Bernie is doing the Democrats a service by pulling the Party to the left.

[kentuck]

In that respect, his race has already been a success.

The Republicans continue to lurch to the right and many Democrats have followed them part ways. This TPP trade bill is only the latest example.

Hopefully, he can make the Republicans a little less extreme by offering a contrast in policies? His ideas have been very much needed in our political dialogue, in my opinion.

[randys1]

1. I hope the cons go even more to the right, for a contrast.

There is such a tremendously huge difference between the two parties, that the more this can be pointed out the better.

Not sure if contrast is the right word here, was thinking of my TV, maybe not

[marym625]

2. I don't think he's pulling Democrats left. I think we just finally have someone speaking for us.

Though he's making third wayers go left. Or at least pretend to

[kentuck]

9. It's a long time 'til election...

...but he's off to a great start!

[marym625]

10. Yes. A long, long, long, long way off.

But, I have been all kinds of stamina and will continue to support Bernie!

[kentuck]

12. I think the media and the Party leaders are starting to take him a little more seriously...

...and will be a little more critical as his popularity grows. They will stick the "socialist" label on him every chance they get. But I think most people, especially the younger generations, look beyond labels.

[truebluegreen]

3. I bet he's actually doing Hillary a favor

by pulling her to the left, i.e. the mainstream. We are not a center-right country, we are center-left!

[Smarmie Doofus]

5. Let's just hope that she can figure that out at this point.

With so many times around the track.... something close to hallucinatory thinking may begin to set in.

I know I can't keep up w. her.

[truebluegreen]

11. I hope she can read polls, and crowds, and enthusiasm levels. nt

[bvar22]

14. She can read the polls.

Why do you think she has "remade" herself a Populist the last two weeks,
ans started spouting Elizabeth Warren talking points, though not very convincingly.
Everybody I know who hears this phony Populism says, "She's Lying"..

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. Hell yeah.

And MORE THAN THAT, it would appear.

[Maedhros]

6. The scariest part of this is that it's really the rank-and-file that is pulling the Party left.

Scary to the Third Way, that is.

Bernie is just providing the spark, and the leadership.

[kentuck]

8. Bernie has definitely hit a nerve with a large portion of the Party...

and much needed, in my opinion.

[Smarmie Doofus]

13. You're right. But, ya gotta admit.......

.... he's GOOOOOOD.

I really don't think Kucinich or Dean could have generated this much excitement and hope.

*Maybe* Warren.


M A Y B E.

[gotj90]

7. If it helps other Dems to move left, good for them. Bernie's running to win.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

15. Strange things are happening

Republican voters are warming to him as well.

[madfloridian]

19. Yes, they are.

[Fumesucker]

16. Pulling the rhetoric to the left

Actual governing remains to be seen.

[YoungDemCA]

17. Sanders and Clinton voted the same way 93% of the time in the two years they shared in the Senate

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/28/upshot/the-senate-votes-that-divided-hillary-clinton-and-bernie-sanders.html?abt=0002&abg=1

[joshcryer]

18. Sanders has been ahead of the curve forever.

The democrats are just paying catch up, as the American people shift.

The democrats will always follow the polls and focus groups.