There's a Socialist in the US Senate.

[BurtWorm]

:o

[redqueen]

1. PRAISE GOD!

:7

[burythehatchet]

2. that is so frickin awesome

[Catherine Vincent]

3. OMG OMG OMG OMG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Freepers, run for your lives!!

[IndyOp]

4. Save me! Save me! Save me!

[dysfunctional press]

5. according to rush, there's 49 going on 51...

nt.

:rofl:

[ContraBass Black]

6. But there's not a Libertarian.

:D

[Lex]

7. . . . and a fascist in the White House

nt

[LSK]

8. cool

[Bouncy Ball]

9. Who?

[Gormy Cuss]

Bernie Sanders (VT) n/t

[Reverend_Smitty]

10. I like the way that sounds...Vermont rocks!

[Dinger]

11. And A Muslim In The House

Diversity is good:)

[Tatiana]

12. Ohhhhh I'm so SKEERED!!!!! n/t

[charlie]

13. Amazing, innit?

And a Muslim in the House :o

[Selatius]

14. Wherever you find a capitalist fascist, there, too, you will find a socialist opposing him.

Bernie Sander's time has come.

[GliderGuider]

15. Right on!

But as a Canadian with no small experience with socialism, I have to ask - is he <b>really</b> a socialist as the rest of the world understands the term? I've always had the impression that the entire political spectrum in the US has been shifted 6 clicks to the right relative to everyone else.

[Selatius]

17. He is an avowed socialist by his own words

True, the political spectrum in the US with respect to economic issues is between center-right economic policy (i.e. pro-WTO, pro-free trade) and the far-right (i.e. pure neoliberalism). This makes Sanders stick out even more because even liberals like John Kerry are in favor of free trade as opposed to fair trade.

[BurtWorm]

19. Here are his credentials

He's an outspoken supporter of workers' rights, including their ability to keep their pensions, even as companies try to dodge these obligations more and more each day.

He's against NAFTA and CAFTA and the WTO, these alphabet soups that scald workers and the environment here and abroad.

He's for universal health care, and the importation of prescription drugs from Canada.

He stands up for gay rights and the right to choose.

He's for full public financing of campaigns.

And he's a leader in the media reform movement.

http://www.commondreams.org/views05/0512-25.htm


I'm not sure if he's a "card-carrying member" of a Socialist Party, but he calls himself a social democrat.

[GliderGuider]

21. Cool. But how is he on

Oh, say, nationalizing energy companies? Does his vision of universal health care encompass the single payer model?

Don't get me wrong - there is no implied criticism of Sanders at all. All those things you mention make him a good progressive social democrat, which you guys down there desperately need more of. I really am impressed (and tickled pink) that American voters would elect someone who even uses the S-word.

[BurtWorm]

22. I don't know where he stands on that,.

At heart, every socialist thinks common resources should be commonly owned and operated. I imagine Sanders is right there. But seeing as he's gotten himself elected over and over in the most Socialist-phobic nation in the industrialized West, he's also clearly pragmatic enough to keep those thoughts to himself at this particular historic moment.

[struggle4progress]

24. In mainstream US political culture for fifty years, the label "socialist"

has been the kiss of death. We don't have national health care in the US because the right wingers cried "socialist." That's just one example of many.

That Sanders is now in the Senate speaks to his incredible pragmatism; that he was able to get into the Senate while calling himself a "socialist" means that he has played the political game with consummate skill. This is a small step forward for America.

[Odin2005]

25. Bernie was getting praises from a commie on another forum I post at.

If a dyed-in-the-wool Marxist gives a thumbs up to him he's definitely no poseur.


GO BERNIE!!! :yourock:

[Make7]

16. There are exactly fifty-seven card-carrying members of the Communist party...

... in the Department of Defense at this time!

[porphyrian]

18. A politician that puts people before corporations! No! - n/t

[Pathwalker]

20. Isn't it WONDERFUL - I love Bernie Sanders!

He's been a joy to watch on the floor of the House for many years. I'm giddy about this one - THANK YOU Vermont!

[Canuckistanian]

23. Heard an interview with Bernie on CBC radio

He was reluctant to describe himself as a socialist, but didn't protest the point.

His most memorable line was (paraphrasing), "For years, we've been told that this was an 'ownership society', meaning everyone's on their own, alone, with no support."

He also spoke about the shrinking number of media outlets and media concentration into fewer hands and how it's bad for society and especially democracy.

If that's a socialist, then let's see some more!

[and-justice-for-all]

26. Thats great...really great.

Sanders should be President.

[NuttyFluffers]

27. praise hippie Jesus! ... pass the pot brownies.

:hug: :silly:

[d_b]

28. The most important race for me

A portrait of Eugene Debs in Sanders' Senate office :D