When Sanders says "Wall Street banks and billionaires buy elections," whose election does he mean?

[ucrdem]

And when he talks about "people like you" fighting back against "a corrupt system," who specifically is he encouraging people to "fight back" against?

And if as it appears he's talking about the current Democratic administration of Barack Obama and the earlier Democratic administration of Bill Clinton, why, after 74 years of not being a Democrat, did he decide to be one, and to seek an active role in the party? Doesn't joining a "corrupt system" mean that he too is corrupt?

I honestly find this baffling: if he's running as a Democrat, why in HECK is he bashing Democrats? Or what am I missing here?

[Xipe Totec]

1. You're missing everything

Unless you think winning the Democratic nomination is equivalent to winning the Presidency.

[ucrdem]

2. I do but that's not really my point.

My point is that it's hard to take his campaign seriously if he's tearing down the party he claims he wants people to join. And clearly the results in the last few primaries bear this out: instead of driving up Dem participation, he's driven it down.

[Xipe Totec]

3. If you think his goal is to tear down the Democratic Party, you're thinking very small

And very partisan.

This is about changing the entire environment that is poisoning our political process. Both parties have been compromised. Both parties need to be reformed.

[ucrdem]

8. That's been his goal for the last 26 years. nt

[Xipe Totec]

9. Country before party. nt

[kristopher]

12. So you think "The Democratic Party" equals the legal bribery system...

...that has been funding it since the 90s and you also think that ""The Democratic Party" do NOT equal the stated liberal goals of the party platform?

[reformist2]

4. Staying outside the party was his way of staying clean. Now he's trying to rescue it.

[ucrdem]

6. Fine, but he says he wants to get elected.

You don't get elected by telling anyone who will listen that the party you've just joined is hopelessly corrupt.

So why exactly is he running?

[kristopher]

14. How do you know?

If you have a way you think is better, then roll up your sleeves and run for office.

[Uncle Joe]

16. The party isn't "hopelessly corrupt" the CURRENT SYSTEM is and that's a major distinction whether

you wish to acknowledge it or not.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

5. He's "bashing" corrupt Democrats (and Republicans) who take money from Wall Street.

Whereas, Hillary takes money from the same corrupter of the nation and politics.

[ucrdem]

7. When was the last time he gave a fiery floor speech bashing a Republican?

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

11. I don't know. When was the last time Hillary did? Or, returned corporte money?

[Jefferson23]

25. Will you please cut that out.

[jillan]

26. You really have no clue do you?

Bernie doesn't fight against anything. He fights for fairness his entire life.
If you can't see that then you are obviously not listening.

[Warren Stupidity]

10. Do you honestly think that our government isn't entirely

corrupted by money?

[ucrdem]

15. You say "our" like it's all one big conspiracy.

No, I don't think my Federal or State government is entirely corrupted by money. I also like my Dem congressman. I liked my Dem mayor and supported him every way I could for two terms but his Dem successor got done in by the FBI days before the election so we got a Republican and now we're world famous for terrorism.



Yes, the parties are different, and the proof is obvious to anyone with eyes to see.

[Warren Stupidity]

17. You should ask your dem congressman what he does all day

every working day. Never mind I'll tell you. He is on the phone raising money. He has to. That is the system. It doesn't require a vast conspiracy any more than eyes require an intelligent designer. It is what has simply evolved over the last 200+ years. The levels of abject corruption rise and fall. The last time our government was anywhere near this dysfunctionally corrupt was the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

[ucrdem]

18. Yes he's been on the phone, with me, several times, and has NEVER mentioned money. Not once.

I know what my Congress member does because he calls and tells me in regular town hall phone meetings. I've joined several and never once has he solicited a campaign donation. Some of the questions are predictable but he answers them carefully and supplies fresh insights and information from his staff. He's new but my old Congressman also held regular town hall phone meetings. The current one (his name is Pete Aguilar) also holds regular meet-and-greets in local restaurants. I haven't attended those but if he tried soliciting donations at a constituent event he wouldn't be returned.

In other words, Dems can multitask, but yeah they need money to run their campaigns. Sure the system is "rigged" but to hear Sanders, Nader, Chomsky et al. tell it that means every elected official is "corrupt." Which is ridiculous and self-contradictory and the effect is to drive down participation.

What I'd like to know is, is that the intended effect?

[Glamrock]

21. With all due respect

With regard to:
"Sure the system is "rigged" but to hear Sanders, Nader, Chomsky et al. tell it that means every elected official is "corrupt." Which is ridiculous and self-contradictory and the effect is to drive down participation. "

I think you've got it backwards. Participation has been falling for decades, as the system has become more and more rigged. Sanders, Nader, Chomsky et al. are voicing it.

And like it or not, there are Dems who vote for things like Nafta, TPP, wars, deregulation, etc. because of monied interests. Now, they may very well defend abortion rights, or gay marriage or whatever. They're doing the most good they can while playing the game. For us Sanders supporters(or me at least), that just ain't good enough anymore. Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled with the great strides this country has made with regard to social issues. But economically we're getting killed! It's time to throw the Monopoly board in the fire and watch it Bern!(Ooh, that last sentence was good. Bravo Glamrock, bravo. )

[Gwhittey]

22. Ha

my new sig line

[Glamrock]

24. Yeah man.

Spread it around! It's quite good! Now if you'll excuse me, I need an aspirin. Seems like I pulled a muscle patting myself on the back.

[Nanjeanne]

13. Every administration is or has been corrupted by money

Neither Dems nor Repub are immune. Some are worse than others. Reps are definitely worse. But not alone.

Do you think the Obama administration gave up on negotiating drug prices because they like high drug prices?

[RobertEarl]

19. I see questions like this and get fired up ready to roll

And then when I read all the way thru it I see I would just be piling on. My fellow DUers make me proud answering so completely and educationally. Good Job, yall.

[ucrdem]

20. Please proceed governor . . .

[Katashi_itto]

27. That's the best comeback you come up with?

[Jefferson23]

23. Amazing, you think HE is the one tearing down the Democratic Party?

I am speechless.