I had breakfast with two Superdelegate friends this morning...

[brooklynite]

...They've received 90 emails demanding that they shift their support to Sanders.

It's not working.

[KingCharlemagne]

1. My, arent you precious? - nt

[SFnomad]

3. And aren't you bitter and envious n/t

[KingCharlemagne]

10. Im willing to bet those two superdelegates supported the Iraq War too. Because

war pigs of a feather stick together.

[MineralMan]

46. There's a war in the International Energy Agency?

I wasn't aware of that.

[FSogol]

80. I assumed he meant Ikea.

[MineralMan]

82. Well, after assembling a couple of things from IKEA, that makes sense.

I felt like going to war, for sure. I got the job done, but haven't been back to that place since.

[dchill]

127. Their stuff sucks.

Like the superdelegate concept.

[roguevalley]

134. some people on this board are wealthy and don't give a shit about the

inequality that's destroying this country. Others don't give a damn about democracy and will vote their wallet as a superdelegate even if the state didn't support that vote. They are sad, sad, sad.

[TheKentuckian]

137. Oh, the salon set gives a damn...they like it a lot and want to expand upon it.

If things snowball out of control then they can always hire one half of us to shoot the other half.

[Corporate666]

150. So because they are wealthy they don't care about inequality?

Does that also mean white people don't care about discrimination against blacks and asians?

Does it mean that men don't care about misogyny and rape?

Does it mean young people don't care about the issues facing the elderly? Or non-military folks don't care about veterans?



Or do you reserve your laughably stupid criticisms and personal attacks for members of groups that it's apparently OK to be hateful and bigoted about?

Grow up.

[DLevine]

158. I guess you missed the "some people" part.

Of course not all wealthy DUers are unconcerned about inequality. Some clearly are.

[Hortensis]

172. I'm not ashamed of being wealthy and having an

Ikea kitchen. Two actually, so I consider myself something of an expert. And of course disgracefully wealthy, though, being short and unable to reach most of the second shelf, I admit I incidentally saved money on both by skipping all overhead cabinets.

Mineral Man, the trick to assembling Ikea is to relax on the floor with a glass of wine and music and put together anything that can be done with that little L-shape tool. Then you turn anything else over to your husband (and son if it is a kitchen and not just a bookcase) and relax back with the rest of the bottle, making admiring noises now and then. I've never had a problem and would be happy to do it again.

[Sheepshank]

95. haa haa...weak atempt to divert from the OP...BS supporter actions are counterproductive

...in more ways that one.

1. Insult and badger and bully others to change votes
2. Attempt to deflect from the OP

both actions are miserable failures.

[snowy owl]

144. Two supers and frankly, my dear, who really gives a d***. What has this to do with policy?

The reason we Sanders people care is POLICY! Enjoy your lunches. Irrelevant to me.

[SidDithers]

15. They were unwilling to join the Sanders coalition...

Right?

Sid

[Csainvestor]

2. If they are elected officials they need to be voted out of office

If they are greedy lobbyists, let them continue feeding at the pig trough.

[SFnomad]

6. If they're elected officials, how dare they play by the rules n/t

[tonyt53]

8. For not bowing to "demands"? Typical response from a Bernie-ite.

[rurallib]

17. let's not be in a hurry to vote out every democrat you don't agree with 100%

Republicans are much, much worse on the whole.

[Blue_Adept]

28. If they don't support Bernie then they're not real Democrats

That's been the thinking around these parts for awhile, sadly.

[Armstead]

35. No but the vehemence of the clampdown does not represent small d democratic principles

I can see where people would support Clinton. But the attacks by the Democratic establishment and her supporters on what Sanders represents -- and positions that in a sane world would be mainstream liberal.progressive principles -- is undemocratic, and unDemocratic in the sense of what the party claims to stand for.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511954521

[Yavin4]

38. Yep. Bernie wasn't a real Democrat until last year

Why should an entire party be loyal to someone who's done nothing for the party over 40+ years.

[Dragonfli]

52. He has always caucused with the Democrats, he is more a Democrat than most in the party re issues

An independent in name only in many ways

He caucused with the Democrats for, 16 years in the United States House of Representatives, 10 years in the United States Senate;

where he served on many committees Representing the Democratic party such as the:

Committee on the Budget (Ranking Member)
Committee on Environment and Public Works
Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety
Subcommittee on Green Jobs and the New Economy
Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
Subcommittee on Energy
Subcommittee on National Parks
Subcommittee on Water and Power
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Subcommittee on Children and Families
Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging (Ranking Member)
Committee on Veterans' Affairs (chairman)

He has every right to expect respect from those he served with such loyalty and in so many capacities.
The Democratic party must consider him a true blue ally to have given him seats on so many committees.

He was also a co-founder of the Democratic Progressive caucus.

It appears to me the only one's that are offended by his former Independent status are all the Moderate Republicans that are far less honest and register as "Democrats" while voting for Republican policy, those "Democrats" are most often both conservative and liars


[font color="8B0000"]Also, compare her record to his perhaps you will gain an understanding of her right wing infiltration into the party[/font]

Your Right Wing meme appears to be that even with all his years of public service, a progressive like Bernie Sanders was too far to the left to accomplish anything, being a former Independent and all.

That one has to be able to find the buypartisan way, in other words, adopt the least offensive GOP legislation as your own if you wish to accomplish anything, if one is not a member of the Republican party itself.

The problem with this bullshit GOP meme is that it is completely false, he's actually one of the most effective members of Congress, passing bills, of all sizes and shapes, that have reshaped American policy on key issues like poverty, the environment and health care.

[center][font size=3"]The Amendment King[/font][/center]

....Congress is not known to be a progressive institution lately, to say the least. Over the past few decades, the House of Representatives was only controlled by the Democrats from 2007 to 2010, and a flood of corporate money has quieted the once-powerful progressive movement that passed legislation moving the country forward between the New Deal era and the Great Society. Yet, as difficult as it may be to believe, a socialist from Vermont is one of its most accomplished members. ....

snip

....Sanders did something particularly original, which was that he passed amendments that were exclusively progressive, advancing goals such as reducing poverty and helping the environment, and he was able to get bipartisan coalitions of Republicans who wanted to shrink government or hold it accountable and progressives who wanted to use it to empower Americans.

Here are a few examples of the amendments Sanders passed by building unusual but effective coalitions:....

[font color="red"]Much more, but due to the three paragraph rule you will have to follow this link[/font]
I dare those that pretend the GOP meme is true and are spreading it for them, to read the article!

There are so many examples in fact that you really need to read the entire article as it completely dispels this current Right Wing myth that Bernie Sanders after all his time in Congress achieved almost nothing, when in fact he was literally one of the most effective members of Congress! Read the facts in the article itself, clearly the GOP is spreading lies about him, after all, who besides Rove and the GOP would use such lying sleazy bullshit tactics against someone that helped Democrats get as much progressive policy put into effect during his tenure?...


[font size="3"][center]Robert Reich, Clinton Secretary of Labor, on Bernie's effectiveness in Congress[/font][/center]



He has done a great many good things for the Democratic party that they could not take credit for without him!

The following is a list of every substantive bill and amendment Sanders sponsored from the floor of Congress that became law (substantive meaning legislation renaming post offices is not included). Many of the roll-call amendments he passed with majority approval — like limiting the federal government’s ability to spy on people’s library records — were removed from bills when the House and Senate negotiated over the final legislative text and did not become law.

Because the list is derived from Congress’ official database of floor actions, it does not include achievements like his insertion of funding for veterans health care into an Iraq war spending bill because that occurred off of the House floor while the bill was in conference. Nor does the list include what is perhaps his most significant achievement — providing health care to an additional 10 million mostly low-income Americans by getting Senate majority leader Harry Reid to add $11 billion in funding for community health centers that provide care regardless of a person’s ability to pay to the 2010 Affordable Care Act in exchange for Sanders rallying liberal Democrats who were considering voting against the bill once conservative Democrats removed the public option.

Those who mistakenly believe that a President Sanders would be powerless in the face of a hostile Republican Congress should bear in mind that he managed to pass these bills and amendments in spite of Republican control of both the House (1995-2006) and the presidency (2001-2008). Furthermore, it was Republicans in the House and Senate who compromised with him (not the other way around) on major veterans legislation in 2014. His original bill expanding services for veterans and fixing the scandal-ridden Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) cost $17.3 billion. The price tag of the final compromise bill? $16.3 billion.

H.R.4206 (Cancer Registries Amendment Act) enacted as S. 3312 (Cancer Registries Amendment Act).

H.Amdt. 98 to H.R. 665 (Victims of Justice Act of 1995)

H.Amdt. 210 to H.R. 830 (Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995)

H.Amdt. 1203 to H.R. 3666 Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 1997

H.J.Res.129 enacted as S.J.Res.38 (A joint resolution granting the consent of Congress to the Vermont-New Hampshire Interstate Public Water Supply Compact)

H.Amdt.174 to H.R.1757 (Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998)

H.Amdt.267 to H.R.2160 (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998)

H.Amdt.289 to H.R.2266 (Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1998) -- National Guard Starbase program

H.Amdt.368 to H.R.2378 (Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 1998) -- Prohibit funds for the U.S. Customs Office from being used to allow the importation into the U.S. any material mined, produced, or manufactured by forced or indentured child labor.

H.Amdt.388 to H.R.2267 (Departments of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1998)

H.Amdt.569 to H.R.6 (Higher Education Amendments of 1998)

H.Amdt.614 to H.R.3694 (Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999) -- Reduce the intelligence budget for fiscal year 1999 by 5% with an exemption for the CIA Retirement and Disability Fund.

H.Amdt.626 to H.R.10 (Financial Services Act of 1998) -- Require the Comptroller General to report to Congress regarding the efficacy and benefits of uniformly limiting any commissions, fees, markups, or other costs incurred by customers in the acquisition of financial products.

H.Amdt.706 to H.R.4101 (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 1999) -- Increase funding for nutrition programs for senior citizens by $10 million

H.Amdt.708 to H.R.4103 (Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 1999) -- Prohibit funding to be used to enter into or renew a contract with any company owned, or partially owned, by the People’s Republic of China or the People’s Liberation Army of the People’s Republic of China.

H.Amdt.724 to H.R.4104 (Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 1999) enacted as H.R. 2490 (Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2000) -- National Archives and Records Administration improvements

H.Amdt.127 to H.R.1906 (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000)

H.Amdt.136 to H.R.1906 (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000) -- national pilot program to promote agritourism

H.Amdt.258 to H.R.2466 (Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000) enacted as H.R.3194 (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2000) -- deficit reduction; and reduces fossil energy research and development funding

H.Amdt.442 to H.R.2684 (Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2000) -- health care services for veterans in rural areas

H.Amdt.791 to H.R.4577 (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2001) -- (relating to the availability to the public of an invention and its benefits on reasonable terms)

H.Amdt.818 to H.R.4578 (Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001) -- weatherization assistance and energy conservation programs and reduce fossil fuel energy research and development programs

H.Amdt.238 to H.R.2590 (Treasury and General Government Appropriations Act, 2002) -- Prohibit the importation of goods made by forced or indentured child labor.

H.Amdt.376 to H.R.3061 (Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2002) -- relating to the availability to the public of an invention and its benefits on reasonable terms

H.Amdt.404 to H.R.3338 (Department of Defense and Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks on the United States Act, 2002) -- Provide $100 million for federally qualified community health centers.

H.Amdt.255 to H.R.2691 (Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004) -- Increase funding for weatherization assistance grants

H.Amdt.336 to H.R.2861 (Departments of Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2004) enacted as H.R.2673 (Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2004) -- Prohibit the use of funds in the bill to implement any policy prohibiting the Directors of the Veterans Integrated Service Networks from conducting outreach or marketing to enroll new veterans within their respective networks.

S.Amdt.737 to H.R.1591 (U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007) -- fund weatherization assistance program

S.Amdt.1515 to H.R.6 (Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007) -- Establish an energy efficiency and renewable energy worker training program

S.Amdt.1525 to H.R.6 (Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007) -- use of solar hot water heaters in certain Federal buildings

S.Amdt.4384 to H.R.3221 (Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008) -- Increase specially adapted housing benefits for disabled veterans.

S.Amdt.1658 to S.1390 (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010) -- re child care available to deployed members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces

S.Amdt.2271 to H.R.2997 (Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010) -- funds for the school community garden pilot program

S.Amdt.2601 to H.R.3326 (Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2010) -- veteran outreach and reintegration services

S.Amdt.3738 to S.3217 (Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010) -- let the American people know the names of the recipients of over $2 trillion in taxpayer assistance from the Federal Reserve System

S.Amdt.306 to H.R.1 (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) -- Require recipients of TARP funding to meet strict H-1B worker hiring standard to ensure non-displacement of U.S. workers

S.Amdt.1658 to S.1390 (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2010) -- report to Congress on financial assistance for child care available to deployed members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces.

S.Amdt.4280 to H.R.4899 (Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010) -- make publicly available the contractor integrity performance database established under the Clean Contracting Act of 2008

S.2450 (Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014) enacted as H.R.3230 (Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014) -- VA reform bill

S.893 (Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013) -- increase rates of veterans’ disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, etc.

S.Amdt.2146 to S.1471 (Alicia Dawn Koehl Respect for National Cemeteries Act) – re interring the remains and honoring the memory of a person in a national cemetery


[font size="3"; color="8B0000"]Lets Compare Hillary Clinton's commitment and "Democratic" values accomplished by way of comparison.[/font]

Not to say Hillary Clinton did not achieve some things during her six year hobby involved in legislating (the last two were spent campaigning and fundraising)

She managed to vote for the Patriot Act, for an illegal war, and even whip some votes with her passionate selling of the Bush/Cheney lies. (she deserves some credit for that,) and those of you that enjoy war should be and are rightfully quite proud of that.

As a Senator Clinton did get some things accomplished, Clinton sponsored three bills that became law: S.3145, S.3613, and S.1241. The first of these renamed a highway in New York state, the second renamed a post office in New York City, and the third established the Kate Mullany National Historic Site in Troy, New York and authorized funding to set the site up.

To be truly fair, she also tried to put an end to the epidemic of flag burning and ban some media, but these, her most favorite things were too hard for her to get done, she just couldn't get them passed, she may have lacked the chops to do it, but BUT SHE TRIED REAL HARD!

The United States Family Entertainment Protection Act (FEPA) was a bill introduced by Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY), and co-sponsored by Senators Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Tim Johnson (D-SD) and Evan Bayh (D-IN) on November 29, 2005. The bill called for a federal mandate enforcement of the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) ratings.

Unsuccessfully unfortunately for the more puritan among us, sigh, if only she were more effective at passing such laws, we would finally be safe from cluster bombs, eerr.. I mean f-bombs (she voted against ending the use of child killing cluster bombs, my "misspeak" or my bad, if you prefer) she likes cluster bombs, so much so that after some donations to very, very, special charity, she made sure as SoS to sell cluster bombs to those altruistic rulers of Saudi Arabia! She deserves credit for that!

The kids just love playing with those rather than video games.

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2008/03/13/cluster-bombs-are-not-good-children-hillary

She is basically a moderate Republican that Registered as a Democrat
He was Basically an FDR Democrat that Registered as an Independent (likely because he did not want to be identified with the ever increasing Right Wing infiltration and taint of such an anti worker "modern" party.

Yet he still voted and enacted more Democratic amendments and laws than most DLC Democrats would even dream of or even want to (their priority instead since the early nineties being largely deregulation of banks, corporations and everything else under the sun, privatization of as much of the commons as possible, media consolidation and Corporatization, safety net shredding welfare destruction, and tough on mostly minority crimes involving possession of weed and other substances to grow the prison industrial complex beyond anything seen in even China or North Korea.

You are either being grossly unfair or are misrepresenting the truth while obfuscating reality, or perhaps are simply grossly uninformed regarding what you appear to post about with such a propped up sense of false authority. I don't much care for any of those options and find you unworthy of reading, let alone responding to you ever again.

[LiberalFighter]

60. Yet he stated: "I am not now, nor have I ever been, a liberal Democrat."

1985 New England Monthly profile, according to Politico.

[Dragonfli]

70. His record speaks volumes, his remarks likely aimed at neoliberals, what doe his record say? /nt

[Sheepshank]

98. He was disgusted by, ridiculed and hated Democrats for decades

the fact that he caucused with them, simply means that he conceded to agree with some of their platforms and bills. Even Republicans crossed over some times.

[Fast Walker 52]

118. so why exactly did he hate Democrats?

hmm...

[Hortensis]

173. Fast Walker, that "why" goes both ways.

Why did none of these people who worked with him for years like and respect him enough to support him, or even have a social lunch with him? I'd love to have heard what they said about the anti-democrat senator's plan to save the "soul" of the Democratic Party from liberals. Lol!

You know, supporting an anti-establishment candidate does not require assuming he is competent or honorable. The only requirement is that he be sufficiently hostile toward and potentially destructive of the establishment, and his support suggests Bernie fulfills that requirement.

I just wish those of Sanders' anti-establishment supporters who actually plan to vote for Trump, regardless of who the Democrat nominee is, were honest enough to both come out themselves and to admit that honor and competence are not among their motivators, for him as president or themselves as citizens.

[George II]

139. Well you got that right - "his record speaks volumes". Can't argue with that!

[riderinthestorm]

77. 31 years ago.... nt

[silvershadow]

155. Funny how 31 years later he looks like the ONLY Democrat in

congress now, isn't it? I can't wait to see where we all go from here, together.

[DemonGoddess]

113. In 2004, he was STILL saying

that he DESPISED Democrats.

[Dragonfli]

125. Quote please? I do not accept methane gas claims retrieved from lower orifices. /nt

[frylock]

142. Despised?

Yeah, Id like to see a link to that as well kplzthx.

[silvershadow]

156. Yes, me three. nt

[thesquanderer]

163. I assume it was true when he said it, 31 years ago.

But really, everyone knows that, until this became the only viable way to seek the presidency, he has consistently called himself an independent... albeit one who just as consistently supported the liberal wing of the Democratic party. And one who Democrats generally did not put up any candidate to run against. Which effectively made him a Dem for practical purposes, albeit not for rhetorical ones.

[baldguy]

143. How totalitarian of you.

[LonePirate]

63. What if their constituents voted for Hillary?

Should they not follow the will of their voters?

[anigbrowl]

122. For what, having a different opinion from you?

The authoritarianism I see from some folks around here is just bizarre.

[Dem2]

123. So silly

Takes all the fun out of the conversation when people say silly things that make no sense at all.

[Luminous Animal]

4. Oooh 90! They must have totally overwhelmed their work schedules.

Before email, we activists would do fax blasts. We could easily send 90 faxes in an hour from one machine.

[hobbit709]

5. Well, aren't you special?

[panader0]

16. Brook IS special--a self proclaimed 1 percenter.

[BootinUp]

7. I'm surprised its only 90. Truly. nt

[FreakinDJ]

9. Hillary unifying the party or getting enough votes to beat Trump

its not working

[BillZBubb]

18. Perfect! Bill Lumbergh clone (or disciple)

[Katashi_itto]

20. Exactly!

[brush]

30. I like that movie. I watch it whenever I run across it on cable

[Arugula Latte]

12. Lol.

Thanks for the laugh!

[ThePhilosopher04]

13. Who paid for breakfast?

[BillZBubb]

19. If they are Hillary superdelegates, Goldman Sachs, at least indirectly.

[brooklynite]

23. We all did...fundraiser for one of our Senate candidates

You agree that it's good to elect more democrats, right?

[Armstead]

39. depends on the Democrat and what they stand for and actually do

[brooklynite]

51. Well, since Bernie only endorsed three candidates (and nobody for Senate)...

...guess I'll have to use my own approach: the most progressive person who can actually win.

[Armstead]

53. That's fine....You asked a hypothetical question and I gave a hypothetical answer

[dchill]

128. Depends on who's paying them.

[BillZBubb]

14. Hobnobbing with the establishment. How wonderful for you.

You must be someone really important!

[socialist_n_TN]

26. That got a LOL!........

[Dragonfli]

66. He felt special, I'm sure, but their remarks to him were likely along these lines-

[MineralMan]

21. I talked to one not long ago.

It was my congressional representative. Her Facebook page had been under attack because she is a superdelegate who plans to vote for Clinton. I asked her about it, and she said she's also gotten many emails, some of which have been turned over to law enforcement.

She's not a friend, exactly. She's my congresswoman. But I do get to chat with her occasionally. That's no so unusual. I noticed some had sniped at you for knowing two superdelegates. Anyone who is active in Democratic Party organizations knows a superdelegate or two. I guess not everyone is active that way.

[NurseJackie]

34. For many, posting on DU is considered by them ...

... as being "active in politics" ... in my opinion.

[MineralMan]

41. I'm sure that's true. I love DU, and am very active here.

However, I do not consider my participation here to be real political activism. That happens in individual states, districts and precincts, and through participation in party organizations.

DU is a wonderful venue, but it's not a place for actual activism. Too small an audience and too scattered nationally. Nothing that happens here affects any election, frankly. It's just a place to discuss, argue and complain.

[1StrongBlackMan]

40. You better be careful ...

You'll be mocked for ... you know ... being a part of the process.

[MineralMan]

42. Nothing new about being mocked.

My skin is both water and mock-proof.

[LisaM]

72. Two people have been arrested for going after my congressman, Jim McDermott

He's generally considered the most liberal Democrat in Congress, yet someone here at DU trashed him for having become a "corporatist".

[MineralMan]

74. I'm very sad to read that. It's a pity that some people

are so bent out of shape that they resort to threats against elected officials. Sad business, indeed.

For those who aren't aware of how serious this is, here's a link to a story about one of those who was arrested:

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/crime/charges-man-threatened-to-cut-off-jim-mcdermotts-tongue/

[LisaM]

83. They broke up Patty Murray's speech at the Snohomish County convention, too.

I'd like to think that most of this is just misplaced enthusiasm, but I also think there's an element of danger, too.

[MineralMan]

84. There are dangerous people connected with many things, but

politics seems to attract them more than most issues.

[hootinholler]

22. So how do they feel about nominating a candidate

Who is under an FBI investigation?

Are they Ok with that?

[brooklynite]

25. Doesn't bother me; doesn't bother them; doesn't bother Sherrod Brown; doesn't bother Russ Feingold

I could keep going but I don't have that much time

[timmymoff]

45. No time?

Are you to busy writing about how you will be sharing lunch with the queen of hearts? Maybe you and Walter Mitty will be sharing story time?

[cherokeeprogressive]

65. Walter Mitty LOL or maybe Jon Lovitz. nt

[CoffeeCat]

106. That's some insight, right there

If what you're saying is true, these political insiders are not bothered by the FBI investigation surrounding Clinton's use of her private email server.

I can't say I'm surprised, but I find it fascinating how the human mind works. Some of the smartest, most successful people can remain blind to the realities that surround them.

It reminds me of "The Big Short" which revealed how some of the brightest minds in finance--people who had created this financial house of cards--were gobsmacked when it all blew to hell. The overwhelming majority of them were completely blind to the reality and to the potential fallout--because they were hyperfocused on self-preservation and the rewards they were reaping.

People see what they want to see.

If what you say is indeed true (and if these people are being honest), then many will truly be gobsmacked if she is indicted.

I've read a great deal about what Clinton did--the facts. I've also read about the laws regarding classified information, as well as the NDA Clinton signed. I read about previous Clinton scandals, including Benghazi and dismissed them outright as right-wing lies. The FBI investigation into her server is different. Very different. All you have to do is read about what she did, and read about the law--and it is crystal clear that she broke laws and deserved to be indicted. So, if little ol' me can figure this out--why can't Sherrod Brown, Russ Feingold or someone as politically well versed as yourself get it?

The truth is--you see what you want to see. You're so invested in Clinton winning that you ignore certain information and magnify other information to fit with your own narrative. It's no different that the financial wizards who were selling risky mortgage-backed securities on the secondary market--who had no clue.

I don't pretend to have a crystal ball. I don't know what's going to happen. However, I'm not ignorant about the reality--but many are, according to you. And some of them are seasoned politicians.

I don't think this bodes well for the Democratic party. No one is ever at their best when they are blown down by a crisis. This has the potential to throw our party into chaos--before the Democratic National Convention and during a Presidential race.

Thanks for sharing what you did.

[thesquanderer]

166. It obviously isn't bothering these SDs today. The questions are...

...would they be as resistant to changing if Bernie somehow managed to win more pledged delegates by the time of the convention? Or if some significant legal shoe drops on Hillary between now and then? Not that I expect either of these things to happen, but I wouldn't entirely rule them out, either.

The other factor is if polls--not now, but closer to the convention--show Hillary in significant risk of losing to Trump, and Bernie beating him decisively. Since one could argue that one reason SDs exist is to help assure a victory in November, this could be a reason to at least give it consideration.

[Shadowflash]

29. Says a lot

Doesn't it?

Gotta do whatever it takes to keep the gravy train going.

[brush]

37. We know that's you guys' great fervent hope, but an indictment ain't gonna happen

Kinda like Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi, this never-ending investigation keeps going and going and going, Energizer rabbit like — how long has it been now?

If it was gonna happen it already would have.

[hootinholler]

48. 8 or 9 months IIRC

That the FBI has had it. Benghazi hearings? Yeah they were bullshit.

The thing is, that it was a botched response to a FOIA request that led to an IG review (Hillary had no IG when she was at State) that led to a referral to the FBI.

So, are my hopes pinned on the results? Not per se` as I have gone from being astounded that the party would consider nominating someone who would be under attack from before they were even sworn in over the baggage they are dragging around, to nominating someone who is under an FBI investigation. Especially when from publicly available information, there appears to be enough evidence to support an indictment.

But, hey, I'm not pinning my hopes on that, more like I'm cringing in fear of that.

[boobooday]

57. Yes, everything you said

Nothing will get done for the people-- it will just be endless scandals, old and new, Hillary and Bill.

And setting up the email outside the State Department was just bad judgement, no matter what the outcome or the motivation for doing it.

Heavy sigh.

[Tarc]

24. Damn, we've seen a fair bit of vitriol lately, but the Berniefan carping in this thread

takes the gold medal.

[morningfog]

32. This poster has a history of smugly self-important proclamations and name-dropping.

Either lies or compensation for something.

[1StrongBlackMan]

43. Or relating his life experience, perhaps.

[Jitter65]

49. One thing for sure, you never really know to whom you are responding here, do you,?

i would venture to say the some super delegate votes have been set in stone AFTER reading some posts here and some threatening e-mails.

[cherokeeprogressive]

67. Set in stone after reading posts here.

[morningfog]

68. I am sure super delegates frequent DU and make decisions based on what they read, LOL!

[sheshe2]

116. Alan Grayson has posted here

...and is a super delegate. How do you know others don't?

[Autumn]

91. They post a lot during government work hours too.

[Shadowflash]

27. Oy.

[NurseJackie]

55. Well! I do declare ... I think detect a hint of jealousy.

... mixed with a touch of bitterness.


"You know what they say? Jealousy is a wasted emotion that makes your hair turn gray. And bitterness causes wrinkles and makes your bosoms sag. Isn't that right, Dorothy? Tell 'em ... you know!"

[Shadowflash]

59. Hahaha!

You need a new 'detector'.


Hahahahaha!

[NurseJackie]

62. Blanche Devereaux knows all!

[redstatebluegirl]

31. I have a friend from home who has been getting nasty phone calls and emails for weeks.

She told me it was not normally this hard being a super delegate. She said the Bernie people are so threatening she has reported a couple of them to the DNC. Just so they know it isn't working, they are making their candidate look worse than normal.

[Armstead]

44. yes they're such awful violent people

https://vimeo.com/166314068

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1949454

[redstatebluegirl]

50. From the tone of her emails, yes, some of them are scary and Bernie is doing nothing to stop it.

[kstewart33]

78. Amstead, some Bernie supporters are way, way out of line.

Harassing and threatening super delegates is a terrible strategy and only makes supers that much more determined to stay with Clinton.

Makes me wonder about the mental state of those people.

But I'm convinced that they are a small minority of Bernie's supporters. I just wish they would stop.

[Armstead]

107. I don't defend bad behavior...But too many pepope use it to imply that...

it either characterizes the vast majority of Sanders supporters or is limited to his campaign. The politest word is campaign propaganda.

I would like to know how many of the "harassing and threatening calls" to superdelegates are actually that, or are simply people urging them to vote for Sanders, as is their right in a democracy.

I am sure there are some who are out of line, but...

People made calls like that to Congress to try to get them to not support Bush's Iraq War. Was that out of line?

Political movements stir up people's emotions. That's the nature of them. Some go over the line of acceptable behavior but that can not be used to disparage the basic intent.

And people have different lines of that. Is a forceful statement "rude bullying " or simply a citizen expressing themselves?

[Matariki]

47. I expect the Superdelegates in my state to follow the will of the voters

which was overwhelmingly for Sanders. That's what they should do.

And yes, I've emailed them letting them know that if they don't I won't be voting for them again and will put time and money into helping less entrenched candidates take their place.

[brooklynite]

56. Have you informed Alan Grayson that he should follow suit in Florida?

[morningfog]

33. If it bothers them, they should support ending the idiocy of super delegates in the process.

[kstewart33]

81. I'm with you on ending supers.

I'm also hoping that the Democratic Party abolishes caucuses and limits primary voters to registered Democrats, and gives the public plenty of time to change their party affiliation before the primary occurs.

It's fair and more democratic and common sense.

[Bluenorthwest]

88. The Democratic Party has been very caucus happy, Nevada just started theirs in 2008

Harry Reid was a big proponent. The Democratic Party of Washington sued the State of Washington to be allowed to continue to caucus when the State moved to mail in primary.

[kstewart33]

89. Well, the party was wrong.

Caucuses shut out too many voters - those who work when the caucus occurs, people who can't afford babysitters, and so on.

I'd wager that they are more vulnerable to fraud than primaries.

[trudyco]

133. I don't think it's that bad

We had people of all ages. We had people bring their kids. We had 80 year olds asking for a little help holding them steady while they waited in line. We had people driven up and dropped off so they could be at the front of the line with their crutches. The only problem I saw was parking, lack of space for the number of folks and the college kids who couldn't get home to vote. So even though we were Bernie 2 to1 it wasn't from College age voters.

With caucusing at least you know the vote counting machines aren't being rigged. Not like everywhere else this primary.

[Buddyblazon]

36. Crazy...

I had brunch yesterday with 5 of my superdelegate friends. Their all voting for Bernie.

[Fast Walker 52]

117. LOL!

you're a lucky fella

[okasha]

145. Goodness!

That's 12% of all Bernie's supers!

[Turin_C3PO]

54. My belief

is that SD's should go with the will of the state, on principle. Hillary would still win, fair and square. Of course I don't like the idea of SD's at all (this is not a new belief, I've been against the idea since I learned about them).

[TacoD]

58. NY superdelegates should support Hillary because she won NY. Superdelegates in states that Bernie

won should support Bernie. And all superdelegates should ultimately support the candidate that won the most pledged delegates.

[Matariki]

61. sure you did.

[brooklynite]

64. Sorry, you can't have it both ways...

...either I'm an obnoxious 1%er who hobnobs with the political elite, or I'm making it all up. You can't beat me up for both.

As for which: my identity isn't kept secret. Feel free to look up my FEC filings.

[aspirant]

104. How do we know that you haven't just assumed this identity.

Please provide complete ID info with fingerprints.

[dlwickham]

171. credit card numbers and banking informaiton as well

can't hurt to ask

[Buns_of_Fire]

69. Debbie Schultz told me roughly the same thing yesterday when we did lunch.

"These are honorable people," she said. "When they're bought off, they STAY bought off!"

Then she excused herself to take an important call from Hillary (so she said), and stuck me with the bill. I thought that was a little tacky on her part, since I know she has a Gold(man) Card with no spending limit (although, I must admit, the Peasant Under Glass was very tasty, and went well with the '54 Dom Perignon).

But all in all, the Dalai Lama is a lot more fun to hang around.

[DLevine]

71. I had brunch with God yesterday.

She's definitely in the Bernie camp.

[whatchamacallit]

73. Big Shot

[Dragonfli]

75. So you are saying they're honest politicians as the saying goes -

An honest politician is one who, when he is bought, will stay bought.
Simon Cameron
US financier & politician (1799 - 1889)

[brooklynite]

76. I tend to subscribe more to Jesse Unruh:

"If you can't eat their food, drink their booze, screw their women, take their money and then vote against them you've got no business being up here."

That said, both of them actually LIKE Hillary Clinton...like millions of Democratic voters do.

[Dragonfli]

90. They like the donations she gets them I'm sure, many "people" like Trump as well, but I like neither

NPD is an unbecoming trait to my eyes, But others like those personality types.

Maybe I'd feel different were I wealthy and had much to gain from either one, being a mere commoner, I will suffer more under either.

I suppose If a well off person that would gain even from those with that condition one could easily over look such a flaw and find one incredibly likable.
.

[Mike Nelson]

79. If all the SuperDelegates...

...voted for who got the most votes, Hillary would still win. If they all voted for who won their respective states, Hillary would still win. Plus, if you want someone to see your side, don't "demand" they switch. I think being polite works better.

[Bluenorthwest]

85. 90 emails between two people is not an onslaught, it's a slight.

The fact that they both counted them is hugely amusing to me. Hugely. They must be new to public life.

[Thinkingabout]

86. Hey, Brook, is there any more room under the bus? Looks like you have been thrown so far you

will be a long time finding you way out, huh. Some are having a really hard time, hang in there, there are some jealous people around.

[brooklynite]

92. I work in public transportation; plenty of buses available.

[Thinkingabout]

96. Yes, but what most do not understand is we are having a party under the bus, I like our position,

you are doing a great job, keep it up.

[catnhatnh]

87. Let's parse this just like it was coming from the lips of a Clinton

....OK-reading between the lines it is fully possible that both superdelegates are committed Sanders supporters already and therefore cannot shift their' votes. See-Brooklynite is bringing us good news but wants to tell us the way his hero would!

[lbrtbell]

93. By all means, ignore the people's wishes!

You people won't be happy until we get President Trump.

[gaspee]

100. I would think the people's wishes

where Brooklynite lives would be for them to vote for Secretary Clinton.

[anigbrowl]

124. You don't speak for the people

I'm always amused by those who seem to think they have some inside track on what 'the people' want.

[Sheepshank]

174. I think you messed up...you should have said:

By all means, ignore the MAJORITY of people's wishes .

...the majority has chosen Hillary. You seem the think that the losing minority should get to call the shots. What form of government (besides a dictatorship) does that?

[beaglelover]

94. LOL!! Really? Bernie is delusional!!

[workinclasszero]

97. I guess the bro swarm, brow beating and death threats

against the undemocratic corporate whores didn't work then huh?

Go figure?

[procon]

99. I'm bad with math; what percent is 90 out of 50 million voters? nt

[CanadaexPat]

101. Democracy's such a bother. n/t

[liberal N proud]

103. If you can't win by elections, do it the old fashioned way...

Steal it!

The votes are nearly all in and BS isn't going to win, so they plan on stealing it through conventions and pressure on the SD's

How undemocratic of them.

[jack_krass]

105. Oh aren't you just so special....

I feel honored just being in the same message room with someone as important as you are.

[Renew Deal]

108. 90 is less than I expected

[Gothmog]

109. The super delegates I know cannot be flipped by the bernie bros

[taught_me_patience]

110. BS supporters crapping on this thread is pretty sad

it says more about them than the OP.

[aikoaiko]

169. Brooklynite took his shot in the OP. Return fire was his expectation

I'm sure.

Hilliarians love to play victim.

[lumberjack_jeff]

111. You're a 1%-er insider... we get it, really.

What brought you to a site called "underground"?

With all due respect, I hope your experience at the convention, and those of your establishment peers, is not what you expect it to be.

There's two ways at looking at the responsibility of superdelegates;
1) They should reflect the will of their constituents. Since many of them are just lobbyists, big donors or other patronage insiders, this is a weak argument - and besides, that would make them irrelevant. No point of superdelegates whose votes carry the weight of tens of thousands of their fellow citizens if their job wasn't to overrule those voters.
2) They should save the party from electing a nominee who won't get elected or, if she does, will be impeached in the first six months due to an FBI investigation the broad outlines of which were available long before the convention.

The point of superdelegates is to overrule the will of the voters, should it prove necessary. In this case, it's necessary.

[brooklynite]

114. Please elaborate...I'm always up for a good show.

Maybe a protest demanding that the voice of the majority of Democratic voters be ignored?

A riot if you don't get your way?

That'd certainly be a good kickoff for the Trump campaign.

[lumberjack_jeff]

115. That ship already sailed.

Your beloved system is already equipped to ignore the voice of the majority of democratic voters.

It's a feature.

Clinton is unfit to be the nominee.

[Fast Walker 52]

120. it's called politics, and people are fighting for what's important to them

would you prefer people just lie down and vote for Hillary?

Never mind, don't bother answering.

[BootinUp]

112. The attacks on you here are extremely distasteful and just mean.

My understanding is that some DU rules changes are coming after the primary is officially over.

Thank you for the info.

[Fast Walker 52]

119. oh for pete's sake... what did Brooklynite expect when they made this breezy post

about lunching with two super-delegate friends???



Specifically, the title of the post could have been that super-delegates are getting harassed by Bernie's people and they know because he talked to them.

But no, the title is all about brooklynite being friends with super-delegates.

[BootinUp]

121. I don't see how that changes anything. Are you saying

he is taunting people intentionally?

[anigbrowl]

126. Is there something wrong with being well-connected?

I find Brooklynites' posts very interesting as I don't have the time or inclination to develop a career in politics myself.

[Fast Walker 52]

159. nothing wrong with being well-connected, but as I explained, it's how the post was framed

[Nanjeanne]

129. Is that 90 apiece or 90 each? Man they had to actually count all those emails. Dedication.

[MisterP]

130. they have a choice between someone who won't even notice if they went against him

vs. someone who'll punish them even if they do everything she says

[Squinch]

131. It is the political equivalent of holding their breath and stamping their feet because

they did not get their way.

[Agony]

132. Bill Clinton and….?

cough it up

[ScreamingMeemie]

135. i had breakfast by myself this morning...

I still support Bernie Sanders I know. I'm a nobody, but I still have values.

[sheshe2]

136. Sorry for the bullies.

The attack was uncalled for.

Thanks for the Op, brook.

[Cha]

148. Yes.. excellent display on board.. why the Super Dels aren't bowing to their "demands".

[neverforget]

138. I had dinner with my family last night. We're all voting for Bernie

despite the phone calls and emails to support Hillary.

[nadinbrzezinski]

140. Do they attend the same salons you do?

Well connected and well heeled, By the way, I am not surprised. I know that a local congressman was told that labor will not work for him this year, due to his TTP vote He did not care. It might cost him the seat.

[frylock]

141. I saw a crow on a tree outside my house today.

[Armstead]

164. I don't know why but that made me laugh out loud

[jfern]

146. Here's what happened with Rep. Nolan (D-MN)

Nolan's campaign manager, former DFL legislator Joe Radinovich, told the Wall Street Journal the Democratic congressman was getting a lot of pressure from Sanders backers approaching him at public events. One political donor contacted Nolan's re-election team to say he wouldn't give another dollar unless Nolan endorsed the Vermont socialist for president.

In fact, the most Nolan had done to that point was reaffirm his neutrality. When he was listed in some accounts as a Clinton superdelegate, Nolan quickly madRep Nolan e clear he wasn't supporting either candidate yet.

He is now: Over the weekend, Nolan threw his support to Sanders, citing "the will of Minnesota caucus attendees" — Sanders won Minnesota's contest with 61 percent of the DFL vote — as one of several reasons for his endorsement

http://www.citypages.com/news/us-rep-rick-nolan-joins-bernie-sanders-superdelegate-count-8193536

[Cha]

147. I wouldn't imagine it would, brooklynite.. thank you for the report. the ol Super Dels who

they and BS castigated for two months.. now they're demanding support. lol

[AgingAmerican]

149. Cool story bro

[akbacchus_BC]

151. Who are you trying to school? Let me guess - the Bernie supporters. You have a

lot of influence, don't you! I call BS on your post and please feel free to report me!

And for the record, people who have influence on the Super Delegates do not post on here.

[jillan]

152. "people who have influence on the Super Delegates do not post on here." May I add

all day long!

I totally agree with everything you said.

[akbacchus_BC]

153. Thank you Jillan. Apart from President Obama, now you all have

someone like Mr. Sanders who is calling it like it is to make America better and for some reason, he gained traction but the super delegates are with Mrs. Clinton. Mr. Sanders is promoting the heart and soul of America, the working class, he knows that the middle class is dwindling but for sure he wants poor people to be in a better position. I don't see Mrs. Clinton as rooting for poor people.

[Live and Learn]

154. Another boorish post. nt

[B Calm]

157. I had breakfast with 51 Superdelegate friends this morning...

...They've received 799 emails demanding that they stay loyal to the DNC conservative preferred candidate,

It's not working.

[Thinkingabout]

160. Maybe to the candidate who has over three million votes than her opponent. Not the reason for super

delegates, but you know that already.

[B Calm]

161. The only thing I know is that there is a lot of BULLSHIT being thrown around in

this thread, but you know that already.

[Thinkingabout]

162. Yes, I know bullshit when I see it.

[DemocraticWing]

165. The only way I could have breakfast with you all is to be the waiter.

[aikoaiko]

167. Let me guess -- not enough donations to superpaks and bundlers to get their attention.

What are their email addresses? I send them some love.

[riversedge]

168. Glad to hear that. Yet Sanders fans continue to waste their time.

[dlwickham]

170. only 90?

come on bern bros! we know you can spit out 90 emails in 5 minutes

let's hit 900!!!!

[Sancho]

175. A number of progressive pundits have mentioned abuse by Blemmings...

I've heard bits from Rachael Maddow, Thom Hartmann, Stephanie Miller, and others. They all reported attacks when they tried to discuss or report anything critical about Bernie or even factual stories.

Harassing the super delegates, harassing members of the DNC, and harassing Hillary supporters is the MO of Bernie's campaign. That strategy has hurt Bernie's effort and guaranteed that Bernie will lose.