"Sanders Needs to Talk Down His Supporters and Explain That Nothing Is Being ‘Stolen’"

[bloom]

By Ed Kilgore

"Veteran Nevada political reporter Jon Ralston watched it all and came away convinced the Sanders campaign had deliberately fed supporters spurious grievances over the rules in order to rationalize what was actually a fair-and-square Clinton victory in organizing for the event, which after all, simply confirmed Clinton's earlier win in the February caucuses....

One thing is largely indisputable: Bernie Sanders himself could help clear the air by informing his supporters that while there are many things about the Democratic nomination process that ought to be changed, no one has "stolen" the nomination from him or from them. Perhaps a thousand small things gave Hillary Clinton an "unfair" advantage in this contest, but they were mostly baked into the cake, not contrived to throw cold water on the Bern. And the best step Sanders' supporters could take to promote their long-term interests in the Democratic Party would be to get a grip before they wind up helping Donald Trump win the presidency. And Bernie Sanders himself has a responsibility to talk his devoted followers off the ledge."

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/05/sanders-needs-to-talk-down-his-supporters.html#

[Ed Suspicious]

2. Why would Bernie lie to us?

That isn't going to help.

[bloom]

7. Are you new to politics?

People get carried away. His campaign folks get caught up the race. They go overboard. It happens.

Some people around here seem to think that 'Bernie' above politics. He is a politician.

His supporters would do well to listen to people outside his campaign sometimes.

[Waiting For Everyman]

13. Like Barby Boxer, Reid, and DWS.

No thanks.

We form our own opinions, we don't follow people.

[seabeyond]

3. Reason would have been appropriate from day one, but that is not how he got his voter. I do not

expect reason from Sanders, I have learned, ever. It is hot anger, chip on the shoulder, everyone else is picking on me, mentality.

That attitude has caused quite a lot of unreasonable problems we have to now mop up, which pisses me off. The tantrum throwing shit up against the wall, then the perpetrator leaves the mess for all of us to clean up.

[DURHAM D]

4. This is what happens when one doesn't get enough love as a child.

I wish he would of had a successful singing career because then we would not be dealing with his issues.

[seabeyond]

8. Well, you know that B of an old teacher (there are many) and the mother causing all the problems

in a childs life..... ya. Exactly.

[timmymoff]

9. you haven't been dealing with the issues of the American people

that is why he is so popular.

[riversedge]

5. And it obvious Sanders has instilled that mentality into many of his fans.

[seabeyond]

10. Did he attract the same, they validate each other, or helped to create. Nature or nurture. Lol. Nt

[JackRiddler]

6. "Veteran reporter Jon Ralston..." Thanks for the LOL.

Has he apologized and corrected himself for the non-existent thrown chairs in the plural?

[winter is coming]

11. Yeah, that was a gem, as was the implication that since the system wasn't

rigged against Bernie in particular, it wasn't rigged at all.

[Waiting For Everyman]

12. Or maybe the media should report the facts for a change.

Starting from a bullshit premise only results in a lot of drivel. That's what most writers and pundits are pumping out in truck loads. Instead of telling Sanders what he needs to do, based on that bullshit and drivel, maybe they should consider doing their own actual jobs properly.

I noticed one among a handful (Bill Press, Van Jones for two) who got at least some of it right was Carl Bernstein. He has seen this movie before too, as us boomers have, and he knows a thing or two about it...

Movie title, "The 1968 Democratic Party Convention & Election", and its sequel, "Watergate".

[Avalux]

14. Why? The evidence suggests otherwise and Ralston is a joke. n/t

[Trajan]

15. The big split

On one side, we have citizens yearning for a system that helps them succeed as human beings ...

The other side? ... Vote for my candidate, or the big bogey man is going to get you!

What is the most important message? ... Citizens get treated fairly?, or 'Here comes the Bogeyman!'?

I'll take Bernie Sanders ....

[blackspade]

16. More of this crap.

Jesus fuck, this narrative is schizophrenic.

Sanders supporters are either too independent and need to be reigned in or we are a cult being run over a cliff.
So which is it?

[Bonobo]

17. Yes, like Al Gore! Now there was a fighter! nt

[AgingAmerican]

18. The NV party got caught cheating

That's what happened.

[Sheepshank]

19. nope he won't do anything so magnanimous

he thinks his Revolution can only become a reality if his followers are fed a line of bull crap that en flames them and makes them so angry they won't even listen to the facts. It suits Bernie's purpose to play the victim of unfair and rigged policies. It's all the justification his followers need to react in an uncivilized manner.

[TheSarcastinator]

20. Holy Crap, Team Hillary is Terrified!

This must be hell for Team Inevitable: I mean, the nomination is so close Her Majesty can taste it on her tongue, and then to have some uppity Jew Socialist come along and point out her long history of failure and corruption must just be infuriating!

[SheenaR]

21. He is not going to say that

It would be a blatant lie.

I am not saying he would necessarily be in the lead, but there have been a ridiculous number of voter irregularities, a number of huge exit poll discrepancies (silvershadow post that picture again!) and yet on the other side nothing of the sort.

There has been some funny business this cycle. Some call that stealing.