To all the Hillary hacks and all the Bernie Hacks

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

A few reminders inspired by the comments on tonight's Flint debate:

1. Negative campaigning is part of politics. Nice guys don't win in our system, just ask Carson. And no, Democrats don't avoid it. Democratic Senate candidates, house candidates, gubernatorial candidates participate in negative campaigning all the time. And the 2008 Obama-Hillary affair wasn't known for postivity either.

2. Sorry if any of your PC sensibilities are upset by this, but debates are not meant for calm discussion or learning about a candidate's positions. They are to be fights over differences and contrast. They are supposed to be Harsh, Rude, and Exciting. No, the republican affair of talking about dick size and having no respect for the moderator is not the ideal. But a debate in which both candidates are nice to each other isn't a real debate, it's just a glorified town hall.

3. Sanders wasn't intending to win when he first got in, he just wanted to make his point about Wall Street. That's why he was so positive early on and let Hillary walk all over him in the first debate. Now that he thinks he can win, he's doing what winning candidates do. It's called being harsh, fierce, and not letting your opponent get away with anything. And it's how you win in today's system. Niceness doesn't work, not even for Democrats.

Now quit complaining about the debate tone. Do you really want a positive, cordial affair in a DEBATE? Unless you're high on Political Correctness, I don't think you really do. And this is nothing compared to the republican debate about dick size.

Thank you.

[James Bond 007]

Wow you took the words right out of my mouth.  There's actually been polls taken to suggest voters prefer negative and dirty campaigning.

[Lyin' Steve]

My complaint isn't about Sanders' negative campaigning.  In fact sometimes I find myself yelling at my TV saying "go for the kill you sonofabitch!  Stop being such a pussy!"

My complaint is that he constantly takes the moral high ground and pretends he's not running a negative campaign.  Hillary doesn't try to hide that she intends to cut Sanders down to size.  Sanders keeps acting like "my campaign is about the issues" and "I will not engage in negative campaigning"

[Vosem]

This is because the point of Sanders' campaign is to shift the ideological center of the Democratic Party, and the Overton window more generally, to the left. Actually winning the nomination was always, and remains, a pipe dream.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

This is because the point of Sanders' campaign is to shift the ideological center of the Democratic Party, and the Overton window more generally, to the left. Actually winning the nomination was always, and remains, a pipe dream.

I bet people said the same about Reagan moving the Republicans to the right.

[This account no longer in use.]

This is because the point of Sanders' campaign is to shift the ideological center of the Democratic Party, and the Overton window more generally, to the left. Actually winning the nomination was always, and remains, a pipe dream.

I bet people said the same about Reagan moving the Republicans to the right.

Jfern, jfern, jfern. Stop being so delusional. As much as I hate to say it, Vosem is right in this case.

[James Bond 007]

This is because the point of Sanders' campaign is to shift the ideological center of the Democratic Party, and the Overton window more generally, to the left. Actually winning the nomination was always, and remains, a pipe dream.

I bet people said the same about Reagan moving the Republicans to the right.

You know Trump has the Reagan qualities when dealing with the press.  He's right too, he's answered more questions from the press than anyone who has ever existed.  There's something about his toughness people are drawn to. First it was that he'd never actually run, then it was that he'd never be nominated, what's next for people to be wrong about?

[Attorney General & PPT Dwarven Dragon]

This is because the point of Sanders' campaign is to shift the ideological center of the Democratic Party, and the Overton window more generally, to the left. Actually winning the nomination was always, and remains, a pipe dream.

I bet people said the same about Reagan moving the Republicans to the right.

You know Trump has the Reagan qualities when dealing with the press.  He's right too, he's answered more questions from the press than anyone who has ever existed.  There's something about his toughness people are drawn to. First it was that he'd never actually run, then it was that he'd never be nominated, what's next for people to be wrong about?

It's still a long way to 1237 for TRUMP. Wait to see what the WTA states do.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

My complaint isn't about Sanders' negative campaigning.  In fact sometimes I find myself yelling at my TV saying "go for the kill you sonofabitch!  Stop being such a pussy!"

My complaint is that he constantly takes the moral high ground and pretends he's not running a negative campaign.  Hillary doesn't try to hide that she intends to cut Sanders down to size.  Sanders keeps acting like "my campaign is about the issues" and "I will not engage in negative campaigning"

True, he should have
1. Called Hillary's insinuating that he opposed the auto bailout absolutely misleading
2. Called her out on privately supporting the Columbia trade deal while publicly opposing it
3. Mentioned how Obama pointed out how pro NAFTA she had been, and that Politifact had rated Obama's claim true

[Ebsy]

All things considered, the campaign for the Democratic nomination has been rather subdued. The revolution has been mostly confined to progressive activists and college students, while almost everyone else is pleased with the state of the party. The hurt feelings from this campaign are going to pale in comparison to those in 2008.

[Ogre Mage]

All things considered, the campaign for the Democratic nomination has been rather subdued. The revolution has been mostly confined to progressive activists and college students, while almost everyone else is pleased with the state of the party. The hurt feelings from this campaign are going to pale in comparison to those in 2008.

Yes, this is patty cake compared to the vicious circular firing squad during the 2008 Dem Primary.  That almost had me in a panic that everything was going to explode and politically kill Obama, Hillary, Bill and the whole party.  It was very exciting but also terrifying.  Fortunately, we were saved by a horrible climate for the Republicans and the fact the people involved managed to pull together at the end.

I'd like to see how the Republicans are going to "unify" after their 2016 Primary.  LOL.

[Shadows]

People can't disagree that they are arguing about policies not personal issues. It's a lot subdued & better than the GOP sludge fests.

I am not okay with Sanders not going after Clinton on her lies. He could easily have said I support you on gun violence & do what she does on Wall Street but no he wouldn't he would say something like "You want to end Gun Mfg" which is a politically bad thing to do & could cost him votes.

Anyways I am glad it is a civil debate, GOP should learn from this!

[SillyAmerican]

My complaint isn't about Sanders' negative campaigning.  In fact sometimes I find myself yelling at my TV saying "go for the kill you sonofabitch!  Stop being such a pussy!"

My complaint is that he constantly takes the moral high ground and pretends he's not running a negative campaign.  Hillary doesn't try to hide that she intends to cut Sanders down to size.  Sanders keeps acting like "my campaign is about the issues" and "I will not engage in negative campaigning"

True, he should have
1. Called Hillary's insinuating that he opposed the auto bailout absolutely misleading
2. Called her out on privately supporting the Columbia trade deal while publicly opposing it
3. Mentioned how Obama pointed out how pro NAFTA she had been, and that Politifact had rated Obama's claim true

And based on the Trump exchange on the GOP side, he should have pointed out how small her hands are. 

[Panhandle Progressive]

3. Sanders wasn't intending to win when he first got in, he just wanted to make his point about Wall Street. That's why he was so positive early on and let Hillary walk all over him in the first debate. Now that he thinks he can win, he's doing what winning candidates do. It's called being harsh, fierce, and not letting your opponent get away with anything. And it's how you win in today's system.

I couldn't agree more. Spot on.

[°Leprechaun]

This is because the point of Sanders' campaign is to shift the ideological center of the Democratic Party, and the Overton window more generally, to the left. Actually winning the nomination was always, and remains, a pipe dream.

The Republicans have been using the Overton window for a long time as well. The Republican party has moved so far to the right that Kasich almost seems moderate when he is in fact a conservative. He only looks moderate compared to the others. Cruz, for example, has positions which would have made Goldwater look like a flaming liberal. Yet, in 1964 Goldwater seemed like an extremist, he even went so far as to defend extremism and condemn moderation. In 1980 the shift to the right began. Republicans were tired of "Democrat light". Is the time approaching now or will it occur soon that Democrats will wake up and give up the very timid "Republican Light" strategy which they began after loosing so badly in 1984 and 1988? Thanks to Sanders, the opportunity for the Democrats, which can win with optimistic ideas, has come. Republicans are moving right, but with young Democrats moving toward the old fashioned ideas of true liberalism, the pendulum could begin to swing to a more progressive nation and are not impressed with the "Republican Light" strategy of the past. I think the election will go to the Democrats in November as I have been saying all along.

[Virginiá]

You know Trump has the Reagan qualities when dealing with the press.

Reagan roped off reporters into little pens and called them scum at his rallies while also encouraging his supporters to ignore them because they are liars? (putting aside that Trump lies so much that some have given up fact-checking him entirely)