Issue has nothing to do with Islam. The litmus test is the ability of a candidate to honestly face the truth.

@Krish55 Still don't see why being pro-Palestinian would be the central, make or break issue of being a "progressive" in the USA or anywhere else. How is denying the existence of the one democratic country in the Middle East in a sea of warlord family-led countries being "progressive". More like western guilt gone insane. There are almost 2 million Arabs apparently happy to be living in Israel in preference to those countries of their cultural brothers and sisters.

@Garbonza Israel is not a democracy. The expelled Palestinians can't vote. The controlled Palestinians in the West bank can't vote either. And do you think the Palestinians in Israel like being 2nd class citizens? This is why many, including Jimmy Carter, call it Apartheid.

@Krish55 But the Palestinians in Israel are treated much, much better than Israelis in you-know-where. Beside the point -- Apart from the ongoing disaster of Drumpf and the Repugnicans, I don't see why this issue would be the decider between Democrat or independent candidates.

@Krish55 Wow, there's a whole bundle of products you have to buy into to come up with THE TRUTH in a lump -- sure it's not a matter of faith? American politics is so, so strange to the rest of us.

If I were president, I would have said religion of peace, too, like Obama. (In fact, Bush said the same thing) It is about keeping peace in your society. You have responsibilities as a leader other than being atheist or what you really think about religions.

@Garbonza "There are almost 2 million Arabs apparently happy to be living in Israel in preference to those countries of their cultural brothers and sisters."

Are you sure of that? There is huge racism against Arab Israelis in Israel.

@tansut Regardless of the Netanyahu era (and I give Americans a pass too in the aberration that is the Trump era, Brazilians for Bolsonaro, Filipinos for Duterte, Russians for Putin, etc) I wouldn't be saying it unless Arab professors were also saying it -- that Israel is a special project in a largely irrational desert. From my observations "secular", tolerant Arabs are able to live flourishing lives in Israel. Can anyone say the same about Jews who would be courageous/foolish enough to try to live a peaceful life in an Arab country? Racism? There are still many countries in the world where if you stumble into the wrong tribal area/sect you take your life in your hands. Though American-born I have been out of the country for 59 years and am trying to get my head around the "American liberal" way of thinking; well, not thinking really, just kneejerk reactions. I think the following is a good example: In Libya, last year, Nigerians being abducted and sold into slavery is part of everyday life. Americans don't call this racism when they see it, just a certain people exploiting another driven by necessity. American "progressives" from professors to diplomats will try to think of any number of excuses for it. But when Americans see other Americans trying to be compensated for the slavery of distant ancestors 200 or 400 years ago -- actually initially driven by "entrepreneurs" on the African continent -- they say, by all means, you are all victims of racism, let us move heaven and earth for you to be compensated today.

@Garbonza "Still don't see why being pro-Palestinian would be the central, make or break issue of being a "progressive" in the USA or anywhere else."

May it be because of basic human rights?

How can you overlook almost 5 million people kept in apartheid, open prison with no rights, no representation with the help of your own government? They cannot even go to their school and work without passing through multiple checkpoints.

And you think millions of people living in these conditions with the backing of the US for 50 years is not a major issue at all?

@Garbonza As I said above if you are not aware of racism against arabs in Israel, you do not have any knowledge on the issue. Dude, they just passed a law last year saying that Israel will be a Jewish state (Nation State Law) basically declaring that ISrael will always will be a racist state and you come here and argue that there is no racism in Israel? Funny.

@tansut ..and how many are remaining there to keep hold of their property and their heritage..there was a palestinian community already living in palestine before it was overrun

[businessinsider.com]

I've been more impressed by Warren than I expected. She is my second choice after Bernie but I would not be unhappy to see her take the torch.

@marmot84 I'm loving Warren, and I think the dark horse for Dems is Michael Bennett.

I didn't know Bernie had a pro-Russia stance. I know about his trip to the USSR 30 yrs ago and the way the Russians promoted his candidacy, but not that he has a policy that's in any way out of the mainstream in this area. What do I need to know about this?

He may modify his position for voters but he won't do that for campaign contributions.

easy ask him how many donations he has taken from wall street , insurance co. pharma oil industries and so on . his policies are not always perfect. compare his voting record to any other 40 year politician , and say with a straight face he is not a champion of the people?

@metalhead222 36million averaged at 18/donor...any large donations wiuld have skewed the average.. there couldnt have been many

The Green Party got 1% of the vote at the last presidential election -- could be one reason.

No voting for third party candidates. If we want to win this, have to vote for the Democratic nominee...

@Garbonza 1% could flip a state to drumf

Howie Hawkins won the California Primary with 36% over 4 other CANDIDATES

Bernie didn't lose he was cheated again deal with it.... Biden couldn't have made it to "super Tuesday" without his dark money PAC which was funded by Fossil fuel money, Big Pharma, Heath insurance companies and HMOs, and Wall Street investors many of whom gave far more money to Trump's campaign. Until idiots like you stop playing their games and spewing the same bullshit they feed you this country will never rebuild....

@Lizard_of_Ahaz Bernie doesn't agree with you.

@clarkatticus Bullshit Bernie does agree with me privately because he knows the FACTS unlike you. He isn't saying it publicly because he doesn't want Trump re-elected....

@Lizard_of_Ahaz you know you just agreed with me, right?

@clarkatticus No I did not but you are not smart or literate enough to understand what I wrote apparently.... Idiots like you and the rest of the Clinton wing don't care about anything but power and would rather let Trump get elected than siding with the voters.

@Lizard_of_Ahaz I supported Bernie in 16 and 20. Bernie had plenty of money, sadly he didn't have enough support within the party. Its a process to convert enough Democrats to progressive ideals, he couldn't do it, Super Tuesday tanked him. I remember Pelosi in the 80s getting started just after the Harvey Milk murders. It was said she was way too progressive, now she's too conservative. Pelosi will nurture AOC and groom her for leadership roles. AOC is the future of the party.

@clarkatticus You weren't paying attention.... and just admitted the DNC committed fraud...

@Lizard_of_Ahaz everyone played within the rules, even Hillary in 2016. The rules were changed because of 2016. You might not like the system but that has nothing to do with the truth.

@clarkatticus Liar....

@Lizard_of_Ahaz show me where something was done illegally by Clinton or Biden. BTW, I was a Delegate to the California Democrat State Convention for years.

That, unfortunately, is a very reasonable concern. For Bernie, Defeating the DNC and the corporatists in the democratic party will be much more challenging than beating Trump.

The good news is that he has a ton of money and a wave of momentum.

Bernie won over 50 % of delegates on election days but BILLARY illegally switched many of them to alternates or used union proxy votes in Nevada to over come huge Sanders victories....the legally elected delegates were waiting out side Philadelphia to replace the illegal BILLARYbots when Bernie betrayed us all reading all those lies on live TV for BILLARY....our plan was to mute the SuperDelegates rule right after we forced criminal Debbie Wasserman schultz out of her job....its ok to let a mayor or Governor have a floor seat in each state but not let them vote for POTUS

I think the biggest problem with this idea is the centrist will not vote because Bernie's not a " dem." In reality they're still mad that their candidate lost.

@Boudica That's probably true for some. But most hate Trump so much that they will vote blue no matter who. We did it for Hillary last time,most of us.

And Bernie has an ace up his sleeve. His consistent advocacy for policies that help the working class and his conflict with the elites and establishment are very popular with demoralized potential voters who are so disenchanted with the system that they usually don't bother voting. These people will come out for Bernie because they can see that he is genuine and that he, unlike Obama, actually will change things for the better.

What about Bernie doesn't make sense when it is dissected? Also, we don't leave the Israel-Palestine entity alone. We spend billions of dollars supporting the oppression of Palestinians.
It's actually your points that don't make sense when they are dissected...

@Krish55 Thank you for pointing that out.

You are so wise and you see the big picture as well. Anyone with a lick of sense can see that a third party vote under the circumstances might make someone feel like they are making a statement but they are just enabling an opposition candidate to have a better chance at winning. In an ideal world, if Bernie were elected and if things miraculously leaned in favor of his proposed policies, it would be wonderful, but the real world of corporate politics would prevent a favorable outcome if those policies were somehow enacted. They would have to be trimmed down just as The Affordable Healthcare act was. Aim for the stars but settle for a move in the right direction. I personally don't see Bernie getting the nomination and prefer Warren over Biden or anyone else at this point. She has the best electability profile at the moment.

@bebopbuddha Since I'm a registered independent voter I will vote for any candidate the dems run, but I Like Warren. She has focus and has been around long enough to understand which battles she might win. She has also read the constitution and at least one or two books. I'm even willing to bet she took her own exams in college. Have you seen the meme of trump and Warren, like on a debate stage, wherein trump smirks "how about a DNA test" and Warren responds "How about an IQ test?" Bernie is loud, as is trump.

Really? How so?

@Krish55 honestly dnc is why we have trump right now, blaming Bernie is nonsense

Corporate Democrats: “we can’t nominate Bernie because he will lose.” HRC loses to Donald freaking Trump. Corporate Democrats: “HRC lost because of Bernie”. Me: “Ok. Now I’m certain you all are full of shit.”

@Krish55 WWW.HOWIEHAWKINS.US PEACE THROUGH GREEN JOBS vote for healers not killers

Set a goal. Voters in 33 states have zero democracy. They elect their own predators.

Voters in 17 states have some democracy because they have the direct initiative, referendum and recall. They are Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, Washington city and District of Columbia.
Source: Ballotpedia.