Despite the best efforts of some to be not very nice people, I'm with Bernie to

[Luminous Animal]

the end and beyond. I've long been an activist and it is difficult work. Voting is easy. Working for change is hard.

[stevenleser]

1. !

[Logical]

2. What is so funny? Planning another Fox guest appearance? nt

[aidbo]

3. He's just practicing being a not-very-nice person.

[Dragonfli]

7. He doesn't need the practice, he has a natural talent for it /nt

[Lizzie Poppet]

12. A pity that talent wasn't in a more useful area.

Like maybe writing or something...

[roguevalley]

68. take your butt hurt and leave, Mr/Ms 15 posts.

I want them to laugh long and hard. They won't be laughing after a bit.

And I am not just talking about indictments and speeches either.

[RufusTFirefly]

101. Aw, come on! Be nice. Mercenaries are people, my friend. n/t

[sarge43]

35. You're too kind. n/t

[DirkGently]

14. Maybe he's laughing at this blog post some angry Hillary hater wrote in '08

Hillary Clinton's Released White House Records show she Lied about Opposing NAFTA
By Steven Leser (about the author) Permalink
Hillary gives a different opinion on the same subjects every couple of weeks depending on her audience and what she thinks it will net her. As evidence of this is now coming out and is going to be presented to the American people in the starkest terms, how can one be expected to trust her to do anything that she says she is going to do? How can one really know what she believes or intends to do about anything? The only things Hillary's experience seems to be good for is perfecting how to talk out of both sides of her mouth, engaging in the politics of personal destruction and other aspects of her ruthless pursuit of power that remind one of what a Karl Rove might do. That kind of person ought not to be the Democratic nominee.

http://www.opednews.com/articles/opedne_steven_l_080320_hillary_clinton_s_re.htm

Really a bit over the top, that screed.

[Logical]

15. Wow, I guess Hillary improved a lot in 8 years! LOL. nt

[Contrary1]

60. No, not improved...

The correct word is "evolved".

[ultragreen]

67. She's a whole new person!

Didn't you know?

[retrowire]

27. Guys, he explained himself.

His change of heart was all because he saw Hillary concede to Obama. That was his entire explanation. So that should really seal the deal.

[Kittycat]

45. I guess that explains

Her recent email releases pushing for TPP, too.

I wonder if his neck hurts from whiplash?

[Herman4747]

36. WOW! What a Great Find, DirkGently!!

[Dragonfli]

39. #whichstevenlesser LOL /nt

[Kittycat]

46. +1

[nashville_brook]

55. the student becomes the master.

he's going to need a logo.

[Pharaoh]

53. ^^this^^

[Luminous Animal]

73. Yes. I posted this now EPIC DU post of the same article. 267 recs, 938 replies.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251658816

[Pharaoh]

52. ^^this^^

[Divernan]

69. What's funny is he describes himself as a "hot national political pundit".

What's the real deal on this guy? Being a hot national pundit apparently leaves him with enough spare time to hover over DU and jump in within one minute of an OP to snicker at pro-Sanders posts.

Seriously, I googled to find out who he was - looking for a bio to learn his academic credentials, background, age, journalistic or other professional experience. Not much out there beyond the afore-mentioned self description: "Steve Leser is a hot national political pundit." He has a blog and he did have one advertiser on it : a T shirt mail order business, "Bad Idea T Shirts" with an ad featuring a hot babe with super-sized implants. I guess that's where the "hot" comes from. Will Pitt has a Wikipedia entry - but not Steven Leser.
https://www.youtube.com/user/sleser001/featured
http://steveleser.blogspot.com/2016/02/if-it-is-donald-trump-vs-hillary.html#gpluscomments

I will not comment on his appearance or the quality of his writings, but only ask if anyone knows if he ever went to college, and if so which one and what was his major. What experience does he have as a reporter or commentator or anything else? His blog starts in 2012, but I note there are gaps of months between some of his blog entries, and also between his sporadic appearances on Fox. In 2015, he had 12 blog entries, most followed with a single comment, also by Steven Leser, consisting of repeating the first few lines of the preceeding blog. He had 12 radio broadcasts in 2015. His last Fox and Friends appearance, according to his website, was 5 months ago. So what is his day job?

Wait! I just found this on ZoomInfo: http://www.zoominfo.com/p/Steven-Leser/228363297
Background
Employment History

Professor
George Washington University
Chief Executive Officer
Halliburton Company

He's putting us on, right? Life is one big joke. Those of us who have taught in universities know the different ranks of people teaching: graduate teaching assistant, graduate teaching fellow, instructor, adjunct professor, assistant professor, associate professor, full professor, professor emeritus. GW is a highly ranked university. Anyone identifying him or herself as "Professor" holds themself out as a Full Professor or Emeritus Professor.

Whatever other secrets may lurk in Leser's background, he doesn't appear old enough to have progressed through the ranks of academe to achieve full professor status. And a search of the GW faculty roster does not pull up his name. Can't imagine he'd have achieved full professor status at GW and then walked away from it to be a blogger.

And then there's the "Chief Executive Officer, Halliburton Company". Yeah. Sure.

When someone puts "School of Hard Knocks" under their education entry, you know they're kidding; same for someone who puts Domestic Engineer or Chief Cook & Bottlewasher under Occupation. My family kidded me I lost my sense of humor when I went to law school, because from then on, I took everything literally. Whatever. Just curious about this guy.

[Luminous Animal]

72. Whoa. Nice digging.

[Logical]

79. Wow, I had no idea. Thanks for the info. nt

[starroute]

82. Hmmm

Looks like he's from Massapequa, NY. Graduated from Birch Lane Elementary School in Massapequa Park in 1980 and from Berner High School in Massapequa in 1986. That would fit in with him being the Steven Howard Leser, age 47, who shows up in online address listings as having lived in a large number of cities all over the US.

In 2001, he started an anti-Bush site called The Dumbya Chronicles. Here's a DU post from 2004 that reprints one of his pieces there. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2383760

I also find mentions of him having held county-level positions with the Democratic Party. But that seems to be it.


On edit: This also seems to be him -- working at the service desk at Weill Cornell Medical Services. Seems pretty low level, but the photo sure looks like the same guy.
https://its.weill.cornell.edu/teams/client-services

[Divernan]

84. Bazinga! Sounds like a match.

Good work on the research.

And good luck to Mr. Leser - he's struggling to make it just like the majority of us. When you use your real name in a place like DU, and promote your blog, you can expect to be checked out. I disagree with him and wondered just what his bona fides were. His Fox broadcasting gigs raised doubt in my mind as does his strong attack on Hillary in the last election versus his strong support for her this time around. Still no mention of any college degree/major.

[starroute]

85. Also this

Listed as contact person for Managed Webb Solutions, a marketing consultant firm in Clearwater.
http://www.usabizdir.com/managed-webb-solutions-clearwater-fl-33762.html

Also as partner in another business services firm in Clearwater.
http://www.findusabusiness.com/c/b/bannahmen/7285200

And there was a news story that mentioned him setting up a website for an antique dealer.

So he does have a long-term interest in politics, but he's basically a marketing guy.

[kerry-is-my-prez]

102. Wish we could get rid of that ROTFL emoticon. So obnoxious.,,,,

[Blue_In_AK]

4. Hillary supporters are absolutely stunning

in their dismissiveness.

[Logical]

6. Mr. Lesner has 4 post hidden. So he is not posting much. nt

[Blue_In_AK]

8. I guess rolling smilies won't get alerted.

LOL.

[TeeYiYi]

34. Oh, it got alerted...

...It just wasn't hidden. You were right about rolling smilies not being a hideable offense:

On Sat Feb 27, 2016, 05:54 PM an alert was sent on the following post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1357550

REASON FOR ALERT

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

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

Insulting response to a positive post. Personal divisiveness and rudeness. Trying to inflame and disrupt and derail the positive thread and working.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Sat Feb 27, 2016, 06:00 PM, and the Jury voted 2-5 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Yeah, it's rude, but I'm not about to put him in DU purgatory for the rofl smilie. You're going to have to alert on something a little more heinous if your plan is to push him into a timeout...
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Am I missing something, or is the alert for an exclamation point? Looks like the alert was intended for different post.
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Yeah...nice try.
Juror #5 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: Rolling on the floor laughing without any explanation is judgmental and making fun of the OP. Period.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: i can't imagine anybody being rude on DU, ...man!
Juror #7 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given

TYY

[TM99]

9. If I said out loud what Hillary supporters

actually are, I would be juried at the best.

[Blue_In_AK]

37. I hear ya.

I haven't had a hide since 2005 or so, but my tongue is bloody from biting it. LOL.

[jsmirman]

54. And to my ear some Sanders supporters are horrifyingly condescending

I think we need to step back and recognize it's just some people and far from all supporters.

I am not dismissive of Bernie or his campaign. I think things don't look good for him, but it's far from over and while I don't agree with the way he's presenting his plans, he's talking about stuff that's important.

[Blue_In_AK]

56. And if all Hillary supporters posted like you just did,

I wouldn't have made my comment. Thank you. Sincerely.

[jsmirman]

59. The unpleasant are always unpleasantly loud

I know we used to be friends way back when and I hope that we still can be and that we will be whenever either one of them becomes the nominee.

You're welcome.

[senz]

18. A statement of idealism and hope is FUNNY to you?

It must have been awful, whatever it was, that did this.

[nxylas]

80. On the contrary

I'm sure those checks from Fox News are not traumatic in the least.

[senz]

87. It's still shocking to me.

There are many ways to make a living that don't require selling out one's basic humanity. Life is a series of choices, and these choices define who we are. If I thought we were nothing more than smart animals who want nothing more than "stuff" or power ... it's too ugly to contemplate ... nah, I consider it pathology.

[Katashi_itto]

92. Whats whoopi doing?

[rhett o rick]

93. How rude.

[stevenleser]

96. Nope, that's not rude.

I was laughing at the irony of someone who creates a 900+ comment attack OP judging others to be rude.

That is some funny stuff.

[rhett o rick]

97. It seems that some believe that if they side with the Big Money that they can gloat and be rude.

Why is it that the Wealthy and their fans think they can be rude to the rest of us. We are fighting to feed the 16,000,000 American children living in poverty brought on by the greed of the Wealthy and Super-Wealthy.

Their hubris will be their downfall. We are willing to go to the wall fighting for the 99%. Those fighting for the 1% will find out sooner or later that the rich don't love them.

Two sides to the class war, and the $150,000,000 rich Clintons aren't on the side of the People. They are close to Goldman-Sachs and Wall Street.

[tk2kewl]

5. .

[amborin]

10. K&R you speak for me and many, many millions more voters

[Cobalt Violet]

11. I'm really just starting to put the biggest nags and bullies on ignore.

I just don't need them in my life ever again. (not that I really ever did ). Tonight is a great night to find more to ignore!

[senz]

20. Some have nothing whatsoever to add to the conversation.

[Cobalt Violet]

22. Their only pupose is to annoy.

[senz]

29. They're just about as admirable as their candidate.

[nichomachus]

99. Now that's just mean

No one can be that bad.

[MisterP]

28. I've had the opposite problem--I've hardly had to put any of them on ignore during the campaign

since I did well before anything got started

[ultragreen]

63. When people live

to taunt you, then you know that you have already won the battle because such people live only by hating others. In the end, they accomplish nothing that is useful.

[Blue_In_AK]

40. I've never hidden anyone

except someone who was quickly banned, but maybe I'll have to start. There are some people around here who live to taunt.

[Cobalt Violet]

41. I've used it very sparingly. Less than 10 times I'd say.

Yeah the taunting does sucks. I don't come here to get beat up. I've just had it with them.

[ultragreen]

64. I never ignore anyone

and I never flag anyone. My tolerance for fools must be greater than my tolerance for censorship.

[geologic]

81. ...

[LovingA2andMI]

47. The Igrone Button....

Has been working overtime today here too.

[Nanjeanne]

13. I'm there too!

[hopemountain]

16. absolutely! standing strong with

bernie!

[Waiting For Everyman]

17. K&R Me too, LA!

It often happens that when some not-very-nice people like HRC seem to win, that's when they have a tendency to get over-confident, take too much for granted, and shoot themselves in the foot. One of those moments is getting more likely all the time.

(I put obvious flame bait, especially by certain posters, straight in the "Trash Thread" can. Sometimes I'll look to see what it is first, sometimes I don't even bother. The can is getting a real workout tonight! But that's no problem.)

[DrDan]

19. well - I applaud you - you are fighting two fronts

Hillary and her supporters - and a few on your side who are doing more harm than good

[senz]

21. What don't you understand about "working for change?"

[DrDan]

23. nothing

[SamKnause]

24. I see it differently.

Hillary and her supporters are doing ALL the HARM.

[DrDan]

32. I am referring to this - I should have been more clear

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1355553

I hope you agree this is not appropriate

[Bluenorthwest]

51. That poster is a well known crank who has been told off or laughed off by virtually everyone on DU

on at least one occasion. Over politics, science, bogus sources, you name it. Here's an example, the subject is starfish. Watch DU do what DU do.....
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4381218

[jsmirman]

74. But the problem is all the people who rec'd that horrible post

some of these are people I would expect so much better of, and they're blessing that insane and offensive OP.

I listed out all the people who rec'd it, because I was so shocked by some of the names on the list, and I got a hide for my efforts.

People can hide a post like mine, but the fact remains that you've got FIFTY FOUR recs on that OP.

That's just no good. It's really sad.

[senz]

90. I followed the link and found nothing wrong with the post

so I joined the ranks off those who rec'd it -- not because I necessarily find the poster's conclusions sound but because I respected his attempt to make sense of the data. My response was, "Huh, well that's interesting."

I don't think he was making a value judgment or recommending a course of action; I think he was simply trying to understand the election results in terms of the data and trying to reason his way through it.

I do believe it is wrong to try to stop people from thinking. Seriously wrong.

If we don't like his conclusions, we can simply disagree or ignore him. Ideally, someone would refute his reasoning by offering contrasting data or logical inferences that would support a different conclusion.

But I could not detect any cruel or hateful intent in what he wrote. Maybe I missed something?

[senz]

89. Bluenorthwest, may I make a request?

I followed the link to both posts and didn't find anything wrong with either one. They look to me to be attempts to make sense of demographic data and biological data. I don't know if the poster's conclusions are sound, but his reasoning employs logic in a way that I do not find offensive. It's not mean, it's not hateful, it's just someone using cold, clear logic.

I myself adore logic and reasoning. I see something beautiful and good in it for its own sake. So I went ahead and joined those who recommended his post.

The strength of rejection in your and some others' comments amazed me. So maybe I'm missing something. I checked to see if you are a fellow Bernie supporter before asking this question: what's wrong with the posting? Seriously, I would love to know. Could you explain it to me? Thanks.

[PatrynXX]

25. Yep

getting called names at the same time the Tea Party does. isn't easy. I've gotten about the same about of shit from Hillary's supporters as I have ever gotten from the Tea Party. Although it stings more because some Dems think the country should be more conservative Think the Repukes pulled us a bit too far to the right over the years. We need an alignment. and I don't see how Hillary is gonna win. I hope to hell Trump loses the Primary but if he wins, he'll be very difficult. He'll get the youth vote by default with Hillary running. and supposedly has Africa Americans rooting for him the most since Reagan so they are out. so that leaves Hispanics for Hillary. not enough. I don't see any any scenerio Hillary winning. I thought the same in 2004 but hey it was my first year being a D so I rooted for John anyway.

[onecaliberal]

26. I'm there too.

[retrowire]

30. knr. This battle just started. nt

[H2O Man]

31. Beautiful!

Thank you for this. Definitely recommended.

[progressivelady]

38. Couldm't agree more

If Hillary is the nominee I will vote green partu because there is no difference between the parties.

[cyberswede]

43. There's a huge difference between the parties, and Sanders would agree.

DU is for Democrats.

[ultragreen]

71. On economic issues,

which are the only issues their rich donors really care about, both the Democratic and Republican parties support the policies promulgated by the plutocratic 0.01%. And so no, I don't think Sanders supporters are fully in agreement with you.

[ultragreen]

65. I will be voting for the Green Party candidate too

if Hillary Clinton is the nominee.

[LiberalElite]

42. I'm with you and I donated again to his campaign tonight nt

[Autumn]

44. Bernie! All the way.

[cantbeserious]

48. 100% In For Bernie

eom

[PowerToThePeople]

49. All Bernie to the end!

President Bernie Sanders.

[elmac]

50. “This is not the end

, this is not even the beginning of the end, this is just perhaps the end of the beginning.”
― Winston S. Churchill

[Uncle Joe]

57. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Luminous Animal.

[Jack Rabbit]

58. There will be a beyond regardless of who is elected president

K/R

[Babel_17]

61. Come on, give in!

Btw, JMS is something of a Sanders supporter.

https://twitter.com/straczynski/status/674833837185040385

[liberalnarb]

62. Hell yeah! k&r lets take this movement to the White House.

[TBF]

75. My ignore list is up to 100 now. In it for the long haul. K&R nt

[Bjornsdotter]

76. Yep

....me too!

[Enthusiast]

77. Kicked and recommended!

[erlewyne]

78. And Bernie is with you.

And I'll bet if you was in a tight spot he'd he there.

I'm in a tough spot worrying about those in need
and Bernie is there. I live on the Social Security that
I paid and fought for. Bernie wants me to have it
forever!

I went on Social Security when I was 62 in order to
pay for health insurance that went "poof". I am now
on Medicare and living comfortable.


Thank you Bernie Sanders!!!

Hillary would take away what is mine.

[Beacool]

83. "Not very nice people" describes the posts that attacked Hillary after her win in SC.

Having a bit of class and congratulating Hillary's supporters appears to be too much of an effort for some.

Instead, there has been one attack after another.

Hillary won fair and square, she'll also do quite well on Tuesday.

As for who you support, you're entitled to support anyone you want.

[silvershadow]

86. She SHOULD be attacked in a primary! She is a Third Way interloper who represents the

exact opposite of what Bernie represents.

[malletgirl02]

88. The rule of the primaries

Don't you know the rule Hillary Clinton supporters have for the primaries? While Hillary and her supporters can attack Bernie and his supporters all they want, Bernie and and his supporters have to sit back and take it. If Bernie or his supporters say anything about Hillary Clinton's records it unfair to poor Hillary and her supporters.

[highprincipleswork]

91. Bernie to the end. The other choice is not a Progressive choice.

[BeanMusical]

94. Kick and R

[Duval]

95. Two in the house are with you! K&R

[bigwillq]

98. My vote will go to Bernie

But seems like this race is over.
Unless something HUUUUGGGEEE happens on Tuesday. But unlikely.

[Amimnoch]

100. Respect.

The pledged delegate count is only 91-65 Hillary favor. It takes 2,383 required to win.

Of course, being a Clinton supporter, I am happy my candidate is leading, but this is not even close to being over yet.

At the end of the day, if Clinton does win, it has been one incredible season. Rough at times to say the least, but Senator Sanders has brought a LOT of conversation and discussion to the table. Energized people who are not normally energized. Either candidate has much to be proud of no matter how the rest of this plays out.

Especially when we look at the jokes that the Republicans fielded this season. After 8 years of a Democratic Party POTUS, this should have been a fairly easy clinch for the Republicans. Good for us that they fielded one of the most ridiculous and laughable clown car of candidates I do believe I have ever seen.