Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search
 

Her Sister

(6,444 posts)
Wed Jun 15, 2016, 07:15 PM Jun 2016

The smartly choreographed unification between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders (HRC GP)

Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton and her defeated rival Bernie Sanders met for nearly two hours last night, and both walked out of the room all smiles. Clinton went right back to focusing on her general election fight against Donald Trump and the national issues that currently face the nation. Sanders says he’s making a major announcement on Thursday night, and while some are expecting him to officially drop out, I don’t know that he will. And I’m starting to think it might be best for Hillary if he doesn’t immediately exit.

President Obama and Elizabeth Warren both endorsed Hillary Clinton last week and had an easy time of doing so, because they never opposed her to begin with. All they had to do was get up and tell their own respective support bases that it was time to get behind her. Bernie Sanders is in a different position. He’s spent the past fourteen months trying to convince his own base that he’s better at this than Hillary, that he’s going to change the party and change the way elections work, and all of these promises that his base is now expecting.

If he turns around this week and suddenly drops out and endorses Hillary, a number of his fans will feel whiplash, as if it were too soon and they didn’t get enough out of it, as if the entire movement had been for nothing. Instead, the best progression for Hillary may be if Bernie gradually nudges his fans in her direction between now and the convention. She can spend the next month throwing him one little bone after another, much of it either superficial or “concessions” on the issues that she already supported herself, aimed at allowing him to save face. Because the more face he can save, the more of his votes he can deliver to her.

There’s a reason President Obama was trotting Bernie Sanders around the outer corridors of the Oval Office, as if he were a visiting dignitary. There’s a reason that even the Senators who have never wanted anything to do with Bernie, such as Al Franken, are now making a point of talking about what a hero he’ll be when he gets back to the Senate. Almost no one in the party leadership likes or respects Sanders, but they know that if they can turn him into a momentary deity then his most devoted fans will feel that he’s being listened to, that he’s now a part of the leadership, and that they can now feel safe voting for the party’s nominee Hillary.

For those supporters of Hillary who are frustrated that Bernie hasn’t officially said he’s dropping out yet, here’s the kicker: there is no primary race any longer. Every state has voted. There is nothing for Bernie to compete in, nowhere for him to campaign, nothing to win or lose. Even if he says he’s still a candidate, he isn’t a candidate for anything. He’s just a free agent wandering around in search of an occasional microphone whose moment of relevance in this election has largely already passed him by. So as long as he’s not out there bashing Hillary and not talking about superdelegate fantasies, and he’s instead focusing his firepower on taking down Trump, he’s not actually hurting anything by pretending he’s still a candidate until the convention


Continues in link: http://www.dailynewsbin.com/opinion/the-carefully-choreographed-unification-between-hillary-clinton-and-bernie-sanders/24968/
19 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
The smartly choreographed unification between Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders (HRC GP) (Original Post) Her Sister Jun 2016 OP
This is just one take. Her Sister Jun 2016 #1
But aside from one sentence about Trump that he repeats, I'm not hearing his "firepower." BobbyDrake Jun 2016 #2
Boring, lol!! Probably the reason it's boring is because it's off his stump speech Her Sister Jun 2016 #3
Why is Sanders the special exception? NYC Liberal Jun 2016 #4
Exactly, NYC Liberal. BS doesn't coddle.. he trashes Dems who are out there Cha Jun 2016 #9
He is supposedly having a video summit to announce something tomorrow.... Walk away Jun 2016 #5
President Obama and VP Biden are going to be in Orlando tomorrow for 4 hours.. consoling Cha Jun 2016 #10
As much as he can I am sure! Walk away Jun 2016 #13
He's going to announce his candidacy for 2020 Basic LA Jun 2016 #6
He coulda been a hero if he'd returned to the Senate today to join Democrats! Rose Siding Jun 2016 #7
I was thinking the same.. he could have gone into the Senate with applause to actually Cha Jun 2016 #12
Or NRA???? Walk away Jun 2016 #14
Evidently he made a "statement" against the assault rifle.. but, what he needed to do Cha Jun 2016 #15
I'm a big Al Giordano fan. I'm going to support his primary campaign for 2018! Walk away Jun 2016 #16
Yeah, me too! Cha Jun 2016 #18
Whatever. nt eastwestdem Jun 2016 #8
<<<>>> BlueMTexpat Jun 2016 #11
As far as I'm concerned, DemonGoddess Jun 2016 #17
He doesn't accept the legitimacy of the voters' will. geek tragedy Jun 2016 #19
 

Her Sister

(6,444 posts)
1. This is just one take.
Wed Jun 15, 2016, 07:16 PM
Jun 2016

Which means he just doesn't matter and ~all is well. We keep the real fight.

She's got this!

 

BobbyDrake

(2,542 posts)
2. But aside from one sentence about Trump that he repeats, I'm not hearing his "firepower."
Wed Jun 15, 2016, 07:35 PM
Jun 2016

I mean, he mouths the words, but honestly, because his phrasing is so boring and generic, it comes across as non-committal.

There are two sides, usually, to an agreement, and Bernie Sanders needs to do a better job of holding up his end of this one.

 

Her Sister

(6,444 posts)
3. Boring, lol!! Probably the reason it's boring is because it's off his stump speech
Wed Jun 15, 2016, 07:43 PM
Jun 2016

Last edited Thu Jun 16, 2016, 06:28 AM - Edit history (1)

and therefore his heart is not really into it. He was more into it when he was attacking DEMS & HRC !

Probably his supporters at the rallies don't care as much when he goes after Trump.

NYC Liberal

(20,343 posts)
4. Why is Sanders the special exception?
Wed Jun 15, 2016, 07:55 PM
Jun 2016

Every other losing candidate's supporters have had to deal with the fact that their candidate lost. We Hillary supporters didn't get this kind of treatment in 2008. Obama won. Hillary conceded and we all got behind our nominee. Nobody ever insisted that Hillary should get to stay in the race just so we didn't feel "let down."

This is such bullshit. How many other presidential candidates have had to be so coddled lest their ultra sensitive feelings be hurt?

HE LOST! He needs to grow up and concede like EVERY OTHER CANDIDATE!

Sick of the coddling.

Cha

(305,137 posts)
9. Exactly, NYC Liberal. BS doesn't coddle.. he trashes Dems who are out there
Thu Jun 16, 2016, 01:41 AM
Jun 2016

filibustering for Sensible Guns Laws right now..

Why should he be coddled? Answer: No damn good reason.

Walk away

(9,494 posts)
5. He is supposedly having a video summit to announce something tomorrow....
Wed Jun 15, 2016, 08:15 PM
Jun 2016

if this is just another desperate ploy to get free ad time, he is going to look very bad.

Cha

(305,137 posts)
10. President Obama and VP Biden are going to be in Orlando tomorrow for 4 hours.. consoling
Thu Jun 16, 2016, 01:43 AM
Jun 2016

the Victims loved ones and thanking the First Responders.

How much attention is BS going to suck out of the air?

Cha

(305,137 posts)
12. I was thinking the same.. he could have gone into the Senate with applause to actually
Thu Jun 16, 2016, 04:54 AM
Jun 2016

with this life and death issue.

Wonder if he thought it would be hypocritical since he's been bashing them all this time?

Cha

(305,137 posts)
15. Evidently he made a "statement" against the assault rifle.. but, what he needed to do
Thu Jun 16, 2016, 07:23 AM
Jun 2016

was step away from the podcast and get in on the real Movement! And, do the job he's getting paid to do with taxpayers' money in the Senate.


Al Giordano ‎@AlGiordano
But @SenSanders is too busy working on his Podcast tomorrow to be part of a real movement. Telling.
6:23 PM - 15 Jun 2016
277 277 Retweets 342 342 likes

https://theobamadiary.com/2016/06/15/president-obama-and-the-dalai-lama/#comments

Walk away

(9,494 posts)
16. I'm a big Al Giordano fan. I'm going to support his primary campaign for 2018!
Thu Jun 16, 2016, 07:27 AM
Jun 2016

It's great he is holding Bernie's feet to the fire!

BlueMTexpat

(15,493 posts)
11. <<<>>>
Thu Jun 16, 2016, 04:14 AM
Jun 2016
Even if he says he’s still a candidate, he isn’t a candidate for anything. He’s just a free agent wandering around in search of an occasional microphone whose moment of relevance in this election has largely already passed him by. So as long as he’s not out there bashing Hillary and not talking about superdelegate fantasies, and he’s instead focusing his firepower on taking down Trump, he’s not actually hurting anything by pretending he’s still a candidate until the convention


So whatever - so long as he's not bashing Hillary and other Dems. If he does ...

DemonGoddess

(5,108 posts)
17. As far as I'm concerned,
Thu Jun 16, 2016, 07:29 AM
Jun 2016

he is no longer relevant. HE LOST. With every action of gracelessness, with not wanting to admit that he lost, he shows how relevant he no longer is. The more he does things like this, the more everyone sees that he is nothing more than a sore loser.

As to coddling his followers, that needs to come to an end. Losing candidates concede. There have been some exceptions, even recently (Hart and Kennedy), that come to mind, but they were DEMOCRATS, whereas Sanders is really NOT a Dem. He shows it every day, how much of a Dem he really isn't.

And then, there's this thing I've seen for a year, of saying he's the new FDR, comparing him to Gandhi and MLK. He's NO FDR, nor is he in the league of people such as Gandhi or MLK. They won't take off the blinders, and we need to, as a party, not be cowed by belligerence from these people.

Latest Discussions»Retired Forums»Hillary Clinton»The smartly choreographed...