Evil Narcissist Bernie Didn't Vote on a Severely Needed Coronavirus Stimulus?

[Don1]

It's being rumored all over that Bernie is a narcissist because he chose to try to sway public opinion about a stimulus instead of voting in the senate.

It's being said that he needed to be there because the vote was 47-47.

Let's review this canard...

Here is a link to the 47-47 vote:
https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=2&vote=00077

Question: On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed (Motion to Invoke Cloture: Re: Motion to Proceed to H.R. 748 )
Vote Number: 77          Vote Date: March 22, 2020, 06:03 PM

Required For Majority: 3/5 Vote Result: Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected

First, it was actually Republicans trying to pass it, not Democrats.

Second, it was a cloture vote, not a regular vote. As you can see that requires 3/5 to pass. Republicans would need to have flipped 10 Democrats to get cloture to pass so that they could stop debating. They got 47-47. If Bernie showed up, it'd be 47-48.

Republicans needed 57-37 (57 Republican yesses and 37 Democratic no's)!

The numbers do not support this unmathematical rumor.

[George II]

1. Can anyone explain why Sanders was the only unquarantined Senator who didn't vote?

[Don1]

2. Can you explain mathematically why his vote was necessary?

Or do you support the 47/47 rumor?

[George II]

11. His vote was necessary because it's his JOB. He's getting paid $476 PER DAY to be a Senator!

[Happy Hoosier]

12. Well, it's his FUCKING JOB for one thing.

Possibly the most important issue in this country in a decade or more and Sanders is MIA. That man should NEVER be President.

[Don1]

19. His FUCKING job is to support the people.

In this case, the value of his vote would be ZERO.

FUCKING ZERO.

Meanwhile, the value of supporting public awareness of the economic response to coronavirus would be FUCKING non-zero.

Therefore, logically, it makes more sense to spend time on a livestream to people than to vote on the cloture vote.

Because A is FUCKING greater than B.

It's FUCKING math.

[Thekaspervote]

23. It's math all right... it's called bernie math. Never quite adds to the right thing

The right thing would have been for him to be in the senate doing his job regardless of the outcome

What if every senator called it like bernie does? Where would we be then?

[Don1]

24. The math was explained.

Either address the point or don't. Simply dismissing it a "Bernie math" is illogical.

[Thekaspervote]

31. I did address it! He's not in the senate where he needs to be..FULL STOP 🛑

[Don1]

33. He's in the Senate generally. The other day he wasn't and did NOT need to be as the math shows.

FULL STOP.

[Thekaspervote]

36. "He is generally in the senate." That just doesn't cut it

[sweetloukillbot]

46. Especially since it isn't true

He missed the bulk of the votes last year, and slept through the impeachment hearings.

[Don1]

51. Sure it does.

He's in the Senate when it matters, unlike this vote. Let's not change the subject. His vote didn't matter at all for this vote. Right?

Yes or no. Right?

[Hav]

69. Yeah, I'll tell my boss that I'll only show up for work

when it really matters which will be decided after the fact. Being there "generally" is good enough. When the company goes on functioning without me, my presence wasn't really needed. As long as enough people show up to mask me being missing in action, then what's the fuss about?
Ah, the life of the elites.

[LakeArenal]

53. As he is a Democrat. Generally.

It’s his job. If he’s scared cuz he’s elderly. Say so. If it’s to campaign for president, he should say so. If he doesn’t want a senate job during a time of crisis, then he shouldn’t be president during a crisis.

Not math. Sense.

[brush]

84. Exactamundo!

[Demsrule86]

68. No he is not...he has missed more Senate vote than anyone including other senators who were

presidential candidates.

[Peacetrain]

29. You have made evereyones point... Sen Sanders does nothing.. he always has

He signs on to other peoples bills.. 90 plus percent that do not get passed.. In all his years in Washington he has initiated 3 bills.. 2 of them post-office names..

He is or was or whatever you want to call it, running in the Democratic party for the Presidency. Yet he will not vote.. or explain why he will not vote.


He does nothing


Mathematically if someone gives you zero, you know what you have from them.. ZERO!

[Thekaspervote]

37. Thank you!! A voice of sanity

[Peacetrain]

40. I am gobsmacked that he did not stand with the Democrats on this bill

I have no idea in this world or the next how he would ever have stood up for us. Even AOC is seeing the light on this one I think. He talks a good game but he does not have any results. Yelling at everyone and then walking away does not get us the programs and governance we need.

Edit to add.. if he is having health issues or concerns.. he also has to let people know that.. otherwise he is giving us even more than a zero.. he is taking away from us our power.

[Thekaspervote]

44. I hope AOC is seeing the light! She could be a voice for good instead of a failed presidential run

[Me.]

55. I Join You

Not great optics for someone who thinks he should be president. But maybe he has a secret plan for saving the world, as he said, and it involves not showing up but waving a wand.

[LizBeth]

64. Got kicked out of a damn commune. Sitting on a couch talking and not doing the work.

Indicative of a lifetime.

[Aquaria]

39. His fucking job is being in the US Senate when it is in session so he can support the people

They don't give a shit about his stupid fucking livestream of total bullshit. Talk does NOTHING. Any fool can run his damned mouth.

VOTING IN THE SENATE DOES SOMETHING.

It's at least doing the bare minimum of what he's paid for--showing up and voting, since he can't be bothered to legislate.

[Cha]

92. Tell it Sistah.. Exactly like It Is!

[George II]

45. So he's the only healthy Senator entitled to duck a vote on the floor of the Senate? Even Dianne....

....Feinstein has been in Washington since late last week working as a Senator, she was there for the vote. She's 86 years old.

What makes Sanders so special that he doesn't have to do his job? He did a so-called "livestream" on the virus with three people with zero medical background and, of course, musical guests. That's more important?

If he's so altruistic and worried about the people, why doesn't he contribute the salary he hasn't been earning to any charities?

Now, since you say "it's FUCKING math", let's look at some math, including, to quote you, "FUCKING ZERO".

From June 28 2019 through January 8 2020 he wasn't present for a SINGLE vote - not one! "FUCKING ZERO".

That's 194 consecutive days that he wasn't doing his job. During those 194 days there were 244 roll call votes on the floor of the Senate. He missed every single one! "FUCKING ZERO".

What's your explanation for that?

[Happy Hoosier]

61. any excuse for the grumpy ole Chosen One.

He has a duty to be in Washington and participate in this important debate and actually cast his vote. He isn't there. His loyalists with make any excuse for him.

If he can't do it, he should resign and let someone who can be there.

The reason he can skive off is because others don;t. I guess some people are more important than others...

[Demsrule86]

67. What about influencing the bill with to make it better...nope Sanders should have

been there.

[Midnight Writer]

81. The Democratic Establishment is there and working. What if they all "took a break" as well.

If Sanders has health issues, then no problem. He should disclose that.

But I am afraid this is more like Achilles sulking in his tent while the war carries on.

[Thekaspervote]

34. Live streaming is not his job! Being a senator is.

[Don1]

57. He is a Senator.

Public awareness is part of his job and was more important than voting on this cloture vote which would have required 57-37 to pass!

[bluestarone]

78. So if ALL Senators did it Bernie style

Then what? 0 votes that's what!

[Don1]

79. All Senators are not Running for President.

[bluestarone]

80. DUMB EXCUSE!

So if Bernie runs as an independent you will vote for him?

[Don1]

86. NO IT ISN'T

what the heck are you talking about?! Of course I will vote for Biden. What a weird accusation!

[honest.abe]

63. So Bernie is special and only needs to show up for votes as needed.

[Demsrule86]

66. Warren was on the floor fighting for Americans...Sanders was at home in Vermont pretending he is

still relevant and helping Trump by not conceding.

[nini]

93. How about it's his fucking job to vote

It really is that simple.

[ehrnst]

94. He's a Senator. That's their job. If he can't be relied on to do the work of the Senate

because he didn't get everything he wanted, what does that say about a potential job performance as POTUS?

[hangaleft]

3. You're right

But this same question has already been posted. Probably multiple times.

smh

[George II]

14. I know, the same question has been posted but no one has answered it yet.

[hangaleft]

22. Oh. I thought it was rhetorical.

[Don1]

59. Of course.

Not sure why you are asking an obvious answered question, but here you go...

Sanders is the only Senator running for President right now who has a megaphone that can increase public awareness of the needed economic response to the coronavirus. So, speaking publicly about it has way more impact by him right now than by most others. Any others who may also have a megaphone are not out running for President who would be able to impact as widely as he can. They'd have a megaphone primarily in their own states.

So, this makes the value of his public awareness livestream uniquely more impactful than any of the other Senators in question.

Now, simply combine that with the other points in the OP and throughout the thread.

The value of his livestream (NON-ZERO) was greater than the value of his vote which would be ZERO.

Therefore, according to rational decision-making it was the rational thing to do.

[George II]

62. He could have done the live-stream on Saturday, he could have done it Monday night....

....he didn't have to do it coincident with the Senate vote.

Reminds me of the Oleg Deripaska sanctions vote early last year. He was the only one of 100 Senators to not vote, even though he was a short walk from the Capitol building. Instead he scheduled his 30-minute talk to his 2016 staffers to coincide with that vote, even though the meeting he addressed was an all-day event.

As Rosanne Rosanadana famously said, "it's always something, if it's not one thing it's another."

[Don1]

75. So your question was answered.

There was no point for him to be there. And there was more value in livestreaming. Livestreaming while the vote is going on gets more press and therefore more awareness, but that doesn't matter anyway because there was no point for him to be there.

Since your question has been answered and even more information was given than you asked for, maybe you can now concede that the whole Bernie being necessary because 47-47 makes no sense.

Will you concede that point or not?

[George II]

82. No, my question wasn't answered. Here's the question again with emphasis added:

Can anyone explain why Sanders was the only unquarantined Senator who didn't vote?

There was a point for him to be there - he is a sitting United States Senator and the Senate was in session and conducted a vote. You're implying, almost stating outright, that there was no point for any of the other 94 Senators who DID vote to do so, including ALL Democratic Senators and the other Independent, Angus King, either.

Is he more important than those other Senators? Smarter?

No, I won't concede the point. A Senator's obligation is to perform his job, ALL aspects of his job, whether he likes it or nor or whether it's convenient or not.

Okay, if the vote on Sunday was pointless, then the vote yesterday afternoon, which was exactly the same as Sunday's, was pointless too, right? So why did he participate in THAT pointless vote then?

https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=116&session=2&vote=00078

[Don1]

88. Yup, I answered.

I said he is the ONLY one running for President and his vote would not have mattered. Instead, his voice as a senator running for President is used to increase public awareness of the needed economic response to coronavirus. That answered your question 110%.

So, now you won't concede the point. And instead of conceding you are posting another CLOTURE vote?! What the heck?!

[George II]

89. Running for president doesn't change the job description of a Senator. PLUS, he announced....

....his "round table" and rock concert AFTER McConnell scheduled the Sunday vote. On top of that, toward the close of business on Wednesday he took off for Vermont while all the Democratic Senators and King remained in Washington for the remainder of the week. However, he didn't leave for any campaign events, he simply went home.

No amount of excuses will justify why he was the only non-quarantined Senator not in Washington from Wednesday through Monday afternoon.

[ehrnst]

95. "His vote would not have mattered" He's a Senator. It's his job to vote.

I think he was avoiding having to answer for a vote on a bill that was a compromise, and that would be very difficult for a purist.

A POTUS can't avoid their responsibility in the name of purity.

Not a good look...

[LakeArenal]

87. What bs this is...

“Sanders is the only Senator running for President right now who has a megaphone that can increase public awareness of the needed economic response to the coronavirus. So, speaking publicly about it has way more impact by him right now than by most others. Any others who may also have a megaphone are not out running for President who would be able to impact as widely as he can. They'd have a megaphone primarily in their own states.”

AOC has more impact than Bernie at this point.

We don’t need megaphones or anymore public awareness. If the public isn’t aware by now they aren’t going to be. (ie. spring break)

We need leadership. Democratic leadership.

[ucrdem]

4. "Because reasons" as Skinner used to say.

The fact is that he missed two critical days of legislation. It's like blowing off the Selma march: whatever his reasons, it looks really bad. If the world loved him, it might not matter. But the world is waiting for him to suspend his primary campaign, and this was an iconic boo-boo.

[True Blue American]

5. They never give up! Woe is me!

[William769]

6. Oy vey

[ucrdem]

7. I think today might be the day.

He's in DC apparently, interacting with Dem leadership presumably, and I'm really hoping they read him the riot act. There is no reason in hades to let thing drag on especially with all the primaries disappearing.

[William769]

8. I wish he would resign.

Let someone do the job that wants to,

[Happy Hoosier]

9. I don't need to go to work.... other people will cover for me.

Oh.... but send the paycheck, please and thanks!

[The Magistrate]

10. When You Engage In Comedy, Sir

You undertake an obligation to be funny. A wince, and sad shake of the head, do not count as laughter.

It is necessary to understand people you want to parody, and it is clear you do not.

The charge against Sanders is two-fold.

First, his station is the Senate floor. Retired to seclusion in his Vermont home, he is deserting his post. A man who deserts his post in time of crisis forfeits a good deal of respect.

Second, by absenting himself, Sanders is forfeiting even a remote chance of actually influencing events. He can do nothing to improve the terms of what will eventually pass as a relief bill. While given his poor regard in the Senate, and notorious inability to compromise, he likely would be only a negligible factor, still sometimes people do rise to the occasion, and it is not wholly impossible his presence at his post could bring some benefit.

That Sanders displays common stigmata of narcissicism is so evident to any dispassionate observer of his behavior and career, you have at least managed a 'Poe' of sorts in your opening headline, but what you have mirrored is simply the general consensus, rather than some sort of outlandish exaggerations flung to smear 'Bernie'....



"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

[True Blue American]

26. Mnuchin

Does not have a stellar past but he seems to know how to negotiate. Schumer is an old hand.

Mitch is left out to whine and complain on the Senate floor, along with a few of his co- Horts whining about Pelosi and Democrats. 4 of them so far. Absolutely useless.

[The Magistrate]

28. That Is Putting It Mildly, Sir

But he does give an appearance of sanity, it is true.

[True Blue American]

30. I try to look on the positive side!:)

[The Magistrate]

32. Come Over To The Dark Side, Sir...

"Optimists get bitter disappointments. Pessimists get pleasant surprises."

[True Blue American]

48. Lady

But will stay positive to help you!

Schumer is now laying out what they won to help the worker. Sounds good!

Now isn’t that positive?

[The Magistrate]

77. I Shall Remember, Ma'am

Sen. Schumer is doing good work.

[True Blue American]

83. Now that is positive!

Put Nancy in there.

It was a delight to see Mitch and Susan lose their temper.

[beastie boy]

15. I dunno... when I don't show up to work, my boss doesn't care whether my presence was necessary.

I just don't get paid, and I consider myself a lucky SOB if I don't get fired. Period. And no one ever shows the slightest inclination to justify my absence by claiming my presence was not necessary.

[George II]

17. I remember once I was in LA on a business trip. My flight back to NYC was cancelled, so....

....I took a red-eye home the night before.

I didn't get a chance to call in to let anyone know until 10 AM the next morning. I got hauled on the carpet for not letting them know where I was!

[True Blue American]

27. Yuck, George

I once was critisized for doing the right thing. Ii

[brush]

90. And one's presence not being necessary enough will normally get one fired...

unless one is entitled of course.

[TomCADem]

16. So You Are Saying Bernie Is Useless As A Senator...

...and is a complete non-factor in negotiations?

I guess I would agree, but Bernie’s campaign should be honest about the fact that he is pretty ineffective as a Senator.

[frazzled]

18. A little over a week ago

my spouse and I ventured out to cast our votes. It was a risk, since we are both over 65 and live in a high-incidence COVID-19 city. We wore disposable gloves and took hand sanitizer. We cast our votes not just for the presidential race but for important state and county and judicial offices that will affect the future of society in our country and locality.

And here is what we reasoned: it was our duty to protect democracy by participating in guiding its future—just as we ask our military to put themselves on the line for democracy. It's a risk, and you might lose, but you must do your civic duty.

When a member of Congress fails to make that commitment, either for personal or political reasons, it's like going AWOL. Maybe the vote didn't matter in the grander scheme of things. Our votes probably didn't affect the overall outcome of the primary races for various offices either. But it was our duty, and we risked our health to do it. Others should consider doing the same. Especially when they are asking people to vote for them.

[The Magistrate]

41. I Salute You, Sir or Madame

"Courage is the form all virtues take, pushed to the sticking point."

[marble falls]

20. Its the optics. He was the only one not there not quarrentined, the only Democrat ...

Is he running for us or for his coterie?

[Demsrule86]

70. There are times when I thank God he is not a Democrat so all the Democrats were at

the Senate including Amy who's husband is desperately sick...one independent chose not to be there...we don't know why.

[W_HAMILTON]

25. The criticism is that he wasn't even there while the bill was being crafted.

He was at home doing an internet variety show (with musical guests!) where he apparently was telling everyone what he thought should be done to combat the coronavirus and prevent our economy from falling into a depression.

The problem is that, as a sitting U.S. senator, his ass should have been in Washington telling fellow senators that.

Everyone is seeing firsthand how Sanders managed to accomplish so little despite ~thirty years in Congress. We are all witnessing it with our own eyes, in real time.

[Peregrine Took]

35. More of this insane Bernie hatred.

Go for a walk, read a book, volunteer at a pet shelter.

Its getting really nasty around here and its not letting up even though biden will likely be the candidate.

Its sick!

[Thekaspervote]

38. An "undecided" bernie supporter chose to start the thread

[ucrdem]

42. Call it a Freudian slip...

But the way the OP put it is the way most of us see it.

[Aquaria]

43. The nastiness is in the passive-aggressive BSer whining about bashing

Rather than accepting that BS is not exempt from criticism when he does risible things. Not doing his job by going to the Senate during a major negotiation to help establish some of that economic justice he's always carping about is not a smart move.

And that's the NICEST thing that can be said about his behavior of late.

[Demsrule86]

71. I think the so call Bernie 'hate' is justified by his actions. I would not use the word hate...but

Bernie is a disappointment. In 16, I voted for him. My entire family did...sad that this will be his legacy.

[BidenBacker]

47. Legislative Effectiveness Score

I think you're right...after objectively reviewing Bernie's LES (Legislative Effectiveness Score) during his entire time in Congress I believe that not only did it not matter that he wasn't in DC to vote recently, but it didn't really matter if he hadn't been in Congress his entire career!

Center for Effective Lawmaking

https://thelawmakers.org/

The LES measures how effectively a member of the House or Senate was in moving his or her agenda through Congress from introducing a bill until it possibly becomes law. An LES of 0.5 to 1.5 qualifies as "Meeting Expectations". An LES below 0.5 is "Below Expectations". Behold the record of a certain lawmaker hailing from the great state of Vermont...

Con LES
102 .336
103 .219
104 .463
105 .347
106 .231
107 .343
108 .266
109 .380
110 .199
111 .522
112 .338
113 2.025
114 .191
115 .159

Had one really good Congressional session (113th) and another one where he barely met expectations (111th). During the other 24 years in Congress it's pretty much been a miserable performance when it comes to effectiveness.

BS kinda reminds me of a ballplayer who had one very good season during his career, one barely acceptable season and a whole bunch of other dismal seasons. Making a single All-Star game doesn't put you in the Hall of Fame.

Also did Biden's so if you're interested just gimme a shout and I'll be more than happy to oblige.

[True Blue American]

49. Please

Let us see it. For fairness!

[BidenBacker]

50. No offense, TBA

But I would prefer to have the request come from the OP. I wouldn't want him to accuse me of "piling on" or "Bernie bashing". I'm sure you understand.

I enjoy reading your posts, BTW.

Oh, I do have one request for the OP if he would like to see Joe's effectiveness scores...

[True Blue American]

52. Fine with me

I understand.

[True Blue American]

54. I do love that guy!

[Me.]

56. So You Think You Should Give Us All A BS Scold

because we expect a man who thinks he should rule this country should show up to help keep it going and we point out he can't even be bothered to do that? Are you saying, with your little numbers game, that he had no contribution to make?

[Don1]

58. The value of showing up to vote the value of increasing public awareness about economic response.

ZERO < NON-ZERO

Q.E.D.

[Me.]

60. What A Load Of Nonsense

and considering that up to now he would show up at the opening of an envelope to get his face front and center, it does not compute

[Don1]

76. Sorry but math makes sense.

Requiring a candidate to vote on cloture that will not pass anyway because 10 Democrats would have to flip is nonsense.

He used his time more productively.

[Me.]

85. How About Him Not Being Paid To Do The Job He Isn't Doing

How does that math sit with everyone? He derelict in his duty and no amount of math can change that. Amy Klobuchar's husband is critically ill in a hospital and yet she there's meeting her obligations as a Senator.

[Demsrule86]

72. No one watches his tired campaign nonsense... except those who are in the tank for him.

[Demsrule86]

65. Every Democrat was there except Sanders...I have lost what little respect remained for Sanders.

[NurseJackie]

73. Mine was already in negative territory. Less than zero.

[Ellen Forradalom]

74. He was elected to work in Washington

How about he actually go to Washington and do his job.