It Appears Likely That Senator Bernard Sanders (I-VT) Will Soon

[MineralMan]

announce that he is withdrawing from his candidacy for the Democratic nomination. Even some of his closest staff advisers are telling him that he should do that.

Once he does, this question will become appropriate:

"Which Side Are You On?"

Many, we will discover, cannot really answer that question. Many will not decide, and will show their contempt for the society in which they live by skipping voting entirely. Many have already done that, which is one of the reasons that Senator Sanders fared poorly after the results from South Carolina became known.

Many of them did not bother to vote in their state's primary elections that took place after Super Tuesday. The same group will not vote in November, most likely. They are people so full of ennui and disaffection that they cannot make a simple decision about who should be in charge of a nation for which they have contempt or disinterest.

So, it will be up to those of us who can answer the question above to carry on and make the choice to help determine the course of the next four years. Many cannot be bothered to do so, as long as their erstwhile champion is no longer available.

There is little point in attempting to pry such people out of their haze of disaffection. They will not participate, but will think their non-participation is actually some sort of action.

More, my friends, is the pity.

[samnsara]

1. its a good decision..America has moved on from the primaries...

[LoveMyCali]

44. Not all of them

I saw a post on FaceBook from a friend today saying Biden better get his ass in gear, he's been a ghost. Bernie has been a leader always. I just scrolled by because I just don't have the energy for this shit.

[marlakay]

56. I got a email about our primary in May (Oregon)

To tell you the truth I had forgotten all about it. I bet I am not the only one. We are by mail but unless you drop off at boxes in the past you had to put a stamp on, now because they don’t want people out they said postage free.

[The Magistrate]

2. I Will Believe It When I See It, Sir

And wait a day or three afterwards just to be sure....






"From Bernie’s perspective, dropping out of a race once you have no chance of winning is peculiar behavior that can only be explained by the work of a hidden hand. For most politicians, though, it is actually standard operating procedure. Only Sanders seems to think the normal thing to do once voters have made clear they don’t want to nominate you is to continue campaigning anyway."





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[Chemisse]

5. Well stated. n/t

[SheltieLover]

7. Well said!

👆

[jberryhill]

20. Speaking of faith in things unseen...

Just out of curiosity, would anyone at DU have an objective reason to believe that you are the same person who used to post from the account to which you suddenly gained access after a long departure?

And, by "objective reason", something other than mere posting style, such as someone at DU who might have known your offline persona? I am not asking who that person might be, but your newer incarnation appears much more inclined to dead horse whipping than I recall the former Magistrate to have been.

It is beyond obvious that Bernie Sanders will not be the Democratic nominee, and that any continued efforts on his part by supporters is mere distraction and division.

That dying ember shines all the brighter, the more breath is spent upon it.

I would have expected the Magistrate to grasp that intuitively.

[The Magistrate]

22. You May Doubt As You Wish, Sir

"What people think of me is none of my damn business."






"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[jberryhill]

25. I was simply asking what is a reasonable question

During your absence, DU was hacked quite thoroughly. I was wondering if perhaps you had prevailed on the administrators or something to that effect, since your original explanation for your resurrection "I found an old link that led me back here" or words to that effect, is sort of breezy.

I have no reason to believe one way or the other, and was not expressing "what people think" of you or even what I think of you. It really has nothing to do with what anyone might think about "The Magistrate", but more to the point what a person might or might not think of the person posting from the DU account denominated "The Magistrate".

Because if you were not The Magistrate, then I think the principal victim would be the person who formerly posted from the account you are using.

One would also expect the Magistrate to understand the difference between a person who has formed an opinion, and a person expressing a lack of information on which to form one. There is a substantial distinction between those two things.

I have no opinion one way or the other, and was interested to know if you were aware of any fact by reason of which anyone might believe you either are, or are not, whom you claim to be.

[The Magistrate]

27. Someone Arguing My Identity With Me, Sir, Would Be An Entertaining Way To Spend The Day

By all means, have at it.

Who knows what I might learn....



"Enquiring minds want to know!"






"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[jberryhill]

28. Again, an unusual exercise in point-missing

Are you intentionally distorting my meaning, or do you actually not understand the position of not having an opinion based on available facts?

I'm not looking to argue anything with you. I am simply asking whether there is an objective reason to believe you are not someone who gained access to a long-dormant and influential DU account. It's a relatively simple yes-or-no question.

Again, it is surprising that someone of a judicial temperament would fail to comprehend the difference.

[The Magistrate]

32. You Are Making A Claim Regarding The Identity Of The Person You Are Addressing, Sir

It amuses me, and I do hope you continue at it.

I am making a fresh pot of coffee in anticipation....







"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[jberryhill]

34. What is that claim?

My claim is that DU was hacked during your long absence, and you provided a very strange reason for your reappearance.

Even that is not a claim. That is an undisputed fact.

I am asking you a yes or no question, and a very simple one. Is there a reason, other than your own say-so, to believe that you are the same person who formerly posted from the account you are posting from.

If the answer is "no", and one should simply take that on faith, then that is a perfectly fine answer.

I was just curious to know whether you had prevailed on, say, the administrators of the site or perhaps some other person who could vouch for your identity, in order to get the account back. If that answer to that question is "no", then it is not hard to answer it truthfully.

But, please, state this "claim" of mine. I don't have an opinion one way or the other, and was wondering whether you could point to any other facts than your own say-so.

I gather there are no other facts than your own say-so, and, again, that would be a fine answer. I'm just asking if it is a truthful answer, and it seems to bother you. That's a little out of character.

So, sure, what is the "claim" I am making? Spit it out.

[The Magistrate]

38. The Question Contains A Claim, Sir

This pretense of 'just asking a question' is an ancient wheeze intended to do precisely that, to set a claim into people's minds without openly stating it, in case the matter is delicate or dangerous, or might blow up in your face.

But probably the most amusing element is your presumption that you are entitled to an answer, that there is some reason I should allow you to direct my actions, and do something for no better reason than that you have told me to do it.

There are no more than three people in this world who have that privilege.

As you may have guessed by now, you are not one of them.









"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[jberryhill]

42. Unlike people who post under a pseudonym

I have always used my real name, and if there were any doubt as to who I might be, it's pretty easy to confirm. The reason I do that is because as a member of the legal profession, I believe it is important not to use a fake name that might otherwise be used to conceal a conflict of interest. Others have different ethical values in that regard.

The question does not contain a claim other than, "I don't know if your account has been taken over by an impostor". I genuinely don't know.

I am not trying to either "direct your actions" nor reveal your identity. Asking whether you confirmed your identity with someone in a position to know in order to regain access to the account, is not much of a big deal of a question. I don't see why it bothers you so much.

But now you are the one advancing a claim. Which is also odd.

[The Magistrate]

43. Oh, You Came Back! You Came Back! Oh Frabjous Day, Calloo Calley!

The title was typed up before even bothering to read your comment, but I do expect some rum fun from it. We shall see if you can keep up to the high standard you have established....




Having read you comment now, no, your standard is fallen off considerably.

You have indeed presumed to direct me to some action, and it would provide more entertainment if you stuck to that rather than craw-fishing away from it.

A shame, you were seeming to promise an enjoyable afternoon....







"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[jberryhill]

45. You've helped me make up my mind

For someone who doesn’t care what others think, you seem to care quite a bit.

For someone of your intelligence, it’s odd that you seem offended by a simple question.

The “old link” that you followed back here... would you care to describe the trail? There was quite a procedure we all went through after the hack of the site.

[The Magistrate]

46. It's Really a Shame, Sir, But

We just can't go one together with...

[jberryhill]

50. I hope you find something joyful to do today

Perhaps you are the same person, but not the one I remember.

Enjoy the day.

Link to tweet

[The Magistrate]

51. It's Been A Slice, Fella

[Demsrule86]

58. Well you shouldn't. If you had ever been stalked, you might reconsider. It is a horrible experience.

[Ferrets are Cool]

3. I will believe it the minute I see it.

And those supporters who do not turn to Vice President Biden would never vote for him anyway.

[Walleye]

4. I'll believe the news that Sanders drops out when I hear it from him. Not holding my breath.

[gristy]

6. Not convinced this will happen anytime soon

It's been reported for weeks that his staff advisers have been telling him that he should do that.

[Squinch]

8. Don't hold your breath.

[MineralMan]

12. Continuing to breathe...

[Nitram]

9. It's about fucking time.

[comradebillyboy]

10. He'll find some excuse to hang in til the bitter end. And then

he'll start ramping up his 2024 campaign.

[Kahuna]

11. I hope if he's asked, which side are you on, he won't say...

whomever is on the side of MFA. In that case, trump would announce that he would "consider" it, and a lot of Bernie supporters would side with trump.

[Tribetime]

13. How does this post help nt

[The Magistrate]

14. How Does It Hurt, Sir?

"From Bernie’s perspective, dropping out of a race once you have no chance of winning is peculiar behavior that can only be explained by the work of a hidden hand. For most politicians, though, it is actually standard operating procedure. Only Sanders seems to think the normal thing to do once voters have made clear they don’t want to nominate you is to continue campaigning anyway."





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[MineralMan]

16. That's for you to decide, really.

However, we're all going to have to find a focus for our individual GOTV efforts, I think. Instead of wasting them on people who will NOT vote, we should focus on those who are likely to vote if we give them a little push.

There is no point in wasting our time on the disaffected and on those who could not even be bothered to vote in the primaries. Instead, we should turn our attention to those who have voted in the past, those who are eager to vote but who have been blocked from voting, and on those who have grown to dislike Donald Trump, due to his actions or inaction.

For those who remember the last presidential general election campaign, much time was wasted trying to convince people to vote for Clinton who had no intention whatever of doing so. That time was misspent. I'd like it if we simply avoided that group this year.

[LiberalFighter]

15. If past history is an indication....

[MineralMan]

17. It generally is worth reexamination, I think.

[Hortensis]

21. He'll be in to the bitter end and at least a month past that,

once again waiting hopefully for an airplane or Russian nuke to fall out of the sky on our nominee's head? 'Fraid so.

[The Magistrate]

47. I Expect You Are Right, Ma'am

"Pessimists get pleasant surprises. Optimists meet bitter disappointments."

[Hortensis]

18. Sanders' five-year battle has achieved nomination at our convention.

It's not happened yet, but he only needs 300 delegates to vote for it and has many more than that. But if he withdraws he has to give that up and become an ignoble footnote to history.

Why would he? Specifically, what would he do afterward to remain in the national spotlight that came late in life after several decades of obscurity?

I have trouble believing the possibilities he might be considering would include retiring to his office where he himself says he's wasted his 29 years in congress.

[Demsrule86]

19. Great post...and I agree...if you want influence you need to vote and participate in the Democratic

Party. K&R

[BlueIdaho]

23. What is your evidence? nt.

[The Magistrate]

24. There Have Been Recent Reports, Sir

That Sanders' campaign staff is urging this course upon him. Several threads appeared last night, and are still current.

[MineralMan]

26. Careful thinking and reading news reports.

See my signature line. What I write here is my opinion. Yours might differ from mine.

Sanders' advisers are telling him he should drop out. That was in yesterday's news. Sanders is polling very poorly in Wisconsin, which will hold its primary election on Tuesday, but will not report for an additional week, since it is going to count absentee ballots that are mailed by election day.

It is becoming very clear, even to Sanders, that he has no path to the nomination. He's not a completely stupid man.

[William769]

29. "Which Side Are You On?"

Who the hell cares anymore. I know I don't. These people have not had disagreements with us, they have wanted to tear our party down.

I don't care what they do, I don't care where they go, and I definitely don't care what they have to say.

[MineralMan]

30. Yes. Once Sanders drops out, my intention is to avoid any engagement

with people who wish to prolong discussions of Senator Sanders. At that time, he becomes completely irrelevant to the 2020 campaign.

I remember the conversation continuing for weeks in 2016, even after Hillary was our nominee.

I won't participate in such nonsense this year. It is a waste of time and focus.

[The Magistrate]

41. That Is My Intention As Well, Sir

Once the matter is settled once and for all, I intend ('God willing and the creek don't rise) to content myself with disparagement of the cheap thug and Democracy's gravedigger in the Senate, with excursions perhaps into some of the more recondite 'groups', and some relaxation in the Lounge.

[getagrip_already]

31. There is an article in the wp that syas most of bernies senior advisors are urging dropping out

The one holdout is rajid apparently. She needs to be primaried. She is not doing this party any favors at any level.

[Bayard]

33. You have to hope,

That rabid tRump followers will follow rabid Bernie followers in not voting at all, even while they bitch their heads off.

[lamp_shade]

35. Even if he does, those numbers (48,38,14) at the top of the page won't change... ever.

[Bengus81]

36. Pfffttt..that's what was thrown around after Bernie's last huge primary loss

And yet...YAWN he's still here. Now the same thing,he'll give it serious consideration AFTER the next primary,then the next and the next.

Nah...Bernie knows this is his last shot at Pres and just can't let it go when he should be 100% on getting Trump the HELL out of office and all Dems around our 2020 candidate. Him making an official announcement dropping out would be HUGE in the media,take the CV off the air for a minute or two and give Trump a shot in the ass.

[LudwigPastorius]

37. Bernie quit? But, he hasn't toppled the Democratic establishment yet!

(Plus, I'm sure he's got a hell of a lot of campaign bills to pay.)

[The Magistrate]

48. Money Concerns May Well Be a Factor, Sir

He was spending like water, and to no good result. I suspect 'grass-roots' donation have dried up to at best a trickle....







"From Bernie’s perspective, dropping out of a race once you have no chance of winning is peculiar behavior that can only be explained by the work of a hidden hand. For most politicians, though, it is actually standard operating procedure. Only Sanders seems to think the normal thing to do once voters have made clear they don’t want to nominate you is to continue campaigning anyway."





"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[sellitman]

39. Their non action is an action

They are ensuring another 4 years of trump. They now become the enemy.

[ecstatic]

40. Umm... Why does it take so long for him to make decisions?

This is a consistent pattern with him. Too slow to adjust to changing circumstances. He dragged his feet on the VA scandal as well.

Thoughtful is good, but we also need someone who can act quickly once all of the information has been absorbed--especially during emergencies.

[LizBeth]

49. I will believe it when I see it. He has done the Democratic primary no favors.

[Eliot Rosewater]

52. I am willing to assume he will be on our side and that he will do all the right things. (sincerely)

The minute he doesn't, if that happens, then I will never stop attacking him and his helpers on twitter etc.

But I truly want to give him the chance to do the right thing.

I also keep waiting for W and Cheney to do the right thing. Not comparing Bernie to them, but if W and Cheney went public that what Rump is doing is wrong and deadly and that the party has to support the admin to use the 25th to save maybe MILLIONS of lives, but so far they have continued to prove they are NOT patriots.

[SWBTATTReg]

53. If he wants to run for office so badly, then why doesn't he run on the republican platform?

I mean, after all, he claims that he's an independent, but yet, he always seems to come onto the democratic side of the fence when he runs for national office. Just a curious question...

[kurtcagle]

54. Ultimately, Sanders' bloc will fracture

Progressives who saw Sanders as a better alternative than Biden to Trump will settle on Biden, begrudgingly, but they'll vote.
Those who saw Sanders as Their Guy will likely not vote at all, even if Sanders endorses Biden.
Those who saw Sanders as an alternative to voting for the Democrats, or who saw in Sanders the role as a spoiler against Biden, will vote for Trump.

I'd question how much of the latter two were ever really that interested in voting for the Democratic party in the first place.

I'm sure that this is the calculus that Biden has been playing with for a while. He's reaching out to disaffected Republicans and Independents, because it is more likely that they WILL vote for him, and may very well convert some of them to voting Democrat down the ticket.

What's more - and this is something that many of Sanders' younger voters are now learning first hand - elections matter. A significant number of them are now in college, which has been radically disrupted by the ineptness of the Trump administration via the pandemic, many others, already working, are now unemployed. Given a choice between a kind of goofy but competent guy on one hand and Trump on the other, I expect that they will be abandoning Sanders in droves at this point for Biden.

[Gothmog]

55. The primary is over

Link to tweet

?s=20

[Crutches]

57. Bernie's not withdrawing

His ego won't let him.