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Bernie Sanders - Independent for President?

 
 
Reply Thu 6 Mar, 2014 04:35 pm
http://billmoyers.com/guest/bernie-sanders/
Bernie Sanders
U.S. Senator
Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders is the longest serving Independent in the history of the United States Congress. He was elected to the Senate in 2006 after representing Vermont for 16 years in the House of Representatives. Prior to joining Congress, Sanders served four terms as Mayor of Burlington, Vermont, during which time the city was recognized as one of the most livable in America. Earlier in his career, he was director of the American People’s Historical Society.

As a senator and congressman, Sanders has focused on energy and environmental policy, universal health care, fair trade policies, and America’s shrinking middle class and growing income inequality. A self-described “democratic socialist,” he favors left-leaning government policies that advocate social welfare and reflect the needs of the working class. Sanders serves on five Senate committees: Budget; Veterans; Energy; Environment; and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

In December 2010, Sanders famously gave an eight-and-a-half hour speech on the Senate floor opposing the deal President Obama struck with the Republicans which extended the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy, lowered their estate taxes, and jeopardized Social Security funding through the establishment of a “payroll tax holiday.” The speech received widespread media attention, and was later published as a book entitled The Speech.
 
edgarblythe
 
  1  
Reply Thu 6 Mar, 2014 05:10 pm
Bill Moyers
Sen. Bernie Sanders told The Nation's John Nichols that he believes America is ready for a "political revolution" and that he is "prepared to run for president in 2016."

While acknowledging that it's not a formal announcement, Nichols reports that the Vermont senator has been meeting with "savvy progressive political strategists" and "traveling to unexpected locations."
JTT
 
  1  
Reply Thu 6 Mar, 2014 05:44 pm
@edgarblythe,
He sounds cool, Ed, just the kind of guy coldjoint, Baldimo, okie, etc could vote for. Oh, Finn too.
0 Replies
 
Finn dAbuzz
 
  1  
Reply Sat 15 Mar, 2014 12:09 am
@edgarblythe,
Independent?

That's a joke.

He caucuses with the Dems and thereby benefits from majority committee assignments.

He has voted with Democrats well over 95% of the time.

I guess you are not one of those who argue that the Republicans are ideologically opposed to compromise with Obama since you, apparently, find it admirable that Sanders opposed one such compromise.

I look forward to your opposing charges of a "Do Nothing" House.

And since he is so obviously aligned with congressional Democrats and so unafraid to pronounce himself a socialist, you will not be among those in this forum who sneer at any suggestion that the Democrat Party is a party of of socialism.

edgarblythe
 
  1  
Reply Sun 20 Mar, 2016 09:07 am
Bump
0 Replies
 
ehBeth
 
  1  
Reply Wed 18 May, 2016 09:09 am
@Finn dAbuzz,
Finn dAbuzz wrote:
He caucuses with the Dems and thereby benefits from majority committee assignments.

He has voted with Democrats well over 95% of the time.


interesting points
Finn dAbuzz
 
  3  
Reply Sun 22 May, 2016 01:41 pm
@ehBeth,
ehBeth wrote:

Finn dAbuzz wrote:
He caucuses with the Dems and thereby benefits from majority committee assignments.

He has voted with Democrats well over 95% of the time.


interesting points


And, you'll notice, none of the Berners have posted a retort.
Lash
 
  -2  
Reply Sun 22 May, 2016 03:26 pm
@Finn dAbuzz,
It seems like a non-point to me.
What does it matter?

How many Independent senators are there? 2 or 3? Who are they going to caucus with? -- the group that most closely holds their views. I think all of the Indies caucus with Democrats.

If he'd run as Indy, we all know he would've handed the presidency to Trump. This way, the Dems had the opportunity to choose Republican Light or a liberal.

Had it been a fair fight, I think unity after the primary would've been a plausible expectation. Because the establishment lined up behind Clinton before Bernie ever announced and waged war against Bernie's candidacy, I think enough Is and actual liberal Ds will sit it out to affect the outcome.
Finn dAbuzz
 
  2  
Reply Sun 22 May, 2016 03:32 pm
@Lash,
Pardon me for saying so, but I'm not surprised you see it as a "non-point"

Sanders has attracted many supporters on the basis that he is an "independent" Voting with one side 95% of the time doesn't make anyone "independent"

IMO he's a longtime fraud who only now may have owned up to this fact and is trying to make amends for a career of spouting Socialist nonsense and voting with the Democrats.
Lash
 
  -1  
Reply Sun 22 May, 2016 03:48 pm
@Finn dAbuzz,
What, in your opinion, makes him a fraud? I've been a registered Indy since the mid-80s, and for most of my voting life, chose R candidates when I voted. Does that make me a fraud?

There is an actual Indy party, but I - like many other Indys - choose the Indy designation because I am not a "party person," who votes for any sack of **** that bellies up to a microphone with an alphabet on their lapel.

I don't think that makes me - or Bernie - a fraud. I think you just don't like his politics.
Finn dAbuzz
 
  3  
Reply Sun 22 May, 2016 03:53 pm
@Lash,
You're right, I don't like his politics, but if he was actually the committed socialist he claims to be, he would be abstaining 95% of the time, not voting with Democrats at that rate.

Nothing indicates that he is, above all else, a political creature than his record on gun control. In Vermont, to be elected, you need to be against gun control. Personally, he's all for it but he's willing to pass on it to stay in power because for some unknown reason, Vermont and the nation needs him. Pure power lust bullshit.
Lash
 
  -1  
Reply Sun 22 May, 2016 04:03 pm
@Finn dAbuzz,
As long as I've heard him express views, he's said the same thing: a lot of politics is local, and one size doesn't fit all.

In his area of the country, most people hunt. He has said - and I agree - gun issues in Vermont are not equal to gun issues in, say, Detroit or some other urban area where hunting isn't part of the culture.

He voted against holding gun manufacturers liable for what people do with their guns, which I think is the only sane position.

I respect people saying they don't like his politics. As long as they know his politics.
Lash
 
  -1  
Reply Sun 22 May, 2016 04:08 pm
Bernie Sanders: Not as much of a socialist as Dwight D Eisenhower.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/democratic-debate-bernie-sanders-really-isnt-as-socialist-as-president-eisenhower/
0 Replies
 
Finn dAbuzz
 
  2  
Reply Sun 22 May, 2016 04:09 pm
@Lash,
Forgive me if your lack of respect doesn't cost me any sleep.
Lash
 
  -1  
Reply Sun 22 May, 2016 04:12 pm
@Finn dAbuzz,
I'm sorry you took it that way. I didn't intend to imply that I don't respect you.

Most people here just pick peripheral issues to avoid the topic. It was refreshing that someone was actually speaking honestly.
Finn dAbuzz
 
  2  
Reply Sun 22 May, 2016 04:13 pm
@Lash,
OK - thanks
0 Replies
 
 

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