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Gregorian

(23,867 posts)
Wed Mar 9, 2016, 07:39 PM Mar 2016

Jonathan Alter is a bit skeptical about Bernie winning.

I don't need talking down, but it is sobering.

It's Ed Schultz talking with Alter about the dynamics of the election. I think Ed is optimistic. I definitely don't like what Alter is saying, but it's kind of the truth. It's a bit frightening. In fact I may need talking down.

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Jonathan Alter is a bit skeptical about Bernie winning. (Original Post) Gregorian Mar 2016 OP
You mean this Johnathan Alter? noretreatnosurrender Mar 2016 #1
Alter is a phony ... Impedimentus Mar 2016 #3
LOL noretreatnosurrender Mar 2016 #4
Holy shit. I keep learning new things every day around here. Gregorian Mar 2016 #11
Depends on what the FBI does. eom Fawke Em Mar 2016 #2
I listened to the first couple of minutes of Alter BernieforPres2016 Mar 2016 #5
This Is Why DWS Limited The Debates..... global1 Mar 2016 #6
And a terrible speaker BernieforPres2016 Mar 2016 #8
Thank you! Gregorian Mar 2016 #12
I should also mention that I don't have much use for Ed Schultz either BernieforPres2016 Mar 2016 #7
Ok, that, is not right... SoapBox Mar 2016 #9
Aha. I have never watched TV news since Cronkite. So was only semi familiar with either. Gregorian Mar 2016 #10
I'm with you on that too noretreatnosurrender Mar 2016 #14
That would be the Jonathan Alter who's been calling for Democrats to move further right... Ken Burch Mar 2016 #13
Jesus, really? He's a nightmare! Gregorian Mar 2016 #17
Sanders will win the nomination and the general election. nt JFKDem62 Mar 2016 #15
i don't know why ed even talks to him restorefreedom Mar 2016 #16

Impedimentus

(898 posts)
3. Alter is a phony ...
Wed Mar 9, 2016, 07:56 PM
Mar 2016

his opinions aren't worth a damn. The squirrels stealing seeds from my bird feeder have more smarts.

Gregorian

(23,867 posts)
11. Holy shit. I keep learning new things every day around here.
Wed Mar 9, 2016, 08:21 PM
Mar 2016

This place is invaluable. We don't all catch on to things the same way. Thanks.

BernieforPres2016

(3,017 posts)
5. I listened to the first couple of minutes of Alter
Wed Mar 9, 2016, 08:02 PM
Mar 2016

He basically just asserted the Hillary party line, that it is nice that Bernie is running a nice race but it's inevitable that he will still lose and he sure hopes the Bernie supporters will vote for Hillary in the general election. He had no numbers, no analysis of any kind.

Ignoring the superdelegate issue, Bernie needs to win something like 55% of the delegates the rest of the way. Most of the states in the deep South where Hillary had big margins are over. Bernie's not the favorite, but winning 55% or so of the delegates the rest of the way is far from impossible. The more people see of Hillary, the more they are reminded why they don't like her or trust her. When people are exposed to and listen to Bernie, they are surprised that he is not as radical as they expected from that "Democratic Socialist" label that many have a hard time with. If the sense that Hillary is inevitable goes away, as it is starting to, it could generate a bigger turnout for people who decide it's worth going to the polls to vote for Bernie.

Gregorian

(23,867 posts)
12. Thank you!
Wed Mar 9, 2016, 08:24 PM
Mar 2016

I thought about doing the math, but then I wasn't sure which states are primaries versus caucus. That alone makes things a bit complicated. But that margin you calculated is fair, just like Bernie's tax plan.

BernieforPres2016

(3,017 posts)
7. I should also mention that I don't have much use for Ed Schultz either
Wed Mar 9, 2016, 08:05 PM
Mar 2016

Yesterday he shrugged off all the millions Hillary raked in for speeches as not a big deal, he didn't blame her for cashing in.

SoapBox

(18,791 posts)
9. Ok, that, is not right...
Wed Mar 9, 2016, 08:10 PM
Mar 2016

Ed, where is your brain on that issue?

Just because she can, doesn't make it the right thing to do! And then to hold what she said in secret? That's just skeezy.

Gregorian

(23,867 posts)
10. Aha. I have never watched TV news since Cronkite. So was only semi familiar with either.
Wed Mar 9, 2016, 08:18 PM
Mar 2016

I missed some of the aspects that others pick up on. I really appreciate it. Thanks.

noretreatnosurrender

(1,890 posts)
14. I'm with you on that too
Wed Mar 9, 2016, 08:59 PM
Mar 2016

I'm not a big fan of Ed Schultz either. In fact I think ole Ed is just pretending to like Bernie so the MSM can say they had someone on to defend Bernie. He is very ineffective which is what they want.

 

Ken Burch

(50,254 posts)
13. That would be the Jonathan Alter who's been calling for Democrats to move further right...
Wed Mar 9, 2016, 08:25 PM
Mar 2016

...since at least 1983?...

The Jonathan Alter who said that progressives should embrace entitlement cuts?

The Jonathan Alter who wrote a post 9/11 article titled "Time To Think About Torture"?

THAT Jonathan Alter?

Gregorian

(23,867 posts)
17. Jesus, really? He's a nightmare!
Thu Mar 10, 2016, 12:11 PM
Mar 2016

Thank you for that.

I guess whenever I've heard him, he sounds so reasonable. It looks like progressives are a smaller group than I realized. At least we're discovering who we are.

restorefreedom

(12,655 posts)
16. i don't know why ed even talks to him
Thu Mar 10, 2016, 12:09 PM
Mar 2016

alter has been big hillary from the get go. he has only recently become ever so slightly less dismissive of bernie

he was ten times worse a few months ago. when ed has him on, i dont even bother

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