The rhetoric around "only Hillary can win!" is bad enough.

[marym625]

But people actually pissed about Bernie Sanders in the primary just takes the cake.

Unbelievable!

The good thing is, just two days from the official announcement, this must mean that the Hillary camp is afraid of Bernie. And why would that be?

Because Bernie Sanders will be our next President!

[Scootaloo]

1. I don't think "The Hillary Camp" is afraid of Bernie

I think it's a clump of nasty PUMA pieces of shit posing as Clinton supporters (again) who are scared of Bernie.

[marym625]

5. That could be

And if so, I am glad to hear it.

[neighbor tim]

13. If you could be so kind, PUMA? Not sure what that means.

[Scootaloo]

16. Okay

In 2008, immediately after the primary results, there were a number of Clinton supporters who apparently felt she had been 'robbed" by Obama, that the game was rigged as anti-woman, or that "you only voted for him because he's black,' you know, the usual smears. After he chose Biden as his running mate rather than Clinton, they went kinda genuine apeshit, and a clump of them formed a political action committee - "People United Means Action," or as it was called colloquially, "Party Unity My Ass." it was a straight-up anti-obama movement, with Clinton used simply as a front. They also heaved into the republican race, supporting McCain, and I've heard claims that they were instrumental in getting Palin on that ticket (if so, thanks PUMAS, that was amazing.)

[brooklynite]

55. ...and then they all voted for Obama.

There is no evidence that the "PUMA" folks didn't end up voting for the Democratic nominee. Just as I expect none of the "I'll never vote for Clinton" people HERE were vote for someone other than Clinton if she's the nominee.

[Scootaloo]

58. I don't share your confidence in that

I mean call me crazy but when you have a movement where people set up a PAC dedicated to essentially calling the democratic candidate a "two-faced ni**er" and seeking support for the Republican nominee... I don't think they turned around and voted for said democratic candidate.

I think maybe you're conflating "PUMA" with "people who were disappointed Clinton didn't win the primary." Granted, PWWDCDWTP is a pretty lame acronym

[marym625]

115. Are you serious?

People on DU actually said that?

[Scootaloo]

116. I wasn't on DU at the time. Probably not.

But there were a few forums started by PUMA "activists" and... yeah, some of it was pretty grotesque.

[marym625]

118. wow!

Man, that's seriously disappointing. But, considering what I often see, I shouldn't be surprised. Well, often is an exaggeration, but much more often than one would think.

I guess I was better at ignoring stuff back then.

Thanks.

[zentrum]

68. Yeah, for real

...they didn't vote for O. I knew some of them. Pumas were shameful.

[neighbor tim]

62. Thank you. Sorry you had to type so much

but I appreciate your kindness.

[Scootaloo]

63. Oh heck, that wasn't much

I've written novellas on DU.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

80. The Hillary campaign back then was pushing that she was tough....

Her supporters were reflecting that.

[former9thward]

120. " I've heard claims"

You must love CTs.

[Scootaloo]

121. I don't get the protectiveness towards PUMA's.

[Warren DeMontague]

126. Uh. I'm not a bettin' man, but I suspect some of them did not vote for Obama.

http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/People_United_Means_Action

[former9thward]

129. That happens in every primary.

People who back candidates who lose get pissed off. They think they were robbed and cheated. And yes, some of them do not get over it and they either do not vote or vote for the opposite party to get revenge. I think it sort of evens out with both parties but I could be wrong.

[murielm99]

14. I think the PUMA thing

was always overblown. It was mostly a confabulation by anti-Hillary people.

I supported Hillary and never heard the term until I came into DU.

Primary season is always rough here. There are too many childish people and trolls here who have never worked a campaign in real life.

Grow up. Buy some good walking shoes and get a walk list from your headquarters. Work the phones. Raise money. Walk in parades. Vote in the primary. We shall see who the candidate is. Then, we need to start the work all over again. GOTV!

[marym625]

17. +1000

Though I have to admit, I am not sure what PUMA is myself.

I'm just truly blown away that people actually don't want a primary. Just don't get it. At all!

[Fuddnik]

67. Here's one.

[marym625]

77. Okay then

Thanks

Then why all capitals? I thought it was an acronym

[Jackpine Radical]

86. It is. As Scoot said somewhere in this thread,

Party
Unity
My
Ass

PUMA.

[marym625]

93. oh!

DERP! I think I knew that once.

Thanks for putting up with my bad memory

[Scootaloo]

103. The "official" name was People United Means Action

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_United_Means_Action

[Scootaloo]

18. It was a thing, though. It actually happened.

Please don't admonish me to "grow up" - just 'cause I'm not so old that I have memory loss issues doesn't make me a kid, you know

[DemocratSinceBirth]

24. I try not to get emotionally invested in things beyond my control...

I was heavily emotionally invested in Ted Kennedy in 80, Gary Hart in 84, and Hillary Clinton in 2008 and it is emotionally painful to see someone who you are emotionally invested in lose but I never had a problem supporting the eventual nominee...And in the case of 2008 I can say I genuinely like President Obama. I voted for him enthusiastically...

[murielm99]

102. I did not admonish YOU to grow up.

I was speaking about childish people who never get out and do actual work for the party, so they do not know the inner workings, or what it takes. I was speaking about trolls, too. Are we being a bit sensitive?

Have you been here for any of the previous primary seasons? I have. It gets brutal. I will be prepared to serve on a few juries.

My negative experience here was not with any embittered women who still wanted Hillary. It was with Obama supporters who tried to mass alert on any Hillary supporters and previous Hillary supporters, to have them banned from the site.

I am looking forward to my real life, on the ground work that will begin here soon. I will still visit DU. I will marvel about how many people here will still have time to snipe at each other on a website when the party needs them in the field.

[workinclasszero]

39. Totally

We will see what these good democratic Bernie supporters will do once Hillary wins the nomination.

[Scootaloo]

43. I think we'll all be very puzzled by Candidate O'malley

be like "wait, who? How? Uh... okay!"

[marym625]

117. Funny. I wonder what the Hillary supporters will do when Bernie wins the nomination

Wh

[workinclasszero]

123. He won't so no worries. /nt

[marym625]

124. We shall see.

[Scootaloo]

40. That makes no sense

The point I'm making is that no, the majority of Hillary supporters are not worried about Bernie. Not scared, not fretting, nothing.

it's a small group of loud, toxic people - who I figure to be leftover detritus of the PUMA movment - who are busily insisting Sanders supporters are traitors to the "One True Candidate," for instance. They use Clinton as a cover.

Sorry if this was not immediately obvious in my initial clear line of distinction between the two.

[okaawhatever]

46. Okay, claws retracted. LOL nt

[BrotherIvan]

125. lol

[leftofcool]

2. I'm glad Bernie is in the primary

No more age jokes, no more hair jokes, no more bs coronation meme. Welcome Senator Sanders.

[marym625]

6. Cool!

[freshwest]

111. I love that Einstein hair look. I know a lot of seniors who get it. They are no less valuable.

Same as Obama wearing the same suits every day, he said it's just one less thing to think about when he's doing his job. Not all of us are that concerened about our looks or clothes. Bernie has things to do and places to be.

He seems younger every time I see new images of him, as the campaign is invigorating. There are pursuits in life that are not chores and onerous duties but call to one's highest nature. Energy flows to one to accomplish those seeking good goals.

Bernie is the ideal Democrat and the type I want to see in ofice. I have seen many good words and wishes by HRC and Obama fans for Bernie. The DNC amd Hillary have welcomed him. He may be the dark horse like Obama was, but I don't see him inspiring POC more than HRC currently.

That is the essential voting block. It's their time, and that of women, and it will benefit the nation. No one will be able to smear Bernie except on his ideas. It's time to have this debate in this country. This may be our last chance and if he doesn't get the nomination, I'll vote for whoever it is.

The GOP has shown that they take our vote, redefine who a person is, and many other things that would make fans of the bad guys in the Handmaiden's Tale very, very happy.

Besides, I don't want to live under direct Koch rule. They have almost got all they wanted on the state level now. Wait, I won't be able to live under Koch rule. So yeah, I do not approve of those saying they will not vote if their candidate is not the nominee. Because they don't care about the lives of me or people I care about. And that's the bottom line to me.

[MoonRiver]

3. I'm not afraid. I welcome the debates.

And if, incredibly, Bernie were to become president, I would applaud that. I support Hillary, but Bernie is also a wonderful person.

[marym625]

7. Thanks for that

From some of the stuff I have seen today, and I know I couldn't have seen everything, that's a breath of fresh air

[MoonRiver]

10. I love Bernie Sanders.

I just love Hillary more. And you're welcome!

[AgingAmerican]

4. If you cannot win on issues

You panic and try to change the subject.

[marym625]

8. There ya go

I have to admit, most of the rhetoric I am taking about is from people who just don't truly know what is going on

[Beacool]

71. Seriously?

Point one Hillary supporter who is panicking over Sanders running.

Please..........

[DemocratSinceBirth]

9. So far I have seen only one poster suggesting Bernie shouldn't run...

I am for any, as many, candidates running in our primaries as long as he or she is committed to supporting the eventual winner.

[Maedhros]

15. Yes, the number of such posts is small.

Like the guy calling us all fools, or the one saying Bernie is just another Nader-like spoiler.

Both of those posters are clearly trolling, and easily ignored.

[marym625]

19. There are people defending it in the post

And others saying that same thing in others. Replies I mean. Someone even did so in the Sanders group today

[DemocratSinceBirth]

22. I piped in...

I said I am confident HRC can navigate these/those waters.

Bernie said he wouldn't be a spoiler:

If I run, I want to run to win. I will not be a spoiler…. There are ways to do this, but let me make it very clear. I will not be a spoiler and elect some Republican."

and I take him at his word.

[marym625]

23. +1000

I know you and I disagree at times, especially on the best candidate. But this is exactly why I have respect for you

[rhett o rick]

114. Well you haven't been looking. Here's one that actually called Sen Sander's supporters, fools.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=6608695

[pinboy3niner]

11. I suspect these dueling Hillary and Bernie threads...

...are what 'Trash Thread' was designed for.

[marym625]

20. Don't trash me

I love you!

My point wasn't to trash anything or anyone but the idea that no primary is ridiculous

[pinboy3niner]

30. Je t'aime, too

The biggest problem I have is with declarative statements made about things which are debatable and a matter of opinion.

Members here favoring different candidates is fine. But I would rather see them posting positive selling ponts for their preferred candidate rather than posting negatives to tear down the other candidate and his/her supporters.

In the end, I'm going strongly for lthe Democratic nominee, whoever that may be. I'll lleave it to the GOP to slam Dems.

Love & Peace, Bob

[marym625]

35. Awe thanks!

I probably could have written the OP better. My point wasn't to slam anything but that the idea we shouldn't have a primary is ridiculous. It helps no one.

However, I wrote what I wrote and changing it would be disingenuous

Peace&love back

[sabrina 1]

12. To be fair, it is just a few people. And it isn't helping Hillary so that raises a

question, is that the purpose or is the purpose to divide Democrats?

[marym625]

21. In some cases

I honestly believe it is nothing more than ignorance.

[CherokeeDem]

25. This Democrat....

welcomes Bernie into the primary. I think he will bring exceptional insight and dialogue to the debate on issues. Do I think he can win? No. Do I wish he could, absolutely. I would give anything to take this party further to the left.

However, your comment about the 'Hillary can only win' crowd is balanced by the 'only Bernie can win crowd."

Why don't we support our candidates during the primary without snarking at each other and hope the candidate who wins will win in November. We need a unified party to win.

[marym625]

29. I'm sorry you read the post that way

I didn't say, "only Bernie can win" I said, as a Sanders supporter, he will win.

My post is about people not wanting a primary. People who are angry that Sanders is running and at people who support him. There are more than a few.

I want a primary. I am looking forward to it.

And I don't think anyone saying he can't win, when they prefer he win, are helping. I am 100% convinced he can and will win. And it will be because of the primary

[Duval]

92. I'm looking forward to the debates.

They should be very interesting. I'm hoping we will be surprised to find that many will support Bernie. If Hillary wins, that's ok and I'll certainly vote for her if she is the nominee. But, just think of the positive changes a Sanders' Presidency will make.

[marym625]

95. I think that's exactly what will happen

And thinking about a Bernie presidency is the first time I have felt hopeful in years

[MineralMan]

26. Even Hillary Clinton has welcomed Senator Sanders into the

primary campaign. She's not afraid of his entry into the race. Anyone who says that is not paying attention to reality.

Bernie Sanders will be a strong asset to the primary race. He will present his ideas and positions strongly. Primary voters will listen to them. They'll also listen to what Hillary Clinton and any other candidates who actually enter and campaign. Then, they'll decide who to vote for.

Those decisions will be based on many factors, including their assessment of how each candidate will do in the general election. Primary voters are not really just ideologues. Most who bother to vote in primaries are reasonably savvy about electoral politics. That's one of the reasons turnouts are so low for primary elections. People who don't care don't vote in primaries, for the most part.

You can expect to hear Hillary Clinton agree with Senator Sanders on most issues. There will be some differences, but not as many as some seem to think. Clinton has many people on her side already. Many of those were for her in 2008. They will probably be for her in 2016, too. And her supporters will turn out to vote in their state primary elections.

Sanders has a tough job in trying to overcome her popularity with primary voters. Can he do it? I have no idea, really. Looking back at prior Presidential races, which date back in my experience to 1960, it seems unlikely to me that Sanders will end up as the nominee. Frankly, I can't see a path to that so far.

Supporters of Senator Sanders will be tested in the primaries. Can they turn out enough primary voters in enough states to overcome Clinton's existing supporters? Can they convert enough supporters of Hillary Clinton to their camp? That's the real question. I'm not sure they can, frankly. Looking at my own state of Minnesota, I doubt that Sanders will win here in the primaries. I'll be caucusing for him and leading caucuses in his name in the district conventions where I will be a delegate. I don't expect that support to convince enough people, though, to get him to the top at the MN State Convention, though. That's based on my previous years of being a delegate and caucus leader in my precinct.

The process will proceed. The same people I've seen involved with that process will be there again in 2016. I know them pretty well. Right now, I can safely say that Hillary Clinton will almost certainly get Minnesota's delegates to the National Convention. I don't see a way to change that, although I will support Senator Sanders at the precinct caucus and district convention levels.

Many people seem to think there will be a huge gap between Sanders' and Clinton's positions. I don't think so, for the most part. I think they'll both be saying much the same thing about most issues. TPP may be one where they differ, but I'm not even sure of that. On almost all other issues, they'll be very close in what they say.

It's not as simple as it may seem for Bernie Sanders. He's on a difficult path. I believe the turning point in that path will come on Super Tuesday, March 1, 2016. We (and he) will know whether he has any chance of being he nominee by then.

[marym625]

38. I agree with almost everything you said

I am very much looking forward to the primary. I think it is exactly what will push Sanders to the top.

I am very pleased to see so many Hillary supporters that are welcoming the debates on this post. Until now, today I have seen too many that were against it

[MineralMan]

50. Well, anyone can post anything on DU.

I've seen very few OPs that oppose Senator Sanders' entry into the primary race. Frankly, I haven't bothered with those threads, because they're simply ridiculous and have no bearing on anything. DU is an open forum, so anyone can post any damned fool thing they please here.

I take elections and electoral politics very seriously. Despite my support for Bernie Sanders, I will be voting and campaigning during the general election for the candidate selected at the national convention. That will never change. I'd prefer that Sanders was that candidate, but my political experience leads me to believe he will not be. More's the pity, frankly.

We'll hear at length from all Democratic primary candidates, and then there will be Democratic primary elections. The results of those will determine who the eventual candidate will be. That's the system that is in place. I've worked within that system since I was a 15-year-old sophomore in high school in one way or another. It's far from a perfect system, to be sure. Too few people vote in primaries, so the ideal candidate often isn't the nominee on the general election ballot.

I live now in a caucus and convention state, although we do have a primary election, too. That system is fairly prone to being overwhelmed by a small number of supporters. I know a lot of the people who are most active in that caucus and convention system. I could probably predict who will be the delegates from my district to the state convention right now. I might possibly be able to become one of those delegates in 2016, and I'll try. But, what gets people elected as delegates is recognition as a leader by delegates to the district conventions. I'm not sure I have quite enough of that to create a caucus large enough to get me selected as a state convention delegate. We'll see.

I'm not paying any attention, frankly, to some posts and posters on DU right now. Some are posting things that make little to no sense, and from all directions. If an OP presents a silly argument, I simply move on to other threads. And that's the case will all OPs that suggest that Sanders shouldn't be in the primary race. Such posts are simply silly and meaningless.

It's a long time until November, 2016. It's a short time, though until the process of primary elections and caucuses begins. I'm focused on legislative races right now, not the presidential race, because I have more influence in them.

[marym625]

57. I honestly believe

That some of the posters with the Sanders shouldn't run stuff, are just ignorant to facts. And I don't mean just the main posts. People replying to those in kind, and people saying similar things on other posts.

I have never been on the inside, but I have also worked on campaigns and such since I was 8. Truly. Going door to door for McGovern. And I really think Bernie can win.

I will add an aside because it's on my mind a lot. I don't ever remember two people, both Senators and one a SOS, constantly referred to by their first names like this. Odd..

[MineralMan]

101. I don't much like the first name thing,

Last edited Sun May 3, 2015, 10:03 AM - Edit history (1)

either. I mix it up. I have great respect for our Democratic candidates. I guess it is an attempt at familiarity, but that hasn't been earned, IMO.

[marym625]

104. I don't mind

And I do it too. Just different than I'm used to

[tritsofme]

27. There are plenty of Hillary supporters here overreacting.

They need to calm down and realize that Sanders is a minor candidate, it is only places like here where his support is way out of proportion with the real world. But the Hillary camp certainly doesn't see Sanders as a threat.

[Gothmog]

33. Actually many Hillary supporters see Sanders to be a benefit

I found this article to be interesting http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/04/bernie_sanders_running_for_president_helps_hillary_clinton_the_vermont_senator.html

If this continues to be the Vermont senator’s approach, Sanders will be more of a help to Clinton’s presidential chances than he will be to his own.

The first bonus that Sanders provides for Clinton, say her supporters, is that he becomes a foil. One of Clinton’s Democratic allies in Congress explained that with a country that prefers general election candidates closer to the middle, Sanders will always offer proof that Clinton is not really that far left. He does for Clinton what Howard Dean did for John Kerry in 2004.....

In 2012 Rep. Ron Paul and Mitt Romney had a symbiotic relationship in the Republican campaign. Paul elevated his own profile and gave his voters an outlet, but he never pointed out the yawning gaps between what he claimed to believe so deeply and the positions of the man who was on his way to being the party’s inevitable nominee. It’s way too early to see if Sanders will play the same role for Clinton, but it has started out that way.

Sanders is such a long shot that those who share his views might be OK with the consolation prize of imitation from Clinton. But if her move to the left is simply rhetorical, she can shed that rhetoric in the general election as candidates often do. This would be another reason for Sanders to press his case with more definition.

In 2014, Kerry did look very moderate compared to Howard Dean and Ron Paul did in effect work with Romney in 2012. I really think that having Sanders in the race will help HRC and get rid of the talking point that the primary process is a coronation. I remember the Ron Paul/Mitt Romney relationship in 2012 (Paul is from near my neck of the woods) and the two never directly attacked the other. Paul got increased exposure for his positions and Romney was made to look more reasonable.

[marym625]

41. I'm glad you see the overreaction

But you are wrong about his supporters just being here. He's raised quite a bit of money in a very short time and he has already overtaken Hillary on reddit.

But, I am very glad we now will have an actual primary

[Gothmog]

51. $1.5 million is not a great deal of money in today's campaign finance

Jeb's super pac is rumored to have raised over $100 million

[marym625]

59. But he has been working on that for a long time

And that's from just regular folks and it was in 24 hours.

I realize there is a long way to go. But it's a good start

[Gothmog]

65. I am happy to wait and see what the numbers end up being

I will be thrilled to see Sanders raise the money that President Obama did in 2008 from small donors. I gave President Obama money in 2008 and was part of that process. It takes a great deal of effort to raise small dollar donations and even President Obama used a super pac in 2012 to keep the playing field level.

Elections are very expensive and it takes a great deal of money to be viable. For now, I have not seen any evidence that Sanders is viable in November of 2016.

[marym625]

75. It's another reason we need Sanders to win n/t

[Gothmog]

105. I am not convinced that Bernie is at all viable in a general election contest

For now, I will be given my time and money to HRC. There is a 2013 poll that shows that HRC could put Texas into play http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2013/01/clinton-could-win-texas.html

PPP's newest Texas poll finds that, at least for now, Hillary Clinton could win the state in 2016. This follows on the heels of a survey last month where we found she would have a decent chance of winning Kentucky if she makes another White House bid.

50% of Texas voters have a favorable opinion of Clinton to 43% with a negative one. She's universally well liked by Democrats (91/5) and a majority of independents view her positively as well (52/41). She holds narrow leads in hypothetical match ups with Marco Rubio (46/45) and Chris Christie (45/43) and a wider one in a contest against Rick Perry (50/42).

HRC is very popular in Texas and if she selects Julian Castro as her running mate, there will be some real excitment

I admit that as a Texas Democrat, I would love to see my state in play but I also think that HRC is the stronger and more electable caniddate

[marym625]

106. I respect that

But I am not going to pretend that part of the reason she's popular in Texas is her conservative views on some things. Same reason Kissinger and Gingrich said she would be a good president.

[upaloopa]

28. Seems to me you are making up stuff to

get your self excited. Your OP is full of fantasy

[marym625]

42. Get myself elected?

Okay. If you say so

[rhett o rick]

113. The Oligarchs are afraid of the Populist Movement. They don't like it when the

people speak out. Sen Sanders is the people's choice. The Corp-Media and conservatives don't want to believe it.

[DanTex]

31. Yeah, um, no, the Hillary camp is not afraid of Bernie.

Being pissed about Bernie being in the primary is dumb. It's good that Bernie is in the primary. One of the reasons it's good is that after he loses and Hillary wins the nomination, he will likely endorse Hillary, making it less likely that disgruntled leftists will sit out the general election.

[marym625]

44. I understand that Hillary herself

And many supporters are welcoming of Sanders in the primary. However, there are more than a few people here dissing Sanders and his supporters for him being in the primary.

On the rest of your reply, reverse it

[redstateblues]

94. Expressing doubt that Bernie can't win is not the same

As dissing him. I like Bernie. He doesn't have a chance here in TN.

[marym625]

97. No matter not close to the same

But if everyone that would rather see him as president supported him, his chances would increase greatly

[stillwaiting]

128. Hillary doesn't have a real chance to win TN either.

And, if we focus on nominating a candidate that can win TN, we're not going to ever get off the train we've been on in this country for the past 3 to 4 decades.

I'd like to get off that train one day. Maybe change direction and visit a newly reformed country where most of us (black, white, brown, gay, straight, etc.) can begin to actually increase our prosperity (on social AND economic issues).

The path to the White House for a Democratic candidate does not need to (and I would argue probably should NOT) include TN. Not if we value truly liberal/progressive policies, solutions, and Executive Cabinets/Departments.

And, I do think that Bernie can win on the issues and his long and clear history on these issues. Maybe not in TN, but in enough states to win the White House. Bernie is a very rare politician. He speaks plainly for the common/average person in this country (in his speeches AND his votes AND his introduced legislation <------ THAT is a very, very important issue that needs to be highlighted and contrasted with the other candidates), and when people hear him speak most people know he's genuine. People know that Bernie fights for the 99%'s interest and not for Wall Street. That will hopefully get recognized by more and more people as they get acquainted with him throughout the Primary.

[Florencenj2point0]

99. I like Sanders very much and

it seems like he and Clinton are being respectful and honoring their previous working friendship. I welcome him to the primary and look forward to the debates. So many people are ignorant of who Clinton is and are rude and take hits at her... I don't think he will do that.
But there is no chance a socialist will win the GE. For that reason he can not win the nomination. We can not let a republican in.

[marym625]

100. more than half the people in America think a socialist is in Office

OK, I made that statistic up. but you know it's high.

I am not taking a pot shot at HC. I am not taking a shot at her at all.

Yes, they are being respectful of each other. I wish everyone here would follow that example. Yes, I am aware that my OP is at least bordering on bullshit. But it is honestly more about people who don't want a primary than anything. Not my usual style. Just got fed up today

[Gothmog]

32. I like Sanders and support many of his positions but I do not think that he is viable

It is going to take over one billion dollars to be competitive in the 2016 elections and I simply do not see Sanders as being able to compete.

[marym625]

45. I disagree and believe he will compete and win.

But still, omg! That's just an obscene amount of money in an election!

I know it, but I am still blown away every time I see it written

[Gothmog]

49. Unless we can replace Kennedy and Scalia, we are stuck with Citizens United

I simply do not see Sanders being competitive in the general election and I doubt that he will be able to compete in the primary process. DU does not reflect the Democratic Party as a whole and I would be surprised to see Sanders get more than 20% in any large state primary

[marym625]

53. I truly don't believe that

Well, obviously DU isn't representative of anything, really. Too narrow for that (not dissing DU. I love DU.) But I really believe he can win

[brooklynite]

56. How?

Seriously. I keep seeing this position stated, and nobody seems to have thought through HOW he goes about winning (delegates, electoral votes) in a national campaign, other than an apparent hopeful feeling.

[marym625]

61. Because of the primary

He is not well known, yet. He will be very soon. He will state his case, his record is impeccable, and people will realize he is truly for the people.

Most people had never heard of Bill Clinton when he first threw his hat in the ring either

[zeemike]

66. He wins by getting votes in the primary.

And he would not stand a chance if dollars had a vote.
But people still vote and those votes are what counts even though it may seem that they don't.

I point out the race for governor of California, where the woman from HP spent hundreds of millions and lost...ideas trump money...money only buys airtime not votes.

[BrotherIvan]

127. Oh you!

Don't you know, only money counts. Because no one can know anything or think anything or vote for anything without corporate approval and lot and lots of corporate ca$h. Silly.

[Thinkingabout]

34. I have been looking forward to a primary and in order to have one we need more than one declared

Candidate. I have a feeling there will be at least two more and then we can at least present reasonable debates and hopefully more responses than "I agree with Hillary". The DNC will want a true primary and not a Clown Car Parade, OOPS.

[marym625]

47. exactly!

[hrmjustin]

37. I respect Sanders but I am not afraid of him.

And I don't think he can win.

[marym625]

48. and I respect that

Completely and totally.

[hrmjustin]

54. And I respect the love people have for Sanders.

[marym625]

60. +1000

[Thinkingabout]

52. There are some issues i am not comfortable with for sure. I think there will be a couple more.

[Laser102]

64. She's not afraid. She's just trying to be nice, knowing he won't win.

[marym625]

81. OK

[MisterP]

69. a lot of old-school Dems didn't like primaries at all, and said that's what cost us 1972

like Jeane Kirkpatrick and the other "Reagan Dems": evidently they want to ban both third-party votes AND primaries ...

[marym625]

83. seems like it

And have the wonderful world of a corpocracy.

[Beacool]

70. People are upset because Sanders is running?

Really? I think that it's mostly indifference. I doubt that the Clinton camp is nervous, let alone afraid, about Sanders running.

He's free to run, just like any other qualified person. Although, predicting a Bernie presidency is at this point nothing more than wishful thinking.

[marym625]

84. predicting any win right now is wishful thinking

My comment about Bernie and Hillary being afraid was not serious

[MaggieD]

72. Are we going to have a lot...

...of these imaginary "poor Bernie" that pretend HRC supporters are mad that he is running?

[marym625]

85. I'm not saying poor Bernie. not even close

And if you haven't seen the posts and replies that are saying they're pissed Sanders is running, well, you're not looking

[Aerows]

112. If I cared what HRC supporters thought

I wouldn't be backing Bernie Sanders.

[cantbeserious]

73. I Am All In For Bernie - And All Out For HRC

eom

[marym625]

87. Me too

Well, I am not sure what you mean by all out for Hillary, but I don't support her. I assume that's what you mean

[cantbeserious]

96. Bernie - Bernie - Bernie -- He's My Man

eom

[marym625]

98. +1000

[Zorra]

74. It really is bizarre. The irrelevant strawmen, transfer/negative association propaganda, and

semi-coherent misdirected word salads will be studied by enchanted behavioral scientists for decades.

[marym625]

88. That's pretty funny

Hey, I can take the hit. I deserve it for this

[Zorra]

119. Sorry, I wasn't clear.

I agree with you.

I was referring to all the the bizarre reactions some people are having to Bernie entering the candidate field.

[marym625]

122. I wasn't sure if you were talking about me too.

Yeah, it's truly weird. Even arguing that Bush didn't steal the 2000 election. Can you believe that? A Democrat, almost 15 years later, actually saying that the election wasn't stolen? I am truly flabbergasted

[bravenak]

76. I just came to say hey.

[marym625]

89. Hey!

Thanks!
.

[ybbor]

79. From your lips to God's ears.

What an awesome day that would be! Would make Obama look like a conservative in the policy change.

[marym625]

90. yep

Little doubt on that

[Duval]

82. And we'll do our best

to make that happen.

[marym625]

91. Cool!

Me too!

[craigmatic]

107. We'll see who wins. I will say this- Hillary is running as Obama's successor with her

speeches on race and police. Sanders may very well win.

[marym625]

108. I honestly believe he will. n/t

[YOHABLO]

109. I will support Bernie, however I will also vote for Hillary if she become the nominee.

You can't leave 'Change' up to one President. We have a Congress that not only has been bought and paid for by Wall Street and Corporate America, but they happen to hold a Republican majority. What we really need is for people to get active in educating themselves about government and the political conundrum we are in. People who vote, are the only people that matter in politics.

[marym625]

110. absolutely

And, I think in Sanders first couple years, he will have similar problems as President Obama has had with the Republicans. Then, in 2016, we take back the house and the Senate. And the world starts looking beautiful.