Bernie has won over 10 million votes, 21 contests and 1,499 pledged delegates

[morningfog]

He has had an impressive run and made the race competitive against the most monied and party-supported non-incumbent ever.

It is no small feat what he has done, considering he started polling at around 5% and was virtually unknown.

He deserves the respect of the Democratic Party, whose voters have been supporting him in large measure.

He isn't winning the race and won't win, unless something siesmic happens. But he is not Ron Paul, he is not Ralph Nader. Howard Dean even came no where near as close as Bernie has.

Respect it. Respect his supporters. Engage them and encourage them to stay involved. You will need them and you will need Bernie Sanders.

[seabeyond]

1. And Clinton has won the primary and will be our Democratic candidate for the GE.

[morningfog]

2. She has not won the primary yet.

And you intentionally missed my point. No surprise.

[seabeyond]

3. Yes. Clinton has won the primary.

[morningfog]

4. No. Perhaps you don't do math?

She has not clinched it. Bernie has not been mathematically eliminated and has not conceded.

If it were over she wouldn't have sunk time and money on Kentucky. Do the math. Take your time.

[seabeyond]

5. Lol.

[morningfog]

7. Here's the fact for you. Hillary has not and cannot secure

a majority of the pledged delegates prior to the CA vote, closing at 11 pm on June 7.

[upaloopa]

16. She has more than enough super delegates to win the nomination. Bernie does not. At the convention

there will be a floor vote of delegates. (I just might be one) and Hillary will have more than enough votes to win the nomination. They won't even get through all the states before that happens.

That is the reality. Anything else is just mind fucking.

[morningfog]

20. Slow down chap.

I said she has not secured a majority of the PDs and cannot before the CA polls close. That is a fact


That's all I said here and it is true. The race isn't over until that happens. In fact it will only be over then because I expect Bernie to concede once Hillary reaches 2,026 PDs.

If he does not concede at that point, it goes to the convention and the supers become relevant. The PD winner would end up being the nominee almost certainly.

[The Second Stone]

30. We don't need to slow down. We have beaten Sanders

and since he won't concede, we're going to gloat until he does. And if some of his supporters don't like that, all the better. His ass has been kicked.

The Team Sanders special effort to harass and intimidate the superdelegates really is the icing on the cake. Great plan. Can you feel the Bern of the superdelegates first being told they were undemocratic (the vast majority are elected) and then that the man who only joined the party last fall would be calling the party shots without any elections in the Democratic National Committee? Sanders is a special nutcake.

[morningfog]

35. And that's my point. His ass was not kicked.

You refuse to get it. Cool.

[The Second Stone]

40. Thoroughly kicked. Sanders refuses to add up the delegates. Clinton has

clinched it with the superdelegates, and the plan of intimidating them with hundreds of phone calls a day seals it. They will not switch to Sanders after this stunt.

It's called math, and it is cool. Sanders has lost, and now shows just how much of a loser he is with all the intimidation phone calls. What a creep.

I've never seen a bunch of bullies and whiners and losers whose asses have been so thoroughly kicked who refuse to recognize it. It is very, very satisfying. Mmmm, the salty taste of Bro tears. The Bros who demonized Clinton for the past year have tears that are tastier than Scott Tennorman's.

[morningfog]

44. She has not clinched by any measure.

She will, but she has not yet.

Jeb bush got his ass kicked. Carson for his ass kicked. O'Malley's ass was kicked.

Hillary won't clinch until the last real day of the primary. She did not kick Bernie's ass. She will have won, but his ass was not kicked.

[The Second Stone]

51. The openly supporting superdelegates put her over the top

in case that hasn't been noticed. Old fashioned math. 2,383 needed to win. Clinton has 2,293 and there are 939 still up for votes. Clinton will get just over half of those, there is no way she will not get 106 of them. That is clinched.

I truly would love to play poker with Sanders supporters. As we say in poker, there is 0% possibility that Sanders can win this pot, and the 100% possibility player knows it. And the 0% possibility player is too stubborn to acknowledge that he might be beaten. Let's see how much we can get him to bet.

[morningfog]

71. She is not over the top by any measure yet.

Regardless, super delegates are irrelevant. It's a race to secure the pledged delegates. The PD winner will be the nominee, you would agree.

It's a race to 2,026 pledged delegates and she won't get there till CA votes.

It's pointless to track to the 2,383 and include supers, but the result is essentially the same. Under that illogical measure, she won't get there until June 7 either, although it may be earlier in the night and before CA polls close. Either way, there will be no clinching until June 7.

Fwiw, this ain't poker.

[The Second Stone]

85. It's clinched, that's why some Sanders supporters are so unhinged these

past two weeks. The people that think that the superdelegates don't matter are ignoring the fact that they vote, and endorse, and they've split at least 10 to 1 for Hillary.

But go on being in denial. Reality sometimes sucks, so living in a fevered fantasy world is a good option for some people. Just ask President Romney.

[morningfog]

86. Lol.

She's going to be the nominee. But she hasn't clinched it yet.

You sound like a bot a regurgitating rote response and insults despite what it said.

[upaloopa]

54. The PD winner is Hillary. Bernie won't get 67% in any of the remaining states.

It will take time to accept I know but Bernie does not have a chance at the nomination.

And Hillary will not be indicted and delegates won't flip nor will any other scenario you come up with make Bernie the nominee.

That is reality.

[morningfog]

60. The PD leader is Hillary.

She will undoubtedly clinch it at 11 pm on June 7. Until then, she is the leader.

Who said anything about an indictment?

[Demsrule86]

74. Bernie can not catch her in delegates.

She could lose every contest and still be the nominee so yes she has won the nomination. She won't lose, though...and I think Bern might be surprised at how voters interpret his screaming speeches aimed at Clinton...heard several people say they voted for Hillary because of the way Bernie acted...on talk shows. He has become unpleasant.

[morningfog]

76. That's not accurate. It is still mathematically possible

for him to catch her in the pledged delegate race. It would only happen in the political reality if something drastic occurred.

The rest of your post is typical ill founded Bernie hate. He will likely win 3 or 4 of the 5 states voting on June 7.

[oberliner]

90. New Jersey has more delegates than all the other states voting on June 7 combined

Besides California, of course.

The number of states won can be a little misleading since some states have very small populations and others have very large populations.

Bernie has done well in states with tiny populations (Alaska, Vermont, Maine, etc), while Hillary has done well in the states with the largest populations (Texas, Florida, New York, etc).

[tandot]

25. I agree ... we don't do #berniemath

[morningfog]

27. Oh, so she has mathematically clinched it? Show your work, please.

[tandot]

53. Be honest

You don't believe anything but #Berniemath .... there are post after post on DU showing the actual math and all the BS supporters do is ignoring it or repeating some BS conspiracy theories ... go ahead and live in your alternate "reality"

[morningfog]

59. I don't even pay attention to whatever people call Bernie math.

I only do real math.

Mathematical possibilites and political possibilities are different things.

I can talk about either. But people look stupid when they say "math" but mean "political" reality.

Will Bernie win? I don't see how he can, politically.

Could he mathematically win? Yes, it is still mathematically possible. Until Hillary clinched a majority of the pledged delegates, which she can't until CA votes, she has not clinched or mathematically eliminated Bernie.

I also don't do conspiracy or alternate reality. You are out of line in accusing me of such.

[tandot]

63. I apologize

I guess I've seen too many posts saying that Clinton should give up because BS is winning. Politically, she will win and she should also integrate some of his ideas. However, he expresses contempt for the Democratic Party, which pisses off many democrats.

[riversedge]

6. when Sanders fans stop posting demeaning Hillary Posts.

I might start respecting them. respect has to be earned--not demanded like your OP

[morningfog]

10. Hilarious coming from one of the most egregious and demanding posters here.

Too fucking funny.

[upaloopa]

21. We Hillary supporters have already accepted the fact that we need Bernie supporters to vote for

Hillary.

It has always been the rule not to piss off the Bernie crowd even though we can give as well as we take.

On this board I expect the Hillary bashing to continue up until the point Skinner puts an end to it if he ever does.

So the calls for us to respect you will continue. But you get what you give.

We will have enough votes to elect Hillary without the DUer Bernie contingent. I hope you join in the fight against Trump.

But this Hillary supporter will not be begging for it.

[Ken Burch]

32. You can nominate her without us. You can't beat Trump without us.

There isn't any large group of people between HRC and Trump on the issues.

There are millions of progressives, though.

[upaloopa]

50. You don't speak for "us." You speak for you. Go ahead and don't vote. it won't matter

one bit. There will be enough votes to beat Trump. Though I hope you do vote for Hillary in the general.

[Ken Burch]

87. You need the activists and the idealists.

There aren't enough centrists to elect anyone to anything.

[840high]

29. Respect has to be earned - so true. Hillary

has not earned mine.

[senz]

49. If Hillary would stop engaging in demeaning behaviors

perhaps people would find it easier to respect her.

See, she has to earn it, too. She doesn't just get handed to her on a platter.

Doesn't work that way, riversedge.

[dchill]

57. Brock's Golden Rule: Do unto others...

Before they do it to you. Then blame them for it.

[UMTerp01]

8. I completely agree with all of this

Its so nice to see a sensible poster cuz lord knows both sides have some that are a little out there. Sanders will come up short but anyone trying to dismiss what he has done and how much of a challenge he's giving to Clinton is deluding themselves. It wasn't a fluke. His message clearly resonated with many people. I'm sure there will be an autopsy of sorts on his campaign once its done and many will say it was X or Y that ultimately cost him from winning but what he's done has been impressive. That can't be denied.

[morningfog]

14. I have no problem with hill fans calling for him

To drop or touting their to be victory. But when they say he's a nobody or did nothing, it just doesn't jive with reality.

[AmBlue]

9. Bernie is far from done.

And he will allow EVERY voter to have their chance to vote.

[DrDan]

13. (He's done)

[AmBlue]

18. Sorry

Neither Bernie nor his many supporters are done. In many ways, we are only just beginning what the party should have done a long time ago. If the party was smart it would embrace the Democrat who can actually beat Trump. To ignore this salient fact will be a huuuuuge mistake.

[DrDan]

89. The movement will be forgotten by Feb - a month after her inaugeration

[Flighty McFlight]

22. It's actually DLC that are done. It is their last hurrah.

We are just beginning, the seeds have been planted.

2020 will be an interesting year, if we survive it.

[840high]

31. +1

[DrDan]

88. I know . . . A revolution is coming

[Generic Brad]

78. He should remain in it through D.C.

He owes his supporters that. And he carries a powerful voice the DNC needs to acknowledge and hear. Many of his ideas need to be on the Democratic platform and fought for by the party.

We have to listen to one another and work together. I am uplifted tonight to see more voices from both campaigns toning it down a notch and acknowledging that. I know the verbal attacks are still being bandied back and forth, but I am getting the impression that there is a little more civility out there today than there was a few days ago.

[DrDan]

11. And is 2nd in all 3 categories

[morningfog]

15. Which is not the point of the OP.

I fully concede that. Even in the op, goddamn y'all go out of your way to miss the point.

So be it.

[silvershadow]

26. +1. nt

[timlot]

12. Bernie should be applauded for what he has accomplished, but respect...

is earned. Lately he and his supporters have been very disrespectful. I miss the old Bernie before the general election polls got to his head. Hopefully he'll understand it isn't all about him and that if he doesn't support Hillary in the general the American people will suffer if Trump wins.

[morningfog]

17. He hasn't changed one iota.

He's already said he will remain a Dem and support the Dem nominee.

[morningfog]

23. SOCK, You aren't fooling anyone.

Sow your divisive bullshit elsewhere. It's a big internet, try somewhere else.

[Fresh_Start]

24. He has accomplished a great deal

he has put the democratic leadership on notice
he has proven he can both raise money and even more important raise a voting bloc for changes in politics

My only very deep regret is that he paints everyone else as corrupt

The democratic party versus the GOP has always tried to be more concerned about the type of society we live in.
Yes, they have not always succeeded...and at times they were not pursuing the most kinder/gentler nation course

but they have always been markedly better than the GOP.
Ok...maybe not always...but at least since LBJ and the democratic leadership on civil rights.

[anotherproletariat]

28. We would be more impressed if he did the honorable thing and left while he stil has

any shred of his legacy left intact. He has lost. There is no "almost" or "maybe" anymore. Hillary can get absolutely NO votes in any of the non-California states, and just 25% of the vote in CA, and still win. He really, truly, is not going to win.

[morningfog]

34. Your math isn't correct. Under your scenario he would

Be the pledged delegate winner and enough supers would support him to take the nomination.

There is nothing dishonorable about playing out the race. There is only one more big voting day. Less than three weeks to go.

I think the pressure for him to drop comes from Hillary not wanting to be declared the presumptive nominee after a night of mostly losses.

[anotherproletariat]

37. I was waiting for that. Hillary needs less than 100 more votes total.

There is no way in hell that Sanders will get many super delegates. They are all party people. They are dedicated to, and dependent on the party for their very political lives. Even if Sanders had not spent the last few months disparaging them (and his supporters intimidating them), they would still support Hillary. The nail in Sanders coffin was calling out the DNC and saying that he would continue to attack Hillary.

Yes, it may seem rigged to you, but it is actually what happens in a party. People make commitments and know that in politics, their word means being able to continue to receive party support. It means funds for their next election. It means respect from the future president. They will not support Sanders. Sorry.

I agree with the official Democratic position. Let him stay until CA. He will then see what we have been saying all along. It's a hard reality, but reality nonetheless.

[morningfog]

39. Hillary needs 255 pledged delegates to clinch it.

She'll get them, but not until 11 pm on June 7.

[anotherproletariat]

42. You guys don't include super delegates, but most people (including the MSM) do. nt

[morningfog]

46. Simple question: should/will the pledged delegate winner be the nominee?

[anotherproletariat]

52. Yes, and she will be. But as the rules stand, we use super delegates. nt

[morningfog]

56. Good. Since we agree that the pledged delegate winner

should and will be the nominee, you agree the race is to secure the majority of the pledged delegates.

Hillary cannot do that until 11 pm on June 7. Until then, the race is not clinched or over.

[Demsrule86]

75. She does not...AP has it under 90

Bernie can't get enough to beat her.

[morningfog]

77. That's a silly count. It includes super delegates.

We all know the pledged delegate winner will be the nominee, agreed?

[Renew Deal]

33. I think you're right and that the people attacking you don't get what you're saying.

The only thing I would add is that respect has to go both ways. There are a lot of Clinton supporters with legitimate grudges too.

[morningfog]

36. Fair enough.

I don't disagree. There's bad blood going both ways. Thanks for getting my point without knee jerk disdain.

[SheenaR]

38. I would like to add a lesser talked about fact

That by the end of this campaign, only Obama and Hillary will have had more votes than Sanders during a primary campaign.

More than Kerry, Gore, Clinton, everyone.

Well written piece fog. I have been as guilty as anyone lately of flying off the handle at the lack of respect shown. We all need to display it moving forward. Both sides.

[morningfog]

41. Excellent point.

[Dem2]

43. He's done very well

[jamese777]

45. By The Numbers

Primaries' total popular vote as of May 18th
Hillary Clinton: 13,192,713 (55.5%)
Bernie Sanders: 10,158,889 (42.7%)
Donald Trump: 11,266,041

Clinton over Sanders: 3,033,824
Clinton over Trump: 1,926,672

Hillary Clinton: 1,771 pledged delegates
Bernie Sanders: 1,499 pledged delegates

Hillary Clinton: 504 superdelegates
Bernie Sanders: 42 superdelegates

Hillary Clinton: 2,275 total delegates
Bernie Sanders: 1,539 total delegates

Hillary Clinton: 26 contests won
Bernie Sanders: 21 contests won

[morningfog]

47. Yep. He's done amazingly well for a 74 year old socialist Jew from VT

against the Clinton machine.

[G_j]

48. K&R!

[dubyadiprecession]

55. We will give him a participant trophy at the convention..

BS won second place in a two candidate race. Outstanding!

[morningfog]

61. He did more than that, but you seem to be an abject Bernie hater.

That's cool, there are a lot of you here lately. You don't get it but it's fine.

[brush]

58. He needs to tone down the anger and the continued attacking of the party and Clinton.

He seems to get angrier as it becomes clearer that he has lost.

[morningfog]

62. His anger is righteous and unchanged.

You and your candidate can't hang for three weeks? Come on, aren't y'all stronger than that?

[brush]

64. We'll be here in 3 weeks. Sanders' opportunity to show grace in defeat might not be though . . .

if he keeps up his attacks.

And that won't bode well for him later back in the Senate.

[morningfog]

65. Yeah yeah. So you don't and won't respect him. Okay.

[brush]

66. That would depend on how he bows out. If he continues the attacks and keeps saying he can win . . .

nope, he will have lost my respect, and the respect of many, many others.

Count on it.

[morningfog]

68. And that's fine.

[shanti]

67. Wow

I see TWO responses.

[morningfog]

69. Lol! You aren't missing much.

[shanti]

70. Didn't think so.

[Demsrule86]

72. Yeah he fell short

And he would have respect if he stopped pretending he can win the nomination and helping Trump...right now he is heading for scorn.

[morningfog]

73. Oh look! Brain dribble.

[tom-servo]

79. I think you understate it ...

...a no-name, independent, democratic socialist raising money only from individual donors has won almost half the delegates in the democratic party against an opponent who is a household name, had the full support of the party and is placed to potentially be the first woman president. I would call that amazing and an indication that we live in a very different world.

[morningfog]

81. Indeed.

[Beacool]

80. The Democratic party is not disrespecting him.

It seems to be the other way around. The party is alarmed at his tone, particularly after the statement he released after the NV fiasco. The party is upset that if he doesn't tone it down, he will cause damage to the presumptive nominee. How does he expect to help bring his supporters into the fold when he is still railing at the nominating process and calling it rigged? It's the same process that has been in place for some years. The same process that helped to nominate Obama. If it didn't meet with his approval, then he should have not used the party to run for president.

Hillary worked very hard to help Obama, once the primaries were over. I doubt that Sanders will do the same for her and the party.

[morningfog]

83. He said he'll stay a Dem and support the nominee.

[asuhornets]

82. Do you respect Hillary Clinton and her supporters? n/t

[morningfog]

84. I have never dismissed her numbers as insignificant

or suggested she hasn't earned her wins.

I respect her for her ability, tenacity and drive. I disagree with her on foreign policy and trade. I see her as a deeply flawed candidate. Most of her supporters in the real world are fine. I have no problem with them. Many of her purported supporters online are insufferable.

But you miss the point. Hillary is the leader and all but certain winner. What Bernie did is he came damn close to beating her. As the close competitor he deserves respect from the party, especially if they want his supporters.

[LWolf]

91. Respect is something

that I don't believe Clinton, her campaign, and her army of supporters are capable of. At best, they can offer false, condescending platitudes, which are simply another kind of insult.

And they don't really think they need us, which is a good thing. I know that Sanders will support her if she is the nominee, and will ask us too, as well. We're supporting a political revolution, though. As Bernie has repeatedly said, it's not about him. The support behind him has been about rejecting the neo-liberal status quo; we aren't going to suddenly embrace what we reject should he not prevail, regardless of public calls for that.

[Tarc]

92. To engage them, they need to drop the sticks. No more Emailgate, "sex airplane"

and assorted right-wing talking points. If they want to come on-board, then they have to stop attacking the Democratic candidate. Some, like cali, have been coming around. But many are still posting attacks-of-the-day.

You don't reach out a hand to someone who is still trying to punch you.