# Bernie Sanders Should Run As An Independent **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 9, 2019, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441 "2019-01-09T02:02:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2019, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/21 "2019-01-09T21:03:09Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > I think we should eliminate all political parties and just have a scrum in which the contenders enter into a Thunderdome-style cage and battle it out for supremacy. Let’s see if Hannity’s [years of MMA training](http://fightland.vice.com/blog/everything-is-awful-lets-make-fun-of-sean-hannitys-street-martial-arts) will allow him to prevail over Liz Warren’s mom-sense and fiscal/somatic combat skills. Trump, of course, won’t even be able to enter the cage because of his “bone spurs”, so he concedes by default. I, too, think that the best electoral reform to guarantee the election of Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho would be a steel cage primary. ---
**Author:** ![Snarky\_Kong](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@Snarky\_Kong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snarky_Kong)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2019, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/22 "2019-01-09T21:23:24Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > I thought if we learned _anything_ from the 2016 election, it’s that the 2 major parties are _not_ the same. “Both sides are bad, so vote Republican” is a common meme. Usually used to mock people that use a lot of false equivalency. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/23 "2019-01-09T21:24:11Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I, too, think that the best electoral reform to guarantee the election of Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho would be a steel cage primary. This is exactly the break the Dwayne Johnson campaign has been waiting for. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2019, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/24 "2019-01-09T22:10:18Z")
The Rock would actually be a better choice than most Hollywood figures. I’m not saying I’d like _any_ Hollywood figure, mind you, but I’d happily take him over Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2019, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/25 "2019-01-09T23:21:59Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > I, too, think that the best electoral reform to guarantee the election of Dwayne Elizondo Mountain Dew Herbert Camacho would be a steel cage primary. ”I’m pretty sure what’s killing the crops is this ‘Trump Water’ stuff.” Stranger ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/26 "2019-01-10T00:04:00Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > That would guarantee a trump victory. …which is what Bernie Bros want - as long as it’s not a woman or a black guy claiming the mantle of super liberal. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/27 "2019-01-10T02:41:20Z")
Yes, that’s what the Russians who call themselves “Bernie Bros” want. It’s not what any of Sanders’ actual supporters want, though. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/28 "2019-01-10T10:36:43Z")
> [@MortSahlFan](#): > > 3 choices are better than 2 (which becomes no choice essentially) Others have explained why OP is misguided (except as a Trumpist Fake Idea). I’m just curious about your arithmetic. Two choices = Zero choices? But Three choices = … ?? How about 4 choices or 5 choices? What do I Google to learn about this startling new arithmetic? ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/29 "2019-01-10T17:17:32Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Pssst, 1992 called and they want their rant back. The DLC??? Are you kidding me?. It hasn’t even existed for years. OK, DNC then. Meanwhile the Third-way is running like it’s on steroids. No, I am not kidding you. It wasn’t a “rant” back in 1992, because the entire Clinton triangulation strategy was in it’s infancy. People see it for what it is today: More faux populistic talk during campaigns, more corporatism in actual governance. Mirror’s Obama’s trojan horse move from hope and change in 2008 ( which I truly believed then ) to republican-lite. ( read: “three dimensional chess” ) LOL. ---
**Author:** ![BrickBat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@BrickBat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrickBat)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/30 "2019-01-10T17:25:33Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > If there were enough liberals in this country to win an election, Bernie Sanders would be President today. > > So liberals need to face up to reality and decide if they would rather have a moderate Democrat or a conservative Republican as President. With the dem party moving right and shifting center right, “moderate democrat” = republican circa’ 1990. With the fuzziness induced by the rightward moving overton window, the term “liberal” is too nebulous. In reality, it’s not a choice between a moderate democrat or conservative republican: It’s a choice between the democrats softshoe rightwing corporatist economics ( and its attendant corrosive effects on the working class ), albeit with more “liberal” social views, and the in-your-face rightwing corporatist economics and more conservative social views. People gotta’ eat. Dems trot out another conservodem ( Harris, Bezos etc ) they’re going to lose…again. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/31 "2019-01-10T17:30:48Z")
Yes, Bernie should run. And keep running. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2019, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/32 "2019-01-10T17:32:46Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > Yes, Bernie should run. And keep running. Even after he reaches the border. Run, Bernie, run. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 11:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/33 "2019-01-11T11:32:50Z")
> [@BrickBat](#): > > With the dem party moving right and shifting center right, “moderate democrat” = republican circa’ 1990. With the fuzziness induced by the rightward moving overton window, the term “liberal” is too nebulous. In reality, it’s not a choice between a moderate democrat or conservative republican: It’s a choice between the democrats softshoe rightwing corporatist economics ( and its attendant corrosive effects on the working class ), albeit with more “liberal” social views, and the in-your-face rightwing corporatist economics and more conservative social views. > > People gotta’ eat. Dems trot out another conservodem ( Harris, Bezos etc ) they’re going to lose…again. I’m sure you’re just salivating over the chance to vote for some 3rd party vanity candidate just to teach the Democrats a lesson. We’ve seen this boring movie before. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/34 "2019-01-11T13:30:03Z")
Partisans whining about third party voters is always super fresh and interesting though. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/35 "2019-01-11T13:41:37Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Partisans whining about third party voters is always super fresh and interesting though. Considering that third-party candidates of the left have provided the margin of victory for Republicans in two of the last three Presidential elections won by Republicans, it’s always a freshly scary prospect. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/36 "2019-01-11T13:44:36Z")
Oh yeah, and the scapegoating too. That’s the best part. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/37 "2019-01-11T14:38:12Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Partisans whining about third party voters is always super fresh and interesting though. Every 3rd party candidate in my lifetime has shown themselves to be an incompetent loon, at best. Narcissistic purity ponies who loudly bray about voting 3rd party are worthy of all the scorn they deserve. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/38 "2019-01-11T14:48:08Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > Oh yeah, and the scapegoating too. That’s the best part. If three men gang up on someone and beat him to death, each of the three are legally 100% responsible. IOW, different actors’ responsibility for bad shit happening can add up to way more than 100%. So you can say all you want that Al Gore and Hillary Clinton should have won despite Ralph Nader and Jill Stein, and I won’t argue the point. But no matter how true that might be, it doesn’t make it any less true that Nader and Stein did indeed provide the winning margin for Shrub and Trump, and that they share the responsibility for having put them in the White House. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/39 "2019-01-11T15:15:56Z")
It’s not a matter of they “should have won”, it’s the backwards analysis that one of the least significant factors is the one to focus on just because it is closest to the “margin of victory”. And when the shoe is on the other foot and someone suggests Perot played a spoiler to help Clinton win, suddenly Dems want to get it nto the nitty gritty of how those votes would really have gone. Surprise, surprise: Perot’s votes would have split evenly so he didn’t really effect the result. ---
**Author:** ![Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Ambrosio\_Spinola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambrosio_Spinola)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2019, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441/40 "2019-01-11T16:14:31Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Yes, that’s what the Russians who call themselves “Bernie Bros” want. It’s not what any of Sanders’ actual supporters want, though. That may be _generally_ true but I do know one guy in real life who fits this description. His politics are so weird though that it would be pointless for either party really to try to attract him, which I suspect is true of many of the far-left fringe types. I figure if Bernie actually had won that my friend would have been denouncing him as a sellout within three months since we wouldn’t have had a socialist utopia yet. But yeah, no independent run. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bernie-sanders-should-run-as-an-independent/827441.md?page=1)