Bullish on Bernie: The Bernie Sanders 2016 Thread

[Childlike Empress]

Actually, I've heard about the 2009 military coup in Honduras when it happened, but I didn't have it on the radar until this item, and those who never heard a single word about it are likely in the vast majority of "news followers".

 

[Trakar]

Given the Green's opposition to nuclear power, opposition to GMOs, and general anti-science bent with regard to agriculture, this is nothing but a pipe dream. Just more unrealistic utopian-ism.

Those are all the same reasons that it would be very difficult for me to become a US Green Party supporter. I am progressive, I'm very big on science and technology. I'm not anti-corporate or anti-profit, I'm just very big on efficient and effective public regulation and oversight of the actors and processes involved in private interactions to help keep the playing field fair and level. Not that I have anything against people who have New Age (or any other) beliefs, I just don't feel like they are compelling supports for public policy decisions and actions.

 

[logger]

Read up a little bit on authoritarianism. I'm quite aware of what populist means, but this is a particular kind of populism. It's the sort of populism that brought us fascism. I'm not even talking about his policies -- it's his style. In the words of Marco Rubio (about somebody else), I think he knows exactly what he's doing. I just find it rather odd that he's doing it. It doesn't even strike me as particularly sincere, although it does sort of go with his reality TV brand.

In case you didn't know we have a constitution. The Authoritarian monster you're afraid of is impossible in this country. Obama is sure giving it a go but you see how far that got him.

 

[logger]

I am pretty clear about how fed up I am with business as usual in Washington. Who wouldn't be? Congress is in double figures woo-hoo! 11% approval rating.

That's because the poll is taken on the body as a whole, everyone usually likes the one they voted for.

lol. Nonsensical, I guess an attempt at a rhetorical question. But what is the point you are trying to make? I have to vote for one of them? No I don't. I can do whatever I want.

Just wondering where all your bitching was heading?

The main thing I can do is keep pointing out the problem I have with both parties and that is their love affair with the war on terror along with its national security state spy apparatus, the increasing militarization of the police, etc.

Well I know it sounds crazy, but we do have so really bad people who want to harm us. Have you seen them? They're in the news cutting folks heads off.

Whoever will listen to that, be responsive to it, and ideally turn all that military and security state apparatus into education dollars, I don't give a **** what they call themselves. I will support those people. Nonexistent right now, lol.

The states can handle education. You do know what we have a federal government for don't you? Its not for putting flowers in gun barrels.

 

[logger]

That's okay. Trump won't have time for a war on terror, he'll be too busy with his wars on China and Mexico.

Now China and Mexico are ignored, not surprising in light of how incompetent this boob in the White House is.

 

[Tsukasa Buddha]

And "Comnunity Based Economics" is just plain old "Workers control the means of production" Marxist nonsense with a Hippie Commune Happy Face Painted on it.
And "non violence" is impractical in today;'s world. Ain't gonna work with the likes of ISIS and Putin.
You will never sell that whole platform in a million year to the American Public. Even a lot of Bernie supporters will dismiss it as utopian nonsense.
And,BTW,look at the record of Utopian movements in the 20th Century when they do get into power. Not very encouraging.
Axiom, I know about your "Hippie Parents" background. Seems t me like you really have never had a lot of real contact with people who do not come from that background,and have spent all your poltical life in the far left. I don't think you realize just how small a portion of the American electorate you are.

A,Worker control of production really worked great in Russia, China,etc didn't it?
B.What the Green Party proposes goes a long,long way beyond anything the Scandanavian countries have done or ever proposed. And in recent years even the Scandnavian countries have moved away from a command economy.

Your problem is you basically don't like the idea of a market economy,and want a command economy;ie the state decides what should be made,what price it should be at,etc. That has always proved to be a disaster.
The problem with the Green Party Utopia..Which sound an awful lot like the Venus project..is the same thing that dooms all Utopias:Human Nature.

You seem to be confused and bringing in a lot of odd baggage. "Worker control of production" and "State command economy" and "Community based economics" are all different things. Describing Scandinavia as command economy and the USSR and China as worker controlled is rather... wrong.

The GP platform is full of post-modern, "post-capitalism" ideas, which I would argue are confused amongst themselves, but there is nothing really Marxist or Scandinavian about them.

 

[logger]

Please define this ruling elite.

The ruling elite are from both parties and they are an establishment of political power brokers who handle and network big money donors to look out for the best interest of their small group. They don't care about party, country or citizens, they only care about the power, which in part supplies money.

How do you not know this?

 

[PhantomWolf]

Now China and Mexico are ignored, not surprising in light of how incompetent this boob in the White House is.

What right does the US have to tell China or Mexico what to do?

 

[logger]

What right does the US have to tell China or Mexico what to do?

None, we have our own interests.

 

[Trakar]

Actually, I've heard about the 2009 military coup in Honduras when it happened, but I didn't have it on the radar until this item, and those who never heard a single word about it are likely in the vast majority of "news followers".

I figured that was most likely the case. It just seemed a good way to add some references while trying to refocus the magnifying glass and spread the Bern!

Speaking of which, I think Trump just got a little too close and got Berned!

Bernie Sanders Blows Out Donald Trump As 14,000 Show Up For Salt Lake City Rally - http://www.politicususa.com/2016/03...ld-trump-14000-show-salt-lake-city-rally.html

While Donald Trump moved his Salt Lake City rally to a smaller venue, Bernie Sanders drew a massive crowd of 14,000 for a rally on the same day in the same city as the Republican frontrunner

The 2016 presidential election has created a new national political star. Contrary to the claims of the corporate owned media, that star is not Donald Trump. Bernie Sanders has become a national political force, thanks to a grassroots populist presidential campaign that was able to raise $4 million from small donors in the last three days.

I wonder what it would take to get Senator Sanders to commit to running this type of campaign again in 2020 regardless of who wins the Democratic nomination and/or the general election?

Like I've stated before, to me the best role for an elected (or even just Senator) Sanders, is to spend the next four (eight, maybe twelve) years doing exactly what he has done for the last 6 months. Whether or not he is in office, running for office or just becoming a most dynamic and needed Statesman, this is where his greatest political value lies.

 

[Tsukasa Buddha]

And Norway in particular has the advantage of a highly lucrative oil industry funneling large amounts of money into the nation, combined with a small, relatively homogeneous population typical of Scandinavian countries.

These are rather silly talking points. I mean, let's say you discounting Norway for their oil reserves was meaningful, so what? You can safely ignore one of the countries being discussed. Yay?

And calling them "small" and "homogenous" have always been the funniest detours. Lots of weird assumptions that people are too coy to spell out.

 

[Skeptic Ginger]

... I wonder what it would take to get Senator Sanders to commit to running this type of campaign again in 2020 regardless of who wins the Democratic nomination and/or the general election? ...

Better still,what if he chose some key states and some good candidates to back and got a bunch of E Warrens elected to the Senate and a few in the House?

And what if he took up the cause of eliminating gerrymandering?

Think of the progress we could all make in that case.

 

[Trakar]

...Given the current crop of candidates, I would likely vote for a Bull Moose over pretty much anyone else in the race except Sanders.

I'm just the opposite, but like you, Sanders was available!

 

[Trakar]

PT Barnum comes to mind

For some reason it is quite easy to imagine that this is a common state for you.

 

[Manopolus]

In case you didn't know we have a constitution.

So did Germany prior to Hitler:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weimar_Constitution

The Authoritarian monster you're afraid of is impossible in this country.

Nope. It's certainly unlikely, but not impossible. More likely, we'd end up with a military coup or a civil war if the president got out of hand. Also, Trump has made no secret whatsoever of the fact that he's willing to dismantle or ignore the laws of the land and even international law already. That comment about killing terrorists' families would be an example.

Obama is sure giving it a go but you see how far that got him.

Sorry, but that's just lame rhetoric with no connection to reality.

 

[Joey McGee]

For some reason it is quite easy to imagine that this is a common state for you.

His bias has no effect on him whatsoever.

 

[Slings and Arrows]

I wonder what it would take to get Senator Sanders to commit to running this type of campaign again in 2020 regardless of who wins the Democratic nomination and/or the general election?

Bernout Sanders will be 79 years old in the year 2020.

The oldest president to assume office was Ronald Reagan, at age 69.

 

[logger]

Trump has made no secret whatsoever of the fact that he's willing to dismantle or ignore the laws of the land and even international law already.

You'll have to show me where he says that, you're making things up.

That comment about killing terrorists' families would be an example.

An example him dismantling laws? Lol

You realize they're already being killed?

Sorry, but that's just lame rhetoric with no connection to reality.

Its called collateral damage. Did you know Obama has a kill list. You realize Obama has already been defeated in court for overstepping his authority?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disposition_Matrix

 

[Joey McGee]

The claim that the US government is already targeting the family members of ISIS operative is false.

 

[Joey McGee]

The claim that the US government is already targeting the family members of ISIS operative is false. Obama oversteps his authority... OK. When I make a claim on the internet I qualify it because I respect my audience.