General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Of Bullshit Meters and our current politicians [View all]JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)When he makes a proposal, he can tell you how he is going to find the money to pay for the proposal.
Waiting for the other candidates to do the same.
He is asking us to volunteer for him, to elect him and then, unlike Hillary who said in her Saturday speech that she would deal with Congress, Bernie says we have to help him deal with Congress. We have to keep the pressure on, keep organizing and keep pushing Congress even after Bernie is elected.
That's a big difference right there.
For Hillary, it is about becoming the president, sitting in the White House and exercising power and negotiating skill.
For Bernie, it is about becoming the president, sitting in the White House and calling on us to form a movement to push Congress to do what needs to be done.
The fundamental views on governing and approaches to governing are different.
Bernie has experience as a mayor -- in an executive position in which he had to work with others to get things done. And he was a success in that judging by the fact that he was elected and re-elected to office following his service as a mayor.
Bernie has many years of legislative experience and understands both the broad view and the minutiae of budget matters. He is now the ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee.
Hillary was in the White House as a sort of emissary of her husband the president. She worked on policy issues, but was not in the executive position. The buck did not stop with her as it did with Bernie when he was mayor.
Hillary served in the Senate but not as long as Bernie.
Bernie's voting record is excellent and very long. Hillary voted for the Iraq War Resolution and the Patriot Act among other bills. (Absent for the Bankruptcy Reform which was a terrible bill.) Bernie opposes the XL Pipeline and the TPP. Hillary is silent on her views on those specific proposals. A nearly certain sign that she knows they are unpopular within her party and that an honest, specific and full answer on her views on the TPP and the XL Pipeline will alienate a lot of voters among her supporters.
Hillary was Secretary of State, but again, was not in the Senate nearly as long as Bernie.
And Hillary's work as Secretary of State had good moments and bad moments. Mixed review on that.