Sanders for President? Anyone else here besides me work for McGovern?

[PCIntern]

George McGovern was a war hero, articulate, brilliant, and a successful senator and spokesman for the increasingly unpopular anti-Vietnam War movement. He was a liberal and lost in a goddamned landslide of horrific proportions.

Add to the above list the facts that he is a Jew from New York and a Socialist. Forget States, I would be interested in an over/under for the number of counties he'd win in the US. How does fifteen sound?

You would wind up with a fascist Rethug as President, and me moving out of the country, not necessarily in that order.

[Jackpine Radical]

1. Me. 1972--I was a grad student, 4 years out of Vietnam.

Quite a bunch of us were out on the streets for George.

[unblock]

2. he won't lose the general election in a landslide for one simple reason:

he'll never get the nomination.

[MineralMan]

3. I did. And, all the while, I knew he would not win.

However, the alternative was so horrible that I put in my time and effort, despite knowing that. I'm pretty sure a similar situation will not arise again soon. That is why Bernie Sanders cannot be the Democratic Candidate. He knows that, too. I love the guy, but he would not have a prayer of winning a presidential election. Not a prayer. If he were nominated, I'd work to campaign for him, but with the same expectations I had with McGovern.

[dhill926]

5. yep.....same here.....

[MineralMan]

6. Lots of us old farts in that same place.

We tried. We lost, and lost badly. I hope no similar situation ever arises again.

[NYC_SKP]

4. Bernie > Hillary (nt)

[ananda]

7. McGovern was my first presidential vote.

Barbara Jordan was my first vote ever in 70.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. He would first to get the nom for President for the Democratic Party

That means he needs to register as a dem. the chances of him getting the actual nom are like those of ice surviving in hell. And I like Bernie. Hell, I doubt they will let him close to the debates to be honest.

McGovern was. Dem.

[polichick]

9. Yeah, let's just find the most charismatic corporate Dem we can...

That's better than a fascist Rethug - and everybody knows ONLY CORPORATE DEMS CAN WIN!!!

[DJ13]

10. +1

I fail to see much difference between them.

[BrotherIvan]

15. ITA, this pearl-clutching is quite obvious

He said he might run in the primary to get his ideas out there to pull the debate to the left. But apparently, that's just too damn much around here FFS. And the whole "corporate tools only" crap is because they can afford the best advertising. People don't vote for ideas, they vote for the best slogan! And so we must enforce that as rigorously as possible because that circle D is sacrosanct, whether it means DINO or not. Maybe someone, somewhere will hear what Bernie has to say. Is that ok with the centrists?

[PCIntern]

16. YEAH! Hey I've got an idea!

Let's get the Left all excited about a guy who can't win and then we'll get all pissy and moany when he doesn't get what's coming to him and let's play right into the hands of the Rethugs and have a diavided party so they can eke out a victory! and let's start RIGHT NOW before 2014 so it can wreak havoc with the Congressional elections!

[polichick]

17. Or we could let corporate America divide the people with their...

Last edited Wed Oct 30, 2013, 02:52 PM - Edit history (1)

one-party-with-two-faces while it walks away with 100% of everything.

On edit: Or, I should say, KEEP dividing...

[PCIntern]

19. ...OK, granted...

and what are you going to do about it two years hence? this has been in the making since before 11/22/63 - think Bernie can unravel it?

[polichick]

21. Honestly? I'm starting to see where the young people who say...

"Stop voting and let things collapse," are coming from.

[FSogol]

28. The worst advice in the world: "Stop voting and let things collapse,"

[polichick]

29. I see their point...

We're all participating in a system rigged to benefit very few people - it's rigged from top to bottom, every aspect of the process and we just keep on doing the same old thing with two parties that are really one. Divide, conquer, more for the top few.

I've always voted and would have a hard time not voting, but I see their point. Sort of like an addict needs to hit rock bottom - might take that for the U.S. to awaken, reorganize itself, and live up to its potential.

[FSogol]

30. Their point is awfully naive. Politics is a game of small steps. Huge leaps aren't going to

happen.

Not voting allows the very worst of us to win and when they totally win, they'll be the ones taking the huge leaps.

[polichick]

31. But we need a paradigm shift - and that can mean a big leap.

[FSogol]

42. Won't happen. It is childish to expect the world to change to your desires quickly.

It is a long struggle to move forward. Not voting will allow the far right extremists of the GOP to pack the Supreme Court with nutjobs like Scalia and Thomas. That could throw the country back for 40 years.

Folks around here rip centrist Democrats like Mark Warner of VA. But, when it comes down to the Head Start, the school lunch program, or women's health issues, Warner will vote liberal. Many here call him a conservative and want to throw him out. Not voting in any election will allow someone like Mark Warner to be replaced with someone like Ken Cuccinelli. Someone who is on your side 80% of the time is better than someone who is on your side 10% of the time. (0% in Cuccinlli's case)

Bottom line: Anyone encouraging people (especially young people) not to vote isn't on our side.

[polichick]

43. Well, your way is how it's been going - and our country pretty much sucks...

especially for young people. I don't blame them for feeling the way they do.

[brooklynite]

36. So you're saying there's nothing between Hillary and Bernie?

Of course you might have to do some hard work to get him/her to run...

[polichick]

38. I didn't say there's nothing between them.

[HappyMe]

11. I was too young to work for McGovern at the time.

I do remember my parents having McGovern pins on their coats, so I assume they voted for him.

I wish he (Sanders) would run for president. He would have my support.

[90-percent]

12. About Bernie

I was FB debating with a rightie buddy, who I happen to hold in high regard except for politics, and Bernie came up.

I was told Bernie was a self avowed Communist.

Bernie's wiki says he's a self described Democratic Socialist.

My point is calling him a commie ended the debate and made anything Bernie had to offer non existent to my bud. I asked my bud to appreciate the merits of what Bernie has to say, but the he's a commie, therefore I can disregard the entire body of his life's output, kind of pisses me off. Does anybody have a playbook of rightie tactics? Kind of like instructions and techniques for debate?

Secondly, the strict definition of socialism doesn't necessarily mean what we think it means.

Just like treason sounds like betraying your country, but it really means aiding the enemy in the time of war.

My def of socialism is a society that shares in the well being of "the commons". More or less.

thanks for reading. More thanks are available for any cogent responses.

-90%Jimmy

[Chan790]

46. We counter this the best way possible.

Cruz-Fascist.
Paul-Fascist.
Palin-Fascist.
Gohmert-Fascist.
Steve King-Fascist.
Tea Party-Fascists.

Simply dismiss the rightest RW of the GOP as the fascists they are. There's nothing to talk about, you've just cut them off from being people of merit, there's no discussing their ideas, no countenance of their positions. Nope. Sorry. "Fascists." Use it as a blunt club to kill the discussion of the worst of the GOP.

[sinkingfeeling]

13. Yes, I campaigned for George McGovern.

[deerheadgal]

14. Me, too!

We poured our hearts into it. BTW, he carried our little part of Kansas!

[woo me with science]

18. It's not 1972 anymore.

Last edited Wed Oct 30, 2013, 08:01 PM - Edit history (1)

Corporatists have seized control of our government. They have looted this country and destroyed the middle class. They have driven millions of us into poverty. And now the two corporate parties are working on dismantling the tattered safety nets we still have left, ramping up the police state, and fast-tracking the Trans-Pacific Wage and Job Killing agreement.

This country is desperately seeking a candidate who will work on behalf of the people rather than the corporations. Barack Obama was swept into office in 2008 by pretending he would be that candidate.

If Sanders or Warren or someone like them decided to run and had sufficient money, media access, and protection to get out their message, they would be unstoppable. That is why the PTB will be doing everything they possibly can to make sure that never, ever happens.

[PCIntern]

20. Unstoppable on DU, perhaps...

look, I agree with your philosophy and your premise. The problem is that it just isn't gonna happen in America in 2016, any more than Carter was gonna get reelected in 1980.

[woo me with science]

35. That's just not true at all.

Last edited Thu Oct 31, 2013, 10:26 AM - Edit history (1)

I get so tired of this constant implication that what we are demanding is somehow fringe or extreme. All we need is a Democrat, a REAL Democrat in the old tradition, who will stand for traditional Democratic goals and values:

Defending Social Security and Medicare instead of using them as bargaining chips.

Standing with working citizens instead of predatory corporations.

And fighting for the old Democratic ideals that no one in this outrageously wealthy country should have to fear homelessness or destitution merely from being sick or elderly or wanting an education or having only one breadwinner in the house.

These aren't extreme demands, but neither corporate party seems interested in them...except during election seasons, when they invariably dust off the old talking points and pretend they do.

[brooklynite]

37. Sounds like aa great plan...now explain how you get 17 Million people to vote for him/her....

Democratic voters have had a range of choices....they've tended to go for someone in the middle. Perhaps looking at the success of President Santorum and Senator Akins has influenced their opinion?

[woo me with science]

39. Barack Obama was swept into office in a landslide

by lying and pretending that he would stand for these things.

All we need is a candidate who will promise these things and stand by the promises.

[polichick]

23. Well said. What do you think about the growing...

sentiment among young people that it may be best to stop voting and let things collapse?

I'm starting to see it.

[woo me with science]

40. It doesn't surprise me.

Young people are smart and know they have been sold out.

It does not surprise me that they would consider every possible option to protest the corporatism that has infested both major parties and allowed them to restructure our entire political system on their behalf.

[polichick]

44. Yeah, it breaks my heart that they have been sold out.

[steve2470]

22. you might like this related thread of mine

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023922745

[Bluenorthwest]

24. I was a child, that was 40 years ago.

Using McGovern to define Sanders is startlingly similar to bringing up Shirley Chisholm to define Barack Obama in say, 2006. That was also 1972. I mean, it was 1972.

[Stuart G]

25. Yes, I worked for him, and met him for a brief moment in 1968.

The convention was in Chicago in 68. I went to the hotel where the politicians were at and walked into a room where George was holding a press conference. He was running with Bobby Kennedy's delegates if I recall. Anyway, I walked in to the end of the conference, and after it was over, he was walking out and I shook hands with him and had a brief moment and said to him, (something like this) "Thank You Senator Mc Govern for proposing and helping to get enacted the "Food Stamp" program which helps to feed millions of people." He looked surprised for a moment, and said, "Thank You." and moved on. Only presidential candidate I ever met.

I worked for him in 72. But he was correct about the Viet Nam War, and the program the pukes are trying to reduce to feed people was started by him.....I was/is proud to have worked for him..

[NoOneMan]

26. Ready to Settle for Hillary

[grammiepammie]

27. Sanders for President

I did and I still have the "Don't blame me, I'm from Massachusetts" bumper sticker. A long time ago. Feeling old.

[marmar]

32. If Bernie continues to articulate his message the way he has......

...... I think he'll win. He does not come off as a stiff, platitude-spouting politician the way Hillary does.

And I don't think being a Jew from New York will hinder him anymore than being a black man from Illinois with the middle name Hussein did President Obama.

[polichick]

34. I think he could have broad appeal - a likeable populist.

[woo me with science]

41. I agree. His problem wouldn't be the voters.

His problem would be the paranoid One Percent who would do anything, anything, to stop him.

[woo me with science]

45. +1000000

(Had to endorse it twice. )