Hey, all you Bernie doubters

[RobertEarl]

This is how this shakes out; Bernie will not get elected via TV advertising. He will not get elected via the establishment or using big money.

He will get elected via grassroots actions and the efforts of millions of patriotic Americans.

When he is in the White House, those people will be heard loud and clear. Bernie will not brush us off as Obama did by appointing our opposition to cabinet and other offices. Bernie will seek out and find capable managers for his administration. He will not be appointing banksters to run the economic side.

Bernie has said that Obama blew it by not using the people who got him elected to then govern. Bernie knows better. He knows he will be riding on the shoulders of millions of progressives, independents, and the middle class, as he enters the White House gates as President.

That, my friends is how he will overcome a republican congress and pass legislation. Bernie will use our continuing interests to carry the day. It may even be that the coattails for Bernie are so long and strong, that come 2017 there is a Democratic congress and the effort to pass legislation will become much easier. But I think I can speak for other Bernie supporters in saying that getting Bernie elected, we all know, is just the first step on the ladder to forming a more perfect union.

All our lives we have longed for a candidate that speaks with our hearts and minds in concert. We shall make some beautiful music together and our government, being managed properly under Bernie's guidance, will set the stage for our voices to be heard loud and clear across this great land.

That is what our founders intended; a government by and for the people, and with Bernie as President, will shall have just that, a government that is not owned by the richest, but rather a government that responds to the people and their needs and desires from our government.

[BlueCaliDem]

1. Okay. eom

[Gamecock Lefty]

2. Why Are You Dissing Obama???

I think Obama has been a pretty damn good President. And now all of a sudden because you are caught up in the Bernie moment Obama is a bad guy? Really?

[zeemike]

9. Right, nothing Obama did or failed to do should be mentioned.

Because that would be disrespecting him.

That sounds so much like the GOP when Bush was in office that is scares me.

[John Poet]

10. Yes, Obama has been pretty good, but

some of his appointments have been disappointing.

For instance: deciding to hold over Robert Gates right off the bat, the W.Bush Administration Secretary of Defense, instead of making clear the "change" on Iraq war policy by appointing someone else, was one that left my jawbone on the floor, personally.

I just stood there shaking my head in disbelief when I heard about it. I think that one could fairly be described as a "slap in the face" to his supporters. It certainly was to me.

[musiclawyer]

12. So what if he is pointing out mistakes Obama made

We will continually repeat mistakes unless the mistakes are identified. Obama would have been transformative if he filled his cabinet and high level appointments with liberals. And much mouth more would have been accomplished, and we would not have lost the House.

Truth is never disrespect. Disrespect is yelling "liar" from the rafters during a speech

[Fred Sanders]

16. It comes with the anti-Hillary territory, as she is seen as extending the "failed Obama regime".

Yes, on DU!


"Bernie has said that Obama blew it by not using the people who got him elected to then govern."

"Bernie said" followed by making stuff up to bash Obama....where have we seen thst kind of logical dishonesty before?

[RobertEarl]

19. Fred

Don't call me a liar by saying I am making stuff up.

It only makes you look bad.

You will note that I do not bash Hillary in the OP, but posts like yours and other Hillary supporters make it tempting. You should stop doing that.

[sabrina 1]

37. Who do you think Bernie will have in his cabinet? Any Walmart CEOs, Monsanto?

How many progressives are in Obama's cabinet? This is a legitimate point, and in fact I remember regretting we did not make it a huge issue back in 2008.

It does need to an issue now.

[uponit7771]

20. They hate him too

[Comrade Grumpy]

24. That's ugly and unfair. But not surprising.

Obama is not a saint, he's an elected official.

I like some of what he does. I don't like some of what he does.

That's probably true of most people here.

Trying to broadbrush Sanders supporters as Obama haters is sleazy.

[uponit7771]

39. read DU lately? tia

[RobertEarl]

25. I don't hate Obama

I do hate that he appointed bad guys in his administration.

Bernie won't do that. He will put good guys in office. No banksters will be allowed in the cabinet.

[uponit7771]

40. so did FDR... Didnt make him a POSUCS

[sabrina 1]

38. Really? Can you prove this, otherwise it is simply a nasty attack on a whole lot of DUers who

worked hard to get Obama elected, twice. Thanks in advance, these kinds of drivebys need to provide proof or be given all the credibility they deserve.

So do Hillary supporters HATE BERNIE too in your opinion? By YOUR logic?

I can't imagine accusing people who simply have a preference for a different candidate or who have legitimate points to make regarding POLICY of those they supported, of HATRED.

[uponit7771]

41. POSUCS ans the following recs and the follow up post with recs

[Live and Learn]

55. Could you translate that in to English?

I don't know whether to add another dollar to the DU campaign fund or not.

[BeanMusical]

65. You make a lot of sense.

[JDPriestly]

61. My criticisms of Hillary are not limited to policy.

Although we can disagree on Hillary's ability to win in the general election, what we think of her as a CANDIDATE, her ability to communicate, how clearly she demonstrates respect for voters, whether she debates well, her personality are, as are Bernie's, important considerations when we pick our candidate.

We need to pick a winner. That means someone who can win the affection of the undecided voters, of the independents, maybe of some Republicans, someone whose integrity is obvious just from watching speeches, SOMEONE WHO INTERACTS WITH THE PRESS WELL, someone whose integrity is unquestionable. . . .

So, while for the candidates, this should just be a matter of being themselves and talking about the issues, for us voters, that is not enough. We have to think about how our candidate presents him- or herself. We want a candidate who will win. We cannot afford a candidate no matter how much her colleagues in the party love her, who comes across as cold and imperious. And in my subjective view, Hillary does come across as cold and imperious. She just does not work for me.

Our jobs as voters are different from the jobs of the candidates. We have to assess the electability of the candidates as well as their stances on the issues.

A lot of Hillary supporters do not understand why we talk about Hillary and her personality. George B. Bush won the electoral votes because the votes in Florida were not properly counted, but he came close enough to be able to steal the election because he had a more relaxed, folksy personality than did Gore. The number of people who vote just based on who they like and not on the issues (which they may not understand or care about) is big enough to decide an election.

Let's don't just stick to the issues on DU. They are the most important thing, but personality and strategy matter too. And Bernie wins on both counts by a huge margin.

[Live and Learn]

54. Ka-ching. nt

[jwirr]

29. All the poster is saying is that had he used his supporters more he could

have done a lot more. I do not see that as dissing.

[Stellar]

42. I voted for Obama twice...

he's not perfect and he pissed me off a few times, but I think he's better than a lot of Presidents have been.

[sibelian]

44. I don't think he's a BAD guy by any stretch of the imagination

in fact I have great respect for him, he faced a set of circumstances quite unique to any American president and it's very difficult to say what else he might have acheived had he been dealt a better hand.

He was required to be the antiBush by both his fans and detractors whether he was actually capable of being that or not. He has faced utterly farcical levels of obstructionism and a messy, divided base.

That being said, some of his ideas I disagree with. I don't think he's pulled back from American expansionism fast enough and I can't tell whether that's from ideology or expediency, I'm suspecting a combination of both.

I also do NOT like the surveillance programs running under his watch.

I'm not particularly impressed with a president who invites an openly self-identified homophobe to make comments at his inauguration. I also think he started supporting gay rights when it was convenient. One coudl make the case that that's probably what he should have done anyway, but I think he underestimated the potential impact of his own influence of that's the case.

Obamacare... hm. It's better than what there was. If I were American I'd like to have seen something bolder.

But there you go.

There can be no doubt that he's astronomically better than what went before... but given what went before, I don't know how much praise that really is.

[BeanMusical]

66. "he started supporting gay rights when it was convenient."

That's called "evolving", these days.

[sibelian]

67. Yeah, I get that, but I don't really know how angry I can be about it.

We did get what we wanted in the end, after all.

It's a messy problem between "taking a stand" and "taking a stand that's actually going to work". Sometimes just taking a stand actually brings the neessary flexibility to the public sphere's perception to actually make it work, and sometimes waiting for the opportunity to take the stand means you just sit there forever waiting for opportunities rather than actually doing something. I don't think waiting for the right moment is always wrong... and I certainly don't think there's anything *sinister* about it, as some seem to, but I do think it's very often a terrible mistake.

[gregcrawford]

60. I adored Obama when he was campaigning...

... and then came his first appointments; Summers, Geithner, and keeping Gates on. Then I knew we'd been played, BIG time. He'd been in Lloyd Blankfein's pocket from Day One. Goldman Sachs had been his biggest single contributor by a large margin. And that's just for openers.

Obama has done good things, like the Iran deal. But his support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership overshadows all of it. Handing the country to the corporatists on a silver platter constitutes treachery that will never be forgiven, at least not by me. I cannot fathom how ANYONE could let that slide.

[zappaman]

3. As always...

[hrmjustin]

8. .

[MrScorpio]

4. Uh huh. nt

[Dr Hobbitstein]

5. Cool story, bro!

[WillyT]

6. HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!!

[hrmjustin]

7. I understand your optimism but this comes off as political naivete.

[retrowire]

11. agreed entirely

looks like alot of people on here are afraid of change and refuse to accept the winds that guide them.

[underthematrix]

13. This is always the problem with supporters who have this mentality

When he is in the White House, those people will be heard loud and clear. Bernie will not brush us off as Obama did by appointing our opposition to cabinet and other offices. Bernie will seek out and find capable managers for his administration. He will not be appointing banksters to run the economic side.

Bernie would hope he could do everything he said he wanted to do when he was running but sometimes it takes awhile or it takes setting up the circumstances so that the next person can move a particular piece of the agenda forward.

Some Bernie supporters have no idea what Presidents truly have to deal with once they take that OVAL OFFICE seat. In the first month of his presidency, PBO was interviewed by Brian Williams and asked about decision-making; are some easier than others. PBO said the decisions he makes are between "worse and worser". In the real world, there are many shades of gray; rarely black and white. Most people cannot tolerate the gray. Presidents have no choice. That's the job. As an African American, I think I'm better situated than my white brothers and sisters to tolerate this because I have had to straddle two worlds - their world and the real world. While you expect Bernie to do everything he promised. I expect him to do everything he can. And for me that's good enough. If he can get some of what he wants to get done that would be awesome.

Know this, if I'm forced to vote for Bernie, I will not abandon him when it gets tough because it always gets really really tough. I will be consistent in my support AFTER the election and during his entire term. I can't say I have that same confidence in his most vocal supporters.

[slipslidingaway]

14. Bernie is building a Super PACK!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128037290#post11

https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/lets-go-bernie?refcode=homepage_main_nav


(From an email)

Xxx -

"Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, and Hillary Clinton all have Super PACs to raise unlimited amounts of money to support their campaigns. They're funded by millionaires, billionaires, and even some We don't want any part of that. Bernie's not going to have a Super PAC.
corporations.

But we do want to build a Super PACK of supporters—folks who give a monthly contribution to our campaign, even if it's just a couple bucks.

Join Bernie's Super PACK with a monthly contribution to our campaign:

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:

Express Donate: $5 a month
Express Donate: $10 a month
Express Donate: $25 a month
Express Donate: $100 a month

Or, donate another amount.

When you join Bernie's Super PACK, we'll also send you this great sticker so you can let your friends and neighbors know how you're taking on the billionaires.

Monthly contributions are so critical to our campaign. The reason we're asking you to give monthly is because it gives Bernie's campaign a sustained, predictable source of revenue.
Knowing that every month we'll be able to count on contributions from our Super PACK means that we can build the organization we need to win.

The billionaire class shouldn't be able to buy our democracy. But they're trying. So far, Super PACs have raised nearly $300 million, according to the New York Times. Most of that money comes from some of the wealthiest people in America.

In fact, donations from fewer than 400 families account for half of the total money raised so far for the presidential election. Thanks to the disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision, there are even shell corporations donating more than a million dollars a piece to support candidates on both sides of the aisle!

We may not have the billionaire class or shadowy corporations, but we have you, Xxx.
Can you join Bernie's Super PACK by adding your monthly contribution today?

If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately:

Thanks for standing with us as we build our campaign."

- Team Bernie

[brooklynite]

15. Please explain the 2nd paragraph...seriously

Last edited Wed Aug 19, 2015, 03:43 PM - Edit history (1)

He will get elected via grassroots actions and the efforts of millions of patriotic Americans.

That's a very broad statement. Explain HOW those "patriotic Americans" are going to turn out 20 million votes in the Primary season (let's start with that before focusing on the General Election). Who will be organizing the volunteers? Will each one be campaigning with the message THEY want to deliver? How do you ensure that you have enough volunteers in enough towns and cities in enough States to get through Super Tuesday (have you stopped to think how big Texas is?).

There's a reason campaigns hire people (and consequently need the money to pay for them): that have experience in doing these things, and they can afford to commit the long hours and days to get the job done.

[RobertEarl]

17. Patriots like me

I have already introduced Bernie to 20 people who never heard of him before.

Of course the DNC hates Patriots like me.

[brooklynite]

30. "Democrats welcome Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders "

DNC CHAIR STATEMENT ON BERNIE SANDERS’ 2016 ANNOUNCEMENT APRIL 30, 2015

Washington, DC – In response to Bernie Sanders’ announcement that he will run for president in 2016, DNC Chair Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz released the following statement:

“Democrats welcome Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders as the second candidate to officially seek the Democratic Party’s nomination for President in 2016. Senator Sanders is well-recognized for his principled leadership and has consistently stood up for middle class families. Throughout his service in the U.S. House and Senate, Bernie Sanders has clearly demonstrated his commitment to the values we all share as members of the Democratic Party.
‎
“The Democratic Party appreciates the contributions that Senator Sanders, Secretary Clinton, and other candidates will make to a healthy dialogue about the future of our party and our nation. There is a distinct contrast between Democrats who are on the side of middle and working class families and Republicans who are concerned with the very rich and wealthy corporations. Over the next year, the discussions we have during our respective nominating processes will help make that choice clear.”

But if you need to feel oppressed, please feel free.

[RobertEarl]

34. Let the debates begin!!

You should tell the Bernie haters about the DNC welcoming Bernie.

Instead we read crap like this rant from a Hillary supporter:
"Sanders is a fringe politician that grifted himself onto the DEM Party, and turned around and spit in the dinner they offered him.
He needs to be shown the doorway out."

[still_one]

33. So South Carolina is going to go with someone who refers to himself as a Democratic Socialist. ok

[ericson00]

18. "...smile on your brother, everybody get together, try to love one another, right now"

and then we'll go to Woodstock, grow our hair out, have 4 years of pure progressive heaven, end all poverty and world hunger, solve every world conflict (and btw Israel and Palestine will join as one peaceful democratic state), and all greed and racism will just disappear like POOF...(daydream or molly trip ends)

[RobertEarl]

21. Or, we can vote for more invasions

There was this guy I know who is famous for his "I have a dream" speech. Many laughed at him, but I share that dream. You should join?

[Live and Learn]

56. K&R nt

[Uncle Joe]

22. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, RobertEarl.

[RobertEarl]

45. Thanks for the k&r, Joe

May the force be with you.

[Uncle Joe]

46. May the force be with you as well, RobertEarl.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

23. He will ALSO get votes from the "not Hillary" electorate.

[RobertEarl]

28. There are millions of them

Millions who do not want more of the same.

Bernie is a true uniting force.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

31. I just ended a back and forth with a Hillary supporter who refuses to accept him as a Democrat....

So there's that tiny faction.

They've gone from "Party Unity My Ass" to "It's all about Party Loyalty" and "Bernie isn't a Democrat".

[hrmjustin]

32. Yet n8t one HRC supporter here has said we will not support him if he is the nominee.

Can you say the same about Sanders supporters here?

No.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

35. I don't speak for all of them....

I will tell you that I know someone who didn't bother to vote for Obama the second time because he wasn't as liberal as they thought.

[Qutzupalotl]

47. Yes, I can.

Nearly all the Sanders supporters here have voiced one variant of "I know Hillary is likely to win the nomination and if so I'll (hold my nose and) vote for her." I've said it without the hold my nose part. So you are off base here.

[hrmjustin]

48. While a majority of Sanders supporters here sayy they will support the nominee no matter who

it is, there is a sizable contingent that refuse to say the will support the nominee.

Some have openly said they will not support Hillary if she is nominated.

So no i am not off base.

[frylock]

50. so what would you estimate that to be? 25? 30 people, tops?

bfd.

[Scuba]

26. K&R

[Cleita]

27. K&R

[BuelahWitch]

36. This is why I support him!

K&R!

[Juicy_Bellows]

43. Kick!

I see most of the negative comments are a bunch of Eeyores.

Go eat some thistles.

Cheers!

[rbnyc]

49. you said it!

[hill2016]

51. great piece

too bad most people here don't understand satire

[PoliticAverse]

52. "This is how this shakes out; Bernie will not get elected" - that is most likely the reality. n/t

[enid602]

53. cell

How might I humbly join your cell, esteemed comrade?

[SoapBox]

57. K & R

[mmonk]

58. Well said.

[The CCC]

59. Hey, all you Bernie doubters

Like it or not Congress is organized into two political parties. Has been for a longtime now The Republicons will never vote for any legislation Bernie is for, and more than a few Demorats won't either. Remember Joe LIEberman? Bernie is not a Democrat. He is a Democratic Socialist. So exactly who can he call upon to pass his legislation in Congress.

[demwing]

63. You and Me

Well...probably not you (based on your post), but this how a populist political revolution begins.

With the people.

[lonestarnot]

62. Now you're talk'n Earl G! That's where we are!

[SidDithers]

64. Earl G?...nt

Sid

[lonestarnot]

68. Yeah I did that. I confess. My eyes are getting terrible.