Democrats need to face facts about Bernie Sanders, his heart attack and his health

[George II]

What if Democrats nominate Sanders and he has another heart attack? What if it happens in public or in a TV debate? Would we hand Trump another term?

Kurt Bardella Opinion columnist

Three months after suffering a heart attack, the Democrats’ oldest candidate for president, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, released a statement from his doctor declaring that “he has the mental and physical stamina to fully undertake the rigors of the presidency.”

By all accounts, this is the most important election of our lifetime. Poll after poll shows that for Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, the priority is on selecting a nominee who has “the best chance of beating President Donald Trump.”

Given that, I am moved to ask this simple question: Do Democrats really believe that the best chance to defeat Trump lies with a 78-year-old who has already suffered a heart attack?

Right now, the answer may be yes. Sanders is at or near the top of this month's polls nationally and in early states such as Iowa and New Hampshire. Let me be clear, my concern has nothing to do with Sanders’ politics or policies, or whether he’s too left to win over voters in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. While those are legitimate grounds for discussion, it would be irresponsible and naive to ignore the issue of his health and what that can mean for the campaign, particularly if Sanders becomes the Democratic nominee.

(more....)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/01/10/bernie-sanders-heart-attack-should-concern-democrats-column/2848611001/

[MineralMan]

1. Well, pretty much all voters know that Sanders had a heart attack.

Frankly, I don't think he has much of a chance at being the nominee, but people do know about his heart attack.

It should and will be a matter of concern for many voters. It concerns me, and is one of the reasons I wouldn't vote for Senator Sanders in the Minnesota primary. It will come up again if it looks like he might win the nomination, but I doubt that's likely to occur.

[George II]

2. He actually had that heart attack when he was on stage at one of his events.

[MineralMan]

3. Yes he did.

Like I said, it should be a factor to be considered by all voters.

Apparently some are not concerned about it, which is puzzling. Frankly, if I were Bernie Sanders, I would have withdrawn from the race following that event. I would have considered whether I should continue to campaign, not for my own sake, but for the good of the country.

That, however, was not what Senator Sanders decided. The subject will come up again, no doubt, if he looks to be within striking distance of the nomination, but not unless that is the case. Right now, he doesn't look like a likely nominee.

I'd still withdraw if I were him, but I'm not.

[dragonlady]

37. Another heart-related factor to be considered

Let's remember that Joe Biden has atrial fibrillation. I am familiar with this condition, and it definitely is not trivial. The treatment includes taking a blood thinner that affects clotting, which can cause problems if the patient is injured. Biden's doctor confirmed that he takes this medication. Some patients need to receive further treatment involving electrical or other intervention with the heart's rhythm. I hope he never reaches that point.

[MineralMan]

43. Yeah, well a lot of people have that.

Not trivial, but manageable.

[question everything]

38. One reason? I will vote only for a Democrat

[MineralMan]

39. Everyone has his or her or their own reason for voting

or not voting for a particular candidate. Thanks.

[Eliot Rosewater]

94. I want a woman in the WH...

[MineralMan]

100. We almost did have one. More's the pity.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

4. Even if he was 45 and healthy as a horse I wouldn't vote for him

in my state's primary. His fanboys have totally pushed me over the edge. In the unlikely event that he is the nominee I sure hope he hires some campaign staffers who aren't Stein-supporting assholes and that his personality cult is overwhelmed by normal people who just want to get rid of Trump.

[MineralMan]

7. I would not vote for him in the Minnesota primary, because

I don't think he has enough experience in global issues to handle the presidency. His focus is on other things, and there is plenty of international turmoil to keep a President busy for an entire term. Our status in the world is much reduced, because of Donald J. Trump, and it will be a hard pull to regain the trust of other nations once again.

Sanders does not even seem interested in those issues at all. That is not what he addresses in his plans for the presidency. I do not believe he actually even understands those issues.

So, who does understand them? Joe Biden, far better than all the rest of the candidates.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Bernie is a one-trick pony.

And his pony has been performing the same trick since the '60s.

[MineralMan]

13. That seems to be true, sadly enough.

We very much need to win this year's election. Anything that works against that is a concern for me. Right now, the campaigning is sort of internal party squabbling. After the Convention, though, it will be the nominee campaigning against a sitting President. That is a different matter altogether.

The Republican Party is not at all bashful about bringing up anything that might detract from a Democratic candidate's chances. Sander's heart attack will be just one of those things. There are many others.

While we're bickering here about nits, there are giant issues out there that will become the main issues once we have a nominee. We can count on the Republicans and Trump's campaign to blow any issue up into a major issue.

Sanders can't compete against that. His self-declared socialism is plenty, but there's more. Warren might be able to, although she also lacks international affairs experience. Biden can compete at every level on every issue. I'm leaving Mayor Pete out of the discussion, because he isn't going to get many delegates, once we move on from Iowa and New Hampshire.

The rest of the current field does not matter. They will not get any delegates to the Convention to speak of.

So, it looks to me like it will be Biden, Sanders, and Warren left standing. All are in their 70s. But, so is Trump. So, age is out of the running as an issue. Health? Well that's an issue. Trump is in poor health and it's obvious. Sanders had a heart attack on stage at a campaign event. That's obvious. Biden and Warren don't appear to have any major health concerns. Experience is a major issue, and experience in the full range of things Presidents must handle. Biden wins on that count.

[Doremus]

85. Probably the main reason his supporters like him.

One of the main comments I read about Bernie is that his supporters feel they can depend on him to fight for their causes because he's done it consistently for so long.

[PatSeg]

18. That is true

Sanders is an excellent voice for many domestic issues that are important such as healthcare, income inequality, education, and the environment, but a president needs to wear many hats and foreign policy is just as important as domestic policies.

Over the years, I've heard some extraordinary progressive voices, but not all were cut out for the unique job of President of the United States. It takes certain job skills and a temperament that only a few have. We don't have to agree with him/her about everything, but we need to be able to trust them to make the really hard decisions, decisions that most of us could not make.

[MineralMan]

22. Sanders has some excellent ideas in those economic and social areas, but

most of his plans would not stand a chance of being implemented by any Congress, regardless of its makeup. His history of finding compromise is not wonderful, either, unfortunately. As an Independent in the Senate, he could take firm positions and not give in to compromises, but as President, he would need to find common ground to get anything done.

And that's just in the domestic area. We have global trade, belligerent nations, competing economic giants, defense issues, and many more things that will need a steady, experienced hand to solve. Sanders has zero experience in any of those things. What would he do? Nobody knows, actually.

In many ways, the same is true of Elizabeth Warren, although she is a good Senator in many ways, and able to come to agreements with those who do not exactly share her positions. But, her international experience is minimal, really, and that is going to be a very, very big deal in the next four years.

For me, it's Biden. He can beat Trump, even if trickery is used in some states' elections. He can correct the problems Trump has caused in our international relationships. He has the experience needed to solve problems, and that will be what he does for four years. It will take that long to correct Trump's mistakes and missteps.

[PatSeg]

34. It is wonderful to have high ideals,

but if one is unwilling or unable to compromise, maybe politics is not a good career choice. There are plenty of other ways to make a difference. Personally, I know I would be a horrible politician because of the unavoidable compromises involved, but I can and do appreciate those who can and in the process have brought about many positive changes that affect my life.

I think I would trust Warren more than Sanders. She is extremely intelligent and I think she would surround herself with informed and experienced people. By the looks of Bernie's campaign staff, I can't say the same for him.

I remember too well the repercussions of electing a foreign policy deficient president in 2000. The thought was adding Dick Cheney to the ticket would compensate, but it only made it worse. Whenever Bush left the country, he was out of his comfort zone and it was obvious.

Yes, not only does Biden have the necessary foreign policy experience, he would surround himself with the best and brightest.

[MineralMan]

35. Exactly.

[comradebillyboy]

36. In my view his isolationism, his protectionism and his anti-immigrant

positions are disqualifiers in my book.

[PatSeg]

11. Good points

Thus far many of Sanders' supporters and surrogates have been a major turnoff. He doesn't seem to have a lot of control over his campaign and that is unsettling.

[NYMinute]

69. +++++

[samnsara]

103. ..same..not in our primaries..

my state has caucuses and last time the fan boys bullied some folks.. not this time!



BUT if hes the dem nom i will vote for him!

[thesquanderer]

5. VP selection will be very important.

Though considering Biden's age, even without heart attack, it would be a factor to consider as well.

[doc03]

6. I support Biden but considering his age myself

and others have those concerns about Biden. I think there is a good chance Trump could stroke out himself. He is obviously sick or on drugs.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

9. Biden certainly looks healthier than Trump.

So does Bernie, for that matter, despite the heart attack. Trump looks like he's about to fall over. Not that I would wish such a thing, of course....

[doc03]

10. Biden gets really worked up when someone

attacks his family, in a debate Trump will push that button over and over.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

12. Assuming there is a debate,

I'm sure Biden will figure out how not to react to that. His Lardship, who has far less self-control, has plenty of his own buttons that Biden could push.

[doc03]

14. True. I will never forget when Hillary called Trump

Putin's puppet. He reacted like a 6 year old.

[PatSeg]

19. Oh that was a priceless moment

Trump really can't handle strong women. I'll bet he has some major mommy issues!

[lapucelle]

87. "I know you are, but what am I?" was Trump's go-to debate tactic. N/T

[PatSeg]

90. It was hard to believe it was real

and not some SNL sketch. Trump is a caricature of himself. Alec Baldwin comes across as a scholar in comparison.

[LongtimeAZDem]

16. Indeed; Biden would have Trump raving like a lunatic

[PatSeg]

20. Oh yes

The debate prep for Biden will be intensive and Trump won't prepare at all like in 2016. Of course, as you suggest, there is a good chance that Trump won't agree to debates. He knows he is no match for Biden.

[empedocles]

15. BS's health, and trump style hiding of his health records

[Baitball Blogger]

17. You never did answer my question.

Are you Canadian or American? Just wondering if you're able to vote in the next American presidential election.

[George II]

44. I didn't consider it important to answer, but "here's the deal" - in a word, both.

I am a American, born in Brooklyn NY. I've lived in the Unites States my entire life, and all but 8 months within 90 miles of NYC. The first time I voted was in 1971, my first Presidential vote was for George McGovern.

My mother immigrated from Canada when she was about five (1922 or so), and lived in NYC for the next 89 years. Being the son of a Canadian citizen, the government of Canada granted me Canadian citizenship too.

[BlueMTexpat]

47. You are fortunate to have

such dual citizenship.

[George II]

48. Curious thing about the Canadian law - I and my three younger siblings are recognized but...

....my older brother and sister, born before the law change in 1947, are not.

[BlueMTexpat]

51. That IS interesting indeed.

They couldn't be "grandfathered" in somehow?

[bahrbearian]

21. Are you OK with Biden 2 Brain Aneurysms ?

[Demsrule86]

23. That happened in 1988...31 years ago...haha. Really you are reaching. Your candidate is only a few

years younger.

[bahrbearian]

24. I wasn't talking about his age.

Warrens never had operations on her Brain.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

28. It was 30 years ago. If there were an ongoing problem

it would have manifested itself long ago. People often completely recover from such things, and apparently he has.

[Demsrule86]

32. 31 years ago...sorry that is nonsense...and somewhat desperate.

[Voltaire2]

41. That's different because reasons.

[Bummfuzzle]

49. Heart attack three months ago at 80, and an illness 31 years ago and 31 yrs healthy.

Can't really compare the two.

[TidalWave46]

25. If Biden had a heart attack today I would not support him in the primary.

If Biden became light headed and fell in the shower, requiring stitches, I would seriously reconsider my vote.

At this point if you are still considering BS then these things don't matter to you.

[Bummfuzzle]

50. I agree and at least we know Biden will choose a Democrat for VP.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

80. We do?

[Bummfuzzle]

81. Yes. We do. I do not like that Biden pretends the Republicans can be worked with.

I do not like Biden even throwing out that a Republican VP would be a consideration if he knew one worthy. But, yes. We do know Biden will choose a Democratic member. With Sanders, the likelihood is he will not choose a democrat seeing how much he does not like democrats and the people he has actually hired.

[H2O Man]

26. What ever

candidate anyone votes for in the primary is fine by me. We will end up with a great ticket for the 2020 presidential race.

[democrank]

30. Thank you, H20 Man.

We’re going to need every single vote we can get.

[H2O Man]

31. Yep.

We need to keep our eyes on the prize. Our focus should be on kicking the stuffing out of Donald Trump and the republican enablers in the House and Senate. They are our enemies.

[NYMinute]

27. That is the biggest fear I have. nt

[comradebillyboy]

33. Bernie's lack of transparency about his health issues is a big red flag.

Any other candidate has those kind of health issues the press would be all over them. But the press lets Bernie skate without any serious examination.

[ehrnst]

40. Many already are, but many will refuse to, no matter what happens. (nt)

[Politicub]

42. The electorate will express their POV about his health through their votes

Until then, it's useless to continue pointing out he had a heart attack and is old. Everyone on DU knows this, and I would imagine most of the people who make up the democratic party know it, too.

We do ourselves no favors by implying that any of our nominees are so weak, sick and feeble that they would not be able to campaign. It's a bizarre line of attack.

[BlueMTexpat]

45. While I am no supporter of BS

and never will be unless he is the last one standing, I am not sure why Biden supporters need to keep pointing out the obvious.

And I REALLY resent any implication - not in your OP, but in others by Biden supporters - that MY support for Warren IS a vote for Bernie. No way, no how!

Neither endears Biden to me. At all.

[Bummfuzzle]

52. I, too, resent the statement a vote for Warren is a vote for Sanders. But, I think the heart attack

is important. Sanders does not have a period of time he can point to being ok, and he hires horribly. Who would be his VP pick.

[BlueMTexpat]

66. You make some good points

and I have responded to another OP who makes some as well.

The thing that bothers me most about BS is his lack of transparency - about TOO MANY things!

Any candidate who effectively says "Just trust me," without providing specifics, is one to be shunned. At least for me.

[R B Garr]

46. Bernie had a heart attack at a public event.

That is a lasting image that cannot be overcome. Now he is refusing to be forthcoming about it and was secretive when it happened. This is very alarming behavior. There really is no excuse for it.

[totodeinhere]

63. Those are things that the voters can take into consideration.

But based upon his stand on the issues over the years I will continue to support Bernie for as long as I can.

[R B Garr]

92. Voters can't decide if they don't know because they

are kept in the dark. That’s why his secrecy about it is so suspicious. No reason to keep these things from voters.

[totodeinhere]

98. What I measn is that if he is less than forthcoming about his medical record then the voters

can take that into consideration if they wish. But I am confident that all relevant information will be released.

[melman]

53. "Kurt Bardella opinion columnist"

Kurt Bardella the former Breitbart and Darell Issa spokesman? ffs this guy worked for Steve Bannon

[George II]

54. Not a very nice thing to say about a Democrat, is it?

Kurt Bardella Opinion columnist Dec 16, 2018:

"I became a Democrat a year ago and found my own voice. It changed everything."

https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/voices/2018/12/16/first-year-democrat-found-my-voice-embraced-my-identity-column/2301857002/

A VERY good read!

[Voltaire2]

60. Oh I see, he's a reformed Nazi.

How nice.

[melman]

65. Is it untrue?

No it is absolutely not untrue. He worked for Darell Issa and Steve Bannon.

[NYMinute]

70. He is now a Democrat

"Democrat" is the key word.

[lapucelle]

88. And he's a proud Democrat. N/T

[NYMinute]

93. "Proud" could also be a key word

I hope the person I responded to is taking notes.

[progressoid]

72. Hmm, Interesting that you don't give the same deference to Senator Warren and her Republican past.

[Bummfuzzle]

73. Warren has been a Democrat for over two decades. She works to make the party stronger.

She does not work at tearing the party down. Big difference.

[progressoid]

74. I assume you are referring to Bernie Sanders?

I wasn't. I was making the comparison between ex-republicans Kurt Bardella and Elizabeth Warren.

[Bummfuzzle]

75. My bad.

[progressoid]

56. Wow, those are some awful credentials.

[George II]

58. Please see post #54.

[NYMinute]

71. He became a Democrat in 2017

Bernie is "running as a Democrat" but has never been a Democrat.

[Cha]

82. "66% of Democratic primary voters agreed that Senator Sanders' health was a "legitimate issue."

[yaesu]

55. An unexpected illness, event can happen to anyone, that's life. nt

[zentrum]

57. Concern noted.

[jalan48]

59. At least he's not showing signs of dementia.

[George II]

62. None of our candidates are showing signs of dementia.

[Cha]

79. Exactly.. so why would anyone say something

completely bizarre like that?

[Cha]

78. What does that have to do with anything? Heart

attacks are serious.. and why won't BS release all his medical records?

Bernie Sanders Promised to Release 'All the Medical Records' Following Heart Attack, Now Says He Probably won't.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287404845#top

[jcmaine72]

101. .

[totodeinhere]

61. We can only push this narrative so far since our front runner is only a year younger than Bernie.

Neither of them are spring chickens and either would be well into his eighties if he serves two terms. I am not implying anything about the current state of Joe's health. I love Joe Biden and I wish he could live forever. But I don't think that age and health is our best talking point.

[Texin]

64. I think some primary voters - primarily very young ones - underestimate physical decline

in the elderly. Yes, I said elderly. Bernie Sanders is a 78 year old man. He's had a (very) recent heart attack while onstage at a campaign rally. I honestly think that a lot of Bernie loyalists may be hanging on out of nostalgia and a fierce sense of obligation to him, and a whole lot of those are devout young Bernie shippers. People who haven't started aging themselves (and we start that process from the second of birth, BTW), don't quite grasp the physical stress of an aging body. Things start to hurt. Parts of the body get injured by trying to compensate for other physical weaknesses. And in most people, there is a deterioration in mental acuity, especially when exacerbated by stress or strenuous, challenging physical situations. It's a fact. I'm not saying that every senior has issues with cognition, but most do to a degree, even if just a minor one.

I've found myself wondering exactly what it would mean if we nominate Sanders, Biden or even Warren (who actually has the physical body and energy level of a woman perhaps 20 or more years younger than she), has some type of physical event while during the campaign. In as poor a shape as tRump is now (clearly cognitively cratering and physically looking like a shipwreck), he would *win* a second term by default. I don't like saying this, but it's what I believe to be a fact. We need to wrap our collective heads around this and hope for the best, but gird ourselves for worst. Because it can happen.

[TexasTowelie]

67. K&R! nt

[AtheistCrusader]

68. This is the dumbest criticism/reason I have ever seen.

Anyone could drop dead from an undiagnosed condition, or be incapacitated at any time. Motorcades wreck. Planes fall out fo the sky. That's why we have a chain of succession.

Sanders, Biden, Warren, absolutely none of them have health conditions that should even merit consideration. It doesn't even matter if the candidate drops dead between election night and inauguration day.

Hell, name on the ballot, the candidate could drop dead before election night, and it wouldn't matter. It wouldn't be the first time a corpse won an election in the United States.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2000_United_States_Senate_election_in_Missouri

[janterry]

76. Yes, I do believe that Sanders has a much better chance than Biden

These debates - prior to voting - are a mess. Let's see who rises to the top in the primaries. If Sanders makes his case to the democrats, then he will have shown the fortitude he needs to win.

If it be Biden, well, perhaps he'll get the nod.

[ehrnst]

91. Why do you think he hasn't "made his case to 'the democrats?"

[janterry]

95. I just mean let the primaries do what they do

We have all these discussions about who is electable and who is not.

The primaries are there to see who might be electable. The states themselves will decide.

IMO these debates about who WE think is electable is more about our own opinion and bias. If I start a thread about why Bernie is more electable than Biden - it's because I don't like Biden much and want to influence others to my opinion.

Likewise, someone else might start a why Biden is more electable thread.

JMO, of course. But I'm tired of it.

[ehrnst]

97. That doesn't answer my question. What makes you think that he

hasn't "made his case to democrats" yet?

This isn't his first POTUS run, after all.

[Cha]

77. About time.. and why won't he release

"all his medical records"?

Bernie Sanders Promised to Release 'All the Medical Records' Following Heart Attack, Now Says He Probably won't.

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1287404845#top

[myohmy2]

83. "...Bernie Sanders, his heart attack and his health"

...my goodness...

...Bernie's been running a balls-out campaign for the Presidency, a most grueling occupation...

...and he hasn't slowed down one iota, as a matter of fact, he's upped his pace...

...how much more physically fit does Bernie or anyone have to be?


...listen, if Bernie doesn't croak before the Convention, he'll easily last 4 years or more...

...or if you're still worried, make Elizabeth VP and she can become the first woman President...

...we can't lose with Bernie...

...besides, did you see him on Today?

...he'll easily, and I say easily, kick trump's fat ass...

...easily...

[ehrnst]

89. "if you're still worried, make Elizabeth VP and she can become the first woman President"

...So that's the main reason people support Warren?...

...my goodness...

... she could never go "balls out" I guess....

...but she released her medical records. maybe people support Warren because she clearly has nothing to hide...

...like a basal cell carcinoma...

[sheshe2]

84. Bump.

[lapucelle]

86. He volunteered assurances to the press and voters that he would release

medical records and then decided not to do it.

I wouldn't want a president who glibly makes promises because it's expedient in the moment and then simply announces that he/she has decided not to follow through.

[pattyloutwo]

96. I don't get it

They (Sanders and Biden) are well above retirement age and want to do the hardest job there is. You had your career; you’ve done a lot. Rest now. It’s someone else’s turn: namely, a frickin woman’s!

[SidDithers]

99. Kick...nt

Sid

[samnsara]

102. this is why they need for a good VEEP...

....Presidents are human...and its a very risky job.

[Gothmog]

104. I hope that sanders is asked about his refusal to release records at the debate