I was wrong. I'm sorry. ....

[salinsky]

A little more than a year ago, I wrote the following after it was announced that Senator Sanders had raised an impressive $1.5 million in the 24 hours after he announced his candidacy:

"The mister and I played a small part in Bernie’s surprisingly successful showing: We made our first political contribution of 2016 to Sanders’ campaign yesterday in the hope that his candidacy would drag Hillary Clinton a few centimeters leftward. Little did we guess we were droplets in a socialist cash tsunami!"

Sanders is still surfing that tsunami, but now I am heartily sorry to have been a part of it. Sanders’ arrogant statement yesterday, in which he failed to condemn the appalling behavior of his supporters at the Nevada Democratic Convention and instead engaged in crybaby complaining about the process, was the last fucking straw for me.

For weeks if not months now, whenever someone would suggest that Sanders might screw the pooch by irreversibly ginning up ill-will toward the Democratic Party among his fringier supporters, I insisted that Sanders cared too much about making progress on his issues and preserving his influence in the senate to go down such a damaging path.

Well, the statement linked above suggests that y’all were right, and I was wrong. Sanders seems prepared to Nader us, so (to quote valued commenter Burnsie) fuck him, the horse he rode in on, the farrier who shod the horse and the farmers who grew the wheat and oats.

I still hope and trust that the vast majority of Sanders supporters will come around after Clinton wins the nomination. All the ones I personally know plan to do that — they aren’t morons.

I still suspect that many of the loopier BernieBros were never Democrats in the first place but rather Greenies who voted for Jill Stein in 2012 because Obama wasn’t pure enough for them or Paultroons who are in it for the Fed audit. So if they defect, it won’t much matter.

But I’ve learned my lesson about making political gestures. This is serious shit; it’s too important for playacting. I wish I were confident Senator Sanders understands that.

https://www.balloon-juice.com/2016/05/18/i-was-wrong-im-sorry/

[aspirant]

1. Good riddance after actual physical violence on a Bernie supporter

[w4rma]

14. There were no arrests at the Nevada convention. No violence at the convention. Just smear artists.

Last edited Fri May 20, 2016, 12:01 AM - Edit history (2)

Also,

If you heard in the mainstream press that Bernie supporters were violent at the Nevada state Democratic convention, you were lied to.

No chairs were thrown. There were no assaults or threats. This video shows what REALLY happened.

[merrily]

61. The OP is a message board post. Do you know how many posters here LIED about supporting Bernie,

before they claimed they switched?

[salinsky]

64. You are wrong. She is a well respected front page blogger ...

... on John Cole's Balloon Juice site.

Stand corrected.

[Fast Walker 52]

177. imagine that.

[merrily]

59. Bernie's campaign office was shot into in NV as well. That was not a Bernie supporter either.

[aspirant]

102. What a difference real violence is

[Mnpaul]

161. But will Hillary get her supporters in check?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[Kelvin Mace]

108. Your evidence please that violence occurred?

Lots of claims about violence , but so far ZERO evidence of actual violence. No police reports, no video, no charges, no investigation of "death threats".

[BillZBubb]

2. The writer of this piece is a clueless dupe.

Either it is posted by a fraud, or the person has such a weak grasp of the facts that he succumbed to the Brock/Clinton propaganda about what happened in Nevada.

For the corporate media, this is the "Dean Scream" moment they have been waiting for to fraudulently destroy Sanders. Propaganda posts like the above are to be expected in that endeavor.

[kstewart33]

45. Same ole meme in your post.

Someone who criticizes Bernie, however lightly, is stupid, a fraud, and gullibly consuming the propaganda spewed by Hillary and her pal, Brock.

Brock is always mentioned.

And the corporate media because we all know that corporations are involved in everything evil.

Isn't this getting kind of tiring?

[BillZBubb]

111. Facts are never tiring except to Hillary cultists.

Brock is Hillary's right wing slime merchant propagandist. Do you deny that?

[kstewart33]

120. I have no idea what Brock is doing.

'Slime merchant propagandist"? He must be an awful guy.

[mac56]

182. How long have you been a Hillary supporter?

And you don't know what Brock is doing?

[kstewart33]

184. Not specifically.

I know he supports her and has written a bunch of pro Hillary pieces. He used to do the opposite as a right winger, and now he's changed sides.

Not interested in him otherwise.

[salinsky]

165. I didn't write it ...

... and, I've never alerted anyone, so you lied twice just in your reply title.

Well done.

[griffi94]

3. I've long suspected a lot of Bernies supporters

were left over from the Ron Paul revolution.

I was surprised that Bernie himself has taken the Burn It Down
attitude.

[Demsrule86]

19. I used to think Bernie was being ill served by his people

But now I think the bern it down is Bernie...it who he is.

[Garrett78]

20. There are no doubt people participating in the 2016 Democratic Primaries...

...who have never supported a Democrat for president. And I'm sure there are also some who took part in this year's primaries/caucuses (especially the open ones) who wouldn't vote for the Democratic candidate no matter who it ends up being.

That's why the consensus is that Clinton will easily win in November in spite of what various Interweb Warriors would have you believe.

Even Noam Chomsky has advocated voting for Clinton if you live in a battleground state.

[griffi94]

42. That's been my position

The BoB crowd weren't ever going to vote for
the Democratic nominee anyway.
Even if it had been Bernie.

[Garrett78]

66. Just to be clear, I think many of those voting for him now would, in fact, vote for him in November.

I also think a majority of those voting for him now will vote for Clinton in November (DU is not representative of the population at large).

And then there are those who are voting for him now who haven't ever voted for a Democratic candidate for president, some of whom wouldn't even vote for Sanders were he to become the nominee. Clinton doesn't really need to worry about folks in that category. As long as there aren't all that many Obama supporters who decide not to vote for her, she shouldn't have much trouble winning in November. Not against an opponent like Trump.

[griffi94]

71. I knew what you meant

That's my position as well.

I don't think his militant supporters would be likely to vote.

They want to burn it all down.

[Garrett78]

117. I just wanted to clarify that I don't agree that BoB wouldn't vote for Bernie in November.

I think most BoB folks would, in fact, vote for him were he to become the nominee. I also think some of those folks will ultimately vote for Clinton in November.

[1StrongBlackMan]

4. WTF ...

From Sanders' statement:

Party leaders in Nevada, for example, claim that the Sanders campaign has a ‘penchant for violence.’ That is nonsense. Our campaign has held giant rallies all across this country, including in high-crime areas, and there have been zero reports of violence.

[auntpurl]

8. Still so tone-deaf...

it's like they haven't learned anything.

[workinclasszero]

9. Now there's a dog whistle fit for a Trump rally!

Am I right?

[Dr Hobbitstein]

11. Is that a dog whistle for

"black neighborhoods"? That's how I read it.

[1StrongBlackMan]

25. Okay ... I thought it was just me.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

30. I grew up with a racist grandfather and biological father.

That was a term I heard often when they weren't calling it n*****town.

Thankfully my mother and stepfather weren't assholes.

[NurseJackie]

31. Not just you.

It's very clear what that meant and for whom it was intended.

[sheshe2]

33. No, not just you. nt

[rbrnmw]

62. it wasn't just you I saw that dog whistle immediately

[Starry Messenger]

97. Nope, not just you.

[1StrongBlackMan]

98. But apparently what is clear to some ... is missed by others. Go figure.

[TCJ70]

40. It only comes across that way, if you think only black people can live in high crime areas...

...Congratulations.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

46. I don't think that at all.

But many PoC thought just that.

[TCJ70]

50. That's on them...

Anyone can live in a high-crime area.

[Dr Hobbitstein]

78. Indeed they can.

But I know a dog whistle when I hear one. Growing up with one side of the family being racists fuckwits will do that for you.

[bettyellen]

17. Hat tip to my Boogie Down roots, LOL. But that park in the SO Bronx is the newest gentrified area..

It is a long time since Mother Teresa and Princess Diana came by to gawk at the burned out buildings. They are condos now. The "Piano District" has no more factories and jobs, it has trust fund kids.

[Logical]

29. So no high crime areas according to you? Nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

36. That is not what I said.

[salinsky]

32. Yikes! ... I hadn't seen that ... disgustingly tonedeaf ... nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

49. LOL ... 9 people responded to my post 8 were similarly affected ...

and 1 wasn't ... Guess which responder is the "DU:progressive"?

ETA: Make that 10 and 2.

[azurnoir]

48. what does high crime area in Las Vegas translate too in your mind?

[1StrongBlackMan]

51. Nothing ... Not a single thing.

[azurnoir]

56. Then why bring it up woth the accompanying replies murmuring tone deaf ?

[1StrongBlackMan]

63. Because I wish to aggravate my DU:progressive allies.

[azurnoir]

67. why would you want that?

[1StrongBlackMan]

74. Because they are not my ally ... regardless of what they say.

And they prove it ... over and over again.

[azurnoir]

76. so again what comprises a high crime area in Vegas?

oh wait you jusr said that to aggravate people who are but aren't your allies -obfuscation is so much fun isn't it?

[1StrongBlackMan]

80. Question (completely out of the blue) ...

have you ever heard Bernie reference African-Americans ... outside of poverty and/or law enforcement context?

[islandmkl]

90. i'll answer: not in any sort of pandering way....while, apparently, the Clintons have long learned

that THEIR pandering words, as opposed to their very real actions, are readily accepted, even embraced, by the very people, of any race, social position, income level, etc. that have been most negatively affected by Clinton policies...

'the soft comfort of lies'...

[1StrongBlackMan]

96. So ... is that a "Yes" or a "No"?

[salinsky]

113. Interesting question ... nt

[1StrongBlackMan]

118. I've listened and even commented on it ...

But no one outside of the African-American Group wants to touch the question/comment.

[TCJ70]

116. Has Hillary?

I'm asking this seriously. Can you provide examples of what you're looking for based on the Hillary campaign?

[1StrongBlackMan]

122. Yes ... she has. In fact, she has specifically said that the Black experience goes well beyond ...

poverty and prison.

Here:

At about the 3 minute mark.

[salinsky]

128. Good lord, He walked directly into that haymaker ...

... and that's hardly the lone example.

[1StrongBlackMan]

130. But some refuse to hear what, particularly, Black people have heard ...

even when it is pointed out to them.

[TCJ70]

144. Sheesh, I haven't had time to watch the whole thing yet...

...it's 45 minutes long!

[Buzz cook]

150. Thanks for posting that

Good speech. Too bad about the coughing fit.

[TCJ70]

157. I apologize for the delay, but it was a long clip...

...and I watched the whole thing. Here's my summary:

3:00-3:45
Strength, pride, achievement
rise of AA middle-class, leadership, professionals, vibrancy of AA church

4:50 - 8:40
Flint - described as “Overwhelmingly AA, overwhelmingly poor”
Quotes Sanders: would this have happened in an overwhelmingly white community?”
- Underinvestment
- Lack of education
- Poor have been left out and left behind

9:40 - 11:30
- Talks about systemic issues (mortgage denial, etc.)
- Law enforcement (likelihood of being stopped, likelihood of being jailed)
- Lack of health services

15:50 - 17:00
- Direct targeted investments to communities left behind
- Promises hundreds of billions for such communities

17:30 - 17:40
- Access to investment capital

18:35 - 19:00
- Promoting AA home ownership through helping them save for down-payments

19:20 - 20:00
- Affordable College
- Debt refinancing

***wierd gap***

20:20 - 23:50
- Total reform of criminal justice
- mentioned her first campaign speech dealing with criminal justice reform
- Correct disparities in sentencing
- End epidemic of people dying in police custody
- Empower Justice Dept to hold police accountable
- Invest in re-entry programs for formerly incarcerated

25:03 - 27:35
- School to prison pipeline

28:03 - 28:35
- Protecting the right to vote for AA’s

30:00 - END
- About her history

I kept track of when she was specifically talking about policies or AA communities in general. There was some filler in there that I didn't notate. After the first 45 seconds she goes straight into economic/law enforcement/voting issues for the next 27 or so minutes. If that 45 seconds is all that you got in what is essentially a copy of Bernie's racial justice Page (https://berniesanders.com/issues/racial-justice/) then I guess you got me. Sanders, as far as I can tell, never led his policy discussions with that kind of language. Don't get me wrong, it's not a bad thing to celebrate successes where they exist. To say that just because Sanders doesn't tack on 45 seconds of praise to his speeches indicates that he doesn't value AA's is a bit out there. It also doesn't diminish any real concerns he may have for how this country has treated PoCs.

Now, you may question my statement of her speech being a copy of Sanders racial justice page. Fortunately the internet keeps track of things like this. Sanders racial justice page was added on Aug 9, 2015. Hillary didn't get around to adding that section to her website until Feb 16, 2016. Thanks Archive.org. To me, that indicates an acute awareness of these issues and a clear attempt to bring them to the forefront. It was one of the first issues pages he added to his site. For someone portrayed as so tone-deaf to the AA community he sure tried to address very real issues in very specific ways pretty early on in his campaign.

[1StrongBlackMan]

158. Okay ... You go with that.

[TCJ70]

159. Ya know...I took time to watch that whole thing...

...take notes, get time stamps, look things up, respected the evidence you put before me and even admitted you were right. And this is the kind of response you have?

[1StrongBlackMan]

160. Claiming that HRC's comments/positions are a copy of Bernie's issue page ...

when he never speaks the words is not an admission.

No offense intended; but, I have done the dance before and know where the discussion is headed ... I choose not to engage.

[azurnoir]

168. why yes indeed I have in North Mpls as a matter of fact the main subject was housing I believe

and he was speaking to a majority Black audience

[1StrongBlackMan]

169. Well ... What did he say? Don't be shy!

[azurnoir]

170. actually it was months ago I don't remember perhaps if you're interested you should google it

but the subject of the town hall event was housing

[1StrongBlackMan]

172. I googled: Bernie Sanders+Town hall+housing ...

And found nothing. Perhaps, you will now support your claim? Or, maybe just summarize what you recall him saying.

[azurnoir]

173. perhaps it never happened then -just a thought out the blue

[1StrongBlackMan]

175. That's well along the lines of my thinking.

Perhaps, you can recall the City ... that would narrow it down ... a lot. Bernie hasn't spoken to that many Black audiences.

[azurnoir]

178. Hate to disappoint but here ya go wasn't hard took < than 10 seconds

I named the city in my original post - North Mpls

Sanders delivered his standard populist message promising to get tough on Wall Street banks and institute universal healthcare and free college before taking questions from panelists. He pledged to support more tax breaks and subsidies for small businesses in areas of high unemployment, like north Minneapolis, in response to a question from small business owner Felicia Perry.

A row of public school teachers from around the Twin Cities came to cheer on Sanders, saying they were thinking not just of their own prospects but those of their low-income students.

“Every student should have a shot, but how many of these kids won’t get a chance to do that because of the system?” said teacher Rich Bettini before the event. “There’s so much promise that’s lost – how can we accept that?”

As the forum wound down, White Earth Ojibwe activist Clyde Bellecourt stepped up from the audience to complain at length about injustices faced by American Indians. Moderator Anthony Newb repeatedly tried to cut him off, asking that he state a question.

http://www.startribune.com/sen-bernie-sanders-appears-in-north-minneapolis-at-forum/368674581/

[1StrongBlackMan]

180. LOL ... You skipped the first paragraph ...

Sen. Bernie Sanders fired up hundreds of people in north Minneapolis as he vowed to address high African-American unemployment and incarceration rates, but the atmosphere grew tenser when some people pressed him for a more detailed agenda to help the black community.

Not a good look.

[azurnoir]

181. well I had to leave you something didn't I ? you don't think I wasn't counting on your comment?

but it hardly nullifies the rest

ps I spent almost 10 years on DU posting mainly in I/P as fate would have it that experience has providing the perfect training ground for this forum

[1StrongBlackMan]

183. Yeah ... Okay.

[salinsky]

174. He knew a guy, who knew a guy ...

... who heard Bernie say something about it.

I swear.

[1StrongBlackMan]

176. LOL.

[azurnoir]

179. teehee

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=2006443

care to say anything else?

[WhiteTara]

154. Bernie noted that the high crime areas were all over the country

and he wasn't about to let Donald Trump be president to hard working Americans.

Personally, I think all of Las Vegas is high crime areas, but that is just me.

[betsuni]

119. Those must be the places where everybody's hanging out on street corners.

I did a face palm when I heard "high-crime areas."

[Mnpaul]

162. It is factual

He went into North Minneapolis(highest crime rates in the state) and they had a great time. He was the first Presidential candidate to go there since Jesse Jackson.

[1StrongBlackMan]

163. Yeah ... Okay.

[Mnpaul]

164. and after that

he went to join Hillary at the Humphrey/Mondale dinner where they raised 1 million dollars for Democratic candidates. It was a cool event. Bernie was running a little late so the American Indian community put on a dance show to entertain the crowd. Clyde Bellecourt got a little angry but Bernie let him speak his mind for several minutes. Clyde has good reason to be angry with the US government so he has the right.

[salinsky]

166. He went to the "high crime area" and they put on a "dance show" ...

... and it was "cool".

[Mnpaul]

167. did you have a point

or are you just looking to be outraged over something?

[inchhigh]

5. Any way you can proc its Bernie people?

There was no violence at the Nev convention. I think that pretty well documented now. I believe the phone calls, texts twitter posts etc are actually Hillary people trying to stir up trouble. So far EVERY documented cats of violence has been either a trump or hillary supporter.

[Demsrule86]

13. Nonsense.

And calling a sitting Senator a Bitch is enough for me...I never want to see Bernie's face again.

[inchhigh]

22. Bernie has built his career on

Peaceful and non violent resistance. Every Bernie person i know is a kind and loving person who espouses collaboration and cooperation. Dont project your hatred on us.

[aspirant]

23. Whose the "superpredator" working on "CP time"

Time for someone to hide their face

[YouDig]

6. Yeah, after Nevada a lot of the reasonable Bernie supporters are going to defecting.

And his staff members who want to have a continued career in politics are going to make some decisions soon. Especially since it was revealed that the activities in Vegas were partially planned by the Sanders campaign. Ugliness like that doesn't wear off easily.

[aspirant]

26. Do you have a list of defecting names,

just exactly how many are there?

[YouDig]

57. Of course. Everyone in America emails me personally when they change their minds.

[mindwalker_i]

68. In other words

You're pulling this outta your ass.

[YouDig]

70. You can already hear the rumblings. Bernie's toast. Watch and see.

[aspirant]

103. "Watch and see" oh, it's a psychic guess

[YouDig]

105. We'll see soon. Good like with that Bernie campaign! He's really got this!

[aspirant]

109. "we'll see soon," so these are psychic visions?

[YouDig]

110. It's math. But it can seem bewildering to people who are used to #berniemath.

[aspirant]

112. Speaking of math

Where is your numerical list of Bernie defectors?

[salinsky]

114. We don't need a list of defecting names ...

... the truth is told in his increasing anemic fundraising.

[workinclasszero]

7. At least you and your friends are real democrats and realize what Sander's is all about

"I still suspect that many of the loopier BernieBros were never Democrats in the first place but rather Greenies who voted for Jill Stein in 2012 because Obama wasn’t pure enough for them or Paultroons who are in it for the Fed audit. So if they defect, it won’t much matter."


I think you are right here as well.

[aspirant]

16. Yes, real Dems actually punch Bernie supporters

[VulgarPoet]

99. Considering today's Dems were apparently the 60's Repugs

You know hippie-punching is coded in their DNA.

[nc4bo]

10. .

[Demsrule86]

12. Don't feel bad

I voted for him in Ohio for the same reason...I knew he would not win Ohio...not his kind of state. But I am so sorry. I wish I could get my vote back...he is not a decent person...I used to respect him...but not anymore. The statement yesterday was horrible just horrible.

[farleftlib]

15. Bye bye now

Sanders seems prepared to Nader us, so (to quote valued commenter Burnsie) fuck him, the horse he rode in on, the farrier who shod the horse and the farmers who grew the wheat and oats.

Some supporter. Very underwhelming considering nothing happened in NV.

[politicaljunkie41910]

81. Who are we to believe, You or our lying eyes. I choose my eyes.

[farleftlib]

87. So show me too. I want to see it too.

I've seen a lot of pearl clutching and swooning but there is not a shred of evidence that
anything happened other than a man picking up a chair and putting it down again. You
better buck up if you think that's violence. What's coming down the pipeline in a HRC vs
Donald Trump run is going to show people what real violence looks like. Enjoy it because
I will be.

This country has been Jerry Springerized and 2016 is going to be a showstopper but Bernie
supporters won't be part of that mess. We're staying above the fray.

[salinsky]

115. That's OK ...

... we'll sack up and take on the Orcs.

You sit this one out with the rest of the snowflakes, and we'll see you again in 2020.

[Trust Buster]

18. I agree. I think the most unhinged of the Sanders supporters have probably never been registered

Democrats. I believe he has attracted the anarchist element. Sanders allowed this to get out of hand. Before I just disagreed with the guy. Now I seethe with anger just by seeing his mug on my television screen.

[disillusioned73]

28. I think some Hillary..

supporters are disaffected Repubs that have seen their party crash into teapartyville and now wish to take over the already teetering rightward corporate Democratic party...

Liberal or Con - you be the judge;

"All that has transpired is that Sanders has promised to make other taxpayers support his college kids and other slackers instead of earning it themselves. Not hard to figure out his appeal. I think people should earn their own way in life."

[farleftlib]

34. Oh wow

That comes directly from Rush's lips to DU's ears.

[Trust Buster]

44. Been a registered Democrat my whole life. Supported Hillary in 2008. As for you quoting me,

Sanders himself stands on stage telling college kids that he will bring them free tuition paid for by others. That was just a factual statement.

[disillusioned73]

72. I was as well.. until recently..

I am not unhinged and if the party would shift back to left and maybe consider some of this "free stuff" in it's platform as well as getting the obvious corporate influence out of the party it will regain the liberals that are currently being punched into submission.. or at least that is the goal - it really isn't going to end well with the current strategy though..

[politicaljunkie41910]

91. Where have you been? Bernie doesn't simply want the party to

"maybe consider some of this "free stuff" in it's platform as well as getting the obvious corporate influence out of the party" , Bernie wants the PARTY, and the entire platform to be his platform (inspite of being 3 million votes behind HRC), as well as his entire agenda, and his people given half of the committees positions, etc etc etc, as the demands never stop. He then wants HRC to EARN the support of EACH of his supporters. Who died and made him King? He obviously never learned the difference between Losing and Winning.

[pinebox]

21. This sort of thing is pure propaganda

written by people who have absolutely no care about anybody else but themselves and their own well being.

The author can say whatever it is he wants to say but the truth is this; Hillary is more likely to get more of our troops sent home in coffins than anybody else. Her history proves this. People WILL suffer underneath a Hillart presidency because she can't even fight for real universal health care or a living wage.

The middle class and lower class is broken in America and millennials are swimming in debt and what do we get out of the establishment? Conservative talking points with "pull your boot straps up". Sorry but we pulled them up long ago and when we have Dems voting to gut SNAP, well people have every right to be pissed.

Walmart is financed on the backs of American's thanks to their tax subsidies and what do the people get? Nothing, because they are traded like diamonds for misery.

This fight has only just begun and as boomers die out and millenials come to power, the shake up will be of epic proportions because America is sick of both parties.

Can you smell it? That's the winds of change.

[disillusioned73]

35. Great post...

great song, so apropos..

[salinsky]

41. The only constant in America is change ...

... too bad Abe Simpson was such a lousy candidate.

[SidDithers]

24. "This is serious shit; it’s too important for playacting"...

Thanks for posting.

Sid

[seabeyond]

27. Totally and emphatically agree with this article. Nt

[merrily]

43. It's not an article. It's an post on a message board written under the screen name of Betty Cracker.

[salinsky]

53. Thank you. That nit won't pick itself ...

... but, you are correct.

It is an articulate and biting opinion - an opinion that many are coming around to after NV.

[merrily]

55. LOL! Articulate my ass.

[seabeyond]

83. Don't care. I agree with what was written.

[sheshe2]

37. KnR

[KPN]

38. Oh come on, you've already said this two or three times in the last two months.

Sorta like crocodile tears.

[merrily]

39. Really? A message board post saying fuck Sanders is worth an OP now? How sick is this?

[salinsky]

47. A helluva lot worse has been said about Hillary by Bernie supporters collectively ...

... and, you specifically.

Enjoy!

[merrily]

52. IT'S A MESSAGE BOARD POST. And I never posted Fuck Hillary, so your post is dishonest.

[salinsky]

60. No it's not. It's a post from a well respected political blogger ...

... geez, I provided the link.

Here, read some of her stuff.

She's really good.

https://www.balloon-juice.com/author/betty-cracker/

And, you're welcome.

[merrily]

69. That nit won't pick itself. Message board two bit blog, not a big diff.

Respected? I've read a lot of political boards and articles in the past ten years. I never saw anyone cite Betty Cracker before. BTW, any Floridian who calls herself (or himself) cracker is probably telling you something.

[salinsky]

77. A simple, "I'm sorry. I was wrong." would suffice ...

... no need to validate your ignorance with an awkward tap dance.

[merrily]

79. See Reply 53 and my comment about a Florida cracker

[salinsky]

88. What about it? ...

... just shows she has a self-deprecating sense of humor.

I'm from Kentucky, and I regularly refer to myself as a hillbilly (and I'm not even white!).

[Scootaloo]

129. Well, it gives a good look at the intellectual depth of the other side of the party

[merrily]

133. Sure, but we have DU for that. We don't have to send out.

For months, various Hillary supporters have source shamed every professional source and author that ever said anything negative about Hillary, but someone vomits obscenities about Sanders onto BLOG O' MATIC and presto! we have an OP. smh

[Scootaloo]

139. Sure they did

After all, thanks to their overwhelming efforts, DU's Clinton supporters have made themselves into a laughingstock. So they have to shop around and find whatever bloggers and youtube comment posters they can dig up. You notice, we're supposed ot take John Cole and Betty Cracker very seriously.

[merrily]

141. Except I am told that naming yourself Cracker shows your sense of humor.

Writes like she's a laugh a minute, doesn't she?

And the alligator she rode in on--and her little dog, too.

[Scootaloo]

143. All the laughs of the Half-Hour News Hour with Kurt Long!

[merrily]

145. Sorry, Scootaloo. That went over my head. But, since it's you, I know it's clever and my loss.

[Scootaloo]

146. It was Fox News' attempt at a Daily Show-style political satire

It bombed harder than the Enola Gaye.

[merrily]

148. Ah. Contrary to popular belief among some DUers, I have never watched FOX.

My blood pressure tends to be 110/70 or better and I don't want to rock the boat.

[BeyondGeography]

54. Bernie is really becoming an asshole in many folks eyes

From the comments/and there's plenty more:

L Boom says:
May 18, 2016 at 11:10 am

Yep. I was truly hoping my senator wouldn’t be the asshole I’ve known him to be. I’m curious what happens in 2018, but there are a few too many people in VT who live daily in a bubble of magical thinking to consider an alternative. Hell, after voting for him for 20 years, it feels bizarre for me to say.

But if you want to know what a lot of his VT base looks like, I’ll leave you with this image: one of the houses right outside of town (about a quarter mile from the state capitol building) has several each of two signs on their yard. The first is “Healthcare is a Human Right.” The second is “Jets Spray Us.” Yes, universal healthcare and chemtrails. That’s my hometown.

MazeDancer says:
May 18, 2016 at 11:10 am

Hearing Bernie’s statement about the Democratic Party “has to open its doors to people who are willing to fight for social and economic justice” made me spit firey anger this morning.

Thought of all the Democrats who, literally, died in the Civil Rights Movement fighting for justice. Thought of the Women’s Movement and all the Democratic Women who fought on the front lines for so long. Thought of Unions. Thought of all the Democrats over the decades who have fought tooth and nail for every advancement in Freedom and economic parity.

And this do-nothing-for-30-years, free-riding piece of patriarchy perpetuating egotism insults every Democrat who ever fought the good fight. While still not releasing his freaking tax returns.

Donations for his primary opponent in 2018 – no matter what party he chooses for his run – are going to be record high levels from all those Democrats he’s attacking now.

Hildebrand says:
May 18, 2016 at 11:11 am

@the Conster, la Citoyenne: When he started musing that perhaps someone needed to primary Obama in 2012, I knew he was simply a shit-stirrer. He doesn’t want anything to actually change, just be able to yell at those damn pragmatists on his lawn.

[Surya Gayatri]

85. Wow, some articulate and pertinent commentary about people finally

seeing the man behind the curtain.

[workinclasszero]

104. I freakin love this right here!

MazeDancer says:
May 18, 2016 at 11:10 am

Hearing Bernie’s statement about the Democratic Party “has to open its doors to people who are willing to fight for social and economic justice” made me spit firey anger this morning.

Thought of all the Democrats who, literally, died in the Civil Rights Movement fighting for justice. Thought of the Women’s Movement and all the Democratic Women who fought on the front lines for so long. Thought of Unions. Thought of all the Democrats over the decades who have fought tooth and nail for every advancement in Freedom and economic parity.

And this do-nothing-for-30-years, free-riding piece of patriarchy perpetuating egotism insults every Democrat who ever fought the good fight. While still not releasing his freaking tax returns.

Donations for his primary opponent in 2018 – no matter what party he chooses for his run – are going to be record high levels from all those Democrats he’s attacking now.

[JudyM]

151. Not surprising anymore what a little Clinton-media spin can do. Too bad there's no truth to it,

as usual.

They won't do us the service of truly vetting Bernie because they're so tied up in knots fabricating false memes and devlecting.

The game is so clear. And so lowbrow. Truly pathetic and history will show this. Her name will live in infamy only.

[pangaia]

58. Another low info, lazy idiot..

"Sanders’ arrogant statement yesterday, in which he failed to condemn the appalling behavior of his supporters at the Nevada Democratic Convention ..."

He DID condemn 'it'.. of course there was pretty much no IT there. to start with...

violence?



N EDIT-- about the baloon person, not you, Salinsky....

[puffy socks]

65. Oh wow.

It takes real strength of character to admit to being wrong. It's refreshing to see.

[frylock]

73. ..

[MariaThinks]

75. thanks

[politicaljunkie41910]

82. Thanks for the link. Good to know other feel duped by Bernie and no longer feeling the Bern.

[Surya Gayatri]

86. Devastating indictment of the sham that is the Bern.

[JCanete]

92. oh yes, totally new and brilliant material within! Not at all from a template! nt

[JCanete]

89. All unwashed Bernie supporters, come to Jesus!

Do they send out a template for this shit? It sounds like it hits all of the markers.

I love it. "yesterday I was a totally capricious voter who was just having a tantrum saying 'look at me I'm voting for Bernie', but today I realize that elections are serious. Also, Bernie Bros."

Its not that I didn't expect this kind of coordinated assassination, but I thought they'd have to be less transparent about it. Sincerely disappointed in the gullibility of the Democratic voters.

[salinsky]

94. I read this blogger with some regularity ...

... and, I can assure you her former admiration for Sanders was sincere.

Here, you can read her stuff for yourself if you don't believe me ...

https://www.balloon-juice.com/author/betty-cracker/

She is far from alone in her disillusionment.

[JCanete]

100. it sounds like she's been ready to pivot for quite some time. Her support

came down to a gesture, but then realized "this shit is actually serious." Her post is full of no issues, just character assassination. She didn't ever want to disrupt the status quo. She just wanted Bernie to pull Hillary to the left a little I guess, and then bow out gracefully. She's mad now that HE is hurting the party, not that the party is doing a damn fine job of dividing itself.

Whether she knows it or not, she's copying and pasting right from talking points. So if she's not selling, she's certainly buying, and that's pretty sad. I'm not impressed with her logic, or the depth of her analysis, and I'm not impressed with her Bernie credentials.

If your objective is to point out that there are capricious people who vote, well that's no surprise to me. There's a reason this line of attack has been so well orchestrated. If you wanted to show me to what extent hammering home the polls and the Hillary inevitability and these attacks are working on the capricious voter, then job well done.

If you posted this shit because you know it will help to erode more support by manufacturing a certain line of consent, well gross. Why else post a single person's opinion,when it says absolutely nothing new,adding no value to the discussion, really?

[Skwmom]

93. OH yeah, those Greenies are real violent people...

[salinsky]

95. I think it's the Paultroons who have the penchant for violence ... nt

[immoderate]

101. Writer is convinced Bernie running indie. Condemns him, his horse, his horse's support system...

Bit much.

--imm

[DefenseLawyer]

106. Dear Penthouse..... n/t

[lagomorph777]

107. WTF? Didn't read the statement, obviously.

"he failed to condemn the appalling behavior of his supporters"

First of all, make that "appalling almost-behaviour of one supporter."

Second, please look at the actual text of Bernie's statement:
"I condemn any and all forms of violence, including the personal harassment of individuals."

Then STFU; we don't need more Hillarian lies.

[azurnoir]

121. The authors name tells we need know- I was wrong. I’m sorry.by Betty Cracker

back when Perter Daou was writing for Salon Balloon Juice was considered a rightist blog - interesting indeed

[salinsky]

123. John Cole, the owner of Balloon Juice, is a reformed Republican ...

... and, I am from Kentucky and regularly refer to myself as a hillbilly (even though I'm not even white!).

What's wrong with a little self-deprecating humor?

You Sanders supporters are such a sanctimonious and glum lot.

[azurnoir]

124. reformed I see that's why someone who calls herself Betty Cracker writes for him

who's next Jonny Peckerwood? or maybe Sean O'Paddy?

[salinsky]

125. Anyone who's interested can peruse the Balloon Juice site and discern for themselves ....

.... whether or not Balloon Juice is a progressive site.

Here's a hint: It most certainly is.

You might want to stay away tho.

All the frontpagers except for one or two have caught wind of the rotten stench emanating from the Sanders' campaign.

[Scootaloo]

127. Well, it's clearly anti-Trump.

That doesn't necessarily make it "progressive."

[salinsky]

132. Well, I'm certain it wouldn't pass your purity test ...

... it's not Salon after all.

Until recently tho, there were lots of pro-Bernie posts, but people are starting to wake up and see him for who he really is.

Judging from his recent fundraising, there's a lot of that happening.

[Scootaloo]

135. I only made it back twenty-five pages

And as noted elsewhere on this thread, the rhetoric never really seems to advance past "Fuck that fucking fuck and his fucking fuck fuckers" so... yeah. Lots of wild rage, not a lot of message.

[salinsky]

138. "Lots of wild rage, not a lot of message. " ....

.... not a lot of self-awareness here.

Did you miss Nevada?

[Scootaloo]

142. You mean the part where a Clinton delegate assaulted a woman?

Nah, I caught that.

Still. Doesn't seem John Cole puts a lot of rigor into his political discourse. I'm not seeing why I should take him and the other two people posting on his blog all that seriously.

[salinsky]

149. You missed the part where ...

Sanders tried to use his mob to snag a few delegates he didn't deserve and in defiance of the popular vote, and when they were blocked they threw a collective temper tantrum including screaming "BITCH!" at a female sitting Democratic Senator and sending death threats to other party officials??

[azurnoir]

131. oh Brock's writers are there too? No surprise seems their sort of place

[salinsky]

134. Brock!! ...

Serious question ...

Do you have night terrors where he's the star?

[azurnoir]

136. Nope I actually am rather amused what worries me is that it seems if either of front runners wins

we're in for 4 or more years of reality teevee type presidency, I think the drama last couple of days is indicative of what a Clinton presidency would be like and I shudder to think what Trump would be like, either way it's a ratings fest for the M$M who've been lagging of late

[SCantiGOP]

126. K&R

[snowy owl]

137. Lies going viral ...on public radio in Seattle host asked guest about "chairs thrown..."

We used to expect public radio to get it right. We are confronted by shoddy reporting in media. How to confront the corruption and lies?
I'm sorry. Don't know the program or host because I was hurrying from one errand to another. All I saw was frustration. As a protester himself, Bernie knows how things get out of hand without becoming violent. He respects his supporters. Clinton via DWS encourages hers. BTW, why does OP not rail about the violence in Clinton's name? Wendell what'shisname? Or did you? Wendell was arrested. No arrests for picking up a chair. Of course you already know all this.

[salinsky]

147. Sanders tried to use his mob to snag a few delegates ...

... he didn't deserve and in defiance of the popular vote, and when they were blocked they threw a collective temper tantrum including screaming "BITCH!" at a female sitting Democratic Senator and sending death threats to other party officials.

I really don't give a shit if they threw chairs.

[hobbit709]

140. NONE of the Bernie supporters I know voted for Stein or Paul.

Most were like me. I enthusiastically voted for Obama in 2008 but but 2012 my enthusiasm had been dashed by his corporate leanings. But I still voted for him as better than Rmoney.

[highprincipleswork]

152. Sanders isn't Nadering shit. He is standing up for principles we all should support frankly. It

sickens me the degree to which so many stand on the lowest principles around. And I am including the Democratic Establishment in on this.

And whether it looks like it or not, high principles win. They win every time. Just sometimes it takes a little longer for the victory to kick in there.

[pressbox69]

153. Thanks for posting this

nice to know some of them are coming to their senses.

[Bluenorthwest]

156. Another playing of the same broken record of a bullshit template.

A load of hooey, and a thread full of sudden arrivals shouting that they agree. Bogus layered with faux in a big giant parfait of fakery.

[nolabels]

171. Same old B.S. from all of the same thirty or forty posters

We watch who is posting what and know from the low recommendation count on your threads of who you are