I am very curious about what the Obama/Sanders meeting today will result in. It was strange that it was Sanders who requested it.
This WaPo article has the most detail, but I don't suppose we'll ever know what went on in the room where it happened.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/seeking-to-exit-on-his-own-terms-bernie-sanders-comes-to-washington-thursday/2016/06/09/0b252f10-2e39-11e6-9de3-6e6e7a14000c_story.html
All snark aside, please--PLEASE--what, in your opinion, should Bernie do next? Even his detractors have to admit he ran an absolutely incredible campaign and beat the odds of being marginalized and frankly undermined by the DNC and Our Stupid Media. This is major and as important as Hillary being the first woman, etc. etc. What now?
Start a third party?
Return to Congress?
What?
Intelligent answers, please.
He needs to continue his movement through the 2018 midterms. The Dems are good at presidential elections, but they suck at midterms. I wouldn't be surprised if that was high on the list of topics in his meeting with Obama today.
Side note: if you are going to ask for snark-free responses, best to avoid it in your own post ("...being marginalized and frankly undermined by the DNC...".
He should stop poisoning the minds of his followers by saying that Hillary is "dishonest" or "corrupt" or "unethical" or "unqualified" or that Obama is corrupt or that the Democratic Party is corrupt or that the system was rigged. He should state unequivocally that all of those misguided notions were UNTRUE.
He should unite his followers to help Hillary beat Trump and help the Democrats win EVERY down-ticket race in each of the 50 states, and he should teach them to work within the party to move the party from the center to the left but not so far to the left that they lose national power.
And it looks like after this meeting with Obama that he's going to do so immediately after Tuesday's DC primary, which looks like it might be another 56-43 win for Clinton:
POLITICO: Sanders signals the end is near: After meeting with Obama, Sanders gives strongest sign yet that he will soon bow out. But he's going to compete in D.C. primary first.
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/06/bernie-sanders-staying-in-race-224126
http://www.nbcnews.com/card/obama-endorses-clinton-im-her-n589086
President Obama officially endorses Clinton. <3 <3 <3 <3 <3
I TOTALLY agree about mid-term elections!! All this passion needs to GO somewhere constructive and voters have a tendency to sleep late when it comes to the mid-terms so, yes, leading the fight of awareness on that issue would be an incredible step.
He should help his younger supporters understand that a progressive movement is possible only if they get involved in local politics and support candidates (or run themselves) who are committed to the ideals for which he claims to stand. He can point to places like Berkeley and Eugene to illustrate that it is possible to make a difference at the local level. He can point to how same-sex marriage would never have become the law of the land if progressive communities and states didn't push if forward first (if not completely).
I don't know that he will do that, however, because his model is based overthrow. I hope, though, he has learned something himself, including that every mass protest movement of late (his, OWS) has failed to force direct change. Politics is local--learn how to work within that system to be the change.
Not for nothing, the narrative that he was undermined by the media is flat out false. I watch network news programs, and every one of them had him on, asked him softball questions, and included him positively in their recaps of campaign news. His name was front and present as any other candidate, and it without a doubt helped get his message out. He lost because he did not present a sufficiently compelling case for himself or his policies, same as many other candidates of the past.
Every time a gay man says that fierce protest doesn't work, a former AIDS patient loses his wings.
Start campaigning vigorously for down ticket candidates. Without a Democratic Congress, there's only so much a President Clinton or President Sanders can do.
Every time a gay man says that fierce protest doesn't work, a former AIDS patient loses his wings.
And every time Bernie and his policy director libeled a living HIV hero, every single former AIDS patient put a curse on his campaign.
HIV/AIDS activists angry at Bernie Sanders for ‘misleading’ claim
http://www.lgbtqnation.com/2016/05/hivaids-activists-angry-bernie-sanders-misleading-claim/
Back on topic - I think if Sanders can continue to push progressive politics at the state and local level, while also pushing a progressive agenda in Congress, he will help move this country forwards in ways that are both tangible and long-term.
The things the Dems have recently failed in is grappling with and meeting head on the grass root GOP efforts - and there was an effort by a Sanders supporter, with his groups Brand New Congress, to do just that.
http://brandnewcongress.org/home
In my opinion, it is critical that the Dems do not employ the same sort of litmus or purity test that has dragged the GOP so far to the right. I hope they look for effective politicians, not just folks who check all the right boxes.
Help the Democrats and go back to the Senate.
I feel like I'm in the right forum to ask this question. Why are gay people bashing Sanders when he was an outspoken advocate for gays for years when Hillary was still holding fast against gay marriage?
Sanders has dismissive toward minorities, women, gays, HIV activists. Educate yourself.
Meanwhile, Obama whupped him into shape, and now Bernie is going to meet with Hillary and go all out the effort to defeat Trump.
HUFF POST: Bernie Sanders Vows To Go All In Against Trump After Obama Meeting
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-obama-meeting_us_5759a0b5e4b0e39a28acca85
"Sanders has dismissive toward minorities, women, gays, HIV activists. Educate yourself."
PJ you pull stuff out your ass routinely. What does that mean? Can someone other than PJ explain this to me?
PalJoey said: " "
That's funny. Especially since WAY more Clinton supporters were vowing never to vote for Obama in 08. And it's funny that you claim that Sanders has been dismissive of gays when you're supporting a candidate who supported DOMA, Don't Ask Don't Tell, and was one of the last Democrats to get on board with gay marriage. And I'm curious. When did Sanders ever call Obama "corrupt"?
PJ must be trolling - so disappointing to see how bias can disrupt reason. Some of these claims are outrageous and so emotionally charged I just can't be bothered anymore - congratulations HRC.
Now that Hillary has the endorsements of the President and Mrs. Obama, Vice President Biden, Senator Warren, AND Senator Sanders, we can declare this thread OVER.
I will be honored to give the last word to the any and all of the Sanders supporters.
Erik?
This smackdown Warren is giving Trump right now is F*CKING EPIC.
We should end this thread, the winners are bitter for some reason. Let's move on to defeating Trump and assuring a Supreme Court that might not be as insane as it has been. Good luck Hillbots, you have my vote in Florida which will be infinitely more important than yours.
OK, I just watch Warren's Trump take down and I jumped to my feet at the end! Holy Copw!
http://www.joemygod.com/2016/06/09/sen-elizabeth-warren-goes-off-on-donald-trump-hes-a-loud-nasty-thin-skinned-racist-bully-video/
Still not one of you have answered my question because there is no answer. Bernie was there years before Clinton came around to what the public wanted, what was right, he had principles and didn't look at what the polls said. I will never understand how she got the gay vote,which is obvious in this thread for over a year now.
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