Why it is absolutely necessary that Bernie Sanders run for President?

[kentuck]

The Democratic Party is standing precariously on the edge of a cliff. If someone does not pull it back, we could be in for a very long fall.

I see no one in the Democratic Party that is capable of doing it at this time?

The most important point is not whether he can win? The most important point is that he get the Democratic Party back on the right track. We need someone to debate the issues in a frank and honest way.

For a while, I thought Elizabeth Warren might be that person? But with her appointment to the Democratic power club, I fear she has been co-opted. I think she was appointed to her position for primarily symbolic purposes, in that the Party leaders wanted to reassure the progressives that they still support their ideas. But better inside the tent than out...

It is necessary that Bernie run because we cannot continue the same path we are on for another election cycle. "But, if Bernie runs, the Party loses to the Republicans in 2016", some will say. And that may very well be true. But if someone else runs, we may very well lose also.

I would suggest that it is more important for the Party to get back on track than it is to win the next election. "But what about the Supreme Court", some ask? I would argue that the Supreme Court is not going to change unless the Democratic Party changes. Run, Bernie, run!

[JaneyVee]

1. Thank You.

[FSogol]

2. I agree. Sanders running will push the party to the left. n/t

[Autumn]

3. We are running out of time. The middle class is sinking and the poor are sunk.

Everything you say is the truth. Run, Bernie, run! If we lose we lose, it's time to go big or go home.

[sadoldgirl]

4. + 1000. n/t

[kentuck]

5. And if he can win the primary battles...?

Why shouldn't we support him?

[noiretextatique]

6. because he's not a democrat

someone actually posted that yesterday.

[kentuck]

8. He's a Democratic Socialist that caucuses with the Democratic Party...

So I guess that makes him a ______?

[daleanime]

22. hero?

[Alittleliberal]

30. +1

[krawhitham]

7. When did Bernie Sanders become a Democrat?

[L0oniX]

27. When did a lot of Dems become third way?

[krawhitham]

37. Bernie Sanders does not call himself a Democrat

When was the last time Bernie Sanders ran as a Democrat?

The answer is never

How can a sitting Independent US Senator run to be the Democratic candidate for president?

If he wants to be a Democrat then be a Democrat and run as one for Senate too

[L0oniX]

41. Brilliant.

[rhett o rick]

44. Are you seriously asking that question? He hasn't become a Democrat. Why don't you

tell us what your point is instead of asking questions like that? Are you afraid?

[grahamhgreen]

51. When he started CAUCUSING with us:)

[liberal N proud]

9. Will he run as a Democrat?

If not say hello to your next republican President in 2016.

[kentuck]

10. It doesn't matter....

He will force the Democrat to debate the real issues.

[NorthCarolina]

12. I agree, "it doesn't matter". Party identity concerns should not eclipse the general welfare

of the nation.

[liberal N proud]

17. An independent candidate will pull votes from the Democratic candidate

If Nader had not been on the ballot in 2000, Gore may have had enough votes elsewhere to prevent the Florida steal.

Those who do not learn from history are damned to repeat it.

[L0oniX]

25. If he pulls votes from a Democrat then that Dem isn't much of a Democrat.

[liberal N proud]

32. Be warned - vote third party is voting for a republican

If you are willing to throw it all away because you don't like a candidate, then proceed at your (our) peril.

[JDPriestly]

34. That depends on where you are.

In California, voting for a third party in a federal election does not make much difference. In Florida, it does.

[jeepers]

18. To be or not to be that is the question. Whether tis nobler in the mind to suffer

the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or take arms against a sea of troubles and by opposing end them.


There are a great number of folks here on DU who are Hillary chauvinists. They will vote for her because she is a dem. Not for ' her stated goals or issues but simply because she has the democratic machine behind her and she polls well.

Then there are an even greater number of folks here who'll vote democrat, not because they like the lack of principle the democratic party has shown of late but to keep the feared republicans out of office.

Neither of the two groups want to break any eggs to make the omelet. That is not political courage. It is political expedience. To speak the truth to power to hold to those principals and to be ready to take the fall if you can't sell it is courage.

What we have seen the democratic party do over the last thirty years is claim to be for the people during the election and after the election go back to business as usual. If the DU group, ' the democratic wing' does that they will lose. Their efforts will be for not. we will all lose.

Why should Bernie put himself out there to primary Hillary or to run as a third party candidate if we respect his principled position but won't stand with him and those principles come victory or defeat?


Saul Alinsky used to talk about the haves, the have nots and the have a little want mores. The have a little want mores are the greatest impediment to change. They vote against change because they've got some and they don't want to risk losing it. They were dealt two aces and unless they were guaranteed a third they weren't going to bet.

[L0oniX]

26. Isn't a spine required for that?

There's only a few Dems with a spine.

[L0oniX]

33. Will a Democrat run as a Democrat?

[Autumn]

43. They might run as a Democrat, but that doesn't mean they

will act like one.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. The "not as bad" wing of the party led us into the wilderness and blames us for being lost.

[DonCoquixote]

13. why

because ther eis no one else that will dare pull Hillary away from those on the right that are already waving the dollar signs at her nose.

[YOHABLO]

14. Because Hillary and her ilk have given the progressive base of the dems the finger !

[KamaAina]

15. Because Elizabeth Warren isn't.

[CK_John]

16. IMO, Bernie would lose any home base he has by switching parties to run. Worse if he runs as an

IND, without any permission from Bernie the Koch brother will put his 50 state front organizations working to get him on the ballot in all 50 states and pour money and staff into his campaign to mimic the Nader effect.

[jeepers]

21. On the other hand CK

As neither a dem n or as a repub Bernie could pull together the left right coalition that Nader has been talking about. There are a whole bunch of republicans out there who are just as dissatisfied with the political scene as we dems. They are just as broken and knocked down as we and they are looking for the same message as us. We are all of us beaten and tired and we are all looking for an alternative.

[cali]

47. do you mean home base in Vermont? He most certainly would not lose that.

and do you have even a scrap of evidence that he would lose support nationally should he become a democrat?

[CK_John]

49. Bernie should lobby to get appointed Governor.

[bigwillq]

19. It's not absolutely necessary

but it would be nice if he did.

[semanticwikiian]

20. will 3rd way ever support a Bernie?

with money lots of money & energy lots of endorsements all-around???

i fear not/j

[nikto]

23. Yes----Exactly

[nikto]

24. Being Conservative is like being DEAD-----So, being "Centrist" is like being 1/2-DEAD.

When is being "1/2-DEAD" a desirable thing?




I choose life.


Progressivism = LIFE

[Kilgore]

28. Hillary The Borg (HTB)

Vote human, vote Bernie!!

[bravenak]

29. Thank You Kentuck.

I would also prefer a vigorous primary with progressive ideals.

[kentuck]

31. Exactly.

If Bernie loses the primaries, he doesn't have to run as third party. His goal would be to change the direction of the Democratic Party through his primary efforts. If he were the favorite amongst the primary voters, there should be no reason not to support him.

[Crewleader]

35. Well said kentuck

[kentuck]

39. Thanks Crew!

Good to see you again!

[gwheezie]

36. I doubt an independent will get the dem nomination

He would have to run as a dem

[UTUSN]

38. Sorry but WINNING is everything. We don't need to add to the roster of NOBLE LOSERS

In this system, only the winner gets to make an impact. Even the most mediocre (short of criminality) office holder can have an impact through nominating hundreds/thousands of policy makers not to mention the SCotUS.

[joshcryer]

40. It is absolutely necessary the primaries have credible candidates.

It is part and parcel to the party system. To have candidates that discuss issues.

[Bernie2016]

42. Bernie 2016! n/t

[Nye Bevan]

45. His share of the primary vote will be an illuminating indication of how well his policies resonate

with the Democratic Party membership.

[woo me with science]

46. kick

[woo me with science]

48. Kick. End the corruption.

[librechik]

50. He has to run to force Hillary to the left

I know, lol, but at least we could try.

[grahamhgreen]

52. He can win. We will get clobbered without a strong progressive message. If talk of another Bush vs

Clinton run doesn't spell oligarchy out for people, I don't know what will.

[Rhiannon12866]

53. Like Dennis Kucinich, he brings important issues to the table

Issues that we, as Democrats and Liberals, support. I look forward to the debates.

[EuroStyleSocialist]

54. I agree; a Bernie Sanders campaign will bring attention to all the issues I care about.

For Sen. Sanders to win the presidency is ... well, let's just say "a long shot." On the surface he's everything that vast swaths of the country hate: an avowed socialist, a liberal, a Northeast intellectual Jew, a pacifist, job-killing regulator. But I think his intellect and his personality are extremely compelling. He's really smart and quick (and unafraid). He should be out there speaking. And if he runs for president, at least some people will hear him.