Nixon vs Sanders

Gore Vidal once wrote, “We are Nixon; he is us” Donald Trump has been compared to him a lot but Bernie Sanders has always reminded me a lot of Richard Nixon. I believe Sanders has both a fascination and a great similarity with the late President that seems to spring from a much deeper affinity. He would bristle to hear it, but among American Politicians, I think he’s by far the most Nixonian. If you put the two men side by side just as they are both living men today it’s remarkable how much they share in common. Both are ruthless battlers known for their willingness to play hardball and estrange themselves from others. Both take crticism very badly, rejecting it like Dikembe Mutumbo rejected basketballs. Neither use criticism to improve themselves just to lash out at revenge against anyone who makes it. Both have a streak of making something that was bad even worse. Both seek admiration while never returning the same to anyone else. Both are combative and argumentative just for combative and argumentative sake. Both are fueled by a high-octane blend of ambition and idealism. Both think themselves good soldiers willing to lead with their chin and both have unabashed anger and contempt for “The Establishment” and both have a control-freak suspicion of the press that verges on hysteria. Most telling perhaps, both are longtime insiders who forever feel like unappreciated outsiders: Just as Nixon always thought himself as an outcast, even after being re-elected President by a crushing margin, so Bernie talks of being a “pariah” with 31 years as a senator in Washington with two failed presidential runs if only two renamed post offices perched on his mantel. Both men claimed that their lost Presidential elections were rigged and stolen by The Democrats. Both have a hatred toward who they both call the “The Democrat Establishment Elites” or “The Liberal Political Machine” They both connect Democrats to almost all of their hatreds for anything that they hate. They both hate The Ivy League and Wall Street and The Banks and who they refer to as “The Money Men” Neither man had any idea or plan to remedy any of these hatreds with actually tangible political policy. Both are very hypocrtitical men who can dish out criticisms and insults and accusations and engage in political mudslinging, but should anyone feel the need to give a little of the same medicine back in their direction they both come off like they are as innocent as Christ on the Cross and victims who don’t have to take a bit of it. Both implored their own versions of the southern strategy both chose to pander to the white working class voters of the country while decrying "identity politics" and ignoring issues that face people of color. Both have anger issues and can fly off the handle at any moment. Both have stale and sexist 1950’s ideas about women and the family unit. There is one profound difference between the two men. Nixon didn’t dare show his real self and Sanders is free to act out his most reckless impulses. He wears his unstableness and his affinity for chaos like a flashy 18 carat BVLGARI necklace.