Bernie Sanders Weighs 2012 Primary Challenge

[Vanje]

http://dailycaller.com/2011/07/25/vermont-sen-bernie-sa...

[Name removed]

1. Deleted sub-thread

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[Peter1x9]

2. We need to get rid of the Plutocrats in both parties.

n/t

[hlthe2b]

3. I really really like Sanders...

but would our "own" support him or sell him out at the first accusation of "socialist" (buying fully into the RW memes?)

[okieinpain]

105. it doesn't matter if we support him or not, it's what the indies think

if they get that notion in their heads that he's going to raise taxes he's done. they will vote repug in droves and you'll have a repug government. think you hate president obama, wait till you have president bachman. lol.

[mmonk]

4. Yeah, I remember.

Hope he is thinking a little more about it since Friday.

[JDPriestly]

5. I hope there is a challenger.

I would gladly and proudly vote for Bernie Sanders himself.

[gkhouston]

12. Amen and amen. n/t

[KittyWampus]

34. LOL! Let's kill the Democratic party to save it.

[Vanje]

48. Better idea

Lets elect a goddam DEMOCRAT next time!

[KittyWampus]

35. #1. He's a not a Democrat #2. It's funny coming from someone with Edwards avatar.

[Cool Logic]

41. I was thinking exactly the same thing...

However, Sanders has more integrity in his empty pockets, than Edwards has money in the bank.

[Vanje]

50. Why in the world are we talking about Edwards? nt

[Vanje]

49. How do you define 'Democrat'?

Really. I'd be interested to know.

[karynnj]

66. Do you understand that Sanders ran as an Independent because he wanted to

He caucuses with the Democrats, but he is not an elected Democrat.

[Vanje]

68. Good!

It works for me!

How do you define "democrat"?

[karynnj]

73. In the context of running in a primary, I assume that registering as a Democrat would be the first

step. There is no litmus test needed to register as a Democrat. That said, in my lifetime, there were Democrats I would never have voted for if they were on a ballot I had before me - such as George Wallace, who ran in the primaries against McGovern. He was a segregationist and pretty despicable, but he was a member of the Democratic Party.

Yes, I realize that you may be implying some litmus test to call people duly registered in the party "not Democrats". Isn't it more accurate to just call them unacceptable (or pick a different adjective) Democrats?

[Cool Logic]

74. How do you define "democrat"?

(Sanders, D VT)

[polmaven]

92. My definition is "registered as a Democrat".

Bernie Sanders is a registered Independent, not a Democrat....He is not legally able to run in a Democratic primary.

[Autumn]

6. I'm there Bernie

[LatteLibertine]

7. I'd suppport him too :)

[dkf]

8. I think Bernie Sanders would have allowed us to default.

He scares me.

I don't think he is a practical person.

[TheKentuckian]

9. It is hard on the Turd Way when people refuse to play their games.

The wrong person with the veto and the ability to speak from the Oval Office might be a speed bump for those who generate crisis in order to scam out profits and gain control.

[sabrina 1]

24. He would never have allowed it to get to that point.

He only scares people who favor Corporate takeover of the government so that their interests are taken care of above all others.

He is a man of the people, he doesn't scare the people and that's what we need right now.

[okieinpain]

29. he would be a deer in the headlights. n/t.

[Vanje]

51. THats what they used to say about.....

.....Obama.

He came to the Presidency with darn little national experience.
Remember? We thought that was an asset!

[mitchtv]

71. and what do you think we have now?

a fighter?

[MessiahRp]

77. Obama was a deer in the headlights during this entire debate...

Which I might add Marc Ambinder TOLD him was going to go down like this after he fucked everyone with the extension of the Bush Tax Cuts in exchange for NOTHING.

Rp

[polmaven]

93. I'm just so gratified to know

that you consider the lives of millions of unemployed people to amount to NOTHING!

[MessiahRp]

95. He didn't even procure protection for those unemployed beyond 99 weeks.

He gave up a HUGE amount of tax cuts and debt for a tiny amount of Unemployment Extensions. Instead of going for it all, Obama does what he usually does, gives them almost everything they want and hopes for crumbs in exchange.

Weakest President Ever.

Rp

[polmaven]

99. A "tiny amount"...

Do your really consider 14 - 15 million people to be "a tiny amount" of people? Would I have preferred that the 99ers could get more benefits? Of course. But 99 weeks has been the top limit for a long time. That Congress has already blocked a vote to extend benefits past 26 WEEKS!! I'll say that again....26 WEEKS. I am one of them, yes. I do not appreciate being referred to a a "crumb".

[MessiahRp]

100. In the bigger scheme of things, what he negotiated for was a tiny amount

And had he been a tougher, spine having President he would have gotten the full UE deal PLUS the debt deal packed in. The GOP really wanted those tax cut extensions. If Obama had played tough with them and refused any deal without those concessions, they would have had to cave or watch their rich buddies panic. However Obama is gutless so he never stood firm, as per the usual.

Rp

[polmaven]

102. Well, i guess we will have to disagree

on what value my life and the lives of 15 million other people have.

[okieinpain]

104. lol. can't wait for your guy to run things. n/t.

[StarsInHerHair]

33. strange, I feel that way about Obama now

[OnyxCollie]

82. Oh my stars! You've convinced me.

No way will I vote for an irrational actor like Bernie Sanders.

He sounds like a terrorist.






(What's the matter? Don't feel well? You've got to try harder than that. You're just phoning it in.)

[JackRiddler]

103. You mean, he would not have capitulated to political terrorism? Probably not.

[cliffordu]

10. Sorry - no one I know ever heard of him.

Takes a MASSIVE political machine to get on the radar.....

Nader of the 2012 election. that is all.

[MADem]

17. You're making too much sense.

This will make you unpopular amongst the BO bashers.

[sabrina 1]

30. And yet, according to the Gallop poll, with no one knowing him

he's only 19 points behind the President right now. Imagine if people got to know him?

[SammyWinstonJack]

52. ...

I'd vote for Sanders in a New York minute.


I think I will get a yard sign if available, to counter the "No Socialism" sign in my next door neighbor's yard.

[Vanje]

53. !+++++++ nt

How much did the electorate know about Barrack Obama, during 2007?

Answer :Not Much.

[Number23]

72. 19 points behind the president in VERMONT. You know, his HOME STATE

Did you forget that little detail? http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

[polmaven]

94. LOL!

I guess VT is now considered the bellweather of the country!!!

[Number23]

106. I know. I have been DYING reading DU the past few days

Chris Rock could get 10 years worth of material from five minutes of reading here.

[quakerboy]

79. A question.

In 2004 who had heard of Barack Obama? Even in 2006, how many had heard of Him?

How about Palin. In August of 2008 who had heard of her? Even among people who pay attention to politics, how many of us knew her name?


It takes some sort of special event to happen, but they are both names that came from relative nowhere, and became well known in a really big hurry.

[LWolf]

101. There is no "Nader" of a primary election.

Obviously. I don't see Sanders suggesting himself as a primary challenger. He'd have to change party registration to do so.

Regardless, a primary challenge is not the same thing as a 3rd party challenge in a general election. Obviously.

If the Democratic Party is concerned about a strong 3rd party challenge splitting the vote in a general election, tptb might want to EARN the votes of those they've thrown under the bus; that's their job. Blaming citizens for exercising their right to run in an election, or to vote the way they want to, is anti-democratic and shows an unwillingness to actually earn votes. That's not what this OP is about, though. This OP is about a primary challenge.

I'm sorry if you, and the people you know, have only heard of dlc/3rd way/"new" democrats; there are still plenty of "old" Democrats out here.

[ProfessionalLeftist]

11. He's got my vote if he does. n/t

[FiveGoodMen]

22. Definitely!

[glinda]

13. I sincerely love Bernie and do not want him trapped in a majority rule of thuggery. It would

only work if there was a mass uprising and several unbeatable people that could support any change whatsoever. Why does every one fail to mention this?

[MrScorpio]

14. If I'm reading this correctly, he's not saying that he might run against Obama

He's suggesting that a Democrat on the far left should run against Obama, right?

And who might this far left Democrat be and what chance would he or she have against an incumbent?

Isn't is generally a bad idea to primary an incumbent president? I seem to recall that most incumbents who face a primary opponent usually lose the White House to the other party.

What to be gained by such a possible risk?

I love Bernie, but the fact is that he isn't really a Democrat. I'm much more interested in hearing what other Democratic leaders have to say about having Obama face a primary challenger.

Besides, I think that our most important priority should be replacing the teabaggers in Congress with progressive and liberal Democrats.

The White House at this point is an unnecessary distraction… We already have a Democratic candidate.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

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[Douglas Carpenter]

18. thank you for pointing that out ...he made it clear he was not talking about himself

Frankly I would enthusiastically support Bernie Sanders if he were to run. But there is simply no evidence that he is considering it and there is no other progressive of comparable national stature. Congressman Kucinich is a real progressive and a great man. But unfortunately he does have an image problem however unfair that may be. Progressives with minimal or no experience in significant elected office or major national office are simply not viable candidates for President of the United States especially given how marginalized the left is anyway in the world of the mainstream media and what passes for mainstream discourse these days. We are then left only with candidates who will not run given their entrenchment in the Democratic Party establishment or whose overall record is not consistently progressive except on very limited popular issues. I think the left its wasting its time and engaging in wishful thinking putting any energy into a possible primary challenge.

[PSPS]

19. The only scenario I can envision right now is like 1976

Back then, Carter had virtually no name recognition when he entered the race. The difference, though, is that the nation was still reeling from Tricky Dick's criminal administration and Ford was widely derided and still referred to as "Nixon's revenge." We also had a functioning press back then.

However, a very strong case could be made to the voters by a believable candidate on the basis of sheer economic populism. Maybe, like Carter, it could be a sitting or former governor.

Sadly, the country we have now isn't the one we had 35 years ago. So I'm resigned to the fact that this is just an academic exercise. The government and media is so corrupted now that I don't see any viable route to resolving things that includes the ballot box.

[karynnj]

67. We had no incumbent in 1976, Republican Gerald Ford was President

It was an open seat for the Democrats.

[Douglas Carpenter]

20. unfortunately most American are just not that politically engaged

I just came back from sitting in a bar and listening to ordinary folks talk about the debt crisis. These are not the sort of people who post on DU or Freerepublic or are partisan one way or another. It's not that they are right-wing or left-wing or any wing for that matter. They are just not that engaged and I'm afraid they are very representative of the vast majority of Americans. Some seem to think that the biggest problem is that Congressman make too much money. Everybody thinks that spending should be cut - but not on things that are necessary. Others think that both parties are way too partisan and both sides are crippled by their extremist. This of course is a common mime in the mainstream media. In spite of everything most Americans seem to think that President Obama is already liberal enough and many believe he is too liberal. In spite of everything even most self-described liberals which polling show to be only about 20% of the electorate seem to basically approve of President Obama. Most Americans seem far more concerned about the ordinary things in their day-to-day lives to give a lot of thought to politics. During most elections concrete specific positions on issues are barely discussed and no one seems to care that specific positions on issues are barely discussed. I simply cannot see where the social dynamics exist capable of forming a credible revolt within the Democratic Party to unseat a sitting Democratic President.

[dreamnightwind]

25. That's actually a reason for a primary challenger

"During most elections concrete specific positions on issues are barely discussed and no one seems to care that specific positions on issues are barely discussed."

This is exactly what a primary challenger could do. They don't care that issues aren't discussed because when they are, the debate has been carefully constructed so that no real solutions are presented, only corporate-approved "centrist" positions are talked about.

If nothing else, the public could hear what the real Democratic values are, and how they would approach the problems facing us. Without that, they'll just think Dems aren't much different than Repubs, and that the "liberal" policies of Obama are as bad as the conservative policies. Our party is getting a bad name, and our positions are not being articulated by anyone that matters to the people you so aptly describe.

[Vanje]

55. Yes! Thankyou!

nt

[Vanje]

57. When the conventional choice is between a Repub, and another guy who is just like a Repub.....

Why the hell should ordinary folks be politically engaged?
There aint no one talking about jobs.
There aint no one tasking the rich to pay their share.
There aint NO ONE calling for an END to these fucking wars.

There aint NO ONE addressing ordinary folks concerns.
No one!

[Douglas Carpenter]

89. you are absolutely correct ,,,no one is talking about these things

and certainly not with concrete proposals that make any sense on what to do about it. But unfortunately we are dealing with a society that is largely a mixture of the docile and the deeply indoctrinated where the vast majority have no idea that President Obama like President Clinton before him at least on economics and largely on foreign policy are acting like Republicans. I would dare say that there are more who think that Obama like Clinton before him are too liberal than who think that. The are wrong of course. But that is what we are up against. And that is what the the message that the mainstream media (never mind Fox News) tells them 24/7. Hey if Bernie Sanders runs - I will support him. Senator Sanders is one of the very few politicians who has the ability and conviction to address these issues in a way that makes sense to ordinary people enabling him reach even conservative folks in the small town of Vermont. But a Bernie Sanders candidacy for President is not likely to happen. And I don't see any other potential candidate who has the stature and credibility to mount a credible campaign.

[KittyWampus]

37. Aw, you spoiled all the Ratfucking fun.

[littlewolf]

16. Maybe Russ ????

[dreamnightwind]

26. Yeah, maybe Russ

I don't think Bernie really wants to do it, though Russ might. Also Russ has some personality and charisma that Bernie is lacking (no offense to Bernie, I'm a huge fan). Is Russ far enough removed from the corporatists to give us meaningful change? Not sure.

[StarsInHerHair]

38. I still want Bernie Sanders/Stephen Colbert

we could hold rallies called "Weekend at Bernie's"

[Yo_Mama]

23. I'm for it. n/t

[dreamnightwind]

27. I'd vote for him

though I don't really think he's the right guy. I'm not sure he wants it enough, not sure he has the personality to pull it off, and the socialist label probably doesn't help (though it might, who knows? he could put socialist policies in the minds of Americans). Also we really really need Bernie in the Senate, if for no other reason than to be its conscience.

One thing I'm adamant about, though, is somebody from the left really needs to shake things up in the primary, put the real solutions into the living rooms of Americans so they can at least think about them and draw a contrast with what they're being offered by the corporatists.

[okieinpain]

28. good hope he runs and wins the dem nom. then you can all

bitch and moan that it was obama's fault when he gets his butt handed to him by whatever stupid repug he runs against.

[StarsInHerHair]

31. if we all agree here to vote for Bernie & get other Dems & Indies to do the

same...we will win

[KittyWampus]

32. This is old. But of course you needed to post it again.

[Number23]

40. Not only old, but incredibly pointless

Bernie is 19 points behind Obama in his own home state

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph...

This place has been a veritable treasure trove of comedy the last few days.

[Xithras]

36. Go Bernie!

Without question, DU's going to be a fun place to hang out if he does. I can already see the fireworks.

Still, we need a candidate who will move us left. Not right.

[MissDeeds]

39. Go Bernie

He'd have my complete support.

[TBF]

61. Mine too. nt

[yella_dawg]

42. No Vote

Bernie is too valuable and too decent to risk in a fixed system.

[Imagevision]

43. me too I'llgo with Russ over Obama in a heartbeat!

[Vanje]

58. Give me someone!

ANYONE who is not carrying water for some sect of the Republican party or another.....

My vote?
I need a Democrat!

[LaydeeBug]

44. The ONLY reason I like this is because it *might* make Obama actually act like a Democrat instead of

a Plutocrat. Or a Republican really.

[AmBlue]

54. Unfortunately we've already seen him "act" like a Democrat.

Acting ain't the same as being, or DOING. Big difference.

I'm over it.

[LaydeeBug]

64. Truly. Actions speak louder than words. nt

[Armstead]

45. This is old news blown out of proportion

I'm not saying it will never happen, but this story is based on a chance remark in passing about believing something to make Obama and Democrats more accountable would be helpful.

[Carni]

46. He's got my vote EOM

[tblue37]

47. He'd have to join the Democratic Party first. He isn't a Dem right now.

He's an Independent who caucuses with the Dems.

[NorthCarolina]

56. w00t!!!! Run Bernie RUN!!!!!

nt

[Time for change]

59. Do it Bernie!

I will vote for you.

[in_cog_ni_to]

60. YES! YES! YES! I will do whatever it takes to get Bernie the nomination.

Please run Bernie!

[Firebrand Gary]

62. He makes a formal announcement and I will donate immediately, and willing to max out.

Enough is enough.

[Melissa G]

63. Bernie is the real deal.

We need an actual democrat in the next primary, but I'll gladly take Bernie if not. He's a hell of a better Dem the the current occupant of the White House, even as an independent.

[NC_Nurse]

65. He's definitely got my support.

[closeupready]

69. OMG! Yes, yes yes!

Run, Bernie, RUN!

[SugarShack]

70. I now believe in GOD!!!!!!!

[thewiseguy]

75. He is too old for the job

[polmaven]

96. On September 8, he will be 71 years old....

By election day 2012, he will be 72. Didn't we hear all during the 2007/8 primary season John McCain was too old? On election day 2008, mcCain was 72. We have also heard a lot about how Hillary will be too old in 2012. She will be 65.

Amazing, isn't it?

[Name removed]

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[Imajika]

78. What a bunch of crap...

Bernie Sanders is not going primary Obama, and if he did it would almost go almost unnoticed.

There is such a disconnect between the DU echo chamber and the real world. Come one people, be serious.

This is the President we've got. He isn't perfect, he's stuck with practically a depression level economy, but if you really take the time to look at the record Obama has delivered some amazing things - ended DADT, moved us incrementally down the road to universal health care, sent money to the states to protect teacher jobs, etc, the list goes on.

Bernie Sanders is NOT going to run against Obama.

[alp227]

80. cool story, but this is old, it's from a Thom Hartmann show from about 2 weeks ago

why are you citing Tucker Carlson's Daily Caller?

[Sancho]

81. Bernie Sanders and Alen Grayson: that would be a cool ticketl!

[MasonJar]

83. I would work hard for Bernie. And give him money. Obama gets neither from me.

I will vote for Obama if he is the Democratic candidate in the final election in 2012, but nothing else.

[iamthebandfanman]

84. he'd get my protest vote.

i dont see why anyone would be against this. atleast hes not threatening a third party run.

[Goldstein1984]

85. I'm a supporter nt

[Smarmie Doofus]

86. He's not saying he's thinking of running.

He's saying he's thinking of supporting someone ELSE who might challenge Obama.

In either case , it's a positive development. It's increasingly obvious that Obama's in over his head and is un-re-electable.

The sooner we as a party wrap our collective brain around that fact the better the chance we can gain control of the WH.

Notice I said "gain" ; not "regain".

[JoePhilly]

98. Who's the opponent?

There is a reason Bernie doesn't name himself, and a reason he doesn't name anyone.

There isn't anyone else who is electable. Period.

Sooner we as a party wrap our heads around that, then maybe we can take back the House and rebuild our Senate Majority.

The rest of this "primary Obama" stuff is a masturbatory fantasy.

[killbotfactory]

87. Yes, let's put our support into undermining the democrat

GOP4EVA

[Vanje]

91. Democrat?

Is there a Democrat running for Pres?

[swilton]

88. This is a week old

When discussing the issue today with Dylan Ratigan on MSNBC - Sanders merely said that Obama should be held accountable for his campaign promisses - less certainty about the primary issue....(paraphrase)...Dylan Ratigan's interview with Sanders is on Senator Sanders' webpage....

I wish that he would run -

[Major Hogwash]

90. Not only that, but I think Sanders said he wouldn't challenge Obama.

I think he changed his mind.

[Ganja Ninja]

97. He's got my vote. n/t