What Are My Problems With Bernie

Anyone who has seen my posts on my blog or on FaceBook realize that I am not enamored with Bernie Sanders.  In fact, you could probably determine that I generally do not trust or like him.  You would be correct in that assumption. 

To put it bluntly: if he is the Democratic candidate against Trump in 2020, I will vote for him but I will likely be holding my nose.  Also, equally bluntly: if the Democratic Party chooses him, they are conceding the re-election of Trump.  He will NOT attract the centrist voters necessary to unseat the POS that is in the White House.

While that should be enough reason in these trying times to choose someone else, let alone the viability of other candidates that are better qualified (in my opinion), I decided to detail the reasons that I have problems with Bernie Sanders.

Keep in mind, that I like his stands on many of his core issues; wages, health care, human rights, etc. The problem is with him and his campaign in 2016.

1. My first exposure
   1. Even before I even heard much about Bernie Sanders, I had a young man come to my door to garner my support for the $15/hour minimum wage.  Not once did he mention Bernie Sanders or his campaign.  Nor did he bring it up once I actually discussed the real issues (once again in my opinion) affecting the minimum wage issue.
   1. In retrospect, it was obviously that this young man was canvassing for support for Bernie Sanders but was doing so in “stealth mode”.  That is obnoxious to my way of thinking and quite possibly unethical.  Some could say Bernie did not know about this but it is his campaign.  HE IS RESPONSIBLE.
2. The $15/hour minimum wage
   1. I know that this was a “talking point” for him but this was the lodestone of his 2016 campaign.  He did not even believe in it.
      1. He stated on the talk shows that he did not expect it to be implemented.
      1. When he finally introduced it in Congress, it was a 7-year phase in.
   1. It did not address the really address the problem as it was not associated to the poverty level or cost-of-living.  In other words, just a “sound bite” to attract a specific voter base, which he did.  The worst part is that he was taking advantage of their situation and their naiveté.
3.  After the minimum wage issue
   1. There was no “there” there.  Think about it.  After that issue, he was light on any other issues.  His positions were few and far between – and when stated were not really well-rounded or, for that matter, of any real import as far as I could see.  He seemed to be a one-note politician, which I personally consider a fringe candidate regardless of their main issue.
   1. Hell, I remember Jerry Brown campaigning for a flat rate tax quite a few years ago.  Because of his focus on one issue, he became a fringe candidate to me even though I know that was unfair as he had then and continues to have real leadership chops – something that Bernie has never really shown.
4. His caucus wins
   1. I am sorry but I worry about the reality of those wins.  His overwhelming success in winning caucuses even though he could not prevail in popular votes in the states where both were available and winning caucus after caucus that defied poll expectations defy logic.  I smell a rat, pure and simple.  I do not know what went on but it is suspicious as hell.
   1. I know that some of the worst conspiracy theorists say the caucuses were accurate and the open primaries were tainted but they cannot be serious, or can they.
   1. I may be wrong in my suspicions but I cannot shake the belief that there is something rotten there.
5. “Missing” New York City voters
   1. Strange, I admit, but the total affected voters would not have changed the outcome of New York’s vote, even if every single one had voted for Bernie.
   1. Did Bernie say that?  Hell no!  He cast suspicions that his followers could jump on and blame for his already floundering campaign.
   1. Keep in mind; if Bernie’s campaign were on top of the situation, as they probably were, they already knew about this issue before the primary and did nothing ahead of time.  Curious.
6. Super-delegate controversy
   1. Let’s face it; Bernie “became” a Democrat for the primary season for his personal convenience.  Then he and his followers complain that he does not have access to the super-delegates, people assigned to the Democratic convention because of party loyalty and affiliation. 
   1. For his to expect the ability to garner these super-delegates is delusional and I do not think he is delusional.  I expect it was an attempt to misdirect his followers from his failing campaign.
7. Failure to concede
   1.  After it was over Bernie only half-assed conceded, keeping his campaign alive so he could “make an impact” in the convention.  Bullshit!  It was petulance as far as I was concerned.  The goal should have been to fight Trump, but Bernie did not care.  His agenda, and his future Presidential aspirations, were more important.  I will not forgive that.
   1. Lest anyone forget: Bernie had 43% of the vote.  Eight years before, Hillary had the majority of the primary votes and conceded to Obama so he could get on with his campaign early.
8. His followers
   1. I never saw or heard so much garbage and pathetic crap from people as I heard from his followers:
      1. Likening Hillary to Stalin.
      1. Publishing lies about Hillary; accusing her of illegal acts and actions – some as bad or worse than Trump was spreading.
      1. Cursing and questioning people’s patriotism, in vitriol, if they supported another candidate.
      1. Refusing to vote because of Bernie’s failure to win the candidacy.
      1. Planning on never voting again because of Bernie’s failure.
   1. This is a Bernie problem.  I know that he cannot control ever one of his followers but he can disavow them and he can keep them a bay by his actions or words – which he did not.
9. Democrat by Convenience
   1. At the conclusion of the 2016 campaign, he vowed to remain a Democrat.  He lied.  He went back to Independent in 2018.  Oh, yeah, he is a Democrat again in time for the 2020 campaign.
   1. If he cannot keep that promise for two stinking years, how can I trust him?

In short, Bernie was and is a lightweight.  Hillary Clinton’s outside problems, and her already polarizing personality, he resonated with a group of voters.  Particularly with young voters.  But really, I am reminded of a Portland Mayor of a few years ago by the name of Bud Clark.  He won because everyone voted for him in protest.  When he was elected, I think he was the one most surprised.  Hey, I liked some of his policies and initiatives, but he had a whole hell of a lot of train wreaks because he was overreaching his ability (farting higher than his ass).

Like I said above: if he is the Democratic candidate against Trump in 2020, I will vote for him but I will likely be holding my nose.