home

Bernie Sanders will run on the issues, not the nonsense

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Elections 2016
Posted on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 11:36:58 AM EST
Tags: (all tags)
Share This: Digg! StumbleUpon del.icio.us reddit reddit

Very encouraging first morning from the Bernie Sanders' campaign for president:

No nonsense for Bernie. What will he run on? The issues:

Like foreign policy, trade, Wall Street, etc.

Sanders will run on the actual issues that matter to "everyday" people, to coin a phrase.

And that's why it's great he is in the race.

< Thursday Open Thread | Six Officers Charged in Freddie Gray's Death >

  • The Online Magazine with Liberal coverage of crime-related political and injustice news

  • Contribute To TalkLeft


    • Display: Sort:
    Bernie Sanders will run on the issues, not the nonsense | 79 comments (79 topical)

    Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

    Well, if nothing else, (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by NYShooter on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 01:57:51 PM EST
    a lot of questions will get cleared up.

    We've talked a lot on TL about how none of the "D" candidates ever promote Progressive policies. It seems like they all bought into the false notion that the country is moving/has moved to the Right, and that's where the Dems should go also.

    Well, Bernie, sure as heck, isn't going "to the right" and, we're finally going to see how Liberal ideas poll with the American Public.

    It couldn't be any clearer: pure Liberal positions vs. hard Right, and, accelerating.

    Sen. Sanders provides an opportunity ... (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 02:30:53 PM EST
    ... for Mrs. Clinton to define her candidacy along progressive terms and themes. (And quite frankly, if she wants to win the White House decisively, that's what she will need to do.) Their sober and substantive discussion about real issues will provide a refreshing (if jarring) contrast to the hyperbolic white-wing screechathon that passes for public debate on the GOP's crazy train.

    Parent
    What is going on with Jim (none / 0) (#7)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 02:36:27 PM EST
    Webb? Apparently he did not even show up to the SC state Dem convention where everybody else did or at least taped a message.

    Parent
    Jim Who? (none / 0) (#11)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 03:28:18 PM EST
    ;-D

    Parent
    What's Webb going to run on? (none / 0) (#35)
    by Militarytracy on Fri May 01, 2015 at 06:55:14 AM EST
    Hillary's got the money and Bernie has the issues.  Webb can only cherry pick through the issues.  In a different decade Webb would be a Republican.

    Parent
    I guess (none / 0) (#47)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri May 01, 2015 at 09:50:33 AM EST
    he's looking to get the Pat Buchanan groupies to vote in the Dem primaries. Good luck with that though. I really don't think he has much of a constituency.

    Parent
    That it will... (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by kdog on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 03:07:15 PM EST
    Bernie is one of the least politician-like politicians I've ever seen.  He's gonna lay his ideas and positions on the table, and keep no cards up his sleeve.

    Will the media give him play and will the casual voter get to hear any of it? He'll probably be ignored, or at best mocked without time to speak, unless his team gets imaginative and theatrical in their approach and the media is forced to cover it...such as getting arrested for blocking the entrance to the NYSE, or digging a tunnel for a jailbreak or something.  Or at least that's what I would suggest if I was campaign manager;)

    Parent

    I wouldn't sell Bernie short. (5.00 / 2) (#12)
    by NYShooter on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 03:54:50 PM EST
    He's no shrinking violet, you can bet he will be heard. And, when he gets going he can be entertaining as he*l.

    I don't have a clue if he has a chance to win it all, or not. But, he will do the country a great service by loudly, and forcefully promoting real Liberal issues, and explaining how they could be implemented for the benefit of all.

    Just, keep one thing in mind, and it's very important. He may not win, but, he sure can hurt Hillary. Not by attacking her in a vicious way, but by being for policies that the middle class will like, and, by necessity, Hillary will have to be against.

    Most importantly, he will present a very powerful case against the TPP; Hillary will have to defend voting for it.

    How, and why, and all the details will come in due time, but the bottom line is, and Hillary will have to give it a lot of serious thought, the two of them will be on opposite sides of the biggest treaty, with the greatest impact on the middle class, in our lifetime.

    Parent

    I'm not... (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by kdog on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 06:05:18 PM EST
    I'm selling the media short. The more impact he makes, the more the corporate suits will push the news and media divisions to run stories like "Did Chipotle donate to CGI?" or "Ted Cruz reads Jack and the Beanstalk at fundraiser".

    I've seen him interviewed and appearances, he is very good at sticking bullsh#t questions and comments up people's arses, no doubt. That's part of the reason we love him! But he's up against one helluva machine, I think he needs to go big and creative to get relevant enough outside current events geek circles such as this.


    Parent

    I really (none / 0) (#39)
    by Reconstructionist on Fri May 01, 2015 at 08:06:27 AM EST
      don't think it will be a "referendum" on "liberal ideas."

       Nor do I think we will likely end up wanting to portray the results as such.

      If we have one candidate who is "liberal" and one who is not, the showing of the "liberal" candidate versus the other candidate is not merely a reflection of the relative popularity of their expressed (or even attributed) ideas.

      MANY other factors come into play. Money, connections, media access, "starting position (name recognition and more)," "sophistication" and sheer size of the campaign organizations, the influence of "inevitability" or "electability on actual voting choices, the purely "personal," personality/style/ etc., qualities of the candidates, and more, will all exert huge influence.

       As I said in an earlier thread, I actually fear that if Sanders does get roundly trounced, that will wrongly be used to argue liberal positions are more  unpopular than they really are..

       

    Parent

    Bernie is great (5.00 / 2) (#18)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 04:08:04 PM EST
    just turned n the tube and Big Ed is doing his best to get Bernie to talk trash about Hillary.  He won't do it.

    He (none / 0) (#19)
    by FlJoe on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 04:18:51 PM EST
    is a master at swatting away the horse race and attack bait questions that are sadly inevitable.  

    Parent
    Wow (5.00 / 2) (#20)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 04:25:23 PM EST
    he's framing economic and ecological  issues as moral issues.  And using the Pope.
    I'm liking this primary so far.

    Parent
    It may be even more interesting (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by sj on Fri May 01, 2015 at 04:37:25 PM EST
    than I thought:.
    Bernie Sanders' nascent presidential campaign announced Friday that it raised more than $1.5 million in its first 24 hours, a number that far outpaces what Republican presidential hopefuls posted in their first day.
    He may actually have the voice that I am hoping for.

    His (5.00 / 3) (#59)
    by FlJoe on Fri May 01, 2015 at 05:17:00 PM EST
     voice will hopefully let the Democrats reclaim their legacy, as Pierce puts it:
    What is remarkable about Sanders's platform is how unremarkable it would sound to any run-of-the-mill Democratic politician 40 years ago
    , of course 40 years ago sane Republicans were not an endangered species, even Nixon has his good days, but I digress. Bottom line  too many Democrats are afraid of  actually acting like Democrats, hopefully Bernie can slap some sense into them, starting with Hillary on down.

    Parent
    I so agree (none / 0) (#1)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 12:17:08 PM EST
    he has never run a negative ad.  He is the perfect person to talk about what matters.  And if he talks about the press can't avoid it.
    You HOPE (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 01:59:02 PM EST
    the press wouldn't avoid talking about it but you never know.

    I hope you are right though and we don't hear screeches of hippies from Vermont or other nonsense.

    Parent

    The Dean Scream? (none / 0) (#5)
    by CST on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 02:31:39 PM EST
    IMO, VT hippies are the best kind of hippy.

    Some fun facts about VT (most of this is from wiki):

    It's the 2nd least populated state in the country, after Wyoming.  It's also one of the whitest states in the country.

    They have banned billboards.

    It's the only state with no buildings over 124 feet.

    The most populous city is Burlington, with 42,417 people.

    It's the least religious state in the country.

    They had the highest per-capita death rate in the Iraq war of any state as of 2010.

    I get a free gallon of VT maple syrup from family friends every year  (Okay that one was more bragging than fact).

    I think my point with all this, is that while they may be "hippies" - they still qualify as "real America", unlike those brown folk in Baltimore...  So I wonder how that will play.

    Parent

    I get (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 02:35:02 PM EST
    so sick of the "real American" BS. People in Vermont are as much Americans as people in inner city Baltimore.

    It always brings back to my mind when Bob Barr was challenged during Bill Clinton's impeachment with something like 70% of Americans don't want this to happen and Bob Barr spat back with well, "real Americans" do.

    Parent

    The irony kicker is... (none / 0) (#8)
    by kdog on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 02:41:24 PM EST
    those that claim "real" American status the loudest are the ones typically most at odds with classical American values...ya know, all that hippie sh*t like equality under the law, equal opportunity, open arms to immigrants and refugees seeking a better life, no desire for an empire,...life, liberty, and justice for all.

    Parent
    Which proves (5.00 / 1) (#55)
    by jbindc on Fri May 01, 2015 at 12:04:34 PM EST
    He's never had to try and win over anyone other than in a homogeneous population.  Sure, it's easy to say what you want when you have no risk, politically.

    And since he has no chance of winning, Hillary can agree with him on most things, yet still not go all the way left, so she can still appeal to those voters in the middle.

    Parent

    yup (5.00 / 2) (#56)
    by CST on Fri May 01, 2015 at 12:11:35 PM EST
    I don't think anyone thinks Bernie will win.  Probably not even Bernie.

    But we will all benefit from him being in the race.  Probably even Hillary as has the potential to increase Dem enthusiasm overall, and he'll keep the focus on the issues.

    Parent

    My point was (none / 0) (#68)
    by jbindc on Sat May 02, 2015 at 10:05:30 AM EST
    I think running for president is gonna be harder than old Bernie thinks.  He can say what he wants in Vermont - they'll always re-elect him.  He can say what he wants to Rachel Maddow and Chris Hayes and the couple hundred thousand people who watch, because it is friendly host with a teeny tiny audience of people who mostly agree with him.

    Sure, it would be great for Hillary to have a sparring partner to sharpen her thoughts and plans, but I don't really expect Sanders to make it through January, and if he makes it to Super Tuesday, I would be shocked.

    Parent

    We will see (none / 0) (#71)
    by Militarytracy on Sat May 02, 2015 at 11:53:20 AM EST
    I expect him to make Super Tuesday.

    I don't think Sanders is out of touch with the requirements of a Presidential run, not in the least.  Let's see Hillary's plays, that will determine how far Sanders gets and she's going to have to swerve left to knock him out.

    I think Sander's first goal is to get the real issues on the table in a race that has money determining which issues get play.  After that who knows what's going to happen?  If he isn't careful he could become President.

    He has the credibilty and jousting skills to do this, he is allowing all of us to use him in this election to have a voice.  Thank you Bernie, I'll owe you forever no matter how the chips fall on the final day.

    Parent

    Sometimes it doesn't take too long (5.00 / 4) (#72)
    by NYShooter on Sat May 02, 2015 at 12:46:31 PM EST
    to uncover THE message:

    ".....harder than old Bernie thinks."

    O.K. So, let's set up Senator Sanders as the stereotypical, dottering old fuddy duddy, looking for his glasses (oops, right there, on his forehead.) Oh, ha, ha, ha.

    "Oooh, this is really hard, all this campaigning, and stuff. whew! I need a nap."

    Got it, 35 years, holding various elective posts, both local, and national, yet, clueless as to what a Presidential run entails.

    Look, I don't think anyone has any misconceptions as to what's going on, or what his chances are. I think Bernie's goal (mine also) is to, for the first time in a long, long time, get the message out, that there is a message that's neither "center-right, right, or, far right."

    So much of the American public has never been exposed to ideas, or movements, specifically addressed for the benefit of the middle class, or the under class. You know, when you're an inmate in a prison the place stinks so bad all you want to do is find a spot where it stinks a little less. The idea of breathing fresh air doesn't even cross your mind.

    All I want is for Bernie to show, and, tell Americans what fresh air smells like. And, he'll tell them that, believe it, or not, most every thing that's good, and right, and worth dying for about our country came about because of people like Bernie Sanders, fighting for the things that really matter. And, for the American people to really give a crap. He'll tell them that the reason things really suck today is because we let a small group of really bad, really selfish, really un-American, scoundrels band together to buy up our Government, and sell all the rest of us up the river to the lowest bidder.

    He'll tell them, "we had it once, we can have it again. All you have to do is walk out of your house, and pull a lever." That's it.  

    Parent

    But the mainstream media can ... (none / 0) (#10)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 03:25:11 PM EST
    ... simply ignore Sen. Sanders, which is exactly what they did to John Huntsman, who was probably the most grounded and substantive Republican in the entire 2012 GOP primary field. Instead, they went for the vicarious entertainment provided by Rich Santorum, Newt Gingrich, et al., and Huntsman could barely get a word in edgewise.

    And that's what will likely happen to both Sen. Sanders and former Gov. Martin O'Malley, if Hillary Clinton doesn't seek to engage either or both of them in a public conversation about policy.

    IMHO, while there might be some element of political risk involved in deliberately elevating the profile of her Democratic primary opponents, it's really to Clinton's long-term advantage to tack the national debate to port and back to those issues that actually matter.

    Actively involving Sanders, O'Malley and even Elizabeth Warren in the discussion can do that for Clinton. Otherwise, I fear that the media's primary season coverage will mostly focus on the wingbat flotilla off the starboard bow, and leave the rest of us to wonder which GOP candidate will be the first to propose that the government be allowed to seize a pregnant woman's uterus through the eminent domain process.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Right now (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 04:05:28 PM EST
    its Bernie and Hillary.  That makes him a bit harder to ignore.

    Parent
    Huntsman (none / 0) (#17)
    by FlJoe on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 04:06:27 PM EST
    never had the numbers to grab the attention of the media. He consistently polled near the bottom of the clown car. Of course the press yawned.

     I don't think Bernie will have that problem as the  field looks to be much less crowded and clownish, besides Bernie is no slouch when it comes to getting face time on the news shows and getting max mileage from it. There is no way the press can ignore him, they already let him the room.

    Parent

    Sanders gets face time on Rachel Maddow ... (5.00 / 1) (#23)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 05:31:53 PM EST
    ... and a couple other MSNBC shows, where his appearances provide a thoughtful and welcome respite from the endless "panel discussions" with that cable network's usual suspects, i.e., Chuck Todd, Andrea Mitchell, Krystal Ball, Luke Russert, Touré, Joy Reid, etc.

    But on the "Big Three" networks' respective evening news broadcasts, where 60% of Americans still get most of their information, Sen. Sanders is rarely if ever seen on the air. That's probably because he's not necessarily "quotable," -- that is, he's not one for glib remarks, superficial sound bites and pointless posturing.

    Now, please don't get me wrong. I genuinely like Bernie Sanders, and have long appreciated his long-term presence in D.C. and his unflinching willingness to speak truth to power. And kudos to Vermont voters for recognizing a quality public servant when they see one.

    But quite honestly, I'd venture that American voters outside New England might know Sanders vaguely as "that old Socialist from Vermont," if they've ever heard of him at all. And even over on MSNBC, where he's long enjoyed some serious rapport with several of its hosts, dismissive remarks such as this from NBC News political director Chuck Todd likely doesn't enhance his public profile.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    My sincere condolences to BTD, ... (none / 0) (#13)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 03:58:26 PM EST
    ... whose beloved Florida Gators have apparently lost their men's basketball coach, Billy Donovan, to the allure of the Great Plains. According to a courageous and heroic anonymous source in the NBA's front office who'd obviously be burned alive at the stake were his or her identity to be revealed, Donovan has agreed to a $30 million, five-year deal to take the reins of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

    Oops. Off-topic. (none / 0) (#14)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 03:59:59 PM EST
    Never mind. ;-D

    Parent
    We had him for 19 great years (none / 0) (#15)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 04:03:21 PM EST
    He's irreplaceable but here's hoping we get a coach worthy to succeed him.

    Parent
    I hear that Scotty Brooks is still available. (none / 0) (#21)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 04:42:52 PM EST
    I know that sounds like snark, but he really did a great job turning around a floundering Thunder franchise. He has a good reputation as a players' coach and I think he'd be a great fit at Florida, although whether or not he'd consider a head coach's position at the collegiate level is an open question.

    Parent
    Okay, everyone, we can all go home now. (none / 0) (#22)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 04:58:31 PM EST
    Back in Dec. 2010, Chuck Todd decreed that Bernie Sanders was irrelevant and didn't matter. I'm so glad that he cleared that up for us.

    Speaking for myself only, this voter promises in the future to be far less vigilant and much more trusting of our omnipotent D.C. press corps.

    :-(

    Bwahahahaha! (none / 0) (#25)
    by Zorba on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 06:38:53 PM EST
    Back in Dec. 2010, and even before, Chuck Todd was more than irrelevant, and he certainly didn't matter.
    And he doesn't even get the irony.

    Parent
    Even The onion seems to show some resprct his way (none / 0) (#26)
    by Babel 17 on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 07:51:50 PM EST
    Imo
    http://www.theonion.com/articles/who-is-bernie-sanders,38525/

    I am encourgaged (none / 0) (#27)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 08:25:26 PM EST
    Bernie will lay out his ideas.

    Now let's let the Repub and Demos lay out their's.

    If that actually happens it will be interesting to see what the results are.

    Nah....ain't gonna happen.

    Republicans (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by FlJoe on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 08:38:38 PM EST
    Have no ideas, Democrats often run from theirs, Bernie will proudly lay his cards on the table and force the issues.

    Parent
    No (none / 0) (#29)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Apr 30, 2015 at 08:55:16 PM EST
    the problem isn't that Republicans have no idea. The problem is that Republicans have bad ideas. Even the young 'uns like Rubio sound like they're 80 years old when they talk about policy.

    Parent
    Glad to see that (none / 0) (#30)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri May 01, 2015 at 05:15:54 AM EST
    you two are open minded, looking for solutions and would enjoy a debate from all sides.

    Makes me smile just to think about it.

    Parent

    With Rand Paul promising (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by Mordiggian 88 on Fri May 01, 2