Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. That's the phrase, right?
Bernie 2016: I'm running as a democrat
DNC: We're actively screwing you in favor of Hillary
Bernie 2020: I'm running as a democrat
DNC: How about no?
So is this the stage of shame on Bernie for not running as an Independent... which...is...what...he...holds...office...as...a...Senator...in...Vermont...as...
Always thought it was ridiculous he switched for the election. It's bit him twice.
@L_D_G
I think the problem he has is that independents are locked out of the system until they can show they are *already part of the system*. In most cases, they aren't allowed into debates or put on ballots unless they got enough votes *in previous elections*.
So he would either have to run on one of the loony fringe parties that have made it onto some ballots, or run as a wolf in donkey's clothing.
It is a broken, shitty system.
@thereal_renaissance_man I agree that the system is broken. However, I think Bernie has enough support to force change. He could have done a live stream during the debates and for every commercial he makes his points. Him or his followers eventually make enough noise that parties and networks can't ignore. Eventually everyone thinks parties and networks fear him. They probably do now. But if he's an Independent, they can't short his delegates.
@L_D_G
And that's another issue at play here... He'd have to win the electoral college. The whole process has been heavily rigged to a two party system where those two parties *must* have *huge* infrastructure in place. The bar for entry is very high. The party machines are disturbingly complex and expensive.
@thereal_renaissance_man that's the thing. The fear of Trump has forced everyone to Biden while alienating a bunch of voters. I would have thought that especially after 2016, Sanders and followers wouldn't trust the DNC. Guess it was just the Chairwoman that was rigged, huh?
You make a good point about the electoral college, but at least he would have been in the general election.
Now in a field that once had Kamala, Warren, Buttigieg, and Bernie...the choice is Biden?
@thereal_renaissance_man also...if a second term for Trump isn't the time to test Independent...when is?
@thereal_renaissance_man partisanship ship is really only king because Trump has made the whole party radioactive.
But then Joe Rogan says he likes Bernie and AOC disavows him. Come on.
@L_D_G
AOC has not disavowed him. That is disinformation spin. She continued to support him to the end, but she was playing a pragmatic game and is attempting to maximize progressive influence in other seats as well. She also has an exceptionally hard hit district and is doing her best to handle really, really demanding circumstances.
The GOP has learned that they can act without reprisal and there is enough voter support to get them elected to do whatever they want. Deceit does not cost them.
@thereal_renaissance_man good spin when you type in AOC Bernie or AOC Rogan and every link points to a distancing.
@L_D_G
Offended Bernie-bros (and the Russian imitators) are their own worst enemies.
@thereal_renaissance_man and it's not that I don't believe you...I just don't see supporting arguments. If the distancing is a lie, fine. I've been lied to and believe it. I'd just like to see proof it's a lie.
@L_D_G
There was distancing, but not rejection. She was pragmatically directing her limited influence and energy towards the wide array of progressive candidates since Bernie was doing as well as he could without her.
The lie was in the statements that she rejected him. Those lies were based on hurt feelings and/or intent to sow doubt and chaos. Not strictly lies, but not exactly truth.
@thereal_renaissance_man maybe, but it's hard to not confuse one for the other... especially in a presidential campaign... especially when the campaign is going vs Trump.
Bad optics. Democrats threw a lot at Trump just like they did Bush and it only stood to fracture the party.
@L_D_G
Because there was not a coherent message behind their actions. Yes, they threw a lot - and it felt like a bunch of random stones. There was no unifying message explaining the motivation, so it was vulnerable to the "they just hate me" message.
@L_D_G
Trump's base, and the GOP in general, are immune to his asshattery. His second term is not seriously in peril because of his destructive, immoral, or illegal activities - his core base love those things.
The issue is that, more than ever, partisanship is king and *everyone*, internal and external, is exploiting that to influence the outcome.
It is simply a fact right now, that a third party in a two party system makes exploitation and influence easier and more likely.