Longtime readers of the blog know that in the 2016 Democratic primary, I voted for Bernie Sanders because it “tickled me pink to be able to vote for a septuagenarian socialist Jew as a serious candidate for President of the United States.”¹

However, this time around I was not so enthusiastic about Bernie:

• Back in February I argued that Bernie’s was an “ego trip” decision to run for President, and that lightning would not strike twice.
• Later, in October, I argued that Bernie is too old and not in good enough health to be President, right after he had his heart attack.

But it seems that the voters don’t agree (if the polls can be trusted). Young voters, in particular, seem to be drawn to Bernie. They believe that Bernie has been saying the same thing for 40 years, which he has.

I still don’t believe that Bernie would beat Trump matched against him one-on-one. Bernie is (depending on your point of view ) a socialist or a social democrat (which are not the same thing). He’s 78 years old. And he’s a Jew.

The Republicans have not yet gone after Bernie, because they believe he would be a much easier match up then, for example, Joe Biden.² Once the Republicans focus their propaganda machine on Bernie, bad things are going to happen. I don’t think Bernie will get much support from the black of Hispanic communities, notwithstanding his endorsement from AOC and three of the four members of “the Squad.”

But I’ve been wrong before. In 2016 I promised all my German relative that although we were crazy, the United States was not crazy enough to elect the Orange Asshole as President. Especially not when running against someone as übercompetent as Hillary Clinton.

And I was completely wrong.

So maybe Bernie could unleash a tidal wave of young voters who would actually sweep him into office. If he became President I believe he would have a great deal of difficulty governing, especially if the Senate does not swing Democratic, but that’s a discussion for another day.

I was also wrong about Elizabeth Warren, who I didn’t think was likable enough to catch fire, but she’s done remarkably well. I may still be proved correct on that one, but then I thought someone like Kamala Harris might catch fire, and that clearly did not happen.

Let’s face it, I have no effing clue what the average American is thinking.

1. At the time I thought that Hillary Clinton was too corporate (which I still believe today) although I supported her enthusiastically for President, as she was running against Donald Trump.
2. Joltin Joe, at 77, isn’t much younger than Bernie at 78.