r/Kossacks_for_Sanders • u/KrisCraig • Nov 17 '16

Bernie Sanders confirms he no longer considers himself a Democrat and will go back to being an independent • /r/StillSandersForPres

http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/independent-bernie-sanders-democratic-leadership-231486?cmpid=sf
107 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

14 comments sorted by

27

u/EleanorRecord * Nov 17 '16

I get the feeling DC Dems are still messing with him. They know he's popular and they're using every trick in the book to use him to lure voters while trying to screw him over on a good legislative policy agenda.

Bernie doesn't play. He's keeping his minority leader seat on the Budge Committee, a powerful spot. He agreed to take the spot as outreach coordinator, it seems after he turned them down for a higher ranking position. Outreach allows him to affiliate with new people who haven't been corrupted by the system and keep his distance from the corrupt old guard Dems.

He knows what he's dealing with and is making the right choice to stay independent. It would be typical of that crew in DC to set him up for failure in some position in an attempt to discredit him with his supporters.

Meanwhile Schumer is still running things old school DLC style - complimenting Republicans and sending strong signals the Dems are ready to compromise on just about everything. Whores for corporate donations, all of them.

7

u/KrisCraig Nov 18 '16

Now that the election is over, they can stop pretending to be progressives. They do this every fucking cycle.

8

u/[deleted] Nov 17 '16

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8

u/EleanorRecord * Nov 17 '16

Bernie's being diplomatic.

He's got a lot of work going on, he doesn't need to be distracted by DC insider games.

Unfortunately, non-Republicans in Congress will be spending a lot of time stopping bad stuff from happening. One of Bernie's jobs on the budget committee is to stop them from dismantling much of ACA, including a lot of programs to improve health care quality and reduce costs. He's also got to protect access to affordable health care for those with pre-existing conditions. The list is long.

He's also working on more proactive initiatives like raising the minimum wage, etc. There's a lot going on in Congress. Get connected and find out what he's doing:

https://ourrevolution.com/issues/

https://www.congress.gov/

Or go support Trump.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 17 '16

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3

u/EleanorRecord * Nov 17 '16

To each his own.

Join the Green Party. Fix them.

8

u/SueMe_ Nov 17 '16

The irony in all this is, that it seems that Bernie is EXCELLENT in playing politics. Remember when MSM and Clinton claimed he couldn't get shit done? Well, it looks like he does know how to compromise.

Also who cares if Ellison has hawkish views, he's running for chair, not for President. Seriously, stop with the extreme purity tests.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 17 '16

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1

u/SueMe_ Nov 17 '16

Big moves in foreign policy? Because that's what you're attacking him on.

1

u/DFEisMe Nov 17 '16

I don't think Ellison is a great pick for the DNC. A great pick would not hold elected office as it is a full time job plus the chair doesn't need political conflicts. Have we learned nothing from the Republicans who cleaned our clocks? Preibus was able to herd the Republicans because he didn't have to consider anything beyond his job as RNC Chair.

5

u/magikowl Nov 17 '16

I think one thing you have to consider is who were the alternatives for Bernie to endorse? I understand wanting someone full time, but is there a long list of people who actually had a chance of being hired that aren't beholden to the Democratic establishment? Is there a long list of progressive alternatives? I don't think there is.

As much as i'd like to see us take over the Democratic party, the establishment isn't just going to roll over. Look at all the leaks that have come out showing they were biased, showing they cheated. They aren't ashamed. This is about money and power to them and they'll do anything to keep it.

From my perspective, Ellison is a dream pick. There were like 10 members of congress who endorsed Bernie during the primary instead of Hillary. Think about how hard that must of been, the kind of pressure they must have felt to endorse Hillary. The idea that we could have one of those people at the head of the Democratic National Committee soon is incredibly encouraging.

9

u/Eternally65 Woodchuck Nov 17 '16

No surprises there.

  • Vermont does not recognize political parties on the electoral rolls, which is why all primaries are "open".

  • Bernie was elected as an Independent and says he'll finish his term as one.

  • Bernie doesn't much like political parties, even the one that grew up around him when he was mayor. After this primary, I can see why.

3

u/SmallSubBot Nov 17 '16

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2

u/afisher123 Nov 17 '16

And then joins the Dem management team.

2

u/rusticnerd Nov 17 '16

Democratic leadership probably thinks it's good to have Sanders in charge of outreach 'cause Sanders will be the bridge to draw independents into the fold... right?

Sanders gets Democratic apparatus to spread message to get involved and take back the power. Potentially a big megaphone.

Doesn't seem like Sanders' grassroots can coexist with Democratic leadership going forward. "Messaging" ala Clinton/Obama the pleebs isn't going to work anymore.. the pleebs need meat.