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Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

boston bean

(36,186 posts)
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:35 PM Feb 2020

Can you imagine a brokered convention where Bernie is not nominated?

It will be bloody. It will be awful.

the new rules the Justice Party foisted upon the party are likely to increase the odds of one though. Which is quite ironic if you were to ask me.

We can’t let temper tantrums decide though or intimidate.

Either they will come along or relegate us all to the dustbin of history. Past is prologue.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
47 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Can you imagine a brokered convention where Bernie is not nominated? (Original Post) boston bean Feb 2020 OP
Yes. I can imagine any number of secenarios... abqtommy Feb 2020 #1
convention will be fine nobuddy Feb 2020 #2
seems as if handmade34 Feb 2020 #3
Careful. It's getting dangerous to say such things. Squinch Feb 2020 #6
whew... at this point handmade34 Feb 2020 #7
"Immature stinky brat." Best description evah!!! Squinch Feb 2020 #10
Yes. If he ends up with only 30% of the vote there will be a natural push pnwmom Feb 2020 #4
YES. Which is one reason I support Liz. MH1 Feb 2020 #46
Especially if it's a brokered convention that hands the nomination to a former Bush/Cheney jalan48 Feb 2020 #5
It would be an unmitigated disaster. jcmaine72 Feb 2020 #8
It's sad we have come to this. jalan48 Feb 2020 #9
See here: Garrett78 Feb 2020 #17
Well said! Thanks for sharing. jalan48 Feb 2020 #19
If Bernie has won a plurality of votes andym Feb 2020 #11
The Hill is a "conservative source?" wyldwolf Feb 2020 #15
The Hill is not terrible, but it has a right-center bias with a pro-Trump owner andym Feb 2020 #22
thanks. That got right past me. wyldwolf Feb 2020 #29
Yeah customerserviceguy Feb 2020 #30
I would not be surprised considering what happened in 2016. honest.abe Feb 2020 #12
Some would love to see another 1968-type melee wyldwolf Feb 2020 #13
And Trump is at the top of that list customerserviceguy Feb 2020 #32
It should turn out to be like any other convention. Aaron Pereira Feb 2020 #14
The attempt to hijack it isn't without (somewhat) recent precedent, though. wyldwolf Feb 2020 #18
What happens customerserviceguy Feb 2020 #34
If that happens the bought off superdelegates are going to famous. Aaron Pereira Feb 2020 #36
I'd like to be as optimistic as you are customerserviceguy Feb 2020 #37
If the leader going into the convention is not nominated, we are doomed. LonePirate Feb 2020 #16
yup floppyboo Feb 2020 #23
Not the way it works thanks to the JusticeParty. boston bean Feb 2020 #41
You are essentially making my point. If they choose someone besides the leader, we are doomed. LonePirate Feb 2020 #42
If no one is above 50%, then my humble opinion is second ballot decides. boston bean Feb 2020 #44
If Bernie does not have the most delegates going in, he's not going to be nominated. thesquanderer Feb 2020 #20
I don't think Skidmore Feb 2020 #21
you are referring to Bloomberg's takeover? floppyboo Feb 2020 #24
well, the complaint use to super delegates were deciding... boston bean Feb 2020 #25
Just stop with the super delegates nonsense. redstatebluegirl Feb 2020 #28
You are preaching to the wrong choir. boston bean Feb 2020 #33
Yes. kentuck Feb 2020 #26
Yes of course. redstatebluegirl Feb 2020 #27
Recommended. H2O Man Feb 2020 #31
There has not been a brokered convention since 1952, and won't be one this year. Zolorp Feb 2020 #35
It's a feature, not a bug. Happy Hoosier Feb 2020 #38
No! myohmy2 Feb 2020 #39
sanders would kill down ballot candidates and so super delegates will likely not support him Gothmog Feb 2020 #40
If Bernie goes into the convention with a clear plurality but not quite an outright majority totodeinhere Feb 2020 #43
Yes, next question? nt. BlueIdaho Feb 2020 #45
At some point the DNC/Party will have to make some TOUGH decisions Moderateguy Feb 2020 #47
 

abqtommy

(14,118 posts)
1. Yes. I can imagine any number of secenarios...
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:37 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

nobuddy

(215 posts)
2. convention will be fine
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:37 PM
Feb 2020

everyone will get on board and will have a place in a Bloomberg government

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

handmade34

(22,755 posts)
3. seems as if
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:37 PM
Feb 2020

some Bernie supporters are as unhinged as trump supporters

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Squinch

(50,773 posts)
6. Careful. It's getting dangerous to say such things.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:40 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

handmade34

(22,755 posts)
7. whew... at this point
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:43 PM
Feb 2020

I have gotten too old to not tell my truth... anyone who would refuse to back any candidate against trump is an immature stinky brat that will be complicit in the destruction of our Country...

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Squinch

(50,773 posts)
10. "Immature stinky brat." Best description evah!!!
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:51 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

pnwmom

(108,925 posts)
4. Yes. If he ends up with only 30% of the vote there will be a natural push
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:39 PM
Feb 2020

to find someone more Democrats would be happy with.

Perhaps EW would be that person, since her policies are like Bernie's but she doesn't scorn the rest of the party.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

MH1

(17,537 posts)
46. YES. Which is one reason I support Liz.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 08:28 PM
Feb 2020

I think she has the best potential for unifying the party.

She has progressive policies but I think she has the understanding and willingness to go through the necessary process to get some improvements even if not getting everything all at once. Which makes her better than the "magical thinking" candidate.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

jalan48

(13,797 posts)
5. Especially if it's a brokered convention that hands the nomination to a former Bush/Cheney
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:40 PM
Feb 2020

Republican. The turnout will be abysmal for Democrats.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

jcmaine72

(1,773 posts)
8. It would be an unmitigated disaster.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:44 PM
Feb 2020

But don't tell that to any of the "It's okay. He did all that horrible shit years ago" crowd here.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

jalan48

(13,797 posts)
9. It's sad we have come to this.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:50 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

jalan48

(13,797 posts)
19. Well said! Thanks for sharing.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 02:05 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

andym

(5,441 posts)
11. If Bernie has won a plurality of votes
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:54 PM
Feb 2020

then many of his supporters will probably not agree to anyone else, since he would be the winner in their eyes even if he had only 30% of the delegates)-- although let's see what happens when we get there.

The thing is, a convention without a majority was one of the scenarios Bernie's campaign people thought was possible and favorable to them in 2019. At least that's what David Sirota stated in an interview by the Hill (warning conservative source) on 6/12/19.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

wyldwolf

(43,865 posts)
15. The Hill is a "conservative source?"
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:59 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

andym

(5,441 posts)
22. The Hill is not terrible, but it has a right-center bias with a pro-Trump owner
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 02:10 PM
Feb 2020
https://mediabiasfactcheck.com/the-hill/

But the current owner Jimmy Finkelstein has been injecting pro-Trump bias into that organization
https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/18/media/jimmy-finkelstein-the-hill-ukraine/index.html

"New York (CNN Business)James "Jimmy" Finkelstein, the owner of The Hill newspaper, is not a widely known media executive, but he is one of the era's most consequential.

Finkelstein resides at the nexus of President Trump, Rudy Giuliani, and John Solomon, the now-former executive at The Hill and current Fox News contributor who pushed conspiracy theories about Ukraine into the public conversation.

While Solomon has received significant media attention for his work at The Hill, Finkelstein has stayed out of the headlines, despite having himself played a crucial role in the saga.

Beyond his relationship with Solomon, Trump, and Giuliani, Finkelstein was Solomon's direct supervisor at The Hill and created the conditions which permitted Solomon to publish his conspiratorial stories without the traditional oversight implemented at news outlets.

And he has kept a watchful eye on the newspaper's coverage to ensure it is not too critical of the President. As one former veteran employee of The Hill told CNN Business, "Solomon is a symptom of the larger problem of Jimmy Finkelstein.""
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

wyldwolf

(43,865 posts)
29. thanks. That got right past me.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 02:48 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
30. Yeah
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 02:51 PM
Feb 2020

the Hill's not as bad as Fox News, but that's like calling Moe the "smart Stooge."

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

honest.abe

(8,556 posts)
12. I would not be surprised considering what happened in 2016.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:55 PM
Feb 2020

However, it would be extremely foolish, self-defeating and ultimately a disaster for all things they care about. The Democratic Party is all what stands between us and Dictator Trump.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

wyldwolf

(43,865 posts)
13. Some would love to see another 1968-type melee
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:57 PM
Feb 2020

Brogressives and Republicans.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
32. And Trump is at the top of that list
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 02:53 PM
Feb 2020

After the nastiness in Chicago in 1968, Tricky Dick could cruise to victory even with George Wallace bleeding off the votes of the worst racists in all fifty states.

And don't think that Nixon wasn't as hated then as Trump is today.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Aaron Pereira

(383 posts)
14. It should turn out to be like any other convention.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 01:57 PM
Feb 2020

If Sanders goes in with a plurality of popular votes and the most delegates the convention will unify around him and he'll be the nominee as is tradition.

If he does not the leading candidate will get the nomination. Some people will be disappointed and angry but they'll move on as happens every four years with an opposition cycle contest.

I can't recall a time when the party hijacked the convention to nominate anyone other than the leading candidate and I don't think they'll start now.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

wyldwolf

(43,865 posts)
18. The attempt to hijack it isn't without (somewhat) recent precedent, though.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 02:03 PM
Feb 2020

Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
34. What happens
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 02:58 PM
Feb 2020

when Bloomie starts buying off the superdelegates? Remember, a lot of them are elected officials who would have to choose between what they've been told will be a disaster for the party in November with Sanders at the top of the ticket, or bucketloads full of money from Bloomberg to help re-elections down the ballot?

Bloomie will certainly have a point if he can say, "Screw those pissed off Berniebots, I'll spend enough money to replace all of their votes." The fact that he's went from a joke to having the support of about a quarter of Democratic voters in only a month means that he may have a point.

If we don't stand for something, then we will fall for anything.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Aaron Pereira

(383 posts)
36. If that happens the bought off superdelegates are going to famous.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 04:19 PM
Feb 2020

And not in a good way. They're all going to be named, identified and the nomination process exposed as a pay-for-play sham.

Maybe it's naive but I think superdelegates are politically savvy enough to avoid a situation like that for the good of the party. Sanders supporters can't control what they do but we can ensure he walks into the convention with the most votes and the most delegates. From there it's up to the party to do the right thing or steer us into a disaster.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

customerserviceguy

(25,183 posts)
37. I'd like to be as optimistic as you are
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 04:23 PM
Feb 2020

but a month ago, I really didn't believe that Bloomberg would have as many defenders HERE as he has. This is a strange election so far, and it may well get even stranger.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

LonePirate

(13,386 posts)
16. If the leader going into the convention is not nominated, we are doomed.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 02:00 PM
Feb 2020

I don’t care who that leader is, be it Biden, Bloomberg, Sanders or someone else. If the delegate leader at the start of the convention is not the nominee at the end of the convention, we will be inflicting a lot of unnecessary trouble upon us, enough so to hand the election to 45 as supporters of the scorned candidate sit home or vote red.

People need to stop trying to game the process by using super delegates or delegates of another candidate to deny the delegate leader the nomination. The race would need to be very tight among three or more candidates for any chance of the delegate leader not being nominated and the nominee being unscathed as a result.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

boston bean

(36,186 posts)
41. Not the way it works thanks to the JusticeParty.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 06:14 PM
Feb 2020

Super delegates and other delegate holder have much more power on the second ballot.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

LonePirate

(13,386 posts)
42. You are essentially making my point. If they choose someone besides the leader, we are doomed.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 06:19 PM
Feb 2020

If party insiders and elites end up choosing someone besides the delegate leader, they will be creating a massive firestorm that amounts to overturning the will of the people. Surely you don’t think that is a good idea.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

boston bean

(36,186 posts)
44. If no one is above 50%, then my humble opinion is second ballot decides.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 08:21 PM
Feb 2020

because that is the system and super delegates and other candidates now have even MORE power than they did in 2016. And neither you, I or anyone else will have control.

And who' is at fault for this... welp, the justice party.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

thesquanderer

(11,954 posts)
20. If Bernie does not have the most delegates going in, he's not going to be nominated.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 02:07 PM
Feb 2020

Even if he does, it's not a sure thing. But... definitely not if he doesn't.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Skidmore

(37,364 posts)
21. I don't think
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 02:08 PM
Feb 2020

such a scenario is ironic under those rules which were devised to guarantee such a hostile takeover of the party.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

floppyboo

(2,461 posts)
24. you are referring to Bloomberg's takeover?
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 02:15 PM
Feb 2020

What he is doing was illegal up til '76

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

boston bean

(36,186 posts)
25. well, the complaint use to super delegates were deciding...
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 02:28 PM
Feb 2020

Welp, superdelegates have even more say now.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

redstatebluegirl

(12,264 posts)
28. Just stop with the super delegates nonsense.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 02:35 PM
Feb 2020

We have to win this time around, no chances can be taken. I am so tired of hearing about how the super delegates stole 2016 from Bernie, he would have been handed his lunch in 2016 much worse than Secretary Clinton. The ads write themselves.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

boston bean

(36,186 posts)
33. You are preaching to the wrong choir.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 02:55 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

kentuck

(110,950 posts)
26. Yes.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 02:32 PM
Feb 2020

But, if he has a plurality, it would be difficult to keep him off the ticket.

However, for example, if the two top "moderates" joined forces, they would probably have more votes than he?

It is very likely no one will end up with 50% going in, in my opinion.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

H2O Man

(73,320 posts)
31. Recommended.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 02:53 PM
Feb 2020

I can imagine it, but hope that it does not happen.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Zolorp

(1,115 posts)
35. There has not been a brokered convention since 1952, and won't be one this year.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 03:03 PM
Feb 2020

We will have a presumptive nominee before we ever get t to the convention.

Every four years the media breathlessly reports on the odds of a brokered convention when there isn't a clear winner after New Hampshire.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Happy Hoosier

(7,077 posts)
38. It's a feature, not a bug.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 04:47 PM
Feb 2020

I honestly think a lot of Sanders' supporters still believe they need to destroy the Democratic party to rebuild a "true Progressive" party. They may get their way. I met the most credulous Bernie fan this weekend, and it was stunning. The guy is smart, and usually a good critical thinker. But his answer to any uncomfortable question was "I trust Bernie. He's the ONE." Ugh.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Gothmog

(143,999 posts)
40. sanders would kill down ballot candidates and so super delegates will likely not support him
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 05:46 PM
Feb 2020

I know a number of super delegates and they are worried about down ballot candidates and will be hesitant to support a candidate who may result in Speaker Kevin McCarthy

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

totodeinhere

(13,034 posts)
43. If Bernie goes into the convention with a clear plurality but not quite an outright majority
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 06:26 PM
Feb 2020

and they take it away from him on the second ballot we lose in November. It would be a repeat of 1968 only worse.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

BlueIdaho

(13,582 posts)
45. Yes, next question? nt.
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 08:22 PM
Feb 2020
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Moderateguy

(945 posts)
47. At some point the DNC/Party will have to make some TOUGH decisions
Tue Feb 18, 2020, 08:49 PM
Feb 2020

If Bernie does not have enough delegates to get the nomination on the first ballot. If he does there is no question he's the nominee baring an event that disqualifies him (another health scare etc.)

Right now, a lot of people are afraid that Bernie will be a disaster for the down-ticket races and will cost us the House and a few Senate seats. If this is the prevailing thought at the convention, some tough calls will have to be made.

IMO, we are screwed if Trump gets re-elected but we will be dead if we don't keep control of the House. I think Bernie will cost us the House, so the party needs to be rally around a moderate figure to not lose what little power they have. Yes, a portion of Bernie's hardcore supporters might stay at home but that is a risk we might have to take. I do not think the party can afford to risk losing all power--America would not be recognizable in two years if that happened.

I think we can come up with a compromise where the VP candidate is left of center. I like the idea of a Biden/Warren ticket; however the question of age is not answered. I do not know who else is viable and age-appropriate from the left wing who can be on the ticket.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
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