Bernie is now openly campaigning for Sec of Labor on Chris Cuomo's show

[ecstatic]

He claims that the GOP Governor promised to appoint a Democrat in his place. Ummm... Is Bernie serious? Republicans have zero shame. He must have missed the Supreme Court flip-flopping.

[Skittles]

1. NO

just....NO

[Cha]

2. Yeah, we've seen "repub promises"

[Demsrule86]

3. Nope...should have helped the Democratic governor Sen. Now you are stuck.

[JaneQPublic]

6. Yep. Imagine how pissed people would be...

Last edited Thu Nov 19, 2020, 12:55 PM - Edit history (1)

...after working their asses off to win the Georgia Senate seats and donating a mint to help get the Senate majority, only to lose it because Bernie wants a new job.

[redstatebluegirl]

28. Amen to this!

[Demsrule86]

37. I prefer a union person anyway. I don't see Bernie havin the rapport with the union.

[sheshe2]

4. Lol

He claims that the GOP Governor promised to appoint a Democrat in his place.

We all know what GOP promises are worth.

[Demsrule86]

38. The governor said he would appoint an independent...who I would bet would caucus GOP.

Nope Sanders stays where he is and I pray he stays healthy, we need every senate seat.

[Eliot Rosewater]

5. I am confused, what position is Bernie campaigning for that a republican has say in?

Unless you mean Moscow Mitch who will oppose the cabinet...because he is a traitor who should be in jail.

But what is this now?
OH, if he leaves the Senate...I see

NO Bernie, the republican wont appoint a Democrat, not in TWO Million years.

[pnwmom]

7. I can't believe he's telling us to trust that Republican governor. n/t

[DURHAM D]

8. Will he bring Nina Turner with him? nt

[Gothmog]

10. That is NOT going to happen

[helpisontheway]

13. 🤢 She should apply at Fox News instead since she hates Democrats. Nt

[Gothmog]

9. NO

We cannot afford to lose this senate seat

[stillcool]

11. the stage and the spotlight...

seems to be all that he's about. Something in the air in D.C., that makes ego's grow to massive dimensions?

[luv2fly]

12. Cue the normal anti-Bernie rants

I waited to reply because I knew what what was coming and sure enough, people didn't disappoint.

Unity eh?

[helpisontheway]

14. If Bernie wants unity he needs to stop begging for a job through the media

Sit down and discuss it with Biden. No..he wants to put pressure on Biden to pick him. Pick me or divide the party..🙄

[Cha]

18. I know.. my thoughts.. why not talk

to PE Biden instead of the "media"?

[Hoyt]

24. +1.

[Demsrule86]

39. He is trying to force Biden's hand...don't think it will work.

[Cuthbert Allgood]

42. How do you know he didn't?

What position do you hold on the Biden transition team?

[luv2fly]

22. The party already had...

and still has, divisions. Happily we see many things the same though.

[Cha]

16. Republican gov, eh? Besides quite

possibly PE Biden has someone else in mind for his Labor Sec.

[xmas74]

41. In this case it's justified.

He's being pretty damn naive if he thinks a GOP governor will appoint someone in his stead who will canvass with Dems.

I would say this about anyone in this case except maybe Liz Warren. Supposedly the state legislature can either choose or override the governor's appointment. GOP gov but Dem leg.

Someone here can better explain it.

[cwydro]

51. Please list for me the jobs Bernie has had in his life.

Not counting this cake Vermont deal he scored years ago.

[betsuni]

52. +1

[luv2fly]

55. Check out wikipedia

It's a wealth of information. He might be on LinkedIn but I can't tell ya since I am not.

Cheers.

[Demsrule86]

58. I am not ranting against Sanders but he should not leave the Senate and he knows this.

We can't lose a Senator. The governor said he would appoint an independent who could caucus with any of the parties ...so sorry no. Also, I want someone more in tune with unions.

[relayerbob]

15. The fact that he is campaigning would result in immediate DQ in my book

WAY too much ego. We need team players, not people who care more about their positions than what is good for the country. And trying to pressure the Biden TEAM by going public? Double whammy. Buh-bye. Next

[Cha]

17. Exactly.. well said.

[Me.]

19. Not JUst No...But Hell No

[Cha]

21. Yeah!

Aloha, Me..

[Me.]

25. Changed...

Eyes tired tonight...

Mahalo...

[Cha]

26. Yes I know all too

well how that goes. I asked BRDS to read something for me last night bc "my eyes were too tired".

[NurseJackie]

32. Joe is smart. Joe Biden is not going to choose him.

Joe knows how important it is to have a majority in the Senate.

Joe also knows that Bernie's agenda is NOT the Biden agenda. Joe needs cabinet members who will support and promote the things that the Biden Administration will focus on... rather than using a cabinet position as a platform to do-one's-own-thing in opposition to Biden.

Additionally (according to Jane Sanders) they have a frosty relationship with Biden. Things like that do not make for a good working relationship, nor an amicable social relationship. It's something that does not promote trust, bonding, honest and open discussion and exchange of ideas, etc. Joe probably wants cabinet members who respect him and who support his agenda and vision and plans.

[relayerbob]

40. I agree 100%

[jrthin]

20. SMH nt

[redstateblues]

23. What's wrong with him? That is unworkable

[SidDithers]

27. Hard no...nt

Sid

[redstatebluegirl]

29. Just be quiet Bernie, your 15 minutes are up.

[NurseJackie]

30. 🎵 And now it's time for a breakdown...

[Break]

Never gonna get it, never gonna get it
Never gonna get it, never gonna get it
Never gonna get it, never gonna get it
Never gonna get it (woo-woo-woo-woo)
Never gonna get it, never gonna get it
Never gonna get it, never gonna get it
Never gonna get it, never gonna get it
Never gonna get it, never get it
(You bet) BOP!
(You bet) BOP!
(You bet) BOP!
(You bet) BOP! 🎵

[Vinca]

31. While the GOP governor of Vermont is somewhat sane, I wouldn't trust a Republican to keep

their word on anything. I would be happy to see Peter Welch in Bernie's seat, but I worry Bernie in the Biden administration would steal the limelight and we don't need that right now. Keep Bernie in the Senate. Same with Warren.

[StarfishSaver]

33. Bernie is not cabinet member material

Last edited Thu Nov 19, 2020, 01:46 PM - Edit history (1)

Cabinet secretaries are high-level managers responsible for making huge bureaucracies carry out the policies of the president. Much of the job is administrative - lots (LOTS) of meetings, oversight, following White House marching orders, and inter-agency coordination. It's not a position for a maverick or that allows a person to drive their own ideas and policies.

I can't imagine why Bernie would even want a job that's clearly not in his wheelhouse. If he were to do it right, he'd be miserable. And if he didn't, he'd be a disaster and he'd be out.

[NurseJackie]

35. Well said, you!

I can't imagine why Bernie would even want a job that's clearly not in his wheelhouse. If he were to do it right, he'd be miserable. And if he didn't, he'd be a disaster and he'd be out.

Well said, you! That's perfect. --- I get the impression that a cabinet position wouldn't be considered to be a job or being part of a team... instead, it's seen as a "platform" to promote an agenda that differs from (or conflicts with) the agenda and priorities that have been set out by the Biden Administration. Your "maverick" comment was right on target in that regard.

And then there's the matter that Joe Biden recognizes the value of having a cohesive cabinet that can also work together as a team and who trust and respect each other. Jane Sanders has already confirmed that they have a frosty (or testy) relationship with the Bidens. I get the feeling that they simply "tolerate" each other while doing their best to avoid conflict by avoiding each other. I have no reason to doubt Jane's own evaluation and characterization. I suspect that such a thing is fueled by resentment and bitterness that has manifested itself in a way that comes up just shy of open hostility.

[StarfishSaver]

36. Excellent point

Also, another big part of the job requires inter-agency coordination between the departments, orchestrated by the White House. I just can't see Bernie working in tandem with and often subordinate to other departments, especially on initiatives and activities that aren't his personal priorities.

And the cabinets aren't free agents - everything they do has to be approved by the White House.

White House staffer: "Mr. Secretary, the President is traveling to North Dakota to give a speech at the Business Leaders of America conference and would like you to travel with him. You have a schedule conflict because you were planning to give a speech in Miami that day? That's not a problem. We can arrange for someone else to stand in for you or help you reschedule. Please meet the President at Andrews at 7 am Thursday. You may bring one staffer. We'll need their DOB and SSN in the next two hours to clear them for the flight. Thank you, sir!"

White House staffer: "Hello, Mr. Secretary. This is mid-level White House staffer calling. We understand you're planning to give a speech on economic inequality tomorrow. I'm sorry, but the President is speaking on another issue and that will be our message of the day, so we will have to either change your speech or cancel it."

White House staffer: "Hello, Mr. Secretary. This is mid-level White House staffer calling. We understand you're planning to roll out a new initiative next week. That sounds great. But we're going to need to review it and approve before you do that. Would you please have one of your senior people come here tomorrow to brief us on the initiative? A powerpoint would be really helpful. Thank you, sir. Have an awesome day."

As I said, Bernie would be miserable.

[Gothmog]

43. I agree with your analysis

[betsuni]

50. +1

[ecstatic]

53. Great points! nt

[octoberlib]

34. Rep Andy Levin who was a labor organizer for years

has been lobbying for the job really hard and has the experience.

[Cha]

44. Hi.. is Rep Andy Levin in a safe district?

How has he been lobbying?

TY

[octoberlib]

45. Michigan.

Labor unions are recommending him to Biden. I have no idea if a Majority R Senate will confirm him, though.



The UAW is pushing for President-elect Joe Biden to pick U.S. Rep. Andy Levin, a Bloomfield Township Democrat, as his U.S. Labor Department secretary, officials confirmed Thursday.

"After a survey of the board, the UAW International Union sent a letter earlier today to the Biden Transition Team recommending" Levin for the position, spokesman Brian Rothenberg told The Detroit News in an email.

Other details of the letter were not immediately available Thursday night.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2020/11/12/uaw-pushes-andy-levin-biden-labor-post/6273679002/


The Communication Workers of America this week endorsed Levin for the powerful cabinet post, and at least one top United Autoworkers Union official is urging Levin to pursue the position.

Levin, a Bloomfield Township Democrat, this week declined to disclose any conversations he's had with the Biden transition team but said it’s an honor even to be mentioned as a candidate.

https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/politics/2020/11/11/andy-levin-likely-contender-bidens-labor-secretary/6245438002/

[Cha]

47. This is really Good to Know..

TY, octoberlib

[octoberlib]

49. No problem, Cha

[Demsrule86]

59. Sorry, it is the same thing...we don't have enough in the house to lose any House members.

[aidbo]

46. I think Bernie would be an excellent choice for Secretary of Labor.

[cwydro]

48. Bernie so wants to be near the White House.

Secretary of Labor? Oh boy.

Can someone clue me in to a real job he’s ever held? Seriously.

[NurseJackie]

54. Last chance... for just a taste, I suppose.

Bernie so wants to be near the White House.

Last chance... for just a taste, I suppose.

You know in past presidential elections, there's always speculation among pundits and "insiders" as to which individuals are being considered. And when those individuals are questioned, they're always humble. They express honor at the hint of being considered for a cabinet position... but then they always defer to President-Elect who's the one that makes that decision. Sometimes the rumored candidate will come right out and say that they think it's inappropriate to even speculate.

In my many (many) years, I have NEVER heard of any person actively LOBBYING for a cabinet position... and doing it in such a PUBLIC way. In my opinion it's a bit unseemly and unfitting. It's just not very dignified.

I would imagine that such things would be done privately and in-person... face to face, or by phone. Or through trusted and direct "back-channels" that are out of the public eye. The fact that this lobbying has been so public and so aggressive suggests to me that Biden has not opened-up any communication channels with Sanders... or maybe Biden is just politely ignoring him. Who knows?

It could be any one, any number, or none of those things. Time will tell. But my best guess is that things don't look good for Sanders being chosen to be on Biden's cabinet.

[cwydro]

61. Well said.

His ambition is so naked. To word it like the kids do these days, he’s so thirsty.

Not an attractive trait.

[AmericanCanuck]

56. Bernie should retire and spend time writing books

about fictional revolutions by poor people in one of his grand lake-front mansions.

[Demsrule86]

60. A GOP would replace him so no.

[LanternWaste]

57. I hope Sen Sanders remains in his seat where he does much more good than harm.

I tend to think given a cabinet position, he'd do more harm than good, regardless of his positive intentions.