2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumEveryday is a Whining Road
from D.R. Tucker at Washington Monthly:
Is the Hillary Clinton campaign prepared for the possibility that Bernie Sanders may never actually concede?
Even if Clinton wins big in the New Jersey Democratic primary on June 7 and thus reaches 2,383 delegates* (regardless of the outcome in the California primary that night), its difficult to see him throwing in the towel prior to the Democratic convention in Philadelphia, where he has already signaled that he will petition superdelegates to hand the nomination over to him, on the grounds that he is (in theory, anyway) a stronger general-election candidate than Clinton. The dream of unity between Clinton and Sanders after the conclusion of the primaries is unlikely to ever come true: the visceral hatred that Sanders so obviously feels for Clinton is simply not going to dissipate.
As the old joke goes, even Stevie Wonder can see that Sanders is going to have an epic meltdown at the convention if superdelegates reject his request for the nomination. The behavior of Sanders, his campaign staff, and some of his supporters is profoundly disappointing to those who wanted Sanders to play a constructive and healthy role in defining the post-Obama Democratic Party. During the 2008 Democratic primary, Clinton may have said a few undiplomatic words about Obama in the final days of her campaign, but it never seemed as though Clinton personally loathed the future president. Things are much different this time around.
read: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2016_05/everyday_is_a_whining_road060681.php
from Rachel Maddow;
I was disturbed watching Sanderss interview on CNNs State of the Union last weekend; Sanders seemed to be filled with a dark rage, an intense bitterness, a scornful tone. Sanders came across as a man who believes he is morally entitled to the Democratic nomination, who looks down upon those who think Clinton would be the partys best representative, whose soul is now filled with palpable jealousy and contempt for Clinton.
Like Kevin Drum, I have to ask: what happened to Sanders? Why didnt he remain positive? Why didnt he and his campaign understand that putting Clinton down wouldnt raise him up?
Clinton and the Democratic Party should be quite concerned about the prospect of a disastrous convention, disrupted by Sanders supporters upset over their hero not getting what they believe he was entitled to. (Just because chairs werent thrown the last time around doesnt mean they wont be thrown the next time.) If Sanders speaks at the convention and begins to make disparaging and disrespectful remarks about Clinton, current Democratic National Committee head Debbie Wasserman Schultz, or the allegedly villainous members of the Democratic establishment, will convention organizers feel compelled to cut his microphone?
Its sad to see Sanders fall into the same intellectual abyss that the progressive radio host Sam Seder fell into three years ago, during the special election to fill the seat left vacant by the passing of New Jersey Senator Frank Lautenbergthe intellectual abyss that prevents one from recognizing the moral difference between a imperfect Democrat and a dangerous Republican. Who would have thought that when Sanders announced his presidential bid last year, he would become the biggest cautionary tale in American politics?
read: http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2016_05/everyday_is_a_whining_road060681.php
bravenak
(34,648 posts)beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)He knows he has lost and his tactic is to do as much harm to our nominee as possible...fanning the flames of his followers and not giving a damn that we may end up with trump...it's pure spite..The last gasp of an angry old socialist who puts his ego above keeping America safe from trump...from conservatives...and perhaps a lasting destruction of everything this country has attained. If this is the case...sanders legacy goes down in history as a Benedict Arnold...a lee Harvey Oswald...a James Wilkes booth and a Timothy mcveigh...
I am hoping he has some class but judging by his actions..the actions of his wife...I may be hoping for too much
livetohike
(22,140 posts)saw a Presidential candidate whine so much.
Henhouse
(646 posts)from Rachel Maddow;
I was disturbed watching Sanderss interview on CNNs State of the Union last weekend; Sanders seemed to be filled with a dark rage, an intense bitterness, a scornful tone. Sanders came across as a man who believes he is morally entitled to the Democratic nomination, who looks down upon those who think Clinton would be the partys best representative, whose soul is now filled with palpable jealousy and contempt for Clinton.
BootinUp
(47,141 posts)NanceGreggs
(27,813 posts)... a la Rupert Pupkin, spending the next eight years sitting in a mock-up of the Oval Office in his basement, pretending to direct his staff, veto bills, meet with heads of state, and give SOTU addresses.
sheshe2
(83,746 posts)This is just insane.
Thanks for your post, bigtree.
barrow-wight
(744 posts)The whole movement just reeks of entitlement.
EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)occurred. His worst supporters brought out the worst in him.
Sad.
barrow-wight
(744 posts)Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)puffy socks
(1,473 posts)When it comes to entitlement nobody reeks like Bernie and his fanatical supporters.
barrow-wight
(744 posts)PufPuf23
(8,767 posts)POTUS campaign 2008 is an indicator but the differences between POTUS Obama and Hillary Clinton are not like the differences between Clinton and Sanders.
There has been a drumbeat from the Clinton campaign for Sanders to stand down since early in the primary season.
I doubt of super-delegates will replace Clinton with Sanders at the convention is improbable but not technically impossible.
There are valid reasons for Sanders to bear on other than winning the Democratic nomination for POTUS.
Sanders does not like neo-liberalism and neo-conservatism whereas Clinton bears that mantle but I do not think there is a personal "hatred".
Hillary Clinton and Clinton supporters do not appear to be gracious "winners" which I find confusing.
Demsrule86
(68,552 posts)AS she did in 08...and we can't wait until Sander's tantrum ends at the convention ...assuming it ever ends to begin the General...he has to go. Hard to be gracious to a loser who refuses to admit he lost and flails around helping evil Trump.
Demsrule86
(68,552 posts)I don't give a damn what Sanders like or doesn't like. There is no reason for the Berner down the Dem party to remain in this primary as he has lost...he can attempt to pick up the tattered pieces of his revolution (which he shredded himself)on his own time. This is our time.
PufPuf23
(8,767 posts)puffy socks
(1,473 posts)and the ungrateful and dismissive attitude of the Berners for all the progress made thus far through the hard work of the very people they now curse.
Who made Bernie or his supporters the authority on progressiveness?
We want the same things but some of realize we will not get them by coming in and demanding and threatening. That is how you shut ears. That is why Bernie is losing . Why can't his supporters see that?
Why hasn't Bernie realized this after decades in politics?
We also realize instant change cuts our own throats.
For example, raising minimum wage to $15 an hour over night will result in inflation. It will also hurt small companies and the large corporations will be the ones to survive through such a move. It needs to happen gradually. There needs to be a different method of getting those in control of the purse strings to pay fair wages.
Switching to a single payer system without concern for the middle class Americans who work in the health insurance industry and in medical offices will hurt them , You can count on them to vote against any Progressive ideas in the future.
Demsrule86
(68,552 posts)Number23
(24,544 posts)Yes, Sanders was called a bitter man full of "jealousy" and dark, impotent rage who seems to be doing his damndest to be a threat to the Dem convention and even to putting a Dem in the White House but at least they said no chairs were thrown in Nevada!1
Number23
(24,544 posts)They provide some good additional info, including the harassment and death threats that members of the Wyoming Democratic party have taken from Sanders supporters.
The USA Today piece details how Sanders' (latest) demand to unseat Frank and Malloy from the DNC was rejected. Malloy seems to be trying to make a (small) peace with Sanders but given Barney Frank's comments about Sanders in the past, his lack of comments on all of this is extremely conspicuous. I can't wait for a Barney Frank update to what he said about Sanders in 1991.
.. To him, anybody who disagrees with him is a crook; there are no honest disagreements with people. Bernie's view of the world is that the great majority of people agree with him on all the issues and the only reason he does not win is that the Congress is crooked." https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=2457&dat=19910712&id=vqJJAAAAIBAJ&sjid=Xg0NAAAAIBAJ&pg=4293,3641940&hl=en
Astonishing. And what makes it even more so is that it appears to be every bit as true today as it was 25 years ago.
Tavarious Jackson
(1,595 posts)Strong words from Rachel.
from Rachel Maddow;
"I was disturbed watching Sanderss interview on CNNs State of the Union last weekend; Sanders seemed to be filled with a dark rage, an intense bitterness, a scornful tone. Sanders came across as a man who believes he is morally entitled to the Democratic nomination, who looks down upon those who think Clinton would be the partys best representative, whose soul is now filled with palpable jealousy and contempt for Clinton. "
I agree with Rachel! Now Sanders is practically begging to be VP. He won't be and he has no say on that matter. It's insulting.
Tavarious Jackson
(1,595 posts)CorkySt.Clair
(1,507 posts)Bernie's a nasty guy. Glad he lost.
Demsrule86
(68,552 posts)I wonder will just file a bunch of lawsuits if he loses...I hold onto the fact Jane said they would go back to Vermont on June 8th.
Demsrule86
(68,552 posts)He should be escorted into the convention by security... to petition the supers...they say hell no...and out he goes. NO platform goodies or speeches...at that point there can be no unity with him or his most virulent supporters...so we must minimize the damage to the Party and our candidate Hillary Clinton...should he return to the Senate ...he should be stripped of all committees...lose most of his staff and perhaps a basement office is in order...he is a bad person and we have to assume he is rooting for Trump now.
MineralMan
(146,286 posts)Leads to something or another, but not to the door of the White House.
highprincipleswork
(3,111 posts)presents vigorously how he believes he presents a better choice for Democrats in November.
Man, could Bernie be pounding on the other candidate who is under FBI investigation. To many of his supporters and outside observers, he has been too nice, too gentlemanly on this, far more than Donald Trump will ever be.
Articles like this are blatant opinion pieces, because the "hatred" they note is not in everyone's reading of Bernie and his expressions. It's not in mine, and I pay attention to body language for a living.
aikoaiko
(34,169 posts)And he's not being a good little liberal and going away quietly.
OhZone
(3,212 posts)anotherproletariat
(1,446 posts)endorsements from all those who had to remain silent during the active primary. Once we hear from Obama and Biden, as well as other influential Dems (Warren, Carter, Gore, Kerry), what is left of the Sanders campaign will sink into obscurity. The media will stop covering him, and his pathetic, egotistical nature will be laid bare for all to see. The only disappointment is that we will never get to see him fully vetted.
Response to bigtree (Original post)
SidDithers This message was self-deleted by its author.
LWolf
(46,179 posts)The only whining I've heard is from Clinton supporters whining about Sanders continued presence; whining which evolves into relentless, ugly attacks when he won't just go away.
He's not going away. I may, after the convention, but certainly not before then.
I predict that the Clinton whiners may get their wish, finally, in November.
eastwestdem
(1,220 posts)Once the focus shifts, things should get better.