With Bernie Sanders in the Lead, Is Democratic Socialism Unstoppable?

Sanders wins New Hampshire while Michael Bloomberg rockets into second place. Plus: Bill Barr's DOJ, Trump's budget, and more.

1x 1.1x 1.25x 1.5x 2x 3x

:15 :15

Download

With Bernie Sanders in the Lead, Is Democratic Socialism Unstoppable?

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I–Vt.) squeaked out a victory in last week's New Hampshire primary, but now he has a new threat to contend with: former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, whose formidable pocketbook has helped put his campaign near the top of national polls. Is Bernie's vision of Democratic socialism the future? Or will Bloomberg's blend of technocratic competence and paternalism win out?

Here to discuss the latest wave of Democratic party infighting on this week's Reason Roundtable are special guests Robby Soave and Stephanie Slade, along with Nick Gillespie. Peter Suderman fills in for Matt Welch as host.

Also up for debate: Is Bill Barr Trump's hatchet man? Does President Trump think he's above the law? What's Roger Stone got to do with any of this? And what's with Trump's big new budget plan?

Audio production by Ian Keyser and Regan Taylor.

Music: 'The Plan's Working' Cooper Cannell

Relevant links from the show:

"Is Bloomberg vs. Sanders the 2020 Nightmare Scenario?" by Eric Boehm.

"Bill Barr Knew He Would Be a Hatchet Man for Trump," by J.D. Tuccille

"How Much More Should Trump Be Spending on You?" by Nick Gillespie

Sinking in the Swamp: How Trump's Minions and Misfits Poisoned Washington, by Lachlan Markay  Asawin Suebsaeng

"Trump's Budget Plan Is an Economic Fantasy," by Peter Suderman

"President Trump, Betsy DeVos Want To Reduce the Education Department's Size and Power," by Robby Soave

"The Good News Is That We Probably Won't Elect a Socialist. The Bad News Is That We Already Have, Many Times," by Nick Gillespie

"Bloomberg's Awful Old Quotes Defending Unconstitutional Stop-and-Frisk Are Coming Back to Haunt Him," by Scott Shackford

"Roger Stone Inauguration Outfit Twitter Roast Is Hilarious," via New York 

Comments

[Zeb]

I don't think Bernie will get the nomination. I think there will be a not-Bernie candidate emerging soon with at least half of the primary vote.
Maybe that's wishful thinking, but I certainly hope that no kind of socialism is inevitable.

[John]

I didn't think he would either Zeb but I am starting to change my mind. Here is the thing with Bernie, he has a real and significant group of supporters who really want him to be the nominee and he has a reason why he wants to be the nominee other than he hears it is a sweet gig. Sure, his reasons for wanting to be President involve taking power and destroying the country but his supporters don't understand that.

What other Democratic Candidate has either of those things much less both. None of them seem to have any sort of natural constituency or core group of supporters. Honestly, while I can identify the Bernie Bros, I can't tell you who supports any of these other candidates. And none of them seem to have developed a justification for being the nominee. Worse still, they all have enthusiastically adopted the worst of Bernie's ideas. So, they really have nothing to offer. If you hate Bernie, you still get the worst of his ideas if you vote for Creepy Pete or Bloomberg. And If you love Bernie, why vote for the fake Bernie when you can vote for the real thing?

I think he might win the nomination. I think he is likely to win it.

[Quo Usque Tandem]

Good points, but looking at the NH and IA tallies [well, as best they can figure] and the recent polls, it seem Uncle Bernie will garner about 30%, while the more "moderate" candidates [relatively speaking] constitute the remainder among them. I suspect when it comes down to the wire. most of them will glom on the the imperial dictator even if he is literally buying the nomination.

And I would not be at all surprised if he takes Broom Hilda as his running mate, in order to encourage African Americans to collectively hold their noses and vote for him.

[John]

Every nominee of either party I have ever seen had a core constituency. I can't figure out what any of the candidates' core constituency is other than Bernie. Biden had a little bit of one among old people. But now that Biden has gone tits up, I don't see any of them having one. And I don't see them getting one. If anyone other than Bernie wins the nomination it will be by default because I can't see any of them attracting any positive support on their own or anything other than "I am voting for this guy because I am a Democrat and I won't vote for Bernie". That may be enough but it will be the weakest major party nominee ever. Weaker than Hillary. As bad as Hillary was, there is no denying she had a core group of supporters who loved her.

[loveconstitution1789]

Plus, some women could gush over the First Woman President trope.

[Quo Usque Tandem]

"As bad as Hillary was, there is no denying she had a core group of supporters who loved her."

That she did, and [thank God] it wasn't enough. Most people love authority, as long as they believe it will be directed only against those whom they do not like or agree with.

My bets is it will be a Bloomberg/ Stacy Abrams ticket. And Democratic voters will mostly care that it is a Democrat and and African American running, and not Trump.

[John]

Bloomberg Abrams ticket is not a bad guess. Oh my God will that be awful. And yes, the nominee will get 43% of the vote by just being the nominee. But short of Trump being caught with a live boy or a dead girl or the economy collapsing, I can't see how that ticket wins.

[BigT]

Trump merely needs to play the part of SOTU saying ‘record low black unemployment’ while showing all the Donkeys sitting on their hands, and ask: “Don’t they care?”

[darkflame]

just showing clips of the democratic debates should be more than enough.

[Robert]

Core constituencies? The GOP keeps nominating people for the presidency because it was their turn. Who was George Bush, Jr.'s core constituency? Who was George Bush, Sr.'s constituency? Was his "people who can't afford for him to lose because he has the goods on them"? Was Jr.'s his boozing and coke buddies?

[Gray_Jay]

"Who was George Bush, Jr.’s core constituency?"

The giant bag of (cough)probable Saudi(cough) cash he intimidated all of the other 2000 primary contestants with. Back when that was thought essential to win. Plus, he'd been a governor, and Texas didn't explode in a ball of fire during his term, and he didn't make any especially embarrassing gaffes. Senior was basically promising "4 more years!"

Aside, who would've taken bets in, say, April 1991 when HW's approval rating was something like 90 percent, that in less than 18 months, he'd lose the Presidency? Something for Trump to think about, despite all of the good he's done. Not too late for the Wuhan Death Flu to pitch the US into a recession,

[soldiermedic76]

Also, the anyone but Gore constituency.

[SIV]

Just because someone's preferred candidate is a so-called "moderate" doesn't preclude their second or third choice being Bernie Sanders. The Vermont Senator picks up support everytime another candidate falters or withdraws.

[soldiermedic76]

It is the same dilemma as the never-Trumpers in 2015 and 2016, they couldn't coalas6 around a single candidate until he had to much momentum to overcome. Jeb ran his lackluster campaign well past it's expiration date and spent way to much time attacking Cruz and Rubio. He hates Trump but he has almost no one to blame but himself for Trump winning the candidacy. Biden is playing the part of Jeb this year. I only hope that unlike Trump, Sanders doesn't go all the way. No matter what you think of Trump, Sanders would be far worse on everything, especially if you believe in a strong economy and personal freedom.

[Paulpemb]

"Sure, his reasons for wanting to be President involve taking power and destroying the country but his supporters don’t understand that."

His supporters have been caught on tape masturbating over the reeducation camps they're going to establish. They know exactly who and what Bernie is, they just expect to be among the ruling apparatchiks.

[soldiermedic76]

TheRev?

[DenverJ]

They always do. Then of course, the shock as they are pronounced counterrevolutionaries and put up against the wall or sent to the Gulags.

[soldiermedic76]

The similarities between the SA and the Antifa movement are striking. I wonder if the Antifa and resistance have studied what happened to the SA. Or what happened to Trosky and his followers.

[soldiermedic76]

Trotsky.

Or what happened to Robespierre.

[Gray_Jay]

"The similarities between the SA and the Antifa movement are striking."

You and me both, brother. Though it was good fun about 9 months ago, around the Portland unpleasantness, to point out to an Antifa fan that: their side uses masks, dresses in black, and commits violence against people minding their own business. How are you guys not exactly like Mussolini's Blackshirts? "Sputter, sputter, punch Nazis."

These stupid fuckers are going bring no shit death squads to life in this country, and your guess is as good as mine how you turn that shit off once it starts and catches widespread.

[soldiermedic76]

I think it involves something wrapped in a full metal jacket traveling at over 2000 fps, weighing about 75 grains and maybe a diameter of... Oh let's say 5.56 mm.

[soldiermedic76]

And despite being a bit out of practice, I used to be able to hit a 300 m pop up target with at least 75% accuracy using iron sights. With that hypothetical object I was describing above.

[soldiermedic76]

Or we could do it using the same object my great uncles did. A full metal wrapped object weighing 150 grains traveling at 2500+ fps with a .30 inch diameter.

[darkflame]

I prefer the .30 inch diameter myself, if only it wasn't so expensive.

[JFree]

I agree. And purely tactically, for the Dems - and for the US, it is far better that Sanders be the nominee than for Bloomberg to buy it.

Like all R's, you pay far too much attention to the ideology. It's not really about that IMO. It's about the Dems making (or failing to make) a generational transition. Sanders may be as old as Moses but he's also the only candidate who's speaking to issues that are actually important to under-50's. Yang and Warren also skewed younger demographics but they're dead now. That doesn't mean that age group is socialist - no more than it meant they were libertarian in 2008 with Ron Paul. It means - when you're the only one showing interest, people tend to be interested back.

The US is already teetering towards gerontocracy and plutocracy. Bloomberg as the nominee would just be final proof of it to everyone.

[Zeb]

I can’t tell you who supports any of these other candidates.

Boring middle aged liberals, in my experience. But it's hard to say why. I think you have a good point there. It all depends on how much Democrats want a not-Bernie. It is hard to imagine people being similarly excited about Butigieg or Biden or whoever else is still in it.
Bloomberg is an interesting phenomenon. I wonder if that will go anywhere.

[Nardz]

$60b/200m eligible voters =
$300 per person
If he only offers $100 per vote, he'd still have $40b to retire on...

[Nardz]

Damn.
That's actually scary

[loveconstitution1789]

Any of these Democrat asshats will lose Election 2020 to President Donald J. Trump.

Bernie Sanders is not even a (D) Democrat. He's an (I) Independent.

[damikesc]

And if Bloomberg wins, there is little chance a Bernie bro will support him. And Bloomy is the most authoritarian candidate running by a significant margin.

[John]

I can't see them supporting Bloomberg either. But lots of people disagree with us on that.

[Ra's al Gore]

You may be underestimating their willingness to get violent if Bernie doesn't get the nod. Call them snowflakes individually, but they have never been held accountable for anything, and the mob has a mind of its own.

They may very well think they can riot and assault people w/ no consequences toward themselves.

[loveconstitution1789]

I think it matters what group and where. AntiFa is all paper thugish in Portland and Charlottesville.

At Kent State with Kaitlin Bennett, all the mob did was throw hot coffees and other beverages.

Nobody Lefties or police fucked with the Virginia armed protesters at the state capitol.

[John]

Some of them might get violent but all they will accomplish is getting themselves thrown in jail. You think the police and mayor of Milwaukee are going to let them attack other Democrats? Fat chance.

[BigT]

The Whole World is Watching, 2.0

[soldiermedic76]

1968?

[Commenter_XY]

My thought as well. That would be poetic justice to Team D.

[darkflame]

eh, I don't see it either, but quite frankly I don't think we can make an informed opinion on how Bloomberg will do until tonight's debate and a primary with him on the ballot. The way the media's hyping him makes me think he might have Biden levels of support, and I agree with Bernie Bros not supporting anyone other than Sanders, but quite frankly at this stage there's no hard evidence for Bloomberg, just lots of fluff pieces.

[loveconstitution1789]

Bloomberg being authoritarian might be the only redeeming quality that Bernie Bros like about Michael 'El Duche' Bloomberg.

[Quo Usque Tandem]

My bet is Bloomers will buy the nomination and the Bernie's will sit it out. Don't know if that will make a big enough difference in the general election. As I posted above, he will need to "overcome" his racial foibles to get a plurality of African Americans to get out and vote for him. Maybe he will choose Stacy Abrams as his running mate over Killary toward that end. She certainly seems willing:

https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2020/02/17/stacey-abrams-possible-vice-president-pick-the-view-sot-ip-vpx.cnn

[loveconstitution1789]

The Democrats have to try to lock up the fleeing Black voters. Trump is winning the economic advantage with Black Americans. A Black VP is perfect Token move for Democrats.

[Quo Usque Tandem]

"A Black VP is perfect Token move for Democrats"

Yep; and what better way for Bloomers to make amends for all the stop and frisk and redlining. And send millions to Sharpton and that will certainly take care of it.

[MikeOxlong]

A semantic label that will probably help him during the general, since Independent are usually the swing voters anyway

[soldiermedic76]

No,he has another label that he proudly claims but is extremely unlocked among independents according to polling... Popular among the left base but not even popular among moderate leftist.

[Sevo]

MikeOxlong
February.18.2020 at 4:49 pm
"A semantic label that will probably help him during the general, since Independent are usually the swing voters anyway."

Does it take tiny hands to grasp at straws that thin?

[JFree]

Swing voters don't really exist now. Elections are about getting out your base and discouraging the opponent base. It's why negative ads are so prominent. That's the function of negative ads.

A significant number of independents are not really that. They heavily lean D or R but just don't want to be publicly identified as such. The 'quiet' base so to speak. If you dig down into independents/unaffiliated (in most states) about 60% are just hidden D/R - 10-20% might be induced to vote in a particular election but it will be for a predictable D/R side - and 20-30% are discouraged and won't likely vote again but won't unregister either.

[Nardz]

Good point about the negative ads.
Club for Growth is going all out in their anti-Doug Collins ads here (I'm in Florida just across the border from GA).
If any of you know somebody in or who donates to Club for Growth... punch them in the balls

[Sevo]

JFree
February.18.2020 at 10:57 pm
"Swing voters don’t really exist now. Elections are about getting out your base and discouraging the opponent base. It’s why negative ads are so prominent. That’s the function of negative ads..."

Gee, who'd have thunk we had the reason the hag lost here to advise us as to why......
Uh, stuff.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

Sanders fans love his ideas. But they don't want to pay for them. Support for Medicare for All goes down when the question mentions a tax increase on you.

If Sanders gets elected, his big ticket items are DOA with Congress.

[Mother's lament]

Better authoritarian Communist Sanders than authoritarian Fascist Bloomberg I suppose. It's like its 1943 and the choice is between Uncle Joe and Adolf.

[loveconstitution1789]

Bernie Sanders had a heart attack. Guy is living on borrowed minutes.

It does not matter who Democrats put up. Trump is gonna clean their clocks.

[A leftist]

Just like you predicted in 2018 and then again in 2019.

[soldiermedic76]

Held the Senate (actually increased the number of seats) and lost far less
house seats then Obama did in his first mid term.

[soldiermedic76]

And so far, based on special election results so far, Republicans are doing fairly well.

[A leftist]

It'll be close one way or another. Remember, the Democrats were fighting against extreme gerrymandering in 2018 and it's slightly better in that regard this time. And don't forget redish states like Louisiana and Kentucky elected Democratic governors. I think people are sick of Trump.

[Sevo]

"...I think people are sick of Trump."

I think you're full of shit.
In SF there are actually people speaking out loud, saying Trump isn't all that bad.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

You can tell people are sick of Trump by the size of his rallies.

[soldiermedic76]

Extreme gerrymandering. Hell even progressive analysts at 538 have disproven this tired talking point.

[Sevo]

S/he'll keep throwing bullshit at the wall in the hopes something sticks.

[Nardz]

Gerrymandering is a leftist shibboleth.
There is no use talking to the hivemind.
Better just to poke it

[soldiermedic76]

His rising poll numbers also suggest your hypothesis is flawed.

[darkflame]

Last I checked, Kentucky elected a Democratic governor because the Republican was hated as a person by everybody. Kentucky's still red, you can tell because every other position in that state election went to republicans. Don't know as much about the Louisiana election, but it's usually easier to hold on when you're an incumbent, and it was still pretty close- just 40k difference in votes.

Also, Sevo's right, the AB5 bill is extremely unpopular and becoming more so as it's destroying people's careers. The Democrats in their infinite wisdom are doubling down on the stupid and trying to push similar stuff through elsewhere, including a national version. I don't know if the folks in Cali will vote for Trump, but I bet you they won't be showing up for the Democrats in November.

[RocKaza]

The presidential elections for the last 100 years show a 60-70% chance of incumbent victory after a 4 year term. Add to that a growing economy, record low unemployment for some segments of society, etc. and you are looking at a near certainty of a re-election.

[creech]

All this talk about Bloomie picking Hillary as his veep: wouldn't the constitution require one of them to move, "toot sweet," from New York State? Somewhere I actually heard talk that Bloomie will go for the biggest pander and pick a colored woman, i.e. Michelle Obama, as his veep choice. That would help him, or even Buttedge, with perceived weakness among African American voters.

[John]

I don't think he will go for Hillary. The Stacy Abrams pick Quo mentions above seems like a really good guess. If the Dems nominate a white male, it is a guarantee they will pick a black woman to satisfy the identity groups.

[damikesc]

But would Abrams give up her Georgia governorship for it? *snicker*

[DenverJ]

Ha!

[darkflame]

Too soon XD

[Kevin Smith]

If we saw a Bloomberg/Clinton ticket the constitution would only prevent electors from NY from voting for both of them (they would have to cast for one or the other, and probably cast a token vote for the other slot)

But yeah, NY has enough electors that I doubt they'd want to lose them even just for the VP slot, or they'd rick Congress sticking Bloomie with Pence or even Trump as VP lol

[DRM]

It's not like it's unprecedented. Cheney was resident in Texas when W. picked him; Cheney quickly switched his official state of residence to Wyoming. Hillary can become an official resident of somewhere else in a New York minute.

[soldiermedic76]

I mean she did it once before. So she could run for the Senate in a friendlier state.

[Ryan (formally HTT)]

I hope Bernie wins the primary. He'll win two states in the general and we'll get to watch all you moron editors squirm to avoid supporting the guy in charge during the greatest economic boom in the history of the world. Who ya gonna pick, the guy capitalist or the socialist?

I'm kidding of course, you'll all weasel your way out of it knowing damn well who is generating clicks to pay the bills.

[John]

Part of me is terrified of that lunatic getting that close to the nomination. But, I can't help but agree with you. And that is not because I am certain he will lose, though I think he will, but because Bernie is at least honest about what he wants to do. Bernie represents what the core of the Democratic Party actually believes. Lets have an election and see what the country thinks of that. I think ultimately it would be a very good thing to stop all of the lying and just let the country have an actual choice.

[Ryan (formally HTT)]

I agree, let everyone hear the brilliance of Bernie and the brilliance of Open borders and healthcare for all.

[MikeOxlong]

Don't kid yourself, Trump is at the drivers wheel of a bull market. Huge wealth inequality, tons of deficit spending, middle class wage stagnating, young people being crushed by student debt, farms closing at the highest rate in decades.

We are in the gilded 20's 2.0. You can ignore reality, but you can't ignore the consequences of ignoring reality.

[damikesc]

"young people being crushed by student debt"

Car debt is almost identical to student loan debt.

And why should the poor, who did not go to college, bail out the rich who did go to college?

Hard to make an argument for progressive taxation with the single most regressive handout imaginable.

[MikeOxlong]

Yeah not like there was a giant tax cut that only benefitted the rich recently

[Azathoth!!]

How does this--

Yeah not like there was a giant tax cut that only benefitted the rich recently

Answer this--

why should the poor, who did not go to college, bail out the rich who did go to college?

Because that is what EVERY Democrat is proposing. That the people who did not go to college pay for the ones that did.

[TJJ2000]

Well I'm certainly not anywhere close or even flirting with rich and it helped me ALOT no matter what your liberal-BS-rag told you.

[BigT]

Wealth inequality greatest in our poorest state,Commiefornia

[soldiermedic76]

Income is up across all tax brackets. The biggest increase has been among the lowest quarter of earners, followed by the next lowest quarter. That is much of the middle class. Stagnation?

[I'm Not Sure]

"young people being crushed by student debt,"

Yoots are shocked to find they're expected to pay back money they borrowed? Horrors!

[Sevo]

"...Huge wealth inequality, tons of deficit spending, middle class wage stagnating, young people being crushed by student debt, farms closing at the highest rate in decades..."

TDS cherry-picking.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

Funny how they don't mention the First Step act, or animal cruelty becoming a federal felony.

[Juice]

He’ll win two states in the general

He would win the Northeast, the West Coast, and not much else.

[A leftist]

Bernie is beating Trump in the polls. Trump is the toxic one. The majority of Americans hate Trump.

[damikesc]

Until confronted with an actual Democrat opponent. Then the numbers swing, Wildly.

[BigT]

People know Trump is an asshole, but he ain’t crazy.

[TJJ2000]

"..But, but.. a pretty, polite, whiny, lying, brown-nosing sympathizer is FAR better than anything/anyone that actually works to make the USA better", The Democrats will cry until your ears bleed.

[soldiermedic76]

Dukakis was bearing Bush in 1988 at this point. Mondale was beating Reagan in 1984. How did those turn out? Hell, Kerry was beating Bush Jr and Dole was beating Clinton. Polls are a snapshot (at this point) on who is getting the most exciting coverage. Incumbents (Bush Sr was basically seen as a third Reagan term, despite their difference in policy), who are running basically unopposed don't get a lot of coverage. The non-incumbent primaries eat up all the air time. The media focuses on the horse race. Polling, historically speaking is not very accurate until August at the earliest. If Sanders runs on his promise to ban fracking he can kiss Pennsylvania goodbye, as western and northern Pennsylvania are heavily reliant on fracking dollars. He can also kiss Wisconsin and quite possibly Minnesota goodbye based upon his platform on agriculture and the estate tax (which harms farmers, it doesn't take much land and equipment to reach $5 million worth of assets).

[A leftist]

Banning fracking isn't even possible without congressional action. And if we're talking hypotheticals Trump wants kneecap Medicaid which would devastate millions of people. And if Trump were to get his way on that he would be a despised man and probably blamed for deaths from family members of the people who depend on that program for access to medicine. You just don't realize how many people depend on it. It's taken for granted by voters now but take it away and they will scream bloody murder.

[Sevo]

Keep whining and grasping at straws; it fits a lefty ignoramus.

[MikeOxlong]

"ignoramus"

Woah this guy must be smart

[soldiermedic76]

Did you actually reAd what his Medicaid proposal actually is rather than just taking the headlines as gospel?

[Nardz]

"family members of the people who depend on that program for access to medicine. You just don’t realize how many people depend on it."

Medicaid: the American dream

[Red Rocks White Privilege]

And if we’re talking hypotheticals Trump wants kneecap Medicaid which would devastate millions of people.

At over $1.5 trillion a year and rising, Medicare and Medicaid will eventually kneecap themselves.

[soldiermedic76]

According to reports, in 2017, the last year numbers are available (and unemployment was about a percentage point higher then today and wages lower) it was only 17.9% of the population with at least 40% of those being children whose parents are also on Medicaid. About forty million Americans, 40% being children. That equates to 16 million children, if you add in at least one parent that is 32 million. No it appears that Medicaid is pretty much concentrated in a fairly constricted minority of the population.

[soldiermedic76]

And how much do you think John Q Public and his suburban wife Jane care when Bernie is threatening to ban John's good paying job working on an oil well, well also promising to raise everyone's taxes to pay for Medicaid?

[soldiermedic76]

He calls it Medicare for all but it is really Medicaid for all.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

Yeah, people that don't know Part B only pays 80% and doesn't cover preventive care shouldn't throw the phrase Medicare for all around.

Here my challenge to the MFA politicians. Find the money to make Medicare cover 100% for all services for those who are Medicare eligible. If you can't make up the 20% for that subgroup of citizens, you can't apply 100% coverage for all.

[ElvisIsReal]

"VA For All" didn't do well in the focus groups.

[soldiermedic76]

And he is also promising them that because of his green new deal promise (as well as severely restricting fossil fuel production) that John and Jane's electricity, food and gas costs are all going to have to go up dramatically. Also, they will have to pay more taxes to send somebody else's kids to college for free.

[Sevo]

A leftist
February.18.2020 at 6:03 pm
"Bernie is beating Trump in the polls..."

Did your TDS eat your cite? I'm calling bullshit.

[Sevo]

And lefty asshole has yet to offer cite!

[Sevo]

Still waiting, lefty asshole.
Seems you have problems with providing evidence.

[MikeOxlong]

Yeah really hard to google that

[H. Farnham]

I hope Slade sticks around Reason for awhile. She seems to do a pretty good job of objectively viewing multiple sides of an issue.

[Unicorn Abattoir]

O/T: I'm gonna just leave this here.

Rosario Dawson - "People kept saying that I [came out]... I didn’t do that,” she tells Bustle. “I mean, it’s not inaccurate, but I never did come out come out. I mean, I guess I am now."

Rosario Dawson Clarifies Her Sexuality and Relationship With Cory Booker

[Rich]

“I’ve never had a relationship in that space, so it’s never felt like an authentic calling to me.”

Suck on *that*, incels!

[Fats of Fury]

I guess Spartacus' gaydar is on the fritz.

[damikesc]

Man, Corey Booker is the most hetero man on Earth, clearly.

[soldiermedic76]

Beard needs a beard.

[soldiermedic76]

When you heard needs a beard?

[lap83]

I guess it shouldn't, but it still astonishes me that the Democrats are incapable of getting politicians who don't look like reanimated corpses in nice suits. The only reason they have AOC was from a
casting call. Maybe they should try that more often

[Nardz]

How?
Weinstein's gonna be in prison

[Rob Misek]

What’s a two dimensional electorate to do when the earth is three dimensional?

[Sevo]

Dunno,
What's a one dimensional scumbag bigot to do anywhere?

[Porter (C)]

Oof what a stupid headline.

[DRM]

It'll be fun, in a sick way, to see how the "editors" of a nominally-libertarian magazine justify supporting the election of an openly-declared socialist as President this fall.

[Zeb]

Why do you think they will do that?

[Mother's lament]

Because they aren't actual libertarians, they're just LARPing here until a sweet spot opens at the Atlantic or the NYT and they can go back to being establishment liberals.

[Ryan (formally HTT)]

How can they not support Bernie? After all, he’s the only relevant candidate who isn’t literally hitler

[DenverJ]

Bernie ain't getting the nomination- no way no how. The DNC will move heaven and earth to consolidate the 70% of the vote he isn't getting. The super delegates will rally around whomever else has the highest numbers. The Bernie Bros will riot, and Milwaukee will burn. Trump will win in a landslide, but will immediately be accused of cheating (already saw an article in the Atlantic making the charge), and if the democrats keep the House, they will impeach again within 6 months.

[Sevo]

"...and if the democrats keep the House, they will impeach again within 6 months.

The RUSSKIS! - the sequel.

[Colossal Douchebag]

Your headline misspelled "the train going over the cliff".

[Commenter_XY]

A couple of quick points.

The mortality rate for a 78-year old male is ~5%. That rate increases with a history of heart attack. May Heaven forbid, but The Bern might not even survive to the election. Bernie would take the oath of office as a hale and hearty 79-year old. That is old. To me, once you are past 80...you're officially old.

Mayor Butthead is the one to watch. He has been the MSM latest flavor of the mouth. Mayor Butthead would make progressives feel, well, progressive and daring and avante garde; that kinda sorta tingly thing Chris Matthews felt. Don't kid yourselves. The Bernie Bros/Babes will vote for Mayor Butthead if he is the nominee. They'll vote Team D.

Mini-Mikey is some kind of candidate. I did not think it would be possible to top The Donald's doinking a porn star but I was wrong. The #MeToo movement will have a field day with Mini-Mikey. Personally, I think the shit he said in the 90's about women and whatnot has gone past the statute of limitations to get outraged about. However, there is a string of women with NDAs as a part of their settlements for harassment. You think one (or more) won't talk? Yeah, they will. Oh, and Mini-Mikey will sue the women who come forward while in the middle of a presidential campaign. Really? Just to make Team D squirm I would want them to nominate Mini-Mikey.

The Bern guarantees a brokered convention. Suits me just fine. Hell, we might well be treated to the 21st century version of 1968.

[Brian]

God I hope it’s Bernie versus Trump.

[Nardz]

I'd like to see Milwaukee burn.

Interesting angle: the Bucks have the best record in the NBA. They're very likely to have home court throughout the playoffs.
The East is weak. The Raptors know how to win, but don't have Kawhi Leonard anymore. The 76ers aren't as good as the Bucks, and neither are the Celtics. Indiana might have a chance if they catch Milwaukee off guard. The Bucks have by far the best player in the conference.
The NBA Finals will be in mid to late June, right around convention time...

[Titus PUllo]

I like the idea that every ethnicity gets their shot at the president. We had Dukakis...the first southern Mediterranean and also unfortunately a moron. While it would be nice to see an Italian American win the presidency or even Spainish or eastern European but alas...the democratic party has thrown the ethics out. But at least Bernie has a shot...the first Jewish President and one while is typical of the liberal jewish securlarists socialist proclivities he is also pro peace..good luck to him I say

[Sevo]

^?
Sarc? Stupidity?

[chemjeff radical individualist]

Who cares. Two statist parties nominating two statist candidates.
To the editors: stop talking about the horserace stuff. You only continue to validate the two-party duopoly when you do that.

[Sevo]

Yeah, Jeff, we know you're 'neutral', since you bullshit about it regularly.
Where's that other 'neutral' lefty who was here cheer-leading for Trump to be convicted? You and he have a lot to lie to each other about.

[Ryan (formally HTT)]

Ahh yes, let’s talk of utopia rather than reality. In utopia, your ideas have traction.

[TrickyVic (old school)]

""You only continue to validate the two-party duopoly when you do that.""

The biggest promoters of the two-party duopoly are those who try to bully people into not voting for a third party because it will make the democrats lose.

[John C. Randolph]

If the DNC somehow summons enough integrity to resist the temptation to just sell the nomination to Bloomberg, Bernie would be the next George McGovern.

-jcr

[Sevo]

Caught the end of a Steyer TV ad; he's 'going to beat Trump on the economy'!

Hit 'em where they are, Tom. Always a winning plan!

[KimWCrumb]

Google pay 350$ reliably my last pay check was $45000 working 9 hours out of consistently on the web. My increasingly youthful kinfolk mate has been averaging 19k all through continuous months and he works around 24 hours reliably….click here==►►. Read more

[LeaveTrumpAloneLibertarian]

==►►I USED TO GET PAID $7,546/HR TALKING TO RIGHT-WING IDIOTS ON THE INTERNET, BUT THEN MY BOSS, GEORGE SNORZOS, FOUND OUT THAT RIGHT-WINGERS ON THE INTERNET DON’T HAVE ANY MONEY. SO NOW I MAKE $7.56/HR LIKE ALL THE OTHER GOP BALLSUCKERS AROUND HERE. HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO PAY FOR MY COCAINE WITH THAT KIND OF MONEY? WILL YOU GUYS FUND MY KICKSTARTER? COCAINE FUND FOR SNORZOS UNDERPAID EMPLOYEE?

[Sevo]

Pimps get flagged and dead-beat scumbags should own being dead-beat scumbags.

[LeaveTrumpAloneLibertarian]

==►►WANT TO MAKE MONEY AT HOME WORKING FOR WELL FINANCED EUROPEAN INVESTOR BY ONLY POSTING DISINFORMATION FROM A UKRANIAN SERVER. TRY LORDSNORZOSPAYSMEBIGBUCKS.COM. I JUST MADE 10,987 EUROS BY POSTING ARTICLES ABOUT RUDY GUILIANI FROM MY HOME COMPUTER. YOU SHOULD TRY IT OUT!!!

[Nardz]

You're still bad at this

[Ryan (formally HTT)]

More of this trolling, and less of the OBL mockery. This has potential

[WeShallNotGoInSilence]

Trump is going to win this again you ediots, in no way we shall let you jew loving pigs win. There agenda will fail. Like all of you libtards will fail with it.

[Ryan (formally HTT)]

Troll or inbred?

[Gray_Jay]

One of our cretinous trolls, trying to sound like the right-winger in their head.
Scroll, scroll, scroll.

[XM]

Bernie is sort of a Trump of the left, I know lefties in my circles who adores him.

But Bernie really doesn't have bankability. Clinton was an awful candidate but she had that Clinton name next to them. In a presidential debate Bernie's old man delivery (and the guy sounds REAL old) and bumbling Christopher Lloyd persona will be easy picking for Trump's more forceful style.

Is the democrat party confident that old VHS tapes of him rambling nonsense from 1985 won't resurface? The guy is the closest thing to a hippie running for a president. The 1% is praying and hoping that Bloomberg wins he nomination.

[Gray_Jay]

"The guy is the closest thing to a hippie running for a president. The 1% is praying and hoping that Bloomberg wins he nomination."

Agree. Think though that the leaders are going to see who survives Super Tuesday, and who the losers throw their support to. Steyer voters probably hop to Bloomie, Biden to...? Bloomberg too? At least the wealthier ones. Trendy D's will go to the Mayor. Warren's will split between Bernie and Klob.

Wouldn't be surprised at all if the establishment didn't coalesce behind Klobuchar, especially if exit polling showed minorities running from Bloomberg.

[StevenRDierking]

Google pay 350$ reliably my last pay check was $45000 working 9 hours out of consistently on the web. My increasingly youthful kinfolk mate has been averaging 19k all through continuous months and he works around 24 hours reliably….click here.......Read MoRe

[JanetJDoud]

tay At Home  Mom From New York Shared Her Secret On How She Was Able To Rake In $1500 Weekly From Online Work Just 3 Weeks After Losing Her Old Job........ Read more

[JuliaNVillareal]

Making more income every month from $15,000 to $18,000 by just doing an easy job online from home. I have received $17594 last month from this online job by just doing this in my part time for maximum 2 to 3 hrs daily online. Get your hands on this job right now and start earning online by just follow details on this website…...Read MoRe

[TJJ2000]

HEY GUESS WHAT LEFTIES??????? YOU ARE THE NAZI'S.....
The election process is clearing that up more so everyday.

[TJJ2000]

https://www.webster-dictionary.org/definition/Nazi
Adj. Synonyms: national socialist

[JuliaBTrumbauer]

Making more income every month from $15,000 to $18,000 by just doing an easy job online from home. I have received $17594 last month from this online job by just doing this in my part time for maximum 2 to 3 hrs daily online. Get your hands on this job right now and start earning online by just follow details on this website…...Read MoRe