Bernie Is Still Scaring The Hell Out of the Establishment

[GoLeft TV]

It’s been a year since Senator Bernie Sanders announced his plan to seek the 2016 democratic presidential nomination. That means that for 12 months, Bernie’s popular ideals have been scaring the living hell out of the democratic establishment. Ring of Fire’s Mike Papantonio and Farron Cousins discuss this.

[longship]

1. I can't DURec this, but I will kick it.

I won't DURec it because I disagree vehemently with Pap.

Bernie has caucused with the Democratic Party for four decades and he has promised not to run against Democrats this year. I take him at his word.

It would horrible if Bernie tried to run against the Dem nominee -- presumably Hillary Clinton -- and Bernie knows it. He's not stupid.

Apparently Mike Papintonio IS stupid.

[Geronimoe]

5. I don't agree

The Democratic Party has not treated Bernie fairly. if he chooses to run as independent, I'll happily support him.

A principled person like Bernie who will not take special interest money, comes along perhaps once in every hundred years. Bernie might be the one to save the planet from Global Warming, the other candidates won't take on the trans national corporations that fund their campaigns and political party.

[longship]

8. I partially agree with you.

Partially!

First, Bernie is not going to run as an independant. That is his promise. For four decades Bernie has caucused with the Democrats. So forget that. Pap needs to forget it, too.

Secondly, to move the USA away from a two party system it is going to take more than a simple declaration that there is more than two parties. After all, there have been more than two parties throughout my entire nearly 70 years of my lifetime and yet only the Democratic and Republican parties ever get elected to anything beyond dog catcher (with some rare exceptions). And that is the way it has been since our country's founding.

The only conclusion one can make is that either the political culture in this country has to change rather drastically or some bad thing has to happen to overthrow what we have. Well, maybe this is an artificial dichotomy and I admit that these are extrema, but I would like to hear how one might introduce a multiparty system into this country by first reducing the stranglehold of the two parties.

It seems like a really good subject for discussion.

How does one proceed?

[Cassiopeia]

9. Completely eliminate corporate funding of elections

Including the elimination of super PACs.

Reintroduce the fairness doctrine and allow every candidate equal time.

[LiberalArkie]

11. I don't think any candidate wants to work like Bernie has for the contributions. Besides they would

to be faithful to the electorate and be (semi) honest. Bernie thought he would win, he hoped he could show how to not be a corporate stooge for the money crowd. Now even if Bernie looses, it is most important that his organization continue and enlarge and start letting local and state progressives elected, even if it means working a few states at a time with the national group. It is possible he has shown us that.

[longship]

15. That's an excellent start!

[sprts]

19. Ever hear

of the Wig Party or Federalist Party? There have been many more political parties than Dems or Repubs throughout our history.

[longship]

20. That's Whig, not Wig.

However, there has only ever been two major parties in the US since its origin. The oldest party is the Democrats, which goes back to Jefferson (or maybe Jackson -- asshole).

The Republicans started well, with Lincoln.

That's the way it's been since the USA has existed. To change that is going to take a real political movement. Or a big structural change. I don't think that the USA would ever go for a Parliamentary form of government. However, that might very well ease the tension.

My best to you.

[highprincipleswork]

2. Makes sense to me.

[Gamecock Lefty]

3. Bernie may be spouting popular ideals (and good for him) . . .

But he's still an insider no matter how many times people say he is anti-establishment. How long has he been in Washington? He's actually the establishment candidate in this election, but he and his supporters do a nice job at spinning it otherwise.

[Cassiopeia]

13. Yes, he's established that he has always fought for the working class.

[rynestonecowboy]

14. Don't tell all the establishment congressional politicians

because they are all supporting Hillary. Someone should tell them.

[floriduck]

4. I'm not so sure about this.

Hill, the DNC, Corp media, Super delegates who locked themselves into Hill's campaign, regardless of voter results deserve the treatment they through at Bernie. It all creates a perfectly reasonable excuse for Bernie to run as an independent candidate. Hill won't win, Trump won't win. But Bernie could get the progressive, independent and moderate Repubs and he would walk away with the victory.

It's not the cleanest scenario but all that went out the window when the Clinton cabal, including David Brock took aim at Bernie. The result would be a progressive candidate willing to tackle mone in politics, Wall Street reform and the ushering in of other progressive candidates to run the lobby gobblers out of office.

I say go for it, Bernie!

[Ferd Berfel]

6. The establishment needs a good kick

in the crotch.

This is just one reason I support Bernie

[chknltl]

7. Kicked and Recomended

I believe that our 2 'viable' party system leaves little choice for the voter. I agree that outside of the crazy talk, current DLC Dems look little different than trickle down Republicans. While true, Bernie has made it clear that should he not get the nomination he will not run as an Independent, I think Pap makes a reasonable counter argument given the circumstance of Trump splitting the Republican party by an Independent run on the right. A four viable candidate run under such a circumstance might be quite interesting indeed! I would place good money on Sanders winning that 4 way race!

[snagglepuss]

10. knr

[notemason]

12. My thoughts fwiw

[oldandhappy]

16. I am eager to agree!!

Scare away there my man, Bernie. The establishment needs a good shaking.

[calguy]

17. Bernie isn't scaring anyone

He's just good guy with good ideas without any plan to get any of those ideas to pass. Add that to the fact he is almost hopelessly behind in the delegate count and anyone with a brain can see he scares no one.

[Phlem]

22. Yep! Cause that's what he's out to do. Scare people.

You know what 99.9 of people do when they're speaking and repeating plain english to someone who is obviously not paying attention.......they talk louder.

So sue him.

[Rebkeh]

18. Indeed. Nt

[Phlem]

21. Because the establishment is concerned about their investment

in years of obfuscation is now being undermined by a single man with half of the party's base behind him.

Makes me