Why The Bernie Revolution Failed: Toxic Staffers

[Milchshake]

Why did Bernie Sander's Revolution fail for a second time?
Long time Leftists pointed out that some of his key staffers were incredibly toxic and divisive. Looks like they were proved right.

Staffers lash out in Bernie world meltdown
Long simmering tensions within the Sanders campaign have gone public.

Bernie Sanders' 2020 aides tore into each other this week on social media, trading accusations of being “tone-deaf,” not giving “a shit about the base" & stealing infrastructure from the campaign. Sanders' wife, Jane, isn't happy about the infighting.

Their inability to make electoral predictions is linked to their inability to expand their base.
It's rooted in the absolute disdain of groups not sharing their aesthetics to the point where the world becomes a funhouse mirror.
Constantly telling allies that they were "not progressive" enough.

The clashes made public tensions that had long simmered below the surface in Sanders’ team during the primary. They also demonstrated how difficult it is for top Sanders lieutenants to control even their own ex-staffers, which could hamper efforts at party unity in the election.

No way this team would win in a general election.

Also, the Marx/Corbyn/Sanders model of Social Revolution is totally flawed. It seems completely tone deaf in the modern age of coalition building to win democratic elections.

Mod Warning: Be sure to focus on staffers and criticisms of his campaign, rather than derail about voters (Bernie/Biden bros.)

[Felya]

The Biden Boys are just as toxic.

Way to prove his point... there is a significant difference between Biden is being better than Trump, and burning the world down because you didn’t get your way.

[Elegiac]

Nothing 'failed'.

Is Bernie Sanders the nominee? No? Then he failed. His campaign wasn't about progressive values, it was hijacked by internet ragemongers who turned it into a cult of personality (see: Shaun King, Dave Sirota, etc.)

But hey, do keep banging on that BLM drum not a few months after the narrative for Bernie losing SC was that Black voters were ignorant.

[Lenonis]

Honestly I don't think Sanders' staffers or supporters behavior was the issue -- I say that because Biden won the older vote. These folks are 1) likely to be less revolutionary and progressive and 2) not online as much to be exposed to it.

Bernie and his movement's fundamental problem has been the ability to take support for individual issues and translate it to support for a platform.

Calling yourself a socialist in any form sure isn't helping either.

[Polyxo]

Depends on how you define success and failure. They've succeeded a lot in pushing rhetoric leftward where it used to be unthinkable due to the 20th century red scare. However, like most 'purist' movements, they really fail at getting much done themselves. They're not interested in navigating the path to passing legislation. They're not interested in the political game. They're not really interested in recruiting allies. They don't even really seem interested in destroying enemies.

[PC2]

@Milchshake, I don't think it was a staffer issue or anything like that, I think it's a Democrat issue where they view centrists like Biden as having more "win-ability". They should just argue about which policy ideas have more or less merit instead of worrying about who can beat Trump.

Their inability to make electoral predictions is linked to their inability to expand their base.

That's linked to the inability to predict what will change in the future. There will never be a way to know the future of politics ahead of time.

Also, the Marx/Corbyn/Sanders model of Social Revolution is totally flawed. It seems completely tone deaf in the modern age of coalition building to win democratic elections.

Did Marx ever say violence was necessary in his revolution? Sanders hasn't said that and IMO there's really no such thing as revolution without violent force.

[beanman12345]

I look forward to the Elizabeth Warren failure thread, and the Mayor Pete failure thread. Probably won't happen, just gotta shit on Bernie for no reason.

[JohnBrown1917]

lol its been months and you still need to shitpost about Sanders, aren't you a tad bit obsessed?

Also, the Marx/Corbyn/Sanders model of Social Revolution is totally flawed. It seems completely tone deaf in the modern age of coalition building to win democratic elections.

Sanders is not even close to as far to the left as Corbyn, let alone Marx. Or is the centre-left to extreme for you? Kinda funny for somebpdy who uses an anarchist avatar.

[Elegiac]

Sanders is not even close to as far to the left as Corbyn, let alone Marx. Or is the centre-left to extreme for you? Kinda funny for somebpdy who uses an anarchist avatar.

Kinda funny to someone to see someone berating others for being insufficiently left wing when they've openly admitted they'd vote for Putin as president for life.

Drop the act.

[Milchshake]

Kinda funny to someone to see someone berating others for being insufficiently left wing when they've openly admitted they'd vote for Putin as president for life.

Drop the act.

Exactly, it's mirrors the problem with staffers like Sirota and Brie Brie. Their whole Revolution bit was more an act of performance art than actual politicing.

[Machismo]

I think the issue was that he was a populist who just wasn't popular enough. He's a decent man, but also very old. As for his staffers, their continued rhetoric shows exactly why a lot of moderates never embraced the cause. It's often not about policies, but about putting the man on a pedestal.

People are one-issue voters, whether we like to admit it, or not.

[JohnBrown1917]

Exactly, it's mirrors the problem with staffers like Sirota and Brie Brie. Their whole Revolution bit was more an act of performance art than actual politicing.

You all say that about anybody who is not a centrist.

[Omega10]

Why did Bernie Sander's Revolution fail for a second time?
Long time Leftists pointed out that some of his key staffers were incredibly toxic and divisive. Looks like they were proved right.

Staffers lash out in Bernie world meltdown
Long simmering tensions within the Sanders campaign have gone public.

Bernie Sanders' 2020 aides tore into each other this week on social media, trading accusations of being “tone-deaf,” not giving “a shit about the base" & stealing infrastructure from the campaign. Sanders' wife, Jane, isn't happy about the infighting.

Their inability to make electoral predictions is linked to their inability to expand their base.
It's rooted in the absolute disdain of groups not sharing their aesthetics to the point where the world becomes a funhouse mirror.
Constantly telling allies that they were "not progressive" enough.

The clashes made public tensions that had long simmered below the surface in Sanders’ team during the primary. They also demonstrated how difficult it is for top Sanders lieutenants to control even their own ex-staffers, which could hamper efforts at party unity in the election.

No way this team would win in a general election.

Also, the Marx/Corbyn/Sanders model of Social Revolution is totally flawed. It seems completely tone deaf in the modern age of coalition building to win democratic elections.

Mod Warning: Be sure to focus on staffers and criticisms of his campaign, rather than derail about voters (Bernie/Biden bros.)

Why are you trying to divide the democratic party? Trump will be hard to beat. Is this an attempt to get Trump reelected?

YOU WON. GET OVER IT.

[TigTone]

Why are you trying to divide the democratic party? Trump will be hard to beat. Is this an attempt to get Trump reelected?

YOU WON. GET OVER IT.

America’s enemies have trolls for “both sides” divide and conquer.

[Gaidax]

Exactly, it's mirrors the problem with staffers like Sirota and Brie Brie. Their whole Revolution bit was more an act of performance art than actual politicing.

I mean, in the end people need to put something on their bread there. Much of these "revolutions" are feeding various opportunists that don't really have their heart in it, but just enjoy the perks.

[Thelxi]

I won't lie Nina Turner made my skin crawl multiple times. Regardless of how I feel about Biden I know he will install good people in the right places, which I can't say for Bernie.

[JohnBrown1917]

I won't lie Nina Turner made my skin crawl multiple times. Regardless of how I feel about Biden I know he will install good people in the right places, which I can't say for Bernie.

You mean like how biden has a Hindu fascist in place to lead his muslim outreach? That Biden?

[Acidbaron]

Did Bernie himself not come out and asked or even told his base to be more civil?

He could have lost the nomination for that reason, but i think as with most opinion pieces people decide whatever makes most sense to them or their agenda and dumb down something as a nomination where people have multiple reasons to be for or against someone.

This article how i read it is trying to highlight the misconduct and divisive behaviour of some, in attempt that people see some of their behaviour for what it really is. It is ironic that you are now acting not much different than them. Way to screw up the tone of the entire thread by starting it out like that.

[DarkTZeratul]

I look forward to the Elizabeth Warren failure thread, and the Mayor Pete failure thread. Probably won't happen, just gotta shit on Bernie for no reason.

Probably because all the Warren and Mayor Pete followers accepted that they lost and moved on, whereas I keep seeing self-professed Sanders fans consistently complaining about how they only lost because the entire system is rigged against them and how Biden is terrible and just as bad as Trump and nobody should vote for him ever and we should let the country burn to the ground because a majority of primary voters chose Biden instead.

[Felya]

Might have something to do with such reactions being lured out by the continuous creation of threads like these...

It's very clear where the active participation in toxicity comes from (as opposed to the reactive or passive toxicity).

Are you sure it doesn’t come with the toxicity of constantly being insulted as a Biden bot, even though you explain numerous times... in numerous different ways... that the vote for Biden is irrelevant of Biden. Maybe it’s the toxicity of lying... like you suddenly moving to Florida, during a travel and immigration bans.