Bernie Sanders: Why I might run in 2016

[silvershadow]

This month Vermont’s Bernie Sanders, the Senate’s only self-described socialist, made a tour of four Southern states that stoked talk of a presidential run. In an interview this week with Salon, Sanders set forth his thinking about why he might take that plunge, and offered assessments of contenders Hillary Clinton and Elizabeth Warren. He also blasted Wal-Mart’s business model, Republicans’ healthcare tactics, and a level of inequality that he warned has brought America to the cusp of oligarchy. A condensed version of our conversation follows.

How significant is the Senate’s move to change the filibuster for nominations last week? And does this bring us closer to curbing the filibuster for nominations also?

It is a significant step forward in attempting to end the dysfunctionality of the United States Senate. I would go further. And I believe that when we are faced with unprecedented Republican obstruction, that it would make a lot of sense to go to majority vote for legislation as well. I also believe that we have to protect the rights of minorities, and I think minorities – minority or any other member of the Senate — should have as much time as he or she needs to voice opposition, stand up, filibuster, do their thing. So I believe in the concept of the talking filibuster.

But I think what we have got to end is the situation right now where the Senate is basically dysfunctional, and where the major issues facing this country are not being discussed, and are certainly … not being voted on.
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much more at link: http://www.salon.com/2013/11/27/bernie_sanders_why_i_might_run_in_2016/

[Laelth]

1. k&r for Senator Sanders. n/t

-Laelth

[lordsummerisle]

2. I think bernie can do more good by staying in the senate n/t

[Scuba]

3. Yes, 'cause Senators hold much more sway than Presidents.

[lordsummerisle]

5. He'll never be elected

for a number of reasons, but President Christie will be grateful...

[lordsummerisle]

6. I should have been more succinct

Bernie would do more good by remaining in the Senate than by running for an office that he will not win, and should he actually run he would virtually guarantee a Republican Presidency by attracting substantial Democratic voters to his campaign...

[blkmusclmachine]

8. Because only Republicans can run as Democrats.

[lordsummerisle]

10. Bernie would run as an Independent n/t

[tabbycat31]

13. And probably hand the presidency to the GOP nomimnee

I love Bernie to death (and have met him a few times) but a strong 3rd party candidate on the left would siphon off enough votes from the Democratic nominee in a few key states to hand the presidency to the Republican.

Not a smart move.

[Cal33]

4. Sanders is one of the Progressives I'd gladly see as president.

[silvershadow]

7. To my mind, he is the best equipped to lead the charge, as he has been doing for many years now.

And, Elizabeth Warren would be a great VP to him, should she not run for President this time. I really don't trust anyone else to not cave as soon as they are sworn in. I really don't believe he will budge an inch from his values.

[Cal33]

12. Yes, besides Sanders and Warren, there is someone who is equally tough and not the type to cave in,

House Rep. Alan Grayson of FL. There are bound to be others, but I don't know them well enough.

[Enthusiast]

9. If you haven't noticed yet

this is an emergency.

We must have our voices heard.

The lack of social and economic justice is destroying the nation.

We cannot survive another election cycle of a Democratic candidate paying lip service to liberal causes then moving to the right.

Bernie is just the man to get our voices heard. Even if Bernie were to run as a Democrat, and lose the primary to Hillary, at least some of our concerns would be heard.

And Bernie's appeal is much wider than many will acknowledge.

The nation is liberal. That is confirmed by polls on the issues. But this is something TPTB do not want us to know.

[polichick]

11. I agree - there's not a lot of time to turn this mess around.

[jazzimov]

14. DON'T be a "spoiler", don't do as Nader did in 2000!

Bernie, you know I love you - but if you decide to run do it as a DEMOCRAT! Frankly, this will do the most good as far as exposure and getting your message to be covered. But, if you do decide to run as an Independent (which, frankly, will not distribute your message as intended), there is the option to drop out at the last moment and encourage your potential voters to vote for the leading DEMOCRATIC candidate.

I understand that you want to take our Country to the Left, and I personally thing that's the best way for our country to Progress to the next level:

But there are many who are skeptical of our approach. And, we have to have the votes. In order to get the votes, we must prove that our vision is the best - which also means that we must have the power to implement our vision. We can only have this power if we get elected in the first place.

This means that the Democrat has to be elected. This means that although there is a time during Primary Season to bring up items that are considered Leftist, the General election is NOT the place to bring up such items.

Take a lesson from Ralph Nader here. If he had withdrawn and thrown his support behind Al Gore (as he did privately at a book-signing), he wouldn't have drawn votes from Gore and we wouldn't have had to endure the devastating 8 years under GWB.

So, Mr. Sanders - you could go down in history as one of the greatest Senators ever! Or, you could go down in history as one of the greatest "spoilers" ever. As much as I liked Ralph Nader and his message, after his ego-laden attempt I have only one response to anything he says now:

Nuck Fader!

Please don't make me have to say the same about you......

[davidpdx]

16. The only way I'd consider supporting him is if he ran as a D

[Rosa Luxemburg]

15. Bernie could do a good job

He is very experienced.