Bernie was staggeringly passive; he let one opportunity after another
go whizzing past with weak responses, if any, in the face of a growing
Democratic resurgence determined to destroy him. His silences emboldened
the corporate centrists, and confused supporters, who thought he would
take the huge advantage they gave him and surge forth, brandishing fury
and determination. Instead, he endlessly equivocated.
I have to own my part in this: I was stunned in 2016 when he said
Hillary was right and that nobody cares about her damn emails. From the
beginning I saw him back down. Everything since then has been
consistent: he never went full tilt. He wanted to be loved more than
being right at all costs. He was able to be loved again, and forgiven
again, and able to let us down again. Yet I went along with it; I still
worked on his behalf.
Despite his recent abdication (and, for some of us, his serial
betrayal) Bernie Sanders will be remembered fondly, and he will likely
be forgiven by the majority of his followers. Jacobin Magazine has
written an article entitled “Thank You, Bernie,” making the case that
Sanders two campaigns have made it possible to talk about socialism in
America. It’s now okay apparently that he will be endorsing and
campaigning for Joe Biden, who shamed Anita Hill and is now shaming Tara
Reade. I have lived to witness the day this has happened. It is not a
joke.
-- Laurie Dobson, "Another Sanders Betrayal" (COUNTERPUNCH).