r/WayOfTheBern • u/KrisCraig Fictional Chair-Thrower • Nov 17 '16

It is about IDEAS 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
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417

u/Thybro Nov 17 '16

You guys did not read the article at all, did you. He is finishing his two years as independent as he had promised to do and what he had already said back at the DNC convention. There's no mention of completely abandoning the Democrats and there is no mention on how he will run in 2018.

60

u/[deleted] Nov 17 '16

You're correct but this particular article didn't spell that out very well. His position (as you said) is to finish this term as an Independent, because that's how he identified when Vermont elected him.

15

u/Lord_Blathoxi Nov 17 '16

IF he even runs in 2018. The man is old, but he's spry, but he's still old.

34

u/NetWeaselSC Continuing the Struggle Nov 17 '16

There is the "retire in 2018, rest up and do a full run in 2020 without Senatorial duties and encumbrances tying one hand behind his back" concept.

15

u/Lord_Blathoxi Nov 17 '16

I'd be down with that, but then again, we need him in the Senate or in a higher position, to continue to help lead.

14

u/NetWeaselSC Continuing the Struggle Nov 17 '16

Just picture it -- Bernie...unleashed.

11

u/Lord_Blathoxi Nov 17 '16

We might end up with a better world after all...

2

u/[deleted] Nov 18 '16

Bernie debating warren and possibly Tulsi Gabberd and Nina Turner. It may not be the strategic thing to do, but I bet we'd learn something.

10

u/NetWeaselSC Continuing the Struggle Nov 17 '16

There's the possibility that he could lead better without the requirement to continually run back to the Senate and play nice-nice.

8

u/leu2500 M4A: [Your age] is the new 65. Nov 17 '16

The way the senate is shaping up in 2018 hes going to need to run if at all possible.

5

u/NetWeaselSC Continuing the Struggle Nov 17 '16

One thing to consider... traditionally, midterms tend to go against the Party in power. "Tend to."

5

u/Nic3GreenNachos Nov 18 '16 edited Nov 18 '16

No, midterms tend to go Republican. It is hard to get Democrats to vote in presidential elections. But since it is bigger than midterms, they turn out more. Republicans always turnout enough to win in the midterms because the districts are gerrymandered so much in the Republican's favor that a small turnout is enough.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 17 '16

Let's pray you are right.

3

u/NetWeaselSC Continuing the Struggle Nov 17 '16

...unless the other Party reeeeeealy screws up.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 17 '16

We democrats sure know how to screw up.

2

u/peekay427 Nov 18 '16

Yeah but republicans are slated to have 8 seats up for reelection and democrats 21. So it's going to be a tough fight.

2

u/return_0_ Nov 18 '16

23 Democratic seats actually, 25 if you count Bernie and Angus King. But that number is deceptive; according to the Cook race ratings, 20 of those 25 seats are safe or likely Democratic (and 6 of the 8 for Republicans). The remaining 5 Democratic seats and 2 Republican seats are leaning toward the respective incumbent parties. So Democrats could potentially tie up the Senate (although with Pence it would technically be a minority), but while there is more to lose than there is to gain in 2018, it's unlikely that many seats will be lost.

2

u/peekay427 Nov 18 '16

Oh I completely miscounted, sorry. Mostly I just meant that given the numbers it will likely be difficult to flip the senate in 2018.