BREAKING NEWS: Bernie Sanders Announces 2020 Presidential Campaign

op is worse than Hitler

Yyyyep, already posted

Great! So Bernie is taking another pay-out to run independently thereby splitting the democratic vote in-turn handing the election to Trump. QUICK! Someone sidle up to Bernie whilst shaking a coin filled piggy bank and throw it into traffic! Make that money, Bernie!

Bernie will bring the Democratic Party to its knees once again.

Good news: he's old and might croak

I have a friend who was a Bernie Bro who was convinced that Bernie could have beat Trump. His reasoning was that Hillary supporters would have supported Bernie if he had gotten the nomination but the Bernie Bros would have never supported Hillary, so everyone should have supported the one person the Bernie Bros would support. Delusional.

He is NOT a Democrat, though. Why does a non-Democrat think they have a right to the Democratic nomination?

Would the GOP allow a Libertarian candidate to run as the Republican candidate?

r6 They've tied their whole agenda - one that I fully support - to this one man and made it into a personality cult, instead of finding younger people to be the face of their cause.

And so many of them are still on that "It's going to get so bad during Trump's second term that socialism will happen overnight once he's finally gone" thought train. Infuriating.

Among other things, he would be 79 when beginning his term. 79! That's fucking absurd.

Time to add an upper age limit to seeking the presidency. There's already a lower age limit, so why not a cut-off?

I can't stand this useless bastard. Democrats need to grow some balls and go all out on ending any chances he has at being a presidential candidate. He's a fucking tool of the Russians/rightwing and I'm tired of the left using kid gloves on him. He needs to be attack the way republicans would have attacked him had he lucked out and beat Hillary for the nomination and his dumbass supporters need to be presented with viable alternatives to vote for. I don't care how harsh it sounds, we cannot risk another four years of the Donald the Menace ruining this country.

Trump is not a true conservative and the Republican party supports him. Trump used to be a Democrat even. The two-party system has failed so much that people don't want conventional conservatives or liberals anymore. Bernie and Trump are both hijackers of the mainstream options.

[quote]Among other things, he would be 79 when beginning his term. 79! That's fucking absurd.

I thought he, Biden and Hilary were pushing it age-wise four years ago, and I like Hilary and Biden. I saw a clip of him somewhere recently and thought he he was looking older and had aged since the 2016 election (although he has looked like an old man for years).

Great news, OP!

Thank you!

I was about to complain about duplicate threads but r5 made me laugh. All is forgiven.

I’m confused—didn’t the Democrats pass a rule after the 2016 fiasco requiring anyone who runs in the Democratic primaries to actually be a Democrat? Did I imagine that?

They did. We don't know if BS is running as Dem or not, but I don't think he can even if he wanted to.

But if it came down to it, they would probably let him be a nominee because he gets the VT Dem nomination each time he runs, so they have a ready excuse if they need to make an exception.

R16 not sure I understand the rationale you provided re VT Democratic nomination. What does that mean? Vermont is a small state, I can’t imagine it would be that impactful.

I hate Bernie Sanders. His deeds, words and character are all rotted.

He looks an old man

I think people need to calm down. Last time he was the only alternative to the corporate Clintonist coronation. This time he won't get that much traction. There's too many other alternatives.

R20, yes, so far a gang of posers, dummies, clowns, fame whores...all unqualified. Do better running the genie ftom Aladdin...or maybe a good drag queen.

Unfucking believable. He needs to stop.

R17, one of the rules is that you have to have been a Dem prior to running, not just be a Dem now.

So theoretically, Sanders could join the DNC to run in 2020. I'm saying that if he pushes to run as a Dem and the DNC thinks they need to allow that (for PR, because they don't want him to run Independent and peel off voters, or whatever) they can grant him an exception to the new rule by pointing out that he was technically the Democratic nominee in VT.

The likelihood of that is slim, because his base would abandon him if he joined the DNC. They're against the Democratic Party.

[quote]Bernie will bring the Democratic Party to its knees once again.

Dems are doing a first class job of that by themselves.

How long before CNN or MSNBC slips and says Old Jew?

Give it a rest, grandpa.

we'll never learn.

I used to love this guy. Now I just want to punch him in the face. The fucking ego!

[quote] How long before CNN or MSNBC slips and says Old Jew?

Why are you obsessed with Jews? Are you Jewish? No one cares about Jews like Jews. They are at the bottom of the list when it comes to who’s hated in America anymore. No one cares. They’re not even on the radar. Blacks, Hispanics, gays and Muslims are the only ones Americans hate.

[quote] I’m confused—didn’t the Democrats pass a rule after the 2016 fiasco requiring anyone who runs in the Democratic primaries to actually be a Democrat? Did I imagine that?

You just have to register as a Dem at the time of nomination.

I liked him in 2016 when he was the only alternative besides Hillary.

After he lost the way the Bernie fans carried on during the convention embarrassed me.

I don't think he should run in 2020.

Bernie fans attempted to murder a man for Christsake. Bernie Bros are the opposing face of Trump supporters.

Go away Bernie. I want someone who can beat Trump.

Go Bernie Go!

The first time I ever laid eyes on him,my instincts told me he was not to be trusted. I still feel that way.

Not unless he whitens those chompers. He looks unAmerican

Eran M is always talking about punching someone in the face.....

"You'll see. It will be great. Breadlines are great."

[QUOTE]The first time I ever laid eyes on him,my instincts told me he was not to be trusted. I still feel that way.

Do you often get that sense when you look at Jewish men?

Thank you, next.

Oh, for God's sake, just DIE.

He might be our best chance at defeating Trump.

Fuck him so much, and fuck R20 too.

[quote] He might be our best chance at defeating Trump.

That presumes that trump will run in 2020.

It also presumes that the polls from 2016 are somehow relevant today.

It also presumes that Democratic candidates will be as easy on him as Clinton was. They won't. Klobuchar just said that she is "not a "Magic Genie" who can give free college for all". She won't be the only voice of reason in the campaign.

Russia pops more sparkling vodka

[quote] Klobuchar just said that she is "not a "Magic Genie" who can give free college for all".

Well you'd have to tax the wealthy and the corporate wing of the Democrat party would never be so bold to embrace that.

He's said numerous times how he'd pay for it. And everyone says "But how would you pay for it?" because they don't like the idea of taxing the wealthy.

But don't you see the catch in your own argument, R46? In order to achieve that he would have to be able to pass a bill that would extract billions from Wall Street in perpetuity. Which is exactly what Klobuchar said - she cannot promise she can just do that as POTUS. It would simply not be in her power.

But I thought Klobuchar was the best legislator ever?

She is, r48, and not blowing smoke up people's asses is part of what makes her good.

Exactly, R49

Compare her to Sanders who has never had much of an impact on Capitol Hill. If you look at his history in the Senate it's clear that he is not a doer. A doer will be needed to clean up the messes of the current administration.

Yeah, that was pretty clear when he gave the Daily News interview and couldn't explain his platform, r50. Then Jane tried to blame the bad interview on editing (it wasn't edited, in fact the NYDN released the audio), it was too early in the morning (I think it was conducted at 9 or 10 am) and he's got a lot on his plate with the campaign.

You don't need opposition research with Bernie. Just ask him to go into detail on his platform..

[quote] You don't need opposition research with Bernie. Just ask him to go into detail on his platform..

Yeah, yeah, yeah because someday I'll be a zillionaire and I'll be glad that I voted against my best interests. Yeah!

Don't be ridiculous, R52. No one here is saying that. If it should come to that I will vote for Sanders in the general. But right now, he's the last person I'd vote for in the Democratic primaries. He's too old, his agenda is too self-serving for my taste and I there is no evidence that he can get things done in Washington.

R52, so, having someone propose free shit that can't be paid for and that will ultimately be picked up by the middle class because of budgeting shortfalls is a good thing?

Very worried that Sanders is capable of winning the Democratic nomination but not the general election. I just don’t see him beating Trump.

[quote]Last time he was the only alternative to the corporate Clintonist coronation. -R20

[quote]the corporate wing of the Democrat party -R46

I agree that the Democratic Party, specifically under Bill Clinton, slid more towards corporations than I would have liked, but I also understand that to deny that corporations exist and that they hold tremendous influence is a recipe for losing every office for as far as the eye can see. It's going to take a concerted, difficult and time-consuming process to reverse the slide towards corporate dominance; getting into this mess didn't happen quickly and neither will it end in the highly unlikely event that Bernie wins and attempts to wave his magic wand. In fact, in much the way that BernieBros predicted that the world would go to hell in a handbasket under Trump, we have yet to see a resistance large enough to stop Trump or really even slow him down that much.

That said, if the Clinton's corporate-friendly attitude is the reason you just couldn't find a way to vote for her, may you spend an eternity in hell. We've lost the Supreme Court for the foreseeable future, and the impact of that swing to the right has yet to be felt. We're approaching the point at which climate change is going to be irreversible. We've ceded the future of energy production to the Chinese who are busy creating the way that we will generate electricity, and they will control the means and methods of energy production in the not-too-distant future, which is going to devastate the American economy in ways we cannot begin to comprehend. We have slid backwards when it comes to healthcare, and the Republicans are gleeful with the prospects of a renewed insurance industry that will be free to charge whatever they think they can get away with, and more. And college, housing, and retirement are more expensive today than they were even last year. These are all topics that Hillary had in-depth, well-thought-out and detailed plans for taking on and reversing course, all of which were lost when Bernie and his followers refused to admit defeat, gracefully conclude his campaign, and get behind electing the most qualified person to run for the office in our lifetimes.

So when young people so enamored with a septuagenarian unaccomplished multi-term Congressman and then Senator whose greatest legislative achievement is naming a post office complain about how they can't afford college, or a home, or healthcare, or even gasoline (let alone a car to put it in), I shed no tears for them.

[QUOTE]That presumes that trump will run in 2020.

Why wouldn’t he?

R55 Bernie Bros were made fun off enough that I hope a lot of people don't want to be associated with that even if they privately want to support him.

I think we're always underestimating the amount that other factors play into how people pick a candidate to support. Basically I think a lot of people are stupid and really don't vote on policy they just get caught up in fads. I understand why people would hold their noses while voting for an establishment democrat but the bernie bros that I talked to back in 2016 honestly had a very shallow to no real understanding of why the economic policy and deregulation supported by people like Carter and Clinton was bad for the working class. They just supported Bernie because he was promising hope and they have no real understanding of politics.

Basically, a lot of people are stupid in thinking that the whole process is business as usual. We live in neither a Democracy, nor a Republic. The US is a fascist state. Big Biz/Corporate America/The Military runs this shit. All else is but a dog n pony show to placate the ignorant masses who don't even know to know any better.

So now that Bernie has announced, is the press going to tut tut about what an abusive boss his is/was? Because per coverage of Klobuchar's campaign, it's very relevant.

"He’s “a prick” and “an asshole” to his staff, known as “a screamer and a table-banger.”

For these reasons, Jaffe said the word some people used to describe Sanders’ attitude toward his employees was “abusive.” (The senator’s field director Phil Fiermonte saw it differently, telling the author that Sanders just has high expectations.)"

He's gonna fuck up 2020, too.

Old, vile piece of shit.

Bernie and his wife owned a small Vermont college that went bankrupt. How the hell could he run a country?

Bankruptcy is no longer a disqualifier.

On the first day of his presidential campaign, Bernie Sanders picked up the support of his fellow home-state senator, Democrat Patrick Leahy. Leahy, who endorsed Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary, says he’ll back Sanders this year. In a statement,

Leahy said the Democratic field was strong and “Bernie’s entry makes the field even stronger.” He called Sanders “a proven leader with a strong message.”

The latest. Weird Harris Interactive included Obama in its latest poll.

Marry me, R56.

Michelle Obama, R65.

Read the following, R56:

Harris, Klobuchar, and Warren are great candidates: good luck to all three.

Sanders and Biden should have sidelined themselves.

If Biden doesn't run who get's his supporters?

Oh, God. Are we going to have to listen to that cunt/traitor Susan Sarandon again?

Worse, we will have to listen to Katy Perry and Alyssa Milano.

R62, to my knowledge they didn’t own the college. Sanders’ wife ran it into the ground by taking out huge loans they could never repay, telling the board there that people would flock to this college because Bernie’s name was attached and give them tons of money. Never happened. It was a con job.

Sanders’ wife lied to the bank in order to get gigantic loans. She declared a bequest that a still-living person was planning to leave the college upon their eventual death, as current income. That’s fraud and she should be in jail. It was impossible for the college to pay it back.

She also had a stepdaughter and a family friend receive income from the college for “teaching” classes. Neither was an accredited teacher.

There’s also a really shady connection to some non-academic classes taught in Cuba while the embargo was still going on. There was an exception for certain schools, but why do that for an obscure tiny college in Vermont? The only connection was Sanders’ wife. The money was funneled to some resort owned by a Sanders’ pal. The minute Sanders’ wife was out, that course was gone. Too late. The college took devastating financial losses.

Sanders’ wife lawyered up and then had the gall to demand her huge golden parachute after she’d wrecked their finances, leading them to go under. They were in dire straits at the time and her lump sum finished them off.

The Sanderses are crooks. Fuck them.

I think one of the Sanders relatives taught a "furniture making" class.

I think Sarandon led the Drama PhD masterclasses.

Like it or not, Bernie Sanders is the only one running that can beat Trump and win back the Rust Belt. He's the only one who can change the white working poor away from voting Republican.

Delusional, R76. Both you and Sanders.

Oh Bernie, this again?

R77, it isn't delusional.

Bernie won most of the rural and Rust Belt states during the primaries. Bernie was polling better with women than Hillary. He also is popular with Latinos, African Americans, Muslims, and millennials.

Basically across various cross sections of America. You know why? It's because of his policies and frank candor. No double speaking, empty platitudes, vague platforms, diva worship, or calling half the country deplorable . Bernie is a unity candidate, and he will win in 2020. Trump won't run again for re-election. That's why he's supporting Bernie

R79, is it realistic to base your predictions for 2020 on the numbers that are three years old?

Sanders lost by a large margin in the 45+ age group which is 60% of the Democratic primary electorate, and he has to win the primary first, which will have a choc- full of solid candidates this year.

At 79, he will, also be way too old to take over the White House. What are the chances of him living long enough to complete a second term? Democrats can't afford a one term candidate.

[quote]Bernie is a unity candidate

Maybe in 2016. He has been nothing but divisive since. No Democrat will agree with you on this one.

I don’t think Trump is supporting him so much as dismissing him. He basically said he’s too old for the job now. The fact he likes Bernie and isn’t threatened by him should scare people into seeing this guy is a disaster. He’ll fuck up 2020 without a care. He’s just another selfish old white guy.

Dis bitch again. I hope this old crook drops dead. I want him to lose and lose spectacularly. He’s the fucking Howard Schulz of the left.

Hate him. HATE.

It won't be long til Hillary tosses her hat into the ring. Then things will really get fucked up for us democrats.

R79, polling and popularity are not the same as actual voter participation. Latinos have dismally low voting rates. Black voter turnout has declined dramatically over the past few decades. Muslims in the US are registered to vote in much lower proportions than any other group by religious affiliation or non-affiliation. And millennials? They make noise but can’t actually be bothered to get out and vote. The fact that these groups like Bernie - if indeed they do - has little bearing on a general election outcome. Who votes consistently in this country? Older, whiter, richer, more conservative voters.

Hillary should have won easily - shitty campaign or not - but her natural constituency didn’t get off the couch in large enough numbers to tip the Electoral College in her favor. Stacey Abrams, Andrew Gillum and all the other good progressive Democrats should have won handily. Count up all the Democratic non-voters and weep.

[quote] It won't be long til Hillary tosses her hat into the ring.

No she bide her time, letting David Brock and CNN bleed the other candidates one cut at a time. The she will reluctantly permit herself to be dragged into the race by the people.

My favorite ticket would be Biden/Harris but I think Sanders/Harris would work too. Harris can never win a GE. This horrid country isn't ready for a woman of color. She would maybe get the black female vote, even that might be hard since she was very tough on crime, putting away a lot of black men for not even that serious of crimes.

Both Biden and Sanders are too old but with Harris on the ticket people wouldn't have to worry that much that some incompetent will become VP and those who do want Harris would surely vote for that ticket along with those who want Biden or Sanders.

Bernie made 6 million dollars in one day, yesterday, almost all in donations of 30 dollars or less. He still has it so don't underestimate him.

Biden needs to get off his ass and declare.

[quote]but I think Sanders/Harris would work too

I just don't see them as compatible. Actually, I don't see Sanders compatible with any of the women candidates.

Who the hell cares about the compatibility between the President and Vice President?

[quote] Who the hell cares about the compatibility between the President and Vice President?

I figured the candidates would care somewhat.

This is going to be another looong Democratic primary, so it will be costly for all the candidates. By the way, Clinton raised $45M in the first quarter of her campaign.

Bernie will, have a hard time in the Rust belt this time around. He and Trump have similar beliefs on trade and Trump's trade policy isn't working out so well for certain industries.

Yeah and $20 million of that came from George Clooney and the rest from hedge fund managers. Bernie’s doing it with small donations.

[QUOTE]Bernie will, have a hard time in the Rust belt this time around. He and Trump have similar beliefs on trade and Trump's trade policy isn't working out so well for certain industries.

Bernie and Trump both say “Get tough on China” and the similarities end there.

Not really, r93. Bernie was for pulling out of trade agreements.

[quote]Yeah and $20 million of that came from George Clooney and the rest from hedge fund managers. Bernie’s doing it with small donations.

The point is this will be a very long race. The opening numbers are encouraging for Sanders, but he has another year and a half to go. We don't know yet if his base has grown or shrunk since 2016. Time will tell.

[QUOTE]We don't know yet if his base has grown or shrunk since 2016.

Which one would you bet on at this moment in time?

Danny DeVito is onboard again

I'm confused, is Bernie wanting to run as the Democratic nominee or as an independent or what?

As a Democrat

As a Democrat.

He's a shameless grifter, no better than Trump.

SC and NH polls.