VERY interesting tidbit ... get the bus ready fast, if true.

[BlueMTexpat]

Will Jeff Merkley Talk Bernie Sanders Into Ending His Presidential Bid?

That's what Politico says. Merkley's office issues a carefully worded statement.

http://www.wweek.com/news/2016/04/22/will-jeff-merkley-talk-bernie-sanders-into-ending-his-presidential-bid/

In the wake of a crushing loss in the New York primary, pundit chatter has turned to whether Sanders will suspend his campaign and concede the Democratic Party nomination to former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.

On Thursday, Beltway website Politico ran an item quoting an anonymous "Democratic insider" saying that Senators were trying to "nudge" Sanders out of the race. The article named two: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts) and Merkley.

"More likely," the item says, "is a joint effort by Senators Warren and Merkley to help Bernie 'land his plane' with dignity and maximum concessions by Hillary on issues and convention programming."

[stonecutter357]

1. K&R!

[drm604]

2. He needs to be very careful about this.

He's been promising to take it all of the way to the convention. If he doesn't do that, he could turn off a lot of the new young voters who've been supporting him and we need them to come out and vote in November if only for the down ticket races.

[kjones]

5. Which is one of the negative effects that some have mentioned

A lot of those described by that statement are Bernie or Bust folks. There are others, of course.
But a populist campaign like Bernie's that fails to get off the ground generally leads to a climate
of negativity and pessimism that can be corrosive, especially to those down ticket peeps...
people important to getting things done.

As to what he should do, I'm not sure. What you said is probably true for some people, but
on the other side, if he takes it all the way to the convention, he's going to drag out the
animosity longer, ultimately leading to us (those that stick around anyway) being more
divided closer to the generals.

[pandr32]

8. The way I see it, the sooner the better

It takes time to get over something and there isn't much time until the GE now. If Bernie ever really wanted to be a leader here is his chance. Only he can prevent trouble and defection. But first, Bernie needs to let go of his own delusions. Can he?

[kstewart33]

19. Didn't Bernie's voters show in Wisconsin that they don't vote for down ticket races?

I thought that it resulted in the election of a Republican judge.

[stopbush]

21. One of the great myths of this election cycle.

Young people generally don't vote. Those who had no interest in politics pre-Sanders won't effect the outcome anymore than they would have had they ignored the election, as they were going to do anyway.

No, this election will be won the way all elections are won: by turning out the base and getting a little help from people crossing over from the opposing party. The young Sanders voters won't be a factor unless they were to en maze vote for Trump. But doing that takes effort - easier to follow Plan A and just stay home.

Honestly, Hillary doesn't need them.

[wryter2000]

3. I hope it's true

This primary stuff needs to end so we can focus on the GE. Plus, some progressive concessions from Hillary could only be a good thing.

[Cha]

4. We shall see..

I am very skeptical after everything BS has pulled. He hasn't earned any concessions.. he's fomented hate.

How many hate Hillary now because of all the Hogwash he's tried to smear her with? He's has no respect for anybody but he demands it?

Thank you for the article, Blue~

[BlueMTexpat]

6. You are most welcome.

I feel much the same way as you, btw. A couple weeks back, I would have been more sanguine about Bernie. But now, no.

I found this item interesting because Merkley, as the ONLY Senator to endorse Bernie so far, did so only recently. The fact that this possibility is even being hinted at in the OR press indicates to me that Hillary might be in better shape than I thought in OR. Jeff keeps his political ear pretty close to the grassroots from what I understand. His office's statement is a real work of art.

That the article also mentions Warren, the darling of so many "progressives," as possibly being involved is even more interesting.

We'll see what we shall see in any event. Right now, Hillary is doing what she needs to do and taking nothing and no vote for granted, whatever may be happening on the sidelines.

[Cha]

15. Yes, you're absolutely right.. It's very interesting that Sen Merkley

endorsed BS and now talking about being one who could get him to bow out.

His fans want to vote for him .. I can understand that.. but BS needs to stop disingenuously smearing Hillary and attacking her integrity. He's always sending mixed signals.. he needs to get on the same page and stay there.

[SaschaHM]

7. The whole notion of concessions bothers me...

I know that there will be some to get him onboard, but he needs to be very very careful about how he goes about asking or demanding them.

The very notion that the first female major party candidate for president has to bow down and accept the whims of a man who failed sickens me to my stomach. Sanders would be best served trying to negotiate something small in private or not at all. If we retake the Senate by a 2-3 vote margin and he doesn't get his act together, he should lose his chairmanship of the budget committee.

[BlueMTexpat]

11. I trust Hillary in this, certainly

more than I trust Sanders although I share your frustration at the notion of Hillary's having to "bow down and accept the whims" of Bernie.

The woman who faced down rabid Benghazi GOPers for 11 hours can surely deal with Bernie in a way that will make sense. Even more, it will demonstrate her grace and class even more.

[NastyRiffraff]

9. Hmmmmm....

I certainly HOPE it's true but as usual with Sanders, I'm skeptical. Merkley's chief of staff issued a statement that seems to say that Democrats should unite around the nominee, as we have "two strong candidates," but also said that the Sanders campaign will continue:

There are a number of key primaries coming, including Oregon’s, with millions of Americans enthusiastic about voting for Senator Sanders, and Senator Merkley will do what he can to help Senator Sanders deliver his message for bold approaches to tackling our big challenges. He’s confident that Democrats can continue competing over the vision and policies that are best for the country, and then come together when it’s over to support the nominee. We’re lucky to have two strong candidates, and Senator Merkley believes that the supporters of both will recognize that coming together to prevent a Trump or Cruz presidency, built on demonizing immigrants, inflaming grievances, and protecting the privilege of those who are best off, is central to our shared values and priorities.

[BlueMTexpat]

12. True - but he was

specifically asked to confirm the rumors. Amid all that verbiage, there is no denial.

It's a real work of art.

[BlueCaliDem]

10. Sanders is a DINO, specifically for this election in order to use the Dem Party infrastructure for

media attention and vital campaign information. He's not and never has been a Democrat. He'd be the first person to tell you so.

He's like Don Quixote, tilting at windmills to protect the romanticism of the past, but using the lance and horse provided for by the Democratic Party. True-blue Democrats know this about him. We sense this. We know he's not a real Democrat, and that's why he's having problems winning the favor of the vast majority of true-blue Democratic voters throughout the States despite his "yuge" rallies.

The best thing Sanders can do now, is stop doing the work for the GOP. Stop demonizing Hillary Clinton. Don't eat your own.

Republicans know that their candidates are weak and insane, and their policies are non-existent beyond tax cuts for the rich and destroying civil rights for all - not to mention, posing serious threats to earned benefits the American people are reliant upon to survive. So these know-nothings and do-nothings need a scapegoat and the last thing Sanders should do, as a brief Democrat, is give them one.

He should REFRAIN from destroying the Democratic Party even if it might "feel good" when lamenting, because it won't benefit his liberal vision for America nor will it benefit his supporters in their private lives. It will only benefit Republicans, giving them ammo to launch against Hillary Clinton in the G.E. If he chooses to stay in the race, by all means. But he needs to immediately cease and desist attacking Hillary Clinton and stop helping both the U.S. media and the GOP to destroy her, to everyone else's detriment.

[BlueMTexpat]

13. I agree 100 percent that

Sanders should immediately cease and desist in his demonizing attacks against Hillary. It is such attacks specifically that are causing more division than anything else.

On the bright side for Hillary supporters, such actions are literally driving fence-sitters into Hillary's camp and perhaps even peeling off some of Bernie's own supporters who sincerely believe that BOTH are great candidates because in doing this, Bernie is betraying his own promise at the beginning of his campaign not to go negative.

But in the long run, these words and actions poison the political atmosphere and begin to make the Dems resemble the toxic world of the GOP, thus turning people off to BOTH parties. That is a real fear.

Bernie can stay in as long as he wants too, IMO, even though I am not as kindly disposed towards him as I once was. It is true that he can still win a couple more states although he will not win the nomination.

But he MUST stop the demonizing of Hillary and he MUST speak out strongly against the toxic actions of radical supporters like the BernieBros and he must do so IMMEDIATELY. Period.

[BlueCaliDem]

17. "Sanders should immediately cease and desist in his demonizing attacks against Hillary." AGREED.

It's not as if the Republicans and their sheeple don't know all the 'horrible' things about Hillary Clinton. After all, they themselves perpetuated those lies, ad nauseam.

What Sanders should try to avoid is solidifying anger within the new-to-politics, Millennials, who are still deciding whom to join and follow. Using Republican lies against Hillary Clinton will turn lies into 'truth', and turn them away from the Democratic Party. It's almost impossible for Hillary to counter these because, as they say in politics, if you're explaining, you're losing. She has to walk a very fine line here, and Sanders isn't helping by allowing his surrogates to lie about her in public.

Also, it would help Democrats, Progressives, and the vast majority of Americans a great deal if Republicans can't use the "Even Bernie Sanders says it's true!" qualifier in their lying ads that are sure to come in the G.E. when she wins the nomination.

[BlueMTexpat]

18. When Trump uses themes against Hillary

that Bernie uses - as is now being reported - that is the signal that things have gone MUCH too far.

[BlueCaliDem]

20. Exactly! And it was something I've been fearing since December last year. I knew it would

come to this. And yet Sanders continues to attack Hillary Clinton rather than Republicans.

[Walk away]

14. The longer he waits, the less bargaining power he will have.

Hillary is in the cat bird seat after NYS. She may have to make it look as if she came to him with a deal in order to keep the majority of his young supporters in line but, his value is diminishing daily. Phone banks down 85%, contributions drying up and the enthusiasm is starting to diminish.

He had better jump soon. Hillary draws another Ace on Tuesday.

[BlueMTexpat]

16. Too true this.