Bernie backers rage over Calif. Democratic Party chair race

[workinclasszero]

Bernie backers rage over Calif. Democratic Party chair race
Audit underway after accusations of ballot stuffing, floor protests.
By Carla Marinucci 5/22/2017 10:27 PM EDT Updated 05/23/2017 08:32 AM EDT

SAN FRANCISCO — Supporters of the losing candidate in a bitterly disputed election to serve as chair of the California Democratic Party say they’ll begin a detailed audit of the votes on Tuesday.

The move comes after protests, allegations of ballot stuffing and bitter disputes after votes at a weekend party convention.

Longtime party operative Eric Bauman won the chairmanship of the California Democratic Party over the weekend — but his victory was marred by complaints of ballot-stuffing and floor protests. Backers of the Kimberly Ellis, a favorite of the “Berniecrat,” activist wing of the party — say efforts to scrutinize the votes will begin immediately.

Some Democratic insiders are already worried the dispute has potential to do long-term damage, creating a rift in the state party as it heads into crucial 2018 elections, where as many as nine GOP House seats could be at stake in California.

“This is our Tea Party moment,’’ said one leading Democratic strategist. “And it’s not going away.”

http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/22/california-democrats-bernie-sanders-238701

[PatrickforO]

1. LOL, can't ignore the progressive wing of the party any more.

Nope, nope, nope.

[nycbos]

6. So if someone who supports Bernie doesn't win it must be rigged?

[BlueCaliDem]

7. What makes you believe they've ever been Democrats to begin with?

Or Progressives, for that matter?

Dollars to donuts, you look at their political history and you'll find they *might* have been Dems long ago but have switched over to Green Party or some other fringe Party during 2000.

The problem is, they don't appear to realize that they're *strengthening* the Republican Party in a Democratic stronghold. It appears it wasn't enough for them to defeat a Democrat last year in the most crucial presidential election since 2000 (SCOTUS, 'member?), but now they want to weaken the Democratic Party in California, as well, with what result? Letting an always unified Republican Party to take over?

Time for REAL Democrats (LOVE Ted Lieu!) to come out and expose these faux-Dems for who they really are--poor-sport interlopers--and to treat them as such.

[PatrickforO]

10. Sorry. I'm a fervent Bernie supporter and a registered Dem.

I have never voted Green or Socialist or any other third party.

I just want my taxes that I pay in to this government, that is supposed to be of, by and for me, the people, to be used for programs that actually make my life better - like Medicare for all Americans, free (tax funded) tuition at state schools as an investment in our children and grandchildren, expanded Social Security, and a set of reasonable, life-saving regulations to mitigate the worst abuses of corporations.

In short, I liked Bernie's platform, and was pleased when my populist wing of the party rose up and began to do battle for the things we should have been battling for all along.

The primary is over, and no, I'm not refighting that. All I'm saying is the Dems as they have been have lost 32 governorships, 33 state legislatures, the entire federal government, and God knows how many school boards, city councils and county governments. So, you know, the party has clearly been doing something wrong.

Americans are STARVED for a real populist message, and I'll remind you that a majority of Americans are FOR every single position on that platform that became the Party's platform after Bernie lost the primary.

We need to retake the moral high ground from the Republicans because they are not moral. We need to learn to talk about kitchen table issues in ways that people (especially independent voters) hear.

I don't know the people in this election, but if the one side is demanding a recount and it's ugly, I've been around long enough to know that there just might be some problems.

[BlueCaliDem]

12. No need to apologize. It just baffles me that a registered Dem supports Bernie who is NOT a Dem.

As a Democrat, I've done my due diligence and researched Sanders' background...and found him sorely lacking. Then again, I'm a PoC so I might have a different view than you on what I look for in politicians before I step back to review the whole political picture.

Fact remains, this continuous infighting started and kept alive by so-called 'Berniecrats' - now in my Democratic State - does nothing for the causes Bernie supporters want, but it sure does help Republicans gain footing - just as they hope for.

I stick with the KISS-method: Keep It Simple, Stupid, and subscribe to the "if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem". So in order to have any chance of those issues you've noted to come to fruition, you don't attack Democrats who are your best chance of getting them through. You attack the problem, i.e. Republicans.

[SunSeeker]

13. Well said.

[BlueCaliDem]

2. Ugh! Those Leftists (most aren't even and have never been Democrats) are the reason we have

Trump and GOP dominating every single branch of Gov't, and why we're fighting for our lives to keep what little health care we have, among other social programs.

And have these Purists learned their lesson from November 2016?

Fuck no. Onward! They'll keep attacking Democrats until Republicans win ALL State governorships and legislatures!!

[nycbos]

5. Of course they haven't learned.

We must throw women, people of color, LGBT people under the bus so we can make working class might men with their "ecomonic anxiety." Didn't you get the memo?

[BlueCaliDem]

9. Wouldn't it be refreshing if they started actually going after REPUBLICANS instead of Dems?

Aw man, in addition to actually being constructive, it would be productive, as well.

And WISE.

[nycbos]

11. That would actually require some effort.

So that wouldn't be an option for these people.

[Me.]

3. Same Story, Different Day

[nycbos]

4. Bernie supporters show up at a bar...

... run up a huge tab, then they drunkly start a bar fight when other people refuse to pay for them.

[BlueCaliDem]

8. This pretty much sums it up for those Regressives.

Perfect analogy.