At this point the Dems need to cut their losses with Bernie

[Txbluedog]

It is evident that he's not willing to endorse or support Hillary or the Dems unless he gets to play victor even after losing the primary. The DNC just needs to cut him out and ignore him, any of his die hard supporters who were not supporting Hillary in the GE are not going to support her no matter what. It is obvious that Bernie will find a way to bitch and moan even after the convention is over--so let's not give him a DNC platform to do it. The press will start ignoring him once we get more into GE mode and he'll eventually just be giving interviews to fringe media only.

[HumanityExperiment]

1. good thing tomorrow these types of posts will be disallowed

n/t

[azurnoir]

5. as long as Bernie does not concede or endorse Clinton he will be considered the opposition

much like Trump and as such IMO these types of posts will be acceptable-it is the rebuttals that will not be

[Hortensis]

10. Well, no... Bernie is a Democratic candidate with

a substantial following among Democrats, including many who intend to vote for Hillary. His support is something we can do without but really, really don't want to, and offending our own electorate by failing to treat him, and thus ourselves, with appropriate courtesy and respect is out of the question.

Losing to the Republicans is not an option.

I wish people would just stop with the silly nonsense that the bigger dick gets to piss all over the other.

[azurnoir]

12. I've read here in fact that his followers aren't really Democrats at all

and he is no longer actually considered a candidate as Obama endorsed Hillary a week ago

[Hortensis]

14. Azurnoir, I've also a number of times pointed out

that many of his followers are conservatives who never had any intention of voting for him in November and that others are hostile anti-Democrat left-wingers. (As we SOOO see here on DU.) Although some of both groups are registered Democrats, many are not and came in to vote with malicious intent via open primaries.

What is not pointed out nearly often enough by the media, or others, though, is that the solid core of Bernie's voter support comes from mainstream liberal Democrats, as well as sensible, balanced people from farther left. We, ourselves, us, in fact.

Remember when 80% of all those who voted for Bernie way back in the Iowa primary told exit pollers that they were liked Hillary too and were happy to have her as their second choice? Well, today Hillary has become the choice of these solid, sensible Democrats, but that certainly doesn't mean it's now okay to spit on their first choice. Quite the contrary, and people trying to guess how the party is going to deal with him should consider that.

[BobbyDrake]

17. Remember when 80% of Bernie supporters repudiated their worst elements? I don't.

You were fine with the tomato-throwers hiding in your ranks, but now you're offended at the response they provoked? Shameless.

[bravenak]

60. Thank you

[Demsrule86]

31. I think Bernie has behaved really badly...I can't even stand looking at the Avatars

I can't stand him... How do you not at least concede? He lost...dreadful.

[azurnoir]

35. interesting reply-love and kindness eh?

[niyad]

23. no, skinner has posted that ge postponed until 20th. five more days. ..

[HumanityExperiment]

24. so?

my post preceded that post, I'm sure many HRC supporters are giddy over being able to post as they have today until that new date...

[emulatorloo]

58. deleted as saw yr updated post

[tonyt53]

2. I think the DNC and Hillary are letting Bernie drown himself in self pity.

We will see less and less of Bernie. At this point, he will be lucky to have a seat at the back of the room in Philly.

[Demsrule86]

32. Bernie is the opposition

And stories about him will not be posted in the election forum...post in the lounge...that would make sense.

[CorkySt.Clair]

11. Which is why he shouldn't be speaking at the convention.

[totodeinhere]

43. Bernie won more than 20 states and got millions of votes. Yet you don't even want him to speak at

the convention? Most Democrats want Bernie to have a big role at the convention. He earned it.

75% of Democrats Want ‘Major’ Role for Bernie Sanders

http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/342521/75-of-democrats-want-major-role-for-bernie-sanders/

If Bernie is not allowed a role at the convention that will make it much harder to get Sanders supporters on board to support Clinton. Not wanting him to speak at the convention doesn't make any sense.

[CorkySt.Clair]

51. Oh I'm sure they will buckle and allow him to speak

But the refusal to bow out should disqualify him. And at this point, it is a refusal.

[KingFlorez]

4. Agreed

It really comes down to him not wanting to admit that he lost.

[Orsino]

6. He promised to campaign all the way to Philly, and then to wotk to elect the nominee.

He did so repeatedly and without stuttering. Why feign surprise?

[Demsrule86]

33. Sorry not good enough

He has done no good, and I don't believe him. Cut our losses now...out he goes after the first vote. No speech and no platform. He can't deliver his voters anyway.

[totodeinhere]

44. He has done no good? That's ridiculous. He has done plenty of good.

He has pushed the party and Clinton to the left and that's a good thing. He has energized millions of voters and that's a good thing.

[athena]

7. I agree

and I think that what you suggest is precisely what is going to happen.

[flamingdem]

13. Did he say he won't endorse Hillary?

If not this is a divisive post. I fully expect him to endorse her at the convention.

[Txbluedog]

15. His endorsement means very little at that point

[Demsrule86]

34. Convention is too late

That is over a month away. I don't think he will anyway. He needs to go after the first vote if he as not conceded.

[blackspade]

56. Too late in what way?

The election is November....

[BobbyDrake]

16. Agreed. He grows more divorced from reality by the hour. nt

[jamese777]

18. He's earned it

Anyone who can get 12.6 million votes in the primaries and win 23 contests has earned the right to be a major factor.
Hillary Clinton and the DNC have already acknowledged that fact by giving Sanders nearly half the Platform Committee seats and I fully expect Senator Sanders to speak at the convention.
That being said, overall, Bernie got his ass royally kicked. Hillary beat him by 13 points (56% to 43%). She got 16.5 million votes to his 12.6 million. She won 34 contests to his 23. She has 387 more pledged delegates and 295 more Superdelegates who say they will vote for her.
I have no problem with Bernie symbolically "taking it to the convention" but at the convention he will be the person who finished second, by a lot.

[Demsrule86]

36. This is not horseshoes...close does not matter.

Had he conceded and endorsed like a good guy would have, he could have done much...including have a great speech and some say over the platform...but not if he does not concede in the next couple of days. He has behaved badly towards the first woman presidential nominee, and I for one will never get over it. I want nothing to do with his so-called retread revolution...takes the ideas of others and pretends the ideas are his... I can't stand the guy.

[totodeinhere]

45. +1

[workinclasszero]

21. Bernie going to go to the convention and declare victory

in front of his pre-riot true believers outside of the convention center.

What happens after that I don't know but helping Hillary or the party in general is the last thing on his mind I have no doubt.

[SirBrockington]

30. Stipulation

The party should stipulate that if he wants to speak at the Democratic Convention that he concede and endorse the Democratic nominee ahead of the convention. Its a free country and he can do what he wants, but IMO if wanting to speak at the Dem convention, then concede and/or endorse. I dont know if one can have it both ways.

[Demsrule86]

37. He can't and the window is closing too.

At some point, it won't matter. I don't think he will keep his word or deliver his followers to the polls...heck he could not get them there for his primary.

[SirBrockington]

52. Or, from what I read, those he endorsed.

It does not seem he has long coattails.

[Adrahil]

22. He's lost. But he still has influence....

... at least for a short time. But soon, his relevance will fade as the vast majority write him off as a crank if he refuses to acknowledge her victory and support her candidacy.

[Doctor_J]

25. Losses?

Millions of people who would not have voted, DID vote, because of Bernie's campaign. Posts like yours are the reason I won't be voting straight ticket any more

[Demsrule86]

38. I don't give a damn about Bernie

He lost and needs to concede...that is it.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

26. Durn Reds, Hippies, troublemakers, freethinkers, just won't give up.

[Demsrule86]

40. Give up what?

There is no path forward for Bernie. He should have conceded...becoming a late night joke. He needs to concede and endorse. Let him have his 'gathering' in Philadelphia stroke his ego a bit get more money out of his supporters...whatever. But if he does no concede...one vote and out he goes...bye bye Bernie.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

50. Isn't Hillary going to be in Philly stroking her ego and getting more money?

Are you going to donate to her campaign or leave it to her capitalist pals?

[peace13]

27. At this moment he is not costing the Dems a thing.

Trump is tanking and Hill is in the clear. It's not like he's making her look bad.

[Autumn]

28. Okay by me. As long as they reuse to count any vote by him on ANY legislation they need passed

in the Senate.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

39. What's with all the low count posters encouraging the Dems to cut their own throat? Hmmm.

Throw Bernie out of any committee assignments!....... durrrrrr.

[Demsrule86]

41. And rescind that Fox groupie foul mouthed Obama hating West's invitiation too. nt

[Autumn]

47. You may not like Dr. West but some of us do.nt

[Autumn]

48. What's even more interesting are the old timers that have stopped posting.

[Demsrule86]

42. Well maybe if he refuses to do his job...his actual constiuents will have something to say about

that ...perhaps a primary or a Senatorial investigation is in Bernie's future.

[Demsrule86]

29. I completely agree

Bernie should be basically shunned...no speech ...nada.

[Gothmog]

46. Sanders is overplaying his hand and may be surprised when he is told that is asking for too much

I am less willing to grant Sanders major changes to the platform now without some active support of the Clinton ticket.

To a large degree, Clinton has the option of ignoring Sanders by putting Senator Warren on the ticket which should be sufficient to get the reasonable Sanders supporters.

The Texas State Democratic Convention starts of Friday and the Sanders delegates first tried to run slates of candidate for the committee slots until they figured out that with only one-third of the delegates that this will not work. Now the Sanders people are planning to circulate petitions to do an end around the rules and I doubt that they will get many signatures from Clinton delegates

I understand that there is a video call on Thursday that the Sanders delegation will be watching. It will be interesting to see what happens.

[asuhornets]

49. Agreed. He knows it over. He's acting as if he won....n/t

[SirBrockington]

54. Like Cruz and Rubio did for awhile

But eventually even they conceded. Bush conceded months ago and was the establishment pick with 100 million. For what its worth, Trump did overcome some really long odds with the deck stacked against him.

[asuhornets]

57. You are defending Trump...

[SirBrockington]

53. DWS

Should have used the specter of giving Bernie 5 people to choose to include on the platform committee as a concession, after he endorsed instead of before. It seems like the more they give Bernie, the more concessions he wants. The lack of long-term thinking from DWS and the DNC under her is astounding. So many Senate and House seats lost under her watch. Bring back Howard Dean

[blackspade]

55. So you're declaring that the 40+% of the Democratic electorate can fuck off?

Some of you folks are off the rails or are Trump/RW plants.

[emulatorloo]

59. I really dislike this post as it appears to devalue the issues Sanders raised. And Sanders primary

voters as well.

Additionally I beleive Sanders will endorse because he said he would several times during primary