Bernie sets down terms of supporting Hillary to Chuck Todd, if he loses
After watching it earlier I broke away to get some other things done on this Spring Sunday, but couldn't shake my annoyance at Bernie's comments and tone. I decided to write down how I interpreted it, so here I sit down and write.
Some might think Bernie was signaling that he would support Hillary Clinton eventually. His comments about California sounded awfully similar to his ones about New York: "I think we will win there and win big." So, again he has moved the goal post.
He restated his usual talking points as answers to Todd's questions, but finally added, under prodding by Todd, his "conditions" to support her. He presumed to speak "for the American people"--for what they want and need (he knows...right?), but then there came his real answer.
His "conditions" were basically for her to completely adopt his campaign platform from his perspective, not hers, and then she could, by doing so, earn his support. This would allow him to claim he had won--by bending "the Secretary" to his will. He could say that though he lost the nomination he forced the Democratic Party to change, and he forced "the Secretary" to adopt his more important approaches to issues for the sake of "the American people" and "the future of this country."
I am presuming she doesn't have to perpetuate his smears and lies about her, though. He might let her off there, but she will have to submit to Bernie Sanders. He then, will quit the battle after whining...er...winning!
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what he needs- not the people.
Hillary's policies are not really all the different from his, except for being more realistic.
Why does he - with FEWER votes, FEWER delegates, LESS support generally, and with a track record of FEWER actual accomplishments during his much longer political life - think that Hillary should do anything HE says? 
With every word he utters, he loses credibility as a serious candidate.
As you make clear, Bernie Sanders is not the first to notice a declining Middle Class, rising top executive pay, rising tuition costs, a need for universal healthcare, better wages, etc.
Where Bernie is good and useful is by repeatedly discussing these issues in short form, as he does, helping indies and young people understand progressive goals. His solutions, however, don't wash. Still, if he could temper his criticisms of others who ARE NOT part of the problem, his message would be helpful. Because of his self-serving rhetoric, due to his campaign, Democrats are now finding themselves demonized by someone within the party banner, and that is a low blow--not constructive.
I appreciate your good points.
Terms
They didn't have Bernie 
He really, really has bought into the idea that he would lead a revolution. Now he has all these independents and college kids behind him, he intends to use their support to force a situation in his favor. He has also shown himself to be extremely competitive and needs to feel victorious--he will continue to fight.
I am afraid this man will have to either be abandoned by his minions, or appeased in some way (not going to happen). It is not reasonable for him to set conditions, but he has. He obviously has an overbearing, controlling streak that gets the better of any sense of propriety he may have.
I really, really hope he can be reasoned with and give up the divisiveness and nastiness. He should behave as a leader and help his supporters transition to back Hillary Clinton as the race winds down to its obvious conclusion.
...if he makes trouble for Democrats and works against Hillary Clinton and the agenda she sets.
Let's hope he retires. It may be the best thing. He will be 77 years old at that time.
He keeps moving the goalpost, and he refuses to consider super-delegates in his new calculations--that California will turn the tide for him. Bizarre, delusional thinking. The problem is he is lying to "his flock" to continue to believe he still has a chance if they send money--fraud.
He has become more problematic then he could be helpful. I am sure Hillary will graciously commend him at the nomination for doing well, but beyond that...nothing. His supporters may already be falling away, and those that remain will be the die-hards, the ones who couldn't care less about unifying the Party.
And, Hillary's not being bent to anyone's "will". she's worked too long and too hard to submit to anyone... especially burnie ******* sanders who has no accomplishments. big rallies? meh.. we saw how that worked out in New York.
She's more Progressive because she gets it done..
BlueCaliDem~
Mahalo mucho, pandr~ I like your last sentence, too.. nice touch.. 
He would have to behave. Even still he could wind up acting like a kidnap victim forced to read a script to make the kidnapper look justified, so I don't know...hmmmmm
The problem is that Bernie Sanders has no loyalty to the Democrat Party--he already has proven that over and over during this campaign. This is a dilemma, for sure.
...but too many newbies are hearing that Bernie Sanders is the only honest and genuine candidate, that he has been first and steady on ALL important progressive issues, and that Hillary Clinton is a changeling that cannot be believed or trusted--she is changing her positions continually in order to steal votes from Bernie Sanders.
I have had this argued to my face as a Clinton delegate in WA State.
The thing is, too, that if one poses a question about Hillary's position on something into the search bar, a whole lot of debunked garbage shows up (Hillary Clinton has received more negative press coverage than any other candidate). I have gotten tired of telling people to check it out and then they send all kinds of nasty links to me showing that Hillary Clinton is wrong, bad, evil, lying, cheating, calculating, likely to be indicted, and on and on. Their answer to positive links I send back? Propaganda funded by Wall Street and/or the establishment.
It is a mine field out there, and Sanders has been very busy taking full advantage.
You've got that dead on right!
I honestly think that he has bought into the notion that he can and will win one way or another.. Therefore he hasn't really thought this through.
It is often an indication of dishonesty, or total insecurity, but then Sanders loves getting in front of thousands of people and lecturing, so no apparent insecurity there.
