Well, looks like Operation Panderfex Maximus was a massive dud.

[NuclearDem]

Pretty much just the same stump speech as usual, flubbed a question on who actually wrote the document in question, and no photo op with Il Papa.

Whoever planned this should be fired.

[MFM008]

1. Francis maybe learned

stay out of politics, especially US politics.

Especially after Kim Davis.

[question everything]

4. Indeed. May be strange for a Catholic Pope

to promote a Jewish American politician

[Gothmog]

2. There was no way that the Pope wanted to get involved in US politics

[MBS]

5. " " " " " n/t

[George II]

32. That's why Sanders had to arrange to "happen to see" the Pope in the foyer of the hotel!

I really don't think the Pope wanted to get involved, but was being courteous.

CNN described it this morning as a "chance meeting" that lasted no longer than 5 minutes.

[upaloopa]

3. Bernie looks like a bag man for somebody

This was a stunt and it isn't going to be useful in the campaign

[CajunBlazer]

6. I predicted this two days ago

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1107&pid=100098

[fleabiscuit]

20. You nailed it.

[Surya Gayatri]

7. Political malfeasance.

Saint Bernard (a nod to his papal annointment) should take his over-paid consultants, Weaver and Devine, to court.

[enid602]

26. laughed

That's probably the next step for Bernie.

[stopbush]

8. Did Sanders bother to mention the conspicuous wealth of the

largest real estate owner on the planet? Billions and billions of dollars spent to build the Catholic palaces he visited, palaces built while the contadini suffered in poverty.

Now, that would have been YUGE!

[Stuckinthebush]

30. Or the anti abortion policies that have had an impact on social justice

The world over?

I'm betting not.

[stopbush]

31. Sanders is a lot like the Pope in that he has this public image

as a good guy but the truth isn't so pretty.

[yallerdawg]

9. But you know what?

In all the photos and footage in Rome, never seen him smile more!

I think this campaign is torture for him.

Come on, New York - end his misery!!!!

[SunSeeker]

11. You'd be smiling too if on an all-expenses-paid Roman holiday via chartered jet.

I am sure the 10 relatives he brought with him are smiling too. But I am guessing the FEC is not smiling, and will be asking why he used campaign funds for this boondoggle, particularly his use of campaign funds to cover the relatives' travel expenses.

[pandr32]

13. Did he also take the SS?

Can you just imagine if Hillary pulled such a political stunt?

[SunSeeker]

14. Of course. Judging by the pictures, at least four SS agents went with him.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3542360/Bernie-Sanders-takes-private-flight-Rome-speak-Vatican-conference-burning-gallons-fuel-just-hours-attacking-Hillary-Clinton-climate-change.html

[pandr32]

25. I read that..thanks

Ughhhhhh. All that campaign cash got burned for a 24-hr. trip, and he got slipped into a coffee break time slot to give a very short speech.

[Rose Siding]

10. The guy who planned this pockets about 800K/mo. The rich get richer...

on a giant pile of $27 'donations'

[Tarheel_Dem]

19. Are you serious? $800K a month?????????????????? WTF?

I guess it's true then, there really is a sucker born every day.

[DesertRat]

23. 800K a MONTH?

Wow!

[IamMab]

12. You can't fire the candidate, sadly. nt

[SharonClark]

15. Let's hope this is the highlight of his campaign

[KewlKat]

16. Has someone in the media said BS is using campaign funds for this trip?

I don't understand if he is why he would be. Surely this can't be considered a "campaign" event outside this country.

Maybe someone donated to him personally the use of the jet, etc.? Trying to give him the benefit of the doubt.

[DesertRat]

21. ABC reported that the Sanders' campaign paid for the family's trip

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bernie-sanders-brings-family-trip-vatican/story?id=38416805

How is this allowable under FEC rules??

[drray23]

17. instead he had a photo op with evo morales

An extreme leftist who has been president of Bolivia since 2006, and trying to cling to power for a third term.
Well known for beating up protesters and aspiring to be like Castro and Chavez.
If this is what Bernie really stands for, I do not want somebody like that to get anywhere near the white house.

That picture is going to be fodder for the GOP. Of course, its really moot since Hillary will be the nominee.

[enid602]

27. Evo

Evo presented the Pope with a sculpture with the crucifix embedded onto a hammer and cycle. Guess that's why he got to spend 30 minutes with the Pope, and Bernie just a few minutes.

[Tarheel_Dem]

18. Tad Devine...still battin' a thousand.

[eastwestdem]

22. I'm sure he just wanted to make the most of his 15 minutes of fame...or year...same idea. nt

[Princess Turandot]

24. A very brief clip of him speaking at the academic meeting...

from a Twitter post:

https://twitter.com/maryaliceparks/status/721005113834409986

One of the things he spoke abt apparently was his 'plan' for free college tuition. Now, the cost of higher education in the US is a legitimate topic in a presidential campaign. But as a topic relative to worldwide economic injustice? Huh?

A staggering degree of hubris...

[Stuckinthebush]

28. But it gave Jane a chance to finish taxes on the plane!

Gogo wireless, turbotax, and a few uninterrupted hours en route!

[Tanuki]

29. It gave him a couple of days to rest, taking a break from the campaign, without admitting it.