He's not just dull - he's borderline incompetent. This is fine when you're a republican whacko, not so much when you're trying to unseat one who's at least got good headline economic figures.

The alternative, though, begs the question: will US Americans really vote for Sanders' wealth redistribution?

He's got a track record of getting bipartisan bills through, and proven government experience. I think that the majority of Americans that are not brainwashed trumpians would consider voting for him because he is a bit boring and normal.

Competency is overrated as a requirement for US presidents. They've had Regan, Bush Jr and Trump in recent history so they're obviously not concerned.

He's also got Bloomberg's billions behind him now, so he can compete with the Trump campaign financially.

Biden can only win based on how many people really want Trump out, not any of his own qualities. Because he doesn't have any. He seems vaguely senile. I don't know if that counts.

It'll be Trump now. Bernie ran a decent campaign but you actually need something like the unions back to really flex and keep people politically engaged in a way that doesn't mean becoming a full-time politics nerd to actually have a fucking clue. That's a multigenerational project. That we probably don't have time for, woohoo.

I know plenty of Bernie voters at this point and they're all sitting out the general if it's Biden. I'd do the same.

Exit polling of Warren supporters shows 40% would move to sanders 15% to Biden.

I really Don't get the hero worship and personal branding angle that folks seem to be mad for.

This dude gonna bomb poor people and let the rich get richer, but he reminds me of my nice uncle, so sure!

Brooks wrote:

I know plenty of Bernie voters at this point and they're all sitting out the general if it's Biden. I'd do the same.

Well then they're idiots.

Cutting off their nose to spite their faces.

They've got zero hope of enacting any change if trump gets another 4 years. Stacking the courts and gerrymandering will be the goal, and the dems will struggle to get back in power regardless of who they pick. I like Bernie, and I want him to win, but he hasn't run a brilliant campaign.

GooberTheHat wrote:

Brooks wrote:

I know plenty of Bernie voters at this point and they're all sitting out the general if it's Biden. I'd do the same.

Well then they're idiots. Cutting off their nose to spite their faces.

Brooks wrote:

Categorically they're not convinced the Dems as they are are better than Trump, and they're not particularly wrong. If you're in for Bernie you want results, not the mere pageantry of blue-team-good when even fairly casual analysis of that party's activities would not in fact demonstrate a lot of good at all. Token engagement is absolutely not useful and mostly just more personal stress. The entire Sanders run has been in spite of the Democrat establishment, because they suck.

I'd agree with Goober here. Trump staying in power is a lot more harmful than Biden. Trump has emboldened racists and bigots in the US and worse it has brought out the absolute worse in the republican party. Before there was a certain feeling that maybe they had to play by the rules. Trump and his presidency has shown that they dont need to.

The idea that if you cant have your candidate so no point in voting doesnt really make sense to me. There will still be an election and one of the two sides will be in. You should at least vote which side is least damaging. Its the one advantage to the two party system. In Ireland you could be voting for a party who never makes it at all and never had a chance so the vote is wasted to an extent. In the US if you go to vote for either D or R, its a heads up so your vote will have an impact.

Trump staying in power is a lot more harmful than Biden. 

This isn't really clear at all, hence the reticence. Most Bernie working class voters have been fucked over by an entire class of people on both teams. Under those conditions, you don't want to be even more of mug, especially after doing round the clock phonecalls and all the other tedious shit of politcal engagement with people that mostly just want you to go away and get back to the TV.

Brooks wrote:

They've already stacked the courts and gerrymandered pretty fucking effectively, now what.

If they don't vote, they're probably less likely to vote in the down ballot races too, which means Republicans are more likely to pick up local government seats, which means they get even more control of redistricting when it comes around in 2020.

Trump has made everyone forget that the Dems are also a bunch of cunts.

Kow wrote:

Trump has made everyone forget that the Dems are also a bunch of cunts.

Fist bump for funky.

Funkstain wrote:

This so-called centrist common sense “he’s not as bad as the other guy” “you need to actually get into power before you can do anything” bullshit is the worst thing about following politics. If someone could provide me an example of a centrist (wtf is that anyway) who got into power and actually pivoted progressively in any kind of major way, that’d be much appreciated. It’s power for power’s sake and hiding behind a progressive veneer because you’re not overtly racist or sexist doesn’t disguise your odiousness. There are still those (all home owning graduates) who pine for Blair for fucks sake.

The flip side is how many progressives got into power and made a difference in the modern age.

There is never going to be a political choice that fits everyone. For everyone who feels left behind there will be people who feel they are held back or not rewarded for the work they do. Its an incredibly tight balancing act and probably beyond society to get it right. But the argument isn't 'Are the dems that much better than the republicans'. Its why, in a two horse race where you have a vote would you abstain.

Its like going to a wedding, being offered Chicken or Salmon for the dinner and deciding because you really wanted Steak you wont eat either and go hungry instead. You may not be the biggest fan of chicken but at least if you order it you've got dinner.