When Bernie is in the White House

[RobertEarl]

And congress is still republican.

Will Bernie be able to use his across the board support to get congress to act correctly?

Since Bernie has drawn support from so many small contributors and has engaged a heretofore apathetic mass of voters, will he be able to get those new voters to call congress and demand action?

Or will it take two years of congress diddling themselves before congress is once again solidly Democratic?

I think the politicians will be so surprised by the support Bernie brings to DC, they will come to understand that if they desire to be reelected they had better get with the the new Sanders' program, and will be falling over themselves to act like true statesmen, finally.

Bernie is a real threat to their continuing bastardization of DC.

I predict we will see what we might call "Bernie republicans" taking over that offal party.

[99Forever]

1. I can see it happening.

Senator Sanders has a tidal wave of popular support. The more that hear his policy ideas and learn his history of honestly doing what he says he will, not always winning, but NEVER surrendering before even trying OR selling out like far too many Democrats have. REAL Credibility is running for President this time.

[Katashi_itto]

7. K&R

[hrmjustin]

2. what is a bernie Republican?

[bravenak]

54. A fantasy

[hrmjustin]

56. Unfortunately yes.

[RobertEarl]

3. What is a Bernie republican?

Remember reagan Democrats? They were Democrats that voted for reagan in 1980.

So what I am saying is there will be many a republican voting for Bernie and the tide will have turned.

[Katashi_itto]

6. Its possible

[onenote]

4. If Bernie could be elected while the house remains majority repub

there would be no reason for the repubs to compromise. Why would they?

[zappaman]

5. As always...

[libdem4life]

8. Spelling is just offal, I mean awful. That's the "ham" in the Gee Oh Pee.

Commonly called a Sh## Sandwich.

[RobertEarl]

9. Heh

It's a pun. Was wondering if anyone would comment on that.

Offal being the leftover remains of a carcass, and when Bernie gets done with the gop, that's what will be left of them.

[libdem4life]

10. Ah, yes. Love a good pun...especially when it calls out our favorite opposition.

And hopefully Bernie will get the job done.

[hill2016]

11. if there's gonna be such a big landslide for Bernie

why is he still polling 50% below Clinton?

[RobertEarl]

12. polls mean little right now

Way too early for prediction polls.

But as for us long time political people, the advent of Bernie's ascension on the political landscape is unprecedented and most welcome by real Democrats like ourselves. DU is chock full of activists, and given a fair fight we win.

Bernie is in it to win it. And so are we.

[pangaia]

53. True. It has been a whole week since he announced.

What's the matter with his polling numbers?

[Raine1967]

62. We are still a long way out from Super Tuesday.

It would be unwise for anyone to assume the polls will not change.

Polls are a big part of politics, but not the end sum game. At this point, with three candidates in the race, those polls will change. My personal feeling is never assume anything in politics.

As a Dem, during Primary season work for the person you believe best represent you. Come convention time… vote party. This is the time where we get to set the agenda.

[MineralMan]

13. "When" is not the appropriate word at this point.

At this point, it appears very unlikely that Senator Sanders will even be the nominee, much less get elected. I support him, but am realistically ready to vote for Hillary Clinton in November, 2016.

First, Sanders needs to convince enough Democrats that he can win the general election. If he cannot do that, he will be out of the primaries by Super Tuesday. And that's no mean feat. While his polling results are up after his announcement, we have no idea whether they will continue to rise or not before the first caucuses and primaries. And now, O'Malley has entered the race, to what effect we do not know at this time.

Before saying "When Bernie" anything, we'll need more information that can only be gathered over time. DU does not reflect national electoral sentiment in any way. Polling does a much better job of measuring that. We have a confirmation bias problem on this website. We wish something would be so, and often ignore evidence that it is not so.

I've seen no sign of any "Bernie Republicans" so far. Not a bit of a sign even. That's a figment of your own bias, I believe.

[RobertEarl]

14. Heh

DU is chock full of political activists. Real Democrats who are a fine example of the grassroots of American citizens. I hate that so many discount us on DU. But I guess that is due to a certain bias on their part?

Anyway, DU called, in early 2008, for the 2008 election to not having a Clinton on the general ballot, and by gawd, DU was correct!!

Now 90% of DU is calling that Bernie will be our nominee. And that the activists will be out in force to crush our competition.

Too, many republicans will be voting for Bernie, so many in fact, that I predict we will be calling them Bernie republicans. Bookmark it. Bernie is the real deal.

[FSogol]

15. LOL. Someone broke out the good stuff on this fine Saturday afternoon.

[RobertEarl]

17. Laugh all you want

This is serious business to real activists who care about the future.

Bernie republicans. Bookmark it.

[FSogol]

22. Bernie is one of my fav Senators, but his campaign ends shortly

after Super Tuesday. Sorry.

[RobertEarl]

28. Hahaha

Bernie is gonna surprise the fuck out of a lot of people.

The revolution will not be televised. But come the Wednesday after Super Tuesday, the media is gonna be like;

""WTF? And anti-establishment Democrat won? Get out the long knives, boys. We are in trouble.""

[FSogol]

29. See thread #15 and remember to stay hydrated.

[RobertEarl]

32. You should join the majority of DUers

Latest poll had 90% for Bernie.

I get that makes some feel left out, but they have a choice: Join in or feel all alone.

Too, there is that Bernie wave which is going to wash away the comfort so many have with the "Way things are" and it makes them squirm to imagine they stand on the wrong side of history clutching to the flotsam of the old ways. Young folks just laugh at that crud. Hahahaha

[brooklynite]

64. No, if we're going to trumpet meaningless polls, let's at least go with current ones.....

As of Wednesday, Bernie's support had PLUNGED to 71%.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6735975

[KingCharlemagne]

48. Hillary's may end shortly after Iowa and New Hampshire. South Carolina

will be the final proving ground.

[zappaman]

50. Bookmarked as requested!

[MineralMan]

18. Confirmation bias.

I was on the Obama bandwagon. There were good reasons for that. I believed he could win, because I watched him speak and the effect he had on his audience.

As much as I like Senator Sanders, he does not have that quality in his presentation. He is not Barack Obama. Not even close.

Time will tell its story.

[RobertEarl]

24. It wasn't an Obama band wagon early 2008

It was anti-Clinton, tho.


What Bernie brings is the real deal. Real political change for proper management of the US government. People are fed up with the way things are, and see in Bernie a hope for the future.

[MineralMan]

25. The bandwagon I was on was for Obama.

This is mid 2015. By Super Tuesday, we will know who the candidate will be in November, 2016. Time is short if you want that to be Senator Sanders. Very short.

[BeyondGeography]

30. Totally wrong there, Robert

People were head-over-heels in love with Obama. It was OTT, but fascinating in a once-in-lifetime way. Too bad you missed it.

[RobertEarl]

33. I have a much better memory then, than you?

DU was anti-Clinton, and she lost.

The media was all like: Clinton this and Clinton that, and they were deluded, as they are now.

[daleanime]

60. I actually think that will work in his favor....

people are desperate for some honestly, if Bernie had slicker speeches it would be easier to dismiss him as just another politician. Even republican have to acknowledge that he is exactly what he saids he is. And that is a rarity nowadays.

[MineralMan]

69. Some people are "desperate for some honesty."

Not all. The real issue is how many people are desperate and whether they will vote for Sanders because of that. Perceptions about his chances of winning in the General Election are going to affect many people's decisions. It's not as simple an equation as it might seem. Many people really like Senator Sanders. Not all of them are going to vote for him in the primaries, because they do not believe he can win in November. Many of the same people who like Sanders also believe that Hillary Clinton would do a good job as President. Their decision on how to vote in the primaries may depend on other factors than just Sanders' positions.

Polling will begin to show some real data in time. We'll know more then. Right now, it's all speculation.

[Lilith Rising]

26. 90%? Looks closer to 50-50 to me.

But with O'Malley in now it's sure to change.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

39. I started to do an O'Malley-Sanders poll but stopped because it would be terribly divisive...

I started to do an O'Malley-Sanders poll but stopped because it would be terribly divisive and poison an already poisoned environment here so I didn't...


That being said I don't believe Martin O'Malley has near the support on DU as Bernie Sander does, not even close.

[Lilith Rising]

42. I know nothing about O'Malley myself

but I do see that a few people here are excited about his running and I'm sure I will come to learn more about him.

But for RobertEarl to be claiming that 90% of DU is for Bernie? I just don't see that at all.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

43. IMHO, he is correct...DU is Bernie Sanders Underground.

I would do a poll but God prohibits me from sewing discord among brethren:

These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

BTW, most Democrats are fine by me.

[Lilith Rising]

44. Well, yeah, I guess it is feeling that way

but from what I'm seeing most 'Hillary supporters' would also be fine with Bernie should he gain the nomination. I'm one of those who'd be fine either way although I lean very slightly toward Bernie at the moment - we'll see what he has to say platform-wise about women and poc.

On the other hand it looks to me like most adamant Bernie supporters wouldn't be too happy with Hillary...

[Raine1967]

63. I remember 2008 on DU.

I don't think we have the same memories.

You seem to think it was very nice and peaceful. I do not.
Also, that 90% number you have is a DU poll of only people who voted. I would not be so quick to assume that it is 90% of DU.

I kinda wish I could find a link that says the number of members of DU.

Or the number of people who post on DU.

What that poll said was nothing more than 90% of people who voted in that poll were Sanders supporters. Nothing more or less.


Anyway… happy Saturday night!

[RobertEarl]

67. Two polls now

You should try a third?

I remember early 2008 well. It was anti-Clinton, and Clinton lost. Any poll them would have had at least 3 candidates and Clinton was at the bottom of the three. I knew from reading DU that the media was wrong and the pundits were wrong, and that my friends and fellow activists on DU had it nailed. You should learn to trust DU?

[hifiguy]

16. The interesting question is this

Let's say, for the sake of argument, that Bernie pulls an RFK and taps into some deep currents waiting for their champion and wins the nomination. What are his coattails in the general? I am not saying it would be a repeat of FDR's massive cross-country sweep of 1932 that reduced the Repukes to a sad little rump party but it something worth mulling over.

Some rough beast is awakening in the electorate, I believe. People are tired of bullshit, and Bernie, like the late Paul Wellstone, may have that ability to convince people to vote for him even if they don't agree with all of his positions for one simple reason - they know he is telling the truth and will not bullshit them. It worked for Wellstone so why not for Bernie?

[RobertEarl]

20. You have your finger on the pulse, hifi

The majority of voters are like: "They are all crooks"

Now comes our Bernie, and shows he is not like them. Voters will have a real choice this time, and they will exercise that chance to elect a true statesman.

[hifiguy]

27. I keep thinking of Paul Wellstone.

In 1990 he got the DFL nomination for a Senate seat by default. "No one else wants to run against a rich, well-funded incumbent, well-known Reaganite Repuke, so let that that radical little poli-sci prof run. No way we can we beat Rudy Boschwitz this time around." Wellstone worked his ass off, ran great ads capitalizing on Boschwitz' refusal to debate or even acknowledge him, and he WON. It was one of the biggest upsets in MN political history. He told the truth and stood firm for his beliefs. Sometimes it does work. A post CU world presents an altered scenario, but a voyage of a million miles begins with a single step.

[L0oniX]

45. "They are all crooks" said by all sides. 99% of who I talk to agree with this.

[MineralMan]

23. Paul Wellstone and Bernie Sanders have a lot in common.

Both were successful in their own states in winning statewide elections. I do not believe that Paul Wellstone could ever have been elected as President, though. As much as I respected him and his positions, I do not believe he could win a national election. I'm afraid that Senator Sanders will have the same problem.

Sanders has won in Vermont because of who he is. There are 50 states in this country. Not all of them would have elected Sanders to the Senate, by a long shot. Vermont is Vermont. It is unique in its politics. I don't think that uniqueness is shared anywhere else in this country, frankly.

I would love to be able to vote for Bernie Sanders in November, 2016. I doubt I will have that chance, though. The nation is too large and too diverse for him to win. That's my best opinion.

So, I'm preparing to vote for and campaign for someone else in the general election, despite my pledge to caucus for Bernie in Minnesota on March 1. That's why you will never see me joining in any attacks on Hillary Clinton. You won't see Bernie Sanders doing that, either. He knows that it's almost certain that he'll be endorsing her in 2016.

[RobertEarl]

36. Interesting

What is it about Bernie that makes you pledge to caucus for Bernie?

[MineralMan]

47. I like his positions on everything.

How's that? You don't know me at all. Don't presume to think you know my positions.

[RobertEarl]

49. Good answer!!

I don't presume to know your positions, that's why I asked.

Yeah, Bernie's positions are good, strong, Democratic Party positions. That's why I have faith he can and will win our nomination.

[Tanuki]

19. .....

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[tritsofme]

21. I bet you would write some very interesting political fiction/counterfactual histories

Counterfactual history is some of my favorite writing.

[uponit7771]

31. NOOOOO

[RobertEarl]

34. YESSSSSS

Bernie republicans will become a household term. Bookmark it.

[uponit7771]

37. Why would republicans act any different than they did with Obama? They've overly gerrymandered

... disctricts and serve no recourse for votes against their constituants best intereresrt

[RobertEarl]

38. Because they want the US to be great again?

And get rid of crooks from the government?

Heh, I knew republicans who voted for Obama. This time, there will be millions more voting for Bernie. Bookmark it.

[uponit7771]

40. The US Is great, they want the US to be great their way and that has failed over and over

... and they could care less about crooks or child molesters.

We're not talking about people voting for Bernie we're talking about Republicans in congress, they could care less about what their consituents want...

Koch Brothers pay their bills...

There's no need for republicans in congress to act in the best interest of Americans

as they have done

[L0oniX]

46. The oligarchs want to keep a politically divided US.

[RobertEarl]

55. Yes they do

And now we have a candidate that will bring together voters and eliminate that manufactured divide.

[daleanime]

61. It's the only way they can maintain control....

[zappaman]

52. Bookmarked as requested.

Up to four now!

[zappaman]

51. Bookmarked as requested!

[orpupilofnature57]

35. A person all but misanthropes can trust, Imagine .

[treestar]

41. OMG you mean he has power to convince

third wayers, centrists and Republicans too now? Why hasn't he done this already then? He should have run in 2000.

LOL is Obama didn't have that ability Bernie doesn't.

[fadedrose]

57. If Bernie can win the nomination

AND the election, it is a sign that the American public has said, "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH," something that Bernie has said often.

Congress will not go too far out of its way to defend old practices if they realize that their jobs depend on the electorate, not the banks.

Winning elections is one thing, but winning the hearts of a majority of the people is quite another . . .and I think he can do it.

In all fairness, my first choice was VP Biden, but Bernie is just as good in a different way, and am proud to be a supporter of his.

.

[MohRokTah]

58. When Bernie is in the White House

He will be visitng Hillary to discuss economic policy issues.

Or to accept a position in the cabinet.

[Kalidurga]

59. It will take two years of congress diddling themselves before congress...

is once again solidly Democratic. They will fight as if their life depends on ruining the lives of the poor, ruining the environment, and killing the economy. There will be Bernie Republicans only because the Republican party has come out in favor of rapists, child molesters, legislating women's right to choose away, and they protect killer cops. Moderate Republicans those who favor social justice while at the same time speak against economic justice will vote for Bernie. I think as soon as he is elected they will turn their backs on him and go back to playing with their buddies because Bernie Republicans still love to punish the poor.

When Democrats take back congress the last of the offal party will fight even harder as a result they will become even more toxic. They will be so verbose and ugly that even the most hard core conservative Republican will think they might be insane. They will only have about 28% support even among their own constituents. We are going to see a lot more ugly before that offal party dies. I agree with you on the point that Bernie Republicans will help kill the party. But, I don't believe they will do it willingly it will be with a big grudge and only because they don't want to be seen as standing with the worst elements of society as enumerated above.

PS

I like your version better, but I have never seen anything like that happen in conservative history.

[RobertEarl]

66. This is a new day and time

Bernie getting elected will mean a huge wave of people, pushing. It will not be money that gets him elected. Obama had quite the wave but he didn't surf it well, not with his actions, his appointments, and his failure to keep the wave going. But it was going.

Bernie is the second wave and he's the real deal this time. He takes on the PTB and tells them what's going down, and what's going down is the PTB.

Anyway, let's face it: If Bernie doesn't happen and the mass of republican voters don't shift, big, the PTB is just gonna keep rolling along and another bush type will be in power.

So, yeah, I'm calling for an historic shift. Historic because that's what it's gonna take to change course. I'm in. Let's ride the wave.

[Kalidurga]

68. I read a study that links people's names with wealth

The names go back thousands of years. I could look it up, but it's fairly obvious money stays in families for at least hundreds of years, thousands isn't a leap for me. So, if what is going on is pushing against thousands of years of oppression, I say bring it.

[hill2016]

65. it will be because

the Clintons will be giving him the tour. "This place has hardly changed since we last lived here!"

[Orsino]

70. That rather depends on us.

Yes, a President Bernie would face the most epically corrupt Congress and Supreme Court in history.

However, he wouldn't be facing them alone. The successful propagation of his message ought to resonate with an awful lot of us who have lived through yet another placeholder Administration that despite its good accomplishments, failed to move much on the biggest issues.

If and when Sen. Sanders is sworn in as president, will we by then finally have had enough of the obstructionist, feudalist agenda? Will we join him in demanding more from Congress? We're running dangerously short on time to effect the change we need.

When Bernie is in the White House, will enough of us finally be ready to join him?