Vermont Congressman Leads Run for Senate

[G_j]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6140521,00.html

Vermont Congressman Leads Run for Senate

Wednesday October 11, 2006 7:46 PM


By ROSS SNEYD

Associated Press Writer

BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - For three decades, Rep. Bernie Sanders has been a party of one, an avowed socialist who rails against corporate America, Republicans, Democrats and all those he believes fail the poor and working families. Now 65, the Brooklyn-born independent and his crusade could end up in the Senate.

Polls put Sanders comfortably ahead of Republican Richard Tarrant, a wealthy businessman who has spent more than $5 million of his own money trying to buy the name recognition Sanders enjoys after eight years as mayor of Vermont's largest city and 16 years in the House. Sanders would succeed Sen. James Jeffords, a Republican turned independent who is retiring.

Sanders has forged a unique coalition during his political career, gaining the backing of Republicans, Democrats and those who believe that they've been ignored by the people in power.

``In my heart and soul, based on where I grew up and what my life was like as a kid, the economic issues to me are the most important,'' the eight-term lawmaker said.

..more..

[oasis]

1. Sanders for president '08.

:woohoo:

[Reverend_Smitty]

2. Go Bernie!

:toast: for a true progressive

[cali]

3. It is with great glee

that I'm watching Sanders beat the tar out of the repulsive Richie "Rich" Tarrent, and even though 5 million is nothing to that Bentley driving, Florida dwelling creep, I like watching him throw his money down the tubes.

[wicket]

4. Give 'em hell Bernie!!!!

He is a fantastic representative and will make an even better Senator. It also doesn't hurt that he is also an incredibly nice & caring human being :)

[David Zephyr]

5. Go Bernie!

My favorite congressman.

[democrank]

6. They just don`t come any better than Sanders.

Go Bernie! Tarrant will need more than gobs of money to win this race.

[Vinca]

7. There's a Bernie/Tarrant debate in Brattleboro, VT on Friday 10/13.

6:30 p.m., Quality Inn, Putney Rd. It ought to be good.

[Scoot420fla]

8. Would be cool if CSPAN covered it

doubt they will since its not really a 'race', but it would be nice for the rest of the country to see what a real senator looks like and how a real senator acts. GO BERNIE!

[Vinca]

12. I can't wait to have Bernie in the Senate.

I live in NH, but I've adopted Bernie as my representative. He'll shake things up big time.

[ozone_man]

9. Negative campaigning doesn't work in Vermont.

Previous Bernie campaigns have shown that red baiting never works against him, and this campaign is no different. Bernie has a broad base of well deserved support, not just from liberals.

[cali]

11. And that's the truth.

I live in the most republican part of the state, (also the most rural) and even here Bernie's yard signs outnumber Richie Rich's. Virtually every republican I know is voting for Bernie.

[warrens]

10. The guy has the best posters and bumper stickers ever

They just say: BERNIE. Period.

[G_j]

17. perfect

and everybody KNOWS who Bernie is
he is much loved in VT

[nealmhughes]

13. Oh Bernie! Please lead the Senate charge while Feingold and Boxer have

your back along with Tom Harkin! You'll have Dennis, Maxine and John Conyers in the House for moral support....

wouldn't it be a wonderful world if all our politicians were men and women of morality, principle and represented the people instead of their cash cows? Men like Bernie Sanders?

[UpInArms]

14. Rep Bernie Sanders vs. Chairman Alan Greenspan

(Bernie Sanders is without a doubt - the very best)

http://www.commondreams.org/views03/0716-13.htm

SANDERS: Thank you, Madam Chair.

And, Mr. Greenspan, nice to see you again.

Mr. Greenspan, I have long been concerned that you are way out of touch with the needs of the middle class and working families of our country, that you see your major function in your position as the need to represent the wealthy and large corporations.

And I must tell you that your testimony today only confirms all of my suspicions, and I urge you -- and I mean this seriously, because you're an honest person, I think you just don't know what's going on in the real world -- and I would urge you come with me to Vermont, meet real people. The country club and the cocktail parties are not real America. The millionaires and billionaires are the exception to the rule.

Chairman of the Federal Reserve Alan Greenspan listens to a question from a member of the House Financial Services Committee during his hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington Tuesday, July 15, 2003. (AFP/Stephen Jaffe)

You talk about an improving economy while we have lost 3 million private sector jobs in the last two years, long-term unemployment is more than tripled, unemployment is higher than it's been since 1994.

We have a $4 trillion national debt, 1.4 million Americans have lost their health insurance, millions of seniors can't afford prescription drugs, middle-class families can't send their kids to college because they don't have the money to do that, bankruptcy cases have increased by a record-breaking 23 percent, business investment is at its lowest level in more than 50 years, CEOs make more than 500 times of what their workers make, the middle class is shrinking, we have the greatest gap between the rich and the poor of any industrialized nation, and this is an economy that is improving.

I'd hate to see what would happen if our economy was sinking.

Now, today you may not have known this -- I suspect that you don't -- but you have insulted tens of millions of American workers.

You have defended over the years, among other things, the abolition of the minimum wage -- one of your policies -- and giving huge tax breaks to billionaires.

But today you have reached a new low, I think, by suggesting that manufacturing in America doesn't matter. It doesn't matter where the product is produced. We've lost 2 million manufacturing jobs in the last two years alone; 10 percent of our work force. Wal-Mart has replaced General Motors as the major employer in America, paying people starvation wages rather than living wages, and all of that does not matter to you -- doesn't matter.

...more...

[maryallen]

15. Good luck Bernie!

You're the one ....

[John Gauger]

16. Cool! A socialist versus a wealthy business man.

That's the kind of contrast we need to show people what really matters. And he's winning! I have been a fan of Sanders for about a year now and I am glad to know that he is winning.

[carzen]

18. Can't wait to see him getting more media face time