Sanders: I'll Decide On Presidential Run By March

[Hissyspit]

Source: Associated Press

Dec 26, 3:26 AM EST

SANDERS: I'LL DECIDE ON PRESIDENTIAL RUN BY MARCH

BY DAVE GRAM
ASSOCIATED PRESS

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) -- Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders says he'll decide by March whether to launch a 2016 presidential campaign and, if so, whether he'll seek the Democratic nomination. Either way, Sanders says he wouldn't run just to nudge the debate to the left.

"I don't want to do it unless I can do it well," he told The Associated Press. "I don't want to do it unless we can win this thing."

- snip -

Sanders said the issues about which he's been railing for all these years are only becoming more dire. The wealth gap has grown, and the middle class, he says, is "collapsing."

"You have one family, the Walton family of Walmart, owning more wealth than the bottom 40 percent of the American people," he said. "We have 95 percent of all new income going to the top 1 percent. You have millions of families unable to afford to send their kids to college. People are desperately worried about whether or not they are going to retire with dignity."

Sanders has a 12-step plan that he says will restore the economy and especially the middle class, most of them dependent on higher taxes on the rich and corporations. Among the proposals: A $1 trillion infrastructure building program that would "create 13 million decent-paying jobs"; more worker-friendly international trade deals and legislation to strengthen unions; and transforming the U.S. energy system "away from fossil fuels and into energy efficiency and sustainable energy."

He says he'll make a "gut decision" about running for the presidency - and, perhaps, challenging Democratic favorite Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_DEM_2016_SANDERS

[misterhighwasted]

1. Hope his decision is yes. Not a finer person out there.

Thanks for the post

[mimi85]

2. I adore Bernie, but I don't think he has a chance. Too bad.

And why do people have to make decisions "later?" Like Hillary, Bernie, Cruz, Jeb,Rubio, etc. Make up your mind or get out. All about the bucks, sadly. Jeb actually frightens me. I think he just might get the nomination.

[Arcadiasix]

19. This

[still_one]

29. People need to consider all the ramifications. There is nothing wrong with taking

Ones time deciding when to run. In fact I respect someone who makes a full analysis of the situation

Running for president is a personal commitment that should not be rushed

You worry about Jeb bush? Why? Don't you believe have enough qualified people to go against him if he runs

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

32. They say nothing is harder than running for prez and Bernie may not be in the type of

health that would make for a good run, hope so cuz I am behind him 100%, but I think he has to be careful.

[still_one]

46. I agree. Forgetting about Bill Clintons policies good or bad, he had the perfect

Personality, and had no problem facing the slings and arrows. Ed Muskee, a good man was torn apart by the press because he shed a tear, McGovern's VP choice Eagleton had to step down because the media crucified him because he was treated for mental health issues

Obama made a good candidate for the same reason as Bill Clinton, he could stand up to the pressure, and throw it right back. One really needs to think fast and on their feet in order to be successful, and I believe the only reason Gore was not more competitive is because he allowed others to define him

[Enthusiast]

3. Go, Bernie! It's either Bernie or Elizabeth or another round of bait and switch.

I'm sick of it.

[dixiegrrrrl]

20. Why not a Bernie/Elizabeth?

[VanillaRhapsody]

26. or Clinton/Sanders or Clinton/Warren

[George II]

45. I don't think either will run, and I don't think either can win. I'll get bashed but....

...my top priority is keeping a republican OUT of the White House. Like her or not, Hillary Clinton is probably the best bet for accomplishing that.

[merrily]

62. The assumption that she is our best shot at the WH is depressing. I don't think she can win the

general. However, the universe of Democrats who can run does not consist solely of Hillary, Sanders and Warren.

[Enthusiast]

48. I'm good with that.

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[merrily]

4. People who think it's important for Bernie to run, whether he wins or not, might think about

donating, even if he is not your number one favorite

I remember when a Dem (named something like Tinklenberg?) who was running against Michelle Bachman got a "money bomb," of a million bucks in a couple of days, from all around the country, mostly through Moveon or Actblue, or both, because some dumbass remark Bachman made got a lot of publicity.

Unfortunately, it was during the last few days of the campaign so he didn't have a lot of time to do much with the money, though it did get him a spot on the Today show the day before the election. And, even more unfortunately, he lost and did not run again.

Anyway, a something like that might convince Bernie to run.

If you think it important for him to run, and are able to make even a small contribution:

https://secure.actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/12908

If not, maybe you can send an encouraging email or something.

See also http://www.bernie.org/

He needs to see support is out there, or he will not run. (Who would?)

[tblue]

8. ^^^THIS^^^ If we want him, we need to show it.

I'd give anything--I'd give my life--if it would make him president. I think things are really bad and we are quickly running out of time to get this thing turned around. I can't think of a better use for anything I have to give.

[merrily]

10. You are so right about our needing to show support if we want him to run.

For me, just the ability to have him say on TV the things so few are saying on TV is important enough for a donation.

[Live and Learn]

27. +1 nt

[delrem]

5. A 180 has to be done. We all know it.

The problem is how to do it.

The faster that the progressive dialogue goes toward '16, the better.
I think the progressive voice has done well.
I think that progressives will win.

So it is all in our defining our choice.

[newfie11]

6. Bernie has my vote if he runs

The sad thing is our news media. If more people really were aware of what he has been saying and how much sense he makes I think he would win.
The problem is the one sided propaganda being spewed on almost all media.

[merrily]

11. You are so right. Did you see how Chuck Todd already put him on months ago,

"as part of" the series MTP was supposedly running for 2016 Presidential candidates?

Now, if Sen. Sanders does decide to run, MTP doesn't have to bother having him on again when people are actually paying attention to the 2016 election.

Believe me, no one, least of all mass media, wants Bernie pulling aside the curtain to reveal how the wizard actually seems so all powerful.

[newfie11]

14. That is the scary thing about elections

Our media sensors what we see and can change the meaning of what is said.

Otoh they embellish their favorites.

I'm very concerned what's happening here. It's not outright censoring but close to it.

Low information people ( foxxxxx news is on every public TV) fall for this.

I'm not sure what a president can accomplish when repugs control both houses.

[merrily]

17. It's worse than censoring because it's more subtle and many people who would not stand for

censoring are not even aware of how their news and commentary is continually being filtered and slanted before it ever gets to them.

It's not only Fox viewers either. Many Americans are lulled into a false sense of security about their free country and free press.

I'm not sure what a president can accomplish when repugs control both houses.

With super majority vote requirements and political kabuki, a simple majority has become almost irrelevant. (Media is not the only "estate" that is manipulating us "commoners." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estates_of_the_realm)

However, throughout history we have had some good examples of what a President can do via executive order, for good or ill. Just a few are: While Jim Crow laws were still undisputedly in effect in any state that wanted them, Truman integrated the military with an executive order; FDR intergrated employment by the federal government with an executive order; Reagan officially excluded gays from the military with an executive order; Obama is going to "normalize" relations with Cuba under an executive order, to name only a few. Also, while Presidents need Congress to start wars, Presidents don't need Congressional approval to withdraw troops from a region.

Maybe things like that are not everything, but they "ain't nuthin'," either.

[watoos]

7. I believe

that our country is not center right, I believe that our country is center left on the vast majority of all of the issues. I believe that if Bernie runs he can win, I believe that if Bernie runs he will win., period.

He will be bombarded with tons of negative right wing money. He will have to endure an avalanche of hatred that will be enabled by the M$M. He will endure it, he will rally true blue Democrats, he will win.

Bernie is our hope to restore democracy over fascism.

[merrily]

12. Agree--and so do the polls.

Unlike Maddow, I would not use the word "liberal" to describe the economic policies that a majority of the nation voted for when they voted for FDR over and over and over, but that's semantics. Point is, polls show that this is not a center right nation.

[Cal33]

36. If Elizabeth is still not running by then, I'd vote for Bernie.

[dotymed]

9. RUN BERNIE RUN!

I too believe Bernie can win. We have to get his long record out there.
Despite the MSM and anti-Bernie money that will come from TPTB, I actually believe that he will win many crossover votes.
Bernie Sanders has his finger on the pulse of the electorate and has had for decades.
If Bernie runs and doesn't win, it will confirm my (and many others) suspicions about the integrity of "our" electoral system.
Bernie Sanders is the FDR of our time. FDR was one of the most pro-people Presidents that America has ever had. If the legislation that he helped pass (reigning in financial institutions, giving a voice to the disenfranchised, etc..) had not been expunged by the greedy, average Americans would still be prosperous while wealth inequality would be much lower.
I do believe that he appeals to many lower and middle class republicans as well. He is the right person at the right time in our history to set America on a path of justice and equality.

[brooklynite]

60. What a convenient philosophy...

If Bernie runs and doesn't win, it will confirm my (and many others) suspicions about the integrity of "our" electoral system.

So if any voters have the temerity to disagree with YOUR choice for President, it's a sign that the election is rigged. Because the national electorate couldn't possibly disagree with you, could they?

[RoccoR5955]

13. I hope he runs...

He can, and will win!
People have to know what he stands for.
We have to get rid of the MSM calling him a "socialist," as if that's a bad thing.
We have to get out and inform folks of the REAL meaning of socialism, and then they will be all for it!

[merrily]

22. He has been running as an Indep. and used to run as a DEMOCRATIC Socialist,

but the POS media calls him a Socialist anyway.

[RoccoR5955]

37. I heard from one of my co-workers last week.

To read the NY Times, as they had an article about, "Your man, Sanders." I told him that I knew a lot about Bernie, and hope that he runs, and if people find out what he will do, they will surely vote for him.
Well, needless to say, my co-worker went on, "He's a damn commie socialist, how the hell do you think he'll get elected?"
I told him that Bernie is not a commie. Then I asked him, "What is wrong with socialism?" His reply was that it was communist. When I explained to him that we have a socialist police and fire department, you could hear crickets.
I think that the first thing that has to be done is to make sure that people know the definitions, and un-indoctrinate them from the right wing propaganda that they have been fed for so long.

[former9thward]

51. Well you certainly don't know the definitions.

Neither police or fire are "socialist". So you don't know the definitions either.

[RoccoR5955]

53. yeah, but they are more socialist like than he wants to believe. n/t

If police and fire are not socialist aspects of our society, than what the hell are they?

If socialism is the means of production being owned and regulated by the community, which is what I believe it to be, than I know what socialism is.

What, may I ask is your definition?

[former9thward]

54. Socialism is the means of production owned by the state.

The difference between socialism and communism is that Marx felt the state would "wither away" eventually and that would be pure communism. Things like police and fire have been around hundreds of years. The Romans had fire departments 2000 years ago. They also built a roadway system through out Europe -- roads are another thing some people call socialist. It is not. The Romans were certainly not socialist.

[RoccoR5955]

55. That's not what the Funk and Wagnels says.

OK, I guess you are entitled to make up your own definitions if you like, based on historical incidents.

I prefer to use existing reference material that is, for the most part, impartial.

The only thing is that you shouldn't say that someone does not know a definition of something, because they are not using YOUR definition.
Thank you for understanding.

[former9thward]

56. Well I don't know what F&W says.

And you did not quote them. But I am pretty sure F&W does not list police and fire as socialist. Neither does Marx or any other socialist ideologues to my knowledge.

[RoccoR5955]

57. You simply do not, or refuse to understand. n/t

[merrily]

63. Dictionaries reflect common usage and common usage includings using

words the way we have been brainwashed to use them. People like Lunz have gotten rich on figuring out which words to use and avoid and how to re-define everything.

If the definition of socialism had remained confined to government ownership of the means of production, you would have had a much easier time convincing your co-worker that Bernie has never advocated either communism or socialism. But, since common usage broadened the definition and made it much vaguer, you have a harder time.

Fire Departments and Police Departments do constitute government ownership of the means of production of those two things. Medicare constitutes government ownership of a type of health insurance (though not of health care). The Post Office constitutes government ownership of one mail delivery service (which is why it's been a target of the right and the center right for a long time).

so·cial·ism
noun \ˈsō-shə-ˌli-zəm\

: a way of organizing a society in which major industries are owned and controlled by the government rather than by individual people and companies
Full Definition of SOCIALISM
1
: any of various economic and political theories advocating collective or governmental ownership and administration of the means of production and distribution of goods
2
a : a system of society or group living in which there is no private property
b : a system or condition of society in which the means of production are owned and controlled by the state
3
: a stage of society in Marxist theory transitional between capitalism and communism and distinguished by unequal distribution of goods and pay according to work done

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/socialism


Ask yourself: who does a definition of socialism that is "truthier" than the above serve more, the right or the left?

[merrily]

61. All true, Rocco. Social Security and Medicare, also socialistic. Traffic lights and roads, too.

Post Office, mayor's office, FBI, etc. You might also try telling him about Sweden and Norway and where US health outcomes REALLY rank when compared with the rest of the world.

But, think of all the years, time and money the US and other nations have invested in anti-communist propaganda, anti communist wars, anti communist foreign policy, etc., just to make sure nothing like the Russian revolutions ever succeeded again. And that is the tip of the iceberg of the problem.

[Earth_First]

15. Are you ready to have the top blown off?

If Mr. Bernie Sanders decides to enter into the fold adlnd run there are dozens of uncomfortable truths that are going to see the light of day...

Even within the Democratic party, there are some realizations to be reckoned with that a candidate such as Mr. Sanders is going to uncover and question the debate and status quo.

This candidacy is going to question the beliefs of everyone to the core.

This won't be any easy discussion to have.

Are you ready?

I am...

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

33. never been so ready in my life

[LittleGirl]

16. I will vote for Bernie

or Warren and that is a fact. I will not vote for Hillary. ever. I will be 'one of those' that won't vote (again). I didn't vote for a couple of decades and the way the system is fixed now, I doubt I will vote again if I can't vote for a Bernie or a Warren candidate that are fighting for us 'little people.'

[Hoppy]

18. I just finished contributing to Bernie.

I didn't contribute to Obama because I knew how his presidency was going to turn out. I did contribute to Dennis.

I did vote for Obama.

I won't contribute one thin dime to Hillary.

[merrily]

23. I contributed much more than I could comfortably afford to Obama because I

bought into "Hope and Change."

[mimi85]

70. Well, I donated as well and I'm glad I did. Lets take a ride down memory lane to 2007...

then, again, let's not. The most change since I've been alive and I was born when Truman was Prez.

[gwheezie]

21. Bernie may surprise some of us

This is a purely unscientific observation. My sister who early on supported the tea party until she quickly saw through their agenda, one nephew who did 4 combat tours and is now a fed agent, my other nephew who also did 4 combat tours and is now a student coping with ptsd, my brother who lost his well paying job to a lower paid hb1 visa computer guy and my Fox News watching dad all said they will vote for bernie.

[merrily]

24. People who hear him (and actually listen) like him. Same with Warren.

I am so very sorry about your nephew. I hate violence and war is the worst. Sorry about your brother's losing his job, too. A family member of mine lost his job, but he now has two jobs that pay almost as much as the one he lost--and he's very grateful to have them because he had a stroke during his year of unemployment and believes it was due to stress over finances!

[Thinkingabout]

25. I realize lots here do not follow polls but winning is not in the numbers for Bernie.

When he says it is based on him winning guess he is making a statement he will not be running.

[still_one]

31. Not sure about that. He knows he will have to run as a Democrat to have a chance to

Win so that tells me if he runs he will become a Democrat

Once that happens and he actually announces we will have a good idea what the prospects are

Bernie his job will be to get his message out, and he will need the media for that. If they ignore him that is where he will have problems

[djean111]

35. So, I guess if he says he is running, some will declare him a "liar", because of

current polling.
Right now, polling is just name recognition. But to read some opinions, why not just display polls and war chests on the Times Square billboards, and whoever has the mostest - wins! Actual policies are not mentioned at all, it seems.
Anyway, Bernie or Warren or anyone else I like - has my vote. Don' care what the polls say. I will wait for the Ultimate Poll - the damned actual vote. I won't vote for any TPP shills, that's for sure. And my new policy is to just laugh at demands that I "pledge" something or another - are we in grade school? Has McCarthy got some little clones running around the internet? The "Do you pledge to vote for Hillary" stuff is now just ridiculous.

[Thinkingabout]

38. Why are you calling him a liar?

[djean111]

39. I didn't - I said maybe SOME would call him a liar, since nearly every time someone

mentions Warren running, someone else says "are you calling her a liar?".
Just wondering if the same thing will happen with Bernie. Not that the question has any impact on anything, of course!

[Thinkingabout]

40. I did not mention liar until after you did.

[djean111]

42. You are not making sense, or else you do not comprehend the meaning of what I said -

you brought up that you think Bernie can't win because of polls, and you said that he, then, is really saying he will not run. Because - polls.
I just wondered if Bernie will get the Liz treatment if (I hope) he does decide to run - wherein some here keep braying "Are you calling Liz a liar??!!". maybe some will interpret Bernie's remarks to mean that no, he is not gonna run, because surely he has seen the polls, and so therefore Bernie might be called a liar if he does run. I would not call either Bernie or Liz a liar, and those who interpret their remarks to suit themselves and then stick to their interpretation get a little testy.
I admit to finding it fascinating, watching the different factions campaign already. Predictable, too, which is why I wondered in the first place.

[Thinkingabout]

47. Who are you arguing with, go back and read what I wrote, interrupt it as you please,

don't rewrite my post, you are running the train off the tracks.

[jtuck004]

41. It's not in the numbers for the now 50 million people in poverty either. n/t

[Thinkingabout]

66. Did the 50 million people vote in 2014, 2012, 2010, and all of the years they have been eligible?

[jtuck004]

68. Did they have the fucking gas to get there? You like blaming victims?

How about you go annoy someone else?

[Thinkingabout]

69. Don't get huffy, if we dont vote out those who destroy assistance to the poor it isn't going to

Change. I am poor also but I vote. Don't jump into a conversation which may annoy you.

[mimi85]

72. Exactly. My husband and I have voted absentee for years.

I have a disability and can't drive (or walk to the nearest school to vote) and my husband does it because he can. So unless you can't afford stamps, it's easy enough to vote. And if you can't afford stamps, you have more serious problems.

[Report1212]

65. He's in the polls where Dean was last go round

Meaning hes competitive enough to make a race

[Thinkingabout]

67. BTW, what arevhis current poll numbers? Has he established a 50 state operation to get on the

Ballot in all states?

[still_one]

28. Always a straight shooters, one of the last honest individuals in washington

[chickenfairy]

30. For the love of God PLEASE

Bernie. Please take Shillary down!

[RussBLib]

34. I'd like to see Alan Grayson toss his hat in the ring

That would really stir things up.

[Cal33]

43. Yes, so would I.

[WillyT]

44. K & R !!!

[fbc]

49. Go Bernie! I'll vote for you!

[NobodyHere]

50. Will the Democratic party let him run in their primary?

Honest question.

I've always been under the impression that parties aren't too keen to give high nominations to outsiders.

[former9thward]

52. He would have to register as a Democrat.

The parties don't get to determine who runs. If you meet the state qualifications, such as signatures on a petition, anyone can run in the primary. What parties can do, and do, is put pressure on traditional party funders to not contribute to some candidate they don't like.

[brooklynite]

58. As a Hillary supporter, I say "the more the merrier"

I think he'd be a weak national candidate, which is why I support Clinton, but I'll support whomever wins the nomination.

[Just for Fun]

73. and if he emerges

A Democratic nominee, will you vote for him?

[brooklynite]

75. What part of...

"but I'll support whomever wins the nomination" did you not understand?

[True Blue Door]

59. The more, the merrier.

I make no promise to ultimately support him - he will have to convince me of his ability to manage in an executive capacity, not merely make persuasive arguments.

[Ramses]

64. The 1% own the electronic voting machines

And most of the media. The Kochs and the top people in the CIA/NSA etc would make sure he never has a chance. Its a real shame too because he is one guy i would absolutely support any day

[brooklynite]

77. The same machines that let the Democrats win in 06, 08 and 12?

Did they lose the user manual?

[Ramses]

78. who said the 1% let them win

The "Democrats" that one in those years continued and will continue to do the bidding of the 1%. Obama HIMSELF referred to his politics oas that of a 80's republican.

Sanders is actually bringing up uncomfortable questions and statements that threaten the economic violence that is Capitalism. He is an Independent Socialist that the 1% would never allow to have a chance to run.

Check out bradblog.com about vote flipping and the rrepublicans that own and control the companoes that make the voting machines. I found it eye opening

[brooklynite]

79. I had a better idea...I talked to actual Democrats...

who ran for election in places like Ohio and lost. Not one candidate, one elected official, one campaign manager or one party leader said it was because the voting machines were rigged.

Every election, we see articles posted here about a voter who pushed button "a" and had candidate "b" light up. DOn't you think if there was a conspiracy to flip votes, they'd be smart enough to hide it?

[Ramses]

80. the people you talked to are part of the system

that the 1% control. Its not at all surprising none of those that you spoke to would bring up vote rigging.

The information is right there on the website. Im sure you'll ignore it. After all, you spoke with campaign leaders and party officials part of the system.

[bobGandolf]

74. I'd vote for him in a heartbeat! n/t

[onecaliberal]

76. Run, Bernie!! Please!

Please please someone who is NOT owned by corporations or banks, who will not allow their lobbyists to get away with writing legislative sweet deals for themselves. Someone who will NOT bail out banks next time they play casino with our money. Someone who will try to do something about social security and the safety net in general. Also someone who can do something meaningful about making the rich pay taxes.