Wow, it seems there are a lot of attacks on Beto lately

[DemocratSinceBirth]

[MineralMan]

1. Hmm...I'll have to look at those.

I wonder who's doing the attacking and what that might mean.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. What quarters could they be coming from?

[Renew Deal]

14. It's all about division

Just like 2016

[Andy823]

21. Exactly!

It's not just Beto, seems like everyday there are negative posts about someone who "may" run in 2020. Trolls gotta troll. Best thing to do is not to "feed" them and let their threads drop off the board, but that's usually not what happens!

[Renew Deal]

23. It was russian backed division then

And it is now. A specific person is the tool of the division.

[R B Garr]

34. Yes, it is very markedly about a specific person.

The same...concerns.

[Hortensis]

37. Of course. Russia AND our own white nationalist GOP.

We know who they're afraid of by who they attack. With 2020 in mind, they've been piling on Elizabeth Warren for months. Did they ever halt puffing up Sanders in the media?

[dansolo]

130. It is not about division

This is about Bernie supporters trying to protect his dwindling base.

[ananda]

3. Hmmm

I know what I think.

[guruoo]

132. It's just another spoof by the cast of berniebro theater

I see MIRT's already begun to hand out some Oscars.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. It's gonna happen to whoever seems to be rising.

Because he is gaining popularity there are going to be those who want to take him down. I hope we don't have to experience another nasty primary season like last time.

[emulatorloo]

7. I get the feeling some folks are really looking forward to re-enacting GD P 2016

[Bradshaw3]

56. Yep

Some never stopped.

[Shell_Seas]

5. Lately? I've only seen them today.

And as another DU'er put it, "Welcome to primary season!"

[Bucky]

57. Couple of weeks ago some pro-Bernie writers were attacking his progressive credentials

He's been pretty bipartisan in Congress. But he was a community business developer. That's the sort of issues one works on when you're in city government. In a Republican Congress, you're either a firebrand or you're a compromiser. I personally like a candidate who looks for flexible solutions.

[HopeAgain]

66. Which is fine

But I think that another moderate will bring the same results as the last one. That's not an attack, just my personal view.

[tymorial]

80. You mean where the election was stolen from the Democrat candidate

How exactly would being a "progressive" change any of that?

[HopeAgain]

112. The country is looking for change

It isn't Ocasio-Cortez's personality that has so many people excited, it is what she is saying. I think we will bring out more votes with a more progressive candidate.

[Hekate]

58. You missed most of the 2016 primary, so unless you were lurking closely, you ain't seen nuttin yet.

[milestogo]

6. Well, there are no more attacks to be made on Bernie, so we had to move on, in alphabetical order.

Its called the Democratic circular firing squad.

[Bucky]

59. This is why we need to nominate Zelda Zablocki

No one will have gotten to oppo research on her by 2020

[milestogo]

90. ...

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

138. No more attacks on Bernie?! When did that happened?! I musta been dreamin!!

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[msongs]

8. criticism of politicians? who ever heard of such a thing lol nt

[Beakybird]

9. Nothing wrong with debating strengths and weaknesses IN GOOD FAITH!

[emulatorloo]

20. Deliberately mis-reading OpenSecrets data like David Sirota did definitely was not in good faith

So I totally agree with your point

[Gothmog]

10. I am amused to see that so many sanders supporters are afraid of Beto

[Glamrock]

13. Those ain't the only ones....

[Autumn]

65. It's called hope.

[panader0]

22. I was thinking it was the Bernie bashers that feared Beto.

I just can't keep track anymore.

[Gothmog]

41. Why would so-called bernie bashers fear Beto?

It is the sanders supporters who are attacking Beto. Look at the sanders supporter who are pushing these attacks on Beto. I love the fact that sanders supporters are scared of Beto. It is really funny.

Thank you for the amusement.

[Bradshaw3]

61. Actually the Beto bashers are coming from another point of view

The ones I've seen are pissed because a young white male is getting the attention.

[TexasBushwhacker]

70. Not this Sanders supporter

Although I prefer Beto as a VP candidate.

[Autumn]

75. I know right? Every person that I know who like Bernie likes Beto.

I think people just believe if they repeat it enough it will be true.

[emulatorloo]

105. Did you miss David Sirota falsely smearing Beto earlier this month?

It was very dishonest but fortunately he was quickly called out on it and his smear was immediately debunked.

———-

David Sirota's Attempt To Smear Beto O'Rourke Goes Horribly Wrong
https://thedailybanter.com/2018/12/04/david-sirota-unfairly-smears-beto/

<snip>

In a series of tweets, Sirota implied that O'Rourke was the second-biggest recipient of oil and gas industry donations during the 2018 election cycle:

Link to tweet

However, Sirota's claims simply don't add up when subjected to the most basic levels of scrutiny. During his campaign, O'Rourke pledged not to take any money from PACs, and for the most part, he stayed true to his word, eschewing big corporate donors like the ones he was accused of accepting. O'Rourke's commitment to taking small donations from his supporters made him the best-funded Senate candidate in 2018. According to independent, Texas-based journalist Leah McElrath, the numbers Sirota cites come from individual donors - not corporations.

Since the majority of O'Rourke's donations came from Texas residents, it's only natural that people who worked within the oil and gas industries would have given to his campaign. And while he was the number one recipient of funds from oil and gas employees, he was also number one across many other fields as well.

<more at link>

[Autumn]

106. Texas is a big oil state. Betos going to get oil/gas campaign money.

I'm not going to read through it, don't care for the site but if that tweet is a smear it's rather mild.

Something I didn’t know: Beto O’Rourke is the #2 recipient of oil/gas industry campaign cash in the entire Congress

[emulatorloo]

108. Yes. The problem is Sirota took data on INDIVIDUAL donations and implied they were CORPORATE

donations. Implying Beto is in the pocket of Big Oil. Which he isn’t. Happily Sirota got a lot of pushback on his Twitter thread.

As you know, Sirota is a pro-Sanders editorial columnist. You mentioned you thought all Sanders supporters liked Beto, but clearly Sirota is trying to swiftboat Beto.

Have a great night!

[Autumn]

109. Only I didn't say all Sanders supporters liked Beto. I said all the ones I know like Beto.

75. I know right? Every person that I know who like Bernie likes Beto.

I think people just believe if they repeat it enough it will be true.

[emulatorloo]

111. Ah, I understand. I don't know Sirota personally either, but I know of him.

[Gothmog]

123. From Governor Howard Dean

Link to tweet

[Gothmog]

122. From Prof Tribe

Link to tweet

[Gothmog]

121. Inside Bernie-world's war on Beto O'Rourke

Link to tweet

[grantcart]

26. Amused wasn't the word I would have used but the trend is noticeable

[R B Garr]

35. +++++++yes nt

[Renew Deal]

64. Beto is better, younger, and

more patriotic

[wryter2000]

11. It's started early

[Renew Deal]

12. Bernie will lose worse than last time

I wonder if his ego can handle it

[spanone]

15. ...and i trash them all.

[riversedge]

16. I have read two. I did not see them as attacks but as vetting which I hope all the

candidates have.

[dubyadiprecession]

17. Why would anyone beat up on a guy who lost in a senate race?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. Maybe for the same reason people beat up on Lincoln "who lost in a senate race."

[dubyadiprecession]

29. They beat up on Abe?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

32. The Southern Democrats of his time did.

" "

[Bucky]

73. Here's a nice read on how he swiped the nomination from Seward

Grrrr... Republicans and their dirty tricks!

https://www.greatamericanhistory.net/nomination.htm

[SunSeeker]

18. Yep. nt

[TexasTowelie]

24. I admit my guilt in posting an article about Beto today.

However, the article was from the El Paso Times which is Beto's hometown so I think it carries more weight than articles from the news aggregator sites.

While I have a few quibbles about O'Rourke, I'm certainly going to consider giving him my vote in the primaries and would gladly support him if he is nominated for President or VP. I do believe that Beto could improve his message by reducing the number of hand movements and gestures while speaking which I find distracting. However, that is a minor problem that can be easily remedied.

[SWBTATTReg]

27. I like Beto, haven't watched him enough to judge the hand movement/gestures yet, but I listened ...

to him on the topic of kneeling and thought it was very well thought through (his argument) and articulated.

I have been ever since then, a fan and will support him in whatever he choses to do in the future. Also, there are tons of other good candidates out there and to be frank w/ everyone, it's going to be hard choosing the best of these candidates, which is a good thing (there were some fear in DU land that we wouldn't have any candidates to put up for 2020).

Thanks for putting Beto information out there.

[TexasTowelie]

39. Hey there, who else posts articles from the El Paso Times on DU?

It's obviously too early to decide who I'm going to vote for in March 2020, but Beto is definitely on my short list of potential candidates who I will support. I agree that Democrats have a diverse and well-qualified field of potential candidates so it will be interesting to see which candidates withdraw after the early contests in February and how the candidates will react to California moving their primary up to Super Tuesday.

I'll need to make a popcorn run at the beginning of 2020. The proportional allocation of delegates could get interesting with so many candidates in the field. A candidate that has 25%-30% of the votes in the primary could get 100% of the delegates if all of the remaining candidates get less than the 15% threshold necessary to be awarded delegates.

[PubliusEnigma]

128. You're really going deep, aren't you? What says more about a person than gesticulation?

[ismnotwasm]

25. Have to agree

Not even my choice for the primaries, but this is bloody ridiculous

[guillaumeb]

28. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez had her turn.

Now, it is time for another.

[Gothmog]

44. LOL

Do you really think that the same people are attacking both Beto and AOC? That is very amusing.

I love the fact that sanders supporters are terrified of Beto.

[Autumn]

99. Seems to me, the only fear involved is those who are afraid of anyone studying Beto's

record too closely. While he is a breath of fresh air for Texas and is the most charismatic politician I have seen in quite a while the vetting outside of Texas now begins.

[Power 2 the People]

30. Have to agree. The bashing of high profile Democrats like Beto and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

are designed to divide us, not unite us. Anyone who indulges in the innuendo and publicizing false reports about leaders like AOC and Beto are helping Republicans and not true Democrats. I wish members of this board wouldn't indulge in the counterproductive behavior.

[R B Garr]

33. I doubt people will fall for this hoodwink since Justice Democrats

are all about going after Democrats who don’t tout Sanders talking points. AOC is a Justice Democrat. Beto is not. Your conflation is a fail.

[Power 2 the People]

36. No RB, Democrats should not be denigrated on this board

[R B Garr]

38. Tell that to Justice Democrats. You can't be an AOC fan

without knowing how Justice Democrats target people. Beto is not a Justice Democrat. AOC is a Justice Democrat. Your comparison is no bueno.

[Power 2 the People]

40. You need to educate yourself on the 6 pillars of the Justice Democrats before you bash them

As a Democrat, which one do you disagree with?

Medicare For All
Free College
Green New Deal
Justice Reform
Immigrant Rights
Reject Corporate PAC Money

What part of the this truly Democratic platform do you disagree with?

[Gothmog]

42. Cenk founded the Just Us Democrats

The Just Us democrats are trying to hurt the Democratic Party. Cenk is not a friend of the Democratic party.

[Power 2 the People]

47. I appreciate the fact that you found no flaw in the Justice Democrats platform.

They will continue to push candidates who fight for the people.

[R B Garr]

49. HA, at least you admit now that pushing Sanders talking

points is what they are about. Your comparison to Beto is totally bogus.

And how laughable how you pretend that Justice Democrats are only ones who have ever thought of health care, immigrant tights....LOL.

[Power 2 the People]

51. I am not here to argue with you about something I did not say.

Thank you for the dialogue.

[Gothmog]

76. I did not focus on the platform because I object to the group and its founder, Cenk

This group only exists to hurt the Democratic Party by attacking real democrats. It is hard to take anything associated with or founded by Cenk seriously.

Again the Just Us Democrats are out to hurt the party. For example the plan to attack Hakeem Jeffries will backfire on this group just as the attempts to defeat Sharice Davids and Gretchen Whitmer failed

[Power 2 the People]

81. OK Gothmog.

[Gothmog]

84. Just Us Democrats are not a group that I want to associate with or support

Just Us Democrats are out to hurt the party

[Power 2 the People]

86. Yes, I understand how you feel about the group.

[Gothmog]

125. This group supports Tucker Carlson?

Link to tweet

[R B Garr]

45. You need to educate yourself on why Vermont doesn't have

anything you mentioned. You and Justice Democrats need to quit maligning Democrats for things that Bernie can’t even get through in his own state. I notice you don’t mention dark money or money from Republicans
and ex-Republicans used to attack good Democrats. ETC

But thanks for summarizing exactly why their hostility and double standards are being challenged. Beto is not AOC, so let’s quit that distraction.

Edit: LOL, like no one has ever cared about Immigrant rights before Justice Democrats, ETC....The Clinton’s fought for Universal Health Care 25 years ago.

[Power 2 the People]

50. Who was talking about Bernie??

In your own words from your first response to me:

Your conflation is a fail.

[Gothmog]

55. Beto really scares bernie supporters

This is really amusing.

If Just Us Democrats and sanders are so in favor single payer, then why has Vermont not adopted this magical plan yet?

[Power 2 the People]

69. Vermont was the first state that tried but Gov. Peter Shumlin pulled the plug in 2014

I applaud the people of Vermont and Senator Sanders for trying. Unfortunately Vermont was too small to make it financially viable. Only large states like New York or California could pull it off due to their vast resources and tax base.

Don't worry, we'll get there. Have faith!

[Gothmog]

77. There was no way to fund this magical program without massive tax increases

I am amused that sanders never tells anyone how much his program will cost in the real world but uses magical studies that promises societal savings. These societal savings are very speculative and are based on aggressive assumptions. No state government can use magical societal savings to pay for such a program and so sanders has failed to get anyone to adopt his plan

[Power 2 the People]

82. OK Gothmog.

[Gothmog]

85. The real world is a nice place

I like working in the real world even though magic does not work in the real world. Texas will turn blue but it will not be due to magical thinking but due to hard work

[Power 2 the People]

88. We are the only industrialized nation that doesn't provide this for its citizens

If what you're saying is true then we must also believe that all of these other countries are engaging in magic and don't really exist in the real world.

It's not magic. It's the proper allocation of taxpayer funds.

Don't be so focused on what we can't do. I believe in "Yes,we can."

[Gothmog]

95. The Medicare-for-all paradox

I found this article on the twitter feed of a good friend who just had surgery. It is a very interesting article as to why it is so hard to change the US system https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/12/14/18117917/medicare-for-all-single-payer-pros-cons-work-health-insurance

“It’s a real barrier to doing anything big,” says John Holahan at the Urban Institute, who helped create a proposal explicitly designed not to disrupt work-based insurance. “Most people with employer plans are reasonably happy with them.”

When Vox conducted focus groups on single-payer, led by opinion researcher Michael Perry, one recurring concern we heard was from people who mostly like the insurance they have and were worried about losing it under Medicare-for-all.

“I wouldn’t like that,” Richard M., a federal official who gets his insurance through his work, said when told he would have to give up his insurance. “I like having an option. And I mean at this stage, I’m working full time, I should have an option.”

The polling bears out this sentiment: 83 percent of people with employer-sponsored insurance said in March 2016 that they thought their health insurance was excellent or good, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The status quo is powerful in American health care — while there are problems, people are worried about big changes that could upend the system they rely on today.

President Obama did a good job with the ACA. This was a major step forward. Getting to single payer will be very difficult given the current US structure

[Power 2 the People]

89. The Koch Brothers study said Sanders plan would save us 2 Trillion a year.

That certainly was no "magical study" that would encourage or want any social program to show societal savings. Even the opposition's own study reluctantly concedes it is more fiscally responsible.

Let's all get together and help the USA catch up to the rest of the industrial world. The insurance companies and Big Pharma have done everything they can to stop us. Let's not continue to let them by convincing ourselves that basic economics only works in other countries and not here when it comes to Single-Payer.

[Gothmog]

94. These studies doe not describe how to pay for such a program

Such a plan in theory may generate societal savings but such savings would not pay for a program. Governments can only spend tax revenues and/or borrowings. This study does not say how one would pay for such a program in the real world. I note that Prof. Krugman like the concepts of such a plan in theory but notes that taxes will have to be raised a great deal to pay for such a plan
Back in 2016, here is his position Prof. Krugman compares Sanders hoped for health care savings to the GOP tax cuts. http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/01/19/weakened-at-bernies/?_r=0

On health care: leave on one side the virtual impossibility of achieving single-payer. Beyond the politics, the Sanders “plan” isn’t just lacking in detail; as Ezra Klein notes, it both promises more comprehensive coverage than Medicare or for that matter single-payer systems in other countries, and assumes huge cost savings that are at best unlikely given that kind of generosity. This lets Sanders claim that he could make it work with much lower middle-class taxes than would probably be needed in practice.

To be harsh but accurate: the Sanders health plan looks a little bit like a standard Republican tax-cut plan, which relies on fantasies about huge supply-side effects to make the numbers supposedly add up. Only a little bit: after all, this is a plan seeking to provide health care, not lavish windfalls on the rich — and single-payer really does save money, whereas there’s no evidence that tax cuts deliver growth. Still, it’s not the kind of brave truth-telling the Sanders campaign pitch might have led you to expect.

Today, Prof. Krugman says that such a plan is feasible if you are willing to pay a great deal more in taxes
https://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/paul-krugman-explains-why-single-payer-health-care-entirely-achievable-us-and-how

If we went to government provision of all insurance, we’d pay more in taxes but less in premiums, and the overall burden of health spending would probably fall, because single-payer systems tend to be cheaper than market-based."

The amount of higher taxes are not quantified in this article by Krugman. To pay for any such plan will require massive tax hikes

Again sanders has utterly failed in his attempts to get Vermont to adopt his magical single payer plan because the state of Vermont cannot use hypothetical societal saving to pay for this plan. Even Krugman admits that much higher taxes are needed

[Mosby]

68. How does free college work?

Going to nationalize private universities?

Good luck with that.

If we nationalize anything, how about hospitals, utilities and transportation.

[Power 2 the People]

74. Same way grades Kindergarten through 12th grade work. Same way it worked for CA until the 1980's.

The proposal isn't to make private colleges free. Let the free market dictate the sustainability of private,for profit institutions.The proposal being made is for public colleges and universities. Paying for it is just a matter of how "we the people" allocate where our tax money should go. I don't know about you but I'm sick of most of my tax money going to the Pentagon and corporate welfare. I would rather see it go to educating our future generations.

This is not a radical idea. Germany eliminated tuition because they believed that charging students $1,300 per year was discouraging Germans from going to college. Chile will do the same. Finland, Norway, Sweden and many other countries around the world also offer free college to all of their citizens. If other countries can take this action, so can the United States of America.

In fact, it’s what many of our colleges and universities used to do. The University of California system offered free tuition at its schools until the 1980s. In 1965, average tuition at a four-year public university was just $243 and many of the best colleges – including the City University of New York – did not charge any tuition at all. The Sanders plan would make tuition free at public colleges and universities throughout the country.

It's not some far fetched fantasy. We've done it in the past and we can do it again. We just have to insist on the priorities of the people.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

107. It's a shame you even have to explain that on this board.

Durrrrrrr privatize private universities!

Some people on my partner’s side of the family think their church will be forced t o perform gay marriages against their will.

[George II]

78. Those are all issues that Democrats have been behind for a long time, one of them....

....since way back in 1943 when John Dingell Sr. first introduced it in the House.

Most Democrats, however, don't feel the need to wear those issues on their sleeves.

[Power 2 the People]

83. Great. Glad we can all agree that these are the issues Democrats should support.

[George II]

87. Problem is that if one does not refer to in those terms, they're not "pure" enough. That's BS to me

[Power 2 the People]

91. You have a point George but it is against human nature for all of us to agree on everything

I believe the old saying:

We fall in love during the Primaries and fall in line during the General.

We are Democrats. Vive la différence!

[George II]

92. I've been saying around here for years that I'd prefer a candidate who agrees with me only 60-80%...

....of the time that can get elected than a candidate that agrees with me 100% of the time but loses in the general election.

[Power 2 the People]

93. +1000

[guruoo]

129. Wouldn't fit on yours anyway

Bernie haters club has all that space reserved.

[George II]

131. Merry Christmas!

[guruoo]

133. Hope you had one too, G. nt

[Gothmog]

43. Beto was in Congress for three terms and in local government before that

Beto has actually accomplished things in the real world. I think that different groups are attacking Beto compared to the people who are not impressed with AOC.

[Power 2 the People]

48. That is no excuse for bashing a Democrat on DU

[Gothmog]

52. Beto is a Democrat and is being bashed by bernie supporters because they fear him

The people attacking Beto are not the same people who are not impressed with AOC or the Just Us Democrats. AOC has not done anything in the real world other than campaign against some real democrats such as Gretchen Whitmer and Sharice Davids. Luckily AOC failed in her attempts to defeat these real Democrats.

Just Us Democrats are going after Hakeem Jeffries and other true Democrats. Again, Cenk and the Just Us Democrats are out to hurt the party.

Beto did a great deal in the real world. Beto served three terms in Congress. This cycle Beto did a great deal to help turn Texas blue. For example, Beto's campaigned gave my county coordinated campaign $50,000 to GOTV and we turned my county blue.

I am really amused by the attacks on Beto by sanders supporters.

[Power 2 the People]

62. This seems to be a recurring theme in your posts

Bernie supporters aren't attacking Beto at all. We welcome Beto's voice and will enthusiastically vote for him if he is our candidate in the General. I don't know why you feel this way.

Democrats can disagree (and we should) but we always come together in a united effort against Republicans.

We're a big tent party with diverse and important voices. Let's embrace that diversity and put the best ideas and candidates forward.

I hope as Democrats we can agree on that.

[KPN]

71. +1

[Gothmog]

96. LOL-I am really enjoying watching the fear of Beto that is being shown by sanders supporters

The attacks by sanders supporters on Beto are amusing.

We are a big tent party which is why I support candidates like Harris, Booker, Beto and Biden. I have been enjoying watching sanders supporters attack Harris, Booker and Beto. It has been very amusing to me.

BTW, if you want to talk about coming together, I saw some conduct by sanders and the national convention that was very disturbing to me and other real democrats.

I believe that sanders is busy selling his latest poorly reviewed book that has been deeply discounted on Amazon. I doubt that sanders will run in 2020 and if sanders does run, there are some democrats with long memories.

[Power 2 the People]

98. Well if Sanders is the Democratic nominee in 2020 I sure hope you'll vote for the Democrat.

I'll gladly vote for Harris, Booker, Beto or Biden if they are the nominee,just like I did for Hillary in 2016.

[Gothmog]

100. I will support the nominee of the party but I doubt that sanders will be the nominee

There are a large number of Democrats with long memories and who will not forgive or forget sanders role in electing trump. There is a reason why Putin supported sanders https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook-power-briefing/2018/02/16/mueller-indicts-13-russians-for-allegedly-meddling-in-2016-election-fbi-says-protocols-were-not-followed-when-they-received-tip-on-parkland-shooter-va-cos-resigns-249433

KEY LINES … “Some Defendants, posing as U.S. persons and without revealing their Russian association, communicated with unwitting individuals associated with the Trump Campaign and with other political activists to seek to coordinate political activities.”

-- “They engaged in operations primarily intended to communicate derogatory information about Hillary Clinton, to denigrate other candidates such as Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, and to support Bernie Sanders and then-candidate Donald Trump.”

I doubt that putin's tricks in supporting sanders will work this time around

[Power 2 the People]

101. Well it's good to hear you will vote for Bernie Sanders if he's the nominee.

Looking forward to ousting Trump in 2020.

[Gothmog]

113. Do you really believe that sanders will release his tax returns?

I and others really want to see these tax returns. I am so happy that Maryland has a ballot access law in place and I am glad that several other blue states will be adopting these laws.

In the mean time, I am amused that sanders latest book is being heavily discounted. I will be surprised if sanders actually runs

I will be supporting one of a number of candidates. I really like Biden. My son grabbed and I saved some floor signs from Joe's speech at the National Convention. A Biden/Harris or a Biden/Beto ticket would be fun.

[Power 2 the People]

114. I am enthusiastic about 2020 also.

We have a very strong group of candidates. Hopefully we can sweep the senate and the White House. Have a great night Gothmog.

[Gothmog]

115. I am looking forward to the Texas primary

It will be fun seeing how the Super Tuesday play out.

[George II]

118. O'Rourke worries the snot out of Sanders supporters. BTW, the price on Amazon is $17.99 from $27.99

Interestingly there was a Sanders event in NYC a few weeks ago. Tickets were $45+ with a free book included. A few days before the event tickets were selling for $5.00 including the book.

[Gothmog]

119. Inside Bernie-world's war on Beto O'Rourke

Link to tweet

[KPN]

60. +1

[ananda]

63. Beto will be just fine.

He is a very fine Democrat and a great human being.

[Gothmog]

97. I also really like Beto and I am not worried by the attacks being levied by sanders supporters

I am amused that sanders supporters are so afraid of Beto that they are attacking him.

[mcar]

31. One would think people would have learned by now

[Hekate]

46. Trolls gotta pay bills, too. That said...

...we either drive them off DU ourselves, or throw in the towel on this site. Eternal vigilance is the price we pay etc.

[KPN]

53. Other than an informational piece about voting record from the Guardian, I haven't seen any.

Can you include any links? I'd like to take a look at those.

As for the Guardian piece, voting record is an important piece of information about any candidate.

[Bucky]

54. Welcome to politics. You can't jump to the front of a hungry pack and expect no nips at your tail

I don't see his appeal fading, since it's mostly inside-politics and people throwing uninteresting labels like "moderate" and "new Democrat" at him.

[Demsrule86]

67. I find it coming from Sen. Sander supporters mostly...who really think their guy will win the

nomination this time. I don't think he will.

[McCamy Taylor]

103. You sure it isn't from Jill Stein supporters?

Like those seen in this picture?



To be fair to Sanders, I think he is honest and many of his supporters are honest. Not all, but many. I think if he had been nominated, Russia would have smeared him as bad as they did Clinton in the general.

[QC]

72. Sounds like politics. n/t

[LanternWaste]

79. I'm guessing the St Petersburg Troll Farm rolled out a new brand of seeds.

And we're watching them being sown. In real time.

[McCamy Taylor]

102. Agreed.

[McCamy Taylor]

104. Making Beto my number one choice for 2020. If the opposition sees him as a threat

then I see him as a strength.

Maybe he and Castro can pull a Dick Cheney and move Castro to a different state so they can run together.

[cynatnite]

110. You should get used to it....everyone should start girding up...

That time of year will soon be upon us when DU turns into a den of factions with everyone supporting their favored candidate and attacking the rest.

It will get heated and personal, too.

Get ready for it!

[LeftInTX]

116. DPR site is a skeleton

http://jackpineradicals.com/

[KayF]

117. maybe your insinuations will stop them

[Gothmog]

120. Bernie Sanders supporters should worry about Beto O'Rourke

Harry Enten has some good analysis https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/14/politics/bernie-sanders-beto-orourke-supporters-2020/index.html

The Beto O'Rourke 2020 train seems to be gaining steam. Those backing other potential candidates want donors and pundits to slow their Beto roll, however.

Among the most prominent critics are supporters of Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders who believes the Texan isn't progressive enough.

Sanders fans have at least some reason to worry. O'Rourke or really any other candidate with outsider appeal could eat into Sanders' base of young, independent-leaning voters.

If Sanders is going to win in 2020, he'll need to hold onto his support from 2016. He won more than 40% of the national primary vote, though he lost by low double-digits to Clinton national

[Tiggeroshii]

134. This Bernie supporter will gladly get on board the Beto train when the time comes.

And many others may likely jump ship for Beto as well.

[Gothmog]

135. According to this NYT article, you are not alone

Link to tweet

Further, the political consulting firm led by three of Mr. Sanders’s top digital aides from the last campaign — Kenneth Pennington, Hector Sigala and Elizabeth Bennett — worked for Mr. O’Rourke’s Senate bid and are hoping to work on his presidential campaign should he run, according to a Democratic strategist familiar with the firm’s thinking.

Two veterans of Mr. Sanders’s 2016 campaign, Becky Bond and Zack Malitz, were instrumental this year in helping to organize Mr. O’Rourke’s race against Senator Ted Cruz. Both said they are eager to be a part of any “Beto for President’’ effort.

“I don’t know if Beto is going to run, but if he does I’m all in,” said Ms. Bond.

Mr. Malitz added: “I want Beto to run and would want to work on that campaign.”

[Gothmog]

124. from my twitter feed

Link to tweet

[PubliusEnigma]

126. Don't worry. These attacks aren't coming from Democrats. Guaranteed.

[dlk]

127. There's Never a Shortage of Trolls or Divisive Troll Wannabes

Maybe they’re getting warmed up for Christmas.

[Gothmog]

136. This NYT Article explains why sanders and his supporters are worried about Beto

Link to tweet

Further, the political consulting firm led by three of Mr. Sanders’s top digital aides from the last campaign — Kenneth Pennington, Hector Sigala and Elizabeth Bennett — worked for Mr. O’Rourke’s Senate bid and are hoping to work on his presidential campaign should he run, according to a Democratic strategist familiar with the firm’s thinking.

Two veterans of Mr. Sanders’s 2016 campaign, Becky Bond and Zack Malitz, were instrumental this year in helping to organize Mr. O’Rourke’s race against Senator Ted Cruz. Both said they are eager to be a part of any “Beto for President’’ effort.

“I don’t know if Beto is going to run, but if he does I’m all in,” said Ms. Bond.

Mr. Malitz added: “I want Beto to run and would want to work on that campaign.”

[Gothmog]

137. Why the Bernie Movement Must Crush Beto O'Rourke

Here is another good article on the reason why sanders supporters are attacking Beto http://nymag.com/intelligencer/2018/12/bernie-sanders-beto-orourke-feud-2020-campaign-democratic.html

The rise of Beto O’Rourke poses an obvious threat. The Texas congressman has replicated aspects of Sanders’s appeal — his positivity and refusal to accept PAC money — while exceeding it in some ways. Sanders is charismatic in an unconventional way, the slovenly and cranky but somewhat lovable old uncle, while O’Rourke projects a classic handsome, toothy, Kennedy-esque charm that reliably makes Democrats swoon. Hard-core loyalists find the contrast irksome. “Reading Karl Marx is cool,” said Nomiki Konst, a Sanders loyalist and candidate for New York City public advocate, to NBC. “Doing a livestream while you’re doing your laundry is a gimmick.” The comment sums up the left’s well-grounded fear that Sanders’s hard-core ideological appeal can be easily disarmed with personal charisma.

And while O’Rourke has yet to decide on a presidential campaign, and would have to overcome an enormous field if he does, the Sandernistas are hardly paranoid to discern the kind of groundswell that could quickly propel O’Rourke to the front of the pack. Former Obama strategist and current Pod Save America host Dan Pfeiffer wrote a piece urging O’Rourke to run (without endorsing him). O’Rourke reportedly met with Obama, who favored him with public praise. “What I liked most about his race was that it didn’t feel constantly poll-tested,” Obama said. “It felt as if he based his statements and his positions on what he believed.”

What Obama is describing here is O’Rourke’s ability to speak naturally and with apparent conviction — one never knows if a politician is expressing genuine conviction or just performing it well — without taking hard-left policy stances. O’Rourke’s short career has allowed him to avoid being pinned down on every item in the party platform. He generally occupies the center of the Democratic Party, and often expresses broad sympathy for left-wing policy goals while suggesting he favors a more pragmatic alternative. On health care, he advocates “achieving universal health care coverage — whether it be through a single-payer system, a dual system, or otherwise — so that we can ensure everyone is able to see a provider when it will do the most good and will deliver health care in the most affordable, effective way possible.”

One of the deeper strategic goals of the left is to equate progressive maximalism with authenticity, like Sanders did. They want candidates who take uncompromising left-wing positions to be seen as authentic, and candidates who adopt more moderate lines to be seen as calculating and phony. The socialist left will attack any non-Sanders candidate, but O’Rourke is especially dangerous to their project precisely because of his Obama-like personal appeal.