Irony of ironies. Clinton and "Bernie Bros" vs Trump

[Godhumor]

From USA Today:

“Bernie Bros’’ are the frequently misogynist and occasionally obscene Internet denizens who in posts and tweets have relentlessly derided Clinton (“Shillary’’) as too old, too compromised and/or too much of a card-carrying female to be president.

...

But now, with Clinton headed toward a showdown with the GOP’s master of the Internet insult, there arises a new, and ironic, concern: Where will Bernie Bros — and, more importantly, the general digital passion and energy that they represent — go?

...


No one will know until Sanders decides when and how to concede. If he enthusiastically endorses Clinton and energetically campaigns for her, some of his online passion will follow.

...

Mirzoeff estimates that between a third and a half of Sanders’ online “energy’’ — a function of individual support and collective passion — will go to Clinton, mostly because her opponent is the feared and loathed Trump.

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The article jumps around quite a lot, but there is a lot of stuff in their about social media presence, Trump, the Barrier Breakers initiative, etc.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/05/12/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-social-media-supporters/84284322/

[highprincipleswork]

1. Luckily Bernie Bros is mostly made-up. But where will the Bernie supporters go with all their

enthusiasm and energy? Depends on how the Democratic Party treats them.

Will it decide to be "Democratic" and inclusive after all, or will it shit on them and run to the Right like Ronald Reagan, like they usually have done recently?

The sweet spot would be inclusion. The popularity of Bernie's ideas has been shown in the amount of people he has attracted, besides being the far less known candidate (starting from virtually zero). Also by the fact that Hillary has mirrored many of his positions all season - she must have done that for a reason.

To change now, to swing rightward in search of some mythical creature that isn't there and to abandon all this enthusiasm and energy, that simply wouldn't make much sense. But I don't count on the Democratic Party to make sense or represent my interests anymore. I hope they surprise me. That is, if Bernie doesn't outright win.

[apnu]

4. Agreed, inclusion is the best option for the party.

The energy Bernie's generated is incredible. The Democrats would be fools to throw that away.

I see no reason why progressives and liberals can't do this together. Both have excellent qualities that America needs.

I'd be cool with a Clinton-Sanders ticket, or a Clinton-Warren ticket. Or a Clinton-"any progressive" ticket. Hillary needs someone to keep her in check as she drifts to the right with out realizing it. Such is the danger of being a moderate, the area between right and left, when so close to the center gets blurry.

[apnu]

2. I'm not sure Bernie's supporters will appreciate Bernie campaigning for Hillary

Given the PUMA-esque language they use here and in other places (Facebook, Reddit, Twitter)

There's this mythology about Bernie that's been built up about him, and in that mythology, Bernie and Bernie alone can save us all from the evils of the world. Bernie is, to them, the one and only savor, all others are found wanting or, in Hillary's case, the actual devil incarnate. To them, Hillary is the worst disaster that will ever befall America and we will be a smoking crater the day after Hillary takes the oath of office. With this absolutist fiction, how then could it ever be acceptable to Bernie supporters that Bernie campaign for Hillary?

But then all this, including my post here, is on the Internet and one thing we all know about the Internet: all things are black or white. All things are this or that. All things are the best or the worst. There is no middle ground on the Internet, everything is in its extreme, there is no compromise.

So then its probably impossible for Bernie to campaign for Hillary in any capacity and have that be acceptable to Bernie's supporters. They've whipped themselves up into to much of a frenzy.

FYI, I support Bernie, but I refuse to be caught up in the frenzy or display my allegiance in an avatar and a cute sig like a lemming.

[Buzz Clik]

3. Other than an insatiable desire for free stuff, most true Bernie Bros are Trumplike.

Seeing those rude bastards depart for Trump will be no surprise and no small relief.

[timmymoff]

5. Free stuff? Talk about a right wing smear.

But then again, you do support the corporate candidate of the 1%

[Buzz Clik]

8. These jackasses parading as "progressives" are the dregs.

Is this your crew?

[timmymoff]

9. I consider those

who use terms like "free stuff" to be the dregs. But then again the Hillarity supporters are known for their research.

[frylock]

7. Another fresh nug pulled straight from yer arse.

[frylock]

6. Whatever will the Obama Boys do?

[LexVegas]

11. "frequently misogynist". Understatement. nt

[Armstead]

12. "Where the Bros are"

(This is more all encompassing than the title would indicate)