2016 Primaries and Caucuses Thread - Part 1

[Matt]

I could see him getting MAYBE.... HUD, or Sec. of Labor....other than that....I don't see her putting him anywhere near major money decisions. He

Agreed. But I think that is the only thing he would settle for. No one has ever led a "revolution" as Secretary of Labor. I really think Sanders started out as an ideas candidate. He wanted to get a few issues out there, raise awareness, and then drop out. I think, based on his recent behavior, however, it has all gone to his head. He wants to lead a "revolution." Mind you, I didn't say be part of a revolution. He wants to BE the revolution. Therefore, I don't think he would settle for anything less than Treasury Secretary...something that allows him to push his economic agenda while staying front and center for the cameras.

 

[Paradoxium]

Trump should give Bernie a cash infusion. Then relentlessly troll Hillary while Bernie drags on.... until she has a coughing conniption. Then accuse her of being physically unfit to be in office.

It's like Star Trek 2009.

 

[Paradoxium]

Agreed. But I think that is the only thing he would settle for. No one has ever led a "revolution" as Secretary of Labor. I really think Sanders started out as an ideas candidate. He wanted to get a few issues out there, raise awareness, and then drop out. I think, based on his recent behavior, however, it has all gone to his head. He wants to lead a "revolution." Mind you, I didn't say be part of a revolution. He wants to BE the revolution. Therefore, I don't think he would settle for anything less than Treasury Secretary...something that allows him to push his economic agenda while staying front and center for the cameras.

Trump has been goading him and his followers. Making them mad about being cheated out of a fair nomination process. It's pretty entertaining.

 

[Matt]

Trump has been goading him and his followers. Making them mad about being cheated out of a fair nomination process. It's pretty entertaining.

Yep. And they have been eating it right out of his hand.

 

[DDS]

Trump could completely **** up all the Bernie or Bust goodwill if he keeps attacking Elizabeth Warren.

Then again, they're still probably spiteful at her anyway for not ruining her career and weakening the presumptive nominee by endorsing Bernie.

 

[Chance Jackson]

I'm starting to suspect you do not know much on which you speak. Why would SecState be "worthwhile" to Sanders? He has never (nor has he ever attempted to) sat on the Foreign Affairs Committee, the Armed Services Committee, or the Intelligence Committee (or any of the subcommittees associated with them). He has yet to give a speech exclusively on foreign policy, despite running for President of the United States. In the debates he got crushed on foreign policy. And let's not forget that embarrassing New York Daily News interview. Why do you think SecState would be "worthwhile" to him? It seems like you just picked the most well known cabinet position and went with it. Further, anyone who knows anything about Sanders's time in Congress knows that diplomacy is not his strong suit.Sanders has neither the credentials, nor the desire, nor the skill set to serve as SecState.

I went for Sec of State because Bernie and his supporters have significant disagreements with Hillary on the subject of foreign relations, trade deals, the use of war and regime change having Bernie in that position would help put many of us at ease since she can't fire him and It doesn't hurt that sec of state is a highly visible and influential role almost unneuterable with someone who enjoys having a pulpit

If anything, Treasury Secretary would appeal to him more than VP or any other appointment. But there is no way Clinton appoints him as the cabinet member in control of her economy. He would never get through a Senate approval for Treasury Secretary. The only cabinet appointment that really makes sense for him is Labor Secretary. MAYBE Health and Human Services. But he would consider himself above either of those.

Whether he thinks he is above those positions or not they would do very little to garner supporters like myself who plan on supporting Jill Stein and The Green Party in November when Hillary clinches the nomination but if he's using his pulpit as sec of state to make needless "for profit or hegemony" wars and regime changes untenable I and others will hold our nose and back Clinton (BUT if she pulled any Iraq, Libya, Syria or Honduras type shenanigans not even Bernie in the administration will get us to support her in 2020)

 

[summerteeth]

I went for Sec of State because Bernie and his supporters have significant disagreements with Hillary on the subject of foreign relations, trade deals, the use of war and regime change having Bernie in that position would help put many of us at ease since she can't fire him and It doesn't hurt that sec of state is a highly visible and influential role almost unneuterable with someone who enjoys having a pulpit

Whether he thinks he is above those positions or not they would do very little to garner supporters like myself who plan on supporting Jill Stein and The Green Party in November when Hillary clinches the nomination but if he's using his pulpit as sec of state to make needless "for profit or hegemony" wars and regime changes untenable I and others will hold our nose and back Clinton (BUT if she pulled any Iraq, Libya, Syria or Honduras type shenanigans not even Bernie in the administration will get us to support her in 2020)

...

Bernie Sanders being appointed as Secretary of State is utter lunacy.

 

[DDS]

Foreign policy is literally Bernie's biggest weakness. SoS would never happen.

Anyway, Bernie and Trump are poised to take West Virginia today.

 

[Chance Jackson]

Foreign policy is literally Bernie's biggest weakness.

I just lost a meaty post


Anyways how does one objectively determine how strong someone is on foreign policy? Hillary's tenure as sec of state included pushing for hawkish, wreckless, geopolitical moves that have sown chaos throughout the middleeast especially in Iraq, Libya, and Syria. Her contribution to The Obama administration is an unmitigated disaster her legacy is a quantum surge in misery, failed states and terrorism both there and against the west but yet she is considered strong in foreign policy by cnn, msnbc etc how is that justified? At this point it just seems track record for hawkishness + foreign policy related position makes someone strong in foreign policy regardless of outcomes?!?!

 

[BatmanVSuperman]

Bernie still winning states

 

[terry78]

He ain't out yet.

 

[Clark-Kent]

He ain't out yet.

Contested convention talk shifting to the democrat side

 

[SV Fan]

It should be pointed out that Nebraska is having a non binding primary(they already had a caucus a couple months ago) today that we actually have more voters then the previous caucus that Hillary is winning.

They really need to dump caucuses

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/...k-Clinton-Wins-Nebraska-s-non-binding-Primary

Turnout for the NE caucuses was about 22k -- Sanders won by 14. In tonight's primary it's on pace to be about 70k -- Clinton up 22 points.

 

[Thundercrack85]

Bernie keeps ****ing up Hillary's momentum. Normally this would crack me up, but we need her to stave off Trump.

 

[souvlaki]

Bernie still winning states

But I thought Bernie said red states don't count?

 

[souvlaki]

Bernie keeps ****ing up Hillary's momentum. Normally this would crack me up, but we need her to stave off Trump.

It's not really a big deal at this point. The media is hardly covering it anymore. The wins are almost mentioned as afterthoughts. Only way the narrative changes is if he takes California by more than 10% and even then all it will likely do is lead to a few concessions from the Clinton camp on policy issues and maybe a cabinet appointment of his choosing to get him to bow out.

 

[Marvolo]

He ain't out yet.

Yes he is.

He only won 16 tonight. Hillary won 11 so Bernie is only 5 delegates closer to catching Hillary.

Bernie isnt going to catch Hillary, or persuade the superdelgates to back an underperforming impotent rebel with these pitiful "victories". He needed to start blowing Hillary out in every state weeks ago and he didnt. And nothing in his record in this primary season indicates he will start doing that now.

Bernie lost a while back. He's just not come to terms with that.

Edit: Updated the numbers.

 

[SV Fan]

He only won 14 tonight. Hillary won 10 so Bernie is only 4 delegates closer to catching Hillary.

Funny thing is he will win 4 here, 5 there, 4 another place, then he will get blown out in Puerto Rico and lose 20

 

[Victarion]

Yes he is.

He only won 16 tonight. Hillary won 11 so Bernie is only 5 delegates closer to catching Hillary.

Bernie isnt going to catch Hillary, or persuade the superdelgates to back an underperforming impotent rebel with these pitiful "victories". He needed to start blowing Hillary out in every state weeks ago and he didnt. And nothing in his record in this primary season indicates he will start doing that now.

Bernie lost a while back. He's just not come to terms with that.

Edit: Updated the numbers.

What is it, then, about these wins that keep galvanizing his supporter base? They can't be that clueless when it comes to the math.

 

[Marvolo]

What is it, then, about these wins that keep galvanizing his supporter base? They can't be that clueless when it comes to the math.

I dont think they are actually looking at the numbers or the math.

The avergae person probably see a victory and thinks, "Oh he's winning in states! He still has a shot." But that's probably as deep as they look into it.

 

[summerteeth]

What is it, then, about these wins that keep galvanizing his supporter base? They can't be that clueless when it comes to the math.

You think Bernie supporters actually understand what's going on?

 

[DDS]

I dont think they are actually looking at the numbers or the math.

The avergae person probably see a victory and thinks, "Oh he's winning in states! He still has a shot." But that's probably as deep as they look into it.

Worse, they think he still has a shot, but that there's a grand conspiracy from the media when they correctly say a victory like in WV that nets him like 5 delegates more than Hillary makes little difference.

I got in an argument with my Bernie or Bust sister yesterday, and this is the type of stuff they really think and say. "Don't pay attention to the media! "

 

[Webfoot Hero]

You think Bernie supporters actually understand what's going on?

That's why the term "Bernout" is apt for his supporters.

 

[Matt]

Worse, they think he still has a shot, but that there's a grand conspiracy from the media when they correctly say a victory like in WV that nets him like 5 delegates more than Hillary makes little difference.

I got in an argument with my Bernie or Bust sister yesterday, and this is the type of stuff they really think and say. "Don't pay attention to the media! "

What's interesting is if you look closely at West Virginia's numbers, you will see that the crushing defeat of Clinton yesterday is hardly a mandate for Bernie's revolution but rather a misinformed decision from our least educated, whitest state. Exit polls indicate that a majority of Democrats voted for Sanders yesterday to reject Obama's "liberal" policies. In other words, Sanders won on the merit of blue dogs thinking they were voting for the less liberal of the two.

Of course, Sanders thrives on a misinformed voter base, so I am sure he is eager to welcome in the blue dogs.

 

[SV Fan]

What's interesting is if you look closely at West Virginia's numbers, you will see that the crushing defeat of Clinton yesterday is hardly a mandate for Bernie's revolution but rather a misinformed decision from our least educated, whitest state. Exit polls indicate that a majority of Democrats voted for Sanders yesterday to reject Obama's "liberal" policies. In other words, Sanders won on the merit of blue dogs thinking they were voting for the less liberal of the two.

Of course, Sanders thrives on a misinformed voter base, so I am sure he is eager to welcome in the blue dogs.

I think it was a case that they voted out of spite against Obama/Hillary then thinking Bernie was less liberal then either. It should be noted in 2012 a convicted Felon got 40% against Obama in WV

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blog...west-virginia/2012/05/09/gIQA7GwtCU_blog.html

Keith Judd, who is serving a 17 1/2-year prison sentence for extortion at the Federal Correctional Institution in Texarkana, Texas, took 41 percent of the vote in West Virginia’s Democratic primary Tuesday night — 72,000 votes to Obama’s 106,000. He would qualify for convention delegates, if anyone had signed up to be a Judd delegate. (No one did.)

In all honesty why are these people even registered as Democrats at this point