Strange new Bernie meme: he's not "promising" anything.

[DanTex]

As long as I remember, whenever a politician has said something like "under my plan, blah blah blah", the "blah blah blah" that comes after "under my plan" has been known as a campaign promise. The "plan" is what the politician is, uh, "planning" on doing when s/he gets into office. The idea is to tell voters what to expect, and also to later be able to hold the politician accountable if "blah blah blah" doesn't actually happen.

But Bernie fans think they've found a rhetorical loophole. That because Bernie doesn't use the word "promise", his campaign promises aren't actually campaign promises. If you go to his website, there are all sorts of plans, and explanations about how great everything will be under his plans, but those are just "plans" and we all know what happens with plans. Bernie's a realist, he knows none of it is actually going to happen!

For example, single payer. Bernie has a plan for that, and a chorus of liberal policy experts have looked at his plan and found that it won't work. Even if it did get through congress, which it wouldn't, Bernie's numbers fall short by as much as $1T per year. In short, Bernie is promising things he can't deliver.

Unable to rebut the substantive criticisms, the new tack is that he isn't actually making promises. Apparently his website is a form of graphic art, and the policies he is proposing are meant as a philosophical thought experiment. Vote for Bernie! He's not really gonna do anything, but he'll give you a bunch of interesting things to think about!

[cali]

1. You don't know what a meme is, Danny.

[Art_from_Ark]

6. He does know what a strawman is, though

Or at least, he knows how to set them up and knock them down.

[virtualobserver]

11. no strawman can withstand his relentless attack

[NurseJackie]

2. "... interesting things to think about!" -- HA! Good one! :-D

[Warren Stupidity]

3. Your essay needs work.

He can't both be not promising anything and promising things he can't deliver.

Generally you want to state your theme and expound on it with examples to prove your point. Weaving an alternate and contradictory theme into a pontification like this, as you have done, is tricky stuff and generally weakens your effort to persuade your audience.

[DanTex]

5. It's a little subtle. You see, he actually is promising things he can't deliver, and his supporters

know that, so they try to pretend his promises aren't actually "promises."

You're right, though, I may have estimated some of the audience here.

[tk2kewl]

12. he is promising to lead the charge if enough of us will get on board with his ideas

what's so hard to understand?

[Ed Suspicious]

4. How much are you paid to perform this sort of work?

I think I might also like a job as a propagandist.

[DanTex]

7. A LOT! So much money, you can hardly imagine.

[morningfog]

8. Getting your Bernie hate on early!

[notadmblnd]

9. There is nothing strange about it

If you could be quiet enough to listen to what he says, you'd know that. However that wouldn't get you any attention.

First Sanders says, "I will fight for..." and you folks say, "Where's his plan?" Then Sanders provides a plan, and now you twist that into "Sanders is making promises he can't possibly keep." Then you cry and whine, "he doesn't use the word promise but he's promising things he can't keep." Reminds me of damn dogs chasing their tails.

Make up your freaking mind. Cause you're not changing anyone elses.

[enid602]

10. promises

" That because Bernie doesn't use the word "promise", his campaign promises aren't actually campaign promises." They would be viewed as campaign promises in the GE, and that's why the Republicans would do anything to run against Sanders.

[Ed Suspicious]

14. I think the only promise he makes is that he's going

to fight for us. That's enough for me. He's going to lead the fight. And that is absolutely good enough for me.

[liberal N proud]

13. Nothing promised, nothing gained

[BillZBubb]

15. What a load of sophomoric drivel.

Like all candidates, Sanders is stating what he hopes to do. They are things he will fight for. There are no guarantees any candidate's plans will ever reach fruition. Enactment is never a promise. How could it be?

The test is whether the candidate, once elected, seriously pursues his or her stated objectives.

Clinton has plans too. If she can't get the repugs to cooperate, would you accuse her of breaking her promises? I wouldn't. Same with Sanders.

[Bluenorthwest]

16. What?

Take a breath and try it again with fewer words.

[mhatrw]

17. It's only strange if you don't understand the concept of fighting for what is right and just.

That's what Bernie has done all his life. And what he is promising to do as President is to continue fighting for what is right and just along with all the rest of us who actually care about those kinds of magic unicorns.