Christopher Rants premature to count Bernie Sanders out

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/readers/caucus/2015/11/29/christopher-rants-premature-count-bernie-sanders-out/76319650/

James Hufferd, Adel, Letter to the Editor

I wonder if Christopher Rants, Iowa's Republican resident expert on the Democratic Party's nomination process, [Why calendar, Paris doom Sanders, Nov. 22], would have advised Barack Obama to fold up his tent in Iowa at this point in the Iowa caucus campaign in 2007 because he was then well behind Hillary Clinton in the polls. I wonder also if he would advise the rest of the assortment of GOP candidates to take down their tents and quietly leave because they are all well behind Donald Trump at this point.

Events have happened to put the current Democratic and Republican races where they stand in Iowa at this point in their respective campaigns, just as in 2007. And more events will happen, as they did then, including two more Democratic debates, before the caucuses on Feb. 1 — just as in 2007-2008. More events may even happen in the usually turbulent life of Hillary Clinton before then.

Minds will be changed, one way or another, and who can say with any certainty what the actual results will be? Isn't that, Mr. Disinterested Advisor, why Iowa's caucuses are on the calendar for Feb. 1, 2016, and not November 2015?

— James Hufferd, Adel



(Photo: Rodney White/The Register)

[Tommy2Tone]

1. Mr Chairman, point of order

Bernie is not Obama.

[NurseJackie]

2. ... and not a single word about the dynamics of John Edwards, or the 2007 economy, or

the 2015 international stage. In a flat and one-dimensional world view, it's easy to have an "all things being equal" optimism.

[kristopher]

3. But Hillary's negatives are still Hillary's negatives...

...And more importantly the people hungry for change in 2007/8 are even more hungry for change today.

Also, imagine if Obama's cross-over appeal had been even half of what Bernie traditionally records with his focus the real causes of economic inequality.

[daybranch]

6. actually he is much better

He is a real progressive who walks the walk, that Obama only half did. It is great that an African American was elected, but lets not give him sainthood primarily based on that, no more than we should elect Hillary because she is a woman. Obama was a first step in the right direction but he never seriously challenged the rich. Hillary would be a step backwards from Obama as her views explain. Only Sanders directly challenges the status quo of control by the rich and ojnly he will make any significant long term difference. Go Bernie.

[Karma13612]

8. love the way you think Daybranch. #FeeltheBern. eom

[demwing]

4. "Christopher Rants, Iowa's Republican resident expert on the Democratic Party's nomination process"

Lol.

The Republicans would rather run against Hillary. Wonder why?

[Robbins]

5. also at this time in 2003

It looked like dean would win In iowa.

noone is saying to gop just get henind trump so why are they saying to dems just get behind Clinton.

Dem primarys are often more unpredicable than GOP.

[daybranch]

7. Because they want her to win.

If Bernie wins the nomination, it will be far more than what he can achieve initially. It will be giving a bully pulpit to a person dedicated to destroying the established oligarchy in order to make our country a democracy again. Now what could sell better than that? Each actor plays on the stage a choreographed role to convince us that Hillary and the republicans do not serve the same masters, when in fact they always have.
Follow the money and your eyes will open, then listen to the half measures, negotiations Hillary puts forth for her rich base and ask yourself why does she disagree with so many learned economists and activists. It ain't just smoke here, there is real fire.

[Dropletto]

9. Christopher Rants: A+ from the NRA. 0% from Planned Parenthood

0% from ACLU.

opposes same-sex marriage.

On the positive side, he is optimistic on Sanders. So let us rec.

http://votesmart.org/candidate/evaluations/6537/christopher-rants

[kristopher]

10. Dear Dropletto, you've misread the OP; Rants wants Bernie out...

Thus the headline: "Christopher Rants premature to count Bernie Sanders out"

The letter writer, Mr. HUfferd, is taking Rants to task for being dismissive of Bernie.

The letter writer, Mr. HUfferd, is taking Rants to task for trying to presumptively anoint Clinton the Democratic nominee.

By your reasoning that means Rants would prefer Republicans face Hillary because he thinks that Bernie is a greater threat.

Right?