I will be leaving the Democratic Party post primary season

[Peacetrain]

and that includes if Joe Biden wins. We either have a party or we don't.

21 open primaries.. is a joke.

We are inviting the Russians to muck around in our Primaries and Caucuses.. or any other ill intended actor.

I will work my heart out for whoever get the nomination this cycle.

From next December onward, I am going to be a Liberal Independent.

I have been a Democrat all my life. At one point I could trust what we said we stood for, what we did.

Now we are like willows in the wind. Bending to every breeze

Joe I hope with all my heart you win.. and you let loose your AG on the Trump mafia. I loved how you presented that. That you would not interfere with the AG. I smile just to think about it.

[still_one]

1. Unfortunately that is exactly some factions in the Democratic Party would like you to do

[evertonfc]

2. both parties are shrinking as Independents rise

[ramen]

3. While I respect your decision, this is an area where I think we are strongest together,

and it would be better for us if you were to stay, even if there are aspects of party members you dislike. Big tents mean there are some folks on the other side of the tent from you, obviously, for better and for worse.

I gather you've checked out your options outside of the Democratic party. Why Liberal Independents in particular?

[DanTex]

4. We've had open primaries for a long time. This is nothing new.

And Russians can also much around in closed primaries. Not like it's difficult to register as a Democrat.

[11cents]

5. Are you blaming the Democratic Party for open primaries?

Open or closed primaries are a matter of state law.

[madville]

7. There are advocates for closed primaries on both sides of the spectrum

They view it as a way to get a more left or right candidate. I don;t mind closed primaries as long as they allow same day voter registration so independents and new voters have the option of declaring for a party all the way up until election day.

[rurallib]

11. that would make them only slightly better than open primaries

if at all.

[rwheeler31]

6. I am sympathetic.

It is hard to believe as important as this election is, we let the Republicans choose our candidates. I wish the media would treat all the candidates fairly, but it looks like that is too much to hope for. If Biden can pull ahead in delegates I may again have some hope.

[CentralMass]

8. Thers is zero evidence of russian interference in this Democratic primsry

It seems to be being ysed as an excuse why Sanders is ahead..

Iowa is a closed caucus. It was bungled and played politically. The result are still be recounted 18 day after it took place.
New Hampshure is niether an open or closed primary. It is state thst allows voters to declare as undeclared. Registered Democrats and republicans can not cross over in the primary Undeclared voters have to ask for which ballot they want when they vote.

[Kahuna7]

15. BREAKING: U.S. officials have told Sen. Bernie Sanders that Russia is attempting to help his campaig

Link to tweet

BREAKING: U.S. officials have told Sen. Bernie Sanders that Russia is attempting to help his presidential campaign

“My message to Putin is clear: stay out of American elections, and as president I will make sure that you do," Sanders said in a statement.

[ibegurpard]

9. Well I hope that you live in a state with an open primary then

Because otherwise you will have no say in who the Democratic nominees will be in any races up or down the ballot.

[highplainsdem]

10. Sympathies, Peacetrain.

[Peacetrain]

17. I am so upset that our government and not even our party apparatus

is taking this serious. Three years we have been screaming about the Russians.. Our party should lead the way. Tighten up our party apparatus. Go to the paper ballot on everything if we have too. Otherwise no matter who wins it will always be questioned.

[rurallib]

12. Been thinking that maybe it is time to bring back the smoke filled rooms

where only party bosses choose candidates behind the scenes.

[Awsi Dooger]

13. I have argued for that here since I joined this site

Not recently but I used to emphasize it all the time.

I absolutely think it would lead to more correct choices and fewer failures. We wold have had the correct combination of Hillary in 2008 and Obama in 2016, instead of the other way around.

If that were the case we wouldn't be in this mess

[squirecam]

19. There is no proof that would have worked.

For example, McCain would not have picked Palin in that instance. Maybe he picks Colin Powell to attempt to appeal to AA voters.

Maybe that works. Maybe it doesn’t.

[Midwestern Democrat]

21. Agreed - most people wisely live by the motto "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."

You run your strongest candidate in an election EVERY time - you don't play cute and say "We'll run the weaker candidate in this easier election so we can save the stronger candidate for a more difficult election eight years down the road - that way we'll elect two presidents instead of one" - you just might find yourself 8 years later being empty handed - you threw away the easy election and never had a chance of winning the harder election.

[Turin_C3PO]

14. So the answer is less democracy?

I don’t think so.

[rurallib]

18. Sarcasm, dude.

Lighten up a bit.

Every system has a role in it.

[Tweedy]

16. Don't give up

After the impeachment trial, surely the democrats proved themselves to you?

Every time the Democratic Party falters, a kleptocrat gets new rights to pilfer our system. It has happened all of my life.

Don't give in to the cynicism thieves would use to suffocate our Great Experiment.

It is a rough age, you know? This Internet is more of a revolution (not the '60's kind Bernie is advocating) than the printing press. Stay & help democrats succeed, please?

We need everyone's help!

[UncleNoel]

20. Perhaps major changes can be made before thenext election.

We do need to reform the process. But we need you to stand by with us. Hang in there Peacetrain.

[David__77]

22. I understand.

...