Bernie supporters....

[ThinkCritically]

As a Bernie supporter myself, I believe we have to get behind Hillary as soon as possible. It's not imperative for the November election that we throw our support behind her because Donald Trump is trashing the republican party and it wouldn't matter which democrat ran against him. He is still going to lose.

It's important we give her our support because she will be working to implement big parts of Bernies platform. We will be electing more representatives and senators and can utilize the DNC AND Bernies network to get the most progressive people elected. She will also be choosing very important SCOTUS judges and we could end up with a 7-2 split in favor of democrats. If we give her our support we can use our voice to stress the importance of picking judges who will overturn citizens united. She has already stated on several occasions that she is on board with overturning that decision.

Another point I would like to make is that Elizabeth Warren truly believes HRC will combat wall street using Dodd Frank, move toward single payer health care, and work on making college tuition free. We all know Elizabeth Warren means business when she talks about breaking up the big financial institutions and holding them accountable. So when she comes out publicly and says HRC will go after them, you kind of have to believe she will. I don't think EW would put herself in a bad position, especially on that issue.

Sometimes it takes big steps to make things happen and this is one of those times. If Hillary doesn't follow through then we can hold her accountable for it later. But at this point in time I believe it is in our best interest to give the lady our support and try to move forward with Bernies platform.

[Hortensis]

1. Why don't we take a little break from this stuff?

There's more than enough of this poke-poke-poking in many extremely recent threads.

[John Poet]

2. What problem can you POSSIBLY have with this OP ?

It's a "unity" post, for Christ sake.

[randome]

4. Yes, but the Sanders supporters need to grieve alone for a while.

Most of them will come around to supporting Clinton because they know there is much more at stake than just one man.

[John Poet]

5. Sure, but I doubt the poster in question had that in mind.

They tend to lean in the other direction...

[Hortensis]

9. Yes, Randome. That's exactly what I was thinking.

[EffieBlack]

24. Grieve alone?

This is politics and politics are often disappointing. But no one died. One's candidate losing an election is very disappointing and frustrating - I've been there many times myself - but it's not a tragedy.

I'm sorry if people are taking it so hard - I really mean that. But I hope they'll get past this feeling soon because, as you said, we have much more at stake than one man. Bernie's going to be just fine.

[JudyM]

30. We have not had a candidate of Sanders' ilk "many times"... Those of us who found his particular

areas of focus essential to our view of democratic principles of governance are not going to just dust ourselves off and say oh well, on to Clinton. If that's how you see it then you do not understand the depth of it for us.

[EffieBlack]

31. You're not the first people who thought their candidate was all that and a bag of chips

People are always disappointed when their candidate doesn't win. Some are devastated. It may be YOUR first time feeling this way, but this is no different than many other campaigns.

[AgadorSparticus]

33. Never truer words!!!

[libdem4life]

35. My, my...a bit huffy. A bag of chips. How classy. And like McGovern,

for some of us...yes, there is a big difference. It's not "just" a campaign and getting our fee-fees bruised. Good lord have mercy, it's a philosophy. There is a Lot of Difference. Not surprised you didn't catch the difference/nuances.

[EffieBlack]

39. If it's truly a philosophy and not just about one man, there's a long game and a big picture.

Losing one primary election is a setback, not a tragedy. You should look at the much bigger picture and keep moving forward recognizing that sometimes you will win and sometimes you will lose. The only way this is a tragedy is if this is only about this one particular candidate - which would mean this is not a movement or a philosophy but a cult.

And, FYI, McGovern isn't the only big disappointment people have had in the past. Once when I was bemoaning a losing campaign as if it was the end of the world, my friend's father asked me, "How do you think we felt in 1956 when Adlai Stevenson lost for the SECOND time and it looked like we'd never have another chance to get out of the hole we were in." He pointed out that this was before the Voting Rights Act, before the Civil Rights Act when things were MUCH worse than they are now. But they didn't give up, they stayed involved and engaged and four years later, they got JFK elected.

Perspective.

[libdem4life]

45. Thank you for sharing. This isn't the 50s or the 60s. This is the age of

Social Media...instant global media.

I don't recall a "man" (or woman) who has had a real vision since then. I'm sure you'll correct me, regardless.

This is the season of the disaffected...Republican and Democrat...a national malaise. And as boorish as Trump is, he reflects the other side of that malaise/angst. And he doesn't even have a mission...just money and buffoonery.

Oh, and in 1956 I was accompanying my father to our little Nebraska airport taking turns using binoculars for "Incoming Commies". Our radio was constantly blaring.

But thank god/dess for television because that was the bump JFK needed.

Point: There is no meaningful history for politics devoid of the media that transfers it to us. Then there was Truman...he lost, right? Newspapers.

Perspective, to be sure.

[randome]

44. You're right, of course.

[840high]

25. I agree. Plenty of time.

[calimary]

3. Thank you, ThinkCritically.

[peace13]

6. I appreciate the awesomeness of being together on DU.

I feel no rush as I sit with an open mind. By simply being here, I have promised to support the candidate and play nicely. That seems good to me right now. I do want to say that your last paragraph kinda scares me though. If you were in advertising you probably would have left that part out.

[randr]

7. I intend to support and work for Hillary now that my chosen candidate has lost

I also intend to hold her feet to the fire and push for the changes I want just as I have with Obama.
Last time I looked we still live in a free country and as long as I can remember freedom requires an informed and active electorate.

[kstewart33]

42. Sounds good to me.

[Chan790]

8. I generally conditionally believe this.

I'm grudgingly supporting Hillary, pending her VP choice.

If she chooses Kaine or Booker (or another right-of-her Democrat), it's going to be real clear that she didn't learn a goddamned thing from this primary season about the make-up of the electorate and the direction of the party...and that's going to make it real hard to believe she's not going to govern like the reactionary center-rightist that progressives accused her of being.

She'll still get my vote, but I'll be making good on that promise to start beating the drum on Nov. 10, 2016 for a 2020 primary to unseat her in favor of a progressive Democrat.

[KMOD]

15. You are voting based on VP choice?

Who are the potential choices you would be reassured with?

The electorate chose Hillary Clinton by pretty high margins.

[Chan790]

20. Warren, Brown, Perez...other progressives.

Generally, I think whoever she chooses is who she is implicitly endorsing to be her successor in what she hopes will be 8 years. Even a moderate would be acceptable.

Either Castro would be disheartening.

Booker and Kaine...she can go jump in a lake. There is no support within the party for Democrats to the right of her, Webb's DOA candidacy demonstrated that.

[KMOD]

23. Honestly, I don't think either Booker or Kaine

will be chosen.

At this point there seems to be a high chance it might be Senator Warren. I also think Rep. Xavier Becerra will be high on the list. There are most likely other candidates who are not currently on anyone's radar at the moment.

[Chan790]

28. I'd like Becerra.

I hadn't heard his name in days and I assumed he was out of consideration.

[ThinkCritically]

59. You have to remember....

we are not dealing with an election where she has to go to the right to win. She can actually go left and have a blow out. I think she probably understands that she doesn't need a center aligned VP like usual.

[corkhead]

10. Election 2016: I made a sigline graphic just for the occasion

[Bleacher Creature]

11. SCOTUS, SCOTUS, SCOTUS, SCOTUS . . .

I support Clinton for a variety of reasons, but if anyone really isn't convinced yet, control of the Supreme Court really should be the beginning and end of the analysis.

[rhett o rick]

12. "It's important we give her our support because she will be working to implement big parts of Bernie

platform." I am sorry but I don't believe that for a second. We had a bitter fight for the nomination because the Progressives and the Clinton side are miles and miles apart on issues.

It's important to give her our support because the Powers That Be are threatening us with Trump.

[KMOD]

18. They are not miles apart.

The republican voters have gone completely insane with selecting Trump. But it's not shocking considering how they've been acting the past 8 years.

Democratic voters chose Hillary Clinton quite overwhelmingly.

You should do whatever you feel is best for you. But you are not representative of the majority of Democrats.

[rhett o rick]

58. How about the min wage? or the TPP? or Fracking? Or the invasion of Iraq?

How about legalizing medical marijuana? or Prisons For Profits? How about a hawkish foreign policy?

What issues are they not miles apart?

[840high]

26. I read an article recently that

said just that "the Dem party is threatening people with Trump."

[KMOD]

34. hahahahaha

I would love to read that. Do you have a link?

[840high]

52. It was email from either

Common Dreams or another email I get daily. Can't remember now. I thought it was spot on.

[KMOD]

36. What was in Bernie's platform, that was not covered

in Hillary's platform as well?

[kstewart33]

43. Opposite ends?

What political spectrum are you using?

[okasha]

56. From blue-green to green-blue, apparently.

[libdem4life]

46. Yep. Can anyone honestly see HRC marching with union members?

Therein lies the chasm, IMO. It boils down to workers vs. management. Haves vs. Have Nots. Simple as that. There is very, very little inbetween, again, IMO.

[840high]

53. Agreed.

[StrictlyRockers]

13. I'll fall in line when the time is right.

The time is not right. At the convention, maybe. Not before. Wait for it.

[CobaltBlue]

14. ThinkCritically—I think we are in for a Democratic landslide Election 2016…

The U.S. Senate is poised to flip from Republican to Democratic.

If that happens, Donald Trump—attempting to win a Republican pickup of the presidency—will definitely lose. (If he was going to win, the Rs would gain seats.)

Go back to the 17th Amendment from the 1910s. Every presidential election since which saw at least one house of Congress flip party control…did so for the same party which won the presidency.

[Thinkingabout]

17. It would be wonder to have a super majority in the Senate, it would make confirming

Justices and bring back a more liberal SC.

[Logical]

22. I do not think that will happen. Too many states have jury rigged their districts. nt

[CobaltBlue]

64. Logical—Average states carried, post-1980s, is 29…

Most electoral votes won was in 1996 by the re-election of Bill Clinton—a total of 379.

I know.

However, and this site doesn’t encourage discussions general addressing Republicans, I think Team Red has a disaster with their top nominee Donald Trump.

One way you can tell is when influential party figures are disavowing, claiming they will not support, the party’s presidential nominee.

Donald Trump is the kind of Republican presidential nominee who can deliver a Democratic presidential landslide if 400–range of electoral votes to the nominee from Team Blue.

Recent polls have Hillary Clinton at +11, +12, +14—which, given 2008 and 2012 average of 130 million presidential votes cast, means winning by between 14.3 and 18.2 million raw votes nationwide. (In 2012, President Obama was re-elected by about 5 million nationwide.) That is a huge 2012-to-2016 Democratic shift. And any shift, in whichever party’s direction, moves the map.

We are less than five months from scheduled Election Day—November 8, 2016—and the two parties’ conventions are next month. So, this may not be salvageable, like reducing down to 3 to 5 a deficit, for the GOP during the remaining timeframe.

Given the numerous landslide elections of the 20th century—in which 400-vote landslides were reached in 1912, 1920, 1928, 1932, 1936, 1940, 1944, 1952, 1956, 1964, 1972, 1980, 1984, and 1988—we are overdue for another landslide presidential election. It may happen here in 2016.

[liberalnarb]

16. I agree.

We need to support Hillary for President while supporting Bernie for Precedent. We must work to make the Democratic Nominee President while supporting Bernie's push for a Progressive platform at the convention.

[libdem4life]

47. Bernie for Precedent...Love it !!!

[JaneyVee]

19. I love Hillz, but we need Liz as VP.

To help hold her accountable.

[Logical]

21. I agree, and the Hillary supporters need to stop making rude comments about Bernie.

[brer cat]

48. Is that a two way street?

[Logical]

51. I'll tell the Bernie fans the same thing! And alert It!

[CobaltBlue]

63. Logical—It is a resistance to change.

That is why that goes on.

There seems to be this strange human nature to American people who, when it comes to politics, they feel disturbed by protests and actions calling for change. And they feel that even if they know that such change is necessary.

Human nature can be very odd.

[Eric J in MN]

27. Single Payer and free tuition?

Re: "Elizabeth Warren truly believes HRC will...move toward single payer health care, and work on making college tuition free."

I haven't heard Warren or HRC say they want Single Payer or free tuition.

[Buddyblazon]

65. I have heard HRC say that single payer...

will never happen. And in just the last few months.

[k8conant]

29. Of course, I cannot yet support Hillary Clinton

because I am a National Delegate from West Virginia for Bernie Sanders, who won all 55 counties of our state.

Because we have no official nominee yet, I will support Bernie Sanders. (NB: Although the TOS says I shouldn't be fighting the last primary, I am not. I am still in the present primary until the convention. That is doing things decently and in order.)

After the primary, I will decide whom to support for President and Vice President.

[KMOD]

37. the primary is over.

I assume you meant to say after the convention.

[k8conant]

38. No, I consider the roll call vote at the convention to be the end of the primary.

[KMOD]

40. OK

[athena]

41. That is not the position of DU.

DU considers the primary to be over. According to DU's management, the goal now is to support the Democratic nominee to ensure that she wins in November. It might be a good idea to hang out somewhere else until you, too, come to the same conclusion.

[k8conant]

50. I am being civil, I am not bashing Hillary, and

I am supporting Bernie and his reform efforts going into the convention (having been elected as a pledged Bernie delegate).

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1013&pid=7292

[840high]

54. Good.

[Lord Magus]

57. That makes no sense.

Your only obligation as a delegate is to vote for the candidate you're pledged to when the roll call vote is held at the convention. That does not obligate you to refuse support for the winner of the primary as she campaigns in the general election. There is no "present primary" because every state and territory has already voted.

[bravenak]

55. I think we should give them a bit more time

Many will come around if not pressured and may feel bullied by the calls for them to back Hillary at this time. I think that if we give them space they will decide on their own to back Hillary over Donald. The polls show that most are going to vote for Hillary.

[aikoaiko]

60. I'd feel foolish believing HRC. I'll end up voting for her, but not with any hope.

I don't trust her and I don't believe anything she says, but Trump is a catastrophe for America and I will vote accordingly.

[ThinkCritically]

61. Here's the deal...

We have to face the fact that Bernie is not going to be the nominee. He even said this himself today. What that means is we have to utilize this convention to push for the most important parts of Bernies platform. The main one being overturning citizens united. Once that happens, we can start getting these establishment politicians who are paid off by corporations OUT. That is step one. If you value Bernies platform and what he wanted to accomplish then you will continue pushing for it in the most efficient way possible. And that means supporting Hillary Clinton at this time. She will turn left, I guarantee it. And we will see it happen either before or at the convention in Philly. We've already seen some clues that she is going to do that. The biggest, most glaring, clue is what Elizabeth Warren said. Refer back to the OP about that.

[aikoaiko]

62. Go ahead without me. I don't have it in me to support the Clinton machine. All they get is a vote.

Your guarantee of HRC turning left means nothing to me and EW is not a prophet.

I'll wait to see action and results.

[TheKentuckian]

66. You are in no position to back up your "guarantee" and as such it isn't one. I know "I predict"

doesn't sound as good but that is all you got.

Likewise for Warren, she has significantly more pull than you but still very little to no power to back up any verbal check she writes here.