Fox news, yes, you read that, did a poll on what/who is popular in politics and what/who is not. Bernie Sanders is the most popular (+29%). Planned Parenthood is second (+25%). The Affordable Care Act, aka "Obamacare" third (50%0. Mike Pence and Elizabeth Warren have overall plus ratings; although both have below 50% total favorable they have fewer unfavorable. Least popular: Trump and Paul Ryan. Will Fox now call Fox "fake news"?
Reportedly there was an opp research file on Bernie a mile thick; a mild social democrat was going to be painted as the reincarnation of Stalin and Pol Pot. And unlike Hillary Clinton he had never faced the full out right wing attach machine. There is no alternate universe. Why "what if" questions are speculation. What if Walton had stayed healthy. What if Comey had been as discreet about emails as he was about Russia connections. What if Mitch McConnell had decided to work with the president and get some of what he wanted rather than be party of no. What if the sun had been a little cooler, none of us would be here.
Just read an interesting “theory” on why people get elected. And after getting elected to a public office, how they get things done. Being popular had nothing to do with getting enough votes to win an election, or to get things done. Two factors play the largest roles in politics, bribes and fear. Modern time bribes can be a politician making promises to provide some new service or financial help to specific individuals and special interest groups to gain their vote, such as the government providing more social programs (Bernie). A second form of bribe can be promising to improve the entire society’s standard of living, such as improving the infrastructure. (Trump) Of course, bribing other politicians for their vote/support has been a well exposed program to get things done. Playing the fear card can take many forms. A politician that promises to provide more security can be seen as making the people safer and lowering the fear factor (Trump). Fear can also take the form of a politician blackmailing fellow politicians into supporting his agenda. Having a little “dirt” on a politician can go a long way in gaining their support to get things done, fearing they will be exposed. Trump likes to intimidate his opponents, causing them to fear him. These are scary times. “My guess is”, Trump would have beat Bernie because Trump played all the cards he could use, bribes and fear. Bernie only played one card, bribes. Bernie maybe very popular with a minority of special interest groups, but that is not enough bribe votes to get him elected. Now we have to see if Trump can get things done, and how he does it. But I don’t believe he will ever be popular. He will just keep winning as long as he keeps playing more bribe and fear cards than his opponents.
FOX (except Sean Hannity) has always opposed Trump. FOX is pro-establishment conservative. Trump and his base came from both parties and are decidedly anti-establishment of both parties. FOX is the conservative CNN, with a much wider palate of topics and news stories but much less hyperbole. CNN has devolved into nothing more than a political hit machine throwing shit at POTUS to see if it will stick.
I don't even know why you would have voted for Bernie, He seems like one of the hated Russian that now call themselves Socialist instead of Communist. But it is impossible to imagine us deplorable(s) voting for Communist. Hard to dominate when you are way way out there.
I feel like im more popular than @SlyPokerDog but slightly under @KingSpeed. But its hard to compete with leaked nudes.
