The benefit of the Democrats denouncing Sanders's selfishness

[Galraedia]

If you are in the search for silver linings, one benefit of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) pointlessly continuing his losing campaign is the freedom for Democrats to denounce him and his anti-party escapades. After years of humoring him, the vast majority of Democrats, from super-progressives to moderates, can now say out loud what they’ve said quietly: It has always been about Bernie. It’s not a movement, but rather a vanity project.

The Post reports, “Four years [after Hillary Clinton’s race], with the senator from Vermont still running against former vice president Joe Biden despite almost impossible odds of victory, some party leaders are increasingly worried about a reprise of the bitter divisions that many Democrats blame for Hillary Clinton’s loss.” However, the chorus of denunciations is in a way reassuring that the overwhelming majority of the party is unified behind a center-left nominee:

“I just think it’s a terrible decision for him to make because he looks very selfish,” said former Democratic senator Barbara Boxer of California, who backs Biden. If Sanders is genuine about going all in to defeat Trump, “then get out,” she said. . . .
Scott Brennan, a Democratic National Committee member from Iowa, expressed hope that the party’s divisions will not repeat because Biden “doesn’t generate the same sort of fevered hatred” from Sanders allies that Clinton did.

The problem, according to many Democrats, remains that 15 percent of Sanders supporters say in polling that they would vote for President Trump over Biden. This nugget actually makes the opposite argument: There is nothing that would satisfy some faction of the Sanders coalition that would rather blow up our democracy and reelect Trump. With people so irrational, the best response is to ignore them. They, like the MAGA-hat crowd, are unreachable and cannot be bargained with (e.g., more New Green Deal talk!). So do not try. No more outreach to Sanders, no more promised policy modifications, no more speaking slot at the convention. Enough.

This would have some salutary effects.

First, it would make perfectly clear that Biden is not Sanders and not a crazy left-winger, as Trump would like to paint him in the campaign. Biden makes a sharp distinction between the “democratic socialist” crowd and his own brand of center-left politics. Since he cannot get the 15 percent of “Bernie or Bust” Democrats (or independents), he might as well make a strong play for moderate independents and disaffected Republicans. Cutting Sanders off effectively allows Biden to pitch to gettable swing voters, not waste time on unattainable Bernie Bros.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/03/31/benefit-democrats-denouncing-sanders-selfishness/

[TwilightZone]

1. He and his staff are undermining his movement.

They are, quite literally, their own worst enemy, from pushing debunked, doctored videos about Biden's "dementia" to parroting the "where is Biden?" silliness to prior shots at Klobuchar, Buttigieg, and, most notably, Warren.

They even managed to alienate AOC, one of his staunchest supporters, with the Rogan "endorsement" disaster.

[Cha]

2. KR!! TY Galraedia!

[elleng]

3. SO USEFUL to refer to one of our candidates as selfish,

in light of tr.

[Cha]

5. It's reality..

Link to tweet

These are just words if BS doesn't actually do it..

Donald Trump must be defeated,” Bernie Sanders insists, “and I will do everything in my power to make that happen.”

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/1287673175

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/1287692765#top

[peggysue2]

4. I think there's a good deal of truth to this piece

Even though written by Jennifer Rubin, a Never-Trumper but still considered the enemy by many Dems.

I think Rubin has a good point in Joe Biden being able to differentiate himself from the 'crazy socialist' label (although I fully expect Trump and his enablers to tout that line anyway). By appealing to the center-left voting public, Biden deflates the standard argument that all Dems are socialists/commies while leaving room for disgruntled Republicans and crossover Indies, those who can actually see the Mad King for what he is. And I have no problem with those voters joining the effort to destroy Trump before he thoroughly destroys the country. We can go back to the standard cat-fighting once the real danger is eliminated: Donald Trump and Trumpism, his fascist chorus and every Republican who thought supporting this petty, vindictive criminal was a good way to stay in power.

As for the small contingent of Bernie supporters who are unreachable? Think she's right about that, too. Just as there are Trumpers and Trumpettes (my cousin is one of them), there will be nothing to change certain minds or allegiances.

Biden appeals to the majority of Democratic voters: slightly liberal to moderate to conservative. He's viewed as a good guy with experience and knowledge to put the pieces back together so we can move forward to the urgent needs facing the American people. He's also trusted, a virtue that seems almost quaint in the Trump era.

Anyone outside of Democratic circles who desires to join the fight against Trump should be welcomed. Because this will be a fight for our lives, one that will shape the future for good or ill.

We need to make sure it's for good.

[thucythucy]

6. Yes!!!

Exactly.

[The Magistrate]

7. I Do Not Like Waking Up In A World, Ma'am, Where I Agree With Ms. Reuben

But she is right.






"From Bernie’s perspective, dropping out of a race once you have no chance of winning is peculiar behavior that can only be explained by the work of a hidden hand. For most politicians, though, it is actually standard operating procedure. Only Sanders seems to think the normal thing to do once voters have made clear they don’t want to nominate you is to continue campaigning anyway."





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."