Should the Democratic Nominee be a Democrat???

[PubliusEnigma]

Yes.

[CousinIT]

1. Preferably, yes.

If the nominee isn't a Democrat and we have to choose between that and Trump. I'll chose the nominee. Whoever it is.

[mindem]

2. Yes

Enough with the squatters.

[ripcord]

75. So you would have rather Bernie run third party? (NT)

[KewlKat]

77. Well, if Bernie could run third party now, why didn't he just run 3rd party in the beginning

rather than run as a Dem? It's not like he's not been thru the process before. He went back to an Independent after the loss the last time rather then stick as a Dem.

[RandiFan1290]

3. If you have a problem with anyone that is running

You should take it up with the DNC.

[PubliusEnigma]

5. Or they could just join the Democratic Party, like the rest of us did. It's easy, if you mean it.

[RandiFan1290]

7. Looks like it isn't necessary.

Time to move on

[LakeArenal]

12. No it isn't time to move on.

See? That’s how opinion works.

[RandiFan1290]

14. Take it up with the DNC

Bernie 2020!!!

[LakeArenal]

17. Good deflection.

[Dave in VA]

37. You mean the Democratic Establishment

that is letting BS run in the primaries? The same establishment that he is planning to destroy?

I guess that us lifelong Democrats are just a one night stand? Use us when convenient then call us names when in public?

Just asking for a friend...

[PatSeg]

55. Oh snap!!!

[ehrnst]

56. Why? What would that accomplish?

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. Yes.

At the very least, have them officially registered as a (D)

[Mariana]

40. There is no party registration in Vermont.

https://sos.vermont.gov/elections/voters/voter-faqs/#q9

[TheCowsCameHome]

41. I had no idea Vermont has no Democratic Party.

Live and learn, I guess.

Thanks.

[MichMan]

54. So every single Vermont state and local elected official is also an independent?

Yet we know that Vermont's other Senator and the congressional representatives are either R or D. How can that be?

[still_one]

6. Yes, and eliminate Open Primaries

[liberal N proud]

8. My thoughts exactly

[BlueMTexpat]

11. +1! eom

[VarryOn]

15. I'm with you on that one!

Here in Arkansas we have one. It will not surprise me if Sanders wins here on Super Tuesday. And if he does, it'll be because of Republicans.

[apcalc]

27. And Eliminate these stupid caucuses. This 'crossover' stuff is bull.

I like PA-closed primary.

[still_one]

31. ++

[2naSalit]

9. Absolutely.

[BlueMTexpat]

10. Absolutely! eom

[totodeinhere]

13. As long as they are running for the Democratic nomination that's good enough for me.

And apparently that's OK with a plurality of Democrats who are telling pollsters that Bernie is their first choice.

[apcalc]

28. You don't know if that is Democrats or people pretending to be.

I say they are pretenders.

I don’t know ANY Dems who prefer Mr Sanders.

In fact , they detest him.

That said, I do not live on the coast.

[totodeinhere]

35. You are relying on anecdotal evidence. Whereas, at least pollsters are using scientific

polling techniques which should filter out invalid responses. But that said, yes sometimes pollsters can be wrong. We will get some real results however today in Nevada and next week in South Carolina.

[apcalc]

42. You are correct, my evidence is anecdotal.

I am generalizing from the specific.

Then again, I know these people aren’t lying.

[Progressive dog]

16. Yes and hopefully the convention will

pick one.
I can't imagine that a majority of the Democratic convention delegates will vote for someone who has tried to paint the Democratic party as just another "establishment" that stands in the way of his vision of America. I am certain that if they do, Trump will be re-elected, and maybe with "establishment" Democrats no longer in office to oppose him.

[BlueIdaho]

18. Yes!

We’re a big tent party, not a no tent party.

[Sunsky]

19. Yes.

[Peacetrain]

20. Yes!!! We are the Democratic Party..not the blasted Independent Party

or and off shoot of the Republican Party.. We are the Democrats.. the oldest political party in the United States..

[Raftergirl]

21. Yes.

I felt this way in 2016 and I feel the same now.

I was a Blue No Matter Who until yesterday. But he will not get my vote (or my money or my calling into swing states to GOTV) in Nov. if he is the nominee. I am the “establishment” and he told me to eff off - that he doesn’t need me. He will get his wish.

[SCantiGOP]

22. The Democratic nominee should be

An American at least 35 years old.
I’m kind of fond of the Constitution.

[CentralMass]

23. Bernie signed a DNC loyality pledge back in March that stated he would run as

and govern as a Democrat if he were to win the nomination.
Bernie caucuses with the Democrats and serves and has served on numerous Senate committees

[Jersey Devil]

24. Then why aren't the Democats good enough for him to join?

If he is a Democrat why does he register as an Independent except when he wants the nomination? Why does he refer to the party he is saying he will align with as the "establishment"?

[CentralMass]

26. Take it up with him. He is however good enough for millions of Demcrats.

In fact he is our choice to be President.

[TheCowsCameHome]

30. "your" choice.

Not "our".

Not yet, at least. Far from it.

[CentralMass]

39. Yes, and at least at this stage he is leading by double digits

in the polls.though I have mo doubt the hits will keep coming. It has been 19 days since the Iowa caucus and the votes are still be counted. The next caucus is today. Lets see what new issues there are with this one.

[apcalc]

45. I will wait on this " ahead" bullshit until we have a few

Closed primaries under our belts.

[TheCowsCameHome]

49. Good point.

That will get the (R) thumbs off the scales.

[CentralMass]

52. Iowa was a closed caucus. New Hampshie is neither open or closed.

In New Hampshire registered Democrats and republucan can not cross over. Voters registered as undeclared must chose which ballot they want at their polling place.

[apcalc]

57. Party activists and able bodied ppl with time.

I’m underimpressed.

[CentralMass]

62. Two states running primary elections with state Democratic party control

As well as the electorate of those two states who participated in them.

[SunSeeker]

66. Bernie is not leading by double digits. He's got 22 to 35% of the Dem vote.

The other top Dem candidates are within single digits of him.

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/president-primary-d/

[CentralMass]

68. My statement that you are replying to said leading by double digits in the polls.

RCP averages has him up 11.4 point on Joe Biden nationally.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2020/president/us/2020_democratic_presidential_nomination-6730.html

[SunSeeker]

71. Averaging 28.7% of the Democratic vote is hardly a mandate to lead pur party.

RCP averages have Bernie higher than others. Most have him up by single digits. Bloomberg's recent entry was a gift to Bernie, further diluting the massive "not Bernie" vote and mostly taking votes away from Biden.

We'll see how this week's news shakes things out.

[CentralMass]

72. It is what it is and there are months to go.

[OliverQ]

46. Maybe he follows George Washington's

teaching that political parties are divisive and destructive?

[TheCowsCameHome]

25. A young man came by and said he wanted to sleep with my daughter.

I told him he'd better marry her first.

[CentralMass]

29. You ssy this as a Bloomberg supporter eith his NDA's on the news.

[TheCowsCameHome]

32. My current choice may very well change,

in light of recent events. In fact, it probably will.

But I can tell you who it won't be.

[CentralMass]

33. I wouldn't want my daughter around him.

[evertonfc]

34. rather than a Democratic Socialist

that has supported Marxist and will get stomped in a GE? yes

[NurseJackie]

36. Yes. And someone who's loyal to the party...

Yes. And someone who's loyal to the party, not someone who has nothing but contempt for the party... not someone who smears and denigrates the party... not someone who divides and creates suspicion and resentment... not someone who thinks that the Democratic party and the GOP are "the same".

[apcalc]

47. He's putting the screws to us again....

[NurseJackie]

51. I think we're screwed anyway... the divisions he created are too deep.

I think we're screwed anyway... the divisions he created are too deep. The distrust and resentment he's promoted are too strong. Not enough Democrats will ever rally around him (from what I've observed) and none of his supporters will rally around a Democrat. And, if my observations are accurate, there can be only one outcome.

Say hello to Trump's 2nd term. Say hello to a 8-1 conservative majority in the USSC. Say goodbye to Roe. Watch marriage equality being nibbled away at the edges to the point that it begins to become meaningless.

[apcalc]

60. Well then, he succeeded in his intentions.

Something wrong when a guy sits in his ass for years and “ suddenly” get the urge to ‘right the wrongs’ at ages 74 and 78.

Effing up two elections, giving us Trump.

[NurseJackie]

61. It's part of the "burn it down" philosophy from the two extremes.

It's infuriating.

[apcalc]

67. +1

[CatMor]

38. Yes, absolutely ...

also no more caucuses and open primaries. Let's eliminate the way to cheat in primaries.

[apcalc]

48. +1

[Tom Rinaldo]

43. It should be who the voters in the Democratic Primary process want as their candidate.

Quaint notion, I know.

[OliverQ]

44. As long as they're not a Republican, don't care.

Bernie is a better ally of the Democrats than Joe Manchin is.

George Washington warned us about allegiance to political parties.

[Mme. Defarge]

50. Yes.

Maybe with something like a minimum requirement of at least two consecutive years registered as a Democrat.

[RandySF]

53. Yes

[Codeine]

58. Yes. Not an independent and not a Republican in disguise. nt

[fallout87]

59. It should be whoever wins the democratic

Nomination. Hows that for an idea

[SunSeeker]

63. Yes. It is a requirement to run in our primary.

Bernie promised his loyalty to the Democratic Party, and that he would be a member of the party, in order to run in our primary.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/bernie-sanders-signs-dnc-loyalty-pledge-i-am-member-democratic-n979696

So much for keeping his word...

[Sloumeau]

64. YES. nt

[Roy Rolling]

65. Timely

Fight that battle. All the way until a Republican is elected.

I get it, the “Bernie’s not a registered Democrat” is a card some feel they need to play to get their personal favorite to win the nomination.

Be smart. Don’t play that card. It’s a Trump card.

[TCJ70]

69. What makes a Democrat? A letter after their name...or a set of ideals? N/t

[musette_sf]

70. Yes

[intheflow]

73. He is a member of the Democratic Party.

He officially changed to D in 2019. Before that, he voted with the Democrats about 98% of the time.

Meanwhile,the DNC had no problem having former Republican and Kissenger bestie Hillary Clinton run on the D ticket. So I don't see how a senator's former political affiliation is a problem here.

[AncientGeezer]

74. No he didn't..."He officially changed to D in 2019".....and you can't source it.

He's filed in Vermont for his '24 Senate run as an Independent....
From his website....."Bernie Sanders is serving his third term in the U.S. Senate after winning re-election in 2018. His previous 16 years in the House of Representatives make him the longest serving independent member of Congress in American history. "

[d_b]

76. Ideally

Why a Democrat isn't trouncing Sanders is a more interesting question.