I’m sticking my neck out and making a prediction you can check — tomorrow. The Republican debate will focus heavily on Hillary, not Bernie. Here’s why. If they have to run against Bernie, they’ll all think they’ve died and gone to heaven. Now, I figured that out myself and I’m sure you did too, but it’s far from original. So let’s not get too smug if we’re right tomorrow.
As the left-wing Guardian points out, what amazes Republicans is that “an ex-hippie from Vermont is the only one who can affect her standing with voters.” They haven’t been able to touch her. Unfortunately, he can’t win for POTUS. So if he knocks her out, and he just might, who does that leave us with? Not Hillary, not Bernie … so … OMG, Bush III. Or worse.
But why can’t he win? ZFacts will go into that in the next few weeks, but simply put, an avowed socialist that knocks out the favorite Democratic women’s candidate (again) and doesn’t appeal to minorities, is not going to beat two Republican Parties (the Koch’s dark party is now the bigger of the two). Bernie just looks good now because (1) all the Republicans want him to win and (2) Hillary is going easy on him while he subtly hammers on her.
The sad thing is, none of this is necessary or even good for Bernie’s base. Since he can’t win, he should be furthering his cause rather than helping Republicans. How? Simple. Push his ideas. Attack Rs instead of Hillary and explain (correctly) that she cannot take the far-left positions he does because it’s her job to beat the Republicans in 2016. We need her to do that. (But you knew that.) We also need to discuss some things a serious candidate can’t say.
But there’s still some hope. Perhaps the Kochs will get so sure that with Hillary out they can elect any jerk they want that they will go for Scott Walker. And maybe Elizabeth Warren will surprise them and take out Walker. OK, I’m grasping at straws. But with the far left still helping the Kochs, it’s gonna take a miracle.