Bernie Sanders Announces His Anti-Trump Agenda On 'Rachel Maddow' & It's Pretty Revolutionary

[portlander23]

Bernie Sanders Announces His Anti-Trump Agenda On 'Rachel Maddow' & It's Pretty Revolutionary
NOOR AL-SIBAI
Bustle

In the hoopla since Hillary Clinton's loss to Donald Trump for the presidency, it's been easy to forget that less than a year ago, there were more than two contenders for president. Since being tapped for the Democratic Party's outreach chair, however, Sen. Bernie Sanders has walked the walk that he promised at the end of his surprisingly successful candidacy. In his most recent appearance on The Rachel Maddow Show, Sanders announced his arm of the Democrats' new anti-Trump agenda, and it lives up to the "revolutionary" action he promised on the campaign trail.

In his first interview in 2017, Sanders expounded upon the new Democratic plan to hold a series of rallies across the country on Jan. 15 to oppose the Republican Party's plans to swiftly repeal the Affordable Care Act within the next year without offering a viable alternative. If followed through with, the move has the potential to leave tens of millions uninsured. In signature Sanders style, the Vermont senator not only offered a glimpse into his wealth of policy knowledge on the Republican budget and Trump's agenda, but also offered the kinds of actionable solutions that inspired so many to support him in his presidential bid.

During his time with Maddow, Sanders notes that the Jan. 15 rallies will be the first time in the party's history that they sponsored such grassroots events outside of the election cycle. To say that Sanders changed the party is an understatement — this bold organizational move might just be the push the party needs to tap into the millennial support base that propelled Sanders to his success as a candidate.

Link to Bernie Sanders' press release

Link to Joint Letter to Congressional Democrats

---> Sign up here to support the rallies! <---

[retrowire]

1. Bernie is my spirit animal but

What will the rallies do?

[Dustlawyer]

2. Draw attention to the Republican plans to cut and privatize the social safety net.

Many of the Trump supporters have no idea what is going on. Trump famously said that unlike the other Republicans, he would not cut SS, Medicaid, and Medicare. He plans on signing the heartless bills doing just that. Paul Ryan and Mitch McTurtle have these bills ready to go.

We must draw attention and get some blowback to make the Republicans think twice about voting for this shit!

[CousinIT]

7. Generate energy around an issue, bring awareness and attention.

Rallies bring awareness and generate energy around an issue. They let the PTB know people are paying attention and are not just going to lay down and take the abuses of having their healthcare and retirement taken away. Millionaires and billionaires stole our government. They aren't going to just be nice and give it back. We have to TAKE IT back. Rallies are a part of that.

Another part of it is knowing who your reps are and calling, writing, emailing them REGULARLY (daily/weekly)- Republicans and Dems, as well as Pelosi, Schumer, Warren, and Sanders. It takes one minute to call an office and state a position on an issue. The staffers are almost always pleasant and they do take tallies of public sentiment - esp if you're a constituent.

All of us have to be MORE POLITICALLY ACTIVE THAN EVER BEFORE.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

103. Bernie always knows where to shine the light of truth... just have to follow his lead!

[Orsino]

25. Give us one more chance to save the social safety net.

The election's over and the barbarians are in charge. Rallies are what we have, they are a strength of Sanders, and if we have any enthusiasm left for saving lives, this is our chance.

[uponit7771]

54. It will change the minds of the KGOP and Benedict Donald cause they can't hold rallies

... /sarcsm

[potone]

83. How are you doing, retrowire?

I haven't seen you posting much since the election at either site. I hope you haven't fallen into despair. We are all still reeling from this election, but actions like the rallies that Bernie is advocating will put the Republicans on notice that they are being watched, and will serve to help educate his voters about what is in store for this country if the Republicans get their way.

[retrowire]

92. I'm not sad.

Just angrily observant of everything now.

I keep to myself unless I feel I've really gotta speak.

And I abandoned JPR because of the partial acceptance of Trump I had seen there. I've got no tolerance for it.

[potone]

98. Nor have I.

I also am astounded at the ready acceptance of anything that Putin or the Russian media say as the truth that some people there have. it is hard to find an internet home that one is comfortable in.

I'm glad you are doing as well as any of are after this appalling election. I have never seen anything like it.

[SecularMotion]

3. When Bernie Sanders ran for president

Last edited Wed Jan 4, 2017, 01:54 PM - Edit history (1)

he drew large crowds by speaking against as an alternative to the policies of the Democratic Party.

I doubt he can attract the same crowds while supporting the policies of the Democratic Party.

[CentralMass]

4. Time will tell.

[aintitfunny]

5. What policies of the Democratic party did he speak against?

Just curious, and seeking details.

[yodermon]

79. accepting corporate money. n/t

[dionysus]

101. Well done.

[CousinIT]

8. As I remember, Sanders consistently spoke in support of Democratic policies and principles

He did delineate differences between himself and Clinton - to be expected in a primary.

But maybe I missed something.

[dionysus]

102. Nope. Some people just see what they want to see.

[Bradical79]

107. You seem to be making things up. -nt

[demmiblue]

9. ..."he drew large crowds by speaking against the policies of the Democratic Party."

God lawd, it is almost humorous at this point.

[ehrnst]

15. So did Nader. HUGE crowds. How's that going, BTW? (nt)

[pangaia]

26. Yeah, you're right, Why bother.

Just sit home and watch the playoffs...

[mwooldri]

30. Eh? In what world are Bernie's policies ...

... not Democratic Party policies?

If I recall correctly he campaigned on a platform of standing up for the middle and lower classes, making the billionaire class pay their share, a more pacifistic world agenda, taking Obamacare to the next level by Medicare for all, tertiary education paid for through taxes, infrastructure improvements paid by taxes.... This is a left wing Democratic Party agenda.

We have a government that is effectively GW Bush... On steroids. The plus side is that Donal Drumpf isn't stupid. The minuses make GWB look like a Harvard constitutional law scholar in comparison.

Also remember the media isn't on our side.

Organized rallies are in my opinion a good way forward when you don't have the political power to make and pass laws.

[SecularMotion]

43. Bernie campaigned against the Democratic Party establishment.

He won't draw the same crowds of millennials while supporting Democrats.

[woodsprite]

53. I went to a few of his rallies and never once heard him speak against Democratic policies.

Perhaps some of what he said went against DLC-type policies, and I consider that perfectly acceptable. IMO even Roosevelt would have spoken against some of the wishy-washy ways of the DLC. Wish my Senators and Reps weren't so deep into the DLC (Carper, Coons, Carney (new DE governor, replaced yesterday by Lisa Blundt-Rochester)).

[kickitup]

59. My millennial aged Bernie supporting son is going to a protest tomorrow for PP and abortion rights.

My state of Kentucky is in the process of passing 3 restrictive abortion bills. PP and the ACLU are having a Day of Action in Frankfort tomorrow and he and his friends are going. They were all Bernie supporters in the primary.

[George II]

60. That's not why he drew large crowds.

[SecularMotion]

72. He drew many voters from outside the Democratic Party

Not all of them will rally with Democrats.

[George II]

73. And as we've found out since, many of them didn't vote for Democratic candidates.

[Eleanors38]

75. That's a good thing, Secmo. We need to cultivate and grow these people...

...that's what a political party is about.

[Trust Buster]

6. I was a solid Hillary supporter. I accept, given her loss and her age, that her era is over.

I think Sanders' supporters need to do the same with respect to Sander's. A new era has dawned requiring youth and vigor IMO.

[CousinIT]

10. We have Pelosi, Sanders Warren and Schumer

We need to work with and support them. Casting them off as "too old' will only hurt us.

This is not the time to be ageist and stand by and allow our healthcare and retirement to be stolen in order to pay for tax cuts for the rich.

There's just too much at stake here.

[Trust Buster]

12. Then why didn't you include Hillary in your list ? Sanders' era is over as well IMO.

[Beartracks]

81. Cuz right now she's on a well-deserved break.

When she's back in the fray, THEN CousinIT could include her on the list.



==============

[George II]

28. Yes, we need to work with and support THEM - ALL of them....

There are 48 Democratic Senators (including 2 independents) and about 200 Democratic Representatives.

From the looks of things around here there is only one.

[CousinIT]

50. Agreed. We are in a hell of a lot of trouble here.

We can't afford to be ageist and cast off the only Dems we have to be our voice in gov't. Sure others will come onto the scene - younger, etc. But we got what we got right now and have to work w/ that.

[sheshe2]

82. Are you responding to George?

Your ageist post has nothing to do what he said.

He is talking numbers not age. We have 48 DEMOCRATIC SENATORS, yet on DU we only have one. Only one Senator. One is the loneliest number.

George II (19,016 posts)

28. Yes, we need to work with and support THEM - ALL of them....





There are 48 Democratic Senators (including 2 independents) and about 200 Democratic Representatives.

From the looks of things around here there is only one.

[sheshe2]

80. OMG.

You said what I have been thinking all along.

[bullwinkle428]

11. Are you suggesting he's too old to be a leading figure

as part of the resistance movement against Trumpism?

[Trust Buster]

14. I'm suggesting that the Democrats' bench is thin. I'm suggesting that we must move on from

Hillary, Sanders and Pelosi and allow fresh blood to establish themselves on a national basis.

[ehrnst]

19. "Fresh blood?" To paraphrase Bernie, "It's not enough to be young."

You need experience, and youth does not give you that.

You may be smart, but we need those who "have seen the elephant."

[Trust Buster]

21. When I mention "youth", I'm not referring to 21 year olds. Republicans will control the WH, the

Senate and the House until 2020. We must prepare for 2020 IMO.

[mwooldri]

33. Not necessarily.

There are midterm elections in 2018. If Donal Drumpf proves to be unpopular, and if the Repukes do damage to health care without fixing it satisfactorily, and we keep up the momentum on the left and get out the vote we can take back the House. Unsure about the Senate because more safe Repuke seats are up next time and some Democrats in Red States are up for reelection.

[Trust Buster]

42. Registered Democrats have an embarrassing midterm turnout track record. I wouldn't hold your

breath on that hope. PS.: The Republicans might vote to repeal the ACA before 2018 but it won't take effect until after 2018. Neither the House or Senate will flip to the Dems in 2018 IMO. 2020 is a census year. Therefore, we must not only be well positioned in the federal legislature but the state legislatures as well if we wish to reverse the fraudulent effects of Republican gerrymandering after the 2020 census.

[ehrnst]

64. Neither was I. (nt)

[LakeArenal]

13. Ok then, what are the "young" ones proposing to do?

At least Bernie isn't hiding away somewhere.

[Trust Buster]

17. The "young ones" will remain in the shadows if Hillary, Sanders and Pelosi continue to suck up

all the oxygen. We need to strengthen our bench.

[ehrnst]

85. "Suck up all the oxygen?" What does that even mean?

Nancy Pelosi is Minority Leader - if she's not out there pushing our issues, she's not doing her job.

And is it only women of a certain age that are "sucking up all the oxygen?" If you mean jumping into the spotlight - that's certainly what Bernie is doing.

[ehrnst]

16. Don't diss experience. We need that now more than ever. (nt)

[Trust Buster]

18. I value experience but I also value up and coming talent.

[ehrnst]

20. You said that the experienced ones were "sucking up all the oxygen"

Doesn't sound like value to me.

[Trust Buster]

22. You mean that President Obama is not experienced because he's not old enough to qualify for

Medicare ? Point being, there are many in the Party in their 40's and 50's who have the requisite experience. We need to build our bench for the future. The time is quickly coming when Hillary, Bill, Pelosi and Sander's will represent our past. That is all I'm saying.

[Vilis Veritas]

49. So name someone who is cued up and ready to throw cause the game starts in 16 days.

Bernie has credibility, popularity, networks, experience, incredible stamina, incredible ability to stay on message and he is still active in the Senate (at least as far as I know).

I am ready to help him in whatever way I can.

If you can't name some young one (you said there were many) with a plan and agenda that has popularity and experience and who has a plan in place for fighting the incoming disaster then please just acknowledge the fact that we need to start fighting on DAY 1.

However, I agree with your sentiment about 2020, the party needs to be putting the Young One out there and whose coattails better to ride than the current active Senator Sanders, Warren, Pelosi...I could see them doing these rallies together and the old guard building up this Young One, preparing for the endorsement in 2019.

Hell, Warren could be that Young One and I would and was all over the Warren bandwagon for a long time so it would be very easy for me to get behind that brilliant woman.

Peace

[ehrnst]

63. Warren will be way to old for this crowd. Unless the oldest of them all blesses her... (nt)

[ehrnst]

62. Straw man. Medicare does not experience - and has nothing to do with what I was talking about.

So, no, that was not "all you were saying," any more than I said experience = medicare eligible....

If people are still up for leading - and by leading, I mean in Senate or in Dem leadership positions - then their experience and well honed gut instinct should not be thrown away because someone thinks there's not enough "oxygen" left in the room for them.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

52. Like who? Let's have some names.

[Trust Buster]

68. Tim Ryan, Kristin Gillabrand, Debbie Stabenauer (sp) to name a few. They need to be highlighted

to begin to develop their national identities.

[ehrnst]

87. So, they need to be "highlighted" like the DNC did with Hillary?

I see to recall that Bernie supporters were OUTRAGED by all the support and highlighting that Hillary got from the party, because it just wasn't fair to Bernie.

And just who will be doing this "highlighting?" The people you claim are "sucking up all the oxygen" like our minority leaders - who was elected by those people who are currently doing the work of governing. Including those on your list.

I feel like you are simply tired of seeing certain people in leadership, and are rationalizing why you think that they should not be there.

[pangaia]

27. Bernie has more youth and vigor than a lot of vigorous youths.

[Trust Buster]

31. The next battleground is 2020. It's about the future and developing a strong Democratic bench IMO

[pangaia]

32. NO, The next battleground is right now.

If we lose, there may not BE a 2020..

Get to work, like a vigorous youth.
I am, and I am 73.

[Trust Buster]

40. Not much of a battleground right now. Either the Dems have the votes to sustain a filibuster on a

particular issue or they don't. Developing a strong nationally recognized bench for the future is what I was referring to.

[Vilis Veritas]

48. So we the people just cower in the corner for 4 years while the hill people figure it out?

F that...I am going to start fighting, writing, calling, protesting right now. And if Bernie is leading some National effort to help me fight then HELL YEA!

But I do agree with developing that bench and I think that is why Warren was in the list...maybe? Or is Senator Warren to old?

Peace.

[ehrnst]

96. Speak for yourself - where I live there is a school board, county council

state house and many other political bodies that shape my life right now, and provide the "highlighting" of political talent.

[Trust Buster]

100. I think you need to refresh your memory with respect to the OP.

[ehrnst]

106. The OP was talking about grassroots action.

Perhaps you need to referesh your memory with respect to the OP.

[dhill926]

44. thank you....

I don't give a flying fuck how old somebody is....just get shit done and resist the nightmare that lies ahead. All dems should be eager to enlist...

[ehrnst]

67. I don't either, but Bernie seems to be the exception to all the "we need young blood"

in the party.

And the only reason that many of his fans are even considering a woman as old as Elizabeth Warren - even after vilifying her for supporting Hillary - is that Bernie has blessed her with his approval.

Any other woman older than 50, particularly of color, seems to be dismissed out of hand. And the minute Hillary got pneumonia, Bernie fans were demanding she step down and let "vigorous" Bernie (who I believe knew he had melanoma back in July) step in.

I think that if someone is still going strong, we should absolutely have them in party leadership.

The presidency may be another situation, as that is a major stressor. I did have concerns about Hillary's age, but felt she was much healthier than Bernie, as women are usually healthier than men of the same age at that point.

[ehrnst]

65. What Bernie are you talking about? Sanders is battling melanoma right now.

That cut on his cheek at the Convention that so many Sanders supporters said was "evidence" that the DNC "roughed him up" was likely a biopsy.

Going public with a health problem that serious at that time would certainly have been more of a problem for Bernie than rumors that he was assaulted by DNC thugs.

I have my doubts that he is as healthy as many believe.

[Eleanors38]

76. On matters of youth and vigor, I'll look to Bernie's supporters.

[TCJ70]

39. No one is stopping anyone younger or more vigorous from doing anything...

...where are they? Maybe we should have them partner with Sanders since he's out there keeping the issues out front and engaging the public?

[Trust Buster]

41. I think Tim Ryan would have been a breath of fresh air as Pelosi's replacement. Now, Pelosi will

dominate that spotlight. It takes years to develop nationally recognized leading figures.

[TCJ70]

45. No disagreement here...

...but I think the pressure needs to not be for the existing people to step down but to work with the people who will eventually come up behind them. Bernie, having a platform and ability to connect with large groups of people, is in a good position to do this rather than an unknown at this point.

[ehrnst]

89. She was selected by her peers. Perhaps they know more than we do.

Perhaps it's a job that isn't about "highlighting," it's a job that requires a deep understanding of congress.

Perhaps it's not a learn on the job position, such as one to be given to someone that the boss would like to groom for other things.

[Trust Buster]

91. Pelosi had her moment. She has become stale. We need to move on IMO.

[ehrnst]

94. There is a reason that it is up to her peers and not someone

who has never done the work she does.

[Trust Buster]

99. There is a reason why President Obama must leave after two terms.

[ehrnst]

105. What does that have to do with the minority leader? (nt)

[Trust Buster]

108. When the same leadership is in place for a decade or more they become stale, rigid and dictatorial

by default. Pelosi has had her opportunity and shouldn't have cracked her whip in seeking re-election as minority leader IMO. Tim Ryan would have served as a breath of fresh air.

[ehrnst]

109. That's not why the president has term limits. The 22nd amendment does not apply to congress

There are reasons, even if Trust Buster doesn't understand them. It involves the very different weight that the president has as opposed to a single member of congress.

Again - if Tim Ryan had the confidence of his peers, then he would have been elected by his peers. Perhaps what is a 'breath of fresh air" to some is "not ready yet for this position" to those who work there.

Perhaps if you were to hold office in Congress, you would be in a position to judge.

Until then, the actual people who do the work get to make that decision, instead of those who might think that experience is a handicap.

[ehrnst]

84. Sanders is not the only career politician keeping issues out front and engaging the public.

Corey Booker, Al Franken, Elizabeth Warren, Don Beyers.....

[TCJ70]

86. I didn't say he's the only one...n/t

[ehrnst]

88. I didn't say Sanders wasn't out there. (nt)

[TCJ70]

90. I didn't say you did...n/t

[ehrnst]

95. Straw men get tiresome. (nt)

[TCJ70]

97. I wouldn't know. n/t

[ehrnst]

110. You are a prodigy, then! (nt)

[TCJ70]

111. Thanks! N/t

[LanternWaste]

58. What are the specific policy changes that youth, and only youth can supply?

What are the specific policy changes that youth, and only youth can supply which mid- to older-age is unable to, and on what objective measure is that based?

[Trust Buster]

74. You missed the point entirely. It takes years to develop Democratic leaders on a national stage.

Neither the Clinton's, Sanders or Pelosi represent the next generation of leadership I never claimed that Democrats in their 40's or 50's are the only Democrats that can affect policy change.

[panader0]

70. Sanders is still in Congress. His era is not over. Hillary is not in Congress.

Her era is over.

[George II]

23. How many times are you going to post this?

[Tanuki]

35. Somebody alerted on your post. It seems the alert stalkers are back, if they ever left.

[George II]

36. Thank you.

[RussBLib]

61. I had not seen this previously

perhaps not everyone peruses every single post as closely as you do

[George II]

66. Well there have been at least two on the DU home page in the last day......

.......I guess it'snot a good thing to "peruse" the home page of this site?

[George II]

37. Sanders is planning them? I don't think so.

And "Hillary and Bill" are carrying on an age old tradition of ex-Presidents and their spouses attending the Inauguration at noon. They're not going to the Inaugural ball.

[Cha]

38. Please stop bashing our Dems.. There's no need to take a dump on

Hillary because she isn't planning rallies around the country.

Yes they are going to the inauguration.. It has everything to do with Hillary's grace, dignity, and strength,

She has every reason to hold her head high.. & I think it will piss off the insecure dump that she is there distracting from him being the center of everyone's universe.

Hillary is fearless and I'm glad the Clintons will be there for President Obama, too.

[George II]

51. The thing is I don't think it's Sanders who is planning all of those rallies, either. It is...

...Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer, the Democratic leaders in Congress, who have called for the rallies.

Funny how those two get shoved into the background all the time.

[Cha]

55. Well I thank Nancy Pelosi, Schumer, and the Democratic Leaders in

Congress.

Not by me they're not getting shoved away.. everyone deserves mention.. thank you, George.. I had no idea.

[Me.]

104. Idol Worship

is blinding

[pangaia]

29. Sic 'em Bernard!!!

[still_one]

34. While I applaud Bernie for what he is doing, I remain skeptical that a series of rallies will change

the outcome, unless those rallies get enough coverage, and they also motivate people to call their representative and senators. Otherwise, it will be just preaching to the choir.

The can also destroy the ACA informally through the process of budget reconciliation as I understand it

The fact that every Democrat running for Senate in a swing state lost to the establishment, republican, incumbent, puts us in a very precarious situation.

Don't get me wrong, we need to fight this every inch of the way, but those folks who decided not to vote or vote third party, have pretty much set the course for the next two years, and most likely the next four years

[Eleanors38]

77. On rallies and effectiveness: I'll take ANYTHING on the table, except inaction.

[IntraPolitico]

46. I sincerely hope this kicks off

Our Revolution wasn't really what it expected it to be. One can only hope this really creates a change.

[socialist_n_TN]

47. Although not what I would call "revolutionary"........

this IS a step in that direction, ESPECIALLY for the Democratic Party. And it's a step in the direction of being an "opposition" party rather than a "compromise" party. Also note that this is coming from the left of the Democratic Party and not the party in general. The party as a whole will not easily let go of their support for the Reaganite, neo-liberal agenda and, to be fair, neither will many of the Republican globalists. This sets up a pretty interesting Congressional dynamic IMO.

But it's a start at getting people involved and out in the streets where REAL change has to begin.

[PDittie]

56. Sanders town hall on CNN January 9th

http://www.cnn.com/2017/01/04/politics/bernie-sanders-cnn-town-hall/

[portlander23]

57. We're gonna need an events calendar at this rate

[panader0]

69. K and R

[Blue_Tires]

71. Unless it's going to be 100% obstruction on everything, I'm not interested...

We can no longer afford to be less ruthless than our enemies... The game has been changed forever now...

[Eleanors38]

78. Well, trump said he will support SS & Medicare, presumably against the GOPers.

[Blue_Tires]

93. Trump flips his positions on everything every 24-36 hours...

[Eleanors38]

112. You're right about that. But the GOPers may pass a bill, and it winds up on his desk...

Folks better hope he vetos a bill the slams SS or Medicare -- it would save folks here the moral anguish or having to "back" trump on something. And SS may not be the only issue.

[JTFrog]

113. Let's see him stand up to the Russians. I'd be impressed. Right now he just says Dems suck/ed.

Keeps dissing Dems instead of embracing the reality of the Russian hacking and interference. Does he not believe the Intelligence Agencies like Trump? I mean, seriously, wtf?