May 31, 2016

This is pretty amazing (Democratic versus Republican party favorable rating trajectories)

This is over the past 4 years, starting in Feb 2012.

May 25, 2016

Fascinating

https://today.yougov.com/news/2016/05/25/clinton-expands-her-primary-lead-sanders-supporter/

I've tried to avoid this stupid issue as much as possible, but the above is so interesting psychologically that I just had to share.

May 19, 2016

My FB feed today

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/5/18/1528089/-Sanders-Supporters-And-White-Entitlement

Sanders Supporters And White Entitlement

As a Bernie Sanders supporter, one of my greatest frustrations with the people in my camp is the anger they seem to direct at Hillary Clinton and the Democratic Party for what they deem to be an “unfair” primary process. I think we can all agree that there are problems with our elections, but in the end it seems to me that concerning many of my fellow Sanders supporters who are new to the process and the Democratic Party, the sense of entitlement they feel wrt taking the nomination is pretty off putting. Personally, I think it's in part a product of the kinds of people Bernie has drawn out of the woodwork, i.e. white independent liberals and working class nonpartisans.

_________________________

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/5/19/1528489/-Sanders-campaign-admits-it-wants-to-hurt-Clinton-even-if-that-means-helping-Trump

Sanders campaign admits it wants to hurt Clinton, even if that means helping Trump

Bernie Sanders has no plausible path to secure the Democratic nomination: To earn a majority of pledged delegates, he'd need to win 68 percent of those left outstanding, even though he’s only won less than 46 percent of available delegates to date. But instead of acknowledging this reality, Sanders’ campaign is now taking a scorched-earth approach toward its opponents—even if that means helping Donald Trump win the White House.

_________________________

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/sanders-camp-flirts-with-going-full-burn-it-down

Sanders Camp Flirts with Going Full "Burn It Down"

The New York Times posted an article late Wednesday evening which confirms and expands on much of what I've been hearing from within the Sanders campaign in recent weeks and days. The top leaders of the campaign are now saying openly that they are focused on dealing a crushing blow to Clinton in the California primary on June 7th and aren't concerned whether it damages Clinton's chances in the general election or not.

_________________________

http://www.politifact.com/nevada/statements/2016/may/18/jeff-weaver/allegations-fraud-and-misconduct-nevada-democratic/

Allegations of fraud and misconduct at Nevada Democratic convention unfounded

We rate this claim False.

May 5, 2016

2016 National Democratic Primary - Clinton 56%, Sanders 41% (Ipsos/Reuters (Web) 4/30-5/4)

http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/polls/ipsos-reuters-24447

May 4, 2016

John Kasich suspending campaign: Source tells NBC News

______________________________________


I'm kind of surprised - thought he was going to take on Trump 'till the end.

So it's the Democratic winner versus Trump - 100% official now.

May 3, 2016

Bernie up by 27 votes now (now 13010)

http://www.nytimes.com/elections/results/indiana

May 3, 2016

Yes, Bernie Sanders can force a contested convention.

With the Democratic presidential nomination system working the way it does, there are essentially two possible outcomes: A candidate will either win in a blowout, or he or she will need superdelegate votes to gain a majority.

The reason for this is simple: Fifteen percent of all of the Democratic delegates are unbound superdelegates. So unless you have about an 18 percentage-point lead among delegates by the time the voting wraps up, you'll need some superdelegates to put you over the top. This makes the difference between a close race and a blowout a little murky — which can be advantageous to the underdog.

Right now, Hillary Clinton has about a 10 percentage-point delegate lead over Bernie Sanders. (For comparison: Barack Obama's pledged delegate lead was only about four percentage points by the end of the 2008 race.) The current margin is not likely to change much between now and the end of the contest, with the two likely to play to a draw in California, Clinton to win big in New Jersey and D.C., and Sanders to triumph in smaller states between now and the end of the race. For it to change significantly in Sanders's favor, he'd need to do very, very well in California and New Jersey in particular, a promise that he has issued often and delivered rarely.

...

...he (Bernie) said. "She will need superdelegates to take her over the top at the convention in Philadelphia. In other words, the convention will be a contested contest."

That's true — mostly because, unlike in 2008, Sanders will contest it. Eight years ago, Clinton conceded the race before the convention, recognizing that trying to fight her way to victory on the convention floor was likely to fail, despite her having a slight lead in the popular vote. But Clinton realized the damage that could be done to the party — and perhaps herself — so she didn't.

Sanders doesn't share the former sentiment, as he has made clear. He was an independent until he decided to run for president, and his goal during his campaign has been to upend the system, into which a convention floor fight fits neatly.

But that doesn't mean he has any real shot at winning.

...

Lots more at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/05/02/yes-bernie-sanders-can-force-a-contested-convention-that-doesnt-mean-he-can-win-one/

___________________________________________________

My commentary is in the form of the bold and underlined text.