Psst....Bernie....Listen to this:

[MineralMan]

"The Pope is leaving this building at 6 AM to head for Lesbos. If you're down in the foyer, you might have a chance to say 'Hello.' I can't guarantee that you'll meet him, but you might want to schedule a wake-up call. Just saying...

Don't tell anyone I told you this. "

Could have happened. Bernie was staying in the same building where the Pope has his apartment. It's a sort of hotel there that is used for traveling dignitaries, and the pope set up his living quarters in it, instead of living in the official apartment for the Pope.

Something like that, I suppose, happened.

I got to meet Bill Gates that way one time in Las Vegas, at Comdex. The meeting lasted just about the same length of time as Bernie's meeting with the Pope. Was I stalking him? No. But, I knew he'd be there at that time.

[FreakinDJ]

1. Pure speculation

#7439 of the reasons Frothing at the Mouth Hillary Supporters don't have valid arguments against Sanders

[MineralMan]

5. You know what? It's all speculation, isn't it?

[FreakinDJ]

9. Truthfully it is an Artful Smear

But "Truthfulness" doesn't cross the minds of Hillary Supporters all too often as seen by Hillary's Negativity Rankings

[jmg257]

12. Of course. After ALL the speculation how he wouldn't go, he wouldn't speak, he wouldnt

meet the Pope.

Its Hilllarious, but getting tiring and a bit anal really.

[uponit7771]

104. Pope Francis: "..I greeted him, I shook his hand and nothing more..." direct quote not speculation

[creon]

52. projection

It is you -
It is you who is frothing at the mouth.

You hate Clinton far more than you "love" sanders

[polly7]

2. So bitter and condescending. nt.

[Octafish]

6. Revelatory.

"A conservative government is an organized hypocrisy." -- Benjamin Disraeli

[creon]

55. irrelevant and immaterial

Go tell the GOP that

[Octafish]

80. I do.

Go through my Journals on DU3 and DU2 and learn how.

[creon]

116. Interesting.

And informative.

[jmg257]

3. He didnt meet the Pope he didnt meet the Pope he didnt meet the Pope.

Don't forget to click those heels!

[The Old Lie]

4. Psst Mineralman, Your Pope obsession

is already telling, and the butthurt is there.

[whatchamacallit]

7. Patheticus Maximus

[DemocracyDirect]

8. Are you suggesting that God was speaking to Bernie Sanders in a whisper voice?

Wow that is profound.

[riversedge]

34. well, Perhaps.--the Lord works in mysterious ways

[MineralMan]

103. What God? I don't believe that any such entities even exist.

So, no. Not God.

[DemocracyDirect]

105. So who is doing the whisper in your OP?

Were you there at the vatican?

Or is this just your imagination.

Bernie's entourage and the Pope's entourage are all guided by your inner voice?

[MineralMan]

108. Most likely one of the people involved with inviting him

to that conference. That would be my guess. That would make sense, I think.

[DemocracyDirect]

110. So what?

Every time I went to Rome I wanted to see the Pope.

Usually through the window over the Piazza.

If I was there in the Pope's residence with my entourage it would seem quite likely I would run into the Pope's entourage if we were both there at the same time.

What is wrong with that? Are you a Hillary supporter? Are you upset?

[MineralMan]

112. So nothing. People have been speculating about

the brief meeting between the Pope and Bernie Sanders. I proposed one of the ways that might have occurred.

Nothing wrong with it at all. I didn't imply that there was. I just proposed one possibility about the meeting.

The response has been very interesting.

Am I a "Hillary supporter?" Yes, I am. I'm also a Democrat who will vote for the Democratic nominee, whoever that turns out to be. I hope it's Hillary Clinton, but I'll gladly support Senator Sanders if he gets the nomination. I've posted that here dozens of times.

[DetroitSocialist83]

10. Do Hillary supporter EVER

Discuss her stances on the issues? I mean, really. Get a life. This isn't helping your candidate.

[QC]

13. It's far too dangerous to discuss her positions on issues,

since they can, and do, change on a moment's notice.

Express support for her position on an issue today and you could end up contradicting her tomorrow. Most embarrassing.

Far safer just to throw poo.

[riversedge]

36. Chuckle. We see lots of speculation from RW sites about emails from Sanders fans. No issues. just

SMEARS

[Fuddnik]

19. She doesn't have any stances.

Just an obsession.

Electile Dysfunction.

[riversedge]

39. Your post is rude and Crude! Shame on you.

[ismnotwasm]

86. If that's supposed to be some sort of Haiku

The form is all wrong.

[Bonobo]

11. LOL, the man who claimed he was for Sanders until supporters turned him off.

The false, shucksiness, the aphorisms -they are as old and stale as coprolite.

[TheCowsCameHome]

14. This is ripping you H'bots up inside, isn't it?

Please proceed..........it's just beautiful.

[QC]

21. The last few weeks have been very traumatic. n/t

[creon]

57. Too funny

It is you who hates Clinton.
It is you who is "ripped up inside"

[TheCowsCameHome]

93. Not I, my friend

you guys really can't deal with the Vatican thing, can you?

[creon]

117. lol

too funny

[creon]

118. lol

Gotcha!!
lol

[noamnety]

15. Some days I miss the unrec button. nt

[MineralMan]

26. Oh, me, too. Yes.

[Sky Masterson]

16. Or it could be that the pope wanted to thank him for his trip.

Also, How does a person with secret service detail ambush a person with their own security detail?
I think this "What if" is asinine and I still can't believe it infuriates the Clintonistas so bad.
Is this supposed to move votes or something?

Did you know that Obama used a Teleprompter!
This negates the fact that he is an awesome Orator and inspired people.
Did you know that Bernie was invited to speak at the Vatican and shook the Popes hand.
It must be because he ambushed him, wasn't even going to speak, invited himself.

Surely you have to concede your own prejudice on this.

[Avalux]

17. I honestly do not understand the obsession with exactly what went down.

For all you know, so that it WOULDN'T be viewed as a political stunt, the greeting was arranged; Bernie was told where to be at a certain time and the Pope knew he'd be there. The Pope may have even requested Bernie be there so he could say hello. No cameras allowed (decided ahead of time).

There have been so many threads on this by Hillary supporters who are so far into the conspiracy weeds - parsing each word said by the Pope and Bernie; even surmising what could and couldn't have been said during a 5 minute (or was it a one minute?) handshake.

Hillary Inc.'s hysteria over Bernie's Vatican visit is pathological.

[MineralMan]

25. It could have gone that way, too. We don't know, do we?

It could also have gone the way I described. Again, we don't know.

[PufPuf23]

40. So why bother to make something up with a negative spin and post at DU? eom

[MineralMan]

42. What negative spin? I don't care whether or how Bernie met

the Pope. It doesn't matter to me. It's a big topic of conversation here in GD , though, so I thought I'd offer one way it could have happened. Nothing negative about it. Good for Bernie. I'd try to encounter the Pope too and get a handshake if I were in any position to do so. It's fun to meet important people. Great memories.

[TheCowsCameHome]

48. You should read what OP'er said.

Oh, wait......

[PufPuf23]

51. You cannot see the negative spin?

That takes a stretch to believe MM.

[sammythecat]

96. Your post is just a sneaky implication

that you thought was clever. Surprised you didn't add a "just sayin'"

"It doesn't matter to me." Bullshit. If it doesn't matter to you, a reasonable and thoughtful man such as yourself surely would know of other things useful or helpful to do.

[MineralMan]

101. Yes, I do know some useful things to do.

Yesterday, I was a delegate at our DFL Party state senate district convention. Today, I just came in from cutting down, trimming, and stacking four large, 24' high saplings from my back yard. After that, I tuned up and test ran my lawnmower for the season and put the snowblower in storage mode at the back of my garage.

Before I posted this morning, I cleaned the cats' litterboxes, laundered sheets an towels and remade the bed. Later on, I'll make dinner for my wife and I.

Even so, I have time to check into DU and even post a few things. Amazing, isn't it?

[Fuddnik]

18. What a crock.

[daleanime]

20. This is really sad for you.....

[MineralMan]

23. I'm not sad at all.

In fact, yesterday I had the great pleasure of being a delegate at our state senate district DFL convention, where we endorsed three outstanding state legislators for this year's election. I enjoyed meeting those reps and chatting with them. I also shook hands with Betty McCollum, our house representative, the Attorney General of the state of MN, Lori Swanson, and the mayor of our fine city of St. Paul.

We had a fine turnout of delegates from the precinct I chair, with 5 of them attending their first convention ever. All five are Sanders supporters, but we didn't get into any discussion of the presidential election, since we had other important business to do.

So, it's a very good day. I'm looking forward to seeing the results of the NY primaries, too. I'm a happy guy this morning.

[Hiraeth]

50. We are sad FOR you. We understand this OBSESSION is PATHOLOGICAL. These are Terms used

in the psychiatric field and, as such, are the reasons why the Pope advised to seek help.

Your meds. They need adjusting.

It is SAD to watch you all do this to yourselves.

[MineralMan]

58. No need to be sad for me.

I take no psychiatric medications, nor have I ever done so. It's insulting and bordering on a personal attack to imply that I need such medications or such treatment.

I doubt seriously that you are qualified to diagnose psychiatric illnesses at a distance. Truly. You're certainly wrong in my case.

[Hiraeth]

62. It is called EMPATHY. I don't know whether you need anything or not. That would be for a DOCTOR

to decide. However, I do recognize pathological obsession when I see it. This OP is an example of it.

[MineralMan]

66. Again, you are in no way qualified to diagnose anyone of

anything as far as I know. If you have professional credentials in that field, you'd know that it is impossible to diagnose anyone without a personal assessment of that person. If you have such credentials, you can tell us about them. If not, I suggest that you refrain from making such diagnoses of people on DU.

At this point, I will discontinue participating in this subthread.

[Hiraeth]

70. I have an opinion based on my medical background. I am not a layperson. I still say YOUR

OBSESSION with this topic borders on PATHOLOGICAL and is UNHEALTHY.

It is like tunnel vision. It does not allow you to see the forest for the trees.

[MineralMan]

72. Funny stuff.

Uff da!

(and, yes, I did return to the subthread...)

[Hiraeth]

76. It is funny stuff. Very funny in a sad sort of way.

One could almost say pathetic

[ismnotwasm]

77. Don't worry

I have an extensive "medical background" too-- being a badass Registered Nurse, you are fine, my friend. Assuming, of course, you accept random opinions on the Internet from people who don't know you whatsoever as valid, as I'm sure you don't

[MineralMan]

87. Oh, I pay no attention to online diagnoses of anyone.

There are plenty of people trying to do that, and lots of nonsense coming from it. I know my own situation, and mental illness is not part of it. I'm old. I have high blood pressure that is well-controlled and have smoked all of my life, which will probably end up being the cause of whatever kills me one day. So far, I'm doing fine, and my mental state is as stable as ever.

I find it amusing that people attempt to imply that anyone has a psychiatric disorder based on online postings in a political forum. It reveals a lot about the people who do that, I think.

[ismnotwasm]

98. I've played with the idea on occasion myself

Given how often I'm wrong on relatively simple things such as the gender of a poster, much less a couple of epic fails on what I thought was the basic character of a poster, I quit doing it. More or less.

[Bluenorthwest]

22. For clarity, the definition of the word 'Gossip':

1. Casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true.

[MineralMan]

24. We all seem to be doing a lot of that stuff lately, don't we?

[Bluenorthwest]

73. No not all of us do that.

Your response was again a bit of gossip "Casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people, typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true" would include claims that 'we all' are engaged in some behavior that is actually the purview of a few. This is particularly true of course when such a claim is made without any sort of confirmation or supporting evidence.

[MineralMan]

111. That's true. Others do other things.

We're a diverse group of people on DU. I doubt any of us do things exactly like anyone else on the site. Some people post OPs; others almost never do. Some people are very active, while others post even replies only rarely. In many ways, each DUer acts independently from other DUers.

I've noticed that a lot on DU. I've also noticed some DUers' regular patterns. It's an interesting place to participate in political discussions, I think. Lots of variety.

[kstewart33]

30. By your definition, Bernie's been doing a lot of gossip lately. nt

[Bluenorthwest]

75. First, that's the dictionary's definition not mine. Second your comment here is also gossip.

You insinuate facts that are not in evidence. You gossip by saying 'Bernie does it too' while offering no evidence nor example. That's just gossip and it's gossip presented with prejudicial verbiage 'your definition' as if I'm making up the definition. What I am doing is using the definition to highlight the gossip on DU, such as the OP and your response to me.

[Jefferson23]

27. Disgusting speculative OP.

You're suppose to be a reasonable voice on DU? pfffft

[MineralMan]

28. People suppose all sorts of things.

I post as I choose, not as others expect me to post.

[Jefferson23]

31. No worries, you ended any doubt on the matter with this OP .n/t

[MineralMan]

35. Well, I'm glad things are clarified for you, anyhow.

Thanks for taking the time to reply to my post.

[kstewart33]

32. He is. He isn't a Berniebot or a Hillary supporter.

That's what makes his posts interesting.

[Jefferson23]

37. That is a fantasy, he just dispelled any doubt with his OP. n/t

[Kentonio]

43. Not a Hillary supporter? Sorry but that's ridiculous.

He initially claimed to be a Bernie supporter, then despite being supposedly a politics veteran claimed that Bernie's supporters made him change over to Hillary (something that is just so bizarre as to be laughable). Despite claiming he'll support either candidate in the general, he's been quite openly a Hillary supporter in the primary since.

[Autumn]

44. Of course he isn't a Berniebot or even a Hillbot. We know what he says about Bernie and we

also know what he says about Clinton elsewhere. It makes him something, I wouldn't say interesting though. More like predictable.

[kstewart33]

45. Autumn, I can't believe that MMan's posts are as predictable as yours. Or mine.

We're each promoting our candidate. Nothing wrong with that. But on this forum, a more balanced perspective like MMan's, is refreshing.

[Autumn]

46. You can call it balanced and refreshing if you want .

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251742444#post176

[kstewart33]

29. Good possibility, MMan.

Nothing wrong with that, really. Bernie went to a lot of $$$ and trouble to gain political points. But after details emerged of his "meeting" that were provided by the Pope, I think he gained but a few.

[MineralMan]

38. Hey, if I had been spending the night in the same

building as the Pope, I'd take a shot at meeting him in the foyer, too. I like meeting important people. I won't be traveling to Rome again, though, in my lifetime, I'm sure. I've never actually set foot in that city, but have transited in the airport there on trips between Istanbul and JFK. I sort of regret never visiting that historical city, but, you can't go everywhere you want.

[RazBerryBeret]

33. SO much speculation

for this event. Jeebus.
do you do this much research/speculation for everything involving Bernie? or is it just this particular incident that is causing so much butthurt? I seriously don't get it.

[enid602]

41. prune

Actually, Bernie had just woken up early, and was en route to the hotel bar for some prune juice.

[ismnotwasm]

47. What I actually think happened is

Sanders was certainly angling for a meeting--he had to, since he said there was going to be one, and yes, a handshake in a foyer, is a "meeting" of sorts -perhaps he misunderstood the nature of the invitation and/or the responsibilities of being the Pope-- I don't know. The Pope, who definitely does NOT want to be involved in American politics, understood Sanders was there and graciously agreed to the handshake as he was leaving. This is the most likely scenario to me.

What bothers me, and something I had not considered until this morning, was the deflection of attention from the purpose of the Pope's journey--The Syrian refugee crises---by what amount to a publicity stunt.

Sanders is getting very bad political advice, is what I've thought, and what I still think.

[MineralMan]

54. The Pope's trip to Lesbos got far, far more

attention on the news media than this brief meeting between the Pope and Sanders. I was gladdened to hear that the pope is bringing two refugee families to stay at the Vatican. It's great symbolism that should encourage more nations and people to welcome the Syrian refugees.

There's much about the Roman Catholic Church and its doctrine and dogma that I dislike intensely. Things like this are not among those. Credit where it is due should be given.

Bottom line: The Pope's trip to Lesbos is the important news, and was given priority by major media, as it should have been. My regular news viewing is broadcast network news, usually ABC and CBS. The Lesbos trip got top billing until the earthquake stories took the lead. Bernie's meeting with the Pope was a much less emphasized story, as it should have been.

[ismnotwasm]

67. You are right, of course.

I'm probably too wrapped up in primary news. Personally, I thought the whole thing was pretty funny, until I realized/paid attention too, what the Pope was actually doing, then--not so funny.

If the attention to the refugee crisis got the attention it deserved I'm satisfied, and will go back to being amused.

[MineralMan]

71. Yes, there was good coverage of the Pope's Lesbos

visit and his kind gesture. They had footage of the refugees who went to the Vatican and even interviews of their grateful response.

I sincerely hope that people follow his lead and are more accepting of those refugees. It is a humanitarian crisis. The other story is about a primary election in the US and a minor event in one candidate's campaign. Not important in any way, really.

[ismnotwasm]

74. I agree--here in the US there were the usual ignoraumouses

Arguing that the US shouldn't accept refugees because "terrorism". I plan to sponsor a family if I can, now I simply send money.

The Muslim=terrorists meme is incredibly cruel and stupid. I live in an area with a very high immigrant Muslim population. I don't think the clerk at the drug store is out to get me.

[MineralMan]

115. Islamophobia is a real thing here in Minnesota.

There have been some very bad incidents here. They happen on a daily basis to Muslims from many parts of the world who have chosen the Twin Cities as their home. Awful.

And yet, we have a Muslim congressional representative from Minneapolis. There are so many contradictory messages being broadcast in communities all across the US. It can be very unpleasant and even dangerous for followers of Islam here and elsewhere. I'm not sure what to do about that, except to try not to contribute to it. There are many Muslims in my neighborhood. We all get along perfectly well.

[beam me up scottie]

49. Awww, Camp Weathervane still has sadz about the meeting you said would NEVER happen?

[northernsouthern]

53. YOu may be more correct than you think.

The Reuters video of the Pope talking about Bernie was re-translated and the second half is way different than what was claimed.
It has me a bit worried.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511759245

[tonedevil]

65. The obsession is unbelievable

You're never going to give this up. Are you?

[JackInGreen]

56. Come on MM, you're better than this

I might not be but please don't tell me you aren't.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

59. You guys ended up looking pretty foolish over this foolishness.

[MineralMan]

61. Which guys? I'm an individual poster.

I'm not part of any group here, or anywhere else. I am a Democrat, and associate with Democrats, but that's about it. I'm a DUer, but have no personal relationship with any other DUer.

So, to which "guys" do you refer?

[DisgustipatedinCA]

63. I refer to the group of which you are a part. I won't be playing games with you today.

[creon]

60. It is not important

It means next to nothing.
No one in Rome votes for US president.

[MineralMan]

68. You are absolutely correct. Thanks.

It truly isn't important.

[Armstead]

64. Psssst...Mineral Man. get over it. It's trivia.

[MineralMan]

69. Indeed it is. It doesn't matter in any

way, really. There are several possible scenarios and we have no idea which one is actually correct, if any of them are.

I presented one possibility.

[Mike__M]

78. Haven't you thought

that the Pope chose to live where he does in the expectation that Bernie would come there someday, and he'd get to meet the future President that way? Just speculation, I know, but . . .

[MineralMan]

107. Actually, Pope Francis explained why he chose to live

in that hotel-like setting, rather than in the normal Papal apartment. He said that he needed to be around people and the restrictions on people coming to the traditional Pope's quarters made it too difficult for him to interact with others on a regular basis. So, he chose to live in that transient housing building.

He celebrates Mass most mornings in the chapel there, and I suppose that is attended by other people in residence there. I'm sure he also encounters others as he enters and leaves his quarters, since he has to pass through common areas. That is how he encountered Senator Sanders, apparently. Sanders knew when he was leaving for his trip to Lesbos and was there in a common area, it seems.

I provided one possible way he found out when to show up there. Good for him, really. His resourcefulness allowed him to greet the Pontiff and get a handshake. I might have done the same thing in that situation. Of course, I will never be staying in those lodgings.

Apparently, the Pope likes meeting and greeting people. He seems to do such things quite often, really.

[Iliyah]

79. And then the "corporate" media blasted it all over the airwaves and sites, et al.,

Jeffrey Sachs basically did not tell the truth of what really happened, just like, ummmm he was the one to get the invite for BS.

My gosh, and now they are basically saying that the Pope is not telling the truth, really?

[ismnotwasm]

82. What is being said as well

Is "it doesn't matter"

Pretty funny, given the threads from a day or so ago.

[DrDan]

81. wow - they sure are sensitive about this - hate seeing it still is of interest - concerned

more revelations will emerge

[CorkySt.Clair]

83. Berners will be begging to talk about this

After the next 2 Tuesday's. Not going to be pretty for the dandruffed one.

[NurseJackie]

84. BS&Co. continue to use misleading descriptions. IT WAS NOT A PRIVATE AUDIENCE.

He "met" the pope only in the sense that he snagged him in the foyer (at 6AM) as the Pope was leaving for Greece.

Bernie did not "meet with" the Pope. Such phrasing implies that he had an audience with the Pope. This simply did not happen, yet Bernie, his campaign, and his supporters continue to use misleading and inaccurate phrasing like that. WHY?

Bernie did not have a "private meeting" with the Pope. A "private meeting" is BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, and generally when a high-profile meeting like that occurs, there'll be PHOTOGRAPHERS in a formal RECEPTION ALL and perhaps an traditional giving or exchanging of gifts, mementos, or tokens of appreciation.

And an actual meeting will certainly last for longer than the duration of whatever niceties that can be blurted out during a handshake!

NONE of those things happened ... and still, Bernie, his campaign and his supporters continue to use misleading and accurate phrasing that gives the wrong impression of the exact nature of the "meeting". WHY?

From the very beginning, BS&Co have been cagey and less than forthcoming about the who's why's how's and very nature of the trip. FOR WHAT PURPOSE?

We've seen this type of behavior before in one of Bernie's early TV ads where he takes a flattering quote (about Bernie) that comes from an endorsement of Hillary ... then sandwiched-in that quote WITHIN a short list of others that have actually endorsed him ... THUS GIVING THE FALSE APPEARANCE that he was endorsed by that paper that didn't.

A clever trick, but misleading. That doesn't speak well for the character of a campaign of a man who takes such personal pride in such things. WHAT ARE WE TO MAKE OF THAT when we look at the evidence instead of the "words words words"?

I learned a lot about Bernie's Weekend with the Pope ... but the message I got isn't the one that Bernie and his campaign were trying to create. I wasn't fooled.

[BlindTiresias]

85. Formed entirely,

Wholly and purely from your rear end.

[MineralMan]

90. What could you possibly know about my "rear end?"

Are we well-acquainted?

[BlindTiresias]

92. Yep

[MineralMan]

99. So, you think we know each other well?

DU Mail me about how that is. Thanks.

[BlindTiresias]

100. .

[FlatBaroque]

88. My farts are more engaging, and less odious, than your OP's. /

[MineralMan]

91. How interesting.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

89. Yawn

zzzzz

[BlindTiresias]

94. This video summarizes this and every single MineralMan OP

[Recursion]

95. That's how I met Wozniak, FWIW

Though he's a whole different animal...

[Fawke Em]

102. Ugh

[DemocracyDirect]

106. The OP is hearing voices.

I thought he was serious.

But it's just voices in his head.

[berniepdx420]

109. Nice fantasy Mineral Man... did you know Bernie is a ninja... he ninjas his way right passed the

Swiss Guard. We have such important issues to tackle.. Why waste your time on such trivial things. It doesn't show well for your candidate.

[tabasco]

113. Maybe lies, innuendo and speculation are acceptable at Free Republic

but not here.

[MineralMan]

114. Innuendo, eh?

OK, then. I see.