I don't understand the Sanders' surrogates "post-Pete-dropout" strategy

[AGeddy]

His surrogates and supporters online are being extremely snarky and belittling toward Pete tonight.

Isn't the goal to GROW your support in order to win? What do the Krystal Balls, David Sirotas, etcetera gain from their snarkiness toward Pete tonight?

I've never seen a campaign work so hard to piss off and belittle those who aren't in 100% agreement with them. Why?

If you're Bernie Sanders, what do you gain by attacking the "Democratic establishment"? By calling people who support other campaigns the "corporate wing of the Democratic Party"?

And if you're his supporters, what do you gain by making fun of Chasten Buttigieg crying on stage tonight? What do you gain by calling him "Mayo Pete" *STILL*?

If you're Michael Moore, what do you gain by being a dick with a snarky fake congratulations tweet toward Biden last night? What is WRONG with you?

Was Bernie's plan all along to coast into the convention with a firm 30% of the vote and hope that the other 70% would remain split too many ways? Was his goal to not worry about getting a majority?

This is why Bernie would have trouble governing. He has surrounded himself with people who want ONLY true believers, and if you're not one of them, then you must "bend the knee" and accept their belittling nicknames and memes about your favorite candidates.

I'm not talking about random trolls and bots, no campaign can control those. But these are high-level, well-known surrogates of the campaign.

Grow the f*** up, Bernie surrogates. You're hurting your candidate.

[msongs]

1. bernie despises the democratic establishment. pete is from the establishment nt

[ArtTownsend]

24. Yup.

[radical noodle]

77. Then he shouldn't expect votes

from the "establishment."

[dawg day]

85. How is he "from the establishment?"

I think it sounds like Bernie people think anyone who isn't Bernie is "the establishment", even a millennial-age gay guy from Indiana who has had one elected position.

It just sounds so... anachronistic-- 60s throwback. "The establishment."
I'll have to search through my closet and get out my old paisley bell-bottoms before I utter that phrase.

[Roy Rolling]

88. The Establishment

Those who decry “the establishment” usually just want to replace it with an “establishment” of their own people.

[squirecam]

2. You mean the repetitive insults

Like calling him a rat, Mayo Pete, Wall Street Pete and the like?

It’s nothing new for the self described dirtbag left.

[Cha]

93. Right.. even Before Pete so honorably, for our Planet,

dropped out today.

[OhZone]

3. Yeah, it's almost like they don't want -

a Democrat to win.

So weird.

And feeds into my theory that -

Never mind.

[bluedye33139]

4. Jacobin politics do not value LGBTQ rights

When equality is decreed by an all-powerful executive, rights issues will automatically fall into place, according to Jacobin philosophy. Contempt for gay rights or for discussion of issues affecting people of color is extremely compatible with Jacobin thinking.

[ArtTownsend]

25. That's a lie and you know it. Leftists have always been first to the right side of history.

[denem]

97. Like Castro

[bluedye33139]

100. We have different beliefs about history and reality, apparently. Thanks, but I disagree.

[Loki Liesmith]

101. Chairman Mao sends his regards

[Loki Liesmith]

102. Pol Pot for Art on line one

[Loki Liesmith]

104. Joe Stalin would like a word with you

[FreeState]

96. Yep

For me as a gay man this election cycle showed me there is still a lot of homophobia in my own party. From people not realizing their privilege to down right ugliness. There are a lot of supporters too - but we definitely have a ton of work yet to do.

[emmaverybo]

5. It comes from the top down. Anyone, no matter in what minor volunteering position, on Obama's

2008 election campaign, had orders not to go negative on the opposition. If you did, out you went.

Bernie could put a stop to all this nonsense if he wanted to.

[Lochloosa]

14. [phone]

[Hekate]

26. Plus a brazillion

[ArtTownsend]

27. The opposition would hate Sanders no matter what. It's his ideology that scares rich people.

[Jedi Guy]

51. Perhaps, but that doesn't address the point being made here.

The point is the behavior of his surrogates and, to a lesser degree, his supporters. Not every Berner is a member of the "dirtbag left." But that group is doing him and his candidacy no favors whatsoever with their behavior, as the OP rightly pointed out.

I personally don't find Bernie's policies/politics disagreeable. I think there's more than a bit of magical thinking involved and that it's not entirely realistic, but I don't think anything he's advocating is bad, per se.

I do find his behavior disagreeable. By this I mean his behavior during the last Democratic primary and its aftermath, in addition to running as a Democrat, then going back to being an independent, then running again as a Democrat. I interpret that behavior to mean he doesn't view himself as a member of the party, and simply views the party as a means to his end. It's a tool for him, no more and no less. I'm not keen on the way he hectors and waves his arms and wags his finger, so I find him personally disagreeable to at least some extent.

I also find the behavior of some of his surrogates and supporters to be extremely disagreeable, such as the examples the OP gave. I also find it comical that some subset of his followers behave like this, and then wonder (apparently in earnest) why so many people find their candidate and their movement to be off-putting.

TL;DR: It has very little to do with being rich and scared of his ideology for a lot of people. It has much more to do with how he and his movement behave towards others.

[emmaverybo]

80. +10000

[JustAnotherGen]

98. Thanks for this

Last bold font nails it.

[Cha]

105. Exactly your last paragraph. TY, JG

[Beakybird]

66. Sanders is the closest to me ideologically after Warren.

But I'm resolutely against his candidacy because he's surrounded himself with nasty surrogates, and he doesn't rein in his trollish supporters.

[Frances]

74. Agree with you and previous poster

Bernie’s goals are admirable and we should work towards them
Bernie is so much better than Trump that I will vote for him if he is our nominee
But I think he will not try to unify the country the way a president should
Obama didn’t succeed in uniting the country but he did try and was an excellent role model

[Hamlette]

79. you are dead ass wrong

I love his policies and support all of them. I would love to live in a country with those policies.

Problem is, Bernie ain't the one, for a zillion reasons. I was a Warren supporter until it became clear she couldn't win.

Bernie is abrasive and unwilling to build the coalition necessary to win or govern.

[dem4decades]

84. I'm far from rich and he scares me. The thought of 4 more of Trump

Is truly frightening.

[Buzz cook]

75. You're kidding.

Obama supporters had some very hateful things to say about Clinton and her supporters. 2008 was not a love fest.

[emmaverybo]

91. No, I am not kidding. Perhaps they finally had to defend themselves. I don't want to fight that

war. I and others had to leave our little group because we felt too reined in. But not fighting that war again.

[sheshe2]

81. He promotes them. nt

[Walleye]

6. I heard someone today refer to the "moderate wing"

Of the Democratic Party. Doesn’t even make sense to me.

[Sloumeau]

17. You are correct.

There are wings, and there is the center, where the Moderates are.

[ArtTownsend]

28. Sanders's policies tend to have more support among Americans. Just because rich donors and media

hate him, doesn’t mean his policies aren’t very popular overall.

[Sloumeau]

32. Of course Sanders' "policies" are popular.

He promises Medical for everyone and college for everyone. How could that not be popular? At least, it will be popular until Republicans pound people with the costs and the taxes for 3 months.

[ArtTownsend]

36. I'll be blunt about it: Turnout on the Democratic side will crater if Sanders isn't the nominee.

Blame the Bernie Bros all you want, but if you don’t get massive turnout in every state, Trump will win.

[dware]

44. I'll be blunt about it too,

if Bernie is the nominee, then prepare for another 4 years of the Mango Menace, the loss of the House and zero chance of retaking the Senate.

Whether you like it or not, the US is still a center to center left country and will not vote for a far left socialist who isn't even a Democrat, he's using the Democratic Party for his own gains, while at the same time, bashing those same Democrats he needs to win.

Is that blunt enough for you?

[Progressive2020]

60. So

So it is OK for you and others to bash Sanders and his followers, but it is not good when Sanders and his people bash other Democrats in turn? They are both the same behavior, and I think that they are both mistakes. If Biden wins the nomination, I would hope that he would reach out and bring a lot of the Sanders people into his campaign. Likewise, if Sanders wins the nomination, I would hope that he would be conciliatory to the more moderate and centrist people in the Party.

Donald Trump is the enemy, not Bernie or Joe. I will fight for whoever gets the nomination, and I will fight against Trump. I will not undercut any candidate by saying they are too establishment or too far left. Any one of these people could be the nominee, and we do not help ourselves by taking our knives out and injuring our own people and our own candidates beforehand. I would say that we should save the knives for Trump and stop inflicting wounds on ourselves that the Republicans can then turn around and try to exploit in the General Election.

Vote Blue, No Matter Who.

[dware]

61. I'm not bashing, I'm stating my opinion,

and I do plan to vote blue no matter who.

I may not like Sanders and I don't think he has a chance in hell of beating the Mango Menace, but that doesn't mean I won't vote for him.

Is that clear enough for you?

[Progressive2020]

64. Alright

I am glad that you will vote blue no matter who. What do you base your belief on that Sanders can't beat Trump in the General Election? The only polls that I have seen show him beating Trump. Do you get your opinion from polls, or is this more of a gut instinct? I would like to know.

My fear is that if Sanders gets the nomination (far from a certainty) that this idea that Sanders can't beat Trump will be self-fulfilling. My feeling is that we all need to come out strong for whichever person gets the nomination. That includes not becoming enemies to each other before the final nomination.

I think that we would help ourselves if we spent less time and energy on attacking each other, and rather put the focus on defeating Trump. And I think both Sanders people and non-Sanders people are guilty of attacking each other in ways that I would prefer that they did not. Sanders people call non-Sanders people "establishment" or "corporatist", while some people say that Sanders can't win against Trump. I do not think that either position is helpful for beating Trump. Just my two cents.

[dware]

69. My opinion is based on the fact that America is a center to center left

country, and Bernie is a far left socialist, he needs Independents, moderate Dems to even have a chance at winning, and so far, he's done nothing but piss off the very people he needs to win by constantly bashing the Democratic Party, on who's platform he's running.

Also, his past support of dictators, such as Castro, Ortega, Chavez/Maduro, etc is going to be used extensively by the Trump attack machine 24/7, which will have great effect upon a sizable voting bloc in this country.

IMO, not only will he lose and lose badly, but he'll take down ballot Dems with him, and we'll almost certainly lose the House and no chance to retake the Senate.

I pray I'm wrong, hell, I would love to be wrong, but my gut feeling is that I'm right.

And as far as polls go, ask yourself just how accurate they were in 2016 and then ask yourself if you should really trust those polls.

[Progressive2020]

73. Reasonable Answer

I appreciate your response. And I do take polls with a grain of salt. Statistics can be volatile and changeable. I was asking about polls more to be a devils advocate than anything. The proof will be in the pudding. Hopefully we will have a victory in November.

[dware]

76. We have to have a victory in Nov.

be it Bernie or Joe, the country or the world cannot, will not, survive another 4 years of the Mango Menace.

[Progressive2020]

87. Agreed

Trump must be stopped at all costs. I am confident that we will all get together to vote Trump out in November.

[Progressive2020]

82. Another Point

I have heard that Bernie's leftism has some appeal to some working class voters in the Mid West that might have voted for Trump in 2016. Certainly not all, but maybe some of the Independents in that demographic might go for Medicare For All, Free College, and $15 Dollar Minimum Wage. I think that some pundits miss that.

Michael Moore, whether you like him or not, was one of the few people who predicted a Trump win in 2016. And that is because Moore knows working class people in the Mid West, who were tired of the same old politics that does not deliver anything to them. Some of these people believed Trumps lies that he was a populist, and voted for him in 2016.

I would imagine that some of those voters might now be disgruntled and realized that Trump did nothing for them. So, perhaps there is an argument that a lefty candidate like Sanders might be able to get some of those voters, especially in states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. So, the argument that Sanders can't get some Independents might be debatable. There are still working class, union oriented people who are not turned off by leftism out there, I think.

[dware]

83. You may be right.

We'll know soon enough.

[Jedi Guy]

78. The question wasn't directed at me, but...

I think the biggest risk of Bernie being the nominee is that the GOP will have, if you'll pardon the crudity, a shitload of oppo research to throw at him. There was an article linked not long ago written by a journalist who saw the folder for this research, and said it was two feet thick. Exaggeration or not, that doesn't paint a pretty picture. A fair bit of it was also said to be Bernie's own words and actions.

Love him or not, it'd be foolish to discount the notion that he'd get clubbed over the head with all that stuff, and the GOP is very, very good at dirty tricks. He's polling well against Trump now, sure, but ultimately the only poll that counts is Election Day. And before that day comes, all of those dirty tricks will come into play. How will those affect the polls?

It's also worth noting that Bernie has never faced that kind of campaign. Hillary had a vested interest in not going hardcore negative, since she had to avoid alienating his supporters. Trump has no such concern, so he'll pull exactly zero punches, and is very, very good at taking the campaign right into the gutter.

[Progressive2020]

86. It Is A Real Concern

I personally like the idea of Medicare For All, Green New Deal, $15 Dollar Minimum Wage, etc. The problem is that the standard bearer for these ideas is admittedly a riskier choice, given the reasons you state- leftism, oppo research etc. While I like the bold policy ideas a lot, and think that they would sell well to working people in the General Election, Sanders might be more vulnerable to attacks in that Election.

Joe Biden is on the other hand, not as controversial as Sanders, and is more measured and realistic. So, I would say that Sanders is the riskier candidate versus Joe, who is the safer bet. The question is what do voters want? Do they want big ideas and bold proposals, or is that too pie in the sky? Joe says he proposes results, not revolution, and that might be a winning strategy. It is a matter of how cautious some voters might be. Frankly, I would like to see a real debate between just Biden and Sanders on this, so it can be hashed out and the voters can make up their minds.

[dawg day]

90. It's not bashing to disagree.

I disagree that Young Mayor Pete is "the establishment." In fact, I find it so laughable I have trouble taking the advocates of that seriously.

But that's not bashing. I don't like the idea that anything short of total agreement with one candidate is bashing him. Haven't we learned that loyalty oaths are extremely dangerous to liberty and democracy?

[sheshe2]

89. Is that a threat?

Wow. If it is not BS... then fugg America.

You do realize we are on the verge of a pandemic?

pandemic
[panˈdemik]

ADJECTIVE
(of a disease) prevalent over a whole country or the world.
synonyms:
widespread · prevalent · pervasive · rife · rampant · epidemic · universal · global
NOUN
an outbreak of a pandemic disease.
"the results may have been skewed by an influenza pandemic"
synonyms:
disease · sickness · bubonic plague · pneumonic plague · the Black Death · contagious disease · contagion · epidemic · pestilence · the pest · murrain

You want to leave us all to die if BS isn't the chosen one?

[NanceGreggs]

7. "I've never seen a campaign work so hard ...

... to piss off and belittle those who aren't in 100% agreement with them."

I have - and the guy who ran that campaign continued that attitude after being 'elected'.

[ArtTownsend]

29. He was elected.

[dware]

45. Boy, did you miss that one.

The poster is referring to Trump being "elected", not Sanders.

[ArtTownsend]

46. No, I was referring to Trump. Trump was elected.

[dware]

47. With Russian help, with voter suppresion,

he didn't win the popular vote, so there are serious questions about him being "elected".

[ArtTownsend]

48. The popular vote is not how our system works, unfortunately.

[dware]

49. I will agree with you there,

the EC needs to be abolished and the popular vote needs to become the standard for winning the presidency, unfortunately, it will take a change in the Constitution for that to come about and I just don't see that happening anytime soon.

[W_HAMILTON]

8. Losing and whining about rigging and the establishment...

...has proven very profitable for Sanders and his closest allies.

[blue-wave]

9. Grow the f*** up, Bernie surrogates. You're hurting your candidate.

Unfortunately, their behavior has appeared in a recurring pattern. I've even witnessed this behavior on a local, personal basis. It's very sad, but unfortunately true.

[DanTex]

10. LOL. Which surrogates would that be? Gee, I wonder why no links....

[AGeddy]

11. I listed them

Krystal Ball

David Sirota

Michael Moore


Just go read their twitter feed.

[DanTex]

13. Once again, no links. And we all know why.

[AGeddy]

35. ...

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

I'd show some Sirota, but he's blocked me.

[DanTex]

38. LOL. The Moore tweet is from yesterday, and it's not even about Pete!

And Krystal Ball is not a surrogate, she's a journalist/pundit.

Just like I figured, there's nothing here whatesoever.

[AGeddy]

41. Re-read the original post. I was talking about Moore being a dick about Biden last night.

[redstateblues]

56. LOL- Once again defending the indefensible. You need links for Sirota and Michael Moore? LOL!

[TwilightZone]

59. You could try actually reading the OP

Then you wouldn't look ridiculous when you make a false assertion.

[madaboutharry]

12. This behavior is so disturbing.

It is unexplainable immaturity.

[ArtTownsend]

19. Not as disturbing as your favored candidate's record.

[madaboutharry]

21. Nope.

[ArtTownsend]

22. Iraq War support, crime, Clarence Thomas.

[Orrex]

58. Will you vote for Biden if he's on the ballot?

Or are you willing to declare that you'll be part of the effort to help make sure that "turnout on the Democratic side will crater if Sanders isn't the nominee?"

[jimfields33]

109. I think Biden people were the ones that wouldn't vote for Bernie in some cases.

[Orrex]

110. That's not an answer.

[NCProgressive]

15. Bernie has no control over his campaign or his supporters

which is what disqualifies him.

A leader has to make sure that his followers follow in a proper way and not let them run wild. Bernie is lacking in leadership.

[ArtTownsend]

20. Oh ffs.

[NCProgressive]

34. It is true.

A leader should control his wayward supporters. Their tweets are costing BS votes.

[grantcart]

16. They believe in addition by subtraction

There are people posting here making derogatory comments about Mayor Pete.

[ArtTownsend]

23. Most ordinary working class people weren't supporting Pete and wouldn't if he were nominated.

[grantcart]

53. More typical Sanders supporters asserting facts not known and avoiding the real story

Obviously when you win the Iowa Caucuses (or tie if you prefer) you have to do it with a sizeable involvement of both workers and farmers.

But if you really really really believe that he had no working class people supporting him and you stomp your feet really hard you can assert it. Of course it ignores the fact that his main organized support group was Vote Vets that consist exclusively of "working class people". It also ignores the fact that when Buttigieg volunteered for the Obama campaign and came into so many working class homes had sons serving in the army that he volunteered for the reserves and served in Afghanistan.

So go ahead and tell all of those Vets who formed the main body of Mayor Pete's support that they aren't working class because Bernie's Bros have decided that they aren't.

Now here are the real facts that you refuse to acknowledge:

Sanders isn't expanding support for the party but is running at a fraction of what he did in 2016:


In 2016 Sanders got 23 delegates in Iowa, in 2020 he got 12.

In 2016 Sanders got 152,193 votes in NH and in 2020 only got 76,352

In 2016 Sanders got 26% of the vote in South Carolina and in 2020 only 19.9%


So even though he had a 4 year advantage and pre existing infrastructure Sanders actual support is a fraction of what it was 4 years ago.

It is only because the "anybody but Sanders" wing of the Democratic Party which amounts to 65% to 70% of the party is split among 4-6 candidates does Sanders 35% look substantial. Of course when the number of candidates decrease that 35% will not look so substantial.

So naturally Sanders devotees are bitter as the number of candidates decrease and Sanders falls behind.

Which leaves the obvious question, "Do you really think that insulting other candidates is likely to increase or decrease the number of people that will migrate to Sanders?" Then why do they do it? Because insulting real Democrats is what they want to do. Just wait until Sanders loses the nomination and complain about how unfair it is that having insulted non supporters that they didn't choose to support him. In bitterness the visitor will leave.

[TexasTowelie]

95. So what you are saying

is that the voters in Iowa and New Hampshire don't matter unless they voted for Bernie. Got it.

[ArtTownsend]

18. Who cares about "snark?" Politics is not about who has the best manners.

[dware]

30. It's also not about pissing off the very people you need to

win, which the bros are doing a fantastic job of.

[ArtTownsend]

31. Which people? The rich overfed media and Democratic Establishment?

No, no one needs to win them.

And plenty of women support Sanders too. Nice job erasing them.

[dware]

39. LOL.

Hear that whooshing sound over your head?

That's the sound of you completely missing my point.

[HarlanPepper]

52. Really?

I thought it was the sound of toxic sanctimonious rage, but perhaps you have a point.

[dware]

54. It could be that also. nt

[PatrickforO]

62. Art, you cannot really be serious here.

Yes, capitalism corrupts everything it touches, but you are talking like a revolutionary as opposed to someone supporting a candidate in a primary process.

I do understand, though. It is frustrating to watch the greed-headed oligarchs win decade after decade.

But is anarchy really the answer? It isn't for most people you know. Because most people want a decent job, good healthcare, a nice old age pension, a roof over their heads, clothing, enough food and drink and safety. Isn't it?

The problem, Art, is that ideologies tend to lack balance. Consider this - to a progressive who wants change right now, a conservative might seem evil. And vice versa. But if the pendulum swings too far one way or the other, we end up hurting instead of helping.

And, when the ideology becomes more important to you than the people around you, watch out because you're going in the wrong direction.

You're really out of line, here, Art. This talk of 'erasing' people is most unseemly.

[stonecutter357]

108. BS is a millionaire .......The rich overfed !

[LizBeth]

33. Sanders is responsible for this. He runs his campaign in this manner. He respects no one.

His people get that and projects exactly what Sanders himself feeds the world. He does not get to be detached from this. It comes from Sanders.

[LizBeth]

50. Sanders made it clear he is clueless with women since 2015. Voting with vagina and PP establishment.

Biden's paternalistic behavior with women and girls is less than Sanders campaign of abuse, harassment and paying inequality and his rare fantasy and bitch old teachers.

[comradebillyboy]

42. Exactly right!!!

[DrToast]

40. That's all they know

[MerryBlooms]

43. Yep, some pretty heinous shit from a very popular socialist podcast regarding Buttigieg...

The people in the crowd were angry, and “Chapo Trap House” wanted them to stay that way. The five hosts of the popular socialist podcast wanted everyone to know they had all been lied to. About everything. The media they consumed was fake news aimed to distract them from the only war worth fighting: the class war. Politesse, civility, even pleasure — those were tools of the neoliberal oppressor. The right answer is rage.

“That joy,” the Chapo co-host Will Menaker said to the crowd gathered in Iowa City on the eve of the Iowa caucus. “That’s good but it’s not as good a motivator when you’re really going to war as spite.”

“Let the hate feed you,” the co-host Amber A’Lee Frost added as the audience roared. And it does. Especially toward Democrats.

When Senator Elizabeth Warren’s name came up, the crowd made the sound of a snake hissing. She had accused Senator Bernie Sanders of saying that a woman could not win against Donald Trump, and so she is a snake.

Supporters of former Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. are “gelatinous 100 year olds.” Former Mayor Pete Buttigieg is “a bloodless asexual.”

“The gayest thing about him is he descends from an ethnic group that’s like a little toy dog,” Ms. A’Lee Frost said.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/29/us/politics/bernie-sanders-chapo-trap-house.html?referringSource=articleShare&fbclid=IwAR0Vbpou5EEwMMkLH7nl9KUiP3JtWoTxYjVvKanAtMzze8ZxRYkrAa1i74o

I'm pro M4A and reining in student debt, I started with Harris (still heartbroken she's out), then Warren... It's when I read the true colors come out of supporters for a candidate like that popular socialist podcast, it disgusts me. It's not a one-off, it's one of daily headlines. I don't want Sanders or the radical supporters anywhere near the Democratic Presidential ticket or our convention. The constant attacks and threats have no place in the fight for our lives. Sanders should have run third party Democratic Socialist ticket. Democratic Party would have survived it and the divisiveness wouldn't have been anywhere near what it has been and will continue to be. We cannot afford this constant shit stirring, and attacks within our own party! It's clear it's only going to get worse and this path is damning.

[SunSeeker]

68. I agree. nt

[zak247]

94. More harm than good

Yeah, Bernie is turning into, ironically, a destructive force, while intending to do good.

It sometimes happens.

They are NOT reading or accepting political reality. They, the Bernie followers, are dealing with cultic-faith not level headed analysis.

[SunSeeker]

55. Those talking snark know Pete's supporters aren't going to Bernie, that it will help Biden.

So they're pissed.

[ramen]

57. I totally agree.

There is no room for that nonsense from any of us, especially not from Sanders supporters. It is counterproductive and idiotic. We should all call it out.

[Orrex]

67. You are, if you'll forgive me for saying so, a rare and welcome outlier

At least among Sanders' vocal online advocates. I'm sure that Sanders has a large contingent of very reasonable but relatively quiet supporters, and unfortunately they're drowned out by the stereotypical "Bernie bros" that we keep being told don't really exist.

Some would do well to follow your example.

[Nitram]

63. It sometimes seems that many of Berne's supporters won't support any Democrat other than Bernie.

What's that all about? Can't they see farther than Bernie? Don't they understand the dangers Trump poses for the country? Is Bernie's candidacy more important than defeating Trump? Bernie is a good guy. But the greatest danger to our country is second term for Trump. Let's support the Democratic candidate the wins the primary. If that means a brokered convention, then let it be. Democracy is more important than any single candidate.

[Orrex]

65. You're correct, and they're proud to declare that foolish position outright

Even in this thread, we see the stern proclamation that "turnout on the Democratic side will crater if Sanders isn't the nominee."

Nothing like a dire ultimatum to make one's candidate seem like the life of the party.

[Progressive2020]

71. I Agree

I agree with you. Personally, I will vote and work to elect whoever gets the nomination, be it Bernie or Joe. Either would be an acceptable candidate for me. The one I am not a fan of is Bloomberg. I like how he is not afraid to counter-punch and trade insults with Trump. I do not like him coming in trying to subvert a democratic process and buy the Presidency. A candidate needs to have the support of people through a democratic process. Not buy their way in with multi-millions of dollars. Anyway, whoever gets the nomination will have my support, and I will try not to undercut Joe or Bernie prior to the convention. Either one could realistically become our nominee.

[onetexan]

99. BS' supporters see themselves as first and foremost Bernie-ites, and see BS as the Dem-Alternative

After 2016 i went to a Dems rally "Come together, fight back" or something to that effect, to see what was the message. Bernie was a part of that tour. The first thing i noticed coming into the venue was on the fliers Bernie's young supporters were passing out there was no mention of the DNC or "Democrats" listed, only "Our Revolution". It gave me a sinking feeling BS was setting himself up as the Dem-alternative, which he has lived up to till now. The reciting of some message in unison by the young Bernie-ites was cult-like. It was a wierd spectacle to behold at a political rally.

Anyhow, BS' speech at the event was the same-old same-old, and did not manage to convince me his nonsensical socialist message had any teeth to it. I only saw him for what he is - a man who despite making politics his career, had little accomplishments to show for it. Running for president was his last effort to make a name for himself.

[Renew Deal]

70. They always feared Pete, because he is everything Sanders isn't.

Pete is well educated, well spoken, well researched and has a future. Sanders is a relic of the past with unproven ideas and will never be president.

[Hamlette]

72. My Bernie loving cousin is like a Trump supporter I'm with you. How does this work?

I'm starting to like Bloomberg better than Bernie in large part for that reason. How do we heal the divides in this country if Bernie is our candidate? Seems like he will will have the same loyalty tests as Trump.

[zak247]

92. To theBernie bros and sistas

I agree with the sentiments of the post.

My brothers and sisters amongst the Bernie supporters, unfortunately, I believe you are indulging in rigid and dogmatic politics, almost cult-like and very intolerant to your natural allies.

That rigidness in the face of a very possible ( we believe likely) GOP win by Trump ( if Bernie gets the nomination). To list the tragic possibilities you seem to gloss over: Such as decades of a right-wing SCOTUS, the destruction of Obamacare, the further neglect of the global warming crises, Trump will further enflame racial divisions, further indulge in sectarian nationalism in foreign affairs, further cut taxes for the rich and neglect the environment, cut more food stamps, section 8 cuts, Social Security cuts, Medicare cuts, and all manner of social, infrastructure, and humane causes set back for decades.

Not to mention the very real possibility of the eradication of abortion rights, set back in minority voting rights, the plight of the immigrants, the further building of that wall of Trumps, the lessoning of LGBT rights. Indeed, one can go on and on about the human tragedy that another term of the GOP presidency of Trump will bring about.

Just because some people want to go too fast and risk losing everything we have gained in 100 years of fighting for many great progressive liberal achievements.

You are going to end up hurting the very people you want to serve when all the destruction of what Trump and the GOP will reap on the defenseless in our society comes about because you reached too far too fast.


My good friends amongst the Bernie people, I bid you take heed to this old wise aphorism that applies to our present conundrum:

DONT LET THE PERFECT BE THE ENEMY OF THE GOOD!

[vlyons]

103. Sanders doesn't have the temperament to work harmoniously with a Dem congress

He is not a leader, but a divider.

[beachbumbob]

106. why did sander's surrogates stop and harrass a democratic congressional candidate?

extremist are issues for left and right. We must say enough is enough

[yardwork]

107. This behavior indicates how Sanders would govern. No thanks.

[Blue_Tires]

111. They think they can win this race all by themselves