Bernie or Bust?

I decided to re-post this earlier post after listening to Susan Sarandon’s comments on the Chris Hayes Show. Surely they will elicit much commentary and reaction – positive and negative – like Charles Blow’s insightful oped article in NYT this morning. I do hope this controversy will loose its steam (and I think it will) as we move beyond the primary season and into the general election. At that point a new reality with an unmistakably sobering and exceedingly dangerous side – Trump or Cruz sitting in the White House – will shape the perceptions of voters. Sam

There it was on my Facebook feed. An image of a young woman and beneath it the slogan, “Bernie or Bust.” Catchy enough, I thought. But what does it mean? Two very different interpretations came to mind.

One is that Sanders’ supporters are going all out, taking his campaign as far as it can go (and it’s gone further than many political observers thought only a few months ago), but no matter who wins the Democratic Party nomination this summer, supporting the nominee in the fall.

A Few Observations on the Michigan Primary

1. Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump scored impressive victories last night. One was predicted – Trump’s. In Bernie’s case, it was unexpected; it surprised the pollsters, and many others, including myself. Both outcomes change the landscape and dynamics in different ways going forward.

Hillary Holds Serve and Then Some

In an earlier post I mentioned that Hillary had demonstrated in Nevada the skill – political and organizational – to assemble a broadly-based coalition that included most of the main categories of voters that are crucial to winning the nomination. I further added that Bernie hadn’t done that yet. And that is something that he must do, and do quickly, if he hoped to win the nomination, as the primary season headed to the South and Midwest.

The beat goes on between Hillary and Bernie

In voting for Bernie Sanders in the Nevada caucuses over the weekend, significant numbers of people registered their disenchantment with establishment politics and economics. Though it wasn’t enough to put him over the top as it did in New Hampshire, with slightly over 47 percent of the vote, Bernie did better than many expected.  If anyone thought he would leave for South Carolina with his tail between his legs, they were mistaken.

Desperado

Linda Ronstadt with the recently deceased Glen Frey and the Eagles