Bernie Sanders telegraphed a possible drop-out after next debate:

[DetlefK]

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/3/11/1926583/-Bernie-Is-Preparing-to-Drop-Out

Bernie gave a speech, detailing the topics on which he would hammer Biden in the next debate on Tuesday.

Why would he do that?

Maybe he wants to give Biden time to prepare answers. Prepare some GOOD answers that would sway Bernie-voters over to Biden.

GOOD answers that would allow Bernie after the debate to point his finger at Biden and tell his voters: "See? Even, if I loose the primary, not all is lost."

GOOD answers that would enable Bernie to bow out in grace, to hand his voters over to Biden without controversy and infighting, and to unite the Democratic Party.

[empedocles]

1. 'Same old, same old' . Yes, BS drop-out possible, but, more BS now.

[centrarchus]

2. With respect, you're dreaming. BS's ego will not let that happen nt

[RandiFan1290]

3. Welcome Back to DU

[zackymilly]

24. They've been a member since August 2018. Just sayin'!

Probably longer than me, but I tried to see when I joined, and can't bring it up.

[Cha]

5. I don't think so either.

[brooklynite]

4. Just a point: Bernie doesn't get to choose the questions.

[Cha]

6. Won't he be disappointed then.

[True Blue American]

7. They showed several pictures of Bernie this morning.

He looks awful. Maybe he realizes that after that heart attack, coming back on the campaign too soon may be part of his decision, along with his losses are too much.

I would admire him if he does drop out.

[onetexan]

38. "you gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em"

lalalalala...Bernie has held on to his 15 minutes of fame for way too long. Time for him to retire from politics, sit on his porch with a drink and write more books.

[True Blue American]

50. Know when to

Walk away!

[mysteryowl]

8. I have respect for Bernie and what he said in that speech.

I understood what he was doing and what he said. I think he was speaking directly to progressives and his supporters as well.
I think the Biden supporters cannot understand it, so they did not hear it. That is okay, the people that needed to hear it, did and we will hear more of it at Sunday's debate. I have respect for Bernie. He deeply cares about voting OUT trump.

[pampango]

15. I think supporters of any candidate hear what they want to hear. I agree with you that

Bernie was talking to his passionate, progressive supporters. If these supporters feel that he drops out or is forced out prematurely (judgment is in the eye of the beholder), they are less likely to make the switch to Biden.

He does deeply care about voting Trump OUT. If he has to take online shots from Biden supporters for another few days in order to bring the vast majority of his supporters along, he will do that.

[mysteryowl]

16. Agreed, and I think that is what he will do in the debate.

He is working to bring his supporters on board with Biden AND to move Biden into more progressive positions. I hope so anyway.

[pampango]

17. I imagine that Biden sees how popular Bernie's policies are if not Bernie himself.

It will be interesting to see how he incorporates that into his campaign and, hopefully, his administration.

[mysteryowl]

20. It is the only way

We need ALL the progressives to join together with the moderates. But, the moderates, must respect the progressives and come on board with some of the progressive policies. A blending of our big tent.

[Demsrule86]

28. No...you all lost and Sanders needs to go away...we bent over backward last time to give Sanders

what he wanted and the supers reform was for him too later..and he still didn't support Hillary sufficiently in the primary...no more goodies from us for Sanders..as for progressives...we warned you to pick another candidate...that Sanders could not win a primary...you all should have supported Warren...so too bad.

[mysteryowl]

39. I think Bernie's work these past years has been so needed.

If the moderates want the big tent, that means we blend.
I think Biden understands this, at least I hope so. I am looking forward to Sunday's debate to see.

[Demsrule86]

42. I think if his words and ideas were so so

important, Sanders would be winning...go ahead...and threaten all you want...you will drive the party to the right if you continue. And the left will have less influence than before. It is your choice if you want to be in the tent...and if you don't, we will win without you ;the first example of this was in 18 when moderates won the house. We can't pass M4A through the house at this point. By not voting for Democrats in 16, the left/green (Stein voters yuck gag) caused the party to move right not left and the ironic thing is this makes their policy less likely to pass a Democratic Congress. If we win back the Senate, it will be in red/purple states...not left leaning states so again...we will get some good policy through but probably not the Green New Deal or MFA.

As for the Debate, I have no worries about it. The primary is over and a debate won't change that. Biden will be fine. I might watch it because I like to hear Biden...but honestly, I turn the sound off when Sanders speaks...so done with him and the primary. He has less than half the support he had in 16...really sad in a way.

[True Blue American]

51. What work?

What has Bernie accomplished in 30 years?

Vermont has 1 Health insurance company, very few Doctors, an aging population. The young ar leaving for jobs!

[Demsrule86]

30. It they mattered he would have won...obviously not voting issues for the majority.

[Demsrule86]

32. No he is not...his campaign is attacking Biden..and Sanders is running anti-Biden commercials.

I dream someday of never hearing the name Sanders again.

[Drunken Irishman]

9. Wishful thinking. Bernie has telegraphed his talking point all week...

...both he and his surrogates:

1) He's only losing because of the corrupt DNC and voter suppression. They're stealing the election from him and he's going to fight back.

2) Biden's only support comes from old people. It's not a winning combination. Bernie has the support of the youth and middle aged voters, which is a winning coalition.

Bernie has no intentions of dropping out. Even Tuesday, when he loses big, he'll still carry on and still attack.

[ucrdem]

10. Bingo.

He's not leaving until the last camera goes dark and he's running on conspiracy fumes. I see no benefit to giving him a platform he no longer merits.

[William769]

11. Horse shit. nt

[SidDithers]

12. He's got no path to the nomination. He lost...

this bullshit about testing Biden's answers is theatrics and grandstanding.

Biden's answers have already been tested - by the voters who voted for him over Bernie.

Sid

[peggysue2]

13. x1000!

I'll believe all this 'telegraphed' nonsense when I see it. Frankly I find the idea of Bernie Sanders 'testing' Joe Biden ridiculous and offensive. Who appointed the Senator from Vermont the Judge on High?

Certainly not Democratic voters!

[Gore1FL]

21. That's likely true

Which is why it's weird people are so afraid of Sanders staying in the race to give every voter a voice.

It doesn't hurt Biden, but it helps the party for Sanders to stay.

[ucrdem]

25. Negative TV ads hurt Biden. nt

[Gore1FL]

44. He should learn how to defend himself. More will come.

I think Biden is a stronger candidate than that.

[ucrdem]

46. Do you let your car get vandalized so you can learn how to defend it?

Sanders is doing Trump's work for him. Yes, Biden is stronger. That's why he's beating Sanders at the ballot box. But we need to win in November and Sanders is harming our chances with his negative ads. He did to same to Hillary and look what happened last time in Michigan.

[Gore1FL]

53. My car doesn't gain from experience. It also is ineligible to run for president as it is a 2010. nt

[Demsrule86]

26. Sanders hurts Biden and doesn't help the party by staying...he is toast and should get out.

[Gore1FL]

45. We vote in this country.

Sometimes elections are blowouts. We have them anyway. It's a thing. You want to alienate people? Deny them elections. You want people to accuse you of being unfair? Deny them elections.

The process should happen. It does not need to be short-circuited. Sanders supporters do not need to be antagonized, they need to be respected and befriended. To dismiss them outright is self-defeating. To attack them is self-defeating.

This is a perfect opportunity for Biden. I trust he has more political savvy than most of DU when it comes to unifying a party.

[Demsrule86]

48. This is not an election. It is a primary...a precursor to the election. When a canddiate can't

win mathematically, the primary is over...and the loser should concede...all this emotion over a very simple act of picking someone to run in the general..don't get it. And in this case, with Sanders spewing anti-Joe shit and his surrogates chiming in, we risk the general to allow this to continue. If Sanders cares about beating Trump and the progressive cause he will get out because if Trump wins,the election, the Progressive movement is dead. The courts are gone and we are screwed six ways to Sunday. After Tuesday only 38% delegates will be left...Sanders is losing all the Tuesday races by double digits. There is no way for him to win...he needs to go.

[Gore1FL]

54. Primaries are elections.

It's bad to tell people their vote doesn't count and expect them to thin,k it will count later.

Let the process work as it was designed to work.

This isn't rocket science.

[SidDithers]

34. The assumption that it won't hurt Biden is false...

because we saw how it hurt Hillary in 2016.

It doesn't help the party for Sanders to demonize democrats for the next 5 months. How many more Fox town halls will he have? How much more ammunition will he give to Trump? Why should Biden be forced to spend additional campaign dollars on a campaign that he isn't going to lose, when those funds could instead be directed toward the General?

It serves no purpose for Bernie to stay in a race that he can't win.

Sid

[Gore1FL]

43. You must think Biden to be a weak candidate. I disagree.

If he can't withstand a simple contest with Sanders, he's pretty weak. The purpose it serves for him to stay in the race is for people to have a chance to vote. Voting makes things fair. When things are fair, the party can more easily unify.

Also, please provide credible links required on your claim that it hurt Hillary or I will assume you are scapegoating.

It's like everyone forgot how Democracy worked.

[ucrdem]

47. Biden is winning without going negative.

It's Sanders who's showing weakness by running negative TV ads. He needs to withdraw NOW and if he doesn't party leaders need to step in and make it happen.

[Gore1FL]

56. Groovy. Biden should keep doing that.

He'll get free time to do it during debates. That will help unify the party as well.

[Demsrule86]

49. Nonsense...you don't support Joe and hope by some miracle...Sanders will have some sort

of magical debate(with fairy dust for sure and maybe a unicorn) and then the primary will change. Voter will support Sanders and the revolution...why he will win by double digits for the rest of the primary which is what he needs in order to have any chance. It is a lovely fantasy, but it won't happen. Voters have made up their minds...and choose Joe. Debates rarely change anything and Biden will be the nominee. Thus letting Sanders attack Biden by continuing this charade is foolish and only helps Trump.

[Gore1FL]

55. Not at all.

Ity's true Biden isn;t my first choice, but he will be the nominee. Why are you afraid of people's voices being heard?

[MrsCoffee]

14. Roflmfao. Yeah, Bernie the Gracious is going to make his debut.

I’ll hold my breath.

[wyldwolf]

18. So Bernie gets to ask the questions in the debate?

[Demsrule86]

23. The great one (Sanders) has special rules I guess...unlike a mere mortal and all around good guy

Joe Biden.

[comradebillyboy]

19. That must be why Bernie Sanders is opening five campaign offices

in Pennsylvania. Looks to me like Sanders is going scorched earth to the end.

https://billypenn.com/2020/03/13/bernie-sanders-is-opening-five-campaign-offices-in-joe-bidens-native-pa/

[still_one]

31. +++

[Demsrule86]

22. That is not true...and Biden doesn't have to answer any of his questions...he lost the race...get

the fuck out Sanders...you only help Trump at this point.

[Squinch]

27. So he gets trounced and he STILL feels entitled to give Joe homework?

He is squandering any credibility he might have had.

[still_one]

29. Not going to happen. He just opened new offices in Penn.

[520to17]

33. Stay in

I don't think Bernie should drop out. Let everyone vote
Let every state vote. I would be ok with him stopping the attacks though.

[Callado119]

35. Don't count on it...

...BS is a narcissist and will likely stay in all the way to the convention while demanding super delegates get to vote on the first ballot so they can hand him the nomination...yes, it would be outrageous hypocrisy but he has no shame..

[awesomerwb1]

36. Not a chance

[Hortensis]

37. A pushing of scurrilous slanders is going out with grace?

[MyNameGoesHere]

40. The Independent Senator from Vermonts egomaniac nature

won't allow him to admit getting waxed and trounced once again. Weighed, measured and found wanting.

[SiliconValley_Dem]

41. Here's hoping

[Mike Nelson]

52. I think the debate will be...

... good for both. The format favors ideas. Biden will get to show he's not senile. I do think the controversy will continue however... it will be that the selection of Biden is "rigged" and the naming of Bernie as nominee is being stolen from him. That's the telegraphing I get...