Bernie Sanders on 2016: We need ‘a political revolution’

[KamaAina]

http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/bernie-sanders-2016-political-revolution

With Sanders’ Iowa visit coinciding with Hillary Clinton’s much-anticipated return to the state, some Democrats have wondered if the senator’s presidential ambitions are merely an elaborate display of effigy-burning – an attempt to move Clinton and the center of gravity of the entire party to the left.

Not so, the senator says. “If I run, I would like to win. That’s why I would run,” he told msnbc Thursday. He’s not interested in being a protest candidate, he insists.

Sanders realizes it’s a long shot. “For me to win, it would require a grassroots effort on the part of literally millions of people. Unprecedented,” he says. “What we need now is a political revolution.”

His theory of success is to try to reach the untapped potential of the 60% or so of Americans who don’t typically vote in presidential elections. He realizes that’s not easy. “How do we engage – can we engage those people? Tough stuff,” he acknowledges.

Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!

[Autumn]

1. You lead Bernie, we will follow.

[KamaAina]

2. Potential campaign song

[newfie11]

5. You got that right

GO BERNIE

[redruddyred]

14. for reals, if he runs, I'll be signing up right away.

that's an unpaid internship I'll be happy to take.

[misterhighwasted]

3. Senator Sanders confirms what many many already know

We look for a leader. Every battle has one.

[NorthCarolina]

4. Nobody is going to "move Hillary to the left". NOBODY!! Bernie knows that.

If he's in, he's in it to win it. He'll have my vote. Only those desperate for a corporate candidate win are pushing the idea that a Bernie run is an effort to move Hillary to the left. Does any thinking person truly believe that a populist run would be a transformational moment for Hillary resulting in a total political shift from right to left and lasting beyond the campaign??? Please, the very idea of it is ludicrous on it's face. If folks truly want a populist like Bernie which seems pretty evident, then they had best pony up and VOTE for Bernie if given the chance. I can almost guarantee that if Bernie mounts a campaign with momentum, you can be assured that such an event will never be allowed to be repeated should he lose. This could well be America's one and only chance to break the corporate stranglehold on DC. Hope they don't fuck it up by voting in another center-right status-quo Democrat or Republican.

[Scuba]

6. +1,000

[cantbeserious]

7. Go Bernie Go

eom

[MissDeeds]

8. Yes! We do need an political revolution

and I am trusting Bernie Sanders to lead it.

Run, Bernie! We need you!

[Awknid]

9. I'll help

Any way I can!

[KamaAina]

10. Hey Bernie, I have an idea.

How about we have it in November, and chase the repukes out of Congress?

[Jamaal510]

11. He's right.

"His theory of success is to try to reach the untapped potential of the 60% or so of Americans who don’t typically vote in presidential elections. He realizes that’s not easy. “How do we engage – can we engage those people? Tough stuff,” he acknowledges."

The key to a revolution in the United States (that I wish more people would pay heed to) is to mobilize everyone and somehow motivate them to show up in every election, not just presidential ones. Many people don't pay enough attention and need to be reminded of exactly which issues are at stake.

[Dustlawyer]

12. We need to not only vote, but to donate and volunteer! We finally have someone running who is not

controlled by the 1%, who knows when that will happen again. Unlike Obama, Bernie has a long distinguished track record with which to judge the sincerity of his statements. I know he is a long shot at this point in time, but if Americans are truly getting fed up with holding their nose and voting, or not voting at all, he may can build momentum. No one will want to debate him on the left, that is for sure.
He won't be negative and will always want to talk about the issues so the media has those reasons not to want to give him much airtime, that will hurt him a lot. The media want sound bites and controversial statements instead. Without the money of the others, he will need lots of volunteers and boots on the ground and mouths to the phones.
If you are serious about politics, it's time to put your money and time where your mouth is. If he does actually get elected and makes Publicly Funded Elections a big part of his focus, this may be the last election cycle where you will be asked to donate. It would also be the last 2-3 year Presidential campaign too. Just 2 or 3 months would do it. Many people would vote for him just for that reason! It would also mean that the things that a majority of Americans want, we will get since we would regain Representative Democracy!

[Joe Turner]

13. This will be the first chance for "real" change in a long time

Bernie's message will resonate greatly with most folks. It's going to be very interesting watching the status quo candidates in both parties when Bernie skewers them with the truth about the corporate interests they really represent and how they voted consistently in their favor.

[blkmusclmachine]

15. Bernie would also need a decent Congress. All of the GOP & all of the Third Way/"New Democrats"

would form an army of Obstructionism against Bernie (and us).

[4dsc]

16. Draft Bernie is here in Iowa

considering Bernie has already made a few appearances in the state I'd hope we can get this movement off the ground.