Slog Jun 8, 2015 2:10 PM

Bernie Sanders May Pose a Serious Challenge

by Dan Savage

Comments

1
Yes.
palamedes on June 8, 2015 at 2:33 PM · Report this
2
wait until the debates--he's going to kick all of their asses.
Adrian Ryan on June 8, 2015 at 2:34 PM · Report this
3
Were I not a registered Republican, I would gladly vote for Sanders in the MD primary.
Theodore Gorath on June 8, 2015 at 2:45 PM · Report this
4
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=…
fig on June 8, 2015 at 2:49 PM · Report this
5
Doy this is the intended link: https://www.facebook.com/Seattle4Sanders…
fig on June 8, 2015 at 2:50 PM · Report this
6
This straw poll has as much meaning as the Iowa straw poll. Bernie will do well in some places but will not be truly serious threat to Clinton for the nomination.
bitchslap on June 8, 2015 at 3:28 PM · Report this
7
It's just nice to see Bernie getting some attention. He's openly (and intelligently) discussing huge issues like student debt, taxing billionaires, military spending, minimum wage, and climate change. I find it refreshing compared to the staunch, carefully scripted political rhetoric characteristic of corporate Democrats.
tmplknght on June 8, 2015 at 3:48 PM · Report this
8
The right has a steaming pile of hypocrisy and crazy, and the left has pretty much settled on a center-right insider without much discussion.

If the next presidential contest is Bush v. Clinton, I think we will seriously have to consider whether or not this is--in any meaningful sense--a democracy.
Ophian on June 8, 2015 at 4:12 PM · Report this
9
Bernie's awesome. I'm so glad he's in the race and I hope he stays in as long as possible and keeps that pressure on her from the left. But he's no threat to Clinton.
scott (the other one) on June 8, 2015 at 4:29 PM · Report this
10
Mr O - and it will carry over to the next generation, as it's so much easier to recycle familiar names.

I just hope this doesn't deliver an undeserved hit to the reputation of John Quincy Adams.
vennominon on June 8, 2015 at 8:58 PM · Report this
11
bernie has my support until the second she has the nomination. then i'm 100% hillz because the GOP nom will be a steaming pile. i don't even need to pay attention.
Max Solomon on June 8, 2015 at 9:18 PM · Report this
12
Eugene McCarthy creeping up on Hubert Humprey.

This kind of weakness on the part of The Inevitable might signal it's time for Joe Kennedy III to "courageously" throw his hat in the ring (he'll be 35 just before the election).
Supreme Ruler Of The Universe on June 8, 2015 at 9:36 PM · Report this
13
I'm glad to see Bernie making an impact (I'll be fine with Hillary, my expectations were low enough that so far I've been pleasantly surprised). I hope he has an effect on the debates and ultimately on the policies. I'd love for him to be president, although I'm skeptical that he could win against one of the stronger GOP candidates.

But to give a little perspective: Michele Bachmann won the Ames Iowa straw poll. This Wisconsin straw poll might be less of a sideshow, but it's still not a representative sample of primary voters. Even in New Hampshire, right next door to Bernie's home state, she's polling 30 points ahead among voters, not convention-goers. So I rather doubt Hillary is worried.
ForkyMcSpoon on June 8, 2015 at 10:11 PM · Report this
14
Yep, a straw poll with a $50 entrance fee is truly representative of the Democratic party.
sugarfree on June 9, 2015 at 6:21 AM · Report this
15
...Is it just me, or did a Matthew Vines post prior to this one go down the memory hole?
Lance Thrustwell on June 9, 2015 at 7:47 AM · Report this
16
@15, I was wondering the same thing. I wanted to re-read it but it's gone.
Fortunate on June 9, 2015 at 8:37 AM · Report this
17
Please don't but into the clap trap argument that Jeb vs Hilary is not a real choice. While parts of their agendas will be similar, their supreme court nominees, their views on equality, right to chose, right to be free from religion all will differ in huge ways that will reverberate in our country for far more years than the next president will serve.

Do you want a president who will pursue cases like Terry Schiavo? Who will not pursue woman's rights, gay rights, voting rights with any fervor?

Jeb Bush presided over a purge of voter rolls in 2000 that calls into question the election and the election of George Bush. And having him as president won't have an effect on the current wave of right wing supported voter suppression?

Please, please, please wake up. It was the left, who by not showing up at the polls that brought about the current control of both houses by the right wing. It is the left, that by not voting in local elections that allows for the current make up of state congressional and legislative districts (not in all cases, but in a huge number).

Apathy is just wrong, cowardly and stupid. Learn the real positions of candidates (which means not listening to the sound bites on the news or just reading the headlines on Politico, The Hill etc, but actually listening to the long form speeches of the candidates. Then go vote!

People who are apathetic and say there is no choice give that choice to the ones who are motivated.

We would have a real left alternative if the left were to vote like the right does.
wine-o on June 9, 2015 at 9:40 AM · Report this
18
Bernie has not much chance, despite his policies being exactly what America needs right now.

His real value lies in pulling Hillary further left on some issues, namely income inequality and making education affordablr again. It's already started working, as evidenced by Hills recent comments about a higher minimum wage and strong collective bargaining rights
armyguy26 on June 9, 2015 at 11:57 AM · Report this
19
@15 No it's not just you. WTF Dan? I know you love you some Mathew Vines as much as I do. Why the fuck did you pull the post down? WTF?

grumble grumble...
Machiavelli was framed on June 10, 2015 at 1:03 AM · Report this