I don't think that's the story here since there wasn't a reversal back to the norm; MSNBC didn't hire more progressives, or replace conservatives.
Sanders has heart issues, is old as dirt, and is a foot and a half into the grave. He has no inside the beltway support, and as the inside the beltway news outlet, MSNBC is going to 1) focus on viable candidates and 2) bring on Never Trumpers to create the illusion they are being moderate while still trying to twist the knife in Trump's back. That they are not bowing down at the Bernie alter is not surprising at all. This is really no different than their tilt that lead to Melissa Harris-Perry departing the network in 2016 when they side-lined her show that discussed a wide variety of progressive issues to add in more Hillary cheerleaders.
To imply that Bernie isn't viable is to either betray your bias, your willful ignorance of the numbers as they stand or both. Who is viable precisely? Biden, who seems to be struggling with early stage dementia, and seems to decay further with every public appearance? Warren who doesn't poll as well as Bernie in head to heads against Trump, and is coming out in 3rd in many recent polls? Buttigieg, who, besides polling terribly against Trump, is desperate for an all or nothing win in Iowa (after dumping an absolute metric ton of money there to get the poll numbers he's presently enjoying in that state) that will somehow propel him all the way through the primary?
Having said that, I don't disagree with most of the rest of this.
He isn't viable. That ism't bias. It is honest assessment. Biden isn't viable either.
Again, the idea that his core policies don't have broad support, and that he hasn't pushed the bounds of acceptability and convention just isn't supported by the facts, given that majorities agree with his calls for a 15 dollar minimum wage, universal healthcare, health care as a right, free public college, getting money out of politics, increasing taxes on the rich and so on, and the fact that these have indeed all become mainstream ideas being broadly discussed, including outside of the party. Extraordinary claims such as yours in defiance of years of polling require extraordinary evidence, and I've yet to see any in support of your assertions.
Meanwhile, Bernie polls very well in head to heads against Trump as they stand; there isn't anything in terms of concrete numbers at this time that undermine the idea of Bernie being electable, or being unviable in the general. If voters in the general election are repelled by Sanders' demeanour and ideas they certainly aren't showing it.
Moreover, I'm not sure on what basis you claim that a majority of Democrats are opposed to Bernie or at the least dislike his demeanour; per what data?
As far as the basis and the data that forms my opinion, it's history and polling. He couldn't convince Democrats to vote for him in 16' and he's polling third in 20'. If he can't gather enough Democrats to support him in the primary, he won't win much of the independent vote or Repubs with a conscience, in the general. I could be wrong, but as much as we need his policies, I'll give you odds he won't win the primary...
Then vote for the candidate who was the best and an incredible record at getting things passed already, the "Amendment King", Bernie. The question is, are you making excuses to oppose him, or do you actually want the best person at getting things passes as you said you do?
I can't vote for any Democrat, I've never joined a political party. And no one needs an excuse to oppose anyone, at anytime. I want the best person I believe has the best chance to win in 20', man, woman, moderate, progressive, conservative, young or old guys or cranky old guys, gay or anything in between. I don't care if he/she is a governor, senator, representative, mayor, or dog catcher.
We just disagree on how to implement Sanders policies. While my method takes much more time, I believe it has a much better chance of getting it done, while your method is faster and a more direct approach, it's a risky gamble, a gamble we can't afford to lose...
Melissa Harris Perry was a thoughtful voice on MSNBC. She sure disappeared.
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