I like Bernie, but there's a reason Republicans are blatantly rooting for him to be the nominee. They are ready to unleash video of him cheering on Castro, the Sandinistas, his wedding in Russia, etc., which will freak out millions of voters. Trump can't wait to position himself as the all-American capitalist against the radical socialist--and it will work.
On the other hand, Amy Klobuchar, with no negatives, a proven record of winning in the crucial Midwest, and who would destroy Trump in a debate, is gathering steam. The Dems always win with moderates (Clinton, Obama), while hard left nominees such as McGovern get slaughtered. Now that "frontrunners" Warren and Biden are on life support, the Dems must nominate Amy or Mayor Pete--or kiss democracy goodbye.
478
@mivogo I disagree that the Dems always win with moderates. What about Gore, Kerry, and Clinton 2.0? I think Bernie's message holds a lot of appeal for Trump voters who (correctly) feel that American capitalism (i.e. corporate socialism) is leaving them behind.
129
@mivogo
Your fear is part of the Trump equation.
Choose a candidate you support and work for them.
If they lose support the candidate who wins.
That is the only way we win.
108
@mivogo
There is No MORE MODERATE (status quo) than Hillary Clinton and we know what the result was. So, stop demanding that we vote for Status Quo. We will not because Americans waited for over a century for the Reforms Sanders and Warren stand for and they will not wait any longer. A Century is a long time. So, just accept the Ground Reality.
143
If Bernie Sanders prevails our smugly smiling and smirking Russian Czar Father Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and our Israeli King Father Benjamin Netanyahu will be back bigger and bolder hacking, interfering and meddling on behalf of their mutual pawn pet puppet in 2020 than they were in 2016.
7
Dear NY Times and the rest of the status quo:
Get a grip!
Sincerely!
Those in the real world, please read:
"Mainstream Democrats shouldn't fear Bernie Sanders."
https://www.vox.com/2020/2/11/21120061/new-hampshire-primary-results-bernie-sanders
And, Lloyd Blankfein sends a tweet, and it ends up as "headline news" on page 1 of the NYT's website, titled: "Bernie Sanders Would Ruin Our Economy..." says the person that...helped ruin our economy!!! Gawd...Orwell is rolling in his grave!
12
The Democrats are being bedwetters. Most voters in the general would vote for a cat with a 'D' next to its name.
4
Bernie’s the guy to beat!!! Run Bernie Run!!!
4
“It’s the economy, stupid”!
People aren’t going to rock the economic boat. Bloomberg is the only one who might be able to keep the boat steady...no other candidate has only...any...real business experience.
3
Really? A cranky old man? Is it the purpose of the NYT to distort, demean and generally abuse the word socialist. And the Man? Yes is the answer.
Wall Street right now is socialism for the elites. Th New York Fed is feeding trillions, TRILLIONS, to dark pools for inter trades amongst 5 banks/ hedge funds.
How about the oil company socialism to the tune of 50 billion or the military industrial welfare spigot.
Don’t lecture citizens on the meaning of a word you have no idea about and choose to distort.
The United States of Poverty and word salads for greed. A medical profession that abandons its commitment to do no harm.
Really sir. Go to any other advanced country and at least there is health care. Not so much in Amerika!
13
"Cue the Party Panic"
I think you misspelled "pundit" as "party"
Because when I look around at the normal Democrats around me (the ones who don't exist in ivory towers like the NYT opinion writers) I see no panic.
9
Sanders is not a Democrat. He is a “democratic Socialist”.
He should not be allowed in any future Democratic TV debates.
Why is the Democratic Party leadership so stupid?
1
Bernie/Tulsi 2020
3
Another reactionary and scared column from the NYTimes. They are so scared of Bernie along with the traditional elites and the ruling class
6
sure, 'cause buttigieg is no hillary!!! they still don't get it.....
3
Sanders is the new Ralph Nader stroking his ego. Sanders voters actually think that a self-proclaimed socialist....the rest of the voters will hear Communist...has no chance of beating DT. None. If some D voters want a full blown dictatorship, go ahead. Hand the WH to DT yet again and smugly bask in your self rightousness that you knew better and Bernie was better than DT....as DT sits in the WH.
2
This feels like Trump's and Putin's wildest dreams come true. Sanders can never win the White House, but he has a better than even chance of winning the Kremlin's most useful American idiot award of 2020.
6
Paul Krugman is the only one of the NY Times who is actually evaluating Senator Sander's economic or socioeconomic policies. Dr. Krugman states that Sanders will not be able to implement those radical policies, and I think either Sanders should NOW own up to that and tone his rhetoric down to the earth, and reality, or just admit he could be wrong.
The idea of taxing trading is not going to go well with Wall Street.
Unfortuneately there is the perception that what is good for Wall Street is good for the entire populace's economy and well being.
We cannot have a wild bear and a crazy angry bull fighting eachother in order to become President.
@Ali. Very perceptive observation. Bernie is the only Democratic candidate that ignites any passion in his fan base. Bernie supporters are much like Trump supporters in their passion and commitment. If he still leads going into convention there will be hell to pay if he is denied the nomination, especially if Mike Bloomberg is chosen. Riots followed by an independent candidacy are one such scenario.
3
When watching the antics of the Democratic Party the only thing clear is that you don't know whether or when to laugh or cry. We screwed-up the 2016 election by dividing our strengths between a very electable Hillary Clinton and a sourpuss Left Wing candidate, Bernie Sanders, when Sander's sour grapes supporters refused to vote for Clinton, after she trounced Bernie in the primaries. Now, the clearly unelectable Sourpuss Sanders is leading the pack into 2020, and his supporters are threatening to again divide the Democratic vote, unless their candidate is nominated. Right at this moment, I chose to laugh..Later, if this scenario plays out the way Sanders supporters would like it to (and Bernie gets the nomination), then I'll cry.
There WAS a moderate around whom the Democrats could coalesce--Al Franken--but the senator from New York killed that possibility before it ever had a chance. Way to go, Donkey Party.
5
Let's face it. We don't have anybody to kick Trump's butt in our Democratic line up.
Trump will make mincemeat out of every one of them in the media.
He will brainwash every one into thinking Bernie will take your savings and give it to every hard luck story in the USA.
Nobody can beat Trump that we have.
Nobody fights dirty enough to beat Trump at his own game. Democrats just don't.
I have zero confidence in the electiblity of our candidates.
I love Pete Buttigieg but his inexperience will haunt him, not his sexual preference. I know. Trump had no experience. And it has been a disaster!
Buttigieg needs to run for Congress and try this again.
I just don't feel it.
I wish Biden had the traction but he lost what little he had. Sigh.
The US is too antisemitic to elect Bernie.
2
It is all going to "hell in a hand basket".
Bloomberg keeps looking better but may not be able to get the Black vote. Which should bring a question to African-Americans: "With whom will you lose more, Trump or Bloomberg?"
Sanders will draw Democrat voters but many independents and anti-Trump Republicans probably will go with the Devil they know.
Biden is done. In reality there really wasn't that much enthusiasm for him except in the eyes of the media and pundits.
Warren shot herself in the foot months ago when she foolishly aligned herself with Sanders. She just can't walk it back. Too bad. She is smart and a good speaker but .. Oh well.
Pete and Amy are left. The fact that everyone calls him Mayor Pete might indicate that he is not ready to be "President Pete". And Amy is still pretty much an unknown politician. With the two of them, the Democratic ticket could be as exciting to Democrats as the McCain and Palin ticket was to Republicans. Of course the difference would be that Klobuchar has more intelligence in her little finger that Palin had in her entire brain.
1
Bernie SANDERS is the People's President...!!!
Bernie SANDERS is the Next President of the United States
of America, so get over yourselves New York Times!!!
SANDERS is the Only Saving Grace for the Corrupted Greed
from the Corporations that Control and Own our Corrupted
government and our Corrupted Country!!!
SANDERS is the Only one that will FIGHT Tooth and Nail to
insure that We the People are financially protected from the
Criminal Banking Cartel
Criminal Wall Street Rico Enterprise
Criminal Syndicate Cartel Health Insurance Carriers
Criminal Syndicate Cartel Pharmaceuticals
SANDERS will Fight for Real Civil & Criminal Justice Reforms
SANDERS will remove the Corrupted Judges sitting in City-
State & Federal Courts who willfully deprive those of their
due process and constitutional Rights under Law
SANDERS will Enforce laws that protect Jobs, Housing,
Education, the ADA Disabled and Much more
The Endless Brazen Hypocrisy from the Status Quo New York
Times is Truly Sickening & Unconscionable...!
6
Sorry "less progressive Democrats" .. you had your chance in 2016 with sure-fire HRC and lost big time.. Trump was a long shot and yet we live in his nightmare daily. Bernie would have won in 2016 if not ousted with outright lies about the delegates he won.. He's back, stronger than ever and has the DEMOCRATIC vision to make the economy/healthcare work for everyone including Trump voters. Don't screw it up this time!
6
The world is on fire Frank, and you want to put it out with a "conventional" 50-gallon-a-minute firehose ?!? Puhleez... these critical times do not need middle-of-the-road thinking and action.
3
Are you sure it’s the party that is panicking, and not the media just making up headlines?
5
Americans will not vote for a socialist. Instead they will vote for a womanizer and pathological liar.
Says a lot about americans.
5
When will this beloved newspaper start recognizing that progressives are real n progressives vote. The continuous depreciation of Mr. Sanders on his policies and his campaign is fraught with disbelief that this is actually going to happen. Perhaps the Times n Ms. Hillary can have tea n come to the reckoning that this gentleman speaks loud n clear for all of us that have been swept under the rug by either the establishment republicans n Democrats. You’ve failed ever so miserably n pathetically. The times they are a changin. You rock Mr. Sanders keep doing what you’re doing because it is happening!
6
I thought this would be a reasonable column, but alas it’s in the NYT!
It’s a predictable anti Bernie rant from the corporate wing of the Democratic Party or “moderate” as they claim to be!
it’s ironically the very “panic” the writer claims to be writing about!!
“Democrats crave a moderate..” etc etc.
when did advocating for a reasonable wage, or healthcare become “extreme?”
This is the corruption that has driven working people away in places like Ohio to Trump!
That “wine cave” corruption will lose to Trump again if it’s nominated!!!
3
Where will African Americans turn after Joe drops out? Apparenlty, blacks won't vote for a gay candidate, but why have all the others failed to connect?
3
Hey Frank. Cranky has become a cliché when describing Bernie. Try and avoid clichés. Other than that, you're a pretty good writer.
3
With all due respect - and present company of Mr. Bruni excepted - perhaps if this publication that I deeply respect would stop covering the Democratic race like a World Wrestling Federation show down...
...while also feeding into the cult of personality, then mature candidates of character, maturity, and moderation might stand a chance.
The Times is influencing this Presidential race as significantly as it did in 2016, there's just a new set of paradigms, perceptions, projections and illusions at work.
With all due respect, get outside the box Mr. Sulzberger & crew...before it's too late.
2
We gave a creepy, pu&&y-grabbing, handicap mocker, porn star pay-off liar a chance, so why not Senator Sanders? At the very least we know he puts country first. At the very most, the middle class and debt-ridden college students will have more money to spend, causing the markets to rise further. I prefer Mayor Pete/Sen. Amy, but I'd choose a tree stump over trump. Or my dog, Riley.
5
"That era was less suited to a disruptive iconoclast like Trump — and to a disruptive iconoclast like Sanders." Comparing Trump and Sanders in this way is vicious--and stupid.
3
Look who finances the Democratic Party establishment
Charles E Schumer, top donors
Top Contributors, 1989 - 2018
Goldman Sachs
Citigroup Inc
Paul, Weiss et al
JPMorgan Chase & Co
Credit Suisse Group
Then read the NY Times on how Mr. Schumer paid them back , by lowering the taxes hedge fund managers pay
https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/washington/30schumer.html
Time for change
5
And cue the pundit overreaction.
So predictable.
3
I don’t trust Buttigieg. He came out of nowhere with highly-calibrated messaging. I hand no idea what he really stands for and what he might actually do.
But Klobuchar... she’s got a record. And a pretty good one from what I can tell. Sure she was a prosecutor but time was that kind of public service was a good thing.
2
The NYTimes itself can't say this, but another factor with Buttigieg is the way Trump will attack him for being gay. Can we even imagine how abusive and vicious Trump will be, with Trump's cult cheering him on.
2
You're going to need to force Klobuchar and Buttigieg off the stage and let Biden have this.
It's his turn.
He deserves it.
1
yes frank Mike Bloomberg .
1
I like this Frank Bruni. An objective and thoughtful observer of trends in an age of reactionary and subjective journalism.
And now after Warren flameout, my hopes have to revolve around another NYer alas a well-mannered one.
Bloomberg.
I never thought I will reach this moment, but defeating the vile impeached thug in WH override everything.
At least I know he will not call or urge us for donations.
I will give that money now to Amy McGrath.
1
Republicans are going to stuff the ballot boxes, ban democrats from voting, put people in jail for trying to vote, destroy any semblance of legality for our elections. They will have the full force of the FBI, CIA, NSA, and US Army at their disposal. And the American people are going to stand around and let them. Watch the take over come. Complain and moan about it. write silly letters about it. You've lost your Country, face it. Start planning to get strong, tough, uncompliant, confrontational. Work yourself up, for all the soldiers, public servants, teachers, friends, enemies, and indifferent people you know. Trump is removing any and every thoughtful person from the Government, the "Deep State" and he is replacing it with "The Shallow, obedient State". And nothing will stop him that I can see. He won't respect Votes of the people any more than he respected votes of the House and Senate. Get mean, my friends, and my opponents. Disagree with me and talk to each other, but dig in for a battle of your life against the destruction of love, justice, truth, science, religion, and hope. Prepare for a man a lot less educated, less moral, than Hitler. And he now has the power, and he's using it. Start standing up, firmly, in the path of tyranny, There's a new Russia House in Kentucky. Where's the next one? Where will the China and Saudi Houses go? Texas, Florida, Alabama? New York and California to follow? Pleas, "do not go gently into that good night" of hate & fear and slavery.
2
Find your center Frank, the electorate has. Amy! It's Klobbering Time.
2
Et tu, Brute.
2
Brunei’s fence sitting and subtly directed barbs continue apace. He’s white and privileged, so no surprise there. Maybe he should go back to food criticism, it’s more in his lane of elitist urbanites.
3
The impeached thug in the WH just did something today he never did in a long four years.
He backed off.
He deleted a tweet he sent early AM calling Bloomberg a racist after a leaked video shows Bloomberg defending Stop & Frisk.
Asked about it in WH this afternoon, he said-paraphrasing" it was a nasty tweet and I want to bring the country together".
The flagrant shamelessness and audacity.
He could care less if we fight each other in Lafayette Square, as long as it will keep him in office.
He backed off because he is a coward and knows Bloomberg will hit him immediately 10 times harder for it.
Thank God, I now know Bloomberg will terrorize him.
1
Bloomberg/Pete
Bloomberg/Abrams
Bloomberg/Hillary!
Bernie is an old misogynist whom is revered by the New York Times. He is not going to win the nomination--he it too old, in poor health, and has no clue how to run a bath let alone a country.
Another Biden-bashing column from the NYT, which has become a daily ritual. Obviously, the NYT wants Trump re-elected or you wouldn't pronounce the national front-runner, Biden, as "on life support"at this stage of the game. And this after only two unrepresentative, insignificant primaries from all-white states with few electoral votes?
Save your obituary for Super Tuesday. Or otherwise, just admit that you, along with all your colleagues, really want T back again for 4 years because it'll give you plenty of easy headlines and nonsensical distraction to write about.
1
If Trump & his sycophantic acolytes are going to keep on calling pretty much all Democrats socialists, then it's past time for the Democrats to start calling Trump & his acolytes what they are, viz., fascists.
2
Funny how Bernie was the golden child going up against the evil empire of Hillary in 2016. Now as a front runner he is the devil.
1
Dems have my vote. No matter who comes out on top. And I am no spring chicken. I have your back. We have a domestic terrorist in the WH right now. Vote blue
1
You are wrong about 2020 dem voter turnout in New Hampshire. It was on par with 2008. Did you go to sleep early?
2
The “wine cave” wing of the party calls itself “moderate.” It’s the Hillary wing of the party which lost in 2016 but still refuses to learn that lesson! It will learn another one if it imposes it’s “wine cave” Hillary 2.0 candidates! People will stay at home again!!!
2
Trump relishes the “In media stat virtu” guys. For breakfast, for lunch, for supper.
I mourn for Joe Biden. Trump, using Ukraine, ruined Gentle Joe's candidacy.
1
Bernie v Trump = principled, honest experienced politician versus transactional, lying reality TV persona
Amy v Trump = forthright, female moderate versus fraudulent, misogynistic right wing nut job
Pete v Trump = virtuous, gay mayor versus corrupt, philandering conman
ANY of these contests should be easy wins for the Democrats and if they loose then it will be shame on the electorate for abdicating their responsibility as citizens in a democracy.
1
His angry, shouted message is not supported by a lifetime of producing important legislation that required collaboration with others. What we don't need again in the Oval Office is a malignant narcissist.
2
NYT won't print this, but we started with the Bernie Blackout, where the mainstream media ignored him and hoped he would go away. Now, we have the Sanders Sandbagging, where the mainstream media piles on and tries to deny Sanders even the hope of winning, or tries to minimize his wins with plentiful "Yeah, well..." and pivoting to faux centrist longshots like Buttigieg and Klobuchar.
Pinning your hopes on Bloomberg? Truly? Hah.
3
To me, Bernie Sanders comes across as a little Fidel Castro wantabe...not quite as strong a personality or as likable...but still delivering the same communist message...take from the rich and give to the poor...Pete Buttigieg flaw is that he has little experience in running a country...only a medium sized city and that's it...so he is a big gamble...Warren and Biden are pretty much unelectable for different reasons...that leaves Amy Klobuchar and Mike Bloomberg...Mike Bloomberg is basically trying to buy his way to the presidency which doesn't sit too well with most people...Amy is the dark horse coming from behind that scares the heck out of the front runners...because they know she is the real thing...she is the daughter of a coal miner and has worked hard all her life to achieve where she is today, a US senator, which should tell you a lot about her personality, work ethic and will to succeed where others fail... my vote is for Donald Trump but if I was a democrat, which I was until 2015, I would be get behind Amy and give her my full support because I think she is the only candidate that I think has a chance to beat President Trump...I probably shouldn't be telling you this but I would like to see a good race for the finish in November...
8
I guess I was too nasty in my other missive. I hope that of all the candidates, Sanders is the last one standing. He is not cranky. He is eloquent, direct, unapologetic, and Rooseveltian in his proposals. Perhaps the party can look to its history.
34
Gen X, Millennials & Gen Z will cast the majority of votes in the 2020 general election. There just aren't enough Boomers and Silents left to outvote them. Skeptical? Please review the 2016 and 2018 voter turnout charts from the Pew Research Center below.
In 2016, Gen X + Millennial + Gen Z vote totals surpassed vote totals for Boomers + Silents. That was entirely due to demographic trends, as you can see looking at the trend lines. Four years later, that demographic trend will be increased.
On top of that, Gen X, Millennial & Gen Z turnout rates surged in 2018. They also voted for Democrats at higher rates than their elders in the midterms. (Boomers favored Dems 1.07 : 1. Gen X favored Dems 1.24 : 1. Millennials favored Dems 2.14 : 1.) This resulted in a Blue Wave for the House.
Gen X, Millennials & Gen Z might not match the turnout rates of 65+ voters in 2020, but they don't need to match them in order to make up the significant majority of votes cast. Median age doesn't vary much from state to state, so this effect will be seen all over the U.S.
2016 Turnout: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/07/31/gen-zers-millennials-and-gen-xers-outvoted-boomers-and-older-generations-in-2016-election/
2018 Turnout: https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2019/05/29/gen-z-millennials-and-gen-x-outvoted-older-generations-in-2018-midterms/
8
The realists are those with money on the line. On Wall Street, that enemy place of Sanders voters, traders are not blinking about his win today. They see Sanders as the best insurance to reelecting Trump and a continued market boom. A post from former head of Goldman Sachs says the same and adds that Russians also must favor Sanders for the same reason, they prefer to see Trump reelected and Sanders is likely to make that happen. Meanwhile, in their own paradoxical gleeful way, Democrats are celebrating Sanders' victory confident that he'll vanquish Trump. I'll bet on Wall Street's judgment. Meanwhile, election betting odds went up today for Trump.
https://electionbettingodds.com
6
if trump can win the presidency with boasting sexual assaults he's done Bloomberg should be forgiven 4 his errors and he is a major jobs candidate. people really look at who will help their bottom line.
9
"And [Bernie's] movement isn’t driving voters to the polls in the manner that he and his allies have vowed that it would. Democratic turnout in New Hampshire on Tuesday, like turnout in Iowa last week, wasn’t spectacularly robust."
More people voted in the New Hampshire Democratic Primary in 2020 than any previous Democratic primary in the state's history. How is that not robust? (Cf. "New Hampshire Democratic Primary Turnout Sets New Record," New York Magazine)
More lies about Bernie's campaign from the NY Times. Please issue a correction.
24
have never felt so strongly about a candidate...BERNIE2020.
21
And the kids don't vote. They don't show up! - D.A.
6
If this helps the times to get on the team. Just think of all the money you will make covering Bernie Sanders as president. You believe he will be chaos and it sells subscriptions right?
Do you really want a do nothing person? You all day he won’t be able to do anything anyway so it’s perfect. You get the do nothing you claim you support and the chance to generate news making you money!
Seems like a huge win win!
3
Calm yourselves, moderates.
The DNC can be counted on to screw Bernie somehow.
Because they--and this can't be stressed enough--would rather Trump win than a socialist. This is being proven again and again.
18
"I keep seeing references in the media to the Democratic establishment and to party leaders, as if those are meaningful forces with indisputable impact.”
Really, Frank?!!? They’re very real, and they’re essentially the same “forces" who screwed Bernie in 2016. They’re now poised to do it again because they want a coronation, not a fair democratic process, to select the Dem nominee. They’ll have their long knives out again for Bernie because they know he’s not electable. But their boy, Joe Biden, is doing what he does best: Destroy himself. It’ll be hard for these “forces” to prop up an imbecile like Biden, but look for it. It’s coming.
14
Bernie will be a great President. Democrats, relax, support this man who has spent his whole life in pursuit of justice. Don't let the fear mongering and greed of the neoliberals, and the fascistic rants of the Trumpists, stop you from voting for a man who can turn this ship around and head us in the right direction!
39
No one is discussing the glaringly obvious results in Iowa and New Hampshire. White men win over more qualified women yet again. The sexism is palpable, ever present, and ignored. It is the elephant in the room that nobody “sees.”
335
@Ann B. It is, but so what? Whatever it takes to get Trump out. Democrats have to stop focusing on these kinds of things and focus solely on what and who will defeat Trump. I can't stand the sexism; I know Hillary lost because she's a woman, and I was furious about it. But the fact is, Americans will not elect a woman, which means Trump wins, so accept that ugly fact and move on to defeating Trump by any legal means possible, and if that means a white man, then that's who we vote for. Regardless, I really like Buttigieg and Klobuchar, but knowing a woman can't defeat Trump I'm sticking with Buttigieg because all I care about is saving American democracy by kicking the corrupt autocrat and cult leader occupying the Oval Office now out.
34
@Ann B. In what way is anyone more qualified than Bernie
Sanders? I'll wait ...
62
@Ann B.
This is not about what you want the world to look like. It's about gaining power to turn back a dangerous man and the many people who support him (and who will still be around if he is defeated).
53
Sanders isn’t the front runner. Moderate Dems are. Sanders ceiling is capped at about 25% per polls and votes, and Iowa and New Hampshire are lily white states. He should have done better.
So Sanders won’t get a majority of delegates and it will be a brokered convention unless Bloomberg surges.
368
@Barb Campbell The supposed whiteness of Sanders's support is an old media narrative that is even less true this time around. The demographics of Iowa and New Hampshire might even have been a hindrance to him. They do, however, map quite closely onto both Buttigieg and Klobuchar's bases.
54
@Barb Campbell At some point the moderates will have to consolidate around one candidate. It's still early, March 3rd should sort a lot of this out.
17
If Sanders wins the most delegates and it's a brokered convention and the DNC gives the nomination to anyone else, you are talking about a catastrophe. Voters would revolt.
You are wrong about Sanders' support and playing directly into the media's panicked hands concerning a so-called moderate vote, as if all of Amy's voters support Pete more than Bernie and vice versa.
Bernie is popular, he is winning elections, he is here to stay. Yay!
76
I think it's time people listen to the under 30 crowd, who will bare the brunt of the effects of the election this November.
Adults have brought us nothing but endless wars, climate change, the US falling steadily into fascism, corruption, conservative and religious judges, citizen's united, and a lack of healthcare.
I'm sick and tired of it. Adults--take a stand for once and help the youth make some actual change happen.
44
I consider my self pretty liberal. I saw Bernie on Meet the Press over the weekend assailing "the democratic establishment." He implied that they were the enemy. Still! When you equate "moderates" (and I don't even know what that means, as I think all democrats today have policy ideas that are more progressive than Obama's) with Trump - well, that's when you sound like a Russian bot trying to divide us. Trump is the enemy. I hear ALL of my friends say they're voting blue no matter who. All...except the Bernie supporters. It's maddening that they can't see the existential crisis facing us and don't seem to want to hold our hand unless Bernie is the nominee.
805
@Jason I do think it's reasonable to question how we've gotten to where we've gotten, with a leader like Trump. I'm sure there were a lot of factors. If you imagine that the Democratic party had nothing to do with Trump's rise, that's one way to go, but I think it's better to be reflective. The shape of political discourse has for many years played into Republican hands after all, and I think sometimes the Democrats have been too conciliatory on their end. I'm sure we can agree that at times Democrats have even pretended to espouse conservative ideals that they didn't believe in, in order to win votes. Take for instance the topic of gay marriage. We all know that HRC and Obama were perfectly fine with that, but they wouldn't espouse it publicly for fear of political retribution. It took the people on the ground to make that happen, and then the politicians like HRC and Obama were happy to join in. I think we need to reflect on that, and make a party that is less top down, so as to avoid the same kind of errors in the future. The Democratic party at some point became more geared toward the focus group and less geared toward its own constituents. Sanders notes this, and wants to turn it around. To my mind, he has more faith in the Democratic party than anyone else, because he believes in its members, not just data points.
78
@Jason
Based on your own description, it sounds like Bernie is the only unifying candidate who everyone in the party will be willing to support.
65
@Jason Why shouldn't the Democrats include a fanatical, feeling-based faction, just as the Republicans do? The ultimate question may be -- Which of the two is the more corrosive, the more inspired by enmity? That's probably your winner.
11
As ominous as it looks for the Democrats, it aint over yet. If Biden has a poor showing in South Carolina, he'll end his campaign that night, and pave the way for Bloomberg to fight off Bernie 3 days later on Super Tuesday and beyond. Although Warren is already giving indications she may drop out as well. If that happens before Super Tuesday, Bernie will be on much stronger footing. As of yesterday morning, I thought Bloomberg would have a real shot at the nomination, but that recording of him defending Stop and Frisk was bad. Real bad. It wasnt just defending the policy, Bloomberg made the very stereotypical argument that most crime happens in the black community, therefore, thats where the police have to go, and where all the arrests happen. Its going to hurt his African American support. Party elders may very well have to step in and ask Mayor Pete and Klobuchar to end their campaigns.
Bernie could very well be the nominee. At that point, the Democrat Party might as well just change their name to the Socialist Party. Every Democrat Senator and House member up for re-election will be asked if they support their nominee. When they say yes, they'll automatically become socialists too.
This election will be capitalism vs socialism.
Guess who wins?
157
@SportsMedicine Why would Pete and Amy drop out? They are surging. Bernie had a very unimpressive win yesterday. He won around 72k votes, had 151k 4 years ago. He has lost more than half his supporters from 4 years ago. The party needs to back a surging candidate, not a fading one.
42
@SportsMedicine I don't think these candidates are going to just go quietly into the night. This could be a longer more drawn out Dem primary than 2016. At the end they will all be bloodied. Trump will have a lot of one-liners, campaign slogans and branding for any Socialist candidate. Swing states are not ready for socialism, even if it may benefit them economically in the short term.
10
@SportsMedicine: "This election will be capitalism vs socialism."
That's how Trump will try to frame the election.
But he will try to frame the election no matter who the candidate is: "Sleepy Joe", "Pocahontas", etc. Messaging is what Trump does, it's his only real talent. That's what he did with Hillary Clinton, a smart, tough and experienced opponent, because he lacked all qualifications to be president. If Dems can't figure out how to counter Trump's messaging, guess who wins?
43
The major parties should take steps to prevent themselves from being kidnapped by aliens like Bernie Sanders or Donald Trump or opportunistic billionaires. None of them are really from their supposed parties. They belong in "The Price is Right" party.
1
Bernie is trying, more than any candidate, to restore democracy to our increasingly oligarchic, plutocratic, corruption-fueled country.
I guess that's scary to the oligarchs, the plutocrats, and the corrupt lobbyists and leaders of corporations trying to wield undue influence in our politics.
Everyone else should be dancing in the streets.
12
Trump beats centrist Democrats. Hillary Clinton was the poster child of centrist Democrats. She lost
10
Panic indeed. Does Lloyd Blankfein not realize that his negative comments further elevate Bernie? More proof that Wall Street people are overpaid.
9
Best way forward: a Klobuchar/Buttegieg ticket, with Bloomberg's money supporting them instead of diverting attention.
7
it'd be nice if Opinion sections in the times were required to include some amount of policy discussion in their political columns. I have yet to see any person handwringing provide any evidence that Sanders's policies would be bad for the majority of Americans
8
Oh for gods sake, get a grip. Bernie does well in caucuses, where his young minions who haven’t got kids, jobs, elderly parents can show up in droves in college towns. Bernie does well in white states. In New Hampshire, he’s basically a local.
I hope this leads to proper vetting of Bernie. I don’t care what label he is called. I do care that he refused to finalise his FEC filings from 2016. I care about his perfect record voting against gun control. I care that after railing against PACs, the first thing he did was go out and found one — which also refuses to disclose its finances. I care about his long history of misogynist writings and statements, up to and including dissing planned parenthood and suggesting women’s reproductive rights are negotiable. I care that until he started running for president, he was anti-immigrant, for the same bogus reasons as Trump, that they take “American” (read, white males) jobs. I care that he voted FOR the crime bill he disparaged HRC for. I care that he’s accomplished nothing in 30 years.
Mostly, I care about the culture of rage, grievance, and abuse he at best winks at and usually encourages, excuses, and participates in (threatening violence at the convention, for instance). I care about his lying and smearing. I care about his hypocrisy.
Press, do your job. Vet the guy. Cover these issues.
8
And yet, I think there are a lot of people with enough life experience to agree that if the victim of the crime identified their assailant as Black or Hispanic, it makes very little sense to carefully stop and frisk two Chassidic Jews, one Muslim programmer, and two Polish construction workers. That's the basic question: how far from reality are you willing to stray in order to promote your vision of a perfect, tolerant, egalitarian world? Willing to get mugged in a park, get your purse snatched at knife point, while congratulating the police on not upsetting anyone of any background unjustly?
4
Stop clutching your pearls New York Times. What do you think all these state primaries and caucuses are for anyway? This is at least a chance for voters to weigh in on their choice for president.
In the early voting states (Iowa with 3+ million people and 91% white; NH with 1.4 million and 97% white), name recognition means a lot. In fact, the Democratic Party establishment should be grateful that a clear message has been sent that Joe Biden may be the DNC choice, but he is not the voters' choice. Candidates without much name recognition passed Joe by handily.
So the early winners then gain by becoming noticed and worthy of attention. Lots more primaries to go, and the primaries we will all be watching closely will be those in the swing states.
Pace yourself, NYT, miles to go before we will have any idea who/whom the Democratic candidate is.
My money is on Klobuchar because of her pragmatism (I am sick of ideology on both right and left), and she has more political experience in the big leagues than Buttigieg.
1
You say "cranky" like it's a bad thing. I'm cranky too--there is good reason to be. Do we really want a President we could have a beer with, like Bush? Or a slippery jocular type like Reagan? I'll take cranky if the candidate is real and not beholden to special interests. That's Bernie.
136
90% of politics is getting the other side to lose. Trump excels at that.
4
I respect Bernie and the progressive candidates a lot, but I just don't believe that any of them can defeat Trump. As far as Buttigieg, Klobuchar and Bloomberg are concerned, I'm just not sure how they will do with regard to judges, a pretty important thing. Biden's track record for all the really big issues is known. A lot of people act as if Biden is senile. He is not!!! The guy is smart-- and a strong tactician-- so why pick someone who is on a learning curve?
I can see Biden as a one term president with a strong VP. He knows his way around, is flexible, and will be great at consensus building. I don't think the dramatic change that is yearned for in the 2020 election is possible to achieve in one election. We need to get Trump out and take back the Senate, then a lot of things are possible in 2024.
Biden is the one we need right now and Trump knows that.
3
Not feeling any discomfort, thanks.
The turnout wasn't robust? It's neck and neck with the highest turnout ever in NH.
You think Bernie's grumpy? When I'm 78 if I'm still reading a Times op-ed section this baby-brained, I'll be grumpy too.
12
I can’t believe all the commenters citing polls..who believes in polls anymore? Oh I guess only when they affirm their candidate of choice.
1
What a vision:
Old man Sanders vs. Old Man Trump.
We wonder which will be first to fall down and can't get up!
6
a. Sanders is not 1/10 the radical that the ridiculous 'straight' media tries to sell its copy with.
b. It's time for the US to terminate it's ridiculous association with the American New Deal social attention with that century old Russian experiment gone bad.
c. Never have we had a more radical candidate than Donald Trump in this nation; only someone either interested in our downfall (or incredibly naive) would promote him.
14
I think Mr. Bruni is too pessimistic. Step back for a moment and realize that over 40% of the voters in New Hampshire went for the moderate to mildly left of center candidates who came in number 2 and 3. Maybe a brokered convention is in order, or maybe the other moderate, namely Joe Biden, will have the grace and courage to move towards the role of senior statesman rather than candidate. A combined ticket of Buttigieg and Klobuchar, in either order, might have the capacity to defeat Trump in a tidal wave, not to mention insure Democratic control of the Oval Office for 16 years rather than 8 if their policies were successful.
10
It seems that every single person has become a political scientist and knows who is more or less able to be elected. Interestingly, a great part of the media that Trumps so often criticizes has a speech against Bernie Sanders and is absolutely sure that he will not be elected.
Yet, Bernie Sanders still leads the polls despite all the adverse coverage. The disconnect between that media and the polls is astonishing. It is as though the media longs for a different reality... perhaps an old kind of reality, where Trump was just an "odd" New Yorker.
Moreover, what will this rhetoric against Bernie Sander render? Most likely, Trump's re-election. The ultimate paradox: the media that Trump hates so much is the same media that will help him be reelected.
14
Bruni's intent is to damage the Sanders' campaign. See also Tom Friedman's latest column, doing exactly the same thing. The more Sanders wins, the more fear they seek to provoke.
Their attitude betrays both contempt for voters and indifference to the democratic process.
26
As Democrats, we must swallow our pride and our ideals and “pander” to the crucial swing states around the Great Lakes. The Electoral college makes it mandatory for us to woo these swing states.
6
Logically, you would assume that the Bloomberg recording would mean that African Americans won't support him and he's no longer a viable Democratic candidate. But I'm not so sure that's how African Americans (as a whole) will think. Look no further than Trump. Many Trump voters think he's an awful person. Yet, they plug their noses and vote for him anyway. Why? Because, pragmatically, he delivers them certain things they want. I suspect that if African Americans believe that Bloomberg has the best chance of beating Trump, and trust that he will provide them certain deliverables that they want, they will plug their noses and vote for him. Voters, especially voters who are not too young, tend to be more pragmatic.
10
we support amy klobuchar. she has no obvious vulnerabilities (unlike bernie, who is too one dimensional, elizabeth, who is too academic, and pete, who is too young).
and klobuchar, a former prosecutor--assuming she puts on her prosecutor's hat and begins to play a bit of hardball with trump--is more than a match for trump.
we'd love to see pete's voters begin to move to amy--and we'd also, meanwhile, like to hear more about the super-wealthy donors supporting pete.
a suitable running mate for amy? maybe cory booker. heck, dream big: maybe michelle obama.
5
"Younger voters are much more taken with Sanders than older ones." And that, Mr. Bruni, is precisely why I am supporting with time and money and vote, Bernie Sanders at the age of 70. Because I have been listening to young voters, who are inheriting the country and Planet Earth, for the past four years and Bernie is who they want as their leader because Bernie very correctly believes, as did FDR, that revolution comes from the bottom. With the planet on fire and STILL Americans do not have universal healthcare nor even affordable healthcare or childcare and corporations do not pay their share of taxes and the U.S. infrastructure is crumbling and systemic racism continues as a chronic American disease and rural communities have disintegrated with no jobs and too many drugs and our youth are burdened with egregious student debt with few living wage jobs for working class or professional class, Baby Boomers are exceedingly selfish when they do NOT listen to the future generations and support their chosen leader.
16
Uh oh, watch out. "Sanders’s strength will be seriously tested as he comes under brutal assault from Democrats...."
Could Frank ever discuss just a bit the actual pros & cons of Sanders' proposals and how our lives would be affected? Not cool, Frank?
Our horse race media doesn't give us the full range of views, alternatives, and solutions. The media gets big profits from campaign ads paid by mega donors who shape our center.
They keep their coverage within narrow limits--not to look too 'left wing' by our distorted standards also shaped by FOX News GOP state media, that keeps other media defensive.
Main media won't report any facts on how other democracies pay for their benefits that are said to be impossible here. Those countries are also capitalist systems, but they don't insult their citizens by letting profits rule politics.
Their govts have more respect for the citizens that elect them, so they have a say. They actually fulfill better what the American colonists demanded of King George in our 18th Century Revolution---
Representation For Our Taxation.
That's our 21st C fight. How are the media punditocracy helping? They just say -- the progressives are weak, the moderates are strong!
We must ask-- what will what we call moderates do for the 99% of us? Why have a democracy?
Trump's worst damage is to make even mediocre Dems look great. Thus we stay stuck. Who will run in 2024? We need better than just 'better than Trump'.
13
This sort of headline is harmful to Bernie's campaign. Referring to his success as panic inducing, or even surprising, is not helpful or hopeful. His ideas are not radical. Are we so solidified in and desensitized to Trump's ideals that we view Bernie as the radical one? You are alienating his campaign with these headlines. The party is not panicking. It's triumphing.
16
I’m a Trump hating Republican. I need a real moderate or I stay home. If I was alone, alright. If there are a lot of me, and we all stay home, then that’s a different story. How about a calm pleasant weather vane like Bill Clinton, or an ultimate technocrat like Bloomberg. With Sanders Trump takes 42 states and another stomach turning four years; Trump liberated should be everyone’s nightmare.
6
Please stop describing the ideal "electable" Democrat as "moderate." Moderate really means "status quo" or "business as usual."
Moderate means acquiescence to the longstanding Republican agenda of helping the wealthiest persons (individual and corporate) acquire more wealth, while leaving everyone else ever further behind. Income inequality is not a problem, but a feature of how they believe our economy should function.
Moderate means reinforcing a medical-industrial complex devoted to wealth care for its executives and shareholders. Health care for patients is "medical loss," and we pay billions of dollars for their ceaseless efforts to reduce it. People who get sick, die, or go bankrupt because they can't afford health care are mere externalities, burdens those CEOs have successfully imposed on someone else.
Moderate means dismantling regulation that burdens greed. Boeing can regulate itself, so the 737Max can start creating shareholder value as soon as possible. If people die because of corner-cutting, that's just another externality. Thoughts and prayers don't cost shareholders anything.
Moderate means continuing to plunder and pollute the planet, so that the executives and shareholders of extractive industries can expand their wealth until there is no more to plunder.
Moderate is what big-money donors want in a candidate, as it means protecting and serving their interests. But based on 2016 and 2018, voters are entirely fed up with "moderate."
20
I'm going to admit something about myself (not hard to do, as I'm writing anonymously, after all!): I'm an old fashioned mechanical pendulum clock nerd. I love these devices and have since I was a kid.
A pendulum clock can often achieve extremely high accuracy (especially if weight driven, as opposed to spring-driven, by the way), the finest ones achieving accuracy surpassing quartz clocks and watches. This is because minute adjustments in clock speed are extremely simple: you raise or lower the pendulum bob (the disc at the bottom) by twisting a nut that holds the bob in place (the higher the bob, the faster the clock).
Oh, I'm neglecting my point, which is this: The most effective way to set the bob's position and clock speed is to err on the side of too fast, tweaking accuracy by slowing it down from too fast, rather than speeding it up from too slow.
Get the clock to gain a second a day, and lower the bob by tiny increments (fractions of a millimeter) till it is exact;y right.
In the economy, we should elect Sanders with a bold economic justice and strong safety net agenda, reining him in (slowing the clock down) toward the center where things go too far. It's better than starting too slow and tepidly inching toward an ultimate goal. In the former approach, you exploit the natural forces of gravity and inertia, whereas in the latter approach, gravity and inertia work against you.
16
The reason Bernie Sanders seems so far left now is because mainstream Democrats have ceded so many of the ideological battles that they have been involved in over the last 30 years to the Republicans. If you’re a Democrat, you can say Bernie can’t win if you want to but the reason it looks like that to you is because your own party has betrayed your values time and again.
17
The "party panic" is more likely that panic of wealthy donors who see Sanders' agenda as a threat to their entitled wealth. Trump won an unexpected victory because he recognized the opportunity to exploit for his own purposes the discontent so many voters have with an economy that is failing them and a political system that ignores them. Other candidates, particularly Hillary Clinton, stuck to a "business as usual" approach that was appealing to donors, but offered non-wealthy voters no prospect of relief from a stagnant or declining standard of living, the constant threat of medical bankruptcy, and continually reduced opportunities for our children.
The exception was Bernie Sanders. He acknowledged inequality and the failure of "American Exceptionalist" health care. He offered a compelling vision of an economy that provided opportunity for all and a health care system that serves patients rather than Wall Street. That vision won him 22 states without help from the usual wealthy donors. Rather than heeding the message voters were sending with Sanders and Trump, the Democratic elites saw Sanders only as a threat to Clinton's long-planned coronation.
The voter outrage has, if anything, increased since Trump and Republicans have further rigged the system. Sanders still offers a compelling vision, which could prevail over Trump if the party got behind it rather than only seeking to keep wealthy donors happy.
15
The only appropriate answer to the question "Did Bernie win?" is "Well yes, but actually no."
Bernie got the most votes, but he's actually lost supporters in one of his stronghold states. In 2016 he won 60% of the popular vote and took home 15 delegates from New Hampshire. A stunning victory over Hillary Clinton that proclaimed his strength as a candidate. This year he scrabbled together 25.9% of the popular vote in NH, barely beating Pete Buttigieg, who had 24.5%. He actually tied in terms of delegates, at 9 to 9. And this is Sanders' stamping grounds, a state he dominated in 2016. After NH, it was pretty much all down hill for him.
To make it clear: many people who voted for Sanders in 2016 snubbed him this year, in a state he carried easily, to the extent that had even one district not gone his way he would have lost the state.
Low voter turnout may be the only reason Sanders still has a platform.
1
panic the NYT is all too happy to stoke
13
Undoubtedly we Dems, among all who want our national disgrace of a president gone asap, will be feeling our discomfort for awhile, because it wasn't an overnite development that got us here. Just so it's not 4 more years of endangering our nation from the White House, and 2 more years of obstructing all legislation by the Senate.
As we work out our angst and try to discover how to get ourselves out of a mess of a democracy with few citizens educated about our governments and their capacities, we can put one person before a camera to read a lengthy, selective indictment of "the Great Divider" Trump, solicit funding for its continued broadcast on all TV, radio, and puter platforms around the nation, and let that be our voice. We can't wait for one candidate, a "savior" to be such a voice, because anyone with a decent script can do it.
Repeat the truth about Trump as often and as forcefully as he repeats his lies. If there's a formula for electoral success in 2020, that's it.
BS will not win the nomination. If he wins, excellent news for Trump.
In fact, being reasonable, across America Trump is so much stronger candidate than any of those vying to fight him that I see him relatively easily winning again. America and NYT have very little in common.
Thus, sorry NYT, and its passionate audience, just common sense.
2
@ss Trump received 63 million votes. There are approximately 240 million possible voters. Therefore, I can't see how you conclude Americans will be supporting him. They just need to get to the polls.
7
Sanders would need to be able to compromise with McConnell et al to accomplish anything, and his base are people who are absolutely opposed to compromise and would abandon Sanders when he did. That is why his candidacy creates panic. Sanders speaks up for a lot of people, but he is not a consensus builder. Trump has had steadfastly supportive Republican majorities in Congress. Sanders would need the same to see any legislation enacted or judges confirmed.
2
@Casual Observer Democrats control the House. The Senate is the problem. I believe FDR faced much animosity yet he showed America what programs were needed and fortunately came out a winner. So such cynicism is prevalent but I believe Sanders can convince us that indeed his vision is good for us; most do want health care in the model of other nations, further gun control, $15 minimum wage, pollution solutions, legal abortion, etc.
3
Fear begets fear. If you are afraid of Trump, you "must" be afraid of Sanders. Democrats can't use fear of Sanders to defeat the master of fear in the Oval Office. Trump has a sixth sense for fear and he exploits it mercilessly. For the financially comfortable, it's fear of losing some of what you have via taxes. For men, white people and native-born, it's fear of losing your privilege. For union workers and leaders, it's fear of losing something you've bargained for. For the highly educated and professional class, it's fear of more smart individuals getting the same education and entry points and competing with you.
At some point in this primary, I believe another shift will occur. Democratic voters will get tired of the anti-Sanders fear tactics employed by both Trump and Democratic leaders and opinion shapers. They will vote for what they need and want, fearlessly, and tell the "Never Bernie" fearmongers on both sides to go fish.
8
@abigail49 I've got my rod and my reel ready to go.
1
Sounds to me like the Democratic establishment is making the same mistake the Republican establishment made in 2016. They turned themselves inside out trying to avoid Trump being their candidate. Look how that turned out. Now they're his lap dogs. I think it's laughable that democratic socialism has been portrayed to be the bogeyman. Is Canada really that scary a proposition? Americans should be proud of Sanders' youth movement. A generation that puts to shame the power brokers' "me first" mantra. Their American ideal is much closer to the Framers' vision than my self-serving generation's ideal. Could it be that TRUMP and the Democratic moderates' time has past? America could be great for the first time in its short and troubled history. BTW life in Canada is great! Couldn't be prouder to belong to a country whose citizens are willing to have less so that everyone has a decent life. TRUMP and the moderates want you to believe that they have everyone's interests at heart...Bernie is calling their bluff!
8
I disagree.
It will be eventually Centre/Centre left vs Progressive.
At the end, when votes of Mayor Pete, Amy, and Biden are most likely amalgamated, Centre/Centre left will prevail.
Progressive supporters among democrats are said to be one third of the Democrats. Don't panic!
2
I was reading this piece quickly and thought it said: You expected "revolution" from New Hampshire?
I wish.
We do need a revolution and not the type Bernie has been touting. We need a Democratic party to be united and back one candidate to win. Unfortunately, these days it seems that is really going to take a revolution.
4
There was once upon a time in America, when the prospect of a socialist president was plausible. His name was Eugene Debs. He tried six times, at most garnering 6% of the popular vote.
Bernie as a person and as a candidate doesn't turn me off, but I just don't see America electing a socialist for president, despite the yearning to swing the pendulum the other way.
I would like to see Sen. Warren as president, but that she couldn't place in NH, given that she is a Senator from a neighboring state, calls her continued candidacy into question.
Biden, I like Joe, but unless he can pick up a win, then I just don't see how he remains a contender.
That leaves Buttigieg, Bloomberg and Klobuchar. Bloomberg is buying a seat at the table. Stop and frisk is a turn off (and a real disappointment, given that Bloomberg was an otherwise effective mayor). that leaves either Buttigieg/Klobuchar or a Klobuchar/Buttigieg ticket.
I can live with the discomfort. . .democracy is messy by nature. If it turns out that the convention has to go multiple ballots before a ticket is formed. . .then so what. Let the people decide; even if it turns out that Sanders is nominated. Pundits and everyday folk like me never thought trump would get elected.
1
@Phil Hurwitz
Bernie is no more a socialist than FDR. He just wants Denmark kind of social democracy. What makes him vulnerable to propaganda is the combination “socialist” label and Medicare for All.
Trump’s propaganda make him into a communist by using the attacks against these two issues. They will turn him into cuban mole on one hand and show that for Medicare for All too many taxes will have to be raised.
Bottom line is that the european systems in Switzerland, Germany and Netherlands are hybrid private/public systems with heavy regulation. We could have those quite easily with robust public option, mandate for all, and strong drug prices control. Why insist on overturning the whole system, live in a total chaos for 4 years, with Medicare for All?
4
If the media is going insist on calling Bernie a "socialist", may I remind them that one of the greatest presidents in US history was none other than FDR, who, if truth be told, would, along with Eleanor, most likely be supporting Bernie were he still around today.
Being called "a traitor to his class" by the wealthy for fighting tooth and nail to create Social Security and other programs which helped the poor and middle class was what made FDR so beloved to the vast majority. Demonizing Bernie Sanders as so many pundits and centrist Democrats are doing might very well back fire on them all, so don't count him out yet as 9 months in politics is an eternity.
8
I have to vote for whichever Democrat candidate wins the nomination. However, Sanders scares me. I do not/will not be deprived of health insurance that I have been very pleased with for many years. I am sure many others feel the same way. Of course we do have a way to go and it "ain't" over 'til it's over.
3
congrats on being rich enough to afford decent healthcare. You’ll still have decent healthcare if sanders wins, the only difference being that everyone else will, too.
8
Two states? Tap those brakes, people, and check the national polls.
Sanders is far ahead of everyone: Mayor Pete, Amy, Bloomberg.
The one thing that could really affect the Democrats is Bloomberg.
If he doesn't get what he thinks is the proper amount of popularity, he could easily play spoiler and run as a third party candidate.
Ralph Nader all over again.
If he really wanted to get rid of Trump, he'd run as a Republican.
5
I'm 75 years old. So I know there is NOTHING "moderate" about "moderate" democrats. They all just want to keep doing the same kind of things that have created our bad and broken economy (for most of us, not for Blankfein et. al.), jobs that don't pay a living wage, health care that costs over twice what the rest of the "first world" pays and we get worse results, ...
For years the democrats have relied on me to hold my nose and vote for their candidates as they rush to the right. I have done so. I'm done! It is their turn, when Bernie wins!
15
Trump represents "Socialism" for rich oligarchs and harsh democracy for the other 99% of the country. Why do these pundits continue to support the 1% corporate elite that make up Trumps base? Because of their corporate advertisers I would imagine, it represents the statue quo as does this NYTs columnist. Si why does none listen to you when they go to vote. People read and they have access to many other online outlets that provide real in-depth analysis on issues they care about. Students: global warming, student debt, gun control, heath care. We are not getting this from the NYTs or MSNBC - we get pundits with opinions backed by the corporate elite. Bernie can beat Trump according to nearly every poll. So why all this corporate fearmongering? Simple, they are afraid of having to share any of their socialist parachutes: banks, fossil fuel companies, auto manufacturers, war machine, google and even more they might have to pay their fair share of taxes. That's where voters see the "oligarch media" fear mongering nakedly exposed. Bernie represents the issues that voters are concerned about. Frank Bruni (NYTs - DNC) and Trump are on the same page. We see you clearly.
9
Unlike President Trump, Senator Sanders knows how to work Washington to achieve his desired outcome. Accordingly, Senator has the constituents of great wealth and financial interests greatly concerned, as Mr. Sanders will not hesitate to expose them for what they are - selfish monopolists capitalizing on selfish legislation at the expense of the common good, not to mention the common people. Bernie is the best shot for the common man.
12
"Elizabeth Warren was endorsed by respected media organizations. "
Perhaps these "respected media organizations" made a mistake in their calculations? It is rather absurd to call Bernie Sanders "cranky" simply because he is serious. Would you rather have a clown running for office? Oh, wait a minute, don't we already have a crooked clown in office?
It is so disingenuous of the Democratic establishment and the pundits to have already adopted the "anybody-but-Bernie" strategy. Bernie's proposed policies bring him a lot closer to FDR than any of the other Democratic candidates, so why is he considered so "detrimental" by the so-called "moderate" Democrats? Would these Democrats be considering FDR as detrimental to the party if he was running?
The Democrats have a knack for "shooting their foot" and it seems that they're at it again.
12
Oh please...he won one state by much lower margin than 2016...he actually trails in delegates. Get a grip.
1
Yeah, in two of the whitest states in the country. If I were you I’d take a look at some national polling, polling in swing states, polling with independents, and polling with people of color.
3
DNC, NYTimes, CNN, MSNBC and many others of the liberal establishments: More people than you know or like want Bernie. Get over it! And calm down. Even if he makes it to the Presidency he will not be able to transform his whole platform into reality! Fortunately for you and unfortunately, for all of us who believe that everybody deserves health insurance, an education, maybe a roof over their head, and, you know, justice!
11
"George McGovern"! There! I said it!
He lost in a landslide in November 1972 to the dirtiest election campaign of the entire 20th Century. I was 17 years old. Several candidates or former candidates weren't even born then, including Mayor Pete, Yang, Gabbard, and Castro. Amy Klobuchar was 12.
Since then, every time there's a non-centrist Democrat in the running, they drag out that tired old single example. This November 3rd, 2020, I'll be 65.
“Election after election has shown us that putting forward a new perspective is how Democrats win the White House,” --Pete Buttigieg
That may be the smartest thing he's said, because, as I keep hammering, EVERY Democratic win since the Civil War has followed that, from Cleveland to Obama.
What are "moderate" Democrats going to do if Sanders gets the win? Stay home? Vote Green "on principle"? Let Trump win a 2nd term? Or will they hold their nose and vote for Bernie? Maybe some swing voters will vote for Trump, but I just can't see Joe Biden, or Amy Klobuchar ignited the 80 to 90 million votes it's going to take to win. And I know LOTS of Progressives who would happily vote for Sanders or Warren, who have stated they flatly will NOT vote for Biden, and even more that won't vote for Bloomberg (I admit to having troubles voting for Bloomberg myself, but I'd do it.)
Progressive voters stayed away from Hillary, Kerry, Gore, Dukakis, Mondale, and even Carter in 1980. LEARN THE LESSON! 1972 is 48 years ago!
9
Whichever Democrat gets the nomination and, inshallah, gets elected, will get pulled left or center by the more heterogeneous House and, inshallah, Senate.
Keep the party establishment out of it and let the delegates fall where they may. Then pull together and vote for the democratic candidate.
3
The Democrats and old style Republicans don't seen to get the idea that a largesection of the voting p[ublic is no longer accepting business as usual with corporate supported mebers of Congress continually doing nothing to fix the growing problems in America. Trump and Sanders represent the rejection of the status quo. Trump in a highly destructive dishonest way and Bernie in a moderate (in European terms) social democratic way. The hysteria against Bernie is driven by the old status quo, jobs for life, corporate Democrats
11
It is just amazing how the "establishment" can't see it, more so, can't fathom the idea that the US's version of capitalism is not sustainable. Frank Bruni talks about "panic," although you can feel it in his tone more so than his use of the actual word.
The Democratic Party keeps arguing that we should appeal to the moderates, another word that seems to denote establishment, if we are to win the presidency forgetting that the Republican base chose Trump in spite of his criminal character just for the fact that he is pretending to be anti-establishment. Sanders is the true anti-establishment, he is the one to follow if the idea is to appeal
to Trump supporters.
11
So our choice this year may be:
Who will do more damage to the country.....Sanders or Trump.
Aaaaaaaargh.
2
Just can't trust Democratic voters, can you Frank?
6
Mr. Bruni,
Do you fact-check your piece before posting? The turnout was on track with 2008. But you point out how it was underwhelming, like Iowa. Alternative facts. I am so tired of the way editorial writers for the paper of record seem to get away with not following the basic rules of journalism. I was taught them in college. Please do explain . . .I'm listening.
9
Sanders + Warren = 34%
Buttigieg + Klobuchar + Biden = 53%
4
Vote blue not red.
3
As a lifelong Democrat, I must say that this field of candidates stinks. And trump will beat everyone of them. Total bummer
3
The American Communist party has officially endorsed Bernie Sanders and we are very excited. It's time for Revolution. Lenin, Pol Pot, Castro, Maduro have shown the way. Now Americans will soon feel the Burn! On to Washington.
2
Will the Democratic Party really ask baby-boomers to vote for a Socialist? That's a big ask. This is how the boomer brain works; Socialist = Soviet Socialist Republic = Stalinism = nuclear missiles in Cuba = atomic bomb drills in school = decades of anti-socialist propaganda. Medicare for all? Yes. Publicly financed college tuition? Yes. Vote for a Socialist? Don't ask me to do that.
@P. J. Brown Can we please just prevent baby boomers from voting? The boomer generation has pretty much ruined everything for everyone and they want to continue doing so. Boomer: "No, we will not allow younger generations to start repairing the damage we have done; not when a word is being used that terrifies us still for some reason..."
2
Could we stop writing about politics with terms like “suicidal” and “life support?”
3
The party panic is that when the DNC puts their thumb on the scale again and Bloomberg gets the nomination the Bernie Bros are going to go N-U-T-S, Nuts, Nuts, Nuts.
4
“Cue the Panic”
Pu’leeze.
2
Cue the panic....for the Neoliberal frauds that own and run the National Democratic Party.
10
Trump will eat Buttigieg for lunch if he wins the primaries. The party NEEDS a radical shift to the left, so get on board, moderates, we've had too many losses due to moderate candidates, just ask Hillary, Kerry, Gore, Dukakis, and Mondale. My heart, money, and my vote went to Elizabeth, but if she doesn't break-out, I'm all in for the Bern. He WILL eat Trump for lunch, he polls consistently better than Trump across the country (and even in my state of NH), and has name recognition with experience.
9
A robust primary process is a good thing. Monolithic thinking rarely is healthy.
7
FDR was elected due to the total collapse of Capitalism. There was nothing to lose in trying out the New Deal many decided.
Today, Capitalism is alive and well, as deeply flawed and cruel as it is proving to be. Can a socialist really take the White House in November at a time when most of the electorate has been lulled into a false sense of security? "Bread and circuses" is a phrase that implies "... a population's erosion
or ignorance of civic duty as a priority." Wikipedia
1
Pete is 38. So what! He's not kid...close to that "always 39" optimal age. As a pilot briefs you on weather concerns and ETA prior to takeoff, would you want a 78 year-old in the cockpit or a 38 year-old? As you are wheeled into the operating room for heart surgery, would you prefer a 78 year-old surgeon over a 38 year-old? Younger and less experienced, but more dialed into current practice, not all bad!
2
The hand-wringing has been going on constantly, for four years.
2
Bernie has a lot of good ideas. He could go a lot of good. But the reality is that the right wing media has so demonized liberals in general and Democrats in particular that no self-avowed “socialist” can possibly win. People don’t even understand what that word means, they just don’t like it. It does not help to point out that Germany, Sweden, etc. are democratic socialist states and people live a lot better than we do. The average American has never been to any of those places and has no clue what life is like there for average people. Free tuition? Check. Excellent medical care that won’t bankrupt you? Check. Guaranteed income in retirement? Check. All lost on our oblivious MAGA population.
Any democrat who promises to raise taxes is going down in flames. Ask Walter Mondale.
The miracle of Donald Trump is how a faux billionaire real estate developer from NY managed to convince poor dirt farmers he is just like them, and that handing out benefits to his rich buddies somehow helps them. Good luck breaking through to those people, Bernie.
5
All of the persons voting for the gay guy are moderates? Big question is will moderates follow the left-leaning will of the party? The country, unlike moderates (there are no moderates left in Republican Party, but for perhaps Romney), wants change. Milk toast status quo won’t beat Trump. Get behind whoever is winning! Bernie-Pete ticket?
2
Voters have to discard traditiohal party labels as they increasingly are meaningless in our political landscape. Sanders is a socialist with a socialist party platform: Massive tax increases on the working class to pay for huge government programs on the non tax paying population (millenials and the poor). If are one of the 150 million citizens who is working and getting health insurance through work, you would lose that insurance, absorb huge tax increases and have to rely on the Sanders government to hopefully give you healthcare similar to what you were getting before. In addtional after putting your kids through college you'd have to start paying for putting other kids through college. If you are working in the traditional energy industry helping to redcue our energy costs and independence on the Middle East, you are out of luck. If you are in the service or mfg. industry start preparing for a huge wave of illegal immigrants who can entry the country without worry of arrest (just civil citiations), get free healthcare (which of course you will be paying for) and are willing to do your job for a fraction of your salary. The only vote Saners has "regrets"about is the authorization for military action in Afghansistan after Al Queda attacked us. In short we wouldn't have done anything in response except "talk" to them. Forget abou the D's and Rs. Ask yourself if you are ok with the above policies. If not, resist Sanders with the same passion you resist Trump.
1
All due respect, but could you hold on a minute? The campaign trail is just getting serious. There are plenty of us out here who deserve to have our voices heard thru our primary votes. I credit the media for giving Trump a serious boost in 2016 by setting the national tone. Do you really want that responsibility again?
Headline grabbers are a trap. Some voters only read headlines.
Please...breathe!
6
It’s clear that the corporate media and corporate Democrats will do anything to subvert the will of the people. They lie and cheat as egregiously as Trump does. I pray Sanders wins to take back the country from these corrupt factions.
9
I am a Democrat, always have been. I think Sanders is nuts, but I voted for him in the primary in '16 anyway, because that's where we are at these days. Kinda like Republicans voting for Trump.
3
I think when you consider how much the mainstream media, tv and papers, and their pundits, like the writer, are against Bernie, it’s miraculous that he’s winning!!! The mainstream media’s candidates are still not winning in spite of all the help they’re getting!!
It suggests Bernie is really the better candidate.
10
We shouldn't be surprised that the NYT (and many of its centrist readers) don't want Bernie. They all have a lot to lose if he's elected and he puts into place even some of the policies he has proposed. It's all part of the ongoing class war in this country. Rich people - D and R - don't want the working class to get any breaks. They have a vested interest in fostering narratives that make any chance at economic, racial, and healthcare justice impossible. Keep voting for Bernie and ignore these flapping gasbags.
10
"Sanders, a cranky 78-year-old who includes “socialist” in his description of his politics, is hardly in the clear."
Cranky? The Brunis of America faint in horror at the prospect of a better deal for the 60 million poor of America.
9
I am so tired of columnists like Bruni stoking alarm about not having a front-runner after only 2 of the 48 states have voted, which are among the least populous, least diverse, and in the case of Iowa, likely to vote Republican anyway. Why panic? Let this play out. Your competition at WaPo has a better take. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/11/calm-down-democrats-are-not-disarray/
3
We get it, Bernie Sanders is not the NYTimes’s preferred candidate. You’ve made your point clear over and over again.
9
Mr Bruni-- project your fantasies as often and nastily as you wish, the fact is, and the primaries will continue to show it, that Dem voters and a majority of Americans want Sanders and the program he represents.
Until Clintonism, your own brand, took over, the Dem party WAS a party of Progressives + Workers. That's all Sanders is about.
Just as the NYT opposed the New Deal, you do it now only clothed a bit differently
10
You are not as dystopian as Friedman is. He’s wants to just appoint Bloomberg right now and the heck with having all these silly votes. From afar, it appears the Democratic Party has achieved that lofty position in politics. It’s one of not being really relevant but having great press.
2
Please learn the difference between "Socialism" and a "Social Democracy." Sanders is NOT a Socialist. He is a tried-and-true Blue Democrat who promotes FDR-style social services and protections for America and Americans.
Socialism is a dictatorship and Kleptocracy, a fascist nation more like Communism (see, Russia and China).
A Social Democracy with social services and protections are found in nations like Sweden, Norway, Denmark, where THE PEOPLE (not billionaires) have the power to collectively control the benefits and services and protections of their tax dollars and government. Social Democracies are THE MOST healthy, successful, happy nations on earth.
Do you want to live in an advanced nation like Sweden, Denmark, and Norway... or do you want to live in a fascist state like China, North Korea, Russia, or Venezuela...? Do you want what once made America great (FDR-style public works, protections, services, social security) or do you want all of your taxes enriching a handful of malignant men the the billionaire class?
9
It is hysterical the the great white knight of the Democratic establishment is a billionaire Republican.
6
As in Britain, the liberal left is expert in self destruction, while the far right knows all the tricks. Trump will win and the Republic is finished
1
Wow this reeks of desperation and contempt for a working class movement.
6
The Democratic Party is pathetic. Trump will be re-elected by a landslide and will retake the House in November. The Democratic party will have to get rid of the DNC and completely restructure itself. We may not see a Democratic majority again for decades.
1
Democrats learn to goose step in unison, the republicans are on their third pair of hob nailed boots
1
If Sanders wins the nomination the only reason I would vote would be to TRY to keep Trump from anymore SCOTUS seats. How long can we expect poor Ruth to hang in there? I cannot stand Sanders and think he might be worse than Trump and I HATE Trump. Sanders is so bad he will lose to the worst excuse of a POTUS America has ever had.
1
Secret Agent “Ted Talk” reporting:
Comrades: the Dems in the office aren’t happy.
They’re agitated concerned dyspeptic unsettled. No jubilation. No Днём Победы (Victory Day) even among Sanders supporters.
Overheard: “But that’s what we need! Someone likable.”
Meaning unclear.
Next report 1700, after "Hannity".
2
The moderates will sort it out, and continue supporting and voting for moderates. They believe in change, in justice, in equality, in our shared values as Americans.
I, for one, don't need to be lectured about what revolution means when I can privately wage one in my life and with my community where I believe in active reform, respect, inclusion and empathy in finding solutions, not strident divisiveness and empty promises I know I'll end up paying for when it all comes out in the wash.
The thoughtful, deliberate moderate wins in Iowa and NH have me feeling more confident by the day.
1
Bloomberg is electoral suicide. He is not going to be able to live down that recording defending stop and frisk. It shows he's racist and out of touch with reality. (No, Mr. Bloomberg, young minority men are not responsible for 95% of murders.)
There is no way to win the general election without turning out the black vote...and anti-racist voters of all colors. Nominating him would be throwing away Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. It'd be giving up any chance at winning Ohio or North Carolina.
145
@Rob Not so fast. . .check out Jimmy Kimmel's monologue from last night. He included a clip of trump praising Bloomberg's policy of stop and frisk.
I don't think that recording will doom Bloomberg's candidacy any more than President Obama's pastor who condemned America.
33
@Rob Why not just say what everyone knows? Sanders can't win. He hasn't expanded the Democratic electorate. He certainly hasn't changed the party for the better. If Sanders is the nominee he will split the party in two. Moderate suburban voters will not vote for Democratic Socialism. Independent swing voters will hold their nose & vote for Trump. Sanders has contempt for the Democratic establishment & intends to eviscerate them once elected. The DNC will not co-operate in their own demise. They will try to undermine his campaign in ways both large & small as they did in 2016. Sanders has demonstrated time & time again that he doesn't have the temperament to be POTUS. Last year he called for giving incarcerated felons the right to vote. The Boston Marathon Bomber kills three people, maims & injures 280 more. Bernie’s concern? That he gets his absentee ballot. What will be the reaction when Sanders travels to swing states with Michael Moore & he tells women’s underrepresentation in Congress a form of “gender apartheid.” Or when AOC, says in Texas, “I’m here because Senator Sanders has actually committed to breaking up ICE.” Sanders' codependents are writing the GOP attack ads. If this election is about kitchen table issues: jobs & affordable education there's no way we lose. If it's about Medicare for All & more illegal immigration there's no way we win. We can win with or without progressives. We can't win without swing & centrists voters. Sanders will lose in a landslide.
32
@Rob
"According to the US Department of Justice, African Americans accounted for 52.5% of all homicide offenders from 1980 to 2008, with Whites 45.3% and "Other" 2.2%. The offending rate for African Americans was almost 8 times higher than Whites, and the victim rate 6 times higher. Most homicides were intraracial, with 84% of White victims killed by Whites, and 93% of African American victims were killed by African Americans.[49][50][51]
In 2013, African Americans accounted for 52.2% of all murder arrests, with Whites 45.3% and Asians/Native Americans 2.5%. Of the above, 21.7% were Hispanic.[52][53]
Blacks account for the majority of gun homicide victims/arrestees in the US while Whites account for the vast majority of non-gun homicide victims/arrestees. Of the gun murder victims in the United States between 2007-2016, 57% were black, 40.6% white (including Hispanic), 1.35% Asian, 0.98% unknown race and 0.48% Native American."
17
As a 67 year old, I am much taken with Bernie. I agree with his views and positions, he's fearless and cannot be bought. We can count on him to say what he means, mean what he says and to give 100% effort for working Americans once in office. Who said Bloomberg is a "moderate?" He's a Republican conservative version of a neoliberal, who would surround himself with Wall Street clones and govern like a business Republican with an eye to support the rich against the middle and working classes. I think Bloomberg will fade once he is forced to come out from behind his money and be confronted with his frequently expressed desire to cut Social Security and recent defenses of "stop and frisk."
8
No need to panic. Bernie is the only candidate that has a chance against Trump. He's consistently been at the top of the Democrat pack for years now. He's strong and will be unrattled by anything Trump throws at him. He's been an NRA member & can challenge Trump on his own positions over the years. He has the strongest following, of young and older voters. He has passion, and this is what's missing from most of the other candidates. People have tried to take him down as a "socialist" for years and it hasn't worked. Also, we need a correction in this country from the Far Right policies of the last few years to something much more progressive. It needs to happen & Bernie can do it.
12
Funny how Mr. Bruno and his elitist ilk on the one hand praise democracy and then, on the other, bemoan the rise of social media, which has given voices to the voiceless, those whose pain and worry are not broadcast nightly on corporate news media.
These traditional gate keepers and king makers are becoming less and less powerful; their grip on the levers of power being wrenched away as independent media with a wide array of opinions both left and right competing, and, at least with the young, winning, for influence.
Funny how every columnist at the New York Times, am invaluable paper that I read daily, seems to share roughly the same opinion about the candidates. Could it be that they’re the ones in the bubble who have no idea how working class people actually live? And therefore have no idea how the Democratic Party could nominate a champion of those same working people and get back to the roots of the Party as redefined by FDR?
Nope. When they see Sanders they see someone distasteful to despise. A throwback to a more unseemly era when politicians had the interests of the public on their minds. Imagine that!
12
Bernie is a Centrist and Moderate compared to what the US was over 40 years ago and what most of the Western world is today. The problem is the 'moderate democrat' and the DNC are now 'right' of where Reagan was in the 80's. Both parties have moved toward corporatism and away from democracy over the past 40 years.
The DNC approved Democrat nominees are seen as 'Republican Lite' and that isn't going to win enough votes compared to the far-right GOP (not just Trump, but his fire-brand preacher endorsed minion in the Senate and House).
The DNC needs to choose between their corporate backers and the people they are supposed to represent. The party doesn't have the backing of the people, because the party isn't backing the people. With 49.7% of US voters seeing themselves as "None of the above" when it comes to Democrats and Republicans, it is time for the DNC to do some soul searching, but their pocketbook will tell them to be practical and continue to follow the money.
To prove my point, when is the last time you heard a democrat try and have Congress overturn Citizens United? I rest my case.
12
@James Wallis Martin Nonsense. We've never had a federal jobs guarantee, blanket loan forgiveness, recreational marijuana protected by federal mandate, or decriminalized borders. Europe doesn't have these things either.
2
Buttigieg may argue that “Election after election has shown us that putting forward a new perspective is how Democrats win the White House,” but the same call for a fresh approach applies to Sanders as well. And Bruni is right that just adding together the support for Buttigieg, Klobuchar and Biden doesn’t mean that centrists have an inside track on the nomination, since while all of them are centrist in orientation, each appeals to (or fails in that regard) to different camps of centrist voters. I am still scratching my head about the delegate assignment in the first two contests. In Iowa, Buttigieg gained only 0.1% more votes, but came out with one more delegate than Sanders; in New Hampshire, Sanders’ margin of victory over Buttigieg was 13 times greater than the margin in Iowa, yet each was awarded the same number of delegates. Is there a thumb on the scales?
7
Moderates are always in a panic because they're always trying to protect the status quo. They want change but not too much of it. They're so terrified of rocking the political boat that they worry themselves into paralysis, neurotically obsessing about every possible outcome until they realize that, once again, they've been the victim of their own stasis. It was just this approach to politics that gave us Hillary Clinton, our first woman President.
Moderates, you can't cluck and worry on the sidelines anymore. You have to get into the mayhem. It's here and it's not going away.
7
There's an important difference between the parties, making it less likely that Sanders could do what Trump did. The delegate allocation rules differ. In the Democratic Party, delegates are allocated in proportion to one's percentage of the vote in each primary, with a 15% minimum share to get any delegates (thus Biden & Warren received no New Hampshire delegates). Sanders's roughly 30% share does not ensure his nomination; once the moderate-liberal field shakes out, that candidate is the likely nominee.
In contrast, the Republican Party rules differ from state to state, but many states have a winner-take-all rule. This is how Trump was able to win all the delegates in many states, despite not even achieving a majority (e.g., Florida, in which he got around 45% of the vote but got all the delegates).
If the Republican Party had had proportional allocation in all states in 2016, Trump likely would have been denied the nomination.
And if the Democratic Party had had winner-take-all allocation in 2016, Hillary would have wrapped up the nomination much sooner.
3
It saddens me deeply that the establishment Democratic party is unhappy with a popular candidate who promotes healthcare for all, actively combating climate change, and a more progressive tax structure.
What does the Democratic party stand for, if not those issue?
12
This seems like an oh so subtle embrace of Mayor Pete and some pretty charged descriptions of Bernie Sanders;
"Sanders, a cranky 78-year-old who includes “socialist” in his description."
As usual we all have to qualify our remarks with, "I will vote for any Democrat candidate." And I promise, I will! But the elephant in the room? Mayor Pete's openly gay life and a married to a man. Zero problem for me and my west coast family but it will be a major issue at the election box, imo. Many people will say they don't care about Mayor Pete's sexual orientation... Just the way that they weren't truthful about their intentions to vote for Trump back in 2016. They were too embarrassed that they liked the crass and nasty reality show star.
So Frank, if you are going to call Sanders a cranky old socialist, what is your label for Mayor Pete? Just to keep things fair and balanced.
By the way, I met Senator Sanders one day at a fair in Brattleboro, VT. He was with his little grand daughter. No entourage. No security at all. He frowned when I asked him for a photo. But when I explained it was for my daughter, a college student who was a fan of his, he laughed, said "sure" and hoisted up the child clutching her balloons. Wish I could post the photo here.
Maybe Frank just needs to get to know Bernie a little better.
10
Bernie did not prevail in New Hampshire. The reasoned, thoughtful and sensible votes were given to Buttigieg and Klobuchar. When those votes are combined they blow Sanders victory out of the water.
Our country is ready to move on and eager to make changes that improve lives. But Bernie’s pie-in-the-sky unfunded proposals of medicaid for all and free public university education are unrealistic and unwanted by many Americans.
Bernie is just like Trump a grandiose showman.
2
@KJS
Good morning. I can understand that the math associated with transitioning to a medicare for all system can be challenging, but here goes. Nationalized health care, single payer as it were, centralizes the administrative costs of providing health care, saving the overhead incurred with our current system making that part of the equation non-profit. Just google cost to average doctor for medical billing and think about how much insurance companies make. Private insurance, about 30% total overhead; medicare, low single digits.
A properly functioning system allows for the negotiation of costs for services and goods (drugs). All health care is already paid for somehow, employers pay for insurance, employees pay for insurance, consumers pay deductibles, copays and uninsured services. The federal and state governments already pay for almost 50% of US health care. We can get everyone covered and provide better care for less money. Other countries do it and we can also.
Free college education? As a young soldier in Kansas I took night classes at Kansas State University for fees that were pocket change. Books cost more. When I moved to California in the middle 60's, same story. We may not be able to get to free but we can sure do better at cost containment and government support of the educational system. Benign neglect has not worked out so well on that front. Problems get solved with work and good planning.
3
Most political pundits, and certainly campaign strategists, are not interested in being right, or in communicating information to the public. They release statements to the public in order to influence public opinion. Most of them prefer that you are poorly informed and totally dependent upon what you hear in mainstream media outlets. Whether Sanders is actually electable or not is irrelevant to them; creating a widespread feeling that he is not electable is their goal, and more importantly, it is the goal of the people who pay them.
7
There was also a Republican primary last night. Can't remember the particulars, but it was something like 1700 votes separated Clinton and Trump there, but 10,000 people voted for the other Repub primary candidate, whoever that was. Republicans don't want him either.
1
Sanders did NOT prevail. He and Buttigieg each get 9 delegates from NH, and Buttigieg remains in the lead with a total of 22 (or 23), depending on how you count Iowa. Please, pundits, get this right. Vote totals don't matter, delegates do. Buttigieg is the current front runner, who will likely gain momentum in states that prefer moderates, and prefer smart, calm speeches to a shouting rant.
2
The Democrats, as a national party, need to think about totally revamping their nomination process.
Really, we need to drop winner-take-all and "first past the post" as an election method for everything, but that's never going to happen because it would require conservative support, and conservatives will never adopt fair voting methods as long as their policies remain as unpopular as they are.
The Democrats can change their own methods on their own, though. What we're seeing is a problem with "first past the post" voting for the nomination. Bernie is probably the 3rd or 4th choice in New Hampshire, but he came in first because the moderate vote is split, and his supporters aren't so divided.
We need preference ranked voting, so when your first choice loses, your 2nd choice will probably win. 75% of the state voted against Bernie, and he got the entire state's vote for the nomination. If only Buttigieg or Klobuchar were running against him, how would he have fared?
(Incidentally, Bernie fanatics - this isn't a knock against Bernie directly, even though I think he's guaranteed to lose in the general election. I can like him as a person even if I think he's a poor choice for the nomination.)
1
In 2018 Bruni had a big piece about our governor's race here in Colorado where he argued if the party nominated much-too-liberal Boulder congressman Jared Polis, they'd lose. Well guess what? They nominated Polis and he cruised to an easy victory as Democrats swept basically the entire statehouse. Turns out a message that your government can do better and do more for its average citizens — instead of just providing welfare to corporations — really resonates with a lot of voters.
Bernie is not my candidate, but if he's the nominee, I think media know-it-alls will once again will be surprised to learn he has much wider appeal than they thought.
12
I'm hoping that the fear of angry "Bernie-only" cut-off-their-noses-to-spite-their-face misanthropes is overblown. Hopefully some of those have learned their lessons from the last election, and if Sanders does lose the nomination, he will, this time, throw his sincere support behind whoever wins. It seems to me that in 2016 a lot of the Bernie-only folks were driven by a deep dislike and anger towards Hillary (and the polls that showed Hillary as a shoe-in) , and although there is a divisiveness this time around, it seems much less angry and aggressive. Let's hope we don't destroy our support for any Democratic candidate by in-fighting.
2
Of course critics might be right that Bernie can't beat Trump. But, alas, none of us has a crystal ball. Many said, Obama could not win because the country wouldn't elect a black president. Many said we have to go with Hilary as she's a sure thing. Without a crystal ball, I will support an agenda and candidate I believe in who I think has as good a chance as any of the other imperfect candidates. And Bernie has some facts and political logic in support of his candidacy. The polls, as unreliable as they are, have shown him consistently beating Trump by a good margin. The most recent on Monday from Quinnipiac had him over Trump by 8 points. You might say, oh but the republicans will call him a socialist. First of all, most people already know he's a socialist, so that is already baked into these polls and opinions. And secondly, if you're listening to the Trump/republican rhetoric, they're calling all of the democrats socialists. Also, Bernie polls and does extremely well in elections with independents, a crucial swing group. Bernie has the potential, unlike many other candidates, to win back some of the white working class voters that abandoned the democrats last time in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. And, I think we need a candidate who is tough and focused. Whatever you say about Bernie, there is no way Trump or anyone else will push him around or intimidate him.
7
Bernie can’t beat Trump. Democrats need to get out of their bubble. I am already receiving direct mail from my congressional representative about how great HR-19 is and calling the Democrats’ plan “socialism”. This will be the constant if Bernie gets the nomination. GOP will use buckets of fear. Fear of socialism, fear of change, fear of losing freedoms. You can count on it.
1
I don’t disagree with you. But aren’t the republicans going to spend buckets of money instilling fear in older, white voters no matter what? That’s what they always do. And it’s not like they’ll be more honest in their campaign falsehoods if the candidate is a moderate. They’re going to lie cheat and steal regardless because that’s the only way for a party of unpopular, bankrupt ideas to win.
And I don’t really understand the broader commitment to the idea of the mythical “reasonable “ republican voters that are going to come around. Three years of trump and we haven’t seen a budge.
2
Here's a suggestion: why don't two of these final five top candidates announce they're running together and see if they can break the current logjam and move this election forward. It doesn't matter who, and it doesn't matter who's at the top of the ticket, and who's the running mate.
The clock is ticking. Dems need to focus their time, energy and resources on getting rid of Donald Trump, not one another.
Check your egos, people.
We have real work do to.
5
In reality Sanders is too old, too staid, too boring and may win his party nomination but has not an earthly chance of winning the Presidency. Though covertly who knows.
1
Trump got elected as a disrupter. Bound Freddy can see that American politics have been hijacked by big money and corporate interests. Many people thought Trump would change that. They were wrong. All they got was a would be dictator.
Bernie offers disruption as well. He wants the system to work for the average person. We wants reform: tax reform, electoral reform, education reform, healthcare reform and he is genuine. Bernie offers authenticity, something that is sadly missing from much of Washington.
To say he can't be elected is to deny what put Trump in the White House.
5
Bernie "wins" NH by receiving less than half the number of votes he received in 2016: cue the self-satisfied, myopic media commentaries.
1
It seems to me there are some inaccuracies in this piece.
"makes him (Sanders) the indisputable front-runner for the Democratic nomination"
Actually, Buttigieg currently has 1 delegate more than Sanders, which is of course minor at this point.
"Sanders) beat Hillary Clinton by 22 points in its Democratic primary in 2016, he squeaked by Buttigieg this time around"
Nothing inaccurate here but given there were only 2 competitive candidates in '16 and there are many more now, are we going to have to read this weak argument for every state that Sanders won in '16? I hope not.
"brace for the days ahead, during which Sanders’s strength will be seriously tested as he comes under brutal assault from Democrats..."
- "brutal assault" ... for real? This kind of ridiculous hyperbole even in an opinion piece. Save it for the National Enquirer.
"You expected resolution from New Hampshire?"
No. Did any of us? I doubt it.
"But add Biden’s, Buttigieg’s and Klobuchar’s votes in New Hampshire and they far exceed those for the two prominent progressives, Sanders and Warren."
All I have to say is Vote Blue No Matter Who. I hope the media generated conflict characterized by the hyperbole cited above will be forgotten.
3
Once again the Democratic Party shows that it cannot conduct a proper vetting of candidates. Sanders is selling Twinkie dust. Get ready for for 4 more years of the most corrupt, divisive, disgraceful president in the history of the country. I will vote for anybody who is nominated against Trump, but unaffiliated moderates are not going to vote for Sanders. He's a nut.
1
I wonder what Bernie's doctor says? "After a heart attack at the age of 78 I recommend that you do something extremely stressful, like run for President." His intentions are good, his actions are foolish.
1
Too soon to tell.
1
Trump vs Sanders would be epic!
2
@Pilot -- Trump vs. a speeding train head-on would be better.
3
Bernie supporters think US healthcare is bad now. Older U.S. adults have TWICE the prevalence of heart disease, cancer, arthritis, and obesity of older adults in Skandinavia, Bernie's utopia. Try waiting in the ER for days, not hours, just to see a PA or NP because half the doctors in the U.S. have quit clinical practice. Americans are too entitled and unhealthy to deserve universal healthcare.
1
Enough hand wringing. Bernie received 50% of the votes in Iowa and an astounding 60% in New Hampshire 4 years ago. He has been campaigning furiously in these two states in the interim. That massive effort netted him less than half of these votes this time around. I think some would call that at least disappointing for him and many would say it is abject failure. Even if you combine the far left candidacies of Sanders/Warren, the numbers fall far short of 2016, a year when the moderate Hilary Clinton ultimately trounced the far left candidate. Let this process run its course. One of the four moderates remaining will ultimately triumph.
3
If Sanders puts together the same coalition as Barack Obama and brings millions of new voters into the political process, he will win. The case for them to vote is more compelling than it was 12 years ago. The policies that Sanders is proposing are moderate in any other developed country in the Western World. The problems seems to be that the liberal establishment cannot imagine or accept the changes that he is proposing. But it may be, that his way is the only way to beat Trump.
7
Sanders isn't the guy. It's early days and these are unique times. The POTUS is an extremely divisive figure. He enjoys trolling the opposition with statements that are false, ideas that are stupid and policies which are illegal. His "base" eats it up. Of course they do. Uncouth, boorish and loud mouthed racist rants, misogynistic record, tax cheat, nepotism enabler, and being impeached and acquitted are all , to him, badges of honor. Democrats need a "counter" candidate. But a fighter, a centrist, and respectable. Bernie is fun to listen to and watch. He's got some pretty left wing ideas on healthcare. But Bernie only appeals to select tranche of Democrats. He will, fortunately, fizzle out.
1
Could we please stop with all the Party Panic nonsense?
Two small primaries, with narrow and divided victories... and thousands of delegates yet to be awarded in 48 other states.
This is media madness in operation here.
Get back to us after Super Tuesday please.
7
The safe and expected choice lost last time, fair and square. Fight fire with fire! Bernie for President!
The press either ignores Sanders to the point of ridiculousness, or presents him as a warning to get people panicked. Hilary was very smug up until 2am November 9th when a stand in entered the Javits Center to tell everyone to just go home already.
Forget the "safe" choices and all the bluster about Moderates. All predictions have failed so far
7
In fighting Trump, liberals are helpless--They do not understand that they are not fighting a traditional American conservative but rather a racist demagogic Fascist. Only the popular appeal of a radical, anti-corporate , pro-working class Socialist Sanders can appeal to the masses and beat Trump's Fascism.
3
Why are Democrats supposed to present "nice" candidates, moderate, won't-rock-the-boat types when we're all on the Titanic? Why do you tsk-tsk when Nancy Pelosi rips up a Zerox copy of a speech presented by our Republican president that his speech writers expect us to believe?
4
What if Biden manages to hold onto his strong support with African-Americans and wins decisively in South Carolina? Where are we then heading into Super Tuesday (where the terrain is also potentially more favorable for Biden)?
I suspect the race would then look quite different than today.
1
Yes, Sanders can probably beat Trump but, much as I like him, he's not my preference for president. I find him a bit of a megalomaniacal unreconstructed 60's radical with a 2-year old's insistence that the world fall in behind him. I Like Mike. If blacks can give him a pass on stop and frisk--and they are, 'cause he radiates 'winner'--then let's all us limousine liberals just get over the extra zero's behind Uncle Mike's net worth and realize what he stand for: insightful, progressive, experienced, literate, and above all, pluperfectly sane. Want someone that won't shrivel under Mr. T's gaze? That can take the fight to the guy, and promote what Dems stand for with calm, cool, literacy and tact? I rest my case. Bloomberg-Klobuchar come immediately to mind. I like the ring, and the chances.
4
"Elizabeth Warren was endorsed by respected media organizations."
AKA Frank Bruni's buddies siting around the NYT office. There are other opinions besides your own that are valuable.
Bernie leads among non-white and low income voters. At least pretend to care.
8
LOL I love how people say what Democrats want based on two states with the least diverse demographics in all of the nation.
2
The New York Times backed Hillary over Bernie in 2016. And we all know how that worked out for our country.
The Times throws shade Bernie's way after he wins New Hampshire.
What exactly does the the NYT want to happen?
Boring Joe finds his voice?
Mayor Pete overcomes his lack of experience (ala Trump) and becomes the nominee?
Senator Amy gains more momentum and takes the South?
The New York Times did horrible damage to Bernie's candidacy in 2016 and they continue to lob spitballs at the good Senator in 2020!
5
Bruni, a VERY SMART PERSON: "Democratic turnout in New Hampshire on Tuesday, like turnout in Iowa last week, wasn’t spectacularly robust."
Real Life: Turnout in New Hampshire was higher than it was in 2008.
Good job NY Times!
7
Nobody yet knows who will win the Democratic nomination-----However, the most important thing is to vote D in every race in 2020. Nothing is as important as removing the lying, cheating, racist, proudly ignorant failed businessman from any future role in American politics.
1
Perhaps the problem is not that Bernie won, but that the pundit class gets so worried. If op-eds and news shows go into a tizzy and ruminate and worry that doubt will seed across America. More reporting that facts about Sanders, less describing him as "cranky" and "socialist." Will the policies he supports be good for Americans? Are his ideas THAT much different from hos colleagues? Is Trump so formidable, with all his baggage, that worry should send us all into a grip. Maybe the better strategy is to get behind the front-runner no matter what?
373
@PE
The MSM likes horse races, not policy discussions.
20
@Jerseytime
That's certainly part of it - eyeballs for advertisers.
But there's also the corporate-class aspect - independent of whether a media company makes its profit from advertising.
13
@Jerseytime
Calling Bernie Sanders "cranky" or "socialist" is hardly the worst thing you can say about him... Sanders' supporters are an angry, violent mob, and that's a much bigger problem.
14
Mike Bloomberg, Trojan Horse?
Swing voters don't know the difference between the democratic and republican platforms. They vote on how they 'feel". And there is endless research on what makes them "feel". They have feelings about candidates' appearance and maybe that is #1 since they do not read, they look at tv ads. They vote for the broader shoulder line, the person who comes across looking most like they can handle the job. And they vote based on whether or not they want "change' which means economic change to them. They don't dabble in politics. Or policy. If they did they would have a party affiliation.
Now, just picture in your mind's eye the Trump tv ad campaign against Bernie Sanders. All the clips of him raving and ranting and hissing and slobbering and promising revolution. His style of rousing a crowd has a very bad look when the sound is replaced with a voice-over about how Bernie is going to take everything away from everyone and give it to whom he likes. OR if you are a swing voter just stick with how great everything is now -- unemployment down to nothing, economy booming, do you like your life TODAY?
Mike Bloomberg can make swing voters "feel" like they want to feel. Comforted, reassured. Like they are not going to be subject to a civil war or a revolution. Like they can just choose who they like better between the two who appear to be living in the same universe. The world they are living in today.
3
If DJT can become president, then we know that anything is possible. He has our best intention in mind and will be a fabulous president.
2
Buttigieg and Klobuchar will not do as well in the diverse states coming up this month, or those on Super Tuesday. The progressive side of the party has decided between Warren and Sanders, and the decision is about 2/3rds for Sanders. Bloomberg may buy an election, but he will not beat Trump...many will see him as tweedle dee to Trump's tweedle dum(b), and will stay home. That leaves...ugh...Biden. The way this is going, Trump will be re-elected without much of a contest.
just yesterday I saw on youtube a video clip from Sanders' speech in Congress regarding his vote to not invade Iraq. It was startling to see how accurate he was about what the current administration was up to (ignoring intelligence agencies, whats new??) and how the establishment dems (Clinton in the video) decided that they could trust GWBush even though he's a complete buffoon and was only interested in causing chaos for the war machine. The Democratic party has been trying to sell out the working class to the corporate powers for a little while now (20-30 years?) and Bernie is here to stop it.
6
Democrats stared losing elections when they traded Union workers going door to door for corporate money for TV commercials.
Sanders understands that you need humans to win elections more then cash.
2
The Democratic party has gone full Orwellian. Last night it was "winning is losing" to explain how, since Sanders' winning margin wasn't large enough, it was a loss for him. For the last year, it has been openly trying to sabotage their most popular candidate. Democrats are truly shameless and they would rather run a moderate and lose to Trump than see Sanders beat him, purely out of spite.
2
Which is more powerful for the liberal establishment--their hatred of President Trump or their fear of Senator Sanders? When faced with the real threat of a Socialist as President, it is predictable that some of those pundits who have spent four years denouncing Trump as the devil will shock the world come November when they announce that they prefer the capitalist devil they know.
One of the major reasons for the rise of Fascism in Europe during the 1920's and 30's was the fact that public opinion was manipulated by generating an irrational fear of Socialism and Communism.
Even if Sanders ultimately get the nomination, his Democratic Socialism is far preferable to the Fascism, Racism and Neo-Conferateism of Trump and his supporters!
6
In 2016, criticisms of the moderate front runner, no matter how valid, were basically considered treason. Now that we have a liberal front runner it’s open season?
Moderates are totally oblivious to the hypocrisy of singing the praises of Bloomberg, a Republican who is on tape making racist comments about stop and frisk, meanwhile Bernie is the bad guy for “not really being a Democrat.”
They criticize Bernie or being “unelectable,” despite his 30 years in congress winning elections, and put forward Buttigieg who has never won any federal office at all.
And Warren... actually I like Warren a lot and would have voted for her over Bernie if she was a viable option. However moderates spent all summer trashing her as a radical socialist until she sunk in the polls. Now Bernie is poised to take the entire liberal vote. What a bunch of geniuses.
I don’t know who is going to win, but I know I’m sick and tired of the hypocrisy and self delusion of pundits. The alternate reality that they’ve constructed for the moderate wing is starting to resemble the one that the right lives in.
4
@Brendan But bear in mind....some of the criticism is from disgruntled Democrats.....but much of it may be from Republicans and Russian trolls. They want us at each others' throats!
I would hazard a guess that the reason many more youngsters than older folk form the Bernie Bro’s is that the youngun’s have not been hearing the old grouch putting forth the same ideas since the 970s!
Fresh blood is what we need, in female form would be my choice! Remember, tho, none of us had heard of William Jefferson Clinton at this point in 1992. Keep the faith, Dems....and VOTE for whomever is the eventual nominee!
This is insane. Bernie would lose in a landslide. If Bernie is the candidate that will fulfill the dearest wish of trump and Putin.
2
"Democratic turnout in New Hampshire on Tuesday, like turnout in Iowa last week, wasn’t spectacularly robust."
From CNN: "The roughly 291,000 votes counted as of early Wednesday afternoon outpaced the 288,672 who voted in 2008, the previous high for Democrats in the Granite State."
When facts don't fit your narrative, change them?
2
the 2016 election occurred a bad economy--Sanders" socialist approach was a risk people were willing to take. Now we are in a good economy (for now) where people tend to be risk averse. He will lose.
1
Perhaps we need to take a step back and work on a very basic issue: the meaning of words. The percentage of votes won by Pete and Bernie and Elizabeth are not victories. In each case, three-fourths of the voters cast their ballot for someone else.
Face it -- at this point in time Sanders, Biden, Warren and (unhappily) Buttigieg are risky at best to head the ticket. In my view, a Klobuchar/Schiff tandem has the best chance to unseat Trump. An frankly, that's all that should matter to any freedom loving person who cares about the well-being of future generations.
Enough with your handwringing......support the nominee.
4
It’s only the Times panicking. The rest of us are ready to move forward.
5
We need to trash our current so called "system" where the least populated states get to pick who runs.
4
The DNC and the NYTimes Opinion page have been exhibiting Sanders panic for a year already. More accurately, five years.
When we peons commented over and over again that Biden already ran twice and never got anywhere, is infamously sexist, and sadly, is showing signs of dementia, you ignored us.
The media has created the fiction of "Bernie Bros" when the majority of Sanders' supporters are women. The media generally ignores POC. Consider the absurdity of yearlong coverage for two tiny, nearly all white states. Guess who is polling highest among all people of color? Sanders.
If Sanders wins the nomination, will the NYTimes' transparent bias continue? Will you back Trump over Sanders? Are you that terrified of Canadian style health care?
5
A big NO to Bernie.
No to Bernie in 2016 and no to him now.
He's not a Democrat and he's got a socialist tag that will take us down.
And he's older than God and he's had a heart attack recently. His wife has a stinky college scandal just waiting to be exploited.
Sheesh.
A huge NO to Bernie.
1
This is thinking way too far in advance, but should Sanders win the nomination, the Democrats might want to anticipate the use of his pro-Cuba and pro-Venezuela clips that will be spread by the Republicans.
Why not just say the truth? The entire Democratic leadership should support that he stood up for the working people again and again. At the convention play the clips, and say "we want the voters to know that wanting better lives for working people is Bernie Sanders' life work". It can also become part of the presentation on socialism. Some countries or time periods require less state involvement. Others more. Sanders can point out that US policies to force Cuba and Venezuela to change have utterly failed, and that he became critical of those countries' leadership.
I know this is a fantasy at present. Still do not sweep this under the rug. Give it air. I would even include a clip of Cuban workers with clips of American workers in promotions of Sanders. This will force a confrontation with Trump. And Sanders will point out that Trump's life work was to suck the blood out of working people.
One of the many reasons I support Sanders is that he is going to transform the entire Party. Or, if you can, nominate someone else.
2
California is going to teach you some discipline on Super Tuesday. Bet you a billion dollars we don't go for Klobachar or Pete (or Mike).
7
The only one panicking is the media. Please stop it.
7
Yes the centrist will win out the Democratic Party and Bern and his bots will be history.
1
We've all ready had a Democrat Socialist--FDR.
5
The AOCs of this nation have spoken. Bernie is their guy for the Oval Office!!!!
4
There is no "uncertainty", Frank. The footsteps are real and they belong to Mike Bloomberg. Time to put your big boy pants on Democrats. Do you want to win or just feel good?
1
The Big News Story: Liz Warren craters...
4
Bernie if nominated will trounce Trump. Bernie if elected might not enact Medicare for all but he will stop the destruction of the ACA (Obamacare.) It is all about turnout the urban and youth vote will turnout like 2018. The Republicans will turnout like they always do but this wave will be blue. I hope Bernie packs the courts and taxes the heck out of the billionaires.
5
For four years now, the Times has done everything it possibly can to prevent Sanders from becoming president.
7
@Edith -- That's because Sanders is far from the Democrats' best choice.
1
So tired of the incessant horse-race coverage. Please just wake me when it’s over.
3
Frank,
As an openly gay man, you should understand what the meaning of Rawlsian Justice is; at least partially. You go to sleep without out knowing who you will wake up as, and you are indifferent to the fact. People would have not discriminate against their LGBT fellows in that universe. You would not also worry about waking up without health insurance because you have lost you job and you need healthcare desperately because of your eyesight issues.
Who among the crowd that you toot will provide you what you needed and would need had they been running the country?
Please answer the question at home while you are looking in the eyes of your loved one. Perhaps you will re-think your stand with respect to Bernie Sanders.
Thanks you.
5
Bernie is not a Democrat and that’s the problem Democrats have with him. He is also the main reason we have Trump, Inc as the Boss.
Politics is a dirty business. And quite frankly a bunch of immature voters (not speaking age) decided 2016 along with a racist hangover, a misogynist media and the normal GOP cheating ( this time America said ok to a foreign government getting in on the usual cheating eg voter suppression, lies) to throw a fit instead of using their heads.
Nobody who shows up to the polls and has any power in the Democratic Party wants to tank private insurance, least of all people who have it. We know this because Warren dropped like a safe when she suggested it. She should have done an Exorcists head spin immediately and offered the public option.
In a world without aging Baby Boomers and the GOP spin machine, we may have been able to achieve Universal Health Care. But we don’t have that now. Strengthening ACA is the best bet.
The Big Bad Wolf is bearing his ugly porcelains and the Little Pig with the straw house can wish all he wants that he built from the beginning out of bricks. It s doesn’t change the fact he is surrounded by soot.
How is Bernie supposed to go into the national when Dems don’t even want him, never mind GOP Trumpster sheep. The DNC was too polite and now America has seen all the contestants and want someone new, hence the Bloomberg surge. Economy - check! Not crazy - check! Not a scary socialist - check!
I bet he’d take VP to Buttigieg
1
Majority of the people in this comment section are proving why democrats are insufferable (I'm not a republican).
2
I believe after the last several years of a lawless, stupid president that showed just how “radical change” can get out of hand, we need a stabilizer fast!
Mike Bloomberg has the style and legitimate history to intimidate and cower the cowardly lion in the WH.
I don’t think he would have risked his privacy, and money if he did not believe he is the one to beat trump.
Another advantage, if you think the stock market is good now, wait until someone who really does know how to succeed is in the Oval Office. Trump is the master of bankruptcy and failure. He may be lucky, but that is fleeting. Bloomberg is smart!
1
Bloomberg? Bloomberg?
"This uncertainty about the Sanders alternative is why you’ll be hearing even more about Mike Bloomberg over the next week than you did over the past one, when you heard plenty. This and the fact that he’ll continue to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to implant his name in your brain."
Bloomberg? Bloomberg? You mean the truthteller Bloomberg? Isn't that truth anathema, heretical, and every
synonym to those, to Democrats? The truth that the way to lower crime is to target criminal-prone groups, in his words, minority men 16-25, and "shove them to the wall"?
The truth captured with him uttering it on video?
Oh my oh my! I think Bloomberg is the Democrat's worst enemy.
2
We are not going to tolerate any nonsense or corruption from the DNC this time. Heads will be removed and placed on spikes if Bernie is not the nominee.
3
@Ali How is that productive? How are you ANY different than the hooligans on the other side?
And for the record, I support Bernie 100% and agree that the DNC was largely to blame. But please stop making the rest of us look like extremists.
I will support any Democratic nominee because I know that is the ONLY way we are going to dethrone the white supremacist in the White House.
3
Yeas, feel the BURN. In November.
Seriously.
4
Amy K and Sherrod Brown ticket!
4
I wish NYT writers would analyze data and do less on the emotions of democrats. How many times do the words fear and anxiety have to be written in one issue before the editors step in?
The Republicans nominated a racist, a misogynist, and a fraud. Perhaps the Democrats are setting their bar too high for the perfect candidate.
1
Dear literally anyone,
If you don’t vote for whoever the Democrat nominee winds up being, you are a Trump supporter. Period. Coming in November 2020, you have one, and only one opportunity to show the world that you don’t support Trump’s conduct. Anything other than a positive vote for Trump’s opponent will ensure Trump remains president.
Vote 3rd party? Trump wins.
Stay home? Trump wins.
Vote write in? Trump wins.
Period. And you can NOT abdicate your culpability here. There is no getting around it. There are no excuses. You cannot deny reality. We have one, and only one, way out of this mess. There is no “option C”, and there is no “but if everyone else voted independent...” blah blah blah, because that’s not reality. That’s fantasy.
Now is the time to put on your grown up pants, recognize that no candidate will ever be 100% what you want, and do what you gotta do to remove Trump. And if you DON’T do everything within your power to remove him? That is tantamount to supporting him. Because you could have stopped him, and didn’t. Don’t make that mistake. Please.
3
Sorry Frank. You don’t get it. Bernie does.
S
5
"Democratic turnout in New Hampshire on Tuesday . . . wasn’t spectacularly robust."
It was the highest turnout in the history of the New Hampshire primary.
4
The California primary is on March 3rd (along with several other states). Wait for those results to come in.
4
Fact: Bernie Sanders would have easily beat Trump in 2016 had he been the nominee. He certainly can in 2020.
13
Your supposed “facts” are not borne out by sober quantitative analysis. So obviously so that your pushing for sanders can reasonably be suspected of being trumpian dirty tricks.
Progressives won less than 40 percent of the democratic vote in überprogressive New Hampshire. Let that sink in a bit when you consider that everybody who knows anything about the realities of the numbers agrees that victory goes through highly suggestible white voters in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, and Florida... exactly the sort who ate up trump’s nonsense before and would quickly do it again if trump turned to bernies many many serious “optics” issues
1
The thing is EVERY DEMOCRAT needs to STOP calling our candidates "Socialist" A SOCIAL DEMOCRACY includes Capitalism, "Socialism" does NOT. No Democrat is trying to take away Capitalism, not Bernie not any of them. This black or white view we have about this is poison and our Candidates need to set the record straight and send the message loud and clear. It is NOT one or the other. It is both blended together that makes it successful and forms a Social Democracy so they work for the American people as it works in other advanced countries. We have this already in the USA, but much has been eroded through time and special interests and needs improving and strengthening. We need a Candidate that can make this happen.
7
@Frances Agreed, but please give Bernie that message. I like the guy, would vote for him as prexy, but, let's face it: he's a bit of a megalomaniac that seems to have the need to have the rest of the world align itself with HIS unreconstructed 60's view of the universe. For my money, Bloomberg's the guy.
2
Bernie calls himself a socialist. Except when he runs as a Democrat.His choice. Frankly I wish for a Democratic Senate.
1
The Democratic Party should make retaking the Senate just as important a priority as winning the presidency. Otherwise, any new Democratic president will be unable to do anything at all with McConnell in charge of the senate.
6
You're off the mark on voter turnout in New Hampshire. It's about the same level as it was in 2008, 280,000. Iowa might have been low, but New Hampshire showed that there's a real appetite for this election this year.
4
There was a time, not so long ago, I firmly believed that a black man would not be elected in my lifetime. We know how that turned out. When Trump ran--a laughing stock in my neck of the woods--I was sure everyone would see through his ignorant bluster. Enough said. A young gay married man from Indiana for president? An old Jewish man from Brooklyn? Anything is possible--except, I still doubt I will see a woman elected president while I'm still on this earth.
192
@SNA Amy has proven - three times - she can win where it counts, in the Midwestern states where the Electoral College vote will be decided.
8
@SNA not as a marketing ploy (though not against good ones and especially ones that would eradicate DT) I wish one of these candidates would ask Harris to be a running mate ... declare it now ... okay it is not as pres but still a reputable position ... and if it were Sanders then we just might have a partnership that would defy the powers-that-be ... polar extremes in the White House but on a level clearly not like the dysfunctional non-team of JFK and LBJ ... and why not Warren as a preemptive move to bring her back into the game? Women as Pres and VP ... just daydreaming but ...
3
@SNA This seems like a strange pronouncement, the part about a woman never being elected. Most Americans understand that a woman named Hillary Clinton ran for president and got the most votes. To hear Warren the other day after Klobuchar got 20% of the NH votes say; here's a shout out to Amy who proved to all that said a woman can't do it... Left me scratching my head. Who said that? She was just trolling Sanders again; probably realizing that her attempt to take out Sanders with her contrived; Bernie said a woman couldn't win, marked her own decline in the polls. No one seems to be making that point at the moment.
4
Bernie Sanders appealed to 26% of New Hampshire Democrats. What proportion of the US electorate does that translate to? I personally like his policy vision - and Warrens too - but I feel certain he can never win the presidency.
Part of that is that he's a self-declared socialist, which most Americans find anathema.
He's also disagreeable and sanctimonious, even surly (unlike Obama, Liz, Pete, Amy, Joe, etc.).
He also has a legacy of support for the USSR.
He's also very old and recently had a heart attack.
All of that adds up to a horrible outcome in November - not only a re-elected tRump, but one with a "mandate." About the worst thing that could happen to this noble experiment of a republic -- if we still have one by November that is.
3
Sanders voters are young and passionate, so in the process, no one should mess with them. Eventually Sanders may lose, but should not be at the expense of those passionate supporters. DNC must back off and let the primary continue on its course.
5
This is tiresome. The political machine doesn't like who the voters are choosing. Well, change the process. I want Andrew Yang. Yet I can't vote for him because some archaic system still in place has let the voters in two states declare he's unworthy. We need a national primary day or a few primary dates where a mix of large and small populated states vote.
4
Money is still the quintessential political lubricant.
Sanders is raising ti at the grass roots level and spending it with gusto.
But, and despite all of the supposed winnowing of the endless DNC debates and CNN Town Halls, the real competition to those who have played that game now comes Bloomberg and money galore.
Mike is no Trump absent the mania and the serial mendacity, but I for one am anathema to the prospect another billionaire, especially one who unabashedly seeks to buy the Presidency.
5
Frank,
The Democratic primaries are basically for the very active, not for the "average" voter. Even then, close to 70% of these democrats preferred someone NOT from the fringe left. The purpose should be to select someone that can defeat Trump. Picking someone rejected by 70% of even democrats is not a good start.
@Carlos - Rejected by 70% of democrats in New Hampshire. Just wait until you get to South Carolina and Nevada. I guarantee that will change.
Democracy has an Achilles heal. The majority of the voting public is often wrong. Wrong about facts, not just about values.
Americans were wrong when they believed that Vietnam was another "domino" that would fall to the perceived threat of communism. They were wrong again when they believed that Saddam Hussein had "weapons of mass destruction."
They are wrong now on an important issue. They believe that the US has infinite resources.
Because of this, Sanders doesn't see that Americans have a choice: either allow immigration to proceed with open borders or stop immigration and use limited resources to provide Americans with universal health care.
Instead, he takes the tack of demonizing the billionaires with a wealth tax that France tried and didn't work that well. Macroeconomics is on shaky foundation. The argument that you can destroy the billionaires without destroying the US economy is weak, maybe fallacious.
You cannot transform stock certificates into medical care. You need to actually train the doctors who will provide the care. The Sanders plan says nothing about that. And even if we plan, as we should, for the training of more doctors, it takes ten years to go to through a university, a medical school and a residency.
As a whole, Democrats are silent on the impact of population growth not just on quality of life, but on global warming.
And it is on this issue that the public is most severely wrong.
Overpopulation is the reason for global warming.
Sanders voters are young and passionate, so in the process, no one should mess with them. Eventually Sanders may lose, but should not be at the expense of those passionate supporters. DNC must back off and let the process or primary continue to do its course.
2
When Hillary Clinton, a moderate, completely failed to win against Trump, why do people think electing another moderate this second time round would do the trick?
Clinton did not excite people and she did not have a very diverse base, things that could also be said about Pete and Amy. But who does excite people and have a diverse base? Bernie.
Moreoever, stats have shown that in Michigan/Pennsylvania/Wisconsin, Trump was able to win because lots of Bernie supporters switched to him over Hillary. Why? Because people are tired of the establishment continuing the status quo and not actually addressing the immense problems governing most Americans' lives. Electing a moderate this time will alienate those same voters once again. Trump won because he was an outsider, called attention to the problems, and said he would fix it and people fell for it. But Bernie can and will actually make progress.
We have a huge opportunity to learn from the past. We cannot be foolish and repeat our mistake and then be surprised when Buttigieg or Klobuchar fails to beat Trump.
4
@Meg I generally agree, and think Bernie may well have beat Trump in '16. I voted for him in the primary. But Hillary Clinton was a uniquely poor candidate and ran a spectacularly inept campaign, she owns much of the blame for Trump.
1
@Meg Hillary lost in key states because she's Hillary. I voted for her, but I totally understand the anathema she represents. Again, I voted for her,but her arrogant privileged cackle did her no favors amongst blue collar women and a certain kind of man.
I am deeply concerned that Sanders could be the McGovern of 2020.In 1972 I supported McGovern--the choice between a 'crook' and a 'fool.' [I was on the Nixon White House enemies List.] McGovern got wiped, as did many on the Democratic ticket.
Sanders, in my opinion, is proposing radical 'solutions' that have no chance of being enacted. The Democrats need a candidate who can appeal to moderates and defeat Trump. Biden has not demonstated winability so far, and his campaign lacks gusto and money. The other two major moderates, Amy and Mayor Pete, don't seem to have the prospect of a major slice of delegates. Might we end with a deadlocked presidential convention? If so, who? Bloomberg? I fear for our country, as Trump is chortling at Democratic ideological infighting.
2
@Keith Wheelock I know people who are hoping for Hillary Clinton to reemerge at the convention! Talk about suicide!
1
One thing that has changed fundamentally about politics over the last few years, aside from all the polarization and vitriol, is that it is no longer possible accurately to take the pulse of the electorate through telephone polls.
Reflective of the Republican administration's laissez-faire approach to business, enforcement of the do not call registry has been vastly under-resourced. The result--people don't answer their phones, they screen their calls, and they immediately hang up on anybody they don't know in a fit of pique, assuming a scam is in the works. This is merely one example of how distrust, suspicion and anger is so deftly sown and later reaped to the advantage of the current incarnation of the Grand Old Party.
1
@Robert M Or they deliberately lie to pollsters for fun. I am aware of people who do this.
1
When reading all of this punditry, keep in mind how many media geniuses picked Trump to win anything. Zilch. The only one I can remember who predicted a Trump win is Michael Moore - who strongly supports Bernie Sanders.
If Trump - an ill-equipped, mentally deficient con artist - can be elected, Bernie sanders certainly can if the media gets behind him instead of hit pieces like this.
6
Democrats need to unify behind their nominee whoever that is, unless its Hilary or Bloomberg. Here's my Rx:
Sanders/Romney or Warren/Klobochar
1
@samuelclemons Just because Romney did one courageous, decent thing in his lifetime does not qualify him for the VP slot. Warren /Klobochar would get my vote.
1
@samuelclemons How about Sander/Kobuchar? How about Stacey Abrams as just about anyone's VP?
More pearl clutching from the NYT opinion page.
The Moustache of Understanding is calling for Bloomberg, an oligarch mayor like something out of a Batman movie, to push Sanders aside with what - his money of course. Is that all you Acela corridor elites care about?
Armies of homeless live in their cars and tents along your highways and under bridges, pensioners with no pension roam between gig jobs in their RVs, Walmart employees live out of their cars while their employer trains them on how to apply for food stamps. And this did not start under the felonious, corrupt and frankly, evil Trump regime.
It's the fault of "moderates" who gave in to the almighty god of capital for far too long.
Sanders will win, the rice bowls of the corporate lobbyists, pay to play procurement crooks, think tank hoodlums and Clintonist hangers-on will fall to the ground and shatter.
The 99% shall prevail.
11
The forces:
1) Bernie is the best organized candidate. Management counts.
2) Biden will mobilize the southern states against the GOP.
3) Buttigieg wont survive southern bigotry ( "Christianity").
4) Klobuchar will keep simmering along. "Midwest Nice'
5) Bloomberg = money. (East Coast)
6) California and Colorado are the wild cards.
The Convention will be interesting.
2
@senior citizen California is NOT a wild card. It is strongly for Bernie. https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-primary-d/california/
3
Can Sanders beat Trump? All I care about.
4
@Harry
But of course! He would have beaten him in 2016, he would beat him in 2020.
Millions are sending him their lunch money. They know something the pundit class doesn't. Unless you are working for Jacobin of The Guardian that is.
2
Attack Bernie all you want. Call him old and cranky. Call him a socialist. He sees the structural changes that are needed and he is bold enough to tackle them. That's why he is winning now, and will continue to win, all the way to the White House.
7
I read the results this way ... of the top four, the duets of “Sanders and Warren” then “Buttigieg and Klobuchar” each received close to the same percent of the votes ... half to progressives half to moderates ... wait until Super Tuesday ...
1
Anybody is better than Trump- if they can beat him.
1
Mike Bloomberg is looking really, really smart.
2
Factual/Cognitive errors:
NYT: "Democratic turnout in New Hampshire on Tuesday, like turnout in Iowa last week, wasn’t spectacularly robust."
ABC: "New Hampshire Democratic primary turnout near 2008 levels"
NYT: "But add Biden’s, Buttigieg’s and Klobuchar’s votes in New Hampshire and they far exceed those for the two prominent progressives, Sanders and Warren. Democrats’ appetite for a nominee less liberal than Sanders is real."
You're picking a false narrative. Politico: 29% of Biden supporters would choose Sanders as 2nd choice. You're also discounting Steyer and Yang who when combined almost had as much support as Biden.
Calling Sanders a "cranky" 78 year old, beginning the article with a "Yes, but" statement, and then going onto talking about Sanders' support in NH last time (2 person race) vs this time (8 person race) is dishonest. Much of his support was due to a dislike of Clinton being the only option.
8
It might be time for newspapers to stop endorsing candidates. I don't know of a single person who cares which candidate the NYT or any other media organization endorses.
6
As I see that raised fist, the following quesions come to mind:
1. Is this the fist for "Workers of the world, unite"?, or,
2. Is this the fist for "Black Power"?
Both implications are worrisome.
2
Maybe, if Biden drops out and endorses Klobuchar we can get this thing back on track. The last thing Trump wants is to face another Woman. His dream opponent is a self proclaimed Socialist whom he will morph into a fire breathing, flesh eating communist.
2
Puh-lease.
Frank - you know what caused the rank and file Democrats to panic in 2016? Realizing the party elite (your beloved "establishment") rigged the Democratic primary to jam Hillary Clinton down our throats.* Based on her campaign schedule thereafter, it was easy to figure out how the establishment Dems felt about my home state, Wisconsin.
How about, unlike last time, we let the process play out, support the winning candidate regardless if they're "progressive" or "moderate" and remember that this year, we're running against open Fascism.
*Yes, I voted for Clinton in November.
4
Will the muddle of moderates sort itself out?
Or will Bernie’s Bros all the others outshout??
To Liz, Bern or Don would be – either – a lout
Pete and Amy eschewing the mudslinging route
Joe’s now where Waldo likes to hang out
That’s not here, that’s not there, it’s in some hideout
Don’s taller than Mike – till you mea$ure their clout
Mike vs Don – that’d be a blowout
I suggest that Democrats that want to defeat Trump giive Bloomberg a chance.
Mayor Pete would make a great VP. The others would be ideal cabinet members.
But only Bloomberg will cary the day. He is our last best hope to turn Trumpism on its head.
3
@It Is Time! - I would vote for Bloomberg, but would not vote for a Bloomberg/Buttigieg ticket.
@It Is Time! Yea, but for what? It would be a Pyrrhic victory as everyone under 30 bailed out of the party.
New slogan:
Vote Blue, No Matter Who!
5
Sanders should be president right now!
5
Fear, fear, fear is all I ever hear from democrats.
Have some courage. Bernie's policies are exactly what is needed to combat climate change and push back fascism. Country before party! Humanity before corporate greed! Survival of the human species before profits! Wake up America, the hour is getting late!
5
I am so sick of NY Times pundit after pundit slamming Bernie, in this case as a "cranky" old man.
What is the Times going to do if he's the nominee? Endorse Trump? Withhold any endorsement? Damn him with faint praise, and hope quietly that Trump gets another 4 years?
Meanwhile, I'll send Bernie another donation today.
7
Why would you say turnout "wasn't spectacularly robust"? It actually broke the turnout record: "After a lackluster showing in Iowa, Democrats flooded New Hampshire’s polling places. By Tuesday night, it was clear that turnout would surpass the 254,780 votes cast in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary. And on Wednesday, the record 288,672 votes cast in 2008 fell." -- Adam K. Raymond, New York magazine, 2/12/2020 (this afternoon). This was really a good omen for Democrats in November, and a bad sign for Trump if he hopes to flip New Hampshire, which he lost in 2016. Luckily for the Democrats (unlike the Republican primary rules), delegates are awarded proportionally. In 2016, Trump was able to secure the nomination early because of his party's winner-take-all primary rules. Trump won only about 30% of the vote in the early primaries, but he came in first place, and thus won all of each state's delegates. Bernie, so far, is getting less than 30% and is basically tied with Pete. There is hope (at least for me) that we can stop Bernie's march to the nomination. And I think we must.
3
@Harlemboy - HUGE MISS ON FRANK'S PART.
1
I wake up to trump on one side, and bernie on the other. just like last election, signs in yards read, no on to vote for were all scr............ed.
1
Here's my "takeaway" from the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary -
Moderates (Pete, Amy, Joe) received 54% in IA and 52% in NH
Progressives (Bernie, Elizabeth) received 44% in IA and 35% in NH
Bernie may "win" but progressiveness does not.
I like a Klobuchar/Steyr ticket
1
Wisdom = Amy Klobuchar
Idealism = Butigieg
Bloomberg = rags to riches control freak. Racist or just naive and uninformed about the black and brown experience.
Bernie= four more chaotic years with him. He isn’t a unifier .
These are our choices. So far.
We have a long slog.
Relax and discern by researching the candidates still in the race.
I am voting for Klobuchar.
Trump has issues she will use against his vulgarity.
Amy if you see this.
Get to Nevada with a ground game and rent a large venue and invite musicians to perform and collect food non perishables for local homeless. Then have as be a great political rally speech.
1
Idealism=Buttigieg?
.
More like Opportunism/Naked Ambition=Buttigieg
@nurseJacki Telling that you don't even mention good old boy Joe Biden!
Am surprised that author did not catch on sooner. Biden is a cynic, a pretend tough guy, steeped in corruption, off shore and on shore almost all of his political career and now, with the advent of age,apparently losing his marbles!Do not understand why the author has not perceived this?Sanders believes in himself, his cause which is democratic socialism. He exudes optimism, enthusiasm. Biden appears more and more like the Gloomy Gus of American politics:"Gus le tenebreux" in French!Biden is a "vieux de la vieille"who has been in the political arena too long.
2
It is time for NYT to re-evaluate its stance or in other words clear bias against Bernie. He is a moderate democrat in a true democracy and he will have more votes from independents like me going forward. He is advocating the right things for average Americans as an authentic leader.
6
"Democrats’ appetite for a nominee less liberal than Sanders is real." As is their desire for a leader with more fire in the belly than Hillary, whose dull-as-last-week's-dishwater candidacy and a slow-march coronation (foisted on the faithful by an zombie Democratic establishment) lost that election. It was an election that she and the establishment should have won, but together they snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.
The sane Americans left passionately and desperately want a candidate with guts and fire who can actually run and triumph. Someone stuffed and mounted by the party's taxidemy will not do.
3
It is too early to make any real determinations about anything. The press does need to stop picking and choosing who to promote.
2
No one can generate heat like Sanders. He's going to rip through these primaries and then rip through Trump. He's not radical. His policies are what people want.
6
The title is a little bit disingenuous, considering how many panicked editorials about Bernie Sanders the Times alone has run in the last month. Don't even get me started on MSNBC, a supposedly progressive network that has taken up trashing Sanders with a gusto it usually only reserves for the Don himself.
5
So, what's the purpose of this article other than to provide an example of the 'panic' mentioned in the title?
It's obvious who this article is pushing for, the Establishment/DNC candidates, Buttigieg and Klobuchar. It's really telling that Establishment Dems run around, as they did in 2016, claiming that young Progressives won't support the eventual nominee if it's not Bernie.
In 2016, we DID end up voting for the DNC's chosen candidate, (for all the good that did) but if there's an inkling of a Progressive eventually winning, this year's primary, there's a definite undercurrent in the media that Establishment Dems will not follow their own edict to "Vote Blue No Matter Who".
1
Isn't it time for the Democrats to lean left? The Republicans are unashamed of their far-right bent. In fact they relish in the MAGA motto, rolling back any progress made over the last 50 years, and keeping a maniac in office. Let's be progressive. We are smart enough to know that no matter who wins the Democratic primary, policies will have to move back toward center. Democrats have a huge tent; we are the party of the people. Let's act like it.
5
All Bernie has to do to beat Trump in a general election is surround himself with old white guys whenever he gives a speech or photo op. If a few wear their VFW caps, all the better.
Per above, Hillary always had people, especially women, of color and it freaked out the old voters in the swing states. Whenever Hillary gave a speech, I always thought, to misquote Reagan, “There she goes again!”
1
Amazing. The American people are so dumb that it is the duty of the NYTimes pundits to tell us what to believe in and who to vote for. I read articles attacking my democratic favorite candidate, Tulsi Gabbard. I liked her for her veteran status and early on stating her opposition to endless wars. Cutting back on support of the military industrial complex might offer an opportunity to address the big problems of climate change and income inequality. We might even act like China and see building infrastructure and trade as more effective than war. I now see the media as a threat to democracy in that it now seems it is their duty to report what we should know and tell us how we should vote. Are others seeing this increasing influence and aggressive insertion into politics as dangerous to democracy. I want to be informed but not biased.
2
"Elizabeth Warren was endorsed by respected media organizations. "
Which respected media organizations?
That's "democratic socialist" there Frank.
Frank, you and your colleagues' systemic animus toward Senator Sanders is exhausting and a grave disservice to the man. Don't you yourselves grow weary of your negative headlines meant to confuse and muddle voters? Considering the current disaster of a commander in chief, isn't a decent, morally grounded person like Sanders with consistent values/voting record worth a little more respect and consideration than you accord him?
3
Frank, You speak of flawed candidates on dem side. Tell us the names of unflawed candidates. Ain't no such thing. Never has been, never will be, assuming such perfect candidates are human beings.
4
Kind of strange to see Frank Bruni leading off the frantic horse race commentary that was so damaging to Democrats in 2016. I realize that this is a tempting target for people who have to write a column every day, but Frank certainly has lots of interesting things to say about other issues. All we need is a few comments about Sanders trip to Russia and his long standing determination to not be a Democrat and we can get the sniping going to the point where we cant tell if its Russian trolls or Trumpistas.
2
If Democratic Socialism comes to America, we could become like Scandinavia! OMG! We could end up enjoying the highest GDP in the world, like them — a disaster! Our population might become very highly educated — even the working class! Universal healthcare could cause us to loose all of our anxiety surrounding sickness, suffering and old age, and that's such an important part of who we are! Like them, we might start to shelter asylum seekers and participate in organizations which actively support international peace instead of war, and then how would we spend our tax dollars! Social cohesion leading to well being and a high level of happiness and life satisfaction could occur as it does there! Parents would be given time off to spend with their children! Workers would get longer vacations! OMG, please DNC, save us from the horrible threat of Democratic Socialism! Just look what it's done to Western Europe and Canada! We can't become like those people!!!
5
We should all have more "panic" about the power of corporate-owned media, and their entourage of "opinion" spinners, than the presidency of Bernie Sanders.
This clickbait propaganda "sells papers"—and of course satisfies the editors and the corporate sponsors who want to go back to business-as-usual—as in the good old days of Obama bailing out the banks and Hillary Clinton schmoozing Goldman Sachs.
People know that the system is terminally corrupt and in the last election, sensing the Democratic Party was offering them more of the same, many got manipulated by the lies/hate of a TV-driven despot who promised to "drain the swamp". That swamp has gotten bigger—and the wealthy, both Republicans and Democrats have benefitted. Congress's salaries/health-care have not suffered. Well-paid journalists who play the game are doing just fine
Some have seen through Trump's lies and are ready for a change, one that addresses their real concerns—and yet Democrats are looking for another moderate/centrist who can offer as little as HRC did, thinking they can squeeze him/her through.
The DNC will even consider throwing out democracy altogether to save their Party by bending all the rules to include Republican Bloomberg.
And the NYTimes opinion writers won't be outraged—they'll try to fuel that plutocrat/oligarch into office by feeding more "panic" that Bernie Sanders could bring some real change.
PS Every poll for years has shown Sanders beating Trump in a general election.
2
I'll vote for the candidate most likely to eliminate my student loans!!
4
Bernie has repeatedly stated there will be a UNIFIED front NO MATTER the nominee and I believe him! If Dems do not merge the ticket to represent both party factions, Trump will live on for another four years (or more). Full Stop! This is no time for egocentric mindsets of "deserving" candidates to select who "they" wish to have for a running mate. That movie has already played. Combine the ticket and STEAMROLL Trump in November!!! Stop the hand-wringing, demand better from our politicians, and put some big person pants on!!!
3
Will the Democratic Party really ask baby-boomers to vote for a Socialist? That's a big ask. This is how the boomer brain works; Socialist equals Soviet Socialist Republic equals Joseph Stalin equals nuclear missiles in Cuba equals atomic bomb drills in school equals decades of anti-socialist propaganda. Medicare for all? Yes. Publicly financed college tuition? Yes. Vote for a Socialist? Don't ask me to do that.
"But add Biden’s, Buttigieg’s and Klobuchar’s votes in New Hampshire and they far exceed those for the two prominent progressives, Sanders and Warren."
This is the kind of simple formula pundits like, but it's very misleading. Bernie won NH with roughly the same 25% of voters he was getting consistently throughout the campaign. Warren also had about 25% in NH during the summer, but scored less than 10% in the primary. If you could just add Sanders' and Warren's voters on the theory they are ideologically aligned, Bernie would have got 40% in the primary. But he didn't. He remained essentially flat while a majority of people who preferred Warren -- and Biden -- switched to Buttegieg and Klobuchar. Was this because half of Warren fans were "moderates" all along, or did they switch because they were attracted to the young new face or because they decided Warren could not win but still wanted a woman. Are Buttegieg and Klobuchar voters really less "progressive" than Bernie backers, or have they simply decided that Bernie is too much the rigid old man whose socialist label will prove deadly in November.
Don't sell Democratic voters short. They are trying hard to find the right person to defeat Trump.
1
Sanders is not electable. Bigly. He is a big target for the GOP with his "medical car for all" and his "college education for all". No doubt, these are wonderful goals, but most US citizens do not believe these are affordable or that these reward the lazy, etc. Trump will have an easy time beating Sanders. Not so with Biden, and I hope that Biden is the nominee. Those who support Sanders should understand this. Also the age factor used against Biden is not the case if anyone supports Sanders.
"That era preceded the explosion of social media. That era was less pessimistic about the country’s trajectory, less cynical about politics and politicians, more faithful on various fronts"
AND the current era includes the millenials with more voting potential than the boomers.
They will be out in force
They get THEIR news from the hip folks bashing trump with satirical contempt 24/7.
Just you wait -The trogs are gonna get slaughtered and Bernie will be calling the tunes!
3
I don't see this as the clear win for Bernie that Bruni sees. Buttigieg comes into Bernie's back yard and walks out with the same number of delegates as Bernie. After two contests, Buttigieg has the delegate lead. Sort of amazing for the mayor of a city of only 100,000 people. The big problems for Bernie: he earned a lot smaller vote percentage than in 2016, despite Warren getting less than 10% and the turnout is mediocre. Same deal in Iowa. None of the candidates is garnering much enthusiasm outside of their narrow base, certainly far short of what is needed to carry them to victory in November. That is the reason the party should be in panic mode. Democratic voters should be flocking to the polls in preparation for November's fight with Trump, there should be a flood of first-time voters after the Dem semi-apathy of 2016 -- none of that is happening. What we need is a candidate who can stoke enthusiasm and expand the electorate as Obama did in 2008 and 2012. That just hasn't happened yet.
Why is the MSM and DNC so afraid of Bernie? He had better poll numbers vs Trump in 2016, and does now, too. If "ability to beat Trump" is the #1 issue, why don't they mention these things? In any case, shouldn't this be up to the voters and not the establishment?
If it's up to the MSM and DNC, why not abolish primaries, then? It would save the DNC a ton of money (and Iowa DNC a ton of embarassment).
4
He’s the Jeremy Corbyn of the DNC. And will have about as much success, even among his own party. I’m a DNC worrier, for sure.
The reason I support Bernie is because of his deep recognition
of the troubles of the working class in this country.
We have no economic power, we have no political power.
The cultural treats us like we are rubes. All we have is our vote.
And the democrat s showed how much they respect that
with the debacle in Iowa. No responsibility for real taken.
I never see myself in the NYT. You used to have a labor writer
or two. So that's why just enough people went to Trump last
time. I expect the modern republican party to sell us a bunch
of lies , but I was raised in Daley's Chicago,where working
class people had economic and political clout. That was before Clinton and the DLC sold us out for corporate control
over the party. Bernie wants to establish a MEDICARE FOR All, quite like Canada's. Is this radical. Go up to Canada
Do the people there seem like poor, oppressed by their government slaves. Please all you moderates, realize you are doing the work of insurance companies (that are destroying you) and the drug companies , when you say we can't have
what every other civilized democratic nation
provides for itself through government plans. Bernie understands this and so do most of us. Our media tells Bernie people to unite behind whoever. What about
uniting behind Bernie if he wins the nomination. I'll vote for
anybody to get rid of Trump. What about the scared about
Bernie people.
9
@Terri Monley Some day maybe this country will have a healthcare system something like Canada's, but it will be long after Bernie and most people old enough to vote today are gone. If you can't wait till then, the best advice is to move to Canada.
I'm not "panicking"; I am, however, deeply concerned about how an elderly man nearing 80 who recently suffered from a heart attack is going to weather a presidential campaign, let alone a first term in office, and I'm not alone. It is a reasonable concern.
3
Democrats dangerously misunderstand the true liability of Bloomberg’s “stop and frisk” policies.
The problem is that liberals view it through the lens of social justice, specifically the “unfair” targeting of minorities.
Many people in swing states don’t care about this social justice “problem”, and in fact may support the policy for that very reason.
But, these same people do view problems through the lens of government overreach. When they hear “throw them against the wall” and confiscate their guns, they hear that Bloomberg would send “jack-booted thugs” to their towns and disarm the population. This will be repeated to them 10,000 times between now and November.
Add to that the government overreach in confiscating citizen’s preferred beverages, and Bloomberg will face serious headwinds in swing states that need to be won.
4
Why not just say what everyone knows? Sanders can't win. He hasn't expanded the Democratic electorate. He certainly hasn't changed the party for the better. If Sanders is the nominee it will be a disaster. It will split the party in two. Moderate suburban voters will not vote for Democratic Socialism. Ever. Independent swing voters will hold their nose & vote for Trump. Sanders has contempt for the Democratic establishment & intends to eviscerate them once elected. The DNC will not co-operate in their own demise. They will try to undermine his campaign in ways both large & small as they did in 2016. Sanders has demonstrated time & time again that he doesn't have the temperament to be POTUS. Last year he called for giving incarcerated felons the right to vote. The Boston Marathon Bomber kills three people, maims & injures 280 more. Bernie’s concern? That he gets his absentee ballot. What will be the reaction when Sanders travels to swing states with Michael Moore & he tells women’s underrepresentation in Congress a form of “gender apartheid.” Or when AOC, says in Texas, “I’m here because Senator Sanders has actually committed to breaking up ICE.” Sanders' codependents are writing the GOP attack ads. Insane. If this election is about kitchen table issues: jobs & affordable education there's no way we lose. If it's about Medicare for All & more illegal immigration there's no way we win. We can win with or without progressives. We can't win without swing & centrists voters.
2
Frank Bruni and other panicking centrists - will you please stop? Please, please stop. Did you see the clip yesterday of a New Hampshire voter, a female clearly on the older side, who told Ari Melber of MSNBC that she voted for Bernie because she was disgusted by MSNBC's constant "Stop Sanders" mantra? She was not a "Bernie or bust" person; she was undecided until the last minute, and she spoke of all the wonderful candidates the Dems have. But she had had enough of being told what she ought to think and how she ought to vote. I feel just as she did, except that I (a senior citizen white female suburbanite) support Bernie. I am enraged and insulted by the continued panic over Bernie, and denigration of Bernie, by MSM commentators who clearly know very little about him and don't intend to educate themselves.
8
@ARW
As reported by NPR this morning, the undecided voters far and away went for Klobuchar. That is probably because (a) the concerns about the general election prospects of Senator Sanders are perfectly legitimate and (b) the notion that there is a media bias against Sanders is merely a conspiracy theory. We get it. You like your guy. But he is human. This is politics. He will receive criticism, much of it valid. There is no reason to be enraged or insulted. Your guy should have won Iowa and New Hampshire walking away. He didn't. All the same, I congratulate Sanders and his supporters on the victory.
2
@ARW Sanders' nomination would be a gift to the Republican party. They are waiting with bated breath to unleash the mother of all smear campaigns. Bloodbath. Sanders is handing Trump the presidency. Again.
1
To all Bernie supporters: Your political Death Star come November is at Bernie’s core—the blithe sweep of the hand elimination of all private health plans in United Stares, to be replaced by a gargantuan government plan. Here are the real world problems: With this at the top of the ticket, Trump will remind voters of the very recent screw up in rolling out Obamacare, which was orders of magnitude more modest; Congress will never come close to passing anything like this; at the moment only a handful of Democrats actually in Congress, you know actual successful politicians, support this; eliminating an entire industry will be found unconstitutional by judges, including Obama judges, up and down the line; if a center piece, Democrats will forfeit the House and lose any shot at the Senate; older voters, who actually vote, are deeply skeptical; so far this has not turned out droves of younger voters — an absolute necessity to prevail. Tone it down to Medicare Buy In, leave “For All” to an evolutionary future, call it a Transition for political cover, and beat the malevolent one in the White House. Dying on the barricades made for great, romantic theatre in Les Mis. But the idealistic young people all died.
3
I'm not only in panic mode, I'm terrified!
When Trump wins, it will be the direct fault of every democratic candidate who decided to run. Cast of dozens who had no chance. Muddied the playing field. We lost our opportunity to rally around Biden from day one. And now we appear to be rather doomed.
@ Nadia: The moment Trump cheated and moderates and centrists barely paid attention was the moment Biden’s chances died. If nothing, democrats and moderates needed to show Trump that they reject his propaganda warfare. Instead people like that town hall farmer, said “thanks for the info Donnie, I am reconsidering Joe”. People acted like it was normal that Trump is running the DOJ and US like a corrupt Ukraine politician.
2
The 'centrist' press is not treating Sanders fairly and it's painfully obvious. They keep saying that he is not electable even though the polls shows time and time again that he would be the candidate who will do better against Trump. They keep saying that he is not the majority, that if all others ally against him he would surely lose; humm, when did I hear that last time (Trump). All of the press seems to be saying, Sanders won, congratulations BUT... they talk about him for 30 seconds and then talk about Buttigieg or Klobuchar for 30 minutes. All that this is doing is alienating Sanders supporters from the Democratic party. If they don't vote, or worst yet, vote for Trump, there is no chance at all that 45 will be defeated. It is becoming obvious to me now that the Democratic establishment with its press rather have Trump as President instead of Sanders, very sad and hypocritical.
7
I am going to let the chips fall where they may for the presidential race, and focus on the senate races in the company of the Payback Project initiated by Indivisible. Google it! It does not matter what god/dess descends from on high, they are not going to be able to save us from the crumbling of our democracy as long as the members of the senate are as they are. By the way, Bill Weld garnered more than 11,000 votes in the republican primary in NH. If he continues to run, he will take away crucial votes from Trump that no Democrat will win. Maybe I'll back his primary run. It will be quieter.
4
Honestly, if people like Bruni would just be still and let things be, we would all be a bit better off. We, as individuals and as a country, do not need him telling us what we're feeling.
At least, I don't.
(If, on the other hand, Mr Bruni, you are providing some information regarding the DNC, instead of just your opinion, then great! I know you have a job to do, but you just add to the noise -- and it is negative.)
2
I like all the Dem candidates, and will vote democratic at the election. What other issue is there?
3
Remember Howard Dean running for president, his shouting and screaming was deafening and perhaps caused him to lose the presidency. We've had much worse with trump's shouts and bullying and put-downs... and always his yelling so that he could be assured he was the loudest (and most obnoxious) person in the room. I don't want to hear shouting during this democrat race, I wish Bernie would tone it down, while also wishing that he would understand that there are a lot of people who want to focus on actual things in health care and education that we can get done, without his "my way or the highway" approach. Although I'm am having my own silent screams since the year of trump's ugly, fear and hate mongering campaign and through his presidency, We are so much better than that. I want the noise to stop and our democrats who are in this campaign to show compassion to those of us who want to elect a calm and steady person who will actual be a democrat for all of us. I will vote for whichever democrat is elected, but please, stop the shouting and stridency. We need someone to win for all of us.
3
@LindaP Ithaca
BERNIE! BERNIE! BERNIE! lol
Klobuchar took more votes from Warren than from Buttigieg. Warren seem kind of tired lately with the same small talk. She should emphasize corruption more with some updated and refreshed talk.
Bruni continues to vex over Bernie. Sorry Frank, the so-called people in the middle have had their way for the last forty years and look at where we are at, enough said. Go Bernie.
8
Four more years for the the thugs - Trump and the Republicans - we can call the US Govt. Trump and Co LLC - where Trump is the CEO and takes on tax payers moneys for his playing Golf and his children using the power of the office to sell their ware. What a state of affairs. He is like a private company with no stockholders to account to.
Bernie is not going to win the General Election against Trump - the lady from the Bronx whose name escapes me does not represent 95% of the country. He is using her to get to the younger crowd who expect utopia under a Bernie.
Resolution from a state that has only 24 delegates? Only a madman or a talking head would declare it. Yogi Berra was right; it ain't over until it's over. Super Tuesday will help a lot in this regard. Meanwhile, your colleague Tom Friedman (he who adored GW Bush's approach to Iraq) is pushing Bloomberg as the savior of capitalism, Islamophobia, and quite possibly Donald Trump. The most interesting news from NH is the reversal of positions of Klobuchar and Warren, and even that might not last a month. I'll take either of them.
1
The mainstream media's prejudices against Mr Sanders coupled with potential DNC dirty tricks to sabotage his progress will result in another instance (like in 2016) when more than 10% of his supporters voted for Mr Trump.
4
The only panic manifested by Bernie's frontrunner status is generated (and spread, as it is here) by wealthy neoliberal elites who fear a return to a more progressive taxation model and their loss of control of the political narrative.
All the hand-wringing about "socialism" is ridiculous. Bernie -- and, ironically, nostalgic MAGA folks -- look back to mid-twentieth century America as a kind of baseline. Not Russia, not China, not even Scandinavia. The "good ol' days" of FDR and Eisenhower.
4
@Yawny
Oh, yeah - The "good ol' days" of Jim Crow laws, lynchings and legal subjugation of women. Good times!
Interesting. The media seems to assume we need a moderate to win. I disagree. Trump wasn’t a moderate and he trounced the far more moderate Clinton. All the handwringing about Sanders is shameful. If he loses, the mainstream media shares the blame.
5
This race is the democrats to lose if they stay home cause they don't like the nominee.
Not voting is a vote for Trump. He knows this, as do his foreign dictator bedfellows, and they will work hard to game you into staying home. Don't fall for the ruse.
The answer to fascism is a strong social democracy. Fear and insecurity not a addressed with a strong social contract left an opening for a manipulative fascist to step in. Bernie understands that. When too many people are left marginalized, struggling pay check to paycheck without a path to improvement, without a house or rent they can afford, without healthcare they can afford and looming debt, that is when hard right fascists have stepped in to manipulate these people to gain power. The only way to combat it is to address these holes in our democracy by giving people a strong social contract where they will not go broke over a health issue, will not lose their homes due to the unending greed in the real estate sector and that there is a path forward for themselves and their children to have a secure future and hope for a better one. Our corporate owned political structure has failed miserably at addressing these issues and that's what got us Trump. Fear and insecurity. It's time for a real champion of the people like Bernie Sanders who has been screaming from the rooftops to address these issues while other leaders chose to look the other way and only attend to big corporate donors and their wishes at the expense of the country and our democracy. Bernie understands the cure for our weakened democracy: address the people's needs and give them the social contract any strong democracy needs to survive and thrive.
4
Memo to Democrats: Stop blathering about "electability." Most people don't care.
The Democrats are on the verge on nominating a lifelong socialist/Marxist as their presidential nominee. Yet I haven't heard one substantive word from any Democratic candidate critical of socialism or in defense of free enterprise.
This is why I can no longer be a Democrat.
1
The only fear is who can't beat Trump. It should be pointed out that the two liberals Buttigieg and Klobuchar easily out polled Sanders.
One odd thing about Sanders is he isn't a Democrat.
Sure. I will vote for Bernie if he is the nominee. But Trump will trounce him. It’s about the racism and other “isms,” folks. Trump appeals to people who are afraid of America’s (take your pick, one or more of any of the following): minorities (soon to be majorities), LGBTQs, women, non-Christians...the list is endless. Their fear is what motivates them to get out to the polls.
1
Sorry, but IMO centrists aren't willing to push back against right-wing extremism hard enough. The Germans are currently re-learning this lesson in Thuringia for the second time in 90 years. GO BERNIE!
2
I would love to see moderate Dems act towards Bernie like moderate Republicans towards Trump: "I don't love his mouth, but his policies basically work for me." Or even, "I hate him, but I'll vote for him over Trump." Instead, some act like he's Trump Redux, which simply is not the case.
Bernie's not going to enslave the DOJ or the Dem Party for example. Or tear apart NATO. Or listen to conspiracy theories instead of intelligence agencies. Or encourage white nationalists. Or act bellicose towards foreign adversaries, then cave or not clinch deals.
He's simply going to raise taxes to get universal health care and educate our youth. (Which will fail unless we all get out in the streets - but Bernie ppl do offer street presence.) If his 'socialism' helps us get a public healthcare option, cap prices for drugs and medical services, and stop medical bankruptcies, it would save people and accelerate the economy. (Any business who covers its employees is saddled with outrageous costs by the millions of middlemen in the healthcare game.) If we can educate our population and forgive some student debt, our workers will be more competitive and able to buy stuff.
Bernie's also going to be a lot nastier than Obama in calling out Republicans who don't get with democracy and contribute to governing. After four years of Trump's tweets, I'm ready to see a Democrat kick Mitch McConnell around the verbal schoolyard. (If Mitch is still in office.)
4
AMY! She seems the most trustworthy, competent and intelligent, down to earth and even able to reunify the country. I have of course no say, but, if I had I would go, fight and vote for her. I would be thrilled if she bedame president of the United States
2
I don't understand this "Never Bernie" attitude, this foregone conclusion that Bernie is a bad candidate and it is a disaster if he wins. If he is nominated than that means the majority of Democratic voters want him as the nominee, and if he loses to Trump, the majority of Democratic voters will have had their first choice candidate go down fighting. What this country needs it a revolution. The Democratic party needs to end this era of moderate and safe ineffectual candidates. You don't like Sanders? Fine, don't vote for him. But to act as if he is ruining the party is ridiculous. One final point, if you think someone is not electable, and you don't vote for them, than guess what, you're right...but if you vote for them and enough people do the same, maybe they'll get elected.
4
Any Dem, even Bernie, will follow the Rule of Law. The Constitution.
Trump and the GOP have demonstrated they have no interest in the Rule of Law.
All this other stuff you and commenters are talking about is secondary.
5
Wow. If people are more afraid of Bernie than the starter dictator we currently have in the White House, I really don't care anymore.
6
I think the pathway to Trump's second term is to disrupt the momentum of the leading democrat. We're told that a democratic-socialist can't win. We're told this by the blue-dogs who ran Al Gore, John Kerry, Hillary Clinton - all of whom lost. If the party continues to attack Bernie rather than supporting the momentum and energy he has tapped into, then we can add Bloomberg - and his bags of money - to the growing list of blue-dog losers. Is four more years of Trump better than Bernie?
3
Considerably.
1
Bill Clinton was the last Dem president with sense enough to understand his times, and deploy an effective administration that fought Reps to a standstill. But his moral failings undermined Al Gore, and set the stage for the steady decline of enlightened values since.
By the time we got another chance to undo the destruction wrought by Reps eight years later, the initial euphoria of Obama's election quickly turned to disappointment as he tacked center-right, and declined to promote or even defend what putatively was "his" health care plan, leaving it to Pelosi and her brave allies in the House to carry the banner, and to lose their jobs for their trouble.
Next, with her acerbic persona on full display, Hillary managed to create an opening for a loathsome charlatan who should never have been allowed into the White House even as a guest, let alone as the occupant.
Now, Dem voters are stepping forward to take their turn. With fecklessness rivaling utter incompetence, Dems are actively sabotaging our one chance to undo the damage. Anyone who believes that a Sanders election would be followed by legislation even remotely resembling his proposals may as well be living on Mars. When the protective dome of illusion keeping them alive there is shattered by Trump's re-election next November, hope will die for another four years, and perhaps longer, not just for them, but for all of us. The valiant Ruth Bader Ginsburg will have to hang on yet another four years.
Wake up, people!
2
I have two concerns re Bernie.
First, I don't think he should or will be the nominee. If he is, I will, grudgingly perhaps, vote for him.
Second, I have the very bad feeling that his supporters will not vote for any other nominee. They seem particularly perverse in that they will more likely vote for Trump than just stay home. And, further, that they will actively subvert the actual nominee. Sanders has the capacity to change that attitude, to encourage his supporters to be more rational (though maybe not by using quite that word). But he has chosen not to do so. I'm sorry to say that he is trump-like in his "my way or the highway" approach to politics, which is surprising because he hasn't been all that notable or productive a senator.
I realize that it's easy to label candidates as liberal, moderate, progressive, even socialist. And that certainly puts everyone into their slot in the campaign for the nomination. But this Democratic voter finds it offensive and unproductive. No, I don't have an alternative, but I'm not writing for a national audience.
One more thing, and this is directed at the headline writer. "Will the muddle of moderates. . . " This is garbage. Are these the best candidates Democrats can deliver? I have not idea. But they are smart, accomplished, and care more about this country than any Republican. To make it sound as if they are stuck in a rugby scrum does a disservice to the candidates.
1
No need to worry. Biden has just begun. Actually, Biden just about finished. However, no need to do anything but embellish. That's what politicians do. Stay away from reality.
I am waiting on all the money to start flowing to all the moderates like mud to a wall. This action done by big money to take down Bernie and quite possible Elizabeth.
Watch the money!
I'm hoping for the best candidate to defeat the incumbent and Warren for vice president.
2
@Steve W
Interesting how either Amy or Elizabeth apparently has a guaranteed job as VP.
The use of general political categories (moderate, centrist, progressive, liberal) are at best lazy journalism. At worst they are politically biased. To refer to Buttigieg, Klobuchar and Biden as "centrist" or "moderate" means what? That Warren and Sanders are immoderate? extreme? far over on the spectrum? What puts them there? Healthcare for every American? Why not use "Corporatist" (moderate) vs "Workerist" (Progressive)? Or, why not do the hard work of describing their positions on issues.
2
@John Mullen
How about bold, visionary leadership (Bernie) v.s. safe, status quo bumbling (Biden etc.)
3
The thought of another moderate only brings up bitter memories of a time when Democrats were naive enough to think Republicans could be reasonable. Moderates are notorious for their willingness to reach across party lines, but Democratic voters are done with Republicans. Republicans have gone way too far to the right with nationalist mantras, racist ideals, and misogynistic values. No more. Obama tried extending an olive branch, and we got stonewalled, and then they elected Trump. Why would even want to try working with them again?
4
Sanders will be defeated. It will look like 1972. This is very sad because the current denizen of the WH is so profoundly destructive.
1
Do the math.
A full 54 percent of NH Democrats voted for a moderate candidate.
2
@Mary Elizabeth Lease
No, they did not.
NH has an open primary. The mischief that Limbaugh has long advised Republican voters to commit in open Dem primaries was on display with their choice of unelectable, platitude-speaking, substance-less Buttigieg.
It's time to re-group under Senator Sherrod Brown. Pete and Amy and whoever wants to can fight it out for VP.
For Bernie Sanders, the Democratic Party is the enemy. The only worse enemy the party has is the party Rank and file. That said, I will work hard to get him elected if he is the nominee. What a nightmare.
3
It's pathetic that Democrats are afraid to rekindle the New Deal ethos--the foundation of mainstream American values--because of a word: "Socialism."
Isn't it high time that Americans learn to understand the difference between Denmark and Venezuela?
Education can be dangerous to those in power.
3
There is no such thing as "moderates." That's just code for liberals who would gladly vote for a fascist strongman over someone committed to providing economic justice for working people. "Moderates" claim to love democracy, but in truth they despise it. They'd rather things be nice and comfortable for them so that they don't have to think about the violence and exploitation that supports their comfort.
3
"Younger voters are much more taken with him than older ones." Not true. I'm an older voter and I support Bernie. Bloomberg is an authoritarian nightmare. And unless he opens up his deep pockets to pay repatriations to those negatively affected by his draconian policies there no getting past the racist Stop and Frisk.
2
@Chazcat
Yes!
Voter turn out in New Hampshire beat 2016 and predictions are, it will surpass the 2008 record.
Increased turnout is due to Bernie Sanders, who has built an unprecedented, multiracial grassroots movement that is best positioned to beat Trump.
Buttitigieg and Klobuchar support bases are not what a winning coalition looks like:
0% Black support
0% Labor
2% Latino
3% Young
3
Why is everyone behaving as if the democratic candidates they don't agree with are the enemy? The enemy is in the White House! Focus, people!
4
Bernie is not a Democrat. He cannot win the country. He may pick up a few Republicans that hate Trump and agree with Bernie's Trumpian(fake) view of foreign isolation from wars. However, that being said he cannot win the votes from the swing voters that went for Trump last time . Plain and simple. Stay in the Senate Bernie.
2
@dakotagirl
President Sanders will write history a little differently.
4
I am so tired of the MSM’s referring to Bernie as cranky. Justifiably outraged at our nation’s inequities and even crimes, he may often sound angry, But calling him cranky belittles his principles as well as those who support him.
5
If all three top candidates remain we could see a candidate nit win on the first vote after the first vote anything goes.
Bernie will not attract back those that went for support of him in 2016 to support Trump. The Dems who are still angry at Bernie over Hillary will not support him. We need Bloomberg!!!!
@R4L He supported Clinton. SHE NEVER INCLUDED HIM OR HIS SUPPORTERS IN ANYTHING. Relying on the old guard - Podesta, Begala, Brazile, McCaskill, Wasserman-Schultz, et al. - she ignored most Democratic states, assuming her East coast support was enough.
2
Well, the 'commentator' du jour classes Mr Sanders as Cranky... that just says it all. I can guess we should expect many of these opinions in the coming months. Just like the 'never-trumpers' of the past, they will be proven wrong. Trump has been the medicine the base of the Democratic party needed. If the facist right can dream and get their man into the white house...why not them?
2
I agree with Bruni that this are a bit muddled in the primary’s; but it is early yet. However,from many of the comments here,it seems to me the fanatic “Bernie Bro’s “ are at it again. Let me be clear, I liked Sanders in the senate: he was, as one commenter said, a gadfly, but a needed one. But a president? Never in my wildest dreams: way too old,too rigid in his ideology, and sorry, as a new senior citizen myself, way too cranky and irascible. If he is the nominee, the unbounded “ fear” of socialism this country has harboured for years will rear its head and he will not only be another George McGovern, who was actually a war hero and was smeared by the Nixon team, he will be the US version of Jeremy Corbin, a total wipeout. The fact that his followers cannot see or even acknowledge this is scary: and for those who say Amy isn’t liberal enough, you have just been ignoring her campaign; she is a strong liberal democrat. And Mayor Pete,?too young and sorry, a gay guy is just too radical for now, maybe in another few years, but homophobia is still here. I would much rather see a Biden/ Klobuchar ticket: I know Joe is old too, but he has tons of experience and having Amy on the ticket would be a good “insurance “ policy. Finally, even if Sanders is the nominee, I will vote for him, even an old cranky radical is better than an ignorant, greedy fool like Trump.
2
The programs Bernie Sanders supports are designed for all of us, not the few. He keeps getting punched down but pops right up again. I have never heard him insult anyone. He criticizes votes and deeds, not people. He is honest, self-deprecating, consistent, strong, principled and not beholden to lobbyists. I would love to seem him stand against the thin-skinned, self-aggrandizing, corrupt liar occupying the presidency.
3
Choosing a President is like choosing the captain of a cruise ship. You can have a captain that wants to run the ship smoothly, or a captain that wants to sail to new destinations.
Your preference depends on how much you like the present location.
If you’re all comfy cozy in your top deck cabin and the steward is handing you a nicely chilled gewurztraminer, you’ll naturally tend to see things a certain way.
Others feel differently, and there are more and more of them.
2
If you're an investor and want to protect yourself against the market crash that's bound to follow a Sanders' victory, start buying out-of-the-money puts on a stock index etf, such as SPY on the S&P500. Buy the November 20, 2020 expiration.
Everyone said trump couldn't win, either. And, yet, here we are.
1
I'm not panicking. Our own particular system of democracy is particularly messy. Sanders needed to win Iowa and New Hampshire walking away. He didn't. The caucus format is biased in favor of candidates like Sanders. In 2016 he won next-door New Hampshire by twenty-two points. The Sanders-style progressive candidates have received far fewer votes in Iowa and New Hampshire than the other Democrats. Sanders hasn't brought in the new voters he promised us. In New Hampshire his youth demographic was distributed among all of the leaders. Given these results, Sanders must do his part to make America smart again, and begin to prepare his supporters to vote blue no matter who. And that includes actively putting a stopper on the things he does that are so very divisive, e.g., untruthfully calling the other Democratic candidates and their policies outrageous, corrupt, bought and paid for, elite. Nobody knows what will happen. Everything is extrapolation. The one surety is that any Democratic pundit or commenter who is absolutely sure that any particular candidate can beat the impeached president in November is full of hooey.
2
While I can understand the panic caused by the thought of Sanders as the eventual nominee, leading as it would to Trump’s certain re-election, I believe he was expected to win in New Hampshire and in Iowa. And if Mr. Yang was still in the race he could do the math and point out that Buttigieg leads, having captured a whopping 1.115% of the delegates necessary for victory, compared to a paltry 1.055% by Mr. Sanders. But I suppose that when you’re looking down the barrel of a second a Trump term Panic Early And Often is a good mantra.
1
To those that think Sanders proposals, especially universal healthcare, are too extreme and out of reach does that mean Americans are just not as smart as those in the rest of the world that have long enacted such legislation?
Here is a suggestion. Start voting for candidates that are unencumbered by the lure of big corporate donors and you will be amazed how quickly the "out of reach" policies will be implemented. Corruption is killing democracy in America and unfortunately, it seem s far too many Americans have thrown their hands up in the air believing there is little that can be done to turn the tide.
Whether or not many believe in Sanders policies there is one common issue hat is a crisis and that is climate change and because he is unencumbered by the corruption of lobbyists and corporate donors, Sanders is the ONLY candidate that has the will and commitment to actually do something about it.
6
Only two states have voted. The media is trying to make a case against Sanders, even though he won in both states. This is ridiculous. What is everyone so afraid of? So far, nothing the media has done has made even a dent in the Trump Presidency. Not non-stop coverage of his nonsense, not twitter, not SNL, not impeachment, nothing! So what makes you think you can stop Sanders? Sometimes you have to understand the will of the people. We have a voice, it’s our vote. You cannot stop that. You never will.
516
@Janice, While I think everyone appreciates voices like Sanders in government and his heart is in the right place, when it comes to pass, I think the people will not want a rich socialist in office.
17
@Janice How do you call getting 25% of the vote a win when the two moderate candidates combined for twice that? Most Dems and patriotic Americans are crying for a moderate because they know that the Republicans and Russians can't wait to easily make mincemeat out of Sanders.
36
@Janice What are we afraid of? That Sanders will help get Trump elected. Again. Wait until they unleash their smear campaign against Bolshevik Bernie. Bloodbath time. He needs to go away.
38
In stating Buttigieg's weaknesses Bruni cites the fact that he is young, the highest office he has held was mayor of a city of 100,000 and his lack of traction among voters of color. However there is a giant elephant in the room when it comes to Buttigieg, that while never mentioned in any media, comes up as his main problem when people are discussing the subject in private. And that is the fact that his spouse is a man.
That while people could not care less about his sexual orientation, the optics of a first man, married to a male president is something many people say in private is something many Americans will not want for the country. And this is not because of their personal feelings on the issue, but because of how people in all countries besides those of the West view it, which will result in a complete lack of respect for the president of the US and for the US itself. People in Africa along with those in what were the Soviet states, not to mention the Muslim world and its leaders, will look down on him with utter disdain.
And so there is no sense in not mentioning this factor because it is politically incorrect to see a male gay couple as anything out of the ordinary, because the fact is that the majority of the world still views it as such, if not outright wrong. Most Americans are very aware of this fact, and alot of voters do take into account the image a president presents to the world of America.
5
@Michael Stavsen, I’m reminded of the Colorado cake decorator with his own personal beliefs who probably must have resented the couple whose lifestyle was thrust on his cake designs without his asking yet then forced to justify. Many voters just want to vote for a POTUS without reordering society first.
“Sanders, a cranky 78-year-old who includes “socialist” in his description of his politics”
Democrats are shooting themselves in the foot by implying that a Democratic Socialist is some type of Socialist. No candidate for President or member of Congress believes the state should own and operate the means of production.
This is equivalent to saying that Democrats stand for democracy or that Republicans stand for our Republic — poppycock!
Democratic Socialists believe that the government should answer to the needs of its citizens first and business second.
We are having a similar meaning drift with Capitalism and “free market”. A free market uses the government to ensure that corporations compete at arms length on a level playing field; it does not mean unfettered corporatism. Capitalism is not someone with capital who owns a business, it is corporations competing in a free market.
Since we have allowed monopolies/oligopolies to restrict competition, we are no longer capitalist and the purchasing power of our workers has been severely compromised by price-gouging. Working family dignity has been replaced by fear and this is driving the irrationality and polarization of the electorate.
We can only save our democracy by restoring Capitalism.
4
Why do the establishment Democrats fear Bernie so much? Why do the establishment Democrats fail to listen to a majority of its constituents? Hillary Clinton lost in 2016 because the Democratic base did not want her. They wanted Bernie. They flocked to his rallies in massive stadiums while she filled town halls. I recall an interview with a 20-something on NPR after that election saying to the interviewer, "We told the Democrats in 2008 that we didn't want Hillary." And yet Hillary is doing everything she can to disrupt the people's choice. Why? What is it about Bernie Sanders that scares the Democrats? If the Republicans can fall in line with a tyrant, why can't the Democrats fall in line with a candidate who promises to put people first?
5
@rmward1
"Why do the establishment Democrats fear Bernie so much?"
There is no "fear." A lot of people are concerned about Bernie Sanders because he is nearly 80 years old and recently suffered a heart attack.
4
@rmward1 We are afraid that he will lose us the election again. That's what we are afraid of.
Bernie had better enjoy this victory. Because there won't be many more if he sticks stridently to his mission to wholly replace corporate health plans with government plans.
3
Yes, the muddled middle will sort itself out. We have our first actual primary, in both Bernie's and Warren's back yard, and they garnered a combined 35% of the vote. That likely is close to the ceiling for the left wing of the party. The problem with the muddled middle is that Biden was treated in media as the presumptive heir to Obama who could waltz into the nomination. He has not looked particularly good in the debates and from what I've read, his ground game and fundraising have been subpar. He seems in the process of being forced out. We'll see what NV, SC, and Super Tuesday bring, but Biden is on life support and when/if he is forced to drop out, the muddle in the middle should resolve itself between Klobuchar and Buttigieg. Bernie has already bested Warren, or, more accurately, she bested herself with her retreat on Medicare For All and tying so many expensive plans to a clearly unconstitutional wealth tax (there is a reason it required a constitutional amendment to implement the progressive income tax.). A Warren presidency, as she has voluntarily cast it, would be a disaster with all her programs tied up in a long court battle over the wealth tax. Bernie's 'revolution' has a greater chance of happening in his first term. I don't see a second term for either.
1
If the moderates are going to win the moderate right and the moderate left of got to get together. What separates them is their racism and misogyny. In Europe, they were able to bury the hatchet and work together to get moderates elected. In the United States, it seems that racism and misogyny is so intense that they’d rather have Trump or Sanders then compromise their goals. I don’t know if they’ll ever get together. I live in France half of the time, the French were able to bury the hatchet and have the moderate right and moderate left get together into a large central party. With my knowledge of the incredible partisanship that is developing the United States, I wonder if it’s possible to happen here.
Otherwise, it’s Trump or Sanders. It’s not that difficult to figure out!
Bernie Sanders has "already won". I don't think so. He did come in first in New Hampshire, with less than 26% of the vote. It may surprise some that he only captured 40% of the New Hampshire pledged delegates. Sanders got nine, Buttigieg got nine, and Klobuchar got six.
Lest Sanders supporters, or those of Warren or Biden cry "foul" let's look at the rules of the Democratic party per pledged delegates. First, no one with less than 15% of the popular vote gets any delegates. That's the why of the zero delegates for Warren or Biden. Second, with any of those breaking the 15% threshold, the delegates are awarded proportionally, which resulted in the 9, 9, and 6 mentioned above.
It was similar in 2016. The press made a big thing of Hillary Clinton "winning" the primary in Missouri. If coming in first is "winning" she did that, but the vote there was so close that Clinton, who came in first, and Sanders who was second, each got the same number of pledged delegates.
Could Trump win against Sanders?
I have a one word, definitive and Trump-winning strategy for that question: "Socialism."
Read it and weep.
2
That word “Socialism” will only play with his base of sheeple and it will be generously applied to every democratic candidate regardless of who it is just as it has by every GOP hopeful since the Reagan era. After all fear sells especially to the uninformed, nothing new or significant here.
1
Today, Lincoln's birthday, would be a good day for Michael Steele, a brilliant gentleman, an experienced politician, etc. to sever his ties to the Republican Party and become a Democrat!
He'd make a perfect running mate for Bloomberg.
Catholic, African American, knowledgeable, respectful of our country's history, etc.
As African American support for Bloomberg is surging, he'd be perfect. The other Democratic candidates are tired and tiresome.
3
Hilarious!
So you think the Democratic ticket should consist of
A Wall Street billionaire and “former” Republican; and the former chair of the RNC?
Why even have a Democratic Party ticket?
1
@Adam Van Wickel
Good question, Adam. Given the quality of the Democratic candidates, it's a question all long-time Democrats should be asking.
This is America, land of the free. If a political party changes from what it was when an individual joined, he can/should change affiliations. I often wonder how Michael Steele can stay in a party that has become so spineless, so un-American. Some, like Steve Schmidt, left the Republicans behind. Many other examples could be listed, right?
I hope you'll join me in campaigning and voting for Michael Bloomberg/Michael Steele!
Mike and Mike.
What's not to like?
You might want to correct the second to last paragraph, re: "turnout wasn't spectacularly robust." This looks on track to be the highest turnout in history for the democratic primary in New Hampshire. The exit polls that suggested lackluster turnout apparently missed about fifty thousand voters.
2
I honestly believe when people vote for President, they vote with their emotions. They vote for who they identify with and who makes them feel safe. None of the Democrats have that appeal to the country. Sure some people absolutely love each of them, and rightly so. Each one has wonderful ideas for the country and I would love to believe that any of them could deliver even a fraction of it. People voted emotionally for Obama, he inspired that. So many T shirts were sold saying "We" won. None of the Democrats inspire enough of the "regular" Americans to win.
1
Has anyone researched how many Sanders supporters in 2016 voted for Trump when Hilary was the Democratic nominee? The discussion this time around seems to focus on Democratic "moderates" versus "Bernie" (or Elizabeth Warren), but who's to say that a Democratic moderate wouldn't vote for Bernie over Trump if he was the nominee? And who's to say Trump voters who didn't vote in this Democratic primary, wouldn't favor Bernie over Trump? It is also worth raising that Trump 2016 voters who are looking for an alternative would not vote for a moderate Demoratic nominee like Buttigieg but would vote for Bernie.
4
The only people panicking are the people who have enough money not to care about money. They were unreasonable about it before & they will remain unreasonable about it up to the 2020 election. What they are going to find out if Bernie wins....is that it still doesn't matter....their lives will not change and we still won't hear the end of them complaining about their money.
4
Elizabeth Warren isn't catching on unfortunately. She's right on all the issues but can't get any traction. Buttigieg is an impressive young man but he has no chance of winning the White House, not this year. He could do the country a favor by dropping out and endorsing Amy Klobuchar or Mike Bloomberg. A Bloomberg-Klobuchar ticket would be formidable.
1
the GOP's game plan if Senator Sanders is the Democratic Party nominee is the same used by the Conservative Party against Jeremy Corbin—absent Boris Johnson's spending like a drunken sailor on education, transport and the National Health Services.
The 100% taxpayer funded US Dept of Defense is the US's largest employer, and the largest employer in the world.
Yup, that's socialism.
5
Touché, mon ami.
1
@Bullmoose Seems everyone who hates socialism is a civil servant. Can't count my cop friends going on and on about parasites living off the government. Meanwhile, they retire with $100K guaranteed pension and medical for life on my dime.
1
"Sanders, a cranky 78-year-old who includes “socialist” in his description of his politics, is hardly in the clear."
"Warren, who includes "female" in her description of preferred presidential candidate..."
When will the party establishment stop feeding the right-wing scare machine, and push beyond demonizing the term 'socialist'? These pundits are not fools; they know what Sanders means and what he stands for, whether they like it or not. And it isn't the social-commie-whatever that Fox and the GOP make it out to be. Stop using it as a bludgeon.
10
Nancy Pelosi for President! She's the only one in the country who's ever stood up to trump and beat him.
2
I would feel better about the appeal of a Bernie “revolution” if the economy were in bad shape. He and Liz Warren are right, of course, that we need big changes to attack inequality, recognize that healthcare is a human right, raise minimum wage, make public higher education affordable if not free for all who want it etc. But if the economy is still chugging along in the fall, low unemployment, jobs created, stock market rising...moderate voters who are doing okay won’t be anxious to shake up the system, won’t feel the need as Warren says. “ to bring about structural change”. FDR’s landslide election and revolutionary programs would not have happened without the Great Depression. Health care reform is a winner for Democrats. Trump wants to take it away. Protecting Socials Security and Medicare is another winner. Trump wants to defund both. Democrats can win on these two issues alone. It wouldn’t hurt for the nominee to channel JFK and Obama at times to give people something aspirational to vote for, to campaign in poetry, as Mario Cummings once said. Michael Bloomberg’s latest ad contrasting the words of past presidents with Trump’s is a perfect example of this.
@Mary Beth The economy IS IN BAD SHAPE! How many people are working 2-3 jobs to make close to what they were making before the 2008 collapse? How many family farms have gone under in the past 2 years since this White House occupant initiated his tariff nonsense? Where on earth do you live????
1
Bernie Sanders cannot win the moderates and independents, who want their politics near the center. If the Democrats (of whom I am a member) go down this road, Trump will be re-elected and the Democrats will lose, not gain, supporters.
1
Between Sanders and Warren the far left only captured about 1/3 of NH, a fairly liberal state in their home turf. We need to see where voters in more moderate, diverse states go before unnecessarily freaking out.
Pundits don’t seem to be doing the math. In 2016, Bernie trounced a moderate. This time, he actually lost to the moderate vote.
Sadly, his fanatical voters won’t fully support a moderate and will hand over 4 more years to a disgraceful human.
1
Party unity! Trump/Pence must be defeated. We need to stop making negative comments about ANY Democratic candidate. Give Republicans no reason to be optimistic.
This is one area where Republicans show us the way. They all seemed to hate Trump at this point 4 years ago. Now he is the most popular President among Republicans ever!!!!
All of our Democratic candidates are decent, patriotic Americans. I will support our nominee whoever it is!!!!
6
The leaders of the Republican Party continue focus on eliminating all meaningful opposition to a more authoritarian form of government run by them. The leaders of the Democrat Party continue to focus on helping Democrats feel better about themselves and content with their leaders. The efforts of the Democrat leaders have worked. Seldom has so much loss of power been met with so little concern by the losers.
2
Truism: “statement that is obviously true and says nothing new or interesting”.
Is it one of those that you shouldn’t have lost sight of?
Wouldn't the NYT and its readership benefit if it were State-Run?
I think one of the first things Bernie should do as President, is nationalize the NYT.
A newspaper by the people for the people.
Who can argue with that?
AOC could oversee the change-over.
2
I think a Bloomberg-Klobuchar ticket would be a powerhouse that would tear Trump-Pence to pieces. Smart, sensible moderates with good, realistic ideas and actual accomplishments.
3
Let us face it the middle is actually right wing . They have been brainwashed by the wealthy . Bernie and the people who support him are the real moderates. Look at how high in the polls his policies are. main stream media lies to you because they , not you, benefit from status quo.
6
Corporate Democrats would much rather have Trump in the Whitehouse than Sanders. The entire corrupt machine including Corporate media will be cut out from the multi billion dollar scam that makes them rich and the working class sick and poor.
I believe they will force Pete or Amy to run a independent campaign to split the vote keeping their corrupt enterprise rolling.
3
From what I can see, Senders and Sanders voters better stop waving their hands and trying to make their flaws go poof. Be good if they’d stop yelling at the people whose support they’re going to meed, too.
Has anyone actually read Bernie's policies? Free college and free healthcare for undocumented immigrants? Forgiving all student loan debt? Open borders? A wealth registry? Well over 60% taxes for those of us who work. Please, go to his website and read his proposals. It would crush the economy and no one would want to start any businesses. Madness. Trump would just love to run against him. I can't vote for Trump but I see Bernie as a greater threat. I don't want to live in a totalitarian state run by parasites.
1
Panic is the word that could be used if this Avowed Socialist was to ever even get near being President....this country would sink like a Lead Zeppelin , Wall Street would see the biggest pullout of investments in the history of its existence...and all are enemies would quickly test the waters of WAR...and that is the UGLY BRUTAL TRUTH!
I will only repeat that Barrack Obama once said.
Elections have consequences.
1
Sanders won because her policies are what we need now & because he's the only candidate known for honesty & integrity.
5
I will support whoever is the Democratic nominee. If it's Bernie, then he has my vote.
What pundits seem to missing is that Bernie has a devoted, passionate following. The more the media attack him, the more popular he will become. You're doing the same thing that you did with the current mad King.
And Republicans who are rubbing their hands together, thinking Bernie will be the ideal opponent to their King, I would say, be careful of what you wish for. It might turn out differently than you hope.
4
Given Sanders wins, I thought I should drill down in his policy positions and found that he calls for "ending greed of fossil fuel industry" (I am not sure how society takes away greed as a behavior- taxing them more would be more specific); denying federal contracts for companies that outsource jobs overseas (this sounds Trumpian to me); closing the equity gap in attainment regarding higher education (how does that happen if K-12 remains broken?) ; allow post offices to do banking services (the postal service is basically broke already and laying off people).
I want to be open minded about Sanders and am trying to envision him as President especially if the Senate remains red. But even with a Democrat majority in the Senate, I am wondering how his revolution actually occurs? The devil is in the details.
All votes (at least in the same state) are created equal.
Stop inciting racial division by pretending that some are more important than others.
The Bernie Bashers are in the media,just step back and report the news and keep your opinions to yourself,those of us without a megaphone can't compete with you...but we can vote!
6
Frank - What "furious attacks" did Sanders throw at Buttigieg? From the reporting I saw/heard, it was Buttigieg that was throwing the attacks.
The panic is clearly within you as you're awakening to the fact that a lot of people are sick and tired of the "moderate" equivocating that has pushed them backwards for decades. Relax, what's good for them is good for you too - unless you're a Republican-In-Dem-Clothing and love "trickle down".
5
If you count moderate votes versus liberal votes I believe the moderates come out on top. Rank choice voting would clarify who the voters want as a candidate. Our system of selecting a candidate is breaking down, in 2016 it produced Trump and thus far in 2020 it seems to be producing chaos whoch could lead to a poor choice.
I love Bernie but he is just too old.
1
Though he boasts rightfully that he won a small plurality of New Hampshire voters, Mr. Sanders' collected barely a quarter of the votes. Ms. Warren didn't collect 10%. Between them, the standard bearers of the Democratic left attracted barely more than a third of the votes. Put differently, two thirds of the Democrats did not vote for Mr. Sanders or Ms. Warren.
1
I truly hope that Trump is reading the Times, i truly hope he is becomes overconfident. I truly hope he takes Sanders for granted, that he takes his movement for granted, that he believes the electoral college protects him like a talisman. I hope Trump believes all this. I hope his budget goes through, the ones that raises military spending and cuts social programs, i hope he wastes time on his ugly wall, i hope he continues tweeting.
Bernie is the one candidate Trump can't lay a glove on, he can try to make fun of Bernie, but then he will be making fun of a man who wants to give people free health care, help people, clean up the environment. How long can you make fun of a person like that before people see you are nothing more than a bully, who simply doesn't care about regular working people or their problems.
Oh how i hope Trump reads the New York Times because he will have plenty of time to read it when Crazy Bernie gives him and the MAGA crowd the shock of a lifetime, gives the greedy rich the shock of a lifetime, gives Putin the Xi the shock of a lifetime.
I am waiting for that headline: Bernie to Trump...you're fired!
Feel the Bern
5
When will democrats focus on US workers?
Stop the illegal immigration keeping wages down for low skilled workers.
Stop the legal immigration taking entry level jobs from US College Grads.
Stop Big Tech stomping on US workers with outsourcing.
Focus on US Workers first!
1
@Flo Baer
Illegal immigrants would not be “stealing jobs” if employers were prosecuted for hiring them. The hapless immigrants get deported and the corporations get off the hook, thanks to their friends in power.
1
Much analysis of Iowa and New Hampshire involves the observation that these states lack diversity. I have heard it stated many times recently that "African Americans are the BACKBONE of the Democratic party." Then I also hear "Latinos are the BASE of the Democratic party." And, finally, I hear "women are the BASE of the Democratic party." As a white liberal long time-active supporter of civil and voting rights, affirmative action, women's rights and all manner of inclusive efforts, I have to say I believe the real BACKBONE of the Democratic party is our DIVERSITY, the ability of the party to engage an active, diverse coalition of activists and voters who recognize and endorse each others' needs and dreams. We will see how black and brown Democrats lean in South Carolina and Nevada. Let's keep our party principles top of mind as we participate and reflect on the outcomes. This will be a long contest and a hard struggle to victory in November.
No Democrat is going to win the White House unless they STOP talking about Trump and his mudslinging excesses and START talking about the issues AND ONLY the issues. Full stop. Anyone with half a brain (including those with "TRUMP 2020" signs in their yards and bumper stickers) know Trump is a jerk. We get it. We've gotten it every day. Move on. What they don't fully realize is how four more years of Trump in the White House will wreak havoc on health care, Social Security and the safety net, education and the environment. Stop mentioning Trump, stop even mentioning his name (that will really get under Trump's skin, by the way) and be relentless on the issues.
5
@James L. I disagree. Dems need to talk about policy but they also need to call out Trump for his egregious, amoral, destructive behavior every chance they get.
1
@Sydney In case there might still be one person left in this country who doesn't already know?
Sanders is not doing the math. As noted, if you add up the votes to the top five in New Hampshire, about 53% of the vote went to three moderates. Only 35% of the vote went to the two progressives. Many Democrats, like me, are trying to find the right moderate to heal the divides of this nation. The race isn't over yet.
1
The former CEO of Goldman Sachs, Lloyd Blankfein, is disparaging Bernie on Twitter, so you know the Democratic elites and their Wall Street robber baron buddies are really starting to freak out. Yay!
Go Bernie!
9
It’s pretty disgusting to read another fact less attack on Sanders and his progressive supporters. Other commenters have done a nice, point by point analysis of Bruni’s misstatements.
To me this opinion piece shows the growing and desperate panic of the MSM and corporate elites whose gravy train is threatened by the progressive agenda. Another case in point is Chris Matthews and his hysterical and delusional rant on Bernie the other day which invoked Castro and communism and attacks on journalists. Geez.
Despite such massive disinformation and the efforts by the DNC to promote any other candidate, Sanders is the front runner with a clear path to the nomination.
3
Buttigieg should be the big story here. Despite 32% of the national population still not knowing enough about him to form an opinion, he waltzed into 2 top candidates' backyard and nearly won, putting Biden's presumed front-runner campaign on life support in the process. In the states where he's spent the most time, he leads in head-to-head polling against Trump, and he received significant support across all demographic groups, with his highest support among older voters, suburban women and rural voters--the ones who actually turnout and will make the difference in key swing states.
1
Long term, the fight control of the Democratic party platform is more consequential than the next four years. Will the Democrats embrace Medicare for All, a draw-down of US troops overseas, a re-balancing of wealth, and investments in education, and racial equality? Or will the Democratic platform include private insurance, profit based medicine, a global military empire, and the concentration of wealth? This is the fundamental question of this election, as the Democratic nominee will take over the party structure and advance (or thwart) one set of these policies. Each of these issues will last for a couple of decades. Choose where you fall on these issues, and choose your candidate accordingly.
2
I’m a middle-aged voter. I am not a part of the “democratic establishment” that is “afraid of Sanders.” I support the democratic social reforms reflected in Sander’s platform. What gives me pause is Sanders. I don’t see any evidence, in his decades as a senator, of his ability to take those ideas and turn them into any kind of reality. We all have ideas, in the work we do, of how things could be better. But unless we also have the skills to build the support needed to make these ideas work in real life, they are just ideals. I see democratic social reform as a good for the country; however, I’m not confident of Sander’s actual leadership ability beyond being a spokesperson for democratic socialist ideals.
3
The people, not the DNC elite establishment, are going to determine 2020’s Democratic nominee and the next president of the United States of America.
Go Bernie!
7
“Sanders, a cranky 78-year-old”? Was that ageist slur really necessary? Please stick to the issues, Frank. And don’t accuse me of being a Bernie Bro because I’m actually a female supporter of Senator Sanders.
8
You Times folks are really something. Sanders can't win even by winning.
There is chronic antipathy toward Sanders, so the really exciting thing is the second and third place finishers.
It's like covering the Triple Crown writing, "Did you see that gorgeous stallion charging down the homestretch only 17 lengths back? If the race was 2 miles, he would have won for sure!" And then mentioning Secretariat in the footnotes.
Or writing every morning about how close the Knicks came to victory. (Er . . . bad example, I suppose, since they're seldom close enough for suspense.)
Give the guy a break. He's running a good campaign. And he's not some commie radical He's more democratic than the Democrats. He just wants to have a democratic republic instead of a plutocracy.
899
@Barking Doggerel
Nevertheless, Sanders really is not showing dominance. It's realistic to notice that. And this column does not strike me as anti-Sanders; it is more of an objective evaluation.
35
@Barking Doggerel the antipathy is deserved. I agree with many of Sanders ideas but I disagree with many of his policies in that they are technically unworkable as written. He also hasn't handled himself well since 2016. If he had, he would be leading by considerably more.
20
@Barking Doggerel
Then let him run in his own party. Let him do the heavy lifting of building a party that is more democrat than the Democrats. I am affronted by a candidate who spends a career denouncing my Party, and then deigns to ride in on a white horse to fix me.
28
The democratic party is only anxious because of a man that threatens their support from big donors. The people obviously are in favor of Sanders as we can see, and the ones most in fear are those that hold a fair share of wealth. People are tired of being taken advantage of from corporations and hypocritical politicians. The democratic party needs to listen to the people instead of a repeat of 2016.
4
At least Sanders is a real alternative to trumpism. His policies in Europe would be seen as centre right and not extemist or even socialist.
7
Dream ticket
Buttigieg and Klobuchar... gay man and a smart determined woman. I know first hand how well this combination works
Be careful here democrats, get what you need not what you want.
History has taught us that over and over.
While Bernie is more popular than Hillary in swing states, he has to move a little more to the center if he wants to shed the socialist tag which can be lethal and get elected. Also accept the support of AOC but make it clear he is no socialist and does not agree with her on everything.
Don't make the fatal mistake of Hillary ie identity/social engineering obsession above the needs of swing state voters.
Lincoln made deals with union slave states in order to preserve the union first and then end slavery because without the former he could not get the latter.
Biden is slipping but Iowa and NH are not typical states. He is still leading nationally in some polls against Trump and does well in swing states.
Mayor Pete unfortunately was born in the wrong era. America is not yet ready for a openly gay president. Maybe in 20-30 yrs.
Bloomberg is a wild card but he has to modify his rabid anti gun stance and work with responsible gun owners who want to lower our gun death total with well thought out plans not we are gonna kill the gun lobby only and no other plans.
Amy K is another wild card. Moderate not identity obsessed as far as I know but still relatively unknown.
3
When no candidate gets a majority, the situation should really be resolved through a nationwide runoff between the top two, rather than the delegates, themselves, deciding. A candidate should not be nominated for president without majority support of the party's voters.
The current system, where the delegates and superdelegates pick someone in a smoke filled room is just asking for ill will and accusations of a rigged system. I don't think the party really thought this through because they never believed it would actually happen. This year, they cou be paying for it.
Yes, a nationwide runoff costs money, but the value of having a nominee with majority support of all the voters is priceless.
1
All of them are smart, accomplished and worthy of support. And no matter my personal preference, I will proudly support the nominee in November.
2
This is no way to win a party nomination. First, start the big media circus in two very small, non-representative states. Waste lots of money that might have been better spent on the poor. Then have non-democratic voting: voters from one party voting in whatever party no matter their own affiliation. (Think the Trump Team is beneath voting Dem to help stir the pot?) Then have mistakes made in the counting process. Let the media report non news about a candidate's son, while the Trump family, well, you know. Have a "no qualifications needed" application process. Add in the effect of social media and Facebook ads. Have the NYT place this one little win as a headline, forgetting about the rest of the country. Have Party leaders shivering in fear over what might happen with an extreme candidate. Add in a President who has the national platform, an AG, and Fox News to attack any candidate he chooses. Throw in Bitter Bernie Bros who Must Have Their Man (and might vote Trump, again, to spite us all). Time to celebrate? Who is running to unseat Mitch? Are you a Corbyn supporter, too?
1
@et.al.nyc "Who is running to unseat Mitch?"
Leading candidate here (and NY Times commenters' favorite) is Amy McGrath, who the other day expressed that she does not favor Medicare-for-all or free public college tuition, two policies that would greatly help Kentucky pull out of its nearly-always last-or-near-last-in-health-outcomes and last-or-near-last-in-educational-outcomes statuses.
Thankfully, in our late May Primary (in which our Presidential vote is pretty useless), Kentucky Democratic voters can vote for Charles Booker instead.
C’mon – the fact that Lloyd Blankfein (head of Goldman Sachs) says that Sanders is an extremist like Trump and people should be afraid – says EVERYTHING about what is right about Sanders and that he will be the real, positive change that America desperately needs and that Wall Street and moneyed Democrats desperately want to bury with all this nonsensical fear-mongering. So-called moderate candidates like Biden, Buttigieg and Klobuchar (and Hillary Clinton before them) will always be dictated to by Wall Street and billionaire Democrats, just as moderate Democratic voters are unduly influenced by them. I truly hope voters ignore Wall Street hand-wringers, the media, pundits and even the DNC establishment folks and continue to vote how they’ve been voting in Iowa and New Hampshire so far.
6
@Mrs_I
Agreed. The moderates in the US are cowards....Trump & the Right eats them and smiles....
1
Is there any evidence that Senator Sanders has the ability to run the country? He has been an outsider his entire career, demonstrating no executive talent. Between Bush and Trump we should make the ability to govern a primary attribute of a candidate for the presidency.
2
Let's clear up a very small detail : The so called ''moderates'' (the mythical voters that prevail in the center of the political spectrum that has been radically pulled to the right by republicans for decades) WANT THE EXACT SAME THINGS as so called Progressives. (sanders/Warren etc...)
You read that ''right'' (propaganda from said extreme right)
Obviously, the big thing is health care, but if everyone has BETTER health care (what every other industrialized nation in the world offers) for LESS money, then what is there to complain about ?
The only thing to fear, is fear itself. (which the radical right has stoked fear about to perfection) It is only a matter of working out the details and presenting a plan to the American people that they can relate to and understand. On that, ALL of the candidates have failed, which is why we are here.
We can do better on the messaging, but the policy and the Democratic candidates are the ONLY ones that are going to offer the above.
Who you vote for DOES matter.
8
I am a Biden supporter because I believe he has a greater chance of attracting disaffected Republicans and Independents more than any other candidate. But, boy would I be happy to vote for and contribute to a Bernie Sanders campaign against Trump in the fall.
3
The fallacy that I am seeing in the NYT and elsewhere is the idea that if there was one dreamy moderate candidate that all the votes currently going to the moderates would magically coalesce around him or her. That's not how actual voters behave, as the Obama-to-Trump voters so aptly demonstrated in 2016.
1
If you are Klobuchar aren’t you in Atlanta immediately begging Abrams to throw in as your running mate?
Would Abrams do it? Klobuchar’s nomination is not assured, but neither is the Governor’s office in Georgia.
1
To me, It's Bernie OR "Burn it Down."
4
@Devendra
Except that you will not "burn it down" but will get four more years of Trump and Trumpism instead.
1
@Devendra What does that mean, exactly?
You will vote for Trump? That's what Republicans will do.
Is Bloomberg going to be on the ballot on Super Tuesday?
2
Time to move on and work for/elect Bloomberg!
1
@Lenalex
Yep, let's replace one Plutocrat with another, that will surely get the job done.
1
So Trump becomes the “Bad Oligarch with a stick” and then Bloomberg is the “Good Oligarch with the carrot”?
7
Remember its about beating Trump. Many many will vote for anyone but Trump. Trump supporters would not change for any democrat, count them out.
Yes they will say we cannot afford Bernies ideas but the facts are trump has run the debt up the highest ever and we have zero to show. Bernie will promote health care, infrastructure, environmental and climate protection. Trump will bellow about communism.
Imagine trump trying to debate the political master about any subject? Trumps only hope is to avoid debate and get FOX to lie for him.
I can hear it now at Bernies rallies when Trumps mentioned, "Lock him up"!
1
Honestly, after the defeats of Dukakis, Kerry, Gore and Hillary Clinton, I cannot fathom this lust for yet another moderate.
Go Bernie!
Signed,
A Democrat of 52 years
12
Now what? My sentiments exactly!
Democratic turnout in New Hampshire exceeded both 2008 and 2016, actually. I don't think it's accurate to characterize that as "weak."
1
Unfortunately Bernie has had a stroke, seemingly insignificant but Trump might use it against him. Warren is becoming a carnival barker. Buttigieg will lose if nominated - too many negatives and not enough positives. I don’t know Klobuchar very well but she seems insignificant. Biden is like a rubber band motor that is winding down - my fav/former fav. I say a Sanders/Buttigieg ticket to win.
1
Actually Bernie had a heart attack and with a stent his circulation is stronger and he is healthier.
Joe Biden had a stroke and brain surgeries to correct aneurisms in 1988 and has been in great health since.
Modern medicine is pretty good these days for circulatory problems.
2
Again, with the Dems shooting themselves in both feet. Sanders is not going to beat Trump. Buttigieg, even less so. Bloomberg is just a different version of Trump: a businessman from NY.
But Amy, that's a different story. ;) She has the potential to draw in minorities merely because she's a woman. She's more of a contrast to Trump machismo and Bloomberg egomania merely, again, because she's female without the hard edge of a Hillary.
I think Amy is young enough to appeal across the board but experienced enough to trust. I am not impressed with Buttigieg and I have no clue why others are.
3
Bernie was the best candidate in the last election. Call it just desserts but I would rather lose with Bernie than anyone else. Why? Because I support his platform and believe, as many others do, the structural problems in this nation, that enabled Trump's ill machine to rise can only be solved through now "extreme" progressive measures. How long will it take to undo the last fours? People under-estimated the anger on the right in 2016. Now hopefully it is time to reconcile the deep divide. I am very interested in who his running mate may be were he (finally) to become candidate. Yes he is white and old, he does scare a lot of people. I support him for his agenda and consistent message. Plus health care has saved my life. Can we get dental now too please?
5
Young people are more visible perhaps but don't think for a
minute that he doesn't have the vote and support of many of us over 65! Bernie knows our senior citizens' needs, such as much-needed dental coverage under Medicare. Bernie will protect our Medicare, Social Security and disability benefits. Mr. Trump promised to protect the safety net, but his White House now includes in the Budget cuts to these programs. It is the people of a nation who should decide who the nominee is, not some party bosses in the back room smoking cigars.
5
Bloomberg would be great; he's a proven leader in both government and the private sector. Hopefully that would translate into a reasonable balance between the interests of government and business in the economy. The private sector needs to flourish.
2
@Dave A
All your reasons for supporting Bloomberg were the same ones that got Trump elected in the first place.
I like Senator Sanders and supported him in the 2016 primaries. He is certainly in the top half of my ranked voting list, and I will be honored to vote for him if he becomes the Democratic candidate.
I confess though that I worry about Bernie's age and health, and about his ability to turn toward the political center in the interest of getting things done. And I believe "the system" demands that sort of turn, like it or not.
It will upset my Sanders supporter friends, but my worst nightmare is seeing Bernie have a health crisis in the middle of a heated, nationally televised debate with Donald Trump. Particularly if McConnell and his Republicans keep control of the Senate.
2
@Curt Carpenter I had the same thought last night. I won't vote for Bernie because his policies go too far, but also because he probably won't last 4 years. Harsh, but there you are.
@Curt Carpenter
People forget that when 2020 arrives, Donald Trump is going to be 74 yrs. old and given the Bloomberg ads with a rather paunchy looking Trump on the golf course, health wise, I would put my money on Bernie any day.
After all, the human body can only take so much without sleep staying up all night tweeting,
1
@Curt Carpenter
Sorry -- my last sentence here belongs with my next-to-last paragraph.
If Bloomberg doesn't jump in sooner than later, I fear he will lose his chance. Right now, I will vote Bloomberg in the primary, as long as he can prove himself on the debate stage. The DNC need to get him up there. Now.
4
Much to my dismay I'm afraid the 2020 election is likely to result in four more years for Trump. Too many of the Democratic candidates carry baggage that will likely sink their ship in the general election. America showed in 2008 and 2012 that it was ready to embrace a candidate of color; is it ready to do so for a gay in a same sex marriage? I hope so but it's a risk when evangelicals and other religious sects cast their vote. Maybe a second try for a moderate woman without Hillary's baggage will appeal to the electorate. Can Amy Klobuchar can be that person?
1
@Bob Democratic candidates have more baggage than Trump? If that is the case, the problem with the US is not the candidates, it is the morally bankrupt electorate.
4
@Bullmoose
There are plenty of those you call morally bankrupt to vote for Trump, and after the impeachment fiasco they will turn out in numbers. I'm voting for
ANYONE not named Trump but it may go for naught.
holding party members to a certain standard can't be written off as an immature purity test if you want either party to survive this decade. the fact of the matter is that both parties have been coopted by corporate elite lobbying interests and only play a surface level game of caring about the working class or small government. it's all hogwash at this point. Bernie is doing a lot of heavy lifting to preserve what's left of traditional American politics and has been ripped on consistently by the corporate powerhouses in both parties for it. a vote for sanders is ironically a vote for a more stable and fair american politics, by empowering him and the working class to get corporate money out of Washington and the power of the govt back to the people (if we ever had it in the first place). thanks for your consideration
2
All the handwringing about party unity is premature. This is a primary race. It's not for any candidate to unify the party. First they have to win the nomination. Whatever else has changed about politics since 2016, that basic fact has not. First, we look at the choices in the primary, then we winnow out a candidate. THEN and only then is it time to talk about unity. Now the focus should be on finding the very best candidate, not only to beat Trump, but to take us forward.
Also, comparisons of the percentage of the vote Bernie got this year in NH vs. how he did in 2016 are really not useful. In 2016 it was basically down to him and HRC. This year there was a field of 4 very strong contenders (I guess 5, if you count Biden). And it's still early days. There are 48 more states that haven't been heard from. Maybe we should be celebrating the fact that we've got such a strong field and so many viable candidates. No matter which one comes out of the convention as the candidate, they'd be a better choice than Trump.
VOTE BLUE, NO MATTER WHO
5
Hang on, Frank. Polls in the battleground states show Biden and Bernie beating Trump. Everyone else loses.
Medicare For All isn't getting a fair shake. Universal healthcare in over 60 civilized countries works well because everyone pays into the system, not just rich people. The trade-off is no more health insurance premiums, which can be $2000 a month for a family of four. That is absurd and needs to change.
There are different permutations of single payer being used by countries around the world. Some are actually based on private insurance companies. We don't have to re-invent the wheel. Just choose one that's a good fit for the USA.
6
1. Obamacare is designed to be a universal system that fits this country.
2. Tell ya what—explain to me EXACTLY what St. Bernie’s plan is, and how it’ll be paid for. I want the exact details, not a pig in a poke. No, “everything is covered!” won’t do.
Then I’ll give it a chance.
1
@Robert
Obamacare was never a universal system, it was a half-measure that still left Americans with sky-high insurance premiums. Yes, Bernie and Democrats need to explain how their health system would work and be paid for.
Maybe they should explain it the way I did. Look at how systems in Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, even conservative countries like New Zealand operate successfully and beat the U.S. in quality of healthcare for a lot less money.
@Mark McIntyre You can't even use the bronze plan with $10,000 deductible.
Good column - a couple of other points:
1. For the past five years, Sanders has not only out-polled Trump but shown he would beat him by a wider margin than any of the other Democratic hopefuls. Hence, the wringing of the hands by moderates that Bernie is too radical to dislodge Trump is disingenuous.
2. The real question posed by the schism in the party is not, therefore, whether Sanders can beat Trump but whether the party establishment would want him to. The egalitarian policies championed by Sanders are clearly a worry to a donor class that unfortunately controls both parties. It explains why their surrogates like Hilary are so desperate to hobble the front-runner.
3. Some Bernie Bros have been reluctant, as yet, to commit to supporting the ultimate nominee if it is not Bernie. This should surprise no one given the fact that the party brass has refused to take its thumb off the scales. There is no deep state in government but a version of it exists in the Democratic Party.
4. Biden and Warren are dead in the water, the reasons for which are now fairly obvious. Polls show that - of the three viable candidates remaining - Buttigieg is the least likely to beat Trump. Klobuchar has a better chance and Sanders has the best chance.
5. If Bernie leads through Nevada and SC then his last big challenge will come from the Republican wolf in Democratic duds. Will wealth win out .. or will we see a powerful coalesence of America's disaffected underclasses?
7
Quality comment.
Remember when the muddle of Conservatives feared Trump.
Now they embrace him.
Live and learn.
And remember Bernie is lightyears better than Trump.
5
The ticket that keeps appearing in my head:
Sanders-Klobuchar
Sanders for the grassroots movement and vision, Klobuchar to temper the socialism and reassure Middle America, and also to provide the pragmatic capacity to actually govern. She’d also position herself to run for president in 4 years.
4
Almost 75% of the Dems who voted in NH voted against Bernie, up from only 40 against Bernie in 2016. The amazing performance of Pete and Amy, relative unknowns,
clearly stems from the mirror image of the aversion to Bernie. A pretty solid majority in both Iowa and NH did not vote for Bernie.
We will see how well Bernie does in the debates and voting when Bloomberg is on the ballot.
3
I don't see this as such a great result for Bernie, there where more enthusiasm for him 2016. Not only was the moderate wing bigger, but I can also see Warrens supporters picking Klobuchar over Bernie as the only remaining woman the field.
Amazing that Democrats seem to believe Bernie is some radical extremist.
Bernie's a popular, elected constitutionalist advocating for a national healthcare policy akin to that which all other wealthy capitalist market economies have. Yet Democrats think he's Bartolomeo Vanzetti.
Reminders:
1: Trump is the radical, extremist who's dismantled the Constitution & destroyed the doctrine of coequal checks & balances in favor of a rogue, royalist authoritarian. Bernie is not.
2: When Democrats last decided a 'blue dog' was their only chance to defeat Republicans, they ran right-wing Lieberman for VP who went on to kill the Public Option & backed Bush's war. Gore lost, with devastating, permanent consequences.
3: All of these capitalist countries with national healthcare are according to the World Happiness Report, happier than Americans, while the USA ranks 18th & falling.
Bernie isn't planning the implementation of healthcare by divine decree, it's a policy proposal, a plank in a platform.
When Bloomberg was running for his 3rd or 4th term (lost count), he was running ads about covering all NYC rooftops with solar panels.
But that didn't happen any more than Mexico paying for Trump's wall.
Bernie's not the enemy of progressive success. Perhaps he's an enemy of Wall Street graft, which I suspect is what really terrifies the Democratic elites, who are as beholden to corporate finance capitalism as Republicans.
11
@Tldr
Not exactly. Sanders is ideologue and his Medicare for All, without exactly telling how he will pay for it, will collapse in general if he gets there. It is so easy to demagogue it. Trump’s propaganda, not Democrats, will turn Sanders into an extremist without sweat. That is the fear. Besides, there are no signs of revolution.
1
@Tldr "Bernie's a popular, elected constitutionalist advocating for a national healthcare policy akin to that which all other wealthy capitalist market economies have."
Bernie's been elected to office in one state with a smaller population than Washington DC, and which is 94.5% white. Please direct us to the portion of the Constitution which directs the government to rule over everyone's healthcare.
1
@Carl Yaffe
And how many terms was Sen. Sanders reelected to house & Senate? No candidate running has more on-job experience.
Bernie was mayor prior to congress, yet your other front-runner hasn't yet graduated beyond mayoralty.
Barack Obama was also elected to office in one state but didn't even finish his first senate term.
Tenure isn't a viable argument against Bernie.
Re MFA, it's a policy proposal, subject to review/amendment/rejection by both houses of Congress.
Based on precedent it's apparently a good proposal if health outcomes & affordability matter.
But don't ask me, I was for the Public Option. Democrats destroyed even that. What we got was a dubious employer-based stand-in plan which still gives it all to exploitative Big Insurance. Not a long term solution.
Nobody proposes 'ruling' over Americans other than Republicans who, thanks to Barr & senate sycophants, overrule the will of the people.
2
Biden and Warren should drop out this week. The moderate progressives need to coalesce in order to stop Bernie from creating a brokered convention, which would be a disaster.
Bernie received only 17% of the 45 and over vote in New Hampshire yet it is precisely this population that generates 65% of the votes in a national election.
Bernie does a great job of raising attention to the nation's problems, but his solutions are not going to win at the ballot box. Repeating again and again "but other countries do this" while never stating how much will it cost and how you will implement is fantasy land.
America is a land proud of the capitalist engine that fuels the economy. While unfettered capitalism causes the problems he brings to our attention, solutions have to fit into that framework. America is not a socialist state.
1
@Patricia Brown
He HAS said how he would do it. $6 Trillion over 10 years via a combination of super-wealth tax, super-income tax, and super-estate tax. If you aren't taking selfies on your own private jet, you won't get a tax increase, but you will get all the benefits.
1
If nothing else, Bernie's victory can be seen as a questioning of the two party system in the US. Bravo.
5
As surely as the sun rises, Bernie short-sellers everywhere will never stop grousing about his lack of viability in the general election. They're seriously underestimating, and misunderstanding, his broad appeal.
3
This election is almost entirely about gender though few will speak a word about that in public.
Obviously it isn't in Sanders or Buttigieg's interest to speak of their unjust advantage. But to pretend it doesn't exist is abusive gas-lighting that has consequences for both genders.
But, horrifically, in the same way that manipulated silence works to the advantage of abusers the current leaders in this race move forward on the wings of the injustice they claim to fight unchallenged and unquestioned.
2
@m.r.f.
Voting for a woman, because she is a woman, sabotages the female brand. You vote for the best person, and if the winner turns out to be a woman, then you celebrate.
1
Sanders prevailed last time in NH. Cue the press trying to predict the future instead of report on the present.
3
I am so disgusted with the republicans that the democratic candidates all seem like a box of chocolates. They are all so good I have a hard time deciding which to choose, and I am forced to become extremely picky.
I’ve always like what Sanders stands for. I can see why young people support him. He offers them a hopeful future, something a 1.10 trillion deficit charged to their account does not. However, the richest of the republican party have forced politics so far to the right Sander’s “socialist” proposals seem scary to conservative democrats and to many of my centralist republican friends. We all worry that even if he won the presidency, he probably would have a hard time getting anything done, especially if the republicans keep control of senate.
I am an independent, an evangelical Christian (who doesn’t run around carrying Trump signs and hating homosexuals) and I look for a candidate who is experienced in working very well in a bipartisan way, who is not older than 65, and who can stand up to Trump’s bullying during the campaign and on the debate stage.
The odds look stacked against the democrats winning the presidency this year. They have to appeal to the center, and they are all over the place in what they stand for. Honestly, I’ll probably vote for Klobuchar in the primary and then for whomever the democrats come up with afterwards. The only candidate I won't vote for is Buttigieg because of his inexperience.
1
It won't happen so relax.
America is a business and Bernie is Anti-Business.
3
@P&L
Bernie is pro-business and is committed to breaking up the billionaire club that hoards society's wealth.
1
Let us suppose Warren leaves the contest.
Why would at least 3/4th's of her votes go for Amy -
now the only women left in the race ?
Let us suppose Biden drops out, why wouldn't
at least 1/2 of his votes go for Amy,
as Bernie is too far left
and Mayor Pete is too young.
Now Amy has 35 % of the Vote, she is ahead of
Bernie and Mayor Pete.
Now seen as a viable candidate,
Middle of the Road Democrats begin to join
her band wagon, Mayor Pete slips in the polls
and in the primary results.
Bernie stalls at 30 %
Michael Bloomberg agrees to be her Vice President.
Amy takes care the Midwest
and Michael takes care of
the Coastal Elites.
Democrats easily win in November.
Now the Democrats concentrate on the Senate
and with Bloomberg's Billions win three seats
and the Democrats control the Senate on any key vote.
3
@John Brown
What if Warren comes 2nd in Nevada and SC and Klobuchar 3d or 4th?
Warren is still a formidable candidate with better national recognition and achievements. She is down a bit now but I bet on her come back.
@John Brown
More like Sanders eats everyone in his path including Trump and the world becomes a better place.
1
@CarolinaJoe
Warren is finished.
I supported her and I still do but
she has not got the Charisma to be President.
Secretary of the Treasury...?
1
I am sorry but, you got it all wrong.
New Hampshire is a certified conservative State and comparing 2016 voting for Sanders in 2020 is utterly disingenuous. Pete and Amy are not Centrists. They are Center-Left. The only Moderate in this contest is Biden who has been booted out.
And your bias is glaring when you brush off Sanders as "Sanders, a cranky 78-year-old who includes “socialist” in his description of his politics, is hardly in the clear."
The real strength of Sanders is reflected in not only his vote count but also Warren's for sure but also is shared in the votes given to Pete and Amy. In other words, his share of New Hampshire votes is around 65%.
No matter how much you and other pro-Establishment naysayers crow, we are sticking with Sanders to the End and we are absolutely certain that Sanders will be chosen by the majority of Americans both in popular vote and Electoral College.
6
@Subhash Reddy
Where is the revolution? Nowhere in sight.
@Subhash Reddy
You are 1000% correct.
Democrats need to keep in mind what the last democratic socialist President said, "You have nothing to fear but fear itself." Sanders is more a traditional democrat than any of the so-called "centrist" conservatives and what our country needs to catch up to the 20th century and get back on track.
3
It is quite impressive how many people know it is just a "fact" that Bernie can't win. Nearly as impressive: how many people knew for a "fact" in early 2016 that Trump can't win. I am on board with voting blue no matter who, but I am shocked at how many people are suffering from extreme cognitive dissonance.
5
@Rob
They are suffering from that extreme cognitive dissonance because the MSM and those that wish to maintain the "status quo" are also telling them to ignore history and because of their obsession for money over winning elections it has distorted the values of what the democratic party once REALLY stood for.
1
"Younger voters are much more taken with him than older ones."
Kids these days yearn for a father figure to show them the way, one that will also give them anything they ask for - and even things they don't ask for.
3
@99percent
Theses same younger voters are also the future of the democratic party and if the hierarchy of the party continues to try to dismiss them, before too long there will be NO democratic party.
1
As an independent, I find Buttigieg interesting except I can't meet him on his view on immigration. A path to citizenship for 11 million people who decided to cut the immigration line while others wait for years (sometimes decades) to reunite with their families is not ok. The rule of law matters and rewarding people who decided the line didn't apply to them is not ok. I don't want to vote for Trump, but when it comes to immigration, he's seems to at least get it. I see in the news that Black people are finally also starting to see an economic rise. I can't help but wonder if it has to do with the more aggressive nature of Trump's immigration policy helping to re-shift job opportunities and resources from undocumented people to poor American citizens. Communities of color often have undocumented people living alongside poor American citizens. This means those communities are more burdened with already limited resources, their schools not only have to serve poor citizens, but also strapped with finding resources to educate the children of undocumented people and even provide them medical care.
If I must comprise on immigration to avoid another 4 years of Trump, I need a Democratic candidate to address immigration reform without the idea of amnesty (ie. path to citizenship) for 11 million line cutters. Klobuchar? Bloomberg?
3
I am and have always been a democrat, and as as black gay man who is also the son of two immigrants who aren't citizens, I am totally disgusted by Trump and his administration.
But, honestly, I would rather have Trump for 4 more years than a status quo establishment democrat for 8.
The democratic party has lost the support of working class people throughout the south and midwest not because of racism, but because of the failed economic policies of third way democrats. We need someone who is going to realign the democratic party with it's original platform. We need someone who is going to advocate for change and take a stand against the establishment on both sides.
5
I’m sure the planetary environment thanks you for this view.
@Matt
We need Sanders.
1
There is no panic in the moderate side. I see Buttigieg fading away. He talks nice, but let's be honest, he lacks experience. I don't want a president whose main accomplishment is making sure the sidewalks are clean of dog poop, or that the plows clean the streets after a 3" snowfall.
I see two moderates fighting for supremacy - Klobuchar and Bloomberg. Perhaps they will join forces. Together they will beat Sanders in a heartbeat come Super Tuesday.
1
I don't agree with Buttigieg on everything but am an enthusiastic supporter and regular donor. Reasons:
1) Vision: Policies are realistic and inspirational
2) Strength: Most able to beat Trump, polls say.
3) Values: Passionate about service, not self.
4) Personality: Genuine, courageous, humble, nerdy.
5) IQ and drive to learn: Off the charts.
6) Wisdom: Knowledge, will choose best advisors.
7) Faith: Believes in vision, will overcome biases.
@Petuunia
What policies? In Buttigieg, I see a lot of style, yet little substance.
@Deus
PeteforAmerica.com/issues
Substance galore.
So, how will the Democratic Party screw him out of the nomination this time?
4
@SpotCheckBilly
he's not a democrat he's a democratic socialist ala Eugene Debs who ran as a socialist. If his ideas are so appealing he should run a third party movement otherwise he should get out of the Democratic party primaries
1
The Democratic Party hates Sanders, and does not care what the voters want. They proved that four years ago...and the country got Trump as a reward. Look for something similar to come. Frank Bruni is not reading tealeaves as much has he is remembering the not-so-well concealed recent past. If he is right, for me it's Sanders or stay home on election day.
5
I"m fairly indifferent between Buttigieg and Klobuchar. The moderate votes will be split for now but will come together closer to the convention.
Bernie Sanders is the leader that US-ians desperately need, but don't deserve. At any rate, the Democratic party is doomed this year given the infighting, division, and delusions of hope of most young liberal voters. A Trump re-election is inevitable at this point unfortunately.
2
It is still early in the primary season. My hope is that the democrats can sort everything out and decide on the nominee who will defeat Trump at the ballot box. This may take some time, but I trust everything will work out. We must defeat Trump, this is an absolute. Our democracy is hanging in the balance. We need every eligible voting citizen to vote in this election on November 3, 2020, every eligible citizen. This is no time to vote for a third party candidate.
My personal preference at this time is Elizabeth Warren, however, if Bernie Sanders gets the nomination, my vote will be cast for him. It is still early in the primary season and things could quickly change.
2
Thank you for adding some sanity to the response to Sanders’ victory in NH. Only a relative handful of votes difference changes the narrative of how powerful Sanders is to how badly he’s performing - a squeaker in NH, a mixed result in Iowa, places seemingly made for him. The biggest problem Democrats have is their fear of really going after him, lest they anger his supporters who will in turn not turn out in the general. Pelosi has been doing this dance ever since Ocasio-Cortez won her district by a small margin and suddenly became the “face of the Democratic Party.”
The moderates will have to attack him to inform the public just who they’ll be getting if they elect him.
Because Trump will. And I just can’t see a man who praised Castro winning in Florida - even the younger generation won’t vote for a man who tormented their grandparents - and I can’t see someone who was closely affiliated (he wasn’t a member but did campaign for them) with a radical party that cheered the revolution in Iran and weren’t overly concerned that American hostages were held in Iran triumphing in the Rust Belt.
The key sentence here is this: "Democratic turnout in New Hampshire on Tuesday, like turnout in Iowa last week, wasn’t spectacularly robust."
That, my friends, means the November election is lost for the Democrats. Republicans are energized; Democrats seem defeated. Independents will favor an incumbent, regardless of flaws, during a strong economy and when asked to choose between him and a socialist or a moderate with an uninspiring message. Yes, we will go through months of campaigning, but the November result is set in stone.
Reality is shouting that Bernie, Biden, Bloomberg and Trump are past their sell-by dates. So who will be the nominees of both Parties this summer? Life is full of surprises. A moderate Democrat may well make Trump a one-term president (as Bill Clinton did to Bush I). We'll just have to work for whichever ticket we pick and wait and see. May the best woman or man win.
So only a centrist candidate can beat a ruthless opponent like Donald Trump? Tell that to to the Democratic centrist presidents Walter Mondale, President Al Gore, and President John Kerry.
Yes, that's exactly my point. Mushy caution doesn't win. Passion and trust do. So does charisma. Bill Clinton won in 1992 not because America wanted a right-leaning Democrat, but because he was the most charismatic politician in a generation. Ditto for Barack Obama.
Bernie Sanders has anti-charisma, but he has been 100% consistent and clear in what he stands for. When people hear it from him, instead of from Joe Scarborough and Chuck Todd and Wolf Blitzer and Bret Stephens and their ilk, they like what they see.
5
Can't see Bernie functioning well as POTUS unless he has a comfortable majority in both houses of Congress. He's not a compromiser, which some may find an admirable trait -- but as Obama found out, it doesn't matter, if congressional Republicans want you to fail.
5
@JimBob
Then change the House and Senate reps to those that will vote for the necessary changes.
1
Politicians are tested, tested for moral character. And that test has one unbending truth . . . TIME. We are all the servants of time. I love Mayor Pete's brain but I don't know and he doesn't know how truth and time will shape him, how he might bend truth under duress. Bernie has survived on that battlefield for a long time. He has been shot at a million times and his character has survived. Mayor Pete is already succumbing to big money politics, just like the rest. Maybe he thinks he is fooling them. History tells a different story. Politicians, like us, are servants of time. Mayor Pete has not yet had time test him. Time is a ruthless master. Just ask Bernie.
3
If America wanted a Status Quo Moderate then how did Hillary Clinton lose in 2016?
So, it is an undeniable truth that America does not want just a politician in 2020. Only Sanders and Warren stand real chance of getting elected. Republicans and Trump are playing mind games to stop Democrats choose Sanders or Warren because they are scare to death and beleive they will lose for sure if they are nominated.
So, don't fall for the dirty tricks of Trump and Republican party. Take a deep breath and relax. American will be better off with Sanders or Warren.
8
@Subhash Reddy
Clintons are Republicans in Democrat drag.
1