2016 Primaries and Caucuses Thread

[souvlaki]

You just find it a turnoff because you are not informed of Bernie's leanings.

Ha, I'm probably just slightly to the right of Bernie's leanings ironically. I really should be in his target demographic I just don't buy into the idea that he has a realistic shot of getting the things he wants accomplished (not to say anything of the fact that I don't really see any pathway to the presidency in our current political climate for a self proclaimed socialist). I had a close friend of mine recently say that he will get everything passed through congress because down ballot voting will flip the house and senate and I started laughing. Pretty much his entire agenda depends on a majority in both the house and the senate, otherwise he's pretty much a lame duck on day one. Do Sanders supporters honestly believe universal healthcare and a $15 minimum wage have even a remote chance of happening? We barely got Obamacare through and that was with a democratic house and senate.

 

[childeroland]

I had a post pop up on my Facebook feed recently that was something to the effect of "if black people would research before voting they would know that voting for Sanders is in their best interest". I'm not going to say everyone doesn't do it to some extant but the elitist attitude of a lot of his supporters is really irritating and a huge turnoff.

Well, according to blogger Jeff Wells, a big Bernie supporter, blacks are just stupid "low information," and that's why they didn't go for Sanders. And he's shocked that he can't turn them onto Bernie.

 

[MessiahDecoy123]

Ha, I'm probably just slightly to the right of Bernie's leanings ironically. I really should be in his target demographic I just don't buy into the idea that he has a realistic shot of getting the things he wants accomplished (not to say anything of the fact that I don't really see any pathway to the presidency in our current political climate for a self proclaimed socialist). I had a close friend of mine recently say that he will get everything passed through congress because down ballot voting will flip the house and senate and I started laughing. Pretty much his entire agenda depends on a majority in both the house and the senate, otherwise he's pretty much a lame duck on day one. Do Sanders supporters honestly believe universal healthcare and a $15 minimum wage have even a remote chance of happening? We barely got Obamacare through and that was with a democratic house and senate.

Or free college nationwide when we can't even fix the water crisis in Flint.

 

[Webfoot Hero]

Well, according to blogger Jeff Wells, a big Bernie supporter, blacks are just stupid "low information," and that's why they didn't go for Sanders. And he's shocked that he can't turn them onto Bernie.

I've seen that type of blaming and bashing going on from many Bernie supporters who try to explain why he's not doing better. Never a good idea to bash those you need to appeal to.

 

[Chance Jackson]

Or you know...most people aren't democratic socialists in America.

Lets be honest most voters don't research their candidates very thoroughly and are largely ignorant of legislative history, policy positions, causes championed or the various contradictions.

Those getting the most traditional media coverage often generate the most votes hence why trump has dominated the republican field.

I've seen that type of blaming and bashing going on from many Bernie supporters who try to explain why he's not doing better. Never a good idea to bash those you need to appeal to.

The bashers have given up

 

[SV Fan]

http://www.npr.org/2016/03/21/471308455/bernie-sanders-won-democrats-abroad-but-who-are-they

Bernie Sanders Won Democrats Abroad ... But Who Are They?

The next big day in the presidential nominating contest is Tuesday when voters in Arizona, Utah and Idaho head to the polls.

But the votes are already in for another overlooked primary — Democrats Abroad. Between March 1 and March 8, Democrats living across the globe cast their votes for who they want to see as their party's nominee. The votes have now been tallied, and Bernie Sanders won by a wide margin, according to results released Monday.

Sanders beat Clinton 69 to 31 percent in a year of record turnout for American Democratic voters living overseas. More than 34,000 people participated, a 50 percent jump from 2008. Sanders picked up 9 pledged delegates to Clinton's 4.

 

[Kelly]

Which makes no difference in the outcome....except that hopefully Bernie gets a nice position within the Clinton Administration if he so desires to continue in that area, or stay in the Senate.

 

[Lily Adler]

Desperate times, Kelly.

 

[SV Fan]

Here is a picture from an Idaho caucus

 

[SV Fan]

Desperate times, Kelly.

For the sake of argument I back Hillary more then Bernie(or at least I believe she will do better in a general election so I support her for that reason). All that being said I thought that primary was both weird and interesting. I don't believe Bernie has any shot of winning the Democrat primary though

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

No matter what happens the rest of the night Trump and Clinton are going to be the big winners because of their crushing wins in Arizona.

 

[Matt]

No matter what happens the rest of the night Trump and Clinton are going to be the big winners because of their crushing wins in Arizona.

Bad news for Bernie. After all, ever since Super Tuesday has camp's line has been "once we get to the Western states we will start to win." If he loses big tonight, it is time to withdraw.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Oh wow, Hillary wins in another big prize state by a commanding margin. I am so shocked and totally didn't see this coming.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Bad news for Bernie. After all, ever since Super Tuesday has camp's line has been "once we get to the Western states we will start to win." If he loses big tonight, it is time to withdraw.

To be fair to Bernie, Arizona is essentially Texas Jr. He'll probably win in Utah and Idaho and do well in the majority of other Western States.

 

[Kahran Ramsus]

To be fair to Bernie, Arizona is essentially Texas Jr. He'll probably win in Utah and Idaho and do well in the majority of other Western States.

Yeah, but they are all dinky.

 

[Matt]

To be fair to Bernie, Arizona is essentially Texas Jr. He'll probably win in Utah and Idaho and do well in the majority of other Western States.

Maybe, but never the less. With this huge win in Arizona, the nail is driven even deeper into ol'Bernie's coffin. Its time to go home and quit wasting your supporters' money.

 

[SV Fan]

Maybe, but never the less. With this huge win in Arizona, the nail is driven even deeper into ol'Bernie's coffin. Its time to go home and quit wasting your supporters' money.

I hope Bernie stays in the race for 2 reasons(even though I don't think he has any shot of winning)

1. He will push Hillary to the left

2. Hillary needs something for people to report about else they will go back to non stop email stories

ETA: I will add a third reason

3. Hillary can use the sparring practice

 

[SV Fan]

I must say Hillary is a terrible speaker and not really that motivating. lol

 

[hippie_hunter]

Maybe, but never the less. With this huge win in Arizona, the nail is driven even deeper into ol'Bernie's coffin. Its time to go home and quit wasting your supporters' money.

He should have quit back in Nevada. It astounds me that they actually tried to make the argument that the map favored Bernie after most of the South voted. It's like they pretended that states like New York, Pennsylvania, and California don't exist.

 

[Thundercrack85]

I think Bernie Sanders and his campaign should be proud of what they accomplished. They changed the conversation. But now he should bow out, and endorse Clinton.

I'm not happy that she's the candidate, but it's reality, and this is no time for uncertainty and division, when the front runners of the Republican Party are Ted Cruz and a guy who is dogged by accusations of being like Hitler.

 

[Marvolo]

I hope Bernie stays in the race for 2 reasons(even though I don't think he has any shot of winning)

1. He will push Hillary to the left

2. Hillary needs something for people to report about else they will go back to non stop email stories

ETA: I will add a third reason

3. Hillary can use the sparring practice

All good reasons, but Im not sure its worth it. All he is doing now is drawing votes from Hillary. The sooner Bernie drops out the sooner people can get over it and accept that Hillary is the candidate. It will give Hillary more time to win over some of the Bernie supporters.

 

[OcStat]

There's a lot of discrepancies in AZ tonight, apparently there were independents who updated their registration who were being turned away from the polls.

 

[SV Fan]

There's a lot of discrepancies in AZ tonight, apparently there were independents who updated their registration who were being turned away from the polls.

Given Trump and Hillary both ran away with the results, does it make a diference

 

[OcStat]

Considering how early it was called; maybe? Even if it doesn't make a difference in the outcome, it matters.

 

[SV Fan]

Considering how early it was called; maybe? Even if it doesn't make a difference in the outcome, it matters.

I think the lesson Arizona learned tonight is don't have such early voting in primaries. Rubio has like 17% and other candidates not running anymore have like another 6%