home

"It's Hillary's Turn": Will Bernie Get Out of the Way?

Hillary Clinton won South Carolina in a landslide. She did especially well among African Americans.

About 6 in 10 voters in South Carolina's Democratic primary were black, by far the largest proportion of African-Americans in any of the contests so far. And nearly 9 in 10 black voters supported Clinton.

As one African-American voter told the L.A. Times, "It's Hillary's turn now."[More...]

Many said they felt she was the best candidate to carry on the legacy of the country’s first black president. The feeling among many black voters was summed up by Charleston resident Paceta Powell on Saturday, who said, "It's Hillary's turn now.”

African Americans weren't Hillary's only backers. Women, including younger women, also backed Hillary:

Six in 10 South Carolina primary voters were women, and 8 in 10 of them said they voted for Clinton. She was also supported by about 7 in 10 men.

...Clinton ate into Sanders' advantage among young voters. Although he was supported by a slim majority of primary voters under 30, she was supported by about three-quarters of those between the ages of 30 and 44, as well as 8 in 10 of those 45 and older.

Clinton won a majority of women under 45, a group that backed Sanders in the previous contests. This time around, they divided the vote among women under 30, but 8 in 10 of those between age 30 and 44 said they voted for Clinton.

Super Tuesday, with voters in 11 states and 1 territory going to their primaries or caucuses, is just around the corner. Hillary said last night:

"Tomorrow, this campaign goes national!" Clinton said to big applause Saturday night in Columbia. "We are going to compete for every vote in every state. We are not taking anything and we're not taking anyone for granted."

Who else supported Hillary?

Clinton won the support of majorities of liberals, moderates and conservatives in Saturday's contest. Eight in 10 primary voters said they were Democrats, and 8 in 10 of them were Clinton voters. Among independents, a slim majority backed Sanders.

...Nearly 9 in 10 primary voters Saturday said they prefer a candidate with political experience to an outsider, and 8 in 10 of those voters said they supported Clinton.

The results in South Carolina (73.5% for Hillary to 26% for Sanders)are expected to repeat in other southern states. Where does that leave Bernie Sanders? If not in the dust, certainly not in the driver's seat.

Sanders has never run for national office as a Democrat before. Once it's obvious he can't win, he ought to drop out or run as a third party candidate. There's something particularly unbecoming about a candidate who has never embraced the Democratic party standing in the way of the party's overwhelmingly preferred candidate.

< Two Mexican Presidents Compare Trump to Hitler | 2016 Oscars Open Thread >
  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


  • Display: Sort:
    Given her margin of victory ... (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 07:06:47 AM EST
    the exits are likely wrong. She probably won in every category. And her margin in some of the demos was undoubtedly larger as well.

    I think Clinton should not dwell on Sanders (5.00 / 3) (#2)
    by ruffian on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 08:26:46 AM EST
    I hope it stays at a civil level. She should of course participate in debates already agreed to, and if he attacks her she should politely turn it away and not engage. Other than that I think she should focus on positive message like  she did last night. Save the negativity for when it is needed against Trump.

    I agree (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 08:36:52 AM EST
    The answer to the question above is no.  I believe.

    He is raking money in as fast as he can.   She should ignore him.  

    Parent

    They say (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 08:40:14 AM EST
    You can tell from the states he is spending money in, although he has plenty of money to spend anywhere he wants, that he is no longer trying to win.   Mr Todd expressed great impatience  with this strategy last night.  

    He s now a message candidate.   Banks scandals Wall Street.

    if he is really not trying to win (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by ruffian on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 08:46:14 AM EST
    It does not seem right to use the Dem Party events as a forum to attack the Dem candidate. If he sticks to explaining his ideas and message in a positive way , that would be helpful for everyone.

    Parent
    He's not a Dem (none / 0) (#6)
    by CoralGables on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 08:54:21 AM EST
    He has no reason not to do what he wants, although his campaign did make a statement a week or so ago that he won't be a Nader

    Parent
    My guess is ... (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 08:59:52 AM EST
    if he only wins Vermont, he'll drop out and endorse Clinton.

    If he wins two, he'll probably drop out.  If he wins 3 or 4, he'll stick it out till the 15th and then drop out.

    But if Clinton comes out of Super Tuesday with a 66 delegate margin, he's done. He cannot catch up.

    That would only require her to net about 40 delegates on Tuesday.

    Parent

    That's all well and fine (none / 0) (#14)
    by CoralGables on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 09:41:48 AM EST
    "If he wins 2...if he wins 3 or 4"...Is there a state he'll win on Tuesday other than Vermont? A month ago I said no. Today I'll still say no. Clinton will take 10 of 11 states Tuesday plus American Samoa.

    Sanders campaign said he's "within striking distance in Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Colorado, and Minnesota". Eliminate the spin on that statement and it reads, "right now we're losing all but Vermont".

    Parent

    I think it's likely that ... (none / 0) (#15)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 09:53:19 AM EST
    he'll only win in Vermont.

    There are no reliable recent polls in CO or MN.

    But he's behind in recent polls MA and OK.

    The only state where he's currently leading, Super Tuesday or beyond, is Vermont.

    Parent

    Tight race in MA (none / 0) (#54)
    by Coral on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 01:38:01 PM EST
    I'm in Western MA, and there is a great deal of support for Sanders here. We're hopeful that HRC can win MA, not certain. She's going to be in this part of the state Monday.

    Parent
    I wouldn't worry too much (none / 0) (#87)
    by CST on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 07:49:46 PM EST
    Western MA is the closest thing we have to VT, both geographically and ideologically.  Lots of students too.  It's probably the strongest Bernie region except maybe Cambridge.

    But the Boston suburbs I think will come out pretty strong for Hillary.  The Baker coalition if you will.  As for the city itself - probably not white enough for Sanders.  Although the students could flip it maybe if they're registered and actually show up.

    I make no bets about the north or south shore, although my hunch is they go Bernie.

    It will definitely be a close one.

    Parent

    Not OK to Use Democratic forum to attack Dems?? (none / 0) (#101)
    by bassclef on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 02:00:38 AM EST
    If this is truly your belief, why was it OK for HRC to attack Barack Obama during 2012 debates, claiming McCain* was solid on the 2:00 a.m.phone call, but Barack wasn't ready?

    *McCain, that flip-flopper extraordinaire, who said the Iraq war would be a cakewalk....

    HRC's absurd and opportunistic comment is one reason I will never vote for her. Also, her 40+ Iraq & Afghanistan "Yes" votes, her vote for Bankruptcy Bill, her work for NAFTA, CAFTA, etc., her clueless support to destabilize Libya w/out a back-up, etc.

    Bernie has 26 years of high-level briefings and committee work as congressman & senator; HRC has 6 years in Senate & 4 years as Secy. Do the math.

    Parent

    HRC had a legititmate chance to win (5.00 / 1) (#118)
    by ruffian on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 03:06:44 PM EST
    until losing the primaries in May (IIRC) at which point she conceded gracefully. She did not stay in to try to undermine Obama and send some kind of message. Some people did think she should fight right through the convention - I was not one of those people.

    I think she did the right thing and hope Bernie does the same, especially since he only recent;y joined the party.

    Parent

    If you're a liberal... (5.00 / 3) (#121)
    by jbindc on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 04:46:17 PM EST
    ...and You Think Hillary Clinton Is Corrupt and Untrustworthy, You're Rewarding 25 Years of GOP Smears

    The list goes on and on: Vince Foster was Hillary Clinton's personal friend, so of course the truth about his suicide in 1993 has given way to myth and conspiracy theory from those who believe Hillary was somehow involved in the death. The more unscrupulous on the right have always peddled that nonsense as proof Hillary has a "body count" attached to her (of which Foster was only one). There was the haranguing over Hillary's "missing law firm records," which was a lot of nothing piled on top of even more nothing. There was "Travelgate," in which routine staff changes in the White House were transformed into accusations of cronyism and in which Hillary was lambasted by Republicans for allegedly using the FBI and IRS to harass the former head of the White House travel office. (Comparable to the modern right's obsession with a phony story about "Obama's IRS" auditing conservative groups.)  There was "Filegate," which saw Republicans pillory the Clintons, Hillary in particular, over a minor bureaucratic mix-up in which a Hillary hire at the Office of White House Counsel accessed files he didn't have the authority to. And of course, at the tail end of their time in the White House, Hillary was accused of helping to "loot" the White House on her way out, supposedly shipping materials to the Clintons' new home in Upstate New York.

    All of this was investigated and all of it was found to be crap. But Hillary Clinton's ongoing political career only gave her GOP adversaries more alleged controversies to gin-up. She engaged in dirty dealings and then covered them up. She sold secrets to China. Her long-time adviser Huma Abedin was a member of the Muslim Brotherhood and her parents had ties to al-Qaeda. She was involved in the Watergate scandal, for Christ's sake, and had ties to right-wing boogeyman Saul Alinsky. And of course, she personally got four Americans killed in Benghazi and endangered the safety and security of the United States by way of her personal server and e-mail account. She's a lying liar and a cheating cheat. She's a political Cthulu who drives men to madness by sheer force of her inhuman will and absolute malevolence. This is the caricature version of Hillary Clinton the right has carefully cultivated and hammered into the national consciousness for decades now. And if you're a liberal who believes these things about Clinton -- if you see her as anything other than a liberal Democrat who's guilty of nothing more than being a politician with faults and with a plethora of enemies like every other on this planet, including Bernie Sanders -- you've proven that the protracted smear campaign against this woman has worked. You prove that the GOP won a long time ago.



    Parent
    Okay, I will. (none / 0) (#116)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 02:18:08 PM EST
    In South Carolina, Hillary Clinton received 73.5% of the Democratic popular vote, while Bernie Sanders got 26%. That adds up to a landslide.

    While you certainly have the right to support whomever you want in the Democratic primaries, you ought to at least acknowledge that yours is very much a minority point of view. You don't get to define for the rest of us who's a good Democrat and who's not.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    I guess ruffian's point was (none / 0) (#117)
    by jbindc on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 02:32:12 PM EST
    Since he actually isn't (nor hasn't been) a Democrat, it's a bit disingenuous to use Dem forums to attack a Democratic candidate.

    If he wanted to attack the candidate and party, be should have run as an independent.

    But I notice you haven't been back since you posted this....

    Parent

    Spot on Capt (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by smott on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 09:25:50 AM EST
    Sanders appears to be ignoring the states where he cannot win and using all his money on states where he might make things close.
    This is not a strategy to get the most delegates, it's more oriented towards stretching out the race as long as possible.

    And I believe in his (yet another rehashed stump) speech after SC he proclaimed the race is just beginning.

    So the notion of Bernie bailing after ST is perhaps misguided.

    Though I can see no real reason for him to stay in once the delegate gap becomes insurmountable. Other than to deepen divisions, which can't help the Dems.

    Of course, he isn't a Dem.

    Parent

    Yes. Weirdly, Sanders ads (none / 0) (#75)
    by Towanda on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 04:41:22 PM EST
    now are showing up in a close state, with an April primary, while he is not advertising in some others with primaries sooner.  Not a 50-state strategy (as Clinton implied, naming no names, last night).

    Or perhaps it is Rove's SuperPac that is placing the ads.  I'll have to pay more attention to the words in a tiny typeface that flash at the end.

    Parent

    His campaign is actually running ... (none / 0) (#7)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 08:55:16 AM EST
    out of money. They'll probably have less than $10 million cash-in-hand after Super Tuesday. Maybe a lot less.

    They've been spending like drunken sailors. And the influx has slowed dramatically.

    Parent

    That's (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:12:11 AM EST
    what I was getting ready to say. He'll probably not be able to stay in the race past the March 15th races if not before simply because he'll be out of money. I'm sure the amounts that he has been raising have gone way down. As long as he was able to be "close" or even win like NH he had a way to fund raise but now I'm thinking that his donors are probably not going to give to a campaign that is going to be suspended soon.

    Parent
    Bernie "running out of money" ?? (none / 0) (#102)
    by bassclef on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 02:09:14 AM EST
    Don't worry about Bernie running out of money. We will keep giving and giving, so Goldman Sachs doesn't own our nominee.  
    Here's the difference: HRC wants to be President, and she will take money from banks, oils companies, insurance giants, etc. to get the White House.  Bernie wants to transform the fouled up political system & restore true democracy. That's why he draws crowds every day that she can only dream about.

    Parent
    Mmmm.... (none / 0) (#104)
    by jbindc on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 07:23:43 AM EST
    You might want to check that crowd thing again.

    Also, where are all these people when it comes time to vote for him?  Dem turnout is significantly LOWER than 2098.

    There is no revolution.

    Parent

    lower? (5.00 / 2) (#108)
    by Mr Natural on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 07:59:40 AM EST
    lol; let's not brag about that.

    Parent
    Joy Reid of MSNBC (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by sallywally on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 09:10:09 AM EST
    substituting for MHP and her show is talking to various people who are asserting that Hillary will have a problem with white voters...I thought she did ok with white voters in SC, as well as with younger voters.

    HRCs speech was great (5.00 / 3) (#12)
    by smott on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 09:31:11 AM EST
    She's clearly pivoting to Trump.
    And her post-race speeches, notably unlike Sanders',  have been much more aimed at a collective, unifying vision, whilst Bernie seems to keep giving the same one-note tune no matter the occasion, primary, debate, whatever.

    Her remarks re America already being great was a classic shiv in Donald's azz, and I loved how she pi$$ed all over his stupid Wall too.

    Really a good speech.

    Hillary will be a better candidate if (5.00 / 3) (#13)
    by Molly Bloom on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 09:39:26 AM EST
    Sanders does not drop out.

    I want more headlines of Hillary winning - debates, primaries and delegates.  It's a positive for her.

    Let the process play out. I take Sanders at his word when says he won't be Ralph Nader.  Whatever you think of his proposals, his call for economic justice for all Americans is a worthy one.

    I agree, Molly. Sanders should (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by caseyOR on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 10:44:27 AM EST
    stay in the race for as long as he wants. I hated all the calls in 2008 for Clinton to drop out. If Sanders sees a benefit to staying in, well, that is his call. And, let's not get cocky. We have only had four primaries/caucuses to date. Anything can happen.

    I do wish the Sanders campaign would stop all the attacks on Clinton's character, integrity, etc. That is not the campaign Sanders said he would run. It is a disappointing development. And, it sows bad feelings among supporters of both Clinton and Sanders, feelings that may be hard to overcome once the nominee is chosen.

    Regardless of which of them wins the nomination, the candidate will need every single Clinton and Sanders supporter to turn out in November to vote for the Democratic candidate.

    Parent

    I agree more or less (5.00 / 3) (#18)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 10:55:25 AM EST
    With one caveat.  As long as he sticks to his economic message and his message doesn't become "Hillary is unelectable".
    I saw a couple of Bernistas on "the shows" this morning.   They were flailing.  49 knocked them for a loop.   What I saw was troubling.   He needs to get it under control.   Now, please.

      What I'm saying is a message candidate is all well and good until the "message" begins to hurt the democratic nominees chances in Nov.

    Not rocket science.    

    Parent

    I saw former NAACP head, Ben Jealous, (none / 0) (#86)
    by sallywally on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 06:42:59 PM EST
    Saying that in every head to head poll with Trump, Sanders wins and Clinton does less well. Is that like saying she is unelectable?

    Parent
    former NAACP head (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 12:16:55 AM EST
    Kweisi Mfume is supporting Hillary. I wouldn't read much into whatever Ben Jealous said -- he speaks for himself.

    Parent
    That's very interesting (none / 0) (#90)
    by NYShooter on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 08:06:14 PM EST
    I was just reading a very popular, progressive site where this very topic was being discussed. The question was narrowed down to, who would you vote for if the eventual candidates ended up being, Trump vs. Clinton?

    The readers of this site tend to be very well educated, highly informed, and tuned into all the intrigues and implications of the recent societal trends. (don't as how I ended up there.)

    Bottom line: I was quite surprised at how many said they'd vote for Trump. Now, I have no idea if their answers were serious, tongue-in-cheek, or, simply sarcasm. But, what I think is that they  feel they haven't had a true progressive to vote for in many, many years. And, as the two parties have been moving more, and more, into a single, corrupt, money grab oligarchy, it may be time to teach the Faux-Democratic Party a lesson.

    A few examples from their comments:

    "We are near the point where progressives must decide whether to abandon the Democratic Party that has already abandoned us. I intend to do just that and, if enough follow suit, the Democrats will quickly find that a party comprised of neoliberals and African Americans is doomed."
    ---------------------------------------
    "If the Vichy Ds think Bernie voters will transfer to Hillary, they are wrong."
    ---------------------------------------
    "I'll vote apocalypse. Trump."
    ---------------------------------------
    "I can't wait to vote for Trump myself and stick it to the corrupt elites who feel it's their God-given right to loot."
    ---------------------------------------
    And, one more (ominous) comment:
    ---------------------------------------

    "The turnout numbers are fairly terrifying.
     Up for the GOP, down among the Dems, way down among white Dems.
     How's that demographic destiny working out for you, DNC cheerleaders?"
    --------------------------------------

    Anyway, I just thought this was interesting, and, something else to consider.

       

    Parent

    Well (5.00 / 1) (#93)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 08:30:13 PM EST
    there is going to be a certain amount of Sanders voters that will not vote for Hillary. However I'm willing to bet a lot of those people have been Nader voters for years.

    The irony is they never seem to wonder what would happen if moderate and conservative dems abandoned the party if Bernie was nominated. Everyone is important but they are not any more important than any other group.

    Parent

    Well, Jealous seemed to be saying (none / 0) (#96)
    by sallywally on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 10:20:32 PM EST
    Bernie could beat Trump but Clinton could not.

    Parent
    For the reasons that you state (5.00 / 2) (#19)
    by Towanda on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 10:58:59 AM EST
    in your last two paragraphs, I disagree with your first paragraph.  Sanders is running a campaign (second paragraph) that increasingly is alienating his supporters from the Democratic slate (third paragraph) and success in November.

    So, I also wish the Sanders campaign also would stop, full stop.  What he may see as a benefit (first paragraph) increasingly looks like a benefit only to him.  

    Yes, I also hated the calls in 2008 for Clinton to drop out -- but she did not wage the sort of campaign, and outsider attacks on the party, that we see from Sanders.

    Parent

    Yes (5.00 / 2) (#21)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:03:17 AM EST
    Sanders talking points have become oddly republican sounding.    

    Parent
    Agreed. (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by KeysDan on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 12:27:25 PM EST
    Senator Sanders has served his purpose. The pathway to his nomination is not strewn with roses; and, his continuation down such a path is likely to be lined with stinkweed.

     Not, by Senator Sanders, necessarily, but by some of his supporters.  My hope is that Senator Sanders will soon recognize the situation and transition into a key supporter of the Democratic nominee.

     Ordinarily, it would seem right for Senator Sanders to keep up the fight as long as he could, each for mutually constructive purposes.   But, these are no ordinary times.  The Democratic campaign needs all the time, all its resources and all its energies to challenge Trump, a real menace to this country.

     It took some time and his benevolent and cowardly opponents to get where he is, aided and abetted by the ratings-driven media.  While it is unlikely that the Trumpettes will be shaken from their entrenched favorite, there is time to let the rest of America know about Trump and successfully overcome his blustery, fact- data-, and policy-free campaign by diversionary cosmetic insult.

    Parent

    Both sides would well to not antagonize (5.00 / 2) (#26)
    by Molly Bloom on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:14:32 AM EST
    the other. I suspect both candidates will be gracious and victory and defeat - hopefully their partisans will as well

    Parent
    Sadly, Sanders' campaign (5.00 / 3) (#32)
    by caseyOR on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:24:46 AM EST
    is doubling down on smears to Clinton's character, honesty, integrity, etc. If, as his campaign has stated, Bernie does not want to play Nader in this election, he needs to stop it now. Campaign discipline starts at the top.

    Bernie has a good message. He is leading a discussion that is critical to the U.S. going forward. The attacks on Clinton do nothing to advance that cause.

    I am not comfortable calling for any candidate to drop out. That said, Bernie needs to the longterm effects of his scorched earth campaign.

    Parent

    Maybe that's the case on the blogs. (none / 0) (#76)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 04:59:48 PM EST
    But at least out here, anyway, most of Sen. Sanders' supporters have been quite respectful of Hillary Clinton's candidacy, and they have repeatedly indicated their intention to support her if / when she's our party's nominee.

    I'm not going to judge that campaign as a whole by the vitriolic hyperbole of an obnoxiously loud little handful of online shut-ins. Remember, they don't have any standing to define for the rest of us who's a progressive Democrat and who isn't.

    Online advocacy or even campaign rally support doesn't mean squat, unless it's actually supported and backed up by real action. And sad to say, a lot of Sen. Sanders' professed supporters are proving that they don't "got game." Aside from looking impressive on TV, what exactly did holding a rally of 16,000 in Las Vegas really accomplish, when less than 15% of that number actually showed up to caucus for Sanders in that city the following Saturday?

    Aloha.

    Parent

    I am talking about Sanders himself (5.00 / 3) (#77)
    by caseyOR on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 05:10:40 PM EST
    and his top campaign staff, not the Bernie Bros.

    Sanders , Jeff Weaver, Tad Devine all have made and continue to make comments that call Clinton's integrity and character into question. They feed the narrative that Clinton is untrustworthy and dishonest.

    Parent

    The more I read about Sanders (5.00 / 1) (#78)
    by smott on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 05:23:10 PM EST
    The less I like him

    Parent
    And how often does the press (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by smott on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 05:26:49 PM EST
    Talk about his tone deafness?
    That's the sort of thing we get for Clinton.
    Sanders has really not been scrutinized that way....

    Meanwhile he has adopted the "I know better than you" school of persuading people to vote for him.

    Parent

    I was watching him (none / 0) (#85)
    by Suisser1 on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 06:28:26 PM EST
    the other day and thinking, "Bet he doesn't cook" or more broadly, bet he isn't the sort of guy who ever brought a sick friend soup. All head, no heart, or so it seems when I observe him.

    Parent
    Certainly true (5.00 / 2) (#33)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:25:24 AM EST
    That said, gracious is not what I expect.   It's going to be a 12 stages thing.
    Currently they are not at stage one.    (He is not going to win)

    Hard to believe Bernie is not enough of a statesman to understand how important what he does next really is.

    I believe he will rise to the occasion.  

    Parent

    Sanders has not begun the process (5.00 / 1) (#69)
    by Valhalla on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 03:33:08 PM EST
    yet of any sort of gracious pivot, and some of his supporters are doubling down on the berniebros behavior which just alienates the supporters of both candidates from each other.

    I hope very much he starts after ST.  His core message is good and it only helps Democrats.  We DO need campaign finance reform, income equality, and to rein in Wall St.  And we need prominent voices strongly advocating for those things.  They need to be normalized as important to the success of the country as part of political discourse.

    If he continues to campaign on his issues and just knocks off the stupid msm-fueled attacks (eg, just shut up about the stupid speech transcripts already, reins in his worst supporters), then I hope he does stay in the race.

    Parent

    Really can't expect him to back off right now (none / 0) (#91)
    by Trickster on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 08:09:15 PM EST
    The South Carolina disaster just happened and Super Tuesday is only 48 hours away.  Ride out Super Tuesday, see what happens, then think about what to do with a whole lot more info at your disposal.

    Parent
    I agree (none / 0) (#22)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:07:07 AM EST
    Bernie should stay in as long as he wants. I don't think we need a repeat of 2008 with the calls to get out either.

    Parent
    IN 2008 (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:11:37 AM EST
    The delegate count was close.  This is not close.  Or soon won't be.  This is not 2008.   Bernie is not Obama.

    Parent
    Oh, I know (5.00 / 3) (#28)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:19:09 AM EST
    but I don't want his supporters to feel the way I did back then.

    IMO sooner or later this is going to solve itself without anybody having to say anything.

    Parent

    Then it will soon be moot (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by Molly Bloom on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:29:07 AM EST
    I could be wrong, but I believe Bernie will do his part for party unity.  

    If the Democratic contest ends too early, the press will all be on the GOP - not necessarily bad, but I believe she will be better served with contrast opportunity provided by the Democratic primaries. She took 10 hours of Benghazi, she can handle this. Trump isn't going lobby softballs. Might as well get the practic in.

    Parent

    Sanders has said repeatedly.... (5.00 / 3) (#35)
    by magster on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:34:03 AM EST
    ... that he is not running as a 3rd party candidate. He has said repeatedly that the Dems at their worst are a thousand times better than the GOP. I know that after NH, he played to win and angered a lot of Clinton supporters in the process, but these supporters need to welcome the Sanders folks back now that she epically thumped him, or we risk a President Trump.

    That said, there's no harm in silently enjoying  the Bernie supporter meltdown anger and denial diaries at Daily Kos.

    To underscore the need to beat Trump... (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by magster on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:39:08 AM EST
    My daughter who works at Burger King, confronted a Trump supporter who she overheard say "it's time for Obama to just die already."  It's surreal watching the toxicity of Republicanism.

    Parent
    With all due respect (5.00 / 4) (#38)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:37:48 AM EST
    And I am a Clinton supporter

    But it's not a turn thing in a democracy. Turns take place in dictatorships and monarchies.

    I agree. I meant to say something about that (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by Molly Bloom on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:48:53 AM EST
    As well. I was thinking "turn" is more of a GOP thing.  

    Parent
    Yes (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 02:00:52 PM EST
    I support Hillary because she is THE MOST qualified to be our next President.

    I realize some disagree with me, that's what the voting booth is for. I understand why Sanders supporters love him too. 2008 was a tough race. It hurt a lot of people. Democrats/Liberals..we are thinkers, but once we commit after all that thinking, we can get hurt.

    So many people hurt in 2008 that we forget an intelligent competent black man ran against an intelligent competent woman. Those were our chosen in 2008. That says so much about who we all are. And out of that came a great President and an incredible Secretary of State our inherited what the Bush administration left them. A nation that was close to smoldering ashes.

    I am proud of the cliffs we managed to not fall the hell off of.

    It's 2016. Our chosen is a super accomplished expert in foreign policy woman, and an amazing man who speaks truth to power. He is unafraid to talk about the deep gaping wounds this nation still suffers. And he isn't afraid of a little socialism...which this country already embraces whether or not it wants. to acknowledge that.

    Once again, I couldn't be prouder of the party looking at who ran and who shook out. I want to hear the rest of what Sanders has to say. I'm not afraid to do that.

    Parent

    #TeamDem (5.00 / 1) (#61)
    by magster on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 02:51:41 PM EST
    Hillary retweets Sanders condemnation of Trump.

    Great (none / 0) (#64)
    by smott on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 02:56:49 PM EST
    Well done team.

    Parent
    Vermont papers (5.00 / 3) (#73)
    by jbindc on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 04:15:07 PM EST
    endorse Hillary

    The Barre-Montpelier Times Argus:

    As the leader of a movement he has been a great success. As president of all the people, he is not the best choice. It is argued by frustrated progressives that President Barack Obama was too willing to compromise and so he didn't achieve all he could have done. But Obama has been president not just of Vermont and Cambridge and Berkeley. He has been president of South Carolina and Kentucky and Alabama. It was never going to be easy, and it is unclear whether a more ideologically extreme approach on his part would have achieved more. As it is, his methods have made him, perhaps, the most effective president since Franklin Roosevelt.

    Meanwhile, Clinton's foreign policy experience is a plus, though not without failures of judgment. We do not need a foreign policy neophyte in office in this dangerous time.

    Vermonters are proud of Sanders, proud that people across the land are feeling the Bern. It is thrilling to enlist in a movement, unless one's better judgment points in a different direction. In this election year, our direction is toward Clinton.

    The Rutland Heralds (owned by the same family as the Times Argus) also endorsed her.

    It won't matter, but wow - Sanders' home state and two of the state's biggest papers going for his opponent.

    Michigan's largest paper (5.00 / 1) (#105)
    by jbindc on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 07:27:00 AM EST
    The Detroit Free Press endorsed HRC.

    Parent
    New Suffolk University Poll (5.00 / 2) (#79)
    by CoralGables on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 05:23:58 PM EST
    from Massachusetts conducted thru Saturday, ending before South Carolina polls closed:

    Clinton +8

    In one of Sanders' best states on Super Tuesday not named Vermont, Clinton may win by 10+ points.

    He seems to have tasted winning and (none / 0) (#9)
    by sallywally on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 09:02:14 AM EST
    does not want to let it go. His surrogates are saying that in every head to head poll he beats Trump and Hillary does not. Last night he almost seemed to sort of maybe broach leaving the campaign to Hillary but then said the campaign begins now (super Tues). When Tweetie (is this Matthews ' s appellation still?)called Bernie on how he would actually get his program through, he basically said he would fire up the electorate so they would show up by the millions in DC and this would make the Republicans pass his programs...

    Question:who is the meat puppet and the other one, squint eyes or something?

    Someone needs to tell them that head to head (5.00 / 1) (#119)
    by ruffian on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 03:10:20 PM EST
    national polls are meaningless.

    it is a state by state election in November, not a national one.

    Parent

    The Meat Puppet is Mika (none / 0) (#16)
    by caseyOR on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 10:35:17 AM EST
    Brzenski, and Squint is Joe Scarborough. They are the hosts of the horrendous morning show on MSNBC called "Scarborough and Friends."

    In a U.S. media landscape heavily populated with what can only be described as faux-journalists, these two are pretty close to the bottom of the barrel. When you factor in the "journalist-commentators" who appear as guests on the show, (yes, Mark Halperin, I mean you), the barrel bottom looms even closer.

    Parent

    It's called "Morning Joe." (none / 0) (#27)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:15:03 AM EST
    It airs opposite "Fox and Friends." Fortunately, due to the time difference, both shows air in Hawaii at 1:00 a.m., which is past my bedtime so I never get to see either.

    ;-D

    Parent

    Thanks, Donald, I never watch the show, (none / 0) (#29)
    by caseyOR on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:19:28 AM EST
    so I do not know where I got the Scarborough and Friends thing.

    Parent
    Freudian slip? (none / 0) (#37)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:36:50 AM EST
    ;-D

    Parent
    I can't watch that show either. (none / 0) (#59)
    by sallywally on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 02:30:42 PM EST
    Can't stand any of them. MSNBC now has a show around 5 pm or so with Halperin and his side-kick....is it John Heileman? Both smug, ignorant a$$es. Thanks for the info on the "nicknames."

    Parent
    Tulsi Gabbard (none / 0) (#20)
    by jbindc on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:02:57 AM EST
    Quits the DNC to go support Sanders.

    Not seeing what anyone gains here...  

    My guess is that Gabbard sees (none / 0) (#25)
    by caseyOR on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:13:40 AM EST
    some sort of political advantage for herself with this move. I am not sure what that advantage would be.

    Parent
    I think it's clear... (5.00 / 1) (#113)
    by kdog on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 12:38:30 PM EST
    it's not a career-based decision...this will make her no friends in the DNC establishment, that's for sure.

    Maybe she's just feeling The Bern? She has been outspoken on the need to restore Glass Steagall and break up the banks.  

    Or maybe it's as simple as Tulsi and Debbie Wasserman Schulz not seeing eye to eye, and this is her "take your job and shove it" to Schulz.

    Parent

    Donald (none / 0) (#30)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:20:02 AM EST
    would be able to tell us the story on this probably.

    Parent
    I'm in Honolulu today for ... (none / 0) (#36)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:35:25 AM EST
    ... the formal opening of Hillary Clinton's campaign HQ later this morning. (It's 7:35 a.m. right now.) I'll ask around while there, and report if I hear anything.

    First and foremost, Tulsi's always been about Tulsi. There's a messianic quality about her, an unfortunate personality trait she shares with her father, who's a state senator. As Hindus, both are devotees of Jagad Guru Siddhaswarupananda Paramahamsa, aka Chris Butler, who -- to put it politely -- has a phuquing screw loose.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Hopefully, Tulsi will gain ... (none / 0) (#31)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:21:32 AM EST
    ... an opponent for the August Democratic primary.

    Parent
    Are there any likely opponents? (none / 0) (#53)
    by jtaylorr on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 01:09:25 PM EST
    Would any of them have a chance?

    Parent
    Hey Donald (none / 0) (#60)
    by smott on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 02:49:59 PM EST
    I thought I read her Dad was quite anti-LGBT ....have I gotten that right?

    And if Tulsi's all about Tulsi she picked a strange time and the wrong wagon to hitch to. IMHO.

    Parent

    Yes, Mike Gabbard is anti-LGBT. (none / 0) (#100)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 01:48:23 AM EST
    And daughter Tulsi has also been known to engage in similar gay-baiting. She's only recently backed off that stance, likely because the political benefits to her as a Hawaii congresswoman are nil.

    As to why Tulsi she did what she did in endorsing Sanders after yesterday's thorough trouncing, only she knows for sure. I certainly agree that her timing was odd.

    But suffice to say that as of today, there are evermore island Democrats who are becoming increasingly exasperated with Ms. Gabbard's self-aggrandizing performance art in Washington of late. And she better start listening to the folks back home a lot more, and paying a lot less attention to her D.C. handlers and media advisers.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Sanders For Veep? (none / 0) (#41)
    by RickyJim on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:49:06 AM EST
    I haven't seen much speculation on whom Hillary will choose for VP.  What are the pros and cons of Bernie?

    As I recall, there was an acronym (5.00 / 2) (#42)
    by oculus on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:53:18 AM EST
    to efficiently to demand that Hillary Clinton drop out in '08.  Bernie should decide when Bernie's campaign ends.

    Parent
    But that was a very different situation (5.00 / 2) (#92)
    by Trickster on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 08:13:04 PM EST
    Obama's supporters - not Obama, but many of his supporters - demanded she drop out long before she reached the point where there was no realistic path to the nomination.  

    We might be to the no-realistic-path point with Sanders by Wednesday.

    Parent

    I do think there are some Dems.... (none / 0) (#43)
    by magster on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 11:53:26 AM EST
    ... that will continue to have a visceral negative reaction to the "socialist" label. I do think someone who is as liberal as Sanders should be considered, like Sherrod Brown or Elizabeth Warren. I wonder is Al Franken might make Clinton somewhat cooler in the eyes of the youth, because I do think she is not connecting for some reason.

    Parent
    Julian Castro (4.00 / 2) (#44)
    by TrevorBolder on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 12:05:51 PM EST
    Is getting a lot of play

    Just has no experience behind him

    Parent

    Oh, (5.00 / 1) (#47)
    by Ga6thDem on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 12:31:04 PM EST
    it's you who predicted Hillary was only going to win by 15 points in SC and that her campaign was collapsing. Have you learned your lesson about listening to the wingnut welfare brigade yet or are you going to allow them to continue to fleece you?

    Parent
    The Bern (none / 0) (#55)
    by TrevorBolder on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 01:45:04 PM EST
    Took a whooping

    Didn't expect the margin to be that much,

    We will see what those mid country states say,
    Colorado, Minnesota and the like on Tuesday

    Could be The Bern's Last Stand

    The one doing the Fleece job is The Donald

    Sure wish Rubio let loose on him sooner

    It may be too late

    Damn press gave The Donald so much free publicity, on top of him having the highest name recognition among all the candidates.

    Parent

    If Clinton gets the nomination she needs (5.00 / 2) (#48)
    by caseyOR on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 12:33:35 PM EST
    a Veep who will pull in more than the very few so-called reasonable Republicans who might still be roaming that land. And she needs someone young, young enough to become the future of the party and the candidate in 2024.

    I think Julian Castro would be a good choice. He has served as a mayor and now in the Cabinet. After 8 years as Veep he will have learned so much that will make him a good bet for president. And, as a Latino, he would excite a very large group of voters and potential voters.

    The country's demographics are changing. Appealing mainly to old white people is not a winning strategy for the future. And I say that as an old white person.

    Parent

    Re Veep (none / 0) (#62)
    by smott on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 02:53:11 PM EST
    I'm not sure she doesn't need someone with youth appeal.
    Her biggest vulnerability is young white DudeBros.
    And it may be that she has no chance there anyway, dunno.

    Given the Sanders campaign's notion that if you don't agree with them, you're wrong, I think her ability to pick up Sanders voters, especially males, is a weakness.

    Parent

    Picking a very youthful VP (none / 0) (#74)
    by jbindc on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 04:16:16 PM EST
    Could serve to accentuate the "she's 68!" and the fall she took a couple of years ago.

    Parent
    Hickenlooper would be a centrist that would... (none / 0) (#45)
    by magster on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 12:17:49 PM EST
    ... make sense. He managed to get re-elected when Udall couldn't in a swing state. With Trump as the nominee, she may want to appeal to the three dozen or so moderate Republicans left in this country.

    Parent
    She'll pick a white male ... (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 12:56:22 PM EST
    Southerner in all likelihood.  And probably someone under 60.

    Someone like Kaine or Warner.

    I think it's highly unlikely she'll pick a woman, a minority or a party rock star.

    Parent

    I agree (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by jbindc on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 03:03:33 PM EST
    Don't know how many "firsts" a ticket can handle. Not that that's right, but we move slowly in this country.  :)

    Mark Warner?

    Parent

    Agreed ... (none / 0) (#70)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 03:49:08 PM EST
    don't think it's necessarily right.

    But Dems shouldn't just be aiming for a win this cycle, but a huge win.

    Hillary could score an LBJ level landslide in November.  

    She knows that. So she'll pick a well-vetted noncontroversial choice for VP.  Like Mark Warner.

    Parent

    A centrist running mate (5.00 / 2) (#51)
    by KeysDan on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 12:58:27 PM EST
    would serve no purpose from a Democratic or Republican perspective.  Trumpettes will rationalize any pick, even those seemingly contrary to there expectations.  Trump probably would like someone with bling, but will make a pragmatic choice, such as Kasich, who will help with Ohio and give cover for the Republican Establishment's support.

    Mrs. Clinton does not need a centrist to attract support.  She is often thought of as center-left, or, even, as a centrist. But, these labels are really passe, moving more to what the issue is. But, she does need to attract younger voters as well as assure an energized coalition. That entails consideration of a younger, attractive candidate such as Julian Castro or Kamala Harris.

     I do still like the idea of Elizabeth Warren, even though she is almost the age of Mrs. Clinton, she attracts Bernie supporters and then some.   Given Trump, I believe the specter of that nomination may augur well for her, albeit reluctant, acceptance.  

    Parent

    Dems need (5.00 / 2) (#63)
    by smott on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 02:55:29 PM EST
    To leave Sanders and Warren in the Senate.
    Their only chance to govern is to flip the Senate and no way can they lose Warren, and likely not Bernie either.

    Someone young with youth and leftist appeal is my guess.

    Parent

    Also, Sanders would need to show ... (5.00 / 2) (#71)
    by Robot Porter on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 03:50:58 PM EST
    he represents a much larger constituency than he has so far to earn a place on the ticket.

    Especially since, given his age, he's hardly going to be the future of the party.

    Parent

    Totally agree (5.00 / 1) (#88)
    by lilburro on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 07:57:02 PM EST
    leave Senators where they are, particularly as Warren has the chance to rise in the ranks and possibly replace Reid as Leader.

    I 100% think she should pick Castro, and let the Republican ticket mortify the nation again with their inability to handle the diverse nature of our country.

    Parent

    Yes, I believe (none / 0) (#66)
    by KeysDan on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 03:18:02 PM EST
    Mrs. Clinton would benefit most from a bold selection, youthful and leftist as you say.  And, it may not be a good idea for Senator Warren to be a running mate.  However, the benefits of Warren in the senate would be outweighed if it appeared to be a wise electoral move.  Despite a Republican governor in MA, I think Warren would, after temporary appointment, be replaced by election of a Democrat.

    Parent
    I like Liz Warren a lot (none / 0) (#67)
    by smott on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 03:24:04 PM EST
    But can't see her on the ticket.
    There will already be a mountain of sexism, which has yet to be overcome in this particular race.
    I'd rather not tempt fate!
    :-D

    Parent
    I agree.... (none / 0) (#52)
    by magster on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 01:02:51 PM EST
    ... Wasn't advocating Hick -- I can just see her doing it with the "we need a centrist" rationale, and why Hick might be that person.

    Parent
    I think she'll pick Julian Castro (5.00 / 3) (#58)
    by Coral on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 02:16:41 PM EST
    Don't think she'll go for a sitting Senator. We need to hold the Senate and shouldn't risk losing a seat.

    Hispanic, black, and moderate to liberal whites could be a winning coalition.

    Parent

    My Biggest Concern About Hillary is her Hawkishnes (none / 0) (#50)
    by RickyJim on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 12:56:29 PM EST
    I am not happy with her Iraq/Libya history.  A real dove to argue against foreign entanglements and the US's ability to fix things everywhere would be a good running mate.  

    Parent
    Compared to GOP? (none / 0) (#57)
    by Coral on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 02:14:35 PM EST
    Yes, she is hawkish, but backs Iran deal. That and opening to Cuba are Obama's best foreign policy moments. Don't see how presidency can be won without some backing from centrists and military. I hope she is able to stand up to military once she is president.

    ISIS is huge problem in the general election. She needs to show she is tough.

    Can't imagine Cruz, Rubio, or Trump foreign policy. Seem to want to top each other on how violent and apocalyptic they can be.

    Parent

    Stay in, Sanders (none / 0) (#68)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 03:32:57 PM EST
    The main reason Hillary has a decent health insurance platform is because of Sanders.  I, as an Obamacare loser, need health insurance reform.

    Sanders is the way to get it. Stay in, Bernie.

    The way to get it (5.00 / 3) (#72)
    by Towanda on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 04:00:58 PM EST
    is to work for the downticket, and to work for a candidate who works for the downticket.

    Sorry, but that's not Sanders.

    Parent

    Exactly. (5.00 / 1) (#82)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 05:59:39 PM EST
    Hillary Clinton has thus far raised nearly $30 million this election cycle for Democratic candidates in downticket races.

    How much has Sen. Sanders raised for them? (He asked rhetorically, which was followed afterward by silence, punctuated only by the distinct sound of crickets chirping.)

    ;-D

    Parent

    I read that Sanders raised (none / 0) (#84)
    by Towanda on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 06:15:18 PM EST
    a thousand dollars for a downticket Dem.

    <crickets chirp . . . for a split second, a fraction of a second so brief that even nearby dogs did not hear it>

    Parent

    The $1000 (none / 0) (#112)
    by jbindc on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 09:26:37 AM EST
    Was to open the account by the DNC  He actually dudnt "raise" anything.

    Parent
    That's just (5.00 / 1) (#114)
    by Towanda on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 01:24:27 PM EST
    . . . a gobsmacking correction.  

    Not a penny?

    Not a penny.

    Perhaps Dems could start charging him for overhead for his seat in the room, when the Senate Dems meet.

    Parent

    Are you talking about his Senate seat? (5.00 / 1) (#124)
    by kdog on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 06:57:05 PM EST
    That's not the Democratic Party's seat to collect a fee on, I believe it belongs to the People of Vermont.

    I mean, at least in theory.

    Or do you mean a caucus seat? Which, in theory, the Democratic Party should want filled free of charge if they desire to pass legislation to benefit the people. "Come draft a bill with us, that'll be 500,000 dollars"...lol.

    Parent

    When the Senate Dems meet (5.00 / 1) (#126)
    by Towanda on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 08:56:59 PM EST
    it's called a caucus.

    As for the snark, kdog, don't worry; I know where you stand, so I don't expect you to get it.

    Parent

    As I you, my friend... (none / 0) (#128)
    by kdog on Tue Mar 01, 2016 at 07:57:25 AM EST
    lets keep playing the money game, see where it gets us...and where it gets K Street and Wall Street.

    Parent
    good line, kdog (5.00 / 1) (#127)
    by Mr Natural on Tue Mar 01, 2016 at 06:29:42 AM EST
    "to collect a fee on"

    It's a bit disheartening to see the '08 behavior repeated.  Anybody seen Anne lately?  She used to kick a certain gasbag around the block.  Routinely.

    Parent

    Yes (none / 0) (#130)
    by jbindc on Tue Mar 01, 2016 at 08:22:54 AM EST
    The behavior of some Sanders supporters is much like many '08 Obama supporters - they both don't want facts to get in the way of memes.

    Parent
    Nice try, jb (none / 0) (#131)
    by Mr Natural on Tue Mar 01, 2016 at 08:30:34 AM EST
    Proving my point (none / 0) (#132)
    by jbindc on Tue Mar 01, 2016 at 08:49:11 AM EST
    #FactsMatter

    Parent
    So do interpersonal relationships, jb, (none / 0) (#134)
    by Mr Natural on Tue Mar 01, 2016 at 10:07:04 AM EST
    even if they're online.  Just sayin', as they say.

    Parent
    HRC doesn't want me (5.00 / 2) (#125)
    by Suisser1 on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 08:50:07 PM EST
    to bash him so I'll do my level best, but this poser Dem thing makes me a bit nuts

    Parent
    So you don't believe (2.00 / 1) (#89)
    by pitachips on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 08:01:01 PM EST
    That Sander's positions on certain issues forced Hillary to move further left then where she originally started?


    Parent
    That's not what Towanda said. (5.00 / 1) (#99)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 01:26:48 AM EST
    Please don't put words in her mouth.

    Parent
    What I do "believe" is (none / 0) (#111)
    by Towanda on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 09:11:01 AM EST
    that you don't know the correct spelling of his name.

    And/or that you don't know the correct use of the apostrophe.

    Parent

    oh snap you got me!! (none / 0) (#122)
    by pitachips on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 04:54:59 PM EST
    I will admit to browsing TL on my phone.

    That being said I think Teresa makes a valid point re: Sanders staying in the race helping to ensure that positions on issues important to her are not ignored or moderated by Hillary. At the end of the day our nominee will need a unified party to win. I think Hillary will be our nominee and Sanders doesn't seem to be the bitter type and I'm sure he will do everything to ensure his supporters get on board. But when you discount the heartfelt opinions of people who otherwise agree with you on most policy questions, but happen to support another candidate, you are doing Hillary no service.    

    Parent

    Do you admit to continuing (none / 0) (#123)
    by Towanda on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 06:11:47 PM EST
    to see things that aren't there?

    Show me where I discounted opinions on policy.

    You were told that I did not do so.  That I said nothing about health care policy.  

    Yet you continue to . . . well, there's another word for it.

    Or perhaps your phone also is to blame for inability -- or outright refusal -- to distinguish policy from strategy.  

    If so, your phone is doing Sanders no service . . . nor are his supporters doing a service to Sanders -- or the rest of us, and especially the needy, including those who need better health care -- if incapable of learning or outright refusing to learn how policies actually become law.  

    By the way, "the phone made me do it" isn't working for Trump, either.

    Parent

    So many words (5.00 / 1) (#129)
    by pitachips on Tue Mar 01, 2016 at 08:16:45 AM EST
    and yet nothing of substance. I support the policy not the politician. The politician will always disapppint, especially when his/her supporters blindly follow them.

    Parent
    Oh, I have two little words (2.00 / 1) (#135)
    by Towanda on Tue Mar 01, 2016 at 10:48:15 AM EST
    for you.  

    But you have no words to answer the question asked of you, about your accusation of me.

    Instead, you reply to a question that was not asked, with an answer about . . . you.  Because it's all about you.  

    And it's an idiotic statement, as policies do not walk and talk in the White House or the halls of Congress or state legislatures or even in the thousands of city halls and village halls and town halls and school board meetings.  Policies without politicians to propose them and sponsor them and vote for them are . . . just words.  

    Parent

    So the best position paper wins the election? (none / 0) (#133)
    by ruffian on Tue Mar 01, 2016 at 09:00:43 AM EST
    That's just not how it works. I vote for the person who as a whole person is best qualified for the job. Policy positions of course are a huge part of it, but not the entire thing. If it were, any one of us could be president.

    Parent
    I'm perfectly content with either candidate (none / 0) (#136)
    by pitachips on Tue Mar 01, 2016 at 12:18:23 PM EST
    The question is how do you make sure that the candidate will stay true to the issues/positions that you care about. What leverage do you have if you ask/demand that a primary opponent drop out so early in the process?

    It took Hillary beating Bernie over the head with his votes on gun issues for him to change his mind on immunity. Hillary being challenged from the left is the reason why she changed her view on TPP.

    The question of being qualified for the job goes without saying. I personally believe both are qualified.

    Parent

    Dear God (none / 0) (#83)
    by smott on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 06:01:15 PM EST
    He's a hateful loon!

    the comment you are replying to (none / 0) (#98)
    by Jeralyn on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 12:19:41 AM EST
    was deleted for name-calling and potentially libelous accusations.

    Parent
    Certainly, ITS HILLARY'S TURN! (none / 0) (#94)
    by AX10 on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 08:42:34 PM EST
    Say it loud, say it proud.
    Hillary won the white vote too.  The exits are wrong.  A 48 point win could not have happened otherwise.

    Vice President (none / 0) (#95)
    by mogal on Sun Feb 28, 2016 at 09:52:58 PM EST
    I think she will do what Bill Clinton did in picking Al Gore.

     I was sure it would be Senator Claire McCaskill after reading her book. She and Hillary have alot in common,  but not so sure after her diagnosis of breast cancer and I am not as familure with the other female senators.


    Bernie's loss in SC seems to be bringing out (none / 0) (#103)
    by Anc260 on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 02:21:25 AM EST
    the worst in some of his supporters on the blogosphere.

    The latest argument making the rounds seems to be that Hillary Clinton is predominantly to blame for the low turnout in the Democratic primaries so far. The assumption seems to be that Bernie Sanders is responsible for the majority of the voter turnout so far, while Hillary is apparently so unlikable that no one is bothering to turn out for her.

    I'm obviously exaggerating a bit, but the low voter turnout is definitely being interpreted as an indictment of Hillary Clinton's candidacy.

    I was just looking at the results in South Carolina and comparing them to the 2008 results. Less people voted in 2016, but in 2008 John Edward's campaign was also turning people out to vote. Hillary Clinton received ~270,000 votes this time around, compared to the 290,000+ votes Obama received in 2008. And perhaps most importantly, it appears Hillary Clinton received about as many African-American votes as Obama received in 2008 (though more AA's voted overall in 2008).

    The Obama vs. Clinton primary was very compelling to voters. The Sanders vs. Clinton primary? Eh not so much. But considering that Hillary Clinton came close to matching Obama's  vote total in South Carolina from 2008, wouldn't it be logical to conclude that its the Bernie Sanders campaign that isn't inspiring voters to turnout? Thats my very amateur analysis anyway.

    Some Sanders' supporters (none / 0) (#106)
    by jbindc on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 07:30:38 AM EST
    Are contacting superdelegates to get them to flip from HRC to Bernie.  Nothing wrong with that.  However, many of them are being obnoxious and aggressive - and apparently the strategy is backfiring and those superdelegates are digging in their hills to support HRC.

    Reuters has the story.

    You'll find the superdelegate flipping (none / 0) (#107)
    by CoralGables on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 07:48:18 AM EST
    this cycle will be flipping towards Clinton as the weeks go by. The handlers behind Sanders are just trying to grab a headline in an attempt to end the shellacking.

    Parent
    Sorry, but it's NEVER (none / 0) (#109)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 08:11:30 AM EST
    anybody's 'turn.' HRC has to earn my vote. And that has happened yet.

    Rather. (none / 0) (#110)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 08:13:03 AM EST
    has NOT happened yet.

    Parent
    Flip-flopper! :-) (5.00 / 1) (#120)
    by ruffian on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 03:12:26 PM EST
    channel (none / 0) (#115)
    by athyrio on Mon Feb 29, 2016 at 01:25:51 PM EST
    does anyone know what channel tells the truth about Hillary and the primary...it is getting sick with all the news being pro Sanders....