SInce Bernie’s speech, or videoconference, or whatever that thing was last night was completed, several stories have come out explaining how Bernie’s continued refusal to articulate the basic reality of his situation is rapidly diminishing his influence and may relegate his entire yearlong campaign to complete historical triviality. Sanders supporters Sen. Merkeley, Rep. Grijalva, Vermont Rep. Welch, the CWA, and even MoveOn.org have moved on but not Bernie who is again becoming the party of one he was before becoming a Democrat at least in name.
From Rick Klein at ABC:
Sanders is in danger of losing the leverage he accumulated relatively fast. The party would not countenance Clinton doing what Sanders is now; that’s an undeniable fact, as anyone who remembers 2008 would know. The question now becomes how long Sanders can keep his revolution going without wearing out his welcome.
Bloomberg:
Even with his path to the Democratic presidential nomination rapidly disappearing, Bernie Sanders couldn't bring himself to publicly accept defeat. Along the way, he overplayed his hand and squandered the political capital he'll need to force policy and procedural reforms on the Democratic Party, according to allies and party strategists.
Politico:
Leverage: it’s the one thing Bernie Sanders’ advisors and aides consistently point to when asked why, exactly, he’s formally staying in the Democratic primary race that he’s lost to Hillary Clinton. But it's the one thing he’s been bleeding every day ever since he dropped California’s primary by a much wider-than-expected margin last week. Sanders’ summer was supposed to be all about building leverage for the Democratic convention, providing him with a better hand to play as he presses Clinton to accept his policy positions and party reform suggestions. Now, the people closest to him aren’t sure how exactly to get it back.
Another Politico article:
The address was viewed as an opportunity for Sanders to assure his supporters that he’s still fighting for the principles that energized his supporters, even as he winds down from actively campaigning. But some Clinton loyalists told POLITICO they resented his address because they believe the only reason for Sanders to carry on at this point is his unspoken hope that Clinton is somehow disqualified between now and the July 25 convention.
Last I checked, none of these publications are DKos members venting their spleen against Bernie as some would have it. They are just reporting the obvious. The obvious, that is, except to Bernie Sanders and some of his deadend supporters. Rick KleinBloomberg PoliticoPolitico # 2