Bernie Sanders is not perceived as charismatic. He comes off as a schlub who lacks polish. He doesn't put on a "show." He's Larry David when people want Kevin Spacey. A president needs to have chutzpah and know when to be ruthless. Read more about why I think Bernie is being "trumped" by the media.
After the way Bernie Sanders couldn't keep control of his own rally in Seattle, it suggested he doesn't have any fight in him. He lost points by allowing disrespectful "Black Matters" extremists to take over his event. Bernie simply walked off rather than asserting himself. Would he be able to make tough decisions related to our economy, the military, and more? Great presidents don't walk away from conflict.
This was a golden opportunity for Sanders to demonstrate his negotiating skills and diplomacy. Instead, he walked away. Sanders' fear of offending is as bad as Trump's lack of fear of offending. If Bernie can't even stand up for himself or the thousands who schlepped themselves to a rally to hear him speak, how can we expect him to stand up for an entire nation?
Average Americans want a strong leader. Obama is a great orator whose motto promoted hope, promise, and change. That put him into office -- along with, most likely, his skin color -- since many older voters wanted to prove they weren't racist and younger voters wanted to make a statement. Barack's rhetoric and idealistic promises were no different from Bernie's. But as soon as Obama got into office, reality set in. It's tough to keep promises without cooperation from both sides of the aisle. However, President Obama can leave office saying "Yes we did" on some important issues.
Listen, Bernie has good ideas which resonate with many people. But so did Al Gore. Remember how Gore was criticized for being "too wooden?" Though he overcame that to win by popular vote, the Supreme Court abused its power and robbed him of the presidency.
Hillary was criticized until they gave her a makeover to make her less dowdy and more "likable." Disclosure: I am pro-Hillary all the way, but that's not driving what I'm saying about Bernie and Trump.
Bernie has many hurdles to overcome including his advanced age: he would be 73 going into office, making him the oldest president ever elected. There would be concern that he wouldn't even live to the end of his first term, and would be 77 running for re-election, which makes him most likely a one-term candidate, if even elected. His being Jewish and admittedly "unreligious" could also be problematic in the eyes of our nation's heavily judgmental Christian population.
Bernie identifies as a "self-proclaimed Democratic socialist." That frightens the crap out of many teabaggers and others who don't really understand what "socialist" means. They incorrectly equate it to communism. Right-wing illiterates constantly refer to Obama as a "socialist" based on his views and what he's accomplished. When Repubs call someone a "socialist," it's not praise or recognition... it's intended as an insult.
Most Americans are not interested in being "informed" voters. Just as there's the top 1% financially, there's another category of top 1% and that's comprised of intelligent people who get the big picture. The other 99% are gobbling up whatever nonsense the media serves on a tarnished silver platter.
I'm not sure Bernie has what it takes to kick butt. His age, appearance, and lack of experience work against him. His base seems to be primarily those of the hippie generation or the new hippies. While Hillary knows how to appeal to liberal Republiphants, the wrong "right" can't even relate to Bernie. Sure, idealism is great, but the reality is that a commander-in-chief has little power to wield change without the cooperation of Congress.
I'm not condoning any of this or saying it's right for Bernie to be slighted and dismissed as a viable candidate by mainstream media. This is merely my semi-objective analysis of what's going on.
Bernie's values and sentiments are great, and I agree with most of what he says. But hey, I made a talkumentary™ in 2004 that espoused these same philosophies before it was hip and popular to say it aloud. I've pushed for progress my entire life, way ahead of the curve creatively, socially, and politically.
For those who "feel the Bern," if you want your candidate to succeed, turn up the heat. But remember all the negative connotations of your slogan. Getting burned... bad. Burns cause pain, then scar and disfigure. Fires destroy. Job burn-out and burning up with a fever... more negatives.
Feeling burned may not be the best metaphor.
*All images on this blog are the copyright property of their respective owners. No infringement intended. Images included for political commentary, satire, or educational purposes only.
Average Americans want a strong leader. Obama is a great orator whose motto promoted hope, promise, and change. That put him into office -- along with, most likely, his skin color -- since many older voters wanted to prove they weren't racist and younger voters wanted to make a statement. Barack's rhetoric and idealistic promises were no different from Bernie's. But as soon as Obama got into office, reality set in. It's tough to keep promises without cooperation from both sides of the aisle. However, President Obama can leave office saying "Yes we did" on some important issues.
Voters don't understand that no president can easily accomplish what was promised. It usually takes the first two years of the first term just to create momentum and learn how to navigate Washington's shark-infested political waters. For a one-term president (which is the most Bernie would likely be), that only leaves two years to effect massive change. And two-term presidents spend their fourth year campaigning for re-election.
It's great that Bernie's shaking the tree and lamenting about America's problems, but we've heard it all before in every election. There's always at least one independent-thinking candidate who speaks of the need for change, who promises to tighten the reins on corporations, etc.
As long as we're a two-party system, it will always be an "us versus them" game. It is textbook divisiveness trumping (pun intended) cooperation and reason. We need to do away with the parties and vote purely for a candidate and his/her platform. For that matter, we should eliminate the electoral college and simply let popular vote decide. Base votes on issues and not party affiliation or lobbyist interests. Although registered as a Democrat, I'm in the middle politically: liberal on some issues and conservative on others. Guess you could say I'm a bi-voter.
As long as we're a two-party system, it will always be an "us versus them" game. It is textbook divisiveness trumping (pun intended) cooperation and reason. We need to do away with the parties and vote purely for a candidate and his/her platform. For that matter, we should eliminate the electoral college and simply let popular vote decide. Base votes on issues and not party affiliation or lobbyist interests. Although registered as a Democrat, I'm in the middle politically: liberal on some issues and conservative on others. Guess you could say I'm a bi-voter.
Without two parties, you wouldn't be relegated to voting in one primary representing only half of the field. You would select the top two candidates you'd like to see compete for the job. All the candidates would be up against each other from the get-go. There would be elimination rounds just like in a chess match or major league sports, until it's whittled down to the final two duking it out for the Oval Office trophy.
Listen, Bernie has good ideas which resonate with many people. But so did Al Gore. Remember how Gore was criticized for being "too wooden?" Though he overcame that to win by popular vote, the Supreme Court abused its power and robbed him of the presidency.
Hillary was criticized until they gave her a makeover to make her less dowdy and more "likable." Disclosure: I am pro-Hillary all the way, but that's not driving what I'm saying about Bernie and Trump.
Sure, Bernie is drawing record crowds with his grassroots campaign funded by supporters, allegedly sans special interest groups. But people respond to Trump's lack of a filter. It's refreshing to hear someone's unvarnished belief system, however bizarre or offensive, whether or not you agree with it. At least with Trump, you know what you're getting. He makes no apologies for who he is. I can relate to that since he shoots straight from the hip. It's a New York thing. Unabashedly direct.
[Has anyone noticed the irony of Donald's surname? In a game of cards, the "trump" card is the one chosen to rank above the others. His elitist views of entitlement certainly match his name.]
Trump is this election's misogynistic version of Sarah Palin, although he sounds more intelligent than Palin. Many of his followers sound ignorant and racist. There, I said it.
Without coaching or mock debates helping him prepare in advance, Bernie won't be able to hold his own in a debate against Trump mostly because -- I suspect -- Trump won't let him get a word in edge-wise.
Trump is style over substance.
Bernie is substance over style.
Trump is a reality show.
Bernie is trying to show reality.
Trump's rhetoric is inflammatory but speaks to the frustration many people have on certain issues. I have considered the possibility that Trump inserted himself into the race partly out of ego and partly to stir the pot. And it's working. I do find myself nodding in agreement with some of what Trump says, though I don't like how he says it... (I'd investigate moving to Canada if he's elected and consider staying there until he's impeached.)
Bernie has many hurdles to overcome including his advanced age: he would be 73 going into office, making him the oldest president ever elected. There would be concern that he wouldn't even live to the end of his first term, and would be 77 running for re-election, which makes him most likely a one-term candidate, if even elected. His being Jewish and admittedly "unreligious" could also be problematic in the eyes of our nation's heavily judgmental Christian population.
Bernie seems unwilling to do what's necessary to get into office. It's a game and a popularity contest. Always has been. Always will be. Ignorance and racism aren't going away in our lifetime. Heck, the world will probably burn up from global warming in the next 30 years, if the nut running North Korea or ISIS terrorists haven't already pushed us into WWIII or annihilated the planet with a nuclear weapon by then.
Most Americans are not interested in being "informed" voters. Just as there's the top 1% financially, there's another category of top 1% and that's comprised of intelligent people who get the big picture. The other 99% are gobbling up whatever nonsense the media serves on a tarnished silver platter.
I'm not sure Bernie has what it takes to kick butt. His age, appearance, and lack of experience work against him. His base seems to be primarily those of the hippie generation or the new hippies. While Hillary knows how to appeal to liberal Republiphants, the wrong "right" can't even relate to Bernie. Sure, idealism is great, but the reality is that a commander-in-chief has little power to wield change without the cooperation of Congress.
I'm not condoning any of this or saying it's right for Bernie to be slighted and dismissed as a viable candidate by mainstream media. This is merely my semi-objective analysis of what's going on.
Bernie's values and sentiments are great, and I agree with most of what he says. But hey, I made a talkumentary™ in 2004 that espoused these same philosophies before it was hip and popular to say it aloud. I've pushed for progress my entire life, way ahead of the curve creatively, socially, and politically.
Feeling burned may not be the best metaphor.
*All images on this blog are the copyright property of their respective owners. No infringement intended. Images included for political commentary, satire, or educational purposes only.
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