Angry old man versus thoroughly decent old man. Trump will be a walkover for the latter. No one need fear Trump his lack of ability in every field including his insults will fuel the largest protest turnout ever .
14
Thanks to Sanders supporters, the left now hates self-appointed “progressives” just as much as the right does. They don’t know how not to poison the message. It’s sad, seriously.
15
As someone who is not a super fan of neither Bernie nor Biden, I ask, is it possible to be any more biased against Bernie’s candidature? It seems to be a very obvious, ongoing theme here.
12
The nomination is virtually over with. Sanders should get out of the way now.
9
great how your copying the UK labour party, we also have a race between a field of unelectable misfit's
The next Democratic Debate is March 15th with Biden v Sanders.
Will each try to politically eviscerate the other?
If things get too heated during the Debate, will Biden challenge Bernie to a fistfight?
Better to fully test their mettle now when attacked for any of their vulnerabilities. I’m certain that Donald Trump won’t be pulling any punches in a debate.
Will Trump even bother to debate the Democratic nominee?
5
Now is the best time for Biden and Sanders to each sketch out their first one hundred days or six months for public comparison.
Then I would definitely watch their next debate.
8
Would this be a good time to have serious comparisons of the candidates' records and the evidence for their policy proposals instead of more prophecies about "electability"?
20
@Evidence Guy
No, Biden’s supporters aren’t supporting him for his policies. They are supporting him because of electability. You take them from him by showing Sanders is more electable.
6
@Evidence Guy No. "Electability" trumps all. It's like Churchill's speech at the dawn of the war: we will fight in the air; we will fight on the seas; we will fight on the beaches; we will fight in the streets; we will never give up. Got it?
11
Democratic Party Credo
"At the heart of our party lies a fundamental conviction, that Americans must not only be free, but they must live in a fair society.
We believe it is the responsibility of government to help us achieve this fair society.
a society where the elderly and the disabled can lead lives of dignity and where Social Security remains an unshakable commitment;
a society where all people can find jobs in a growing full-employment economy;
a society where all workers are guaranteed without question the legal right to join unions of their own choosing and to bargain collectively for decent wages and conditions of employment;
a society where taxes are clearly based on ability to pay;
a society where a sound education, proper nutrition, quality medical care, affordable housing, safe streets and a healthy environment are possible for every citizen;
and so it goes.
A nice bedtime story for the moderates and a distant dream for the rest.
11
Easy to criticize our system from halfway around the world. Try living here and navigating the complexities of American politics firsthand.
4
@Joe43
And perhaps a bad dream for some. Is there any way to attain those goals without government taking a central role in macro- and micro-managing all of our lives? And thus voiding most personal liberty and choice in the name of "fairness"?
@Bob Krantz Perhaps you can enlighten me on the ways your government is in all ways managing your life. I see that claim as an excuse to avoid a citizen's obligation to contribute to the welfare of their society.
12
Both Sanders and Biden seem equally "electable" and "not electable." If Sanders is the nominee, he will attract voters who are tired of status quo and a revolving door presidency where each new president is closely tied to a previous one, and where there is little out-of-the-box thinking for big problems the country faces. His pattern of being on the front edge of evolving social values, of standing by his convictions even when standing alone, and his reputation for transparency and integrity are a major draw. On the other hand, he will repel voters such as Republicans who do not want to see another Trump presidency but somehow equate a Sanders presidency with a communist takeover.
Biden, on the other hand, will attract moderates and Republicans who are not pleased with Trump, as well as those who are hoping for Obama 2.0. But being Obama 2.0 isn't an advantage in the eyes of many, and he will come with the same baggage that cost Clinton the election.(No, that baggage isn't Sanders. Clinton came with her own off-putting issues.) He would be a possible deterrent for voters who don't see him as in any way innovative or having a strong vision.
It seems like a wash.
In any event, it's not going to be an interesting election year...
4
It’s NOT going to be an interesting election year? Really???
11
I hope we will ALL come together on November 3rd and vote for whoever the Democratic nominee is. Defeating Trump remains our primary goal, right? I can pretty much guarantee Trump won’t fulfill the wishes of either Bernie or Biden voters.
29
Bernie is going to cost the Dems the presidency again unless people wake up and fast. America needs an independent progressive party where all those ant-establishment types can gather and push for their ideas. Now they are in the Democratic party but extremely unwillingly and ready to bolt to a Nader or Sanders at the drop of a hat and thus hand the Republicans easy presidential victories.
14
@A Nootka Nerd where was the huge surge of young voters that Sanders promised. To answer "Sanders" when polled on the street is different than making it to the voting booth. I thank Sanders for all that he has done to bring the party and even the country a bit more left. But his health fives me pause as does his ability to admit mistakes, negotiate etc.
WhenI look at Joe Biden I see this-
An experienced male politician who has made mistakes. He is not as progressive as I would like. But I also see a kind man, someone who has endured great loss (the car accident that took his wife and child, the loss of his son to brain cancer) and is humbled by that loss. A good human being who will bring a kindness and empathy back to the White House. I hope he would bring progressives into his administration and that we would have more balance in our political system. Kindness cannot be underestimated.
23
I admit I am baffled by commenters in several of these comment threads who, I am assuming, are part of the majority of the Democratic voters who vote with their hearts instead of their wallets. Instead of picking a candidate who will look out for them and their interests, by actions and deeds and not empty campaign promises. I need political scientists to explain that to me, I just don't understand it.
This Op-Ed: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/03/04/will-democratic-primary-voters-suffer-yet-another-case-buyers-remorse/ shows Biden's work in Congress and there is absolutely no indication that he will change and yet people are enthused. Go figure.
I'll vote for the guy if he wins the nomination but there will be zero enthusiasm because he will move the deck chairs and nothing else.
12
Joe Biden & Democratic voters have defeated the Bernie "revolution." Joe pulled off upsets in the Midwest and Northeast and DOMINATED Sanders in the South! Bloomberg's endorsement just confirms obvious: Joe will be the nominee. My predictions were closer than anyone's else https://realcontextnews.com/the-best-guide-to-super-tuesday-no-seriously-bidens-got-this-and-the-nomination/
2
East coast Democrats are the greed and corruption Democrats, so Biden should be a shoe in.
6
Where did the idea come from that the vast majority of Warren voters would become Sanders voters.
The vast majority of Warren voters are, well, just like Warren. Highly educated, professional and upper middle-class to wealthy women living in the finest parts of Boston, NYC, DC and other large cities, and their toniest suburbs.
Do you think these women want rabble rousing socialist Sanders to be president?
31
Now that we are at last heading toward a Biden Presidency, what would that be like? Here are my hopes and predictions. For one thing, it would not entail the chaos of a “revolution.” First he would choose a running mate we could welcome and support—my choice would be Stacey Abrams, who has political and cultural clout.
Joe would build upon, not abolish, achievements such as the ACA. His model would be the Obama “United” States of America, not the contentious us vs them of too many ultra progressives. Joe is a progressive in the way Democrats have always been progressive. He will care about minority rights, women’s rights, gay rights, environmental rights but he won’t trample on other rights to achieve them.
Once upon a time, Democrats and Republicans were not at each other’s throats. I think about the man who was POTUS when I was a young woman. He was a Republican, but we—including Democrats like me—called him “Ike.”
Ike sounded a profound warning about the military-industrial complex, he kept the New Deal reforms and expanded Social Security, he signed the Civil Rights Act of 1957 and sent troops to Arkansas to enforce integration laws. Like Joe, Ike had a smile as big as Kansas, and like Ike, Joe will bring us together in ways Trump made us nearly forget were possible.
38
@Margaret Jay Sounds dreamy. I hope you're right.
3
@Margaret Jay
now, not young anymore, but a bit richer, what you care about is a big smile from uncle Joe.
I think it will take a lot more than a big smile to bring people together in the shark pool America is.
1
Biden's prospects have sure improved over the past five days! It's like he stepped into a phone booth or something. Could it be that Joe Biden did not change in this time, but rather the PROCESS is treating him better? We can just pretend that this machinery is fully automated and has no operators.
11
This is going to be a real dogfight to find out who comes in second place in November. Facts don't lie. A solid economy, good foreign policy, tremendous job growth, protected borders, and lower taxes will win out over a platform which relies on higher taxes, job crushing regulations, and slander. The majority of voters have already figured it out. If you really hate Donald Trump, you should probably get used to another four years of him in the White House. Feel free to continue calling him a racist and misogynistic homophobe. It doesn't play well with the silent majority. But I imagine it sure feels good.
7
A shaky economy, a diving stock market, tax breaks for the rich, over priced health care and a con man criminal running his business (sort of) out of the white house.
There, I fixed it for you.
You are welcome!
46
@Duane Mathias Actually, it's a pretty lousy feeling to accurately describe the highest public servant in the land as racist, misogynistic and homophobic (among other despicable character traits). It's especially harmful for the youth of this country who are still in the process of learning and deciding what kind of person they are and could be. That such a large group of voters (supposedly adults) laughs off and silently or conspicuously condones the President's insulting, ignorant and dangerous statements and behavior, is depressing and hurtful.
Our kids are the future -- teach them well. Always point out the general good in people. But just as important make sure they know that they should, and can, be brave and stand up to the bullies, the liars, the hate-mongerers, the willfully unitelligent and the criminals, all of which comprise Donald Trump.
43
@Duane Mathias
I think there is a very large majority of people who are sick and tired of the reality show presidency that has come to dominate every second of media time. Trump and his carnival show antics have literally taken over our lives, our conversations, our every waking minute. I’m praying for a president who will lead by example, quietly, steadfastly, with dignity and an appreciation of the importance unifying the citizenry.
26
There are plenty of moderate republican and conservative leaning undecided voters, such as myself, who do not like Trump and would vote for a moderate Democratic candidate like Biden. However, Bernie Sanders is a socialist and no matter how much I might want Trump out of office I will never vote for a socialist. Democrats might want to keep that in mind. The last thing this country needs is to swap one form of crazy for another. We need someone to unite us not divide us further. We can talk again about socialism when we’re not 23 trillion dollars in debt.
27
@Katie Not sure you really know what socialism is, do you? If you do, please share your nightmare scenario of how it works?
12
@Katie
23 Trillion in debt and with what to show for it? Now a billion is going overseas to aid in their fight against the corona virus? I’m so sick and tired of this - they have better healthcare than we do. Where I live the people lack transportation, proper heat, food, clothing. But no worry, kids get $87K a month sitting on boards. I’m not paying for this any longer until someone gets help to the people, and they can start with Medicare for All!
9
@Katie
So we should dk what republicans want. Held hostage and ignore millions of progressives.
5
I’m flat out sick and tired of paying gobs and gobs of taxes and never receiving anything in return. Medicare for All gives something back to all of us. But instead, I’m just asked to pay and pay so others can have benefits, leaving me unable to afford them for myself. Dems need to wake up!
10
It's amazing to me how many commenters here are willing to attribute Biden's success yesterday to HIS actions (or his character, his politics or whatever) rather than the actions of Pete Buttigieg, Amy Klobuchar, Beto and others working for the Democratic Party establishment. It's as if they don't care HOW he won - just that he won.
13
Biden’s strength is of a leader who brings together a team, brings together allies....to fight for the common good. This is a foreign concept to a rogue ideologue like Sanders.
5
Cohn neglected to mention another element in the calculus: Warren. She couldn’t have had a worse Super Tuesday, but has neither dropped out nor reversed her declaration that she’s in it until the convention. Since Warren is far more likely to siphon votes from Sanders than Biden, unless she quits she will dilute the left winger vote for Sanders just as Biden will now split the moderate vote with no one.
3
Rep Jim Clyburn gave Joe Biden the key to the African American vote. I believe this boost will carry him to the nomination and win him the presidency.
Joe is a good man and would be a fair-minded and honest leader.
He's got my vote. If another Democrat wins the nomination, then that will be who I vote for.
21
Sanders needs to quit now. He doesn't have a chance.
8
delegate race might not last for long. If the race doesn’t take a decisive turn in favor of Mr. Sanders, Mr. Biden is likely to build an insurmountable delegate lead over the next few weeks.
The above quote from the NYT is really all about over predicting the race ahead. Please report and stop trying to sway. Really sick and tired of this propaganda for Biden. Last week, and weeks before Biden was chasing his tail and bumbling as usual. You, the media are creating winners. Stop.
7
Sanders is done. In the end, it won't even be that close.
Progressives make up a marked minority of the Democratic voting populace. A choice of cornering the progressive market at the expense of the moderates and independents - especially with the hard right administration currently in power - is just a stupid strategy.
It failed in 2016 when he was up against an incredibly unpopular candidate. Now, he's trying to pull the same trick, whilst ignoring that Biden is far more popular amongst the wider Democratic party & independents.
The wagons have been circled, Sanders has missed any chance he may have had.
Again.
8
Here we go again. 50-50 chance that Sanders will not be the nominee but he and his supporters are putting on that petulant act again. Next time Sanders should run as the Indpendent he is and not mooch off of the Dem name. Why is he an Independent in the first place? was that the only way to keep his seat in Vermont?
21
@Greenfield He received over 50% of the primary votes in Vermont, far and away more than any other candidate. So it seems unlikely that being an Independent is the primary factor in keeping his seat.
1
All of this analysis is based on facts, but pretty worthless nonetheless. Who knows what will happen. I don't. Nor does Nate Cohn. Or anyone.
So I'll just say, go Joe! Beat Bernie! And cross my fingers.
9
I think Biden and Bloomberg. I've talked to Republicans who would cross for Bloomberg. Bernie is too "radical", too old and just had a heart attack. Also, his supporters are becoming as rabid as Donald's. No tolerance, nasty mean, (idk Russians? Conspiracy?). Anyway, the prime directive is to stop Republicans from trashing the Constitution, eliminating checks and balances and turning public servants into their minions, doing their bidding.
Additionally, the deficit is out of this world, we are not taxing anyone except the middle class and we are spending insanely. Teenagers have better budgeting skills. Social Security is being raided.
When we let dishonest, immoral, lying, cheating, self-serving, hateful, ignorant, lawless people rule our country then the USA becomes just as evil as they are.
I don't care if Bernie or anyone else gets their feelings hurt. Put on your big girl panties, act like an adult and change things before Republicans finish making Donald into a Putin "President for Life" clone.
16
I listened to an episode on The Daily where your editor said the NYT did Bernie dirty in 2016. It feels like you're doing it again
11
It is SO tiresome hearing and reading comments that I have compromised my ideals, or I'm part of the "establishment" (whatever that is), or any other pejorative related to not supporting Sanders.
I voted strategically, PERIOD. I am quite capable of analyzing the field, thank you. I do not watch or read political ads. I read the candidates' websites/policy platforms in detail. I determined that Sanders will have a problem with moderates in critical states. And I want Trump gone.
Guess what --- I also happen to support Medicare for All and free public college. However, these two initiatives are the equivalent of the 1960s moon shot --- we need at least 10 years to do it properly.
Sanders never addressed this long-term reality.
-He never acknowledged that anyone with a 401k index fund is invested in health insurance financial markets.
-He never acknowledged that we must not sink those markets, but rather move incrementally.
-He never included a pay off to shareholders in the conversion to M4A -- which would help mitigate a crash.
-He never acknowledged that the majority of countries with universal health insurance ALSO have private supplemental plans.
These are the things that went into my analysis, and I am glad to see many voters apparently did the same.
The strong turnout is not about Sanders or Biden --- it is about Trump.
44
Four more years of Trump would be disastrous, and yet would be a bit more honest.
If Biden gets in and people become complacent about the return to the kind of ineffective leadership of Obama/Biden vs the united front of Republicans we might actually be in more trouble strategically.
Also the coming Trump fueled market correction/crash will be pinned on the next POTUS. So we have that to look forward to.
The way ahead is fraught.
3
I have been a conservative my whole life. The best presidents over the pat 50 years were Reagan and Clinton in my opinion. Why? They both were able to work with with the opposing party to pass legislation. When congress works together, a flawed president that works until a consensus is reached is far better than an all or nothing, or kicking the can down the road. The worst thing that could happen, is a trifecta of the House, Senate, and President being from the same party. Tip O’Neill worked with Reagan to pass legislation. Newt Gingrich did the same with Clinton. Unless congress and the next president work to compromise, executive orders will be far more common than bills passed. What is left, is the politicalization of the judiciary and endless court battles, something our founders would never have accepted, or allowed.
9
@Jay
Clinton and Newt Gingrich destroyed my town, first NAFTA, then Welfare Reform.
4
For an outsider watching in: There is a military industrial complex, Corporation Industrial Complex and then there is a Media Industrial Complex. The Media has turned its gun against a fellow (Mr Sanders) who wants to do good for every American and in his career he has not wavered once.
He looked after American people and including stopping military to enter wars that is politically driven.
Can the American people wake up from this nightmare of being controlled by others?
On the other hand I would say Pakistanis are way smarter than the American voters.
16
Voters decided.
They watched the primaries.
They talked to each other.
They heard Trump.
They want Trump out more than a politician who’s very nature is too easy to characterize to even the never Trumpers.
4
@Alpha Exactly. Not one mention of Warren, either, in this entire article.
2
@Dodger Fan Your coalition is based on disliking Trump ... if this is the agenda then there are many voters who will go for Trump rather than a party who just don't like the other candidate. And elect Trump for next four years,
The Democratic nominating process has taken the turn it most needed to avoid - down the track of becoming a train wreck.
Biden is spent, incoherent, near doddering old establishment hack with no vision. He’s marginally better, but not nearly enough so, than the disaster Trump has turned into, much as he may have run as the opposite.
Sanders may have a progressive, transformative vision for America - but deluding himself and his raving followers that the USA is going to turn in to Cuba, or even worse, Venezuela is just not going to happen.
These three septuagenarians are the most abysmal choice America has faced since 1968.
13
@Common Sense
It is essentially certain that either the D candidate or the R candidate will be the next POTUS.
Third party candidates never win. In 1992 Ross Perot got 19% of the popular vote and ZERO Electoral College votes.
So of the most abysmal choice, who are YOU going to vote for?
Me?? The D candidate. Vote BLUE, no matter who. Send Trump packing.
11
The voters may well have reached the point when they are ready for a moderate, honest, "comfortable", uniting candidate after three years plus of #45.
Time will tell. That has happened periodically in the past.
8
Bernie Sanders had an advantage on Super Tuesday he will not see again: many early votes cast before moderates took out the long knives.
17
@expat
"moderates took out the long knives"?
I voted early, so obviously I missed that memo. And I DID NOT vote for Bernie.
What language did they write it in? How did they send it around?
Oh, wait, ... if the VOTERS were not amenable to vote for Biden, all the memos in the world would not have mattered.
Just ask Mike Bloomberg about that.
3
Headline of a New York Times article that was published today:
"Wall Street Breaks Out Checkbooks for Biden and Stocks Surge
Fearful of the more progressive candidates, some finance executives had sidelined themselves from the elections until Mr. Biden moved ahead."
This should tell people all they need to know, and if you don't know why it should, then you haven't been paying attention. Here's a hint: they're not breaking out their checkbooks for Biden (or Hillary, or Obama, or any other politicians) because they think he's a swell guy. They're tossing cash at him because they know he's going to take care of their interests, even if comes at the expense of the people who elect him. Biden has cultivated this blue-collar persona, but he's seldom done anything for those same blue collar folks he claims to be one of. No Biden for me.
34
@Paul G
So you are voting for TRUMP?? REALLY?
7
I remember when I read that Wall Street was backing Obama. I knew that the Democrats were going to win then. Wall Street is insitutionally inclined towards conservatives, but the unpredictability of Trump has soured them on the Republicans. The Democrats need Wall Street money to face Trump's machine. Bernie would have denied the Democrats the critical advantage of Wall Street backing. Biden, like Obama, is going to take advantage of the rare occurance of Wall Street backing a Democratic candidate.
Sorry Bernie Bros and Sandernistas, I'm not interested in your Revolutionary screed. Let's win this election with Biden and turn out Trump. Sorry if that spoils some extremists' pipe dreams.
11
I think your reading of the situation is a bit skewed. What the majority of democratic and independent voters wants is some stability and competence. That will benefit blue collar folks as well. Sanders has made no effort to reach out to people who don’t share his vision or his penchant for impracticality. Biden is not my first choice either. But he’s not nearly as bad as you and others make him out to be. And let’s face it: it’s time to vote tactically, and we have to get rid of trump and take over the senate. That’s enough revolution for now.
15
My problem with our Democratic Party is this, they push incrementalism down the throats of the poor and the middle-class, doing so for decades, creating massive inequality, opting for the kind of change which, while promising much, they still only deliver somewhat larger, but still stale, breadcrumbs.
Joe Biden is obviously better than Trump and any Republican, but to ignore certain of his past attempts to cut Social Security benefits and other programs which benefit the poor and the middle-class is pure folly.
See Intercept excerpted reports and link, especially the insistent tone he took -
"AS EARLY AS 1984 and as recently as 2018, former Vice President Joe Biden called for cuts to Social Security in the name of saving the program and balancing the federal budget. Last week, Sen. Bernie Sanders highlighted Biden’s record on Social Security in prosecuting the case that Biden isn’t the most electable candidate."
"When I argued that we should freeze federal spending, I meant Social Security as well,” he told the Senate in 1995. “I meant Medicare and Medicaid. I meant veterans’ benefits. I meant every single solitary thing in the government. And I not only tried it once, I tried it twice, I tried it a third time, and I tried it a fourth time.”"
https://theintercept.com/2020/01/13/biden-cuts-social-security/
I see Biden as the latest attempt by our Republican-Lite Pelosi Schumer democrats to return to power, exclusively for their own, and their corporate masters benefit.
28
Your claims regarding Biden and social security are inaccurate.
https://www.factcheck.org/2020/01/biden-vs-sanders-on-social-security-and-medicare/
8
@Mel Farrell
They ruined my town and its people.
Okay ... point taken ... but it was Biden’s plain spoken support of gay marriage that pushed Obama forward.
3
Biden's victories may carry heavy momentum into the coming states. What will be interesting to see is how Biden's (possible) mental lapses may impact him in the coming debates. In past debates, he was able to forget what he was saying midsentence and it was not mentioned due to other notable events in the debate. Sander's health concerns may play a factor in how he is perceived as well, but his policies and ideology might be the more challenging argument to convince on the fence voters.
4
Have you seen trump in action? He is not coherent and can’t stay on track to save his life. He may be meaner than Biden, but who knows if he is competent enough to face Joe on stage?
11
To which I say covfefe.
10
@wbj I needed this giggle. Thank you
2
Nat,
A lot of what happened is explained by all the moderates dropping out and endorsing Bernie. Warren however split the liberal vote for Bernie. What if Warren throws her support behind Bernie. Wouldn’t that make it a horse race? I expect it would.
9
Moderates endorsed Biden. I assume that was just an error in your post. Bernie’s supporters have been venomous about Warren and her policies and career. I’m a Warren fan and good luck getting me to vote for Bernie with his many many over the top supporters. I will not.
14
@Independent
I am a Warren voter but I guarantee you I will vote for Biden if he wins the nomination BECAUSE I do not want four more years of Trump.
12
For what Biden calls "working with the system" how is he any different from Republican who acquitted Trump during impeachment? Biden capitulates on slightest indication that he may be going against the establishment. Biden has been around for 4 decades, tested, retested and he is not the guy.
Old boys network circled their wagon around their man. CNN and MSNBC has turned their propaganda machine gun from Trump to against Bernie Sanders. They are suppose to provide us with news, not press their opinion on us.
As a independent, and if Biden is a Democratic presidential candidate I am definitely voting Trump.
11
Gotta love the moderates in this thread. With friends like these who needs enemies? I understand you think the moderate vote is the most important thing but you cannot win without the progressive vote. Just like you shouldn’t take black votes for granted the moderates here shouldn’t assume naturally that progressive and the youth (millennials make up the majority of the vote) will vote because they’re against Trump. We need more than that. Many family doesn’t have healthcare, never has, and under Biden, never will.
17
@Colin
How about we take the position that we support WHOEVER gets the nomination, PERIOD? Just to make sure that we defeat Trump.
By the way, so far there are more popular votes for the moderates (Biden, Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Bloomberg) than for the "progressives" (Sanders, Warren), and more delegates for the moderates than for the "progressives."
Let's see how the numbers look after all the primaries are over.
What happened to "Let the PEOPLE decide"?
10
@Colin why not? Afraid of ACA?
4
Amy for VP would be a great pic for Biden.
12
This is what it will come down to... Biden people will vote for Sanders if he’s the nominee. If Sander’s people refuse to vote for Biden, we’ll lose and it will be four more years of this garbage...
18
@J
Yes! One would hope people learned that math lesson in 2016. Let’s hope we all did.
9
@J
The price of a society that ignores and denigrated people tired of this nonsense. I never see moderates do anything to meet progressives. They spend more time caring about republicans because if the donors.
1
And now the really nasty Trump stuff will begin. Zeroing in on Biden we can expect to see more of RudyG, DevinN and the whole slimy bunch crawling out from under the rocks. Hold on tight for some seriously nasty stuff. Hope ‘Uncle Joe’ can weather the storm coming. Game on!
9
@John
Hope on - 'Crazy' Joe Biden is going to be decimated by Trump, that's if Bernie doesn't do the job first.
@John
Sure would be good to have progressives on your side right moderates? Or you want to go help republicans and talk more fear mongering about Venezuelan dictatorships?
I want to vote for Warren, March 17, Florida. If she is not running then my vote goes to Sanders not to "make-believe I'm Obama" Biden. I want to look forward, not back. Long term Democrat, age 78, not afraid of change, progress.
17
@joan
But Sanders is not a Democrat.
27
@joan
Right now, I feel most of us want to go back to pre Trump. Give me 2015. We can build from there and go forward. If Trump wins, we will be going back fifty years. If you truly want to move forward, and Biden gets the nomination, you Sanders/Warren supporters better support him. Otherwise we all lose.
16
@joan we already know how Florida goes. Spare us.
3
Thinking we all say the same thing and feel the same way about each of the candidates we are in support of. My disappointment is in the democratic party and how it's run, it's policies and who they are really for. The sell a message they are for many many voters throughout the country yet when they did have 3 houses did absolutely the barest of minimums and much for Wall St. bankers and corporations, and in support of Joe Biden this will continue. At least Sanders & Warren stood up against this. Maybe others...
There is a systemic problem in the way the process of legislation is enacted in our democracy. Democracy is not the issue, it's those who are running the democracy and how they run this democracy, that is the issue. It is the issue most voters would agree with.
So a question is why are we continually voting for people who's only real agenda is to keep operating this democracy in this manner. And this primary shows all exactly how it is continuing to operate in our democracy, and we vote for to continue. When are the voters going to finally decide what they want in our democracy.
"They" sell us the other democracy and give "us" their democracy.
12
So are you calling for a constitutional convention? How are you going to structure the legislative process differently? Removing the senate means the deal goes away.
3
Kerm,
The success of the two party system running our far from "Democratic" Republic, is due to several decades of Republicans and Democrats working together 24/7/365, in an all-out perception management program designed by the absolute best minds employed by corporations we rarely hear of, and which most Americans don't know exist.
One is the Rendon Group, at https://www.rendon.com
https://www.rendon.com/services/
"The Rendon Group (TRG) is a trailblazer in the application of communications strategies to global information and outreach efforts. For more than three decades TRG has worked in or on 127 countries, and is known as a leader in a diverse number of specialized services that are utilized by the world’s most powerful corporations and governments.…"
The Rendon Group, one of several such outfits, are especially adept in managing public perception, on a national and international scale.
They gained major (government) recognition and support for their vetting and control of essentially all news reporting during the First Iraqi War.
They are employed by over 100 governments, creating acceptable "stories" for all kinds of characters in all kinds of governments and corporations.
While I still hold some hope that real progressive honest-to-goodness change occurs here in our Democratic Republic, after 70 years experiencing the extraordinary power, wielded by the powerful, in our nation, I realize now that "if voting made a difference, they wouldn't let us do it."
2
Joe Biden was not my preferred candidate but he’s someone I can support without holding my nose. I can’t say the same for Bernie Sanders. It was the statement ( I think it was Jim Clyburn’s) Americans don’t want a revolution, they want restoration that convinced me to to support Biden.
32
@Ursula We don't want revolution. We just want what the rest of the developed world has. That some would call that "revolutionary" says more about how far out of touch with reality many democratic pundits are than it says about Bernie's policies. I say this as someone who is no Bernie Bro; Bernie is not my first choice. But saying of Biden, "he’s someone I can support without holding my nose," is about the best I can say of him. Though frankly, there *are* some aspects of his platform that do turn my nose.
14
@Ursula Joe might actually turn out to be a revolution if he can help us take back the Senate and keep the House. So much can be done with #MoscowMitch out of the picture. I really find it difficult to see Bernie helping us keep the House seats from moderate districts that flipped in 2018. We need a unifier, not someone who the Russians (and Trump) wants to sow more division like in 2016.
14
@Tom Loredo In an ideal world we wouldn’t have a 70 some year old running for President. But it’s not an ideal world this year. And my biggest concern in this election is health care as it has been for the last 12 years or so. And I’m very envious of the rest of the world that considers health care a right and not a privilege. But I believe that for the US to get to universal health care we have to baby step and Sanders’ plan is a bridge too far for so many. Also there are other ways to get to universal healthcare than single payer.
14
Again? Just can’t get behind the only candidate who ever cared about the ordinary people, can we? Instead, we are asked by the honchos to provide for every other Democrat demographic, in order to keep their money flowing, but when it comes to backing a candidate who might help the ordinary man with the high cost of healthcare and education, why we can’t have that! It’s either Medicare for All or I’m voting for Trump!
14
@rebecca1048
Seriously? You would vote for Trump if Bernie isn't the nominee?
On which planet does that make sense?
21
@rebecca1048
Whaaaaa! I want my candy or I’m going to hold my breath!!!!
17
@rebecca1048 Please! vote for the Democrat winner and press him, the house and Senate,
to fight for Medicare for All. The Republicans
will never support Medicare for All.
14
Im concerned about a Joe Biden nomination, especially since he was virtually gifted a new campaign by black voters in the south. My biggest concern is his record on criminal justice, which has predominantly affected black and brown men. If Trump meets Biden on the debate, his record will be up for debate without the safeguard of the democratic party and mainstream media to protect him from the hard questions. He is the architect of the 1994 crime bill and voted for the 1980 crack laws, both moments contributed to the mass incarceration epidemic of black and brown men. Once this is aired out to nation, Black voters will reevaluate their support of Biden without the cover of Obama and potentially stay home on election day. As well, Trump will be able to celebrate his record on criminal justice that has benefitted so many black and brown families. I think it's dangerous to nominate a candidate with so much baggage on race, especially when his candidacy relies so heavily on black voters.
13
@Malik Warren
Look also at his support for Wall St, the insurance industry, the banking industry and big pharma - to whom Obamacare was the gift that has kept on giving.
6
@Malik Warren
I think we underestimate the level of disgust and fatigue people have reached with the daily Trump drumbeat. Like the drunk Uncle at the family reunion people have been grinning and bearing it while vowing to never let it happen again.
8
@Malik Warren -- Except that African American voters already know all this. Anti-Biden smear campaigns have already been directed at them, and one thing they're not doing is assigning him special blame. (Or even to Bill Clinton, whom they still admire.) Black voters over 40 simply haven't identified with Bernie Sanders. And they can with a Democrat who has been around for 50 years -- and who's been in their corner, too.
17
Who’s counting the votes, I wonder.
3
@New World Each state’s government.
4
@New World
"Who’s counting the votes, I wonder."
I will guess it's the Corporate Shills who run the Democratic Party? Who are playing fast and loose with the totals? Except in Utah, Vermont, Colorado, and California?
I will guess that Non-Corporate Non-Shills counted those, yes?
Really, really *weird* how that works out, isn't it? If Bernie wins, it's legitimate and fair; if he loses, it's because--sing it with me, comrades--"the system is rigged!"
It's very strange that the Bros and the Trumpists agree so strongly on this principle, but these are the times we live in...
8
Bernie is staying competitive? He's been knocked down in the ring. If he was smart he would know he aught to stay down. Somebody should call at TKO and spare the old man a real beating.
10
It is completely mystifying that the NYT continues to publish Mr Cohn's analyses, which have no evidence of being worth reading.
The most important point about S Carolina Sat and Super Tu is that only one state that Mr Biden won is a potential - but quite unlikely - Democratic flip in Nov, TX. That is slim substance to support Mr Biden over Sen Sanders. So these primaries are not too interesting.
As I say to my dog when her attention wanders, FOCUS, Lola (Nate), FOCUS!! Which candidate has the best chance to turn FL, PA, OH, WI and MI?
10
@NG -- Texas wasn't the only flip. Sanders won progressive Minnesota and conservative Oklahoma in 2016, defeating Hillary Clinton. Why on earth would voters prefer Biden to her and flip the same two states four years later? I'm afraid it's far worse than you think. As for South Carolina, it is a booming state with three urban areas over 700,000 people and many minority voters. It is far more significant as a bellwether of the country than California or Colorado.
8
@NG 24 hours ago Sanders and his supporters were 1000% sure that who ever had the most votes MUST be nominated.
What happened?
12
@NG The turnout in SC, VA, TN, TX, and MN was exceptional, and Biden won them all. Turnout is going to be key to winning the general election and to winning back the Senate. It appears to me that the Bernie turnout wasn't as strong as the "We're Democrats and we're here to VOTE" turnout.
Clearly Biden will perform much better in Florida than Sanders, and ALL the republican paths to success require that they win Florida.
By the way, tRump won PA, WI, and MI by very narrow margins, and there is a very concerted effort underway to make certain that doesn't happen again.
16
I think it would be wise for Sanders to offer Warren to be his running mate quickly. Biden should probably take Klobuchar. Let the best pair win.
3
Sanders has savaged Warren and his supporters have been awful to her and her supporters. I don’t see that being a great team.
5
Biden should not pick Warren as VP. She is pleading with Bernie right now to be his running mate. Let her join that sinking ship.
@ACA
Don't speed read the comments. Slow it down and carefully comprehend the sentences you're reading before you respond.
2
Considering Biden’s China & Ukraine connections with Hunter, would it be ok for Trump to get fisa warrants, tap his calls, spy, and use the abc department’s resources? Or is that only ok for Democrats to use against Republicans? Asking for a friend.
3
@JOSEPH
You can't choose your relatives, but you can choose your friends...maybe your imaginary friend has led you astray.
9
@JOSEPH
And here it begins. The lie justifies the next lie which justifies the next lie, and the lazy intellects start mumbling the words as their own. Go back to the couch and FOX news. Your time is almost over.
11
@JOSEPH
Last time I looked HUNTER Biden is not running for anything.
If you want to talk about people's kids using daddy's position for their own benefit, why don't you take a good long look at:
Ivanka Trump doing business in China
Jared Kushner and his family doing business in China
Donald Trump, Jr. doing business in numerous countries.
Eric Trump doing business in numerous countries.
And that is just for starters.
Remind me about that saying about people who live in glass houses one more time.
4
Sure feels like the NYT is favoring Biden both here and the Daily.
9
@Morris Lee
Gee, and here I thought they were reporting the election results.
3
Biden - Buttigieg is the perfect ticket.
8
Small? Bernie got whupped
9
If anyone is responsible for torpedoing Bernie's Super Tuesday prospects, its Senator Sanders himself. I voted for Bernie in the 2016 Primary, and initially intended on supporting him this year.
But in the last few weeks, with the clear momentum of being the front-runner and eyes of the Party on him, he inexplicably decided to preview his own inability to be a uniting leader. Out of all the gestures he could've made to expand his coalition -- and trust me, there were a LOT of Democrats eager to find a reason to support Sanders -- he entered into an unprompted defense of...Fidel Castro's literacy program? Not once -- but four times? In a CNN town hall, on the debate stage, and in follow-up interviews?
Maybe that sort of debate plays well in the liberal arts college campuses over in New England. But when the stakes are this high and the responsibility this great? With Florida in the mix, where a lot of voters have a painful, personal history to the abuses of the Castro regime? To a lot of voters Bernie illustrated that his self-righteousness and his need to breed a cult of personality trumps his desire to actually shepherd a progressive movement.
47
@Osho Bernie admires Castro. Trump admires Putin. I don't want any more dictator bros.
5
@ACA
I’m sure Biden supports Saudis Arabia.
@Osho these are very good points and echo my experience. I am both hopeful and nervous. I will certainly fall in line but am so tired of it.
Biden got more donated money in the last couple of days, but you won't hear the establishment admit that bernie had more donors. They also won't admit that wall street is backing Biden.
10
I'll admit Bernie had more donors. I'll also admit Biden got $100 from this single donor with $36k/yr in retirement income. Why is it impossible to believe everyday folks support Biden? I don't care if he legally uses the current campaign finance laws. I do care very much that tRump is defeated and we have a chance at a Senate majority and hold the House.
18
@Randy funny you should mention that! Wall street is set to bankroll Biden's campaign. Headline from a NYT article:
"Wall Street Breaks Out Checkbooks for Biden and Stocks Surge
Fearful of the more progressive candidates, some finance executives had sidelined themselves from the elections until Mr. Biden moved ahead."
4
Okay, deep breath. I need to resist the temptation to respond to conspiracy theorists. I need to resist the temptation to respond to conspiracy theorists...
18
Most of these comments seem to be either Russians or Bernie supporters. If Biden is the nominee then Obama will endorse him and with a really good vp pick he could win hands down. Stacy Abrams maybe?
15
@eve I think Stacy Abrams is an inspired choice.
5
Biden has just hit on a winning campaign strategy - don’t campaign, He lost states he spent lot’s of time in - Iowa and New Hampshire- and won states where he was invisible. He wins the Democratic nomination by being not Bernie Sanders,
He should refuse to debate Trump, refrain from campaigning’ and have Bloomberg run lots of anti Trump ads. He will win by not being Trump!
24
@bella
Fits with his policy.
For all those defending Biden and the establishment, protecting their castles... OK, you may very well have earned it fair and square, through hard work. But not wanting to make the major sacrifices needed for our changing climate, not wanting to leave it better then you got it... I have less understanding here. Our farm can only sequester so much carbon emissions.
9
Will you please stop referring to "moderate Democrats" as if "progressive Democrats" were foreign to the Party of FDR and the New Deal that gave us social security and Medicare before turning neoliberal and drifting rightward.
12
Bernie Sanders may be a potted plant.... Why did it take Sanders over a month to acknowledge, after it was made public by the mainstream media, that US intelligence had briefed Sanders that Putin was supporting him to be the Democratic Party nominee for President? The news was made public the day before the Nevada caucuses. Do you think Sanders was trying to hide something from the American public for personal gain?
And let's go to right now. The main objective of the Democrats is--or should be-- to throw out the corrupt, lying, venal Trump and his henchmen. There is no higher objective. This is Gettysburg. Normandy.
So why doesn't Sanders ("Uncle Bernie") read the tea leaves after Super Tuesday and figure out which way the wind blows? If he had any personal integrity (doubtful) he would throw his hat in the ring in support of Biden as the (perhaps) best but most certainly likely Democratic Party candidate for President of the United States. And the most likely to beat Trump.
12
To the so-called moderate ‘left’: please stop buying what is being sold to you. The establishment ‘left’ has overseen the most unequal distribution of wealth in history. It has voted to repeal the separations between commercial and investment banking. It has supported legislation making it more difficult for working families to discharge credit card debt in bankruptcy. It has voted for the Iraq war.
Is this what you thought they were campaigning for? Is this what aligns with your priorities?
To the people who can’t draw their attention away from Donald Trump: please stop engaging with the convenient fiction that he represents all that is evil. Our country is sick, and it’s not because of Donald Trump. But that narrative does conveniently help the truly powerful malign interests in our country.
Just a friendly reminder in case you have been seduced, again, by the politicians and the media, and perhaps the (maybe secret) perception that the moderate ‘left’ will be better for your 401k.
11
@Aaron
Stay at home on Election Day and see how that works out. Time to move on.
6
Not at all responsive to my comment, John. Sounds like you want to talk about something else.
3
Am I the only person who is worried about Biden's mental acuity? I would totally have voted for Biden except that he keeps saying the weirdest stuff. The Nelson Mandela stuff. The Parkland shooting stuff. And then the strange yelling at town halls about dog faced pony soldiers. I am disappointed with Biden's closest aides and family members for allowing this possible disaster to progress this far. Fellow democrats please! We have to draft someone competent. Howard Dean is only 71 and sharp as a whip. Sherrod Brown is a mere 67. Sheldon Whitehouse is 64. Time is running out.
It's time to thank Joe Biden for his dedicated service to his country and let's put the best person forward to defeat Donald Trump.
15
Bernie is floundering. When surrogates start blaming the “party” or “corporate money” the argument and the campaign have no further ideas.
15
@Pramod Anand
Moderates are winning on no ideas. Maybe that’s the path forward right?
1
Ugh. Both Bernie and Biden are awful candidates. I suppose it is entertaining to watch Jill Biden show off her WWE skills but even that gets old. Doesn’t Joe see how bad that makes him look? Warren should not drop out, something might happen as Hillary said in 2008. Is someone else out there? Josiah Bartlet? Bueller? Anyone?
3
The NYT headline says it all: Stocks Surge as Biden Leads Super Tuesday Results.
I personally vote with the young, they have the most at stake... Bernie is the only candidate with full support of the Green New Deal. Climate Change is the most urgent issue we face worldwide.
16
@Dana
Agreed-once we get rid of the Fascist. Get a unified government and watch how much progress we can make.
3
I completely disagree with many who say Sanders is unelectable. He repeatedly polled winning against Trump in 2016, better than Hillary in a head-to-head matchup, and he also does now. He appeals to voters across party lines. This Sanders “down and out“ narrative across many media outlets is provocative and meant to generate clicks. When the dust settles by the weekend Biden and Sanders will be roughly equal in the delegate count.
Now for my complaint. The Times’ moderators recently seem to be censoring comments and not moderating them for on topic and civil discourse. I’ve had several on topic and quite civil comments that were never posted in the last month, one in a response to this thread as above, and I’m none too happy about it. I’m sure others have had the same experience. Some months ago they also began not labeling which “top commentors” are posting immediately without review. You need to do a much better job, be more consistent and increase transparency. -A loyal reader.
6:53pm 3/4/20
15
Amerca knows that serious change and shifts are afoot. Greed is the driving force behind this freedom-loving country, which sadly translates to a modern form of slavery, "wealth inequality", for 80% of US citizens.
Bernie is righteous in wanting to write this leaning ship, but it needs to be done stage by stage or else the ship will flip over. People understand that sustainable change happens in steps, not in one shot. Bernie scares folks by making it seem that his platform will shift things drastically all at once.
True, with the looming climate crisis, it is possible that any "drastic shift" implemented soon will seem like a bandaid to nature's monster that is bearing down this decade. But nevertheless, Americans want to ease into crisis prevention. Therefore their take on Biden.
But hark, the coronavirus followed by the demise of the bees followed by total drought and water shortage in the plains states and CA valleys....lordy, lordy, better get those Mars space transports ready. OMG, what a comic tragedy!
1
@Que Viva!
Wow! Progressives starting to sound like Republicans. ‘It’s all the Dems fault’!
2
Why is it so difficult to find out how many delegates each candidate has right now?
3
Watching Sanders on the news. His rhetoric is as corrosive as Trump..Again, is he about country or himself?If he keeps this up and he will create a break within the Democrats and end up handing Trump the WH and undo everything that the people want, which is to rid the worst President to ever sit in the Oval Office. The angry old man is not cutting it for me.
19
@Susan Again Bernie is already souring on the party whose machinery he wants to support him every 4 years.
9
Today is the first day in all of Bernie Sander’s campaigns where I heard him speak in a measured tone. No screaming. No fist pumping. No eyes bulging.
But, still, not remotely presidential.
5
More partisan manipulation by the press. With California, which has been called for Sanders, Bernie has a commanding lead. But holding out with the disinformation that the vote isn't complete, you (NYTimes et.al.,) can continue to discourage those supporting Sanders in the remaining primaries with a pervasive hopelessness.
How sad that the ol boys at the DNC can't admit defeat and see through the haze of their cigar smoke filled back rooms.
Shame Shame Shame
7
So will it be Biden-Klobuchar or Biden-Warren?
And how many Bernistas will vote for Trump again?
6
@Erasmus
Maybe they should. Moderates hate them.
”Bernie Sanders, the left wing’s champion, has dodged a knockout blow for now.”
Knock out? Are you daft? Sanders was leading till Monday and now the delegate count is essentially even.
Listen, Joe had a good day and he is clearly favored by the Party Elite. But moving forward, his abysmal record on the Iraq War, Bankruptcy, Anita Hill, Medicare Cuts, and so much more will be front and center.
More importantly, Biden’s cognitive decline, confusion and volatile emotions will be further revealed in the high stakes, high stress days ahead.
If nominated, he will lose to Trump.
7
Is “favored by the elite” a euphemism for Biden’s win by rank and file Democrats?
5
@DavidD Nope
More about the “forty-four billionaires and their spouses have donated to Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, according to a review of the latest federal filings, making the former vice president one of the biggest billionaire beneficiaries of the 2020 field”.
1
So now The Times trashes the next moderate. You did a great job on Mike Bloomberg (Charles Blow et. al.,anyone)?
Keep going and it's Trump again.
2
Joe Biden was not my preferred moderate candidate but he is now. I believe the South Carolina primary win did something that all the ad-spending, field office organizing and staff additions of the usual campaign apparatus could not do and that was to put the image of Joe smiling on the front pages across the country. It reminded people that he was a nice, decent man. In a way he reminds me of Jerry Ford, another nice, decent man who helped the country to heal after the upset of the Watergate times. This country needs to heal after the upsets of the current administration. Joe may not be the intellectual heavyweight and he certainly has a lot of baggage but he’s spent most of his adult life in government. He knows how things work and how to get things done. Another commenter for another article noted that he has the best Rolodex of any candidate. He knows how to have good relationships and we need plenty of that quality as we’ve had the opposite these past 3 years.
So, I believe it wasn’t the Democratic establishment or MSM but Joe being himself that won the day.
For the record, I’ll vote blue no matter who.
12
I have no stake in all of this, but have a keen interest. Looking at what just happened, Bernie should better pull out. His agenda is too far out to the left for the Dems, let alone the total population incl. moderate Republicans he needs to win over. He has no viable path to the white house. His ideas on healthcare are fine in Europe but rejected clearly by the constituents of the US. His ideas on taxing the (very) wealthy go too far for even Europe. Also europeans think people should bear the fruit of their loom. Even if it means becoming a billionaire. For the sake of the country, Bernie should stop his campaign and rally behind the leader and make sure this time his supporters vote for a democrat. As apparently they may have cost Hilary the presidency.
Joe Biden is by all accounts an accomplished and stately person. He may have his gaffes and he may be old. But he seems to be the medicine needed to restore the decency in the white house, the unity in the branches of government and the standing of the US among its allies. Which will be a daunting task to accomplish in a term. We do not need to add all the disruption Sanders is aiming for. And if the dems truly want progression they should take Buttigieg or Klobuchard for VP. Some youthfulness next to stately Joe.
12
Please, not so fast in the rush to judgment! Many things could happen between now and the convention. There are challenges to be sure for the Sanders and Warren camps, but it is early enough for corrections to be made or shifts in strategy. Let's see what Bernie and Elizabeth can come up with in the next few weeks to retake the lead and generate more enthusiasm for the campaign.
2
If Joe Biden is the nominee, I will absolutely vote for him in November. I like and respect Joe. He is a good and decent man. But I will be voting for Bernie Sanders in my state's primary on March 24.
I also like and respect Elizabeth Warren a great deal. She is an excellent Senator. But she just hasn't been able to get the votes in the primaries. Bernie Sanders has been able to get the votes.
I encourage Warren supporters in upcoming primaries to vote for Sanders. Their policy positions are nearly identical. Furthermore, I respectfully encourage Warren to suspend her campaign, and to endorse Sanders.
That way we have a legitimate choice, going into the primary, to support the issues that both Sanders and Warren espouse.
Sanders could still be the Democratic nominee. And if he is not, we have a chance to make a difference in the 2020 Democratic platform and planks at the convention, based on a clear plurality of delegates representing voters who support the ideas and issues that Warren and Sanders have brought to the forefront.
30
@MidtownATL
How do you know Biden (or any of them are "decent and "good". They are all con men, and guess who are the suckers in this game.
1
@MidtownATL
Nothing divides people more than economical insecurity, stress and fear. These people are an easy target for extremists, fascists, etc.
If America wants to be united, they must allow the people on the poor side of town to improve their lot.
The "easterners", more educated, more wealthy, are hypocritical when wanting to get rid of Trump for dividing America, but not supporting the left candidates Warren and Sanders.
I agree that Warren should ASAP step out, and endorse Sanders, if she is genuine in her beliefs.
Because the momentums work in unpredictable ways, and uniting now could bring advantages to the leftist movement.
America should look after their disadvantaged if she wants to regain wold leadership and be an example to other countries.
3
Sanders would do himself - and his country - a great service by asking Warren NOW to run as his vice-president if he gets the nomination.
If he could convince her, that might be just the trick to getting him the nomination, and her contribution to the nation would be invaluable!
9
@Maurice Wolfthal
If you mean by doing so he will provide a great service by assuring Trump will trounce him, then one might agree...if would be a great service to Trump. To his party and the country? No so much.
17
The Super Tuesday results clearly show that Warren and Sanders have no constituency in the Democratic Party. Their form of liberalism does not resound with the Democratic electorate. AOC beware!
5
It would be better for Biden and Sanders to join forces. They would unite both wings of the Democratic Party. They would be unstoppable against Donald the Kleptocrat.
1
BIDEN KLOBUCHAR for the WHITE HOUSE!
I am energized that the DNC seems to be getting their act together and coalescing behind Biden. Yes, everyone of the candidates has a problem or two... but we need to get ONE TEAM NOW and focus on GETTING THE VOTE OUT to BEAT TRUMP. yes i am shouting - this is a deadly serious race.
Sanders is too far left - yes he has ideals and they are lovely for utopia but not realistic for this time, this decade, this country now. Sanders needs to be convinced to backout before the convention - we need to unite as a party and focus on the fight and the votes to get DJT out of the WH
There will be no USA left if there is a Rep victory. Might as well invite Putin to take the office now.
24
@Longtime Reader
The DNC getting their act together? That would be like herding cats, bats and rats.
@Longtime Reader I'm no Bernie fan -- my fave(s) are already out of the race -- but I want him to continue until the convention, in order to see how the votes go between now and then. If Biden has the plurality going into the convention, then - and only then - should Bernie drop. I think this much is owed to his supporters.
And if he pulls ahead of Biden and becomes the nominee, I'll definitely vote for him in the election this fall (even though I prefer Biden).
3
@Longtime Reader
Well said. You hit the nail right on the head. If Trump is re-elected, goodbye democracy in the U.S. and hello authoritarianism.
2
This would be an excellent opportunity to avoid what put Trump in the White House four years ago. Mr. Sanders should put his giant ego aside for the good of the country and join the Biden movement. It could be seen as a magnanimous act on behalf of the country. There is no way he can win a general election with the results we saw in Virginia and North Carolina and Minnesota.
25
@Joe Barnett
It’s basically a tie. This can go both ways.
@Joe Barnett
interesting.
The poor, those the system is stacked against, urged to once again be magnanimous, and help the well seated moderates and elites to regain their lost dreams.
For the good of the country?
4
@Joe Barnett
All Sanders has is ego. How can he possible put it aside? He would melt like the wicked witch of the west. Even the other flying monkey candidates are counting on that.
3
Biden/Abrams 2020 for the win.
17
All these comments by the Bernie kids about how their guy was beaten by the machine, the conspiracy, the establishment etc. etc. Biden won almost without spending a dime versus Bernie’s millions spent on advertising. Endorsements? Bernie was on every media outlet crowing about his AOC endorsement. Live by the sword, die by the sword. As for his narcissistic conspiracy monger followers, who can’t accept that nobody else relishes the genius of their personal enlightenment, sometimes you lost because you lost, not because your dog ate your homework.
59
@isadore huss
I agree...the voters made their choice. Where’s the conspiracy?
5
To all fairness, behind Biden was the whole DNC machine. He got positive publicity from every outlet, from every ranking Dem, while they were criticizing Bernie and using scary tactics against him, giving all indications that they won't nominate him under any circumstance. So, it is the DNC machine vs Bernie, and yet Bernie was able to mobilized a significant amount of Dems and won several states, showing that he alone has as much support as all DNC machine. That's why the establishment was so nervous.
8
Sums it's up very nicely. Well said.
2
For me the biggest irony of Biden's successes in the primaries is that it is HE, not Sanders, who has strongly undermined the belief that money is the be all and end all for a political campaign.
Biden never raked in a lot of money and he made do without TV ads, field offices etc. One fellow noted that "earned media" was far more important than "bought media" in his case, certainly.
So as Sanders crowed and crowed about how much more money he was gathering than Biden, and as the media oohed and ahed over how very much Sanders managed to accumulate from small donors--in the end, money simply did not matter as much as experience, character, empathy and kindness. As Jim Clyburn put it, "Biden knows us."
It appears to me that Biden had a very good feel for the pulse of the Democratic electorate, had his ear to the ground, and concluded he did not need to saturate the airwaves a la Steyer or Bloomberg--or pay for staffing and field operations to an extreme degree,
30
@JFMACC
"Biden never raked in a lot of money and he made do without TV ads, field offices etc. "
Begs the question why he's been grovelling for cash on wall st then.
3
@JFMACC
Biden's experience and "empathy" included voting for a war that resulted in the death of 400,000 people.
He was part of an administration that locked up kids and deported millions of people.
Just cause you get a personal sense of what someone is like does not erase their record.
Sanders can come off as grumpy, but he acknowledge we need radical change to seriously fight climate change and save this earth. He knows that single person dying due to lack of healthcare is a tragedy.
I don't mean to come across as standoffish.
But as a young Argentinian.
I can't interpret someone who perpetuates the horror of US imperialism and who's climate plan doesn't acknowledge the depth of the crisis we are experiencing as having the right experience or being right for the job
5
What he has is a strength of the DNC machine that came to his rescue. It was enough to give him upper hand in the primaries so far, but it doesn't mean he will win the election.
5
I will vote for anyone against Trump, but don't like Biden at all. Everyone talking about electability should wait for the Senate investigation of the Bidens. Enough smoke and mirrors to confuse people despite the fact that nothing's there. The relentless investigations of Hillary took their toll.
30
@David There is nothing to investigate, but if they insist on dragging up a closed case instead of passing important legislation, maybe we should look into Trump's children. Say, their careers and how they got their current jobs representing the US without any say from American citizens.
43
@K
Yes, and what about Jared Kushner's sister using her White House connections to lure Chinese investors to help fund a real estate project via a controversial visa program that in essence sells US citizenship to wealthy foreigners. “Invest $500,000 and immigrate to the US!", she said. Seems like that got swept under the rug. I'm sure that will come up if Trump tries to touch Hunter Biden.
31
@David - And those relentless investigations against Hillary yielded nothing and resulted in Trump as president and our democracy now in peril. So please don't start about the Bidens. Otherwise we're guaranteed four more years of destruction under a deranged, demented sociopath.
23
As soon as Biden is nominated the Senate will launch an investigation of him and his son. Things could go downhill from there.
24
There is no reason Biden should respond to any subpoena, requests for documentation or cooperation.
DJT didn’t!
Next question...
34
@David
You’re late. They started the investigation(s) a couple months ago.
11
@David
That's a fill in the blank response - as soon as Sanders, Warren, Harris, Bloomberg, Mickey Mouse, Mother Theresa are nominated, the senate would launch and investigation of them too.
It's the Republican way. They know they don't win on positions, so they try to create questions and dirt.
39
Since the voters in the Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada had a unique opportunity to examine Joe Biden closely for many months, The Big Question is "What Did Those Voters Saw In Biden That Made Them Reject Him?". The earlier we find answer to the question, the better we can make decisions before it's too late in November 2020. But I have to say that Biden's team did a great job by both defining Bernie Sanders as unelectable and defining Biden as Mr. Electable. On the other hand, Sanders' team did a very bad job in terms of taking time to define Sanders as Electable based on the good polls that shows that Sanders consistently defeat Trump in Matchups and defining Biden as unelectable based on Biden's decades of bad policies and decisions. Instead,Sanders' team only focus on policies alone. Though Many People Prefer Sanders' Policies, the also do care about Electability. Sanders' team have to find a way to talk about issues that people care about and electability.
13
I feel like Sanders twice gave the Democratic Party a chance to reform and return to its stated principles. He knew that running as a third party candidate would have decimated the party and that was not his goal. Sadly, that is the strategy many will now have to pursue as the Democratic Party appears to not want to be saved much less reformed. While a Biden presidency will slowly restore much of what Trump has tried to destroy, he has no irrevocable vision for a future that ensures affordable healthcare/education, economic equality and environmental justice . Much of what Biden can accomplish (in his spirit of bipartisan compromise) will be temporal and will quickly sunset after his term. Then the GOP repeat cycle will kick in. Unfortunately the planet can no longer tolerate our political system so rooted in short-term profits.
41
@michael Sanders is not interested in reforming the party. If so, He would BE a Democrat and he has refused to join any coalition and that will result in his downfall. Politics requires people to coalesce to have the critical mass to get things done and pass legislation.
29
@michael I have to confess, I don't really understand the thinking of Bernie supporters.
You might be correct that much of what Biden can accomplish (in his spirit of bipartisan compromise) will be temporal, and may quickly sunset after his term. But a Bernie presidency will not be able to accomplish anything, even temporally. How anyone can think otherwise, given Bernie's spirit of NO bipartisan compromise, is baffling to me. And the backlash after his term would be if anything greater than with Biden.
It seems to me that a good (and realistic) pathway forward is to take what we can from a Biden presidency in terms of progress on some progressive issues, and perhaps most importantly, heal the country from the demagoguery of Trump. Then after his term, convince the country to take the correct next step. Remember, Perfect is the enemy of the Good.
22
@michael I do believe Biden is committed to strong action on climate change.
12
To those who say Bernie Sanders is not a leader, I say look at the fact that his minority opinions of yesterday have become majority opinions today.
He and California are on the right side of history despite the protestations of republicans, establishment democrats, and the corporate media.
69
If his positions have majority support, then why isn’t the majority voting for them? I actually think Bernie might have done a disservice to his progressive agenda and turned off a lot of people to it. I say that as someone who is mostly sympathetic to his positions. Okay, no more Bernie bashing. He has run a good campaign and I hope whoever wins gets the support of the majority in the general election.
34
@Ben The progressive agenda has never gotten this much attention or numbers. That's all Sanders.
16
@Ben Because people don't CARE about policy. Look at Warren. This country is too stupid to vote based on policy (because it doesn't take the time to read them or search for them). There's a reason Trump won in 2016, and it's not because of his positions on policy.
11
Biden will lose to Trump for sure. The corporate-elite Democrats might be just 'OK' with that knowing they've dodged a bullet by not having Sanders on their platform. The Democrat party is lost case.
23
@CK - I think you grossly underestimate the number and the zeal of the anti-Trump vote. America is determined that that odious man must go!
18
@CK For sure? Evidence please.
1
“Corporate elite Democrats”? How can you say that when Biden spent very little campaigning in any of the Super Tuesday states?
Democratic Party embrace of mediocracy will only exacerbate the seething that created the Trump backlash that we are living with today. That brand has been disproven and needs to be taken off the shelves.
42
@Charles Well that's an opinion. Not one shared by most of the electorate...but it is an opinion.
18
@Tim Prendergast "Not one shared by most of the electorate..." - also an opinion, just to be clear.
8
@Charles: Mediocracy sounds pretty good after more than three years of Trumprublican kakistocratic idiocracy.
10
I will gladly move left as a democrat toward a radically more progressive agenda **AFTER** we remove Trump from office and have control over the Senate, too. Sanders will not enable democrats to win the Senate down ticket, which means he will not be able to accomplish ANYTHING as a president except to undo damage that Trump has caused through executive orders, changed regulations, and staffing of the executive branch. It is, seriously, time for new and fresh policies. I don't think Biden would be a business-as-usual president and I think we will be pleasantly surprised at his policy positions that will emerge now that the moderate middle has unclogged. But to move left we have to stabilize a functioning government first.
23
A vote for Biden is a vote for the Same,
As the last 40 years thats been so Lame.
Whether DEM or GOP most have seen Decline,
Now in 2020 things are worse & few things Fine.
The things that so many others take for Granted,
Are still beyond, not given, not by most are Bantered,
Now a Prez, the lies he sez and all the things he's Ranted.
Joe is just the same and we've seen it all before,
Now must make the changes it's time to sweep the Floor.
Too late for a "steady ship" for years that has been Sinking,
Bernie knows the needed, heeded; most of us are Thinking
No time for steady , we must be ready, to turn upon a Dime,
We've lost so much, we're on a crutch, almost out of Time.
Make that change, we have to, we can do it, Yes We Can,
Must up the ante, so we can catch up, Bernie has the Plan To regain the losses, pair back the bosses, Bernie's the Man
7
Don’t quit your day job.
4
@OscarZ ,
Point taken :-)
1
Give. me. the. delegate. count. for. California.
Or can't anybody figure it out?
2
@bugsii
They’re. Still. Counting.
Try to stay with the program.
5
I hope I'm wrong, but I expect that Warren will NOT soon drop out NOR will she endorse Bernie. (She may try to have it both ways and keep silent.) She is surely being offered SOMETHING to stay in the race, at this point.
So, if it looks like this then I think Bernie should go FULL anti-establishment and announce EARLY his running mate - and this should be Tulsi Gabbard (or Nina Turner). She's soldier for peace (if this is a thing) - and will not capitulate. She's a force of nature. We just witnessed how the Democratic party intends to INSTALL Joe Biden - they are corrupt. Bernie needs to start his political revolution NOW. We need Independents and even Obama/Trump supporters to get involved NOW and even participate in Democratic primaries that haven't been locked-out to them. We need to look to the general election and even the huge reforms needed in the next administration RIGHT NOW - even before the Democratic convention. Just build it - and they will come!
5
@carl bumba, yes. 'Install' him by magically controlling how millions of people vote.
1
@Leonard
The delegate math would look different today if they didn't, together, work out a plan for the day before the election. It's collusion, not magic.
1
I have not voted in OH but we are going to vote for Joe Biden.
We are in a troubled time with trump Presidency,
Mr. Sanders is not the person to defeat trump.He ia always angry, attack prone so are his supportes .
19
@B Sharp
Maybe if the centrist media didn’t attack constantly. You have megaphones behind you. All the progressive policy supporters have are their single voices online shouting in frustration from being ignored and denigrated.
You see it on here constantly.
That's exactly why Bernie will tear Trump apart in any debate. But Trump will be too coward to debate Bernie.
@Bro
Hope that happens,but trump doesn’t want to debate.
He makes rules as he pleases, that is horrifying.
1
Biden isn't Trump and he's not Bernie and he's breathing. Biden has my vote.
22
"Bernie Sanders had an advantage on Super Tuesday he will not see again: many early votes cast before moderates coalesced around one candidate."
Alternatively, you can say the same for Biden: "He had an advantage on Super Tuesday he will not have again: many votes coalesced after Pete and Amy left the race"
2
@Sam, why wouldn't he keep that advantage moving forward, if those voters prefer a moderate?
1
Nothing like the DNC to rig the system for a 4th places candidate. I'm glad the Democrats are going the Biden (His flubs are hilarious and will only get worse). Bernie the socialist is the better debater and would be boring to watch. Both candidates will lose by a landslide, but watching Joe "corn pop" Biden will be priceless.
3
trump had no record the last time around!
No such advantage this time!
The reality show schtick has worn thin.
Most people realize that trump is only in it for trump, so the point of a debate would be what?
Good luck with your laughter.
1
When it comes to “flubs” your man Trump is a board certified “flubber”. But the adage that Trump could shoot someone in broad daylight on Fifth Avenue and none of his sycophants would care remains true.
1
@Illuminator, rigged it HOW? Biden has legitimate support from Democratic voters.
3
Throughout these comments, there are the repeated statements by the Bernie brain-washed that Biden cannot win the general election because how will be get latino votes or those seeking change. Who are these Bernie/Trump supporters that think the Latino vote will swing to Trump instead of Biden. That is ridiculous. Trump has done more to alienate the Latino community than anyone in politics. Moreover, the change a majority of Americans want is the end to Trumpdom. Can the Bernie brethren please being to prioritize humankind instead of their newly adopted cult.
12
You're correct - the end of Trumpism and all its corrupt depravities, dishonesty, and destruction is exactly the change people are craving.
1
@DoctorRPP
So says the cult of moderates constantly shouting us down.
1
Bernie is a personality cult like Trump. The sooner we are rid of divisive, paranoid ranters like these two the better.
1
Why is the New York Times, with 87%+ of the vote in and a phenomenal lead for Sanders, not calling California for Sanders? Instead, they took the map off the digital front page. So they could write headlines about Sen. Sanders' disappointing Super Tuesday. He won the most populous state with the most delegates on the table. How is that something to "lament?" This is getting ridiculous.
8
The picture is still there and the AP generally calls races. Constantly searching for indignation, you Bernie supporters.
7
@Sharon It was all rigged. The main stream media conspired against our candidate. Once again the Deep
State and the Establishment have turned on the chosen one. Bernie and Trump - such similar paranoid narratives.
2
@Sharon, maybe because it was no surprise that he won California, because it was expected he would do much better, and because he didn't turn out the numbers he was hoping for-- as he said himself?
What is getting ridiculous is the constant accusations of conspiracy.
1
IMHO something truly weird happened last night. Obama and Hillary seem to be behind this Biden win. I don't trust it al all. Bernie is a great man with great ideas, huge rallies, and one, the only one, who really cares about the youth, the climate, the working and middle classes.
By contrast, Biden is nothing like a great Presidential candidate. I wish the msm would reveal to us what went on behind the scenes. That will never happen but we smell a rat. And we are not leaving Sanders after all his work. Plus he is mentally acute as Biden is not. Don't give up on Bernie yet!!!
6
@Jane, no. Millions of Americans are behind his win. Especially African Americans. Maybe they saw him as the 'safe' choice, that doesn't mean it's illegitimate!
4
My thought is that Trump actually wants to go up against Biden. I wont lie, I'll vote for the guy but I could really care less after Super Tuesday. Bernie is done again and now we have an old white establishment guy whose only real message is that he isnt Trump. I'm done being motivated I guess. I'll just vote Biden and watch us lose again. Its 2016 all over again.
6
If Warren had dropped out and endorsed Bernie before, the results would have been very different.
Assuming those who voted for Warren would have voted for Bernie, here's how the outcome would have been:
Ala. Biden
Ark. Biden
Me. Bernie
Mass. Bernie
Minn. Bernie
N.C Biden
Okla. Bernie
Tenn. Biden
Tex. Bernie
Va. Biden
Colo. Bernie
Utah Bernie
Vy. Bernie
Calif. Bernie
Bernie would have won 9 out of 14 states including Texas and California.
But it's entirely coulda + shoulda = woulda
4
@Bhaskar
I support the progressive policy but Bloomberg could have dropped as well. Either way it is a tie. And moderates would rather republicans have a say in government and our lives than progressives.
2
Bernie’s ideas are good and just but do not have a wide enough appeal to win a general election. We need a coalition much larger than just blue states.
Maybe we just need to put the fire out in our democracy that Trump has started. That is step one. With Trump and Republicans in power, our country and democracy will be destroyed after another term and the possibility of revolutionary changes, justice in the future will be impossible. Our country as we now know it will be gone.
5
@SanPride
Republicans will just light another fire. Sooner or later you have to deal with the root issues of racism, inequality and unequal power structure.
@Mathias, yes but African Americans chose Biden by a wide margin so maybe let's start by respecting their choice?
1
Being an American is F U N !!!!
1
I love Bernie's new nickname, "Berning Man". I don't see how he can recover as he blames his poor policy choices on "the establishment", verses his rigid ideology which is sending moderates running to a candidate as poor as Biden. Wake up Bernie, you are on message and off target because you refuse to recognize your approach to problems is way to glib, just a big lie, and the voters have figured you out! You need to get real with the real costs of what you spout!
9
@Tammy
I guess stand for nothing like a moderate and not be Trump. Must be nice to win on such a meaningful platform.
Berning Man is rich. I also like "Sandernistas."
Can Biden announce Barack Obama as his Secretary of State?
7
TULSI GABBARD
why is she still in the race. why are media outlets NYT included ignoring this potential devastating 3rd party run that will re elect the man Democrats are coalescing to oust?
1
What I'd like to know is why the NYT called Maine for Biden at about 3:40 this afternoon, when Biden led Sanders by 1.1% with 17% of the vote to come but still (at 5:10 pm) hasn't called California for Sanders, who leads Biden by 8.7% of the vote with only 13% to come. Could it be that the Times wants to delay the news of Sanders's victory until it's anticlimactic? And to credit Biden with as many wins as possible as soon as possible? Meanwhile today's Times is stuffed with columns, articles and purported "analysis" that make the clapped-out political hack Biden look like a juggernaut.
Trump will eat Biden for breakfast, but never mind. The important thing, from the point of view of the Times and its ilk, is not to stop Trump but to stop Sanders.
9
@Alexander Scala It's about population, those percentage points mean a lot more in CA than in ME. There is no conspiracy, maybe Bernie is just going to legitimately lose? What a thought.
7
The AP calls races and their criteria are completely non-political. More Bernie supports searching for indignation. Give me a break.
6
@39-year-old Guy, it's really starting to get irritating.
2
Bernie supporters have always been bad at reaching out to expand their base. Alienating people by saying in effect “You are either with us or you are stupid and/or corrupt” isn’t exactly a great appeal. I worry about how much damage they have done to progressivism in general, as a Warren supporter. I worry that in the near future, progressive ideology will be relegated to “what that old cranky guy and his army of cranks used to believe.” Building inroads into mainstream politics is hard. It requires compromise. It requires flexibility. I hope that the most fanatical realize that one day instead of turning their only allies against them.
11
@Ben
If they acted the way you wanted they would be ignored as they have been for a long time. People who don’t have a voice shout because they are hurting. That’s normal.
@Ben On spot and extremely well-said!
3
@Ben As a moderate I certainly hope they have discredited progressivism. There is no there— there.
Democrats have a weak line up. Both Biden and Sanders are past their 'sell by' date. The strongest sell for the Democrats is Trump. Despite the economy, Trump has singlehandedly managed to reverse convention wisdom that 'it's the economy, stupid'.
We need forward looking energetic leadership to take our country forward. That's not Biden or Bernie or Trump. Unfortunate. Maybe Biden as President will assemble a worthy cabinet who can get it done.
1
SELMA
"Our God Is Marching On!" Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. Speech
March 1965
Our whole campaign in Alabama has been centered around the right to vote. In focusing the attention of the nation and the world today on the flagrant denial of the right to vote, we are exposing the very origin, the root cause, of racial segregation in the Southland. Racial segregation as a way of life did not come about as a natural result of hatred between the races immediately after the Civil War. There were no laws segregating the races then. And as the noted historian, C. Vann Woodward, in his book, The Strange Career of Jim Crow, clearly points out, the segregation of the races was really a political stratagem employed by the emerging Bourbon interests in the South to keep the southern masses divided and southern labor the cheapest in the land. You see, it was a simple thing to keep the poor white masses working for near-starvation wages in the years that followed the Civil War. Why, if the poor white plantation or mill worker became dissatisfied with his low wages, the plantation or mill owner would merely threaten to fire him and hire former Negro slaves and pay him even less. Thus, the southern wage level was kept almost unbearably low.
Supreme Court Invalidates Key Part of Voting Rights Act [NYTimes]
There were also cuts to early voting, purges of voter rolls and imposition of strict voter ID laws.
VIRTUALLY ALL RESTRICTIONS ON VOTING SUBSEQUENT TO THE RULING WERE BY REPUBLICANS.
6
You wouldn't think from these sham analyses by NYT that the delegate spread between Bernie and Biden is only 60-something - with 2,635 delegates left to be decided (as I calculate it).
4
@carl bumba What's your point? The analysis is about the current situation and offers hypotheticals, not predictions.
2
@JDub
Just what are the actual numbers?! HOW small is the lead? Isn't this the title of the article?
2
Biden is an uninspiring, clueless, doddering gasbag who won states that lean heavily Republican in the general election. Bernie's supporters have shown themselves to be unreliable if he's not on the ballot. Not feeling optimistic about this at all.
3
The title correctly declares the Biden's lead is small. Strange that nowhere in the article are the number given. I'm no Nate Cohn, but from my calculations the delegate spread between Bernie and Biden is in the 60's - and there are, like, 2,635 delegates still at play!
4
"Biden’s Delegate Lead Is Small, but Could Be Hard to Overcome." Gee, last week the NYT and other big media outlets said exactly that about Bernie. Here's yet another case of coastal media elites having NO idea what's going on the rest of the country. Didn't you learn ANYTHING from 2016?
3
The big unanswered questions from Super Tuesday: When will Tulsi Gabbard drop out and who will she endorse?
We will love to see Jill Biden as our First Lady. She will guard our sacred mansion- The White House- with conservative slant and in doing so she will ensure in keeping our next president, Joseph Biden, engrossed in solving peoples problem compounded by an every weekend golfer and real estate agent.
2
Biden has no personality whereas Trump does and the only person to take him on is the feisty Saunders. I just heard Biden on the radio referring to his wife by his sisters name. Has there ever been a USA President with early signs of dementia.
2
Reagan had dementia, and Donald “hamberder covfefe” Trump certainly shows early signs.
8
What happens to Bloomberg's, Buttigieg's, and Klobachar's delegates?
I do not vote I am not a citizen but my wife is. I cannot watch American media and the NYT is getting close to MSNBC as a no fly zones.
Gaslighting does not make me crazy it makes me sick.
After three years of the most perplexing and interesting of plots we get Super Tuesday.
We guessed Biden Super Tuesday with the wrench in the library three months ago.
Gaslighting is obviously not the Democrats area of expertise I guess it will be four more years of watching the masters gaslight.
Lets all pretend that Biden knows it is 2020.
https://www.rdwolff.com/democracy_now_sanders_and_socialism_debate_between_economists_paul_krugman_and_richard_wolff
In the words of Paul Krugman
"Sometimes Biden says very stupid things."
C'est tres bizarre!
7
I can't believe the NYT has picked only this one reply to be published. Not enough space to lay out the differences between Jeremy Corbyn's socialism and Bernie Sanders' American Democratic Socialism, but the politics, policies, and voting populations are all entirely different. Latinos are voting 2-1 for Bernie: are they not predominantly working class? The West is also overwhelmingly for Bernie: do we not have the largest working class population in the U.S. in California. Seems the NYT staff is posting glib nonsense to support their centrist bias. What I see with Joe Biden is another Hilary Clinton. How about making that comparison? A respected, established politician with a lot of political baggage that Trump will exploit for another victory.
4
@Wayne Anderson So Texas is not the “West”. Got it.
1
@MM, and black Americans aren't working class. I guess they're 'coastal elites'?
1
Why is Tulsi Gabbard still in the race?
1
Backslappin' Biden seems all pretend
Never stood up on Anita or Iraq--like other men.
Got plugs on his head and yellow in his heart,
Can't see the future or get his motor to start
Has no real plan, except another boast:
"I'll slay that dragon or my name's toast.
(I'm worried like most)
Is Biden the best we've got?
You trust this mushy old man with our last shot?
Only if Warren, Bloomberg and Sanders throw in their lot
And give it all that they've got
4
The only personality whose policies are polar opposites to Trump, is Sanders. Trump has a dynamic personality and Biden will be eaten alive and swallowed whole by Trump. When will USA learn that you are voting for POLICIES not personalities or someone like Biden riding on the coat tails of Obama. Pathetic.
5
Dynamic personality?
Really?
Demented maybe,
NOT dynamic.
@CK, with Sanders it would be all about the 'socialism', with Biden he'll be trying to accuse him of 'corruption' and being part of the'swamp' and the 'deep state'. And probably socialism too, just for good measure.
So Black voters went overwhelmingly for Biden.
Well they’ll get what they voted for. Nothing.
2
It’s official Trump in 2020
2
Here come the NeverBerners to tell us what to do with our votes.
3
I honestly don’t care what you do with your votes, as long as you quit whining and spreading conspiracy theories.
5
It is time for Elizabeth Warren to step down and endorse Mr. Sanders. It is also time for Mr. Sanders' supporters to actually vote, especially his young followers. A few debate victories fueled by clarity on key issues which Mr.Sanders will irrefutably present, and Biden's sudden resurgence will be yesterday's news.
3
Outside of America there is no such thing as Hispanic/Latino.
Having a Spanish cultural and language heritage has nothing to do with color aka race nor national origin. Any more than does Anglo aka an English cultural and language heritage.
Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio are as white European American as are Mike Pence and Mitch McConnell. Alexandria Ocasio- Cortez has black African and white European heritage. Julian Castro has brown Native Indigenous heritage
4
I am Boomer, hear me roar!
(awkward silence)
I said, "Hear me roar"......
Why aren't these kids listening?
2
As a Gen Xer I think Boomers and Millenials are exactly the same. Spoiled, self-entitled brats. I fully expect the current millennial progressives to betray all of their ideals the way most hippies eventually did.
5
@Ben
They will be forced to if changes don’t happen.
1
The NYTimes did call Maine for Biden, where he's a mere 1.1% ahead, at 83% reporting. But not California, where Bernie leads by 8.7% after 87% of precincts are in. Obvious bias to make Biden look stronger.
5
—Yawn!!!!—
I’m sorry, you were blaming Bernie’s loss on a conspiracy? Quelle surprise.
5
@Gray Goods
Not obvious at all.
Unless paranoia is involved.
4
Well, it looks like the Democratic establishment torpedoed Bernie again. The timing was spot on to push old Sleepy Joe into the nomination. Anybody that thought Bernie was going to get the nomination (AOC comes to mind) was a fool.
4
If you can’t get the votes, don’t complain about losing.
9
@Ben
Unless you do get the votes and then we need a brokered convention. No talk of that now?
1
@Mathias, what if Biden is the one with the plurality? You think Sanders will then call for him to be the nominee?
2
I am sad to see so much negativity about Biden’s big day. Looking at the results it seems to me the real story is black voters. There is huge enthusiasm among Bernie’s fans, but black voters have a very hard won wisdom. They seemed to sense that hard headed choices are often necessary for survival. Here is a suggestion for those enamored of Bernie’s revolutionary policies: listen to some experienced realistic voices in your party. Black voices. If they see the absolute dire need to vote for a decent human being who can win, maybe the idea that Biden is the same as Trump, two faces of corporate Wall Street etc., is wrong. Maybe black voters know something you could learn from. As for Trump: be afraid you pathetic excuse for a leader, for a human. Many of us are disgusted with you. And you will hear from us in November.
12
@Cal Prof
Yeah moderates really care about them.
@Cal Prof, agreed! I support a lot of Sanders positions, but all these calls of conspiracy are frankly insulting to the voters who legitimately prefer Biden. Maybe he's the "safe" choice rather than the interesting one, but anything that isn't Trump will be a vast improvement. I'll continue to support progressive policies, but I'm not going to lose sight of the first goal post: get rid of Trump. The only way to do that is to band together.
3
Joe Biden will win the nomination.
Donald J. Trump will self-destruct out of shear desperation when polling numbers indicate a double digit Biden win.
Joe Biden and 70 million+ voters will send our already impeached president to history's smoldering ash heap of one term losers. Put it in the book!
17
Mainstream media lies obscure the truth that Bernie is the one.
1
Yeah, it’s always somebody else’s fault.
Time to look in the mirror.
1
nd,, After being so unfairly excluded from the debates, I think we owe him a shot at the that place on the ticket.
I’ve read elsewhere that had Buttigieg “dropped out,” his delegates would go to Sanders. That’s why he “suspended” his campaign instead of actually dropping out.
The NYT, however, states he dropped out. Can someone provide clarification on this?
@BlueBird
They mean the same thing. Look it up.
1
The last thing Democrats need is Bernie Sanders!!! His nomination would guarantee another four years of Trump and the end of the nation as we know it.
7
Hard to overcome?
Never heard that before...
Radical moderates unite! We will overcome!
2
As per Glen Greenwald of "The Intercept", the insider establishment Dems don't want health care for all and are just fine with "no substantial changes" in government -- Biden's direct words -- which would include no green new deal, an unlivable planet, no $15/hour minimum wage, perpetual budget busting wars (all you people who keep saying "where's the money going to come from?" please take note.)
To enforce this do-nothing agenda, which is essential the Trump policy of tax breaks for the rich -- but not so much, the person to pick would have been Klobuchar or Buttigieg. Biden has high negatives, not least of which is video of him nuzzling young girls and adult women trying to pull away from him, as well as his innappropriate grilling of Anita Hill, which gave us wingnut Clarence Thomas on the Supreme court (Biden was interested in nuzzling up with the Republicans).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSSMG0MaEnQ
DNC has annointed as their king someone with questionable behavior. Now it's going to be an uphill climb for both him and Sanders.
1
Gaffes over 17,161 outright LIES, mistruths, criminal conduct, and self-promotion.
I WILL take the Gaffes!
10
Biden is Alive! Medicare for All - sorry - dead. Bonus. Trump can now ask Ukraine and anyone else he wants over an open phone to help him investigate Biden. And the Republicans can even listen in on the line!
3
The corporate establishment prevails. I hate this country.
6
Leave. Go to Denmark and take Bernie with you.
5
@Melvin Firman
For pity’s sake, Melvin. You believe the corporate establishment stuffed the ballot boxes yesterday ?
Your guy didn’t attract enough voters. You blame someone for that ?
Could be Sanders isn’t popular with the little people.
9
@Ben
Help sponsor him Mod Bro.
Well, we just witnessed the power of the Machine in manipulating the masses and their fears. What is that sound we hear? It's the wealthy "donors" gathering behind in their lairs celebrating their thriumph . Great, once again we get their choice of candidate, just like last time and how well that went? trump will eat biden alive, just like he did to hillary!
1
@Adlibruj
I never saw anything such as you are claiming. Hillary won every debate against Trump. Trump won by only 70,000 or so votes, and a lot of help from Putin.
3
Oh yes, it could have nothing to do with the fact that a lot of people just DON’T LIKE BERNIE SANDERS lol
4
@Adlibruj, he won't if we all vote blue in November.
1
Bernie Sanders is his own worse enemy. His constant complaint that the mainstream doesn't like him no longer resonates. It only makes him sound like a petulant child.
8
The wealthy and upper middle class Dems are breathing a sigh of relief.
4
@Kaari I am neither wealthy nor upper middle class. Rather, I am a 58 year old retired blue collar lifelong Democrat breathing a sigh of relief. As soon as Bernie tells me how he will pay for his revolution, I'll start to listen. In fact, I'll listen to ANY candidate that will address the out of control debt.
6
@Randy N.
You didn’t listen. You just say you did.
M4A is cheaper than the optional plans. It saves us money in the long run. The rest of the world proves this as well.
If you go to his website he shows how to pay for it.
While your at it Bidens plan is more expensive than Bernie’s. Show us the money dude. This is why we can’t stand the media. I’m so sick of this lying and snide garbage designed to cause fear of anything that challenges their power and wealth.
1
Democratic Party will implode trying to stop Sanders. Ridiculous Play. CNN even covered Texas all night after crowning California the Jewel. Alert!-Sanders took California. Even now-they won't call it with Sanders huge lead over Biden. What the What? Democrat Party has morphed into Republican Light. Beto should've backed Bernie as Buttiegieg understanding minority rights. Sad, Sad, Day...
3
Nate and NYT seem to be annoyed that they couldn't use the early casted votes to help them install Biden.
2
The clash of the dinosaurs...yesterday's men - more's the pity.
@Spider
Clash of policies. The media focuses on the identities.
Things that make you go uhmmmm...
Jay Powell again caves to Trumps demands and the Fed cuts rates by half a point...the markets tumble.
Biden makes a strong showing and now leads as the potential DNC nominee...the markets gain 800 points.
Could the markets be telling us something...uhmmm
6
@Mark Yes, the health insurance and pharma stocks went up. Biden doesn't threaten their profits.
Bernie Sanders and his followers have been toxic for two long elections and I think everyone else is ready to see them go away forever now.
#NeverBernie
7
@X
And you’re not? Telling millions of voters to go away and silence their voices?
1
It's a two-man race now, counting Elizabeth Warren.
2
Hey, people: Sanders has been in Congress for 30 years. That's hardly "anti-establishment." He IS the establishment. Get. Real.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
9
@Rev. E. M. Camarena, PhD Amen! Also, why does Bernie crawl out from behind his "independent" status as a senator every 4 years just to muck up Democratic primaries? If he is so proud of being "independent", run as an "Independent"?
1
Yeah, yeah yeah. You said just the opposite a week ago, which is why I personally don't trust the pundits. Just let is happen, and then report it.
2
Biden cannot beat Trump. Sanders cannot beat Trump. Is there not a third candidate still in the race? A person who is not the same sex or age as Trump?
2
I think this will come down to if Joe Biden can avoid major gaffes.
I think he won Alabama because he mixed up his wife with his sister.
6
Now we know why Amy Clobuchar never lost any race before. She just drops out when the going gets tough.
We learn how much Pete and Amy truly loved America. They left her future in the hands of 77-year-old man. That is exactly how much the DNC loves America too.
If Trump gets reelected now you know why.
It is left in the hands of an elderly gentleman who lacked the guts to run against Hilary in 2016, at the moment he was 4 years younger and the sitting incumbent president.
If the DNC makes you vomit, don't worry at all.
It's not coronavirus related at all but caused by politicavirus...
BERNIE DOES NOT HAVE THE VOTES.
Sorry for screaming, but you guys don’t seem to be listening.
6
@Ben
The fact that Bernie doesn't have the votes isn't his problem but yours.
In democracy the people get the government they truly deserve.
After next week, Biden will be unstoppable.
4
What clap trap. I shake my head at the way NYT folk are downplaying California -- the country's most populous (and diverse) state, for heaven's sake. You're blaming Sanders' win there on early voting, because those long, long lines in cities like LA on Tuesday don't count, uh-hum. Even in Texas, by no means a blowout for Biden or Sanders, Sanders picked up almost as many delegates as Biden.
2
It should be all hands on deck in support of Joe Biden in an effort to dislodge the Trump criminal syndicate from Washington. This means volunteering, making calls, knocking on doors, Hollywood and Madison Avenue lending their creative expertise, the likes of Bloomberg, Steyer, Bezos et al throwing their wealth at the cause, and anyone with a heart, mind and soul who cares about America doing his or her part to take this country back from the fascist tyrant who stole the election in 2016 with Russia's help. This is critical; a Trump win will spell the end of democracy as we know it. That's too big a price to pay. Revive sanity and vanquish the populist monster. Work to et America free. We can do this. Thanks!
5
@H. Clark
Biden won’t be able to do that. Even if he wins he is part of what planted the seeds. He will simply hide the corruption. And republicans will walk all over him.
1
It would not surprise me if these primaries were rigged. Look no further than the reaction of Wall St to Biden’s ‘victories’. He is their guy. Biden is a reactionary Democrat who can barely string two coherent sentences together. He is going to have difficulty convincing progressive Dems to support him and thus, baring a major economic recession, Biden will lose handily to Trump in November. Bottom line- he is an awful candidate. See- Welcome to the Democratic Party Civil War. As with the Russia collusion hoax and impeachment fiasco, it would be hard to craft a sequence of events that is turning out worse for Democrats than this year’s nominating process. by Christian Whiton Mar 4, 2020; Link:
nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/welcome-democratic-party-civil-war-129367
@Paul
Yes, everything is rigged. Otherwise Sanders would be Emperor, right ?
4
What does Biden have to offer? He's doddering. I mean he confused his sister for his wife. He'll be a babbling fool against Trump. Stay with Bernie, friends. He has a solid, progressive platform, and a youthful following.
4
@Angry, a youthful following that didn't make it to the polls.
You "moderate Dems" that are voting for Biden need to get your heads straight. You're voting for a candidate that will continue the endless wars we have been fighting out there. Biden will continue to support Saudi Arabia and the Israeli ghettoization of Palestine. Biden will continue flying drones over sovereign nations. Biden will continue to iterate on our current garbage healthcare system where we pay twice as much per capita above other industrialized nations while at the same time not insuring 26 million people. Biden will continue the NSA domestic spying programs. Biden will do nothing to reign in the unchecked powers we have given to the President since 9/11 that Trump has used to wreak havoc across the country and beyond.
You might want to start looking past your own noses and appreciate that other people in this country are actually suffering because of your decisions.
5
@Harvey, you're talking to black Americans, who are actually suffering too. I think they are looking past their own noses, at what will get Trump out of office.
1
Can news media please simply stop showing Tulsi Gabbard as still a candidate! She wants a job at Fox News!
4
For all the people saying they will vote for the democrat no matter who it is: thanks for telling the DNC that they have you right smack in their hip pocket. Congratulations! You have given away the only power you have.
All the candidates signed a loyalty pledge. Look at it. That pledge authorizes the DNC to determine the nominee. Voting in a democrat primary, as we learned 4 years ago, is window-dressing. And you just told the DNC that you will do whatever they want. Nice going...
Panic-stricken people just cannot think.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
3
@Rev. E. M. Camarena, PhD, this is getting ridiculous.
Biden won because he has spent his lifetime building relationships across the nation that are now turning out in his support. This is not about a single vote or policy position but about someone that will work to maintain civility in our government and who will be able to draw on a long history of carefully built goodwill to set our nation on the right path again. Bernie unfortunately does not seem to have the same history. Relationships are how politics work.
11
@Theresa
So the millions of people supporting aren’t relationships? Just people in the special kids club count as it has always been right?
1
@Mathias, millions of people turned out for Biden.
1
I support Biden over Sanders, but I caution everyone to take a breath here. The more I read a lot of the supposed pro Bernie invective, the more I am starting to think a lot of it is outside election interference designed to get us at each other's throats.
If for some reason, Bernie and not Biden wins the nomination, I will go all out to support him.
12
I was going to double my monthly contribution from $5 to $10 to Bernie Sanders' campaign once he got the Democratic nomination. But it looks like he is not a sure thing for the nomination so I've decided to up my contribution starting now.
I wish I could send more but I also contribute $5 monthly to 350 dot org and $5 monthly to the Sunrise Movement.
I work as a teacher's aide so this is all I can afford. It will have to suffice as my widow's offering.
7
@Innisfree
I'll be putting a 20 on him.
3
Two weeks ago the race was OVER for Biden. Why ? Because of votes in a few of the least influential states. In fact, his demise seemed assured after Bernie Sanders got less than 7000 votes in Nevada. 7000 votes out of tens of millions- but we believed he was done. Why? Because of the artificial hype generated by the media. Banner headlines about Sander’s decisive victory. 7000 votes ! Why do we believe that hype? Why are we so easily led and why do we so readily follow?
The purpose of today’s headline is to get the attention of today’s readers or viewers. Then there will be a different headline tomorrow which will cause us to abandon the beliefs generated by today’s.
Yet we follow and repeat what we are told without question, no how contorted it makes us. And we come back for more. After all it is so much easier than actually engaging in critical thought.
Here’s my heretic prediction. In the months to come, maybe sooner, we will have forgotten about the corona virus. People will still have it, but it will not have spread like the plague. It will have become uninteresting and won’t generate readers or viewers. So there will be no more headlines. And all the hype will evaporate, just like that.
Then we will get whipped into a frenzy about some new apocalyptic crisis, until it, too , goes away.
3
@Gino G
You could always quit paying attention to the media, right ?
Doesn’t seem to agree with you.
1
Although I usually shun litmus tests for political candidates, I could not vote for Biden because he voted in favor of the 2002 resolution to authorize military force in Iraq. I ruled out voting for Kerry in 2004 and Clinton in 2016 partly for the same reason, while Obama's placement of Biden on his ticket in 2008 and 2012 eliminated any chance that I would have voted for Obama. If Biden is nominated, the Democrats will have nominated a presidential or vice presidential candidate in five consecutive elections who is tainted by the catastrophic Iraqi war. Is there no accountability in American politics?
7
@Cromer Accountability? Clinton lost the election, doesn't that qualify?
And out of curiosity, who is going to hold you accountable for the fact that you did not vote for Clinton in 2016 and now we have Trump?
Yes, the path to hell is truly paved with good intentions.
5
@Cromer So..... you haven’t voted Democratic since 2002? And Democrats are supposed to worry that you won’t vote in 2020?
2
Joe Biden’s shockingly successful Super Tuesday comeback was clearly due to President Trump’s inappropriate response to the coronavirus epidemic, that the crisis is a mere hoax manufactured by opportunistic Democrats seeking to damage his re-election prospects. With a new microbe threatening to sicken and kill thousands of Americans and a vaccine at least a year away, I think the majority of Democrats decided to overlook Biden’s cognitive decline and vote for him as the safer bet to send President Donald Trump back to Trump Tower. As a progressive who supports a serious refocusing of our economy on working people, I am saddened by this turn of events. Our government must reverse its embrace of supply-side economics if the American Dream is ever going to be restored for the majority of working Americans. However, for the good of America and the world, we must defeat President Trump in November. If Bernie Sanders is defeated by Biden for the nomination, we progressives must support Biden and push his team to embrace this mission.
2
@Howard Gregory Many of us who voted for Biden share your progressive values and goals. I for one do and I voted for Biden because it is my belief that he will (and already has) achieve more of Bernie's ambitions then Bernie ever will.
Biden is the tortoise to Bernie's hare. Shooting for the moon as Bernie would have us do, will more likely end in disaster.
1
The Democratic party continues it's rightward drift. Franklin Delano Roosevelt would never recognize what it's become.
5
@Kaari No, but then neither would he recognize the world we live in. We are not facing the Great Depression. We are not seeing the rise of competing murderous totalitarian regimes. The world is richer and healthier and more democratic then it has ever been in the history of the world.
So no, FDR would not recognize the democratic party. But my guess is that were he alive today, he would think it absurd if the Democratic Party had remained static.
1
Bernie did not bring out the surge of young voters he promised... that will end his candidacy.
6
@the doctor Wow, no surge, you say; yet he won California with 1 million-plus votes? Seems like more than a few young voters (including plenty of young Latino voters in Texas and California) cast ballots for Mr. Sanders.
2
@Sharon
Moderates say those millions of people don’t count. It’s California.
@Mathias, yeah because it will vote for any Democrat over Trump. And Bernie was expected to win there.
Politics is a zero sum game
You either win or lose
The Democrats decided on Tuesday that they want to win.
10
I don't think young people or for that matter older liberals like me are looking for incremental change. But the establishment and the media have gleefully coalesced behind Mr. Biden who does seem like a decent man. So what can one expect from Mr. Biden if he is the nominee and wins the general? A continuation of Obama's policies which were fairly tepid on all fronts despite the big promise of hope and change. I applaud Mike Bloomberg for trying to help the Democrats. Maybe he will force some progressive policies. But I suspect things will go on as before. Healthcare costs will continue to be an issue. Prescription drug prices will remain high. There may be some movement on the minimum wage. Gun control won't happen. And wars will go on. Status quo. But some people will feel good that they don't have a trash-talking President in the WH.
2
@Anand You may not be "looking for incremental change." I get it, we'd all love to achieve Utopia tomorrow.
But we live in a democracy and many people disagree with our goals. So, unless you are going to go all Stalinist on them, we need to work with them and set reasonable goals.
I share your ambitious goals, but prefer Biden's moderate approach because it will make at least some improvements that will result in sustainable progress.
Bernie has been in office 30 years. So has Biden. What has Bernie's righteousness achieved besides relegating him to the Senate's backbench and contributing to Trump's election. I'd suggest Biden has already achieved more progressive improvements than Bernie ever will.
4
"I'm not enthusiastic about Biden, but"...like Trump supporters, I'm motivated by fear.
How about Jill Biden getting right into the fray when the protesters took to the stage! She took a hands on approach. We might not get a woman president yet, but at least we will have an awesome First Lady again.
7
The NYT is incorrect is saying moderates wanted Biden and liberals wanted Sanders. Many liberals wanted Biden as well, not only for his policies, which are consistent with traditional liberal values, but because he has a much better chance of beating Trump. To. many liberals, that is really all that matters.
9
Bernie should not have been on the democratic ticket. Not in 2016 and not this year. That's two election cycles he's blown up for Democrats.
6
Trump fancied himself a TV star with all its glitz and glamour, but it did not make him a great president only someone pumped up and full of himself. Sanders is not like that as he has much better ideas and is a much better person, but it can also be said that he is not someone known for humility or adjusting his positions. I would rather vote for a man who struggles with a stutter and is human in his approach than someone who says my way or the highway.
3
What amazes me, and annoys me at the same time, is how wrong poll predictions are, and how pundits, TV talking heads, and political columnists seem to NOT have learned this simple lesson - voters are not always willing to say who they intend to vote for. And polls by design, tap a very small pool of voters.
So ....
surprise again!
Who could have thunk it?
3
Joe may not be the fabled hero like King Arthur of Camelot, but it felt like the sun, long hidden, finally came out yesterday.
I'm worn out with the trump show - lies, hate, more lies, more hate, decimation of law, decency, integrity - sick of it.
Joe has his warts, but if he can right this badly crippled ship of state, that's all I ask for now. He's a good man. trump is a bad man - a very, very bad man.
If Joe will chose a VP that will inspire and work for many of the goals espoused by Liz, Bernie, Yang, Kamala, Castro - good people/ideas all - we'll put this thing back together.
Watching the returns until the early a.m., stunned at the results, was like a tonic. For the first time in a very long time, I actually slept.
5
True. We live in Colorado. Our ballots arrive via postal mail about 3 weekends before “the day”.
We always vote the day we receive our ballots.
Voted for Amy.
Oh, well.
1
Perhaps I am the only one. But, I am ashamed of the professional political pundit-class in the "respected" media who were so blatantly racist by discounting *any* diverse opinion in almost calling the race for Sanders. Only the complete presumption and marginalization of others' (other than white females and males of course) opinion could have led to the prognosis of a "unstoppable momentum" from Sanders to make the make-up in November of two white populists. Please, journalists, try to be more inclusive; and, Please stop saying that you are the voice of democracy.
2
Vice President Biden's unprecedented and memorable comeback began for me in Charleston, S.C. 7 days ago when the Vice President appeared on CNN's Town Hall. He elevated himself and his appreciative viewing and live audiences to the highest presidential level displaying his acumen and intellect while displaying his good nature, how well informed, articulate and connected he his. But most important was how the Vice President radiated an almost Churchillian and Rooseveltian emotional truth when discussing with a clergyman who lost his wife in a brutal racist attack at a church recently and linking it to his own unbearable loss when his son Beau died of brain cancer. It was then that Joe Biden became a president.
1
TITLE OF THE ARTICLE: Biden's Delegate Lead is Small, but may be hard to overcome.
PARAGRAPH FROM THE ARTICLE: Over all, Mr. Biden holds only 45 percent of pledged delegates after Super Tuesday, according to preliminary Upshot estimates, while Mr. Sanders is expected to finish with around 39 percent. These tallies could change depending on the eventual result in California (which might not become official for weeks), but if they hold, Mr. Biden’s delegate lead would be far from irreversible. In fact, Mr. Sanders would need to defeat Mr. Biden by only three points in the remaining two-thirds of the country to overtake him.
The title and this paragraph seem to contradict each other.
3
@Melody Kelley, let me help fill in the details for you. Eight of the next 10 primaries will be in states where Bernie got burned in 2016 and there is little chance he will do anything but fall further behind in the delegate count.
2
Democrats and Constitution loving Americans! UNITE OR DIE! However the endgame of the primaries play out we must fight shoulder to shoulder against the scourge of Trump. If Biden wins we must not alienate the young idealists that support Bernie and for good reason. They must be heard and given a place of honor. E Pluribus Unum!
5
All respect to Mike Bloomberg. He would have made a great president, but wisely stepped aside in favor of Joe Biden. Now his considerable wealth can be spent in getting Joe elected!
3
So none of us expect anything from Joe Biden but someone who isn't Trump. Wow.
3
Biden doesn't have the delegates.
If the Dems wanted to coalesce around a moderate, why not chose Pete or Amy and have Biden endorse them?
Why pick Biden, an aging, out-of-touch Trump target with lots of baggage?
Biden is anti-change. At least Amy or Pete would have been fresh.
Every environmental group has voted Biden D- or F.
Why alienate women, gays, progressives, moderates, environmentalists, youth vote all at once.
I have been voting for decades. This is the worst than Trump being elected. The Dems have blown it.
4
Congratulations to the Dems for buckling down to avoid the horrific mistake the GOP made in 2016--allowing a populist, grievance candidate interloper to co-opt their party.
Sanders is no Democrat and cares only about himself. He proved that in the last election, and I fully expect he, as well as his nasty and selfish cult, will once again create problems in 2020.
And this country cannot afford those problems. Trump must be defeated.
4
3 out of 4 states that Bernie won yesterday were pot states. Coincidence?
1
@DJS2018
Yeah, sure; that's it. 40 million California residents - all silly pot-heads.
Remind us: what part of Alabama is New Hampshire situated in?
1
Biden wasn't my first choice but I settled on him after the SC primary. Now it's full go until November.
I will say that that I tend to abhor speechifyin by most pols, but Biden easily grates on me. Mostly I'm worried he'll make some embarrassing verbal gaffe. I do think he and his administration will do just fine governing, but he's not another Obama, at least linguistically.
Biden's campaign staff would do well to carefully script his public speeches and allow minimal free styling. They should consider handling him the same way Bush the Lesser was treated during his campaigns and while president. He was not adept on his feet, but could read prepared speeches and answer questions in short phrases. For Biden, adept spokespeople could handle more of the load in give-and-take public interactions.
Again, any Democratic candidate is miles better than the Russian puppet currently in the White House. And Biden appears best positioned to replace him and bring along most of the country for at least one term.
Biden was not my first, second, third , or fourth pick. I know nobody who supported him. He looks 100 years old and speaks like somebody with dementia. He is Mr. Gaffe. However I have come to the conclusion that for whatever the heck reason he is our best bet to get rid of the sociopath. Look at it this way: how can you criticize him for misspeaking, lying, saying crazy things, having a loser for a kid, or having terrible hair if you are a Trump supporter? I think our response should be. “Yeah but our guy doesn’t have a personality disorder.”
4
Make America Grateful Again!
Vote Democratic!
4
I still hold out hope that Elizabeth throws in with Joe; (I doubt she will forget when Bernie called her a liar, after supporting him in 2016, and calling him on it at one of the debates). Rather than forgetting about the reasonably progressive Left-side of the party ideas (and I'm not talking about free college-for-all), Warren as his VP would have the opportunity to push the best ideas forward and as I said yesterday, balance Joe out).
But in order to get in that arena, she has got to change her image so moderate folks know where she really came from and that she is no Harvard snob (apologies to Harvard grads that are not), but came from humble beginnings to work in public education first. If she can do that and her and Joe can work it out, it is a winner for all of us.
However, don't forget to rid the Senate of the specific Republicans who have consistently played to Trump's every whim and mistake, on this same election day. Otherwise we end up with four more years of stalemate, no matter what good projects Elizabeth may push forward, despite Joe's past experience in negotiating; there is no fair negotiating with all too many of the current Senate Republican majority and certainly not their leader.
6
@Truth at Last
If Warren "throws in with Joe", as you wrote, she loses my vote. I just do not trust Joe Biden.
2
@Truth at Last
Me too! As his VP she would bring progressive voters like myself and becomes president in 4 years.
3
@Fran
Or She becomes president if he dies in the office :-)
The good thing about this election cycle, it's hopefully the last time we have to deal with Sanders supporters. Once more they make a lot of noise, then don't show up to vote.
6
I read the headlines about a year ago saying the United Nations reported that we had about a dozen years to address climate change with any agency or we might as well give up.
So I started following climate action organizations including Greenpeace, 350 dot org and the Sunrise Movement.
Greenpeace gives Bernie the highest grade for his climate action plan. Both 350 dot org and the Sunrise Movement endorse Bernie.
Is climate change even on the radar of Biden voters? And yes I've heard the rationale that we need someone to defeat Trump first and foremost. But I worry if Joe Biden is the nominee, and is then elected, he'll feel he has the mandate to be a moderate on climate change as well as everything else. We can't wait for action on climate change. We need bold and fast action. A Green New Deal. Bernie.
8
@Innisfree
"being a moderate" = doing nothing.
2
@Innisfree I wrote to the Biden campaign today asking him to put more focus on uniting us to reverse climate change. He has said that on his first day in office he will rejoin the Paris Agreement. I hope you and others will express your concerns to him also.
2
@EB Rejoining the Paris Agreement is the opposite of leadership. We need to go beyond the Paris Agreement if we have any hope of controlling climate change, but Biden is already positioning himself to do nothing more than status quo minimum.
3
So, we keep hearing about the young vote for Bernie...And today I see several mentions in several papers about the fact that Bernie’s young did NOT turn out. Why should we choose Bernie, then, if the fickle young cannot be bothered to go outside and vote. This strikes me as a terrible bet for November. I don’t care how much Covid or bad weather might be present in November; I will stand in any line to vote this president out of office.
9
Biden is so dull, so boring, and so uninspiring, that he will not attract young voters. He needs us to vote for him. Like Bernie or not, he's exciting which is why the young people find him appealing. There is more to life than just defeating Trump. He needs to bring a concrete game plan to the table, something besides, "just beating Trump." A vibrant VP pick might also help.
27
@Kristin Except that young people do not vote in the numbers needed. I was a local elected official for about 20 years and I can tell you younger people are the hardest to motivate. That having been said you may not like Biden and I respect your views. But any Democrat is light years better than the current occupant.
90
@Kristin Bernie is the pseudo-revolutionary who offers a place where wannabe "radicals" find their tribe. Sanders' rise speaks to how deeply people are in need of finding purpose in their personal lives, beyond the drudgery of work and numbing influences of entertainment and social media. As a candidate, I personally find Sanders to be a one note. Beyond the healthcare-billionaire ranting, he does terribly when addressing any other issue. His "Us versus Them" mentality is an old age of rage approach. If that's what people finding exciting then they need to do some soul searching.
7
@Kristin No doubt apathetic young voters want Trump for another 4 years.
1
Vote Joe Biden and do so overwhelmingly and in numbers!!!
Nobody's looking forward to a long, protracted battle to a contested convention.
It is time to end the primaries with a strong and decisive win so all the energy can be focused to November and President Trump!
This can end by March 17th with Joe Biden clearing the delegates threshold and emerging as the nominee.
Clarity is needed and the infighting needs to end.
27
The first rule in vice presidential politics is, "do no harm". If you can "do good", all the better. Biden should announce Klobuchar as his vice presidential pick by this Friday. Uncle Joe will be 78 when he takes office on 1/20/21. He needs a young, vibrant, experienced, intelligent, and centrist person holding the number two job in America. One ready to step in to the top job if needs be. Biden/Klobuchar is the beginning of a winning ticket. Now Joe... build out your team of rivals per T. Friedman. You are going to need all the support you can get to take on the wave of hate and lies that will immediately begin to spew forth from D. Trump and the organization formerly known as the GOP. But if you are a "team of rivals"... forget about it. Landslide!
12
@ZenPolitico Klobuchar is another moderate. If he really wants to unite the party, he needs someone like Kamala Harris or Stacy Abrams, not someone very similar to himself.
1
@ZenPolitico
We owe the African American community for having Joe’s back. I think Stacey Abrams would be a fantastic VP. That woman is wicked smart! Besides, we need Amy in the Senate.
1
@Kristin
Please don’t push those two poisonous apples on anyone.
To: Paison
From: The Cameleon
For: King
The Public must know. "If you are winning the game with a passing game, why change to a running game?"
The Cameleon
3
Though I'm not sure the temperaments are right, if Joe Biden could convince Elizabeth Warren to become his running mate I believe he could sweep the rest of the states. Given that she's highly unlikely to become a candidate now or in the near future, this would be a fitting position, and would bring the best of both moderate and progressive ideas to the White House.
24
@Philz I think he should announce Michelle Obama as his running mate. Mic drop. Bye Trump.
2
Moderates or I would say those who want a clear vision of how we will get to Sander's ideas may be wishy washy as many Sanders supporters will claim here, but our voices will be heard. Sanders has a powerful vision and he can help gain them by influencing a President Biden who will listen and respond to his vision, something Trump will never do.
6
Excellent analysis Nate, and a sad commentary on the state of the American electorate.
3
Bernie's best bet is to convince Elizabeth Warren to quit and immediately become his running mate.
25
@John The second choice of many Warren supporters are moderate candidates*. So I'm not sure her backing out of the race would put Bernie over the top.
*https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/voters-second-choice-candidates-show-a-race-that-is-still-fluid/
2
@John Great - a ticket spanning the country from Vermont to Massachusetts and spanning the political spectrum from far left to pretty far left. Not exactly a winner.
1
@John
That is an excellent idea! Totally consolidate the left. I think that would add much more excitement to Sanders candidacy.
I am serious when I say that I also think the opposite could work, Warren as president, Bernie VP.
Warren the executive and Bernie as VP, but an nontraditional one, in charge of developing strategy.
Bernie has great ideas, and Warren is a great leader and executive.
It works!
In 2016, out of naked personal political ambition, by supporting Goldman's darling Hillary, instead of endorsing Bernie early on and working for him, Warren completely betrayed the cause of economic progressivism which she has hypocritically claimed to be the female saint of. If she now throws in with Biden instead of Bernie, she will live in permanent infamy on the left, which she falsely claimed to be fighting for. Millennial progressives, who will control the next Democratic primary season, after lots more Boomer blacks and whites have died, will never forget her betrayals of her pretended cause. If she throws in with Sanders now, of course, she can redeem herself as his VP candidate, and easily succeed him in 2024, if not earlier if he dies. The choice is hers.
11
@Fred White: What’s wrong with pulling Biden’s agenda to the left on health care and education?
@Fred White It would be hard for The Onion to write a more succinct example of the reason “Bernie or Bust” repeatedly leads to Bust. You can’t build a coalition if you attack everyone who could plausibly agree with you.
5
@Fred White You do realize that you are not helping Mr Sanders' cause by suggesting that he might die in office?
1
I think the winning ticket would be Joe Biden and Val Demings, Black congresswoman, ex-police chief from Florida.
Demings starred on the Democrats Impeachment team and could prosecute the case, with first-hand experience, against the 19 Republican Senators up for re-election this year who acquitted Trump without even calling one witness.
That, and the fact that if the Dems won Florida, it would be lights out for Trump, should add to her being a Black woman and representative of the most loyal and dependable Democratic constituency.
Biden needs to give more chips in the game of governing the nation to minorities and women.
He should ask Kamala Harris to join the crusade against Trump and then to serve in the cabinet as AG. Likewise, Andrew Yang at Commerce, Pete Buttigieg at DOD, and Susan Harris at State. Perhaps Klobuchar, Booker and Warren might also find time, and a suitable appointment after, to campaign as well.
Democrats have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity this time to win the presidency, flip the senate, gain a few more state legislatures, and with them to undo Gerrymandering and repeal voting restrictions.
The results of these could unleash a demographic surge in Democratic voters that could temper our politics for a long time.
Democrats need only to unite by declaring before the election a commitment to return the nation to decency, dignity, and fairness to all.
Talk is cheap. Biden needs to enlist allies now to help him make that clear.
20
@Dennis Good idea about Demings. I bet Biden does choose Harris as his AG if he's elected. You could take that to the bank, unless that's illegal.
No thanks. We need Val Demmings here! And we have a Republican governor who will appoint a Republican to replace her.
So Biden wins. Then what? What's his game plan? There's at least four years after inauguration day.
10
@Kristin Biden has a better chance of passing an agenda than Sanders does. Moderate Democrats in Congress will not pass Sanders’ agenda.
9
@Kristin How about nominating judges who aren’t conservative hacks, bringing sanity back the the EPA, Department of Education, Housing, Interior, Park Service, etc.?
3
@Kristin Here's a link to Biden's platform
https://www.politico.com/2020-election/candidates-views-on-the-issues/joe-biden/
Use the drop-down menu to see his proposals for various areas, e.g., health care, environment, etc.
1
Sanders is "disappointed" by the turnout but thinks he'll do better in November. This seems to run contrary to Einstein's definition of insanity - doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. The proof about his revolution came yesterday - the influx of new voters he promised didn't happen and probably won't. WW2 fighter pilot hero George McGovern banked his campaign on a big youth turnout. We know how that turned out/
23
@TheBeast You are correct. I was a local elected official for almost 20 years; and I can tell you that young voters are notoriously hard to motivate. And that is true on all levels, local, state, and federal.
5
einstein never said that.
2
It is silly to pretend that this is even a 2 candidate race. The race is OVER and Biden will be the nominee.
The Party only allows the public to vote for about 85% of the delegates. Biden will get nearly all of those 15% Superdelegates. That gives him a 15% edge over Sanders from the start.
Biden will get all of the votes that would have gone to Bloomberg. As SuperTuesday demonstrated, Biden had about 35%-40%. Add in Bloomberg's votes and Biden is at 50%, thus assuring him the nomination.
For icing on the Biden cake, when Warren soon drops out, then Biden will get about 50% of her votes. That puts Biden at about 55% of the popular vote delegates plus the 15% Superdelegates.
Only the media pretends there is still a race because the media wants to stimulate the public viewing the media more.
10
@Errol You are mistaken in part. Superdelegates have no vote in the first round at the convention. If a candidate comes in with a majority of the pledged delegates the superdelegates will not get a vote. They only get to vote if it ends up being a brokered convention - which is a new rule that Sanders team developed with the DNC after 2016.
That's why no one is reporting on who superdelegates are supporting right now.
9
@Errol it’s also worth noting that the public DOES vote for the vast majority of Superdelegates. They are primarily the democratically elected representatives in the House and Senate. The very bodies we need to defend/win if we ever want to get anything done. If Bernie’s long time colleagues whose support he would need to pass legislation don’t seem to like him very much, how would that bode well for his ability to actually deliver change?
6
@Chris R
Thank you for correcting my understanding of Superdelegate voting.
However, the numbers I cited show Biden with at least 55% of the popular vote. Even with a margin for error, that comfortably assures him the nomination without and Superdelegate votes.
2
Our government works best with consensus - something Congress has sorely lacked for a long time. Biden has promised us he is going to try and bring that back again. Bernie shouts. I want to vote for someone who has a conversation with other people on how to get it done, not someone who screams it. I think my fellow Americans are seeing the same thing I am.
33
@ScottC That someone has a loud voice is more important than beating Trump? The weak candidate Joe McGaffe Biden will lose worse than Hillary.
1
Unless Biden starts falling asleep and drooling at debates and babbling (even more) incoherently, the race is over. He will get 100% of Bloomberg voters and will get his fair share of Warren supporters when she drops out. He could end up waxing Bernie harder than Clinton did. Sanders is on life support.
10
Sanders or Biden, which one has the best chance to win back the White House? So consider this: less than 50% of the 18 to 29 age eligible voters vote in presidential elections. Turn out is better for African-American voters at around 60% of eligible voters. If Biden is the Democrats choice, and Democrats put resources towards turning out the African-American vote in the swing states, then Biden can win. But Bernie has a higher bar because the youth vote is unreliable (as it was on Super Tuesday).
In 1972, I voted for McGovern. I couldn’t see how he could lose. If the youth vote couldn’t do it then, why do we think it will now ?
15
This process seems ... not democratic enough to me . Why don't all the states vote at the same time, with ranked voting?
10
@Moly Because this process is necessary to weed out those who aren't catching fire and allow people to focus on which candidates look best as weaker ones drop out.
Do it your way and the premium will be on money and the time available to each candidate to organize and campaign. In other words, the advantages go to the rich and unemployed.
8
@Concerned Citizen I agree with both of you. It seems to me like the optimal solution would be a set of rounds among randomly ordered, but relatively representative sets of states. All with rank order voting to redistribute the votes for any candidates that don’t hit a threshold. The threshold for the earliest states could be 10%, then 15%, then 20%. The threshold rules right now (without rank order) actually exacerbate the “splitting the vote “ problem because two candidates with similar natural bases can get 13% and 14% but delegates. In this case, at least one would likely get delegates. Oh, and Iowa and NH should go last for the next 100 years (not as punishment for this year or anything but because it is just REALLY unfair that they’ve were allowed to go first for so long)
1
@Moly But then it'd be difficult for the DNC to wait until Biden wins a state that's irrelevant in the GE (SC) by a landslide because "Obama picked me as VP and it's not because I was white and influential in Congress". After that, it'd be difficult for Biden to come up with not 1, 2, 3, but 4 straight aces in endorsements (Klob, Buttigieg, O'Rourke (who claims to be progressive), Bloomberg) within the span of 48 hours.
It's so much easier to string along the populace via media coverage when you can space things out and give the public "analysis".
Basically blind leading the blind.
2
OK, now's the time for Sanders & company to start complaining about how the DNC is rigging things against him.
It's a deceptive tactic similar to things trump does. Sanders knows that the DNC & RNC are private organizations run for years or decades by actual Democrats & Republicans. They are the ones committed to the organization long term and shape its policies. Most of his supporters don't know that and see nefarious things going on (similar to trump acolytes) with normal party politics.
Sanders parachutes in every 4 years and expects full cooperation from the DNC (an organization that he does not contribute in any way to) and proudly proclaims that he is an "independent" the rest of the time.
58
Bernie has been fighting for the working class, minorities, immigrants and women since the 60s. Relentlessly and without compromise. And he hasn't taken a dime of dirty corporate money.
Let me remind you all about how Medicare for all would work (since it seems to be the thing people are most afraid of):
You don't need to worry about how it will be paid for. It will be CHEAPER per person than what be have now. Every other wealthy country in the world does it this way and does it MUCH cheaper. That is a fact not an opinion.
Even if taxes do go up to pay for it YOU WILL NOT THEN BE PAYING FOR INSURANCE. YOUR EMPLOYER WILL NOT THEN BE PAYING FOR INSURANCE. In fact, if you get insurance as a benefit right now, you should get a raise if we have Medicare for all because your employer will then not have to pay thousands of dollars on your behalf.
It's not like your taxes will go up to pay for Medicare and then you will still pay thousands for insurance.
21
@KellieJW Medicare For All is indeed a good thing. And many Democrat voters have decided that it is also the thing that could cost them the White House and the Senate and Congress. It appears that a majority of Democrats consider that to be more important.
13
@Melbourne Town Well a second Trump term and Republican majorities in the House and Senate are clearly something to be concerned about. If you think the health care system is bad now wait until the GOP scraps Obama care entirely. So yeah a Democratic majority is important.
6
@KellieJW As someone over 65 and therefore forced to go on Medicare, I don't see anyone complaining that their Medicare is worse than their old insurance. I certainly don't think it is. (If it ends up being worse, people can always buy supplemental insurance.)
Why do we have two types of insurance anyway? Medicare is either better and/or cheaper than private insurance or it is worse and/or more expensive. Pick one and go with it.
The only reason some employees don't like it is because they think their companies will gyp them out of the money the employers are paying.
We should have one plan for everybody and it should be paid for out of our taxes.
As a Biden supporter (and a McGovern voter in '72!), I think that baby steps toward this goal are the best sure way to go about this. Otherwise, a second Trump term may be in our future.
8
Why the late voters voting late? There's a good, probably excellent, chance it was out of fear - of Trump, of course. But what helped create this political phenomenon? Ah yes, the 30 or more years of right wing propaganda, the Limbaugh brigade etc.,etc..,
9/11, 2008. And NAFTA, let's not forget that. Right in there, helping along, was the loyal, perhaps too loyal, opposition. The Clintons, and the final affront to the New Deal, a black president who took the public option off one table and put social security and medicare on another. And now we are offered his vice president as a cure for Trumpism? Talk about cosmic jokes.
5
@James F Traynor Not sure what your point is ... the primary was yesterday, not a month ago. That you have an option to vote early has no bearing on when the official primary date is.
We live in a democracy and all votes count. The most votes wins ... ignoring the electoral college debacle discounting voters in urban areas, but that has nothing to do with Primaries.
If you feel disenfranchised and want to sit this one out, don't complain when the Republicans enact Medicare for none. I'm voting for whoever wins the democratic nomination. I am 100% behind Medicare for all, but if the options are ACA or Medicare for none I'm not going to cut my nose off to spite my face.
@David M
What my point (and not just mine) is that it is an indicator of fear, amounting to panic, that Trump would win so they voted out of that and not what they really wanted.
Do I feel disenfranchised? No. But not represented because of the seeming eternal choice between two evils offered to me by the system. I'll vote for Sanders in the primary here and, if Biden wins, I'll hold my nose and vote for him as I voted for Obama in his second term. No my point is that cowardice is the thing that will get Biden the nomination.
Look at that California vote again. Yes Sanders won vs Biden but not against a combined Biden+Bloomberg count.
btw, I didn't vote for any of those three in the primary but I would be happy to vote for any of those three (or Warren) against Trump.
11
Biden is needed on the ticket , because Bernie on the top of the ticket is a disaster for all down ticket races(senate, hose, governorship, local). If there is no enthusiasm in the down ticket candidates or a pall of gloom descends with Bernie at the top, it will be a massacre. Biden at the top will atleast keep the rest of the candidates alive and fighting. Democrats dont want to lose across the board, thats a choice which I believe was made yesterday.
16
Bloomberg saved biden. His commercials were brilliant. He took on progressive controversial issues and made them mainstream. He pointed out all the dangers of trump and how important to get out and vote. A real billionaire pointing out the one in the white house is a fraud. This fueled Dems to get out and vote and support a moderate. Thank you Mike Bloomberg!
31
@lisa amen - and I’m glad Mike remains committed to taking down Trump in November.
4
Time to congratulate Trump on his re-election.
Biden encapsulates the inability of the comfortable 30%, that liberal professional class, to grasp the danger of fascism, or its root causes.
To demobilize the Sanders campaign, the only force in a position to push back against runaway inequality and authoritarianism, is to put another nail in the coffin of democracy.
Thank the Davos Democrats for that.
11
Don’t blame anyone except those Bernie supporters who did not vote.
20
@Lars Maischak ...and the majority of Democrat voters.
I sure hope that Sanders doesn’t smear Biden in his attempt to stay alive. He would be doing a great disservice to the progressive movement.
17
@LAM He already started. Expect negative ads to flow.
Bernie is that guy.
12
@LAM His surrogates will start regurgitating republican attacks against him shortly. Don't worry it's sure to happen just like they did in 2016.
1
@LAM You mean like how he went on to campaign for HRC even though she's still unappreciative of that fact? Yeah, he's doing a great disservice to the progressive movement. Why do you even care? You don't seem like one.
Hoping the one person who has been with the progressive movement for decades doesn't do a "great disservice" to it. You have a weird sense of humor.
Does Joe Biden have any incentive to expand on his slim, vague--at least publicly--platform before the convention, or after if he's the nominee? While I don't want Joe to have a plan for everything as Liz Warren does--since he's not running for dictator or legislator-in-chief--I'd like to see him overtly reach out to experts in various fields and show what kind of delegator he'll be as prez. That's one of the chief prez qualities that our spectacle-oriented media seldom land upon, and it's time we expect those with the privilege of engaging our candidates to ask questions relevant to a prez job description that most can agree upon.
4
Yes, well, too bad that Biden has trouble being even vaguely coherent on stage. Four more years of Trump.
7
@Andrzej Warminski: If coherence on the stage was a criterion, Trump would not have made it past the Republican primaries back in 2016 and he’s much more chaotic and contradictory than Biden will ever be.
3
@Andrzej Warminski Like Trump is vaguely coherent on stage ... have you ever read a transcript of his?
It's an election and votes count. Yesterday Bernie didn't earn enough votes.
1
Biden won biggest in states he didn’t campaign in. Why fourth and fifth in Iowa and New Hampshire? They saw him up close...folks, he ain’t in there anymore...
10
Every presidential election is a referendum on the incumbent.
What better way to reject mean-spiritedness, selfishness and dishonesty than to elect a kind, decent and honest man like Joe Biden
21
@John Are you implying that Joe Biden was or is the only kind, decent, and honest man up for the nomination?
5
@John The same man who claimed to have been arrested in South Africa when he, you know, wasn't?
I'd like some analysis on the breakdown of the structures of the primaries that were in play on Tuesday. For instance, to what degree could the general election be inferred from the primary voting patterns?
Some of the victories on the map say more than others with regards to general election performance, particularly those in which primary registration/participation requirements are less restrictive and/or which function as battleground states. I'd dearly like to see an article concisely outlining just that.
2
Last night, the Democratic Party 'moderates' opted for status quo and not change mostly because of misinformation by DNC leadership, DNC super delegates, and the media. Biden has no new ideas for better healthcare, education, living wage, minimum wage, affordable housing, and our infrastructure. All he and the DNC think about is to defeat Trump, but not how to make the country better. On the other hand, Bernie has plans for healthcare, education, living wage, minimum wage, affordable housing, and our infrastructure.
Regarding Biden's win in the South, in the general election, six of those states including South Carolina will go to Trump. As for Virginia, many Republicans crossed over and voted for Biden because they think that Biden would be easier to beat in November.
In any case, if Biden is nominated and he defeats Trump in November, it would be a pyrrhic victory for the DNC and the 'moderate' Democrats especially if the GOP retain the Senate.
21
@azarn Super Tuesday wasn't about status quo, billionaires, corporatists, the DNC, superdelegates or any other single word or phrase Bernie fans often use to dismiss or explain away any failure to expand his following. It is about the consistent plea to expand, to listen, for Bernie to assure people he will not, like Trump, be content to lead to his base and with his back turned to the rest of the country and world. It is the worry about a candidate not interested enough in downballot races , too slow to quiet booing during the 2016 convention and so singular it's hard to even imagine him WITh a running mate let alone one who would inspire new voters. So many times, voters have respectfully made clear that they don't feel Sanders or his surrogates are even trying to meet them where they are, stepping away from what can sound like chanting of the boogeyman or promise words without enough detail to have real discussions about detail and help them feel secure. Politics is a business of persuasion, not "take it or leave it" and though many of his ideas sound great, they also sound abstract and nothing is done to give them the dimension more needed. If Sanders wins the primary I would vote for him over Trump but have heard enough people plea to be heard by him ignored to know it's not rigged, stolen, or a conspiracy but preference to avoid moving from one President who doesn't listen enough to another.
18
@azarn You may be forgetting that when the Sanders team was crowing about all the primaries he won in 2016, it included Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, Idaho, Utah, Alaska, Wyoming, North Dakota, West Virginia and Montana. You can't have it both ways -if you want to claim he was robbed in 2016 because of his primary wins, you need to acknowledge that many wins came in states which were never going to vote Democratic. And then you can't knock Biden's results last night.
19
@azarn In the face of a highly publicized effort by Republicans to stir the pot by crossing over and voting for Sanders,
leave it to a Sanders supporter to allege they voted for Biden.
The inability of many Sanders' backers to see reality when it stars them in the face is saddening.
10
Warren has to stay in until the convention and endorse Bernie. Their combined delegates will topple Biden.
Change vs. Status Quo.
Change has to stick together.
14
@Hope -- I don't see Warren saying yes to Sanders. Warren wants change, but she is more realistic about making the compromises needed. Sanders needs a moderate to balance him out -- and Warren isn't it.
5
@Hope You have to win to change anything, mostly in Congress. If you want Medicare for all, Congress has to pass it. Any Democratic President will sign it.
2
@Hope This, one day after Sanders and his supporters all insisted with 1000% certainty that whomever gets the plurality should get the nomination.
Outrageous.
12
Why so much emphasis on who drops out and when in considering the question of whether anyone gets to 50% plus 1? It's my understanding the delegates of people who "suspended" their campaigns will be free to vote for Sanders or Biden on the first ballot.
5
seems to me those delegates should go to the candidate those who dropped out endorsed: Buttigieg and Klobuchar: Biden
The Democrat Super Tuesday outcome, while a stunning reversal of fortunes for Joe Biden, and an eye of the needle moment, leaving two campaigns standing ignores an even bigger story.
People are turning out in record numbers for the Republican primaries. Part of this is for down ticket races, national, state, and local. Still these numbers coupled with the consistent turnout for President Trump rallies leaves one with a palpable sense that the President and not the down ticket races are driving Republican turnout. There is a determination by Republican voters that says this is our President and we stand with him.
In 2016 about 30% of the California votes went for Trump in a state where those votes were a waste of time to cast. Still it is a measure of enthusiasm for Trump.
In the 2020 Primaries President Trump received about 40% of the votes cast, both Republican and Democrat. Once again these are completely pointless votes because Trump is running unopposed in a state where he has zero chance of winning in the general election. Somehow his support went up 10% since 2016.
President Trump is pressing his case for re-election effectively and expanding his voting base. Good luck to the leading Democrat contenders, a Marxist and a man past his prime. It is going to be a tough election but the Democrats are fighting an uphill battle. Trump is turning out to be one of greatest presidents ever with a fantastic record.
That is real story from yesterday.
4
@K. Johnson
In CA, many Republicans were stumping for Bloomberg. Those votes will return to Trump.
The Dems just blew it by not letting the primaries play out.
People are furious out here.
Bloomberg, Warren, Sanders, Yang, Steyer votes wont go to Biden.
What was the DNC thinking?
2
@K. Johnson
A Marxist. Nice centrist media smear. When people complain about Bernie Bros. Can we start calling moderates Bros? See it all the time.
Trump is their guy. Best thing Biden can do is stop shaking hands with republicans and start shaking hands with progressives.
2
And yet... if he’s elected, it will most certainly mean the end of the world as we know it.... and as we will be able to live in it.
Bernie narrowly won California. Without mail ins and the split vote it would have been Biden.
Moreover,
Biden won the states that will be contested in november. Winning California is not the challenge.
31
The real question is who will vote for the democratic candidate in the general election. I think sander’s voters will defect faster than Biden’s. It’s the citizens that don’t vote at all that end up deciding for us in the rest of the country.
5
@South Of Albany Great point. Bernie Bro's aren't about supporting another candidate -- even if means getting Trump out of the office. They might even vote for Trump. It happened last election. And, Bernie will most likely not be part of the Democratic party goal if it isn't about him. After all, he isn't a Democrat.
8
Since the voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada had a unique opportunity to examine Joe Biden closely for many months, The Big Question is "What Did Those Voters In The First 3 Caucus And Primary States Saw In Biden That Made Them Reject Him?". The earlier we find answer to the question, the better we can make decisions before it's too late in November 2020. But I have to say that Biden's team did a great job by both defining Bernie Sanders as unelectable and defining Biden as Mr. Electable. On the other hand, Sanders' team did a very bad job in terms of taking time to define Sanders as Electable based on the good polls that shows that Sanders consistently defeat Trump in Matchups and defining Biden as unelectable based on Biden's decades of bad policies and decisions. Instead,Sanders' team only focus on policies alone. Though Many People Prefer Sanders' Policies, They Also Do Care About Electability. Sanders' team have to find a way to talk about both policies or issues that people care about and electability
7
@Ukosi Absolutely. If the Sanders team is reading this, please emphasize the fact that Biden voted for NAFTA, that Biden supported the TPP, that Biden wrote the crime bill, that Biden voted for the Iraq War and continued to defend his vote years after, that Biden didn't support gay marriage even in 2008, etc.
These are not qualities that get Democratic voters excited nor are these qualities that would excite Rust Belt voters.
5
@Ukosi You can thank Mike Bloomberg. His commercials were brilliant and excellent reminding everyone how important to go out vote and throw trump out of the white house. Record numbers voted after Bloomberg got in the race.
4
@Ukosi Have you considered the possibility that not only is Mr Sanders "defined" as unelectable but that he is actually unelectable?
8
As Lincoln said, we can nobly save, or meanly lose democracy, our last great hope...or something to that affect.
Joe is no Lincoln, like marriage and democracy terribly flawed things but we have not come up anything better yet (Joe) to beat Trump, the greatest threat to our democracy imo since the Civil War.
So Joe is our last great hope.
19
I wonder what Warren will do. I hope she will make a move to the center for the sake of unifying our country. Biden is reliable but Warren is the voice of reform we also need now.
5
@DJY What is the unification in this? A lot of Bernie supporters have now witnessed first hand the corruption of the Democratic Party and the media. They will not vote for Biden, no way! Warren's moving to Biden will be a heightening of that corruption. Biden loses to Trump 100%
2
@DJY
She will lose all revenue and it will be seen as a betrayal of progressives.
Imagine if you supported someone and then all of a sudden they started doing what Trump is doing. Would you feel betrayed? It’s not exactly the same but people are fighting for specific policies on the progressive side and to stop the revolving door and money in politics that is destroying us.
2
@Kaushik Where is the "corruption"? Do tell. Bernie promised that he was bringing out massive numbers of new voters. He didn't. Seems to me that promise is corrupt, if anything is.
2
Can’t wait to see how Bernie and his supporters spin his position on the plurality of votes; will he keep his word and support Biden? Of course not.
21
@Matt Then the USA will have four more years of Trump, if Biden and Sanders don't compromise at a 60/40 ratio.
2
@Matt
Sanders campaigned relentlessly for Hilary last time and he will do the same for Biden if he loses the Primary
He is a Man of His Word
5
@Matt Bernie will, if he loses that is. But Bernie's supporters have now witnessed the most horrific cynicism and manipulation by a corrupt Dem establishment. They are not going to forgive the Democrats, they are sitting out the general if Biden prevails in this way.
3
I voted in California for Warren yesterday. I came very close to voting for Biden, though, and I'm happy he did so well. For me this is a one issue election - defeat Trump.
It was a smart move to have Pete and Klobachar drop out of the race. We need to keep our eyes on the prize.
32
@Delana Eyes on the prize can't be this. My eyes sees a old man, well-past his shelf-life, terrible political baggage, can't articulate anything and just winning through DNC machinations sponsored by big corporations. Not good for the general.
3
@Delana Amy was going to lose Minnesota she had to drop and protestors took over her stage forcing her to cancel her rally before the election. (upset over a life sentence to a youth)
2
@Kaushik Don't kid yourself. Our choices are 3 old men in varying states of decline, and each carrying full sets of baggage with them. I'll take Biden over the other two. And Bernie over Trump.
7
Time to unify. Some sort of unity ticket might be nice. Biden/Warren, perhaps, with a cabinet post for Bernie if he wants it. I would suggest Biden/Bernie but they are both far too old.
7
@Ben,
I like Biden/Warren, but not because of age. Biden will be 78, Warren will be 71. That's not enough difference to make a difference. I would really, really like to see Biden/Klobuchar. Perhaps Secretary of HHS for Sanders; let him show what he can do when he's in the hot seat.
8
@Charles Becker
Booker or Harris for V-P. Sanders for independent senator from Vermont.
3
@Ben Too far apart. Biden doesn't want changes. There's no common ground. Voters did chose the wrong moderate.
2
The entire argument for Sanders winning the general is based on increased turnout from votings blocs who have never really showed up before. Sanders supporters keep saying this time it’s different. Turns out it isn’t. The only realistic proven path is to seize the center. This has always been true and appears to be holding firm.
42
@T :
Have you considered Biden against Trump?
"The only realistic proven path is to seize the center."
How'd that work out in 2016?
For all the people saying "Biden guarantees trump reelected": what crystal ball do you have that says that Bernie would beat trump for sure? Especially given the advantages that Bernie couldn't even get a majority on Super Tuesday, with the advantage of the moderate vote being split? Why would Bernie do better in the general election?
18
@David Goldberg The last 3+ years under Trump have made me physically ill. That said, I could write the ads that would guarantee Trump's reelection if Sanders is nominated:
A still shot of Sanders, AOC, and Ilhan Omar, along with the word "Socialist" displayed across the screen. That's all it would take.
23
@David Goldberg:
We can't be sure Sanders would beat Trump.
(Do remember how everyone was sure Hillary would beat Trump, so "sure" isn't itself solid.)
But Sanders is a much stronger candidate against Trump than Biden.
"Especially given the advantages that Bernie couldn't even get a majority on Super Tuesday, "
This has nothing to do with the general election. And Trump will win Alabama and Tennessee in Nov.
6
@dtm:
Share your ideas for these ads please?
Biden because of things like the Iraq war is very weak candidate--especially against Trump.
2
Bernie fizzled out the last race and he hasn't done anything stellar his time around to think he can do better in this race which is more important because there isn't an unknown quantity running on the republican ticket. Biden of the remaining hopeful's stands out as the better choice to defeat Trump. Whoever wins the democrat primary will face a tougher battle because both Russia and the republican party will be more experienced in stealing the election. I don't think the DNC Chairman has spent enough effort in addressing that strong possibility. That's not a good thing because we have our country at stake in this election. There is also the chance there will not be another election because the republican senate could pull off a vote that makes Trump a life long president. To somewhat quote Nunez in that secret meeting recording he stated, we've come this far let's not lose it now.
12
@Vincent If that occurred, I think there would be violent revolt.
@Vincent
Biden defeating Trump? Are you on drugs? There is no better way to drive disgruntled Sanders and even Warren supporters to vote for The Donald, than the sleaze the DNC puts out every 4 years, which this time involves Joe Biden.
The winning ticket is Biden-Harris. It will mean turnout across the Board. It will even put pressure on Sanders supporters, whose tribal loyalty looks like the left's version of Trump's base, not to vote for Trump (which more than accounted for Trump's winning margin in each of Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin) or to sit out the election. And with Obama stumping for Biden and Harris, Trump loses the popular vote by at least five million, which should more than account for any electoral-college quirks.
17
@RRG, I actually agree with this. Harris never got traction but I think she is an ideal candidate for the Democratic Party to groom for future office and will also balance out the Biden ticket quite well. I see Harris/Buttigieg in 2024 after Biden decides one term is enough.
5
@RRG The winning ticket is Biden-Booker. Harris has too much baggage and is not as coherent a campaigner as Booker. A suggestion that Obama would be a top consideration for a Supreme Court seat would help too.
2
@DoctorRPP
Biden will never win the general.
Voters for change will not vote for him. He won't live long enough for a second term.
2
Bernie appeals to the young. Obama appealed to the young Biden appeals to the same group that made Hillary Clinton the choice to run. I fear that having a candidate as dull as dish water will put Trump in the White house for another four years. I will vote for whomever the Democrats put forward,but I would like to be excited about the choice.
32
@Dr John
Bernie also appeals to the elderly and those without a decent wage, health insurance etc
He appeals to more than just the young
5
@Dr John
If you dissect the exit polls yesterday, one group stands-out to me: an increase of non-college educated Whites in the Primary, and majority voted for Biden. HRC did not do well with this demography, which will be critical to win PA, MI, OH and WI in November.
5
@Dr John. Which makes you excited, a king or president.
I am an older voter in NC and I voted for Joe Biden yesterday. I am tired of third parties and far left candidates ruining the election and being heartbroken as in 1972, 2000 and 2016. So I voted for Biden. I remember the 1972 election of Nixon vs. George McGovern. George McGovern was the favorite of the young and he carried the day and won the Democratic nomination. But his radical policies of ending the Vietnam War (which Nixon ended up doing) amongst other things, scared the Middle Class and so even with Nixon's flaws he won the general election and later resigned due to his many crimes. So I was scared of history repeating itself and Trump winning another term and really ruining this country. We needed to be saved from Bernie, the radical spoiler. I agree with his policies but can't stand his character and his followers who have been described as "thugs" and I agree. He couldn't win even against Trump.
52
@DLN
Do you really think nothing has changed in this country since 1972?
If you were heartbroken in 2000 and 2016 when corporate milquetoast candidates lost the election, why would you attempt to repeat the pattern?
Biden will lose to Trump. We should be voting on policy and not emotion.
1
@DLN: Sad to say your understanding of history is the conventional wisdom. If we understood the true underlying lessons from the Nixon v McGovern election, American voters would double down on Sanders or Warren. If we understood the lessons of Nixon and Johnson's Vietnam war, we also would have avoided decades of war in Afghanistan. But America doesn't understand it's history so it repeats itself. And (mis) perception becomes reality.
4
I also love Bernie’s ideas and aspirations but the messenger is simply too angry, too uncompromising, and too divisive for me. I want to feel comfortable and safe in this country again and Biden gives me that feeling.
11
Many have already posted similar thoughts but more than any other election cycle I think it’s best if Biden take one of his fellow candidates as his VP.
Adding Klobuchar or Warren as VP would make a great deal of sense and further a moderate Democratic ticket based on principles that are widely popular all over this great land of ours.
Expanding medical coverage- not Medicare for all!
Gun safety
Criminal justice reform
Climate change agreements/plans
Infrastructure bills
Childcare spending
Things that improve the lives of EVERY American. That includes red, Republican areas!
Klobuchar and Warren both pushed similar, mostly moderate ideas.
Adding an accomplished female senator surely would not hurt either...
On a national level Biden will be very tough to beat. Adding Klobuchar or Warren would make it possible to actually get things done for a change!
19
@Is_the_audit_over_yet losing Warren or Klobuchar in the Senate would be tough though, especially since we could plausibly get to 50 Democrats.
1
@Is_the_audit_over_yet
If Warren were to sign on as VP, Dem's lose a senate seat to Republican Baker's appointed fellow (R) who then may have a leg up come the bye-election. (Same goes for Bernie's seat as VT has an (R) governor too.) A Dem president's hand will be tied unless we keep the House & flip the Senate, canning moconnell.
@Is_the_audit_over_yet It isn't my place to pick Biden's VP, if he wins the primary. What I will say is I have noticed his particular fondness for Buttigieg by comparing him to his own departed son. Does that mean anything? To me it means Buttigieg is either going to be his running mate or in his cabinet.
Looks like Liz Warren helped split the Progressive vote, or Bernie would have won several more states. He'd better team up with her, like today, if he still wants a chance at being president.
12
@Mike C. I know plenty of Warren voters who would've voted for Biden over Bernie and we don't have any reliable data to know what would've happened. Voters are complicated and you can't assume all Warren voters would've gone to Bernie. An equal number or more could've gone to Biden.
34
@Mike C. -- Bloomberg took votes from Biden. As they were still listed on the ballot, Buttigieg and Klobuchar also took votes from Biden also. Warren took votes from Sanders -- and will continue to do so until she steps aside (my guess is that she will bail before the next debate, and she won't endorse Bernie).
4
It's not about teaming-up, it's about Warren conceding that she's not going to win and endorsing Sanders. The classy thing for her to do would have been to leave before Super Tuesday, but no. Too self-obsessed.
1
If Biden is the candidate, I give trump 60/40 odds or better in his favor. Why?
A large portion of the voting public are driven by three things:
1. Flat wages
2. Job insecurity
3. Rising costs of living, especially medical costs. Most families are one disaster away from bankruptcy and there is no relief in sight.
This goes back years and has been getting steadily worse every year. Both parties don't want to talk about this because to fix it is to be "anti business," and neither party wants to alienate their biggest donors. So, in 2016 both parties are saying "more of the same" (which a lot of Americans aren't happy with). Both parties suffer revolts, led by Trump and Sanders. Sanders wants to change things, while Trump says "it's all someone else's fault!" (a classic tactic). The Democrats shut down Sanders, while the Republicans fail to shut down Trump. Trump wins because while he had no intention of fixing things, he at least angers the people who anger the voters, which makes enough people happy that Trump can stay in power. And the underlying problems continue to fester.
Now it's 2020. The Democratic leadership wants to return to the old message, now represented by Biden. And, again, they're working hard to shut Sanders down. So, if Biden becomes the Democratic candidate, we're right back to where we were in 2016, with the same people just as frustrated as before. Sadly, that's perfect for Trump.
Dems! Just address the underlying anxiety already!
25
@AB Ummm, the only thing I have been focused on is getting Trump out. Any other issue is irrelevant until Trump is out.
BTW, I know where all these candidates stand on the issues, but I don't care what candidate is nominated. The only thing I care about is that they can beat Trump in November. For myself, I think that is Biden. But, I'm voting blue no matter who.
5
Your assessment is right.
“Back to Normalcy” means back to where we started before, during and after the financial crisis. All that was bad, really bad. The middle class got played by the dems and Barack Obama’s speeches. Yes, at least Trump disses those responsible for flat wages for 40 years and a 10-fold increase in college tuition and health costs.
My mechanic, a decent, rather well-informed and hardworking guy, told me in 2016 about his daughter working at a coffee shop after he went into debt paying for her college degree (at Loyola University in LA). His son was living at home and looking for a job. His margins were going down, though he never let me squeeze my car into the schedule while his workers were at lunch. Decent guy, but also angry. His son went for Sanders at the primary then stayed home for the presidential, and the father voted for Trump.
I bet in 2020 it’ll be a repeat for that family, and many more millions like them.
1
@AB le sigh. There is no anxiety re people who voted trump or refused to vote dem or at all. They lead with their wallets or their prejudices. Full stop.
Can we not rehash this faux anxiety that every peer reviewed paper showed was prejudice etc?
Thanx
1
Hillary Clinton's experience on Super Tuesday, 2016, was better than Mr. Biden's result. But how many of these Southern states did she win in the general election? None that I recall. It may help Mr. Biden to garner the nomination, but it won't elect him President. He'll need to commit to some real reforms: get in touch, have a clue about what's going on and what to do about it: generate some enthusiasm to get elected.
32
@bruce Turnout is way up this year from 2016. Biden doesn't have nearly the headwinds that Hillary had. Unless he stumbles horribly, he'll defeat Trump.
4
@bruce I agree. And a return to civility and integrity is not going backwards, it's righting the ship that is listing so badly from the current administration which lacks both in any measure. It's clear the American people want solutions - it's a disgrace that there are uninsured and underinsured citizens in this country. We have complex problems that aren't going to be fixed by tweets and bullying refusals to advance legislation. I, too, think that Bernie has some good policy ideas, but having lived in the midwest most of my adult life, with very fine, hardworking people, I just think Bernie is more than they get behind. So first we need to oust the Cheeto and then hopefully these distractions can be minimized and real progress made.
4
Kind of makes me nauseated to see the unsuppressed joy of CNN anchors announcing the Biden "miracle"...I suppose the last thing the mainstream media wants is a presidential candidate who is not beholden to the corporate world, who actually believes in a living wage for all, and who would work to banish the class-based caste system that is so entrenched in our American society. The Machine gets what it wants.
44
@mark alan parker, it was nauseating for sure. I switched off the sound, better to see the joyful smiles of all concerned. Unbelievable.
2
@mark alan parker
Also incl. this very site, NYT.
2
@CK True that.
1
Oh dear. The Bernie supporters are out in full force threatening again to vote third party or stay home if they don't get their way. Just like last time.
61
@Morgan It’s what they do. They have no respect for democracy or the will of the people if it conflicts with their ideals.
9
I can’t worry about who anyone else is going to vote for anymore. It’s time for everyone of conscience to vote against Trump. People who can’t fully embrace that need to be sidelined.
9
@Morgan And Dems lost the last time. What are they offering now? More of the same? D'oh.
7
Vote for the man representing those who supported the Iraq debacle, shipped manufacturing jobs off to China, locked up millions of Africans, presided over practically zero wage growth and a ten-fold increase in the cost of education and healthcare which in every other rich country is a human right, all the while giving away the American economy to corporations run by billionaires?
No thanks. The only way I’ll vote Democrat is if Bernie or all his policies are on the ticket.
Otherwise why rock the boat?
14
@Yasser Taima
Well then, why isn't Bernie's message resonating with black voters? Perhaps they are voting their own best interests in supporting a moderate democrat - establishment or not - who appears to be able to unify the Democratic party and defeat t, whereas Bernie has too much perceived down side risk.
4
@Yasser Taima
Obama and Biden couldn't do the things you wish they had done because the Republican Congress wouldn't let them. Obama couldn't even get a vote for a Supreme Court justice.
So how can you blame Biden for zero wage growth etc.?
None, NONE of Bernie's dreams will be enacted by a Republican senate, and if he heads the ticket, you can say goodbye to flipping the senate.
It isn't enough to promise and dream, you have to legislate. What legislation has Bernie ever passed?
6
@Yasser Taima So you'll "vote" for voter suppression, dirtier water, ecological disaster, no or bad medical insurance, more tax cuts for the rich?
5
Will Bloomberg kneel and kiss the ring? For what it's worth, I still find it hard to believe Biden received all of those votes.
6
@David H. Well, the voting was done on those superduper reliable voting machines. They reliably deliver the result they have been programmed to show. They can even be made to play Pacman.
1
@David H.
What do you think, the Russians hacked into the voting machines to make Biden win knowing Bernie would win the general election?
1
Biden will probably be the nominee, and Trump might be reelected. Biden has a lot of baggage, and Trump will be sure to highlight it. This includes: Agreeing to social security cuts; Bankruptcy Bill; Crime Bill; NAFTA and
Chinese Hedge Fund. Plus he makes mistakes and has a bad attitude when confronted with questions/ comments he dislikes. Biden can turn people off. Of course, Trump has even more problems and a bigger baggage. Perhaps Biden will become adept at attacking Trump and at highlighting his many major issues like lying, cheating, abusing women, etc. etc.
5
@Hoping For Better
Worse of all is Biden created a tax free zone in Delaware. He has made a career of protecting banks, credit card companies and Wall Street.
Look what he did to Anita Hill.
Hunter has had many jobs and board positions because of his father. It will all come out.
Biden cannot win.
2
@Hoping For Better You do know that Sanders also voted for the Crime Bill, right? I wish people would stop bringing that up like Sanders stood above the fray and voted against it.
1
Finally moderate dems have woken up and decided they dont want socialism. Because in the end, it will be moderate, middle class people who have to pay for Bernie's pie in the sky "free stuff". Nothing in this world is "free". Its just a question of who is paying for it. Life in america under joe will be some what marginally better than under trump, unless joe actually dies put Beto in charge of gun control. If he does that 2A states will become sanctuary states for gun owners and they may actually secede from the union. Then we're in trouble. But even if trump defeats joe, life would still be better under trump than under bernie. If Bernie gets his way it wont be long before you no longer recognize America. It wouldn't be long before all the billionaires bernie thinks are going to pay for all the free stuff have fled to better tax domicile and the middle class are the only ones left to puck up the tab. Then we will see austerity programs like those currently on effect throughout Europe. Thank you, no.
14
No. I won’t go so far as to say life under Trump would be better than life under Bernie. That’s not true. Bernie would appoint qualified people to run the vast operations of our government rather than appoint people who want to destroy the government agencies they work for. He wouldn’t keep kids locked up in dangerous, underfunded facilities. He wouldn’t appoint right wing judges to lifetime appointments. He wouldn’t continue the environmental deregulation and destruction that has gone on under Trump’s watch. He wouldn’t just decide to assassinate other world leaders on a whim or tweet threats against his enemies.
This goes for all of the Democratic candidates. Any of them would be a vast improvement over Trump for these very reasons. It’s why we need to keep our eyes on the prize and make sure we kick Trump out of the White House.
5
@bored critic
Denigrate half the electorate that voted for Bernie. By all means a winning strategy by moderate Bros.
Exit polls show Medicare for all was the top issue except for beating Trump.
I have no idea what Biden represents beyond beating Trump. That’s it. Any policy is just a copy of someone else’s work and will be promptly ignore if the bankers that fund him don’t like it.
2
@bored critic
"Finally moderate dems have woken up and decided they dont want socialism."
They haven't got the foggiest idea what it really is.
I watched Jill Biden during her husband's victory speech last night, when the protestor stormed the stage. She physically fended off a protestor and she led Joe to turn back around and face the crowd, as he looked to her. If Biden becomes president, she will be very important and powerful, perhaps in the same manner as Nancy was to Ronald Reagan.
14
@tanstaafl I saw the clip of Jill Biden and was impressed.
3
Many young people feel left in the dust: we did not grow up with the subsidized higher education, workplace benefits, and high wages of the generations before us. Instead, we are left with a dying planet, pillaged social security, and a DNC that actively conspires against our chosen political candidates.
Perhaps most frustrating at all is the repeated, stubborn insistence by older leftists that their strategy of picking a moderate is the safest route. Shooting for the middle was a failure for Kerry and Clinton, and it has allowed the political narrative to lean so far to the right that public healthcare and historically moderate tax brackets are today considered radical extremism. Instead of defending this strategy against its troubled history, I see time and again that baby boomers merely rely on the "wisdom of age" to justify making the same mistake over and over again.
Young progressives have been failed by their elders. The least older voters can do is to allow the young the opportunity to bandage up this broken world we are to inherit.
31
@Theo Gifford There's something of a Catch-22 here. Politicians would listen more to younger voters if they showed up in large numbers, but if politicians don't pay a lot of attention to younger people, they don't show up to vote. It's a vicious circle. Instead, what happens is that older people show up to vote at a *much* higher rate than younger people, and politicians act accordingly.
I'm a boomer who benefited greatly from the generous help the federal government used to provide to students, in the form of low-interest loans that didn't (even) accrue interest until I was out of school. I think it was a wonderful policy, good for the entire country, and I very much want it to be restored. It probably won't, and it's guaranteed it won't if you don't show up to vote and Trump is re-elected. Betsy deVos is actively hostile toward college students.
As much as anything, I wish you would show up and vote D for the environment and for some possible action on climate change. It's not clear Biden would do a great deal, but it's guaranteed that Trump will move in the wrong direction; he's in full-fledged denial of science.
If you show up and vote, things might improve. If you sit it out, it's a rock-solid guarantee things'll get worse. Please vote.
21
@Theo Gifford
In a highly polarized country that leans center right, elections are close. The fact that Hillary and Kerry lost is not evidence that centrism loses. Bill Clinton and Obama were both moderates and they served two terms each.
The conservative bent of the country, coupled with an electoral map tilted in their favor means that the Republicans are always favored to win and their margin of error is always larger. Conversely Democrats will always struggle to thread the needle and eke out a win because they have a more diverse coalition that includes non dependable voters. These especially include the young, who reliably don’t vote. The fact that they lose sometimes doesn’t mean their strategy is flawed.
Boomers didn’t vote when they were young either. That’s one reason McGovern lost.
8
@dtm
Of course I'll show up and vote D. I too am dismayed by the lack of participation by other young people. I think a lot of people my age don't participate because they feel disenfranchised. I agree with you about the cycle - young people would indeed be less disenfranchised if they voted in greater numbers. However, I think the DNC is also in part to blame by failing to be impartial in the nomination process, as well as the so-called liberal media for constantly framing moderate new deal liberalism as "extremism".
2
Who in the world think Biden is going to be President??? Don't buy that narrative. I'm so disappointed that have completely lost track/interest altogether. Is going to be a repeat of 2016/Hillary,like her Biden thinks that it is his time... Not voting on November. Sorry.
11
@Julio Figueroa
Vote in the primary for Warren or Bernie. Send a message that you are not backing Biden and the status quo.
Vote for change. Keeping fighting.
Not voting doesn’t absolve you of your responsibility. Not voting against Trump means you bear responsibility for his next four years in power. That said, I don’t care what you do anymore. That’s on you.
@Julio Figueroa I am not either.
My state votes next Tuesday. My heart is with Warren but I’m voting for Biden. He has the best chance of beating Trump. Time to get behind him America.
26
@Raydeohed
It's interesting, because so many people assume Warren is taking votes that would go to Bernie and that she should drop out to consolidate the progressive vote. However, what I keep reading in people's comments is the opposite. If Warren drops out of the race, their vote will go to Biden. I think the idea of consolidating the progressive vote is based on a false assumption.
6
@Raydeohed It is votes like yours that will help keep policies the way they are. Why should the D party move to enact any of Warren's or for that matter any progressive policies that anyone champions if the main results they see are the votes for moderate policies?
Keeping doing the same thing and you'll keep getting the same thing.
The strategy for voting in a Primary are different than the ones for voting in a General.
@Hope
Your on a board the supports people like Bloomberg. This is a moderate right leaning place. The only thing liberal is sympathy for people if it doesn’t actually cost them anything.
I'm not sure what all the excitement is about? Is it to show that Biden is the 'better' man (with 'better' still remaining unspecified), or that America is so stuck in the past, that she is incapable of even thinking, let alone accepting change, as mildly radical, as what Sen. Sanders offers (universal healthcare among other things, oh the horror!)?
19
@waldo The concept of universal healthcare isn't radical. Promising to upend a large chunk of our economy, workforce, and public policy in less than 4 years with a split Congress is. We need to move in that direction but far too many people and systems are currently invested in the status quo. A lot of people who work in health insurance or healthcare adjacent fields, for example, will be displaced. Not evil, greedy folks but actual, normal Americans whose jobs will either disappear or alter radically. That kind of shift takes time. Plenty of Dems who aren't Bernie-ers support universal care--we just want realism and pragmatism. A viable way forward, not angry shouting and empty promises.
2
When can we expect Russia to get universal healthcare?
Anyone know if Corn Pop wants the nomination?
I'd vote for that guy over Trump. Or Biden.
7
Something isn't adding up. And reading many of these comments, I am deeply concerned about the mental well being of many people. I am as liberal as they come and after reading comments on here - I've come to one singular conclusion - Trump probably picked up thousands of new voters last night and this morning and you can consider me one of them. People that spike their own identity and liberty and rather vote for a "tree stump" over Trump. These people are weak and lack critical thinking. Trump is as polished as a slug, I get it.
But...
In this absolutely terrible collection of Democrat characters, Bloomberg was my guy. I actually didn't even like him that much - much less than a I did when he did a great job as Mayor on NYC, but he was the only redeeming person in this charade. Anyone who thinks Biden makes it to the finish line is absolutely delusional and in denial. There is something not right with the guy, medically speaking (he can't even tell which is his wife or sister) and he just seems like a slow moving, garble of an old mess and there is zero chance I vote for him. None. Early on, maybe, but he has aged 5 years in the last 6 months. He is showing all the signs that he could be six feet under within 12 months. Don't hope for that, but Dr. Death is definitely about to knock on the door. And this is who we want half (or more) of our country to aline with? Or Sanders - a Socialist?
People you're out of your minds. It's too bad. I'm gonna vote Trump this time.
4
@NYC
Many Republicans were behind Bloomberg in CA. He should have stayed in as an alternative.
It is a hot mess. Then he endorses Biden. It doesn't make sense.
@NYC
Bloomberg is a republican. He just buys democrats and became one to run in NY.
@NYC Liberal as they come. Not. If you even consider Bloomberg than you knock yourself out of that category and I'd vote for a tree stump over that traitor in office any day. No liberal would ever cross that line. That's like being a Yankees fan but going to Fenway and yelling go Sox. Can't be done.
If it's Joe, then he needs a VP pick that will generate enthusiasm and totally bewilder Trump/Pence. My suggestion is -- if she can be convinced to run -- Michelle Obama.
4
@JD
Or Kamala Harris, or Stacey Abrams who has an excellent understanding of the Constitution and would make a great Attorney General. I'd love Michelle but I wonder if she'd want to put herself through all the pressure again.
1
@JD Apart from Michelle having rejected political ambitions many times, what makes you think she would like to serve "at the pleasure" of their former VP?
@JD
Now that would do it.
Why vote for another servant of corporate power just because he’s willing to dose bad medicine to the populace with a friendly smile? If Trump wins then at least the head spokesman of the disastrous neoliberal agenda of the last forty years Is just as despicable as the policies have been. Trump is the real face of corporate power. Part of the duplicitous sham of a system that mimics some of the features of a democracy is to soften the face of the people who implement their deplorable corporate agenda. They aren’t spending millions of dollars on these campaigns and their K Street lobbyists for nothing. We get to vote and they get to win.
8
So is a Biden/Harris ticket being contemplated? That would certainly check a number of boxes.
6
Let's nip one thing in the bud right now...there is NOTHING moderate about Joe Biden. He was, is, and always will be far left of center. Sanders fell over the edge years ago...comparing anyone to Bernie Sanders makes them appear sane and reasonable...that being said...the liberal media's claim that Biden is a moderate is a joke. Mayor Bloomberg...he could have claimed the center...and easily beat Trump. Biden is a different story. Yes, he won on Super Thursday (this what Biden called it over the weekend) but he is far from a moderate...in fact, in recent days he was touting his progressive record. If people think the strong economy will continue under Biden...they are wrong.
1
The narrative that "moderates coalesced" is at best poorly spun.
What happened with each of the leading contenders dropping out and concurrently endorsing Biden, timed perfectly with the party machine "loyalist", Jim Clyburn, backing Biden, Bloomberg dropping out and throwing his support and indirectly his money to Joe, was a well-orchestrated "hit job" on our democracy.
The largely monopolized corporate media s pushing the narrative that it just happened.
Throughout his Senate Career of 36 years, he voted consistently for laws that benefitted the TBTF and Wall Street and against citizens and consumers.
Biden comes from Deleware, which is less a democracy than a fiefdom, contorting its laws to meet the demands of its corporate lords, like our federal government today.
Biden cast many key votes that deregulated the banking industry, made it harder for individuals to escape their credit card debts and student loans, and protected his state’s status as a corporate bankruptcy hub. This hit the African American community disproportionally, just like Biden's votes on draconian criminal laws. Biden backed the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act which was the first step in undoing the sensible financial regulations learned from the Great Depression.
Biden's support of the Glass-Steagall Act, which once separated commercial and investment banking, facilitated the 2008 meltdown.
The criminal laws he signed hurt so many African Americans. Go Bernie
14
@Tom Paine
All true and Trump will bring it all up.
In Every Super Tuesday State With Exit Polls, Majority of Democratic Voters Support Eliminating Private Health Insurance
"Medicare for All is winning," said Alyssa Kang, community organizer with the California Nurses Association. by Jake Johnson,
Multiple studies show Medicare for All would be cheaper than public option pushed by moderates
Yale and Harvard researchers: Medicare for All reduces costs, while public option makes health care more expensive
IGOR DERYSH - FEBRUARY 22, 2020 11:00AM (UTC)
Is the centrist media bias bubble going to start asking questions or not?
10
I’m not sure I get the thinking of Bernie supporters crying foul. Is the DNC is establishment Democrats going public with their concerns and endorsing Biden a case of dirty tricksters? Are they supposed to not say anything despite their feelings that Bernie isn’t the right candidate? And what about all the people who cast a vote for Biden last night? Do their votes mean anything? Or are they seen as sheep who should not count because they listened to an argument from an establishment Democrat and it made sense? Is Bernie owed the nomination after 2016 and anyone who opposed him is being underhanded? Are we supposed to vote for Sanders even though he’s not increasing turnout? And are all the black voters, the acknowledged base of the Democratic Party, who so many Dems have asserted should be the voice that picks the democratic nominee, be ignored because they didn’t fall behind Bernie and voted in a more pragmatic manner?
Or has Bernie made mistakes by assuming he didn’t need to broaden his appeal. Seems now that he’s in danger he’s embracing Obama. Did he sell his supporters an unrealistic plan or did they sell it to him? Did his popularity and power go to his head?
Pragmatism is not the opposite of progressivism. We need to change the direction of the Supreme Court and the presidency. Our county is in danger. Sanders has the right to fight for the nomination and I hope he does. But if he’s not the nominee, it’s his failure, not dirty tricks from the establishment.
23
@Sacha
The criticism from the Sanders camp is not that DNC isn't playing dirty tricks but rather Super Tuesday exposes the length they'll go to hang onto the status quo and how change will be stomped out. It's to the point they'd rather anoint a flawed fragile candidate than even consider the rising star of a new guard. Get ready for a new party.
1
@Charles and isn’t that their right? Bernie and his supporters could work to reassure the establishment that Sanders is a workable choice. They have not. Warren made steps to assure the establishment. Bernie has not. It’s great that Bernie has never compromised his progressive vision. It’s also a liability. The establishment can change and it will. But the idea that the only way to demonstrate that change is to elect Bernie? Nope. Warren is a legitimate choice, a capitalist, an incredible woman who has a track record of compromise and instead of lining up behind her the establishment Bernie or Bust progressives worked as hard as they could to destroy her. So you can work for change on whatever form you can or you can decide there is one way and destroy anyone who gets in its path. But it will always be the right of every person to work for what they see is the best outcome, including establishment Democrats.
Bring on a new party. May it grow strong. But for 2020 it’s Dems vs Republicans with the fate of our democracy at stake.
2
@Sacha
The DNC have been wrong = twice so far. Why listen to them now.
1
Democrats have proven to be very strategic voters so far, and the future looks pretty clear for Biden. Most primary voters are more concerned with the strength of the party and beating Trump than any one issue that divides the candidates. They all agree on 80% of policy positions anyway. Literally the only thing Biden has to do until the convention is stay in good health. His choice of VP will be very consequential, as they are somewhat likely to become President at some point. That will be a good opportunity to unite the party and reach out to the liberal wing. However I suspect he's going to go towards somebody more like Klobuchar, which will disappoint many liberal activists.
9
@RD Klobuchar would be an excellent choice. She is one of the most effective senators.
3
@RD There are many other people besides liberal activists in play. Senator Klobuchar would appeal to many people who regret their vote for Trump. She would appeal to many independents. She is an effective Senator and would be an excellent choice for VP.
1. I voted for Bernie and think he has the best overall platform of all the remaining Democratic candidates.
2. I won’t demonize those Democrats who think Biden gives us a better chance of defeating Trump. I’m not sure they are correct but I can’t dismiss their argument.
3. I’m not seeing evidence of significantly increased voter turnout as predicted by the Sanders campaign.
4. Trump and company remain an existential threat to our republic. The quicker we can unite around our ticket, the better. Now is not the time for extended internecine bickering.
64
Former Warren supporter here who is ready to vote for either of the two current candidates. I completely agree with you.
3
Correct. Now is the time this for Bernie
1
Since the voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada had a unique opportunity to examine Joe Biden closely for many months, The Big Question is "What Did Those Voters In The First 3 Caucus And Primary States Saw In Biden That Made Them Reject Him?". The earlier we find answer to the question, the better we can make decisions before it's too late in November 2020. But I have to say that Biden's team did a great job by both defining Bernie Sanders as unelectable and defining Biden as Mr. Electable. On the other hand, Sanders' team did a very bad job in terms of taking time to define Sanders as Electable based on the good polls that shows that Sanders consistently defeat Trump in Matchups and defining Biden as unelectable based on Biden's decades of bad policies and decisions. Instead,Sanders' team only focus on policies alone. Though Many People Prefer Sanders' Policies, They Also Do Care About Electability. Sanders' team have to find a way to talk about both policies or issues that people care about and electability.
8
@Ukosi, as a Biden supporter, it was apparent to me that he was not 'on top of his game' early on, for whatever reason. I'd say partly because of all the conjecture about Ukraine. He did not seem to have that boost of energy that gives you confidence about a particular candidate. When he bolted out of New Hampshire and headed to South Carolina, I told myself 'this is it, he will throw in the towel soon'. But lo and behold, here he is, believing in himself and his message, HIS HUMANITY. I am all in.
6
@Ukosi I think the caucus format winnows out many voters except the most die-hard with the time and employment situation that allows them to spend a whole day casting a ballot. I know I don’t have hours to cast a ballot, no matter how much I might like a candidate. Ain’t nobody got time for that.
2
Well, this is becoming interesting. Both candidates have significant weaknesses; Biden, as someone pointed out, sometimes appears to be a tree stump; Bernie appears not to compromise, ever.
But, on the good side, they have very different programs, to the extent we even know Biden's programs, and they have completely different personalities. Biden, the nice guy, Bernie the screamer. Very interesting. Maybe, with any luck, we'l have an election in which the candidates actually argue their policies and approach to life, and we will have a choice among those policies and personalities, not among adverts and name calling. Now, or very soon, is the time for Biden to move left, adopt some forward-thinking policies that show he is connected. Perhaps a white paper on health care; a risky stance in the Middle East or income disparity. What does he want to do? Bernie has blocked off any move to the right. No moderation for him.
5
A Warren spokesperson said “She’s going to take time right now to think through the right way to continue this fight,”
This means she is speaking with both Biden and Bernie's people.
She'll be gone by Thursday night.
I hope she throws her support behind Biden.
11
@Javalin Two old men who are nearly 80, one who recently had a heart attack and one who appears to be pretty well along the road to dementia. I don't see any reason for Warren to consider this a done deal.
5
@Maple Surple
I think she wants to keep her options open for the Vice President position, knowing full well that 4 years as president will take a toll on either of them. Look how white Obama's hair turned after his second term.
1
@Javalin: Since Warren is a former republican who hid out in the democrat party for personal gain, and what with her history of deep corporate ties, I have no doubts in the world that she will support Biden.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
2
With the contest simplified to the progressive and the moderate candidate, the voters choice will become more clear.
I would have reluctantly voted for Bernie - because as uncompromising and inflexible as he is, he's better than Trump in his aims if not his ability to work with others. I like Biden, I'd have been good with Warren as well. It seems to me that this was the end of Bernie's chance - his most favorable states just finished, and he didn't win all of them. What is left are states where Biden has the edge.
I don't like Bernie and his movement. They're just the reflection of the MAGA group - sure they are right, no compromise, no desire to run as the President of the United States, only as the President of their wing of the party, and no concessions to the whole rest of the country.
32
@SusanStoHelit
We are not magas. And since half the electorate of democrats is voting for him it might be wise to listen to people screaming for a voice that had constantly been denied. Are you going to listen or just hit them in the face like a Trump maga smearing them all?
1
If Biden gets the nomination I can only hope he is wise-astute enough to choose a younger and more PROGRESSIVE VP to help bring the party together and create a vision for the future versus returning to the flawed status quo. Lots of good choices and quite likely his decision will determine his success in defeating tRump.
27
@Neil Sounds like his choice will be Pete.
1
@Neil I'm putting my money on Stacey Abrahams for VP.
Even though I believe him to be a weak candidate, I cast a very reluctant vote for him for next week's Washington primary, for lack of an alternative that was any better.
Hopefully, Bloomberg's billions will prop him up.
While I like the energy that Sanders brings to the table, he's just too far left and refuses to compromise. And the surge of young voters he's supposed to turn out just aren't there.
22
Biden-Bernie would sweep both the popular vote and electoral collage if they both made compromises in the spirit of both American politics and on behalf of the voters they represent.
4
@Spencer Good point...but I fear neither is willing to do it.
Corporate Democrats like Biden have been dreaming for ages of replacing the GOP as the party of Wall St and white sub-urban economically conservative moderates.
Sanders has been fighting all his life to return the Democratic party to its FDR style roots.
The two world views are irreconcilable especially since this is the last stand for both of them who are close to 80.
It would certainly be good for the party if they put out a unity plank but it is likely not going to happen.
7
@Spencer At least McGovern had someone balancing the ticket.
@Spencer Bernie would never accept such a proposition. Sanders only cares about winning.
4
Howard Dean was just interviewed and said what I've been saying all day:
Bernie and Liz represent many policies that a majority of Americans care about, the wage gap, inequality, affordable health care, climate change, so if Biden actually wants to win, he needs to adjust his policy platform to include concessions to many of those policies, which come from the liberal faction of the party.
I'd like to see Biden ask Warren to be his VP now, today, to see if she'll campaign along with him. I think it would help.
28
@Sydney
I disagree. I think the choice of Amy Klobuchar for VP would be best for getting the votes of midwest swing voters & moderate Republicans who voted for Trump in '16 & are sorry - particularly voters in the important electoral college states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio & Pennsylvania.
In addition, the current governor of MA is a Republican. He would probably appoint a Republican like Scott Brown to fill the remainder of Warren's Senate term. The Dems can't afford to give up a Democratic Senate seat!
10
@Sydney When I look at Sander's supporters I see so many young people! They obviously want a hope and a future in a country that only offers them trillion-dollar deficit spending charged to their account, low-paying jobs, unaffordable housing, enormous college debts and environment catastrophe. No wonder they are looking to Sanders, who "promises" to work on all these things. Biden's is the "the same old, same old" to these young people. If he and other centrist Democrats are to get these young people voting for them they have to address the real problems that they face and show that Democrats have real solutions. Otherwise, apathy and brain-drain emigration will be the result.
12
@MEO Problem with Bernie is that he doesn’t know how to work with others. In his many years in the Senate, he introduced only three bills that became law.
8
I would have liked a Warren-Klobuchar ticket but felt I had to choose between Bernie who might negatively affect the senate going blue
or Biden who thinks Obamacare is great and just needs a little tweaking. Sigh!
They say Medicare for all will cost trillions and trillions. That’s true based on the cost of our present healthcare system where health insurance companies, certain doctors, hospitals, labs, imaging companies, and pharmaceuticals are gouging the system.
We can start by auditing the entire system looking for and controlling price gouging.
Then dropping the age for Medicare to 50 years which is when insurance companies really ramp up premiums.
Then offer government sponsored catastrophic coverage to those under 50 who incur unexpected bills over $10,000.
Whoever becomes president should listen to the other side and incorporate some of their best ideas in a way that is reasonable and affordable.
7
Last time, Bernie stayed at the party too long. If he can't win, he should get behind the collective effort to defeat Trump under another banner (i.e., bow out). I'm sure Biden will carefully calculate his VP options but Warren should be high on the list -- Obama was coming in from the outside and brought in an insider as VP for balance. Biden could balance and gain daily perspective by bringing in a progressive woman as his partner in management.
18
@Joe
Bernie will stay at the party too long this time too. He talks the talk about getting rid of Trump, but he and his supporters don't mean it. They want what they want and they're more than willing to punish everyone by handing Trump a victory.
18
@Morgan
We want a anyone who can shake up this oligarchy. No more status quo. Give us a candidate that can do that. It ain't Joe.
5
@Joe Biden will likely choose Klobuchar as a running mate since she endorsed him when she did.
2
Unfortunately for Sanders, timing is not right now as it was not in 2016.
After the Obama years, the economy was saved from catastrophe and was on an ascending path. Majority of Democrats were looking for a continuation.
In 2020 this is about saving America from the dark side, not change the economic system.
I assume Biden will run on a single 4y term, and he will pick as VP the best presidential shot in 4 years.
13
@Euxinus
The rich were saved. The rest lost their homes, jobs, lives, marriages, health care etc.
@Euxinus The market had sooo much love for O, just like arbitragers, eh? We know who the Chinese, Russian, Iranian, Venezuelan despots want. And it makes the EU look better to have someone less competent leading the US.
Anyone but Trump or Sanders. I'm thrilled with the current state of affairs. I have someone to vote for now. I would have preferred Buttigieg, but Biden will do fine.
67
I backed Sanders but will not vote for Biden in NH in November. He promises more of the same.
7
Yes, Biden will do, but not really fine.
@A M A I'm with you. I was an early supporter of Buttigieg (saw him as a good mixture of Biden moderation and modern progressive ideals), but I saluted his decision to back out before Super Tuesday, giving Biden a better chance.
9
The Biden camp now needs to reach out the Bernie and Warren supporters with some concrete recognition of their legitimate concerns and ideas. I think he will do so.
As a graduate of the then tuition-free City University of New York (with once nearly as many Nobel Prize winners as MIT) and as a current Medicare beneficiary, I have experienced the personal and social benefits of M4A and affordable public higher education. Let's acknowledge good ideas and work to implement them.
89
@Bruce The establishment does not think that way.
Clinton picked boring Tim Kaine a corporate Democrat in spite of the nasty primary and the need to unite the party. As a result she lost enough votes to Jill Stein in WI, MI, PA to cost her the EC.
I suspect Biden will do something similar. He will pick a corporate democrat as VP and take the risk of losing WI, MI, PA again by telling himself that he will win FL or TX or something.
Dems are solely dependent on a bad turn in the economy or some kind of external disaster to tank Trump.
7
The two party system is inherently skewed toward establishment party politics and that is bad, especially for the Democratic party. While the Republican party has long been a monolithic voting block party with little interest in Independents, however, ignoring Independents, especially younger voters could pose a threat to the Democrats. First time Independent voters that are not allowed to vote for their favored candidate in the locked primaries could foreseeably cast a protest vote in the general election or equally as damaging simply stay home in November.
17
@William Question - If they are a supporter of Bernie, why don't they register as a Democrat in order to vote in the DEMOCRATIC primary. Furthermore,why can't a person running for president in the Democratic party actually join the Democratic party.
25
@William Problem with your view is that the votes cast are the votes. They don't reflect an establishment. Bernie gave up delegates to Joe in his home state of VT. That's not the establishment.
4
@Nate
Isn’t Vermont typical independent? There is a history there.
it's a shame Bloomberg dropped out but he started his campaign too late. his ads were amazing. very disappointed in what's left. of course, it's not like with the electoral system we have, I even have much of a say. by the time I vote in 2 months it's a done deal.
8
@dbb
McDonald's advertising is also amazing. It has to be so that people with pay a lot for unhealthy junk food. It doesn't mean that junk is good for us.
3
@dbb Bloomberg acted 100% business-like. He wanted Trump out, did not see a viable candidate in October (Biden did badly those days) and started his own campaign. Now Biden has recovered and is a viable candidate there is, in Bloomberg's own logic, no reason to continue his campaign.
Anyone can bring-in money; Bloomberg brings in his data science team, considered one of the best in the world.
He still has 99% of his original wealth to help out other candidates
4
@AHe
Bloomberg wanted progressives out more than Trump.
As is inscribed by the Delphic Maxim "nothing to excess." Between tRump and Bernie sits average Joe. That's what we Democrats like.
11
@Lucretius An average, elderly man. Great. Just the vision that the nation needs to meet the challenges in the next decade.
2
@Lucretius It is not what we like, at least many of us. It is what gets a Democrat elected. You have to appeal to some Republicans to get elected. Democrats or Republicans are not a majority in this country. You have to win Independents and some Republicans. But you can't have spoilers and radicals as nominees or you won't get anything done and you have to get Senators and Representatives to come in on your coattails. Sanders has no coat tails.
1
In the general election, I'd vote for a tree stump, if it were the Dem nominee, in order to dump Trump. I expect nearly all Dems, many independents, and even a few Republicans feel the same.
But, I'm not feeling confident about Biden. He's even more inarticulate than ever, says little of substance, seems significantly out of touch, is about as status quo as you can get, and he keeps harping on about working with Republicans, as if he's been under a rock for the last 15 years, including the 8 he served as VP. To be brutally honest, Biden doesn't have much more going for him than a tree stump.
Biden better pick a really strong, really diverse, and really inspiring team, starting with his VP pick (Stacey Abrams, please!), and including his cabinet picks, which he'll need to announce BEFORE the general election if he's going to have a serious chance of winning. Otherwise, I don't see how he does any better than Clinton, even factoring in Clinton's baggage and Trump's now record as president.
68
@fact or friction I have full confidence that Biden, with his wealth of experience and skills, will assemble a team of excellence, competence, and integrity!
10
@fact or friction But he can get elected. And that is what is important. I had a talk with other voters on Monday and we were all concerned about Trump winning so our only concern was the candidate winning against Trump. None of us thought Sanders would win because he is only for himself. He does not care about any other candidate. Only himself. Can't work with others. Too radical and will not compromise to get anything done.
10
@fact or friction - Clinton's real baggage was that she was running on the name and results of her husband. This nation has never elected a Presidental Spouse as President, and I would bet the farm it never will... especially after the Hillary disaster, which will never be forgotten.
1
I don't know why they don't aggregate the moderate vs the more left blocks of candidates. It will show the true sentiments. Also if someone "won" when they have 34% vs 33% or something like that it means a tie... I guess the news have to make headlines to get eyeballs
6
@gavin The media made up the idea of "won". The agreement was that candidates receive a portion of the delegates determined by their vote counts. It was never winner take all. Bernie "won" Nevada but didn't get all the delegates.
3
@Human GPS
Did they even say he won? Wasn’t something like third place good or something.
The generational divide in the Dem party is not a good sign for 2020.
Bernie is winning young voters by huge margins and losing badly with older cold war era brainwashed voters.
Biden is winning older voters by huge margins and doing terribly with young voters worried about climate change and student debt.
In a general election either way one group or the other is likely to be de-mobilized.
If Biden is the nominee the Green Party will run again in WI, MI, PA and Biden will lose young voters to Jill Stein.
If Bernie is the nominee Florida is off the map and Virginia could be close for Dems.
Either way, this is not looking good.
19
@CDP if only those young people actually voted.
5
@CDP Bernie is winning young voters, but not by huge margins. The increased turnout that was expected has not materialized. And it is exactly that kind of dismissiveness and divisiveness by Sanders and his supporters, referring to older voters as brainwashed, that has turned off moderates and independents and bolstered Biden's support.
13
@CDP You should not call older voters "cold war era brainwashed voters." We have witnessed too many spoilers causing elections to be lost. Nixon won because his opposition was too radical (McGovern), Bush W. won because of the third party with Ralph Nader, and Hillary lost because of Sanders' followers not voting and the Green Party. If Nader didn't enter the race, we wouldn't have had the Iraqi War and Gore was already aware of Climate Change and could have changed things but Nader was only for himself as is Sanders. Even if it means Trump wins.
4
Obamacare made my insurance prices skyrocket and all of you nytimes readers want to coalesce around Obama's VP? Aren't there other people here that can't afford their premium payments?? I pay the same now for a Bronze plan that I used to pay for a platinum plan before the ACA existed.
This country is pretty terrible and so are millions of people on both sides of the ideological spectrum.
19
@Jason
Because they cost more when you don’t have single payer. Recent studies are showing the for those who want it plans cost us more.
Obviously. It’s like a tax without taxing where the insurance companies distribute costs to the rest of us and we get nothing for it. They do this to keep their profits sky high.
7
@Jason I'm an unsubsidized, individual buyer, so I have followed this very closely, because I pay the highest rates. MFA would lower my expenses significantly. When the ACA was first enacted, my premiums were $5.00 LESS per month for the same coverage I had before the ACA. I had an 80/20 plan. Same HMO, same coverage. At that time. I could have gotten a 90/10 plan for about $15.00 a month more than what I was paying. I am healthy, rarely use my coverage, and 90/10 seemed like being over insured considering that. I can afford the OOP if I become seriously ill or need other major medical so I kept my individual 80/20. Now it's a 70/30 plan. I'm still comfortable with that, although not happy that my provider made the decision to restructure plans, not me. It has gone up every year since, due to Republicans in Congress sabotaging the ACA. A big part of this is because they were able to remove the funding that was in place in order to control costs until the country was supposed to be at full coverage in 2023. This year, mine went DOWN by about $10.00 a month because my state has increased the income limit for subsidies, so more people signed up, although I still do not receive a subsidy. I want this country to have a National Healthcare system. I do not think MFA, in the short timeframe that is proposed by Progressives is at all realistic, however. It would have huge, far reaching economic repercussions, and it wouldn't get past the Congress. I prefer pragmatism to idealism.
3
@Jason I hear you. But to be fair the ACA of today is not what it was supposed to be (it never was great) with all the tampering Republicans are inflicting.
Without a public option, or the young people's participation it will never be what it is supposed to be.
3
The "lead" of Biden alleged here fails to count California, which is still counting. Any reasonable count of California puts Bernie far ahead.
States that Biden won are many of the quite close, and the delegates awarded are split very evenly. These are not big wins, they are eeked out.
15
@Mark Thomason The predicted delegate count includes California. Biden is expected to have an 80 delegate lead after all Super Tuesday results are counted.
14
@Mark Thomason You should go back and check the numbers. In Virginia, for example, which saw a 500,000 vote increase over 2016, Biden won 53% to Sanders 23.08%, getting 66 of 99 delegates to Sanders 31. In North Carolina, Biden won 42.99% to Sanders 24.11% and received 65 of the 110 delegates to Sanders 35. In Arkansas, Biden garnered 40.56% compared to Sanders 22.36%, winning 17 delegates compared to Sanders 9. In Tennessee, Biden 41.72% compared to Sanders 24.94%, and 29 delegates compared to Sanders 15. I wouldn't call those results eeked out and I wouldn't say the delegates are split evenly. Of course, there are states that are closer; so far in California, there is about a 9% difference in Sanders's lead over Biden.
4
@Mark Thomason Nonsense. Biden enjoyed a landslide victory in several states including Virginia.
For the average American, Trump has been quite good. Stock markets are up, employment is up, he’s at least focused on holding China to task, and fighting to keep illegal immigrants out of our country.
Biden has criticized Trumps travel ban from China in the wake of the virus as “xenophobia”. Would love to hear how much longer Biden would’ve let planes come and go from China.
I was skeptical of Trump but he’s done far better than I imagined when elected.
7
@Rob Last time I checked, there was no travel ban to/from Italy, where the virus is now even more widespread per capita than in China. Hm... I wonder why...
4
@Rob The stock market have been pseudo pumped up by trump's tax cut, Fed's multiple rate cuts through trump's threats, and trillions of deficits. It is just like an overblown balloon, waiting for a tiny needle tip....
6
@Rob No, actually, he criticized Trump's response to the virus, not to the travel ban.
Warren lost in her home state and in her birth state on Tuesday. Does she find a message in that? Of course she still has some money secured by her PAC. Although she disdained taking such financial support, she did as needs must. If her only claim to fame is to push the Dem convention to a contested affair by denying delegates to the 2 front runners, we may get a further handle on why the people who know her best like her least.
Sorry that the best Dem candidate was forced out: Amy Klobuchar. She is younger, smarter, more accomplished than the two old men vying for the nomination: one an unrepentant hippie trying to reprise the Russian Revolution, the other a failing person on the cusp of senility. This is the best the Dems could do?
9
The early voting states in the Democratic primary process, like South Carolina and most of the Super Tuesday states, are chosen by the party for the purpose of consolidating its own power, at the expense of the voters' will and democracy. Many of these states have small numbers of Democrats that have almost ZERO chance whatsoever of making ANY difference in the outcome of the general election. Electoral votes from these winner-take-all states will almost certainly be determined by the many Republicans in those states, as (unfortunately) they should in our federation's representational democracy. So why do they have such pivotal importance in the Democratic primary process? This should be obvious. With the media's help, this small group of voters, who mostly belong to a single minority that votes faithfully with their leadership (who clearly collude with the national democratic party), are granted by the party (and media) establishment enormous power to PREVENT progressive reform (and other anti-establishment measures) that would apply to ALL Americans, regardless of their race, ethnicity, etc.. Such truly democratic initiatives are a threat to the political power and wealth of Democratic party. This power-sharing relationship is to a large extent responsible for the country's growing, dysfunctional divide between the "haves" and the "have nots". The Republican party doesn't need such corruption to do its part in this.
13
@carl bumba Maybe the best comment on the NYTimes right now, thank you.
2
@Ken B
You're welcome. It seems here we have a choice between a phony and corrupt party and one that's more honest, democratic and cruel. No wonder there are so many Independents.
1
I don't understand why Bernie doesn't characterize his Medicare for all program for what it is: a huge government expenditure for blacks, poor people, and even the lower middle-class . Biden talks a good talk, perhaps sometimes , but he has already said that he is not going to do this for a black population which is one of our demographics most in need of insurance that does not expire when they lose their jobs.
11
@Mickeyd I agree with you and communicates as much with Sanders volunteers who were higher up in the food chain than me, an ordinary volunteer. It has great benefits for the elderly that Medicare does not cover now. Working with older patients, I know a lot of them (and their adult children) are quaking in their boots because they cannot afford nursing home care, glasses, dentures, hearing aids, home health aides, adult day care, etc. Sander's plan would actually be Medicare Plus for All, not simply duplicate Medicare as it is now. If they took that message to seniors, esp. those middle-aged suburban women who shoulder the majority of elderly care logistically and economically, they might get more voters from these groups.
4
@Mickeyd
We already pay for it. The current system will cost us more than M4A.
4
@Mickeyd And yet African Americans are one of Biden’s largest sources of support. They are voting for what they want and it’s not Sanders.
4
I think many fear that Biden will be HRC 2.0 - arrogant, low energy, zero policy shift to the progressive base with the mistaken idea of appealing to moderate Republicans and picking a VP to the right of Joe a la Tim Kaine.
Enthusiasm will be low and moderate corporate Dems will be perplexed that more people will not vote due to simply not being represented....
Then Susan Sarandon, Russia, Jill Stein or Bernie will be blamed and never never never any reflection on you've got to offer people a reason to vote if you expect them to stand in line for 3 hours in places like Texas, Ohio and Florida where the local voting officials will make it purposefully hard for working class neighborhoods to have an efficient voting process....
34
@Cee You can say a lot of things about Joe Biden, but arrogant would not be one of them. And Super Tuesday was the proof you needed about so-called enthusiasm. The youth barely materialized (as expected) and moderates stood hours in line in record numbers (see Virginia) to oppose the self-declared king of the socialist democrats. What more do you need?
7
@Cee
Yes, progressives will be blamed for Biden’s failure, regardless of facts. The DNC leadership will need an excuse for why they lost, if that happens, and it won’t be because they are incompetent.
The facts from 2016 don’t matter to the DNC narrative. They lost way more votes to apathy and non-voting, even on ballots that were cast, than they lost to Jill Stein. Biden has many of the same weaknesses as Clinton.
Progressives who turnout will vote for Biden over Trump, and if he loses they will be blamed for the loss. On thing I’m more tired of seeing than Trump’s fat face is a bunch of moderate Democrats crying about why their electoral losses are someone else’s fault and everyone owes them their votes.
8
@Jazz Paw I have zero interest in what voters in CA want. Here in the South the Democratic Party is the only power that can ensure that blacks can vote. Every single election cycle this right is threatened by the conservative majority. Meanwhile progressives in solid blue states repeatedly refuse to consider the very real possibility that Sanders would have cost the Party big in down ticket races, *especially* in the South. Those losses have real world consequences for us.
Stacey Abrams lost by very thin margins in GA partly because of voter suppression. What were northern progressives doing about it? Nothing.
You need Democratic senators from the south more than the south needs Progressives. Get it?
2
I always remember how in 2016 all the pundits and experts explained to us lowly peasants how the election was going to play out. And then, Trump won.
38
Both Biden and Sanders have flaws. Both would have serious challenges against Trump. Sanders would be tarred as a "socialist" and Biden as corrupt by Trump. I'm not sure which one really has the best shot at beating Trump, but for down ballot races in swing district I think Sanders is pretty toxic. I ended up filling out my mail in ballot today for Biden, but not because I am jumping with joy. I didn't vote really early though, because I expected the field to winnow significantly after yesterday and didn't want to waste my vote. I think the switch of several states from caucus to an actual primary also helped Biden - many voters will vote who don't attend a caucus. Sanders actually advocated for that. He can't really claim in my mind that the "establishment" is out to get him because a caucus is really much more likely to be dominated by party diehards than a primary. I would also point out that Sander's strength with young people hasn't shown itself to be that big of a benefit in a general election. Young people have historically not turned out in numbers. I'm hoping that whoever wins the nomination they can defeat Trump - and I will vote for that person. However, Trump cheats, plays dirty and will do anything he can to win.
11
@dairyfarmersdaughter
Bernie Sanders is a social democrat. Many do not understand what he stands for because of the deliberate misinformation and fear mongering by DNC leadership, Democratic Party super delegates, media, and conservatives. Here is what he stands for:
"Social democracy is a political, social and economic philosophy that supports economic and social interventions to promote social justice within the framework of a liberal democratic polity and a capitalist-oriented economy. The protocols and norms used to accomplish this involve a commitment to representative and participatory democracy, measures for income redistribution, regulation of the economy in the general interest and social welfare provisions."
In this context, Bernie Sanders constantly promotes "social justice within the framework of a liberal democratic polity and a capitalist-oriented economy", etc. as stated above. Are those bad for the majority of the Americans? If people think that Sanders' plan to improve our situation is bad, then vote for status quo proponent, Biden, or status quo and worse to come, Trump.
2
@azarn Unfortunately words matter. There are a lot of people who do not understand this definition. This is not the fault of the DNC or even the mainstream media who most often compare Bernie's platform to Scandinavian style social democracy. I agree that conservative media tries to scaremonger. Bernie Sanders should not have used the word "Socialist" which has poor connotations in the popular culture. He could have put forth a platform using these principles without calling himself a "Socialist" and he would have garnered more votes.
As we all saw in 2016, delegates and votes mean absolutely nothing to the DNC. All the 2020 democrat wannabees, including "non-democrat" Bernie Sanders, signed a legally binding document authorizing the DNC to determine who the party's nominee will be: "I acknowledge that the national chairperson of the Democratic National Committee is authorized to determine whether a presidential candidate has established substantial support for their nomination as the democratic candidate for the office of the president of United States..."
All marketers know that getting a prospect to DO something increases the chances that they will buy the product. The DNC uses voting the way Publisher's Clearing House gets people to paste in those little stamps and mail them back. It is nothing more than an activity used to rope in prospects.
https://emcphd.wordpress.com
5
I can't even express how relieved and elated I am over the miraculous Biden turnaround of the last few days. Joe wasn't my first, second, or even third choice, but as my favorites kept dropping out it finally became obvious on Monday that Joe's candidacy is the only one that can defeat the Orange Pestilence. And the outcome of Super Tuesday was absolutely astonishing. For once the Democratic party got it together and did the right thing; kudos to Amy and Pete.
Joe is a flawed candidate, but at least his heart and his politics are in the right place. He has warmth, integrity, and intelligence, and enough humility to get smarter people to help him do the job of president. His potential choice of running mate could be VERY exciting (Amy?), and history making.
Bernie is the same old blowhard, running the same old, doomed-to-fail campaign he ran in 2016. I hope this time he does the right thing and throws his support wholeheartedly to Biden once he loses the nomination.
For the first time this election season I am starting to be cautiously optimistic that the Democrats will actually be able to eject the human pustule currently infesting the White House. Go Joe!
21
@Sylvia P. Amy for V.P.! Bring her on!
1
Perhaps now Bernie will fire up a spreadsheet so the next time he's asked, "How much will that cost?" he can conjure up some coherent answer. Biden's gaffes are cringe worthy but nothing compared to the lack of answer Bernie had when asked this question on 60 Minutes. While indeed, the problems Bernie is trying to solve are the right ones, answering this question with details *really* matters. Until he provides voters like me with substance instead of vague promises, the Thatcher refrain of governments "always run out of other people's money" is all I think when he speaks.
14
@MKE Man The Lancet recently published a report showing how Medicare for All can be cheaper in the long and short run than our present private insurance system.
There IS enough money for all of Sander’s public services, it’s just that we squander most of it on war and military bases abroad. There’s always money for war but public goods have to be fought for? What’s wrong with this picture?
9
make man... I wish someone would take your post and email it to all of Bernie's supporters. I liken Bernie and his supporters as pilots who take off on a transcontinental flight without checking the weather, making certain they have enough gas, or filing a flight plan. when will they get that details matter?
3
@Linda McKim-Bell your simply proving my point. He needs to have a detailed answer for *every* public service he is promising instead of generic responses piecemeal. I also want him to be able to answer this instead of others having to do it for him. Thanks for pointing out the piece. I will read it.
3
I wish I could get excited by Biden. I worry it is 2016 all over again. The only way Biden wins IMO is if massive voters show up and push him over the edge. You will need Bernie supporters to do that and every time I check in with NYT or turn on the tv it seems many of the editorials and commentators are bashing Bernie. We get it you don't like socialism and Biden seems, safe, normal, and predictable. He is the status quo at a time when many are sick of the status quo. But insulting the other guy repeatedly is not going to win over their supporters.
Can a status quo candidate win in this environment? No one knows for sure regardless of how they claim to be in the know. I guess we will find out in November. And if he can't we will know who to blame.
16
@Jennifer Sanders had a chance to show that he could bring out new voters to support him and he failed, polling fewer votes than in 2016. Biden's strength among blacks can carry him forward.
2
@Jennifer Hillary won the popular vote quite well without the support of Bernie or his vulgar supporters, and would be in the White House today if it wasn't for Russian meddling, Jill Stein and Comey.
The sizeable early pre-dropout votes for Buttigieg and Klobuchar, Biden’s own showing on Super Tuesday, and some surprising numbers for a beaten Bloomberg clearly show that the Dem choice for 2020 is “Moderate/Beat Trump” Biden, not “viva la revolution” Sanders.
If Warren is a team player and means what she says, she will drop out and throw her weight behind Biden so we can pivot, coalesce, and focus on the general for Biden vs Trump.
7
I agree she should drop out but I’m hoping she will act on principle rather than self interest and endorse Sanders.
9
It was so incredibly telling how Bernie spent his Tuesday speech attacking Joe Biden, but Joe spent his with rhetoric focused on bringing people together to defeat Trump.
Bernie, that’s why you lost, honey. It wasn’t a rigged primary. It was you and your alienating rhetoric.
I’ve never been prouder in my life of a vote, and after watching Jill “protect the quarterback” the way she did when the protestors rushed the stage, I had to go donate a little more to Joe. You simply don’t end up with a wife like that if you’re not a great guy.
Go Joe!
25
@Corrie Maybe you should vote for the wife .... She seems more alert than the candidate.
South Carolina hasn't elected a Democrat since Jimmy Carter -- and Jimmy Carter voted for #BernieSanders and says, we no longer live in a "Democracy" due to the Oligarchy (1% big-investments crowd) that OWN party-machine puppets like Biden, Clinton and the rest. I think the best plan forward would be for the Progressive Democrats to seek a "divorce settlement" and go it on their own as a new party.
9
@mjpezzi I agree.Long overdue.I'm sick of moderates preaching to progressives of party unity,asking me for my vote and then bashing Progressives for losing elections.How come progressives ALWAYS have to compromise,but moderates and wealthy elites never do? Time for a third party.
5
@Nora
They don’t see they are the centrist Bros.
1
Corporate Democrats, elites, and their donor base must wake up in a cold sweat worrying that the whispers of Biden's dementia doesn't turn to outright conversation. Or that he touches or smells a woman or girl inappropriately. His record will now come under inspection. His handlers can no longer hide him from the public.
They must know he will fail. After running two dozen candidates and finalizing on MrMBNA, what is their plan when that happens?
Sleep well?
12
I just made a healthy donation to Joe Biden : I recommend that all of us who were fence sitters looking for the right Democrat now have a clear choice and duty . We need to get behind Biden and push like crazy . The USA and the World can't stand any more of the current nonsense.
4
@GPG
Biden represents rich, white conservatives.
He's a Wall Street apologist and will cut social security the moment he's able to.
Why would people that don't fit those criteria push like crazy to support him?
4
Please note: in paragraph six you say that Vermont is Biden's home state. Biden was (famously) born in Pennsylvania, and for years has lived in and represented Delaware. Vermont is Sanders' home state.
5
So, after basically organizing a coup to stop Sanders, now you expect Sanders to quit and do what is best for the party? Good luck with that.
11
@Fabian What coup? Are you suggesting that millions of American voters colluded in some way? People VOTED for the candidates themselves.
5
Congrats to Joe on a hardfought battle and amazing comeback. He is not my first choice but won both the delegates and people. He can win this fair and square and get my vote in November with no shenanigans. The efforts of all the Democrats still standing should now be to attack the illigetimate occupant of the white house. How about Barak Obama for VP?
3
@Tibby Elgato "Hardfought battle" ?????
Do you mean a very strong and concerted effort by the democratic establishment ?
@Tibby Elgato
How about giving the progressives a voice instead of telling us you will go shake hands with republicans. Might be a good choice.
It might be a small lead, but so long as it keeps going in that direction I don't think that Joe will mind.
3
So California’s official results won’t be available for weeks and no one says it’s the end of democracy, but Iowa’s delay of a few days was a groundbreaking failure.
Interesting.
3
@andrew Not so interesting. California has an established process it is following and that is working... there were results to evaluate the same night. Iowa process was untested and failed.
5
@andrew
California knee it would be slow. They allowed people to register late and tried new things to allow more people to participate in our democracy instead of suppress it.
3
@Bob Schaffel Except that Sanders had to file a court brief to allow some precincts to be open another 5 hours because of "machine failures" and "operator errors". So California is no better. Perhaps go back to paper ballots like my precinct in N.C. It took me less than 5 minutes to vote.
1
Reliability test for million- and billionaires. Where are all those of them who wanted to pay more taxes? Patriotic Millionaires, Mr. Buffett, Mr. Gates and alike? Bernie Sanders is the only one who would fulfill they wish. Why aren't they supporting him?
4
Lifelong Democrat here. First presidential candidate I voted for was George McGovern and I’d do it again if I could. But right now, I find the process of selecting the nominee to be absurd. Joe Biden won a single primary and suddenly he was declared to have momentum, both by the party establishment and the press. Had Biden finished 2nd in S. Carolina, a state no Democrat can win in the general election, we’d be writing his political obituary instead of declaring him the anointed centrist. Now we face the prospect of an 8 month excavation of every iffy decision and odd statement in Biden’s lengthy career. If he’s nominated I’ll vote for him. If he loses I’ll blame it on a disastrous nomination process.
11
I cannot stand these conspiracy theorists and "the establishment is handing it to Biden" types. I am genuinely surprised that Biden bounced back so fast, but Mayor Pete hinted pretty strongly that he was done splitting the moderate vote, leading to his withdrawal and his endorsement of Biden after Biden's massive win this past weekend I suspect the others felt similarly. Sanders has consistently, even since 2016, polled with that staunch 30-ish percent of deeply enthusiastic supporters. That has not really gone up, and young people and non-voters have not gone out enough to shift the needle, as Sanders said that they would.
Meanwhile, moderates (Biden just being one) have continued to make inroads with people worried about Trump, like college-educated women, suburban voters, and former conservatives. The fact he also has a strong following in much of the African American community, which Sanders has struggled with, only adds to it. I don't know at this point who is better, but there is no conspiracy. it is simply the numbers.
15
@Brett It’s democracy in action.
5
@John Or hard deal behind the scenes....Buttigieg was not immediately so happy abruptly withdraw...I immedialy thought of him being offered the VP for his "sacrifice"...
It was all a concerted political move, a one however, which I think will backlash...
1
@Brett And the young do not turn out like the older voters. I voted for McGovern as well and you remember who won? Nixon.
1
If Elizabeth Warren had followed the example set by Buttigieg and Klobuchar, and similarly had dropped out of the race while endorsing her closest ideological ally, i.e., Bernie Sanders, then Sanders would have won at least four more states and Biden's campaign would be mercifully dead.
Warren can still ride to the rescue of progressive values and progressive causes. She and her team were awoken with a bucket of cold water in their faces, and it is clear to them now there is no path forward for Warren. The only thing she can do, and the only thing that will not betray her supporters, is to drop out and endorse Bernie Sanders, stat.
Many have questioned Warren's bonafides this entire electoral season, whether she is a true progressive, or still a Republican in progressive cosplay. If she supports the centrist, deeply flawed Biden with his long track record of getting key votes and policies wrong time and again, she will have proven her doubters correct.
The time is now, Senator Warren, the progressive movement needs your help. What are you going to do?
14
@Otis Tarnow-Loeffler Warren is going to endorse Biden in return for being named his VP. But she is only going to do that once she has siphoned further progressive votes away from Bernie.
9
@Otis Tarnow-Loeffler
The antipathy seems misguided to me; she's not the Senator from MBNA, she didn't humiliate Professor Anita Hill, her kid isn't paid by oligarchs, her campaign's not funded by American oligarchs, she doesn't believe in endless, useless wars because she's had mint tea with warlords. She wants every American to have a fair shake regardless of zip code, she wants to circumvent Mitch McConnell not partner with him.
3
@Otis Tarnow-Loeffler
Obviously you didn't take a very close look at the numbers last night because Bloomberg was far more a thorn in Biden's side than Warren was for Bernie.
3
Democrats -- this is easy. After Trump, the main requirement for a Democratic nominee is that he or she is a decent human being. ALL of our candidates fit that bill. That means, whoever is nominated by the people, we have to support whole-heartedly. And if we coalesce around that candidate, we CAN win in Nov.
16
@PT
"decent human being"...and simply sitting in the white house without doing anything besides watching TV...
The "I voted" sticker photo is ironic for those of us with late primaries. It feels like an end of season clearance sale; wish I didn't have to "buy."
5
@KS
I wonder if the Democratic National Committee can tell all the states that they must have their primaries on the same day if they want their delegates seated at the convention. Of course, an election in all 50 states frequents candidates from focusing on a few states at a time. Arguably, Clinton’s choice to focus on states other than PA, WI, and MI In the days just before the 2016 election played a part in those states going to Trump.
3
@KS Stickers are for voters and I voted Biden in Virginia.
1
Yup I suppose that Democrats are as filled with fear as Republicans are; maybe it’s human, cultural or societal in nature, I don’t think it’s necessarily a fear of four more years for Trump as much as it is fear of change. Most voters under 40-50 don’t have that same fear where most over that same age wake up every morning with that fear and a need to avoid change at all costs. Interesting, evocative, disturbing, revealing... For my own sanity as a less fearful 62 y/o I will choose to focus on an agreed goal of getting rid of the miscreant in the Oval Office and continue to focus my daily intention and gratitude on the idea that one day the human race may not be directed by it’s fear of all things versus it’s love of all things. It’s not so hard if you try!
8
I am a moderate who coalesced around Klobuchar. I will vote for Biden next time and would have voted for him in the primary. There were too many candidates.
21
There are many Dems who are close to Sanders' concept of an ideal society, as far as a wish and a dream go--wave the magic wand. But getting there bodes chaos and disruption. I am intrigued by Sanders' vision but it struck me that Trump has introduced a period of deep disruption and chaos, and if Sanders is seen as jerking it all in the other direction and more chaos, voters will not back him, no matter how much they like the vision.
It also struck me that unlike Hillary 4 years ago (who I thought was fine), Biden does not have that Clinton stink clinging to him. I think I was oblivious to how many people deeply disliked the entire Clinton machine. So Biden, on the wings of Obama, may actually do quite well up against Trump.
The DNC and party bosses and elites need to keep their noses clean, and do nothing to interfere with voters' choices before the convention. If they do not, it will be ruin.
35
@Jack Biden has plenty of stink, much of it his self-aggrandizing claims. He is beloved in much the same way as the self-serving, smooth-talking Ronald Reagan was. I hope he loses to Sanders, and I especially hope that he does not unleash the amount of harm to this country as Reagan did. His leadership is where our country seriously turned away from democracy and human rights.
10
@Fern It is Joe Biden, not Jack. If he loses to Sanders, Trump will win and the Senate will stay in Republican hands and perhaps the House will go back to the Republicans as well. It is more than the Presidency, it the legislature. Sanders has no coat tails as he is really an Independent.
1
@Jack Clinton had propaganda around her. You seriously think the propaganda machine won't go into overload mode on ole Uncle Joe? Is he going to challenge Fox News to a pushup contest?
The four states with the largest delegate hauls left are: NY, FL, IL and PA.
All four of those states are built for Biden.
It's over.
30
@Cousy Agreed. Joe from Scranton was PA's "3rd senator" for many years.
1
@Cousy For the Democratic Party.
1
While Biden was never on my list of candidates ( I worked and gave lots to Pete and then volunteered for Mike, a real class act and patriot like Pete), I will now support Joe.
We need to unify, Dems.
We need to beat Trump in November.
Joe is Joe. Warts and all we need to just get behind him and do it.
Mike will help by taking down Trump in his attack ads. The man is wickedly clever and has more money than Trump. Also, he knows where all the skeletons are buried and will unmask the psychopath like no one else can do.
Mike is turning over his entire machine to help the Dems. He is going to make sure that he achieves his number one goal: defeat Trump and retake the Congress for the American people.
Bernie and his supporters need to unify and help us defeat Trump.
We can and will do this.
84
@Simon Sez , all the dem candidates are good, I hope they all work together to fix the system like the magnificent 7.
6
@Simon Sez
Good points. A comment on one.
"Bernie and his supporters need to unify and help us defeat Trump."
Simply demanding that Bernie and his supporters do that is likely to create another 2016. Biden needs to win a clear majority or plurality of delegates fairly, he needs to reach out to Bernie and his supporters in good faith, and finally include some elements of Bernie's agenda in his campaign.
7
@Lawrence In 2016, the Russians were busy helping Trump getting elected and Sanders was so busy trying to win, he wouldn't accept anything that the Democrats had to offer. He is a lone Wolf in the Legislature and would not be able to get anything passed.
2
Conspiracy theories are the ultimate warm blanket on a cold night. You can convince yourself of pretty much anything if you believe that vast forces are colluding against you. This type of "political schizophrenia" is helping Sanders and his supporters to point fingers at everyone but themselves. It's insulating you from the truth - that America got a good look at Bernie Sanders and America said "no thank you".
34
@Ken B
Pelosi and Reid?
What, were they in each voter's booths to direct them as to which candidate to mark as thier choice?
Ken, just stop.
10
@Ken B Bernie is not and has never been a Democrat.
9
@John
Many of us who've seen Bernie in action for years have been saying that.
3
We Bernie supporters will remember what the DNC establishment once again has done!
11
What have they done? Convinced more voters to vote for Biden than for Sanders in Super Tuesday?
10
@CJT Why you blamed DNC establishment on Sanders' setback on Super Tuesday? because Sanders said so? I'm an independent and have my own reasons to support Biden. Bernie supporters' attitudes are just like Bernie. This is exactly why I don't support Sanders -- too divisive and ideological. They only see what they want, and cannot see anything else. I liked Sanders until I observed his behavior in Hillary's primary. He did not really want to support Hillary after he lost the nomination, and Bernie supporters got the cues. A true leader see the big picture including the path from reality toward the vision. Sanders only sees his own vision and his way.
6
@CJT Can't see what the DNC did wrong this time. As it looks now, Biden plays his cards better and Sanders lost.
If Biden enters (plus the votes of Bloomberg, Buttigieg and Klobuchar) the convention with more votes than Sanders (plus Warren votes) it's over for Sanders. It's unlikely Sanders can compensate the difference by super delegates. And the DNC has not been involved
There's still a chance for Sanders. Being a sour looser doesn't help anyone
6
This reader would like to congratulate Americans most heartily on finally coming to their collective senses. It was never in doubt.
28
@Leigh Where do you live? In a country which has universal health care and affordable education? Lucky you.
1
For those familiar with Marxism and the nations where Socialism has ruled with its tens and tens of millions of killed the prospect of a Socialist Marxist Sanders seeking the Presidency is a cause for serious alarm. Redistributing wealth and income have always been centerpieces of Marxist/Socialist doctrine. With destruction of upper income wealth and emigration of the “business class” soon following. Witness Cuba and the Soviets East Bloc.
Historians may well remember that former V-P Biden’s comeback on Super Tuesday together with removal of Mike Bloomberg and his pledge to aid Biden as one of thee most momentous events in American history. Under Biden’s leadership decades of the Dems “progressive march” will likely be curtailed literally saving the Democratic Party as a mainstream American political force.
Many if not most of us look forward to the restoration of “normalcy” in the Oval Office sans the deductive daily “tweets” and seemingly endless ingress/exit of Presidential advisors. At days end Joe Biden brings forward the same essential quality brought forward by former President Obama - a nice, respectful, kind and courteous leader. One who spends his time guiding America from the Oval Office. Not on the campaign trail.
17
@Peter I Berman
I love Scandinavian socialist democracy. They rate on the happiest scale of nations.
But thanks for denying the voice of millions of people who voted for Sanders and denigrating them. Great way to win.
2
@Fern
A smile, a hug, empty promises and a knife in the back is the typical preference though isn't it? Democrats don't seem to value truth much when it involves tough love or hurting someones feelings.
2
@Peter I Berman
Oh pooh. I am well read on the subject of various forms of collectivism, and Sanders, as shrill as he is, is not a socialist or a Marxist. Trust me, old son. Fox, Breitbart, infowars, and DailyStormer are not your friends.
Democrats just lost my vote and loyalty with this little stunt to implant Biden as the candidate. This was the most manipulated primary in memory. Biden has no chance of winning the general.
21
@Misplaced Modifier Biden wasn’t implanted. He is winning through a process called democracy.
8
@Misplaced Modifier
I think he has a very good chance, because he won't inspire the protest vote that Clinton did. This time, lukewarm Trump support will stay home.
But I do wonder who will be the president while Biden is the ceremonial figurehead. I wonder if we'll know. During Reagan, we had a good idea.
2
@John
Mayor Pete and Senator Klobuchar dropping out at the last minute is just random good luck for Biden?
5
We need a one-shot National Primary with Ranked voting to make our claim to Democracy stronger.
20
@Robert - You want ranked voting and a "winner" who took second, third or worse place?
1
All Trump really has to do to win is show that Joe Biden is the epitome of the swamp creature. A senator for almost 40 years, changes his opinion consistently based on the amount of support an issue has, had his son inexplicably serve on the board of some Ukrainian gas company for $50k a month, you name it.
12
@Nicholas True enough, but compared to Trump, I don’t think Biden is swampy at all.
@Nicholas
Though I don't believe Biden himself did anything illegal and probably his son/brother/sister-in-law/sister didn't either, nevertheless, tarnishing him and making sure voters know that he's a politician like all the other politicians will be enough to suppress turnout.
And frankly, if I were someone in Pennsylvania/Michigan/Wisconsin/Ohio/Indiana whose job was shipped to Canada or Mexico because of NAFTA which he helped pass, I wouldn't vote for him no matter how much less worse he is than Trump.
3
@Nicholas All Biden needs to do is show that Trump Has the lowest approval ratings in decades, has enacted policies aimed at decimating minorities, inherited his economic upswing from Obama, killed the farming industry and then bailed them out with taxpayer money and caged children at the border. You name it.
It says something that every Democrat that has dropped out so far has pledged to support Biden. They must be happy with their health insurance.
13
@Randeep Chauhan What is says is that every Democrat who dropped out was a centrist.
4
@Randeep Chauhan
Many are happy with it. We need to improve on the ACA. That is only way to get to healthcare for all.
4
@Randeep Chauhan
They want corporate contributions and to protect the club that gives them that power.
With the exception of Kamala calling out Biden for his "working with segregationists", every other candidate and the media has been soft pedaling around Joe because he was self imploding. Now that he is the leading candidate, I think there will be less fear of "elder abuse".
His incoherence and questionable record is going to be increasingly scrutinized - if not by the MSM (he is their guy), if not by Bernie (his style is to focus on policy and not personality), then certainly by Trump, the Republicans and Fox News.
Here are a few things likely to come up:
False claim about being arrested with Mandela
False claim about Civil Rights March
Anita Hill
Iraq War
Previous willingness to cut social security
Bankruptcy Bill
Crime Bill
NAFTA
Implication of pay-to-play with Senator Mastercard, Burisma, Chinese Hedge Fund
Numerous gaffes that are harmless
More egregious gaffes when he claimed to be running for Senate, couldn't remember Obama's name, couldn't cite a popular section of the Constitution that he brought up unprompted
His bristling at voters whenever they pose a question he doesn't like and responds "listen fat" or "you are a dog face lying pony" or "vote for someone else"
Biden is deeply flawed - notwithstanding all of the establishment endorsements....
18
I wonder if Harris would support Sanders now?
1
@Cee
Yes, very flawed, and very vulnerable. I can’t imagine why the Democrats want to run him, but, then I couldn’t imagine why they ran Hillary, either. They shot themselves in the foot in 2016 with her, and it now seems they are going to shoot themselves in the head in 2020 with Biden. As many others here have said, the only way to counter the Republicans is to tear down the Democratic Party and rebuild it from scratch.
I voted early (won't do that again in a primary) for Buttigieg. If I had voted yesterday it would have been for Biden. Anyone but Sanders.
21
The biased cheer leading happening recently on MSNBC has me changing my viewing habits. The corporate shilling going on was most evident over the weekend and especially last night.
I turned it off and watched Apocalypse Now. It was less gory.
13
Neither Biden or Sanders can win without Warren supporters.
Biden can't beat Trump without votes from Warren, Sanders, Blocmberg, Steyer, Yang, etc. supporters. It is mathematically impossible.
The DNC's interference with the primary process will backfire. Americans aren't going to tow the line and support Biden like sheep, like Amy and Pete supporters did.
The election is about establish ment/status quo vs. change. Biden isn't change.
Bernie and Warren supporters collectively double Biden's.
Biden is so weak and feeble that his wife had to act as his Biden guard yesterday.
11
@Hope
Aside from caving in to Sanders’ demands on convention rules, how has the DNC interfered in the primary process?
2
They should give out stickers to Super Tuesday voters with the Democratic Party flag on it, rather than the American flag.
4
@carl bumba
I'd take an American Flag over a "MAGA" hat every day, Carl.
2
@Palmer
Sure. The American flag represents Democracy. Super Tuesday? Far from it.
1
Sanders gives an image of an angry old white millionaire with 3 houses socialist elite male candidate
that scares voters who are not his core supporters. People who would be taxed more to pay for his handouts are definitely not going to vote for him. Only people who will not pay for his wealth redistribution are the strong supporters. My son says why Sanders not write off his mortgage if he is going to write off the student loans. Also Sanders has made a big mistake by parroting Anti INDIA propaganda of his India hating Pakistani Campaign manager Faiz Shakir. Donald Trump did not visit India during US Presidential election for nothing.
7
Bloomberg has cash and a terrific digital organization that he can give to Joe Biden. His campaign was not in vain!
11
I could never vote for anyone who voted for the Iraq war. That tells me all I need to know about a candidate and their judgment. Information was out there and should have been investigated before voting. People died, our soldiers died or were maimed and trillions were or will be spent. A total colossal failure for the American people.
19
So you are voting for Trump instead of Biden?
Sitting at home is a vote for Trump
Voting 3rd party is a vote for Trump
Whether we like it or not (I do not) US presidential elections are a binary choice. Democrat or Republican.
@e.s. Thank you for bringing up this very important issue. Biden’s judgement is not what I would like to see in a president. We could have used that money to help our own people!!!!! The entire region is in ruins!! Not a good idea, Joe.
@e.s. But you will vote for someone who pardoned a war criminal and others who didn't deserve to be pardoned.
I think Biden's time was 2016, riding on the wave of Obama. He would have handily beaten Trump. Of course, the establishment anointed Hillary at that time and he didn't run. (Yes, I know his son died, but if you think that's the main reason he didn't run I have a bridge to sell you.)
Now, Trump is the incumbent, and he's got the gop in his control and all the support they can muster. Biden is a weak candidate that is seen as a "safe" choice and has ho-hum support. He isn't as sharp as he used to be. He has a lot of baggage that would have been overlooked in 2016 but now will hang on him. Will the safe choice get enough support to win? Maybe but I have serious doubts.
12
@Jim
Regarding Beau Biden’s death as the reason for Joe not running in 2016: It’s what Biden says. Keep your bridge.
@Jim
Sorry Biden is far from a weak candidate as he proved with all the wind last night.
1
Look at the exit polls, Biden wins a plurality of those who are "moderate and conservative" and "against government run single payer healthcare".
What a delightful future we have in store for us. More of the same. I can't wait to inform my children.
16
@Andrew I wish I had the privilege where going from a Trump presidency to a Biden presidency is just "more of the same".
3
@Andrew actually if Trump wins the election you won’t even have Obamacare and the Medicaid expansion. The trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to get rid of those.
So it could be a lot worse than it is now.
7
@Andrew
I did. He has nearly zero support with people under 45.
Anyone who refers to Biden as "moderate" is implicitly endorsing him.
Biden represents the right wing of the Democratic party, which never failed to endorse legislation to undermine a New Deal or Great Society program, and never once supported a meaningful expansion of any such vision for the country.
The right has been on the march everywhere. We call it "moderate" because we've gotten used to it.
29
@Sonja I voted Biden in Virginia so I explicitly endorsed him.
2
@John
An op-ed analyzing the election result is offered as objective.
Note to Bernie supporters: step up your grass roots support for your platform. Get a congress in that will support it. THEN go for the leadership in a POTUS you want to see.
Otherwise, stop trying to 'start a revolution' every four years which in the end, gets someone like Trump elected.
Please.
104
@JW Thank you for this comment. My biggest fear in this election is what will or won't happen down ballot. We need to flip the Senate; without that, there will either be no check on an out of control president or legislative gridlock, depending on who wins. Neither result is acceptable. A Bernie candidacy will tar every Democrat on the ballot as a socialist enabler. I can already see the ads.
15
Good advice cuz the fear of a political revolution the fear of change the fear of trying...represents half or more of the voting population that call themselves moderates. True Progressives do need to continue to build from the ground up and create the support and foundation necessary to win the presidency. I can only hope that it will be in my 62 y/o lifetime, in the meantime we will have to wait and see if returning to the status quo is enough to beat Trump I sure hope so.
6
@JW Your comment illustrates that few people know what a republic is and its actual function beyond its stated definition. If Americans understood democracy, beyond voting for a "rhetorical fashion show", packing the congress, as we always do, with another faction to "get things done" at the expense of the whole wouldn't be necessary. Mr. Trump got elected, to echo former SCJ Sandra Day O'Conner, because most Americans can't name the three branches of government!
3
The time is long past due for the DNC to come up with a platform that appeals to Bernie's supporters and prove they are even welcome in this party. Biden and his moderate cabal are not going to win without Bernie's voters. So they need to tell Bernie's control of 1/4 to 1/3 of the Democratic party what they are putting on the table as an offer to reach a compromise.
We'll wait.
28
@Bill
And please tell me what you need in the platform to support the nominee.
2
@Bill There is no chance that a third of Democrats stay home for the Presidential election in November. Only a small percentage of die hard Bernie Bro’s would be that selfish.
1
I'm afraid that, if Bernie doesn't get the nomination, he'll try to be a spoiler and attempt to run as an independent candidate, perhaps with the Green Party. Ralph Nader spoiled Gore's chances, and H. Ross Perot did the same to GHWB. Bernie might try to take his marbles and go home. Thoughts? (BTW, he is not a member of the Democratic party and his allegiance is thin).
14
@CRS, DrPH He did not do that in 2016. In fact he subsequently endorsed Clinton after he did not win the nomination. He then held more events for her than she did for Obama when she lost in 2008.
Sanders himself will rally behind whoever the nominee is, especially if they actually win the most votes. There is no need to bash him for this.
I am less confident about his supporters, but unfortunately (as a progressive) it does not seem he brought out the young voters, so it is not like they were likely to vote anyways. One way to make it less likely for progressives to support Biden (assuming he will be the nominee), is to bash Bernie.
Moderates need the progressives, just as much as the progressives would need the moderates.
9
@CRS, DrPH
In 2016, Sanders responded to losing the nomination by endorsing Hillary Clinton. I'm confident he'll endorse Biden this year. If Bernie Sanders didn't want to risk a first term for Donald Trump, he surely wouldn't want to be responsible for a second one.
4
He's always been very adamant about supporting the eventual nominee, which is not something you can say for all the candidates that were in the race.
3
Now Biden will have to tell us exactly how he is going to fix health insurance for health care was the #one concern among Democratic voters. And tell us how he will fix the high cost of college and day care. How he will reduce great income disparity and find money for our infrastructure. And how he is going to turn out young people in WI where young people and educated white women are why Democrats won the state wide races in 2018.
I hope Democrats yet to vote realize that the states in the deep South that Biden won will never vote for a Democratic president and that winning Black votes in the South is different from getting Black voters in Milwaukee and Detroit to turn out in greater numbers than they did for HRC.
This race is not over yet.
I fear for another candidate like HRC who is also a poor campaigner with only one message and that is I am not Trump.
We have already seen that movie.
19
@Edward B. Blau "Nothing will fundamentally change" Biden does not want to fix those things. I am worried he will do little to bring the progressive 30-40% of the party along, and will lose to Trump.
2
@Edward B. Blau - Good points all, but I do not share your pessimism about Biden. He's good at communicating with people; he talks like a regular guy. Yes, he sometimes makes gaffes like a regular guy, but that's not necessarily bad. Gaffes are not the lethal political tripwire they once were. Plus, he can put Republicans in their place like a regular guy as he did with Paul Ryan in the 2012 veep debate. I hope he wins the nomination. If he doesn't, I'll support the person who does.
2
@Ryan - Don't mistake fervor for votes. Progressives have never been 30-40% of ANYTHING - the party or the electorate. Two prominent politicians how ran as progressives, Teddy Roosevelt and Robert M. La Follette, won 27 percent and 16 percent respectively in their bids for the White House. This most recent presidential election, nearly five times as many people voted for right-of-center candidates Gary Johnson and Evan McMullen while Jill Stein struggled to get 1.5 million votes. Progressives are certainly to be lauded for their policy contributions to politics, but they should not be credited for ever being a near majority or even a plurality. They surely are among the most vocal. But decibels aren't votes.
1
Sanders supporters need to look at the math. It is highly unlikely that either candidate will have a majority on the first ballot with pledged delegates. On the second ballot, Bloomberg delegates will overwhelmingly vote for Biden. Even if all Warren delegates vote for Sanders, Biden could have a majority even without the superdelegates. At least half the superdelegates will vote for Biden, which is appropriate since he will have about that much support overall. So Sanders can either drive this to a brokered convention which he will lose, or he can decide to withdraw when it becomes clear that persisting will be counter-productive. Unless his only goal is to make a quixotic and narcissistic statement.
11
@Clovis Same can be said for Biden, except there is even less of a case that Biden should be the nominee. Biden and his supporters should realize that without the magic of party manipulation, i.e., superdelegates, Biden can't win the nomination. Superdelegates do not equal voters. The future of the Democratic Party is at stake, and that future is overwhelmingly young and multi-cultural. If the DNC apparatus via the superdelegates hands the nomination to Biden, they will leave millions of young voters disaffected, and those young voters will stay home on election day.
2
@Otis Tarnow-Loeffler Except Biden won many States without spending any money in them or stepping in the State. So people like me voted for him because we respect him over Sanders to get things done. Sanders is an Independent. He has no loyal followers in the Legislature and he won't be able to get anything passed. A Do Nothing President. Biden will follow the mood of the nation and improve health care, bring jobs and work on Climate Change, something that Trump denies.
1
@Otis Tarnow-Loeffler
Except for CA, it looks like they (young voters) have stayed home for the primary!
I strongly suggest that Biden is early accompanied by a strong, young, attractive choice for Vice President, and the choice should have broad public appeal and publicized obviously. It is not too crass or unseemly to note that Biden is quite elderly, and increasingly frail. Recent recorded evidence of this is very disturbing, if anyone cares to set aside their wishful thinking to notice. If something untoward should happen, the public should not be caught by surprise, or the Democratic Party exposed to chaos. I personally like Kamala Harris, but in any case the Democrats had better start thinking of a backup, and fast.
12
@Mason If Biden makes it to the convention.
1
@sandhillgarden -- Biden's turning of the polls in THREE DAYS shows "fast" isn't necessary to American voters. Also, Dukakis and Mondale enjoyed great spring poll numbers. A good VP choice from Biden? Sure, but during the Democratic convention is plenty of time.
@sandhillgarden Look at Sanders. He is so red in the face that he looks like a heart attack is going to happen any moment. A year older than Biden.
One very nice aspect of this turn of events is that an often-ignored minority--African Americans--are having a large say in who will represent the Party against Trump.
26
@Carlotta
I hope that black folk are able to use that clout to get things that are meaningful to them. I fear that they will just be taken for granted. Mr. Clyburn, keep Joe honest.
1
@Carlotta They had a big say in 2016 too. They chose Hillary. We saw how that went.
As rudderless as Warren is currently, she is due credit for prosecuting the case against Bloomberg and showing how ill-equipped he was as a candidate.
20
@Cee But it was pointed out that she had no one who watched the delegate count or had a strategy for that before the primaries. Political inexperience.
We will need Mike’s help to win.
Biden is Trump’s nightmare come true.
He went to bizarre extremes to prevent Joe from becoming the rival candidate...to the extent of getting impeached for his efforts.
And lo behold, Joe Biden is here!
On a side note, hats off to the Trump team for identifying Biden as his nemesis long before anyone (even Joe himself) knew it.
14
@Shreekant What about him makes him "Trump's nightmare"? People said that about Clinton, and well, here we are. As demonstrated in 2016, it is not enough to intellectually run circles around Trump. Biden needs to excite people in a way Clinton was not able to, and I do not think his pitch of "I am not Trump, and I am not a socialist" is enough.
4
Sanders is done. Look at the next big contest - Ohio and Florida aren’t feeling the Bern. Super Tuesday was his only chance and he came up short. Hopefully he will discover his patriotic duty sooner this time.
14
The Establishment strikes again. They pushed and schemed to for a candidate with the IQ of a terminal Alzheimer's patient and as corrupt as they are. Not to worry. If Sanders doesn't win, we, Sanders' supporters, will vote again for Trump. We told you last time around that we will do it, and we will do it again. That's the only way to break the corrupt establishment and lead to something positive in the future.
6
@Ronald Weinstein
I keep hearing this from Sanders supporters but you never say what they did and how. Please inform us.
2
@Ronald Weinstein
Not after what Trump did at the border, separating children from their parents and sending genuine asylum seekers back home to be murdered. For that reason alone, no decent person could vote for Trump in protest, this time.
I admit that the protest vote last time was very real, and was systematically dismissed, shamed, and ignored. The DNC didn't get the message, you're right about that.
@Ronald Weinstein As a Bernie supporter, do not vote for Trump just because Sanders is not the nominee. Trump is as much the establishment as anyone. Voting for him will lead to people dying.
Biden, for all his faults, would have had a reasonable Hurricane response in Puerto Rico, would have a fully staffed CDC to respond to the current COVID19 epidemic, and of course would not be putting children in concentration camps.
I wish the DNC were a much different organization than they are, but right now, they are the best we have to enact any positive change.
3
Bloomberg ran solely to make it look as though Biden could defeat a serious opponent. It was a last ditch damage control effort. Unfortunately Trump will win reelection if he survives until November.
3
A lot of new voters from immigrant nations are too easily influenced by other peoples opinions instead of looking at the whole picture. You just have to see all the right wing leaders from third world immigrant nations to see what a muck up their voting decisions have done to their nations. USA is heading downwards because of this.
3
@CK
this is uninformed anti immigrant sentiment not backed up by any data.
I believe a winning ticket would be Biden and Warren.
It is long past due time for a woman to be president, but if we can't get that the next best thing is vice-president. (McCain tried that but a fellow named Obama stood in the way.)
Not only that, as a progressive she balances Biden's moderate stances on policy.
Her single drawback is that Wall Street will respond with disgust, hate, and horror, so that must be countered by a powerful grass roots support.
8
Without the help of the heavy early voting in many states Sanders wouldn't have won the amount he did. Without that help in the upcoming contests he's doomed.
Besides, who are you going to choose, an unattractive angry old man or the comfortably friendly guy that won with Obama.
2
how does Bloomberg's wealth get translated into financial support if he must adhere to the donation restrictions set by Demo party for someone else's campaign? it's one thing to fund one's own campaign and quite another to support a Dem candidate.
2
@Zighi
Super pacs. Remember Citizens United?
1
@Zighi He simply turns his operation into a Super PAC for Joe. See Citizens United.
Thank you, NYT for headlining at least one post-Super-Tuesday article with news about delegate counts. Please keep the focus there, rather than on whether a Democratic candidate “won” or “lost” a state. For example, the map and chart on your top article about results from yesterday has delegate numbers ghosted, states in bold, and candidates’ names color-coded and appearing as if the Democratic primary race were a winner-take-all state delegates, which it is not.
Your reporters and editors should know that the Democratic race is PROPORTIONAL, unlike the Republican primary. They also should know and report and visually represent the fact that it is number of DELEGATES acquired that MATTERS and is most salient to analysis and discussion; NOT WHETHER a single candidate “WON” more individual votes from registered voters in a given state.
Your reporting would be more accurate and useful to readers if you continue to focus more on how many convention delegates (and super delegates) the candidates are assigned, rather than (wrongly) implying, directly or by omission, that the candidate with the raw majority of votes automatically gets every single of that state’s delegates. That’s not how it works, and so it’s not necessarily indicative of who will be nominated in July.
9
Not the best day for socialism. So Biden is the cipher the Democrats want to accept the anti-Trump vote as he just claimed the anti-Bernie vote?
3
I consider myself a liberal but I am old and pragmatic. I saw McGovern handed his head by Richard Nixon in 1972. I loved McGovern. He was spot on with his anti-war liberal platform. I read a lot of comments about a repeat of 2016 if Bernie is not the candidate. Joe Biden is not Hillary Clinton, and Trump now has an insider track record he cannot run away from. I think Joe can win even in an unfair, mud slinging match against the clown in chief. I fear 1972 more than 2016. I'll go with Joe.
19
The state of the race is simple: if Bernie has an edge anywhere, it is west of Texas except maybe Arizona.
Biden does have an edge east of Texas. It is a very big edge in the Southeast.
Many more people live east of Texas.
I expect Bernie and Warren to call it off within a week.
1
@Alan I suspect that Warren has been advised to hang on in an effort to thwart Bernie. Bernie is not going anywhere (nor should he) since this is his last dance and the party he caucuses with has stabbed him in the back. I would not be surprised if he has refocused his campaign to simply be a loose cannon that drags the entire party down. He's wealthy. He's white. He's old and has serious health issues. What does he have to lose by going out in a blaze of glory?
Vote for the one who wants to increase the minimum wage to $20 an hour for the whole USA and make the first $20,000 of income tax free. Keep religion out of politics as Clinton spend more time out of the nation hanging around refugees and giving them opportunities and not doing the same to her own nations legal citizens. USA citizens FIRST.
3
Another factor in Biden's favor? He was largely ignored during the last few debates because no one considered him a threat.
Voters quickly forgot just how week he is when challenged...with conveying the most simple ideas.
I would never claim Trump as the sharpest tool in the shed, but he is vicious, Joe is not.
Just imagine the kind of ads right wing pacs will put together with clips like Biden's recent “We hold these truths to be self-evident. All men and women are created, by the, you know, you know the thing...”
2
@Oroblah I think last night proved that it doesn't matter. What matters is heart and the spirit of unification. Bernie is the opposite of that. Biden will lead with a pure heart... and he can leave it to his cabinet to do the mental heavy lifting.
Poor Elizabeth, the bros have been out full force demanding she drop out and endorse Bernie. However that may be counterproductive; they've attacked all her voters online, why would they want to vote for Bernie after all that hate?
13
It appears that the revolution has been postponed, and I couldn’t be happier.
13
The path to an unquestioned majority at the Democratic Convention is far from clear. Most ominous in terms of Democratic voters freely expressing their preferred choice is the large, obnoxious elephant in the room: Provocateur-in-Chief, Donald Trump. Trump has already concocted mocking nick names for the two Democratic front runners: "Sleepy Joe" for Biden and "Crazy Bernie" for Sanders. Based upon his previous behavior, it is certain that he will now ramp up his verbal abuse of both men, with the intent, as always, of creating chaos in the general population at large and among Democrats in particular. Trump is a fervent adherent of the business governance practice referred to as "Chaos". It is adopted by unscrupulous managers to create confusion among his or her staff, and allows the manager to pursue ruthless policies which no one will have the courage or presence of mind to challenge. (Google it.) If Trump is to win a second term as President, he will have to ramp up his Chaos based activities to the max, as well as activating all of his surrogates, from Fox News pseudo-broadcasters to other provocateurs such as Steve Bannon, Glenn Beck. and Rush Limbaugh. I sincerely hope that The New York Times editorial staff and reporting staff will jump on this issue from the start. Otherwise, neither Biden nor Sanders will get a fair shake from the nominating process.
1
I worked as a RN in my community hospital for 30 years.My husband worked as a electrical lineman for 37 years.Because we had good union jobs ,we were able to put our 2 sons through college ($250,000 cost),barely save enough,but enough for retirement.Great healthcare.My husband now on Medicare,loves it. I'll be on Medicare in less than 2 years,so will get relief from my monthly$700/month awful insurance with a $3800 deductible.
Both our sons have great jobs,and are set.
We voted for Bernie.Certainly was not going to benefit any of us personally.We all worry about the 60% in our country that have little chance of advancing financially,of saving for retirement,affording healthcare,being able to help their kids go to college,help our environment.I see more "moderates" in the comments saying they would never vote for Bernie,and insult his supporters,than"Bernie Bros"saying they would not vote for a "moderate",and insulting them.
I have been voting since 1976,never have missed any election,town,state or national.Have always voted Democrat,often holding my nose.Maybe I need to be more selfish,since my family is fine and we have "ours" and not vote in this Presidential Election.Perhaps the nation needs to hit more of a bottom.Or maybe the "moderates"who preach to us progressives about unity,could compromise a little with us,and encourage a more level playing field for all of our fellow citizens who are suffering.I'm not holding my breath.
23
Just a few weeks ago, pundits and the news media, including cable networks, were convinced that Sanders would be the Democratic nominee. They based their conclusions on the results in Iowa and New Hampshire even those rural states are not representative of voting trends in the rest of the country. The lesson here: In the future, don't jump to conclusions based on results from those two states that represent only a tiny percentage of all American voters.
17
Last minute endorsement by two dropouts that no one expected, at least so early in the game, gave Biden the lifeline he thought he would no longer have.
1
@Whole Grains A few weeks ago? ONE week ago, Joe was on the ropes and was a laughing stock for imploring the media to wait until the SC primary. The only one laughing now is Joe!
@Whole Grains All of the news media rallied to stop Sanders. If only they could rally with that same intensity against Trump.
Bernie needs to temper his goals right now as he would when nominated. This means to do things like sketch his planned rollout for Medicare For All. Start out with Medicare For All limited to 2 to 3 states for a couple of years to iron out the kinks and details and prove its viability.
Voters need to become more comfortable with and confident in his platform of big change.
5
I don't see any signs that Sanders can stop Biden's momentum. He does not appear to be galvanizing an expanding revolution whereas Biden does seem to be attracting new support. My hunch is that many or most non-Trump besotted people have lived in a state of heightened anxiety/terror for the last 3+ years, further heightened by the enormous uncertainties of the Democratic race until about four days ago, and we are looking for a life raft. Bernie is too unconventional and quite possibly to risky to play that life-raft role for many of us. So when the opportunity came for moderates and semi-moderates to coalesce around a credible candidate, we came running.
32
I'm looking forward to a steady stream of condescending hot-takes as to why a better world just isn't possible now, and how we all must fall in line to continue a status quo where the healthcare industry allows thousands to die for profit, the fossil fuel industry continues to poison our environment, and the wealthy and corporate interests dictate all.
This isn't an abstraction for me, and millions like me. This is life or death. I worry constantly about health care and health insurance, I have no dental insurance, I struggle financially, have student loan debt, and am terrified about what disasters climate change will bring to us. These concerns aren't a juvenile temper tantrum. It's frustration and anger with a status quo system that always tells us to "just wait a little longer" while delivering nothing to improve our lives. These concerns are real and desperate and must be addressed through policy.
71
@Dominic ditto for me my family all relatives and friends. have family in this country for over 140 years. we are the first ones ready to leave
12
@Dominic In 1935 we got Social Security. In 1965 we got Medicare and Medicaid. In 2010 we got the Affordable Care Act. Change doesn't happen overnight when powerful reactionary forces oppose it, but it does happen over time, as history has shown.
14
@Dominic Thank you for this sage advice. If you are a young person I am heartened. You are 100% correct.
8
Yes, Biden had a strong night! Overlooked is the question what Bernie's share would have been like if Elizabeth Warren's votes would be added to his, like Buttigieg's and Clobuchar's were to Biden's. So,
the big question now is what Elizabeth Warren will do. If Biden is smart, he will reach out to more progressive voters by offering Elizabeth Warren a place on his ticket as his VP if she throws her support behind him. That would guarantee him the majority, show his commitment to serious reforms, and give him a strong debater who would blow Trump's Pence & Co out of the water come Fall.
If Biden doesn't reach out, Warren's supporters are more likely to either go with Bernie or stay put. If Bernie is smart, he'll have some phone calls and in-person meetings with her to win her for his ticket. If that happens, it'd be highly likely to be an open contest to the end.
11
@Pete in Downtown
If/when Warren exits, it will be interesting to see where her supporters go. It's far from a foregone conclusion that they will go to Sanders.
11
@Pete in Downtown
Overlooked is that Sanders benefited from early voting in many states, where votes were cast before Biden's very recent surge.
IF.. Biden had surged a month ago, I believe Bernie would have won no primaries last night, including liberal California.
The landscape of this primary has literally shifted radically in just a week, and historically, after Super Tuesday..... there is no real opportunity to change the landscape again ... only run to conclusion.
Not only has Biden jumped ahead in delegates now, Super Tuesday was Sanders arrogant plan to knock everyone else out of reach for the nomination. That clearly did not work out well for Sanders.
Further, those candidates that have dropped out now, have all pledged support for Biden, which means at convention time they will send their delegates won into Biden's totals. Sanders might get pledged support from Warren when she drops out, but that's about it. Oh wait... Tulsi Gabbard has one delegate, and she will push that to Sanders.
5
@Pete in Downtown In all this time, I have never considered a Biden/Warren ticket. That is a very interesting idea, and I would actually like to see that happen.
1
If this goes down to the wire and no candidate has a majority on the first ballot, the Democratic establishment will give the nomination to Biden on the second ballot, after which Sanders' supporters will drop out and refuse to vote for Biden (or vote for Trump). The future of our country demands a unified party that is prepared to work together to beat Trump. I would like to see the elders of our party, led by Nancy Pelosi get together with Biden, Sanders and Warren to work out a unified platform acceptable to everyone. Each side will have to give a little, else Trump will triumph over ongoing fighting.
26
@JerryV
Good luck with that idea... because Sanders is an intractable candidate that does not and will not compromise with anyone.
9
@JerryV
“Each side will have to give a little, else Trump will triumph over ongoing fighting.“ Except that Sanders never gives an inch. Hasn’t done so in 30 years. He’s a my-way or no-way kinda guy.
3
@Chuck, Well then, he should run on his own part ticket as a Democratic Socialist; he refuses to join the Democratic Party. As a Democratic Socialist, he is entitled to run on any pat platform he desires.
1
I am a Sanders supporter. However, absent a blunder by Biden (which given his speech last night is possible) he will be the nominee. In my mind the wins in the South such as Alabama, Tenn., and Arkansas are largely meaning less because those states are lost to Republicans in the general election. California is also meaningless because that state will vote Democratic in the general election. The loss of Minnesota, North Carolina, and Virginia are real problems for Sanders. Even if Sanders does well in the remaining primaries, Biden is assured of nomination by, at worst, a second vote at the convention when the super delegates vote. Biden will be better than Trump but its questionable that he could win and the Democrats will continue to be the party that stands in the way of real change in this country.
19
@peter s
It seems to me that the GOP, with its conservative bigotry, corporatist ideology, anti science dogma, and theocratic agenda is the party that stands in the way of real change in this country. Get rid of them and their 100 million mindless supporters, and then there will be real change in this country. If Sanders is the one to do it, great. But I do not see it. Fair or not, having called himself a democratic socialist or a social democrat, all that a sizable chunk of this country hear is socialist, and that scares them. Given that, Sanders’ shrill insistence that a centrist Democrat cannot govern for all Americans is unimpressive.
1
@peter s The wins in the south are just as important as wins anywhere else. Every Democrat in every state - red, blue or purple - deserves to have their say in the selection of their representative on the ballot in November.
After the DNC convinced the two younger moderates to drop out before the vote, Biden has a small lead. What does that tell you about his "strength"? Biden is slightly more likable than Hillary was but carries as much baggage. Will that be enough to defeat Trump?
15
@voyager2, Bernie boosters give the DNC way too much credit. Other candidates dropped out because fundraising and polls were pointing in the wrong direction. It's called a reality check.
And I'm not sure what baggage you're referring to, but one thing is clear: unlike Hillary, Biden has not been a target of right-wing smears for 30 years. And those smears are the source of most of that "baggage."
16
@voyager2
It tells me that if I genuinely want to get rid of Trump, I will have to vote for the one who becomes the Democratic nominee, so that we don't have a 2016 redux.
Bernie has been in Congress for 30m years and has no significant accomplishment. But even he has baggage that can/will be weaponized.
3
@voyager2 Do you have any evidence that the DNC was involved in Pete or Amy's decision to pull out of the race?
2
I just pray that if Biden wins the nomination, Sanders will not do what he did in 2016. Sanders was so angry at losing the nomination, that he did not immediately support Hillary and get his many supporters to also stand behind Hillary. Instead, many of his supporters boycotted voting in the election and that is one of the reasons why we got stuck with trump. I REALLY HOPE that if Biden gets the nomination, Sanders behave much better this time, support the process, accept the results, and rally his supporters to stand behind Biden so we can finally get rid of trump. At this point, the Dems must behave like the GOP and support their candidate, WE MUST WIN in 2020, 4 more years of trump is unfathomable.
69
@Emma I anticipate a repeat. Bernie has a huge ego, similar to individual 1. It's all about him.
10
We’re done with this right wing talking point - Bernie supported Hillary diligently and campaigned for her at 39 events. Bernie supporters still came out in drove for her, unlike her supporters in ‘08. The establishment coalesced around Biden because they’re scared of Bernie, and they’re trying to gain an unfair advantage once again. It will be painful, but they’ll support Joe, but not with enthusiasm because he runs a boring, horrible campaign.
22
@Emma
There is a possibility that most Sanders’ supporters thought that Hillary would win no matter what, and that gave them the freedom to sit it out or vote for Jill Stein. Those folks hopefully have learned their lesson. The Bernie Bros are a lost cause, and will probably vote for Trump again if Sanders is not the nominee.
3
Whatever happens to Bernie Sanders's vote from here on in, he has garnered a sizable mandate behind him which Joe Biden needs to respect and honor. Healthcare for all is simply a must. Climate Change policy also must be radical.
30
@Darren McConnell
Are you kidding me, Joe Biden did the work Sanders cannot be bothered to do to *actually write and pass healthcare legislation.*
The pure hubris of the Sanders supporters thinking they are the only moral people on the planet is breathtaking.
Newsflash: getting something DONE means a lot more to normal people than pie-in-the-sky something-for-nothing blather. Too bad that's the only think on offer from Bernie and his bros.
15
@Darren McConnell he actually has measurably less voters than 2016 in every single contest. He is headed in the wrong direction to demand very much. And there are other progressives who are easier to work with for Biden going forward.
6
@Darren McConnell
Sorry.
We won. You guys lost.
Suck it up. We are not going to sign onto your Socialist Revolution.
We will do it our way.
That is the way a democracy works.
2
The pundits need to chill: the vast majority of state have not voted, California still hasn't even been called yet, and most importantly, margins of victory in super-Tuesday states are small -- nobody won more than 50% in any state except Bernie in VT and Biden in VA and AL (VT and AL results are, furthermore, based on extremely small voting populations).
At this point, Biden and Bernie are both on solid ground, and there are many primaries still to go. I trust my fellow Democrats to make sensible decisions, and in due course they will...so let's just wait and see.
13
@Sam
You are ignoring two important things though.
1) Bidens surge came too late to stop early voting.. which benefited Sanders. That is now past.
2) Historically, Super Tuesday is when any actual primary landscape changes take place. That is now past. Momentum gets locked down moving forward and with two remaining contenders, the rest of the primary simply reverts to a slogging trench warfare with no change in final outcome. note: Biden will pick up almost all delegates that the other candidates captured prior to Super Tuesday, and that works to Bidens benefit as well.
In addition, Sanders under performed in an number of states yesterday (both from the campaigns own expectations and polling, as well compared to his 2016 primary results).
4
@Sam Bernie got just over 50% (here) in Vermont. I've long said/seen that, were Bernie to run against Satan, Satan will get 30%; runs against, Jesus, about the same. The fact that Bernie got WAY less than usual is telling. Arguably, we know him best.
1
@Sam
I watched Bernie's victory speech last night.
You can now add denial to his other traits.
3
The Times tried to put the best face on it for Sanders, but there’s no getting around it: this was a massive rejection of Sanders and his politics of rage, division and exclusion.
The public understands there will be no progress in this country while we remain divided. If we are to address issues of inequality, health care, gun violence and climate change, we must first come together.
There is no better candidate to begin this process of healing than Joe Biden. For that very reason, there’s no better candidate to beat Trump. And Trump knows it.
77
@Ron Cohen
Ron, are you really sufficiently in touch with "the public" that you can speak for it? And what's the basis for this talk of healing and "coming together"? How'd that work during Obama's years, when Democrats lost everything?
"No better candidate? You mean the guy who put countless persons in perpetual debt servitude at the behest of credit card issuers, sent countless more to death and disability in Iraq and imprisoned still more with his "tough of [street] crime" opportunism?
Does this generation never intend to admit error and relinquish power?
9
@Ron Cohen South Carolina hasn't elected a Democrat since Jimmy Carter -- and Jimmy Carter voted for #BernieSanders and says, we no longer live in a "Democracy" due to the Oligarchy (1% big-investments crowd) that OWN party-machine puppets like Biden, Clinton and the rest. I think the best plan forward would be for the Progressive Democrats to seek a "divorce settlement" and go it on their own as a new party.
6
lol okay, tell that to the millions of poc and working class people struggling paycheck to paycheck, who deserve to go to college and have free healthcare. their rage is what you resent because you’re afraid of what happens when we treat the lower class like humans. bernie taps into that anger and violence and gives them a voice. he is our only hope.
5
A major difference with Biden over all of the other candidates is that many members of Congress and the Senate were around when Biden was the VP. They are familiar with his style, his attitude and his personality.
Sometimes there is truth in that adage, "Better the devil you know than the one you don't".
I was a Pete Buttigieg fan and supporter. I tend to believe his reasoning for throwing his support over to Biden. I am hopeful that the political scene will see him again down the road.
In the meantime, Joe Biden has my vote.
I crave stable over scary any day of the week.
70
@Marge Keller -- The establishment center-right Republican-Lite Democrats don't want to lose that $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ flowing directly into the DNC from 40,000 federal lobbyists and the 1% big-investments crowd/ many rewarded with SuperDelegate votes equal to an entire congressional district of voters!
South Carolina hasn't elected a Democrat since Jimmy Carter -- and Jimmy Carter voted for #BernieSanders and says, we no longer live in a "Democracy" due to the Oligarchy (1% big-investments crowd) that OWN party-machine puppets like Biden, Clinton and the rest. I think the best plan forward would be for the Progressive Democrats to seek a "divorce settlement" and go it on their own as a new party.
@Marge Keller agree
1
I think the most important issue now is how Bernie Sanders manages his messaging and his supporters, how he conveys he's still in it to win it, while making it clear to supporters that, push come to shove, he'll expect them to follow his lead and fight hard for the eventual nominee. People love his passion and his fighting instincts. If he's not the nominee, he'll have to help supporters through their anger and disappointment, to re-direct all that passion against re-electing Trump.
12
@original
Just like in 2016, Sanders will drag his own feet in this regard, and that will give license to his supporters to misbehave.
Sorry... but Sanders is simply NOT a team player.
3
@Chuck This is simply not true. Sander's backed Clinton in 2016 and campaigned vigorously on her behalf. He will likely do the same if Biden wins the primary. Please stop spreading misinformation.
Hopefully Sanders doesn't pull the same stunt that he did last time he didn't win the nomination....
If He again decides to drag his feet, offer tepid endorsements He and his "bernie bros" will hand the "win" to trump in a fit of pique.
28
@Palmer Bernie did way more campaign events for Hillary in 2016 than Hillary did in 2008. His voters were more loyal than hers too. And this is the thanks we get. Clintonistas still try to divert attention from their own incompetence towards someone who did everything he could to defeat Trump. Doesn't bode well for this election.
6
@KM
Wow...so you're counting "campaign events" as actually pressing others to support her?
Because that is the measure here. Showing up and giving a half hearted speech transmits apathy to those listening... which is why 12% of Sanders supporters crossed party lines and voted for Trump in the general election.
Which is why he won
In key states — Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan — the Sanders to Trump defectors were greater than Trump’s margin of victory.
Sanders Supporters Who Voted For Trump:
WI: 51k
MI: 47k
PA: 116k
Trump win margin…
WI: 22k
MI: 10k
PA: 44k
5
@Palmer And what did Hillary do to reach out to those voters? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. She took them for granted. Bernie tried his best, but he doesn't have mind control over his supporters. Maybe you guys should make an effort next time?
1
After taking much abuse from the far left and the far right, moderate Democrats (and one can include Republicans repulsed by Donald Trump) came roaring back on Super Tuesday. Joe Biden now has a clear path to the nomination. Biden should win Illinois, Florida, Ohio, New York and Michigan, among others. So, going forward, Bernie Sanders will have to decide if he truly is a member of the Democratic Party, or has just been using the party to achieve his own personal agenda. Will actively support Biden if he is the nominee, or will he retreat back to Vermont and sulk.
31
With Biden's performance yesterday, he is definitely not a weak candidate, nor is he the knight in shining armor that so many would like to see. But neither is Sanders.
The two groups of Americans critical to beating Trump are African Americans and suburban women who, among their anxieties, fear for their children's future. And in these groups, Biden is way out in front.
20
The only one to blame for Bernie’s lost last night is Bernie. He squandered his chance as the front-runner last week by failing to appeal to the majority of the democratic base.
26
@Jeremy Bekker Exactly right. And, Bernie needs to stop blaming Biden's wins on the "establishment".
We are voters, who make our own choices, and some of us, including those of us whose politics might be as far left as Bernie's, also want our nominee have a proven ability to get things done, a history of working well with others, and the ability -- the Bernie has never ever shown -- to come off of their standard talking points and the willingness to stop tearing down everyone they disagree with.
Bernie won't stop tearing down everyone else, and in that respect, he's just a less profane but equally un-likeable version of Trump, each of them always getting their fan-base to boo everybody that doesn't agree with them.
I can't wait till he retires from politics.
11
@Jeremy Bekker
Agreed.
Super Tuesday 2020 was a referendum on Sanders, and Sanders lost that referendum.
He is a very stubborn man, so I believe he and his supporters will stay in it to the end, and then be indifferent or even undermine the Democrat candidate in the general election (just like in 2016). Trump only won the EC due to a small number of votes in 3 states, and had Sanders and his campaign been more forthright and energized in the 2016 general election in support of Clinton... we might not have had a president Trump at all.
4
@Jeremy Bekker Come to think of it, Warren was doing so much better before her snarling attack dog performance on Bloomberg in the South Carolina debate. Indeed, if there is one thing Bernie needed to learn (and you would have thought he would have learned a long time ago) is that you attract more bees with honey. Biden=honey. Bernie=vinegar.
3
We are finally coming to our senses.
And not a moment too soon!
23
So, for weeks and months, many Democrats bashed Sanders for being "too old". And now, they are supporting the 77 year old Biden, without ever mentioning this as an issue. I also remember many asking Sanders to publish his medical record; will they ask the same to Biden, who has done several puzzling gaffes, casting doubt on his mental fitness.
But I guess age and health are not relevant anymore, now that the "proper" candidate is leading the polls?
19
@Lauwenmark The difference is Sanders looks like an old kook, whereas Biden looks presidential. And I say this as a Warren supporter. I hadn't thought of this but someone else brought it up on here: I hope she's brought on to be the VP! And I hope Bernie Bros take the loss honorably, unlike last time.
2
@Lauwenmark
Sanders was criticized for many things, but his age was not one of them. His recent heart attack, in conjunction with his age... that may be a factor.. but the context there is a senior citizen who suffered a heart attack on the campaign trail.... not age.
As for Biden.. Biden has always been very transparent with his personal records, and health records will be no different.
3
@Lauwenmark
We weren't bashing Sanders for his age. Heavens-- I'm 70 going on 45! Here are my issues with Sanders: recent heart attack, unreleased medical records, stubborn, cranky, irritable personality, inability to work with other people, his way or the highway, ultra radical game plan, socialist agenda, etc. We have a different culture and are not set up for a Scandinavian style socialist state. I am 70 and do not want my taxes doubled now to pay for irresponsible rich kids college and all you can eat healthcare. FYI 80% of our population is obese which is why our healthcare costs are so high. That is their personal choice. Bernie makes most of us feel railroaded.
1
For the first time this year, I am hopeful. Not only that, I am extremely hopeful.
I believe we can wrest our Republic back from the tyranny of Trump.
And we can restore all the dignity, values and ethics that IMPOTUS has attempted to subvert and destroy.
Bloomberg’s Billions at the service of the Republic. His ads. His on the ground reach in every state. Will help us win. Now and in November.
15
It is not impossible Bernie could retake the lead but it is very unlikely. If not, the challenge for Biden and the Democratic Party is how to accommodate the very sizeable, enthusiastic and loyal following Sanders, and to a lesser extent Warren, had gathered around their progressive ideals.
It isn't enough that Sanders offers his perfunctory support to Biden when the time comes, Biden will have to make some bold, concrete overtures especially to Latinos and to America's youth. If Trump is to be defeated, Democrats will need an unprecedented turnout in November. A common hate for Trump and his henchmen may not be enough; they will need something more than a promise of returning to the status quo to achieve that.
And while Biden is a nice, well intentioned guy, unfortunately there is little in his personality, demeanour or political record to suggest he is inclined to upset any apple carts. America must decide whether it is enough to awaken from its present nightmare to the reality of the same-old, same-old, or whether the shock of that nightmare will motivate it to reach for something better.
7
Unfortunately, Senator Bernie Sanders is looking into an abyss of career irreverence as his most powerful moments are now gone. With profound forethought, he might make legitimate his legacy by calling Joe Biden and getting a Cabinet position in the new administration. Otherwise, his efforts will be memorialized as a grumpy man with finger stabs and flailing arms (no portfolio). His revolutionary assumption regarding supporters was inaccurate notwithstanding his policy position appeal.
11
Bernie and his bros like to talk about the "will of the people". OK, how about looking at total votes cast and see how many thousands Biden is ahead of Sanders. IF the Democratic Socialists are concerned about carrying out the "will of the people", will THEY respect the inevitable outcome and support the actual candidate of the Democratic Party, to which they only nominally belong?
15
@ManhattanWilliam Sorry. I am not a "Real" Democrat anymore, just like Bernie. I will be leaving the party after the primary.
@Mg
I don’t know what that means philosophically. Practically, the general election is a binary choice. You either vote for the democratic nominee, or you hand a second term to Trump.
@Mg Why wait until after the primary? Why not leave the party that you "don't belong to" NOW?
And Warren did not drop out to support Bernie and the progressive movement.
We will never forgive her. She is done and now branded a selfish player.
Bernie would be ahead if he had all progressive votes.
9
@Paul Schejtman you assume Warren's supporters would have gone to Sanders, but I think many would go to Biden.
5
@Paul Schejtman - by the same logic, Biden would be far far ahead of Sanders had his rivals dropped out three weeks ago. But they didn't and why would they? Or why would Warren before this?
And as for "we will never forgive her" ...with way too many of Sanders' supporters: it is their way or the highway. they seem quite willing to let Trump, McConnell, et al stay in power, whatever that costs the country, if they don't get their way. And that, I think, is a far better marker of selfishness than anything Warren has done or not done.
9
@Paul Schejtman The Warren supporters would not have necessarily backed Sanders if she dropped out. She had every right to continue until at least Super Tuesday. That is how this process works. Bernie did not garner enough support. Period. Even if you add her votes with Bernie's he still comes out behind Biden and the other "moderates". Attacking her is not the way to win over her supporters either. Isn't that what Bernie's folks always want when he loses? Someone to win them over instead of just assume they should be happy to switch to the winner?
4
Pete Buttigieg is an exceptional person and he led by example in suspending his campaign when he determined that the odds of winning were diminishing and he didn't believe in gaining delegates just for ego. He set an example of country before self and Pete started the move towards fostering party unity and coalescing around one candidate. Buttigieg's endorsing Biden and actively sharing his staff and volunteers and supporters with Biden helped Biden's big wins yesterday. Thank you Pete.
40
@JessD
Yes, indeed, and we hope to see more of Mayor Peter and his husband (in Biden’s administration). Same for Amy Klobuchar. She is a class act as well and helped deliver the night.
2
@Wade Indeed, so much class all around. By stark contrast: the knuckle-dragging mouth-breathers on the Bernie side.
2
@JessD And a big shout out to the Black voters who saved our lives.
2
I'm reading a number of commenters who should be honest with themselves and join the Republican party. Meanwhile, progressive democrats will work on making this country fair for everyone.
9
While I never liked Biden, I will campaign for him.
We need to stop Trump.
My choices were Pete and Mike. Two great mayors who can and will help all of us in the future. Both are real patriots.
Joe, warts and all, is our nominee.
Bernie and his supporters need to get with the program.
You guys tried and lost for the second and, hopefully, last time.
We need to defeat Trump not create a Socialist Revolution.
19
Moderates have been waiting to see who would emerge to hold the middle. It is clear that is Biden. Expect to see moderates coalesce rapidly. Waited till today to donate to anyone.
That just changed.
The real question is whether Bernie will commit to defeating Trump, or whether he will be petulant and selfish.
9
@JS No, the real question is whether moderates will blow it with their incompetence like they did in 2016. Bernie did his part, in fact far more than Hillary did for Obama in 2008.
5
In the run-up to Super Tuesday, weren't we being told incessantly by the punditocracy and prognosticenti that *Sanders's delegate lead* "could be hard, if not impossible, to overcome"? But now, as Gilda Radner's memorable character Emily Litella would say, "Never mind."
Guesswork/speculation remains nothing more than guesswork/speculation, yet it keeps being sold to us as something loftier and more "scientific." Of course, we all remember the sudden 180 by the gimmicky "Needle" very late on Election Night 2016, but let's not even go there.
It may be a minority point of view, but this longtime reader would like to see The Times dial back on the predicting. It seems to invite much more embarrassment than it's worth.
4
I'm Dutch and a firm believer in Our Revolution sweeping the globe a decade from now and ending the excesses of the global unregulated, corporatist kleptocracy, its tax freedom, pollution terror and gun and military industrial profits from endless warring, but this election cycle has now shown it's not going to be the one to deliver us a presidential bully pulpit for Our Revolution yet nor the executive order fire that would have come with it.
Another generation is already bitterly disappointing the best, the bravest and most insightful among them and sleepwalks right past the polls when its entire future is at stake.
But since we need to go all the distance to fight down Trump and the total assumption of forever GOP power through court stacking, we need to start building a strong coalition behind Joe Biden now. Sanders has already prepared a Plan B and signaled he will support his friend Joe Biden. And so should we. Biden is a paid shill but at least he is at superficial face value a congenial and endearing fella. He'll also get the Bloomberg billions behind him.
Let's go and do this and end Trump and bring in a blue supermajority chock full of lobbyist lackeys.
Let's replace the worst swamp with a slightly more inhabitable swamp. Such a noble project...
The woods are ugly, dark and deep, but we got promises to keep, and miles to go before we sleep.
It's a good thing it's already clear who the Dem candidate is going to be this early. Let's unite and give it all we got.
8
@Pro(at)Aging I love it! Snarkiness directed right at 85% of the moderates that inhabit this space but then kind of supportive (okay, not really). You go, man!
1
@Pro(at)Aging Such a dystopian, harshly critical, yet uplifting screed. I'm confused.
1
@JCal
I personally suffer daily under the scourge of neo-liberalism's underhanded endorsement (by its actions contradicting its message) of runaway crony capitalism and its complicity with covert reverse Robin Hood policies expanding the injustice and inequality and opportunity divide between those still somewhat viably embedded and those finding themselves stripped of justice, access, opportunity, and affordability of a life. I am keenly aware how much of the daily and monthly tabs that I barely manage to meet or partly fail to meet are yachting class subsidies enforced by deceptively though simultaneously (to avid and intellectually endowed readers) badly hidden political and market power abuse and a sheer endless web of political machinations favoring that class. It's the difference between a life and serfdom for me, so it's been personal up to this very day (in which I am on the verge of collapse, mired in sheer insurmountable debt like never before), but I also know that hundreds of millions are suffering with me, most of them not so aware of how the game is rigged to our bitter detriment and near-destruction as I am. I'm more interested in solidarity with their feelings than with yours that come embedded in a place of relative privilege. And even here, you don't amount to anywhere near 85%.
Just be glad that at least a small minority of Sanders supporters already see it's over for us in 2020 and are starting to adapt on the day of our deepest and most bitter despair.
Okay, 'moderates' and Joe Biden Inc., between now and November, you will need to perform a massive triage and bridge-building operation with liberal and progressive voters if the Nov 3 2020 Operation Never Trump operation is going to be successful.
We all know there will be millions of understandably and justifiably disaffected Bernie Sanders voters that will require reconciliation and binding up of their wounds.
Joe Biden must energetically and enthusiastically adopt real reform to America's Great American Healthcare Rip-Off and not just mouth empty platitudes about change.
The good thing about Biden as the nominee is that he can help generate Democratic coattails in the House and the Senate in a way that Bernie Sanders cannot because a certain segment of the voting population is afraid of a Bernie Sanders Presidency.
I like Bernie; I think he would make a good President; I think he's getting a raw deal once again, but that's life.
I would only hope that the Democratic Party would wake up and adopt some progressive spirit under Joe Biden now and forever,,,,,otherwise, they will lose the ability to flip the Senate blue and make substantial changes to the radical Republican landscape that is Trumpistan and Republistan and the corrupt American oligarchic dollarcracy that is the 2020 United States.
Moderates and progressives must form a real coalition in 2020, not a fake one owned and operated by the 2016 DNC that delivered us to Trumpistan.
We have Democratic work to do.
55
It's up to the Bernie supporters to stop pouting and whining, to grow up and realize that they have to get out there on Election Day and VOTE, or they're just going to get four more years of Trumpism. Even if the electoral college does the unthinkable and returns him, it's vital to get control of the Senate, keep control of the House, and get as many seats as possible. If Sanders' supporters are going to sit at home on the day with their arms folded because their imperious socialist idol didn't get the nod, they become defacto Trumpists. And they will wear the blame along with the Trump loyalists for the destruction of the United States.
13
@PeteH
You seem to imagine "Bernie supporters" are just like the affluent suburban professionals you know, but they prefer a more "hippie" look and wind chimes in their garden. That's not who they are.
It is up to politicians to win votes. Votes are not owed to anyone. No DNC candidate has earned my support yet, but I'd welcome seeing them make the effort.
11
@Socrates
The Bernie people are the ones who need to build the bridge. Since day one they have alienated most of us from their Socialist Revolution.
Subtlety has never been their thing.
They see the world in stark black and white terms; us vs. them.
We are the them they yell about.
The Dem Establishment is actually the vast majority of voters who are now rejecting the Socialist Revolution
We want stability, not a Revolution.
What about that don't you get?
They will not go quietly into the night.
To do so would amount to admitting that the Proletarian masses are not willing to drink the kool aid.
They are cultists who can never admit they are wrong.
11
E. Warren needs to support Sanders ASAP. Sanders need all resources in order to get ahead to defeat Biden. Decisiveness is critical when time calls for it.
6
@David I disagree. Warren needs to whip up a batch of popcorn, so I can watch the Bernie supporters go ballistic while she remains in the race. I have never supported Warren. But today, I'd like to say: "You go, gurrrl!!"
1
One thing you do not address is that the majority of states Biden won are states the Democrats simply cannot win in election against Trump. Whereas Sanders swept most states si far a Democrat can actually win in November.
8
I actually miss the process where the part leaders assembled in "smoke filled rooms" and emerged with a single candidate who launched the campaign without the baggage of having had his fellow party members provide the opposition with a boatload of negatives.
The real issue in this campaign is not "Beating Trump" it is about bringing Americans back together in common cause. There are too many gaps created by a variety of unsubstantiated sources that slice and dice Americans into rigid camps base largely on hatred.
While one person will win the electoral college, the losers will be We-the-People - again.
2
How is coalescing around a weak candidate supposed to advance our country? Should he gain the nomination, how can Biden actually inspire voters - except for the trope of anyone but Trump?
Call me a tired but unbowed Bernie Sanders supporter.
11
@EB seems to me he inspired millions to turn out in a PRIMARY election .. most of whom were not between the ages of 18 and 30
5
Likeability cannot be underestimated in presidential politics. In Biden the country has someone with this in spades, and it’s a natural gift. He is not perfect, but what human is? He will win 11-3-20 because he has the hands-on experience the current occupant of the WH never did, and has proven can’t be picked up on the job along the way. But most importantly Biden is someone naturally welcoming whom people want to gravitate to and support, who will be running against someone who makes people frown in disgust and want to distance themselves from.
7
It’s time for the remaining candidates to live up to their word and drop out a put their support behind Biden.
He has always had the greatest national appeal and will beat DJT in the upper Midwest states that cost us in 2016.
It’s time to come together as one party, one nation and begin to systematically remove DJT from office.
It’s time!
9
Last summer, the media declared Warren unstoppable.
Nine days ago, the media declared Sanders unstoppable.
Today, the media is declaring Biden unstoppable.
The only thing unstoppable is the media’s tendency toward hyperbole.
51
@Curt ...except after Super Tuesday... the prevailing trend is pretty much unstoppable.
1
I am disappointed that so many good candidates have dropped out just before people could vote for them.
2
If you think Biden is going to beat Trump in the General election, you haven't been paying attention.
Biden is Hillary part 2. An entitled "my turn" candidate running on the status quo. It takes vision and energy to beat an incumbent, and Biden has neither.
The reality is we are in for another 4 years of hate, division and lack of progress. I hope the country survives.
7
@AnejoDiego
Boy, you really didn’t know Hillary and you certainly don’t know Joe.
4
Democrats will be defeated with all this divisive bickering.
Remember in 2016, Republicans got on the Trump Train. They banded together and rallied around one man. And they won. Want it to happen again?
4
I like Bernie, but I'm hoping he doesn't limp to the convention this time. Simply not enough Dems are behind him. He needs to push his supporters to not only vote for but volunteer etc. for Joe in the general, even if Biden isn't their preferred candidate.
6
This morning I awoke at 8:30 AM. The last time I over-slept to such a late hour was 20 years ago when I had muscle-relaxants prescribed for lower back - painful - spasms. The reason? RELIEF over a viable candidate who may just oust The Monster-in-Chief. Now, I was a Warren supporter, but it wasn't until yesterday's Super Tuesday when I changed my vote and filled in the little bubble next to Biden's name. The reason was pragmatic. That being his growing delegate count after South Carolina. I like and respect Biden; I trust him and his vision to heal, resurrect a waning democracy, while progressing, slower than Bernie, yet nevertheless progressing. My bit of advice if he is to be our final nominee: Sir, you really MUST have an Elizabeth, an Amy, or maybe even a Stacey as your running mate.
12
This is why we need ranked-choice voting in primaries. Votes could be re-apportioned automatically when candidates drop out.
12
What if Warren discontinues her campaign and throws her support to Sanders who has the same platform? They would make a winning team in my opinion.
7
Senator Warren's narcissism will never let her leave the race, not until the bitter end. If she was truly committed to a progressive agenda she would have dropped-out before Super Tuesday and endorsed Senator Sanders, but no. It's all about her.
9
@PeteH Being a Warren supporter, I could say the same about Sanders. It's always been all about him. Why did he even run at all in 2020 instead of just supporting Warren as I suspect many of his supporters would have moved over? Instead we may very well be stuck with the moderate and
"back to the good ole days" Biden. And please remember Warren is the one who really went after and laid Bloomberg low in the debates.
5
@PeteH
Narcissists are always the last to be aware of their illness. Rather, believe they are destined to save the world. So it goes.
I am thrilled that Biden will be handed nomination.
I can keep my capital gains tax cuts, AND my private insurance.
In a few years I will sign on to Medicare, and collect my Social Security benefits.
If we give Medicare to all people, I fear that may affect my Medicare benefits, and that's what really matters to me.
It seems like a fair trade-off.
I can continue to reap the benefits of socialism, while avoiding the cost (just take it out of everyone else's paychecks). I can live with that.
18
@ExPDXer
I can't tell if this is just (cynical) honesty or an ironic pointing out of the self-serving [and no solidarity] rationale to prefer Biden. At the very least though, I'd much rather have the hoards of people cosplaying as cable news pundits when deciding who to vote for ("who can beat trump?") to just actually recognize (like you do) that they vote for the status quo because it works for them and they don't want the risk that could accompany progressive policies for the greater good.
3
@Gambino
It is the sad truth that my fellow Boomers have been living up to their reputation.
The greater good ends at their driveways.
4
@ExPDXer I know you're being sarcastic, but you've been paying into Medicare and Social Security for your entire working life. You are entitled to reap these benefits when it is your time.
I'm glad I live in NZ and that we are a Secular Democracy and not a religious democracy. All nations that are not secular democracy do not look after their own poor and vulnerable and seem to focus more time on the poor in third world countries than uplifting the standard of living of their own citizens.
4
@CK Well, the US is supposed to be a secular democracy, separation of church and state and all that.
Aid to other countries and lack of effective investment in US communities has a long history. The religious angle is only a little bit of it, IMHO.
1
@CK yes we all wish we could live in a country with a sensible and visionary leader like Jacinta. I can't wait to visit
your secular democracy in a couple of weeks and be recharged.
BS can call it quits. That much is obvious. If not the primaries, the superdelegates will relegate him.
It was a hell of a ride, two times came close, at an advanced age. Some of his ideas finally got some serious national traction, after decades of dedicated effort. Now on to the well-deserved half-retirement as a lifetime VT senator.
11
@ss Less than half the states have voted. It's not over yet.
2
@ss OK Boston...how about Warren dropping out?
1
Now we'll find out what Sanders is really about. Sanders needs to stop tearing Biden down and just tell us why his ideas are better. That will provide a hope of unity in the event the electorate does not prefer his plan and nominate Biden. If he pursues a scorched earth plan of attack, it will ultimately make it a lot harder for his current followers to support Biden in the event that the majority of Democrats prefer moderation to revolution.
25
@Bob Schaffel The bots will provide more than enough scorched earth, I think. We must all be absolutely aware and careful with where we get our information about what other people want and what they think.
1
@Bob Schaffel Thank goodness that Biden doesn't attack and tear down Sanders. Right?
1
@Bob Schaffel There's little Sanders can hit Biden with that Trump won't, with more made up on the fly as well. Better that Biden be hit hard now, and practice some defenses of his indefensibles for, yes, the ears of Sanders voters. Getting angry at Sanders for not rolling over, with the delegate totals so far in the same ballpark, is no way to court Sanders voters who will be needed in November if Biden proves the nominee. Fragile candidates who need pulled punches are not winners in the end.
1
Now that it's likely that Biden will arrive at the convention with a plurality of the delegates, will Sanders stand by his demand that the plurality candidate get the nomination?
Taken together with the campaign promises he will never be able to deliver on, Sanders emerged as hardly any more trustworthy than Trump.
40
@Charles Becker Apparently many Bernie supporters feel that if they can't have Bernie, they'll support Trump either directly or indirectly. That says a lot about them. I know there are some Bernie supporters who see the danger of Trump, but I wonder how many...
5
@JW Let’s no-platform the bots as much as we can.
The few conversations I’ve been in about the democratic primary candidates have been anxious, status-conscious, pro-sanders froth. People are still afraid to be uniters. I donated to Kamala and then Pete and now it’ll be Biden although I respect Warren.
E Pluribus unum is the only way for a nation this large with this many groups, to function. Most countries are much smaller and more homogeneous than the US has ever been. It is okay to believe in compromise with many parts because it is what this country is. It involves myth making and storytelling; bringing in all the stories does NOT have to make us lose the plot.
It has to start gently especially among the diehard academics; but let’s make it okay to respect each other when we disagree on legitimate points. Respect and dignity.
4
@Virginia,
"...let’s make it okay to respect each other when we disagree on legitimate points."
Funny thing, sitting here in the Starbucks in Fort Bragg, CA, your words made my eyes tear up. Thank you.
2
The Main Rreason That Democratic Party Lost to Trump in 2016 was because They Were Not Fighting For Something, but They Were Fighting To Stop Something (Fascism and Racism) or Somebody (Trump). It seems like Democrats are trying to repeat the same mistakes this year; both in The Primary (Stop Sanders) and The General (Stop Trump). History shows that Voters Respond To A Campaign That Offers Something or Ideas than the one that's just against something or ideas or Somebody. Democrats must come up with a Clear Vision and Irresistible Brand. Like him or not,Trump has an irresistible Brand called " Make America Great Again". Instead of offering her own irresistible Brand,Hillary and the Obamas wasted their time and energy trying to prove that America is already great. As we now know,many voters didn't believe that America is already great. Among all the two dozens democratic candidates,it's only one that has a Brand which is "For All" in terms of Medicare For All,Public Colleges For All,Government Should Work For All,Housing For All,This Country For All and not for the few wealthy people,and he also has a Motto which is " Not me,Us". Can anyone tell me the Brand or even the Motto of any other democratic presidential candidate besides "Defeat Trump" and "I'm The Most Electable" ? While defeating Trump might be the number one goal of tribal Democrats,it might not be the number one goal of Independent and Swing Voters who actually decide the outcome of any presidential election.
21
@Ukosi Very incisive point. Sanders stands out among the pack. I said it before, and I will say it again. If Demos can not rally around Sanders, they will see bitter defeat because people like clarity and decisiveness in leaders. With Biden, I do not find this quality.
20
@David
where you see clarity and divisiveness in Sanders, I see a stubborn, dangerous ideologue who wants to refashion the U.S. economy into his vision of a worker's paradise. Burning down the existing system might appeal to young voters, but older voters know better and don't want their life's investments destroyed by one vile ideologue.
6
@David Obviously, millions feels differently than you do.
Bloomberg dropped out and once Warren gets over her bruised ego she'll likely drop out. That will make it a two man race. Sanders is unlikely to get enough delegates to win on the first convention vote, so the super delegate will give the win to Biden. That's pretty straightforward. The more difficult convention agenda item will be the party platform. Will it be progressive and call for the elimination of private health insurance, which Bernie is for and Biden against? Will it include free college tuition? Will it call for college debt forgiveness? A platform that will appease the far left will not be liked by the centrists. And visa versa. The platform is where the real debate will be.
10
@J.R. With respect, what does the average voter care about the party platform? They’ll be voting for the nominee.
16
@M The average voter doesn't care about the platform during the nomination process. But, the platform is hugely important in the head-to-head presidential debates. Most Republicans will vote for the Republican candidate and most Democrats will vote for the Democrat. But, independents and moderates often make their decision after hearing the presidential debates. And, the party platform is the basis for the debates. So, in that respect, the party platforms are very important.
1
This will be effectively "over" on March 17, when we know the results of Michigan (3/10) and Ohio, Illinois and Florida (3/17). Sanders needs to get out and support Biden and not drag this out beyond that if he does nor do a 180 degree turn. Trump will be on the offensive at that point. If Bernie does not cooperate, he is not serious that he wants Trump removed from office. Time to close ranks.
28
@USNA73
All of those states are ready made for Biden.
Same for PA.
Bernie will not show up at the convention with as many delegates as Biden.
Since he loves a plurality as the way to nominate our standard bearer then he will be forced to move away for Biden.
Bernie, the Proletarian Masses have spoken.
Biden is the nominee.
7
@USNA73
Gee, why not the other way around? Why doesn't Biden need to get out and support Sanders?
This election is far from over. Don't count your chicks before the eggs hatch.
The democratic Establishment is not the problem, The Selfishness of Liberals is The Problem in terms of Elizabeth Warren dividing the liberal votes even when it's obvious She Can't Even Win A State She Represents As A Senator (Massachusetts) Or The State That She Was Born (Oklahoma), and MoveOn.org and Democracy For America Refuse To Endorse On Time The Obvious Progressive Presidential Candidate who historically won the first three early primary states. The Progressives have a rare opportunity in almost a century to elect a progressive candidate since FDR, but instead dwell in Individual Selfishness And Organizational Selfishness. What does this say about the Liberals or Progressives? But A Big Thank You To California, the biggest and richest state, for not bowing to the democratic Establishment last minute coordinated scare tactics that falsely claimed that Bernie is not electable.
12
@Ukosi
Warren and Bernie supporters double Biden's. He can't win without us.
The DNC establishment will loose again to Trump.
Not so fast with these predictions about Sanders's future chances. If Warren and Sanders team up they are unbeatable in the primary and against Trump.
14
Where? Where are they unbeatable? Do you have a different U.S. map than I do?
5
I'm a fan of Sanders' ideas, but not of his campaign. The flip side of their unwavering integrity is doctrinaire inflexibility. Will they abandon their revolution to embrace reform? Even for the greater good of defeating Trump and the GOP?
As a campaign volunteer for decades, I feel so much has changed from 'let's get this done' to 'I hear you' . People don't talk as much about working together as being personally validated. I think it takes folks political eyes off the governmental prize. Such as the Supreme Court. (Which is busy destroying Warren's signature regulation as we speak.) Picture a Trump majority on the bench, like forever. Are we all in yet?
52
@pi Not just a majority, but a super majority.
It is likely once the CA delegates are fully apportioned, Biden and Sanders will be roughly equal in the delegate count.
Elizabeth Warren has no path to victory and has not won a single contest, including her home state of MA. I would hope she has the wisdom to bow out now so the liberal vote can be consolidated as well.
It ain’t over till it’s over.
14
@Michael
If Warren suspends her campaign rather than shuts it down entirely, she has a number of delegates to turn over, and given that she is a progressive, she is likely to give them to Sanders. Otherwise her name would be mud in progressive circles.
1
It’s a bit ironic to me that my high tax, heavily regulated state of California voted for Sanders. We in San Francisco also voted for new property taxes on our homes to fund rebuilding and repairing our free tuition city college. Maybe we vote this way because of a view the collective “we” and the governments we elect, however imperfect, have roles in creating a better future. This spirit seems very “American” to me.
64
@JB Many Californians, like myself, voted many weeks ago. A lot changed in the recent weeks and I know I would not have voted for the same candidate yesterday as I did last month. Lesson learned for me, I will never vote early like I did this year.
10
@JB Right. You also have to wonder how much of your tax dollars are going to trump red states.
@JB And to all the Californians, please stay there. You're welcome to visit Oregon and Washington, but please don't stay.
It’s interesting to me that Biden emerging and winning took place while the nation is grappling with the coming corona virus epidemic and the downturn in the stock market. Just a day before Super Tuesday, the pundits said Sanders was unstoppable and had all but handed him the nomination. Obviously voters saw Biden differently and weren’t ready to hand the nomination to someone who was still talking about his revolution in the midst of issues that were causing panic and uncertainty.
21
@Michele I'm surprised as well seeing that one of those candidates is proposing a change in health care that would be much more effective in dealing with an epidemic such as this
4
@Chris V A single payer system would be much more effective. But we don't have one, and it will take far longer than 4 years and a single president without Congressional support to implement one. Most voters are practical enough to see that and choose instead to support the candidate who pushes advancement, if not revolution.
1
Consider this: Bernie wins in blue states; Biden in blue, purple and red. So while Bernie's supporters are insisting Biden will lose because Bernie's fickle supporters won't support Biden, it really doesn't matter, because Biden will win those blue (Bernie) states in any event.
This is the first time I've felt hopeful about our country in four years. Biden represents inclusiveness and level-headed pragmatism. Thank god we will hopefully be able to choose him--and not the angry decisiveness that both Trump AND Bernie push.
192
@Todd According to FiveThirtyEight Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin are perennial swing states. Bernie has won 4 of those. Biden has won 2.
21
@Zachary That does not mean they will win the state in question in the general election against Trump--that is all that matters.
17
@Mbb Yes, but that is the point that the original poster was making, and that is not evidenced by the results.
3
@hdtvpete -- What Biden is proposing will result in a second-class, or third-class type of coverage that many, if not most, doctors and hospitals, will not accept. You can´t scotch-tape a public option onto a profit-driven, privately run health insurance industry. The latest major study, conducted by Yale public health experts and published in The Lancet, concludes that doing so will be more expensive than M4A, more disruptive, and unable to provide the care we so desperately need. Biden is too personally invested in the Affordable Care Act to acknowledge that it has not resulted in -- and never will result in -- affordable care. Arguing that you can have universal, affordable coverage by relying on for profit health insurance companies is like denying the science of climate change.
39
@JJ Biden is smart enough to actually hire people who can move the country forward. He can hire back all the good people who Trump threw out for loyalists. So stop the bashing. We are past that now. This isn't about Bernie. This is about removing Trump. If you are not for that Democratic goal, leave the party.
12
@JJ Medicare part c involves for-profit insurance companies.
4
@JJ You are right so we need to work on our Representatives to get us a M4A bill to get to President Biden's desk. It's not like he is going to veto it.
5
Hopefully Bernie, and possibly even Elizabeth, can at least push Biden to the left on many issues. Maybe they have already. If Biden can be encouraged to commit (in debates, etc.) to somewhat progressive positions, the policy results once elected can be okay. If Biden's win takes on the mantle of "inevitability," progressives should closely monitor his current policy positions.
Older people can go either way: continuing in their old habits, or going big in their last chance in life.
The political process this year doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing matter.
8
@jdh
Why should Biden go left to accomodate Bernie/Liz supporters? He is winning, and they are losing; the Dem conservatives prevailed over the "progressives." Their alternative is Trump. Try harder next time.
3
@GMooG That was Hillary's position. How'd that work out for her. If Biden's the nominee he'll reach out to progressives if he knows what's good for him.
3
@jdh Hopefully,Biden will hire Warren who can move the country forward.
Now there one remaining big incalculable we will see for the first time: A democratic debate with only two or three candidates on the stage. We pretty much know how Sanders will perform, because he's been consistent for decades, and that he will hit Biden hard. Which is a good thing, should Biden prove the nominee, since Trump will hold nothing back and invent things as he goes. What we don't know is how Biden will do, since this campaign season his performance has been rocky and all over the map.
21
@RRI don’t worry about Biden in debates.
Expectations are already so low that as long as he doesn’t fall down and fracture a hip, he’ll come out fine!
He just needs to continue the Good Ol Joe image...
5
@RRI Trump's debates against Clinton were lousy. Still, Fox news and Trump always declared Trump the winner. Biden doesn't have to be a good debater, he only needs to be able to let everything roll off his back. That is the only thing Biden needs to work on.Let the mudslide off him that's all that matters.
5
You're both more optimistic than I that Biden can win as the policy-vague, empty-suit candidate he has been so far. He has to do more than get through debates with Trump. He has to be inspiring. Trump revulsion verges into despair of politics so it cannot be counted on to bring enough voters to the polls, especially in critical states. Liked Biden can do. Inspiring not so much. A Biden rally is a contradiction in terms.
2
Corporate and the interests of the 1% have come up with a plan, that in the short term, seems to have worked. Will Biden remember who he is long enough to make it through the primaries in a meaningful way? Is yet to be seen. I have always voted democrat, I'm over 65 and male. I would vote for anyone except Joe or Bloomberg. And I'm not alone.
22
@Steve i'd vote for anyone other than bernie. I'm over 50, male, and democrat.
Bernie will not pull in voters waivering between Trump and the Dem nominee.
58
@ray,
Exactly. And he won't be able to deliver on a single one of his campaign promises, either. 90% of the young voters who support Sanders do so for the "free stuff" he promises.
28
@Steve I will not vote for Bernie because, and he knows it, he does not stand a chance of getting his campaign promises passed by the house and the senate. Therefore what is his point except to sell snake oil to theose who lack political common sense and experience.
Look at Ted Kennedy, how many tens of years did he spend trying to move the needle on healthcare in the senate. Bernie talks like he can get it done over night. Be real here.
10
The Times tried to put the best face on it for Sanders, but there’s no getting around it: this was a massive rejection of Sanders and his politics of rage, division and exclusion.
The public understands there will be no progress in this country while we remain divided. If we are to address issues of inequality, health care, gun violence and climate change, we must first come together.
There is no better candidate to begin this process of healing than Joe Biden. For that very reason, there’s no better candidate to beat Trump. And Trump knows it.
325
@Ron Cohen It's clear the division is generational. Younger people overwhelmingly voted for Mr. Sanders and old people overwhelmingly voted for Mr. Biden.
If younger people were able to vote in the same amounts as older people, Mr. Sanders would have won easily.
The issue is that older people reject change and progress, not that sanders represents rage.
113
@mempko I agree with you that there appears to be a generational divide, but what do you mean by "if younger people were able to vote in the same amounts as older people?" Younger people can vote, but historically they make the choice not to. This was always a problem for Sanders--the follow through of younger voters--and the degree to which he could rely on them in terms of building up a base of support.
Please take a look at this article and the statistics they provide about younger voters sitting out Super Tuesday: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/03/04/super-tuesday-bernie-sanders-youth-votes-fell-short-compared-2016/4947795002/ . I'm not sure what the issue is, but it is definitely not as simple as older people rejecting change and progress.
59
@mempko Your report on the generational division is not reflected in the polling data. The problem for Bernie is that younger people did not overwhelmingly vote for him, it was just skewed in that direction. Younger people are able to vote in the same amounts, they just chose differently from your narrative. The issue is that Sanders doesn't represent as many people as he thinks he does.
15
I know it's ageist, but we have got to be able to find someone in the forty years between Buttigeig and Biden. I like Biden but he's but consistently sharp. Sanders just had a heart attack.
At 70, Trump was the oldest president on his inauguration day. These guys are nearly ten years older than that. If they were average Americans, they would die their first year in office.
It's not mean or condescending to suggest that people slow down by the time they're 80. Yes, they have wisdom, but being president of the US is the most demanding job in the world (assuming you actually do it, unlike our current President). In my ideal world a younger president would surround themselves with accomplished elders.
The median age of all presidents is 55.
George Washington was 57
Lincoln was 52
FDR 51
Teddy Roosevelt 42
JFK 43
27
@Dan,
Yes, but in T. Roosevelt's day 42 year olds were adults. Heck, back then 26 year olds were adults. Today they can still be on their parents' healthcare plan.
6
@Charles Becker Does a husband or wife on their spouse's healthcare plan make them not an adult? 26-year-olds are adults. 42-year-olds are adults.
1
It is not just "moderates" against "progressives" nor is it just "youth" vs "Boomers". How about considering labels such as "liberals for common sense?" "Progressives against Trump"? "Progressives for Peace, Unity" Plenty of people who might be ideologically compatible with Bernie simply want calm competence vs chaotic and crazy (and inclusiveness vs. "my way"). Some of us cannot abide the hostility and deliberate enemy-making. I'd encourage those who like some of Bernie's ideas (but maybe not hook, line and sinker) to advocate for those ideas with Biden (and Congressional candidates). They are not dependent on Bernie. In addition, I'd like to note the media and their questions tend toward answers that lack nuance. Biden and others might very well support the direction but not the specifics. They would do well to pick up that line in their speeches and platforms.
178
Exactly. These simple binary labels are ridiculous
4
@Child of Babe Biden is not what we want. Its more Obama who accomplished nothing and I voted for him twice.
Lets see Biden pick Sanders as his V.P. first.
@Paul Schejtman
Why would anyone voting for Biden want Sanders as VP? The Biden voters want to win in 2020!
2
I just did a quick review of the math re Warren pulling out. It says if she quits the race, and assuming the bulk of her supporters go to Bernie, Bernie could win the whole deal. It is extremely close. She could do for Sanders what Pete and Amy did for Joe. This race is not over!
81
@badman The next few days will say a lot about Elizabeth Warren and what her values are. Is she a real progressive? If so she would support Sanders, because at this point she has no chance of getting the nomination. She needs to for Sanders do what Pete did for Biden.
22
@badman : Except all her supporters won't go for Bernie. I voted for Warren, and now I'll support Biden. If Biden has any sense, he's on the phone with Warren right now offering her a prominent role in his administration.
65
@badman It may not be that simple. I just voted for Warren, but were she not on the ballot I'd have checked the Biden box. Bernie is angry, and we don't need more of that, and he's cursed by the "socialist" label.
29
True to form, the Democratic Party is self-immolating; they've been doing it for well nigh 40 years, becoming more and more indistinguishable from the Republican Party, publicly resisting any changes that would better the lives of the poor and the middle-class.
I'm convinced that if Sanders regains the front-runner position, they will ramp up their game by trying a brokered convention, thereby creating the kind of widespread national anger that will guarantee Trump and his Republican partners a second term.
History tells us that our Democratic Party, when offered the opportunity to do the right thing, they rarely grasp it, case in point being the loss to Trump in 2016.
109
@Mel Farrell - some perspective is needed here.
Trump won by a combined total of 77,000 votes in three swing states (Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.) His margin in Michigan was only 10,000 votes. Not exactly a catastrophic result for Democrats.
One thing that really hurt Dems in 2016 was a decline in voter participation of 6-7% by African-Americans, who just weren't that enthused about Hillary Clinton. Biden showed decisively yesterday that he can get out the African-American vote, and Trump's actions and policies in office will only drive more Latino and African-American voters to the polls in December.
Nominating Biden as their candidate in 2020 is likely an "opportunity to do the right thing," particularly when it comes to increasing voter turnout AND attracting independent voters, who likely swung the election to Trump last time but are turned off by him now.
269
@Mel Farrell What happened yesterday was almost completely driven by individual voters. Biden wasn't even campaigning in five of those states. It had nothing to do with the party machinery. He was my third choice, but I'm one of yesterday's voters who went with Biden because we are one issue voters - defeat Trump.
371
@Mel Farrell Gosh, I don’t know, I thought Barack Obama came out of nowhere running against some established candidates and representing change.
He did pretty well.
19
Sanders' loss was the epic failure of an idea that he and his supporters were pushing since 2016;
Go with a hard left candidate and millions of new voters will appear and take the candidate to victory.
He had 4 years and well over 100 million to do this.
And the "new voters" didn't appear. Not in the millions, not even in the hundreds of thousands.
It's good that we have had this opportunity to demonstrate whether Sanders' theory of the case would work.
But it's time for Sanders and his supporters to own up to this colossal failure.
480
@Concerned Citizen
The progressives won more delegates than the centrists.Regardless of your beliefs the ideals of the progressives are supported by a larger percentage in most states the centrist ideals. Seems like you all need to comprise as well.
75
@Concerned millennial In the Democratic praty, there may be more progressives than centrists. The problem is that the Democrats don't elect the president, Republicans and independents get to vote as well. It's one thing to be for progressive ideals, it's another thing to get them implemented.
96
@Concerned millennial We're willing to compromise. As long as it's an actual DEMOCRAT that we're compromising with.
45
My choice was Amy Klobuchar. I am glad that she got behind Joe when she didn't have a path forward. It is clear that if Joe should win he will almost certainly be a one term president. So, the VP choice is critical. I admired Joe for acknowledging that he got punched in the gut after Iowa and New Hampshire instead of screeching that everything was RIGGED against him. As president he will restore dignity to the White House and repair fractured relationships internationally. He will appoint talented people to represent on issues relating to climate, college affordability, medical care, wages, trade, public health, infrastructure, immigration, criminal justice, the military, and judicial appointments. Joe will be fine and America will be as well.
512
@L T he didn't screech that it was rigged against him because there were no media campaigns taking aim at him and distorting his actual popularity levels, no leaked DNC emails revealing systematic efforts to bring him down.
Why do you feel that Sanders doesn't have the right to protest such things? Because you don't like him?
15
@L T He’ll either lose to Trump, or win and do literally nothing to help the working class of this country while continuing to coddle tax avoiders, corporations, and Wall Street. His voting record shows SUCH poor judgement with regard to criminal justice and foreign policy it’s amazing anyone believes he should be President. If all you want is someone who’ll keep the stock market humming he’ll be “fine” but a lot of us were hoping for something better.
16
@L T I was planning to vote for Amy, so Biden got my vote. I am really hoping she will be his VP choice should he win the nomination. A man could do a lot worse than having her by his side.
15
Hopefully California won’t max out the full 30 day vote count period and become some sort of second Iowa. Different in reason, but similar in effect.
That would push both Sanders‘ and Bidens campaign into a more uncertain future – and 30 days are an eternity in 2020 politics.
3
Count my wife and me as respectively Klobuchar and Warren California voters who voted early (because we were out of the country and only returned last night) but would have chosen Biden had we been able to wait until yesterday to cast our ballots.
I'm not enthusiastic about Biden. But I am convinced that the Democrats have needed to coalesce around a viable general election candidate ASAP. And Bernie is not viable. I'll enthusiastically work for Biden, donate to his campaign and do my best to convince both Bernie supporters and principled Republicans to vote for him come November. The stakes are far too high to do otherwise.
691
There are no principled Republicans except maybe Romney.
20
@Melvin Firman Believe me, my problems with the Republican Party reach way beyond Trump. But there are some Republicans out there who grasp and hate what Trump's doing to the country. I have a Florida-based conservative friend with whom I've argued about most issues for decades. He's all in for Biden (and would have very reluctantly voted for Bernie, for that matter). Unfortunately, his vehement opposition to Trump is not typical of the Party these days. But he's far from alone. And if Biden takes Florida, it will be folks like him who'll help make the difference.
41
@Thunder Road -- South Carolina hasn't elected a Democrat since Jimmy Carter -- and Jimmy Carter voted for #BernieSanders and says, we no longer live in a "Democracy" due to the Oligarchy (1% big-investments crowd) that OWN party-machine puppets like Biden, Clinton and the rest. I think the best plan forward would be for the Progressive Democrats to seek a "divorce settlement" and go it on their own as a new party.
10
Considering that many states have early voting, I wonder if the Democratic Party should shift to a ranked choice system, so voters could indicate their 2nd and third choice, should their primary choice drop out of the race before election day.
399
@Ernest Enrich I've been thinking the same thing, especially because two popular candidates dropped out so suddenly before such a big day. That would provide more meaningful data on where the eventual nominee should campaign the hardest as well, and shed some light on whether voters in a particular election season are really voting for degrees of leftistness, or individuals. We have polls but that would be more meaningful than a poll and require no fundamental changes to the process to implement. I hope the idea catches on.
13
@Ernest Enrich Early "voting" in Nevada's caucus was basically ranked voting, with a 15% cutoff for viability. I kind of do like that idea, at least for the early states, when there are so many candidates. For CA, I am glad I waited until Monday to vote, and wasn't tempted into wasting my vote on Friday for a candidate who dropped out on Sunday.
8
Remedy to early voting and drop outs is not to vote so early. National election in the fall doesn’t have that problem as the candidates are set well in advance, but voting early in a primary does have the risk of you wasting your vote early.
9
Biden won in lots of states that will never vote blue in the election that really counts. Had Warren dropped out with Pete and Amy it's a safe bet that MN, MA, ME and even TX would be in the Bernie column today. No one is going to win before the convention. This party is nearly evenly split and both sides need to take a deep breath and figure out how to come together before serious damage is done to hope for the unity it will need.
50
@JADAMS - By what logic? Had Warren dropped out Bernie would have won some of these states? Just add her votes to his and do the math. He would have still lost, even with her votes. That’s the problem with Bernie, Warren and their fans; they are innumerate.
7
If politics have taught us anything in the 21st century, it's that nothing is a "safe bet."
4
@JADAMS And had Bloomberg dropped out Biden would have won with even higher numbers even if Warren had dropped out. And that's assuming all her voters would have voted for Bernie, which is unlikely.
11
I predict that Sanders will be out in a month. He's not pulling in that massive surge of young voters needed to propel him to victory with Trump. He's not even pulling in the young voters he did in 2016.
The Democrats, in their wisdom, coalescing around the candidate who can most likely beat Trump. Biden may be flawed - he may not be great in debates, he may repeatedly mangle the English language - but he has a long and proven track record, is decent, trusted and capable and will make an excellent President.
542
@cort He just raised $46 million in February, is only down 70 delegates, and you think he'll be out in a month?
33
@cort Don't forget, though, that Bernie is here for Bernie, and just like in 2016, he's not going to do what's right for the party (he's not a Dem), or, by associate, the country, and is instead going to stroke his ego as long as he can.
If he lives that long. Have you seen him this week? I fear the man is going to have another heart attack any moment.
50
@cort
Disagree on 30 days and Sanders out.
Think Biden, like Hillary will compile a majority. Unfortunately Bernie won’t quit, as in 16 he will go to the convention with a plan to fight.
Donnie loves that, the more Bernie voters are fed the 2016 story the more don’t vote or vote 3rd party.
Scary.
39
The primaries are seriously flawed. Most people are voting strategically instead of for policies they support on the hopes that others will come along. This whole process is drawn out so long that those voting later are constantly weighing who to vote for even if its not their first choice. We should all be voting on the same day with a rank voting system. The most popular candidate should have the best chance of winning, not the one that we think might do better with ppl we disagree with.
Biden is not a popular candidate but many believe he can win the general. I have my doubts because i'm sure republicans will ramp up their hits about hunter biden. However, there does to be some hope that democrats are motivated enough by trump to come out regardless of the nominee. Instead of the infighting we should really be fixing the primary.
79
@al
My crystal ball tells: The Senate will hold hearings on Hunter Biden and will subpoena Joe. They will drag it out and concoct an October Surprise. After (re-)election day, it will all evaporate.
8
@al
Hunter Biden is nothing compared to what the repubs would do to Sanders if he were the nominee.
4
@al
So, you know better what people want than the people casting ballots?
2
Biden needs to begin appealing to the Warren and Sanders supporters. He needs to make widening Obamacare into something much greater and more enduring a top priority. The coronovirus crisis is a good opportunity to show how things could go differently.
234
@Steve C - Biden has come out in favor of a government-sponsored health insurance plan as an option to private insurance, not an out-and-out replacement like Bernie is pushing for.
And that's the most practical and sensible approach now to the health insurance issue. Start with small steps and think bigger as time goes on.
77
@Steve C
"He needs to make widening Obamacare into something much greater and more enduring a top priority. "
The public option is a path which offers health coverage for everyone, a baseline with which commercial insurers must compete or die, and is something about which Biden had already been talking.
... Andrew
15
@Steve C As one who voted for Warren, I have no problem voting for Biden in November. Bernie would only get my vote after holding my nose while using a pen on a very long stick to fill out the ballot.
18
It's amazing how the media's playing with the reports on the voting results, as you read this, early this afternoon. Sanders will emerge, roughly, with a 100-200 delegate lead, once everything's fully-tallied from yesterday's vote. Adding to this sideshow, there's this intense, mainstream media focus upon the deep, red-state results, which won't mean a darn thing come November, at least as far as the Democratic Party's chances of victory are concerned.
What really matters, news-wise, is whatever Senator Warren decides to do, going forward.
113
@Robert Swern This time the media is correct. Sander's huge problem is the amazing tilt to Biden that occurred among the late deciding voters. Unless he can nip that in the bud he's finished. I doubt he'll be able to do that - coalition is far too narrow at this point - and he's never made an attempt to broaden it.
160
@Robert Swern I respectfully disagree that deep red state votes "don't matter", because each of those states have started to go blue/purple in their own state elections and when it comes down to it, I imagine the trending higher voter turnout will make things less predictable in the 2020 cycle.
49
Actually, much of the media's focus has been on Texas, and rightly so: it's an ostensible red state that was already on the verge of turning purple, and may at long last be at that juncture come November. Trump won it in 2016 by the same 8-point margin as his victory over Hillary in Ohio, the most infamous of swing states – and this was before we knew the full disastrous extent of his presidency. (Not to mention his wholesale alienation of our sizable Latinx population.)
I'd advise not allowing one's sore feelings over Bernie's loss to color what actually *is* a potentially massive game-changer of an event. If Trump, or any other future Republican candidate, can't win Texas, their national prospects could quite realistically be kaput. (It wasn't even remotely a coincidence that Pete, Amy & Beto chose Dallas as the spot to wholeheartedly endorse Biden.)
155
The endorsements for Biden translated into great momentum for him. It is interesting how Biden is the choice moderates have coalesced around, after all these months and years of preparation. After stumbling debate performances, countless verbal gaffes, and unpopular policies (voting for the Iraq War, archaic climate initiatives, and for cutting Social Security, Medicare, etc.), I am shocked that he is the moderate choice. I will support whoever the Democratic nominee is, but I'm sincerely frustrated with the lack of forethought the DNC had with the moderate they rallied around. Building a solid coalition around Klobuchar, for instance, would have been a much more satisfying moderate to support than Biden, a candidate may truly be pummeled in debates with Trump and in the general election. This is the Democrats' election to lose, and we may very well lose it.
106
I agree with you, but Klobuchar never got the votes. The first state election that mattered (i.e. a primary not a caucus, ethnically diverse) was South Carolina. Those voters spoke loudly, and they were not moved by Amy Klobuchar.
32
Sarah in Iowa... people rallied around Joe Biden because he is empathetic. and that's a powerful personal trait. there are 100 senators and 435 members of Congress who can be the policy wonks. the president needs to be a leader. Donald trump crystalized for many people what was important about the president... it wasn't as much any policy as a value system and interpersonal skills. Joe Biden and Beto O'Rourke blow away in field in that regard. Bernie Sanders fails, not because he's wrong on the issues, but because he's abrasive in advocating for them.
19
@Sarah
Was it the "DNC" that rallied around Biden? Or just ordinary people going to the polls? It sure seems like the latter, to me.
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I assume Elizabeth will drop out sooner than later. I live in a community that went hard for her: 45% of the votes cast went to Warren (including mine).
Most of those folks, including me, will switch to Biden. Bernie isn't cut out to be a leader, and he would never be able to get his agenda passed in Congress. And I suspect strongly that he would drag down the Democrats nationally.
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@Cousy
Well said. I'm in total agreement. I hope some of Elizabeth's agenda will materialize - perhaps through how she negotiates with Biden (if she does).
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@Cousy
My primary comes late in the game.
I was going to vote for Warren, but will now switch to Biden.
I want my Republic back! We all need to pull together. Against Trump.
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@Cousy I voted early in CA for Warren, but I agree with you--I suspect that, like myself, many of her supporters will back Biden now. Bernie and his team do not seem interested in leading all Democrats, only his die-hard supporters.
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I will vote blue no matter who, but Biden is still a weak candidate.
Endorsements can't change that. They can only distract us until he makes a gaffe so significant the media will not be able to ignore it.
I would have thought falsely claiming to have been arrested, in order to visit Nelson Mandela, would have hurt him but, somehow, it was largely glossed over (surely that was as bad as Warren's claim of Native American ancestry, at least there was a trace of truth to Warren's fib).
I thought forgetting how to complete the phrase "we hold these truths to be self-evident" would hurt him but, that gaffe was largely ignored by the media so...many Americans missed it.
I feel like Bernie would have had more blow-back if he had made the same mistakes.
More importantly, I KNOW Republicans will be playing those gaffes on a continuous loop during the regular election.
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@aryasteinem,
"Endorsements can't change that. They can only distract us until he makes a gaffe so significant the media will not be able to ignore it."
Gaffes and other mis-speakes you point to pale in comparison to outright crimes by tRump and the criminals he has now installed in his administration.
by the way, Bernie may have a higher than average floor but a very low ceiling. he will not be able to count on the support of most dems that he and his followers have been disparaging as "establishment" and there are not enough new, young voters to overcome that. Biden has only been able to widen his coalition.
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The Republicans may have footage of Biden's gaffes, but there's no footage of him dancing around in Red Square on his honeymoon or celebrating the victory of the Sandanistas in Nicaragua. Republicans would have gone to town with those, which is why they've consistently worked to help Sanders win the nomination.
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It us, the voters, who need to be strong this time. Give a decent candidate the votes to get Trump out and also give that candidate a Senate majority and the power to undo the damage that’s already been done.
We still have a future to accomplish anything we can once we win some elections and can make policy. This is the time to start. Between Biden (or Sanders) and Trump/McConnell/Roberts there is no comparison.
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