[US Election 2016] Democratic Primary Megathread III

[Ngelmish]

I fully expect that he'll cooperate and endorse Clinton in unequivocal language, but I doubt that anyone will be describing it as a graceful moment. Sanders has been many things in his political career, but he's never been particularly graceful.

It'll probably be something along the lines of "Clinton can beat the Republicans, vote for her."

I'm looking at it in terms of his 2012 endorsement of Obama, which was incredibly tepid. Complicating things this time around is the fact that he and Clinton have actually run against each other, Sanders is perfectly sincere when he complains about being treated unfairly by the party and the media, and he and Clinton, regardless of their professionalism, clearly have a real level of personal distaste for each other.

In comparison, there's not much evidence that Sanders ever actually disliked Obama. So I don't expect Sanders to come up with much beyond, "Well of course she's better than the Republicans," in a gloomy, aggrieved tone of voice.

[USS Monitor]

It'll probably be something along the lines of "Clinton can beat the Republicans, vote for her."

I'm looking at it in terms of his 2012 endorsement of Obama, which was incredibly tepid. Complicating things this time around is the fact that he and Clinton have actually run against each other, Sanders is perfectly sincere when he complains about being treated unfairly by the party and the media, and he and Clinton, regardless of their professionalism, clearly have a real level of personal distaste for each other.

In comparison, there's not much evidence that Sanders ever actually disliked Obama. So I don't expect Sanders to come up with much beyond, "Well of course she's better than the Republicans," in a gloomy, aggrieved tone of voice.

Yep, that sounds about right. I can picture it now...

I think Sanders had some grudging respect for Obama, but he just seems annoyed with Hillary.

[Geilinor]

It'll probably be something along the lines of "Clinton can beat the Republicans, vote for her."

I'm looking at it in terms of his 2012 endorsement of Obama, which was incredibly tepid. Complicating things this time around is the fact that he and Clinton have actually run against each other, Sanders is perfectly sincere when he complains about being treated unfairly by the party and the media, and he and Clinton, regardless of their professionalism, clearly have a real level of personal distaste for each other.

In comparison, there's not much evidence that Sanders ever actually disliked Obama. So I don't expect Sanders to come up with much beyond, "Well of course she's better than the Republicans," in a gloomy, aggrieved tone of voice.

Unfortunately, that's probably what will happen. Democrats clearly need to unite here to stop the utterly distasteful candidates from the GOP despite some differences.

[MERIZoC]

THE FLAME HAS BEEN EXTINGUISHED

Rather the flicker. The media always overstated Sanders chances. Clinton overshot her 538 target in Iowa by 5 delegates. In NH, both candidates hit their targets right on the dot. Then SC and NV came, and turned Sanders into a candle in a dome with a green leaf.

[Geilinor]

Bernie is in denial. He still thinks there will be a mass shift of superdelegates to him and there will be a contested convention. How?
http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/bernie-sanders-contested-convention-222685

[USS Monitor]

Bernie is in denial. He still thinks there will be a mass shift of superdelegates to him and there will be a contested convention. How?
http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/bernie-sanders-contested-convention-222685

A man can dream, can't he?

[Galloism]

Bernie is in denial. He still thinks there will be a mass shift of superdelegates to him and there will be a contested convention. How?
http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/bernie-sanders-contested-convention-222685

I'll have what he's having.

[The Orson Empire]

Bernie is in denial. He still thinks there will be a mass shift of superdelegates to him and there will be a contested convention. How?
http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/bernie-sanders-contested-convention-222685

What a damn shame, man. It really saddens me that he most likely won't be able to pull off a victory.

Now there is no other candidate that is appealing to me in this election.

[Ngelmish]

Bernie is in denial. He still thinks there will be a mass shift of superdelegates to him and there will be a contested convention. How?
http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/bernie-sanders-contested-convention-222685

Well he has to say something, and he wants to keep running as long as possible to try to exercise maximum leverage. And given the fact that his fundraising has started to drop, whatever he says has got to be good enough to keep his supporters along for the end of the voting.

I'd be happier if he simply called it day, but then I suspect I'd be even happier than that if he hadn't decided to run in the first place. At this point it's his decision, how he wants to come over before coming up short.

[The Romulan Republic]

It is still possible for Bernie to win. Unlikely, of course, but possible.

But I'll say what I've said before- if he's behind in pledged delegates come the convention, he should bow out, because realistically, most of the super delegates will stick loyally with Clinton unless given a very compelling reason not to.

This is presuming no indictment of Clinton or similar to push her out, of course.

[Eol Sha]

Bernie is in denial. He still thinks there will be a mass shift of superdelegates to him and there will be a contested convention. How?
http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/bernie-sanders-contested-convention-222685

What a damn shame, man. It really saddens me that he most likely won't be able to pull off a victory.

Now there is no other candidate that is appealing to me in this election.

Maybe Rocky Anderson? He might be running again.

[Eol Sha]

It'll probably be something along the lines of "Clinton can beat the Republicans, vote for her."

I'm looking at it in terms of his 2012 endorsement of Obama, which was incredibly tepid. Complicating things this time around is the fact that he and Clinton have actually run against each other, Sanders is perfectly sincere when he complains about being treated unfairly by the party and the media, and he and Clinton, regardless of their professionalism, clearly have a real level of personal distaste for each other.

In comparison, there's not much evidence that Sanders ever actually disliked Obama. So I don't expect Sanders to come up with much beyond, "Well of course she's better than the Republicans," in a gloomy, aggrieved tone of voice.

That's what I'll be doing.

[Corrian]

Jesus, there was an anti-capitalism protest in Seattle today that seems to have escalated into violence, though I don't know if it was the protesters or our stupid militarized police escalating things like they seem to do.

Edit: I love how Seattle has the Police Bike Brigade (My name for it). It's kinda hilarious how they all use bikes.

[Guy]

The difference between now and 2012 is that Sanders actually carries influence now. He'll feel the responsibility to utilise that influence. I think, and hope, that there'll be a strong endorsement and campaigning for her.

And yeah, media always overstated Sanders' chances, although quarters of the media then went on to say how awful Sanders would be (i.e. the bias against him that many claim). Whereas I actually think Sanders would've been a pretty good President, but he's never been in with a chance this whole contest.

[Corrian]

The difference between now and 2012 is that Sanders actually carries influence now. He'll feel the responsibility to utilise that influence. I think, and hope, that there'll be a strong endorsement and campaigning for her.

And yeah, media always overstated Sanders' chances, although quarters of the media then went on to say how awful Sanders would be (i.e. the bias against him that many claim). Whereas I actually think Sanders would've been a pretty good President, but he's never been in with a chance this whole contest.

There is no denying though that he has done remarkably well against the most inevitable candidate while flaunting policies that weren't hugely popular in the US. It spells good for a candidate like Sanders in the future.

[The Federation of Kendor]

I selected Hilary Clinton

[Atlanticatia]

The difference between now and 2012 is that Sanders actually carries influence now. He'll feel the responsibility to utilise that influence. I think, and hope, that there'll be a strong endorsement and campaigning for her.

And yeah, media always overstated Sanders' chances, although quarters of the media then went on to say how awful Sanders would be (i.e. the bias against him that many claim). Whereas I actually think Sanders would've been a pretty good President, but he's never been in with a chance this whole contest.

Is this a joke?

[USS Monitor]

The difference between now and 2012 is that Sanders actually carries influence now. He'll feel the responsibility to utilise that influence. I think, and hope, that there'll be a strong endorsement and campaigning for her.

And yeah, media always overstated Sanders' chances, although quarters of the media then went on to say how awful Sanders would be (i.e. the bias against him that many claim). Whereas I actually think Sanders would've been a pretty good President, but he's never been in with a chance this whole contest.

Is this a joke?

I think it's just a guy with a different perspective from yours (or mine).

[Atlanticatia]

Is this a joke?

I think it's just a guy with a different perspective from yours (or mine).

It's objectively false though. Until pretty recently, the vast majority of pundits dismissed Bernie as someone who was only in the race to push Hillary to the left and add some competition, with no chance of winning. It's literally incorrect that the media always suggested Sanders could win the nomination. He wasn't seen as a serious competitor by most in the media until around February, probably. And even then, a lot of the media continued to dismiss him (and still do).

[AiliailiA]

Bernie is in denial. He still thinks there will be a mass shift of superdelegates to him and there will be a contested convention. How?
http://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/05/bernie-sanders-contested-convention-222685

Well

Bernie Sanders predicted Sunday that Hillary Clinton would not win enough pledged delegates to claim the nomination ahead of the Democratic convention in Philadelphia,

... is probably true. She'd need 72% of the remaining pledged delegates to get a majority (of total delegates not just pledged) and since she probably won't get that, her nomination will rely on some of the superdelegates. If that's Sander's definition of a "contested" convention then OK ...

Maybe superdelegates in states he won should switch, to be good sports, but it wouldn't even make much difference. I count 88 of them (endorsed Clinton in states Sanders won) which is less than a fifth of the superdelagates she has on her side. Furthermore, there's 16 supers endorsing Sanders in states Clinton won, so to be fair they should switch the other way!

Not all the unpledged delegates have expressed a preference. Applying Bernie's new rule, if every unpledged delegate went to the candidate winning the popular vote in their state, Clinton would have 374 and Sanders would have 147. Still actually worse than his standing with pledged delegates, and a gap he couldn't make up even if he won every remaining state and territory.

[Maineiacs]

Apparently, Hitler told them he'd make Germany great again by throwing out all the discredited mainstream politicians and liberally tearing up the Versailles treaty and other international agreements that he said were not beneficial to Germany. And of course there was the whole demonizing of (a) certain ethno/religious group(s).

But no, Trump is not Hitler and never would be.

not exactly point i was making.

People dont see trump as a savior, more or less they want an alternative to a system which they felt as failed and they see trump as that.

Hitler was a skilled and fantastic speaker, trump is a uncoordinated buffoon that says words and people like the words he speaks.

He's a doubleplusgood duckspeaker.

[Guy]

The difference between now and 2012 is that Sanders actually carries influence now. He'll feel the responsibility to utilise that influence. I think, and hope, that there'll be a strong endorsement and campaigning for her.

And yeah, media always overstated Sanders' chances, although quarters of the media then went on to say how awful Sanders would be (i.e. the bias against him that many claim). Whereas I actually think Sanders would've been a pretty good President, but he's never been in with a chance this whole contest.

There is no denying though that he has done remarkably well against the most inevitable candidate while flaunting policies that weren't hugely popular in the US. It spells good for a candidate like Sanders in the future.

Agreed. My issue with Sanders is that I had concerns about him in the General due to just how left he was. A candidate combining Sanders' (perceived or otherwise) integrity with policies a touch to the centre of Bernie could be a formidable candidate, especially if they're strong enough they can do it without resorting to outsiderism, because that actually turns off some critical voters.

[Khadgar]

Guess that's why Bernie cut staffers. His fundraising in April was disappointing.

In other news Bernie insists it's going to be a contested convention. Which means he apparently think he's going to win the rest of the contests by huge margins. Bernie needs 1016 delegates to win, Hillary needs 218. Considering she's currently leading in Indiana, California, and New Jersey I have to wonder why he thinks that's true.

[The Romulan Republic]

Guess that's why Bernie cut staffers. His fundraising in April was disappointing.

In other news Bernie insists it's going to be a contested convention. Which means he apparently think he's going to win the rest of the contests by huge margins. Bernie needs 1016 delegates to win, Hillary needs 218. Considering she's currently leading in Indiana, California, and New Jersey I have to wonder why he thinks that's true.

Counting super delegates in Hillary's total, I see.

www.vox.com/a/presidential-primary-delegate-tracker

Despite the fact that they can switch sides and even the DNC has said that they shouldn't be counted in a candidate's delegate total.

Counting super delegates in Clinton's total at this point, without explaining that context, is dishonest (or proof of severe ignorance about the process). It serves to inflate Clinton's numbers, bolster the "inevitability" narrative, and make Bernie look like a fool for continuing to campaign.

Now, my feelings on a contested convention are pretty clear- I don't want it to happen. It would help the Republicans. I could justify Bernie trying to win over the super delegates after taking the lead in the popular vote/pledged delegates, but otherwise it would be pointless and he'd be being hypocritical and making a fool of himself.

In other words- by all means keep running until the convention, Bernie, but if you're still behind (not counting super delegates) at the convention, do the honourable thing and concede gracefully for the good of the people.

[Guy]

Counting superdelegates is actually not entirely without merit at this point. You're again attacking for no reason.

Bernie is trying to court superdelegates. In the 99% scenario that he loses the pledged delegates, he needs to start convincing supers. Given that so may supers clearly prefer Hillary, counting them is clearly relevant to adjudicating how much work Bernie needs to do -- given that he's trying to convince these folks.