Want a Senate Lapel Pin Like Bernie's?

[MineralMan]

Here:

http://www.amazon.com/United-States-Senate-Seal-Lapel/dp/B00KAJ4NWC

It's interesting that you can have one of your own so inexpensively. Now, I doubt it will get you through airport security, but you can buy one if you want one.

[Agschmid]

1. That was such a ridiculous post.

[MineralMan]

3. A lapel pin is easily duplicated.

Being a US Senator isn't. It takes a lot to become a member of the Senate. Bernie has earned his pin, but it's not the pin that gets him respect. It's being elected multiple times to that house of Congress.

Wear it proudly, Bernie!

[jberryhill]

5. an embedded RFID chip is not so easily duplicated, however

[bigwillq]

14. ....

[NorthCarolina]

2. Eh,

I'd rather have a Bernie 2016 button on my lapel....that is, if I ever wore something that had a lapel.

[MineralMan]

4. You can wear the pin on your T-shirt, too.

[NorthCarolina]

9. No room for it,

there's already a Bernie 2016 button in that spot.

[MineralMan]

11. OK.

[Fuddnik]

12. I've got a House of Representatives t-shirt.

I'm not a Congressman, but I play one on TV.

[MineralMan]

13. Cool!

I ate some Senate bean soup once. Made me fart. You can buy that on Amazon, too, but it won't make you a Senator any more than the pin will. It will probably make you fart, though.

[cherokeeprogressive]

16. Well I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express recently. nt

[Empowerer]

6. That's not a Senate pin like Bernie's

That's a souvenir pin that they sell in the Senate gift shop to little kids and people who want to look important. But it won't get anyone anywhere in Washington. In fact, people in Washington just smile at the people who walk around with those cheap pins on.

Don't believe me? Put it on and then show up at the Capitol and try to stroll past the magnetometer or walk onto the Senate floor or go past airport security with it. Someone - probably with a badge and a drawn gun - will very quickly let you know there's a difference between your silly little souvenir and an official Senate pin.

[MineralMan]

7. Of course it's not. And of course it won't do anything for anyone.

That's obvious. My point is that it is not the pin that makes the Senator. Bernie earned his pin by being elected multiple times to the Senate. He should wear the pin with pride.

If I were a Senator, I'd pin one on, too. I'd never begrudge any Senator wearing that pin, and I'd step aside smartly to let him go in front of me anywhere. I'd do the same for any Senator, even a Republican.

The pin provides some entitlement, but it's an entitlement that is earned.

[Empowerer]

15. And you have missed my entire point

I am not questioning his wearing of the pin. But the pin IS the embodiment of entitlement. And that entitlement comes as a result of his being a member of the very Establishment he criticizes others for belonging to. It gives him special privileges and special access that others don't get. I don't have a problem with that at all. The pin is not the issue - it is just the symbol of the elite privilege that he has availed himself of - privilege that the average person could never obtain.

If I were a Senator, I'd wear the pin all of the time, too - I'd probably figure out a way to wear it on my pjs... But I also don't go around criticizing people for being in the Establishment just because they happen to be in certain jobs.

But when Sanders out of hand dismisses "mayors and governors and Senators and Members of Congress" who endorse Hillary because, by virtue of their political jobs, they are, in his view, members of the "Establishment," - and mind you, he didn't say they are Establishment because of any view or positions they've taken, but just because of their jobs - he leaves himself open to being called a hypocrite since he holds the same position these people do. If THEY are in the Establishment because they are part of the political elite, so is he.

Bernie Sanders has proven himself to be perfectly comfortable, not only being a part of that establishment, but also in taking full advantage of the privileges that members of that establishment receive, so he is not in a really good place to point his finger at them.

[MineralMan]

17. Of course he's part of the establishment.

Anyone who manages to get elected to Congress multiple times is. Comes with the job. Being part of the establishment is part of the job, even if you claim not to be. So?

[Empowerer]

18. Exactly - that's my point

Sanders decries and dismisses others for being part of the very "Establishment" that he is obviously a member of. That is hypocrisy.

Secretary Clinton: And I'm very proud and grateful to have the support of so many elected Vermonters and former officials. Two former governors, the current governor, the current other senator. I really appreciate that.

Senator Sanders: I will absolutely admit that Secretary Clinton has the ... support of far more governors, mayors, members of the House (of Representatives). She has the entire establishment or almost the entire establishment behind her."

That is all.

[MineralMan]

19. Both of them spoke the truth.

Nobody asked Bernie if he was part of the establishment. He is, of course. He is a career politician and one who has risen almost to the top of the establishment that is Congress. There's nothing at all wrong with that.

[Empowerer]

22. I agree there's nothing inherently wrong with being " Establishment" but Bernie claims otherwise

And consistently attacks Clinton, her endorsers and his colleagues for being .Establishment," solely by virtue of their job titles - when he's held the same jobs - and for longer than most.

I'm not calling him on being part of the Establishment. I'm calling him out for attacking his fellow Establishment members while pretending he's not one of them, when according to his own definition, he unequivocally is..

[VulgarPoet]

8. Ehhhh, no thanks.

I'm still looking for a good quality either pentagram lapel pin or an all-seeing eye lapel pin. Cause, y'know. Illuminati confirmed.

[MineralMan]

10. I'm sure you can find those on Amazon, too.

Good luck with your search.

[NV Whino]

20. Why buy one when you can buy 100 and treat all your friends

And the local homeless, and Fluffy and Rover, too.

[MineralMan]

21. Heck, I don't even want one.

I'd have no use for such a thing.