Wash Post: Will Bernie Sanders burn it all down?; Devine surfaced long enough to throw some gas on

[riversedge]

The ball is in Bernie's court--so far he has misfired.


Tweet:

DemocraticWhore @word_34
@AlGiordano Tad Devine surfaced long enough to throw some more gas on the fire

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2016/05/18/will-bernie-sanders-burn-it-all-down/?postshare=881463594590321&tid=ss_tw



Will Bernie Sanders burn it all down?


By Greg Sargent May 18 at 1:58 PM

Bern, baby, bern. (Associated Press, File)

A fundamental question about the endgame of the Democratic primaries is this: If and when Hillary Clinton finishes with more pledged delegates and popular votes, and wins the nomination with super-delegate support, will Bernie Sanders do what is necessary to persuade his supporters that the outcome was legitimate?

The answer could help determine whether Sanders’s supporters get energized behind Clinton against Donald Trump — and, possibly, whether they will continue to be engaged in politics or become disillusioned with what they have come to believe is a hopelessly rigged and corrupt system.

In an interview with me today, top Sanders adviser Tad Devine — while stressing that Sanders would support the eventual nominee — demurred on the broader question of whether he would, in the end, do everything necessary to persuade his supporters of the legitimacy of the process.

At the same time, in a separate interview, a top supporter of Sanders — Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon — bluntly told me that if Sanders finishes behind in pledged delegates and the popular vote, he should not continue to try to win over super-delegates, and should concede rather than take the battle to the convention.

I asked Devine: If Clinton wins the nomination after all the votes have been cast, will Sanders issue an unequivocal declaration that the outcome was legitimate?

“We’re still involved in this process, so it’s hard for me to declare what’s going to happen at the end,” Devine said. “As we look forward, there are a lot of issues of deep concern.”...............

[yallerdawg]

1. It is becoming clear...

Sanders will oppose Trump but will return to Vermont and his independent status as soon as Hillary is nominated at the convention.

I'd expect a concession and a return to Vermont and independent status. Nothing more.

[sarae]

11. I agree

I can't imagine him lifting a finger to help the Dems in November at this point, despite all the half-hearted, weak promises he's made. And maybe that's best, because I don't see him making a convincing surrogate for Clinton after all the shit he's said; he'd probably do more harm than good.

[BobbyDrake]

2. In addition to the end of the primary, another thing I'm looking forward to is finding out just how

much money has been donated directly to Tad Devine.

Don't mind his obvious sour grapes. His gravy train is approaching its last stop. It's understandable that he's peeved not to be able to cash in on a general election too.

Tha, and he's now 0-for-5 in presidential campaigns. That's gotta burn...

[Stellar]

3. The 2008 Democratic Primary Was Far Nastier Than 2016’s

Clinton had not surrendered at this point eight years ago—and the party still came together at the convention.

The Nation

The 2008 Democratic Primary Was Far Nastier Than 2016’s

Still, the New York senator suspended her campaign only after the last primary in June that year. She dropped her bid to win over superdelegates—she trailed Obama in pledged delegates by 100, but essentially tied him in the popular vote, and he needed superdelegates to get him over the threshold for the nomination. But there was even a little drama at the Denver convention in August: Team Obama wanted him nominated by acclamation; some of Team Clinton wanted a roll-call vote, to reflect her “18 million cracks” in the glass ceiling of presidential politics. In a compromise, Clinton herself, standing with the New York delegation she’d won, nominated Obama by acclamation. We know how the story ends: The man Clinton once argued was a doomed candidate won two terms as president.

ETA: And this is still May, 2016

[Thinkingabout]

6. Still believing "established Democrats are Republicans?

This is the Hillary group, please do not come here to disparage Hillary or her supporters.

[Stellar]

7. You're absolutely right....

So sorry.

[Thinkingabout]

8. I have been a Democrat all of my life, I do not share your opinion.

[Stellar]

10. Can we be Friends anyway? nt

[Thinkingabout]

12. We can be friends but please do not disparage Hillary or her supporters in her group.

[Stellar]

14. I did apologize for that already. eom

[TwilightZone]

4. Here's the thing: he can't burn it down.

As he continues on this path, all but his most fervent supporters will leave, and when everyone who has any position of influence in the party rallies behind Clinton after June 7th, all eyes shift to November.

It doesn't matter what he does, really. The people who have decided based on conspiracy theories and Facebook memes that Hillary is the devil aren't about to change their minds, even if Sanders rallies behind Hillary. That ship has sailed.

[MADem]

5. Tad wants a few more million for himself, send that "poutrage" cash in, kids!!!

He wants everyone to get all riled and upset and angry, so they'll open up their wallets and send in those hot-breathed $27 donations, so he can get his cut.

I think he is doing everything he can to drag the process out, to keep the donations coming, to enrich himself, personally. I don't think Tad cares about Bernie, about winning, about anything like that. His "brand is crisis" -- he's all about the money.

He's not new to this game--he has managed to lose elections for Jimmy Carter, for Mike Dukakis, for John Kerry--why people keep hiring that con man, I've no idea. He is the WORST representative of his supposed clients that I've ever seen. If anything his brand is LOSING...and making money off it like mad.

[BlueCaliDem]

13. Devine's "crisis is our brand" should've warned Sanders to not hire him. Tad is to Sanders what Mark

Penn was to Hillary Clinton in 2008 - professional losers in it to enrich themselves and for no other reason.

[Cha]

9. Just now you're getting your 5th REC?! this is great.. thank you, Rivers!