What people (pretend to?) not understand is that Bernie is a means to an end.

[redgreenandblue]

It was never truly about him per se. This is a movement that has been brewing for a long time. A movement that wants real social change, not just lip service. It has chosen Bernie and if he disappoints, it will turn to someone else.

It has been suggested here that "all those disgruntled people" will simply go away if Bernie loses. I think this perfectly illustrates the Clinton mindset. Hillary has made it abundantly clear that she has no interest in spearheading this movement, and that is why she has a real chance of losing the GE.

[geek tragedy]

1. presidents aren't protest leaders. that's not their job nt

[Armstead]

11. So Obama wasn't a protest leader against GW Bush?

When there are things to protest, presidents are protest leaders.

[geek tragedy]

13. no, he was the guy whose job it was to clean up after Bush

he benefited from Bush's unpopularity, in political terms.

But his job was to figure out how to do stuff to fix problems.

[Armstead]

14. Which is a form of protest

As I has mentioned here to the point of monotony, I wish people would look at what he accomplished in Burlington to see a template of how he would approach the executive and leadership roles as President.

Yes he was ideological, but he was also pragmatic and results oriented. He built broadly based coalitions, hired good people, did lead a political "revolution" (rallying votes to elect supportive "legislators&quot , got the city budget into shape, filled the potholes -- and successfully led important initiatives for economic development, affordable housing, city programs, etc.

He got reelected by large margins, and was named as one of America's most successful Mayors.

That's not just a "protest leader."

[geek tragedy]

15. that kind of cuts against his single payer/amend the constitution/free college

for everyone promises.

he's not running as a pragmatist--he's running as a shoot-the-moon on every hand idealist.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

2. Bernie needs a young version of himself to catch on with the voters and public.

Even if he is elected president, which is unlikely given the current numbers, it would still need to happen, eventually.

The trick will be to make sure the person is just as liberal on social issues as Bernie is so as not to give into the temptation of courting the right wing teaparty types.

[dchill]

3. Ha ha ha.

Right.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

6. What is wrong with young people taking the reigns, running for office?

[dchill]

9. Eventually, they will.

Hopefully without questioning someone else for their age. Hopefully realizing the wisdom that comes only with age and experience.

[JoePhilly]

4. Actually, the movement did not choose Bernie.

This "movement" you speak of sat on its ass complaining about Obama for the last 7+ years, while doing NOTHING to develop a slate of acceptably liberal candidates for 2016.

Around 2011, the "movement" began to demand a primary challenge against Obama. Of course these political geniuses forgot the most important ingredient ... a CANDIDATE.

After Obama handed Romney his ass in 2012, the "movement" tried to draft Elizabeth Warren to become their champion. She turned the job down.

So, when it became clear that no other uber-liberal was going to appear out of thin air ... Bernie stepped in and said "Ok, I just I'll do it."

You are right, the "movement" is not about Bernie at all.

He wasn't the "movement's" first choice to start with.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

7. I agree with that.

[Scuba]

5. The genie is out of the bottle. Bernie may not win the nomination, or the Presidency, but ...

... but his political revolution will continue.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

8. Only if the most vocal of supporters like yourself become engaged both physically and financially

[Scuba]

17. Become engaged?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1280154296

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1280164199

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1280167630

[Jackie Wilson Said]

18. That is all great, but I am talking about what happens AFTER this.

It doesn't end if he loses. Unless you let it

And it sure as hell could still end if he wins, if some do what they did when they got frustrated and abandoned Obama

[Scuba]

19. I been fighting for equality since the 60's, so I don't need your lecture. But you've got it wrong..

... about us abandoning Obama. He abandoned us.

I defended him for years while he appointed one Wall Street bankster after another to high-level government positions, while his justice department let them all off the hook but prosecuted state-licensed MMJ growers and when he used drones to assassinate Americans and other who had not been convicted of any crime.


We didn't abandon Obama. He abandoned us.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

20. There it is, he abandoned you, so you walked away from him and we end up with teaparty.

At least you admit it.

[Scuba]

21. Jesus Christ that's some contortion routine there. I'm responsible for the Tea Party in 2010 ...

... because I 'walked away' from Obama in 2013. Brilliant, just fucking brilliant.

[HereSince1628]

22. I suspext he's got millions of names in his database

People who believe in his 'revolution' and people who are willing to donate time and money.

I don't know any other person pushing radical reform of the Democratic party that has gotten that far.

My mind regularly drifts into day-dreaming about the 2018 midterm, and a coordinated attempt to challenge pro-corporate neo-liberal democrats who think the people have no where else to go.

Bernie invented a political tardis and it damn sure can take the people places the self-serving 3rd-way politicians refuse to consider.

[mmonk]

10. Agreed

[firebrand80]

12. Who said that all those people will go away? nt

[PufPuf23]

16. Bernie Sanders at best is the beginning of a transformation started at

least in rhetoric by POTUS Obama.

I don't expect Bernie Sanders to run for a 2nd term as POTUS.

Frankly, I don't expect Sanders to be POTUS but he is my favored candidate.

If elected, I do not expect Sanders to be overly effective as POTUS.

All I want is for a change in direction and try and fail is good enough for now.

A transformation away from neo-liberalism and neo-conservatism would take a generation of time and political leaders.

No guarantees.

I expect that from early in a Hillary Clinton term as POTUS there will be a movement within the Democratic Party to primary Clinton in 2020.

[pat_k]

23. My fondest hope is that people inspired to act....

...by his campaign continue the fight, whatever the outcome.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511507143

[jwirr]

24. That will mean we stay politically active and most of all

informed. We can continue to move this revolution along in many ways: supporting midterm candidates, responding to bills proposed in Congress and in our state legislatures, protest if we have to, continue to recruit members for the movement, donating to real progressives, are just a few ways an activist can keep this ball rolling.

I'm 74 years old but I plan to keep working at this until I am no longer able. It is that important.