Bernie blew more than half a million for his junket to Rome. Does this sound like a 1% thing to do?

[hill2016]

Doesn't sound like a 99% thing to me.





http://exedra-roma.boscolohotels.com/luxury-hotel-rome

[merrily]

1. You keeping tabs on Hillary's expenditures, or just Bernie's?

After all, as a Hillary donor, as I assume you are, you should be more concerned about how she spends your donations than about how Bernie spends mine.

BTW, this nonsense was posted here weeks ago.

[Ned_Devine]

10. Just Bernie's. Working on that whole "unity" thing, ya know

[merrily]

16. It's very necessary to dredge up meaningless crap from mid-April and post it again.

Because Bernie.

[Ned_Devine]

23. The Only HRC supporters I know of are here

And for the most part, they're an awful bunch. And by awful, I mean spiteful, nasty, condescending, antagonistic and rotten. But I don't want to believe that they represent her supporters at large. However, if they do, it's not going to be a good election season for the democrats.

[merrily]

24. Not if she's the nominee, no.

[Ned_Devine]

26. Right, I forgot that caveat

[pangaia]

86. They say the same thing about us.

Pretty soon we won't be allowed to say anything.

THE POWER THAT IS has made that pretty clear.

[Ned_Devine]

89. Meh. IF HRC is the nominee, I'll have no reason to come by here anyway

[pangaia]

94. true that...

[grasswire]

61. they've got nothing else!!

While Hillary is fighting to keep the FBI off her back for multiple felonies regarding dilvulging of our national secrets, her supporters have nothing tangible to hurt Bernie.

[merrily]

65. I'm not sure if they even have this. The OP links to a hotel ad and I don't know

where that menu with Bernie's name and logo came from.

[left-of-center2012]

33. "how Bernie spends mine"

I don't know how Bernie paid for it,
but I doubt he used campaign donations.

[merrily]

72. The Op links to a hotel ad and shows a suspect photo, so I don't know how much he spent

or on what. However, if Bernie used my money toward that trip, I am more than fine with it.

Whatever money he used, it wasn't the OP's money, which was my point.

[Armstead]

68. LOL Great point

[pangaia]

81. He/she just shits on everything.

What a happy life.

[merrily]

103. I especially love the menu. I wonder where anyone got Bernie's menu, don't you?

[pangaia]

107. You know what? The whole freakin' hurricane is so funny, I don't care where they got "it."

[puffy socks]

127. so nw Bernie illeaglly using campaign donations is nonsense?

Well we cant have him running for president because you know an indictment is coming.


Hilarious how you try and brush this off.
He broke the law . He's been a politician for decades . he knows better and did it anyway..He did have intent...to use his supporters for high class entertainment and lodging.


So much for mr integrity

[merrily]

128. A Bernie hate blog says it's illegal and that makes it gospel that it was illegal? Poster, please.

[puffy socks]

135. Since when is it okay to use campaign funds for personal family trips?

Federal Election Commission guidelines forbid using campaign funds for personal expenses.

What was the purpose of the trip? Does the pope vote in US elections? Italians?

Michael Toner, chairman of the FEC under President George W. Bush, told the AP that family vacations can't be charged to a campaign account and that the candidate must pay for personal expenses, even if the trip includes political activities. He said reimbursing the campaign "doesn't completely resolve the situation."


busted


So he should drop out because he's going to be indicted.

[merrily]

136. You don't see any way that trip could have helped his candidacy?

Because I sure saw a ton of posts on DU from Hillary supporters in April claiming he was going ONLY to help his candidacy.

And he practically gave his stump speech at the conference.

Something isn't illegal simply because you claim it is and would like it to be. Sorry!

[puffy socks]

137. He did try and use it to get US Cathoilc to vote for him

that still doesn't matter as pointed out to you already. He still cannot use any campaign funds to pay for personal family trips .
Try and justify any way you like.... he broke the law.
But of course Hillary hasn't even broken a law but we continue to hear the indictment dreams of Berners night and day.
Bernie actually breaks the law and all is forgiven.. just like his war votes, his wall street vote, his NRA votes , his War on Drugs vote on and on and on....

Such convictions

[merrily]

138. LOL. Make up your mind. Could it have led to Catholic votes--or any votes at all?

If so, you will have to prove in detail why it was not a campaign expense. HINT: repeating that he broke the law is not proof.

Before you can claim that I forgive Bernie for breaking the law, you have to prove he did break the law--and pulling it out of your ear does not count.

[puffy socks]

139. The two are NOT mutually exclusive

Mutually exclusive is a statistical term describing two or more events that cannot occur simultaneously. For example, it is impossible to roll a five and a three on a single die at the same time.

He both went to make a scene for catholic votes back in America and used the opportunity to pay for a family trip.

Its illegal but I'm sure you'll keep defending the indefensible.


Lets recap, shall we?

It is illegal to pay for family trips with campaign funds per the FEC
Bernie used campaign funds fore a family trip
therefore Bernie broke FEC campaign law

Being obtuse doesnt help your argument, it just makes you seem slow. You don't want people thinking you're slow , do you?

[merrily]

140. Your calling it a family trip does not make it a family trip. Your calling it illegal does not make

illegal.

I think you've gotten all the mileage that your conclusory statements merit and then some. When a government agency writes a lengthy report saying Bernie did something wrong, get back to me. Or not. Meanwhile, you have a great DU profile, Have a great night, too.

[puffy socks]

142. I am having a great night!

Bernard just lost VI big time..so much for that sweep.
Set to lose PR big time tomorrow.



feel the bern.....flame out.

[merrily]

143. "Bernie lost," not "Hillary won." Interesting.

Well, mildly more interesting than your other posts anyway, though not in a good way.

Nitey bye.

[scscholar]

2. Plus asked for an invite!

Think the rest of us could get an invite?

[seabeyond]

5. Then hijacked the Pope so he could say, he did too have a meeting. Lol.

[merrily]

17. If you buy anyone hijacks the Pope, I have a bridge for sale, cheap.

[DrDan]

62. I'll take it

[merrily]

83. I expected you would, given you think anyone who wants to knows the Pope's

schedule and wants to walk up to him and chat him up at will gets to do that.

[DrDan]

87. no chatting - according to the Pope - only a quick handshake and acknowledgement

[merrily]

100. New reports said five minute conversation. However, even a handshake--you try it,

assuming you could even learn the pope's schedule.

The desperation is a hoot.

[DrDan]

106. no desperation here - it was, however, the basis for the ambush as we all know

[merrily]

108. A five minute conversation was a basis for an ambush? What does that even mean?

Yes, this OP and another on the same subject are signs of desperation to post anything about Sanders and pretend its horrific. It's 2quite entertaining.

[DrDan]

115. no - desperation was

and I did not start either OP so I cannot take credit for your enjoyment

[merrily]

117. LOL! ok nt

[dlwickham]

112. Two words-Kim Davis

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/30/us/county-clerk-kim-davis-who-denied-gay-couples-visited-pope.html

[seabeyond]

3. Working on 700K vacation for 24 hours. Nt

[AuntPatsy]

4. I have to admit, if paid for by campaign, makes little to no sense why...hard to argue that one

and yet truth is, all those running for offices claim they need these treats in order to win, ? Yes, they are all extremely wasteful, you forgot to add that

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. And you still care about this...why?

If Hillary's got this thing sewed up, what does it matter? If there's anything more annoying than a sore loser it's a sore winner.

(BTW, those menus are pretty typical of VIP charter flights, no matter who the passengers are. You should see the perks on the NFL charters.)

[seabeyond]

7. Follow thru on a previous discussion. We all knew it was illegal, so of course Sanders did. What

sense does it make that he would do this? I am looking for one reasoned answer.

[merrily]

47. Someone owes you an answer on this why?

[seabeyond]

50. I said "owed" where?

[merrily]

52. You post as though you are owed one, even though you did not use the word.

If you don't feel you're owed one, maybe you just move the fuck on.

Just a thought.

[seabeyond]

53. That would be your opinion that you try to define me with. I would like a reasoned answer to

my question. I like to ask questions to gain information, to be more informed. I know, I know.... way out there.

[merrily]

58. LOL! I never tried to define you.

[seabeyond]

64. You just did, with merely your opinion to create your definition. That I feel I am "owed".

[merrily]

69. LOL. o.k. whatever you say.

[Armstead]

71. Was he supposed to f-----ing SWIM over there?

[seabeyond]

74. I think he was suppose to pay for it himself, and not have the campaign pay for it.

[MFM008]

8. did he do anything illegal?

Sanders supporters seem to know when HRC buys a taco salad?
See how ridiculous its getting?

[pnwmom]

38. Going to a religious conference in Italy wasn't a legit campaign expense. n/t

[merrily]

49. According to whom?

[larkrake]

95. his speech was

[melman]

96. Not really a religious conferenece

[pnwmom]

121. Yes, it was. It was centered around theological discussions of a 25 year old encyclical.

http://theweek.com/articles/619088/bernie-sanders-awkward-vatican-junket

Set aside the weirdness of Sanders using his campaign funds to charter a 200-seat Boeing 767-300 to fly 8,500 miles to Rome with his family and a small Secret Service detail so he could briefly talk about income inequality and climate change before the Vatican equivalent of a think tank, for a celebration of an encyclical by Pope John Paul II that is critical of socialism and includes favorable nods to market capitalism. Instead, let's look at why Sanders made the trip in the first place. He and his aides are adamant that the journey wasn't motivated by politics or courting Catholic Democrats in the heavily Catholic, delegate-rich northeastern states where Sanders is struggling. Let's take him at his word — Pope Francis is very popular among liberal Catholics, but more as a moral figure than a celebrity, and certainly not as a campaign prop.

But if Sanders isn't trying to touch the political hem of the pope's garment, what then?

[lunamagica]

44. According to the FEC, yes, it was illegal, and he had to know it

[merrily]

57. Link?

[lunamagica]

80. ...

http://www.politicade.com/confirmed-bernie-sanders-illegally-used-campaign-funds-for-overnight-trip-to-italy/

[merrily]

90. sorry, no. That is simply the conclusion of politicade, whatever the heck politicade is.

It is not a ruling by the FEC, let alone a conviction.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

109. I have been googling "Politicade" and can't find out anything about it

except that it seems to be a very new, fanatically pro-Clinton and more fanatically anti-Sanders blog-type thingy. It could be one of Brock's efforts at trolling, but considering that it seems to be even farther off the rails than Blue Nation I wouldn't worry about what they think. They're such fanatics that they've even thrown Elizabeth Warren under the bus.
http://www.politicade.com/elizabeth-warren-owes-hillary-clinton-an-apology/

[grasswire]

73. yes, link? nt

[QC]

9. "We will never get past the primary if sore winners choose to keep trashing Bernie Sanders."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1259&pid=10561

[Cooley Hurd]

12. Can't be posted enough...

[Cooley Hurd]

11. Keep driving away voters for your candidate in November...

[seabeyond]

13. We are not allowed to have conversation about Sanders illegally taking out of campaign funds?

[Cooley Hurd]

18. You can do whatever you like...

However, if you're soooo confident that Secretary Clinton will get the nomination, then WHY antagonize Senator Sanders' supporters with this unfounded dribble? Again, you are NOT doing your candidate favors by this nonsense...

[realmirage]

130. You might want to head over to the BS threads right now

and tell all those who are sure Sanders will become the nominee that the endless attacks on Hillary need to stop immediately so as not to alienate voters

[Cooley Hurd]

132. Which threads?

[realmirage]

133. You know, the ones who are expecting the indictment fairy

[Smarmie Doofus]

14. Are you sure you know what the word means?

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/junket

[merrily]

29. It's funny how MSNBC and Hillary supporters both misued that word repeatedly.

Andrea Mitchell, the Game Change authors, etc. All used that word. Coincidence that they would all use/misuse the same word, isn't it?

Same word Dick Cheney used about Plame, too. Hmmm.

[hill2016]

31. seems to be a legit use of the word

http://theweek.com/articles/619088/bernie-sanders-awkward-vatican-junket

http://www.cjr.org/united_states_project/the_return_of_the_congressional_junket.php

[merrily]

46. Either that or a lot of people got the misuse from the same source.

[hill2016]

122. what about this article from 2011

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-11-01/Congress-free-travel/51030508/1

Before Bernie was even on the scene...

[merrily]

125. I have no idea which point you are trying to make.

Just from the link itself, though, it seems the article is about trips taken at taxpayer expense, which fits right in with the definition posted on this thread, but does not fit a donor funded trip.

If you have a point to make, you are going to need to articulate it.

[Autumn]

15. Still hurting over that huh?

[merrily]

19. Everything Sanders does or says or fails to do or say causes no end of butthurt on DU.

I feel cheated. I never got a menu with my name on it when I flew.

[Autumn]

22. I'm beginning to really enjoy it.

[merrily]

37. Think of it as performance art.

Totally pointless performance art, it's true, but, after all, art is its own reason for being.

[Android3.14]

20. You're still here?

[Orsino]

21. At the Clinton Foundation, it's just called "Thursday." n/t

[HubertHeaver]

25. This is beginning to look like a really unhealthy obsession.

[eastwestdem]

27. Thanks for posting, I hadn't seen this. Not really consistent with his image, is it? nt

[merrily]

42. You hadn't seen that hotel ad?

[Marr]

28. This still drives you crazy.

Ha.

[TheCowsCameHome]

30. Awww, does somebody need a hug?

Poor baby.

[merrily]

32. Just for giggles, how does posting an odd menu and a hotel ad prove how much Bernie spent?

[Different Drummer]

111. I am with you.

A link to an ad for a hotel doesn't prove squat.

[panader0]

34. If you HRC sycophants keep this up, no Bernie folks will vote for your precious.

[hill2016]

35. I think she's going to pivot to the center for the GE

[panader0]

40. Astute analysis

But when HRC pivots to the center--she has to make a left turn.

[merrily]

43. Whoa? Who could have guess THAT!

[Armstead]

79. "Center" meaning somewhere around GW Bush...or maybe John McCain

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

118. She'll have to make a sharp left turn to get anywhere near the center.

[Contrary1]

145. The word is "evolve", not pivot.

[libdem4life]

36. Aw shucks, just a couple of Clinton Speeches worth. LOL

Now you can see why he's so fit. That's one heck of a healthy menu.

Seems HRC hasn't driven herself since the 90s. Wonder how much money has gone to chaueffers over the past 25 or so years?

Probably $50,000 a year times 25!!! Speaking of Bernie Math! LOL

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiRl9fzp4_NAhUDxWMKHdIDAC8QFggfMAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fnews%2Fhillary-clinton-hasnt-driven-a-car-since-1996%2F&usg=AFQjCNE6IvFbVTaRTnSonIv7EhqqGvt95g&sig2=R9G9hxmlTRYpPQiYGjLoZA&bvm=bv.123664746,d.cGc

[lunamagica]

48. her speeches weren't paid illegaly with campaign funds

[libdem4life]

70. No...they were campaign funds incoming...there is a latin statement

for that, but I forget it right now. Bernie has campaign advisers, so I'm sure he'll be OK.

[larkrake]

99. very astute

[DrDan]

39. but he did get to ambush the Pope before breakfast for a handshake - that has to be worth

a couple hundred thousand

[merrily]

60. LOL! What nonsense. Please see Reply 17.

[lunamagica]

41. Yes, only the uber wealthy can afford that. So he took the money from his campaign contribitions to

experience how they live...ahhh, the good life...the sweet life...we would all like to live it, including Bernie. Problem he did it with other people's money.

[Tarc]

45. The "man of the people" settles in with Coriander Crab Salad ?

[LisaM]

63. You know, that must be part of the charter.

It seems pretty jet set, but it's probably just their regular catering sheet with the campaign logo printed on top. It does seem out of touch. I also hope no one in their campaign has a seafood allergy.

[B Calm]

51. Now this is MUD SLINGING!

[Vinca]

54. Wow! That equals 2 Hillary speeches. What a travesty!

[Arazi]

55. The obsession returns with a vengeance. This was hilarious the 1st time

Hillary supporters in a fit

[grasswire]

56. NOBODY CARES

If you are trying to position Bernie alongside people who spend $330,000 for sitting next to a candidate for dinner, it's a fruitless endeavor.

NOBODY CARES.

And his donors are so happy he went.

YOu got no skin in his game, so give it up.

[aikoaiko]

59. As a donar I'm fine with it. A 1%er doesn't have ask for money to go.

Don't you know that.

[seabeyond]

66. You do not matter. I think the issue is FEC is not ok with it.

[grasswire]

75. link? nt

[aikoaiko]

76. Then Bernie can work it out with them but I thought the trip was a good campaign move.

The conference was an international conference on income inequality

He met world players which elevated him.

In one inequality is his big topic.

I'm don't know campaign finance law but as a law person it didn't seem that different from flying across the country to discuss a campaign topic.

[seabeyond]

82. Yes. Sanders can figure it out with FEC. I had hear both prior and after that he could not

pay thru campaign, specific laws.

Whether one sees it worth it or not, or having any validity? That is a whole other discussion we aren't having, and we can certainly have differing views.

[lunamagica]

91. Taking 10 family members and staying at 5-star hotels? Isn't that -at the very least- an

awful waste of campaign funds?

[raging moderate]

114. Yeah, actually, we donors FORCED Bernie to go to Rome.

We used our special Bernie Sanders ESP network to communicate this demand. He had to do it to prove he wasn't hostile to this Pope.


Look, if this is really all the Hillary Clinton team has got.....it is pretty pathetic. As I have said before, there is such a thing as good sportsmanship for winners. If you really think you are winners, why not be good sports about it?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

67. I still get a chuckle about the level of butthurt that trip caused.

The menu is exactly what you'd expect on an international charter and although it's made to look fancy it's not especially. Read a menu at any restaurant fancier than Denny's and you see the same hyped descriptions. Potato salad? Lentil soup? Seafood salad? When did that get to be haute cuisine except in a menu copy-writer's wet dream? Please. Give it a rest. If Hillary's winning why do you people give even the tiniest little shit?

Of course, when Hillary travels she takes the Greyhound, carries her own bag, stays at a Motel 6 and doesn't ask for anything fancier than a diet Coke and a bag of Doritos, right? Or not...

Hillary Rodham Clinton likes to travel in style.

She insists on staying in the “presidential suite” of luxury hotels that she chooses anywhere in the world, including Las Vegas.

She usually requires those who pay her six-figure fees for speeches to also provide a private jet for transportation — only a $39 million, 16-passenger Gulfstream G450 or larger will do.

And she doesn’t travel alone, relying on an entourage of a couple of “travel aides,” and a couple of advance staffers who check out her speech site in the days leading up to her appearance, much like a White House trip, according to her contract and supporting documents concerning her Oct. 13 speech at a University of Nevada, Las Vegas Foundation fundraiser.

http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/las-vegas/high-fashion-expense-hillary-travel

[libdem4life]

77. This is rich...pun intended.

[lumberjack_jeff]

78. Link please. Where do you get $500k? n/t

[HooptieWagon]

84. Still butthurt over the Vatican visit, huh?

[annavictorious]

131. What Vatican visit?

Sanders gave a 10 minute speech during a coffee break at a conference in Vatican City and then waited in a driveway in the dark to get a handshake.

What's especially delicious is that Sanders is on the short list of people who have been pwned by Pope Francis.

"Of course I'll stop my car to shake his hand. And because he's claiming that he didn't come to Rome as a publicity stunt, I'm sure he'll understand why I won't allow photos."

[beachbum bob]

85. illegal use of campaign funs...no surprise considering that sanders beleives laws and rules don't

apply to him or his followers


this IS an indictable offense


sanders in prison could be pretty funny

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

98. How do you know that campaign funds were used,

and if they were, that it was illegal? And do you really think anyone managing that campaign would be foolish enough to spend campaign funds illegally on an event that was that well-publicized? All campaign receipts and expenditures have to be reported to the FEC and are subject to audit. Nobody would be dumb enough to use campaign funds illegally in such a public manner. You have to be a lot sneakier, like by laundering them through a charitable foundation.

[beachbum bob]

104. sanders is dumb enough and his campaign team is dumb enough

...sheer arrogance that rules don't apply to them are countless examples.....Campaign Finance Laws clearly state that candidates are prohibited from using campaign funds to finance non-campaign related trips or vacations.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

113. For such dumb people they have done remarkably well, wouldn't you say?

And comments like yours certainly are doing nothing to further party unity. I doubt your heroine would be at all proud of them.

You didn't answer my original question, either.

[beachbum bob]

119. party unity at this point isn't my concern and I doubt hillary cares either way with what I say

sanders has done well because most of his followers are have no idea of his actual record and history...and to hillary's credit...she never bother a lot with talking about bernie and his record or past


and neither did the media...to keep sanders in the primaries


keeping interest is the media's goal as it keeps viewers

[dembotoz]

88. Poster has a point don't see hrc giving half a shit about poor folks

[larkrake]

92. I wouldnt know, ask Hillary, shes the big spender, has been all her married life

[Nanjeanne]

93. Where is the info on the half million? I see a menu and a hotel site.

I'm probably missing something. I've flown to Rome a few times in business class with similar menus. I've booked my return trip that I'm taking in a few months again. My ticket was just a little over $2000. Right now flights are about $3000. I know that hotel as well although I haven't stayed there. In April you can get a nice room for about 450-550 euro. Maybe less on short notice. Of course if you want an exclusive suite room it's going to cost more maybe even 1000-1500 euro. a lot of money but for a night or two I don't see where the $500,000 figure is coming from. Is there a link?

[larkrake]

102. it is totally made up, a lie

[Nanjeanne]

105. Ya think? Have you seen the website this info came from? Politicade? Crazy.

[riderinthestorm]

97. I can’t believe that this trip still generates this much venom from Hillary supporters

SMH.

Crazy.

[larkrake]

101. she wasnt invited to speak, had to burn

[Tarc]

110. Ahh yes, the famous "speech". On the undercard, 10 minutes allotted, right before lunch

[jillan]

116. Omg - are you still upset about this? Honey, get some help.

It was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Do you never do anything spontaneous because an opportunity presented itself?
That is what life is about.

He left NY during an important primary because this meant so much to him.

It saddens me to see someone so upset about another person opening the door when opportunity knocked.

[arely staircase]

120. Must be nice. nt

[AgingAmerican]

123. Every claim you make turns out false in the end

Oooooh! Aiiiirrplane fooood!!

[joeybee12]

124. I don't know if I'd call it a junket, I'd call it pandering

That backfired on him big time.

[Agnosticsherbet]

126. I viseted Rome once, courtesy of my Uncle Sam

I stayed in these lush accommodations.



Getting me there with 5999 of my dearest friends was a bit pricey.

[leftinportland]

129. What is the purpose of this post...

You post this f'ing phoney accusation disguised in snark and do not reply to a single reply. Posts like this are like the provacateurs at political rallys...just stirring up shit because you can.

[whistler162]

134. That was 500,000 Lira wasn't it or $288.03 US

right!

[Nye Bevan]

141. Hey, someone can eat coriander crab salad while taking a trip to Rome on a private jet,

and still be an enemy of the oligarchy and a friend of the working class.

[cherokeeprogressive]

144. Go post this in Castle Bansalot where someone cares.

Because here, no one does.