If Bernie Sanders won the presidency in a landslide, it would not make a difference if the House is

[Yavin4]

controlled by Republicans or if the Senate has enough Republicans to filibuster any legislation. Sure, President Sanders could make speech after speech in prime time every night for his entire presidency, and the Republicans still won't do a damn thing.

If you want progressive change, the only way to get it is to get a majority of progressives elected in the House and Senate. Outside of that, the presidency is about keeping another crazy ass, war lover out of the office and veto power over any crazy ass legislation coming out of Congress.

[SomethingFishy]

1. +1.. We need to take the house back THIS year..

And with the Republicans attacking Women, Gays, The Poor, and Veterans it should be a slam dunk.

Well... should be.

[Demo_Chris]

12. It won't be. We'll be lucky to hold ground. And unless the GOP are morons 2016 will be a bloodbath.

[COLGATE4]

2. K&R. Excellent post. nt

[villager]

3. Yes, but under this hypothetical there would be a much, much "bullier" pulpit

n/t

[Yavin4]

4. Hahaha!

Too funny.

[Cali_Democrat]

28. I'm not sure if villager's response was intentional or not

But it was fucking funny!!

[HereSince1628]

6. If Bernie won...everyone would know early on that a progressive shift was underway

I would say, the long awaited and yearned for progressive answer to more than 2 decades of the politics of elitism was underway.

Sure the conservatives would be going apoplectic , but many DEMs seeking House seats would be looking for handholds on Sander's progressive coat-tails.

It's very hard to imagine a progressive turn strong enough to elect a president that wouldn't change the democratic make-up of the House.

[Yavin4]

19. Magical thinking n/t

[HereSince1628]

20. But, But...You raised the magic of a Sanders win

All I did was suggest the sort of context that would need to surround it.

Sorry, but I couldn't play it out according to your own delusion of a Sanders win devoid of a supportive context such a win would require

[cali]

5. codsfuckingwallop. If bernie won the presidency

he wouldn't push FTAs like the TPP and TTIP. If he were President, he wouldn't appoint corporate lobbyists to important posts and on and on and on and on.....

[truebluegreen]

7. And he would veto them. And explain why which is even more important. nt

[Yavin4]

8. Those things would still happen.

They would just wait until Sanders' terms ended.

Again, aint nothing gonna change until you change congress. Anything short of that is magical thinking.

[cali]

21. lol. incredibly lame response.

but funny.

[wandy]

9. Spot on. Said it before, I'll say it again..........

2014: Get the vermin out of the House.
End the republican menace.

[Demo_Chris]

10. Advocating and fighting FOR something might be enough...

We sent President Obama to Washington with a majority in the House and a super in the Senate. And we were immediately told that this wasn't enough and liberals would simply have to surrender our positions and join Obama in supporting GOP positions instead. Fuck that. If the DNC wants to get out my vote they can earn it. I'll fight for Sanders or Warren, the rest of them -- including that lying sack Biden -- can go to hell.

[Yavin4]

13. It's not enough. It's not nearly enough.

You have to do the hard work of changing congress.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

11. TOTALLY Disagree

Can't possibly disagree more!!!

The president, as mouthpiece for "we the people", can speak directly to all Americans. Right now, do Americans really know what Sanders and Warren are saying behind closed doors? Absolutely not! Make one of them president, and now everyone will get to hear what progressives have to say. Ask most people, they don't even know what the progressive movement is!!!

[Yavin4]

15. The current politicians in Washington don't care what the people think.

They only care about their district or their state. They only care about campaign donations which makes them unbeatable in their district or state.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

18. WHAT?!

That's not even a response to my comment. I guess you decided there's no other way around your point.

Makes discussion impossible...

[Wilms]

14. LOL!

Notice how threads like this appear to complain about Sanders or Warren advocacy - but not Hillary? "2014! 2014!", they say. But what I hear is "Wha, wha, it's Hillary's turn and you real-Dems are screwing it up."

[Yavin4]

16. Hillary, Howard Dean, Joe Biden, Warren, Sanders, FDR's Ghost, etc.

All would have the same damn problem.

[cali]

23. that's because a lot of the conservadems here at DU are incredibly passive

aggressive about Progressive politicians. They actually can't stand Bernie or Warren, but they're gutless and don't dare say that flat out.

[Dawgs]

17. Only fool would think there's any chance of getting a progressive majority.

Sorry.

[Wellstone ruled]

22. Lovin the discussion here.

Have you noticed the MSM lately is staying away from any Hillary speak or photo opts. Bottom line is,2010 to many Dems stayed home and didn't vote,if you want to put a big nail in the MSM,get your asses to the polls in November and put a stop to all of the False Equivalency bullshit.

Until we put the stake through the heart of this third way Democratic party wing,nothing will get done. There is a Progressive Movement taking hold out there,people are slowly waking up,just hope it keeps big mo going and get stronger towards November. I do think people will go back to voting their pocket books this time. And the message is are you better off under Dems than Rethugs.

[MineralMan]

24. K&R

That's the key to 2014 and 2016. We have to get control of both houses of Congress. Without that, who gets elected as President won't make much of a difference.

GOTV 2014 and Beyond!

[jwirr]

25. And that applies to any candidate for president we run in 2016.

[Kelvin Mace]

26. A Bernie Sander in the race energizes the Left,

especially for someone with a proven track record of money where mouth is. Kind of what Obama did in 2008, but without the buyer's remorse.

[Andy823]

27. I totally agree.

Contrary to those who seem to want to blame it all on "Obama", no president can get things done if they don't have the Senate and the House working with them, no matter who they are, or what party they are in. Whoever we nominate can say all they want, claim to do this and do that, but the majority of change that needs to happen will not unless congress approves it, and we all know that republicans are not going to change their ways simply because Bernie, Hillary, or any other democrat or independent wins the WH. They will only work with another right wing warmonger who will do the will of the rich people who put up their money to get them into office, and that is something we on the left have to make sure does not happen.

Get out the vote in 2014 and put the republican out of a job, that should be everyone's goal who wants to see things change for the better!

[Cali_Democrat]

29. I see some folks here disagree with this OP

Fine.

But I think we can all agree that more Dems in Congress would only help people like Bernie if they become POTUS.

So...GOTV 2014!!!

[BrotherIvan]

30. If Sanders was pres, the progressives wouldn't have to fight him

They would not be locked out of decision-making meetings while repukes are given dinner & beer. They would receive support when they ran instead of shilling for blue dog opponents. And they would know the President would call out the Rs for their disgusting, craven malfeasance on a daily basis, i.e. "got their back." That what the leader of a party is supposed to do.

But the question isn't whether Sanders will run as a Democrat, the question is how fast will the DNC throw acid in his face?