Done being pissed off. On to the General and stopping TRUMP. It's Hillary!

[Triana]

On with it now, behind Hillary. She'll get my vote in November, considering the alternative is just a nightmare.

I am happy however, that I left the so-called "Democratic Party" back in 2001 and haven't sent them much $ since. They've pissed off a LOT of people with their penchant for corporate tools - well the DNC ARE corporate tools. Good luck to them with that. Soon, more voters will be 'independent' or 'unaffiliated' than are registered Dem or Repub. Suffice to say it's going to be a problem and The Democrats just ensured that it will be a considerably more difficult problem for themselves.

Now, as for Sanders staying in the race. Why is he doing that? Is he insane?

No. He's not insane. Here's the thing:

Those delegates he collects are VERY important even if he doesn't win the nomination. Here's why:

The more delegates he gets - pledged or otherwise, even if he didn't get the nomination, the more influence he can have at and after the convention and in Hillary's admin. The more delegates he has the more power he has to influence Dems/ the Clinton Admin in a more progressive direction both during the primaries and at the convention and most importantly - afterwards.

He can and should ask for concessions and influential committee and other positions during these primaries, the general, and in Clinton's administration. He and his followers can potentially have a lot of influence.

Hillary won. If she and the stinking sore that is the DNC have any common sense (doubtful) they'll offer Sanders concessions that give him influence in this process and in her administration going forward. This is in fact VITAL in helping Sanders supporters to feel that they are HEARD and INCLUDED in a Hillary vs Trump election and in the Clinton II Administration.

EDIT to add this, which explains Sanders potential for influence going forward better than me:

Sanders plants seeds for a lasting U.S. progressive movement" by John Whitesides

Bernie Sanders' upstart U.S. presidential campaign may be headed to defeat, but his goals of reining in Wall Street, ending big money in politics and eradicating income inequality were the big winners in the bruising Democratic race.

Sanders, who started as a little-known long-shot, pushed the party and established front-runner Hillary Clinton sharply to the left during a long primary battle. Along the way, the 74-year-old U.S. senator from Vermont energized young and progressive voters and prepared the ground for what his allies predict will be a lasting influence on the party.

Clinton, one of the best-known political figures in the United States, clinched the Democratic Party's nomination in a last round of state nominating contests on Tuesday. But even before her victory, Sanders began taking steps to turn his newfound political influence into an enduring progressive movement.

In the last few weeks, he has lent his influence and fundraising power to progressive congressional and state legislative candidates who share his agenda, urging his supporters around the country to donate to their campaigns.

Sanders also appointed prominent activists to the panel writing the issues platform for the party's convention in July, ensuring a strong voice in the process.

His convention delegates will push for changes to party primary rules, including letting independents vote in primaries and reducing the influence of superdelegates, the hundreds of party elites who can support any candidate regardless of voting in their constituencies, and who in this primary season have largely backed Clinton.

"I do think we are going to see real changes in the Democratic Party going forward because of Bernie. The future of the party is with the people supporting Sanders," said Charles Chamberlain, executive director of Democracy for America, a liberal Vermont-based group that rose from Howard Dean's failed 2004 presidential bid and endorsed Sanders this time.

"He has proven the power of this message," Chamberlain said.

During the campaign, Sanders forced Clinton to tack left repeatedly on issues ranging from her support for a higher minimum wage to her opposition to the Asian trade pact and Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Sanders' progressive allies said those shifts by Clinton will be helpful in the Nov. 8 election against presumptive Republican nominee Donald Trump, who has touted an anti-trade and pro-jobs economic agenda, and for Democrats in their efforts to recapture a majority in the U.S. Senate.

"When the story of the 2016 election is told, a major part of it will be that Bernie Sanders helped the Democratic Party turn up the volume on economic populism issues," said Adam Green, co-founder of the liberal Progressive Change Campaign Committee.

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-sanders-idUSKCN0YU10R

[metroins]

1. That's not true

Bernie does not have much leverage at all.

His only leverage is his donor list/supporter list and it's primarily for helping downticket Democrats.

The delegates he amassed isn't a thing and he can't force or change anything because of them. The DNC is being nice because party unity would be helpful, but we really just need downticket support.

Fact of the matter, most Bernie supporters will vote Hillary over Trump. If Bernie is too bullheaded to help downticket Democrats, he won't get anything, no matter how many delegates he has.

[Triana]

3. "too bullheaded to help downticket Democrats"

I've received NUMEROUS fundraising emails from the Sanders campaign that read like this:

You ask anyone running for office what they hate most about it, and I guarantee that virtually every single candidate will say that it's raising money.

The way that you have helped me run for president is absolutely unprecedented. I get to talk to voters, while my opponent has to talk to donors.

The candidates we're endorsing for other races are seeing similar results. We funded state legislative candidates' entire campaigns through one email. We completely transformed several congressional races because of your generosity.

That's why today I'm endorsing 2 new progressives – Eric Kingson in New York, and Paul Clements in Michigan – and asking you to again support Lucy Flores, Zephyr Teachout, Pramila Jayapal, and Tim Canova in their races for Congress.

Split a contribution between our campaign and these six progressives we need in Congress. Your support can change their races overnight and help elect progressives across the country.

What's he doing here?

Helping downticket Democrats.

[metroins]

7. No.

He's trying to primary safe Democrat seats. That isn't helpful.

Find another email.

The only leverage Bernie has is his donors list for the November election of downticket Democrats against Republicans.

His delegates are useless now.

[Triana]

9. He's trying to get real progressives elected to office.

Damn him, eh?

[metroins]

10. Yes, damn him.

Your words.

[still_one]

2. It is tough I know. Clinton cannot wait until the convention, she has to go on the offensive

against trump now, and not let him get a foothold into anything, because that is exactly what he is going to try to do.

That is the mistake the Kerry campaign did, they waited too long, and the swift boaters got too much traction, and it became too little, too late.

President Obama absolutely learned from Kerry's experience, and Hillary will need to do the same

[Triana]

4. She's got Obama and Bill helping her. . .

. . . hopefully she'll come out swinging and not stop until she's sworn in.

[still_one]

5. She has to

[VulgarPoet]

6. Ha.

"When the story of the 2016 election is told, a major part of it will be that Bernie Sanders helped the Democratic Party turn up the volume on economic populism issues," said Adam Green, co-founder of the liberal Progressive Change Campaign Committee.

Don't I wish that were the case, but I know so much better than that.

[Triana]

8. I think it's true. Without Sanders harping on economic and social inequality - it wouldn't have been

discussed during the campaign at all.

Let's face it - the middle class and poor in this country are literally invisible to most of the people in power and have zero influence on policies they make. We only matter when they want our votes.

To Sanders, we matter all the time. His voice was important.

[Happyhippychick]

11. You are really

Gracious and classy

[azurnoir]

12. on part2 of your op

from a historical perspective Santa Claus really existed too, but he's not considered part of reality now

[WhiteTara]

13. Thanks for your position on this election.

We (the entire planet) need to be strong against Trump and all that he represents.

[seabeyond]

14. I am glad you are on board and done with being pissed. I also respect that you are done with the

Democratic and still will go out and vote. I respect that, knowing how much you wanted Sanders.