Because I can't see any positive outcome from Bernie Sanders existence in the race.

He'd already changing the debate. He's far more serious to me than O'Malley

I didn't say he wasn't doing anything, I said there was no positive outcome. Nothing he does will make Hilary a better general election candidate and nothing he does will change how Hilary will govern if she wins.

Donny Trump has a foolproof plan of defeating ISIS but HE'S NOT TELLING! Na Na Na Na Na naaaaa

Don't know why any liberals would support O'Malley. His zero tolerance policy towards crime contributed to mass incarceration levels in Baltimore and helped to destroy urban social fabric by locking up men and women for, in many instances, victimless nonviolent drug offenses. His policies played a large part in the protests we saw recently. He's a fraud.

http://thinkprogress.org/election/2015/05/30/3664429/omalley-baltimore/

yeah, but he wouldn't make hillary look bad in the primary, so...

drsmooth wrote:

jerseyhoya wrote:Comparing a Democrat in Maryland to a Republican in Massachusetts

that's the beauty of analogies

have you heard of them?

It's a bad analogy because party actors didn't negatively judge Romney, and they have negatively judged O'Malley because a Republican in Massachusetts has different electoral expectations to meet than a Democrat in Maryland.

That said, in terms of winning the nomination, Martin O'Malley is a more serious candidate than Bernie Sanders. If Hillary withdrew or died or something, O'Malley is a plausible nominee. If everyone in the field but Sanders died in a freak accident at a debate, he still would have essentially zero chance of being nominated. Sanders will probably get more votes than O'Malley given the current field, but he's Pat Buchanan or Ron Paul. There is no possible way the Democratic Party will let him be their nominee for president.

SK790 wrote:yeah, but he wouldn't make hillary look bad in the primary, so...

Didn't say that all, but sure. Bernie Sanders is not going to have any effect on Hillary Clinton or the conversation in the general election. There is an incredibly unrealistic narrative attached to Sanders among progressives right now, I like the guy too but let's be real here.

jerseyhoya wrote:

drsmooth wrote:

jerseyhoya wrote:Comparing a Democrat in Maryland to a Republican in Massachusetts

that's the beauty of analogies

have you heard of them?

It's a bad analogy because party actors didn't negatively judge Romney, and they have negatively judged O'Malley because a Republican in Massachusetts has different electoral expectations to meet than a Democrat in Maryland.

That said, in terms of winning the nomination, Martin O'Malley is a more serious candidate than Bernie Sanders. If Hillary withdrew or died or something, O'Malley is a plausible nominee. If everyone in the field but Sanders died in a freak accident at a debate, he still would have essentially zero chance of being nominated. Sanders will probably get more votes than O'Malley given the current field, but he's Pat Buchanan or Ron Paul. There is no possible way the Democratic Party will let him be their nominee for president.

Hey we agree about something

The Nightman Cometh wrote:

SK790 wrote:yeah, but he wouldn't make hillary look bad in the primary, so...

Didn't say that all, but sure. Bernie Sanders is not going to have any effect on Hillary Clinton or the conversation in the general election. There is an incredibly unrealistic narrative attached to Sanders among progressives right now, I like the guy too but let's be real here.

It certainly doesn't help her that one of the people she's going up against will be talking constantly about income inequality and government ties to big business, two things which the progressive segment of the dems have big questions about with clinton. she'll still win the nomination unless, as jh said, dies or drops out.

Right, I just don't buy into the narrative that his candidacy will do anything for the progressive movement so I'd prefer legitimate potential nominees step forward and begin building their profile for the future.

I don't necessarily disagree with what people have brought up as the drawbacks to O'Malley, but I think writing off his national prospects for 2020 is ridiculous. I think there are several ways forward where he could become a dominant democrat figure in 2019 and 2020.

you don't see how having someone who is a socialist or progressive even running for the candidacy in the democrat party isn't doing "anything" for the progressive movement? there are like 4 real progressives in government, even having one with a briefly national platform is a good step.

The Nightman Cometh wrote:I didn't say he wasn't doing anything, I said there was no positive outcome. Nothing he does will make Hilary a better general election candidate and nothing he does will change how Hilary will govern if she wins.

Nothing is not very much. Bernie's presence means at some point - though probably too early for people to register it - she'll need to address her soft spot for fat cats

Fun fact: less than a century ago, a socialist - running for POTUS as the Socialist Party candidate - won over 3% of the popular vote.

From a prison cell.

THOSE were some American times

jerseyhoya wrote:

drsmooth wrote:

jerseyhoya wrote:Comparing a Democrat in Maryland to a Republican in Massachusetts

that's the beauty of analogies

have you heard of them?

It's a bad analogy because

hey sport, whew, I'm just happy you recognized it was an analogy

And once again, you're essentially correct about Bernie. Dems are too squishy to embrace such a plainspoken candidate. Frankly, if Bernie gets any lift at all he should bag the Dem line & just run as a Socialist

Roger Dorn wrote:Don't know why any liberals would support O'Malley.... His zero tolerance policy towards crime contributed to mass incarceration levels in Baltimore and helped to destroy urban social fabric by locking up men and women for, in many instances, victimless nonviolent drug offenses. His policies played a large part in the protests we saw recently. He's a fraud.

This is O'Malley's problem. OK, one of his problems.