My opinion of O'Malley might be a little harsh but I'm far from convinced, My first thought on Originally hearing O'Malley was that he is a third-way corporate shill trying to hijack Bernie's platform, As I said I'm not convinced but I'm watching, Make no mistake I'm voting for Bernie Sanders, But I'm cutting O'Malley a bit more slack.

but do it for the right reasons and don't hang with foolish, manufactured memes against Martin O'Malley.

NOTHING corporate about Governor O'Malley.

Martin O'Malley:

1. Ended death penalty in Maryland
2. Prevented fracking in Maryland and put regulations in the way to prevent next GOP Gov Hogan fom easily allowing fracking.
3. Provided health insurance for 380,000
4. Reduced infant mortality to an all time low.
5. Provided meals to thousands of hungry children and moved toward a goal for eradicating childhood hunger.
6. Enacted a $10.10 living wage and a $11. minimum wage for State workers.
7. Supporter the Dream Act
8. Cut income taxes for 86% of Marylanders (raised taxes on the rich).
9. Reformed Maryland’s tax code to make it more progressive.
10. Enacted some of the nation’s most comprehensive reforms to protect homeowners from foreclosure.

Mother Jones magazine called him the best candidate on environmental issues.
Article here:
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/12/martin-omalley-longshot-presidential-candidate-and-real-climate-hawk

Much more here:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1281

at the very least to publicly shame DNC over the 'exclusionary' debate debacle,
and then ... who knows.

but then it appeared that Bernie was stepping back. Can't tell what's going on now.

What makes you suspect that Bernie backed away?

'But the Vermont Senator, who is attracting large crowds at campaign rallies—including 28,000 at a recent event in Portland—is less eager than O’Malley to pursue a path that would put him at odds with the Democratic Party. He is highly unlikely to participate in a debate that does not include Clinton, and his campaign spokesman said Wednesday that the debates must include all candidates.

Tad Devine, a top advisor to Sanders, called the “debate debate” a “distraction.”

“I don’t think we’re looking to be part of some splinter group or something like that,” said Devine. “Our view is we want to work with the Party and not against it.”'

http://time.com/4001669/martin-omalley-bernie-sanders-debates/

not yet sure what to make of it.

Seems so out-of-character for Bernie to play "Mr. Nice" with the Establishment,
even if it is the Dem Party DNC.

I'm guessing him being an Independent, but running in Dem Primary might
have something to do with his kid gloves.

FRom the article:

http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-a-wall-street-front-20150821-column.html