We cannot actually know precisely why Russia is doing what it's doing.

[Gravitycollapse]

Perhaps they feel Sanders is actually stronger than many think and intentionally acted in such a way that their actions were outed to delegitimize him.

Maybe they think he is the weakest candidate.

The only thing I know for certain is:

A. They want Trump

B. They want chaos


Seems like a lot of us already have B covered. It might help if we avoid panic.

[boston bean]

1. Bernie saying something about it a month ago would have gone a long way.

Too late now. His motives for silence will and should be questioned.

[Cha]

5. EXACTLY

[Dem4Life1102]

32. He given a confidential briefing

Nothing needs to be questioned.

[boston bean]

33. Hahah.

[ibegurpard]

2. I agree with you

But I want to know why he didn't say anything about it at the time.

[Gravitycollapse]

4. I would also like to know.

[IluvPitties]

22. We all do.

[mr_lebowski]

31. I don't actually ...

I'm going with Occam's Razor ... he believed, for whatever reason, that he was not supposed to ... ongoing investigation and all that.

Regardless, I understand why he'd choose not to say anything, even if he DIDN'T think he was obliged to stay quiet about it.

To what benefit is it to him, or indeed to anyone, to divulge that information?

What would you expect to change, that did not change, by him not saying something 1 month ago?

And how exactly do you imagine him 'saying it'?

"I want everyone out there to know that Russia is apparently trying to help me win, I would assume because they think I can't beat Donald Trump! I'm telling Russia now to STOP interfering in our Democracy!"

And then Trump cries 'BULLSHIT!' and the media hand-wring over whether or not it really happened, or is Bernie lying, just taking shots at Trump?

Saying that also puts the idea in people's mind that he's the weaker candidate.

It also opens the door to discussion over whether Russia really DOES like Bernie.

He's put in an no-win position by this reality is the truth.

Just like Putin wants it.

[denem]

3. Senator Sanders should disclose what he was told by US Intelligence.

End of story.

[boston bean]

6. Yep and not blame the Washington post. Omg.

[tishaLA]

30. I'll defend him this once

It's entirely possible--and in fact probable--that the IC told him that the information, or at least the specifics, would reveal US sources and methods so he couldn't discuss it.

[Mike 03]

7. Bernie could help this situation enormously by telling us what methods

Russia is using. CNN reported that it's more than just social media.

Also, I don't agree that "we cannot know." I think... a lot of smart people are putting this puzzle together very rapidly (as if we needed their assistance), and it's a lot easier to understand than most David Lynch movies.

[Horizens]

8. It's Not Complicated

putin's bitch, trump, is where putin wants him and wants to keep him. sanders can't beat trump and putin knows it.

[Mike 03]

10. Truth Bomb.

Thank you. I didn't want to be quite so blunt.

[Gravitycollapse]

11. Polling suggests Sanders can beat Trump.

I’m sure Russia is aware of this. They might very well be hedging their bets—which is where the chaos comes into play.

We should not panic and we should not change our affiliations or support based on this.

[Butterflylady]

18. And the polling is always right, isn't it.

They n...e....v....e....r get it wrong.

( lots of sarcasm)

[Gravitycollapse]

20. I laugh when people dismiss polling data that doesn't support them.

It's amusing every time.

[2naSalit]

23. +1

Especially when idiot's team is paying for tainted polls.

[hay rick]

21. Agree.

Republicans have been running against "socialism" non-stop since immediately after the 2016 election. This is the fight they and their crony capitalism partners, the Russians, want and think they can win. From the Russian point of view, having the American people caught in a battle between polar opposites is destabilizing and therefore also to Russia's geopolitical advantage.

[gollygee]

36. Yup

It seems very obvious.

Though I also think there's the bonus that Sanders is super divisive, and Russia wants to sow division in the US.

[Qutzupalotl]

9. His unwillingness to sanction Russia provides a clue.

Russia considers Sanders friendly to their interests.
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287535178

[Butterflylady]

12. Puttin knows exactly what he's doing.

Why do you think he got where he is?

[Gravitycollapse]

14. Of course he knows. He's running the show.

We don’t know though. At least, we don’t know yet.

[apcalc]

13. So far as I am concerned, through no fault of his own,

His campaign is an asset to Russia.

Everything should be carefully examined in light of this disclosure.

[dlk]

15. Oh please, we know exactly why Russia is doing what it's doung

Let’s not be naive here.

[RockRaven]

16. Russia is fairly transparent in preferring Trump. They apparently believe supporting Sanders

in the primary helps get Trump a second term. The task before us is to determine if that is a correct assessment or not.

[lanlady]

17. Sure we can. It's not hard to understand

Russia seeks to keep Trump in office and toward that end, it wants to divide the opposition to him. That's Bernie's role.

[Gravitycollapse]

19. So out of all the candidates currently splitting up support, it's all Bernie's fault?

A strange assessment.

[rzemanfl]

24. We are watching a rerun and you want a spoiler alert? n/t

[Gravitycollapse]

25. I'm not going to rehash 2016. And neither should you.

[rzemanfl]

26. Past is prologue, but apparently not in this thread. K, got it. n/t

[apcalc]

27. Just look at the posts on DU.

Who are 99% of the divisive posts about?????

It ain't no mystery!!!!

Create division and anger. Mr Sanders is their unwitting tool.

They know it and now he knows it.

[dawg day]

28. I think Trump wants to run against Sanders--

So they're trying to help make that happen for him.

However, they are tricky, so it could be they are doing this more to give Trump a "both sides" excuse- They'll be putting everything into helping Trump, and a tiny ineffective bit into Sanders, and then Trump thinks it won't be an issue for him. "They helped Bernie too!"

And of course any REAL president would say it didn't matter who was "helped," it's anti-American and an act of war and do something.

[JDC]

29. This is the sound that discord makes...

all we have to do us read the threads on our very own website tonight....we, as a country are being manipulated. Russian mission accomplished.

[greatauntoftriplets]

34. Stupid people never made colonel in the KGB.

Putin wants drumpf to win and chose to back who he perceives as the weakest candidate.

[Gravitycollapse]

35. Or intentionally delegitimize who he felt was a stronger candidate.

[Gothmog]

37. #BernieKnew is trending on twitter for good reasons

Link to tweet

[Qutzupalotl]

38. I will defer to an expert Russia watcher:

Russian state media says Trump should wish the best of luck to Bernie Sanders, whose candidacy brings “nothing but joy” for the incumbent. They describe Sanders as "an ideal opponent who can be taken down easily by Trump."

Link to tweet

[Gothmog]

39. Russia wants sanders to be the nominee because he is a weak general election candidate

Link to tweet