Bernie Sanders running for preznit?

[BrandonD]

I've always liked Bernie Sanders, for many years now I've seen him speaking on documentaries that espouse egalitarian principles - so he seems like a good guy.

Although I can't help but wonder: hypothetically, if the corporations who own the United States were able to select the individual who occupies the position of president, regardless of public opinion, then would they do it?

Of course they would.

So the only real question is: are rich elites able to ensure that their guy gets elected, regardless of public opinion?

I think that they are.

At this point the main opposition to corporations and factions of rich elites are other corporations and factions of rich elites. They are vying against one another and jockeying for position in the "end game".

There are always wild cards, though. A person with celebrity status can make a single statement and immediately several million people are aware of it, that sort of thing has the potential to shift the cultural tide. And there's always the possibility that there are "benevolent" factions up there who are not pleased with murder and drug trafficking and pedophilia as the status quo.

There is always the chance there are groups of people who shake the boat enough that the evil MFs in charge are forced to adjust their plans in order to maintain the illusion that they are the "good guys".

[Iamwhomiam]

BS, I agree with all you wrote.

[Elvis]

And of course every four years a bunch of bigshot New York bankers hold a dog & pony show where candidates strut their stuff, and the next day the New York Times announces the one with the most donations as the "frontrunner." I doubt Bernie Sanders could squeeze through that funnel.

[stillrobertpaulsen]

.
Let it. Let it get the best of you on occasion.

We all do -- the forum wouldn't exist w/out such occasional idealism.

In spite of the persistent forces exerted on us, compelling us to submit to apathy, indifference, defeatism, we resist.

We persist.

We return to this place to call out the wrongs, to anyone and no one in particular.

What else can that be but idealism?

There are two equally magnetic polar extremes within my character that draw me to RI. One is expressed in what Belligerent Savant wrote above. The easy way out after gaining awareness of the forces arrayed against us would be to give up. We don't. Since we are all human beings gathered here, and since we are all (presumably) part of this world, it makes sense that we look at human politicians who seem to share similar traits and wonder, are they really like us? And if they are, could they possibly make a difference?

I like Bernie Sanders too. I mean, a socialist President?! Sure sounds like a change that would be a shock to the system.

But then there's the other polar extreme within my character that draws me to RI. The one that doesn't want to be taken for a ride. The one willing to dig beyond the surface that the authorities present to scream to the world, "That's bullshit!" The jaded punk with no heroes because all the genuine heroes get offed. Who thinks anyone with a legitimate shot at the top is already bought lock, stock and barrel. This post intrigued that side of me:

I'm from Vermont. I like Bernie Sanders. I also know he's an establishment liberal with close ties to NatSec and AIPAC.

Not sure why anyone expects him to be much different from Hillary, aside from the fact he 1) has a penis and 2) doesn't dye his hair.

Wombaticus Rex, if you've got any links on those ties with National Security, I'd love to read more. Because as wonderful as I think Sanders would be regarding economic and domestic policy, if he's a member of AIPAC or tied to the MIC in any way, then he's just another compromised candidate. I hope he's not. But hey, hope is just another four-letter word in this day and age.

[Wombaticus Rex]

I like your motif of dual polarity. Bernie Sanders is an asshole in person, a stunningly self-absorbed and calculating political creature given to utterances so tone-deaf you just want to pray for his staff. Bernie Sanders is the best (perhaps only?) friend veterans have in Washington DC, and certainly the only politician accepting money from unions who is actually looking out for their interests. Bernie Sanders has made his office into a training ground for smart, dedicated progressives, most of whom have gone on to political/functionary careers. Bernie Sanders is a product, wisely marketed as "Socialist" but assembled from entirely Democrat parts.

So to be fair to the complex bouquet of crazy hair and mixed motivations on display in this thread, his ties to NatSec are both inevitable and second-hand, owing largely -- not entirely; largely -- to his long-standing friendship/partnership/kayfabe rivalry with Senator Patrick Leahy. He's also made the news recently for not supporting recent AIPAC PR pushes, and as a Jew from New York, again, his ties here are inevitable. He has negotiated a comfortable peace with both camps: they know he's not going to cheerlead for them -- but they also know he won't make problems for them.

Bernie built his image here in Vermont off his support for farmers, and again: good intentions make for mixed results, at best. His legacy is pretty tainted now -- his work for milk subsidies wound up benefiting Agribusiness conglomerates more than small farmers, and today Vermont's farming system is an absurd anachronism, running on illegal immigrant labor (I know that's a charged term, but it's also an objective description, sorry) and Federal subsidies and dumping legally-protected, shit-packed pollution in Lake Champlain, once a gem but now a festering 125 mile petri dish of faecal coliform fun.

The nature of Washington, DC is such that compromised candidates don't leave much of a paper trail, but I will end on this note: his voting record speaks volumes. After changing his mind on his support for the Iraq War, he famously remarked that "Congress can no longer act as a rubber stamp for the President." Observe his change of heart once a Democrat made it to 1600 Pennsylvania.

Edited to add -- because I don't think it's a personal shortcoming or aesthetic decison that politicians make when they integrate themselves into the system: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001_anthr ... he_letters

[Iamwhomiam]

Thanks for sharing your perspective, Rex.

[conniption]

You go, Bernie.

RT

Clinton gets competition: Bernie Sanders to run for president in 2016

Published time: April 28, 2015

U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders. (Reuters/Mike Segar)

US Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent lawmaker from Vermont, is set to announce a bid for the presidency on Thursday, Vermont Public Radio reported. He will reportedly run as a Democrat.

continued...

[IanEye]

It is interesting that Sanders, an Independent, would choose to run as a Democrat in 2016.
As opposed to making a '92 style Perot run for office.
If Sanders did that, then he would be debating both Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush in September of 2016.
He would be on the ballot in November of 2016 as an option.

Instead, running as a Democrat, Sanders will be over quite early on.

It is like Sanders wants to make some points, but ultimately prefers Clinton in the office as opposed to Bush.

[Wombaticus Rex]

It is like Sanders wants to make some points, but ultimately prefers Clinton in the office as opposed to Bush.

Your assessment is dead on; he's about as serious as Ben Carlson.

Nobody on his staff seems to think this is a serious bid for anything but raising his national profile to increase his clout in DC. It's a PR campaign; it is not a presidential campaign.

Edit: I want to state things strongly and clearly. The cynicism of this bothers me.

Bernie Sanders is going to spend the next 12 months promoting Facebook memes about "inequality" -- forgive me if I don't think being an info-warrior means much in the filter bubble echo chamber that is Big Blue -- and all of those memes will feature his fucking face. Bernie Sanders is working with a ghostwriter on a book. If not for the seriousness of the issues he is discussing, this would be Herman Cain level shit.

Bernie Sanders is going to be fundraising for a campaign he not only knows he won't win, but won't even seriously pursue. He is going to burn donations from idealists until it's time, inevitably, to get in line and support Hillary 2016.

So who is he really campaigning against? Elizabeth Warren. He's doing the Clinton family a big favor with this. And I get to spend a whole year watching people praise him for his courage and vision and message.

Whatever. Hopefully I get some contracts out of it, right? Let it burn, let it burn.

[BrandonD]

It is like Sanders wants to make some points, but ultimately prefers Clinton in the office as opposed to Bush.

Your assessment is dead on; he's about as serious as Ben Carlson.

Nobody on his staff seems to think this is a serious bid for anything but raising his national profile to increase his clout in DC. It's a PR campaign; it is not a presidential campaign.

Edit: I want to state things strongly and clearly. The cynicism of this bothers me.

Bernie Sanders is going to spend the next 12 months promoting Facebook memes about "inequality" -- forgive me if I don't think being an info-warrior means much in the filter bubble echo chamber that is Big Blue -- and all of those memes will feature his fucking face. Bernie Sanders is working with a ghostwriter on a book. If not for the seriousness of the issues he is discussing, this would be Herman Cain level shit.

Bernie Sanders is going to be fundraising for a campaign he not only knows he won't win, but won't even seriously pursue. He is going to burn donations from idealists until it's time, inevitably, to get in line and support Hillary 2016.

So who is he really campaigning against? Elizabeth Warren. He's doing the Clinton family a big favor with this. And I get to spend a whole year watching people praise him for his courage and vision and message.

Whatever. Hopefully I get some contracts out of it, right? Let it burn, let it burn.

Thank you for this info. This level of tactical political scheming is honestly above my head.

[NeonLX]

...and no, he won't "pull Hillary to the left". Wait, maybe he will--while she's still campaigning. Once she's in the offal office, however...Oh, fuck it. Should I even care?

[82_28]

Well, his presence definitely makes it interesting and we will have much to chew on.

Which I am not looking forward too whatsoever.

[freemason9]

It is interesting that Sanders, an Independent, would choose to run as a Democrat in 2016.
As opposed to making a '92 style Perot run for office.
If Sanders did that, then he would be debating both Hillary Clinton and Jeb Bush in September of 2016.
He would be on the ballot in November of 2016 as an option.

Instead, running as a Democrat, Sanders will be over quite early on.

It is like Sanders wants to make some points, but ultimately prefers Clinton in the office as opposed to Bush.

I'm going to try and stay positive on this . . . Ms. Clinton sorely needs the competition, and Mr. Sanders will certainly open the dialogue. As an eternal optimist, I also believe that Bernie may surprise many people with his magnetism. He is viewed much like Ms. Warren--a truth-teller, and a rebel against an entrenched system. I'm not saying it's a true image, but it is an image nonetheless.

[82_28]

Well you know we already know all of the "right" answers. Frankly, I really don't give a shit. I want someone with the power to bring an end to corporate control and send the war criminals where they belong. I want this place to be a place in which it is free "as in beer" and "free as in speech" because that is the way I live. Someone "in the know" needs to come forward and call it as it lays.

I just don't know what makes evil possible and how it cannot be stopped for some reason. I have all the answers and it is essentially anarchism within a protective "bubble" of knowing that it is possible to "get along". Eh, whatever. My mind is wandering. I hope I can remember it all.

But someone has to put a stop to this. Much like JFK, RFK, MLK etc. wanted to on the grand global level. Yet were just somehow knocked off by lone psychotics.

I think it is getting harder and harder to keep up the narrative and I would imagine "they" see this. I would imagine "they" have directed resources to overcome what "we" know now. And I think that it is just "let it ride" because they have corrupted the "supreme" court admirably. Thus, there really is no law in this country at all.

There is some form of existential silver lining though. We'll just have to see!

[zangtang]

Race to the bottom.............last man standing

They've all been naked in public for years now....what amazes is our failure to embarass & shame them into 'sit down & shut up'
- maybe its purely inertia....as the unconsidered 800lb gorilla

wish i didntkeep coming back to (my mind bringing up...) Jack Nicholson in the shrinks office;
'maybe this is as good as it gets?'