Bernie shouldn't get pressured out of the race

[Legends303]

If we divide the party going in the general election, Trump wins. Sander supporters already believes the establishment is pulling the strings, we don't need to give them ammunition. When Sanders drops out let him make the decision on his own, it's not going to hurt us of this primary continuing Biden supporters.

[ancianita]

1. That's exactly what Lawrence O'Donnell is explaining right this minute, in so many words.

We want to keep youth and first time voters engaged in running this country.

So we should let them all do what they've got to do. And be encouraging, no matter what or who, that they move on to the General.

[Aquaria]

13. They don't vote

I don't care about winning over people who can't put down their phones, game controllers, juiceboxes or participation trophies long enough to vote.

Tell them to grow up and show up, then I'll care what they want.

Until then, the squeaky wheels who show up to vote, like, oh, suburban soccer moms, get the grease.

Way it's always been. Way it always will be.

[Drahthaardogs]

28. That is harsh

I prefer Biden but if we have to pander a bit to the younger generation to make them excited about politics, so be it.

Kind of like getting a kid involved in hunting or football or whatever. You let them have some success.

If keeping Bernie in the race keeps them engaged, I am cool with it. Even if they flake out this cycle, maybe it whets their appetite for the next.

[rzemanfl]

35. "Let them have some success," why, because life is like that?

Drumpf and the virus are existential threats, yet we need to hand out participation trophies?

[ancianita]

41. Watch what Joe does, and take your cues from him.

[Cha]

42. Watch Sanders.. if he keeps doing Smear ads on Joe Biden.

[ancianita]

44. You're giving his ad buy too much credit. The DNC is going to be unified, you'll see.

[Cha]

47. BS is the one running the Smear Ads.. he need to Stop.

[ancianita]

49. Freedom of speech. He's going to do what he's going to do.

[Cha]

51. BS is only helping trump with those Smear Ads on Joe Biden.

[ancianita]

53. There is no help for Trump. None. You know this.

[Cha]

56. You really aren't in a position to tell me what I

know. Just stop with your personal insult.

[ancianita]

59. Like Obama says, come on. Come ON. This anti-Bernie talk is unnecessary now.

You can stop taking insult where none is intended.

[Cha]

63. I was talking about Sanders and trump & you took it personal.

[The Magistrate]

58. Having The Right To Do A Thing Does Not Make It The Right Thing To Do

And continued attack by Sanders and his surrogates does indeed assist Trump. People attempting to deny this only make themselves appear foolish.

[ancianita]

60. Post/cite some examples. I haven't seen any attacks and I get Bernie posts and news every day.

[The Magistrate]

76. Confessing Inattention Is A Poor Tactic

Genuine ignorance may be pardoned, and educated. Pretended ignorance is another matter, and unworthy of the least respect. You have notched thousands of posts on a political forum dedicated to left and Democratic politics. You know perfectly well what is referenced.

[ancianita]

78. I don't use "tactics."

Last edited Wed Mar 18, 2020, 12:18 AM - Edit history (1)

I've seen ads that people think are divisive. So what. If that's all you've got, there's no attacking me for pretending ignorance. I see what everybody's all up in a fluff about.

The country has spoken, Bernie's heard it. Haven't you?

This fear of party division couched as outrage is silly, at this point.

To continue this anti-Bernie talk makes the Biden people sound like sore winners.

[The Magistrate]

84. Of Course You Do, Everyone Does

If Sanders has heard the country, he will close up shop by tomorrow noon. You do not expect that, no one does. Sanders does not actually believe in Democracy. He is a 'vanguardist', believing he knows what the people really want, whatever they may say or think themselves.

Your tactic of pretended ignorance was intended to lure someone into a restatement of the attacks, to which you could respond with some variety of scorn or dismissal, after, of course, the attack has been read ionto the record once more. When you have to do it yourself, as you have done above, it is something of a squib.

[ancianita]

90. Nah. I don't. You can call what I say anything you like, though.

If Sanders heard the country, maybe he will or maybe not. He can speak for himself, and no amount of sore winner fear here is going to a) change his staff's behavior or b) "foresee" a replay of 2016. It's not going to happen.

My "intentions to lure" are purely your imagination, Sir. My ignorance was in thinking that Bernie and his staff's campaign rhetoric would be seen for what it is around here. If anyone could present something I haven't seen, I've got no problem with learning something new about Bernie. I'm not the least ignorant of Bernie's ads or his staff. But now the fear-of-a-divided-party talk has gone on to the point of emotional habit. Apparently, the country doesn't need lessons on unity from the outraged here.

His supporters are who I want coming into the General to vote. That was my original point. We should already be talking up how to get them to understand long term effort, give them time to see that progress can't come with just one man and staff, and we could, if we wanted to, agree that his staffers can be dealt with later. We saw Biden look presidential. So we can start pushing what reality that can mean for Bernie supporters.

Squib. Yeah, I saw that word in the New Yorker recently. Guess it's making the rounds.

[The Magistrate]

93. Thank You For The Laugh, Sir

We can all use a good one in these dark hours.

[missingthebigdog]

115. So good to see you here again, Sir!

[Sugarcoated]

136. So, so glad you're posting again here

I hope you choose to stay, I enjoy your intelligent posts and they life my spirits, sir!

[Vivienne235729]

99. Let me get this straight. You started off about "party unity" to pander to a group of unreliable

Youths who don't vote. Only to come around to call Biden supporters sore winners? If Bernie knows that he's toast, then end gracefully. When he acts like a sore loser, he's going to be called out for it. But don't feign outrage bc people call him out on a behaviour that is courting admonishment.

[ancianita]

118. You get nothing straight. Don't interpret me back to myself, make it about me, and STOP piling on.

If you want to see outreach as pandering, you're simply making personal attack.

Moreover, I don't see Bernie acting like the sore loser that you interpret, either.

Know what? If you want to argue, you needn't argue with me about Bernie or any other Democrat. I've always supported them all. All. Support. That means no trash talk. Not even about Gabbard, who we all have doubts about.

The only divisive people around here have been the anti-Bernie people. He might not be as "real" a Democrat as they want, but the party's embraced him.

Deal with it. Deal with the party as it is. This bashing and undermining habit is not constructive.

[Vivienne235729]

120. Let me see here...am I using YOUR words to call you out or personally attacking you?

If you feel your words are attacking you, then you're just as entitled as Bernie himself. And, clearly, I DID get something right. Lol

[ancianita]

121. Oh no. Just play the "Let me get this straight," passive aggressive game of rephrasing.

No, I don't think my words are attacking me. Your rephrasing of my meaning is what I "feel."

IF? If you're sincere and not personalizing my ideas, you could ask what I meant by what I said, or just questions in general. Instead you conclude from your weak strawman setup that "you're just as entitled as Bernie" with the smug lol.

Gratuitous silliness.

[Vivienne235729]

123. No. The only thing silly is your deflection, double standard, and name calling.

[Squinch]

108. Hey! Nice to see you!

[Doodley]

95. Freedom of speech is the worst excuse for stabbing Joe Biden in the back and

damaging his chances against Trump.

[Gothmog]

64. sanders needs to stop his false and misleading ads

Link to tweet

[ancianita]

71. Or else what? He'll change the country's mind about Biden and the party?

Could be a good cop-bad cop manipulation of RW news to make Repubs complacent about how "divided" we are, you know.

I wouldn't worry anymore about what Bernie needs to stop. Something else is going on, and maybe we're just not privy to what the party's internal approach is. If they wanted him out, he'd leave.

Let's just see how this plays out. The DNC will be united, so what's the big deal. Just some policy issues to get into the platform, is all.

[Demsrule86]

80. No, Hillary was destroyed...can't have a nominee attacked on the right and the left...same thing

happened with Kerry,Sanders needs to stand down...no more establishment crap and attack ads.

[Gothmog]

81. Or help re-elect trump

if sanders hurts Biden, sanders is helping Putin and trump

[ancianita]

83. IF. If he were going to "hurt Biden," he would have by now. Can't you see that yet?

[Gothmog]

88. sanders is running false ads

Link to tweet

[ancianita]

92. Beta test on what the country would "buy." It didn't. Biden's not worried.

Wait 'til the Bloomberg ads get behind Biden. Then you'll forget all about this.

[LanternWaste]

129. Yours may be the greatest movement of goalposts in the history of goalposts.

[ancianita]

130. Nope. Just willing to give Bernie the benefit of the doubt because it's a primary.

[Sugarcoated]

137. Damn, right, lol?

Just bickery bickering

[Drahthaardogs]

45. Well, I get it you're a tough guy

I know tough guys.

My dad was a rancher, his dad a coal miner. Sons of immigrants. I grew up tough. I cowboyed with grown ass men when I was 12 years old. They demanded I worked like a man when I was a kid. There were days when Dad came in and said you are not going to school, I need you to work cows

We had two full time cowboys. You know, I'm sure I was a pain in the ass. Those two cowboys not only tolerated me, they nurtured me.

As tough as those men were, they were not too tough to show a kindness to a teenaged. Took time to teach, and yeah.. they indulged me sometimes too.

So, I'm glad you're such a toughy. Yeah, life is tough. As adults it's our job to maybe make it a little less tough on the kids

[TwilightZone]

62. 30-year-olds aren't kids.

He's actually drawing more voters from 30-44 than from 18-29. The youngest group aren't showing up.

That being said, I have no idea what your post has to do with the one to which you replied. You seem to have divined something there that doesn't seem to exist.

[Drahthaardogs]

72. I get a little tired of all of the "life is tough" blah, blah, blah

Yeah, life is tough. It doesn't mean WE can't suck it up a little and INDULGE the youth a little. Scorching and burning is now way to nurture and interest. If keeping Bernie in keeps them motivated I'm not going to begrudge them

Point is if two old saddle tramps can indulge me as a kid to make me learn how to cowboy, we can do it too. It's what the older generation does FOR the younger generation to keep them interested and keep a tradition alive.

[rzemanfl]

119. You forgot to close with "Pilgrim." n/t

[sheshe2]

89. Pander to them?

The definition of pander is enlightening and horrifying.

Sorry. No. These are the kids that think the pandemic is a joke and it will never touch them. They are partying in Florida as we speak. Spring Break! They are to stupid to know what we face. It is all about them. You can't excite a person to vote when they deny the reality that faces them. Maybe when the body count rises to a million and their grandparents are gone, maybe their parents as well then perhaps, just perhaps their selfishness in spreading the virus will hit home.

PS. They are not engaged.

[Drahthaardogs]

94. Young people think they are immortal

They are going to be okay. We thought that way too. I think of the shit I pulled on a tractor today and shudder.

[treestar]

112. But they didn't vote

even for Bernie in large numbers so is it really true that keeping Bernie in the race keeps them engaged. There might be a better way to keep them engaged.

[LisaM]

124. But they will vote someday.

I would prefer that they learn to accept that defeats happen rather than thinking the system is rigged.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

39. Sage advice.

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[NCProgressive]

68. Isn't it time you changed the additional signature line

since Sen. Warren has dropped out and Bernie has lost?

[TomCADem]

2. Perhaps Biden Can Offer to Have Cornell West Help Write the DNC Platform?

I recall that the type of outreach and engagement you recommend was tried in the past. How did that work out? Did Cornell West reciprocate the engagement and support shown to Bernie?

https://www.colorlines.com/articles/cornel-west-activists-immigrants-lets-dump-democratic-party

Cornel West to Activists, Immigrants: Let's Dump The Democratic Party (2017)

Professor and author Dr. Cornel West has a message for people who identify themselves as political and social progressives: “The neoliberal vision of the Democratic party has run its course.”

In an essay published by The Guardian today (April 24), West argues that the first 100 days of President Donald Trump’s term in office makes it clear that the Democratic party is not capable of leading progressives in a time when the GOP dominates the American political landscape.

[LiberalFighter]

20. I have two words for him. He is another toxic person.

[still_one]

29. Touche'

[MyNameGoesHere]

3. Seems like it's pretty unified now.

Just a few hangers-on that won't jump on the Joe train

[SiliconValley_Dem]

4. Wrong! We voters are pressuring him out by voting against him overwhelmingly

BTW. Just to say he DOES do so, he needs to stop all attacks on Biden and Dems and force his surrogates to stop too. Then he needs to provide a calm and logical rationale for staying in despite the clear direction this things has gone.

[msongs]

5. "we divide"? its only one candidate and supporters who are dividing nt

[Walleye]

17. Exactly

[ecstatic]

6. Why isn't Bernie wise enough to know when it's time to bow out?

Why must we go through this again?

It's a question of judgment now. We have so much at stake.

Pete is less than half Bernie's age and even he was able to put his pride aside and make the right decision!

Is Bernie in control of his own campaign decisions or is someone else pulling the strings???

[LiberalFighter]

24. It is his ego. And why he really hasn't accomplished much in his 29 years plus

in Congress.

[ancianita]

38. What evidence have you, other than opinion here, that Bernie & supporters will split the party?

I don't see it. I know lots of Bernie supporters who'd still vote for Biden just to get rid of Trump.

We've got a pandemic going on, and so the national interest in getting rid of this fake prez is looking pretty unified, to me.

So what sources do you have that prove otherwise?

[Mister Ed]

102. Can someone find a link to "2016"? n/t

[Julian English]

7. BS shouldn't have to be pressured-he should be smart enough & insightful enough to do it on his own.

Unfortunately, he seems either to misread the situation or he is bent on destroying the Democratic Party and the nation with it.

[ancianita]

52. You're wrong. He's not bent on destroying anything. That's fear talk.

[LongtimeAZDem]

57. No, it isn't; it's been a pretty clear aim of his for a long time.

[NCProgressive]

65. ++++++

[ancianita]

69. I haven't seen that at all. Maybe you're blowing his campaign rhetoric into something else.

I was an old Berner from the last cycle's primary, but this cycle, supported two other primary candidates who dropped out.

I don't defend Bernie, yet he's got more to say to the country, though he's heard its voice loud and clear.

There's way to much conflict-driven talk that's persisting about Bernie. Why is it that Biden supporters can't take his and the party's lead on dealing with Bernie?

Folks ought to just calm down about him.

[LongtimeAZDem]

77. I'll calm down about him when he stops running attack ads against Biden; until then, it's on him

[Vivienne235729]

122. Of course you don't see anything critical of Bernie and you DO defend Bernie. Even though....

His entire shtick is about breaking the establishment but according to you he is about "party unity".

[NCProgressive]

8. He will be ignored from now on

The media focus will be gone and there will be no headlines.

We can't argue with someone who wants to be masochistic - but Bernie cannot win a single primary going forward.

He has no leverage now and he will have less and less leverage moving forward to the point of zero at the end.

Bernie needs to fall in line to help the party that helped his campaign and let him run twice.

[boston bean]

9. He has LOST. He will not be the nominee. Dear goddesses can people accept this simple truth?

[ancianita]

82. +1

[Faux pas]

10. Kickin'

[Tarheel_Dem]

11. It's a clean sweep for Biden once again, and the only thing forcing BS out is math.

[jberryhill]

12. I agree. He should be grabbed by the scruff of the neck and THROWN out of it

[Music Man]

14. There was an interesting discussion on CNN about the leverage Sanders has.

Sanders is in an interesting position in that he has many causes he wants to advance but presumably wants to see Biden win in the fall. Deep down, he knows a Biden presidency gets us closer to his vision than a second Trump term does.

Therefore, a lot of good can be done by Sanders and Biden sitting down NOW and hashing things out. I'm sure Sanders wants to influence the platform.

Biden also needs the energy that Sanders brings, and it would be wise for him to be receptive to what that wing has to say.

[Aquaria]

23. We don't need Sanders for the platform

The platform has always been as or more liberal than he is, but you'd need to have learned what's in it to know that.

If people cared about his candidacy or his "ideas," they would have voted for him. They didn't. They've made it clear that they don't want him or what he's selling.

Winners don't give concessions to losers who can't get people to show up to vote--and, worse, who lose voters in a successive primary season. The party has heard what the voters want, and have given as much as they're going to give to those who didn't bother to vote--which is far more than they deserve. Be grateful for what you get, rather than spoiled brats expecting to be coddled more than your voting numbers warrant.

[LiberalFighter]

32. Disagree. Sanders had his chance in 2016.

Biden does not owe him anything. If Sanders had any energy he would have done as well as he did in 2016 but didn't even pull all 16 delegates from his own state.

Sanders has also demonstrated poor judgement with the people in his campaign.

[TomCADem]

36. I Don't Think Having Bernie Supporters Booing Black Speakers...

...at the Convention is the type of energy we want. I think we want positive, pro-Democratic Nominee energy.

[Music Man]

50. I'm well-aware of the nastiness of Bernie supporters at the '16 convention

As well as the exceptionally progressive Democratic platform.

But the point about Biden needing to be receptive to Bernie's followers was made by David Axelrod, who knows a thing or two about winning elections.

[TomCADem]

67. I Am Not Convinced That Bernie Sanders Wants Biden to Beat Trump

It starts with Bernie's own repeated attacks on the Democratic party, as well as statements by his supporters advocating not only for the downfall of the Democratic party, but either cheering on Trump or discussing the silver lining of the suffering caused by a Trump presidency as creating conditions ripe for revolution. On top of that, it is the fact that despite all this talk about Bernie pushing his ideas, Bernie seems to relish making personal attacks on Democrats.

The actions that Bernie has taken, the people he has hired, and the statements he has made or retracted show that Bernie has cultivated a following whose equal goals are to elect Bernie and to destroy the Democratic party. Here is Bernie himself flip flopping and flip flopping on the question of who should be the nominee:

Link to tweet

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

This not the words of a man with integrity. At best, these are the words of an opportunist who is more interested in elevating himself then the welfare of the people he hopes to lead. At worst, Bernie has a god complex who truly believes that he alone can fix the problems that face our nation, and who sees no difference between Trump and Biden.

So, Bernie will spend the next few months viciously attacking Biden. Then, after doing so, he will belated endorse Biden, and then offer some half hearted words of support that are contradicted by his months of attacks.

[The Magistrate]

79. There Is No Reason To Think He Does, Sir

One recalls the old Comintern slogan 'Hitler is the ice-breaker of the revolution.'

This is a persistent delusion of the radical left, that right reactionaries in power will drive the people to seek revolutionary leadership on the left. It does not, but the dream does not seem to die. The chief obstacle, therefore, is not the reactionary right, but left elements and tendencies that do not revolution but rather reform and mitigation. It produces an odd sort of de facto alliance against people who are willing to work with the world as it is. One which neither side will admit, but which they must on some level recognize in their hearts.

[NCProgressive]

70. I think all of Bernie's delegates at the convention

should be read the riot act before they enter the hall and be seated between two burly bouncers so they can be ejected if there is any booing of Democratic leaders like Michelle Obama or John Lewis.

The decorum of the convention should be maintained

[tirebiter]

97. Put em between union reps

Of the Iron Workers and the IBEW

[Hav]

100. I like that

Sometimes, you need to listen to the young and sometimes you need the older generation slap some sense into you (figuratively or..) when they are hurting their own interests.

[Squinch]

110. He lost. He lost big. He doesn't get to make demands now.

There is no prize for participation.

[Aquaria]

15. The only person dividing the party is the fake Democrat

Who refuses to accept that Democratic voters just aren't into him.

BS is the equivalent of the psycho who's convinced that if he just keeps coming around your house and following you around, you'll change your mind about going out with him, rather than calling the cops on him as a creepy stalker.

[Walleye]

18. I thought of the same analogy

[zz-la]

16. After tonight I suspect Sanders will suspend his campaign

He will focus on helping Dem's take more seats in the House and retake the Senate. Sanders will do what is right when the time comes. At least he has made Biden a better and stronger candidate than I believe he was at the beginning of the race.

[Walleye]

21. Wanna bet?

[zz-la]

26. If I am wrong I am wrong

But I do not believe that Sanders is trying to damage the Democratic Party. After all he will need their support in 4 years when he runs for re-election.

[Aquaria]

34. I'm going to my county party convention

And proposing that we have a rule change to deny allowing anyone to run as a Democrat if they claim to be an Independent while holding elected office.

You want to be an Independent--run as one. But quit becoming one only when you want to mooch off our resources for your own selfish ambitions.

And worse, when you can't even win as a Democrat with our most loyal voters.

[George II]

133. He'll be running for re-election in 2024 as an independent.

[ehrnst]

134. He has always required the help of the Democratic Party to run for Senator in VT, and will again in

'24.

But he doesn't act like it.

[Aquaria]

27. That will be a first

He didn't do it in 2016, or with candidates who didn't align with his agenda or show fealty to him, PBUH in 2018. Real Democrats help all of the candidates down ticket that they can, not merely the ones who show fealty to them.

[SidDithers]

19. Yes he should...

it's time for him to take his participation certificate and go back to Vermont.



Sid

[TwilightZone]

22. The only dividing currently being done is by Sanders and some of his supporters.

Many of whom are independents, not Democrats.

[RockRaven]

25. Any campaign which is solely aspirational and positive could continue without ill effect,

under circumstances where the attempt to gain the nomination is futile by any reasonable interpretation of the available data.

But if the campaign is engaging in attacking and trying to tear down or smear the inevitable primary winner, then they help the general election opponent (in this case Donald Trump) by continuing that behavior beyond the point in time when they no longer have any reasonable chance of winning the primary.

How has Bernie's campaign been run? What is his path to victory? How is he behaving now?

[still_one]

33. As long as they have people such as Gray, Sirota, and Turner, it will be about attacking Biden

[Happy Hoosier]

30. Same crap as 2016.

As the race goes on, the Bros will get even more bitter, with Bernie’s silent consent.

[The Magistrate]

31. He Has Been Voted Out

That is, I suppose, a form of pressure.

[Beartracks]

37. Very very good point. Thank you! n/t

[Cha]

40. BS Shoujldn't Do Smear Ads on Joe Biden

[Legends303]

43. His aids already said he is not dropping out

So get use to it he is staying in the race.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

128. No reason for Bernie to drop out as long as he's mathematically still in the race...

Hillary used the same logic against Obama, if I recall correctly. I believe she was also trailing Obama by more than Bernie is trailing Joe, and yet Hillary stayed in the race... I'll have to research that to be sure.


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[HarlanPepper]

132. That's exactly right

Bernie is soaring!1!1

[George II]

135. Here's your research! Hillary Clinton was NEVER 300 delegates behind at any time...

...and neither candidate had a lead of more than 168. The final tally in 2008 was Obama 1765.5 to Clinton 1639.5 - a difference of only 106 delegates.

It's illogical to compare 2020 to 2008.

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/democratic_delegate_count.html

[Hoyt]

46. Yeah, Sanders should not listen to voters. What the hell do they know or matter?

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

139. Actually, the voters matter quite a bit, which is why they should all have their say...

that is, until all but one of the candidates are mathematically eliminated, assuming it's their desire to stay in the race until that point. Even the appearance of being "heavy handed" in prematurely forcing candidates out of the race could have negative effects on unifying the party in preparation for the general election. We need to avoid that scenario at all costs, so as to maximize the winning candidate's chances against tRumpty Dumbty.


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[Hoyt]

140. None of the candidates who dropped out were "mathematically eliminated." They

could read the tea leaves and saw what was best to end the national nightmare, though. Good judgment is admirable in a true leader.

[frazzled]

48. What is the point of that?

So people can cast their vote for someone who has no possibility of winning now? Do people really want to press that digital button or fill in that bubble just to feel like they got to have their say?

That’s kind of like getting a buzz out of saying something clever to Siri or Alexa. The ladies do not care. They are not real. Neither is the electronic screen or the optiscan ballot. If you think you are making an ideological statement, I’m afraid all you’re saying is I am on the side of a massively losing ideology.

It’s as incomprehensible to me as people still voting for candidates who have dropped out.

[DrToast]

54. Fine, but we don't have to pay attention to him

[LizBeth]

55. This is on Sanders. Done accommodating. Voters have made a solid statement.

[SiliconValley_Dem]

61. I just wish his top advisers would help him realize

How small this is going to make home look. He’s LOSING voters as he goes. The train is slowing down. Let him go out with some dignity.

[LongtimeAZDem]

66. His top advisers are probably telling him to run third-party

[comradebillyboy]

74. His top advisors are not Democrats and they hate the

Democratic party. Nina Turner, David Sirota, Bri Bri Gray, Cornell West and many others were Stein voters. Prolonging the beating is not going out with dignity. Bernie has never said a kind word about the Democratic Party. Many good Democrats think Sanders helped elect Donald Trump.

He hasn't earned the benefit of the doubt.

[Demsrule86]

73. Give him some time, but he has to understand the primary is over. We need to turn our attention to

beating Trump. It is over and he can't continue to beat up Biden and we can't continue to waste money and time on a primary that is over.

[LizBeth]

87. He should have stepped out after Super Tuesday. We were saying give him time after last week. Then

the debate. Now this. No more time. He support Biden or he is not fighting for the people but all about his ego.

[Happy Hoosier]

75. At this point, Bernie is damaging progressives.

I’d they want to be taken seriously, these kind of bull-headed, fact-blind actions have to stop. It just underlines the idea that they do not live in reality.

[RandySF]

85. I thought he was an adult.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

86. How is it so difficult to understand 'A BAD BIDEN FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS' is better than

'ANOTHER ORANGE FOUR YEARS".

REST your dang laurels, get Trump OUT of office and then Fuss until 2018 and 2020.

[nolawarlock]

91. Why should he?

I mean, what, with all the people he's endangering the lives of by keeping these pointless primaries going, no pressure at all, right?

[Doodley]

96. It is obvious that he cannot win, and yet he is focused on attacking Biden.

If he thinks he can win, either he is deluded or he thinks Joe Biden will soon die or become incapacitated -- that would enable him to win by default. I have to wonder if he knows something we don't.

[mvd]

98. A terrible attitude towards him won't help at all

Biden is classy enough to acknowledge the solid base Sanders has and wants to appeal to his supporters. That said, I don’t see how Sanders wins. I also don’t know what his thinking is yet, especially with this virus. Things are so put on hold.

[Squinch]

107. Where, please, is this mythic solid base? If he has a base he'd win a county here and there.

There is no "solid base."

[treestar]

113. And he has fewer votes this time than 2016

so there is nothing solid about his "base."

[Hav]

101. He cannot be pressured out

but right now he has the lead in only 3 counties over all the 3 states that voted today. It's almost comical. Different regions, different demographics, different voting history and the result is a universal rejection of BS. He cannot be forced out but it rather looks he'll get ridiculed out. Just imagine if all planned primaries had taken place today. What a spanking that would have been with another big portion of the available delegates gone.

[ucrdem]

103. He may have to yield to virus-related rule changes.

That's a nicer way of expressing it. But the public mood is clearly against a 2016 replay and now that primaries are blinking out like cheap christmas lights the DNC has good reason to update the delegate math.

[True Blue American]

104. After reading all the posts

Pro and con, I have to say, no Sanders should not be pushed out. Having said that he should have the decency and grace to step aside.

How much humiliation should he take before he concedes? When you are losing states 2 to 1 it should be clear your nasty Ads are not working. Neither is your message.

[ucrdem]

114. I think it is inevitable.

Hillary didn't dare but then there was the 2016 convention and now there's coronavirus. I think the Sanders Cycle will soon reach its conclusion and won't be returning.

[nolawarlock]

105. At this point I just think Biden should be campaigning solely against Trump ...

Biden knows he's the winner. We all know he's the winner. Bernie is not coming back from this and he's trying to derail Biden for what? Some sick hope that he'll run again at 82? Wouldn't shock me. Heck, I think he's so delusional that 92 wouldn't shock me for him.

So yeah, Biden should just campaign against Trump and forget about Bernie Sanders. He'll STILL win the remaining primaries and be spending his money better crippling Trump.

[ibegurpard]

111. Campaign against Trump

And continue to be gracious towards Sanders and his supporters. Ignore the bomb throwers.

[Squinch]

106. Oh bullshit. We're not "dividing the party?" BS is. And that couldn't be plainer unless

you are one of the people who has bought into BSs monstrous sense of entitlement.

We don't have time for his shit.

[betsuni]

109. RIGGED!

[LanternWaste]

116. Our opinions are not pressuring anyone of note.

Nor do our opinions hold any relevance to whether someone believes in conspiracy theories or not. We have no control over Sanders' decision, so I'm not sure what you're driving at... to avoid having opinions abour Sanders so as not to trigger anyone?

Our opinions are not quire as powerful or consequential as you seem to think.

[IluvPitties]

117. Bernie has been voted out of the race by us.

It's over!

[Vivienne235729]

125. When Bernie has a 99% chance of losing, he should bow out gracefully. but, for whatever reason

he can't let it go, then AT THE VERY LEAST, he needs to direct his guns at TRUMP. NOT BIDEN. I would be ok if Bernie stayed in the race and put out ads directing it at trump. But with almost a 0% chance of winning the nomination and going after Biden for a goal that is clearly out of reach, he is only helping trump. And I have a real problem with that. The party unity has already begun. He has chosen not to be a part of that. Bernie deserves every push back he gets.

[LakeArenal]

126. No he should drop out on his own volition.

Blame it on the virus or whatever to save face if he wants.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

127. True & besides, if Joe does win the nomination, Bernie will have helped make him a better candidate

against tRumpty The Clown by staying in the race until it's mathematically decided.


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together & can't be bought!!
Jump on the Bernie Bandwagon & join the revolution!!

[Tweedy]

131. Fine

Nonetheless, the primary is over since one candidate is clearly mathematically out of range of success.

Joe Biden should turn to engage the general election while continuing to treat Senator Sanders with respect.

[Maru Kitteh]

138. He should have the moral backbone to do it without pressure. nt

[Generic Brad]

141. Tell the voters to stop choosing Joe

Tell them to mercy vote for Bernie so he can keep his campaign going.