The trouble with Bernie: A moralizing scold, but for the left

[underthematrix]

This article is not about Bernie's policies but rather his potential presidential leadership style based on his past and current leadership style.

Here's an excerpt from the article with provided below:

Here's my problem with Bernie Sanders. With few exceptions, I agree with his positions on issues. But I don't like him or his political temperament. He'd be an awful president.
I followed him carefully when I was editor of the Burlington Free Press in Vermont. Sanders was the state's sole congressman, lived in Burlington, and would periodically visit with the newspaper's editors and publisher.

Considering that the Free Press' editorial positions were very liberal, reflecting the nature of a very liberal Vermont community, one might think that meetings with Sanders were cordial, even celebratory.

They weren't. Sanders was always full of himself: pious, self-righteous and utterly humorless. Burdened by the cross of his socialist crusade, he was a scold whose counter-culture moralizing appealed to the state's liberal sensibilities as well as its conservatives, who embraced his gun ownership stance, his defense of individual rights, an antipathy toward big corporations and, generally speaking, his stick-it-to-them approach to politics.

http://lansingcitypulse.com/article-12189-The-trouble-with-Bernie.html

[immoderate]

1. You can't please everybody.

--imm

[underthematrix]

4. Thank you for your comment

[beam me up scottie]

2. *yawn* Is it recycling day already?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251659793

The author is a crybaby who's whining because Bernie doesn't suffer fools gladly. Ever wonder why no one's heard of him and hundreds of thousands support Bernie?

[underthematrix]

5. Yawn. Thank you for your comment

[riversedge]

77. another yarn.

[Warren DeMontague]

3. why are you "tone policing" Bernie Sanders?

Shame, shame, shame on you.

[underthematrix]

6. Thank you for your question

[daleanime]

7. Whereas Hillary gets along great with everyone.....

who pays her.

[underthematrix]

15. Thank you for your comment

[daleanime]

29. You're welcome.

[Warren DeMontague]

8. Hillary's pal Debbie Wasserman Schultz votes to send medical marijuana users to prison "cuz heroin"

is that moralizing enough for ya?

[underthematrix]

9. Thank you for your comment

[Warren DeMontague]

22. you seem to not have a lot to say, here.

why is that?

[underthematrix]

23. Thank you for your comment and question

[Warren DeMontague]

79. That wasn't a question, just a comment

and you're welcome!

[Armstead]

60. Lazy kicking perhaps?

Gotta make the point that Bernie can sometimes be a little grouchy

[underthematrix]

71. Thank you for your comment

[draa]

10. I have to admit, some of the excuses people are using are creative.

I'd also say who cares. If he rubs people the wrong way then good. Some of the crooks, in both parties as well as our business community, need to be put in their place and being nice just won't cut it.

We need an asshole, and if Sanders is that asshole, then he's our asshole and I'm fine with that.

[underthematrix]

16. Thank you for your comment

[99th_Monkey]

52. +100 "He's OUR asshole" Brilliant reply n/t

[underthematrix]

72. Thank you for your comment

[99th_Monkey]

11. Try telling that to The Nation

both the magazine and US voters seem to overwhelmingly disagree.

[99th_Monkey]

34. Huh? The Nation and Democratic Voters are not a "DU Bernie bubble"

You must have completely missed my point.

Oh wait, you're not confused, you just dodn't WANT to 'get' my point.
I get it now. So never mind.

[underthematrix]

36. I did misunderstand your post. I will delete my comment

[livetohike]

12. Those are my objections as well. Wait til the media vets him and

it's coming.

[underthematrix]

18. Yep. The Powers That Be are

gonna do like Tina Turner. Start out easy then go hard.

[Eric J in MN]

13. Obama has invited Congressional Republicans to social events.

What liberal legislation has passed since the Republicans took back the House?

[underthematrix]

17. Thank you for your comment

[litlbilly]

19. Really? Youre gonna dig up this old thing? Try again with something fresh and new if you can

[underthematrix]

20. Thank you for your comment

[PowerToThePeople]

21. "I guess I will only talk with white people then."

HRC at one of her many fine points.

[underthematrix]

24. Thank you for your comment.

[Autumn]

25. What day is this? Ah Thursday

I can't wait till we are back to Gunsday

[underthematrix]

26. Thank you for your comment and happy Gunsday

[Kentonio]

27. I've never really understood the desire for a President to be warm and fluffy.

Bernie has been described as the kind of person who falls asleep at night thinking about how to deal with tax issues affecting his constituents. He's supposed to have a pretty weak sense of humor and to be pretty obsessive about numbers and policy.

GOOD.

That means he's the guy who isn't swayed by his buddies in congress who make deals with a wink and a handshake and an expensive dinner paid for by the lobbyists. He's not the guy who runs every policy and every speech through a panel of media consultants to see what plays best with the relevant demographics. He's a straightforward, bluff honest man who tries to find the best way to solve problems, and if part of the best way to solve a problem annoys someones sensibilities then tough cookies.

After decades of polished shiny suits practising the right way to gesture and smile and pitch their voice for the public gaze, its about damned time America got a policy wonk who doesn't give a damn about how his hair looks, and who just wants to make the country better for his grandkids and everyone elses families.

[underthematrix]

31. Thank you for your comment

[Ino]

28. So he doesn't suffer fools gladly?

Including the author of this article, who admits he was "hectoring" Sanders.

I like him even more!

[underthematrix]

32. Thank you for your comment

[baldguy]

55. In context, that was when Sanders told the author to go fuck himself & stormed out of a meeting

After he was questioned as to why he hadn't done anything to promote & endorse progressive candidates for office. And he still doesn't.

Why is that? How does President Bernie plan on getting his agenda through Congress if he doesn't help the people who'll get it passed elected?

American government is not and has never been a one-man band. I don't like Bernie realizes that. Or cares.

[underthematrix]

56. Yes. And this is why I keep pointing out that

Bernie hasn't explained the process for how he would get things done

[baldguy]

81. Nobody seems to know how he plans to get from Point A to Point B

And the same people who are perfectly fine with that - even enthusiastic in their ignorance - are mad at Hillary because she's not transparent enough.

The mind boggles.

[underthematrix]

82. It's almost as if they are listening to him but not thimking about what he is actually saying

It's almost as if they do not understand the basics of how government works. But I wonder if it's same anger that motivates the Trump supporters. The basics of Bernie's policies such as universal healthcare is a good one. But how do you go from repealing Obamacare 65 times to universal healthcare in 2017? How does Bernie not tell the truth about the environment in which any DEM president will have to operate? You're right. It's mind boggling.

[anigbrowl]

91. I have asked that question a lot

as I'm in the same boat - admiring Bernie's goals, but very skeptical of how he intends to implement them. I think you have hit the nail on the head - his supporters are not very knowledgeable about or interested in the workings of government, they just expect him to appoint a mix of surrogates and technocrats to his cabinet and get things done with a mixture of cheerleading and natural expertise. They figure Bernie has been in DC so long that he knows how it works.

I'm a bit skeptical about that and think the GOP would go on the offensive within hours of the inauguration if he somehow won (which I cannot see happening). The GOP has done OK for the last few years by being an obstructionist party, plus any time they try to be even vaguely bipartisan the tea partiers revolt and right now they seem to hold the upper hand.

[Scootaloo]

30. Thank you for your concern.

[underthematrix]

33. Thank you for your comment

[Scootaloo]

37. No no, thank YOU.

[Fearless]

35. Yawn. Next?

[underthematrix]

39. Thank you for your comment

[retrowire]

38. Thank you for your comment.

[virtualobserver]

40. Cut it out!

[underthematrix]

57. Thank you for your comment

[baldguy]

41. Sounds like a liberal Nixon.

[underthematrix]

58. Now that's interesting. Tell me where you see a Nixon connection

[baldguy]

76. When I read "pious, self-righteous and utterly humorless" it just struck me.

And his treatment of an ostensive ally when his responsability to the progressive movement is questioned sealed it.

I wonder if Bernie has a "enemies list" squirrled away? And how many progressive Democrats are on it?

[riversedge]

42. I do not want to turn on the TV and see and hear a President yelling and pointing his finger

and lecturing all the time. That is what it would be like if by some miracle he won the oval office.

[retrowire]

44. Why? nt

[riversedge]

66. Perhaps you like that temperment but is is not fit for a President. IMHO

[retrowire]

68. Yeah, I see your point of view.

I'm just tired of having presidents that pick the low hanging fruit. I'd rather have a more aggressive leader who would shake the whole damn tree. We're getting fleeced, and I need a fighter, not a diplomat. That is only my opinion.

[underthematrix]

70. Bernie seems to have deluded his supporters into thinking he can tell

someone where to go and bingo problem solved. Leadership is not just about espousing ideas, it's also about moving from ideas to policies to FUNDED laws. A real leader understands you have to work with people you don't agree with, respect, or like.

HRC demonstrates she understands the political landscape and how to navigate it.

[BlueMTexpat]

43. Love Bernie's ideas,

but this article expresses many of my hesitations about him as a candidate. I honestly do not see him with the tact required to deal credibly with leaders on the global stage. For example, this sends up a LOT of red flags for me:

A recent article by Paul Heintz titled “Anger Management” featured current and former staff who have experienced the dark side of Sanders.

“They characterize the senator as rude, short-tempered and, occasionally, downright hostile. Though Sanders has spent much of his life fighting for working Vermonters, they say he mistreats the people working for him,” Heintz wrote. Among those he cited was Steve Rosenfeld, Sanders' press secretary during his 1990 House campaign, and author of “In Making History in Vermont.”

"At his best, Sanders is a skilled reader and manipulator of people and events," Rosenfeld wrote in his account of the campaign. "At his worst, he falls prey to his own emotions, is unable to practice what he preaches (though he would believe otherwise) and exudes a contempt for those he derides, including his staff."

His unwillingness to endorse progressive candidates in his own state, described in the article, also bothers me. He's a loner by nature, when we are in dire need of building coalitions.

In essence, this:

... Sanders' positions are really good, progressive and would help Americans. He'd just be really bad advancing them.

[retrowire]

45. Well really, this is just an opinion piece.

We have tons of facts and real data to show how well he's pushed forth things in our government.

[BlueMTexpat]

48. Thanks for your comment.

[retrowire]

50. Thanks for your comment.

[Vinca]

46. I've read something similar before and it's not the Bernie I've been following for decades.

The reporter must have rubbed him the wrong way for some reason. Or maybe the reporter is confusing passion and anger. He's got a great sense of humor.

[underthematrix]

67. Thank you for your comment

[Yupy]

47. Just got morilized by this post! Voting 4 Sandar plus donated $ after reading,Thanks for your Post!

[Eric J in MN]

54. Thank you for donating. NT

NT

[underthematrix]

61. Thank you for your comment

[Motown_Johnny]

49. The author of this seems to be a nobody.

I live in Michigan and have never heard of him.

If his feelings were once hurt by Bernie, then so be it. Maybe having a political leader who does not kiss the backside of every reporter he/she talks to would be a good thing.

[underthematrix]

62. Thank you for your comment

[stillwaiting]

51. The American people desperately want someone who will FIGHT for them.

It seems many, including myself, believe Bernie would do just that MUCH better than anyone else does. That's much more important than whether or not I want to have a beer with him. That kind of thinking simply has to stop.

I have also been very pleased with his sense of humor during this campaign. He is quite witty, and he seems exactly the opposite of being smug and full of himself. I would use those descriptors for another candidate in this primary, and I believe MANY others would agree.

[underthematrix]

65. Thank you for your comment

[ljm2002]

53. Well I'd rather have a beer with Bernie...

...with Hillary, FWIW.

[underthematrix]

64. Thank you for your comment

[ljm2002]

80. Thank you for your comment

[steve2470]

59. and then we have the fact that Sanders and Jim Inhofe were FRIENDS....

when you would think they would be acquaintances, at the very most.

I think Senator Sanders will do fine as President.

Oklahoma Republican Senator Jim Inhofe, National Journal’s 2009 Top Conservative in the Senate—the man who, in February, tossed a snowball on the floor of the chamber to assert that global warming is a hoax—calls Sanders one of his best friends in the Senate. “Bernie Sanders is unique,” Inhofe says, “in that most of the Democrats I know in the Senate vote liberal and press-release conservative. Not Bernie. He’s a proud, in-the-heart, sincere liberal. I’ve never heard him once say something that didn’t come from his heart. That’s not true with all the people running for president, Democrats and Republican. I hold him in high regard.” Sanders and Inhofe met in the early ’90s, when they were both representatives, and Sanders was proposing an amendment hiking taxes on the oil and gas industry. Inhofe rushed to the floor, debated him, and won the vote. Afterward, Sanders thanked him for offering a thoughtful, fact-based exchange.

http://www.bloomberg.com/features/2016-bernie-sanders-fundraising/

[underthematrix]

63. Thank you for your comment and the link

[DisgustipatedinCA]

69. My two cents. Trust me, you'll thank me.

[underthematrix]

73. Thank you for your comment

[DisgustipatedinCA]

74. It was better than all the other comments--it was in color. Moar color!

[underthematrix]

75. OK. Thank you for your colorful comment

[DisgustipatedinCA]

78. Sure thing.

[Kalidurga]

83. Sorry you need your hand held by your leaders here feel better now

[underthematrix]

84. Thank you for your comment

[Kalidurga]

85. and thank you for sharing all your infinite wisdom

[underthematrix]

86. you're welcome

[ucrdem]

87. Dances with libertarians.

"who embraced his gun ownership stance"? No thanks!

[underthematrix]

89. Thank you for your comment

[madfloridian]

88. lol

Gee, I want my president to be agreeable, sweet, pleasant, and ready to compromise.

That's a lie, I don't want that at all.

My view is I think the Clintons and Bushes have had their turn, and that's enough of that.

[underthematrix]

90. Thank you for your comment

[ehrnst]

92. I had heard similar about Bernie for years on the Hill.

And that's why I worried when he announced his candidacy.

I was a fan of him as a Senator, where he can make some real progress, and can learn to cope with peers.

But I've worked with several progressive orgs in DC as a consultant, and I am always disheartened at how their anger at injustice get projected at their staff, where turnover is high.

Bernie is one of them. He's great one-on-one with his constituents and people like Sandra Bland's family, but you can't be an effective president if people can't stand to work with you and for you.

The fact that he completely ignores non-partisan, independent think tanks on health policy - and contradicts them - on the possibility of Single Payer, both politically and financially shows me that he doesn't listen.

I feel the same way about politicians who ignore climate scientists, and the women's health medical associations.