...as HRC has.

Sanders would have HRCs numbers against Trump if he was the front runner

Trump and Sanders are in similar positions. Voters are generally unfamiliar with them. The polls done right now are useless.

And since he told the cops in Baltimore to do whatever the hell they wanted to young black men in the name of "fighting crime" there's no way you can even seriously argue that O'Malley is better than Bernie on AA issues.

Once the GE starts, the numbers will change.

Also, no right wing evangelical is going to vote for a self described socialist.

.


There's a reason why Phyllis Schlafly was able to defeat the ERA, stopping its ratification.

45% of the women in the country voted against it.


The majority of Evangelicals believe in a paternal society, so your post is completely bogus in its premise.



If you said that they would not vote for a Jew, that would be one thing.

They would vote for a socialist since Christ followed the same basic tenets.

But, a woman for president--the majority of Evangelicals, esp. Evangelical women, will not subscribe to that!


.

I've yet to meet a right wing evangelical that would consider voting for any Democrat.

Is a direct challenge to the status Que sell out to the highest bidder model.

Sanders beats Trump by a greater margin than Clinton does. Clinton will work for Wall street the same as any other republican will. She only pretends she is on our side and not very well at that.

If you are going to let fear guide your vote; fear we don't elect Sanders and a whole $hitload of real Democrats.

... that both have been responsible for taking away American jobs?

Bernie's got the right populist position that isn't xenophobic on these issues to counter someone like Trump who pretends to be populist on this.

Hillary is pretending to be populist on TPP, which she was late "evolving" on, and she's always been a corporatist when it comes to guest labor programs such as H-1B which she's avoided talking about since the 2008 election. Hillary is fodder for the populist vote there. See why Trump does better in areas like this against Hillary than Bernie?

the likely Republican nominee, is SO flawed, there is just NO WAY any sentient voter is going to give him access to the nuclear football. Look what happened to McCain when he selected Palin?

Sanders, OTOH, has been an elected official almost his entire career.

and please also don't forget that Sanders draws powerfully on Independents who comprise a full
49% of registered voters..

Sanders also amazingly pulls roughly 25% of GOP voters in his home state of Vermont, where
they know and have grown to trust Sanders, despite him being a Democratic Socialist. Of course,
nationally that percentage wouldn't be as large, but still, esp. if Trump is the GOP nominee, Bernie
will have a good shot at capturing many GOP voters as well.

Hillary has NONE of this cross-over appeal. None. She will lose in the GE if she's the nominee.

Trump is constantly lying to his supporters and they don't care, they will vote for him regardless just because he once said something xenophobic that they agree with. On the other side you have Sanders who is respected by many because he is supposedly honest, he sticks to his beliefs. So when the general election starts and you have Trump attacking Sanders do you expect it to come from the far right or from a moderate angle? Trump would effectively be moving to the center and the republican majority will be content, his followers still enthusiastic and independents questioning whether Trump would be a bad idea after all. If Sanders were to compromise, to say that maybe his plans would need to be implemented gradually and take a more pragmatic tone he would lose credibility among his supporters because frankly, that is all he has. So in the end, the ideologue entrenches himself while the opportunistic asshole manipulates people into thinking that he is the safest option.

What Sanders has done so far has been respectable, but he'll need to raise ten times as much to compete with the Republicans.

Republican breeze.

He's been smeared and beaten and attacked repeatedly in Vermont. It's not like they play "gentle politics" there. Yes, he's now on a bigger stage, but it's not like the NRCC and RSCC have no opposition research resources.

You're also missing that Sanders is the only candidate from either party with a positive favorability rating. Negative attacks never bring up someone's rating, at best they lower the victim. He's so far ahead that even if some of the slime "sticks", he will still be better liked than anyone in the Republican field. And a higher favorability rating has predicted the winner in the general election in the vast majority of presidential elections over the last few decades. The notable exception being Gore's "loss".

Let go of the fear. We can do better.

Going negative against Bernie backfires. Hillary can't see it and it is damaging her chances.

The Pukes won't comprehend it either.

The more they attack him, the lower their numbers will be.


If you don't believe me that is fine, just keep track of what is happening in the race right now. Bernie stays positive and that is what wins.

Where have we heard that before? Oh yeah that's right, 2008:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/110232597

TRump is not electable in the GE. His numbers look like that because he is feeding red meat teapublicans what they want. The problem is a candidate like tRump is far to the right and will see no need to swing back more center in the GE. This is who he really is: an arrogant, narcissistic racist.
Sanders doesn't need to do that. His core message is already saying what people want and need and I don't think he could do it any other way than be himself. He is who he says he is: an imperfect public servant that believes there is a better way.

I have no worries that ant Den would beat a tRump. I just think that Sanders has the better vision moving forward into the 21st century.

IMO: The Republican Party is already torn asunder by its own deviant devices. Trump will almost certainly be their nominee... and ANY Democratic opponent will defeat him more or less handily. What remains of the GOP influence then will be greatly diminished.

A sweeping grassroots Sanders win could crush the Republicans, sweep a Democratic majority back into the Senate, and possibly wrest some seats in the House also. If we accomplish this, there's a fair chance we could actually save our democracy and stem the growing corruption that's destroying our country, ...before it's too late. I suspect this will be our only chance to do so.

Electing Clinton will only hasten and solidify the impending Plutocracy.

People are pissed and looking for change, many of whom don't know what kind they want.

I've heard many people say "I like Trump, but I kinda like Sanders too" or variations on that theme.

MSNBC has a chryon up right now saying Head vs. Heart in Democratic race. I think that captures the feeling pretty well right now.

I am caucusing for Bernie.

You've got an extra piece of evidence that's not part of reality (your belief), and it is actually an invention of your own mind projected from your anxiety, which is to say it -is- your anxiety rather than a political reality.

This same sort of argument comes up quite often and it's very puzzling to me, because as a matter of argumentation it is trying to exploit -fear-.

Sensitivity to fear is an important feature of conservatively motivated thinking (google Jost et al).

If I were making an argument to conservatives using -fear- would be a good idea. AS this argument gets presented on DU, ostensibly a -liberal-/progressive discussion board, it seems directed at a mostly missing audience

A better argument would be that Hillary can deliver something like better "PONIES"... you know, better things through bottom-up directed policies rather than relying pragmatic collection of whatever happens to trickle down from the corporate elite and their kulaks (which is to say folks like Rahm Emmanuel)

Sanders will wilt like a daisy in the desert if the GOP media machine ever decides to unload on him. He is their dream candidate. More tax and spend liberal than McGovern, was more draft dodger than Clinton (on record as a conscientious objector), more socialist than ______ (insert famous socialist of your choice) and he actually traveled to the USSR. The GOP would slaughter Sanders and reverse coattails would set the Democratic cause back decades and lock in a massively conservative SCOTUS for a generation.

You have missed nothing. K & R

He's got WE THE PEOPLE. We've got his back. They can't do jack crap to Bernie!

THEY HAVE TO GET THROUGH *US* FIRST!

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

going to control all the GOP ad makers, cut all the transmission lines, topple antenna and satellites, and render inoperable all the TV's, radios and computers that would carry the anti-Sanders message?

Riiiight. You go with that plan.

... I think that Sanders is polling well against Trump now because most voters haven't been bombarded with negatives about Sanders - so he's even going to be picked by both Republicans and Conservatives who dislike Trump. And, he seems like a nice gentleman who speaks for people. He does not state he's a socialist; he says we need to make the system fair for everyone. What's not to like? People like socialism, but the word is dirty.

Also, disagree somewhat about Sanders' chances to win the general. There are probably fewer avenues, but I think he could win a general election. For example: Cruz wins his primary. Republicans or Trump/Palin run a third party candidate. Trump, Cruz and the stay-at-home Republicans could elect Sanders in a landslide!

...Sanders should have officially changed his party ID months ago and open every speech with "I'm a proud Democrat!" He should have diffused this issue by now

...I heard he might change but did not see it on the news and assumed it was not so... He's still identified as "I" on the news stations. This should be corrected. Apologies also to a Sanders supporter who informed me elsewhere. Thanks for the correction!

he had to register as a Democrat.

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

He will win big.

And he will! The only thing the Repubs can throw at him is "Socialist" bullcrap.
People know Bernie! He has served 25 years in Congress. He was Mayor of Burlington, VT for 8 years!

People are not going to buy the COMMUNIST/SOCIALIST claptrap. Would Democrats in Congress caucus with a Communist for 25 years? Would Congress even allow a Communist to serve in Congress? No they would not!

Bernie can win the GE and it op probably be a LANDSLIDE victory.

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

If Sanders wins the nomination, the risk of a GOP presidency is very big. Even if the nominee is Trump. Sanders has never faced the fury of the GOP attack machine, and he's extremely vulnerable.

The most important thing is keeping the GOP out of the White House. They already control both the house and senate. It would be a disaster. This is why I support Clinton.

As they see that Bernies proposals will require huge tax increases. Hillary is not the only one who has baggage. Bernie has a heavy anchor around his neck.

Clinton has built in popularity amnong some segments of voters. She also has built in opposition -- The GOP and right wing hate her. And many on the left feel enough antipathy she may have problems generating enthusiasm and turn out.

Sanders is a wild card at this point. he has a combination of strengths and weaknesses.

But the biog unknowns are: What will, the GOP do?

And more importantly, what does Americas want at this point. People are pissed and want change. Does that translate into a Bernie style revolution, a Trump movement....or apathy and cynicism?

Only time will tell. But IMO, in this ever shifting mixmaster, Bernie is just as likely to beat the GOP as Clinton.

becomes the Democratic party's candidate.

Jesus, the GOP propaganda machine will have people believing Sanders is gonna set up a Marxist government which will take away all their property (as if the plutocratic party hasn't been doing that already! - Reagan, Bush, Trickle Down Disaster) and kill off democracy! Oooooohhhh!. They are masters of distortion and demonization of opponents.

Also, do you think Bernie will be able to do half the stuff he says he wants to, without controlling BOTH the Senate and the House? Have you been watching how the GOP obstructed Obama the last 7 years? Do you think we can take back the House? What odds are you giving on that?

And then there is the matter of only being able to last for one term. It's doubtful Bernie would be able to campaign for a second term. Look what fighting the GOP does to younger men.


I think Bernie is great. but let's be realistic. (oh, and those polls of hypothetical General Election match-ups - They're meaningless)

1. In head to head match ups against the GOP, Bernie does as as well or better than Clinton. Plus, if he beats Clinton for the nomination, he'll have proven his ability to win a race in which he wasn't supposed to stand a chance.

2. The GOP wants a Trump presidency about as much as we do. Trump is a rabid dog that has survived all GOP attempts to put him down. If he wins their nomination (which looks increasingly likely) the PTB may work behind the scene to sabotage his campaign. In a strange twist, the Republicans may find themselves faced with their own "lesser of two evils" choices, and pick a Dem over a demagogue.

This election is ours to win, regardless of who we send into the ring. Vote your head AND your heart in the primary, and try to pick the candidate that cares the most about those of us that get represented the least.

We all know what FEAR really means. Now remember to dream, to chose the life you want to live.

I must not fear.

Fear is the mind-killer.

Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

I will face my fear.

I will permit it to pass over me and through me.

And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.

Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.

Only I will remain.

can't win that is your business. Unlike some people I would never tell anyone who to vote for. I am voting for Bernie because I can't stand to see another child be put through what my child went through in the school system. It looks like Obama now admits that his education policy went too far but for kids like my son who were used like Guinea pigs the damage has been done and I just can't vote for any Democrat who would listen more to corporations than teachers and parents and I believe Hillary would listen more to corporations than she would to teachers and parents. Not to mention I have a daughter in college and an autistic son who will be in college soon. Bernie wants my kids to be able to go to college without tens of thousands of dollars in school loan debt. Hillary told my kids to get a job. I don't appreciate that one damn bit.