Does Sanders realize that if he does not endorse Hillary and does not "release"

[question everything]

his supporters to vote for her that Trump may win?

What does his "promise" to fight Trump mean under these conditions? Just slippery stand, to keep him in the news.

Of course, like Nader in 2000 he will say that he had nothing to do with this and, besides, he had never been a Democrat, ran against Democrats, wished for Obama to be challenged in the 2012 primaries..

Sanders has been a politician all his adult life. Politicians win some and lose some. And most of them know how to lose gracefully.

[peace13]

1. As a Bernie supporter I don't need him to tell me anything.

If he is on the ballot I will vote for him. He could release every supporter and Hill could still lose. She is the one with work to do. For one thing Trump may or may not be on the ballot. This contest is hers to lose. She has had the DNC and the MSM in her pocket so far. Time will tell.

[Lucinda]

2. MSM in her pocket? Clearly you watched very little of the media coverage during the primaries...

[peace13]

6. Well Bernie was missing from all MSM reports for months.

Not sure what they were doing on Faux though!

[840high]

10. Yep

[liberal from boston]

58. Senator Sanders

You do realize that the media is corporate owned along with the Democratic Establishment & want Hillary to be elected President.

http://www.truthdig.com/report/page2/the_associated_press_clinton_victory_story_20160609

[peace13]

60. Yes I know.

right, on the Senator Sanders. Don't like the 'feel the Bern, ect.' But the campaign used it!

[George Eliot]

72. I agree. He brought voters into the nomination process. It's up to them if they want to stay

Given the disrespect they get and Bernie as well, they don't owe anybody anything. It is hers to win now.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

85. Perfectly stated.

[eastwestdem]

3. I think the Sanders supporters can think for themselves. Although it's kind of funny to imagine

them sitting around waiting to be released. I wonder what they do to pass the time?

[peace13]

5. I'll imagine them searching through Hills emails...

...or enjoying an evening out with friends! Equally delightful! : )

[Hortensis]

12. Exactly. By far most of them, anyway,

and those who can't are not his fault.

As for what do do while waiting to be "released," trying to remember how to play cat's cradle with dental floss comes to mind, but only because a friend and I were once reduced to that when her car broke down.

[Squinch]

34. And 72% of them are voting for Hillary.

[still_one]

83. Yes, the vast majority of his supporters will be voting for Hillary. All one needs to do is look at

those who had supported Bernie. The majority have already come out supporting Hillary, and for the others, the polls concur with your comment

[Squinch]

92. The vast majority are sane, reasonable people of good will.

[question everything]

49. This is a common term during elections

but, I suppose, in desperation once can always search for new meanings.

[okasha]

4. Do you mean release his delegates?

[question everything]

51. That, too.

But, of course, Hillary has enough delegates to win the nomination.

In 1968 many liberals did not trust Humphrey on Vietnam, McCarthy did not say a word, at least not until right before the elections when he just said that he would vote for Humphrey. Many of his supporters stayed home and we got Nixon. (Which, compared to current GOOP party he was almost a liberal).

[pat_k]

7. Silliness

Nothing he's doing now "hurts" Hillary's chances in any way.

If anything, the course he is taking will maximize the number of his supporters who will get out and vote for her.

But maybe he’s on the right track. If he can drive a hard bargain at the convention, maybe he can help smooth the path to unity by showing his supporters that he’s won concessions. He may have more credibility with his supporters when he eventually comes around to supporting Clinton. He’s not the typical politician — in many ways. He may never run again (he’ll be 78 in 2020). So why not drive a hard bargain?

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/17/upshot/bernie-sanders-and-the-terms-of-surrender.html

[JudyM]

64. +1. He has 2 priorities and is perfectly capable of running his strategy to accommodate both.

[SheilaT]

8. The only supporters he can "release" are the delegates pledged to him.

All of the voters out there who voted or caucused for him are independent agents and can vote for whomever they choose come November.

If Hillary is such a strong candidate, I don't understand why her camp is so frantic about this.

Or are they concerned that if all the votes in California are counted, the state will flip to her? Or are they concerned that if the Supers in states that Bernie won by huge margins switch to him her actual nomination is in danger?

[pinebox]

9. "Release" his supporters?

Many of us aren't willing to bow down the corporate wheel of the Democratic party.
This fight is much larger than Bernie but Hillary supporters don't understand that.

If Hillary is such a strong candidate then maybe she shouldn't have her hubby out there trashing Bernie supporters.

[840high]

11. ...!100++++

[hootinholler]

15. RELEASE THE HOUNDS!

SO she can bring them to heel!

[TheBlackAdder]

13. The first step in questioning everything, is questioning the shit you write.

[B Calm]

14. As long as Bernie is still in the race I'll fully support him.

[pinebox]

17. I FULLY support Bernie, regardless if he's still in the race.

[MyNameGoesHere]

16. Trump won't win and Sanders can keep his supporters

They are not needed or necessary.

[pinebox]

19. Oh? Is that a fact?

You're going to win the White House with 55% Democrat support?
Please tell us more.

Sorry but right now you NEED us a LOT more than we NEED you.

[MyNameGoesHere]

21. Sanders over hyped support = votes

And that pattern holds true in GE too. That voting group is unreliable and I won't count them and history has shown we don't need them. Go off and fight your paper revolution and be happy.

[pinebox]

22. Sure you think that

They said the same thing when millennials turned out on droves to vote for Obama in the GE.
The only platform that holds true in this election is that both candidates are absolutely loathed by the majority of American's.

"Paper revolution" you say? At least I don't support the status quo and Republican ideals. I'll gladly take my paper revolution because you know what paper is for? Writing. You know what they say about writing? The pen is mightier than the sword. You know who likes swords? Hillary with all war and invasion ideals.

[MyNameGoesHere]

27. The people who say the pen is mightier than the sword

have never been on the pointy end of one. Name one revolution that was won with a pen? Revolutions are won when people go out and do stuff, like voting,

[LenaBaby61]

31. And one big problem...

Was that enough younger people didn't get out and vote during off-year elections right after Pres. Obama won the White House which helped to usher in the Tea-Party, and we've had to deal with those delusional, racist, blow-up the government obstructionist fools for far too long. I also kept hearing that since the AP called Hillary the Presumptive Nominee a day before Super Tuesday, it depressed the vote in California and many younger Bernie supporters didn't get out to vote because they were depressed. I'm thinking, if they're passionate voters it shouldn't matter if Hillary was the presumptive nominee--they still should have gotten out and voted if they believed in their cause as much as they claimed.

I can remember being 19 years of age, and it being my first time voting in 1980 and I had enough sense to SEE that Ronald Reagan was going to blow Jimmy Carter out, and I lived in a California at the time that was DEEPLY, DEEPLY RED, and when the Orange Curtain back then=Reagan/Republican Country. It was "Morning in America" on television commercials everywhere I looked. Hell, California and most of the USA was Reagan Country. OMG, the Electoral College map of 1980.



But still, I voted ANYWAY on election morning because nothing nor anybody was going to stop me from casting my first General Election vote, nor stop me from remembering that I had a duty to vote because my fore parents and relatives in some cases fought and died so I could have the right to vote.

[question everything]

53. We will never know how much the internal split in the party, the challenge by Kennedy to Carter

contributed to Carter's loss. If the party cannot unite behind a leader, why should "we" - the voters - trust it?

Similar to 1976, when Reagan challenged Ford and Carter won.

[pinebox]

48. Name one revolution?

The velvet revolution.
Next?

Maybe what you could do is explain to us all why you support a candidate who is seeing as untrustworthy as the majority of Americans and whose policies positions aren't just ever changing but also rooted in RINO fantasy. Explain to us why you trust Hillary when she is on camera lying through her teeth more than most politicians.

Tell us, why are you against what is right for the average American; universal health care, living wages, free education?
When did you lose your compassion? Tell us why we should support her? And please, don't use the "lesser of of 2 evils" argument because it's old hash. You can say SCOTUS but do you really trust Hillary to nominate judges? I don't. In fact, it would be a Walmart propped up court if anything which defends businesses rights. Hi Hobby Lobby.

So while you sit here and trash stuff and defend the 1%, many of us are in the trenches to make sure you and your ilk never have it easy.

[MyNameGoesHere]

56. Yeah if you discount decades of oppression leading up

to the velvet revolution you could spin it as a leisurely stroll in the park.

[pinebox]

57. Sure. That's how you roll.

You asked me to name one so I did and now you spin it lol Just like the spin for your candidate. Oh how coincidental.

[politicaljunkie41910]

66. Obama was cool then and young people showing up at rallies didn't have to pretend they were there

for anything but a meet up. In the process they decided they liked the guy and showed up at the polls (with a little nudging) and with one of the best groundgames ever and voted for him. Bernie is like your angry neighbor who hollers at you to get off his lawn. Bernie is old and tired and knows he doesn't have the stamina it takes to lead a 'revolution' which is why he passed the torch to the next generation in his Teleconference speech the other night.

As Trump crashes and burns, Bernie loses more of the leverage he thought he had by the day. And he knows it. The things he's holding out for now are inconsequential to the lives of those young people for whom he stoked the fire in their bellies and to think that they get in return 'open primaries' and "DWS maybe no longer will be the head of the DNC" has got to be a big letdown.

[pinebox]

76. You are greatly mistaken

"Bernie is old" and hey guess what, so is Hillary! What do you know!? Want to know something else? Hillary has very little millennial support! Now ask yourself a question, why would that be exactly? You want to know why? Hillary offers NOTHING for them. She can't even come up with a decent college plan that actually helps people. It's a peace mean to Republicans is what it is and sorry, it's enough with giving the Party of Stupid anyting.

You say Bernie is like an angry neighbor and continue with ad-hom attacks yet you fail to realize that people in this country ON BOTH SIDES are downright pissed off! They are sick of people like Hillary & Trump who lie in order to advance their political agenda. They'll say anything to get elected while the very people they try and sell their snake oil to are swimming in student loan debt.

There's a reason why millenials like Bernie. I suggest you read it and find out because they can't stand your candidate.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/cenk-uygur/why-millennials-love-bernie_b_9839450.html

http://time.com/4299321/millennials-bernie-sanders/

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2016/02/why-are-millennials-love-bernie-sanders

http://www.theatlantic.com/video/index/470469/why-do-millennials-love-bernie/

https://news.vice.com/article/we-will-not-be-tricked-why-millennials-really-love-bernie-sanders

[CountAllVotes]

77. Bernie is old and tired and knows he doesn't have the stamina

If I posted this statement about HRC, I'd get a hide or a buh bye.

Not necessary though in Bernie Sanders case and he is anything BUT old and tired, etc. He has been out there on the campaign trail speaking to huge crowds in case you haven't noticed.

[pinebox]

81. Exactly. They can spew their hate all they wish

because they can't defend Hillary on her policies of "God knows what, it's Tuesday today!"

[seabeckind]

26. Didn't need them in 2000, 2010, or 2014.

History proved that.

Yep.

[jillan]

69. "Go off and fight your paper revolution and be happy." Wow - sounds like you have an anger problem.

As far a being unreliable, I've voted in every single election since 1974, including midterms...
so kindly stop pointing fingers at other people.

[peacebird]

78. I have voted in every single election since 1979, solid Dem.

have not decided how I will vote this year. But I can say that Hillary has not earned my vote

[brush]

80. I think the poster is refering to the dead-enders not being needed

In a recent poll 70% of Sanders supporters have said they will vote for Clinton as the nominee.

And btw, the Sanders lost is not that close compared to Hillary's razor thin loss to Obama in '08. She had more votes, he more delegates.

The Sanders loss, 57% - 43%, is very close to the landslide threshold, which is 60% - 40%.

[coyote]

52. Thank you so much.

I will relax on Election Day if Bernie is not running. Maybe vote for Jill Stein. Clinton supporters got this.

[Exilednight]

18. release me? I didn't know I was being held captive.

[baldguy]

20. The longer he stays in, the more harm he does to the progressive cause.

[seabeckind]

25. Maybe he has a different definition of progressive.

BTW, I agree with his definition.

But then I lived when people were more than resources.

[baldguy]

29. Any definition of "progressive" must include advocating for actual progress.

Not just settling for being out of power under a Republican regime, or lobbing spit balls at progressives who are successful at getting things done, or loudly whining about how things could have been better "if only everyone had listened to me", or acting on the pretense that impossible things are viable.

[seabeckind]

32. No. The definition of progress MUST include the goal.

Movement isn't progress. It's activity.

Quit your dam proselytizing and tell me just what the goal is.

Until you can tell me what's down this road you want me to follow and why it is somehow different from what I see at the end...

go peddle it to someone who will buy it.

Cause I have looked at the "progress" of the last 35 years and I think it's really f'd up this country. I'm looking every day at the empirical evidence that you keep denying. Like stagnant wages. Income inequality. etc.

When you're going in the wrong direction, speed isn't an asset.

[baldguy]

38. Just as an example: $15/hr is a goal. $12/hr is a huge progressive step toward that goal.

You're happier to maintain your mythical purity, shooting for $15/hr & losing, thereby keeping it at $7.25/hr. That's not progress. That's failure.

[seabeckind]

40. When you get done with the deflections,

we can continue.

[baldguy]

45. That's an actual example from real life.

That you see it as a "deflection" speaks volumes. And indicates that we are very, very fortunate that Sanders' little crusade has failed.

[seabeckind]

46. How about doing something about job outsourcing and labor relations?

You know, the real life thing that is keeping that wage depressed?

The only thing missing from your argument is that congress won't allow even $12 so it's all a fools errand.

SSDD

[baldguy]

47. And now you're deflecting. Also proving my point, incidentally.

Congress won't pass even $12/hr, but Sanders insists that only, only, only a $15/hr should be promoted, and criticizes Clinton when she points to the progressive successes in CA and NY in raising the minimum wage.

[seabeckind]

50. Focusing on the picayune.

Told ya you'd latch onto we can't do anything in congress

so we shouldn't even try.

[baldguy]

62. You're the one that said $12/hr couldn't get through Congress.

And tries to deride & diminish the progressive successes that we can get.

[athena]

89. Beautifully put!

Any definition of "progressive" must include advocating for actual progress. Not just settling for being out of power under a Republican regime, or lobbing spit balls at progressives who are successful at getting things done, or loudly whining about how things could have been better "if only everyone had listened to me"

[Orsino]

23. I think Sanders knows a lot more about the process than any of us.

Especially those of us who haven't divined that he's fighting for different stakes.

He's already pledged to support the nominee. We aren't four years old, and Philly isn't far off. Wait a little while, and we'll have our answers...or we could amuse ourselves in the meantime by actually getting involved, by lobbying our candidates and delegates for the platform we really want.

[MyNameGoesHere]

28. As a 30 plus year politician he should have kissed own more

Like how to win an election at the National level. He didn't and that too is about as illustrious as the rest of his political career.

[seabeckind]

35. So how many ideals and principles

should be sacrificed on the altar of an election win?

Just how dirty do you have to get?

[MyNameGoesHere]

39. I don't feel dirty at all

I get what I need and work for the rest. I don't expect it to be given to me. And I don't expect it right now. I can wait.

[seabeckind]

44. Not quite the same thing.

Think more along the lines of ignoring ethical violations.

You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.

Playing politics.

Nice free stuff spin, though.

[MyNameGoesHere]

82. Oh for effs sake

Pull your antennae in, that wasn't a free stuff slur. A lot of things should be paid for by taxes, and some some things shouldn't. We all know that. Don't be obtuse.

[seabeckind]

84. You mean this isn't what you said?

"work for the rest. I don't expect it to be given to me"

[MyNameGoesHere]

90. Work for political change

With Clinton I get what i need and will work for the rest. Your rethug radar is all haywire, maybe it's being blinded by your pathetic candidates performance. I would be mad too if my candidate was so inept.

[seabeckind]

91. Thanks for the deflection

It works well with your ad hominem.

You don't suppose there might be a reason for your blip to show up on my rethug radar, do you?

Just a glitch. I'll get right on that.

[Orsino]

75. Ah. A free-stuffer. n/t

[jillan]

70. You mean like Hillary in 2008 when she lost a national campaign?

[seabeckind]

24. Not to mention that it will go on his permanent record!!

So you better get in line, mister!

[gordianot]

30. Oh my the guilt trip. You do realize this drivel convinces no one.

Petulant children step on a crack and break your mother's back.

I blame the American school system preaching conformity and stifling critical thinking. Too many ignorant fucking coaches were hired to teach history.

[Squinch]

33. I disagree. Sanders's actions no longer matter. Hillary will beat Trump with or without him.

His support will not make much difference except among the small number of BoBers who are insignificant.

[Duckhunter935]

36. We have been told for months we are not Democrats

And not needed. She can win with "real" Democrats.

[QC]

37. We need some music in here!

[jillan]

71. Lol - I thought the same thing when I read this.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

41. "release"? We're not shackled to him and are capable of making our own decisions.

I have the archaic notion that my vote belongs to me to use as I choose. Not to any particular candidate, party, or message board. I don't need Bernie's permission to vote for whom I please.

[winter is coming]

42. But I've been told that Sanders' influence is waning. I've read that here on DU,

and the media pundits are pushing it, hard. If that's true, it wouldn't matter what Sanders does: his endorsement would hold no weight and his delegates would dump him after the first vote at the convention.

So, which is it?

[aikoaiko]

43. Bad, sheepdog. Bad, Bernie.

[CrowCityDem]

54. Funny how he and his fans don't think "everything" includes an endorsement. They let Bernie lie.

[Scootaloo]

55. What on earth are you even trying to talk about?

You seem terribly confused about a great many things.

[MrMickeysMom]

59. Perhaps he doesn't "know it" because it's NOT TRUE

I don't have anyone holding me in a harness with a whip behind my round behind threatening to "release" anything. The question is basically at its core, a figment of your whipped-into-a-frenzy imagination.

You have no idea as to what the subject is. A sports writer knows more than you just said.

[Matt_R]

61. I keep reading that Trump would win the Democratic Primary if...

Sanders doesn't (fill in the blank) to Clinton. Last I checked Trump was a republican and wasn't running in the Democratic primary. Care to enlighten me?

Or are you too afraid that Sanders would win over the super delegates at the convention.

[blackspade]

63. More tripe mascarading as informed opinion.

Really? Rehashing the debunked Nader bullshit?

[HarmonyRockets]

65. Release Me

This is where we're at right now.

[akbacchus_BC]

67. Let Sanders be. Why the pressure?

[question everything]

86. Just look around you, here, on GDP

which, granted, is not an exact image of the country as a whole.

Still, here and across the country, many still hope that he would be the nominee. His supporters need "closure" if you will, to they can accept the fact that he will not be the nominee and then decide what to do.

Further, among his supporters are many young people for whom this has been their first political involvement. For them to think that losing candidates should not bow out gracefully, should continue to throw temper tantrum is a sad introduction.

[jillan]

68. What does "release" his supporters mean? How does he release us? I honestly have no clue

what you are talking about.
Bernie's supporters are his supporters on our own free will. He's not forcing us to support him.



I really don't know what you mean.

[AntiBank]

73. Nader as "spoiler" is a simplistic myth

but I dont want to rain on your quixotic parade

[TheFarseer]

74. Number 1, how I vote will not depend on what Bernie says, even if I did go caucus for him

Number 2, there is not a planet, universe, time or place where Hillary will be defeated by Trump. Unless they find a video where it was not seal team 6, but rather Donald Trump that killed Bin Laden. And even that might not get it done.

[chervilant]

79. I was thinking "call a waaaaaaa-mbulance!"

But, I see many others have poo-pooed your disingenuous and puerile assertion.

Even if Hi11ary does become the nominee, bear this in mind:

If the Democratic Party, including the key PoC voting block you refer to, chooses to nominate a candidate that cannot inspire voters to support her, that cannot beat Trump (and that's what polls have been telling us for many months,) that's on them. There is no honesty nor integrity in then turning blame on the people who you knew wouldn't be supporting Clinton in November. It does mirror Clinton herself, of course, who has some difficulties with honesty and integrity. There is no respect to be had, though, in playing the blame game, in refusing to be accountable for your own choices. There's also no respect to be had from me, anyway, in using fear and guilt factors to try to get people to shut up, get in line, and vote for someone they oppose.

(Quoting a felloe DUer...)

[coco77]

87. Bernie!Bernie!Bernie!

[Gothmog]

88. Sanders is hurting his so called revolution

[AgingAmerican]

93. You blame Bernie for Trump being in the news?

So it's Bernie's fault that MSNBC is all Trump, all the time?

Pretty pitiful GOTV effort. "Vote for her or someone worse will win"