Bernie Sanders is inadvertently damaging the Democratic Party

[CajunBlazer]

Bernie says you can't be a progressive and a moderate at the same time. This reminds me of the Republican Tea Partiers who want to close down the GOP to all but the radical right. Efforts to create the Republican "Big Tent" have failed miserably and the GOP has been weakened significantly by that failure.

This has been the Achilles heel of Republican party in the last few Presidential elections. Ultra conservative Republican candidates have forced their more moderate and electable candidates to adopt stances which are more conservative than they are comfortable with in order to win their party's nomination. Once they have that nomination those stances have been their downfall in the General Election.

That is exactly what Bernie is doing in an effort to win a pitiful few delegates in in extremely liberal New Hampshire. While now Sanders is obviously in it to win it, one the prime goal of his campaign early on has been to pull Hillary further to the left. He is succeeding.

I strenuously object to the notion that one cannot be a progressive and moderate at the same time. I like many Clinton supporters believe strongly in many of the same progressive values which Bernie professes. We disavow many of the values that Republicans seem to cherish. We are all on the same side folks. What makes some of us moderate progressives is how far we are willing to go to accommodate political reality.

This is what the the Democratic party should be about - a party which deeply rooted in progressive values, but realistic enough in its positions to take and keep the White House. Political ideals without political power is the height of frustration. We cannot be like the Republicans who eat their own, who make their candidates virtually unelectiable.

We can not afford to make the same mistakes as the Republicans. We cannot be constantly fighting among ourselves because that weakens us to external forces. We can and must build a big tent in the Democratic Party where progressives from the far left to the very moderate can all peacefully coexist together. We must succeed where the Republicans have failed. That is the only way we will have the strength to put our ideas into practice.

[DURHAM D]

1. It is not inadvertent. nt

[earthside]

39. It is not inadvertent ... and it is saving the Democratic Party.

We don't need two Repuglican Parties.

We need a Democratic Party that is progressive, fights for middle class and working people, and offers real hope for the future.

The destruction of the Democratic Party will begin if it nominates for President a person who barely even talks like a progressive, but behaves like a Repuglican contender for that party's nomination.

'Moderate' apparently means for the Clinton effort rationalizing taking money from Bain Capital, Goldman Sachs, and cozying-up to Wall Street.

Democracy of the Billionaires
The most expensive election ever is a billionaire's playground. Unless you're Bernie Sanders.
By Nomi Prins
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/democracy-billionaires

It is sad and tragic that the Hillary Clinton candidacy is all about 'pragmatism', thinking small, not dreaming very big, about winning for herself even if it means selling out the heart of what FDR, Truman, Kennedy and LBJ built the Democratic Party to be.

Sen. Sanders' candidacy revitalizes the aspirations of the New Deal ... if Democrats reject that premise and those principles, then it isn't going to be the genuine Democratic Party anyway. No, it isn't an inadvertent strategy to damage the Party, it is a deliberate attempt to save the Democratic Party and the nation from the cynicism and the banksterism.

[hoosierlib]

103. Word...

[MrMickeysMom]

130. THIS...

Sen. Sanders' candidacy revitalizes the aspirations of the New Deal

Which, by the way, has room in the big tent for the origins of conservation (something unrecognizable anymore from its original intent)... Conservation of water, air, future land use (versus abolition of any usable natural resources).

You only know this is you pay attention to history as you listen and watch, it's TRUE!

[JRLeft]

135. +1000

[merrily]

2. LOL! Yes, moving the party left must horrify some politicians.

Heaven forbid both major political parties not end up as right and righter.

[stonecutter357]

3. He is a guest to the Democratic party and needs to act like it.

[Bonobo]

10. I have seen a lot of really fucked up notions of what a political party should be lately.

This post of yours is pretty emblematic.

[stonecutter357]

45. Don't BernieBro me.

[hedda_foil]

127. OK that meme hasn't worked at all and now is schoolwork and even sillier when used as a verb.

[stonecutter357]

129. BernieBro is not a meme BernieBros are real.

[hedda_foil]

137. Don't make yourself look even more ridiculous.

[RoccoR5955]

52. Right. Today's Democratic Party

is seeming to me to appear more like the Republican Party of about 40 years ago in many, but not all ways.

[TheBlackAdder]

86. MSNBC isn't turning Republican, it's aligning with the Democratic Party. People dislike the look.

.


People keep calling out MSNBC for changing into a conservative outlet.

They aren't. They are repositioning themselves to the New Democratic Party.



The people who complain just don't like the looks from a 3rd party news outlet.

Embrace the inner Reagan-Democrats in you. Then you will like MSNBC.



For the rest of us, both MSNBC and Reagan/Blue Dog Democrats suck!



.

[RoccoR5955]

92. More like the Third Way Party.

Which is what the Democratic Party has become. There are many of us who want to take it back to the roots, like when FDR was in charge.

[dflprincess]

128. Exactly

Thank you.

[frylock]

97. Only conservatives are welcome in the big tent.

[PotatoChip]

29. The D party (my party) has been astonishingly rude to a man who did them a huge favor.

If he had run as an Indy, we would most certainly be looking at a Trump, Cruz, Rubio, or some other R clown's inauguration next January.

Having a left leaning independent in both gubernatorial elections of 2010 and 2014 is how my state ended up with our insane Governor LePage.

It's really quite shameful the way the elitist among our party have been treating Bernie after all he's done for them.

[NorthCarolina]

33. I call Bullshit.

That's some fucked up shit right there. Who made you the arbiter of who is a "Democrat" and who is not? Do you have some power behind your claim, or are you just another nobody like me with an "opinion"?

[bkkyosemite]

76. Must have got it from MSM cuz they keep saying it.

[Goblinmonger]

44. How are you not doing EXACTLY what the OP is talking about

[RoccoR5955]

50. So what you are saying is that he has to fall in line

Just like good Third Wayers and RepubliCONs do?

[frylock]

95. How inclusive of you.

Are their membership fees?

[stonecutter357]

107. How inclusive of Bernie.

“We have to ask ourselves, ‘Why should we work within the Democratic Party if we don’t agree with anything the Democratic Party says?’” Bernie Sanders.

[frylock]

108. Sound logic.

[senz]

120. He's the heart and soul of the Democratic Party I joined long ago

before Republicans moved in with their DLC/Third Way crap.

[closeupready]

4. He is exposing the rot in the leadership. He is JUST what the party needs.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

30. Could not agree more.

Bernie & Elizabeth 2016!!!

[m-lekktor]

88. Exactly!

[closeupready]

89. This is what it took to turn NYC around:

Bad publicity. Shining a light on what ails an institution. That's exactly what he's doing to the Democratic Party's leadership, and I applaud him for that.

[cali]

5. I don't know whether to laugh or cry at such nonsense

I realize you're having to scratch for crap to fling, but this is embarrassingly lame. Also seems to be the hill fans meme design jour.

[DanTex]

6. He certainly seems to be driving a wedge and making moderates out as the enemy.

[Fronkonsteen]

34. So championing progressive policies is 'driving a wedge'?

Well, then he's guilty as charged. Maybe the 'moderates' ought to show some courage and fight for more than the scraps thrown to them by the establishment.

[DanTex]

35. Making moderates into the enemy is certainly driving a wedge.

We want moderates to vote for Dems, not Reps. At least I do.

[Bluenorthwest]

48. So what did you call it when both Hillary and Obama held up LGBT as unworthy of equal rights?

That was a huge wedge, driven so far in that it is the reason I am not considering your candidate this cycle. It's a hell of an affectation in a Party that excelled at holding Rick Warren events for candidates who agreed with Rick about those gays to suddenly claim concerns about driving wedges by criticizing our own.

[NurseJackie]

7. His days are numbered. This will all be over in due time.

Super Tuesday and other key states later in March will make it abundantly clear that BERNIE WILL NOT BECOME THE NOMINEE.

This reminds me of the Republican Tea Partiers who want to close down the GOP to all but the radical right. Efforts to create the Republican "Big Tent" have failed miserably and the GOP has been weakened significantly by that failure.

An excellent and astute observation.

[cali]

19. My don't you sound charmingly threatening, nurse.

[Bluenorthwest]

43. My guess is that you are not familiar with the TV character Nurse Jackie, played by Edie Falco on

Showtime. Very good show about a very talented nurse who is also a drug addict who destroys her own family, betrays husband and Union and her own career out of self certain hubris. The show concluded with Jackie's death by overdose on the floor of the hospital she helped ruin. It's well written in that even when she's at her very worst in her personal life, she's the exact nurse you'd want if you were in an emergency room. A great nurse. A terrible person.
It's very good TV. I highly recommend the show.

[cali]

49. You're right, I've never watched it.

[unc70]

56. And an interesting choice of username

[Stardust]

58. Nurse Jackie had an addiction, a disease, not excessive hubris. Sorry, that's just the way I saw it.

[bettyellen]

122. Holy SHIT! Add a spoiler tag to that! Have not seen the last season.

[Hiraeth]

77. no charm, just threatening.

[uponit7771]

62. +1

[TwilightGardener]

65. Maybe. But not before Bernie forces her to say a WHOLE LOT OF LEFTY THINGS

that she won't be able to take back when she inevitably runs to the center against Marco Rubio, the "moderate" Latino studmuffin.

[NurseJackie]

66. Actually ... Hillary Clinton Was the 11th Most Liberal Member of the Senate

That's not my opinion. That's what the data says.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/3/31/1374629/-Hillary-Clinton-Was-the-11th-Most-Liberal-Member-of-the-Senate

" But suggestions that she is "a liberal republican or a conservative dem," to take one example of a quotation I read today, should stop here. By her voting record in Congress, Hillary Clinton is squarely in the mainstream of the national Democratic party in America, and would be a good ideological fit for it as its nominee. If anyone tries to tell you differently, ask them to show their work. "

"Latino studmuffin."
OMG!

[frylock]

96. Who was first?

[whatchamacallit]

67. And you're soooo confident the millions who support him will simply come running back

to the corrupt turd called the Democratic Party...

[AgingAmerican]

8. You are essentially saying the Truth has no place in the Democratic party

To which I say balderdash!

[TCJ70]

9. Oh no! He's...

...standing up for traditional Democratic values and positions! AND he'll fight for them? What a bastard...How horrible.

[jillan]

11. Good! It's about time!! I am sick of the spineless Dems that keep moving towards the middle while

the repugs keep moving that middle further and further to the right.

I hope beyond hope that Bernie is damaging the party & knocking it out of it's sweet slumber because the democratic party needs to wake the fuck up! Look at what we have become! DWS as our leader? Losing Governor seats and local seats throughout the country?

What do we stand for? Vote for us because we're not as crazy as republicans?
Not good enough!

Enough is Enough! It's time to do something radical in this country and we just happen to have the right person running for President at the right time to shake things up.

[serqet]

73. Standing 'O'!!!

My sentiments exactly... so tired of 30+ years of rightward mvmt and settling instead fighting.

[CrispyQ]

87. This ^^^

Obama is just an icon for most of the dem party in this cartoon:



The repubs are going to turn out in droves in 2016. Eight years of a black man as president will motivate them enough, but if the dems put a woman up, much less one the GOP loathes, well, there will not be any enthusiasm gap on their side. A lot of new voters signed up just to vote for Bernie. I don't see all those translating into votes for HRC. I just don't think HRC is the hands down winner in the general that dem leadership does. If she's up against Rubio, I think he'll win.

[senz]

123. Well said. Great cartoon, too!

[stillwaiting]

112. It's not even radical if a majority of Americans support the policies.

Which they do regarding Bernie's positions.

It's only radical in the sense that elected politicians and the corporations they serve are against those policies. It gives them the vapors. In that sense it's radical. The insiders see it as radical. Who fucking cares about what they think though?

When they say they're not a populist they identify themselves as an elitist. Politicians that feel that way need to go BACK to the Republican Party. The Democratic Party has become infested with elitists and we have to chuck 'em out.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

124. Thank goodness, really! And the fact that he is doing so well restores a little

of my lost faith in the American people.

[Fawke Em]

12. Meh...I think they're doing it to themselves.

They've moved so far right, they've hurt themselves.

[Broward]

13. We're not always on the same side.

And your side has been "accommodating political reality" by steadily dragging this Party to the right on key issues over the past 35 years.

[serqet]

74. Exactly! n/t

[Nye Bevan]

14. While I support Hillary, it's ridiculous to say that Bernie is "damaging the party".

He has every right to campaign with whatever policies he likes. If the primary voters think he is too far to the left, they won't nominate him, and no harm done. And Hillary is a big girl; talking about her being "pulled to the left" is ludicrous. If anything she is modifying her policies in the light of what she is hearing from the voters, which surely is a good thing.

I never wanted a "coronation", and I am happy to see a vigorous primary battle.

[bkkyosemite]

79. Thank you. Your post is reasonable. But may I just say

as I quote you "If anything she is modifying her policies in the light of what she is hearing from the voters," No I'm sorry, I disagree. She is modifying because she see's the swell of Bernie supporters from what he is saying which is truth. She knows his wave of followers is a concern for her. She is flip flopping not modifying. I truly believe if she is elected she will not do what she ..now.. is saying. It's like if you want the cookie you will have to say please and be nice but once you eat it ...your back to your old self.

[nc4bo]

15. Already damaged before Sanders became a candidate.

The voices of protest were easily ignored before. Sanders has given us representation in a way where we cannot be so easily ignored.

CAN YOU HEAR US NOW??!

[serqet]

75. Yes!!!!

Sanders has given us a voice, direction, and leadership!

Sad so many democrats are conservatives and prefer Wall Street to Main Street.

[JPnoodleman]

16. To the tumor, the surgeon with the scalpel also appears as a "problem" /nt

[VulgarPoet]

69. Do you mind if I grok this quote from you? This is some good stuff, amigo.

[JPnoodleman]

71. Go ahead ^_^ I'm honored anyone thinks I'm clever. /nt

[treestar]

17. The purer than thou theme does not work

It cannot win elections. It's stupid and vain.

[cali]

22. Lol. Says he diehard fan of O'Malley.

And your parroting a false meme, tree.

[Nanjeanne]

18. The Democratic Party has damaged itself when it decided to go the Third Way

As a long-time Democrat, I do not align with the Party any more. If Sanders can make me proud of being a Democrat again - I'm all for it.

[LWolf]

20. Bullshit.

Neo-liberals have virtually destroyed the party. Sanders and his supporters will either succeed in rebuilding the party for the people, or the party will become irrelevant.

I strenuously object to all politically twisting of language. I don't give a fucking shit whether it's liberal, progressive, moderate, centrist, or anything else.

Neo-liberals are economic liberals. And economically liberal policies harm the 99%. While neo-liberals can appear to be socially liberal as well, supporting social justice if not economic justice, the truth is that neo-liberalism is bad for those seeking social justice as well as economic justice. That's why it's a bad idea to separate the two.

Progressivism, in the Progressive Era, was a response to the economic and social ills brought about by liberal economic policies. Neo-liberals have worked to erode the progress made since that time.

And THAT damages the Democratic Party.

[kristopher]

21. What is the level of popular support for his policy proposals?

Here is a sampling, can you honestly say this is a platform that does not have strong majority support?

Guaranteed health care as a right?

Single payer health care?

Expanding Social Security?

$15/hr minimum wage tied to concept of "a living wage"?

Break up the banks and financial institutions to ensure none are too big to fail?

Gain firm control of the banks and Wall Street's ability to purchase political influence?

Extend guaranteed access to education thru college?

A comprehensive listing is here
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_positions_of_Bernie_Sanders


The supporters of "No, we can't" are the ones bucking the popular trend and retarding progress.

[cherokeeprogressive]

23. I'm sending this to The Greatest Page with the fifth rec. Not because it's on the mark...

but because it's Comedy Gold and I think everyone needs a good laugh today.

[Jarqui]

24. All I know is Bernie is fighting for the stuff we Democrats in the 60s fought for

Hillary is not.

Hillary's position today seems more like the Republicans position in the 50s and 60s

[Dem2]

25. NH isn't "extremely liberal"

Perhaps a percentage of the Democratic electorate is, but much of his appeal is due to neighboring state syndrome. The state as a whole is purple at best.

Oh, and I don't really care how Bernie defines something though I do find this game of "defining" the electorate using single words or phrases to be a complete waste of time.

[NCTraveler]

26. It's not inadvertent. Nt

[Armstead]

27. You have a point but I disagree with your characterization

I disagree with Bernie'sd statement that one cannot be progressive and moderate.

However, for far too many years, Democrats have used "pragmatism" as a reason to curl up in a little ball and do nothing, or to take negative steps that advance corporate conservatism and set back progressive/liberal goals.

Its been going on for far too long. And whenever push comes to shove the Democratic Establishment lifts the boot and denigrates progressives as the "fringe left" and dismiss progressivism and liberalism as "not realistic."

Had the party been more open and receptive to progressive positions -- and to progressives -- there would not be the need for these differences to become so heated and tense.

[RiverLover]

28. Hillary has directly damaged the Democratic Party.

Don't go blaming the guy trying to FIX it.

[Cosmocat]

31. Bernie isn't saying that ...

his dingbat supporters here are ...

A lot of them anyways.

Bernie is right on most of the issues, and unlike most Ds has two actual working testicles.

He is feisty, but classy.

I have not problem with him, in fact I am voting for him, while at the same time being repulsed by the vitriol from a lot of his supporters here ...

[Hortensis]

32. WHAT IS A PROGRESSIVE?

Progressives include anybody and everybody who believe in using the power of government to advance our nation and solve problems too large for private solutions.

The far left not only has been trying to coopt the honorable term "progressive" for only themselves, they actually reject unifying with any other group of Democratic voters. The superiority of their cause and others' alliance with evil forces does not allow that. This is inimical to the very idea of progressivism, which in action achieves its successes by people across the political spectrum working together for common goals.

Refuse to play this game. Liberals are liberals, moderates are moderates, conservatives are conservatives, and far-left and far-right types are always trying out labels and reforming under new names. All can be progressive IF they embrace progressive solutions.

Almost all of today's Democrats are progressives.

Almost all of today's Republicans are not -- the GOP once had many progressives, but progressivism has been systematically annihilated on the right. Temporarily. We're going to fix that over time.

Good post, well worth reading, Cajun Blazer.

[SheenaR]

51. What are the progressive solutions that

Hillary has re: TPP, fossil fuels, Wall Street and campaign finance reform. Actual solutions.

I'll wait. That's why not ALL Democrats are progressive

[Hortensis]

60. Seriously? Hillary's progressive solutions

to all our major problems and many secondary but serious are described in impressive detail at https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/.

But this from OnTheIssues.org. gives the picture with a whole lot less reading:

Issues scored -10 most liberal to +10 most conservative

Hillary
Individual Rights -9
Domestic Issues -8
Economic Issues -8
Defense and International Issues -2

BUT there's a lot more to this! These scores are composite. Their site for "individual rights," for instance gives scored Hillary on abortion, women and minority rights, marriage, religion, environment, and voter rights. (She's only a -4 on religion, which is a major strike for me; I am 100% against using taxpayer money for religious education.)

http://presidential-candidates.insidegov.com/l/40/Hillary-Clinton

Very interesting site, evaluates all the presidential candidates.
Bernie's there too, of course.

[RoccoR5955]

54. I am not a "Progressive," I am a LIBERAL

And I quote: "If by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people-their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights and their civil liberties-someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies abroad, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal", then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal.” "
--John Fitzgerald Kennedy.

He speaks for me.
Here's a link to the entire speech: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/primary-resources/jfk-nyliberal/

[Hortensis]

61. Hi, partner. I'm a liberal too, a strong one.

Check Kennedy's words over, though, and you'll see they don't actually state how liberals act on their beliefs. Not every liberal believes in using the power of government to the same degree. Some are even quite libertarian economically and very opposed to government solutions.

I'm a strong progressive and strong liberal because I definitely believe in using the tremendous power and resources of the government we created in service of our people and lands.

You know, we do NEED the term progressive to describe that, and that's why it was coined. America even, of course, has a whole era named the Progressive Era.

[Bluenorthwest]

36. Bernie is saving the Party by allowing me to have a Democrat who has never opposed my rights to

support in the Primary. The Party needs to understand that many of us will never again vote for any of those politicians who spent years opposing equality and claiming their God also opposed equality. If she's the nominee and I have to vote for her, the Party will have to make up for that in the future in some way because this needs to end, this series of faked up holy pants preacher types holding hands with Rick Warren.

I'm done. You will never get a primary vote from me for any candidate with a past of opposing LGBT rights. Never.

And what a load of crap to say 'we must not fight among ourselves' in defense of a candidate with a history of picking fights with LGBT Democrats. She has never explained nor apologized for those years of fighting against us.

So you like that sort of thing, that's where your vote will go. I do not so that's not how I will vote.

You should be very thankful Bernie is in this contest.

[Bonhomme Richard]

37. The problem is the word "realistic".

Why? Because the word is defined by the user and is based on the users perception or goals. You, for example, I assume base it on your perceptions of the world. The establishment uses the word for propaganda to further their interest. Remember the Bush guy saying that they define reality? Same thing.

[jeff47]

38. So why is it only up to the majority of the party to surrender?

We can not afford to make the same mistakes as the Republicans. We cannot be constantly fighting among ourselves because that weakens us to external forces.

Why is it up to the majority of the party to surrender in this conflict?

For example, crazy socialist communist ideas like single-payer are supported by a large majority of the party. Yet you insist the majority must surrender.

[CajunBlazer]

134. Since when are Bernie followers the "majority" of the Democratic party?

Look around DU for instance, many of your Bernie brethren aren't even Democrats. They are only here because of Bernie and when this is over they will go back to voting for the Green Party, the Socialist Party USA, etc. or not voting. Look at the polls of all of the states following NH where Bernie is 20% to 53% behind Hillary. Oh yea, you will say Bernie will convert them, but where are all of your Bernie brethren in the Democratic ranks right now? "Majority of the party"? LOL!

Then consider those those self identifying as Democrats make up just 31% of the voting public, so obviously we are going to need the help independents who make up 42% to win the General election.

You know if Bernie wins the election the GOP spin machine is going drive the Bernie's socialism into the ground. So how do you think independents answer the question: How would you feel about a candidate for president who described themselves as a socialist? YouGov Poll: Enthusiastic - 5%, Comfortable - 23%, Somewhat Uncomfortable - 35%, Very Uncomfortable 37%.

So how in the heck is Bernie going to win the general election when 72% of the independents are "Somewhat Uncomfortable" or "Very Uncomfortable" with a Socialist as President. And keep in mind this is BEFORE the Republicans start their attacks on Bernie.

And just wait until all of those independents learn about Bernie's plans to tax the middle class and the Republicans start to drive that home. Then wait until the independents learn about Bernie's plans to turn the US into another Denmark. Most Americans will tolerate change, but they run away from sudden change.

Forget all of those one-on-one polls, they mean nothing until the two nominees are selected and vetted and are actually compared to each other by the American people. Then understand that Bernie's chances of being elected President of the United States are essential zero.

[jeff47]

136. Since when did I say "Bernie supporters"?

Again, polling shows that 60-80% of Democrats want single-payer, depending on which poll. Regardless of which candidate they currently support.

Why should that 60-80% surrender to the minority?

[CajunBlazer]

138. But only Bernie supporters believe that a single payer system...

...has more than snow ball chance in Hades of becoming a reality. So it comes down to Bernie supporters.

[jeff47]

139. You don't get what you never ask for.

Will it pass in the next two years? No fucking way. But marriage equality was also impossible to pass when it became a plank in the Democratic platform.

You don't have to be able to pass something in the next year to be for it.

[Motown_Johnny]

40. The way a surgeon damages your skin to cut out a tumor.

The Democratic party is not what it should be, Progressive. If some damage is done to it in order to make it more Progressive, then so be it.

I am not a party loyalist. The party exists to forward progressive policies. If it is not doing that well, it needs to change.

[bowens43]

41. Hill and those like her have nearly killed the party

[kath]

42. Comedy Gold

We really do need to start a Hilarious Hillarian of the Day (or Hour) Award

[Goblinmonger]

46. So we have to pretend that moderates are the same as progressives?

And you, apparently, have no problem moving the Democratic party to the middle. That's fine with you? Soon, if both parties keep moving to the middle, there won't be any difference at all between them.

[SheenaR]

47. He is SAVING it

From itself. People STILL don't get it. Even if Bernie loses, we are the ones that will be driving the future of the party. And that's what we call a revolution. It is needed and welcomed

[pinebox]

53. Once again this needs to be shared.

You know what REALLY damaged the Democratic party? Democrats who are act like Republicans.
Hillary is NOT growing the party. Only 1 person is. Bernie.

[kath]

90. +1000

[CajunBlazer]

93. Please get over yourself

Your huge print is not impressing anyone.

[frylock]

98. Fucking rich.

[zappaman]

55. Inadvertently?

[Fronkonsteen]

57. You can't be a progressive and a moderate at the same time. Not now.

Not in the current political climate. Not with the deck stacked against progress. Right now, for Democrats, moderation=capitulation. Ultra-conservative batshit insane Republican candidates are in desperate need of moderation, not a candidate whose policies seem like common sense to most thinking people. Bernie Sanders is pulling Hillary Clinton to the left only because she was too far to the right to begin with.

Right now, for Democrats, moderation will (might?) only gain us a few more crumbs. If some Democrats are content with crumbs, that's their prerogative, but how dare they rail against those demanding more. If we want more than crumbs, we need to give the whole system a good hard yank to the left.

[Betty Karlson]

59. The Third Way is damaging the party, but Bernie is the culprit?

Do you even read what you write before you post it?

"What makes some of us moderate progressives is how far we are willing to go to accommodate political reality." - The status quo has become untenable. Any politican who wants to continue the status quo is basing her / his platform on unrealistic expectations. Yet you have the unmitigated gall of calling Sanders' supporters unaccommodating?

You want a big tent where all, from the far left to the very moderate, are welcome? But why is it that there always must be someone VERY moderate at the helm? As soon as someone from the party centre (O'Malley) or the party left (Sanders) presents himself, all bets are off until the "danger" has been reduced.

Sanders has a reputation for being able to work well across the aisle - even with Republicans, yet somehow you fear for the non-Republicans as soon as Sanders would be at the helm of the Democratic Party? Just because he is not "very moderate"? Give me a break!

Comparing his supporters to the Tea Party? - That's rich. That's really rich. Please imagine how furious I am at you for being compared to the very people who seek to deny me my civil rights.

Succeding where the Republicans have failed? - gladly. Especially when it comes to curtailing the corporate take-over of the USA. That means we shouldn't go with a corporate shill like Clinton, however "very moderate" she may be.

[Punkingal]

63. Bill and Hillary Clinton have done more damage to the democratic party than anyone...

And it was deliberate.

[whatchamacallit]

64. Why do you think Bernie Sanders has made it this far?

The democratic party has so abandoned its principles, the left has to look outside of it for meaningful progressive change. The party is fucking itself.

[workinclasszero]

68. Bernie Sanders is inadvertently damaging the Democratic Party

Nope, its planned no doubt about it.

[bkkyosemite]

78. you kidding?

[workinclasszero]

82. Not at all....

Can Bernie Sanders Win the Love of a Party He Scorns?

The long, troubled history of Bernie Sanders and the 'ideologically bankrupt' party whose White House nod he now seeks.

Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/08/bernie-sanders-2016-democrats-121181#ixzz3zE0GV1cI

[frylock]

100. The jilted lover.

HE SAID HE LOVED ME!

[MrWendel]

104. Cornel?

[whatchamacallit]

81. The influx of DLC dinos and closet right wingers

has pretty much destroyed the party. Thanks a lot.

[hobbit709]

70. People like you are the ones doing the damaging.

[Vinca]

72. Bernie is dragging the Democratic Party (kicking and screaming) back to its roots.

[RiverLover]

80. +1000000

FDR would be proud!!

[Euphoria]

85. Hooray!! nt

[djean111]

83. No, the Third Way is damaging, and has damaged, the Democratic Party, with the Clintons

leading the attack.

That's the Third Way objective - to slide the Democratic Party to the right, while lying to our faces about how we all need to agree with them, that things will be liberal and/or progressive if we just agree. Not buying that. No sale, no votes for Third Wayers.
Not voting for anyone in that New Democrat Coalition (of DINOs, advised by the Third Way) is a good start, for me.

[arcane1]

84. How DARE he speak for the majority of Americans!

The Democratic party can either learn to swim, or drown as an irrelevant half-assed republican lite party.

[AtomicKitten]

91. Bernie is damaging the corporate Democrats' stranglehold on the party.

[frylock]

94. 30% of registered voters are Democrats. You're precious party is already broken..

and that had fuckall to do with Bernie Sanders.

[CajunBlazer]

99. So you're not a Democrat?

[frylock]

101. Hell no!

[CajunBlazer]

105. So what are you doing on DU?

[frylock]

113. Reading some crazy-ass conservative bullshit.

I've been here a minute. What are YOU doing on DU?

[senz]

114. Jury results.

'Tis the silly season.

On Thu Feb 4, 2016, 05:16 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

Hell no!
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1140910

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

This poster claims no affiliation with the Democratic Party and appears to have no interest in the Party's well being - check out thread which led to this comment. This directly contradicts the purpose of DU.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Thu Feb 4, 2016, 05:26 PM, and the Jury voted 3-4 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: A typical emotional utterance signifying nothing.
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: In all primaries that I participated on DU, the fact that we support the Democratic Party, has always been one of the rules. We used to call anyone stating clearly that they were not a Democrat in an hostile way; a disrupter.
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Given the totality of the poster's comments, I'd say Hide. Maybe they want to reevaluate why they are here.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: This certainly explains why it's often called silly season. This is one silly alert.
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given

Thank you very much for participating in our Jury system, and we hope you will be able to participate again in the future.

[frylock]

115. The party of inclusion! The big tent speaks!

Thanks, senz!

[senz]

118. I found juror #5's comment particularly offensive.

Somebody needs good smack with a clue-by-four.

[frylock]

119. One has to wonder why that person is here.

[BlueJazz]

102. Bernie speaks to my soul.

[grntuscarora]

106. Damaging the Party?!

Oh my, pass the smelling salts.

The Party damaged itself long before Bernie showed up, imo. With any luck at all, he might be able to restore some of its credibility.

[Dawson Leery]

109. Bernie is but a guest in the party.

An uninvited one at that.

[AZ Progressive]

116. And the Clintons and the DLC hijacked the party

And turned it over to Wall Street

I owe almost my entire Wall Street career to the Clintons. I am not alone; most bankers owe their careers, and their wealth, to them. Over the last 25 years they – with the Clintons it is never just Bill or Hillary – implemented policies that placed Wall Street at the center of the Democratic economic agenda, turning it from a party against Wall Street to a party of Wall Street.

- http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/jan/28/hillary-clinton-wall-street-bailout?CMP=twt_gu

[frylock]

117. You're party is more welcoming to conservatives like Charlie Crist.

[valerief]

110. "what makes some of us moderate progressives"

Bwahahaha! That sounds just like "Christian atheist."

[Art_from_Ark]

131. Or "compassionate conservative"

[LittleBlue]

111. He's helping the party by giving an entire generation a reason to vote

70% of young people voted for him in Iowa. He's potentially creating an entire generation of young people who adhere to progressive values.

Long-term, that will be much more valuable than any temporary considerations. They won't just vote Democratic, they will actually be progressives who demand real change, not more of the same.

[senz]

121. He's bringing it all back home.

[TheProgressive]

125. Actually, Senator Sanders is revitalizing the Democratic Party...

[Lorien]

126. Hillary is intentionally DESTROYING the Democratic party

It's the entire reason that the DLC was formed; to destroy Liberalism in America in favor of a right wing one party system: http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/33869-hillary-clinton-s-ghosts-a-legacy-of-pushing-the-democratic-party-to-the-right

[MelSC]

132. WTF is wrong with the Bernie supporters?

As a lifelong democrat who has gone through many elections, I must say I am disgusted by the way some of you choose to represent Bernie and yourselves. While Bernie is a good man with integrity, it does not roll over to his followers.

[RedCappedBandit]

133. The DLC has damaged the Democratic Party - on purpose. nt