What Bernie Sanders’s Meeting With President Obama Means

[Uncle Joe]

So as the intensity of the close Democratic race in Iowa grows almost unbearable, Bernie Sanders decided to ratchet it up another notch by flying to D.C. for a no-photo, no-statement hangout session with Barack Obama. Afterward, Sanders was able to tell the press the meeting was "productive," and focused on foreign policy, not generally considered Bernie's area of strength.

(snip)

Maybe Sanders has some blockbuster events on tap between now and caucus night, but you get the sense he's put his organization into motion and is now working on optics. Aside from the White House meeting, he's beginning to manage expectations for Iowa, which were beginning to become so robust that a narrow defeat there might be perceived as devastating. First he expressed doubt that turnout would be anything like 2008's or that he could match Obama's margin. But, more important, he's making it clear that he does not regard an actual win in the state as necessary for his nomination.

That may be all he can do for now, though I doubt very seriously that, once he returns to Iowa, he's going to set foot anywhere else until the votes are counted and somebody tries not to scream.

http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/01/what-bernie-sanders-meeting-with-obama-means.html

I could be very comfortable with that pic.

[Cheese Sandwich]

1. Just watched Bernie Sanders' first White House press conference...

Hopefully the first of many

http://www.c-span.org/video/?403778-1/senator-bernie-sanders-media-availability

[Uncle Joe]

2. Thank you for that video, Cheese Sandwich, Bernie looks like a natural.

Peace to you.

[George II]

30. Natural what? He looked tired and totally worn out.

[Uncle Joe]

32. This Natural.

[brentspeak]

33. "Tired and totally worn out"

A good description of your posts here on this forum.

[Uncle Joe]

34. ...

[CoffeeCat]

35. LOL!!!

Zing!

[cali]

42. No he doesn't but who cares. I could post some recent

pics of Hillary looking tired and worn out but then you'd complain that that's sexist.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

43. Not at all

you are just trying to make him look bad

[Segami]

10. Thanks for the video Cheese Sandwich...

and thanks to Uncle Joe for this post!

And yes, he does look great as our president!.......

[pacalo]

14. Wanted to add my thanks, also.

[1StrongBlackMan]

3. I'm sure it was not the OP writer'so intent; but, his/her ...

Title and language gives the impression that Bernie called and/or was in control of the meeting.

I don't think either was the case.

[Uncle Joe]

5. We're only in control of our own actions.

However one wants to view it, I believe it was a productive and useful meeting.

[Divernan]

31. You win the ambitious spin of the day award.

First you spin, then you critique your own spin.

[1StrongBlackMan]

39. Does the award come with a cash prize? n/t

[Cali_Democrat]

4. Bernie's hanging with the "establishment"?

I thought he said he was taking on the establishment?

[babylonsister]

6. Wow. Really? nt

[Uncle Joe]

7. You should view the video on Cheese Sandwich's post # 1

Bernie knows who he is and he's never called President Obama "the establishment."

[Cali_Democrat]

8. Well he constantly brings up the fact that he's fighting the "establishment"

It doesn't get much more "establishment" than the President of the United States.

[Uncle Joe]

11. Bernie is fighting against establishment politics as it's practiced in modern day America,

massive economic disparity, super-pacs, Citizens United, Wall Street and plutocratic domination over our government, massive amounts of unregulated money flooding the campaign finance and election systems and in turn at the very least enabling our highly dysfunctional government to shortchange the people they were charged to represent if not outright corrupting the government.

[Karma13612]

12. +100. Eom

[Sheepshank]

47. Is Obama part of the establishment or not? nt

[Uncle Joe]

48. The keyword in my post was establishment POLITICS, as in Citizens United

[cherokeeprogressive]

15. You funny funny guy.

You funny guy.

[Jack Rabbit]

22. "It doesn't get much more 'establishment' than the President of the United States."

This time next year, Cali_D, you can mock Bernie all you like for being the "establishment." It won't bother us a bit.

To us Sandernistas, having Bernie Sanders as President of the United States will be our way of sticking it to establishmentarians such as Wall Street criminals, industrial polluters who tell us climate science is a hoax, price gouging health insurance executives, price gouging pharmaceutical manufacturers, and crooked politicians taking legalized bribes from any or all of the above.

Power to the people.

[Voice for Peace]

9. Can you describe? Can't watch video here & no tv

[Uncle Joe]

13. Bernie started out by reminding the reporters that Bush the Least left the nation in

terrible straits and that President Obama has done much to improve things in cleaning up the mess and brought the nation a long way. Their conservation was about foreign policy, domestic and some politics.

Bernie stated that he admires the job that President Obama and Vice-President Biden have done especially under such adverse circumstances with a Republican Congress committed to obstructionism.

Bernie agrees with President Obama's diplomatic policies toward Iran and the Middle East in trying to keep American Troops out of harms way as he has attended too many funerals in Vermont and is happy not needing to as of late.

Bernie cited some differences with President Obama primarily the TPP and something else but I couldn't make it out.

Bernie stated that he believes President Obama and Vice-President Biden are doing their best to remain neutral in the Democratic Primaries and he didn't take President Obama's recent interview as a slight.

That's not word for word but in general that's what I took away from it.

[Voice for Peace]

19. Thank you so much

for your time.
He looked really happy in the photos I saw.

[frylock]

20. ZINGGGGGG!

You cannot be for real with this shit. Comedy gold!

[zentrum]

26. Really?

So a Progressive Senator running for the WH should never meet with the current President or he's being impure?

Taking on the establishment means never talking to anyone in the establishment, never meeting with them, never negotiating with them—is that the idea?
You think that's how leadership works?

Besides, how do you know what Bernie said to Obama? Might have laid it on the line, in his usual gentlemanly way.

[Duckfan]

37. I believe NPR said Bernie requested the meeting

[KingCharlemagne]

40. My, aren't you precious? - nt

[monmouth4]

16. No drama, no baggage, no possible indictments. What is not to like? Go Bernie....n/t

[Uncle Joe]

17. Bernie is a class act.

[monmouth4]

18. He most definitely is...nt

[SoapBox]

21. ...love that picture.

And would to see that for at least the next 4 years.

[SusanCalvin]

23. Serious question -

Is it usual for candidates of the president's party to meet with him before primaries begin, or is this a big deal?

[Uncle Joe]

24. I believe every situation is different.

As for whether it's a big deal, I believe it has more to do with what transpires in the meeting itself than just having the meeting.

[SusanCalvin]

25. Well, yes, one can say that about pretty much any event/situation.

But thanks anyway.

[Uncle Joe]

27. I'm sorry I can't answer it any better than that.

I don't believe it happens too often but that may be due more to historical political situations than anything else.

[AzDar]

28. K & R this so HARD.

President Sanders!

[Arazi]

29. That visual at this stage of the game!

Priceless!

He owns the place!!

[CoffeeCat]

36. Why did they meet? It's such a big mystery!

I mean, it's weird. Five days before the Iowa caucuses, Bernie interrupts a full schedule to meet with the President.

They couldn't talk on the phone?

What's the deal?

They weren't sharing Pinterest ideas, I can tell you that much.

It's...highly abnormal.

[Uncle Joe]

38. Bernie cited several reasons but there may have been more.

1. They discussed foreign policy, Bernie wanted an update on the situation with Iran and the Middle East.

2. They also discussed domestic polices and some politics as well.

Cheese Sandwich post #1 has a nice link to a video of Bernie being interviewed after he met with the President.

[thesquanderer]

41. He had to go and measure the drapes. (n/t)

[bklyncowgirl]

44. Excuse me Mr. President, do you mind if I just take out my tape measure?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

46. yes