Some of Bernie Sanders' Senate Colleagues Stunned by his Ascent -- Politico

[KoKo]

Bernie Sanders’ Senate colleagues have come to know him as a bit player in the Democratic Caucus, a gruff, rumpled protest voice to the left of even the most liberal senators. Now the Vermont socialist is drawing crowds by the thousands seemingly everywhere he goes — and his cohorts in D.C. can hardly believe it.

“Man, when I was away on recess, I kept seeing Bernie here and Bernie there,” said Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.), recounting a conversation he had with Sanders. “It was like ‘Where’s Waldo?’”

In his 3½ decades in public life, the 73-year-old Sanders has been a champion of government programs to help the middle class and working poor — and has long advocated higher taxes on the rich and big institutions. While he cut a major bipartisan deal last summer to overhaul the Department of Veterans Affairs, it’s not unusual for him to find himself in the minority of the minority in the Senate.

When President Barack Obama came into office and pushed his health care bill, Sanders was a rare voice publicly calling for a single-payer, Medicare-for-all type system. His stature on the left grew in 2010 when he took to the floor to launch an 8½-hour tirade — or “fili-Bernie” — against a deal to extend Bush-era tax cuts reached by Obama and GOP leaders.

Sanders was the lone member of the Senate Democratic Caucus to vote to kill the Export-Import Bank in June and was one of just two senators in his caucus to oppose a new electronic surveillance law known as the USA Freedom Act. As Obama pushed his trade agenda this past spring, Sanders was one of its most ardent foes, putting Clinton — who had backed the free trade deal in the past — in an awkward spot. And even last week, Sanders joined the GOP in voting against a Democratic measure on defense policy after he raised concerns that the military budget is already too bloated.

He says his tough rhetoric on income inequality on the trail has fired up voters and filled a vacuum within the Democratic Party.

“I think the message that I’m bringing can, in fact, generate a great deal of excitement from people who understand that establishment politics and establishment economics are not working for them — who want real change,” Sanders said in the Capitol. “I think if we’re going to do well in November 2016, not only for the White House, but for the U.S. House, and U.S. Senate, we need to have a significant increase in voter turnout. And I think my candidacy can do that.”

Sanders’ ascent has put some liberals in Congress in an uncomfortable position. He has virtually no support from congressional Democrats, who have been backing Clinton for months. Still, many progressive lawmakers don’t want to antagonize Sanders even though they’re eager for Clinton to become the nominee.


Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/bernie-sanders-2016-senate-colleagues-opinions-120007.html#ixzz3fmQgsD67

[onecaliberal]

1. It doesn't surprise me they want the status quo to remain.

They should know we will worth and fight tooth in nail to rid ourselves of them and sever ties between them and their corporate benefactors. We are finished with a congress owned by corporations, banks, and lobbyists.

[NorthCarolina]

9. Graft is their bread-and-butter. They don't become wealthy from Congressional pay.

They become wealthy by carrying water for those that can fatten their wallets in return for their service.

[yurbud]

70. exactly.

[intheflow]

85. Of course, by any reasonable standard,

Congressional pay does make them wealthy. Maybe not 1% wealthy, but $174k + benefits + spending allowance, + only working ~140 days a year allows anyone to lead a really comfortable life.

Noting this in no way diminishes your post. Too many are in it for the perks and outside money to be made, to the detriment of their fulfilling their duties to serve the American people.

[Ed Suspicious]

11. When they choose status quo, they place themselves on the wrong side of history.

They expose themselves to the attention of the momentous energy that is now behind Bernie and that will in the future be behind reshaping Congress to a body that more represents the all people as opposed to a congress that, in practice, only represents the interest of the few who have the most money.

[AlbertCat]

17. When they choose status quo, they place themselves on the wrong side of history.

B-b-b-but Hillary is meeting with House Dems every week......



Or something....

[sabrina 1]

28. They should be nervous and it's a shame that not one of them had the guts

to support him when he was RIGHT, preferring instead their comfortable and lucrative jobs working for Corporate interests.

So Bernie is right. Progressive Organizations, and their are thousands of them all of whom opposed the anti Working class and Unions, TPP, have been quietly working over the past six years or so to promote PRGRESSIVE Candidates for their State Legs and for Congress and winning. They have been putting Progressive Issues on local ballots and WINNING.

With Bernie now leading the Progressive Movement, Progressive candidates for Congress not supported by the DNC, WILL be supported by the PEOPLE to replace as many of the Corporate funded members who are far too comfortable with a situation that may be working for THEM, but is not working for the American people.

[Demeter]

79. Like Nature, Politics Abhors a Vacuum

and the vacuous policies of the past 40+ years have really hurt the People.

After the Hope and Change balloon went South, the People decided to go for REAL Change.

[Robbins]

2. What this tells me

many of so called liberals in congress are frauds.Anyone who wants hillary as nominee is corporate Dem,and only pretend to be
liberal to democratic base.

They don't want to antagonize Bernie in event he wins nomination becasue base picks him,and to continue to fool base of
Democratic party.

[jalan48]

5. Exactly.

American's have been conditioned to think people like Clinton and Obama are 'liberals'. This is largely due to the work of the right wing and mainstream media. They are both moderates and corporate centrists, liberal on social issues and conservative on economic. What we are seeing is that the electorate is far more liberal than the media wants to tell us. Bernie is messing up their narrative.

[fed-up]

62. agree! k/r your post! eom

[ananda]

7. Agree.

I was going to shout: What liberals?!!

[appalachiablue]

60. +1 The more I'm learning, it really burns me to think about the support I gave some of these pols.

Shame on them!

Bernie is shaking things up and firing up the people! Dems. better start listening-

Do Not Underestimate Bernie Sanders


Feel the Bern!

[PATRICK]

72. Before Sanders came in

and consistent with the consistent Hillary candidacies of old, even those backing her have had very logical misgivings they would be wise not to bring out for very good reason until someone really proves themselves a better candidate. That regardless of how happy they would be with this or that policy.

Unfair as it is it is this season cannot be boring and will become crowded because the balloons of the two anointed frontrunners(and they have been anointed) come pre-leaking. Huge numbers of people are either dismayed, unenthused or dead against Hillary and Jeb- who it appears has zip going for him on the people front to do anything else but lose. Hillary can only lose in the primaries- which is her big frustration and a very difficult campaign strategy to pull off even if Sanders were only a more popular personality and not an issue sea change.

Frontrunners have it rough but having large pre-existing negatives or familiarity weariness would seem to invite their early demise. What is also different is the sheer weight of money to make this odd reality go away and put the people back to sleep again.

Politico's slant is either blind or disingenuous, probably the former, reflexively, by now. There has to be a movement and Bernie has to win for real change, yet it would not be strange at all to see the names of Bush and Clinton missing off the November ballot in a normal political season- if there ever were such a thing. The competition has to know there is blood in the water already no matter what advantages they possess.

[WillyT]

3. K & R !!!

[Avalux]

4. Good! They should be uncomfortable, and I hope it gets worse.

Yes they are Democrats, but they're also keepers of the status quo, and very much enjoy their cushy little lives. Stay in the lines, do some nice gestures for the electorate every once in awhile, but ultimately don't rock the boat.

I'm tired of it.

[Vincardog]

27. We can elect Bernie and we need to vote the status quo line toer's out

[SunSeeker]

6. "He has virtually no support from congressional Democrats ..."

That and the "Where's Waldo?" line hardly support the headline.

More Politico shit stirring.

[AlbertCat]

18. That and the "Where's Waldo?" line hardly support the headline.

Don't forget



the Vermont socialist

[tech3149]

53. Stirring shit is an understatement

If it isn't already painfully obvious, the party elite will do everything they can to marginalize Sanders or not support him in any way until they have no choice.
At some point during the primaries, the choice will have to be made. They can either support the status quo or get in line with what the people really need.
Sanders has already showed his intent by running as a Democrat. He has no interest in stealing votes from another better choice candidate.
Has candidate Clinton made any statements regarding her intent should she lose in the primaries?

[Mnpaul]

65. No support under here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congressional_Progressive_Caucus

They would never support one of the founders of the CPC.

[LWolf]

8. Stunned, and, at least in one case,

hitting back with a lie to try to regain control of the message.

“The likelihood that Bernie Sanders becomes president is very, very low,” said Rep. Jim Himes, a Democrat from Connecticut. His views “are not where the majority of the American people are. I think it’s very hard for a guy who calls himself a socialist to ultimately win the trust of the majority of the American voters.”

And, of course, the scary "socialist" word.

http://billmoyers.com/2015/06/01/mainstream-bernie-sanders/

[Autumn Colors]

21. Jim Himes

Well, not surprising, considering Jim Himes represents District 4 in Connecticut ... where much of the state's 1% live ....

[QC]

42. Goldman alumnus worth over $4,000,000.

Not surprising that he would say this.

[Billsmile]

83. Himes

Thanks for voting for the TPA twice Jim (sarcasm). You sure know where the American public stands (sarcasm).

[PADemD]

25. How does Jim Himes explain the Congressional approval rating, then?

In 2014, an average of 15% of Americans approved of Congress

Yearly approval averages have not exceeded 20% for five years

The same percentage (15%) of Republicans and Democrats approved

http://www.gallup.com/poll/180113/2014-approval-congress-remains-
near-time-low.aspx

[LWolf]

26. Good question.

Someone should ask him.

[Fawke Em]

10. I enjoyed this:

“The likelihood that Bernie Sanders becomes president is very, very low,” said Rep. Jim Himes, a Democrat from Connecticut. His views “are not where the majority of the American people are. I think it’s very hard for a guy who calls himself a socialist to ultimately win the trust of the majority of the American voters.”

Except that his views are where the majority of the American people are, Jim.

Seems these blue-dogs need to read a few more polls. Most Americans want to expand Medicare and Social Security. Most Americans want affordable higher education. Most Americans think the very wealthy need to pay more in taxes. Most Americans know the Middle Class has been sidelined.

The sheer fact that Sanders is drawing large crowds because of his frankness and his policy positions that favor Middle Class and working families means that he is not out of touch with most Americans, Jim (and Tim and Claire and Bill and Joe <-- a "who's who" of blue-doggery).

[raindaddy]

13. We could say the same thing about a large % of people who call themselves Democrats..

Many of whom would've been Republicans prior to the Reagan revolution.

[AlbertCat]

19. Many of whom would've been Republicans prior to the Reagan revolution.

Indeed. The "geed is good" meme runs deep.


And then theres the problem of voters who just vote for the person they are familiar with or who they think everybody else is voting for....issues be damned. "Oh I've heard of Hillary.... and Bill was such a good president!"


These are real problems that I don't know how to solve.

[raindaddy]

36. You've obviously taken the time to educate yourself about the current state of US politics..

"And then theres the problem of voters who just vote for the person they are familiar with or who they think everybody else is voting for....issues be damned. "Oh I've heard of Hillary.... and Bill was such a good president!"

"These are real problems that I don't know how to solve."

Too bad so many people either don't take the time or just don't care.. What's the old saying, people end up with the government they deserve.

[Fawke Em]

38. Was watching a marathon of shows about various decades yesterday

and the 80s shows made me shudder.

At least the narrator (Rob Lowe) pointed out that it was during the 80s when we stopped being about what was good for all of us and the country, but started becoming more selfing: "we" to "me" mentality.

But, you're correct about name-recognition. When big-money TV executives started moving the news divisions over to entertainment in the 80s and 90s, the country lost a great deal of honest journalism.

[KoKo]

45. ...!

[Rosa Luxemburg]

23. Jim Himes is out of touch with the majority of the American people

[Fawke Em]

39. He seems to be, yes. eom

[Mnpaul]

63. Jim Hines needs the Boehner lecture

Maybe one of his constituents could send him a copy.

[MoonchildCA]

24. And most Americans do not want their politicians...

...bought and paid for by the Koch brothers and their ilk.

[Fawke Em]

40. I see their puppet announced his campaign today.

[cascadiance]

52. Yep, another Kochster...

[rpannier]

77. Jim Himes is what is wrong woth the Party

He spends too much time at corporate fundraisers
He ought to spend more time with people struggling to get by

[aspirant]

12. At least, where is Sherrod Brown and Elizabeth Warren?

Do they think by supporting Bernie that they would have future re-election problems?

The good thing is that it is spreading sunshine over the pretending dems, even in the House Progressive Caucas.

[cascadiance]

55. I think other progressive Dems are waiting for a big defining event for populism...

... where Bernie shows his leadership in taking on moneyed interests that has the attention of the American people if the corporate media is pushed in to a corner where they can't afford to NOT cover it.

THEN, I think we'll get a bunch of the progressive politicians to step out and endorse Bernie. And it kind of makes sense (or even cents too)... If there is no penalty for endorsing Hillary by the corporate lobbyists, and some of the pols don't feel like they're going to shift gears too much, they are more likely to go ahead and endorse Hillary now (especially if they are getting promised more dough to their campaigns by endorsing her earlier to "get rid of Sanders&quot . But other progressive Dems, who may have a hard time to compete with corporate lobbyists funding other candidates in their campaigns, are not wanting to just endorse Bernie now, where they likely won't even have that endorsement heard if it is done singularily when the corporate media is paid to ignore such endorsements, and will only serve to get an organized attempt to take away campaign money and actually spend more money on negative ads against them.

By them announcing their endorsements at the same time as a big event, then it is far more likely to be noticed by grass roots voters, and get them big kudos to help them overcome big money being spent against them instead of for them. And at that time, the voters will also see them as part of the newer "revolution" instead of standing in the way against it.

What we as progressives working in movements to get Bernie elected and take down corporate money influence in our elections need to do is find a way to organize and set up this big movement, and preface that by contacting all of the real decent progressive voices on Capitol Hill like Elizabeth Warren and Keith Ellison, etc. to time an endorsement of the movement as well as Bernie's leadership over it. It will be a lot harder for the corporate powers to take on endorsements done in such a way then.

We need to organize and figure out when opportunities for these "big moments" will arrive soon. Maybe some way of pushing a vote no on the TPP bill itself?...

[jwirr]

14. This is the best news i have heard about Bernie yet. All of us who support him know he is

different and not supportive of the business as usual Democratic legislators in Congress any more than he is of the corporatism of the Rs.

Our progressive caucus are a bunch of cowards who "are eager for Clinton to become the nominee". Corporate government must continue at all costs. If this is truly how they feel then they do not represent many of us and we now know it.

She is there today trying to get their support in her campaign. I would suggest to them that they had best look at what the people who vote for them want - or they may find their ass on the line the next time they run.

What these Democratic legislators fail to understand is that he has been talking about the things we want for 40 years - it is not his fault they did not have enough sense to listen. He is on the right side of the issues but they are afraid to take the same step.

[marions ghost]

15. Around here

we who have followed politics closely in the last 10-20 years...are NOT surprised by the groundswell of support for Bernie.

not at all.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

71. I'm just sitting back and enjoying it.

[marions ghost]

86. yep

me too.

DONE with triangulation/strangulation.

[rocktivity]

16. Well, he WAS born in Brooklyn...

Oh, they're talking about his ASCENT, not his ACCENT! Never mind...




rocktivity

[lovemydog]

29. A man's ass scent shouldn't

affect whether we vote for him. I don't care how someone smells. Can't we just talk about policy?

What was that? ASCENT?

Oh.

Never mind.

[rhett o rick]

57. Very good. nm

[SmittynMo]

20. He totally represents what I thought was the democratic party,

not the charades we've been witnessing for the past 40 years.

[London Lover Man]

34. Bernie IS the Democratic Party

even if he isn't a member.

The actual Democratic Party should be renamed to Third Way Party.

[Skwmom]

22. Where's Waldo?

It doesn't take a brain surgeon to see how they are trying to paint Bernie Sanders.

Anyone participating in this smear campaign is pathetic. If "progressive" lawmakers are eager to see Clinton become the nominee, I think we need to redefine progressive. But, on the other hand, can you really believe one word written in this article? Oh well, some people will do anything for a buck.

Bernie must have some strong, core ethical beliefs. Otherwise, he would have joined the other self-serving hacks willing to do anything for power and money.

[merrily]

31. Kaine, Blue Dog New Democrat who got to be head of the DNC while he

still had a year to go before his term as Governor of Virginia ended.

While head of the DNC, he made such a fool of himself on the Daily Show.

http://api.talkingpointsmemo.com/news/jon-stewart-tells-dnc-chairman-tim-kaine-you-re-in-trouble-dude

[smokey nj]

48. It was during his tenure that the Democrats lost control of

the House of Representatives. Anything he says should be taken with a grain of salt.

[merrily]

51. His big plan for the midterms was the slogan: "Don't give them back the keys."

That was it. The entire plan.

[merrily]

30. Bernie talks about wealth inequality more than he does income inequality and

everybody keeps changing it to income inequality and only income inequality.

Accept no substitutes!111!!

[L0oniX]

32. Fuck the establishment! - old hippy

[tex-wyo-dem]

33. Perhaps Bernie's Senate colleagues need to get out more...

Back in 2011, tens-of-thousands didn't just decide to pitch tents all over the country and get pepper sprayed in the face because they thought it would be fun...

And people aren't packing Bernie's events just because they have nothing better to do...

Nope, there is a wave building, and the Democratic Party better take heed!

[mountain grammy]

35. Uncomfortable indeed!

Funny, I'm very comfortable with Bernie. He sounds like my mom. "Tax the rich," I believe she said it to all her doctors near the end. Mom would love and support Bernie and so do I.

[Smarmie Doofus]

37. I'm not stunned that they're stunned.

The professional political class doesn't have the slightest idea of what to make of this phenomenon.


Jeeeeesus. Imagine what kind of hysterics that will be unleashed if the money-buys-power firewall that they've erected and at which they've worshipped over these last several decades isn't able to withstand the Sanders Movement's shove?

[DeeDeeNY]

41. Refreshing to see the remarks from Whitehouse and Durbin

Any "liberal" uncomfortable with Bernie's popularity is no liberal.

[QC]

43. Louis and Marie were stunned on July 14, 1789.

The peasants are revolting indeed.

[arcane1]

44. I suspect many of them are afraid to anger the Super-PAC money

If they play along, they might even get some of it for their own reelection.

[AZ Progressive]

46. Bernie represents the principles based politician, not the results / self-gain based politician

That is how a politician should be. The job of being an elected representative should not be reduced to being a launching pad to make millions of dollars, especially as a result of not doing what's in the best interests of what should be your constituents (the people of your state or district.)

[staggerleem]

47. The strongest candidate?

Quoting from the linked article:

"Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) said Clinton’s experience as a diplomat and senator makes her the “whole package” and the strongest Democratic candidate."

So in this context, I guess "strongest" translates as "the most Republican-like Democrat."

Isn't that strategy what LOST the Senate for us in '14? Has nobody explained to the Democratic Party "leadership" that expecting a different result from the same strategy is the very definition of insanity??

[raouldukelives]

69. Sometimes I think the strategy is working exactly as planned.

But then, I've always been paranoid about my democracy.

If a mainstream American desires money more than democracy, they will give and take that money from Wall St.

Why any of them would expect our elected officials to behave any different from them is what is insanity.

[Wilms]

49. :) n/t

[CharlotteVale]

50. He shows them up for the frauds many of them are.

[No Vested Interest]

54. I'm impressed by Bernie's stamina.

He's been doing a lot of traveling, giving speeches, interviews - seemingly day after day, and tending to his Senate duties as well.
That takes a lot of energy.
Hope he paces himself.
The race is still in its early stages.

[GeorgeGist]

56. It is amazing what a spine will do.

[Jefferson23]

58. Happy to recommend.

Hi ya KoKo..great stuff.

[Enthusiast]

59. Republicans created this deficit.

They like deficits so they have an excuse to cut Social Security and Medicare. That is their objective. We must see to it that the American people understand this.

We must do away with the FICA cap. Vote for Bernie.

[McKim]

61. No Surprise to Me

This is no surprise to me. It does show how out of touch some of these members of congress are. Yes, they are afraid that Chuck Schumer will cut off their campaign funds.

[valerief]

64. They're probably saying, "Geez, we've done everything we can to keep the populace

ignorant, uninformed, and distracted. What went wrong?"

[Mnpaul]

66. The best part of it all

they have no idea of how to counter it.

Carlos Danger isn't going to do it.

[valerief]

67. Ha! Right!

[cantbeserious]

68. I Will No Longer Settle For The Lesser Of Two Corporate Evils - Go Bernie Go

eom

[The Wizard]

73. Every day more and more people

reject corporate media. Obama figured it out and succeeded.

[jtuck004]

74. There's still seats on the train. Feel free to hop on board. n/t

[rpannier]

76. Good

Sanders has made concern for the middle class, income disparity and so much more front-and-center
It's why I am supporting him in the primaries

[Spitfire of ATJ]

78. "...and his cohorts in D.C. can hardly believe it."

Of course not. You bastards have been playing "kick the Hippie" for so long you thought it was popular outside of the Beltway.

[PatrickforO]

80. Third way Dems are truly part of the plan.

Look at what's happening in Greece right now. Look what HAS been happening in Michigan. The reality is the 'plan' or new world order as H.W. Bush described it is for the oligarchs to make their move and take over. These people don't want anything to do with democracy - oh they pay lip service to it all right, but in the end the plan is for us to be put under the tyranny of people like the Koch brothers.

And I'm not doing that. That's why I support Bernie.

[Live and Learn]

81. I think Bernies's message is the only hope for our parties continuation in the White House.

He is rejuvenating interest in the Democratic party and may well other democrats might well reap the benefits of his running.

[Agony]

82. Politico turns an actual filibuster into an 8 1/2 hour tirade. Why do we quote Politico again?

[Victor_c3]

84. I'm a little late to weigh in on this topic

But I'm excited about Bernie Sanders in a way that I've never been excited about a politician. Obama had some excitement from me, but Sanders excitement puts that level of excitement to shame. I believe we are going to witness a sudden explosion of populist politics that hasn't been seen before - and Sanders is on the tip of it all. I'm going to predict along with everyone else a major victory for us.