Bernie blames Hillary for allowing Russian interference

Submitted by Amanda Matthews on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 12:56am

Bernie blames Hillary for allowing Russian interference
The senator and his top political adviser also denied Mueller's assertion that Russian actors backed his campaign.
By EDWARD-ISAAC DOVERE 02/21/2018 06:45 PM EST Updated 02/21/2018 09:48 PM EST

Bernie Sanders on Wednesday blamed Hillary Clinton for not doing more to stop the Russian attack on the last presidential election. Then his 2016 campaign manager, in an interview with POLITICO, said he’s seen no evidence to support special counsel Robert Mueller's assertion in an indictment last week that the Russian operation had backed Sanders' campaign.

The remarks showed Sanders, running for a third term and currently considered a front-runner for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2020, deeply defensive in response to questions posed to him about what was laid out in the indictment. He attempted to thread a response that blasts Donald Trump for refusing to acknowledge that Russians helped his campaign — but then holds himself harmless for a nearly identical denial.

*

The Vermont senator was adamant that he did not benefit from Russian bots urging voters to support him. “I did not know that Russian bots were promoting my campaign. Russian bots were not promoting my campaign,” he said.

Sanders has repeatedly condemned President Donald Trump for not acknowledging the Russian attack on the 2016 election alleged in the Mueller indictment and being investigated by congressional committees. But he has refused to say that his campaign benefited from the activities.

*

Sanders has faced questions since Friday about why he has not more strongly condemned the Russian actions that benefited his campaign. On Wednesday, liberal writer Joan Walsh of The Nation tweeted in response to Sanders’ comments about Clinton: “Seriously, this could be the end of Sanders 2020. Someone who cares about him ought to tell him how badly he stepped in it today.”

https://www.politico.com/amp/story/2018/02/21/bernie-sanders-trump-russi...

So,it looks like the Clintonites went and hurt Sanders’ fee fees when they claimed those pesky RUSSIANS! were trying to help out the guy after he campaigned his ass off for her and now he’s is in a snit. It’s okay for them to claim we’re all mindless RUSSIAN! Stooges, but apparently he doesn’t like it when it happens to himself.

And now Clinton’s BFF’s are calling him out. Well I could have told the old duffer that the only loyalty Clintons have is to themselves and that they’d turn on him eventually. I bet all you boys and girls could have as well.

I wonder if he thinks it was worth it? He’s totally alienated a large percentage of his supporters over his pandering for the Clinton Creature and the Clinton DNC. For people like me, his credibility is shot. In the article he claims to have tried to warn the Clintons Creature’s campaign about those wiley RUSSIANS! They say he’s a liar.

Well ain’t that a kick in the pants?

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The Dims Uncivil War commences

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Comments

Submitted by snoopydawg on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 1:25am

Ya know what? I don't care

Bernie made the decision to go along with the Russian propaganda crap on his own. He knows damn well that there was no interference by anyone except Hillary's own twits from Correct the Record and he knows what the consequences are for the world if this country decides to start their war against Russia.

He should have called out Hillary and the DNC for their rigging the primary as well as calling her on her use of her foundation during her tenure as well as her warmongering that led to the destruction of Libya and other countries. And many other issues. He didn't, she lost and we are stuck with Trump.

—

Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by SnappleBC on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 2:13am

Gosh! Can I be even more cynical than you? Sure I can!

@snoopydawg

He knows damn well that there was no interference by anyone except

I disagree. Stop to think about it for a moment. I would assume that a whole host of countries posted various things on facebook that influenced our election. I would also assume that a fair number of them did some of that covertly. If not, they are overpaying their foreign services. Isn't some level of this sort of thing par for the course?

So I'm assuming that Sanders and everyone else are planning on eventually trotting out some real but totally mundane "interference" and expecting us to all start seeing red. My guess is that it'll actually be a covert op by some branch of Russian intelligence but it's overall significance will be minuscule on every level. It'll be something they and we and everyone else have been doing forever.

Personally I'm waiting for them to trot out something that justifies WW3. Some nickel & dime covert op gone bad isn't going to satisfy me. They are the ones who set the stakes. I intend to hold them to it.

—

A lot of wanderers in the U.S. political desert recognize that all the duopoly has to offer is a choice of mirages. Come, let us trudge towards empty expanse of sand #1, littered with the bleached bones of Deaniacs and Hope and Changers.
-- lotlizard

Submitted by The Voice In th... on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 12:20pm

I have a question.

@SnappleBC @SnappleBC

Does anyone actually care what a stranger says on facebook?
How many people are on facebook? (Yes I could look it up)
How many actual voters are on facebook? (unknowable, but guessable from demographics)

—

I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

Submitted by Amanda Matthews on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 12:24pm

That’s the thing about FB. I have an account

@The Voice In the Wilderness

and all I use it for is an occasional bit of political propaganda and some funny stuff. Nothing personal ever. And I don’t even have to.go to FB to annoy everyone. I just click that little blue thing with the ‘f’ in it at the bottom of everything and voila, instant aggravation.

—

I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks

Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa

Submitted by eyo on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 12:39pm

United States second-ranked with 230 million Facebook users

@The Voice In the Wilderness thanks, you won't find me on facebook, so I don't know about the first and third questions but I looked up an answer to the second here: Leading countries based on number of Facebook users as of January 2018 (in millions)

The statistic shows the leading countries ranked according to their number of Facebook users as of January 2018. During the measured period, 130 million Brazilian users were registered on the social networking site. India claimed the first place with 250 million users, ahead of second-ranked United States with 230 million Facebook users. Facebook is the most popular social network worldwide, with a global usage penetration of 22.9 percent.

Free Software, Free Society
"a matter of liberty, not price"

Submitted by doh1304 on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 1:01pm

230 million out of a nation of 350 million?

@eyo
Facebook must be counting 10 year olds who clicked on that blue thing. The number is laughably inflated. When I was a taxi driver advocate we counted everyone who took out a drivers' permit as a "member" of our organization. I know how it works. And why.

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On to Biden since 1973

Submitted by Meteor Man on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 1:17pm

Facebook Cannot Be Deleted

@doh1304
Facebook counts everyone who has ever registered an account. After signing up for an account for a few weeks and trying to figure out who all the wigbirds we're who wanted to be my friend, I tagged the notifications as spam. The only continuing annoyance is that I still have to delete them.

It is only a matter of time until Facebook has a larger number of accounts than the total population of the planet.

—

"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn

Submitted by SnappleBC on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 1:43pm

Well, facebook counts me I'm sure

@doh1304

After all, I have an account. I'd have to look and see what the last thing I posted on it was but I'm pretty sure it may be 1 or 2 a year. I pretty much only go into facebook when some other link directs me there and I shut the window down again immediately when done reading.

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Submitted by Cant Stop the M... on Fri, 02/23/2018 - 8:43am

@SnappleBC Expressing opinions

@SnappleBC Expressing opinions online is not election rigging.

—

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

Submitted by Cant Stop the M... on Fri, 02/23/2018 - 8:42am

@snoopydawg I care, because it

@snoopydawg I care, because it reveals Mueller to be a partisan hack, which, unfortunately, even my partner disagrees with me on. And he's a smart cookie.

—

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

Submitted by Snode on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 8:21am

Not trying to change the subject

I could be missing the point entirely,but if I were the Koch bros, Sheldon Addleson, Lockheed, Wall St., I'd be punching myself in the head going "why didn't I think of that" (they're prob. working on it now). For a few million apiece they could out fund whatever Russia supposedly had, directly influence elections and politicians and cut out a lot of money going to the d and r middlemen. The big objection seems to be RUSSIA. Otherwise it seems like good old American politics. Lee Atwater would approve.

Submitted by Meteor Man on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 11:26am

GOP Cyber Warfare

@Snode @Snode
Old news. Both parties all ready do. The strangest part of this story may be the way the media and politicians pretend this is breaking news:

The GOP Is Conducting Cyber Warfare Against Political Opponents:
Automated Twitter storms, faked emails and fabricated endorsements are all part of the GOP's bag of dirty tricks.

https://www.alternet.org/election-03918/forget-russia-domestic-gop-led-c...

That's just what we know.

[Edit to fix link]

—

"They'll say we're disturbing the peace, but there is no peace. What really bothers them is that we are disturbing the war." Howard Zinn

Submitted by Amanda Matthews on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 12:13pm

So let’s nuke the GOP. We just need them

@Meteor Man

To hold still all in one place.

—

I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks

Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa

Submitted by The Voice In th... on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 12:17pm

How do you know they didn't?

@Snode
The ACTORS were Russian, but it is well known that the people you cited like to outsource work to cheap foreign countries.

—

I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

Submitted by Snode on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 1:15pm

@The Voice In the Wilderness

@The Voice In the Wilderness
Unfortunately, the more I understand, the less I trust what I know. I didn't mean to omit the democrats and their actors, Kochs and Addelson popped up as people who likely would cut out the middleman (DNC, RNC) and hire their own "actors directly". Like you said, maybe they did.

Submitted by Cant Stop the M... on Fri, 02/23/2018 - 8:43am

@Snode I believe that's already

@Snode I believe that's already happened.

—

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

Submitted by dkmich on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 8:58am

Bernie should have called out the Hillbamabots

for the redbaiting that it was. Bernie stepped in it when he didn't bolt and run Green, endorsed Hillary, didn't call out the Dems for stealing the primary, and bought into Russia, Russia, Russia. The same way Elizabeth Warren missed her boat, Bernie missed his. I don't think they can ever get that back.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Submitted by Amanda Matthews on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 12:15pm

He didn’t just miss the boat, he sunk it.

@dkmich

—

I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks

Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa

Submitted by divineorder on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 12:44pm

Bernie who?

@dkmich

It has been clear to everyone (except Donald Trump) that Russia was deeply involved in the 2016 election and intends to be involved in 2018. It is the American people who should be deciding the political future of our country, not Mr. Putin and the Russian oligarchs.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) February 16, 2018

—

A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.

Submitted by QMS on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 12:50pm

That would be the Bernie

@divineorder that is trying to burnish his bonafides. Unfortunately for his legacy, shit sticks.

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question everything

Submitted by eyo on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 2:53pm

Yeah stuff sticks, and books sell. Sell sell sell! GOTV! LOL

@QMS thanks, of course there is another book tour coming. Multi millionaire why not, put Donna Brazil on the payroll too might as well. New Bernie Sanders book will focus on how to oppose Trump. meh

February 21, 2018
The Vermont independent and 2016 presidential contender is working on a new book. The publisher tells The Associated Press in a Wednesday statement that "Where We Go From Here" will be released Nov. 13 by Thomas Dunne Books.
...
His surprisingly strong run against Hillary Rodham Clinton in the Democratic primaries made him a national figure and favorite among progressives. He is often mentioned as a possible candidate for 2020.

feel the bern; shame on you
feel it twice; shame on me

Submitted by QMS on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 3:06pm

HaHaHa

@eyo that's precious. Where We Go From Here It's sounds like next one in the fiction series by Chillary's publishers after What Happened. Where is the missing story Where We Are Now?

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question everything

Submitted by snoopydawg on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 4:06pm

Or the first book

@QMS

How Did We Get Here and Where Did We Come From?

Good news. The democrats are going to push for Medicare for all. This time there is many more who have decided that this is what should be offered people who wants a health care plan like countries in Europe have.

Neera Tanden said that it's time for everyone to have Universal Coverage

Yep. You heard that right. The democrats are working on a new health care plan for everyone who wants to join. Just one catch:

That differs from the more traditional "single-payer" approach advocated by Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders, in which the government would hold the reins of the health care system.

Once again we will have access to insurance just like we all have access to a Porsche.
Now isn't that progress?

—

Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by QMS on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 4:15pm

They are pulling the same stunt here in RI

@snoopydawg disguising wealth care under the banner of single payer. No controls, no real change, just a new name to give the politboro cover. The devil is in the details. But we can't see those cause propriety. Just trust the govt. to act in our best interest. Ha

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question everything

Submitted by eyo on Fri, 02/23/2018 - 12:40pm

Neera Tanden illustrates definition of co-option

@snoopydawg https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Co-option

Co-opting an individual usually involves giving him or her a desirable role in the design or implementation of the change. Co-opting a group involves giving one of its leaders, or someone it respects, a key role in the design or implementation of a change. This is not a form of participation, however, because the initiators do not want the advice of the co-opted, merely his or her endorsement.

Boom there it is, give an endorsement and don't talk back! How democratic.

I actually have no idea exactly what Bernie has proposed for healthcare currently, can't sort through his gish gallup of baffling bullshit either. If it is Medicare as it it exists right now, forget it. I already cannot afford the 20% co-pay plus the appointment fees, lab fees, etc.. It has to be free at point of delivery to get my vote. Insurance companies are a bunch of corrupt assholes too, in my experience. Especially now around here, post-disaster.

Why Bernie Sanders Wasn’t Invited to CAP’s Ideas Conference

“They charge $1,000 per ticket to attend their ‘Progressive Party’…and eat canapes while wondering why they are out of touch with the rest of the country.”

heh

Submitted by The Voice In th... on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 6:25pm

He had agreed to endorse the nominee

@dkmich as a condition of being allowed to run as a Democrat. So I can't blame him for not bolting. But he could have made a concession speech with a perfunctory "let's all rally around the nominee" and then gone home. No need to enthusiastically campaign for her. How many losing candidates campaign for their former rivals vs how many pay lip service then go home and stick pins in voodoo dolls. I can't blame him for not bolting nor for pro forma endorsement. I can blame him for campaigning for her.

—

I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

Submitted by Cant Stop the M... on Fri, 02/23/2018 - 8:46am

@dkmich

@dkmich

—

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

Submitted by Dr. John Carpenter on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 9:43am

Who didn't see this coming?

Who, other than Bernie, didn't see this coming back to bite him in the ass? The best part is, he's going the "I'm not a Russian stooge, but Trump is totally a Russian stooge" route because what choice does he have? I mean, it would be great if he said "you know what? This whole Russian thing is a sham!" but he can't now without completely pissing off the Dems and making himself out to be a liar for pushing the narrative to begin with.

I just don't see how this turns out well for Sanders or, much more importantly, the progressive issues he allegedly cares for.

—

Idolizing a politician is like believing the stripper really likes you.

Submitted by MrWebster on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 3:34pm

Putin wants single payer to ruin America.

@Dr. John Carpenter Bernie is now a victim of the McCarthyism that he helped lay the ground work for. And as you write, his progressive policies will be red smeared also. Progressives and Bernie supporters like The Young Turks went so far into xenophobia that everything and everybody associated with Russia is criminal and treason suspect--and that now includes Bernie. It will take time to play out, but play out it will. Mueller gave corporatists democrats and republicans a gift with the last indictments.

Submitted by snoopydawg on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 4:18pm

Not only Putin wants single payer, Her and Obama do too

@MrWebster

They are playing at their new liberal policy group the Center for American progress.

The center was closely aligned with former President Barack Obama and 2016 Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. A 2005 proposal from CAP foreshadowed Obama's Affordable Care Act.

Even though it has no chance of passing in a Republican-controlled Congress, center president Neera Tanden said, "there is consensus on the progressive side that universal coverage should be the goal and health care is a right."

Great time to get this up and running, right. Not doing it when they had the majority or waiting until they do, but when it has no chance of passing. Great job democrats!

—

Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.

Submitted by Dr. John Carpenter on Fri, 02/23/2018 - 8:29am

Fellow travelers?

@MrWebster

Progressives and Bernie supporters like The Young Turks went so far into xenophobia that everything and everybody associated with Russia is criminal and treason suspect--and that now includes Bernie.

Oh man...TYT. Yeah that could be fun. First they felt the Bern. Then they were with HER, bigly. Then they were flogging RUSSIARUSSIARUSSIA and (I've heard) are back on the Bernie train now that it's safe...so where do they go? Really, I doubt that will be too much of a problem for them. They've never seemed too troubled over contradictions.

—

Idolizing a politician is like believing the stripper really likes you.

Submitted by CB on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 10:54am

Bernie was just a fluffer for Killary

It was Bernie who energized and motivated the base, got them up on their feet, ready and willing to go to the polls to place their mark for the Democrats.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhezYYiTUm0]

Killary would NOT have even got the popular vote if it wasn't for Bernie.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jbasJjgdXwU]

BTW, If you are wondering why the bird landed on Bernie's podium, it was trained by Putin. Here's undeniable proof:

putin w bird.jpg

Submitted by Bisbonian on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 9:14pm

Where did you find that photo?

@CB (asking for a friend)

—

"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

Submitted by CB on Fri, 02/23/2018 - 1:32am

Here you go

@Bisbonian
Vladimir Putin Meeting With …. Animals?
Putin training porpoises to attack US Black Sea Fleet:

Submitted by Bisbonian on Sat, 02/24/2018 - 10:21pm

Diabolical bastard!

@CB

—

"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

Submitted by MrWebster on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 2:32pm

If Putin supported Bernie, why did Bernie lose primaries?

With just 13 semi-literate-English trolls and $150K, Putin put Trump in office. The Russians are like super genius at manipulating election results. How come they didn't break into election computers?

Submitted by CB on Fri, 02/23/2018 - 2:18am

Bernie was Putin's first choice for president.

@MrWebster
But Hillary said she would double the uranium deal if he would scrap Bernie and back her. Crooked Hillary reneged on the deal after she got the nomination and told him to fuck off. This pissed off Putin so much, he slapped her down and made Trump president. If you think about it, what else could have happened to cause Hillary to crash and burn like that?

This is why it appears the Russians were all over the place - Bernie, Hillary, Trump. The facts are there if you know how to look. QAnon posted the timeline. It was all done with subliminal messaging.

BTW, Mueller is chasing down a rabbit hole designed to cover up the original Russian PSYOP. The rabbit hole will lead his investigation away from Trump.

Just wait until you see what Putin's got in store for the midterms.

Got to disconnect now. I can hear helicopters in the distance.

Submitted by lotlizard on Fri, 02/23/2018 - 7:01am

It’s OK—it was just the MAS*H rerun opening sequence on the TV

@CB

I can hear helicopters in the distance.

Submitted by EyeRound on Thu, 02/22/2018 - 2:36pm

Beg to differ with your conclusions, AM--

Bernie has had to weather a lot of bias-driven storms (not meaning you), the latest being the radio interview from yesterday on Vermont Edition with Jane Lindholm, which is reflected in the Politico article cited here.
In general I agree with SnappleBC's first paragraph--how many governments, entities, people, are bots that jump into political campaigns? Who takes them seriously and does it matter if they are "Russkie's" or not?
I don't think that Sanders is expecting to be taken care of by the Clinton Dem's, so their current attempt to link him (as well as Stein, I believe) to the Russkies is more or less to be expected, given who the establishment Dems are and how they operate. They want to clear progressive voters and candidates out of the 2018 elections. This would not escape Sanders' notice. I think the reason Sanders is "trumpeting" about possible Russkie-Trump connections comes from an attempt to sow doubt in the minds of Trump voters and eventually to bring down Trump along with the Republican party in Congress. If the establidems share that aim, well, so what? The Politico article is clearly an attempt to smear Sanders. From the article: "Sanders has faced questions since Friday about why he has not more strongly condemned the Russian actions that benefited his campaign." Nobody has any evidence that the Sanders campaign "benefitted" from and bots, Russkie bots or otherwise, and the article does not make the case, just the assertion.