Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

Gothmog

(157,278 posts)
24. Sanders's secret is out: He has no movement - The Washington Post
Thu Mar 26, 2020, 10:35 PM
Mar 2020

I have never taken sanders seriously as a candidate due to sanders complete and utter lack of legislative accomplishments. sanders has not been able to get his fellow Democratic members of Congress to back his agenda and that is not going to change. As I understand it, sanders is now relying on a magical voter revolution to convince republicans to be reasonable. sanders has no magical voter revolution or movement backing him up. sanders has a cap of around 30% of the Democratic voters and that does not constitute a movement or revolution




For months — for years, really — the media have reported that the Democratic Party has gone far left. They have treated social media as a barometer of the party’s political attitudes and characterized center-left candidates as out of touch with their own party. They have done so despite the triumph of moderate Democratic House candidates in 2018; despite the failure of left-wing Democrats to flip a single House seat; despite the polls showing a substantial percentage of Democrats consider themselves moderate or somewhat liberal; and despite the failure of super-progressive presidential candidates to attract the most critical element in the Democratic Party (African Americans).

With this faulty premise, the media’s coverage has been at times wildly off-kilter. It was easy for anyone caring to look closely to see that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) did not “win” a single debate, because his ranting and raving merely reinforced the fervor of his own cult while turning off the rest of the party. The media have been obsessed with the “likability” of female candidates, never considering that Sanders’s angry and rude demeanor would turn off women, who make up more than half of the Democratic electorate. A simple question — “Who is he gaining by all this yelling?” — should have been front and center in the media’s coverage. His “movement” was assumed but never examined carefully.....

Sanders’s ceiling turned out to be real, because there are generally less than a third of voters in the Democratic Party willing to embrace wide-eyed socialism, venom-filled rhetoric and utter disregard for the demands of governing (e.g. compromise). Michael Moore does not speak for the Democratic Party any more than Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) speaks for House Democrats. (I have long maintained that the person who has the best read on the party as a whole is House Speaker Nancy Pelosi; get to her left, and you are in no-man’s land.)

The Democratic Party does not live on social media nor does it favor bomb-throwers. If anything, it is desperate to play it safe and find an antidote to President Trump — not an imitation. Voters want the madness, the cruelty, the dysfunction and the stupidity to stop. They have found their safe, reliable and decent candidate in Biden. En masse — in every geographic region and Democratic group — they are telling us that they want the primary to end and the effort to rout Trump to begin. The media might have taken Sanders’s “revolution” seriously, but it turns out that Democratic voters as a whole did not.
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

Exactly right mcar Mar 2020 #1
I like Joe Biden because he's honest. He's respectful of others... NurseJackie Mar 2020 #2
I read that article earlier today. An excellent read! George II Mar 2020 #3
Right, there wasn't a conspiracy or widespread election fraud as some now claim Hav Mar 2020 #4
Sanders's secret is out: He has no movement - The Washington Post Gothmog Mar 2020 #24
Bernie Knew His Ceiling Was 30% and Never Sought to Increase It Indykatie Mar 2020 #26
Why Can't Bernie Accept That Democratic Voters Didn't Want Him? Gothmog Mar 2020 #5
Sadly & ridiculously so, his ardent followers even aoc are having none of it & think it was a cheat Thekaspervote Mar 2020 #6
In the real world, candidates drop out when they know that they will not be the nominee Gothmog Mar 2020 #7
Kick & recommended. William769 Mar 2020 #8
If Sanders wasn't in the race I think Democrats might well have gotten behind the real progressive LizBeth Mar 2020 #9
That's a real possibility, I believe. NurseJackie Mar 2020 #10
I agree Warren has respect and will be used and Warren will be good with being used, all in. LizBeth Mar 2020 #11
Based on the stimulus packages BidenBacker Mar 2020 #13
But that's not really what socialism means, is it? NurseJackie Mar 2020 #15
You got me, NJ! BidenBacker Mar 2020 #16
I Am Something Of A Socialist Myself, Ma'am The Magistrate Mar 2020 #18
The only reason to appease Bernie TexasTowelie Mar 2020 #22
K&R brer cat Mar 2020 #12
Hell NO.. We Want the Best Candidate to Be POTUS.. Cha Mar 2020 #14
Second the H-E-Double Hockey Sticks NO! onetexan Mar 2020 #19
You're Welcome, onetexan! Cha Mar 2020 #20
Bernie's voters didn't even want come out and vote. n/t zackymilly Mar 2020 #17
The last thing anyone would want in the middle of the coronavirus crisis NCProgressive Mar 2020 #21
The Gauzy Myth of the Sanders Campaign Gothmog Mar 2020 #23
That is perfect. Thank you! NurseJackie Mar 2020 #25
K&R Tarheel_Dem Mar 2020 #27
How 'Never Bernie' Voters Threw In With Biden and Changed the Primary Gothmog Apr 2020 #28
KICK! Cha Apr 2020 #29
Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»Democratic Primaries»It's wasn't a conspiracy ...»Reply #24