has not preformed the way we want them to in the past decades but they do not understand who is doing what. I myself have always assumed that the Blue Dogs were elected from states where they could not get elected as true progressives - states like Nebraska.

Not until the Clinton administration did I realize that there were two Democratic Parties claiming to be the old Democratic Party and that was only after their eight years were over. And that was only because of the welfare reform that took place in that administration. Much of the rest I did not realize until much later - like Glass-Steagell and other issues of deregulation.

This fight will take place behind the scenes more than any place else. The DNC is a good example - they seem to have chosen sides already - as we see where state offices do not share the space with all candidates, when they limit the number of debates and have not had any already, etc. I wonder if the level of donations to the DNC, and the senate/house committees have gone down? I know that I no longer donate that way.

The media is also in this fight when they fail to cover all the candidates. They do not seem to have trouble covering the clown car and everyone in it. I doubt that many even know that we have more than two candidates. Thanks to social media we can overcome that to some extent. And the young voters are much more likely to get their news from this source.

Often we hear that we someone wants to leave the party and form a real progressive party and this is the issue that can and will push this idea. If the party apparatus is going to decide who wins and loses then many are not going to be in this party anymore. Of all the issues today - this is the one that could split the party completely. Bernie is right - dirty politics no longer works and every dirty trick (6 debates late in the season when we have only one well known candidate) that gets played only serves to make this more likely.

But wait what makes this a real fight today is Bernie - he is talking policy and what he is saying is making those of us who grew up in that old party remember that there is a difference between a true progressive and a Blue Dog corporatists. The Blue Dog corporatist try to sound good to both the people and to corporations. It does not work.

Bernie is not the only one running that way - so is Martin O'Malley. They both are clear talkers who make it clear not only what they stand for but also what they would do about the problems. They have well developed plans for the future. The grassroots people are hungry for this. Generics are not working in the party at the grassroots level anymore.

Bernie represents what they and I want, but they don't know if they have the numbers to beat Hillary. We here think he does.

Beyond that, if he were to win, they don't know if he can wield sufficient presidential influence to make "what they would do" get either congressional support or funding. Can Bernie alleviate their concerns? He'd better try.

He'd certainly would have the good advice of former President Obama and his vice president to help him. But.... Is there another "Biden figure" to run with in 2016 who can help him? Doubtful.

Could he end up being Clinton's VP running mate? I would wish for that, but given her past decisionmaking, that's doubtful, too.

in congress if they are not president.

As to can he win? Can she? When the rich swiftboaters get done with her no one will know what to believe anymore. And the problem is that the voters are not going to do the investigation to know the truth nor are they going to question the MSM.

As to can he get anything done - can she? The rw will still be in control of the house and they have hated Hillary for decades - they are not going to stop now. They will do to her what they have done to President Obama. Yes, he has gotten a lot done but he has not changed the basics of corporate rule. And that is the problem between the two parts of the party.

Whether either president can get anything done is far down the road. One thing we know is that their SCOTUS nominees will influence the course of US history for a long time, including the likelihood of changing campaign finance law and Citizens United in future rulings, since those legal fights are just getting under way.

SCOTUS nominees will be about the same for both Bernie and Hillary. What will make it possible is for us voters to elect a Democratic Senate.

I do not agree, and at least in Vermont, that has NOT been the case.

I remember driving through the VERY conservative "Northern Kingdom" region of Vermont in 2000 and 2004, and seeing dozens, possibly hundreds (if I'd bothered to count), of lawns with two signs on them - one promoting Bush & Cheney for the White House, and the other for Bernie Sanders for Congress.

Now, I'm not saying that I understand the dynamic that would make someone simultaneously support candidates with radically different agendas - I'm just saying that it REALLY HAPPENED!

People who REALLY LISTEN to Bernie WILL VOTE for Bernie - party affiliation aside. And with the turnouts at his events lately, it seems that the people ARE listening.

outside the party who I believe will vote for him in the general election. Hopefully even some of those will cross over and vote in the primary.

More education about this is needed; don't expect much depth from M$M.
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~ Sen. Bernie Sanders Draws Crowd of 10,000 in Madison, Wisconsin, July 1, 2015. ~

If the Corporate Democrats know they can always count on Progressives in the general election they have no reason to change the way they do business. They will give Progressives promises and lip service then do as they please once elected. Progressives are being pushed into a third party. Bernie's popularity shows there's a need for one. Will it mean reactionary Republicans get elected? Probably, but what other choice is there when faced with disastrous trade agreements and environmental collapse? Half measures aren't going to fix what's wrong with the system.

process and Bernie will not go with any 3rd party move.

Also we are now at a point that we can lose everything if we let an R win: the right to vote, the SCOTUS, the ACA, Social Security, etc. They have no intention of keeping our country going for anyone other than the 1%.

If Bernie loses I will hate everything about voting for Hillary but I will be forced to for the sake of my children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She will sell us out further but not as far as the Rs.

I think after Hillary gets the nomination we are going to see a lot of backlash against corporate Democrats. Obama had the luxury of following Bush, Hillary does not. My fear is that we will get 8 years of Hillary then the Republicans arguing after 16 years it's their turn. At that point where will the Progressive movement be?