scrubbedexpat099

Leslie

Is it really that hard?

Shard

Yes. The thing I an getting to like about Bernie is his tone. He's very authoritative and prescriptive. He knows exactly what he thinks should be done and says it straight-up. Not sure about banging on so much about the 1% though - it got him this far - but I think people will get as tired of hearing about the "evil rich" before too long.

Is that Baltimore guy there just to "make up the numbers"? He seemed fairly balanced, but obviously is completely out of the race at this point.

scrubbedexpat099

Ohhh

Not sure this is going to pass the site rules?

Leslie

O'Malley is just there because nobody can legally make him leave.

Yes, I agree about Bernie's tone, he's the least nasty/scary/petty and the most straightforward/informed/honest. He absolutely comes across as a decent and competent human. Who else is there like that? Other than yelling at Donald Trump a few times, Rand Paul is shockingly measured, civil, and calm --- at least in comparison to some of the shit some of the others have come out with.

scrubbedexpat099

Agree with both.

Leslie

You'd be surprised with what they're willing to put up with. Mainly because they're a bunch of pervs and just want to watch.

scrubbedexpat099

Interesting, never knew that.

Philk

I occasionally watch Fox news to see what sh1t they come up with - last night they were so desperate to pin something on Hillary they were complaining that she hadn't gone to see 13 Hours...

zargof

I agree with this pretty much. But I would add is that in terms debate performance it was pretty even, Clinton getting the upper hand on guns, Bernie winning on the economy. However, in terms of what it means for the election it was definitely a big win for Bernie because Clinton is now promising a third Obama term and more of the same politics as usual. The problem for a lot of people in this country politics as usual hasn't been working.

I honestly believe that a significant majority of people in this country agree with what Bernie is saying, but many of them either don't know about Bernie, or don't vote. So it becomes a question of if that can be changed. Winning IA and NH will make people sit up and pay attention, whether it will be enough remains to be seen.

Then there is the criticism that there is no way Bernie can deliver what he's promising, and the answer is probably not. But then think about what Obama promised. This is supposed to be the greatest country on earth, shouldn't the President have lofty ideals about where they want to take it?

Also, I note that I think Bernie is improving on foreign policy, which is good. But I'll still note that no-one gives a shit about which brown people we are [not] going to bomb when they're trying to put food on the table, or figure out how to pay for their kid's college.

A couple of months ago, I'd have put the odds at about 90:10 to Hillary. Now, I'd say it's closer to 75:25.

scrubbedexpat099

Not sure a White Female Obama is much of a selling point outside of the hard core zealots.

As for Guns, well Bernie was starting to lose it a bit pandering to that aspect but still has a much more broader view.

zargof

I agree, I think it's an attempt to shore up the black vote.

Guns is a tricky one. I don't think he would have moved his position on guns except he's suddenly realised he actually has a chance of winning this thing and guns is an important issue to a section of Democratic voters. He has to be careful not to give too much otherwise he looks to be pandering, which goes against his shtick of being consistent.

scrubbedexpat099

zargof

Sarah PAC? Please don't tell me that is somehow connected to Palin. If it is, then I guess the maxim "a conservative and their money are easily parted" still holds true.

FlaviusAetius

Agree with some of what you're saying. If Clinton goes all out on gun control she will shore up Republican and independent voters against her. If Bernie "wins" on the economy and takes the nomination, he will almost certainly lose the election - because as you say, the problem for a lot of people in this country, politics as usual hasn't been working. If, as I think is very possible, we slip into recession in 2016, Obama's prescriptions - and socialist prescriptions - will not sell.

"I honestly believe that a significant majority of people in this country agree with what Bernie is saying, but many of them either don't know about Bernie..." Elsewhere, posters have lamented that the average American is illiterate on economic issues - that would be Bernie's strongest calling card.

Johnson & Johnson announced the layoff of 3,000 people in its medical device division, all of them likely above minimum wage earners - layoffs undoubtedly due to the Obamacare tax on medical devices.

United Healthcare announced it, like the other majors, can't make a profit in the exchanges. The exchanges could collapse and leave us with only government programmes for the exchanges - probably, as some suspect, baked into the original law. It would be up to Trump or the Republican nominee to try to educate the electorate as to why Obamacare is failing and offer a reasonable alternative that is sustainable without massive government intervention. If they fail, we'll be enjoying a "Lost Decade" like Japan.