In what parallel universe does a Jewish, self-described Socialist who

[Orrex]

159. I'm copying/pasting this from another thread where it was also relevant:

The accusation is repeatedly made that people who doubt Sanders' chances are "afraid" of him. That's a petty and short-sighted criticism. There are solid reasons to question his odds of winning.

And the answer once again is "he truly seems to stand very little chance of success."

Don't get me wrong--I would LOVE to see Sanders take the Whitehouse, and I would vote for him in a heartbeat. I just don't think that it's realistic to expect him to win, and my assessment isn't based on defensiveness or fear.


His commendable history as a "democratic socialist" will be used as a pile-driver to bludgeon his campaign every minute of every hour between winning the primary and the general election. He will be decried as a communist with "foreign" ideas, and he will be attacked for not being a real American. His brother's former candidacy for the Green Party in the UK will be offered as proof of this, as will Bernie's own praise of Scandinavian-style socialism.

His age will be a factor. The same pundits who adore "maverick" John McCain will claim that Sanders is too old, and they'll claim it constantly. They'll imply that his health is questionable, and they'll suggest that he's not fit to serve as President.

His heritage will be a factor, especially as it pertains to his less than cozy relationship with Bibi and Likud. In addition to supposed problems involving "our greatest ally," he'll have to face the idiocy of anti-Semitism. Not a major factor in Vermont, perhaps, but the nation as a whole has a large population of haters.

His politics will be a major factor. For most Americans, self-identifying as a "democratic socialist" is tantamount to growing a Stalin mustache and instituting a pogrom. Bernie's unparalleled record of social responsibility notwithstanding, he would be identified as "the Socialist Candidate" in every media outlet until Nov 2016, probably by saying "74 year old Socialist Bernie Sanders spoke in Poughkeepsie, and..."

They will also claim that his career spent representing the tiny state of Vermont hasn't prepared him for the Whitehouse, and he'll be slammed for being out of touch with the values of mainstream America.

And that's all before we even get into the reality of Hillary's massive warchest and support structure already built.


I admire everything about Sanders, and I've never disagreed with a single political statement I've heard from him, but I simply don't think it's realistic to expect him to win.