As a civil rights champion, Bernie should fight tooth & nail for Obama's eventual nominee

[Empowerer]

Replacing Justice Scalia with a justice who will uphold and protect civil rights is absolutely critical to continuing progress and prevent further entrenchment on civil rights in this country. From the mid-1950s through the late 1980s, the U.S. Supreme Court has been the bulwark (albeit an imperfect one), protecting minorities and women from the worst elements in the country. With the stacking of the Court with Reagan and Bush I and II appointees, the Court has dangerously tilted rightward and has begun dismantling many of the hard-fought gains of the last half century. Republicans' threatened obstructionism on this nomination is partly a continuation of the efforts to undermine, diminish and demean our black President. But it is also intended to protect the Court's pendulum from swinging leftward and a desperate attempt to push the Court further right

As a member of the body responsible for advising and consenting to the President's nomination and a major national political figure with a huge bully pulpit, Bernie Sanders can play an important role in helping the President advance his nomination and help ensure the confirmation of a justice who will protect the civil rights of minorities, women, LGBT, low-income, immigrants and others. He can really make a difference that will last generations.

[HooptieWagon]

1. ?

What makes you think Sanders wouldn't support and vote for Obamas nominee? He did the others.

[Empowerer]

2. Voting and fighting for are two different things

Every Senator has a vote. Sanders is in a position to do much more. That's what's meant by being a "champion" or "fighting" for civil rights.

[PoliticAverse]

8. The senators really "in a position to do more" are the ones on the Senate Judiciary Committee...

http://www.judiciary.senate.gov/about/members

[Empowerer]

10. The Members of the Committee have a lot of power. But so do other Senators. And Bernie is one of the

highest profiles of all of the Senators and can have a huge influence.

For example, he could encourage his supporters in the states represented by Senators on the Committee to call and write and visit their Senators and push them to hold a hearing and to vote the nominee out of Committee. Just a few words from him could have a tremendous impact. He and his supporters talk about how they're going to force the Congress to do the near impossible if he becomes President. Why not start now, especially given how incredibly important this is?

[PoliticAverse]

13. So could Hillary Clinton as although not a current senator she seems to have a few followers...

some even claim she has more than Sanders.

[Empowerer]

87. That's not true.

Other Senators, especially influential, high profile ones, exercise tremendous influence over members of other committees. And certainly Bernie can unleash his troops to pressure those committee members.

Are you saying that Bernie Sanders has no clout in the Senate?

[Bluenorthwest]

84. I'm not all that convinced that making the nominee into candidate fodder really serves the

confirmation of the nominee. That's a large assumption. It could harm the objective by making opposition to the nominee a proxy to opposition of the candidate or candidates doing the 'championing'.
If I was either candidate and I approved of the nominee I would certainly support the nominee in the best possible way. As a sitting Senator those actions are the actions of a Senator and those go without saying. But to be blunt as candidate I would want to hear from the WH prior to making the nominee my issues to carry. Not from anyone but the President, who in fact carries the actual duty of shepherding his nominee through the Senate. I would not care what the supporters of my rival thought about it because they are not on my side and my rival is not the President of the United States.

[tularetom]

108. What do you mean "fight"? Obama won't fight for his own nominee why should Sanders?

Thats the silliest thing I've ever read. Obama isn't the type of person who "fights" for anything. He will put up the blandest, most inoffensive nominee he can find, hoping that the senate will approve him/her. Of course they won't, so he'll find somebody even more mushy and moderate. And the process will go on and on until the election finally puts an end to it.

Of course Sanders will support whoever the president nominates. "Fighting" for that nominee is the president's job. If he won't do it, thats hardly Sen. Sander's fault.

[krawhitham]

129. What are you after, you want him to suspend his campaign and fight for Obama's eventual nominee?

I bet he will fight more for nominee than Hillary, but he an election to win so it will not get 100% of his attention

[beam me up scottie]

3. Don't you see what they're doing?

If Obama fails to get his nominee appointed it will be Bernie's fault.

[Art_from_Ark]

5. The bottom of their barrel is looking pretty slimy

[beam me up scottie]

7. It's filthy.

But is anyone really surprised?

[Alittleliberal]

67. It's been like this from day 1

This shit has been slimy since the first call of there's no black people in that crowd, in Burlington... it's horrifying watching the tarnishing of one of the greatest fighters for the people in modern politics.

[fried eggs]

9. Conspiracies aside, Bernie needs to FIGHT. He is still a senator.

This is a big deal. The chance to have a liberal leaning supreme court! For once, I want to see Sanders lead and fight and accomplish something extraordinary! Are you saying "No he can't!" What's the problem?

[beam me up scottie]

12. Knock it off, go peddle that shtick somewhere else.

No one's buying what you're selling.

[fried eggs]

16. You don't care about the supreme court. I do.

There's a big difference between us.

[beam me up scottie]

18. Don't tell me what I do and don't care about just because I won't jump through hoops for you.

If you cared so much you'd actually be doing something instead of ranting away at Bernie supporters on DU.

[cui bono]

51. Go fry some bacon to go with your eggs.

What right do you have to tell beamer she doesn't care about the Supreme Court. She cares about everything a lot more than most people on here. You didn't even care enough about the Supreme Court to capitalize it.

Don't forget the hash browns.

.

[lasttrip]

104. he's busy

[treestar]

19. funny that Bernie can't do it

and has to leave it to Obama. Yet the Revolution is supposed to fire up The People, so why wouldn't they make sure Bernie has a good SCOTUS? It's a chance for Bernie to prove that he can get everyone on his side to the point it will affect a Republican Congress.

[beam me up scottie]

20. How much was that straw? I do hope the manure wasn't extra.

REVOLUTION ARGLE BARGLE!!!

[treestar]

21. you are proving that you are desperate to avoid the question

your post has no substance

[beam me up scottie]

24. I don't respond to strawmen and the meme du jour.

Like I said, go peddle it elsewhere.

[treestar]

27. LOL

no substance there either.

[beam me up scottie]

33. What did you expect when all you offer is nasty digs and stale memes?

You recycle the same garbage day in and day out and you really wonder why we mock you?

Seriously?

[treestar]

120. you are not succeeding in mocking me when you don't answer the question

but you've admitting you'd rather mock other posters rather than answer the issues they raised and use the intellectual rigor required. That's why you have no substance. Your mean girl shit doesn't mean squat except that you don't have the intellectual ability to deal with the issue. They aren't nasty digs and stale memes, you just want to call them that because you have no answers. You seem to think a label is all it takes.

You talk about me, not about why Bernie can't get a satisfactory Supreme court justice. Because you know it is bullshit, the revolution is bullshit, Bernie's going to lose, and you'll spend the next 8 years complaining about the rigged corporate status quo oligarchs.

[beam me up scottie]

121. I don't need to succeed, your posts speak for themselves.

All you do is regurgitate talking points you read here and you stick with them long after everyone else abandons them.

Like you defense of Kissinger, you didn't know anything about him and even after we pointed out his long and bloody history you still took offense at him being called a war criminal. Because he was never tried and convicted.

You want to be taken seriously?

Do your homework, don't repeat stale memes and debunked talking points.

[treestar]

123. you saying it does not make it so

you have been challenged with a question which it is obvious you can't answer so you double down on irrelevancy. The question has been repeated over and over and BSers deflect and deflect with every logical fallacy possible.

[beam me up scottie]

124. The question is ridiculous, the meme is stale and it doesn't deserve a response.

The op is being disingenuous at best since all she does is insult Bernie and his supporters 24/7. She implies he should be able to force Senate members to confirm an as yet unknown nominee and if he can't his " revolution" is bogus and it'll be proof that he's a failure.

In short it's bullshit served up with a cherry on top and we're not eating it, so deal with it.

Go play these games somewhere else.

[earthshine]

64. What do you want him to do?

The Bernie revolution is something that will happen in slow motion over the next few election cycles. No one from the Bernie camp says anything about radical change in the near term.

And this will still be vastly faster and more significant than any kind of change Hillary will bring.

Bernie says he will build on Obama's policies. To say otherwise is a lie.

As for the SCOTUS, Bernie isn't president yet. This is Obama's fight to lead, and hopefully he's got the stones for it.

[treestar]

118. Bernie has been running against Obama from what I'v heard

and slow motion over cycles will never make his supporters happy. If so, they'd still be behind President Obama and they'd be OK with Hillary rather than being so anti-Hillary they look more anti-Hillary than pro-Bernie.

I don't get why the revolutionaries won't help Obama get something Bernie needs. You'll let Obama, who you imply has no stones, go on his merry way without harnessing the power of the revolution. Not Bernie's job. Well that person is going to likely be on the court all of Bernie's term. What are they waiting for? Get the People to Rise up and demand the Republicans confirm a true revolutionary, like you are going to do in 2017 for free college and the minimum wage.

It makes no sense to just let Obama do it!

[earthshine]

131. Barack is the captain of the ship. He has to lead us now.

Nothing is stopping him from reaching out to Bernie, or for that matter us.

Immediately after he was elected in 2008, Obama's direction of change was going in the wrong direction. People saw this by 2010 and abandoned the Democratic Party at the voting booth. Not me. But I understand why others did.

I put our losses in 2010 squarely on his shoulders.

He was recently quoted -- in his eighth presidential year -- as saying that one of his major regrets is that he didn't compromise with Republicans more. Mind numbing to a liberal progressive.

I am so done with the third-way!

I have become anti-Hillary and pro-Bernie, and the two notions are largely separate.

Have a cup of TPP with a bowl of chained CPI. Tastes great when they shove it down our throats.

[PyaarRevolution]

71. No one here is saying...

We'll be against Obama's nominee for the court and I don't appreciate your insinuation.

Oh and I hate to burst anyone's bubble but a more Liberal SCOTUS will not reverse the "Citizens United" decision as I imagine the Koch Brothers with threaten any Supreme Court Justices family who looks like they will do so.

[treestar]

119. Who said that? But surely Obama's nominee won't be very revolutionary

and will likely be some corporatist. The power that is surging Bernie into office must already be in place, so why not make it know to the R Senator's now? And get someone more progressive than Obama is said to be. I assumed when Bernie is the new Messiah it's because Obama was disappointing and not good enough. Now suddenly it seems he's as good as Bernie! If he's as good as Bernie, why is the minimum wage not $15 and why is there no single payer?

[Omaha Steve]

94. Jury results

I love #5.

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Incredibly rude post, telling another DU'er to go elsewhere has never been okay here. This poster is way out of line telling people that they can't post here. If the DU'er shouldn't be here, kick it up to admin.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Tue Feb 16, 2016, 08:18 AM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Stupidest alert ever.
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: This post alone isn't so bad but the poster's behavior overall in the thread is ridiculous.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: This was an alert? There is a lot worse that has been left alone by juries. It is GD-P.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I take back what I've said earlier. This is the most ridiculous Alert I've ever been called upon to jury.

The alerting DUer should be forced to wear a funny hat for not less than 96 hours due to the raw silliness of this alert.

Leave it. By all means, LEAVE IT!
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Ahh...the smell of the cesspool known ad GD
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: There is nothing wrong with this post. Don't waste my time! And don't dish it out if you can't take it!

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[beam me up scottie]

115. So do I!

[opiate69]

96. Survey says.......

[div class="excerpt"
8:18 AM
Automated Message
AUTOMATED MESSAGE: Results of your Jury Service
On Tue Feb 16, 2016, 08:09 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

Knock it off, go peddle that shtick somewhere else.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1245503

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Incredibly rude post, telling another DU'er to go elsewhere has never been okay here. This poster is way out of line telling people that they can't post here. If the DU'er shouldn't be here, kick it up to admin.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Tue Feb 16, 2016, 08:18 AM, and the Jury voted 1-6 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Stupidest alert ever.
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: This post alone isn't so bad but the poster's behavior overall in the thread is ridiculous.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: This was an alert? There is a lot worse that has been left alone by juries. It is GD-P.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: I take back what I've said earlier. This is the most ridiculous Alert I've ever been called upon to jury.

The alerting DUer should be forced to wear a funny hat for not less than 96 hours due to the raw silliness of this alert.

Leave it. By all means, LEAVE IT!
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Ahh...the smell of the cesspool known ad GD
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: There is nothing wrong with this post. Don't waste my time! And don't dish it out if you can't take it!

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.]

[beam me up scottie]

116. Thanks, good jury!

[jillan]

100. He is NOT on the Senate Judiciary Committee!! It is up to them to decide

who makes it out of committee! Then it is brought to the Senate floor for a vote.

Did you not take Government 101 in school?

[treestar]

122. But he's leading the Revolution!

What, the rigged system is OK now?

[HooptieWagon]

11. I slipped up and took them serious for a moment. My bad.

I'll try in future to give the proper amount of ridicule.

[beam me up scottie]

14. It happens, I've fallen for it a few times myself.

They can be very convincing.

[Punkingal]

80. Yes, and this seems to be today's talking point. It's ludicrous.

[MuseRider]

83. It is also getting

very deep.

Since when has a nominee for the primary season been expected to do everything they are posting about? He gets in for almost all of the votes AFAIK and he is campaigning.

DU is getting very boring with all the nonsense and smelly with all the slime.

[Eric J in MN]

4. Yes, he should. So should Hillary Clinton. NT

NT

[Empowerer]

6. Yes, she definitely should.

But as a member of the Senate, which has the responsibility for acting on the nomination, he has a heightened responsibility.

[JonLeibowitz]

28. To advise on and consent to the president's nomination, yes, that is his responsibility.

[Empowerer]

30. Being a civil rights champion requires more than just casting a vote when McConnell lets him . . .

.

[JonLeibowitz]

34. Indeed. I am proud to support him as he raises important issues in this primary contest.

[Empowerer]

38. "Raises issues" isn't fighting ...

[Fumesucker]

15. Yes! Bernie should suspend his campaign to fight for Obama's nominee... Who is it?

[Empowerer]

17. Who said anything about suspending his campaign?

[Fumesucker]

23. How can Sanders effectively focus on the SCOTUS while running a campaign?

[Empowerer]

25. This should be PART of his campaign - fighting for civil rights and forcing change is exactly what

he's been campaigning on.

And now he's too busy to do it?

You do know that being President is a full-time job that involves more than shaking up Wall Street and passing Single Payer. Do you think he cannot effectively do any of those things because he'll be too busy running the country?

[Fumesucker]

31. No, he should suspend his campaign and focus on the important thing

Making you happy.

[Empowerer]

36. Civil rights is "the important thing making me happy?"

Got it.

Please keep that in mind the next time anyone tries to convince us that Bernie Sanders is a great and fearless champion of civil rights . . .

[Fumesucker]

39. It doesn't matter what he does as long as he's running you will not be happy

You have made that clear, suspending his campaign is the only thing that will satisfy you.

[Empowerer]

41. I have no interest in him suspending his campaign. I want him to USE his campaign to actually fight

the fight he claims he's been fighting for the last 50 years.

But these posts make clear that much of his supporters' claims are crap. You're not interested in him fighting for civil rights as evidenced by the fact that, now that there's a clear opportunity to do it and make it an integral part of his campaign, you all are making every excuse in the book for him not to do it. And it's clear that you see civil rights as a distraction, something that makes some people "happy" but isn't important enough for your candidate to expend any energy and capital on

True colors, indeed...

[Fumesucker]

47. The court is more liberal now than it was a week ago, there is no rush

There is no Constitutionally set number of judges, in fact the SCOTUS has had both more and fewer members over the years.

Personally I'd rather wait for Bernie to get elected and nominate a liberal candidate.

[Empowerer]

49. Actually, there is a rush

The Court's work is at a standstill.

Not to mention, we already HAVE a Democratic president who has a year left in his term and has the constitutional obligation to nominate a judge.

And since you have no guarantee that Bernie will be elected, waiting is stupid. You're saying that Bernie should not help President Obama get his nominee through because HE wants to be able to pick his own person if he's elected president? So, this really IS about Bernie ...

Gotcha.

[Fumesucker]

56. The Republicans have promised to block Obama's nominee, they've been consistent about such things

And everyone is agreed the Republican clown car doesn't have a chance of getting elected, I read it right here on DU.

So either Clinton or Sanders will be the next President and can make a nomination. I'm convinced that will be Sanders, you are convinced it will be Clinton, in either case we win, yes?

[Empowerer]

59. I'm not convinced it will be anyone in particular

Any election can go any way on any given day, so you will never see me make a prediction.

You don't take those kinds of chances in politics. We have a Democratic president NOW. He has the opportunity to nominate someone NOW. We should run with that NOW, not hold out of the possibility of an outcome that is not guaranteed.

It's also important that Sanders and the other Senators stand up and fight for their president who is being treated as a less than by the Republican Senate, not just because he's a Democrat, but because he is black. They cannot let this stand and Bernie needs to speak out about it.

[earthshine]

66. What exactly do you want Bernie to do?

This is nonsense. Do you think Obama is so weak, he can't stand up for himself?

Did you notice the ferocity with which he fought for the TPP? He's got big balls when he wants to use them. He's quite capable of shaming, even humiliating Republicans. He has done so in the past, at least in his second term.

Obama's problem is that he generally starts negotiations from within the enemy camp -- that he sees himself as a man with policies akin to a 1980s Republican. These are his own words.

I'm sure Bernie will do whatever he can to assist Obama in getting a judge appointed.

[Empowerer]

68. Bernie fought hard against TPP - this time, he should stand WITH his president and

those who will be most deeply affected by the Supreme Court.

[earthshine]

117. Are you implying that you are for the TPP?

This conversation ends!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

73. If you don't think they'll work to block Sanders and Clinton's nominee, you're sadly mistaken.

The level of disrespect we expect from Republicans.

President Obama is STILL president. He has an obligation to send a nominee forward. The Senate has an obligation to give consent or not.

Stop disrespecting this president! That's one of the reasons why your candidate cannot do better among black voters.

[Empowerer]

107. And, apparently, to some BS supporters, Obama's nominee must pass Sanders' litmus test before

Sanders will join the President's fight to get them confirmed.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

110. Yeah, I saw that. Unreal.

[cui bono]

65. Why are you not calling on Hillary to do this? n/t

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

72. Uh...he's still a member of the Senate who will be back in Congress this week, if I'm not

mistaken.

We'd crucify Republicans for thinking as you do.

Sanders STILL is a member of the Senate. If he simply wants to run for president, he ought to resign his seat and do that solely.

[AgingAmerican]

22. This meme has been beaten to death

And none have links, thus it is an order from above.

As always, HRC is not held to the same demands/standards. Same shit, different day.

It's the endless harping on non issues like this one that drive people AWAY from HRC.

[Empowerer]

26. These responses are fascinating and very revealing .

We have been hearing for months about what a fighter for civil rights Bernie Sanders is and how he's going to launch a revolution to force Congress to pass legislation that seems to be impossible. And whenever anyone suggests that such a promise is unreasonable, we're told that we're the "No we can't" crowd and that Bernie will not be stymied just because something seems hard.

Yet in response to the suggestion that he fight for civil rights today by using his position as a Senator and major national political figure to call out his troops to force the Senate to confirm Obama's eventual nominee and all I'm getting back are excuses for why he can't do it - he's too busy, it's not his job, it's someone else's responsibility ... and what about HILLARY?!

Talk about changing tunes in the middle of the song ...

[Ken Burch]

37. You know perfectly well Bernie will fight for that.

But he can't fight for anything by pulling back on his primary campaigns.

If Bernie were to get out of the race(which is what I think you really want here), HRC would stop sounding progressive on anything but choice and MAYBE LGBTQ rights(she wouldn't be anti-racist anymore). She'd go back to Bill's '96 platform on everything else. Probably start posing with bleachers full of mainly-white cops again.

[Empowerer]

40. This doesn't require him to get out of the race - this is what he's running on - it should be part

of his race.

How hard is it to tell his people to get on the phone, write letters and visit their Senators? How hard is it to add this to his stump speech? How hard is it for him to include discussions about this in his town halls?

Y'all keep telling us what a champion of civil rights he is, how he has been fighting for civil rights his whole life. I have repeatedly asked what he has done to fight for civil rights when it involved him doing more than just casting a vote or giving a speech and have gotten little but crickets and more harangues about "Bernie has been fighting for civil rights his entire life!"

Here's a great chance for Bernie to actually fight for something - and fights are easy, they involve some sacrifice, but this would not require much sacrifice, in fact, it would help his campaign because it goes to the very essence of what he says he's all about and what he's going to do if elected president And what do we get, "That's too hard," "It's too much of a sacrifice." "It's someone else's responsibility.'

If he's supposed to be such a fighter, why not fight for this?

[NCTraveler]

81. Different rules for Obama. Always have been. It's crap.

They know what the right thing to do is but would rather play games with it. I am horrified at those willing to state they want to have Sanders appoint the nominee if he wins the election. Truly horrifying thought and a real slam on Obama. It's clear who is aligning with their thoughts on this. It's not democrats.

[Empowerer]

85. Exactly

They keep saying tbe revolution isn't about Bernie while making it abundantly clear that it's really ONLY about Bernie.

[Ken Burch]

29. Why do you think he wouldn't do that?

It's not as though there has ever been any reason for you to think he wouldn't, after all.

[Empowerer]

32. I assumed he would ... until I read the posts here giving excuses for why he can't

[oasis]

45. To demonstrate a small sample of his leadership is to much to ask???

What are we to think now after months of buildup?

[Empowerer]

53. He's too busy, it's not his job, Hillary should do it, the President didn't ask nice enough

He'll do it later, it's not important enough . . .

I guess that Civil Rights Champion of the Last 50 Years award is a bit premature . . .

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

74. The man is still a U.S. Senator. The president is still Barack Obama. But for Sanders' fans

that doesn't matter. It is more important for Sanders to run for office than to do his job in the U.S. Senate.

Again, if Republicans gave that line, we Democrats would be all over it.

Ridiculous!

[Perogie]

35. wow, your post is

[Autumn]

42. You do know that Hillary has a lot of clout with ALL her endorsements. She should get right on that.

Cause it's important and all that stuff.

[Empowerer]

44. But, but but HILLARY

Deflection.

[Autumn]

48. She's a strong woman, she can get it done. Don't ever doubt your chosen candidate.

[Empowerer]

50. So Bernie, the Great Civil Rights Champion will duck this civil rights fight and let Hillary do it

Got you.

[Autumn]

52. When and if Obama nominates someone and if it's a good pick Bernie will do what needs to be done.

[Empowerer]

55. Now was that so hard?

jeez . . .

[Live and Learn]

43. I am sure he will if the candidate is good. Why wouldn't he? nt

[Empowerer]

46. I hope he will

[PatrickforO]

54. And so he will. We already have seen video of Bernie thundering about it.

I don't think you need to worry. Bernie, Warren and others in the Senate will be all over that, and maybe this will be Bernie's opportunity to get this giant machine of supporters he's grown to flex our public pressure muscle and force the result.

[Empowerer]

57. I hope so - because thundering is good, but it will take much more than that

[PatrickforO]

61. That's my point. It will take massive public pressure brought by us in support of Bernie and at his

request. This is the political revolution he keeps talking about.

[dragonfly301]

58. i'm having deja vu

how many OP's on this exact same topic are there?

[ALBliberal]

62. Has to be the most cynical post today in a sea of cynicism. Sad that supporting a candidate leads to

this twisted dialog. Tell me Empowerer how this helps elect Hillary? You might want to spend more time figuring out how Hillary (with your assistance) can aid Presiident Obama with the SC nomination rather than trying to play "gotcha" on a message board. Why aren't you rallying Clinton supporters? Why spend your valuable time in this negative vein? Sad. I can't believe I am taking the time to reply. Not bothering with it anymore.

[HassleCat]

63. Jumping the gun

We're assuming the president will nominate someone with a good civil rights record, but there's a small chance that might not happen. Let's see who it is before we commit ourselves.

[Gothmog]

69. Is Sanders revolution is real, then he needs to prove it

If Sanders has some how mobilized millions and millions of voters who will be able to force the GOP to (1) adopt a $15 per hour minimum wage, (ii) a single payer health care system and (iii) increase taxes on the 1%, then it should be a simple matter for Sanders to get President Obama's nominee approved.

If the Sanders revolution is not up to this simple task, then how will the Sanders revolution accomplish anything if Sander is elected?

[Bluenorthwest]

86. Simple tasks like getting that public option through? Or simple tasks like 'no individual mandate'?

The standard you apply to Bernie makes mincemeat out of any and all who hold office. I heard much chit chat about ending wars that are still sort of chugging on as well. Simple task. Tisk tisk.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

70. No thanks. President can pick his own nominee with his advisers just fine. Not directed at you,

Empowerer, but I tire of the notion that black people are too stupid to do anything for ourselves. We must need the help of white people to make decisions about anything, or get anything done.

The president will be fine choosing who he wants to nominate. I'd be happy to see Bernie Sanders vote to confirm that nominee without bashing the president as he usually does.

[Empowerer]

75. There's a lot of work that has to done between the President picking a nominee and the Senate voting

Sanders needs to join the fight to get the nominee a hearing, build support among the Senators, overcome a filibuster, get a floor vote and enough votes for confirmation.

It's not enough that he just wait until McConnell tells him he's allowed to vote and then cast one of 100 votes. He presents himself as - and his supporters keep reminding us that he is - a great civil rights champion who fights fiercely for what is right, even when it's hard and success is not certain.

This has nothing to do with black people abdicating our responsibility. One of the things we will do is to fight like hell, in coordination with supportive Senators, to push the nomination through the Senate. We need partners in this effort. But we're not in the Senate, Bernie is. And one of his duties - especially given his stated commitment to fighting for civil rights - is to fight with us to get President Obama's nominee confirmed.

This will be one of the most important civil rights fights we will face in the coming years. He should use his position as a Senator and major national political figure to help fight this fight.

It's certainly more important and meaningful than endorsing a black presidential candidate ...

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

79. Oh, I see what you're suggesting. AFTER the president chooses a nominee, Senate Democrats,

including Bernie Sanders who is STILL a U.S. Senator, should fight like hell to ensure that there's a confirmation hearing and a proper vote. I'm with you.

And if Republicans are recalcitrant in their duties, Bernie should use the campaign trail to talk about how HE is fighting back against that recalcitrance and what HE did in the Senate to mobilize his fellow senators to get the confirmation process going.

The president will be hindered, of course. But rather than bash him, I'd like to see Bernie once and for all educate American voters about the political process and teach them how Republican obstructionism has hurt this president over and over again.

Hell, if it works, tell the people that he'll face obstructionism as well. They need to vote and vote Democratic.

[Empowerer]

88. I KNEW you'd get it

[Arazi]

76. Agree. Black people should be leading the charge for a pro civil rights justice

I do agree with Empowerer however that if President Obama selects a left leaning candidate, then the Sanders supporters should jump into the effort to help get that person confirmed.

I would

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

77. Whoever the nominee is, I hope Sanders and his supporters will support that nominee, and,

again, stop bashing this president. Not only is it a horrible strategy during the primary, should Sanders become the nominee, he'll have to answer why he's helping the Republican nominee by running away from Obama's record.

[Arazi]

82. double plus agree. I really like and respect President Obama

I've said it before and I'm happy to reiterate it.

I guess I don't see Sanders "running away" from Obama's record as taking his message of "hope and change " to the next level

[99Forever]

78. Of all the ridiculous crap you've posted...

...this utterly nonsensical steaming pile beats them all.


Congratulations.

[hobbit709]

89. Yep, the poo flinging is hitting epic proportions.

[99Forever]

92. Poo flinging is about all this one ever does.

Apparently the desperation has caused this one to go completely off the rails.

[beam me up scottie]

125. ^^^THIS^^^

[oasis]

90. He would make quite an impression by actually "walking the walk".

C'mon, let the GOP "feel the Bern".

[SheenaR]

91. Better than talking the talk

[oasis]

101. Trading in your "Feel the Bern" button in for this: "WWHD"?

What Would Hillary Do?

[SheenaR]

102. I would not make that trade

even if I was offered to speak at Goldman Sachs

[oasis]

103. Bernie's faced with his first test of leadership on the national stage.

Let's see how he handles it.

[SheenaR]

105. Was the Iraq War Vote not on the National Stage?

He passed that test.

[oasis]

106. Your idea of "Leadership" today is a "vote" taken years ago.

Allllrighty then.

[Bobbie Jo]

93. Absolutely right.

Besides, I want to see this miracle worker in action.

[oasis]

112. "The Most Inspirational Candidate" needs to get on it.

He missed his chance to lead with the Flint water crisis. Not to many opportunities left to prove his much talked about leadership skills.

[AgingAmerican]

95. But Hillary shouldn't?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

97. Does Bernie know who the nominee is?

[jillan]

98. Bernie is NOT on the Senate Judiciary Committee. You do understand how that works?

[Empowerer]

111. I know exactly how this works. Do you?

The power to influence and push nominations is not the exclusive province of the Judiciary Committee. Other senators and their constituents. - and their armies of revolutionaries - also wield enormous influence.

Funny thing - Bernie isn't on the Senate Finance Committe, the committee of jurisdiction over TPP, but that didn't stop him from waging a vigorous fight over the measue. Apparently HE knows how this works better than you do ...

[Waiting For Everyman]

99. Tell him to ask us.

He doesn't need Bernie to reach us.

[thereismore]

109. Both he and Hillary should. Are you suggesting he might not? Based on? nt

[LexVegas]

113. Big Banks! Wall Street! nt

[oasis]

114. Citizens United is a product of Scalia's SCOTUS. Bernie could

take the lead in the reversal process.

[Bohemianwriter]

126. Obama must nominate one first...

Personally, I hope he sticks it to GOP and nominate former Scalia clerc Lawrence Lessig...

Then, not only Bernie, but every single voter should contact their senators and threaten them with a pink slip and/or calls for impeachment if they don't fall in line and approve Obama's nominee.
That's how a modern revolution is working.

Does the law allow for a partisan congress to block all judicial nominees a president is sending to the Senate by the way?

[senz]

127. Does the Hill campaign hand out little goal posts made of legos?

I can see you're proud of yours.

Nifty!

[bettyellen]

128. As should Hillary. Both are important voices right now. (Well as soon as nominee is named)

[Exilednight]

130. How about we wait and see who Obama nominates?

Odds are that Obama will elect a moderate this far into his second term, and I can't blame him.

It's the only way Obama can possibly get a nominee thru that isn't a conservative.