Hillary Clinton
Related: About this forumEveryday is a Whining Road
Is the Hillary Clinton campaign prepared for the possibility that Bernie Sanders may never actually concede?
Even if Clinton wins big in the New Jersey Democratic primary on June 7 and thus reaches 2,383 delegates* (regardless of the outcome in the California primary that night), its difficult to see him throwing in the towel prior to the Democratic convention in Philadelphia, where he has already signaled that he will petition superdelegates to hand the nomination over to him, on the grounds that he is (in theory, anyway) a stronger general-election candidate than Clinton. The dream of unity between Clinton and Sanders after the conclusion of the primaries is unlikely to ever come true: the visceral hatred that Sanders so obviously feels for Clinton is simply not going to dissipate.
As the old joke goes, even Stevie Wonder can see that Sanders is going to have an epic meltdown at the convention if superdelegates reject his request for the nomination. The behavior of Sanders, his campaign staff, and some of his supporters is profoundly disappointing to those who wanted Sanders to play a constructive and healthy role in defining the post-Obama Democratic Party. During the 2008 Democratic primary, Clinton may have said a few undiplomatic words about Obama in the final days of her campaign, but it never seemed as though Clinton personally loathed the future president. Things are much different this time around.
I was disturbed watching Sanderss interview on CNNs State of the Union last weekend; Sanders seemed to be filled with a dark rage, an intense bitterness, a scornful tone. Sanders came across as a man who believes he is morally entitled to the Democratic nomination, who looks down upon those who think Clinton would be the partys best representative, whose soul is now filled with palpable jealousy and contempt for Clinton.
Like Kevin Drum, I have to ask: what happened to Sanders? Why didnt he remain positive? Why didnt he and his campaign understand that putting Clinton down wouldnt raise him up?
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2016_05/everyday_is_a_whining_road060681.php
Just a reminder: In 2008, Hillary won CA by 10 points and still graciously and faithfully strove for party unity.
stopbush
(24,399 posts)in Sanders' temperment and negativity. They're still stuck in the "nice Bernie" aura from last September. They simply refuse to recognize the dark side of back-bencher Bernie.
sarae
(3,284 posts)It's a little strange. It seems so obvious if you've been watching him since last year. His whole demeanor seems so much more hostile now. It really seems like the power's gone to his head and triggered something...kinda sad to see.
For his supporters, I wonder if it's just human nature to keep going with a narrative once you've invested so much into it (publicly declared your support, sent money, etc.). It seems like some people do it as a way of saving face, and not wanting to admit they were wrong.
Cha
(298,077 posts)the better candidate and she's already won.
A giant plus for Hillary is that she does live in reality.
I like your title.. a Long & Whining Road, Rose. It's been long and it has a long way to go.. I bet he never concedes.. his enormously fragile ego can't take it.
Thank you!
Like the title, I mean, but it's not mine. D. R. Tucker wrote it for Political Animal.
Sanders told Bill Maher he thinks a win in CA should tell the party to reject the establishment and "politics as usual", meaning Hillary. Even though she's won so many more big states than him! He seems to think the Dem primary calendar should determine the winner in this whine de jour. A new whine every day -anything to prolong the intoxicating stardom and cash flow.
Cha
(298,077 posts)And, BS is dissing President Obama's legacy too..
Another day another Whine with BS.. we got this Orwellian candidate who's already lost goin' about getting free airtime Whining his head off.. it will end someday.
beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)but he can stop the outright attacks on her
SunSeeker
(51,811 posts)But his constant bashing of Hillary and the Democratic Party puts the lie to that vow.
athena
(4,187 posts)Can you imagine Bernie supporters' reaction (in fact, the entire country's reaction) if Hillary ever showed half the anger Bernie shows in this:
SharonClark
(10,014 posts)quickesst
(6,283 posts)I think Bernie started his campaign with honorable intentions but through the hate-filled negativity of his supporters he has become what they wanted him to be. His ego and sense of self-entitlement has become bigger then the Jolly Green Giant's beach ball. It won't be long until the revolution Berns itself out.
fleabiscuit
(4,542 posts)He has only positioned himself and messaged that he was going to be some kind of savior from the corrupt system he is a member of but without the D taint of his standards. Bordering on megalomania if you ask me.