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Bernie Sanders 2016
posted in Off Topic
1
#1
0 Frags +

Bernie is the first candidate for President I've ever been truly excited about, and as of today he's polling surprisingly well, too (page 19)!

I've been to a few grassroots meetings in my area and am really enjoying the volunteer aspect, too! Anyway, is anyone else here a Bernie fan? I'm betting there are at least a few since in my experience younger people have heard of him more than any other demographic.

But yeah, let's talk about Bernie! Does he have a chance? Do you like him as a candidate, or do you have any other thoughts on his candidacy?

Bernie is the first candidate for President I've ever been truly excited about, and as of today he's polling surprisingly well, too ([url=http://morningconsult.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/150502_crosstabs_mc_NH_v1_AD.pdf]page 19[/url])!

I've been to a few grassroots meetings in my area and am really enjoying the volunteer aspect, too! Anyway, is anyone else here a Bernie fan? I'm betting there are at least a few since in my experience younger people have heard of him more than any other demographic.

But yeah, let's talk about Bernie! Does he have a chance? Do you like him as a candidate, or do you have any other thoughts on his candidacy?
2
#2
5 Frags +

why do u have a canadian flag haha

why do u have a canadian flag haha
3
#3
4 Frags +

As a libertarian, I find that I agree with him on a lot of things surprisingly. Obviously the economic I disagree with, but socially I agree with him 100%.

The big problem I have with him is that he plays his voting record in a dishonest way.

For example, with the US Freedom Act. He did not join Rand Paul on the filibuster, and he actually voted for cloture (ending the filibuster). He then voted against the bill. There is a contradiction there. Filibusters occur when a politician wants to stop a bill that WILL pass when brought to a vote. Bernie knew it would pass, and voted FOR cloture so that it can be seen he voted against the bill, not that he actually opposed the bill.

As a libertarian, I find that I agree with him on a lot of things surprisingly. Obviously the economic I disagree with, but socially I agree with him 100%.

The big problem I have with him is that he plays his voting record in a dishonest way.

For example, with the US Freedom Act. He did not join Rand Paul on the filibuster, and he actually voted [i]for[/i] cloture (ending the filibuster). He then voted [i]against[/i] the bill. There is a contradiction there. Filibusters occur when a politician wants to stop a bill that WILL pass when brought to a vote. Bernie knew it would pass, and voted FOR cloture so that it can be [i]seen[/i] he voted against the bill, not that he [i]actually[/i] opposed the bill.
4
#4
2 Frags +
-protowhy do u have a canadian flag haha

Dual citizen living in the US. I wish I could have both flags but I alternate instead.

[quote=-proto]why do u have a canadian flag haha[/quote]

Dual citizen living in the US. I wish I could have both flags but I alternate instead.
5
#5
3 Frags +

i think hes a really smart and passionate guy. It'll be hard for him to beat Hillary Clinton in the race for the democratic candidate since she has so much more money and is more recognized. I agree with pretty much everything he says, so hes getting my vote.

i think hes a really smart and passionate guy. It'll be hard for him to beat Hillary Clinton in the race for the democratic candidate since she has so much more money and is more recognized. I agree with pretty much everything he says, so hes getting my vote.
6
#6
4 Frags +

i like him but his name sounds like something out of the simpsons

i like him but his name sounds like something out of the simpsons
7
#7
3 Frags +

So, here is the thing that excites me.

Similarly left wing candidates have run before in recent memory, Dennis Kucinich was the perennial "leftish" Democrat guy that would show up, but people mostly regarded him as a joke. Bernie is managing to get himself a bit more attention and to be taken more seriously.

That doesn't mean he'll win, and even if he did, the President doesn't really have that much power to completely alter the way the US does business - but it'll at least get a wider more leftish message out, and perhaps spur people to create something useful in the long-term, and likely push Hillary more to the left for campaign purposes, but much like Obama, there's no concerted Left coalition in this country, so she wouldn't have the political clout to actually encourage people to carry out those promises.

Greece is, at least elections wise, an encouraging take. Their socialist party, who had been for years upon years, the "left" party gave way to Syriza - a much more radical left wing movement. Obviously Bernie doesn't have enough congress persons and Senators running behind him to bring about any real change, but at least it's something - change can happen quickly.

@ Turin While I can see how voting to get Rand et al to sit down makes sense in a "I support this" kind of way - filibustering only works for so long, it's mainly just an annoying way to voice your disapproval for a prolonged period, or before a recess. Even if you go absolutely ham and use a catheter or wear a diaper to stay up talking longer, eventually you'll *have* to sit down (or be removed by medical personnel) and the bill will be voted on - all the nastiest programs went on for another 6 months after the bill lapsed anyways :(. Maybe he just didn't want to hear Rand Paul read the Iliad or whatever else he had on call to read to entertain everybody for 10 or more hours lol.

So, here is the thing that excites me.


Similarly left wing candidates have run before in recent memory, Dennis Kucinich was the perennial "leftish" Democrat guy that would show up, but people mostly regarded him as a joke. Bernie is managing to get himself a bit more attention and to be taken more seriously.

That doesn't mean he'll win, and even if he did, the President doesn't really have that much power to completely alter the way the US does business - but it'll at least get a wider more leftish message out, and perhaps spur people to create something useful in the long-term, and likely push Hillary more to the left for campaign purposes, but much like Obama, there's no concerted Left coalition in this country, so she wouldn't have the political clout to actually encourage people to carry out those promises.

Greece is, at least elections wise, an encouraging take. Their socialist party, who had been for years upon years, the "left" party gave way to Syriza - a much more radical left wing movement. Obviously Bernie doesn't have enough congress persons and Senators running behind him to bring about any real change, but at least it's something - change can happen quickly.

@ Turin While I can see how voting to get Rand et al to sit down makes sense in a "I support this" kind of way - filibustering only works for so long, it's mainly just an annoying way to voice your disapproval for a prolonged period, or before a recess. Even if you go absolutely ham and use a catheter or wear a diaper to stay up talking longer, eventually you'll *have* to sit down (or be removed by medical personnel) and the bill will be voted on - all the nastiest programs went on for another 6 months after the bill lapsed anyways :(. Maybe he just didn't want to hear Rand Paul read the Iliad or whatever else he had on call to read to entertain everybody for 10 or more hours lol.
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