Bernie Sanders on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's victory, Jeremy Corbyn's success, and why his policy

[Uncle Joe]

agenda is winning in states across the country.

In the wake of several recent successful challenges from the left to centrist, “establishment” Democrats, most notably Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in New York, Vermont senator Bernie Sanders isn’t on record telling anyone “I told you so.”

But Sanders has long argued that “better than the Republicans” isn’t enough for Democrats (or anyone else) to win elections — a bold political vision is needed to excite voters enough to turn out for candidates. We can’t know what will happen with progressive challengers like Ocasio-Cortez and Maryland gubernatorial candidate Ben Jealous if and when they take office. But their campaigns seem to vindicate Sanders’s basic argument about the appeal of unapologetic, “anti-establishment” politics.

In a recent interview with Daniel Denvir for Jacobin Radio’s The Dig podcast, Sanders discusses Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other recent shakeups within the Democratic Party, and why a bold political vision is good politics. You can subscribe to Jacobin Radio here and support The Dig here.

(snip)

We have to speak out on an agenda that makes sense to working people. Understanding that we are living at a time of massive income and wealth inequality, that we have a political system that, as a result of the Citizens United Supreme Court decision, is a corporate system allowing billionaires to buy elections — in the midst of that, candidates have to be bold. They have to have the courage to take on the big money interests who have so much power in our society today and to stand with working people. When you do that, people will do not only well in politics and win elections, but it will improve life in the United States of America.

https://jacobinmag.com/2018/07/bernie-sanders-interview-alexandria-ocasio-cortez

This is a good interview and read.

[murielm99]

1. THIS is relevant?

Trump just sold our country to the Russians. Who cares about this? Unless BS has a statement about that, I have no use for him.

[Uncle Joe]

2. This is TOTALLY relevant.

The last two elections had historically miserable turnout, focusing on the critical issues which affect the vast majority of the American People is the best way to increase turnout.

Tens of millions of Americans do care even if you don't.

Trump is a distraction, either he will be indicted, prosecuted, impeached or not but I have never believed in putting all my eggs in one basket.