# Obama's got 9 days to show some guts and save the republic **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 23, 2020, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393 "2020-02-23T15:09:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2020, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/161 "2020-02-26T05:27:03Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > I’m offended by that last part. Nothing I have EVER said should provide anyone with any reason to think I would vote for Trump for any reason short of some maniac holding my wife and kids hostage. Nor would I deny the Democratic nominee my vote. When I participate in the primary process I believe it’s an implicit contract to vote for whichever nominee wins, even if it is the second-worst candidate running (the worst being Tulsi Gabbard). Nor do I think it’s right to shit-talk that nominee once there is no possibility of denying them the nomination. Once Bernie has 1,991 delegates, I will observe the Thumper rule, go quiet, and then quietly, privately go vote for Bernie and the DFL slate on Election Day. I did not suggest you would or should vote for Trump. I merely suggested an option I’d prefer than you canvassing for Sanders. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2020, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/162 "2020-02-26T05:37:29Z")
Mmm. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2020, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/163 "2020-02-26T17:28:21Z")
> **[Pelosi says she’d be comfortable with Sanders at top of ticket](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/484699-pelosi-confirms-that-shed-be-comfortable-with-sanders-at-top-of-ticket/)** > > House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Wednesday said she would be comfortable with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) as the Democratic presidential nominee in November.The congresswoman was asked… Pelosi is comfortable with the possibility of Bernie winning the nomination. This supports my prediction that the “establishment” is slowly but surely coming to terms with and accepting the likelihood of Bernie winning. ---
**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:** [February 26, 2020, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/164 "2020-02-26T17:32:24Z")
That is a little small potatoes to be latching on to. > [@](#): > > The congresswoman was asked the question as she was leaving a closed-door meeting in the House basement Wednesday morning. > > She replied with one word: “Yes.” ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2020, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/165 "2020-02-26T17:37:30Z")
We’ll see! ---
**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:** [February 26, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/166 "2020-02-26T17:44:01Z")
No, this isn’t a guessing game. A one word “yes” while she’s walking out of a meeting is small potatoes. ---
**Author:** ![pjacks](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e19adc/32.png) [@pjacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pjacks)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2020, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/167 "2020-02-26T18:03:49Z")
Better than a one word “No.” ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2020, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/168 "2020-02-26T18:14:01Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > No, this isn’t a guessing game. A one word “yes” while she’s walking out of a meeting is small potatoes. No! Medium potatoes! THIS IS A GUESSING GAME! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2020, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/169 "2020-02-26T19:36:45Z")
Are those electable potatoes? Socialist potatoes are _right_ out! ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2020, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/170 "2020-02-26T19:54:50Z")
No potatoes! No potatoes! You’re the potato! ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2020, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/171 "2020-02-26T20:06:04Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > For reference, [16% of Sanders supporters say they will not vote if Sanders isn’t the nominee,](http://emersonpolling.com/2020/01/24/national-2020-biden-and-sanders-battle-in-two-way-race-for-democratic-nomination/) and another third that have to see who the nominee is first. > > So yeah, it’s not out of left field for the “Vote Blue No Matter Who” crowd to look at Sanders’ supporters a bit askance. As long as that “bit” is “1/6”, and you’re 5/6 behind them, I guess I’m with you. Look: anyone who would ever consider voting for Trump is kind of awful. Someone who’s guaranteed to vote for Trump is more awful than someone who’s just kind of considering it. Someone who’d vote for Sanders if nominated, but Trump otherwise, is awful–but less awful than someone who’d vote for Trump no matter what. Someone who doesn’t vote is less awful than someone who votes for Trump, but more awful than someone who votes for the Democratic nominee. Someone who’ll vote for Sanders if the nominee, but won’t vote otherwise, is more awful than someone who votes Blue no matter what, but less awful than someone who won’t vote no matter what. There’s no reason to excuse the “Bernie or Bust” brigade. Criticize their position for its merits or lack thereof. Be specific. I do it myself, and I’ve used one of my rare Facebook unfriending dramas in the past week or so to get rid of one because I’ve put up with their bullshit long enough. But your stats show that they’re a small minority of all Sanders supporters. Don’t paint all Sanders supporters with that brush. And definitely don’t criticize their position, as some folks have done here, as though they’re traitors or interlopers or party crashers or other stupid stuff like that. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2020, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/172 "2020-02-26T22:25:11Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > So yeah…if you cannot get on board then sit it out. Or pull the lever for Turmp…as you like. Twelve minutes later: > [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I did not suggest you would or should vote for Trump. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2020, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/173 "2020-02-26T23:27:35Z")
Rep. Clyburn may have just saved the day! > [@](#): > > “I don’t see a whole lot of 2016 in this election,” Clyburn said. “I see a whole lot of 1972.” And he was there. (He’s a year older than Bernie, Biden, and Bloomberg.) ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2020, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/174 "2020-02-26T23:52:38Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > Rep. Clyburn may have just saved the day! > > And he was there. (He’s a year older than Bernie, Biden, and Bloomberg.) Fuck that shit. That’s exactly the attitude that could lose November. Assuming Bernie runs well ahead of everyone else through the primaries, the Dems may or may not be able to win with Bernie if they rally around him. But I **guarantee** you they’ll lose if a nontrivial chunk of the party runs away from him. ---
**Author:** ![squidfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@squidfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squidfood)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/175 "2020-02-27T00:06:19Z")
lol. I really have Bernie right now to thank, for something finally clicking in terms of understanding Trump voters. Intellectually, I’m still behind Warren. But watching the establishment centrist Dems (especially the billionaires and corporate media heads who are, on a deep level, Not On My Side) scurry in this panic looking for a savior, and listening to you all panic about “electability” and rant about Sanders supporters, hits me on a deep deep emotional level that makes me say “you go Bern - tear it all down!” ---
**Author:** ![Banquet\_Bear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banquet_bear/32/373_2.png) [@Banquet\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banquet_Bear)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/176 "2020-02-27T00:10:25Z")
…Obama isn’t coming to save you. If you guys want to save your republic then \*\*you \*\*are going to have to show some guts and do it yourselves. And if you insist on listening to “pragmatic Democrats” or “Never Trumpers” on what to do at the next election, don’t bother reading the cite in the OP (that was written by communications director for Jeb Bush, and spokesman for the Republican National Committee.) Just heed the words of right-wing tea-party republican “Obama is a Muslim” former representative [Joe Walsh](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Walsh_(American_politician)). > [@Joe Walsh](#): > > I would vote for socialism over authoritarianism. [https://twitter.com/WalshFreedom/status/1231392007135907840](https://twitter.com/WalshFreedom/status/1231392007135907840) Simple and to the point. This isn’t a hard choice. Let them fight it out in the primaries. Whomever gets the nomination will get the nomination. Then throw your support behind the winner (whether its Sanders or Warren or Bloomberg) and fight to save your republic. Playing the game any other way makes the road for a Trump victory that much easier. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/177 "2020-02-27T00:25:53Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > Fuck that shit. That’s exactly the attitude that could lose November. > > Assuming Bernie runs well ahead of everyone else through the primaries, the Dems may or may not be able to win with Bernie if they rally around him. But I **guarantee** you they’ll lose if a nontrivial chunk of the party runs away from him. Clyburn’s intervention here will hopefully \*prevent \*Bernie from running well ahead of everyone else through the primaries. But if it doesn’t, Democrats in vulnerable seats (the ones who won in 2018 and gave Pelosi the gavel) would be well-served to distance themselves from Bernie and try to save the House. We need that bulwark against total power by a second-term Trump who doesn’t even have fear of electoral defeat to constrain him. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/178 "2020-02-27T00:31:12Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > That’s exactly the attitude that could lose November. Maybe, but I think it’s more like this: > [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](#): > > Look: anyone who would ever consider voting for Trump is kind of awful. There’s an enormous difference between someone on an internet discussion saying it, and if a Democratic candidate were to insult people considering whether or not to vote for Donald Trump. But I do think people will be more likely to come out on a possibly rainy day and vote for DJT if they feel looked down on. ---
**Author:** ![SlackerInc](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slackerinc/32/275_2.png) [@SlackerInc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SlackerInc)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/179 "2020-02-27T00:33:49Z")
Relatedly, it’s a huge political foul in this country with this economy in the 21st century to constantly talk about “the working class” as Bernie does. He virtually never refers to “the middle class”, which is just not the way it’s done in American politics. Maybe he knows something every political consultant is unaware of, but I doubt it. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2020, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393/180 "2020-02-27T00:47:20Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > By the same principle that you shouldn’t encourage hostage-taking by negotiating with hostage-takers. Every situation needs to be considered individually. But, generally I do believe in negotiating with hostage takers. However, I’ll try to take your side another way. 16 percent of Sanders supports indicate that they wouldn’t vote for another Democrat. Whereas [53 percent of Americans polled wouldn’t vote for a socialist.](https://news.gallup.com/poll/285563/socialism-atheism-political-liabilities.aspx?utm_source=alert&utm_medium=email&utm_content=morelink&utm_campaign=syndication) Of course, the 53 percent didn’t really say they wouldn’t vote for a socialist. Rather they answered yes to a question. Some of them just meant they considered being a socialist a big negative in a candidate. Similarly, some of the 16 percent would be really pissed off if the nominee were Biden but vote for him anyway. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obamas-got-9-days-to-show-some-guts-and-save-the-republic/848393.md?page=10)