# Hee-haw, y'all. The 2020 Democratic Presidential Primary **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 12, 2018, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415 "2018-11-12T17:52:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 155
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3081 "2020-01-13T16:06:40Z")
[Booker out!](https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/13/booker-dropout-098177) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3082 "2020-01-13T17:26:33Z")
> [@Boycott](#): > > It appears the Sanders campaign is going full tilt. His surrogates are blasting Biden and Warren together now. The debate will be fun! Yep, and that’s all apparently he can do: attack the other candidates so as to make trump win. See that’s exactly what vicious attacks on the other candidates do- they make people think that the dem candidate- whoever it might be- is just as bad as trump. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3083 "2020-01-13T19:30:29Z")
In 2018 Sanders alleged to have told Warren women can’t win. > **[Bernie Sanders told Elizabeth Warren in private 2018 meeting that a woman...](https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/13/politics/bernie-sanders-elizabeth-warren-meeting/index.html)** > > The stakes were high when Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren met at Warren's apartment in Washington, DC, one evening in December 2018. The longtime friends knew that they could soon be running against each other for president. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3084 "2020-01-13T21:22:56Z")
> [@Boycott](#): > > [https://www.tomsteyer.com/economic-agenda/](https://www.tomsteyer.com/economic-agenda/) > > > [@](#): > > > > I will repeal the Trump tax cuts and institute a wealth tax — 1% on those whose net worth is above $32 million — that will generate over $1 trillion for healthcare, education, environmental, and criminal justice programs. Is there anywhere where he runs the numbers on this? In one or other of his websites he says no deductions will be allowed, and IIRC it is 1% per year if you are worth $32M, 1.5% if 500M, and 2% if you are worth more than a billion. The trillion is over ten years, so $100B a year. How many people/households are worth $32M, how many $50M, and how many a billion? And how will the allocation be split - how much on healthcare, how much on education, how much on the environment, and how much on criminal justice? This is the only reference I could find to Steyer on the deficit - > [@](#): > > I think it’s completely unfair not to mention the fact that we will have almost a trillion-dollar deficit this year with 3½% unemployment. So when you think about Mr. Trump being a steward of the American economy, it’s like, really? [Cite](https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2020-01-11/tom-steyer-2020-election-interview). So presumably he doesn’t think running a deficit is a good idea. So in addition to spending another $100B a year, he would presumably raise revenues, or cut spending, by almost a trillion a year. Has he mentioned how he will do that? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3085 "2020-01-13T22:58:02Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Eliminating it entirely would require a Constitutional amendment. That’s a rather stiff challenge. True, but Biden, for eight years, had a major platform from which to sell the idea that this would be a great idea—if, as you’ve repeatedly implied, sticking it to financially-struggling Americans actually was a passion project for him. He didn’t do that. He could have, but he didn’t. For eight whole years, he didn’t do anything even _remotely_ related to selling the idea that the financially-struggling have it too easy and should be gone after or harassed or penalized. Yet there he was, for eight years, in a position to get an interview on any major news show or with any major paper or magazine; in a position to call conferences and commissions; in a position to be _listened to_. Why _didn’t_ he do that, if that was “who he is” (to use your words)? > [@RTFirefly](#): > > Oh, gimme a break. There really is a limit to how much money you can squeeze out of people who are already in desperate financial straits. The 2005 Bankruptcy Act is pretty damn close to that limit. There really wasn’t much more money to be made that way. He’d already all but maxed it out. Fight finished, and all that. Oh, please. Biden is supposedly the enemy of the financially-struggling----that’s “who he is”----but he couldn’t think of a _single_ thing to do, in eight years, that would stick it to them? Really? Not one thing? ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2020, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3086 "2020-01-13T23:04:18Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Yep, and that’s all apparently he can do: attack the other candidates so as to make trump win. > > See that’s exactly what vicious attacks on the other candidates do- they make people think that the dem candidate- whoever it might be- is just as bad as trump. Yeah. If Sanders wants to talk—and have his surrogates and canvassers talk—about his particular programs and policies, and how they will impact the lives of voters, and how those programs and policies aren’t being offered by other candidates, then I’m all ears. That would be both fair and informative. But his campaign-trail history is as a character assassin. Hillary gave speeches to corporations therefore she was the puppet of the corporations. (I never really bought his logic on that one----why couldn’t she just take their money and then regulate and tax them? Did she sign a blood oath?) Now, Warren is supposedly the Candidate of the Elites. Biden is a corporate whore who slavered to get us into the Iraq war. And so on. It’s a shame, because there really are other things Sanders could be saying. But he seems to gravitate to the vicious-undercutting of others, rather than the messaging about what he himself has to offer. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Colossus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.colossus/32/9423_2.png) [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3087 "2020-01-14T03:21:14Z")
I’ve come to loath Mike Bloomberg simply based on the fact he has enough money to follow you around on TV and harass you during every. single. commercial break. It’s gaudy and comes of as flop-sweatingly desperate. I read/heard somewhere that he calculated how much money he’d have to pay if any of the front-runner Dems win and put their rich-people tax on him, then figured out a good percentage of that and said “screw it, I’ll spend X amount running for president.” …that kind of rich cannot possibly account for the regular American. ---
**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 14, 2020, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3088 "2020-01-14T03:50:54Z")
There are certainly reasons to be disdainful of Bloomberg’s run but that “flopsweat” comment is risible. He started two months ago, spending couch change and probably has no concern about actually winning. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Colossus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.colossus/32/9423_2.png) [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3089 "2020-01-14T04:59:29Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > There are certainly reasons to be disdainful of Bloomberg’s run but that “flopsweat” comment is risible. He started two months ago, spending couch change and probably has no concern about actually winning. Your stance is he started late, has no intent to win, is spending more of his personal capital than any other candidate, and none of that reeks of desperate? What exactly is it, then? ---
**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 14, 2020, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3090 "2020-01-14T05:13:28Z")
A billionaire’s lark? He’s already pledged to leave his team in the field when he ultimately loses. Is that flop sweaty? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Colossus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.colossus/32/9423_2.png) [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3091 "2020-01-14T05:17:56Z")
Mike has outspent any other candidate for [2020 by a huge margin](https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/michael-bloomberg-surpasses-200-million-spent-ads/story?id=68203856). He’s close to outspending all the Dems whole-hog including Steyer who is in a cash-out contest with Bloomberg but losing badly. It’s absurd. He spent nearly a million dollars on [facebook ONLY THIS SATURDAY](https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/13/mike-bloomberg-spent-826000-on-facebook-ads-in-a-single-day.html). A one day spending record for any politician. I’m dying for a defense about how this is a positive for democracy. How this is good for America. How someone like this is bringing something real to the table for the average Joe American who is a wage slave and has to work Christmas Eve just to make ends meet. How is this kind of person good for America? ---
**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 14, 2020, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3092 "2020-01-14T05:36:00Z")
You do realize that is a complete change of topic, right? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Colossus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.colossus/32/9423_2.png) [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3093 "2020-01-14T05:52:19Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > You do realize that is a complete change of topic, right? He is, by a wide margin, the worst Dem possible candidate in this primary (other than Tulsi who is dead in the water). Is there a better thread to talk about how terrible this particular primary candidate is other than the “over all democratic primary” thread? Point me in that direction. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Colossus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.colossus/32/9423_2.png) [@Dr.Colossus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Colossus)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 6:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3094 "2020-01-14T06:11:55Z")
I’m not going to let go of it. I have to point this out: we are 62 pages into a general “dem race 2020” thread where I complain about literally only one person in the race. Someone who has no tooth and only is viable because he can literally afford to pay for commercials to remain relevant. YOU, someone I respect because I suspect you’re smarter than me has to downgrade to defending Bloomberg. What? HOW? WHY? You say voicing my opiions on hims IN THIS THREAD is off topic. Like he’s not one of the last few Dem candidates, and like that’s not allowed only because he’s fuck-you rich. You defend this guy. HEE HAW Yall the democratic primary Defend that position. We are starting from there. ---
**Author:** ![Locrian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/locrian/32/14146_2.png) [@Locrian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Locrian)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 6:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3095 "2020-01-14T06:19:37Z")
I don’t think Bloomberg has the stuff because 1) New York State is saying, “WTF?” They don’t like him. 2) Another rich businessman making “promises” won’t cut it and 3) What’s his foreign policy stance and experience? He may do some good cleaning up around the US but not sure about how he’d look outside of the US. At least he EARNED his money and wasn’t given it to being with. ---
**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 14, 2020, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3096 "2020-01-14T11:44:50Z")
> [@Dr.Colossus](#): > > I read/heard somewhere that [Bloomberg] calculated how much money he’d have to pay if any of the front-runner Dems win and put their rich-people tax on him … Careful! There’s so much real disinformation out there, that I’d guess many Dopers didn’t realize you were being sarcastic. To avoid this confusion I suggest that next time, instead of “I read/heard somewhere” you write something like: “My sister-in-law heard from her hairdresser, who found it on Facebook”, and add a smiley-face. I speak from experience. I also often try to parody American thought, but if I fail to include a smiley-face Dopers don’t realize I’m being sarcastic either. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3097 "2020-01-14T12:57:07Z")
I heard it from that guy from REO Speedwagon who heard it from a friend, who heard it from a friend, who heard it from another… ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3098 "2020-01-14T14:30:11Z")
It would probably be more fruitful to bash a candidate for their position on the issues, rather than how they spend their advertising money. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3099 "2020-01-14T21:53:13Z")
Looks pretty clear that if Warren gets the nomination then Castro will be her running mate. He’s campaigning with her already. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2020, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415/3100 "2020-01-14T22:06:14Z")
Yahoo article on why Yang has had staying power while more powerful and advantaged Democrats such as Kamala had to drop out: > **[Why Andrew Yang Has Endured While Traditional Democratic Candidates Have Not](https://www.yahoo.com/news/why-andrew-yang-endured-while-182735904.html)** > > At one point, nearly 30 men and women had entered the race for the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. As of this week, only a dozen of them remain. Among those who have exited the contest are three sitting U.S. senators, five current or former... [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415.md?page=154) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hee-haw-yall-the-2020-democratic-presidential-primary/824415.md?page=156)