The problem with a Trump-Sanders debate is that Trump will try to co-opt Bernie's message

[oberliner]

Trump will do a lot of "I agree with you, Bernie" and "Hillary has been very unfair to you, Bernie. VERY unfair."

He will make it seem like they are on the same side on some of Bernie's signature issues (such as trade).

The strategy for Trump will be to make himself seem palatable to Bernie supporters who despise Hillary (of which they are many).

[hrmjustin]

1. Yes. This i why i don't trust Sanders.

He knows this and still wants to do this.

[virtualobserver]

2. Bernie intends to attack Trump.....Trump won't remain friendly for long

[oberliner]

3. I am sure he will

But Trump will still be able to implement his strategy to some extent, I believe.

[timmymoff]

5. You are so scared of Bernie's message

against Hillary? Speaks volumes of what you think of Hillary's message. Sounds like you do not think her message of mediocrity is enough to beat Trump. Kind of odd.

[oberliner]

12. Bernie has a much stronger message than Hillary

I think Hillary has a plethora of issues, including a lack of a coherent message.

[timmymoff]

16. You voted Bernie?

[oberliner]

20. My primary hasn't happened yet

I think both candidates have their strengths and weaknesses, and I will proudly vote for either one in the general election against Trump (or anyone else).

[timmymoff]

36. If you are voting for hillary who has by your admission

a weaker message then the rest is just fluff.

[oberliner]

38. There is more to a candidate than their messaging

I think Bernie does a much better job than Hillary in terms of messaging, but that does not necessarily mean I think he would make a better president.

[timmymoff]

40. Yea, Hillary would be a much better president

to keep things exactly as they are with no progress. I voted for the liberal.

[oberliner]

41. Not necessarily

I think Bernie and Hillary each have strengths and weaknesses.

Regardless, I think either of them would be infinitely better than Trump.

I look forward to doing everything I can to making sure whoever the Democratic nominee is wins the general.

[timmymoff]

46. I voted for the liberal.

My general election and other votes will be private.

[oberliner]

49. They are both liberals

Hopefully, you will work to defeat Trump in the general. Or at the very least, not vote for him!

[timmymoff]

55. My plan is my own.

I have seen little loyalty form the DNC , so it's up to them to sell me they are progressive, but I see to many instances in which they are clearly not. More than likely I will allow Hillary supporters to do the work for Hillary, it's really not my job to support business as usual, it's a moral issue. I know my enemy is going to hurt me, but why should my supposed friend?

[oberliner]

64. Understood

But you are posting on a message board, so presumably you want to engage in conversations with fellow Democrats. That's all I mean in encouraging you to vote for the Democratic nominee. Trump just gave a speech where he said he would rip up the Paris Accord. This is an important agreement on climate change that both Bernie and Hillary support. On that issue alone, I would think you might be persuaded.

[timmymoff]

73. Trump couldn't buy my vote

don't sweat that.

[larkrake]

61. No she is not liberal,neither is Trump republican they are both hybrids

[oberliner]

69. Yes she is

She believes climate change is real and that we must focus on clean energy. In fact, her statement about moving away from coal (which Bernie agrees with) shows her commitment to that cause, in spite of the political cost involved.

She supports labor unions. Guaranteed paid family and medical leave. Protecting abortion rights. Protecting LGBT rights.

It is a night and day difference between her and Trump.

[Art_from_Ark]

84. She certainly didn't support labor unions in Arkansas

And the TPP that she called a "gold standard of trade agreements" is not labor-friendly.

She has already stated that she could compromise on abortion rights.

Her newfound focus on "clean energy" is suspect after her positions in support of Keystone and fracking.

[oberliner]

88. She opposes the TPP

And the "gold standard" remark was with respect to an earlier version of the agreement, before it had been negotiated and codified.

If you went down a checklist of issues, she would be on the liberal side of pretty much all of them.

[Art_from_Ark]

89. Oh, for crying out loud

She does not "oppose" the TPP-- she said she "would not be in favor of it", but declined to actually lobby against it.
She helped to negotiate it, she shilled for it in all signatory countries. It was just as bad in 2012 as it is now.

[oberliner]

91. She literally says: "I oppose the TPP"

Here's a direct quote from one of the debates:

"I did hope that the TPP, negotiated by this administration, I was holding out hope that it would be the kind of trade agreement that I was looking for. Once I saw the outcome, I opposed it."

[raging moderate]

106. Do you pledge to hold her to this new opposition to the TPP?

Can we trust you people to not cave in to the now multinational corporate interests, and to keep reminding her that she must not cave in to the multinational corporate interests, who have said that they are confident that they have bought her and bound her? Will you keep pushing for the ethical restrictions which prevent capitalism from degenerating to a demonic plague on our planet? Will you remember to push the interests of the people who are working their behinds off, their hearts out, and the sinews out of the moorings of their bones for very low wages? And the African Americans who bear a double burden through no fault of their own, designated as lawful prey by white supremacists to whom the US Constitution is merely an excuse to pursue the victims of their choice?

[larkrake]

103. she does not oppose TPP, she wrote it with her corp associates, she is giving lip service. She is

anti labor (lower wages), anti-union, anti immigrant,in fact very right for a dem. She is liberal for womens issues, yet is willing to fiddle withthe abortion issue and she will appoint corp friendly judges'

Hillary is a weathervane depending on her audience, she has no social bonifides

[Scootaloo]

109. And a chihuahua and a great dane are both dogs.

One is considerably more dog than the other though.

[Demsrule86]

56. Bernie has no message

He has a few well-worn talking points which he doesn't even believe himself...or he would not risk the general. Bernie is in it for Bernie...he is despicable.

[timmymoff]

60. Hillary is so weak what Bernie says harms her?

Thought she was thoroughly vetted, my bad! Or is it really her message is one of same ole same ole and deep down you know it sucks, that's why she had to adopt half of Bernie's platform?

[Demsrule86]

131. Yes what Bernie says has harmed her

as constant attacks do... I would say the level of his attacks and those of his supporters are akin to the right-wing attacks on John Kerry. They are more effective as a Democrat says them.

[larkrake]

63. my god, you need glasses, bottle thick glasses

[Demsrule86]

128. His message is trite

I have heard and been for it... my entire life...all he has done is create division and help Trump...if I never see Bernie Sanders again, it will be too soon. He has his pie in the sky crap..oh we can have it all, but what he actually has done is risk what we have already accomplished by helping Trump...who will pack the court with Scalia look-alikes should he actually win thanks to Bernie Sanders.

[Scootaloo]

111. Does the hate keep you warm at night?

[Demsrule86]

127. I despise Bernie Sanders

He has risked my kids future for his giant ego...he can't win and now seems to be doing as much damage as he can to our party and to the general. And for what for parroting talking point which everyone agrees with and pretending he invented them? I can see why he is not well liked in the Senate.

[Scootaloo]

138. What damage is he doing? Please be specific

[larkrake]

141. he does not have an answer for that Scootaloo

[virtualobserver]

6. Trump's ego won't let him do that.....Bernie routinely refers to Trump as a pathological liar....

He will get under Trump's skin.

[oberliner]

13. You may be right

I think it could be very interesting.

[virtualobserver]

18. The best thing about this is that it gives all Democrats a chance to see what a Trump vs. Bernie....

General Election will look like.

If they like what they see, then they can go with Bernie....If not, then Hillary.

How well Bernie does with Trump will no longer be a hypothetical.

[oberliner]

21. Who are the "they" ?

Do you mean the California and NJ voters or the Super D's?

[virtualobserver]

26. All of the above and everyone else in the country.

[oberliner]

33. But everyone else in the country can't do anything at this point

The only people who can impact the Democratic nomination at this point are the voters who haven't voted yet and the supers.

[virtualobserver]

34. indirectly they can.....if Bernie jumped up 15 points in the national survey....

and then led by 30 points....that will affect the voters and Supers.

[oberliner]

35. Fair point

Perhaps that could happen.

[larkrake]

104. Oh yes they can. They can hurange their super delegates and the DNC

[Demsrule86]

57. There is no up for this mess

Unless you are Trump...it is a disaster for Democrats. Bernie Sanders has demonstrated that he is now on Trump's team.

[Demsrule86]

54. Pigs will fly before Sanders attacks Trump

They will both attack Hillary.

[larkrake]

66. Bernie would not attack anyone but Trump

[virtualobserver]

83. you have lost touch with reality

[Demsrule86]

133. Bernie has lost touch with reality

He has lost...and acts like he might win and it is just fine to damage the Democratic party and our nominee. He has lost.

[greyl]

86. Lol

?t=59s

[Demsrule86]

132. Cute video I am sure

But, he still will join with Trump and attack Hillary and the Democratic party.

[Newkularblue]

4. Agreed

Bernie could use the pulpit to draw distinctions between Hillary and Trump. Start the 'healing process' for Dems.

[creeksneakers2]

92. If Bernie is interested in healing

he wouldn't do the debate to begin with. The only person who will be helped is Trump.

[Ken Burch]

7. Trump has been doing that for months anyway.

The best way to stop that is to give Bernie a chance to face Trump and take him apart face to face.

And to let Bernie say "No Don, you are the OPPOSITE of what I stand for and I will fight you and your hate campaign all the way".

Bernie's the only person right now who can do that.

[musicblind]

9. Exactly! n/t

[oberliner]

14. Fair points

I think there are a lot of potential positives of such a debate. Bernie should be able to rip him apart. I just think he will make a play for the disaffected Sanders supporters who are particularly not fond of Hillary.

[Ken Burch]

19. Obviously, Trump will do that.

It's on HRC to win those votes over by acknowledging that they have good reason to feel angry and alienated by the current state of affairs, and that she will honor the spirit of what they stand for.

[oberliner]

22. Bernie can help HRC to win those voters over

Strong support from Bernie would help Hillary quite a bit in the general if she gets the nod.

[timmymoff]

43. Oh my goodness

there isn't a chance in hell of her saying that. Business as usual is the offer.

[musicblind]

8. I kind of think this debate is a good idea.

Bernie isn't stupid. He will wipe the floor with Trump. Trump's numbers will go down.

I think it will do the opposite of what you think it will do. I think it will show Sanders and Trump supporters just how different they are. Sure Trump THINKS that he will be getting Sanders supporters, but he is not very smart as we know.

I say let them have the debate. It could help Sanders, I don't see how it hurts Clinton, and I see a ton of ways it hurts Trump.

[doc03]

105. That's what sixteen other Republicans and all the MSN media thought. He will

ridicule Sanders with the Socialist label. But what's worse I think Trump will bait him into trashing Hillary. I don't know how much
he would have to bait him though Bernie seems to have no regard for anyone but himself.

[DebDoo]

10. Sure he might try but Hillary tried to do the same thing. It didn't work for her and it won't work

For him. Contrary to some people's opinions, Bernie supporters' dislike of dishonesty is not gender specific.

[oberliner]

25. Where do you think most Bernie supporters will go in the general

If Hillary gets the nod, how do you think it would play out?

[larkrake]

68. they will vote downticket, some will hold their nose for Hill

[creeksneakers2]

93. 20% of Bernie's are already planning to vote for Trump

[larkrake]

108. thats ridiculous

[creeksneakers2]

112. link

"The continued Democratic primary race appears to be sapping some of Clinton’s strength. She’s losing 20 percent of Bernie Sanders’ supporters to Trump, while winning only 11 percent of leaned Republicans who backed someone other than Trump for their party’s nomination."

http://www.langerresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/1177a1ClintonTrump.pdf

That's ABC / Washington Post

An NBC / Wall Street Journal poll at the same time found 17% of Sanders supporters going to Trump.

[larkrake]

113. those are probably Trump folk who liked Bernie,

but more likely they just cant vote Hill, neither can I so I wont vote pres at all

[kcjohn1]

11. Might be good sign if GOP candidate is trying to win over voters

Using Bernie talking points. Sign of progress. Instead of talking about tax cuts for the rich and cutting SS, if we are talking about universal health care / dangers of free trade.

Maybe Hillary should be stealing Bernie messaging instead of protecting wall-street/big pharma?

[B Calm]

17. Maybe Hillary should be stealing Bernie messaging instead of protecting wall-street/big pharma? +1

[beltanefauve]

139. Hasn't she already been

stealing Bernie's messaging? Remember the Saturday Night Live skit where Hillary morphs into Bernie?
(Not sure how to post the link )

Her trustworthy ratings are already in the toilet. I think she will only come off as even more disingenuous.

[winter is coming]

15. And Bernie will be right there to point out instances in Trump's past that show he's lying. n/t

[oberliner]

24. There are pros and cons for such a debate

I just think Trump would use the opportunity to win over Bernie's voters.

[winter is coming]

30. Actually, a side-by-side comparison could have the opposite effect. n/t

[ProgressiveEconomist]

23. Yes-SBS's message of

Hillary-hate: "She's dishonest--bought and paid-for by Wall Street--a warmonger--against democracy--can't be trusted with national security--against students and millenials--will make bad trade deals--etc, etc."

Trump is not running against SBS--he's running against HRC, as is SBS, even though he's 766 delegates behind HRC with only 921 delegates to go, and Hillary will reach 2,383 delegates on June 7th.
But Bernie and his bots are using semantics to try to argue that 2,383 delegates will NOT make Hillary the presumptive Democratic nominee, unlike the way Trump's reaching 1,237 made him the presumptive R.

Trump has no interest in challenging SBS's hare-brained schemes to double the national debt over ten years and other opportunistic demagoguery. Trump will hammer Hillary, Sanders will pile on, and Bernie Bros will realize that Trump will offer another opportunity in November to vote against the woman they all despise.

[JCanete]

70. I think you're wrong. Bernie has been saying for a long time, that Hillary

is the far better candidate than Trump, and that Trump is a laughing stock. You think he's going to let Trump set the agenda and then go with it? When people say shit like this I think they haven't actually been paying attention, they've just been listening to media and campaign talking points.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

115. "not paying attention"

I've been paying VERY close attention ever since Iowa. I know Bernie's wooden and robotic one note stump speech by heart. I am astounded Bernie is only 3 million votes and 766 delegates behind Hillary, given that the "establishment" he's running against consists mainly of the very downticket Democrats a Presidential nominee needs for a successful administration. To me, SBS is a sleazy, egotistical, opportunistic demagogue from nowhere, just like his role model George McGovern, who "led" the Party to devastating defeat in 49 states.

[JCanete]

117. I've been listening to Bernie for years. His stump speech is not how he speaks. His stump speech

is important though. These are not ideas that everybody is familiar with. I get tired of hearing it too and I wish he would tackle some of these issues with new language, but I've accepted that he's delivering for people who aren't familiar, who haven't been exposed to a point of view that actually challenges the system and how it is financed.

Anyway, I disagree with your assessment and could point to many ways in which I think Hillary is sleazy and egotistical, and Machiavellian, using sanctimony and intentionally misinterpreting positions or words for the sake of dismissing them. "I don't want free tuition because I don't want to pay for Donald Trump's kids to go to college." "Bernie wants to dismantle Obamacare, or at least that's my read...wink." Can you get more disingenuous than that shit?

But you didn't prove to me that you've been following shit. I was taking you to task for your "prediction" of how Bernie would comport himself in a debate with Trump. You didn't even bother to back up your opinion, or offer a hint about the logic you used to arrive at it, but hell, in the unlikely event that we do get that debate, I guess we'll both see who was right.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

118. IMO SBS is and always has

been a cipher of a candidate--just an opportunity to vote AGAINST Hillary and the "establishment". Why would he do anything different once he signs onto the Trump GE campaign against HRC?

[JCanete]

119. that is one poorly informed opinion. I"m sorry to be so blunt, but if that were the case

then he wouldn't have voted with the dems all the times he did, and he wouldn't have been the lone dissenting voice all the times he was. You know he has existed previous to this campaign right, and that the issues he's speaking to now are the issues he's been speaking to for years right? That's not one note, that's because shit hasn't gotten better! If MLK were still talking about civil rights would you call him one note? Would you insist he move on to some other less tiresome issue? Bernie is almost always on the right side of history when he puts his vote or his voice to an issue, and I might be hedging with the "almost" more than I need to.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

120. IMO "lone dissenting voice"

"on the right side of history" = egotistical self-servong opportunistic demagoguery with no practical value to the real stakeholders for any issue.

[JCanete]

121. being it or saying that he was the lone dissenting voice? He didn't say it, I did.

Are you saying its better to be on the wrong side of history? What are you saying? Do you think that the system changes without pressure from lone dissenting voices building into roars of the masses? I gotta say, I'd love to see your flowchart for change.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

123. Consider Bernie's recent

stand on the Puerto Rican bankruptcy bill. The WH spent many weeks negotiating with Paul Ryan and got him to move away from the complete inaction most Republicans advocated. At the last moment, Bernie advocated voting against the compromise bill, reinforcing the position of most Republicans. And all this was taking place in the lead-up to the PR primary.

Bernie's cynical political ploy did not work; HRC beat him by about 30 percentage points IIRC.

Bernie has been shunned by almost ALL his Senate colleagues for many years, because this is the behavior he has engaged in time after time. He cannot be relied on as a member of a team trying to accomplish something tangible. He is a complete egotistical flake who would lead a political party into extinction.

[JCanete]

124. I'll take a look at that bill. My guess is if Bernie advocated against it, then it was shit and was

going to hurt people in the long run. Just because the democrats are for something and the republicans are against it doesn't mean that its good. Republicans who vote with the democrats risk way too much backlash from their primary challengers while the tea-party rages, so even when they're served up dream bills by democrats in the throes of "compromise", they're afraid to come aboard. The democratic establishment has brought us its fair share of bad policy, so I favor somebody calling it as it is when he sees it.

For the sake of argument, I'll assume Bernie has been shunned by all his Senate colleagues(yes this is true in the primaries, but I wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of this eventual nominee either). The thing is, most of them are bought and paid for in some way or another. They kind of had to be if they were going to get to the top in more financially competitive races than those up in Vermont. "It's hard to trust an honest man." Its certainly hard to get your sweetheart legislation through congress if somebody is going to point out that it's a big giveaway to some corporate institution. In my opinion, Bernie is an inconvenient element in the Senate, because he makes it hard for the side that says it's got our back and that it believes in social services, to conduct business as usual.

[larkrake]

71. He will not turn off democrats, and he is a gentleman- wont attack Hillary

He wont even discuss Hill, he will discuss Trumps harsh policies only. Fox questions wont trick Bernie, he loves to thumb his nose at stupid retoric.

[ProgressiveEconomist]

116. A "gentleman" would have

conceded to Hillary st least a month ago. IMO Bernie is a sore loser making common cause against his Party's nominee with the most racist and most incompetent lying Republican plutocrat of all time.

[larkrake]

142. Conceed? He inspires all factions, she inspires suicide

[kimbutgar]

27. Bernie will take trump to the woodshed

For many years Bernie talked with real Americans on Thom Hartmann's show. I had heard him push back several times and he can make trump look like an idiot.

[oberliner]

32. Trump will definitely look like an idiot

But I can see him saying something like:

"Bernie, I agree with you. Those trade agreements were awful. Hillary supported them. I oppose them. You really should be voting for me if Hillary gets the nomination. We both agree that her judgment is awful. That her trade policies are destroying American jobs."

[timmymoff]

51. How is that bernie's fault that she is such a chameleon

nobody van see her true colors? Well some do and most can barely stand them.

[oberliner]

52. I didn't say anything was Bernie's fault

I said that Trump will try to use the debate to win over Bernie voters (as opposed to actually debating Bernie on issues).

[Demsrule86]

62. Well I will say it

This is completely Bernie's fault and any bad that comes of it...and there will be plenty...is on him...Bernie the anti-Roosevelt...tearing down all that Roosevelt and generations of liberals accomplished. What has Bernie ever accomplished...nothing.

[timmymoff]

67. I thought she was thoroughly vetted?

Have I not been told how great she handles things like republican witch hunts etc? Or are you more concerned America has Clinton/ scandal fatigue?

[Demsrule86]

65. They will take Hillary to the woodshed

I can't even stand to see Bernie's face anymore...turn the sound down if he is on.

[Vote2016]

28. That's going to happen either way

[jeepers]

29. Oh happy days

Finally Bernie will come up against the evil republicans and will get that severe vetting we've been waiting on for so long. Trump will savage Bernie with those faults Hillarys team has been too noble to mention. Bernie is going to leave that debate a shattered and weeping man. Trump will be in his glory and supporters will flock to the Good Queen Hillarys defense.

[oberliner]

31. Completely disagree

I think Bernie will make the same points that he has been consistently making throughout the campaign.

Trump will do his usual Trump thing - and will try to show that he ought to get Bernie's voters if Hillary gets the nomination.

For instance, he will try to point out that they both oppose the trade agreements that Hillary supported.

[Cheese Sandwich]

37. Hillary should have agreed to a debate. She wanted to stop the democratic process early.

Like a coronation.

[oberliner]

39. Not on Fox News, though

Were there other options?

[Cheese Sandwich]

42. I'm sure she could have practically named any venue she wanted.

She decided there would be no more debates. Which by the way meant she was going back on her word. She knows Bernie is still campaigning all the way to the convention. She doesn't care that the largest state is yet to vote. The message from Clinton and the DNC is that the race is over because Hillary is way ahead, so we're going to stop the contest early.

But a large part of the party is not OK with that. We're campaigning all the way until the first ballot at the convention.

[oberliner]

44. She should have made a counter-proposal

I think it would have been good for them to have one more debate before June 7.

[AzDar]

45. There has ALWAYS been a danger that Trump will run to Hillary's Left...hopefully, he won't get that

chance.

[oberliner]

47. There is no danger of that

In fact, he just gave a speech where he said he would rip up the Paris Agreement.

[AzDar]

53. He's to her Left on Trade and FP ... and there is MUCH, much room for movement. So if god forbid

she sleazes her way to the nomination... the danger is REAL.

[oberliner]

59. No he's not

First of all, Trump has no position on trade, other than "we are going to make great deals".

He has nothing about trade on his website, except with respect to China, where his key argument is that we need "smarter negotiators'.

Also, I would think it would be obvious that banning all Muslims is a far right FP position. As is encouraging other countries to get nuclear weapons. So is building a wall with Mexico. Not to mention insulting world leaders on a whim.

[AzDar]

82. Banning all Muslims is not only ridiculous, it isn't FP. Falls under Immigration ...

On FP, Hillary is a FAR bigger Hawk than Trump. On Trade, Trump decries H1B Visas and Free Trade, whilst Hillary LOVES both. Not to mention he's for Medical Marijuana, and Re-regulating Wall St.
Google is your friend- I don't support Trump or his bullshit; don't want to promote it. But you are WRONG.
And that kind of no-nothing shit will cost us the WH if HRC is the Nominee...

[oberliner]

90. Yes it is

Foreign policy means relations with foreign countries. Not allowing people from other countries to enter the United States because of their religion is a foreign policy position.

Your arguments in support of Trump are unfounded and ridiculous.

My friend Google helps make that point:

Donald Trump flip-flops, then flips and flops more on H-1B visas

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2016/03/21/donald-trump-flip-flops-then-flips-and-flops-more-on-h-1b-visas/

Bizarrely, you seem to think Trump actually has a coherent policy with respect to trade, when anyone who knows how to use Google can quickly illustrate that he does not.

[AzDar]

98. Sorry, NO. Foreign Policy is a Government's strategy in dealing with Foreign NATIONS. Islam is a

RELIGION, not a NATION. It is an IMMIGRATION issue. And of course, Trump can change his positions; as a Hillary supporter you must be intimately familiar with that... but these are the positions he is CAMPAIGNING on. Again, this is well-documented... not going to link and risk a hide.

[imagine2015]

48. Like workers should organize strong unions everywhere, including his properties? I don't think so.

[oberliner]

50. Trump will talk about trade

And will argue that he and Bernie both oppose international trade agreements that Hillary supports.

[imagine2015]

75. But against trade unions and how will he defend his use of undocumented workers at his properties?

Bernie has a ton of ammunition against Trump who is a leading member of the billionaire class.

[larkrake]

76. yes he will, and Bernie will jump in enthusiastically- it is their only link but for diff reasons

and with different outcomes in mind

[larkrake]

58. No one has been able to do that, convincingly

[Fresh_Start]

72. Trump is already claiming to be for the worker

so he's not coopting Sanders message.

Both are citing the evil of trade agreements.

Both are saying the wealthy should pay more in taxes.

Trump wants to have the poor/middle class pay less taxes: Sanders wants the poor/middle class to pay more taxes....under the belief that they will get more benefit than they pay.

Trump is bigoted against most non-white male populations: Sanders is bigoted against today's Democrats.

Trump says climate change is a lie: Sanders believes in climate change.

So workers can choose either Trump or Sanders depending on their belief in science and how downtrodden the white male has become.

[larkrake]

94. Sanders is not bigotted against today's democrats- where did you get that. He is against dems in bed

with corporation purchased 3rd way dems who are in charge of the DNC. The DNC is no longer democratic. it is corporate controlled.

Also, Trumps online tax plan does tax poor and middle and cuts taxes to the 1%

single payer will tax folks about 5 dollars a month, alot cheaper than ADA, this has worked in every other country

[Fresh_Start]

125. There is no creditable analysis where single payer is $5 per month

The analysis I've seen is around 6% of income paid by the employee..most people earn more than $110 per month so that $5 /month number is complete BS.

when you claim that everyone is corrupt and that the system is corrupt you are in fact claiming that all democrats in the system are corrupt or stupid. That is bigotry against democrats.

[larkrake]

140. they are less corrupt than Republicans and half the Supremes, but yes, they are corrupt

with very rare exceptions. My bigotry is against politicians who have meetings with lobbyists and have superpacs to skirt laws.

6% is a hell of a lot less to pay for insurance, paid vacations and maternity/paternity leaves.

What its it with hillbots that they cannot see possible change, always delaying, always saying cant. Every other industrialized country does it, but we cant? This country is in self destruct mode from those who say "maybe tomorrow"

[Cheese Sandwich]

74. "The strategy for Trump will be to make himself seem palatable to Bernie supporters"

Well clearly the solution to this would be for the Democratic party to adjust their positions on some of those issues, like trade, like health insurance, to try and be more palatable to Bernie voters. Also It might be good to ask why so many people find Hillary completely unacceptable. Many people who were OK with her a year ago now totally reject her because she ran a dirty campaign.

[oberliner]

78. Hillary has tried to make those adjustments

But when she does she gets accused of pandering or flip flopping or changing her positions too much.

[Cheese Sandwich]

80. That's because it is pandering and flip flopping.

You can't switch positions right before the election and expect well informed people to trust you.

That's the danger of nominating a candidate who is completely rejected by a large section of voters, including ones that are usually pretty consistent Democratic voters, if not 100% consistent.

Outside of DU party loyalty counts for nothing.

[oberliner]

81. "clearly the solution to this would be for the Democratic party to adjust their positions"

That's what you just wrote.

Edit to add: What's the difference between adjusting one's position and flip flopping?

[Cheese Sandwich]

85. I meant they should nominate better candidates who don't have life long records that

have to be reversed at the last minute.

[oberliner]

87. Point taken

But at this point, it seems like, if Hillary is the nominee and she chooses to adjust her positions in a positive direction, then that would be a good thing.

[larkrake]

95. it is not she who has to change, it is the party.

[dubyadiprecession]

77. It really doesn't matter, BS won't be the democratic nominee.

[oberliner]

79. He could be a great Hilary surrogate in the general

If they are able to make nice.

[larkrake]

97. He will not campaign for her, he will be busy campaining other real dems

she and her kind are on their way out, Bernie has to guide the movement.

[oberliner]

99. Yes he will

He is helping to shape the platform. They will work together to ensure victory over Trump.

[larkrake]

114. The changes are what HE earned, they have nothing to do with Hill. He will support her, but will not

campaign with her, be seen with her UNLESS that was the price for platform changes. He will do what is best for the revolution. Congress is much more important

[AgingAmerican]

96. Trump is too glib and impulsive to co-opt anything

Even if he tried he wouldn't be able to maintain it. He is too knee jerk. Ain't happening..

[DisgustipatedinCA]

100. Yeah? For my part, I'm not afraid of Donald Trump. Neither is my candidate.

[oberliner]

101. Nothing to do with fear

Just predicting how he would try to play it.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

102. And that's what I was referring to. It doesn't matter how he tries to play it.

Sanders has real and deep support in this nation, and he'd wipe the floor with Trump. Of course, that's the reason it will never happen.

[elleng]

107. They're both 'change' candidates;

ONE is rational. Let the public compare and contrast.

[snowy owl]

110. Thoughtful. But Bernie is smart. He'll expose every Trump bluster & flip-flop.

I don't think he'll get sucked in. Trump has too much on the record now. People would see his flip-flopping.

[Aerows]

122. At this point

Hillary is co-opting nothing but an FBI investigation along with her staff.

There's that cheerful fact to greet supporters.

[senz]

129. Bernie is well-informed. Trump is clueless, he could never "co-opt" Bernie's message.

[oberliner]

130. Of course he could. He already has.

I am using co-opt in the sense of "adopting (an idea or policy) for one's own use." Trump has already done exactly that, and even made a point of saying that they come from Bernie (Such as the idea that Hillary is unqualified to be president).

[senz]

134. Bernie's message is about the American people and what has been done to us.

Bernie does not talk about Clinton and never makes personal statements about her. The single time he said she was "unqualified" was in response to her campaign saying they were going to show that Bernie was unqualified. He took her theme briefly and used it against her. He was basically tricked by the Clinton campaign. To pretend that is Bernie's message is disnonest.

Bernie has no interest in trashing Hillary. Bernie has been trying to wake the American people up to what has been done to us. He has way bigger fish to fry than one person named Clinton.

[Phlem]

135. While that may be true, there's a difference between adopting

an idea or policy as opposed to speaking to it. Once Bernie irritates him, Trump will lose it and start vomiting from the mouth. I can do that to people easily (at least Republicans).

[Orsino]

136. Trump may agree with Sanders on something, but will contracict himself hours later.

I'm not too worried about a debate.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

137. Simple solution: Invite Hillary to the debate.