General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhy is Bernie Sanders running for the Democratic nomination since he's not a Democrat?
If he, after all this time, doesn't want to BE a Democrat, why is he running in our primaries?
we can do it
(12,189 posts)Wellstone ruled
(34,661 posts)zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)It's the same reason he caucuses with them. It's the same reason he votes with them the vast majority of the time.
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)At least a variation thereof. It gives him an opening to be critical without appearing to be hypocritical. I don't think it works well, but I get the concept. It's not all that different than nominees that don't support the whole party platform despite being a nominee.
Empowerer
(3,900 posts)They support the party and its goals even if they don't agree with every single aspect of their approach. That's very different from refusing to join or fully support the party because they don't agree wholeheartedly with every position.
zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)He has a better democratic voting record in the senate than many democrats in terms of supporting leadership. He's even IN the leadership, despite not being in the party. It's got something to do with the State of Vermont near as I can tell.
EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)something that's hard to do if someone is actually IS a Democrat (as opposed to just running as one in order to take advantage of the party's resources and media platform).
zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)That's the whole "plausible deniability" aspect. You get to complain about the driving while riding the bus.
EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)And tell everyone on the bus that you'd be a much better driver and they should let you drive, even though you don't actually work for the company that operates the bus.
Tom Rinaldo
(22,913 posts)or to be more exact elements of the Democratic Party that they stood in opposition to: "The era of Big Government is over". They were Democrats and that sure didn't stop them. Before that Ted Kennedy had no problem "bashing" a Democratic President (Jimmy Carter) who he tried to force out of office at the Democratic Convention. Before that the Scoop Jackson wing of the Democratic Party had no problem "bashing" anti-war Democrats. Before that McGovern and RFK had no problem "bashing" "establishment" Democrats of their era in challenging LBJ's handling of Vietnam.
There are real debates within the larger Democratic coalition over policies and priorities and Democrats have never felt constrained to always wear kid gloves.
zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)And the democrats forcibly desegregated the southern delegates. That was probably the biggest "fight" the democrats ever had internally.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)Kinda hard to become president without running.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)... except for his own ego and messiah complex, of course.
zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)Every person that runs is primarily driven by ego.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)Seriously, he lost me forever with his dismissive comments of the candidates running this time. He can GTFO.
I'll vote for him if he gets the nomination, but I will taste the bile in my mouth. And it REALLY bothers me that his fans don't seem to be concerned at all about it.
zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)There's a long list of ego's that have run for that job. Fairly long list of folks that felt "entitled" or that it was "their turn".
The real issue I have with candidates like him is that they seriously run as "outsiders" or whatever, but what that really means is they've built no real relationships in government. They're not necessarily going to attract a strong team when they get there. We went through that with Carter who showed up and had trouble getting along with much of Washington. He ultimately built up a team in the executive branch, but he never really got along with congress.
I do think that Bernie is going to be a bit surprised at how much harder it's going to be this time. He's got far more competition and people have far greater choices. He showed that there was enthusiasm for much of his message, but he'd best not confuse that with enthusiasm for HIM.
JaneQPublic
(7,113 posts)WeekiWater
(3,259 posts)2) The Democratic Party has done a brilliant job of making a run from a third party from the left almost impossible. The party has driven the GP into a point of damn near insignificance. This is a part of that dance, IMO.
sweetloukillbot
(11,031 posts)Why are you on a Democratic website if you are going to bash Dems for not supporting the Green Party?
WeekiWater
(3,259 posts)Empowerer
(3,900 posts)And I'm looking forward to your response.
WeekiWater
(3,259 posts)Why are you on a Democratic website if you are going to bash Dems for not supporting the Green Party?
1) Where did I bash Dems?
2) How can it be bashing Dems to show that they are not supporting the Green Party?
If the remarks are so clear, as a response to my post, it should be easy for you to reword them. I cant make sense of it.
Empowerer
(3,900 posts)Sounds like you understood the post perfectly well. You just don't agree with it.
It happens.
WeekiWater
(3,259 posts)I cant agree or disagree with it. I cant make sense of it. Clarification would help. Asking for clarification isnt being difficult. Its a common courtesy. I cant make sense of the reply and how it pertains to my post.
sweetloukillbot
(11,031 posts)You are saying its the Democrats fault that the screens arent viable. Im asking why you are bashing the Democratic Party.
WeekiWater
(3,259 posts)Still can't make sense of what you are saying.
LisaM
(27,815 posts)Both Nader and Stein (neither particularly Green nor, as far as I can make out, actual members of the Green Party, though Stein may be) made a business of running against Democrats and hurting the nominee in both 2000 and 2016.
If they were really "green" and cared about the environment, they would never, ever, ever have run against Al Gore.
WeekiWater
(3,259 posts)George II
(67,782 posts)...state so publicly and unequivocally, and put it in writing.
Here's the official rule:
The term presidential candidate herein shall mean any person who, as determined by the National Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, has accrued delegates in the nominating process and plans to seek the nomination, has established substantial support for their nomination as the Democratic candidate for the Office of the President of the United States, is a bona fide Democrat whose record of public service, accomplishment, public writings and/or public statements affirmatively demonstrates that the candidate is faithful to the interests, welfare and success of the Democratic Party of the United States, and will participate in the Convention in good faith. At the time a presidential candidate announces their candidacy publicly, they must publicly affirm that they are a Democrat. Each candidate pursuing the Democratic nomination shall affirm, in writing, to the National Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee that they:
A. are a member of the Democratic Party;
B. will accept the Democratic nomination; and
C. will run and serve as a member of the Democratic Party.
This requirement of written affirmation shall not supplant any necessary qualifications a candidate must satisfy at the state level, but is in addition to such affirmations required by individual states and territories. The written affirmation shall be done via an approved format by the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee
WeekiWater
(3,259 posts)Im a manner that would fall in line with the rules.
Im not saying I like it. Im saying its the way it is. Some people seem to have issue making that distinction. Not saying you.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)busily keeping this topic from scrolling down? The answers are blowing in the wind.
FloridaBlues
(4,008 posts)aidbo
(2,328 posts)msongs
(67,420 posts)MaryMagdaline
(6,855 posts)He kept his word about not running third party last time and I trust him not to do so this time. Hes not my candidate but he will add to the debate and he draws young people to the party. Hes not going to be able to yell corruption when Kamala Harris kills him in California. Not running against the establishment will take away his talking points.
jberryhill
(62,444 posts)G_j
(40,367 posts)thought provoking post about it?
Vinca
(50,279 posts)A third party run by someone as popular as Bernie would guarantee Trump a win.
KayF
(1,345 posts)do YOU want him to be a Nader?
fescuerescue
(4,448 posts)And everyone knows you can't win on a 3rd party ticket.
Maru Kitteh
(28,341 posts)It's almost like he merely wants to USE the party.
liberal N proud
(60,338 posts)Autumn
(45,109 posts)Gothmog
(145,345 posts)Autumn
(45,109 posts)would be just fine. People who buy his books are going to buy his books, his political affiliation has nothing to do with that.
Gothmog
(145,345 posts)books sales would be hurt if sanders runs as an indie.
Autumn
(45,109 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)so I'm glad someone else has.
The Democratic Party is Bernie's mistress -- He gets his 'needs' met, his ego fluffed, he can leave when he pleases and best of all, she understands that he can never be seen in public with her, EVER...
(In case you were wondering who St. Bern's "wifey" is; he's married to himself)
MicaelS
(8,747 posts)He can't do it as a 3rd party candidate. That means he has to run in the Democratic primaries.
And his appeal was so great in 2016 because he was one talking about economjc justice.
aikoaiko
(34,172 posts)Gothmog
(145,345 posts)Here is the oath that sanders must sign if he wants to run https://www.thegreenpapers.com/P20/2019-01-03-2020_Call_for_the_Convention_12.21.18_w-attachments.pdf
Pursuant to Article IV of the Call for the 2020 Democratic National Convention, I hereby affirm that, upon publicly announcing my candidacy for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States in the 2020 election, I am a member of the Democratic Party. I will run as a Democrat, accept the nomination of my Party, and I will serve as a Democrat if elected. I understand that signing this form does not supplant any legal or Party requirement by any state or territory to qualify for ballot placement in that jurisdiction.
Further, I acknowledge that in submitting this form to the National Chairperson of the Democratic National Committee, I am subject to the provisions of Rule 13.K of the Delegate Selection Rules for the 2020 Democratic National Convention and Article VI of the Call for the 2020 Democratic National Convention that authorize the National Chairperson to determine whether a presidential candidate has established substantial support for their nomination as the Democratic candidate for the Office of the President of the United States, is a bona fide Democrat whose record of public service, accomplishments, public writings and/or public statements affirmatively demonstrate that the candidate is faithful to the interests, welfare and success of the Democratic Party of the United States, and will participate in the Convention in good faith.
___________________
NOTARY AFFIDAVIT
STATE OF ______________
COUNTY OF _______________
I, ____________________________________, a Notary Public, do hereby certify that on this ____day of ___________________, 20____, personally appeared before me ______________________________, known to me to be the person whose name is subscribed to the foregoing instrument, and swore and acknowledged to me that they executed the same for the purpose and in the capacity therein expressed, and that the statements contained therein are true and correct. _______________________________________________ Notary Public, State of __________________ Name, Typed or Printed: __________________________________________ My Commission Expires: ___________________________
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)That should disqualify him.
TheFarseer
(9,323 posts)We have a two party system and you can really only play spoiler if you . . . . . . Do i seriously have to explain this?
QC
(26,371 posts)EffieBlack
(14,249 posts)tell them what a waste of time their OP is for them, thereby spending their time responding, but also kicking it so that more people can read it.
And when they try to do it with snideness or sarcasm, it's even more amusing.
I don't know about you, but when I think something is pointless, I just ignore it and move on to something that's better worth my time.
zaj
(3,433 posts)Stop with the pushing him out.
He's far more reasonable than Howard Schultz.
BeyondGeography
(39,375 posts)If that needs to be explained, you lack imagination.
Gothmog
(145,345 posts)This is the actual rule that governs whether sanders can run as a member of the Democratic party https://www.thegreenpapers.com/P20/2019-01-03-2020_Call_for_the_Convention_12.21.18_w-attachments.pdf
A. are a member of the Democratic Party;
B. will accept the Democratic nomination; and
C. will run and serve as a member of the Democratic Party.
This requirement of written affirmation shall not supplant any necessary qualifications a candidate must satisfy at the state level, but is in addition to such affirmations required by individual states and territories. The written affirmation shall be done via an approved format by the DNC Rules and Bylaws Committee appended to this Call