Hmmmm....based on your theory, about Bernie....
He was either a willing, John McCain-like, run for show accomplice, or...
He wasn’t as willing, and was threatened/compromised, and got his ‘final’ convincing session just prior to the convention. Remember his sickly pallor and he had a knick, just below his eye?
Not long after that, he received that nice lake house ‘insurance’.
Bernie was the stalking horse. He was underfunded. And he was supposed to whip up support, hold rallies everywhere and attack Trump as much as Hillary. But he did too good of a job. And he took out Hillary because he was for the middle class and Hillary was clearly the money candidate.
Bernie would have gotten out of the race much earlier accept for three things. He started winning. His money did not dry up. At times he was out grossing Hillary. And many in the government were very worried that Hillary would be indicted. Clearly there was enough evidence there.
This too would have been ok if supporters of Bernie had just voted for Hillary in the general. However what seems to be the point of Donna’s book was known by Bernie supports 18 months ago. Hillary was stealing the nomination. And that enraged Bernie supporters who simply were not going to vote for her. And some of them even voted for Trump.