How does Hillary get disaffected Dems? The answer is Bernie.

[DanTex]

First of all, there are different kinds of disaffected Dems. There are some who simply hate Hillary and proudly proclaim that they would rather have their toenails ripped off than vote for her. These people are irrational, and trying to reach out to them is a waste of time and resources.

But, there are also Dems and independents who aren't by nature interested in politics or inclined to vote, but have started paying attention because of the excitement of Bernie's campaign. This group could be very beneficial both for Hillary and for Dems all the way down the ticket.

The best person to keep these people involved, and make the case to them that Hillary and Bernie stand for most of the same things is Bernie. Which is why Bernie's actions after Hillary seals the nomination could make a big difference in the GE. If Bernie does what Hillary did in 2008, by strongly endorsing Hillary and then enthusiastically campaigning for her, the Dems could end up with a significant victory, not just at president, but also in congressional and state elections.

And I think this will happen. Bernie talks about a revolution that doesn't end with this presidential election. What better way to kick that off than to help Hillary and the Dems to a huge victory next fall, running on a progressive platform. This would greatly increase his profile and influence in the Democratic party, and enable him to keep fighting more effectively for the causes he believes in.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

1. well, I agree wholeheartedly

I fear many of the most ardent Bernie supporters here will either disappear or only stay to continue to bash Hillary.

Besides helping each other, they could help us all by demanding DWS step down. We have got to keep up the pressure on her removal. She is undemocratic in almost every imaginable way and is quite the polarizing figure within the party.

[JRLeft]

2. She will step down after she gets a cabinet position in Hillary's

administration.

[Dawgs]

3. I guess that's it folks. Hillary won. It's over.

No reason to support any other candidate for the DEMOCRATIC party.

And, since she won, it's time to get in line and ignore the VERY BIG differences between Bernie and Hillary because they are actually pretty much the same.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

4. I don't hate Hillary. I just don't think she's fit to hold public office.

If Bernie endorses her, I'll thank him for his opinion and look elsewhere for a candidate to vote for.

[ladjf]

7. Simple as that. If the best America can do in a Presidential election is

to select Mrs. Clinton, our system is not working.

[Aerows]

9. Pretty much

and I'm a staunch Democrat.

The problem that comes in is that while I'm a staunch Democrat, some of these folks our party want us to elect aren't staunch Democrats.

This harping about how we have to support her has become like asking why a Methodist isn't involved in selecting the Pope. We aren't in the same religion anymore.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

10. If Bernie says things won't change over night will you continue to work for him?

That's what is involved in a revolution - persistent working to achieve goals through legislation, piece by piece, year after year. And if you lose the Senate in 2018, you have to fight to get it back in 2020. What Bernie is talking about could take a very long time and require enlisting millions more voters to shore up support for the message.

A talking head just now - while talking about Paul Ryan - pointed out you can't get real change without all three branches. So the GOP is in a better position to potentually end Medicare, Obamacare, Social Security, and any chance of achieving a larger portion of the county's wealth.

Thinking back, Reagan got 8 years and a willing partner in the Democratic Party of the 1980's. Very different make-up from today. Although in a recession, we didn't have the tremendous inequality we have today and Dems were foolish not to think Voodoo economics would benefit anyone but the wealthy.

[Fumesucker]

5. You've spent the last few months assiduously trashing Sanders and all his ideas

Would it be too much to ask that we make up our minds?

[zalinda]

6. You are simply wrong.

There are a certain amount of dems who will vote for Hillary if Bernie endorses her, true. There are dems that hate Hillary, true. But there are also dems who are just vaguely dems, and damn the party, just won't vote for the establishment.

Then you have the indies who tasted fire with Bernie and only feels heart burn with Hillary, and will stay home. Bernie won't be able to fire them up to vote for everything that they are against.

And, don't forget the repubs who will vote for Bernie, but not that devil spawn Hillary.

Bernie's voters will not automatically vote for Hillary, even if he says pretty please. She is the opposite of him, so why would they?

I honestly can't see any reason to vote for her. And, believe it or not, there are many who think that Trump might not be so bad, at least he isn't the establishment.

Oh, and of course, there are those how don't want to see another Clinton in the White House, no matter what. Down with royalty.

Z

[merrily]

8. How will Bernie lose disaffected Dems? The answer is Hillary.

Disaffected Dems are disaffected because of issues, not personalities. People did not change their voter registrations from Democratic to Indie or stay home on election day because no candidate's haircut appealed to them or no candidate had a nice enough smile.

[zappaman]

11. Just curious...

Do you know any of first type IRL?

Cuz I don't.

Seem to be quite a few on some political boards that purport to be for Democrats though.

Weird.

[Chan790]

12. Many.

Though that may be a mutual exclusion issue...I don't know any staunch Hillary supporters IRL.

To quote my mother: "I hear that Clinton is leading in polling among Connecticut voters...but they haven't called anybody I know. I haven't seen any Hillary bumper stickers either...I think she's the candidate of the imaginary voters."