Morning Joe talk today is about how Bernie will lose it in the debate cuz he's "cantankerous."

[CTyankee]

Why, "everybody" is saying it. Must be true.

[newfie11]

1. Hahaha #FeelTheBern2016

Go Bernie!

[Dramato]

2. I don't believe Joe said that

Quote?

[CTyankee]

5. one of his lackeys did. It's the "newest" wisdom on this guy who they can't stand cuz

he's winning.

[Trajan]

86. If you have knowledge as to what Joe did not say ...

Who then DID say that?

[restorefreedom]

3. can joe even pronounce cantankerous?

good for him.

[wyldwolf]

4. I'll pretend to be neutral for a moment

Based on available sources, Sanders has a short fuse, is condescending and doesn't like to be disagreed with. IF true, he'll have to keep those tendencies in check.

[restorefreedom]

6. he has nothing to keep "in check"

people have had it with being played by blow dried pols spitting out meaningless platitutes while continuing to help the 1% and the mic.

if he is pissed, it only reflects the mood of the people.

he is going to do great precisely because he is not going to smile and wave like he is on a thxgiving day float

[RKP5637]

28. Yep! He displays the outrage millions and millions of people feel in this country!

As you say, "he is not going to smile and wave like he is on a thxgiving day float." He's not on a celebratory tour.

[restorefreedom]

39. yup. that is the old way

the coiffed and blow dried "miss america" presentation."

those days are over. people want the truth.

[RKP5637]

54. He reminds me of the tough old time democrats that kicked ass and got something accomplished

for the masses! IMO smiles aren't necessary. As you say, "people want the truth." Not some scripted feel good message. My dad was one of those old time democrats way back. He kicked ass and got things accomplished and didn't smile a lot, but he cared about people, especially those disadvantaged by the system and hucksters and shysters.

[restorefreedom]

73. sounds like your dad

was very ted kennedy like, and i mean that in the most complimentary way. teddy could play nice when he wanted, but he was a bear in the senate, always fighting for the people. he never forgot the struggles of the non elite, and even though he was never mean about it, he didn't mince words either when it came to laying down the lumber and speaking the truth.

i miss him.

[RKP5637]

76. Actually, my dad was old enough to be both a FDR and JFK supporter. I came along

very very late in life. My dad did very well in life financially, but he never forgot his beginnings and he was always for the little guy. He always always felt a county could only be successful if everyone had opportunities and could share in the wealth of the country. He also believed in highly controlling capitalism so it did not runaway like today. He's sadly long gone now. I recall a very very long time ago when I was just a very tiny kid, he called me into the living room and wanted me to see/hear JFK when he was campaigning, and he said, this is a young man that is going places and is for the people.

[restorefreedom]

77. sounds like he was a cool and caring guy

sounds a lot like bernie

[RKP5637]

79. Actually he was a lot like Bernie. He really cared about people! Bernie is the first one I've seen

that is some combination of FDR and JFK. I'm not knocking HRC at all, but some politicians are like window dressing, not referring to HRC. And I look at the republican hopefuls, I am really shocked, is that the best the republican party can do. I find it embarrassing that the world is exposed to the republican presidential hopefuls.

[restorefreedom]

83. bernie seems to have the right message and gravitas for these times

as for the republicans, i keep thinking of this cover

[yeoman6987]

80. If that were the truth trump would have been declared a loser

During his debate because he didn't answer any policy questions and basically bashed his opponents. Do not u detest image the voters on both sides.

[restorefreedom]

84. but his supporters THINK he is spouting "truth"

even if he is blowing unsubstantiated right wing bigoted smoke up their asses, they love it. Which sadly says as much about the electorate on that side as it does about Trump himself

[CTyankee]

7. I don't think so.

[Sanity Claws]

8. You just described Trump to a T

Maybe the Republicans should get all worried instead.

[Armstead]

10. Sounds like a description of most politicians

[demwing]

15. This is you pretending to be neutral? ROFL

What the heck does your partisan face look like?

[LWolf]

26. "pretend to be neutral"

Good one.

Meanwhile, I've seen him be cantankerous. I've seen him calm and reasonable in the face of cantankerous.

I'm not worried.

[karynnj]

34. Even if true, there are "some" who say the same of HRC --- it was also clearly the case with McCain

I suspect that there are more high profile potential nominees (in any election) for whom these things are said than not. It really may be whether they can hold the tendencies in check enough that that they do not become real issues. I suspect - that given that did not even become a real issue with McCain, likely the one with the most severe and most well documented problems on this - that this is unlikely to hurt either Clinton or Sanders.

[sabrina 1]

41. Based on available sources! Lol! You mean the Super Pac dirty money sources? What people LOVE about

Bernie once they get to know him is that he SHARES THEIR ANGER at the disaster that has been created by the Status Quo politician, all funded by Corporations, for them many of whom have lost everything, and for their children.

But I'm kind of glad that those who are comfortable and don't have to worry as MOST Americans do, don't understand how ANGRY the people are.moss

Imagine thinking that the losses suffered by so many Americans due to neo-liberal policies, Corporate interference in our politics, is NOT something people asking for our votes, should NOT be angry about?

This is an advantage for Bernie. He is angry about the right things, because HE never lost touch with the people, as most politicians have, the reason why so many people have completely dropped out of the system.

[Bread and Circus]

49. umm... u arent very good at pretending lol

[AgingAmerican]

67. You're just not used to hearing the truth

Spoken plainly. So you manufacture outrage.

[askew]

70. Those could all be applied to Hillary.

She blew her stack more than a few times in the 2008 campaign and Obama got under her skin repeatedly in their later debates.

I expect CNN to give her softball questions and most of the screentime so it is unlikely we'll she her short fuse.

O'Malley seems to not have those issues. But, I am not sure he has the debate skills to get under Hillary's skin the way Obama did. Obama has an uncommon ability to make his opponents lose their cool.

[philosslayer]

75. Heresy!!!

Bernie is perfect!! Didn't you get the memo?

[Armstead]

9. They're looking for a "Dean scream" moment

I think Sanders is too smart to give them one

[Art_from_Ark]

11. Or a "Gore sigh" moment

[One of the 99]

65. The Gore sigh was manufactured by the media

Very few people even noticed until the media started playing on a loop for days.

[Art_from_Ark]

92. The media like to manufacture fake stories like that

Ed Muskie was busted because melted snowflakes on his face became "tears".
Pam Schroeder was busted for a similar "teary" episode.
Gore and his "sigh", Dean and his "scream".

Yet the media were strangely quiet when Ronald Reagan was making all sorts of outlandish claims, like "trees cause more pollution than automobiles" and "there are more trees in the US now than there were when the Pilgrims landed".

[RKP5637]

30. You hit the nail square on the head! Yep, they're looking for one incident to pound and pound into

the minds of the idiot factor in this country when they go to vote.

[workinclasszero]

62. As a Hillary fan: yeah they want Bernie's Dean scream moment

Ill just assume that he is too intelligent to give it to the MSM but time will tell.

[AgingAmerican]

68. Sanders isn't dean

But they can always hope.

[Thinkingabout]

12. Well?

[CTyankee]

16. well, I'd never heard that so I am suspicious that there is some "wishing" it were true...

or just trying to stir the shit and serve it up like it "is" true...

[wyldwolf]

23. Sanders has a reputation for being difficult

There is a reason he's seriously lacking in congressional endorsements. No one there likes him.

“He screams and hollers,” Rep. Joe Moakley (D-Mass.) said to the AP at the time, “but he is all alone.”

Rep. Bill Richardson (D-N.M.) called Sanders “a homeless waif.”

Said Rep. Barney Frank: “Bernie alienates his natural allies. His holier-than-thou attitude—saying in a very loud voice he is smarter than everyone else and purer than everyone else—really undercuts his effectiveness.”

[karynnj]

37. Rep Moakley died in 2001 -- rather strange you pick him to quote now

Richardson had enough ethics problems that he could not withstand the scrutiny needed to be in Obama's cabinet. He also was involved in election shenanigans in 2004 that suppressed the native American vote -- to enhance his own position in NM at the expense of the national ticket. Barney Frank is wonderful, but he certainly does not have a reputation of being easy to work with. In fact, his comments about Bernie could likely be said of himself. Not to mention - his sister, Ann Lewis was an adviser to Clinton's 2000 Senate campaign and I think every campaign since then.

I doubt anyone would describe Bernie as diplomatic, conciliatory, or soft spoken. You might note that these are not the first words used to describe Hillary Clinton either. This is not a bad thing for either in a time when there is a certain amount of impatience and even anger among voters. It may be the rough sides that both of these people have will be what helps them rally people to vote for them.

[wyldwolf]

38. So? Does someone's death mean their quotes never happened?

Rather strange what your notion of 'rather strange' is.

[karynnj]

48. The point is the quote is at least 14 years old -- and the context unknown

It is pretty clear that is the new attack on Bernie. I am frankly not impressed -- as one could easily find similar comments on Hillary's behavior. However, Bernie is far less well known - and I think this concerted effort is intended to define him before he gets more national exposure. Not cool.

[wyldwolf]

50. the context is completely known

[karynnj]

52. Well - I see it is from a Politico article that does put it in context - that your post did not

When he first came to the House, the Democrats did not welcome him. It is almost more that environment that is being described than Sanders himself. The entire article DOES provide the context that you didn't include. Sherrod Brown's comments are far more positive. http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/08/bernie-sanders-2016-democrats-121181

[wyldwolf]

55. My post put it in context

Leaders who found Sanders... difficult.

[karynnj]

66. In reality, it is Congressmen speaking of Bernie when he first went to the House

In context, the point is more that he was there - alone - by himself - not a member of either party. It was clear the Democrats did not reach out to him. He was the ONLY independent - so there is no other included independent to point to - to make the case that it was him. The rest of the Politico article makes it clear that he did engage with Democrats - when the Democrats actually wanted to include him and that he was successful getting amendments.

It is interesting that Bernie got about 70% of the vote in VT the last time he won. Vermont, even more than Massachusetts is a state where people expect to meet their Senator (Governor, mayor etc) and they are super accessible. Clearly Bernie is not turning off Vermonters. I have seen him at several town Halls and events -- he has easily handled even hecklers.

Frankly - I would take Sherrod Brown's comments over Barney Frank's or Bill Richardson's - as both Richardson and Frank have their own problems.

[HooptieWagon]

57. Frank's sister works for Hillary.

And he is on BoD of a Wall St bank. IOW, he's just another Clinton surrogate doing her dirty work of smearing Sanders.

[sabrina 1]

44. Third Wayers don't like candidates who represent the people. So thanks for those names, it explains

a lot.

Naturally status quo politicians are not going to be happy to see what they built over the years for their corporate funders, be challenged by the PEOPLE. It makes them look like bad. As it should. Because it was bad.

Now the people are suffering the results of the policies they supported.

It's not working you know, avoiding talking about the ISSUES with the same old 'politics of personal destruction' which at one time, did work, but now is well known to the public and DESPISED by a majority of them.

So thanks, not a word in your comments about Bernie about the ISSUES, just personal attacks.

We will make sure to draw attention to these personal attacks and the total lack of interest in what the PEOPLE care about.

[wyldwolf]

47. Barney Frank, third wayer. LOL! LOL! LOL! LOL!

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. I hope all our wonderful candidates perform to the best of their abilities.

eom

[demwing]

14. Good. Let's lower expectations

When Bernie acts respectfully - as he always does - it will come across as freaking saintly in comparison.

[CTyankee]

18. You're exactly right. Last week it was that Americans hate socialism and socialists.

that didn't play so now they're on this. Old trick. I don't think it is going to work...

[redstateblues]

24. The socialism thing isn't going away.

It's albatross that Bernie is wearing around his neck

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

36. Except it's turning out not to be the albatross some folks had hoped.

The tide is turning on whether socialism is a 'good thing' or a 'bad thing' with the electorate, and Bernie is helping to turn it.

[winter is coming]

42. I've seen people claim that Bernie's positions aren't substantially different from Hillary's.

I guess that makes her a scary socialist, too.

[sabrina 1]

46. It went away YEARS ago. Bernie isn't expecting to get the votes of the Old Right Wingers who

hate the Left, and they are history. Current generations WANT a Democratic Socialist Government by over 7-3 among voters of this generation.

In fact that old red baiter HELPS Bernie. And of course the same old Cold Warriors say Hillary is a Commie also.

[AgingAmerican]

69. It's a non starter

They rely on everything BUT Hillary saving herself.

[frylock]

72. It's only an issue to baby boomers and cold warriors.

[askew]

71. It should be interesting.

Bernie got rolled by Michelle Bachmann in a debate but I think he didn't know how to handle her crazy kind of like how Obama didn't know how to handle Romney's insane lying in the first debate. With so few debates, Sanders & O'Malley don't have the luxury of waiting to the second debate to figure out how to deal with Hillary's lying. And she is going to lie a lot.

[peacebird]

78. I remember Romney's Gish Gallop... Hope that none of our candidates resort to that tactic.

For those unaware of what a Gish Gallop is: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Gish%20Gallop

[floriduck]

17. But we can at least rest knowing

whatever Bernie says in the debate, he will have had those convictions for many years. And we will not see him change his position based on his audience and what is they want to hear. And I am proud of him for that.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. One of the best things about living on the West Coast is that Morning Joe is over by the time ...

One of the best things about living on the West Coast is that Morning Joe is over by the time I get up.

[CTyankee]

20. I don't think it is going to be just the folks on MOrning Joe.

I think this will be on various places on TV soon. Joe Scar just takes his talking points from the GOP du jour list...

[DemocratSinceBirth]

21. Joe and Mika seem full of themselves.

Actually, the whole panel seems to be taken by themselves.

[aidbo]

53. The intended audience of that show is DC insiders.

I think most people outside of the beltway bubble don't give two shits about what Joe or Mika think.

'Scuse my language.

[Fearless]

22. He'll leave Hillary a sputtering mess

[RKP5637]

31. He says what millions and millions of people in this country feel! He speaks for the

masses steamrolled by the 1% plus.

[hrmjustin]

25. Everyone has to be candidate who debates has to make sure they come off well and keep in check their

their negatives.

Joe is just being an ass.

[Thinkingabout]

29. He is an expert on cantankerous, he is an example.

[hrmjustin]

32. I always liked him but I don't see him as presidential material.

[Thinkingabout]

33. I was referring to Joe Scarborough, he is cantankerous.

[hrmjustin]

35. Yeah i can't stand Joe.

[restorefreedom]

40. i am actually pleasantly surprised

that he knows how to use that word in a sentence.

ok, that was mean.

i feel bad

[bkkyosemite]

81. why?

[hrmjustin]

82. He comes off as a legislator not a president.

[in_cog_ni_to]

43. The only time I have ever seen Bernie angry is on

the House and Senate floors delivery one of his passionate speeches and, quite frankly, it's why I have ALWAYS LOVED HIM! That's what attracted me to him - his passion and seriousness about issues important to us, WE THE PEOPLE. I have never seen him even come close to losing his temper on a TeeVee interview nor was he ever "cantankerous."

He's not cantankerous. I KNOW cantankerous! I worked with one of the grouchiest, meanest, rudest, most cantankerous doctors on the planet. Bernie's Nothing like he was.

[Faux pas]

45. In other words he's

AUTHENTIC, something many, many others are not. They and We know who they are.

[orpupilofnature57]

51. Issues are last on Joe Scums list, a tribute to MSM,, Misanthropic Sycophant Monster .

[gwheezie]

56. Moaning Joe pretends people talk to him

Or that he has some inside Washington connections. He's irrelevant.
Otoh all of them have to avoid alienating democrats, the people who are going to nominate them. I predict Jim Webb will say something that overshadows any gaffes the rest of them make.

[Stellar]

58. Listening to Morning Joke will only piss you off. Stop! nt

[NCTraveler]

59. He won't do well becuase it isn't his format.

Debates aren't his thing and there is a track record showing just that. I really think this will put O'Malley front and center. It is his to lose. No one is going to put much on Sanders or Clinton. Everyone knows it isn't where Sanders shines, as he is just going to go off on his regular stump speech, and Clinton will simply be trying to not make a mistake. Big opportunity for O'Malley.

[Gothmog]

60. I am a Hillary Clinton supporter and I do not give a darn about the opinion of Morning Joe

I stopped watching this show several years ago and I really do not care one bit as to what Morning Joe thinks

[orpupilofnature57]

87. I support Bernie, and couldn't agree with you more, Joe is a ho for M$M and nothing mo .

[Gothmog]

90. If MSNBC gives Morning Joe another hour, I will have to change my viewing habits

[orpupilofnature57]

91. ' Democracy Now ' with Amy Goodman is the only program I catch religiously .

[DCBob]

61. I would say gruff and indignant.

Yes, that wont go over well with most debate viewers I suspect.

[elleng]

63. and O'Malley's 'hopeless'

because his polls are so low. It must be true because I read it here!
(Never mind Jimmy Carter in 1975.)

[One of the 99]

64. The show is a 3 hour RNC ad

Joe is a GOP talking point parrot and Mika's fake 'I'm a liberal' act is wearing thin.

[Ino]

74. Lori Klausutis

Because every Joe "Dead Intern" Scarborough thread should mention her.

[Avalux]

85. Media goons REALLY want Bernie to have a freak out moment.

I wouldn't be surprise if Hillary's debate prep has focused solely on provoking one. Once again, they're all underestimating Bernie's skills and will be sorely disappointed when it doesn't happen.

[Babel_17]

88. I'm guessing he pulled that talking point out of a hat, lol

The real humor is in guessing what his other choices might have been.

[jwirr]

89. I think that fits Hillary as much as it does any of the candidates.

And I don't see that as a problem anyhow.