Here Are 5 Ways Bernie Sanders Can Win at the Convention, Even if He Loses

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In recent weeks, Sen. Bernie Sanders has been demanding the Democratic Party establishment to "open its doors" to his campaign and its supporters. It appears the party is now making efforts to do just that.

According to the Washington Post, Sanders has been allowed to name five members of the 15-member committee that plans the Democratic Party's official platform that will be presented at the party's national convention in July — an unusual move that signals the party's desire to acknowledge and include Sanders' establishment-rattling insurgency.

The Democratic National Committee's rules allow the party's chairman to pick the group of 15, but this year the ideological rifts that have opened up in the wake of Sanders' campaign have compelled the party to apportion the assignment of contributors to the party platform differently, according to the Post. The party chairwoman, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, was given four picks, and Clinton six. Clinton received one more member than Sanders based on her significant lead in the popular vote.

Sanders has wasted no time in using the opportunity for activism designed to drag the Democratic platform further to the left. His members include environmental activist icon Bill McKibben; scholar, racial justice advocate Cornel West; the leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Keith Ellison of Minnesota; Arab American Institute head and pro-Palestinian advocate James Zogby and Native American activist Deborah Parker. Additionally, according to another Washington Post report, Sanders' policy director will have a hand in the committee's discussions, although he will not have formal voting power.

https://mic.com/articles/144248/here-are-5-ways-bernie-sanders-can-win-at-the-convention-even-if-he-loses?mic_referral=section%3Amost-recent%3A0

[djean111]

1. Really interesting!

But, as a realist, I believe that if Hillary is the nominee, that Democratic Platform will be rendered meaningless, and that Hillary, DWS, and the DNC will only be pandering for our votes. She would still be Ms. Third Way Neocon after the GE. And we would be told that hey, we voted for that, so STFU.

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2. I understand the sentiment, but I think you are wrong this time.

Just a hunch, but I think we will get concessions this time, like in the 30s. They'd better.

TPTB will try to make the concessions economic, while retaining political control of the Party. We should try for both, like $15 min wage and primaries in all states, and lots fewer superdelegates, etc.

I am reminded of an apothegm attributed to Orwell (I think) about why the British underclasses got social concessions during WWII: "they could fight the war without us, but they could not win it."

Bernie is going to get his say, Hillary will get the Nom, but she will part with the divisive approach, and the 3rd way, that is never going to work for her.

What we want is more political power, for voters, and less political power, for money; not just a better wage floor.

Edit: this all assuming none of the scandals and investigations nails one of the candidates. Then it's Katy bar the door.

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6. The Nation piece, #3, is very good on this subject. nt

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7. The next thing to watch for is when Mr Trump becomes more concerned with Bernie

than Ms Clinton. I am starting to think Ms Clinton may not be the nominee. Weeks to go.

But I was thinking last night, because I am an old man: that old man set out to create a movement, not really expecting to win, that's his roots, movement politics, and he did it. That has to be tremendously gratifying, however the election goes.

[djean111]

10. You are right, of course. Absolutely!

The thing is, for me, Bernie's positions on the issues I care about are so diametrically opposed to Hillary's stances, and his deeds, in contrast with Hillary's deeds, are in such stark contrast, that I am horrified that a Third Way Neocon hawk might actually be president. With either Trump or Hillary - what countries and/or programs will be nothing but smoking rubble, after four years? That is what worries me.

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11. This is American politics, reason won't get you far.

Monty Python makes a lot of sense compared to US politics.

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3. If Bernie Is Serious About Political Revolution, He Has to Work With the Democratic Party

Bernie Sanders is in a strong position to shake up Democratic Party politics. But the chaos at last week’s Nevada state convention reveals a real possibility that his candidacy could end up as little more than a footnote in the story of the 2016 campaign.

Sanders didn’t get into the race because of ego, or a quest for personal power. In 2013, John Nichols reported for The Nation that Sanders doubted he would run for president if another candidate offered “a seriously-focused and seriously competitive populist alternative to politics as usual.” A year later, he told Salon that he was considering a run because “the nature of media is that presidential campaigns… are a means… of getting these issues out there.”

In that sense, it’s impossible to overstate how successful he’s been. Not only because he’s won 20 primary contests, or moved Hillary Clinton demonstrably to the left on a number of key issues — for the first time in five years, a majority of Americans say it’s the government’s responsibility “to make sure all Americans have health-care coverage,” and a plurality — including most Democrats — are now in favor of tuition-free public colleges and universities.

Meanwhile, according to a Morning Consult survey, Sanders is now the most popular Senator on Capitol Hill. He has an opportunity to end the race as one of the most popular presidential candidates in recent history.

http://www.thenation.com/article/if-bernie-is-serious-about-political-revolution-he-has-to-work-with-the-democratic-party/

[cali]

8. Spot on

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9. +1.

Interesting times.

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12. You know, Summer is coming too. Things get hot in the Summer. nt

[cali]

17. That potential is certainly there

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18. I hope not, but somebody better think about it.

Having seen it a time or two.

[cali]

19. I don't particularly like to voice it but it seems more likely than not

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20. Yeah. nt

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4. Sanders walks back comment Dem convention will be 'messy'

WASHINGTON, May 24 (UPI) -- Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders explained he was referring to the democratic process and not a repeat of a recent chaotic campaign event when he said in an interview he expected the Democratic convention to be "messy."

Sanders made the remark one week after some of his supporters staged physical confrontations and wielded chairs inside a Las Vegas casino ballroom to protest the outcome of the Nevada Democratic Convention. Party leaders widely condemned the Sanders supporters' tactics. The candidate himself said he disavowed violence, but defended his supporters, who he said were participating in a state party convention that was not conducted fairly.

Sanders, speaking to NBC's Today show Tuesday morning, said he did not intend to suggest a repeat of Nevada's chaotic scene when the national party comes together in Philadelphia in July.

"The media often takes words out of context. The context of that was, democracy is messy. That people will have vigorous debate on the issues," Sanders said.

http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2016/05/24/Sanders-walks-back-comment-Dem-convention-will-be-messy/3601464110014/?spt=sec&or=tn

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5. Sanders tells deported U.S. vet through border fence: ‘We’d like you on this side’

Many politicians and even several presidential candidates have visited U.S.-Mexico border to talk about immigration or border security.

But Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders generated buzz this past weekend when he actually walked up to the border fence and told a deported veteran on the Mexican side that he wanted him on the U.S. side.

Hector Barajas, an activist who has pushed for deported U.S. service members to be allowed back in the country, called out to Sanders during his border visit and identified himself as a former soldier in the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division.

“Thank you very much for your service to this country,” Sanders said. “And we would like you on this side.”

http://latino.foxnews.com/latino/politics/2016/05/24/sanders-tells-deported-us-vet-through-border-fence-wed-like-on-this-side/

[firebrand80]

13. Trying to remember the last time

I read a party platform

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14. Most people don't. nt

[firebrand80]

15. Most people

Probably don't even know what it is.

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16. Completely irrelevant. Meaningless. Trivia. Piffle.

Doesn't matter one whit who gets to write it.