My recent interactions with real life "Bernie people"

[democrattotheend]

As some of you know, I supported Bernie in 2016 but am not supporting him in the primaries this year. In 2016, I volunteered for his campaign a couple times in New York in advance of the primary, so for the past 6 months I've gotten text messages from at least five different people who are either campaign staff or volunteers asking if I can volunteer to help get signatures to get his name on the ballot or come to a debate watch party. Each time, I politely tell them that I am not supporting Bernie in the primaries this year, but will support him if he gets the nomination.

Based on all of the stories we've heard in the media recently, you're probably expecting me to say that I've been the victim of nasty attacks by Bernie Bros calling me a sellout and a corporate shill. Except, that's not what happened. Not once.

Most of the people who texted me just said thanks for letting them know. One or two politely asked me who I was supporting, and when I responded that I didn't know, but gave them my reasons for not supporting Bernie this time, they remained polite and thanked me for responding.

They seem to be slightly disorganized here, based on how many different people have contacted me, but they have all been polite and nothing like the "Bernie Bros" we keep hearing about from the media.

This is just anecdotal, obviously, but it makes me wonder how many of the nasty "supporters", especially online, are actually Bernie supporters. My grandfather told me once that Nixon used to send people to burn American flags at anti-war rallies in order to discredit the anti-war movement, and I would not be at all surprised if Trump's campaign (or some third party group) is doing something similar.

[mr_lebowski]

1. I went and saw the Jimmy Dore Show last weekend cause a friend had a free ticket

and I don't get out much, so I figured ... what the hell.

It was a sold-out Bernie/Tulsi crowd, and they were absolutely HORRIBLE (as was Jimmy Dore of course). I got my 2 drink minimum out the way, and I couldn't sign my check fast enough and GTFO long before it ended.

The Democratic Party, Hillary, Nancy, Pete, Joe, Obama, Liz, Amy, Bloomberg, Rachel ... you name 'em, they all came up ... but when he talked about anyone who wasn't Bernie, Tulsi, Nina Turner, etc, they were LOUDLY booed by the boisterous crowd.

Some other tidbits ... The Russia Investigation was ridiculed, and Hillary mocked for mentioning that Russia's efforts had ANYthing to do with her losing the election. Assange is a fucking HERO. The parties were called 'two sides of the same coin' over and over. Democrats are just as big of warmongers as Republicans, in fact, Hillary is more of one than Trump. 'Blue No Matter Who' was ridiculed, to much mirth among the throng. Nancy was ridiculed for tearing up Trumps speech, as was Michael Moore for having the temerity to applaud Nancy for doing so.

Oh, and get this ... Tulsi is such a brave soul that she mentioned in an interview (which Jimmy proudly put on screen) that it was terrible that the US is spending $5B/month in Afghanistan while people are still drinking bottled water in Flint, or something to that effect.

To hear Jimmy tell it, this was like something no Democrat had previously ever hinted at (them being warmongers and all), but that NOW you're seeing the other candidates 'catching up' with Tulsi's bold, pioneering, trendsetting sentiments about how waging war takes away money that could be used for people back home.

No, this crowd is for real, I saw 'em w/my own eyes and ears. If it weren't for their singing along to a song called 'If You Ain't Been Called A Red' (which was actually the best part of the show, song was clever), I'd have sworn it was a Far Right crowd.

[QualTest]

2. What's your point?

[mr_lebowski]

5. Really? nt

[krissey]

8. That was my response after reading the post. I wanted to hear what you had to say.

kind of funny.

Really? What is the point? Lol

[QualTest]

11. Yes, Really...

This just seems like some screed, without a point.

What are you trying to say, succinctly, about some person,
candidate, or campaign?

Good, bad, indifferent? Should we vote, or not vote for this person, because of...X?

Just sounds like you had some conversations, and were somehow unsatisfied.

So, what's your point? REALLY?

[mr_lebowski]

13. You obviously didn't read the post ... I mentioned ZERO 'conversations' in it.

Should you truly seek 'the point', then I would humbly suggest you start over, read the OP I responded to, then read my post.

The 'point' I'm making, in response to the OP, should really be pretty obvious.

[True Blue American]

19. Maybe I am dumb

I got the point right away Mr. Lebowski!



BTW, I dislike his show, too!

[John Fante]

26. Probably that the crowd was loaded with Progressives In Name Only?

[NBachers]

3. I see what your point is.

[GoneOffShore]

4. First I'd heard of Dore. Then I went and looked at his RationalWiki page.

He's just as crazy as Alex Jones.
Even second hand it's like wading through a toxic waste dump.

[airmid]

15. I support Bernie and I think Jimmy Dore is as nuts as Alex Jones. That goes for a lot of these

conspiracy based shows, right and left. I sometimes think pundits and wannabe journalists are the scourge of the internet. I hate when I ask for sources and someone gives a youtube video of some blowhard and his theories. And having been an admin in a couple of political groups, I've seen a lot of these. And I can say there are some pretty awful run-ins with people professing to be for different candidates. And yes, I have been attacked by "Berner" before while trying to calm down the bs that passes for research. People think there is Trump derangement syndrome. The ridiculous bs spouted about Hillary last election and still to this day was and is insane. I had issues with Hillary....ON POLICY. But some of these people were just plain nuts. Some times I wonder how many were real and how many were bots and Russian trolls. That's why I have just stepped back from a lot but if I hear Bernie folks spouting completely inaccurate emotionally driven bs, I have to say something.

[bitterross]

6. Bernie is not a Democrat. People keep forgetting that fact.

Bernie is not a Democrat. It strikes me as odd and really dumb that people are upset the DNC doesn't support a person who is not part of the party.

My reading is Bernie wants to be an outsider and he'd like to burn down the Democratic party. That's a perfectly fine position to take if you want. Everyone is entitled to their position.

It's not a position to take and then expect a lot of love from people who are Democrats though.

[QualTest]

7. Yeah..

But, they're super happy to support Bloomberg who's really a Republican.
So, spare me your pearl clutching...

It only seems to work for you when it's Bernie you want to crap on...

[mr_lebowski]

10. Bloomberg is not 'really a Republican' though ... that's where your logic falls flat ...

For my part I'm not crapping on Bernie, I like Bernie okay ... it's a certain segment of his followers I can't truck with.

[QualTest]

12. Really?

Read this and see if you continue to believe that:

https://www.commondreams.org/views/2020/02/14/democratic-presidential-candidate-michael-bloomberg-gop-bankroller

[mr_lebowski]

14. And Donald Trump used to brag that he gave money to both sides, including to Hillary IIRC ...

Does that mean he's 'really a Democrat'?

Hmmm?

[bitterross]

16. At least he formally declared being a member. Can't say I like him though.

I don't like him as a candidate at all. You are absolutely correct that he is a Republican. He only has SOME socially liberal positions and he just dislikes Trump. He's no more of a Democrat than Trump is a Republican. We'd be fools to think otherwise. He's only in a dick-waving, pissing match with Trump. He doesn't really give a shit about the country, IMHO.

The ONLY thing I like is that he's spending tons of money taunting Trump.

I don't own any pearls. If I did, they'd be the nice, natural ones. I don't see how pointing out the obvious is clutching pearls. I didn't go all "hair on fire" about anything. Didn't suggest that he be burned at the stake. I just pointed out the obvious.

[krissey]

9. You know, I agree. It makes no sense. I have talked to Sanders people mad, blaming the Democratic

party for Sanders loss because they preferred HRC. What do they expect.

[mr_lebowski]

17. I actually supported Bernie in 2016 until Hillary whupped his butt in the Primary ...

And when I heard from whinging Bernie supporters how awful it was that the DNC favored Hillary ... I said to myself the exact same thing you just said, and that was the end of it for me. He's not a Democrat. In fact, he's PROUDLY not a Democrat. WTF should people expect from the DEMOCRATIC National Committee?

If you were at the Dore show, you would've heard a whole lot about how Bernie would've won the Primary if it weren't for Hillary's grand conspiracy carried out in cahoots with the DNC.

But at the same time, it was RIDICULOUS that Russia could've had ANYthing to do with Hillary not winning the General. A totally silly conspiracy theory on her part.

OH, and did I mention ... Pete Buttigieg OBVIOUSLY stole Iowa from Bernie ... you know, cause his campaign gave money to the company that ran the failed app they were using. NO QUESTION about that conspiracy being true.

Conversely, Assange was obviously framed for a fake conspiracy involving Russia.

All of these things he threw out were met with roars of approval from the crowd.

LIke I say, I didn't stay for all of it but I would be entirely unsurprised to hear that after I left he called for Roger Stone to be exonerated and freed, and that the Bernie/Tulsi crowd cheered. Not even kidding.

[krissey]

18. For five years Sanders created this mentality of hate. He pumped it, fed it, encouraged it

and applauds the hate. Then he says "all" campaigns should behave shifting the blame of misbehaving to everyone not holding his accountable.

[True Blue American]

20. If I wanted hate

I would back Trump.

On Another note I saw Alex Jones on the History channel speaking as if he were an expert.

[aikoaiko]

22. And yet Bernie IS getting a lot of love from Democrats

[Joinfortmill]

21. Must have been a surreal experience

I often think, but don't say out loud that these Bernie Bros are very much like Maga guys.

[BlueIdaho]

28. There is a reason for that.

Both Bernie and Trump use populist tactics. I suggest everyone look into populism - it’s pretty toxic and a real danger to a functioning democracy.

[Laelth]

23. That's both interesting and informative. Thank you. n/t

-Laelth

[democrattotheend]

24. I really don't get Tulsi at all

How is it that she's simultaneously a darling of the far left and Fox News? It doesn't make any sense.

[mr_lebowski]

25. Because both entities hate the Democratic Party and believe Tulsi does too?

And if you go far enough left or right something something back where you started ...

[samnsara]

27. the one person who contacted me via text was just as polite as well