gwnn, on 2015-October-16, 17:26, said:
I take it from your post (that does not even mention his name) that you don't think Bernie has any chance at all? Is this the basic premise that most people adopt, i.e., it was not about who won the debate, but how Hillary is doing, i.e., whether or not she is electable (essentially, unless she says something incredibly stupid/embarrassing, she is still more electable than the other people)? I am not asking in frustration, just trying to understand. Certainly I understand why she is considered the front-runner, and certainly I agree with dismissing the other three people (O'Malley, Chaffey, and Webb, I think.. but I could not reliably identify the three faces), and I also understand why many people dismiss a self-avowed Socialist as some sort of a whackjob or at least why many people dismiss his election chances. But I am wondering, is all of this online enthusiasm I see just bogus? Certainly him winning the debate by some 80% of voters is not a serious number and is most likely just a reflection of multiple voting and/or an over-enthusiastic base. But still, I think (wish?) something is happening.
I haven't looked at any poll numbers. My response should be seen as a partial response reflecting some of my own interests.
I think Bernie's main accomplishment was to present himself as a serious candidate. Where will it go? I am not sure. A few thoughts:
1. Hillary wishes to be president. Just about everything else takes a distant second place. Bernie is who he is, and is prepared to let people vote for him if they agree with him and vote for someone else if they do not. This latter approach is of course very attractive.
2. I will listen to what he has to say. I suspect I won't agree with a fair portion of it.
3. The Republican's are in a meltdown. The Dems are not, but I don't think any of them are particularly good. Briefly I would say:
Chaffee: I remember liking has father, his presentation at the debate was hopeless.
Webb: I think that it is very good to have him on stage. He would have fit in well in Harry Truman's Democratic Party. He is out of touch with current Democratic Party thinking, but perhaps not out of touch with the thoughts of many. He is not going to be the nominee.
O'Malley: He was a good governor. (I live in Maryland). The presidency is the big leagues, he is not there.
So we come to Clinton and Sanders.
Sanders: As I say, I will listen. I do not find myself saying "Yea, yea, I agree" But I will listen.
Clinton: Sort of Bill Clinton without personality. Bill played the sax and ate Big Macs, because he liked to (and there were other things he liked, well, let's not get into that). It's impossible to imagine Hillary doing anything or saying anything without her asking how it will help her campaign.
She could be beaten for the nomination by a strong alternative candidate, and she could be beaten in the general election by a strong Republican candidate. I don't see who this would be. .
I'm a retired college prof. I think it is safe to say that no political action group anywhere asks "How will this campaign slogan play with the retired college profs?" Still, people sometimes say "You don't seem like a college prof" or "You don't seem like a mathematician". I think they intend this as a compliment but at any rate it might mean that my views are shared by at least some other people. But I make no claim to having my finger on the pulse of America.
We shall see.