Sanders Must Now Choose His Battlefield

[RandySF]

Bernie Sanders is at a crossroads, facing a tough choice about the future of his political movement. The coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing economic chaos it is bringing make Sanders’s program more urgent than ever. A pandemic is the strongest argument for universal health care. The severe recession that America is likely to endure in the coming months will exacerbate all the social problems that Sanders has spent his career fighting.

But if Sanders’s message is more resonant than ever, his presidential bid has stalled. He lost three more primaries on Tuesday night, in Arizona, Illinois, and Florida. Joe Biden is now close to having 300 more pledged delegates. Sanders faces a steep and unlikely path to victory, barring a radical change in events. Further, there’s an ethical dilemma that has been troubling the campaign: Is it justified to continue during the height of a pandemic, when voters are risking their lives to show up at polling stations?

A Sanders aide told Yahoo, “Tonight is hard and it’s also time for some hard decisions.”

It’s striking that the Sanders campaign released a video where the candidate didn’t talk about the election but focused instead on the pandemic. “Our country and our world are facing an unprecedented series of crises,” Sanders said. “We’re dealing with the coronavirus, which is spreading throughout this country and throughout the world. We’re dealing with a growing economic meltdown which will impact tens of millions of workers in this country.”





https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/sanders-coronavirus-congress-presidential/

[Cha]

1. BS said this.. Did he mean it?...

Donald Trump must be defeated,” Bernie Sanders insists, “and I will do everything in my power to make that happen.”

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/1287673175

[getagrip_already]

26. It doesn't mean anything yet....

Until he drops out and pledges support for joe. Otherwise it could just as well be an indication he is going third rail.

Trumps dream ticket.

[PJMcK]

2. Bernie needs to stand down

Otherwise he’ll be supporting Trump’s re-election.

[TomCADem]

3. If You Assume That Bernie Will Try To Undermine Chances of Beating Trump...

...then he will probably act in the following manner:

1. Say that he is interested in running to raise awareness of his issues, but the only issues that gets traction are his repeated attacks on Biden's character and motives.

2. Announcing repeated press conferences teasing that he may dropout only to announce that (surprise) he is staying in and he is doing it because his followers want him to do so.

3. Complaining about the how the media or the "establishment" are being so unfair and biased toward him and that he is not going to drop out until everybody appropriately kowtows to his changing demands.

4. Attack the primary process as rigged and say that "some people will say that if was not rigged, I would have the nomination."

The goal is to steal headlines and do things to keep himself and his various grievances in the public eye and damage Biden, so that if Biden wins, he will brag that he endorsed Biden at the last minute, and take the credit. Alternatively, if Biden loses, then he will attack the Democratic party as failing for not going far enough in embracing him.

If you assume that Bernie does not care about the people or about beating Trump, then it is pretty clear that he will act in the manner described above. So, don't fall for his act again.

[Cha]

5. Then regarding #2.. BS doesn't really care about

the Planet.. bc he has no path to victory and will continue helping trump with #1.

And, he didn't mean this when he said it.

Donald Trump must be defeated,” Bernie Sanders insists, “and I will do everything in my power to make that happen.”

https://upload.democraticunderground.com/1287673175

[TomCADem]

11. As this one segment shows, it is tough for Bernie to keep his story straight...

Link to tweet

?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1234133534723407872&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.democraticunderground.com%2F1287673562

Just to follow along.
1. Bernie was a against Superdelegates...
2. Until he was behind in pledged delegates, and he was hoping superdelegates would overturn this result...
3. Until he was ahead in delegates during this primary and leading in polls, so he thought a bare plurality was sufficient, and any attempt to contest the nomination would promote disunity...
4. Until he lost big in Super Tuesday and subsequent primaries.

[Cha]

13. I know.. it's ridiculous and

that's one reason why he's lost. People pay attention.. it's on the internet.

[Demsrule86]

17. Sanders won't get out...can we please stop protecting him on this

forum like he is a Democrat...I personally feel it is undeserved after last time during the general and now this refusal to end his campaign. The only reason for Sanders to stay in at this point is to hurt the Democratic nominee.

[NanceGreggs]

7. Well said.

[The Magistrate]

12. Well Done, Sir!

Well done indeed!

[Demsrule86]

18. Corona virus is a problem for him though...as the coverage is all encompassing and ignores his

what I consider to be some sort of tantrum. The primary is over...the media like us have seen this movie before and have very little interest short of his dropping out, and that must drive him crazy. I would not want to have my supporters on line supporting Trump- saying he is moving left...hell of a legacy for Sanders.

Trump cuts social security, Medicaid and Medicare in the budget, and yet Sanders' supporters complain about remarks made 30 years ago..remarks that Sanders himself echoed in the 90's. Sanders knows what is in the budget, and that his staying in risks the House and the presidency...so we must conclude that all the issues that he we thought he was so passionate about for 40+years...the revolution all of it was just political speak.

[Mister Ed]

22. I've copied and saved this handy four-point checklist.

I'll be watching to see if Bernie touches all these bases in the weeks and months ahead. I hope to heaven he won't. But I fear he will.

I have a strange and terrible feeling of deja vu...

[NurseJackie]

24. He needs to be neutered. Going forward, NO committee or chair assignments.

If he's an "ally" then he needs to start acting like one. If he cannot act like one, if he cannot get with the program... then we need to stop affording him certain honors, assignments, privileges. I think that's a perfectly reasonable condition to make. There's nothing wrong with setting minimum standards and having higher expectations.

[LizBeth]

4. Sanders lost. Voter spoke. Sanders needs to get behind Biden 100%, save lives in a time of crisis.

[Danmark]

6. Give Bernie a break he know's what to do way better than most of any one here.l.

Just my 2 cent's
Thanks.

[Cha]

8. No. BS lost.. the Voters have Rejected him..

He didn't build coalitions.. Biden did.

[Demsrule86]

16. Really, I don't think so...the question is Will Sanders help Trump by staying in and not giving

his supporters the chance to heal...and does he really think like some on twitter have said that Trump is moving left? He needs to concede sooner rather than later.

[Sherman A1]

20. Precisely

[Aquaria]

29. If he knew what he was doing

If he knew what he was doing, he'd be able to explain why Italy, with a single payer healthcare system, has such a dire COVID-19 situation that doctors are having to give up on elderly patients to have the resources to save younger patients, or at least how to avert such a situation from arising under his M4A fantasy.

He'd also admit that Medicare is not all that it's cracked up to be when people on it right now can't even get the care they need without enormous out of pocket costs for supplemental policies and medications in Mexico to keep from going bankrupt. He'd admit that making it into a workable healthcare solution will require trillions of dollars in funding to close all the gaps in coverage AND provide care to every American on top of that, and then find a way to convince us that it's worth the investment despite that.

He'd have a comprehensive plan for M4A ready to go and the legislation for it written up.

He would have welcomed and accepted constructive criticism of it, and accepted input from experts who may see other or better ways to do something.

He would have offered calm and measured rebuttals towards those who opposed his legislation and not accused them of being corporatist sellouts from the establishment out to get him.

He would have busted his hump working with others to get that legislation passed and signed, even if it cost him his POTUS bid.

-- -- --

Houston, we have a problem. Lots of them.

[BidenBacker]

9. Bernie fought the good fight

but that fight is over and he lost.

A prudent progressive (like LBJ, for example) would tell his supporters to compromise, accept the best they can get at this time in Biden and make the best of things as they are. Then continue to make their case going forward in the hopes that more people will eventually come around to their views so that they can grow their base beyond the mere 15-20% of the electorate who are progressive. That will likely take years and certainly not the weeks or perhaps even days that Sanders has remaining. And while they're at it they can also start looking around for a new younger leader to advance their cause.

Then again, when thinking about adjectives to describe Bernie, "prudent" would be one of the very last ones I'd choose.

[Sherman A1]

21. I seem to recall in the not so distant past

The Biden campaign was hanging on by a thread. Perhaps it is time to allow the process to do what it is designed to do and allow the voters in the remaining stares yet to vote have their voices heard?

[BidenBacker]

28. Biden was hanging on by a thread

because there were so many other like-minded candidates in the field. Once they all dropped out the choice became a lot clearer for most folks.

Now that it's down to only just two Bernie's only chance now is if Joe drops out...could happen, I guess.

[Meadowoak]

30. +1

[Aquaria]

38. The difference is that Biden's campaign was hanging by a thread

When only three low-population states had had their say--two of them blindingly white.

Since then, more, bigger and more diverse states have made their voices heard. Their voters have spoken, and chose someone else.

Unlike with Biden before South Carolina, with an abundance of delegate-rich states yet to weigh in, there is no maybe later for BS. There is no thread for him to hang onto. 60% of the delegates have been snatched up and BS is behind. By some 295 delegates as we speak. He would have to get 70% of the vote in the remaining primaries to win the nomination. I would love to hear how he pulls that off when he hasn't managed to get out of the 30s in any state, even California, where he would have lost by ten or more percentage points if Bloomberg hadn't been in the race. Are you aware of the fact that BS has won barely more counties since South Carolina than Biden won in Texas alone? Ever since the race came down to Biden vs BS, Biden has been winning. Handily.

Where is the path to the nomination for BS? He's not polling ahead of Biden in any remaining state. He is not even polling close to the margin of error. He's double digits down in multiple states.

This much I know, because I know demographics and, from long observation and experience, I know how certain states vote and why:

BS will not win any of the red state primaries, including Wisconsin. They will never vote for a Jewish Commie. I'm not saying their assessment is right or fair, only that most red staters see him that way. It's not a positive for them.

BS will not win the remaining Rust belt states of Pennsylvania and Ohio. Biden is their guy and always would have been. Our former VP speaks their language and rides the same wavelength they do. Always has. BS does not, and never will. And never forget: Biden is a Native Son in Pennsylvania. BS doesn't stand a chance against him there, and he is doomed if he doesn't win big in PA.

Speaking of, BS will not win in Delaware against their former Senator. He will not win heavily Catholic Rhode Island against Catholic Biden. If anything Biden will cream him in both. They're small states, yes, but BS can't afford to lose big in either of them.

If BS couldn't win MA or WA, he has little chance of winning CT, NJ or NY. They're the same type of electorates: Diverse white collar cities, lots of suburban soccer moms, and wide swaths of conservative rural districts. Even if he could eke out a victory from any or all of them, he still wouldn't collect enough delegates to save him. Biden will get a minimum 40% of their delegates, no matter what.

BS won't even win DC, because they know him and thus know better.

He is DONE. It's his own fault if he refuses to face that reality.

So shrug your shoulders all you want, but the cold hard facts speak far louder.

[Demsrule86]

41. There are not enough delegate for Sanders to win...thus time for a concession....the sooner the

better. No one person has said Sanders can still win on TV or the radio that I heard.

[The Magistrate]

43. Apples To Oranges, Sir, As You Know Well

Sanders 'led' in a crowded field, before any appreciable number of ballots had been cast. That caucuses do not represent actual voter sentiment has been demonstrated on several occasions, when states have both a caucus and subsequently a 'beauty contest' along with their state primary. While talking heads and enthusiasts may have been eager to opine in the early going of Iowa and Nevada caucuses, and New Hampshire (a tiny balloting in a quite unrepresentative sample), old lags know perfectly well no sound judgement regarding actually prospects can be made before a good number of ballots have been cast. In terms of coverage and commentary Mr. Biden may have been hanging on by a thread, but that thread was damned tough spider silk in terms of reasonable anticipation of how ballots would total once a good sized state weighed in.

Now that only two candidates are active, Sanders continues to get roughly the same proportion of ballots cast in his favor as he did in the crowded field. Just about all the rest are cast for Mr. Biden. To expect this will change is moonshine. Sanders is no political genius, he seems to have honestly expected the field would not clear, and he could snake out a plurality with no more than perhaps a third of the total vote, and then by extortionate blackmail stampede the convention into presenting him the nomination. This may work in left splinter factions like the Socialist Workers Party and its ilk, but it is not the sort of thing that happens in modern mass politics. It would, however, tend towards destruction of the Democratic Party. To Sanders, this is as valuable a goal as actually achieving the Presidency. Sanders views the 'Democratic Establishment' as an enemy of 'the people' every bit as rotten and wrong as the Republican Party. For him it is a 'win-win' situation, with election of an autocratic reactionary leaving the oppressed people no choice but to turn to radical leftists for leadership in revolution, since no other force will remain intact on the left to oppose the fascists.

"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[Sherman A1]

45. I completely disagree with your assessment

Would you deny the voters in the states yet to cast their ballots a voice? We have a process and it should be seen through. If Sanders can make his case then fine, if Biden makes his also fine, but the process needs to be completed and the delegate count currently held by the candidates is not all that terribly far apart.

[The Magistrate]

46. Every One Is Free To Publicly Announce He Is Mistaken, Sir

It will not bother me in the slightest that you have done so here.

No one is suggesting primaries be cancelled, only that Sanders concede he has lost and stand down. Candidates for a variety of Federal, state, and local offices remain to be selected. Sanders, however, has no more chance of securing a majority of delegates than a team fifteen games out of first with fourteen to go has of securing the pennant. By continuing the contest, he harms the prospects of expelling Trump, and of breaking McConnell's grip on the Senate. His persistence raises questions regarding what his actual intentions are. One learns to watch the hands, not the mouth. Intention behind an action is best read from its results.


"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[Sherman A1]

47. Time will tell

24 hours is an eternity in politics.

[brush]

53. I love how actual Dems coalesced behind an actual Democrat, Biden.

The advantage of being a party member has shown Sanders the disadvantage of not having that advantage.

Somehow that basic political fact took Sanders and his followers by surprise. I chalk that up to Sanders' naivete—and his similar naivete in thinking he could win at the convention with a third of the delegates and thinking the party and nation would elect a socialist.

He should suspend and apologize to his followers for his gross misreading of America's political reality and misleading them into thinking the same way.

[msongs]

10. psst tell bernie that italy has universal health care, so does france, and switzerland nt

[Turin_C3PO]

25. It would still help our

outcomes in this country if we didn’t have millions without coverage. No doubt about that.

[Meadowoak]

31. And on the other side of this pandemic lockdown, people will demand it here in the US

As well! Also universal basic income. The devastation has not even begun yet.

[oasis]

14. C'mon and do the right thing Bernie.

[Demsrule86]

15. Italy has single payer...and they have the worse death rate of all from the virus...thus

we need universal coverage...medicare is a flawed program that needs work...worked with it for sis in law...and she will spend the rest of her life in a home mostly because of the shitty physical therapy after she broker her leg in four places that Medicare provided, and it is expensive.

[Meadowoak]

32. Check back in about 10 more days. The US will be in MUCH worse shape than

Italy. This thing is going to expose how bad the healthcare for profit system really is. People will demand single payer here.

[Demsrule86]

34. No they won't. No one outside of Sander's supporters gives two fucks...we don't have time

to pass Medicare for all which wouldn't pass now anyway...we will have to do something but it won't be Medicare for all...so move on. I prefer a plan for the 21st century myself building on the ACA with a public option to start...we will reach universal coverage. I didn't support MFA anyway but watching Italy literally allowing folks to die...has completely turned me against it.

[Meadowoak]

40. You don't think they won't allow folks to die here? Check back in 10 days. We will surpass

Italy. And you will need to win a lottery to get any treatment. It will expose how really bad healthcare for profit is.

[Demsrule86]

42. Well Trump has hurt our system so it is weak but it is easier to improve our system and offer

people and alternative to work insurance than to try for a huge bill that will fail in Congress...we could lose all healthcare.

[Demsrule86]

48. Maybe it will happen as our health care has been attacked by Trump and Medicaid was not expanded but

why would we want to adopt a policy that has just as bad an outcome? #we can do better.

[brush]

54. Still, neither the party nor the nation will elect a socialist.

Socialism is viewed as toxic by too many millions of voters here for a presidential candidate to run as and win.

It's just a stark, political reality.

He should suspend and apologize to his followers for his gross misreading of America's election zeitgeist and misleading them into thinking the same way.

[ucrdem]

19. He's hoping we'll forget he's still running.

[Demsrule86]

35. I have not heard his name mentioned once today...I didn't hear much about him yesterday except

when he used the 'F' word...not helpful to him.

[Tom Rinaldo]

23. On top of everything else, the nation has no bandwidth left to give to a continuing primary contest

The public for a host of reasons, but Covid-19 in particular, has moved on. Even coverage of the last primaries, on the very night of those primaries, took a distant back seat to coverage of the pandemic.

Sanders speaking as a potential presidential candidate now will increasingly be seen as a distraction, and his thoughts viewed within that context will be tainted by a political lens just when the public wants to rise above that.

Sanders speaking as a former candidate and current U.S. Senator with a long track record for fighting for the interests of average Americans, will have both higher visibility and greater credibility on the issues that matter to him. In all likelihood he will also have greater access to decision making circles inside the Democratic Party in regards to social and economic issues that matter to him once he is no longer seen as opposing our presumptive nominee.

I understand the irony regarding timing that this story centers on, but the decision is still a relative no-brainer. Bernie needs to suspend his campaign. That doesn't have to officially happen today, but the wheels should now be in motion toward that end.

[Demsrule86]

36. +10000 I would advise he do it today...as this should increase his leverage in the Senate with

the Emergency aid bill...or do it soon. The weird thing is I believe he loses leverage if he doesn't get out of the race fairly quickly.

[redstatebluegirl]

27. He needs to get out and work HARD to get is supporters

out to vote with the party not stay home and pout.

[Meadowoak]

33. Maybe Biden will pout when the nation demands single payer.

[Demsrule86]

37. The nation is fine with the ACA improved and a public option and we can get it done pretty quickly.

[Meadowoak]

39. Not when half the nation is unemployed for months on end.

[Demsrule86]

44. A Public option for anyone who wants it would take care of that.

[Demsrule86]

49. That is what expanding Medicaid was for. In Ohio my daughter was out of work for almost a year,

after breaking both ankles and requiring surgery. She went on Medicaid and paid nothing...no deductible and no copays. This was during the Obama administration before dirty donnie attacked the ACA.

[Meadowoak]

50. Once people go on Medicaid, they will never want to go back to

Their old insurance plan, no deductibles, no copays, no cost for prescriptions. How many people now, go to the Dr and then can't afford to fill the prescriptions? Medicaid for all would be nice.

[DarthDem]

51. Drop. Out. Now.

Even Ms. Gabbard saw the light.

[redstatebluegirl]

52. If BS cares about the country he will stand down TODAY!