Bernie, the Baby, and the Bagger Vance of Babyology

[bigtree]

Last edited Thu Sep 5, 2019, 08:36 AM - Edit history (2)

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

[LisaM]

1. LOL.

Bernie is kind of W.C. Fields around kids, I think. After reading that, I googled Bernie and kids, and Trevor Noah did this hilarious piece (warning, it's 8 minutes long and funny, so proceed accordingly).

https://digg.com/video/footage-bernie-80s-daily-show

[bigtree]

2. oh, my

...Fields would be a compliment, comparatively

[NurseJackie]

6. LOL!

You're right about that!

[Hortensis]

9. Thanks so much, LisaM. This was terrific.

Trevor Noah was great, but what material to work with! The Jew with "strange sexual habits" who thought girls backing away when he stopped them on the street were shy! I laughed so hard at that one I had trouble breathing.

And that very sensible little guy who explained to Sanders that his questions were not age-appropriate. "I'm only 5 years old." Adorable.

[LisaM]

15. It got funnier as it went on.

I couldn't stop laughing either. And this was 15 years AFTER the creepy sex op-ed Sanders had penned, which raises some questions for me!

[Hortensis]

17. He often reminds me of Trump, usually only a pale shadow

of whatever commonality I think I'm seeing, of course. (Except for populist techniques.)

But I think he sometimes doesn't realize how he comes across. Very unlike Trump, though, he mostly doesn't care -- those who can't/won't listen to and learn from him are their own problem.

That said, that classroom scene struck me as unfortunate, to the point of being rather creepy. Ick. Of course, he didn't intend it to be.

Funny thing, I'm afraid my kids might say it reminded them of me. I'm apparently famous with them for talking to them like adults, "just putting it all right out there" as my son once told me, while their friends' parents were still sheltering their kids from too much truth and understanding.

[mcar]

3. Geez! I was under the impression that the baby had been crying for a while

It just let out one screech and he actually said "if we could keep that down a little bit?"

I could see if the baby had been wailing for a while, but one cry?

Kamala is amazing with kids. Her warmth is so obvious.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

4. Lol. "If we could keep that down a little bit"

He’s a monster! I mean he almost threatened the baby’s life!1!1

[mcar]

5. He's telling a baby, or it's parent,

to shut up after one noise. I've had coughing spells that last longer - should I be told to keep it down?

[NurseJackie]

8. It's a reflection of his temperament and demeanor and patience...

He’s a monster! I mean he almost threatened the baby’s life!1!1

Well, actually... people are seeing this as a reflection of his overall temperament and demeanor. Many see it as something of an indicator that provides a valuable clue to his ability to be patient, or how easily he can be irritated.

For obvious reasons, I won't state my own opinions, so all I'm saying instead is that it's clear to me that most people are seeing is something about him that's not at all very flattering.

My sentiments exactly.

[Hortensis]

10. Yes, the baby squealed. That always makes me smile

at how impressed they are with their new ability.

As does seeing babies practicing their fascinating new ability to let go by dropping silverware, and anything else within reach, in a restaurant. I always enjoy that. Somehow I don't think Sanders would, more like: "Can you stop that? You shouldn't be letting him have a spoon if that's what he's going to do with it."

[mcar]

11. He could have made a joke

Like "There's another Sanders voter speaking up."

People would have laughed and he could have gone on.

[Hortensis]

12. Maybe. Must have tried it in the past. :)

[NurseJackie]

14. Could have. But didn't. Missed opportunities...

He could have made a joke

Could have. But didn't. Missed opportunities and not being able to think on one's feet... not being able to gracefully handle the unexpected reveals much about a candidate... no matter who he or she is.

For some voters, they learn something new. For other voters, things like this serve as further evidence that confirms everything they've previously observed when they realize it's not just a one-off or bad-day response.

People would have laughed and he could have gone on.

Obama has done that exact same thing often. "See? There's someone who agrees with me!"

And if the baby was continually wailing loudly in close quarters... I think it's safe to say that the parent would have removed the distraction on their own. And if not, the event's handlers or other staff would have helped the parent to better location away from microphones.

[mcar]

16. Yes to all

And I have to say, Jackie, that this whole notion of parents of young children being told they can't participate in the political process unless they get child care is just not what the Democratic Party is, or should be, about.

I've seen candidates giving speeches in crowded restaurants where serving is still going on - there's some noise. How about when they are outdoors? Cars, buses, emergency vehicles with sirens all going by. Should the city shut that all down so the poor candidate isn't bothered?

[KitSileya]

7. Considering how Senator Sanders prefers caucuses

Where plenty of parents of small children are locked out of the Democratic process because they cannot find or afford a baby sitter (the latter would then be disenfranchised if they are over 18), I guess we should not be surprised that the Senator has little forbearance with parents of small children.

[Hortensis]

13. Good point about caucuses and parental disenfranchisement.

As for individual problems of parents, etc., bet he'd ban noisy people who won't listen and can't vote from all his events if he could.

After all, Sanders is a big, universal-picture kind of guy with giant one-solution for alls meant to benefit everyone. But that big picture requires a long, long lens, in which individuals and what they think they want and need are far too many and small to be allowed to distract from what he must accomplish for every one.

At least that's my best explanation for why he's always thought I'm really pretty much just the same as all those Republicans. We apparently all look alike from ideologically far out. I certainly can't distinguish Democrats from Republicans in this crowd either.