2020 Presidential Election

[BullDog]

Assuming Russia still wants Trump to win I would think they will do whatever they can to take down whoever the Democrat is. If they try to help Bernie initially it's because they think he is easy to beat. I expect they will go after Biden hard.

Last I heard, Trump wanted to run against Warren, closely followed by Sanders. I think the Republicans believe those are the easiest ones to run against.

As obnoxious as I find some (emphasis some) Bernie followers, it's the candidate I vote for not the followers. He doesn't stand up or try to stop the obnoxious ones and that is one thing that bothers me. At least McCain spoke up against some of his looney tune followers (yeah he went with Palin which stirred a lot of it up in the first place so definitely far from perfect).

He didn't support Clinton hard enough after he lost. He didn't speak out against the sexism and lies of the Bros. He doesn't help the Democratic party - just runs as a Democrat when it's convenient for him. He's not a team player.

If he wins the Democratic nomination I will vote for him. Then brace for the landslide but still hope for the best.

[Kätzchen]

What I want, and hope we get somebody like this, is person who represents the PEOPLE first. Not a person who represents and embodies the same type of sexist, xenophobic, racist, god-like egotistical personalities we've seen in the past.

I want the very best for the future of the community at large -- a community of people who are least likely to be heard, and when I say that, I mean communities of people who are of every type of background (racial, ethnic, spiritual/faith-based, non-faith-based peoples, those of minority status among most categories of peoples, etc). Because I'm sick to death of the White Privilege card politics, the White-collar politics, or anything to do with privilege over those who have hardly any privilege except be born into a social system where our lives our used to uphold an antiquated system which has proven to cause more human harm and strife, than happiness.

I want the next president of the United States to not only think about how to best represent collective interests here at home, but abroad.

I want a president who won't be like the current monster in the WH.

I want a president whom nearly every person can respect and appreciate because they respect the people who have entrusted and elected them to represent everyone's best interests and not just their own interests or to make a mockery of social law and order and the process of democracy, in it's truest form.

It's early yet, in my mind, so I have every reason to believe that the Democratic Party will find its core strengths and improve on its weaknesses and be as thoughtful and pragmatic and devoted to the best interests of constituents, regardless of party orientation, but primarily focus on Democratic tenets which privilege and empower people, the vast majority of people in our country and globally, and eventually present the best candidate possible to represent the Democratic Party.

[cathexis]

Sanders may be not responding to the jerks using old lefty logic...

You don't react when provociteurs or saboteurs infiltrate. They may be FBI or
other negative influences trying to disrupt a socialist agenda.

Unusually, I will give him the benefit of doubt. Not a Sanders supporter, though. Democratic Socialists want to ride between socialism and capitalism, and are usually liberals, not true revolutionary forces.

[kittygrrl]

I have never seen Bernie in a good mood EVER..just my limited observation but it bothers me...he's rude to supporters at times. His campaign 2016 was embarrassingly absent of any real diversity..o yeah, this time he's cleaning up his act, but do i believe he's changed??, no not really he's 77. It's time for him to give a chance to the younger generation, he's had his turn and he (no longer) has a monopoly on free college and healthcare ideals...we need some fresh air..

[kittygrrl]

I hear Bernie did well at Fox News Town Hall..that was a bold move.

[dark_crystal]

Progressives DO NOT like Mayor Pete. He is getting criticized for his media coverage, his whitleblower position, his immigration position, his child care tax credit, and his frequent mentions of religion.

I have concerns about progressive calls to keep religion out of politics.

As much as that should be the ideal, religion is kicking our asses-- and has been for a couple of decades.

I feel like this is an area where there is a divide between the so-called "coastal elites" and the so-called "heartland."

I do not think progressive state people fully appreciate the influence religion has in the "heartland."

I am sure progressive state residents understand about fundamentalists and have seen JESUS CAMP and have run into Westboro and Operation Rescue at clinic defense, but all of that is kicked up about one thousand percent down here.

I do not think people who don't live/have not lived in the Bible Belt understand the intensity and ubiquity of some very extreme ideas, or the high degree of respect these ideas get even by people who don't practice them.

[CherylNYC]

Originally Posted by dark_crystal

Progressives DO NOT like Mayor Pete. He is getting criticized for his media coverage, his whitleblower position, his immigration position, his child care tax credit, and his frequent mentions of religion.

I have concerns about progressive calls to keep religion out of politics.

As much as that should be the ideal, religion is kicking our asses-- and has been for a couple of decades.

I feel like this is an area where there is a divide between the so-called "coastal elites" and the so-called "heartland."

I do not think progressive state people fully appreciate the influence religion has in the "heartland."

I am sure progressive state residents understand about fundamentalists and have seen JESUS CAMP and have run into Westboro and Operation Rescue at clinic defense, but all of that is kicked up about one thousand percent down here.

I do not think people who don't live/have not lived in the Bible Belt understand the intensity and ubiquity of some very extreme ideas, or the high degree of respect these ideas get even by people who don't practice them.

I agree with much of what you say, dark crystal. In my experience, one of the biggest divides between the so-called coastal elites and the alleged heartland is around being comfortable speaking about faith. One of the reasons why Mayor Pete is gaining ground amongst improbable supporters is because he speaks simply and authentically about his own personal faith. His authenticity as a Christian is really quite compelling to many. When progressives expect others to stay away from speaking about their own faith they appear to be plugging up the fountain of comfort for everyone else, as if there's something about it that should embarrass them, and that drives Americans away in droves. You can call those faith-driven people inhabitants of the 'heartland' if you like, and there probably are more of them in the southern and mid-western states, but I honestly don't think Christianity is a geographic phenomenon in the US.

Authentic faith isn't trotted out for a photo op or an election strategy. It just...is. Failure to recognize that is how we lose elections.