I disagree with Bernie's position, but I thank him for what he did.

[Clio the Leo]

I disagree with Bernie's position, but I thank him for what he did.

My thoughts on the matter are probably clear to most of you, I support what the President is trying to do with the tax teal. But I was proud to see Bernie this afternoon (what little bit I got to see.)

Why? Well ... to be honest, I can afford to do so. It's not likely that Bernie is going to be able to stop this just by himself. It was largely a symbolic gesture. I'll be honest, if I thought his effort could really skuttle the bill, I'd probably not be making this post.

But the REAL reason I enjoyed his effort is that Bernie's a fighter .... he's a fighter for the liberal cause. But more importantly, he's a fighter for the American people. I have no doubt that his position on the matter is sincere. I believe he honestly thinks what the President is doing is wrong and, although I disagree, I respect his opinion. I know he's doing what he thinks is best for the country and it doesn't matter that he was calling the President out, making clear his complete disagreement to everything Obama has said on the matter. What I heard was respectful, informed and fair.

But ultimately, I know, one day, the same fight that allowed Bernie to stand and speak for 8 hours is the same fight he'll use on something we WILL agree on. I remember during the health care bill when he ALMOST did the same thing .... only to withdraw his amendment when he realized what the GOP was doing.

So, while I may disagree with him, I'm not going to disparage him or question his party loyalty. I'm not going to call him names (unlike some other folks, he is NOT a peanut head lol) and I'm not going to tell him to shut up (yes, I know he's not speaking ATM and yes, I know he wouldn't listen to me anyway.) I dont live in Vermont, but if I did, I wouldn't be trying to find someone to replace him.

I think, if nothing else, we can all agree ..... we need more Bernie Sanders in Congress.

[Dinger]

1. We Need Him In The White House

Kick & rec.

[Clio the Leo]

2. lol, we need more socialists in this country....

.... and then we could get him in there.

[deutsey]

3. We need more people making the case for democratic socialism

then we'd have a lot more socialists. :-)

[David__77]

14. I will, but not "democratic socialism."

Just plain "socialism," thank you. The capitalists ideologues find no need to defensive append their ideology, neither should I. Socialism IS democratic, hence the social part.

[deutsey]

19. Hmm. Good point.

Because "socialism" has been so stigmatized in this country and associated with what happened in the Soviet Union (which wasn't democratic and wasn't socialism), though, I think it's important to emphasize the "democratic" as a way to distinguish it from the propaganda.

Still, I agree with you overall.

[gateley]

4. "withdraw his amendment when he realized what the GOP was doing."

Refresh my memory - what was the GOP doing?

Thanks.

[Clio the Leo]

10. lol actually I have it backwards....

.... he was going to introduce his "Medicare for All" amendment as the health care bill was finally being debated. Coburn attempted to filibuster by having all 767 pages read. Remember, this was just before the Christmas break. Again, it was a symbolic gesture, his amendment would not have passed. And when he realized the GOP was attempting to use it to skuttle (the word for the day) the whole health care bill, he withdrew it .... his baby.

He ignored his own personal interest .... what he was willing to fight for .... for the common good. A honorable thing to do.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/health/policy/17health.html

[gateley]

18. Okay - I DO remember that! And honorable is an apt word, he's an honorable man. nt

[Life Long Dem]

5. What did he do but waste a whole day?

Playing games with peoples checks. Tic tock.

[OhioBlue]

8. did you listen to him?

He was a true Statesman. He spoke for us for 8+ hours. He most certainly didn't waste and entire day - he didn't even postpone the vote. What he did was admirable and wonderful. If we EVER want this Country to move back to the left, we need to make sure people like Bernie Sanders are given our support.

I support the Pres and I support the compromise because I think it is the only way forward. but that doesn't mean I am happy with the concessions to the right. I absolutely LOVE that Bernie had the tenacity to speak for so many hours, articulating exactly what many of us are thinking.

[jefferson_dem]

6. Same here.

I was captivated by Sen. Sanders performance today and applaud him for standing firm for what he believes in. He is a genuine statesman we should all be proud of.

[OhioBlue]

7. I agree Clio!

I love what Bernie did. I admire him for it. I think we need more of it.

I mostly agree with you. It isn't so much that I don't support his position - because I actually do... I support it fully.... it is just that I know we can't win with it. Sooooo... the pragmatism pulls me back to being thankful for his effort but realizing that we have so far to go before we can win on it.

I come to the position of thinking we need to win where we can when we can and we have to compromise with the Right to get there. We will have some wins, some losses, some advances and setbacks. But we have to keep moving forward.

And it will take a lot of work - grassroots work to get our Country to a place where we can make real advances. the 2010 elections were a huge setback. but we cannot quit or give up - we have to keep taking wins when we can, keep moving forward and focus on a grass roots strategy to move our Country in a direction that elects and supports pols that support policies that supports us.

[femrap]

9. You're just a piece of pie....

and Bernie is so much more.

Obama is merely a bite out of liberty....a man who called upon another man, Clinton, to stand up for W's Tax Cuts for the Rich. Obama couldn't stay to continue the fight to uphold The Bill for the Tax Cuts for The Rich since his wife wanted him to do whatever....dinner? dancing? partying? whatever?

Bill Clinton said he didn't want to get into trouble with Michelle....Friday night in DC must be something else. Here in Dumfukistan, formerly known as Ohio, Friday is a time to turn down the heat, have some soup and beans, and watch TruTV w/ Jesse Ventura about the Oil Spill by BP.

Our country is over. The Republic has died. Face it.

[NorthCarolina]

11. Nicely said,

but ouch! :thumbsup:

[femrap]

20. I just looked at the weather forecast

and Dumfukistan is headed into the single digits. Damn. But I guess that makes the Oil, Natural Gas, Big Utilities, and Coal Boyz happy as can be.

Cold weather puts me in a nasty mood. Gotta keep my sense of humor.

Maybe I should bake cookies when the Cold Spell hits...keeps the apartment warm and I'll give the cookies to Faith Mission's Homeless shelter. Sounds like lemonade to me!

[frylock]

12. "i'm not going to... question his party loyalty"

he's an independant.

[Clio the Leo]

15. That remark really had nothing to do with Bernie...

.... nor did the entire post ... well it DID, but it wasn't JUST about Bernie. ;)

[frazzled]

13. I agree, but with a slight difference

I am beginning to disagree with the position Sanders and many in the House have taken because I realize that the only thing it contains is rescinding tax cuts on the rich. While I support that, I realize that (a) this is purely a deficit-reduction position and (b) the pure tax-cuts for the middle class bill had nothing in it for the truly poor and struggling -- no unemployment extension, no earned income-credit extension, no stimulative measures for the economy. It was all just "whoopee, we get to tax the rich and reduce the deficit." We're not supposed to care about the deficit in recessionary times. I only realized after Obama cut the deal, and got so much (yes, you've seen the charts) in return, that it was worth a two-year compromise. (Not on the estate tax, maybe, because that will be hard to change, but on the tax issue).

The House bill that passed (months late, at the eleventh hour, and full well knowing it would not pass in the Senate) seems merely symbolic in retrospect -- just a cover-your-ass "message" bill that meant nothing.

I hope they can improve the compromise bill and pass it, but I doubt it.

I like Bernie Sanders, and respect him. But I don't think he's got this one straight.

[bigwillq]

16. Good post.

:thumbsup: K and R

[FrenchieCat]

17. Love him too!

Even if we still ain't got 60 votes for a middle class tax cut
after he was finished.

[Mass]

21. What in his position do you disagree with? I am confused.

Is he wrong in anything he says? Or is it just that you think no other bill can pass? If this is the problem, you dont disagree with him except on tactics. If you disagree with anything he said that is issue based, I am curious to figure out what. Otherwise said, assuming there were 60 votes in the US Senate for his ideal bill, would you not support it?

I dont think he will succeed, but I am so happy somebody stood up and told the truth.

[mtnsnake]

22. I would give up my tickets to Trans Siberian Orchestra this month to see Bernie speak in person

He is that good.

[Bluenorthwest]

23. Party loyalty? Bernie is not a Democrat

He owes no loyalty to the Party. He is loyal to the People of Vermont. He is a man of principle, in contrast to the many others in DC.