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Bernie Supports, What Should Bernie Do?

Bernie Supports, What Should Bernie Do?


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digsbe

Truth will set you free
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It's obvious Bernie will not get the Democrat nomination. My question is mainly geared to Bernie supporters and what they'd like to see him do after the convention.

Jill Stein has publicly asked Bernie to be her VP candidate several times in a bid to "keep the revolution going." Both of their political philosophies seem nearly identical.

I believe back in July the Dems promised to support the eventual nominee. Should Bernie hold to that and formally endorse and support Hillary Clinton for the presidency? Some argue Bernie was cheated by the Democrats which would make that past agreement null and void.

Should Bernie just retire? Or should he still continue to run as a presidential candidate and not as someone's VP?

If you chose other please give your opinion.
 
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It's obvious Bernie will not get the Democrat nomination. My question is mainly geared to Bernie supporters and what they'd like to see him do after the convention.

Jill Stein has publicly asked Bernie to be her VP candidate several times in a bid to "keep the revolution going." Both of their political philosophies seem nearly identical.

I believe back in July the Dems promised to support the eventual nominee. Should Bernie hold to that and formally endorse and support Hillary Clinton for the presidency? Some argue Bernie was cheated by the Democrats which would make that past agreement null and void.

Should Bernie just retire? Or should he still continue to run as a presidential candidate and not as someone's VP?

If you chose other please give your opinion.
Great thread & thanks for starting it - I was tossing around the idea of starting this same thread, but was too lazy.

However, I have given this a little thought after the California Primary:

First & foremost, I believe Bernie should keep the movement alive, and keep it his! This especially means keeping his voter, email, and donor lists proprietary and not given over to the DNC or HRC campaign! I can't stress this enough. Bernie isn't just a candidate, but he built a movement! A successful movement. As long as he remains healthy and keeps it proprietary, he is highly empowered! He should continue to grow the movement, eliciting other pols & movers-and-shakers to join as well.

Now what to do with that power:

He can get to the task immediately at hand and pledge his & his movement's support to Hillary, but only after extracting his price! That price would be influence in developing the DNC platform at the convention, and agreements as to whatever agenda he would like to see Mrs. Clinton carry-out once in office, and whatever position he would like (if any) within her administration.

Post election, he can use his base to influence policy in the public arena, or specifically within the administration as he so chooses.

Nearing the end of the the 1st or 2nd term whenever Clinton's power recedes, he can decide to run again (unlikely), or hopefully by then have formed relationships with other individuals of appropriate age to run in his stead in his movement.

I can't reiterate enough how strongly I believe he should not turn over what he built to Hillary or the DNC. If so, I believe he can at the least remain a power player within the DNC (though from the outside) where he can exert influence, and at best perhaps he can grow his movement to the point of fielding their own viable candidates.

I believe the man has come to the apogee of his Socialist Party dream, but without the party. He has realized his dream in an inadvertent, modified, but effective fashion, and I think it would be a sin for him to throw it away. I'm hoping he doesn't!
 
It's not "rigging" an election to convince people to support your favored candidate.

Well I'm hoping Sander's supporters see this and let's see what happens in the convention.
 
I think Bernie supporters know that the most political momentum goes to the Democratic party nominee. We have a sitting Democratic president who was reelected and a crude Republican platform on the opposite side of the stage.

As a congressman, Bernie Sanders does not stand to benefit by switching his party affiliation. I don't think he will go with Jill Stein to the Green Party convention (if there is such a thing). It's much more likely that he will endorse no candidate. It's not necessary for candidates to make an endorsement, so he might abstain. As a high profile political figure, it's unlikely that he will abstain from casting a vote, so I wouldn't be surprised if he voted, but did not endorse the Democratic Party nominee. The President and a former Republican senator endorsed Hillary Clinton. Democratic politicians of all levels endorse her. I don't think that the Bernie Sanders platform, after all of its establishment bashing will be content to acquiesce to an establishment politician of her nature.

Short of an indictment, Democratic Bernie supporters face the distinct possibility of having to vote outside the party. That doesn't really affect the voting process during the general election. I wouldn't be surprised if he just threw up his hands and said "vote for who you think is the best candidate," while saying that Trump should be defeated.

I think this will all become much more clear at the convention, where a vote will be contested of all unpledged delegates.
 
I think Bernie supporters know that the most political momentum goes to the Democratic party nominee. We have a sitting Democratic president who was reelected and a crude Republican platform on the opposite side of the stage.

As a congressman, Bernie Sanders does not stand to benefit by switching his party affiliation. I don't think he will go with Jill Stein to the Green Party convention (if there is such a thing). It's much more likely that he will endorse no candidate. It's not necessary for candidates to make an endorsement, so he might abstain. As a high profile political figure, it's unlikely that he will abstain from casting a vote, so I wouldn't be surprised if he voted, but did not endorse the Democratic Party nominee. The President and a former Republican senator endorsed Hillary Clinton. Democratic politicians of all levels endorse her. I don't think that the Bernie Sanders platform, after all of its establishment bashing will be content to acquiesce to an establishment politician of her nature.

Short of an indictment, Democratic Bernie supporters face the distinct possibility of having to vote outside the party. That doesn't really affect the voting process during the general election. I wouldn't be surprised if he just threw up his hands and said "vote for who you think is the best candidate," while saying that Trump should be defeated.

I think this will all become much more clear at the convention, where a vote will be contested of all unpledged delegates.

I think that the Greens would have to offer Sanders the first spot on the ticket to have any realistic chance. I think Obama and Lynch can prevent any indictments. Hillary is not popular. Sanders is popular. If Sanders runs third party Trump wins. Trump hasn't allowed the power brokers to rent him yet, ergo no commitments. Trump wants to get along with Russia and that shows some intelligence instead of cheerleading the Cold War mentality to guarantee the profit stream of the MIC. The Corporatist Elites. The 1/10th of 1%. Even Trump would be better than Hillary.
 
I think Bernie supporters know that the most political momentum goes to the Democratic party nominee. We have a sitting Democratic president who was reelected and a crude Republican platform on the opposite side of the stage.

As a congressman, Bernie Sanders does not stand to benefit by switching his party affiliation. I don't think he will go with Jill Stein to the Green Party convention (if there is such a thing). It's much more likely that he will endorse no candidate. It's not necessary for candidates to make an endorsement, so he might abstain. As a high profile political figure, it's unlikely that he will abstain from casting a vote, so I wouldn't be surprised if he voted, but did not endorse the Democratic Party nominee. The President and a former Republican senator endorsed Hillary Clinton. Democratic politicians of all levels endorse her. I don't think that the Bernie Sanders platform, after all of its establishment bashing will be content to acquiesce to an establishment politician of her nature.

Short of an indictment, Democratic Bernie supporters face the distinct possibility of having to vote outside the party. That doesn't really affect the voting process during the general election. I wouldn't be surprised if he just threw up his hands and said "vote for who you think is the best candidate," while saying that Trump should be defeated.

I think this will all become much more clear at the convention, where a vote will be contested of all unpledged delegates.
My post #2 outlines what I think he should do.

But as part of that, what I believe he will do is: Bargain to extract concessions from HRC & the DNC in the form of party platform shaping and perhaps a place in the Clinton administration, where if he's satisfied he then can claim his accomplishments to his movement and ask for their support in supporting her.
 
My post #2 outlines what I think he should do.

But as part of that, what I believe he will do is: Bargain to extract concessions from HRC & the DNC in the form of party platform shaping and perhaps a place in the Clinton administration, where if he's satisfied he then can claim his accomplishments to his movement and ask for their support in supporting her.

Well if you're right that Sander's political organization comes with a price, then I would argue that bargaining has already taken place and will continue to do so until the convention in July, or the only meaningful bargaining price will be found during the convention. I suspect it is the latter, since Sanders has repeatedly asserted that he will vote against Trump. Unless he endorses Hillary, defeating Trump is not meaningful until the general election, and I don't think he will jump onto a third party ticket, even if offered the first spot. Idealistically, it would be the best scenario, but Sanders runs his own campaign. He's not planned to join Hillary or Jill in the past, and quite frankly I don't see either questions by news reporters or third party offers to be serious. The currency of activism might be meaningful dialog, but in order to engage in real, grassroots activism one needs real resources, and I think Bernie Sanders is the best candidate to have done so in 2016.
 
It's obvious Bernie will not get the Democrat nomination. My question is mainly geared to Bernie supporters and what they'd like to see him do after the convention.

Jill Stein has publicly asked Bernie to be her VP candidate several times in a bid to "keep the revolution going." Both of their political philosophies seem nearly identical.

I believe back in July the Dems promised to support the eventual nominee. Should Bernie hold to that and formally endorse and support Hillary Clinton for the presidency? Some argue Bernie was cheated by the Democrats which would make that past agreement null and void.

Should Bernie just retire? Or should he still continue to run as a presidential candidate and not as someone's VP?

If you chose other please give your opinion.

I hope somebody talks him into throwin in the towel. It was that idiot Ralph Nader who split the Democratic vote and gave the election to GW Bush.
 
Bernie Supports, What Should Bernie Do?

continue to push his policy priorities as a senator. this has been a ****ty primary, and it has produced a ****ty choice. i don't care if he endorses Clinton or not.
 
I hope somebody talks him into throwin in the towel. It was that idiot Ralph Nader who split the Democratic vote and gave the election to GW Bush.

I assume this is exactly what you should think, which is why I wonder who he will endorse if he does not.
 
He and his supporters should support Hillary.

I hope somebody talks him into throwin in the towel. It was that idiot Ralph Nader who split the Democratic vote and gave the election to GW Bush.

Wait, really?
 
Endorse Trump..
 
Well if you're right that Sander's political organization comes with a price, then I would argue that bargaining has already taken place and will continue to do so until the convention in July, or the only meaningful bargaining price will be found during the convention. I suspect it is the latter, since Sanders has repeatedly asserted that he will vote against Trump. Unless he endorses Hillary, defeating Trump is not meaningful until the general election, and I don't think he will jump onto a third party ticket, even if offered the first spot. Idealistically, it would be the best scenario, but Sanders runs his own campaign. He's not planned to join Hillary or Jill in the past, and quite frankly I don't see either questions by news reporters or third party offers to be serious. The currency of activism might be meaningful dialog, but in order to engage in real, grassroots activism one needs real resources, and I think Bernie Sanders is the best candidate to have done so in 2016.
I agree.

I wouldn't doubt if the negotiated deal doesn't get fully shaped until the convention, which is maybe the way it should be - like the old days!

I do very much see Sanders in a position of power here. He's 74, has followed his dream and ideals since his teens, is not a Democrat, and as far as I see has nothing to lose, but a lot to gain. He can roll the dice if he so chooses. He can threaten to run 3rd party, or withdraw his support. So he will definitely have a seat at the table, and I think he's going to have some substantial gains to bring back to his supporters.
 
It's obvious Bernie will not get the Democrat nomination. My question is mainly geared to Bernie supporters and what they'd like to see him do after the convention.

Jill Stein has publicly asked Bernie to be her VP candidate several times in a bid to "keep the revolution going." Both of their political philosophies seem nearly identical.

I believe back in July the Dems promised to support the eventual nominee. Should Bernie hold to that and formally endorse and support Hillary Clinton for the presidency? Some argue Bernie was cheated by the Democrats which would make that past agreement null and void.

Should Bernie just retire? Or should he still continue to run as a presidential candidate and not as someone's VP?

If you chose other please give your opinion.
Other: Go to the convention and use the power of the delegates he did win to push for as many of the policies he ran for as possible.

I've heard some die-hard Sanders supporters talking about criminal indictments against Clinton giving him the race, but that seems really unlikely.

If he doesn't get any policy agreements from the convention....he should not endorse Clinton. If she won't accept any part of the the direction part of the democrat party wishes to go, she doesn't deserve the support of that faction.
Which is why I think she'll agree to some policy positions.
 
Bernie Sanders is not a Democrat. He's been an Independent for his entire Senate career. He owes the Democratic Party nothing, and the Democratic Party has proven that it does not represent his values; he should not endorse Hillary Clinton and he should not surrender his campaign resources to Hillary Clinton's campaign.

I think what he chooses to do when his campaign is over while demonstrate what his true intentions in running for President were. If he endorses Clinton now, it will prove the conspiracy theorists who have been arguing that his only purpose in the election was to energize liberal voters to funnel them into the chosen candidate's camp.
 
I was a kid then, so I wasn't in the know. I do know that my state (Florida) ****ed that election up though.

Yeah, Florida did. No Ralph Nader ran, like Bernie's running now and those were the votes that Gore needed to beat Bush. The same thing is happening with the Republicans and Trump, and of course the Republicans are screwed for this election.
 
Bernie Sanders is not a Democrat. He's been an Independent for his entire Senate career. He owes the Democratic Party nothing, and the Democratic Party has proven that it does not represent his values; he should not endorse Hillary Clinton and he should not surrender his campaign resources to Hillary Clinton's campaign.

I think what he chooses to do when his campaign is over while demonstrate what his true intentions in running for President were. If he endorses Clinton now, it will prove the conspiracy theorists who have been arguing that his only purpose in the election was to energize liberal voters to funnel them into the chosen candidate's camp.

Okay; why do you think then that Sanders is running as a Democrat?
 
Thank God.

Yeah; they did it to themselves, and frankly I'm very disappointed about that. I keep hoping that they're going to being in a new Eisenhower, but as long as the radical right-wing is in charge of that party they'll never get near the executive office again. They've violated our trust too many times.
 
It's obvious Bernie will not get the Democrat nomination. My question is mainly geared to Bernie supporters and what they'd like to see him do after the convention.

Jill Stein has publicly asked Bernie to be her VP candidate several times in a bid to "keep the revolution going." Both of their political philosophies seem nearly identical.

I believe back in July the Dems promised to support the eventual nominee. Should Bernie hold to that and formally endorse and support Hillary Clinton for the presidency? Some argue Bernie was cheated by the Democrats which would make that past agreement null and void.

Should Bernie just retire? Or should he still continue to run as a presidential candidate and not as someone's VP?

If you chose other please give your opinion.

I though that Bernie represented a new honesty in politicians? He has promised on numerous occasions to support Hillary and if he does not doesn't that make him just another lying politician? That said I am confident the Bernie will do the right thing as he has promised. There are some in his campaign that want to get paychecks for as long as possible and Bernie is paying too much attention to them. It's hard to let go of your ego after it has been boosted so much.
 
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