General Discussion

RufusTFirefly

(8,812 posts)

33. ^ THIS ^

Wed May 14, 2014, 09:41 AM

May 2014

A primary shouldn't be a coronation.

It should be a period where all Democratic views are aired so the candidate ultimately chosen is not only the most "electable," but also best reflects the heart and soul of the rank and file (not necessarily just the leadership) who make up the party. If we run in fear of kowtowing to the corporate interests then our pessimism about the process will become self-fulfilling. There are way more of us than there are of them.

(By the way, the fact that we may need to look to an Independent as the Democratic standard bearer should tell us something about the precarious state of the party. Rather than demonizing or ridiculing such people, we should listen and learn from them. They are sending us a powerful, valuable message.)

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Bernie Sanders Could Be the 2016 Democratic Candidate We�ve All Been Waiting For [View all] xchrom May 2014 OP

Totally. 70+yo socialist from New England says "electoral landslide" to me. Recursion May 2014 #1

:>))) pangaia May 2014 #11

Shhhh ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #20

Hey! Did I say a damn thing negative? (nt) Recursion May 2014 #49

Not in my opinion ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #52

A couple of points...... socialist_n_TN May 2014 #22

Hear, hear! Laelth May 2014 #45

That is my hope for Bernie Sanders' participation in the primary. nt ChisolmTrailDem May 2014 #66

He and Elizabeth can change the conversation, which is all they need to do randys1 May 2014 #106

OK Then, Imagine another Third Way "Democrat" like Hillary raindaddy May 2014 #24

But Hillary is a Whole 5 years Younger! adirondacker May 2014 #35

It's not his age adirondacker.. raindaddy May 2014 #42

No, Schweitzer and Tester are to the left of Hillary, and both electable Recursion May 2014 #50

Thanks for the clarification Recursion :) raindaddy May 2014 #58

Well, in fact I think it would Recursion May 2014 #59

I really like Schweitzer and Tester but I would not vote for either Samantha May 2014 #140

Anything my Senator Sanders can do erronis May 2014 #120

Huh? Hillary is 66 years old,... DonViejo May 2014 #108

Ooops! That's what I get for reading the internets without fact checking. adirondacker May 2014 #115

The debate goes there then the policy goes elsewhere. No, I'm sick of high minded rhetoric followed Ed Suspicious May 2014 #152

The search for the new Messiah continues. JoePhilly May 2014 #28

To replace the current one Fumesucker May 2014 #68

You are close ... JoePhilly May 2014 #73

If Sanders or Warren were somehow elected POTUS ... NanceGreggs May 2014 #110

Actually, no matter who gets elected, SheilaT May 2014 #121

And that's just fine Fearless May 2014 #144

there may be "far, far leftists".... tomp May 2014 #146

There are many, many 'far leftists' ... NanceGreggs May 2014 #157

miss the point much? nt tomp May 2014 #159

People need hope that there'll be change Fumesucker May 2014 #112

I've also noticed that... greatauntoftriplets May 2014 #151

his age? heaven05 May 2014 #31

Nothing, as long as he doesn't chose a Palin Stellar May 2014 #36

I'd vote for him nt abelenkpe May 2014 #39

..but a 69+ year old woman from New York? bvar22 May 2014 #63

I know. Le Taz Hot May 2014 #69

'Corporatist' woman grahamhgreen May 2014 #80

Shh. It's sexist to mention Hillary's age. n/t winter is coming May 2014 #92

Hillary is 66, Sanders is 72... DonViejo May 2014 #109

Me Too! (Serious) :) grahamhgreen May 2014 #78

Um, Ronald Reagan was 69 Armstead May 2014 #113

They marketed Ronnie raindaddy May 2014 #126

Ya, we need a corporate mind in control..... /nt think May 2014 #133

Yeah, my same thought. Beacool May 2014 #134

I know some things that could go right. JDPriestly May 2014 #139

It says an enriched debate in the primaries to me. cali May 2014 #143

The proverbial icicle in the proverbial hot place Brainstormy May 2014 #2

K&R just for interest's sake. I know his chances would likely be slim at best. nomorenomore08 May 2014 #3

I'd vote for him in a primary if he's up to traveling all those states. I don't know if he can pull freshwest May 2014 #128

OH PLEASE!!!! no way this will happen bigdarryl May 2014 #4

If he were just 10 years younger, I'd volunteer for him, LuvNewcastle May 2014 #5

All our talked-up candidates are too old starroute May 2014 #23

You're right. It's time for some new blood. LuvNewcastle May 2014 #37

Kirsten Gillibrand has potential; Gavin Newsom. Andrew Cuomo. closeupready May 2014 #71

Gillibrand is an unsung heroine! Liberalynn May 2014 #95

And Joe Biden is no spring chicken either. It seems to be the season of the older candidate. n/t totodeinhere May 2014 #100

Think of the cabinet he'd put together. The SCOTUS nominations he'd make. How he knows Congress. ancianita May 2014 #129

Someone who's never had a competetive election and get's a max of 300,000 votes? brooklynite May 2014 #6

In your wildest nightmare madokie May 2014 #9

No - as much as I hate it Brooklynite is correct TBF May 2014 #12

Yours too madokie May 2014 #15

Well, that's articulate. TBF May 2014 #17

What ever you think madokie May 2014 #18

Well then, please enlighten us... brooklynite May 2014 #30

GOTV madokie May 2014 #46

The big difference... brooklynite May 2014 #55

Bernie is centrist on the issues! Enthusiast May 2014 #88

And this is a very important point....... socialist_n_TN May 2014 #147

I have a two word one letter response to that raindaddy May 2014 #26

Barack Obama never had much of a competitive election either. Alan Keyes? Come on. n/t totodeinhere May 2014 #102

He should run. joshcryer May 2014 #7

I'll beat on every door within miles of me if he would run madokie May 2014 #8

Since OK's 2008 Presidential election gave MineralMan May 2014 #54

I don't share that thinking. madokie May 2014 #57

GOTV! think May 2014 #137

So by what margin do you think Hillary would win Oklahoma? A Simple Game May 2014 #96

Oklahoma is in the Republican camp pretty solidly, MineralMan May 2014 #148

So what was your point about Sanders losing Oklahoma? A Simple Game May 2014 #149

My point was that it doesn't matter in Oklahoma. MineralMan May 2014 #153

Yes you were making your point to someone else. A Simple Game May 2014 #156

Not at all. I think Sanders should run as a Democrat MineralMan May 2014 #160

I'd prefer to see him run as a Democrat. A Simple Game May 2014 #161

I wouldn't predict anything. We'll have to wait and see, MineralMan May 2014 #162

Good advice, I would only add to vote for the best candidate possible. n/t A Simple Game May 2014 #163

He should be Elizabeth Warren's VP running mate. They would make an excellent team. reformist2 May 2014 #10

could not agree more! ellennelle May 2014 #75

Plus one an entire shit load! Enthusiast May 2014 #89

Even if he is just in the primary Lee-Lee May 2014 #13

as of now he wont be in the primary for his own seat leftyohiolib May 2014 #16

^ THIS ^ RufusTFirefly May 2014 #33

Alright! Earth_First May 2014 #14

I hope so. It would be nice to have someone debate against neoliberalism. mmonk May 2014 #19

Bernies and I have very little difference ... 1StrongBlackMan May 2014 #21

Anybody wanna buy a barely used Kucinich 08 tshirt? NightWatcher May 2014 #25

So Get With The Program And Vote For Whomever You're Told To SoCalMusicLover May 2014 #98

Trashing thread. See you after the mid-terms. ScreamingMeemie May 2014 #27

If he runs as a Dem, good on him. riqster May 2014 #29

Bernie wouldn't be Kucinich. He'd be Jesse Jackson. Proud Public Servant May 2014 #32

As much as I love Bernie randr May 2014 #34

Hillary was "inevitable" in 2008. bvar22 May 2014 #64

Hillary will inevitably be bad for all of us FiveGoodMen May 2014 #72

Hillary is inevitable? Where have I heard that before? A Simple Game May 2014 #101

I would only support Bernie with my time, money and vote. Scuba May 2014 #38

Ralph Nader redux greenman3610 May 2014 #40

Comedy! blackspade May 2014 #119

Likely never going to happen. EEO May 2014 #41

Agreed. n/t Laelth May 2014 #44

k&r for Bernie Sanders. n/t Laelth May 2014 #43

America needs someone who will maintain the status quo - not change things Douglas Carpenter May 2014 #47

We have several good candidates but Senator Sanders is my choice. ladjf May 2014 #48

If that's true, then the argument, Phlem May 2014 #51

If he runs, he should run as a Democrat, or his MineralMan May 2014 #53

Even if he doesn't win, he'll push to keep the DINOs honest. backscatter712 May 2014 #56

Yes he will make the DINO's squirm a little during the campaign, but they rhett o rick May 2014 #70

You're right about the DINOs.. raindaddy May 2014 #124

I like the way you think. nm rhett o rick May 2014 #125

A candidate to vote for...rather than settle for. Tierra_y_Libertad May 2014 #60

Exactly. We start out by settling and then spend the rest of the time conceding. RufusTFirefly May 2014 #62

Exactly! raindaddy May 2014 #65

This ^^. And the harder people try to convince us that someone to vote for rather than settle for winter is coming May 2014 #93

I don't know why anyone wouldn't vote for the best possible candidate. A Simple Game May 2014 #107

the old "unelectable" brand G_j May 2014 #123

Run Bernie run!!! I'd love to see a Sanders/Warren ticket for 2016! Initech May 2014 #61

his run will bring our country's actual problems into the national conversation MisterP May 2014 #67

Sanders would only help the Republican candidate. Trust Buster May 2014 #74

As opposed to others who would only help the republican cause FiveGoodMen May 2014 #76

And adopt a Republican agenda after they're elected. Enthusiast May 2014 #90

'Preciate it! FiveGoodMen May 2014 #91

This message was self-deleted by its author frylock May 2014 #103

Actually, he pulls almost all the Independent vote, and many R votes! grahamhgreen May 2014 #84

You meant that as a joke, right ? Trust Buster May 2014 #94

He got 208,000 out of 292,000 votes cast in Vermont in the last election. 71 percent of the votes. grahamhgreen May 2014 #117

Bernie Sanders Asks Fed Chair Whether the US Is an Oligarchy: grahamhgreen May 2014 #77

I admire Bernie Sanders and agree with him 100% on nearly everything..... Swede Atlanta May 2014 #79

Patience - the country is on fire, Obama proved patience does not work. We need butt kicking, IMHO! grahamhgreen May 2014 #81

Nope, that firebrand thing didn't work for Teddy or Franklin Roosevelt did it? A Simple Game May 2014 #104

He seems to be a thoughtful, caring and intelligent person. Sienna86 May 2014 #82

I repeat allinthegame May 2014 #83

Pie in the sky fantasy if there ever was one IkeRepublican May 2014 #85

First they said that a Catholic could not be president. Then they said that an African American totodeinhere May 2014 #99

I am totally ready for President Sanders. Enthusiast May 2014 #86

Except that he's not a democrat WhiteTara May 2014 #87

If it can't be Bernie, it's just gotta be Hillary RufusTFirefly May 2014 #97

If he runs as a Democrat, he has my vote. blackspade May 2014 #105

Would make a fantastic president Endgames May 2014 #111

Sanders wouldn't be obliterated by the Republican, as some fear. Jim Lane May 2014 #114

This holding up Bernie as the new Messiah is ridiculous Capt. Obvious May 2014 #116

Bernie is a hero to the left. Utopian Leftist May 2014 #118

That's like hoping a hot pack will cure your cancer. n/t jtuck004 May 2014 #122

Re his age, he's got nothing to lose. He's not corporate and old conservative folks relate to him. ancianita May 2014 #127

Bernie won't get anywhere with our DC DEM Party apparatus, which is a subsidiary of Big Oil, Defense blkmusclmachine May 2014 #130

That's as much honesty as I can take for the evening... raindaddy May 2014 #132

Bernie may be 72 but he's JEB May 2014 #131

If we could get a few Progressive Socialist multi millionaires and billionaires SamKnause May 2014 #135

A Socialist in his mid 70s. Beacool May 2014 #136

If Bernie runs, and if I am physically able, I will campaign for him. JDPriestly May 2014 #138

Is he really considering running? Jamastiene May 2014 #141

I'm with Howard Dean on this DFW May 2014 #142

...and he said he supported Hillary Clinton... brooklynite May 2014 #150

Not surprising DFW May 2014 #158

if only he had a southern accent and loved to go duck-hunting... nikto May 2014 #145

If he's got Tom Hayden's support, that can't be a bad sign. DemocraticWing May 2014 #154

The reason why he may have a difficult time winning anti partisan May 2014 #155