Bernie thinks super delegates might switch to him.

[kentuck]

No, unfortunately they won't. That's not why they were created.
==================

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-momentum_us_56f811fae4b0a372181a3565

<snip>
Interviewed on Sunday by U.S. broadcasters, Sanders said Democratic “super-delegates,” who can change their allegiance, might rally behind him because some polls suggest he has a better chance than Clinton of beating a Republican candidate.

“Momentum is with us. A lot of these super-delegates may rethink their position with Hillary Clinton,” said Vermont Senator Sanders on CNN’S State of the Union news program.

About 85 percent of the votes at the July 25-28 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, where a party nominee will be chosen to face the Republicans in the Nov. 8 election, are being determined by state nominating contests.

The other 15 percent is held by party power brokers who are free to vote as they like, meaning they could hold the key in a tight contest. Super-delegates include party leaders and elected senators, members of the U.S. Congress, and governors.

[artyteacher]

1. why would they?

She's ahead in regular delegates and like 2 million votes ahead? And she's still raising money for other candidates and supporting the Party.

[Kip Humphrey]

2. 2008.

[artyteacher]

3. bernie aint no obama. eom

[smiley]

7. He's so much more.

[NWCorona]

31. And neither is Hillary

[artyteacher]

32. actually i think shes doing better than obama was at this

Point.

[NWCorona]

34. By what metric? The variables aren't even comparable

[virtualobserver]

4. They will if he wins the majority of pledged delegates

[kentuck]

5. No, I don't think so.

Super delegates do not think a "socialist" can win. They are not required to vote with the people of their states.

[libtodeath]

9. What a sad statement.

[lumberjack_jeff]

10. If Clinton wins, I'm really not sure that the Democratic party reflects my values.

The antithesis of which is exemplified by the post to which you're replying.

[libtodeath]

11. I know that feeling,some days it is just one wtf moment to the next.

[kentuck]

20. It's depressing to think of the possibilities...

but I don't think it is something we should ignore. Does Bernie have a right to ask for fairness in regards to the "super delegates"? Or not ?

[libtodeath]

27. Maybe I misunderstood your post

[TDale313]

12. If he wins the pledged delegates and he loses the nomination

Due to the Superdelegates there will be hell to pay. It will be the end of the Democratic Party as we know it. They will be telling half the party to fuck off in the most public way possible.

I realize they are there for precisely this eventuality- but do not expect people to take it well or shrug it off he actually wins in the pledged and basically party insiders decide we're too stupid to be trusted.

[virtualobserver]

13. It would cause a schism in the Democratic party.....

if the will of the people was thwarted.....this isn't the olden timey days.

[noretreatnosurrender]

15. Self Preservation

Well if they don't then the people in their states will probably fund a primary challenger to them (I know I'll contribute). If they want to risk losing their seat over it let them. But I think quite a few of them will think about keeping their seat and switch to represent the people they are supposed to represent in the first place.

[kentuck]

21. Bingo!

I think that is the best strategy.

[morningfog]

23. If the winner of the pledged delegates is not the nominee, we lose

.....for a decade.

[rock]

29. I believe you are right, kentuck

The super delegates will normally go along with their state, but they are not required to. The penalty for not going along is political. Presumably they will have good reason for a contrary vote; one that the voters will buy. I don't see it for Bernie. "I can't beat Hillary, but I can beat Trump" just is not good enough.

[libdem4life]

36. They'd rather a candidate with 175 FBI agents digging into her shady past. n/t

[JI7]

6. if he wins pledged delegates they will

[lumberjack_jeff]

8. I expect my Washington State elected officials to do exactly that.

It is a condition of my future support.

[NWCorona]

33. Maria Cantwell and Jay Inslee aren't stupid.

Washington was a landslide.

[lumberjack_jeff]

35. I hope they're less stupid than Hillary supporters want them to be. n/t

[kentuck]

14. Bernie is holding the upper hand here, if he chooses to use it.

He can challenge the Democratic Party to split the "super delegates" proportionally by the vote and more fairly or he may re-consider as a Third Party candidate? What would be the Democratic Party response?

[Sheepshank]

16. He's attempting to paint a narrative

One, that his campaign is still viable
Two, that his momentum is just surging, avoiding that it's just ending
Three, he just needs continued support.

Why is he doing this? IMHO there are a lot of $27 donations still needed to pay wages to Jane and the rest of his family he has employed as part of the campaign. So long as his constituency feels he can win, they continue to donate.

[rateyes]

18. What a disgusting post!

[kentuck]

22. Bernie is only asking that the votes be counted fairly.

If he loses fair and square, he has no beef with the Party and will proudly endorse the candidate of the Democratic Party, in my opinion.

[Sheepshank]

24. SuperDelegates are not there to represent the voters.

Last edited Sun Mar 27, 2016, 08:18 PM - Edit history (2)

The voters are actually only participating in a poll. The SD represent th desires of the DNC. They make the rules, they decide who will represent the party.

If Bernie wants to change DNC rules, after insulting the party for years, joining at the last moment to take advantage of the party election process, participating in debates, and then attempting to change the rules mid way through the polling cycle...he Can't. It's very clear he is continuing a pattern of false narrative that his followers don't even bother to research.

[kentuck]

30. But their votes are needed.

Are they not??

[KingFlorez]

17. Momentum means nothing without a pledged delegate lead

If he actually thought he would go into the convention with a pledged delegate lead he would not even be talking about super delegates.

[restorefreedom]

19. seems to me that he is referring to the nondemocratic scenario

in which he comes in with more delegstes but the supers stick with clinton. in that case, the supers would need to reconsider fracturing the party and assuring major losses.

[jeepers]

25. The thought of Hillary or Donald in the WH

convinces me that Bernie has to go to the GE. As an Independent or as a Green against Trump and Hillary I think he will own independents and draw both dems and repubs to his side I think he can win, not just split the party. Besides which Hillary could be indicted or the Donald could go supernova.

[0rganism]

28. what you describe is actually the beginning of a worst-case scenario for Democrats

that results in a president Trump or a president Cruz in what is shaping up to be a Democratic wave election.

SBS has said from the start that he will not "go Nader" if he loses the Democratic primary.

whatever your thoughts about the problems a HRC presidency may bring, it's patently obvious to me that the Republican alternatives are worse -- and not just by a little. SBS also recognizes this.

[still_one]

26. The super delegates will go with whoever has the most pledged delegates period

[jwirr]

37. They all had better remember that the future of the party

lays in their hands. One wrong move and the party is over. Anyone who has been to a caucus or a convention this year already knows this. Unfortunately the SD do not attend the grassroots sessions.

I plan on writing all of my SD people and telling them why I think it is important to vote for Bernie.