As several commentators have noted, this speech, and his continuing strategy this week, seem designed to put himself forward as the most viable non-Bernie alternative for the nomination.
For instance, see Jennifer Rubin's recent column:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/02/23/here-is-democrats-last-chance-get-this-right/
After outlining the weaknesses of Sanders, Rubin continues:
What, if anything, can Democrats do in the next week or so to change the trajectory of the race? There is very little chance that they will do what is necessary; that would require selflessness and self-reflection as well as party leadership, none of which is evident in today’s Democratic Party.
Sadly, I can't disagree with this assessment.Here is Rubin again:
Nevertheless, there are steps Democrats could take to save the party and the country. First, former South Bend, Ind., mayor Pete Buttigieg has offered a model for other candidates in making Sanders the top target. Buttigieg will hang on for now, relying on his results in Iowa and New Hampshire, and what looks like a barely adequate third-place finish in Nevada.
(As of this writing, results of the Nevada caucuses are being questioned. I'd also add that Bernie actually got a slightly lower % of the popular vote in 2020 than in 2016, emphasizing that the problem really is that the non-Bernie group is simply too fractured)
In a speech Saturday night, Buttigieg laid out an effective case against Sanders:
Senator Sanders believes in an inflexible, ideological revolution that leaves out most Democrats, not to mention most Americans.I believe we can defeat Trump and deliver for the American people by empowering the American people to make their own health care choices.
Senator Sanders believes in taking away that choice — kicking people off their private plans and replacing it with a public plan, whether they want it or not.
I believe that we can bring an end to corporate recklessness and bring balance to our economy by empowering workers, raising wages, and insisting that those who gain the most must contribute the most.
Senator Sanders sees capitalism as the root of all evil. He’d go beyond reform and reorder the economy in ways most Democrats — let alone most Americans — don’t support.
I believe we need to defeat Trump and turn the page on this era in our politics by establishing a tone of belonging, bringing an end to the viciousness and the bullying that is tearing apart the country.
Senator Sanders’ revolution has the tenor of combat, division and polarization, a vision where whoever wins the day, nothing will change the toxic tone of our politics.
I believe the only way to truly deliver any of the progressive changes we care about is to be a nominee who actually gives a damn about the effect you are having, from the top of the ticket, on those crucial, front-line House and Senate Democrats running to win, who we need to win, to make sure our agenda is more than just words on a page.
Senator Sanders, on the other hand, is ignoring, dismissing, or even attacking the very Democrats we absolutely must send to Capitol Hill in order to keep Nancy Pelosi as speaker, in order to support judges who respect privacy and democracy, and in order to send Mitch McConnell into retirement. Let’s listen to what those voices are telling us!
That is the choice before us. We can prioritize either ideological purity or inclusive victory. We can either call people names online or we can call them into our movement. We can either tighten a narrow and hardcore base or open the tent to a new, broad, bighearted American coalition.
That is how it is done, and Buttigieg must bring that firepower to the next debate.
. . . the grown-ups in the party and the 2020 contenders who fail to act will be haunted by the possibility that they could have prevented a party crackup and a national disaster but chose not to act. That would be a terrible burden to shoulder and a black mark on their records of public service.
Come on, fellow Democrats, please let's get it together. SOON.
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