Some Sanders Supporters and Staffers

[MineralMan]

will not vote for Joe Biden. They never were going to vote for Biden, or any other Democratic nominee. Maybe even not Bernie, himself. That's just a fact. How many of them? I do not know, but some, certainly.

There are Jill Stein voters on Bernie's campaign staff. They are proud of that. There are Jill Stein and Gary Johnson voters among Sanders supporters, too. They are not interested in having a Democratic President, really. That is not what they want. They want a revolution of some kind, even if it means destroying our system of government to make it happen.

So, when you see the Sanders Campaign ad lying about Biden's attitudes toward Social Security, keep that in mind. It's not about making Sanders the Democratic nominee. It's about disrupting the 2020 election. That's their real goal. I don't know if that's Bernie's goal as well, really. Maybe not, but maybe.

Joe Biden's on a roll right now. But the future is unclear, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We can hope the primary elections still take place, but some may be postponed. We don't know yet how that's going to go.

But, some of Bernie Sanders' supporters aren't really concerned with all that. They don't care about all that. If they can't have Sanders, they'll try to keep the rest of us from having Biden. Some of them. How many of them, I don't know.

Get to your primary polling place, please, and vote. Take your Purell and your disinfectant wipes and go vote. Stand away from other voters. Go early to the polling place or go during a slow time. Mail in your ballot if you can, but please vote.

Don't let the disruptors disrupt. Make your vote heard.

Biden 2020!
You Go, Joe!

[redstatebluegirl]

1. Yes, we all have to vote. I have been encouraging all of my friends in Illinois to get out.

Many of them voted absentee so they could avoid the polling places. Others say they are just going to suck it up, grab the purell and go for it. Most of my friends are 65 or older so it is a bit of a risk.

[MineralMan]

3. Well, my primary has come and gone.

My wife and I voted in an almost empty polling place. I suggest that people drive to their polling place. If there's a line, come back a little later. Voters seem to come in waves.

A couple of hours after the polls open is usually a good time.

[frazzled]

7. Go vote early today or Monday in Illinois (or Sunday!)

We had planned to go to the polls on Tuesday, but after hearing about poll closings (buildings refusing to host because of fear of people coming in), we went to an early voting place. Wore gloves, and hand sanitizer was available at the sign in desk for anybody.

Got an email from our alderman this morning encouraging people to vote early for these same reasons. Less crowding, less chance that your polling site will have been shut down.

ON EDIT: You can vote on Sunday, too, at least if you live in Chicago. Here are hours; locations at link:

March 2 thru March 16 - Early Voting & Registration at all 52 locations listed below
Sat., March 14: 9 am-6 pm
Sun., March 15: 10 am-5 pm
Mon., March 16: 9 am-5 pm (On March 16, the six "permanent sites" will remain open thru 7 pm.)

https://chicagoelections.gov/en/early-voting.html

Video on how to use new voting machines at early voting polling places: they're great. The demonstration begins later in the video, around 1:29.

[evertonfc]

2. they are not Democrats

Many are communist, socialists, anarchists, radical and militant vegans and probably won't vote anyway. Ignore them. They are legends in thier own minds. They will return to thier Netflix, pot and tamberines. ( joking about the vegsns)

[MineralMan]

4. Yes. Bernie has supporters who are definitely not Democrats.

Most probably just won't vote at all in November. They'll show us, dammit!

It doesn't look like there will be a noticeable third party candidate, really. Sanders says he won't do it.

So, let the disappointed and frustrated Sanders supporters stay away from the general election. Suits me just fine. If they can't see that Biden will be a progressive President, they didn't actually look at his policy statements.

[Turin_C3PO]

6. Most Sanders supporters

are good Democrats, though. Even most of the socialists/communists will vote Dem. It’s the people that want to burn everything down i.e. the anarchists who will vote Trump or stay home. Btw, what’s wrong with a Netflix, pot, and tambourines?? I love all three.

[Mr.Bill]

8. This country has had some element of Socialism in it's government

for over 100 years, if not from the beginning. And Democrats are 100% responsible for starting it and preserving it. Not the Libertarians, not the Green Party, not the republicans. Not even the Communist or Socialist parties.

[jayschool2013]

23. Agreed

"Btw, what’s wrong with a Netflix, pot, and tambourines?? I love all three."

[PolarPop]

24. How is this helpful?

Posts like this only serve to divide.

[ramen]

52. I have to assume that is the poster's goal.

I don't share it.

[DENVERPOPS]

35. There are

Erik Prince (Black Water) moles planted in all the Dem candidates administration. His darling Sister who is the Dept of Education grand Trump flunky has implants in the teacher's unions and teacher's organizations.

There are investigations going on, that have been going on for some months.........

Both are covert slime and work for the Koch uber wealthy crowd.

[ramen]

56. Guys, guys..

This comes up all the time these days. It's like the shameless repost that just won't die. So I'll respond to it in a similar way as when it has previously arisen.

1- I can offer is anecdotal evidence: myself and 100% of the Sanders supporters I know will be voting for Biden or the Big Bad Wolf if they are the Democratic nominee. You can put your mind at ease about that. This sour grapes / take the ball and go home thing you think that Sanders supporters desperately want to so would be simply fucking stupid, and I think most Democrats are not stupid.

2- If you are concerned about his supporters not voting Democratic: have you considered not calling them communist socialist anarchist militant vegan marxists?? If I were to guess, ai would guess they might find that divisive and insulting as well as profoundly inaccurate, and also necessarily self-contradicting (do you seriously think there is an anarchist wing of the party or even any shred of an anarchist movement in this country? If there were then it sure as shit wouldn't be Sanders who they thought was on their team, who wants socialized health care and increased regulation and taxation of international corporations etc etc) due to it being obviously divisive and insulting and inaccurate.

Can we just work together and maybe leave the hyperbolic name calling to the other side's idiots? Even just for a little while, maybe see how it feels?

Signed, a lifelong Democrat who has never missed a single vote and has also never voted for a non-Democrat

[dware]

63. +100.

You speak wise words.

[George II]

5. Some of his highest level staffers proudly voted for Jill Stein in 2016.

[Jim_S]

10. Please Stop Pounding This Wedge

between us. There are people on all campaigns who may be discouraged and not vote if their person loses. They are usually very few in numbers. Let's finish this primary season and then get the orange anal blister out of the Whitehouse. I read all the time here that it's Blue No Matter WHO. Let's do this. I'm in on BLUE

[KPN]

13. Good luck with that.

[DownriverDem]

15. Come on Jim

You aren't really undecided, are you?

[safeinOhio]

25. Great post Jim

There are more than enough independents and republicans that are ready to vote for Joe to make up for the hard heads. I'm a Socialist and I'm voting for the anti-fascist person that is running. The big picture is what is important thing now.

[emmaverybo]

31. No. There are not as many, certainly not a veritable movement against voting blue no matter

who. Admittedly, a majority supporting Bernie will vote Biden if he is our nominee, but a healthy minority will not and are proselytizing for their defiant posture on social media. Almost twenty percent of Bernie supporters in Florida intend to vote for Trump.

[ramen]

62. Can you share any links on those numbers? They are news to me,

and are also starkly opposed to all markers of reality where I am in the world. What type of moron would not vote for the Democratic nominee in this situation?

[emmaverybo]

69. The poll on Florida voters I saw today --19 percent supporting Bernie would vote for Trump.

Sorry, no link. I also see supporters on twitter vowing to not vote ifBiden is the nominee.

[ramen]

71. If true, my only hope is that they are a particularly loud but small

group of idiots. It is really hard for me to imagine only 81% of Sanders' supporters voting anti-Trump. That seems unthinkable.

[Demsrule86]

67. The primary is finished...and I wonder how many wouldn't support Sanders because he picked

Stein voters for his campaign.

[comradebillyboy]

9. Sanders is the captain of that ship and he's responsible

for what his staff and surrogates do. BS is leading a scorched earth campaign specifically designed to damage the Democratic Party and it's nominee just like he did in 2016. In the immortal words of GW Bush,"fool me once shame on me, fool me twice...we can't get fooled again".

[Jim_S]

11. You are so WRONG !

Bernie did over 40 rallies for Hillary. All the tough facts to swallow are out there. She did not lose because Bernie supported her after the primary. We have to stop pounding this nail in our party.

[showblue22]

12. Everyone knows better

Right now, Bernie is running negative ads even though he has no path. Don't give him the benefit of doubt. The reason why he is doing it is not to win.

[DownriverDem]

16. Are you

really undecided?

[MineralMan]

20. Yes, that's the line of argument people make.

However, we were there, see? We watched it all. We were here, too. Where were you?

[Hortensis]

40. In denial perhaps. Some were inspired and drawn to what

Sanders told them was a great cause, insisting that all others were corrupt and that only he could lead our nation forward. Of course, he proves himself to be a very false leader by his constant attempts to deceive those who trust him and constant slanders of us all.

I hope that those who yearn to be part of an important movement can finally come to understand that mainstream, progressive liberals are always the leaders at the head of and the power behind virtually all advances, and sometimes truly great ones.

And in this era in our nation, we gather in the Democratic Party to make them happen.

[MineralMan]

41. Thanks very much for your reply!

[revmclaren]

45. That is a very

J justified question to the Poster MM, but don't expect a Response any time soon.



ONLY!!! 2020 and beyond.

[Codeine]

50. . . .

[stopdiggin]

36. a significant portion of Sanders supporters

(by their own admission) voted 3rd party or not at all in 2016. (and a handful voted Trump). Those votes unquestionably provided the margin by which HRC lost the states, and electoral votes, that cost her the election. It's just plain math.

And Mr. Sanders, for whatever reasons, went out and stockpiled his campaign with these same third party supporters for 2020. Those two things don't look like any sort of "unity" effort to many in the party .. either then, or now. As the OP points out, people are now rightly suspicious of the motives and motivations of the candidate, and his supporters .. because, history.

[MineralMan]

37. Some even voted for Trump, as

they said on another website after the election. How many, I don't know.

[Turin_C3PO]

65. 12% is the number I've seen.

I’ve posted this on other threads but my gut tells me nine out of ten Sanders supporters will vote Biden in the GE. I have no evidence for this but that’s my anecdotal experience.

[Codeine]

53. Bernie himself is the nail being driven into this party

and the rest of us are sick of it. The silver lining is that this campaign ends him completely and he can go back to being a do-nothing Senator focused on the occasional renaming of a postal facility.

[brush]

60. He's finally finished. He's done a lot of damage though...trump in the WH IMO.

[Demsrule86]

68. The 40 rally thing is not true first of all and who cares. Biden is the nominee. He is building

a strong coalition and will beat Trump like a drum. Sander is done...put a fork in him.

[Progressive dog]

28. Yes he is in charge of the sinking revolution ship

Democrats need to get on the lifeboats before he takes us all down with him. Those who want a revolution are not Democrats.

[LudwigPastorius]

14. A person who doesn't vote for Biden in November...

is just as bad as Mitch "Russia Boy" McConnell and all of the other GOP Trump enablers.

Such a person is too stupid to know that the first thing you should do when you're in a burning house is put out the fire.

[BGBD]

17. That's why

I don't worry when his supporters try to hold the party hostage on Twitter.

There is a lot of "We won't vote for Biden and he will lose to Trump."

I don't pay much attention to those folks because the ones saying that are most likely people who don't usually vote for Democrats anyway. They are either non-typical voters, third party voters, or even Republicans or Russians who are trolling.

Bidens path to victory is clear and it doesn't include converting Jill Stein supporters or relying on historically high youth turnout. It relies on increasing black turnout from 2016, winning suburban women, and closing the margins in white rural areas. That's it. That's how you win.

[MineralMan]

18. We'll see what happens.

Things are changing fast right now. I think Biden will probably win going away in November. However, I say that with a bit of caution, given unforeseen things.

[samnsara]

27. they werent going to vote for him anyway..or BS..

...and how well did the Never Trump group keep him from being elected?

[demigoddess]

19. so....Jill Stein might get trumpf re elected? such irony.

[MineralMan]

22. Not Jill Stein, per se.

Jill Stein supporters. Hell, they're running the Sanders campaign. I doubt they have changed their philosophies, either.

[rickyhall]

21. Those who won't vote against traitors are traitors.

[samnsara]

26. i agree 100%..they were never going to vote for ANY DEM candidate..

...they are bored Magats and decided to hang out with that particular candidate. Im glad they didnt soil Joes campaign with their MALARKEY...we were too smart to accept them into our camp..

[RandySF]

29. I envy their privilege

If they cannot vote for the Democratic nominee after everything we've endured individually and as a country, then they are in a point in their lives where it doesn't matter, and there's no point in trying to persuade them.

[DinahMoeHum]

38. And it IS a matter of privilege.. .and selfishness.

Last edited Sat Mar 14, 2020, 03:42 PM - Edit history (1)

#newrostrong

[Pepsidog]

30. Your post just convinced me to select Biden as my candidate.

[MineralMan]

33. Thank you. That means my post was well worth making!

[LovingLife]

32. Well said.

"They are not interested in having a Democratic President, really. That is not what they want. They want a revolution of some kind, even if it means destroying our system of government to make it happen"

You are quite correct. They did the same against Hillary, and would do the same against any Democrat. Some are paid influencers (read Russia via it's surrogates). Separately - many Sanders supporters will vote for the nominee, and many (like last time) will not, although I would not lump them in with the intentional disputers.

It's an Electoral College system, not a popular vote system. We need to will the middle to win the states we need - and we need to keep the African American voters and turnout. We shouldn't cater much to the farther left or we lose the states we need.

[MineralMan]

34. If we can win Florida and Ohio, the rust belt states won't matter.

But, i think we'll win WI, MI, and PA this time anyhow, so that's all good.

[Turin_C3PO]

66. I think

Ohio is a lost cause. But we definitely have a good chance of winning Florida and the three swing states.

[McKim]

39. Please Give it a Rest

Please give it a rest. This will not bring Sanders supporters to Biden’s side. Many of these outliers will change their minds by November. I am a 74 year old retired migrant teacher who has supported Sanders, voted for Hillary at the end and who is ready to vote blue no matter who. I support Sanders for his ideas and what he wants to do for my former students and families in the Hispanic Community. Why aren’t we talking about bringing people together? Let’s just come together.

[MineralMan]

43. No, thanks. I won't do that.

Sanders supporters will either vote for the Democratic nominee or they will not. For those who will not, nothing I write will make any difference. For those who will, nothing I write will discourage them from voting for the Democratic nominee.

I'm not someone who minces words, as people who know me will attest.

If you want to talk some recalcitrant Sanders supporters into voting for the Democratic nominee, please feel free to do so. But, please don't suggest that I not post what I want to say.

[Codeine]

55. Perhaps it is time THEY were admonished

to #bendtheknee. Sauce for the goose, etc.

[showblue22]

58. Not this time

As long as he is still running negative ads, it's a free for all.

[walkingman]

42. I voted for Bernie in the Texas primary but the idea that a Bernie voter will not vote for

Biden and might even vote for Trump tells me they have mental issues. Bernie should start after the next primary when it becomes clear who will be the nominee actively campaigning for Biden. This election is too important to lose to Trump simply out of what can only be called ignorance. Simply amazing to me.

[MineralMan]

44. Well, some of Sander's top campaign staffers voted for Jill Stein

instead of Hillary Clinton. That tells me a lot. It indicates that there are those who support, or claim to support Sanders who are simply not Democratic voters at all. They have a very different agenda that we do.

[Doitnow]

46. I have heard Bernie say he will support any Democratic nominee, but I have not heard

The same from Biden.

[showblue22]

59. What he says and what he does though...

This is not 2016. We know better. Giving his campaign concessions only hurt Hillary.

[brush]

61. he doesn't have to, he's the presumptive nominee.

[patphil]

47. I don't think we should concern ourselves with this.

First, I believe Bernie's camp has been co-opted with republicans who are just sowing anger and confusion.
Also, his base is loyal to a fault, and we aren't going to have much success in getting them to vote for anyone else.
Lastly, each of us is ultimately responsible for our own vote. We may be able to convince some other people of our choice, but, in the end, they are going to vote, or not vote regardless of our efforts.

Do what you can, but don't agonize about other people's votes.
We need to focus on the election and not get all stirred up about things we can't change.
Like those Italians singing from their balconies, be one voice that sings in harmony.
Make it a victory song!

[mjvpi]

54. I agree. And don't forget the Russians.

Their plan is to amplify the discord in the Democratic Party. Anything that doesn’t encourage party unity is a waste.

[BluesClues]

48. This is disappointing

But this has happened before and we still won. 1 in 10 hillary voters went to McCain in 2008

[mjvpi]

49. Why focus on the outliers?

Currently Biden has 890 delegates. Sanders has 736. Warren has 72. Many Biden supporters that I know have cast a pragmatic not idealistic vote. There are really a lot of FDR progressive Democrats as proved by the numbers. Trump daily gives us all a reason to stick together. The primaries are the time to be idealistic not antagonistic. We synthesize our deferences in the platform. Then we kick Trumps ass.

[MineralMan]

57. Because during the last election, we lost the White House.

That seems sufficient reason for concern to me. I'd really rather not have a repeat of that, you see.

[PatrickforO]

51. As progressive as I am, I will say that anyone, ANYONE, who sees

how horrible Trump has been for this republic and votes any other way but Democratic, is a) wasting their vote, and b) indirectly helping Trump.

Getting Trump out of office is Job 1. We've got to get that done. (well, maybe the virus will do it for us, in which case it will be Biden against Pence).

Speaking of that Mineral Man, if you have been watching these Trump pressers, as I have, it does seem as if members of Trump's criminal gang are putting him out there to look stupid, then following up with Pence, who, after listening to Trump's ramblings, seems relatively effective.

I'm wondering if there is the hope in that group that Trump will either catch the virus and die, or catch the virus and have it render him incapable of doing the job even if he lives. Then Trump can be removed and Pence can step up as POTUS.

Of course I have no proof, and while I'm not one to wear a tin foil hat, look at what is happening. It isn't just Trump on that stage. They are packing it so that Trump's bumbling incoherence is somewhat minimized and yet stands in stark contrast to Pence's quiet communication style.

[Cha]

64. Excellent point.. The jill stein pushers on BS' staff.

[GulfCoast66]

70. Any person who will not vote Democratic unless it is Bernie never was going to.

He has way less supporters than he did in 16 and like then a small percentage are cultist who are not Democratic voters.

Joe is showing respect but is also its apparent he is not making the mistake of Cow-towing to him.

In the midst of a national crisis the like we haven’t seen in 100 years the longer Bernie does his victim act rather than joining the Joe train to defeat trump the more pathetic his campaign will be viewed.

I’ll be doing my part here in Florida on Tuesday.