US election 2020

[Wokko]

Tucker Carlson nails it completely on Biden, Buttigieg and the Democrat race. A really solid analysis of the whole contest (especially on Biden's implosion).

https://youtu.be/7NjdR_xxYB0

[David]

^ Yeah, very little to disagree with there. I think he's spot on about it being between Sanders and Bloomberg now, and also what that means for the Democrats.

[pietillidie]

Others have a similar view of Bloomberg being an insurance policy:

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/12/us/p ... nders.html

[Jezza]

I would be worried if I was the Democrats.

[Pies4shaw]

I'd be worried if I were human.

[David]

[Wokko]

https://babylonbee.com/news/in-apprecia ... ation-camp

[David]

Mike Bloomberg is officially doing a Clive Palmer and trying to win over the youth vote through cringeworthy memes:

https://mobile.twitter.com/JessReports/ ... 64/photo/1

Serious question: have he and Mr Burns ever been seen in the same room?

[pietillidie]

[stui magpie]

I'd be worried if I were human.

As opposed to..............?

[pietillidie]

Mike Bloomberg is officially doing a Clive Palmer and trying to win over the youth vote through cringeworthy memes:

https://mobile.twitter.com/JessReports/ ... 64/photo/1

Serious question: have he and Mr Burns ever been seen in the same room?

The problem is the more important point is that people know he can afford the targeted ads to counter the targeted ads from the other billionaires. The whiff of this amongst Democrats is likely to drive them to him. They will argue he's genuinely self made, genuinely a billionaire, has serious managerial and governmental experience, isn't an institutional beltway insider, is a necessity while Citizens United stands, and that Bernie is a step too far. It's not a difficult game play with Trump as the incumbent.

They can also argue that the real risk to both the US and the planet right now is Trump's fasco-populism, which has allowed every past menace to flourish and added new ones to the mix. And you can't run that argument draped in this unnecessary term 'democratic socialism'. I rate Bernie as a person and a public figure, but the platform needs fast work beyond universal healthcare.

Do you think Bernie can overcome that reasoning? It's obvious to me the US needs a massive policy counter-weight to wind in the wealth gap, stabilise socially, and become less vulnerable to fasco-populism. But I'm not sure people are going to buy Bernie as the solution.

[David]

[pietillidie]

^Yes, that's right I should've mentioned the canceling of student debt, which is another winner and necessity along with universal healthcare. (Increased taxes on the very wealthy is assumed as a necessity to facilitate greater access and capacity, and stop the very wealthy co-opting legislation to increase returns to themselves as a hobby). I'm on board with that, although I would only be talking about alleviating grinding/unaffordable student debt (I'm fine with moderate pay-later schemes as they introduce the element of discipline and seriousness to the decision to study).

But he has to now connect those policies to the real economy. He has to give business, the process which funds these things, scope for vision and new horizons. He has to take and give; simply mentioning 'training' and 'green technology', as if they're the magical sauce that brings wealth generation and social quality together, won't be enough because by now they sound like fluff and cliche (just ask dim-witted ALP governments who still haven't worked that one out).

That and dealing with this ridiculous 'democratic socialism' poison pill are his next tests. He at least broached 'democratic socialism' the other day, but I should hope that's only the beginning. If you're going to use an eccentric term so stubbornly, you owe people clarity.

[pietillidie]

I see Krugman has a similar view on the 'democratic socialism' nonsense: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/opin ... alism.html

[watt price tully]

I see Krugman has a similar view on the 'democratic socialism' nonsense: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/opin ... alism.html

Nails it: Bernie plays right into his opponent’s hands. Merit and logic are not features of the right wing in the US. They much prefer the simply disastrous health care system they have now where millions are without health cover.

It’s far easier to exploit fear and encourage resentment