Hillary's Troubles Solidify

[JimL]

Sanders was a Congressman for 16 years and been a Senator for 10 years. By now he has many friends up on the Hill. And considering how many top Democrats (including the chair of the Democratic National Committee Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Hillary Clinton) cannot explain any difference between a Socialist and a Democrat it would seem that he has scores of like-minded people up there willing to support his proposals.

Btw, did you know that Sanders rise in prominence was due to something that liberals now throw conniption fits over? That's right. Sanders led a filibuster against legislation supported by Obama who had previously called Republicans who opposed it "hostage takers."

Yes, all the super delegates support Clinton and Sanders has only one Congressman from Oregon supporting him.

[Terraceth]

Yes, all the super delegates support Clinton and Sanders has only one Congressman from Oregon supporting him.

Actually, 547 superdelegates support Clinton and 46 support Sanders.

[JimL]

In one case the game was so rigged it really wasn't going to matter who was voted for considering the massive number of super-delegates already pledged to her (well over 90%)

Thats true to an extent, but as rigged as it is the voters still have a say, those superdelegates are not bound and can change their votes if they are persuaded by the outcomes in the primary process. The problem is that the superdelegates pledge their support before the electoral process for nomination even begins. That gives an unfair advantage from the get go to one canidate over the other. Superdelegates are a way for the party to control the outcome, its unfair, but it is not an insurmountable wall to breach. But superdelegates are not the only way in which the system is rigged, vote tallys are not counted in caucus states, so when Hillary claims to have gotten millions more votes than Sanders, thats only true because in the caucus states which Sanders won overwhelmingly, in the 70% range, there are no votes counted. Also, and this is a big one in my opinion, in many states they have what is called a closed primary which means that only registered democrats can vote, independents are not allowed to vote, and Sanders is much more popular among independents than is Hillary. Its possible that he would be ahead of Hillary in both pledged delegates and popular vote if independents were allowed to vote as they are, and as they will, in the general election.

[Cow Poke]

Actually, 547 superdelegates support Clinton and 46 support Sanders.

Thus far.

[Carrikature]

What was it something like one Senator he got to support him before he became all but inevitable as the Republican nominee? Doesn't sound like he'll have much of a natural base in Congress from which to operate.

When the aim is to stop the other guys, I suspect you'll see the same thing that has happened since Trump clinched the nomination. Then there are those who will hitch their wagon to whatever train they feel has popular support.

He may not have any friends in Congress, but I'm not sure that will translate to lack of support.

[JimL]

When the aim is to stop the other guys, I suspect you'll see the same thing that has happened since Trump clinched the nomination. Then there are those who will hitch their wagon to whatever train they feel has popular support.

He may not have any friends in Congress, but I'm not sure that will translate to lack of support.

Yeah, its a strange situation the republican party is in, the leaders therein are reluctantly coming around to supporting Trump not because they agree with him on much, but only because they've come to the conclusion that they no longer have any choice. That doesn't bode well for the general election. Even republican congressmen up for re-election are keeping their distance from him.

[rogue06]

When the aim is to stop the other guys, I suspect you'll see the same thing that has happened since Trump clinched the nomination. Then there are those who will hitch their wagon to whatever train they feel has popular support.

He may not have any friends in Congress, but I'm not sure that will translate to lack of support.

He'll have support to stop a common enemy -- Hillary. But as for getting a legislative agenda through? He won't have a natural base to work from. There will be those who'll help with specific pieces of legislation but only because they support it, but they'll have no reason to help him if they're less than wildly enthusiastic about it.

One of the reasons often given for Obama's difficulties with members of his own party in Congress is his lack of building a base there. He never really reached out to them. It was always up to Pelosi and Reid to do all the work (and both are pretty effective at keeping fellow Democrats in line).

For Trump it will be worse. He not only lacks a base but has gone out of his way to alienate a large number of Republicans there. And McConnell has not shown himself to be nearly as effective as Reid was while Ryan's abilities are still questionable and he has already shown himself to be very reluctant to help Trump.

[Cow Poke]

He'll have support to stop a common enemy -- Hillary. But as for getting a legislative agenda through? He won't have a natural base to work from. There will be those who'll help with specific pieces of legislation but only because they support it, but they'll have no reason to help him if they're less than wildly enthusiastic about it.

One of the reasons often given for Obama's difficulties with members of his own party in Congress is his lack of building a base there. He never really reached out to them. It was always up to Pelosi and Reid to do all the work (and both are pretty effective at keeping fellow Democrats in line).

For Trump it will be worse. He not only lacks a base but has gone out of his way to alienate a large number of Republicans there. And McConnell has not shown himself to be nearly as effective as Reid was while Ryan's abilities are still questionable and he has already shown himself to be very reluctant to help Trump.

The only part of this with which I might disagree is that Trump has "gone out of his way to alienate a large number of Republicans".... I don't think he goes out of his way to do that - I think it's, unfortunately, just his nature.

[rogue06]

Yeah, its a strange situation the republican party is in, the leaders therein are reluctantly coming around to supporting Trump not because they agree with him on much, but only because they've come to the conclusion that they no longer have any choice. That doesn't bode well for the general election. Even republican congressmen up for re-election are keeping their distance from him.

It is pretty much unheard of for political coattails to go up ticket. What I mean is that very few people will vote for somebody as president because they like a particular congressman. That's why Trump really doesn't care that much about whether they support him. Such an attitude will come around and bite him in the butt though if he wins.

[JimL]

It is pretty much unheard of for political coattails to go up ticket. What I mean is that very few people will vote for somebody as president because they like a particular congressman. That's why Trump really doesn't care that much about whether they support him. Such an attitude will come around and bite him in the butt though if he wins.

The congressmen are the ones who are worried, not Trump. They are afraid to support Trump for fear of a backlash against them.

[eider]

I always said, "Hillary is toast".

How do you feel now?
Any change of opinion....?

[seanD]

If they have a case, wouldn't they have made the move already? What are they waiting for?

[eider]

Hillary Clinton....... first woman to become a nominated Presidential candidate.
Congratulations to her from across the sea!
One brave lady..........

[Adam]

I'm stlll here.
Hey, whatever conspiracy floats your boat.
That Obama in on the fix.
That Obama wanted Dems to get credit for the primary system nominating a non-Socialist woman, but they get to indict her before the convention and nominate whomever Obama always wanted instead. (Everyone knows O never liked H.)
That they'll wait until after the convention and then exercise their right to substitute someone not under indictment.
Or the Dem system is so corrupt they're willing to stand with a completely corrupt, conscienceless and compromised Neocon. (Same as Repubs except for the Neocon.)

[Bill the Cat]

If they have a case, wouldn't they have made the move already? What are they waiting for?

They are ensuring the information they are investigating is protected. They filed an injunction in court on Monday to deny a FOIA request for access to the classified documents it had in the case. These things take time and care must be taken not to compromise the very classified information they are investigating.