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Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 07:59 AM Jan 2020

Why Trump, McCarthy seem so eager to side with Bernie Sanders

Last edited Fri Jan 17, 2020, 08:30 AM - Edit history (1)

A few hours earlier, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), a close White House ally, spoke at a Capitol Hill press conference and, unprompted, started talking about the existence of Democratic superdelegates -- which McCarthy described as "horrific" -- before accusing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) of delaying the president's Senate impeachment trial in order to somehow "hurt" Bernie Sanders.




McCarthy added that former Vice President Joe Biden should stop campaigning during Trump's impeachment trial -- out of deference to Sanders, who'll be tied up at the trial. (McCarthy made no mention of the other senators who'll also be taken off the campaign trail during the trial.)

All of this may seem bizarre -- and to a very real extent, it is -- but it's not accidental. There's a GOP strategy unfolding, and it's based on a couple of assumptions.

First, Trump and McCarthy seem to believe Sanders' supporters can be manipulated -- a belief I suspect the Vermonter's backers will find insulting -- and intra-party divisions in Democratic politics can be stoked to ensure Trump's re-election. McCarthy's reference to superdelegates was especially notable: some Sanders supporters are under the mistaken belief that Democratic superdelegates derailed the senator's 2016 candidacy, which is not what happened.

Second, Republican attempts at mischief notwithstanding, the New York Times reports that Donald Trump's political advisers see Bernie Sanders as "their ideal" general-election opponent. To that end, the article added, members of the president's team "have been doing what they can to elevate [the independent senator's] profile and bolster his chances of winning the Iowa caucuses."


https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/why-trump-mccarthy-seem-so-eager-side-bernie-sanders-n1116941
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
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Why Trump, McCarthy seem so eager to side with Bernie Sanders (Original Post) ehrnst Jan 2020 OP
Post removed Post removed Jan 2020 #1
I never hear "status quo" defined, except that it's bad, and it never applies to Bernie. ehrnst Jan 2020 #2
For some here, a negative 'never applies to Bernie' empedocles Jan 2020 #3
Cult like thinking Dream Girl Jan 2020 #6
I agree Gothmog Jan 2020 #18
Great choice of words NYMinute Jan 2020 #21
Why didnt he also mention Warren & Klobuchar? They're also in the Senate oldsoftie Jan 2020 #4
Indeed. I think that the article makes it pretty clear. ehrnst Jan 2020 #5
Russia, Trump, GOP believe they can manipulate and weaponize the more zealous blm Jan 2020 #7
And many will eagerly make these memes viral. ehrnst Jan 2020 #8
the trolls are out. make no mistake. mopinko Jan 2020 #11
Sanders has a history of not stepping in and stop situations or misunderstandings that ehrnst Jan 2020 #13
Trump wants to run against Bernie NYMinute Jan 2020 #9
Yep. What Trump wants has been obvious all along. highplainsdem Jan 2020 #10
No, what Putin wants is to have control over both parties by controlling blm Jan 2020 #14
Some people see in chaos a benefit for themselves, and simply stand back and let it ehrnst Jan 2020 #15
Duh, since the Biden distraction isn't working as planned, move on to running against the Socialist. lark Jan 2020 #12
Trump will eviscerate Sanders in a couple of days nt NYMinute Jan 2020 #20
Trump, McCarthy are employing a well worn tool of espionage ArcticFox Jan 2020 #16
It is clear why trump and McCarthy want sanders to be the nominee Gothmog Jan 2020 #17
I had not seen that. (nt) ehrnst Jan 2020 #19

Response to ehrnst (Original post)

 

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)
2. I never hear "status quo" defined, except that it's bad, and it never applies to Bernie.
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 08:12 AM
Jan 2020

Could you give us the specifics?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

empedocles

(15,751 posts)
3. For some here, a negative 'never applies to Bernie'
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 08:17 AM
Jan 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

NYMinute

(3,256 posts)
21. Great choice of words
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 12:07 PM
Jan 2020

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, swims like a duck ... then it is a duck

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

oldsoftie

(12,638 posts)
4. Why didnt he also mention Warren & Klobuchar? They're also in the Senate
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 08:31 AM
Jan 2020

Why just point out ONE?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)
5. Indeed. I think that the article makes it pretty clear.
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 08:39 AM
Jan 2020

They think that they can prod Sanders supporters to see Sanders as a victim of an attack by Speaker Pelosi, no matter that the delay would affect all Democratic Senators still in the race.




If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

blm

(113,119 posts)
7. Russia, Trump, GOP believe they can manipulate and weaponize the more zealous
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 10:28 AM
Jan 2020

faction of Sanders’ supporters who are already quick to demonize other Democrats and further the propaganda that Russian internet operatives plant for them to spread.

Hillary, Warren, and Pelosi. They certainly like to direct fire at women. Russian analysis must have determined that a faction of the zealots can be easily triggered to attack women seen as foes.

Obviously I am not saying ALL Sanders supporters. Just a faction that I don’t believe even Sanders can control, but Putin’s propagandists CAN.....and do.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)
8. And many will eagerly make these memes viral.
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 10:31 AM
Jan 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

mopinko

(70,274 posts)
11. the trolls are out. make no mistake.
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 10:51 AM
Jan 2020

and the sanders followers are no better at dealing w that than the trumpkins.
i sure wish bernie would open his mouth here.
lead, damn it bernie. lead.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)
13. Sanders has a history of not stepping in and stop situations or misunderstandings that
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 11:03 AM
Jan 2020

he feels are beneficial to his interests.



If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

NYMinute

(3,256 posts)
9. Trump wants to run against Bernie
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 10:38 AM
Jan 2020

to guarantee his reelection in a landslide winning 42-45 states and make the Democrats lose the house while going to a 60 seat republican majority in the senate.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

highplainsdem

(49,059 posts)
10. Yep. What Trump wants has been obvious all along.
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 10:48 AM
Jan 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

blm

(113,119 posts)
14. No, what Putin wants is to have control over both parties by controlling
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 11:06 AM
Jan 2020

and weaponizing the zealots to turn against targets of Putin’s choosing. This is how he intends to collapse the US from within.

He will manipulate its extremes to unite and turn fire on their perceived common enemy....the rest of us.

Sanders has no control of that faction. That faction did what Putin’ wanted in 2016 and continues to do so.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)
15. Some people see in chaos a benefit for themselves, and simply stand back and let it
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 11:18 AM
Jan 2020

rage, despite the damage to the country.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

lark

(23,179 posts)
12. Duh, since the Biden distraction isn't working as planned, move on to running against the Socialist.
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 11:02 AM
Jan 2020

It's their preferred move. They want that more than anything because it's the only way they win. They'd be ok running against the gay guy (SIN!!) and wouldn't even pretend not to be total haters, wanted to get pretend dirt on Biden and run with that but have been mostly foiled so far and would be ok running against the woman who they have already pre-loaded with hate. With the hack of Burisma by Russia, concerned about the fake Biden info that probably has been planted there. Hope Biden & DNC has hired some top notch computer experts because it's almost certain this will surface if Biden is our candidate and they will need to prove PUtin did this to help drumpf.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

NYMinute

(3,256 posts)
20. Trump will eviscerate Sanders in a couple of days nt
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 12:05 PM
Jan 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

ArcticFox

(1,249 posts)
16. Trump, McCarthy are employing a well worn tool of espionage
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 11:20 AM
Jan 2020

By praising Bernie, they hope to inflame his supporters, raise suspicions among other Democrats, and exploit perceived divisions in the Democratic Party.

Wish we had a news media that could help Americans understand what's happening.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Gothmog

(145,722 posts)
17. It is clear why trump and McCarthy want sanders to be the nominee
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 11:54 AM
Jan 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

ehrnst

(32,640 posts)
19. I had not seen that. (nt)
Fri Jan 17, 2020, 12:00 PM
Jan 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
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