This is not about the "beauty contest." I wish people would get that through their heads.

[Armstead]

Yeah we supporters think Bernie is great as a person. And yeah, we don't like Clinton. But more important is what each candidate represents.

Bernie Sanders did not come along in a vacuum and become a Pied Piper to millions of deluded followers.

This is Primal. The Berniebros ARE angry. And there is good reason.

This has been more than a campaign. It is a movement.

He is channeling and resonating with a massive discontent, anger frustration with the status quo, and what the elites and Big Bidness have done to America. And how Democratic Party has gone AWOL -- either from cowardice or corruption or some combination of the two....This has been building for decades among older people -- and for young people it reflects their response to the shitty conditions of the era they were born into.

But his campaign also represents HOPE. Not just for "free stuff." It is an optimistic belief that we can -- as a nation -- restore moral values, public ethics and compassion in out system. And thus come together to collectively build a better life for everyone.

And it extends beyond the hardcore Bernie supporters.The same instinct encompasses all the people who have said "I really love Bernie and agree with everything he stands for. But I have to be realistic and vote for Clinton. Sigh."

Well let me state this as plainly as I can. Obviously this is IMO.

If the Democratic Party continues the swing to the right that her candidacy has brought out -- and it HAS been a defensive swing to the right -- then don't blame us if the GOP gets its own shit together and continues to clean the clock of the Democrats.

And if Clinton wins -- well there's the whole question of whether she will be able to actually govern. Beyond the inevitable GOP gridlock, she will not be able to rally public support -- nor will the Democratic Party, as a whole.

It's happy, happy time for Clinton supporters tonight.

But if you continue to ignore and dismiss and distort what Sanders represents -- and who he represents -- you do so at the peril of the future of the Democratic Party....and America.

(Hopefully I won't regret typing this tomorrow.)

[nadinbrzezinski]

1. My friend, the democratic party that you remember is dead

it is time for democrats of the FDR coalition to come to terms with that reality. That started decades ago.

[Armstead]

3. It's been terminally ill since the Clintons came into office and the DLC took over

I have known that for years.

Have to absorb the rest later. Too depressed and angry tonight.

[Adrahil]

7. Well, it's true that Democrats no longer...

Advocate interment of Japanese Americans, or deporting American citizens of Mexican origin...

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. Ah how predictable...

If you are trying to get my goat, forget about it. I know what the democrats of today are...

Someday you might even get it.

[Adrahil]

16. I'm pointing out that this bizarre story you're spinning is BS.

This golden past that never existed. The Democratic party has always had its warts.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. This bizarre story is called a party realignment

this is the 6th one in United States History. It is well known in both historical and political science theory. So you can attempt a personal attack somewhere else, and show a lack of academic knowledge while at it.



I am actually enjoying this. If you think that coalition still exists oooh boy you might be in for quite a hellish wake up call.

[Rex]

13. And yet HRC is not the Wall Street-3rd Wayer playgirl everyone is making her out to be.

A lot of hyper partisan bullshit going on right now. Some need to learn coping skills, this is embarrassing. Some also need to learn not to gloat so much, that is embarrassing too.

We got a choice and once that choice is settled, we got to face the two-headed demon and defeat him. Do I want a certain person to win, yeah I do...am I so stupid as to sit at home if they lose...hell no only a loser sits at home and pouts as the two-headed demon laughs in victory.

[nadinbrzezinski]

19. If she wins the presidency you'll see

[Rex]

23. I have a completely different view on what HRC is going to do in office.

Quite a bit different POV then the standard model.

However if Bernie wins...I will be popping the cork along with you. It is win-win to me. Again, I diverge from the standard model of thought over HRC.

Always have.

[nadinbrzezinski]

25. You do, becuase I don't expect either to be able to do anything

beyond futzing around the edges, I made my peace a while ago. We cover politics, but trust me, we are the most cynical people about the whole process you will ever meet. In fact, I lost complete trust that anything will be done a long time ago. I vote to remain in practice, and nothing more

I have not fallen in love with any pol since 2008. That was the last time I believed any politician.

[Rex]

27. Well I grew up watching Reagan destroy the country and our society.

At some levels we are on equal terms as cynical. My grandmother was a Texas delegate when Ann Richards was in office. She would hop up out of her grave and beat me with a tree branch (they just called them switches in the day) if I didn't vote!

[nadinbrzezinski]

28. I got here in 1984 so I know what you speak off

as to voting, I went with my mom to the polls in Mexico City as a kid. So I vote. (And yes, that is a predictor of the behavior in adulthood, kids seeing parents do it), But I also grew up in a society where MORE people vote, and still vote more than Americans. So it is a learned behavior.

Just not one I believe will change an iota. As my mom often says... "they promise the world, but never deliver a thing." Yes, she still votes.

[Robbins]

26. sorry

Clinton would be disaster.it probally won't get that far.the republicans will win.

and for some of us clintons are almost as bad as republicans.

as disabled american on social safety net i am screwed regardless who wins.

[Rex]

31. This ain't even close to being over, don't let the hardcore HRC supporters get you down.

I was kinda shocked they are calling for a purge this early, we still have California to go.

[GoneFishin]

30. You don't get it.

[Rex]

32. True I 'didn't get it' until I stopped listening to people on this site telling me how to think.

Can you say the same thing?

[JackInGreen]

2. I'm sorry, I've got nothing left to lose

And they offer me stale bread and a que to kiss her ass and be thankful for the privilage (duel checked, of course)

I'll burn it down first.

[msongs]

4. free stuff. to people who can't be bothered to learn election procedure then complain that they are

being cheated and defrauded

[nadinbrzezinski]

9. When yuo got nothing else to lose

and these are pretend elections starting in 2000 are not going to get us as a nation anywhere and might cost us the planet, nothing much, just extinction... that attitude about the US pretend democracy I took in 2010. You might get it someday.

[polichick]

6. Clinton voters won't get it, but it's true...

This is about Occupy, BLM, even the much delayed continuation of what began in the 60s and 70s - it's not going away. Many, many citizens have awakened and will not vote for more corporatist corruption.

"There's something happening here..."

k&r

[Armstead]

12. It's bigger and broader than that

That's the Big Mistake, assuming it is limited to one coener of the spectrum. .....This is about a widespread discontent that spans all distinctions between moderate and "left"

Most people know something is wrong. They know it in their gut. Even people who are fatalistically voting for Clinton.

How they react and respond differs, but it is not something isolated to one corner of the spectrum.

[polichick]

18. What began back then was about everyone - that's why it was so dangerous to the ptb...

The people have to stop allowing them to divide us into "dirty hippies" and "teabaggers" etc.

[Armstead]

20. I frankly am baffled why we put up with this shit collectively

But it's baffled me for 35 years.

[polichick]

24. Most people will only ever be followers - it's easy to keep them in line...

using divide-and-conquer tactics.

[nadinbrzezinski]

21. It is also quite global to be honest.

This needs Kennedy's quote from his inaugural. For the record, he would not be elected these days for the democratic party either...

"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."

[polichick]

22. Great quote - it's definitely global!

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. The Democratic Party as it is now

is pretty much the Republican Party as it was under Richard Nixon.

And it's about as honest.

I've read some commentaries by disillusioned Republicans who complain that the GOP has left them. Well, the Democratic Party has left me. There will be a major reconfiguration of the parties before long. I don't know how it will all come out, but sure as shit this isn't the Democratic Party of FDR or even JFK.

[Squinch]

10. But now he has lost. So you are going to have to figure out how to work WITH the Democratic

candidate to get the things you want, rather than trying to bury her.

And for fuck's sake, quit with the damn threats. They are stupid.

[Armstead]

14. Not threats. Apathy will scuttle you more than anything

[Squinch]

38. Hillary's supporters are not apathetic. They really, really love to vote. And most of

Sanders's supporters are smart enough to realize that they need to help make sure Donald Trump is not elected. And there are a number of recent polls that show a good chunk of Republicans who are ALSO smart enough to realize that they need to help make sure Donald Trump is not elected. I really don't have any fears of anything scuttling us.

Yes, there is a small percentage of Sanders supporters who will never vote for Hillary. They seem to be the ones who are making stupid demands and threats. They do not seem to realize that they have made themselves irrelevant, and that irrelevant people are irrelevant.

[polichick]

15. No thanks - the lesser of evils is still evil. Done with that.

[Squinch]

36. OK. So by your own admission, you have chosen to make yourself irrelevant. So see 'ya.

The rest of us don't have time for this bullshit.

[GoneFishin]

29. Good luck selling that pile of horseshit.

[davidn3600]

34. Fuck no! It's the party that is going to have to figure out how to work with us

I aint making any fucking compromises. No way.

If the Democratic party wants my vote....THEY need to make the concessions. It's my vote and I have full control over it.

[Squinch]

35. You have chosen to make yourself irrelevant, so move along. The grownups have work to do.

And do hold your breath for those concessions.

[NurseJackie]

37. So you want validation and to feel like you have control over a situation you can't control ...

... okay, got it.

NEXT!

[pat_k]

33. "But his campaign also represents HOPE"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511507143