$\"Bernie$ These are exciting times for those of us who reside in the dark blue bubble of the San Francisco Bay Area. Like the parents of teenagers, we\u2019re used to being ignored by presidential candidates unless we\u2019re being asked for money. But this time, our votes almost matter. That\u2019s an unfamiliar feeling.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re also unfamiliar with impassioned disagreements among hitherto like-minded friends and neighbors. Now we get to experience what the good citizens of Ohio routinely practice\u2014living peaceably through constructive persuasion alongside people who hold stupid and wrong<\/span> different beliefs.<\/p>\n

Take, for example, my Friday hiking buddies, who are Feeling the Bern. As for me, all I feel is heartburn at the prospect of any Republican in the White House.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, I\u2019m officially undecided,\u201d I said to my friends last fall. \u201cThe thing I care most about is electability. Persuade me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t give a damn about electability,\u201d responded Gary. \u201cI\u2019m tired of voting for the lesser of two evils!\u201d<\/p>\n

Then Gary decided to turn up the charm on his undecided prospect: \u201cOne thing I\u2019ve never liked about you,\u201d he railed at me, \u201cIs how willing you are to compromise your principles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reading my mind before I could\u00a0even open my mouth, Gary added for good measure, \u201cAnd I don\u2019t care about the Supreme Court!\u201d<\/p>\n

Like I said, this was a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. Justice Scalia was still alive. The presidential prospects of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders were widely viewed as DOA. But as\u00a0this crazy primary season has unfolded, all bets are off about who\u2019s the most electable.<\/p>\n

On most days, it seems like even I could beat Donald Trump. But given Hillary\u2019s earned and unearned negatives, Bernie, pointing to national polls, argues that he\u2019s the better candidate to prevail in the general election.<\/p>\n

I love Bernie. He has assumed the mantle of electoral politics that the Occupy movement unwisely shunned. I am grateful to him\u2014as I am to Occupy\u2014for articulating issues like economic injustice, and for making Hillary a better candidate. I ought to feel as Sharon did\u00a0when I first asked her if she was supporting Sanders: \u201cHe stands for everything I believe in? Why wouldn\u2019t I support him?\u201d<\/p>\n

George McGovern stood for everything I believed in back in 1972. I supported him with the fervor so many of my friends now feel for Bernie. Like them, I was convinced that our righteous cause would prevail. How could it not? I still remember the disbelief I felt, the tears I shed the day after Richard Nixon creamed him. Those who lived in the one state McGovern carried coped by affixing bumper stickers that said, \u201cDon\u2019t Blame Me: I\u2019m from Massachusetts.\u201d<\/p>\n

$\"Vote\"$ <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>

$\"Vote$ <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

So whether you\u2019re Ready for Hillary or Feeling the Bern, get out there and vote!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"