Why Conservatives and Moderates might Prefer a Socialist President

Why Conservatives and Moderates might Prefer a Socialist President to returning Hillary to the White House: What are the chances that a Sander’s Administration could be productive with the existing congressional demographics?
I keep reading about the turnout makeup at Sander’s events. While the size of the crowds he attracts are impressive, this is magnified by national polling which suggests that nearly half the potential electorate still do not recognize or know anything about “Bernie Sanders.” Another interesting dynamic seems to be a fairly sizable group of self-identifying independents, conservatives, and moderates who are showing up, engaging, and generally coming away thoughtful and impressed with both Bernie and his policy proposals.
I’m sure that most who go to such events, are self-selected to get caught up in the atmosphere of political rallies and not hard-core policy wonks ideologically committed to antithetical policy positions. I’m not sure that all/any of these enthusiasm junkies will translate into votes for Sanders in 6+ months, yet alone 15+ months, from now. One difference between Sanders and the current White House occupant, is that Sanders has a three decade history of work and relationships in both houses of congress (He isn’t a noob, one term Senator). I read a recent piece in the National Journal: “Bernie Sanders Is a Loud, Stubborn Socialist. Republicans Like Him Anyway.” - http://ift.tt/1DaPiOi

Quote:

…Sanders is constantly ribbing Republicans in his trademark condescending Brooklyn-accented tone. He offers up legislation that's so far to the left that it couldn't get a vote even under Majority Leader Harry Reid. He's the curmudgeon in the Senate Democratic conference, rarely satisfied with how far his leadership will go to pursue progressive policies, and not afraid to vote 'nay' when his leaders come up short. And none of his Senate colleagues, on either side of the aisle, think he could ever be elected president of the United States; most of them even believe he shouldn't be. But rather than earning the frustration and ire of his peers in the vein of other Senate hard-liners such as Sen. Ted Cruz, Sanders has managed to be respected—even liked—by much of the chamber, according to members on both sides of the aisle… Sanders also has been able to work well with his colleagues. He's passed bipartisan legislation and forged strong relationships with members of both parties in nearly 25 years on Capitol Hill. But most of all, members say, even when Sanders is ideologically an outlier, he lets others know where he stands. He's not the type to suddenly stab a colleague in the back. And that's earned him respect both on and off the Hill…

Hillary, whether she actually deserves it or not, is perceived to be a hyper-partisan polarizing political figure. Sanders may be a socialist, but conservatives have been calling the last four presidents (two of them closeted) socialists anyway, so what big difference? is it that this socialist owns the label? Most people admire and respect such open-ness, because once we deal with the labels, then we can consider the properties and effects of such policies and whether or not they will likely produce the results we want them to produce.
This article reminds me, with lines like these:

Quote:

…But even Republican members who balk at those ideological pushes say that when Sanders sees something that needs to get done, he's more than willing to do what it takes to get there… Wicker added, of the final VA deal: "Obviously, he agreed to some things that in a vacuum would have been abhorrent to him—choice, going outside the system with a voucher. … And of course what Senator Sanders got in return was more VA facilities, which in and of itself [is] not a bad result for anybody."… …"Clearly if you want to get anything done, you have to work with members of Congress and you have to work with members of both political parties," Sanders said. "I have done that and as president, I certainly would do that. But that's kind of what you have to do—no ifs, buts or maybes." Asked about his personal relationships with other members, Sanders presented his typical gruffness. "Do I have a personal relationships? Well of course I do; I've known some of these people for 20, 30 years. So of course I do. … If the question is, do I have good friends who are in the United States Senate, then yes. I do."

…that Sanders may not just like to be able to work with and through congress, he actually might be able craft or influence legislation that might pass to law, rather than perpetuating the dysfunctional governance perceptions of most of the electorate.

via International Skeptics Forum http://ift.tt/1ODuiQo