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Joe BidenCongratulations to our presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden!
 

Uncle Joe

(58,366 posts)
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 11:40 AM Feb 2019

Bernie Sanders starts off with a bang



(snip)

All this shouldn’t come as a surprise, yet it often seems to, at least in the Acela corridor. In a world where income inequality continues to soar, common sense says Sanders’s populist message appeals to many. Millions of Americans support Sanders’s agenda, or at least parts of it. Poll after poll after poll shows solid majorities of all ages say they want to see Medicare-for-all, a $15-an-hour minimum wage and higher taxes on the wealthiest among us.

But there is something else, too. Sanders — either deliberately or accidentally — has figured out a way to make his relatively advanced age work in his favor. In American society, we often brush off the elderly. But there remains a long-established trope, something I’ll dub the “Golden Girls” appeal after the 1980s-1990s hit television show. These people are who they are, and they remain committed to their passions. They don’t talk down to the young people, but neither do they scold, or blame them for their woes. At the same time, they don’t sugarcoat their critiques. They don’t pretend to share their taste in music, but they share something more important — they share their idealism and their belief we don’t need to settle for realism, or second best. They are, you might say, brass-tack dreamers.

Sanders, who, in an age of polished video, often turns up looking as if he forgot to brush his hair, makes zero effort to modulate his distinct New York City honk despite decades of living in Vermont and released a campaign commercial in 2016 featuring the sounds of Simon and Garfunkel, fits this profile perfectly. He tells a generation of Americans indebted by student loans that college tuition can once again be an inconsequential expense. It wouldn’t take a “magic genie,” as Klobuchar claimed Monday, just a society willing to support it. And he doesn’t just say he would like to see a $15 minimum wage. He all but shamed Amazon into raising its minimum hourly pay last year to $15 an hour, after he debuted legislation named in honor of Jeff Bezos, that would have required large companies to pay the government back if their employees still need government benefits to get by. (Bezos owns The Post.)

(snip)

But Sanders comes with the formidable muscle. He has passionate supporters who remain committed, years of experience in grass-roots organizing, and a political environment that has only become friendlier to his views since the last time he ran. And no candidate who can raise so much so quickly from so many small donors can be dismissed so cavalierly and quickly.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/02/20/bernie-sanders-starts-off-with-bang/?utm_term=.ebde4c5f6ed1

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
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20 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Bernie Sanders starts off with a bang (Original Post) Uncle Joe Feb 2019 OP
As a society we should be willing to take care of our people, even happy to do it. Autumn Feb 2019 #1
It's because the American oligarchs and their mega-corporate media conglomerates Uncle Joe Feb 2019 #2
Agree!!! Well said!!! n/t RKP5637 Feb 2019 #4
Yes, he really capitalized on that and he had plenty of help from the media. Autumn Feb 2019 #6
I believe that's a strong probability as well Autumn. Uncle Joe Feb 2019 #7
The GOP billionaire playbook workinclasszero Feb 2019 #10
When a society ties human worth Uncle Joe Feb 2019 #11
Yes workinclasszero Feb 2019 #12
Words and ideals have no real meaning for the Republicans Uncle Joe Feb 2019 #13
So true workinclasszero Feb 2019 #14
It's incredible that it's become a nation wherein many relish and rejoice over harming people and RKP5637 Feb 2019 #3
It's not just Trump supporters who are fine with it although they take particular joy Autumn Feb 2019 #5
As is sometimes said ... when to comes to money often D's, I's, R's borders fade. n/t RKP5637 Feb 2019 #8
That is a fact. nt Autumn Feb 2019 #9
Bailouts for the rich, austerity for everyone else. Hassin Bin Sober Feb 2019 #15
If we don't elect someone who is willing to start making some real bold reforms Autumn Feb 2019 #16
Probably why he jumped way up in the betting odds. Now tied with Harris Quixote1818 Feb 2019 #17
He is putting together a very exciting team as well. Nanjeanne Feb 2019 #18
Whats the Acela corridor? romainetarra Feb 2019 #19
It's Amtrak's Northeast Corridor with stops in Uncle Joe Feb 2019 #20
 

Autumn

(45,107 posts)
1. As a society we should be willing to take care of our people, even happy to do it.
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 11:46 AM
Feb 2019

I don't know how it is that we became a nation that is comfortable seeing people do without and are fine with our tax dollars going to the most wealthy among us.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Uncle Joe

(58,366 posts)
2. It's because the American oligarchs and their mega-corporate media conglomerates
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 11:53 AM
Feb 2019

have become most adept at dividing the American People along every conceivable category under the sun to keep the people fighting among themselves.

Divide and conquer is still the rule of the game in their playbook and Trump is the ultimate culmination of them playing that game for at least since the late 70s and early 80s.

Whether they did it intentionally or not could be debated but he's the end result.





If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

RKP5637

(67,111 posts)
4. Agree!!! Well said!!! n/t
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 11:55 AM
Feb 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Autumn

(45,107 posts)
6. Yes, he really capitalized on that and he had plenty of help from the media.
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 12:08 PM
Feb 2019

Had they not covered him the way they do he would already be gone. Going into 2020 I still see that as a threat. No matter who the Democratic nominee is.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Uncle Joe

(58,366 posts)
7. I believe that's a strong probability as well Autumn.
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 12:18 PM
Feb 2019

Perhaps Trump's threats against the media have now woken them as to the dangers of of riding the dumbing down the people tiger and playing fault line politics for all it's worth instead of consistent, substantive covering of the critical issues affecting nearly every American particularly the weakest among us.

The preeminent question now being, how do they get off the tiger before it eats the nation?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

workinclasszero

(28,270 posts)
10. The GOP billionaire playbook
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 12:58 PM
Feb 2019

Divide and conquer with hate and racism.

This shit has been around since the beginning. You think people would be wise to this by now but vast propaganda outlets like Fox news, hate radio and the GOP keep suckering the working class masses into it.

Imagine a unified 99% against the billionaires. We would be living in a golden age.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Uncle Joe

(58,366 posts)
11. When a society ties human worth
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 01:12 PM
Feb 2019

to the individuals' financial strength while conflating business with a democratic republic government.

Dividing and conquering becomes child's play to the most powerful while the quote on the Statue of Liberty succumbs to "merit" base.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

workinclasszero

(28,270 posts)
12. Yes
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 01:20 PM
Feb 2019

I also think it's humorous that the GOP rails against socialism.

They are 100% for socialism when it benefits the filthy rich as in tRump's tax giveaway to the rich and corporations.

But it's hardcore libertarian capitalism for the rest of us poor saps!

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Uncle Joe

(58,366 posts)
13. Words and ideals have no real meaning for the Republicans
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 01:28 PM
Feb 2019

They're only tools to be pulled out when the need arises if the people are divided and distracted it becomes easy to hoe the field.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

RKP5637

(67,111 posts)
3. It's incredible that it's become a nation wherein many relish and rejoice over harming people and
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 11:54 AM
Feb 2019

are pleased our tax dollars go mostly to the wealthy ... and many corporations pay no taxes at all. I don't know if many are now just stupid in the US, naive, brainwashed ... or simply don't give a F unless it affects them. Many tRump supports appear to extensively enjoy inflicting harm on others.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Autumn

(45,107 posts)
5. It's not just Trump supporters who are fine with it although they take particular joy
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 12:03 PM
Feb 2019

in "pissing off the libs", even when they get harmed. Our politicians, even a few on our side, are fine giving bailouts to the wealthy and corporations and balanceing the books on our backs and people, even people on our side go along with it. We have seen that in every deficit fight.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

RKP5637

(67,111 posts)
8. As is sometimes said ... when to comes to money often D's, I's, R's borders fade. n/t
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 12:30 PM
Feb 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Joe Biden
 

Autumn

(45,107 posts)
9. That is a fact. nt
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 12:49 PM
Feb 2019
If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Hassin Bin Sober

(26,330 posts)
15. Bailouts for the rich, austerity for everyone else.
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 01:36 PM
Feb 2019

We better start making some real bold reforms or we are going to end up with a real right wing populist who isn’t a dim witted lazy slob like trump.



If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Autumn

(45,107 posts)
16. If we don't elect someone who is willing to start making some real bold reforms
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 01:50 PM
Feb 2019

we might as well kiss our asses goodbye.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

Nanjeanne

(4,961 posts)
18. He is putting together a very exciting team as well.
Thu Feb 21, 2019, 06:09 PM
Feb 2019

Faiz Shakir of the ACKLU as Campaign Manager
Analilia Mejia of NJ Working Families Alliance as National Political Director
Sarah Badawi of Progressive Change Campaign Committee's (BoldProgressives.org) as Deputy Political Director

And as National Co Chairs:
Congressman Ro Khanna of CA
Nina Turner from Our Revolution
Ben Cohen from Ben & Jerry’s who lately has been working on getting money out of politics
Carmen Yulin Cruz - the fabulous mayor of San Juan who was so great at blasting Trump

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
Undecided
 

romainetarra

(51 posts)
19. Whats the Acela corridor?
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 01:37 AM
Feb 2019

Whats the Acela corridor?

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
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Uncle Joe

(58,366 posts)
20. It's Amtrak's Northeast Corridor with stops in
Fri Feb 22, 2019, 08:49 AM
Feb 2019

Washington D.C. New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore and others.

If I were to vote in a presidential
primary today, I would vote for:
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