THE THREE MISTAKES BERNIE SANDERS MADE

While I guess a miracle is still possible, it certainly seems like Bernie Sanders is on his way to be overwhelmed in delegate totals within the next two week when a lot states have primaries and caucuses. According to Real Clear Politics, Sanders is ahead or even in a couple states (Minnesota, Massachusetts, Vermont of course) but not really anywhere else.

Looking back, I think there were three mistakes Sanders made. It might have been closer had he done or not done these things.

1.) Sanders as part of his democratic socialism platform should have embraced anti-imperialism and cuts to the defense department budget. He did pivot in this direction slightly the last couple debates but it was too late then. This would have been a real contrast between him and Hillary Clinton and I think he would have gotten even more votes had he done this perhaps from some independents. I would have supported him had he done this as I liked many of his other positions. In general, he should have made a bigger contrast between him and Hillary’s neoliberal neo con foreign policy and her domestic incrementalism.

2.) Sanders is obviously a decent guy, perhaps too decent. His decision to not attack Clinton was not mutual. The Clintons ran their usual scorched earth sleazy war room campaign of lies (Things like attacking Sanders civil rights history in the 60’s for example). Sanders should have pointed out just from a practical viewpoint that the number of scandals she has been involved in will be used against her in the general election. His comment “sick and tired of your damn e-mails” was also a mistake. I believe Hillary did break the law and there’s a chance she could be indicted after she clinches the nomination. It’s not negative campaigning; it’s pointing out two things 1.) The Clintons penchant for criminal behavior 2.) The fact Hillary is a neo-liberal(which is a very different animal) not a progressive and attempts to fool people into thinking she is a progressive.

3.) Why oh why, did he run as a Democrat? As he pointed out in the last debate, he is the longest serving independent ever in the US Congress. Sanders should have run third party and talked more about how the system is broken as a part of income inequality and the things that should be done to fix it besides removing big money (which is important but not the only thing). The Democrat party is even more rotten and corrupt than the Republican Party when it comes to internal rules set up to prevent an insurgency campaign(like his campaign). Sanders should have run against both parties.