If Bernie loses the primary, and runs as an Independent we will have a Jill Stein #2

[Stuart G]

..Bernie could get money from lots of places. So if he gets some hidden money from Russia, (try to imagine that one, if you can) then, if Bernie feels he should have won, and runs as an Independent, then Bernie will take votes from our nominee, and help elect Trump again.
..That may be the long term goal of Trump. Get Bernie in there, so he runs as an Independent after he loses the nomination, and then we have Jill Stein #2...And please note
........A much stronger vote taker than Jill Stein #1

..I wonder if Bernie will pledge not to run as an "Independent" if he looses the Democratic Nomination?

My guess is he wont, and his running as an Independent would insure that Trump would get 4 more years...................................................................................................................................................

...If Bernie supports our nominee, and urges all to vote for whoever the Democratic Nominee is, then this is totally wrong, and I will be glad to admit it. But, if there is an independent run for Bernie, because he has lost our Democratic Nomination, then guess who wins?....Yes, that is correct...Donald Trump.
.......................................................................................................................................................

Yes this is February, and all this is in the future, but anything can happen, and often does. (Yes, I never thought we could possibly have Trump as President)

[vercetti2021]

1. He'd commit political suicide

He'd be the most hated senator in America real quick. Don't think he be willing to be that guinea pig

[jalan48]

2. The hysteria is becoming comical...

[Stuart G]

3. You may think it is "hysteria" but ...ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE..ANYTHING!!!

In February of 2016, there would have been plenty of laughs...
if someone had predicted.... President Donald Trump

And I remember how silly that sounded back then...

[jalan48]

8. I remember Biden was a lock to win and how has that prediction panned out?

[ancianita]

16. That was then. This is now. We need to collective learn from it and unite better. Better.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287559915

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

27. So true! Why not just accept the inevitability that Bernie will be our nominee & the next POTUS?

People might as well jump on the Bernie Bandwagon... it would make things a lot easier than denying and fearing the reality that Bernie has the nomination sewn up!! It's time to unite around Bernie and find common ground in defeating the Fascist-in-Chief!!


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

[jalan48]

28. +1

[dbolski]

33. Yes, I think it's just generational change happening.

But that shouldn't panic anyone because it doesn't just favor Sanders it favors democrats as a whole.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

34. You couldn't have summed it up any better... Bernie is positively reinventing the Democratic Party.

In doing so, Bernie has ensured that the Party's future is brighter than ever!! Instead of FEARING the future, we should all EMBRACE it!!


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

[Codeine]

4. I seem to recall

that at some point he said he wouldn’t run third party if he lost the nomination. I’ll take him at his word.

[ancianita]

6. He did say that.

“If it happens that I do not win that process, would I run outside of the system? No. I made the promise that I would not and I’ll keep that promise.”

[NurseJackie]

9. He also said that he'd release his complete medical records. Yet...

All we have is a "summary". After his silence and sitting idly by knowing full well that Russia was helping him in the primaries and manipulating the polling... well... this was a major test of integrity and leadership that he failed. I just can't trust him.

[BlueMTexpat]

11. Like you, I am wary

of just about anything he promises.

[ancianita]

13. The one doesn't negate the other. Conflating them is wrong. Each should be considered separately.

If your trust is so fragile that it can be lost over a candidate being human, not living up to each and every one of your expectations, the problem is more yours than Bernie's.

Your trust must never be premised on some double standard of "the perfect being the enemy of the good."

At least support him. I do, though I prefer someone else.

Trust in the whole party package and the American people's votes. You'll feel better.

[NurseJackie]

17. Yes it does.

If your trust is so fragile that it can be lost over a candidate being human, not living up to each and every one of your expectations, the problem is more yours than Bernie's.

GMAFB! This is not about me. Do not try and twist this to be "my fault"... you know perfectly well that's complete nonsense to try and blame me. It's completely reasonable for voters to expect their leaders and candidates to tell the truth and to keep their promises. "Being human" is hardly an excuse for failing to do those simple things. These are expectations set by him. He has only himself to blame for not living up to them.

Trust in the whole party package and the American people's votes. You'll feel better.

Oh good god, spare me the sanctimonious judgment and insulting comments. Again... it's not about me.

[ancianita]

18. Fine.

If you think you can't trust him because he's not met two reasonable expectations.

Anyway, he's still got time to.

[NurseJackie]

20. Yes. that's true.

Anyway, he's still got time to.

Yes. that's true. But delaying it only increases suspicion and distrust. Even a conditional and "adjusted" or 'reworded' pledge to release them 'before the convention' only serves to reinforce the very rational suspicion that the unvarnished truth is something that would harm him during the primaries.

[ancianita]

22. ...

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

29. If we're playing the "expectations game," we all know who's lost our trust & it sure isn't Bernie!!

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

[Stuart G]

12. If Bernie keeps this promise, then I will gladly admit that my thinking is totally wrong on this.

And I do hope I am wrong! (over & out)

[Bev54]

25. If I remember

he had to sign a pledge not to run as a third party, to have the backing of the Democratic party.

[subterranean]

5. He didn't run as an independent in 2016.

I don't think he would this time, either.

And FYI, it's loses, not looses.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

30. Why would he?! Bernie's pledged to run for the Democratic nomination cuz he's loyal to the Party.

Bernie's proven his loyalty time and time again for DECADES!!


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

[Turin_C3PO]

7. He won't.

[evertonfc]

10. He won't

He will just lose to Trump instead

[ancianita]

14. Not true.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287559915

[Autumn]

15. This is so hilarious. He's not going to run as an Independent. Why do you think he ran as a Dem

even though many wanted him to run as Independent? Because he knows it would guarantee a Trump win. But you probably should have known that since he has said that from the very beginning.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bernie-sanders-on-why-he-wont-run-as-in-independent/

Although he's officially an independent senator, Sanders decided to compete for the Democratic nomination. He's said since he announced his candidacy that he would not run as an independent, and he said Monday that "of course" he still plans to hold to that pledge despite his recent success.

Sanders said he thought about running as independent in the first place, but decided not to.

"If we were serious about winning this election, which is always my intention from day one, I thought we could and I hope that we will. I had to do it within the Democratic primary caucus process," he said.

"What I did not want to do is run as a third party candidate, take votes away from the Democratic candidate and help elect some right-wing Republican. I did not want responsibility for that. So what I said at the beginning of the campaign is that I was not going to run as an independent. And I say it now, that if I do not win this process I will not run as an independent."

That still holds true

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/bernie-sanders-signs-dnc-loyalty-pledge-i-am-member-democratic-n979696

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

31. EXACTLY RIGHT!!

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

[Calista241]

19. I suppose it depends on if he feels he's being screwed by the DNC.

If he has the most delegates, and the most primary wins, but somehow is not the nominee, I can see him running as a 3rd party candidate. But if he loses fair and square, I think he'll honor his promise and work to defeat Trump above everything else.

[Hortensis]

21. What part of that wouldn't prove Sanders was the wrong stuff?

No one should need more proof after 2016, though.

Russia is once again using both Sanders and Trump as weapons in its war to destroy us. And from Sanders' hostile attitudes toward Democrats and clear intention to refuse to work with Dems in congress, I believe Russia is now and would in future find either Sanders or Trump useful for further advancing its goal of throwing the U.S.A. into such chaos that we can't take care of ourselves, much less Europe.

[totodeinhere]

23. No, it's more likely that Bloomberg will run as an independent if Bernie gets the nomination.

He has the resources to pull it off but unfortunately what he would do is hand the election to Trump. It's scary.

[Celerity]

32. and/or Howard Schultz as well perhaps, he is more RW than Bloomberg nt

[Voltaire2]

24. Bloomberg maybe, Sanders: nope.

[Nanjeanne]

26. Whatever makes you think Sanders would do that. Possibly Bloomberg if Sanders is the nominee - but

Bernie certainly wouldn't.