The OP stated, “In terms of proposed policy, there are is no meaningful difference between them” and then produced a table with nothing about policy. My response (which you responded to), listed clear and large policy differences between Warren and Bernie.

You have not refuted my position. No, you don’t need to. But since you chose to post a criticism of my comment, if in two comments you don’t post anything proving my position incorrect, then a) my position looks stronger than yours and b) one questions what the purpose of your comments was.

Yes, I did, and I demonstrated the flaw in your reasoning.

No, you didn’t. Repeating you did something does not make it true.

As I write now for the third time, the best place to start a negotiation is from a hard position, e.g. “My way or the highway.” I used the example of Obama and healthcare, where Obama weakened his position massively by giving concesssions mulitple times before a bill was presented to congress.

Sanders is facing opposition which calls him, “a communist,” someone who wants to, “burn down the entire system,” someone who wants to, “take healthcare away from 160 million people.” All demonstrably untrue. The opposite side is offering nothing. No concessions. Zero. For Sanders to give ground before actual negotiations start (bills being negotiated) when the opposition is offering nothing would only show weakness. The opposition would then be twice as emboldened to offer nothing, because they have already gotten concessions before the bill is on the table. This is what they have done very successfully many times.

Bernie has negotiated a huge number of amendments to bills over the decades by starting from “my way or the highway” and compromising only after the press posturing has completed (where we are now).

Bernie got Jeff Bezos and Disney to give their workers $15/hr just by proposing legislation. He said, “my way or the highway” and 290,000 workers got a raise to $15/hr. That is how you start a negotiation. Bernie did that as a Senator. He will have a much more leverage as president.

Here endeth the lesson.

Chris 0: Jack 3

Thanks for playing. Better luck next time. We have some parting gifts for you, including a home version of the game.