2020 US Election (Part One)

[hobbsyoyo]

*I can see him doing that if he is winning a plurality of delegates, but not a majority. Biden is old enough to have a very good idea of what happened last time there was fight like that and how it trashed Carter's chances at winning reelection.

I can't see him doing that as much as it would make sense. I think his ego is too big for that, as with anyone running at that level of politics. It takes real integrity to bow out in a situation like that and I don't think most of them are up to it but least of all Biden.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Interesting definition of "fringe". It's not like Bernie and Warren make up 20% of the vote. Bernie sort of split the vote with Hellary last time.

They are somewhat less than half of the Democratic party, which is somewhat less than a third of the population...therefor they are about 15% of the population, and much like the Teahadists they are fringe.

If Biden does drop out due for a 'health of the party' reason*, I suspect he would endorse Warren. None of the Third Way Democrats are polling all that well to comprise a clear successor, and even the love for the Bootyjudge seems to be fading as people start gravitating to either Sanders or Warren. Sanders is too old and cranky and too "socialist" for Biden to endorse, but Warren has the institutional cred to become a party leader rather than "Old Man Yells at Clouds".

*I can see him doing that if he is winning a plurality of delegates, but not a majority. Biden is old enough to have a very good idea of what happened last time there was fight like that and how it trashed Carter's chances at winning reelection.

Nahhh. The people who are supporting Biden aren't going with the fringe no matter what he might tell them on his way out. If they are willing to go to the fringe they will already be there.

Not Warren. Harris. With Obama pulling the strings.

That's my guess as well.

 

[innonimatu]

You have an actually progressive candidate still running. This is fringe?

 

[Narz]

Bet online gives Yang better odds than smooth talking Pete and has had more viewers on his website than any other candidate.

 

[Narz]

Warren in/around 1st place on the betting markets

Pakman has a great channel btw, worth subscribing

 

[mitsho]

Wasn't the argument that Biden could lift someone like say Beto O'Rourke out of the pulk with his endorsement. That way he can avoid going with a radical like Warren or a black woman such as Harris...

Also, Buttigieg clearly isn't in the race for the presidency, but more for a proof of concept (gay candidate) and a good position in the cabinet. That makes you act differently strategically.

My personal bet now has been for month to be Harris, followed closely by Warren.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

You have an actually progressive candidate still running. This is fringe?

Appeals to less than half of the Democratic party and has absolutely zero appeal outside of it...yeah, that's fringe.

 

[cardgame]

On the contrary, Bernie's policies are almost universally supported by a majority of the population and he may be one of the only candidates who can draw support from and appeal to non-voters, because everyone else is just a typical establishment type, even Warren.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

On the contrary, Bernie's policies are almost universally supported by a majority of the population and he may be one of the only candidates who can draw support from and appeal to non-voters, because everyone else is just a typical establishment type, even Warren.

LOL...of course his "policies" are widely supported. Everyone likes pie in the sky with ice cream. That doesn't change the fact that the only thing easier to paint as a terrifying evil for the apolitical than a self declared socialist is if he openly claimed to be a communist. He might be the only person other than Hillary that Trump could beat.

 

[Ironsided]

Yeah, you, sommer and metalhead sure had the finger right on the pulse of the American people last elections.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

Yeah, you, sommer and metalhead sure had the finger right on the pulse of the American people last elections.

Not really. I underestimated how widespread raw stupidity is among democrats. Thus Trump. Congratulations.

 

[Modder_Mode]

On the contrary, Bernie's policies are almost universally supported by a majority of the population and he may be one of the only candidates who can draw support from and appeal to non-voters, because everyone else is just a typical establishment type, even Warren.

But Bernie Sanders is an establishment type...he's been doing politics a long time.

 

[Socrates99]

But Bernie Sanders is an establishment type...he's been doing politics a long time.

As an independent. A Democrat even tried to unseat him in the last election. Hardly establishment.

 

[Lexicus]

LOL...of course his "policies" are widely supported. Everyone likes pie in the sky with ice cream. That doesn't change the fact that the only thing easier to paint as a terrifying evil for the apolitical than a self declared socialist is if he openly claimed to be a communist. He might be the only person other than Hillary that Trump could beat.

Not really. I underestimated how widespread raw stupidity is among democrats. Thus Trump. Congratulations.

With Democrats looking like nominating Joe Biden for Hillary's Loss in 2016: Part II I guess I also underestimated the raw stupidity.

If the US system really is such as to preclude a milquetoast candidate like Bernie from being elected, it's time to burn the whole thing down and start over.

 

[Kyriakos]

It is highly unlikely that the Us cannot have universal (state-provided) healthcare. The rest of the west does. Even non western countries do.
Same for free universities, or at least not the disastrous current fee policy.

 

[Socrates99]

It is highly unlikely that the Us cannot have universal (state-provided) healthcare. The rest of the west does. Even non western countries do.
Same for free universities, or at least not the disastrous current fee policy.

It's funny but we look at K-12 being free as a matter of course. There's even a lot of support for free preschool. For some reason the idea of extending that education system 4 more years is considered "radical." Some countries even pay students a stipend during college/university. In America we'd rather shoulder those kids with a 5 or 6 figure debt.

 

[Kyriakos]

It's funny but we look at K-12 being free as a matter of course. There's even a lot of support for free preschool. For some reason the idea of extending that education system 4 more years is considered "radical." Some countries even pay students a stipend during college/university. In America we'd rather shoulder those kids with a 5 or 6 figure debt.

This can only lead to many drop-outs or to most students needing to ally (be subordinated to) with some firm to get through, thus allowing even more private sector or other corporate control on research.
It also leads to the demise of humanities studies, cause they serve no such purpose, yet they do serve a primary intellectual purpose (albeit it is far easier to be a 'fake' in that field).

 

[Birdjaguar]

Policy doesn't matter at this point. The single goal should be who can unseat Trump.Unless that happens, nothing else matters. Once a Dem is in the WH, we can argue about what to do and how to do it.

 

[MagisterCultuum]

That sounds like the best way to make sure we get terrible policies.

 

[Takhisis]

On the contrary, Bernie's policies are almost universally supported by a majority of the population and he may be one of the only candidates who can draw support from and appeal to non-voters, because everyone else is just a typical establishment type, even Warren.

Wasn't Warren the typical establishment politician™ who, as a bankruptcy lawyer in the 1980s, was already warning of the potential for a financial crash such as the on in 2008?

With Democrats looking like nominating Joe Biden for Hillary's Loss in 2016: Part II I guess I also underestimated the raw stupidity.

Hmm. Yes, life experience shows that stupidity as a force in human development should never, ever be underestimated.

That sounds like the best way to make sure we get terrible policies.

The very best is just to let the Republican Party control all three branches of government as they do right now. But second-best can also do a lot of damage, and the various humanitarian, social, economic, environmental, and political crises looming or already happening cannot wait.