Debbie Wasserman Schultz...

[DianeK]

Should fall down on her knees and thank God that Bernie did not decide to run as an independent..that would have assured a Clinton loss! DWS has to go...

[bkkyosemite]

1. Well if she wins the primary maybe

he can run as an Independent

[HooptieWagon]

2. No, he has said he wouldn't if allowed to run in Dem primaries.

His word is good. Also, the filing deadlines for many states wouldn't allow him to file to run in GE as a third party. DNC is fortunate he's not running as third party, Hillary would lose badly.

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. He definitely did DWS a favor and now we get to see just how thankful she isn't.

I can't believe I use to like that woman.

[onehandle]

4. I think you mean a Democratic Party loss.

It's so sad when the 'Not Hillary' Party shows their true spots.

[DianeK]

5. no..

..actually, i meant to say a clinton loss

[BainsBane]

8. Someone running as an independent

in the general election has zero impact on the nominations of either party. You are talking about a loss in the general election, which if Hillary were the nominee would mean the Democratic party, not just the presidency but down ballot. Is your antipathy toward two women so great that you would want that to happen? A GOP President, House and Senate, state legislatures and governors-- all because you are angry that the DNC doesn't extend special favors to Sanders, who has yet to officially join the party?

You may only think about punishing Clinton and Wasserman Schultz, but your scenario would punish millions of people who would lose benefits, unemployment insurance, and quite likely healthcare. But how could any of that possibly matter compared to your anger at two women? Those millions of people aren't the chosen few who know the truth path only possible through the electoral victory of one man--not policy, not reform, but one man's career.

[DianeK]

9. your perspective is slightly skewed

.

[BainsBane]

10. Then by all means, enlighten me

Are you not talking about the general election?

[freedom fighter jh]

14. What does it mean to join a political party?

You say Sanders has yet to join the Democratic Party.

I thought it meant to register to vote as a member of that party. Bernie hasn't done that because in Vermont you just register to vote, you don't register with a party.

He serves in the Senate as an independent, because he was elected independently -- not as a member of a party.

How could Bernie join the Democratic Party? What would he have to do?

[BainsBane]

15. On the most basic level

It means there is a D next to your name rather than an I. It means you run for the Democratic nomination for Senator in your home state and run for the general election as senator as Democrat rather than an Independent.

It also means you don't say things like this:
“I am extremely proud to be an independent. The fact that I am not a Democrat gives me the freedom to speak out on the floor of the House, to vote against both the Democratic and Republican proposals.”

“Why should we work within the Democratic Party if we don’t agree with anything the Democratic Party says?”

"It would be hypocritical of me to run as a Democrat because of the things I have said about the party."

[freedom fighter jh]

18. That's a pretty tough standard for an unspoken, unwritten rule.

In the end, the political parties exist to benefit the people. To suggest that Bernie should not run for president as a Democrat because he was not elected to the Senate as a Democrat, or because he has said unkind things about the Democratic Party in the past is to erect an arbitrary barrier to the detriment of the American people.

Anyone who qualifies under the law should be allowed to run for president. If someone who qualifies and wants to run and is capable of getting a lot of votes is barred from running as a Democrat, then his only remaining options are to run as an independent or not to run at all. In either of those cases, Bernie's run would be detrimental to the nation: In the first, because left-leaning voters would be split into two groups, and in the second because (IMO) Bernie, a candidate who doesn't accept corporate funding, is more willing and able to work for the benefit of the American people than is anyone else.

[mak3cats]

6. Damn! I'm disappointed...

...your subject line made me think it was a quiz or something. I had my answers all ready:

I'll take "Soon to be has-beens" for $500, Alex!

1. Who is desperately looking for her next job in a Clinton administration?
2. Who is a closet Republican?
3. Who is the worst excuse for a chair that the DNC has ever seen?

[freedom fighter jh]

7. Zackly

I keep hearing about how Bernie is just using the Democratic Party; he's not a real Democrat; what right does he have to run as a Democrat?

Being an American-born citizen over the age of 35, he has the right to run for president. If he runs as an independent, he's giving the Republicans an advantage. If he's determined not to do that, then either he passes up his right to run or he runs as a Democrat. He's chosen the latter. Where's the problem?

[BainsBane]

11. It's the OP who has the problem

Not the DNC. They are allowing Bernie to run for the nomination. DWS isn't the one complaining 24/7 about the number of debates, about the seating arrangements, about the positioning of the candidates, about the questions not yet even asked, about the outcome of the debate that hasn't even taken place, that the DNC hasn't scheduled debates to encourage maximum Republican participation in Democratic primaries. . . . and countless other complaints.

[freedom fighter jh]

13. "They are allowing Bernie to run for the nomination."

Are they not merciful?

They are having at least some debates, and even allowing Bernie to participate in them.

Are they not merciful?

[BainsBane]

16. Mercy has nothing to do with it

[freedom fighter jh]

17. No, it should not.

Someone who is begging for mercy might worry that he complaining too much. Someone who is asking only for what is within his rights may not worry about it.

[Snotcicles]

12. Hey Hey, Ho Ho, Dubious Debbie has got to go. nt