Sat Feb 22, 2020, 12:45 PM

If Bernie is the nominee, this is what I'll do.

I don't like Bernie. I like him less and less every day, and his latest tweet about fighting the "Democratic establishment" (you know, the people who gave him the chance to run for President and who will be supporting him if he gets the nomination) was the final straw. Nevertheless, if - God help us - he is the nominee, I will fight like a rabid wolverine to get him elected, because Trump.

But the attitude I will have is of a lawyer representing a client, and most definitely not that of a fanatically-devoted Bernie cultist. I practiced law for almost 20 years before going into a different line of work, and during that time I learned how to argue on behalf of clients I didn't like and whose behavior I disapproved of. I usually didn't have the luxury of picking and choosing my clients, so from time to time I represented insurance companies, sexual harassers, age discriminators, drunk drivers, embezzlers and drug dealers. I didn't like them or what they did but I was obligated by the rules of my profession to present the strongest argument possible on their behalf within the limits of the law and legal ethics. I couldn't lie - but I could spin. I learned how to slant the facts without misrepresenting them, and how to argue the law to the client's best advantage.

That's pretty much what I'll have to do with Bernie, because I don't like him, I don't like his attitude, I don't like the people who work for him, and I fear that he'll cost us the election. But as a lawyer I learned how to pull all manner of disingenuous and just barely truthful nonsense out of my own butt and I'll do it again. I'll pretend to believe that Bernie will give us all free health care and free college the minute he walks into the Oval Office and I'll spin it hard enough to generate enough electricity to power all of Vermont.

I will be like the lawyer who defends a convicted murderer on Death Row - not because she thinks the client is innocent but because she fervently opposes the death penalty. The re-election of Trump is the death penalty. Therefore I will defend Bernie with all the zeal I can muster to try to prevent the death penalty from being imposed on the Democratic Party and the American people, even though I know I will probably fail. (Angry Sandernistas: I'm not equating Bernie with a convicted murderer; I am merely equating his candidacy with that level of desperation).

But I hope I can campaign as an ordinary citizen for a candidate I believe in instead of as a cynical defense lawyer for one I don't.

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

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166 replies	Author	Time	Post
If Bernie is the nominee, this is what I'll do. (Original post)	The Velveteen Ocelot	Feb 2020	OP
That describes what I'll have to do if Bloomberg is the nominee, so I can relate	Tom Rinaldo	Feb 2020	#1
Bloomberg won't be the nominee.	The Velveteen Ocelot	Feb 2020	#2
I hope you're right. I couldn't	Tom Rinaldo	Feb 2020	#7
I hope not. He did an advertising blitz on cable today	Warpy	Feb 2020	#150
Me too.	jimfields33	Feb 2020	#59
Exactly	Lunabell	Feb 2020	#77
Warren is my top choice, but clearly she's not getting the nomination.	OliverQ	Feb 2020	#105
That judgement is way, way premature. We have had only 4 tiny contests, including 2 caucuses.	pnwmom	Feb 2020	#144
sounds like you think the superdelegates are your firewall	NJCher	Feb 2020	#160
That and all the PLEDGED delegates who will be released from their pledges	pnwmom	Feb 2020	#162
I can't say what I think	NJCher	Feb 2020	#163
And I will do the same if	cannabis_flower	Feb 2020	#109
Yes. Me too in everything you said. n/t	ginnyinWI	Feb 2020	#3
THIS	Zoonart	Feb 2020	#4
I applaud your honesty, my dear Velveteen Ocelot!	CaliforniaPeggy	Feb 2020	#5
you have expressed my sentiments exactly	handmade34	Feb 2020	#6
Just curious, what is your opinion of Bernie as a Vermont resident?	smirkymonkey	Feb 2020	#28
he is an ok Senator	handmade34	Feb 2020	#65
Is Sanders still campaigning on	disndat	Feb 2020	#71
If I voted based on the chances	soldierant	Feb 2020	#131
Thank you for your thoughtful post.	smirkymonkey	Feb 2020	#73
"Nose holding" occurs quite a bit.	David__77	Feb 2020	#8
This...	Moderateguy	Feb 2020	#9
I say	Rebl2	Feb 2020	#12
+1,000,000	highplainsdem	Feb 2020	#17
are you assuming he would beat Trump?	Skittles	Feb 2020	#137
Actually, until we can get some polling data on how Bloomberg would affect down ticket races if he	totodeinhere	Feb 2020	#16
Bloomberg will help us in TX, Bernie will not	Moderateguy	Feb 2020	#19
I'm glad that at least you are so sure about that.	totodeinhere	Feb 2020	#24
I live in a suburb of Dallas	Moderateguy	Feb 2020	#25
Question-	The Mouth	Feb 2020	#26
It's problematic	Moderateguy	Feb 2020	#36
Thanks	The Mouth	Feb 2020	#81
I am in rural Nevada and I have been involved in local precinct level politics for some time.	totodeinhere	Feb 2020	#27
Thanks, It is hard to get that point across	lynintenn	Feb 2020	#63
Sanders seems to be, in the words of the tv talking heads, "running away with the Latino vote."	JudyM	Feb 2020	#90
Asked on 10% of the results in Nevada	Moderateguy	Feb 2020	#91
We'll see. He seems to be connecting with them in a way that matters.	JudyM	Feb 2020	#95
I disagree	Catch2.2	Feb 2020	#120
Sanders has no historical swing state appeal outside of MOE, Biden has the most	uponit7771	Feb 2020	#151
Same here although when I vote in Presidential years it's only symbolic	OKNancy	Feb 2020	#10
I like how you think VO ... I'll try to the do the same, but I'm sure not as well ;) (nt)	mr_lebowski	Feb 2020	#11
I live in California	nini	Feb 2020	#13
Sorry but that's ridiculous.	Turin_C3PO	Feb 2020	#18
I don't care what you think	nini	Feb 2020	#29
I didn't say I would alert.	Turin_C3PO	Feb 2020	#34
Ok but like I said	nini	Feb 2020	#40
Really silly lo! nt	USALiberal	Feb 2020	#72
What??? What does the popular vote do for us if we don't	SDANation	Feb 2020	#30
Of course we need the EC	Turin_C3PO	Feb 2020	#37
That's why I'd vote for Bloomberg	Sympthsical	Feb 2020	#57
Exactly my point	nini	Feb 2020	#39
Just curious but why do we need to win the popular vote as well?	Polybius	Feb 2020	#64
Statistical ammunition to take aim at the corrupt electoral college.	lambchopp59	Feb 2020	#93
Why is that different than Bernie folks	marlakay	Feb 2020	#41
It only matters if Sanders supporters do it.	Voltaire2	Feb 2020	#42
I'd still write in a Dem..	nini	Feb 2020	#133
what I hate about the electoral college	handmade34	Feb 2020	#74
I'm in Michigan and whoever the Dem candidate is will need Michigan	gollygee	Feb 2020	#132
Great. Everybody needs to pledge support for our eventual nominee no matter who she or he turns out	totodeinhere	Feb 2020	#14
Exactly. I was on enough debate teams arguing sides I didn't agree with that I can eventually	highplainsdem	Feb 2020	#15
I hope, if he wins,	Turin_C3PO	Feb 2020	#21
Hate bernie Attitude, rudeness, very stubborn,	mshasta	Feb 2020	#108
Not that I like her much outside her anti war views, but Tulsi as vp would peel away	Lucky Luciano	Feb 2020	#47
UGH	pamdb	Feb 2020	#50
yep....	dhill926	Feb 2020	#20
I'll happily vote for whoever the nominee is.	Turin_C3PO	Feb 2020	#22
your better than me	Deero	Feb 2020	#23
*you're	RandiFan1290	Feb 2020	#31
You have expressed my attitude toward him exactly.	smirkymonkey	Feb 2020	#32
The defense rests.	Mme. Defarge	Feb 2020	#33
I'll give him my vote (and get my immediate family members to vote for him) but I will not lift a	helpisontheway	Feb 2020	#35
A lot of us have had to do the same thing in the past. Its not about feelings.	aikoaiko	Feb 2020	#38
Exactly	NOVADAVE	Feb 2020	#61
Bernie VP will be key	aeromanKC	Feb 2020	#43
No worries	bucolic_frolic	Feb 2020	#44
A fair stance.	ancianita	Feb 2020	#45
Take heart! You can still happily support down-ballot candidates!	Hermit-The-Prog	Feb 2020	#46
My feelings ecactly.	dflprincess	Feb 2020	#48
What I will do is everything I can to save the House.	RandySF	Feb 2020	#49
20%	evertonfc	Feb 2020	#51
Fellow rabid wolverine willing to stuff it, and do my best for the ultimate nominee	Mersky	Feb 2020	#52
I've always liked Sanders and still do!	ananda	Feb 2020	#53
I'm with you, VO.....	Sogo	Feb 2020	#54
Agreed. I really hope he doesn't choose Tulsi as VP	ecstatic	Feb 2020	#55
Oof.	Mersky	Feb 2020	#62
I like all the candidates. I would even vote for Bloomberg to thwart Trump corruption.	The Wielding Truth	Feb 2020	#56
Not only will I bookmark this, but I may print it out and hang it on the wall. :)	Sloumeau	Feb 2020	#58
Fair Enough	Progressive2020	Feb 2020	#60
+1000	Heartstrings	Feb 2020	#66
Here is what the Bernie Bangers will never understand...	world wide wally	Feb 2020	#67
Which may mean.	Rilgin	Feb 2020	#116
I can only wish you the best of luck...	world wide wally	Feb 2020	#130
Ok, putin & tRump have really stirred things up on DU the last few days, their cyber war seems to be	yaesu	Feb 2020	#68
I will support the nominee of the party	Gothmog	Feb 2020	#69
If Anyone Including A Ham Sandwich Is The Nominee Running Against Trump This Is What I Would Do	DanieRains	Feb 2020	#70
If Bernie is the nominee I plan on following Bernie's actions and . . .	grantcart	Feb 2020	#75
Before doing my taxes I looked at the tax rate for those European countries Bernie wants to emulate.	Old Terp	Feb 2020	#110
Denmark's top marginal rate is 60%, not counting the VAT.	The Velveteen Ocelot	Feb 2020	#112
And Denmark's taxes also do not cover all health care costs, according to what I read on Wikipedia.	highplainsdem	Feb 2020	#113
I understand how you feel. I believe Sanders will be a disaster for the Democratic Party, and that	highplainsdem	Feb 2020	#114
As a student of history, you know we are becoming what we fought.	yardwork	Feb 2020	#158
Thank you for saying what I have been thinking.	redstatebluegirl	Feb 2020	#76
Excellent post. I lasted 25 years. n/t	rzemanfl	Feb 2020	#78
I like Bernie and the others enough to fall firmly in line ...	jimlup	Feb 2020	#79
I guess I'd vote just like many Repub congressmen did...	El Supremo	Feb 2020	#80
UGH!!!!	Prue	Feb 2020	#82
I agree with your original statement	Skittles	Feb 2020	#139
We all have to be politicians sometime in our lives (grin)	Prue	Feb 2020	#156
Well said indeed. I feel the same way.	CaptainTruth	Feb 2020	#83
What's tragic is that Bernie cultists won't do the same	New Breed Leader	Feb 2020	#84
That's the dilemma. If someone like Biden or Buttigieg is nominated	The Velveteen Ocelot	Feb 2020	#87
My Concern is War and More War	McKim	Feb 2020	#134
Smearing Sanders voters is probably not a good look.	Boulevardier	Feb 2020	#149
Neither is smearing Democrats.	New Breed Leader	Feb 2020	#166
Someone in this thread says they won't vote for Sanders if the nominee.	David__77	Feb 2020	#165
Well stated.	mzmolly	Feb 2020	#85
You realize many of the 2016 Bernie supporters did exactly that for Hillary	Arazi	Feb 2020	#86
True. But many did not, and voted for Jill Stein instead.	The Velveteen Ocelot	Feb 2020	#88
More PUMAs did that to Obama than Sanders' supporters did with Hillary nt	Arazi	Feb 2020	#89
12 percent of people who voted for Sanders in the 2016 primaries voted for Trump in the GE.	The Velveteen Ocelot	Feb 2020	#96
Thank you.	Sparkly	Feb 2020	#118
I'll vote for him and then vociferously call for him to be primaried if he runs	octoberlib	Feb 2020	#92
I will work to save the House and pray that we manage to do so...we are going to lose the general...	Demsrule86	Feb 2020	#94
It took you four paragraphs to say: I'll vote for Bernie although I hate him.	YOHABLO	Feb 2020	#97
I wanted to explain why.	The Velveteen Ocelot	Feb 2020	#98
Knock yourself out then.	YOHABLO	Feb 2020	#100
Well, this is an Internet message board for politics and we're allowed to do that.	The Velveteen Ocelot	Feb 2020	#101
Like I said: knock yourself out. I also have a right to read what you wrote.	YOHABLO	Feb 2020	#103
I'm not stopping you. Suit yourself.	The Velveteen Ocelot	Feb 2020	#104
ROFL	greenjar_01	Feb 2020	#107
Just do vote blue no matter.	lambchopp59	Feb 2020	#99
He won't see dime one from me	greenjar_01	Feb 2020	#102
I like Bernie ....	Shoonra	Feb 2020	#106
+1 TVO.	MontanaMama	Feb 2020	#111
Post removed	Post removed	Feb 2020	#115
Do you give lessons?	ewagner	Feb 2020	#117
I am in a very safe state.	Sparkly	Feb 2020	#119
Is any state really safe anymore?	AirmensMom	Feb 2020	#143
Thank you.	warmfeet	Feb 2020	#121
Ah, good	krny9	Feb 2020	#122
You mean like 12% of Bernie's supporters did in 2016?	The Velveteen Ocelot	Feb 2020	#123
Well said. Not my first choice...	paleotn	Feb 2020	#124
VO, you must have been reading my mind.	badhair77	Feb 2020	#125
This message was self-deleted by its author	Sherman A1	Feb 2020	#126
You must have found it interesting enough to bother to comment,	The Velveteen Ocelot	Feb 2020	#127
This message was self-deleted by its author	Sherman A1	Feb 2020	#128
Yet you found it interesting enough to comment.	The Velveteen Ocelot	Feb 2020	#129
I don't dislike him at all	Kali	Feb 2020	#135
I intend to support whatever choice we make for a Democratic nominee fully as well because	cstanleytech	Feb 2020	#136
Maybe we should get rabid wolverine t-shirts! Blue, no matter who.	IndyOp	Feb 2020	#138
Blue no matter who.	AllyCat	Feb 2020	#140
Well said	dlk	Feb 2020	#141
Post removed	Post removed	Feb 2020	#142
I like Bernie. The way you feel about Bernie is how I feel about Bloomberg.	redqueen	Feb 2020	#145
Bernie has said all along that no one person can accomplish all that he proposes....	Doitnow	Feb 2020	#146
Whatever.	notinkansas	Feb 2020	#147
Didn't I just say I'd work my butt off to get him elected if he's the nominee?	The Velveteen Ocelot	Feb 2020	#148
If forced to vote for one less objectionable fool over a massively objectionable fool...	NNadir	Feb 2020	#152
If you dislike Sanders the middle will hate him IE his lack of swing state appeal outside of MOE	uponit7771	Feb 2020	#153
I will just say this,,	mdbl	Feb 2020	#154
You just NAILED it.	MarianJack	Feb 2020	#155
Well said. This is pretty much exactly how I feel.	yardwork	Feb 2020	#157
What if Bernie picks Tulsi Gabbard as his VP?	Loki	Feb 2020	#159
you represent yourself as a professional in argumentation	NJCher	Feb 2020	#161
I was making a point using a bit of hyperbole,	The Velveteen Ocelot	Feb 2020	#164

Response to The Velveteen Ocelot (Original post)

Sat Feb 22, 2020, 12:48 PM

Tom Rinaldo (22,717 posts)

1. That describes what I'll have to do if Bloomberg is the nominee, so I can relate

We all share the same slogan: Vote Blue no matter who.

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

If Bernie is the nominee, this is what I'll do.

1. That describes what I'll have to do if Bloomberg is the nominee, so I can relate

2. Bloomberg won't be the nominee.

7. I hope you're right. I couldn't

150. I hope not. He did an advertising blitz on cable today

59. Me too.

77. Exactly

105. Warren is my top choice, but clearly she's not getting the nomination.

144. That judgement is way, way premature. We have had only 4 tiny contests, including 2 caucuses.

160. sounds like you think the superdelegates are your firewall

162. That and all the PLEDGED delegates who will be released from their pledges

163. I can't say what I think

109. And I will do the same if

3. Yes. Me too in everything you said. n/t

4. THIS

5. I applaud your honesty, my dear Velveteen Ocelot!

6. you have expressed my sentiments exactly

28. Just curious, what is your opinion of Bernie as a Vermont resident?

65. he is an ok Senator

71. Is Sanders still campaigning on

131. If I voted based on the chances

73. Thank you for your thoughtful post.

8. "Nose holding" occurs quite a bit.

9. This...

12. I say

17. +1,000,000

137. are you assuming he would beat Trump?

16. Actually, until we can get some polling data on how Bloomberg would affect down ticket races if he

19. Bloomberg will help us in TX, Bernie will not

24. I'm glad that at least you are so sure about that.

25. I live in a suburb of Dallas

26. Question-

36. It's problematic

81. Thanks

27. I am in rural Nevada and I have been involved in local precinct level politics for some time.

63. Thanks, It is hard to get that point across

90. Sanders seems to be, in the words of the tv talking heads, "running away with the Latino vote."

91. Asked on 10% of the results in Nevada

95. We'll see. He seems to be connecting with them in a way that matters.

120. I disagree

151. Sanders has no historical swing state appeal outside of MOE, Biden has the most

10. Same here although when I vote in Presidential years it's only symbolic

11. I like how you think VO ... I'll try to the do the same, but I'm sure not as well ;) (nt)

13. I live in California

18. Sorry but that's ridiculous.

29. I don't care what you think

34. I didn't say I would alert.

40. Ok but like I said

72. Really silly lo! nt

30. What??? What does the popular vote do for us if we don't

37. Of course we need the EC

57. That's why I'd vote for Bloomberg

39. Exactly my point

64. Just curious but why do we need to win the popular vote as well?

93. Statistical ammunition to take aim at the corrupt electoral college.

41. Why is that different than Bernie folks

42. It only matters if Sanders supporters do it.

133. I'd still write in a Dem..

74. what I hate about the electoral college

132. I'm in Michigan and whoever the Dem candidate is will need Michigan

14. Great. Everybody needs to pledge support for our eventual nominee no matter who she or he turns out

15. Exactly. I was on enough debate teams arguing sides I didn't agree with that I can eventually

21. I hope, if he wins,

108. Hate bernie Attitude, rudeness, very stubborn,

47. Not that I like her much outside her anti war views, but Tulsi as vp would peel away

50. UGH

20. yep....

22. I'll happily vote for whoever the nominee is.

23. your better than me

31. *you're

32. You have expressed my attitude toward him exactly.

33. The defense rests.

35. I'll give him my vote (and get my immediate family members to vote for him) but I will not lift a

38. A lot of us have had to do the same thing in the past. Its not about feelings.

61. Exactly

43. Bernie VP will be key

44. No worries

45. A fair stance.

46. Take heart! You can still happily support down-ballot candidates!

48. My feelings ecactly.