Did someone say superdelegates?
Why it seems like only yesterday (OK it was only yesterday) self-proclaimed “progressives” had taken to the old Daily Kos to thunder down upon us their declamations that Bernie Sanders was now toxic to superdelegates.
What was the root of superdelegates’ alleged discontent with the Sanders campaign?
Dozens upon dozens of diaries were on hand to tell us! Even from the site owner himself! Yes, they breathlessly denounced a maddened Sanders-supporter Nevada state convention “riot” which mysteriously resulted in not a single injury, incident of property damage, criminal act or arrest.
It was the riot that wasn’t.
Turns out that the dean of Nevada political reporters, Jon Ralston, left the convention before the controversial incidents occurred — but attempted to fudge the fact he wasn’t actually there by tweeting out rather flowery and exaggerated stories (later frantically walked back and fobbed off on a local reporter, who likewise frantically walked them back) of a frothing mob throwing multiple chairs at multiple targets.
Sadly for the Fauxtrage Brigade, no chairs were thrown. One chair was lifted briefly in anger, then placed politely back on the ground while the offending hothead hugged out his impulsive Chair-Waving Demonic Act of the Millennium with other delegates who told him to chill out.
That was pretty much it.
But see, Barbara Boxer was scared that boos might harm her. By making her feel bad.*
Yeah, anyway, so while the illustrious minds of Daily Kos were concerning themselves with blathering on endlessly about a non-existent riot and assuring all and sundry that superdelegates would now flee the Sanders campaign due to said non-existent riot, some election in Oregon took place.
And some candidate won by 12-13%, a dominant performance.
Turns out that was Sanders, according to sources not named Jon Ralston.
Previously undeclared Oregon superdelegates were quick to respond to the vital events of the last few days, demonstrating a clear understanding of the merits of the relevance and importance of the Nevada...uh...thingamajig:
Oh, wait. There’s another one:
Conrad Wilson reports for Oregon Public Broadcasting. He performed his own reporting on the new superdelegate commitments. This reporting will not be walked back. The commitments occurred.
Well done, Oregon superdelegates Larry Taylor and Lupita Maurer.
Sensible, thoughtful, wise, correct analysis of the events of the last few days.
And the perfect reaction to them.
[*UPDATE: Some readers complained about the single line on Senator Boxer. It was a reference to today’s 58739457th rec-listed diary attempt to breathe life into the Nevada convention as a means to, well, lambaste Sanders? Render him as equivalent to Trump? It’s not quite clear. As for Sen. Boxer, I read all her words in that diary and elsewhere on the incident, and she states clearly that people were upset and they booed her loudly, and she was glad she had a lot of security. I see no reference or statement by Sen Boxer to any threat to her beyond that.]
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 · 9:46:59 PM +00:00 · InteGritty
Commentator kaleidescope adds that a California superdelegate stated publicly recently that he too will back Sanders should Sanders win his district in the California primary:
[M]y Congressman, Jared Huffman (CA-2), is supporting Hillary Clinton but says that if Sanders wins the District — the Coast from Marin County to the Oregon border — he’ll vote for Sanders at the convention. Sanders will probably win this district.
Wednesday, May 18, 2016 · 10:45:07 PM +00:00 · InteGritty
Thanks to commentator Cronewit, we now have EXCLUSIVE and chilling footage of the ONE VERY EVIL CHAIR-LIFTING EVENT from the Nevada state convention — from the two people who recorded it.
If you can bear the bigoted and despicable, violent rambling commentary of these two terrifying and fiendish villains, do have a look:
[UPDATE: I received a very nice “Thank You” note for the diary via kosmail from Lupita Maurer, one of the 2 Oregon superdelegates whose new commitments to Sanders the diary described:
As far as I can tell, this is really from Ms. Maurer.
I removed her DailyKos ID from the kosmail to protect the superdelegate from the type of vicious, invasive, abusive vulgar insults and attacks I experienced from pro-Hillary commenters below. And all I did was publish a diary. Ms. Maurer performed a public act of political courage in trying times.
All kudos to her as well as to Mr. Taylor.