the Sanders campaign has - probably rightly - gambled that if they can win the presidency on an anti-establishment theme, the existing Democratic establishment will *accommodate them* in order to stay close to power. this isn't hard to understand
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what you can't do, however, is run a campaign like this and then whinge that the establishment is trying to stop you and it's unfair. of course they are!
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I mean, you can run this stuff for the public, it's a somewhat effective line. But don't get high on your own supply and become convinced that the establishment is Worse Than The Republicans - because in the end, you *are* going to want their power to get shit done.
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Replying to @BeijingPalmer
I think your analysis of this is wrong. The Democratic Establishment is a mostly fictional foil, and running against both is a perfectly fine strategy that would not hinder Sanders's ability to rule. He would be the establishment once elected.
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Replying to @BeijingPalmer
I understood you to mean that he would need to build alliances with this establishment once elected, so it is a mistake to completely demonize them now.
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Replying to @Pinboard
it's a mistake to *actually believe* in your own demonization of them, because once you're the new establishment you're still going to be dealing with and using the old establishment. They'll *want* alliances with you whatever you said in the campaign (c.f. Trump + everyone).
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Replying to @BeijingPalmer
My ill-stated point is that I don't even think there's an old establishment anymore, except for a few ancient politicians and a fundraising class that Bernie has proven he doesn't need. It's just a few hundred incumbents terrified that Bernie is going to lose them their seats
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Replying to @Pinboard
I think there's a frequent confusion between 'the establishment,' 'moderate Democratic voters,' and 'political pundits.'
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Replying to @BeijingPalmer
In Poland this constellation of reporters, intellectuals (which the US doesn't really have) and liberal politicians was called "the Salon" and running against it was a winning strategy for the populist right. Seeing the populist left do it in the US would be an interesting change
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The fear is that that militant, populist left might just turn out to be a few million activists and students, à la McGovern.
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