I'm trying to imagine a Bernie/Trump general election...

[First Speaker]

...my God. Talk about surrealism! It would be the most entertaining campaign in US history...maybe *too* entertaining. And the debates! Donald would throw everything but the Protocol of the Elders of Zion at Bernie, whom I suspect would dodge it all quite adroitly. If the American people just had a good look at them, I suspect they'd choose the better man of the two, and look past the "Socialist" boogeyman...

[flamingdem]

1. Trump already said he's attack him on raising taxes

Just like hatred of the "other" Trump knows Americans hate to pay taxes. So it might be tough sledding in spite of Trump being utterly unqualified.

[rug]

48. Nobody likes landlords.

http://www.alternet.org/news-amp-politics/8-skeletons-donald-trumps-closet-reveal-life-long-dedication-being-biggest-jerk

http://www.nytimes.com/1986/03/05/nyregion/trump-drops-5-year-effort-to-evict-tenants.html

Even his base:

http://www.redstate.com/diary/freedomrepublican/2015/07/14/reminder-donald-trump-brazen-thief/

[handmade34]

2. I think the problem

we would be looking at is a 3 way race... including Bloomberg

His entry would radically affect the election, which has already been upended by the anti-establishment campaigns of Mr Trump and Mr Sanders. Many experts believe that Mr Bloomberg would help the Republican nominee by drawing more support from Democrats over Republicans because of his liberal stance on issues such as gun control and the environment.

[metroins]

3. Trump would win.

And I'm not just saying that as a Hillary supporter.

Trump would hammer Bernie with one liners about tax increases and fear mongering about war. We might even have another mini terrorist attack or mass shooting before the GE that would bring terrorism to the fore front.

A lot of America resonates with one liners and Bernie's weak points (tax increases and decreased war) can be easily exposed by Trump.

I think Bernie could beat a more thoughtful candidate such as Rubio, Jeb or Kasich. I don't care what the polls say, they are always wrong this far in advance.

[marions ghost]

8. nah

plenty of fear about a Trump presidency out there...

[Volaris]

10. Im not so sure about any of that.

The national demographics will not favor the GOP this cycle. Election day could be (D) Mickey Mouse opposite (R) Ronald Regan, and mickey mouse would win.

What I REALLY want more than anything is for the Moran BASE over there to get the candidate they say they want (the really REALLY REALEST ,truest-true CONservative lunatic they can find) and run them against Bernie Sanders. That way, when they get unmercifally walloped in the General, they can finally realize that 20% of a population does not a majority make and they can all go fuck off for a few decades while the rest of us work our collective asses off to 'take their country back' from the oligharchs who picked it from their pocket while they were busy slavishly and brainlessly kicking dirt on others because 'baby jezuz luves ME .'.

I'm tired of their narcissistic National Uselessness. Its time to destroy the illusion of the Regan 'Revolution' once and for all, and finally return this nation to the principals of the New Deal and the optimistic vison of FDR and JFK.

[marble falls]

11. Are you saying:

Trump and Clinton's position on taxes, budget and war are close enough Trump wouldn't be able to attack her stand on taxes, budget and war?????

That the polls were wrong about the cake walk Hillary would have over Bernie on the way to the convention but are on the money re: perception of Bernie as a collection of one liner's regarding war, the budget and war?

[ellie]

21. Yes he would.

All they have to do is post a photo of Bernie with his mouth open, looking crazy, and print the worlds SOCIALISM underneath it and it is over. And the narrative will be how he is going to take from you to give to "those" people. Trump would win in a landslide.

[hamsterjill]

28. I agree.

Trump would, to my complete chagrin, make mincemeat out of Bernie. Trump does not play nice. Bernie does.

There are too many ill-informed voters who like bravado and equate that bravado with strength.

[truebluegreen]

33. What happened to the old adage that the first candidate

to go negative loses? It's laughable to think tRump's smirking would win over any voters not stupid enough to vote for him anyway, and with a fairly-even split between declared Rs and Ds plus a whole bunch of Is, who do you think will win?

Plus, the Democrats are starting with a YUUUUUGE Electoral College edge: remember when rMoney would have had to run the table on the swing states in order to win, and lost (IIRC) all but one? Situation hasn't changed that much.

[hamsterjill]

34. I just don't think that many people are actually going to vote for Sanders.

What old adage? Hell, the first candidate to go negative many times wins.

I'm sorry, but that's the way I see it. I hope I'm wrong if Sanders is the nominee, and if he is the nominee, I'll be voting for him. But I simply feel that all of this "feel good" stuff about Bernie isn't going to be enough to get him elected.

There was a gigantic uproar on DU when Chelsea Clinton made a statement about Bernie Sanders. Whether that statement was truth or fiction, you can bet that the Republicans are going to be doing much, much worse. The word "socialism" is going to be in every ad, every discussion, every debate. etc. They will say he's going to raise taxes. They'll be yelling that from the rooftops. Who knows what the Republicans will say or do. It won't be enough for Bernie to simply say that he's not going negative. That will be viewed as weakness.

The Republicans would much rather have Bernie as an opponent than Hillary.

[truebluegreen]

46. I think the Republicans Think they would rather have Bernie

as an opponent than Hillary. I also think that Republicans are the stupid party, that the establishment have been totally blind-sided by Trump, that they thought Rubio could be their guy, or that Bush or Walker or Christie would have broad appeal....sorry, I don't have much faith in their judgment, on any level.

And I think that Vote for the Status Quo is way less inspiring than a call to action (really? "feel good stuff"? He's not saying It's Morning Again in America).

[JanMichael]

47. i do not think bernie is shrinking violet.

i have seen him get pretty aggressively talking on occasion.

he is probably as snappy as trump and the debates would take on the air of a prize fight.

remember the left typically wins once the fighting gets real. we are anti everyone gets a gun but more than happy to use them.

the spanish revolution was the only straight up shooting loss.

[Hortensis]

37. Bernie would look extremely good against Trump

to thinking people, and it would be very entertaining, but I am afraid it would really come down to loyal red team against a loose blue coalition, the way it tends to, with intellect moving few people and large numbers staying home.

And Handmade is right, of course. Bloomberg would horn in right up the middle.

BTW, take a look at Bernie's delivery. -- simple one-note messages hit again and again with tremendous conviction. This is a major factor in both his and Trump's successes. A lot of people just want reassurance that they are voting for a strong man who will fix things, details not actually wanted. Both are selling themselves as that man.

It would be fun to see them fighting to keep the other from seducing away some of their more clueless and/or fickle supporters!

[Warren Stupidity]

4. I think it would be a breath of fresh air.

[book_worm]

5. It would be an interesting race the total capitalist vs the democratic Socialist

Wall Street vs. Main Street.

[Voice for Peace]

6. Political engagement & voting numbers will soar

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

9. WTF?

Your post, if serious, makes me want to fucking punch something.

[marble falls]

12. They ain't worth it. Get a Trump dart board instead.

[pampango]

13. Politico: Trump vs. Sanders? Frustration pulses through the parties as New Hampshire punishes

establishment players.

Trump is already a serious and credible threat to win the Republican nomination, although that fight is likely to go on for months. He is a clear favorite as the Republican primary battle heads to South Carolina, where he holds a 20-point lead in the polls. Suddenly, the party’s establishment is panicking at the prospect of Trump stringing together wins and being unable to stop him at all.

“The problem is we can’t seem to consolidate the roughly two-thirds of Republicans who don’t want Trump to be the nominee,” said Bruce Haynes, a GOP strategist and South Carolina native. “The most important function South Carolina can provide is identifying one candidate who can challenge Donald Trump. That’s what this primary has become—will someone rise up and challenge this man?”

Should these four candidates (Cruz, Rubio, Kasich and Bush) continue to divide the anti-Trump vote in the next several contests, and with Kasich ready to patiently seek delegates in Midwestern states when the primary fight broadens out, it’s possible the ongoing circular firing squad among several establishment candidates ensures that Trump is the last Republican standing—a scenario that only fuels further speculation about a brokered convention.

While Sanders is exposing Clinton’s inability to excite the base of a party that’s moving left, the Democratic establishment still believes he’s a long-shot to win the party’s nomination. “That’s not going to happen unless or until he can broaden his support beyond white progressives and young people,” said Joe Trippi, the Democratic operative who guided the 2004 campaign of another Vermont Democrat, Howard Dean.

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/trump-v-sanders-219060

[oberliner]

14. Throw Bloomberg in there

I think we could very well see Bernie vs. Trump vs. Bloomberg.

That would be one hell of a rollicking time.

[bklyncowgirl]

15. It'll be the subway series all over again: Brooklyn vs Queens vs Manhattan

Great for us New Yorkers, don't know what the rest of the country would think.

[oberliner]

16. Good point

Sadly I think it might also bring out some not so subtle antisemitism.

[bklyncowgirl]

17. Would der Trumpler go there? Oh yes. Fire up those dog whistles.

[Blueguyinthesky]

18. Why do you think Trump won't throw the Protocols of the Elders of Zion at Bernie?

It wouldn't surprise me if he did.

[Feeling the Bern]

19. I can picture it. Bernie wins 40 states, 55 - 58% of the popular vote

And his coattails will sweep Democrats into control of the Congress.

On the otherside, I see a complete fracturing of the Republican Party into three parts:
1: The northern Establishment
2: The bible thumping south
3: The libertarian west

And they will never work together again.

I also see the Republicans having the most contentious convention in years because no one will have a majority of delegates.

This may be 1860 all over again, where Sanders is Lincoln and the Republicans are the Democrats.

[Blueguyinthesky]

20. People on here have been predicting something like that will happen to the Repubs for decades

And unfortunately it never has. I really don't think their party will break up anytime soon, like it or not.

[One_Life_To_Give]

22. Davos would not be happy

That would be a Heads I loose, Tails you win for the Oligarchy. They would have to pull out all the stops to get one of their own injected as a thrid party candidate.

[OriginalGeek]

23. "I suspect they'd choose the better man of the two, and look past the "Socialist" boogeyman.."

I certainly hope that's right but I know quite a few educated, seemingly smart people who "kinda" don't like Trump but absolutely HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATE that "damned socialist".

The last convo I had with some of them was before Christie beat the figurative shit out of Rubio and they were leaning his way but they might has a sad this morning.

[Matrosov]

24. We'd be looking at a Sanders presidency

Our first 'socialist' president

Trump's only talent is to bully others. It's not surprising that this makes him hugely popular among conservatives, yet I also think this will be his downfall in the general election.

So many people vote strictly along party lines that the election will come down to the independents, and I can't see that they'll take a liking to his abrasive personality.

[LannyDeVaney]

25. You got a hint about it during Trump's NH victory speech last night ...

he said Sanders wants to give everything away. In a GE, as folks have been pointing out for several weeks, Trump would tattoo Sander's images with the hammer and sickle.

[pampango]

26. Serves republicans right. They have attacked Clinton for years only to get beaten by

someone who is more liberal. The irony is delicious.

[Agnosticsherbet]

27. Bernie/Trump? No. Trump would be a stratigic choice for Vice President.

but Sanders would never go there.

On the other hand, if Clinton won the nomination, I think Trump would offer the VP slot to Sanders to undercut his competition.


Oh, you were talking Sanders Vs. Trump.

[Kalidurga]

29. Sanders vs the Chump

Sanders wins. I have been hoping that this happens since June.

[B Calm]

30. Bernie has been fighting the top 1% his entire life. He'll make mince meat out of Trump!

[KittyWampus]

31. Two angry candidates using demagoguery to appeal to angry citizens….

One from the Right and one from the Left.

It would not be entertaining.

[B Calm]

32. Wow

You should take that to GDP.

[Corey_Baker08]

35. How Would Bernie Financially Compete Against Trump In A National Campaign?

That's What Scares Me The Most...

[GummyBearz]

44. The same way he is doing it vs HRC

$25 at a time.

FYI trump publically told super PACs to return their money to donors back in October, making his campaign "less wealthy" than HRCs...

"Facing scrutiny over ties between his campaign and a super PAC, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Friday announced he had disavowed several political action committees that claim to be raising money to support his candidacy and called on them to return donations.

He said other presidential candidates should do the same.

“I am self-funding my campaign and therefore I will not be controlled by the donors, special interests and lobbyists who have corrupted our politics and politicians for far too long,” Trump said in a statement."

[Corey_Baker08]

49. With All Due Respect Trump Self Funding His Campaign Is Still Quite A Substantial Sum Of Money...

I Have Donated To Both Democratic Candidates But I Gotta Tell Ya I Fear That By The Time The GE Gets In Full Swing, Like Many Other Young College Students, And For That Matter The Working Class, As Well As The Middle Class Who Are Making A Majority Of Those Small Donations Will Be Financially Tapped Out From Contributing To Any Campaign If This Primary Goes On For As Long As Its Projected To...

While Donald May Say He's Self Funding His Campaign, We All Know That The Special Interest & Super PACs Will Have Their Voice Be Heard Through Their Money & To Think That Donald Trump Will Not Spend Whatever It Takes,Which He Has Even Self Funding, To Become POTUS Is Just Naive...& No I'm Not Saying You're Naive Just Making A Point....

[kydo]

36. I won't worry about it. One win is not a coronation for either

Repugs will if they can become semi sane end up with Kasich, and Dems will end up with Clinton.

[CanSocDem]

38. Sanders vs. Trump ?

As mentioned above: Main street vs. Wall street

And:

99% vs.1%, democracy vs oligarchy, public interest vs private interest, workers vs corporations, elections vs appointments, justice vs corruption, education vs indoctrination etc.....

I hope it gets as far as a general election. I think it is our last hope...


.

[question everything]

39. A nightmare any way you look at it (nt)

[lumberjack_jeff]

40. Bernie is the perfect foil.

He won't waste time attacking Trump for being ludicrous - it's a fact that's readily apparent.

"Please proceed, Mr Trump"

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

41. I'm hoping for that bit of theatre.

[leftynyc]

42. Trump will not go anti semitic

at Bernie. His daughter, Ivanka, converted to Judaism in order to marry. The GOP superpacs on the other hand, will bring out all the golden oldies of disgusting anti semitism. The superpac rules will allow donnie to disavow the attacks.

[Ex Lurker]

43. Bloomberg would jump in as a third party spoiler

Which would probably throw the election to Trump.

That's assuming the election comes off at all. Wall Street doesn't like either of them. I wouldn't put it past them to pull something.

[marions ghost]

45. I can imagine it