Democratic Primaries
Related: About this forumAll of the Bernie Bashing is a form of cyberbullying which has no place on this website.
Cyberbullying has lasting effects on people.
If you want to discuss facts and issues and back them up with reputable sources, fine.
Otherwise, stop the Bernie Bashing.
I HIGHLY doubt Joe Biden would approve of the vicious, nonstop posts. He would probably be ashamed if he were to drop in on the Primaries forum at DU.
https://www.bullying.co.uk/cyberbullying/effects-of-cyberbullying/
Effects of cyber bullying
Cyber bullying affects people from any age or walk of life, including children, teens and adults who all feel very distressed and alone when being bullied online.
SNIP
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
msongs
(70,178 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
zonkers
(5,865 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TwilightZone
(28,833 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(154,590 posts)Irony still exists
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TomCADem
(17,760 posts)A key feature of Bernie's campaign is to demonize the Democratic party and suggest that it is no different from the Republican party:
Link to tweet
?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1231021453270769664&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.democraticunderground.com%2F%3Fcom%3Dview_post%26forum%3D1287%26pid%3D680522
Bernie does not merely push a false equivalency, but he actively campaigns against the Democratic party as thought they were the enemy in order to elevate himself. Bernie does not merely disagree with his opponents. Instead, he has not been shy about accusing his political rivals of being corrupt or motivated by greed.
https://www.topmags.com/magazine/16700/the-week?offer=GOOGSHOP&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=16700&utm_campaign=1830424018&offer=googshop&ref=646&gclid=CjwKCAjwvOHzBRBoEiwA48i6AkTm06Zvjpk1Co2AGkAnLW2n77JdcWSmixG7EIAiMpp80QM3qeH4FxoCCAoQAvD_BwE
First, blanket condemnation of the candidates on the receiving end of unwanted endorsements from reprehensible people is unfair. In Gabbard's case, Duke explicitly indicated that the appeal he saw was her noninterventionist foreign policy, which has been central to her campaign. That appeal doesn't make Gabbard's foreign policy bad. It doesn't make her a white supremacist, because sometimes white supremacists like things that are not themselves white supremacist. (As I noted recently about a proposed executive order concerning federal building design, the fact that Nazis liked Greek columns doesn't make the columns inherently fascist.)
That said, Buttigieg's argument that "at a certain point, you got to ask yourself: Why did this pattern arise?" is fair. It may be that the answer, as with the Greek columns and Gabbard's foreign policy, is there's simply an innocent overlap for which the candidate deserves no blame.
Yet assignment of responsibility becomes increasingly justified if a more substantive connection exists, whether unknowingly or not. In Trump's case, the author of the Crusader article about Trump told The Washington Post the president's appeal was "his nationalist views and his words about shutting down the border to illegal aliens" which is to say, the racists like him for race-related reasons. Likewise, Trump's history of praising violence against reporters and offering to pay the legal fees of supporters who fight protesters at his rallies creates a substantive connection between him and violence done in his name which cannot be so easily replicated with most public figures across the political spectrum.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
diva77
(7,880 posts)or not Bernie reads DU.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
As I stated in my other post, I am one who has been pummeled for any positive statement I make about Senator Sanders.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
diva77
(7,880 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Response to Paka (Reply #11)
Post removed
Paka
(2,760 posts)When I see "My Posts" lit up I am almost afraid to check it.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
McKim
(2,412 posts)I am also tired of the cyberbullying at this site and I have begun to ponder leaving the Democratic Party because of it. This Bernie and Bernie supporter bashing is not ultimately good for the Democratic Party. We do need every vote we can get. Our very lives depend on it now!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emulatorloo
(45,569 posts)So leave du if you wish, buT there is no need to leave the Democratic Party.
Take care!
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
True Blue American
(18,166 posts)It is often wise to take a break from boards. Amazing how it helps your perspective.
I have done it many times. Just do not threaten to leave because it might be hard to come back.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
notinkansas
(1,110 posts)in that regard. There is some really ugly rhetoric in places here.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
brush
(57,601 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
n/t
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Anon-C
(3,438 posts)And it exists in the context of other social media in which it is Sander's supporters denigrating Joe Biden overwhelmingly, and that cannot be ignored.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
quakerboy
(14,137 posts)Winners can afford to be gracious. Losers have grief to work through which makes it much harder.
The hardcore ones that only have hate for Biden can be ignored. They are full of sound and fury and signify nothing. Biden is handily winning despite anything they have to say. Let them dig their own holes. Let them drive the rank and file Bernie voter away and into voting for Biden. Focus our fire on Trump. Win.
Or spend time and energy on attacking Bernie and all his supporters and drive them away and watch Trump laugh all the way to the election.
We tried path b in 2016. It didnt work. Please lets try path A. We cant afford another term of trump.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Anon-C
(3,438 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)When did everyone become so delicate and thin-skinned about politics, of all things? When did criticism of other candidates become "attacks?"
You are not the first people to have your candidate criticized and you're not the first to lose a campaign. We didn't have these "oh we need time to grieve" self-pity fests when Carter beat Ted Kennedy like a pinata in 1980, or when Gary Hart had to drop out in 1984. I supported both of those candidates who lost, worked my ass off on their campaigns, and you know what happened when they had to back out? Some of the campaign workers cried the day we had to shut down, but after that, we got over it and went to work for the guy who became the nominee without being whiny little babies about it. We didn't demand or even expect anyone to coddle us or pat us on the head and say, "There, there. You tried." Who had time for that, when there was a nominee who needed our help? So help we did. Because it wasn't about us and our precious fee-fees; it was about electing a Democrat.
What is the MATTER with all of you berners that you got so emotionally over-invested in a mere politician? What part of he's a politician--that's it!--are you incapable of understanding? You don't sound like political supporters. You sound like a cult when you talk about "grieving" the failure of your dear leader and his "revolution" to summon the masses to beat the blue meanies or however it works in your political fairy tale.
Look, it's okay to be enthusiastic about a candidate, and, yes, even unhappy that he lost. But to need to GRIEVE about the campaign not winning over enough voters, as if you just lost a loved one? Do you not get how that's a little off-kilter?Why is it necessary to GRIEVE about other people not wanting what you did--which is what an election boils down to? It's not about you or BS or his supposed ideas. It's about which group has more people saying what they want from a candidate. It has nothing to do with you, personally, so why are you taking it so personally, when you weren't even the candidate who was voted against?
Even when I was 18 years old and having to sweep out the Ted Kennedy campaign office before we turned over the keys to the realtor, I didn't need to fricking grieve over the end of his campaign. None of the older people around me did, either. TK gave it his best shot, we gave it our best shot in support of him, but we all came up short. That's all there was to it, and crying about it didn't change it.
Elections come and go, year after year, if you're a real political junkie. Or every 2 or 4 years, if you're not. Candidates and campaigns, too, come and go. Many run, but very few make it to the finish line. The chance of disappointment is always far higher than the elation of victory. That's how it's always been, and how it always will be. Nothing you do will change that. All you can do is accept however a campaign turns out, and move on.
So why did I understand all of that at 18, while so many berners much older than that don't?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Codeine
(25,586 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
mcar
(43,512 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)Wonderful stuff.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MineralMan
(147,606 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
quakerboy
(14,137 posts)When was the last time that democrats had to literally be afraid they would end up in death camps if the next election goes poorly?
When was the last time this many Americans were living so close to the edge of catastrophe. Not as a nation, as a group, but as separated individuals living so close to the razors edge of personal survival or not?
Why do people support Bernie? IF its because its a political game to them.. Sure, they will hop over to Biden nice n easy.
But if its because they genuinely believe he was the only one who could beat trump, and they either dont believe Joe can, or are worried about whether he can.. Yeah. Its scary AF for those people to let go of the hope of Bernie.
And if its because they think Bernie is the only one who will actually help them. Or their family. Or other community members they see suffering.. Yeah. Grief is reasonable at the lost of hope.
Even If Bernie dropped out and endorsed tomorrow, it would change none of that. It would be change none of that for many.
Because its NOT ABOUT BERNIE.
Its about people.
And in close.. I really dont care if you dislike people being delicate or whatever. Reality is as it is whether you like the shape of it or not. The fact is if WE want to win, WE need the votes to make it happen. Including a bunch of the folks that chose to vote for Bernie. Many of them will come over of their own accord. Others will need persuading. If we want to win the GE thats what needs to happen.
Or we can see what a second term of Trump looks like. Your choice, I guess.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)Biden is hardly a step down in supporting their dreams and hopes. Furthermore, only the immature and the naive think theres only one true candidate to save them all. There is no perfect candidate. You know why? Because anybody who wants to run for office has to have a screw loose. And the higher the office, the more screws are loose.
I mean, reallythink about it. Think about doing something where you, your family, your friends, your associates, your education, your careereverything youve ever done or said, everything about you is going to be dug through and ransacked and distorted and who knows what else while you run for office. Do you know what kind of egomaniacal and/or power-hungry fool not only does it, but also volunteers for it?
You have to be nuts to take all that on by choice. And, if youve ever worked on a campaign where you have close contact with the candidate, youd know how they are not like other people. Im not saying theyre bad people, necessarily. Only that theyre a bubble or two off plumb, as my grandfather used to say.
They are flawed human beings, just like the rest of us, who youre looking at to fill a job position, not become your pal or lover. Youre associating with them because they not only agree with you about how to exercise power (what politics is really about), but also because theyre crazy enough to take on the worlds worst job interview from hell. Youre the boss giving them the interview, and smart bosses know that its a bad idea to hire people for emotional reasons, or to get overly invested in them, emotionally. You have to maintain your objectivity, because the hiring choice youre making is so important to the future of not only yourself, but millions.
Thats why you dont become so emotionally over-invested that you dont grieve over someone not qualifying for a job. You let them go, and hire the candidate who had the better resume and interview.
One last thing: An election is not a kumbaya, peace love dope enterprise. Its a competition for power, where few will win and many will lose. If you arent prepared to loseor cant handle it when it happens, and it always happens, then you need to find another hobby. Because all politics will do is shatter you.
Maybe I can be detached and philosophical about these things because Ive been a Democrat in Texas for most of my life. Losing is something were used to down here. Thats why we dont get to the point of needing to grieve if a candidate loses. Because its a waste of time and energy. And because youd be destroyed after only two election cycles if you didnt get a thicker skin and learn how to be more objective about candidates.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dawg day
(7,947 posts)Here's how they processed their grief-- they stopped their campaign and endorsed the presumptive candidate and turned their own campaigns towards supporting him, and urged their voters to do the same.
I'm not sure what is so intensely special about Sanders and Sanders voters?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)Why the onus is not on Sanders to make overtures towards Mr. Biden, rather than demands, in order to heal a potential rift, remains unclear to me....
"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emmaverybo
(8,147 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(154,590 posts)If you disagree, provide facts to show why the comments are wrong. For example could you explain how sanders magical voter revolution works? I and others never considered sanders to be a serious candidate in the real world due to sanders complete lack of legislative accomplishments. Why pay attention to a candidate who had never been able to get his agenda adopted or even supported by his fellow democrats
As I understand, we are suppose to ignore sanders utter lack of legislative accomplishments because sanders was going to cause some sort of magical voter revolution that would get his agenda adopted. How does this magical voter revolution work in the real world?
You can defend sanders best if you are able to use facts to explain sanders accomplishments and how Sanders magical voter revolution worked
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Rilgin
(793 posts)That is what this thread is about. Your opinion that your negative opinion of Bernie and people who like him and his message is an opinion, not a fact no matter how many times you assert that it is truth. More importantly, posting every day for months on end is divisive no matter how many times you think you are just expressing your opinion.
As to voter revolution, it works the same way for every candidate including the ones you support.
How is Joe Biden going to improve the ACA if McConnell controls the Senate. You ask how Bernie is going to get what he wishes. The answer is clearly now he wont because he is not the candidate. Now how is Joe Biden going to get anything positive for us. The answer is a voter revolution that kicks the Republicans out of power in the Senate. So the answer is the same you would give.
As to the rest of your post, its pure opinion. Bernie is on the left side of our national political calculus. We have not enacted things that the left would like but his and other leftist voices push our debate, Further, as you know, since its only been pointed out to you a gazillion times, he has been very effective amending bills to improve them or remove ugly bits.
With regard to your constant attacks. Just support Joe Biden. Just Stop being divisive. We are all getting enough stress in our current life and would like to log into a Democratic Site we have looked at and posted for years and years and not see every post a bash on a candidate some of us might like.
Biden won. Take your victory and stop bashing others.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(154,590 posts)The utter lack of significant legislative accomplishments by sanders is something called a fact. Congress keeps records of which member of congress sponsored a bill and if that bill becomes law. It is a fact that sanders has no significant legislative accomplishments in the real world. Most candidates who run for POTUS have accomplishments which they use to justify their run for the most important office in the world. It is fact that sanders has no such accomplishments in the real world which is why I and a great many others never took sanders seriously and I am not alone.
In the real world, it takes hard work and getting along with people to get major legislation passed. I was not surprised with sanders admitted that he does not try to get along with his fellow members of congress and that he was not good at pleasantries
Link to tweet
I agree with the NYT description of their decision not to endorse sanders in that sanders is too inflexible and that he is not able to compromise. Compromise is key to getting legislation adopted in the real world
Link to tweet
I admit that i do not understand sanders magical voter revolution that sanders claims will enable him to get his agenda adopted. I do not believe in magic and I have seen no evidence that sanders has a magical voter revolution.
Here is on one more question
Link to tweet
As noted by the Magistrate, merely announcing a proposal is meaningless in the real world One needs votes to get a major piece of legislation adopted and sanders has not shown that he can do this in the real world
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Rilgin
(793 posts)Every single politician on this planet and every person has stuff that one could do the same thing. This is true of every politician you support. There are no saints and there are no perfectly brilliant people. All people make mistakes. Joe Biden has made political mistakes in his past. If I posted it relentlessly and claimed it was all fact and everything that defined him, you would correctly take offense. That is the problem with your opinions. Bernie is not perfect and has policies that you may not like. Feel free to not like a politician but give other people the same courtesy. I would much rather live in a world that has the principles Bernie has stood for years. You may not. What I like about him is that he does not originate compromise watered down bills although he does vote for them and does offer amendments.
That is what I like about Bernie. Notice that I have not said any specific flaw about your candidate who is soon to be our candidate. This is because I care about unity. However, what you want to do is hammer anyone who disagrees with you about Bernie into the ground by picking his imperfections while not seeing what makes him generally liked by most democrats. This is all irrelevant except that right now we are in the midst of a crisis and rather than unify with other democrats that generally are on the same side as compared to the republican mindset, you want to post out your hatred of Bernie which has no unifying elements at all.
Try it. Skip a day. Post only why you like Joe and how great he is and all that he has accomplished rather than posting why other people should not like Bernie. You might like it.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(154,590 posts)Again, I have never considered sanders to be a serious candidate because I live in the real world where accomplishments matter. sanders is ignored by his fellow Democrats because all sanders does is talk and sanders does not engage in the hard work necessary to get legislation adopted. Even Senator Warren is tired of sanders
Link to tweet
sanders is only appealing to less than 30% of the Democratic Party base and that is not sufficient for anyone to take sander seriously in the real world
Link to tweet
We saw that in Sanders refusal to broaden his message to bring in more people. When I said exactly that on Meet the Press, that the problem with Bernie Sanders is that he has the exact same message he had four years ago when he lost to Hillary Clinton 60-40, the response from the Sanders campaign was, well, this:
Link to tweet
If your message wasnt a majority message four years ago, and you want to win, wouldnt you tweak it? They didnt. Proudly and explicitly did not tweak it. They had zero intention of growing new support by broadening and expanding their message. (Sanders famously refused to even inject more biography into his stump speech to humanize him more.)
Sanders and his campaign saw that their ceiling was 30%, and they built an entire strategy around winning with 30%. That means that instead of seeing the other 70% of voters as allies, they saw them as THE ENEMY. Even when there was ideological alignment.
I understood sanders' message. I just do not consider sanders to be a serious messenger because I live in the real world
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BlueWI
(1,736 posts)I have been posting on DU since 2003. I used to support the site frequently with donations. I no longer do so because the conversations are frequently toxic, especially since the data breach in 2016. According to research I've read, 20% or so of posts on a site like this are likely to be troll farm creations, and the treatment of Sanders supporters on this site is certainly in line with turnout suppression tactics that benefit Russia and Republicans.
I have always enjoyed vigorous debate during the primaries, and that's why I've persisted here despite the constant scapegoating of left candidates, especially Sanders. But this forum no longer reflects or respects the diversity of opinions among Democrats. A small number of high volume posters intentionally seek to dominate conversations, and there is no longer any effort on the site's behalf to enforce the TOS.
There are some quality news sources linked to this site and there are posters I respect and learn from. Still, I am thinking lately that I need to trade the time I spend here for visiting my local Democratic office. Also, I'd like to spend some time working with younger voters, who are also bashed here constantly and ridiculed for supporting Sanders, the candidate who has most boldly spoken up for the failures of our currently disastrous policy directions in many areas.
Since I have always maintained connections to local and state officeholders and policy groups, those ties have fed my enthusiasm for working on behalf of strong progressive policies. Meanwhile, for almost 20 years DU has been my go-to place to learn about national trends, and it was actually the first blog I ever posted on, back when blogs were a novelty. Unfortunately, the high volume, one trick posters, like the one you corresponded with, won't own up to the toxicity they generate in a once-inclusive discussion forum. The best we can do is to avoid allowing this toxicity to contribute to a second Trump win in November.
I continue to post in the primaries forum mostly so lurkers, especially young lurkers, do not get a false impression of how Democrats think and act. Also, we on the left need to keep raising attention and support for structural change. We're already in deep water on issues of wealth inequality, climate change, and health care access, and if the left doesn't stay strong, structural change will not happen.
Thanks for fighting the good fight. Let's make sure Biden is elected in the fall, notwithstanding the counterproductive internet behavior on this forum.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Eliot Rosewater
(32,536 posts)She like Hillary are LEAPS AND BOUNDS better qualified than any of the people they ran against.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Rilgin
(793 posts)I also wished that she had run in 2016. I think she would have had an easier time in the primaries and then the General Election than this year. She is fairly remarkable. I can not agree with you on Hillary but appreciate your opinion. Anyhow, although I supported Elizabeth as well this year although I like most of our candidates in different ways in this primary. Its kind of refreshing but all of them had some points and qualities to offer this year.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
BlueWI
(1,736 posts)I'm actually waiting on an absentee primary ballot for our April 7 primary. Still undecided, but it may end up a symbolic primary vote for Warren.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Response to Gothmog (Reply #97)
Post removed
Gothmog
(154,590 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)You don't have a revolution. That's what you don't get.
If you had a revolution, you would be winning right now. You're not.
Biden is also on the left side of our political spectrum--it's not a calculus. That's math, not a position. He's not pushing any debate that hasn't been pushed for decades now. We're tired of this hoary old canard that only St. Bern has ever offered single payer or economic justice or raising the minimum wage of any of the other false claims that get trotted out to prop up your candidate. They're just not true, and you're being insulting and divisive when you make such dishonest assertions.
As for your what if game, I'll play: You know how Joe Biden gets the ACA improved? By doing what BS never will: Working his butt off while also running for POTUS to help Democrats take back the Senate. He will be coordinating with every Democratic candidate running for the Senate to retain or flip seats to his side so he has a majority there. If we can have a normal campaign season (a big if), Biden will be attending more rubber chicken dinner fundraisers than you've ever choked down in your entire life to help raise money for down ticket candidates. He will be in their districts, promoting them at every turn. He will pick a VP who will be charged with doing all of those same things--and more. And all of those people that he supports? They will be busting their hump not only for their own campaigns but for his too, to get them all elected. They are all going to be working together to get each other elected. Because that's what PARTIES do.
Being part of a political party is very much like being in any other social pack. The people in the pack can't succeed if it's all dog-eat-dog, every person for himself. More of them get what they need when everyone works together for the good of all. And, yes, there's a huge amount of "you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours." But that doesn't have to be a bad thing. Not when it's done for the greater good. So Joe will go down to Arizona and support Mark Kelly, and shake hands and kiss babies and say all the right things--and Kelly will do the same for Joe in return. That's what the pack does when they have a goal they're working toward.
This is what Biden brings to the race that BS is incapable of comprehending, never mind accomplishing: The understanding that the election won't be all about Joe, and he alone won't get it done. He needs those Democrats running for office in Maine and Kentucky and Arizona and wherever else, because they know their local electorates and what will get them to the polls, better than anyone. And they need Biden, because the POTUS candidate stumping for them is campaign adrenaline that money can't buy. Because Biden understands that the party has to work together, to support each other as a team, and not just to get him alone into office, he has the better chance of not only become President, but flipping the Senate D again. He always had the better chance of succeeding at both in November than BS ever could have, for this reason.
As for your constant attacks on non-BS Democrats, try practicing what you preach. BSers need to stop being divisive and stop bashing Biden and those who don't agree with BS or his supporters--which you just did. You hardly have room to dictate behavior to us when BSers paint every criticism as an attack, and then pull passive-aggressive stunts to bully Biden supporters into silence by implying that the only divisiveness comes from our side. As if any BSer is in any position to judge on that issue. We're not the ones claiming that an opposing candidate has dementia. We're not the ones simpering the scurrilous right-wing memes like, "Where's Biden?"--when he's dominating the media far more than BS has to date. We're not the ones lying that our vote is being taken away if a candidate concedes.
BSers are.
When your candidate or his supporters warrant criticism, we have the right to express it. And if you don't like it, well, there's the door. Nobody's forcing you to stay.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
True Blue American
(18,166 posts)We really need likes on this forum! Great post.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Rilgin
(793 posts)I do not try to convince you not to like anyone. Try doing the same. Try not trying to convince people including me why we should not like someone. Try posting why you like someone rather than why I should not like Bernie. That is called a unifying way of discussing. I posted why I liked Bernie. My posts here are are saying, begging people to stop bashing a significant part of the democratic coalition. The primaries are basically over. Joe Biden will be our candidate. Stop trying to hammer your hatred of Bernie into people who like him. You might find it refreshing to just talk about your love of Joe.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LongtimeAZDem
(4,515 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Rilgin
(793 posts)This campaign I went into it vowing to not post any negatives about any candidate and just like my candidate and yes defend her (My first choice was Elizabeth) against attacks. However, the main attacks are all against Bernie who I also like and liked as my second choice. I think I have pretty much held to my vow as all you can do is go back 4 years to find any post of mine attacking another candidate.
Notice you had to go back to the last campaign (nothing about this one) to find any post that even discussed another candidate or tried to "vet" them. Even 4 years ago, I tried to post on policies and votes that I disagreed with although I am not claiming that in 2016 you wont find snark in some posts 4 years ago. In 2016, my biggest concerns were the votes allowing cluster bombs in civilian areas by Hillary, the fact that the emails did violate democratic party priniciples which gave rise to Sunshine laws including the Freedom of Information Act. My main concern for the general election was we were running a candidate that polls showed had net unfavorable at the beginning of the campaign
Even then when pointing to Hillary's net unfavorables which were the second highest in history of any candidate other than Trump, I always attached the words "deserved and undeserved" and attacked Republican scams like the Benghazi hearings as totally unfair. My main thought in 2016 was that the biggest predictor of an election is these net unfavorables on the election date. Early polls do not mean much but it would take a lot of work to move those net unfavorables in a public person who everyone knows. None of our candidates this year had the same unfavorables which is why I did not this year have similar concerns. There are still policy concerns and vote concerns I have but I have a lot more confidence that Joe Biden will win the election.
Was I perfect in 2016 in keeping emotion and not engaging in fisticuffs. No I don't think I was but I also didn't swarm DU constantly posting negatives about everything. Anyway you got me to engage on the fact that yes I was not perfect in 2016 and sometimes entered the swarm. Congratulations.
However, we lost 2016 so I tried to learn from the disunity and changed. This thread by others does not show the same recognition that the path to removing Trump does not come from bashing other Democrats.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LongtimeAZDem
(4,515 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Rilgin
(793 posts)I didn't do what some DU people do every day to every person here who expresses that they like Bernie. Nor did I look every day for something to bash Hillary for. I also expressed that I liked Hillary and expressed liking some of the things she stood for and did. That is completely different than what is going on here against Bernie supporters and Bernie. However, I decided this year not to say a single word against any other democratic party candidate because even if its something I believe, it is totally divisive. I wish others had learned that lesson.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LongtimeAZDem
(4,515 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dawg day
(7,947 posts)It just needs a lot of voters to vote for the Democratic senate candidate in a state where the GOP incumbent is up for election. That's not a "revolution."
I'm not attacking-- I just disagree that a "revolution" is needed, or even that that's remotely what Sanders could bring anyway. What is meant by a "revolution"?
And how is that more likely than just a whole lot of voters voting for (or more likely against) a candidate in a state?
If McConnell loses in Kentucky (fingers crossed), it's not going to be because of a revolution, but because a lot of people vote against him for Amy McGrath. Plain old GOTV, same as happened in the House in 2018.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
A voter revolution is "a lot of voters to vote for the Democratic senate candidate in a state where the GOP incumbent is up for election." For years, our statutes coming out of congress have lagged public sentiment. Lots of reasons for it but primarily its Republicanism. Democrats disagree on ways to address our problems whether through incremental change or directly addressing with big bills. However both cases need democrats to stand up and vote for people who will pass legislation supporting the policies that the voters who are voting want. That is all Bernie says and is pretty much exactly what every democratic candidate needs. If we do not vote for democrats, Biden will have the same problems as Obama had and will be as impeded in trying to pass smaller incremental change as Bernie would to pass more substantial change. The people who attack Bernie ignore that every Democratic candidate needs changing in the Senate to pass anything and that will only happen if we vote.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LakeArenal
(29,813 posts)Beating Donald Trump.
Healthcare, voting rights, all of it comes AFTER Donald trump is gone.
Took the political alignment quiz on DU.
I mostly align with Pete. Thats probably 100% true. But we need to win 2020.
Biden is the one.
Politician have to have thicker skin than their supporters.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Rilgin
(793 posts)Notice that you don't mention Bernie or anyone else negatively. You mention Pete and Joe using positive language. This is the type of unifying post as we discuss politics. You are saying what you like rather than bashing other peoples opinions. Thank you.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
LAS14
(14,695 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
tritsofme
(18,540 posts)I cant imagine folks here have much nice to say to Trump supporters. And Im having a harder time telling the difference these days.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Faux pas
(15,369 posts)and sad that people can't just get along and respect anyone else's different opinions. Progressive and liberal are not dirty words, they are words used to describe the evolved. With the steaming pile squatter we have on our white house, we should be better than that, k?
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
George II
(67,782 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(305,440 posts)We're posting articles about what went wrong.. that is Not "Bashing" as you assert.
Link to tweet
Sanders is being held accountable.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
diva77
(7,880 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Cha
(305,440 posts)them to stop.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Bluepinky
(2,327 posts)Or at least not very many in the DU community. I have seen positive things posted about Bernie, his policies, or even a topic not about Bernie, and immediately a group of posters descend and start attacking Bernie. Its disappointing to me that people who like Bernies policies cant discuss them on DU.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)you're going to get people challenging that. What you consider positive, isn't necessarily so.
Don't want people to challenge assertions or all the rest?
Make sure that what you're posting is accurate, honest, and doesn't come across in a way that is rude or dismissive to the other side.
Because, I've rarely seen BSers post positive things. I see a lot of what this thread is--Whining that everyone is being so mean to BS or a poor, beleaguered BSer, and zero concrete examples to support that claim. I see too many occasions of BSers arguing from emotion, and not fact. I see a lot of wild assertions about BS's supposed accomplishments or influence that people can sincerely disagree with (and have evidence to debunk said claim). I see BSers labeling any criticism of BS or his supporters as "attacks." I see open or passive-aggressive bashing of Biden, the DNC, Democrats of all kinds and the voters who didn't agree with BS and his "ideas." I see a lot of them crying because other Democrats want BS to concede a race he can no longer win. I see lots of BSers who think they and BS are owed something for their losing campaign, and that they can demand to get whatever they want without giving anything in return from Biden and the majority of people who voted for him, rather than having the grace and humility to accept that they lost, and be grateful for any concessions they get after that. I see BSers who threaten to take their toys and go home if they don't get what they want, or worst of all, do it by refusing to vote for the fairly-elected Biden. And I especially see many instances, including right in this very thread, of the false equivalence of the hateful label of "Biden Bros" hurled at Biden supporters, when it's not Biden's supporters who have a demonstrated record of being, or being manipulated and riled up by, Russian bots.
Does that list apply to all BSers? No. But it does apply to way too many of them.
So, as a famous fictional character once said, rather than looking for the mote in someone else's eye, why don't you make sure there's not a beam in your own?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Bluepinky
(2,327 posts)Your tone is dismissive and insulting. Youre talking about BSers as a collective, that anyone who supports Bernies policies, even members of DU, are rude, ignorant liars who wont vote for Biden. Most of the members of the DU community, including myself, are not in the Bernie Bros group. In fact, I voted for Amy K in the primary. But I really like a lot of Bernies ideas, love his speeches about wealth inequality and admire him for not accepting corporate money. Ive mostly tried to avoid any threads that mention Bernie, they become negative very fast. Lots of bullying here.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)Did you find it to be "dismissive and insulting" when someone said that Democrats are "ideologically bankrupt" and "intellectually bankrupt"? Did you like his idea that Democrats are "feeble" and "corrupt"? Did you love the speeches where the Democratic party was called an "absolute failure" and "the party of the one-percent" and the "party of the elite"?
What was your reaction to the claim that there's "no difference between Democrats and Republicans" and that the Democrats are "do-nothings"? Do you also believe the lie that the primaries are "rigged"?
Was it inspiring to hear the lie that that the Democratic party "doesn't care about climate change" or that the Democrats "focus too much" on diversity and that any party that's "very big into diversity" isn't "particularly sympathetic" to the working class?
So... if you think about it, all of those lies against Democrats and the Democratic part... that's a pretty negative "tone" that's "dismissive and insulting" right?... coming directly from the top. How do you feel about that? Do you "support his policy" of denigrating the party with toxic and divisive rhetoric?
If so, why? If not, then perhaps you'll better understand why lifelong, loyal, active and stalwart Democrats have the reactions we do toward him, and his defenders, and anyone who makes excuses for that type of behavior.
The lies and smears and attacks only serve to create an atmosphere of negativity: Negativity generates apathy. Apathy discourages voter turnout. Low voter turnout gives Republicans a chance to steal the elections.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
mcar
(43,512 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)Examples of the genuine article can be furnished gratis on request....
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
SidDithers
(44,268 posts)You don't know what real cyber bullying is.
Sid
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(154,590 posts)Facts are facts. Why do you object to these facts? Facts are important
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
betsuni
(27,258 posts)Bernie says the Democratic establishment's trying to stop him and that's not a conspiracy theory and obvious attempt to insinuate, once again, that Democrats are both-sides corrupt? I'll retire to Bedlam.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)And one of my dearest friends is a black Jewish woman who's had a double-lung transplant--which means she is in about as dire of economic straits as a person can be.
We're curious how voting for someone other than BS in the Texas primary (Warren for me, Biden for her) made us, of all people, the "establishment."
I keep waiting for a berner to explain how that works in a manner that passes muster with anyone who's not a deluded moron, but, so far, bupkis.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
betsuni
(27,258 posts)It's why when asked for an explanation it never comes, because it's silly and makes no sense. But an ideology based on the fiction that Democrats are exactly the same as Republicans except for "identity politics" is silly and makes no sense either.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Paka
(2,760 posts)Very practical advice. I'm old enough to deal with it and throw it off, but I have been bombarded on this forum with nastiness simply because I support Bernie.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Sloumeau
(2,657 posts)the bashing of a Democratic politician, including Bernie Sanders, is a violation of the rules.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=termsofservice]
Don't bash Democratic public figures
Do not post disrespectful nicknames, insults, or highly inflammatory attacks against any Democratic public figures. Do not post anything that could be construed as bashing, trashing, undermining, or depressing turnout for any Democratic general election candidate, and do not compare any Democratic general election candidate unfavorably to their general election opponent(s).
Why we have this rule: Our forum members support and admire a wide variety of Democratic politicians and public figures. Constructive criticism is always welcome, but our members don't expect to see Democrats viciously denigrated on this website. This rule also applies to Independents who align themselves with Democrats (eg: Bernie Sanders).
If you see "bashing" of a Democratic public figure, including Bernie Sanders, the Terms of Service say that you are allowed to report it. However, if a lot of others on DU believe that what you term as "bashing" is simply criticism, I doubt it will do much good.
Have a nice day.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)Too many people don't understand the difference between bashing and criticism.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
William769
(55,830 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Harker
(14,951 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NCProgressive
(1,315 posts)Biden has dementia
Biden is a corporate Democrat
Biden is for cutting social security
Where is Biden?
When supporters of one candidate, who has badly lost the election, post and propagate lies there is a blowback. Tell your candidate to drop out and endorse the winner with humility. Until then, there is no point is whining, complaining, kvetching and carping about how other people's genuine emotions affect someone.
There are options on DU to ignore posters that annoy one and trash threads that cause heartburn. You are free to use them.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Paka
(2,760 posts)It's a cross-section of all Biden supporters that go after me. I can't block everyone.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
NCProgressive
(1,315 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Paka
(2,760 posts)Perhaps I should just go to bed and sleep through this nightmare. I guess asking for civility from others is too much.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
NCProgressive
(1,315 posts)Not every bitter truth lack civility
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ahoysrcsm
(1,107 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Paka
(2,760 posts)you are the Biden supporters who have turned me against him from the git-go! Thank you for proving my point.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
betsuni
(27,258 posts)Bernie says that the "Democratic establishment" "can't stop him." What does that mean?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)Not because the answer to it is unknown to those you address it to, but because those you address it to know full well an honest answer to it would give their game away.
"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Response to Paka (Reply #95)
ahoysrcsm This message was self-deleted by its author.
Response to Paka (Reply #95)
ahoysrcsm This message was self-deleted by its author.
ahoysrcsm
(1,107 posts)You seem to be missing something in your life.
PS I changed just for You.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Paka
(2,760 posts)I do have a number of good books and lots of crossword puzzles to help me survive. However, I'm 79 years old confined to one room during the lockdown, with good friends who keep in contact, but no family nearby. My life is normally filled with lots of people interaction, so yes, I am missing that.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
emmaverybo
(8,147 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Cha
(305,440 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Rilgin
(793 posts)The only bashing here on DU is daily endless bashing. Biden won. Take your victory. If Joe is bashed on another site, take your angst out there. DU has not had continuous endless threads bashing every other candidate on every thing he or she does except Bernie. We are now on lockdown and it would be nice to not face it. I hope Joe wins and I hope he exceeds all of our expectations and improves life for all of us. At this point, the best thing that people can do, is stop divisive rhetoric of other parts of the Democratic party including on this site.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)We've had multiple threads and posts of BSers propagating the right wing memes of "Where's Biden?" or claims that he has dementia.
BSers on this forum still claim that Biden wants to kill Social Security.
BSers have yet to let up on their attacks on centrist, moderate and corporate Democrats.
We still have BSers whining about how we're the bullies for wanting BS to concede.
We still have BSers whining (and lying) that their vote will be taken away if they don't get to vote for BS if he concedes. As if their candidate is the first ever to be asked to concede before every state has cast its vote. Where have they been not to know how most candidates drop out before voters get to cast a vote for them. It happens in nearly every primary without an incumbent running!
Maybe you want to pretend none of that is still going on, but the rest of us won't.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Rilgin
(793 posts)That is the problem. All these people saying they are just bashing cause they are getting bashed. It is the easiest thing to check. On DU, there is Bernie bashing going on which also indirectly bashes people who like him. Right now there are no people bashing other candidates and frankly there have not been on DU for at least 2 months because I have done the same scroll. Every single day, there are numerous threads on every single thing Bernie does. If he says something, its why didn't he say something else. If he doesn't say something, its why doesn't he say something.
Do your own check. Just scroll down, it will take you less than 1 minute. Try to find threads bashing Joe Biden on DU. Especially now it really should stop. Joe Biden will be the candidate. We are all facing a pandemic. And we need unity not to bash one side of the Democratic Party.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)And you ignored it to make the false claim that Biden is not being bashed.
There's no point in discussing anything further with someone who refuses to argue in good faith.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Rilgin
(793 posts)This site continuously bashes Bernie. Just be serious. Look at this thread alone. No Bernie ashing of Biden, only negatives thrown at Bernie from people not posting postives about what they like, only saying others should not like who they like.
Now to be further serious. There are people in the world who don't like Joe or other candidates.. I am sure that there exist sites and twitter which has majority negative threads about Joe, but here the bashes are all Bernie and unless I am wrong I am on DU. It would be nice if every site was totally at peace. Wouldn't that be a good thing to wish for and isn't it a good thing to wish for on DU as we approach an election. Just cause other sites bash, does not mean DU should be a hotbox of negativity. Try affirmative positive posts about your own support and views and why you like someone rather than post a litany of why others should not like someone. You might like it and it would be more unifying. I will do the same. I will not post anyting that I don't like about Joe separating them out from the things I like in his past. That way you wont feel bad for your support and I wont either. Have the same courtesy
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)Thats your job.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
tirebiter
(2,587 posts)Truth hurts.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
jimlup
(8,008 posts)mainstream of this discussion apparently doesn't think so. They have not learned a single lesson from the past and apparently want to try the "our way or the highway" failed strategy yet again.
If I say anymore this post might get hidden. It still might get hidden. The Bernie bashing is beyond the tier but they don't see it.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NCProgressive
(1,315 posts)He can drop out any second and save the delicate emotions of all his supporters.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
jimlup
(8,008 posts)and continue to alienate those who are already on your side.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NCProgressive
(1,315 posts)I want to get on with beating Trump and Sanders is coming in the way of Joe's campaign focusing on Trump.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
jimlup
(8,008 posts)irrelevant fixation on your superiority which just isn't.
You're so far ahead it is obvious that you are going to win. When do we form a coalition. I'm not Bernie. If I were him I'd withdraw. But I'm not Bernie. Nevertheless, I STRONGLY agree and support what he pushes for. The Bernie bashing here is foolish and counterproductive.
Keep rubbing it in and pushing the left down. Funny, when the situation gets hard everybody claims they always held the left position from the start. Funny that...
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)It's reaching the end of our rope with BSers who insist on whining about how mean everyone is to them. And yet too many BSers delight in lying about and attacking Biden and other Democrats, while expecting everyone else to treat BS and his minions with kid gloves. And that's not how it works.
There is precious little bashing of BS that happens here. There's criticism of him at times, but that's not bashing. Maybe BSers need to learn the difference.
By the way: Who died and made you the authority on who the left is? BSers are not "the left." They're one part of it, and not even the majority of it. This is the problem with demagogues: Whether it's the extreme left or right wing, they think they exist in greater numbers than they do. The failure to face this reality is why they fail, and why their "revolutions" never come.
That's why BS has lost. Not because we're mean, but he didn't have the numbers he thought he did. People just aren't into him or what he's selling. That's not bashing, but the truth. Running from it or pitching a hissy fit that someone dared to say it doesn't change that fact.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Just_Vote_Dem
(3,135 posts)Many of the ones complaining about the way they're treated keep glossing over the fact that this is DEMOCRATIC underground, not LEFTIST underground, not PROGRESSIVE underground, not INDEPENDENT underground etc., and those constant attacks against Democrats (centrist, establishment, etc.) don't belong here. And they're surprised when they get called out on it. Amazing.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
betsuni
(27,258 posts)I wonder what they think the underground during WWII was.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NCProgressive
(1,315 posts)Being fond of one or more of Bernie's policies is one thing but pushing vile anti-Biden memes to kneecap him is quite another.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ahoysrcsm
(1,107 posts)Will you be voting for the Democratic nominee in the 2020 general election against Trump?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TwilightZone
(28,833 posts)Sanders is not immune to criticism and he is not unique in being subjected to what you term "bashing". His senior campaign staff pushes fake memes about Biden's "dementia", about Social Security, and about his lack of presence ("Where is Biden?) on a consistent basis and they're repeated quite frequently here.
If you have issues with Sanders receiving criticism, you might want to hide the Primaries forum for a while. The tone is the same every election cycle, and this one is no different.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
questionseverything
(10,157 posts)running off voters that support Bernie is a suicide mission
about ss biden wants to raise the full retirement age, to me that is reducing ss
the fra is already 67, for people in physical laboring jobs that is too old already
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Rilgin
(793 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Gothmog
(154,590 posts)It is sanders and his campaign who are attacking Joe Biden and the rest of the Democratic Party
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,515 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Mr.Bill
(24,800 posts)he has dementia or anything like that.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Rilgin
(793 posts)If you call someone a cult leader and people who like him followers and insist that they are not capable of thinking clearly, it is a bash on not the candidate but everyone who likes him. Hopefully you can see that. Right now Joe Biden will be the candidate. The constant bashing is just divisive and offensive to DUers. Just think about it and stop doing it. Support Joe and hope that our country comes out of the Virus. Stop posting stuff on DU that is only designed to make you feel good and other types of DUers bad.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Mr.Bill
(24,800 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)BSers here are wailing that they need to grieve over a failed campaign, as if their dog just died.
How can you not see how weird that is?
It's politics. You know what politics is? People deciding what they want from a candidate or a law or policy, and then groups of them deciding who will do stuff for them, or if they'll do something or not. If a group gets more people on their side, they get the candidate or law they want. If they lose, they don't pitch a hissy fit that more people wanted something else. They work to get more people on their side to change that later, or they accept that more people wanted something else, let it go and move on. More candidates lose elections than win them. Did you ever consider that? It's the rare person who gets over the finish line in November. Why are you howling at the moon for what will never be, rather than grateful that your candidate made it this far, and happy for the support he managed to get?
But not BSers. They act like the rejection of the outsiders who voted against him is an affront to their leader, a plot to get him because--well, because! and that it is the worst thing to happen since--since the last time he got rejected by the voters! You say anything to make him look better than any other candidate, even if it's patent nonsense--or outright lies. Do you realize that saying Biden has dementia and doing the "where's Biden?" nonsense isn't merely peddling appalling lies, but also resorting to conspiracy theories in a desperate bid to keep BS in the race, or pretend that he still has a chance?
Do you not understand that normal people don't make up lies to justify the behavior of a political candidate, or think that there are plots out to get him at every turn, or manufacture conspiracy theories to prop him up to pretend that the leader can do no wrong so that he and they can pretend he's more powerful than he ever was or will be?
That's not what normal people do over a politician. Those are things people in a cult do.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Rilgin
(793 posts)I am a 62 year old life long democrat who has not missed a vote. I like Bernie for the reasons I like him. You want to say this thread is wrong and then rather than condemn calling democrats cultists, you pile it on. I give up, may you find peace in hatred and feeling better than other democrats.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
betsuni
(27,258 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Rilgin
(793 posts)I would like a world that has medicaire for all. I would like my daughters to not have huge college debt if they go to college. I would like less billionaires and everyone who works to have a living wage. Those are some of the things that he has stood for his whole career. I like the fact that he was right on the Iraq wars from the start. I don't mind that he voted afterwards to fund the troops which included funding their benefits. There are things I don't like that he has voted for but on balance I support him. I like Joe Biden as well although I don't like some of the things he supported in the past but that does not totally drown out what I like about him. The same with Bernie. Posting over and over that he is on the left and has not achieved single payer given American politics does not make me dislike him nor does it make me feel that no one likes him or no one wants to work with him as has been posted over and over. He was the chairman of the Democratic Progressive Caucus one of the largest in congress and made chairman 8 years in a row until he made the Senate. Among the people in that caucus who obviously didn't mind working with Bernie were Barnie Frank, Nancy Pelosi. The caucus dedicated itself for fighting for the things I want for America. When I see some of the ridiculous attacks on him daily, it makes me want to respond by saying Stop. Unify. Like who you like. Support who you want but don't beat others over the head if they like other candidates or favor other policies. Is that clear enough for you.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
stopdiggin
(12,841 posts)but I'm actually saving most of my sympathy for the teens and pre-teens with real issues and struggles. That's really kind of miserable. On the other hand .. guess I've always kinda' felt the the Sanders people could dish it .. and take it .. on a more or less level playing field.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
SidDithers
(44,268 posts)Cyberbullying at DU isn't possible, because the bullied has the ability to make the bully disappear. The tools are right there at their disposal.
Aggressive behaviour is already against the TOS, and will get a poster banned.
Calling differences of opinion at DU "cyber bullying" is a disservice to real bullied people, who have no way out and sometimes make the worst decision imaginable.
Sid
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TwilightZone
(28,833 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
diva77
(7,880 posts)anyone who states something positive about Sanders. These bullies always make sure that they have the last word. They seem to roam the site and immediately respond to anything positive or in defense of Sanders. It has caused Sanders supporters to give up posting on this site. It is a war of attrition against anything positive stated about Sanders. This is cyberbullying.
----
ETA - I can't imagine people talking to each other in person the way they do in the bullying posts.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
William769
(55,830 posts)Then' I'll show you examples of what cyber bullying is to see the difference.
You wanna try this or should I just take this as Faux outrage. I'll accept either.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
progressoid
(50,748 posts)posting some examples would be alerted for interfering with forum moderation.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
William769
(55,830 posts)Basically it's put up or...
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
SidDithers
(44,268 posts)Sanders supporters could Full Ignore every person they feel bullied by. Poof - no more bullies.
The fact that you have complete control over your interactions with anyone at DU means that you can end any perceived bullying with a simple click.
Again. Cyber bullying is a real thing that involves real people. None of us at DU are real (well, very very few post with their real names). If someone at DU tracks down your real identity, and threatens you in real life - that's bullying. If they dox you, and expose you to real world attacks from assholes on twitter or reddit or facebook - that's bullying. If they contact your place of employment to try to get you fired - that's bullying and harrasment.
Strong disagreement, even ridicule at DU are none of those. And you cheapen the term by ascribing it to what happens here.
Sid
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Cha
(305,440 posts)members of "cyberbullying" when it's not happening.
To falsely accuse does cheapen the cause of the prevention of real "cyberbullying".
There's no examples just accusations.
StaySafe!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(154,590 posts)I was cursed at and told that I was a bad Jew for not supporting sanders. I was told at the Texas delegation breakfast that I had to condemn Clinton. I watched official representatives of the sanders campaign engaged on the planned stunt of booing real Democrats like John Lewis, Elijah Cummings, Stacy Abrams and others My daughter was cursed at and called the c-word by sanders vetted delegates
Do you think that such bevaiot is okay:
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
emmaverybo
(8,147 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)#BeBest
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
stonecutter357
(12,769 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
SCantiGOP
(14,248 posts)Divide and cause dissent in the Democratic Party. Remember 2016?
We dont need to do it here. We have a candidate; bashing Sanders does nothing to help the campaign or Nov 3.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dotism
(68 posts)All of the horrific, reprehensible abuse I encountered from Bernie supporters while working on the Warren campaign was never considered 'bullying', it was considered to be 'politics'... We dealt with it, discussed it, and dismissed it.
Go away with your sob stories.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
betsuni
(27,258 posts)You don't have to link, just paraphrase a few attacks you see. Hard to know what you mean without examples.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
marble falls
(62,106 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
oasis
(51,705 posts)their chosen candidate. Posters can return to General Discussion after our nominee is acknowledged and the Primary forum is dissolved.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)Nor is Sanders smeared.
Sanders supporters are vehemently disagreed with, and Sanders' behavior, and the likely consequences of his actions, are accurately described. People who are more used to circles where agreement Sanders is all that and a bag of chips is general, may not be accustomed to such disagreement, or comprehend how others might find Sanders cuts a damned poor figure of a politician, a leader, or even a man.
"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
R B Garr
(17,379 posts)is not cyber bullying, and much of what Sanders says are unnecessary smears against Democrats.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)I think I'd love you.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LostOne4Ever
(9,597 posts)Sir or Madam, You just undercut your own argument that Sanders is not smeared.
That part of your comment was unnecessary.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)Do you imagine the reference is solely to some silly thing like 'macho' behavior or sexual potency? That is a nonesensical view of what makes a man. A politician's character is certainly part of a sensible voter's assessment of him. When electing a man to office, what a voter says is that he or she trusts his judgement and his character to meet whatever contingencies the future may place before us. My view of Sanders is that neither his judgement nor his character may be relied on, and that view is based on viewing him as a public figure for years, and looking into both his record, and his own evasive descriptions of his past. To say I think little of him as a man is a convenient and common short means of expressing this conclusion. Whether you like it or not does not concern me.
"Courage is the form every virtue takes at the sticking point."
"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LostOne4Ever
(9,597 posts)Where I come from that is what the phrase usually means. Not a measure of masculity but a measure of a person's worth.
It is fine to not like his personality or judgement. But a personal attack on the Character of a man who marched for Civil Rights, who stood up for homosexual men and women on the floor of Congress, a man who has spent years fighting for universal healthcare is uncalled for.
You don't like him? Fine. I have no problem with that. But your comment was just a straight up insult. Unnecessary and unneeded. It also completely undermines your claim there is no Bernie Bashing.
I don't care whether you care or not. I am more interested in pointing out that your very post undermined your claims and supports everything the OP said.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)Whether you like what I say does not concern me.
Saying I think little of someone as a man is not 'bashing', nor even particularly insulting. Rest assured, I am capable of far worse than that....
"I should like to take you seriously, but to do so would be an affront to your intelligence."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LostOne4Ever
(9,597 posts)Not to mention the definition of a personal attack. Again text book bashing.
And I know you don't care. I don't care that you don't care.
But I do care about those following along at home. I want them to see that the very people who claim that there is no Bernie Bashing can't even get through one post without...Bernie Bashing.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)I am quite confident in the sound judgement of those 'following along at home' to understand what is going on our exchange....
"I'm going home now. Someone get me some frogs and some bourbon."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LostOne4Ever
(9,597 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
pnwmom
(109,562 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
betsuni
(27,258 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LostOne4Ever
(9,597 posts)Or that he caused Hillary to lose?
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=632743
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=660747
Points that are claimed time and time again despite the fact that by definition, Bernie was not a spoiler, and that there is literally no evidence that Sander's campaign had any more negative effect than any other close primary.
http://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/did-bernie-sanders-cost-hillary-clinton-the-presidency/
But no matter how much I point this out, I get people who keep on making that claim.
Or how about saying Sander's isn't much of a man?
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=683808
A straight up insult to a man who is an ally of the democratic party and has caucused for us and fought for many of causes.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Response to LostOne4Ever (Reply #196)
pnwmom This message was self-deleted by its author.
TwilightZone
(28,833 posts)Then he should probably stop attacking it all the time and lumping it in with the GOP.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LostOne4Ever
(9,597 posts)Tell them when one thinks they have gone wrong.
It is what we liberals of the democratic party do all the time with regards to the excesses of the national and state governments. We want to improve things so we find what is wrong and point it out hoping to fix it.
Complacency is not helpful to anyone.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)From someone who has one of the most pitiful records as a legislator of any candidate to run for POTUS?
Zero substantial bills. Did you miss the debacle of his management of the Armed Services Committee? Ask the patients on the VA waiting list about that.
If you think this is bashing, you might better find your best smelling salts for what they have to say.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)People who have accomplishments against the odds get to be called a fighter. Where are the accomplishments for BS, when hes been in DC for decades now?
Wheres legislation he wrote and got passed to back up his big mouth?
An arrogant, loud-mouthed crank heckling from the back bench he seldom occupies doesnt count as a fighter.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Vogon_Glory
(9,572 posts)Sanders attacks on Democrats or his followers continuing attacks on Democratic candidates constitutes cyber-bullying. This is whiffleball compared to reactionary Republican calumny and mayhem.
Male Bernie supporters in this struggle for a better world for the long haul should learn to toughen up. Female Bernie supporters should put on their big girl panties (tm) and do likewise.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
yaesu
(8,237 posts)desperation, russian bots or just plain ignorance but bashers must understand that all they are doing is helping tRump, not their candidate.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
TomCADem
(17,760 posts)Russia helping Biden sound like Trump/Bernie supporters arguing that Hillary Clinton conspired with Russia to hack her own emails.
https://www.npr.org/2020/03/05/812186614/how-russia-is-trying-to-boost-bernie-sanders-campaign
But over the past six weeks, this coverage has shifted to mirror pro-Sanders talking points first used in the last presidential campaign, said Clint Watts of the Foreign Policy Research Institute, who has been monitoring Russian interference continuously.
"What's really come on strong just in the last 30 to 45 days are very similar narratives that we saw in 2016 about Sanders," Watts told NPR.
While Sanders has acknowledged on the campaign trail that he was briefed by the intelligence community about Russia's efforts to boost his campaign, he has been steadfastly opposed to that support, saying at a recent debate: "Hey, Mr. Putin, if I'm president of the United States, trust me, you're not going to interfere in any more American elections."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
BigDemVoter
(4,544 posts)who is wrecking our country. There is no excuse for us to bash other Dem candidates or fight among ourselves. It is counterproductive and should not be happening.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
radius777
(3,814 posts)This is one of the few sites/forums that gives regular Dems and liberals an opportunity to offer honest critique of Bernie and his movement.
On most other sites (especially on social media) Sanders supporters tend to viciously suppress opposition.
Here, because it is moderated, they can't do that and must deal with the opinions of regular Dems, most of whom preferred other candidates. Sanders' base is fervent but small relative to the party as a whole.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kerrycrat
(159 posts)And ended up being a straight line for a bunch of jokes.
Facts are fine, but the snark is tiring.
Nevertheless when Bernie folk thought they were winning early, they were just about as gross about it. When Pete dropped out some filmed themselves dancing. So I sort of dont want to hear about Bernie grieving stages, as many of them werent very respectful either
Both sides could be better.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(71,023 posts)A simple google sesrch would have sufficed.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kerrycrat
(159 posts)I wanted personal opinions.
And to give the Bernie folks a moment.
Didnt realize the Biden folks wouldnt be able to resist.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Demsrule86
(71,023 posts)interesting debates on the post...so thanks for that. Biden is the nominee...the sooner Sanders supporters accept this the better...we need to move on. They had enough 'moments'. Good grief, it is a primary...not a divorce or a death.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ucrdem
(15,703 posts)He should stop campaigning to give his supporters time to get over the primaries. Notice how swiftly Pete and Amy did this.
He should stop his attacks on Biden, directly or otherwise, so he doesn't dampen turnout in November.
He won't do this because he's playing falsely, to borrow a phrase from The Magistrate. Now, if I used a coarser expression, you might feel that you were being bullied. Those are your feelings and you're entitled to them. But if Sanders acted in the nation's best interest and got out of the race, we wouldn't speak so poorly of him.
So he needs to get out of the race.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NanceGreggs
(27,835 posts)As long as Bernie persists in bashing our presumptive nominee, bashing our party and its members, and bashing anyone who disagrees with him, he is inviting being bashed himself by Democrats.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
wackadoo wabbit
(1,215 posts)The toxicity of the Bernie bashing was difficult to handle before COVID-19 really took off. Now it's just plain disgusting.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Aquaria
(1,076 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
wyldwolf
(43,891 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Codeine
(25,586 posts)and stems entirely from the behavior of the followers of the independent senator from Vermont, behavior that has extended across two election cycles and has grown increasingly toxic with each electoral beatdown.
Pretending that the anti-Sanders sentiment exists in a vacuum is beyond disingenuous. It is in fact dishonest. Recognizing that the supporters of Senator Sanders have acted poorly and acknowledging that they have to take responsibility for that disruptive behavior is as much a key to unity as anything else.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(154,590 posts)The concept of a sanders supporter complaining about cyber bullying is amusing and full or irony. I have seen actual bullying by sanders supporters up close and personal
Normally going to a national convention is a once in a life time experience. I have worked really hard inside the party on campaigns and voter protection issues for a very long time to earn this trip. Too bad that sanders and his vetted delegates ruined that experience and did their best to help trump. A candidate has absolute approval rights over their pledged delegates because these delegates can change their votes and these delegates represent the candidate and campaign. I helped vet Clinton delegates and I know that I was vetted. The Clinton campaign told us that we represent her and that our actions would reflect on her and her campaign.
In contrast, sanders sent one very weak text the Sunday night before the convention and then did little or nothing to control his delegates. It was nasty I was there when the sanders delegates booed Congressman John Lewis. I was warned about this stunt 30 minutes before it happened by the Clinton campaign whip. According to my whip, sanders was asked to stop this event and declined. The booing of John Lewis was simply part of a patern
Link to tweet
I was at the Texas delegation breakfast when a group of sanders delegates marched in and demanded that we condemn Clinton and change our votes to sanders.
sanders spoke to the Texas delegation the next morning and his speech was again solely about himself. There was a mini-riot due to his delegates the prior morning and the only thing that sanders talked about was himself. sanders did nothing to deal with the fact that his delegates were out of control and did nothing to try to help Hillary Clinton win the general election.
Finally a group of sanders delegates yelled at my daughter and called her the c-Word because she would not try to get me to change my vote. Again sanders was asked to tell his delegates to behave during the convention and sanders refused. I have trouble believing sanders now
As noted above, there is a pattern.
Link to tweet
The concept that posters on DU disagreeing with the qualifications of sanders is the same as the conduct of sanders supports is truly ironic. The premise of the OP is simply wrong
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
mcar
(43,512 posts)You and your daughter experienced actual bullying by Sanders' supporters. This OP is nonsense.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(154,590 posts)If sanders goes to convention then sanders delegates will repeat this conduct. sanders has not seriously made any attempt to control his supporters sanders was asked to control his delegates at the convention and refused
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)And so long as Sanders 'takes it to the convention' we may be sure such scenes will occur once more. They may still occur if Sanders retires from the contest, of course, as he has recruited to his banner a coterie of nihilist wreckers as his truest believers. But there is a fair chance much of their fury will turn on Sanders should he concede, and so dissipate well short of widespread convention shenanigans. A man who really cared about the people and the country, and was willing to do what it took to advance progressive causes, would willingly stand and take that hit. But Sanders has never shown the least sign of being that kind of man.
"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(154,590 posts)sanders did not try to stop his supporters from booing John Lewis, Stacy Abrams and Elijah Cummings It was evidently okay to boo Michele Obama. There was a mini-riot at the Texas delegation breakfast because we would not condemn Hillary and agree to vote for sanders.
I have issues with sanders supporters thinking that yelling at my daughter and calling her the c-word would have any effect on my vote. The next convention will be a real zoo
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
janterry
(4,429 posts)It's interesting how people become bullies on the internet.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
PubliusEnigma
(1,583 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ms liberty
(9,829 posts)And it's not going to change. I try to ignore them myself, although I don't have anyone on ignore...yet. DU is not what it once was.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
True Blue American
(18,166 posts)Bernie is not putting them through anything. They are doing it themselves by not dealing with facts.
Bernie has lost twice now. The Revolution has fizzled. It is as dead as the Freedom Caucus!
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
ms liberty
(9,829 posts)But thanks for making my point.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
True Blue American
(18,166 posts)But the whole I am being bashed because, fill in your own blank does not work for me.
Most of us have huge disappointments in life but we suck them up, move on. I know I have many times.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)I enjoy being a mature adult. I'll bet that you do too. It allows me to see things in the proper perspective.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Kaleva
(38,175 posts)This isn't like Facebook.
I don't take things personal here because it's just someone's created character interacting with my own created character and vice versa.
Edit: i just looked at you profile page and it's devoid of any info one may use to attack you on. For example: Nobody knows which candidate, Biden or Bernie, that you support.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dansolo
(5,385 posts)That you view any criticism of Bernie as an attack on you? And you wonder why people consider his Revolution is like a cult?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)I very much look forward do your next OP that scolds Sirota and Gray and Turner and Cenk Uygur and Matt Orfalea and Michael Moore and Phillip Agnew for their "bullying" comments and lies that claim Joe Biden is senile... or that the primaries are "rigged"... or other "bullying" and homophobic comments (and gestures) about beloved Democrats and their spouses.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Hav
(5,969 posts)I'd say sometimes the snark against Bernie is definitely too much. I'm 100% guilty of that myself and I'll by guilty of that in the future as long as BS is in the race and directs his attacks mostly against Democrats. We should also acknowledge that there are certain factors that contribute to this behavior against BS and his supporters:
What I have noticed about my behavior, I come to DU and one thread will eventually be about a Tweet, probably in most cases something positive. And then you see the most deranged shit in the Twitter replies from Bernie supporters. Besides pushing conspiracy theories, they also make it a point to persuade others not to vote for Democrats and that Trump isn't worse. So then I'm pissed off about it and let that influence the tone of my posts here. I know it's not right but that's how it is.
Regarding direct replies to BS supporters, I'm usually not aggressive unless it's something I strongly disagree about or if it's something that is demonstrably wrong. I think that is a normal element of a discussion forum. Say shit, get hit. This isn't an echo chamber. Your opinions get questioned by others who disagree with you.
Secondly, why don't we see this behavior against Warren, Beto, Amy, Harris, etc. and their supporters? It's not that there weren't differences and lively discussions between these groups and Biden supporters. But there is still a definite difference in how they interact. For lack of a better expression, it just feels they live in the same world while BS supporters are too often in their bubble. That makes discussions with BS supporters hard.
Before Biden started winning, his supporters were certainly on the receiving end of ridicule and attacks as well. Many positive Biden posts got pummeled, too. The loudest BS supporters and anti-Biden posters are somehow gone now the moment Biden turned it around. There is a reason for that. They dished it out hard to a level of ridiculous performance art and they didn't want to be here to see the favor returned. It's unfair that the reasonable Bernie supporters have to suffer because of the bad behavior of a few here. I'm not saying it's the best behavior and it's not fair but I'd also say, sometimes it's kind of healthy to vent and return the ridicule that you endured for long.
For my last point, you cannot look at the behavior against Bernie on this board without taking into account Bernie's action and those of his surrogates. No other candidate campaigns against the Democratic party, just Bernie. He hired some really deplorable people to be the faces of his campaign. He made the Democratic party, their leadership and with that some of their best politicians his enemies who conspire against him. It has a toxic and erosive effect. He deliberately plays that dangerous game and is fully aware that campaigning like this will turn his supporters away from the Democratic Party if he doesn't win the nomination. No other Democrat behaves like this and it creates frustration and anger among Democrats because we've been through this before. It contributed to getting Trump elected and despite all that, BS doesn't care about it and still plays the same game.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
sheshe2
(87,552 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NBachers
(18,136 posts)As the campaign progressed, the behavior of Bernie supporters kind of pushed me into the Hillary camp. When she became the nominee, I supported her.
The final straw for me was when they heckled John Lewis and Hillary at the convention. You want to heckle Hillary? It's in bad taste, but politics is a hard-fought game. BUT YOU DO NOT HECKLE JOHN LEWIS! There is no-one in human history that I respect more than John Lewis. This is the final deal-breaker with Sanders and his followers. This is not cyber bullying, this is mob bullying. Against John Lewis. By Sanders supporters.
Nader / Gore- Nader siphoned off voters for his vanity run on "principles." George Bush and his disaster of a presidency followed.
Sanders / Clinton- Sanders' followers, many of them, couldn't force themselves to vote for Clinton. Look around you at the devastation.
We've already seen this movie. We're quite critical of how it's being played out again. We're terrified of the possible result.
Here's a political artifact I proudly posted in Democratic Underground and elsewhere in the '16 election cycle. I've still got it. I'm not wearing it these days.
Please excuse my cyber-bullying in this post.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LongtimeAZDem
(4,515 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(154,590 posts)The Clinton campaign had a whipping infrastructure in place because we were expecting up to 4 floor votes on Monday. Those floor votes were resolved but my whip kept me informed. I got a text about the planned stunt to boo John Lewis 25 or so minutes in advance. This was a planned stunt. I was literally in shock that sanders would let this happen
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Anon-C
(3,438 posts)...Berners boo'd John Lewis?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Gothmog
(154,590 posts)I have heard John Lewis tell his preaching to chicken story four times in person. The man is amazing
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Happy Hoosier
(8,405 posts)How is that cyberbullying?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
helpisontheway
(5,268 posts)until he quit.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
honest.abe
(9,238 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
zackymilly
(2,375 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
llashram
(6,269 posts)Last edited Tue Mar 24, 2020, 10:02 AM - Edit history (1)
the base of BS is bashing Joe Biden, you don't have a leg to stand on. And where is BS on the stimulus bill? In Vermont, that's where he is was/is/was/is. No bullying, just the fact. I'm 70ish, a disabled vet and have to worry that this society is just going to let us die in favor of the richest 1%. Why should I have to worry about something like this? Why do seniors in America have to worry about so-called leaders postulating that we can be left to die because we are old and "nonproductive". Where is BS on speaking out for us NOW?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TDale313
(7,822 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LAS14
(14,695 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MineralMan
(147,606 posts)as he withdraws from the race and endorses the presumptive Democratic nominee. As of today, Bernie Sanders is still a candidate for the Democratic nomination, and will be until he makes an announcement that he is withdrawing his candidacy.
Once he does that, there will be no reason to discuss his candidacy here and he can go back to being an Independent, instead of claiming to be a Democrat.
It's easy. All he has to do is recognize reality and endorse Joe Biden. We're waiting for that. But, until he does, commenting on his candidacy and activities will be part of the discussion on this forum.
Nobody is "bashing" Bernie Sanders. Some, however, all calling him to account for what he is doing. All candidates face such calls to account.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
stopdiggin
(12,841 posts)there is no path forward .. and yet ...
The obvious move (and the one that would most benefit chances in November) is .. and yet ...
This is so typically Sanders .. and yet ...
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
stonecutter357
(12,769 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Politicub
(12,288 posts)Because I am. I want to see the party rally around the presumptive nominee, who is Biden. I would also like to see Sanders direct his followers' attention toward defeating Trump by supporting Biden.
The fact that he's going to draw out his digital attack ads against Biden until the end of April is unconscionable to me. He is going to lose New York and cause Biden to waste money by spending on what would have been unnecessary advertising.
Bernie's actions add to the stress that Trump brings me. He is not helping. He isn't even in Washington doing his job as a senator.
So is that bullying when I share my opinion of him and the effects of his actions?
Or, are people who do not support him being bullied by having him add to their overall level of stress and axniety?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
tritsofme
(18,540 posts)at the convention?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
jrthin
(4,964 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
peggysue2
(11,479 posts)If Senator Sanders had the good sense to simply end his failed campaign. Instead he and his supporters cling to the tattered remains and whine about abuse and bullying. Ironic since abuse and bullying has been a feature of one campaign and one campaign only: the Sanders' campaign.
End it already. Case closed. The Senator from Vermont needs to resume his 'life's work' in the Senate.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Aaron Pereira
(383 posts)Just as there are a small group of Sanders supporters who are openly hostile other places online there is a corresponding group who simply hate Sanders in a very personal way and it makes them feel better to vent about it online. They have a big reservoir of misplaced anger and likely have their own problems.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ucrdem
(15,703 posts)How obvious does it have to be before he gets the message?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Aaron Pereira
(383 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
ucrdem
(15,703 posts)More every day. Really pissed off. And every day he stays in he makes himself more hated. So it's not just a few bullies.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Galraedia
(5,176 posts)They will constantly remind you.
It's has been impossible to post anything positive about any candidate on social media without one of his 12 year old followers bashing them. Granted a lot of Sander's supporters are way nicer on this forum but that's only because this forum supports the democratic party, to which Bernie Sanders is not a member.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LostOne4Ever
(9,597 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LostOne4Ever
(9,597 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
NurseJackie
(42,862 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Faux pas
(15,369 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
IluvPitties
(3,181 posts)all the hostility towards him will stop.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LostOne4Ever
(9,597 posts)Says the exact opposite.
If anything the hostility will remain the same and anyone who complains about it will be attacked as not supporting the Nominee regardless of how much they work for the nominee's election.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
pnwmom
(109,562 posts)He also met with supporters who were protesting at the convention, and he didn't campaign for her until two events in September, and then through October.
Too little, too late.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LostOne4Ever
(9,597 posts)And actual scholarly research into the election shows did no more damage to Hillary than any other similarly contested primary. Which is further proven by the fact that she was at one of her all time polling highs coming out of the convention.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/election-update-clintons-post-convention-bump-is-holding-steady/
http://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/did-bernie-sanders-cost-hillary-clinton-the-presidency/
Speaking of which, yeah he met with those who were protesting during the convention: To tell them they need to accept reality and to support Hillary.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bernie-sanders-booed-supporters-ahead-democratic-national-convention/story?id=40857311
Yeah he campaigned for her in mainly in October, probably the single most important point in the general election as that was the lead up to Voting day! He made dozens of stops and even was booed by his own supporters who didn't like Clinton.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-eye-post-election-goals/story?id=43300037
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/09/30/bernie-sanders-step-up-campaign-schedule-hillary-clinton/91342564/
And if it was too little too late then why was he able to get more of his supporters to vote for Clinton than Clinton got of her supporters to vote for Obama in 2008? To some here on DU, Sanders could have run a non-stop campaign event for her 24/7 from the day of the convention and it still wouldn't be enough.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/08/24/did-enough-bernie-sanders-supporters-vote-for-trump-to-cost-clinton-the-election/
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
pnwmom
(109,562 posts)And he chose to contest long past the point where it served a productive purpose.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LostOne4Ever
(9,597 posts)Either the Primary (prolonged as it was) wasn't as damaging as some make it out to be, or he did an incredible job of campaigning for her.
Which explanation do you prefer?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
pnwmom
(109,562 posts)that Bernie-to-Trump voters were numerous enough in the 3 states to push them over to Trump.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2017/08/24/did-enough-bernie-sanders-supporters-vote-for-trump-to-cost-clinton-the-election/
Even if we assume that the overall percentage of Sanders supporters who voted for Trump was 6 percent and not 12 percent, and assume therefore that we can cut every state estimate in half, the estimated number of Sanders-Trump voters would still exceed Trumps margin of victory.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LostOne4Ever
(9,597 posts)Mainly
In other words, they weren't going to vote for Clinton no matter what. Hell they some of them probably wouldn't even have voted for Sanders had he become the nominee like this bozo:
https://www.thedailybeast.com/top-green-party-candidate-says-hell-run-against-demseven-if-they-nominate-sanders?ref=scroll
Net loss of zero.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
pnwmom
(109,562 posts)and didn't vote for anyone -- or who voted for Jill Stein. How many of the Jill Stein voters started out voting for Bernie? I don't know but some of his public surrogates did, like Susan Sarandon. And the Jill Stein voters alone were also enough to swing Trump's tiny margin of victory in the 3 states.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
LostOne4Ever
(9,597 posts)A person who has REPEATED voted Green over the years? A Clinton hater who probably would have voted for McCain over Hillary had Obama not won?
Again these people were NEVER going to vote for Hillary.
There is no numbers on those who sat out but the Crystal ball link analysed Sanders Voters and based on that said:
http://centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/did-bernie-sanders-cost-hillary-clinton-the-presidency/
That said, given that Sanders brought more of his supporters to Clinton than she did for Obama, anyone who had contested Hillary would have had those voters feel disenchanted and sat out the race. Had it been Warren or whoever.
But that is of course the conclusion from the UVA link as well.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
pnwmom
(109,562 posts)if he'd given full-throated support starting in April or May, rather than waiting till October, when millions had already switched to someone else.
All we know is that at all-hands-on-deck moment, Bernie was busy writing his book.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
totodeinhere
(13,313 posts)So given that why can't Biden focus on Trump now? What's he waiting for?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)The leadership could come out openly against Sanders, commence raising funds for Mr. Biden, endorse him and otherwise indicate full support for him. It would require some changes in the rules the Party established for itself to operate under, but the Democratic Party is a private body, and no one has any legal standing for redress if those rules are changed, not even members of that body.
Personally I would find the howling set up by Sanders' and his coterie were this done quite amusing. The shrieks of 'rigged against 'Bernie'!" would be shrill. Hell, we might even get a 'Fair Play for 'Bernie'!' Committee out of it.
How would you regard it, Sir?
"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
totodeinhere
(13,313 posts)in the race with a mathematical chance. To do otherwise would risk dividing the party and the party needs to be unified going into the November election. People who believe that Trump's loss is assured by the present health care crisis are not taking into account how stupid so many American voters are. The latest poll I have seen shows a majority actually approving of Trump's management of the crisis as hard as that is to believe.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)I would be inclined to strip Sanders today of seniority within the Senate's Democratic caucus, and of all committee assignments as well. I do not respond well to blackmail or threats. If he does not like it, let him cross the aisle and join McConnell in openly wrecking the country. At least then his actions would be 'free from the base alloy of hypocrisy'.
It must be remembered Sanders is not really running to secure the Presidential nomination of the Democratic Party. He is running against the 'Democratic Establishment' which he hopes to wreck, or to weaken sufficiently that he may take over the wreckage and shape it to a pattern he prefers. He never expected to ever get the nomination when he first considered running in 2012, and he does not expect to get it now. Doubtless for a few months he thought he had lightning in a bottle in the spring of 2016, and though that hope faded to ashes he could fall back on his original intention to wreck the "Democratic Establishment', thinking himself in the catbird seat when he made his demands. People who are not acting in good faith cannot expect to be treated with good faith. In fact, to be just, treatment of such persons should be obviously and glaringly unfair.
"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
dawg day
(7,947 posts)No one can get out and do a campaign rally. Campaign staffers are furloughed.
This really isn't a good time for a last-ditch scorched-earth stand. The party has to regroup, figure out how to run a general campaign in the middle of a pandemic.
It would be simpler, wouldn't it, if Sanders just acceded to the inevitable and dropped out so that all focus can be on the general. It's just not clear to me what is supposed to be accomplished by limping along in this weird quarantined new environment when "who wins Indiana" or whatever is just irrelevant.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
showblue22
(1,026 posts)He will never be our nominee under any circumstance
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
KitSileya
(4,035 posts)He knows that as long as he is not the presumptive nominee, and until Senator Sanders concedes or the convention, he won't be the presumtive nominee or the nominee out right, he cannot attack a 'fellow' party member. That's not how it's done in the Democratic party. In the Republican Party, Trump spewed out personal attacks on his opponents, and Senator Sanders attacks the Democrati Party while his campaign staff handles the personal attacks on his opponent, but VP Biden holds himself to a higher standard. And he isn't going to trample on party customs, even if I think he should. For Senator Sanders is holding up not only the campaign against Trump, he is also materially damaging the Democratic Party's fights in down-ticket races. Only the presumptive nominee can release the money raised for down-ticket races, and it is abundantly clear that Senator Sanders don't care about the down-ticket races unless he gets a quid pro quo. He doesn't fundraise for them unless they endorse him.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)I hope Mr. Biden has a few....
"I mean you no harm, Sir. But I can't speak for Captain Turner."
"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
KitSileya
(4,035 posts)Did you see that Senator Sanders' supporters are now triumphing because they claim their man got "his" unemployment benefits into the emergency bill? ...in the House version. While he was "reasessing" in Vermont.
I swear, these guys need a civics lesson as bad as a certain other politician's MAGArats do - they were blaming the Democrats for the Senate Bill not being 100% to their liking. The idea that if you don't have a majority in Congress means that you don't get everything you want is as lost on them as on their Savior - he keeps saying that a groundswell of his revolutionary protestors outside Congress would pressure the Republicans to do the right thing. And I ask you (there's no use asking Senator Sanders), if that were the case, why didn't he bring out this revolutionary horde when impeachment was being voted on? Didn't he think the vote warranted it?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)These are people who would believe and cheer the increase of the chocolate ration from thirty gammes a week to twenty....
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
KitSileya
(4,035 posts)with a Master's degree in American literature (my thesis was on Robert Heinlein, for my sins), I caught that reference, sir! Best course I took at that level was one named 'Utopias and Dystopias'.
(And I'm a ma'am, if you don't mind)
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)And you are forgiven for the Heinlien. 'The Moon is a Harsh Mistress' and 'Starship Troopers' are ripping yarns, though the social structure in the former would never have evolved in the circumstances set out, and the politics of the latter are absurd. It was the law when I was young that 'Stranger In a Strange Land' had to be read, and it was fun enough, but once I came upon 'Farnham's Freehold' I decided the man was worth the small effort required to forget and ignore. I understand he has made some subsequent apology for that one, but that makes no difference, he meant it when he did it....
"Whiskey don't make liars, it just makes fools. So I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said."
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
KitSileya
(4,035 posts)I wrote about the female main charactershe wrote, focussing on 'To Sail Beyond the Sunset' and 'Friday'. Quite interesting to look at men trying to write female characters, but I think I would be a lot harsher today at 44 than I was back then at 26.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
The Magistrate
(96,043 posts)It seems to me in writing a character who is a woman, the best course for a man to take is simply to write about a person, without any attempt to present something peculiarly 'female' or feminine in outlook. Certain things will need attention, one must think into a smaller body, and perhaps a more nimble mind, with a greater attention to detail, but otherwise the thing comes under 'people are people'. These are a things that can be got right, and an attempt at the others is sure to get caught up in what a man thinks women are, and that is not something I suspect many women could see themselves in.
A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ma'am!
Be well.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
DarthDem
(5,364 posts)Thread trashed.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Loki Liesmith
(4,602 posts)Who else does it hurt, besides Bernie?
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)but the further aggrandizement of Bernie and his '60s politics. And not the best part of '60s politics, to be sure. Just the laughable parts-- all of his talk about justice and equality has been approached by actual attempts at social justice by others, but then scorned by him as not good enough.
He did his best to screw Hillary's chances in the general when he refused to get out and campaign for her until two or three small mumbles just before the election.
He has spent around 30 years in Congress without one significant legislative accomplishment or any coalition building. He uses the Democratic party as a backdoor to campaigning, since he spends the rest of his time complaining about it. He knows perfectly well that he is incapable of building even the semblance of a third party with his crew of whining brats, and is perfectly aware of the history of third parties in American politics even if he could get one off the ground.
So, why should any Democrat who has been out getting petition signatures, paying for campaigns, or doing any of the myriad things party members of all sorts do every year (as opposed to every four years) give Bernie the time of day?
This is his absolutely last and final shot to be anything but a tiny asterisk in the history books, and he will not give up easily, but we are voting for the future of the nation, not for balm for Bernie's hurt feelings and dead dreams.
He should just shut up and step aside, allowing for unity to get rid of Trump. His betters in the primary season have already done that. Harris, Warren, Klobuchar, Mayor Pete, even Bloomberg, are among those who have the skills and essentials to beat Trump and do the job of President, but they all stepped back to back Biden and support unity and beating Trump.
All but one, who has to be the outlier and the oilcan that dropped into the works.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Turin_C3PO
(15,922 posts)Far less polarization there. The primary forum is always pretty rough. 2008, 2016, being worse than this season, in my opinion.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Skittles
(159,374 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
Codeine
(25,586 posts)I don't want to hear SHIT from the Sanders/Undecided camp anymore. They just want to destroy everything because they got systematically annihilated at the ballot box.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
alarimer
(16,583 posts)And if this virus doesnt show how badly we need Medicare for all, then I dont know what will. I mean, we really need Warren to be the nominee, not some old corporate guy. But here we are. But I wont stay here. Im a progressive, not a Democrat, evidently.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
rzemanfl
(30,288 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
zackymilly
(2,375 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
MH1
(18,158 posts)It is potentially very damaging to decent people with anxiety issues, when we see this supposed "ally" (I know, yeah, right) actually trying to torpedo any chance we have of beating Trump.
I am so fucking sick of BS that I could scream.
And no, my saying this is how I feel, is NOT cyberbullying.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
showblue22
(1,026 posts)My stress and anxiety if way up. Bernie's negative style campaign stress people out. His selfishness is hurting a lot of people.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Sewa
(1,337 posts)The aggressive Biden supporters arent doing their candidate any favor. Creating resentment against Biden through their bullying tactics is counterproductive. It is past time to light up and be more respectful of others.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
showblue22
(1,026 posts)primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden
Sewa
(1,337 posts)on this site? Does that give you permission to disrespect Bernie supporters, who had nothing to do with the claim? Im sure that Biden is happy that you are helping to spread the story and keeping it alive.
primary today, I would vote for: Undecided
showblue22
(1,026 posts)Bernie will never be our nominee, no matter what bullshit you guys pull. VOTES win elections not smear campaigns.
primary today, I would vote for: Joe Biden