How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bern

[Segnosaur]

FDR won FOUR terms as a proud Progressive.

We have a name for people who refuse to learn the lessons of history and progres: conservatives.

Yes, FDR won multiple terms as a 'progressive'. However, a little historical context is important here.

The political landscape was substantially different back then.
- African-american voters often voted Republican.
- FDRs opponent in the 1940 elections was a former Democrat. at the time the entire political system of the U.S. seemed to be skewed to the left, As such, FDR wouldn't have seemed so extreme at the time
- FDRs election in 1944 was during world war 2, and I think being a 'wartime' president kind of skews the results of an election.

 

[Giz]

If you like Bernie, have you tried Warren? In a blind taste test 8 out of 10 cats either preferred Warren or couldn't tell the difference. And Warren is 30% more fat free than Bernie by volume mass weight! Ask your grocer if Warren is right for you!

Grocer? Are they both vegetables?

Surely ask a butcher?

 

[rockysmith76]

Electable to what? There's a reason he chose to sit out the first few debates.

To the Presidency should he choose to take up the cause. Bernie is too SOcialist to pull that off, so is Warren.

 

[dudalb]

Bernie is a lot more radical then FDR ever was.

 

[TragicMonkey]

Grocer? Are they both vegetables?

Surely ask a butcher?

Warren's no vegetable, but Bernie is nuts.

 

[Segnosaur]

But you keep letting the Republicans define "extremes".

No, I'm not. What is 'extreme' is based on what the electorate wants.

I saw an interview on The Daily Show (I believe it was with Republican strategist Rick Wilson, who strongly opposes Trump). He pointed out that the republicans have been smart, and they haven't been afraid to put forward moderate candidates when the situation presents itself.

Also, one of the reason the "extreme" candidates don't win is the perceived lack of support form the party itself.

Do you really think that a potentially successful far-left candidate (after winning the primaries) would be shunned by the party just because "gee wiz, we could use the extra representation in congress but we just don't like the guy's policies".

Answer this: If Biden starts from the middle and the GOP in Congress are on the extreme right, where does the negotiating go?

Well, probably goes a little better than having a far left candidate lose the election, and have the GOP in congress negotiating with a republican in the white house.

 

[dudalb]

Willing to qualify that? I could easily see centrist dems spiking the election by supporting some third party run or write-in campaign. Bloomberg seems like a likely candidate.

Party unity is only something they believe in when the progressives acquiesce to the centrists, never the other way.

We just saw "party loyalty" at work in the US Senate. Not a good advertisement for it.

 

[Cabbage]

All we need is another Great Depression to usher in a new golden age for Progressives.

...which the GOP, previously under GWB and now under Trump, are absolutely determined to bring about.

A Great Depression and a World War.

....yeah, that too.

Is that why you bros support Republicans?

 

[Venom]

Willing to qualify that? I could easily see centrist dems spiking the election by supporting some third party run or write-in campaign. Bloomberg seems like a likely candidate.

Party unity is only something they believe in when the progressives acquiesce to the centrists, never the other way.

Something to consider, yes. Though it's hard for me to imagine that if Bernie is the nominee the party won't back him. I believe they are smart enough to pick their battles when push comes to shove.

 

[TurkeysGhost]

Something to consider, yes. Though it's hard for me to imagine that if Bernie is the nominee the party won't back him. I believe they are smart enough to pick their battles when push comes to shove.

I don't think the party will back third party, but prominent DNC individuals might peel off.

 

[theprestige]

...which the GOP, previously under GWB and now under Trump, are absolutely determined to bring about.





....yeah, that too.

Is that why you bros support Republicans?

You really do think Republicans want a depression, don't you?

 

[Stacyhs]

All we need is another Great Depression to usher in a new golden age for Progressives.

We had a Great Recession and it took a Democrat to get us out of it.

 

[Cabbage]

You really do think Republicans want a depression, don't you?

I think they are irresponsible enough to govern in such a way that leads to depressions, yes. And I am asking if that is why you vote for them.

 

[BobTheCoward]

Bernie is a lot more radical then FDR ever was.

Examples?

 

[ChristianProgressive]

You really do think Republicans want a depression, don't you?

The GOP playbook is to break something then tell voters that they are the solution to what they themselves broke.

 

[rockysmith76]

The GOP playbook is to break something then tell voters that they are the solution to what they themselves broke.

The leftie play book is to yell into the wind their never ending out rage, and then offer no solution, just outrage. So both suck.

 

[Juniversal]

One of Bernies mistakes is not doing more to make it clear he's not a "socialist". Bernie is a social Democrat. His politics mirror the Scandinavian system of economics. A capitalist system underpinned by a strong social safety net. Not making the distinction clear just makes it that much easier for the right to scaremonger and constantly defer to Venezuela as an example of what Bernie style Gov't would supposedly bring to the table.

 

[Donal]

No, I'm not. What is 'extreme' is based on what the electorate wants.

The electorate wants progressive policies but gets told that only moderates are electable.

I saw an interview on The Daily Show (I believe it was with Republican strategist Rick Wilson, who strongly opposes Trump). He pointed out that the republicans have been smart, and they haven't been afraid to put forward moderate candidates when the situation presents itself.

Oh, a Republican strategist called himself smart. Well, you certainly convinced me. And again, they didn't go "moderate", the redefined "moderate". That is where the strategy is.

Do you really think that a potentially successful far-left candidate (after winning the primaries) would be shunned by the party just because "gee wiz, we could use the extra representation in congress but we just don't like the guy's policies".

Depends, do you think the bigger divide is between "left and right" or "rich a poor" ? Also, the Dems have been shown to be a slave to protocols and procedure. The GOP weaponizes this against them. They are more concerned with maintaining the veneer of normalcy than actually changing a broken system.

Well, probably goes a little better than having a far left candidate lose the election, and have the GOP in congress negotiating with a republican in the white house.

I guess losing with a milk toast republican lite is a win. I mean, at least he doesn't offend anyone, right?

 

[Donal]

One of Bernies mistakes is not doing more to make it clear he's not a "socialist". Bernie is a social Democrat. His politics mirror the Scandinavian system of economics. A capitalist system underpinned by a strong social safety net. Not making the distinction clear just makes it that much easier for the right to scaremonger and constantly defer to Venezuela as an example of what Bernie style Gov't would supposedly bring to the table.

Mitch McConnell is calling Biden a socialist on the Sunday morning talk shows already. Buttigieg was right about that. The Republicans will scream "socialist" no matter who they put up. The Dems have to stop being afraid of how the Republicans are going to smear them and figure out how to sell these already popular ideas to the American people.

 

[Dr. Keith]

Showing its possible to not agree with but respect a guy in politics. But if you want electable, Bloomberg is likely the way to go.

I agree with you, too. I think it is clear that Bloomberg is the best republican running. If only he didn't have to compete with Trump for votes.