Bernie Sanders lays the trap for The Koch Brothers and the Republican Party

[virtualobserver]

The standard argument against Bernie is that the Republicans and the Koch's will run wall to wall ads that chant "Socialist" and Bernie will be annihilated.....

That is flawed thinking.

You've heard the phrase "There is no such thing as bad publicity"

The problem with Republicans calling attention to Bernie's "Socialism" is that Bernie's actual views are far more popular with the American people......their ads will portray him as dangerous and scary but when you actually see Bernie speak he comes across as truthful and authentic.....so the ads will draw attention to Bernie, and then backfire on the RW.

Secondly, the wall to wall ads themselves, which are paid for by Billionaires, illustrate the very point of Bernie's campaign....

they play into his hands with that strategy.

Bernie's unwillingness to run negative ads means that the RW has ceded him the high ground.
He will pound away at this contrast. He will say that his campaign is focused on the issues.

Bernie will soon turn modern politics on its head. He will turn the RW ads into an anchor around their necks.

[daleanime]

1. Yeahup.....

[cantbeserious]

2. So True - No Citizen Need Settle For The Lesser Of Two Corporate Evils - Go Bernie Go

eom

[dixiegrrrrl]

23. You created a great bumper sticker there.

No Citizen Need Settle For The Lesser Of Two Corporate Evils - Go Bernie!

anyone here into making stickers?????

[SheilaT]

31. Try

www.makestickers.com

I've used them and have been very happy with the results.

[upaloopa]

3. There won't be adds by the Kochs against Bernie. Why do you think the media is attacking Hillary

and not Bernie? Because the race is between Hillary and the repubs not Hillary and Sanders.

[virtualobserver]

4. we will see

[leftofcool]

8. The GOP could care less about Bernie, neither could the Koch Bros.

It is Hillary they have to beat and they know it.

[virtualobserver]

10. they will care in time

Last edited Sat Sep 26, 2015, 06:22 PM - Edit history (1)

[Plucketeer]

28. The fact that they DO care

is reflected in their ABSOLUTE boycott of his name or campaign. THEY want Hillary to run against. Hillary and her immense baggage is what they prefer to have to deal with.

[99th_Monkey]

35. +10 n/t

[MrMickeysMom]

45. And with your response, all of a sudden the argument falls...

_______________________________________________FLAT________

[Plucketeer]

58. I keep straining to hear

and as of yet, I've not heard the utterance: "Bernie" OR "Sanders" cross Trumps or any other GOPer's lips. Acknowledging him would empower him. And they're scared to death of Bernie.

[tecelote]

73. Exactly. Plus, Hillary is owned by the same corporate sponsors

Other than maybe the Koch's. But Hillary is status quo. She is their choice and they expect to buy her for us.

[peacebird]

126. Goldman Sux CEO has said he gives $ to Jeb! & Hillary, & would be happy w either as prez

[wendylaroux]

104. Absolutely nt

[Bohemianwriter]

118. So where is the populist uprising for Hillary then?

And why do you not address the dirty campaign she ran against Obama in 2008 and what her Super PAC from Media Matters just recently then?
Why do you think that the corporate media has practically banned him from coverage and focus only on Benghazi? Because they think that a media blackout will destroy him.
And now your dictators at DNC is trying to ban Lawrence Lessig from the debates as well.


So tell us, what makes you support a corporate liar who plays dirty?

[roguevalley]

14. we have our own media now.

[PatrickforO]

19. If Bernie is the Democratic nominee, the Kochs will care about him a lot.

[kenfrequed]

22. Hillary is the candidate they want to fight

They know she can't run as strongly on campaign finance reform or for the populist opposition to Wallstreet or the banks. They also have all of their crazies all wound up about how terrible Hillary is based on absolute bullshit conspiracy nonsense. They want to run against her because she turns out their base while not inspiring the progressive base as much.

Bernie is a nightmare candidate to them. He draws significant republican voters in Vermont and he is to the left of the democratic party on most issues.

[pocoloco]

26. No brainer!

Hillary is the right wing wet dream!!

[hifiguy]

69. And there is NO Democrat that would mobilize the

mouth-breather Repig base like HRH. They are dying to run against her, Clinton fatigue and the battalion of skeletons in her closet.

[LiberalArkie]

37. And if HRC wins, the Koch brothers still win. The 1% can't loose if it is HRC vs Republican.

[senz]

56. +100 Sad but true.

[RBInMaine]

92. To say Hillary is akin to the Republicans is ridiculous hyperbole and sheer non-reality.

[Alittleliberal]

111. That is not what was said

But you know that.

[GoneFishin]

93. Indeed. Republican vs. Republican Lite. The Kochs couldn't lose that race if they tried.

[Baadger]

65. Political intrigue at its best

Better than House of Cards

[Gothmog]

106. The National Review is encouraging its readers to contribute to Sanders

The idiots at the National Review are now urging conservatives to support Bernie Sanders http://www.nationalreview.com/article/420262/bernie-sanders-republicans-myra-adams

Support Bernie Sanders!

This is a call to action for every Republican anxious to win back the White House in 2016. Bernie Sanders, the socialist U.S. senator from Vermont, is now surging in his quest to win the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination. He is attracting media attention and large crowds, and is invigorated by a New Hampshire–primary poll showing him only 10 points behind frontrunner Hillary Clinton.

After a GOP power player sent me a piece from left-leaning Salon headlined “Hillary Clinton is going to lose: She doesn’t even see the frustrated progressive wave that will nominate Bernie Sanders,” my heart went pitter-patter, beginning to sense an opportunity. But it was not until I saw a headline in The Hill warning that the “Sanders surge is becoming a bigger problem for Clinton,” accompanied by “It may be time for Hillary Clinton to take the challenge from Sen. Bernie Sanders more seriously,” that I was truly motivated to join Team Bernie and rally my fellow Republicans to do the same.

Read more at: http://www.nationalreview.com/article/420262/bernie-sanders-republicans-myra-adams

The GOP is urging people to support sanders because the conservatives know that they can not beat Hillary Clinton. The author of this article actually made a contribution to Sanders.

[pinebox]

32. No it's not

Riddle me this, why is Sanders getting support from Republican voters? They've helped elect him in VT and he's current tied for 1st with Republican voters.

Also, they've been attacking Sanders.
I guess you missed this didn't you & how they attacked Bernie during the GOP debates on CNN.
http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/17/politics/republican-debate-bernie-sanders/

Hillary is falling in polls and she's hit her ceiling. She's a candidate with 99% name recognition who people see unfavorable. Sanders? His name recognition is at 33%, he hasn't hit his ceiling and people generally like the guy. Welcome to the pride where only the strong survive. The debates will be Hillary's downfall and undoing as she's painted in the same light as George W Bush.

[ish of the hammer]

39. You wish!

why consider a Corporate Democrat when there is a REAL progressive?

GO BERNIE GO !!!!!!!!

[Gman]

5. 50 years ago, or even 30 years ago

That would make his campaign a non-starter. The WWII generation is all but gone. It's a new century and being a socialist is not a bad rap. Many are open to listening to the ideas rather than the tag.

[virtualobserver]

9. The Hillary strategists and some in the media are still partying like it's 1992

[Gman]

15. If Hillary strategists intend to make this a cornerstone

of their strategy it's a mistake. There are other strategies that could, in fact, embrace or even coop Sanders' message. Of course that opens an opportunity for Sanders to claim credit for pushing the conversation in that direction.

Although I don't support Sanders at this time, I like to look at the campaigns from an "Inside Baseball" perspective.

[kenfrequed]

27. There are only a few arguments they can try to make:

1) Electability:
The Hillary camp would have to somehow prove that Bernie is less electable than any of the rejects bouncing around the republican clown car. Unfortunately for them electoral math doesn't support that thesis. The republican craziness has resulted in a fair number of states moving further and further out of their grasp. Ironically, their own gerrymandering overreach has resulted in a republican party that appears utterly insane and while individual districts can be rigged within states to try to capture congress, it actually invigorates democratic voters to show up to oppose them on the state level.

Add to this the fact that Bernie's negatives are way lower in the swing states and that means he can compete for those more easily since he doesn't have the baggage to overcome.

2) "But he's too old"
There is no easy way for them to bring this up without sounding like jerks. So Hillary is going to continue to do talk shows and little media plugs in pop culture. Anything that looks vaguely young and vital. The problem with this is that primary voters tend to be a bit stodgier. Splitting the difference between the politically astute and entertainment would be Colbert or John Stewart. Going on Ellen doesn't excite a lot of primary voters.

As the campaign heats up I am sure the surrogates are going to have to get their hands dirty with Sander's age somehow but political professionals seem to be a pretty aged crew so this one is going to be hard to hit without blowback.

3) "But he's a socialist"
This has already been tried and it hasn't actually been effective. Since McCaster (and others) dropped that into their talking points about Bernie during interviews Bernie's numbers have gone up. So... that isn't going to work during primary season. It probably won't even work well in the generals for the republicans as to them everyone is a socialist.

4) General misrepresentations
Again, this has already been tried on a variety of fronts. Most of it fairly obvious and actually kind of disgusting. The problem with these tactics is that Democrats do not forgive the use of them during the primary. If a candidate wins by using them it actually will diminish turnout int he general election. With Republicans you can make any bizarre accusation of your primary opponent you like and after the election it all goes away. Bush's surrogate attacks on McCain's child come to mind.

5) Induce boredom?
If you could get enough people to be literally bored of policy talk then maybe people would just tune out until the general election. Trying to make politics as sporadic, rare, and unexciting as possible could make people not think of the race at all. The problem is that the massive clown car will not allow this to happen. Maybe it would have been possible if Trump wasn't in the race at all but his being king clown all but guarantees attention to it and makes a lot of democrats ask "where are our debates."

[Gothmog]

107. Exactly how will Sanders compete in a general election contest?

Some candidates are better able to raise the funds necessary to complete. President Obama blew everyone away in 2008 with his small donor fundraising efforts and that made it clear that he was electable. Jeb is trying to do the same on the GOP side with his $100 million super pac.

There are many on this board who doubt that Sanders will be able to compete in a general election contest where the Kochs will be spending $887 million and the RNC candidate will likely spend another billion. This article had a very interesting quote about the role of super pacs in the upcoming election http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jul/03/bernie-sanders-grassroots-movement-gains-clinton-machine

Harvard University professor Lawrence Lessig, who founded a Super Pac to end Super Pacs, said Sanders’ renouncing Super Pacs is tantamount to “bringing a knife to a gunfight”.

“I regret the fact the Bernie Sanders has embraced the idea that he’s going to live life like the Vermont snow, as pure as he possibly can, while he runs for president, because it weakens his chances – and he’s an enormously important progressive voice,” Lessig said.

President Obama was against super pacs in 2012 but had to use one to keep the race close. I do not like super pacs but any Democratic candidate who wants to be viable has to use a super pac, The super pacs associated with Clinton raised $24 million and so Clinton raised $70 this quarter.

[kenfrequed]

123. The public's opposition to big money cannot be bought off.

I don't think that is a good argument because Sanders has been gaining on Hillary despite spending far, far less money than she has. Her campaign warchest has gone to an unending pile of professional campaign strategists that seem to be helping to destroy her by thinking of clever ways of saying as little as possible.

His campaign is actually the best possible response to anyone claiming he can't win because of money. Also it is ironic that Lessig is critiquing Sander's on this as Lessig recently announced his own intention to run for president based solely on campaign finance as an issue as he has claimed that Bernie isn't standing strongly enough against SuperPACS. Basically Lessig is for taking money so he can end the practice of taking massive amounts of money in the first year of his first term.

[Gothmog]

124. So the Sander campaign would not be viable in a general election contest

I live in the real world and the consequences of losing the 2016 race are too high to ignore the real world. I do not believe that Sanders would be able to compete in a general election contest and your posts admits this. If the Democrats nominate a candidate who has no chance of winning the general election, the the GOP will be in control of all three branches of the government. The next president will get to nominate three or four SCOTUS justices who will control the direction of the SCOTUS for the next generation.

[kenfrequed]

125. I also live in the real world

And I find that Democrats don't just "decide" to vote republican because a republican spent more money on their campaign.

Also in the real world it should be noted that Hillary has high negatives in a number of key swing states. I suppose all that campaign money might somehow magically cancel that.

I would also point out that Bernie has a history of being able to attract a lot of people that don't traditionally vote Democratic in his home state. I don't know that this would necessarily translate nationally, but many people that hear him speaking plainly about economic issues do seem to be getting excited about it.

Conversely, Hillary seems to be very good at turning out the base of the opposition party. It is usually a Terrible idea to run a candidate that turns out their opposition's base more than their own.

Your arguments seem to be less about "electability" and more about fear of the results of a republican taking office which doesn't speak to Hillary being more electable than Bernie. The only argument you used cites campaign finance and you used a quote from Lessig to get there which doesn't actually improve your argument.

I would further ask, is there a single candidate in the GOP clown car that you think could sweep the elections at this point?

[Gothmog]

127. Again, I live in the real world

Sanders is polling poorly among many groups who make up the base in part because noone really believes that he is viable. For Sanders to get the nomination, he needs to show that he is viable. Your post does nothing to demonstrate any viablity for Sanders in a general election.

I am not the only one who thinks that Sanders lack of viability will hurt him in running for the Democratic nomination. For example, African American voters are concerned about electability http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/09/bernie_sanders_presidential_campaign_what_would_it_take_for_the_vermont.html

. For as much as black Americans might like his policy positions—which fit their enthusiasm for a stronger safety net—they’re also strategic voters, not ideological stalwarts. Electability is key, and as a consequence, they tend to back the establishment choice: Al Gore over Bill Bradley; John Kerry over John Edwards. On occasion, blacks will back a factional candidate, like Jesse Jackson in 1984 and 1988. But Jackson had the reverse problem—he couldn’t win enough whites.

Again, Sanders would have a stronger campaign if someone could provide a good explanation as to viability

[hifiguy]

70. The political instincts of HRH and all her brain wizards

seem to be frozen somewhere around 1996. They're following the same failed strategy that sank in '08. And it will fail again. People are sick to death of the status quo and HRH is nothing if not the embodiment of the status quo.

[LWolf]

6. He'll sure as hell

pick up more R and I and 3rd party votes than HRC...he already has more support from those groups than she'll ever have.

[Salviati]

7. Plus, we've heard nothing but the fact that Obama is a socialist for the past 8 years...

I think they've already destroyed the effectiveness of the word as an attack.

[virtualobserver]

11. all too true.....the RW cried wolf for too many years

[A Simple Game]

17. And 9-11 changed the boogie man from socialist/communist to terrorist.

Republicans even admire Putin to the point of wishing our President was more like him.

[senz]

59. True.

And yes Republicans do love a big, stwong, authoritarian MAN like Putin. They want daddy to beat up on all the gays, feminists, and rebels.

Bernie's more like the wise, lovable grandpa we all wish we had. So much easier to trust. And he doesn't talk down to us, either.

[Le Taz Hot]

12. Excellent points.

And a side note about the TV ads: Everyone hates them. I've heard people say that having endless ads for a particular candidate caused them to vote for the other guy.

Really good analysis.

[virtualobserver]

75. Commercials are what DVR's are made for, so you can fast forward past them.

The people who don't have DVR's will be in the kitchen making a sandwich.

[greenman3610]

13. Look for ads with a star of David laid over

a hammer and sickle.

they know their base

[Rosa Luxemburg]

78. David will slay Goliath

[Scuba]

16. The "socialist" smear didn't work with Obama. In fact, it's been a failed tactic for decades ...

[AC_Mem]

29. This is awesome.

They were wrong then and they are wrong now!

This would make an awesome ad!

Where are our Democratic representatives? Why aren't they out there fighting against this BS on our behalf?

I donated big time in the last two elections in the form of constant small donations. If I don't see them actually speak up, my purse stays shut.

I hope someone in Washington is paying attention. I am part of the millions that donated like this for our President Obama.

[in_cog_ni_to]

53. I stopped donating to the DNC/DCCC years ago because THEY stopped representing ME and MY values.

Instead, I donate ONLY directly to my candidates of choice. Then I know the money is going to be used for issues important to me.

Donating to the DNC these days means that money is actually used AGAINST me and is used to represent the establishment party. No thank you.

My money goes to Bernie and only Bernie.

[Scuba]

96. /\_/\_This right here_/\_/\

[arlington.mass]

122. I just made my first ever political donation! I'm feelin' the Bern!

Bring back boring banking! My favorite line...

[Eric J in MN]

18. In 2004, there were wall-to-wall Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ads

...paid for by rich people. The TV ads called attention to John Kerry's military service and said that he lied about his service.

The ads hurt Kerry.

[RBInMaine]

90. Hurt him bigtime. Imagine ads with the D nominee declaring himself a socialist. BLOODBATH !

[eridani]

115. In 2004 there was no such thing as Facebook or Twitter

If there had been, Kerry could have fought back more effectively. And the Dean Scream would have been shot down by hundreds of videos showing exactly what happened.

[DanTex]

20. Yes, the all powerful Bernie. Snaps his fingers and suddenly Americans will love socialism.

Wonder why he hasn't used any of his magical powers to accomplish anything of note during the last forty years?

[leftofcool]

24. Does make one wonder.

[truebluegreen]

48. Do you guys realize you are basically talking to yourselves?

I wonder why that is.

[leftofcool]

54. And your point?

[Fairgo]

95. Plato's allegory

If all one knows of the truth is its shadow, one cannot enlighten those who stand in daylight. A discourse in shadows is only of interest to fellow prisoners in the cave.

[truebluegreen]

119. Well said! to you both.

[pinebox]

33. You mean like

Co-founding the Congressional Progressive Caucus?
Nice try. Game over.

[DanTex]

34. And what a radical change in American political history that was...

[pinebox]

61. And?

Yet you said he did nothing and I just proved you wrong. See how that works

[LiberalArkie]

40. Of course I am sure that HRC introduced more bills and passed more in her time but

Here is the listing of around 6,000 house and senate bills introduced by that slacker Bernard Sanders.

https://www.congress.gov/member/bernard-sanders/S000033

[beam me up scottie]

46. +1

They just had to crap all over this thread.

[cui bono]

62. Wow. Someone is quite bitter.

Why do you hate Bernie so much? What's wrong with his record?

Too much speaking truth to power? Too much marching for civil rights? Too much fighting for women's rights? Too open to the LGBT community?

Hm... wonder what it could be...

[DanTex]

97. Huh? I like Bernie, always have. His record is great. Only problem is, he can't beat the GOP.

[eridani]

116. Clinton can't beat the GOP becuase whe has no appeal to the 63% n/t

[HooptieWagon]

21. The 1950s called....

They want their red-baiting back.

[Android3.14]

25. This is a good argument and scenario. Thanks

We've a few doom-and-gloomers with little common sense who are beating the drum for Hillary "Veruca" Clinton as if we wouldn't elect a democratic socialist to the White House in the same century we elected a black man.

&list=RDkVVRD-nw_J0&index=3

[jwirr]

30. I agree. If there are anythings the American people hate

most it is BIG corporate money in politics and dirty tricks. And that is all they have when they try to fight Bernie.

They are asking us what can Bernie get done. Well lets start with the tone of politics in general. He is already calling us to use the high road.

Another thing he is already changing is the way we do politics in media. When the MSM refuses to report the news and instead becomes the news Bernie and especially his supporters move to a newer venue - the internet. And we are doing it very successfully.

[sabrina 1]

36. It's not just Republicans! Your point is correct though, it all shows the corruption that Bernie's

campaign is all about. So we can USE these examples bought and paid for the Dark money that has controlled our elections, to demonstrate what Bernie is talking about.

And it's already been done very effectively when Brock's old dirty trick backfired so spectacularly as thousands of decent people wanting to rid out electoral system of exactly that kind of nasty, deceptive garbage, used it to benefit Bernie.

These are different times, the old smearmongers, like Brock, can't understand why their garbage is failing so completely. So entrenched in the money, they just don't get that the people are now far more aware of where all this is coming from and are rejecting it completely.

Polls now show that a #1 issue for voters is the money in politics.

[virtualobserver]

74. I didn't mention Hillary because she is completely boxed in by Bernie's no-attack strategy

I could be wrong, but I am expecting a seismic shift in the polls with the first two debates.

[99th_Monkey]

38. Yes indeed. Bernie's turning the conventional 'electability' calculus (money, money money) on its head

Pretty much everyone assumed that, esp. given Citizens United, that this election would be ALL
about having huge campaign coffers, paid for by Wall St., Monsanto, and the like. And it probably
would have been that way, but Bernie is going to We the People, and saying "enough is enough",
and voters LOVE that, and send him $31, because they want their democracy back.

GO BERNIE!!!

[Milliesmom]

41. I'm proud to be a Democratic Socialist

If you all believe and agree with Bernie then your all Democratic Socialists, so let everyone know and soon the words "Democratic Socialist" will become so common the media will not even notice.


http://www.dsausa.org/

[certainot]

42. so what about assassination jokes on radio that the left ignores?

the dems and left have continued to ignore the fact that talk radio is FREE advertising 24/7 for them and they're going to be telling stories and lies. it's more about that than the money difference and what that buys the right..

the rw ads have to stick to higher standards because they are evidence. talk radio is invisible to the left and that's why we're in this shit to begin with.

it's a lot more than "he's a socialist". by ignoring rw radio the left enables the right to say and do anything.

here's michael savage, from a diary i posted a week or so ago:

These were cut from two 20 minute segments I recorded. There was more.

BERNIE SANDERS IS A

Schmuck

Liberalism is a mental disorder, Bernie’s an eg of someone who’s on medication, well he’s on medication obviously in my opinion he should be on severe thorazine in a bug house

He’s a retrovirus, not only a carrier of the marxist virus but he’s actually an infection himself

Schmuck, a lowlife of the lowest order a brooklyn commie, i know the type.... if they were a teacher they’d get fired for sleeping with a student

I knew the type, the grandfather stood on the corner of union square on a soapbox screaming about the wonders of communism even though he fled russia

Schmuck

(Bernie supporters) millennials, morons lived in their parents basement until yesterday

The clinton machine will not let him get there- it will be a pullonium bagel or an exploding knish, there’ll be an accident, a little advice for bernie- don’t jog in marcy park (repeated).

Liberty university- why would they let this schmuck speak there? let this anti christian communist speak there?

What does that mean raised in a jewish family, non observant? he was a communist descended from jews!

Let him sell body parts, lunatic, too stupid to invest wisely

We're overrun by mexicans and syrians and this schmuck’s talking about income inequality

Steeped in marxism right down to the dirty suit, died in the wool loser, at least he’s not wearing a pantsuit, now if he came out in a pink pantsuit i’d say he has a better chance at the crossover vote

If he won i’d leave the country

Inarticulate lowlife, bad health, lifetime of mariajuana, bad red wine, tofu, probably enlarged breasts from the tofu, emaciated mentally and physically, can’t he get a hair cut? the breath on this guy, halitosis

I want to ridicule him, i want to tear him apart like a cat with a mouse, i’d invite him on the show anytime he wants,

Moron moron moron sick

Bernie's invited on the savage nation

[Fumesucker]

117. Not all of us are ignoring talk radio

I posted a practical guide by a radio insider on how to hurt Rush (and others) on DU back in 2012 and it got over 240 recs.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002374653

[certainot]

121. i rec'd that one! generally speaking it is ignored and considering

the success of stoprush et al it's a shame there isn't more such activity.

it needs the work of one or more larger orgs devoting resources to it - protests, getting universities to separate from it, recording and transcribing the main talkers in every state so they can be searched for memes, patterns, coordination, lies about dem candidates, etc.

[certainot]

43. so what about assassination jokes on radio that the left ignores?

the dems and left have continued to ignore the fact that talk radio is FREE advertising 24/7 for them and they're going to be telling stories and lies. it's more about that than the money difference and what that buys the right..

the rw ads have to stick to higher standards because they are evidence. talk radio is invisible to the left and that's why we're in this shit to begin with.

it's a lot more than "he's a socialist". by ignoring rw radio the left enables the right to say and do anything.

here's michael savage, from a diary i posted a week or so ago:

These were cut from two 20 minute segments I recorded. There was more.

BERNIE SANDERS IS A

Schmuck

Liberalism is a mental disorder, Bernie’s an eg of someone who’s on medication, well he’s on medication obviously in my opinion he should be on severe thorazine in a bug house

He’s a retrovirus, not only a carrier of the marxist virus but he’s actually an infection himself

Schmuck, a lowlife of the lowest order a brooklyn commie, i know the type.... if they were a teacher they’d get fired for sleeping with a student

I knew the type, the grandfather stood on the corner of union square on a soapbox screaming about the wonders of communism even though he fled russia

Schmuck

(Bernie supporters) millennials, morons lived in their parents basement until yesterday

The clinton machine will not let him get there- it will be a pullonium bagel or an exploding knish, there’ll be an accident, a little advice for bernie- don’t jog in marcy park (repeated).

Liberty university- why would they let this schmuck speak there? let this anti christian communist speak there?

What does that mean raised in a jewish family, non observant? he was a communist descended from jews!

Let him sell body parts, lunatic, too stupid to invest wisely

We're overrun by mexicans and syrians and this schmuck’s talking about income inequality

Steeped in marxism right down to the dirty suit, died in the wool loser, at least he’s not wearing a pantsuit, now if he came out in a pink pantsuit i’d say he has a better chance at the crossover vote

If he won i’d leave the country

Inarticulate lowlife, bad health, lifetime of mariajuana, bad red wine, tofu, probably enlarged breasts from the tofu, emaciated mentally and physically, can’t he get a hair cut? the breath on this guy, halitosis

I want to ridicule him, i want to tear him apart like a cat with a mouse, i’d invite him on the show anytime he wants,

Moron moron moron sick

Bernie's invited on the savage nation

[Cheese Sandwich]

44. Claire McCaskill has been team Bernie's MVP this season because her lame socialism attack backfired

Strong assist from Mark Halperin in that interview though for asking followup questions.

[Enthusiast]

47. Kicked and recommended!

[JDPriestly]

49. Precisely. Checkmate. I''m sick of negative ads.

And they have dredged up all the embarrassing moments of his youth already. I'm sure we will soon be fully informed about just why his first wife left him, was that back in the 1960s?

And then we will look at Jane and like what we see and be done with that bit of gossip.

One of the reasons I back Bernie is his promise not to do negative ads. I'm so sick of that stuff.

We have already watched Bernie supporters respond to the Hillary surrogates' first attempt at it.

History is history. It is fair to look at how a person voted ( or what bills her husband signed and why and what he said when he did it), but it is not fair to exaggerate and make up stories and focus on personal foibles.

And the American people hate unfairness. That's one of the things that characterizes us as a people.

"Berrnie will soon turn modern politics on its head."

Bernie has been talking to real Americans at his Friday Brunch with Bernie show for years now. And that is how he knows that the proposals he is making are what Americans want.

Feel the Bern!

Finally a politician who really wants to serve the people and not just be served by the people.

[Babel_17]

50. Reagan was a movie actor turned politician

People look at the bigger picture. Truman was a tailor, Trump a self promoting ... self promoter, Eisenhower was a General, Lincoln was a trial lawyer.

They become politicians and they get a chance to engage with the public. The public will be the judge and jury for Senator Sanders and I think his platform, his record, his honesty, and his zeal for delivering a positive change for the 99%, are going to be the real issues in people's minds.

[beam me up scottie]

51. You're already 4th from the top of the greatest, let's keep this kicked!

[joanbarnes]

52. Love your analysis! Hope to see it play out this way.

[senz]

55. Socialism's time as a scare word is over.

During the Cold War it was the worst; it conflated easily with "Communism," and few dared challenge the conflation. Then the Soviet Union fell and the Cold War became history. And new babies were born, the Millennials. They don't remember the Cold War. But if you look at Bernie's crowds, there are thousands of Millennials for whom his message of government of by and for the people makes very good sense.

It took years and years to make "socialism" scary, and the scare-meisters don't have years and years to build it up again. Plus, we have several very successful democratic socialist countries in northern Europe and Scandinavia to serve as examples of what Bernie is talking about.

The people who say a democratic socialist can't win are primarily the ones who still remember Cold War propaganda. Plus some of their children who haven't yet started thinking for themselves.

Another thing they'll try to use against him is his absence of religiosity. But as we saw with Liberty U., even younger evangelicals can recognize a highly moral man who stresses the themes most spoken by Jesus.

The establishment was not ready for Bernie.

[Walk away]

57. I haven't heard anyone mention Bernie at all (except for his supporters)

Please post a link to anyone's negative ad about Bernie! Or even a statement from a republican candidate or super pac that wasn't just a "throw away" line.

Better yet! Post a link to a negative ad from Hillary's campaign or an attack by Hillary.

I don't think it's a conspiracy of silence either. I think it's just silence.

[Hortensis]

63. Yes, mostly ignorance is yielding a "just silence."

A lot could happen October - February. Five months, with the first debate in 2 weeks.

BTW, they ARE constantly googling for every mention and bringing them back here to tear into. Postitives are greeted as joyful proof that he's pummeling HRC, but the outraged negatives fests run far longer.

Interestingly, there's little talk of an actual potential Bernie presidency so far.

[cui bono]

60. The other problem with the "socialist" meme, which is also used by Clinton supporters

in a 'concerned' manner, is that it has already been tried unsuccessfully against Obama.

The people it is aimed at have no idea what it means anyway, so saying well, Bernie calls himself a socialist, which is another untrue meme since he calls himself a democratic socialist, doesn't make any difference. It's only going to reach the idiots who had signs that said "keep your govt out of my medicare".

[Walk away]

67. I have no problem with Socialism but Bernie has called himself a Socialist.

A Democratic Socialist is simply someone advocating Socialism that is arrived at by democratic election. There are all different ways of arriving at a socialistic system. Democratically electing one is just one way. However, it is important that the American people understand what it is they are voting for.

It is socialism when they vote for Bernie Sanders. If you aren't proud of it and able to deal with it, then it says a lot about the kind of campaign Bernie and his supporters are intending to run.

[calikid]

64. Ssshhhhh, don't give away the secrets.

[virtualobserver]

71. we are perfectly safe.....they won't believe any of this until it actually happens

..they won't believe any of this until it actually happens

[hifiguy]

68. I would bet something substantial

that the Sanders braintrust has already figured this out. There are some black belts in political jiu-jitsu in his camp.

[virtualobserver]

72. Yes, Bernie and his team clearly understand that.

He never gets defensive about anything. He just laughs at attacks and criticisms.

He defends by exposing the negative root of the attack, rather than the flimsy attack itself.

[Gothmog]

77. What signature bills has Sanders passed

If Sanders is a master of political jiu-jitsu, then why have no member of congress endorsed him?

[Gothmog]

76. That plan is so flawed that it is sad

In the real world, real campaigns and real political operations conduct something that is called polling. Polling helps real campaigns refine their message and avoid traps. I know that the Sanders campaign considers polling to be a waste of time and money which worries me as to whether Sanders is a viable candidate.

In the real world, polling shows that the strategy in the OP is doomed to failure. The polling on the terms 'socialism" and "socialist" is really bad already
From Pew http://www.pewresearch.org/daily-number/little-change-in-publics-response-to-capitalism-socialism/

The word ‘socialism’ triggers a negative reaction for most Americans, but certainly not for all. Six-in-ten (60%) people say they have a negative reaction to the word, while just 31% have a positive reaction. Those numbers are little changed from April 2010....

By contrast, socialism is a far more divisive word, with wide differences of opinion along racial, generational, socioeconomic and political lines. Fully nine-in-ten conservative Republicans (90%) view socialism negatively, while nearly six-in-ten liberal Democrats (59%) react positively. Low-income Americans are twice as likely as higher-income Americans to offer a positive assessment of socialism (43% among those with incomes under $30,000, 22% among those earning $75,000 or more).

From Gallop http://www.gallup.com/poll/125645/Socialism-Viewed-Positively-Americans.aspx

PRINCETON, NJ -- More than one-third of Americans (36%) have a positive image of "socialism," while 58% have a negative image. Views differ by party and ideology, with a majority of Democrats and liberals saying they have a positive view of socialism, compared to a minority of Republicans and conservatives.



....Socialism

Socialism had the lowest percentage positive rating and the highest negative rating of any term tested. Still, more than a third of Americans say they have a positive image of socialism.

Exactly how Americans define "socialism" or what exactly they think of when they hear the word is not known. The research simply measures Americans' reactions when a survey interviewer reads the word to them -- an exercise that helps shed light on connotations associated with this frequently used term.

There are significant differences in reactions to "socialism" across ideological and partisan groups:

A majority of 53% of Democrats have a positive image of socialism, compared to 17% of Republicans.
Sixty-one percent of liberals say their image of socialism is positive, compared to 39% of moderates and 20% of conservatives

The Kochs will have great deal to work with if Sanders is the nominee and pretending that this plan would not work is really sad.

We are in the primary process and it is appropriate to consider viability and weaknesses of candidates. Sanders' refusal to run a real campaign that is designed to win worries me. Ignoring polling is not a good way to convince someone that they are running a real campaign that has a chance of winning

[virtualobserver]

79. that poll is a joke

the polling reflects a split second reaction to a long list of labels

62 percent have a positive view of conservative
67 percent have a positive view of progressive

that tells us a lot

If Bernie was in a straitjacket with tape over his mouth, the attacks might work

In the real world, Bernie will easily dismiss the attacks by the right wing.

[Gothmog]

82. You are welcome to ignore the polling and reality

Ignoring polling worked really well for Mitt Romney and Karl Rove in 2012

[virtualobserver]

83. based on your poll, 62 percent will vote conservative and 67 percent will vote progressive

Yeah, I'll ignore that.

Hillary doesn't ignore polls seeing how much money she spends on them

[Gothmog]

86. I live in the real world where polls and facts matter

I do not think that Sanders is a viable general election candidate and you will need some real facts and logic to change my mind. I am open to facts but I am not open to wishful or magical thinking that is not based in reality. Campaigns cost money and Sanders is not viable in the general election. The terms socialism and socialist poll badly and Sanders is vulnerable to negative ads using these terms.

If you want a real world example, a friend was attacked and called a socialist for merely attending a Sanders event to see who were there. http://www.democraticunderground.com/107827740 In the real world, the term socialist is not a good term. You can ignore the real world if you wish but I am working hard to turn Texas blue which means having to live in the real world

[virtualobserver]

87. attacked by rw commentary - quoting Margaret Thatcher

Yeah, I'm convinced by that Margaret Thatcher logic.

[Gothmog]

100. You really hate facts and the real world

You are welcomed to support the candidate of your choice but that candidate is only appealing to a very narrow segment of the base. I wonder why?

[virtualobserver]

108. you aren't presenting facts, just opinions

Hillary is appealing less and less to the base every month

[redruddyred]

113. campaigns cost money

and bernie has tons of undermployed young people v excited to work for him for free
don't underestimate the power of a politically active public

[Walk away]

101. I wouldn't worry too much. So far he is losing pretty steadily. It probably won't come up. nt

[Gothmog]

105. There are only a limited number of states with 90+% white voting populations

Texas has almost three times the number of delegates to the Democratic National Convention as Iowa and New Hampshire combined. Super Tuesday will be a fun day

[99Forever]

80. Precisely.

It doesn't just do it to Republicans either. It applies to bought and paid for candidates across the spectrum.

[virtualobserver]

81. true....I didn't go there because everything that Hillary surrogates have tried.....

has blown up spectacularly in their faces.

Her campaign has been totally boxed in.

[99Forever]

84. The implosion is real...

... the only real question left is when?

[virtualobserver]

85. I'm marking Tuesday, October 13, 2015 on my calendar

[Paka]

88. I'm a proud Bernie supporter and a good democratic socialist.

Bernie is doing his part spreading the message. Now we just need to back him up with a lot of hard work and it will happen!

[RBInMaine]

89. Your thoughts may be well meant, but I think it's all wishful thinking and not much more. Good luck.

[virtualobserver]

91. Of course you do....or you would have already lost hope.

[Rose77]

94. u damn right!

[Duval]

98. I hope you are right!eom

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

99. Truth and honesty. Who whoulda thunk???

[orpupilofnature57]

102. Genius !!!!

[Lil Missy]

103. Koch Brothers are going after Hillary. Your argument does not represent reality. n/t

[virtualobserver]

109. DLC, Koch Industries and Hillary....

http://prospect.org/article/how-dlc-does-it

And for $25,000, 28 giant companies found their way onto the DLC's executive council, including Aetna, AT&T, American Airlines, AIG, BellSouth, Chevron, DuPont, Enron, IBM, Merck and Company, Microsoft, Philip Morris, Texaco, and Verizon Communications. Few, if any, of these corporations would be seen as leaning Democratic, of course, but here and there are some real surprises. One member of the DLC's executive council is none other than Koch Industries, the privately held, Kansas-based oil company whose namesake family members are avatars of the far right, having helped to found archconservative institutions like the Cato Institute and Citizens for a Sound Economy. Not only that, but two Koch executives, Richard Fink and Robert P. Hall III, are listed as members of the board of trustees and the event committee, respectively--meaning that they gave significantly more than $25,000.


Hillary Clinton to Chart Centrist Democratic Agenda

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4771471

Alex Chadwick talks with Bruce Reed, a former aide to President Bill Clinton, about this week's meeting of the Democratic Leadership Council, a centrist party organization. The group has appointed Hillary Clinton to define a party agenda for the upcoming 2006 and 2008 elections.

[Duckfan]

110. Wow. A place to be excited about Bernie

My first time here. Awsome to read the many posts on Bernie's campaign. I can't wait for the debates. Just yesterday, I registered as a Voter Registrar Official and plan on registering as many young people as possible. And the Bernie bumper stickers are coming out! I ride a bike and can clearly see more Bernie Stickers than I did 2 weeks ago. I just hope he is able to get on all states he wants to. Heard during my training yesterday that Southern states may be difficult to get on the ballot. Bernie needs X-number of delegates to get on ballot. I'm a bit rusty on my civics, but I do know the south is tough territory for anyone with a "D" by their name. But they would probably be one of those corporate Dem's. But I will be working to help get Bernie win the nomination. I feel good for the first time in many years to participate in my democracy. I Feel The Bern! How about you?

[redruddyred]

112. I think bernie's campaign, if we can make him big enough

will end "socialism"s history as a curse word in the american vernacular
bernie is doing a wonderful job of communicating the issues, I wish him all the best and have already begun volunteering my time to get the guy elected

[slipslidingaway]

114. Love the B pointing to the left and the Bernie figure :) nt

[maindawg]

120. You cannot smear honesty

The truth has a ring to it. All other politicians and fascist billionaires speak in code. They dont actually say anything unless they are attacking someone or something. Attack politics are like, the boy who cried wolf. Eventually, they sound like they are just whining. Saying silly things that only the radical base will embrace. But they are clever, and there is a very substantial portion of the electorate who respond to negative ,bumper sticker politics.