Sanders Keeping Door Open On 2020

[Purveyor]

BY AMIE PARNES - 07/23/17 06:00 AM EDT

Bernie Sanders, who battled Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Democratic primary and created a revolutionary movement among millennials, is having discussions about running for president again.

“Yes, is the answer,” said one Sanders associate who helped with the senator’s previous bid, in response to a question about whether the Independent senator from Vermont had begun to think about another run.

“He thinks he's earned the right to run again and he believes if he would have been the [Democratic] candidate he would have won against Trump.” The source also suggested that Sanders is making his plans with other candidates in mind.

“The last thing he's going to do is step aside and let Joe Biden take it,” the Sanders associate said.

more...

http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/343317-sanders-keeping-door-open-on-2020

[drray23]

1. hopefully the democratic party won't make the same mistake twice and allow him to run as a dem.

If he wants to run, fine, he can run as an independent like he does as a senator.

[NCTraveler]

15. He runs in the Democratic Primary in Vermont.

He turns down the nomination after winning and runs in the general as an independent.

[MineralMan]

2. Wait! Have the 2020 primaries already begun?

Sheesh, and already trashing Joe Biden, too. Who was that "Sanders associate?" Another unnamed source, I guess. Too many of those around, running their mouths, I think.

[ismnotwasm]

3. Is it his turn?

[MineralMan]

7. LOL!

The unnamed source in that story seems to think so, I guess.

I grow weary of unnamed "associates," frankly. Let them speak openly and own what they say, dammit!

[Kathy M]

32. I hope you feal the same with all unnamed , no matter the story

[Maven]

29. Oh no, he's being ANOINTED!!!1!1!1!

What's that you say? He has a penis? Oh well why didn't you say so He's totally earned it.

[bettyellen]

4. Ugh no. I don't think it's right to allow people to join temporarily.

It's probably better to let him and lose the primary but not looking forward to it. I feel like he's burned too many bridges.

[Demsrule86]

13. And then we have more turmoil and division. If he cares about this country, he should not run.

[bettyellen]

20. I agree. the division is bad for Dems.

[moonscape]

5. Oh please no. Just no. n/t

[Mike Nelson]

6. Huh...

...last thing he's going to do is step aside and let Joe Biden take it."

I don't even think either could win the nomination, let alone the general! Plus, didn't Sanders leave the Democratic Party? He would be running as a third party candidate, right? I'm confused...

[Chasstev365]

8. ABSOLUTELY NOT!

[MineralMan]

9. Leaving the door open lets flies and mosquitoes in.

As my father always used to say in the winter, too, "What are you trying to do, heat the lawn?"

[MrsCoffee]

10. I predict that would end badly again.

I don't think the party could handle that divide again. Joining the party only when it suits him is definitely going to become an issue. It doesn't really inspire confidence.

I really hope Kamala Harris runs. Or even Al Franken. Those are some really smart people that most of us could get behind.

[MBS]

37. I could really get behind Al Franken.

Plus he "speaks Midwestern," and has a common touch, which is something I think we really need.
Kamala Harris is smart as a whip, but I personally don't think she is ready, and I can so easily see her being caricatured as a "Hollywood left-coast latte liberal," even knowing the genuine challenges she's had in getting to where she is today.

[NightWatcher]

11. Is he going to join the Party right before and then drop out right after, again?

He's not a DEMOCRAT and the more he talks the more devisive he becomes, and I voted for him in the primaries.

Join the Party and work with and for it, or go away.

Plus, nothing says Party of the Future like a candidate in his late 70's who only joins the Party the week before the primary and then drops out the day after he loses. The Party and the DNC have their faults but this divisiveness isn't helping build our Party for 2018 and 2020. He's become a cult of personality.

An hour after this thread dies out, I'm trashing any thread with "Bernie" in it. It's not helping. Is he doing his part of the job that Jill Stein did in 2016? Every little bit that ultimately helps trump, hurts us. I'm not calling him a colluder but I haven't totally ruled it out. Unattainable populism from the Left is just as bad as the unattainable populism from the Right that trump used to get a fair percentage of his votes.

[MBS]

16. Agree 1000%

(By the way, by "decisive," did you mean "divisive?&quot )

In advocating for a big-tent party, EJ Dionne likes to say, "You need two wings to fly." Which is true IF those wings are both working together to move as one movement (or bird).

Already, I've seen articles asking Bernie to form a new "labor party." Really upsetting. Just NO. No 3rd party @#$$. No, "I won't vote at all, or I won't vote for X unless he/she passes my purity test" @#$@

Come on, Dems, get a grip. Get your act together for once! We need to focus on getting people to vote and we need every single vote to win in 2018 and 2020 !

[NightWatcher]

23. Yes, I hate when autocorrect and predictive text make little changes that mean a lot.

To expand on your point, who benefits from a 3rd party? trump, that's who. Who benefited from the Green party? trump that's who.

Fake Progressives are seeking to give trump and his type another election. Another? but Nightwatcher does that mean that you think people like the Bernie Bros and Stein fans cost us this election? Hell yes.

[MBS]

35. Agree with this, too.

BTW, I call autocorrect "auto typo." It's a more accurate descriptor of its actions.

[Demsrule86]

12. That is just great. He is not a Democrat so unless he wants to play spoiler

like Nader, I see no path for an independent rung for the White House.

[geek tragedy]

14. Folks are reading too much into this.

Being a potential candidate maximizes his ability to influence debate and policy.

[JCanete]

24. That makes sense to me too. I don't think he actually wants to run. That's exhausting, and he'll be

near 80.

[emulatorloo]

30. Exactly. As long is the "door is open", press will give him attention.

[Watchfoxheadexplodes]

17. No no no

Sanders had his 30 minutes.

[DURHAM D]

18. Maybe he hopes to pardon Jill Stein. nt

[OKNancy]

19. Someone under age 60 please. Fifty even better

[bettyellen]

21. Love that graphic, Nance.

[Lebam in LA]

44. Agree completely

Really tired of old white men. This old white woman wants new blood with fresh ideas

[aikoaiko]

22. I think another HRC vs Bernie primary might be interesting.

I think it would be a different primary.

[lunamagica]

25. I knew it!I've been saying it all along. So, is he going to release his taxes?

He really doesn't want to disclose his taxes...why?

Those who kept insisting he wasn't going to run, well looks like you don't know him as well as you thought you did.

So he keeps bad-mouthing Democrats, and he is planning to run....hmmmm

[Maven]

26. NOPE. nt

[chillfactor]

27. he is too old...

we need someone younger to step up to the plate and take charge of the DEMOCRATIC party.

[MarianJack]

28. Sanders as the nominee in 2016...

...would have taken a coast to coast beating that would have made 1972 look like 1960. go the hell AWAY, Bernie!

PEACE!

[Trial_By_Fire]

31. If he actually decides to run...

..and depending on who else runs, Sanders would be an excellent candidate...

We need a progressive/liberal/FDR-Dem person as our president. And Sanders fits that bill.

[Kathy M]

33. +1........

[Maven]

42. If he decides to run...

I and many others will do what we should have done last time, which is actively work to make sure his little primary spoiler campaign goes nowhere.

[Vinca]

34. I love Bernie, but we need some younger blood.

[PDittie]

36. The most popular politician in the country

75% approval rating. Appeals to disenfranchised voters AND millennials.

http://observer.com/2017/07/bernie-sanders-most-popular-politician/

Why wouldn't he run?

[livetohike]

38. Just have a happy retirement already. A new generation of Democrats

is desperately needed. n/t

[Not Ruth]

39. Bernie could win this time

[lunamagica]

41. I'll support anyone but Sanders in the primaries

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

43. Won't he be 79 then?

Shit Trump's 71 and look how bad he's fucking things up. Not to sound ageist but I think for that reason you won't see an older person get the nomination next time around.

[Blue_Tires]

45. He can quiet a lot of critics by running as a Dem in '18