OUCH.

Makes it painfully clear, he's hellbent on being more of a Divider than a Uniter. By choice. And still in it for himself - this actually provides proof. Thanks for bringing that up, NuclearDem. That hadn't occurred to me.

It's a damn shame.

Now, I see some of the MSNBCers actually verbalizing the idea of a slow loss of leverage for Bernie if he keeps up like this. That's some mighty bad news for Bernie & Company as THAT particular framing starts to spread. On the air, too - OUCH! Perhaps it's for the better in the long run, though - to let him assist his own fade-out? Will it be "Let Bernie Be Bernie" so he winds up raining on his own parade?

Okay, I'm sorry but this makes me think back to "somebody wee'd on the wick".

It came from the legendary NBC correspondent and science/space nut Roy Neal. He'd long been my hero, and I had the great honor of working with him when I was at NBC Radio. He told this story about his early days covering an atomic bomb test out in the no man's land of the Southwest. He was live on the "Today" show, by phone, for the on-scene coverage.

BIG moment. HIGH drama! They'd been leading up to this momentous event for weeks.

And The Button Was Pressed. And - - - - - Nothing. Some error caused the failure of the launch. In his ear, from the control room, Roy Neal heard somebody quip "somebody wee'd on the wick." And Roy Neal was promptly DESTROYED. He fell apart, laughing. He just full-on collapsed. Could NOT compose himself to go on the air and report that the firing had failed. He was helpless, unable to speak or otherwise communicate because he was laughing hysterically. Helplessly!

HOWEVER... the folks back in New York at the "Today" show had no way to know that. There was no visual hook-up to see that the launch had failed. All they had was Roy Neal's voice report - which did not exist because he was on the floor, unable to regain his composure because he was still laughing too hard. They started growing seriously concerned because, for all they knew, the launch HAD occurred, the bomb HAD detonated, and for all they knew, Roy Neal and the whole media compound had been completely wiped out! Nothing but dead air! It was only after he'd managed to pull himself together and struggle back onto the mic and report on the test failure that America realized the flaccid release that had happened.

Looks like Bernie's wee'ing on his own wick.

That bothered me, too, uponit7771.

Not only that there was no endorsement, but he barely mentioned her, except to say he'd had a meeting with her and that they disagreed on some things but agreed on other things. Period. That was IT. No acknowledgement that she won, no even begrudging congratulations, which would have added a really classy note to his speech. There was no conciliatory reach-out to those of us in the Hillary camp who also worked hard and volunteered and donated and voted (because if he REALLY wants a political revolution that moves the massive numbers of voters needed to force meaningful change, he is going to need us Hillary people whether he wants to admit that or not). And yes I realize it was billed as a speech specifically to his supporters, which also meant it was not inclusive nor was it intended to be.

Bernie Sanders could be the ultimate leader in unifying our party behind the REAL goal ahead - which is keeping the White House in Democratic hands. But he doesn't seem interested in that. Fact is, we DO have to unite. But I didn't feel as though he was speaking to someone like me, at all. And forgive me, but his speech tonight did sound an awful lot like all his other speeches throughout the campaign, with the familiar litany of complaints about everything gone wrong.

The problem, objectively as of now, is that the clock is ticking on the amount of leverage he can wield as a Senator, and as leader of this political revolution he still envisions. The longer he holds out, the more it will begin to reinforce what Barney Frank warned awhile back - that Bernie isn't a team player. The longer he holds out, the more he risks looking like he's simply in denial at best, or a sore loser at worst. The longer he holds out, the greater likelihood that he'll start building a reputation for poor-sportsmanship. That will squander whatever clout he's earned in all this time, and frustrate whatever changes he wants to see implemented. It shouldn't be his fate to wind up looking like a fool, but I'm afraid that's where he seems bent on heading. He's spent a LOT of years in politics and public service. This shouldn't be how his career ends.

What bothered me most was the follow-up report featuring the small gathering of Bernie supporters for a watch party in a diner here in L.A. Two young women were interviewed. They both in all seriousness told the reporter they were still holding out hope that Bernie would be the nominee. I don't think it's right to keep supporters' hopes up like that, when the door is closed, Hillary has steadily gained in important endorsements including those from some of Bernie's own super delegates, and there's NOT likely to be any indictment or other intervention to take her out of action. Hell, the FBI hasn't even called to talk to her in all this time. You'd think if there was something afoot in that department, that there's been enough investigation time to have them swarming her by now.

I was hoping for better from him. Perhaps we'll see that part of him in a few more days?

Welcome to DU, Zippyzagnut.

This IS INDEED what will help - when the business community votes with its collective feet. We just need a lot more of it. Because sam brownback is such a zealot that nothing short of his being ridden out of town on a rail will convince him he's not doing the "right" thing.

NOW we're talkin'!

This is more like it. Put those beasts on the defensive. Start calling them what they are. They're nothing less than apologists for and enablers of terrorists on our shores.

May that baby bring you all new hope and tons of love, Siwsan.

Crying all over again.

Thank you for posting this, kpete.

GREAT one!

I like that.

Isn't it amazing how our animals touch us?

I'm a complete mess when we lose one. You think - yeah, yeah, yeah, it's just a cat, or it's just a dog, or it's just a bird, or it's just a horse... But never mind that! It's something you LOVE (and that loves you back).

Amen!

It's a worthy question. Especially since he's still a sitting Senator.

It might be gratifying - and unifying - to see him stand up and join in on this. It would be a most welcome gesture of unity and reconciliation with his fellow Dems (after all, he did finally join last year, didn't he?). Seems to me that ought to be a top priority of his, as of now. It would also be a way he could reach out to those of us who balked at supporting him because of his earlier preference for protecting gun manufacturers and dealers, particularly when, to some of us, it feels like he's demanding that WE reach out to him. I've gotta admit, his stand on that issue bothered me, big-time.

He could singlehandedly do a LOT to bring us all back together.