I'll take an imperfect Bernie Sanders over Democrats who make me want to throw my shoes, any day.

[Armstead]

Last edited Tue Sep 1, 2015, 10:34 AM - Edit history (2)

To address a couple of the "memes" circulating about. Sanders is not electable because, well you know all the reasons. Purist, socialist, ideologue, too "far left," too cranky, etc.

Or -- the paradoxical claim -- that he is not "perfect" on every issue, and does not meet some Politically Correct liberal litmus test. Or the "concerns" about his supposed "problems" with (fill in the ethnic or gender blank ). That he sometimes "sells out" and is just another politician. And he's a hypocrite, and his followers are hypocrites for overlooking his non PC "human feet of clay."

Oh and I guess I should add that his "supporters" is some monolithic hyperventilating mob with the fantasy illusions of My Little Pony.

Well, speaking for myself, I'll take a candidate who speaks the truth and acts on it a vast majority of the time, over supposed Democrats who consistently make me want to throw my shoe at the TV.

I've been following Sanders since the early 90's. I agree with him on about 85-90 percent of what I have seen him say and do over the years. I don't agree with him on everything. Sometimes I wish he'd lighten up a little bit -- tell a joke or two in his speeches for example. He doesn't address certain issues like I'd prefer.

But on balance, overall, he is night and day to the pablum candidates we have been served up by the DNC/DLC/Third Way Axis over the years. And he's got integrity. He's a politician, but he's a principled politician.

He's a hell of a lot better than supposed "Democrats" like Bill Clinton, who signed a law that allowed a handful of right wing Monopoly Corporations like Clear Channel buy up virtually every radio station in the US....And passing financial "deregulation" that did not require rocket science to see the negative consequences down the road. Etc.,etc.etc.

Sanders consistently warned about a lot of the bad things that the "centrist" Democrats (including Hillary) enabled or supported, despite the obviously bad consequences. He has been proven correct consistently. Look at him grilling Alan Greenspan the Third Way's BFF of the 90's in Congress.

He has called for solutions that are basically what used to be considered mainstream, lunch-bucket mainstream Liberalism (or progressive populism), before the Third Way decided to emulate the GOP talking points to demonize Liberalism. (The Era of Big Government is Over.)

Perfect? Nope. Who is? But head and shoulders over a vast majority of politicians.

[wendylaroux]

1. "Cranky??!!" that

is a reason not to like Bernie??? Are you kidding me??!! I'm cranky,My beloved Dad was cranky.We ALLLL should be cranky!! I mean who does not have cranky somewhere in their family??!!! Socialists too is a good thing! Caring about your neighbor is a gd good thing!!! Puuuleaze,these are not reasons to not like someone!!

[Armstead]

3. I agree. I'm cranky -- at least about the issues.

Just repeating the memes. Read the whole post in context.

I DO wish he'd lighten up a little bit personally in public sometimes. But that's an extremely minor quibble.

[monmouth4]

7. I so agree with his lightening up a little bit. Especially when he comes to New York. Do we know

yet where that will be? I'm thinking (yuge thoughts here) that the RSVPs will be so enormous that the Garden would be the only place he could go. Intject a little humor about his Jewishness, a joke about his youth with his brother or if he's speaking in a large arena of a Catholic college let's say, a comment or two regarding that would go over very well. NYers have a great sense of humor, what could it hurt? It will endear him to many, non-Jews also...Just thinking out loud here really, but still....

[daleanime]

9. Maybe Shea stadium?

I know I'd be looking for a bus to the show.

[Ken Burch]

36. I was thinking Yankee Stadium-

-but then I remembered the Steinbrenner boys would probably try to make him adhere to their West Point-grads-at-a-Goldwater-rally grooming code.

[AlbertCat]

28. Especially when he comes to New York.

Well, he has lived and worked in the NE far longer than Clinton. Maybe he understands something more about how to approach that demographic.

[RoccoR5955]

17. "Cranky?" Yeah, I've been cranky for a long time

Since the days of Raygun. Time for this trickle down crap, and the rest of Ronnie Rat's garbage to be OVER!

You bet I'm cranky, and it's refreshing to see someone as cranky about things.

GO Bernie!

#FeelTheBern!

[roguevalley]

29. given the numerous and manifest flaws in hillary, I laugh

Heartily at this meme.

[John Poet]

39. I like to think of him as "cantankerous"....

and as someone who turns "cantankerous" into a positive quality!

[LWolf]

2. So will I. nt

[WillyT]

4. HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!!

[MuseRider]

5. I really like reading the things you write.

We agree on this.

Well said. I would love to stop rolling my eyes, smacking my head and watching "my side" give away all the milk and half the cow before going into negotiations.

Bernie will work with others but he does not start from their side. He asks for the moon and gets plenty when done.

[Armstead]

6. Thanks. We're in danger of gioving away the whole barn, if we're not careful

[eridani]

47. Most of the DLC has never had to be concerned with getting a decent price for a used car

If you'd be happy with $3000, it's a good idea to ask for $6000. Pushing for single payer might at least have gotten us a public option. Unfortunately, their world is not our world.

[Armstead]

49. Unless they didn't really want it

[Enthusiast]

8. Kicked and recommended!

[colsohlibgal]

10. Bernie All The Way!

We need someone like Bernie to once again roll back another Robber Baron era. FDR of course reversed the last one.

Supply side economics only works for those at the top or close to it. They have to trick ordinary people into supporting the Plutocracy and because a lot of folks couldn't tell you what happened fifteen years ago let alone 75-80 years they get it done.

[jalan48]

11. I agree, but will Wall Street let a Bernie Sanders get elected?

[Armstead]

15. It's not a matter of what Wall St. will allow the public to do

It;s a matter of how much the public chooses to exercise the public interest.

[jalan48]

20. I'm a Bernie supporter and agree but I don't think the entrenched powers will be voted out.

It will be a long battle, especially with the Congress. I think the fact that Bernie is getting his message out is great, changing people's minds about the current political setup is the first step. Just look at DU-how many Hillary supporters don't seem to care about Wall St. and the buying of elections-and these are fellow Democrats! In the meantime I love hearing speak to the issues like a real Democrat.

[zeemike]

33. Success can be infectious.

And if Bernie wins it will set of a wave of copy cats and things could change rapidly.

[jalan48]

34. I agree, but I think it's going to take more than just electing Bernie.

Massive protests like we saw in the 60's will be necessary as well. My guess is that any meaningful thing in Bernie's agenda will be blocked by the Republicans.

[zeemike]

35. Not if they are not in control of congress.

But no it won't be easy or quick...but a political revolution can happen and we can take back our government one election at a time. If of course we do not allow them to dived us up and conquer us. And don't fall victim to our own excesses.

[bvar22]

40. That is how they did it in Latin America.

What many Latin Countries have done in the last 15 years is nothing short of near bloodless Ballot Box Revolutions.
They did it by Word of Mouth, and local community organizing.
THEY have taken back THEIR governments from the hands of their 1%.
Without lots of help from Bush, the oligarchs would lost Mexico too in the last election.


Pass the WORD.
VIVA Democracy!!!
We CAN vote the bastards OUT.

[cascadiance]

38. Yes, Wall Street will try and stop him, but for us to stop supporting him is giving up on democracy

... in my book, and I'd rather die fighting, then live in a fascist country, that they are trying to sneak in to power now, if it is not already half way there. Now is the time to vote someone like him in, while there's still time and avenues to do so.

Recent polls have been showing that that any Republican nominated from the Clown Car will go down in defeat to the Democratic Party nominee, so we shouldn't be worried so much about the "fear card" of what will happen if we lose to them. That's another tool that corporate america is trying to use to keep someone like Bernie from getting nominated.

[RoccoR5955]

19. Since when does a street vote?

People vote, not streets, businesses, or money.
Please keep this in mind!

[jalan48]

23. A street votes with millions of dollars in ads.

[RoccoR5955]

24. Again, ads and money does not vote.

PEOPLE, and ONLY PEOPLE vote.
Please remember this!

[GitRDun]

12. I agree Bernie is a thoroughly decent guy

and head and shoulders above most politicians in that I think he really does care about the lives of his constituents.

I was wondering if you had any thoughts on how he can expand his support among non-white voters?

Most of what you read is nothing more than campaign sniping..but the challenge to expand his base of supporters does seem real to me.

[Armstead]

18. He obviously needs concerted outreach

I don't think it's a matter of the basic message or content of his goals. I am convinced that Blacks, Hispanics and every other group can be receptive to Sander's message if it can be communicated clearly, and get through the media and political filters.

More a matter of practicalities and logistics, and breaking through embedded preconceptions and loyalties.

That's an uphill battle, and unfortunately time is not on his side. This campaign went from 0 to 150 mph within a few months.

But IMO it's worth the effort. Ya never know how these things might go.

I am pretty sure he is aware if that too.

[GitRDun]

25. I think they are aware too

I also agree it can be done.

In my research so far I have not found a good reason for HRC to have truly entrenched support.

[mak3cats]

13. Hear, hear!! (and K&R - eom)

[seaglass]

14. If I was going to vote solely on issues it would be Jill Stein not Bernie Sanders. Also she is not

cranky.

My feeling is that both their chances of becoming president are nil.

[JDPriestly]

51. I campaigned for Bernie tonight. Granted it was in Los Angeles,

but about 90% of the people I talked to (at a community event anyone can attend -- very informal, not a meeting) were pro-Bernie or very interested in hearing about Bernie.

Judging from the interest and enthusiasm I saw, and virtually all of it based on having seen Bernie on the internet, Bernie will win in November 2016.

Too see that many people backing Bernie this early is amazing. Just amazing. I am a Bernie supporter, but even I was shocked.

Bernie will not have the same popularity in all communities, but there are lots of communities like mine, especially in cities. Bernie is winning here, and the pro-Bernie sentiment will spread.

Feel the Bern, because Americans are really feeling it in my neighborhood. The Bernie campaign is just beginning.

People are sick of politics as usual, the corruption, the lies. Bernie is refreshing.

[retrowire]

16. well said

and I gotta admit, he does fit my criteria perfectly. which is awesome.

[Le Taz Hot]

21. Righteous-ass rant!

[SoapBox]

22. Plus a bazillion!

[L0oniX]

26. K & R ...I was never looking for perfect. To hell with the purity accusers bullshit.

[beam me up scottie]

27. I love this!

[arcane1]

30. And that, my friend, is why there is so much effort to discredit him, and so soon.

Great post!

[Duppers]

31. K & R

[DrBulldog]

32. We don't want another wishy-washy corporate Democrat in the White House.

Right now our President is in Alaska doing nothing but committing gross hypocrisy on climate change.

If Bernie were in charge, he'd be using the U.S. Coast Guard to blockade Alaska from Shell Oil.

[totodeinhere]

37. There are no perfect politicians. There just aren't. But I would say that Bernie is closer to being

perfect than most politicians. And he is certainly closer to perfection than Hillary Clinton is.

And I especially like your contention that Bernie supports a lot of proposals that used to be considered mainstream. But the Republicans have pulled this country so far to the right that what used to be mainstream by comparison is left of center now. But Bernie is no wild-eyed extremist leftist.

[Armstead]

43. Unfortunately Democrats also helped pull country to right

[tk2kewl]

41. he never leaves you wondering where he stands on any issue

[hifiguy]

42. Well said, indeed!

[HappyPlace]

44. Awesome Rant, and one that I can really channel!

Thanks!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

45. My mother says he's going to win!

so she has been right in all Pres. elections!

[Armstead]

48. Well let's hope she maintains her perfect record ths time

[Milliesmom]

46. I love Cranky and Imperfect,but

Bernie is neither, he is truthful and he is perfect.


Bernie 2016

[mhatrw]

50. "The Perfect is the enemy of the Good." Bill Clinton

[raouldukelives]

52. The main reason he isn't electable.

Is that so many are themselves invested against democracy being allowed to work.

There are people who truly wish to see democracy flourish and there are those who increase the coffers and influence of multinational corporations.

The more Wall St has. The more money, talent and individual support, the more powerful and unstoppable its desires become.

For some, democracy is a game. An idea to be tossed about and imagined while daily increasing the wealth and influence of Wall St.

For them, nothing matters as much as the money. Not lives, not environments, not futures and certainly not grassroots democracy for all people.

With every dollar, with every hour of service, they cement all of our futures for us. It will only end when they become more concerned with the long term well being of others over the short term well being of themselves.

In other words, never.

[Armstead]

55. I am not quite so pessimistic

I'm old enough to remember the era before the Big Swindle that started sometime in the late 1970's.

I won't romanticize or idealize the mid 20th century, but the standards of allowable business behavior were much higher than today, and more businesspeople had a higher ethical standard. I donlt think it's unrealistic to move in th direction of restoring that.

[raouldukelives]

57. Agreed. That was back when we still somewhat practiced capitalism.

I'm not sure what this is, but it ain't no Adam Smith fantasy.

Inverted socialism perhaps. Where all the gains go to the top and all the losses are absorbed by the bottom.

Nobody defending our current system is defending capitalism, that much is for sure. I too hope we will move in that direction.

We only will when people start taking responsibility for their own actions and stop pushing all of us the opposite way.

[Armstead]

59. There's a larger Social Matrix involved....Pirate Capitalism

Aside from the machinations of politics, the Corporate/Investor class very shrewdly set up Orwellian Double Speak to exploit the fears of the 70's and convince ordinary people to support behavior and values that were against their own interests. It created a form of Pirate Capitalism.

"We're cutting your job to save your job." "We're eliminating competition to preserve competition" "You have to support tax cuts for the rich because some day you may be rich" etc.

In political terms, what pisses me off the most is that we expect that from the GOP as the Party of Big Bidness. But it is inexcusable that the Democrats threw out the baby with the bathwater, and echoed the same message and policies, instead of offering people a real alternative.

That, largely, is what I see the Sanders campaign as being about. restoring a two party system -- and reviving those "traditional liberal progressive values" that previously at least had imposed controls and restraints on the excesses of Pirate Capitalism.

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

53. Great post, thx...

When Bernie gets the nod from the Dems to lead us into the future what I'll be most appreciative of is not having to vote for the "lesser of two evils" because in the end you still wind up with evil.

[moobu2]

54. Bernie Sanders can not win in the general.

So it doesn't matter.

[Armstead]

56. Thank you, God

You have removed any illusions with Thy profound words.

[moobu2]

60. No need to view everything in religious terms

all you need to do is use common sense.

[d_legendary1]

61. Technically you're not wrong

Common sense ideas are producing large crowds in the places Sanders visits.

Common sense approaches to our problems is why people are finding out about Sanders.

Common sense means not processing government business in your personal server

Common sense is the reason why Hillary's lead is shrinking in the polls day by day.

One candidate has it and one doesn't. So you're not technically wrong.

[ashling]

58. Very well said, Armstead

Additionally, when we are not chastised for accepting clay feet, we are chastised for being purists.