I believe this article demonstrates the true Bernie and why so many of us support him. I’m a retired teacher who has free healthcare for life. However, I see others around me who struggle with the decision to pay the electric bill or fill a prescription. This is the richest country in the world, yet we are the only first world country that does not provide universal healthcare. Why? Greed. We spend twice as much per capita on healthcare with worse outcomes as compared to other countries. Why? Greed.
158
Why? For the answer to that look to what your medical benefits for life plus generous pension have done to the NJ state budget. Answer: we can’t afford it.
6
@GC We can't afford to reform our tax code & our banking & investment laws? We can't afford to enforce tax rules on the fabulously wealthy? We can't afford to go look in the offshore accounts of those listed in the Panama Papers, or in the Cayman Islands?? We can't afford to balance our military budget with our actual defense needs & the rest of our public interests, like clean energy & transportation, a universal health program, education, & on & on... . . Is all of this completely out of the question?
50
Yes, and the pension system is part of the problem.
2
I hope Sanders prevails, even tho it's a long shot. He represents hope for millions of Americans, including me. In contrast Biden only represents a relief from the extreme cruelty of our current president.
5
Vermont has been losing it’s most talented to other states. Thje smugness factor has is of no interest in top students. Addiction has consumed all sorts across the state. Read the memoir by Cree LeFavour, a Middlebury student we know and like. Vermont has hosted too many with these issues. We know from candidates applying and DVMs talking that farms in Vermont have created shame in their workers... with corners cut and behavior that is just plain wrong. In all this, Senator Sanders has ignored the gun culture. The day she won the Nobel Peace Prize, I directed her away from Middlebury College: October 5th.. any fool can carry a gun in Vermont. Sanders ignores the issue.. gun lobby is powerful. Last and most important, the intelligent elders of Vermont know the folly of Sanders well. He promises a free lunch, ignores the cost, and screams about the billionaires in a state the is draining wealth and talent. We cannot repair the horror of slavery and addiction, of differential imprisonment of Blacks... with a free lunch. Those troubled souls must learn, study, read, and behave. The maternal black culture cannot repair itself until the black males rise and black women recognize their role in that rise. The tragedy of slavery has not left us, and Sanders seems no to interest Blacks all that much. We must realise that we want our kids to do well, to dream and rise. Screaming about success does not help. Bernie ignores this. He will not win. Thank God.
2
Wait...Sander's doesn't appear entirely comfortable attacking his opponents personally? Did the author sleep through the 2016 campaign, where he attacked Hillary at every debate, effectively parroting the narrative put forth by the Trumpublican party? Gimme a break.
8
The last 3 times the Democrats ran with an establishment candidate, they lost (Gore, Kerry, Hillary). The one time they went with more of an outsider (Obama; Hillary was the establishment candidate in 2008), they won. Have we learned our history, or are we condemned to repeat it?
3
I n typical fashion, the NYT mistakes itself and those sharing the same bubble as being "THE World".
It is remarkable how far our campaign - yes, it is not me but us - has coming with the wealthy, the corporate entity known as the DNC which the wealthy own, and the major media which the wealthy own all arrayed against us.
We are routinely dismissed and vilified by you. The work and donations that WE make are undermined by you.
So do not be surprised if many more of the people you and yours have routinely disrespected end up staying home, voting 3rd party, or writing Sanders in.
If Biden runs - or whoever takes his place as he announces what we all know, namely that he is not up to the job - and Trump wins, it is on you.
3
@jtcr Nonsense. Did you even read the article, which is pro-Bernie? Are you buying into the Republican-fed nonsense that Biden is somehow afflicted, when it is Bernie who just suffered a heart attack?
4
so you used the word 'synecdoche' twice in the same paragraph... wow.
are you an elitist or something? i won spelling bees as a kid but never even heard of this word and I also blew away the english SAT.
a very convincing argument. hahahahaha
but, we MUST take the senate and keep the house.
and somehow we must solve income inequality, and have an all-out war on climate change.
it just aint gonna be sanders that does it.
2
It must make NY Times journalists feel so good to constantly mock a man who wants only to put supports in place for people who are now suffering.
Whoever chose that picture should feel ashamed.
Perhaps the coming pandemic will demonstrate to us how dependent we actually are on each another.
Even the big shots at the NY Times.
4
As is vividly shown in every comment thread linked to a story about the Democratic presidential primary, Sanders' supporters have two modes of communication:
(1) Whining ("everything is rigged against us").
(2) Shouting ("we're pure & you're corrupt").
And they wonder why the rest of us tune them out.
6
Do you mean Bernie Sanders versus corporate media, of which the NYT is a part?
Read MANUFACTURING CONSENT by Edward Herman and Noam Chomsky
5
NYT on full lock-down mode today. I'd love to comment on the article, but my brand is not what they want to see.
5
Was it really necessary to use such an unflattering photo of Sanders? One might think you were trying to cut him down.
2
@J.P.L.
I believe that's an editorial decision, not that of the author. Apparently this piece was just too complimentary to Sanders.
3
Surprised Elizabeth had time to write this considering she's been so busy retweeting Trump disinformation
4
My rich self made dad had a saying after The Crash.. c. 1945: simply put, Communist at 20, you have a heart; Communist at 30, you have no brain. Dad was a self taught bond trader, about the best. He knew debt instruments, and I listened, came to Wall Street, and traded bonds, then blocks of stock, then arbitrage, M&A or domestic arb, the I created deals, merged American Express with Shearson, then with IDS.. and I traded currencies, did private placements, venture capital, and along the way, I hired Mike Bloomberg.
I was never a plutocrat. I hated Park Avenue values. I advised George S. McGovern he would lose every state. Rewrote his MIT garbage, give $1,000 to every American, to beat Nixon.
Sanders has a good old heart and a sick old heart, and big brain. He’s today’s Communist at nearly 79. Trump might beat him. Bernie slams the door on too many. His stuff won’t sell.
I will vote for Biden. I’d prefer Mike Bloomberg and Sen. Michael Farrand Bennet. Each is smart, caring and effective. I hate Trump.
Covid 19 is on the ballot. At 81, I’m at risk. Trump denial and lies may kill me. We’re late and ineffective. Trump isn’t just evil. He stupid.
American needs Biden’s decency. He readily confesses his goofs. He’s tolerant. He will find the way to fairness and peace.
The angry voters want Trump and Sanders. I get it.
I’m angry. I want what will work best in this mess.
Biden and Klobuchar or Kamala Harris.
Not Liz Warren. She’s Sanders lite.
4
Liz Bruenig is a de facto surrogate for Sanders. The NYTimes should require Sanders to pay for this article.
2
@The Judge
You moderates can't handle just one complimentary piece on Sanders? Multiple anti-Sanders pieces appear every day in this paper and the one time a fair piece appears you cry foul. Boo hoo.
The campaign of Bernie Sanders to become the nominee Democrats doomed will fail for several reasons. First of all, many voters have an aversion to socialism. In addition, he has alienated Jewish voters by endorsing views of anti-Semites like Linda Sarsour and Ilhan Omar. Ironically "white supremacists" will not vote for him because of his Jewish background.
1
OMG! There's that picture of Grumpy Bernie again! I know choosing a President should not be about looks. It's not a beauty contest. But whenever I see that tight-lipped grimace I am totally distracted from whatever he's saying. I know he's got good ideas, integrity and honesty but only because I read his web-page and the news. I can picture him cracking the whip over Congress to get things accomplished but I just can't see him scowling at the President of France or Germany while negotiating a trade deal or even just enjoying a State dinner without growling about Medicare or NATO or something important. Sigh! Oh well, at least it won't be about how Obama caused every grief we are seeing today and he certainly won't appear at the Rose Garden looking like a giant Cheeto.
Sanders AGAINST the world? Since I'm part of this world, I guess he's my enemy now! Such propaganda....
Sanders views are far more in line with those of the world - or at least the developed world - than are Biden's.
6
I really think the NYT Op-Ed editor needs to rethink the wisdom of having one opinion writer essentially devoted to promoting the virtues of one candidate. If this is an editorial policy, there should be other writers as the designated supporters of Biden and Trump. Obviously that would be silly, but so is continuing this series by Ms. Breunig.
2
@CT Reader
There are at least a dozen regular op-ed writers writing anti-Sanders pieces and you can't handle ONE pro-Sanders writer?
This paper endorsed Warren and Klobuchar. Doesn't that make them supporters of individual candidates?
He's never liked attacking his opponents?
Sure, he just gets his surrogates to do the dirty work for him. Sirota, Warren, Ocasio-Cortez, Urgyr...
That's passive-aggressive and cowardly.
1
Two words aptly and completely describe Senator Bernie Sanders - COMRADE BERNIE.
And, Americans are not buying what he is selling. Bernie can cause problems but according to him he is going to cede to Joe Biden because it was Bernie who said that the candidate with the PLURALITY (MAJORITY IS NOT A MUST) of Delegates must be the nominee.
Looks like Comrade Bernie was too cocky and it is going to bite him irrespective of the fact that even if he had PLURALITY of delegates, he would never have won the nomination. The Democrat Party would have pulled all stops to deny the COMRADE.
This is still America; NOT Soviet Union or venezuela.
Americans like the system rigged for the rich. Americans get their Bread and Circuses. It is enough. No need for a European style middle class life. Too elite for Americans.
3
The voters are uniting against Bernie! Conspiracy! No fair!
2
Well the NYT has let us know for years that Bernie Sanders would never say anything that they thought were appropriate .
So the NYT is partially responsible for the majority of American people not having the health care coverage that is needed because the NYT never supported health care for all and never identified correctly the GOP who refused to support Obamacare and are now trying to rid health care for all. So when the insurance companies and the current health care system don't cover the coronavirus. So the bills are going to be paid by who.?
NYT will get their choice of Biden and instead of having a progressive movement we will just be stuck unless he surrounds himself with people who are progressive, unless we are going to stay in 1968
1
Bernie is "righteous" from the most recommended post here.
This is the clear arrogance of the Left. And this costs them more than they will believe until Bernie is repudiated at the polls.
We do not need the "righteous" in American politics
We need views and respect and dialogue and compromise.
Reply11 RecommendedShare
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@RP
I fear any Democrat who is committed to compromising with Mitch McConnell. Nothing good can come from that.
"He has never liked attacking his opponents specifically"
What? Really? His attacks on Hillary are a good part of why she lost.
Suddenly the woman who was responsible for the CHIP program that has insured millions of disadvantaged kids...the woman who had fought for disabled kids right to attend public schools...the woman who had fought for medical coverage for the 9/11 first responders...and on and on ... was only about WALL STREET!!
She should have fought back hard and for some reason didn't. His attacks were fake attacks and she should have responded with his thirty year record of having done nothing in Congress. Other than his record on voting no on gun control measures, she never really attacked him.
I think she really didn't want to ruin him politically just in case he ended up with the nomination. Too bad he didn't give her the same courtesy.
2
Did anybody follow the news out of Russia? Some legislators there are proposing a change to their constitution to give Putin another 16 years as President and autocrat.
Our current occupier of the White House would like to emulate his boss, he's mentioned it in several of his rallies, and Biden's nomination, in my opinion, will give it to him. Biden is already acting entitled and he's just coasting.
If by a miracle he wins the Presidency he'll still be coasting along while the rest of us, the great unwashed will take it in the neck.
Imagine the support Bernie would enjoy were he not attacked by the mainstream media nonstop? The same media elected Donald Trump by giving him hundreds of millions of free publicity, then politely washing their hands & decrying his lack of civility. Now they've told the unthinking public to vote for Joe, but they're still scrambling for a reason to do so. Lately it's been packaged as 'Joe will create coalitions' which I interpret as 'you may hate him, he's invariably on the wrong side of any important issue, but hey, he'll appoint real judges to the bench.' Weak, weak like Hillary Clinton in 2016. Perhaps the media has decided the 'Joe is the most electable' argument went nowhere considering the decided lack of enthusiasm for his lackluster campaign. Well, should the Democrats nominate Biden, they'll lose and we'll have at least four more years of unbridled fascism in America.
1
Bernie Sanders absolutely cannot be bought by the monied interests. His entire motivation is to help the working class and the poor.
His detractors (mostly) can’t attack him for that, so they make up stuff about twitter trolls.
I sense his campaign has made some strategic mistakes, but the establishment’s coordinated and furious efforts to block him are by far the No. 1 reason he likely won’t win the nomination.
The working class and the poor will continue to suffer.
4
I believe that Bernie is Captain Ahab, with one difference. He wants to kill the white whale, then feed it to the poor.
2
NAFTA was Mexico's agreement to lower barriers against U.S.-source products. A wise and effective policy on Mexico's part, stimulated by the benefits Canada had realized by doing the same thing with the U.S. a few years earlier.
For every moderate on NYT who says there's a chance of passing some form of M4A with Biden as our president, please direct your attention to last night's MSNBC interview where Mr. Biden explicitly says he will veto M4A (a compromised version that passes both House and Senate) if he is president due to concerns about cost.
There's your man. The real Joe. The one that loves every mega corporation in this country and slaved for them day in and day out his entire Congressional career. The one that doesn't really care all that much about decency as long as he gets his in the form of 200k for speaking and praising the GOP in Michigan.
4
The revolution will not be actualized.
Yes if Sanders cares to win he must bring the dirt out and let the people know who Biden is, this is the law of war. Biden is a main stream democrat who with Obama squandered precisous power to make America great for the middle class, I may add the Employees Free Choice Act was killed by the two when the had the senate and the house! If Mr. Sander plays the nice guy with Biden he will end last.
1
Living in Ireland I dont see Bernie being far left, but that said I do not believe he is electable in the U.S. (having lived there). I wonder why he never ran for president prior to his 70's. surely he would have had a better shot in his 50s/60s
1
Again the NYT is crusading in its news pages, this time against Bernie Sanders. Why is this paper so opposed to him? He represents all this newspaper claims it embraces. Yet the shot of helium you folks helped shoot into Joe Biden's balloon is making everyone sick. You can't even show a decent photo of him. Anyone with sense knows Joe Biden isn't up for a campaign against Trump, even with all the one-sided help from the Times et. al. But Joe would be the caretaker president all the Democrat big wigs want: just smile and do nothing to remedy all the problems that make it harder and harder to be a middle and lower class person in America. Give it a rest.
1
In this case, it's actually "Bernie Sanders vs. The NYT," with two major articles in one day that portray him in a negative light.
Bernie is so clearly superior to Biden -- in judgement, policies, intellect, and yes, even in terms of electability -- is it any wonder that Bernie and his "bros," across all demographics, get a little mad when the Dem establishment and the corporate media writes him off?
This thing isn't over, btw, not by a long shot.
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@Radical Normal
Thank You...!!!
2
So I am told I need to hold my nose and vote for Biden, but I did that in 2016, and frankly if the Dems are going to give me another mediocrity, I am going to vote for Trump and hand the Dems their collective head. If Trump stumbles into greatness in the next four years, god forbid, we'll count ourselves lucky; if he goes wild in the streets as some predict and tanks the country but good, I want the Trumpettes to say in unison, This was the worst vote of my entire life and I deeply regret it.
Maybe then we'll get the policies that will help.
In a word, we just haven't suffered enough yet under Trump.
The industrial world agrees with Sanders.
It is Sanders versus American Corporate Socialism supported by the Far Right, the Corporate Righ, the uneducated, and Moderate Democrats.
1
This election pitted progressive democrats versus corporate aka moderate democrats. Progressive like Warren and Bernie want to exposed our rigged system which is that those with greatest resources to fund politicians are the ones the rule our politics. As elections become more expensive the political establishment of GOP and moderate democrats strength will grow exponentially unit we have no democracy!
Democrats will continue to lose the majority of those under 40 who rightly believe they can never achieve their parent's economic status. The GOP knows that thier strength is a diminishing voter pool, while moderate democrats don't have the courage to really make a difference for them. These so called moderate democrat voter would rather rail against Orwellian words like socialism, social engineering, being taxed to death, etc., than expose this rigged system which works against their own economic benefits.
With Warren and probably Bernie gone soon, our plutocracy will continue, any marginal change by Biden if any at all will continue to disenfranchise those who feel the system is rigged for corporations and big political donors. The pool of voters will be less and less giving the GOP the chance to reemerge with another right-winged demagogue, but more intelligent, less treasonous and corrupt. There are a lot of Trumps queuing in the GOP! The democrats myopia will be there undoing.
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@beachboy If Joe Biden is elected, he will be elected on the most liberal platform of any elected President in my 50+ years. Calling him a "corporate democrat" is just a brainless Sanders talking point.
2
@beachboy Warren might have thrown an endorsement for bern., but she didn't. I think the snake emojis left a bad taste in her mouth
When you want to build a house, you first need a foundation. The foundation of our nation is in need of repairs. And those repairs must be done before we can build back what has been eviscerated by Trump and his sycophantic appointees.
It’s not that Bernie’s message is the wrong one. It’s how he delivers it and what he assumes will need to happen in order for his dreams to become reality: a revolution, an uprising from the People. This is the last thing you can accomplish after the chaos Trump has sown. Few want more chaos, a revolution, a turning upside down of whatever status quo is left.
It may be that some of what Bernie preaches may come to pass down the road. A concern for the health of everyone will likely to “lesson learned” from this pandemic we’re in the early stages of coping with. Greater equality may also be something that comes to pass, as our nation mobilizes to deal with the economic fall-put of the virus.
But right now, on the front burner, we need to reduce the chaos, mend the foundations of our Republic, deal with the sick and the well, the living and the dying as this virus works its way inexorably through our population.
Lessons will be learned. New priorities may become legislation. Down the road.
But first things first: We must UNITE around a common purpose to evict Trump from role he never should have held, in order to heal the sickness he has sown throughout the government, calm the rough waters he has stirred up. UNITE with Biden.
4
@TheraP
and Biden will build on the foundation that is in desperate need of repair, because that is what moderates do.
1
I am a Greek citizen from Athens and I have been watching closely the American elections since 2016. When the Democratic Party decided to offer the nomination to Hillary Clinton last time, I was certain that Trump was going to win (so sure in fact that even I placed a bet on him, though I don't use to). The same is about to happen 4 years later. There is no way that Joe Biden can fight against Trump, just as Hillary didn't stand a chance.
When you see things from afar it is very easy to see clearly and cool-headed. I would really hope the the Democrats and especially the voters, do not make the same mistake again. Bides is a plain-looking, uninspiring politician and cannot motivate the crowds needed to defeat Trump.
It is obvious to me and others who watch your elections from Greece that the only candidate who stands a (very serious) chance of defeating Trump is Berie Sanders, both on the politican and the social pitch. Is Sanders gets the nomination he will get the presidency. If Biden gets it, we are stuck with Trump for another 4 years, in a situation where world balance hangs by a thread. Biden is too moderate and too weak (politically) to help solve global problems and people know it (that's why they will vote for Trump in the case these two get to compete). They will be persuaded once again by his lies and his anti-systemic style against an establishment opponent.
I really hope that you will do yourselves and the rest of the world a favour and vote for Sanders.
3
Bernie is our Jeremy Corbyn. He doesn’t see the bigger picture. He is hellbent on power or becoming a martyr, but with little ability to execute on ideas or build teams. Rhetoric may work to energize the desperate, but they get hurt the most in the aftermath. Stalin and Mao were perfect examples. It sounded great to offer impossible promises mixed with righteous anger fueled by lies...but when Bernie fails to deliver, he will destroy the country. That’s why he must be stopped. Also, his turnout play is not happening. Turnout happened for Biden.
8
Nothing personal with Bernie but I think Joe Biden has the best chance to win the Presidency.
My priorities for this election cycle are.
- Get Trump out of office.
- Get McConnell out as Senate Leader
- Get McConnell out of the Senate.
- Beat Lindsey Graham
- Revive White House press briefings.
- Revive the dealing with Climate Change efforts.
, - Revive the ability to deal with pandemics,
6
The way that rich people end up richer is having money beyond what they need which allows them to provide the capital resources needed for others to use to create new wealth and by their equity in the enterprises own the returns beyond the difference between the assets and liabilities of the enterprises. They own the new wealth created by the efforts of all.
So there you have it risk and reward, fairly done. But when society makes this possible but ends up unable to provide the benefits of the social contract underlying all social institutions, then society needs to claim it's rightful share. The idea that government is the oppressor in our country is clearly inane or deliberately misleading.
Is the solution to make the means of generating new wealth the property of society by government ownership and administration? The evidence is that this is not the solution which will work well. It requires an assumption of rational predictability about industrial enterprises and the needs of humans that has never existed over any time for many millions of people. The complexity and unpredictable future of all human endeavors and the natural world mean that nearly all that we do is constantly changing and requires decision making that is mostly trial and error. Centrally commanded economies just cannot handle the challenges.
It saddens me to see Biden, the man who said "If I win nothing will fundamentally change" going from the bottom to the top candidate to win the democratic nomination. Evil Trump vs. No Change. I'm a 42 y/o physician, lucky to have no student loans, no debt and therefore able to start a good life after graduating from residency. Sadly, this is not the case for most of my colleagues in my generation, and won't be the case for the younger generations behind mine. The costs of health insurance, student loans and the growing gap between rich and poor is making life tremendously stressful and unlivable for most.
1
Yes, Bernie is good at "fighting" for a better, fairer world.
Winning? Governing? Achieving that better, fairer world?
Not so much! (Check the congressional record).
It has to do with how easy it is to criticize, condemn, and complain vs how extraordinarily difficult it is to persuade, to compromise, to govern this unruly Nation of people who do not think alike.
But it isn't his fault: the only experience Bernie ever had with governing was when he was mayor of Burlington, VT. (population less than 39,000 during his terms). It is one of the whitest cities in one of the whitest states in the US.
It is a prosperous college town, with an educated, partly transient population.
7
Sanders now is coming across as a whiner. Maybe last time he may have had some cause to say the DNC pushed Hiliary.
Now he is in an open contest. He has gotten a lot of support and a lot of questioning about working collaboratively, building coalitions, convincing Congress and paying for his programs. Not many answers to these questions from Bernie.
And now attacking the elite power structure, the media and those pesky younger voters who are not turning out in the numbers needed. Weren't the younger voters supposed to be the core of Bernie's support? If he cannot get them out in enough numbers and has not built enough support among other demographic groups then he does not "deserve" the nomination. He knows his ideas will push the DNC further in that direction. Isn't his bellyaching in part what got us Trump in 2016?
7
This premise is a little bit off base. The problem wasn't tariffs, it started in the 70's when Detroit lost it's way and started to make cars that no one wanted to buy. It wasn't price based, it was quality based. That opened the doors to "foreign"competitors who built a better product.
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@EddieRMurrow
Yes. If one was there, one understands. However, the mass media never investigated but instead announced what business leaders and politicians and union leaders all asserted, that the foreign products were not better and cheaper but subsidized by the foreign makers governments. All three were lying like rugs because the truth would have compelled them to do what they did not wish to do, face the problem and fix it as they failed to do previously.
@EddieRMurrow
Well the unions, business executives, and politicians lied about what had happened because it was humiliating to openly admit that they'd all let foreign competitors take a huge share of the domestic market because they just did not think it would happen, and knew that they could not reverse the outcome.
1
Beautiful article, Elizabeth. I hope to hear more voices like yours in the NYT. Bernie Sanders is an incredible candidate with pure motives of helping those in need. I, for one, stand firmly in his corner. Thank you, Senator Sanders!
1
The Democratic and Economics Establishment post-Ronald Reagan just shrugged at the decimation of manufacturing in this country. "it's free trade, what can we do?" they said. They did NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING.
Their do-nothing approach led to Trump's victory. Bless Bernie for keeping the issue alive: how do we compensate those who lose out in our free trading world? Warren would have been better equiped to actually deal with the problem, but bless Bernie for keeping the flame.
Bernie and his supporters are clear that his proposals and his social responsibility and able intellect are clearly better than anything Trump can offer. They are correct.
But Trump is expressing things and enacting legislation and establishing policies which the right has wanted since FDR was President which resonate with those he considers his base. Those policies and laws lead not to a free society with the liberal philosophy that was the basis of our political system but to oligarchies ruling everyone else. But they no longer trust in democratic institutions because too many other Americans seem to want other than what do they.
Bernie and his supporters do not trust in our liberal democracy, either. They want their agenda to be served by any means necessary, and compromising with those who support Trump seems madness to them. So they seek illiberal means to achieve their good and necessary ends, too.
So there you have it, people who cannot share responsibility for governance trying to win elections to use legitimate authority to force all to live by their preferences.
Bernie may be a good person, but having him as a nominee would doom us to another 4 years of Trump. An aging, irritable Socialist, he somehow hasn’t accomplished much of anything in his years in Congress, possibly because he doesn’t work well with other people. If he were up against Trump, the Dems would be liable to lose the House as well as give up any notion of regaining the Senate. Better to go with a safer nominee: Biden.
1
To people who say this stuff:
Bernie did nothing in Congress?!! Congress did nothing and that’s on Congress, not one Senator from a small state. What he did do was create a movement that has finally forced us to talk about needed reforms and programs that were never otherwise going to be discussed by either party. That’s an amazing and impressive achievement. The demonization of the person and his programs in these pages has been truly sad to watch.
2
@russemiller
Not the point. Politics really is the art of the possible. If you want to prove that some well considered program or policy is rational and they only good alternative, you belong in academia. If you want the best possible solution to real world problems in such an huge and diverse polity, you must compromise to gain the support of the fools who oppose you.
1
Winning electoral college is more important than getting the overall most votes. 2016 established it very clearly.
In my view, Bernie Sanders cost the democrats that election, for the die hard Bernie supporters either stayed home or voted for Mr Trump. If there is no ABSOLUTE unity among democratic voters in 2020, then 2016 election will be repeated. The DNC needs to hammer home this danger to Mr Sanders and his supporters.
When Mr Sandesr was asked about "consolidating" the Biden/Sanders campaigns, his answer was in the negative. I for one wonder why the democratic party let Mr Sanders, an independent, have its cover. After all, a political party is made to carry out its own agenda. If Mr Sanders is unable to consolidate the campaigns, then he will be the main cause of another democratic defeat.
Whoever the nominee happens to be, the support has to be absolute.
5
@MAC People keep on suggesting that "Bernie Sanders cost the democrats that election, for the die hard Bernie supporters either stayed home or voted for Mr Trump". This isn't supported by statistical evidence. If it were the case, then Hillary wouldn't have won the popular vote. Enormous numbers of Sanders fans must have come out for Clinton - just not in the right states. Sanders can't be blamed for that, his partner wasn't the one who signed NAFTA and doomed the Midwest to second-class status.
Democrats are offering the same thing as last time: it's bad, but there's nothing we can do, but unlike the Republicans we won't make it intentionally worse. I'll vote for whomever the non-Trump candidate is, but I assure you, this kind of misinformation about the many deeply compassionate people supporting Sanders is doing the party no favors.
1
@Paul Salcido I am not a student of economics or international commerce. But even I can say with certainty that NAFTA was not a bad deal nor is globalized trade harmful. What did the middle America get out of Trumpian China bashing policies?
The real point of my comment is that divide and win is Trumpian policy and it has to be given up. I will vote for any decent American, republican or democrat. But it useless to support someone who has no sense of compromise in politics.
1
To me, the last straw was when Bernie Sanders characterized the former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, as a "Washington insider".
I have been to South Bend, and I have been to Washington. I can tell the difference.
6
Bernie is expressing concerns which most thoughtful people have about our current circumstances which is great. He is offering a very limited range of solutions which he thinks are the only reasonable ones available, and that any disruptions that result are just unavoidable. In this respect, he's wrong. If he was a little bit skeptical of his own perfect reasoning, he would offer an irresistible message. But Bernie sees compromise in the face of certainty to be crazy, so he will not do it. That is why he is not going to be elected President.
3
It's articles like this that actually have undermined Bernie's campaign. It is economically simplistic to blame the problems of Midwestern manufacturing on NAFTA. Even left-oriented economists like Brad DeLong note that its impact on manufacturing has been negligible. Political narratives like this create demons and saints ("Joe Biden = job loss, but Bernie cares about you"). You can't solve the problems of Midwestern manufacturing if you don't understand what causes them.
4
In 1973, the post World War II boom ended with high costs for petroleum which remained the new normal. There were many consequences, none good. The costs of all basic materials of our industrial economy leaped upwards and forced up prices for everything. It was like a huge loss of income for the whole nation. Middle class people who had been lower income laboring people when they were very young suddenly saw their middle class life style becoming difficult to afford. One consequence was that they abandoned American made automobiles for Japanese automobiles in huge proportions. Another consequence was most industrial and commercial construction began to be using cheaper and as good Japanese or European metal products. The fact is that the loss of industrial jobs happened because the U.S. industrial manufacturers were not offering the same quality and prices for crucial products. Why the American companies allowed themselves to lose their share of domestic markets and that unions made no efforts to correct this was fundamental to the outcome.
The markets played the most important part in this result. The way that the Japanese managed to offer better and more efficient products was by scrapping perfectly good older technologies to innovate for a market demand that did not exist, yet. The American producers could not justify abandoning profitable facilities to build better products when it would make no difference. If they did they would have lost money.
Bernie won't drop out in 2020.
He didn't in 2016 when Hillary had even a bigger delegate lead than Biden has.
The harm he caused and will cause gave us trump and may very well give trump 4 more years, some of which will be irreparable.
62
@Brad Maybe Bernie made a difference then, but I would drop the lion's share of the responsibility in the lap of the media and of Hillary herself. Don't denigrate Bernie supporters for wanting change that Biden won't deliver.
26
@Brad - I guess it's always the responsibility of candidates who don't support the status quo to drop out ?
22
@Brad It doesn't seem like too much to ask - in a democracy - to have a chance to vote for the candidate you support. I don't know why we don't all vote at the same time like other civilized countries, but we don't.
I would like a chance to have my vote counted. Fair enough?
If you think people should fall in line and vote according to average consensus or party line, there are better political structures than democracy for that.
19
Sander problem is that it is "my way or the highway". As a Senator, he has gotten nothing done. I looked for major bills that he sponsored and couldn't find anything significant. He may have laudable goals, but can't build a coalition to get them done.
Here is what Otto von Bismark (who got the German people healthcare in 1883!!!) said about politics: "Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable - the art of the next best." This is why Biden is a better choice both to beat Trump and actually get something done. It would be better for Sanders to influence Biden to get things done than for Sanders to try to do it himself because Sanders has no ability to reach beyond his base.
30
@Matt J. To be fair, he did get legislation renaming three post offices enacted.
10
A lot of Bernie supporters think that the media and Democratic supporters are trying to stop Bernie. Wake up, they are trying to stop Trump. They don’t think Bernie can win election. If media and most Democrats were behind Bernie, you wouldn’t cry foul for Biden. The fact that so many of Bernie supporters threaten to stay home or vote for Trump makes this Democrat and many others dislike your candidate, and factored in our decision. We don’t want undue divisiveness in our candidates. Not everyone thinks alike. I’m working class and voting for Biden, even though, in a perfect world, we could have Bernie’s policies. They won’t get passed even if he wins. Vote Democrat, and we’re one step closer.
6
This may be good journalism in the sense of reporting people's feelings, but should it not be informed by some understanding of economics? Is it even feasible for the U.S.A. or any country in today's world NOT to trade with others? And the wave of GATT and free-trade agreements after WW2 were intended to not repeat the mistakes of the 1930s with trade tariffs, restrictions, and competitive currency devaluations, all of which made the world collectively poorer and which Trump seems committed to repeat. What evidence does Sanders (or anybody) have that NAFTA reduced American jobs and workers' welfare? Even with regard to China's entry into world markets and export-driven growth, should not the reporter be aware of recent studies which ascribe job losses far more to technology changes? Can Sanders really bring back 1950s' style unions and jobs for workers with retirement benefits and generous health care? Of course the poor and middle-class should have better (even universal) access to education and health care. How will that happen? Will Sanders beat down Congress and the lobbies to make single-payer universal health care a reality?
I would hope that no Democrats are in opposition to the ideas and solutions being proposed by Bernie Sanders. They represent the goals for which we must fight. Economic justice must be a paramount aim for the party. Sadly, we find ourselves in a time where that noble goal is superseded by one overarching goal that serves not only the interests of all Americans but the entire planet: the defeat and removal from office of Donald Trump. Of almost equal importance is Democratic retention of the House and takeover of the Senate. I believe Joe Biden is best suited for these essential objectives without which economic justice becomes a pipe dream.
41
@Tim Nelson
There's a meme going around, and it boils down to this...
GOP in power: "We can't demand progress, the priority has to be to replace GOP with Dems. THEN progress."
GOP/Dem split in potus/congress: "We can't demand progress, the priority has to be to show we can compromise with the GOP. THEN progress."
Dems in power: "We can't demand progress, GOP will call us names and win the next election. We have to hold onto power, even if it means giving up on the things we've been claiming to want."
See how it works?
Oh and also Joe Biden won't work for universal coverage (for instance) because he simply doesn't support it. He thinks rich insurance/pharma CEOs making millions of dollars is literally more important than poor people's lives.
24
@Tim Nelson
The goal of beating Trump is not at odds with economic justice.
You cannot beat Trump without fighting for economic justice.
Trump ran on "beautiful healthcare and education" for everyone," and against NAFTA and the TPP. Trump ran on Bernie's platform and won.
I have not seen any actual argument why a winning Bernie would lose Senate seats, but a winning Biden would gain them. It is just said without justification.
Trump ran to the left of Hillary and won. He will do the same to Biden.
Would you rather spend the next four years saying, " I told you Bernie couldn't pass his agenda," or the next four years blaming Bernie supporters who wouldn't vote for Biden for Trump's re-election?
Besides, unlike Biden, who just wants to reach across the isle to take his chances with the Party of Trump, Bernie has an actual plan to move Congress: Go to states with Senators that block his agenda and take his message directly to their constituents to put pressure on Senators. Obama refused to do that, and got almost nothing done. Trump understands the power of the bully pulpit, so Republican Senators are afraid to cross him.
It is Biden and his supporters that do not understand how to get things done. They think that helping Republicans enact their agenda will help get them elected. This angers both the Republicans who don't want to help Democrats win, and those of us who are more interested in actual Justice and political equality for all, than merely winning elections.
10
@McGloin /"Obama refused to do that, and got almost nothing done."
And it should be pointed out that Obama's agenda was heavily opposed by those on both sides of the aisle. We could have rapidly fixed things, passed a variety of important legislation - we had a filibuster-proof majority.
But the bad guys, the wealthy, the various industries, transnational corporations, have their hooks into politicians on both sides of the aisle.
And I don't think either Biden or Sanders will win against Trump. Trump has people who vote, who have voted for years who tune into Trump/Rep propaganda machine Faux "news" every day.
.
This country needs to start using our taxes to make the lives of all our people better. Bernie is the only current contender for the office of President saying that. Unless Biden chooses Barack Obama as his running mate and both Biden and Obama decide to use the opportunity to make meaningful change and hold all the criminals who now control our country accountable for their crimes, only a Bernie win can halt the devolution of our country.
He is very old. He is extreme. He is angry. Millions could happily look up to him like to a guru of old-fashioned egalitarianism and marxism, which is fine. He can inspire, fine. He can break plates and glasses, fine. But this is not what is needed in a US president. Especially not when by nominating such a fringe candidate the Trump horrible aberration may continue for another four years.
5
I feel sorry for Bernie from looking at this image. I think he believes he really is a savior and now he will
Be a martyr as well. Let’s hope a large percentage of his supporters all don’t make us suffer for it as some are likely to do.
Bernies mystique died for me long ago. As I got harassed and dismissed by the Bernie crowd, I reassessed my support for Warren based on all of the pushy debates responded to my online support of her.
I found he is much like the wizard in the wizard of oz. there is not a lot there if you look closely.
The best thing bernie did in the history of this country is being the struggles of the working poor, over worked, working class to the mainstream conversation.
His supporters destroyed his campaign. He allowed it. If he can’t control his campaign and condones booing and snake emojis assaulting Warren like a swarm of bullies, and his own campaign said she is a liar . Forget it dudes - you convince me you’re an entitled bunch of Cesar Chavez wardrobe wearing posers. Bullying doesn’t work guys! The latest of Bailey in ice really does it for me- or no- it was the belittling of the black population that voted and voted for Biden. Bernie infantilized people who know what they are doing. They don’t want Bernie. They see through him.
All of these missteps show me what a disaster he would be as a leader. Bernie is about Bernie. Make no mistake about that.
6
Bernie Sanders for the world would be more accurate.
The Times is doing good today (3.10.20)--only three negative Bernie columns and one positive one. Impressive.
1
one man's "deep state" is another man's "establishment" it's boogeyman snake-oil comedy and (most) Democrats aren't getting suckered by it. bye Bernie.
1
Bernie Sanders has the integrity, the bold ideas, the vision and the courage that is desperately needed NOW!
The American Dream died decades ago, and the warmongering, Wall Street supporting, status quo protecting Democratic Establishment and its candidate, Biden, were oblivious.
So what if America has such obscene, colossal and growing inequality of opportunity, income and wealth, that the richest .1 percent take in 196 times as much as the bottom 90 percent. https://inequality.org/facts/income-inequality/
So what if America has the highest incarceration in the world.
Change,
Real Change is needed NOW!
Biden is clueless as to the needs of ordinary working people, and, even if he acknowledged the Death of the American Dream decades ago, he does not have the vision or backbone to lead with the policies that would make a real difference, because real change would get blowback from his corporate owners.
The Establishment media has been working tirelessly to kill Sanders' candidacy.
But We Persist!
President Sanders 2020!
A Future To Believe In!
Sanders will beat Trump!
Even the NYT'S Brett Stephens recently admitted, “And Sanders can win at least some of the working-class voters who went for Trump last time and who feel the president has done nothing to make their lives better.”
3
@Lucy Cooke Tilting at the "Establishment " is no different from "deep state" conspiracies. you're not helping Bernie at all.
One of the most important jobs of the next President is to unite the country. Unless there is someone as President who can build a consensus nothing good will happen. Sanders is a divisive candidate. In 16 years in the House and 14 years in the Senate he has hardly accomplish anything. Klobuchar, Booker, and Harris, Sanders' Senate colleagues, are supporting Biden. Perhaps there is a reason?
4
Well, I learned a new word today. "Synecdoche" I'm betting I wasn't the only one had to look it up. Reminds me of another article I once read in the Times that contained "denouement" and "contretemps" in the same paragraph - on the sports page.
Anyway, let me point out again, Bernie isn't a Democrat, can't win and even if he did would make a lousy president.Intransigence is no virtue whether you agree with him or not.
And Americans are still afraid of communists which is what they think socialists are so I'm not buying that Bernie could have won in 2016 or now.
19
I cannot square the person Mr. Sanders presents himself to be to the youth (a fighter, a revolutionary) with his decades long failure to make any meaningful contribution to the shaping of American law. When he retires from Washington, future historians will have very little evidence that he was ever there.
All of his ranting and complaining that America isn't a better place, is misplaced in part when he blames billionaires, corporate shills, the establishment, and the Democratic party. Rather, Mr. Sanders should hold himself accountable for squandering the responsibilities and powers he was entrusted with by his home state.
Over the years, Mr. Sanders has effectively neutered himself by going it alone in the house and senate. The lack of good working relationships with other lawmakers has meant he has rarely been able to build support for his legislative goals. As he has famously said, "I wrote the damn bill." But whose with you Mr. Sanders? Where is your critical mass of support?
With his incessant blaming and demonetization of his colleagues in both parties, its not surprising the American people and party leaders have decisively halted his glide path to the nomination. Simply put, bettering America is a team effort and Mr. Sanders has made it clear he's not a team player.
6
@C.S. Bernie worked outside the two party system most of his career because he rightly knew it was a corrupt and money driven bureaucracy of elitists... Your critique is that his movement didn't come earlier? Is that fundamentally what you're saying? Why hasn't he done more yet? Joe Biden was a plagiarist, sexist and tragic failure, but popular among the white working class.. Which is why Obama tagged him to be VP. How is that some massive achievement we're supposed to be in awe of?
Bernie only ever had 30% of the party. That was fine when there was a dozen people on the ballot, but as the field has gotten smaller, that doesn't work. He needed something like 2016 for the GOP where people stayed in longer.
1
@Tom yup, Trump's base is far bigger, something that seems to get lost in these repeat conversations about Bernie the almighty.
Sanders is and has always been the wrong messenger to promote progressive social policies with his rigidity and irascible persona. As a liberal senior myself, for the most part, I share Sander's ideas; however, I believe a liberal person should be willing to listen and concede that not everyone can be persuaded to believe in the same ideas, so it's necessary to be flexible sometimes and be willing to make certain compromises. Furthermore, Sanders ran a vicious, divisive and misogynist campaign against Hillary Clinton in 2016, and even when he was way behind in the delegate count, Sanders wanted to claim the nomination on the pretext that the primaries had been rigged in favor of Clinton. Certainly, this divisive stance hurt Clinton and likely cost her hundreds of thousands of votes. This outcome left a bitter taste in my mouth and I cannot forget or forgive. Since I wholeheartedly supported Elizabeth Warren, I'm left with two candidates that do not inspire me in the least. That said, I will of course vote for whoever is finally the nominee because it's my duty to vote and hope that Trump is soundly defeated.
6
The DNC is determined to produce a Sanders withdrawal from the race for very good reason: Even he beats Trump in November Sanders' "political revolution" has disaster written all over it. Not only will his Medicare for All and free college tuition receive no support from Republicans, it will receive at best tepid support from Democratic legislators. If Sanders loses to Biden in Michigan he must, for the sake of making Trump a one-term president, step down and implore his supporters to get behind Biden and NOT do what they did to Hillary in 2016.
2
Of course Gretchen Whitmer shows no loyalty or reciprocal care. In spite of everything Mr. Sanders did for her, of course she supports Joe "Iraq War" Biden; Joe "NAFTA" Biden.
I want to give her the benefit of the doubt in terms of perhaps she is solely looking at the broadest electoral coalition. . . Although that is what everyone thought of Hillary "Iraq War" Clinton back in 2016 as well.
Apparently, Ms. Whitmer - like so many others in the Democratic Party establishment, including Bernie's fellow senator from Vermont (Patrick Leahy) - apparently she has no real interest in changing anything and is happy for the abuses of the last several decades, be it the military-industrial complex or otherwise, to continue unabated.
4
If Bernie doesn't win, I think those of us on the left need to keep going and building on what this campaign has started. Bernie's campaign has centered some amazing voices in this country--people like the activist Philip Agnew and the intellectual, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor. These are voices I'd never known before, but now they are practically a daily source of inspiration. The terms have changed, and Bernie has led that charge, but I think it will be another generation to bring these things to fruition. It doesn't mean that Bernie will have fought for nothing. Keep up the righteous fight, no matter what the outcome of this election. We can't do it in cynicism, but we can do it in organizing and working toward a better day.
5
The leading news outlets as well as the whole Democratic Party establishment are hell-bent on seeing Sanders lose. Maybe it is because of loss-aversion -- the thought of Trump winning a second term is so terrifying it makes people lose sight of the importance of working for something positive. However, people who know better have the responsibility to fairly present evidence for or against policy positions, such as the recent research showing that medicare for all would save hundreds of billions of dollars and tens of thousands of lives, annually. To not do so is a disservice to our country.
57
@Jeff , they would rather have Trump win reelection than Sanders win. Hillary's attacks on Tulsi Gabbard for daring to call out the abuses of the military-industrial complex and overreach of the national security state. All part and parcel.
11
@Jeff ...."medicare for all would save hundreds of billions of dollars and tens of thousands of lives, annually."....I completely agree. But I also know that Sanders has done nothing to help down ballot races and if he heads the ticket, Democrats will not take back the Senate and may lose the House as well. Now tell me what difference does it make what Sanders wants if it can't pass anything? The truth is that Biden is much more likely than Sanders to be able to pass Medicare for all.
13
@W.A. Spitzer
Agreed, if Biden can beat Trump and help elect down-ballot democrats then Bernie is welcome to put forward progressive legislation like M4A from the Senate. People act like this is either or. Biden's not going to veto progressive legislation.
8
I'll come out and say it. If Bernie is not the nominee I will vote for Trump. Better the evil we know and fight against than the evil that will be applauded or overlooked. If Biden is elected upper and middle class liberals will feel comfortable and go back to sleep and nothing will change in this country. The poor and the uninsured will continue to be ignored. At least with Trump as president we will continue to pay attention to what our politicians do, continue to fight.
43
@A If Trump gets a second term the damage to our republic may not be repairable any time soon, if ever. Even if you discount his totalitarian aspirations, he only cares about himself and really rich people who he thinks can do something for him. At best Trump is a reality TV star fake. Biden is a long time public servant who is running out of a sense of duty to bring some unity and purpose back to this country. Biden knows he will have form a coalition with Democrats of all stripes and he will do so. There is still hope for a better future but not with Trump in office.
37
@A And if Sanders is the candidate, I will vote for Trump.
The idea that Sanders "cares" more than other people on the left is ludicrous. He just yells the loudest.....but has never gotten anything accomplished. As President....he would get nothing done.
He thinks that yelling the loudest that he cares about people beats actually accomplishing anything that helps people.
We govern by compromise, unfortunate as that may be at times, but that's the reality....a reality Sanders has always been able to ignore because if he had to acknowledge it then he would have to acknowledge that he has been a failure.
Nor would he accomplish anything as President except to turn the country, for decades, rightward.
A reality you need to deal with is that the only way to move forward is incrementally--and that incremental improvement is better than no improvement. And there would not only be no improvement with Sanders but we would take many steps back because then the next Republican President might actually be competent.
Thank what a competent Trump could do.
We Democrats vote to protect the vulnerable as best we can. Voting for idealism doesn't protect them at all. It makes us feel good, but that's all.
20
@A ...That is what happened last time, and what did you get? Conservative Federal judges for the next 30 years. For our judicial system, for our security agencies, for the foreign service employees, for the EPA, for climate change, for sensible gun laws, for science, for healthcare etc, etc. Trump has been a disaster. And even if he were to be elected by some miracle, there is absolutely no way Sanders would be able to pass any of his agenda anyway. Sanders is not the tooth fairy. To change anything you have to win down ballot races. I hope you will look at the facts and rethink your plan.
23
I'm so tired of Bernie and his supporters blaming everybody - the DNC, HRC, the media, the "establishment" - for his electoral losses. Bernie Sanders has one problem and one problem only: He's not getting enough votes to win.
6
@Jiva
Those people complaining are Trolls for the GOP and the Russians. Bernie people are very smart.
Well, he's already more popular in his own time than #MartinLuther was, and I'm pretty sure there's no better comparison.
Thank you #Bern, and thanks to all who have made progressive the power it is becoming.
See you in 520 years.
1
Sorry but all I see--and it's reflected in his face--is an angry old man. One who knows the whole truth and feels compelled to ram it down your throat, no discussion, no accommodation, no consensus building, no matter. In some respects, he reminds me of 45 which is the last thing we need in these disturbing times.
50
@RMF Agreed, I have watched each and every debate and
I have watched a man (Bernie) shaking his arms and hands in the air upset because he couldn't get his way, most important Sanders has made a name for himself for being incapable of compromise, that alone explains why he is an independent.
America needs reconciliation and unity not more division.
13
@RMF Why is his anger so horrifying, but when other candidates get angry, it's like a sign of their passion? I don't get it. It seems like a stereotype and a cruel reason to dismiss what he's trying to say. If you don't agree with his platform, what do you dislike? We have become such a deeply corporatist country, we hardly recognize a message centered on love for our fellow humans. That's what is message is at its core. And yes he's angry that we've gotten so far away from it, but that's where his message starts--it starts with love.
20
@RMF I consider myself pretty lucky. Good job with decent pay and adequate healthcare. However, I recognize I am lucky and understand that my existence is not representative of the majority of this country. In fact, when I travel through the less fashionable parts of Brooklyn or visit family in West Virginia, I recognize that my life of relative privilege is the minority experience. Take a real look around, and then tell me all you see from Bernie is an angry old man. What I see from Bernie is the only person willing to speak the truth about the state of this country and the state of the world. I don't know anything about you, so I won't make any presumptions. However, in general, when people (cable news commentators, op-ed columnists, etc.) see Bernie as too angry, I see people who are too comfortable or removed from the reality of most Americans.
22
Bernie Sanders placed his bets on the youth vote, and the idea that if young people wanted meaningful change, here was their opportunity. Yet the youth turnout in the primaries was dismal. If young people want to change the direction of their future, they need to show up to vote. If you don’t vote, don’t complain. As for Mr. Sanders, he should not have billed himself as a socialist. (The vast majority of people don’t know or care if that’s different from a democratic socialist.) People tried to warn him not to ignore the more moderate, tried and true voters in the south and midwestern states. He didn’t try to reach out and broaden his base, and what happened in the primaries shouldn't have come as any surprise.
5
Politics is all about branding and Sanders 2020 was an EPIC branding failure.
Majorities of Democrats agree with Sanders on policy (M4A had majority support in IA, NH, NV, TX, CA...) but could not get themselves to vote for the "socialist" brand out of fear.
Sanders had 4 years to re-brand himself as a mainstream Democrat rather than as an insurgent. He refused and his gambit failed.
Dems are on track to nominate the most right-wing Democrat alive in Biden. As a result they will lose a large number of progressive voters to the Green Party or staying home and probably lose the EC again.
Whether Biden wins or loses the progressive movement is set back by at least a decade as Sanders himself is too old now and big-money corruption will be entrenched once again under a either Trump or Biden.
It is time for the progressive left to get out of the insurgent mentality and introspect about how best to make progress in this new dark reality.
3
It's a politically sensitive time and sometimes I hesitate to post things on social media about the election. A lot of people want "unity" now, which is sometimes a euphemism for, Please stop supporting anyone but Biden.
The other day I posted a spot from the Sanders campaign that had moved me personally. It was a little quiet, then some likes started coming. Not many, but what I noticed was that two thirds of them were from people abroad - Germany, Canada, Peru, Nepal.
A lot of the world is where Bernie is, or they're trying to be there, and they've been waiting for a long time for the US to elect someone with real vision who can help the US not just catch up, but lead by example in addressing global climate change.
131
@Eric S
The Establishment media has worked ferociously to disparage Sanders and his ideas.
A 2016 Harper's article by Thomas Franks, after having meticulously examined Washington Post reporting on Bernie Sanders,
"As we shall see, for the sort of people who write and edit the opinion pages of the Post, there was something deeply threatening about Sanders and his political views. He seems to have represented something horrifying, something that could not be spoken of directly but that clearly needed to be suppressed."
..."Think of all the grand ideas that flicker in the background of the Sanders-denouncing stories I have just recounted. There is the admiration for consensus, the worship of pragmatism and bipartisanship, the contempt for populist outcry, the repeated equating of dissent with partisan disloyalty."
The NYT and other Establishment media continue this primary season to promote fear of Sanders and his ideas.
A typical NYT article referred to a possible Sanders Super Tuesday win, "the result would have been something close to unthinkable". The now "retired" MSNBC's Chris Mathews likened a possible Sanders Super Tuesday win, to a Nazi takeover.
The Establishment and its media will do whatever to protect their status quo.
But, we persist!
President Sanders 2020!
A Future To Believe In!
6
@Eric S ...Love Bernie all you want,but the fact is that Republicans control the Senate and Democrats just managed to take back the House. Down ballot races are sort of critical. If Sanders or his supporters were serious about his agenda they would be out working like crazy on down ballot races. But no, Its Bernie, Bernie, Rah, Rah, Rah. That and 10 Cents will get you a cup of coffee.
1
@Eric S "Not many, but what I noticed was that two thirds of them were from people abroad - Germany, Canada, Peru, Nepal."
Well, here is another one, from Greece. And yes, for us Europeans, the fact that in the 21st century the USA doesn't have a healthcare system that covers all its citizens is absolutely baffling.
Greece is not a rich or powerful nation, is not a global leader on anything (except perhaps history), is not a land of opportunity or a paradise, but still when we get sick we go to the hospital whether we have a job or not, and we say Thank God we live in Greece and not in the US. It should sound crazy to say something like that, but it's the truth.
What really is crazy is the fact that you are still debating on issues that have been solved in Europe (and other parts of the world) a century ago...
4
Bernie Sanders needs to make the right move, right now.
The American move.
He needs to step aside and support a wholesale Democratic win in November, of the presidency and all down the ballot.
If Bernie needs so badly to play the hero, that's the script.
He as no "hero" after 2016.
42
@DameAlys He could have been a hero to defeat Trump, but voters took the safe route and made the same request that you're making now. I'd prefer to learn from history, than be doomed.
12
"It can all seem so hopeless, this Sanders-against-the-world effort: not just trade agreements but capitalism, not just Joe Biden but the entire Democratic establishment, not just Donald Trump but the oligarchy that created him. But there’s nothing else to do but fight, and the people who live closest to the pain Mr. Sanders aims to alleviate seem to know it. That much, at least, has gotten through."
A sympathetic take on Sanders and all the losers in society who support him. Great. So his case is hopeless? More to the point, his supporters are hopeless, powerless. Once again, the Times (and the rest of the MSM) has done an excellent job of convincing voters that Sanders cannot be elected.
@Bunk McNulty Socialism the 3rd rail of American politics. Do not touch! Republicans salivating at the gift they would receive if Bernie is the nominee. He was a spoiler in 2016 - never again.
Bernie would have beat trump in 2016 and he can beat him in 2020, the so called safety of Biden in 2020 is the same mistake the democrats made in 2016 with Hillary.... Bernie is our best chance to stop trump...
128
@plamb No he wouldn't have and no he won't. He will never get moderate states to vote for him with his free everything wish list. Even if he possibly did win, he would never get any of the free stuff he proposes through Congress. He's not being honest. He hasn't ever gotten anything through Congress in thirty years. Why anyone would ever think he's going to be successful now is totally beyond me.
11
@plamb But now it's more than just Biden being safe, he's also running on his decency, and voters now appear to find that more than sufficient to replace Trump with. I don't like it either, but that's what is.
1
@Steve Dumford There is NO free stuff. Read Bernie's program, he explains coherently how we can pay for Medicare for All and affordable education.
2
Even though some people were hurt the trade agreements have been good for the US. Trying to stop globablism and world trade would have been like trying to stop the movement from an agrarian society to an industrial society. That evolution also had its casualties.
1
No one can ever say that Bernie ever gives up. I would like someone like that fighting for me. On the other hand it would appear that Biden has the HRC infection "the anointed one syndrome".
119
@Steve it isn't annointment when he is getting the majority of votes. I'm so sick of that tired old complaint.
21
@ml I am not going to say Biden did not earn the votes, but it is clear that the DNC and the media had a preference. In an election where the biggest issue is beating Trump, the media and the DNC have a lot of power to sway the public perceptions about candidates, and they wielded that power in favor of Biden. The repeated suggestions that Sanders is "Radical" was irresponsible and clearly showed bias against him. More examples include:
Repeating the $50 trillion cost of M4A over 10 years without ever mentioning the fact that the same study showed our current system would cost $60 trillion over the same time.
Pundits claiming that Biden was the best candidate to beat Trump, citing no evidence, and actually counter to polls at the time showing Sanders did better against Trump than Biden.
13
@ml
Biden was pushed to his top position in the primaries by the Republican and Democratic Establishment.
He was simply the available body, that they had, to protect them from the Change that Sanders advocates
10
Democrats refuse to let Sanders do the Democratic Party what trump did to the Republican Party, it is that simple.
We have only one chance to win against trump in November
just one and Biden is the man to do it.
I have no doubt Biden will win all states up for grab in today's primaries, tomorrow it will be time for Sanders to do the right thing and support Biden for president.
5
Joe Biden hasn't visited my state since June last year for a quick fund raising dinner. If he cant be bothered with we working people in Washington State I can't be bothered with him. Sty on the east coast Joe with the other elites. Go Bernie.
7
Bernie Sanders has the integrity, the bold ideas, the vision and the courage that is desperately needed NOW!
Wall Street and the warmongering, Wall Street supporting, status quo protecting Republican and Democratic Establishment made Biden the frontrunner.
The American Dream died decades ago, and the warmongering, Wall Street supporting, status quo protecting Democratic Establishment and its candidate, Biden, were oblivious.
So what if America has such obscene, colossal and growing inequality of opportunity, income and wealth, that the richest .1 percent take in 196 times as much as the bottom 90 percent. https://inequality.org/facts/income-inequality/
So what if America has the highest incarceration in the world.
Change,
Real Change is needed NOW!
Biden is clueless as to the needs of ordinary working people, and, even if he acknowledged the Death of the American Dream decades ago, he does not have the vision or backbone to lead with the policies that would make a real difference, because real change would get blowback from his corporate owners.
The Establishment media has been working tirelessly to kill Sanders' candidacy.
But We Persist!
President Sanders 2020!
A Future To Believe In!
Sanders will beat Trump!
Even the NYT'S Brett Stephens recently admitted, “And Sanders can win at least some of the working-class voters who went for Trump last time and who feel the president has done nothing to make their lives better.”
6
Wow! Back to the 1990s to fish out issues! Presentism is a word few Americans understand.
The problem is that men like Sanders will be considered the chance that was lost.
Turn to anyone who supports a candidate. Explain gently that the tentacles of global finance, pharmaceuticals, insurance, etc. penetrate the federal government. They will probably agree.
"Look", we'll say, "how these industries make us their economic serfs. See us struggle." Yes, they will agree.
Ask them how anyone who accepts their money can possibly change the system. They will again agree, no, they cannot.
Mention Sanders and they'll say "But he's so angry". We want to be comforted while in our cells, so we turn to the Mr. Biden Show on the Oligarchy Network. His face is kind. He makes us feel that there are nice people up there above us. Already, those without means and overwhelmed by debt are being readied for more of the Despair Show, described here: https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/03/06/opinion/working-class-death-rate.html
4
The lack of an easily administered and universal health care insurance system in the face the growing Coronavirus pandemic is a terrifying prospect. Medicare for All would have covered treatment and preventive measures for the millions of underinsured and homeless. When moderates cry out that it will never happen, they are essentially putting their heads in the sand about the dreadful impact of giving up and doing nothing.
8
@Stratman
Again the Establishment media has presented Very Biased reporting relative to medicare for all... because the Establishment hates the idea of medicare for all!
Dealing with sickness and health is a very profitable industry... involves 17% of US GDP, if I recall correctly.
Above all, the religion of the US is Capitalism,
its god is profit.
No way is the Establishment media going to present fair coverage of the medicare for all issue.
Check out this recent report on medicare for all from a very respectable journal,
" Taking into account both the costs of coverage expansion and the savings that would be achieved through the Medicare for All Act, we calculate that a single-payer, universal health-care system is likely to lead to a 13% savings in national health-care expenditure, equivalent to more than US$450 billion annually (based on the value of the US$ in 2017). The entire system could be funded with less financial outlay than is incurred by employers and households paying for health-care premiums combined with existing government allocations."
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673619330193
Certainly the transition to medicare for all would be complicated, but the US used to be able to do the complicated and the difficult.
1
@Susan Yet virtually reputable economist who's analyzed Sanders' plans has said they'd involve extreme economic upheaval, far more than coronavirus will cause.
3
False!
2
“He does not look contemplative or melancholy when he meditates on these things, but rather furious. He brought up his supporters, the poor and struggling who send him slivers of their slim paychecks in raw, desperate hope.”
I share Senator Sanders’ frustration. The wealth disparity in America is infuriating, and the place where such things are addressed is the Congress. On this front, the best that any candidate had made progress was Elizabeth Warren, in her push to create the CFPB.
Without ‘Citizens United’ being overturned, and further campaign finance reform implemented, the idea of running a political campaign which does not accept major financial contributions is inherently self-sabotaging, and incredibly naive.
Many of the critiques which Bernie Sanders raises are perfectly fair. And so are the critiques of Bernie’s rhetorical tendencies.
2
To principally blame NAFTA (1993) for the decline of the Michigan automobile industry is to ignore history. By the late 70s, American car manufacturers were already losing significant marketshare to both Japanese (more efficient and better quality) and German (better style and performance) imports. "Park it in Tokyo" signs were common in Detroit parking lots by the early 80s.
The workers and unions were not at fault -- for years the Big 3 management ignored what was happening, continuing to believe that what Detroit produces America will want. The big 3 also continued to build cars in aging factories that couldn't match the quality product coming from of more automated overseas manufacturing.
Maybe NAFTA delivered the final blow. But the economic suffering felt in Detroit was worsened by the Reagan administrations dismantling of the social safety net programs just when they were needed.
18
@Eternal Sunshine: Maybe the final blow to MoTown workers came from Dixie. There are thriving auto assembly plants there---lured by tax breaks, the promise of a non-unionized workforce and indeed of a compliant workforce. If there's an enemy of Detroit workers in this mix, it's not Biden---it's the GOP and it's determination to ream out Democratic strongholds.
4
@Eternal Sunshine Right you are. The original NAFTA negotiations included representatives from labor and environmental groups. No one, including corporations or the included nations got everything they wanted. The end agreement was a compromise to all parties, who presumed that the actors would comply.
What happened after NAFTA was not so much an outcome of the treaty, but the result of the transition of the US economy from labor to capital, thanks to Reagan era policies.
The transition to a Finance based economy made debt financed mergers and acquisitions easier. The debt was fueled by Junk Bonds which easily outgained typical corporate dividend returns and drove investment in to that sector, enriching firms funding them. Corporate raiders took over, tearing established companies apart, moving production they deemed highly profitable offshore, laying off employees and trading their pension funds for cheap annuities and cutting their health benefits while piling up huge profits. These growing profits were used again and again to devour more business as the circle expanded.
Meanwhile respectable corporations were forced to use the benefits bestowed by NAFTA to move high cost operations in order to remain competitive and fight off potential takeovers and buyouts.
It shows that no level of policy making is fool proof and it is not practical to think that good actors are able to consider all the opportunities that the bad actors will seek out.
4
The large majority of Americans, both democrat and republican, are in favor of a Medicare-for-All type system and a Green New Deal, so this majority of Americans apparently are not part of the World.
So yes, if you don't count all of the young people, old people, poor people, people of color, women etc. as part of the world, then yes, it is Bernie Sanders vs the World.
I guess this article assumes that the World is composed of DNC insiders, Wall Street execs and military contractors.
10
@skinnybonz If the vast majority of people support his plans, where are the voters?
7
@skinnybonz The majority of Americans are in favor of pie-in-in-the-sky fantasies until the cost is explained to them. Sanders is deft in avoiding that.
6
Trade displaces some workers and adds others. Without trade most of us wouldn't be able to afford many of the things we rely upon, including cars and TVs. Our problem is NOT trade or trade agreements--Bernie is wrong here. It is a laissez faire policy in conjunction with globalization and freer trade. Many countries in Northern Europe had robust policies to retrain displaced workers, to protect and encourage high-wage industries, and an adequate safety net so most did not feel left behind. We did not--that is the problem. We also sacrificed our industrial base with a draconian anti-inflation policy in the early 1980s that appreciated the dollar, helping Japanese and European competitors and caused a collapse in domestic demand. That's when high-wage industries and unions were undermined first. We failed to assist out own workers and industries as other countries did--that is and was the problem.
12
@Jayne
Maybe we just put too high a premium on stuff like TVs and cars, and not high enough a premium on stuff like decency and a humane society.
Also, all those cars and televisions are contributing to the worsening climate catastrophe our kids are going to inherit thanks to Biden enacting a "back to normalcy" platform of asking oil companies nicely to stop being such meanies while still subsidizing them in the billions.
1
@Jayne As someone from a city where Kodak and Xerox and Bauch and Lomb are nothing but shells of their former selves... you really should take a hard, hard look in your own backyard. Every other upstate city is decimated by the government of this country letting corporations write the laws and take their capital and labor out of this country and pay next to no taxes on it.... You're flat wrong on this. Drive down the thruway and come over to Syracuse if you need a reminder.
Like many Democratic voters I am in favor of much of what Sanders proposes. As for socialism, well, we have some social programs now, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid for example. But obviously we in America aren’t a fully socialist society.
If we were, I wonder how it would fly for Americans who are accustomed to having a good deal of freedom of choice to have to live in a system where everyone is treated the same and no one is given special privileges. I wonder if people are too focused on the positive aspects of socialism and not on what it is like to live that way. Think about it. It would be a big change.
2
@Betty Cyrus
I don't work in healthcare but from what I've read, if it were up to the free market, a lot of people would have to go a lot further to receive healthcare in rural areas. As it is, with states having as much control as they do of how programs are administered, we're already seeing rural hospital closures. If we take profit out of the equation, we could try to match care with need, rather than ability to pay.
As far as Cadillac services are concerned, I'd much rather live in a country where everyone has what they need than one where some people get "premium" healthcare while others get sick, die, and go bankrupt when they make the poor choice to get sick or injured.
@Hamilton Lagrange I work in healthcare and I have tried to explain to the masses who only want relief that in order to have free healthcare, it will not look like our healthcare delivery system we have now. The fact that private insurance pays for so much more than the government programs and is keeping rural hospitals open is not well known. People just do not get that you can't have the Cadillac services and multiple choices with no waits that we have now and lower the cost of healthcare. Something has to give and as I have observed, I don't see too many Americans willing to sacrifice what it will take to make that happen.
4
I am utterly astonished this opinion piece is in the NYT. It is fair, and dare I say even a bit friendly toward Sanders. After the constant drumbeat of negative articles and opinions on Sanders in the NYT, this gives me a glimmer of hope the MSM will try to begin to treat ordinary Americans and their support of Sanders with the respect it deserves.
13
@JK
Don't count on it. The Democrats are just as corrupt as the Republicans. They may be socially liberal (to an extent), but they have no problem with corruption. Look how quickly Buttigieg, Klobuchar, Booker, Harris etc lined up to endorse Mr. Biden. That's unity in corruption.
4
I'm not a very critical political thinker..... It appears to me that Bernie did a good job in Vermont as mayor of Burlington (a small large city) and as our Senator.
Bernie and Joe seem to have equal and opposite failings.... Bernie's being perhaps giving complex issues a wave of his hand and assuring us he can solve it, while Biden seems uncertain and stumbling. I prefer Bernie.
Both are way too old.... neither should plan on a second term. To that end, either one should ask Liz to run with him, and promise her that he'll drop out after one term. That combination--Bernie and Liz (my preference) or Biden and Liz.... will easily defeat trump.... which is the important matter.
9
@vermontague OOPS! That is, if Liz isn't the candidate, I prefer Bernie.
I'm sorry you didn't win, Liz. I voted for you....
Sanders is an inflexible ideologue who thinks the Democratic Party is the enemy. Sanders wants the benefits of the Democratic Party even though he refuses to join it, like a scab who wants the benefits of a labor union without paying union dues.
As Elizabeth Bruenig points out, Sanders thinks international trade agreements broadly supported by Democrats, not to mention all leading economists, are "disastrous."
Sanders has spent decades in Washington has virtually nothing to show for it other than his own ideological rigidity. He's a back-bencher who loves to scold but isn't capable of leadership.
Given the horrifying prospect of another Trump term, I'm hopeful that his Nader-like followers won't stay home or refuse to vote for Biden in November.
37
@Critical Rationalist
I'd be curious to see your list of "all leading economists" if you think the free trade verdict is unanimous.
@Shirley0401
Who opposed NAFTA? Mainly people like Ross "giant sucking sound" Perot and Donald Trump. Who supported it? Most leading economists. The former have been proven wrong by the test of time. Although you can do your own homework, here are a couple of places to start:
"Economists largely agree that NAFTA has benefited North America’s economies."
Council on Foreign Relations, "NAFTA and the USMCA: Weighing the Impact of North American Trade," Feb. 24, 2020, https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/nafta-and-usmca-weighing-impact-north-american-trade
NPR article from 2013:
"Economists Toast 20 Years Of NAFTA; Critics Sit Out The Party," https://www.npr.org/2013/12/08/249079453/economists-toast-20-years-of-nafta-critics-sit-out-the-party
The article mentions the Super Tuesday results and that Biden “won” 10 states and Bernie “won” 4 states.
What that means is that Biden got more overall votes in those states. Democratic contests allocate actual delegates by percentages. Example: Biden “won” Maine but they each got 8 delegates.
The weird thing is that in California the percentage reporting has been stuck at 89% for six days now, with only a portion of the 415 delegates allocated so far.
If the current percentages of voters for each candidate holds until the final count then Bernie will get 257 delegates and Biden 158 delegates.
That would give Bernie 752 total overall delegates and Biden 724 overall delegates before tonight’s voting in Michigan and elsewhere. Bernie in the lead by 28 delegates.
Really California? One week later and you can’t get past 89%?
Of course none of this has been reported, and all week long the reporting has been how Biden is the big leader in delegates.
How convenient.
28
You’re right. Sanders leads in CA vote count:
186 to 150 delegates: 147551 votes to Biden’s 1174013.
And this is not news!
4
@r2d2 Your analysis, while interesting, is flawed in two ways: your numbers are out-of-date and your math is wrong.
According to the official CA numbers 94% of the counting is done (not 89), and Senator Sanders, with 34% of the vote, has been awarded about 52% of the delegates. There are 49 delegates yet to be awarded.
Although CA delegates are awarded both by county and state-wide, so not just proportional to votes, if we do what you did and assume Sanders receives 52% of the remaining 49 (about 25) he ends up with 211 CA delegates not 258, and Biden with about 20 of the remaining 49 for 170 total.
It may be frustrating that the final vote tallies are not instantaneous, but perhaps one would be happy that CA has a 30-day official canvas period to make sure the allocations are accurate.
Sander's electoral problem here is not some concerted effort to impede his campaign. It is his inability, at least so far, to surpass 35% of the D vote; even with Warren's votes included in CA the two progressives couldn't crack 50%. Perhaps all that will change now that it is a two-person race; we'll learn something tomorrow.
BTW: I agree with you -- characterizing a primary as a "win" for a candidate winning less than 50% of the delegates is facile and misleading.
2
@r2d2 You forgot to mention Biden has collected endorsement from Buttugieg, Bloomberg and Klobuchar and that includes their 70 delegates, so no Sanders doesn't have a delegate lead the opposite he is behind Biden by few dozens.
Plus Biden has already collected a large number of super delegates, where sanders has not.
I direct you check today's polls for each and every state up for grab, you will see Sanders is projected to lose in each state by a double digit margin.
1
It is sufficient to say "Democrats," not "establishment Democrats," since Mr. Sanders is not a Democrat. "Establishment" has been a pejorative term for about fifty years. Drop it.
13
@Cy
"Establishment," in 2020, should be a pejorative term. We're hurtling towards climate disaster thanks to the establishments of both major parties and Dem's fetish for compromise and "bipartisanship."
@Shirley0401 Perhaps if Ralph Nader had stayed out of the 2000 election and Al Gore had won, we would not be hurtling toward climate disaster.
1
@Cy Bernie a well known Socialist. Touts it proudly. In essence, a third party candidate sheltering under the outside rain flap of the Democratic tent. Socialism the 3rd rail in American politics. Electric - do not touch! Republicans hoping for Bernie as the Democratic Presidential Candidate. Socialism spearheads honed and sharpened. Licking their chops. Do not feed the beast. Focus - Dump Trump. Bernie does not cut it. If he were a stock on the market he would be rated as under perform.
Well, at least this made me look up the meaning and pronunciation of "synecdoche".
But I'm still voting for Biden.
Biden 2020.
4
I'd rather have 4 more years of Trump, who points out all the problems of big money in our elections and government, than to have Biden who will gloss that problem over. Bernie Sanders has big money (which now, after the C-virus is getting smaller) running scared. I love this man!!!!!!!!!!!!!
6
"Bernie versus the NY Times" is a more apt title. Whether or not you like Bernie, giving the impression that he is just holding miniscule rallies of 8 people is simply misleading. In a time when politicians of both parties lie brazenly (and bizarrely), we need news sources to uphold truth instead of pushing an agenda and insulting our intelligence with obvious misrepresentation. Presenting the average Bernie rally as an empty room is as ridiculous as inflating Trump's inauguration audience. We count on the NYT to help uphold truth, not further the idea that truth is entirely subjective.
14
The problem with Sanders is that his approach to complex issues is simplistic and fails the reality test of compromise essential to actually having functional governance. He doesn't care if ~150 million want to keep their existing health insurance. And his free for all — be it healthcare or education — will not be passed by congress, including many who are Democrats. Democracy is a center-left to center-right system, and most voters are moderates.
As for trade, Sanders fails to see the larger picture and the reality of globalization. Hundreds of millions now have prosperity as a result of long, complex supply chains around the world. Abject poverty has been reduced by 40 percent around the world. Yes, there has been economic disruption, but there always has been as technology and business change. Sanders does not offer a rational response. Lost jobs are not coming back — manufacturing is very different now. New jobs in new business segments will bring employment.
The moderate conservatives and independents who will support Biden this year will not do so for Sanders because he's well outside the political middle. Intelligent change is far better than radical change because that's how democracies succeed and sustain themselves.
Eclectic Pragmatism — http://eclectic-pragmatist.tumblr.com/
Eclectic Pragmatist — https://medium.com/eclectic-pragmatism
8
@Eduardo B Thank you Eduardo. A voice of reason and reality! Bernie using the Pied Piper approach to sell his brand of Socialism. Dogmatic, inflexible, a flawed product.
NAFTA is not a synecdoche. Joe Biden is not a synecdoche. A synecdoche is a figure of speech that takes part of something to refer to the whole: "wheels" as a description of a car, for example, or "threads" for clothing.
3
The most frustrating part about the Bernie rhetoric is the line about the “establishment” conspiring against him. There is no establishment, no sinister, shadowy group pulling puppet strings. There are only voters, who by and large are not with Bernie Sanders. I can think of nothing as dismissive of the very groups that he claims to champion as to suggest that they are members of—or controlled by—a sinister Illuminati.
18
@YN
Read C Wright Mills's 1956 *The Power Elite.* The book will offer an insight into what Sanders means by an establishment maintained by tremendously wealthy and their protectors, both of whom stand to lose a lot should the status quo finally go. You are right---it's not the Illuminati. It's the military and the industries that depend on those contracts and the media outlets that they control to create and maintain a narrative.
5
@YN
Its like you're denying the existence of politics itself.
Um, there are political parties. They do things. They strategize and conspire and raise money and speak and endorse and align. They do sneaky things. Remember when Debbie Wasserman-Schultz stepped down? Remember why? Do you know what super-delegates are? How about voter suppression? Like multiple states removing hundreds of thousands of of registered voters from the rolls in election years? Like closing half the polling places in a growing county? Voters don't do these things. Partisan officials do. How about super pacs? Citizens United? Do you know what these things are? Sure, in the end, it is what it is and its about votes, but don't pretend or be naive enough to think that this is rhetoric. To read the New York Times and deny that there is no "establishment" working against Sanders is either willful ignorance or dishonesty.
6
@YN Bernie and his "Army" invariably use the term Elitist to label any and all who do not support him. A huge insult. See Churchill quotes - Socialism vs. Liberalism. From 1908 - Winnie nailed it.
Ms. Bruenig, you are one of the newer rare gems at the Times (along with Ben Smith) and I am very grateful for your unique view and voice. First off, you have clearly not been harvardized (or otherwise ivy league-ized)—Cambridge U being the real deal, educationally, and not one of our American imitations. Your decency, goodness, and profound caring come through in every piece.
3
@Madison Thank you Madison. Spot on.
I'm 45, and I've been waiting my whole adult life for a progressive government that would begin to address the systemic economic inequality that brought us Trump, give us the basic human rights that exist in other advanced nations such as health care for all and an anti-racist legal system, address the looming planetary crisis that could lead to billions of deaths and overshadow human civilization for thousands of years, and eliminate the money in politics that creates a gravitational field of corruption collapsing our democracy into a black hole of corporate greed.
Bernie Sanders, despite his flaws and the flaws of his campaign, is a visionary who has been fighting his whole life for the good of us all, not just the short-sighted foolish plutocrats and those pundits and politicians who live off their scraps. At this time of social and planetary crisis, it's tragic that so many good Americans failed to see past personal traits ("he yells too much") or failed to see through manufactured narratives ("he's a communist" or "his positions are too radical" or "Bernie Bros" or "he's unelectable" or "he's too old") which were pushed relentlessly by those standing to benefit financially from the status quo.
In our corrupted two party system there has been no place for progressives - to the detriment of our country, the systemically downtrodden living in it, and the future of our planet.
123
Perfectly stated Peter! It both perplexes and saddens me that many of the people that would benefit the most from Bernie’s policies aren’t supporters.
17
@Peter Kalmus
Same. Biden is Clinton Lite. Clinton was Reagan Lite. The Dems failure to be the labor party has given the country to Trump.
18
@Peter Kalmus
I'm up on you by a generation. I remember civil rights and the women's movement. I am furious--beyond furious--that from a diverse field of candidates we end up with two white men who are not my generation, but my parents' generation.
Lovely that Sanders paints compelling pictures. But despite the rhetoric, his vision and that of the most moderate Democratic candidate aren't that different--not when compared to ANY Republican policy or action (and that's leaving Trump craziness aside).
Waiting for a progressive government? Go be PART of that government. Get involved locally by applying for citizen commissions at local, county, or state level. Run for office and be the power to make change.
That's what the women I know are doing. And you know what? It's working at the local level.
Or you could just continue waiting for a hero. Good luck with that.
11
I see no inconsistency in wanting free trade that is also responsible and fair trade. I'll give three examples of major issues that are generally NOT incorporated into free trade agreements that ought to be:
1) Environmental standards: how can trade be remotely fair if a developing country gains a production cost advantage over a developed country, because the latter has to abide by costly environmental protection measures? If comparable environmental standards are not a part of free trade agreements, it just encourages a race to the bottom on environmental standards to compete.
2) Labour practices: as with the above, how can trade be remotely fair when a developing country can work their employees 12+ hours a day, 6-7 days a week, with no overtime pay and lax worker safety regulations? Again, if comparable labour practices are not standard in trade agreements, then this encourages yet another race to the bottom among competing nations.
3) Relinquishing sovereignty: The last aspect of current trade agreements that is problematic is that they require significant relinquishing of sovereignty. Under most current trade agreements an unelected board of arbitrators adjudicate trade disputes based on the content of the trade agreements, rather than any one country's laws. And the decisions are generally secret.
It doesn't take a radical socialist to see that the above problems need to be addressed.
7
@Andres Hannah the EU is the model you are looking for.
It has been called protectionist, and that is actually the idea.
We don't want the race to the bottom. That is why we have the highest quality standards in the World, workers rights as minimum 4 weeks of vacation, parental leave and affordable or free health care in all member states.
In trade agreements we insists on "level playing fields", also when it comes to the environment
2
Bernie has a progressive vision that leaves no American behind.
16
Having lived most of my adult life as one of the working poor - meaning my income was just a few dollars more than eligibility for public assistance - I sympathize with the desperately impoverished. There's nothing quite like having to decide whether the sick baby gets their medicine or the entire family goes hungry for a couple of weeks. I don't know if Bernie's the guy to address poverty, but even if elected he'll need a willing House and Senate.
11
@Patti O'Connor
Of course, Bernie is the candidate to address poverty!
As to a "willing House and Senate", President Sanders will lead with courage and conviction, and the active support of all those who believe in his ideas...
and change will begin!
Obvious taking of corporate money and submitting to lobbyists demands will become less acceptable.
But, foremost, ordinary people need Sanders as president to make their case, loudly and convincingly, for medicare for ALL, free/affordable QUALITY childcare for ALL, QUALITY early childhood education through grade 12 for ALL, with tuition free continuing public education!
These policies will begin to revive the American Dream of equal opportunity and will make for a more vibrant and thriving society... and economy.
President Sanders 2020!
A Future To Believe In!
1
@Lucy Cooke He does not along very well with other House and Senate members. He is not that well liked. And what has he accomplished in his long career in the Senate? His forte is amendments to legislation and not sponsoring expansive bills. When the Bush Junior administration handed Obama a wrecked economy, it was Joe Biden who was tasked with managing the economic road back. And then there is Sander's pesky support for the gun manufacturers. He voted against the Brady Bill and he voted against allowing individual citizens to sue gun manufacturers. Where was his concern for the little guy then. The largest gun manufacturer in the world is located in Vermont. He talks a good game, but the reason he got creamed on Super Tuesday is because most Americans do not believe in his programs. Even Alexandra Ocasio Cortez backed away from medicare for all.
Can someone please familiarize wanna be socialists with Ricardo's Theory of Comparative Advantage and how opportunity cost works? State subsidized industries, quotas and tariffs are a bad idea, anyone that disbelieves that go buy a Soviet automobile. The problem is not competition from Mexico, it is that the people who live in these areas that were affected by NAFTA had no other skills and lower educational standards so they were unable to capitalize on the changes in the labor market. It is eminently unreasonable to demand that we create low skill work for them at the expense of the taxpayer and a recipe for economic failure. What we should do is provide better education in this country at lower cost, that is the one and only thing we would benefit from subsidizing.
6
It's so clear to me that he is the best human being out of all the candidates. The guy has always been on the right side of history, whether he is supporting civil rights, LGBT, Veterans; even before he wanted to become a president, that is who he is. Who cares if he has dandruff or is not the most fun when having a beer.
It is no coincidence that most of his spokespeople on TV are second generation ethnic Americans. Even if a lot of us are doing well now, we are only a generation away from real struggle and poverty and I believe that we are more empathetic. All that some Democratic voters care about is not being embarrassed by the president and being political correct; policies? not so much
32
If you are worried about whether Bernie's supporters will trust anyone else to prioritize health and planet, despite voting records that suggest the contrary, why not vote with us for a change? Expecting and admonishing people to line up and once again vote against whatever it is that goes against our interests just a bit less has not brought us to a good place.
For the sake of our children, please realize it is eminently practical to vote for Bernie. Myself and his many volunteers are very anxious and motivated to have these next months to go out into every typically non-voting (because disillusioned) community we can and make the case for our collective agency to create positive and real change.
The biggest voting block is non-voters. That is because they are painfully aware that the system is stacked against them. To tell the world that "nothing will fundamentally change" is the height of impracticality as we watch the world burn and our systems crumble.
65
Bernie is not content to be contented which is why he is a great advocate for the young who are Still fighting over some of the same issues we fought over in the 60’s except now everyone has a gun and is a little bit more desperate. Mother Nature, Climate Change, and Pandemics, vs Corporations there needs to be a shift in the conversation back to just living without a catastrophe hanging over their heads.
16
As much as Sanders' more vocal supporters (I'm starting to wonder if he has any other kind) complain about how biased the media is against him, in fact, the opposite is true. Take his recent assertion that the party "establishment" (whatever that is these days) strong-armed Buttigieg and Klobacher to withdraw from the race before Super Tuesday. Would either one cave into such pressure, let alone keeping mum about it. We all know why they quit -- and so does Sanders. Why do we call out Trump on his lies and keep giving him a pass?
17
@HKGuy We keep giving Bernie Sanders a "pass" because we've grown accustomed to humoring him.
What struck me here in this column was the description of "a mostly empty room at a Detroit convention center" four DAYS ago.
The larger question is, Who is kidding whom?
Fudging the truth about why candidates dropped out when they were losing the race is one thing when you're talking about candidates scoring in single digets.
Fudging the truth about how you are the candidate who is most electable in November is a whole 'nother matter.
That's not a lie, precisely; but it's clear evidence of delusion. As in, SELF-delusion.
And Bernie Sanders knows that.
So, last and most overarching question of all:
What is the matter with Bernie Sanders?
What is he really aiming to achieve this time?
His "loyal followers" wouldn't like my answer. It's the answer that is quietly growing legs in America.
9
@HKGuy Yes, both would cave to that pressure and keep mum about it. Had they stayed in, Sanders would have received most of the delegates.
The real problem with Sanders is that his policies would help everyone. Americans will not help the people they hate, so they choose to suffer themselves rather than help their enemies.
10
@DameAlys Not sure what Bruenig is referring to, but over 10,000 people attended the AA rally, 7,000 in Grand Rapids and 6,000 in Detroit. Obviously this was not a rally Bruening described. And polls show Bernie beats Trump in the polls as much as Biden...showing BOTH are just as electable and can beat Trump.
2
Sanders’ inability to meaningfully attack the other candidates by name without the, “Pete’s a good guy” or “Joe is a friend of mine” has proven to be a major weakness of his within the scope of politicking at the highest level.
This article, correctly suggests that Sanders is uncomfortable going after Biden at the level he currently is attempting to deploy. His approach is far from ad hominem, yet there is hesitation in connecting the candidate to their record while driving the critique home forcefully. 
In a final analysis of his two attempts for the nomination, there may be, among many other factors, the fact that Sanders lacked that ever so slight amount of gusto to attack and do so with strength when needed. There are times when he fails to take a strong stand to defend himself. He is forceful when dealing with structural reforms or large institutions, but struggles to pinpoint and emphasize the weaknesses of fellow candidates by attaching that weakness to their character.
7
Since one of the recurring condemnations of Mr Sanders is that “he’s not even a Democrat,” this advice would seem to be counter-productive. I believe Bernie Sanders’ goal is to advance his programs, not just his own ambitions. Knowing that any Democrat is better than Trump, tearing down his Primary contenders would defeat the ultimate purpose of restoring us to better paths, whether we proceed by baby steps or giant leaps.
14
If Bernie is so holy and inspiring, why this?
In an MSNBC interview hours after dropping out of the race, Rachel Maddow asked Warren to weigh in on the "untoward attacks by Senator Sanders' supporters...against you." Maddow referenced attacks calling the Massachussetts Senator a "snake" and a "traitor."
After Warren lost every Super Tuesday state, placing no higher than third in any race, she faced online pressure from Sanders' supporters to drop out and endorse him. When Warren left the race, she did so without making an endorsement. On Twitter, a subset of purported Sanders supporters claimed that Warren was hurting his chances for being the nominee.
"It's not just about me, I think it's a real problem with this online bullying and sort of organized nastiness," Warren said. "I'm talking about some really ugly stuff that went on."
When Maddow asked if Warren if bad behavior online was a particular problem with Sander's supporters, Warren replied affirmatively: "It is. It just is. It's just a factual question, and it is."
As an example, Warren said that before the Nevada caucuses, rogue Sanders supporters attacked women with the labor union Unite Here, "actually published the phone numbers and home addresses of the two women, immigrant women...and really put them in fear for their families."
46
@Tim Does Warren have proof that the Sanders campaign is behind this? I assume if she had, she would have said so. There's a lot of malice online, and it seems odd to me that anyone running wouldn't expect it as a matter of course. And who knows who these malicious posters are? They could be Russians, they could be allied with any number of causes. But Warren has refused to form a coalition with other progressives and this will haunt her political career when she runs for reelection.
14
@PMP2020
I refuse to blame everything on the Russians.
I do believe that the Establishment would stoop to anything to hurt Sanders candidacy.
5
@Tim
Yes, lets blame Senator Bernie Sanders for the toxicity, anonymity, and weaponization of the internet
4
He never liked attacking his opponents? Calling Ms. Clinton "unqualified" and relentlessly suggesting that her paid speaking engagements were nefarious doesn't qualify as attacks that he made repeatedly and very comfortably??
46
@Dana
I completely agree about Mr. Sanders's repeated bludgeoning of Ms. Clinton in the debates, but this writer doesn't think that way and has made the same denial in previous columns like the last one, titled "How Bernie Sanders can still win it all":
"It seems to me that Mr. Sanders will have to overcome his reluctance to go on the attack, and to condemn Mr. Biden emphatically for his political record (encouragingly, Mr. Sanders does appear prepared to take up that line) and for corruption and impropriety."
6
@Dana
She still won the nomination and lost to the worst candidate ever, so there's that.
6
@Dana - Please write the complete truth. Sanders was referring to specific her taking Super PAC money, her foreign policy record. However, HRC is corrupt and we've seen it demostrated.
Her speaking engagement payments of hundreds of thousands of dollars was for access. Those who paid it wanted access to the Secretary. That leads to the question, why would some pay $200 to $400k for access to someone? Quid pro quo.
Also, Clinton's bitterness and elitism has been on display for the last few years. Sanders is not blame for her losing to the worst presidential candidate in the history of the US. Many factors were involved - she ran tone death campaign, Comey, some Russian bots and she failed to engage some African American voters in key cities/states.
16
The high water mark of socialism in the United States was 100 years ago. Someone needs to send Bernie's supporters the memo that this 19th century god has failed.
14
@LetsBeCivil
No homeless down in Tacoma? Visit Seattle to see how 21st century capitalism works for Americans.
4
@LetsBeCivil.
Oh really ?
As our greatest progressive president in history said:
" The economic royalists are unanimous in their hate for me and I welcome their hatred" Pres.Franklin Roosevelt.
Actually, FDR was even more left than Bernie. See FDR 1944 speech on economic rights called 2nd Bill of Rights.
Sen. Bernard Sanders is simply reclaiming the vision of the greatest DEMOCRATIC president who is ranked by citizens and historians next to Lincoln and Washington and elected 4 times by The Greatest Generation. They called and do call to this very day FDR and his wife Eleaonor socialist and a commie. Well , all polls show Americans love their socialism like Social Security and Medicare etc. Scandinavia, Canada,Australia, New Zealand and western European countries COPIED FDR's New Deal vision and Eleanor wrote charter UN Declaration of Human Rights.
Sen. SANDERS is a real FDR Democrat ( not a corporate DINO ) will return party to its New Deal roots and will reclaim vision of FDR.
FDR 2nd Bill of Rights speech 1944--2 min ending https://youtu.be/3EZ5bx9AyI4
10
@LetsBeCivil Capitalism, an 18th century invention, has failed the public over and over, saddling ordinary people with depressions, recessions, low wages & a poor quality of life. As a result, socialism arose to correct some of Capitalism's most glaring failures, especially chronic unemployment but also failure to create a health care system or to properly educate the population. So it's your 18th century god who has failed.
5
It’s interesting to hear Bernie constantly characterized as “divisive” and “extreme” while Biden is “unitive” because in reality, I think Biden’s record — support of the Iraq war, voting for NAFTA, segregation, support of the Hyde Amendment, the Bankruptcy Bill, awful treatment of Anita Hill, bailing out Wail St at the expense of homeowners and taxpayers, unaggressive climate policy that doesn’t ban fracking, unclear mental stability, fondling little girls on live TV, billionaire donors and super PACs, Crime Bill, cutting Social Security — is what is truly “divisive” and “extreme.” He can’t be trusted to protect any interests besides those of the ones in power. A return to the status quo? Which hasn’t worked for the majority of Americans? Biden is a step backwards, and furthermore, loses to Trump in many national polls. He is a huge risk!
Meanwhile, Bernie represents a better future for all of us. For coming generations to have a livable future and livable wage. For the elderly to be able to retire and have affordable healthcare. For current young people, to get a good education without crippling debt and to be able to have kids with childcare. And that future is one worth fighting for.
21
@hd Every endeavor in life is a product of ideas and the personalities pushing those ideas, nowhere more so than in politics. Some leaders can push through controversial agendas and make them seem like milk and apple pie. Others seem to thrive on making waves and ensuring that everyone knows his policies are divisive.
1
Exactly. Joe Biden is getting in voters' faces, grabbing them by their shirts, poking them, yelling at them to vote for someone else, calling them names, and somehow he's the "return to decency" candidate.
9
@hd
No doubt, Joe is a safer bet than Bernie in a Democrat universe that is at deeply odds with its presumed core political identity.
Joe is also a step back from the insidious insanity of Trump and the outright complicity of McConnell and crew.
People want Trump gone, they desperately want some semblance of normalcy. Bernie is a persistent crusader and that bodes anything but normalcy.
4
Well, its good to see I'm not alone over here.
Bernie has what we need. His ideas are barely left of real capitalism.
He addresses the biggest grievances of voters in fly-over country, if you don't include raging resentment and a soupcon of racist, anti-immigrant, misogynistic classism.
Bernie's also maybe the suckiest candidate in recent history. Yes, including her.
I believe he couldn't handle if there was a groundswell of support for his positions.
The Bern needs to be angry. He needs fight for the losing team. If nobody is being mean to him he yells at them until they get angry and then he really yells at them.
Bernie is, in many important ways, the course correction this country needs if it to survive and prosper.
He is the last person, but one, who should be in our White House.
5
I loved Bernie when he first ran in 2016. He reminded me of myself when I was a young guy with heroes like Thoreau, Emma Goldman, Prince Kropotkin and the like. And where the ultimate expression of society was the "commune." That a guy can keep these idealisms for all these decades has to be admired. However several things happened to myself during that time. For one, I lived in the Berkeley/Oakland area for ten years under a left government and saw what many people see. The left has insight and consciousness but it can't govern a pragmatic, experienced people who, at the very least, understand how hard it is to get anything done. Most normal people lose their idealisms when their attention turns to career, family, buying things, and surviving disillusionment by trying to enjoy life a bit. If you can't speak to those people forget it, at least in national elections. The voice Bernie has is an important one that will always be the Critic, never the Governor. Smart people in this country listen to the Critic but never confuse the Critic with the Governor. And some of those insights carried by the Bernie crowd will percolate and go through due diligence and many-sided critiques until sound policy is created. So eventually free health care and free education and free child care will evolve into better health care, better opportunities in education, and better child care. Democracy 101.
31
It's not Bernie Sanders versus "the world", it's Sanders (and Warren) versus big money. Unfortunately the big media, while socially liberally, are conservative economically - their bread is buttered on the side of advertisers and the companies which pay to support the media, not on the side of ordinary workers. Many pundits in the media claim to support measures that would reduce inequality, but when there is an actual election, they come down heavily against challengers to the status quo. Who would be crazy enough to challenge the grip of big money on politics and the media? I guess that would be Bernie and his supporters.
138
@skeptonomist
I think it's terrible that Bernie and Warren took money from people who are so poor that $5 means a lot to them and/or young people who can't afford it - and purely because Bernie and Warren are promising free everything and write offs of debt. This is as crooked as the evangelical church cults who take money from poor people who think prayer will help them in life.
It's highway robbery. Bernie and Warren owe all their donors huge apologies because they lost their money on pipe dreams and promises.
5
@skeptonomist ~
You're right here: it's not "Bernie Sanders Versus the World"—but in a sense, The New York Times has it 'more' right in its title here. Why?
Because for The New York Times, "the World" is in fact the private multinational corporations that own and run this world; And because they ("big money" in your phrase) also provide for the existence of The New York Times, their title is accurate.
But of course, The New York Times doesn't mean for its title to be read like that! After all, these corporate owners of the world pay for only the best journalism that money can buy! Therefore, The New York Times must frame this "fight" as Bernie Sanders versus everybody else in the world to convince the world that Bernie is a lone radical who is angrily fighting you, me, and everybody else.
In fact, can you imagine The New York Times giving this piece its accurate title: "Bernie Sanders and his Millions of Supporters Versus the Very Small Handful of Multinational Corporations Who Own and Run this World"?
Of course not. Because along with paying for the best journalism money can buy, these multinational corporations are also paying for the most powerful corporate indoctrination that money can buy. And if The New York Times fails to flood the world these corporations own with this power corporate-manufactured indoctrination, The New York Times will no longer be allowed survive.
Excellent journalism and the most powerful indoctrination are not mutually exclusive.
7
@skeptonomist I'll give you a simple, two-word refutation of your contention of "the grip of big money on politics and the media": Michael Bloomberg.
1
Bernie sure has some good concepts and ideas. It is unfortunate he has only ONE speech and does not address the broader spectrum of topics. His RAGE at the podium does not reflect a confident leader - too bad since he does have good enthusiasm. He attacks other when he should be collaborating. I am not sure this GREAT LEAPS TO SOCIALISTIC items would not be more destructive of the American fabric than benefit to Americans. I do not see how he can do away with educational loans - I paid mine and I did not allow myself to get into so much debt wishing a university degree would make me a millionaire - bad judgement. There were and are plenty of much less expensive roads to learning. Unfortunately, Bernie has not done well and not acted Presidential. Ah, well. DM
23
God love him. The only one who seems to realize that profit for the few is not more important than the well-being of all.
96
"In the run-up to Tuesday’s primary, Mr. Biden has been scarce in Michigan, sending surrogates to stump and scheduling only two in-person events the day before the vote."
People like to be asked for their vote. This is how Hillary Clinton lost Michigan in 2016, by not showing up.
25
@John Leonard Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, Washington state and North Dakota are also voting today. If he decided that his presence was more necessary in some of those states, it's not a matter of his not showing up, but where he shows up.
@HKGuy : I know that. But by not showing up *at all*, he just told the people of Michigan that the people in Idaho, Mississippi, Missouri, Washington state and North Dakota are more important to him than they are.
Clinton lost three states in 2016 that she should have won by taking them for granted. Yeah, it's grinding, but it's the job.
2
I fully support Sanders agenda.
I fully reject Sanders as a candidate.
The Sanders campaign is a terrific example of the difference between intent and impact. The intent of his "revolution" is to help everyone. He thinks that our economic system is so messed up that we need radical change. I agree.
But his methods and tactics have guaranteed that his agenda will fail. Notably, his tone deaf treatment of Elizabeth Warren - and his passive approach to his toxic supporters (snakes emojis!) - have sealed the deal against his campaign.
I hold Bernie responsible for much (not all) of the failure of his campaign.
111
I agree.
Take his opposition to NAFTA - Bernie voted against the deal but he couldn’t stop it from passing and didn’t do ANYTHING to ameliorate the bad effects for American workers.
Same with NAFTA-2, passed last year. Again he voted against it, says it doesn’t go far enough but couldn’t do anything to make it better or bring other Senators to his thinking.
His thinking and ideas might be good but he can’t make anything happen. He should stay in the Senate.
44
Just curious: what do you think Bernie’s response should be to his assumed supporters making obnoxious statements?
You realize of course that just because they say they’re Bernie supporters doesn’t mean they are.
But more to the point, no candidate controls what random people say on the Internet.
61
@Maxi , Attributing the losses American workers allegedly have suffered to NAFTA is one of the problems I have with Sanders' brand of populism. Contrary to the popular cry on the left (which I am largely sympathetic towards) NAFTA is not the primary cause of job losses, depressed wages, and the destruction of unions. It's an easy scapegoat, but it's just not supported by the facts.
39
I voted for Biden in my state's primary because he has the best chance to win and also move forward some elements of a progressive agenda if elected. Although some have advocated Mr. Sanders move to a more negative campaign (including one of the authors of this article) as a last ditch effort to secure the nomination, so far he has focused on issues and prior Senate votes where he and Mr. Biden diverged. I applaud that. The Democratic "establishment" listened to Mr. Sanders after the 2016 election and improved the primary process. The Democratic center has moved left for a variety of reasons since 2016 including the articulate and passionate advancement of his agenda by Mr. Sanders. America wins with Democratic victories up and down the ballot. Mr. Sanders and Ms. Warren will continue to contribute in major ways after those election victories. The focus needs to be on how does America win in this election cycle.
25
Let's not get caught up in the primary contests and forget about the ultimate price which is winning November 2020 general election. There's something really wrong when a former Vice President finished fourth in the first Contest in Iowa and fifth in the second contest in New Hampshire despite big endorsements including John Kerry; while a Mayor of a small village in Indiana tied as first in Iowa and finished as second in New Hampshire. The Earlier We Address The Elephant In The Room, The Better It Helps In November General Election. Historically, no candidate that Finished Below Third in Iowa and New Hampshire has ever been elected President of The United States. Based on my observations here in Pennsylvania in 2016, I predicted in that Summer 2016 that Trump would become the President whenever Bernie drops out, and that's what exactly happened. That's because a lot of people here in Pennsylvania are Independents who really distrust any Republican or Democratic Establishment Candidates. They mostly said in 2016 that Bernie was their first choice and Trump the second choice because they're both Independents. In fact, the two major political parties we have now in this country is ESTABLISHMENT AND ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT Parties, not Republican and Democratic Parties. I can tell you to brace up for the night of November 2020 general election if Biden is the Nominee.
34
It’s downright silly to place any importance on the winners of the tiny Iowa and NH primaries.
All they are are first - they are not representative of the voters. Biden WON in states all across the country and across demographic groups.
If your Pennsylvania friends & neighbors haven’t learn how really, really bad Donald Trump, they are hopeless, doubly so if they voted for this liar and conman again.
Bernie is right, his ambition and mission are righteous his administration would be earth shattering. Here’s to another upset win in Michigan ! Go Bernie !
171
@Gus
Bernie is "righteous" from the most recommended post here.
This is the clear arrogance of the Left. And this costs them more than they will believe until Bernie is repudiated at the polls.
We do not need the "righteous" in American politics
We need views and respect and dialogue and compromise.
18
@RP I am not a Bernie or nobody voter and will support the Democratic nominee BUT, will you ? Already Biden is tapping billionaires for his administration - Michael Bloomberg and Jami Dimon - https://www.commondreams.org/news/2020/03/09/all-you-need-know-biden-reportedly-weighing-billionaires-michael-bloomberg-and-jamie
It’s that type of reasoning that makes Bernie the only candidate that truly will try to improve the lives of all of us. Biden would be a huge improvement over Trump, but will he bring meaningful change ?
10
@RP
The problem is that centrist Democrats have no idea what the word compromise actually means.
When centrist Democrats say compromise, they mean sacrifice your values to win the election. Don't advance any bold proposals or actually say that the left is better than the right, just promise not to do anything Bernie would do, and promise to "compromise" with Republicans.
Here is what is wrong with that definition of compromise:
1. Without your values, you can't win elections. Democrats pretend to have no values and lose. Republicans pretend they do have values and win.
2. If you do win an election without running on values or policies to promote them, you can't get anything done.
3. Compromise is something that happens at the end of negotiations, when legislation is actually being written. First both sides ask for everything they might want, then they trade away the least important things until they agree on what is left. If you make no bold proposals but instead offer the compromise you wish to reach, you have nothing to trade when negotiations begin. Your values are where you stop trading, not where you start!
4. When you give away things you might want during the election, Republicans don't have to give up anything in return. You are just giving things away. That is surrender, not compromise.
Instead of compromising away our values, the Left sits in circles where all voices are heard, so that we can create and find consensus on win/win solutions to help everyone.
6
Bernie can’t fail. He can only BE failed.
(Lights incense under photograph of Bernie and chants his name while standing on one leg)
It’s time for Bernie’s campaign to do some self-reflection. Rather than blaming the Democrat establishment or Elizabeth Warren for not supporting him.
Take responsibility, Bernie. For a change.
The reason Bernie failed is that he could not expand his coalition. He had 4 years to do it. He failed. In fact, his vote totals came down, showing that a lot of his 2016 strength was in fact not a vote for him but a vote against Clinton.
Why did African Americans turn out in such large numbers to vote against him? Why did he not win the suburban moms who brought Democrats the election in 2018.
Because Bernie is seen as too risky. He equated progressives with (Democratic) socialists, and America isn’t ready for that.
Bernie lost because his campaign had planned all along to win the nomination with his existing base. All along the primaries we could see Bernie had a ceiling. Bernie has stayed at that ceiling and which is why he was making a case for handing the election to the winner of the plurality (not majority) of the votes.
Bernie didn’t broaden his base. There can only be two reasons (1) the voters didn’t buy his policies (2) they didn’t buy his campaign.
His online army certainly didn’t make it easy for people to embrace Bernie.
The progressives can now look towards 2024 and embrace a welcoming coalition. Study AOC’s approach.
74
@Patrician Bernie is still the angry on 1960-1970 hippie revolutionary of San Francisco. Saw them and he should do like most of them did - move on.
It's time to stop being angry at the world !!!
14
Tell the whole story, and include the strategy of ignore, malign, then fear-monger that the media upheld. "Socialism", "how to pay for it" and the mythical "online army" of misogynist "bros", a Clinton campaign fiction, that only caught traction because Bernie's base is passionate and vocal and more invested overall, and, yes, upset about the dire state of the working class. I'm not making excuses, just rounding out your description. This was a groundswell of grassroots support that raised more money than any other candidate, and organized an army of volunteers (that, I'd like to point out, are about to be disbanded in preparation for the General Election without so much as an olive branch extended so far, just pure contempt), that was up against multiple Goliaths fighting him on every front. So I really find your characterization of him playing victim as bogus. I have all kinds of criticism of my own for how Bernie chose to campaign, but he did his best and placed his bets, as we all did, in an extremely uncertain landscape, and hindsight is, well, 2020. Heck, I'm a little embarrassed to admit that some of us actually thought that at some point the Dem Establishment would see what we saw: that Bernie was its best shot. Thanks, Bernie et al, for reminding the country of the values the Democratic Party used to represent, and the way it used to fight for us.
8
@Patrician Tell the whole story, and include the strategies of ignore, malign, then fear-monger that the media upheld. "Socialism", "how to pay for it" and the mythical "online army" of misogynist "bros", a Clinton campaign fiction, that only caught traction because Bernie's base is passionate and vocal and more invested overall, and, yes, upset about the dire state of the working class. I'm not making excuses, just rounding out your description. This was a groundswell of grassroots support that raised more money than any other candidate, and organized an army of volunteers (that, I'd like to point out, are about to be disbanded in preparation for the General Election without so much as an olive branch extended so far, just pure contempt), that was up against multiple Goliaths fighting him on every front. So I really find your characterization of him playing victim as bogus. I have all kinds of criticism of my own for how Bernie chose to campaign, but he did his best and placed his bets, as we all did, in an extremely uncertain landscape, and hindsight is, well, 2020. Heck, I'm a little embarrassed to admit that some of us actually thought that at some point the Dem Establishment would see what we saw: that Bernie was its best shot. Thanks, Bernie et al, for reminding the country of the values the Democratic Party used to represent, and the way it used to fight for us.
2