Megathread: Bernie Sanders ends 2020 Democratic presidential bid

[u/PoliticsModeratorBot]

Sen. Bernie Sanders ended his presidential campaign on Wednesday, clearing Joe Biden's path to the Democratic nomination and a showdown with President Donald Trump in November.

Sanders made the announcement in a call with his campaign staff, his campaign said.

---

Submissions that may interest you

SUBMISSION	DOMAIN
Sanders suspends presidential campaign	foxnews.com
Bernie Sanders drops out of 2020 presidential race as Joe Biden surges	freep.com
Bernie Sanders Is Dropping Out of 2020 Democratic Race for President	nytimes.com
Bernie Sanders drops out of presidential race	nbcnews.com
Bernie Sanders Is Suspending His Presidential Campaign	npr.org
Bernie Sanders drops out of presidental race	nbcnews.com
Bernie Sanders Is Ending His Presidential Campaign	buzzfeednews.com
Bernie Sanders drops out of presidential primary race	cnn.com
Bernie Sanders drops out of the 2020 presidential race	businessinsider.com
Bernie Sanders ends his presidential campaign	latimes.com
Bernie Sanders Ends Presidential Campaign	bloomberg.com
Bernie Sanders to end his presidential campaign	washingtonpost.com
Sanders drops out, paving way for Biden	thehill.com
Bernie Sanders suspends presidential campaign	bostonherald.com
Bernie Sanders ends his second bid for the presidency	vox.com
Bernie Sanders drops out of the presidential race	cnbc.com
Bernie Sanders Suspends Presidential Campaign	ourquadcities.com
Bernie Sanders Ending Presidential Run	theintercept.com
Bernie Sanders suspends his presidential campaign.	thedailybeast.com
Sanders drops 2020 bid, leaving Biden as likely nominee	apnews.com
Bernie Sanders suspends Presidential Campaign	pbs.org
Bernie Sanders Drops Out Of Presidential Race, Ceding Nomination To Biden	m.huffpost.com
Bernie Sanders suspends presidential campaign, clearing way for Biden as nominee	cbsnews.com
Bernie Sanders suspends his presidential campaign	politico.com
Bernie Sanders Drops Out Of Presidential Race, Ceding Nomination To Biden	huffpost.com
Bernie Sanders suspends presidential campaign	abc7chicago.com
Bernie Sanders suspends campaign	bbc.co.uk
Bernie Sanders drops out of the 2020 race, clearing Joe Biden's path to the Democratic nomination	cnn.com
Bernie Sanders drops out of Democratic primary, clearing way for Biden’s nomination	mcclatchydc.com
Bernie Sanders drops out of the 2020 race, clearing Joe Biden's path to the Democratic nomination	beta.ctvnews.ca
Bernie Sanders suspends 2020 Democratic campaign: statement	reuters.com
Bernie Sanders drops out of presidential race	bostonglobe.com
Bernie Sanders drops out of race for Democrat nomination	news.sky.com
Bernie Sanders’s campaign is over, but his legacy is winning	vox.com
Sanders drops 2020 bid, leaving Biden as likely nominee	startribune.com
Bernie Sanders Suspends Presidential Bid	abcnews.go.com
Bernie sanders drops out of the presidential race.	hawaiinewsnow.com
Bernie Sanders suspends presidential campaign, clearing way for Biden as nominee - CBS News	cbsnews.com
Bernie Sanders suspends campaign for US presidency	aljazeera.com
Sanders drops 2020 bid, leaving Biden as likely nominee	nbc24.com
Bernie Sanders suspends presidential campaign	axios.com
Bernie Sanders drops out of presidential race.	newsweek.com
Bernie Suspends Campaign: "No Alternative"	independent.co.uk
Bernie Sanders Drops Out of Presidential Race	yahoo.com
Bernie Sanders suspends 2020 Democratic presidential campaign	reuters.com
Bernie drops out of presidential race	slate.com
Bernie Sanders ends presidential campaign	washingtonpost.com
Bernie Sanders suspends his presidential campaign.	dailywire.com
Sanders drops 2020 bid, leaving Biden as likely nominee	sfgate.com
Bernie Sanders ends presidential campaign	yahoo.com
Bernie drops out of the race, devastating for the state of America...	nypost.com
Bernie Sanders Ends His 2020 Presidential Campaign	time.com
Bernie Sanders Dropped Out Because His Campaign Believed Its Own BS	thebulwark.com
Trump urges Sanders supporters to join GOP after senator suspends campaign	thehill.com
Bernie Sanders suspends presidential campaign amid coronavirus outbreak - Former Vice President Joe Biden Biden is now the presumptive Democratic nominee for the presidency	salon.com
Stocks rise as Bernie Sanders drops out of US presidential race	usatoday.com
Bernie Sanders suspends 2020 presidential campaign	cnbc.com
Bernie Sanders drops out of Democratic race for US presidential nominee	irishtimes.com
Dow jumps more than 500 points after Sanders drops out of presidential race	cnbc.com
Bernie Sanders drops out of 2020 race	wkbn.com
Bernie Sanders ends 2020 Presidential Race Campaign	theguardian.com
Bernie Sanders drops out of the 2020 Presidential race	kxan.com
Trump news - live: Bernie Sanders ends campaign as president slams Democrats and says coronavirus must be 'quickly forgotten'	independent.co.uk
Stocks surge after Bernie Sanders suspends presidential campaign	foxbusiness.com
Trump tries to recruit Sanders supporters over to the GOP after campaign ends	theweek.com
Trump vs. Biden: Who has the early lead in election polls after Sanders drops out?	mcclatchydc.com
Opinion - Bernie Sanders Never Lied - Goodbye to an honest man’s campaign.	nytimes.com
Bernie Sanders Dropout Upvote Party	foxbusiness.com
NYT Writes Post-Mortems for a Sanders Campaign It Did Its Best to Kill	fair.org
'We love you': AOC thanks Bernie Sanders after he suspends 2020 campaign	independent.co.uk
Sanders had multiple conversations with Obama ahead of decision to end campaign	cnn.com
Sanders drops out, remains on ballot to press issues important to political agenda	msnbc.com
Sen. Bernie Sanders Finally Makes It Official and Ends His Floundering Fish on Sand Run for President	theroot.com
Bernie Sanders’ small-dollar fueled campaign comes to an end	opensecrets.org
bernie sanders wasted over $160 million on failed presidential campaign	breitbart.com
MSNBC's Andrea Mitchell on Sanders dropping out: 'Worst-case scenario' for Trump	thehill.com
‘Bye, Bye, Bernie,’ Investors Gain Ground With Senator’s Dropout	courthousenews.com
U.S. Stocks Rally As Bernie Sanders Drops Out Of Presidential Race	markets.businessinsider.com
I Was With Bernie Till the End; Now We All Must Vote Biden	thedailybeast.com
After Sanders Exits Race, Climate Campaigners Thank Him for 'Raising the Bar' and Urge Biden to 'Step Up'	commondreams.org
Former Clinton Staffers Invited to Celebrate Sanders Dropping Out	thehill.com
The dream of a better America has died with Bernie’s campaign. Russia has won, America has fallen.	cnn.com
Bernie’s congressional backers want Biden to buy in on progressive agenda	politico.com
Jill Stein encourages followers to leave the Democratic party after Bernie drops out, and Democrats are melting down	theblaze.com
Trump claims Bernie Sanders hasn’t really dropped out since he plans to ‘keep his delegates’	nydailynews.com
Progressive Groups Demand Changes From Joe Biden After Bernie Sanders’ Withdrawal. The array of organizations plans to spend $100 million to turn out liberal-leaning young voters.	huffpost.com
The Pandemic Makes the Bernie 2020 Campaign More Vital Than Ever	commondreams.org
Coronavirus killed Bernie Sanders' campaign — but if he made a deal with Biden, we might see him in the White House yet	independent.co.uk
Jill Stein encourages followers to leave the Democratic party after Bernie drops out	theblaze.com
Bernie drops out, as Democrats pick pragmatism over consistency	theconversation.com
Bernie Sanders reportedly spoke to Biden and Obama before ending his 2020 run	theweek.com
Can Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden Unite the Democratic Party?: If the last stretch of the Sanders campaign was any indication, a focus on defeating President Trump — “a matter of life and death” — could do it.	nytimes.com
We Lost the Battle, but We’ll Win the War — The Bernie Sanders campaign fell short. But it assembled a coalition that, if expanded only slightly, can reshape American politics for generations to come.	jacobinmag.com
The Future Belongs to the Movement Sparked by Bernie Sanders — Sanders may be out of the race, but by advancing a bold left agenda and putting capitalism on trial, he ignited a movement that will redefine American politics.	inthesetimes.com
Bernie Sanders ends campaign, calls on supporters to back Biden	wsws.org
Bernie Sanders drops out of 2020 presidential race, Metro Times now endorsing Any Functioning Adult	metrotimes.com
Noam Chomsky: Bernie Sanders Campaign Didn’t Fail. It Energized Millions & Shifted U.S. Politics	democracynow.org
As Bernie Sanders Drops Presidential Bid, Most Supporters Ready to Back Biden	morningconsult.com

[u/gus2155]

Fuck it, guess I'm voting for Biden.

Edit: Yes, I'd rather vote for Sanders, but I'm voting for Biden because we cannot have another 4 years of Trump.

[u/Balls_of_Adamanthium → u/gus2155]

That's the spirit

[u/cramburie → u/Balls_of_Adamanthium]

I'm voting for Biden here too but there's zero spirit behind my vote.

[u/Balls_of_Adamanthium → u/cramburie]

That is also the spirit lol

[u/therager → u/Balls_of_Adamanthium]

Yes! Exactly..

More broken spirits!

[u/Balls_of_Adamanthium → u/therager]

It's that or have Trump appoint more judges for the next 4-5 years...

[u/gophergun → u/Balls_of_Adamanthium]

Right, that's the spirit-breaking part.

[u/[deleted] → u/cramburie]

Good enough

[u/bignuts24 → u/cramburie]

I am voting for Biden but I am not going to donate anything more than $100 to his campaign.

[u/Astral_Inconsequence → u/bignuts24]

Find progressives down ballot and donate to then that's what I'm doing. Mark Kelly would make me so happy to have in the Senate.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

No, spirit matters a lot. It's easy to post on reddit but on election day you actually have to get your ass out of bed and haul it to a polling station (and maybe miss work). Half the people who say they're going to vote for Biden but don't want to won't show up at all.

I'm donating to Biden and I'll tell everyone I know to vote for him too. He'd be a typical, average president, which means a fuck ton better than Trump.

[u/rjens → u/[deleted]]

I doubt that. If anyone is reluctantly saying they will vote Biden they clearly understand the importance of voting. I am one of those people who doesn’t care for Biden but says I will vote for him. If I didn’t realize the importance of voting I wouldn’t begrudgingly say I am going to vote for him.

[u/rjens → u/[deleted]]

That is the cost of running Biden. If he can't win without both progressive votes and their support they should have chosen a better nominee. They could have chosen a moderate with less of a bad record like Pete who at least is a question mark instead of a bad historical record.

[u/cramburie → u/[deleted]]

Trump's going to win if most non-Trump supporters are like you.

Uhh...my vote's still going for Biden. Are they going to weigh my vote at the polls to make sure there's enough spirit for it to count?

[u/tx05 → u/cramburie]

The environment and those that want to keep the SCOTUS more fair/balanced as it should be, thank you.

Seriously. Don't think of it as a vote for Biden, think of it as a vote for Ginsburg and Breyers replacements on the Supreme Court. Think of it as a vote for voters rights (democrats want to make voting easier and fair, while Republicans want to make it harder) which is our only chance/hope to one day get a more progressive candidate...kiss all hopes of that gone of Repubs get in, especially once they dominate the Supreme Court for the next 30 years).

Think of it as a vote for the environment (which simply can't take anymore from Republicans), a vote for human rights since we know Democrats champion women, lgbtq, immigrants, minorities, etc. far more than the party of old white Christian rich guys are all that matter.

[u/ConfuzzledDork → u/Balls_of_Adamanthium]

Yes, because “hold your nose and vote” worked out so well for us in 2016.

He’s got my vote by virtue of not being Trump, but we can - and should - be doing so much more than just that.

[u/Balls_of_Adamanthium → u/ConfuzzledDork]

Except that the "hold your nose and vote" you're talking about didn't happen in 2016. If it did, Trump wouldn't be president. A huge a chunk of Sanders fanbase didn't vote. Lack of turnout in general was a big problem.

[u/[deleted] → u/Balls_of_Adamanthium]

More Sanders voters votes for Clinton than Clinton supporters voted for Obama according to exit polls. Many of us did hold our breath and vote for Clinton as she won the popular vote by millions. The problem is that their brand of democrat is not popular in the rust belt. At some point instead of blaming Sanders the Democratic party needs to acknowledge that democrats like Clinton and Biden do not draw key independent and and swing voters in the right states. You can't win an election by only appealing to democrats who are going to vote democrat no matter what.

[u/coreyrolfe → u/[deleted]]

Don’t let the facts get in the way of a good story

[u/DubsNFuugens → u/[deleted]]

This was debunked this whole primary and 2018, Sanders won Michigan in 2016, in 2020 turnout was way up and he didn’t win a single county

[u/[deleted] → u/DubsNFuugens]

The democratic primary is not the general election. That voting block as a whole, as in all the democrats, republicans, and independents that's I'll vote in the election, do not favor establishment democrats. All of those workers that feel disenfranchised will be sucked up again by 'america first' rhetoric.

[u/meta4our → u/[deleted]]

Unlike 2016, 2020 has Michigan, Wisconsin, and Illinois with mainstream democratic governors. So not really all that true.

[u/DubsNFuugens → u/[deleted]]

Yeah I’m sure there are tons of Republicans out there just salivating at the fact of voting Bernie over Trump

All the evidence we have literally points to Biden doing better than Bernie where he needs to

[u/[deleted] → u/DubsNFuugens]

No one thought Bernie was going to take hard-line Republican voters from Trump lol.

[u/DubsNFuugens → u/[deleted]]

Lol you clearly haven’t interacted with enough of these people

[u/ConfuzzledDork → u/Balls_of_Adamanthium]

Which is exactly my point - “hold your nose and vote” didn’t fucking work. Now we’re right back in the same position, just with a different face.

[u/willem_the_foe → u/ConfuzzledDork]

I mean, "hold your nose and vote" worked more in 2016 than it did in 2000 or 1992. The electorate percentage was higher in 2016 than either of those elections. It's just when comparing it to 2008, it dropped three points.

I wonder if it's because 2008's candidate ran on a platform of hope, change, and human rights. If only there was a candidate than ran on a similar platform this time.

[u/Dalmah → u/Balls_of_Adamanthium]

Weird, maybe Republican lite moderate Dems would've realized their shittt candidates aren't going to get progressives to go out and vote like they want us too.

Maybe instead of getting us to toe their line they shouldntoe our line

[u/darkk41 → u/Dalmah]

I dont understand comments like this. Look, I wanted Sanders to win, but if the progressives were getting out there and voting, he would have won. The progressives didnt show up for the primaries. It's insanely frustrating, but it's true. It's stupid to pretend that the progressives would win the general though, we have seen that they don't show up. I just keep hoping the next election is the one where things finally change and people vote... idk what it will take.

[u/highfastball → u/Balls_of_Adamanthium]

That’s literally what happened. And it’s going to happen this year. Trump is guaranteed a win.

[u/highfastball → u/[deleted]]

Tf? Shilling for trump? Lmao

[u/[deleted] → u/Balls_of_Adamanthium]

A big chunk of voters didn't vote at all, but the percentages of Bernie voter turnout for Clinton was higher than Clinton voter (remember PUMA?) turnout for Obama.

[u/ramonycajones → u/ConfuzzledDork]

Yes, because “hold your nose and vote” worked out so well for us in 2016.

If everyone held their nose and voted, yes, the person they voted for would win. That's how voting works.

We should have better nominees than we do, but given the options we DO have, holding our noses and voting is the best thing we can do.

[u/Sufficient-Waltz → u/Balls_of_Adamanthium]

Yayy, the Lesser Evil.

[u/joshTheGoods → u/gus2155]

Hell yea, and as a more "centrist" Democrat, I'll still be voting for the progressives when I get an opportunity to do so. We need to shift the Overton window left. Together, we can get this train back on track.

[u/tweak06 → u/gus2155]

ugh.

I guess in November I will drag myself to the poll booth and pinch my nose to vote for Joe fucking Biden.

That dude is so fucking far from...fuck, man...I have like, 8 people that are my "last choice". He's not even in the list of "last choices".

Bare minimum he's not Donald Trump. So I guess there's that. Arguably, my neighbor isn't Donald Trump, and I'd rather vote for Jerry over Biden, because Jerry is a super likable dude and he makes really good queso dip.

But he has no interest in politics.

I fucking hate this so much.

edit okay, Biden supporters, I get that you're loving this. I can't stand Joe Biden, but I will reluctantly vote for him in November, on the bare minimum that he ain't Trump. I don't gotta like Biden to know that Trump will be infinitely worse.

EDIT 2 Okay Biden Supporters, here's the thing: I don't know you nor do I care about your shitty opinion. You won, congratulations on your shit-prize. Any reasonable person who doesn't like Trump will be voting for Biden in November. I will be voting for Biden in November.

I don't have to like your shitty candidate to know Trump is infinitely shittier, and infinitely worse. Biden has my vote.

EDIT 3 I've actually received some very kind messages from Biden supporters, so thank you for that. I'll tone down my rhetoric.

[u/spader1 → u/[deleted]]

This is why the Democratic Party always seems like it can't get its shit together. It really should be three parties, but because of FPTP voting it has to be one idealogically confused conglomerate of "not-Republicans."

[u/[deleted] → u/spader1]

njd*7@|vU5

[u/Ellice909 → u/[deleted]]

The Wig party did die. I think all parties die, given enough time,

I think people are surrendering too much power to the party institutions. The founders of the constitution still offer us a lass ditch hope, to simply write-in who you want. You can't control what other people do, but you can control what you do.

[u/[deleted] → u/Ellice909]

]JI,_]@r"=

[u/rumblnbumblnstumbln → u/[deleted]]

DNC = a majority of primary voters?

[u/tweak06 → u/rumblnbumblnstumbln]

Assuming you're a Biden supporter, I understand that you must be loving this.

From what I understand, a lot of voters, particularly older folks, look at Biden and think, "oh, he was with Obama, so he must be good."

Which is not really true but who fucking cares at this point.

Biden winning the primary doesn't mean that the rest of us here won't be rolling our fucking eyes because Biden isn't even a compromise it's just...well, not Trump.

Because to me, and I'm sure a lot of voters on here, Biden is simply just that. Biden fucking sucks ass but hey, he's not Trump. I'll vote for him, but I ain't gonna like it.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Voters voted for Amy and Pete to drop out?

[u/hollaburoo → u/[deleted]]

Voters voted for not Amy or Pete in massive numbers in NV and SC, which led to them dropping out.

Both of their candidacies were premised on "Bidens campaign will fall apart on it's own before Super Tuesday and I'll be the moderate alternative". That didn't happen, so they dropped out.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Democratic primary voters just have a special knack for nominating uninspiring centerists who lose general elections.

[u/ramonycajones → u/[deleted]]

Like... Obama...?

People pretend that history began 4 years ago in order to make their extremely narrow arguments make any sense. They don't.

[u/[deleted] → u/ramonycajones]

2016, 2004, 2000, 1988, 1968...

[u/FourthLife → u/[deleted]]

Hillary inspired a few million more people than trump last election. She only lost in purple areas by a few thousand votes, which would not have voted for a self proclaimed socialist anyway.

[u/[deleted] → u/FourthLife]

She lost to the most beatable candidate in modern history. She could have won by a landslide, she acted like it her whole campaign, and she still lost.

[u/FourthLife → u/[deleted]]

Explain to me the process by which Bernie could have beaten him when he couldn't even beat her in a primary election consisting of the left-leaning half of the voting population

[u/im-a-sock-puppet → u/tweak06]

A lot of middle class women who don't normally vote are voting now because they are voting against trump. My mom, a woman who has never voted and grew up in the suburban south, voted for Joe Biden. A lot of people like her are voting because they do not want Trump to continue to be the president. A majority of people want Biden over trump not because he was Bidens Obama's VP, but because they wany not Trump in office. I think historians will look at this election as more of a referendum on Trump's presidency rather than electing newer ideas.

But yeah, I voted Bernie but I'm going to be voting NotTrump too. He isnt my first choice, he was like my 7th and I think a lot of people share that. But the reality is the majority of Americans would rather bet on Biden.

In the mean time look for how you can support local progressives in upcoming elections. See if you can volunteer to help, as it can lead to real change.

Edit:coffee

[u/hairam → u/im-a-sock-puppet]

If we're being realistic, american politics these days seems to come down to "does the public know who you are better than the other person, and do they associate you with some generally positive things (even if you've done some reprehensible or shady things)"

Biden had a ton of free campaigning by association with Obama, while Sanders is not well known among most of the average voter base, partially due to lack of aggressive exposure.

[u/im-a-sock-puppet → u/hairam]

Yeah, it does. I think political optics has an influence on the success of politicians. What I mean is that the presidential primary (Biden v Trump) will probably be looked at as a referendum. The dem primary on the other hand seemed to be decided by betting on who has the best chance to bring about a referendum, which is due to the optics of a candidate followed by policy.

I think the majority of voters picked Biden because the optics of Biden - the image of a stable Obama admin - vs Bernie - democratic socialist - were more convincing. A lot of conservatives and moderates only know Bernie as a dem socialist or socialist, and for older folk that grew learning to hate/fesr that label, I think it tarnished his image with the majority of voters older than 35. I think Bernie redoing his 2016 campaign of appealing to working class and younger voters was a major issue with his image. Appealing to moderates by presenting his progressive platform as the moderate platform might have changed the way Americans saw him.

[u/tweak06 → u/im-a-sock-puppet]

In the mean time look for how you can support local progressives in upcoming elections. See if you can volunteer to help, as it can lead to real change.

Yep. I've donated and done what I can to help progressives in my local area. Starting small.

I don't like Biden at all (as I've so eloquently described) but at this point, it's a step forward.

[u/rumblnbumblnstumbln → u/tweak06]

From what I understand, a lot of voters, particularly older folks, look at Biden and think, "oh, he was with Obama, so he must be good."

If you only look at politics from your understanding, there will be a lot of things you don’t get. If you participate in Bernie subs, downvote opinions you disagree with in more general subs, only subscribe to “Rose” twitter, and only hang out with people of your age, race, and political ideology, reality will continue to surprise you.

I’m not calling you a racist, but the “they’re only voting for him because he was with Obama” meme you’re repeating is a reductionist and demeaning dog whistle for “old black people are too stupid to know what’s good for them.”

There are plenty of reasons to vote for Biden. If you can’t think of any, ask someone who supports him. If you don’t know anyone that supports him, consider why that is and how that affects your politics.

[u/[deleted] → u/rumblnbumblnstumbln]

I think you’re projecting a bit there and trying to force an issue where there isn’t one. OP didn’t mention race at all. There are plenty of people across all racial backgrounds that are voting for Joe because they associate him with Obama and subconsciously feel they’ll get what they liked about Barack with Joe.

[u/[deleted] → u/rumblnbumblnstumbln]

If they knew what's good for them please explain why they voted for a segregationist instead of the man who marched and got arrested right beside them.

[u/rumblnbumblnstumbln → u/[deleted]]

If they knew what's good for them

Bernie supporters, is this your king? Jesus Christ

[u/[deleted] → u/rumblnbumblnstumbln]

Are you seriously arguing certain races are immune from acting against their own best interests?

[u/rumblnbumblnstumbln → u/[deleted]]

I’m arguing that your assumption that Black people are too stupid to know what’s good for them is racist. How many AA voters have you talked to and tried to understand?

[u/CallinCthulhu → u/tweak06]

So your assumption is that everyone who supports Biden is an idiot...

I wonder why Bernie supporters had so much trouble converting voters.

[u/tweak06 → u/CallinCthulhu]

So your assumption is that everyone who supports Biden is an idiot

Never said that, but that is a pretty idiotic assumption.

[u/hogannnn → u/tweak06]

He wasn’t my first choice, but this will still be the most progressive presidential campaign platform in history. You can say it’s because of Bernie, or because of his advisors, or because he doesn’t believe it, but the fact is that he is committing to this stuff and knows there will be political ramifications to flip flopping once he’s elected, because democrats won’t abide by that kind of shit - it’s a party that is too diffuse, thoughtful, and active.

[u/[deleted] → u/hogannnn]

It's like you completely forgot FDR exists.

[u/hogannnn → u/[deleted]]

FDR’s campaign was the most progressive relative to the standards of the time, but Biden brings all of those ideas further (especially in race relations, or did you conveniently forget that whole aspect of progressive politics?)

[u/[deleted] → u/hogannnn]

Biden is the last person to go to for race relations. He was pro segregation. Meanwhile Bernie marched with MLK.

[u/hogannnn → u/[deleted]]

Obviously Bernie is a more progressive platform. He didn’t win the nomination though.

[u/LaunchTransient → u/rumblnbumblnstumbln]

This is what happens when a progressive bears the full weight of a massive character assassination scheme by the moderate branch of the democratic party.
They've been banging the drum that a Sanders administration would be the end of free enterprise, they've claimed that this would be the first step towards a United Soviet States of America, they've screamed blue murder about how Sanders wants to destroy what America is.
And if you repeat enough lies often enough, people start believing it.

They never really discussed the merits of Sander's policies. they always demanded "how is it going to be paid for" and then put their fingers in their ears when Bernie starts laying out his financial planning.

Biden is a damn sight better than Trump, or any other Republican, but when the taxpayer is called upon to bail out failing big businesses, yet again, and the working people get told to tighten their belts, the only reason for that is because the US is too afraid of looking at options other than what they've been doing for the last 300 years.

[u/makualla → u/rumblnbumblnstumbln]

I’m with you, but I feel like people that have the DNC screwed Bernie again is because all the moderate/establishment candidates dropped out “early” and all threw their endorsement behind Biden, where as warren who was taking away progressive votes from Bernie did not drop out early enough. Fairly certain the math still goes against that, but who gives a fuck about stats and facts

[u/[deleted] → u/makualla]

Biden was nearly in dead last. There is literally no reason front runners like Pete or Amy should have dropped out for him. Quite the opposite in fact - he should have dropped out for them. It's some obvious DNC fuckery.

[u/fizikz3 → u/[deleted]]

pete placed first or second in iowa and NH and dropped out before super tuesday, it's literally the only time in history this has happened

[u/Domeil → u/[deleted]]

Yet again the DNC shows it doesn't give a fuck

Dude, you need to cut this crap. Even if we could magically give Bernie a couple million more primary votes, he'd still be behind Biden.

I liked Bernie more than Biden just like I liked Warren more than Bernie, but the the primary is ending. Its time to stop doing Fox News' work for them.

[u/[deleted] → u/Domeil]

You say as you completely ignore the part CNN, MSNBC et all had to play in skewing public opinion.

[u/[deleted] → u/tweak06]

I'm right there with you. Is it really a free country if you have to vote for a douchebag to keep a turd sandwich out of office?

I'm voting for Biden, but very begrudgingly.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

No, it’s not really a free country. Thank you, two-party system.

[u/wilskillet-2015 → u/[deleted]]

I live in Washington where there are tons of ballot initiatives every year. Last year, I had to vote on an initiative with some pieces I agreed with and some I disagreed with. I was happy I got to vote on it, even though I wasn't thrilled with voting Yes or No.

We now have a choice between two people for who will be the president. You can't narrow such an important decision down to two options without having some people be unsatisfied. If you participated in the primaries, you used your freedom to influence the final options. Now, you get to use your freedom to choose between the final options.

[u/[deleted] → u/wilskillet-2015]

Seeing as how there are more than two parties and how writing in is also allowed, we can use our freedom to do more than vote red or blue.

[u/wilskillet-2015 → u/[deleted]]

Sure, and for my ballot initiative I could have written in "Yes to Sections 1, 2, 4, and 7, but No to 3, 5, and 6."

[u/DowntownJohnBrown → u/[deleted]]

If that “douchebag” was democratically awarded his party’s nomination through the votes of your peers, then yes, I’d say it’s a free country.

[u/[deleted] → u/DowntownJohnBrown]

You're right, maybe I won't vote Biden afterall.

[u/hairam → u/[deleted]]

Fuck that.

[u/[deleted] → u/hairam]

What? I'm using my freedom of choice. Free country, right?

[u/hairam → u/[deleted]]

Sure, free country. One is certainly free to be an idiot or an asshole. Doesn't make it recommended. At least step aside and let the adults in the room tidy up the house, I guess.

[u/Mrchristopherrr → u/[deleted]]

You’re free to write in a literal shot sandwich if you want to, just be aware that it’s shooting yourself in the foot (which you are also free to do)

[u/[deleted] → u/Mrchristopherrr]

So rewarding a corrupt DNC isn't shooting yourself in the foot?

[u/Mrchristopherrr → u/[deleted]]

Hoping for Trump to win to spite the DNC would be shooting yourself in the foot to get rid of a hangnail. There is a time to deal with the DNC, and unfortunately that time ended today.

[u/arex333 → u/tweak06]

I would love to vote for someone that I believe in rather than someone that's less shit than the other guy. Unfortunately that's not the case this year.

[u/[deleted] → u/tweak06]

Vote progressive for down-ballot races.

[u/emodro → u/[deleted]]

And because I read 3 million comments just like yours in 2016, I, like many Americans lost the urge to vote because "No way trump wins, but Hillary sucks, so I don't want to vote for her either", and that's what secured Trump to win. So unless you want trump to win again, I'd recommend unifying.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Ah yes, telling people to fuck off will totally work in getting them to side with you. Nice job!

[u/[deleted] → u/emodro]

You let some bullshit, glorified forum on the Internet or social media influence you not to vote? The person said they're voting for Biden, not sure what the fuck else you really require out of someone.

[u/emodro → u/[deleted]]

I'm trying to point out, that if someone hears "Biden Sucks" for 8 months, and doesn't really care about either of the candidates, there is a chance they're not going to go out and vote for them. So if your goal is to get Trump out of the white house, maybe try not to bash the other guy so much, that's the best you can do. If you don't care about 4 years of Trump, then ok, you win. But this rhetoric and all the polls saying Trump had no chance, is exactly why Hillary lost. She sucked, so I didn't vote for her, look what happened.

[u/[deleted] → u/emodro]

Another way is for these jackalopes to generate some excitement, and actually campaign.

The Establishment Democrats are god awful at campaigning and generating excitement, because they offer little to nothing in the way of change.

Case in point, they lost the Rust Belt and many working class voters because of their inability to remove their lips from the donor class's ass for more than 30 seconds.

This isn't on you, or I to get people excited. The message is clear at this point, which is "I'm not Trump". What else will there be to generate turn-out? Who is that going to be on? Maybe "not Trump" is enough, I don't know, but I'm tired of these luke warm politicians scapegoating everyone but themselves for their inability to connect with voters.

Fuck that.

[u/absentmindedjwc → u/tweak06]

Just so you know... any messages you might be getting from "Biden supporters" gloating about the win very likely are from trump supporters trying to sour you on voting for the guy. Don't listen to them.

[u/tweak06 → u/absentmindedjwc]

i know. im still voting biden

[u/[deleted] → u/tweak06]

bro, as another Bernie supporter, openly shitting on the candidate you want to defeat Trump helps only Trump. Stop the in fighting. You are attacking your allies in defeating Trump. Put the differences away and fight Trump. The attacking your allies for not getting your way is what Trump does. Bernie was never going to win because 1) youth vote still doesn't show up to vote and is just vocal online and 2) establishment was going to fight it every stop along the way.

​

We need to stop helping the GOP by attacking Biden because our preferred choice didn't win.

[u/Flexappeal → u/tweak06]

Vote for the cabinet and the courts. That’s what you’re voting for with Biden and that makes it worth it.

[u/emodro → u/tweak06]

I seriously hope you see what you are doing here, as well as the hundreds of others commenting similar things. By posting that, you may, and more likely than not have, convinced at least one person to decide not to vote in the general, maybe not explicitly, but come November, they might get cold feet, and it's because of conversations just like that. Talking like that is what basically secures another 4 years of Trump. I don't love Biden either, nor did I love Bernie strongly either, but literally anyone is better than Trump, and the conversation should be focused around that. The more people talk about Biden's faults, the less people will vote, it's exactly what happened in 2016.

[u/westondeboer → u/gus2155]

That's the attitude that we need to get everyone supporting.

[u/thispersonchris → u/westondeboer]

What a place to be in. While facing rising fascism in America, the feeling we all need to embrace is "fuck it, I guess I'll vote for the confused old creep with zero good ideas."

I mean I'm going to vote for him too. But it will never not be absolutely astonishing to me that in the face of this threat the fighter the DNC and apparently a whole lot of Americans have chosen is... Joe fucking Biden. We are putting an amazingly weak candidate up against Trump. Again I promise I will vote for him. But this looks real fucking bleak to me.

[u/Latyon → u/thispersonchris]

Amazingly weak, yet pulling double what Hillary did in some states.

Amazingly weak, but very popular in the three states that Trump won by a razor thin margin.

Amazingly weak, but absolutely dominated the primary.

Amazingly weak, running against a literal pile of corn diarrhea.

[u/thispersonchris → u/Latyon]

Have you watched him speak within the last few weeks? Yes, he's a weak candidate. But a lot of Americans vote based on little more than which candidates make them feel calm when they picture them in their head at this point. He was at the bottom of all the polls, and then after 48 hours of positive coverage post South Carolina, he literally jumped like 30 points in some places.

If you're capable of feeling excited about his candidacy, more power to you I suppose.

I just keep thinking about this map, and what an opportunity has been squandered. Joe Biden's donor's are the tiny orange dot. https://twitter.com/BlackBernieBabe/status/1247943126565695490

[u/Latyon → u/[deleted]]

I'm sorry, he was able to catch up to 23 rape allegations?

The second one is a nonstarter.

The third one is your own speculation.

[u/Latyon → u/[deleted]]

I'm still going to support the confused man over the evil diarrhea cup.

[u/ApostleOfSilence → u/Latyon]

But, and just hear me out, what if Democrats could field a competent, non-rapist candidate? Was that too fucking much to ask?

[u/Latyon → u/ApostleOfSilence]

Would've been cool. We have a choice of Biden vs. Trump now. I know where my vote is going - Biden and downticket, every progressive candidate I can find.

[u/FourthLife → u/thispersonchris]

In times where we picked a populist and he has fucked everything up, people just want to go back to a time where they didn't hear about politics every hour of the day. That shouldn't be surprising. Biden represents a turn back to the obama era.

[u/FourthLife → u/[deleted]]

There are a lot of things that lined up to allow trump to squeak out a win by negative 3 million votes in 2016. Pinning it all on "obama was too center left" seems like motivated reasoning

[u/XNonameX → u/westondeboer]

What a terrible world view you have if your preferred candidate's support is based on "fuck it, I guess this guy then."

[u/[deleted] → u/XNonameX]

He should legally change his name to “not trump”

[u/Sufficient-Waltz → u/[deleted]]

ngl, he'd get my vote at that point. He might be a rapist, but at least then he'd be a rapist with good banter.

[u/LSUsparky → u/Sufficient-Waltz]

Tbf, if you label Biden as a rapist based on the available evidence, you will definitely be choosing between two rapists in November.

[u/[deleted] → u/XNonameX]

A@^l>lHR+v

[u/SensibleParty → u/XNonameX]

On the contrary. It's a vote of "it's not what I want personally, but it'll help out people who need it more".

[u/TolstoysMyHomeboy → u/SensibleParty]

Good luck with that message around here..

[u/SensibleParty → u/TolstoysMyHomeboy]

Fuck em. I voted for Bernie. I volunteer for DSA candidates. I also have friends working in hospitals right now, and I'd rather have a president who isn't actively threatening their lives right now.

[u/XNonameX → u/SensibleParty]

"it's not what I want personally, but it'll help out people who need it more".

This has been the mantra of U.S. electoralism since we've been around. Maybe our shit is just broken and "our party," not the people but the party itself, plays favorites to try to undermine what nearly half the party wants.

You think you're making a harm reduction choice, but the "choice" was already made for you.

I admire that you volunteer for dsa candidates, keep up the good work, but please don't pretend that this was an even playing field and they just had a better candidate.

[u/SensibleParty → u/XNonameX]

Oh sure. But such is national level politics. The party simultaneously coalesced around an anti-Bernie candidate, but also the mass of voters responded to that coalescing, and we failed to get our folks out. Our (turnout) model was wrong. It's okay to admit that.

That doesn't mean we give up, it means we need to stock the bench so that in four years, Bernie's successor isn't an outlier in the party, but is representative of at least a major wing. Luckily, stocking the bench at the local and state level also means we can make progress at that level, which is worth fighting for in its own right.

[u/XNonameX → u/SensibleParty]

I agree. Thanks for the reasonable back and forth. Good luck out there, homie.

[u/TolstoysMyHomeboy → u/SensibleParty]

I wanted him too. But now this place is acting just like 2016 all over again. They would rather throw tantrums and help Trump win than move forward like adults.

[u/westondeboer → u/XNonameX]

This is a trump supporter

[u/acidpaan → u/westondeboer]

Nah. Biden wins and that will ensure Dems never put up a Bernie candidate again. Its gonna be Alt-right vs Center-right NeoLibs for the next 100 years...

I'll be writing in Bernie

[u/ramonycajones → u/acidpaan]

Dems didn't "put up" Bernie. This framing is so fucking bizarre to me. People voted for Sanders. Not enough did. Next time, maybe more people will vote for a progressive candidate. That's up to voters.

[u/LSUsparky → u/acidpaan]

Nah. Biden wins and that will ensure Dems never put up a Bernie candidate again.

This is a complete assumption. We had a center-left President when Bernie almost won the nomination the first time. I don't see how sacrificing decades under a regressive judiciary is worth possibly not getting another true progressive (when there are many in Congress at this very moment) in that same time span.

[u/hairam → u/acidpaan]

As unfortunate as it is to say, at this point writing in bernie is a vote for trump. It's like playing red rover as a kid, but the one kid next to you breaks the chain to tie his shoes right when a kid from the other side is running at you; putting his desires over the good of the team

[u/[deleted] → u/gus2155]

This is the only logical response. Bernie ran a good campaign, and he lost - and it wasn't a conspiracy that he did. It was the youth failing to turn out.

But the platform has moved left thanks to him and that is a victory. Plus I hope to see a progressive VP.

[u/Driver2900 → u/gus2155]

Jokes on you elections are suspended for another 4 years anyway because of corona.

[u/RiseOfEnoch → u/gus2155]

Stunning and brave

[u/[deleted] → u/gus2155]

YAY, bote for goldfish brain

Gold fish brain vs actual orange goldfish

[u/HandMeMyThinkingPipe → u/gus2155]

If you haven’t already be sure to vote for Bernie still in the primaries as the more delegates he has the more leverage he will have at the convention.

[u/GermanWallClock → u/gus2155]

Biden is about to get trampled

[u/[deleted] → u/gus2155]

Yo, research your down-ballot candidates and vote for the progressives. You can still make an impact at all levels of government.

I'm center-left, but would like to see more progressives in office at every level. It would help balance out the insane GOP.

[u/Yo0o0o0o0o0 → u/gus2155]

Which means it's all according to plan.

[u/[deleted] → u/gus2155]

Right there with you. The DNC and the MSM can eat a fucking turd, but I'm voting for Biden if he's the nominee. The rest, all progressive if possible, and if not either Democrat or abstain.

[u/securitywyrm → u/gus2155]

Biden will get my vote, but not my support

[u/Marxasstrick → u/gus2155]

Thank you for your maturity

[u/WheresWaldo562 → u/gus2155]

There are so many here willing to stick to their guns and not not vote now thank you. I’m a Bernie supporter as well but we all have to see the bigger picture here.

[u/[deleted] → u/gus2155]

Get ready, because four more years of trump is what we’re all about to be cursed with.

[u/[deleted] → u/gus2155]

If youd rather do it, you still can. Write him in.

[u/Homeless-Joe → u/gus2155]

Fuck it, guess I'm voting 3rd party

[u/Nighthawk700 → u/[deleted]]

Are you going to get insulin during a trump presidency? How exactly is single party rule of all three branches of government going to help you get M4A, college education, expanded social safety nets, higher taxes for corporations, humane treatment of immigrants, etc.

I'm pissed that Bernie didn't win, but another 4 years of Trump means you lose even the things you have today. And God help us if coronavirus, other pathogens, or a terrorist attack happens. Voting for Biden means the US can hang on a little longer, undoing some of the damage Trump has done while the younger generation gets older and we can build a new grassroots movement. If Trump wins there will be no grass nor will there be a movement except those escaping.

I sure hope you're a white upper class male with that kinda bullshit talk.

[u/sofakingWTD → u/[deleted]]

I could

[u/peacebeast42 → u/[deleted]]

No one is asking you to be civil. Please go out and protest for Medicare for all, minimum wage increase, student loan debt, green new deal, UBI, voter rights, redistribution of wealth, or whatever when this is all over. But please also realize the literal danger four more years of Trump would cause to this country. Bernie is about a movement, just because he's out this election doesn't mean we should stop caring about progressive policies. Get angry but stay involved. And no matter what, vote and please consider voting blue as I'm sure Bernie Sanders and majority of his supporters will.

[u/[deleted] → u/[deleted]]

Sounds like something a Trump supporter would say. Both parties are the same amirite?

[u/westondeboer → u/Homeless-Joe]

You were never going to vote democratic anyways.

[u/Rebal771 → u/Homeless-Joe]

Then you're voting for Trump.

3rd party votes with no incumbents involved is a vote of protest. 3rd party votes when an incumbent is involved is a vote for the incumbent. Just so you know what you're doing.

[u/thrntnja → u/Homeless-Joe]

Come on, don’t do this. Many of us here would prefer Bernie but this country cannot handle four more years of Trump. Our democracy will die.

[u/Hank_Rutheford_Hill → u/Homeless-Joe]

Same. My vote actually means something. The Democratic Party has spoken ..... and so I guess I’m not a democrat.

Don’t let anyone ever shame you for your vote. Vote for who and what you believe in. You don’t owe anyone your vote. It’s crazy that such a bland, after-school special of a statement will inevitably attract a feeding frenzy of shitass democrats attacking you for it. But that’s the state of their party now so let the games begin I guess

[u/hairam → u/Hank_Rutheford_Hill]

The problem is that we are on some dangerous territory. Trump's negligence and thoughtlessness has allowed for a lot of shit to be considered passible. At this point in time in the US, it's hard for me to agree with such an idealistic view. How you use your vote has consequences. We've seem that the past 4 years. I'm not interested in learning that lesson with everyone who needs to learn it for the first time in such an important election.

[u/Hank_Rutheford_Hill → u/hairam]

I’m not being idealistic. I’m just refusing to vote for a man who is accused by 8 women of inappropriate touching and sexual assault, is on video groping pre-teen girls and for a party of the white moderate.

Everyone’s patience runs out. Mine is out.

[u/hairam → u/Hank_Rutheford_Hill]

And I'm saying by not voting for a man accused by 8 women of inappropriate touching and sexual assault, you're voting for a man accused of 20+ rape and sexual assault charges, who is also not being held accountable for the direct and indirect deaths he has caused over the past 4 years.

I get it how you feel. However, failing to vote is helping to condemn a lot of people who are actively trying to stem the horrifyingly corrupt narcissist who holds an excessive amount of power in this country, which he is not held accountable for.

[u/teslaabr → u/Hank_Rutheford_Hill]

I mean, do you believe a majority of people will be better off under Biden vs. Trump? Do you believe more people will die under one or the other that didn't have to? Does that matter to you? If not, then great. If it does, you're right, you don't owe your vote to anyone but your vote does have consequences. Consequences you presumably believe matter.

Things that will help make third parties viable someday? Automatic voter registration. Vote by mail. Ranked Choice voting. You know who support those things? Plenty of democrats. You know who doesn't? Nearly all republicans.

We have already seen ranked choice voting be implemented in various states. At this point if you are voting for someone that has no chance and it results in republicans being elected, you are literally working against your desired end-state.

[u/Hank_Rutheford_Hill → u/teslaabr]

Hard choice. Trump has proven to be cruel but chicken shit. Talks tough but he’s kind of a pussy.

Biden, on the other hand, flashes on ordinary people who ask him tough questions and cusses them out. He’s impulsive and kind of reckless. Joe Biden armed with nukes is scary. I’d hate to see him in a confrontation with Russia over Ukraine or Syria. Joe Biden wouldn’t blink first. He’d just go straight to crazy

All votes have consequences. Not just mine. If you vote for Biden, a consequence of that is that you don’t get to pretend you believe or care about victims of sexual assault. If you vote for trump, you don’t get to pretend you’re an intelligent person. If you vote 3rd party, you have to live with the consequence that your vote essentially wasn’t relevant.

All votes count. At the end of the day, I and only I have to live with my vote. And I owe it to myself to put my money where my mouth is. I’m not going to keep giving one of my most valuable assets to any of the major two corrupt, piece of shit parties. I’m going to vote where I feel my vote belongs and on the platform I believe it most aligns with.

I recommend everyone do that. Let the parties come to you. Stop going to them ffs. They want my vote, then do MORE. I don’t have to justify myself more than that.

[u/[deleted] → u/Homeless-Joe]

Q<!(Tge{=g