Sanders campaign drops $300k on private jet travel

[TexasTowelie]

Sen. Bernie Sanders 2018 re-election campaign spent almost $300,000 on private jet service for a recent cross country tour to stump for Democrats and test the presidential waters.

According to federal campaign finance reports, Friends of Bernie Sanders, the senator’s official 2018 Senate campaign committee, spent $297,685.50 with Apollo Jets, a private charter jet service headquartered in New York. The report does not break down the number of trips or where they were taken. The check was issued on Oct. 10, according to the report.

Sanders — who appears likely to run for president again in 2020 — went to nine battleground states to stump for Democratic Party candidates prior to the November mid-term elections. The tour was also considered a way to test support for another presidential run. Sanders ran for president in 2016, finishing behind Hilary Clinton, the Democratic nominee.

Sanders’ cross country tour included stops in Iowa, Nevada and South Carolina, early primary states in 2020. He also went as far as California to help other candidates.

Read more: https://vtdigger.org/2018/12/04/sanders-campaign-drops-300k-on-private-jet-travel/

[Gothmog]

1. WOW

How many $27 donations does it take to pay for this travel?

[Maru Kitteh]

2. Hey man . . .

He's gonna bring back all our textile and widget jobs so hipster dudes can abide and offload all the privilege and guilt stuff.

He has like, a "magic wand" or something. Gonna be awesome.

[Tavarious Jackson]

3. He has PAC's now...

[betsuni]

20. But I thought PAC's were bad!

[Gothmog]

54. But PACs were so evil in 2016

[NastyRiffraff]

100. Not HIS PACs!

Everything Bernie does must be Good.

[ehrnst]

278. Like some other things that are evil incarnate!!! Until.... they become useful to

a Jr Senator.

[DFW]

10. Right around 11,000 $27 donations

Not impossible, I guess, especially if they didn't eat and slept on the street while on the road.

[jrthin]

58. I wonder when he will release his taxes. nt

[Gothmog]

72. To get onto the ballot for 2020 in a couple of states, sanders will have to release tax returns

I look forward to seeing these tax returns

[ehrnst]

279. Not if large numbers of his supporters get their way

from what I've seen on DU and elsewhere.

Suddenly, it's "not really relevant!"

[Gothmog]

290. If sanders is not on the ballot in key blue states, sanders will not be the nominee

No Democrat can win if we do not a candidate on the ballot in key blue states

[BootinUp]

73. I'm glad u haven't been holding your breath. Nt

[Control-Z]

4. Seriously? (eom)

[sheshe2]

5. ...

[Cha]

6. Thanks, TexasT...

[JI7]

7. is this why there are those attacks on Beto ?

[Cha]

9. I think "The Gathering" attacked Beto

because they see him a threat to BS. Why else would they attack the Democrat in Texas who ran an Awesome campaign and came close to beating ted Freaking cruz!

Link to tweet

[guruoo]

14. It's just more of the same ol same ol

YogiBarrister @Yogi47951368

The pile-on against Beto AND Bernie is indeed organized, by the same entity.
Whenever a Democrat with a blue check disparages either in context of the other, a GOP trollbot gets his wing nuts.
The latest barrage against Bernie is being sponsored by KSA.
6
1:01 PM - Dec 4, 2018

Link to tweet

[Cha]

17. BS brings it

on himself. He's too divisive.

[guruoo]

26. Would saying I disagree also be considered "too divisive"?

Beto's good. He has a well calculated political savvy.
Adds more depth to the team, IMO.

.....


Beto O’Rourke Hits Pay Dirt With Bernie Sanders Money Machine

The Democratic Senate nominee raked in $6.7 million and paid more than $2.6 million to former Sanders fundraisers.

Through his February 14 campaign finance report, O’Rourke declared that he has spent $2.6 million for online fundraising services to Revolution Messaging, a progressive operation run by former members of Bernie Sanders’s 2016 campaign for president. O’Rourke told me that he paid no attention to the company’s past clients when he hired them, only what the company and its people could do for his campaign.

https://www.texasmonthly.com/news/beto-orourke-hits-paydirt-bernie-sanders-money-machine/

[Cha]

27. BS just held a conference featuring non stop attacks on Democrats with people who refused to

endorse Hillary in 2016- Sarandon, West, Turner, de Moro, etc..

Link to tweet

That's Divisive.

[uponit7771]

38. Wtf?!?! Damn, more Cornel West?!?!??!

[Cha]

41. Yeah, cornel west.. the advocate for the LIES

of jill stein. He and others like SSarandon were enablers of the Russians getting trump rigged in.

But, they'd never take responsibility for their stupid actions.

[uponit7771]

42. Hey Cha, can you send email ... I need your opinion on something but don't know how to send DU

... email.

Yeah, if Sanders is going to run with the same Clinton bashing crew from last time then I know doubt think he's needs to be marginalized.

[NastyRiffraff]

102. Translation: How dare Beto even contemplate running

when Bernie is planning a run? I mean, the nerve! NOBODY should run against Bernie; the Democratic Party should simply give him the nomination in 2020.

For those who need it:

[Adrahil]

112. They KNOW Beto will strip away a lot of Bernie's young voters.

And Beto is an actual Democrat. If Beto runs, Bernies ego trip is finally over for good.

Run, Beto, Run!!

[BannonsLiver]

206. They're scared shitless of Beto.

You will see a lot of Beto hate and slurs here on DU if he gets in. I thought it would be supporters of other prospective candidates leading that charge, but it’s pretty clear now where most of it will come from.

[Cha]

249. I wholeheartedly agree! Run Beto Run!

I have no idea whether O'Rourke will be a presidential candidate, and even less of an idea whether he'd be a good one. The run he made against Ted Cruz, and the coalition of supporters that his campaign constructed, was damned impressive for a heretofore obscure member of Congress from the deserts of East Jesus, Texas. But that's not a presidential campaign. What I do know is that there is something a bit malodorous about the notion that he somehow has let down the progressive ballclub because of some entries on his FEC form—or, worse, that he is some kind of extraction industry mole.

https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a25424052/2020-democrats-bernie-sanders-beto-orourke-media-elizabeth-warren/

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211519800

[Gothmog]

101. Beto may be working with Obama

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Gothmog]

138. Obama aides say Beto O'Rourke reminds them of the ex-president. Obama agrees.

Link to tweet

[R B Garr]

307. That is so awesome! He has such a breadth of knowledge, way

more than just repeating lines. He also looks like a uniter. Very impressive.

[sheshe2]

309. And a breath of fresh air.

[Gothmog]

75. From the Hoarse Whisperer

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[Cha]

228. Thanks for Hoarse Whisperer exposing

the operative, David Sirota, Goth.

They attack Beto at their own peril.

Retweeted.

[Gothmog]

230. More attacks on Beto by sanders supporters

Link to tweet

[mahina]

11. So what?

I don’t mean it rudely. But still.

[SunSeeker]

59. "Bernie flies coach" used to be one of his selling points.

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2015/12/29/Sanders-flies-coach-straight-into-supporters-hearts/1161451409033/

[treestar]

148. I remember that! And the lavish praise

bestowed on Bernie for it.

[garybeck]

12. So he spent his own campaign money to help other candidates.

They should be thanking him for traveling all over to help them.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

65. THIS!!

[klook]

134. Bastard!!

Another day, another reason to find fault with Bernie Sanders. Also known as Just Another Day.

[PufPuf23]

141. Good point. nt

[disillusioned73]

156. Bingo..

2020 is gonna get silly..

[George II]

182. I believe "his own campaign money" was contributed by people for "his own campaign", which was....

....for Senator from Vermont.

On the other hand, unlike other Senators and Congresspeople, he has contributed very very little to other candidates' campaigns.

For example, Elizabeth Warren (who also ran for re-election this year in a neighboring state) contributed $308,000 to other candidates and Democratic Parties in states other than her own. Sanders contributed only $16,000.

[Ninsianna]

296. They should thank him for showing up uninvited, against their wishes

and to serve his own ends?

I guess the GOP was grateful because he showed up and gave them attack points. And we could as well, because his endorsement showed us who not to vote for in the primary.

[Victor_c3]

13. So I'm supposed to drop my support for him?

And then I’m supposed to “be all in” for a corporatist Democrat instead? Is this supposed to be an attack on progressives?

[RandiFan1290]

30. Exactly, it's the typical right wing attack

anyone on the left is supposed to wear sack cloth while traveling on foot.

[betsuni]

32. "corporatist Democrat"

Who? Fall in for the anointed instead!

[mcar]

46. Corporatist Democrat?

Of whom are you referring?

[Eliot Rosewater]

94. I was going to get REALLY fucking pissed, but it is a waste of time and energy

[mcar]

97. Some things will never change

and some people will never learn.

Note the poster hasn't replied.

[Eliot Rosewater]

98. And the open, rightwing talking point attack of Democratic party still there for

all to read.

fuck this

[LongtimeAZDem]

110. It's not rightwing; it's far leftwing purity-speak /nt

[NastyRiffraff]

103. Yeah, me too

But you're right; why waste time on cults.

[Blue_true]

121. We are getting an early prelude to early 2020 if Bernie runs.

It is going to be a bloodbath here again, I am afraid. I see people that are fixed on their candidates and refuse to remotely consider anyone else.

[ehrnst]

277. I see only one pol who demands absolute fealty, and gets it. (tn)

[treestar]

149. whomever gets the nomination

will be labeled as such and said to be no different than the Dotard. You can bet on that.

[roody]

159. Look up their donors, and then you will know.

[bahrbearian]

64. He could have given a speech to wall street, would have only took 50 minutes

[ehrnst]

74. Actually, that would be illegal, as a sitting Senator.

But if he, as a millionaire, needed to finance the jet, I'm sure that his books being sold on Amazon and at Walmart will help.

[R B Garr]

93. Big bucks in hating Wall Street, apparently.

[LongtimeAZDem]

79. "Corporatist Democrat" "Bernie or Bust, Vol. 2"

Last edited Thu Dec 6, 2018, 12:17 AM - Edit history (1)

Here we go again.

[Blue_true]

122. I am afraid. I can see it starting. nt

[WeekiWater]

92. What "corporatist Democrat" are you being asked to support here? NT

[Victor_c3]

95. None in this post, but the intent is to sour my support for a progressive

The opposite of a progressive is a regressive, or a corporatist

[Adrahil]

111. You're a victim of binary oppositional thinking.

A criticism of Sanders does not imply that you shouldn't support progressives. But it does suggest that Bernie's shit stinks just like the rest of us. He's a big fan of waving his finger at other people. He can't be surprised if he does something like this that others might wag theirs back at him.

In any case, our party has a lot of great candidates. We don't need a non-Democrat running.

[peggysue2]

115. This . . .

for about 1000x and maybe then, some people will wake-up to Bernie's continuing con and nonsensical finger waggling.

Your taxes, sir. We would like to see your tax forms.

[R B Garr]

119. California is the most progressive state and Bernie didn't

win here in two election cycles. California is certainly not regressive. These empty slogans really get old.

[Blue_true]

124. The bullshit about corporatist democrats always pops up just in time to help elect a republican.

In the really small world of some, if a democrat reports $70,000 in donations from people affiliated with an oil company or Walmart of whatever big company or industry, they are automatically corporatist democrats, yet the contributions could have and were likely small amounts from employees that just like the democrat. The nonsense that progressives can't work for some companies and in some industries underlie the "corporatist democrats" nonsense.

[R B Garr]

204. Exactly, it is absurdly lame. The attacks on Beto are nauseatingly

shallow and inane. Looking upthread, someone posted a link to “Wall Street Jets”, so that anyone traveling on a private jet gets smeared with Wall Street, except Bernie, of course. Now the Beto smears. The complete triteness of it all is an embarrassment.

[Blue_true]

288. I am worried about 2020 if we don't throw some people overboard NOW.

We are likely well advised to spend time courting the non ideologues who didn't vote in 2016 and throw the my way or the highway types out of the party. Let them vote for Trump or sit at home, if we start now, we won't need them to win and as a result, there will be no damned reason to worry about what they think or want after if those things don't match perfectly with what sane democrats want.

[R B Garr]

294. I agree. Anyone still using the phony populist wedge against Democrats

in face of the evil that is right in front of us has an agenda and they should be exposed and treated accordingly. They are not that hard to expose, either. Looking at Twitter, etc., and you see people are on to them and they are being fried, rightly so. We're not stupid. They will not have the same path for chaos.

[Blue_true]

295. I am glad to hear people are going after them.

They must be exposed for what they are. No more hiding faking it claiming to be the purest of progressives.

[Blue_true]

123. Who is the corporatist?

You keep popping out the term. Who is it? Biden? Harris? Landrue? Who? The only one you seem to completely exempt is Bernie, why?

[Squinch]

130. Oh Jesus. "Corporatist Democrat"? That's all I need to know about you.

[ehrnst]

274. Don't have the nerve to name who you're referring to, do you?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

276. Same old story, same old song and dance, my friend.

[Ninsianna]

300. Nope. It's a general note on hypocrisy of people who attack progressives

and use terms like "corporatist" to attack the party while celebrating behavior like this, which is money spent to attack the party.

Prop up whomever you want, this is just "all in' for hypocrisy and GOP levels of projection.

[Victor_c3]

302. The article flat out states they didn't get the info on where he flew to

I grew up in an area that is 2.5 hours from the closest semi-major airport. There was a tiny airport about 20 minutes away, but they only do a handful of scheduled flights per week. The closest 4-lane highway is a good 90 minutes away. If anyone were to ever stump up there, travel would almost certainly have to be via private charter flights.

The argument being made here, as I see it, is that my candidate is just as bad as your candidate. Correct me if I’m wrong.

[Ninsianna]

304. Reality shows us where he appeared. It's called critical thought.

Have you ever been to VT? You don't need jet travel to get around. Nor in KS, or MI. There was no need for a jet for him to stump anywhere, amazingly everyone else actually stumping for Dems managed to do it without luxury jet travel.

The argument being made in here is that people in glass houses shouldn't throw dishonest, disingenuous bricks which highlight their personal hypocrisy.

Which candidate are you speaking of exactly? I refer to a dude who dropped a lot of cash while shouting about money in politics, money he spent to attack Democrats, after ensuring he had no opponent in his own race, through nefarious means.

Consider yourself corrected. This is about the bad behavior of a hypocrite who violates his own rhetoric and should be pointed out no matter whom does it. Special rules don't apply because some people think they're too pure to be play by the rules they insist on applying to others.

[Trumpocalypse]

15. Big carbon footprint

He couldn’t fly commercial?

[George II]

85. What happened to their "Green" initiative?

[betsuni]

16. Obviously, this means private jet travel isn't elitist anymore.

[Cha]

18. YAY We won't be called "elitist" by BS when we

Last edited Wed Dec 5, 2018, 06:15 AM - Edit history (1)

fly private jet!

[betsuni]

19. It's not like only the 1% can usually afford private jets!

[BlueMTexpat]

21. LOL!

Mahalo, Cha!

[Cha]

25. Aloha, BlueMT!

[MrsCoffee]

76. Neither are millionaires.

[Fuzzpope]

22. Errr...

Wasn't he seen several times flying coach on commercial flights during the 2016 primary?

Lame.

[dembotoz]

23. He came to Wisconsin a couple times. He didn't walk

Don't pee on the blue 🌊
He did lots and lots of work for it.

Best friend flies pretty constantly for work.
Airlines have not gotten any better.
Her schedule is more wish list.

He has shown up in places in my state where nearest airport has like 2 flights a day...

[Victor_c3]

80. Good point

Some areas aren’t easy to get to, I grew up in one of them.

There is a local airport, but the closest 4-lane highway is 90 minutes away and the closest semi-major airport is 2.5 hours away.

[riversedge]

24. That is a whole lot of cash. whow.

[dsc]

28. big deal

private jets are used all the time for stuff like that

[sheshe2]

129. Do you have a link?

TIA.

[lapucelle]

29. BS was largely missing in action in his home state Vermont during the general election.

An incumbent Republican governor who vetoed an increase in the minimum wage, the creation of a paid family leave program, and who contracted with a for-profit prison to house some of Vermont's incarcerated in a Mississippi hell hole also won re-election in Vermont. (This is especially troubling considering that, while POC only make up 1% of VT's state population, they make up 11% of the prison population.)

Among the Democrats who lost their races last in November was the Democratic candidate in the Vermont gubernatorial race, Christine Hallquist, the nation's first transgender candidate for governor.

She ran on a platform that included a $15 an hour minimum wage, the creation of a paid family medical leave program, working with like-minded states to implement universal healthcare cooperatives, and protecting collective bargaining and workers rights.

It's bewildering that BS was unavailable to campaign at length to remedy the very real problems in his home state by helping to elect Vermont Democrat Christine Hallquist. Why were the governor's races in other states prioritized over the well-being of his own constituents?

[Cha]

31. Excellent Question, lapucelle.

Thank You!

[JI7]

33. maybe the people in vermont don't want those things

that's why the candidates who try to get those policies in the state such as Hallquist and the previous Dem governor lost .

and that's why sanders focsues on other states and the voters are fine with that as long as he doesn't try to do it in their state.

[George II]

55. Wha?

[Blue_true]

127. Our face couldn't have ended up flatter than mine from your fall.

I'm still trying to figure out what the poster meant. In short, I think that opportunism was described, not leadership.

[sheshe2]

131. I am thinking they left off...

However, I am not sure.

[betsuni]

135. That's what I think.

[NastyRiffraff]

107. Well, that's at least an original idea

Wow. I can't even....

[George II]

108. If that were the case, why did they elect a Senator that wants those things?

[Blue_true]

126. Well, you just described opportunism.

True leaders push for the right things, even where people oppose those things. True leaders explain their case to people and work to change their minds. Opportunists go where things are easier.

[betsuni]

34. +1

[uponit7771]

43. +1

[SunSeeker]

60. Wow.

[Blue_true]

125. He was a no show when Vermont became the first state in the country to try to inact Single Payer.

Democrats tried, Bernie did nothing to help. Democrats lost seats and the governor's position.

[sheshe2]

133. Perhaps not a priority for him at that time.

It was 2014 and.....well, whatever.

[Blue_true]

191. But he claims, along with his supporters, to be the tireless advocate for the dispossessed.

What better cause than getting health care for those people? There are many other situations where Bernie took to the sidelines instead of fighting tough, but righteous battles.

[sheshe2]

196. I know, right? nt

[Maven]

301. After rigging his own primary, BS assumed that his work in VT was done. nt

[babylonsister]

35. Nine different states? Bravo, Bernie, for

helping stir up enthusiasm for the mid-terms!

[lapucelle]

36. Lost in the story about luxury private jet travel is this little tidbit.

According to the Federal Election Commission report, the Sanders campaign also gave the New Hampshire Democratic Party $15,000 in October. New Hampshire historically has the first primary after the Iowa caucuses.

I wonder if BS cut any checks to Hallquist with the hopes of beginning the process of bringing a living minimum wage to the working people of Vermont?

https://vtdigger.org/2018/12/04/sanders-campaign-drops-300k-on-private-jet-travel/

[R B Garr]

40. Interesting information, lapucelle! Why wouldn't his own

state be a priority for a living wage. It seems a Democratic governor would be a priority in Vermont rather than expensive trips for a hyped up Revolution.

[George II]

82. Not a penny.

[George II]

56. How many of the candidates he "campaigned for" actually won last month?

[Eric J in MN]

87. I can name some

Chuy Garcia, Tammy Baldwin, Keith Ellison, Gretchen Whitmer.

[sheshe2]

137. However...

Sanders backed Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in the race for governor before the Aug. 7 primary and appeared at a rally for El-Sayed's campaign the weekend before that election. But the former Detroit health department director finished second of three candidates in the race, behind Whitmer and in front of retired Ann Arbor businessman Shri Thanedar.


https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/politics/michigan-politics/bernie-sanders-shifts-support-to-whitmer-in-michigan-governors-race/69-603516410

[Ninsianna]

297. When did he back Gretchen Whitmer? After he campaigned hard

girls her opponent who followed Bermie's playbook, including the dishonest, hypocritical character attacks, the lies and doing not a damned thing to help the woman who defeated him in a landslide or support Democrats running for down ballot races?

Also what did he do for Baldwin and Chuy? Ellison was his man.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

69. Nobody brings it like Bernie... the guy is ageless.

[Nanjeanne]

37. That's all? Considering how many stops he made for candidates, thanks Bernie for

using your own campaign dollars to help out Democrats.

[RandiFan1290]

44. I LOVE how much he bothers the right wingers.

I welcome their hatred.

[R B Garr]

48. Yeah, the RWers are still going after Hillary full steam.

Unbelievable.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

96. Yep. Right wingers hate Bernie. You even hear the same clownish arguments used against Al Gore.

Why doesn’t he fly commercial!

It’s pretty obvious “too divisive” = can’t get the fuck over it.

[QC]

192. Right wingers in both parties. n/t

[Ninsianna]

305. They seem to live the guy.

They make him the star in all their attacks, they like to subsidize him and the people he likes, they fund the propaganda sites that serve as his faux news.

They hate people who get things done. They don't hate Bernie.

[uponit7771]

39. Sanders still hangs with West who called Obama ***Niggerized*** I don't give him the benefit

... of the doubt on this.

[BannonsLiver]

212. Bernie will always struggle with attracting minority voters

He comes off as forced and inauthentic. Bernie OR ELSE! crowd: save the tired old photo of him getting arrested, I’ve seen it before.

[BannonsLiver]

237. Will it go on my permanent record?!?1

“Bernie OR ELSE!”

[BannonsLiver]

240. Oh I'll be "mowed down"!1!

[leftynyc]

244. If you were wearing

a bright red MAGA hat, you still couldn't possibly be more obvious.

[uponit7771]

239. "Hilbots" ?!?! Corporate Dems ?;?!? You guys are back and force aren't you

[DesertRat]

247. Not for long

[uponit7771]

254. +1

[George II]

264. Bazinga!

[NurseJackie]

287. Boom!

[mcar]

45. Sounds 1%ish

[ProfessorGAC]

47. Not To Me It Doesn't

We don't have each destination. Some of these flights might have been to places with no direct routes and limited schedules in and out of the nearest full scale airport.

The 1% fly private to places where they could READILY fly commercial but choose not to.

We don't know that's the case here.

[Major Nikon]

117. It's also a safe bet the entire capacity was used

A $4000 trip that carries 19 people breaks down to about $210 per person and isn’t that much more than on-demand scheduled service costs, if you can even manage to find availability for everyone.

By the time you arrange ground transportation, flying scheduled service to remote locations might take all day for one trip and wind up being more expensive, when you can easily manage several trips per day flying charter.

[George II]

178. We don't know that it isn't the case, either. And if they're remote destinations, why...

...is he going there to campaign in the first place.

Incidentally, endorsements by his organization, Our Revolution, and their offshoots Justice Democrats and Brand New Congress, had a dismal record in the primaries.

[ProfessorGAC]

186. Neither Supporting Nor Disavowing Those Organizations

Not sure they mean much in the grand scheme of things.

And, i did say we didn't know the details, so we're basically agreeing.

[progressoid]

49. Sanders post?!?!?

[disillusioned73]

157. lmao...

that is fantastic, fits perfectly...

[G_j]

211. LoL

perfect

[George II]

50. I remember when people were raving about how great it was that he traveled coach.

[SunSeeker]

61. Yep.

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2015/12/29/Sanders-flies-coach-straight-into-supporters-hearts/1161451409033/

[George II]

63. Yet at the same time we had this:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/12512287841

This could explain his lukewarm support during the general election campaign.

[Autumn]

51. I looked to see if I had a fuck to give that he's using a private jet to help elect Democrats

but didn't find one.

[SunSeeker]

62. He could have saved $300k and helped elect a Dem Governor in Vermont.

Instead, Vermont got saddled with a Republican Governor.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11513080

[Autumn]

81. I doubt he would have made a difference. Scott is popular among Vermont Democrats.

So I guess that's on the voters.

[SunSeeker]

84. Christine gained 11 points in just 2 weeks before the election, to 39% (Scott, 49%).

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2018/governor/vt/vermont_governor_scott_vs_hallquist-6657.html

Could you imagine what she could have done if Bernie campaigned for her?

She sure could have used some high profile help from another popular local politician. She would have had a good chance. Why not do one measely rally for her in his own state? Can't blame this on Vermont Democrats, that's a copout.

[ehrnst]

66. I don't think the DNC was using this private jet provider

After getting out of jail - Al Palagonia started Apollo Jets whose motto is to "provide luxury, convenience, safety and security that only a private jet can offer. ... Flying privately ensures the absence of extended security and boarding delays that inconvenience commercial passengers."

Apparently, as a successful NY Broker - the kind Bernie likes to wag his finger at - Palagonia got involved with some not so great people (aka mobsters) and was part of a "pump and dump" scheme for which he was convicted and sent to jail, according to the Observer.

[Gothmog]

78. I think that you are correct on this

Last edited Thu Dec 6, 2018, 10:25 PM - Edit history (1)

Link to tweet

[ehrnst]

275. Got crickets from Autumn....

[Gothmog]

291. I noticed this

[BeyondGeography]

52. Hypocrite

He should have walked to swing districts around the country.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

68. Yes... wearing his elitist line of All-Star Chucks...

[samnsara]

53. i bet bidens gonna get the nom......

...if he decides to run. A Biden/Harris ticket would be great. two attack dogs who are qualified and can both stand up to trumps assaults. I can see B shaking his finger at T and said 'Now thats not nice! Be off!'

[Eric J in MN]

88. Bernie calls Trump a 'pathological liar'

Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday lit into President Donald Trump and his most recent Supreme Court nominee on the eve of Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearings, calling Trump a “pathological liar” who “works night and day on behalf of his fellow billionaires.”

“And most reprehensible, we have a president who is not doing what almost every president in American history has done: When you make it into the Oval Office, you understand you’ve got a sacred responsibility to bring the American people together,” the independent senator from Vermont told a crowd at an AFL-CIO Labor Day breakfast in Manchester, New Hampshire. “Today we have a president who for cheap political reasons is trying to divide us up.”

https://www.politico.com/story/2018/09/03/bernie-sanders-donald-trump-liar-806295

[Gothmog]

57. For this thread

Link to tweet

[Me.]

71. Living Large

on those hard earned $27.

[jalan48]

67. Bernie, thanks for all your hard work helping to elect Democrats!

[Ninsianna]

298. And the equal amount of work you did to make the sun rise each and every day.

All hail, Bernie, without whom nothing would happen! Even the work of the base ,which did not support him in anyway, is all to the greatness and glory of Bernard. May he fly private jets and dine on lobster as he travels everywhere he is not wanted to highlight all the terrible candidates running against and attacking Democrats!

All hail his holiness, Bernie, the bird blessed.

[jalan48]

299. He's the best. Glad he's in the Senate.

[brooklynite]

70. I have no problem with his using whatever transportation is practical...

....as long as his supporters extend the same courtesy to other candidates.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/128081648

[ehrnst]

77. .....

Not too likely.

[TexasTowelie]

83. That's an interesting list.

[Eliot Rosewater]

105. If you pointed out to me something I did or said that was inconsistent or wrong

I would thank you, correct it and learn from it.

But I am a liberal.

[SidDithers]

202. Your yesterday posts in that thread are hilarious!...

Well done.

Sid

[OnDoutside]

86. Ouch!

[JCanete]

104. agreed, consistency is paramount. nt

[mcar]

106. Oh yeah!

[Cha]

109. My how times have

changed. So it's ok if BS does it, eh playinghardball?

[lapucelle]

118. It looks like an ordinary commuter air service...

... but they do provide a shuttle bus to the air field.

https://www.apollojets.com/

[treestar]

152. thanks for the reminder

3 years ago now!

[yardwork]

187. Wow! Disgusting things said about our 2016 Democratic nominee in that thread.

The hosts of that DU group should be ashamed of themselves. Actually, the owners of DU should be ashamed to have allowed this site to perpetuate that kind of garbage against our Democratic nominee.

I'm disgusted.

[WeekiWater]

89. He is a savvy career politician looking to expand his reach at the end of his career.

This can be for many reasons. Money, power, influence, anger, etc. He has been a lone wolf throughout most of his career. That really hurt him in his last Presidential run. His stops do seem to be personally targeted. I expect nothing less. I greatly appreciate him a majority of the time. A majority of his long political career has been from the confines of Vermont. I like Leahy more. Really is a good job from their electorate to keep putting those two forward. Leahy would be higher on my list than Sanders in a primary.

[borgesian]

90. How magnanimous of Sanders to spend so much time and money to help elect Democrats!

Especially, considering the fact that he isn't even a member of the party.

[EffieBlack]

91. I recall Bernie supporters proudly posting pictures of Bernie sitting in coach as proof

of how "one of the people he was" unlike those American oligarchs who flew around on private planes (cough ... Hillary ... cough) ...

Now, not so much.

[pecosbob]

99. If BS declares as a Dem

how long before this thread is considered a right wing talking point? Just asking a simple question...

[Adrahil]

113. Bernie will NEVER announce as a Democrat.

He might run FOR the Democratic nomination, but as he has proven time and again, he is not a Democrat, and has no interest in being one.

And once the primaries start, the rules relax anyway.

[pecosbob]

114. I was just pulling a few people's chains is all

a lot of people get real drove up here sometimes. Thanks for not stomping on me in response.

[Devil Child]

120. I'm going to file this under IDGAF

Sen. Sanders took a private jet to campaign for Democrats. SOMEONE STOP THIS MAN!!!!! HE IS OUT OF CONTROL!!!!

Someone needs to figure out how to generate energy from the relentless hand-wringing regarding Sen. Sanders continued existence. Seems like a relatively clean source of renewable energy.

[Jim Lane]

128. This thread is hilarious. Bernie-bashing has graduated to self-parody.

Bernie Sanders uses his credibility with progressives to raise money. He then uses that money and puts in his own time to go all around the country supporting Democratic candidates.

For this he gets criticized on DU.

I wonder if, on any of these campaign trips, he was wearing that infamous jacket that some people were so up in arms about.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

139. This is why I don't watch professional sports. Who needs it when you can watch...

.... people twist themselves in knots over this nonsense. Lol.


Omg! Bernie flew around the country stumping for Democrats! He’s a monster!

[Devil Child]

140. I also heard he engages in the crime of selling his own book

When it comes to Sen. Sanders for some here, there is no quarter given. Damned is does, damned if he doesn't.

[treestar]

153. Well come one, Hillary got none

she was flying on corporate jets while Bernie flew coach. 3 years later, Bernie has a private plane and it's absurd Bernie-bashing to comment on the difference. Let's not be hypocrites like the right wingers are. If it's "corporate" and hobnobbing like an "oligarch" that applies no matter who it is.

[George II]

177. No one is concerned about him selling his books. What people are concerned about....

....(more curious than concerned) is that he rails against Amazon over and over again yet sells his books on Amazon (and Walmart, too)

By the way, in addition to selling his books on Amazon, his recently concluded campaign was a big CUSTOMER of Amazon, spending tens of thousands of dollars on them.

[progressoid]

142. He does seem to get a lot of DUers undies in a bunch.

[Jim Lane]

145. If you think their undies are in a bunch NOW....

Wait until 2020. It's possible that grassroots Democratic primary voters nationwide, like those in Vermont this year, will ignore all the sage advice they get on DU and will nominate Bernie. Then the irresistible force of Bernie-bashing will meet the immovable object of "vote blue no matter who."

[BannonsLiver]

203. What's funny is you think the Bernie love hasn't reached self parody.

[TheFarseer]

132. I say

Death by firing squad is too good for that son of a bitch. He should have to jump aboard a moving boxcar to get around with a handkerchief tied to the end of a stick and a dog named patches. He should only get to eat scraps he finds in a garbage can, drink water from a gas station toilet and breathe chili farts. Then I still wouldn’t support him because he told everyone to vote for Trump.

[klook]

136. LOL!

Last edited Thu Dec 6, 2018, 10:03 AM - Edit history (1)

That’s about the size of it.


I heard he owns more than one pair of shoes, too. And he has the 200-channel cable plan. And a smart phone. Elitist poser!

[Autumn]

151. Did you see that coat he's got?

[George II]

163. You do realize all the abuse and harassment a certain other candidate got...

...for using a private jet, don't you?

[George II]

175. He is now, and he's not even a candidate.

BTW, I don't know who is "fighting the primary".

[Autumn]

180. Sure he's not a candidate. He's flying around the country campaigning for Democrats. nt

[ehrnst]

268. How about the people of Vermont?

Former state Rep. Kiah Morris, D-Bennington, who recently resigned as one of just five lawmakers of color in the 180-member Legislature after facing racial harassment, not only added her name but also shared her own concerns on Twitter.

‏“How many POC (person of color) leaders in Vermont were invited to the #sandersinstitutegathering18?” Morris tweeted. “I am just curious what sort of future plans might be discussed without us in the room.”

“I have no problem w/ @SenSanders,” she continued. “He has been a friend & supporter for years now. I DO have a problem with systems of exclusion, segregation, power and control used by many predominantly white-led institutions that deny marginalized peoples an equal seat at the table.”

https://vtdigger.org/2018/12/03/state-activists-question-inclusivity-sanders-institute-gathering/

[Autumn]

270. What about the people of Vermont? They elected him again.

[ehrnst]

271. Did you read the date on the link? This is him after the election.

Granted, POC, not to mention POC who are progressive activist leaders, are a very tiny tiny percentage of voters there.

https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/vt

So there's that.

[George II]

273. The Vermont NAACP and other progressive activist groups are pretty upset with him though:

https://vtdigger.org/2018/12/03/state-activists-question-inclusivity-sanders-institute-gathering/

At first, Rutland Area NAACP president Tabitha Pohl-Moore was excited about the prospect of last week’s Sanders Institute Gathering, which its publicity said would bring 250 “leading progressive minds” to Burlington “to envision — and to actualize — a better future for our country and the world.”

“A progressive agenda that promised to raise an intersectional approach to ending injustice and oppression … in our backyard?” Pohl-Moore recalls thinking. “We would finally be heard and seen here in Vermont.”

“As I neared the end of the star-laden roster,” she says, “I wondered how many justice leaders from Vermont had been invited.”

A schedule of speakers revealed that, amid such celebrities as Danny Glover and Susan Sarandon, only a half-dozen Green Mountain State residents would take the stage: Sanders and his wife, ice cream icon Ben Cohen, Burlington Associates partner John Davis, environmental writer Bill McKibben and Champlain Housing Trust CEO Brenda Torpy.

Not seeing any local social-justice volunteers like herself represented, Pohl-Moore contacted friend and peer Steffen Gillom, president of the Windham County NAACP.

“I thought progressive politics was about lifting the voices of common people,” Gillom says. “For a group that prides itself on grassroots organization, it seemed that this progressive event had forgotten its roots — the people of Vermont.”

And so Pohl-Moore and Gillom composed a letter and shared it with more than a dozen other Vermont diversity leaders who added their signatures and have posted the statement on Facebook.

Here are the people who signed that letter, who were NOT invited:

Tabitha Pohl-Moore
President, Rutland Area Branch of the NAACP

Steffen Glenn Gillom
President, Windham County Branch of the NAACP

Amanda Garces
Founder, Vermont Coalition for Ethnic and Social Equity in Schools

Curtiss Reed, Jr.
Executive Director, Vermont Partnership for Fairness and Diversity

Kiah Morris
Former State Representative

Katrina Battle
POC Caucus Coordinator, Black Lives Matter of Greater Burlington
Jabari Jones
Organizer, Black Lives Matter of Greater Burlington

Wafic Faour
Vermonters for Justice in Palestine
Member, BLM of Greater Burlington

Marita Canedo
Migrant Justice

Shela Linton
Co-Coordinator BIPOC Caucus, Root Social Justice Center

Sha’an Mouliert
Co-Coordinator, I am Vermont Too

Mark Hughes
Exectutive Director, Justice for All

Beverly Little Thunder
Activist, founder of Kunsi Keya Tamakoce, Peace and Justice Board Member

Gemma Seymour
Vermont Vision for a Multicultural Future

Nico Amador
Community Organizer, ACLU of Vermont
​
Etan Nassredin-Longo
Co-chair, Fair and Impartial policing committee of the Vermont State Police
Chair, Racial Disparities in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System Advisory Panel

Olivia Lapierre she/her
Environmental Justice Community Organizer

Don Stevens
Chief of the Nulhegan Abenaki Tribe

[ehrnst]

283. Not a group that can deliver many votes for him in Vermont

by a long shot. Less than 2% of the population.

As of November, Vermont voters won't be an urgent issue for him for six years.

[Act_of_Reparation]

215. You are.

Obviously. I don't know why you're so keen to deny it.

[George II]

216. .

[Act_of_Reparation]

220. Nervous laughter is an understandable if predictable response.

It happens to the best of us.

Except me. It doesn't happen to me.

[George II]

263. Oh, that's FAR from "nervous" laughter.

[progressoid]

223. You literally did within this subthread.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=11518391

[George II]

229. What makes you say that?

[NurseJackie]

267. I saw... that was great!

[Jim Lane]

146. I can't agree with your hard line.

I'd say that, in addition to using boxcars, it would be OK for him to get around to these rallies by hitchhiking.

Other than that, your analysis is spot on.

[treestar]

154. as long as you weren't going on about how he flew coach

while Hillary was on "Wall Street jets" in the 2016 campaign.

[TheFarseer]

158. To tell the truth

I never gave a single thought to how either of them got around.

[George II]

164. Well, it was a BIG topic of discussion, and derision, a while back for many.

[EarthFirst]

143. So fu*king what...

He spent a tremendous amount of time traveling in support of Democrats in the mid-term elections.

Commercial air travel isn’t always the most efficient way to travel in this type of instance.

Howver; you all know this...

For all the sh*t that Sanders gets here not being “Democrat” enough; he does just that; as he often does; and it’s still met with gnashing of teeth and clawing of eyeballs.

[betsuni]

144. It's "Democratic" enough, not "'Democrat' enough."

Maybe this "gnashing of teeth and clawing of eyeballs" is because when someone accuses Democrats of being corrupt and beholden to wealthy donors and corporations and ignoring working and middle class people, being one percent elites, maybe that person shouldn't use private jets. It's a double standard.

[Nanjeanne]

147. I guess I don't see how using a private jet to make many campaign stops is the

equivalent to taking money from private prisons, gas and oil companies, and the like.

I also have a pretty easy time understanding wealthy corporations who pay living wages, do not pollute the environment, dont give money to organizations and politicians who support killing healthcare, denying voters rights, and respect a fair tax system etc are different than corporations like Walmart or “donors” like the Koch Brothers.

But hey, it’s another Bernie bad thread so it’s understandable that it devolves into this.

[betsuni]

162. I have no idea what you're talking about.

Sanders sells his books in Walmart and Amazon and takes money from all sorts of donors.

[Nanjeanne]

185. Doesn't surprise me. As soon as you mention

Book selling in Walmart or “all sorts of donors” it’s pretty apparent you have no idea what I’m posting.

But my mistake for even trying to address your @double standard” silliness regarding taking a private jet. No worries.

Have a great day.

[Autumn]

161. Bernie is "Democratic". He's just not a "Democrat".

The poster is right on that.

[TexasTowelie]

167. Correction: Bernie is a democratic socialist.

He is not a member of the Democratic party.

[Autumn]

168. No shit. That's what I said, he's not a Democrat.

Star Member Autumn (32,121 posts)

161. Bernie is "Democratic". He's just not a "Democrat".

The poster is right on that.

Let me help you here Towlie.
dem·o·crat·ic
/ˌdeməˈkradik/Submit
adjective
1.
relating to or supporting democracy or its principles.
"democratic reforms"
synonyms: elected, representative, popular, parliamentary; More
2.
relating to the Democratic Party.

[TexasTowelie]

171. Yet, you did not use the word socialist to describe him

when Bernie describes himself as a democratic socialist. Why would you only provide only a partial description of him?

If you read some of the socialist Websites, you will find that there are plenty of writers that do not consider him to be a socialist and they have noted his capitalist tendencies. Look at his corporate donations from the 2016 election cycle.

Alphabet Inc.....$361,408
University of California...$290,354
National Nurses United....$212,396
Microsoft Corp...$169,329
US Postal Service...$134,449
Apple Inc...$131,618
Roswell Infographics...$130,500
US Dept of Veterans Affairs...$123,094
Kaiser Permanente ..$119,535
Amazon.com...$105,842
IBM Corp...$102,853
US Navy...$100,743
Boeing Co...$96,655
State of California...$91,127
Moveon.org...$87,520
US Air Force...$81,346
US Army...$80,995
AT&T Inc...$79,500

http://politicaloasis.freeforums.net/thread/18209/bss-2016-corporate-donors-opensecrets

[Autumn]

173. Let me help you out again. Here's the post I responded to. Note the emphasis on the words

144. It's "Democratic" enough, not "'Democrat' enough."

Maybe this "gnashing of teeth and clawing of eyeballs" is because when someone accuses Democrats of being corrupt and beholden to wealthy donors and corporations and ignoring working and middle class people, being one percent elites, maybe that person shouldn't use private jets. It's a double standard.

Words and stuff. Everyone knows Bernie considers himself a Democratic Socialist.

You're welcome.

[TexasTowelie]

176. Let me help you out.

Look at those donations. Some might even call Bernie a corporatist.

Words and stuff.

BTW, I see you all over this thread refighting the primary.

[lapucelle]

306. I wish BS had spent some time in VT with Democratic candidate Chistine Hallquist.

Vermont re-elected an incumbent Republican governor who spent his last term vetoing a raise in the minimum wage, preventing the creation of a paid family leave program, and contracting with a for-profit prison to ship some of Vermont's incarcerated to a Mississippi hell-hole far from family and friends.

The marginalized people and working poor of Vermont deserve someone who will advance justice, equity, and decency in their state house.

[disillusioned73]

150. Ok...

so an article was needed for this? was the money from - wait for it.....

dum, dum.... du''u'u'ummm - Russia??

[mac56]

155. Good God. Give it up.

You're just embarrassing yourself.

[karynnj]

165. I saw Bernie speak to the UVM kids (in Burlington VT)

He energized them and moved them to get out to vote and to get their friends out. I know that other people did this too AND it is great that ALL of them were out there helping to get the youth (and other voters) out. I would guess that they - in addition tothe revulsion against Trump - were part of why turn out was historically high. (Link to live UVM rally - https://www.democraticunderground.com/1280223715 ) Please skip to the end of this to hear Sanders speaking to the students. He is effective speaking to them.

Here, Bernie LEGALLY used his PAC and in that last minute effort went to many universities, a sensible target to get out more young people. Not to mention, many states were NOT the "usual" primary states - for instance, he went to IU. There was a short time when the Seante was out of session before the important 2018 election. Using a private jet means he can get to more places with less difficulty and it is a reasonable and legal use of PAC money.

I would argue that that $300,000 likely generated more votes than if a similar amount were given to the DNC and used for ads.

[Autumn]

170. You want to see something really embarrassing? Look at this link posted upthread

and check out the new replies posted yesterday to an old OP from 2015. Some people never stop refighting the primary.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100211512923#post70

[TexasTowelie]

174. Yes, we learrned that many of the people that supported Bernie in 2016

are no longer members of Democratic Underground. That is embarrassing.

Thank goodness that we have MIRT to help prevent them from returning.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

189. Why would you want progressives not on DU?

I mean, sure, if someone gets kicked off for something specific, fine, but you make it sound like you don't want progressives or people that supported Sanders during the primary on DU. That seems....something not so good.

[TexasTowelie]

194. I don't have any issues with progressives.

Most people would classify me as a progressive based on the causes I believe in. As far as the status update that I provided in the one thread, the members who were PPR'd, FFR'd or did not agree to the new TOS in 2016 are responsible for their own actions. When I saw post #70, brooklynite asked whether the members at the link will provide the same courtesy to the travel arrangements to another candidate. The only thing I did was to make it clear that brooklynite wasn't going to get a response to his question because those members are gone.

I will point out that the definition of "progressive" is fluid on DU. It is still possible to be considered as a progressive without supporting Bernie. I find that some of the comments and political positions that Bernie has made over his career to be far from progressive.

If Bernie decides to run in 2020 then he will be subjected to intense scrutiny as one of the frontrunners due to his name recognition. I won't vote for him in the primary because I disagree with some of his policies; however, if he is the nominee then he will get my vote primarily because it is an anti-Trump vote. I don't see Bernie as a positive force for the party though and I cringe when I hear or read his criticisms of the Democratic party or he advises what the Democratic party should become when he isn't a member. I'm also concerned that he would have a negative effect on state elections. Redistricting will occur after the 2020 elections and the Democratic party needs strong support to fight gerrymandering. Bernie bashing the Democratic party makes that goal much harder to achieve.

[George II]

266. Many of us WOULD like progressives on DU, and liberals, and the dreaded centrists, as long....

....as they're not republicans or divisive.

Your "you make it sound like...." is your view, not that of most here on DU.

[ehrnst]

272. You may want to look at the name of this board, and its guidelines.

Not all who supported Sanders are Democrats, or hold the party in high esteem.

Is that clearer?

[melman]

195. Wow

That is a really strange thing to do.

[betsuni]

282. It IS pretty embarrassing for that group!

[SunSeeker]

181. Nice try. That article you link to is from 2016. What is he paying per hour now?

Bernie is not as frugal as he used to be. https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2015/12/29/Sanders-flies-coach-straight-into-supporters-hearts/1161451409033/

[Cuthbert Allgood]

188. That's why I said "during the 2016 campaign" in that post.

To make it clear when it was from.

Who fucking cares that a politician takes a private jet to things. Most do. It makes sense.

[TexasTowelie]

198. Apparently some of the commenters at Vermont Digger do.

Is it going to become a major issue? Probably not--it's just that the optics aren't good.

[melman]

199. "commenters at Vermont Digger"

Gee imagine that. A site known for trashing someone attracts people that hate them. Who could have guessed.

[SunSeeker]

207. "Who fucking cares"? You. You just posted about it, comparing what 2016 candidates paid.

In response to an article about what Bernie is paying now.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

227. I'm saying that if people care about what Sanders pays

maybe they should look at what others are doing, too.

I don't care how much Clinton paid for her travel. I'm sure she got the best deal she could. But if we are going to go after Sanders because of what he is paying now, it seems odd that there isn't outrage for what Clinton spent. Don't worry, though, I now the reason. It's clear.

[SunSeeker]

259. Guess he's no longer "Bernie always fly coach."

This is about what a dramatic change Bernie has taken from those days of always flying coach.


And if you really wanted to look at what "others" do, why go back to 2016 and bring up Hillary? We are talking about 2018. Why didn't you look at what other politicians do NOW, in 2018? Why bring up Hillary at all?

Don't worry, though, I now the reason. It's clear.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

260. Why bring up 2016?

Because it's pretty clear that this OP is about rehashing the 2016 primaries. The pure hate for Sanders shown here is just sad that we now have to go after him for doing something legal that most all politicians do.

But, again, carry on.

[SunSeeker]

261. This OP is about what Bernie is doing now.

You are the one rehashing the 2016 primaries.

[Ace Rothstein]

172. Trash and move on.

[Act_of_Reparation]

183. 2016 Presidential Primaries ended in 2016

Thought you'd might like to know.

Also, about the general election... I got some bad news.

[TexasTowelie]

190. So a current article about Bernie spending nearly $300K on private jet travel

can't be posted because it is refighting the primaries? Several of the other potential candidates for president can be discussed with unflattering comments, but Bernie is supposed to receive special accommodation because of who he is?

As a likely candidate for president, every move that Bernie makes is going to be scrutinized. If his supporters can't withstand factual reports from the Vermont Digger, then how will they be able to handle what the Republicans will lob his way?

[Act_of_Reparation]

193. Interesting.

Did I indicate somewhere what could and could not be posted?

[TexasTowelie]

197. No, but you are implying that the OP is about 2016

when the article is about a current event in 2018.

In the meantime, I'll continue to post articles about current events that are within the TOS. Thank you for agreeing that I should be allowed to do so.

[Act_of_Reparation]

200. Nope. Not quite.

I'm not implying anything. I'm stating quite clearly and unequivocally that your motivation for posting this claptrap is directly related to the 2016 primary. Am I right? Or have I made a grievous mistake and slandered an honest, objective investigator deeply concerned by the very, very serious issue of senators spending money on private travel?

[Autumn]

201. What else can one think when a person posts an OP, then goes back to find an old OP

in the Sanders group to do this? 24 posts .
https://www.democraticunderground.com/128081648

I think that what was done by the poster in this long dead 2015 OP yesterday shows that it is all about 2015.

[Act_of_Reparation]

209. Wow. I hadn't even seen that.

But I didn't need to. If you're posting anything re: Sanders or Clinton in 2018-going-on-2019, odds are it is related to sour grapes left over from 2016. That's just how we're doing things now, it seems.

[ehrnst]

285. Sour grapes?

On whose part?

Certainly not on the elected Democratic nominee and her supporters.

[Act_of_Reparation]

292. I'm not sure how to respond to that.

I take no issue with the behavior of Hillary Clinton or her supporters, broadly (I'm not really sure what means, as I would put myself in that category). I'm talking about a narrow demographic that was deeply involved in the contentious and often acrimonious primary discussions here on DU. If you're asking me if I think some Hillary Clinton proponents are still upset at Bernie Sanders and his proponents, the answer is yes. I don't think that the preferred candidate winning the nomination assuaged many of the bad feelings germane to those discussions.

[TexasTowelie]

222. I saw post #70 and went to the link--I didn't search for it earlier.

You can compare the timestamps between that post and when I posted in the other thread for verification.

The fact that I provided the details about who no longer is around DU irks you and the worst part is that you can't do anything to remove the information. I wonder how many of them did not vote for Clinton in the general election since they were either FFR'd, PPR'd or didn't agree with the revised TOS?

I'm satisfied that MIRT is doing a pretty good job keeping those people from returning.

[Autumn]

226. Who is no longer around DU has nothing to do with anything and absolutely nothing, zero, ziltch

to do with your OP so all your research was wasted time... unless you plan on doing an OP about the departed. As long they live in your memory they will never be gone.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/128081648

[TexasTowelie]

231. Thanks for kicking my thread again.

I thought you were going to trash it?

The fact that you keep replying makes it apparent as to how deep I got under your skin.

You can't deny Bernie's hypocrisy or the fact that Bernie made his millions railing on other millionaires.

[Autumn]

233. Your welcome. I kept seeing replies and figure out I had not done it.

By the way. Is it really MIRTS job to ensure no FFR Bernie supporter ever sullies the hallowed ground of DU? What about.. others who were flagged but have returned? Are they holy enough? I'm only asking you because you know how MIRT works being on it and all that and we are allowed to ask MIRT members about things.

Bernie? Bernie's old news, most of us have moved on. As the admins suggested.

[TexasTowelie]

248. MIRT looks to ensure that nobody who is flagged for review

or posting privileges revoked is allowed to return. In other cases, the proprietary software for DU recognizes them as a returnee and they are automatically revoked.

There are returnees that supported both Hillary and Bernie who attempted to return and I voted to ban those accounts when the evidence is convincing that they are returnees or when they show malicious intent. There are undoubtedly more returnees from the group that supported Bernie than those that supported Hillary because so many of them violated the TOS or they decided to leave and returned under different usernames. The reasons for using new login credentials range from not being able to log on after the Election Day hack, to losing login credentials, to wanting to assume a new identity. We try to help those that we see are having problems because of the hack or login problems so that they can reactivate their old accounts so that they don't lose their posting history. When we believe that someone is registering a sock account or reactivating a sleeper account then we take notice since the TOS authorizes only one account per person.

As for Bernie being old news, why is he trying so hard to stay in the news? Most observers believe that he is preparing to enter the 2020 race. That makes him a topic relevant for discussion--whether it is good news or bad.

[Autumn]

251. Really? You don't say.

Having been on MIRT it's easy to see the people who have returned and stayed.

[TexasTowelie]

255. Yes it is.

However, I'm not going to assist the trolls by divulging how we recognize them by discussing the various methods we use in an open forum. EarlG banned one of them about 20 minutes ago if you're interested.

[NurseJackie]

286. Excellent summary and analysis. The truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

[betsuni]

281. Wrong. There was a link in post #70. I saw it before TexasT posted in that thread.

It would be nice if you apologized.

[TexasTowelie]

213. Geez, another snide remark and personal attack.

If you want to see who is refighting the primary, then you should look in the mirror.

The Vermont Digger is an excellent source for investigative journalism. It was recommended to me as probably the best news source in Vermont by someone who supported Bernie after I posted an article from Seven Days.

Look at the Vermont Group and you'll see that I've posted articles from numerous sources on many topics over the past two years. I posted this thread in GD because Bernie is a national figure. Your concern about my motivations is noted, but it is not my concern. More than likely I will not vote for Bernie in the Democratic primary since I expect that there will be other candidates that I believe are more qualified than him, have a better chance of winning a national election and will have longer coattails to help Democrats further down the ballot to win.

I will acknowledge one accomplishment: Bernie became a millionaire by railing on other millionaires

[Act_of_Reparation]

214. Another fascinating reply.

Who did I support in the primaries, Towelie? Maybe there's some indication in the old 2015-2016 posts you have bookmarked for vindication.

It's OK. I'll wait.

[TexasTowelie]

234. No, I don't keep files of who supported what candidates in the 2015-2016 primaries.

I know someone who was a Bernie Sanders supporter that did though.

While I have numerous friends on DU, I don't care enough about most of the members here to collect that information and I use bookmarks sparingly--mostly so I can argue with my RW brother. However, I do rely on my memory at times and I make mistakes so if I was incorrect about who you supported in 2016, then I apologize. I was basing my guess on your replies to me so it was a logical assumption.

FYI, I found the thread in the Bernie Sanders group based upon the link in post #70. You can check the timestamps to verify that I didn't post anything in that thread until after post #70 in this thread.

Thanks for kicking the thread though.

[Act_of_Reparation]

235. "Logical assumption"

Well, you're half right. It was one of those things.

[TexasTowelie]

252. Thanks for making the snide remark inferring that someone is an ass.

You're making the case for me.

[Act_of_Reparation]

256. The only inference made is that you clearly made an assumption.

An assumption predicated entirely by your obsession with a primary that ended two fucking years ago.

Please, I implore you, one Democrat to another, stop making this place suck.

[TexasTowelie]

258. So it is fair to criticize other Democratic candidates,

but the candidate who isn't a Democrat gets an exemption?

[R B Garr]

221. Thanks for posting this current article, TT. It shows what

was sacrificed just for some hypocritical double standards. No more.

[TexasTowelie]

280. You're welcome.

This thread revealed much.

[R B Garr]

308. It certainly has revealed a lot.

People were very vulnerable to Trump’s con jobs. Hmm.

[BannonsLiver]

205. Looks like the "Bernie OR ELSE!" crowd has geared up for 2020

Dukes are up!

[Devil Child]

208. Likes like the "Anyone but Bernie or ELSE!" crowd has geared up for 2020

[BannonsLiver]

210. Damn right

IM going to do whatever I can to see he doesn’t get the nomination. Hopefully other actual Dems will too. He makes me throw up.

[Devil Child]

218. I appreciate your honesty in expressing your hatred for progressive allies

[BannonsLiver]

219. Nah, it's really just Bernie.

But you’re welcome.

[uponit7771]

241. Yeah I got a hide for bashing Bernie Bros, I'm appealing it now

[BannonsLiver]

243. Is JPR down?

[uponit7771]

245. I think so I just reply to a poster who said Bernie... is ...the movement

Thinking some PSA warning is appropriate

[BannonsLiver]

246. Ah yes the same one who told me

If I didn’t vote for Bernie i wouldn’t be forgiven and that I was going to be “mowed down”. Didn’t end too well for that one.

[uponit7771]

253. Yep they're back (poltergeist girl voice)

[Marrah_Goodman]

217. Why don't you focus on the republicans

This circular shooting gallery shit is so old.

[TexasTowelie]

224. Why doesn't Bernie focus on the Republicans?

He does a great job at criticizing Democrats and telling them what to do.

[LiberalLovinLug]

284. BS

the few times, usually its when he is asked, he gave his own constructive criticism of a party that has been bleeding seats across the country for a decade, and now even all branches and the SCOTUS, which you apparently think is peachy keen, compared to all the work he has done to speak out against Trump, and all the fundraising he does, like these trips, to HELP Democrats win. Whomever you are, and whatever mission you think you are on to divide the Democratic party and their allies won't work.

But hey, thanks for keeping him relevant. Every time a divisive OP like this gets posted it gets a lot of replies. You attack one of our own, (according to DU rules) and you'll get a response.

It would be funny if it weren't so sad. Do you think Republicans scavenge news stories to find anything they can to sully one of their own on their message boards? I wish the administrators would be more vigilant about these flame bait OPs.

[TexasTowelie]

289. I'm not going to take the time to respond to your belief that Bernie isn't criticizing the

Democratic Party since they've been posted previously on DU.

However, I'm not going to let a Canadian post a lie and personal attack that I'm on a mission to destroy the party without responding. I've been a Democrat since before you were born. I vote for candidates that have served in the party for years rather than candidates that choose the label when it convenient and politically expedient as Bernie has done.

Having Bernie at the top of the Democratic ticket will result in dramatic losses further down the ballot and it will make it easier for Republicans to gerrymander state and federal districts after the 2020 census. If the Democratic party is going to strengthen, then it will require gains in the Southern and Midwestern states where Bernie has little to no influence. Even if we don't get Democratic officials elected in those states, we might be able to eliminate the supermajorities in some states such that Democrats can oppose the tyranny that the Republicans are trying to push on us.

[LiberalLovinLug]

293. I never said Bernie never criticized the Democratic party

But is being critical, urging leaders to re-examine some of their positions, or their strategies, that big of a sin from an ally that works closely with Democrats? Maybe he was sick of watching the party lose seats for a decade, including a majority of Governorships? I thought we were the party that can handle the truth. That we were not the party that grovels to a dear leader, and walks in lockstep and never admits we have ever made a mistake.

I don't think you are trying to divide the party. But you are just the same. At the very least realize that you only have to look at politician popularity polls to realize that Bernie still has a lot of support. He once had up to 48% of delegates during the primaries. So at the very least, be sensitive to the fact that every time one of these purposely antagonistic attacks on our most important and popular ally, you are pissing a lot of Democrats off.

And no, this Canadian is only a Democrat in spirit. I would be if I could. I proudly call myself a liberal. I am active on this board because for one, we are each other's largest trading partners. Everything that happens there affects our economy. But more importantly, I am a liberal, who thinks more about a global struggle as we see populist racist right wing authoritarians rise up all over the planet, even in democracies. Russia, Hungary, Philippines, Turkey, Italy, and now Brazil. I think liberals across the planet need to stand together. This new Axis of Evil collude together to make it easier for the uber wealthy to control more of the worlds resources, and limit the wages and rights of the populations that work in those countries. And I am concerned that the one country, the one that is only a hundred miles to the south of me, that I could always count on to help curb that kind of authoritarian aggression, is now falling into the same trap.

BTW,
"A Bernie Sanders-backed candidate just got elected mayor in the deep south"
Randall Woodfin was elected mayor of Birmingham, Alabama.

https://www.cnn.com/2017/10/04/politics/randall-woodfin-birmingham-bernie-sanders/index.html

It beats me how railing against a trip where he is using his popularity to help elect more Democrats is a bad thing. Why? Because OMG he will also be keeping himself in the spotlight for a possible run in 2020! The audacity!

[Cha]

225. Tell that to BS when he insults my

Democratic Party with empty attacks.

[Gothmog]

232. From the Hoarse Whisperere

Link to tweet

[George II]

262. I love me some Hoarse Whisperer tweets - very talented and very poignant.

[Mike Nelson]

250. I wondered...

… did the nine candidates win? If so, it might have been better than an ad buy!

[TexasTowelie]

257. Yes some of the candidates did win,

but they already had name recognition since they were incumbents in Congress. I doubt that Bernie's endorsement or appearance put them into the winning position since they were already safe bets.

[pwb]

265. So what?

He gets around to get the progressive message out. It's not tax payer money.

[TexasBushwhacker]

269. He purchased carbon offsets and went to 25 events so IDGAF

"Jones said the campaign purchased carbon offsets to support renewable energy projects and invest in carbon reduction projects to balance out emissions produced from travel. She said the campaign paid $4,980.00 to NativeEnergy for carbon offsets."

[Snackshack]

303. So he spent.

Campaign dollars to primarily help other Democratic candidates win back the House, which they did. So now starting in January the Democratics will be able to start holding trump accountable for his actions... and this is bad because?