And, that he won't debate a candidate with a 3-4% rating...that would be dumb.

The debate issue has been there A Long Time, in case some missed it. They were also scheduled for low-viewership times. Either the above don't have a clue about politics, or it was planned. Hmmm.

...than the debate?

That would be really something if he actually said this, before one vote is cast and so many folks not yet tuned into this election. It's been said that overconfidence, publicly assuming the win, breeds apathy at the ballot box.

..."that he won't debate a candidate with a 3-4% rating...that would be dumb."

Did I misunderstand that?

down the offer from O'Malley. And yes, winning is the main idea of elections.

...to a national level of discussion and debate, in order to advantage them when one of these candidates assume office.

Many Americans begin their participation in these elections with their issues and concerns and follow with these politicians. That's my order of priority. I'm not relying on polls to provide for all of that.

is now the "get Sanders to self destruct" team, otherwise known as HRC jv squad.

...Sanders is responsible for his own campaign.

If O'Malley manages to upset his run, it would be to O'Malley's advantage, not Clinton's. He's not in this just to make Sanders more comfortable. He's running, at this point, to win.

And I think a big football game, and probably a couple of other things. The DNC/DWS and HRC/HRH show!!

But I do see the media coverage picking up a bit over their own not picking up earlier.

...and Hillary would be left to debate herself. I doubt she'd decline to participate. What would she have to lose? The DNC has nothing without her participation in their debate setup.

Is DWS really that big an obstacle for these campaigns? If Sanders and O'Malley present a unified front they can back down the one campaign's surrogates in the party leadership.

I actually think a debate between Sanders and O'Malley would be interesting and enlightening. I understand, though, it's not in Sanders' political interest.

but he's not a player. Like Jeb wanting to debate Trump? That would be a "no".

...kinda of belying your own sig line, aintcha?

and I will vote Democratic. Perhaps you could tell me...since I am so uninformed...what he brings to this primary election, other than a potential VP or Cabinet Member. My sig line is my order of support. I'm all for Hillary being Vice President, too.

...I've made extensive posts, almost daily, about 'what he brings to this primary election'.

Google 'bigtree O'Malley'.

didn't know you were an O'Malley supporter, so for that I apologize to you, personally. But it doesn't change the facts...that he's not catching on in a national arena. That's a tough order. It just doesn't appear to be his time, but he seems to be young and as I said, I like what I've seen. So, maybe next time.

Peace, K?

...because they've chosen to identify with another candidate in polling (based on percentages who bothered to respond)?

That's pure and unadulterated sophistry. But, you go with that.

You remember her and the DNC, right?

If M'OM has any sincerity in his debate request, get the DNC to sanction more debates.

Anything else, is just simply.....................bullshit.

...

The moment the spokesman spoke these words "the oldest trick in the book" to accuse Sanders of "something" his entire campaign died for me.

...not a very compelling way to choose your candidate.

This is a local campaign rep trying to goad the Sanders campaign into accepting the debate offer. This O'malley NH rep is not as artful as I'd like, but I don't think it's something to base your choice of candidate on.

I actually understand his frustration with the debate format which leaves his state hanging for remaining rounds of debates before they vote.

Here we are stuck with Sanders 10 points up and I need some idiot gnawing on my candidate's ankle when he should be chasing DWS down the block??? Yep-O'Malley is dead to me.

...the myopia displayed by some Sanders supporters here is stunning.

You throw all of that out there, assuming that your candidate should just be handed this primary contest by O'Malley, before one vote is even cast. Of all the hubris...

He's asking for Sanders' cooperation on an issue Sanders claims he supports. Here's his opportunity to put action behind his words.

This is PATHETIC and sad. First he makes a complete fool of himself at the last debate by insulting every senior citizen on the planet and kept trying to insinuate himself into the debate by ignoring and interrupting the moderators and completely ignoring the rules, but that didn't help at all! Now, he pulls this PATHETIC issue out of his @ss and goes after JUST BERNIE - NOT HRH, but BERNIE.
Bernie needs to just ignore the desperate candidate who consistently polls at 1%. He's just like a toddler. Negative attention is better than no attention. Why would Bernie NEED to debate a 1% candidate? He doesn't and Bernie supporters aren't going to believe MOM over Bernie, the MOST HONEST, FORTHRIGHT, ETHICAL and TRUTHFUL candidate ever to run for President.

MOM, just lost a ton of support. This is a stupid, stupid move on his part. And since he teamed up with Howard Dean to implement this move, he must be on team HRH/DWS/DNC bandwagon.

IGNORE HIM - HIS CAMPAIGN WILL DIE A SLOW DEATH.

PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

....IT WILL DEFINITELY HAPPEN!

OH, AND POOR BERNIE. I'M SURE HE'S DEVASTATED BY THIS PRODDING TO ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING 'REVOLUTIONARY' BESIDES SUE THE dnc TO COVER FOR HIS STAFFERS SNOOPING.

you and your candidate attacked Bernie. Don't think it wasn't expected, because it was.


PEACE
LOVE
BERNIE

...you act as if there was an actual attack. This is standard campaign fare, which most Sanders supporters here don't seem to be able to bear without lashing out in the most personal and destructive ways they can manage.

You're a gem.

Never figured you for the status quo type but there you go.

...don't pretend you actually know me.

I couldn't give two shits about what you think of me.

Dream on. Bait not taken.

I can't for the life of me figure out why Bernie doesn't give those up, and instead takes up with MOM's idea and organizes 12 of their own...or better still asking Rachel Maddow to host more of her events that are not debates, but a great way to showcase their platform.

Of course that is if Bernie's campaign were actually being honest abouth wanting more debates.

Also - it is laughable at best to think that Bernie would not be excoriated for breaking the rules. Which is pretty funny to me, since DWS, down here in Florida, campaigns for GOP buddies and refuses to support liberals to the extent of sitting campaigns out or actually letting a GOP buddy run unopposed. Guess that the DU rules would throw her out - the DNC rules seem really bendy.

Bernie is a much better Democrat the DWS, and it is so so funny to see people whine that he should break the rules.

Bernie stealing from his fellow Dems?

Organizing a dozen debates is not out of the realm of possibility

...or an uncertain number of debates with just Martin O'Malley, which may not be nationally televised.

There were no sanctions over that event and everyone agree it was fantastic.

Bernie really does have other avenues....there is a reason he doesn't pusue them. Likely at the top of that list are his poor performances when matched head to head with other candidates.

...and the Rachel Madddow forum had about 2 million viewers.

....from another candidate. Rather than attempting to woo Trump supporters

Smells of desperation.

...the entire confrontation is about the DNC's surrogacy on behalf of Clinton in limiting debates. Sanders is just being challenged here to put some action behind his words.

All this taunting of Bernie is easy, since he knows it won't go anywhere and Martin won't have to actually face the decision of participating in a non-sanctioned debate and getting himself excluded from the nationally televised DNC debates.

The people of Maryland are supporting O'Malley at about 6%, according to the polls I've seen. IMHO, this lack of support from people in Maryland is a big part of the reason he's not gotten any traction nationally- not many of Martin's former constituents are talking him up on Facebook, Twitter, etc.

Vermonters support Bernie at about 65%. I'm seeing that there are good reasons why Marylanders are not supporting their favorite son in large numbers.

Seriously, what do hope to accomplish by hurting Bernie and his supporters?

I once admired you.

...you do realize O'Malley's action is a direct confrontation with the DNC Hillary surrogates?

No, that's probably over your head.

...'implications'

Liars suck.

But now I have no respect for him.

He's trying to play us for fools. No mention of the DNC's exclusivity clause or how DWS seems to be itching for any excuse to kneecap Bernie's campaign and democratic debate.

I think I understand why support for him in his own state is so low - they apparently know him.

...as if you were talking to some campaign rep.

Do what you want. Who the hell could actually manage such tender feelings to get your vote? Nothing about the actual issues, just this epic pout over a statement by the O'Malley NH rep trying to goad Sanders into doing more about his objections with the DNC debate rules than just rolling over and taking it.

...of the nationally-televised debates, that would thrill DWS.

...he should present his platform and proposals and just ignore Clinton. She can't very well have a debate without her rivals.

I can understand O'Malley trying just about anything to gain traction in a campaign, but Dean had no right to go along with it. His support of Clinton just reeks of insider politics.

I'm quite certain if Clinton joined in the push for more debate Sanders would join in.

But at this point he needs to mend some fences after the data kerfuffle. He doesn't need to join a candidate with nothing to lose on a self destructive mission.

He is very progressive. I have the utmost respect for him, and people are now trashing him for answering a question honestly. Will there be anyone on the bus come March 2 or will they all be under it?








The wheels on the bus go round and round
Round and round, round and round

...some here disagree with him, so it's 'he lied' and all of that nonsense. You'd think these folks have never experienced a primary campaign before. Such drama and tender feelings about their candidate, you'd think he was made of porcelain.

They may be young or otherwise new to the whole electoral process. Then there may be a small number who purposely try to sow discord among Democratic party members.

We have all been here done this. Nobody disagrees with his rhetoric. His actions speak truthfully and show where he is coming from. The same applies to posters. We ain't dumb enough to fall for cheap tricks. Self deception required for perpetrators to believe they are that slick.

in a sad sort of way.

False flag supporters and candidacy. Third way go home!

...'third way' is nothing but an DU excuse to whine and point fingers.

It's the biggest canard since 'DLC' was the popular bugaboo here and had to be abandoned because most folks realized it wasn't only irrelevant, but completely disbanded. Now the story is they live on as the dreaded 'third way', as if that nonsense would even pose some sort of significant challenge to anything or anyone.

I realize though, that victim politics requires an antagonist. It's like I tell the kids when they're playing make-believe: Go on and have fun with it. It's really just harmless drivel designed to make the accuser feel superior and righteous. So cute, so deluded.

Yeah

...BOO!

Last edited Thu Dec 31, 2015, 11:03 AM - Edit history (1)

...to turn its forum into a debate, and he then debated Martin O'Malley there.

Sanders and O'Malley would be banned by the DNC from the rest of the nationally-televised debates, which would become solo press-conferences for Hillary Clinton.

I seriously doubt the networks would spend more than minutes on that. no more than they do now.

What it would do is provide a platform for Sander and O'Malley to present their policies and proposals without her taking up the time. Been there, done that. It would be interesting and informative to have their unadulterated progressive perspectives on display.

I think not

...the DNC is mucking up everything they touch in this campaign.

Your argument sounds like surrender, rather than 'revolution.'

Wait? What? Lol

...Bernie's trying out his new role as a party regular.

Sanders called for more debates but now we are supposed to believe that he is a hypocrite if he does not do exactly what O'Malley wants him to do.

Sad and pathetic.

...this is standard campaign fare.

So are the 'sad and pathetic' comments of yours.

Must be getting under folks' skin. I'm glad to see all of the defensive reactions to a challenge from O'Malley for Sanders to actually do something revolutionary in this campaign; put some actual actions behind his rhetoric about the DNC and materially challenge them beyond an ass-covering lawsuit.

...obviously concerned about the dearth of debates before the election held there; an understandable frustration.

One thing is certain, he sure knows how to stir the pot. Good for him.

Sad for the folks who feel personally offended by the challenge for Bernie to actually do something other than just talk about how much he wants more debates.

But Sanders probably thinks that he has a better chance of winning if he doesn't break the rules. He also probably realizes that the likelihood that Clinton could be convinced to break the rules is virtually nil. So I guess I see no reason to attack Sanders for his decisions here.

... is making a political calculation here, rather than taking a principled stance against the organization.

Not very 'revolutionary,' though.

go out in search of some charisma. Invoking Bernie to garner attention is a little sad.

...'invoking' his rival in this campaign is 'sad'?

It's as if you've never experienced a campaign before. This is what challengers do. You really didn't expect O'Malley to put on a Sanders button and just roll over before one vote is cast, did you?

When a candidate is down in Lindsay Graham territory at this stage of the game, they're just wasting other people's money whether a vote has been cast or not. You and I have as much chance as MM at being the Democratic nominee.

...transparently petty politics.

I understand how polling well gives one a sense of inevitability, but I think you'll find that people have more at stake in this election than the horse race. These primary elections are the most prominent and comprehensive opportunity for Democrats to elevate our progressive issues and concerns to a national level of debate and discussion.

Martin O'Malley has contributed to that debate with some of the most detailed and comprehensive plans and proposals I've ever seen in an election. I realize that's of no interest to the political sportscasters, but I'd think it would be appreciated by a forum which spends most of its time raising and debating issues among ourselves.

I could be wrong about that interest here...