Criticizing the DLC, the Third Way and the Blue Dogs is not "bashing Democrats".

[NanceGreggs]

55. Millions were begging him to run???

A LOT of voters didn't even know who he was before he ran. Bernie's popularity soared after he started campaigning. Had he not run, no one would have thought anything of it. Just as in every election cycle, there are people who hope a particular politician will throw their hat in the ring - but when they don't, those people move on to backing someone who is in the race.

Let's not forget that Bernie was second choice among many, who wanted Liz Warren. It was only after they accepted that she wouldn't run that they switched their support to Bernie.

"To do that would have meant forever giving up on fighting for what he stands for."

How does that work? Are you honestly suggesting that if Bernie hadn't run, everyone would have just thrown their hands in the air and said, "That's it - it's all over. We are forever precluded from fighting for what he stands for!" Seriously?

And to be honest, THAT was exactly the attitude that contributed to my distaste for Bernie and many of his supporters, the idea that he was "the only one", "the last great hope", etc. Again I would remind you that Liz Warren was touted as "the only one" and "the last great hope" before it was clear she wasn't running. Exactly how many "only ones" are out there?

"What do you want the guy to do? Apologize for even running?"

Funny you should mention - because I see a lot of posts saying that HRC should apologize for running, that she went into this knowing she couldn't win, etc.

"Tell the people who supported him to just give up?"

That's up to them. If those who supported Bernie feel that he was "the only one" they could rally around, the "last great hope" of moving the nation forward, I guess we won't be hearing anything from them in future - which means they are far less committed to their cause than they claim to be. If they are convinced that ONLY Bernie can actually DO anything, they obviously aren't interested in fighting for anything they claim they want unless they are led by ONE man, to the exclusion of all other considerations, and all other Democrats who have ideals they are willing to stand up for.

HRC won the primaries - and not by a small margin. She also won the popular vote - and not by a small margin. Apparently her message was heard and embraced by the MAJORITY of Democrats who chose HER as their candidate, and by the MAJORITY of voters who chose HER as their president. Those are two facts that some people just keep putting their fingers in their ears to avoid hearing.