Fogdog
Well-Known Member
Bernie’s army in disarray
The Sanders-inspired grass-roots group ‘Our Revolution’ is flailing, an extensive review by POLITICO shows, fueling concerns about a potential 2020 bid.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/21/bernie-sanders-democrats-2018-599331
Bernie Sanders’ top operatives formed “Our Revolution” after he lost the 2016 primaries to keep his army organized and motivated — and potentially prepare for another presidential run in 2020.
But an extensive review of the Sanders-inspired group depicts an organization in disarray — operating primarily as a promotional vehicle for its leader and sometimes even snubbing candidates aligned with Sanders. Our Revolution has shown no ability to tip a major Democratic election in its favor — despite possessing Sanders’ email list, the envy of the Democratic Party — and can claim no major wins in 2018 as its own.
The result has left many Sanders supporters disillusioned, feeling that the group that was supposed to harness the senator's grass-roots movement is failing in its mission. The problems have also fueled doubts about Sanders’ organizational ability heading into 2020, even after his out-of-nowhere near-march to the nomination two years ago. Critics of the Vermont independent had been worried he’d have a juggernaut-in-waiting to fuel a second presidential campaign, but that anxiety has faded after watching Our Revolution the past year and a half.
“Our Revolution is going through growing pains,” acknowledged Jane Kleeb, the group’s treasurer, while arguing that progress is being made. “Creating a grass-roots organization is different from running a presidential campaign.”
There is much more to the article and it's worth giving a passing glance. This should come as no surprise to anybody who has been watching the development of Bernie's campaign for 2020. The entire premise that Bernie's movement is based upon is a false assumption. That a heretofore untapped wellspring of non-voting white liberals are waiting across the US for a real liberal to run -- that would be Bernie Sanders. Never mind that they didn't show up for him in 2016. Never mind that Bernie has done nothing to build relationships with black and latino voters who didn't vote for him in any real way. No, Bernie was pandering to racially insecure white voters by sticking to economic issues and criticizing pc rhetoric as something that "people are tired of". Not to mention him creating a tale that Democrats lost seats because Obama and a fabricated "Democratic business model". That went over well with black voters, hmmm?
Never mind that his Our Revolution is only running candidates in districts where liberal Democrats have good chances. Never mind that even when running against liberal Democrats they are succeeding only 45% of the time. Bernie and his followers would have us believe we must vote for him and Progressive(tm) Democrats or they will give us Trump.
Bernie has always been a loner and his abysmal ability to lead is showing in his fragmenting organization. Let the denial begin.
The Sanders-inspired grass-roots group ‘Our Revolution’ is flailing, an extensive review by POLITICO shows, fueling concerns about a potential 2020 bid.
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/05/21/bernie-sanders-democrats-2018-599331
Bernie Sanders’ top operatives formed “Our Revolution” after he lost the 2016 primaries to keep his army organized and motivated — and potentially prepare for another presidential run in 2020.
But an extensive review of the Sanders-inspired group depicts an organization in disarray — operating primarily as a promotional vehicle for its leader and sometimes even snubbing candidates aligned with Sanders. Our Revolution has shown no ability to tip a major Democratic election in its favor — despite possessing Sanders’ email list, the envy of the Democratic Party — and can claim no major wins in 2018 as its own.
The result has left many Sanders supporters disillusioned, feeling that the group that was supposed to harness the senator's grass-roots movement is failing in its mission. The problems have also fueled doubts about Sanders’ organizational ability heading into 2020, even after his out-of-nowhere near-march to the nomination two years ago. Critics of the Vermont independent had been worried he’d have a juggernaut-in-waiting to fuel a second presidential campaign, but that anxiety has faded after watching Our Revolution the past year and a half.
“Our Revolution is going through growing pains,” acknowledged Jane Kleeb, the group’s treasurer, while arguing that progress is being made. “Creating a grass-roots organization is different from running a presidential campaign.”
There is much more to the article and it's worth giving a passing glance. This should come as no surprise to anybody who has been watching the development of Bernie's campaign for 2020. The entire premise that Bernie's movement is based upon is a false assumption. That a heretofore untapped wellspring of non-voting white liberals are waiting across the US for a real liberal to run -- that would be Bernie Sanders. Never mind that they didn't show up for him in 2016. Never mind that Bernie has done nothing to build relationships with black and latino voters who didn't vote for him in any real way. No, Bernie was pandering to racially insecure white voters by sticking to economic issues and criticizing pc rhetoric as something that "people are tired of". Not to mention him creating a tale that Democrats lost seats because Obama and a fabricated "Democratic business model". That went over well with black voters, hmmm?
Never mind that his Our Revolution is only running candidates in districts where liberal Democrats have good chances. Never mind that even when running against liberal Democrats they are succeeding only 45% of the time. Bernie and his followers would have us believe we must vote for him and Progressive(tm) Democrats or they will give us Trump.
Bernie has always been a loner and his abysmal ability to lead is showing in his fragmenting organization. Let the denial begin.
