Bernie Sanders Should Clearly Run for President in 2016!

[MineralMan]

He could run as an independent or run as a Democrat during the primaries. Let him put his credentials and ideas on the line. Then, if all goes as some here predict, the "99%" will flock to his support, and he will win in a landslide. "The American People," will go to the polls in droves and sweep him into office with an overwhelming majority.

A nationwide grassroots movement will, of course, overwhelm all other candidates and he'll clearly be elected with a 99-1 majority, since he'll have the entire "99%" behind him, supported by a vast army of political activists. I know that fives of DUers will abandon their regular lives to lead the masses to bring in that massive voting bloc.

Once he is President, he can take the initiative and force Congress to enact much needed legislation, establishing single payer healthcare, immediately ending our military operations in disputes, and nationalizing our banking and finance. All that in just the first hundred days, enabled by his overwhelming mandate from the voters. Then, he can take on the challenge of remaking our Constitution to create the Democratic Socialism that will take us into the next hundred years.

Or not...

But, he should definitely run!

If you agree that Bernie Sanders should run for President, please DU Rec this thread.

GOTV 2014!

[beachbum bob]

1. smoking dope if you think bernie could win anything nationally

damn nader supporters thought the same thing and look what they and their man accomplished in 2000....iraq war and trillions in debt.


gotta be a realist I'm afraid.

[Bohunk68]

4. At the bottom of the OP,

You will note that Mineral Man says, "or, not." He is not supporting him as a candidate, but simply stating he should at least run and see how much support is there. I realise it was all a lot of snark, but still, Bernie ought to run and see just how much support is out there for his views AND will it influence a possible winning candidate to move somewhat leftward to get Bernie supporters. Or, not.

[MineralMan]

25. I support Bernie's positions on just about everything.

So do many DUers. If his ideas are right, why shouldn't he win?

As for Nader, I never supported Nader for anything. I always thought he had ulterior motives for running and believe that he is wrong on many issues. He ran as a spoiler. Bernie would run to win.

If he runs, of course.

[Maedhros]

58. Genuinely curious: what policies that Nader supports do you oppose? [n/t]

[MineralMan]

60. Now? Nader is irrelevant.

In 2000, though, his position was to obstruct. He succeeded far beyond his dreams, and provided a way for Bush to win, or be selected by SCOTUS. For that he earned my undying enmity.

[Maedhros]

87. You said he was "wrong on many issues."

I was curious what those are, other than the running-as-a-spoiler thing.

[1StrongBlackMan]

2. Yep ...

But the CORPORATE MONEY, the PTB ... we stop the 99%!!!

[MineralMan]

14. That's just silly. The American People can use his run

to take control of their nation back. All they have to do is vote for Bernie in the primaries and in the General Election. On Election Night, the true story of "The American People" will be told.

I call on Bernie Sanders to announce his candidacy tomorrow, on MLK Day. That would be an ideal time to make this announcement.

Let the campaigning begin now!

[Fumesucker]

3. We turn now to the polls: 356% of liberal Democrats support Obama

In this case I think the mineral in question is FeS2.

[MineralMan]

7. No. Actually it's somewhere around 80%.

But, all that would change if Bernie ran for President. After all, "The American People" want Bernie, so he'll obviously win in a historic landslide. Wouldn't he? Isn't his vision of America what everyone wants and will flock to the polls to vote for. That's what I keep hearing here, so maybe the people saying it are right.

He should run. Definitely. If what people are saying, it won't even matter if he runs as a Democrat or an Independent. The strength of his vision will bring everyone to his support. He is the candidate of the 99%. How could he possibly lose?

I'm just saying that he should run, just to demonstrate that "The American People" will sweep him into office.

I like Bernie a lot. His ideas are right in line with my own beliefs. I'd welcome him as President, especially if his coattails turned Congress into what it should be.

So, Run Bernie! Please! Make it happen!

I welcome his fresh voice and would be overjoyed if what people predict came true and he won in a landslide. Let's test that. If it works, we all benefit, right?

[polichick]

42. So you'll work for Bernie if he runs?

[MineralMan]

44. If he runs as a Democrat, yes, I will.

I'll caucus for him in Minnesota, both at the precinct level and at the Senate District level, where I will be a delegate. If I am fortunate enough to be selected as a delegate to the DFL State Convention, I'll caucus for him there, too. Sadly, there's no way I can be selected as a delegate to the national convention, though. I'll take photos of my caucus and my signs and post them here.

That's my pledge. I do not support third party candidates, so he'll have to run as a Democrat. If he does, then I'll support him. If he ends up being the Democratic nominee, I'll campaign hard for him for the General Election, since I always campaign for the Democratic nominee.

If you truly believe that people will recognize the benefits of his positions and will elect him in the Primaries and General Election, then I encourage you to encourage him to run. Prove that the best candidate can get the grassroots support needed to become the Democratic nominee. I like Bernie, and would welcome his Presidency with open arms.

If he doesn't run, the belief that a real progressive can get elected may not be tested. If you believe that is possible, the time to start is right now.

Frankly, I have my doubts about his viability as a national candidate, but I'd love to be proven wrong. Show me.

[polichick]

45. Well, who knows if he'll run as a Dem.

[MineralMan]

47. Certainly I don't know. Bernie Sanders knows.

Ask him.

Time to put this whole idea to the test, I think. I support Bernie Sanders positions 100%. If he can be elected, I will be overjoyed. But, there's no way to know unless he runs. I am 100% certain that no third party candidate can win the Presidency, so it will have to be as a Democrat. Ask him to run if you think he would be the best candidate.

Maybe he can convince Elizabeth Warren to run with him. I don't know.

One thing's certain. If he doesn't run, he can't win, nor can we gauge his potential support. It's politics. The only test is an actual run for office. That's why I think he should run, and I'm serious about that. If you're convince that a true Democrat can become President, then convince him to run.

If he doesn't run, he doesn't play into the conversation in 2016, frankly.

[polichick]

52. Not sure Bernie knows yet. Does Hillary know? She says no.

[MineralMan]

28. Pyrite?

It's a very useful mineral, and is the source of much of the world's sulfur supply. It's beautiful, too, and I sold many fantastic pyrite specimens when I was selling mineral specimens to collectors. Pyrite is what pyrite is, and is beautiful and valuable in its own right.

[RobertEarl]

5. You make Obama look bad

And not bad in the good sense.

A President Sanders would be a great thing for the American People.

But we probably will get another bush type because of the idiots who now run our politics.

[MineralMan]

8. I cannot make anyone look bad or good. I'm just

one poster on DU. All I can do is express my opinion, and my opinion is that Bernie should run. I recommend he run as a Democrat, given the woeful performance of third parties in the US. If he speaks for Democrats, then he'll be sure to get the nomination, after winning all those primaries. All he has to do is call himself a Democrat and he can run as a Democrat.

[1StrongBlackMan]

12. I don't think MM was trying to say anything about PRESIDENT Obama ...

And, while Sanders' economic ideologies would be good for the American people ... ideologies are not laws and laws come from Congress.

Further, there is far more to the presidency than merely implementing/seeking to implement an economic agenda.

[MineralMan]

19. You're right. President Obama isn't running.

He can't. It's time for a new President come January, 2017. Who will it be? Many here are calling for Bernie Sanders, so I think he should run. 2016 has nothing to do with President Obama. His two terms will end, and someone else will take his place. It's up to us to decide who that should be.

A Bernie Sanders candidacy won't be a rejection of President Obama in any way. It will be a door into the future.

[JaneyVee]

6. The more the merrier in the primaries. Let the people decide.

[MineralMan]

9. Absolutely. Let The American People speak with their votes.

[1000words]

10. Pssssstt ... it's 2014

Trash thread

[MineralMan]

15. It's never too early to announce a Presidential

Run. Besides, my slogan remains:

GOTV 2104!

[Le Taz Hot]

11. Oh howI miss the Unrec feature.

[MineralMan]

16. Your post is a better expression of your dislike for my post.

Unrec isn't needed.

[Le Taz Hot]

23. Then my work here is done.

[MineralMan]

24. Yup.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

26. Well that was easy. How I wish the UNREC replies

Option worked. But I have registered my disapproval of your reply so my work here is done. Time for a beer. I think I'll go with an IPA.



Actual IPA may be lighter in color than beer pint image.

[polichick]

13. Naw, why bother? Let's just crown the corporate choice asap.

[MineralMan]

17. Why bother? That's defeatism.

Last edited Sun Jan 19, 2014, 04:45 PM - Edit history (1)

If he is the candidate of choice, he should run, and he should break the ice by announcing his candidacy right away. Do you think he should not run? I find that hard to believe. I'm simply saying that he should run. If he is the voters' choice, he will win. That is how it works. It would take a lot of work and hard campaigning, but if he's that ideal as a Presidential candidate, he should run. He certainly speaks for me on almost every issue. I would welcome his Presidency with open arms.

[polichick]

20. Nobody has announced yet - they'll do it when they're ready.

[MineralMan]

22. It's time. He needs to take the initiative, especially

Last edited Sun Jan 19, 2014, 05:11 PM - Edit history (1)

since he's not as well known as some other candidates to many people. Start the ball rolling.

Everyone on DU knows who Bernie Sanders is, but I'm not sure people who don't live and breathe politics do. He needs to start building his name into a household world for The American People.

Do you not want him to run? Do you not think he would be an excellent President? I think he would.

[cali]

18. nasty piece of snark, but then it's clear that there are quite a few people here who

don't care for Bernie- though they swear up and down that they do.

[MineralMan]

21. I think Bernie would make an excellent President.

I like every one of his positions a great deal. He reflects my ideals very closely. If he became President, it would be a wonderful thing, truly.

I'm completely sincere about that. I think he should run. If, as you keep saying, he is what we need, and he speaks with the voice of the people, then he can't lose. Let's convince him to run and, if he wins, you will have been right all along.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

27. A lot of people here live Bernie Sanders

Me included.

[MineralMan]

30. Yup. I'm a huge fan of Bernie Sanders,

and you'll not find any criticism from me for his positions. I'd celebrate endlessly if he were elected as President in 2016. And that is a fact. I think almost everyone on DU would feel exactly the same if he became President. It would represent a sea change in this country. Can it happen? Well, some here are saying that it can, so the first step is for him to become a candidate.

I think he should declare soon, so there's plenty of time to work toward that goal. I will write a check the day his committee is formed.

[JaneyVee]

33. Says the poster who sometimes takes to DU just to insult others and divide.

I like your views on most things, but some of them are just childish, as if you need some sort of constant validation and bragging rights.

[lumpy]

48. Hear hear Janey

[MineralMan]

37. You know, cali, you'll not find any posts where I've ever criticized

any position held by Bernie Sanders. In fact, his positions are very reflective of my own. I have said that I do not think he is a viable candidate for the Presidency, but I could be wrong about that. So, let him run and test that. If he can succeed in establishing a solid candidacy, he'll have my support, since I agree with his positions.

I'm a pragmatist, to be sure. I will always vote for the Democratic candidate in any election where a Republican can win. Every time. But that doesn't mean that a candidate like Bernie Sanders should not put his hat in the ring. He has plenty of support on DU, and many have said that he would be the best candidate. So, let's see. Let's try that out and see what happens. I would love having Bernie Sanders as President. I doubt it can happen, but I'd be overjoyed. But, he cannot become President without running for that office. So he should declare and run. That would give him a platform for his positions that couldn't be ignored.

Right now, he's a relatively unknown politician, outside of places like DU and his home state. He has a long road to follow to make himself known. He can't start too early if he wants to become President. If you think he'd be a great President, encourage him to run.

If he runs as a Democrat, I will caucus for him in Minnesota, at the precinct and district level. If I'm fortunate enough to be selected as a delegate to the state DFL convention, I will caucus for him there, too. That's my pledge. I'll take a photo of myself holding a Sanders for President caucus sign, with the group I've gathered at the District Convention, and post it here on DU. If he doesn't run, I'll have to select a different candidate, so convince him to run.

[ProSense]

38. You mean

"nasty piece of snark, but then it's clear that there are quite a few people here who don't care for Bernie- though they swear up and down that they do."

...like you "swear up and down" that you like the President?

[MineralMan]

40. I've made it clear many times that I like Bernie Sanders' positions

on just about everything. They're as close to mine as any politician I've seen.

If he can be a viable candidate, then he should run. He'd make a great President, but he has to run for that office if he wants it.

If you like Bernie, and think he should run, please DU Rec the OP of this thread.

[PowerToThePeople]

29. obvious is obvious

[MineralMan]

31. Obviously.

[Cali_Democrat]

32. ...

[MineralMan]

34. Well, he'd have my support. If, of course, his

campaign failed to get him the nomination, or if support for him wasn't overwhelming if he ran as an independent, I'd have to vote in the General Election for whoever the Democratic candidate was. That's a hard and fast rule for me.

But Bernie will be a terrific President, if he can get elected. He'd have my complete support as President.

[stevenleser]

35. I think his entry into the Democratic Primary would be a good thing for the party and the eventual

nominee.

[MineralMan]

36. I think he should do that - run as a Democrat.

If he truly represents the priorities of Democrats, he would win the nomination. People still vote in this country for their elected officials. There's no stopping that, so if he's the right candidate, he could be President.

On that, I'm being very serious. I like Bernie Sanders and his positions better than any other current candidate.

[polichick]

43. All depends on how many voters buy the old "if you don't vote...

for the lesser of evils corporate candidate the worst of evil will win" line.

[MineralMan]

46. Time for a test, polichick.

A lot of people are claiming that "The American People" and the "99%" will stand behind a progressive candidate. It's time for a test of that. I hope they're right. That would be terrific, and I'm willing to be convinced.

I'm skeptical, but also willing to be shown.

[polichick]

51. Honestly, I think most people really do come down on the side of...

liberal/populist policies - but it's all about the message, the words used to tell the story, and also how much propaganda is on the other side.

imo Dems have never used great communication artists, even though they are readily available both in Hollywood and on Madison Avenue. Over the years I've come to the conclusion that the party is doing what it really wants to do, which is NOT to present to clear, attractive populist message.

Bernie would be going up against both parties - or, as I always say, one party with two faces. The message would have to be absolutely first-rate and supporters would have to run an online campaign like no other.

[wildbilln864]

39. k & r! n/t

[MineralMan]

41. Thank you! I hope everyone who thinks Bernie would be a good president K&Rs.

[wildbilln864]

70. my pleasure. n/t

[BumRushDaShow]

49. Bernie himself, even floated the possibility of running

according to this.

And of note:

..“One of the difficulties for someone like me running is ... I’m not going to get any money from Wall Street or corporate America,” Sanders said. “We have been successful, but it’s one thing to talk about raising money for a Senate campaign in a small state, another thing running for president of the United States.”

Sanders, however, would begin with an already established nationwide network of 700,000 people who have contributed to his Senate campaigns or otherwise supported him.

https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2013/11/17

So it's definitely never to early to get the fund-raising machine up and running. Would think more would have recd the thread?

[Number23]

50. ...

I am LOVING all of this. Truly.

[Yo_Mama]

53. I would like to see him run.

I'm willing to give all my political donations to him alone for the year.

We need different voices. That might be one reason why I hate to see people trying to pick frontrunners now. We need more ideas.

[HockeyMom]

54. I love Bernie, BUT

even if he would win the Presidency, he could get nothing done because of CONGRESS, especially the House. Personally, we need to get control of Congress, maybe even more than the Presidency.

[Phlem]

55. I forget where I read it but

He said he would run even just to force the national dialogue to the left. That would be great a great thing!

-p

[Bluenorthwest]

56. I think many people should run, I love a good Primary. While the 08 Primary

bugged the stuffing out of most of DU and a few people I know in the world, the fact is that protracted race was the best thing to happen to our Party in years, we added voters like mad, interest was built up for the process and for candidates in that and in other races. The Primary had coattails. It made the eventual winner a better candidate.
So I hope there is a candidate to annoy everyone, a few to like, a Gravel for random amusements, maybe one to lose to scandal, I hope it's a road show, a gossip magnet, the center of attention ending in a great nominee and the abject defeat of the Republican candidate, whoever that poor sap might turn out to be.
Everyone with a mailing list should run in the Primary.

[MineralMan]

57. Excellent point.

Not exactly the point I raised, but excellent all the same.

[Bluenorthwest]

59. What was the point you raised if not the encouragement of candidates?

Perhaps the point was not made very clearly. You don't think we should have several excellent choices in our next Primary cycle? You like apples? What?

[MineralMan]

62. My point was simple.

It was, simply, either field a truly progressive candidate or work to support the Democratic candidate. That's it.

I think Bernie Sanders would make an excellent candidate, so he should run. If he is elected, the people will have sent a clear message. If not, then the voters will be saying the same thing they have said so many times once again.

We live in a country where people vote for those who will be in power. They do no vote as I would, but the system makes that their choice.

That is why I am a pragmatist. I live here, not in an ideal place.

[Bluenorthwest]

94. Ah so this is Meta material, about DUers not really about the Primaries

So it's back to your old methods. Big risk for you, good luck with it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1137&pid=11211

Pragmatist. Yep.

[MineralMan]

95. It's meta, but way beyond DU meta.

It's about national politics, not DU. It's just written on DU.

No risk for me at all, really. I don't matter on that meta scale, actually. DU doesn't matter on that meta scale, either.

[Bluenorthwest]

96. Not about DU? Then why is about DU and DUers?

"some here predict"
" I know that fives of DUers will abandon their regular lives to lead the masses to bring in that massive voting bloc"

Pragmatically speaking, an OP that speaks of DUers and some here is about DU. It addresses DUers, it talks about DU discussions. It is DU Meta.
Meta was not your best subject, MM.

[frwrfpos]

61. Unfortunately the 1 percent own and control the electronic voting machines

so yes...a Bernie Sanders could never get elected as they wouldn't let him...it would upset the status quo between the two corporate parties. Anyone who would potentially upset the profiting off of people in this country would be dispatched quickly as an example...Look what they did to the Occupy movement

[polichick]

63. So true about the voting machines, which both parties are cool with.

[MineralMan]

66. That varies widely, state by state.

It is not true in my state. If it is true in yours, that should be your main issue, above all others.

[polichick]

68. Shouldn't be a local issue - both parties are complicit in allowing...

machines that can be tampered with and private companies that tamper.

How do you - or any of us - know that our votes are verifiable?

We don't.

[MineralMan]

69. I watched two statewide manual, complete recounts

in MN. Closely. The votes cast by the voters were accurately counted in both cases, and confirmed. The entire process was closely observed by all parties.

Elections are operated by states, as required by the constitution. If you live in a state with dishonest voting, no other issue matters but that one. Each state's citizens must deal with that.

[polichick]

72. Sure, the Florida recount was observed too.

[MineralMan]

73. MN IS NOT FL.

Truly.

[polichick]

75. Don't think it can't happen there - look at Wisconsin.

[MineralMan]

76. We are keeping close watch, thanks.

Look to your own state. MN is doing just fine.

[polichick]

78. Do you receive a receipt when you vote - written record of your decision?

[MineralMan]

79. We mark optical ballots, which are retained.

In a recount, they can be examined. After every election random precincts manually count actual ballots for comparison with results. In the statewide complete recounts, that process was done statewide for the contested races. Observers in every precinct, from both parties verify every step of the election. We take elections over seriously here.

Again, see to your own state. MN IS doing fine.

[polichick]

80. So no receipt. Yeah, keep trusting that system.

[MineralMan]

64. Nonsense.

I work on local and legislative elections and have seen the opposite happen too many times. You are incorrect.

[sagat]

65. Just like Kucinich!

[MineralMan]

67. Perhaps not. We won't know unless he runs.

[Armstead]

71. Oh you're so clever....YES lets just keep accepting candidates who...

Don't want to upset THE CLUB.

Bernie may not be able to win the presidency, because smug jerks will dismiss him and join with THE CLUB to annoint some Wall St Democratic Shill.

BUt the fact that Bernie resonates with so many Vermonters -- a state which does contain its share of hardasses -- indicates that he is on to something.

[MineralMan]

74. Bernie Sanders is a proven election winner.

He should run. He's doing an excellent job now. Do you think he should not run? Why?

[Armstead]

81. I think he should run as a Democrat

But the tone of your OP clearly implies that you think he hasn 't got a chance in hell and would probably be embarassing.

At the same time you claim that you agree with everything he says and share his beliefs.

Maybe if rank and file Democrats stopped drinking the Corporate Kool Aid that only phony "centrists" can win (and govern by selling us out) and started actually supporting those who actually represent the interests of the majority, we might actuslly get some national politicians who can succeed in revitalizing the country.

[MineralMan]

83. You misunderstand.

If he runs we will find out.

[Armstead]

84. My issue with your stance is that you assume defeat

I expect that if he runs he will not win...But he could pull an upset.

But what would be most important is to bring what he represents into the mainstream of the race..
.And get people to realize that those values and positions actually do represent the working and middle class.....His positions are NOT the fringe.

That would, if nothing else, lay further groundwork for a resurgence of a democratic Democratic Party....And perhaps scare the anointed ones and force them to take the concerns of the peopke more seriously.

[dflprincess]

77. +1000

There were people in Minnesota who had the same attitude toward Wellstone the when he first ran for the Senate in 1990. But he pulled it off with a grassroots campaign (and a little last minute "help" from his opponent) and granted it was just a state campaign - but it worked.

I remember a good many DFLers who prefer to stick with The Club telling me I was wasting my time supporting him....A lot of those people now carry on like they were Wellstone's best buddies and were practically the ones who told him he should run - while at the same time now saying only Wall Street's favorite candidate can win in 2016 and that I'm dreaming if I think anyone else should run.

Meanwhile the DFL state apparatus - which years ago prided itself on being a thorn in the side of the DNC - has sold its soul and will do its best to never let another Wellstone succeed.

[Progressive dog]

82. ^^K&R^^

[dreamnightwind]

85. Tired of your games

I've seen you claim to be a progressive in other posts, yet I have seen little evidence of it. The OP is pure snark, disingenuous. Welcome to ignore, not sure what took me so long.

[tkmorris]

93. I've seen MM claim to be a lot of things

All I know for certain is that he is endlessly amused by pulling on chains. He never seems to tire of it.

[dreamnightwind]

109. Yeah, me too

Been seeing it for years.

There are worse posters here, but life's too short to be wasting time with games from anonymous internet posters. This OP seemed to me to be the worst kind of snark, which is aggravating when so many people here truly care about doing whatever they can to have a better Democratic party. And those are the people he made this OP to mess with.

If I'm correct, he wants to "test" the viability of progressive ideas by a Sanders candidacy, then when Sanders doesn't win the progressives can be written off as tried and failed, paving the way to support the corporate side of the party. Great. Personally I'm more interested in doing whatever it takes to advance progressive ideas and policy, and though I may reluctantly pull the lever for a corporatist, I don't find much in such candidates that is worth supporting. YMMV of course. Anyway thanks for your reply.

[Initech]

86. I'd personally rather have him as Fed Chair.

He could lay down an epic ass kicking of some of the corporate criminals who are ruining things.

[Bonobo]

88. Of course the truth is that he would be vilified for "stealing votes" from the inevitable Dem. nt

[MineralMan]

90. Not if he runs as a Democrat, which I recommend.

If he got the nomination, then he would be the Democrat.

[Scuba]

89. Definitely not in Mannie's league.

[randome]

91. I get your point but this thread still rates a reminder.

Nothing is more important than this November 4th.


[hr][font color="blue"][center]“If you're not committed to anything, you're just taking up space.”
Gregory Peck, Mirage (1965)[/center][/font][hr]

[MineralMan]

92. Absolutely. The mid-term elections this year

are going to either bring a Democratic majority to the House or maintain the ugly status quo. It is the most important mid-term election in a very long time.

GOTV 2014!

[librechik]

97. I hope Bernie gets in the debates

he's not acting like that's a priority, and it should be. He's not serious.

He has a lot on his plate...

[MineralMan]

99. He hasn't made the decision to run yet.

Further, he hasn't decided whether to run as an Independent or a Democrat. There's still time for that.

[librechik]

102. he's gotta be a dem to have any chance of getting into the corporate party-owned debates

otherwise, Ralph Nader.

[MineralMan]

103. That's my opinion, too. Third party presidential candidates

fare very poorly, and generally just steal votes away from major party candidates. That's not a winning strategy for anyone.

I'm sure that Bernie Sanders would never want to take votes from a Democratic candidate. He knows, better than anyone that a Republican is not a solution, but just another problem. Still, his history of running as an Independent is strong. So I'm sure that's part of his calculus for any possible run.

He votes with the Democratic Caucus, and switching to that party wouldn't be a big stretch for him if he's really interested in shifting the party to the left.

[librechik]

104. +1

Bernie's got my vote in the primaries, if it gets that far. But then, I was a Jesse Jackson delegate in 84, and witnessed the "Democratic Caucus" stonewall us (and Gary Hart) for Dukakis! I have no faith in party Dems.

[LWolf]

98. I just want someone worth my vote to run.

I don't care if it's Bernie Sanders; he's one I could vote for, but I'm open to anyone worthy of my vote. I just want SOMEONE worth voting for, which hasn't happened in a presidential election since I became old enough to vote.

[MineralMan]

100. Realistically, nobody is going to make a decision until

after the 2014 mid-term elections, I'm sure. Anyone could decide now to run, but that doesn't seem likely. If Bernie Sanders made that decision now, though, he'd get some early buzz, and that couldn't hurt. He's still an unknown to most Americans.

[LWolf]

113. Realistically,

I'm not going to decide who to throw my support behind until then, either.

[dreamnightwind]

110. +1

Not sure how old you are, but I'm in my mid 50's and though I wouldn't go quite as far as you did, it largely rings true. I'm very tired of having to vote for the lesser of two evils.

Also tired of having to look the other way when our party is just the slightly slower side of the upward wealth transfer that has been going on in this country since I've been old enough to vote. This country is extremely top-heavy, which in any system is undesirable and unstable, time for some old-fashioned Democratic or socialist redistribution. There is plenty for everyone, if we can pry some of that loot from Smaug and his buddies.

"We can share what we got of yours
Cause we done shared all of mine"

- Robert Hunter, Jack Straw

[struggle4progress]

101. I like and admire Sanders, but I don't see him winning a Presidential campaign, and

winning the election is the sine qua non of electoral politics

[MineralMan]

106. I think it would be a stretch for him to win, and probably a long shot.

However, his name keeps coming up as the ideal candidate, along with Elizabeth Warren. So, maybe he should give it a shot. There are certainly many who would welcome his candidacy.

[Beacool]

105. Time to wake up, you're dreaming.

If you honestly think that a Socialist in his mid 70s would win the Democratic nomination, let alone the general election, then you need to go back to sleep and have a different dream.

[MineralMan]

107. You could well be right. However, here on DU and

elsewhere, Bernie Sanders is often held up as an ideal candidate in 2016. I've seen his name mentioned in that regard many, many times, with people saying that if he ran he'd win. The idea is that people are hungering for such a candidate. Well, I know no way to test that theory than for him to put his name out there and see what happens.

One thing's certain: If he doesn't run, he can't win. Personally, I'd like to see his positions become how the country operates, so maybe it's time to try that approach out and see how it is received by the voters. If those who claim that American is ready to elect a true progressive are right, then he should win, by their reasoning.

He should run. Let the voters decide what they want.

[Beacool]

108. Oh, he can run if he wants to, no one is stopping him.

I'm just saying that realistically speaking he wouldn't win neither the nomination, nor the general election.

[dreamnightwind]

111. Pretty ironic post for MLK day

Anyway you've misunderstood the OP, who no doubt agrees with you.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

112. I'll vote for him and spare my nose.

[Dawgs]

114. Pathetic attempt at trying to make Obama look successful. n/t