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America has just been waiting for someone to say this! 
sad! 
I, for one, embrace anyone who pushes single payer healthcare. Fiercely and continuously. 
When we die off - you get to fulfill all your dreams!
Just like we did. 
Where do we go from here? How we gonna get there? Whadda we do?
I'm excited about this! Lead the way!
Tell us, Bernie! How can we make this happen?
If he keeps ignoring the political reality and "shooting for the moon" his efforts will continue to fail and "go nowhere". Time and effort are wasted, and NO progress is made. Meanwhile the GOP grows stronger and stronger.
I've always preferred an approach that's more realistic. The notion that repetitive "brute force" of these grand bills will just magically pass is a foolish one. It's never going to happen that way. Rather than getting nothing done (but sounding great as we do nothing) it would be better if those in charge could set aside the vanity and swallow their pride and just accept the fact that progress on this front will be made incrementally.
Sure! Okay. How?
Can someone just snap their fingers and make it so? That would be nice.
Make it stink so people move on, have negative associations.
It is also known as the stinky troll syndrome among psychological professionals.
A lot of Dems and DU posters diss him because he doesn't carry a Democratic Party membership card, and practically blow off anything and everything he says and does just because of that. Seriously, it's like if you posted a list of Bernie's quotes and positions without attribution, these folks would be all, "Yeah, I agree with that! We need more leaders to say/do these things!" -- but then if you reveal the quote was from Bernie, they're like, "Pfft, tell us something we DON'T know, Bernie. Come back when you're a Democrat and then maybe I'll listen, but until then get off the stage!"
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I could care less if Bernie has a D behind his name, especially since he's far more liberal than many Democrats.
I think his status as an independent is an asset now since Republicans are trying to dismiss the opposition as partisan politics.
If people want to pitch a fit every time Bernie is in the headlines they're in for a rough ride. He's not going anywhere and he's more popular than ever so they'd better buckle up.
Had nothing to say on the subject, other than to tell people it wasn't possible, when Democrats had a legislative majority were working on a healthcare bill. I guess that just wasn't "the time", but now is?
No one is "undermining his efforts." Rather some of us don't see tweets as "efforts," but it satisfies his fans. So yeah! Bernie tweeted! He's amazing!
When Bernie is pragmatic they call him a hypocrite, when he fights for 'unicorns' (aka Medicare for all) they call him a pie in the sky dreamer.
He's fighting for the ACA and reminding people that single payer universal healthcare is the goal - that's bound to piss off those who want to keep the profit in health care.
Progressives shouldn't pay any attention to conservative critics. I'm trying to follow Bernie's lead - focus on fighting the Republicans and ignore the distractions. There will always be a small group of angry haters following around every progressive politician, they're insignificant, like conservative gnats swarming around a liberal lion.
Stay positive and keep up the good work!
Chile and Slovenia! And the US doesn't have it. What a shame!
Messaging is very important, it's stupid to cede social media to Trump and the GOP. Of course some old folks don't understand how influential that particular platform can be, they still think it's a fad.
Tweeting? What good does that do? I don't get it.
They ignore it at their peril while shouting at kids to get off their lawn.
This thread made me come out of lurking and register here on DU, congrats on that as I've read the site for 10 years. I've always found it to be the de facto standard for politics. However this thread and its responses brought me out to finally register because I had to say something.
I don't understand many of the responses here from several people who act as though single payer is a bad thing. Why is this exactly? We're liberals and in my eyes and heart, single payer which is true universal health care is basically an ideal for Democrats. Yet here in this thread we see several people basically fighting against it saying it won't pass, it won't get far, etc.
There's something in that message which I feel many are missing. Sometimes it isn't about "getting things done" as much as it is about "the fight". Democrats have had massive losses is the last 8 years with over 1,000 seats lost and currently govern just 6 states. Within that conversation about how that happened you hear one constant thing over and over; Democrats don't fight. Wouldn't screaming loudly about things like single payer and a living wage, over and over again essentially cure that assertion and in turn actually strengthen the party itself?
I do believe that it would.
While many concentrate on Trump (Frito Finger as I call him), we also can't lose touch of what makes us truly US. We simply can't be reactionary and the party of anti-Trump but need to scream from mountain top in America the platform and what we believe in. Stating that we are "different" and "how" we are different is incredibly valuable as midterms begin to approach. If we don't I fear we'll be in a lot worse shape with Republicans having the opportunity to have a constitutional convention which would spell utter disaster for anybody who has a heart and soul. You can basically kiss anything remotely liberal adios at that point; from Roe v Wade to minimum wage.
I personally don't get a lot of the Bernie condemnation at times. I mean the guy is out there holding town halls opposite of Ted Cruz and essentially being a massive recruiting tool for Democrats. This isn't a bad thing in fact it's bringing new blood and new energy into the party. So why the anger? I'd ask you to take a look at where he stands on the issues because in the end, that's what matters, right? Those issues define us politically and give us the leverage from which we fight from.
Back to single payer though; Bernie is right in what he says. I lived in Germany for quite awhile and the system there is so different than our own. I had my eyes really opened up. Nobody goes bankrupt from medical bills and nobody is dying from not having health insurance, unlike here in the United States. The ACA is great, but we need to be honest too, people in red states who didn't expand Medicaid are suffering really bad. Sure we won't get single payer until we have a majority but the fight is just beginning and health care has been fought for almost 100 years. Think about that for a second; a 100 years. If that doesn't make you angry then I don't know what does but it's a slow road and one of the biggest and the sooner we are out there on the issue, the better.
Anyways, hello DU!
This is a great and well-thought out post--thank you for it.
I hope you will continue to speak your mind on topics which matter to all of us.
Again, Welcome!
Very well said and I also agree with you! So glad you decided to join us! 
I'm not far from Vermont, spent my summers there growing up, and I still have friends there, we try to get together every year. I'm a long time fan of both Vermont senators, though I'm also grateful for mine. (In fact, Kirsten Gillibrand used to be my congresswoman! ) Back in 2012, my friend who I usually stay with was telling me about a Sanders rally she went to - and I begged her to take me with her the next time! He's an amazing advocate, and shows no sign of slowing down. I don't think I could keep up with him! 
I love my home state, I've had the pleasure of voting for Pat, Bernie and even Jim Jeffords back in the day. Bernie might be a Brooklyn transplant but Vermonters are proud to claim him as one of their own. I don't think he'll ever have to worry about losing his seat, which is great for us - he can focus on national issues.
Glad to see you again!
My only brush with Vermont greatness was meeting the governor - twice! My brother went to UVM and the governor showed up for events. I looked him up once and it turns out he was a Republican, LOL. But he was a nice guy and I liked him...
It's nice to see you again, too! I think of you often since we still could use the search function. 
Don't be a stranger, there seem to be fewer of us this time around...
So many great men from such a tiny state. And let's not forget Ben and Jerry's! 
I'll be around, just like Bernie we're not going anywhere.
And I have passes to tour Ben and Jerry's in one of my pockets! One time I went canoeing with my friends and the canoe rental guys passed them out to everyone...
I had a time coming back after the hack, but I don't know how I'd be surviving now without DU! 