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Bernie Sanders To Announce Presidential Run

From Vermont Public Radio:

VPR News has learned from several sources that independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders will announce his candidacy for the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday. Sanders will release a short statement on that day and then hold a major campaign kickoff in Vermont in several weeks.

This is welcome news imo.

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  • Display: Sort:
    Good (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 28, 2015 at 03:40:49 PM EST
    for him. The more the merrier.

    Run Bernie Run (5.00 / 4) (#2)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Apr 28, 2015 at 03:51:29 PM EST
    "So, I think that Hillary Clinton and every candidate out there should in fact address whether or not they support this T.P.P.," Sanders said.



    Time to get out my check book (5.00 / 9) (#3)
    by MO Blue on Tue Apr 28, 2015 at 03:52:59 PM EST
    People who want alternatives need to support them when they get in the race.

    This (5.00 / 4) (#5)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Tue Apr 28, 2015 at 04:05:25 PM EST
    I think I'll join you.

    Parent
    Very glad to hear this; I think it's (5.00 / 6) (#4)
    by Anne on Tue Apr 28, 2015 at 04:04:50 PM EST
    a much-needed push from the left that's going to give a much stronger - and much-needed - voice to a lot of people whose voices have been largely ignored in the quest for PPUS.  PPUS, I might add, that didn't woo a single Republican away from the dark side, and largely managed to just move the Dems to the right.

    I hope (5.00 / 2) (#6)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Apr 28, 2015 at 05:22:49 PM EST
    PPUS is gone for good.

    Parent
    It's not a protest vote (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by CST on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 12:43:02 PM EST
    If it happens during a primary, IMO.

    I agree that it's unlikely Bernie will win, but I think he can pull enough to influence the conversation.  He is also very capable of being loud and intelligent enough to influence a conversation just by being on stage where it's happening.

    I hope he pulls enough votes to get the respect of the press - but the truth is they'll never respect someone like that - he's not one of theirs.  Also, respect from the press is highly overrated.  That being said, I don't think they can use him to make a mockery of the left.  Not when he owns his identity the way that he does.

    Well (none / 0) (#38)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 01:23:37 PM EST
    I think we should go after the press anytime they go after him, Hillary or anybody else. Of course they're not going to talk about what he's talking about anymore than they're going to discuss what Hillary is saying. They'll probably make comments about how he ate at the "wrong" restaurant too or some such nonense.

    Parent
    You Mean Like How... (none / 0) (#40)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 02:13:16 PM EST
    ...Hillary has the respect of the press ?

    Overrated indeed !!!

    Parent

    Senator Sanders (5.00 / 4) (#33)
    by KeysDan on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 12:53:44 PM EST
    offers serious credentials and accomplishments, and should not be dismissed as a liberal foil to Mrs. Clinton.   He is not a gadfly. Senator Sanders can bring to the fore an American agenda for progress. His professional life is marked by a commitment to justice, civil rights and better government.  On foreign policy he has cautioned about the consequences of ill-thought out military actions and domestically, he is a social liberal.  

    His political experiences include mayor of Burlington, Vt, US Representative, and US Senator.  He is a graduate of the University of Chicago (political science), married and the father of four.  He was born September 8, 1941.  

    Wait! Don't we have a resident (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by nycstray on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 01:00:25 PM EST
    "social liberal" in our midst @ TL? EEEK!  

    ;)

    Parent

    Ha (none / 0) (#36)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 01:08:22 PM EST
    i was thinking the same thing.  No doubt he will be donating and campaigning hard for Bernie.

    Parent
    No way Jose... (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by kdog on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 01:10:03 PM EST
    My old pal PPJ is a social liberal/defense hawk.  He could never get down with Bernie's sensible foreign policy views.

    Hillary should be his horse! ;)

    Parent

    He'll show people what a real liberal looks like (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by ruffian on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 04:12:07 PM EST
    If Hillary becomes the nominee she should welcome that the contrast between Sanders and herself was established.  I think she will be confident enough of her nomination that she won't go much to the left to try to get Sanders voters, so I would not count on his entry in the race driving her off her normal center-left position.  She will let him establish that she is not really a liberal, and then she shouldn't have to do as much obvious tacking back to the right in the general.

    I welcome his positions being aired to a national audience, even if I don't think it will effect the race much.

    Six whole comments... (none / 0) (#7)
    by Anne on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 09:25:12 AM EST
    I'm a little bummed.

    Yes (none / 0) (#8)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 09:26:23 AM EST
    I was completely suprised too and was going to make a similar comment.

    Parent
    I would (none / 0) (#9)
    by FlJoe on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 09:32:50 AM EST
    have thought all the HRC haters would be dancing in the streets and the EW lovers would at least be happy they finally have a date for the prom.

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#11)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 10:35:49 AM EST
    over at Kos there is at least some of that. The people really having a meltdown over Bernie running seems to be the O'Malley supporters because Bernie seems to have thrown a wrench into the strategy of running to the left of Hillary.

    One of O'Malley's campaign people ticked me off though because he said something to the extent of Hillary had better be nice to O'Malley if she wanted to be considered for a VP position. Do these people even realize how they sound???

    Parent

    Yea I think Bernie (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by CST on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 10:39:13 AM EST
    may take the "hot air" out of the O'Malley campaign - if there ever was any.

    With Bernie we know exactly who he is and what we're getting.  And he's been representing the working-class wing of the party vocally and forcefully before anyone had even heard of Elizabeth Warren.

    Parent

    I so don't get that (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by sj on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 11:49:09 AM EST
    The people really having a meltdown over Bernie running seems to be the O'Malley supporters because Bernie seems to have thrown a wrench into the strategy of running to the left of Hillary.
    IMO he should maintain that strategy. I think leftward pressure from any and every direction is good. If O'Malley himself feels pressure from the left then -- thank goodness. Bernie may force him to actually mean it.

    Parent
    Me either (none / 0) (#23)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 12:06:12 PM EST
    but I guess they were thinking that they were going have no competition in that department.

    Parent
    They were probably trolling... (none / 0) (#17)
    by Yman on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 11:18:46 AM EST
    ... for a reaction, although you never know over there!

    From what I've seen, I actually like O'Nalley's positions a lot.

    Parent

    No (none / 0) (#18)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 11:26:43 AM EST
    this was actually published in newsreport not something somebody at GOS said to me.

    Parent
    Bernie Sanders (none / 0) (#10)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 10:31:10 AM EST
    Some links to get the party started.

    I will add some links:
    Sanders forces delay of trade bill consideration

    McConnell said that because of Sanders's objection, the Finance Committee will still meet, but the Senate will have to recess.

    Sen. Bernie Sanders, the latest presidential hopeful, issues dire warning to Alabama

    If Republicans are successful in passing their 2016 budget, as many as 172,000 Alabamians could lose health coverage, while more than a million senior citizens would be forced out of Medicare.

    Why Not Bernie? Iowa and New Hampshire Should Make a Statement and Vote Sanders Over Hillary

    However, there's already one Elizabeth Warren Democrat running in 2016. His name is Bernie Sanders. Progressives everywhere should embrace his candidacy, not shrug their shoulders and settle for another "Emailgate" or foreign donor controversy.

    Funny Fox News Link:
    Sen. Bernie Sanders to announce presidential bid, reports say

    Vermont Public Radio reported Tuesday that he was to announce his bid for the nomination on Thursday. The Associated Press also reported that the self-described socialist was planning on announcing a bid for the nomination, but did not specify a date.

    And nothing to do with politics, really.
    6 things to know about Bernie Sanders

    He now says he is not actively involved in organized religion. But in terms of economic justice, he said, "I find myself very close to the teachings of Pope Francis." He described the pope as "incredibly smart and brave."

    From His Website:

    Sanders' Agenda. Among his proposals, Sanders calls for free college tuition, a $1-trillion program to rebuild the nation's roads and bridges, government-run health care, higher taxes on the wealthy and publicly funded elections to reduce the influence of the country's rich donors, the Los Angeles Times reported.

    Please add links at will.

    Oh (none / 0) (#13)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 10:46:56 AM EST
    good lord. That Huffington Post article sounds like regurgitated talking points circa 2008 as to why people should vote for Obama. Can't people at least come up with new talking points?

    At least Bernie has a record on which to run.

    Parent

    Yes... (none / 0) (#15)
    by ScottW714 on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 11:06:00 AM EST
    ...the author is not an HRC fan.

    But I do think there are a lot of people who will vote for HRC, like me, that would like an alternative to get the nomination who is more in tune with traditional liberal policies.  

    Or at the very least, steer the conversation to the left and then some.

    Parent

    Oh (none / 0) (#16)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 11:09:56 AM EST
    I understand that and like I said above the more the merrier.

    Parent
    I couldn't bring myself to protest-vote 4 Nader (none / 0) (#28)
    by Mr Natural on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 12:36:01 PM EST
    but I'd do it for Bernie.

    Parent
    Yeah, that article (none / 0) (#24)
    by sj on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 12:07:28 PM EST
    could have been left out of the list. It wasn't really about Senator Sanders, was it? It was a condemnation of Her.

    Parent
    I like Sanders (none / 0) (#14)
    by Reconstructionist on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 11:04:11 AM EST
     and versus Clinton, I  support him and obviously versus any Repub should he get the nomination.

      But, I am a realist. Voting for him will be a protest vote. His chances of knocking off Hillary is very slight and he would have even less of a chance in a general.

      I also fear that if he gets "demolished" in the primaries it could be (wrongly, in my view) be spun as a sign the "progressive agenda" is unpopular.

      Many of the things I like about him (beyond policy preferences) are problematic when running for President. One could be pretty much totally aligned on policy but refrain from self-describing as a socialist. I admire that he is that blunt and willingly champions things others would seek to defame by calling socialist, but it does give others a hammer.

       His personality and style  while endearing to me are, putting it lightly, atypical for presidential candidates.  He's cantankerous, candid mixed with impulsive and unwilling to "tone adjust" his message let alone pander.

      I support him and hope he can do a good job of using the campaign as not just a soapbox to force meaningful discussion of issues the others gloss, if not ignore, but maybe even persuade a few more people to agitate for more economic fairness but dancing for joy would require me thinking he could put up a real electoral  challenge. I hope I'm wrong, but I don't.

        I'd still like to see someone, who while maybe not quite as much a true champion of the "common man" with better prospects jump in.

      Who knows, maybe everyone else was just afraid to be first.

     

    I hope... (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by kdog on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 11:52:55 AM EST
    he tries an independent run once when Democratic Party laypeople who are afraid of their own shadow inevitably reject him as "unelectable".

    I think if every left-leaning person in the country truly voted their conscience instead of doing the Machiavelli dance, he'd win the nomination in a landslide, as well as the general.  But most people play Machiavelli.

    Parent

    I believe (none / 0) (#21)
    by CST on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 11:56:30 AM EST
    he already announced he will not seek election as a third party candidate.

    He's got the bigger picture in mind, and he's a career politician who knows well how the game is rigged.

    He's not gonna risk a Republican candidacy.  That's why he's running for the Dem nomination.  He could've just waited it out.

    Parent

    My gut feeling (none / 0) (#25)
    by FlJoe on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 12:09:51 PM EST
    is that he is not really that interested in becoming president. He is more interested in getting his progressive/populist positions into the mix. There is no way he would pull a Nader and quite possibly throw the election to the Repubs. He is not that stupid or vain.

    Parent
    If only Al Gore... (none / 0) (#26)
    by kdog on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 12:21:09 PM EST
    hadn't stolen all of Nader's votes in 2000, what a different looking country we might have.

    Parent
    You know (none / 0) (#27)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 12:28:41 PM EST
    Nader had the opportunity to run in a primary and get his ideas out there but he punted. That is pretty much when I lost all respect for him. And that was way before Gore in 2000.  

    Parent
    Man (none / 0) (#32)
    by FlJoe on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 12:46:48 PM EST
    you must have been smoking the primo.

    Parent
    Kidding of course... (5.00 / 3) (#34)
    by kdog on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 01:00:16 PM EST
    sadly, those that say the opposite, that Nader "stole" votes from Gore, are not.  Those folks are smoking something much stronger than the sacrament.

    Every vote should be earned...must be earned.  But Democrats think we owe it to them, because...look!  over there!  Republicans!  Eat our sh&t and like it b*tches.

    Parent

    Actually, kdog, most people get played. (none / 0) (#29)
    by Mr Natural on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 12:37:20 PM EST
    Too true.. (none / 0) (#39)
    by kdog on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 01:28:33 PM EST
    but we also play ourselves.

    Parent
    I'm perfectly okay... (none / 0) (#22)
    by sj on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 11:58:51 AM EST
    ... with a "protest" vote. I prefer to have something to vote for, as I am done settling for voting "against". Lesser of two evils? Still evil. My vote is the only voice I have. I'm going to use it singing a note that resonates with me.

    Much as I would love it, I don't see an electoral victory for Sanders. The win would be the change in conversation and focus. And that's a big win, IMO.

    Parent

    I'd hate to see the alternative win, though, sj (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by Mr Natural on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 12:39:54 PM EST
    I looked at a pic of "Jeb" the other day and realized that the real reason he wears those glasses is so he doesn't look like his idiot brother.  Without the specs, he's a clone.  "Hispanic" Jeb.  My gwad, how stupid do they think we are?

    Parent
    I understand your feelings (none / 0) (#41)
    by sj on Wed Apr 29, 2015 at 03:50:24 PM EST
    I really do. Each must live according to his own conscience. You must make your choice as you see fit. I will do the same.

    Parent