Ever wonder why Bernie has few superdelegates from his peers???

[CK_John]

With about 25yr in Congress, he has made no political friends or allies. Something is wrong, he is not disliked,just ignored.

[Trust Buster]

1. Because he's no more tolerant or compromising that his followers on DU. "Hides" are their currency.

[CK_John]

6. So you are saying he is boring, and doesn't work well with others.

[Trust Buster]

8. To put it mildly. His followers are even less tolerant. STOP THE "HIDES" !!!!!

[NurseJackie]

12. Pride and vanity. It appears that he'd rather accomplish ABSOLUTELY NOTHING ...

... sot that he can have the personal satisfaction of bragging that he never compromises. (See Fig. 1)


[center]

[/center]

[KittyWampus]

16. It's hard to deal with an Ideologue on a working basis.

Although it's worth noting that Sanders DID manage to find some legislative allies in Congress for that Auto Bailout:


?1457481859

[beedle]

40. Which 'auto bailout' are you talking about?

You mean the Wall St. bailout don't you?

[nolawarlock]

95. Shhhhh!

Stop inserting sense! You might break something. Hehehe

[floriduck]

57. Because Hillary bribed 33 state parties and tied up their super-Ds even before either announced

their candidacy. Money accomplishes many things, except help the poor, sick, elderly.

[Buzz cook]

77. Bribed?

You have proof of that?

Did she bribe the super delegates in 2008 as well?

Did Obama give the super delegates better bribes when they flipped to his side?

And I hate to tell you this, but money is exactly the thing to help the poor, sick and elderly. Getting that money to those people is one of the biggest things Sanders has been arguing for.

Pay attention please, it's only once every four years.

[floriduck]

97. Bribed in the legal sense.

Read up on the Clinton Victory Fund

http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/04/01/how-hillary-clinton-bought-the-loyalty-of-33-state-democratic-parties/

[Buzz cook]

100. Counterpunch is not a reliable source.

And they don't make the case that Clinton bribed the states in ANY legal sense. Did you even read the article?

Clinton raised money for the various state democratic parties. So has every democratic candidate in living memory except Sanders.

It sure didn't help her in my state of Washington, but hopefully the state will benefit by regaining control of the state house and senate.

Now I have to read an article detailing how Clinton rigged voting machines so I can reply to more BS.

[floriduck]

106. I can also provide the same article from NPR. Facts are facts.

[Buzz cook]

113. The same article?

exactly the same?

[floriduck]

115. You decide.

http://www.npr.org/2015/12/23/460762853/how-hillary-clinton-could-ask-a-single-donor-for-over-700-000

[fun n serious]

92. Proof?

Proof please.

[frylock]

83. Right, the "King of Amendments" is unable to compromise with his colleagues.

Also, derpa derpa derp.

[Ed Suspicious]

2. What could possibly explain it? People living off the system want to maintain the system.

[HooptieWagon]

3. Ellison and Grijalva.

Muslim AAs and Latinos don't count?

[LiberalFighter]

5. They aren't in the Senate.

[HooptieWagon]

11. They're in the House Progressive Caucus that Sanders works closely with.

Senate is much more conservative, there is no Senate Progressive Caucus. Clinton, a former Republican and RW DLC co-founder, was considered one of the more liberal members....which is much more an indication of how conservative the Senate is than how 'liberal' Clinton is.

[Bluenorthwest]

24. The OP does not mention the Senate, he mentions Superdelegates and all Congresspersons

are superdelegates. So yeah, they are being discounted and yeah, that looks dubious to me.

[KitSileya]

78. They count, but Ellison was sworn in after Sanders left the House.

As was Grayson, Nolan, Welch ,and Gabbard. Grijalva, Lipinski, Peterson, and Kaptur have worked with Sanders, as has Merkley. So half have been his peers, half have not.

Edited to add - I am only looking at current members of Congress.

[nolawarlock]

96. Grijalva?

You mean that super delegate who didn't go with the will of his state's popular vote and got applause for it from the Bernie supporters who believe supers should go by state popular vote? That Grijalva?

[Orsino]

4. No. n/t

[MgtPA]

7. Ask Patrick Murphy - Clinton Enemies List.

[Funtatlaguy]

9. Reading body language signals a shy person

The way he looks down a lot.
Not a lot of direct eye contact.
Has trouble meeting new people.
I think he's socially awkward.
Unusual for a politician.
I think he's much more comfortable in a small group talking policy.
Don't think he's the type to have a lot of friends.
More comfortable with family and a small social circle.

This doesn't make him a bad guy.
He's just not Mary sunshine.
And, I supported him in the primaries because I'm very liberal and like his policy stances.

[Ed Suspicious]

27. This is me. Maybe that's part of what I like about him. He seems real to me because,

in large part, he isn't completely enamored with the smell of his own shit. It's the shy person's humility.

[Lizzie Poppet]

10. Because you don't cross the Clinton Machine.

Not if you want to have a future in the party...

[IdaBriggs]

30. ^== This. nt

[vintx]

41. This is why I have so much respect for Tulsi Gabbard nt

[HooptieWagon]

80. Yep, a particularly brave woman to stand up against the machine.

[Armstead]

47. yup

[m-lekktor]

81. exactly. nt

[lunamagica]

86. didn't they cross "the Clinton Machine" eight years ago when the SD switched to Obama?

Last edited Fri Apr 29, 2016, 05:27 PM - Edit history (1)

Why weren't they afraid then? What happened? What was the revenge?

[aikoaiko]

112. The grip is tighter now than then.

If Hillary wasn't appeased with the SOS position, they would have maintained the warpath of the primary, I'm sure.

They've had 8 years to cement commitment through jobs and foundation money. The latter can be pulled away.

[Punkingal]

98. +1000

That is it exactly!

[TDale313]

103. Bingo!

Very clear signals have been sent not to cross them. Most jumped on the Hillary bandwagon before he was taken seriously. And she'll protect the status quo while he's challenging the system they're doing very very well under.

[Unicorn]

107. +1

[cherokeeprogressive]

13. Wonder? Nnnnnnnope.

It's a big club, and he ain't in it. That's why I supported him in the first place.

[KittyWampus]

14. Oh, he says Inhofe is his buddy. Remember?

“Jim is a climate-change denier. He is really, really conservative, but you know what, he is a decent guy and I like him, and he and I are friends,” Sanders told CNN’s Jake Tapper

[redwitch]

61. Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Antonin Scalia were friends.

??

[redwitch]

63. Henry Kissinger and Hillary Clinton are friends. nt

[redwitch]

64. Hillary Clinton and Dubya are friends. nt

[Human101948]

110. a picture is worth a thousand words...

?itok=yP-sh4AJ

[morningfog]

15. Jeff Merkley.

Former Senators Kirk and Riegle.

Plus 10 current or former Reps.

Get your facts straight before you post.

[CK_John]

18. OP heading changed to few.

[lagomorph777]

17. Because he's peerless?

Because he hasn't sold out like the DWS/HRC hand-picked superdelegate crowd? Because he has grass-roots support, which the DWS/DNC explicitly does not want?

[tularetom]

19. And somehow you see this as a negative?

Wow, a bunch of scared, slimy, crooked politicians don't like Bernie!

You don't get it do you?

[Cali_Democrat]

21. You don't get it, do you?

3 million more votes than Bernie.

[frylock]

84. What does that have to do with the topic?

[anotherproletariat]

68. The whole point of a democracy is working together

to hear all voices and find compromise.

With so few friends, it is a red flag for someone who doesn't understand the job they were elected to do.

[riderinthestorm]

20. Clintons are notoriously vindictive. Its proven she's "bought" super delegates

And honestly, I take it as a good thing - its real proof he's outside the establishment and not a corporate lackey.

[onenote]

22. Please supply this "proof" you refer to.

[COLGATE4]

26. You beat me to it. The response will be : crickets

Any time these Hillary haters are asked to provide ANY proof of their allegations they slink away and never respond. Although one had his/her little buddy answer me telling me that "I could Google it".

[La Lioness Priyanka]

45. it's proven usually means, 'i read it on reddit and agree with it so its true'

or some right wing blogger posted it, and in my anti-Clinton hate ridden delusions, I agreed with them and accept this as a fact.

[Armstead]

56. I read it on Politico

2008 but no reason to think this year is any different

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/01/hillary-clinton-hit-list-102067?o=1

Their spreadsheet formalized the deep knowledge of those involved in building it. Like so many of the Clinton help, Balderston and Elrod were walking favor files. They remembered nearly every bit of assistance the Clintons had given and every slight made against them. Almost six years later, most Clinton aides can still rattle off the names of traitors and the favors that had been done for them, then provide details of just how each of the guilty had gone on to betray the Clintons—as if it all had happened just a few hours before. The data project ensured that the acts of the sinners and saints would never be forgotten.
There was a special circle of Clinton hell reserved for people who had endorsed Obama or stayed on the fence after Bill and Hillary had raised money for them, appointed them to a political post or written a recommendation to ice their kid’s application to an elite school. On one early draft of the hit list, each Democratic member of Congress was assigned a numerical grade from 1 to 7, with the most helpful to Hillary earning 1s and the most treacherous drawing 7s. The set of 7s included Sens. John Kerry (D-Mass.), Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), as well as Reps. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Baron Hill (D-Ind.) and Rob Andrews (D-N.J.).


Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2014/01/hillary-clinton-hit-list-102067#ixzz47Eej66sj
Follow us: @politico on Twitter | Politico on Facebook

[riderinthestorm]

49. Sure.

http://observer.com/2016/02/how-the-dnc-helps-clinton-buy-off-superdelegates/

Also see post #31

[La Lioness Priyanka]

53. you mean her bribe is that she is fundraising for the DNC?

oh such a terrible thing to do. how does she live with herself.

[riderinthestorm]

59. Ah, ok. I thought you might have read the article

Here's another:

http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/04/01/how-hillary-clinton-bought-the-loyalty-of-33-state-democratic-parties/

This is the kind of stuff that I dislike and a reason I like Bernie. I actually find this kind of big-money-buys-influence to be a problem in our democracy.

But carry on.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

60. all of these articles say the same thing. the fact they can point to is that she fundraises for dems

and then they (without any substantiation) make the claim that this fundraising is bribery.

[riderinthestorm]

67. I clearly see the quid pro quo

But I'm not surprised you don't.

[LanternWaste]

69. Vindictiveness does not translate to quid pro quo.

Vindictiveness does not translate to quid pro quo (presuming that allegation was not merely inferred, as well). They are in fact, two wholly separate constructs.

[riderinthestorm]

73. I didn't mean for them to be linked.

Poorly worded post which I definitely should have clarified.

2 separate reasons in my mind for Bernie’s lack of endorsements plus my belief why thats good thing.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

72. i am not surprised that irrational hatred and belief in right wing propaganda

blinds people either, to the point where mere allegations are treated as the truth

[riderinthestorm]

74. I don't harbor irrational hatred

And furthermore I don't think there's many that would characterize counterpunch as rightwing propaganda.

[DemonGoddess]

93. you realize

The Observer is a right wing source, and run by Trump's son in law, yes?

[Bluenorthwest]

23. I've noticed that much of her peer support comes from DOMA yes voters and others who

have often voted against basic decency and justice. Is it a thing to be proud of, that all the officials who voted in favor of discrimination for years and years endorse her? In NC 12 of her endorsers voted for that hateful anti trans and anti gay law. She has not distanced herself from them she and her supporters welcome those bigoted officials.

[onenote]

76. You really shouldn't make assertions that can be fact-checked.

First, according to published lists, Clinton has received the endorsement of 492 superdelegates. The overwhelming majority of them were not in Congress when DOMA was voted on. In fact most aren't in Congress now.

Second, of Clinton's superdelegate commitments, 24 come from individuals who voted for DOMA as members of the House or Senate. On the other hand, 28 of Clinton's superdelegates voted AGAINST DOMA while members of the House or Senate.

Third, and you're not going to like this, of the 40 Superdelegates committed to Sanders, three served in the House or Senate when DOMA was voted on. All three (Kaptur, Lipinski and Peterson) voted FOR DOMA.

I would add that the 24 Clinton superdelegates that voted for DOMA 20 years ago include a number of representatives who otherwise have a pretty good record of voting for basic decency and justice. Plus, her superdelegates include a significant portion of the Progressive and Black Caucuses, groups whose members tend to have pretty good records on basic decency and justice.

[djean111]

25. This is a failed meme.

And got boring quite a while ago. If you were thinking it would have any effect on support for Bernie, you are not paying attention.

Next?

[Scuba]

29. Nope. We've seen for three decades just how corrupt the Dem insiders are.

[Billsmile]

31. Superdelegates Were Bought VIA Hillary Clinton Victory Fund

It is as if the Clinton campaign went to each state last summer and said “join the fund now and play nice through the nomination season, and the financial rewards will flow back to your state in the general election.” Free money can be a powerful motivator for these states and for the Super-delegates who work for these state parties or whose election in the fall depends on adequate funding.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/4/16/1516225/--Anatomy-of-a-Victory-Fund-or-How-to-Buy-a-Super-delegate

[JudyM]

37. ^^^^ Truth that isn't acknowledged by Clinton supporters or MSM.

[vintx]

39. This.

[dchill]

52. Bingo.

But it's not the answer that's required.

[Thinkingabout]

114. I guess you have to include Sanders in the bought ones, she donated $10,000

To his reelection campaign from her fund raising activities.

[KingFlorez]

32. It's been said that he's difficult to get along with

and he's also difficult to work with.

[frylock]

85. Some people say...

[lumberjack_jeff]

33. No. I know exactly why. They owe Clinton money. n/t

[Lil Missy]

34. Because he's not a Democrat. n/t

[sufrommich]

35. Let me guess the responses from Bernie supporters here:

"They're afraid!!!"

[scepticism]

36. It seems like because his proposals are too extreme...

The people in Congress would be well aware that Sanders's positions aren't realistic so it makes sense they prefer a different candidate.

[AzDar]

38. He wants to derail the Gravy Train.

[vintx]

46. This

It's not exactly rocket science.

This silliness would almost make one think her supporters are neophytes. But no, it's just the cult of personality, the blinders, denial due to extreme cognitive dissonance, etc.

[Eric J in MN]

42. Because HRC campaigned for them.

Also, many of them endorsed HRC either before Sanders announced or near the start of his campaign while he was polling below 10%.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

43. yes, i have. probably same reason he has less of the popular vote. Democrats like HRC more than Bern

clearly not people on DU, but actual voting Democrats.

[Eric J in MN]

50. If it were the same thing, then he'd have about 40% of SDs. NT

NT

[La Lioness Priyanka]

51. the trends are underlying reason are similar was my point

the exact numbers don't have to match, as SD have much more individualized knowledge and experience working with both candidates.

[frylock]

87. All 30% of you.

Well, not all.

[azurnoir]

44. NO I do not case in point Donna Edwards

all one has to do is look at the treatment of those Democrats that do not fall in line with Hillary

IN THE FINAL DAYS leading up to Maryland’s Democratic voters going to the polls on Tuesday to choose their U.S. Senate nominee, Rep. Donna Edwards has been barraged by ads and mailers from the Super PAC backing her opponent, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, called the Committee for Maryland’s Progress.

A television ad assails Edwards as “one of the least effective members of Congress,” contrasting her career with Van Hollen’s legislative record. It mentions no foreign policy issues, despite the dominant issue motivating one of the Super PAC’s largest funders.

https://theintercept.com/2016/04/25/pro-israel-billionaire-haim-saban-drops-100000-against-donna-edwards-in-maryland-senate-race/

[forjusticethunders]

79. you know that Donna Edwards endorsed Hillary right nt

[azurnoir]

94. yes I do but she did not fall in line with Hillary's policies particularly in one area

[ibegurpard]

48. no

Most politicians are egotistical assholes looking to further their own interests. Even the good ones.

[SheenaR]

54. I do not wonder why at all

A large % of the supers pledged their support when this looked like an open and shut race. It would have been idiotic to not support the assumed nominee.

I don't know what is so hard to understand. MANY of these same supers have been quoted (including my Senator Jack Reed) indicating their positive feelings towards Senator Sanders.

He has made plenty of friends. He just happened to be running against the Corleone family of politics.

[BootinUp]

55. He's the only saint there?

[nolawarlock]

58. That's easy.

Our political system is oriented around two parties. Right or wrong, that's the way it is. Bernie has spent years disparaging Democrats. Yeah, he'll caucus with them because nobody else will have him and every vote counts in the senate but it's clear that both he and the party were holding their nose.

[Marr]

62. Oh, let's just be honest about this, ok?

Just because you're a Clinton supporter doesn't mean you have to spin every little piece of reality.

Clinton has superdelegates support because she sends money through the political machine that pays them. She has superdelegates because she was always the presumptive nominee, and she may reward supporters after the race. She has the superdelegates because they're party insiders of one sort or another, and Clinton is the consummate party insider.

Is it really so hard to just admit what it is? Do you really have to build some cartoon world, with Sanders in a Darth Vader suit?

[redwitch]

66. Thank you!

Well said!

[frylock]

88. ++

[Yurovsky]

65. so you are PROUD of the fact that she's gamed a very un-democratic part of the process?

You people just don't get it... Backroom dealing, influence peddling, funneling millions of corporate blood money... These things should be anathema to any true progressive, yet the HRC/DLC wing of the party seems to bask in the glow of this dirty underbelly of machine politics, in which the egalitarian ethos of the democratic process is just shit all over...

You know, being a Democrat should mean more than just being pro-choice or supporting LGBT equality. Hell, 30% of the GOP is pro-choice, and I'm sure the Log Cabin Republicans believe in LGBT rights. The rich and the powerful within the party structure should be going out of their way to foster a more inclusive and just political system, just as they should be striving for the same for our economy. But I get the feeling they view the Party as their personal play toy, and everyone outside of their economic or social strata to be merely the "great unwashed", whose loyalty should just be automatic because, well, at least they're not Republicans.

That attitude is going to need to change or the Democratic Party will never reach its full potential to positively impact the lives of all Americans. I assume the 1%ers among the Superdelegates are probably quite pleased in knowing HRC won't rock their boat, and that pesky, economic-justice seeking Bernie Sanders is looking like the runner-up.

[Hiraeth]

70. can't say as I did. I wonder a lot of things but, that was not one. No.

[TheFarseer]

71. Because it's pay to play

Support my candidacy and I'll support you when I'm president. Don't support me and feel my wrath.

[hollowdweller]

75. HE'S NOT FEARED

Anybody who supports Sanders would get no spoils from the Clinton admin if she wins.

So any super delegate not wanting to be blacklisted should support Hillary.

[frylock]

82. Fear of retribution from the Clinton Machine?

[loyalsister]

89. It's because of "ready for Hillary"

Many endorsed before she even declared her candidacy and long before Bernie did.

One of the lines of thought is that another election that makes history will work in our favor. Some people want to be listed as part of doing so.
It's really a very cynical strategy and has promoted unconditional loyalty among many supporters.

[JackRiddler]

90. Not at all. And the question strikes me as disingenuous.

Ever wonder why the machine politicians and rich people who run the Congress as a self-service cornucopia for corporate lobbyists and billionaires don't do anything to end the system of legalized bribery that put almost all of them in their seats?

Your question is actually the reverse of the reality: How do the few honest people amongst them stand to deal with the overwhelming majority of gangsters, fakers and poobahs?

[beachbumbob]

91. Bernie played the my way or the highway card....rarely forge any

Consensus or trust with his fellow congress people....he was just a raving socialist in most of their eyes....

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

99. No. Congress has been corrupt for a very long time.

"It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress." Mark Twain

[bkkyosemite]

101. They are bought he is not...get it?

[arcane1]

102. The congress with the 12% approval rating? n/t

[Unicorn]

104. Yes. Most politicians are bought out. Bernies peers include Elizabeth Warren.

[Peregrine Took]

105. No I haven't but I'm pretty sure you are going to tell me.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

108. Something is wrong alright. What is wrong is Bernie stands for REAL change, the kind

that almost all other politicians arent allowed to engage in due to their connections to Wall Street and the establishment.

As a result Bernie is alone on most things, but that is changing, we need more and more pole to run for office like him.

Having said that both Obama and Hillary represent less change compared to him, but they are absolutely crucial to the process if Bernie or the like isnt an option.

[Kalidurga]

109. Good bye you lack critical thinking skills.

[Nanjeanne]

111. Because politicians need money to stay in power. The DNC, DCC, DSCC all give money to them.

Stick with the establishment candidate that has the money and the media behind her - and get your check at the end of the cycle.

Besides - many of these people already pledged before Bernie ever got into the race - and most I'm sure would be incredibly surprised how his campaign took off. I don't think even Bernie expected it.

I seriously doubt it has anything to do with liking or not liking. Bernie has worked with both Dems and Repubs to get things done. The Democrats gave Bernie the minority chair of the very important budget committee.

You are confusing politics and back room deals and tit for tat - with who you want to hang out with. It's a bit different and much more complex. I am quite sure Bernie has friends and allies. And he is certainly not ignored. You're really trying too hard to reach for something here - especially when you have such limited information to work with.

[Cal33]

116. During those 25 years he never took money from Corporatists, while more and more

Congress people were doing so. His very presence was/is still a reminder of their
selling out. Of course they didn't like being reminded. How could they? But he and
people like Warren are good friends. There aren't too many like these two around.

The last time I read of the number of Americans who approved of Congress was 9%.
This was several months ago. It's possibly even lower than 9% today.

[pdsimdars]

117. Fantasy on your part. Go look up some facts. That is very superficial on your part.

Not even worth me trying to explain to you. Go do some research

[NCTraveler]

118. Elizabeth Warren has amassed more clout in her short time in the Senate.