Sanders Supporters Realize Their Party Is Bigger Than They Are

[George II]

The parade of GOP defectors speaking on the DNC’s first night seemed to confirm progressives’ worst fears about a potential Biden administration.

ELAINE GODFREY AUGUST 18, 2020

The messages in the Zoom chat were snide at first, but not despondent. One person observed that the Democrats would rather listen to young people singing the national anthem than to their political opinions. Another noted that the event felt like a highly produced infomercial. Just 30 minutes in, a mustachioed man with a palm-tree Zoom background gave up on the whole production. “I’ve got to get some sleep,” he wrote to the group. “I’ve got Bernie taped.”

For two hours last night, about 20 members of the Ohio chapter of Our Revolution, the political organization spun out of Bernie Sanders’s 2016 presidential campaign, watched the Democratic National Convention’s kickoff with, it seemed, varying amounts of bitterness. Some watched with their camera turned off, as speaker after speaker extolled the virtues of Joe Biden, while others could be seen hunkered over their computer in some dark corner of their home.

But when John Kasich, the former Republican governor of Ohio, appeared on-screen, the chat descended briefly into despair. “Oh lord,” someone wrote. “Drinking now,” said another. A third person could muster only a digital sound: “UUUGGGHHHHHHH.”

The parade of GOP defectors who spoke last night was meant to demonstrate the bipartisan solidarity behind Biden, and to show anti-Trump Republicans and swing voters nationwide that the Democratic tent is a place where they will be not merely tolerated, but celebrated. The former vice president’s team wants “silent Biden voters” to know that they are not alone in crossing party lines to support the presumptive Democratic nominee, Representative Cedric Richmond of Louisiana, a chair of Biden’s campaign, explained on a press call yesterday. Michelle Obama made national unity the theme of her well-received speech too.

(much more....)

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2020/08/john-kasichs-dnc-speech-angered-progressives/615361/

[msongs]

1. so are they gonna sit it out or vote for trump to show their disgust? nt

[Mariana]

6. Not many of them, most likely.

The overwhelming majority of Sanders supporters voted for Hillary in the general in 2016.

[Gothmog]

12. Biden campaign releases list of Republicans that are endorsing @JoeBiden today

Link to tweet

[Gothmog]

19. This makes me smile

Link to tweet

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. There are some, too pure, for partisan politics. Ralph led the way.....

"there's not a dime's difference between Republicans and Democrats". Even fucking Bernie gets it...this is black and white time. Pick a side or don't bitch when the hammer falls again.

[Trumpocalypse]

14. They really don't care about issues

They just want to feel morally superior to everyone else.

[Drunken Irishman]

3. Biden wants to win.

He realizes a convention that plays to everyone is the best path forward to doing that. I don't take anything away from the convention beyond the fact Joe Biden is doing everything he can to be the next President of the United States.

[Demsrule86]

4. I told my friend in 16 who wouldn't vote for Hillary...you will reduce you influence in the party if

you message vote and Trump is way worse than Hillary...she never said what she did...but I do believe the refusal to vote for Hillary in 16 by some on the left cost them influence as moderates will be sought out to make sure we defeat Trump. We are a big tent part. This has to be understood.

[Gothmog]

17. "The Republican National Convention opens with a flurry of brand new GOP endorsements, for Joe Biden

Link to tweet

[comradebillyboy]

5. How is Our Revolution connected to the Democratic Party?

Sure some OR folks might be Democrats but notable OR people have been known to vote Green and oppose actual Democratic candidates. There is no reason for the Democratic Party to cater to folks who's loyalty cant be counted on.

[Indykatie]

7. While Most Sanders Supporters Are Dems There is Another Group that are Anti-Dem Party

It is this fringe element that has the loudest voice online which makes it seem like they speak as the collective voice for Sanders' voters. Our Revolution is not a Dem group in my opinion.

[comradebillyboy]

9. Yes, I never viewed OR as a Democratic constituency either.

They choose to keep themselves outside Biden's big tent. But they expect to be catered to.

[George II]

10. Nina Turner, who was president of Our Revolution until she became Sanders' campaign chair....

....was a super delegate at the convention.

At least on paper she's still a Democrat, although she boasted about voting for Jill Stein in 2016.

[Gothmog]

13. Republican unity is a myth. Never Trump is huge and growing

Link to tweet

[Demsrule86]

22. I know...they talk about such a huuuuge amount of GOP types who still support dirty donnie...but

many GOP have left the party.

[betsuni]

8. Four Republicans spoke for about seven minutes altogether and this means Biden might go back on

his word about the policies he wants to accomplish? This guy?:

"A couple of days later, Schriock, Franni, and I headed over to the White House for a meeting with Vice President Biden, who I'd always been a big fan of. ... 'I've been in this town forty years,' he said. 'And let me tell you how you succeed in this town -- how I got here.' He leaned toward me to bring home the import of what he was about to say. 'Never promise anything you can't deliver. Never. Promise. Anything. You can't deliver.' I nodded. I understood. I wasn't going to do that. I. Wasn't. Going. To do that." -- Al Franken

Well, at least the Our Revolution people aren't calling our candidate evil like last time.

[Gothmog]

11. Good article

Link to tweet

[octoberlib]

18. I love Sally.

[SpaceNeedle]

15. Better late than never

Wisdom sometimes takes 4 years of regrets.

[Gothmog]

16. MORE NEWS from AZ: Huge list of Arizona Republicans endorsing Joe Biden

Link to tweet

[aidbo]

20. Apparently the Democratic big tent has more room under it for republicans..

..than it does for folks on the left.

[JI7]

21. Those so called people on the left want Trump to win

while the republicans that were invited want Democrats to win.

[Demsrule86]

23. The GOP are more helpful this year in our quest to take back the Senate...as admirable as AOC is,

she can't help us win Arizona. I hope the left will consider attempting to win hearts and minds in places like Arizona, Georgia, Texas and the Mid West...I know we can do it if we try. And party loyalty really matters IMHO. We must always vote for the Democratic candidates.

[Hav]

24. Nope, there isn't more or less space

The Dem party won't throw out those who want to fight he fascist but they cannot force those into the tent who only pout and would rather see another Trump term.

[Ohio Joe]

25. Oh yay...

Another thread declaring those of us who supported Sanders as rooting for Trump.

[GulfCoast66]

26. I'm a social Democrat. But realize most Americans are to the right of me.

Ironically, the majority on DU are to the left of me.

But anyway, we move our very center left population slowly. Or with a flurry of left activity followed by a period of reactionary pushback.

The ACA survived, barely. Now Biden, assuming he wins, which is far from assured, must carefully pick his battles.

If he can expand the ACA to insure no Americans go bankrupt from health issues, secure SS and Medicare for the foreseeable future his administration will be a success.

Do I want him to be able to do so much more? Of course. But I understand how hard these things are. Once Americans get used to these changes than we can move things more left. But it won’t be quick.

This is very hard for so many people who want immediate change. As I certainly do. But I realize the limitations of our system.

At the same time I would love to see congress strip many of the unbelievable powers they have given the president over over the past 60 years. All these EO trump does? Congress gave him that power. Same as they gave them to Obama. Ironically that will slow down change even more. But that is the way we currently roll.

[Gothmog]

27. Here are more endorsements

Link to tweet

[frazzled]

28. This is what happens

when you get so attached to a candidate that they become a cult figure and you can't see the bigger picture. It's about Bernie (just like it's about Trump), not about the good of the nation. It's called "Follow the Leader."

Saaaad. I hope they outgrow it.

My advice to everyone: never fall in love with a candidate. They are not symbols, they are not icons, they are just people, hopefully with the skills to do the job you are picking them for.