# Why don't you support Bernie Sanders? (if you don't) **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [June 17, 2019, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632 "2019-06-17T02:58:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/321 "2019-08-27T17:12:03Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > “Ruling class”. That’s so cute,:rolleyes: and I notice you left out trump. Rich old white people aren’t America’s ruling class? > [@Czarcasm](#): > > If this was a case of just choosing which Democrat we want in the White House, then I might give Bernie a chance…but it isn’t. We need the candidate that has the best possible chance of beating Trump, and the stakes are too damn high to go for the second or third best and just _hope_ that enough people vote that way. Unless you really think the Democrat at the top of the polls is actually worse than Trump, of course. The Democrats need someone young and vital, someone who will make Trump look like the tired old sack of shit he is. They need a Kennedy, an Obama, or a 1992 Bill Clinton. In other words, they need the kind of Democrat who actually wins elections. That isn’t Bernie, Biden or Warren. I can’t believe this isn’t blindingly obvious. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/322 "2019-08-27T17:15:56Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Rich old white people aren’t America’s ruling class? > > The Democrats need someone young and vital, someone who will make Trump look like the tired old sack of shit he is. They need a Kennedy, an Obama, or a 1992 Bill Clinton. In other words, they need the kind of Democrat who actually wins elections. That isn’t Bernie, Biden or Warren. > > I can’t believe this isn’t blindingly obvious. When you can find the candidate you think we need that has the poll numbers actually needed to win, then we can talk. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/323 "2019-08-27T17:20:53Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > When you can find the candidate you think we need that has the poll numbers actually needed to win, then we can talk. If you support people, their poll numbers will grow. If you just give up on them then of course they can’t win. The thinking now seems to be that the Geezer Trio are inevitable - so we just have to stand up, look them in the eye, and say, “You’re evitable!”. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/324 "2019-08-27T17:24:23Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > If you support people, their poll numbers will grow. If you just give up on them then of course they can’t win. The thinking now seems to be that the Geezer Trio are inevitable - so we just have to stand up, look them in the eye, and say, “You’re evitable!”. It is called “risk assessment”, and the time to play “what have we got to lose?” is _not_ when we have this much to lose. ---
**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:** [August 27, 2019, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/325 "2019-08-27T17:37:22Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Rich old white people aren’t America’s ruling class? > > The Democrats need someone young and vital, someone who will make Trump look like the tired old sack of shit he is. They need a Kennedy, an Obama, or a 1992 Bill Clinton. In other words, they need the kind of Democrat who actually wins elections. That isn’t Bernie, Biden or Warren. > > I can’t believe this isn’t blindingly obvious. We can only go on the data at this stage. The polls show those three as the top tier while the younger candidates are trailing at a distance. Kamala Harris had her boom post Debate 1 and lost it post Debate 2. Furthermore the moderate lane is exclusive to Joe Biden. The alternatives, namely Beto O’Rourke and Amy Klobuchar have no traction whatsoever. Elizabeth Warren appears to have eaten into Bernie’s wing which is splitting that progressive vote. That only helps Biden at his stage. ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/326 "2019-08-27T18:03:52Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Rich old white people aren’t America’s ruling class? > > The Democrats need someone young and vital, someone who will make Trump look like the tired old sack of shit he is. They need a Kennedy, an Obama, or a 1992 Bill Clinton. In other words, they need the kind of Democrat who actually wins elections. That isn’t Bernie, Biden or Warren. > > I can’t believe this isn’t blindingly obvious. As Czarcasm says, your ideal candidate hasn’t shown up yet. In a way I hope they do, but I’m doubtful at this point. The state primaries will be here before you know it. The only thing I’m looking for in a candidate, in this order: 1. Can they beat Trump? 2. Are they progressive? If it turns out that Elizabeth Warren throws her support behind Bernie or if Bernie throws his support behind Elizabeth Warren (and I can get behind either scenario) then I will be voting for that person in the primary and hopefully in the general. ---
**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/327 "2019-08-27T20:52:21Z")
If you like Bernie Sanders, you might like this interview with Krystal Ball. She’s a Bernie supporter. In this interview, he’s calm, quick with a quip, and explains his positions. [HILL TV EXCLUSIVE, Full Interview: Bernie Sanders sits down with Krystal Ball](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S51uyddIiiM) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/328 "2019-08-27T21:00:30Z")
It is true that if enough people supported him he could beat Trump…but then again if enough people supported me _I_ could beat Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2019, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/329 "2019-08-27T21:38:08Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > It is called “risk assessment”, and the time to play “what have we got to lose?” is _not_ when we have this much to lose. Having so much to lose is \*exactly \*why you shouldn’t be playing it safe, because playing it safe doesn’t win elections. You’re nominating people because it’s their turn, when you should be nominating the people who are cutting ahead in line. Obama, not Hillary. Obama wins. Hillary loses. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 28, 2019, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/330 "2019-08-28T04:18:19Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > …The thinking now seems to be that the Geezer Trio are inevitable - so we just have to stand up, look them in the eye, and say, “You’re evitable!”. You seem couth, but I can’t say that you’re gruntled. ---
**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:** [August 28, 2019, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/331 "2019-08-28T04:55:54Z")
The worst case scenario is actually not when the elderly president keels over dead and the vice president takes over. That’s simple and straightforward. The problem comes when you have a situation like Reagan where the Cabinet starts to ponder whether to invoke the 25th Amendment, but then the president has a good day and they decide against it. We don’t need a president who has something less than full-blown dementia, but has the gradually worsening mental faculties that any octogenarian does. > [@scr4](#): > > It seems everyone is talking about different aspects of age. Is he too old to live till the end of the term? Is he too frail to handle the demands of the job? Is his mental capacity reduced because of age? Is he too old to understand “modern” issues like social media, net neutrality, GMOs, etc? Is he too old to understand what life is like for young people today? Is he too old to attract the youth vote? All these are separate questions. I was going to tackle this one, but puzzlegal nailed it (if perhaps a bit generously). > [@Alessan](#): > > The Democrats need someone young and vital, someone who will make Trump look like the tired old sack of shit he is. They need a Kennedy, an Obama, or a 1992 Bill Clinton. In other words, they need the kind of Democrat who actually wins elections. That isn’t Bernie, Biden or Warren. > > I can’t believe this isn’t blindingly obvious. Right? Beto, Booker, or Castro would do very nicely. Mayor Pete is taking the idea too far. Harris would still be better than any of the other current top five. > [@Alessan](#): > > Having so much to lose is \*exactly \*why you shouldn’t be playing it safe, because playing it safe doesn’t win elections. Left wingers love to say this, when the evidence actually shows the opposite. The House is currently under Democratic control because of a bunch of moderate Democratic candidates who played it safe and took seats away from Republicans. > [@Alessan](#): > > “Old” is the Republican brand, not the Democrat brand. The Democrats have always been the “young” party, which is why only young Democrats win elections. > > Say you’re an owner of an NFL team. Would you sign a 40-year-old quarterback for an 8-year contract? Great analogy! And yes, we have had 70-year-old Republicans win presidential elections, but the Democrats who win the presidency are always in their 40s or 50s. > [@Cheesesteak](#): > > In theory, reality and theory are the same. In reality, they aren’t. LOL, that’s awesome. Did you just come up with that, or are you quoting someone? > [@Ryan\_Liam](#): > > Not as crazy as the current person with senile dementia in the WH. That subterranean bar should not be the standard. Any Democrat who can manage to shuffle down to the cafeteria for tapioca and Ensure could clear it easily. > [@Emily\_Litella](#): > > First, I don’t know anybody who is 87 who is running for President. > > Second, the top three polling democrats are all in their 70’s. So it looks like most of the country disagrees with the folks in this thread who are saying he’s too old. First, Bernie is running to _be_ president when he’s 87. Or do you think he is running to be only a one term lame duck president and then “only” be 83? Still a bad idea for multiple reasons. Second, yes: Democrats are being unwise with their top three choices. It has happened before. But primary voters are really looking to have a stupefying lack of savviness this time, which is disconcerting to say the least. > [@Ravenman](#): > > And Strom Thurmond took a daring glider ride into occupied France on D-Day. Oh SNAP. ---
**Author:** ![Barack\_Obama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/dc4da7/32.png) [@Barack\_Obama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barack_Obama)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/332 "2019-08-29T03:16:38Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > My god. Has a single person in this thread said anything like that? Are you denying that age effects mental and physical capacity? Cite your evidence that Bernie Sander’s mental and physical capacity has diminished. Age affects everyone differently, I can cite examples of Biden seemingly having an “old age” moment. Bernie however has always been consistent and on topic, I can’t recall him every displaying any indication age is catching up with him unlike Biden and Trump. Again, this argument is a nothing sandwich. There is little to no merit behind the argument Sanders is too old to be president. Maybe you think we should revoke every person over the age of 40’s ability to vote, hmm? IF you want to make the age argument then let’s really apply it where it matters. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/333 "2019-08-29T03:55:15Z")
> [@CarnalK](#): > > My god. Has a single person in this thread said anything like that? Are you denying that age effects mental and physical capacity? It certainly CAN, but it doesnt necessarily set in until very advanced ages nowadays. People in their 90s are still sharp. I think QE2 is sharp as a tack and there are guys in their 20’s I wouldnt trust with a burnt out match. So, it’s a person by person thing. I am not really happy with Bernie, but age isnt one of the reason. ---
**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:** [August 29, 2019, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/334 "2019-08-29T04:59:52Z")
> [@Barack\_Obama](#): > > Again, this argument is a nothing sandwich. There is little to no merit behind the argument Sanders is too old to be president. It’s very relevant, as much as you might wish otherwise. This is politics, and being a socialist and being over 75 are the worst-polled characteristics for a presidential candidate: [https://twitter.com/slackerinc/status/1166934585151819777?s=21](https://twitter.com/slackerinc/status/1166934585151819777?s=21) This poll did not ask about atheism, but that generally polls poorly as well, so Bernie is probably hitting for the trifecta. :smack: As for age affecting everyone differently: if that is so, then why don’t we see anyone live to be 150 years old? Out of billions and billions of people we ought to see that on rare occasion, if everyone truly gets affected differently by age. In actual reality, age wears everyone down. It wears some down more slowly than others, but only to an extent. The US military certainly does not believe the elderly can be good military leaders. Their top brass are pushed out by their early to mid sixties. Bernie wants to go 20 years or more beyond that as commander in chief? And it’s not like that’s the president’s only job! ---
**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:** [August 29, 2019, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/335 "2019-08-29T05:28:16Z")
From the “Dukakis in a tank” department, Bernie hits a speed bag to try to look vigorous, but ends up getting TKO’d by the bag. Oops! :smack: This video is EVERYTHING. [Twitter Goes Wild With Video of Bernie Hitting a Speed Bag — and the Bag Hitting Back](https://www.mediaite.com/politics/twitter-goes-wild-with-video-of-bernie-hitting-a-speed-bag-and-the-bag-hitting-back/) ---
**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:** [August 29, 2019, 11:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/336 "2019-08-29T11:04:10Z")
LOL! Who the hell gave the green light to share that clip? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/337 "2019-08-29T14:07:02Z")
I wager 200 quatloos on the small hanging leather thing. ---
**Author:** ![Emily\_Litella](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/emily_litella/32/3370_2.png) [@Emily\_Litella](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Emily_Litella)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/338 "2019-08-29T19:32:06Z")
> [@SlackerInc](#): > > It’s very relevant, as much as you might wish otherwise. This is politics, and being a socialist and being over 75 are the worst-polled characteristics for a presidential candidate: [https://twitter.com/slackerinc/status/1166934585151819777?s=21](https://twitter.com/slackerinc/status/1166934585151819777?s=21) > > This poll did not ask about atheism, but that generally polls poorly as well, so Bernie is probably hitting for the trifecta. :smack: > > As for age affecting everyone differently: if that is so, then why don’t we see anyone live to be 150 years old? Out of billions and billions of people we ought to see that on rare occasion, if everyone truly gets affected differently by age. > > In actual reality, age wears everyone down. It wears some down more slowly than others, but only to an extent. The US military certainly does not believe the elderly can be good military leaders. Their top brass are pushed out by their early to mid sixties. Bernie wants to go 20 years or more beyond that as commander in chief? And it’s not like that’s the president’s only job! Yeah you keep making arguments about Bernie being too old. One thing you mention above is the trifecta of being over 75, a socialist and an atheist as the reason he’s polling so poorly. Where is he in the polls? 18th place? 14th place? When do you suppose he’s going to drop out of the race? Next week? Tomorrow? ---
**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:** [August 29, 2019, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/339 "2019-08-29T21:19:05Z")
Nice try, but I never said anything about him polling so poorly in the Democratic race. Democrats can be very lacking in strategery in whom they support. But his 15% or so of Democratic primary voters only represents maybe 5% at most of the overall voting population. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [August 29, 2019, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632/340 "2019-08-29T21:19:43Z")
> [@Emily\_Litella](#): > > Yeah you keep making arguments about Bernie being too old. One thing you mention above is the trifecta of being over 75, a socialist and an atheist as the reason he’s polling so poorly. Where is he in the polls? 18th place? 14th place? When do you suppose he’s going to drop out of the race? Next week? Tomorrow? I believe he’s in 3rd place atm. It’s Biden by a fairly comfortable margin (so far), Warren next and I think Bernie is in 3rd. Of course, we have a long way to go, so that might change as we get closer to folks actually voting. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-dont-you-support-bernie-sanders-if-you-dont/835632.md?page=18)