for the Democratic nomination.
Jesus Malverde (1,399 posts)
Numbers Monday: Bernie Sanders Leapfrogs to Top of 2016 Pack
Last edited Tue Dec 3, 2013, 01:16 PM - Edit history (3)
On Wednesday, the day before Thanksgiving, Salon published an interview with Sanders about 2016 and what a certified socialist would bring to the table. The piece, entitled "Why I Might Run in 2016," quoted Sanders saying he might run so the issues he cares about get more attention. Mainly, he wants to represent the middle class. "I think being involved in debates and being out there around the country allows — gives you the opportunity to talk about these issues in a way that you otherwise could not," he said of seeking the highest office. Another newsworthy part of the piece was Sanders sounding wishy-washy about former secretary of State. "Based on the kind of centrist positions that we have seen her take in the past...it remains to be seen whether she will be a forceful advocate for working families," Sanders said.
That interview reverberated around the Internet so much that Sanders is now sitting pretty at No. 4 in TrendPo's ranking of political figures, higher than all other 2016 hopefuls. The list looks at presidents, members of congress, governors, mayors, state legislators and pundits with the top spots occupied by President Barack Obama, Secretary of State John Kerry and House Speaker John Boehner. Hillary Clinton is right on Sanders' heels, ranked at No. 5, Vice President Joe Biden is following her at No. 10 and Chris Christie, who remains the buzziest Republican, is at No. 11.
Online buzz, as it's measured by TrendPo, a D.C.-based political analytics startup, isn't equivalent to being ahead in the polls, it just shows that Sanders is getting more news mentions and attracting a greater following on social media than most of his political peers.
"The longer he does that, the longer he can solidify a true presidential run," explained TrendPo's J.D. Chang. "Whether or not he's a viable candidate will play out in the upcoming weeks and months."
http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/washington-whispers/2013/12/02/numbers-monday-bernie-sanders-leapfrogs-to-top-of-2016-pack
129 DU rec as of this posting.
Le Taz Hot (15,882 posts)
6. What will really be frustrating
is that, if he does decide to run as an independent, we won't be able to talk about his candidacy on DU even though he'll be a vital part of the 2016 campaign. In that Sanders is to the left of 90% of the Democrats in Congress and the Senate, I'm not sure how that's going to work.
NorthCarolina (7,097 posts)
126. Bernie caucuses with the Democrats, and he's hands down a favorite choice
for the majority of Democrats using this site. If this site chooses to ignore that simple fact then they will quickly become inconsequential. Third way is DEAD, as dead as the GOP. Progress is on the move and like they say, get on board or get the hell out of the way.
Tigress DEM (7,848 posts)
151. IF he took Elizabeth Warren as his VEEP and Ran as a DEM --- I could see a BIG Win!! nt
I'll bet you see all sorts of things...
Unicorns, pink elephants, spiders crawling out of your skin...
Freddie Stubbs (28,753 posts)
7. I think that if he ran as in independent, he would split the vote and help elect a Republican
How likely is it that this country is going to elect a "truly Progressive Congress?"
I am planning on supporting the Democratic nominee in 2006, whomever she is.
FourScore (8,166 posts)
47. It's a nice fantasy. Truth is, it would fracture the democrats and hand the election to republicans.
In other words: there really is that many commies in the Dem party.
pnwmom (48,732 posts)
86. Do you think a self-identified socialist could win nationally? n/t
sabrina 1 (39,715 posts)
99. Yes, polls show that a majority of Americans support socialist policies so long as there is no
Last edited Tue Dec 3, 2013, 05:51 PM - Edit history (1)
reference to either of the two parties.
Bernie will appeal to the young generation who are way more informed on the issues and far less committed to partisan politics than their parents and grandparents. That demographic is growing and having more of an impact on the future of elections.
Nearly all Progressives, Unions, other traditional Democratic voters would get behind him. They have already begun to form a coalition since before the last election, warning Dems that that election would be the last time they would vote against their own interests and/or contribute the substantial funds they have in the past. They formed the coalition to prepare for the eventuality of not being fully represented, again. All they need is someone they can get behind. I believe they raised over $10 million dollars at their first meeting to discuss where they wanted to go in the future. They got sick of hearing 'where are they going to go'? each time they protested some of the policies they Party they supported helped implement, AGAINST their interests.
And then there are the moderate Repubicans who sometimes cross party lines, the ones who are not 'obsessive' as Pope Francis stated, about women and Gays.
If he runs I believe it might spark a movement that could be historical considering the timing. If it had happened four or eight years ago, no. But we are in different times with a whole new generation not affiliated yet and already feeling the pain of the policies implemented by the two party system for their futures, that weren't there ten years ago.
To combat this, all the Dems have to do is to start listening rather than attacking those who have tried to warn them and provide a candidate that people can vote FOR for once, rather than forcing people to vote AGAINST the 'other guy'.
She has faith, I'll give her that much.
pnwmom (48,732 posts)
104. But that's exactly the problem. Americans support socialist policies
Last edited Tue Dec 3, 2013, 06:06 PM - Edit history (3)
but they're terrified of the word. Unfortunately, Bernie's associated with the word, and his opponents will use it against him.
Also, in three more years he'll be 75. Reagan, the oldest President, was elected at age 69 and developed Alzheimers during office.
sabrina 1 (39,715 posts)
106. In RL that is not the case. The only people who fear the word are the Ditto Heads from
Faux and the rapidly shrinking old, Limbaugh, Right Wing Noise Machine audience. I often marvel at how different people are in the real world. I have so many friends who I am sure would identify as Consersvatives, but none of the even LISTEN to that thrash and in fact a few who do identify their politics make it clear that they despise that element in their party.
On most issues, Conservatives I know in RL, agree with US. They are FOR Social Safety Nets, they are opposed to all of our 'foreign adventures', many are not particularly interested one way or the other in the issues both parties use in every election, Gays and Women. Why? Because many of them have RELATIVES and friends, some I know have children, who are Gay. And of all of them have or had Mothers, Wives, Sisters etc.
The old Noise Machine is rusting and in no way represents more than a small minority of extremists.
A good campaign with good management re explaining the issues, rather than just 'I will do this and/or I will do that' type promises, could easily attract enough votes from across the political spectrum.
People who have been frequenting internet forums sometimes lose touch with the real world. It has changed while we were all falling for the 'divide and conquer, team player' routine. It isn't about that for a majority of people. It is about what they and their families, elderly parents, children, need.
I think we've crossed a line in the past number of years and real Conservatives are no longer allowing themselves to be defined by the loonies who took over their party. They have the same basic needs we have. They love SS and all of them know that their own parents are more secure with it than without it.
merrily (1,893 posts)
27. OK. Looks like a fun thing to do.
<pics of Obama and Chris Christie schmoozing>
Arkana (22,843 posts)
70. You're not seriously going to hold this against Obama, are you?
Like, not seriously, right? You can't honestly be equating "doing his job as President" with "supports everything Christie does and says".
And how many times di we see the pics of Bush hosting Bandar as an indictment?
Freddie Stubbs (28,753 posts)
78. He's like Dennis Kucinich without the Hollywood good looks
frylock (21,500 posts)
112. or we can keep voting for the lesser of two evils and continue our rightward shift
Weird.
I thought DemCare proved the final victory of liberalism for all time.
Pitagoras (21 posts)
29. When I saw the article, I thought Sanders had taken the lead in a poll
Last edited Tue Dec 3, 2013, 12:43 PM - Edit history (3)
That was not the case. Turns out he leads in "online buzz."
This is yet another example of linkbait. An accurate title (i.e., Sanders leads in online buzz") would have been less shocking, attracting less attention, so the website went with the chopped-up article instead.
SunSeeker (7,583 posts)
121. Exactly. By those standards Miley Cyrus should run. nt
At least the free birth control and legal pot planks of the Dem platform would make more sense.
cali (90,312 posts)
41. I've noted a lot of barely veiled antagonism toward Bernie
from the usual conservadem sources here at DU. These people haven't really been brave enough to directly knock him very much, though their dislike is obvious, but this gives them the opportunity to courageously step forward to metaphorically spit on him.
Conservadems- better than repukes but that's about the best that can be said for them.
I, for one, support a Sanders nomination wholeheartedly.
But only because he's white.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024125288
