Would you vote for Bernie Sanders if he were running third party

[boston bean]

in the general election?

[NCTraveler]

1. No. nt.

[MiniMe]

2. No

[TexasProgresive]

3. NO!

I only vote for the Democratic party nominee. 3rd party campaigns are futile at best spoilers at worst. They generally have no chance.

[jeepers]

126. Third party doesn't need to win

purpose of a third party is to challenge and upset the status quo. To force the status quo to consider the disaffected those who want to be represented but feel left out. We should have more respect for third party runs.

[brush]

133. Where are these 3rd parties when it's not a presidential year?

Last edited Sat Aug 8, 2015, 10:12 AM - Edit history (1)

Why haven't they built a grassroots organization and run candidates for local, then county and statewide office so they get recognition as a viable party?

They seem to show up every four years to run for the highest office in the land without having laid the groundwork to even qualify to be on ballots in all the states.

Voting for them is like voting for the repugs — see Nader's disastrous run in 2000 and the Bush debacle results from which we are all still suffering.

[TexasProgresive]

138. +1

[jeepers]

155. Third parties are out there

not collecting corporate bucks, pushing the corporate line or getting any media coverage. Fewer choices make your life easier, no?

In the not to distant future I am sure that Democratic Party INC. will act to insure that something like this Bernie Phenom doesn't happen again. They will simply make a rule that unless a candidate is a born and raised, dues paying, card carrying, machine educated democrat they won't be allowed to run in the democratic primary with an exception for converted republicans.

The only qualification for running for president to the best of my knowledge is that a person has reached 35 years of age.

Yeah, elections have a way of popping up every four years and bringing candidate out of the woodwork. I can tell you've been paying attention.

And you don't think that Al Gore Joe Leiberman and the DNC had any responsibility for helping Bush assume (NOT WIN) the presidency in 2000? Nader is what you Know.

I should be sleeping

[Art_from_Ark]

198. The Arkansas Green Party has fielded candidates in non-presidential years

For example, here was their slate of candidates in 2010.

http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2010/07/arkansas-green-party-nominates-slate-of-candidates/

[TexasProgresive]

136. All 3rd party runs do is siphon off votes from one of the 2 parties.

They do nothing to move the challenged party to a different position. 3rd party runs are often a waste of time and on occasion swing the election to the non-challenged party nominee.

I am an *unregistered member of the Democratic party and will not vote for a candidate of another party,

* Texas does not have party registration.

[jeepers]

162. Were it not for the nobility in his soul

Bernie Sanders could destroy any hope of Hillary winning in 16 which is just a tiny bit more than "siphon off votes."

[brush]

199. Yeah, but maybe you didn't hear, Bernie has said he won't run a third party campaign because . . .

he doesn't want to see a repug win.

Now that's true nobility of the soul.

Bernie's heart and head are in the right place — don't know about some others.

[snpsmom]

4. no

[Le Taz Hot]

5. Boston Bean, you are so clever.

I just barely sidestepped that well-hidden trap that you so deftly laid. <whew!>

[Puglover]

52. I know right?

[kath]

183. Ah, yes, so many of them are so clever. And sooooooo concerned.

[FSogol]

6. Sanders said he would not run 3rd party. I believe him. n/t

[TM99]

7. Didn't your last post on this topic get juried?

I see you are trying for a second hide with this flamebait.

1) He is not running 3rd party
2) It is none of your business who I or anyone votes for. Period.

[KingCharlemagne]

8. Will you vote for Hillary when she runs third party

in the General Election?

Unrec!

[1StrongBlackMan]

156. No to both questions. n/t

[Adrahil]

175. "when?" Not gonna happen. But no, if she did. nt

[musicblind]

201. As much as I support Hillary

I would absolutely not vote for her if she ran as a third party. I will vote for whoever the democratic nominee is.

[DinahMoeHum]

9. NO.

n/t

[Scuba]

10. I miss the unrec button.

[still_one]

11. Absud question since Bernie is NOT running on a third party

[CBGLuthier]

12. Well of course I would,..... IF and I do say IF

Ted Cruz gets the democratic nomination and picks Donald Trump to be his running mate and he runs on a platform of death camps for all liberals.

Just thought the absurd needed to be matched with more of the same.

[TDale313]

13. Again? Really?

He's not running third party. He's said so, his word is good. In fact, if he does, not only won't I vote for him, I'll donate $25 to Hillary in your name. Now, can we move on, please?

[davidpdx]

14. No, because he won't run as a 3rd party

Why keep bringing up this canard?

[LondonReign2]

50. 'Cause shits gotta be stirred, man

And boston bean is just the person for the job

[Gamecock Lefty]

15. I Am Voting . . .

for Hillary plain and simple, end of discussion.

And name calling makes me dig in my heels even deeper.

[Sancho]

16. NO! I will vote for the Democratic candidate.

Third parties will cost the Democrats the election.

We've been there and done that...

[NorthCarolina]

17. I sure would.

Policy before party. Anyone that would even consider voting for a candidate strictly on the basis of their declared party affiliation is not an educated voter, just a dupe.

[jschurchin]

18. Why would I do that?

I'm a big supporter of Corporate America, no matter who the Puppet President is.

[samsingh]

19. absolutely not

[Bonobo]

20. Would you eat raindrops if they were made out of chocolate mousse? nt

[HFRN]

21. i dont see him doing that

so the question is moot

[MissDeeds]

22. Flame bait

Give it up. This smacks of desperation. Again. Still.


Unrec

[ebbie15644]

23. no

[PRB]

24. Nopes

won't happen

[66 dmhlt]

25. NO!!!

[Bluenorthwest]

26. This is as absurd as asking if you'd vote for Hillary if she became a Repulican or a Green

Bernie Sanders is a candidate in the Democratic Party who has often said he would not run third Party or as a spoiler in any capacity.
Democrats should support the fact that the candidates are candidates even if they don't support their candidacy
I hate to be harsh, but this is sort of an awful post. It's an insinuation not based on nothing, but an insinuation which requires ignoring the word of the DNC and of Senator Bernie Sanders about his candidacy.

[Cleita]

54. +++

[winter is coming]

72. Apparently, all the Bernie smears have been exhausted, so it's time to circle back

and start from the beginning with the "third party" and the "not really one of us" bull. I forget: is "He's too old" next, or is it, "No one's going to vote for a Jew"?

[enlightenment]

179. I think it might be

"his hair looks funny"

or

"no one will vote for an avowed !!Socialist!! *cue scary Russian music* "

[JoePhilly]

27. No.

[marble falls]

28. NO. I do not vote for third party candidates.

[Thinkingabout]

29. Agree, I would not vote for third party candidates, I will be voting for the DNC nominee.

[marble falls]

31. Without saying and without a doubt. I don't vote for clown car passengers, either.

[Thinkingabout]

35. What a bunch, when Jon Huntsman was running he has been the only viable candidate in

recent years as a republican candidate but he was never going to happen since he "worked for Obama". But it is fun to watch. David Letterman had to retire because Obama did not provide enough material.

[virtualobserver]

30. Bernie is not the candidate who evolves....

you must be mistaking him for one of the candidates who periodically
adjusts their bedrock principles.

[Thinkingabout]

39. This makes him less acceptable to me. This is not the same world today as it was when he was born.

[NorthCarolina]

40. That's an odd statement. He's

a Liberal so how could he possibly ever be any "less acceptable" to you than he already is?

[Thinkingabout]

48. Post #30

stated: "Bernie is not the candidate who evolves". If we are not able to live and evolve just from life's experience then you are too set in concrete.

[LondonReign2]

51. That one went "whoosh"

[BlueStateLib]

204. Bernie Sanders: “I’m not a liberal. Never have been. I’m a progressive"

“I’m not a liberal. Never have been. I’m a progressive who mostly focuses on the working and middle class.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/12/upshot/class-or-ideology-my-conversation-with-bernie-sanders.html?_r=0&abt=0002&abg=0

[virtualobserver]

41. you are right, the world has evolved to match his progressive views

some Democratic party leaders haven't evolved enough, and see his progressive views as extreme.

They haven't finished analyzing the poll numbers yet.

[Thinkingabout]

49. I disagree.

[azmom]

79. Why wasn't Bernie homophobic and racist, like

The rest of us? Who does he think he is?

[Adrahil]

47. That's not necessarily a selling point.

Candidates should be willing to change their minds if convinced otherwise.

I strongly suspect Bernie is open-minded enough to do that.

[Thinkingabout]

80. Post # 30 doesn't think Bernie evolves. I agree candidates do evolve normally.

[kenfrequed]

97. Yeah...

I sure wish he had been wrong about gay rights, labor, the war in Iraq, the patriot act, and the war on drugs just so that he could be right today. I guess Bernie Sanders just must have evolved a hell of a lot faster than Hillary.

Personally, I like to vote for the forward thinking candidate that gets this stuff right the first time rather than consulting a focus group.

[cascadiance]

104. I think people don't "evolve" their fundamental beliefs...

Bernie has been damned consistent with his! Now they might evolve how they look at different kinds of legislation, when they are working in different contexts. An example of this would be gun control. Both Bernie and Howard Dean come from Vermont, where gun control isn't as critical locally as it is in other states for some kinds of regulation, since they don't have as much gun violence as other locales do, and people mostly just use guns for hunting and self defense, etc.

But both Dean and Bernie when running on how they would do national gun regulation policy have evolved how they would deal with that form of legislation to match more what people around the country need rather than just Vermont. They still remain strong to their principles and beliefs in letting law abiding citizens own guns, but also evolve to let their principles and beliefs enter in on national gun laws that need more attention at a national level than just in Vermont to fit their beliefs of preventing violence in communities.

You evolve on how you deal with changing environment of problems to solve. But you DON'T "evolve" your fundamental and core beliefs when looking for these solutions. Losing touch of your core beliefs as a basis for what you do is what too many corporate owned Democrats do it just because someone dangles money in front of them to have their positions on legislation "evolve" to no longer reflect their beliefs but what those who are dangling money to them want them to do.

[Thinkingabout]

143. Has he evolved on his gun control issue?

[cascadiance]

154. The NRA gives him a failing rating, so I think his fundamental beliefs are shown

in the way he votes most of the time on those issues. I don't think he ever has sided with people having gun ownership in ways that aren't safe for the surrounding community, and that is probably the reason why the NRA doesn't back him.

I think his fundamental beliefs are for the rights of people to be able to use guns safely, and for us not to have gun violence. I think he's been consistent with the way he's voted on that, and though he may have seemed less prone to having strict gun control in Vermont, it's a place that doesn't need it like a more populated area needs it. Howard Dean was faced with the same diverse circumstances when he ran for president and took similar stances.

[Thinkingabout]

184. He voted against the Brady Bill which called for background checks, Roof

Should not have been able to get a weapon but there is,a time period which passed and he got one. The recent theater shooter should not have been able to get a weapon but he did. The bill Bernie voted no on would have resulted in no background checks. I have not seen any statics' showing the failures of getting weapons when perhaps dangerous to others.

[1StrongBlackMan]

161. And should his "evolved" language with respect to the African-American electorate be disbelieved?

[Thinkingabout]

185. You have a point, it is either he has "evolved" or flip flopped.

[cascadiance]

186. Of how he's always stood for Civil rights since the days when Hillary was a Goldwater girl?

Huh? Someone find an article where he's actually taken any positions against civil rights please!

[1StrongBlackMan]

187. How old was HRC when she was a "Goldwater Girl"? ...

But the bottom line ... the way Bernie addressed the African-American community, may have been fine for/to you; but, it was missing the those he was attempting to convince.

To his credit, he "evolved" ... but, apparently, the good progressives have determined that evolution is a bad thing.

[cascadiance]

189. So, are you suggesting he should have just skipped Netroots Nation the way Hillary did...

... to be as good "addressing" them as she was in that context?

I've basically said that Bernie hasn't had to "evolve" his fundamental beliefs and stances on AA issues, as he's been consistently on their side, whether some of them choose to "like" him or not (and it seems that most of them that are vocal about it are attached to Hillary's campaign).

About the only thing that Bernie's really "evolved" here is his degree of emphasis, which he's tried to increase. Like I've said in other posts, as a human being he can only say so much and only work on so many different issues all at once. There are many that the corporate elite avoid intentionally talking about that he makes a point of talking about because Americans want them talked about and if he didn't nobody would. These issues are also issue that heavily affect the African American community too, when they need jobs a lot more than others here in the country and therefore are likely even more deeply affected by TPP and other trade deal outsourcing of jobs from here that Hillary doesn't talk about at all, let alone emphasize.

I've always emphasized helping the African American community too, though in context, we need to ensure our fundamental pillars of a democratic system of government are there first or no one will get anything they want, unless you're one of the rich and powerful that many pols like Hillary coddle these days.

[1StrongBlackMan]

192. No ... How did you get that from what I wrote?

I've basically said that Bernie hasn't had to "evolve" his fundamental beliefs and stances on AA issues, as he's been consistently on their side, whether some of them choose to "like" him or not (and it seems that most of them that are vocal about it are attached to Hillary's campaign).

But YOU were NOT his target audience ... So it really doesn't matter what you have been saying ... Now does it?

[uponit7771]

151. I pray you're wrong

[1StrongBlackMan]

157. So his changing language with respect to reaching out to the African-American electorate ...

should be disbelieved?

[virtualobserver]

167. Hardly evolution on his part unless you believe that does not sincerely care about African-Americans

You can certainly understand why he never anticipated being criticized in this way
when you consider his life story, but when he was, he responded.

Some people run for President just to put it on their resume. I would put the Bush family members in this category

Some people feel compelled to run because they believe that they can see the change that must occur.
I would put President Obama and Bernie in this category.

President Obama dove headlong into a raging inferno and pulled us out alive and he did so against the total resistance
of the most irrational and disrespectful Congress and opposition party in modern history.
Even so, the ZIRP of the Federal Reserve has been in place for 8 years which tells you just how deep of a deflationary
depression we were on the verge of. As far as I'm concerned, President Obama is a living saint and the Republicans
deserve to be hung as traitors.

The primary joy that I receive in watching Trump is that he treats his fellow Republicans with the total disrespect that they deserve.

Bernie language is to be believed.....whether it is enough is of course, for you to decide







You can certainly understand why he never anticipated being criticized in this way
when you consider his life story.

[aspirant]

32. I thought the Greens were the third party,

do you mean the Fourth Party?

[MisterP]

91. they're not the third party

they're the second party

I see that the party's true-believer flagellants are still spreading the lie about Nader, 15 years after it happened and 14 years after it was admitted to not have been real (and I forget how many years after Gore said that was't it)

[Xyzse]

33. Absolutely not.

I like him, but if he does this, he would be a spoiler.

I will never vote for a 3rd party candidate until they make inroads in the House and Senate.
My minimum threshold before considering it would be 1 Senator + 3 House members, to that 3rd party.

Until that happens, I just can't.

[whatthehey]

34. Fuck no - with one caveat

and this caveat applies to Clinton, Sanders, O'Malley, Webb, Chaffee and whoever else steps up. It also applies to official Green, Democratic Socialist, NUP, Communist Party of America and other fringe parties. Equally. No exceptions or distinctions.

I will vote for, donate to and support wherever possible the candidate most likely to beat Republicans from the left.

Since I live in reality in this age, that will be the Dem nominee. If that ever changes, and it did in Minnesota in 98 and Florida last year for examples so it can happen although very unlikely nationally, so will my vote and support.

[hrmjustin]

36. No.

[Live and Learn]

37. Yes, and I would eat the moon if were made of cheese.

Neither will happen though. Your premise is simply ridiculous and I have no idea why you keep repeating it.

[frylock]

58. Because Hillary's internal polling is in the shitter.

[moobu2]

99. Bernard still can not win the nomination though.

Looks like he's going to get a little close in one state.

[AgingAmerican]

38. Some people just don't know when to quit

Bernie really has some people scared.

[djean111]

42. Why do you ask? Trying to gauge support if the DNC says he cannot run as a Dem, or refuses to

let his name be on the ballot? That would be a big big can of worms, and I would have to say that in that case, my vote would still go to Bernie. Yeah, I know I would have to leave DU, but enough is enough.

Or are you just required to post this every day, or are you just bored and amusing yourself.

[mikehiggins]

43. No. If he isn't the Democratic nominee I will vote for whoever is. n/t

[rock]

44. No

The game is rigged. It is arranged so that the number or viable parties is plural yet minimal. I.e one less than the number of the Holy Hand Grenade of Antioch.

[Nitram]

45. no

[Adrahil]

46. Noppity Nope Nope.

[zappaman]

53. no

[Wolf Frankula]

55. No

I would be helping to elect the Republican.

Wolf

[mike_c]

56. in a skinny miinute....

Hell to the yes.

[frylock]

57. Just can't get away from the shit-stirring, can you?

[ismnotwasm]

61. It's a legitimate question.

Why the angst?

[frylock]

64. It's a clown question..

Sanders has stated, unequivocally, that he has NO intention of running as third-party. Full stop. The "angst" stems from this same shit being posted day after day after day in a concerted effort to bait people into posting something that may be blocked, with the end result of hoping to get posters banned.

[ismnotwasm]

66. Hmm

I don't have that problem. I don't see the bait, the reason I see it as legitimate is because he had to join the Democratic Party to be in the Democratic party. I'm glad he's not running third party, but I've seen too many persons that give me the impression--or outright say-- they won't vote for Hillary if she wins the primary. Many of these are Bernie supporters. Presumably there is some third party they will vote for if Hillary wins.

[frylock]

68. I'm one of those that will not vote for Clinton in the GE..

I am afforded that luxury by living in a solid-blue state.

[okasha]

81. Actually, Sanders is still not formally a Democrat,

which is what may keep him off the NH ballot. All he has to do to comply with NH law, though, is become a member of the Vermont Democratic Party.

[frylock]

59. Same shit, different day..

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251417606

[ismnotwasm]

60. Hell no

[nadinbrzezinski]

62. Nice trap there

kid.

That said, you are aware he has said repeatedly he is RUNNING FOR THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION.

Back with the old talking point. I guess it was getting lonely.

And I need the entertainment this morning.

[NCTraveler]

63. Yes. nt.

[MuseRider]

65. How many times does he have to say

that he will NOT be a spoiler. He has no intention of doing this. As a man who holds his convictions and does not flip flop around them and works as hard as he can over and over to see progress made on them I would think it obvious even to the people who pay little attention to anything outside their own desires or choice. Not everyone has to evolve over and over again to get to a point that is OK to run on.

This is beneath you, you are smart and very strong in your wish for Hillary to gain the nomination. Why would you do these things over and over? This question has been asked so many times and I am certain you know this answer.

If not, ONCE AGAIN, he has stated several times that he will not be a spoiler.

I will be the first to apologize if he does become one but I can sleep at night knowing this is not going to happen.

[gollygee]

67. I won't vote for anyone who runs third party

as I said in the other thread. The Supreme Court is too important.

[Mnpaul]

69. You can only be on the ballot once

You want him to be both the Democratic candidate and the Independent candidate?

silly question

[PowerToThePeople]

70. None of your business. n/t

[OilemFirchen]

71. I DON'T DO LOYALTY OATHS!!!

ARGLE to the fucking BARGLE!

[IVoteDFL]

73. I'm more likely to just stay home, but I can do that. My state is blue

[Rosa Luxemburg]

74. No

sorry

[fadedrose]

75. Probably

If he gets the nomination, that means he has the delegates, so the party wouldn't matter. He'd have to be using the Dem. convention, wouldn't he, since he's using Dem supporters and facilities?

He can't run as an independent after being in democratic primaries, can he?

[Sedona]

76. Absofuckinglutely not

I'm old enough to remember Nader on 2000

[Agnosticsherbet]

77. No, because a third party candidate is a spolier and a gift

to the Republican party.

I will not through actioin or inaction support conservatives and Republicans for anything.

[Nobel_Twaddle_III]

78. I am a Democrat, in the general election, I will vote for the Democrat.

If they were my first choice in the primary or not.

[Motown_Johnny]

82. Would you vote for Hillary Clinton if she ran 3rd party?

See how silly that sounds?

[cascadiance]

102. And what's stopping her to follow the path of Joseph Lieberman

... when he was voted out in a primary after previously being on an unsuccessful Democratic Party presidential ticket too.

[Motown_Johnny]

163. Her Husband's Legacy.

If she ran as a spoiler it would be a huge blemish on an already tarnished legacy.

I don't think she would do that.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

83. Why would Bernie have to run as an independent? He WILL be the democratic nominee. Even Hillary and her Wall Street buddies are "banking" on it.

[jzola]

84. No!

[Agschmid]

86. What Democrat is a right wing extremist?

Those seem mutually exclusive...

[GP6971]

87. That makes no sense.

If you're not a democrat, what are you doing here?

[ljm2002]

90. Ah, continuing with the insinuations I see...

...how very Rovian of you.

Sanders has said he will not run as a third party candidate. The end.

[Hekate]

92. Oh goody, a trick question! and flypaper.

Naughty, naughty.

[restorefreedom]

147. lol. nt

[okasha]

93. I don't see any reason to doubt

Sanders' word on this issue

If he did, he'd run into an immediate and lethal problem with fundraising.

[onehandle]

94. What I want to know is what that third party would be called? nt

[cyberswede]

96. Really? In a month-old thread?

Since BB isn't here to post flamebait, you feel the need to kick the old stuff?

[kenfrequed]

95. Trolling, trolling, trolling

Keep those trolls 'a trolling, Troll-Hide!


Seriously, this is a nonsense question. Bernie has already stated he is running AS a Democrat FOR the Democratic nomination and that he will SUPPORT whoever the Democratic Nominee is.


Please stop.

[restorefreedom]

148. +1 nt

[leftynyc]

98. NO

and I would lose all respect for him if he did it.

[artislife]

100. It's pledge week again here at the DU nt

[Bobbie Jo]

103. Again?

Tracking "pledge week" for a whole month, even.



Go you!!

[artislife]

105. Strange

[Bobbie Jo]

106. Oh yes indeed.

Welcome to DU.

[artislife]

107. Again...weird muttering from you

[Bobbie Jo]

110. Again, yeah you said that already.

Have a great 2nd month!

[artislife]

112. Standard reply to posts that make no sense

[Bobbie Jo]

115. What part of Welcome to DU

do you not get?

You're still new, yet tracking "pledge weeks" and such.

Simple concept, really. So please, go ahead and post that Obama clip a fourth time, it's one of my favorites!

[artislife]

116. Repeat

[Bobbie Jo]

117. Nice

Only it bears no resemblance to your standing here.

Weird...

Repeat, Welcome to DU!

[artislife]

122. Pesky

[Bobbie Jo]

125. Now THAT was impressive.

Will have to check out clipart.com.

[artislife]

130. You are very strange

I bet you followed people around the halls in school.

[Bobbie Jo]

135. And you are very pushy and assuming

I've been "strange" around here close to 10 years, but I wouldn't have made it past the first week if I had started sniping at DU'ers right out of the gate.

Enjoy your stay now...

[artislife]

165. See number 130

Actually. ..use this every time you think of me.

[Bobbie Jo]

168. I don't do the -find the post- game

nor do I take direction from pushy people.

If you want me to "see" something, post it here.

[artislife]

188. What the is wrong with you?

Don't bother answering, I don't think you know and I don't care.

Now

[Bobbie Jo]

191. Tedious

Are you running out of pictures and clip art or what? Try using your words, or do you think if you put it in form of a graphic you can hurl insults without getting a hide.

Good lord.

For somebody who doesn't care, you're sure spending a lot of time replying with one nonsensical post after another.

You can end all of this non-caring any time you want. Bugger off your damn self.

[Bobbie Jo]

195. Are you done?

Because I don't know if my sides can take any more of the - not caring - from you.

Declare victory and go home already.

[SidDithers]

150. Subtle as a brick, eh?...nt

Sid

[Bobbie Jo]

194. Ya think?

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[cascadiance]

101. If we had instant runoff voting, I sure would!

I would likely vote for the Democratic candidate as my second choice and therefore my vote would count for them instead of for Republicans.

But unfortunately, unlike countries like Australia where they have this in place, or other countries that have proportional representation reflected in their elections, we have just a two party system now which has been heavily bought by corporate 1%ers over the last few decades, especially with recent SCOTUS decisions like Citizen's United and McCutcheon.

[NCTraveler]

108. Maybe. nt.

[jeepers]

109. I would

A democratic party that continually moves to the right is not going to take me with it. We think the loss in 2014 should have warned the democratic party that it needed to get back to its' base or lose. But then we take the incentive to listen and to change away from the candidate in effect saying you can pander to us , you can lie, you can misrepresent your self., you can prove yourself incompetant. You can be the friend of my enemy, of the folks who steal from me and I will still vote for you if you put a D after your name. Nope not gonna do it.

Have you ever noticed how the republicans have marched to the edge of the crazy cliff in lockstep? Do you think democrats should adopt that philosophy because that is where chauvinism, my party right or wrong, will lead you.

[whatchamacallit]

111. Maybe. Did I earn a tombstone? n/t

[bigwillq]

113. Yes

I live in CT. I am confident that the DEM nominee will win CT, so I am free to vote for the candidate of my choice. If polling indicates a closer race, then I will re-evaluate my vote choice.

[Vinca]

114. No. Bernie doesn't want the "Nader" effect either, which is why he's running as a Democrat.

[jeepers]

121. Isn't it funny how the DNC and Gore

Last edited Thu Aug 6, 2015, 01:12 PM - Edit history (1)

were able to lay the blame for the 2000 election loss on Nader and took no responsibility for the loss themselves?

So you voted for eight years of Clinton and the DNC and got nafta, cafta Doma Glass Segall and the fairness doctrine. Then you voted for Gore and Leiberman ala DNC and got four years of Bush. So then you tried it again and the DNC gave you Kerry. You ended up with four more years of Bush. Then you voted for Obama and got a republican cabinet compliments of the DNC.. Well, maybe the fifth time will hold a charm because the DNC is trying to shove another Clinton down your gullet (turkey reference, pun intended) and you are seriously considering it.

Your mistake was in voting for the DNC folks not Nader.

[Vinca]

142. I totally disagree.

For starters, I didn't like Nader so why would I vote for him. And if people on the fence voted for him, that would only have ended up in a bigger win for Dubya. Many Democrats are not my perfect candidate, but most of them are better than anything the GOP produces. If we had a different type of government - more like Great Britain - Bernie would be worth a third party vote, but we don't and even Bernie doesn't want to be responsible for installing a Republican in office.

[ibegurpard]

118. Not unless I was certain he could beat

Both the Democrat AND the Republican. I see no way that would ever happen and apparently neither does he.

[Nevada Blue]

119. of course not

I will never "Nader" any Democrat. There is no viable third party in this country and it would be throwing away my vote.

[apnu]

120. No. Not having a Ralph Nader thing again.

America is already split and the conservatives will vote in a block and come out in droves in 2016. Democrats, liberals and progressives have problems getting people out, adding someone to split the vote will give us another election 2000.

Yeah I know Florida and illegal voter rolls. I know, I know, but that doesn't apply to my point.

2000 shouldn't have been a razor thin EC margin that it was. Nader being on the ticket, sucking away liberals and socially liberals, diluted things enough that put us in the position of having to depend on fucking Florida.

So no, the risks are to goddamn high. We need a liberal in the White House. Even if its a Wall Street cash soaked liberal.

Hillary on her worst day, making her biggest mistakes will be 100% better than any republican. And 1000% better than the 16 chuckle heads running for the GOP nom right now.

Seriously ponder a USA where Trump becomes President because Bernie is on the ticket as a 3rd party.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

123. Yes, but it depends on who the Democratic candidate and Green candidate is.

[Cheese Sandwich]

124. I'll tell you after I'm president. nt.

[whatchamacallit]

129. !

[artislife]

132. *chortle nt

[restorefreedom]

149. winner!!! nt

[daleanime]

127. Would you, could you....

on a boat?

[Zorra]

128. He said he's not running third party. He has integrity, and doesn't lie.

Bernie is not running third party. Believe it.

However, I do completely understand how this may be impossible to comprehend for some who may be planning on voting for a candidate with a forked tongue and a mountain of ugly baggage in the closet.

[JNelson6563]

131. No.

[senz]

134. This sounds like "Have you stopped beating your wife?" An attempted gotcha.

Bernie knows what's at stake. He knows the Republican agenda and fears/loathes it just as much as we do. He has resisted it his entire life. That's a major reason why he's running with the Democratic Party; he stated that he does not want to siphon off votes for the Democratic nominee, if it's not him. He is not a spoiler. Not a Nader. Bernie knows that Democrats are far better than Republicans for the country.

Bernie Sanders is a courageous individual who champions democracy, champions the "little guy." You should respect him and also respect those of us who recognize that he is the only candidate who cares more about the American people than about his own wealth and power. Think about that. Go ahead -- thinking about who Bernie is and what he stands for does not mean being unfaithful to Hillary. It just means using your head for awhile. Then you can get back to fighting for Hillary, whatever that entails.

[Armstead]

137. Yes, just to piss you off

[Go Vols]

139. lol

[BooScout]

140. No way...nt

[jwirr]

141. Ordinarily I would not but if the DNC continues to play favorites and there are more dirty tricks

I would consider it. I want this election to be determined on the issues not on political maneuvering.

I am sure that Hillary can win on her own without any of us.

[Gothmog]

144. No

I will be supporting the Democratic nominee

[restorefreedom]

145. just another hillary loyalty oath in disguise

not a very good disguise either. People's votes are their own damn business and they don't have to explain them to anybody.

besides Bernie is not planning a third-party run so this is just more flame bait.

[zappaman]

146. Fuck no.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

152. I wouldn't vote for any third-party candidate

who was competing in any way with the Democrat, because it would likely result in a GOP victory. The way our system is set up we are stuck with two parties - it's basically a zero-sum game. The only way more than two parties can really work is in a parliamentary system.

I would rather have any of the Democrats than any of the GOP lunatics, criminals and morons so I'll vote for the Democrat.

[stonecutter357]

153. no

And he is third party.

[PoliticalPothead]

158. I'm gonna be voting third-party anyway if Bernie loses the primary.

[hollowdweller]

159. No

[DisgustipatedinCA]

160. Loyalty Oaths: that's what we need more of.

“What makes you so sure Major Major is a Communist?”
“You never heard him denying it until we began accusing him, did you? And you don’t see him signing any of our loyalty oaths.”
“You aren’t letting him sign any.”
“Of course not . . . that would defeat the whole purpose of our crusade.”

-Captain Black, Catch-22, Joseph Heller

[Hoyt]

164. I will not be surprised if he ends up running as a 3rd party candidate. I'll be ticked when the

Republicans win, though.

I know he says he won't run as a 3rd party candidate, but he -- like most everyone -- has an ego, and there are enough supporters who think his message is so important it's worth him running even if he is likely to lose and cost a Democrat the election.

[whatchamacallit]

171. The only way that would happen is if the DNC panics over his progress

and concocts a way to throw him off the ticket.

[Hoyt]

172. So, you admit it could happen. It could also happen if he feels unfairly criticized, or his

supporters push him to run, etc. It could happen. We'd be nuts to think it couldn't. But, the fact it could happen, shouldn't keep him for running as he is now. I'd love to see us more like Scandinavian countries, but I'm not convinced he can win. I might find I'm wrong. If he gets the nomination, I'll definitely vote for him, put up signs, paste bumper stickers all over my car, etc.

[whatchamacallit]

173. And risk losing nearly every democrat supporting him?

No one is that crazy. The only way it would happen is if the party establishment invalidates him. Then they be responsible for creating a spoiler.

[EndElectoral]

166. He's already said he wouldn't do that. Why waste time speculating something that won't happen?

[fbc]

170. For some reason Hillary supporters assume a candidate's promise could change at any moment

[fbc]

169. Nope, but we wouldn't do that anyway

He has already said he wouldn't run as an independent.

Now I realize that Hillary supporters may have trouble believing his word because they are accustomed to a candidate who changes her positions depending upon the latest opinion polls, but Bernie's word is bond.

[Adrahil]

174. NO!

And frankly, I would lose all respect for him if he went that route. But he has said he will not, and I think he is a man of his word.

[Stallion]

176. Hell No

nm

[ghostsinthemachine]

177. Absolutely not.

I Love the guy, but I will do anything (even vote for Hillary while holding my nose) to see that a republican does not get elected.

[Gloria]

178. no

Eom

[MineralMan]

180. Nope. I am a Democrat.

[Mona]

181. nope...

...I know how that story would end.

[WillyT]

182. LOL !!! - You Funny...

Even I know better that to answer that one.

[Blue_In_AK]

190. He isn't,

but I would be tempted. A Democrat won't win Alaska, especially not Hillary Clinton.

[HerbChestnut]

196. Absolutely

Principles over party every time.

[840high]

197. I like you.

[musicblind]

200. No. n/t

[DesertFlower]

202. no. nt

[Florencenj2point0]

205. hell no

and get a republican president? No

[Ken Burch]

206. No good reason to ask that.

Bernie has already promised he wouldn't do such a thing.

You have no reason not to trust him on that.

[mikehiggins]

207. No. eom