Playinghardball
Playinghardball's JournalPresident Bernie Sanders Would Dismantle NSA Spying
May 1, 2015 Bernie Sanders is running for president for many reasons, and you're going to hear about a lot of them on the campaign trail.
But quietlyat least relative to his wonk-laden sermons on economic populismSanders has for years also been one of the Senate's fiercest critics of the National Security Agency's secretive surveillance operations. And, unlike Hillary Clinton, he's been remarkably clear about where he stands.
The Vermont independent, who officially announced his White House bid on Thursday, is widely viewed by Beltway types as more of a debate-stage prop to bounce liberal ideas off Clinton on her march toward an inevitable Democratic primary victory. Polling has routinely placed Sanders in the single digits among Democratic voters. But while progressives are hopeful he can serve as an Elizabeth Warren surrogate and challenge Clinton on Wall Street reform, Sanders' candidacy also offers an opportunity to force Clinton to talk more concretely about domestic surveillancesomething he has not minced words about since the Edward Snowden disclosures began in 2013.
"Kids will grow up knowing that every damn thing that they do is going to be recorded some place in a file, and I think that will have a very Orwellian and very inhibiting impact on the way we live our lives," Sanders told MSNBC's Chris Hayes just days after the initial batch of Snowden files emerged. "I want our law enforcement people to be vigorous in going after terrorists. But I happen to believe they can do that without disregarding the Constitution of the United States or the civil liberties of the American people."
http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/president-bernie-sanders-would-dismantle-nsa-spying-20150501
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An open letter
An open letter
By Liberal Librarian
?
Well, we now have two declared candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination. (If were being charitable, three, but whos counting Lincoln Chafee?)
Hillary Clinton is on her listening tour (didnt she do that in 2008?), and seems to be listening somewhat. She gave a speech calling for the end of mass incarceration; a mass incarceration she called for back when her husband was president. But, people change, that was 20 years ago, and being the good rationalist I am I will keep an open mind. Im certainly not going to dismiss her out of hand if she wins the nomination, because the thought of someone more conservative and unhinged than Antonin Scalia taking his seat on the Supreme Court should give even the most side-eyed Democratic Clinton-hater a bucket-full of pauses.
And then we have Bernie Sanders. I really dont know why hes running. He might have made an impact as an independent; but, props to him, he didnt want to split the left vote, so hes giving it the old college try. But an old guy with unkempt hair who looks like he should be feeding the pigeons probably wont have the financial wherewithal to take on the Koch/Adelson money machine (something Hillary will have no problem doing should she win). Bernie running is part vanity, and part to get his issues out beyond his acolytes. (This is assuming that the media give him any attention, even if he is running as a Democrat. The media is good at ignoring those who are inconvenient.)
Some are rooting for Deval Patrick to enter. Many are pinning their hopes on Martin OMalley. And, of course, theres always Jim Webb. (I jest.)
Of course, I have questions.
Which Democratic candidate will run on the Obama legacy, rather than running to reset to Year Zero, before the Black Guy came and shook up American politics like no president before him? Which candidate will embrace the Obama program, promising to build on it, improve it, take it forward, keep perfecting it? Thats what the Obama coalition wants to hear; not, We need new ideas for a new time, but, Were going to take whats been working for 8 years and make it even better.
Hillary has been on a waffling mission, at times embracing President Obamas legacy, at others striking out in a most clanging fashion. Bernie, of course, thinks Pres. Obama is another corporatist stooge, so dont expect much praise from him. (TPP!!!)
Which Democratic candidate can keep the Obama coalition together? Its the coalition which has won 2 elections in a row. And not only that, but which candidate can continue the work of getting that coalition to turn out to vote in midterms?
Hillary, to her credit, has announced that shes going to set up a 50-state grassroots campaign. In that she is following the Obama playbook. But will that bring in the Obama voters, or is she trying to completely sideline that coalition? And if so, will she be able to build a strong enough coalition to not only win the presidency, but affect down-ticket races? Bernie? Well
TPP!!!
Which Democratic candidate can unite all the Big Tent factions? Who can speak to Obama voters, Conservadems, the minority interests, labor? Who can unite the party?
I have no doubt that Hillary will try her hardest to unite all the Democratic factions. But, as readers of this essay are aware, there is already a huge backlash against her among Obama loyalists, who see her at best as a fair-weather ally. I dont think Obama voters will go PUMA on her, but I dont think theyll rally around her with enthusiasm. Bernie, meanwhile, will appeal to a very small slice of the Democratic electorate, the one which thinks Democrats need to be even more to the left. Its a needed voice, but speaks for not even a plurality of Democratic votes, much less general election voters.
Of course, there is one person who ticks off all these boxes.
He cant run away from the Obama success (not that he would want to) because hes been intimately involved in it.
Hes viewed by the Obama coalition as the heir apparent, a loyal soldier ready to take over the leadership from Pres. Obama.
He can speak to all the Democratic factions, because hes worked with them throughout his long and honored career.
That man, of course, is Joe Biden.
No other Democrat has the standing Joe does.
As Pres. Obamas loyal lieutenant, he has furthered Administration goals, arguing passionately for them.
He has given counsel. It hasnt always been accepted (as with the Osama bin Laden raid), but has never been given in a self-serving manner.
He has defended the Administration and his president with the tenacity of a bulldog, gleefully highlighting the hypocrisy of our opponents.
And he has a good will among Democrats which no other Democrat has. Hes affable. Hes charming. Hes down-to-earth. He has no pretense.
I dont know if hell run. I dont think he knows if hell run. Hes run twice already, and lost both times. But neither of the previous two times that hes run has he done so possessing the well of good-feeling which he has now. He wouldnt be running as one of one hundred senators; hed be running as the one man who would guarantee the continuation of the Obama program.
I will respect his decision if, after a career of service, he decides he wants to spend more time with Dr. Jill. But, I hope he has one more fight left in him. We all hope he does.
http://theobamadiary.com/2015/04/30/an-open-letter-2/#more-201970