Sanders: Would be 'good' for Obama to face primary challenge

[The Northerner]

One of the Senate's liberal stalwarts suggested over the weekend that President Obama could benefit from a primary challenger over the next year.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (Vt.), an Independent who caucuses with Democrats, said it would be a "good idea" for Obama to face a primary challenger, if for nothing else than as a counterweight to Republican voices in the presidential debate.

"My suggestion is, I think one of the reasons the president has been able to move so far to the right is that there is no primary opposition to him, and I think it would do this country a good deal of service if people started thinking about candidates out there to begin contrasting what is a progressive agenda as opposed to what Obama is doing," Sanders told talk show host Thom Hartmann over the weekend. "I think it would be a good idea if President Obama faced some primary opposition."

Liberals like Sanders have been critical of Obama for engaging with Republicans in negotiations over how much to cut spending, in connection with an agreement to raise the nation's debt ceiling. Sanders in particular has been a vocal opponent of any plans to transform entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/173201-sanders-says-it-would-be-good-for-obama-to-face-primary-challenge

[Ken Burch]

1. The "unrec's" have already started

Started, no doubt, by those who want no challenge at all to the administration's continued rightward slump.

As Abraham Ribicoff said, that night in Chicago, "...How hard it is to accept the truth".

[TBF]

2. K&R nt

[SugarShack]

105. yes kick! but why won't bernie? he would be on a ticket that he could go all the way

[TBF]

114. I'd vote for Bernie. nt

[ClarkUSA]

3. Sanders is not a "Liberal"; he's a Socialist. Funny how right-wing shill The Hill leaves that out...

... the better to plug that false media whore meme that "Liberal" Democrats are mad at President Obama when a huge majority of us approve of him and always have since he first stepped into office.

[PSPS]

6. "Huge majority?" HAHA. Ok, sure. Whatever.

[ClarkUSA]

24. That's right. The most recent CNN poll shows 84% of Democrats want him renominated.

[PSPS]

29. Compared to whom? Link please. Don't just make things up.

[ClarkUSA]

33. Unlike you, I offered you a salient relevant fact. Check CNN's latest ORC International poll result.

Over the weekend, there were only a dozen OPs about it. Go check DU archives.

[roguevalley]

31. since its him or bachmann et al and there are no dems stepping

up, sure they want him. but if there was a viable alternative that would change. he benefits from the dickheads running.

[Armstead]

12. Sanders is a liberal. A few decades ago his positions would have been mainstream Democrat

I have a hard time considering anyone a "Liberal" who supports all of this bullshit that is going on.

[woo me with science]

22. +1 for the truth. nt

[ClarkUSA]

25. That's your subjective opinion. The fact is he himself considers himself a Socialist not a Liberal.

[Armstead]

37. A Democratic Socialist in the European model, a la Scandinavian model

If you ever bother to look st his positions, he is not caalling for anything radical.

Enforcing corpirate responsibility, tsking responsibility for people who need help, etc. Just the stuff thst liberals believe in. Used to be the things Democrats believed in.

[shireen]

72. +1

thanks to Bernie, i identify myself as a democratic socialist.

[noiretextatique]

49. newsflash: a socialist is a liberal eom

[frylock]

81. on the nu-du, conservative is the new liberal..

and liberal is the new anarchist.

[noiretextatique]

no shit

their disinformation campaign has worked better than i thought. we now have so-called democrats spouting the same BS.

[noiretextatique]

106. no shit

their disinformation campaign has worked better than i thought. we now have so-called democrats spouting the same BS.

[derby378]

115. Hey, my goalposts have never moved

The demands I had in 2006 are the same demands I have today. I can understand others getting weary and compromising their standards just because Obama is in the White House, but we didn't endure eight years of Bush-Cheney for this.

[frylock]

120. word

[WoodyM90]

82. As one who grew up while FDR was president

I consider Bernie Sanders to be more of a Democrat than the person we now have in the White House.

[MissDeeds]

79. Word!

+1

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

47. So are a lot of Democrats. So?

[swilton]

62. So why so contemptuous about socialists

He lists himself as a social democrat - a party that is very popular in European states which incidentally have universal health care, free educations, lower infant mortality, higher literacy than the US....

[closeupready]

65. Ho-hum. You get tired of singing that same song over and over and over and over again,

every single day?

[Bonobo]

87. Are those mutually exclusive? Umm, no.

BTW, YOU are a socialist too. You just won't admit it.

[neoralme]

88. Not any more..........He's done. When he brought to the plate

cuts to entitlements as an opening gambit, that was it-- And there were changes to SS that he was concealing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GF5auFBJKw&feature=player_embedded

[JDPriestly]

96. About Sanders

The Almanac of American Politics has called Sanders a "practical" and "successful legislator." He has focused on the shrinking middle class and widening income gap in America that is greater than at any time since the Great Depression. Other priorities include reversing global warming, universal health care, fair trade policies, supporting veterans and preserving family farms. He serves on five Senate committees: Budget; Veterans; Energy; Environment; and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.

http://sanders.senate.gov/about/

When Vermonters chose Sanders to replace retired Sen. Jim Jeffords, I-Vt., in 2006, some senators doubted whether the impassioned socialist known for his untamed white hair and fiery oratory would fit in with the staid Senate. Some of them confided their fears to Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy, Vermont's senior senator and a veteran of more than three decades in the Senate.

"I've had a number of senators on both sides of the aisle say what a pleasant surprise he has turned out to be," Leahy said, chuckling. "I had a conservative senator come up to me recently and say, 'I never thought I'd be saying this, but I'm working on an amendment with Bernie Sanders, and I enjoy working with him.' "

Leahy said Sanders has impressed skeptical colleagues by coming well-prepared to committee meetings, doing his homework to understand issues and being willing to work hard.

"In our closed-door (Democratic) caucuses, he's not one of the senators who wants to speak on everything," Leahy said. "He picks his issues, and when he does speak, he has something valuable to say, and people listen."

http://sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/news/?id=613b6202-350c-49aa-afaf-d5dfd9e10cbf

Burlington Free Press Feb. 18, 2008

[Dutchmaster]

100. Majority?

Of my fairly large liberal circle of friends I can think of 2 people that are still true believers. The rest are just as disgusted as I am. Keep telling yourself that the majority are with you if it makes you feel better, by all means. The real truth is, the majority have tuned out.

[RKP5637]

4. I would like to see some choices in the primary. It would be healthy for

the democratic party IMO.

[gkhouston]

26. +1. It's a four-year term, not an 8-year one. If someone wants to

run in the primaries, let 'em.

[femrap]

41. I would like to see the

past Governor of OH run....Strickland. He has voiced opposition to Obama of late. And this man came from a family that was Dirt Poor. He understands what REAL PEOPLE face.

[RKP5637]

55. Yep, I think many if not most politicians today are insular from what real people

in this country face day to day. They just mouth the words and tell people what they want to hear. Not all, but certainly many IMO. IMO primaries are excellent, because they get the issues back in the air.

[txlibdem]

102. So he didn't go to private school on an island paradise? Imagine that.

[Bluenorthwest]

5. Good for him, good for us, good for the Party...

democracy is always good, the more the better. Anyone who wishes to serve personalities over more democracy is free to plug their ears and sing Donnie McClurkin songs to ignore the noisy democracy they detest.

[brooklynite]

7. To the "Primary Obama!" crowd - would you be prepared to LOSE Bernie Sanders?

Bernie is up for re-election next year. While I don't expect him to have any serious opposition, let me point out that:

1) if Bernie ran as a Primary opponent to President Obama, it would be a lot harder to concurrently run for re-election.

2) Socialist as he may be, Bernie is supported by DSCC and the "fatcats" (myself incuded) who provide serious funding for "Democratic" candidates (I had dinner with him two weeks ago at DSCC's retreat for "deep pockets" contributors. If he chose to challenge and risk the re-election of the President, I would NOT expect DSCC to continue to support him financially, and I wouldn't put it past the Democrats to find their own candidate for VT Senator.

So, what do you want? A "statement" Presidential campaign, or a continuation of Bernie in the Senate?

[MannyGoldstein]

8. First off, it's worth the risk: something needs to be done

We need to have some sort of shot at returning Democratic principles to the WH. The current situation is a catastrophe.

Second off, I believe that such a move would only help burnish Bernie's reputation in Vermont.

[woo me with science]

23. Well said. nt

[ClarkUSA]

27. Sanders explicitly said he didn't want to primary Pres. Obama.

He's idiotic with this stupid suggestion, but not crazy enough to give up his cushy Senate soapbox.

[socialist_n_TN]

66. So being outspoken in FAVOR of REAL

center-left positions (and trust me that's what these are. They're NOT leftist positions, they're center-left) is a "cushy Senate soapbox".

I'm REALLY curious about this. Upthread, you said you were a "liberal". What positions on issues do you support that makes you a "liberal"? BTW, NOT a call out of any sort. I just want to make sure that our definitions of the labels are the same.

[louslobbs]

70. The silence is deafening, I notice you never got a response to your question.

Lou

[socialist_n_TN]

73. Yeah, it's funny. Anytime I ask a policy question

of some folks, I get this response. Otherwise known as nothing. I guess some just like the labels.

[louslobbs]

75. I know, I've seen this pattern time and time again when a policy question is asked. I wonder why?

Lou

[cui bono]

91. It's pretty idiotic to think that someone from another party can primary the president.

But putting that aside, why exactly is he idiotic?

You make a lot of statements for which you fail to provide anything substantive to back them up. All you can do is say a bunch of nothings to attempt to defend your idol against any criticism even though it is all completely warranted. Why don't you actually look up the Dem Party platform and see what it says and then see if Obama comes anywhere near fighting for those ideals. No, he doesn't "got this". Not by a long shot. Unless you're a banker or a war criminal or a health insurance CEO.

[LWolf]

45. I want Obama to face a strong primary challenge

FROM THE LEFT.

Obviously, that is not going to be Sanders, since he is not a Democrat. If he became a D to challenge Obama, I'd be happy to support him.

I'm thinking Feingold or Grayson, neither holding current office, are two of several viable possibilities.

[Babel_17]

71. Win or lose

a principled fight would only strengthen support for Sanders.

[madrchsod]

9. good idea...someone should challenge obama

make the boys and girls in chicago work for their money.

at the end of the day obama will be the candidate but maybe just maybe he`ll decide to be on the people`s side.

[kctim]

61. Because 84% Dem support of what he is doing

means he is not on the "peoples side."

:rofl:

[socialist_n_TN]

67. That's probably 84% who support him over the

ones who are currently running against him. Bachmann, Pawlenty, Romney, even W. Perry. Hell, I "support" Obama against that crew. It would be interesting to see what the numbers would be if a REAL progressive were put up against him.

[kctim]

69. Progressives make up less than 20% of the Dem Party

The numbers would be the same. Maybe worse.

[socialist_n_TN]

74. So you're saying that 80% of Democrats don't support

the Democratic Party platform? And if that's the case, why in the world are y'all worried about us not voting. Obviously we're not a big enough group to worry about.

[kctim]

108. No, I am saying 80% of Dems

do not support the liberal/progressive interpretations of the Democratic Party platform.

Why are we worried about you not voting? Because while we may not always share common solutions, we do usually share common goals. And at this point in time, we must work together or see those common goals ignored.

We CANNOT win without you and you don't stand a chance without us.
We know we need each other, now we just need to respect each other.

[socialist_n_TN]

118. So we respect each other by us shutting the fuck up?

And signing on to Republican budget cuts? I'm not and never have been a Republican. And I've not and never have supported Republican policies. That includes the policies of Ronald Reagan. I don't give a rat's ass WHAT party somebody CLAIMS to be, if their policies are Republican, I will NOT support those policies. Oh and I won't shut up about it either.

[derby378]

116. Hey, there's parts of the platform that I don't support, either

That might make me a "gun loon" in the eyes of some around these here parts, but it doesn't make me any less of a Democrat.

[Liberalynn]

63. +1

[AndyTiedye]

10. Is That an "8 Years of President Bachman Will Teach the Democrats a Lesson" Kind of Good?

It is having to compromise with the Teabaggers that is dragging Obama to the right, but what choice has he?

[Armstead]

13. Obama has dragged himself to the right...And quite willingly it seems

He can't wait to get out that scalpel and put it to all those entitlements.

[cui bono]

93. He didn't drag himself to the right. He RACED there! He purposely uses the right wing framing

and uses that as a reason he has to compromise when he never even tried to get what he claims he wanted in the first place. He just offers up republican policies to the right and they still turn him down because he's a Dem. So then he offers them up more. He could just as easily fight for the Democratic ideals and stand his ground and use press conferences to explain the facts to the American people but he doesn't. Why doesn't he? Because he doesn't want to. He's doing exactly what he wants to do when he moves the entire country to the right.

[emilyg]

14. Old, ineffective line.

[AndyTiedye]

28. Is This Where You Tell Us There is No Difference Between the Two?

[Name removed]

39. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[AndyTiedye]

42. Seems Like the Party of NO Strategy is Working

Even our own people blame Obama for what the Republicans have been doing.

[roguevalley]

32. he could man up and be a dem. he doesn't have to compromise

with anyone. I'm so damned old I remember when dem presidents used to enforce the whips and use them on the fuckers like Baucus and the like when they strayed. But he VOLUNTEERS shit. He steps up and tells them what the least he will accept and they know he's a weakling and they just have to wait because he'll cave. HE TELLS THEM. I don't understand him and frankly he needs a real primary opponent to wipe the stoopid out of his mind. He's surrounded by fucking millionaire quizlings. He cut WIC. nuff said.

[AndyTiedye]

36. Yeah, Back in the Good Old Days When We had a Fairness Doctrine and Real Ballots

…and there actually WAS such a thing as a "liberal media".
We could take to the streets and it actually made the news!

Ever since Reagan the right wing has become an unstoppable force.
All we have been able to do is slow it down a little.

[roguevalley]

38. agreed. its almost too much having been in a world where there

was possibility. young ones growing up now only know this. :(

[socialist_n_TN]

68. So your recommendation is to give up and become

Republican Lite? Why even try it if they're an "unstoppable force"? I say give a shot to acting like a REAL Democrat for a change. The people might even get behind you. You know, like in '08.

[cui bono]

94. And they would have if he had used the momentum of the election.

But he's not a leader. I think that's one of the biggest misconceptions about him. He actually has not led at all since he got elected. He fought more against his attackers to win the presidency than he does to save the country. He just wants to reach a conclusion no matter what it is. He's a moderator, not a leader.

[AndyTiedye]

111. Democratic Presidents Don't Get a "Honeymoon". Only Republicans Do

There wasn't any "momentum". Not in Washington.

The Repigs have been fighting Obama tooth and nail since the day he took office.
We thought it was bad with Clinton, but it was far worse with Obama.

[cui bono]

117. Yeah but he had the people "fired up and ready to go" and then he didn't lead.

Had he actually stood for something and taken it to the people when the enthusiasm was there it would've been a different story. Instead he made back door deals with big pharma, told progressives to STFU and met Republicans more than halfway before the "negotiations" even started.

He did fight back the way he did when he wanted to get elected.

[frylock]

86. what ever happened to that fairness doctrine?

what have democrats done over the last 11 years to ensure that election fraud on a scale of 2000 and 2004 won't ever happen again?

[AndyTiedye]

110. Reagan Ended the Fairness Doctrine. The MSM Has Been All Repigs All the Time Ever Since

Of course the Mighty Slime Machine (MSM) is complicit in the election fraud too,
either suppressing or changing their exit polls when they conflict with the
official results.

The media also worked with the Repigs to turn our concerns about election fraud
to their advantage, so punch-card machines with their hanging chads got replaced
with easily-hackable electronic voting machines, and concerns about election fraud
got turned by the media into "voter fraud" as a justification for ever more
draconian ID requirements to keep Democrats from voting.

[Union Scribe]

35. Lol. I guess waving Palin at us doesn't work anymore

Bachman is the new poo-on-the-stick to threaten Democrats with, nice. How about offering something to feel good about, instead of fear?

[noiretextatique]

obama would have to lose the primary

and if he is the best candidate, surely that won't happen.

[neoralme]

89. Might well happen now, depending on the new person.

[noiretextatique]

great...i would support the dem nominee eom

[noiretextatique]

107. great...i would support the dem nominee eom

[noiretextatique]

53. obama would have to lose the primary

and if he is the best candidate, surely that won't happen.

[frylock]

84. evidently 8 years of president bush wasn't enough to wake people up..

and i've gone on record stating that maybe we do need another run like that if we have any "hope" for real "change."

[neoralme]

90. Eight years of President Bush did nothing to keep my avoiding

a DINO President that offers Social Security and Medicare up for grabs in deficit talks. But, then, I'm a REAL Democrat, not someone who views SS and Medicare as gifts to offer at the first get-go without any provocation even.

[AndyTiedye]

112. We'll Never Get the Country Back if they Win Now

Every time the Republicans win, they get more powerful, and the Democratic Party gets weaker.

It isn't a question of "waking people up". The people are awake. Unfortunately, the first
thing most of them do when they wake up is turn on the Tee Vee.

[emilyg]

11. knr

[mmonk]

15. That would be interesting. I could be voting FOR someone as opposed

to voting against Republicans.

[Jefferson23]

16. If you asked anyone here 2 years ago if they thought Bernie would feel

compelled to have this conversation, how many would have said yes.

I would have said no way back then.


K&R

[defendandprotect]

17. kr

[killbotfactory]

18. Good for who?

The republicans, since it will distract Obama from taking them on?

For the media, so they can portray the left as a bunch of naive extremists?

[Jefferson23]

19. From Sanders:

"..if for nothing else than as a counterweight to Republican voices in the presidential debate."

For the good of our country, that's who.

[seafan]

20. Elizabeth Warren.

She has the fire in the belly about the financial trauma that is demoralizing regular people into outright despair.


That is evident in this video.


Sanders: Would be 'good' for Obama to face primary challenge, July 25, 2011


Oh, yes.


And Bernie Sanders would be a fantastic VP.



We would see the return of true democratic principles with people like these in charge.



If anything, a primary challenge to Obama would bring a truly progressive platform into the light for the first time, after being beaten down, demoralized, insulted and incarcerated, as we have seen for the past two and a half years.


And it's about damn time the country is allowed to see it.

[CleanGreenFuture]

83. I agree a primary challenge could only be a good thing. And I agree it should be Ms. Warren.

[woo me with science]

21. Kicked and recommended.

We desperately need to take our party back.

[Scurrilous]

30. Go for it Bernie!

:thumbsup:

[treestar]

34. Obama is not going to the right, there is a republican house

Is Sanders stupid?

[ScreamingMeemie]

40. He's already there.

[uponit7771]

43. Bashers hate to acknowledge US congress even exist, goes straight to bashin Obama

[cui bono]

95. Lame excuse. Show me how the Republicans forced him to offer up SS and Medicare. n/t

[Kingofalldems]

44. Unrec for constant flow of anti-Democatic Party posts

I know I'm not the only one noticing.

[LWolf]

46. Recognizing that a 3rd way Dem in the oval office

is bad for the party and the nation is not "anti-Democratic Party."

Supporting one Democrat over another in a primary, and voicing that support, or support for a DEMOCRATIC PARTY primary, is not "anti-Democratic Party."

An Independent that generally works WITH the Democratic Party talking about a Democratic primary is also not "anti-Democratic Party."

Please try to stay somewhere within range of the facts.

[Kingofalldems]

48. Not even what I meant--I posted to the OP.

[LWolf]

54. Then that's a call-out, and against DU rules nt

[Kingofalldems]

64. So be it

[noiretextatique]

what if his primary challenger IS a democrat?

surely you aren't suggesting that a democratic challenger would be against the democratic party, are you?

[noiretextatique]

52. what if his primary challenger IS a democrat?

surely you aren't suggesting that a democratic challenger would be against the democratic party, are you?

[cui bono]

97. How is trying to save the Democratic Party anti-Democratic Party? n/t

[piratefish08]

50. President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann

President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President BachmannPresident Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President BachmannPresident Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann President Bachmann





sorry. just wanted to see what that felt like.......

[sendero]

119. WHO CARES?

What's Bachmann going to do? Cut SS? Well Obama is fine with that. Cut Medicare? Obama is fine with that too.

Please, don't waste our time with empty threats.

[spanone]

51. it would be the republican wet dream

[MissDeeds]

80. No, I think we already have that

[postatomic]

56. Love Bernie. I'd vote for him to be President

But I disagree with him on this. The last primary was so much fun. I still have a hangover from that one. It's 100% Obama. A no brainer.

[grahamhgreen]

57. Yay! But this comment is bogus RW framing: "critical of Obama for engaging with Republicans"

Not true at all. It's the details of the negotiations that we have been critical of.

[muffin1]

58. K&R n/t

[noiretextatique]

democrats against democracy out in force

assuming someone did run against obama in the primary, that person would have to win the primary before the dire predictions of a republcon president to have any basis in reality. as far as i know, running against a sitting president in not yet considered treason, and is perfectly acceptable in a democracy. if obama is the best candidate, i assume he would survive a primary challenge. he wants us to hold his feet to the fire, and he welcomes criticism, so i can't think of a better way to hold him accountable.

[noiretextatique]

59. democrats against democracy out in force

assuming someone did run against obama in the primary, that person would have to win the primary before the dire predictions of a republcon president to have any basis in reality. as far as i know, running against a sitting president in not yet considered treason, and is perfectly acceptable in a democracy. if obama is the best candidate, i assume he would survive a primary challenge. he wants us to hold his feet to the fire, and he welcomes criticism, so i can't think of a better way to hold him accountable.

[DearAbby]

60. I agree

[struggle4progress]

76. We leftists would get lots further by working to organize the factory floor, or trying to figure out

what it would really take to be ready to pull off a national strike, than we could possibly get by pizzing on the prez

[neoralme]

98. No, because a national strike whether successful or not would not

curtail Obama's propensity for Republican positions. And next we may not be able to nip it in the bud. I don't want to go to the senior center again and have everyone ask me why Obama wants to destroy senior programs. Also, where exactly are factory floors. China is a long long way away.

[struggle4progress]

103. I don't think you understood a word I said, so I'll try again: the way to win fights is to have folk

well-organized to wage fights

You simply can't expect the President to go take a stand on Little Roundtop and defend it alone

[neoralme]

104. Before you can do that, all parties in the group need be pointed

in the same direction. Obama was after entitlements from the beginning of his presidency. It was he who appointed the Catfood Commission. But, to each his own. I was non-plussed then. Everything else was downhill.

[MissDeeds]

77. Highly recommended

Agree 100%.

:kick:

[Somawas]

78. Go Bernie!

We need a real liberal.

[NorthCarolina]

85. I couldn't agree more. GO BERNIE! K&R nt

[JDPriestly]

92. +1

[pam4water]

99. I think Bernie is just applying pressure to Obama the way Obama should be pressuring the Repubs. And

bless his little heart for it! Or big heart in this case!

[bloomington-lib]

101. It would not be a counter weight to pub voices. It would just be a weight around Obama

I give this idea a thumbs down :thumbsdown:

[ThomWV]

109. Kick and Recommend

[brooklynite]

113. So, how's the planning going?

Any contributions made to a "Draft Bernie" fund?

Any actual calls to his office (or DK's or Grayson's) to encourage them to run?

Anyone even create a website?





Didn't think so.