It's very simple. Putin wants Sanders to be our nominee. The GOP wants Sanders to be our nominee.

[highplainsdem]

Now, think about WHY they want that...

[pbmus]

1. What evidence??

[JustAnotherGen]

2. breaking on wapo

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287553997

I have a subscription. Will try to come back later with 4 paragraphs for you.

[Cha]

68. Thank you, Gen!

[revmclaren]

5. Here...

Bernie Sanders briefed by U.S. officials that Russia is trying to help his presidential campaign.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/bernie-sanders-briefed-by-us-officials-that-russia-is-trying-to-help-his-presidential-campaign/2020/02/21/5ad396a6-54bd-11ea-929a-64efa7482a77_story.html?utm_campaign=wp_main&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter

ONLY!!! 2020 and beyond.

[rockfordfile]

15. This sounds like something trump would put out there to hide his collusion with Russia

[totodeinhere]

39. Bingo. n/t

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

53. EXACTLY... cuz tRumpy The Clown fears the Bern, understandably!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[Aaron Pereira]

9. None. We're expected to take it as fact without supporting evidence.

Maybe someone from Omsk posted the shirtless rainbow Bernie on Facebook again.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

54. Why let facts get in the way of a good Bernie bashing!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[Aaron Pereira]

59. Fact free attacks on Bernie are translating into higher poll numbers and pushback.

Most people have learned to ask for evidence so if his opponents want to run around with their hair on fire and look like colossal morons in the process let them!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

60. EXACTLY!! This phenomenon is called the "Baseless Bernie Bashing Backlash."

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[JustAnotherGen]

10. Here's a bit

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/bernie-sanders-briefed-by-us-officials-that-russia-is-trying-to-help-his-presidential-campaign/2020/02/21/5ad396a6-54bd-11ea-929a-64efa7482a77_story.html

U.S. officials have told Sen. Bernie Sanders that Russia is attempting to help his presidential campaign as part of an effort to interfere with the Democratic contest, according to people familiar with the matter.

President Trump and lawmakers on Capitol Hill have also been informed about the Russian assistance to the Vermont senator, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence.

It is not clear what form that Russian assistance has taken. U.S. prosecutors found a Russian effort in 2016 to use social media to boost Sanders’s campaign against Hillary Clinton, part of a broader effort to hurt Clinton, sow dissension in the American electorate and ultimately help elect Donald Trump.

A spokesperson for the Sanders campaign declined to comment on the briefing by U.S. officials on Russia’s efforts.

[Gothmog]

65. Russia wants sanders because he is a weak candidate

Link to tweet

[Boulevardier]

3. A whole bunch of Democrats want Sanders to be our nominee.

Are they part of the conspiracy?

[krissey]

6. Mmmmm, pretty much open caucus and primary at this point. It is in question about the Democrats

wanting Sanders.

[Boulevardier]

19. Let's check back after Super Tuesday. That may help clarify things.

[Lordquinton]

46. Matches with the polling, so not really

Plus they could be voting for Bloomberg or Warren. Doesn't add up at all.

[Progressive dog]

18. Since Sanders will lose to Trumpon socialism alone

without factoring in his age and hidden health problems or his failure to support other Democrats, we know why Putin supports him. But no, most of his supporters are not part of any conspiracy, and neither is Bernie. Bernie is just silently profitting by Putin's help for now.

[Boulevardier]

20. Bernie has strongly denounced Russian interference and told Putin to butt out.

I just heard him say that live on CNN. Minutes ago.

[Progressive dog]

22. He still gets the help from Putin

and Putin isn't giving from the goodness of his heart.

[Boulevardier]

23. Do you blame Sanders for what Putin is doing?

[Progressive dog]

24. I blame Sanders for what he is doing,

He is running in a primary in a political party that he doesn't support.

Their take on Sanders’ role: In 2008, he got on board with Obama late. In 2012, he was either attacking the president from the left or doing little to get him elected. As for “vigorously” supporting him, they said, Sanders was not someone they thought of as a top surrogate.
“Every indication we had was that he was considering a primary challenge,” said one senior official from Obama’s 2012 campaign.
“Being annoying,” another said when asked to recall how they remembered Sanders in 2012.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/evanmcsan/the-obama-campaign-remembers-2012-very-differently-from-bern

Sanders, 73, has been preaching socialism for nearly half a century, and he cites Eugene Debs, the five-time presidential candidate of the Socialist Party of America, as his hero. But he hasn’t always embraced the label.

I myself don’t use the word socialism,” he said in 1976 in the Vermont Cynic, a student publication at the University of Vermont, “because people have been brainwashed into thinking socialism automatically means slave-labor camps, dictatorship and lack of freedom of speech.”

https://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/14-things-bernie-sanders-has-said-about-socialism-120265

[Lordquinton]

47. Except he very much does support the party

Some people disgruntled that he raises questions on hoe the party is run doesn't mean he doesn't support it, in fact he brings up the questions because he supports it.

Eugene Debs was a champion of the working class, we should all look up to him as a hero.

[Progressive dog]

63. Sanders supports a handful of Democrats

He does not support the majority views of the Democratic party.

[ehrnst]

72. Did you read his recent tweet? He equated the GOP and the Democratic Party

as obstacles that he vowed to overcome.

[ehrnst]

67. Find a sale on straw men?

[Cha]

71. Straw man lunching on

red herring?

[totodeinhere]

41. So what is Bernie supposed to do? He said he doesn't want Russian interference. So if

they interfere anyway it's not Bernie's fault.

[renate]

57. I totally believe he doesn't want their help, absolutely

And I wouldn't dream of blaming him.

But it's telling that he's the nominee that Russia wants us to have.

It's not his fault, it's not surprising, it doesn't make him or his policies bad (I support Elizabeth Warren so obviously I'm going to love 90% of Bernie's policies). But it means that Russia knows damn well that anyone with "socialist" in or around their political affiliation is not going to win a general election.

[Stuart G]

40. A whole bunch wanted McGovern to be the nominee in 72.

If I had known the outcome, I would have been for anyone else. Just because a "whole bunch" want someone, doesn't make that "someone" the best nominee.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

55. LOL... APPARENTLY!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join The Revolution!!

[Cha]

69. That has nothing to do with Russia and you

should know that.

[paulkienitz]

4. If the GOP wants Sanders as the nominee, they'd better be careful what they wish for.

[dalton99a]

7. Because Putin wants Democrats to win

Obviously

[highplainsdem]

8. Either you forgot the sarcasm smilie, or you assumed it wasn't necessary.

[Cha]

35. Obviously..

:

[myohmy2]

11. and I...

...want Bernie to be our nominee...'WHY'

...seems everyone agrees, Bernie's the best man for the job of President...

...a President Sanders will roll up his sleeves and work with anybody and everybody to get things done...

...everyone's excited about our beautiful new future President Sanders will usher in...

...you know, Bernie's quite a remarkable guy...

[Gothmog]

13. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy will be the next speaker come 2021 https://www.

Kevin McCarthy also wants sanders to be the nominee

Link to tweet

THE TUMULTUOUS POLITICAL CLIMATE has given fresh hope to REPUBLICANS, who were privately skeptical of TRUMP’S prediction that House Minority Leader KEVIN MCCARTHY will be the next speaker come 2021. Internal polling commissioned by the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE showed that voters in districts targeted by both parties are skeptical of SANDERS -- his approval rating is 42%, and disapproval stands at 53% -- which they believe will help boost their candidates for the House. In these districts, voters prefer TRUMP, 48% to 43%. If SANDERS is atop the ticket, Republicans believe, they can credibly label every Democrat a socialist without fear of overreach.

[Cha]

36. And, I don't

[Gothmog]

12. Bernie Sanders briefed by U.S. officials that Russia is trying to help his presidential campaign

Link to tweet

U.S. officials have told Sen. Bernie Sanders that Russia is attempting to help his presidential campaign as part of an effort to interfere with the Democratic contest, according to people familiar with the matter.

President Trump and lawmakers on Capitol Hill have also been informed about the Russian assistance to the Vermont senator, according to people familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence.

It is not clear what form that Russian assistance has taken. U.S. prosecutors found a Russian effort in 2016 to use social media to boost Sanders campaign against Hillary Clinton, part of a broader effort to hurt Clinton, sow dissension in the American electorate and ultimately help elect Donald Trump.

“I don’t care, frankly, who Putin wants to be president,” Sanders said in a statement to The Washington Post. “My message to Putin is clear: stay out of American elections, and as president I will make sure that you do.

[Squinch]

28. A month ago!

[Gothmog]

31. There is a pattern

Link to tweet

[First Speaker]

14. I'm not a Sanders supporter. But remember the old saying, be careful what you wish for...

...you just might get it. This isn't 1972. Trump isn't Nixon. Sanders isn't McGovern. November is a *long* way away. Sanders' election would be no more unlikely, on its face, that Trump's was in 2016. Just sayin'...

[Gothmog]

16. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy will be the next speaker come 2021

Kevin McCarthy also wants sanders to be the nominee

Link to tweet

THE TUMULTUOUS POLITICAL CLIMATE has given fresh hope to REPUBLICANS, who were privately skeptical of TRUMP’S prediction that House Minority Leader KEVIN MCCARTHY will be the next speaker come 2021. Internal polling commissioned by the NATIONAL REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL COMMITTEE showed that voters in districts targeted by both parties are skeptical of SANDERS -- his approval rating is 42%, and disapproval stands at 53% -- which they believe will help boost their candidates for the House. In these districts, voters prefer TRUMP, 48% to 43%. If SANDERS is atop the ticket, Republicans believe, they can credibly label every Democrat a socialist without fear of overreach.

[Boulevardier]

21. The sky is falling!

[Gothmog]

66. Here is an ad that is being runned by the grandson of GHW Bush attacking socialism

TX CD 22 is an open seat with Pete Olson retiring. The DCCC has targeted this seat for flipping. There are 15 candidates in GOP primary including the grandson of GHW Bush. Another candidate, Kathleen Wall, is running in the GOP primary and she spent $6 million in 2018 running in GOP primary for TX CD 2 and did not make GOP primary runoff. I have had Wall block walkers come to my house twice (I live in a very GOP neighborhood) and I have found Wall doorhanger on my door twice now.

Pierce Bush is running against socialism

Link to tweet

Sri Preston Kulkarni is the leading Democrat for this seat (Sri has a GOP type and another person running against him in the Texas Democratic Primary) I texted this ad to Sri and he knew about it already. Sri Preston Kulkarni is a great guy and we need to flip this seat

If sanders is the nominee, we can forget about this seat and we will have Kevin McCarthy as speaker

[redqueen]

17. He is topping polls - are the Russians messing with polls?

He has over a million individual donations - those have to be from US citizens.

People are voting for him in primaries.

This shit is getting insulting. We should all know how far the MSM will go to protect what the ruling class wants. They wanted a war in Iraq, and we all saw them happily carrying water for the MIC.

This is about enough for me. We used to be more skeptical on this site. Things have changed too much.

[d_b]

33. I had to login to reply to this one

"We used to be more skeptical on this site. Things have changed too much."



It's astonishing...the decline of DU.

[Progressive dog]

25. We all know why they want it

Putin wants the easiest candidate for Trump to beat. Since Putin rigged the last election well, there is no reason to think he isn't good at it.
The question is, whether the Democratic candidate least likely to beat Trump withdraws and supports someone with a better chance.

[still_one]

26. I suspect Sanders wants Sanders to be the nominee also

[Gothmog]

27. trump and Putin do not want Joe to be the nominee

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[highplainsdem]

29. Obviously not. Just as they didn't want HRC.

[Mike 03]

30. And Fox News and Donald Trump

Hmmmmm. Wonder what that could possibly mean?

[brewens]

32. They just want you to think that so you'll try and shut down the guy they're most

afraid of. Putin is very clever.

[Iliyah]

34. What Putin and the Republicans trying to do . . .

is to break the Democratic Party.

Democrat(ic) Establishment - instead of Democratic Party is a "real" bad thing.

I heard a commercial on my radio station I listen to and the commercial same on saying "Democrat(ic) Establishment was a bad group of people and faulting them on t-rump's acquittal and other issues.

Don't let them break us . . .

[NurseJackie]

37. Bernie knew and kept it a secret. He failed to lead. He needs to withdraw now.

[James48]

44. Oh good lord!

Leave it alone, will you?

[NurseJackie]

45. No.

[James48]

48. You all are no better that the "Q" folks.

You believe every conspiracy theory out there, don’t you?

Bernie is a fine candidate. He will win in November. Help us make that happen.

[AncientGeezer]

50. The Meuller report was a conspiracy"out there"?

[Stuart G]

38. K and R. Orignal Post says it all..

[yaesu]

42. and many Democrats want Sanders to be the nominee so the guy can't help it if he's hella popular. nt

[James48]

43. I Want Sanders to be our nominee.

He’s going to make a great President, especially with everybody working together like this.

[Ligyron]

49. If that's the case we better all help him win.

Yes, I know he's not really a Dem but he ain't Trump neither.

They'll label any Dem with the Socialist tag and we all know it.

It will be a lot more believable with him it's true, since Sanders embraces it. We just have to hope that boogeyman label doesn't frighten as many as they think it will.

But if he's the nominee or whoever, that's who we all need to vote for and I certainly will.

[Gothmog]

51. #BernieKnew is trending on twitter

Link to tweet

[Gore1FL]

52. Apparently, based on contests to date, so do a lot of Democrats.

That may change with future contests. It may not.

[Kurt V.]

56. ratio

[apcalc]

58. You must also ask yourself.....why, after all the years of

Sitting in the Senate... did Sanders decide to run for prez these last two times? ( at age 74 and 78 no less)

I have asked myself many times.

[Mike Nelson]

61. Let's not forget a major difference...

... Trump welcomes and coordinates the Russian assistance, Bernie does not...

[apcalc]

62. I wonder. He knew it last time. Did he not think they would again?

[Gothmog]

64. trump knows that he can beat a weak candidate like sanders

Link to tweet

[Bonobo]

70. Very few things are "simple" in life. Least of all the plans of intelligence agencies.

Their thinking is a wee bit more subtle than that of the average twitter dude.

[Scurrilous]

73. They heart socialism?

[totodeinhere]

74. I don't think it's that simple. You are basing this on one hit piece article in a Jeff Bezos

owned newspaper timed to hurt Bernie's chances in the Nevada caucuses. Of course it didn't work, but be that as it may, Bernie in the Oval office would be Putin's worst nightmare.