Bernie had alot more leverage a few weeks ago.

[DCBob]

Tonight he just got trounced in the final primary and is farther behind in delegates that he has ever been. Trump is self destructing, Hillary is peaking and nearly all big name Democrats and liberal organizations have endorsed her. Bernie's stature and significance and relevance are all shrinking by the minute.

He should have dropped out weeks ago when his leverage was higher.. he could have negotiated for more of what he wanted.

[tallahasseedem]

1. I agree...

and after his press conference today, I'm wondering if they should even give him a prime time speaking gig.

[DCBob]

2. If he keeps saying stuff like that there is no way he gets a speaking spot.

[jimw81]

33. Nope not a chance

Longer he plays these games more likely he wouldn't get the early night speaking time. At this point Bernie is screwing Berine.

[ucrdem]

3. He probably could have been veep, in fact he probably still could if he worked it

but I don't think he wants it. Frankly I don't think he wants to be a Democrat. He's not a big tent guy, but that's who he is and he's being true to his vision. He doesn't really need to do much more now than try not kick up a stink in Philly. A rueful speech and polite endorsement would be nice, but that's not really his style either, so he might just fax it in and spend his time at his own counter-convention, and that would be peachy. It won't matter to the outcome which is strictly Punch and Judy at this point.

So to Bernie and his idealistic supporters I salute you. As far as I can tell the damage isn't permanent and it was an exciting year.

[DCBob]

5. I like your comment "So to Bernie and his idealistic supporters I salute you"

I second that. It was an amazing campaign.. no one could have predicted this... even Bernie!

[ucrdem]

8. Yes he was kind of a foil to Trump

I'm not sure where that leaves his voters but I think the worst that could happen would be a zero sum i.e. a 2- or even 3-way split that canceled out any advantage to Trump. That's why I don't think it much matters what he does at this point but it would be far better of course if he could work up some enthusiasm for the ticket. I guess he'll keep surprising us LOL.

[Hortensis]

44. Third that here too. :)

I personally really doubt he ever had a chance of being asked to be VP, though, no matter how he has managed to ignite higher aspirations in Americans. Remember, what we've been learning about his personality and character over this primary season was already well known to his colleagues.

Republican presidents may swing wildly from adopting nincompoops for electoral advantage and then keeping them "outside" to allowing other VPs to usurp presidential authority, but Democratic presidents have been going a very different direction. VP Biden is a partner to President Obama, participating in antiterrorism sessions, undertaking special missions, etc., etc. Even if Sanders' age didn't pose a very serious problem as running mate for a 68/69-year-old candidate, why on earth would Clinton consider "partnering" with a cranky hornet?

[Demsrule86]

6. Great comment and true. nt.

[JudyM]

7. He wouldn't gain anything by being vp in her administration. What power would she give him?

He's better off being free of any controlling influence on her part. He will have more influence without her. It was an exciting primary, best ever. While it lasted. Good luck to your candidate and thanks for the salute.

[ucrdem]

9. Thanks and likewise!

[larkrake]

30. support, not endorsement

[Demsrule86]

46. There is no support without endorsement

Oh, vote for the other candidate...I did not endorse her but do it anyway...nonsense...I doubt he can deliver his voters anyway...time to walk away...Bernie who? And hope bob is a small sub-group. I think it is.

[peace13]

51. Pretty sure Bernie would not want to be VP under Clinton.

Her disrespect to him over the course of the campaign would not permit that. When the time comes I am certain that he will give her the generous, ego stroking speech that you are looking for. When the time is right and not before that.

[BootinUp]

4. Yes, as many predicted. nt

[MoonRiver]

10. That's what I've been saying.

Bernie is becoming irrelevant.

[azurnoir]

21. I'm sure that's what Hillary told him earlier this evening when they met

after all if he has so little influence why ever would she need him on her campaign trail, right?

[kerry-is-my-prez]

24. She needs him and his supporters. Especially his supporters.

[azurnoir]

25. But here we are being told how insignificant Bernie is

and aren't hs supporters young white males who love rallies but do not vote anyway, at least that's what I've read, I would think Hillary would not need such support

[kerry-is-my-prez]

72. Hillarie's, Obama's, Reid's, and Biden's actions and the rest of the parties actions say otherwise.

Don't pay attention to a bunch of people who have their panties in a wad half the the time. I've said all kinds of dumb things throughout the years. "I'll never vote for so-and-so."

[Armstead]

43. So 43 percent of primary voters are irrelevant too?

Good luck with that in November....and into the future

[metroins]

57. No, only a few of them are irrelevant

The Bernie or Busters

A very small loud minority. The same people who think Republicans and Democrats are the same, despite SCOTUS. The one's who think Trump would be a okay.

Those irrational voters are irrelevant.

[NWCorona]

11. That's if the DNC doesn't think the long game.

There's gonna be ups and downs and there will be come a time where Bernie's supporter's will be needed and I'm sure the DNC is cognizant of that.

Also you should reword this.

"Hillary is peaking and nearly all big name Democrats and liberal organizations have endorsed her."

Peaking this early is something even I don't want happening.

[LoverOfLiberty]

61. Peaking in the sense

of the Democratic primary, though you might say that it is a natural phenomenon once the likely outcome is obvious. In other words, since Hillary had effectively won the nomination, more people were likely to vote for her as the primaries wound down.

[Adrahil]

12. I think that's more or less right.

I think if he had negotiated a suspension of his campaign after California, he would have had the most power. Emotions were still high, people still considered him. He wanted to see the Primaries out and that's cool, but his power and influence is waning fast. If he wants ANY influence on events, he needs to act in the next couple of days. The last couple of days have reminded a lot of people of what is on the line here. His influence will all have evaporated by Philadelphia.

[larkrake]

29. baloney. It is not dems that Hillary needs, it is indys and progressives

[randome]

64. She has them. What she doesn't have is the BOB-ers.

[Tarc]

13. Sanders lost much of his leverage when Warren endorsed Clinton

He isn't as key as he thinks he is to the progressive vote.

[Gothmog]

14. Sanders does not have much leverage given California and DC

[sufrommich]

15. Yes be did. He should have struck while the iron was hot.

Now he's an irrelevant gadfly. Naderesque

[Armstead]

35. What is striking?

Give up and quietly walk away and just let Clinton snd the Corporate Dems take it all over and tell the 43 percent who voted for him to screw off?

All Hail the Party of Her Glorious Majesty and the Kingdom of Goldman

That would make him an irrelevant sychophsnt of the Holy Succession of the Royal Coupke and the Court of Monsanto

Riiiiiiiiiiiiight.

[sufrommich]

55. Hillary Clinton won the goddamned election.Every fucking

4 years someone wins and someone loses. Usually the loser loses gracefully,Sanders has made himself the exception,.Someone feels entitled and it ain't Hillary.

[Armstead]

56. Clinton felt entitled after 2008...and was rewarded with a key cabinet position

Bernie is fighting to keep the 43 percent who supported him AND HIS MESSAGE AND GOALS from being ignored and marginalized once again.

Clinton bargained for a perch from which to run again.

Who is/was acting entitled?

[metroins]

58. Bernie

Because Hillary now has a platform.

Bernie will fade into almost nothing because his bargaining position is melting away. Had he suspended and endorsed, he could be on the campaign trail pulling Hillary left and championing her as a progressive while getting more air time and possibly a cabinet position from which he could do something.

Continuing to act like a ..... only gets him nothing and he will fade like he's done for 25 years in elected office.

He's just not realistic. In order to effect change, you have to act. Speeches only go so far, at some point you have to actually get something accomplished.

[sufrommich]

59. You have no idea if Clinton "bargained for a perch",I see a lot of

Sanders supporters make that claim as if her role as SOS gives Bernie a right to be an asshole about losing. I'll make this prediction though,Bernie's no longer speaking for most of the voters who voted for him,they've moved on to the General. He's speaking for his small group of PUMAs now.

[LuvLoogie]

60. Bernie IS making it about him and what HE wants.

Why is it OK for him to legislatively cooperate with the Democratic establishment and sign compromise bills like the ACA and the 90s crime bill? But it's not okay for millennials and other of his supporters to join with the Democratic establishment?

Rather than give his supporters the best chance in the primary, he chose to cover for his logistical shortcomings with lawsuits and accusations of rigging and bias--further alienating his supporters from the process from which he has comfortably fed since he was 40.

[Live and Learn]

16. Bernie doesn't need or want your leverage. nt

[w4rma]

17. What a surprise. Another nasty Clintonite thread about how they need but don't need progressives. nt

[Demsrule86]

49. You are not progressive.

[peace13]

54. Yes, if only progressives were more like disposable wipes.

She could use us and then dispose of us properly, as the package reads.

[Doctor_J]

18. you authoritarians just don't get it, and never will.

sanders does not care about leverage, or getting to speak in prime time at the convention. he believes that the American people are entitled to healthcare, decent wages, a good education, and clean air and water, and that the Democratic Party should fight for them. he also knows that mrs Clinton doesn't believe any of these things. he wants the party to be the progressive powerhouse it was for all those decades, instead of the republicans whipping boys.

[TheKentuckian]

20. Fuckin A, Bubba!

Of course they tried to hide.


On Wed Jun 15, 2016, 01:25 AM an alert was sent on the following post:

you authoritarians just don't get it, and never will.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=2186824

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Time for nasty personal attacks has passed. No more bashing Democrats or their supporters.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Wed Jun 15, 2016, 01:33 AM, and the Jury voted 2-5 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Enough!
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Wtf, this post is innocuous
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Rules in GD haven't changed yet. Sorry. 
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No way, no how would I remotely consider hiding this post. Thanks for pointing it out though.
TheKentuckian
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Not nasty, -- or personal, -- or false! Sheesh! 
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Just please stop. Sanders is not perfect and Clinton is not evil incarnate. 

[zonkers]

26. Wow. Just wow. Beware the thread cleansers.

[Armstead]

36. Love your response comment

[DCBob]

41. Authoritarian?? You are the one who sounds like an authoritarian.

This is not BernieUnderground. Other viewpoints are allowed.

Furthermore yout miss my point entirely. I am suggesting Bernie could have gained more towards the goals he has campaigned on had he negotiated earlier. It seems now he is more focused on exacting revenge on the party.

[Demsrule86]

50. Oh I think he does

But I will enjoy watching him not get anything...I have come to despise him.

[treestar]

63. "Mrs. Clinton doesn't believe in any of those things"

you've created a fictional Hillary and continue to believe in it.

[Renew Deal]

19. Bernie has destroyed his reputation

and his legacy

[CorkySt.Clair]

23. +1

Spot on. Or it is if you're not completely delusional.

[Armstead]

38. He "destroyed" his reputation the day he challenged the Annointment

Anyone who dared to stand up against the Royal Succession would hsve been tarred anf feathered by the followers of the Royal Corporate Coupke

[peace13]

52. He did what he had to do.

I doubt he worried about his reputation. In any event he has had an awesome campaign. He has engaged Americans and offered his energy to try and save us from ourselves. He continues to represent the American people. I agree with you. Hill is still in shock that he had the audacity to put her to the trouble of campaigning for what was rightfully hers.

[azurnoir]

22. Then obviously he isn't needed on Hillary's campaign trail

-I'm sure that's she told him at their meeting

[Maru Kitteh]

27. There is sound logic to that view.

[larkrake]

28. no, she is not peaking. She peaked the day she entered the race and has been going

downhill to almost a tie. She has a good distance to get as low as trump, a whole 3 percentage points. Bernie dropping out will give her a bump, but it wont last unless she works for it. It is her job and her job alone.

Johnson is climbing fast but I dont know who he is drawing. If he gets into the debates, he will be a spoiler for one of them.

If the RNC replaces Trump, all bets are off

[tirebiter]

31. Wanna bet?

Hillary has a 12 point spread over Trump.

[aikoaiko]

32. I trust Bernie to make these decisions for himself.

[highprincipleswork]

34. Luckily how much leverage he has has nothing to do with your personal opinion but

with reality. Just like what finally happens with the race, the final nomination tallies and events and so on, what shall be shall be. And Bernie is doing what he thinks is right in terms of representing almost half the people who voted in the Democratic primaries and doing all he can do to ensure that their point of view is not simply discarded.

As President Obama and Hillary have done, I applaud him for fighting so hard to bring new people into the Party, for getting them enthused, and for raising important issues.

As long as he believes that staying in accomplishes these worthwhile goals, I am pleased to depend on his judgement and to let him do it.

[NCTraveler]

37. Clinton finished very strong. Nt

[peace13]

53. Good thing. How many did she lose in a row, before her strong finish?

[LuvLoogie]

62. She had a strong start, a strong middle, and a strong finish.

Bernie had one good little streak, which was anticipated.

[NCTraveler]

68. I would have to look it up. Not one hundred percent sure.

She sure had a strong finish when we were told that is where she would be at her worst as people got to know Sanders. Seems the exact opposite happened.

What are the results from NJ and Cali. They went pretty solid for her, right? And DC?

[peace13]

69. They are still looking at CA.

Election discrepancy and fraud suits are to be filed in the next week or so, after CA results are in. This lawsuit is not against Hill but against the fraud that used her to impact thee race as I understand it.

http://www.gregpalast.com/placebo-ballots-stealing-california-bernie-using-old-gop-vote-snatching-trick/

https://electionfraud2016.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/major-election-fraud-suits-being-filed-trustvote-org/

These investigations are about the process jot the candidates.

[NCTraveler]

70. I understand. I think Clinton will expand here lead.

Great finish for Clinton.

[peace13]

71. Good luck to you. : )

[Armstead]

39. Yes he should just have slunk away and left 43 percent stranded

Last edited Wed Jun 15, 2016, 06:35 AM - Edit history (1)

We are not her royal subjects. Sanders is representing our desire to have a voice.

43 Percent. Not 8 percent or 17 percent.

He doesn't have to beg the Royal Court as an individual. He represents US and we will not be ignored.

[DCBob]

48. Its basically a team sport and Bernie and his supporters are on the Dem team.. correct??

Hillary is going to be elected the leader of this team.. that was obvious many weeks ago. To defeat the other team we need cooperation and teamwork from all team members. Somehow I dont get the feeling Bernie and his supporters feel that way at all. They seem to look at other Democrats in an adversarial way. That's wrong and just helps the GOP. The sooner he concedes and endorses Hillary the better it will be for everyone.

[obamanut2012]

40. I was thinking that too, yesterday

[stevenleser]

42. He has until Monday before any influence starts to become moot.

If you are an advisor to Hillary you are telling her that you give Sanders until Monday to officially drop out and endorse her.

If that doesn't happen, It affects his role at the convention. Every week between now and July 25 with all votes counted, no primary happening and Hillary being the presumptive nominee, liberal groups endorsing her, etc., the value of his endorsement erodes until by mid July it wouldn't swing any votes. By that time any Sanders supporters who would be on board are on board without his help.

An endorsement between now and end of day on Monday and you probably give him a prime time speaking slot. If he endorses after that he might get a speaking slot during the day at some point during the convention. If he doesn't endorse he has no role at all.

Some folks here are asserting he doesn't want a role, I very much doubt that. He wants a prime time speaking slot if for no other reason than to outline one last time in front of a very large audience his vision for how America should be.

[MrMickeysMom]

45. So easy to sit inside the bubble with that dictum ....

dicta, dicta, dicta....

That, and $1.25 gets a cup of coffee at 7-11.

[randome]

65. Agree with everything you said. But Sanders was never much of a politician.

Never much for working well with others. His lack of endorsements from Congress tells us that much. He lacks the diplomatic skills needed to wade through 535 Congressional allies/enemies.

If there is to be a revolution, we need someone else to lead it.

[workinclasszero]

66. Very true

He doesn't play well with others at all.

[DCBob]

67. Good point..

He was the wrong guy with the right message.

[Logical]

73. Stirring up more shit for no reason. No idea why. nt

[DCBob]

75. This is a political discussion board.

This is a valid topic for discussion. Nothing to do with 'shit stirring '.

[Stuckinthebush]

74. He overplayed his hand

His relevance and power have both diminished greatly. It will be a good case study for future poly sci classes

[DCBob]

76. Indeed.

It's been a unique fascinating campaign.