Though I have not always agreed with him, there are few people in public life more worthy

[Atticus]

of respect---IMHO---than Bernie Sanders.

I was raised by parents who, when I asked why they were Democrats, explained that "Democrats are for the little guys; the poor, the sick, the different."

I can't think of another who has spent as many decades consistently fighting for those folks.

Mom and Dad would have loved Bernie.

So do I.

[underpants]

1. I, my friend, completely agree

[ananda]

2. Agree! I voted him in a couple of primaries.

But I'm not a crazy berniebro like my sister.

I always voted Dem in the general.

[Elessar Zappa]

3. I voted for him in 16 although

I hated the Bernie bros. I definitely appreciate his presence in Congress.

[sheshe2]

4. I can't think of another who has spent as many decades consistently fighting for those folks."

You can't think of one other?

*sigh*

[pnwmom]

7. One of them is President right now. Biden entered the Senate in 1973.

Sanders became Mayor of Burlington in 1981.

[sheshe2]

19. +++++++++++++++

[mcar]

66. This!

[progressoid]

73. mmmm...

I suppose if you ignore some of his history as a Senator. Particularly his opposition to bankruptcy protection for the little guy.

[questionseverything]

89. The 3 strikes rule

Even now he doesn’t favor legalizing pot… keeps it classified as schedule 1, like it is as dangerous as heroin

[sheshe2]

13. See post 11

Carter and that is just one. There are many more.

[grantcart]

30. Pls see# 28

[grantcart]

28. There is a large group of them, well organized too

They are well organized, they are called "life long Democrats".

At a recent protest for Roe in Phoenix some of the same folks I would see at anti war protests, women's march against Trump etc were there

Oh not as brave as Sanders you say? When you protest in Phoenix it's quite a bit different than Vermont, across the street is a counter demonstration where EVERY SINGLE COUNTER DEMONSTRATOR is armed with an AK 47 (along with other hand guns)

[Lochloosa]

85. President Jimmy Carter

[Lochloosa]

86. Shirley Chisholm

[Lochloosa]

87. Senator Paul Wellstone

[yardwork]

91. Dolores Huerta.

[Atticus]

21. I will concede that what you quoted was poorly worded and, therefore, inaccurate. The examples

mentioned, Biden and Carter, are, of course, extraordinary champions of the little guy. So are Nancy Pelosi, Jesse Jackson and Barney Frank.

These folks are not all equally admirable. They contributed in many different ways.

What impresses me about Bernie is his fearless determination to drag the Democratic Party---sometimes kicking and screaming---back to the unapologetically left of center position it occupied in the past. Much of what is now openly advocated by our party was once considered "radical left-wing" silliness.

Bernie was strongly pro-union when others were flirting with corporate donors and hoping compromises would be reciprocal. Some of the excellent Democrats were able to accomplish good because Bernie was willing to loudly criticize those who opposed them.

Some may disagree, but I would hope none would deem him unworthy of respect.

[mountain grammy]

24. Yes, well said

He never wavers but will compromise when he must. I know he's frustrated, but he's willing to get whatever he can get for average, working people. I appreciate everything he does.

Of course there are many wonderful and admirable Democrats, but we're talking about Bernie Sanders who is every day in every way a champion for us, the working class.

My mom would have loved him too. She was Brooklyn born and raised.

[sheshe2]

26. Thanks for the concession.

I usually like your posts. Yet this one is so wrong.

The Democratic party doesn't need to be dragged anywhere. No one is kicking and screaming. Biden is moving progressive agenda as the progressives complain that it isn't good enough. Politics is not a sports car that goes from 0 to 60 in thirty seconds. Concessions need to happen to get to our end goal. Something is far better than nothing. Purity is bullshit. There is no such thing.

Just look at what he has accomplished without those 'progressive' votes.

[betsuni]

41. Exactly. The Democratic Party wasn't dragged anywhere.

Nobody thought usual Democratic goals like universal health care, higher minimum wages and helping the working/middle classes, protecting the environment, economic equality, etc., were "radical." Republicans know those are usual Democratic goals, that's why they hate them and try to prevent them. Media mindlessly repeated this dragged-to-the-left myth for years. Yes, the corporate media conglomerate.

The myth of both sides, Democrats are coastal elites ignoring the working/middle classes, not progressive, that even though Republicans receive 80% of corporate campaign donations, the Democratic Party is somehow "corporate Dems" and corrupt. Give them a few hundred dollars and they have to do anything you say! It's absurd. The purity tests, all-or-nothing, no compromise, never enough.

It's so obvious.

[Atticus]

51. What is "obvious" to many is that the Democratic party has moved to the left IN PART

due to the persistence of Senator Sanders.

It is simply unrealistic to deny this.

Does he have faults? Could he have better addressed some issues?

Of course. But, these do not erase the good he's accomplished, IMHO.

[betsuni]

53. How exactly?

Medicare for All is old, the Fight for Fifteen became a national movement from 2012. Why does he insist the Democratic Party ignores the working/middle class and is corrupt because of campaign contributions when 80% of corporate donations go to Republicans? What evidence?

[Atticus]

54. We differ. Clearly you dislike the man. That is your right. Make of it what

you will, but I don't think an attempt on my part to answer your question would be at at all helpful.

Have a good one.

[betsuni]

55. Democrats aren't corrupt, establishment, coastal elites, ignore working/middle class, etc.

I have a problem with populism and conspiracy theories about rigged elections and so on. I actually know what people say and do and history.

[Atticus]

56. I had not intended to further respond, but your putting populism in the same category as

"conspiracy theories about rigged elections" explains much.

[betsuni]

59. That's populism. "No wait, 'some people say' that if maybe that system was not rigged

against me, I would have won the nomination and defeated Donald Trump."

https://www.newsweek.com/bernie-sanders-defeat-donald-trump-2016-rigged-primary-dnc-nbc-kassie-hunt-1446116

[questionseverything]

88. The super delegates make the system unfair ( rigged)

The nominee should be decided by the people not politicians

[yardwork]

113. Has it ever happened that superdelegates chose a candidate who hadn't won?

[betsuni]

123. No it hasn't. But like the word "emails," "superdelegates" triggered conspiracy theory

hysteria for no reason existing in reality.

[questionseverything]

125. Superdelegates are the opposite of democracy

They should have one vote at the ballot box, nothing else

[betsuni]

126. Then why did Sanders try to convince superdelegates to switch and back him instead of voters?

[betsuni]

131. Please answer why superdelegates are the opposite of democracy.

[betsuni]

122. How did they do that? You're saying Clinton didn't get more votes and

superdelegates decided the election?

[questionseverything]

124. I was thinking losing the general

[betsuni]

128. Why? Why would Republican/independent voters vote for Sanders over Clinton?

Last edited Thu Sep 22, 2022, 06:09 AM - Edit history (1)

Their progressive goals were the same.

[yardwork]

137. What?! What did that have to do with super delegates?

[questionseverything]

139. Ty 4 the kick!

[Demsrule86]

58. I don't see that the Democratic Party has moved left. It has always been a big tent party.

And if we want to remain in power it will remain so. I think the most significant thing to happen to us was the passage of the ACA which made Americans believe health care was a right. It was huge. I have always been a progressive but I will vote for any Democrat no matter what their ideology. Once the primary is over, it is the Democrat or the Republican and any Democrat beats the Republican hands down. Thus, I am always enthusiastic and do not need to 'fall in love'. As for Sen. Sanders, the ideas he promotes have been Democratic ideas for years. Bill Clinton attempted to pass a universal health care plan in the 90's .

[questionseverything]

90. Clinton tried to get universal insurance

Bernie wants universal healthcare

Huge difference

[Demsrule86]

96. There was a bill in Congress which Hillary Clinton basically wrote...so yeah it was different than

wanting a bill...Sen. Sanders has not to my knowledge put forth a bill for universal coverage in Congress...there was a house bill some time ago but I can't remember who sponsored it.

[questionseverything]

106. Hc who wasn't an elected official did present her version of an insurance bill

Bernie has presented healthcare for all many times in many forms over the years, as recently as 2017,2019,2022

You seem to be missing the obvious difference

One goal being “insurance “

Bernie’s being “healthcare “

[betsuni]

134. Medicare for All has been around for decades. 1978, health care as a human right.

John Conyers. 2003. Not a new radical Sanders idea. Same as the Fight for Fifteen minimum wage started as a national movement in 2012, not a new radical Sanders idea.

[BComplex]

84. Don't forget Elizabeth Warren! Both of them together

made sure during the 2020 election primaries that the REAL issues were out there. Both Bernie and Elizabeth had thousands of people at their rallies, sometimes 10 and 14 thousand and more. We owe them a huge debt of gratitude!

Thank you for this thread, Atticus. I totally agree with you!

[questionseverything]

78. Why try and split the party?

Over and over

[Uncle Joe]

118. Trauma, I believe

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1017767856

[Beastly Boy]

62. With all due respect, it was Bernie who was dragged, sometimes kicking and screaming

from the far left to the center left, where he met the mainstream of the Democratic Party. I am glad he did: I like the guy. Were he to remain at the far left, he would have lost his relevance as a political figure.

[mcar]

67. Biden has been the most progressive president of my lifetime

He has been pro-union his entire political career.

Please name one thing Senator Sanders has actually accomplished during his political career. One bill he spearheaded and got passed. Anything.

[notinkansas]

74. Sanders greatly influenced Biden's

move from solidly centrist to progressive leaning.

[betsuni]

75. How? How did Biden change his policies?

[mcar]

82. Seriously?

You have any proof of that?

[Demsrule86]

97. That is not true.

[betsuni]

132. Yes, not true, a myth.

[yardwork]

92. Way to move the goal posts!

I'm happy to give credit where credit is due, but noting that there are many, many public servants worthy of our respect is not equivalent to disrespecting any one of them.

I don't really get the purpose of your OP. Can we say that such and so person is admirable without stating that nobody else is as admirable? What is the point of that?

[pnwmom]

6. Meh. n/t

[sheshe2]

12. Umhm. nt

[Uncle Joe]

8. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread Atticus.

[MustLoveBeagles]

9. K&R

[MuseRider]

10. Agree.

I have enjoyed and supported him for years.

I cannot think of too many times that I did not agree with him right away or ended up agreeing with him after considering what he was saying.

I have enormous respect for the man and will carry that until my dying day, I wish there were more like him.

[EmmaLee E]

107. +1

[sheshe2]

11. Welp

President Jimmy Carter.

He was 22 when he graduated from the naval academy.

76th governor of Georgia from 1971 to 1975 and as a Georgia state senator from 1963 to 1967. Since leaving office, Carter has remained engaged in political and social projects, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002 for his humanitarian work.Born and raised in Plains, Georgia, Carter graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1946 with a Bachelor of Science degree and joined the United States Navy, serving on numerous submarines

In 1982, Carter established the Carter Center, aimed at promoting and expanding human rights. In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in co-founding the Center. He has traveled extensively to conduct peace negotiations, monitor elections, and advance disease prevention and eradication in developing nations. Carter is considered a key figure in the nonprofit organization Habitat for Humanity. He has written over 30 books, ranging from political memoirs to poetry, while continuing to actively comment on ongoing American and global affairs, including the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. At 97 years old, Carter is both the oldest living and longest-lived president, as well as the one with the longest post-presidency, and his 76-year-long marriage makes him the longest-married president. He is also the third-oldest living person to have served as a state leader.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Carter

At 97 he is still on site building houses for the poor.

[pnwmom]

14. Oh, yes!!! n/t

[sheshe2]

16. That is just one.

I am too tired to post the rest.

John Lewis
Hillary Clinton
Barack Obama
Joe Biden
Nancy Pelosi...............so many more.

Sanders was 40 years old before he ran for Mayor, he won by 10 votes. That was his first real job.

[FoxNewsSucks]

33. Why the hatred for a genuine liberal?

He has consistently worked for the little guy, the "different" his whole life, not just after it became popular and fashionable. Why hate and belittle him?????

[sheshe2]

37. Why idolize him.

You are right, he always worked for the little guy. Guy is the key word.

He said women, LGBT. BLM were just identity politics. He said Planned Parenthood was "The Establishment." He had to quickly walk that one back.


Bernie Sanders’ Revolution Needs Black Voters To Win. But Can He Talk To Them?

On Wednesday at an MLK event, Sanders said that Barack Obama's charisma obscured Democratic failures over the last decade — a critique that ignited a sharp rebuke from black Democrats who say he hasn't learned the lessons of 2016. There's a lot more to the story from the last three years.


On the 50th anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King Jr., Bernie Sanders was in Jackson, Mississippi, to talk about economic justice. It was here, in a state with the highest percentage of black residents in the country, where Sanders registered one of the worst performances of his presidential campaign, losing all 82 counties, by a total of 66 points.[/b]

snip

"Bernie's comments were tone-deaf and will not help him with communities of color, especially black folks," said Joshua DuBois, a strategist who led Obama's faith-based initiative. "On that hallowed day, our focus should've been on the transformative legacy of Dr. King and how we can come together to continue King's fight against systemic racism and injustice — not attacking the legacy of the first black president, who fought against many of the same things Dr. King fought."

Bakari Sellers, a South Carolina Democrat who emphatically supported Hillary Clinton in 2016, told BuzzFeed News that he and black Democrats have had patience with Sanders as he’s sought to better understand the role that race plays in the United States, even as Democrats have pushed Sanders to not just rely on the narrative that he marched with King in the 1960s.


https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/rubycramer/bernie-sanders-revolution-needs-black-voters-to-win-but-can

[betsuni]

42. +1

[ShazzieB]

44. +1!

[mcar]

69. Sing it, she!

[FoxNewsSucks]

119. I don't idolize him, I'd just like to see acknowledgment of the good he's done

be posted without provoking an immediate rash of people slamming him because he's "left", anti-corporation, anti-establishment and for the underdog. I'm not offended by legitimate criticism of anyone, including Sanders. But he's done a lot of good and that should be recognized.

On the "identity politics" thing, I would have to see the full context of his comments to have anything else to say. I think he's consistently been on the side of human rights, women's rights, gay rights, and racial rights his whole life and career. Yes, he marched with MLK. And after that he was in state & local politics in a state where blacks were 1% of the population. So there is a reason that those years don't have a lot of focus on black issues.

In any case, Sanders is where the Democratic Party should be.

[yardwork]

93. Did you respond to the wrong post?!

Where is any hatred or belittlement in the post to which you responded?

[FoxNewsSucks]

117. No,

It's an ongoing thing, every time someone posts something good about Sanders, out come the predictable posts condemning him.

[yardwork]

120. Where is the condemnation in that post?

[questionseverything]

129. Always the same bunch too

[betsuni]

130. ...

Same bunch that is always right, we are Democrats.

[rubbersole]

38. Please don't forget Paul Wellstone and Al Franken ...

Always on your side.
I have a Bernie 16 dark blue tee shirt I'll occasionally wear to the grocery store. I get plenty of smiles and every now and then a positive comment. Rarely anything negative. Bernie is a good man.

[gopiscrap]

15. totally agree

[RobertDevereaux]

18. Bernie Sanders is an American hero.

[area51]

29. +1

He's been trying for years to get everyone healthcare.

[burrowowl]

22. I agree!

Add the Carters!

[jojog]

23. My grandfather raised 9 kids in Depression in Tennessee before TVA

He used to say "Never vote for a Republican, he will starve you to death."

[JoeOtterbein]

25. K n R ! Thanks for posting! We need to Honor him more!

I really respect Bernie for always being clear, accurate and with some of the best progressive ideas to solving everyday human problems.

I think we need to make Bernie an official DU Democrat!

[ewcordon]

27. The little man

When I was a young boy in North Carolina in the late 1950's, I asked my dad, a farmer, what's the difference between the Democrats and the Republicans? He said that the Democrats were more for the little man. Meaning that they wanted to help the family farms and small businesses and the working man. Back then in the family farm era, North Carolina was a Democratic state. When we Democrats finally tried to help the black man people resented it and became Republicans. The refusal to adequately fund education, the desire to cut social programs, to end social security, maybe it all originates from the fear that the black man might get a bite to eat.

[jaxexpat]

101. The southern Republican voter.

In the second half of the 1960's southern white people were told that their joyride over the self-respect of black people was over. These people didn't want to give up pointing to black people as proof, in their narrow little minds, that they were superior to somebody, but the law prevailed and pretty soon a southern TV sheriff married a black TV woman. (Whut thuh hayeck isuh goin' owen eeyun migh TeeVee ovugh heya?) In response to this outrage, they became among the Republican party's most loyal voters. But when you give their narrow mindedlessness a little nudge-nudge it won't get any better, in fact it will (and did) infect much of the country's remaining uneducable to also join the ranks of Republican loyalists. After all, stupid people everywhere love themselves a little hate and fellow haters to hate with. Meanwhile none of the facts or historic truths regarding Republicanism has so much as cast a shadow over the mindset of these people. They are, in the final analysis, creatures of lemming proportions.

They support a party which doesn't give a shit about them or anything which would improve their lot in life, yet they double down, gleefully following the slime trail of a lying buffoon con artist who openly shows his contempt of them right to their face at every turn. The rest of the story is about how some overly intellectualized media excuses with the conjuring of some "BS magic" generated by Fox and Fox wannabe "think tanks", elected a president and now how to jail him. It's the "Greatest Shit Show on Earth", owing its origins to, in equal parts, Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest and P. T. Barnum. Happy Trump indictment day!

[AverageJoe]

31. I've not posted here in years, but I had to now

Bernie Sanders is a great American and the poster child for the better angels of the Democratic Party. I voted for him in both primaries, but of course voted for the nominee in the general elections.

Bernie’s window of opportunity for a shot at the presidency is probably closed now. Thank goodness we still have him in the Senate, along with passionate progressives like Elizabeth Warren, and AOC in the House, fighting the good fight.

Thank you for this thread. I join you wholeheartedly in praising Bernie Sanders.

[FoxNewsSucks]

32. I'd add Jimmy Carter to that short list also

For the simple reason that both had the courage decades ago to stand up for what was NOT popular at the time.

Both have had consistent positions. Neither stuck their finger up to see which way the wind was blowing.

The establishment individuals mentioned in other posts are NOT comparable to Sanders or Carter.

Biden has done much better as President than progressives expected, which is great, and he deserves credit for helping Obama to "evolve" on gay marriage.

To those who say we have to "take what we can get" in little steps, I say we are SICK AND TIRED of settling. For conceding to corporate and wealthy interests. No one who gave speeches to banksters and then kept them secret is comparable to either Sanders or Carter.

If the sleazy greedy likes of Jamie Dimon state that Wall Street is OK with either the D or the R candidate, that D candidate is NOT comparable to Sanders.

Nor is any politician who helped push the establishment candidate over Sanders instead of letting voters decide on issues

[betsuni]

46. "No one who gave speeches to banksters" -- Goldman Sachs featured speakers:

Whitney Wolfe Herd, CEO of Bumble.
Malcolm Gladwell, author and "The New Yorker" writer.
Annette Goodman-Reed, historian and author.
Daniel Dae Kim, actor, director and producer.
Sherry Turkle, MIT professor and author.
David Olusoga, British historian and professor.

Speakers at Goldman Sachs (BANKSTERS!!!!!111!!! WALL STREET!!!!!) are academics, CEOS, artists, fashion designers, authors, entertainers, entrepreneurs, environmentalists, former politicians, etc.

What's the problem? Is that somehow diabolical? Why?

[progressoid]

64. Well...

if any of those people were to run for public office, it would be reasonable to wonder why they they gave speeches to GS. Was is to garner their favor? Was is an attempt to sway GS to become better global citizens? Maybe is was simply for the big paycheck?

Inquiring voters want to know.

[betsuni]

70. "garner their favor" for what?

[progressoid]

76. Exactly. For what?

Financial support? Votes? Legislation? Maybe just support for increasing their plastic recycling efforts?

Without knowing what the speech was about, we have no idea what the motivation was.

[betsuni]

77. What is it about Goldman Sachs that's so diabolical?

[progressoid]

80. Who said they were diablical?

Does creating over 900 offshore tax havens make you diabolical?

Does it's involvement in the subprime mortgage crisis make it diabolical?

Is their CEO diabolical because he makes EDM? https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/13/business/dealbook/goldman-sachs-david-solomon-dj-d-sol.html?_r=0

[FoxNewsSucks]

116. "...and then kept them secret"

Selective editing like that is the kind of bullshit done by the Fox "news" Sewer, Hannity, Limpbaugh and other republicons. It has no place here.

Anyway, as the other poster pointed out, those people weren't running for office, nor were they former office-holders. In fact, as I'm sure you would be aware, they are legitimately giving speeches on their area of knowledge.

Politicians, on the other hand, deserve the extra scrutiny. They get obscene amounts of money for a half-hour or hour of talking. It could be a "pre-payment" for favors to be expected. Or it could be an ex-politician's payoff for a job well done. A nice reward.

And the people you mention? They didn't keep what they said secret. And even if they did, the things they said or promised would have no effect on the rest of us. Unlike the assurances banksters might get from a politician getting paid half a million per hour to talk.

[betsuni]

121. CONSPIRACY THEORY!!!1111 This is hilarious.

Except weaponizing "paid speech" "emails" "establishment" "corporatist" "coastal elites" "rigged" "Wall Street" "Goldman Sachs" "neoliberal" and imaginary corruption because of the campaign contributions all politicians receive as attacks against Democrats helps Republicans, and they use it to their advantage. Way to go! Corrupt/Wall Street/corporations became "crooked Hillary." Rigged became a big Trump thing.

[FoxNewsSucks]

142. Oh my!

Someone is certainly triggered!

I can't help but notice that you addressed nothing that I said, apparently frantically spewing a red herring is easier.

[betsuni]

144. LOL, am I supposed to be real mad?

Personal insult LOL.

[brooklynite]

35. Never been that impressed...

He's a nice guy, and I admire his dedication to his political philosophy, but he's always been in a safe electoral seat that hasn't required him to expand his pool of supporters. Someone who wants to shake up things as radically as he does is going to need to build an expansive coalition that begins to bring together progressives, moderates and even some conservatives. Otherwise, he's just a voice in the wilderness.

nb: someone downthread was complaining about being tired of having to wait for incremental changes. We implement incremental changes because they're achievable. If you propose to adopt Bernie's "all or nothing" approach, you're much more likely to end up with "nothing".

[ShazzieB]

45. +1!

[empedocles]

48. +2

[happy feet]

72. well said

the difference between being right (as in all or nothing) vs. being effective (as in compromise for incremental, sometimes enormous change). Healthcare for all is the former (no one disagrees in the goal), ACA/Obamacare is the latter (not letting perfect be the enemy of the good).

[sheshe2]

81. +1

[yardwork]

94. Well said.

[Arazi]

39. Totally agree

[certainot]

40. limbaugh was the anti-bernie and democrats ignored it for 30 years. so we're here

[H2O Man]

43. Recommended. (# 100)

On edit: It is strange to see people thinking that asking, "Oh yeah? Well what about ______?" are adding a meaningful contribution. The OP is about one of our Good Friends and community member's thought on Sanders and their parents' type of Democrat. While there are lots of other Democrats with a history of service, Bernie obviously appeals to a large number of people. That's a good thing. You and your parents might prefer someone else, and that's fine. It's good we have elected officials that represent a wide range of interests. That's a good thing, too.

[W_HAMILTON]

47. I can think of lots. Hillary, for one.

[betsuni]

49. +1

[malaise]

50. Great post

Rec

[demmiblue]

52. K&R!

He is good people!

[MrsCoffee]

57. I tried.

But he lost me forever in 2016.

Respect can be just as easily lost as won.

I’m thankful for the good he has done, but will never forgive the damage he did.

[yardwork]

95. Me too.

[wryter2000]

60. He's not a Democrat

I’m tired of his holier than thou attitude. If he wants to run for president as a Democrat it would be nice if he’d join the party.

[ProfessorPlum]

68. he's what every Democrat should be

and shame on them all for falling short.

[wryter2000]

83. That's exactly the attitude I was talking about

So sorry to fall short of the ideal.

[ProfessorPlum]

135. I mean, if you aren't for the little guys, that means you are for the already rich and powerful

and enjoy the taste of boot polish. There need to be politicians and parties that stick up for the rest of us. That _should_ be the Democratic party, in my opinion, but your mileage may vary of course.

[wryter2000]

136. Excuse me

Joe Biden is for the little guys and women. It's this kind of dishonesty that totally puts many Democrats off from ever supporting people like Lena Turner and other Bernie bots. Maybe you believe both parties are the same, too.

[Atticus]

140. What "dishonesty" are you referring to in the prior post? I'm not following your argument. nt

[wryter2000]

141. I now have the person on ignore so I can't read their post

I thought there was a clear implication that anyone who didn't agree that Bernie was the greatest was not for "the little guy" and therefore was not only for the rich but licked the rich's boots. I find that highly dishonest and insulting.

What I should have said, instead, was that the person continued to make my point about Bernie-worshipers' holier-than-thou attitude, but I was honestly too angry.

This is why some people aren't in love with Bernie. QED as far as I'm concerned.

[ProfessorPlum]

143. your imagination is doing a lot of heavy lifting

[Bettie]

61. I agree

Sometimes he goes too far, but on balance, he's always fighting for fair treatment of those of us who aren't on the top of the heap.

The thing that gets me, glancing over the thread is that some people think it is a zero sum game, that if you like Sanders you hate everyone else.

My grandma would have loved Bernie Sanders...and others.

[Hortensis]

63. Agree with MrsCoffee. I read everything I could dig up in 2015,

wondering if he could be the one. So I can also say "I tried." Given what happened after, if only that highly privileged quarter century in congress without achievement were his legacy.

****************

Btw, the same people who supported him and then helped turn the nation over to tRump, McConnell, and those they front for, are still evoking Sanders in their claims that the same people still can't support Democrats if we don't go "hard left" as one just, perhaps too openly, expressed it. Of course we're not about to. And they're still the same people they were, using the same tragically proven techniques of destruction.

"Worse is better." (On the need to spread disorder and discord within "bourgeois" societies." ) Famous slogan of Vlad Lenin, whose "worse" lead to formation of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and a century of "worse" that still continues.

"Telling the truth is a petty-bourgeois prejudice. Deception, on the other hand, is often justified by the goal."

[Fredfon]

65. NOPE

Bernie and his B.S. are the reason we are not enjoying Hillary Clinton's second term right now.
He gave us tRump.

[notinkansas]

71. Touche.

Bernie has been a fierce advocate for ordinary people for his entire career.

The bitterness toward him by some has always amazed me. And not in a good way.

[Demsrule86]

99. I suggest that you read up on the 2016 General election. I have put it behind me, but some never

will.

[ShazzieB]

102. +1

[Demsrule86]

104. Thank you.

[DownriverDem]

79. His ideas are good

but he could never be elected president.

[charliea]

98. After decades as an independent

I joined the Democratic party in 2016 to vote for Bernie in my state's primary, his history and programs were the most closely aligned with my hopes for America.

Of course the other consideration at the time was the clown (think Pennywise) car of candidates the other side said were their standard bearers.

[RocRizzo55]

100. None today more worthy of respect

Than Bernie.
That’s all I’ll say, for fear of being kicked off of DU.

[Skittles]

103. pleading the 5th

[Ferrets are Cool]

105. If Bernie has any flaw, it is that he is too idealistic.

And, I can live with that.

[Evolve Dammit]

108. A good man, a good heart and a fighter for what is just and right. Love Bernie. Like Kucinich,

ahead of his time. USA still has it's head up it's posterior and we cannot do great things until head comes out.....

[wackadoo wabbit]

109. K & R ... n/t

[PatrickforB]

110. I love Bernie too! He singlehandedly shifted the Overton window on Medicare for all Americans.

Now we are all talking about it, and if we have the kind of victory I'm hoping for in November (because of Dobbs and the whole Trump debacle), we might actually get some serious reform on the massive health insurance inflation, which in August was over 24% while the actual cost of health care services was up only 5.6%.

Somebody's getting gouged. Hint: it's US.

If Congress wanted to do the right thing and pass Medicare for all Americans they could do it quickly.

But, hey, those poor shareholders...we just CAN'T deprive them of PROFITS they are entitled to at our expense! That would be against the Gods of Wall Street!

[jaxexpat]

111. Bernie and Biden both support unionization. It's basic.

If it's absent from the platform it is DINO.
Candidates sidestepping vocal support for labor is DINO.
When candidates provide lip service to ownership over labor it is Republican dogma.

[Tommymac]

112. K&R for the little dudes

[cilla4progress]

114. I fully agree.

I got to shake his hand in '16!

[Meowmee]

127. Not a fan

He messed things up big time and then tried to do it again. I had never heard of him until then. His record does not show much accomplishment either in many years and he always ran as an I unless he needed help. That said a lot of what he stands for I also do, but I have long before I even heard of him, as did my family, and they are not his ideas by any means. I really did not care for his unfounded attacks on other good dems.

[betsuni]

133. +1

[yardwork]

138. Well said all around. I don't get the hero worship.

[Tom Rinaldo]

145. Seems some people skipped past these words: "...few people in public life more worthy of respect "

The OP doesn't say "...few people in public life AS worthy of respect" or "...No ONE in public life more worthy of respect ." It certainly did not say "...NO ONE in public life AS worthy of respect." So, IMO. listing a dozen other names of admirable people simply obscures the point, unless the point is to question whether Bernie is worthy of respect.

I will also point out that prior to being elected either President or Vice President, not many on a board like this would have listed either Jimmy Carter or Joe Biden on a list like this, though both men had honorable lives of public service prior to being elevated to those posts. Bernie stands out in a small group of leaders who are so honored by many despite never being elected to a nation wide office, though he is far from unique in that category either. That remains true whether or not a poster here decides to show respect to any number of other fine public servants as well.

[Atticus]

146. Thank you. nt

[mountain grammy]

147. Exactly! Thank you!