General Discussion

dwayneb

(1,019 posts)

55. Bernie could have won but he had one fatal flaw

Wed Jun 25, 2025, 04:46 PM

Jun 25

He didn't know how to talk in words and terms that the average American could relate to and understand.

Classic example is his use of the word "oligarchy". Sure, you and I and most educated people understand that word and understand clearly the threat of oligarchy. But for many everyday people it's an abstract concept and they simply can't relate to it.

Reality is, that to win in American politics a candidate has to know how to thread the needle between populism and realism. Obama did it perfectly. If we could just have carved off a bit of his populist talent and given it to Bernie he would have been elected in a landslide.

None of that was why the Party rejected him of course, it was because he didn't toe the line. But even if they hadn't it is unlikely he would have prevailed to win as POTUS.

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Red Alert [View all] angrychair Jun 25 OP

We need to stop taking swipes at all dems wryter2000 Jun 25 #1

They are making their point angrychair Jun 25 #4

Read the article.... The new guy kicked them off the committees they were on questionseverything Jun 25 #14

But if they left to spite [Martin], that's not very mature, either. Now I'll go read the article ;). LauraInLA Jun 25 #27

Martin is the new dnc chair ( that these union leaders didn't back) questionseverything Jun 25 #31

Burns is not the new DNC chair -- Ken Martin is. W_HAMILTON Jun 25 #35

You are correct about my screwing up the name but the rest of the narrative remains the same questionseverything Jun 25 #42

Ah, thank you! I even searched on the name in the article and couldn't find it. LauraInLA Jun 25 #37

"What do the union leaders think they've accomplished...." MyOwnPeace Jun 25 #28

Not all. Just the ones who've lost their way Mr.WeRP Jun 25 #30

Not to mention all the Democratic senators who voted to confirm unqualified Trump cabinet nominees.... Jack Valentino Jun 25 #87

They hope that the leadership will learn... -misanthroptimist Jun 25 #34

boom! sindri Jun 26 #90

Biden didn't ignore unions at all Hieronymus Phact Jun 26 #91

you make an excellent point quakerboy Jun 26 #100

The DNC is not all Dems iemanja Jun 25 #44

So you are saying Democrats get a pass even when they are clearly wrong just because flashman13 Jun 25 #45

Not all Dems. Just the DNC. Iggo Jun 25 #69

It's a difficult needle to thread. More so as DNC shows no intent to update the party platform before 2028. dutch777 Jun 25 #2

I wouldn't be surprised if they go to GOP Captain Zero Jun 25 #47

Shows what you know. TommyT139 Jun 25 #57

repubs do hate teachers. rampartd Jun 26 #97

union leaders are used to being treated like royalty cadoman Jun 25 #73

These are shockers WSHazel Jun 25 #3

They are not moving to the right angrychair Jun 25 #6

Burns kicked them off their committees because they didn't back him questionseverything Jun 25 #16

Does Burns think he's Trump? Nululu Jun 25 #38

Lets convert the usual counter about Republicans to a form that Union members get from bad employers. Lancero Jun 25 #5

Post removed Post removed Jun 25 #7

I could not agree more Grim Chieftain Jun 25 #10

That was really a special time TacosUberAlles Jun 25 #32

It was amazing Grim Chieftain Jun 25 #46

I didn't think he'd win; wasn't intent on him winning; we volunteered for him anyway lostnfound Jun 26 #89

Bernie is one for the ages -- older than Biden or Trump Hekate Jun 25 #15

I know a Hillary supporter who ran a stop sign, broad sided another car questionseverything Jun 25 #19

For the Bros it was, alas, part of a pattern. As for Bernie, his religiously-held economic theories... Hekate Jun 25 #41

Also while I l didn't want/have kids; I want Women to get Proper Care as Women, those who become Pregnant, and Mothers.. electric_blue68 Jun 25 #65

That HRC supporter did wrong. OTOH practically Publicly Bullying Off a Stage, a diminutive woman, but Giant in Labor... electric_blue68 Jun 25 #62

TY for understanding Hekate Jun 25 #75

YW. Bad behavior on their part! electric_blue68 Jun 25 #77

Wow, I didn't know that. (I Know who She is). Extremely disrespectful! electric_blue68 Jun 25 #63

Perhaps we were not as impressed with Bernie Keepthesoulalive Jun 25 #21

This message was self-deleted by its author Orrex Jun 25 #49

you got that right Skittles Jun 25 #50

Bernie could have won but he had one fatal flaw dwayneb Jun 25 #55

Hillary lost the WH with all the Hillary Hate.. Cha Jun 25 #60

And Susan Sarandon supportng Nadar 2000, and Not Hillary in '16 electric_blue68 Jun 25 #64

Yes, those Fucking 3rd party Shits had a Lot Cha Jun 25 #66

OHhhh, boy - That, too! electric_blue68 Jun 25 #70

Yeah, Constructive Criticism... That's Cha Jun 25 #76

Yes, the "conscience" voters mcar Jun 26 #95

Apparently not. Hillary was Right about Everything & Cha Jun 26 #103

And Kamala went from running mcar Jun 26 #104

And when was that, exactly? mcar Jun 26 #94

Just remember who they are and whom they really represent. They do not represent democracy or working Americans. Jit423 Jun 25 #8

What? rubbersole Jun 25 #13

Every Dem in Congress needs to start sweet talking union leadership. Magoo48 Jun 25 #9

They need to do more than sweet talk. intheflow Jun 25 #22

Harris/Walz tried very hard to work with SEIU and others -- not to mention Biden -- and look how that turned out. LauraInLA Jun 25 #23

Walz has it TacosUberAlles Jun 25 #33

I think my other point, though, is that despite many many efforts, we haven't been able to convince LauraInLA Jun 25 #40

Can you expand on this? Thanks TacosUberAlles Jun 25 #68

I think that many of the union members who didn't voted for Dems in the last election drank the Trump LauraInLA Jun 25 #71

I believe you may be on to something, TacosUberAlles. ... littlemissmartypants Jun 25 #56

I think a ticket of Walz/AOC is unstoppable TacosUberAlles Jun 25 #67

Now there's a combination! ... littlemissmartypants Jun 25 #74

Post removed Post removed Jun 25 #11

But Schumer writes stern worded letters on their behalf. Why isn't that enough? LW1977 Jun 25 #12

Is he "concerned" Paper Roses Jun 25 #20

We need him to give sternly worded rallies. Maybe even throw in some sternly worded tweets and Instagram lives. W_HAMILTON Jun 25 #39

I believe in Unions! BurnDoubt Jun 25 #17

Being a center-right political party has never brought anything but limited success to Democrats. The Fil1957 Jun 25 #18

I think of Dems as center-left. The right and beyond is the purview of the Reps. LauraInLA Jun 25 #25

We used to be center-left. intheflow Jun 25 #29

Honestly, given the facts on the ground, I don't support repeatedly introducing impeachment resolutions. LauraInLA Jun 25 #36

I say throw every grain of sand we can into their fascist mechanisms. intheflow Jun 25 #58

I'm thinking about it, and I would like to hear the reps explain their votes agains impeachment. LauraInLA Jun 25 #61

You may think that the Dems are center-left HarryM Jun 25 #48

Are you implying by being moderate instead of more progressive oldmanlynn Jun 25 #24

No, I'm not saying that angrychair Jun 25 #54

As more people leave, Littlered Jun 25 #26

Yes, a flawed candidate angrychair Jun 25 #53

This was over a week ago iemanja Jun 25 #43

I didn't say "breaking news" angrychair Jun 25 #52

This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Jun 25 #51

Old Guard 3rd Way Ds need to retire now! Clouds Passing Jun 25 #59

Name them please mcar Jun 26 #96

"It's the economy, stupid" - the refrain during the Clinton years TBF Jun 25 #72

Donors vs union voters. Passages Jun 25 #78

The best democracy the donors can buy. Duncan Grant Jun 26 #99

I believe in the ideals of FDR, and I'm considered a radical amongst my friends. ... aggiesal Jun 25 #79

I'd say you're not far off the mark angrychair Jun 25 #82

It was Clinton that first abandoned the unions, to go after corporate $$$'s ... aggiesal Jun 26 #92

Circular-Firing-Squad Emoji ZDU Jun 25 #80

I am still in a Union and have watched them allow their own destruction from within mdbl Jun 25 #81

All due respect angrychair Jun 25 #83

Has AFSCME gained or lost members? mdbl Jun 26 #93

If they think Republicans are better for workers , let's see what checks cleared their accounts JT45242 Jun 25 #84

They did not leave the Democratic Party angrychair Jun 25 #86

DNC gfarber Jun 25 #85

They booted the guy that was telling them the truth - David Hogg camartinwv Jun 26 #88

But the stock market is up and the billionaires are stashing more money overseas LT Barclay Jun 26 #98

This was a few weeks ago JustAnotherGen Jun 26 #101

I know angrychair Jun 26 #102