I agree with you about the cult of personality. (Reply #80)

In the discussion thread: Speculation about Bernie Sanders Running Again Is...Well...Speculation [View all]

Wed Apr 12, 2017, 07:17 PM

athena (4,187 posts)

80. I agree with you about the cult of personality.

I hadn't thought of it this way before, but you're exactly right. The focus on the personality of a politician is something one normally sees in young democracies. Because people don't understand or trust that they can get things done through the political system, they keep hoping for a charismatic leader to swoop in and save them. In a mature democracy, people focus more on ideas than on the person at the top. I'm afraid these cults of personality around Sanders and Trump are yet another symptom of how badly the system has been weakened.

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105 replies	Author	Time	Post
Speculation about Bernie Sanders Running Again Is...Well...Speculation [View all]	MineralMan	Apr 2017	OP
My personal opinion	athena	Apr 2017	#1
That's Possible,	MineralMan	Apr 2017	#2
I switched my support when she became the nominee	Warpy	Apr 2017	#77
Found him!	TexasTowelie	Apr 2017	#79
I agree as there seems to be huge overlap with those downplaying the Russian involvement....	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#8
Maybe, but there is just as much disruption from Hillary supporters.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#11
I think it's your mistake to forget that the Dem majority dislikes attacks on themselves....	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#12
And attacking Bernie and his supporters, many who voted for Hillary, is NOT helping us either.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#20
We have people here giving Sanders the Independent credit for Dem proposals- if you	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#45
First, it's not JUST people here correcting the record on Dem proposals.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#48
All those links you posted are HRC doing positive unifying things for Dems....	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#50
Are you saying all posts by Bernie supporters are the same as Putin talking points? Really?	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#57
But he probably would have won fewer if all states had elections	lapucelle	Apr 2017	#102
Then BS shouldn't say things like Dems are "feeble"	Cha	Apr 2017	#85
Maybe you haven't noticed but the Democrats have ZERO power right now.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#91
BS isn't helping when he insults my Democratic Party	Cha	Apr 2017	#93
It's my Democratic Party too and I think he is helping. nt	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#94
Not when he insults.. BS isn't.	Cha	Apr 2017	#95
Understood.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#97
You lose when you put words in my mouth and don't face	Cha	Apr 2017	#99
Agree! Always been a Hillary supporter, but I admire Bernie a lot,	Alice11111	Apr 2017	#26
I don't see anything wrong in what you said.	dmr	Apr 2017	#37
Thank you. I agree, united we stand.	Alice11111	Apr 2017	#38
The GOP has cracked the code,	JHan	Apr 2017	#34
I agree about sowing hate. It's effective. Despicable.	Alice11111	Apr 2017	#40
I want Bernie Sanders to run and win because I don't trust anyone more to fill cabinet positions.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#3
OK.	MineralMan	Apr 2017	#4
Thanks. Fixed it. nt	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#7
i don't trust Bernie either. He really despises the Democratic Party and many of his actions prove	nikibatts	Apr 2017	#6
I said I don't trust anyone MORE THAN Bernie.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#10
Ugh, I think feeling it's analogous to sports is a huge cultural problem that shuts off critical	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#13
So, you don't think it's analogous? Is that right? It's kind of hard to tell.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#14
I think we have bigger priorities right now than that. Timing matters a lot.	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#16
Bigger priorities than what? Losing?	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#21
We actually can't focus on the next election until we've fully dealt with this one, period.	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#39
"This one" is over. The republicans will have power for four years.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#44
This election is BEING INVESTIGATED.I get many would like to ignore that...	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#47
Investigated by who, the ones that committed the crime.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#51
LOL. Nope. What's going on now is worse than Watergate, which was the scandal I cut my teeth on many	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#53
Fine. Keep fighting a losing battle. I'll keep fighting the battle of starting to win again. nt	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#58
All 18 intelligence agencies and their employees committed a crime?	jackssonjack	Apr 2017	#54
Don't forget Obama and Susan Rice? But we should "let it go"	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#56
Serious as ever.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#61
You're as funny as ever. Let's ignore the biggest GOP scandal to ever happen oh yeah....	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#66
And? The GOP controls everything.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#59
It makesd no difference iof the GOP controls 3 branches, they dont control the investigation.	jackssonjack	Apr 2017	#62
I'm sorry. I can't help you.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#63
I'm wide awake, thanks for your concern.	jackssonjack	Apr 2017	#68
Can you believe ignoring current investigations and proposed legislation is being promoted w	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#72
And they haven't been successful trashing OCare- it's more popular than ever-	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#65
I've never seen a progressive have such a totally defeatist attitude	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#64
17, not 18.	Raine1967	Apr 2017	#71
My mistake.	jackssonjack	Apr 2017	#74
Wanting to trust a candidate is not 'gut feeling'	Kentonio	Apr 2017	#18
Distrusting can be a matter of "not relating/connecting to" a persona	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#41
We tend to see the things that conform to our existing biases.	Kentonio	Apr 2017	#46
I never had a bias to either candidate and liked three and researched a lot.	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#49
I agree with you about the cult of personality.	athena	Apr 2017	#80
Yep, all that makes me go hmmm. I saw flaws in all the candidates - and good things too.	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#82
No, BS called them "feeble" and "can't fight back".. he's Wrong.	Cha	Apr 2017	#86
Maybe not the best descriptions but you have to admit that something needs to change.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#92
Actually he said that he was running as a Democrat because it was easier	lapucelle	Apr 2017	#103
but his age...after finishing a term, plus if he ran 2 terms	Alice11111	Apr 2017	#28
I agree that his age is a concern, but I trust him to pick a great VP and that makes it ok for me.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#32
I've always been a hill supporter, but he amazes me, his fortitude,	Alice11111	Apr 2017	#36
I would love to see Bernie pick a young, strong, voice for the future.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#42
Yes. As far as I saw, he is a strong progressive. I agreed	Alice11111	Apr 2017	#43
"But his age...after finishing a term, plus if he ran 2 terms."	LenaBaby61	Apr 2017	#69
True, but the Russians would do it to most Dems.	Alice11111	Apr 2017	#73
Thanks for sharing.	Demsrule86	Apr 2017	#75
You're welcome.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#90
Don't disagree but think it's funny that you judge those that suspect Bernie will run again...	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#5
Never say never, but I tend to agree	Tom Rinaldo	Apr 2017	#9
Anything about 2020 is speculation...	Wounded Bear	Apr 2017	#15
Exactly.	MineralMan	Apr 2017	#17
Again. Still think it's funny when you, yourself, speculated in the OP.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#33
!!!	Alice11111	Apr 2017	#29
although DT is up and running full force for 2020.	Alice11111	Apr 2017	#35
Just one thing..	Kentonio	Apr 2017	#19
I was specifically talking about predictions that Sanders would run in 2020.	MineralMan	Apr 2017	#22
Serious people don't usually waste time speculating on the future	Kentonio	Apr 2017	#23
As you say, "serious people don't"	MineralMan	Apr 2017	#24
Indeed.	Kentonio	Apr 2017	#25
Speculation is a big part of political discussion boards.	NCTraveler	Apr 2017	#27
This is actually a very nice post.	StubbornThings	Apr 2017	#30
Thank you.	NCTraveler	Apr 2017	#31
I'd be fine with Bernie running	bekkilyn	Apr 2017	#52
I love Bernie, but don't see him making another run.	KPN	Apr 2017	#55
Let's hope so. People of color will still be his Achilles Heel, and we know how much he derides....	Tarheel_Dem	Apr 2017	#60
Yes it is pure speculation but I will not support Sanders if he runs in the primary	Gothmog	Apr 2017	#67
Hopefully he won't run.	Demsrule86	Apr 2017	#76
Theylll be several major states not letting him on the ballot because taxes....	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#83
Yay! I forgot about that.. Mahalo, bettyellen	Cha	Apr 2017	#89
I still see false reports that he showed full tax returns, it makes me nuts!	bettyellen	Apr 2017	#98
Sanders never disclosed his tax returns	Gothmog	Apr 2017	#105
Sanders will need to release his tax returns if he wants to run	Gothmog	Apr 2017	#96
Breaking news	TSIAS	Apr 2017	#100
I am fine with that	Gothmog	Apr 2017	#104
I hope he does & I'll do everything I can for him	FDRsGhost	Apr 2017	#70
Gag order.	democratisphere	Apr 2017	#78
He said in an interview he does not rule it out	Samantha	Apr 2017	#81
Oh god.. I don't give a shite about age.. I won't support him.	Cha	Apr 2017	#87
I hope he forks over his taxes and his last FEC he never turned in. nt	fun n serious	Apr 2017	#84
I want someone Gen X or younger, from the West Coast, who supports Marijuana legalization.	Warren DeMontague	Apr 2017	#88
I'm not seeing it. Bernie running I mean. But what I AM seeing is the new DNC	PatrickforO	Apr 2017	#101

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