I've been thinking about Bernie's request to meet with the President

[boston bean]

I know a dangerous thing... LOL

However, it begs a few questions. Why can't he work this out with Hillary? Why does he have to run to Obama to help him through this. It's pretty disrespectful, if you were to ask me. Running to a powerful man to help him negotiate with the woman who beat him in the primaries is really poor form. No respect for the historical, momentous occasion. Does he think Obama wields some special power over Hillary and he can get more from him. Or that Obama will make Hillary do something she doesn't want to?

I think he's in for a mighty big surprise if that is the case.

[sufrommich]

1. He's a sore loser and vindictive,that's become

increasingly obvious.

[CreekDog]

86. must have company because someone here alerted the OP

[msanthrope]

2. He's going to the man he thinks is in charge. That's what he's doing. nt

[boston bean]

6. And then to the second man in charge... Harry Reid. And then... maybe Hillary.

[msanthrope]

41. Funny....you know, there's something unexplored by the press. Bernie's lack of relationship

with Elizabeth Warren. It's an interesting thought.

[randome]

76. That...is indeed interesting.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Never stop having childhood dreams.[/center][/font][hr]

[msanthrope]

96. All the scrutiny on HRC/Warren. No one ever asked why Bernie apparently has little to no

relationship with Warren. As a more senior statesman of a neighboring state, with shared Progressive goals, one wonders why Bernie has not built that bridge.

[HumanityExperiment]

3. Convention

http://www.cnn.com/2016/06/08/politics/democratic-platform-fight/index.html

Obama and the other establishment DEMs are going to try to prevent Bernie from being the fly in the ointment come convention

[thesquanderer]

4. Obama could have special insight into the situation...

...since 8 years ago, he was on the opposite side of the exact same "negotiation" with the same person.

[boston bean]

5. What is so special about this?

[thesquanderer]

16. I'm not sure I understand your question, but...

In any kind of negotiation, it can be helpful to talk to people who have negotiated with that person before.

And when you're in an unusual difficult situation, it can be good to talk to someone who has gone through it.

Not only has Obama also been through the experience of a strong second place finisher conceding the nomination for President, he is also the only person on Earth who has gone through that experience with Hillary Clinton (albeit from the other side).

He could have a good idea, for example, about what she thinks is reasonable for the 2nd place finisher to demand, where she is more or less likely to amenable to discussion, what arguments she finds persuasive, etc.

In addition, a common friend of influence could help smooth over differences between the two of them.

I'm sure Obama is not the only person he is consulting with about this, but it seems pretty obvious that it could be helpful to talk to him.

[boston bean]

19. Obama won the nomination. Bernie lost.

Maybe he should have asked to meet with the second in charge... Joe Biden.

or maybe Bernie actually has more in common with Hillary...

[thesquanderer]

30. No reason he can't talk to Biden as well if he wants.

He's allowed to talk with more than one person about this and get different perspectives. Obama still has the unique experience of knowing how Hillary thinks in a similar situation. Obama is still in a unique position of being the single most influential third party who could help smooth over difficult points if need be.

[boston bean]

33. Thankfully, personal attacks like the ones you are making on me in this thread here

will not be allowed in just a little bit more time.

[boston bean]

39. I don't think so. They are perfectly valid discussion topics.

You know like supporting the Democratic Nominee. Supporting Democrats.

[boston bean]

44. So sweet.

[Squinch]

92. Yikes! I think we call that a venom spew. I suspect there will be a number of

those in lieu of "TOMBSTONE ME NOW" posts from our friends who do not like this site anymore.

Gird your loins, girlfriend!

[boston bean]

94. Loins are girded!

[Squinch]

95. Incoming!!!!!

[stonecutter357]

49. Are you a Berniebro ?

[TheCowsCameHome]

46. Awwww,

someone can dish it out, but not take it?

[boston bean]

47. What personal attacks have I dished out?

[Squinch]

89. I can't help but notice that you didn't receive an answer on that. Hmmm.....

[Florencenj2point0]

53. way different.... Hillary talked to Obama directly

she has ten times the class bernie has.

[LenaBaby61]

7. I'm going to take a wait and see...

Approach, and let things play out....

I'm still over the moon that Hillary IS the Democratic Nominee for President of the United States

[TheCowsCameHome]

8. So, you actually know why he's going?

And why does it trouble you so much, anyway?

[JonLeibowitz]

9. I agree. Despite Bernie being a Democrat and Obama the head of the party, it is def sexism.

[CrowCityDem]

10. He might be trying to ask the President to back off for a few weeks, to see if his dumb plan works.

[boston bean]

11. That will get him laughed right out of the building.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. The rival parties usually use a third in this sort of thing, DWS is not a good choice and the

President is in fact the head of the Party. Always go to the top. It's just the smart thing to do. If we had a Chair of the Party who had projected even a hint of neutrality, the Chair might fill that role but we have a Chair who clearly favored one candidate. Obama is a fair person and both interested parties trust the President. He's the perfect go between and a man who, along with Clinton is one of two people who has been in the paradigm Clinton and Sanders are now in.

[boston bean]

13. What does Bernie think Hillary is going to do to him, that he need the POTUS wrangle concessions

from her.

[Bluenorthwest]

55. That's an odd point of view you have. The use of a trusted third party in such talks is wise and

is the way this sort of thing is usually done. The two who have competed at not the proper people to go face to face cold, no matter who those two people are. This is why, and perhaps you don't know this, but there are entire professions that mediate and negotiate and represent others in such talks because it is often not wise for the parties to do so directly.
It's not unusual, it is in fact typical and thus making a big stink out of it is odd. 'Oh my lord, he's breathing air and drinking water!!!! Why????!!?!?!!?'

[boston bean]

60. i think he can talk to hillary. She aint the bogeyman! LOL

[virtualobserver]

65. that weird gif in your sig line notwithstanding

[boston bean]

67. What is weird about my Hillary gif showing her the night she clinched?

[virtualobserver]

70. strange body language

[Bluenorthwest]

66. You did not address a single thing I said in either post to you. That's rude, dismissive and

intellectually vapid. Dig this: virtually ever dime I have ever earned has been negotiated according to my terms by others. I know what I'm talking about and your posts, which are not based on common practices nor facts specific to this meeting strike me as holding Bernie to yet another standard that is entirely different to standards used for others. When asked specific questions you don't respond, you snark back at me.

So your candidate has won but all you can do is keep smearing and keep communicating disregard for others. Your OP affects to be asking a question and to be seeking discussion but in reality it is just snark bait. You are not discussing, you are being fully dismissive of honest replies given to you and you ignore all questions asked of you.

In short, you are not being an honest broker even in the slightest. It's boring. It's also very crass coming from the freshly victorious.

[boston bean]

69. I did. I don't think he needs Obama to do anything for him he can't discuss with Hillary directly.

Just because I don't type that out ten times to each of your questions as my answer doesn't mean it is dismissive or non responsive.

[morningfog]

14. You have no idea why he requested the meeting.

You are just assuming the worst.

And in case you forgot, Obama is the head of the party right now. Why wouldn't Bernie want to speak with him?

[boston bean]

15. Well, I do know that Obama worked directly with Hillary.

[morningfog]

18. Again you make assumptions. Obama met with Hillary.

But you have no idea who else Obama met with or discussed it with. There was not democratic president at the time.

You are just looking for something to pout about.

[boston bean]

20. You're right, I assume they just met and didn't say a damned thing to one another. LOL

[morningfog]

21. And now you aren't even reading what I wrote.

Your petulance schtick founded in ignorance is boring and embarrassing.

Keep pouting.

[boston bean]

22. It keeps you engaged, obviously! LOL

[boston bean]

27. So sweet.

[NCTraveler]

17. Politics. I don't think we can always believe what we read.

Also, don't forget how humble Obama has shown himself to be. He is probable one of the only Presidents to hold onto his humble nature. There is a good chance Sanders was just called to the principals office. Obama is an unbelievable generous man. Often too generous.

Additionally, Obama is the head of the party. This meeting itself could be a part of something already negotiated. This could be complete and planned political theater.

[thesquanderer]

56. That's a good point. We don't really know which of them requested the meeting.

The story that gets out to the press may reflect a "finessed" version of reality.

[Blue Meany]

23. Maybe he'll ask Obama to break up the big banks before he leaves office...

Now that the Republicans understand that Wall Street supports Hillary, he can mobilize Congressional support to get this done before the election

[LexVegas]

26. Obama is a male. nt

[floppyboo]

28. Move over Popegate! Crikey! WTF are y'all thinkin?

[seabeckind]

29. Probably because Obama is the titular head of the democratic party?

Hillary, despite all the hype, is not.

Was never.

Bernie is bringing a political movement within the democratic party to the head of the party with the intent of presenting the issues that sold those people on his solutions.

If those issues are addressed, there is a strong possibility that the democratic party will become stronger by bringing back those who were disillusioned after the last big leftward push in 2008.

That's why.

[HERVEPA]

31. See. That's why I talk about the tone of your posts

"..run to Obama" and pretty much the rest of it.
And it's really not all about sexism. It's called politics.

[boston bean]

40. You should really concern yourself less with the tone of my posts.

Many times the tone imagined is not the tone it was typed out in.

[HERVEPA]

75. Then maybe you should examine your posts for the tone others will likely perceive.

"run to" is a loaded expression. You must know that.

[boston bean]

81. It was perfectly descriptive.

[HERVEPA]

84. Can be descriptive and tone can still suck. I'm sure such tone wouldn't be allowed under new rules

And it wasn't descriptive, it was judgemental. Maybe check with some of the less obstreperous Hillary supporters and see what they think.

[QC]

90. That vow to keep things positive

lasted about as long as any reasonable person would have expected.

[HERVEPA]

97. Yup

[notadmblnd]

32. Obama is the Democratic party leader

Hillary will not be the Democratic party leader until she is elected President in a general election. So tell me why should he consult Hillary on Democratic party issues?

[boston bean]

34. Well, I don't know... Maybe because she is the person who won. nt

[notadmblnd]

38. Did you not comprehend what I wrote?

Obama is the Democratic party leader, not Hillary. Why should Senator Sander consult her about party business?

[boston bean]

42. Umm, cause she is the winner of the Democratic Party Nomination.

[TheCowsCameHome]

48. AKA, Christ the Redeemer II

check out the video.

[notadmblnd]

50. Winning the Primaries does not make her the party leader

The President is the party leader. She is clearly not the President yet no matter how much you want it to be so, she may never be. So again, why should Sanders go to Hillary for party business?

[boston bean]

51. Yeah, he should go to Hillary. nt

[notadmblnd]

52. lol

[tonyt53]

35. You said the word - woman. Obama will politely tell him to kiss his ass.

[Lil Missy]

36. I thought Obama was the one requesting the meeting???

If it was the other way around, that puts a more positive light on it for me.

[sufrommich]

45. Sanders requested the meeting. nt

[thesquanderer]

57. Actually, it's hard to be sure.

See post #56

[sufrommich]

61. It was the White House who announced that Sanders

requested the meeting.


"Sanders and Obama spoke by phone over the weekend and on Tuesday, the White House announced that the senator had requested a meeting."


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/06/08/bernie-sanders-returns-to-vermont-ahead-of-meeting-with-president-obama/

[thesquanderer]

64. Right. But that doesn't make it 100% fact.

Obama could have wanted the meeting, and one or the other of them may have suggested that it would sound better if they said that Sanders had requested the meeting, and the two of them agreed to present it that way. Who knows? Politics.

[sufrommich]

71. Or,Sanders requested a meeting with Obama.

It does not "sound better" either way.

[thesquanderer]

77. That's subjective.

For example, there is somebody in this very thread who sees the meeting more positively with Sanders having requested it.

We don't know exactly what either of them are thinking. And perhaps, if something specific comes out of the meeting in terms of some statement or action on the part of either one of them, it will turn out to have a better spin depending on who is thought to have initiated the meeting.

For example, let's say that Sanders concedes almost immediately after the meeting. How does that play to his supporters if Sanders requested the meeting vs. if Obama had requested the meeting? Obviously, we (and presumably they) don't yet know the outcome of the meeting, and it may ultimately not matter... but this kind of thing could have been in their minds.

[athena]

54. I had not thought of this. You're right.

It's not only poor form, but it's also very revealing. It reminds me of some former co-workers who were always complaining to my boss about me behind my back. (They were insecure men who couldn't stand to work with a woman who programmed better than they did and had better ideas than they did. So what did they do? They kept complaining to my boss about me. They wanted to get me kicked out, or at least terrify me into submission.)

[imagine2015]

58. Obama is the head of the Democratic Party, Hillary is just a potential nominee.

[blackspade]

59. Your desperation is showing.

Even in victory you guys are still trying for a takedown of Sanders.
So much for unity....

[yardwork]

62. What desperation? I don't get your post.

[blackspade]

73. Still disparate for a Sanders takedown

Before the convention.

Pretty clear really

[yardwork]

80. What? I have no idea what you are saying.

[Orsino]

63. There are much bigger problems facing us than one or two candidacies.

I would hope that a meeting with a sitting president would involve heavy policy discussion.

Why assume this was Clinton-oriented?

[Tom Rinaldo]

68. This is not helpful

I think you know that. The possible range of reasons this is happening is beyond your or my ability to brainstorm. It could even be a previously agreed upon follow up to the last meeting - that they would talk again about party unity when it became clearer who the nominee would be. Of course it would be announced as a meeting at the request of Sanders. The President of the United States would not be announced as seeking a meeting with the second place finisher in the race.

I'm just winging it here to make a point. You and I don't know diddly squat what the full back story is. The last time something like this happened with the Democratic Party in a highly contested nomination a Republican was in the White House, or Hillary might have had a similar meeting back then also.

It's not like Sanders has refused to talk to Clinton. Both have commented, in public, positively on their recent exchange. They also each say that their campaigns are in contact.

In 2008 Hillary had some trouble with defiant supporters, PUMAs, not wanting to back Obama. There was no Democratic President available to play a healing roll then. Sanders having a scheduled meeting with Obama on Thursday could be tactical in ways that Clinton may very well support. Why jump to negative speculations?

[Joe the Revelator]

72. Your extreme hate for Bernie is WAY over the top at this point.

You're implication of him being sexist is just disgusting.

[Dem2]

74. Leave him alone

Give him a week or two to digest this as Hillary has allowed, I'm pretty sure he is still grieving the idea that he won't be holding massive rally's with thousands of adoring fans any longer. I'm sure most of us would be crushed if we had to face a reality like that.

[PoliticAverse]

78. So you believe posts like this will help to unite Democrats and make a Republican victory

less likely? Or do you just not care?

[Triana]

79. This sneering is most unbecoming.

He lost. Be happy with your victory and leave out the flogging of a man who ran a more competitive campaign against the Clinton dynasty/establishment behemoth than anyone expected him to - the only candidate who all his life has fought for civil rights, the working people and poor people.

Just leave it.

You can't know why he requested a meeting with Obama. Using the fact that he did to sneer about and insult him now is just juvenile.

[Scootaloo]

82. So you don't know what he's doing but whatever it is, you're sure it justifies your hatred

Do you ever get tired of hating Bernie, Boston Bean? Like really tired? All that all-consuming rage must be physically exhausting.

[OregonBlue]

83. Maybe he just wants Obama's opinion because he respects him. Why does everything have to be

underhanded?

[workinclasszero]

85. Of course Bernie disrespects Hillary and bypasses her

for a male.

Anybody surprised?

[Eric J in MN]

93. Have you ever called anyone else sexist for meeting with Obama? NT

NT

[B2G]

87. Or maybe this has nothing to do with Hillary

You are hilarious.

My guess is he has a bone to pick over DWS. What could Hillary possibly do about that?

[ALBliberal]

88. You sure are reading a lot into this meeting. Lots of speculation and assumptions

which not surprisingly carry dissension with them. Why not hope for the best in this meeting? Hope it benefits Hillary's campaign no matter how it was arranged. And for the record Preisident Obama will be a stellar intermediary and advisor and I for one am thankful for his involvement.

[Vinca]

91. Why do you care? Isn't Hillary's nomination enough for you?

Must you . . . and others . . . go on and on and on and on with your Bernie bashing? Get a grip . . . you (unfortunately) won.