Not happy with the democratic field. I Wish Joe Biden would run.

[davishenderson265]

I really wish we had as many choices as the Republican's do. Just ceding this nomination to Hillary is a bad idea. She has so much baggage. In some ways she reminds me of Al Gore in 2000. Gore had to carry over all of the Clinton baggage, and Hillary has her husband's as well as her own baggage to carry.

Like I said before, I don't think Bernie Sanders is electable. I think he can get nominated but not elected. He comes from a very small state, and there is so much about him for the corporate media to exploit. Just because the guy wins in Vermont does not mean he could win nationwide. I think he plays well in the Northeast and the west coast, but would not fare well in the south at all, and would have a tough time in the middle of the country. The "Socialist" banner will be a deal breaker for millions who probably don't even know what the word means. We need to think with our heads and not our hearts. I am a Socialist and would move to Denmark, or Norway, in a minute if I knew how.

That leads me to Joe Biden. I think he is the Harry Truman, or Hubert Humphrey, of his generation. Even people who totally disagree with Biden and think he's a bit of a windbag, like him personally. I think he has a far greater populist streak than Obama does. Joe has earned the nomination in my mind by being VP for 8 years. All of this talk about politicians being "regular guys," Biden is the closest thing to it. There is nothing fake about Joe. The only thing working against him is his age. Though he appears to be in good shape.

If Joe Biden gets in, he is my candidate. I will support whoever the nominee is. I like Omalley, but don;t think he has much of a chance.

[merrily]

1. I appreciate the concern of all who claim to be Socialists who love Bernie but won't vote him.

How far did Biden get in the 2008 Democratic primary?

[davishenderson265]

2. I will vote for Bernie.

Even though I think he would be another McGovern. Many candidates are nominated after losing in previous primaries. Ronald Reagan, George Bush I, John McCain, and on and on and on.

[merrily]

6. Most of those who lose but are nominated later have been Republicans.

They had a wait your turn mentality, which Democrats did not seem to have before Hillary.

I find it odd that you argue publicly against nominating the primary candidate for whom you plan to vote. You may want to re-think one part or the other of that equation.

[Art_from_Ark]

8. And of course, they always bring up McGovern,

while ignoring the special set of circumstances that existed in 1972.

[merrily]

17. McGovern's losing because he was liberal and Clinton's winning because he was not are two of the

biggest political lies we've been told; and we're told them repeatedly. I get a kick how no one even thinks those claims need back up.

By the way, McGovern himself, much as I admire his stands, was not exactly the most charismatic or dynamic candidate. IMO, it was a miracle that he got the nomination, just on that alone. (Let's see how Lincoln Chafee does.)

[davishenderson265]

27. McGovern had the same kind of supporters as Bernie.

Younger college age kids, and older hard core liberals. They can get him nominated but they will never get him to win in a general election. It is just a political reality. Goldwater was the same in 64. His ultra right wing base got him nominated, but he had ZERO chance in the general election.

[eridani]

88. Unions refused to come out for McGovern. After all, 1972 was the peak year for family income

At least for the 99%. Minimum wage value peaked in 1968. Except for abortion (which will be an ongoing struggle), the culture wars are over and we won. Since then we've had 40 years of stagnant and decreasing family income, so unions are going to back anyone with a plan for dealing with inequality.. Money in politics was not an issue--we didn't have Buckley vs Valeo until 1976.

[davishenderson265]

18. There were no "special set of circumstances in 1972.

In fact, the issues were on our side. Nixon wasn't even that popular. McGovern was painted a radical left nut job by Nixon and the national media. What do you think they will do to Sanders?

Nominating Bernie would be like the Republican's nominating Michelle Bachmann.

[Art_from_Ark]

23. Watergate break-in? Incumbent dirty trickster President?

Announcement of the end of the Vietnam War? Botched handling of vice presidential candidate?

I would say that those constitute a special set of circumstances.

[merrily]

64. Revelation that his first chosen running mate had been in a mental hospital?

[merrily]

66. Talking to each other is enjoyable, but trying to fight the DNC meme generator is like pissing in

typhoon force winds.

(Pissing anywhere but on a conventional toilet with the lower seat down rarely works for me anyway, but you get my point.)

[Art_from_Ark]

74. Yeah, I know

There must be some template they follow, 'cause no matter how many times they're proven wrong, they just keep coming back with the same bullshit.

[merrily]

76. It's not about right or wrong. It's about hammering the talking points.

I'm not sure why. I don't think anyone here is going to start a Draft Biden movement. I don't think anyone here is going to turn away from his or her chosen candidate until the candidate either wins or stops running, least of all from Sanders to Clinton.

[Art_from_Ark]

80. It's just like all those posts from dubious Bernie "supporters"

I like Bernie , but his supporters are so mean and he can't win anyway because, 1972!

[merrily]

84. I find it impossible to believe anyone picks a primary candidate based on how the supporters of

one candidate post on DU. I find it plausible that some might claim that, to, you know, "show them," but not anyone sane and over 12 who wishes to be respected, even a little.

Apologies to anyone who claims to have chosen or changed a primary candidate based on the behavior of Hillary's DU supporters or Bernie's DU supporters and who does not fit the above description. You really should not choose your primary candidates that way, though.

[merrily]

59. Actually, there were plenty of special circumstances in 1972.

The gospel that Presidential Elections are won or lost for one reason is laughable

And, since that reason on the Democratic side is almost always either that the candidate was too liberal or that a primary existed, the gospel is both laughable and transparent.

[davishenderson265]

22. Biden wasn't VP in 2008

Sitting VP's are almost always nominated if they run.

[yuiyoshida]

67. This means nothing?

[McCamy Taylor]

99. I'm a socialist. Sanders is too middle of the road. They are all too middle of the road.

Someone tells me when we have a real communist running and I will get right on it.

[merrily]

100. Bernie is "too middle of the road" compared to what? Center right Democrats? Okay.

I can't recall having seen one of your socialist posts, but I do appreciate your concern about how middle of the road Bernie is.

As for me, I am a traditional Democrat, not a New Democrat and not a Socialist. The more I learn about Democratic Socialists, the more I realize that is probably closest to traditional Democrats. http://www.democraticunderground.com/12806844

In any event, Sanders' brand of alleged "middle of the road" suits this traditional Democrat much better than the brand of candidates who have been center right for decades.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. Joe Biden is a good and decent man and great Democrat./NT

[bigwillq]

4. I'm happy with the field so far.

I would not vote for Biden, but would welcome him into the field.

[immoderate]

5. Joe is welcome, but he will dilute Hillary's lead, maybe hand it to Bernie.

It's nonsense to say Bernie is unelectable. Nobody's policies align as well with polling of Americans.

Joe, like most of the Democratic hierarchy, and Hillary, is a supply-sider. That's not good.

--imm

[davishenderson265]

7. "Socialist" banner disqualifies Bernie as a serious candidate.

Nominating Bernie is a dream come true for the far right.

[merrily]

10. I never saw so many posters in GD claiming to be socialists until Bernie declared.

Then they declared to socialists who don't think Bernie should be the nominee.

[davishenderson265]

15. That is easy. Even we Socialists know the word is toxic in our center right nation.

[merrily]

21. And you're certainly doing your part to help keep it that way. Doesn't imply

a lot of conviction about your alleged Socialism. However, my prior post had two sides to it. If you don't think Bernie can carry the general, perhaps you should vote for someone else in the primary. Or, if he really is your primary candidate, perhaps you should stop persuading people not to vote for him. Either way.

[davishenderson265]

30. I don;t care who people vote for. I'm just warning of an electoral disaster in the fall

if we nominate Bernie.

[merrily]

34. Yes, we see you. I've already thanked you for your concern. What more do you think

you'll get by repeating yourself?

ETA: Supposedly, you're warning people of a disaster that will occur if they vote in the primary the way you say you will vote in the primary. Again, I have to say your position makes zero sense.

[merrily]

25. PS Americans are NOT center right on issues. That's another lie we've been told,

as though it were fact.

Let's talk polls on issues: http://www.democraticunderground.com/12777036

[davishenderson265]

32. That is debatable.

Why did Bush beat Kerry?

[merrily]

52. That's your debate? That's supposed to disprove all those polls?

Gee, with "logic" like that, seems to be little point posting facts to you. And what part of issues vs. labels in my polls post did you not get?

Why did Bush beat Kerry?

Well, for one thing the US voter has NEVER defeated an incumbent in war time. For another, Kerry was a lousy debater. Could barely finish a sentence without interrupting himself at least three times, until no one could follow. For a third thing, media played the swift boat ad like a million timies. For another, he voted for the Iraq War, then voted to cut off funding while our troops were in harm's way. Then, when he got flack about that, he started voting FOr funding. He looked weak and indecisive about war, probably the most profound thing the nation does--and he was running for Commander in Chief during war time.


And, despite all that, the margin by which Bush won the popular vote was razor thin. Something like 50.02%, IIRC.

Also, if the nation is so damned conservative or center right, why did Obama beat Hillary and Biden in the primary and McCain and Romney, both allegedly moderate Republicans, in the general

Stop trying to spread the Third Way mythologies while claiming to be a Socialist, though you sure don't post like one. Thanks.

[Warren DeMontague]

42. Yeah... conventional wisdom wouldn't have had an African American 1 term Senator with a funny name

beating an established War Hero and DC institution like John McCain, either.

[cali]

87. speak for yourself. you don't have the right to speak for others

[LeftOfWest]

89. That is YOUR Center Right Nation 1% Poster.

Who are you...You are NOT a Socialist.


'easy' 'we' blows the cover. Pathetically transparent.

1% ME ME ME yes, you are that.

1%ers are TOXIC. Transparent and busted.

[Exilednight]

33. It's, also, ironic that Bernie isn't a true socialist, he's a democratic socialist. I wish people

Had paid attention in PoliSci.

[Jumpin Jack Flash]

12. Who said Bernie is a socialist? No-one. Only Republicans.

Bernie is a Democratic socialist which is different from being a socialist.

Let's review the definition...

so·cial·ism

ˈsōSHəˌlizəm

noun

a political and economic theory of social organization that advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole.

Democratic Socialism

Democratic socialism is a political ideology advocating a democratic political system alongside a socialist economic system, involving a combination of political democracy with social ownership of the means of production.

Hope that tidbit of info helps - happy to help.

[merrily]

29. What the hell is an avowed Socialist, anyway?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12806844

Excellent thread, due to the replies of Democratic Socialists, including one of the founders of that movement, and DU's socialists whom the considerably less knowledgeable OP invited to post on the thread by posting a request in DU's socialist group.

[davishenderson265]

36. Bernie said he was a Socialist.

[merrily]

38. And he's said many more times he is a Democratic Socialist, which he obviously practices, since

he has worked with the Democratic Party during his entire time in Congress and is running as a Democrat. And Democrats in Congress and in the DNC have valued him greatly, praising him and saying they will not support any Democrat who runs against him. Moreover, he ran an Independent for decades.

Half truths suck.

[Jumpin Jack Flash]

39. Show me proof that he said it.

He's a Democratic socialist. He said so himself. That's a difference.

[immoderate]

19. McCarthyism is just about past its "sell by" date.

It was more effective in 1972. "Socialist" does not poll badly now. Get with it!

Young People More Likely To Favor Socialism Than Capitalism: Pew

--imm

[merrily]

56. Always was, but Americans can be manipulated, esp so soon after a World War and a heinous

Holocaust. Good Night, and Good Luck. It was really J. Edgar Hoover feeding Jackoff Joe info.

Inconvenient truth: Russia's might went a long way toward winning that war.

[BainsBane]

9. They are not supply-siders

It doesn't seem like you even know what that means.

[immoderate]

37. Would supply-siders be more likely to support trade deals?

Would they eliminate banking regulations? How about corporate oriented health care? What part of Reaganomics has Hillary or Joe rejected? Hillary, Obama, and Joe all praise Reagan.

What about supply side, horse and sparrow, Thatcherism, Reaganomics, or trickle down, do you think I am missing? Laffer curves?

--imm

[DemocratSinceBirth]

13. Obama, Clinton, and Biden are essentially interchangeable

Obama, Clinton, and Biden are essentially interchangeable and occupy the same political space and largely share the same donors. Since HRC essentially has them locked up Joe Biden would have to self fund.

In the highly, highly... highly unlikely event Hillary had to withdraw from the race, Biden would get in, inherit her organization and money, the party would rally around him, and President Obama would put his considerably heavy thumb on the scale for him.

[merrily]

40. Not really. Obama opposed the Iraq War and became President. Neither of those things applies to

Hillary or Biden.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

43. They look close to me

[merrily]

48. Hillary's supporters tend to minimize greatly her advocacy for the Iraq War, but she

voted for that and also for the original Patriot Act, several provisions of which were declared unconstitutional by a Republican Court. Also her flag burning statutes, also probably unconstitutional.

Granted, Obama and she are both New Democrats and most of the Democrats in Congress swung that way, probably including Biden, who certainly began more lliberal than he ended. But the pendulum may be swinging in the opposite direction now and her new found populism doesn't seem convincing to many.

In any event, it is what it is. We'll see what happens.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

50. The original Patriot Act passed the Senate 98-1/NT

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=107&session=1&vote=00313

[merrily]

54. All the more shame to those who voted for something a Republican court held unconstitutional

as to more than one provision. And ordinarily fucking quiet, mild librarians rebelled against.

Being in the majority doesn't mean you're not pandering or that you're not wrong. Indeed, au contraire.

But 98 Senators did not make speeches urging support for Bush's invasion of Iraq, did they?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

58. If I remember correctly John Edwards was the co-sponsor of the IWR and 77% of Senate Democrats

If I remember correctly John Edwards was the co-sponsor of the IWR and 77% of Senate Democrats voted for it including Vice President Biden and Secretary Of State Kerry who Barack Obama has made one and three heartbeats away from the presidency.

[merrily]

61. And? If there's a point to your comments about Edwards, I missed it.

As for the Iraq War, nothing I posted about it previously was untrue. Also, what I posted about voting with the majority on the Patriot Act applies even more strongly to that trumped up war. Finally, advocating for it in a speech that would be seen nationally is not exactly the same as voting for it. Both were heinous, iMO, but one somewhat more than the other.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

65. I opposed the IWR and the Patriot Act...

What I strongly take exception to is singling out one individual for opprobrium and censure when they were part of a much, much... much larger group whose other members for some reason aren't singled out for the same treatment.


I like Democrats...If that rancors some people , frankly I couldn't care less...

[merrily]

68. You are not running for Commander in Chief and Chief Executive. She is. That's why she's getting

"singled out," allegedly, esp. on a thread about primary candidates.

And again, making a speech that was being nationally televised is different from simply voting.

BTW, I'm guessing you were against the war for the same reason as most people who were against it: That Bush was lying, with compliance from the CIA and mass media was fucking obvious, even to those of us with no access to info that was even a little classified.

And, even after she um, claims to have "realized her mistake," she said nothing. Just penned letter after letter to the survivors of fallen troops who had gone from NY to that hellhole to die.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

69. John Kerry and Joe Biden are one and three heartbeats away from the presidency and they voted ...

John Kerry and Joe Biden are one and three heartbeats away from the presidency and they voted for the IWR and made speeches in favor of it too...

If you feel it is a deal breaker you are welcome to try to persuade the 77% of Democrats who have a favorable opinion of her including 90% of African American Democrats and 81% of Latino Democrats that it is:

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/pdf/2015/PPP_Release_National_61615.pdf

PG 37

Frankly, I don't think you can.

[merrily]

70. Again, what is your point?

John Kerry and Joe Biden are not running for President nor did anyone ask me to vote them in as VP and Secretary of State. And Obama's heart is still beating, thank you, and, statistically, will beat a lot longer than either Biden's or Kerry's, though I wish them all health and long lives.

You keep trying to equate apples and current Presidential primary candidates. It's not working.

Changing the subject to polls? I am glad they are such a comfort to you, but, as you and I have discussed before, polls are meaningless this far out. shrug. Anyway, as I said to you several posts ago, it is what it is and we'll see what happens.

Seems we've now gone full circle, and rather pointlessly, to hoot.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

73. Hillary Clinton has been involved in politics for five decades...

My point is you can oppose HRC all you want...You can even vote against her in the general as is your right as a citizen but she is going to be my party's nominee.

Hillary Clinton has been involved in politics for five decades. She is a known quantity...If you believe the 77% of Democrats, the 90% of African American Democrats, and the 81% of Latino Democrats who view her favorably are all of a sudden going to view her unfavorably there is nothing I can do to disabuse you of that notion.


Bookmark this post...This primary ends in a Clinton victory, for all intents and purposes, once the campaign moves past the homogeneous liberal elite hamlets.

[merrily]

77. As I've said to you twice before on this thread, it is what it is and it will end how it ends.

As I've said to you many times before, polls this far out is meaningless. I don't know why you want to keep going in circles, but I don't. Have a good night.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

79. Have a good night as well./NT

[Bluenorthwest]

91. Obama rhetorically opposed the war, he was not a Senator and had no vote. What did he do when he

attained power? First thing he did was name Biden, IWR yes voter as VP. Then Clinton, a yes voter for Sec of State followed by Kerry, a yes voter in that same office. While Democrats who voted no were shunted to the side and not promoted, President Obama went out of his way to appoint Republican yes voter Chuck Hagel to be Sec of Defense, no less.

So he 'opposed the war'? In what actual way did he do so? Which of his post nomination actions indicate he had a lack of trust in the discernment of the Yes voters, that he opposed their choice?

[merrily]

93. If true, rhetorically opposing the war is still different from rhetorically advocating for the war.

My only claim was that there are differences between Obama, on the one hand, and Hillary and Biden, on the other hand, one of which was the Iraq War. Regardless of anything else, Obama neither advocated for that war nor voted for it, while Hillary did both.

During the 2008 primary, Bubba tried to make the exact same point you are trying to make, when he made his "this whole thing's a fairy tale" speech. i believe, as Bubba believed, that the Iraq War was one reason Democratic voters saw Obama and Hillary differently.

Another difference among the three: Hillary is running in the 2016 Democratic primary. Neither Obama nor Biden is.

This is not about beating up someone who will never again run for office, or glorifying him. At least, not for me.

[KamaAina]

11. What would Biden add to the race that the others haven't?

And do you really want twenty or so Dems? At that point, Lee Mercer, Jr. (ALL THREE!!!!11!1!!11!!) might start cracking the polls!

[davishenderson265]

14. Biden would be the most likable of this field. Plus he is electable.

NT

[KamaAina]

16. Ah yes, "electable".

Thereby implying that Bernie and O'Malley are not. Despite Bernie's recent surge in the polls and high turnout at campaign events.

[davishenderson265]

20. Crowd size at rallies mean nothing.

Romney was drawing huge crowds in 2012. In fact, he was outdrawing Obama towards the end. Like I said, Bernie CAN get nominated. He will have little appeal beyond the liberal base.

[merrily]

45. He got standing ovations on his first foray into South Carolina.

You might try actually reading things people post to you, including what the info at the links proves.

[merrily]

49. PS Love the way you ignored the surge in the polls part of Kama Aina's post when you replied.

Posters who reply only to what they imagine they can refute and ignore everything else kind of expose themselves.

[immoderate]

51. If no one showed up, would THAT mean something? (Didn't Romney address an empty stadium?)

You can't see crowd sizes correlating with voter turnout? If Bernie gets nominated, Democrats practically own the electoral college. Any two swing states, out of about ten, will seal it.

And here's something to think about: he will do well with moderate Republicans. Some of them do understand science and economics.

--imm

[KamaAina]

94. In light of recent revelations involving The Donald,

is it not possible that Mittwit bused in a bunch of extras to his rallies?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

26. I like Joe...He is my second choice but he's not running unless HRC drops out...

And last I checked the Clintons never run from a fight.

[merrily]

41. Well, he's electable in your imagination, anyway. In real life, he didn't make it, though he tried

more than once.

[Beausoir]

24. I love the guy. But he's too old and he doesn't have the chops for it.

Plus, he has a goofy uncle side to him.

A decent man....but he'd get ripped apart in the primaries and he just doesn't seem to want that. Can't blame him at all for that.

[Warren DeMontague]

28. Bleh.

Joe's had a tough couple months, and he's not getting in anyway, so I won't bag on him too much here, except to say that his extensive history as an enthusiastic proponent of the drug war is a real problem.

As for the rest of it- my problems with HRC have to do with her positions, or lack thereof, not her so-called "baggage". (The only real "baggage" I think Hillary has is stuff like her IWR vote) Gore's problem in 2000 wasn't Clinton's blowjob, if anything he made a mistake in trying to distance himself from Clinton, particularly with the odious pick of Joe Lieberman, who was one of the most sanctimonious blowjob cluck-cluck moralizers on our side of the aisle.

[scarletwoman]

31. Joe Biden of the Bankruptcy Bill? Joe Biden of the Clarence Thomas hearings?

No, thank you.

[closeupready]

92. +1. I like him, but in a supporting role only.

[Nye Bevan]

35. Like Hillary, Biden voted for the Iraq War Resolution,

which, based upon what many DUers say about Hillary voting the same way, would be a big negative for many here.

[daredtowork]

44. I wanted Barbara Lee to run

IMHO, Barbara would have brought Bernie's platform without his weaknesses. I would have been able to vote for the first woman President while having faith in her policy objectives. Barbara Lee speaks for me.

Her major weakness is the Democratic larty hasn't been giving her national visibility. The same could probably be said for a lot of potential young superstars. Instead, it seems like the Old Guard gives all the plum jobs as favor-trades - which accrue to those who already have way too much power. The Presidential accoutrements swirled around Hillary like the gravity well of a collapsing star that eventually bevomes a monster black hole and sucks up everything in sight.

Anyway, what do you think of Barbara Lee? Electable?

[immoderate]

55. She's my choice for Bernie's running mate!

And that's probably her best route to being president. She needs a bigger footprint. Even at DU she is relatively unknown.

--imm

[daredtowork]

60. If Bernie asks

I hope she accepts! Just the run would give her more visibility. I just worry she wouldn't want to hang back as a useless second banana when she could be doing some good for constituents as a legislator.

[Shoulders of Giants]

46. On the issues, he's nearly identical to Hillary,

except he has a problem with groping women. Therefore, I don't see what him being in the race would accomplish.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

62. He's not a groper...It's more of a function of his generation having different boundaries./NT

[Skittles]

86. total BS

[DemocratSinceBirth]

90. Do you believe Joe Biden purposely fondles women for sexual gratification?

If you think so say so...

[Skittles]

95. do you think all men of his generation behave like that?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

96. No. It's inappropriate behavior regardless of the person's age.

I just cut him some slack because I don't see nefarious intent.

[Skittles]

97. how nice of you

[DemocratSinceBirth]

98. What's nice of me ?

You want me to pillory a guy whose kid just died.


I don't get it...I don't know why people who don't like Democrats post here...You know where I don't post? On the Cleveland Cavaliers board because I really don't like the Cavaliers.

[Juicy_Bellows]

47. Genuine?

Genuine want for Biden or an obfuscated chance to slap around Bernie supporters?

[merrily]

63. I just checked the OP's journal. I stand by my Reply 1 more than ever.

[Juicy_Bellows]

81. I'll agree with that.

I thought the Biden mention slightly odd.

[elleng]

53. I supported Joe Biden 8+ years ago.

Now, my candidate is Martin O'Malley. Learn a few things about him here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1281

[redstateblues]

57. I like Bernie but he is unelectable

Can't help it. He would be like McGovern or Dukakis. Good guys both. I voted for them. Lost by wide margins. I'm putting my bet on the dynamic duo.

[immoderate]

71. But it's Bernie's time. Metaphors prove nothing. Analogies are odious.

Bernie is the only candidate that reflects public preferences. That is something you can work with.

--imm

[JonLP24]

72. I think Bernie Sanders is closer to a Truman than Biden

For one, for the courage to take political risks to do what he felt was right. The South split and the electoral votes went to the Dixiecrat. Plus without a doubt Truman didn't but business over the people. His concerns were "justice not oil" -- probably the last President to ever say that. He was the last one to live out his life with financial difficulties living off just his Army Pension since at-the-time only House members received a pension for the service & he turned down endorsements and offers because of the integrity of the office.

On economic matters he knew what he was talking about. From the 1949 State of the Union

<snip>
In this society, we are conservative about the values and principles which we cherish; but we are forward-looking in protecting those values and principles and in extending their benefits. We have rejected the discredited theory that the fortunes of the Nation should be in the hands of a privileged few. We have abandoned the "trickledown" concept of national prosperity. Instead, we believe that our economic system should rest on a democratic foundation and that wealth should be created for the benefit of all.

The recent election shows that the people of the United States are in favor of this kind of society and want to go on improving it.

The American people have decided that poverty is just as wasteful and just as unnecessary as preventable disease. We have pledged our common resources to help one another in the hazards and struggles of individual life. We believe that no unfair prejudice or artificial distinction should bar any citizen of the United States of America from an education, or from good health, or from a job that he is capable of performing.

The attainment of this kind of society demands the best efforts of every citizen in every walk of life, and it imposes increasing responsibilities on the Government.

The Government must work with industry, labor, and the farmers in keeping our economy running at full speed. The Government must see that every American has a chance to obtain his fair share of our increasing abundance. These responsibilities go hand in hand.

We cannot maintain prosperity unless we have a fair distribution of opportunity and a widespread consumption of the products of our factories and farms.

Our Government has undertaken to meet these responsibilities.

We have ,made tremendous public investments in highways, hydroelectric power projects, soil conservation, and reclamation. We have established a system of social security. We have enacted laws protecting the rights and the welfare of our working people and the income of our farmers. These Federal policies have paid for themselves many times over. They have strengthened the material foundations of our democratic ideals. Without them, our present prosperity would be impossible.

Reinforced by these policies, our private enterprise system has reached new heights of production. Since the boom year of 1929, while our population has increased by only 20 percent, our agricultural production has increased by 45 percent, and our industrial production has increased by 75 percent. We are turning out far more goods and more wealth per worker than we have ever done before.

This progress has confounded the gloomy prophets--at home and abroad who predicted the downfall of American capitalism. The people of the United States, going their own way, confident in their own powers, have achieved the greatest prosperity the world has even seen.

But, great as our progress has been, we still have a long way to go.

As we look around the country, many of our shortcomings stand out in bold relief.

We are suffering from excessively high prices.

Our production is still not large enough to satisfy our demands.

Our minimum wages are far too low.

Small business is losing ground to growing monopoly.

Our farmers still face an uncertain future. And too many of them lack the benefits of our modern civilization.

Some of our natural resources are still being wasted.

We are acutely short of electric power, although the means for developing such power are abundant.

Five million families are still living in slums and firetraps. Three million families share their homes with others.

Our health is far behind the progress of medical science. Proper medical care is so expensive that it is out of the reach of the great majority of our citizens.

Our schools, in many localities, are utterly inadequate.

Our democratic ideals are often thwarted by prejudice and intolerance.

Each of these shortcomings is also an opportunity-an opportunity for the Congress and the President to work for the good of the people.

Our first great opportunity is to protect our economy against the evils of "boom and bust."
http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=13293

Know Joe Biden does strike someone, at-times, who accidentally tells the truth but I don't think Bernie Sanders has an honesty problem. Joe Biden won't have an untrustworthy problem Hillary Clinton will have nor will Bernie Sanders and he won't have the untrustworthy problem any of the Republicans have.

I actually give Bernie Sanders a better chance of winning the general election, one for inspiring turnout among the young & poor (those who poll with a favorable opinion of "socialism&quot and just the electoral math itself. The corporate media will have to dig & dig & dig to find something to exploit, where he is at his best is when he's given an opportunity to speak and especially debate. I've been saying this for months. On a national ticket they won't have a choice but to let him speak but whatever they use Bernie Sanders is very good at not taking the bait or he would have been dragged into discussing Hillary Clinton's personality (Is she as committed to this cause as you are) just by making clear where he stands.

Hillary Clinton -- I don't need to go through and make a list of what potentially could bring her down

In any case if Biden were to enter he'd be my #2 choice after Bernie Sanders (O'Malley is too much a phony, at-least Hillary Clinton seems genuine in cases where she is going from "foolish anti-wall street rhetoric" to "taking on big business" during her campaign rally/book-tour during the midterms.

[Aerows]

75. **This Post** of all things, was alerted on.

I mean, seriously Alerter? Who in the hell alerts on a person on Democratic Underground that favors a Democrat? The jury system is sure to be mightily tested in the upcoming months.

Nobody should alert because somebody doesn't like their candidate.

* * *

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.

ALERTER'S COMMENTS

The OP is trashing our top three candidates running for the nomination by calling them all, unelectable. It's nice that he supports VP Joe Biden, but Biden is not currently in the running. Hide this please.

You served on a randomly-selected Jury of DU members which reviewed this post. The review was completed at Thu Jun 18, 2015, 09:51 PM, and the Jury voted 0-7 to LEAVE IT.

Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #2 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Why in the hell did you alert on this? This person expressed favor toward a Democrat. Last I checked, this isn't "Who I want to be elected Underground".
Juror #3 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Groupthink sucks it's for weak minds. I applaud someone who follows his own way and doesn't fear to speak the truth as he or she sees it.
Juror #4 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Alerted must know something I missed: have we had a primary yet? No? Deciding who is electable is why there's a process.
Juror #6 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: meh
Juror #7 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: nope, don't see anything wrong with this post

[AZ Progressive]

78. There is NO ROOM to fuck up this election! Otherwise America will eternally be the Right Wing's!

Ok maybe not eternally, but for many of us, the rest of our lives.

The next president, if Republican, will solidify the Right Wing's grip on the Supreme Court and the Right Wing Court will undo all the progress that Democrats and liberals have done for the past 115 years! Not to mention allow the unfair voting suppression tactics to go on.

[merrily]

82. I have to say one thing in Hillary's favor: she seems to motivate DUers who posts relatively

Last edited Fri Jun 19, 2015, 02:26 AM - Edit history (1)

infrequently to speak up.

[sabrina 1]

85. You're right, that's why I am supporting Bernie Sanders! We have one chance to bring about

the real changes to get this country OFF the course it has been on for several decades now, and Bernie Sanders is offering that chance. I intend to take it.

[Kalidurga]

83. I love the field

There are two candidates I like a lot and I am campaigning for one. I think if you don't like any of the available candidates it's partly because you don't know enough about them. Google can probably find you a lot of info.