Having seen the Bernie/Bust Protestors from last night: We don't want or need them.

[ericson00]

It's one thing to be in peaceful and orderly protest of a nominee. However, when I read about things like this:

Even as Sanders called to "move that Hillary Clinton be selected as the nominee of the Democratic party," his devotees staged a disruptive walk-out from the convention floor, marching through the Wells Fargo Center arena and plunking down at a media tent outside.

and

Some activists burned American flags during their demonstration...

According to The Associated Press, "Some Sanders backers started scaling 8-foot walls that blocked off the secure zone around the arena parking lot. Police and the Secret Service immediately arrested four protesters, who will be charged with entering a restricted area. They're scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

"Protests continued into the night as Sanders supporters and an anti-police brutality group joined together. Later, another protester set an Israeli flag on fire as people chanted, "long live the intifada." Others then came together for a candlelight vigil."

Burning flags, of the US and its allies, is legal. But so is saying the n-word, being a Holocaust denier, so is making fun of disabled jounalists, etc. I value free speech. But that doesn't mean a political party should EVER either court crazies in the future or present. Burning the flag of the country's political system they ultimately did play a part in if they voted Bernie?? The country that protects them and gave them what they have? Also, its hard to not ascribe anti-Semitism to this segment of the left, when by burning Israel's flag, even tho Israel did not decide the primary, they make a show of it.

These are no-hopers. If they're so Never Hillary they burn flags of their own country and essentially scapegoat another country by burning their flag too, let them rot. Hell, if they wanna vote for Trump, they can join the crazies who are his base too. But the Democratic Party is forever a mainstream political party. They can burn the American and Israeli flags; we have Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama, Joe Biden, Jim Clyburn, John Lewis, Bernie Sanders himself, ...

[rjsquirrel]

1. Hear, hear!

[BeyondGeography]

2. Politically speaking, some people are impossible

Pass. Easy call.

[auntpurl]

3. This is the most pertinent part of that story:

"There are around 1900 Bernie delegates; looks like 150 or so walked out, obscured by media."

They're a tiny minority, getting a platform much bigger than they merit by a media who wants a horserace. This is not going to be a big deal in the end.

[LoverOfLiberty]

7. I hope they stay out

their job is done.

[auntpurl]

9. Yep, and I'm enjoying the convention without the boos!

The house was PACKED for Bill's speech last night. If they were hoping for a half-empty hall, they failed.

[ericson00]

18. I gotta say; I was DYING to see if Bernie delegates booed Bill when

he mentioned the education thing that she emulated from Israel and brought to Arkansas. Hell, some of them took offense to Bill when he tried to stand up for Muslim Americans (see the tweet from the Bernie/Bust delegate who raised a large Palestinian flag at the first night)

[sufrommich]

4. Yep. They are their own worst enemies. nt

[NurseJackie]

10. They'll decay from within. Good. That means we can concentrate on more important matters ...

... like winning an election.

[LoverOfLiberty]

5. I doubt most of those rabble rousers are Sanders supporters

In fact, I wouldn't be too awful surprised if many of them vote for Trump.

[tonyt53]

6. They really aren't Sander's supporters either. They are anti-establishment and nothing more.

They took an opportunity to side with Sanders solely to try to get their voice heard. Democracy has no meaning to them. They think no other voice or message is more important than theirs.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

8. I think it's hilarious they found an air conditioned tent

"It soooooooo hard man, I can't find any non GMO spring water either......."

[katsy]

11. We never had them in the first place.

It happens every election. There are people who will never be satisfied because they want what they want what they want...

There were protesters last election. They have every right to protest. We have every right, indeed a duty, to i g n o r e them. They pitch fits but i suspect would never be satisfied and probably never supported Democratic nominees anyway.

[Warren Stupidity]

12. You lost me at flag burning is like using the n-word.

[ericson00]

13. both are characteristic of things we don't need in members of a political party

and also, the scapegoating of the Jewish State for Hillary's nomination IS racism (anti-Semitism). There is no other reason that these protestors burned an Israeli flag, when Israel had nothing to do with the outcome of the primary. Unless of course some Sanders voters believe in AIPAC conspiracy theories.

[Warren Stupidity]

25. One is hate speech directed at a class of people

as an expression of racist bigotry. The other is a form of political protest against the policies of our government.

Lumping them together is s bullshit rhetorical tactic.

[geek tragedy]

14. the bad actors are a tiny kook fringe who never vote for Democrats.

a number of them turned out for Sanders because he's an independent and not a Democrat

[ericson00]

15. the 150 delegates (~8% of Bernie's total) who walked out and joined these guys

should've been screened more carefully for sure.

[geek tragedy]

16. can't really screen too much--it's a state party process

Republicans had the same issue with the Ron Paul crowd in 2012.

[ericson00]

17. they could if they wanted

and also, gotta say, perhaps given the age of these crazies who got to be delegates, there is a problem with some of the stuff on college campuses about worldview, etc.

[KittyWampus]

19. They are such a small minority. And of that few, their allegiance to the Left is suspect.

I think the vast majority have already accepted Hillary as candidate and are moving forward.

[Blue Idaho]

20. FWIW - burning the US flag is not illegal.

1. It is a form of protected "free speech"

And

2. It is the only way to "retire" an old warn out US flag. Although this is not done as any form of public spectacle.

To the larger point - many of these folks never were and never will become Democrats. Some made that clear in press interviews. Saying you will stick around for the roll call vote and then vote for the Green or some other independent party in November - should be enough to have your credentials yanked along with your hotel keys if the state party is footing your bill.

[ericson00]

21. I know its protected speech but that doesnt make it

Morally ok.

[Blue Idaho]

23. I know, it grinds my gears too...

But I believe in free speech. I also think that burning the flag as a political protest is a terrible way to swing public opinion your way - so that act really cuts both ways.

[Sunlei]

24. replacement delegates stepped right into the positions and the roll call was concluded by Sanders.

As Senator Sanders always promised, he took us through our entire convention process.

Hillary Clinton was nominated and will be the next President of the United States.

[Koinos]

26. Bernie did what he promised to do last year.

He supported the Democratic nominee, and he did it in the most gracious way possible. Kudos to him!

His most diehard supporters ended up like bees who had just lost their queen. They wandered around with no place to go. There was nothing to protest anymore, but they didn't get it.

What Bernie started will go on, but in a political way, within the Congress and the White House. That's how you get things done in a democracy, and Bernie understands that. He knows you need a stable government as a base and venue in order to initiate reform and progress.

[onecaliberal]

27. Bernie is #WithHer so you really need to take him out of the conversation .

These people are dangerous dead Enders who don't understand we are up against a candidate advocating China and Russia hack our government secrets. They are not reasonable and Bernie does not does not condone their actions.

[ericson00]

28. UPDATE: Hillary condemns these losers

here it is:

Hillary Clinton condemns the burning of an Israeli flag outside of her nominating convention this week, a campaign aide told The Jerusalem Post on Wednesday.

"Hillary Clinton has always stood against efforts to marginalize Israel and incitement, and she strongly condemns this kind of hatred," said Sarah Bard, Clinton's Jewish outreach director.

"Burning the Israeli flag is a reckless act that undermines peace and our values."

[grossproffit]

31. That's why I'm with her. Fuck these fuckers. Why not burn an ISIS flag?

[democrattotheend]

29. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them are GOP plants

Nixon used to send people to burn American flags at anti-war rallies to discredit the anti-war movement. I wouldn't be surprised if that's what is happening here.

[ericson00]

30. anyone want the twitter handle of one of these trolls?

https://twitter.com/AliAkinK/with_replies