Bernie on the possible debate.

[Uncle Joe]

Bernie SandersVerified account

?@BernieSanders

I am delighted that @realDonaldTrump has agreed to debate. Let’s do it in the biggest stadium possible.

https://twitter.com/berniesanders/status/735915713404260352

Sanders camp: We hope Trump doesn't 'chicken out' on debate

(CNN)Bernie Sanders' campaign manager said Thursday he hopes Donald Trump does not "chicken out" after the two talked about the possibility of a one-on-one debate, but the presumptive GOP front-runner said he'd "love to debate Bernie."

"We are ready to debate Donald Trump. We hope he will not chicken out. I think it will be great for America to see these two candidates and the different visions they have for America going forward," Sanders campaign manager Jeff Weaver told CNN's Wolf Blitzer Thursday. "What we'll have to see, Wolf, is does Donald Trump have the courage to get on the stage with Bernie Sanders. That remains to be seen."

(snip)


http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/26/politics/bernie-sanders-donald-trump-debate/

[bravenak]

1. Disgraceful for the non nominee to try to debate the repub nominee. On FOX, even.

Shameful

[Uncle Joe]

3. Yes we will need a fainting couch for many people.

[bravenak]

4. Giving Trump attention and seeking it for himself is just gross at this point

[Uncle Joe]

5. "Disgraceful?" No attitude nor actions spells prima donna more blatantly than this.

(snip)

So we have a gigantic mess. IT people warned her. The government went, "Uhm, no this isn't ok." And yet, she persisted. Because she didn't want anyone . . . uh, reading her yoga routines. (Anyone who believes a woman of her age is yoga'ing five days a week, raise your hand).

But then, turns out, she was trying to shield how she was undermining President Obama. Sydney Blumenthal and whatnot. I mean, that's a little shitty, right? The President of the United States said, "Oh helllll, no," and Hillary's response was, "Fuck you. I do what I want!"

And all of this is ok with everyone?

She flipped off voters. She flipped off the State Department. She flipped off President Obama. But, nah, that's cool.

I'm straining to find a cabinet member with an ego translating to autonomy, and all I can come up with is Samuel Chase. Sam Chase was a guy who Lincoln appointed to make peace in his party, and Chase undermined him at every possible turn. Chase thought he should've been President, and he tried to build a coalition for future elections from his office in the Treasury.

You tell me.

What on earth was she doing? Kerry is a very good SoS. Hillary pursued her own goals and, by all accounts, pressed an uncertain Obama into disastrous policies.

But, aside from all that. People all around her said, "No, this isn't legal. This is a terrible idea. This is a security fuck up waiting to happen." And what we got was a blatant, "Shut up. Don't mention it. Ever. For reasons."

(snip)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512055705

[bravenak]

7. No point there that I can see.

I do not give two shitz about them emails.

[Uncle Joe]

9. Attitude, actions and judgement, that was the point. n/t

[Duval]

8. Thanks, Uncle Joe. Plus 100!

[Segami]

30. +1000

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

12. Hillary should challenge Bernie to a debate and ask him about it.

BTW: Nobody's been nominated yet.

[bravenak]

13. No need. Obama did not debate her after April. It's fucking over. Time to stop the bullshit.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

14. So she chickened out because she's too busy gloating?

Will she be too busy to debate Trump?

[bravenak]

16. No. She has a schedule to debate Trump

Why should the frontrunner agree to any more debates when the voting is coming to an end? She is smart to focus on the Republican. We need to beat his ass in november, not fight the primary until july.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. To keep her word? To get free media coverage? To show she deserves our votes?

[bravenak]

24. She will get the votes of those who want to fight Trump and his rightwing extremists

I will vote for the nominee. Regardless. As you know, none of them are actually far left, they are both to my right in certain areas. Not much difference between the two, just different focuses on leftism, one on social justice one on economics. I care more for social than economics so I chose her. Had he focus on what I cared about I would have chosen him.
Black folks aint never got nothing more than incremental progress, so whenever I get impatient, I look at photos of my great great great grandma sitting in the porch of her slave cabin when the massa came round to photograph his property. And I slap myself for being a selfish shithead. She knew troubles I aint never seen. She was grateful to die free. I am grateful for every step of progress and aint going backwards for no amount of money.

[Time for change]

20. Shameful?

Bernie's campaign is one of the most issue oriented campaigns I've seen.

Hillary promised a debate in California, then she ducks out of it. That's a broken promise to the American people. Debates are what allow the American people to make an educated decision on who to vote for.

If she chickens out and breaks her promise to have that debate, nobody should complain about Bernie and Trump debating. If Trump doesn't chicken out too, and IF Hillary is the nominee, that debate will help her a good deal.

[bravenak]

26. It was orientated to your issues, not mine.

[SheenaR]

83. If the massive gap between the wealthy and the middle class (and below)

And the continued struggle for many Americans to make a living wage isn't an issue for you.

Lucky you. Must be nice

[Time for change]

86. You're a Democrat?

Exactly what is it that you don't like about the issues he talks about?

Do you know what any of them are?

[DisgustipatedinCA]

36. Nope. It's s brilliant move the corresponds with Clinton's plummeting campaign.

It came at exactly the right time.

[bjo59]

47. What's disgraceful is

Hillary Clinton committing to 4 debates in exchange for Bernie Sanders agreeing to a debate she wanted in New Hampshire and then deciding to betray him. Disgraceful to casually break her commitment to the 4th debate in order to deny him the ability to discuss his policy positions nationally just before the last seven primaries, including the delegate rich state of California. It's immaterial whether you think she's won already and that agreements and rules no longer apply. It's a disgrace that Hillary Clinton thinks so little of her own commitments.

[bravenak]

49. She doesn't fricking feel like it. Oh well. Not her job to get him more attention.

[ljm2002]

84. And that, friends, is it in a nutshell...

..."She doesn't fricking feel like it."

She doesn't fricking feel like keeping her word. Oh well.

She doesn't fricking feel like adhering to State Department rules regarding emails, thus risking the exposure of national secrets. Oh well.

She doesn't fricking feel like using a government email account to conduct her official State Department business. Oh well.

She doesn't fricking feel like being honest to the American public about the emails and the amateurish private server. Oh well.

She doesn't fricking feel like honoring Obama's instructions to not use Sidney Blumenthal as an advisor. Oh well.

She doesn't fricking feel like talking to the Inspector General. Oh well.

I'll bet she doesn't fricking feel like talking to the FBI either. We'll see how well that attitude works out for her.

[JCanete]

54. what? how why? wtf? explain please. I hate these hit and runs.

[bravenak]

65. What do you want me to explain?

It's ridiculous.

[JCanete]

71. what is disgraceful about a debate on policy for one? What is ridiculous about a debate on policy?

How often do liberal perspectives get that kind of mainstream press? Why not take advantage of an opportunity to make a fool of the GOP candidate while actually promoting liberal ideals that are usually shut out or managed by the gatekeepers?

[bravenak]

72. Discraceful for him to even think about running to Fox to debate Trump when he knows damn well

he will never be the nominee. Besides, have you noticed that Bernie has no foreign policy? What if somebody asks a question about Cuba, Central America, South America or any nation that is not the US? He has no idea how to break up those banks he wants to break up, Donald will just bully the hell out if him and embarass the entire democratic party. Let the winners debate. This is stupid.

[JCanete]

75. you are out of your head if you think Donald knows what he's talking about, and can effectively

bully anybody who isn't beholden to his teaparty wackos. I'm not sure why you're so obsessed with the "winners" debating policy and issues. I wholly support Bernie Sanders platform, I know exactly the crowd that is against that platform, and no, they aren't the "adults" in the room, but they cross over party lines. They are the people benefitting from a rigged system. They are the people who have kept Bernie's and many many others critique of Washington and our Corporatocracy out of the media and out of political debate for decades.

I have not noticed that Bernie knows nothing about foreign policy. If you'd like to cite a specific case of that I'd be happy to entertain your position, but we both know who has been consistently wrong on foreign policy. I don't give a shit how wonky she can be on the intricacies. As President, you need to be advised by the wonks, but you need to make the right decisions with that information. Hillary consistently makes the wrong ones. The only thing to debate there is whether those were miscalculations or decisions made with eyes wide open.

No, Bernie doesn't have no idea about how to break up the banks, but it's a complicated issue that he recognizes as such. I tell you what, having a platform of not breaking up the big banks will definitely not get us there. My guess is, you don't care. You are fine with the incrementalism that the Clinton's have brought us so far, and for that matter, Obama. That incrementalism has been a slow step to the right, one foot after the other. I don't think that's what her base thinks she means when she pitches it, but that's what we get on economic issues, every time.

I asked this of somebody else but maybe you'll do a better job of answering. What progress have we made as a nation since 1990? Obamacare, which is iffy because it was a huge concession to insurance companies in order to get rid of preexisting conditions, and gay marriage are all I can point to, and in my opinion, if we had stopped battling over symptoms and started battling over the root issues together, against the people who are actually staging this kabuki theater we would have gotten marriage rights for all sooner. Just name a few more things that are better since the early 90's, cuz I can name a lot of things that are worse.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

63. Clinton the non nominee bottled out of the scheduled CA debate

[bravenak]

64. Oh, she is the nominee

[Rosa Luxemburg]

66. she hasn't been nominated so she is not

[bravenak]

68. He cannot even catch up at this point

Will be called the second polls close. She is the nominee.

[hellofromreddit]

67. Why? I don't see the problem. Besides, both democratic candidates are non-nominees.

[bravenak]

69. Ridiculous display of attention seeking

[hellofromreddit]

70. You think a presidential candidate seeking attention is ridiculous? I might have bad news....

[bravenak]

73. I do when it's LONG PAST OVER

[geek tragedy]

2. bizarre attention-seeking stunt nt

[pangaia]

38. kersplurt

You sure don't know Senator Sanders very well, do you...

[geek tragedy]

58. I know he's losing and desperate and out of money nt

[pangaia]

74. As I said you do not know the man at all.

[Duval]

6. I hope they do!

Sanders would pummel Trump. And it would be good for the country to see the differences in policy, among other things. Of course, some had prefer this not happen as it would give air time to Bernie. That would just be Terrible! (sarcasm)

[Babel_17]

10. "Chicken Donald"

[Babel_17]

11. Reminds me of the old days, put up or shut up.

[ecstatic]

15. He's naive beyond belief! Mind boggling,

disqualifying stupidity.

[Uncle Joe]

17. Bernie; unlike Hillary has the courage of his convictions. n/t

[Demsrule86]

40. Bernie is the worst person I have ever seen

His behavior is so disgusting that I could never vote for him under any circumstances. He has been hurting us in the general for some time now but this is beyond the pale.

[Uncle Joe]

45. Then you haven't been paying attention.

(snip)

So we have a gigantic mess. IT people warned her. The government went, "Uhm, no this isn't ok." And yet, she persisted. Because she didn't want anyone . . . uh, reading her yoga routines. (Anyone who believes a woman of her age is yoga'ing five days a week, raise your hand).

But then, turns out, she was trying to shield how she was undermining President Obama. Sydney Blumenthal and whatnot. I mean, that's a little shitty, right? The President of the United States said, "Oh helllll, no," and Hillary's response was, "Fuck you. I do what I want!"

And all of this is ok with everyone?

She flipped off voters. She flipped off the State Department. She flipped off President Obama. But, nah, that's cool.

I'm straining to find a cabinet member with an ego translating to autonomy, and all I can come up with is Samuel Chase. Sam Chase was a guy who Lincoln appointed to make peace in his party, and Chase undermined him at every possible turn. Chase thought he should've been President, and he tried to build a coalition for future elections from his office in the Treasury.

You tell me.

What on earth was she doing? Kerry is a very good SoS. Hillary pursued her own goals and, by all accounts, pressed an uncertain Obama into disastrous policies.

But, aside from all that. People all around her said, "No, this isn't legal. This is a terrible idea. This is a security fuck up waiting to happen." And what we got was a blatant, "Shut up. Don't mention it. Ever. For reasons."

(snip)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12512055705

[Demsrule86]

80. you should pay attention

Bernie is out of here in less than ten days...and it seems he wants to do as much damage to the party and our nominee as possible. I despise him as he risks all of our futures for his giant ego. Not reading GDP...you all are posting way to much right Wing stuff from right Wing hate sites...but I will reply to this post since I posted to you.

[Uncle Joe]

82. If anyone is damaging the Democratic Party it's Hillary, the post you just replied to didn't

come from a "right wing hate site" the videos speak for themselves.

Hillary's; actions in regards to her private server not to mention her language screams of "giant ego" but even worse as a loose cannon, prima donna with poor judgement that did no favors for President Obama.

[TheBlackAdder]

77. If he is the "worst person" you "have ever seen" then you are clositered in a bubble somewhere.

.


You need to get out more.


.

[Demsrule86]

79. Not really

He risks all our futures including our kids and Grandkids...if Trump gets in, the courts are packed and say goodbye to all the progress we have made since Roosevelt. Bernie Sanders is now the worst person in the world...the anti-Roosevelt...undoing the good...he is on Trumps team now.

[TheBlackAdder]

81. No really - Your hyperbolic statement shows a disconnect with reality or strong political myopia.

[sadoldgirl]

18. Can you tell me , please, why only

HRC supporters resent or distain this possible
debate? I have not seen any others to do so.

[ecstatic]

21. Hell, I'd love to see them debate, but Trump is making a fool out of Bernie.

The 10 million dollar demand, etc. clearly shows that Trump is not being serious. But Bernie, not getting the joke, is desperately seeking the funds for something that will never happen. He's too naive to see that he's being punked.

[pangaia]

39. Sanders knows exactly what he is doing.

Nice try.

[JCanete]

59. You are the one who just assumes that the Bernie camp really

believes Trump will consent to this. He won't. He'd be crazy. Wait, he is crazy though. The Bernie camp knows that he's not likely to bite, but why not goad him and make him look weak if he backs down from it?

I really don't get your particular narrative of the situation. Would you respond differently than Bernie if you knew in fact that the other candidate was blustering? Of course not! You'd press the matter. You'd act like you're on board for the debate. You'd act like "we both say it's happening so lets assume it is until somebody has to walk it back." How is that in your world going to end up with egg on Sanders face? I really really really want to understand you... help me.

[ecstatic]

60. Fair enough...

I'll allow the possibility that Bernie is bluffing. My assumption that he is serious is based on the totality of what I've seen coming from Sanders this far. After everything that's happened, he still seems to believe he can win the nomination with help from superdelegates.

But why would he think it's a good idea to even pretend that he's interested in debating trump? That does nothing for party unity.

[JCanete]

62. no, I think he would love that debate. I just don't think he thinks he's getting it.

It does a lot for his message, and that's what I care about. I want people to hear it. I think that while his message does harm to entrenched political entities, and that does include Clinton and the DNC, a debate with Trump where Trump actually gets challenged on policy will be that aha moment that people finally had with Palin when made those softball interviews "gotcha" interviews. He's not going to be able to stand up to reasoned positions or sensible deconstructions of his word vomit.

[Uncle Joe]

23. They're afraid that Bernie will trounce Trump.

[Segami]

35. +10000000000000000000000

In a nutshell!!.......bingo!

[phleshdef]

25. Because they know Hillary will get upstaged by Bernie.

[Ned_Devine]

31. Ding ding ding!!!

[Demsrule86]

44. It hurts Hillary in the general

A Democrat should not help a GOP candidate especially a nutter like Trump who is truly dangerous to our country. As I have said before Bernie Sanders is dead to me. If he managed to steal the nominee with his dirty tricks, I would not vote for him. Why should I ? He would lose anyway.

[JCanete]

61. why do you assume this won't hurt Trump for Hillary?

The important thing for the Sanders campaign is just how much publicity his message will get. Its just a bonus that the Republican frontrunner can be made a fool in the process. I guarantee you that under those conditions Bernie will pretty much pivot on any attacks on Hillary and hammer on Trump instead, even buttressing her where necessary, mostly by showing how weak Trump is by comparison. You're crazy if you think this is going to be a circle jerk of Hillary hate, but yes, this could hurt Clinton, just not as much as it is likely to hurt Trump. His days are numbered once he starts debating real opponents.

[Time for change]

55. I think it's because they think that Bernie will win it big

and that will give him more ammunition to use at the convention.

[oberliner]

22. What would be the point of doing it in a big stadium?

It seems like debates are most effective without a live audience.

[Uncle Joe]

27. I disagree, live audiences enhance debates,

after all debates are for the people.

[oberliner]

28. The shouting and cheering tend to be disruptive

I'd rather really get to hear the candidates engage with one another.

And then make it free and easy for as many people as possible to watch on tv, online, and in every way possible.

[Uncle Joe]

34. Democracy is messy but live audiences have been the staple since the days of Lincoln/Douglas.

They bring an energy and will often let know when a candidate is being less than forthcoming on a point or issue whereas corporate media pundits in too many cases will let it slide or drop.

When a candidate is making a good argument the audience gives amplification or exclamation to the point.

[oberliner]

37. TV and the internet did not exist in the days of Lincoln/Douglas

Today we live in a world where hundreds of millions of people can watch a complete debate from start to finish without any spin or editorial content.

Such a thing was impossible in the 19th century. The only way to hear Abe Lincoln speak was to do so in person.

Now, I can watch every single one of Bernie's events from all over the USA from start to finish.

[Uncle Joe]

42. I don't believe Lincoln would've shied away from a live audience even if he were alive in the day

of TV and the Internet.

Regardless most debates even after TV and the Internet had live audiences, they work fine.

[oberliner]

43. None have been in a stadium

This would be unprecedented in the history of debates in the TV age, I believe.

[Uncle Joe]

46. Yes it would be unprecedented why is that a bad thing?

[oberliner]

48. Frequent interruptions, Trump playing to the crowd, inability to have a real serious conversation

I guess we aren't going to agree on this, but I just think a more substantive conversation could happen in a quieter setting.

[Uncle Joe]

51. There is nothing quiet about Trump regardless of the setting and this will be a key matchup

between Trump playing to the crowd versus Bernie's message resonating with them.

I believe Bernie's message will win out.

[Andy823]

29. I agree

That comment was stupid. I think Trump also said that. It would be a big mistake to get the Trump nuts and the Bernie bros in a a big stadium where they could go after each other.

oops this was meant as a reply to oberliner.

[oberliner]

32. I think it should be just the two of them and a mutually agreed upon moderator (or two)

No audience. No nonsense gotcha garbage. Just a series of straight-up policy questions and they can both take as much time as they like to lay out their positions and respond to one another.

[Ned_Devine]

33. Bernie bros? Seriously? You're still saying that ridiculous and offensive shit?

So fucking tone deaf.

[pangaia]

41. I must say I agree.. I hate 'debates' as entertainment.

I can't even turn on the machine any more.

[senz]

50. For once Trump will have to deal with issues and not mere potshots.

[Uncle Joe]

52. I don't believe that Trump can handle it, senz.

[senz]

53. He'll try to cheapen the dialogue to personal putdowns and the dummies will love it

but intelligent Americans will see the difference between the two.

Also, I hope Bernie will have extra protection and Bernie supporters will be safe from Trump thugs.

[senz]

56. Also

hello to my favorite online Uncle!

[Uncle Joe]

57. ...

[silvershadow]

76. Looking forward to it. nt

[AzDar]

78. Hillary, by once again not keeping her word...looks foolish and irrelevant.

[cherokeeprogressive]

85. PREDICTION:Bernie and the Orange One will fill the Rose Bowl while Hillary sits outside with Maddow.

Hillary and Rachel will be live and watched by 6 people on MSNBC, and they will talk about how the debate is a "non-event".