Bernie Sanders: Hillary, GOP Won't Take on Corporate Power

[Octafish]

"I think there is a lot of discontent out there on the part of ordinary people who feel the system is grossly stacked against them."

by Common Dreams staff
April 19, 2015

Vermont US Sen. Bernie Sanders said Sunday he’ll make a decision on running for president “pretty soon.”

“Making sure you have the money to run a credible campaign is very important,” he said to interviewer Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday. “We’re working on it. And we will make the best decision we can in the near future.”

Sanders said he did not believe any 2016 presidential candidate from either party would battle corporate power for ordinary Americans.

“I do have doubts that Hillary Clinton or any Republican out there will take on big-money special interests,” Sanders said.

“In America, if we are going to be successful in taking on the billionaire class, we need a strong grassroots movement,” he said.

“It’s not just Hillary Clinton. It’s not a question of running against Hillary Clinton or challenging Hillary Clinton.”

CONTINUED w/full transcript...

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2015/04/19/bernie-sanders-hillary-gop-wont-take-corporate-power

That does put a finger on the situation: the Nation, the People, and those in the Democratic Party need a candidate who will bring political and economic justice, not protect the interests of the property owners. Hope Sen. Sanders joins us in what I remember we used to call The Good Fight.

[Arcadiasix]

1. She's bought and paid for just like the republicans

No Third way

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

26. Yup yup, there's only one way and we need Bernie, Elizabeth, or some other REAL progressive to lead us there.

[Octafish]

36. She has crossed paths with some colorful characters, that's for sure.

Jackson Stephens, for one. The guy helped finance Walmart and set-up BCCI.

DUers used to write about it a lot. For example, back before the crash of 2008:

Jackson Stephens (Clinton's connection w BFEE who b(r)ought him from obscurity:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=5707283&mesg_id=5718855

[Arcadiasix]

38. If she was a republican with here ties to Wall Street and Corporate ties

We at this site would curse her up on side and down the other. Why should we tolerate it form a democrat?

[hifiguy]

52. She is owned lock, stock and barrel

by the bank$ters, other big money and the MIC. Anyone who denies this FACT is fooling only him or herself.

[Arcadiasix]

55. Also trigger guard, butt plate, sling, sights... You get the picture.

[polichick]

2. The question remains: Are the people ready for the fight? Can't wait...

to find out what Bernie thinks about that.

[Octafish]

37. Grassroots.

With Bernie stating out loud what needs to be heard, perhaps a Democratic movement is possible.

Either way, it's a long way to Philly.

[libdem4life]

3. I love Bernie, but he said if he enters it's not to win because he doesn't have the money. I'm

going to guess the same is true for Warren and others. They don't have the fundraising structure to get what is clearly needed. I want to see Bernie in the debates because he is versed in all areas, I think. Warren will be in the Cabinet, or SOS. Clinton needs her to relate to the Progressive Flank. She's not any threat because EW has no inclination to be President. But she has much to offer.

[marym625]

4. Then we have to make sure he wins.

Grassroots can do a great deal. Especially when the truth is told about the corpocracy that Clinton works for

[JDPriestly]

18. It took lots of progressive defeats and a growing awareness among the

voters of the terrible corruption that accompanied the Gilded Age in 19th century America to finally swing Teddy Roosevelt to really take action and end a little of the corruption and act to end some of the poverty.

If we want a better society and more justice and a government that represents us all with all of our diversity, but that somehow works, then we have to be patient and work for what is right without becoming discouraged.

[libdem4life]

19. Yes, indeed. And this time we have the internet and social media and such to use so maybe

it will speed it up. I'm encouraged that the Progressive Voice has been recognized in the media ... and the party ... to some extent.

Do you or anyone reading this know what's the difference between a Liberal and a Progressive? Because I identified as Liberal decades ago and was kind of out of politics for a while, coming to DU heard the Progressive term. I like it, but wonder if there is some defining differences other than semantic.

[Enthusiast]

34. Wrong. Bernie specifically said, if he's in, he's in to win. Otherwise he will not run. He said so!

[libdem4life]

41. Well, maybe he's become a good politician, the clip in an interview, was he might get in but did

not have the funds to go full on. And that's true. He's further behind than Warren. I love Bernie and we need him in the Primary so to put forth Left of Hillary ideas and goals. He in no way, shape or form has the funds...he's not even a Democrat, even though he caucuses with them. But we need his input and I think he knows that.

I also read in another place that he said he would not play the "spoiler" or pull a Nader. He wants to get his message out and I agree that he should.

All of that aside, He does not have a base of institutional donors and as great of a person he is, there aren't enough $45 checks out there/sent in. That takes a lot of organization.

[Octafish]

40. Money is the problem.

It trumps peace and politics and justice.

DU's been abuzz about how important it is to have enough of it to compete -- a billion! Two billion! $2.5 billion!

Most of the money raised goes to buy commercial air time. Trust me, COMCAST, Disney, Time Warner, VIACOM, FOX or CIABCNNBCBSFakeNoiseNutworks don't need the money. They use it to buy lobbyists to keep elections crooked.

Geez. This is supposed to be a democracy. Everyone should have a right to be heard and to participate, without charge or ability to pay.

[libdem4life]

43. We have the Republicans and 1% Citizen's United to thank for this...it pretty much takes the

democracy out of it and is racing to the oligarchy stage...because you just stated the definition. I think that's why everyone on here is so upset and rightfully so...it's a behemoth that can't turn on a dime...takes billions now to turn it.

I try to stay positive.

[haikugal]

63. They don't believe in democracy, they are the oligarchs, we are an oligarchy.

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. Kick & Rec

[Octafish]

45. Toss Zuesse under the bus.

(On bankruptcy legislation)...This is how anti-abortion murderers and CEO crooks finally secured all their sought-for exemptions from "bankruptcy reform," which offered only Republican "tough love" for the middle class and poor - and an outright kick in the teeth to people bankrupted by medical bills, by job loss, or by divorce, the three biggest causes of bankruptcies, which studies showed accounted for almost all filings. (In fact, nearly half of all personal bankruptcies were due simply to medical expenses; and because of this new law, most of those cases would henceforth produce something akin to slavery capping the patient's misery.) Still, a large share of the total dollars involved in bankruptcy cases were assets held by the very few super-rich going bankrupt, and the Republican "bankruptcy reform" protected those bankrupts, so that MBNA and the other banks which had pushed so hard for this legislation received only limited real benefit from it. Perhaps the executives of those banks, who were protecting themselves from risks they were imposing upon others, were even more concerned to protect themselves in the event that they might need bankruptcy protection themselves, than they were to enhance the bottom lines of the companies they managed. This was a failure of their fiduciary obligations...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eric-zuesse/why-hillary-clinton-shoul_b_4293469.html

[DURHAM D]

15. I assume you are aware that she was already

a Democrat before she was old enough to register to vote.

jftr - I campaigned for Eisenhower for President. I traveled with my Grandfather. I was 7 years old. When I could register to vote (21 yrs of age) I registered Democrat and I am an ardent liberal so what's your point?

[DURHAM D]

64. When she became elligible to register to vote

she registered Democrat.

[libdem4life]

49. Same here...my Dad took me out to the little puddlejumper airport in small town, Nebraska

because we signed up to watch the skies...complete with binoculars...I kid you not...to spot Communists flying in. I felt so important. He was a John Bircher. I became a Democrat when I went to College and my first 21-year old vote was for McGovern after I graduated.

[cali]

21. who gives a shit? She was a KID. Warren was a republican who voted for Reagan.

She damn well is a life long democrat. From the time she was old enough to vote, she was a dem.

I oppose HRC strongly, but damn I hate stupid shit like that.

[whereisjustice]

22. he meant "I do have doubts that Hillary or any Republican..." exactly what he said

He didn't kiss her ass. That's what bothers you.

[Autumn]

25. There was no cheap shot. He was very clear and plain. Hillary Clinton or any Republican.

You may want to see it as a cheap shot but you are wrong.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

27. ikr, Bernie, tellinit like it is...SUCH a Hillary hater. No doubt her "advance team" will take him down. That'll teach him.

[Octafish]

50. Wow. Bernie's so dumb, he forgot Hillary is a Democrat.

Maybe that's why he's considering joining the Democratic Party in order to run as a Democrat.

I hope he does. I think he's great. He's about the only Senator I ever heard speak who wanted to prosecute the Banksters.

[woo me with science]

8. We need you, Bernie.

A statesman and representative in a sea of corporate corruption and sellouts.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

28. You can say that again. At least someone's not afraid to speak truth to power. Gotta love Bernie!

[Octafish]

53. He wants to bring back Glass-Steagall to protect taxpayers from the Wall Street casino.

That alone should make him a contender.

2012 Ed Schultz interview

EXCERPT...

ED SCHULTZ: How hard is it going to be for the Senate to do what the
American people want them to do when Wall Street is so terribly influential
and some say the banks own the Senate?

BERNIE SANDERS: Ed, let me tell you what many others might not tell you.
You know, some people think, well, gee, the Congress regulates Wall Street.
I think the truth is that Wall Street regulates the Congress.
They have untold, unlimited amounts of money, money which is used to
get the deregulation -- you recall during the `90s, in a bipartisan way, to
get the deregulation which drove us into the brink of financial collapse.
They have all kinds of lobbyists on Wall Street. They make all kinds of
campaign contributions, so it will be hard.

But on the other hand, as your polls show, the American people
understand how dangerous Wall Street can be. They want Congress to stand
up and if we do what the American people want, it will be the right thing.

SCHULTZ: All right. What do you want to do? You want to break up
the banks?

SANDERS: Here`s what I want to do. For a start, you need to re-
regulate. You need to re-regulate. You need to bring back Glass-Steagall.
You need to say that if we`re providing federal insurance for large
banks, you know why? You can`t go gambling. You`ve got invest in the
economy.

SCHULTZ: Commercial and investment banks have to be designated.

SANDERS: If investment banks want to invest, get involved in Las
Vegas-type activity, let them do it, but not with federal insurance.

SCHULTZ: And how big a chance is that becoming a reality?

SANDERS: Well, I think our friend Jamie Dimon may have made it
easier.

SCHULTZ: OK.

SANDERS: So here`s the point, Ed.

SCHULTZ: Yes?

SANDERS: So invest, whatever you want to do, but don`t come crawling
from the federal government for insurance. That`s the key issue here.

SCHULTZ: Well, you have the big getting bigger after what happened
on Wall Street.

SANDERS: All right. Here`s what you got -- and I want the American
people to hear this. Today, you have three out of the four largest banks
bigger than we were before we bailed them out.

SCHULTZ: Three of the four?

SANDERS: Yes.

SCHULTZ: Bigger than we were?

SANDERS: Yes. Significantly, also, you have the six largest
financial institutions have assets of over $9 trillion, which is the
equivalent of two-thirds of the assets -- equivalent to two-thirds of the
assets of GDP of the United States of America.
So stop for a minute. When you have institutions that large,
JPMorgan Chase, over $2 trillion, while some will say, we`re never going to
bail them out again, right? We`re going to let them fail -- I don`t think
that`s the case. That`s the danger, when they`re that big, if they go
under, with they will be bailed out again.
Number two, if Teddy Roosevelt was alive right now and saw that the
top six banks provided half the mortgages in America and two-thirds of the
credit cards, what do you think a good Republican like Teddy Roosevelt
would have said?

SCHULTZ: We would have gone after it, no doubt.

SANDERS: He would have said, break them up. They`re dangerous to
the economy. They`re dangerous to us (ph).

CONTINUED...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/05/18/1092100/-Bernie-Sanders-Congress-doesn-t-regulate-banks-banks-regulate-congress-Must-see

[LWolf]

10. I donated today. nt

[Octafish]

57. I was about to write that I would if I could afford it.

Then I realized that I cannot afford not to. Thanks, LWolf!

I'm just outside Detroit. My property values have gone through the basement since 2008.

I keep waiting. I keep hoping. I keep running out of time.

[LWolf]

66. "Through the basement."

Yes. I could tell a really long story about that, but so many of us have them.

[HereSince1628]

12. I don't see big money as a -special- interest. It's a -private- interest

and the goal of big money in politics isn't special, but pretty brassy: to make intere$t from their 'interests' in supporting the political system.

[Octafish]

61. Fixed Fortunes: Biggest corporate political interests spend billions, get trillions

Fixed Fortunes: Biggest corporate political interests spend billions, get trillions

by Bill Allison and Sarah Harkins
SunlightFoundation, NOV. 17, 2014

Between 2007 and 2012, 200 of America’s most politically active corporations spent a combined $5.8 billion on federal lobbying and campaign contributions. A year-long analysis by the Sunlight Foundation suggests, however, that what they gave pales compared to what those same corporations got: $4.4 trillion in federal business and support.

That figure, more than the $4.3 trillion the federal government paid the nation’s 50 million Social Security recipients over the same period, is the result of an unprecedented effort to quantify the less-examined side of the campaign finance equation: Do political donors get something in return for what they give?

Four years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court suggested the answer to that question was no. Corporate spending to influence federal elections would not “give rise to corruption or the appearance of corruption,” the majority wrote in the landmark Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission decision.

Sunlight decided to test that premise by examining influence and its potential results on federal decision makers over six years, three before the 2010 Citizens United decision and three after.

CONTINUED with charts, etc....

http://influenceexplorer.com/fixed-fortunes/

Money in politics means continued piratization of the Government of the United States. No wonder so many of We the People no longer feel part of it. No longer getting a piece of the action, We see we're just the mopes left holding the bill after the fraternity's totaled the hotel.

[elzenmahn]

13. In order to mount an effective, truly progressive campaign...

...the Left (not the Third Wayers or DINOs) need a viable political backstop. By this, they need a substantial infrastructure that can compete with the corporate owners of this country, in terms of education, funding, media, and otherwise. If we had this, then Dennis Kucinich and Russ Fiengold would still be in office, and Bernie Sanders would be taken more seriously as a candidate by more of the population. In short, it's this lack of left-leaning infrastructure that is creating the thought virus that HRC is "inevitable".

[L0oniX]

14. Like I been saying, the 1% have already won ...you just don't know it yet or won't believe it.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

33. That's only true if Bernie is having to ask for their permission to run.

[MissDeeds]

16. Please run, Bernie

K&R

[JDPriestly]

17. K&R. Except. I don't agree with this:

"not protect the interests of the property owners."

I would like a president who will make more Americans become property owners and who will strengthen our, and by our I mean every one of us's, ability to govern and manage together the property that belongs to all of us.

[Surya Gayatri]

20. K & R

[whereisjustice]

23. Incredible to hear truth so plainly spoken in honest terms. Bernie has a gift for making everyone

understand that it isn't that complex, there is no 3 dimensional chess, and that to get consumed with the differential effects of a divisive polarizing candidate like Clinton is, by default, saying you support and want the ruling class to keep on exactly the way they have been for the last 40 years.

It isn't that hard. Clinton and her apologists speak in terms of unfathomable complexity because if they were to break down their arguments to simple truths and behaviors, it would be revealed that Hillary is actually a pretty shitty choice as a Democratic Candidate.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

30. Yes & he can take strong principled positions w/o havin to go on "listening tours," take polls, or pay hundreds of consultants.

[MisterP]

24. there's two candidates: therefore one of them MUST be against corporate power

just as EITHER Taco Bell OR Del Taco will make you sick, but it's impossible that BOTH could

[Arcadiasix]

29. I would work for Bernie. I would do nothing for Hillary.

If she is the nominee I can't in good conscience vote for her.

[Thinkingabout]

31. Maybe we should give Bernie a copy of Hillary's record of the past, maybe then

He would give a different statement. In fact the effort of Bernie is currently making isn't getting the job completed and he is in the Senate currently, what us his problem?

[cali]

39. try commenting in English instead of word salad

[Thinkingabout]

44. I did it just for you.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

32. OR, they need an opportunist who will jump in front of that parade and actually lead it.

[SoapBox]

35. So we went to a dinner party Saturday night...

Ten persons...myself and my partner (we identify as Democrat but pleading for common sense...not radical Left nor corporate bought Right leaning).

The other 8...Republican (now mind you, we like 7 of them well...the 8th is a jackass, know it all, blowhard, "fuck you, I have mine and too bad"...they are all well off...we were the poor persons at the table...no one under about 57 and up to 70 [the jackass]...almost everyone is still working.

Most do not like President Obama (including the African American male)...why? Unexplained with just grumbling and mumbling. They all hate HRC but admit that she will be the Dem candidate...they HATE Sanders and Warrens. They agreed that all Puke candidates are nuts and that Bush would be the candidate. Between HRC and JB, Bush would win (HRC baggage). Rather funny...they said they would rather have Bill again.

Lastly what we were fascinated by, was their interest in O'Malley! But they don't think he will run and that he would have a recognition issue.

It was allllll so interesting.

We feel that HRC will not win...Jebbie, another Bush idiot, will come off as the common sense and compassionate one in the Clown Car, despite verbal stumbling time and time again.

While have liked some HRC things in the past, we want someone that can SERIOUSLY win the White House...we won't be working her campaign nor donating money and if we have to, holding our nose during voting. There is Bush burnout but we feel that there is, for whatever reasons, even more Hillary burnout.

Sanders can't win...Warrens can't win...we want them to stir the pot and apply pressure but don't want them as a distraction.

[cali]

42. jeb won't get the nomination

He is deeply unpopular and the repub power brokers have lost a considerable amount of their power

[SoapBox]

46. Thoughts?

Paul...total nutso. Huckleberry...nut. Cruz...crazy.

Then there is Rubio. Handsome, youngish, duel language...

Your thoughts...someone else...just curious...thanks.

[cali]

48. i think rubio is one to watch

[libdem4life]

51. I/m leaning that way...he's the least crazy, seems.

[kelly1mm]

58. Rubio/Walker ticket would be about as good as it can get for the R's. nt

[hifiguy]

54. Your country needs you, Senator.

Don't let us down.

[Zorra]

56. Bernie is our complete candidate. Perfect on social issues, will take on corporate power,

great on the environment.

What's not to like, if you are a Democrat?

[WhiteTara]

59. giver her a democratic congress and she will instantly tack left

[Octafish]

68. Why can't a President lead a Congress ''left''?

Seems to remember that's one of the things leadership's about, getting others to understand why to support a program or bill.

While that's different from Speaker Sam's philosophy: "To get along, go along."

Leadership and vision are what's needed for the problems the nation and planet are facing.

[redruddyred]

60. I hope he runs.

if only to see him in the debates.
according the msm occupy wall street was a complete failure, and yet it changed the political conversation in this country. last election everyone was talking about the 1%.
a sanders candidacy could do the same.
run bernie run!

[woo me with science]

62. Like a beacon cutting through thick, filthy smog.

Honesty and forthrightness in a sea of corrupt manipulation and lies.

THIS is the difference between a candidate for a representative government and what corporate government offers us.

[JEB]

65. Our country needs Bernie.

[hootinholler]

67. AFAIK, Bernies has always been in the thick of the good fight

From a young Mayor to an aged Senator.