White House. Democrats, though, face off against “Wall Street” at their peril: It’s seniors and working Americans who “own” Wall Street in their investments. Think the investor class are all rich old men? Think again: countless companies offer their employees a chance to save for retirement through 401-k plans, in which workers’ often-modest investments can grow and help save them from eating cat food when they are too old to work any longer (present Democratic slate excluded!). Remember how Buffett got rich? The power of compounding and saving over the long run. Sanders frightens the squirrels who have been slowly building savings and trusting that the market returns will continue, planning ahead for the day they are out of the workforce and no longer have realistic options to generate income other than dividends, capital gains, and interest. Save the social programs as they stand now, with incremental— not revolutionary — improvements for the bottom 20%. It’s remarkable how angry both the Sanders supporters and the Trump supporters are. I’m tired of the bitterness and yelling and fist shaking and fighting. Can we restore decency and acceptance? Is there a Dem candidate who can appeal to our common goodness? Hopefully it’s still there...
1
@Mary
You think Buffet got rich on compound interest? LOL.
Only 54% of the working Americans are indirectly invested in Wall Street. The pension plans and 401Ks they do have don't earn enough to cover their retirement. That's why they rely on Social Security payments to make ends meet, and scream the loudest about Social Security cuts and pushing back the retirement age.
The republicans will vote for their candidate whether he's a corrupt, lying disgrace or not, and they'll do it enthusiastically. We must do the same thing and get behind whoever wins the nomination and vote in the biggest numbers ever.
If we don't we will live with fascism by 2024. Trump is already acting like a mad king, he enjoys humiliating anyone who disagrees with him and his vengeance is cruel. I have never heard trump say anything intelligent or thoughtful. He is an ignoramus extraordinaire.
1
What a weird study in vacillation. Everyone gets a mention: Sanders of course, Biden, Buttigieg (who's "brilliant" though we're not told at what specifically), and, yup, there's good old Klobuchar who's maybe useful in Red States bringing up the rear. But Elizabeth Warren who has both brilliance and a record of achievement, and as of the evening news is still a player, does not appear at all. Disappeared. Confusing.
1
Way to go with the “Can’t Do” attitude Mr. Kristof. The continued negativity coming from the NYT about the revolution that needs to happen has plucked my last nerve. How do you white men have such a deep reserve of this can’t do attitude? How about getting behind Sanders, and getting behind turning over the Senate??
2
Everyone seems to think Bloomberg is the shiny, new toy. But I'm not from New York and I don't know anything about him. He owes it to America to tell us who he is if he expects us to vote for him.
1
Okay, and there go our dreams about fairness and equality for all, sacrificed on the altar of the establishment. I hoped that the Democratic party finally would get a more liberal face but again it will be pushing for a mediocre candidate that would fit equally well in the Republican Party.
If so, then I would propose that the Democratic Party at least gets honest about their intentions and make Bloomberg the only candidate.
1
Why have you not eve mentioned Elizabeth Warren? She is my preference over Bernie or Biden.
3
If your priority is to defeat the president, you and your op-ed colleagues must stop stirring up fear. Sanders is an FDR Democrat. He is only seen as radical because our country moved farther and farther to the right over the last 40 years. He inspires young people, as no other candidate does. How do we take back the White House-- and democracy-- without young people?
Also, while no easy feat, some of the Republican senators who ignored the public desire for witnesses in the impeachment trial, might be beatable now. Defeatism will be our defeat.
3
@C. Reed Do you seriously believe that anyone who is for trump READS the NYT, and follows their opinion writers for guidance? The only media that matters to them is FOX not-news and trump's BFF, Limbaugh, or whatever malarkey they read on the internet. Do you think that our California votes matter in the general election count? Nick and others are trying to be realistic about who can beat trump, and by extension, win the senate and hold the house. Nothing else matters. One simple truth: Bernie can't win the election in November.Another democrat might.
A critical misunderstanding of Mr. Sanders platform, propagated not only by his opponents but also by well-meaning journalists, is that he will take "healthcare" away from people. What he wants to take away is a fragmented, unequal, and costly "health insurance" system and replace it with a single payer system - exactly what the experts have prescribed (see balanced article by Arnold Relman, MD - the late editor of the New England Journal of Medicine - in the New York Review of Books in 2010). Our world class physicians, hospitals, clinics and operating rooms - the foundations of our healthcare - will not be taken away. Our healthcare will simply become more accessible, egalitarian, and affordable to every citizen - just like the great social democracies of Europe. To quote Dr. Relman:
"Change will require elimination of the economic forces that have made medical care a commodity in trade instead of a social service, and have transformed our health care system into a profit-seeking industry. Until we join other advanced countries in treating medical care as a right and not a business, we will have to wait for control of health costs."
6
Voters who support Sanders need to spend time in a true socialist country to see the effects. Once they do their due diligence, it will be clear. Socialism is not the utopia that Sanders and his fellow democrats project. Venezuela is an excellent example. A once wealthy oil producing nation, Venezuela is now a poor country where the citizens struggle to survive. Socialist leaders did this. Anyone with basic economic and math understand realizes that you cannot spend in excess of what you bring in. Endless free government subsidies sounds great. But, how do these program gets paid for? Sanders supporters either do not understand History, or chose to ignore it. It all goes back to our failing school system.
Sanders can never make Socialism work. Trump understands that, as does anyone who has owned a business. If Sanders runs against Trump, it will be comical. I look forward to watching the show.
If I were a Democrat, I'd be worried.
2
@Liberal hypocrites I think Bernie is more in line with the Nordic model. A mixed economic system. We need the right mix of socialist and capitalist policies, with the primary focus on the wellbeing of the majority of the people, not 1% of the population.
Folks, Klobuchar is certainly worth keeping in the race, we need her as an option as things unfold in the coming months. PLEASE contribute to her campaign because she needs the money to ramp up to the national level. She hasn't have it. Please keep her in the race. I was backing Warren but just gave her money.
3
Two lessons from New Hampshire.
One ignored by Hillary and one ignored by Bernie.
Hillary lost New Hampshire badly, four years ago, which
showed she was not the first love of Democrats and
she lost it to Bernie. 60/38 %
Four years later, Bernie won, but barely.
Where did 35 % of his supporters go ?
Unless something dramatic happens I just don't see
him getting more than 30 % of the Democratic Vote.
I would like Bernie to be President with a large Democratic
majority in both houses, but it seems unlikely.
How are you going to explain those videos the Republicans will
run about Bernie in the USSR, Cuba and Nicaragua that will be
craftily edited to make them worse than they actually are ?
3
Currently the "progress" that will be made on healthcare is that Obamacare will in all likelihood be declared unconstitutional. In what must be the appeals court's sick idea of a joke the decision has been returned to the lower court to perhaps save odds and ends like requiring restaurants to post calorie counts. I would like someone to ask those moderates who support a public option aka Medicare For All Who Want It what will happen when private insurance can reject anyone who when reduced to a number on a spreadsheet comes up negative, while said public option will not have that luxury. No insurance public or otherwise can survive if everyone is taking out more than they put in. Which is why insurance is the wrong paradigm for healthcare.
1
If the ACA is not declared unconstitutional—our current biggest challenge—no private insurer will get to reject an applicant because of a preexisting condition. That’s illegal under the ACA. Likewise no private insurer can rescind coverage when someone gets sick, or impose annual or lifetime caps on benefits.
On the other hand if Trump is re-elected, we’ll lose the ACA and all these protections for preexisting conditions.
I’m not sure why some believe that a public option would suddenly become the only choice for sick people. It will only become the only option if private insurance gradually—or quickly—goes away, in which case you have Medicare for All. And isn’t that what you want?
@SandraH. It no longer matters if Trump is reelected. It's in the hands of the courts now and 2 courts have already ruled the individual mandate and the rest of Obamacare unconstitutional (with the exception of possibly some odds and ends in their sick attempt to amuse Trump). In that eventuality private insurance won't go away. They will accept whoever they judge a net positive on the balance sheet leaving the public option to take on the rejects.
Yes, Kristof is worried about Sanders as is his kindred spirits in the republican lite establishment. You know Sanders is on the right path when you have these deep-pocket types so threatened by a more just society.
2
Seriously, you think there’s a vast conspiracy that includes “deep-pocketed” NYT columnists fighting to keep Sanders from his rightful victory?
I don’t think anyone really believes that. Kristof is expressing his concerns— shared by millions of ordinary Democrats who don’t have deep pockets—that a self-declared socialist is electable. And will he undermine Democratic candidates in the Senate and House? Kristof will vote for Sanders if he’s the nominee, as will I.
On a practical note, why is Sanders still running for his Senate seat if he’s serious about the presidency? Vermont has a GOP governor, so Bernie’s election would almost certainly mean that Mitch McConnell keeps control of the Senate for the first six months. Do you think Bernie should drop out of his Senate race?
1
There were a number of factors that led to the Tory landslide in the UK that don't necessarily apply here.
First was the simple fact that the election was a second vote on Brexit in most peoples' eyes, which had broad support throughout the country. The second factor was the strategic maneuvering of the Brexit Party, which withdrew from areas where running would have split the vote in favor of Labour and ran where they could split the vote in favor of the Tories. The third was the fact that Boris Johnson is an exceptionally charismatic and likable figure and a much better speaker than Trump, even if he tends to be economical with the truth, while Corbyn was notoriously uncharismatic and arguably farther to the left than even Sanders is.
Those are just a few examples that come to mind.
1
In a perfect world, I think Warren presents the best plans for structural fairness and sheer intellectual competence. And I would sleep well in a Sanders presidency.
But Warren is not the most electable. Neither is Bernie. He didn't "win" in New Hampshire! He just got a few more votes. He wasn't even within spitting distance of a majority. Even if you added Bernie and Elizabeth together you don't get that. But if you put Pete, Amy and Joe together you get about 53%. This is a clear message.
Here is a prediction: Bloomberg's money will clear out Joe. Pete will fade in the south and elsewhere. Elizabeth will also fade and withdraw. Some of her folks will go for Bernie. Others will shift to Amy. Bernie will still look strong but he'll hit a ceiling.
It will be Mike vs Amy. Amy will gain a slight lead. Ultimately Mike will see that neither he or Amy have the delegates they need. He'll throw in the towel - encouraging folks and delegates to join Amy. His billions will keep flowing. Bernie and his Bros will bitterly struggle to the end. Again. The Bros only aid and abet the enemy. They can't see the forest for the burning trees.
In 1880 the Republican convention was in disarray. James Garfield had attended in order to introduce and nominate William Seward (Secretary of State) for the Republican nomination. Then someone said "What about Garfield?" Garfield had never asked for the job. He was a fine president - for too short a term.
3
It is more important to be obsessed with how to get Democrats registered and to be able to vote, --unimpeded by polling station problems, vote count problems, etc -- than it is to be worried about What To Do About Bernie. Iowa was meaningless as an indicator of anything except technological dangers. (It did hand out delegates, so that could matter later.) New Hampshire gave Amy's supporters hope, and I agree she could be the sleeper who wins.
But this year will be unpredictable. Trump is popular for now and he has carte blanche as far as election manipulations by foreign and Republican parties. Bloomberg will add to the noise.
Don't count out The People, either. We might end up surprising ourselves and showing up to vote. And that could end up being
what we should have been obsessing about all along. TrumpWorld will be thinking about that and -I do not think this is paranoia- doing all it can to bend and stifle democratic voters.
Bernie is not our biggest problem.
1
No. And No.
1
Sure Senator Sanders can win! But, if nominated, one of the talking points for Republican congressional nominees will be "vote for him if you can't stand the President anymore, but vote for ME so that he can't overbalance the country to the left". So, I think Mr. Kristof has a point here. Many of the moderate Democratic congressional incumbents are going to face some tough questions during their campaigns about what they've spent the last two years doing, particularly with regard to the failed effort to evict the President through impeachment. They won't be helped with an avowed Socialist like Senator Sanders at the head of the ticket with his longtime radical liberal record that will be picked apart in campaign advertisements.
1
I believe Bernie is electable. I believe we need a progressive and we need Bloomberg and Seyer to make sure Graham and McConnell are defeated in the senate. Sanders is a democratic socialist which is what even the republican party stood for back in the 50's. Do you really think we are such a backward nation that we can't see past all the "charges" of socialism and vote for the person who is offering us the best opportunity to realign with our values as a country of immigrants.
3
@Jean Shirkoff
That's exactly the point Jean. We are so obsessed with socialism and yet most people don't realize how much there is here already? And in the end what is so bad about a smart, hard working, gentleman who wants to move the pendulum towards fairness vs Rude, law breaking, blow hard that we have now?
It's possible that Sanders will win the White House, but that voters will intentionally "balance" him out by keeping the Senate in Republican hands. That worries me greatly.
3
Mr. Kristof seems to have missed the spirit of political revolution building in America. Many good things are possible if Americans wake up to the realities of our situation. Almost nothing good is possible if they do not.
1
You are correct to worry about Sanders and his coattails, Mr. Kristof.
Bernie Sanders identifies as Socialist. The countries many people think of as Socialist are not Socialist countries.
Countries such as Canada, Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and others are Democracies with free market economies and strong social safety nets. A free market economy is the basis of the capitalist system.
What concerns many Americans is that Socialism doesn't work very well. Examples of failed Socialist countries are many. The problems of Venezuela have been in the headlines for two+ years, with millions migrating to nearby countries because of extreme, food shortages and even people dying of starvation.
Here's a list of failed and failing Socialist governments:
"There are many countries around the world that claim to be socialists. Current states that follow the Marxist-Leninist principles include the Laos People’s Democratic Republic, the People’s Republic of China, the Republic of Cuba, and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. This number has dropped dramatically in recent years. Former countries under the Marxist-Leninist idea of socialism included Afghanistan, Albania, Angola, Belarus, Benin, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Congo, Czechoslovakia, Ethiopia, East Germany, Hungary, North Korea, Mongolia, Mozambique, Poland, Romania, Somalia, Russia, Ukraine, North Vietnam, South Yemen and Yugoslavia."
Source: http://worldpopulationreview.com/countries/socialist-countries/
2
Half of my siblings will vote Republican, and the other half vote Democrat (which includes my father who has been a poll worker for 40+ years). Sanders will absolutely not get the Republicans vote (for anyone imaging that), in part because of his allegiances with the far left. They don't like what they define as their anti-white sentiment, for one thing. But they truly scoff at Bernie's promises of "free". They are delayed gratification, no-free-lunch kind of people and they don't believe he can or even should do "free". No Sanders vote from them, ever.
As for the democrats: Warren is smart but Bloomberg could take on Trump. Klobuchar as VP (that part is mine).
6
When people worry that Sanders would have short coattails, what do they have to say about Mr. Bloomberg who would have none at all? All Mr. Bloomberg brings to the party is his wallet.
1
No, he can’t win. It would be a slaughter. Problem is, all his little mind controlled fans will pout, claim voter fraud, and intentionally tank anyone else but that kook.
4
This is not about Trump or Bloomberg
@Is Many democrats see bernie as our party's version of trump. Same crazy talk, same one-note issues, same lack of real charm or humor, same fanatical followers. That may be why Kate referred to bernie as a kook-- which I agree, he is not. Especially compared to trump, whose menal health and acuity continues to decline. But bernie isn't electable, and he lacks the clout to bring along other dems--which is supposed to be the point of this discussion.
Yeah, can Hillary Clinton?
How about Dems worry about one thing at a time - winning the white house, for starters.
1
At this time it would take a very big tumbling at the WH for the Dems to regain the senate
When it comes to coat tails,
Independent Bernie the Landslide Millionaire wears a cropped top.
The DNC will do anything, up to and including kidnaping Bernie and sequestering him at the South Pole, to keep him from getting the nomination.
Just watch.
3
The DNC just can’t figure out how to buy someone who can’t be bought.
1
"In the end, Amy Klobuchar might be the strongest Democratic nominee in swing states."
But is she? Are there recent, reliable polls on this? Because, if we want to obsess over "electability" way too early, what swing state voters think is way more important than any NYT columnist's opinion.
Gosh, guess it is your job to worry. Notice that all mainstream journalists are worried about Bernie. Oh well.
Now Kristof dissing Bernie Sanders? I am seeing something I never would have believed across the board among NYT commentators.
2
Sanders raises red flags. Do you get it?
I don't recall Kristoff questioning HRC coattails with her unfavorable rating as high as Trumps. That exposes his duplicity. The fact is Sessions will take Doug Jones seat. I don't care who runs at the top of the ticket. Roy Moore will not be running. Again, the writer has to expand his assertion with fact. Collins should go down to any challenger as should Gardner. Kelly is running very strong in Az. The constant hand wringing and whinging from the writers at the Times, WAPO and msnbc reminds me of TR's man in the arena, get in the game and off the sidelines, or at least tell the truth.
1
I am no biblical scholar. However, I am familiar with some of the stories, and Moses not getting to go to the promised land limes Bernie's story of being largely right for decades and yet unfit to assume the mantel.
We who love not Trump, because we value truth above lies, and oath keeping above oath breaking, must now find our way to his unseating.
I am no biblical scholar. However, I am familiar with some of the stories, and Moses not getting to go to the promised land limes Bernie's story of being largely right for decades and yet unfit to assume the mantel.
We who love not Trump, because we value truth above lies, and oath keeping above oath breaking, must now find our way to his unseating.
Ugh.
Choice...
Everything is free Bernie Sanders
Young, White and Nerdy Pete Buttigieg
Who is Amy Klobuchar? Who?
Richer than God Bloomberg
Oddly enough, the only thing that may stop Trump from getting reelected is a complete collapse of the economy or an evil bug from China.
So our best bet is in the hands of China and Wall Street... ??
1
I'm glad you wrote this column, Mr. Kristof. I cringe all the time at presidential candidates making promises they need a working majority in both houses of Congress to even think about achieving (at least these days). If someone who scares a big chunk of the electorate for whatever reason actually makes it, I guesstimate a big, down-ticket backlash designed to keep a leash on that person. That turns that president into a one-term wonder and a great punching bag for the other side to use take back the House.
The defense that Sanders cannot be anti-Israel because he "lived on an Israeli kibbutz for a time and would be the first Jewish president" is absurd.
Accomplish what...?
Maybe a stock market adjustment...
I am a realist. Bernie feels as bad as the current clown in the Whitehouse.
Nick, IMHO, Stop Worrying
1
Really? You worry about Bernie's coattails. Where have you been? Bernie can't win; everyone, except you, knows it. Say hello to McGovern's echo. Question your assumptions about where the electorate is. Bernie would get killed in the general election.
Trump is not stupid. He's a con artist into who's lair you play.
The erasure of Elizabeth Warren continues at the paper which endorsed her. Nevertheless, we persist, fortified by her roadmap to victory, the sizable jump in new donors since NH Primary Day, and her current position as #3 in the race for delegates.
4
I like Mike.
1
Self-fulfilling prophecy, repeated ad nauseum by the MSM. Boogey man Sanders. Boo! Well guess what? We the People are on to your elitist neoliberal slant on the primaries.
Just imagine what we could do if there were honest and unbiased reporting about news that is important to working people. Imagine a Sanders presidency where we finally restore our government to the People.
Is there any doubt that the system is rigged and corrupt in favor of the wealthy?
Everything is for sale in the neoliberal worldview. Get behind Sanders as the 21st century FDR that he is and that our country so desperately needs. Democrats, Independwnts and the GOP voters will come together under Sanders. Look how well he did on Fox News!
#Sanders2020
1
The pundits of the NY Times, and most of the corporate news media in the United States, apparently are incapable of comprehending why Bernie Sanders is the Democratic front runner.
He is winning precisely because he is not a centrist.
A centrist will lose to Trump, as Hillary Clinton did in 2016, because the most savvy voters understand the urgent desire for change that most Americans are feeling right now. Trump offered that sense of change and won the Presidency as a result, but has not delivered, and has made a mess of everything he touches, unless you are gullible enough to believe the way they spin things on Fox News.
Bernie offers change in the direction most Americans want: towards support for the middle class, including relief from the abysmal, for-profit health care system we are currently stuck with.
Bernie's supporters are not an aberration, but are the smartest of the electorate. They are smart enough to know the US is already a socialist country, as it should be, except for the socialism for the 1% the GOP has committed to.
Voters for Buttigieg and Klobuchar are confused about Sanders, and the it is the corporate news media that has confused them. They will come around when they actually come to understand him, and realize that Bernie Sanders is in the best position defeat Trump, as polls have consistently shown for 5 years.
Sanders will mop the floor with Trump in the debates, offering the best hope for the recovery of the middle class.
4
I Worry About _______, and His/Her Coattails
In fact, you could use this title as a template and stick any one of the candidate's names in it because not one of the democrats currently running is a sure thing.
In short, their policy positions aside, what all the democratic candidates have in common is we're anxious about all of them. And that's likely not to change soon. But trust the process - a consensus will eventually emerge, if only the national media would give us time to actually come to one.
2
Bush's family thought that George w. Bush was not the right
person to be president. They thought Jeb Bush is smarter and more capable to be president.... with rigging the system in Florida and the help of the supreme court he was the president. Then came the first African American who against
all odds become the president. Now we have a president who the republicans establishment did not recognize as one of them, and does't know between true and false....
I saw Sanders answering questions in a FOX news town hall.
He did very well and was well received by the audience.
He has a very good chance against Trump, he is a real
fighter and will show the king that he has nothing to offer to voters.
3
After 40 years we have had Raygun, Bush, Bush and the wannabe dictator president all wanting end all the social safety nets. Why not Bernie or Elizabeth? Failure seems to follow the Democratic Party, time for a change.
1
It's good that Bernie has big ideas that don't have a nailed down path to execution.
If I'm negotiating a pay raise, I don't walk in and talk about how I'm going to do something moderate for a 3% increase. I talk about what I've done and my vision, and ask for a lot of money. Then I get from 7 to 15%, not 3% or "not this year."
The harder thing for me to gauge is whether in the overall population the anti-government burn-it-down group, which wants Trump or Bernie, outnumber the people in the middle who will vote with Trump or Bernie if forced to, but really will cluster around somebody else who just behaves mainstream normal and cools the country down. (Bernie is normal versus Trump, who is psycho in my opinion, but compared to the other Dems, he's so much more intense.)
I do think Bloomberg could do better in pushing Republican senators to their knees. Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham can easily win all R's against Bernie. But to battle with Bloomberg who is a crossover white Reagan Republican billionaire, the type they've solicited their whole lives, on issues people really want done like health care - that's gonna make them look like idiots. They'll fall back on boilerplate cultural issues like abortion and try to dogwhistle Bloomberg's Jewishness. But the evangelical base is so radicalised and disgusted with RINO hypocrisy. They will notice any betrayal of Trump and primary in mini-Trumps, who'll lose to centrists in a general.
Did the poll you mentioned say anything about citizen's willingness to vote for someone Jewish?
People want to know before they vote whose going to win. Sanders has the guts and the honesty to risk saying who he is and what he stands for . The voters hang back in the age of Joe McCarthy.Bernie Sanders goes forward to find solutions to today’s problems.
2
USSR stood for US socialist R
Nazi stood for National socialist.
I’ve tried to figure out the difference between socialism and communism and best I can tell, socialism is communism with a less scary name.
Give the government total control of the economy and see what happens.
Attack Bernie. Attack Bernie. This is getting tiresome and threatens our democracy. STOP New York Times. Enough.
8
Why no mention of Elizabeth Warren in your column?
4
It’s funny how Kristof, Sanders, and the rest of the gang of leftists don’t see themselves as anti-Israel in the slightest!
With everything happening in the world — take your pick....Russian aggression, Chinese hegemony, North Korea, the genocide of Muslims in China and Burma, Venezuela — it’s like OCD to constantly drag out the old Israeli line.
Sanders might be Jewish (in ancestry), he might’ve lived on a kibbutz decades ago. But the political company he keeps — who are anti-Israel, and in some cases openly anti-Jewish — gives him away.
You can scream to the skies that Sanders is Jewish and pro-Israel. The vast majority of American Jews see right through it. I personally would rather take my chances with Trump.
2
@David G.
Sanders *did* live in a kibuttz decades ago.
Israel sure loves the billions in US government aid they're given every year.
If the free market is so great, perhaps they should try living in it instead of accusing everyone who doesn't want to do business with them of being anti-Semitic.
Keep trying NYT, but you can’t stop Bernie.
4
I can help you with half your problem.....Bernie has no coat tails and he could care less about Democrats. How do I know? Been there... seen it before.
4
@j. g.
Actually Bernie is right. The hierarchy and leaders within the corporate/establishment of the party are really nothing more than republicans in disguise.
2
You worry about Sanders... Meanwhile AG Barr diabolically spits on and tears our constitution asunder.
3
Another win for Sanders, and--predictably--the NYT ratchets up it's alarmism and anti-Sanders rhetoric. Can their official editorial endorsement of Bloomberg be far behind?
3
The NYT's worries so much, Republicans don't worry at all.
1
aren't you the guy who said biden was "mr. electability"? and now that he's looking unelectable, you're asking, "if not joe -- poor joe! -- then who is mr. (or ms.) electability? surely not bernie sanders!"
but you've already been proven wrong on predicting mr. (or ms.) electability ... remember what you said about trump in 2016? ... remember what the polls, right up to the end, said about ms. clinton's chances?
you should sit and think on that for a while.
Vanity Fair, Washington Post, New Republic have described your stripe of democrat as "bedwetters." but that's pejorative. in plain fact, your all consuming anxiety to play nice and find the middle has eaten your moral fiber.
try going into the booth and voting your convictions, instead of voting the way you think somebody else might vote -- if the polls are right, if it doesn't rain, if wishes were horses.
and don't whine about "consensus" or "working across the aisle" because that pipe dream went up in smoke when the republican senate refused to even meet judge garland.
wake up. try fighting with a fighting spirit for a change. try fighting for what *you* believe in -- you might actually win.
3
Please, Nick, go with your heart as you usually do. Sanders is the real deal. Amy is just another mediocre politician.
2
More hand-wringing by out-of-touch liberal elites warning us of the dangers of Bernie. Shame on you, and shame on this newspaper for continuing on with this fear-mongering.
5
Amy Klobuchar is the right candidate for many reasons. She is moderate enough to pull in cross overs, a formidable woman candidate, has impressive experience at the national level, articulate, compassionate, and ELECTABLE. Bernie Sanders is divisive and sadly will not support anyone except himself.
2
I too am a lefty who supported Bernie last time. This time it was Warren. After visiting with some other far-left friends from the coast, we decided to back Amy due to the red block of states in the middle of the country with all the electoral college votes. We're willing to "take one for the team" and let our ideologies take a temporary backseat in order to beat Trump.
Our greatest enemy in 2020 isn't socialism, feminism or LBGTQ. Our greatest enemy is the multi-million dollar disinformation, fake-news, alternative-fact campaign by Republicans. Trump will be relentless with his PR machine.
One factor that contributed to the rise of fascism in Germany and to Hitler is this: the left tore itself apart with bickering. Their fights led to their destruction and contributed to totalitarianism in Germany, Italy, and Japan.
Our left needs to suck it up and take one for the team by coalescing behind a moderate.
3
If Amy doesn’t do well in So Carolina and Nevada, perhaps she would agree to a VP position with Warren, that could be announced before Super Tuesday. That could be a winning ticket!
In any case, since nobody knows who can really beat Trump, I’m continuing to support Warren. One thing she needs right now is money to be able to continue to compete. I just donated again today. Please join me!
1
Nick is right. Wake up Dems and nominate someone who can win. Need more evidence? Read this: https://www.wsj.com/articles/hillary-clinton-without-the-snark-and-baggage-11581552190?mod=opinion_lead_pos6
1
If Sanders being "anti-Israel" is absurd then why are overtly "anti-Israel" figures like Linda Sansour -- whise anti-Semitic bigotry got her removed from the Women's March leadership -- eager surrogates for his campaign? Ditto "anti-Israel" Congresswomen Omar and Tlaib. The "anti-Israel" leaders sure seem to think that Bernie is anti-Israel, even in Kristof is too naive to notice this himself.
2
@TMDJS
Probably for the same reason that Harvey Weinstein, Ed Buck, and Jeffery Epstein were big bundlers for the Clintons and the Democratic Party in general.
Are they pedophiles rapists and murderers just because they accepted the support of people who are those things?
Amy !
1
For a paper that loves to praise diversity, there is a remarkable lack of diversity of opinion among NYT's op-ed columnists. It's so boring and predictable to read these hit pieces on Sanders.
No matter, I made a pledge a few weeks ago to donate $2 to the Sanders campaign every time the NYT churns out another column whining about Sanders. I may reach the $2800 limit in a few days.
2
I worry about the NYT not learning from its mistakes in 2016.
3
The basic difference between Republicans and Democrats since 1980 - the Republicans will nominate a dumb fool with zero knowledge, and play it cool, while the Democrats will nominate a guy with decades of experience in the Senate and the Vice-Presidency and then keep worrying if he is too boring, if he needs to wear earth tones, if he is too this or that. And lose.
Then the Democrats will nominate a Vietnam Veteran to run against the combat dodger who is the incumbent who has put us into a useless war and is managing it terribly. The Republicans will stay cool, call the Veteran a liar, a poser, an elitist, a coward, a traitor ... and the Democrats will wring their hands, the so-called Liberal columnists will clutch their pearls, whine, moan ... and the lousy incumbent will win solidly.
Then the Republicans will nominate a draft dodger, a conman, a pervert, a liar, a boor and glorified pimp, all rolled in one, who will run a campaign of thugs, liars, Russians. The Democrats will nominate a woman with name recognition and tons of experience ... wring their hands, clutch their pearls and lose to the Republican.
So keep clutching your pearls folks, somehow, miraculously, this time will be different. Indulge your insecurities, whine, moan, natter, please. Stroke it stroke it. What do you have to lose, ... just the best Constitutional Republic in the world!
3
One primary and a blown-up Iowa caucus, and America and the pundits run around like a clown act at the circus.
First, there is no perfect candidate.
Second, any of the democrats can defeat Trump, because...
Third, never in my lifetime of 68 years has the Democratic party been united and afraid like it is against Trump, and when Democrats go to the pools they will NOT be ticket splitting. The Republican Senate has assured that.
So here's the answer: Let the primary process continue and the American people will decide.
And as far as "can't win" goes:
JFK can't win because he's Catholic.
Obama can't win because he's black.
Hillary can't win because she's a woman.
Trump can't win because he's a lying moron.
History says otherwise.
1
First off let me say that I'd be DELIGHTED to see Amy Klobuchar sworn in as our next president.
But unless the Republicans run another convicted sex offender nothing is going to save that Senate seat in Alabama. And Kansas is probably a little bit less in play than Oz.
As for the British experience. Yes, the Laborites lost, but the more centrist Liberals were virtually EXPUNGED from the political landscape.
Betting on Bernie is undoubtedly a gamble. But the other side is betting on a perverted moron with the manners of a poorly trained canine.
I say we GO FOR IT.
Klobuchar will turn out to be a one-hit-wonder from the New Hampshire primary. Off all the candidates, she seems the most fake to me. Behind the scenes, she treats her underlings with contempt, then in public, she tries to come off as this "aw, shucks" Mom from the midwest. Her snarky comments to Buttigieg shows who she really is. She mocked Buttigieg for losing a state-wide election in Indiana. But she looks silly now, especially since Buttigieg beat her outright by over 28000 votes in Iowa and New Hampshire. No thanks, I'll pass on Fake Amy.
6
My fear is that Democrats will fall into the trap of picking a zealot for their side rather than someone who can govern the country for all. We could end up with a candidate whose proposals are as impossibly expensive and impractical as Trump’s are biased and stupid.
2
I am so very, very tired of the NY Times doing all they can to minimize and denigrate Bernie Sanders. Come on Times, your corporate overlords are showing!
3
on what planet does anyone think that a 38 yo mayor who couldnt win a senate seat in his own state and pulled strings for special treatment in the military is going to beat Trump?
And now the Times is turning to a Republican mayor who banned gun, large sodas, and said 95% of murders are committed by black people.
3
Hillary redux,
1
Why does the NYT keep calling Sanders a socialist? You sound like Fox News. Sanders calls himself a Democratic Socialist.
3
None of us have crystal balls. But having grown up in a swing district in PA, I can say with confidence that a lot of people back home see Sanders as an exotic fish who they would never voter.
Biden, Klobuchar, even Bloomberg in a heartbeat.
1
How sad to see that Kristof buys into the antisemitic trope of dual loyalty. Just because Sanders is Jewish doesn't mean that he has an interest in Israel's security. His foreign policy clearly aligns with those who would like to see Israel wiped off the face of the earth.
2
this "NYT Replies" is a good idea, helps keeping discourse educated
1. Love Sanders and Warren, donated to Bernie 2016, voted Clinton
2. Neither of their policy proposals stand a chance unless Democrats retain the house and take the senate
3. If they remain in the senate, under a Democratic president and house their proposals stand much better odds of becoming reality to the best degree possible
4. I too own stock that's doing well - for now. Emphasis on now.
5. trump is rolling back financial regulations/laws left and right. The same regulations/laws implemented to avoid a recurrence of 2008.
6. trump is running up enormous debt, wants to return to the gold standard (not good) and is putting charlatans in control of the Fed.
7. Pay attention folks: the average Russian citizen has a net worth of $11,000. Putin's net worth estimated $70 - $200 Billion - as Speaker Pelosi said "all roads lead to Russia" with this lawless president who has the keys to the treasury and is heavily influenced by authoritarian kleptocrats.
8. Job number one is to defeat trump.
9. trump want's to run against Sanders (or Warren) - he will savage them both. The outcome may even be close, but a repeat of 2016 is an odds on bet.
10. See number 8.
11. See number 8
12. See number 8
We can not withstand a trump win. He must be defeated in a landslide. That's a must or it's over for democracy and the rule of law.
@Deb , my guess is that republicans and independents in CA will join some dems in CA and cast their votes for bernie. That's who their man trump wants to run against. Usually-- I like many of us--complain about being disenfranchised in the general election. This time I am scared to death of what posers here will do to change the course of our election, and history as a result.
1
To change the electability equation re: Sanders, we need to start talking differently about socialism. We socialize activities we can't afford on our own. Is our highway system "socialistic"? Our public education system
@Cheryl I accidently didn't get to finish my thought above. Health care and, in many cases, higher education are other socially essential functions people can no longer afford on their own. Bernie Sanders is not proposing to nationalize the oil or steel companies.
Will the moderate wing of the Democratic party act precisely as they accuse the progressive wing of the Democratic party of acting in 2016?
In other words, will moderates, disappointed in the Democrat's nominee, hand Trump re-election and hand the Senate and perhaps the House to the Republican party?
If so, then I never want to read another word about how Sanders cost Hillary Clinton the presidency.
If not, then Sanders is electable.
1
I wished one of the other candidates would trash Bernie Sanders as Trump would do. Then it would become clear how vulnerable he is.
I know Sanders is a Democratic Socialist. I am too. I grew up in Europe and know how well it works. (My student debt: $5000, paid back within a year.) But I know too many Americans do not know.
So.
Sanders will turn our country into Venezuela!
Venezuela, I tell you. Have you seen what happened there?
Sanders will ruin our economy. There will be hunger. There will be mass exodus.
Sanders wants to forgive all student debt. That's nuts! Didn't we all pay back our debt? If nobody pays back their debt anymore, the economy will collapse. The Great Recession will be like a walk in the park compared to the havoc that Bernie will create. Trump is not good either. I can see that. But at least the economy is in good shape. You can kiss that all goodbye with Bernie.
Etc etc
If the Democratic establishment and the rational media, like the MYT, supported him, and carefully explained his policies, he would win much more easily. They need to get behind him and #NeverTrump.
1
With two sets of Americans, there are gaps in common mental ground even for purposes of argument.
One set consists of Democrats who can't be engaged in a discussion of choices and consequences. When asked to consider whether it’s wiser to go all out for the defeat of Donald Trump or to attempt that and some other great thing at the same time, they ignore the challenge and simply state, for example, that other countries have single-payer health insurance and that to advocate it is not radical. The rest, to them, is defeatism.
The other set consists of Republicans who can't be engaged in a discussion of Trump's dangerous incompetence and malign influence. They'll talk only about the economic lift they're getting on his watch or the service they expect from his Supreme Court nominees. The rest, to them, is party-pooping. These are people who'd happily ride in a big, comfortable car driven by a chimpanzee.
The Republicans in question can't or won't process any evidence of a clear and present danger. With the Democrats it's evidence that the danger, if not conquered at once, will render all their aspirations academic for years to come. Warnings simply pass through them like so many neutrinos. Hubris rules.
Reasoning with Republicans is not in my line, so I'll keep trying with Democrats. As you want *anything* to the left of what Trump is serving up, you must want Trump out for starters. Then you must want a Democratic Senate. That's a page we should all be able to get on.
A Bernie win
Go vote with the Bern to socialist hell,
When taxes go sky high you watch ‘em yell
For relief and run to their tax peep
To count how much income they get to keep;
Empty pockets, - hello! - they’ve nothing to lose
Get from the get-go free meds as they choose,
Free socialist goodies, a no-work hard job,
Dip in the state till - it’s income to rob;
Peeps with a bundle, no prob, they’ll just move
To Switzerland - yodels! - a smart money.
They will call Democrats socialist extremists no matter what.
Might as well get some good policy out of it.
As for the Senate, there are people in there who would vote against the second coming of Christ if a Democrat proposed it.
The best part of an abusive relationship is when you realize it's not your fault. That's when you get to start living again.
An entire generation has grown up being called extremist, socialist, stupid, unlikeable, ghetto. My whole life I remember hearing that thinking, "Gee, why are Democrats so bad?"
Guess what? We aren't. We have won 7/8 of the last elections by the popular vote and before someone comes in and says "that doesn't count" guess what, sometimes rules are stupid and the electoral college with limited electors is stupid.
Republicans go below the belt and use personal insults and gaslighting to tell Democrats that they are losing because Democrat personalities suck.
Meanwhile, they are gerrymandering swing states and taking every advantage of the unfairness of the electoral college to win even without the popular vote.
Now, it is our fault for playing their stupid game, but we can stop. We can stop arguing about likeability for gods sake and talk about how the electoral college is creating serious inequality in individual voting power.
At least Alabama voters know Sanders does what he says. It really means a lot to people. You'd be surprised.
1
By all means lets pick Biden. Here is news for you I am an American who lives in Canada, spend lots of time in California where Trump guts are hated rightly so. You and those that write wring their hands don't want to look at the reality Blue states are fed up with feeding low tax welfare sucking Red states. California has a 30% surplus this year loaded Prius, but I rented a Ford Hybryd. 5th largest economy in the world, do you really believe that if Trump wins in the Electoral College again and gets millions votes less there won't be an explosion. I have lived there, born in NYC, lived in Boston more people are saying we can leave live very well and let the rednecks eat dirt. Rand Paul the nasty piece of work his state sucks out $40 billion more than they put in. I was a Marine vet in the war that Capt. Coward paid his way out of. Paul has stopped every bill that would provide benefits to men who served can't afford it, but hey he voted for the tax cut. My point America is on the edge if you think the blowup won't come you should get out more. As Mao said "Power comes from the barrel of a gun." Democrats try to be nice to evil, vile nasty people. I had a bully bother kids when I was young one day after I had enough I punched him in the face broke his nose - never bothered me again. Watch old news in 68 it was to be the last election with the Electoral College funny every time cheated it has been a Democrat. Check out the Calif. flag bear and words Republic. Jim Trautman
1
The coattail issue is a big one. Sanders certainly energizes his own base but hasn't ever (this years, or four years ago) really proven he can expand much beyond that.
The people Democrats most need to attract in the coming election - independents and the mainstream Republicans that would be open to someone other than Trump - could probably easily vote for Joe, or Bloomberg, or Amy, but would likely never vote for Bernie. You either love him or hate him, and there's even a not small number of Democrats that hate him.
But the down-ballot issue is huge. A lot of Obama's initial success came from being widely and enthusiastically loved across the Democratic party, a party he united and energized. The result being that he didn't just win in 2008, Democrats also picked up 8 seats in the Senate (can you imagine how huge that would be in 2020?), and 21 in the House.
And now, the Democrats may nominate as their standard bearer a man that is not even a member of the party, and is at times actively and publicly critical of its leadership. He had to take an oath that he's a Democrat that would govern as a Democrat (all primary candidates did), but even today if you go to Senate.gov, he is still listed as "I-VT", not "D-VT".
He has no loyalty to the party, and is the only candidate with supporters who loudly boo Hillary, and will openly say that if he gets "screwed" out of the nomination again, they will not support the winning candidate.
Uniters have coattails. Dividers do not.
1
He is an unpleasant man to deal with. He will never ever get his agenda through Congress. He will ensure no down-ballot votes for Democrats as voters will "balance" him against a pure Republican Congress.
Disaster plain and simple.
2
Alert! Alert! This election is an existential one. That's an oft overused term, but not this time. Four more years of an out of control, racist, truth challenged, morals challenged, ignorant, narcissistic, (add any number of other pejoratives here), will doom our democracy and environment for years. We can't afford to find out if Bernie (and frankly Pete as well-whom I personally favor) can be elected. Biden's sell by date has long passed-Trump didn't do him in, Biden's demeanor and fumbling did.
Who's left that is electable with fewer risks?
Klobuchar or Bloomberg. And please don't harp on their past flaws. If recent polls about black voters are correct, many are willing to forgive Bloomberg for his stop and frisk policies. If they can, so should you. They get it. Goal number one, two and three is removing the most divisive president in recorded history... of any country (allow me a little poetic license here).
So, please all sane voters, hold your nose if you have to and nominate an electible candidate with the least warts. Save your ideological purity for the next election.
2
I heard a voter yesterday in New Hampshire say something like, “just wait till Trump gets in Klobuchar’s face on the debate stage—she’ll clobber him!” ...Seriously? It’s easier to picture Klobuchar looking shocked with mouth agape as she tries to take in and respond (decently) to some profane insult that shouldn’t be uttered in mixed company let alone on national TV. Face it, the guy’s a beast, and has no shame. I’ll take Mike in that situation every time.
1
Very clear and concise. Trump: a horrible person and horrible candidate for the GOP, but it doesn’t matter. For THEIR Voters. Sanders: a decent person, but with significant baggage that will be exploited to an infinitesimal degree. Coattails ?? No. The Senate Dems will be avoiding his “ help “, if they’re smart.
That said: I absolutely VOW to Vote for the Democratic Nominee, whomever that may BE. Period.
@To many commenters who are afraid of socialism and Bernie the socialist:
Why do you bother reading the Times? Do you even understand what you read?
Do you know what socialism is? Do you know what social democracy is?
Have you been to Norway, Denmark or Sweden?
I doubt it.
People live real well there. Under social democracy, they worry about things that really matter. They enjoy their lives knowing there is a government that has their back when they are ill, when they need their children to attend decent schools without paying a penny, their parents to have excellent long-term care without paying a dime, not to worry about their young ones losing their limbs or even their lives in wars that they have no clue why we are fighting.
But why am I wasting my time?
The dog barks, the caravan moves on, I learned from my dear professor Edward Said at Columbia. It is apparently a middle-eastern saying.
2
To all NYT Sanders cheerleaders, the question was, can Sanders bring coattails on key Senate and House races. We all know that Democratic moderates won in 2018, beating out long-held Republican seats. How many of those Democrats are clamoring for Sanders at the top of ticket? Crickets.
1
Agree with you completely, Mr. Kristof.
Cranky old white man, history of heart disease, with a wafer thin legislative portfolio is the Democratic Party front-runner - two tiny white states have decided. Really tiny and really white. Articulate and gutsy progressive female Senator with a Plan for Everything, a history of sorting complex financial issues and law, Nevertheless, is lagging at a distant fourth. Old uncle Joe is calling people stupid names again. Bloomberg is carrying Stop and Frisk baggage heavier and more tangible than Hillary's fake Benghazi/Foundation slanders. The inspiring younger candidates with a little more melanin ran out of money. Trump is cutting Medicare, Social Security, Health Care Access, Science Funding in the middle of a global virus scare, giving tax cuts to Billionaires. Anyone should be able to beat that man.
2
You're right to worry. Sanders is a lousy candidate and would likely lose in November. He would be an even worse president, although not as bad as Trump is.
Klobuchar is a partisan who couldn't even win the state next to hers. Why do you think that is? She will have issues with the African American community because of her prosecution of drugs and minorities. She is every bit the socialist, just at a slower pace. She will not be the nominee, she doesn't have the money. Moreover, the left's obsession with gender for president would cost them another election. Every Republican I know would vote for a woman, but they want her to be qualified.
1
As opposed to the "betting markets" referenced, there are other polls showing Sanders beating Trump nationwide:
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_sanders-6250.html
Of course the majority of Democrats are Liberals and Moderates, we are not Democratic Socialists. Furthermore how do we get to a point where the candidate with the 2nd highest number of Democrat Delegates is not a member of the party.
Trumps approval rating 'was' at a new high last week, however it is back to where it always has been according to today's polls on Real Clear Politics .
It is odd that the media including the NYT failed to report this preferring to keep the false narrative going that Trumps approval rating is higher than ever.
Tuesday February 12th.
President Trump Job Approval
Reuters/Ipsos ,Approve 44, Disapprove 55 ,Disapprove +11.
President Trump Job Approval
Politico/Morning Consult ,Approve 43,Disapprove 54 ,Disapprove +11
President Trump Job Approval
Economist/YouGov ,Approve 45, Disapprove 52 ,Disapprove +7.
So can we please just drop the scaremongering, Democrats will probably have an Open Convention which will ultimately be Bernie's undoing and result in us having a candidate run in 2020 that truly is representative of the majority opinion .
1
Sanders "shows unusual political courage" in criticizing Israel? How is that courageous? It's pretty mainstream, Nic. Courage is showing unequivocal support for Israel.
1
Please stop calling him a socialist.
He is not for state controlled industry.
He is not against capitalism.
He is not against private ownership - except of prisons and armies
Your use of that term seems meant to negatively influence your readers.
Please be careful in Your use of words...
I’m a member of the Democratic Party. That doesn’t mean I always vote along with the Party.
From the recent debate, I concluded that no Democratic candidate can beat Trump, who holds little favor for me.
I pondered this and came up with this radical plan.
Joe Biden is the only top candidate who is Catholic (weak as it may be). I think if he had a conversion towards his faith (and make it bigger and grander than Romney) would be one big step.
Next, being a Catholic, he should repudiate the Democrat’s pro-abortion plank. I mean follow his faith and stop the killing of the unborn.
This stance would separate him from the crowd, certainly. Would the other candidates attack him for being the pro-life’er? That would likely build more credibility for beating
Trump (appearing now to be pro-life).
Let’s assume the Latino Catholics put their vote behind Biden. And, likewise, a Super-majority of white Catholics. Add to that, the otherwise Christian vote.
Note - in the 2016 election white Catholics and other Christians supported Trump against a liberal, pro-choice Clinton. No wonder.
Maybe I’m all wet but if the Dems want the White House, this strategy is far superior to any other Dem strategy being offered to date.
So, Joe - Live Truth, Live Catholic!
2
Bernie is great, vote for Bernie! I am going to have the biggest Trump victory party next November!
1
Quit lying.
You aren't concerned that Bernie won't have the support of a Senate majority. You are scared that he might.
Don't you recall what happened in 2016? You seem to ignore what happened between Clinton and Sanders. Also, the New Hampshire results show it outnumbered the 2008 results. Where are you coming from. You seem to be negative on everything, including your past. You need to rethink your motives.
You forgot Elizabeth Warren. Erase, erase, erase. Thanks.
3
These daily attacks on Sanders from the op-ed board are getting tiresome. It is infuriating to read the same tired criticisms lobbed at Bernie from different columnists, though they could have been written by the same timorous author.
Just to debunk some of the commonly peddled distortions which appear in today's column:
1) The fallacy that Bernie Sanders and Jeremy Corbyn are cut from the same cloth. They are not. Corbyn, a proponent of nationalizing a number of industries, stands well to the left of Sanders. More importantly, Corbyn is a weak politician, unable to motivate his base even when a majority of people opposed Brexit. Sanders, a democratic socialist, seeks a single payer healthcare plan, which already exists in places like the UK and most Western democracies, regardless of whether they are presently ruled by the left or right. Sanders is a skilled politician. No other candidate on the left has galvanized the public as he has. Not even close.
2) The tired notion that moderation means electability. The GOP never seems to worry about this, and thus, they win elections. Their candidates stand for something and do not try to please everyone. Where has moderation got us so far? In 2000, Dems picked the moderate Gore over Bradley. Loss. In 2004, Dems went for the moderate Kerry. Loss. In 2008, Dems picked an outlier and held the presidency for 8 years. In 2016, Dems reverted to caution and lost to Trump. Lesson? If you want change, vote for change.
4
@Stewart
As another contributed separately - not accepted -
Like all NYT regulars Mr. Kristof also received - in plausibly-denial form to be sure - the Sulzberger memo to the effect that any who support Bernie Sanders candidacy will be summarily canned.
1
What did the betting pools say about Hillary vs. Trump?
You probably didn't even think about his coattails because he didn't have a prayer in your estimation, and yet they proved pretty impressive, delivering Republicans both houses of Congress.
Maybe it's time for the highly paid political pundits to admit that they don't know the electorate nearly as well as they think.
If, and it's a big if, Sanders somehow is elected as President and the Senate remains in the clutches of Republicans, Sanders will be a one term President and progressive values will be buried for another generation. I am not willing to gamble on Sanders. His time is passing, fast.
2
Et tu, Nichol-us? I am very sad that you have joined the anti-Bernie conspiracy. He would have won the nomination and then the general election — in 2016 if the political and media establishment hadn’t fought him at every opportunity, and given a level playing field in 2020 — no voter suppression, no Russian interference — he’d win now too.
2
I’m not sure how I see this analysis as evidence of conspiracy, and I am absolutely certain that this sort of silly accusation is half the reason I rather hope that St. Bernie’s not the nominee.
Sanders should choose Mitt Romney as his vice president. Perfect together.
2
So many things wrong with this column!
1."The accusation that Sanders, who lived on an Israeli kibbutz for a time and would be the first Jewish president, is anti-Israel is absurd." No it is not. The far left since the sixties has been anti-Israel.
2."Amy Klobuchar might be the strongest Democratic nominee in swing states." because she looks and acts like Republican.
3
"The man who never alters his opinions is like stagnant water and breeds crocodiles of the mind."
- William Blake 1757-1827 (a radical thinker, poet and painter)
1
Amy Klobuchar - the Senator from Cargill, who favors mining near the Boundary Waters and who has been asked to suspend her campaign by BLM and the NAACP? That’s your candidate? Wow!
6
Very sad how the NYT op-ed writers (Friedman, Krugman, Kristof, for some examples) are lining up to do all they can to block Bernie. They would rather have _anyone_ than Bernie, including Alfred E. Neumann and Billionaire Mike. Even though the two of them two would lose handily to Trump. What does that tell you about the craven Democratic Party and the mainstream media? That they are on the side of the .01% , that's what. Still, it's fun watching the rats scramble now that Sleepy Joe has been finally shown to be the empty noxious suit that he is.
6
@Andrzej Warminski
As another contributed separately - not accepted -
Like all NYT regulars Mr. Kristof also received - in plausibly-denial form to be sure - the Sulzberger memo to the effect that any who support Bernie Sanders candidacy will be summarily canned.
If she picked Julian Castro for a running mate, I'm with her.
Don’t worry, he won’t have any coattails
Another day, another critical column about Bernie. Ho-hum. As Bpb Dylan asked years ago, "something is happening here and you don't know what it is, do you, Mr. Jones?"
5
"But his proposals have almost no chance of becoming law, particularly if the Senate stays in Republican hands." Kristof apparently has no memory of the stupid and grand things that republicans have managed to get through Congress: The Patriot Act, a Medicare Drug Law that doesn't allow price negotiation, and the multitrillion dollar tax reduction that went to the already rich. Presidents need to be bold and persistent and then can actually do big things.
2
Yikes! It's only hours since messed-up Iowa and little New Hampshire and you've got the race figured out? It's almost like Trump and his gang are pulling the levers in the back room. Maybe they are...
3
It is a trivial fact that everyone seems to forget: history actually does not repeat itself. It moves forward although it has kinks along the way.
People who have the disease of comparing the present conjuncture to some time in the past (McGovern, Eugene Debs, FDR, even Barry Goldwater) to 2020 USA under a crazy man (surprisingly Nero or Caligula do not make the cut!) is plain nonsense. This is today. A society that is in its last legs pretending it is a democracy. A nation that has lost its moral compass, even for on that was founded on theft and prospered thanks to the basest of human institution: slavery.
We need Bernie more than ever. He is a man who dedicated his life to installing Rawlsian Justice principles to our society. It is his time. Please don’t stay in the way. The millions who send him their lunch money will steamroll you over. That is how history works.
NYC 21:30
4
Another McGovern?
Midwest unthreatening is something this Democrat probably wouldn't vote for. I want someone who threatens the garbage in the Republican party and on Wall Street that have been driving our country into the ground.
3
Takes a New Yorker to beat a New Yorker and I believe Bloomberg can do it and expose Trump's many scams along the way.
"Ronald Reagan can't win".
"Barack Obama can't win".
"Donald Trump can't win".
"Bernie Sanders can't win".
Hmmmm...I'm feeling better and better about Sanders'chances.
4
“We’re all terrible at figuring out who is electable and who isn’t.”
Couldn’t you just leave it at that? Bernie can beat trump.
3
Bernie is the "smartest kid on the block" as the expression goes. So is Bloomberg. Here isn the problem. The Trump GOP syndicate at one end and Bernie the extreme other. Bernie and Ocasio-Cortez Democrat Socialism created what will lead to Democrats all being labeled Socialists which is terrible. They are hurting us. The other Democrat smust step aside big time. Trump and we got here because both parties ignored illegal immigration for 40 years and with that endless birther babies daily from illegals. . Border security is unclear with my Dems. A huge mistake is that ads all sound like they’ll crush big business and banks with taxes. Wrong way to go. With that plan and term limits throwing away valuable experience gained it could cost them the election. They should be saying “we will create fairness in taxation and it will be good for business and the planet. A win win. Good for all”. I will go for Bloomberg but they need to not threaten business but make it clear there is a great path with fair taxes and climate efforts with allies who have been shunned.
2
We had the best candidate four years ago, her name was Hillary Rodham Clinton. But her emails!
We had another candidate that was the full package, youthful, full of solid policies, her name was Kamala Harris. But she’s......
College is already almost free if one invokes either two letters – GI – or four – ROTC. Politicians struggle to tell people who passionately demand something for which others have to pay: “nothing is free; if you want something, earn it.”
Income inequality is an inevitable consequence of freedom. Naturally, Sanders’s solution to the “problem” is less freedom. He COULD demand that every registered Democrat with a net worth of over $1M give the excess to the government. THAT would make us all a lot more equal and has the virtue of insisting that whiners lead by example. (The fairest tax system is a capitation: as everyone benefits equally, everyone should pay the same.)
Health care. Costs started exploding in the 1960s – not coincidentally when government got involved and it became increasingly “free”. While we Republicans are not down with mandates, the individual mandate was originally a “right wing” idea for a reason: it DEMANDS that people act responsibly. The least awful of all non-freedom proposals is one which ensures that people understand that nothing is ever “free”.
And “sensible judges” are those who understand the job description and follow the law, not make it up. That is 180 degrees removed from what progressives demand.
That 45% of Americans would back a socialist is truly scary. We, obviously, need to break the public school monopoly so students are again instructed in traditional American concepts of liberty. And basic economics.
1
self-fulfilling prophecy
I was an enthusiastic Clinton supporter in 2016, and Sanders hasn't been my fave among the 2020 Dems (though he's rising). Yet even from this perspective, it's hard to read the NYT these days and not feel the paper has a death wish for Sanders' campaign. It's not just that so many NYT pundits oppose Sanders; it's how sloppy they've become as journalists when they air their opinions.
Kristof (whom I admire even more than Clinton or Sanders) really disappoints in this column, borrows two tricks that are popular among Sanders detractors. The first is to repeatedly refer to him as a "socialist," as if the "democratic" part of "democratic socialist" hardly means anything. Instead, it means a ton. Socialism is a large pool that includes even communism; just labeling Sanders a socialist invites those who don't know his positions to associate him with extreme socialist positions. NYT journalists should be explaining to readers what democratic socialism is, in particular, how limited its socialist elements are.
Second is buting in to the repeated claim in these pages that Sanders is all-or-nothing, and not good at working with others. Back in 2015, there were articles all over the media expressing surprise at his record of working across the aisles and achieving meaningful compromise. Sanders' modus operandi is to campaign on ideals and principles, but to do what he can to build coalitions when he governs. NYT, maybe report a little more on *that*.
8
There is one thing in my mind when I think about the November elections, and that is we need a new president. One that is not corrupt, I really don't care who s/he is.
It is not about the person running it is about who we are.
I will vote for who ever is nominated by the majority in the Democratic Party. Same goes for the Senate.
2
Worry, worry, worry. Why all this trembling? Bernie is blast offresh air in a fetid swamp. Be of good courage. The uniform "anyone-but-Bernie" position of the Times opinion writers is a failure of the imagination. We are in grim times and like not tie since the Depression it calls for sweeping change.
4
This is a put up or shut up election for democrats. If you reject Sanders and the progressive left, you should stop pretending to be anything but conservatives wishing to preserve the status quo. Endless war and crony capitalism will be the platform. Lefty folks should quit voting for democrats and form another party.
3
How come there are ONLY 5 anti-Sanders pieces up in the paper at this time? Is this the best you can do when a "full court pres" is the order of the day?
5
Is Bernie Sanders even a Democrat? I know he caucuses with them, but isn't he an Independent?
How is he running in the Democratic primary?
I'm quite serious about this question. My tongue is no where near my cheek.
Bernie Sanders calls himself a Democratic Socialist and is named as an Independent 99% of the time I see his party affiliation identified.
According to this article:
https://www.npr.org/2019/03/04/700121429/bernie-sanders-files-to-run-as-a-democrat-and-an-independent
Sanders is an opportunist and fake Democrat, at best.
So, how is it that he's running in the Democratic primary?
I really, really want to know!
1
@Elfego el Gato
Corresponding question -
Were either of the Clintons ever Democrats - or did they simply use and transmogrify that label to serve their own self-advancing ambitions?
Mr. Kristof is right. So is Mr. Friedman.
Democrats are delusional and worship at the alter of their ideals. That is why we keep scratching our heads after every election wondering how we got it wrong. Meanwhile, Republicans see this weakness in our strategy, they note the confusion and make us look stupid and out of touch. Their strategy is laser -focused : they focus on winning at all costs.
We are in a struggle that many of you don’t grasp the seriousness of. We are going to lose our country, our democracy for good. The battle is real. It is not a debate about the environment, student loan debt, and healthcare, anymore. Take your ideals off the alter and get serious about this ruthless war. You are not in reality. And for that collective miscalculation we will all pay with a fascist dictator and his machine staying in power.
You're wrong about New Hampshire turnout. It set a record surpassing the 2008 turnout.
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/02/new-hampshire-democratic-primary-turnout-sets-new-record.html
"The accusation that Sanders, who lived on an Israeli kibbutz for a time and would be the first Jewish president, is anti-Israel is absurd."
Look at who he surrounds himself with. His closest supporters include Linda Sarsour and Ilhan Omar. Further, he feels entitled to his own facts when it comes to casualty figures during Israel's conflicts, such as when he stated that the casualties in the Gaza War were larger than Hamas (which is no more committed to the truth than DJT) was claiming.
1
Sanders can not win! Get real: an Independent Socialist running vs a good Economy? His 'opening act' would be to toss 150M people off their Insurance. The results of him running on the Democratic ticket would be the ruination of the Party.
My first vote ever was for McGovern. I only cast my ballots for DEMS in every election since that humiliating experience. This would be worse! And the bunch of Bernie Bros ain't getting all that FREE stuff no matter how many times he yells the same message over & over.
Defeating Trump is the only message that will unite the DEMS & place the Country on a sane course from this madness.
Bloomberg or Bust!
2
IF........Dems win a majority in The Senate & keep it in The House. Then any current Senator who voted for no evidence that remains in office under The Senate should be removed. The good thing is that Congress Members can be removed without a trial a simple majority vote is all that’s needed. Then the states can have special elections to elect New Senators. Also The Chief Justice should resign or be impeached for his complicity in not allowing evidence & demanding Trump testify given he was Ordered by The USC to preside over the Trial. To be clear in the Senate case has nothing to do with final votes cast. It refers to the Show Trial that the Senate majority presented instead of holding one based on all relevant evidence being presented.
Some may think if Dems have control of the new Congress why bother to remove the past Senators; let bygones be bygones. No. This is about getting back to a ‘Constitutional Republic & Democratic Processes as a Standard not an option. Public Offices must have occupants who maintain those Offices with Honor & Trust. We lazily crept into this demise over decades of USC malfeasance now we must forcibly jump free!
2
The British have elected many qualified socialist leaders and members of Parliament: Clement Attlee, Harold Wilson, James Callahan, Tony Blair, Ramsay MacDonald... They voted Winston Churchill-- Churhill-- out of office before the end of WWII and installed a Labour government that oversaw, among other things, the National Health Service.
2
The Times, Washington Post and NBC are all so very “worried” about this prospect— nearly hysterically so. obsessively so. What if anybody had power, even for five minutes, you hadn’t hung out with at cocktail parties?
This concerted onslaught on Bernie & his "electability" is amazing especially in the NYT. Anyways, it motivated me to start my day by donating to his campaign. Paging all Friedmans, Carvilles, Blankfeins , keep it coming, please.
3
Another NY Times columnist, another column “worried” or “concerned” about the nomination of Sanders.
First, some clarification is in order. The recent UK election wasn’t socialism vs conservatism, it was Brexit vs maybe Brexit, maybe not. It has zero relevance in the American context.
Second, although you showed some seemly humility in this column, Nicholas, you and your colleagues need to show some more.
How dare you come out attacking Sanders’ electability when you made the same arguments in 2016 to disastrous effect, saddling Democrats with one of the least popular candidates in modern history, leading directly to the election of a villainous imbecile? The chutzpah is unbelievable.
Third, it’s good you looked to the betting markets to make your case. Because the head to head polls of Sanders v Trump currently show Sanders winning. Just as they showed Sanders winning (and Clinton losing) to Trump in 2016.
Finally, if the Times expects to be taken seriously, can’t you try to camouflage marching in lockstep? How is it that Sanders can appeal to a large plurality of Democrats and yet MAYBE only one regular Times columnist does anything but attack him?
The Democratic Party narrative about Bernie isn't supported by the data. Bernie is massively popular with independents, and polls better than Biden against Trump. But don't take my word for it, see for yourself:
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_sanders-6250.html
2
Please move to Elizabeth Warren. She can challenge trump.
2
You just ignored Senator Warren.
3
I work with a bunch of scientists who are brilliant, really important thinkers. Inevitably, due to that brilliance, one is moved up the ladder to be in charge of the department, and inevitably that person falls flat on his or her face.
Why? Because they are scientists, not administrators.
They just don't have that skill set. It's not what they do.
Bernie is also an important thinker, a passionate and forthright critic of what is wrong with America. I will be forever grateful to him for moving the discussion back to the people and issues of basic economic fairness. If nominated I will vote for him.
But he be WILL be crushed in the election. I also know that if by some miracle he prevails he will not get a SINGLE part of his agenda even close to enacted. The Senate, House, and the overwhelming majority of Americans who seek the ouster of Trump, not a revolution, will make him a lame duck on inauguration day.
I am as certain as the sun sets in the west that ONLY Bloomberg can defeat Trump. I am also certain that he is decent man, who shares the bulk of progressive priorities, and his the outstanding executive skills will actually get us somewhere.
2
@Livonian
You can always tell a bad scientist by how utterly convinced they are of the truth of their hypothesis.
Don’t we learn, time and again, that national elections are not really about issues and positions—unless they are rationalizations for voters’ own anger and moral biases? These elections are all about broadly-perceived personality, popularity and vague notions of change, again (often about anger).
I agree completely with Kristof’s concerns, especially about coattails, when Sanders is so clearly ego-centric. And he has had four years to broaden his base, introduce a fuller picture of himself, and yet all we have is “revolution” and “socialist” as shorthand.
Unfortunately, the Dem field is one of second choices.
@JP the dems need to GET SHERROD BROWN to reconsider and get in the race and mr. brown should reach out to Michelle Obama to be his running mate....if either of them really cares about this country and wants to do all they can to prevent trump from a second term they need to do their patriotic duty......PLEASE come on board
1
I don't agree that we are in an "anti-establishment moment."
At this point, establishment sounds like moderation, and i think many of us long for that.
So if Sander supporters lose and their candidate is not chosen, who among the moderates is really going to take care of the 140 million poor people in this country? Who will see to their health care and the well being of struggling families? Moderate Democrats have not taken care of these folks, and that’s what got us Trumpism. It is time for moderates to compromise! This great struggle is not about the meaning of “socialism” or about moderates clutching their pearls, it’s about a huge section of Americans that are shut out of the benefits of this wealthy country. As a Sanders supporter, I want to know what’s to be done for THEM!!!!
70
@Linda McKim-Bell
The pressing question before us is not who among the moderates will pick up the ball and run with some of the Sanders’ ideas should Sanders lose the nomination. The real question is whether Sanders and his supporters will compromise in the interest of defeating Trump to see that a Democrat is in the White House and that Democrats control the Senate. With Trump and the Republicans in charge, the billionaires and their Fox-addicted voters will continue to march towards an undemocratic quasi-fascist state in America. If Sanders voters don’t see that and act accordingly, then who in the world would trust their judgment on anything?
8
@Linda McKim-Bell
Nothing will be done for them. The Republicans will tell them to pull their bootstraps. The Democrats will tell them they're whiny racist and bigots because they're blind to the progress that has been made.
7
@Pete Bloomberg's stated #1 goal is to reduce income inequality.
I voted for Sanders four years ago. But now I see him as already unhealthy and really, not much track record of accomplishment despite years in Congress.
OTOH, MB is ALL about accomplishment. And doesn't carry that undeserved, but nevertheless burdened by, socialist label.
4
It is a very sad day when the best candidate in terms of ideas and integrity has virtually no chance to beat the worst candidate, Trump, because of Americans’ fear of the word SOCIALISM.
Sanders’ “socialism” is a far cry from socialism in the European tradition and history.
This country is the heir of MacCarthyism and anything in the red tradition is scary because of their ignorance and their dedication to capitalism even when capitalism has not worked for the poor and less educated and sick.
Trumpism appeals to those fears and the rhetoric , if you can call the disjointed sentences of the president rhetoric, is nothing but slogans, peppered with slurs and profanity. It appears a LOT of people like that!
2
Do you know why pundits misjudged Trump's chances? They looked at his steak and calculated that he is no match for Hillary's political leadership. They forget that America puts more trust in the sizzle than the steak. Trump is a master in sizzling the crowd into a frenzy.
I also found that his crowds were much larger and far more enthusiastic and he always fired them. Hillary on the other hand acted as a subdued elder statesman with hardly any sizzle.
Hillary gave lectures while Trump gave them the thrills of a rock star.
Next time you pundits predict who is going to win please do not forget the sizzle factor.
As for Bernie he is a trail blazer but his agenda has been hacked by others. He too comes off like a tired old professor. Notice his support has shrunk from last time. It does not look like it is going to get better than last time. It does not look like he is going to win the sizzle test against Trump.
Nicklaus you are an incisive activist for making the world better. Why do you not see that the best chance the Democrats have against Trump and for America is Bloomberg. Bloomberg's steak and sizzle will out sizzle Trump's by far.
Yes Trump’s poll numbers are quite high which means we are still a deeply divided nation. No matter which democratic runs, the electoral college could once again raise its ugly head. It would seem that the liberal wing of the Democratic Party has a better idea for the future direction of the country,but that means a massive restructuring of the way things are done and many are hesitant to go in that direction. Even if Trump looses a close election,his coattails could secure a conservative Senate. The best a moderate Democrat could do would to be stop the bleeding which could be victory enough.
Even if Sanders or Warren were to win, they would not be able to accomplish much without the Congress.
Bloomberg has a better chance of winning, IF he can get the black community out.
Bloomberg has the money to counteract the Republican plutocrats across the board. He has demonstrated repeatedly his willingness to put his money where his mouth is.
Whatever his ideological weaknesses, he is the best candidate to reduce discrimination and inequality, reversing the Republican policies.
Even if you are ideologically closer to Sanders or Warren, Bloomberg is the one to get us closer to their perspective.
There will be another election in 2024. A more radical candidate could run against Bloomberg then. But if Trump gets/steals another term, the prospects for our country and the world are much, much worse.
You choose.
1
@Democracy / Plutocracy
How will Bloomberg's money get them to enact his platform after he buys the election?
The Republicans have their own billionaires and couldn't care less about Bloomberg's billions.
Every legislative accomplishment he made in NYC was rolled back or had an expiry date. The only thing that lasted was the tax benefits he gave to luxury developers like Trump.
1
Is there a way to search your comments to see if my question has already been asked? Since I have read your impressions -- favorable -- of Elizabeth Warren, I was wondering why she -- still a front-runner -- isn't even mentioned in your analysis? I would like to vote for her.
2
Trump has shown ample contempt for Republicans personally and institutionally. Likewise Bernie is contemptuous of the Democratic Party and its members. But Republicans are willing to fall in line, to take the insults and contempt and bury their true feelings. I can’t imagine Democrats ever doing this: even if we had President Sanders and a Democratic Congress, his contempt for impure, moderate Democrats would be a huge problem in getting anything done.
I'm so tired of all this speculation. It's the same as last time around: scare voters off Bernie and into Clinton's camp for the sake of a sure victory over Trump. Look how that turned out. We simply don't know how the race will develop over the next eight months. What we do know is that Bernie is principled, and to have a princpled president for a change will do much to lift this country back up, regardless of any legislation that gets passed.
2
Even if a Democratic candidate, any candidate beats Trump, and even if Democrats take the senate, we’ll still have almost 1/2 the country thinking Trump is their guy, representing them. The problem is us, not Trump and Republicans. Winning won’t fix that.
...and then there is Warren, who you decidedly omit from your argument. Warren stands for many of the policies that Bernie does and she has plans to enact them. I cannot understand why she is being written out of the story and why Klobuchar is being lauded.
5
I agree with the tone and content of this excellent "thought piece". Sanders attacks his opponents in a way that energizes opposition to him. He taps into the bitterness, and envy that many Americans feel towards their feudal overlords - his energizing principle is anger. Both Klobuchar, and Warren, do that - the billionares and corporations deserve it - but they also tap into a shared sense of community, where our shared humanity is what binds us all together. As for Buttigieg, who knows? I never trust anyone who only wears an impeccably ironed white shirt everywhere - I suspect its a tell to big money that he is with them, no matter what he says to get elected. Paranoia strikes deep, and into my heart it does creep.
I worry that all hope will be lost for my remaining lifetime if once the triangulating center right Democrats get back into office.
There is at least hope if the truly bad of Trump is in office, because he can be replaced and swept away by his own awfulness.
The sell outs hang on with just-barely-good-enough for enough people that no reforms can get traction. That is the worst outcome, not Trump.
3
In all honesty, at this point, I would be fine just retaking the Senate, reestablishing Congressional autonomy as a separate but equal branch and then dealing with whichever candidate wins. The presidency needs to be taken down off its pedestal and placed back where it belongs in the constitutional order.
2
Nicolas,
You are right.
You are prone to the serious political misjudgment.
You started the column with your willingness to turn back on a socialist mayor in 1981.
Let's go back to that era.
What were the chances that the American public would back up Reagan agenda to pile up the national debt in order to fund the tax cuts for the wealthy?
Not only it became the law but the everlasting reality. And who failed to repeal those laws?
Exactly yours electable mainstream Democrats!
1
Amy Klobuchar, especially with the right VP on her ticket--say Cory Booker?--would be VERY electable!
2
God forbid, that Sanders is anywhere near a nomination! I am NOT willing to see my hard earned retirement go down the drain with his anti trust policies and breaking up of large corporations to benefit himself and AOC! Or lose my doctors and health care! He will take from the hard workers and give to the free loaders! I wish and pray that he would just go away!
1
@Feroza Jussawalla’s Corporate executives receive more in tax dollars than all combined social justice programs. Ask a billionaire. Ask the $20 M a year ceo of a commercial health care entity. Sho can have her minions shrink your network, dump your physicians, expand pre-existing exclusions on a whim!
I’d been curious to hear Mr. Kristof’s thoughts on Elizabeth Warren.
Vote for your favorite. Playing games with your beliefs and values because of graphs, polls, and editorials is a fancy way of weakening your beliefs and values. Trump has proved that anything is possible. Buck up and vote your heart.
77
@Marshall Hopkins: No, vote your head. "Voting your heart" enabled Trump to win the election.
6
Perhaps, we need a factual re-education on what being a socialist is. Historically, our educational system has taught it as evil and bad, without fleshing it out much further. We've been taught to identify people who have misused or misapplied the socialist structure. If socialism is to be put in the spotlight as a positive option, we can start with examples in the USA, already in place, that most people on either side of the aisle, would agree are helpful and good.
2
I don't really care which candidate wins the primaries, as long as all democrats come together to support the nominee.
The problem with Sanders is... his voters might stay home and sulk. Again.
3
At the very least, a Sanders presidency would start to move the Overton Window on economic justice to a more centrist position - similar to the terms of debate that hold in most of Western Europe and Japan. We have made enormous strides on social issues since the 50's but economic progress has been steadily eroding since the 1970's and the social safety net is also getting thinner and thinner as it is picked apart with sociopathic vengeance by Republican and Democratic policymakers.
3
I think we need to use the term "radical" on the repubs. They are the radica ones and we need to expose this over and over. A "space force" rather then health care . Radical? A 1.5trillion tax cut rather then infrastructure repair and millions of jobs?Radical? A 1 trillion dollar debt in one year. Radical?Education cost skyrocketing and no relief . Radical? No regulations on energy and banking while they steal our lands and treasure each day, Radical? Removing environmental controls so more pollution,Radical?
The list goes on. Yes, attack the repubs as the radical ones and Bernie becomes a logical policy maker,
2
What the author does not mention here is that democratic party wants more of the same. If you look at the two parties, the ideological differences are not that much that it upsets the establishment of businesses and politicians. These two parties have been playing the people of United States over years, slowly eroding their quality of life. Bernie Sanders offers a chance for us, the citizens who do not belong to the 1% to have a better quality of life. The establishment democrats counter that by saying 'we don't want Trump and republicans to win again' . You ,establishment democrats, are the reason Trump is here in the first place. He was able to tap into the anger and anguish of people because you abandoned them. Now , Bernie wants to fix quality of life of Americans. Embrace it and stand by what the people need or you will cease to be a party of anybody.
5
Thank you for this thought provoking and insightful column. You hit upon a critical question: Can he govern? (The same question should be asked relative to Biden, Warren, Buttigieg, Klobuchar, or Bloomberg)
I am a life long New Deal Democrat. As such Bernie appeals to me a great deal.
However, I don't think he would be a successful president. Even if (big if) the Senate flips to Democrats control, there will not be enough votes to accomplish any of his agenda.
1) The right-wing machine will kick into gear and destroy his agenda just as they did to Obama.
2) Despite great consistency in advocating for progressive ideas throughout his career in Congress he has never gathered the votes, a voting block, or a coalition to move any of his agenda forward. I doubt he will do that as president.
3) At 78 he will be a one term President
4) The mess Trump will leave behind, (immigration, environment, budget deficit, corrupted government) will consume most of the next President's effort.
Frankly, I do not believe any of the current Democratic candidates have the gravitas to pull it off.
Bloomberg has the gravitas and demonstrated success accomplishing forward thinking things against a resistant legislative body. But he has baggage, and at 77 he will also likely only be there one term.
1
@Sea-Attle
What was forward thinking about the soda size ban?
He could have given people the option to drink water for free at clean water fountains (those used to exist!).
He could have mandated that Coca Cola and other soda companies cannot have exclusivity clauses in their contracts with schools. (Those exclusivity clauses ban the sale of healthier options from being sold at any school that agrees to a Coca Cola contract.)
Instead he mandated that soda cup sizes be smaller, while people could still buy as many cups as they wanted. Way to go on the compromise.
@Viv I note he has baggage. As do they all.
I cannot help recall in a few debates back, when Klobuchar said something along the lines of "only a few individuals" are likely to be displaced by the flooding ascribed to Climate Change. What ??! Her willingness to downplay the Climate Crisis would likely be a disaster not only in gaining the youth vote, but in achieving the massive scale of the changes required to respond sanely to the reality of our devastated ecosystem.
I am a youth ally of the Sunrise Movement, having had the pleasure to see them grow in numbers and organization from their very small, but hopeful and determined, beginnings just a few short years ago. These young people are ready to devote time and energy to their candidate of choice, Bernard Sanders, because they trust him to NOT "compromise" with the profiteers in poison, nor with those who would take half-measures when the viability of the earth, our only home, is on the brink.
It seems a moral obligation to align with our youth, and to realize that THEY are the ones who are ready and willing and able to do the work of transforming the country, and inspiring the world, to taking the bold action required.
Bernie for the planet and the people.
2
For the last six months I've been in the Warren camp, but this week's series of anti-Bernie pieces coupled with the recent flare up of Trump-lite Bloomberg media love has reminded why I still have a Birdie sticker on my wall, a plastic Bernie figure on my bookshelf, and was a Bernie Sis in 2016. First and foremost, I agree with his goals. But equally important is that when I listen to Bernie, I believe that I'm an important part of the political process (Obama had the same affect). I feel empowered. I believe that my voice and actions mean something and that “even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”
3
It needs saying once again, that Bernie Sanders is not, and has never been, a Democrat. He is the flip side of Trump, basically a man unaffiliated with either major party, who cynically uses whatever party gives him the most support.
4
The old guard Democrats and their pundits still think things will get done in Congress. Give Bernie the presidency and he will use all the tools the present Senate and Supreme Court have declared valid for a president to do ad hoc.
2
Hidden in this article is a plea for an end toour first-past-the-post voting system, and for replacing it with one or another ranked voting systems.
1
"But his proposals have almost no chance of becoming law, particularly if the Senate stays in Republican hands" If the Senate remains in Republican hands no Democrat can pass any law, unless it follows the Republican playbook. Thats the way the Republicans play - if you follow that logic, than there is no reason to vote for any Democrat unless they are idealogically aligned with the Republicans! Sorry, but that is not a rational reason not to vote for Bernie Sanders, or any other progressive candidate.
3
I think about his coattails, too. IFF I were persuaded he was more likely to flip the Senate, I might support him in spite of not agreeing with him on many issues. But I don't so I'll continue sympathizing with Pete, Kolbuchar, Bidee or Blumberg.
1
Thank you for an objective opinion - I'm sick and tired of Bernie-bashing. The question that should be asked by all those who question Bernie is "Why are the majority of young people supporting Bernie?" They certainly don't work for Wall Street and are not billionaires. What do the people who are going to be the leaders of our country in the near future think? Why are they supporting Bernie? I welcome any of those people to comment here.
1
Good column, but wish no one would bother to cite Gallup. They are a consistent outlier.
Right now I think the issue is not yet about Sanders getting the nomination. First we must decide which moderate candidate will represent us moderates. The results in Iowa and New Hampshire indicate that the combined support of Klobuchar and Buttigieg far exceeds the Sanders/Warren vision. The pressing issue now is who will be the strongest candidate: Klobuchar or Buttigieg. The extremely limited experience of Buttigieg and the seasoned, proven experience of Klobuchar seems to make that an easy call to me. And as far as who is the stronger to face Trump, Buttigieg's silver tongue is not the answer. We need the smart, knowing toughness of Klobuchar to bring Trump down.
1
Lots and lots of Sanders talk, pro and con, but nobody seems to be asking all of the questions. First, let's all admit one thing....If even one-third of his campaign proposals were enacted during a Sanders first tern, that would be considered miraculous and successful. The balance, well they ain't gonna happen in Sanders lifetime. And, what about all that other important stuff that Bernie never brings up, like foreign policy, monetary policy, housing policy, education policy (other than "free tuition for all" which is DOA), Social Security, and most importantly, defense policy. Harder questions need to be asked about topics other than socialized medicine, of which we have a partial implementation, anyway.
One basic question which has to be answered now is, "What would your cabinet look like?" No names are required, of course, but a frank discussion of qualifications and partisanship issues will suffice. Ditto for Supreme Court nominations. Does he have the temperament and patience to lead and manage foreign affairs with adversaries? And so forth. Really, Sanders has been given a pass on everything other than his favorite talking points. Before he gets too far, curious voters need to know...
2
Excellent column. I hope bernie reads it and realizes that his insistence that we choose him over a real Democrat who is younger and able to run for two terms is only going to give us 4 more years of trump.
2
IMO, vote with your heart, not with the endless "what if" questions that twist the mind into egregious knots. Keep it simple. If your candidate loses, a broken heart recovers fairly quickly. But a twisted mind tends to get more twisted.
Don't try to figure out who is the most electable. If you try to answer endless "what if" questions with too much thinking you complicate the choice way beyond control and comprehension. And you might wind up with a candidate who was elected but is unwilling to make the necessary changes.
Vote what your conscience tells your heart to vote. Vote for the candidate whose policies will do the most good for the most people.
There's only one question: Whose policies represent the changes I believe must be made?
4
Well, Biden had his Anita Hill, and Klobuchar threw Franken under the bus. (although she later admitted it was a mistake) I agree with Chris Rasmussen: "When pundits say "Sanders can't win," they actually mean "I don't want Sanders to win.""
5
Why do pundits keep calling Bernie the frontrunner? He trails Mayor Pete in delegates. And that's with three moderates splitting the vote. You don't get a free ham and $5 car wash coupon for getting 1.5% more votes.
4
@William Park because he IS . PERIOD . Buttgeig and his corporate funders are going nowhere.
Trump is just as likely to win the election against any democratic nominee. The truth is that people don't like change especially when the economy is good (as much of a misnomer that may be). We need to realize that Trump is more likely to win than not against any candidate.
You say Biden would have won in 2016 but have omitted the fact that Bernie's path to the nomination was trampled on by Clinton and her cohort's in the DNC but meanwhile had a path to victory himself in 2016. Many of the areas that flipped to Trump supported Bernie in the states that mattered.
The most disappointing aspect of this election cycle and many could see coming from a mile away is the politicization of the concept of Socialism which may do more than anything to detract from Bernie's chance at victory in 2020. Socialism is a critical aspect of any properly running government, the question is always which parts of government work best for that philosophy.
3
There was more to the Gallup poll referred to in this article--a breakdown by Party of support for candidate characteristics.
By Party, the Gallup poll showed that showed 76% of Democrats and 45% of Independents would vote for a socialist (Sanders).
None of the other Democratic contenders have Sanders' popularity, an army of supporters or his war chest.
Now, Centrists and the DNC are seriously thinking of turning to a long-time Republican billionaire, who started "Stop and Frisk" in New York, is buying, instead of earning, a place on the ticket and is a self-declared "rule-breaker". A person whose personal life is remote from the poor and middle class.
This scenario feels like a 2016 redux. Sanders was the most popular candidate then, but the DNC chose the disliked and mistrusted Clinton for name recognition and centrism, and voters stayed home rather than chose from the two offensive candidates.
Trump will hurl the label Socialism against any Democratic candidate, to scare voters. They have only to look at the socialist democracies of the E.U., Canada and the U.K. to see their success.
Democrats need a candidate who will work for them and can relate to them. They need Sanders.
5
In 2015 I petitioned for Elizabeth Warren to run for the Democratic nomination. I supported both Warren and Sanders at the time, but feared for Sanders' electability. These fears were allayed by late spring of 2016 when all national polls indicated that Sanders would outperform Clinton in a matchup with Trump.
(A daily reader, I do not, however, recall ever reading about this in Times coverage. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hillary-clinton-now-loses_b_10102664)
Since repeatedly hearing from Trump supporters in my own family that they would be more favorably disposed toward Sanders than any other Dem candidate, my previous fears about electability have completely dissolved.
My concern is that as the NY Times continues to mount arguments against Sanders' electability, aren't they just creating the reality they fear? After all, theirs is an influential voice—a voice they previously lent to Clinton, who, regardless of what one thinks of her, was acknowledged to be kryptonite to conservative voters. Where were fears of electability then? Mr. Kristoff is correct when he points out the subjectivity of this metric.
6
I’m probably going to get pilloried with what I’m going to say. It’s very apparent mathematically that the moderate Dems are splitting their votes among three people. The Progressive wing of the party seems to have made a decision who to support. It is now time for the three leading contenders of the moderates to do some soul-searching. If their primary and sole interest is in defeating Trump and saving the country from another four years or maybe even more of chaos, it is time to set aside their ambitions and self-interest by getting off the race, by being the sacrificial lambs. Who will it be?
After reading a lot of the comments about moderates not voting if Sanders is the candidate, it occurred to me that it might happen that these moderates will turn out in droves to defeat Trump, regardless of who runs against him. The strong showing of the Democrats in the election in 2018 came as a surprise to the pundits then, but had the same cause.
3
Despite comments below, Real Clear Politics national polling data show that Bloomberg now performs strongest in a head to head battle against Trump.
1
All these self-proclaimed Centrists and Moderates in the media and in the comment sections leaves me throughly convinced that is it folly to ever hope that the United States will ever be anything other than extreme-right or right-of-center politically. The perverse marriage of Capitalist and Protestant dogma: prosperity gospel, is heavily engrained in the minds of the people. I can see why Sanders is Independent. When an iconoclast like him sees the establishment, he sees a purple sea of red and blue, coming together to pray at the church of wealth.
5
Kudos for not burying the lede:
He was an earnest and intelligent oddball, I decided, but not a serious politician with a future. So I didn’t write about Mayor Bernie Sanders — underscoring that I have a record going back almost four decades of misjudging political talent.
5
I notice in these comments that Sanders supporters are almost completely unwilling to accept the widespread belief that Sanders would be a terribly weak candidate against Trump. This widespread belief is not something to be written off. It is similar to res ipsa loquitur (it speaks for itself). Many moderates, even Democrats, will never support him, and this leaves open the door for a mass exodus of voters to a third party candidate and handing Trump another four years. Nobody is really saying that he can't win, but holding out hope that these moderates will check his name on the ballot against Trump versus doing anything else is severely disingenuous. An ideal candidate would resonate with both the radical Sanders wing and the more moderate Buttigieg wing of the party. I would have thought Warren would be perfect for this.
1
Please -- everyone in the Democratic Party who, like Kristof, says they are afraid Bernie can't win, do the following: pick up the phone and call your local Sanders campaign person and volunteer to help the Sanders campaign. This will ensure two things: (1) it will make you stop worrying about whether Sanders can win (2) it will be the pivotal act on your part that ensures that Sanders actually does win.
6
Don't understand why Bernie keeps getting bashed in the media. He is the best hope of beating Trump. Biden can't beat anyone let alone Trump. The rest of the field is below average.
Bernie is consistent and tenacious. Two very good qualities for a candidate and a President. He won't be successful getting all his agenda into law but who does except FDR who had a 380 to 50 majority in the House and an overwhelming majority in the Senate. Bernie will move the country in the right direction and start chipping away at the plutocracy that we currently experience.
7
General-election candidates perceived as being too far left or right don't win.
Similarly, candidates suffering under the awful, but real problem of misogyny, anti-Semitism and homophobia in America won't win a general election.
Candidates who can't attract a sizable turnout of voters of color also won't win.
Candidates who can't capture
Midwest states also can't win, for this American geography is the win/lose nexus of Democratic Party presidential hopes.
And, except for Joe Biden, I don't see any of the Democratic frontrunners winning the midwest states. Unfortunately, Biden may have. like Hillary Clinton's emails, been mortally wounded by the Ukraine imbroglio.
2
@Richard J. Noyes
Why does anyone think Biden is a good candidate. He has now run for President three times and never gotten any traction with the voters. The Ukraine matter is a big scar and one that was preventable. He is one more loss away from being resigned as a secondary character in our history books.
I, We, keep paying more & more & more for healthcare. The care isn't necessarily getting better (it's already excellent, anecdotal stories aside), the Dr.s sure are not happier, but the industry keep getting fantastically richer. It has to be, the market (healthcare industries are invested in the market) has been going up for years.
How best to inform voters of this travesty of representation in our democracy is the key to "winning" the next presidential election.
Donald Trump has been clear. He's not going to make it cheaper for you & I. He has no interest. He wants a wall. Fine.
That leaves a giant door open. Inform the electorate of your plan. Insist on ramming it home no matter what the government looks like after November.
Oh, and campaign in Wisconsin (no brainer, but don't forget).
1
To me the most important question is who will defeat Trump? I think it will be the candidate who presents the greatest contrast to Trump, just as Trump was the opposite of Obama. Among the candidates, Klobuchar is the most opposite of Trump: intelligent, female, respected and reasonable.
1
@Lenore Schmidt Here we go again!
Lets choose a nurturing smart woman for the Job.
Indira Ghandi ran India to the Ground
Golda Meir ignored Intelligence and ended up with the 1973 Yom Kippur War
Angela Merkel let in a million Muslim Syrians into Germany to bring their "Family Values" and the Hijab into Germany raising Antisemitism to a new Level and creating Muslim enclaves in Germany.
How about we vote for the BEST Person for the Job.
When Klobachar asked Kavanaugh if he ever drunk to unconciousness he shot back her "did You?"
She just slunk away with her tail between her legs without a response.
Trump will be a thousand times more vicious
Sanders or Warren would be my favorites, if half of Democrats didn't vote for a more centrist candidate, and if almost half the country didn't vote for Trump. The problem with a candidate who wants to completely overhaul health care, education and labor, is that our country is not even close to being ready for it. These aren't policies we can cram down the throats of unwilling citizens. The decade-long PR fiasco of Obamacare will seem mild compared to the uproar over Sandercare. We'll get there soon, but we're not there yet.
1
Well said. I'm beginning to see Ms. Klobuchar as the most rational and pragmatic choice of the remaining candidates as well. Most important is that she could become the first woman president (for which as a nation compared to other countries around the world we are long overdue), but without the baggage and negative view that dogged Hillary Clinton and gave us Trump. I believe she could expand on things like building on "Obamacare" without having to tear down the whole health care system in a bureaucratic "medicare for everybody," with costs unknown. Is she perfect now or will be a perfect president? Of course not. But compared to what we've got now, a Klobuchar administration would be most welcome. And if her coattails help restore balance to this woefully tipped-to-starboard ship of state, we might just get moving again instead of remaining beached on the shoals of isolationism and forgetting the rest of the world too.
2
Kristof and WuDunn wrote a fantastic opinion piece in January detailing a story of the woes that plague rural Americans, as evidenced in his hometown of Yamhill, Oregon. Read it. Ultimately, they state this is linked to "deaths of despair", and note initial causes from, "...well-paying jobs disappeared, partly because of technology and globalization but also because of political pressure on unions and a general redistribution of power toward the wealthy and corporations." Now, who would Kristof think can best address the systemic issues that have given rise to these woes? Who in this race to capture the Democratic ticket is espousing a redistribution of power and wealth? Mr. Kristof - Do you really want change or are you being led by other people's fear of change. You seem confused.
3
Look, Sanders wins the "electability" argument for one reasons and one reason alone: he polls the best against Donald Trump. You want Trump out of the White House? You want to secure the Supreme Court from becoming something like out of Handmaid's Tale? You want to restore faith in the democratic system in this country?
Elect Bernie Sanders.
Whether or not he accomplishes any of his long-term policies given Centrist and Republican opposition is not the issue. The issue for base-line blue-no-matter-who Liberals is to get Trump out of power. Sanders almost certainly guarantees that. It can't be any easier to understand.
4
@Mike Because the polls are always so accurate. lol
Yes, American voters have a hard time with whatever it is they term socialism (last time I checked, it seemed to be equated with an approach to medical insurance employed in the majority of the capitalist world). But when you were mentioning types of candidate that Americans won't vote for, you left out "non-believer." The largest single group of Americans who are considered beyond the pale electorally.
I have been a supporter of Amy Klobuchar since day one. Warren was my second choice. Am pleased to see Klobuchar's popularity has risen and hope she can continue on this track. I will support any Democrat, but what drew me to Amy is her calm demeanor, ability to explain her positions and her pragmatism. On the other hand, I do support meaningful and affordable healthcare for all, but there are different ways to get there. Bernie would be my last choice.
1
I’m at a loss to explain why the pundits and the commentariat call Bernie a “winner” or even a “front runner “ with less than a 30% plurality in Iowa and N.H. Despite his campaign’s vain attempts to marginalize those they disparagingly call moderates, it’s clear that a solid majority of primary voters (so far) prefer a less divisive candidate and more centrist progressive agenda than he is promoting.
4
My only concern with the analysis is the final outcome would reflect 2016 with Amy being Hillary-lite. Problem is Bernie supporters are so dedicated to him being elected that they would willingly shoot themselves in the foot (by not voting or switching sides) if he is not on the ticket. This all or nothing attitude was the case in 2016 and caused Trump to squeeze a narrow victory in 3 states. This attitude is also projected by Bernie and unfortunately pulls many towards him as he sounds authentic. My heart is with Bernie but my rational mind tells me to vote for someone else, Pete maybe? Frankly Bernie is bad news for Democrats. He will pave the way for yet another electoral victory for Trump.
Why haven't you mentioned Elizabeth Warren? She is by far the most substantitive of the democratic candidates, one who is often overlooked. Warren proposes similar measures to Sanders but is not a Socialist and has a stronger record of successful innovation and implementation. She is a brilliant analyst of USA and international ills and offers workable solutions to economic and racial problems. As a purported feminist, your exclusion of Warren, still one of the top contenders, is troubling.
6
If Bernie's health holds up, the best bet I can see right now is Bernie with Amy as running mate. We need Bernie's base at the polls on Nov. 3. We need younger voters to show up. And we need midwestern swing states.
Job One is to defeat trump. Coattails and a Democrat Senate would be fabulous, but they are a distant Job Two.
This a battle for the heart of the identity of the Democratic parties future. Progressive vs moderate. Democrats have always had the challenge of being made up of many coalition’s. The question is will enough moderates rally around a progressive candidate or will enough progressives rally behind a moderate. If we really are all committed to beating trump, then it shouldn’t matter.
2
Democrats seem to be stuck in conservatism when it comes to choosing a candidate. At least Republicans are talking risks when picking a Ronald Reagan or a Trump. That longing for a safe candidate that will preserve the system and gently push for some reform may be the reason why we end up with a Trump again. The democratic choice everyone is pushing (at the NYT for example) is a middle of the road democrat who will go along with the system as usual ... It is all rational thinking, no emotional appeal .
I guess you forgot about Obama 2008.
'If there is to be some progress on health care, or college affordability, or income inequality, or the appointment of judges, it will come through the election of a new president with hefty “coattails” — the capacity to help candidates lower on the party’s ticket. In particular, much will depend on the outcomes of Senate races in a handful of states." This is an important point and one that I urge everyone to consider for a moment. A Sanders victory without winning the Senate and maintaining the majority in the House, will mean a very frustrating and unproductive four years. We're all frustrated at this point. Eight years of Republican obstinacy under Obama, which reached its apex when they blocked Merrick Garland from even being brought up for consideration for the Supreme Court, was incredibly frustrating. If Sanders is the nominee, then Democrats and their candidates are going to have to work like heck to see a Democratic Congressional majority realized. And let's be honest, a Democrat in one state, who may serve a relatively conservative constituency, is not the same as AOC. Obama had a Democratic majority during his first two years in office and whatever other mistakes he may have made as a new leader during that time, he was repeatedly undercut by Blue Dogs and others who weren't necessarily on board with what he was pursuing. This is the reality that everyone who believes that Bernie is the chosen one for 2020 must accept.
2
In 2016 and today, I hear many people comment that Bernie Sanders is not electable because his policies are too radical or because he is labeled a Democratic Socialist. While that may be in part the case, I believe the reason many people are reluctant to support Bernie is really much more simple. Years ago an old friend told me about a saying I've never forgotten. It isn't about the money......it's about the money. Many people, Republicans and Democrats alike would stand to loose a lot of money and power if Bernie's policies were ever actually implemented.
5
This column seems to have attracted an enormous number of Sanders backers. The one thing they seem to share with those who support Donald Trump is belief in alternative facts.
I will put my credentials on the table. In Quebec, where I am, Sanders would be regarded as a poilitical moderate whose views on medical care and college tuition and debt are mainstream. We don't vote in your elections; we do worry about the fallout from living next to a democracy gone crazy, where science and fact no longer matter.
Mr. Kristof is quite right that Bernie's coattails are non-existent, and many of his supporters terrify those who worry about their 401(k)s. Worse, in Iowa and New Hampshire, Bernie's supporters have not shown up in the landslide numbers promised to bring on the revolution.
It would appear that the possibility of replacing the current gong show in the Oval Office and restoring statesmanship to your Senate rests with moderate Democrats, independents, and 'former Republicans.' They have shown up in unexpected numbers -- for Buttigieg and Klobuchar. They can make it possible to get rid of such senatorial bad jokes as Susan Collins. They do not look nostalgicly on relationships with notorious racist and pro-war senatorial colleagues dating back to the 1970s.
The septuagenarians should not be in the race -- Biden, Sanders and Bloomberg have all missed the boat. Sad but true, nobody has a right to be the candidate and time comes for us all.
4
Sanders is the president we deserve when we value increasing representative democracy, the reason we founded this country. Sanders is the president we get when we realize we can do at least as well for our people as other countries.
4
It seems that there is a weakness in the system as it currently is.
The Democrats choose a candidate that pleases most of them.
The Republicans choose a candidate that pleases most of them.
And then there is the general election.
One wonders if there isn’t a system where more people would be happy with the two candidates in the general election.
All my adult life I've believed what Bernie believes, long before I knew of him. Now I am an old man. All my life I've heard the same story - liberals can't win. In 1984 Walter Mondale, a liberal, lost big time to Ronald Reagan. Reagan, of course, was the beginning of the anti-governmental tax cut revolt that has persisted to the present time - destroying our country before our blinded eyes.
Now we are solidly in the age of republicanism - militarism, punitive incarceration, guns. At least half the democrats are now more like pre-Trump Republicans - still believing that government is the problem. And, isn't it true that our government sucks?
But it is republicanism that has made it so.
I'm at the point where I don't want to wait anymore for a REAL CHANGE. All the other major democracies have already embraced democratic socialism.
I'm sick of the American conservative stink. Move the truck on, already! This backwardness is literally killing many many people. CHRISTIANS, GET YOUR HEAD OUT!
4
“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in that gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.”
-Theodore Roosevelt
3
Well, I for one would see Klobuchar presidency that also brings in a Dem senate majority as a huge victory, and daring.
1
Sanders is our FDR .and. our Teddy Roosevelt.
Hmmm... How can we encourage Trump to take just enough bizarre actions, such as interfering in the Stone case, to destroy his electability ?
Bloomberg has $60B. He wants to leave the world a better place before he leaves. Bloomberg seems willing to spend $2 billion of his own money to defeat Trump. Hopefully he will do this no matter who is nominated, including Sanders
The Times recently made videos of short interviews with most of the Democratic candidates. https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/politics/democratic-candidates-20-questions.
All were good to excellent. Steyer impressed me the least. Bloomberg stood out to me with the most comprehensive world view.
How about Bloomberg and Klobuchar or Booker for VP?
Would Buttigieg eat up Trump in a debate?
You fail to mention Elizabeth Warren anywhere in your column today but most egregiously in your closing paragraph, where you review the other options for a Democratic presidential candidate. Really Mr. Kristof! As one of the voices I turn to for some sane discourse in the tumult since Nov 2016, I expect better from you. I cannot understand why you completely erase her, in what is really an homage to Mr. Sanders, when she is the one woman who some people think of as the female Bernie?
8
@Kristin Miles Expressed more eloquently than my comment - my sentiments exactly! Treating Warren as invisible, as many are doing, is unconscionable!
6
Safe has never been electable in recent history.
3
When Obama was president, he lost the House and then the Senate. Also, over 1000 seats were lost in a combination of governorships and state legislators. So let's stop this nonsense of attacking Sanders in the media and let the voters decide on their own.
5
The crystal ball is blank . I agree , this country is not ready for a socialist no matter what the squad screams , bad talks , those who do not agree with them . Trump may win again because the differing factions in the Democratic party is rife with disagreements . The Republicans win because as horrid as Trump is , they stick together and tolerate him , not because they love him but because as wrong as their agenda is , they want to win . America is a big country with a lot of diversity , socialism will not work here and we have seen the results of Raw Capitalism which has brought back the gilded age in spades . The Democrats eat their own too, and good , qualified , intelligent men and women are derided and minimized . Meanwhile the big money backs Trump to achieve their agenda and undo so as to rape our coffers , our laws , our public lands , our health , our environment , all in the name of greed .
Here's the truth about "coattails."
In the 2018 midterms, a huge surge in turnout among voters under the age of 50 resulted in a Blue Wave for the House:
- Millennials favored Dems over Repubs by a ratio of 2.14 : 1
- Gen X favored Dems 1.24 : 1
- Boomers only favored Dems 1.07 : 1
- Silents actually favored Repubs over Dems by a ratio of 1.13 : 1
Turnout among voters under 50 is key to a Democratic victory all the way down the ballot. The sooner moderates figure that out, the better.
Sources:
- https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/05/29/gen-z-millennials-and-gen-x-outvoted-older-generations-in-2018-midterms/
- https://www.people-press.org/2018/03/01/1-generations-party-identification-midterm-voting-preferences-views-of-trump/
46
@Zep Thank you Zep!
@Zep Thank you from me also! I've been crawling through the replies to Mr Kristof's column waiting for someone to point to the huge turnout for 2018 elections, in part in reaction to Trump, for sure, but mostly because Bernie and others consistently urged all of us to get involved at EVERY level of government!
@Zep
Democrats flipped 40 House seats in 2018. Exactly one of these new representatives ran on M4A.
Stop referring to Sanders as a socialist. He’s a self professed social democrat. Americans need to understand the meaning of the words social democrat. Remember it’s been an admirable and important established political direction in Western European countries. Nothing radically totalitarian about it. Much less so than Trump’s Republican cabal disguised under the rubric Republican Party.
25
@lg
I mildly corrected a family member on the true meaning of the word "socialism." I just looked in the dictionary and found that "socialism" is the state owning the "means of production." Period.
2
Yes, and not only is Social Democrat a respected party in Europe, but it represents the perspectives of one of America’s great presidents, Franklin Delano Roosevelt.
Mr. Kristof and his wife wrote a wonderful book about the half of the people in the world who are women. How they are neglected, abused and unrecognized. The majority of Bernie’s donors are women — not bro’s as the Russian memes would have you think. The majority of working class people (hourly wage earners) are women. It is the most painful irony, that Mr. Kristof writes beautiful books about women, yet fails to use his influence to broaden the coalition of people to support Bernies campaign.
Many women gave up voting long ago, because it did them no good in a cruel patriarchal society. Many men could be convinced of how important these socialized benefits in a mixed economy are desperately needed by 50-million uninsured women. As a boomer feminist,I would love to see an iconic female president, just as Obama was an iconic male president. But I support Bernie because his policies help more women than anything else. I want to see every single mother in America have health, education, decent pay.
The greedy GOP put this insane criminal gold-guilded monster in the White House for you Mr. Kristof. To intimidate you, upper middle class white male, into kowtowing to the corporations who,hold employees ransomed with health insurance. Please take note: none of us women are afraid of this lout.
3
@lg No, that is so weird: He does not call himself a social democrat, but a democratic socialist.
2
In New Mexico we worked very hard in 2018 to flip a traditionally Republican House district. If Bernie Sanders is the head of the ticket Democrats will lose that House seat. In a District with a lot of conservative voters, the last thing Democrats need is a "socialist" at the head of the ticket which will invariably bring conservative Republican voters out droves.
1
Perhaps if instead of using your bully pulpit to scaremonger about the Democratic front runner, you instead wrote about the candidate who can take on the big interests even more effectively than Bernie and who can unite and not alarm people, you could have accomplished something of value in this piece.
You wrote about Biden, with the most dismal results. But what about Warren? One poor showing in one of the least diverse states and she’s not even worthy of discussion? Have you even looked at the national polls? I know you mentioned wishy washy, bad on the environment Amy. But I doubt that you’d neglect to consider a man of Warren’s standing. Very disappointed that you could write such an ill-considered piece at such a critical time. Now I need to go back and re-evaluate your other conclusions.
6
Here's a thought that seriously troubles me whenever I read about the potential "electability" of this or that anti-Trump candidate: What's to stop Trump and his minions from strategically "buying" third-party candidates up and down the ballot in critical battleground states and districts?
1
As a Brit there is a horribly familiar pattern, just as the author points out. Bernie supporters love their guy and think everyone else does. But the voting booth isn't about love, it's just a cross on a piece of paper.
If the Democrats push Bernie because their Base love him they will lose the election. Because the majority of Americans are not ready for a revolution. Just like Labour in the UK.
If Bernie's supporters prefer Trump to a moderate then they are the real problem.
1
Electability? Is it really a "thing". I don't think so. As Mr. Kristoff noted we get it wrong too frequently to be real. So how about the Dems pair up. A left leaning and middle leaning pair. Killer B's (stealing from SNL early shows). Bernie and Buttigieg. Or 2 women Warren and Klobachar. Maybe some combination to bring the possible future but maybe former trump voters and the blue collar lunchpail working class together. Or millenials and african americans to flock to a ticket of Bernie and Biden (not the killer bees).
And then there is Bloomberg.
I want to see the Bernie Donald debate.
I want to see the DNC pick rejected.
Tho Bernie hasn’t produced much legislation in his many years in office, he has been tremendously consisted and relevant in his message.
Tho Bernie is a socialist, he’s been able to get elected into the senate many times without changing his principles.
Tho Bernie is old and possibly might not be able to finish his first or second term as President, he will I expect have a fine Vice President who can assume his role.
1
This upcoming presidential election isn't about may the best team win, but which candidate can get Trump out. It appears Joe for many reasons won't be able to have the coattails or even the coat to make that happen, nor Warren, and while Bernie jumps on the Democratic Party's coattails at his whim, as in this case and in the past races, Kristof's points well taken. Yes, there are progressives who support him, even though he doesn't play well w/others and has a pretty poor record for his decades in the Senate, and yes, his proposals sting, but are on target. Still and yet, his election would be a stunner. Maybe Mike and Amy? And yes, he has jumped in w/o benefit of being in the party and working for it, much like Bernie, but he's a plutocrat and hopefully could beat the plutocrat in the "White" House.
1
ALL of this is just a continuance of a 5 year onslaught of negativity aimed directly at Sanders. They despise those that are anti-establishment and once again, what the media and corporate/establishment fail to realize is in 2016 they did almost EXACTLY the same thing to Trump and well, the rest is history.
History invariably tends to repeat itself.
5
It's a bit rich to use the coattails argument against Bernie Sanders when the House, Senate and Presidency all went to Republicans in 2016 with the centrist nominee Clinton.
Trump is more popular now than he was in 2016, the economy is in even better shape, and who can confidently say that any of the centrist candidates generate more enthusiasm than Clinton in 2016 to defeat Trump? Nobody called her a bad candidate until she lost.
6
1. Sanders is an admirable man proposing audacious, admirable things on health care and education. He should be celebrated for that.
2. Sanders will be eaten alive by Trump in a general election. Trump will paint Sanders as an octogenarian socialist who just had a heart attack, and who will triple your taxes. For good ironic measure, he will paint Sanders as a misogynist. There will be no room to debate: Trump will win on fear alone.
3. Sanders' electability problem runs deeper: pretend, for a moment, that Trump is a more conventional politician. Even then, Sanders' principal argument is that there is a supermajority of progressive people who will come out of the woodwork, if we only nominate Bernie. Ted Cruz made the same argument about hidden conservatives in his own Presidential bid in 2016.
4. There is no hidden supermajority on either side, only a divided nation that will have to choose between Trump and another option.
5. Four more years of Trump is untenable. Is nominating a socialist, who the country will be made to fear, on a theory of a hidden progressive supermajority, really the right way to go?
2
I'm pretty tired of all this anti-Bernie nonsense. "I like Bernie, good ideas, but can he beat Trump." or "when you add-up all the "moderate" votes Bernie loses. (Why shouldn't he lose if he's immoderate?) Is anyone going to mention that it's Bernie's positions on Israel that motivates all this? MSNBC is the most progressive of the cable news outlets. Progressives root for the underdog. Ever see MSNBC address the Israel/Palestine question as an injustice? I don't think so.
1
Bernie certainly cannot win, but none of the others can either.
Look to 2024. Americans will be tired of their current Man by then, and ready for the about face. This 2020 race is a formality, like Clinton vs Dole. As long as the Electoral College is in operation, the Man will win. But I think he will also win the popular vote this time. The economy is good, the Dems discredited themselves with impeachment, the Man is a superstar, and has never been more powerful, the right wing media, the oligarchs, and the Republican Party are all now firmly behind him, which they were not in 2016. The Dems have less chance than third class passengers on the Titanic.
He recently made noises about staying for a third term. If he tries that, it will be his first real mistake, and might be the thing that turns the voting public off. As of now, everybody, including the New York Times, loves him, and can talk of nothing and no one else. The more you badmouth someone, the more you love him. Try it. You’ll see.
1
"I have a record going back almost four decades of misjudging political talent." I can only commend your honesty. That's it.
2
We have to keep putting the blame on McConnell. Getting rid of McConnell by winning back the senate is more important than defeating Trump. Pressuring McConnell helps weaken and annoy Trump. Let's push the story that McConnell is running the show and Trump is just his boy toy. Trump will implode.
2
I think Bloomberg is less electable than people think. He is going to struggle with the African American vote and he will be pilloried (and I am not saying this is right) for his "nanny statism." Trump will claim he is out to take away your softdrinks and burgers and guns. It may be dumb, but it will be effective.
I think Klobuchar is by far the most electable (and I understand she has some issues as a prosecutor she needs to confront) but with a well-chosen running mate: Stacey Abrams, Andrew Gillum, Sherrod Brown or (if she could be convinced) Tammy Duckworth, she'd be hard to beat.
I personally think her gender is not a hurdle, and in fact will help her. She will have broad appeal to suburban women across the country.
1
Bernie has no coattails because he's not a Democrat and he's not liked by most prospective voters. Full stop.
3
Mr. K, in an era when logic, truth and common sense have been trampled by passion and pragmatism, I'm much more inclined to put my money on the passionate candidate than the logical choice. This editorial reminds me of the cartoon character trying to come with a mathematical formula to define romantic love; hint: there ain't one.
In 2016 both parties had usurpers who set out to disrupt the Natural Order of things in D.C. One party successfully quelled the uprising and gave us a well qualified, logical candidate. The other party was foolish enough to step back and allow voters to have their way, giving us the biggest nightmare and threat to our democracy this country has ever seen.
Let's not make the same mistake again. Democratic leaders and pundits need to take their toes off the scale and follow the will of the people. The only way to find out who is electable is to see who gets elected. And if that turns out to be Bernie, then let's move heaven and earth to help him clear out the cancer that America infected itself with 4 years ago.
3
Can he win? No. Can he help elect a Democratic Senate? No. Will Bernie have another heart attack soon) Highly likely.
4
We need to think about what we would do if Sanders wins the nomination and then has another, more serious coronary event. He will be 79 years old. He just recently had a heart attack. I think a lot of people are fooling themselves.
4
@Sydney
I was all in for Bernie in 2016. But he is four years older now, he is at risk for more coronary events, and just last Sunday on Meet the Press, he hedged on his health and refused to address the question of releasing his medical records. Even after Chuck Todd played a video clip of Bernie, last fall, saying that all candidates should do exactly that.
We need a candidate who is younger and healthier and able to commit to (hopefully) serving two terms. Bernie would be 88 at the end of two terms ! Yikes.
Biden is in free fall with Warren not far behind. Bloomberg's past is catching up with him, and the optics of his buying the election are absolutely awful.
Plus he's 75 or so. Not a good candidate for two terms either. (And VP's very often do not succeed at filling the President's shoes for a potential second term).
Lots of people like (ex) Mayor Pete. But he's going to have a tough time keeping up his early momentum, for several obvious (youth, orientation, lack of experience) reasons. I have been and am supporting Amy K's campaign, she has proven she is in it to win it. Go Amy!
Kirstof points out correctly that voters like Sanders because he represents majority opinion on the issues, not is true not just among Democrats but often among voters in general. Sadly, such representation has long become an anomaly among modern American candidates have become more beholden to their donors than the citizenry. Google polling yourself and you'll find that Americans are actually further to the left on most issues than is widely believed and perpetuated by the media.
Kristof would have you believe that Sanders actually representing voters on the issues is... a RED FLAG. Why? Because representing the majority view of what Americans want would be too hard or impossible to get through congress. Then he goes on to talk about coattails... but the gorilla in the room is that congress does not represent the people.
Have we become so cynical and numb that we are now arguing in favor of less representative candidates as the best path forward to better representation?
Shed your cynicism and cowardice. Consider that actually having a sincere candidate that represents what the people want is our best chance to beat Trump because such a candidate will energize the vote and amplify turn out. How bizarre I should have to argue that we should vote for what we want! Should we fail, we fail representing the will of the people and in this cynical era that will be an investment in the future of little d democracy far more valuable than any coattail accomplishments.
2
but what if Bernie's views only represent a small portion of the entire voting public... which is likely.
I agree, Amy Klobuchar is by far the best candidate. And it's true, "I don't want Sanders to win," because he is too cranky, too old, and not realistic about what he can accomplish. Oh, yes--and he cannot win against trump.
2
It'll be Bernie/Amy. And soberish column Nicolas. It was intellectually honest and I appreciate that as a reader who might otherwise be extremely cautious about reading anything by someone with your last name.
Mr. K, in an era when logic, truth and common sense have been trampled by passion and pragmatism, I'm much more inclined to put my money on the passionate candidate than the logical choice. This editorial reminds me of the cartoon character trying to come with a mathematical formula to define romantic love; hint: there ain't one.
In 2016 both parties had usurpers who set out to disrupt the Natural Order of things in D.C. One party successfully quelled the uprising and gave us a well qualified, logical candidate. The other party was foolish enough to step back and allow voters to have their way, giving us the biggest nightmare and threat to our democracy this country has ever seen.
Let's not make the same mistake again. Democratic leaders and pundits need to take their toes off the scale and follow the will of the people. The only way to find out who is electable is to see who gets elected. And if that turns out to be Bernie, then let's move heaven and earth to help him clear out the cancer that America infected itself with 4 years ago.
2
Bernie is no FDR and the circumstances are vastly different. FDR ran during the Great Depression and he ran as a moderate Democrat, not as a socialist. Here we have a fantastic economy (so say the data) and a guy who calls himself a socialist.
Make no mistake, if Bernie is the candidate, Trump wins in a landslide and gets the Senate and probably the House too.
Mike Bloomberg isn't likeable, but he's effective and can unite all anti-Trumpers, including a critical mass of Republicans, to deliver an overwhelming defeat to Trump... and because he's in the center, make a critical number of voters comfortable with down-ballot Democrats so Democrats get the Senate and House as well.
We need to deliver a strong and incontestable defeat to Trump and his Republican enablers. Mike Bloomberg is the man to do it. Bernie supporters... hold your noses. (For the record I'll vote for Bernie if he's the nominee and all down ballot Democrats half a step right of AOC).
And what were the betting markets saying during the last election?
I'll be honest: I don't want a candidate who can get "something" done with a Republican senate. That's setting the bar far too low. Joe Biden's bankruptcy bill got "something" done. Trump's tax cuts also got "something" done. And I'm worse off for both.
I want a candidate who can either get good things done, or who will stop the Republican senate from getting bad things done. If a Republican senate will refuse to cooperate with any progressive legislation (yup), then I think its time the Democrats brought their own brinksmanship back to the game. They've tried appeasement for decades and gotten nothing in return.
As for coattails, who knows? I thought the convention wisdom was that regardless of who the nominee is, Democrats are highly unlikely to retake the senate due to our wonderfully corrupt, gerrymandered great American system.
As for Republicans having trouble demonizing Klobuchar, or really, anyone at all . . . If a Democratic candidate doesn't have skeletons in the closet, they just invent them. Remember "Swiftboat Veterans for Truth?" Remember all those voters saying John Kerry was a "flip-flopper" just because he had the capacity to change his mind? Ever wonder who crafted that phrase and put it into their minds and mouths?
Demonization-wise, be afraid for all the Democratic nominees. And be ready to fight back with the truth.
2
Anyone of the current field of top tier candidate’s for the Democratic nomination are going to keep on doing what the Party has been doing since Reagan/Clinton.
Somehow they legitimize and empower their opponents (Republicans) and cause a reverse effect to the policies they campaign on. Is it intentional? I can’t be sure but I suspect so. Their level of incompetence has to be by design.
Look at health care and the recent impeachment as two examples.
Since Clinton, the Democrats have been touting Universal Healthcare.
The country is farther away from it now and the idea of it look’s worse and worse to the American people than it did before the Democratic Party took it up as a policy.
The impeachment of Donald Trump is the most obvious example. He is near politically invincible now where before he was just stronger.
I look at the four year Presidential election cycle as a form of Bill Murrays Ground Hog Day movie.
So don't vote for Sanders because his agenda won't get through a GOP Senate? Or don't vote for Sanders because he will be viewed as a socialist? Compared to an Evil Monarch, I think people will chose a Democratic socialist.
Lazy analysis!
Sanders has the support of the youth, and has a broad and diverse coalition. As for Biden, it’s more like Byeden really, a candidate that despite massive name recognition that comes with his former Vice Presidency finished 5th in New Hampshire and continues to drop in the polls. Klobuchar and Peter have low support among Blacks and Latinos.
Also, aren’t we done with electability arguments after 2016!? Remember when Hillary was untouchable and all polls declared her a winner??
1
It's bizarre how many NYT columnists have cited polls about the number of Americans are willing to vote for a generic socialist, when there are very specific polls available for how many Americans are willing to vote for Sanders himself, in a matchup with the president. Spoilers: Sanders wins.
1
Enough with lazily slapping the "socialist" label on Sanders. I expect this from Republican attack ads but not from New York Times opinion writers. Sanders always describes himself as a "democratic socialist." The countries he wants to move the United States in the direction of have some of the highest standards of living in the world. Mr. Kristof, do you have any well-regarded polls you can cite that tell us what percent of Americans would vote for a "democratic socialist" or perhaps a "social democrat"?
1
I am growing quite tired of the Times' clear bias against Sanders. I see daily editorial and opinion pieces that disparage or cast doubt on Bernie with nearly no positive view points of the candidate, despite the fact that he is currently the clear front runner and has built a movement with much stronger youth support than any other candidate. The Times needs to adjust its stance on Sanders, and run more balanced coverage.
The substance of Mr. Kristof's piece: assessing electability is a fool’s errand and here is my best effort.
His best effort is based on the following two points and leads to a huge contradiction with another favorite dogma of our punditry, the existence of the infamous Bernie Bros.
Point 1: Sanders is a bad choice because people do not vote for a socialist.
Since Sanders supporters are clearly aware of the label, and it does not bother them at all, what Mr. Kristof is here saying is that the moderate-centrist voters will not vote for him.
Point 2: A moderate candidate is more electable. Here Kristof is implying that he is not afraid that the largest majority of Bernie’s supporter won’t support the moderate candidate. While this is accurate and reflects what happened in 2016, it also clearly shows the profound intellectual dishonesty of the whole Bernie Bros narrative made up by the media. According to such narrative Bernie Bros would never vote for another Dem while all the virtuous supporters of all other candidates would “support anyone to beat Trump”
It beats me how it escapes Mr. Kristof that only the following two implications are logically valid:
1. IF Bernie Bros exist and will never vote for a moderate THEN Sanders is the best choice
2. IF a moderate candidate is the best choice THEN Bernie Bros are a myth and the virtuous moderate voters are those at risk to give us 4 more years of “moderate” Trump for their ignorant fear of an old dusty label.
Bernie is kryptonite to Democrats’ chances. He needs to go...and the sooner the better. Bloomberg is the only one with the chops (and the bank account) to take Agent Orange down, and he’s got a lot of work to do.
Why do you have to find something negative about this? we need a human at the helm. Lets be positive! I have been sad with this tyrant of USA. this makes me feel better and I hope he wins! As he should have in 2016.
Team him up with Bloomberg and it’s a winning combination.
If Bernie is the nominee, Trump wins. Coattails are irrelevant.
1
What are you and the New York Times really afraid of? Bernie Sanders was a successful mayor of Burlington, VT, and US News and World Report ranked him one of the most successful mayors in the US. In his second run for Congress as an independent, he wTon 56 to 39%. While the house was in Republican hands, he was very successful at getting what he wanted through amendments to bills. He has a long career and I can't cite all of it, but it wasn't rigidly leftist. He has a mixed record on gun control; he was against the Iraq war but has always been a strong supporter of Veterans. He has always been against the wealthy 1%. He was elected to the Senate in 2007, a position he still holds. I can't cite all his positions -- not enough room. But there is no need to characterize him as some lonely socialist outsider. He has been fully active as a member of Congress and as Mayor of Burlington. He has legitimate cause for criticizing both political parties, and his position has enabled him to take principaled stands. He deserves much better coverage and much left nattering about his socialism than you give him. He attracts all kinds of voters including young people, workers, academics, Latinx, et al. and this 76 year old lady who has a lot of old lady friends who also support him.
2
Bernie Sanders vs. Amy Klobuchar =
Performative Backbencher vs. Practicing Legislator
Give me the practicing legislator.
(With apologies to Amanda Carpenter.)
1
I would not support Klobuchar until she changes her position in support of fracking and perpetuating the fossil fuel industry.
4
I think a rational and helpful strategy for Bernie Sanders, realizing the possibility (or probability in my view) of his losing the general election and that his candidacy certainly would carry significant down ballot collateral damage, would be to campaign up to the Convention and then press the unification candidate (whomever) on some key issues – ultimately doing all he can to take this stance to his supporters. You know, the way that real politicians in real political parties who like to accomplish things (like “WINNING”) do it. Not to do so would indicate to me he is motivated by other than political objectives or Salus Populi. Since I fear he is totally enamored with the sound of his own voice, I look for varying degrees of bad outcome from this long-winded chap. It's one thing when you’re chatting with your pals in the bar to shout about La Revolucion, it’s a whole other thing when it comes to liquidating the Kulaks.
jd
Not clear how Bloomberg could be called "establishment" exactly. By being major of NYC? My favorite ticket right now is Mike & Amy. He needs to do nothing more than steady the ship in a 1-term presidency. Plenty of Rs would like Mike.
Let’s remember it’s the will of the people that counts. Regardless of whom opinion writers feel is the safe candidate. Remember Hillary.
1
The entire article is predicated on bad math.
PredictIt.org gives Bernie Sanders a 45% chance of being the Democratic Nominee. It then gives Bernie Sanders a 27% chance of becoming president.
You divide 0.27/0.45 to get the chance he wins given he’s the nominee:
60%
1
New factoid....Bernie bros are underemployed as evidenced by the velocity by which they respond to NYTimes articles that are in any way critical of Bernie.
Just be being the race at this stage, Bernie displays megalomania and poor judgment. We need an electable person who can actually get something done. Not someone who just recovered from a heart attack, is nearly 80 and has a track record of getting nothing done for 50 years. You have to really not love your country and be totally in love with yourself to be Bernie and running for president at this stage.
3
I’m so fed up with the Democrats smearing Sanders. At this point I would refuse to vote or vote for Trump is they continue to outright sabotage Sanders. It’s time for change either the easy way (Sanders) or by the continued conflagration of our country (Trump). Give Sanders a chance!
1
I must admit I worry about the coattails thing, too, Mr. Kristof. And I am a supporter of the Saunders and Warren candidacies. I think a big part of our anxiety is the alternate universe we have seemingly entered, where baldfaced lies, toxic posting, misogyny and racism get you elected with 3 million fewer votes, encouraging foreign infiltration of our elections is patriotic, and the world's greatest deliberative body... doesn't.
Ironically enough, it is the same thing that keeps me worrying about four more years of this that opens the door for a candidate like Senator Saunders, just like it did for The Squad in 2018. We live in an all-bets-off political world, now.
Here's what I'd like to see you explore. It has been painfully obvious to me for three years now, and I have yet to see a major media outlet cover it in depth: The right is ginning up a new Red Scare directed at Bernie. It leverages the same homespun American willful ignorance and lack of intellectual vigor as the last one, who's major architect and puppet-master was Roy Cohn, President Trump's mentor, father-figure and trusted counsel.
Please write that article, Mr. Kristof. You'd nail it.
3
I cringe as I write that. Yet Trump’s Gallup job approval rating has reached a new high and oddsmakers have significantly elevated his chances of re-election. Kristof
I cringed as I read your entire column.
Yes, Bernie can win, and he has swooping coattails.
His grassroots campaign has so many volunteers and paid staff, that he is best in line to turn out voters for Senators.
The problem is that the MSM and Pete B. distort his Medicare for All plan. If the Times would tell the truth about it, people would not be scared.
Last night on the PBS Newshour, Buttigieg lied about Sanders plan would take away people's doctors. This, of course is nonsense.
Bernie 2020 and Amy McGrath.
1
The Democratic Party and its voters need to honor the candidates who have worked hard and gone to the people and raised their own money. What presidential candidates in the future would go to the trouble if they see a wealthy, self-funded candidate can sweep in on Super Tuesday and take the prize? If out of fear, Democrats hand the nomination to Bloomberg, it just confirms what millions of ordinary working folks already believe about the economy and the government: It's all rigged against us. Democrats are the last hope to un-rig it. Does the party really want to jerk that hope away?
2
That pundits of any sort still expect to be taken serious boggles the mind. I do understand tha they need to make a living, but after the election of Trump, I have stopped taking ANYTHING from any pundit seriously....
We should all worry about Bernie Sanders. He is a socialist if not really a communist. The problem is that it does not work. The people at the top get rich while everyone else suffers. We really needn’t be too concerned because he will never be president. The people are too smart to fall for this type of government.
1
I understand your concerns about the general election viability of a democratic socialist. Bit then a lot of people thought Hillary was a great candidate, and "a lock" at that. Meanwhile, we have a president credibly accused of racism, sexual assault, rampant misogyny, immigration policies that are effectively child abuse, and probable treason (let's stop here for brevity). And half the country is unbothered. They're actually largely enthusiastic about these traits. Bernie has his problems. Our bigger problem is US.
What vision for the country does Amy Klobuchar have? Bernie is the most electable! Donald Trump is a powerful force for evil. The Democrats need to counteract that with someone who has that some muscularity of vision...but for good," as Cynthia Nixon says. We can't be afraid to nominate someone who will rock the boat. Otherwise, we'll be thrown out to shore.
Bernie Sanders is a earnest,genuine guy with some communal attitudes that have a populist shine.
Post nuptials in Moscow place him in the same camp as Biden.
Questionable actions from their past would revolve on FOX
et al 24/7
Bloomberg does not seem to have any health issues. Bernie
could easily succumb to more Heart problems given his recent
attack.
Too much at stake for the Democrats to step on a rake
I don’t hear that the DNC is putting together a platform that includes Sander’s ideas. They seem to fear his ideas. What is wrong with helping poor people and struggling families get access to health care? What is wrong with making higher education accessible to all who are able? Why are moderates so scared? Why aren’t other candidates reaching out to Sanders to make him a Vice President? Where is the compromise? I have seen put downs, fear, insults, and dirty attacks. No wonder we Sanders supporters have to keep fighting! Poor people have waited long enough for Theirs? We are not giving up!
Kristof, don't be a defeatist. Obama and Trump accomplished a great deal with executive actions and mere declarations. Bernie Sanders would do the same where appropriate.
I find it fascinating how subtly terminology changes in the media. The very important distinction between "Democratic Socialist" and "Socialist" is no longer discussed as it was when Sanders was a less formidable candidate. Is the author of this article ignorant of this fact? Was it purposely omitted? This distinction is of great importance, so why isn't it being discussed? There are so many democratic socialist programs embedded in America. I think that this article disingenuously masks itself as an attempt to be fair to all sides, when the bias and purpose, to undercut the Sanders seems quite clear after a bit of digging.
Bernie has no coattails. He is like an Eisenhower jacket.
1
buttigieg is the corporate with some backers that are truly in shadowland, and bloomberg doesn't even bother with the democratic process, but spends his wealth to buy himself the nomination - which he very well might get from a panicky DNC willing to support anything but sanders.
so it will be the tin pot dictator or the oligarch for the foreseeable future. journalists parroting their doubts about 'socialist' bernie that date from the mcCarthy period aren't helping either...
2
With a commitment to a fact backed, truth campaign and with the support of the world's best writers, directors, producers and journalists, and especially data scientists working with social media, micro-targeting advertising masters, and a lot of help from people who understand what is at stake, any Democratic candidate will beat Trump in 2020.
Again, when it comes to the Democratic effort to take back control, it comes down to using the same tools as the Gang of Plutocrats (GOP) and their propaganda masters but rather than using lies and deception combined with modern data science and social media marketing, we'll use the world's best content creators and create ads based in truth. The truth about Trump, the truth about Trump's actions, his lies, his constant effort to deceive and use Putin based psychological warfare in the spirit of Roy Kohn and the worst of the worst from the McCarthy era.
We'll tell the truth about the environment and how a real Green New Deal not only saves the planet but puts tens of millions of people to work at high paying jobs here in the U.S. and returns our nation to a leadership role in innovation and specifically the innovation of energy products.
No matter which Democratic nominee we must also focus on taking back the Senate and growing the House Majority.
In the Senate defeat:
Susan Collins in ME
Joni Ernst in IA
Cory Gardner in CO
Kelly Loeffler in GA
Martha McSally in AZ
David Perdue in GA
Thom Tillis in NC
Get involved.
@Tom Paine Cornyn in TX
@Tom Paine
In each of these races, the Democratic nominee will not be able to run on a Sanders platform. A Klobuchar platform would brand the party in a way that would help these candidates.
Unfortunately, the same problem arises with all of the leading Democratic candidates. Buttigieg, Klobuchar, and Bloomberg will alienate Bernie supporters, people of color, and the working class. The argument from the moderate wing of the party is, perhaps, that these people don't vote anyway, but we haven't tried candidates quite this bland and repugnant. I support Bernie with donations, volunteering and arguments with my family and friends, and we're going to have extend this "not me, us" thing to flipping the senate. I believe that a Bernie-led Democratic party will do great, once his growing, multi-racial working class movement begins to turn its attention away from primaries and toward the general election.
1
I wish NYT pundits would retire the analogy of Corbyn with Sanders. Corbyn was a sphinx on the most pressing issue in British politics- namely Brexit. No one could figure out his position including members of his own party. Also, he had a terrible record with respect to combating antisemitism in his own party- several Jewish labor party MP's left the party for that reason. Indecisiveness is surely not Sanders' problem - nor is antisemitism a problem for someone who would be the first Jewish candidate to run for president for a major political party. And universal health care- which people find so radical an idea- is a policy favored by both the labor party and the conservative party in the UK.
2
Moderates have gotten us nowhere and leaves the system very corrupt. I won't be voting a moderate Democrat if that is my only choice. I hope my fellow voters in the battleground states do the same. My vote in California does not matter.
Despite the attacks immediately launched by the BernieBros, I think the concern is a legitimate one. In fact the kind of attitude exhibited, "if you question anything you're the enemy", is a part of the problem.
2
What? Kristof burns a bunch of paragraphs explaining neither he, nor anyone else, can determine electability at the top of the ticket. Then, he proceeds to suggest democrats concern themselves with the electability of a dozen folks running for hard-to-win Senate seats?
Not too long ago, Kristof was all about ignoring electability and voting for the person who grabs you by the soul.
In the primary, I am just not going to vote for some friend-of-Wall-Street. Some Republican-Lite. Those folks have just fiddled since 1981 while the GOP has thrown the bottom-90% under the bus. (Well... some have more than fiddled and have been actually complicit in the bus-throwing).
BTW, poor Doug Jones is done. Concern over his fate while working out your presidential primary vote is simply crazy.
1
That's funny, I'm not worried about Sanders' electability or coattails since Trump is president and brought a re-fortified congress with him, so that idea is clearly dead. Moreover, Sanders keeps winning the most votes in primaries and performed excellently in 2016 while running a relatively ad hoc, underfunded campaign, plus his favorability rating is the highest of any of the Democratic candidates (https://today.yougov.com/topics/politics/explore/public_figure/Bernie_Sanders). There's just a mountain of evidence suggesting that the basic premise of this entire essay is categorically untrue. At the absolute least, there's little evidence to suggest there's any validity to this stance.
Honestly, if I didn't know better, I might be tempted to look at this piece and your responses below, then weigh them in the context of your history of arguing for things like imperial war with Libya and sweatshop labor and conclude that this is all a very cynical exercise in making a concern-troll argument to cover for the fact that Sanders is the only real threat to your material interests and you want any of the other candidates he keeps beating to win so you don't see your tax rate rise. But surely you would never do such a thing and surely the nation's paper of record wouldn't allow it either.
1
Really? The same guy who got a Fox News debate audience on his side AND properly diagnoses adequate progressive solutions to America’a structural economic inequality is unelectable?
Don’t make me laugh.
1
Bernie is the old coot on the left the counterpart to Trump the old coot on the right. Both are con men and bellowing carnival hucksters.
Bernie wants to sell Medicare for All and free college tuition at public universities to get the vote. Well for those of us on Medicare we know that it also takes supplementary health insurance which is not cheep to keep our medical bills under control. As for tuition free public universities they are under the control of each state so Bernie has no authority over their policies unless he declares himself king.
This country needs levelheaded sanity. We know we will never get that from Trump. We need to take long hard looks at Buttigieg, Klobuchar and Bloomberg. We need to assess their policies both domestic and foreign and then we need to put our full force behind one of them. None of the three are prefect but they are far better then the madman we now have in the Oval Office.
Bernie shouts the loudest but we can not afford his socialist follies and fantasies.
I never read Kristof as he doesn't come off as someone who genuinely gets how to make the world a better place despite his many articles that are meant to be written towards that end. A classic example when he was a huge booster of a Cambodian anti-trafficking organization that turned out to be a sham, and its leader who claimed to be trafficked, hadn't been. Articles like this really proves my instinct about him to be correct.
Throwing aside good journalistic analysis in favour of your right-wing sensibilities doesn't do you any favours, Nicholas. I know it's your own opinion, but all you show is your natural, blinkered views and contradictory views - first telling us how electable Biden is, who has never shown any proof of that, which is why he's disappearing into political oblivion. second, you say the Bloomberg is a safe establishment candidate, but then go on to say he has no experience... You have deliberately avoided the obvious electability of Bernie. whilst you might think being a democratic socialist is beyond the pale, a whole new generation of young and upcoming voters are thinking otherwise, and don't have a problem with his leftwing policies. Bernie is also electable because of factor of his name recognition, as well has the fact that he has proven success and experience in running a huge well-funded mainstream campaign when he ran against and almost beat Hilary Clinton. And you deliberately avoid talking about how much money he has behind him - more than your electable Biden. Which costs for a lot in American politics. Bernie is highly electable and his victories prove it. The fact that he is the only Democrat that can play Trump at his own game of being the "anti-establishment' man of the people outsider - after all, that's what got Trump elected in the first place - means he is best placed to take that phoney Trump on.
Can he win?
No
Can he help elect a Democratic Senate so he can accomplish something?
No
2
Is there some computer algorithm that churns op-eds like this? Because we're tired of reading the same "fear about sanders".
Will Sanders be able to pass legislation with a republican senate? No.
Would HRC? No.
Was Obama? No.
Will any other democrat? No.
So let's elect a moderate because....??
He/she will be able to convince McConnell of anything? You can't be that naive.
Elect Sanders to at least use the executive levers to end these abominable Trump policies. If a movement starts around him (as a president) then maybe some senators might fear being "primaried" and will vote the will of the people on some issues. But dont hold your breath.
A Bloomberg/Klobuchar ticket could be the most likely way to garner the center, and center left and center right. There are way too many disaffected and disgusted voters of both parties to turn them off with a "Democratic Socialist".
Steve Schmidt, the former Republican strategist recently summed it up most adroitly," A sociopath will beat a socialist any day of the week and twice on Sunday".
He's happens to be dead right.
2
I think we should push back when Sanders is labeled a socialist.
That's like saying anyone is a capitalist. The categories are useless these days except via hyphenation. All societies are socialistic/capitalistic to differing proportions.
All the major capitalists are also socialists, using government for assistance as much as possible. The socialists of today are uniformly behind a guided form of capitalism which serves the people.
So, no, Nicholas, Sanders is not merely a socialist. Please write a column on how the socialists help capitalism. You are the one NY Times columnist who I can hope for this one. Let's start educating the public.
1
Nicholas, I believe the shameful behavior of the Republican Senators these past few weeks will go a long way to help the Democrats to win the Senate. So these Republican Senators inadvertently help the Democrats by their cowering fear of Trump.
2
How well Sanders does in head-to-head polls against Trump was pretty quickly glossed over here. "Can he win?" It should comfort you to know he can!
From USA Today a coupla days ago:
"If you believe in saving democracy, the courts and the planet, and reversing the unrepentant cruelty, corruption and carelessness that define the current administration, you have a duty to at least consider the candidacy of the most popular senator in America, the top fundraiser in the Democratic primaries, and the man who has generally beaten Trump in head-to-head polls for five years now."
https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/02/09/bernie-sanders-could-beat-donald-trump-2020-column/4694526002/
The transparent and over-the-top hysteria over the "unelectability" of Sanders amongst the press (what I used to think of as MY press, my go to news providers, whom I used to respect) is reaching epic proportions. I now have learned it from the NYT, sadly, but I didn't expect it from Kristof. What a disappointment.
People of conscience, stand up.
On the subject of electability from the WaPo: "Candidates like Hillary Clinton, Mitt Romney, John McCain and John Kerry were seen as extremely electable, while there were powerful reasons Donald Trump, Barack Obama and (to a lesser extent) George W. Bush should not have been electable."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/12/is-it-really-risk-democrats-nominate-socialist/?utm_campaign=wp_opinions&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter&wpisrc=nl_opinions
Yes, everybody wants the candidate that can beat Trump. But, as the editorial says, "it's not a type", it's the individual. Sanders' speaks clearly and plainly, makes clear that he won't capitulate to big banks and big business (I don't get that sense from the others except Warren)....which is perhaps why corporations including the NYTimes are not flattering to him. However, I'll put my money on him and I've reduced my subscription to the NYTimes for not returning the straightforward, plain spoken, language that Bernie Sander's speaks.
I share all of your concerns about Sanders, but another concern looms large in my mind: This guy just had a heart attack and he's 78 years old. Ahead of him lies an absolutely crushing campaign. Should he win the Presidency, he will have one of the most stressful jobs imaginable. It is absolutely beyond me that anyone, or at least anyone who is not seriously sadistic, would wish that on him, regardless of his aspirations or their hopes.
2
Stop talking about electability which is code for the concerns of corporate Democrats and stick to the issues.
I'm so sorry to see this writer whom I used to admire jump on the NYT anti-Bernie bandwagon. No one really knows who is electable until the actual election, so repeating this "electability" argument is tiresome.
The real story is that a few folks with too much money don't want to share it by paying taxes. So they are scared of a Bernie presidency.
I'm scared too, but not about Bernie. Lots and lots of people give him small amounts of money and he isn't beholden to anyone. it's democracy with a small "d".
What's really scary is two parties that are private clubs funded by billionaires and corporations that buy candidates to do their bidding. Also corporate funded media, who play their part in keeping the status quo.
Donald Trump is scary, but so is Bloomberg, who is brazenly buying an election. The DNC is scary because they hate Bernie more than they hate Trump.
1
I've always loved & supported Bernie, but the whole game has warped around him so that at this point in our history Bloomberg is the only candidate who can beat Trump in 2020. Trump brought his flamethrower to the Democrats' stick fight in 2016 - the stick fight Bernie and the rest of the candidates are still cluelessly fighting. But in 2020 ONLY a bigger & badder messaging & influence / tactics / $billions flamethrower Democrat can possibly win. Bloomberg is already all the way in Trump's kitchen and has the personal resources to exponentially out-spend the GOP all by himself - $300million to date. This is THE crucial component to winning because the DNC tragically spent 80% of its $1Billion 2016 election budget on 5 consultants with no indication 2020 will be any different. ONLY a candidate financially independent enough to act & spend in the campaign moment can beat Trump - and lets face it - Putin. Might Bernie voters first stomach and then vote for Bloomberg? For what it's worth, Bloomberg signs are multiplying in Berkeley.
1
Mr. Kristof has given us the betting numbers.
This site below gives recent polls.
Out of eight polls, Bernie beats Trump by 2 points to 7 points in seven polls.
Trump beats Sanders by 2 points in one poll.
Next we have to figure out the Electoral College map and get people out to vote.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/us/general_election_trump_vs_sanders-6250.html
I guess we're done beating up on Biden now that his chances aren't looking that good and can go on to destroying Sanders and Bloomberg. Fox news doesn't need to tear apart all the Democratic candidates, liberal media will do that for them. Democrats and the are so good at eating their own.
1
Look at the guy who won last time. He was just shown to be an extortionist and his ratings went up! I fear, due in part to the impeachment proceedings, he is a shoo in for another term.
Only the hand wringing of the same democrats who thought John Kerry and Hillary Clinton were the answers can beat Bernie. He’s the real deal and “third way” and “centrist” democrats who helped give us Donald Trump better not try to stop or ignore the voice of the voters. Bernie will be the next president if gutless, timid, always finish second democrats don’t sabotage his chances.
The idea of a Biden presidency was absurd and nobody was dumb enough to fall for it.
1
Looking at the photo that accompanies this article, I'd say Bernie Sanders could have helped to counter the narrative about him -- that he's cranky and a curmudgeon -- by simply taking the opportunity to introduce us to his wife and family, those adults and children arrayed behind him, and to thank them for sticking w/him over the years. That he missed this opportunity shows a lack of self-awareness that gives one pause. It was a special moment and he forgot about them.
Shame on him! Perhaps, it's true. He's difficult and "no one likes him". Another narcissist who exists in his own bubble. I always wonder about people who portray themselves as spokespeople for the poor and marginalized all the while overlooking (exploiting) those closest to them. God help us!
Americans are not going to vote for a faux-socialist or any other kind now or ever. Today was a bad day. I awoke with a sinking feeling. We will have four more years of Mr. Trump.
2
The recent campaign run by Boris Johnson and Britain's Conservative Party against the leader of the Labor Party—Jeremy Corbyn who, like Senator Sanders, identifies as a Democratic Socialist—provides insight as to what the GOP would throw at Sanders.
1
Michiganders surfed a blue wave in 2018 and will do so again up and down the ballot, especially if unlike 2016 all of Detroit's votes get counted.
Go Blue.
1
I am not a US citizen but from an outsider's point of view, I think Sanders is the best candidate for Democrats.
He might be a socialist in the US but he is not a socialist as the word is understood in Europe. So it's unnecessary and self-harming to call himself a socialist.
Whoever is the democratic candidate after primaries should take on Trump on his own turf. The Democratic nominee should mock and humiliate but never condemn Trump for his privileged upbringing, for his fake religious beliefs and for his unpatriotic behaviours.
But his lack of brains, his eating habits or any attribute that an average voter can feel get insulted should not be mentioned.
Policies are there. Everybody else can tell them to the voters. But the fight should become a personal one. That way Trump's strong fake persona can come off easily. He will get angry and panic and become more vicious. That's how Democrats can beat Trump.
I'm so sorry to see this writer whom I used to admire jump on the NYT anti-Bernie bandwagon. No one really knows who is electable until the actual election, so repeating this "electability" argument is tiresome.
The real story is that a few folks with too much money don't want to share it by paying taxes. So they are scared of a Bernie presidency.
I'm scared too, but not about Bernie. Lots and lots of people give him small amounts of money and he isn't beholden to anyone. it's democracy with a small "d".
What's really scary is two parties that are private clubs funded by billionaires and corporations that buy candidates to do their bidding. Also corporate funded media, who play their part in keeping the status quo.
Donald Trump is scary, but so is Bloomberg, who is brazenly buying an election. The DNC is scary because they hate Bernie more than they hate Trump.
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Carville's famous line "the economy, stupid" is what gives Trump his greatest chance at victory. Bloomberg is the real billionaire, the 9th richest person in the world. and he will be able to speak with authority about economic issues. Bloomberg talks about raising taxes on corporations by 40%, raising the top tax rate on individuals back to where it was before Trump's tax cut for the rich, increasing capital gains taxes on the wealthy, and adding a tax surcharge on the super rich (all things spelled out on his website.) When Bernie says those things he will be labeled a socialist, but Trump won't be able to do that with Bloomberg. Bloomberg will be able to call Trump out on his bankruptcies, his lousy deal making, his shortsighted and economic ignorance on the environment, climate change, and tariffs. And Bloomberg has the money, data savvy and social media expertise to go toe to toe with the juggernaut of the Republican Pacs. Plus, because Bloomberg is spending his own money, he will not be beholden to anyone, be they lobbyists, corporations, industry trade groups, unions, massive fundraising organizations, Russian oligarchs, or German banks. I would like to see Bloomberg and Klobuchar on a ticket together. If anyone can beat Trump, they could do it.
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Too bad the NYT is willing to risk the general for its never Bernie agenda. Even the progressive columnists are not allowed to come out with their support for Bernie, or at least not explicitly.
All this will accomplish is upset Bernie voters not supporting the forced candidate in November. Great strategy to avoid our democracy going down the drain with Trump II. Bravo.
Please stop trying to derail Sanders. What? Would you rather have the Democratic Party in disarray so that Trump wins again?
Does anybody realize that the way things are going, it will be a landslide win for Trump?
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Kristof and other elites aren’t worried Bernie won’t win, or won’t be able to pull a new generation of progressive politicians into office. No, quite the opposite. They’re desperately scared that he WILL do exactly that, and end their cushy Ivy League > Think Tank > maybe run for office > lobbyist > write for the Times/Post/Journal grift.
I’ll tell you one thing: the DNC will not be staffed overwhelmingly with Wall Street, Big Pharma, and weapons manufacturers anymore if Bernie wins. That alone will make a world of difference.
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Newsweek is reporting that "seventy-six percent of Democrats said they would back a socialist candidate, compared with 17 percent of Republicans and 45 percent of independents. https://www.newsweek.com/76-percent-democrats-say-theyd-vote-socialist-president-new-poll-shows-1486732?fbclid=IwAR2ShJ7Rukeyqjr11fg6BiyV-mjecq7dDleu5AoSVGkz08SzpUxNfW3jI5o
No he can't win. And no he would have no coat tails.
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I'm so sorry to see this writer whom I used to admire jump on the NYT anti-Bernie bandwagon. No one really knows who is electable until the actual election, so repeating this "electability" argument is tiresome.
The real story is that a few folks with too much money don't want to share it by paying taxes. So they are scared of a Bernie presidency.
I'm scared too, but not about Bernie. Lots and lots of people give him small amounts of money and he isn't beholden to anyone. it's democracy with a small "d".
What's really scary is two parties that are private clubs funded by billionaires and corporations that buy candidates to do their bidding. Also corporate funded media, who play their part in keeping the status quo.
Donald Trump is scary, but so is Bloomberg, who is brazenly buying an election. The DNC is scary because they hate Bernie more than they hate Trump.
2
You know what? If you quit wringing your hands about whether he can win, and just vote for the guy, then he will be able to win.
Some how trump managed to get elected. And retain the Senate. Go figure.
So Bernie is a self-described "Socialist." So what. Is Burlington, VT. the beachhead for Vladimir Putin? Is Burlington Moscow on the Champlain?
Someone explain how "Comrade" Bernie's policies are far to the left of many successful Western European countries' policies? Have they all gone bankrupt yet as predicted here in the "Liberal media" should Bernie's ideas come to fruition?
The Green New Deal? Universal Healthcare from a single payer? Improving public education? Eliminating medical debt even for people with insurance? Consumer protection? A living wage?
Yes, sounds like Bernie is beyond the pale with crazy ideas that are bad for America.
Sometimes it seems as if the "Liberal media" is more comfortable with what Trump has done and is doing than what Democratic candidates are proposing.
The Devil we know?
2
Who wins depends on us, not the candidate. The candidate to back is the candidate that wins the nomination, demonstrating he or she can garner the most primary voters across state contests. Then it is up to the American people to do the rest. Stop wasting your breath and doing Trump's dirty work by bad-mouthing any candidate in the field as a sure loser. That's the formula for a self-fulfilling prophecy, intimating to other voters that the outcome is a foregone conclusion -- why bother voting? -- because a candidate you do not prefer or think weak, primary evidence to the contrary, did not win the nomination. If that eventual nominee loses, it will not be his or her fault but ours, for failing to raise above petty differences, insecurities, and resentments to meet the crisis of democracy we face.
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I wonder if Sanders would accept Kristof's language of "Israel's land grabs in the West Bank." That Sanders lived on a kibbutz in Israel for a time does not prove that he is pro or anti-Israel though it would be enlightening to know what he thought about it and what effect it had on his view of Israel and socialism.
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To put it in the simplest terms, or perhaps simplistic terms: Trump and the GOP have weaponized the term socialist. My deeply red state Trump adoring family (we all have them, alas) believe any form of socialist or socialism is bad. When asked about social security, Medicaid or Medicare, etc they all believe Bernie wants to tear down these institutions and programs because he’s a socialist. Worse, they believe Bernie the socialist or Democratic Socialist means the same as Communist. I adore my family (except for their cult worship of DJT) but they have already been conditioned, brainwashed to think Bernie and Warren, for that matter, are going to destroy all social or socialist, if you will, programs. In short, DJT has already worked his black magic on a wide swath of the country, preying on their fears and taking advantage of their ignorance. Trump is salivating for a match up with Bernie. And Bernie will lose. Bigly.
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Relax. Sanders can't win and won't be nominated. It looks like Bloomberg is picking up all of Biden's African-American support and that of suburban women as well. When push comes to shove common sense will prevail.
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A guy who went to the Soviet Union for his honeymoon is a profound danger to the United States and the world.
At the heart of socialism and communism lies an unescapable evil: envy.
No nation can be built successfully on envy. And that is why Bernie cannot become President of the great United States of America.
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Trump is the personification of capitalism. Bernie, of modern government. His policies are old school in the modern rich equitable societies in the north. People get the government they deserve, the 19th century American way of exploitation, wage slavery and fear with Trump. An advanced society that brings each member to their potential with Bernie.
It is looking like the NYT will support anybody who supports the status quo. In the final say (literally), the reigning example of a capitalist, Trump, over Bernie. You know who they are by their actions.
Just to be clear the Brits elected a "deeply flawed conservative" over a openly anti-Semitic socialist who regularly praised terrorists. I'm not a fan of Sanders but he's no Corbyn.
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