At this point, I'd support DNC disqualifying Sanders for peddling a fake allegation

[NCProgressive]

and closing the primaries. Let the bros on twitter scream and yell. Big guns should come out blazing accusing of Bernie Sanders and his surrogates of dirty tricks with major players from Vermont like former governors stating Bernie plays dirty over and over.

There should be no place for such dirty tricks in the Democratic party. Period.

[spooky3]

1. I wish Sanders would concede, but

Anything done to push him out runs the risk of alienating voters in the remaining primary states, if they are not given a chance to make their choices.

[NCProgressive]

7. They should call Sanders and read him the riot act

Either he publicly disavows his trolls/surrogates or gets kicked out.

[Demsrule86]

10. Bullshit...no cares about primary voting except Sander people who won't vote for us anyway.

The rest of us want it over. I live in Ohio and I would be thrilled to end this...Sander has gone beyond the pale and now needs to be kicked out of the primary...as for his supporters it will only matter to the ones who would not have voted for us anyway.

[spooky3]

21. Come on. You can't speak for anyone but yourself on desire for voting. nt

[Demsrule86]

24. The only ones who care are those Sanders supporters who are think he can still win...he can't and

and those that are not hardcore...know it...the hardcore group who want to go to the convention and force the powers that be to give Sanders the nomination will stay home, write Bernie in ,vote third party or vote for Trump, They won't vote for Biden. The primary is over...Sanders should have suspended after Florida. He has no chance. It is not unusual for a candidate to suspend before all have voted. It happens most years. I updated this because the Primary goes on to pick other nominees down ballot and also local referendums.

[emmaverybo]

45. +++++++++++++++.

[Demsrule86]

47. Thanks Ems...

[Rizen]

19. This.

Exactly, we need the party to be unified.

[IluvPitties]

22. Tell that to Bernie and the people accusing Biden of rape.

[Demsrule86]

25. You know what this rape thing is beyond the pale...we aren't going to be unified obviously...I have

watched as Sanders surrogates trashed Biden on Twitter for days and now the rape thing which the Campaign has retweeted...it is over. fuck them, if they won't vote for our nominee, we will win without them. I don't give two shits about Sanders supporters so...they can lend a hand or get the fuck out of the way...it is all the same to me. The DNC is going to have to step in and perhaps Obama should endorse.

[marble falls]

68. Then quit slamming Biden.

[nolawarlock]

74. Nothing says unity like false accusations of sexual assault ...

… especially when coming from the followers of a man famous for writing rape fantasies.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

78. Yes, alienating Bernie supporters is not the way to go.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2020!!
They're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[sheshe2]

81. Alienating Democrats

And Biden supporters is not the way to go.

[ehrnst]

92. And alienating the vast majority of Democrats during a Democratic primary is?

[George II]

97. Why? Many of them aren't going to vote for the Democrat anyway.

[MontanaMama]

102. Please explain how Sanders supporters

give his campaign a pass on this? So, calling them out on spreading disparaging lies is alienating his fragile supporters? He can keep his stinking revolution.

[Aquaria]

41. STOP

For the love of all that is sane, stop this ridiculous argument about "not given a chance to make their choices." It's total bullshit.

Do you really think this is the first time in history that a nomination has been sewn up long before the primary season is over?

Get real. It happens all the damned time. And you know what? The people in the tail end states get over it. They don't whine about how their "choice" is taken away. Because it's never been taken away. BS voters in those states can still vote for their runner-up candidate. He'll be on the ballot in their state, most likely. But what he won't be doing is winning in them, because the tail end states will either have planned to vote for Biden in numbers big enough to win their states, anyway, or they will accept reality, and vote to give down ticket races some love.

I've been part of campaigns since 1968, when I was six years old and stuffing envelopes for Bobby Kennedy with my Democratic-active family. I have never--EVER--seen so many whiny-ass titty babies sobbing about something that is a flat-out lie.

[ehrnst]

93. So did you feel that way about Kamala, Warren or Buttigieg voters "not given a chance?"

[NCProgressive]

95. +++++

[spooky3]

103. The candidates CHOSE to stop running. Everyone understands

How that works. The situation is different if voters perceive that a chance to weigh in was taken away from them. How long did we have to hear about alleged DNC’s mishandling the 2016 primary—even though there was little evidence of it and all the primaries were held?

[NCProgressive]

138. Coronavirus changes everything

[George II]

2. I presume you're referring to his surrogates - Shaun King, Krystal Ball, and others making up...

...that phony "rape" story about VP Joe Biden.

They're getting desperate, they see the gravy train drying up, and they're doing whatever they can to keep it rolling for just a few more $2.70 contributions.

trumpian politics at it's "best" (or worst)!

[NCProgressive]

6. Then Bernie needs to come forward and call them out on it.

[George II]

27. He never will.

[still_one]

30. +++

[ehrnst]

94. He will not. If a false narrative benefits him, he will not discourage or correct it.

As we've seen.

[BlueIdaho]

108. He is as of now an indicted coconspirator.

I’m beginning to think the man doesn’t have a decent bone in his body.

[nolawarlock]

73. I've noticed that the big wigs haven't taken the bait ...

I haven't seen Sirota, Joy Gray, or Turner retweet anything about this though Nina retweeted an unrelated graphic bashing Joe by someone with the Twitter handle, "Biden’s 9 sexual assault allegations." Now, could that person have changed their handle since she retweeted them? Possibly.

The Bros and Bras are going absolutely nuts about this, tagging every person every involved in #MeToo.

All of this is reason why I listen to people's allegations before I assign either of the words "Believe" or "victim." This is our own backlash. We created this monster and now we're living with it. Coming from Salem, Massachusetts as I do, I often recall how easily the courtroom believed that there was actually an invisible yellow bird attacking the so-called afflicted girls. If there's anything Salem taught us, it's that the answer the age old question, "why would someone lie about something so awful," is that, when all other motives are off the table, good old-fashioned attention is always on the menu.

[nolawarlock]

142. I take that back ...

Nina Turner has joined in with Sarandon on pushing this crap.

[LizBeth]

3. Sanders has made clear the difference of an Independent compared to the Democratic Party.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

112. We need Independents, which Bernie has shown he's capable of bringing into the "Democratic tent."

Bernie/Elizabeth 2020!!
They're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[LizBeth]

116. We certainly do not need Sanders to give us the Independent vote today. Sanders can start

doing what is right, right here and now for those votes, by getting behind Biden 100%. Sanders does not have it in him.

[The Magistrate]

118. 'Bernie' Has Done No Such Thing, Sir

Bernie benefited four years ago from a quarter century of misogynist hate directed at Mrs. Clinton, and took the results as support for his views and his person. The coalition which will oust Trump and McConnell includes a great many middle of the road types disgusted by Trump, and ardent Democrats who hate Trump like poison. 'Bernie' repels the former, and has declared himself the open enemy of the latter. 'Bernie' would not stand a chance in a general election, especially after the 'Crazy Bernie the Commie' line got underway from the Trump campaign.





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

122. We cannot afford to dismiss any part of the Democratic coalition.

Bernie/Elizabeth 2020!!
They're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[The Magistrate]

123. The 'Dead-Enders' Dismiss Themselves, Sir

Past a certain point, which we approach the cusp of, those so poisoned by devotion to the 'Bernie' cult as to be unwilling to join the common cause will have to be written off. With the sort of regret one displays when a relative has succumbed to the bottle or the needle or the pipe, certainly, but written off all the same. The effort cannot come only from one side. That is extortionate blackmail, and giving in to it would cause more injury that trusting the blackmailer and accommodating him might gain. Defiance demonstrates strength and courage, and this is more appealing than any display of weakness. The coalition that will defeat Trump includes many middle of the road types disgusted by him, as the 2018 capture of the House shows. These people are repelled by 'Bernie', and much concession to him will cost votes here. The dead-end cultists, even if they did follow through once their demands have been met, which they can't be trusted to do, cannot muster enough votes to make up for this.



"Americans love a winner! And hate a loser!"





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[ehrnst]

125. Especially the coalition of the vast, vast majority of Democrats, which presently support Joe Biden.

Joe/Kamala or Biden/Harris 2020!!
Jump on the Biden Bandwagon & abandon the revolution!!

[George II]

140. No one wants to dismiss any part of the Democratic coalition - operative word Democratic.

[ehrnst]

121. Keep on clapping!

Last edited Thu Mar 26, 2020, 03:29 PM - Edit history (1)

Joe/Kamala or Biden/Harris 2020!!
Jump on the Biden Bandwagon & abandon the revolution!!

[Amaryllis]

4. What happened? Been offline most of day.

[NCProgressive]

8. Sanders trolls

Krystal Ball, Sean King, Brihana Grey and rags Jacobin, commondreams and intercept all came out simultaneously peddling a rape allegation against Joe Biden claiming it happened in 1993 and no one listened to the "poor woman."

[Haggis for Breakfast]

13. Oh, please.

Like this wouldn't have come out in the 2008 election or the 2012 election, and been FRONT PAGE HEADLINES all over the nation.

Just more melodrama from "Scorched Earth Bernie." How pathetic. What next ? Dr. Jill ran a beastiality porno film company out of the basement of the Bronx Zoo ?

Give it up, Bernie. We've all moved on.

[NCProgressive]

16. Also, Biden had security clearances granted

first as a member of the foreign relations committee and later as VP. This would have come up in the stringent FBI review and also in Obama vetting Biden as a running mate.

[nolabear]

18. Poor thing. Even "MeToo" turned her down.

[MustLoveBeagles]

37. They likely knew she was full of shit and wanted no part of this

[ECSkeptic]

126. MeToo turned her down?

What does that mean? Did Biden's accuser approach the MeToo movement? In what way did they turn her down?

No judgment, condemnation, or accusation is meant by this question. Nor is it rhetorical or meant to embarrass anyone. I'm just trying to understand the facts here.

[ucrdem]

131. That's how the Intercept is pitching it. "Times up" is supposed to be connected to MeToo. nt

[still_one]

32. Brihana Joy Gray is part of the Sanders campaign, and if she is part of this she should be discharge

immediately

[comradebillyboy]

49. She's doing what Bernie pays her to do...

[still_one]

51. If she remains in his campaign, there is no doubt about it

[sheshe2]

79. Just another Stein supporter...

Like Nina, David, his top staff.

Then you have Sarandon and West. Oh. Mike too.

[still_one]

89. The list is pretty long sheshe

[nolawarlock]

75. I didn't see Joy Gray push this ...

… do you have a link? I just looked on twitter. Turner did a little passive-aggressively by retweeting an unrelated post from somone with a Twitter handle titled "Biden’s 9 sexual assault allegations" but that person could have changed their name after the retweet. Either way, this is just disgusting on the part of the Breuxs.

[Thekaspervote]

5. People know Joe for his honesty and decency and they know sanders for his dirty tricks

[NCProgressive]

14. Yes, but this needs to be exposed to the bros that their leader did something nefarious

and that the allegations are not true.

If enough noise is made that Bernie fucked up in carrying out a dirty trick, the real Democrats supporting Bernie will be as disgusted as I am. The core cultists won't vote for Biden anyway. We need to stop coddling them.

My hope is that Bernie won't be seen in a positive light by anyone except the devotees from that day forward.

Biden must have had a rigorous security clearance review as a mamber of the foreign relations committee and then as VP -- if this allegation were true, it would have come up in FBI's stringent process. Also, Obama vetted Biden before making him his running mate and we know President Obama is careful, methodical and thorough.

[Aquaria]

33. And it's not the only nefarious thing that campaign has done

Like how they stole polling data from Hillary's campaign off the DNC servers, back in 2015.

It's always been a sleazy operation.

His core cultists didn't care about it then, and they don't care about mucking about in dishonest filth now.

[NCProgressive]

46. This is why Sanders should be severely punished for this

unless he disavows these fake allegations and throws his peanut gallery under the bus.

[Grokenstein]

57. 2015: "It's all the DNC's fault for letting us do it."

I still can't believe they allowed BS to run on their tab again after that.
We cannot let it happen next time, whomever Moscow selects to run as the divider.
Legit Dems only, no temps.
Fuck the table flippers and rainbow chasers. They will never vote for the candidate. Their mission is to make a scene, then jump back and watch the world burn.
Who else wants a medal for crying, "I take no responsibility for this"?

[William769]

9. Hell yes!

[showblue22]

11. All of his top surrogates pushing a rape allegation against Joe Biden...

His campaign staff retweeting it. I don't think he should be allowed to speak at the convention.

[NCProgressive]

15. He should be disqualified, his delegates forfeited and disinvited from the convention.

What his campaign did should never ever be excused and should be severely punished.

[still_one]

34. Unless he lets those involved in this on his campaign staff go, he has just disqualified himself

[jrthin]

12. This will backfire on BS. It will just make people loathe BS more.

[Hav]

17. BS is history (in the irrelevant sense), it's over for him

The question is how much damage BS and his merry band of ratfuckers are causing to get Trump reelected.

[jrthin]

96. This is what makes me anxious.

[showblue22]

20. He knows he is not going to win the nomination.

He's trying to push Biden to have to concede. What kind of a person does this? Think about that. Who does this nasty shit? What kind of people are they?

[Demsrule86]

26. We have seen a candidate this ruthless before...and we will not make him our nominee...the story is

bullshit.

[emmaverybo]

40. He's one of those "if I can't have the nomination no one else can" people. His egomania is a

turn off. He’s got bad Biden envy. Ironically, it is in part his dirty tricks played through surrogates
that contribute to him being so unlikable he failed to draw enough support.

[jrthin]

98. A mean, selfish sh*t. When people show you who they are,

believe them.

[Codeine]

62. He knows he's lost and now he just wants to burn it all down.

And his pathetic fucking acolytes want to play along just like the did when helped elect Trump. Fuck this guy.

[Wednesdays]

23. Is this being reported in the MSM?

[Demsrule86]

28. No. Not even Fox.

[Aquaria]

29. That's not how it works

The DNC doesn't control the primaries. States do. The primary elections will happen, no matter what, because more is always on the ballot than the Presidential campaign.

If by some miracle (doubtful) BS does the right thing and concedes, it won't change those elections in the least.

[Demsrule86]

31. That is true...but the DNC could set a deadline for delegates to be counted..

Some of the primaries may very well be later than June 2nd...It simply can't happen. And Sanders has to pay a price for this sort of thing. He can be kicked out of this primary.

[Aquaria]

43. The delegates get counted at the convention

The other states have to vote to assign their delegates.

That's how it works.

It won't change.

[The Magistrate]

35. State Primaries Will Occur Regardless, Sir

Nominees for Congress, and state and local office must be chosen.

Sanders must be stripped of seniority in the Democratic caucus in the Senate (he is a member by sufferance only, not by right), and stripped off all committee assignments. If he does not like it, he can go to McConnell and do his destructive work in the open sunshine.

Such a show of strength would gain far more credibility in more centerist quarters for the Party, and prove extremely inspirational to loyal Democrats and sensible leftists. This would be more than sufficient to swamp any poutrage by 'Bernie' cultists. Strength is respected and admired, weakness is not. As the old saw had it even back in the thirties in Mr. Roosevelt's day: "A liberal is a man who won't take his own side in a quarrel." People want officials who will fight for their interests, and the sight of a man seemingly unwilling even to fight for himself does not inspire.


"Americans love a winner, and hate a loser."





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[showblue22]

39. Good points there.

He should be stripped of any committees he is in. He's never there anyway.

[NCProgressive]

52. When I said cancel the primaries, I meant only the presidential part.

[The Magistrate]

60. No Mechanism I Know Of For That, Sir

Some states hold a Federal primary on a different date from the state and local. I believe some of the first states to put off their primaries during the epidemic simply rolled the dates into one, the state and local being already scheduled for later (This split with local last helps local leaders keep some control of the outcome). The ballots are already printed, and though it is a Party function, ballots are under state law. If a candidate has conceded, votes cast anyway for him or her are not counted towards delegates, but if a candidate is still active, the name is there and ballots marked for that candidate must be counted. I do not know if state law applies in some way should, say, the Party simply proclaim votes for Sanders would not be counted towards delegates. That might be a little raw for public consumption, and open matters to suit in court.

Sanders must be pressured out of the race if this is to end. Whatever the pressure is, it must be overwhelming and done in bright lights....


"Kill one, warn one hundred."

[Demsrule86]

66. The primaries can go on and Sanders can whine all he wants...but Joe can be declared the presumptive

nominee now...or maybe after Georgia.

[NBachers]

36. I agree with you, and we can contact the DNC and tell them that. I just did- here's a link:

My comment to the DNC:

"The Bernie Sanders campaign is circulating rape and abuse stories about Joe Biden. They have been going too far in sabotaging Biden and broadcasting lies about him for this entire campaign.

I am imploring the DNC to contact Sanders and his campaign surrogates and, in no uncertain terms, tell them to back off and start supporting Joe Biden for President.

We don't need another four years of Trump because a sore loser tried to bring the house down on his way out. We've already been through that, and the devastation we are living with today is the result."

It's time to bombard the DNC and let them know they've got to put a stop to this, now.

https://democrats.org/contact-us/

[showblue22]

42. Thank you!

I am writing my own letter now. Can I take a few points from yours?

[NBachers]

83. Quick, before I copywrite it!

[emmaverybo]

44. Thank you. Did it.

[showblue22]

50. Here's mine

Bernie sanders' campaign top high profile surrogates and staff are pushing a easily discredited rape allegation against our presumptive nominee, Joe Biden.

This allegation is being made by someone who has a long history of admiring and praising Vladimir Putin in her blog. In April of 2019 this person accused Joe Biden of smelling her hair nothing more! Just as Bernie is desperate for something to happen to our nominee, perhaps even something bad enough to force our nominee to concede... the allegation goes to full blown rape.

This is a repulsive allegation that no decent campaign would lever against anyone without sound indisputable evidence. This is beyond the pale. I am requesting the DNC to bar Bernie Sanders and his campaign from speaking or attending the convention. Thank you for your consideration.

[Cha]

85. Thank You for this letter to the DNC, Bachers!

And, the link!

[NBachers]

87. Well, I've set myself up to get flooded with even more DNC begging emails, but we do what we must.

I already got a text asking me to verify my complete address. Here we go!

[Cha]

88. One for the Team!

[Turin_C3PO]

38. 3 hours ago

I would’ve said no, let the race play out. But now, with these bogus allegations, the DNC should ask Sanders to repudiate the smears. If he doesn’t, kick him out of the party so we can go on facing Donald Trump.

[nsd]

58. He's not even in the party.

Sanders has never been a Democrat or shown much consideration for other Democrats. That's the problem. What's the DNC going to do to him?

[comradebillyboy]

48. I don't like the idea of cancelling elections. I have zero

sympathy for Sanders but the DNC simply can't disqualify candidates. I say this a someone who has never had a kind word for BS and his minions.

[NCProgressive]

54. People get kicked out of groups for being disruptive

or doing something so heinous that it reveals their moral turpitude.

It may be the first time in history but he can be ejected from the party and thus from the election.

[comradebillyboy]

55. He can be ejected from the Democratic caucus in the Senate

and removed from his committee assignments though.

[Demsrule86]

65. When Georgia votes...Sanders may be shut down mathematically at which point the DNC can say Biden

is the presumptive nominee...the primary goes on but Joe pivots to the General...we have to do something or Trump will win with Sander's scorched earth tactics.

[Ponietz]

53. Cyber drive-by on the heels of Joe's declination of further debate with BS

[showblue22]

61. Exactly!

In April 2019 she said he smelled her hair... suddenly when Bernie LOST the nomination and the only way he has a chance is if Biden is forced to concede... it's suddenly full blown rape! Bernie is done! He can not be allowed to speak at our convention!

[safeinOhio]

56. Didn't someone once say

All roads lead to Putin?

[showblue22]

59. Russian agitprop

Pushed right out of the Sanders campaign. I think The Intercept should have to register as a foreign agent.

[NCProgressive]

63. Jacobin too

[showblue22]

64. Yes, and Greenwald.

They need to be investigated for election interference.

[hay rick]

67. Another Bernie Bros post from a January 2020 newbie.

Hmmm.

[NCProgressive]

69. So I take it you support fake allegations against the Democratic nominee?

[The Magistrate]

71. Want To Try That On With Me, Sir?

Sanders ought to be expelled from the Democratic Caucus in the Senate (he is there only by sufferance, not right), stripped of all seniority and committee assignments, and told if he does not like it, he can cross the aisle and carry on doing harm to the people and the country in open company with McConnell. His conduct, and the conduct of his coterie, is foul and inexcusable, particularly with these most recent developments. At the very least, he should be 'shewn the instruments', with the full understanding the threat laid out above will be executed if he does not stand down his campaign within the hour.


"Americans love a winner, and hate a loser."


"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[JustAnotherGen]

76. This times 10

All of it.

[ucrdem]

91. You put that well!

[hay rick]

106. I have no desire to defend Sanders.

On the other hand, the constant attacks on "Bernie Bros" is harmful to the coalition of voters who are needed to win in November.

[The Magistrate]

107. Do Not Imply 'Short-Timers' Are Trolls, Sir

Or that support for 'Bernie' is somehow the default here, the 'true' progressive opinion. It most definitely is not. I gather Sanders supporters ran rather thick here four years ago. This is now, appeal to precedent is meaningless. You can see the true proportion in the strip at the top of this forum.

And pay some attention the actual situation. The continual misbehavior of 'Bernie Bros' is the source of division, not the reply in kind to 'Bernie Bros'. And do not try and claim to an experienced grandfather it doesn't matter who started it. Dealing justly with contending siblings requires inquiry into how a fracas began. The Sanders campaign behaves despicably, and encourages the worst instincts of its more radical followers deliberately. 'Bernie' intends to wound if he cannot win, and moves a cult following eager to follow that directive. Do not pretend for an instant the facts are otherwise.


"A fish rots from the head down."

"Like a putrid mackerel by moonlight, he doth both stink and shine."





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[W_HAMILTON]

109. Not nearly as harmful as the constant attacks FROM "Bernie Bros" are on Democrats.

They already cost us one presidential election.

Do you want them to cost us another?

[vercetti2021]

70. Bernie needs to drop out and resign from the Senate

This is beyond disturbing even for Bernie. I can't believe I voted for him in the primaries in 2016 I wish I could take that back. Resign bern and go enjoy your $27 retirement. Let a real Democrat have your Senate seat. One that doesn't shit on the party and spread false rumors of rape on a fellow Democrat.

[nolawarlock]

77. Since I couldn't reply to the removed post, I'll make a general statement ...

… There's a way to handle these things and it's not mobs of the desperate deciding to believe something with no hard evidence based solely on their desire to win. This type of politics is why we can't leave the house right now. If our idiot-in-chief wasn't so desperate to pivot any way he could to save his own ass, we wouldn't be in the situation that we're in. And this is why I have almost as many issues with Bernie almost as I do Trump. While many of his policies are world's better, his tactics are not. I will vote blue no matter who but he is not what he's cracked up to be.

[JustAnotherGen]

80. First I heard of this

Was at 2 am.

They ought to be ashamed of themselves.

Either Bernie fires these surrogates - or he gets kicked out of the Caucus.

[Cicada]

84. Why antagonize Sanders supporters?

We should hug Sanders and say we love him. We should hug all his supporters and say we love them too. Pushing people away is counter productive.

[NCProgressive]

100. People have tried hugging like that before

on varied objects like rattlesnakes. It was not successful.

[greatauntoftriplets]

104. I'm practicing social distancing.

[captain queeg]

86. Bernie should drop out. First he should apologize for his surrogates, the drop out

And endorse Biden. At this point, with the orange menace threatening to kill millions of Americans it’s time put in his big boy pants and do the right thing. I’d still vote for Bernie is he were the nominee, he would enjoy that commitment from democrats across America if he were the delegate and that’s why he chose to run as a democrat. Since he signed up, he needs to do the right thing for the sake of the country.

That being said, I believe Joe will be the nominee and even if Bernie decides to be a poor loser, Joe will still kick Trumps ass in November. And the unfortunate reason is Trump will be responsible for many millions being sick and many thousands dying

[ucrdem]

90. Better late than never.

Allowing Sanders to run in 2016 without a surety of some kind was a big mistake as some of us pointed out in 2015. And as predicted, it all went horribly wrong when Sanders refused to rein in his attacks.

Then after a few minor rule changes, the DNC did the same thing this time. And again they have an unleashed candidate running around chewing up the carpet, so to speak. I'm confident that someone in the DNC will figure out how to safely remove him from the building, but please DNC, don't do this again.

[Hortensis]

99. No. He has support from real Democrats who do support their party.

Last edited Thu Mar 26, 2020, 10:13 AM - Edit history (1)

They are us, and their party has to fulfill its duty to them.

Also, he's running for president with nationwide following. A group can't just decide to take a major candidate away from the American electorate because he continues to be exactly what he was when he was first allowed to run as a Democrat.

Wondering what it'd take to force removal, though, seems to me that only if something extremely dramatic happened, such as strong evidence surfacing of very serious criminal misbehavior they couldn't blow over, such as treason, would action be justified. What he does to the party bears no weight with all the Americans who are themselves corrupted by assumption of corruption in politics. (Illegally downloading electoral data that cost years and money in 9 digits to develop -- and was priceless strategically -- from the Clinton campaign was very mistakenly shrugged off by many who shockingly don't realize that criminal misbehavior is completely unthinkable for a Democratic presidential campaign and that acceptance is a massive moral failure in them.)

But even with giant cause, I'm guessing our leadership would decide the wisest course would be to express confidence that allegations surfacing would prove to be false, while distancing the party definitively by having primary voters finish saying no to him. Then expressions of great regret at sad truth and commitment to Democratic Party values would follow.

What they would not do is remove a candidate themselves unless very broad and strong agreement developed among Democratic voters that it had to be done. Remember, as it is, many who believe in him loudly denounce everything and anything, and sometimes nothing, but certainly every reverse to his chances, as proof of party corruption. And far, far greater numbers hear, don't know what to think, and may once again not vote as a result. Sanders works hard to encourage that. We do our best to show American who we really are.

[ucrdem]

110. The extenuating circumstance would be coronavirus, not Sanders per se.

Since many states are postponing their primaries indefinitely, the process would simply be foreshortened so to speak to protect the health of voters.

Works for me!

[Hortensis]

111. Well, coronavirus is definitely "something dramatic happening."

I believe, though, that only learning that Repub/Russian were successfully using the disruption of our primary process to steal the election would justify a major retooling of it, though.

What a mess ditching a major candidate would be. It's not as if people haven't learned Sanders is a Russian asset and knows it -- too many just don't care, a huge symptom of these disordered, corrupted times. The Republican-serving MSM, including to name a few the NYT, AP and Russian state media, would amplify and pretend-legitimize the Sanders'/anti-Democratic left's messages that Democrats were (again!) stealing the nomination from him. And too many we need to vote would again fail to. (Not our best and brightest, but ours if they bother.)

The very best path by far is just to let the primary process play out. He'll cause as much trouble as he can at the convention, but it'll be less than last time and not as if we can't handle them in our own arena. They're ruthlessly aggressive, but liberal Democrats are far more numerous, far more powerful, far more competent and intelligent, and liberals always hold the high ground.

[ucrdem]

113. The primary process isn't playing out, though. It's getting canceled along with everything else.

Since its function is not elect but to nominate, and the nomination was determined in record time -- three weeks, continuing in the face of the public health challenge is in my view not necessary. Democracy needs elections, and elections need candidates, and we have one. Sanders voters weren't turning out to vote anyway and there's no reason to require partisans to schlep to polling places to make unneeded votes.

That's my $.02 anyway!

[Hortensis]

117. I'd love, and be relieved, to have it decided also.

And I know a lot of Democrats who didn't get to vote would be satisfied. It's just all the others.

[ucrdem]

119. Stay well!

And may the coughing clerks hold their aerosol until after you skedaddle!

[Hortensis]

124. Hey, that's exactly what I said to the USPS deliveryman

just now, and we didn't cough at each other. Of course by that time he'd very properly skeedaddled well away from the porch.

[Rorey]

101. Y'know, I've been quiet about Sanders

I've been quiet about Sanders since it became obvious that Joe Biden will be our nominee. But at this point, we're just at a WTF moment. I feel like there are three possible scenarios:

His vanity and unwillingness to accept the obvious is preventing him from dropping out and endorsing Joe Biden.

He's batshit nuts.

He's owned by someone.

None of these scenarios are acceptable. I admit I've never been a fan of Sanders, but I'm getting very close to having ZERO respect for him.

[Gothmog]

105. From the Hoarse Whisperer

Link to tweet

[rusty fender]

114. There's also a Twitter user

who goes by the name, “Warren ran to prevent Bernie from being the nominee,” and is claiming that the DNC ran Warren to prevent Bernie winning the nomination

Warren announced her candidacy before Sanders, and how many delegates does Warren have? I doubt that she has enough delegates to make up the difference between Sanders and Biden, and, that assumes all the Warren voters would have gone to Sanders if she hadn’t run

Some of these Bernie supporters are so pathetically delusional

[NCProgressive]

115. +++++

[NurseJackie]

120. Just one of many disqualification-worthy things he's done/said/written. When he...

Just one of many disqualification-worthy things he's done/said/written. When he first started talking about how President Obama should be primaried, well, that's when I knew for sure what he was all about. I knew then that I could never trust or believe anything he said. I knew at that moment that I'd always be suspicious about his motives and intentions. I knew that he'd never get my vote... and it looks like I was right all along. He won't be our nominee, therefore he won't get my vote.

[alarimer]

127. Whatever happened to believing women ?

I guess it’s doesn’t matter if it’s your guy.

[NCProgressive]

128. When even the #metoo organization won't support her ....

Fake and made-up story.

[ECSkeptic]

129. #MeToo

I asked this above, and I think it's an important question. If #MeToo did reject this story, that's significant, and I'd really like to have proof of that fact at hand to refute these charges against Joe Biden.

Honest, I'm not a Bernie bro; I originally supported Elizabeth Warren but I think Biden beat everyone, including Sanders, fair and square and has earned the nomination. I just don't want any impediments or objections to making Biden the 46th president and bringing this orange-tinted nightmare to an end.

Do you have a link to documentation about how #MeToo refused to propagate the story? Did they make a public statement of "we don't support these claims"? If the answer is that they have remained quiet on the issue, then fine. But I'd like to know for sure.

[ucrdem]

130. It's all pretty dubious but here is the link:

Her claim is that "Times Up," which I'd never heard of, turned down a request for legal aid because Biden was a candidate for federal office. She doesn't sound like a very reliable witness however and there isn't much by way of corroboration, just her story as told to the Intercept:

https://theintercept.com/2020/03/24/joe-biden-metoo-times-up/

[ECSkeptic]

132. Not what I was hoping for...

...it just claims that NWLC won't get involved with a candidate for Federal Office. I was hoping for a knockout blow against the claim, but this ain't it. If someone can convince me otherwise, I'd love to hear their argument.

[ucrdem]

133. Well, yes, the corroboration is weak, which makes the claim weak.

In other words there's no there there. Did you think there was?

[ECSkeptic]

135. It's certainly not corroboration...

...but it's not a knockout blow. I did note this:

Ellen Aprill, a professor of tax law at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, said that Time’s Up’s analysis is too conservative, and the group wouldn’t be putting its tax-exempt status at risk by taking a case involving a candidate for federal office as long as it followed its standard criteria for taking on cases. “As a legal matter, if the group is clear regarding the criteria used as to whom it is taking to court, show that these are long-established neutral criteria, and they are being applied to individuals completely independent of their running for office, it would not be a violation of tax law. Groups are allowed to continue to do what they have always done,” she said.

So...did they tell Reade that just to scrape her off? Their justification for not taking the case seems flimsy, but it would take some effort to make that argument stick.

I guess I was hoping for a solid statement from #MeToo saying, "Our legal experts evaluated Ms. Reade's claims and found them to be baseless," or something to that effect. Clearly, that was too much to hope for.

[ucrdem]

136. The point is that she claims she brought her case to a MeToo-connected

org and they didn't take it. What does that mean? Only that there that they wouldn't or didn't take it. So there's not even that much corroboration. In fact there's nothing to support her claim. Can you find anything to hang your hat on in that article? I couldn't.

[NCProgressive]

134. Look at it this way

Biden was a member of the senat foreign relations committee - so he was subjected to a security clearance review every two years.

Then he went through an extreme vetting process by Obama's campaign before he was chosen as a running mate.

Then again, he was vetted by the FBI for a much higher level security clearance as a VP.

How likely is it that all those probes and vetting missed this?

[kcr]

139. Oh, please.

Ratfucking doesn't count.

[William769]

137. Kicking to keep at the top.

[karynnj]

143. Much as I would love the primaries to end and Biden be considered the nominee, I really disagree on

the DNC doing this.

We do not know that Sanders himself had anything to do with this. He should be asked to remove paid campaign staff that supports any of this.

It is unfortunately not completely out of the norm for a losing rival campaign to push stories. In 2004, there was reason to believe that an operative of the Clark campaign pushed (or may have been the source) for the untrue story that Kerry had an affair. In addition, one campaign had a push poll in Iowa that gave the information that Kerry was not cancer free - and then asked who people supported. There were false stories that people close to the Clinton campaign put out in the 2008 campaign.

As to the argument that former Vermont Governors have accused Sanders of playing dirty - the only one who did was Shumlin. Dean has been mostly positive and I believe that both Leahy and Welch endorsed him. Madeleine Kunin, who has reason to dislike him, has not said that he played dirty. (He ran as an independent against her leading to her still winning but getting less than 50% meaning the VT legislature had to chose her. ) As to Shumlin, google his name and cognitively impaired neighbor -- and you will see why his popularity at the end of his last term was extremely low.