[JackFr]

Why shouldn’t establishment Democrats revile Bernie? He has been independent or third party his entire career, except during two brief stints where he joins the Democratic Party to use their national apparatus to run for president, much to the frustration of career Democrats.

[munk-a]

Bernie, while being Vermont's Senator, has secured the democratic party primary every time he's run. He has pushed hard for policies that align with democratic voters and he's been extremely consistent. He's also fundraised for the DSCC and other democratic aligned organizations.

If you're familiar with his political stances it's bizarre to not classify him (in our two party system) as a democrat.

[revx]

Oh, I agree! I was just frustrated that they were willing to break the rules to defeat Bernie (but then when they lose to the Republicans, it's just too bad and we must follow the rules).

I dunno. I'm not arguing that Dems should break rules/laws/whatever. I'm just venting about the hypocrisy that I think cost them the 2016 and 2024 elections.

[AnimalMuppet]

When they lose to Republicans, the "rules" are not Robert's Rules of Order or the bylaws of the Democratic Party. Instead, the rules are the federal election laws. Not following the rules is a bit less of an option.

[lapcat]

The irony is that Sanders has been super-loyal to the establishment Democrats. He endorsed and campaigned for Clinton. He endorsed and campaigned for Biden. He publicly defended Biden when people wanted to replace him on the ticket. And then when Biden was replaced, Sanders endorsed and campaigned for Harris. And he hasn't used to power as a Senator to block legislation, like Manchin and Sinema. He's been a reliable vote.

Despite all of the talk of a "political revolution", Sanders is anything but a revolutionary. He's practically an establishment Democrat himself.

The same goes for AOC, by the way. She never "brought the ruckus" against the Democrats. She's 100% establishment now.

[gremlinsinc]

Maybe because 45% of this country is independent voters. I'll continue writing in Bernie rather than voting for an establishment and nobody owns my vote. I'd rather see the country go to hell under R until blue votes for a progressive leader. If you can't bring true universal single payer healthcare, you're not someone I'll ever vote for. I want principles, not special interests.

[bobbylarrybobby]

Isn't Bernie overall quite good for the party? Isn't having a president of your party in office good for your party? Seems like cutting off their nose to spite their face for the Democratic Party to shun him.

[KennyBlanken]

What? From the very beginning he negotiated with the Democratic party to run under the D banner and support major platforms of the party - but he's not beholden to the Whip. His job was to represent the people who elected him, and he's very consistently done so, and probably worked 'across the aisle' to get things done moreso than anyone else in congress in decades.