An Alternative?

If the Democrats blow it again, the damage Trump, unleashed by the Republican Senate, can do is truly beyond our worst nightmares. The sane part of the electorate will merely try to deal with this loose cannon with a castrated Constitution. It will be like going to an AK-47 fight with BB gun.

We need a candidate and a strategy to get the right candidate.

Bernie Sanders

Before I get into the meat of my questions about Bernie’s viability in the general election, let me make clear that I could easily support him in the general election. I agree with him on almost all of the issues. I don’t see him having too much success in implementing those policies. Too be fair, I don’t see much success for any prospective Democratic president unless they have a filibuster-proof Senate. The following is not a critique of Bernie but more of what I see as impediments to his success in November.

As the campaigns are going now, he could very well be unstoppable. Well, what’s the problem with Bernie? The turnout is the key. He has proven quite capable of eliciting enthusiasm. That might be sufficient, were being a “socialist” the only target for Trump. I will not get into the fact that he is not actually a socialist in this post. I seriously doubt that any candidate of either party can accurately define socialism or explain the differences between “Democratic Socialism” and the plain old thing without an adjective.

Trump will test the resilience of those voters who overcome their trepidation about Democratic Socialism with telling them that he honeymooned in the Soviet Union. Of course he will also mention Bernie’s opposition to JFK’s policies vis-à-vis Cuba. Bernie has mellowed, or rather, matured in his view of the Soviet Union and its system. In his youth (and yes,he did have one) he came across as an ideologue. There are many quotes from that time that didn’t wear well but the Republicans will make the most of them.

Then there is the matter of his heart attack that I covered in an earlier post. Were he to experience another during the general election, Trump would get a majority of the vote, as well as winning the Electoral College. I notice that he still hasn’t released his medical records. Notes from is doctor are no more acceptable from Bernie than they were for Trump.

One more matter: while Bernie has enthusiasm for his candidacy, I don’t feel that it will provide coattails for the down-ballot races, which are also critical.

As a former journalist and politician, I cannot understand why neither the media nor his opponents have yet vetted him.

Michael Bloomberg

Mike will make a mark on Super Tuesday, though not as conclusive as he expects. He will confuse the situation but cannot get the nomination. After Super Tuesday he should withdraw and spend his millions to help a viable candidate.

Tom Steyer

I have no trouble with him on the issues or integrity, but it would be a very hard swallow to vote for a billionaire. His showing in a diverse Nevada was unimpressive and may have a negative effect on his performance in South Carolina, where his numbers were quite good. He should withdraw after the South Carolina primary and show Bloomberg the way.

Amy Klobuchar

Amy got a bump from the New Hampshire debate and thought it portended a large desk in the Oval Office. She would have been well-advised to call Kamala Harris for how to deal with burst bubble. She did well enough to ruin Mayor Pete’s chance for a clear-cut win over Bernie in New Hampshire but quickly slid to less than 4% in Nevada. She needs to withdraw as soon a possible. Elizabeth Warren needs to have a heart to heart talk with Amy and tell her to get out and give ask her voters to vote for the last woman standing.

Joe Biden

Joe had a firewall. He was buried in the first two contests. Then he “rises” to second place in a diverse state but, as I write this with 60% reported, trails an embarrassing 26% behind in Nevada. In his third campaign for the big prize I think his obsession blinds him to the inevitability of a third failure. He needs to withdraw after South Carolina.

Since Super Tuesday follows so closely upon South Carolina, there is very little time to try to change the dynamics of the race. As it now stands, Bernie will be almost unbeatable after the South Carolina primary.

For Mayor Pete to remain as the lone moderate and Elizabeth Warren to challenge Bernie for the progressive mantle, it might be possible to forestall the juggernaut.

As so many others, I feel a desperation to send Trump out on his rear and subject to various criminal charges. I see Mayor Pete and Elizabeth as the best chances we have. A ticket of those two might even provide a fair majority for Democrats in the Senate.

Whatever happens between now and November, VOTE.

Many thanks,

Crawford Harris .