Juliajms

I wonder what TS is thinking? He's making it harder for Biden and after all those impeachment ads he ran you'd think he'd want to get rid of Trump at all costs.

The price of Bernie's programs aren't that worrisome to me. He could accomplish some of his policies by reversing the tax break the rich just received and by cutting our insane defense budget. In any case, it wouldn't be an issue because first he has to actually get something passed. Good luck with that. As we've said before, whoever gets in will be busy just trying to reverse some of the Damage 45 has done. He's not going to pass any of these massive plans, imo. I understand that some people can never vote for Bernie, but I will if it means getting Trump out. At the very least we need to stop Trump from getting further entrenched and appointing more judges. Anyhow, I think it's possible Biden will make a comeback.

Yes, I think you nailed it. Deep down Biden feels he isn't enough and so he tries to validate himself with these ridiculous lies. It's a shame because he is obviously loved among the base. The nomination is/was his to lose. I guess SC and Super Tuesday will clarify where things stand.

I wonder what compels him to tell these lies. He must know he's going to be fact checked. He's been caught before. I don't know, it's just the strangest thing.

He's like a caricature villain in a Bond movie.

That's certainly true, but it's hard to imagine any credible candidate running for president who isn't. His campaign needs to come up with a way of differentiating between having a few million dollars at the end of your life, versus having two billion dollars in income every year, simply by being alive (which Bloomberg does). Income that is in fact taxed less than the income of people who actually work for their money. It's the difference between working for your money and having your money work for you (Thank you Claire Huxtable). Not that I mind Bernie taking that hit. He is such a divisive figure, I won't be surprised if we lose again in part due to his idiot Bernie Bro supporters, no matter who ultimately gets the nomination.

I don't know why people are so picky.

I just can't believe this is real life. My mind rejects it daily.

^ Ok, well had I known Abby Cadabby had declared her candidacy I would have based my rankings accordingly. I suppose I should have known, given that everyone else and her sister is in the race.

And at this point, I'm sad to say I really can't, except Warren who doesn't seem to have much of a chance. It really annoys me that once again we have to pick between people who are differing levels of racists and/or misogynists. That piece on how Bloomberg treated women in his company was disgusting. Does it make me a purity pony to want a president who doesn't suggest happily pregnant women "kill it" to further his business interests? Then punishes them when they don't? If so, that's what I am. Yes, I would still vote for him, but why can't we do better? Every one of these septuagenarians in the lead have varying degrees of issues with women and/or POC. Right now my ranking is Warren, Biden, Buttigieg, Bloomberg, whoever. I feel like the chances are very high that I'm going to have to pull the lever (again) for someone I know disdains me, but I imagine most of us here are used to that on some level.

But really, I bet it was Bernie Bros. Would anyone else go this far?

I'm happy for all the people who struggle with the costs of insulin. Now that is a great accomplishment and some much needed good news.

Thank god she truly doesn't have a chance. As it is I can't believe we might have to choose between furthering the oligarchy (Bloomberg) and going so far left that it could end up nearly as dangerous as the far right (Bernie). I'm with Vee in thinking that Bernie isn't evil or dangerous, but then he doesn't have power yet. I'm not sure I trust what that will look like given the way the GOP crumbled for power. Would average Democrats do the same? That's the danger imo.

Now that would test me when it comes to vote blue no matter who. I still would though. Here's some good news:

This is an interesting breakdown of how much money people are taking in. I wish we had more recent numbers, but it's something. https://www.politico.com/2020-election/president/democratic-primary/candidates/fundraising-and-campaign-finance-tracker/

I wonder how fundraising is going for Biden? I've seen questions about how much money his campaign has, but I haven't seen the numbers laid out.

That did annoy me at first, but I have to admit it changed the way I eat at restaurants. When you see those numbers staring back at you it can be hard to justify eating some of that stuff. Some of the soup at Panera is nearly 800 calories for pity's sake. None of that is here nor there though. I would absolutely vote for Bloomberg if he's the nominee. It would disgust me to have another billionaire president, but so be it, I'll take him over Bernie.

I can't defend JC, but this part was funny. Are we really sure Sanders can’t win? James Carville: Who the hell knows? But here’s what I do know: Sanders might get 280 electoral votes and win the presidency and maybe we keep the House. But there’s no chance in hell we’ll ever win the Senate with Sanders at the top of the party defining it for the public. Eighteen percent of the country elects more than half of our senators. That’s the deal, fair or not. So long as [Mitch] McConnell runs the Senate, it’s game over. There’s no chance we’ll change the courts, and nothing will happen, and he’ll just be sitting up there screaming in the microphone about the revolution. The purpose of a political party is to acquire power. All right? Without power, nothing matters.

But speaking of Carville he certainly doesn't sound all that high on the Democrats 2020 prospects in this interview. https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2020/2/7/21123518/trump-2020-election-democratic-party-james-carville In fact he seems to think they are f*cking it up and I'm not sure he's wrong. I think he made some solid points, especially about Bernie Sanders. He's pretty funny on that topic. I've always liked his personality, but if the behind the scenes stuff is true that's obviously problematic.

Good Lord, if that isn't the truth. Let's just pray that if Biden has to go it's after the damn election.

The farther we get into this process the fewer of these people I actively want to vote for. I will, but it's more a vote against Trump than a vote for any of them.

It's the country that nearly half the voters either want or will tolerate. I've mostly come to accept that, even though it's stunning. Sadly, this is where Fox news, the internet and ignorance has brought us. I just saw that a doctor who warned people about the virus in China has just died of it after being arrested for telling people the truth. Now here we are punishing people for telling the truth. What could go wrong?

^ What a complete clusterf*ck. I have to admit it, I don't have confidence in the results we've been given. I certainly don't think there was a conspiracy against either of these candidates, I just think it comes down to utter incompetence. I want to slap whoever let this happen.

I agree. I think there was a time decades ago when it was nice for voters to get an intimate look at candidates via their interactions with small town locals. The country has changed so much in the last 40 years though. Not just in terms of race, but in terms of urbanization. I don't see how anyone can continue to justify letting these small places have an out-sized influence. Plus, most of what was real about seeing the candidates meet so many people and press the flesh has been lost anyhow. It has an air of reality TV about it now. You just know that images are being crafted and polished by consultants and it's all about image and perception. As for Mitt Romney, I don't see anyone who stands against Trump as a hero. It does make me happy that it wasn't a completely partisan vote however. It's like McCain and the healthcare vote, every once in awhile someone's conscious comes up for air, but doing the bare minimum right thing does not a hero make.