May 28, 2018

Twitter Photo: Bernie Sanders - Memorial Day Parade Vergennes, VT May 28

https://twitter.com/metallidan/status/1001121553801768960

May 27, 2018

Editorial: Bernie Sanders Keeps Fighting the Good Fight

Saturday, May 26, 2018

Excerpt:

After eight years as mayor of Burlington, 16 years as Vermont’s sole representative in the U.S. House of Representatives and nearly 12 years as a U.S. senator, Sanders’ outrage is undiminished when it comes to the struggles of working class families and the growing divisions in society between the few who possess extreme wealth and the many who do not. Indeed, his announcement last week that he intends to seek a third six-year term in the Senate was thematically of a piece with all that has come before: “Our struggle to create a government which represents all of us and not just the 1 percent — a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice — must continue,” the 76-year-old senator said.

And, as he did in 2006 and 2012, Sanders intends to seek the Democratic nomination in the primary, respectfully decline it if he wins, and run as an independent in the general election, meanwhile accepting the hearty endorsement of the Vermont Democratic Party. Thus are accommodations made to finesse the senator’s continued insistence on being identified as an independent, though he caucuses with the Democrats in the Senate.

What has changed remarkably, though, is the degree to which people outside Vermont take notice of what an independent “democratic socialist” (that’s small ‘d’, small ‘s’) from a tiny, deep-blue state thinks. When, for example, Sanders released a video last week calling out Amazon and its fabulously rich CEO Jeff Bezos over low wages and exhausting working conditions for employees of its fulfillment centers, the company responded the same day with a defense of its policies and an invitation to Sanders to visit. Sanders in turn accepted the invitation with thanks and added for good measure, “I remain deeply concerned about Amazon, an enormously profitable corporation, paying workers wages that are so low that they are forced to depend on federal programs like Medicaid, food stamps and public housing for survival.”

This new-found influence stems, of course, from Sanders’ out-of-left-field bid to capture the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination. Although he did not ultimately succeed, he secured a remarkable 43 percent of the vote in Democratic primaries across the country, motivated millions of young people to engage in politics, shook up (and angered) the party’s establishment, and, astonishingly enough, was transformed at an advanced age into a gruff, white-haired political rock star who now requires, as in his home state, no other identification than a single name — an exalted status reserved for a relative few in all fields of endeavor.

http://www.vnews.com/Editorial-The-Inimitable-Bernie-Sanders-17757331

May 27, 2018

Vermont Democratic Party Curtis Awards - Bernie Sanders

David W. Curtis Awards 2018
Vermont Democratic Party
Watch the event by choosing speakers from the menu: http://bobthegreenguy.com/curtis-awards-2018/


The David W. Curtis Awards 2018
David W. Curtis spent his life helping others. He represented the disenfranchised and fought the fights many thought unwindable, including early battles seeking to legalize abortion in Vermont and to ensure the rights of gay and lesbian parents to adopt. In his later years, despite the challenges of living with HIV/AIDS and other health problems, David revitalized the Vermont Democratic Party, helping to lead the party to historic majorities it still enjoys today. He loved Willie Nelson, his midlife Camaro, and his children above all else. He is missed.”



Introduction and Welcome
David W. Curtis Awards 2018
Terje Anderson, Vermont Democratic Party Chair, and
Tess Taylor, Vermont Democratic Party Vice Chair

May 25, 2018

Bernie Sanders Interview - Anderson Cooper 5/22/2018

Published on May 22, 2018

May 20, 2018

MTP Full Interview: Bernie Sanders: 'Unspeakable' for students to face gun violence in school

Published on May 20, 2018
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-V.t.) joins Chuck Todd for an exclusive interview to talk about what it takes for Democrats to win elections, and about the shooting in Santa Fe, Texas.

May 19, 2018

VPR: Sanders Says He's Working To Make The Democratic Party More Progressive

By BOB KINZEL • 11 HOURS AGO

Excerpts:

On Monday, Sen. Bernie Sanders is expected to announce plans to seek a third term in the U.S. Senate. But Sanders says he also intends to actively campaign this summer and fall for a number of Democratic candidates across the country. Sanders says it's part of his effort to transform the national Democratic Party into a more progressive organization.

Sanders is also the Communications Outreach Director for the Senate Democrats. And in that capacity he plans to actively campaign this year for a number of Democrats across the country who support his progressive agenda.

"I think the future of this country really to a significant degree has a lot to do with what happens in 2018 so I have been and will be involved in that," said Sanders.

In the last few weeks, a number of Democrats who are eyeing the 2020 presidential election have endorsed many of Sanders' domestic priorities. These include proposals to ensure universal access to health care, raise the minimum wage, provide free college tuition and implement a massive public works initiative.

"Yeah, it has come to my attention,” said Sanders. “I think it is fair to say that from an ideological point of view, what the Democratic Party should stand for, we have kind of won that debate."

http://digital.vpr.net/post/sanders-says-hes-working-make-democratic-party-more-progressive#stream/0

May 17, 2018

''I am proud that my home state of Vermont has chosen to allow importation of drugs from Canada''

https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/997203003940704256

https://twitter.com/BernieSanders/status/997202998051958789

May 16, 2018

Sanders Leads Call to Address Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

WASHINGTON, May 16 – Following weeks of violence in Gaza, during which roughly 100 Palestinians have been killed and some 10,000 wounded by Israeli snipers, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and 12 of his Democratic Senate colleagues called on Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to "do more to alleviate the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip."

"The territory’s lack of power, clean water, adequate medical care and other necessities not only exacerbates the hardships faced by Gaza’s population, but redounds to the benefit of extremist groups who use this deprivation and despair to incite violence against Israel," the senators wrote in a letter to Pompeo last Friday.

"The political and security challenges in Gaza are formidable, but support for the basic human rights of its people must not be conditioned on progress on those fronts. For the sake of Israelis and Palestinians alike, the United States must act urgently to help relieve the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip. We stand ready to work with you on this important matter."

The senators suggested that the United States restore its funding of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), encourage the easing of restrictions on the movement of people, goods and equipment in and out of the territory, and support proposals to build Gaza’s economy through bold initiatives such as the proposed Gaza Seaport.

In addition to Sanders, the letter was signed by Sens. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Thomas Carper (D-Del.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tom Udall (D-N.M.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.).

https://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-leads-call-to-address-humanitarian-crisis-in-gaza

May 4, 2018

.@BernieSanders is back on TV in Iowa.

https://twitter.com/peteforiowa/status/992412571645988865

May 2, 2018

Beyond Bernie - Searching for Vermont's Political Identity - COMING MAY 9th - Vermont PBS

Examines what makes Vermont a trailblazing progressive force impacting the entire country.

Explore the character of the ‘Brave Little State’ of Vermont and the shared values that matter most to Vermonters, regardless of party affiliation. Although it may be one of the smallest states in the Union in both size and population, it boasts monumental firsts — from abolishing slavery in the 18th century to legalizing civil unions at the beginning of this century. Today, Vermont continues to punch above its weight boasting two presidential candidates in the last 12 years and two high profile senators currently serving in the U.S Senate. Learn what makes Vermont a trailblazing progressive force, not only within its own borders, but one that impacts the entire country.
#beyondbernie

Episodes:
https://www.vermontpbs.org/beyondbernie/


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https://twitter.com/VermontPBS/status/991051315424976898