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2020 Democratic Presidential Nominees

Of course Bernie's running. It's also been two+ years and he's still stepping on rakes re: race issues.
 
Of course Bernie's running. It's also been two+ years and he's still stepping on rakes re: race issues.
Its a catch-22 for me. I think his 2016 campaign absolutely jump started a socialist progressive movement, even if he never had a chance of winning the primary. I wonder if his running in 2020 will help keep the momentum going, or if it will potentially discourage a younger replacement. I also wonder if another Bernie loss will cement the schism between older minorities (the heart and soul of the party) and the left wing (young white progressives).
 
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All valid concerns. Bernie would earn a lot of respect if he ceded his spot to younger DSA aligned folks instead of Hillarying his way into the primary.
 
Of course Bernie's running. It's also been two+ years and he's still stepping on rakes re: race issues.

A gaffe no doubt, but his clarification was decent. He's one of the few calling out class warfare and racism as issues that need to be confronted and not ignored. It's still 100000% preferable to negatives of someone like Biden re: race issues. He's not perfect, I have the same reservations as mdmh on his impact on the movement, I'd like him to reaffirm his commitment to, identification as democratic socialist (maybe unlikely in a general), we should not engage in celebrity politics, etc.

But no other general candidate is going to come even close to his platform, unless someone comes out of nowhere. If people can say that Biden as a 1 term candidate is a good idea, that throws out the window that we have to exclude Bernie because of his age.
 
All valid concerns. Bernie would earn a lot of respect if he ceded his spot to younger DSA aligned folks instead of Hillarying his way into the primary.

But most of those people are brand new reps. Is there anyone that fits that criteria, that also has national appeal, recognition, experience? Not sure anyone jumps out to me.
 
Its a catch-22 for me. I think his 2016 campaign absolutely jump started a socialist progressive movement, even if he never had a chance of winning the primary. I wonder if his running in 2020 will help keep the momentum going, or if it will potentially discourage a younger replacement. I also wonder if another Bernie loss will cement the schism between older minorities (the heart and soul of the party) and the left wing (young white progressives).

He absolutely jump-started a progressive movement and inspired a lot of young people. I think it would be powerful if he used his platform and popularity to support a younger candidate. But one of the trends I've complained about from the last election cycle is old men ignoring their inherent flaws and declaring "I alone can fix this."
 
He absolutely jump-started a progressive movement and inspired a lot of young people. I think it would be powerful if he used his platform and popularity to support a younger candidate. But one of the trends I've complained about from the last election cycle is old men ignoring their inherent flaws and declaring "I alone can fix this."

That's the biggest fear I have of Joe Biden. I'm a straight white male, so I don't want to speak for minorities or women, but the "Great White Male Savior" trope doesn't seem like it would be super attractive to the groups Democrats really need to show up in 2020.
 
IMO I think Bernie sabotaged any chance he had of winning the Dem primary by disaffiliating after running for President as a Democrat. It's either pride/ignorance or both that he doesn't understand how fiercely loyal the Democratic base is to the party brand name. That brand may be dog shit to everyone else, but Dems are not welcoming to outsiders who shit on the party establishment. You can't campaign in the primary the same way as you campaign in the general. Sure in Vermont you can succeed as a liberal Independent, but that shit doesnt fly in South Carolina. Being a Democrat actually means something in the confederate south.
 
Biden's handling of the Anita Hill hearing should be disqualifying in 2018. But yes, he is also in this category. Along with Bloomberg. And Steyer.

It was crappy for sure, but people can grow and change. I'd argue that Biden is a different person than he was in the early 90s.
 
But most of those people are brand new reps. Is there anyone that fits that criteria, that also has national appeal, recognition, experience? Not sure anyone jumps out to me.

Bernie didn’t have national appeal or recognition before he ran.
 
Biden's handling of the Anita Hill hearing should be disqualifying in 2018. But yes, he is also in this category. Along with Bloomberg. And Steyer.

This and his record on mass incarceration.
 
It was crappy for sure, but people can grow and change. I'd argue that Biden is a different person than he was in the early 90s.
He's done other shitty things since then. 90% of his approval among Dems comes from being memed as Obamas goofy sidekick. Amtrak Joe's actual politics are 90's blue dog bullshit. Biden is arguably more conservative than Hillary.
 
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It was crappy for sure, but people can grow and change. I'd argue that Biden is a different person than he was in the early 90s.

I think he was still saying shitty stuff and defending his record on mass incarceration as recently as 07. If people will sell out marginalized people for political gain in the 90s, they will certainly do it now as well.
 
Can you think of anyone that fits currently?

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Can you think of anyone that fits currently?

There are plenty of Democrats in Congress with experience, but no national profile. I bet most people don't even know Beto was a 3 term rep.
 
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