To get Bernie out, negotiate with the guy already.

[Ken Burch]

Stop the heavy-handedness and the dismissiveness.

Work out a peace deal.

That's the way to unity.

[Ned_Devine]

1. That's not how they operate

Where were you in 2008? How about around here for the past year? These people don't give a shit about unity.

[lancer78]

17. Are you serious?

Look at Clintons actions during the 2008 Democratic Convention.

[WolverineDG]

67. Exactly

Look at how the Clinton machine tore Caroline Kennedy apart when she was nominated to replace Hillary in the Senate.

They don't want our help, they don't want our votes.

[msongs]

2. gotta do the DC primary first nt

[Tal Vez]

3. I'm sure that they've been talking for a long time.

[scscholar]

4. He's already been given so much

He didn't win, but do you want to give him more than the winner?

[larkrake]

11. excuse me, what has been given to Bernie?

[Demsrule86]

52. four delegates on the platform committee and a great speech time is offered

That is plenty for the loser of the primary.

[larkrake]

70. those were earned by his 40%, try again

[grasswire]

5. Bernie is actually in the catbird seat.

He heads up a YUGE coalition of progressives and indendents, and is not obligated to turn them to bail out Hillary. He doesn't owe Hillary anything -- HE is the one generating enthusiasm and new voters, the future of the country.

As for Bernie's supporters? We did our duty. We voted for the candidate who is strongest against Trump. Already.

[RobertEarl]

6. Bernie owes us!

He owes it to us to fight all the way.

No doubt he will. He has proven he will.

[Adrahil]

36. To what end?

Just to be an asshole? There is no point in that. If he wants to stay in until thae very last primary, I can understand. But once that's over, he has to recognize reality and suspend, not quit mid you, but suspend and acknoeledge Clinton won.

[Cali_Democrat]

7. Hillary's coalition is larger. nt

[grasswire]

10. coalition of who?

DNC Democrats? And.............??

[Cali_Democrat]

13. ....

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/democratic_vote_count.html

[msongs]

14. basaed on actual vote totals, a coalition of people who actually vote! nt

[zazen]

21. I believe you mean "a coalition of people" whose votes are _counted_ n/t

[Bluenorthwest]

40. And Reagan Democrats. That's why all the love songs to Ronnie and the claims that he had

a brave and heroic AIDS policy. That's also why the antisemitic tropes were so popular. Reagan Democrats and 'people of faith' which means Christians at Rick Warren Churches.

[Miles Archer]

48. It is definitely a "different" situation. Just look at the Republican Clown Car.

The only member who hung in until the end was Ted Cruz, and in the last few primaries, there was one time where he was beaten by Ben Carson, who was long gone at that point. He really didn't build a platform to speak of...he played to the far-far-far right end of the spectrum, and only the crazed "faith healer" wing of the evangelicals embraced him, and even then it was with extreme caution. When he left, I didn't see a single conversation about giving him anything. There was an "upset stomach" vibe about his return to the Senate, where he is loathed.

That's not what happened with Sanders. He did build a "coalition of progressives and independents," many of whom are watching for his next move before they make theirs. They did not jump over to Clinton en masse, and many of the "I'm not voting for her" people...I believe...might consider it, but not if they feel that they are going to be shut out for the next four years.

You're right about Sanders. I don't see Clinton as a Progressive. I know many here have called her one...I don't completely understand how and why they label her that way, even after they explain it. And yes, there is an undeniable enthusiasm that could be channeled into votes for Clinton, but I think Sanders voters need some form of assurance that four years of a Clinton administration are going to be something other that what they believe it will be if you asked them today.

It really is that simple.

Sanders supporters got behind Sanders because he articulated a vision that matched what his supporters wanted.

If Clinton expressed the majority desires of Democrats, Sanders would have been Ben Carson, or Carly Fiorina, or Chris Christie...someone so excruciatingly disposable in the early stages of the Primaries that the thought of "working with them" after their failure to become the nominee would have been a "spray coffee on the keyboard" moment.

Whatever anyone would like to believe about Bernie Sanders, he is most certainly not "disposable."

We're not talking about a gift or tossing him a bone here.

We're talking about a man who has something to offer, but cannot offer it unless he does right by the people who stood by him. Of course, he could if he wanted to...he could just take that bone and go play in the yard like a happy pup. I don't think that's who he is. I see him as someone who is more interested in finding suitable soil that will grow and sustain the seeds he planted.

None of what I just said will changed what his detractors think about him. That's their right, just as it is their right to support Clinton, if that's what they think is best.

But in the spirit of Skinner's post about "constructive criticism about Clinton in the spirit of encouraging her to succeed"...my constructive criticism is that she can't afford to turn her back on Sanders. She can't invite his supporters to get on the train and leave their hopes and dreams and ideals on the tracks. They want something Clinton isn't offering. She needs to meet them somewhere in the middle if she wants their votes. It's her agenda, but it's our country, and she will be working for us if she gets the job, and "us" stretches far beyond the people who are on board for her right now, in this moment.

[Demsrule86]

51. Spare me the bs

None of you want Clinton to succeed. You are so bitter, many of you will do everything you can to help her lose. There is no way of knowing what can be accomplished...depends on Congress. Your so called constructive criticism will be the teardown sort until Skinner figures it out and takes action.

[librarylu]

59. Exactly

I'd like to vote FOR someone in November, not just vote against Trump.

I want to be able to get on the platform before I get on the train.

[Demsrule86]

49. Truely clueless and spiteful

But who cares? I would never expect a person of Bernie's belief system to ever do anything useful. They are the spoilers that help tear down progress...they never create anything. Oh and Bernie could never beat Trump...not in a million years would a socialist who wants to raise payroll taxes get elected.

[asuhornets]

60. "He heads up a YUGE coalition of progressives and indendents" &

will all that he lost.

[woodsprite]

63. Tends to happen when a good number of your supporters can't cast votes for various reasons. n/t

[asuhornets]

64. Whose fault is that? nt

[geek tragedy]

8. He's not a transactional politician

He doesn't know what to ask for.

[Warren DeMontague]

9. I'd like to see DWS and the other party members who support incarcerating marijuana users

rebuked in the form of a pro-legalization plank in the platform.

[lovemydog]

15. I'd like to see a pro-legalization plank

in the platform too. No one should be incarcerated over marijuana use, in my opinion.

[Warren DeMontague]

16. It's not just the right thing to do, it's supported by a majority of Americans, now.

So it's good politics. Plus it swings highly favorable with Millennials AND undercuts an entire argument of the libertarian wing of the GOP.

[B Calm]

19. If Hillary wants my vote she needs to pick up Bernie's platform on the failed drug war

on marijuana.

[Florencenj2point0]

24. vote for trump or stay home, go ahead

humiliate yourself, be on the wrong side of history

[Jester Messiah]

27. Ok.

Just remember you said that.

[B Calm]

32. Something tells me you are a disrupter.

[Warren DeMontague]

34. Funny to say "wrong side of history" in a conversation about a position supported by most Americans

http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Quinnipiac-poll-finds-majority-support-marijuana-7965467.php

Someone's on the wrong side of history, I think.

[Demsrule86]

45. Right because

she can wag her finger. And magically, all will accomplished...I want a unicorn. The way to end the failed drug war is not to wait for the feds which with the current House GOP majority is not happening but to take it to the states. Legalize marijuana on the state level. This would be the easiest quickest way. yesterday, Kasich signed a medical Marijuana bill in Ohio... it is a start.

[Joe the Revelator]

28. Preach.

[Demsrule86]

46. I agree

But the president does not have that kind of power...without Congress. How about asking for things that might be possible?

[Bluenorthwest]

47. Even the slow minds of politics will manage to figure out that Hillary lost all four States with

legalized cannabis by large margins.

[eastwestdem]

12. I don't know...kind of enjoying all these Bernie jokes on late night tv... nt

[tarheelsunc]

18. He's been negotiated with too much already.

He's received more concessions than any primary loser in history. This isn't about negotiation, it's about whether or not Bernie really gives a damn about whether the next president is a Democrat or Trump.

[B Calm]

20. This is about negotiations with Bernie supporters, not Bernie.

[Florencenj2point0]

23. The majority of Bernie supporters....

have already said they are voting for Hillary. You all really are not holding us hostage, so sorry. Go vote for tRump if you want.

[B Calm]

31. Go vote for Trump if you want, now why in the fuck are you so divisive to say that? Did

I say I support Trump?

[Demsrule86]

41. And I think

Bernie is spiteful enough to Want Hillary Clinton to lose.

[Florencenj2point0]

22. HELL NO!

Screw him, he gets nothing! He has done nothing but attack and destroy. He thinks he is way more important than he is and he needs to drop out and endorse Hillary. If not he can expect to get a speaking slot around 2pm the first day of the convention with someone ready to kill his mic at a moments notice.

[Matt_in_STL]

33. It is people like you who make me want to hire a glass repair company for that broken ceiling.

[msanthrope]

25. The strategy of most ignoring him while he sputters out seems to working just fine.

He has lost his leverage.

[Jack Bone]

26. Senate Majority Leader? nt

[Demsrule86]

39. No way

He would be terrible at it...he had one endorsement in the Senate.

[Jack Bone]

44. as a longtime independant he can work across the aisle better

than any other democrat. IJS

[Demsrule86]

54. No he can't. The Senate does not like him. nt

[TwilightZone]

57. Independent doesn't mean "in the middle"

For the most part, it means leaning one way or the other. In Sanders' case, it means leaning further left than most Democrats. For that reason, the Republicans are less likely to work with him than just about any other Democrat.

Not sure where you guys come up with this stuff.

[Jack Bone]

58. doesn't carry all of the baggage that someone that has been in party leadership. nt

[NCTraveler]

29. They are. Nt

[baldguy]

30. The loser doesn't get to make demands on the winner.

At least, not before the loser capitulates, concedes his defeat, and offers the winner his support.

[apnu]

35. Probably negotiations will happen at the Thursday meeting.

That's what politians do, negotiate things. Bernie has been horse trading in DC for 30 years.

[Fumesucker]

37. ...

[Demsrule86]

38. He already got convention goodies

So what should we do? What should we give him? He did after all lose and it feels like blackmail to many of us.

[B Calm]

42. So what should we do? Pick up Bernie's stance on the failed drug war!

[auntpurl]

53. I am not against this, in principle

although I think the idea should be focus-tested to ensure it will not hurt her in the GE. She has a lot of older voters - how to they tend to fall on the issue?

[Demsrule86]

56. How?

I don't know any Democrat and many Republicans for that matter who don't want to end the drug war...but Congress is still GOP and they won't...so how does one end it as president...wag your finger and then what?

[TheKentuckian]

68. Scheduling doesn't require Congress nor does enforcement directives nor do pardons.

Don't account for in budget proposals.

You know show some resistance to the stupid idea.

[Demsrule86]

69. You have not given me one concrete idea

Ok we want an expansion for Social Security...what is the first step to get this done...walk me through how it is accomplished ...start to finish.

[TheKentuckian]

71. The stupid and failed Drug War was what I was talking about, the moving parts are not apples

to apples comparable to a Social Security expansion.

I don't get what it is to miss about changing drug scheduling, issuing pardons, or deleting the funding from budget proposals. What does solid mean to you?

[Warren DeMontague]

43. Allow me to summarize, here, the responses from the "Judge Smails" contingent

[Miles Archer]

61. That's to be expected.

I'm through trying to "justify" Sanders. The people who see it see it, and the people who don't wear it like some kind of badge of honor, and I have neither the time or interest to play in that particular sandbox.

[DCBob]

50. It works both ways to negotiate.

[SidDithers]

55. The time for that was a month or two ago...

There's no need to "get him out" now. He's already out.

Sid