Sanders Group members--all DUers, really: Please be cautious.

[Divernan]

18. Great phrase:"tremendous bravura & self promotion of the talentless"

I don't think your post sounded pompous at all. I particularly appreciated two of your descriptions:

(1) "The sadistic joy at belittling one's opponents and stretching all discussions to make that happen may seem justified by "victory" at the polls- but it does not win actual votes nor hearts and minds. Trump's your real candidate then. A loser."

(2) "The worst have all passion while the best lack conviction. Writers and painters have puzzled over the tremendous bravura and self promotion of the talentless."

It's gotten so old and tired - posting (with documenting links) HRC's actions while first lady, senator or Secretary of State, is "rebutted" with non-factual accusations that we must hate Hillary. That is followed by lengthy distortions and outright lies about Bernie Sanders. I had to laugh at one of the most ardent & hostile HRC supporters who opined/bragged that a lot of the Sanders supporters must have her on "hide" because they weren't responding to her. I learned early on in life that there is no point in debating a true believer, of whatever stripe.

It's gonna be a long primary this time around, for sure, but I am delighted and encouraged by the national response to Bernie wherever he goes to speak, as well as the positive response from my friends and relatives in my little corner of the world, as well as the nationwide scattering of my FB friends. I'm looking forward to hearing from one old friend who heard Bernie last night in Seattle.

On a personal note, I empathize with you having a night time work schedule. Post-retirement, (at age 70) I tried working at a US postal service distribution center on a night-time shift. Temporary/part time classification, so no benefits. 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. shifts. Very physically demanding. That also involved driving on the turnpike - 1 hour commute each way. Most of us night workers were retirees taking what work we could find to supplement social security, or younger workers who had full time day jobs as well. We used to joke we'd never get by without Coke/coffee for the caffeine and Advil for the sore muscles. Good co-workers, good supervisors, but I lasted about 6 weeks. Hang in there!