Bernie's In

No Frank, I will not give you a break (sorry). I asked a simple question, and I would like your direct answer.

Did you say the same things about Obama's candidacy, 8 years ago, that you are now saying about Sanders'? Many people did.

I never, ever...not even once...back in 2012 ever said that Barack Obama was unelectable.

I preferred Hillary Clinton to him...but never did I suggest (or even think) that he would not be able to be elected.

Perhaps "many" did think that...but I was not one of them. I just preferred Hillary.

If "many" did think Obama could not be elected...what can I say.

As far as I am concerned...Bernie Sanders, perceived as a socialist, simply CANNOT be elected here in the US right now.

I am confident that he will never get the nod, because there are too many people who realize his inclusion of the ticket is the kiss of death. If he were on the ticket, the GOP would romp.

Thoughts that the Republicans would much rather face Hillary than Sanders is laughable.

Just for the record, Obama was perceived as a socialist (and a Muslim and a Kenyan).

Not by me...and not by anyone I know.

And most of the people I know are staunch conservatives.

They knew him as someone darker than they wanted in the White House.

Frankly, anyone who considers (or considered) Barack Obama to be a socialist...just doesn't understand the term. Like I said...he is barely a liberal.

I concur, Frank. In fact, Hillary is alarming to the Republicans, their worse nightmare. The same way Democrats would just LOVE to have Trump as Hillary's GOP opponent in the presidential race, the Republicans would be slobbering at the thought of Sanders running against Jeb Bush! The Republicans are frantic that Hillary will get the nomination, and that's why they are throwing everything at her except the kitchen sink. The attacks on Hillary commenced with Benghazi, as if she personally managed the killing of Ambassador Chris Stevens, or she just sat idly by while he called for help and she ignored his pleas. The personal attacks on Democrats is the GOP's M.O. They realize mainstream America is against the Republican platform and so they feel the visceral need to demonize their opponent.

Nothing has been proven that Hillary did anything wrong, but to hear the Republicans tell it, she is to be compared to personally managing the 9/11 tragedy. People are innocent until proven guilty, but the GOP has tried Clinton, and passed sentence. We hear the clown Trump inferring because of the criminal element she might be forced to drop out. We'll, the Republicans will have a helluva long wait!

In reference to Obama being "unelectable" in 2008, I plead guilty. I did not believe white racist America would elect someone as dark as Obama, despite his academic credentials. After he won in Iowa, my hopes began to soar! If a predominately white state can vote overwhelmingly for an African American, then there appeared to be a chance. Many people possessing doubts regarding Obama changed their minds and cast their votes for the African American after Iowa.

Korkamann, you list all of the scandals that aren't true (ironically she is the second politician named "Clinton" that was fantastically scandal prone).

How about telling me one good thing about Hillary Clinton.

Tell me a uniquely courageous stance she has taken. Tell me a war that she has opposed? Tell me a part of her platform where she is taking a bold lead on an issue? Show me where she has taken a bold stance on same-sex marriage, or on civil rights, or on racial justice.

She is a woman , and a lot of people seem to think that is important... but then again so is Elizabeth Warren and a lot of other more worthy candidates. Other than that, I don't get why people think she deserves the nomination.

Right on, Korkamann.

The GOP would absolutely LOVE to have Bernie Sanders as the Dem candidate. I love the guy and his ideas...but the GOP would slaughter him in a national election for president.

The GOP would take him over any other candidate the Dems could nominate...and anyone who thinks that the other way around is the truth...

...is living in a fantasy world.

Hillary, for one, IS NOT REPUBLICAN! She possesses the gravitas that no presidential candidate of the opposite party can boast at this time. She was the former Secretary of State. Prior to that a US Senator representing New York.

Number 2, Hillary got a lot of experience as the wife of a president who served two terms and also was the butt of attacks from the vile Republicans. While doing the same thing with his aide, hypocrite House Speaker Newt Gingrich, bless his miserable soul, tried his damn best to bring down her husband with the Monica Lewinsky scandal, only to have the special investigator come up empty handed. Today, after serving two terms, Bill Clinton remains one of the most popular US presidents ever.

Number 3, Hillary Clinton has a very strong will---a fighter! She will go to combat for the Democratic platform which is the exact opposite to the Republicans who wish to privative Social Security, Medicare, defund Planned Parenthood; cut regulations on everything that would keep us safe.

Hillary will work for raising the minimum wage, for same sex marriages which the republicans oppose. She will work for the immigration path to citizenship, compared to many in the GOP who are for mass deportation and even children of immigrants who are born here. She will work hard for women affairs and minorities.

I admire Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and yes, even Biden; yet, in my personal opinion, Hillary Clinton is the only force that can face the GOP and win. Hillary is no stranger to attacks and the way the GOP stole the election from Al Gore in 2000, well, that would never ever happen to Hillary Clinton!!!!!

Hillary is not a people person; she tend to be rather taciturn, not the overly friendly type, but she is a serious individual. Because of her public demeanor, being private, many people distrust her, especially with the GOP piling on their dirty rhetoric that she cannot be trusted. Yet, no one can point to one thing that shows Hillary cannot be trusted. I would rather have someone with Hillary's obvious faults, i.e. rather closed personality, than Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders, although I like and respect these two.

As to Biden, well, let's face it, he's no spring chicken at 73. Is he expected to serve just one term? At any rate, Biden has tried to run two times before and were rejected both times by the American public despite his likability. There is a great deal of talk regarding his dying son's wish that Biden run again. I don't know how true this is, not being in the room when all this took place, but this much I do know, Biden is a politician, and has tried a couple of times before and I see that desire has not left him; if he personally perceives a real weakness in Hillary, he might jump in, but that doesn't mean he could win against a Republican rival.

Everyone realizes that extreme Socialism is Communism and the GOP will play the Sanders presidential candidacy like a drum, reminding Americans that Sanders would like to introduce Communism to America with his social program platform. This would frighten many Americans, causing them to doubt.

I have to love all these well reasoned opinions as to why Republicans do not want to face Clinton. Were any of them expressed by a Republican?

I give you #1, but there are several candidates running who aren't Republican who are better than Hillary Clinton.

I guess you are technically right about #2, but I don't think that it is a benefit. Part of her experience involves "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and gutting our welfare system. The fact that the Clinton's have weathered scandals (including a sex scandal) is not a good thing. I would rather have a president who can avoid sex scandals (or email scandals or foreign donor scandals).

I strongly disagree with with your point #3. Hillary Clinton has never been a fighter. She went along with "Don't Ask Don't Tell"... she opposed same sex marriage until the point she started running for president (and realized that the tide was turning). She went along with the rush to war.

In every instance that Hillary could have stood up and made a stand on an issue, she has taken the easy, expected, politically expedient stance.

Hillary and courage don't go together. She has been to focused on running for president to have time for integrity or courage.

Bernie Sanders is a true fighter. He says what he believes and doesn't give up his principles for any reason (including political expedience). Hillary Clinton is just a slickly marketed, stage-managed political product for you to buy.

Clinton is a fighter the same way that Coca-Cola (TM) teaches the world to sing.

This is one of the reasons the Socialist Party has never gained traction here in America; the Republicans would utilize it to beat the Democrats over the head. It's really too bad, because in today's climate with the Republican Party consumed and led by the Tea Party right wingers, we feel in need of such a Socialist Party more so than at any other time.

Hillary Clinton is a fighter in every sense of the word! If she were not, she would not be around for Republicans to keep dumping on her. You don't see it because you don't want to see anything positive about the Democrat.

We must not forget that Hillary Clinton is a politician, the same way others are. She is the kind of politician who will work for me! Clinton has reflected the changing times of America's cultural mores. The public is more accepting of the LGBT community, and so she has evolved as has the American society.

As for the war, yes, there is this flaw. That was an orchestrated invasion by greedy vp Cheney and the neocons, led by Paul Wolfowitz. As politically naive as I was at the time, even I was against the illegal invasion. But a large segment of the Congress did not want to go against W, the president in name only. That was a mistake, but you know, Hillary is only human, and in this political world, it's not always the right decision. There might be mistakes in the future, but I'll let the future take care of itself.

You agree that Clinton wussed out on the Iraq war (actually there hasn't been an American military action that Hillary has opposed since Vietnam).

What her inability to stand up in favor of same sex marriage until very recently. She opposed same sex marriage until it became politically expedient for her to support them.

And what about her inability to oppose the destruction of welfare.

And what about her inability, even now, to articulate a real racial justice platform. Bernie has one.

Hillary Clinton is a fighter the same way that Visa(TM) is everywhere I want to be.

Okay...but as an ex-Senator and failed presidential candidate...what could he possibly get done????

If the guy cannot win...what good are those qualities?

SPECIAL NOTE TO THOSE WHO HAVE NOT BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THE POLITICAL SENSIBILITIES OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC:

You are not going to get elected president of this country if you are perceived to be a liberal...what on Earth makes any of you think a guy perceived as a Socialist can make the move?

And just to make it clear, I don't like Hillary Clinton. I don't have anything positive to say about her.

She is a slickly marketed, stage-managed politician who is running a manipulative campaign to get a position she feels entitled to. She represents everything I see as wrong with the American political system, down to every calculated move to get voters without offending any of her moneyed interests.

I will vote for her if she wins the primary... but I will feel sick doing so.

Have I made my opinion of Hillary Clinton clear enough.

Maxdancona, you and I could go on ad infinitum and it's like going around in circles.

My patience is severely limited. I wish you well in your discourse with others on this very same theme.

Likely explaining why you dont ever seem to get further than the Clinton PR machine tripe.

The damage on the “socialism” account is already done. No matter who wins the nomination…you will hear the word socialism thrown out more than Benghazi has been strewn this last year.

“That’s what they want…to turn us into a socialist nation,” will ring out loud and clear at every opportunity.

Best to minimize the impact by not giving Bernie any more room in this thing.