I have to pull out the big guns, now.

[Laelth]

The American people think they deserve what Bernie Sanders is promising to fight for:

1. Universal, taxpayer-funded health care for all.
2. A massive increase in the minimum wage.
3. Free college tuition at state colleges and universities.
4. Student loan debt relief.

Bernie is relentless in hammering home his intention to fight for these things for the American people. His message is focused, and it resonates. That's why he is winning.

The Democratic Party needs to get with the program. The American people don't give a darn about how we are going to pay for these things. They're just happy to vote for some politician who's willing to fight for what they think (rightly) that they deserve. I strongly encourage Democrats to listen to the people and follow them as Gandhi did for his own people. The cost to our party will be immense if we don't.

-Laelth

[BilltheCat]

1. Did you know you're still showing as a Mayor Pete supporter?

I'm new but it seems weird that several of Sanders most ardent thread authors and cheerleaders have tags alleging support to someone else.

[comradebillyboy]

2. Excellent observation.

[BilltheCat]

8. makes you go hmmmm

you'd think they'd be promoting their stated candidate instead of Bernie Sanders all the time right

[Laelth]

5. I am a Mayor Pete supporter.

The last 60 years have shown me that Democrats win when they nominate a candidate who is young, energetic, and optimistic (i.e. JFK, Carter, Clinton, and Obama). That's why I support Mayor Pete, but it looks like the Democratic electorate this year disagrees with me. They seem to want Bernie. I may disagree with them, but I can hear them.

I am inviting my fellow Democrats to do the same.

-Laelth

[BilltheCat]

9. actually I agree

in every debate I've watched the person who has impressed me the most as being articulate, energetic AND realistic is Mayor Pete. The lack of experience is perhaps a legitimate issue but then he has one hell of a lot more experience in government than dottard had.

[Laelth]

11. Precisely.

Trump had no experience going into office. Pete is far more experienced than the Great Pumpkin. That bubble has been burst.



-Laelth

[Happy Hoosier]

10. I will vote for him if nominated...

But I wouldn’t follow lemmings off a cliff either.

I think nominating Sanders is an historically huge mistake.

[handmade34]

13. I understand what you are saying...

"it looks like the Democratic electorate this year... want(s) Bernie"... I hear them as well, but I will go out on a limb and say that the majority of people here on DU don't so much dislike Bernie and ideology as that they are terrified that he can't beat trump...

this year is not like any other time in recent Presidential history...

the Democratic electorate is not the entire US electorate and Republicans have cumulated all of their lies, corruption, deceptions, oppressions, big money and vileness into a big bundle they will use to try to win

I hear them, but don't necessarily trust them (collectively) and it makes me sad to admit that

[Laelth]

20. I hear you as well.

But Bernie is looking unstoppable at the moment. I am trying to figure it out and adjust. I don't know what else to do.



-Laelth

[Sympthsical]

21. I'm a Buttigieg supporter

But if we’re going Sanders, then I guess we’re going Sanders. I don’t find the white hot hate against him electorally useful for November. I think people need to chill already.

[Laelth]

26. They're adjusting.

I hear you, but we have to give them time.



-Laelth

[ancianita]

14. We can all support all the candidates. It's not pie. We support Democrats. We support unity.

Support doesn't necessitate total agreement.

Mutual support brings unity, not uniformity.

Unity is the goal. All differences in, nobody out.

Think that's democratic?

Think of family. Do you agree with everything about every member? Or do you choose to support them anyway. If bonds are broken over one issue, maybe they're not so strong to start with.

[Laelth]

23. It's not pie?

Darn it! j/k

Peace. I hear you, and I will vote blue no matter who, obviously.



-Laelth

[ancianita]

24. Yum! Got it. Thanks.

Blue pie no matter who pie.

[Laelth]

25. Sweet!

-Laelth

[Mike 03]

3. "The American people."

You're speaking for a whole lot of people. I just hope they show up and vote like you say they will. Here in Arizona, and everywhere else. And that they don't forget to vote for out down ballot candidates. Then we won't have anything to worry about. Will we?

[Laelth]

6. I think that Daffy Duck could beat Donald Trump in 2020 if Daffy ran as a Democrat.

So, for my part, I am not that worried.

I am just sick of threads showing how Bernie can't pay for all the things that he is proposing. The Republicans didn't have to explain how we were going to have to spend $13 trillion to kill a bunch of Iraqis. Bernie doesn't have to explain how he's going to pay for his stuff.

It appears that the Democratic electorate is happy to vote for him just because he's willing to fight for the things they believe they deserve ... cost be damned.

-Laelth

[Saviolo]

7. Exactly.

No one asked Trump how he was going to pay for the tax break (that exploded the deficit).
No one ever asks how we're going to pay for increased military spending or increased military presence in foreign lands.

But as soon as there are policies that might help people instead of corporations. Suddenly the dollar signs are all that anyone can see. Bernie's not going to get everything he wants, there's no way. But if he starts from a position of "This is what I'm fighting for. This is the end result we all deserve!" then there's a good chance he'll get more of it than if he starts at an already compromise position.

[Laelth]

15. Amen.

Barack Obama ran on the slogan, "Yes. We can." Conversely, "No, we can't," a slogan I have been hearing from a lot of Democrats around here of late, is not a winner.

-Laelth

[PatrickforO]

4. Nice post. I agree with you.

We didn't ask, as a people, how we'd pay for the New Deal, either. Or the Second World War. We just did it because we had to.

For myself, I'd add climate change to your list.

[bucolic_frolic]

12. Democracy vs. Dictatorship

Our party against Trump and his dictator pals worldwide.

You ain't gonna beat that with socialism. Bernie would be toast, 59% to 40%.

We need a strong patriot who stands for democracy instead of socialism. One with minimal baggage.

[Laelth]

18. I adore Joe. I do.

But it looks like the voting, Democratic electorate is going to pick Bernie as our nominee.

I am trying to adjust to that idea. In essence, I think that we have to follow the people and give them what they want. We will suffer if we don't.

And I think Bernie can easily beat Trump in November. Any of our candidates could.



-Laelth

[octoberlib]

16. I don't follow. I do my own research and make my own decisions.

And Bernie's 30 years in politics are devoid of getting anything done except naming a couple post offices . He did sponsor a vet bill but was also responsible for covering up corruption in the Vet Administration. I'll vote for him if I have to but it's way too soon to be acting like this is all over. We live in a democracy. Let's act like it and hold our politicians accountable.

[Laelth]

33. That's not quite fair to Bernie, and I think you know it.

But, by all means, vote your conscience in the primaries. I intend to vote for Pete Buttigieg, and that's because 60 years of history tell me that Democrats win when we nominate someone who is young, energetic, and optimistic (i.e JFK, Carter, Clinton, Obama).

I'm not telling you how you should vote. I adore Elizabeth Warren, btw, and sent her a letter in 2016 asking her to run against Hillary Clinton, but my point here is that I can see which way this is going. The party has gotten a lot more liberal over the past decade, and Bernie is winning now because many of our politicians aren't getting the message that the American people want serious change. Our leaders need to follow them. Admittedly, Elizabeth Warren IS doing that, and I admire her for it.

Between you and me, I think that Warren would be leading the pack, at this point, if AOC had endorsed and campaigned for Elizabeth instead of Bernie.

Peace.

-Laelth

[Baked Potato]

17. Agreed, I'll quote myself:

“Bernie knows, like Trump, it doesn't matter what you can actually achieve, what matters is promising people what they believe should happen. Truth is what people believe.

It’s identifying the audience and talking to them like you are one of them just plucked out randomly. People know Congress is the key, so they want a President in place who will fight for them in case Congress fights for them too.”


https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1287&pid=573256

[standingtall]

19. What would be the difference between from Bernie not getting his policies

done and a another nominee who wont get anything done unless they have the Senate and our willing to repeal the legislative filibuster. Regardless of who the nominee is we are not getting anything done even if we have the Senate without repealing the filibuster. Bernie is one of the few candidates I'm confident would repeal it and the only one I believe would not hesitate to reform the Supreme Court if he had the Senate.

Could be true that if he wins the Presidency he would still hurt us down ballot and fail to take back the Senate, but what if that's wrong? If he could reform the Supreme Court and maybe add some States that would be much more meaningful for the future of this Country than any of his policies.

[handmade34]

28. Bernie as President

isn't going to address the filibuster... I think "reform" of the Supreme Court is questionable although an interesting concept and would be a good thing for any of the candidates to consider if possible...

so... the overriding question is will Sanders hurt the Democrats down ballot... all of my reading, critical thinking, observations, etc. leads me to believe he will and that concerns me

[standingtall]

30. Whoever is President has some influence over the Senate regarding the filibuster

if the Senate is controlled by his or her party, but ultimately it the Senates choice. If whoever is President does repeal the legislative filibuster there would no reason not to reform the court, because the 1869 judiciary act is the only thing that stops the court from being packed. If we repeal the legislative filibuster to get our policies implented and leave the courts alone the republicans would surely add to it once they have the government back.

"so... the overriding question is will Sanders hurt the Democrats down ballot... all of my reading, critical thinking, observations, etc. leads me to believe he will and that concerns me."

Suppose he hurts us down ballot, but we only take a net loss in the house and still maintain the majority and suppose voters in swing States are so feed up with Susan Collins,Cory Garner,Tom Tillis etc. We get the 3 or 4 seats we need to take back the Senate despite Bernie.

[NYMinute]

22. Mahatma Gandhi never said that - fake quote

Bernie can relentlessly pander (not hammer) his MFA, free college tuition and debt relief ... but he does it knowing that none of it will ever pass.

Smart people are passionate about things that are achievable ... there is a word for people who promise what cannot be achieved.

btw, maybe it is time for DUers who are disguising themselves as supporters of other candidates to boldly support the ones they are truly supporting.

[Laelth]

34. If you have evidence that I posted a fake quote, I'd like to see it.

And I am insulted that you publicly question my authenticity and motives.

-Laelth

[NYMinute]

40. I cannot prove a negative. If you can cite where MG said it, show it

rather than a feel-good poster. Many such posters exist with fake quotes.

Cite where Gandhi said it - a news article, excerpt from MG's books - whatever. I have read al his books and he never said those words.

[Laelth]

41. Now, you've got me curious.

I am in awe of the fact that you have read everything that Mohandas Gandhi has written. I have not. Thus, I defer to your judgment.

All I can tell you is that the three quotation sites I just searched all have the above quote listed and attributed to Gandhi. If he didn't say that, the world now thinks that he did.

What, btw, is your actual point?



-Laelth

[Laelth]

42. What do you think of this?

NUMBER: 1021
AUTHOR: Alexandre Auguste Ledru-Rollin (1807–74)
QUOTATION: There go the people. I must follow them, for I am their leader.
ATTRIBUTION: Attributed to ALEXANDRE LEDRU-ROLLIN, one of the leaders of the February Revolution of 1848 in France.

James Michael Curley uses this quotation as an epigraph at the beginning of chapter 4 of his autobiography, I’d Do It Again, p. 44 (1957), and attributes it to a French Revolutionist.

Attribution to Gandhi of “I must follow the people for I am their leader” is made by Leon Howell, “The Delta Ministry,” Christianity and Crisis, August 8, 1966, p. 192.

Alvin R. Calman, Ledru-Rollin and the Second French Republic (Studies in History, Economics and Public Law, vol. 103, no. 2), p. 374 (1922), says Ledru-Rollin’s use of “I am their chief; I must follow them” is probably apocryphal.
SUBJECTS: Leadership

© 1993–2015 Bartleby.com · [Top 150] · Subjects · Titles · Authors · World Lit.

https://www.bartleby.com/73/1021.html

It's the best I could find.



-Laelth

[ucrdem]

27. You seem to saying that Sanders' proposals are lies, and that we know they are.

If this is so, why are you supporting him?

[Baked Potato]

29. I don't see them as lies. He is instilling hope in a lot of people.

For instance, if a President Bernie had both houses of Congress and they hammered out some deals that align with his promises, that would be success.

The pragmatic contenders are simply assuming there will be a fight for every little inch of ground. The two approaches of campaigning and governing are being vetted. If Bernie wins it all, it will be up to Congress to serve the will of the people in line with the elected President’s visions.

[Laelth]

35. I am supporting Pete Buttigieg.

I have been wondering for days why Sanders won NV and won it big. I am also curious to know why he enjoyed a 37% advantage among Latino voters.

I think I have a reasonable answer, and I am sharing it on DU.

Nothing nefarious going on here, seriously.

-Laelth

[Moderateguy]

31. Don't give a darn how we are going to pay for it is code for I know it is not going to happen

It was be nice if the Sanders campaign can share this bit with ALL their supporters because A LOT of them are voting for him thinking he will ACCOMPLISH something

[Laelth]

38. He might. Who knows?

Barack Obama ran on a simple slogan. He said, "Yes. We can."

Good luck with, "No. We can't." That's a hard sell.

-Laelth

[W_HAMILTON]

32. Most Democrats have been fighting those same fights.

And some -- Biden and Warren, in particular -- have done more than just fight those fights, they have actually WON some of those fights (e.g., Obamacare and CPFB) instead of fighting losing battles for three decades (I'm looking at you, Sanders).

Stop slandering other Democrats by making it sound like only Sanders has been fighting for universal healthcare, raising the minimum wage, etc. It's a damn lie and those sorts of lies are why we currently don't have a Democratic president in the White House trying to pass "the most progressive platform" in party history <-- Sanders's description of the 2016 Democratic platform, not mine.

[Laelth]

36. I am just trying to explain to you why I think Sanders is currently WINNING.

If you have a better explanation, I'd love to hear it.



-Laelth

[redqueen]

37. Do republicans hammer each other about how to pay for their tax cuts?

Or do they just say their plans will help the economy and expect that's a good enough answer?

[Laelth]

39. LOL.

You know the answer to your rhetorical question, and so does everybody else who posts on this forum.

I appreciate your mentioning this obvious truth.

I would also add that I think that all the things our more-liberal candidates are proposing would vastly improve the economy.



-Laelth