"Feel the Bern": The BERNIE SANDERS Thread - Part 1

[Matt]

Bernie Sanders Begins Laying Off Campaign Staff

That's all she wrote, folks. He can talk about staying in the race all he wants. This signals that his campaign is effectively over. The remaining staff will start jumping ship before they are laid off, as other, more successful campaigns begin hiring general election staff and gearing up.

Its sad. He had a chance to go out with a shred of dignity. He certainly changed the narrative from a foregone conclusion to a (somewhat) competitive race. But instead of admitting defeat and withdrawing like a gentleman, he is stubbornly insisting that he is staying in and will instead let his campaign fall apart in the most embarrassing manner imaginable.

He had a chance to gracefully bow and leave the stage. Instead he is going to sink with the ship as he lets his campaign "continue" until it dies a slow, painful death. You can really say that at this point he is crashing and berning.

 

[Matt]

Also, if he thinks staying in the race will somehow give him an opportunity to affect the platform, he is delusional. If anything, he is making enemies within the party. They would be much more inclined to work with him if he ended this nonsense. Picking at the party is hardly going to give them any desire to give him a stage at the convention.

 

[Cosmic Blaster]

What is so Democratic about having 400 super-delegates who do not represent the people

 

[hippie_hunter]

What is so Democratic about having 400 super-delegates who do not represent the people

Oh please. Even if the superdelegates are bound by the way their districts and states vote, Hillary would still be crushing Bernie. Maybe Bernie should win in places that vote Democratic instead of sparsely populated Republican areas.

For everyone *****ing about how the system is rigged against Bernie also fail to recognize that Hillary is crushing Bernie in both the popular vote, by almost 3 million votes, and pledged regular delegates.

 

[DJ_KiDDvIcIOUs]

Oh please. Even if the superdelegates are bound by the way their districts and states vote, Hillary would still be crushing Bernie. Maybe Bernie should win in places that vote Democratic instead of sparsely populated Republican areas.

For everyone *****ing about how the system is rigged against Bernie also fail to recognize that Hillary is crushing Bernie in both the popular vote, by almost 3 million votes, and pledged regular delegates.

I'm friends with a few BERNouts on Bookface and all they post now is stuff about how all the voting machines and whatnot were rigged blah blah blah. It's kind of funny really because every election he hasn't come out the winner they point to some kind of super conspiracy as to why he lost instead of just facing reality that he did not win.

The simplest answer is usualy the correct one.

 

[DDS]

Oh please. Even if the superdelegates are bound by the way their districts and states vote, Hillary would still be crushing Bernie. Maybe Bernie should win in places that vote Democratic instead of sparsely populated Republican areas.

For everyone *****ing about how the system is rigged against Bernie also fail to recognize that Hillary is crushing Bernie in both the popular vote, by almost 3 million votes, and pledged regular delegates.

Not to mention if Bernie pulled a huge lead in delegates, they would flip for him. They aren't stupid and, in fact, this is basically what happened in 08.

 

[Kelly]

I'm friends with a few BERNouts on Bookface and all they post now is stuff about how all the voting machines and whatnot were rigged blah blah blah. It's kind of funny really because every election he hasn't come out the winner they point to some kind of super conspiracy as to why he lost instead of just facing reality that he did not win.

The simplest answer is usualy the correct one.

IF, all states ran a caucus system, it would be a far different story we would be talking about.

The system that helped usher in Obama, it isn't doing that for Bernie.

To me, THAT is where the story is....not conspiracies.

 

[hippie_hunter]

IF, all states ran a caucus system, it would be a far different story we would be talking about.

The system that helped usher in Obama, it isn't doing that for Bernie.

To me, THAT is where the story is....not conspiracies.

Obama won a lot more than just caucus states though. The South plus caucus states and winning his home state is what propelled him to the top. And his coalition was much broader too. Asides from the youth vote, Hillary inherited the bulk of the Obama base, not Sanders.

 

[KevanG]

Ah well, I just hope Bernie can keep doing good since he pushed a lot of things forwards that would have gotten lost in the dust.

 

[terry78]

Yeah, Hilary will be POTUS.

 

[DDS]

Bernie showed up for the White House Correspondence Dinner in his regular outfit, despite it being a black tie event.

Screw 'em, tuxes are for the 1%.

 

[souvlaki]

IF, all states ran a caucus system, it would be a far different story we would be talking about.

The system that helped usher in Obama, it isn't doing that for Bernie.

To me, THAT is where the story is....not conspiracies.

The difference is Obama knew the system and worked the system in regards to the delegates in each state. They were extremely organized in getting out voters in delegate rich areas of states. Sanders campaign seemed relatively clueless how delegates worked in comparison.

 

[Kelly]

Very true...

 

[souvlaki]

I'd also argue while Sanders is pulling a lot of the same voters as Obama the huge difference also is Obama was simply a better candidate and far more charismatic.

 

[DDS]

Obama had the right balance between not only having a strong progressive message but also a much more tangible and pragmatic approach to progressivism that Sanders may unfortunately lack. All that topped with his Hollywood-level coolness and charisma, in addition to the historical significance of his campaign, made him a lightning-in-a-bottle candidate.

Being the act following Dubya always helps too.

 

[hippie_hunter]

I'd also argue while Sanders is pulling a lot of the same voters as Obama the huge difference also is Obama was simply a better candidate and far more charismatic.

Actually, Hillary got the bulk of Obama's base. Sanders only captured the youth and dedicated caucus goers.

 

[souvlaki]

Actually, Hillary got the bulk of Obama's base. Sanders only captured the youth and dedicated caucus goers.

The youth vote was a big part of Obama's coalition in 2008. But then so was the minority vote. Hillary and Sanders pretty much split his coalition in this election. Neither really took his 2008 voters, they both took certain factions. But I'd argue that most of the people that support Sanders now that were able to vote eight years ago were Obama supporters back in 2007/2008. Sanders just wasn't a strong enough candidate to win over all his supporters.

 

[Marvolo]

Bernie Sanders Promises A Contested Democratic Convention

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) vowed to take his fight for the Democratic presidential nomination all the way to the party’s convention in July, promising not to give up even if he continues to trail Hillary Clinton in pledged delegates.

“It is virtually impossible for Secretary Clinton to reach the majority of convention delegates by June 14 — that is the last day that a primary will be held — with pledged delegates alone. ... She will need superdelegates to take her over the top at the convention in Philadelphia,” he told reporters in a press conference at the National Press Club Sunday afternoon.

“In other words,” he added, “the convention will be a contested contest.”

Sanders lags behind Clinton in both pledged delegates and superdelegates, those Democratic officials who are free to vote for whomever they want at the convention. The senator’s longshot strategy increasingly focuses on convincing superdelegates — who overwhelmingly back Clinton (520 for her, compared to 39 for Sanders) — to switch to him.

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_57269509e4b01a5ebde5f91e

Is Bernie even paying attention to the numbers or doing the math? Hillary has 1645 delegates. She needs 2383. There are 1243 remaining. She only needs to win 59% of the remaining unpledged delegates to reach that number. That doesnt seem like a "virtually impossible" possibility to me. What does seem impossible to me is that superdelegates that continue to go to Hillary will switch to a candidate who continues to lose or scrape by.

Not to mention this makes him look like a massive hypocrite. But I guess he is desparate to convince his supporters that he isnt dead in the water.

 

[Dyson]

Bernie Sanders Promises A Contested Democratic Convention



Is Bernie even paying attention to the numbers or doing the math? Hillary has 1645 delegates. She needs 2383. There are 1243 remaining. She only needs to win 59% of the remaining unpledged delegates to reach that number. That doesnt seem like a "virtually impossible" possibility to me. What does seem impossible to me is that superdelegates that continue to go to Hillary will switch to a candidate who continues to lose or scrape by.

Not to mention this makes him look like a massive hypocrite. But I guess he is desparate to convince his supporters that he isnt dead in the water.

If Bernie takes his failing campaign all the way to the convention and keeps fighting, it will make Trump look good if Trump gets to 1237 delegates before the GOP convention. I still think Trump is going to win the general election (Ugh) but if the Democrats are not united at the convention and the GOP are rallying around Trump, Clinton and the Democratic brand isn't going to look good for November. The Democrats will look weak because Bernie decided to contest the delegate results and Trump will hammer away at that during the general election campaign. This idea that Trump can easily be beaten in the general election is incredibly silly and stupid. Trump is showing he can win, regardless of how weak of a candidate that he clearly is. Hillary is going to need Bernie's help to win in the fall. She needs his supporters. She will need him to campaign for her but if he keeps putting up a stink about the delegate results, the Democrats will look weak. A Trump presidency with a GOP controlled House and Senate... Scary.

 

[Hypestyle]

superD's aren't worth convincing. The entire system needs to change, in particular how voting districts are parsed out and federal-level standards for voting rights applicable to all states. but it won't change until more people start actively disliking it.

 

[Ms. Marvel]

A Trump presidency with a GOP controlled senate and house who hate him.

 

[DarkKnight]

I will feel a lot better knowing when the Bernie is officially out of the race.

 

[Dyson]

I will feel a lot better knowing when the Bernie is officially out of the race.

Same. I wish he would walk away now, get behind Clinton and campaign for her.

 

[DDS]

superD's aren't worth convincing. The entire system needs to change, in particular how voting districts are parsed out and federal-level standards for voting rights applicable to all states. but it won't change until more people start actively disliking it.

It really does bug me that Bernie and his campaign staff seem to be flipping their opinion on super D's just depending on what will help them. One day they're undemocratic and part of the evil establishment, the next day they're trying to do tricks and roll over for them because they know they can't win without their blessing. Which is it?

I myself am neutral on super D's and only think they only become a serious problem if they ever go against the people. But so far, they are mainly siding with Hillary and she has a higher pledged delegate and popular vote count by pretty wide margins so... *shrug*

 

[Matt]

It really does bug me that Bernie and his campaign staff seem to be flipping their opinion on super D's just depending on what will help them. One day they're undemocratic and part of the evil establishment, the next day they're trying to do tricks and roll over for them because they know they can't win without their blessing. Which is it?

I myself am neutral on super D's and only think they only become a serious problem if they ever go against the people. But so far, they are mainly siding with Hillary and she has a higher pledged delegate and popular vote count by pretty wide margins so... *shrug*

Personally, I like super delegates. Parties are a private institution, not a government actor. It makes sense that party leadership and elders have some say in the candidate. Beyond that, they don't really go against the will of the people. Look how quickly they jumped to Obama in 2008, once it became clear what the people wanted. I see them as a safety net, however, from the party being hijacked by someone like Donald Trump. I am betting the Republican Party is wishing that they had some sort of similar safety precaution in place.