All joking aside there Queen, Nicki does bring up a fair point that I think you want to dismiss due to how you feel about Bernie Sander's stances on gun control. I'm seeing that a lot whenever we bring up something positive about Sanders or negative about Clinton. You might not feel that way but it's how we see it.
Ironbite-and now back to sexy wrestling *dons battle bikini and throws out a war cry*
Doublepost.
All jokes aside, I feel I've been very favorable to Bernie, but have been met with outright dismissiveness if not denial. Such as now, my lack of support for Bernie is much more multi-dimensional than his stance on gun control: his lack of ability to work with people to pass legislation, his views on free trade, his bombastic attitude when it comes to yelling about his issues*, his fanning the flames of conspiracy theories**, his disgusting vote in favor of an amendment to an appropriations act to disallow warning Mexico about the racists Minute Man Militia***, and Bernie's proclivity for alienating his colleagues****. In sum, there is a lot more to a politician than simply that the politician's political stances coincide with yours. Further, this list is in no way exhaustive: I've said many times before that I hold back criticisms of Bernie because I know people will just get upset. But, I feel as though your post elicited this one.
And none of this is getting into the cult of personality that has evolved around him. In many ways, I want him not to become president purely because I will need a lot of alcohol to survive "feeling the bern" for 4, or god forbid 8, years. Of course, I'll vote for him if it comes to that, but I really wish the internet would stop being "Kitties, porn, and Bernie" and just go back to being "kittens and porn."
Finally, my initial comment, while made in a drunken stupor, was drawn out more in response to Nicki saying in this thread and in the other thread that "Hillary isn't cool enough to make a Star Wars joke." Which flabbergasts me. With the exception of the social butterflies, none of us are cool enough to judge another's coolness. We're more or less a ragtag posse of adorably awkward social outcasts. And Ironbite who is not adorable. But, Star Wars is the epitome of nerdy culture, and in many ways represents a win among nerd culture with general culture in that the Star Wars films are probably the most mainstream stories there are. Everyone knows them, regardless of affiliation with geek/nerd subculture. Hillary making that joke represents just how iconic and mainstream the story is. It represents a win in that one of our interests is mainstream enough to be referenced by a person who may be our next president. I feel, ironically, that while you say I dislike Bernie purely because of guns and that I am unable to see the bigger picture of Bernie, you ignore Nicki doing the exact thing with Hillary. Nothing Hillary does is good enough for Nicki to say "good job": Hillary making a reference to Star Wars on national television earns Nicki's ire. I can admit when Bernie does something right, I can admit when Hillary goofs. Just because I'm not dickriding Bernie does not mean that I am not seeing the bigger picture. Besides, the only candidate that one is allowed to
dickride is Obama.*For example, when Bernie feels strongly about socialism, income inequality, minimum wage, voting rights, taxation, international relations, public services, etc., he has no problem shouting. Regardless of how correct he is on some issues, he has no problem shouting. But, the minute that Hillary supports gun control, he chides her that all the yelling won't solve anything. My first thought is that it is a giant double standard based only his views. If he supports the issue, then he can yell about it, but if he doesn't then you must talk with utmost politeness. In many ways, it is a subtle way of saying "my issues are serious, yours are not" and it is very disingenuous. My second thought about it is how would the audience react if Hillary or Obama shouted like Bernie? Don't answer that, I'll tell you, Hillary or Obama would be pilloried as an uppity bitch and an angry black man, respectively. I am not saying it is intentional sexism or racism on Bernie's part, but I do think he is benefiting from subconscious attitudes regarding race and gender, and I do not like it, although I cannot fault him for his audience respond to him.
**After the voter data scandal, Bernie had no problem fanning the flames of conspiracy theories that the DNC has it out for him to fundraise $1 million. I also think that it is very important to remember through that whole fiasco that the data is proprietary information of the DNC, that Sanders' campaign shirked the rules, and that Hillary was the victim. Yet, I doubt these facts were remembered when people donated that $1 million.
***There is no debating that Bernie has a race problem. He has no problem gathering legions of white socialists who are young and want change, but he lacks cross-race appeal. Little things like this do not help him. The cavalier attitude of his supporters towards race (shouting slurs and "all lives matter" after BLM protesters hi-jacked his rally is a good example). Nonetheless, back to the vote on the amendment, so much for this great liberal who always votes the right way, regardless of political expediency.
**** Remember back in 2009 and 2010 when Obama had sixty democratic Senators and a majority in the House, yet it still took forever to pass ObamaCare. The delay was not due to Republican opposition, although that certainly contributed. It was largely due to having problems getting the democrats on board with the bill. Bernie and Hillary have been in Washington for almost 30 years. Essentially, all of the superdelegates have met the two of them at some point, and there is a strong break for Hillary in this regard. It is due to Bernie alienating people he'll need to pass legislation, and Clinton working with and assisting those very same people. If Bernie cannot get these people on board with his agenda, the he is severely hampered in the results that he can obtain. Rhetoric is good, but I'm thinking in terms of results that the hypothetical president would obtain. Which is why I've noted it before, that ironically I am to the left of Bernie.