2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumThe DNC's refusal to have more debates demonstrates Bernie's lack of influence in my opinion.
The DNC is ignoring him. He's second in the polls right now. Someone who's second place in primary polling should have much more influence, but he's being ignored. I'm actually starting to agree with Bernie that there should be more debates.
Why is Bernie being ignored?
In my opinion this goes back to Bernie's lack of influence in Congress and the Democratic Party. It's a microcosm of the problems he would face if he became President. He doesn't have a single person in Congress endorsing him. Even members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus won't touch him with a 10 foot pole. If he actually became President, he very well could be a lame duck on day one.
A recent article in Boston Magazine nails it IMO:
Sanders, it turns out, has little patience for reportersor, for that matter, anyone who disagrees with him. Among his faults, this could be the one that most weakens his presidential bid. Former aides have called him strident and never satisfied, to the point of being abusive, especially during his first years in Congress. Bernie is a very demanding guy, Fiermonte tells me. He has very high expectations, and he expects people to meet them. But hes a good boss. I wouldnt be with him otherwise. Or, as more than one Vermont politician told me, Bernies an asshole, but hes our asshole.
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Many of his colleagues in Congress would recognize the stubbornness. I admired him for his willingness to take stands for what he believed, former Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank, a man not immune to professing unpopular opinions, tells me. He went for the ideal, but he was not part of the legislative process. He chose to be an outsider.
On Capitol Hill, Sanders has a reputation for being a pain in the ass. Bernie believes that hes right, and that what he wants is for the greater good, says Houston consultant Susan Boardman Russ, formerly the longtime chief of staff for the late Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords. Bernie is so certain that what he represents politically is unquestionably correct, therefore everyone should agree. Not much room for compromise it was, Play in my sandbox, or get out.
After Sanderss 16 years in the House and almost nine in the Senate, there are not many legislators in his sandbox. Not a single major congressman, senator, or governor has endorsed him for president.
Read more:
http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/article/2015/09/29/bernie-sanders/
At the end of the day, I think Bernie has no one to blame but himself.
elleng
(130,825 posts)by the so-called frontrunner and her 'team,' the Democratic party powers that be, simple; says nothing about Senator Sanders' influence.
and furthermore, NO ONE wants to be on a debate stage where Martin O'Malley appears and finally is introduced to the nation.
restorefreedom
(12,655 posts)cuz you nailed it.
it is about protecting one candidate from the others, and squashing the people's chance to see and hear all the candidates.
completely undemocaric and reeks of cronyism.
exactly what we need to get away from in this country.
oh and forgot to add: unrec. op
delrem
(9,688 posts)You produced a fine projection.
I just love Harry Jaffe
"Award-winning writer, author and media strategist, Harry Jaffe brings alive stories and characters -- in books, long form narrative, columns, essays and in 140 characters."
Where do you find them?
ibegurpard
(16,685 posts)msongs
(67,381 posts)welcome lol
delrem
(9,688 posts)AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)He's voted with the Democrats 98% of the time his entire career in the Senate and House. He leads the Democratic opposition to the GOP as reining member of the Budget Commitee. He founded the Progressive Caucus in the House and to this day still participates. I think he's paid his dues
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)has been a Democrat longer but was a Reagan administration official.
It's just odd that out of a batch of 5 people of which 2 have been full tilt Republican officials, the one you kvetch about is the one who founded the largest Democratic Caucus in the US Congress.
Bonobo
(29,257 posts)AtomicKitten
(46,585 posts)Bernie is the antithesis of the system.
AgingAmerican
(12,958 posts)Everybody knows why there are only six debates. They fear the public hearing Bernie Sanders.
newfie11
(8,159 posts)People need to compare his record to the others.
We need Bernie but people will as usual vote for the corrupt idiots instead.
JackInGreen
(2,975 posts)okokok....no...
No I'm done im....no I'm not
My gods....thank you. I needed that laugh. Tell us another one, PLEASE.
djean111
(14,255 posts)Why on earth would Bernie have "leadership" over the DNC?
And what does that bottom of the barrel look like? Wisps of straw, and tabloid gossip, it seems.
xfundy
(5,105 posts)I can't recall reading any post from you that wasn't a bullshit swipe at Bernie. Why not attack the real enemies and let Democrats work out our own issues? Or would you rather keep giving Repigs ammo against us?
deutsey
(20,166 posts)cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)Reminds me of F1 driver Nico Rossberg saying after finishing second this season in a race: "I couldn't pass Lewis Hamilton for the win because he was driving too slow."
That made everyone in the post-race interview room howl with laughter.
You just keep shooting arrows into the sky so we can keep laughing at you and everything will be OK.
restorefreedom
(12,655 posts)we can't let the dnc and dws get away with telling people there are six.
they have only scheduled FOUR. the last two are only referred to, not scheduled.
hillary wasserman schultz is hoping the coronation happens before her weak candidate has to endure the other two.
her wish will become partly true. hillary will be out of it before those last two debstes.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)them. O'Malley is the candidate who would most benefit and thus is the primary target of the rules. Of course this also does not serve Webb or Chafee whom the centrists should be treating with respect as they are candidates from the more conservative wing.
Debates have the potential to make the race Sanders vs O'Malley. This is unthinkable to DWS.
marmar
(77,064 posts)LondonReign2
(5,213 posts)time and time again
Ino
(3,366 posts)Bernie is being ignored for the same reason the other candidates are being ignored... because they aren't Hillary.
Because they don't have DWS in their back pocket rigging debates for them.
Because they don't have an extensive hit list on everyone in politics, like Hillary does...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2014/01/13/book-hillary-clinton-kept-a-hit-list/
In one colorful passage, the authors recount McCaskills fear of bumping into Clinton:
I really dont want to be in an elevator alone with her, McCaskill confided to the friend.
Because they don't plot revenge on anyone who opposes them, like Hillary does...
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/02/12/confidants-diary-clinton-wanted-to-keep-records-for-revenge/
When asked why, according to the friends June 20, 1994, diary entry, Clinton said, Revenge.