I've always respected Bernie as a well-intentioned guy with great ideas. I just don't have any faith in him actually accomplishing anything.

He chose a certain path many years ago, and it was to operate outside the system. He has long been a voice of reason and conscience on the left, and I am immensely thankful for that. He did, however, choose a very different path than someone like Ted Kennedy, who spent his life working to get legislation enacted, even if it was imperfect.

Like it or not, our system wasn't designed to permit revolutionary change. The legislative process is convoluted and arduous, and that's very much intentional. You take the victories where you can get them and continue to build on your progress, no matter how long it takes. You build coalitions, develop allies, and get a powerful infrastructure in place. None of that happens overnight, and certainly not by a guy whose entire identity is based on going it alone.