No, a President Sanders could not work effectively with our corrupt Congress nor would I want him to

[Bjorn Against]

I have seen some people questioning whether or not Bernie Sanders could be effective at working with Congress if he were to become President.

I will be the first to admit that I know very well that our Congress is run by politicians who are pretty much completely sold out to the billionaires and they will have no interest in working with Bernie on much of anything.

I also know that Congress has approval ratings which make them roughly as popular as genital herpes. Nothing good is going to come from genital herpes, but maybe we can at least have a President that will not allow the herpes to infect more people.

I don't think I am alone when I say that I don't want a President who will play nice with a Congress that is as thoroughly corrupted as our own. I want a President who is going to fight for change, I don't expect that President to bring change immediately but I do expect them to fight against the status quo.

A President who embraces the status quo will have a much easier time getting their legislation through Congress. Bill Clinton got the Defense of Marriage Act, NAFTA, and welfare reform through quite easily by working with the Republicans in Congress. Hillary Clinton joined a coalition with Republicans in Congress to pass the Iraq War Resolution and the Patriot Act. The Clintons were on the winning side of all of these issues, Bernie Sanders joined the American people on the losing side.

You know what though? I am proud of Bernie for standing with the American people as we have suffered loss after loss. I know we will need him to stand with us through more losses in the future because I am well aware that the wealthy interests are not going to stop their assault on the people of our nation anytime soon.

I know that anytime a person like Bernie steps in to the establishment and tries to change the status quo the billionaire class is going to do everything they can to put roadblocks in his path, but I would rather have roadblocks in my path than to be steered on to a wrong path and end up driving off a cliff.

It is true that if Bernie Sanders were to be elected President the Congress would hand him many defeats, but he will also be able to hand them defeats using his veto pen. I am not worried about Bernie suffering defeats at the hands of an extremely unpopular Congress, I just want to see him get a victoy at the ballot box so I know we will have someone in the White House who will call that Congress out on their corruption.

[eloydude]

1. I say: Fuck that noise.

Let's get started, by crowding every Democratic party meetings with progressives, nominate real progressives, and get them elected.

If the winds are correct, then I think Bernie will stand a chance to defeat the 1% and Clinton.

The revolution will not be televised, it will be done over the 'Net!

[RoccoR5955]

5. There you go

My sentiments exactly!

Once people find out about Bernie's positions, and that he has been steadfast, they will vote for him in droves.
When he gets the nomination, you will see a landslide election, like you never have before.
Congress will turn blue with his coattails as well.
And with so many seats to defend in the Senate, the Republicans shall lose their majority.
Bernie shall then be free to implicate the programs for WE THE PEOPLE, and to hell with them, the corporations!

[TheNutcracker]

2. I want this too!

[DJ13]

3. Better a President who tries to do the right thing and fails

...than a President who is inclined to get conservative policies passed by working with no one but the opposing party.

We've seen how that fails to help the average voter the last 5 years, at the expense of cementing the conservative agenda.

[RobertEarl]

4. Bernie is no sell out

That's why he isn't rich like most others in congress.

[-none]

6. Bernie knows how to use the bully pulpit.

Remember what that is? It hasn't been used properly since 2000. Bernie will be effective even against a Republican Congress

[bvar22]

11. The Bully Pulpit has been used twice since 2000.

1) To get a war started in Syria.

2)To get the TPP Fast Track passed.

[BrotherIvan]

7. Coattails

Everyone wants to get "more and progressive Dems" elected. That is the constant refrain around here. The Senate is set to flip back to blue. But what about those progressive candidates that may not be able to raise mountains of cash? They would have a chance by riding a non-corporate funded candidate. If we insist that only two BILLION dollars can BUY the presidency, then what hope does anyone but corrupt and bribed politicians have. It is a vicious cycle and we must do something to end it.

I have said here that I think Bernie could be a new Teddy Roosevelt. Roosevelt invented the term "bully pulpit" and I think he would use it for things other than the TPP. Bernie has experience in both chambers of Congress--he knows the rules and where the bodies are buried. He has had a much longer time to learn and observe than Obama who was only there for a short time and entered the White House still believing in "bipartisanship". I think that Bernie wouldn't let dems like Lieberman or Nelson off the hook when they torpedoed his legislation and he would have powerfull allies in Senate Majority Leader Elizabeth Warren and House Majority Leader Lee (if she is not his VP pick).

And I don't care if he always wins. At this point all I care about is that he doesn't lie, stab me in the back, or doesn't fight.

[moonbeam23]

8. Thanks for saying what must be said

Enough of this dealing with the devil...

[Scuba]

9. K&R

[madokie]

10. Right the fuck on

I'm with you a hundred percent