The Democratic Party if Sanders loses in a landslide worse than '72/'84....

[Suburbia]

What would be the reaction the hours, days, weeks, and months within the Democratic Party if Bernie Sanders loses worse than McGovern, Mondale? Will Bill, Hillary, and Chelsea Clinton, Claire McCaskill, Joe Manchin, Jay Nixon be vindicated in their predictions, or will be they criticized for speaking out their minds?

[Blue3]

There would be talk of Hillary for 2020.

[Mehmentum]

We've seen this many times before.

Prior to the election, many Sanders supporters (mostly those on r/Sandersforpresident will sink further into denial.  Many will claim that the polls are skewed because during election day there'll be massive unexpected turnout for Sanders.  They'll cite everything from crowd sizes, to yard signs, to bumper stickers, to random encounters on the street to convince themselves of this.  Others will blame a media conspiracy against Sanders. (basically what we see now, but more intense).  It will be a lot like Romney 2012, with a huge number of people fully convinced of their victory only to be bluntly forced back into reality.

Most elected Democrats in vulnerable seats will start jumping ship as it become clear where things are headed.  It won't help, not even a little bit.  If the top of the ticket goes down in flames, the entire party does.  The Clintons themselves will still support Sanders, as will Obama, Biden, and most of the un-elected 'establishment'.  

On election day, many Sanders supporters will trumpet turnout at precincts.  The reality of the situation won't hit many of them until the exit polls come out, but some will still believe that the exit polls are wrong.  Once the actual results come in, it'll become clear pretty quickly where the night is going.

Post election, a few supporters will descend completely into conspiracy mode, believing that Sanders actually won the election.  Most will blame the 'establishment' for not supporting them enough, blame the 'deserters' (its a moot point, they all lost their elections anyway),  blame big money for funding the GOP, etc.  Basically, if there's a way to shift blame from Sanders to someone else, his hardcore supporters will use it.  Most Democrats outside of r/Sanderforpresident will blame Sanders for their loss, you'll here a TON of 'I told you so', to the point where it gets very old.

There will also be talk of 'creative destruction', 'we didn't want all of those DINOs in the party anyway', and 'finally the GOP will be held accountable for all the bad stuff that happens'.

The Headlines will read 'Are the Democrats Dead Forever?' in their usual ridiculous hyperbole.  As the defeated and depressed Sanders supporters go home, the DNC will be left to pick up the pieces.  DWS will finally be kicked out.  The new leadership will begin planning their comeback, with the gubernatorial elections next year and then the midterms.  There'll be rumors, but Clinton won't run for president again.

[Bojack Horseman]

That pretty much sums it up. ^^^

[Lief 🗽]

Great post Mehmentum. I'll add one thing: there will be a right-wing backlash within the party. If Sandernistas think that Clinton is right-wing, they're just gonna love who we nominate in 2020.

[Mike Thick]

"Sanders wasn't liberal enough. If we nominate a real liberal in 2020, unexcited voters who stayed at home this time will turn out and we'll win."
-r/Sandersforpresident, November 9, 2016

A joke, but I could actually see at least a few Sandernistas taking this stance.

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

We've seen this many times before.

Prior to the election, many Sanders supporters (mostly those on r/Sandersforpresident will sink further into denial.  Many will claim that the polls are skewed because during election day there'll be massive unexpected turnout for Sanders.  They'll cite everything from crowd sizes, to yard signs, to bumper stickers, to random encounters on the street to convince themselves of this.  Others will blame a media conspiracy against Sanders. (basically what we see now, but more intense).  It will be a lot like Romney 2012, with a huge number of people fully convinced of their victory only to be bluntly forced back into reality.

Most elected Democrats in vulnerable seats will start jumping ship as it become clear where things are headed.  It won't help, not even a little bit.  If the top of the ticket goes down in flames, the entire party does.  The Clintons themselves will still support Sanders, as will Obama, Biden, and most of the un-elected 'establishment'.  

On election day, many Sanders supporters will trumpet turnout at precincts.  The reality of the situation won't hit many of them until the exit polls come out, but some will still believe that the exit polls are wrong.  Once the actual results come in, it'll become clear pretty quickly where the night is going.

Post election, a few supporters will descend completely into conspiracy mode, believing that Sanders actually won the election.  Most will blame the 'establishment' for not supporting them enough, blame the 'deserters' (its a moot point, they all lost their elections anyway),  blame big money for funding the GOP, etc.  Basically, if there's a way to shift blame from Sanders to someone else, his hardcore supporters will use it.  Most Democrats outside of r/Sanderforpresident will blame Sanders for their loss, you'll here a TON of 'I told you so', to the point where it gets very old.

There will also be talk of 'creative destruction', 'we didn't want all of those DINOs in the party anyway', and 'finally the GOP will be held accountable for all the bad stuff that happens'.

The Headlines will read 'Are the Democrats Dead Forever?' in their usual ridiculous hyperbole.  As the defeated and depressed Sanders supporters go home, the DNC will be left to pick up the pieces.  DWS will finally be kicked out.  The new leadership will begin planning their comeback, with the gubernatorial elections next year and then the midterms.  There'll be rumors, but Clinton won't run for president again.

If you look at general election polls and favorable ratings, you'll see that it's Hillary supporters who are in denial about general election performance.

[DrScholl]

There will most certainly be many "I told you so" statements made, both subtle and direct. Sanders supporters will blame the voting machines, which are owned by Wall Street and produce "evidence" that shows widespread election fraud. Overall, the establishment will pick up the pieces in preparation for 2020 and the very progressive candidates would end up being limited to Kucinich status.

[Oakvale]

Great post Mehmentum. I'll add one thing: there will be a right-wing backlash within the party. If Sandernistas think that Clinton is right-wing, they're just gonna love who we nominate in 2020.

God willing in such a nightmare scenario, 2020 Democratic presidential nominee John Bel Edwards would purge the party of the far-left entryists, MRAs and Republican activists who succeeded in their nefarious plot to get Sanders nominated.

[Ebsy]

"Turnout was moderate..."

[Phony Moderate]

Backlash at the Clintons for somehow throwing away the nod (again) and they would be thrown into obscurity just as Cooper and Kendall (and Burnham, if we're honest) have been. Maybe some anger at Biden too. The Democrats move to the right in a clever way - i.e. nominating JBL as opposed to Andrew Cuomo.

[Mehmentum]

We've seen this many times before.

Prior to the election, many Sanders supporters (mostly those on r/Sandersforpresident will sink further into denial.  Many will claim that the polls are skewed because during election day there'll be massive unexpected turnout for Sanders.  They'll cite everything from crowd sizes, to yard signs, to bumper stickers, to random encounters on the street to convince themselves of this.  Others will blame a media conspiracy against Sanders. (basically what we see now, but more intense).  It will be a lot like Romney 2012, with a huge number of people fully convinced of their victory only to be bluntly forced back into reality.

Most elected Democrats in vulnerable seats will start jumping ship as it become clear where things are headed.  It won't help, not even a little bit.  If the top of the ticket goes down in flames, the entire party does.  The Clintons themselves will still support Sanders, as will Obama, Biden, and most of the un-elected 'establishment'.  

On election day, many Sanders supporters will trumpet turnout at precincts.  The reality of the situation won't hit many of them until the exit polls come out, but some will still believe that the exit polls are wrong.  Once the actual results come in, it'll become clear pretty quickly where the night is going.

Post election, a few supporters will descend completely into conspiracy mode, believing that Sanders actually won the election.  Most will blame the 'establishment' for not supporting them enough, blame the 'deserters' (its a moot point, they all lost their elections anyway),  blame big money for funding the GOP, etc.  Basically, if there's a way to shift blame from Sanders to someone else, his hardcore supporters will use it.  Most Democrats outside of r/Sanderforpresident will blame Sanders for their loss, you'll here a TON of 'I told you so', to the point where it gets very old.

There will also be talk of 'creative destruction', 'we didn't want all of those DINOs in the party anyway', and 'finally the GOP will be held accountable for all the bad stuff that happens'.

The Headlines will read 'Are the Democrats Dead Forever?' in their usual ridiculous hyperbole.  As the defeated and depressed Sanders supporters go home, the DNC will be left to pick up the pieces.  DWS will finally be kicked out.  The new leadership will begin planning their comeback, with the gubernatorial elections next year and then the midterms.  There'll be rumors, but Clinton won't run for president again.

If you look at general election polls and favorable ratings, you'll see that it's Hillary supporters who are in denial about general election performance.

a.) GE polling is useless this far out.  Remember how Carson was by far the best polling GOP candidate in the GE?

b.) This was based on the hypothetical situation, assuming that Sanders loses in a landslide.  How Clinton supporters would react to their candidate losing, and how Clinton would perform if she became the nominee wouldn't change anything in the proposed scenario.

[Phony Moderate]

a.) GE polling is useless this far out.  Remember how Carson was by far the best polling GOP candidate in the GE?

Yes, though not to the extent that it used to be, given how polarized American politics has become. A repeat of Dukakis (leading by 17% following the convention then losing in a semi-landslide) isn't likely to happen under any circumstance.

[Mehmentum]

a.) GE polling is useless this far out.  Remember how Carson was by far the best polling GOP candidate in the GE?

Yes, though not to the extent that it used to be, given how polarized American politics has become. A repeat of Dukakis (leading by 17% following the convention then losing in a semi-landslide) isn't likely to happen under any circumstance.

Good point, today's partisanship makes it hard for wild swings to occur since opinions are so set in stone.  Though I think the presence of Trump and/or Sanders on the ticket could lead to more unpredictability as they're unconventional candidates trying to energize low turnout voters.

[This account no longer in use.]

Does that mean losing every state?

[Young Conservative]

A rush to the center and the decline of leftism

[ProgressiveCanadian]

I doubt it. America is too polarized to have a 72' or 84' type landslide.

[cwt]

I doubt it. America is too polarized to have a 72' or 84' type landslide.

Not only that, 72 and 84 were both years in which a popular Republican incumbent was running.

It would be extremely unlikely. You might as well ask, "What if the Libertarian Party wins?"

[Adam the Gr8]

Turnout was too low, voter ID laws, vote machine hacking, top 1% of the top 1% of the 1%, Karl Rove. I would love to see /r/berniesanders after this.

The mainstream Democrats would just realize that nominating someone who identifies as a socialist is a terrible idea. just give up and let the GOP and 1% get away with voter fraud!

[RINO Tom]

Great post Mehmentum. I'll add one thing: there will be a right-wing backlash within the party. If Sandernistas think that Clinton is right-wing, they're just gonna love who we nominate in 2020.

God willing in such a nightmare scenario, 2020 Democratic presidential nominee John Bel Edwards would purge the party of the far-left entryists, MRAs and Republican activists who succeeded in their nefarious plot to get Sanders nominated.

I actually think John Bel Edwards would destroy whomever his Republican opponent is, LOL.

[Hillary pays minimum wage]

No he'd lose the PV as badly as Mondale but would win a handful of states.

[Young Conservative]

I doubt it. America is too polarized to have a 72' or 84' type landslide.

Not only that, 72 and 84 were both years in which a popular Republican incumbent was running.

It would be extremely unlikely. You might as well ask, "What if the Libertarian Party wins?"

Yes but the majority of americans say they won't vote for a socialist and Bernie sanders said he would be open to raising middle class taxes and a ninety percent income tax His tax plan calls for 19.6 trillion in additional taxes. This man is not electable by any means despite polling.

[Sir Mohamed]

A 1972/84 style defeat is unlikely or actually impossible. The worst thing that can happen to Bernie is this one:

Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)/Governor John Kasich (R-OH): 342 EV. (52.7%)
Senator Bernard Sanders (D-VT)/Senator Elisabeth Warren: 196 EV. (45.9%)

In 2020, we would have a pragmatic/moderate progressive like Jay Nixon, Andrew Cuomo or Kirsten Gilibrand. Hillary, at 73 years and two primary losses despite being the early favorite, would be off the table.

[This account no longer in use.]

A 1972/84 style defeat is unlikely or actually impossible. The worst thing that can happen to Bernie is this one:

Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)/Governor John Kasich (R-OH): 342 EV. (52.7%)
Senator Bernard Sanders (D-VT)/Senator Elisabeth Warren: 196 EV. (45.9%)

In 2020, we would have a pragmatic/moderate progressive like Jay Nixon, Andrew Cuomo or Kirsten Gilibrand. Hillary, at 73 years and two primary losses despite being the early favorite, would be off the table.

I'd argue it'd also be possible for him to lose Minnesota, (parts of) Maine, and Connecticut. I see Bernie as having a lower floor than Hillary, but also a higher ceiling.