It's about time for Bernie to join the Democratic party, make it official.

[DanTex]

And before someone starts with the "Vermont doesn't have Democrats" thing, the other senator, the representative, and the governor of VT are all Dems, so I'm sure Bernie can figure out what they did.

Bernie's spent most of his career dumping on the Democratic party, repeating all the usual mantras about them being unprincipled, being the lesser of two evils, etc. This has gone on for decades -- he was doing it back in the 70s, and recently he called for Obama to be primaried. Basically, he only stopped attacking Democrats when he decided that he needed the party infrastructure in order to become president.

It would be nice for him to acknowledge that basically everything good that has happened in the US government for the past century has come from the Democratic party. And the Dems are also to thank for the fact that the bad things aren't much worse.

Being an effective national political organization requires a lot of work, fundraising, coalition building, things that you don't have to worry so much about when you are representing a small liberal state like Vermont. After the 2016 campaign is done, if he doesn't happen to become president (shocker), I'd like to see him back in the senate with a D next to his name, working within the Democratic party rather than attacking it.

[leftofcool]

1. Now you've gone and done it!

Bernie will only sign pledges to the Democratic Party in those States that have closed primaries.

[DanTex]

5. He should be a Democrat for all purposes, not just for the purpose of becoming president.

In Senate roll calls, he should also show up as D-VT. He's spent his career attacking the organization that he now wants to become the de facto leader of. I'd say joining the organization is in order.

What is so hard about that concept?

[djean111]

13. What is so hard about you understanding that your orders and wishes are not those of

everybody else, and do not need to be obeyed? Just support Hillary - that seems like the best thing for you to do.
There really is not anything you can post that will peel support from Bernie, you know.

[Mnpaul]

26. He didn't need to be a Democrat to vote for the ACA

I don't see anyone complaining about that. Without his vote, the ACA would be just another failed law.

He spent his career attacking the Democratic Party? I think you have that backwards. The Democrats teamed up with the Republican Party to defeat him in Vermont. They also obstructed his attempts to make real change.

Where are all these attacks on the Democratic Party?

[Cal33]

47. From what I can see, Bernie is a Democrat of the old order - like the Kennedys - the real

Democrats. He's no Third-Way Democrat, and he wants people to know it. If he had run
as an Independent, there's no chance of winning, and he knows it, too. Also, the Democratic
vote would have been split. Remember Ralph Nader? Bernie didn't want to do that
either. So he is running as a Democrat, and I sure hope that both he and Elizabeth will
help to push our Party more to the left, back to the way it was with the Kennedys, Truman
and Roosevelt. The way we are now, the Party is half-way Republican.

[DanTex]

52. OK, then he should join the party and make that argument.

[Cal33]

80. His views are known. He has always voted the way a Progressive Democrat does. Studies

Last edited Wed Sep 9, 2015, 04:37 PM - Edit history (1)

at Princeton show that some experts in political science conclude that America
is already an oligarchy.

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-echochambers-27074746

Bernie is doing what he can to bring back democracy to our nation.

[HooptieWagon]

65. So the D is more important to you than policies?

That's pretty shallow thinking, and the reason the corporatist Third Way was able to infiltrate the party on behalf of Wall Street greed.

[DanTex]

66. I think he would be more of an asset in congress as a Democrat, and he could also help

build and influence the party.

[HooptieWagon]

68. As POTUS, he appoints the DNC chairman.

No higher influence on party direction than that.

[DanTex]

69. If by some miracle he doesn't win the election....

[sheshe2]

118. Hey Dan!

On Wed Sep 9, 2015, 11:22 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

It's about time for Bernie to join the Democratic party, make it official.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251579971

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

This post is noting but lies, Bernie has worked with the Democrats for all of his career, He has been a dependable vote with the Democrats throughout his career, Please hide this filth

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Wed Sep 9, 2015, 11:45 PM, and the Jury voted 2-5 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: The post contain many inaccuracies. I recommend correcting them in the thread itself.
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: So discussion is no longer allowed on DU? Any discussion other than about Bernie being a saint of the Dem party is filth? "This post is noting but lies, Bernie has worked with the Democrats for all of his career, He has been a dependable vote with the Democrats throughout his career, Please hide this filth" You need to get a thicker skin. You also need to debate the issues. BS is not now or has ever been a DEMOCRAT. Leave it!
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

#2 Here.

[DanTex]

119. Wow. And 2 votes to hide.

[sheshe2]

121. Nothing surprises me here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/118724424

2 hides.
this is a thread about a black female member of DU getting a threatening letter AT HOME! Bravenak, a young woman with 2 young children, the letter see link. The hides. Read them.

[PowerToThePeople]

3. It's about time for me to trash this POS thread.

[JackInGreen]

4. No thanks

He's doing fine without meeting your rubric.

[morningfog]

7. It's about time for you to resort to this angle again!

It's clockwork: His supporters are ALL WHITE! He's anti-war! He's not a Democrat! Rinse and repeat, rinse and repeat....

[beam me up scottie]

14. SOCIALISHT!!1! GUNZ NUT! OLD WHITE GUY! WHAT WILL THE NEIGHBORS THINK???

ARGLE BARGLE!

[onehandle]

8. Where is the 'Why I am a Democrat' speech?

Traditionally, a party switcher or joiner makes a speech about why they are now a Democrat?

What gives?

[virtualobserver]

18. Coming up next-Hillary's- "Why I am a Democrat" speech- but first a word from her corporate sponsors

[beam me up scottie]

20. Keep talking like that and you won't get a pink pantsuit and complementary gift basket.

[virtualobserver]

25. I already have the pantsuit covered

[beam me up scottie]

29. *bmus catcalls*

https://m.

[TheKentuckian]

75. Isn't that supposed to be yellow or bright orange?

[virtualobserver]

87. now you tell me

[upaloopa]

31. The 41% of us supporting Hillary are not corporations.

I have not incorporated and I have given enough to her campaign this year that I have to be listed as a donor.
By the way Sanders 20% of Dems is about 8% of the voters since Dems are about 40% of voters. 20% of 40% is 8% so that meme that Sanders is backed by the people is bogus unless 8% of voters represents the people.

[beam me up scottie]

9. I don't really see why anyone on DU would consider his party affiliation to be a worthwhile argument

I wonder which Bernie supporter said that...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1259&pid=8534

[restorefreedom]

86. a yup. nt

[beam me up scottie]

90. It's good enough for Skinner but not the op.

But who am I to question their obviously sincere concern...

[restorefreedom]

92. most sincere....

(i know i don't need the sarcasm thingy so i'll just do this)

[djean111]

10. And Bernie would follow your orders why?

He is doing wonderfully as it is. I support Bernie - I don't just support a "D" that may or may not be what I consider an actual Democrat. Just think - that clerk in Kentucky is a Democrat. Anybody can put a "D" on their jersey. It is what they DO that actually counts.

[DanTex]

37. Just a suggestion, if he wants to help drive the country in the right direction.

He's free to do what he wants, of course, and he'll probably go back to the senate as an independent and keep not accomplishing the things he talks about.

[djean111]

41. I am sure Bernie would be touched by your condescending concern. n/t

[DanTex]

42. I doubt he reads DU, and if he does, the first thing he would notice is how unhinged his supporters

here have become. Which might be a good thing.

[djean111]

46. Unhinged = won't support Hillary no matter how many times we are scolded.

Speaking of unhinged, some of us have had to actually block emails from a particularly rabid Hillary supporter. I don't see the frothing anger at the keyboard from Bernie supporters like I do from Hillary supporters. Different perspective, I guess!

By and large, Bernie's supporters care about the issues. Pure and simple. Evidently hard to understand, for some.

[beam me up scottie]

49. You got loveletters from that one too?

She's back on vacation so I'm sure anyone who hasn't blocked her will get more.

[DanTex]

54. I'm talking about the incessant Hillary bashing, the glee over the email witch hunt, the repeated

and highly-recced declarations of sitting out the GE if the primary doesn't go the way that the far left wants, etc.

Bernie likes and respects Hillary, I think he'd be surprised how hate-filled some of his online fans are.

[djean111]

56. Bwahahaha! Coming from an incessant Bernie basher, that is pretty damned funny.

You pop up in any thread about Bernie, lately, to bash. It is actually starting to be entertaining. In case you thought you were having any effect on Bernie's support.

And when any criticism of Hillary is called bashing or hate or smearing, then you have a problem with reality. But that's okay, you vote for Hillary, I will vote for Bernie, and that is the only thing that counts.

I think Bernie met some nice Hillary supporters on his birthday. They booed at him. Ugh.

Also, it is like you think it is your job to approve or disapprove of posts at DU - that way lies madness. Or disappointment. One of those. But I don't think many take you seriously any more. Just eye rolls and move on.

[DanTex]

57. Huh? I like Bernie, I've said it many times. Maybe you responded to the wrong person.

[djean111]

58. No. I did not. n/t

[reddread]

117. we have HRC for that

democracy DEMANDS a choice.
the choice ahead will be some serious fun for many.

[Bluenorthwest]

11. So he should be official, like Kim Davis?

The new standard is Official Kim? She's a registered, declared, primary passed and duly elected as an official Democrat so you feel kinship with her that you do not feel with Bernie 'Founder of the larges Democratic Caucus in Congress' Sanders?
You and I have very different standards. Bernie being a Democratic candidate for the Democratic nomination having caucused with Democrats since 1992 means he's a Democrat to me. But to you he is not while Kim Davis is because you use the standards of Official Kim. I don't. To me, Kim Davis is not a Democrat, all that official registered and duly elected crap does not make a hawk into a handsaw.

[Luminous Animal]

15. I'd love to see the OP respond to this

[Bluenorthwest]

24. Never in a million years.

I had hoped one of his cohort would. But Official Kim does make the point for us.

[m-lekktor]

19. Fred Phelps of Westboro Baptist Church was a registered DEM as well!

I read he apparently remained one even though he claimed the party "left him".

[Bluenorthwest]

27. This is true from what I know.

But Official Kim got elected by Democrats on ballots that said Official Kim-Democrat. She's very, very Official. She is everything the Bernie critics seem to long for in a candidate. She would pass their stated muster.

[azmom]

38. +1000000

[DanTex]

43. He'd be a great counterweight in the party to people like Kim Davis.

I think he would be an asset, and given that he wants to use the organizational structure to help him become president, I think it would be right for him to respond in kind and help build that organizational structure by actually joining.

[Bluenorthwest]

77. You did not address the fact that your standard makes Official Kim an approved DanTex Democrat

while Bernie is not. My standard says Official Kim behaves like a right winger and Bernie behaves like a progressive Democrat of exactly the sort my father would have loved.

But since you will not discuss like an honest broker, let me tell you this. Our Party, the Democratic Party says Senator Bernie Sanders is a Democratic candidate. You are undermining the Party, claiming that the Party is running someone who is not actually a Democratic candidate. That's the very opposite of Party building. You claim the entire Party is lying, attempting some bait and switch and not offering you an actual Democrat. It's bullshit. You claim to serve the Party by calling the Party fraudulent. You need to listen to yourself. You are arguing with the Democratic Party, not with Bernie Sanders. It's reckless and not in the best interest of Democrats other than those of the Kim Davis sort.

[DanTex]

82. I don't have a "standard". Just saying that it would be better for Bernie to join the

Democratic party. Why is this so confusing?

[Hoyt]

12. I basically agree. One big problem is that if he doesn't, and Democrats shun him,

he might well run as an Independent (promise or not). That would guarantee a GOP Prez.

Don't think he will win the primary, but if he does, he owes it to Democrats to "convert." In any event, if he does win primary, I'll support him but fear loss of the White House and all the crud that would mean.

[Hydra]

113. He's not going to run Indy, and if someone in our party did, we would still not get a GOP hack

Unless they pulled an Arlen Specter.

The GOP is dead, which is why we are having this fight now- previously there were seen to be "serious" threats from the right, and we all had to pull behind whoever the Moneyed arm of the party sent us. That threat has now been overused, so we're seeing a real push for a non-DLC candidate.

[Hoyt]

122. They aren't dead. They fan pull 47% against almost anycDemocrat, 5% more against "weak" Democrats.

They control most states, and both chambers of Congress. I wish they were "dead," but they aren't.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

16. Why? Would a label signify he'd make a better president or senator?

Good for him for being able to think for himself and criticize what needs to be criticized instead of following the party line.

[HERVEPA]

17. Are you not sick of posting this bullshit yet.

Great idea hassling the guy who actually has the Democratic ideals. All you are doing is pissing people off about your candidate.
Are you not bright enough to realize that?

[LondonReign2]

33. All the OP does is post flamebait bullshit. Back on ignore where he belongs

[DanTex]

39. If he's got Democratic ideals, he should join the party. Work with us.

[azurnoir]

123. Skinner said something about that

If it's any consolation, I really think this is in a gray area. I do not know the exact details of Bernie Sanders' relationship to the Vermont Democratic Party. My understanding is that he never actually ran in a Democratic primary, although he may have won the Democratic nomination a few times without running for it. Whatever the specifics, there does seem to exist a tacit agreement to not give him any serious Democratic opposition. So the question of whether Bernie Sanders is a Democrat is something of a red herring -- he isn't a Democrat but when he runs for congress he has the support of the Democratic establishment in Vermont and Washington DC. And he is running for the Democratic presidential nomination. So for all intents and purposes he is a Democrat, and I don't really see why anyone on DU would consider his party affiliation to be a worthwhile argument. Having said that, I wouldn't have voted to hide this, as it seems to be a close-enough description of reality. But that's just my opinion.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12598502#post1

[Warren Stupidity]

21. his lack of official branding is one of his strong points.

Both brands: Team Democrat and Team Republican make most people throw up a bit, in their mouths.

[Blus4u]

30. This is true in today's times...

...and it is probably why "party outsiders" are showing well in polls or turnout:
GOP - Trump, Carson (pols)
DEM - Sanders (turn out)

Peace

[DanTex]

44. Well, maybe if he was a Democrat he could actually help improve the brand.

[Warren Stupidity]

70. his lack of official branding is one of his strong points.

Thank you for your heartfelt concern.

[DanTex]

71. Depends what his objective is. If he's trying to appeal to hipsters, sure, but in terms of making

progress for the nation, I think he could be more effective within the party.

[ibegurpard]

22. deliberately ignorant or obtuse post

Being from a state which does not have partisan registration the only way he can do this is to say he's a Democrat. Which he's obviously done since he's running for President AS A DEMOCRAT.

[seaglass]

35. I'm not a Democrat. I don't think it's right for anyone to call Bernie a Democrat unless he says he

is one. I never heard that he said this. Is what you are saying true, he has called himself a Democrat?

[ibegurpard]

95. He's running for President as a DEMOCRAT!!!

How much clearer does that need to be made for you???

[DanTex]

40. Read the first sentence of the OP.

[ibegurpard]

81. the OP is idiotic

Because NONE of them are official Demicrats if your criteria is "joining," the Democratic Party when there's no way to do so in a state. My Democratic governor is the head of the DGA. He's from Montana...we also don't have partisan registration here. Is he "not a Democrat?" no he is one because he ran as one and said he is one. This continual nonsense is stupid and anyone who takes your bait and argues with you about it over anything other than the terms I JUST EXPLAINED needs to be slapped. You'd have a point if he was from another state where registration rules are different. But you know that and if you don't I really, really hope you're not actually giving anyone professional political advice.

[DanTex]

83. Kind of strange that they have D's next to their names. Some kind of typo, I guess you're saying.

[ibegurpard]

97. yup deliberately obtuse it is then

[DanTex]

98. Not sure what you're confused about. He's not a Democrat, but he could easily become one.

He chooses not to.

[ibegurpard]

104. the confusion is not on my part

The deliberate and DECEPTIVE obtuseness is coming from you. When you can't register as a Democrat you can only say you are one. He's running as a Democrat so he's a Democrat.

[DanTex]

108. He's listed as an independent in congress, so he's independent. If he's elected president, he'll be

a Democratic president, but as of right now, he's still an independent senator (and since he won't win, that's what he'll stay). I don't know if you seriously believe that he couldn't switch his affiliation to Democrat in congress, or if this is just a game you're playing. But either way, you're wrong.

[earthside]

23. Only in this rarified DU world ...

... amongst the Hillary scolds does this matter to anyone.

Ninety-nine percent of everyone else in the U.S. calls Sen. Sanders a Democrat -- because he is running for the Democratic Party nomination for president.

Message to Hillary-supporters on DU who bring this up: pathetic.

[7wo7rees]

28. Why? We think we like it as it is, DanTex. Independent.

Make exactly what official?

[whatchamacallit]

32. It's time for the Democratic Party to join Bernie

[Garrett78]

34. Agreed.

Poll after poll shows that a majority of Americans are closer to Sanders ideologically than members of the Democratic Party establishment. Labels and letters next to names don't actually mean anything substantive. That anyone cares about that sort of symbolism (over substance) is a testament to the insanity that is US politics.

Kim Davis is a Democrat. So is Joe Manchin. So is Chuck Schumer. And so on. I wouldn't vote for a single one of those folks. Issues/values matter more than labels. Let me re-phrase that. Issues/values matter. Labels don't.

[whatchamacallit]

36. Indeed.

[DanTex]

45. OK, but that's not going to happen if he's not a member of it.

[whatchamacallit]

48. I meant join him in spirit

As in, kill the Third Way, stop drifting right, and start making this a country that works for a plurality.

[DanTex]

50. See that's the thing, the whole country isn't Vermont, so you have to build coalitions.

Bernie would be a great asset to the Democratic coalition, and given that he wants to use those coalitions to become president, I think it would be a good thing to join.

[whatchamacallit]

53. From what I've seen passing for democrats these days

I don't think it's a good fit for someone with the integrity of Bernie Sanders.

[rainbow fish]

79. agreed

the Democratic Party should be begging Bernie to pull them back from the right, not the other way around.

[mak3cats]

51. +1!! (eom)

[Autumn]

55. Kim Davis is a Democrat. Bernie is fine just as he is. And Independent who

works, supports and is supported by Democrats.

[arcane1]

59. More made-up, childish foot-stomping.

And it's only September

[aikoaiko]

60. Bernie is doing fine as is. If he is not elected, I'm happy to have him as an independent

and holding the president accountable.

[HerbChestnut]

61. Who cares?

Political parties are supposed to represent a coalition of people with the same ideas and principles. But what if those representatives begin to stray from the core ideas and beliefs that the party was founded on to begin with at the expense of ordinary people? At that point you have to ask yourself, what do you value more, principles or the club? And what that question really boils down to is this: Where does the power lie? If you think it's in the hands of the folks in Washington then by all means vote for the person with a 'D' next to their name. If you think it lies with the people then vote for the person who best represents your values.

[Vinca]

62. You should be grateful Bernie is running as a Democrat.

He's what Democrats used to be before they went all GOP-lite. As for "officially" becoming one, I don't see the point. In fact, I've kind of decided since I get so mad at so many faux Democrats, I'm changing my affiliation to Independent the next time I go to vote. I can't imagine ever voting for a Republican, but the Democrats don't seem to represent my left-of-center views at all.

[DanTex]

63. I mean after he loses, he should go back to the Senate as Democrat, not an independent.

[Vinca]

64. Why? He still votes with the Democrats all the time.

[Ichingcarpenter]

67. Bernie needs to do loyalty oaths

in fact all democrats should do loyalty oaths otherwise we will never know if they are loyal democrats according to the loyalty oath because some are disloyal and we know who they are............... what a bunch of fascist right wing shit.

[Jim Lane]

73. Is this going to sway any votes, or is it pure vacuous talking point?

In a nation of more than 300 million, I suppose there's somebody somewhere who says, "I'm voting for Hillary in the primary, but if Bernie goes through some unspecified mumbo-jumbo to become a Democrat in some sense in which he's not now a Democrat, then I'll vote for him instead."

But I think there are damn few of those people. The vast majority of those raising this "issue" are people who wouldn't vote for Bernie if he got a donkey tattooed on his butt.

As for those other Vermont public officials, I can think of two things they did to qualify as "Democrats" in a state without partisan registration. First, they ran for office on the Democratic line. Bernie can't do that until his term is next up (the 2018 election).

Second, those serving in Congress caucused with the Democrats for purposes of determining which party had the majority. Bernie has always done that. I'm sure those Democrats -- some of them well to his right -- who got committee chairships were very happy not to be the ranking minority member.

[DanTex]

74. Neither. Not every post is an attempt to sway votes.

Just saying, it would be good for Bernie to join the party.

[nichomachus]

76. Or Hillary could become a Republican

And make it official

[RufusTFirefly]

78. No es necesario

For all intents and purposes, she's already there.

Although it still maintains an impassioned but marginalized dissident wing, the Democratic Party has essentially been taken over by people who would've freely identified as Republicans when I was growing up

As for today's Republicans, now that the "moderates" have fled to the other side of the aisle, the loons that have remained are basically a 21st century version of the John Birch Society.

[restorefreedom]

84. what more will it take?

don't you get it?? this is exactly why bernie getting so much support. loyalty pledges, loyalty oaths, identity politics, oligarchic control have much more in common with oppressive countries we have fought against in the past! this is the point! people are sick and tired of having to promise a blood oath to some party that isn't doing anything but serving the 1%. They are sick of having to pledge loyalties and make promises to serve a certain entity. This is not the United States that we all grew up learning about in school. And this is what Bernie is going to change. But the fact that this subject keeps being brought up and suggested just tells me how much people still don't get it. The revolution is coming. It's just sad that so many of you can't see why.

[DanTex]

85. I don't think it takes much for him to join the party. There's no "blood oath" or any other weird

ritual. Not sure where you got that idea. I'm sure the Dems would accept him, all he has to do is decide he wants to be part of it.

[restorefreedom]

88. the fact that some think he HAS to

is exactly the point. this election is going to be about ideas and plans, not parties, who we are affiliated with, or who people are politically in bed with. That is exactly what Bernie is running to change.

edit to add: and once again, if this is all you guys have to criticize Bernie about, wel, then I guess that just speaks for itself.

[DanTex]

89. He can do what he wants, I just think it would be best if he did.

After the election, he'll be back in the senate, and I think that he'd be in a better position to bring about progressive change as a Democrat.

[restorefreedom]

94. he would do just fine in the senate

if that's where he were going. But he'll be living and working a little further down the road.

[DanTex]

96. I think he would be more effective as a Democrat.

Particularly since he's using the Democratic infrastructure for his own ambitions, I think it would be appropriate for him to join the party and help build the same infrastructure for other Dems around the country.

[restorefreedom]

99. there would be nothing stopping him

from doing that as an I.

and lets remember that kim davis and dws are bith dems...so a d after ones name does not necessarily mean anything good

[DanTex]

101. Sure there is. Not part of the party, he doesn't have the same influence on Democratic

party affairs. The Democratic Party is an organization. He wants to use that organization to his own ends, I think it would be appropriate for him to also join it and contribute his efforts to building it.

[restorefreedom]

112. part of his personal platform

seems to be that ideas and action are more important than party identity and establishment status quo. I think he could use his influence to great effect getting progressives elected to various offices, but they might not necessarily all be dems. And I think that's the point.

I think were going to see a generational change here in terms of party politics. I know people hate to see Bernie compared to Trump, and they are obviously not alike at all, but they both represent a change in the way people view their politicians and their politics. I think the rule of the two-party system is gonna be coming to an end in our lifetime. The two parties will still exist, but people will be more interested in ideas and action rather than what letter somebody puts after their name. Especially among the young people it seems.

[virtualobserver]

91. Since running for the Democratic nomination doesn't satisfy you....

and caucusing with the Democrats doesn't satisfy you.

I hereby pronounce you INSATIABLE!

[DanTex]

93. Pretty simple, join the party. It's easy.

[virtualobserver]

100. I live in Texas. I have voted exclusively for Democrats....

in every election. If I decide to run for the House in the Democratic primary, am I a Democrat?

[DanTex]

102. I don't know the procedures, but if you have a D after your name in congressional roll calls,

then you are a Democrat. If Bernie's confused, I'm sure there's someone on his staff that can figure it out.

[virtualobserver]

110. So you don't know the procedures, huh. Well I'll tell you then.

DanTex must not be from Texas. You do not register by Party here, it is just like Vermont.

So, If you are running in a Democratic primary, you are a Democrat.

Bernie is not the one who is confused, DanTex is......

[DanTex]

111. Bernie could easily become a Democrat in congress if he wanted. One phone call.

Pretending that he's stuck as an independent because of Vermont's registration procedures is truly dumb. People switch affiliations in congress, this wouldn't be the first time. If he wanted a D by his name, he'd have one. The Dems would welcome him, the only barrier is that he doesn't want to be one.

[ibegurpard]

103. what you "think" is not relevant

It's already been explained to you multiple times

[DanTex]

105. Yeah, but you're completely wrong (multiple times).

It's not hard for him to become a Democrat. One way: call Obama and say "I would like to become a Democrat". Next thing you know, there's a press conference, he announces he's a proud member of the Democratic party now, and he's listed with a D instead of an I.

Or call Harry Reid, or DWS, or whoever. This isn't complicated. He wouldn't be the first person to switch affiliations during a congressional term.

[ibegurpard]

107. finally putting you on ignore like I should have long ago

[DanTex]

109. OK, that's one option. The other would be accepting that, yes, it is possible to be a Democrat

from Vermont.

[jfern]

114. He's been a member of the Democratic congressional caucus for 24 1/2 years

and endorsed every Democratic nominee for President in that period. And Vermont doesn't have partisan voter registration.

[DanTex]

116. Then it shouldn't be much of a stretch to officially join the party. You know, like Pat Leahy.

[aidbo]

120. How 'bout this?

He converts switches to big D Democrat when he is announced as the Democratic nominee.

[in_cog_ni_to]

124. He has always caucused with the Democrats.

Would you have preferred he ran for President as an Independent? THEN, you may have had something to complain about after the Donald Trump inauguration.

He's on the correct side if every issue, unlike the other warmongering "Democratic" candidate running. He's more Democratic than some who claim they are.

Thankfully, our millennials know a sincere, honest, PEACE MONGER when they see one and are voting accordingly. That generation will save you from yourself.