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2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumBernie Sanders’s flip-flop on the Democratic Party, and what it says
Bernie Sanderss flip-flop on the Democratic Party, and what it saysAaron Blake
Washington Post
"Essentially, it's my view that the leadership of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party are tied to big-money interests and that neither of these parties will ever represent the people in this country that are demanding the real changes that have to take place," he said.
Note the use of "ever." Today, Sanders is running for the nomination of the party he said wasn't capable of ushering in real change.
Perhaps he thinks it just needed someone like him to lead it. Clearly, though, Sanders has evolved on this matter. And if nothing else, his Democratic primary candidacy is a testament to the fact that we have a two-party system that is basically impenetrable to anyone outside of it. There's a reason there are only two independents in the Senate both of whom have the backing of the Democratic Party and caucus with that party and none in the House.
If there was perhaps anyone who was going to break up the two-party monopoly in the 2016 election, it could have been Sanders. But even as he runs a surprisingly strong race for the Democratic nomination, the Old Bernie probably would prefer 2015 Sanders had chosen another path.
Note the use of "ever." Today, Sanders is running for the nomination of the party he said wasn't capable of ushering in real change.
Perhaps he thinks it just needed someone like him to lead it. Clearly, though, Sanders has evolved on this matter. And if nothing else, his Democratic primary candidacy is a testament to the fact that we have a two-party system that is basically impenetrable to anyone outside of it. There's a reason there are only two independents in the Senate both of whom have the backing of the Democratic Party and caucus with that party and none in the House.
If there was perhaps anyone who was going to break up the two-party monopoly in the 2016 election, it could have been Sanders. But even as he runs a surprisingly strong race for the Democratic nomination, the Old Bernie probably would prefer 2015 Sanders had chosen another path.
I would assume that if there weren't so many hurdles to running a third party campaign, and if we didn't have a first past the post winner take all system, then Mr. Sanders would not be running as a Democrat. In that sense i do think he's hijacking an existing party apparatus. Also, I think that's a great idea.
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Bernie Sanders’s flip-flop on the Democratic Party, and what it says (Original Post)
portlander23
Oct 2015
OP
HassleCat
(6,409 posts)1. Yes, it is
Any effort to make our party stand by its traditional principles, instead of standing for nothing but getting elected, would be good. It's difficult to hijack a speeding train, but Sanders may accomplish it. I hope so.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)2. Hijacking an existing part apparatus, now that is a fine thank you.
Faux pas
(14,690 posts)3. Kickin'
Fawke Em
(11,366 posts)4. I wouldn't call it hijacking...
I'd call it trying to take the controls away from a drunk conductor who keeps veering to the right even though there are families stuck on those tracks.
Bernie is trying to veer back to the left in order to protect those poor people who don't realize that Trump/Carson, et. al, are also headed from them from the other direction.