Well you knew this was coming

[valar]

One small problem Reagan was a Republican, Ford was a Republican. Sooo there is that.

http://theweek.com/articles/688767/bernie-sanders-democrats-ronald-reagan

[still_one]

1. Why, has Bernie decided to finally join the Democratic party?

[valar]

2. A truth that seems to be forgotten

by those who would believe or write this.

[WePurrsevere]

3. Except that Bernie isn't a Democrat...

He ran as one in the Primaries then switched back to being an (I) and while he's been caucusing as a Democrat for years, he's not a registered as one and I suspect he doesn't want to be.

Basically, he doesn't mind being our 'friend with benefits' but he doesn't want to 'walk down the aisle and say the vows'.

[longship]

4. One cannot register as a Democrat in Vermont.

It's not possible for anybody living in Vermont to register as a Democrat.

Nor in Michigan, where I live. Nor in several other states where voter registration records no party affiliation. Those are the states with open primaries, where everybody gets to vote.

And yes, Bernie calls himself an independent. But he has always aligned with the Democratic Party caucus. Always!

[LaydeeBug]

5. then how did he do it to run in the last dem primary? nt

[brooklynite]

6. Funny how Pat Leahy hasn't had a problem.

[longship]

7. There is no partisan voter registration in Vermont, Michigan, and many other states!

Pat Leahy is registered just like Bernie Sanders, with no party preference. That's the only way one can do it in Vermont, Michigan, and many other states.

The only difference between Leahy and Sanders is that Leahy calls himself a Democrat and Sanders calls himself an independent. They both caucus with the Democratic senators, so there's really not a significant difference other than their chosen label.

I am not a registered Democrat in Michigan because I am not allowed to, by state law. Yet that doesn't stop me from voting straight Democrat in every election, as I imagine is true for both Leahy and Sanders.

This registered Democrat argument is silly and obsolete given the diversity of state election laws.

[Glitterati]

9. State of Georgia as well

We do NOT declare party affiliation until AT THE POLLING PLACE in a primary and we ask for a specific party BALLOT.

We do not register with a party affiliation in the state of Georgia.

[longship]

10. There are many other examples.

For one, all the open primary states have no party affiliation recorded at voter registration, which is precisely why they have open primaries. There's no way to have a closed primary unless the state records party affiliation. Some very silly people here don't understand that particular complexity.

I am for open primaries everywhere. Let everybody vote!

[brooklynite]

11. Pat Leahy declares himself a Democrat...Bernie Sanders does not.

[longship]

12. I don't care. Bernie has caucused exclusively with Democrats for decades.

His loyalty to Democratic Party causes is not in question, at least not by me.

YMMV.

Have a good day.


It's time for me to download Rachel. I gotta go.

[WePurrsevere]

13. Interesting...

I won't argue with you over Vermonters being able to 'register' as a political party or not (it wouldn't surprise me knowing Vermonters). I thought they did because I grew up/lived on the border of VT, followed their elections and, at least back then, VT candidates political parties were often mentioned in political ads and the news.

OTOH if you're saying that my incorrect use of the word 'registered' dismisses my main point being the fact that 'most' of the time that I've been following the man, I first heard of him when he was the mayor of Burlington, Bernie has not refer to himself as a big D Democrat, you could probably more safely call him a 'Democrat when it's convenient'. The reason he doesn't call himself a Democrat is probably because he really doesn't see himself, or want to be known, as one at this point.

Caucusing and siding with Democrats often doesn't automatically make you one. It's not really how our system works. Bernie is Bernie and since he prefers to identify as an Independent to refer to him as a 'Democrat' when he doesn't chose to self identify as one seems wrong IMO.

Here's a good write up that sort of backs up part of what I've said:
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2016/feb/23/bernie-sanders-democrat/

[longship]

17. I guess my point is...

No matter what he calls himself, he votes like a Democrat. That makes him a de facto Democrat.



My best to you.

[George II]

22. He can declare himself a Democrat, just as his Senior Senator, Pat Leahy, has done for decades.

[longship]

23. Irrelevant. His actions speak louder than his chosen label.

Bernie has been a fierce advocate for Democratic Party issues for decades.

[George II]

24. Not irrelevant, and I'm not going to be dragged into a discussion characterizing his policies.

[longship]

25. Then , good day sir.

I bid you adieu.

I hope the rest of your day goes well.

[RandiFan1290]

15. DU didn't mind when it was Charlie Crist or Joe Lieberman

So Bernie is good to go!

[RandiFan1290]

14. Welcome Back! nt

[valar]

26. Cheers! N/T

[Cha]

16. Oh good grief!

[NurseJackie]

18. Oh, brother.

Is Bernie Sanders the Democrats' Ronald Reagan?

No. No he's not.

[tallahasseedem]

21. +1

[DemocratSinceBirth]

19. I like the suggestion that the Trump presidency is a deviation and left of center leadership is the

I like the suggestion that the Trump presidency was a deviation and left of center leadership is the norm.

[Orsino]

20. Is Reagan an inapt metaphor deployed by an embarrased, desperate wingnut blogger? n/t