Draft Bernie Sanders

[libmom74]

I think it is time to think about who represents true democratic values and I believe that person is Bernie Sanders. The time to search for a primary challenger for 2012 is now. I say we draft Bernie Sanders. http://sanders.senate.gov/

[RKP5637]

1. He's among one of the best I ever hear. n/t

[geek tragedy]

2. Bernie Sanders is not a Democrat.

He's a treasure, but not a Democrat.

He's also too smart and savvy to do something so stupid.

[mike_c]

3. agreed 100 percent-- it takes a socialist to stand up for democratic party values....

Go Bernie! Senator Sanders speaks for me!

[NYCGirl]

4. He's not a Democrat. He couldn't primary. NT

[Change Happens]

5. He cannot get any more than 5% of the popular vote in this country...

But, we love him!!!

[dennis4868]

6. If sanders gets his way....

And the fillubuster works it will result in tax increases for the middle class, a 50% tax increase on the lowest tax bracket, and no 13 months of unemployment insurance....I call that real Demicratic principles....there is always 2 sides to every issue.

[NYCGirl]

9. I believe Vermont has somewhat low unemployment in comparison.

He has less to lose.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

17. Plus They Can Go Outside And Shoot A Deer For Dinner

It's a bit harder in Boro Park. It must be fun to live in a ivory tower where your wealth and privilege immunize you from the consequences of your actions. Allowing for some struggling DUERS I would submit the lions share of DUER fall into that category. Just look at the surveys here on race, income, education

[dflprincess]

14. Actually if Bernie gets his way

working & middle class tax cuts will be extended. Unemployment will also be extended - and if he really got all he wanted - for longer than 13 months.

And, perhaps most importantly, the payroll tax cut will be removed because Bernie is looking long term and will not allow this "compromise" to be used to help destroy Social Security.

[jtown1123]

15. here here

[DemocratSinceBirth]

18. If Bernie Was King That Would Happen. If I Was A King I Could Do Even Better

Everything he proposed has been blocked in the Senate.

[dennis4868]

20. And Bernies way can...

Overcome a repub fillubuster....NOT....before people bash Obama they first tell us what their tax plan is and whether it can overcome a repub fillubuster in the senate....otherwise it's all symbolic speech...Obama has to govern and these dems don't!

[movonne]

16. The suffering will come now or down the road...I don't think that

the rich should be getting tax cuts..as far as I can see they should have their taxes raised even higher...they will have to give up one of their mansions and maybe a boat or two...if we don't we all will suffer either it is now or after the money runs out and still unemployment..meanwhile the rich a getting richer...all we are doing is prolonging the problems and the rich will be richer..

[dennis4868]

21. Obama agrees with you....

But the political environment we live in now sees a repub fillubuster if taxes on the rich go up even 1 dollar...

[berni_mccoy]

7. He'd have to be a Democrat to challenge Obama in the primary.

[sasha031]

8. I'm mesmerized by Bernie

finally transparency.

[solara]

10. Oh. Please. n/t

[Occam Bandage]

11. He couldn't break 10% in the primary, to say nothing of the general election. nt

[RKP5637]

12. I wonder how many senators are present. Probably the R's are at the bar. n/t

[cascadiance]

13. Perhaps he could join with the Greens and other progressive parties to "take over" the Democrats

... much like the Tea Party has "taken over" parts of the Republican Party instead of being a fringe outsider right wing party.

Someone like Bernie could be the "leadership" to lead such an effort to do that. And it might be smart for him to become a Democrat anyway, since it was Howard Dean in the DNC that chose not to run a Democrat against him when he first ran for the senate when taking over Jeffords' seat. Not sure whoever's in charge of the DNC will give him that leeway this time and will run a Democrat against him then (especially if they are DLC and care more about getting a corporatist in, whether its a Dem DLCer or a Republican, than keeping someone like him in power).

It would be smart too then, if he were a Democrat as he likely would win the nomination for his own seat in the Senate in 2012. He might feel the pressure of having to lose his seat if he were to try to run independently for president in 2012 against Obama then. Running in the primary as a "Socialist Democrat" would seem to be a smart move where he could keep his seat in the Senate even if he were to lose the primary race. And he could lead a huge influx of third party progressives to come in to the party to change the landscape of it too.

Might be a good idea for him to "primary" Obama then and one way or the other lead to a progressive takeover of the party then! You know he'd probably have Jim and Howard Dean helping him too.

[slay]

19. I would vote for him happily

in a hot second! I would LOVE to vote for him.