I fucking love Bernie Sanders. He is what the Democrats are suppose to be

[LovinLife]

I love that guy. That is all.

[PearliePoo2]

1. Me too.

I wish all the Dems could be as good. :thumbsup:

[timeforpeace]

18. Democrats are supposed to be Socialists? Possibly not a winning gambit.

[Armstead]

23. REad where he stands on issues...,He's basically a traditional liberal

It's only because so many other politicians have become conservative weasels that he seems "radical" to some today.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

54. It is no surprise that it is completely lost on "timeforpeace" n/t

[kenfrequed]

95. Dear lords

I hadn't even looked at his handle. And John Lennon as a photo...? What a puzzle.

[spiritual_gunfighter]

100. Curious indeed n/t

[sabrina 1]

27. Whatever word anyone wants to use to describe him,

he's a winner for me. All these labels are meaningless, actions are what are important.

What's in a name, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet

[peace frog]

87. He gets my vote

and has my admiration and support. Go Bernie!

[liberation]

83. Well, they were deffinitively not supposed to be corporate moderate conservatives either...

It is one of those great moments in Americana in which one person can't describe he major tenets of socialism, other than it is supposed to be bad just because?

If that is the case, I think your nick and avatar are doubleplus ironic.

[tblue]

20. Me, three! nt

[NightWatcher]

2. he's a Socialist not a Democrat

[LovinLife]

3. He's a real liberal. The problem is the Democrats have moved to the right. THere is nothing wrong w/

Bernie. The media wants people to think he's some crazy socialist. Bernie may agree, only becuz he doesn't care about meaningless labels.

[IndianaGreen]

7. Democrats have bought Reaganism without Reagan

All this bullshit in Congress to protect the health insurance industry is clear evidence that those assholes are not on the people's side.

[liberation]

85. They bought Reaganism before it even went on sale... see Carter for an example

Pres. Carter is/was a wonderful man as a private citizen. I'll never give him a pass for having moved the Dems so much to the right though.

[NightWatcher]

9. like I said, he's a Socialist (liberal). "Socialist" does not equal "crazy",

and I'm having a harder and harder time finding a Democrat who is a Liberal (or Progressive), with few exceptions.


I'm a Progressive and a Liberal, I dont know how much longer I will be able to call myself a Democrat

[barbtries]

33. i'm with you

i'm thinking socialist.

[a la izquierda]

46. i've essentially stopped already

[eridani]

24. He votes with Democrats more that Joe Liebermann n/t

[JohnnyBoots]

74. He is a Democratic Socialist, think Sweden. nt

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

76. Problem is ....

think most of us are socialists.

Introspection a powerful thing.

[harmonicon]

99. he's a self-described "Socialist Democrat"

He is not a member of any socialist party or the Democratic party. In the legislature, he is effectively a Democrat. Senators are members of their state parties. Al Franken, for instance, was elected as the candidate for the Democratic-Farmer-Labor party, but is considered a Democrat.

[loyalkydem]

4. Bernie for President

Woo hoo

[shireen]

6. yeah!

Bernie!
:yourock:

[IndianaGreen]

5. He is a Socialist. Socialists do not suffer from divided loyalties between people and corporations.

Like Evan Bayh, for example, whose wife sits on the board of WellPoint.

[xxqqqzme]

8. evan's a prick - that is all.

[liberation]

88. Apparently, a lot of so-called "progressive" posters in this forum see that as a handicap

Funny, I am seeing all the same so-called "progressives" who get a "pragmatist" hard on when it comes to justify conservative policies by the Dems... become nastily "partisan" when dealing with real "progressives" like Sanders or Kucinich.

I am starting to believe that "pragmatist" is now code for "too chickensh*t for the conservative moniker now that the brand has been soiled beyond repair."

[jenmito]

10. Maybe you're supporting the wrong party. He's a Socialist. n/t

[IndianaGreen]

11. Democrats support the corporations against the people

This bunch of Democrats would have opposed Roosevelt's New Deal.

[tblue]

13. Who's fault is that? nt

[jenmito]

14. Who's fault is WHAT?

[tblue]

19. CAPITAL LETTERS make it look like you're SHOUTING.

The Democratic party has moved away from its base. Who's fault is that, the party or the base?

[jenmito]

28. Caps for one word is used for EMPHASIS.

Says WHO? We're supposedly a "big tent" unlike the Repubs.

[brentspeak]

15. He's not "a Socialist" (capital 'S'); he's a self-described "democratic socialist"

which is not a party affiliation. He appears on the ballot as an "Independent" (with a capital 'I'), and he caucuses with the Democrats.

In fact, seeing that you oppose someone who caucuses with the Democrats, maybe it's you who's "supporting the wrong party."

[jenmito]

29. He's an Independent and self-described Socialist who caucuses with Dems.

Who said I oppose him? I prefer HIM over the Conservadems. But he is not a member of the Democratic party.

[cali]

55. no, but it's not just that he caucuses with the dems. In Vt. the

state party supports him, and the DNC did too when he ran in 2006 for the Senate.

[Mithreal]

21. Most ignorant post I have seen in a long time.

[jenmito]

30. Your opinion. The fact is he's officially an Independent and self-described Socialist.

Funny how you didn't say the same about others on this thread who said he's a Socialist.

[Mithreal]

73. He caucuses with the Dems. And I was referring to the entire post.

[jenmito]

78. He has also run against Dems. as an Independent. Who's the ignorant one? n/t

[Mithreal]

80. Jenmito, I said the post, not you. Not you.

It's a two party system, like it or not. Your post seemed to imply that if your political views were closer to Bernie's then you are not welcome in the party. I stand by my original statement. Clarify as you will, I was talking about the original over-the-top statement is all.

[jenmito]

82. OK, then whose post is the ignorant one?

The rest of my post stands. The OP said Sanders is what the Dems. are supposed to be. Why? He's not even a Dem. himself.

[Mithreal]

91. The OP doesn't say Dems should be Independents

I believe the spirit of the op is to honor Senator Sanders commitment to the people of this country, rather than serving wealth and the powerful.

Give Thom Hartmann's radio show a listen, especially the first hour on every Friday. Bernie Sanders comes on and takes questions. Then you'll know what I am talking about.

You can go here if looking for an affiliate.
http://streamingradioguide.com/streaming-radio-shows.php?sformat=2
or here
http://www.thomhartmann.com/

[Dr.Phool]

94. He's better than any Dem. Period.

[Mithreal]

107. Truth

[jgraz]

32. No maybe about it. Bernie's right, the Democrats are (mostly) wrong.

Seriously, how many times do you have to get fucked before you realize your ass is sore?

[jenmito]

35. So you're no longer a Democrat? Is that what you're saying? n/t

[jgraz]

36. What do you mean "no longer"?

Try "never was".

[jenmito]

37. What ARE you then? n/t

[jgraz]

38. Conscious.

[jenmito]

39. A conscious WHAT? Are you calling all of us Dems. NOT conscious?

[jgraz]

40. If the coma fits...

[jenmito]

41. Weren't you an Edwards supporter?

[jgraz]

42. And a Kucinich supporter and, finally, reluctantly, an Obama supporter

None of which required me to be a member of the Democratic party.

[jenmito]

43. Funny that you consider yourself "conscious" when you supported Edwards...

the biggest phony out there. I haven't seen you supporting Obama at ALL! Are you saying you don't belong to any party?

[jgraz]

44. Those two have nothing to do with each other

I was very clear about why I was supporting Edwards. I thought there was a good possibility that he was completely full of shit, but his rhetoric was so specific and passionate that I figured he would have a hard time backing out of it had he been elected.

Obama, on the other hand, was always hedging, using weasel words. And look where it got us.

[jenmito]

45. You never supported Obama as far as your posts go. And yes, look where

Obama got us-he has done more in his first year than many presidents.

[jgraz]

47. Wrong again. And childish.

Seriously, the "you never supported him" cry is the worst of the cheerleader accusations. It reminds me of a child yelling "you never loved me!!" after getting the wrong toy for his birthday.

And what has Obama gotten us? A faux-centrist who's demoralizing the base and papering over some of the worst corporate abuses in a century. No thanks.

[jenmito]

49. I haven't seen any positive posts about Obama.

Again with the "cheerleader" insults.

He's gotten us embryonic stem-cell research, equal pay for women, more rights for gay couples (not enough yet, but a start), tax cuts for 95% of working people, etc. Here's a list of SOME of his legislation passed: http://www.whitehouse.gov/

[jgraz]

52. So your personal experience is the definitive result, eh?

And how many "positive" posts are required before I'm let in to the clubhouse?

[jenmito]

57. It's my observation. And funny how you just ignored the positive things

Obama has accomplished. :eyes:

[jgraz]

58. Oh, you mean like this?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x8692346

:eyes:

[jenmito]

59. Ooh! ONE positive thread two months ago. Did you notice that I replied to you

that it was the first time I ever "K&Red" a thread of yours? And why do you still keep ignoring the positive things he's done so far?

[jgraz]

60. Yes, I noticed. But you apparently didn't

Given your assertion that you "haven't seen any positive posts about Obama".

[jenmito]

61. You're right. Sorry that I forgot about ONE positive thread you started two months ago.

That changes everything. :eyes: And so what when you say something like this which seems to sum up your feelings on Obama?: "And what has Obama gotten us? A faux-centrist who's demoralizing the base and papering over some of the worst corporate abuses in a century. No thanks."

[jgraz]

62. It actually does blow away your core argument

You're basically trying to paint me as some sort of blind "hater". That's completely not the case. When Obama does something good, I praise him. When he does something terrible, I criticize him.

And when he does something that we should expect from even the most milquetoast, center-right shade of a faux-Democrat (e.g. embryonic stem-cell research, equal pay for women, weak-ass handwaving about rights for gay couples), I ignore it.

[jenmito]

63. Do you know WHY he got the Nobel Peace Prize that you praised him for?

If so, how could you possibly consider him a "faux-centrist" whom you obviously don't support?

[jgraz]

64. At this point, I'm not sure anyone knows exactly WHY he got the prize.

It certainly wasn't for his efforts for lasting peace in Afghanistan.

I'm partial to the "Not George W. Bush" theory.

[jenmito]

65. How 'bout his stated goal of ridding the world of nuclear weapons for starters? n/t

[jgraz]

67. If he actually does it, we should give him 10 prizes

I haven't seen much action in that area.

[jenmito]

68. "Deal reached to cut nuclear arms"

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0709/24562.html

"G8 leaders support Russia-U.S. agreement on arms reduction"

http://en.rian.ru/world/20090709/155481876.html

[jgraz]

69. A preliminary framework for "relatively modest cuts" is a bit different from total elimination

Still waiting for the radical CHANGE Obama promised...

[jenmito]

71. You'll be waiting forever. Nothing he does will be enough for you.

:eyes: The way he reached out to the Muslim people, the way he has made America the most admired country, along with everything he has already done to help the people here, IS change.

[jgraz]

72. And anything he does will be enough for you

Which one of us is doing more to push the country forward?

[jenmito]

77. Not true...

I've criticized him on the speed in which he's getting DADT and DOMA ended. And although he hasn't done everything he promised (yet), he's doing the best he can with the Congress he has. I'm doing what I can to help get legislation passed.

[jgraz]

79. So you have one criticism and I have one thing I liked

Sounds like a tie.

[jenmito]

81. No-it's not even. You were proud that he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

Then when I asked you why you think he won it, you didn't have a valid answer. DADT and DOMA are TWO things-not one. ;) And this is the Democratic Underground where you're supposed to generally support our Dems.

[jgraz]

86. Once again, it's "generally support Dems", not "unconditionally support the president"

Dennis Kucinich, Howard Dean, Barbara Lee, Russ Feingold, Alan Grayson, Al Franken, etc, etc, etc. I support many Democrats. When they support us.

[jenmito]

103. The President is a Dem. And I don't see you generally supporting him.

You generally DON'T support him.

[jgraz]

104. Come on, you know that's weak.

Do I really need to explain where your ... ahem ... logic falls down?

[jenmito]

105. No, it's not.

Obama is the DEM. president. We didn't HAVE a Dem. president when the rulesfor DU were written.

[jgraz]

106. You may wish to take that up with Skinner.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=389&topic_id=5524913

[jenmito]

109. Thanks for the link. I got some valuable information from it...

Mainly THIS line: "But insults, name-calling, or other expressions of contempt toward Barack Obama or his supporters are not welcome." I would think that includes calling someone a "cheerleader." ;)

[jgraz]

111. Fair point.

As long as you acknowledge the fact that any and all substantive criticism of Obama is part of what this site is about. And there is no minimum of "nice" posts required.

[jenmito]

112. You got it...

deal.

[harmonicon]

101. he's not a capital "S" socialist, but just a socialist.

He is a member of no party (including any Socialist party) but caucuses with the Democrats and in his state's elections is effectively the Democratic candidate. Get your facts straight before you try to correct others.

[jenmito]

110. He's a member of the Independent party and a self-described Socialist who caucuses with Dems. n/t

[harmonicon]

113. do you not get the distinction between "Socialist" and "socialist"?!

One cannot be a self-described proper noun. For instance, a furry brown fellow at a zoo may well be a bear, a stuffed toy may be a bear, etc. None of them, however, are Bears, because that would make them members of an NFL team.

[KT2000]

12. He has courage

There are many people in this country who have been seriously hurt and disabled from exposures to toxic chemicals. The "system" is adept at labeling these people "crazy" and then dumping them so they end up not getting medical care and many times must turn to SSI to even live. Corporations are not held liable, insurance companies do not have to pay, employers just dump the injured workers and eveything goes on except the injured person loses everything.
Bernie Sanders has read into the public record how these people are treated and who is getting away with murder. No other politician I know of has stood up for these people/us. I will love him forever because he did.

[valerief]

16. + a gazillion!!!!

[Name removed]

17. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Armstead]

22. Amen...Amen....Amen

Bernie is the greatest.

And the sad thing is that he is real popular with voters in his state...Including those who would not be considered "liberals" or "progressives."

They like him because he is straight, and they know he is fighting for their interests.

If only the democrats would learn from him.

[cali]

56. We like him because we know him.

and we like him because his staff is amazing.

[Norrin Radd]

25. kr

[Odin2005]

26. K&R

[closeupready]

31. OH YEAH. Big YEAH. love him.

love him, love him, love him. :hi:

[Dinger]

34. Rec # 66 From Me

:patriot:

[mdmc]

48. 69th

unless others unrecc it down..

[bdamomma]

50. I stop and listen to Bernie when he talks, he knows whats going on.

[bdamomma]

51. n/t

[treestar]

53. He is a Socialist and the only elected one in Congress

And that tells me something about our chances of getting legislation that a Socialist would want passed.

[harmonicon]

102. What is it with people and the English language on DU today?

He is not a Socialist, but a socialist. Capitalization matters.

[Generator]

66. I thought that too when I saw him last night on Maddow

Another Vermonter. Must be a lot like Oregon. :)

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

70. America's best centrist!

:patriot:

[liberation]

90. I consider him a moderate progressive, which is my favorite part of the political spectrum BTW

a lot of the "progressives" in this site would probably faint if they were to face real progressive parties and their platforms in other industrialized democracies.

What passes for "far left" in this forum (Sanders, Kucinich, et al), would be probably considered off-center left in pretty much elsewhere in the world. It is frightening how much to the right the political discourse in this country has been co-opted.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

75. Said all You need to !! K & R

[Kitty Herder]

84. I love him, too. Am I the only one who thinks it's kind of sad that the best democrat in the senate

isn't a Democrat?

[LovinLife]

89. That was my point. People try to label him as this and that, but he's a real democrat.

Its a shame the Party has moved away from people like that.

[bertman]

92. He represents what I WISH the Democrats represented. I love the guy. That is all.

except for REC.

[CK_John]

93. Bernie is not a Dem he just caucuses with the Dem's in the Senate. He and Lieberman

are Independents.

[Dr.Phool]

96. Nah, Liebermoron is an asshole.

[Garam_Masala]

97. Yes Bernie is right 99% of the time n/t

[Vinca]

98. If Bernie Sanders and Dennis Kucinich ran the country

we'd be so much better off.

[ProgressOnTheMove]

108. He's really is the true leader in the Senate it would have no direction without him glad he never...

ran for President. He knew that his skills were most needed in the Senate he's clearly a man with a plan and it's coming to fruition.

[WI_DEM]

114. Sounds like he could favor the compromise on Health Care, too.