Democratic Primaries

tritsofme

(17,380 posts) Sat Feb 15, 2020, 03:48 PM Feb 2020

GOP Elite Couldn't Stop Trump in 2016. But Maybe Democrats Can Stop Bernie (The Party Decides?)

By Jonathan Chait
Democratic Party insiders have begun freaking out (justifiably, in my view) about the possibility Bernie Sanders will head the ticket. “Unless another Democrat rapidly consolidates support,” the New York Times notes, “Mr. Sanders could continue to win primaries and caucuses without broadening his political appeal, purely on the strength of his rock-solid base on the left — a prospect that alarms Democratic Party leaders who view Mr. Sanders and his slogan of democratic socialism as wildly risky bets in a general election.”

You’ve probably heard this before, and you probably think you know how it ends. Republicans were equally terrified of nominating Trump in 2016 (who, despite all his liabilities, wound up squeaking out an improbable win, with assists from the Electoral College, the FBI, and Russian intelligence). Yet his rivals attacked each other in a bid to be the last non-Trump standing, and the party failed to organize an effective and unified opposition. Trump prevailed and showed just how hapless the party is.

That same strategy may work for Sanders. But what if it doesn’t? What if the party … decides?

If that phrase sounds vaguely familiar, allow me to refresh your memory. Four years ago, The Party Decides was the fashionable book for the cognoscenti. Its thesis held that party networks had ways of influencing primaries to ensure their preferred nominee won.

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/02/democratic-party-stop-bernie-sanders-2020.html

I hope he’s right...I do feel for a lot of the reasons mentioned here, that Democrats are better positioned to beat back an insurgent than Republicans were in 2016.

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

24 replies

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GOP Elite Couldn't Stop Trump in 2016. But Maybe Democrats Can Stop Bernie (The Party Decides?) (Original Post) tritsofme Feb 2020 OP

Even if The Party Decides and I don't like it ... I will enthusiastically support the nominee. MH1 Feb 2020 #1

I think the party's voters and not the party elite should decide. DanTex Feb 2020 #2

Absolutely. Let the primary voters and caucus goers decide. This is why we have this ... SWBTATTReg Feb 2020 #3

Of course they do, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to steer them away from defeat tritsofme Feb 2020 #4

Who's "we"? I'm not a party elite. DanTex Feb 2020 #6

"The party decides" treestar Feb 2020 #10

"The Party Decides" is a book whose thesis is that party elites determine who DanTex Feb 2020 #12

Who are the party elites and treestar Feb 2020 #13

I haven't read the book. DanTex Feb 2020 #14

That is trying to influence treestar Feb 2020 #16

Right. And the thesis of the book is that party elites have so much influence that they are DanTex Feb 2020 #17

They don't own our minds treestar Feb 2020 #24

You are calling for tbe undermining of the candidate who is leading in the popular vote in both CentralMass Feb 2020 #5

You bet, every single day, unless in the unlikely event he becomes the presumptive nominee. tritsofme Feb 2020 #8

There image too many treestar Feb 2020 #11

Entirely too many candidates Codeine Feb 2020 #20

The party usurping the will of the electorate is not a good idea. CentralMass Feb 2020 #7

That is your straw man. No one is advocating that. tritsofme Feb 2020 #9

We will know soon enough. There is already a stench coming out of Nevada CentralMass Feb 2020 #15

Stench? Codeine Feb 2020 #21

the will of the electorate is 75% of voters do not want bernie. nt msongs Feb 2020 #18

Got a link to that? I find it hard to believe that 75% of the electorate doesn't want Bernie, the Autumn Feb 2020 #22

Throw it all in behind Warren. Lol krissey Feb 2020 #19

I'm willing to accept that. Codeine Feb 2020 #23

MH1

(17,600 posts)

1. Even if The Party Decides and I don't like it ... I will enthusiastically support the nominee.

Reply to tritsofme (Original post)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 03:51 PM

Feb 2020

Our future depends on it.

Frankly, no matter HOW it is decided ... even if I think it is unfair or my favorite candidate(s) were wronged ... there is only one response - support the nominee and GET. IT. DONE. (removal of Trump)

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

DanTex

(20,709 posts)

2. I think the party's voters and not the party elite should decide.

Reply to tritsofme (Original post)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 03:52 PM

Feb 2020

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

SWBTATTReg

(22,144 posts)

3. Absolutely. Let the primary voters and caucus goers decide. This is why we have this ...

Reply to DanTex (Reply #2)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 03:59 PM

Feb 2020

process in place. We've only have had a couple (NH and Iowa), with NV under way, and maybe another place (?), I'm not sure. And South C. is just around the corner, I think. Way too early to be deciding to 'get someone out. And if Bernie wins, he won legitimately too. Why not honor that? He earned it from the voters and caucus goers.

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

tritsofme

(17,380 posts)

4. Of course they do, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't try to steer them away from defeat

Reply to DanTex (Reply #2)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 04:05 PM

Feb 2020

and disaster

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

DanTex

(20,709 posts)

6. Who's "we"? I'm not a party elite.

Reply to tritsofme (Reply #4)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 04:10 PM

Feb 2020

Sure, the party elite are trying to stop him. I don't know if it will work or not. But then nobody should complain when Bernie and his supporters say "the party elites are trying to stop us." That's exactly what's happening, and everyone knows it.

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

treestar

(82,383 posts)

10. "The party decides"

Reply to DanTex (Reply #2)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 04:23 PM

Feb 2020

Means something other than that?

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

DanTex

(20,709 posts)

12. "The Party Decides" is a book whose thesis is that party elites determine who

Reply to treestar (Reply #10)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 04:26 PM

Feb 2020

the nominees are going to be, rather than voters. That thesis fell apart in the 2016 GOP primary where GOP elites weren't able to stop Trump.

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

treestar

(82,383 posts)

13. Who are the party elites and

Reply to DanTex (Reply #12)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 04:28 PM

Feb 2020

How do they manage to decide ?

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

DanTex

(20,709 posts)

14. I haven't read the book.

Reply to treestar (Reply #13)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 04:31 PM

Feb 2020

But presumably the elites are big donors and insiders and lobbyists and consultants, and the way they decide by driving funding and media coverage and endorsements and that sort of thing.
https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/P/bo5921600.html

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

treestar

(82,383 posts)

16. That is trying to influence

Reply to DanTex (Reply #14)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 04:36 PM

Feb 2020

But not deciding.

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

DanTex

(20,709 posts)

17. Right. And the thesis of the book is that party elites have so much influence that they are

Reply to treestar (Reply #16)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 04:40 PM

Feb 2020

effectively deciding. Like I said, that didn't happen in the GOP 2016 primary. We don't know if the Dem elites will be able to stop Bernie this time, but they are trying.

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

treestar

(82,383 posts)

24. They don't own our minds

Reply to DanTex (Reply #17)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 08:44 PM

Feb 2020

This argument is only true because people let the media decide what to talk about

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

CentralMass

(15,265 posts)

5. You are calling for tbe undermining of the candidate who is leading in the popular vote in both

Reply to tritsofme (Original post)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 04:09 PM

Feb 2020

contest of this primary.

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

tritsofme

(17,380 posts)

8. You bet, every single day, unless in the unlikely event he becomes the presumptive nominee.

Reply to CentralMass (Reply #5)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 04:18 PM

Feb 2020

Which he very decidedly is not today.

After coming to a draw in two tiny states, the race is just getting started.

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

treestar

(82,383 posts)

11. There image too many

Reply to CentralMass (Reply #5)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 04:24 PM

Feb 2020

Candidates for that to mean anything.

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

Codeine

(25,586 posts)

20. Entirely too many candidates

Reply to treestar (Reply #11)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 05:39 PM

Feb 2020

with entirely too few votes spread between them. We’re still in the top of the first inning and people want to call the damned game.

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

CentralMass

(15,265 posts)

7. The party usurping the will of the electorate is not a good idea.

Reply to tritsofme (Original post)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 04:14 PM

Feb 2020

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

tritsofme

(17,380 posts)

9. That is your straw man. No one is advocating that.

Reply to CentralMass (Reply #7)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 04:19 PM

Feb 2020

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

CentralMass

(15,265 posts)

15. We will know soon enough. There is already a stench coming out of Nevada

Reply to tritsofme (Reply #9)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 04:33 PM

Feb 2020

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

Codeine

(25,586 posts)

21. Stench?

Reply to CentralMass (Reply #15)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 05:40 PM

Feb 2020

Do enlighten us.

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

msongs

(67,421 posts)

18. the will of the electorate is 75% of voters do not want bernie. nt

Reply to tritsofme (Original post)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 05:33 PM

Feb 2020

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

Autumn

(45,114 posts)

22. Got a link to that? I find it hard to believe that 75% of the electorate doesn't want Bernie, the

Reply to msongs (Reply #18)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 05:40 PM

Feb 2020

guy who is ahead in the polls and is the current front runner.

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

krissey

(1,205 posts)

19. Throw it all in behind Warren. Lol

Reply to tritsofme (Original post)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 05:37 PM

Feb 2020

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

Codeine

(25,586 posts)

23. I'm willing to accept that.

Reply to krissey (Reply #19)

Sat Feb 15, 2020, 05:40 PM

Feb 2020

ABB.

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

Reply to this discussion