Bernie Sanders 'having conversations' to 'assess his campaign' after Biden clean sweep

[warrior1]

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/03/bernie-sanders-having-conversations-to-assess-his-campaign-after-biden-clean-sweep/

[AlexSFCA]

1. Finally!!

[RobertDevereaux]

2. Here's the text of Bernie's email from this morning...

No sugarcoating it, last night did not go the way we wanted.

And while our campaign has won the battle of ideas, we are losing the battle over electability to Joe Biden.

So we wanted to give you an update on what is next for Bernie and for our campaign:

First, Bernie will likely have a vote on the coronavirus in the Senate today. He’ll take that vote, and you can expect him to continue his fight to ensure we are protecting working people, low-income people, and the most vulnerable communities, not just giant corporations and Wall Street in any response to the virus.

Then after this vote today, Bernie and Jane are going to get on a plane back to Vermont. Once there, they’ll begin holding conversations with supporters to get input and assess the path forward for our campaign. We will keep you updated as those conversations progress.

In the meantime, please continue to stay safe, and thank you for everything you’ve done so far. It means the world to Bernie and Jane.

In solidarity,

Faiz Shakir
Campaign Manager

[George II]

4. On what does he base he "won the battle of ideas"? People vote on ideas, people voted for Biden.

People are just fed up with his constant bashing of the Democratic Party, the bashing of his self-created "establishment" or "corporate" Democrats. They're fed up with hearing that everyone is against him.

It's time for him to look at himself, and stop blaming everyone and everything around him.

[PatSeg]

8. Actually I voted for the person first and foremost

The ideas are only as important as the person who can make them reality. I don't agree with any candidate 100%, but all of our presidential hopefuls brought progressive policies to the table, so we have to look for the person who is most qualified to be president. Much of future progressive policies will come from congress and that is where we need to put a lot more energy.

[RobertDevereaux]

11. Yes indeed...

I've begun ramping up my already-steady contributions to critical Senate and House races.

We MUST take over the Senate and maintain/increase our lead in the House.

Onward!

[PatSeg]

20. I remember what Obama went through

with a republican controlled congress. So much lost opportunity. He often had to use executive orders and Trump just turned around and axed them. We have to do better!

Onward!

[Politicub]

13. I think "the ideas" are bigger than Bernie and what the party stands for.

We all agree that everyone has a right to healthcare. We all agree that the cost of higher education is out of control. We all agree that the minimum wage isn’t enough. We all agree that climate change is real. We agree that the economy is tilted in favor of the rich. We all agree that we need to repair the damage to our government from the Trump wrecking ball. We all believe in the sacred duty to protect the vote.

The difference is in the approaches to solving or starting to solve these myriad issues. So Bernie’s solutions are his. Biden has proposals, too.

But Bernie didn’t start the conversation. The ACA was passed in 2008. Democrats have been trying to solve many issues as a party. Populists make it sound easy.

Yang contributed the idea of the UBI and it’s getting a serious airing now. Our party is diverse and filled with smart people and ideas.

No one has won the battle. The struggle continues.

[PatSeg]

22. Well said

I've gotten in arguments with people who accuse me of not wanting those changes, not understanding that it was Sanders that I didn't want. I felt there were better people for the job. I've always seen Bernie as an effective and outspoken activist. He brings a lot to the table, but I never saw him as a president.

[Blasphemer]

18. I think he is referring to a poll showing that people somewhat prefer him on the issues

This was posted about a week ago: https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287649461

It's hardly a blowout in the way that Biden's numbers on electability, crisis management, and unity are. It's interesting that Sanders ignores the unity piece. He, his advisors, and his supporters dismiss how much the movement's divisiveness affects voters.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. "what is next" and "so far" are the alarm bells

Bernie is mentally rigid!

[PatSeg]

7. Well said

I like the tone and hope it has a positive influence on Bernie's supporters.

[The Magistrate]

10. Just A Low-Rent Corbyn Tribute Act, Now, Sir

"...while our campaign has won the battle of ideas..."

[George II]

12. I just got that email too. The Senate is in session, there is no campaigning going on for weeks....

WHY is he going back to Vermont after that one vote? Why doesn't he have those conversations in Washington during breaks in the Senate proceedings?

He's still a Senator and he's still getting paid $15,000 per month.

[ucrdem]

16. Exactly what he said last week.

He has no intention of conceding without being forced to.

[The Magistrate]

21. And There Really Is No way To Force It, Sir

Our system has worked, more or less, because people involved held themselves to a certain standard of gentlemanly behavior and deference to norms. People who consider themselves freed from such things gain a certain advantage. Trump and McConnell certainly have made this plain, and so, in his own way, has Sanders.

[ucrdem]

23. Yes, Bernie has made the most of rules and rule changes.

He always has the right meme for the moment. I remember when he got the DNC to welcome him onto the roster five years ago. The implicit threat was always, if they didn't, he'd run third party. As to the kind of force I'm imagining it would probably be a coronavirus-related formula adjustment that would rule out Sanders mathematically, Gabbard too of course, and effectively vacate the rest of the Dem primaries. That might not prove necessary following today's rumors but then again it might be.

So I wholeheartedly agree with you in the main, but I think coronavirus primary cancellations are going to require rule adjustments one way or the other if Sanders doesn't suspend in the next few days.

And it's great to see you here!!

[The Magistrate]

24. My Personal Inclination, Sir, Is To Strip Him Of Committee Memberships In The Senate

And invite him to caucus with McConnell if he doesn't like the consequences he has earned.

[ucrdem]

25. I imagine that would have a tonic effect.

Perhaps it already has.

[lapfog_1]

26. I sure wish someone would tell Bernie

that if he ACTUALLY won the "battle of ideas" he won also win more elections.

[Happy Hoosier]

3. I have a sneaking feeling...

Bernie was giving his younger voters one more chance. He had hoped that the virus crisis would suppress older voters, and that his ardent, fearless voters would give him some surprise victories. It didn't happen. He got crushed. So maybe he finally decided to give up on "and then a miracle happens."

[TreasonousBastard]

6. The same conversations the rest of them had? The ones that ended up...

"We're not gonna win, so let's just get out of the way and push for Joe. No more wasting time."

[BlueIdaho]

9. I hope he gets some level headed advice.

At some point (I’d suggest we are already there) further denial of reality will damage Senator Sanders legacy. He needs to think hard about how he will be remembered when his campaign unavoidably ends.

[peggysue2]

14. Exactly right!

Sanders can be remembered as a Statesman or a Spoiler. His choice. The primaries ahead are no better for his campaign than last night--the polling has him losing everywhere. With the growing health crisis we're facing, the responsible decision is clear. Time to bow out and join the push to remove Trump and his enablers.

[Todd79]

15. I do too

But that means leaving Brianna and Sirota out of those conversations.

[BlueIdaho]

17. I would suggest

That is a reason they should never have been there in the first place. Most people who run for President fail. If they could not see that as a real possibility - they are not serving their candidate’s best interests.

[NCProgressive]

19. Exactly

Brianna, Sirota and Nina Turner would want their paychecks to continue till the convention

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

28. He's not going to get it from the likes of Sirota, Turner or Gray.

[njhoneybadger]

27. Bernie assess this...

[Gothmog]

29. NO DONATION BUTTON.

Link to tweet

[LizBeth]

30. We are in a crisis. Sanders has lost. Forget the ego and get out, back Biden. Voters have spoken.