Thank you, Emily. This is encouraging. I voted for Hillary in both the primary and the general and can’t see myself voting for Bernie, unless, of course, he does become the Democratic candidate.

My heart sunk to my stomach when I saw that Bernie was running, not because I don’t agree with his platform — I do, mostly — but because I’m so thoroughly exhausted by the in-your-face insistence that Bernie HAS to be the one. It’s probably not fair to Bernie that so many of us have become conditioned to fight against his more vociferous followers, but the divide widens and he may become an unwitting victim because of it.

Unless he becomes a kinder, gentler candidate, willing to work with Democrats instead of against them, I don’t see much chance for him, but if by some slim chance he weathers it all and becomes the candidate I’ll work hard to get him elected.

The goal is to get Trump out of there. If we can’t join together after the primaries, no matter how contentious, Trump will win. Both sides have to understand that. If we care at all about the direction this country is headed, we will have to join together, arms entwined, old grievances behind us, moving forward toward our goal — to eradicate the Trump regime.