2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumBernie’s road ahead: Three options for the sunset of his campaign
If youre shocked by the fact that Bernie Sanders didnt acknowledge Hillary Clintons historic clinching of the Democratic nomination Tuesday night, you probably havent read the captivating new article in Politico, this week, Inside the bitter last days of Bernies revolution, in which its clear that Bernie isnt anywhere near the headspace required to give Hillary the credit shes more than earned today. He congratulated her, and that was it. We might not see anything more than that, at least until next week at the earliest if at all. Well circle back to this presently.
If the reporting in Politico is accurate, Bernie isnt a happy revolutionary these days. The once noble, principled champion of the people has apparently been consumed by ego and bitterness, and its not all surprising to those of us whove been following along with an objective eye
http://www.salon.com/2016/06/09/bernies_road_ahead_three_options_for_the_sunset_of_his_campaign/
Response to Demsrule86 (Original post)
Post removed
auntpurl
(4,311 posts)This is so unnecessary. The OP should really self-delete. Not least of which because that Politico article has been discussed into the ground already.
I believe with surety this is what will happen:
1. Bernie will continue his campaign until the DC primary is complete. He has said all along that he will continue until everyone's had the chance to vote. In the context of this, his "when I'm president" comment that many Hillary supporters object to from his DC rally makes perfect sense. All candidates use phrases like that. He is still campaigning - he has not suspended. Therefore, it's appropriate.
2. When DC is over, Bernie will take a day/a few days. After that, he will endorse Hillary, take some time to rest, and then get out there on the stump for her/the Dems.
I have no reason to doubt this is his course of action. If he continues to campaign directly against Hillary after DC...well then, we've got a problem and I will start to doubt his commitment to the party and to defeating Trump. But NOTHING in his actions has led me to believe he won't honor his promises.
Demsrule86
(68,355 posts)I don't think it bashes Bernie either if you read it...quite sympathetic. I had way more sympathy for Bernie after reading it.
auntpurl
(4,311 posts)and that article (IMO) unfairly represents Bernie's character.
NO political campaign looks good at the end of it. Hillary's campaign at the end of the 08 primary was an embarrassment, and I say that as someone who FERVENTLY supported her back then (and now). Bernie sounds tired and fed up, not like an ego-driven monster. His staffers are selling their tales because they want jobs when this is all over. They're political operatives.
I believe you when you say you didn't post it to demonise Bernie, but I still think it's unnecessary at this stage in the process and serves to hurt Hillary by driving away people who might be thinking deeply about what they're going to do in November. I'm not saying you have influence over millions of votes, ha, but just that what are we doing here if not trying to get our candidates elected?
Response to Demsrule86 (Original post)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
Demsrule86
(68,355 posts)It always seemed odd to me that the large rallies did not translate into wins. I do not believe there was rigging or theft either. I have worked the ground game in more than one election and it is always important...it won't make a losing candidate win but ...it can wreck a candidate who could and/or should win.
Response to Demsrule86 (Reply #5)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
Demsrule86
(68,355 posts)I was really not trying to disrupt unity or anything like that...the article is quite sympathetic to Bernie...I read it and had much more empathy than I did before. It must be really difficult for him to stand down after enjoying no small measure of success.