Bernie has two ways forward if Clinton gets a majority of pledged delegates on Tuesday

[andym]

1) Try to take the campaign to the convention and convince the delegates not legally pledged to a candidate on the first round of voting to vote for him instead: the superdelegates. Reagan did this in 1976 in the GOP under somewhat similar situation (Ford had a majority of pledged delegates, but not enough to secure the nomination without legally uncommitted delegates) and almost wrested the nomination away from a sitting President at an open convention. You can be be sure that Weaver knows this. The differences are that in the current situation the Democratic superdelegates have mostly already let their preferences be known, and the recent tradition in the Democratic Party is to back the candidate with the most pledged votes. The real difference is more significant: Reagan had the advantage of ardent conservatives in position of power in the GOP that had been gained by the conservative partisans that had taken increasing power since Goldwater's defeat 12 years before. Contrastingly, the progressive wing of the Democratic Party is much weaker than its counterpart in the GOP in 1976. Many if not most of the superdelegates would be considered moderates and establishment by Sanders. It will be difficult to convince the mostly establishment superdelegates to change their minds.

2) Suspend the campaign in return for power in a potential position in the Clinton administration (or course not a legal quid pro quo). The most obvious thing to ask is that Bernie or a person he designates be made Vice President. Why? If he believes that the email server scandal will really take Clinton down, then having control of the VP position would make a strong case that Bernie or his designated person would become the nominee. If the email scandal is really much ado about nothing, and Hillary is elected then the VP can have the bully pulpit and maintain constant pressure on Hillary to be progressive. Of course, it is unclear that Hillary and her campaign would offer such a "deal."

3) Suspend the campaign and help defeat Trump without any conditions (is this really in Bernie's campaign's playbook?). So really 3 choices, but...

[TwilightZone]

1. Or he can concede gracefully and endorse Clinton, as he's indicated that he would.

He can then campaign for her and for down-ticket Democrats, because the first step to a more progressive agenda is to give the president a more amenable Congress.

This probably isn't as complicated as many would like to believe.

[Robbins]

12. campagining for clinton is betreyal

as is campagining for dems who showed they are no progressives by supporting clinton.They all fully embraced clinton's neocon neoliberal corporate agenda.

CLinton is enemy of everything bernie and his supporters support and fight for.

[TwilightZone]

15. You should probably start preparing for the inevitable.

If Sanders is true to his word, he will support Clinton in the general election.

If he wants to move the agenda to the left, he'll support down-ticket Democrats as well, even the 95% of them that you don't like. The first step to a more progressive agenda is getting a Congress that is more amenable to one.

[Robbins]

17. doesn't matter

there is no place for left agenda in democratic party.that has been proven in this primary.they want a corporate neocon agenda.
CLinton and Obama prove this.

doesn't matter what he does i won't vote for clinton.she is enemy to everything i believe in and is hostile to my self intrests.
you would have to be crazy if like me you are on social safety net to vote for ms wall street.

[SidDithers]

16. Tick tock...nt

Sid

[firebrand80]

27. Bernie wil be under the bus soon nt

[CrowCityDem]

2. He only has one option. Concede with grace. Demanding VP approval would be an insult.

[mmonk]

3. He's not looking for a cabinet position.

He decided to step forward for our cause when no one else did.

[Demsrule86]

25. I know you guys say stuff like this

But I just don't see how he did anyone but himself and the Republicans any good with his candidacy.

[randome]

4. He despises the Democratic Party. No way does he belong there.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[andym]

5. I think Bernie wants to move the Party leftwards

He may not like the current state of the party, but that doesn't mean he wants to cut bait with it.

[randome]

34. Hopefully his failure won't have the opposite effect.

If he continues bad-mouthing the Democratic nominee all through the convention, he will serve no one's purpose, not even his own since he's already lost.

After 25 years in the Senate, why didn't he prepare for this by building alliances and partners? He should have laid the groundwork more than a year earlier than he started. Clinton had a head start simply because she started way before Sanders did.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[MariaThinks]

31. we were just the ones decent enough to try and let him in

[onecaliberal]

6. Get this straight...

Bernie ran because our country desperately needed someone with a voice for the 99%. The Oligarchy has taken over everything. He is the ONLY voice that isn't owned. He is truly for the people. The corporate vultures have no idea how angry people are but they will when the pitchforks and torches come for them, and make no mistake, they will.

[tonyt53]

8. That "O" word has worn thin, It really does not apply here in the US, regardless of what Bernie says

Bernie has had years to do something, but I never heard of him until about two years ago, and I've kept up with Washington since I have been registered to vote (45 years). Bernie has always been a follower. He doesn't know how to lead.

[andym]

11. But how best to fight the oligarchy when the Party is not likely to give him the nomination?

Given that the superdelegates are mostly comfortable with the status quo and are the "establishment"?

[onecaliberal]

13. There ARE more of us than them.

We have to start local and take it back. It will take time, it might be too late for the planet already though. They did all of this while we sat back and said, but the republicans are worse. I despise the people who are using fear and hold your nose party unity bullshit. They are WHY we are in this horrendous situation. No more insanity for me.

[Robbins]

14. The party supports the oligarchy

they proved that during this primary.you can't fight oligarchy in democratic party when clintons are in pocket of them.

[apcalc]

32. Well, given that Sanders

Could have run for president any number of times previously, I wonder why he did this now...

Any thoughts?
I am thinking several things....

[MariaThinks]

33. Bernie ran for bernie. Otherwise he would never suggest the use of Superdelegates to overcome the

will of the other delegates.

For him to even suggest this shows that he argues for his own good and not on principle.

[randome]

35. People are so angry they forget to vote?

The Oligarchy has nothing to do with Clinton winning the nomination.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[Blue Meany]

7. 4) Shift his focus to electing progressives to Congress and building

an enduring organization to support progressives using the strategies that propelled his campaign.

[tonyt53]

9. Now that would be a change. So far he has helped but one person running for the Senate in Nov.

Oh, his strategies haven't worked out so well.

[andym]

10. That wouid be great

The question is how best can he remain in the limelight to accomplish this?

[Demsrule86]

24. Yeah

That is so important

[Live and Learn]

18. That is precisely what his campaign is already doing. BRAND NEW CONGRESS is the name

and great people are all ready working to attract and support candidates that believe in real progressive values.

[Orsino]

19. The only way forward for the nation is with a progressive agenda.

Getting hung up on particular candidates or delegate math is counterproductive. The only way we'll get the progressive change we need is by lobbying our nominee and new president unceasingly, because Big Money will be whispering in her/his ear 24/7.

This is the only useful definition of "forward."

[Garrett78]

28. I think local politics are key.

Hold your nose and vote for Clinton in November, but help lay the groundwork for systemic change by organizing at the local level. That's my suggestion.

[MoonRiver]

20. He really has no bargaining chips.

He needs to concede when it is clear to everybody that he has lost. If he bows out gracefully, it is very possible he will be given a position to help effect policy decisions. If not, then he becomes irrelevant. It's all in his hands.

[Agnosticsherbet]

21. (1) Take Note: That divisive struggle weakened Ford and led to his defeat in 1976.

(2) It is likely that Clinton will ask someone the left likes anyway, say Warren. That would strengthen Warren's chances.

(3) Sanders playbook appears to be to build a movement. Whatever he does, it will be aimed at strengthening the left.

[Demsrule86]

22. Bernie has no say in the VP choice.

The first woman president is not going to have conditions to her candidacy.

[BobbyDrake]

23. "The most obvious thing to ask is that Bernie or a person he designates be made Vice President."

That's a steaming pile of bullshit right there.

[bettyellen]

29. You got to love how the OP says when Bernie cuts a deal for himself...

It's not quid pro quo or back room dealing. When HE does it it's okay, but no one else of course. HA

[BobbyDrake]

36. The hypocrisy is astounding. I'm so glad I was smart enough not to fall for that con artist.

Because that's what a politician is when he claims he's an "outsider" and a "populist" and then tries to make backroom deals for his own benefit.

[floppyboo]

26. I pick door #2 Chuck

[MariaThinks]

30. i bet bernie will neve do #3