But Bernie's not a Democrat!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

Much better with sound on.

Link to tweet

[Dennis Donovan]

1. Kick and Rec.

[LakeArenal]

2. The Party can advertise Bernie as a temporary Dem

But to many, he is considered the Independent Senator from Vermont.

Perception is sometimes more than reality.

There is an ugly cliche about lipstick and a farm animal. I don’t disrespect Bernie to call him a farm animal. But calling him anything you want won’t change a lot of minds.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

5. Funny how Barack Obama made it all the way to Vermont to campaign for Bernie running for Senate.

[TexasTowelie]

9. Yet Obama's appearance doesn't prove that Bernie is a Democrat.

President Obama campaigned for Bernie because he didn't want a Republican to win the Senate seat, not because Bernie was a Democrat. That's a major difference.

[Me.]

11. And That Is Because The Entire Thing Had Been Rigged

Last edited Mon Dec 2, 2019, 03:09 PM - Edit history (1)

The Dems allowed him to primary as a Dem and then when he won the nom he turned back to being an Independent again. Of course, then there was no Dem candidate for PBO to campaign for. This was done with the acquiescence of the Vermont Dems which make me wonder where their heads are at.

[ehrnst]

16. Bernie has only ever identified as a Democrat during a primary, while campaigning. Never as a Sen.

But I guess it depends on what one would like to believe.

[oldsoftie]

24. Why is that so hard to get? Its right there in the open

And why couldnt he just STAY a Demcrat & put a stop to all this once and for all?

[ehrnst]

26. Rather, one needs to ask why he sometimes identifies as a D, although never while on the job.

Money and media that has been earned by the Democratic party historically.

During a town hall-style event in Columbus, Ohio, the independent Vermont senator said, “In terms of media coverage, you have to run within the Democratic Party.” He then took a dig at MNSBC, telling Todd, the network “would not have me on his program” if he ran as an independent.

Money also played a role in his decision to run as a Democrat, Sanders added.

“To run as an independent, you need — you could be a billionaire," he said. "If you're a billionaire, you can do that. I'm not a billionaire. So the structure of American politics today is such that I thought the right ethic was to run within the Democratic Party.”

https://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-dem-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/03/bernie-sanders-independent-media-coverage-220747

It was Tad Devine's idea, though.

The biggest argument was over running as a Democrat. Over and over, Bernie Sanders said he didn’t want to. He’d spent his whole life purposefully outside the Democratic Party. He treasured his status as the longest-serving independent in Congress. Running as a Democrat wasn’t who he was. He didn’t want to do it that way.

His longtime consultant Tad Devine and the rest of the group came down hard: this is never going to have a chance of working unless you get over it. Suck it up, they told him.

[ehrnst]

54. Yes, it's strange. (nt)

[Me.]

25. Not Even After He Has Won The Dem Primary

[George II]

32. He's never campaigned as a Democrat in a general election campaign, either.

[ehrnst]

19. Ah, yes. Obama's thoughts on "revolution" in 2020...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-tells-democratic-candidates-to-ease-off-talk-of-revolution/2019/11/15/93569ddc-07fd-11ea-924a-28d87132c7ec_story.html

Looks like there has been a change of heart since all those years ago.

[George II]

27. And how did BS reward him for that campaign stop? He called for Obama to be primaried in 2012.

[ehrnst]

28. Yes, there's that. Lots has changed, apparently.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

40. FUNNY INDEED!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[George II]

110. And not too long after BS called for Obama to be primaried.

[ehrnst]

115. Funny how Obama has really changed his mind on Sanders in the years since...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/obama-tells-democratic-candidates-to-ease-off-talk-of-revolution/2019/11/15/93569ddc-07fd-11ea-924a-28d87132c7ec_story.html

““This is still a country that is less revolutionary than it is interested in improvement,” Obama said. “They like seeing things improved. But the average American doesn’t think that we have to completely tear down the system and remake it. And I think it’s important for us not to lose sight of that.

My point is that even as we push the envelope and we are bold in our vision, we also have to be rooted in reality and the fact that voters, including Democratic voters and certainly persuadable independents or even moderate Republicans, are not driven by the same views that are reflected on certain, you know, left-leaning Twitter feeds or the activist wing of our party,” he said.

But carry on.

[BannonsLiver]

87. And how did Bernie repay him?

Oh, that’s right, he wanted Obama out and someone else to be the party’s nominee in 2012.

[George II]

3. He has said that himself.

[ehrnst]

23. More than once...

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/us-politics/12163433/Bernie-Sanders-had-no-intention-of-becoming-a-Democrat.html

[ritapria]

4. Bernie is one of the most popular Senators in his home state

He gets around 20-25%of the GOP vote when he runs for reelection in Vermont ….He turned Vermont from a state that never voted for the Dem nominee for President into one of the Bluest States in the Country on the presidential level …..Hillary received over 61% of the vote in 2016 …. Bernie has been a boon for the Democratic Party in Vt ….. People want consistency , Authenticity ….They want a Leader ………... Good News for our friends who support Joe Biden ...From Hill-Harris X poll just released : Biden 31% ... Bernie 15% ….Warren 10% ….Buttigieg 9% ...Bloomberg - up to 6% ..Those TV Ads are working …...Steyer, Yang, Klobuchar, Castro tied at 2% (Source : Latest Polls 538)

[George II]

7. All 625,000 pf them. Vermont isn't one of the bluest states in the country - ....

....their Governor is a republican and only one of their Senators is a Democratic.

On the other hand, look at Connecticut - ALL state-wide officials are Democrats (Governor, Lt. Governor, SotS, Attorney General, Comptroller, Treasurer), both Senators are Democrats and all five (not one) Representatives are Democrats.

[ritapria]

10. On the federal level , The GOP is not a competitive state

The Republicans don't even make a serious attempt to unseat Bernie ………..Good News George from Hill Harris X : Biden 31% Bernie 15% Warren 10% Buttigieg 9% Bloomberg 6%

[ehrnst]

94. On the federal level, the population is way, way more diverse than Vermont.

And that seems to be an issue.

[ehrnst]

50. He's from a small very homogenous state.

All the most popular Senators in their home states are in the same situation. A small white population is going to think alike more than a larger, more diverse, more representative population.

It's when they need to appeal to that wider, more diverse, not so white, more representative population of America is where things change.

And boy, do they.

[aidbo]

6. Hey now, Hassin. Cut the malarkey!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

41. LMAO!!

Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[Hassin Bin Sober]

43. Stick your hand out

[LanternWaste]

8. A very positive response to his consistent downward trending in the polls.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

14. Not everyone can lick his wife's fingers at a campaign event.

So there's that.

[ehrnst]

17. Or scold her not to stand near him at a campaign event.

So there's that.

[The Valley Below]

22. Should people post videos of what BS did to his wife on stage at a campaign event?

[George II]

30. This one (note the title is NOT mine, but the youtube poster's!)?

"Don't stand next to me", [push.....]

[NurseJackie]

34. I remember that one time when his co-panelist on the Bill Maher Show...

I remember that one time when his co-panelist on the Bill Maher Show got completely fed up with having her personal space invaded with rude gesticulations and she "fought back". I'm sure there's a better choice of words to describe it... it wasn't an actual "fight"... but in her own passive aggressive way she gently pushed back and away... to protect her own eyesight and as a way to unmistakably indicate "this is NOT okay" and "you're being rude to me" and "you need to stop".

I can't even remember who the panelist was, but I'll never forget how she stood up for herself in that moment... she had had all she was willing to take.

[George II]

37. That's eerie, just this morning on The View this topic came up, everyone (even McCain) thought....

....that was Biden did was "cute", and no one could understand why he's being bashed all over the place on twitter (and now here on DU)

In fact Abby Huntsman, a regular on The View, mentioned her dust up with BS on Bill Maher's show - she's the one who pushed his hand away. Amazing that she remembers it now, years later. Obviously she wasn't happy about it.

She mentions it at about 2:35 into this video:

[George II]

45. Here's the Bill Maher incident - starts at about 3:55....

Abby Huntsman pushed his hand away from her face and he had the chutzpah to shove her back!

[redqueen]

51. He jokingly pushed back, and apologized.

Shit's getting deep in here.

[George II]

53. No he didn't, and no he didn't. He was embarrassed and "joked" to dismiss his behavior.

[redqueen]

55. You didn't hear him say sorry?

I'm sure he was embarrassed. Most people are when they've done something rude / inconsiderate.

[ehrnst]

100. Well, especially if it was caught on camera.

But what about when it's not caught on camera?

Over a period of years?

[Tiggeroshii]

62. Yes he said sorry

[NurseJackie]

64. But was it sincere and heartfelt? Or was it a social obligation after having been called out...

But was it sincere and heartfelt? Or was it a social obligation after having been called out publicly and embarrassed on national television? You know, I remember when I "forced" my kids to apologize... or sometimes they felt obligated to say "sorry" when I gave them the old stink-eye of disapproval... and called them by their full name. Yeah, situationally, the word was uttered... but it wasn't sincere. But that was when they were children and adolescents. I'm very proud of them now and they'd never need to apologize for this type of boorish behavior.

[Tiggeroshii]

66. Are you serious right now?

[NurseJackie]

67. Of course! I'm serious as a heart attack.

Are you serious right now?

Of course! I'm serious as a heart attack.

[ehrnst]

74. You mean "cardiac event?"

Because that's not serious at all....

[NurseJackie]

88. I'm as serious as atrial fibrillation that causes dizziness or lightheadedness or a stroke.

That's pretty serious too. But don't take my word for it...

https://www.heart.org/en/health-topics/atrial-fibrillation/what-is-atrial-fibrillation-afib-or-af

[ehrnst]

92. At least it's not as serious as falling... or god forbid

fainting from dehydration!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



THAT would be a deal breaker.

[Tiggeroshii]

76. .

[NurseJackie]

91. ...

[George II]

111. He was humiliated into half-heartedly saying "sorry", and then he shoved her!

[NurseJackie]

112. Even my children delivered more convincing apologies when they were...

Even my children delivered more convincing apologies when they were "forced" or shamed into doing the right thing.

[ehrnst]

69. Goodness. That totally erases it, doesn't it?

As long one says "I'm sorry" for something that they did reflexively, after getting caught doing it on camera, that means that one needs to act like it didn't ever happen?

Do you think these people ever got an apology?

[Cha]

70. Right.. and Joe Biden does NOT have to apologize for this..

Link to tweet

[ehrnst]

98. "Shit's getting deep in here."

I'll say..



But seriously, do you know if any of these people ever got apologies?

[ehrnst]

52. When one remembers how Obama genuinely respects women, especially his wife,

it just makes me miss him even more.

People skills really do make all the difference in getting things done...

[NurseJackie]

57. Such disrespect!

[Cha]

83. Oh gawd.. what was BS thinking?!

[George II]

86. Well, Abby Huntsman is a woman, so...........

[NurseJackie]

89. This totally would not have happened if there had been a man sitting there.

This type of boorish behavior is something that women are subjected to much more often than men are.

Go figure.

[ehrnst]

93. +1000. I have never seen that kind of reaction from Senator Sanders to a man. (nt)

[ehrnst]

97. It appears to simply be an instinctive reaction.

One that I've not seen towards men by the Senator.

[progressoid]

36. Mmmm...tasty.

[Gothmog]

39. I actually agree with Mayor Pete's campaign manager on this

Link to tweet

[George II]

44. Very nice comments by Ms. Smith. Thanks!

[Cha]

72. cuthbert.. you wouldn't understand..

Link to tweet

[NurseJackie]

15. Ha! There's no denying that!

[ehrnst]

18. Keep on the sunny side, always on the sunny side...

[NurseJackie]

20. Remember somewhere, the sun is shining...

[ehrnst]

21. To say a discouraging word would be

thoughtcrime.

[NurseJackie]

29. His followers have no substantive retort or rebuttal to a meaningful and factual statement...

His followers have no substantive retort or rebuttal to a meaningful and factual statement... it's something that the candidate himself has often boasted about. Yet, when it's pointed out that he's not a Democrat, many of his supporters get defensive and take great offense. Or, lacking any meaningful response, there's an uptick in agitation and dismissiveness and accusations of his critics being "haters" is bandied about.

All I'm saying is that on this issue, I'm perfectly willing to take BS at his word... but his most ardent supporters and faithful followers are not. I wonder why.

[ehrnst]

31. Walking lockstep and quashing any dissent makes for a very dynamic and strong protest.

But a real political movement? Not so much.

See also Ralph Nader.

[The Valley Below]

38. Where is June?

[TidalWave46]

12. He is a career politician...

With a long history of using the party for personal gain. The party really doesn’t have an issue with it and that is historically clear as well. What does the party get? A clear line of what is considered to be extreme and the ability to cast those ideas as having come from an outsider.

[ehrnst]

13. Oh no, Someone tell Senate.gov! And his staff!

Both say that he serves and votes in the Senate as an Independent, he's listed at all times as (I-Vt.) and his staff explained to me on the phone that he's only a Democrat when campaigning in a primary.


https://www.sanders.senate.gov/

The biggest argument was over running as a Democrat. Over and over, Bernie Sanders said he didn’t want to. He’d spent his whole life purposefully outside the Democratic Party. He treasured his status as the longest-serving independent in Congress. Running as a Democrat wasn’t who he was. He didn’t want to do it that way.

His longtime consultant Tad Devine and the rest of the group came down hard: this is never going to have a chance of working unless you get over it. Suck it up, they told him.

[stonecutter357]

33. We know exactly who Bernie is !

[tberry65]

35. Bernie's MUCH BETTER than a Democrat!

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

42. Bernie is more Democratic in his views than many Democrats and has been more influential

in setting the Democratic political agenda than any Democrat currently running. That's just a fact!!


Bernie/Elizabeth or Elizabeth/Bernie 2020!!
Either way, they're stronger together!!
Welcome to the revolution!!!

[George II]

47. He agrees with trump about Russia MUCH more than any Democrat....

...and his views/votes on gun control bills are widely divergent from the Democratic viewpoint.

[ehrnst]

49. You keep saying that, but refuse to provide any actual evidence of it.

But school spirit's never about the actual stats, is it?

A booster always says ''we're number ONE!!!" even when the score is 0-20.

[NurseJackie]

58. Sierra Blanca

[ehrnst]

73. Paul Wellstone and John Kerry called that "environmental racism."

But hey, NIMBY for Vermont.... and more than a few extra bucks for those on the board.

[George II]

85. Yes, after all these years Jane is still on the board that wanted to send nuclear waste....

....to a destitute town of Hispanics.

In keeping with the tone of his campaign tweets and campaign emails, "I stand with the people of Sierra Blanca. No people should be subjected to toxic nuclear waste from a state more than 1500 miles away."

[ehrnst]

95. Different standards for everyone else than for a particular career politician...

[LakeArenal]

46. This is the Democratic Underground.

Not the Independent Candidate Underground. How can you say better than a Democrat? Here... Democratic Underground?

[ehrnst]

48. In what way? You think he's slumming by running as a Democrat?

[NurseJackie]

59. That's clearly the message, isn't it? Yet another backhanded insult and smear of Democrats.

Sickening.

[revmclaren]

60. tberry65 wrote...

tberry65
35. Bernie's MUCH BETTER than a Democrat

Bash Democrats much?

ONLY!!! 2019 and beyond.

[Cha]

63. This is DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND and We're the BEST!

GOT THAT.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

81. Plus one million.

[ehrnst]

101. But isn't your whole point that he is a Democrat?

Which is it now?

[ismnotwasm]

90. Aren't...you,,, a Democrat???

I mean.. wow

[ehrnst]

102. Perhaps, they think that like they believe of Bernie, they are 'better than a Democrat."

But apparently not one themselves.

Should be interesting for them here.

[myohmy2]

56. I'll admit...

...Bernie's not your typical triangulating 'Establishment Democrat'...

...IMO, he's more 'FDR Democrat' than anyone else...

...and that's good enough for me...

[ehrnst]

61. .....typical triangulating 'Establishment Democrat'...

...you say that like it's a bad thing....

... ...

... "FDR Democrat," FDR got programs into existence, didn't he? And he served as a Democrat, didn't he?....

...llke Paul Wellstone and HRC and Teddy Kennedy did. Now THAT's good enough for me. You know... results....not just talk...


... ...

[redqueen]

65. I miss Paul Wellstone.

[ehrnst]

71. I do to. I had the privilege of working with him.

There are very few who compare. Hillary and Ted Kennedy are two who can.

Paul cared about people, not just shouting his manifesto. He listened. He changed his mind when he got new data - maybe that was the college professor coming through.

He realized that he could do a much better job as a Senator once he had experience, so he decided to run for a second term, despite the fact that he promised not to in his first run for office.

He didn't dismiss anyone who disagreed with him in any way as "corrupt" he genuinely wanted to hear what they had to say. He cared about people over his own ego.

He was the real deal, unlike others who claim to be because they "don't ever change," and they the reason they can't work with others is that they alone have the corner on 'the Truth."

And Paul was a geniune feminist - he praised Planned Parenthood instead of trashing them.

[redqueen]

75. Who trashed planned Parenthood?

Paul was the real deal. He saw what was happening and called it out.

"There are forces within the Democratic Party who want us to sound like kinder, gentler Republicans."

[ehrnst]

78. Others who have claimed to be the very definition of progressive.

https://www.vox.com/2016/1/20/10801412/bernie-sanders-planned-parenthood-human-rights-campaign-establishment

[Cha]

79. They sure as hell did.

[redqueen]

84. Doesn't rise to the level of 'trashing' to me...

seems a fairly mild response imo

[ehrnst]

104. Because Bernie.

It's completely different when it's Bernie, it seems.

One must take that into consideration.

[myohmy2]

106. I don't know...

...it sounded more like the establishment was out after Bernie,

Bernie,

"We're taking on not only Wall Street and the economic establishment, we're taking on the political establishment. So, I have friends and supporters in the Human Rights Fund [sic], in Planned Parenthood. But you know what, Hillary Clinton has been around there for a very, very long time, and some of these groups are in fact part of the establishment. I will challenge anybody with regard to my record on LGBT issues. I was one of the few, relatively few, to oppose and vote against DOMA [Defense of Marriage Act], et cetera. In terms of women's rights, I believe we have a 100 percent lifetime pro-choice record."

...besides, that was old new, ancient history, water over the damn, etc.

...but please, when Bernie becomes our nominee, please, please, please, let bygones be bygones and support Bernie wholeheartedly...

...I'd do the same for Elizabeth...

[ehrnst]

108. ...Poor Bernie....

...he is always right...

...people who don't agree with him are just persecuting him... even if they are real progressives....that's how it is...

...he is never wrong... never....never....

[George II]

113. Would you for Joe Biden too? Or any of the other candidates?

[myohmy2]

114. yep...

...

[Cha]

68. No BS is Not a FDR DEMOCRAT.

[George II]

82. "Establishment Democrat"? REALLY?????

[ehrnst]

103. Yes, like the ones that are defending Planned Parenthood, the Black Congressional Caucus

and those who are trying to save our country from Trump.

Just AWFUL!

[betsuni]

99. "typical triangulating Establishment Democrat" -- you forgot "neoliberal" and "status quo."

[ehrnst]

105. Give them time.

[aeromanKC]

77. Our Democratic Caucus Senators

There, I fixed it.

[ehrnst]

80. Yes, the tweeter did err in a few ways.

[ehrnst]

96. I just want to say, thank you for this thread!

I'm sure that you didn't intend it to be entertaining to the people that are actually enjoying posting here, but thank you anyhow.

[democratisphere]

107. So true.

[TomSlick]

109. Let me know when he fires Nina Turner.

Until then,