Democratic Primaries

DanTex

(20,709 posts) Thu Jan 30, 2020, 07:19 PM Jan 2020

Bernie Sanders Can Exploit Donald Trump's Weaknesses

Voters are sick of politicians, including Trump, saying they'll protect SS and Medicare, and then getting into office and proposing cuts. These are things voters care about, and Bernie's got the best unwavering record of fighting to defend and expand them all.

https://jacobinmag.com/2020/01/bernie-sanders-donald-trump-social-security-medicare-medicaid

Donald Trump has broken promises to leave Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid alone. This basic dishonesty leaves him vulnerable to attack — but only by Bernie Sanders, because Sanders has the longest and strongest record defending the exact programs Trump wants to cut.

In May 2015, when Donald Trump was polling at 5 percent in the Republican presidential primary, he told a reporter in Des Moines, Iowa, “I’m not going to cut Social Security like every other Republican, and I’m not going to cut Medicare or Medicaid.”

It’s easy to forget, but promising to leave benefits for seniors alone was part of Trump’s campaign message from the beginning. Things have changed. At the annual ruling-class summit in Davos, Switzerland, last week, a reporter asked Trump if “entitlement cuts” would “ever be on your plate.” Trump answered that “at some point they will be,” adding, “At the right time, we will take a look at that.”

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

45 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Bernie Sanders Can Exploit Donald Trump's Weaknesses (Original Post) DanTex Jan 2020 OP

Post removed Post removed Jan 2020 #1

Supporting progressive causes is a labor of love, my brother! DanTex Jan 2020 #2

Ok comrade awesomerwb1 Jan 2020 #3

Time to post your Dr. McFuck article. calguy Jan 2020 #6

At least this time the OP isn't misrepresenting or marginalizing what they view as still_one Jan 2020 #4

He should be OKNancy Jan 2020 #8

Do you know any other good jokes? calguy Jan 2020 #5

Outboard motor in a cesspool redstateblues Jan 2020 #7

Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2020 #9

Not in the real world, trump would destroy a very weak candidate like sanders Gothmog Jan 2020 #10

And Russia was certainly pulling for him... makes no sense if the GOP didn't want Bernie ehrnst Jan 2020 #12

They weren't pulling for Bernie, they were fighting against Hillary and for Trump. ArtTownsend Jan 2020 #14

Um... the Russians weren't supporting Johnson or McMullen, and that's what my post was about ehrnst Jan 2020 #22

Of course they're blazing away at Biden. He's the frontrunner. ArtTownsend Jan 2020 #26

If they wanted Sanders as the nominee, they would be doing what they are doing. ehrnst Jan 2020 #28

You mean sick and tired of politicians doing things lauding Reagan's cuts to SS? ehrnst Jan 2020 #11

Why post all of this? No one is going to change their minds...click bait. Demsrule86 Jan 2020 #13

It looks like there are a lot of undecideds in the primary on DU. ArtTownsend Jan 2020 #16

If you read this person's NUMEROUS posts, you would understand that they have very clearly decided. ehrnst Jan 2020 #23

I didn't say anyone in particular was undecided! ArtTownsend Jan 2020 #24

I thought you were referring to the OP of the thread that we are on.... ehrnst Jan 2020 #25

Sorry, I was referring to all of the DU folks with undecided avatars. There are a lot of them. ArtTownsend Jan 2020 #27

The person you responded to was talking about the OP. ehrnst Jan 2020 #29

Oh, I see. This OP is basically spamming this forum. ArtTownsend Jan 2020 #30

OK. Just trying to clarify. ehrnst Jan 2020 #32

Lol, yeah, not convincing! ArtTownsend Jan 2020 #34

Lot's of people play games here. sheshe2 Jan 2020 #35

Fair. ArtTownsend Jan 2020 #36

I don't think that many are really undecided. Demsrule86 Jan 2020 #43

You've got it backwards sport, dware Jan 2020 #15

"BS" ArtTownsend Jan 2020 #17

I don't believe I was talking to you, dware Jan 2020 #19

And it's my right to reply to you. ArtTownsend Jan 2020 #20

And a very good evening to you. dware Jan 2020 #21

Because we want to win the General. Demsrule86 Jan 2020 #44

Thanks for posting. nt ArtTownsend Jan 2020 #18

Jacobin hahahahahahahahahahahaha NYMinute Jan 2020 #31

God forbid! A left-of-center journal! DanTex Jan 2020 #33

Um. sheshe2 Jan 2020 #37

LOL. Even that centrist "Media Bias Fact Check" rates Jacobin as highly accurate. DanTex Jan 2020 #38

Yet they say this. sheshe2 Jan 2020 #40

I guess they mean some other sources in that category, because they say Jacobin is solid. DanTex Jan 2020 #41

Jacobin is so far left in outer space NYMinute Jan 2020 #42

... greatauntoftriplets Jan 2020 #39

Unless or until Bernie's staffing issues exploits Bernie. Again. LanternWaste Jan 2020 #45

Response to DanTex (Original post)

Post removed

DanTex

(20,709 posts)

2. Supporting progressive causes is a labor of love, my brother!

Reply to Post removed (Reply #1)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 07:25 PM

Jan 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

awesomerwb1

(4,267 posts)

3. Ok comrade

Reply to DanTex (Reply #2)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 07:29 PM

Jan 2020

Maybe I just need to stay away from the primary threads.
At the rate some of you post it almost feels like spam.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

calguy

(5,305 posts)

6. Time to post your Dr. McFuck article.

Reply to DanTex (Reply #2)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 07:40 PM

Jan 2020

That's sure to convince the masses.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

still_one

(92,125 posts)

4. At least this time the OP isn't misrepresenting or marginalizing what they view as

Reply to Post removed (Reply #1)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 07:35 PM

Jan 2020

“Establishment Democrats”

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

OKNancy

(41,832 posts)

8. He should be

Reply to Post removed (Reply #1)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 07:45 PM

Jan 2020

He has a $10,000 student debt to pay.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

calguy

(5,305 posts)

5. Do you know any other good jokes?

Reply to DanTex (Original post)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 07:37 PM

Jan 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

redstateblues

(10,565 posts)

7. Outboard motor in a cesspool

Reply to DanTex (Original post)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 07:44 PM

Jan 2020

Stirring up s**t

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Response to DanTex (Original post)

Name removed Message auto-removed

Gothmog

(145,119 posts)

10. Not in the real world, trump would destroy a very weak candidate like sanders

Reply to DanTex (Original post)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 08:21 PM

Jan 2020

In addition to the well written 101 page memorandum with oppo on sanders with a 1000 pages of backup from the Clinton campaign trump has his own oppo file on sanders that would destroy such a weak and divisive candidate like sanders. Trump had a two foot thick book of oppo research on Sanders http://www.newsweek.com/myths-cost-democrats-presidential-election-521044

They ignored the fact that Sanders had not yet faced a real campaign against him. Clinton was in the delicate position of dealing with a large portion of voters who treated Sanders more like the Messiah than just another candidate. She was playing the long game—attacking Sanders strongly enough to win, but gently enough to avoid alienating his supporters. Given her overwhelming support from communities of color—for example, about 70 percent of African-American voters cast their ballot for her—Clinton had a firewall that would be difficult for Sanders to breach....

So what would have happened when Sanders hit a real opponent, someone who did not care about alienating the young college voters in his base? I have seen the opposition book assembled by Republicans for Sanders, and it was brutal. The Republicans would have torn him apart. And while Sanders supporters might delude themselves into believing that they could have defended him against all of this, there is a name for politicians who play defense all the time: losers....

The Republicans had at least four other damning Sanders videos (I don’t know what they showed), and the opposition research folder was almost 2-feet thick. (The section calling him a communist with connections to Castro alone would have cost him Florida.) In other words, the belief that Sanders would have walked into the White House based on polls taken before anyone really attacked him is a delusion built on a scaffolding of political ignorance.

sanders was such a weak primary candidate that the Clinton campaign did not use its oppo but trump would have fun destroying such a weak candidate like sanders

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)

12. And Russia was certainly pulling for him... makes no sense if the GOP didn't want Bernie

Reply to Gothmog (Reply #10)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 11:35 PM

Jan 2020

How The Russian Social Media Effort Boosted Bernie

There's plenty of evidence of the Russian effort to help Sanders, including documents compiled the Democratic staff on the House Intelligence Committee and an NBC News database of roughly 200,000 tweets traced to the Russian trolls.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

ArtTownsend

(439 posts)

14. They weren't pulling for Bernie, they were fighting against Hillary and for Trump.

Reply to ehrnst (Reply #12)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 11:45 PM

Jan 2020

Bernie, Jill Stein, etc. were just foils for the Russians against Hillary.

Also, no one ever seems to criticize Gary Johnson or Evan McMullen for taking anti-Trump votes from (mainly Republican anti-Trump votes in the suburbs that Clinton targeted, especially in McMullen’s case - the margin between Trump and Clinton in Utah was less than McMullen’s percentage there). And Johnson was easily the most successful of the third-party candidates overall.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)

22. Um... the Russians weren't supporting Johnson or McMullen, and that's what my post was about

Reply to ArtTownsend (Reply #14)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:02 AM

Jan 2020

And the GOP does indeed want Bernie again.

The GOP is blazing away at Biden, and not a shot at Bernie.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

ArtTownsend

(439 posts)

26. Of course they're blazing away at Biden. He's the frontrunner.

Reply to ehrnst (Reply #22)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:11 AM

Jan 2020

And the more they attack someone, the more energized their base is. Which is what they want.

If they really wanted Sanders as the nominee (and I’m not convinced either way btw), then wouldnmt they be promoting him more as an adversary to Trump and his voters? Not a rhetorical question, seriously.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)

28. If they wanted Sanders as the nominee, they would be doing what they are doing.

Reply to ArtTownsend (Reply #26)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:15 AM

Jan 2020

Did you read the link in my post?

And there's this:

https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/439489-karl-rove-sanders-could-win-presidency-in-2020

https://www.politico.com/story/2019/05/07/bernie-sanders-republican-senate-1307296

https://www.businessinsider.com/republicans-hope-bernie-sanders-is-2020-democratic-nominee-2019-5

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)

11. You mean sick and tired of politicians doing things lauding Reagan's cuts to SS?

Reply to DanTex (Original post)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 11:30 PM

Jan 2020

https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2020/jan/09/bernie-sanders/did-biden-laud-paul-ryan-proposal-cut-social-secur/

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — As a congressman in the 1990s, Bernie Sanders expressed an openness to making “adjustments” to the tax and benefit structure of Social Security. He also praised an overhaul of the social safety net program signed into law by President Ronald Reagan that reduced benefits and increased taxes on working families.

Sanders’ presidential campaign and allies have highlighted similar remarks by Joe Biden to attack the former vice president and make the explosive charge that Biden was an outspoken proponent of slashing the program.

I'm not saying that he would say that now...especially during a campaign. But if Bernie is going to bash Biden doing it (especially when Biden didn't) then Bernie's not looking in the mirror, is he?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Demsrule86

(68,543 posts)

13. Why post all of this? No one is going to change their minds...click bait.

Reply to DanTex (Original post)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 11:45 PM

Jan 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

ArtTownsend

(439 posts)

16. It looks like there are a lot of undecideds in the primary on DU.

Reply to Demsrule86 (Reply #13)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 11:48 PM

Jan 2020

And we’re very close to Iowa, but still not there yet - as of this posting.

Looks to me like there is ample room for posters to make their cases for their preferred candidate.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)

23. If you read this person's NUMEROUS posts, you would understand that they have very clearly decided.

Reply to ArtTownsend (Reply #16)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:04 AM

Jan 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

ArtTownsend

(439 posts)

24. I didn't say anyone in particular was undecided!

Reply to ehrnst (Reply #23)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:05 AM

Jan 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)

25. I thought you were referring to the OP of the thread that we are on....

Reply to ArtTownsend (Reply #24)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:11 AM

Jan 2020

No?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

ArtTownsend

(439 posts)

27. Sorry, I was referring to all of the DU folks with undecided avatars. There are a lot of them.

Reply to ehrnst (Reply #25)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:15 AM

Jan 2020

The OP would be the one trying to persuade those undecideds to support their preferred candidate (in this case Sanders).

Does that make more sense?

Edit: Ah, OP’s avatar shows undecided. Well that’s disingenuous for sure...

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)

29. The person you responded to was talking about the OP.

Reply to ArtTownsend (Reply #27)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:16 AM

Jan 2020

The author of which lists "undecided" as his choice.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

ArtTownsend

(439 posts)

30. Oh, I see. This OP is basically spamming this forum.

Reply to ehrnst (Reply #29)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:20 AM

Jan 2020

Sorry, I was confused.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)

32. OK. Just trying to clarify.

Reply to ArtTownsend (Reply #30)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:22 AM

Jan 2020

And yes, the OP is doing what you say.

While thinking that somehow people think he's undecided...

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

ArtTownsend

(439 posts)

34. Lol, yeah, not convincing!

Reply to ehrnst (Reply #32)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:23 AM

Jan 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

sheshe2

(83,730 posts)

35. Lot's of people play games here.

Reply to ArtTownsend (Reply #16)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:26 AM

Jan 2020

They switch back and forth.

My guess is most of the 'undecied' are decided. You can tell from their posts.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

ArtTownsend

(439 posts)

36. Fair.

Reply to sheshe2 (Reply #35)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:27 AM

Jan 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

Demsrule86

(68,543 posts)

43. I don't think that many are really undecided.

Reply to ArtTownsend (Reply #16)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 09:05 AM

Jan 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

dware

(12,363 posts)

15. You've got it backwards sport,

Reply to DanTex (Original post)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 11:46 PM

Jan 2020

Trump would exploit BS's weaknesses and wipe the floor with him on election day.

We would end up with another 4 years of the Mango Menace if Bernie becomes our candidate.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

ArtTownsend

(439 posts)

17. "BS"

Reply to dware (Reply #15)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 11:52 PM

Jan 2020

Why do you and others do this? And why is everyone attacking Sanders so ferociously??

I have nothing against the other candidates (with one Islamophobic dictator-loving exception, but thankfully she’s not been a threat). I just support Sanders. What’s wrong with that?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

dware

(12,363 posts)

19. I don't believe I was talking to you,

Reply to ArtTownsend (Reply #17)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 11:56 PM

Jan 2020

but here's why I write BS, because I don't like to spell his name out.

It's your right to support him, as it's my right to point out why he would get his ass kicked in the GE by the Mango Menace.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

ArtTownsend

(439 posts)

20. And it's my right to reply to you.

Reply to dware (Reply #19)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 11:57 PM

Jan 2020

Good day.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

dware

(12,363 posts)

21. And a very good evening to you.

Reply to ArtTownsend (Reply #20)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 11:59 PM

Jan 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

Demsrule86

(68,543 posts)

44. Because we want to win the General.

Reply to ArtTownsend (Reply #17)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 09:05 AM

Jan 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

ArtTownsend

(439 posts)

18. Thanks for posting. nt

Reply to DanTex (Original post)

Thu Jan 30, 2020, 11:53 PM

Jan 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

NYMinute

(3,256 posts)

31. Jacobin hahahahahahahahahahahaha

Reply to DanTex (Original post)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:21 AM

Jan 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

DanTex

(20,709 posts)

33. God forbid! A left-of-center journal!

Reply to NYMinute (Reply #31)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:22 AM

Jan 2020

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

sheshe2

(83,730 posts)

37. Um.

Reply to DanTex (Reply #33)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:33 AM

Jan 2020

?w=600&ssl=1

These media sources are moderately to strongly biased toward liberal causes through story selection and/or political affiliation. They may utilize strong loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes), publish misleading reports and omit reporting of information that may damage liberal causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Left Bias sources.

They may utilize strong loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by using appeal to emotion or stereotypes), publish misleading reports and omit reporting of information that may damage liberal causes. Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Left Bias sources.

Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Left Bias sources

https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/jacobin/

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

DanTex

(20,709 posts)

38. LOL. Even that centrist "Media Bias Fact Check" rates Jacobin as highly accurate.

Reply to sheshe2 (Reply #37)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:37 AM

Jan 2020

We also rate them High for factual reporting due to proper sourcing of information and a clean fact check record.

I get that you prefer centrists to left-leaners and progressives, but come on, even your centrists admit that Jacobin is highly factual.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided

sheshe2

(83,730 posts)

40. Yet they say this.

Reply to DanTex (Reply #38)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:46 AM

Jan 2020

Some sources in this category may be untrustworthy. See all Left Bias sources

Confusing , eh?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden

DanTex

(20,709 posts)

41. I guess they mean some other sources in that category, because they say Jacobin is solid.

Reply to sheshe2 (Reply #40)

Fri Jan 31, 2020, 12:49 AM

Jan 2020

I'm not confused. You're the one who is looking for the centrist check of approval, which apparently Jacobin gets. I don't go to centrist websites to tell me what I'm supposed to read and not read.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided