2016 Postmortem

FreakinDJ

(17,644 posts) Wed Jan 4, 2017, 06:41 PM Jan 2017

President Sanders? Bernie would have beaten Trump [View all]

President Sanders? Bernie would have beaten Trump

If Democrats had made a different choice in the primaries last spring, Bernie Sanders would be assembling his cabinet right now. A reading of voting patterns in the presidential election suggests that the Vermont senator would have beaten Donald Trump.

Mr. Trump won the election by prevailing in the Rust Belt states of Michigan, Wisconsinand Pennsylvania that, together, gave him 46 electoral votes. In Michigan, he edged Hillary Clinton by just three-tenths of a percent. In Wisconsin, the margin was eight-tenths. In Pennsylvania there was a slightly larger gap of 1.2 percent.

All three of those states usually lean toward the Democratic candidate. This time around, most working class white voters -- many of whom voted for Barack Obama in the last two elections -- saw Ms. Clinton as the incarnation of a political establishment that was indifferent to their struggles. They were won over by Mr. Trump's boasts that he would protect American jobs and challenge the influence of Wall Street. Who else in the 2016 campaign made similar promises, with far more conviction? Bernie Sanders, of course

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/

133 replies

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Highlight:

President Sanders? Bernie would have beaten Trump [View all] FreakinDJ Jan 2017 OP

Maybe, maybe not! hrmjustin Jan 2017 #1

I think it's about time this is discussed here at the DU! True Dough Jan 2017 #2

For how many seconds? guillaumeb Jan 2017 #5

Oh, it must have been a couple of minutes True Dough Jan 2017 #9

The pendelum swings constantly. guillaumeb Jan 2017 #13

Right. It has been SO suppressed! Hekate Jan 2017 #6

I was figuring this thread would be locked by now FreakinDJ Jan 2017 #8

How does DU even expect to grow if it continually locks threads? Sure, there may be Alekzander Jan 2017 #17

Has this thread been locked? emulatorloo Jan 2017 #19

No, the poster said he was surprised it has not yet been locked Alekzander Jan 2017 #37

And yet it still isn't locked? emulatorloo Jan 2017 #40

ummm. kos mopinko Jan 2017 #34

Never have had that problem at DK yet & been there for a while. I have had threads locked here Alekzander Jan 2017 #38

Oh you poor thing. I can tell you feel oppressed and fearful of the DU dynamic. Hekate Jan 2017 #43

No, fortunately most are good, not like yourself. Alekzander Jan 2017 #69

Awwww Hekate Jan 2017 #70

Would that were the purpose of the OP... LanternWaste Jan 2017 #86

Why do you think that? emulatorloo Jan 2017 #24

It probably would have been, if you had written something of this nature BEFORE the Cal33 Jan 2017 #90

Why? George II Jan 2017 #45

Not overlooked. zentrum Jan 2017 #56

... Quayblue Jan 2017 #66

"Could" and "would" are not synonymous. guillaumeb Jan 2017 #3

This is an opinion. dogman Jan 2017 #14

Sanders was my ifrst choice, and my primary choice, guillaumeb Jan 2017 #16

Except it is an Op/Ed. dogman Jan 2017 #22

My opinion is that 2+24. LanternWaste Jan 2017 #87

If one opinion is correct, are all opinions correct? dogman Jan 2017 #100

Probably and if all who bad mouthed HRC Eliot Rosewater Jan 2017 #4

Yeah, ignorant white wing bigots would have rushed out to vote for Sanders. Hoyt Jan 2017 #7

Denigrating voters is not really a "Winning Tactic" FreakinDJ Jan 2017 #12

Ain't making nice with the white wing bigots that voted for Trump. Hoyt Jan 2017 #25

We certainly saw that in the primary BainsBane Jan 2017 #118

Sanders is Jewish and a socialist liquid diamond Jan 2017 #88

With Trump in former KGB Putin's pocket, it is hard to demonize a democratic socialist karynnj Jan 2017 #121

Since he couldn't win the Democratic Primary WhiteTara Jan 2017 #10

Russ Feingold's stunning victory proves the author's theory emulatorloo Jan 2017 #11

No less than Zephyr Teachout's victory. eom guillaumeb Jan 2017 #15

The god damn primary is fucking over. longship Jan 2017 #18

Bernie would have easily beat Trump. Especially where it mattered, WI, MI, and PA. putitinD Jan 2017 #20

But he would have lost everywhere else frazzled Jan 2017 #92

he did win 22 states in the primary putitinD Jan 2017 #93

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/the-system-isnt-rigged-against-sanders/ Justice Jan 2017 #120

So very tired of these. n/t rzemanfl Jan 2017 #21

Locking. TheCowsCameHome Jan 2017 #23

Yikes. sheshe2 Jan 2017 #26

But he couldn't win the primary, so it's a moot point. If POC weren't excited about this election.. Tarheel_Dem Jan 2017 #27

DWS prevented Bernie from winning the primary..... INdemo Jan 2017 #54

Nope. Jeff Weaver prevented Bernie from winning the primary. emulatorloo Jan 2017 #55

Yes she personally went and shut the doors at every precinct when she saw a Sanders supporter coming mythology Jan 2017 #57

Pretty Much INdemo Jan 2017 #80

Millions of us "prevented Bernie from winning the primary". "M-I-L-L-I-O-N-S"! Tarheel_Dem Jan 2017 #82

Bernie and Democratic voters prevented Bernie from winning the primary. EffieBlack Jan 2017 #98

I would hope in the final choice POC would have eventually voted f- HEY! You just dionysus Jan 2017 #72

But but but Kurt Eichenwald saw an eleventy bliion page thick book of opo research... Hassin Bin Sober Jan 2017 #28

Not all op-ed writers agree with Horsey. lapucelle Jan 2017 #29

How many Blue states went Red with HRC on the ticket FreakinDJ Jan 2017 #61

Two, and one red state went blue. lapucelle Jan 2017 #73

Please stop. LisaM Jan 2017 #30

And Howard Dean would have won in 2004. Maven Jan 2017 #31

Had All States Been Primary vs Caucus otohara Jan 2017 #32

First he had to win the Primary, but he lost by a landslide. Starry Messenger Jan 2017 #33

Amen! nt SylviaD Jan 2017 #127

Gee, thanks for that "unifying" post. IFAWOULDACOULDASHOULDA is SO helpful! nt Atticus Jan 2017 #35

+1000 sheshe2 Jan 2017 #36

So is Trump winning FreakinDJ Jan 2017 #60

Nice straw man. "Good luck with that" nt Atticus Jan 2017 #62

Admit it Corporate Politics is dead FreakinDJ Jan 2017 #74

Wow! A CROWD of straw men! Atticus Jan 2017 #81

Some people only care about themselves FreakinDJ Jan 2017 #95

We don't know that, but we should nominate a progressive or socialist. HassleCat Jan 2017 #39

Obama proved that. George II Jan 2017 #46

I think those red state voters will really respond to a declared socialist! Hekate Jan 2017 #47

Yes, they will. HassleCat Jan 2017 #51

Bernie tried that and it failed. bettyellen Jan 2017 #103

But it showed us some possibilities. HassleCat Jan 2017 #105

He played the press game better than anyone except Trump bettyellen Jan 2017 #107

I'm a socialist--there is very little data to support your assertion. Starry Messenger Jan 2017 #63

He could have won the primary if he got all the superdelegates HoneyBadger Jan 2017 #41

Again with this? mcar Jan 2017 #42

I had a post locked for suggesting exactly what you stated Victor_c3 Jan 2017 #44

"The establishment" isn't the 17 million Americans who voted for Clinton in the primaries. George II Jan 2017 #48

The Dem Establishment needs to be retired FreakinDJ Jan 2017 #59

Bullshit - Bullshit - Bullshit otohara Jan 2017 #84

And just what is this OP supposed to accomplish? George II Jan 2017 #49

bullshit. it is clear dems wouldn't have gotten his back either certainot Jan 2017 #50

President Sanders? Bernie would have beaten Trump. LenaBaby61 Jan 2017 #52

counterfactuals! 0rganism Jan 2017 #53

I think its possible, but I don't think we should post these OPs anymore. aikoaiko Jan 2017 #58

A very narrow reading of the polls Jakes Progress Jan 2017 #64

and????? heaven05 Jan 2017 #65

. NCTraveler Jan 2017 #67

What utter BS. synergie Jan 2017 #68

Maybe. We'll never know. Meanwhile, this will be the predictable flame war. Nt dionysus Jan 2017 #71

... LexVegas Jan 2017 #75

Because the Trump voters in the Rust Belt were really crying out for Single Payer healthcare? brooklynite Jan 2017 #76

Nope .. just some one not part of the Establishment politics as usual FreakinDJ Jan 2017 #94

...and if Sanders had been the nominee, voters would have had a choice of two... brooklynite Jan 2017 #97

And raise taxes? Was never a viable candidate. bettyellen Jan 2017 #104

Yet all the Polling proved he was the stronger candidate against Trump FreakinDJ Jan 2017 #111

"Failed to heel" to who, prey tell? Polls about an unvetted candidate bettyellen Jan 2017 #112

Actually the Dems lost a whole generation of voters FreakinDJ Jan 2017 #113

By winning them 60% to 37%? I don't think so. What's with that pic? Spit it out! bettyellen Jan 2017 #115

Those that refused to show up decided this election FreakinDJ Jan 2017 #116

Look at your shiny new goalposts! I have a feeling you could play this game all day. bettyellen Jan 2017 #117

Another useless crystal ball OP. I am tired of this "Bernie would have won" nonsense Persondem Jan 2017 #77

. ismnotwasm Jan 2017 #78

The guy who couldn't win in the primary rock Jan 2017 #79

He could have been a contender . . . ucrdem Jan 2017 #83

Indeed he would have... RedFury Jan 2017 #85

Bullshit. Eom. liquid diamond Jan 2017 #89

People can mock the what-ifs.... disillusioned73 Jan 2017 #91

Why are we rehashing this old shit again? Blue_Tires Jan 2017 #96

Yes, we know Trump voters would have voted for him because Bernie's SO dreamy! EffieBlack Jan 2017 #99

An so gracious and charming SharonClark Jan 2017 #106

Wow, that's some seriously sad projection. SMC22307 Jan 2017 #129

No, he wouldnt. J_William_Ryan Jan 2017 #101

I definitely think Bernie would have taken the con out to the woodshed. ZM90 Jan 2017 #102

So tired of this MFM008 Jan 2017 #108

"If my grandmother had wheels she'd be a wagon." longship Jan 2017 #109

There's just no way to know that. Orsino Jan 2017 #110

Perhaps. But it doesn't really matter now, does it? MadamPresident Jan 2017 #114

This message was self-deleted by its author BlueStateLib Jan 2017 #119

He probably would have performed better kenfrequed Jan 2017 #122

Agree. SMC22307 Jan 2017 #123

Too true kenfrequed Jan 2017 #124

I really don't think so. nemo137 Jan 2017 #125

Trump propaganda would have destroyed Bernie. SylviaD Jan 2017 #126

He will in 2020. Nt azmom Jan 2017 #128

Apparently not, since he lost the primary, early on. n/t Lil Missy Jan 2017 #130

Flagged for review. Finally. betsuni Jan 2017 #131

+1...nt SidDithers Jan 2017 #133

Yup. Kick and Rec eom Arazi Jan 2017 #132