(David Sirota) --- Bernie Sanders's message key for Democrats

[Armstead]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/theblog/archive/david-sirota/election-2006-americas_4844.html

Election 2006 & America's Populist Center
By David Sirota
Huffington Times

I have often argued that the terms "centrism" or "moderate" as used inside the Washington Beltway are misnomers. These terms are used to describe politicians who, while mainstream on social issues like abortion, are far to the right of America on core economic issues. The media and the moneyed interests, of course, loves to tell us that this version of "centrism" is an effective way to win elections. They also like to make anyone who doesn't subscribe to this faux version of centrism is some sort of leftist extremist. Both claims are deliberate lies.

Whenever anyone goes after groups like the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) for pushing corporate conservative policies far outside of the mainstream of American public opinion, the response is "you are wrongly urging Democrats to move farther to the LEFT." That is exactly what the economic powers that be want you to think. They want Americans to see the world as "left" vs. "right" instead of what really drives American politics: Big Money vs. The Rest of Us.

The fact is, economic populism is neither left nor right - it is, in fact, what centrism REALLY is in America, if centrism means being in the mainstream of American public opinion.....

If you don't believe me, read this article from the American Prospect that goes over very real examples of this. Or, better yet, read the new cover story in the Nation magazine about Vermont's Independent Congressman Bernie Sanders, who is running for the U.S. Senate in 2006. As the story notes, Sanders has used a willingness to stand up for ordinary Americans' economic rights to win both liberals and culturally conservative, rural white working class voters - the very voters the Democratic Party has lost in its increasing embrace of DLC-style corporate conservatism. The article is a fascinating read that shows exactly why Sanders' success in 2006 is so important, and how Democrats must change course in order to start winning elections again - especially when you consider polls that show Americans are waiting for Democrats to finally go after the Republicans for the GOP's corporate cronyism.....

...With solid funding, Sanders can capitalize on what he has spent so long building up: credibility with voters that he earned by speaking truth to economic power. If more Democrats followed that model, Democrats might be in the majority right now.

[Greeby]

1. Sanders victory is assured

Two reasons
1.He polls way ahead of potential Republican challengers
2.He's not a democrat: If they stole it from him, he'd say and do something about it

[Armstead]

2. But he sleeps with horses....

That's what the GOP will say during the campaign.

[Greeby]

3. Nah

As hes a socialist, it'll be "AAAARGH! COMMIE!! COMMIE!!! RED!!!" :evilgrin:

[Armstead]

4. You're right there

But that hasn't stopped those commie Vermontyers from voting for him so far.

[hootinholler]

9. So what?

The Prez Jerks them off!

-Hoot

[Tesha]

15. No. It's Vermont. Definitely cows, probably Holsteins. (NT)

[elperromagico]

14. There's another important reason:

3. He's won eight statewide elections.

One of the benefits of a congressperson from an at-large state running for the Senate is that he or she is already known across the state.

[bvar22]

5. Bernie is GOOD for America

You can listen to Bernie Sanders every Friday on the Thom Hartmann Show.
"Breakfast with Bernie" at 11AM Central!
Listen Over-the Net here:

http://www.thomhartmann.com/

The very best in Liberal Talk Radio!

It looks like Dave Sirota has been reading DU!!!!

[Armstead]

6. From The Nation

Being like Bernie
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20050815&c=1&s=nichols

.....To a greater extent, arguably, than any other progressive politician in the country, Sanders is identified with pocketbook issues. Spending a day with him in the small towns of Vermont is the equivalent of signing up for a walking seminar on the real-life struggles of working Americans--as played out on issues ranging from protecting Social Security, retirement plans and Medicare to expanding access to healthcare, lowering drug prices, raising the minimum wage, helping small businesses get started and keeping family farmers on the land. The conversations are a mix of personal anecdotes and broad-sweep policies, always pulled back by the Congressman to a discussion of the perils of corporate power and lobbying. To be sure, Sanders takes questions about the war in Iraq and other issues, but the breadth and depth of the discussions he gets into regarding the kitchen-table concerns of working Vermonters is remarkable.

At a picnic on the village green in Rochester, a central Vermont community of 1,200, 84-year-old Ethel Kingsbury, whose family has owned the same farm since 1794, responds to a question about whether she likes Sanders by narrowing her eyes and exclaiming, "Like him? I love him! I'm worried about these prescription prices. This drug bit is just out of control. Bernie's the only one on our side in this whole mess." That sense that "Bernie's on our side" on the economic issues has provided the Congressman with a following even among Vermonters not so comfortable with his opposition to the war or his ardent support of reproductive freedom and gay rights.

"Democrats are not as engaged as they should be on the economic issues that face tens and tens of millions of people," says Sanders. "That's what the Republicans have been playing off. The Republicans jump in and say, 'OK, look. Democrats are not talking about your economic issues. We're not either, but at least we're telling you about the Ten Commandments, we're telling you about abortion, we're telling you about gay rights.' The biggest mistake Democrats make is to take economics off the table."

<cut>

[KoKo]

20. quote: "Nor is there anything smooth or prepackaged or focus group tested"

Another snip from Nation article:

There is nothing cautious about Sanders's politics: He opposes the war in Iraq, he is an outspoken critic of the Patriot Act, he condemns corporations and he maintains a lonely faith that government really can do a lot of things--like guarantee healthcare for all--better than the private sector. Nor is there anything smooth or prepackaged or focus-group tested about the way he communicates.

[Al-CIAda]

7. kick

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. Hooray for Bernie!

[Robeson]

10. Bernie is one reason I'd move to the cold weather of Vermont.

[burrowowl]

11. Me too! eom

[Douglas Carpenter]

12. Bernie is amazing

For those who think that the 30+ year failed Democrat strategy of "centrism" (an Orwellian term if there ever was one) will some how or other finally succeed--one just needs to see how Bernie Sanders wins staunchly conservative counties again and again by landslide proportions--as a self-proclaimed democratic socialist.

_____________________________


_______________________________________________________


A True Voice of Opposition
--A Voice for Working People
--Not the Elite--
http://www.bernie.org/issues.asp

Who is Congressman Bernie Sanders?

Read this article and watch the short video clips:

http://www.davidsirota.com/2005/04/who-is-bernie-sanders.html

[rman]

13. go Bernie

[Douglas Carpenter]

16. kick

http://www.iwtnews.com/

[Sooner75]

17. Texas populist Jim Hightower said

something like:

"it"s not left versus right it"s top versus bottom"

[Al-CIAda]

18. .

[KoKo]

19. Sirota is a fresh voice. He writes clearly and doesn't pull punches.

I'm glad to see him emerge. :-)'s

[mrdmk]

21. I could not agree more, this is a thread that was posted yesterday

<snip>
The DLC and this Middle Right Crowd (That is a joke, Corporatist is more like it) is completing their objective and that is piss everyone off who is not already, lets not kid ourselves. The passage of a pro-big energy, energy bill, Another "free trade" agreement, Liability protection for gun makers, A free hand to appoint conservative federal judges, John Bolton is US Ambassador to the United Nations and my own personal grudge of why are Mr. Rove and Mr. Libby still in office?
<end of snip>

Sorry to blow my own horn, but this is becoming way to obvious!

Link to Zogby poll numbers thread
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=1974648&mesg_id=1974648

[pberq]

22. Kick

One of the few Democrats we can be proud of. Along with Cynthia McKinney, John Conyers, and a few others.