Senator Sanders: "If a progressive Democrat were to run, I think it would enliven the debate"

[ProSense]

Obama primary challenge would be a good thing, liberal senator says

One of the Senate's liberal leaders said Wednesday that it would be beneficial for President Obama to face a primary challenger from the left in 2012.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who has criticized the president for — among other things — brokering a tax deal with Republicans, said that it is worthwhile to have a wide array of voices in the campaign.

"If a progressive Democrat were to run, I think it would enliven the debate," he said during an interview on WNYC Radio. "They are free to do that."

<...>

The self-described democratic socialist again ruled out a run Tuesday after he did so at the end of last year.

<...>

Here's the segment: WNYC (at about 17 mins.)

Kucinich passed the buck. Dean has already said no. Besides, he's not the ideal candidate.

Who can mount a credible run against the President's record? Bluster is not enough to campaign on.

[Armstead]

1. I can think of a numbert who could....

but not any that would.

[patrick t. cakes]

44. i just wish we could get a democrat to run...

a progressive would be a wet dream

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. Oh, well. Bernie's not the only progressive in the country.

Too bad. He'd make a fine challenger to Obama.

[in_cog_ni_to]

3. G-d love that man! Bernie should run against BO!

He should NOT rule it out. He's the PERFECT Progressive candidate to run against BO. Russ Feingold could possibly win too.

[Lucinda]

4. They are the first two I thought of...

[MineralMan]

7. Neither would do more than be a distraction.

Neither has the national name recognition to win a single primary. They know that. That's why they're not running, for pete's sake.

[in_cog_ni_to]

18. Name recognition? Please. Ask Bill Clinton,

the Governor from Arkansas, how many people knew his name when he ran the first time. :) All it would take is Bernie to speak the TRUTH, like he always does. The country would fall in love with him.

I do believe Russ Feingold is quite well-known also.

[MineralMan]

19. You're deceiving yourself here. Neither is well known to the general

population. Feingold lost a race in his own state. Do you know why? Sanders will have a very difficult race for his own Senate seat in 2012. Neither is even close to being a serious Presidential contender, even in the primaries. Neither would win a single primary. That I can guarantee.

[Shiver]

34. Feingold lost for the same reason that a lot of Dems lost seats in the Midterms.

Because too many people stayed home on election day, and because Citizens United opened the door for unlimited corporate campaign donations. Ron Johnson was largely backed by out-of-state interests, just like Walker was, which gave him much better funding than Feingold. Combine that with so many people staying home, and we get a moron like Johnson. It wasn't because people weren't happy with Feingold, it was because the people that would have voted for him simply didn't vote.

[MineralMan]

40. Precisely. And that's the key to reversing 2010, but some

would rather see the teabaggers in control than to elect a Democratic majority in both houses. I think I'll just keep supporting democrats in my own state and district. Seems like the best option.

[elias49]

39. You're absolutely right.

Sometimes sheer idealism makes fools of the best of us.
There will never be a 'progressive' elected president of the US...
at least not as left-wingers define 'progressive' on boards like this.

[Name removed]

53. Deleted message

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

[MineralMan]

58. I have no idea. I haven't posted there in years.

Why do you ask?

[CakeGrrl]

22. Russ Feingold couldn't get re-elected to the Senate in blue Wisconsin

...but he'd have the juice to take a nationwide Dem primary?

Show me the logic here.

[cascadiance]

25. I'm thinking him running for Walker's seat once he's recalled is a better move for him...

And I do believe that many fed up Wisconsinites that now feel betrayed by many Republicans in that state might elect him in a landslide there.

If he's governor for a few years, he might be a good candidate in 2016 for president then.

I really prefer the idea of Sanders becoming a Democrat and leading an effort for progressives to "retake" the Democratic Party from the corporatists... I think if he were to win the primary, you actually might increase party turnout (especially progressive turnout) in many races in 2012 moreso than we'd get with Obama as the candidate.

We really need a draft Sanders to primary Obama campaign...

[grahamhgreen]

46. It was citizen united money that did russ and alan in. Any Dem will face that in 2012.

[MineralMan]

5. Hell, I'd be happy if progressive VOTERS would show up at the

polls and bring all their friends with them. That would make me very happy, and would help reverse the abysmal results of 2010.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

59. We'll be there.

Just waiting on the progressive POLITICIANS.

[leftstreet]

6. Why doesn't he run as an Independent?

He gets all this cred for being a "Socialist," but what does he do to grow that particular party, or press a leftist agenda?

:shrug:

[MineralMan]

9. Because he knows that would do nothing but take votes away

from Democrats and lead to wins by Republicans. That's why. In that way, he's a lot smarter than some of us.

[leftstreet]

11. But if the Democrats can't get progressive votes....

what difference would it make?

[MineralMan]

15. See my #5.

That's the real problem.

[Donnachaidh]

8. if anything, it might light a fire under Obama's ass

He might actually DO something for someone other than feathering the elites nest. No president should automatically assume they are going to *get* a second term. That's part of the problem.

[walldude]

36. +1 I don't think it matters who it is as long as they are

progressive. No one is going to beat a sitting President for the nomination, but dammit someone needs to be out there speaking for the people.

The best thing we could do right now is put Obama on the spot and try to force him to move in the right direction.

[Donnachaidh]

42. he's too complacent -- he's got no reason to work for US right now

primary his ass and make him work for that 2nd term.

[polichick]

10. It would certainly "enliven the debate" - and remind the prez of what it means...

...to be a Dem.

The candidate would need to be strong and completely unapologetic about Democratic principles and policies - providing a clear choice.

[Donnachaidh]

14. Alan Grayson

He's Mr. Unapologetic. Actually, he points, laughs and mocks with glee....

[polichick]

51. I do love that about him!

[mmonk]

12. Are you saying it wouldn't?

[FBaggins]

13. I don't think that he's trying to "mount a credible campaign"

I think he's trying to ensure that the President runs a little more to the left (which is what you would do IF the Democratic primary had a progressive in it).

Otherwise, the Republican primary becomes a race to the right while the President tries to stake out the middle. That improves his chances of winning the general, but... well... moves him to the middle (which compared to the base, is too conservative).

A primary opponent who can at least energize debate during the primaries (and then drop out and endorse later), could ensure a "goldilox" Obama.

[ProSense]

28. Nice

theory.

"A primary opponent who can at least energize debate during the primaries (and then drop out and endorse later), could ensure a 'goldilox' Obama."

In theory it's logical. What it doesn't account for is reality: the one that splits the party, and given the current atmostphere, would likely increase voter apathy.

[FBaggins]

29. Ah... but DOES it split the party?

If the president wins 90% of the vote in the early states and shifts a little left in a couple debates, it could solidify support rather than split it.

The "debates" become free air time when otherwise the republicans would be getting all of the press.

[walldude]

37. ?? So are you saying there should be no progressive voice

at all and we progressives should just shut up and take what we are given because to actually have a real progressive movement would split the party?

[mmonk]

33. I would like to see a debate with traditional or progressive Democratic positions

in it.

[hootinholler]

16. Russ?

You hearing this Russ?

-Hoot

[Doctor_J]

17. Kucinich runs every four years

it doesn't seem to have much effect.

[tekisui]

21. I wonder if Kucinich, or someone like Kucinich would have more of

an effect if it was a two-way primary race.

[tekisui]

20. As always, Bernie is right. Wish he would run. Draft Bernie '12!

[slay]

49. I've sent emails to both Sanders and Kucinich asking them to run - to do it for the people

we can only hope one of them will. There are not a ton of options. Grayson perhaps. Weiner. Feingold. Will any have the balls to defy the Dem establishment and challenge Obama though?

I'm more than willing to listen to what Nader has to say at this point too.

[Smarmie Doofus]

23. The senator is right again. n/t

[cascadiance]

24. Feingold for president if he isn't running for Wisconsin governor...

Maybe that's why he's sitting back and not saying anything yet. Perhaps he's trying to decide where he's going to go on this question...

[chaska]

26. It's come to that, has it? Progs are just there to enliven, yadda.

We're just tools. Fuckin' tools.

Not me, I won't be played anymore. Done with that shit.

[EFerrari]

27. LOL

[JoePhilly]

30. Lots of DU folks are ready to jump in.

[Modern_Matthew]

31. Sanders definitely has more common sense than some of the people here. nt

[Ignis]

32. I'm sure the Kooch would get another "special" plane ride if he tried.

cf. the HCR vote arm-twisting

[Ikonoklast]

43. If DK would have voted against HCR, he would have been toast in his district.

He's not a total idiot.

[Ignis]

50. It was obviously a symbolic hold-out vote for 2008 party platform promises.

Some of us remember those; others think they're unimportant. :dilemma:

Covering All Americans and Providing Real Choices of Affordable Health Insurance Options.

Families and individuals should have the option of keeping the coverage they have or choosing from a wide array of health insurance plans, including many private health insurance options and a public plan. Coverage should be made affordable for all Americans with subsidies provided through tax credits and other means.

-- http://www.democrats.org/a/party/platform.html

[socialist_n_TN]

35. I agree with Bernie. If a real progressive/leftie would ....

primary Obama, it WOULD liven up the debate.

[KamaAina]

38. Anthony Weiner or Jan Schakowsky

Weiner: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=664533&mesg_id=664533

Schakowsky: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4773833&mesg_id=4773833

[hulka38]

41. The problem with the

"run a progressive in the primary" argument is it will only be a token representation of where progressives are wrt to Obama and the Democratic Party. I see no chance of the progressive challenger launching a well earned and potentially damaging assault on Obama's performance. The challenger's real agenda would be to gently shepherd the disheartened progressive sheep back into the pen.

[grahamhgreen]

45. Feingold/Greyson 2012, then 2016.

[slay]

48. I could see Feingold/Grayson

or even just Grayson - not sure everyone could - but Grayson is damn good with his speeches just like Obama. I think he could easily go toe-to-toe with Obama and win just using pure facts about the Obama admin's betrayal of the American people in favor of billionaires, bankers, and corporations. Feingold could do it too.

Also, the point is not necessarily to win, but to challenge Obama and make him explain his actions - and lack of actions - not just to progressives, but to the country, and the world.

[grahamhgreen]

55. agreed! The challenge is what's needed. Also, it will prep the challenger for 2016.

[cascadiance]

60. Perhaps also Feingold and Rocky Anderson

Grayson would be awesome, but Anderson, in addition to being a great liberal voice as the mayor of Salt Lake City might help bring in more diverse demographics in from the west.

[mmonk]

47. It would be a way disheartened Democratic voters could be assured

to get to the polls.

[ecstatic]

52. Is the poll gap between Obama and Sanders still 71%?

Barack Obama - 59 percent
Hillary Clinton - 28 percent

Barack Obama - 78 percent
Howard Dean - 10 percent

Barack Obama - 79 percent
Bernie Sanders - 8 percent

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=433x568900

[grahamhgreen]

56. No one knows who he is.

[slay]

57. You're missing the point

the point is to CHALLENGE Obama - live - in debates - on tv - make him answer for selling out the American people to billionaires, bankers, and corporations and right-wing ways of thought in general. That is the point - the point is not to win but to hold Obama accountable and to push him down a MUCH more progressive path if possible. To do that we need a progressive, liberal challenger. I don't debate the fact that Obama is likely to win 2012 - but if that is to be the case, shouldn't everything possible be done to steer this guy away from republicanism and down a MUCH more progressive path?

[Lorien]

54. I wish Bernie would run

it may be a write in candidate for me in 2012.