Bernie...if you DO run for pres in '16, run as a Dem.

[Ken Burch]

You've got nothing to lose, and a huge potential base of support. Your ideas will get a fair hearing. You might even get nominated(if not, you'll at least push the debate in the direction it needs to go).

If you run as an independent, the corporate toadies in our will destroy you, and they'll punish progressives in THIS party.

If you run, if you must go there, do it the right way.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. I hope he's listening!

[L0oniX]

2. Progressives are already being made to feel unwelcomed in the Dem party...

...and that says a lot about the party.

[liberal_at_heart]

7. Yeah, I don't know why he would run as a democrat. As an independent he can hold

whatever position he pleases on any issue. If he ran as a democrat he would be pressured to uphold the democratic platform. The democratic platform sucks. We don't need him to be treated like Kucinich was treated. He deserves better. So did Kucinich for that matter.

[rhett o rick]

14. If he runs as a Democrat he can participate in all the debates and say what ever the hell he

wants. A great platform for promoting progressive ideas. If he loses, then he can switch back and run as an uncommitted and still get some opportunity to speak out. If he were to win the Democratic nomination, I dare anyone to "pressure" him to toe the Democratic Platform or anything else.

[Romulox]

30. That's not true. They excluded Kucinich from the debates in 2008. nt

[rhett o rick]

33. I think they would have a much harder time excluding Sen Sanders. nm

[Scootaloo]

10. Yeah?

Try being a liberal, or, god forbid, a leftist.

[marlakay]

3. I love Bernie but this is my biggest fear too

He will cause another repeat of 2000...

[marlakay]

4. But I also want to say....

I understand why Bernie doesn't want to be a dem these days now that most are right leaning.

[Scootaloo]

11. Bernie's going to rig elections in Florida and Ohio?

Kind of a big charge, there

[rhett o rick]

15. .

[Earth_First]

20. +1 nt

[jtuck004]

13. He won't cause it. The people who vote for more bipartisan corporatism will. n/t

[rhett o rick]

16. If the Democrats dont want to repeat 2000 they have only themselves to look to.

Run a fucking decent candidate or suffer the consequences.

[Ken Burch]

36. True Dat.

The abuser-abused relationship between our leaders and our core voters is intolerable.

The base never did ANYTHING to justify such treatment.

[rhett o rick]

34. If you dont want a repeat of 2000, then for Dog's sake dont pick a corporatist for our candidate.

The responsibility is ours, not Sen Sanders.

[HooptieWagon]

5. Absolutely!

[Douglas Carpenter]

6. i want so much to support Bernie in 2016 - but that is the only way I can do it in good conscience

Not because I think the Democratic Party is deserving - but because the Republican Party is sooooooooo batshit CRAZY - there is no way a responsible person can risk throwing the election to them

[tavalon]

18. I wonder how many Democrats feel that way

Specifically here, since this is a more activist base. It would tear our website up, to be sure, but I would really like to know how many here would not vote for Sanders because he doesn't have a D after his name. I don't think I can be kicked off yet, but come primary time, if Bernie Sanders (I) is on there, I will be voting for him. If he has a (D) after his name, I will be voting for him.

[NYC_SKP]

8. YES, YES, a Berniezillion times YES!

[TheProgressive]

9. Maybe running as an Independent (which he is) is the best move...

We have to make the move towards government for all people and this could do it...!

[frylock]

12. why? so the DNC can freeze him out?

the dems already know who their candidate will be.

[rhett o rick]

17. It doesnt matter if he wins the Democratic nomination. He just needs the platform that he would get

as a Democratic primary candidate that he doesnt get as an Independent. So he loses, he still got his message out. And if he really wants to run, then he can continue as an Independent.

[frylock]

25. that actually makes a lot of sense..

as long as he doesn't get Kucinich'd in the debates.

[rhett o rick]

29. Good point. But I bet it would be hard to do that to someone as popular

as Senator Sanders.

[Laelth]

19. I am very fond of Senator Sanders.

That said, he'll be 75 in 2016. I think running for President is just too much to ask of him. Thus, my energy is focused elsewhere. If he does run, however, I would also hope he did so as a Democrat.

-Laelth

[cali]

21. wow. I didn't see your op. I just wrote the same thing. I'll self-delete

[cali]

22. Agreed, but my take is somewhat different from yours:

I like Bernie a lot. I don't think I could ask for a better Senator.

If he runs for President, he should officially join the Democratic Party. He'd be able to join the debates. He'd be free of the tainted label of 'spoiler'. It would indicate a level of commitment and seriousness that running as an Independent just wouldn't.

I'm pretty familiar with Bernie. I don't think there's any way that he'd play a Ralph Nader style spoiler. That's just not Bernie. But if he ran as an independent into the general that could happen. He'd have to drop out and throw his support to the dem to ensure that didn't happen and that wouldn't be entirely fair to his supporters.

[rhett o rick]

32. I said something similar above. He should run as a Democrat until the selection then run as an

Independent until the General, then drop out and throw his support to the Democrat. That will allow him lots of opportunity to push the progressive message. And if he shows strongly, the Democratic candidate may make some concessions to the left. Having said that in print, I realize how futile that really is. In 2008 we had a candidate that we thought recognized the left only to be "Rick Warren'ed" or should I say "Penny Pritzker'ed"?

[bvar22]

23. Yeah, Bernie.

If you run as a Democrat, " Your ideas will get a fair hearing",
just like Dennis Kucinich got a fair hearing,
because everybody knows that Corporate Money and Corporate Toadies don't have any influence inside the Democratic Party.

[polichick]

27. Yep - he'd be sidelined quickly...

Though, it did sound like he meant the Dem primary.

[LittleBlue]

24. Don't bother running as a Democrat

You'll get shut out by the powers that be. Bill will just work his influence behind the scenes to undermine Bernie, like he tried to do to Obama.

Bernie's a socialist, he should run as such.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

26. Bernie is a smart fellow. He'll do the right thing, no doubt.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

28. He'll probably get my vote.

I vote for the most progressive, anti-war, candidates on the ballot and Bernie would probably be that if he runs.

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost." --John Quincy Adams

[Romulox]

31. Bernie has much more leverage as an independent, and he knows it. nt

[pampango]

35. With tea party types dragging the repub debates to the right, it would be great to have Bernie

pushing the Democratic debate to the left. The tea party types are effective in the repub party because they participate in the process and pull the party in the direction they want all out of proportion to their numbers.

[fadedrose]

37. I'm fortunate enough to be 75-1/2

and won't be alive or aware enough to witness the debacle.

You might have to carry on without some of us antiques....and I feel so bad for all of you, or all of us, whichever.