No, Bernie Sanders, most voters aren't comfortable with socialism

CNN ^ | February 20, 2020 | Zachary B. Wolf

[karpov]

This is the moment for the ultimate question of the Bernie Sanders movement: is the United States ready for a socialist President?

At Wednesday's Democratic presidential debate, Sanders defended himself as a socialist (he calls himself a democratic socialist) and then dismissed a recent poll that suggested Americans do not have a favorable view of socialism. Who was leading in that poll, he asked the debate moderator? He was, although the moderator didn't know it. The moment allowed Sanders to skate with the impression that it doesn't matter that Americans oppose socialism because clearly they like him.

Polling does suggest discomfort with a socialist President

It is true the Sanders was leading in the poll, conducted by the Wall Street Journal and NBC -- but only among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents when asked who they supported for the Democratic nomination. He had 27% support compared to Mike Bloomberg, Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, each with 14% support. And in a hypothetical matchup, he was narrowly ahead of President Donald Trump.

But two-thirds of all voters -- Democrats plus everyone else -- said they would be uncomfortable with a socialist President. Come November, it will be all Americans over the age of 18 who elect the Electoral College that picks the President. Those results and the questions they raise about whether the country would accept a socialist are repeated in an NPR / PBS News Hour Marist poll. In that poll, Sanders had even more support -- 31% in the Democratic primary compared to Michael Bloomberg, in second place with 19%. Take a look at the party breakdown regarding socialism. Fifty percent of Democrats have a favorable view of socialism compared to 46% who have a favorable view of capitalism.

[TBP]

“I’ll make them comfortable wiht socialism. Or else.”

[conservatism_IS_compassion]

Next time we have an economic crisis on the scale of 2008 ^{and our “champion” plays rope-a-dope} those numbers will flip.

If Trump wins with coattails on November 3, Trump will - on his present record - build a solid base for the economy which will not court another ’08 event. And set up Pence for ’24.

Sitting VP is a better credential for getting the nomination for POTUS than it is for winning election to POTUS. The only presidents in modern history to see their sitting VPs win were Andrew Jackson and Ronald Reagan. And as of now, Trump is looking good to be in that category.

Over and above that, “Governor” is a better credential for winning than VP - and Pence was governor of Indiana. So, reason for optimism if Nov 3 goes well.

[minnesota_bound]

If we had real journalists then the democrats would never stand a chance in any election.