Sanders privately expresses concerns about the Biden/Harris campaign

[still_one]

“Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is privately expressing concerns about Joe Biden’s presidential campaign, according to three people with knowledge of the conversations, urging Biden’s team to intensify its focus on pocketbook issues and appeals to liberal voters.
Sanders, the runner-up to Biden in the Democratic primary, has told associates that Biden is at serious risk of coming up short in the November election if he continues his vaguer, more centrist approach, according to the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe sensitive talks.
The senator has identified several specific changes he’d like to see, saying Biden should talk more about health care and about his economic plans, and should campaign more with figures popular among young liberals, such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.).“

......

“Asked for comment, Sanders’s team provided a statement from Faiz Shakir, the senator’s former campaign manager in the presidential race, saying that Sanders is “working as hard as he can” to get Biden elected but has advised some strategic adjustments.
“Senator Sanders is confident that Joe Biden is in a very strong position to win this election, but nevertheless feels there are areas the campaign can continue to improve upon,” Shakir said. “He has been in direct contact with the Biden team and has urged them to put more emphasis on how they will raise wages, create millions of good paying jobs, lower the cost of prescription drugs and expand health care coverage.”
Shakir said Sanders “also thinks that a stronger outreach to young people, the Latino community and the progressive movement will be of real help to the campaign.”

......

Sanders led a surging liberal faction during the Democratic primaries and scored early successes in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada before ultimately falling short. His critique of Biden’s approach reflects his status as a longtime stalwart of the party’s left and a self-described democratic socialist.
But it is rare for such a prominent party figure to repeatedly voice private criticisms of the party’s nominee and acknowledge them publicly, especially in the campaign’s final stretch. Sanders’s decision to do so suggests the ongoing frustration among liberals, who urgently want Biden to defeat President Trump but are upset that he has taken a relatively centrist path.
Biden is determined not to play into attacks from Trump seeking to cast him as a radical or a socialist. The nominee has distanced himself from elements in his party calling for defunding the police, implementing a single-payer health plan and banning hydraulic fracturing, or fracking. Sanders supports the latter two policies.



https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/bernie-sanders-expresses-concerns-about-biden-campaign/2020/09/12/a0ccc4fa-f4a1-11ea-b796-2dd09962649c_story.html

[Iliyah]

1. I saw a commerical today that addresses the issue . .

[Generic Brad]

110. I just saw a Biden ad on healthcare - in Tennessee

He may not be addressing these issues in the same manner that Sanders would, but he is addressing them.

[greenjar_01]

2. Oh for fuck's sake

Last edited Sat Sep 12, 2020, 03:32 PM - Edit history (1)

[mzmolly]

8. My thoughts

as well.

[crickets]

22. Yep. That about covers it. nt

[brush]

24. Right! From where I sit it looks like Biden is running a great campaign...

during this pandemic. And so much negative info is coming out on trump that Joe has to respond to and blast trump about, it's taking up a majority of his campaign time.

And that's a good thing. Stand back and watch when your opponent is self-destructing. Let him continue.

[cwydro]

30. Agree.

[Amishman]

119. Pretty much, polls say Bidens centerist approach is working well

Biden's commanding lead in both national polls affirms that we made the right choice in the primaries

[Thekaspervote]

3. Why is he doing this?! You lost not one prez campaign but 2! This is not helpful

If you are concerned go to Biden and talk it over with him and keep your mouth shut!

[still_one]

6. The article indicates he expressed those concerns privately, however I question how private it

is if this is in the Washington Post

[Cha]

51. Exactly.. those "thoughts" were so "private" they reached

the WaPo & everyone knows it now.

Sounds like there's a leaker.

[onetexan]

14. Ditto

[Doremus]

131. It's okay then

bc Biden lost that many too. Unless you think he and not Obama ran their campaign?

For the love of god can't people just accept what Sanders says at face value instead of assigning evil motives? The man won more than a few delegates and, until Super Tuesday, was our leading candidate. He's been in Congress a long time and has a lot of supporters. Can't we give him a little credit for 1) knowing what's important to his base, and 2) trying to improve our campaign?

Y'all are acting like such sycophants, as if the slightest criticism is high treason. Give it a fucking rest already and try to learn from others. It can't hurt.

[MrsCoffee]

4. Sore loser needs to suck it up before that's all he is remembered for.

So many things he could be doing himself to ease his concerns.

[comradebillyboy]

21. That's all he will be remembered for...

[genxlib]

5. I'll just leave this here

[Stuart G]

76. Sanders has same problem as Trump: DON'T KNOW WHEN TO, "SHUT UP."

[Me.]

7. Of Course He Is

nobody is paying attention to him any more.

And as stated above, why is his council so wise, he's a two-time loser.

[Awsi Dooger]

9. Campaigning alongside AOC would lock up Florida

for Trump

The ads would be everywhere in a flash

Turnout means nothing compared to preference. Guys like Sanders somehow have no clue about that. There is no such thing as bringing out 5% more of your supporters without a parallel national interest surge that also brings out 5% more from the other side.

Elections are decided on messaging and preference. I agree Biden needs more emphasis on health care and climate change, etc. But the last thing he needs to do is come across as more liberal. That plays well here but not among voters who decide elections. Andrew Gillum was described as too liberal for the state by 46% of Floridians. Stacy Abrams was described too liberal for the state by 41% in Georgia. Those are impossible numbers. Or should be.

Biden's opportunity for victory rises, the lower that number is.

[still_one]

12. no kiddin. Same thing with other states too

[Hero57]

18. AOC couldn't even help win in a Democratic primary

Much less a general election, AOC is not that popular around the country as people think. Sanders did worse among young people than 2016.

[Rice4VP]

53. He's already having trouble in Florida

because Trump convinced some Latinos that Biden is a socialist. This would seal it

[octoberlib]

113. Same in North Carolina.

[Phoenix61]

10. Because talking advice from the person you beat

is the logical thing to do. Right....

[Cha]

34. No kidding.

[MontanaFarmer]

11. Please Bernie, enlighten Joe Biden

on how to win a national election. After all, you beat him all across the nat....oh, wait. Never mind. Why on the green fucking earth do you have faiz shakir being quoted as to what the senator from Vermont thinks joe Biden should be doing? Unbelievable yet entirely predictable. Everybody needs to get in harness and pull the direction the nominee is pulling, and fast.

[frazzled]

13. Advice from the defeated

Duly noted. I think the Biden campaign is doing just fine. And they have emphasized raising wages (especially for child and adult caregivers), creating good paying jobs (especially through clean energy initiatives), lowering the cost of drugs, and expanding health care. And all of these plans exceed the rubric of "centrist," sometimes by a lot. Maybe Bernie hasn't been listening. I have. Right now, however, there is an intense news cycle that is being addressed. And note that he doesn't mention the big elephant in the room: racial justice.

Unwelcome analysis: this is the kind of "Only I can fix it" attitude that strikes me as a great character flaw. And a singular focus on his own base, when the entire country, with a vast range of views, needs, and opinions needs to be addressed. My advice to Biden is: don't take this advice. Keep doing what you're doing.

[Baclava]

15. "Private concerns" that go public are no longer private, Bernie Bros restless cuz its not about THEM

[redstatebluegirl]

16. Go away Bernie.

[dawg day]

17. I would like Biden and Harris to start acting like they're in charge--

Saying what they're going to do about Covid, etc.

They're already doing that, but I'd suggest stopping the immediate reaction to everything Trump says, and do the Reagan-- "There you go again."

And pivot immediately to 'Now, about the fires in California, what we need to do is...."

Sanders is of course going to mutter that the one who won is not doing it right, but he doesn't want to admit that Biden's got a better connection to voters.

[Demsrule86]

46. They have done that repeatedly.

[mcar]

64. What?

You say

I would like Biden and Harris to start acting like they're in charge--
View profile
Saying what they're going to do about Covid, etc.

Then admit

They're already doing that,

Maybe you should contact the campaign, since you know so much more than it apparently does.

[Spazito]

19. Says the guy who lost his bid for the Presidency twice...

because Democrats didn't want his agenda at all. He has not gotten any major legislation passed in the 13 years he's been in the Senate.

He doesn't get to slag the successful candidate, Biden, because he didn't get his way, his agenda.

[Arazi]

28. I want Bernie's agenda. Know a fair few other Dems who feel the same

[Spazito]

35. The majority of Democrats didn't hence his loss...

and his inability to get any major legislation through the Senate in the 13 years he's been there. The best way to push some of his ideas is not to alienate almost everyone he needs to help him succeed, that has been and continues to be one of his biggest failures, imo.

[Arazi]

38. He's not slagging Biden. His ideas are now, finally, picking up steam

$15/hour wage, Medicare 4 all, real climate action, the disaster of income inequality etc.

And if you mean "majority" of Democrats then say that instead of minimizing those of us who found/find his message attractive and whose votes Biden will need in November.

Progressive Dems like me, AOC, Bernie, and a fair few other Ds here on this board aren't going away.

[Spazito]

39. Biden is a progressive, Harris is a progressive...

and to infer otherwise is a big mistake some make, sadly.

When I read this, "and whose votes Biden will need in November.", it comes across almost like a threat to not vote for Biden/Harris unless everyone caters to your and a few others' whims. I am sure you didn't mean to leave that impression but it does read that way to me.

[Demsrule86]

44. Those are Democratic ideas and if Sander's can't help he should go home to Vermont and

sit on the porch of his lake house.

[BannonsLiver]

75. Neither are people who disagree with all of that

They’re not going away either.

[Demsrule86]

45. Well if enough agreed with you and the 'few other Dems', he would be the nominee.

But We need to support the ticket period. And if Sanders can't manage that, he should not speak unless he wants to help Trump which I do not believe is the case.

[mcar]

65. He lost

Remember when so many were telling HRC to go home and knit something?

[notinkansas]

118. Bernie has had a tremendous influence on politics. For good reason.

The policies he advocates make sense. There is no reason that the citizens of the richest country in the world should be living in third world conditions. Do something. Get out of that damn false 'centrist' mindset and commence changing things for the better.

Which is to say, of course, that I totally agree with you.

[Doremus]

132. I do too. And there are many, many more. We would do well to listen.

Do we really want to act like sycophants? It doesn't reflect well on the open-minded, big-tent party.

[jorgevlorgan]

20. Being vague is an inferior strategy

But Biden doesn't have to change his policy proposals in order to win, he just has to emphasize them in order to show how incredibly superior to Trump they are.

[mcar]

66. What are you talking about?

[BannonsLiver]

73. A whole lot of nonsense

That’s what.

[mcar]

78. Uh huh

[jorgevlorgan]

80. Talking about policy wins elections

Talking about nonesense let a you free to be painted by your opponents. Talking about policy is also how the opposition finally beat berlusconi in Italy.

[mcar]

81. Are you suggesting that Biden is talking about nonsense?

[jorgevlorgan]

82. Are you suggesting that being specific about policy, which is historically how

Authoritarians have been ousted democratically is nonsense?

[mcar]

83. Nice strawman

Can you answer the question I asked?

[jorgevlorgan]

84. No.

I think Biden is fine.

[mcar]

85. K

[jorgevlorgan]

91. ..

[MrsCoffee]

115. So what was the point of posting that in this thread?

[JI7]

93. Joe Biden IS Specific. Sanders only has slogans .

[stillcool]

23. When fame wanes

and relevance is in doubt, there must be a desperate need to reclaim the spotlight.

[Codeine]

31. Pay attention to MEEEEE!!!! nt

[betsuni]

25. "appeals to liberal voters" "Sanders led a surging liberal faction" "frustration among liberals"

What in the hell are they talking about? In Sanders Speak liberals are Democrats (both sides) and "progressives" are the only true Leftists. What's "centrist" about Biden's policies?

[gristy]

26. I for one am glad he is doing this. More neutral that it showed up in WaPo.

His campaign no doubt hears him, and I have no doubt they will consider the points made.

[Cha]

49. We have to Beat trump above everything. What

is he doing to help with that?

[tavernier]

27. He is so wise. Good thing we chose him as our candi...

Oh wait, we didn’t! Wonder if anyone has told him yet?

Oh Bernie, I think there are kids walking on your lawn. Go and advise Them.

[Codeine]

29. Old man yells at cloud. nt

[qazplm135]

32. younger voters didn't show up for Sanders

against the eventual winner who was broke and not even running in several states he won on Super Tuesday...why in the world are they going to be more motivated because Biden does a couple of events with AOC??

The AOC cohort is never going to be enthusiastic about Biden. They just aren't. Certainly some and one hopes most of them will come out to defeat Trump, but I just don't see how doing a couple of events with AOC is going to magically enthuse them when Bernie himself wasn't enough.

[LizBeth]

33. Of course he is, same ole, from the man.

[peggysue2]

36. I vaguely recall Senator Sanders predicting that 2018 was going to be a bust

So, perhaps Bernie's electoral prognostications should be considered 'questionable' at best.

As far as not running a more progressive campaign, Biden is trying to reach the broadest electorate possible. Many of the policies Biden has proposed are, in fact, progressive. Maybe not to the degree the Senator from Vermont would like but Biden is the nominee not Sanders. It's important to remember Trump would love Biden to make a sharp U-turn left because painting him as a wild-eyed socialist would be so much easier and more effective.

From everything I've read, Biden/Harris are reaching out to Hispanic communities. We can argue over whether this should have started earlier but the outreach is going on. As for young voters? I have not seen any shift from Dem to Republican in the polls. The question is how many young voters will actually come out? Their track record is not exactly stellar. But 2020 is about their future, more than us oldsters: climate change, environmental factors, racial justice, reinventing police departments, gun control, economic equality, a woman's right to choose, etc., etc., etc.

If the threat of another disastrous Squatter-in-Chief term isn't enough to motivate voters, nothing will. Because this is all about the country's future, as in, will we have one?

[Cha]

47. You remember correctdly, Peggysue.. I remember

all too well.

We have to BEAT trump FIRST.. & he should know that.

[JI7]

60. He had planned some event afterwards where it sounded like he was disappointed

in the 2018 election results.

[Baclava]

42. Bernie, u just had a heart attack, your lake houses are calling you, take a rest bud

[we can do it]

40. FFS not this shit again.

[Takket]

41. at this point.... any progressive on the left that isn't sold on Biden......

is never going to be. If its Bernie or bust and they are going to sit there holding their breath until they turn blue, they aren't worth wasting any time on.

[roman88]

43. Bernie has every right to express concern and offer advice.

It's not like he's sabotaging Biden or Harris. My God people need to stop acting like he's some pariah. -_-

[Cha]

48. No, People can "react" how they want.

[MrsCoffee]

54. Concern trolling is not helpful in any way.

Just saying.

[mcar]

67. Bernie needs to be slamming Trump and the Republicans

not saying "privately" in the WaPo that Biden needs to do everything the person he beat tells him to do.

Bernie lost. Period. If he wants to offer suggestions (not advice) to Joe, he should actually do it privately. Not this passive-aggressive leaking to the media crap.

It sure seems like someone in his campaign is trying to sabotage Biden/Harris. My god, wake up.

[NurseJackie]

79. I do not believe they are acting.

[TexasTowelie]

89. The one thing that I have learned about unsolicited advice

is that it is easier to ignore without feeling any guilt or regrets doing so.

[MustLoveBeagles]

122. mcar said it best in post 67

If he wants to offer suggestions (not advice) to Joe, he should actually do it privately. Not this passive-aggressive leaking to the media crap.

Up until today I thought he'd done a good job in getting behind the ticket this time around and unifying his supporters to support the Biden/Harris ticket. I thought he'd learned from the mistakes he made 4 years ago. This accidentally/on purpose leak to the Washington Post isn't helpful at all and I say this as a 2016 Bernie supporter. This election is literally about life and death. We don't have time for this nonsense.

[grobertj]

50. This is just Bernie being Bernie!

RELAX!!!

[calimary]

52. Oh for Pete's Sake!

Spreading negativity again.

AGAIN!!!

You SURE you wanna go there, Senator?

You SURE it’s “helpful” to give anybody still on the fence cover for not voting Biden?

You SURE it’s a good idea to start complaining and fault-finding?

Accentuate the negative - AGAIN???

Criminy!!! I never saw or heard anyone so determined to be the skunk at the picnic! You secretly working to hurt Biden cuz it wasn’t you getting the nomination, dude? Still nursing a grudge or something? Since the polls are looking good, NOW’s the time you feel compelled to start picking Biden apart?

Come ON, Bernie! Now is when we need EVERYBODY ON BOARD!!! Now is when we need to be A UNITED FRONT!!!

Now is NOT the time to sow disappointment or disunity, dammit! Whose side are you on, really?

When it’s said that Democrats are good at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory, it’s this kind of shit that helps drive that impression.

[smirkymonkey]

105. +1000

Seriously, jeeze! Bernie needs to get on board or keep his mouth shut.

[calimary]

116. Maybe Bernie just likes drilling holes in the nice sturdy lifeboat

because it wasn’t painted his favorite color.

[Hekate]

55. Bernie is so concerned one wonders if he has been having afternoon tea with Susan Collins....

It’s that level of concern. SO CONCERNED.

Thank you for your input, Senator.

[JI7]

56. Biden is already doing well in AOC's District .

[Roland99]

57. *yawn*

[JI7]

58. Why doesn't Sanders do anything about the people on his campaign that want Trump to win

[ismnotwasm]

59. Huh. Familiar sounding

[BainsBane]

61. I've certainly run into these people on twitter

I don't know if they are actually gettable voters, but if possible Biden should do some outreach or we could face another 2016. Putting our heads in the sand is not the solution.

ETA: I see a lot of hostility toward any possibility this election may not be in the bag. That kind of response is not helpful. The goal is to actually win in November, not feel good about the election now. The self-described left still angry over yet another primary defeat are a problem. They could very well throw the election to Trump as they helped do in 2016. Pretending Sanders is a troll for voicing that concern is wrong. Anyone who remembers me from 2016 knows that I despise Bernie, but he has a point here--something I've seen expressed by far too many voters.

The goal of Democratic organizing is not to make people feel good about a potential election win but to encourage you to make that win happen: volunteer, phone bank. https://joebiden.com/call/ That's what it takes to win this election.

[Arazi]

120. "Pretending Sanders is a troll for voicing that concern is wrong"

Yup.

"Anyone who remembers me from 2016 knows that I despise Bernie, but he has a point here--something I've seen expressed by far too many voters."

Double yup.

The vitriol towards Bernie and his supporters isn't helpful. We don't have this election in the bag. We must win overwhelmingly and there's certainly a couple things Biden/Harris can say and do that would reach this group without alienating other Dems or Independents.

[MrsCoffee]

125. Oh please.

Bernie reaps what he fucking sows. And so do his supporters.

I can’t stand him because he acts like he despises my party. He certainly disparages it enough.

[zackymilly]

62. Well, it's not too 'private' if we are hearing about his concerns.

[mcar]

63. Good gad, what a bunch of tripe

"Sanders privately expressed?" Is he trying to gin up his supporters to not vote?

I haven't seen him on the campaign trail, have you?

[bluestarone]

68. Here we go again

Nothing like self destructing again! RUMP and putin are enjoying THIS!

[BGBD]

69. Bernie

can shit the fuck up.

He wouldn't know how to win a presidential campaign in the first place.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

70. Channeling Susan Collins?

[NurseJackie]

71. "privately"

[mcar]

72. Right?

Someone is not getting enough attention, it seems.

[Politicub]

74. FFS, who is Sanders' team?

Ridiculous.

[kcr]

77. He needs to pick one of his beach houses and go there to retire already.

[LeftInTX]

86. I did not hear anything at the convention about social

security, Medicare, or health insurance.

I saw a lot of memorials for people who died of Covid 19, which was depressing. Then, there was a whole lot of climate change stuff. There was too much time spent on immigration. Then there was Billie Eilish and her green hair. This stuff droned on. It could have been condensed and they could have covered more issues.

[JI7]

94. Sorry, but this is just excuses. Anyone who actually cares about these issues knows to support

Democrats. You think people who actually care about these issues need to tune into a convention to know where people stand on issues ?

This is just excuses. If Sanders is concerned HE would be the one getting out there and saying Biden is the one to vote for if you support these issues. Instead he is concern trolling. Considering how badly he lost it's not like he has some success in these areas to give advice .

[LeftInTX]

95. Independents and undecided voters watch conventions.

They did not hear one peep about how Trump was trying to dismantle: Social Security, Medicare, and the ACA

The convention is not for the "base", it's for undecided voters.

[JI7]

96. If they care about Social Security, Medicare, ACA then they already know who to vote for

[Iggo]

87. Keep fighting that primary!

[still_one]

88. Ya talking to the OP, or the Washington Post?

[fishwax]

90. I don't see the big deal

I can't get to the entire article, but so Bernie has concerns. Big deal. "Political figure seeks to influence campaign" isn't exactly a man-bites-dog story.

I agree that a strong outreach "to young people, the Latino community and the progressive movement" would really help the campaign. Maybe the campaign will listen to that advice, and maybe they won't. Either way, like Bernie, I'll do all I can to ensure that Biden wins and we vote Trump out in November.

[liskddksil]

92. He has a point

Link to tweet

[betsuni]

100. "Vox did an analysis of all my campaign events and found that I talked about jobs, workers, and the

economy far more than anything else. As the Atlantic put it in a piece titled, 'The Dangerous Myth That Hillary Clinton Ignored the Working Class,' I ran on the 'most comprehensively progressive economic platform of any presidential candidate in history' and talked more about jobs in my convention speech than Trump did in his, as well in our first debate, which was watched by eighty-four million people."

Hillary Clinton, "What Happened"

The most frequent word used in Clinton's speeches was "jobs." This is common knowledge.

So, no. Her campaign and career had always been on kitchen-table and pocketbook issues.

[NurseJackie]

111. Bazinga!

Thanks for the detailed info. (Did you notice the sound of crickets?)

[DTomlinson]

128. Many not enough swing voters believed her?

[betsuni]

129. According to Politifact, Clinton was the most honest of all 2016 candidates.

[DTomlinson]

130. Yes, but that doesn't necessarily mean that enough swing voters believed that.

[radius777]

97. As a gen-x MoC, I can say that Bernie is correct.

I'm an Obama/Clinton Dem and no fan of the Bernie wing (especially on Twitter, many of them are rabid Dem haters) but Bernie himself is fully behind his friend Joe Biden in this thing and his advice is sound.

Biden is running a campaign that is in many ways similar to Hillary's: looking at good poll numbers (which could be wrong, just like last time) while ignoring the lack of enthusiasm amongst key demographic groups. This neglect could spell doom in swing states where every vote counts.

Younger voters especially PoC youth feel alienated and upset about many issues; Latino voters are not 'automatic Dem votes' and need to be messaged to properly; male voters are an issue and we can't continue to lose them as even male PoC voters seem to be drifting away. Our convention was overly touchy feely (as someone mentioned above) and this may work to get soccer moms but fails with alot of other demographics who are looking for harder answers to kitchen table issues.

The big mistake Dems are making is letting Trump beat them on the economy. A great Dem once said 'it's the economy stupid' and that is what it boils down to in moving alot of these voters into our column. Biden has to do a better job of connecting Trump's chaos and covid mismanagement to the failure of the economy for regular people. Because Trump is good at tricking people into the idea that he's some great businessman and that 'the stock market = the economy = everyone doing good'. More people than you would think buy that bullshit and Dems need to refute that narrative.

We keep hearing from Dems that 'Trump downplayed the virus' but we don't hear why he lied. He lied to prop up the stock market which he viewed as key to his reelection, pumped money (via the Fed) to these companies, at the same time forcing regular people into the pandemic to die for the 1 percent. That is the message we need to be pounding, that Trump=death and darkness and Biden is 'an ally of the light' who offers a bright future (and bulletpoint the policies which will lead people there).

[MrsCoffee]

117. "just like last time"

Don’t spread that garbage here. If you want to talk about “just like last time”, you better be ready to have a conversation about treason,

The poll numbers weren’t wrong. Trump did NOT “win” shit.

And the convention was overly touchy-feely my ass. I guess some folks just don’t recognize basic decency anymore.

Sanders sounds bitter and vindictive. We don’t need his brand of divisiveness this time around. Either get fully on board or get the fuck out of the way already.

[radius777]

123. The polls were wrong in key states in the Midwest.

The poll models underestimated turnout of 'white non-college' voters (the white working class and rural whites) and overestimated turnout of urban PoC, which is why they were off by several points. Hillary didn't campaign in those states because both public and private polls said she was way ahead, and Comey's actions 11 days before the election sealed the deal (by shifting the undecideds heavily to Trump).

Alot of people on Twitter and Youtube noted that our convention was too touchy feely, and some of the musical performances were mocked by young people (especially the 'For What it's Worth' performance). Like it or not, some people are moved by 'fire and brimstone' and want to see some level of toughness and straight talk about policies.

I've never liked Sanders and thought he was vindictive in 2016. But I think this time he is operating in good faith and is just telling us what he is seeing amongst the demographics he handily won. Nevada concerns me as there have been several reports that Biden is underperforming with Latinos and youth as he did in the primaries. Bernie crushed in Nevada and we need his help, also with other swing states that could be decided by Latinos (especially young Latinos).

TLDR; we need to ignore the national polls and pay attention to state level and demographic trends, which are showing some weaknesses with certain groups, as we don't want to be 'surprised' and lose states we think we're going to win.

[MrsCoffee]

124. We didn't lose shit. The election was stolen.

All this gobblygook about wrong polls is silly. Hillary won by millions of votes.

IT. WAS. TREASON.

Twitter an youtube are overrun by Russians and trolls. Why do I care what they say?

Pay attention indeed.

[Willto]

98. Eh

This is the same kind of horse s#*t Michael Moore pumps out every election cycle. Cryptic warnings about the need to do this or that. And why not there is no downside. If Biden wins everyone will be so happy that all the comments like this will be completely forgotten in the nationwide celebration. But if he loses then people like Bernie and Moore can at least take a consolation prize tour of the political talk shows being heralded because their prophetic warnings went unheeded.

Screw that noise. If you are concerned then get off your ass and do something. How about touring the country trying to get younger people to turn out and vote? Since they supposedly love Bernie so much then lets see him get out there and weave a little youth turn out magic. But don't hold your breath. Because first of all they didn't even turn out for him in the primary. As I recall he even got steam rolled by Biden in counties that had huge college universities. And second if any of them took up the mantle of trying to deliver any such aspect of the electorate and it didn't pan out then they could be opening themselves up to blame. "OH MY". No, can't have that. Better to sit on the sidelines and lob cryptic warnings.

[still_one]

99. If there are any so-progressives who can't decide whether to vote for Joe and Kamala, the problem

isn’t with Biden and Harris, but with them

[betsuni]

101. Some people are still under the mistaken impression that there are tens of millions of Americans

who don't vote or vote for Republicans because they carefully study Democratic policies and find them not progressive enough.

It's absurd.

[JI7]

106. And why didn't they vote for Sanders or any other of these so called "progressives" ?

Considering these groups didn't come out to vote for Sanders if he was honest he would say something like "I had indications of high support which did not show up during election day so don't get over confident with good news before election day" "Make sure this support turns out on election day".

But he is never critical of his own actions so that's not going to happen. Instead it's the same lecture without looking at how he himself was not able to do what he is demanding of others.

[betsuni]

109. Yes. Same lecture.

Vermont couldn't do a Medicare for All plan, it failed. The Fight for Fifteen minimum wage movement happened long before Bernie appropriated it. He keeps claiming usual Democratic issues as his, and that Democrats thought they were radical. Absurd.

[DFW]

102. If Sanders had been the nominee

Would he be reaching out to Biden for advice on how to improve his campaign? Would he be interested in advice on not promising far more than he can ever deliver, and thus set up his own one-term presidency?

I think it is exceptionally wise for resisting the temptation to tell their own constituency that they will make everything available in abundance, and affordably so, within six weeks of taking office. With the disastrous policies of Trump/Mnuchin/McTurtle, it will take MANY years--if ever--before we can ever get back to some kind of fiscal solvency. I have always said it takes but a few seconds to blow up a building. It takes years to rebuild it. I applaud the Biden/Harris campaign for their reluctance to lie about what they can accomplish, and hope they resist efforts to convince them to abandon the strategies that got them the nomination in the first place.

[betsuni]

103. Biden's motto is: Never promise anything you can't deliver.

This is wise.

[DFW]

104. Agreed.

It is fine to have goals to strive for. Even Martin Luther King knew: "I may not get there with you."

But to promise ridiculously unrealistic accomplishments only sets you up for angry voters next time. Trump may still get the votes of some coal miners, and some rust belt factory workers who now have no jobs, but I'll bet far fewer than last time.

[betsuni]

107. Far too many people imagined Barack Obama promised things he never did.

That was weird. Then they almost immediately turned against him because of their fantasies.

[DFW]

108. I noticed that as well.

It seems to be a major difference in large blocs of voters: some Democrats get pissed if their elected candidates don't turn life into paradise with a week of being sworn in, where most Republicans think their politicians are heroes, even if their life turns to shit within a year of THEIR elected candidates taking office.

What was that old saying? Republicans shout that government doesn't work, and then they get into office and prove it.

[octoberlib]

112. Bernie lost twice. Anything he says

should be disregarded.

[Hotler]

114. I agree with Bernie. nt

[Politicalgolfer]

121. Cough....wonder how much money Sanders is being paid for this....

.....if you catch my drift

[Demsrule86]

126. I have one thing to say about this...not private when you go on TV and have a discussion.

We need to beat Trump. Sanders is not helpful. He is now permanently dead to me. I will trash any OP's that contain his name. I expected that he would be more into beating Trump and helping our efforts. Clearly, Sanders isn't doing this. Fine, I for one have no interest in any comments he makes at this time or ever really.

[DTomlinson]

127. I share some of those concerns. nt

[Doremus]

133. I'm sorry to hear this. I respect his opinion.

Now I'm even more worried than I was. I hope Biden's team listens but I don't hold much hope, sadly.