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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Story of How Bernie Sanders Became Famous Will Make You Love Him Even More
OK, the title's a bit much, but this is a cool story:
<snip>
The firebrand politician, who will turn 74 in September, came from humble beginningsin in Brooklyn. He's been demolished in several political races in his life, and every time he has won one whether for mayor, the House of Representatives or the Senate the establishment widely assumed the victory to be a short-lived stroke of luck.
<snip>
Sanders was born in 1941 and raised in a poor Jewish family in Brooklyn. His father, a Polish immigrant who was the only member of his family to survive the Holocaust, was a paint salesman who struggled to make ends meet. according to the New York Times, he slept in the living room with his brother in his family's one-bedroom apartment in Flatbush, and, he told the New York Times, "money was always a source of friction." His mother, who always hoped to escape that apartment, died at the age of 46.
Sanders' taste for attempting long-shot political races on a radical platform emerged early in life. In high school, he ran for class president on a "platform to provide scholarships to war orphans in Korea," according to the University of Chicago Magazine. He came in third place.
<snip>
In the '60s at the University of Chicago, where he transferred after a year at Brooklyn College, he studied psychology and took on leadership roles in the radical political scene. "When I went to the University of Chicago, I began to understand the futility of liberalism," he told the Los Angeles Times in 1991. According to Chicago magazine, he helped lead a sit-in against racially segregated campus housing, and worked as an organizer for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. In 1963, he took his first trip to the nation's capital to march in Martin Luther King Jr.'s seismic "March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom."
<snip>
As mayor, Sanders pursued initiatives true to his enterprising socialist sensibility, but he won over his constituents by effectively attending to less glamorous everyday issues, like filling potholes. Burlington residents could and did call him on his phone in the middle of the night about any kind of grievance. Sanders quickly developed a reputation as almost superhumanly industrious, and a champion of useful initiatives for working people like expanding dental care access. He was reelected twice.
<snip>
http://mic.com/articles/118212/the-story-of-how-bernie-sanders-became-famous-will-make-you-love-him-even-more
think
(11,641 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)the meme that his focus on economic justice leaves out social justice. Pretty clear that social justice, human rights and civil rights have been a strong focus of his for a long time.
As is clear to anyone who cares to do just a tiny bit of research, or is honestly interested rather than trying to create a gotcha, Bernie is the real deal and has proven it for years. Trying to attack him from the left is the most foolish things I've ever seen.
hifiguy
(33,688 posts)who I will not name but whom everyone knows, who will never accept this. Stirring shit is all they have the brainpower or inclination to do.
libdem4life
(13,877 posts)hifiguy
(33,688 posts)his entire life. He has always walked the walk and anyone who says or implies he has not is a goddam liar.
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)mother earth
(6,002 posts)beginning.
K & R
G_j
(40,367 posts)Sanders, shortly after becoming mayor of Burlington in 1981
cui bono
(19,926 posts)So then when I was working at an ice-cream store one day, he walked in, dressed in his usual attire of black converse high tops, blue jeans, t-shirt and army jacket, with his curly hair and beard, and I said, "Hi Mike" as I greeted the mayor of Santa Cruz. I got a kick out of that!
trof
(54,256 posts)A month younger than me.
I dunno.
Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)That is the only fault that I can find with him as the candidate. But he appears to be active and energetic, so I am not sure how important that is to me.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)Hillary and Elizabeth Warren are about the same age, but Elizabeth Warren seems to have a lot more energy than Hillary.
My mother lived to 98 as do most women in my family, and was still young and energetic until she got into her mid-80s. We all age at different rates.
We shall see how Bernie's stamina holds during the primary. Same for Hillary and anyone else who enters the race.
People die of heart disease and cancer in their 50s. Cancer at any age.
Bernie seems to gather strength from his strong commitment to justice.
jwirr
(39,215 posts)but are worried about his age. I am waiting until later to convert them. He is already doing that. At that age a candidate merely has to have a great VP. Then we have nothing to worry about.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)I'm more than 3 years younger than either of you old coots.
daleanime
(17,796 posts)oberliner
(58,724 posts)Just like in high school.
I like him a lot. I have a friend who, as a college student, was an intern from him in Washington and sang his praises.
I agree with him politically and would support him wholeheartedly were he to win the nomination.
That being said, I would be surprised if he finished higher than third among the Democrats when all is said and done.
Regardless, I think it's great to get the word out here on DU about the many reasons why he ought to be president.
It will be great to have his voice in the debates and throughout the primary. In the end, I think he will be an enthusiastic campaigner and supporter of our eventual nominee, whoever she or he may be.
ladyVet
(1,587 posts)I don't get this notion about not supporting someone you really like as a candidate because of a perceived idea that they can't/won't win. I've seen it with Kucinich (I forget how to spell it, sorry dude). "He'd be a great candidate, but I won't support him because he can't win."
Well, duh.
They can win, if we get behind them!
Bernie's got my vote, and any money I can scrape up. It might only be five dollars, but it's all his. I'll give to any decent, local candidate that can win over our crooked puke sheriff, and that fucking loser governor, and that's about it.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)PumpkinAle
(1,210 posts)Yeah Bernie!!
marym625
(17,997 posts)I'm in love
IronLionZion
(45,474 posts)So true.
deutsey
(20,166 posts)I've liked his politics since the early '90s, but I didn't know a lot about him. This makes me like him even more.
Autumn
(45,120 posts)cali
(114,904 posts)and he he's nothing if not consistent- I suppose some would say he's a broken record.
His landing in Vermont certainly was fortuitous- for both him and Vermonters. It's a good environment for truly left of center politicians- and we have a great bench of young and youngish Vermont Progressive Party members and Democrats, in the VT House and Senate.
I'd put money on this guy being elected to Congress (it'd be nice to be represented by an organic farmer)
<snip>
Zuckerman ran for the Vermont House in 1994 while still enrolled in college, losing by 59 votes. He ran again two years later and become the fourth Progressive Party member to serve in the Vermont State House, a seat that he held through 2010.[1]
Prior to serving in the House, he served on the Burlington Electric Commission. While in the House he served for 6 years on the Natural Resources and Energy Committee as well as 6 years on the Agriculture Committee, including 4 as the Chairperson. He finished his time in the House of Representatives by serving on the Ways and Means Committee. In 2005, Zuckerman considered running for the sole Vermont seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2006 U.S. House election, that was being vacated by Independent Rep. (now Senator) Bernie Sanders, eventually deciding not to run in order to continue serving as Agriculture Chair in the Vermont House of Representatives.
Zuckerman ran for Vermont State Senate in 2012 and won as a Progressive/Democrat.[2][3]
In his time in the General Assembly, Sen. Zuckerman has been involved in the passage of Vermont's civil union and marriage equality laws, workers' rights legislation, increasing the minimum wage, sustainable (economic and environmental) agricultural policy, marijuana policy reform, election law reform, many renewable energy initiatives, progressive taxation policy as well as universal healthcare.
In January 2014, Sen. Zuckerman introduced legislation that would allow for recreational sale and use of marijuana. If passed it would allow for possession up to 2 ounces of cannabis, and the cultivation of up to 3 plants for anyone that is 21 and over. It would also have the penalty for under-aged consumption of marijuana be the same as the current penalty± for under-aged drinking.
Agriculture
Since 1999 Zuckerman and his wife Rachel Nevitt built a successful organic farm at Burlington's Intervale, a network of a dozen farms located in and serving the city. Zuckerman served on the American Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee and, from 2005-2009, chaired of the House Agriculture Committee. He is also a member the Vermont Farm Bureau and The Northeast Organic Farming Association chapter in Vermont.
In 2009 Zuckerman and Nevitt moved their farm to 150 acres (610,000 m2) in Hinesburg where they grow 20 acres (81,000 m2) of vegetables, and raise 1000 chickens. Their produce is almost exclusively sold within Chittenden County. They operate a summer CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) with 275 members, a winter CSA with 125 members, and sell year round at the local Burlington farmers market.
Issues
On April 25, 2006, Zuckerman introduced a resolution for the Vermont legislature to ask the US Congress to impeach President George W. Bush.[4] The motion failed 87-60 in a roll call vote, April 25, 2007.[5]
In 2009, Zuckerman sponsored a same-sex marriage bill which was eventually passed after the house overrode the veto of Gov. Jim Douglas by the necessary 2/3 majority.
Sen. Zuckerman has also been a leader on the following issues; renewable energy, affordable housing, livable wages, instant run-off voting (and other election reform measures), GMO legislation, universal healthcare, progressive taxation and end of life choices.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Zuckerman_%28politician%29
also this guy:
http://www.timashe.com/about-tim/
We have some wonderful women legislators as well, but largely they're older.
Paka
(2,760 posts)Thanks for posting. I am so thrilled he is running, and I'm a real believer that with hard grassroots support HE CAN WIN!
BeanMusical
(4,389 posts)ChiciB1
(15,435 posts)my comments too! Tom Hartmann just relayed some information about him and his comments regarding Hillary! VERY INTERESTING and I LOVE it!
Back later!
chev52
(71 posts)So far, it seems like he's consistent and not for sale.
He probably can't unseat Hillary, but if he runs in a third party in a general election, I will vote for him.
kenfrequed
(7,865 posts)And I think he will take the nomination. I don't care how much money Hillary has racked up, Bernie Sanders is going to be our next president!
cali
(114,904 posts)if she's the Dem nominee.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)2nd post on DU advocates splitting the General Election vote interesting.
woo me with science
(32,139 posts)He is honest.
An actual, honest representative of the people, in a sea of corrupt corporate sellouts.
bobjacksonk2832
(50 posts)Bernie Sanders is definitely one of the most important progressive politicians working today. I wish him luck on his presidential campaign.