Bernie Sanders Wants to Fight On. He Has His Reasons.

[William769]

Senator Bernie Sanders jabbed his finger in the air. He left Joseph R. Biden Jr. resorting to misstatements to defend his record on bankruptcy legislation. He instructed viewers to “go to the YouTube” to check out the former vice president’s record themselves. It was not the kind of debate performance suggesting a candidate ready for reconciliation.

After delivering a speech last week that appeared aimed at de-escalating the primary battle against Mr. Biden, Mr. Sanders laced into his opponent on Sunday night with a vigor that signaled that the fight — if not for delegates, then for the soul of the Democratic Party — was not over.

Under intense pressure to win nominating contests and already grappling with the effects of the coronavirus on the election, Mr. Sanders and his aides are now struggling to reconcile a sense of resignation and a desire to press on.

Yet even as his path to the nomination looks increasingly bleak, with Mr. Biden favored in three more primaries on Tuesday, some allies are publicly urging Mr. Sanders to remain in the race, eager for him to continue to pitch voters on a liberal agenda that he has promoted for decades.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/elections-2020/bernie-sanders-wants-to-fight-on-he-has-his-reasons/ar-BB11hjDM?ocid=msedgdhp

[degage]

1. Any good or valid reasons?

This feels like dejavu all over again.

[William769]

2. That's why I posted it.

[degage]

8. Frankly, I'm over Bernie

I'm over Nina Turner with her comment about it being a man's life work. We have to defeat Trump and McConnell. I put blame on Bernie and Stein for helping get Trump elected.

I believe they both thought it might be a good thing to have Trump so everyone might wake up and then they could swoop in as saviours after him. That hasn't worked out very well.

[MFM008]

17. Me too

As far as i see
Race is over...

[empedocles]

3. None seemed necessary to a great many in 2016.

[MrsCoffee]

5. It's about him, not us.

His ego is bigger than Trump's.

[degage]

18. That's what bothered me about Nina Turner's statement

The statement that it's about his life's work. I feel for him, I truly do. We don't all get to accomplish what we want. That is soul crushing.

The reality is we are in a situation so much bigger than just him and his personal goals. He needs to cede them to the greater good. To not do so is an exercise of ego as bad as Trump.

[Tweedy]

30. Bernie Sanders life work does not end with this primary

Senator Sanders is not going off into the wilderness when this is finished. He will be returning to the United States Senate.

Bernie Sanders is a United States senator. He will be a United States senator after this primary concludes. He can continue his "life's work" from the Senate.

Senator Sanders lost that debate and he has irrevocably lost this primary; he simply has not recognized it yet.

[LiberalFighter]

59. I don't expect him to remain a U.S. Senator for long after this election.

Either he will retire because he will face stiffer competition or he will be defeated at his next re-election.

[LiberalFighter]

58. The problem with that statement about his life's work...

is that he really hasn't accomplished or done much.

[NCProgressive]

60. He had plenty of time to accomplish something

One can't wake up at the age of 74 and suddenly accelerate achievement of something that eluded one for 35 years.

[Aquaria]

31. I bet those reasons look like this:

Gotta keep up with the costs of those three houses he owns, you know.

[NurseJackie]

55. Monetary?

It's unlikely that people will continue to send $27 to someone who's not running. That's my opinion.

[OnDoutside]

4. Will he at least suspend taking donations ?

[William769]

6. Doubtful, being a narcissist & all.

[relayerbob]

7. hahaha

Good one

[betsuni]

14. They just sent a fundraising email: "this primary is far from over."

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[OnDoutside]

47. Color me shocked.

[NCProgressive]

61. lol

Disingenuous

If a corporation did it while raising money on wall street, the SEC would sue and the people making such an affirmative statement would go to jail.

[PolarPop]

9. You don't get it

And it’s sad, really. His voters are not showing up with we don’t give them something.

They. Will. Not. Show. Up.

It won’t matter how much he campaigns for Biden. If we don’t adopt some of his policies they will stay home and Trump will win.

There is no reason we can’t at least have universal healthcare. None.

We’re about to find out exactly why we need it.

[questionseverything]

13. biden needs to make the case for why his public option is a great first step

towards universal hc

like how much it will cost,at what level the subsidies kick in, like that

how he will improve the aca in general

[Todd79]

19. No He Doesn't

He really doesn’t have to do anything, or make any promises. He’s winning just about every coalition of voters
now except two of them, and the gap of Latin American support looks like it will close significantly with Florida and Arizona (as long as COVID-19 doesn’t depress normal turnout).

Sanders supporters point to broad sweeping declarations about the exit polls showing support for his policies, but neglect to mention those same polls show an overwhelming majority do not want policies to the left of Obama. State after stats has explicitly asked if you would rather return to Obama era policies, more moderate, or more liberal, and the two former have a huge margin over the latter.

Bottom line is that not only is Biden winning, but he’s winning the popular vote by a large margin and could put this out of reach in a much more definitive fashion than Hillary was ever able to.

[questionseverything]

20. ok most LEADERS would be more than happy to expand on their policies to help build party unity

biden has been running on the public option and improving the aca since the beginning, why in the world would you suggest he shouldn't expand on that?

to prove he doesn't have to?

[betsuni]

24. ACA with public option and Medicare at 55 is in the 2016 platform.

Our nominee ran on it. It's not new, Democrats are familiar with it.

[questionseverything]

26. i am a democrat and i am not sure about the details

medicare @ 55? at what cost?

public option at what cost and what subsidies?

if you have a link with details I would love to see it

thank you

[TwilightZone]

27. Link from 2017:

https://www.stabenow.senate.gov/news/senator-stabenow-announces-medicare-at-55-act

She reintroduced it as Medicare at 50:

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/bills/116/s470

[TwilightZone]

29. Because he's been talking about it the whole campaign.

Details here:

https://joebiden.com/healthcare/

No offense, but it takes about 30 seconds to find this stuff.

[betsuni]

39. Seriously.

Very amusing, the idea that Obama, Clinton, Biden -- often described by certain types as moderate, centrist, corporate, too cautious -- would recklessly support a policy they had no idea how to pay for or how it would work. If that were the case the House wouldn't have been able to pass the ACA with a public option. Everybody knows how wonky Hillary is. Biden's motto is "Never promise anything you can't deliver."

[questionseverything]

43. i read several pages and didnt find much detail

4 times the poverty level is no improvement over what is subsidized now

so same cliff

and I honestly did not see what he said it would cost per month

the aca is way too much money, I want to know if the public option will be different

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

28. True... it's those important details that need to be FULLY debated by Bernie & Joe...

That's what democracy is about... Sunday night was just the beginning of that process!!


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[Aquaria]

33. Please

He's not saying anything new or original. We know what he's about. People heard it four years ago, and they're no more interested in it now than they were then.

[GulfCoast66]

41. Sunday was the end of the process.

After tomorrow there will be no more debates. Which after the shellacking Bernie took last night I’m thinking he should be happy about.

Democracy works when the Loser admits it and moves on.

[questionseverything]

44. joe took a couple of points from liz and it just makes him stronger

to do the same for the crowd that needs healthcare would really unify us

is all I want...

[George II]

57. Sunday night was properly the end of that process. Let's concentrate now on defeating trump.

[Demsrule86]

22. Bullshit...he can go away.

[Aquaria]

32. They don't show up for their self-serving hero and his policies, either

So why count on them to show up for anything else?

The Democrats need to concentrate on continuing to get the votes of those suburban soccer moms. They actually, you know, show up at the polls.

Unlike the participation trophy winners.

[Tweedy]

38. Joe Biden's public option is a distinct possibility

It can credibly be called a Medicare buy-in

As for Senator Sanders Medicare for all bill, it is a piece of political messaging, not an implementable policy.

Perhaps we should push for Senator Warren's M4A plan? It is implentable as written.

If we could get Medicaid expansion in the hold out states, that would truly be an improvement.

Senator Sanders sees and explains problems well. Solving them has not been his strong suit.

Voting blue up and down the ballot wherever you live will go a lot farther to achieving universal healthcare then boycotting this election. A boycott is a vote for another right turn.

Let me repeat. Make no mistake about it. Boycotting this election is a vote for another right turn.

Surely we can agree we have suffered enough of those?

[Scurrilous]

45. 'There is no reason we can't at least have universal healthcare. None.'

The U.S. Senate has 53 Republicans and 47 Democrats. There is your reason. EOD

[betsuni]

48. +1 +duh-why-doesn't-everyone-know-this-it's-not-a-secret

[Scurrilous]

50. You'd be surprised how many people seem to think there's an M4A dispensing machine somewhere.

And it's just waiting for the right amount of kvetching or sign of calamity to spring into action and pass out free medical insurance to everyone.

[betsuni]

53. Bernie in 2010:

"I would say that in the Senate, there are at most 10 votes for a single payer plan. In the House I have no idea but it's a small minority. It's absurd to say, 'Mr. President, go forward and make your bill single payer,' when you've got 10% of the Congress supporting you."

Bernie should stop telling his supporters that all politicians are corrupt and that's why there's not more progressive legislation. Anyone can see all the progressive legislation passed by the Democratic majority House hit the wall of the Republican Senate.

[Scurrilous]

62. Yep.

He blames both parties when it's actually just the one. Because we're all the same. Establishment.

[Scurrilous]

52. Just found. LOL

Link to tweet

[eilen]

51. If they aren't showing up for him, what chance does Biden have?

I'm comfortable with relying on the suburban cross-voters.

[Haggis for Breakfast]

10. He may have reasons, but what he doesn't have is

DELEGATES.

Wake up, Bernie. Your time has passed.

[Cha]

11. ..

[Blasphemer]

12. I believe he's actually harming his movement at this point...

The number of voters in his contingent has gone down since '16 and people not in his base are growing weary and suspicious. People will associate progressive policies with a very flawed man and a failed movement based on bitter, grievance politics rather than on ideas and energy. That's not ultimately beneficial.

[DrToast]

15. After tomorrow, Biden should just ignore him

and pivot to Trump.

No more debates. Bernie wants to keep running? Fine. Let him.

[William769]

16. I so want that.

[Aquaria]

34. Agreed.

Quit giving oxygen to this boring old has-been with the dwindling voter support.

[LakeArenal]

36. Exactly. Joe seems to be doing just fine.

Anyone that won’t get behind a real Democratic nominee, aren’t going to vote Dem anyway.

[betsuni]

49. This should happen. Ignore.

[grantcart]

21. His reason is this

He wants to end this cycle with $ 30 million in his campaign chest so that he can primary Democratic Congressman/woman in 2022 with far left candidates in safe blue seats.

[Aquaria]

35. Why would he start supporting downticket Democrats now

When he hasn't done that in the past?

[grantcart]

37. Not supporting but running far left candidates against Democratic incumbents.

[Demsrule86]

23. He as no good reasons...get out Bernie no one gives two shits about what you have to say.

You lost now go away.

[LizBeth]

25. $ and ego.

[frazzled]

40. If people don't know what he's saying by now

they will never never never know it, oooh, oooh, oooh. His face has been on tv repeating his three main themes thousands of times.

Hey, here’s Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes to explain how it works (in love as in politics)

[peggysue2]

42. Bernie Sanders has a choice

He can have his legacy read Statesman or Spoiler. I don't care how many excuses the man or his campaign use, they are the choices.

His 'life's work' will be defined accordingly.

[Scurrilous]

46. He going to push for the remaining primaries to be held in June.

Then he's going to sit around for two months hoping for miracle that will swing voters back to him before contests begin anew.

A two month time out to give people time to reassess their obvious unreasonableness and just maybe fall in love with socialism again.

Of course he'll have to win over 60% in every remaining primary to have a shot, but remember, this is a guy who seriously thought he could reverse weeks of voter rejection with an self imagined sea change debate performance. No floor was mopped as oft promised yet the promiser unapologetically persists.

[ucrdem]

54. And he'll run keep running negative TV ads in swing states.

[Scurrilous]

63. Of course.

The negativity is all important, Bernie being 'revolutionary' by rejecting establishment positivity and solutions.

[treestar]

56. Seems he could assert his agenda

without continuing to run for POTUS. He could start in the Senate.