As a Bernie supporter I (unsurprisingly) have real problems with this piece. First off, I agree that Bernie faces formidable challenges in a general election. Anyone who doesn’t grasp that is daydreaming or selectively reading. But my problem here is that the author frames Bernie’s policy positions like a tendentiously designed poll: in the most leading and answer-begging light. For example, every Democratic candidate supports “decriminalizing” the border to a greater or lesser degree, insofar as not jailing people for trying to cross but sending them back or giving them a court appearance ticket (such as in pleas for asylum). Healthcare, etc., is going to be a point of huge contention no matter who runs, and the policy outcome will be one of give and take. Regarding the “insane” part of the equation — must we? Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush were the “sane” choices on either side. Bernie is probably the only candidate who can muster enthusiasm in fundraising, online, and on the ground to match Trump’s. Enthusiasm is difficult for pollsters to measure; it’s subjective, it drives people out of bed early in the morning, it makes them give $4 at midnight. Bernie and Yang are arguably the only ones who have it. Once in a while we have to do more than just eat our vegetables as defined by commentators.