Vermont to elect America's first socialist senator

[Sugar Hill Kevis]

Amid the furious debate over Iraq and the speculation that George Bush may be a lame duck after next Tuesday's mid-term elections, an extraordinary political milestone is approaching: a cantankerous 65-year-old called Bernie looks set to become the first socialist senator in US history.

Bernie Sanders is so far ahead in the contest for Vermont's vacant seat for the US Senate that it seems only sudden illness or accident could derail his rendezvous with destiny, after eight terms as the state's only congressman. His success flies in the face of all the conventional wisdom about American politics...

continued: http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/st...1936980,00.html (http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1936980,00.html)

That's quite a milestone in America for someone who openly calls themselves a socialist to get to congress, let alone the senate... While it's not radicalised or anything - it stills shows a retreat in American reactionism

[lvleph]

That is why I am proud my family is from Vermont and New England. Personally I am from New Hampshire originally, but I wouldn't be surprised if a socialist was voted in there.

[bolshevik butcher]

I'm intersted to know more about his opinions? This does sound from waht i've seen a good thing.

[which doctor]

I can't say I'm surprised especially considering the number of hippie liberals and progressives in Vermont.

[Rawthentic]

What the fuck is one senator gonna do? Doesnt he know that socialism cannot be enacted by reform? If he was a true revolutionary he would fight against the bourgeios political system.

[OneBrickOneVoice]

He's not a socialist. He thinks that Scandanavia is a good example of socialism at its best.

[Jazzratt]

Hey at least it shows that, to some extent at least, "socialism" is no longer a dirty word in America. Here is a guy who has declared himself 'socialilst' (despite obviously not being one) who has not been run out of town. It's encouraging, if not truly earth shatteringly, orgasmically fabulous.

[bolshevik butcher]

This is progressive for what it repsresents. It shows a more radicalised element of the working class, that wants to vote for what is at least percieved as being a sort of 'far left.' This is far better than a republican and democratic cnadiate even if in effect the candidate in practise is no more left than a left democrat as it shows the working class moving away from the traditional ruling class parties.

[lvleph]

Originally posted by [email protected] 03, 2006 10:53 pm
What the fuck is one senator gonna do? Doesnt he know that socialism cannot be enacted by reform? If he was a true revolutionary he would fight against the bourgeios political system.
Okay, if senate is split down the middle with 49 Democrats and 49 Republicans. Then 1 socialist and 1 independent. Guess who are the two senators that decide policy.

Also, there was a socialist mayor of Milwaukee from 1948-1960 (http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/06/21/1410236&mode=thread&tid=25)

[Prairie Fire]

A bit of false advertising there, Comrade. He's a Social Democrat, not a Socialist.

He He. When I think of Socialism, I'm thinking of THe USSR and Albania. :D

[Enragé]

o0

i dont

when i think of socialism
i think of freedom, democracy, equality, justice.


in any case
this indeed is a good sign, though as said by other people he isnt really a socialist.

[which doctor]

Originally posted by [email protected] 03, 2006 07:01 pm
A bit of false advertising there, Comrade. He's a Social Democrat, not a Socialist.

He He. When I think of Socialism, I'm thinking of THe USSR and Albania. :D
He's actually a self-proclaimed democratic socialist.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

This is really no acheivement.

Sanders has been in the House of Reps since 1991. He was elected as an "independent". He ran for governor of the state at one point in the 70's as an anti-war candidate.

He was mayor of Burlington in the 80s.

He's no sort of socialist at all. He's so much like the Democrats that they don't even run candidates against him.. in other words, he's pretty much the Democrat's candidate. According to Howard Dean, he votes with the Democrats 98% of the time.

If anything, he's on the left of the Democratic Party, along with people like Denis Kucinich.

He opposes free trade, but not from the left.. he's for nationalist protectionist measures.

Really nothing to get excited about here, just as there wasn't when the "socialist" Michelle Bachelet was elected in Chile. I told folks the deal then, some didn't believe me, but history has played out and shown her to be what she is, a representative of the bourgeoisie.

[which doctor]

Originally posted by [email protected] 03, 2006 06:59 pm
Also, there was a socialist mayor of Milwaukee from 1948-1960 (http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=04/06/21/1410236&mode=thread&tid=25)
He was just a sewer socialist, as were many of the Milwaukee mayors in the early 20th century. They made some minor gains when it came to living conditions for the working class, but they were hardly socialists.

[bolshevik butcher]

Sorry but I think to completley disreguard this is somewhat unfair, and ultraleftist. For sure this guy is no revolutionary socialist, and is not the solution for the working class. However surley itis something when the American workers break from the bourgeoirse parties; the democrats and republicans?

[The Grey Blur]

But is it the workers that have voted him in?

Is there any kind of commentary or statement on this from American Socialist groups?

[bolshevik butcher]

Originally posted by Permanent [email protected] 04, 2006 12:29 pm
But is it the workers that have voted him in?


Well last time i checked the majoraty of people were working class.....

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

But most workers don't vote. Less than half do. For black and Latino folks, the number is even smaller.


However surley itis something when the American workers break from the bourgeoirse parties; the democrats and republicans?

Not, it's nothing; because he still represents the bourgeoisie.. and they're not breaking from the Democrats, the Democrats don't run candidates against him, and in fact tacticly endorse him. In fact, if he didn't get on the ballot as an independent this year, he was going to run as a Democrat.

So, like I said, this is meaningless...

[YKTMX]

CDL is so uninformed it's frightening.

A couple of things:


He opposes free trade, but not from the left.. he's for nationalist protectionist measures.

That is complete nonsense, and even a cursory glance at Sander's website would show that:


He believes those policies should protect the needs of ordinary Americans, and not just the large multi-nationals that are shutting plants down in this country and are moving to China and hiring people there for pennies an hour. Recently, Bernie introduced legislation that would repeal PNTR with China and has already acquired over 50 bi-partisan co-sponsors for that bill. He has also just returned from Mexico on a trip sponsored by the Teamsters where he, and other members of Congress, saw the devastating impact of NAFTA on the working people of that country.

In other words, he criticizes "free trade" for exactly the right reasons. He points out that the corporations sack American workers, then exploit cheap and vulnerable foreign workers and then ask for "welfare" for themselves and their products.


Not, it's nothing; because he still represents the bourgeoisie.. and they're not breaking from the Democrats, the Democrats don't run candidates against him, and in fact tacticly endorse him.

No, the reason they don't run against him is because they realise they can't win.


Before being elected as Vermont’s lone Congressperson, Sanders served as the first Independent Mayor of Burlington from 1981-1989. In his four election victories he defeated Democrats and Republicans and, in 1987, defeated a Democrat backed by Republicans.

In other words, they've tried EVERYTHING to end his political career.


In 1986, Sanders ran for Governor of Vermont. He lost, but his 14 percent was, up to that point, the highest vote for a non-Democrat, non-Republican in modern Vermont history. In 1988, he ran for Vermont’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives and lost again in a nail-biter. The winner, former Republican Lieutenant Governor Peter Smith, received 41 percent of the vote while Sanders, an Independent, received 38 percent and the Democratic candidate Paul Poirier received 18 percent.


This is a man who's built up mass support on a principled reformist basis. His election to the Senate, whilst not signalling the beginning of the revolution, would be a "good thing". The ultra-leftist wackery here is really silly.

[Cheung Mo]

The title should have been "Vermont to elect America's first social democratic senator."

Still, Hugo Chavez has taught us that a person genuinely committed to being a social democrat is better than a person who pays lip service to revolutionary communism.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

CDL is so uninformed it's frightening.

And this coming from the grand master of the material world. :lol:

His continued support of bourgeois politicians and rightwing religious extremists illustrates his slide into neoliberalism; which is of course, right on with his Shachtmanite politics.

It may seem bazaar that someone would support bourgeois politicians while being utterly hostile to the president of a workers' state, but this is the kind of shit they've been doing for years.

It's kind of funny 'cause, according to YKHSOW, I'm a "tankie" and rightist for supporting socialist states; but the next day, I'm an "ultraleftist" for opposing bourgeois politicians that call themselves socialists.


That is complete nonsense, and even a cursory glance at Sander's website would show that:

Yeah.. the Democrats say they're for workers too. Just cause you take bourgeois politicians at their word doesn' t mean communism do.


In other words, he criticizes "free trade" for exactly the right reasons. He points out that the corporations sack American workers, then exploit cheap and vulnerable foreign workers and then ask for "welfare" for themselves and their products.

No, in other words, he went on a trip sponsored by the reactionary labor aristocracy of the Teamsters (who spew a pro-U.S., patriotic, reactionary and anti-immigrant and thirdworld line about "preserving U.S. jobs" by imposing tariffs and other protectionist measures and cutting off trade with "red China") and saw how free trade had made Mexico worse then it already was... and his concern is that "U.S. jobs will be lost" to these low paid workers. In other words.. "He opposes free trade, but not from the left.. he's for nationalist protectionist measures."


No, the reason they don't run against him is because they realise they can't win.

Why would they need to run against him? He votes with them 98% of the time. That's more than Denis Kucinich, who is actually a member of the Democratic Party!

They want the guy to win.. "Sanders, who had mentioned on several previous occasions that he would run for the Senate if longtime friend Jim Jeffords were to ever retire, announced that he would run following Jeffords's announcement that he would not seek a fourth term in 2006 on April 21, 2005.

"Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, immediately endorsed Sanders; Schumer's backing was critical, as it means that any Democrat running against Sanders cannot expect to receive any significant financial backing from the national level. Sanders has also been endorsed by Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Democratic National Committee chairman and former Vermont governor Howard Dean. Dean said in May 2005 that he considered Sanders an ally who voted with House Democrats. Senator Barack Obama has campaigned for Sanders in Vermont. Sanders entered into an agreement with the Democratic party to be listed in their primary but to decline the nomination should he win, which he did easily." (Source) (http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060912/NEWS/60913001)


In other words, they've tried EVERYTHING to end his political career.

No. Sorry, Maybe you should read your own quote again. It says the Republicans backed the Democrat, not the other way around... In other words, the Republicans tried everything to defeat him in one race.

Once he got in office, he proved to be so loyal to the Democrat that sponsored him in future elections as one of their own. This is a pretty common thing.. happens with reformists and their parties all over the place, like in Third World countries.. Populists with lots of radical rhetoric get elected, but once in office they're won over by imperialists to tow the line. See Allende's party for example.. but I'm sure you're happy with Bachelet, and the "socialists" in Spain, since they "built up mass support on a principled reformist basis." :lol:


Still, Hugo Chavez has taught us that a person genuinely committed to being a social democrat is better than a person who pays lip service to revolutionary communism.

Chavez, more than anything, has been pushed to the left by pressure from the working class, who became much more active in the room they've gained under his presidency.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

You'll notice that the senator in question makes an appearance in the documentary, spekaing out against the Fox corposration.

Bourgeois liberals "speak out" against Fox all the time. What is this supposed to show us?

[LoneRed]

Look at his voting record, he's voted for the war In Iraq and Afghanistan, hes nothing.

[YKTMX]

It may seem bazaar that someone would support bourgeois politicians while being utterly hostile to the president of a workers' state, but this is the kind of shit they've been doing for years.

Firstly, that's "bizarre", a "bazaar" is a Middle Eastern market, you moron.

I "support" American workers winning reforms - such as universal health care, things that this guy supports. Of course, for fanciful Stalinists like you, who think that American workers are "labor aristocrats", working class people dying needlessly because they lack proper healthcare is probably "god's retribution".

As for the beardy dictator, I hope he dies real soon and then you can stew over it in prison.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Way to address the way facts tore down your argument. Good job!


Firstly, that's "bizarre", a "bazaar" is a Middle Eastern market, you moron.

Yeah, spelling mistakes and typos are an indication of one's intellect. :rolleyes:

I heard Tony Cliff was the grandmaster of spelling bees in the UK 20 years running. :lol:


Of course, for fanciful Stalinists like you, who think that American workers are "labor aristocrats", working class people dying needlessly because they lack proper healthcare is probably "god's retribution".

Except that I've never once in my life argued that U.S. workers were labor aristocrats. You took my quote describing the Teamsters' union bureacracy and pretended it applied to all workers. Very principled.

Now, for where I actually stand for..

Of course, I support the fight for universal healthcare in the U.S... and the socialist revolution needed to bring it about.. The FPM's position on healthcare is made clear in its Manifesto (http://www.freepeoplesmovement.org/fpm/page.php?12#VI) which reads: "Both preventative and curative health care must be freely available to all."

But what are little facts in the face of YKHSOW's massive barrage of bullshit?

[YKTMX]

Of course, I support the fight for universal healthcare in the U.S... and the socialist revolution needed to bring it about.

How did you come to that conclusion?

[nmlssone]

I think what this mostly says is that being *cough* "Socialist" in this country no longer means "OMGWTFBBQPINKOHCOMMIEPHJAG".

It's certainly a step foward, to a certain extent. What pisses me off is what is considered "far-left" here in the States. Nancy Polosi is considered one of the msot "far-left" politicians in the country, and has since caused the Right-wing media to coin the term "San Francisco values". Nancy Polosi is hardly left at all, and I would argue that all Democrats are moderates and all Republicans are just fairly right-wing moderates.

"San Francisco values" is simply basic rights for everyone, meaning legalizing Gay Marriage, Abortion, and Stem-cell research... What's so extreme about some basic human decency?

[Prairie Fire]

Wow. Leave it to an Anarchist to take a thread about a social-Democratic senator in the state of Vermont, and use it as a platform to criticize som eof the more erroneous concepts of Maoism and wish death upon Fidel Castro.


Firstly, that's "bizarre", a "bazaar" is a Middle Eastern market, you moron.

I "support" American workers winning reforms - such as universal health care, things that this guy supports. Of course, for fanciful Stalinists like you, who think that American workers are "labor aristocrats", working class people dying needlessly because they lack proper healthcare is probably "god's retribution".

As for the beardy dictator, I hope he dies real soon and then you can stew over it in prison.

First of all, he made a fucking spelling mistake. Most of us do! This is the consequence of thinking fadster than you can type.

Okay... How exactly do you connect anti-revisionism with religious fundamentalism? "God's Retiribution?" Honestly, Anti-revisionists can not win.
The bourgeosie accuse us of oppressing religion, and dumb-fuck anarchists accuse us of being religious zealots. Once again, when people really want to hate Stalin (or even Lenin), it doesn't really matter what you say.

Okay, don't confuse Maoism with anti-revisionism as a whole; While Maoism is one of the various currents of anti-revisionism, many othe rmodern anti-revionists, especially those that follow Stalin, Hoxha, Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il, Che Guevara, ho chi minh, or any combination of those leaders, and not nescesarily Mao, reject the broad notion of "labour aristocracy." Seriously, you should read up on Hoxha: in "Revolution and imperialism", hoxha makes the case against the Chinese "theory of three worlds" BS, and says that the trade Union is the basic unit of workers rights (although Lenin said that without a vanguard,they would not progress any highe than that.).

And also, don't call us "Stalinists", you cousin fucking, anarchist Donkey Raper!

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

He's actually a Trot-Cliffite.

[metalero]

Originally posted by [email protected] 04, 2006 02:55 pm
Look at his voting record, he's voted for the war In Iraq and Afghanistan, hes nothing.
No. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders#Early_political_career)

Sanders voted against both resolutions authorizing the use of force against Iraq in 1991 and 2002 and opposed the 2003 invasion of Iraq

[Guerrilla22]

Just another New England liberal elite trying to pose as left wing.

[Edelweiss]

Seems Sanders got elected into Senate by a 2/3rd majority, and is now the first confessing socialist US senator ever.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

"Voters in Vermont made Sanders, an independent, the winner in a Senate race, succeeding retiring Sen. James Jeffords. Brooklyn-born with an accent to match, Sanders is a socialist who will side with Democrats, as he did reliably in the House." - Source (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061108/ap_on_el_ge/eln_election_rdp)

It's a shame that the bourgeois press is more informed on this issue than some self-described "leftists".

[the babeuvian]

Bernie Sanders's Beliefs:


PRESCRIPTION DRUGS -
Bernie was the first member of Congress to take his constituents across the Canadian border to buy their prescription drugs at a fraction of the price they were forced to pay in the United States and is one of the national leaders in opposing the pharmaceutical industry - the greediest industry in the country. He is the author of major "reimportation" legislation which, if passed, would lower the cost of medicine in this country by 30-50 percent and would lay the groundwork for a strong prescription drug benefit under Medicare - unlike the disastrous bill recently passed by the Republican Leadership. While the Bush Administration and their drug company allies continue to oppose any efforts to lower the cost of medicine in this country, states and cities across the country are beginning to buy prescription drugs in Canada and are saving taxpayers and employees huge sums of money.

PENSIONS -
In another Vermont issue that reached across the country, Sanders worked actively with Vermont IBM employees who experienced a massive cut-back in the pensions they had been promised by the company. The IBM decision affected thousands of Vermont workers and some 35,000 IBM employees nationwide. After a Town Meeting called by Sanders attracted some 700 IBM employees (the largest congressional town meeting in Vermont memory), and after a very effective organizing effort by Vermont IBM employees, the company decided to reverse its position on the cut-backs for many older workers. As a result, the pensions of many thousands of workers were saved. Congress has recently passed legislation that was developed by Sanders that will stop corporations from converting their defined benefit pension plans to "cash balance" plans which discriminate against older workers and which make substantial reductions in the benefits they were promised.

USA PATRIOT ACT -
Bernie Sanders voted against the USA Patriot Act and introduced the first legislation in Congress to undo some of the unconstitutional provisions in that bill. His efforts to repeal Section 215 and his introduction of the "Freedom to Read Act" recently earned him the American Librarians Association award of "Politician of the Year." Bernie regards terrorism as a very serious threat to the United States and the world community, but believes strongly that we can combat it without undermining the basic constitutional rights which make us a free country.

CORPORATE CONTROL OF THE MEDIA -
Perhaps earlier than any other member of Congress, Bernie Sanders has been leading the charge against the growing consolidation of media in America and the dangers imposed on our democracy when a handful of corporations control what we see, hear and read. During the last year Bernie held the first Congressional Town Meeting on Corporate Control of the Media and has invited such media activists as Bob McChesney and John Nichols to Vermont. He has also introduced legislation that would rescind the terrible FCC decision of June 2, 2003 that would allow for more media consolidation and has presented the Speaker of the House with a letter signed by over 200 members demanding a vote on a Resolution of Disapproval with regard to that FCC decision.

TRADE -
Bernie believes that our current trade policies, NAFTA, PNTR with China and the WTO have been a disaster for American workers. At a time when we have lost 2.7 million manufacturing jobs over the last 3 years, 16% of our entire manufacturing sector, Bernie believes that the time is long overdue to make fundamental changes in our trade policies. He believes those policies should protect the needs of ordinary Americans, and not just the large multi-nationals that are shutting plants down in this country and are moving to China and hiring people there for pennies an hour. Recently, Bernie introduced legislation that would repeal PNTR with China and has already acquired over 50 bi-partisan co-sponsors for that bill. He has also just returned from Mexico on a trip sponsored by the Teamsters where he, and other members of Congress, saw the devastating impact of NAFTA on the working people of that country.

IRAQ -
Bernie has been one of the leaders in Congress in opposition to the war in Iraq. He fears very much that the American occupation of Iraq will not only be ineffective in the fight against terrorism, but that it will lead to its growth and contribute to the dangers facing the international community. At a time when needs in our own country are being under-funded, and when veterans in this country are seeing cut-backs in their benefits, Bernie voted against the $87 billion that the President requested for Iraq. Given where we are right now, Bernie believes that the United Nations and the international community should take the lead in stabilizing and rebuilding Iraq, and that American troops should be withdrawn as soon as feasible.

ENVIRONMENT -
Sanders has been heavily involved in efforts to protect the environment and, year after year, has received a 100% pro-environment rating. Recently, he introduced sweeping energy reform legislation in Congress. His bill calls for a fundamental overhaul of our energy policies, and would move toward the country to an approach which is based on conservation, energy efficiency and sustainable energy. He has also been one of the leaders in Congress on weatherization issues and the fight to keep lower-income Americans warm in the wintertime, through increased funding for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP).

Although, as someone pointed out, Bernie did vote for Iraq, he still adheres to many Leftist politics, perhaps not truely socialist, but still Left-Wing.

This indeed is a great day for America.

[sonofthedog]

Let's be sober about what Sanders actually represents - on the one hand, that his constituency at least looks for some amount of reformism in him, is a good thing; on the other hand, Bernie is at best a social-democrat, and is actually a very staunch Zionist.

We should celebrate the end of the "Republican Revolution", but be very clear that the so-called "Blue Revolution" isn't going to be much different. If anything, this is a period in which radicals will have to seize the opportunity to expose the Dems for what they really are.

[Lenin's Law]

Originally posted by [email protected] 08, 2006 07:44 pm
Let's be sober about what Sanders actually represents - on the one hand, that his constituency at least looks for some amount of reformism in him, is a good thing; on the other hand, Bernie is at best a social-democrat, and is actually a very staunch Zionist.

We should celebrate the end of the "Republican Revolution", but be very clear that the so-called "Blue Revolution" isn't going to be much different. If anything, this is a period in which radicals will have to seize the opportunity to expose the Dems for what they really are.
I agree with pretty much everything you said (don't know too much about Sanders and his support of Zionism though) except that we should celebrate the end of the "Republican Revolution." The Democrats in this cycle especially have fielded candidates that are, on many key issues, especially foreign policy ones, to the right of the Republicans. I don't think that's anything to cheer or celebrate about. The Democrats have won by going more to the right.

But I very much agree with you that revolutionaries must now seize the opportunity to show working people the conclusion that many (most?) are quickly approaching: that neither party speaks for them or their interests.

It is telling although a strong majority of American supported pulling out of Iraq now, according to the polls yesterday, there is virtually zero support for this in either party. Even Howard Dean, considered the liberal "extreme" of the Democratic Party, said that pulling out now was out of the question and what we needed to do was "stabilize" the region.

[Janus]

It's impossible to truly remain an actual "Independent" as most Independents side with one party or another. Just look at Lieberman but either way they can't do much in the government no matter how much popular support they have in their respective states.

[Red October]

yeah, he votes with the democrats alot. but who else is gonna vote with? if the republicans try shoving some heinous discriminatory bill through congress, who's he supposed to vote with?

[Entrails Konfetti]

Originally posted by [email protected] 04, 2006 02:34 pm
No, the reason they don't run against him is because they realise they can't win.


:unsure: :huh: :huh: ...
:D :lol: :lol: :lol:
... one sec...

okay... :lol: :lol: :lol:

[SocialistGenius]

Originally posted by [email protected] 04, 2006 12:01 am
A bit of false advertising there, Comrade. He's a Social Democrat, not a Socialist.

He He. When I think of Socialism, I'm thinking of THe USSR and Albania. :D
He calls himself a democratic socialist. Hes a member of DSA (www.dsausa.org). Yes, they are trying to achieve socialism through democratic evolutionary means and not armed revolutionary means. I understand that it is very likely this is impossible, but I respect him for trying. In the words of Che Guevara, which I will paraphrase:

"When a government comes into power through some form of popular vote, fraudulent or not, the guerilla outbreak cannot be supported, because all other options have not been exhausted." (I believe I read that in my copy of "Guerilla Warfare", one of Che's books [available from Ocean Press]).

Although, there are contradictions when Che speaks about the bourgeois democratic system of the US, where I believe he said "american elections let citizens decide their jailer for the next four years" (referring to the Presidential election, of course, and again, paraphrasing).

I'd like to examine these comments to see if the first statement did not apply to superpower bourgeois "democracies", such as the US, as indicated by the second statement.

What do you all think?

PS: By the way.. the DSA does want to get rid of private corporations and bring control of the MoP to the workers.. the true mark of socialism (in my eyes) and the difference between [democratic] socialists and social democrats, whereas the latter simply work to simulate the effects of socialism, by instituting social welfare programs, but not giving the workers control of the MoP, therefore the capitalist threat is still there, "bubbling beneath the surface".

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Che later came to modify that opinion. See his Message to the Tricontinental (http://www.freepeoplesmovement.org/fpm/page.php?146)

[Joby]

http://bernie.org/?page_id=77

Certainly not "revolutionary left" but maybe democratic left.

Still, as far as american politics go, this is the farthest we've come in a long, long time.

Also, a good question to ask is "Is he as far left as one can be in america and be elected? Will he push the envelope farther to socialism?"

Hopefully yes to the last question.

[Joby]

Fuck I wish I didn't live in Dallas.

How exciting must it be to organize something like this--easily the most radical senate run. ourse, that ain't aying much of anything. He's not even that radical.

Still, how exciting must it be to be that campaign manager?

Imagine the high Karl Rove or james Carville go thru after a victory. It's like a drug for those guys, make no doubt.

No imagine the high that guy must have.

[SocialistGenius]

Originally posted by [email protected] 09, 2006 05:13 am
Fuck I wish I didn't live in Dallas.

How exciting must it be to organize something like this--easily the most radical senate run. ourse, that ain't aying much of anything. He's not even that radical.

Still, how exciting must it be to be that campaign manager?

Imagine the high Karl Rove or james Carville go thru after a victory. It's like a drug for those guys, make no doubt.

No imagine the high that guy must have.
And he won with like a 73% majority

[cb9's_unity]

The left has to learn that people will do different jobs in order to get some form of socialism. Most of us on this site talk about the perfect form of socialism and how to attain it but Sanders actually goes and tries to help the workers NOW. He is helping the workers reach the level of class conciousness needed to have a socialist revolution (even if that is not his goal).

So what if he votes with the democrats. If any of us got elected to the senate we would too or we just wouldn't vote wich would therfore be supporting the republicans (and most of the time that is an act truly traitorous to the left).

He works harder for the workers than probably anyone anywere in american government and that is something worthy of our respect. So while i and all the others on this site think of how to bring full socialism eventually he will do his part to lay down the values to the masses and fight the best he can to help the people of vermont.

[Nothing Human Is Alien]

Yeah, just what we workers need, a bourgeois politician to "help us".. no thanks, we've had enough "help" over the years.

[cb9's_unity]

Sure lets follow youre plan and not work with anybody who doesn't follow are exact ideas. this revolution we all want is never going to happen if socialism is the dirty word americans take it to be. He can be a major part in opening people mind to the left
oh and I'm sry he's trying to help the people in the best way his government is allowing him. He fights the bourgeoise more than anybody in the senate. It's sad that people like you fight against progress.

[Joby]

Every elected senator has to be an umbrella of certain interests. For 99 of them, that means different corporations.

I wonder. Does Sanders have a Leftist Faction helping him in the election, etc?


“In my view, the major struggle that we have now is for economic and social justice.

If there is no struggle there is no progress. Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground, they want rain without thunder and lightening. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters."

We have the wealth and resources in this country today to end poverty, make health care available for all, and provide the best education in the world. We won’t accomplish those goals, however, unless all Americans reclaim their democratic heritage by fully participating in the political process: by using the power to vote and speak and act for social justice.


Your mind may change after reading some of his writings.

"US Needs a Political Revolution"
http://www.commondreams.org/views01/0817-05.htm

"A Year of Contrasts: Courage, Sacrifice and …Corporate Greed "
http://www.commondreams.org/views01/1224-06.htm


http://www.issues2000.org/House/Bernie_Sanders.htm

Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 93% by the ACLU, indicating a pro-civil rights voting record. (Dec 2002)
Rated 14% by the US COC, indicating an anti-business voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 78% by CURE, indicating pro-rehabilitation crime votes. (Dec 2000)
Rated 83% by the NEA, indicating pro-public education votes. (Dec 2003
Rated 90% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated 90% by the LCV, indicating pro-environment votes. (Dec 2003)
Rated F by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by APHA, indicating a pro-public health record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by SANE, indicating a pro-peace voting record. (Dec 2003
Rated 0% by FAIR, indicating a voting record loosening immigration. (Dec 2003
Rated 100% by the AFL-CIO, indicating a pro-union voting record. (Dec 2003)
Rated 100% by the ARA, indicating a pro-senior voting record (social security)
Rated 28% by NTU, indicating a "Big Spender" on tax votes. (Dec 2003)


He's since been moven up to C- by the NRA, which is the only stance I might possibly have had any qualms about (not that I like the NRA)

He may be a fake, though I am inclined to doubt it. I can dream, right?

America, staring leftward from the position Europeans are in now. All of a sudden, Marxism doesn't look so impossible.

Haha I'm pratically having an orgy over 1 senator. hahaha