Bernie Sanders 2020 campaign megathread

[YE]

Why can't Bernie just go away? He's not even a Democrat.

Anyways, I have still never heard an explanation as to why progressives want an 80+ year old to be President?

Because age is just a number and Bernie seems to be in good health. He just needs to pick a competent VP.

The whole Bernie is not a Democrat line comes off as really hacky. It’s just a label. There are legitimate criticisms of Bernie but that isn’t one of them.

[YE]

...Yaaay...

Why can't Bernie just go away? He's not even a Democrat.

Anyways, I have still never heard an explanation as to why progressives want an 80+ year old to be President?

Because age is just a number and Bernie seems to be in good health. He just needs to pick a competent VP.

The whole Bernie is not a Democrat line comes off as really hacky. It’s just a label. There are legitimate criticisms of Bernie but that isn’t one of them.

I agree for the most part. He seems to be in fine health and it shouldn't matter. But Trump and the GOP, should he get the nomination, will definitely make an issue of it in the general election. Hell, they did that to Clinton in 2016, who is younger than Trump. That's why I have my reservations about his age.

I don’t think age really hurt Clinton much in 2016 though.

[YE]

Why can't Bernie just go away? He's not even a Democrat.

Anyways, I have still never heard an explanation as to why progressives want an 80+ year old to be President?

Because age is just a number and Bernie seems to be in good health. He just needs to pick a competent VP.

The whole Bernie is not a Democrat line comes off as really hacky. It’s just a label. There are legitimate criticisms of Bernie but that isn’t one of them.

It's not just a "label". He's not a Democrat. He's running in the DEMOCRATIC primary.

Anyways, Bernie's campaign will fail...again.

That has no affect on actual policy though. It’s not like he’s some right winger who isn’t aligned with any faction of the party.

[YE]

Why can't Bernie just go away? He's not even a Democrat.

Anyways, I have still never heard an explanation as to why progressives want an 80+ year old to be President?

Because age is just a number and Bernie seems to be in good health. He just needs to pick a competent VP.

The whole Bernie is not a Democrat line comes off as really hacky. It’s just a label. There are legitimate criticisms of Bernie but that isn’t one of them.

It's not just a "label". He's not a Democrat. He's running in the DEMOCRATIC primary.

Anyways, Bernie's campaign will fail...again.

That has no affect on actual policy though. It’s not like he’s some right winger who isn’t aligned with any faction of the party.

If Bernie runs then he'll split the progressive vote with Warren, thus making it even easier for Kamala to get the nomination.

That would be 100% fine with me. I lean progressive overall and I don't hate Bernie but he's too old and he missed his chance in 2016.

Fair enough.

[YE]

Can Bernie supporters explain these for me? Especially those who don't like Kamala Harris.







Also, why hasn't Bernie released his most of his tax returns? Why did he vote against Russian sanctions (Magnitsky Act)? Why did he hire someone with connections to Paul Manafort? (Tad Devine)

The crime bit is certainly a knock on his record I’m not going to lie (stick to that if you want to attack him and not the classic he’s not a Democrat line). He voted against Russia sanctions because he didn’t want to sanction Iran and North Korea and I know Devine is a longtime D strategist who worked on the Kerry and Gore campaigns so that might be why he hired him.

[YE]

Anyone know anything about someone like say Sherrod Brown’s criminal justice record? Honestly it seems Harris and Sanders have imperfect records on the issue and since those 2 are the frontrunners for the D nomination leaving a power vacuum for someone else.

[YE]

There is a difference between donating to a first time presidential candidate and a retread that really didn't do all that great last time when you actually look at the numbers. He pays family for working for his campaign and bought a lake house after the last election. He rails against materialism, yet lives seemingly comfortable.

So comfortable that he didn't get a real job till age 30.

[YE]

Bernie's people actually think he can compete in WV!!! If only IceSpear was here to react to this.



This map will come to fruition

Okay that’s ridiculous. I’ll must admit.... I am as big of an Ojeda fanboy as anyone else but the country is too polarized for him to win WV. IA yes and on a good night he could carry OH but even that is stretching it.

[YE]

Reading this thread you’d think Bernie Sanders would be calling for blacks to be put in prison if elected. He’s an Old Left politician at the end of the day with a successful track record of getting stuff done. Yes, his supporters are annoying but said supporters are not the candidate this cycle; Bernie is. You don’t have to like him but unless you strongly oppose his policies, there’s no reason to hate him IMO.

Literally the worst that happens is, Dems lose again and best thing that could happen is Dems do better in red states and the country de-polarizes some.

[YE]

Hope other candidates bring up the age issue directly and don't dance around it. Would you trust a 79 year old surgeon to perform on you? Like the President they also make life and death decisions.

Age is just a number. He seems to be in good health overall. Of course it isn’t ideal but it’s not a deal breaker.

[YE]

Hope other candidates bring up the age issue directly and don't dance around it. Would you trust a 79 year old surgeon to perform on you? Like the President they also make life and death decisions.

Age is just a number. He seems to be in good health overall. Of course it isn’t ideal but it’s not a deal breaker.

No, 80 year old should be President. Being President is not like a regular job.

How old is too old then? This isn't as black and white as so may seem. Attacking him on his age is fair but it's not as simple as "Bernie is too old". If 80 is old, what about 70? Where do you draw the line?

[YE]

How dare someone pro-gun endorse Bernie.

[YE]

You hear Democratic establishment,

Bernie is running a 50-state campaign. The way it should be.

If Bernie wins the nomination, he would be smart to do a Kerry-Edwards train-tour type campaign in the heartland.

You're right. They're secretly socialist, but they just don't know it yet. If only Democrats stopped talking about identity politics they'd come home.

I normally dont watch these kinda things, but Im snowed in and have nothing better to do. So far, Im highly impressed. Didnt expect Turner to be such a great speaker.

She voted for Jill Stein and encouraged others to do so as well.

Turner didn't endorse Stein.

"I'm a Democrat, and that's worth fighting for." - Nina Turner

I have to apologize. She didn't technically didn't endorse Stein. She only campaigned with her and continued to bash Clinton after the nomination was lost.

https://twitter.com/_EthanGrey/status/1098714538118168577

https://twitter.com/riotwomennn/status/1098697195015098373

If you watch the video she introduced Jill Stein as the next speaker at the event she was at and on TV when asked who shes supporting she said the american people so not Jill Stein

Two candidates.

1.) Constantly sh**t on (Hillary)
2.) Hug and make her seem like the best lady ever (Jill Stein)

De facto
 endorsement.

and how many people saw that video or care? literally nobody cares besides you and some people on twitter.

Just because no one saw doesn't mean it was a good move by either Nina Turner or by Bernie Sanders to associate herself with herself.

[YE]

Twitter US politics really is a cesspool.

Not just twitter...

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Rouda wasn’t a Republican 2 years ago. He did donate to Kasich but the last GOPer he voted for is Bob Dole IIRC.

[YE]

So he has 1 legislative accomplishment... He did all the amendment stuff, cool.

Doing the "amendment stuff" is more than one accomplishment.

But in answer to your origial question, yes, Bernie seems by all accounts a competent legislator that considering the circumstances, has gotten some things done. He's not a do nothing.

See:
https://thehill.com/policy/finance/265556-sanders-to-back-audit-the-fed-bill
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/02/the-pragmatic-case-for-bernie-sanders/462720/
http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/congresss-only-socialist-becomes-bipartisan-dealmaker
https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/mar/24/bernie-s/bernie-sanders-was-roll-call-amendment-king-1995-2/
https://pplswar.wordpress.com/2015/11/11/what-bernie-sanders-got-done-in-washington-a-legislative-inventory/
https://www.alternet.org/2015/10/bernie-gets-it-done-sanders-record-pushing-through-major-reforms-will-surprise-you/
https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/jan/18/bernie-sanders/fact-checking-bernie-sanders-claim-he-helped-write/

[YE]

Bernie hires Brie Joy and David Sirota.

So much for unity lol.

Sigh....

[YE]

I really don’t see the problem here. Like what’s wrong with going on FOX News? Because it’s a GOP propaganda network when MSNBC is a Dem one and CNN does the bidding of both networks?

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Sanders has NEVER given up on civil rights/social justice, throughout his entire career his views on the issue have remained the same. he has always been committed to social justice and equality for all.

  Bernie Sanders has been a complete coward on racial issues, he's made choice after choice to pander to a white voter base who he hopes takes him over the line in a general election.

 "You know there are a lot of white folks out there who are not necessarily racist who felt uncomfortable for the first time in their lives about whether or not they wanted to vote for an African-American." - Sanders

 This kind of nonsense is why he's not doing well with black voters. Not because of neoliberals...

 When will Bernie Sanders ever take accountability for his own actions, words, and lack of policy specifics?

It’s clearly an effort by Sanders to de-polarize the country which may actually make it easier to address the fundamental problems of racism. Nevertheless, I’m not sure how that comment ties in with the post you quoted. Does a comment like that mean he is given up on social justice issues or civil rights?

[YE]

  It’s clearly an effort by Sanders to de-polarize the country which may actually make it easier to address the fundamental problems of racism.

 It's a ridiculously stupid statement that excuses racial prejudice. Just flip it around. Do black voters feel uncomfortable voting for white candidates? Or have they always had to make a choice between candidates that if we're being honest put their communities last. Bernie represents more of the same. I don't buy the idea that he's playing coy. He's been repeatedly dismissive of reparations and other race issues regarding the black community. Sanders is a person who doesn't hesitate to make bold proclamations and policy goals when he wants.

And I've heard some supporters say Bernie's issue is class struggle and economics, and that race is a divider but this is nonsense. The harm that America has done to African Americans has been based on race, not class. Racial discrimination is an issue that has to be confronted. Pandering because you think you'll scare off white voters is cowardice.

Both are serious issues that need to be addressed, though I'm not sure how feasible it is to address racial discrimination in the current political climate. There's no RFK-esque figure waiting in the wings in an era of high polarization that started during the days of the Southern strategy that can truly move the needle in terms of race (and to be clear, if there was, I'd support him or her).

Reparations are far less politically feasible than single payer or free college or paid family leave or a green new deal. I think it's reasonable for Bernie Sanders not to support them.

[YE]

But HOW will that decrease in overall spending happen?

Somebody in the health sector will be seeing a reduction in income.

Lower prescription drug prices (through a variety of different means - there’s like 10 different bills introduced for this).

Overhead costs for Medicare are 5%. For private insurance they are 20%.

[YE]

I don't understand the problem with what Sanders did?

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https://twitter.com/sahilkapur/status/1141397029891039240?s=21

That's encouraging if true.

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https://twitter.com/Noahpinion/status/1159174807696527360

If I'm Elizabeth Warren, I'd consider using that against him if necessary.

[YE]

all the horrible people on Twitter are Bernie supporters. 

All of them? OK.

As far as Russian trolls go, Sanders has cornered the market, again.
Though admittedly many of them are doing double duty for Tulsi this cycle.

Russian trolls but also people like the Gravel teens who just spew unhinged vitriol at all the other candidates.  If you see a leftist on Twitter saying Joe Biden has brain damage and needs to be euthanized, Hillary Clinton has Parkinsons and rapes children, Kamala is a racist murderer of black men, Warren is a traitor to the left for endorsing Hillary, Buttigieg is the wrong kind of gay, etc. It's guaranteed they support Bernie Sanders.

And that doesn't even get started on the tankies.  100% of people who think Lenin and Mao were justified in their mass-murders of businessmen, landlords, landowners and educated professionals also support Bernie Sanders.

Many of those find Bernie Sanders and definitely Elizabeth Warren too conservative lmao