General Discussion

LWolf

(46,179 posts)

160. Reading through this thread again leaves me with one question.

Mon May 25, 2015, 12:49 PM

May 2015

I agree with many in this thread that the primary poses a bigger challenge for Bernie than the GE.

Since that's the case, why would Democrats who have a chance to nominate a winner who is better on every single issue than HRC, who have a chance to nominate someone who would actually work and fight to lead the country out of her neo-liberal degradation, nominate a neo-liberal instead?

Why wouldn't Democrats who align more closely with Sanders on issues not throw him their support?

The answer to that question is one I can't, while trying to honor the TOS, answer.

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Serious question...does anyone really think Bernie Sanders would win a general election? [View all] BluegrassDem May 2015 OP

I remember when the conventional wisdom was that Bill Clinton stood no chance against Bush Sr. Nye Bevan May 2015 #1

Thank you... Paka May 2015 #7

Reminds me of 1972 1939 May 2015 #31

I don't have to talk to those in my circle. Paka May 2015 #35

Which still isn't a representative sample of the potential voting pool mythology May 2015 #63

This is not 1972 - we have been through 30+ years of trickle down. That will be remembered in jwirr May 2015 #109

In 1972 1939 May 2015 #140

Oh, I am well aware of the times and the results of the election since I worked in McGovern's jwirr May 2015 #150

I am also 74 and agree with you. Chipper Chat May 2015 #89

Polling has Bush/Clinton within 1 pt in Florida. brooklynite May 2015 #112

And neither one has started to campaign. 1939 May 2015 #143

The Presidential won't be dependent on the State Party... brooklynite May 2015 #147

Pennsylvania has gone Democratic the last six elections. DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #149

I think that the tone in the USA is one that makes it possible for that grumpy old man to win. He is jwirr May 2015 #105

And 1939 May 2015 #146

People are putting those things on the internet. They (I) am the electorate. jwirr May 2015 #151

Yes, but 1939 May 2015 #166

And of course that is the question. jwirr May 2015 #171

Also helped that Perot got 19 million votes. NuclearDem May 2015 #48

Res ipsa loquitur DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #148

Racial Pepsi-Cola? Orrex May 2015 #182

Bill Clinton was one of the most saavy political figures in the last 50 years,,, brooklynite May 2015 #111

a lot of people really think he could win. his ideas *should* win, but the people who think he dionysus May 2015 #2

We did not ELECT GWB twice and even once (2004) is still contested. - nt KingCharlemagne May 2015 #56

It would appear we did. Agschmid May 2015 #65

You know what? You're 100% right. GWB received more votes nationally and in Flroida KingCharlemagne May 2015 #73

Did you read my post, or did you just get frustrated and respond? Agschmid May 2015 #74

No, I read your post. You think Bush actually won Florida in 2000. Whatever you've KingCharlemagne May 2015 #79

Oh I said that? I missed it... Agschmid May 2015 #92

Gore got 500,000+ more popular votes than Bush did nationwide Art_from_Ark May 2015 #118

Popular votes don't cut it. Agschmid May 2015 #120

So in other words Art_from_Ark May 2015 #197

We don't. Agschmid May 2015 #208

Pretty clear exposition, if you ask me. pangaia May 2015 #78

Possibly Sherman A1 May 2015 #3

I think he could win the general election. SheilaT May 2015 #4

Certainly. People are tired of the same old crap. PowerToThePeople May 2015 #5

Exactly TexasBushwhacker May 2015 #122

Bernie does. bluesbassman May 2015 #6

No he doesn't. Donald Ian Rankin May 2015 #17

Nice. Guess we have Clinton supporters calling Senator Sanders a liar now. bluesbassman May 2015 #28

I can't wait to hear their pathetic red-baiting shit after Sanders knocks her off in Iowa KingCharlemagne May 2015 #59

Can't wait is right! InAbLuEsTaTe May 2015 #110

What makes you think I'm a Clinton supporter? Donald Ian Rankin May 2015 #87

This message was self-deleted by its author darkangel218 May 2015 #103

In order for the Republicans to win... DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #163

Since the war, only one party has won after 8 years in power, in 1988. Donald Ian Rankin May 2015 #192

Voting has never been as polarized and demographically driven as it is now... DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #199

Let's hope they're right and I'm wrong N.T. Donald Ian Rankin May 2015 #200

I am painfully aware of the three term jinx. DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #201

Another feature of that page is that Bernie Sanders isn't given any chance muriel_volestrangler May 2015 #204

Odds can change...I don't believe Hillary or any other Democrat is inevitable. DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #205

Post removed Post removed May 2015 #68

Yes, I do. Scootaloo May 2015 #8

Because he's "concerned." [n/t] Maedhros May 2015 #195

Well I'm concerned about all those goats traipsing over bridges willy-nilly Scootaloo May 2015 #196

Yes - they should instead throw out one or more fishing lines, baited with lures or bait fish, Maedhros May 2015 #229

I don't think he could win, but... TreasonousBastard May 2015 #9

I doubt it but who knows at this point gwheezie May 2015 #10

All the John states John Kerry won plus Ohio Cheese Sandwich May 2015 #11

I wouldn't be surprised to see Bernie pick up something in the south. Vinca May 2015 #57

...and Ohio elected and re-elected John Kasich; Wisconsin elected and re-elected Scott Walker brooklynite May 2015 #116

Have you ever watched a steel mill sit empty for 10 years and rust away in front of your face? Cheese Sandwich May 2015 #152

All those Reoublicans were elected in those ten years... brooklynite May 2015 #155

This message was self-deleted by its author Cheese Sandwich May 2015 #164

Wouldn't a lot of those aging issues fly in FL too? (nt) Jackpine Radical May 2015 #129

Yeah Florida is probably the oldest state Cheese Sandwich May 2015 #137

Yes, I do Marrah_G May 2015 #12

sure, if he can beat Hillary quaker bill May 2015 #13

Yes, it is technically true that if he can beat Hillary then he can win the general election. N.T. Donald Ian Rankin May 2015 #23

so, no worries then. quaker bill May 2015 #32

About Sanders, or DU? Donald Ian Rankin May 2015 #33

Been here for a primary season? quaker bill May 2015 #69

This message was self-deleted by its author Donald Ian Rankin May 2015 #14

They said this black guy could never win... DiverDave May 2015 #15

The Black guy, and his supporters, convienced enough Dems ... JoePhilly May 2015 #113

Huh? They most certainly did attack Obama supporters DiverDave May 2015 #203

I think some people genuinely do. I find this kind of depressing. Donald Ian Rankin May 2015 #16

You want reality based? Erich Bloodaxe BSN May 2015 #19

Technically that is true, yes. Donald Ian Rankin May 2015 #21

you are not making sense quaker bill May 2015 #34

Huh? AgingAmerican May 2015 #134

He is saying he can't beat Hillary muriel_volestrangler May 2015 #158

Yeah, and she was supposed to be inevitable 6 years ago, too. Warren DeMontague May 2015 #25

8 years ago, Obama was already competitive in the polls muriel_volestrangler May 2015 #37

There's a recent PPP poll from Washington hootinholler May 2015 #49

You mean just in Washington State? muriel_volestrangler May 2015 #62

Yes. The national poll was a few days after the announcement hootinholler May 2015 #85

Obama won by discarding national polls during the primary. State by state is the Exilednight May 2015 #101

John Kerry was the only one who would win quaker bill May 2015 #30

So somehow you think that being on DU takes us out of the real world and we cannot possibly jwirr May 2015 #117

Serious answer - I think he has a BETTER chance at winning a general than the primary. Erich Bloodaxe BSN May 2015 #18

Completely agree. n/t MadrasT May 2015 #86

Did anyone really think that a peanut farmer from Plains Georgia OutNow May 2015 #20

Yes, in both cases. N.T. Donald Ian Rankin May 2015 #22

Frankly, any Democratic was going to win in 1976 TexasBushwhacker May 2015 #124

I think people want a leader who actually leads, who isn't afraid to take actual positions on actual Warren DeMontague May 2015 #24

We have a long history of candidates being a longshot, but who have ideas the people want.... dmosh42 May 2015 #26

When people get to know him they love him. Kalidurga May 2015 #27

I think our "David" has a good chance to defeat the Goliath we are against. tiredtoo May 2015 #29

As things stand now? No. DFW May 2015 #36

"prickly, grumpy old man" is an ageist ad hominem HereSince1628 May 2015 #38

Yet that's the label many here used about McCain in 2008 Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin May 2015 #161

It was also an ageist ad hominem then HereSince1628 May 2015 #198

+1 And I don't find Bernie to be prickly or grumpy. Live and Learn May 2015 #228

No doubt in my mind madokie May 2015 #39

"It is better to vote for what you want and lose than to vote for what you dont want and win" CentralMass May 2015 #40

"It is better to vote to get half of what you want than vote for what you want and get none" brooklynite May 2015 #154

I think he has a better chance than Hillary. Many seem to Exilednight May 2015 #41

The times they are a-changin' - happened in the 60's & its happening now. Divernan May 2015 #42

He could. But I don't think the DNC & the PTB will allow him to get the nom. RiverLover May 2015 #43

What if anything can we do to get rid of the superdelagates? jwirr May 2015 #119

Have enough people vote for him that the 20% superdelegate vote is irrelevant. /nt RiverLover May 2015 #218

Well I guess we are working for that. jwirr May 2015 #219

I believe he could. I believe whoever we nominate would beat any of the idiotic rethugs. we can do it May 2015 #44

Sure, if this is the election in which social media outpaces the mainstream media. I also like ... Scuba May 2015 #45

Absolutely hootinholler May 2015 #46

That is how democracy is supposed to work, isn't it? Anybody can win? nt bemildred May 2015 #47

Not really hack89 May 2015 #71

LOL. Thanks. nt bemildred May 2015 #72

Only the person with the most votes. Donald Ian Rankin May 2015 #88

Bernie is a very experienced politician, elected many times, no? bemildred May 2015 #93

"I'm going to preface this preachy scolding with a bullshit question." cherokeeprogressive May 2015 #50

I don't think he can win the election no GusBob May 2015 #51

You are wrong - when people get to know him they love him. Where do you see humor as a part of jwirr May 2015 #121

Yes. sendero May 2015 #52

depends on your economic/percentage status. reddread May 2015 #53

People get excited to go to casinos and give away money Renew Deal May 2015 #54

Serious question...does anyone really think Hillary Clinton would win a general election? - nt KingCharlemagne May 2015 #55

She'd lose; "donations" to CFF would come to a screeching halt. Divernan May 2015 #77

So Bernie can win, but Hillary can't? Is this bizarro world?!? Metric System May 2015 #94

My, aren't you precious? - nt KingCharlemagne May 2015 #123

The oddsmaker who have to pay out their own money when they lose do DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #167

Your post betrays a singularly jejeune notion of what oddsmakers and bookies KingCharlemagne May 2015 #172

I don't believe my post was jejune. DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #176

You implied that bookies and oddsmakers actually paid with their own money, when the reality is that KingCharlemagne May 2015 #177

It was a quote from a gaming site, hence the quotation marks I used, ergo: DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #179

HRC will motivate the misogynist base of the Republicans to come out to vote like few KingCharlemagne May 2015 #185

Oddsmakers don't predict the election. They predict the betting. Jim Lane May 2015 #227

I understand that... DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #234

Yes ProudToBeBlueInRhody May 2015 #175

The news will not give him equal time. The end. patricia92243 May 2015 #58

One can't know. That's one of the reasons we have presidential primaries. Smarmie Doofus May 2015 #60

I do not think that Bernie Sanders will be viable in a general election Gothmog May 2015 #61

Yes, I do rock May 2015 #64

Yes Bernie can win newfie11 May 2015 #66

Some ageism in there no? Agschmid May 2015 #67

I am voting for him. I don't put my wet finger in the wind to see what everyone else is doing, that GoneFishin May 2015 #70

Tell you? 99Forever May 2015 #75

No randr May 2015 #76

"prickly, grumpy old man" handmade34 May 2015 #80

I do. H2O Man May 2015 #81

If Sanders beats Hillary in the Primaries he can win the General. It would change all perceptions Tom Rinaldo May 2015 #82

My simplest answer; Yes, he has a real shot. Half-Century Man May 2015 #83

Sanders can win a general Man from Pickens May 2015 #84

Yes. I think he can win. LWolf May 2015 #90

Nobody thought Alberta would... CanSocDem May 2015 #91

America will not elect a Socialist in 2016 redstateblues May 2015 #96

Bernie gets elected every six years. He is a socialist. nt bemildred May 2015 #100

By the 2nd smallest electorate in the nation, and almost uniformly snow-white, too. Orrex May 2015 #141

It definitely shows that americans will elect socialists. It is a fact. nt bemildred May 2015 #144

It's a meaningless fact. Orrex May 2015 #156

It means Bernie is a Senator, that is how it works. nt bemildred May 2015 #157

No shit. And he'll remain a Senator. Orrex May 2015 #159

I am addressing the notion that americans will not elect socialists, they will and they do. nt bemildred May 2015 #169

Who put forth that notion? Orrex May 2015 #173

Thanks for clearing that up redstateblues May 2015 #189

On the ballot, he would be listed as a Democrat Art_from_Ark May 2015 #225

Right, America will never elect a Catholic-black-woman-socialist-whathaveyou in 2016. bemildred May 2015 #237

Can Clinton win a seriously contested election? The next time would be the first. TheKentuckian May 2015 #95

With Bernie at the top of the ticket we're headed for an electoral wipeout. It will make the 80s Metric System May 2015 #97

Let me ask you a serious question fredamae May 2015 #98

No i don't think he will win. hrmjustin May 2015 #99

I Will No Longer Settle For The Lesser Of Two Corporate Evils - Go Bernie Go cantbeserious May 2015 #102

So you are saying Hillary is evil? redstateblues May 2015 #191

I Am Saying That She Is Bought And Paid For By Wall Street As We Already Know cantbeserious May 2015 #193

Heh. OilemFirchen May 2015 #207

Maybe HassleCat May 2015 #104

I have a serious guestion for you BluegrassDem olddots May 2015 #106

Yes! Yes I do! haikugal May 2015 #107

Does anyone really think Hillary Clinton would win a general election? earthside May 2015 #108

"But Mrs. Hillary Clinton heading the Democratic ticket in 2016 is a landslide loser." DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #174

I'm old enough to remember ... earthside May 2015 #183

I would actually have to see the odds and polling from the races you cited. DemocratSinceBirth May 2015 #188

Nobody but the people. cyberswede May 2015 #114

Yes. Hilary was the presumed 2008 nominee, until an inexperienced one term Sen was elected! EndElectoral May 2015 #115

Wasn't it a half term? Seem to remember he didn't finish the term to become President. libdem4life May 2015 #138

"He's a prickly, grumpy old man" --->personal attack. Is it ok to call Hillary a &#%^&@%#* now too? L0oniX May 2015 #125

Funny how that works, huh? 99Forever May 2015 #130

I'm going to quote the last guy who people said could not be elected, Barack Obama, the night he was Bluenorthwest May 2015 #126

Absolutely...people are hungry and hurting, HELL YES randys1 May 2015 #127

Grumpy old man? Bohemianwriter May 2015 #128

Would you vote for Lou Grant? Jackpine Radical May 2015 #132

if the repugs nominate Huckleberry I can see anyone beating him dlwickham May 2015 #131

in 2007, nobody thought we'd elect a black guy as president: Ken Burch May 2015 #133

If he doesn't win then we are stuck with another POTUS repaying favors onecaliberal May 2015 #135

If I thought he could lead us more toward a nation like Denmark, I'd be behind him completely. Hoyt May 2015 #136

When was the last time someone to the far left or right of their party won? Reter May 2015 #139

He is not that far left really Rosa Luxemburg May 2015 #230

Bernie would be luck to win his home state in the general workinclasszero May 2015 #142

I think it's too early to say. n/t malthaussen May 2015 #145

Since the only candidates the Repukes LibDemAlways May 2015 #153

i am not so sure drray23 May 2015 #233

I think Bernie's message would have broad populist appeal. If LibDemAlways May 2015 #236

Reading through this thread again leaves me with one question. LWolf May 2015 #160

Hillary is an imperious, arrogant old woman. Marr May 2015 #162

No, not in the real world. n/t Lil Missy May 2015 #165

Yes. In fact, if he's the nominee he will restore faith in the electoral system. n/t lumberjack_jeff May 2015 #168

I don't really know anymore. I thought HRC would beat the POTUS in 2008. Rex May 2015 #170

Obama can't possibly win! ...or so we were told. Kip Humphrey May 2015 #178

Yes. His problem is the primaries. Eleanors38 May 2015 #180

Reading through this hilarious thread, I get a sense of Déjà vu. Remember this guy? Tarheel_Dem May 2015 #181

Yes, I seriously think he can win. Even if he doesn't, every revolution has to start somewhere. liberal_at_heart May 2015 #184

And of course there was this guy who was the next Great White Hope. Tarheel_Dem May 2015 #186

It took this guy to show 'em all how it's done. Tarheel_Dem May 2015 #187

He already has... kentuck May 2015 #190

Did anyone think that Obama would win the general election? Rosa Luxemburg May 2015 #194

She's a Cracked Actor with a past, he's someone people can trust . orpupilofnature57 May 2015 #202

He's not someone people can trust to beat the Republicans... brooklynite May 2015 #206

Didn't we ask the same question about Obama in 2007? muntrv May 2015 #209

I think most Democrats would win over a Republican in this era. bravenak May 2015 #210

And this is why I wrote we might be at one of those moments nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #214

You're confusing primaries with the general election. Stop it. Warpy May 2015 #211

Yes. nt RiffRandell May 2015 #212

You asked a serious question, so I will give you a very serious answer nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #213

The conventional wisdom. bravenak May 2015 #221

As I wrote, we might be in one of those moments nadinbrzezinski May 2015 #223

I hope so. I really do. bravenak May 2015 #224

Sure. Very possible. immoderate May 2015 #215

Concerned, huh? TBF May 2015 #216

As opposed to what, a prickly, grumpy old woman? Octafish May 2015 #217

if he can win the democratic primary JI7 May 2015 #220

Yes (nt) bigwillq May 2015 #222

Yes. daleanime May 2015 #226

He is great. JDPriestly May 2015 #231

Of course he won't MaggieD May 2015 #232

Neoliberalism has a lifetime opponent in me. They didn't before. mmonk May 2015 #235

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