Bernie may be more of a Democrat than the Democrats.

[PatrickforO]

He is talking about issues that at one time formed the core of the Democratic ideal. If you read some old speeches by Franklin D. Roosevelt and other New Deal Democrats, you'll see that Bernie has come back to that core message; it is a message that saved America from going Communist in 1933, and created a powerful middle class that helped this nation become great. It created a 'great prosperity' from about 1950 to 1980 when the deterioration began.

So, you see, if you take a little longer view of history, you will see that beginning in the 1980s, the Democratic Party began its evolution toward the right as the Republicans 'evolved' even further right.

In the context of history, Obama and Clinton are what used to be called 'Eisenhower Republicans.' In fact, if you read Ike's brilliant 1963 essay, "Why I'm a Republican," and compare what he says in it, you'll see that Obama and Clinton are a little to the right of the ideas espoused therein, particularly on so-called 'free trade.'

So, what I'd say to you is that in Bernie, we have a reversal of the destructive neoliberal/neoconservative 'evolution' of Dems throughout the 80s, 90s, and 00s. Bernie is taking us back to the New Deal, which is basically a set of policies to strengthen the American middle class. Bernie does one better, though. He's got a good platform on racism and reform of the correctional system.

This is why so many of us are responding to Bernie. The American people are angry at how the game has been rigged against us, at how hard it is to get ahead now, at how dim the futures of our children are compared to ours. We are ripe for another New Deal - a Real Deal where our interests are once again put front and center.

[RufusTFirefly]

1. K & R! n/t

[lewebley3]

66. FDR was a rich trust fund baby: Sanders people would have rejected him: HIllary is FDR's legacy

[Live and Learn]

84. That was hillarious (misspelling intentional)!

It was satire, right?

[cali]

85. Baloney. you are truly without a clue

[billhicks76]

105. Hillary?

You gotta be kidding. Just because they were both wealthy trust fund kids doesn't mean they were similar democrats. The Clintons have colluded with the Bushes. FDR was a sworn enemy of guys like Prescott Bush and others who planned a coup d'état in the 30s. It's irrelevant anyway because times are different. We like Teddy Roosevelt's anti-trust campaign but not his racism or imperialism. The fact is Hillary isn't for real. She serves the military industrial complex and the NSA spying police state and it's wretched Drug War that has destroyed more families than any other thing in recent history. It's the biggest sham and shame perpetrated on our country and the Clintons and Bushes were instrumental in designing and implementing it.

[dflprincess]

106. I'm a Sanders person

I was also a supporter of Ted Kennedy and am a big supporter of Minnesota governor Mark Dayton - trust fund babies whose heads and hearts were/are in the right place.

[L0oniX]

111. It's a shame they aren't learning US history like they used to.

....

[yurbud]

112. What does FDR being rich have to do with his policies?

[dorkzilla]

2. K&R!!! nt

[beam me up scottie]

3. Brilliant!

And Bernie's record fighting for the rights of women, lgbt people and other minorities is impeccable. I have no doubt he'll continue to do the same as POTUS.

Anyone who paints him as a threat to the Democratic party cares more about party loyalty than the people it's supposed to represent.

[emsimon33]

13. He is a threat to the Third Way, Neoliberals in the Democratic Party

Obama threw out Dean and the 50-state strategy organization as soon as he could because the party fears grassroots. The Democratic Party leadership sold the people out years ago. We want our Party back and Bernie is our best hope. The Third Way, Neoliberal "Democrats" need to either start a third party or declare themselves the Republicans that they are and take back the Republican Party from the crazies!

[beam me up scottie]

17. We need to keep pushing to the left, not falling back to the right.

Bernie is appealing to people on both sides of the aisle without sacrificing his principles.

[MrMickeysMom]

22. Totally agree… How soon people forget...

I swear, there are a lot of people walking around in a confused fog on the history of actual history. I believe the controlled message of the 1% has worked very nicely on these people. They're so asleep…

Neoliberalism… Now, the connection of these ideas with the sleeping masses are what a REAL Democrat ought to be paying attention to.

[RKP5637]

53. Exactly!!! n/t

[lewebley3]

63. FDR was a rich man: He was the 1% of the !%: Sanders people would hate FDR

[Fawke Em]

75. No he wouldn't.

FDR believed in paying his fair share. That's all Bernie wants out of the corporations and the 1 percent.

[jwirr]

90. Is that why the older members of DU love FDR so much? We remember.

You need to go back and read history. FDR was rich and the rich called him a traitor because he stood with the people.

[Dont call me Shirley]

92. The Second Bill of Rights by Franklin D Roosevelt...

The right to a useful and remunerative job in the industries or shops or farms or mines of the Nation;

The right to earn enough to provide adequate food and clothing and recreation;

The right of every farmer to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living;

The right of every businessman, large and small, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies at home or abroad;

The right of every family to a decent home;

The right to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health;

The right to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident and unemployment;

The right to a good education.

FDR was born a rich man, but was in love with the Common Man.

[L0oniX]

107. So you think all the 1% from back then are just like the oligarchy today? Wow.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

36. The "Third Way" can't WAIT to get in to purge the Liberals from DC who followed Obama....

They've worked really hard to win over Wall Street to accept that Democrats can "work with them" to have it all undone now.

[lewebley3]

62. FDR was a rich man, a Trust baby: Sanders would people would hate FDR: (even a Mama's boy)

FDR would be coporatist: Sanders people could not believe he
was for the people because of all his money ties.


Sanders people are loyal to idealouge they are not loyal Dem,
Sanders people are the ones that helped Nader take out Gore.

Hillary is FDR legacy: a loyal Dem for 30 years, a smart crafty politican
working for all of American's.

[beam me up scottie]

67. LMAO!

You're just a fountain of propaganda, aren't you?

I actually feel sorry for you.

It must suck - having to survive on canned talking points you scrounged up in the gutters of DU, never having a thought of your own.

Repeating the same memes over and over again like a mantra.

Poor thing.

There, there. I won't let the mean Bernie people get you.

[lewebley3]

69. Just the truth: FDR is everything Sanders people would reject: Hillary is FDR legacy

Hillary is a loyal Dem: She has been in the fight: while
Sanders sat in the Senate for a one party state.

[beam me up scottie]

72. Shhhh. It's okay.

Everything's going to be all right.

[cali]

88. utter and complete nonsense

I hate to burst your bubble but I don't oppose Hillary because she's wealthy.

[L0oniX]

110. Bwahahahah ridiculous LMFAO

[L0oniX]

108. ~

[cherokeeprogressive]

4. Brilliant!

[cantbeserious]

5. No Citizen Need Settle For The Lesser Of Two Corporate Evils - Go Bernie Go

Always Remember That Oligarchs, Corporations And Banks Are The Real Enemy Of The People.

The Establishment Parties Are Merely The Public Muscle Of The Enemy.

[emsimon33]

10. "Public Muscle of the Enemy"--well said

[N_E_1 for Tennis]

48. And as I like to point out...

the lesser of two evils, is still evil.

Go Bernie!

[lewebley3]

65. FDR was a corporation evil by your def: He has the 1% you would have hated him

[Indepatriot]

78. Try as you might, there's no takers for that bait...

[bvar22]

96. BS

Being wealthy is not a sin.
What one decides to do with it makes a difference,
and we ALL know what Bernie does,
and how much lucre the Clinton's have amassed.

[arlington.mass]

98. well stated

[fbc]

6. Republicans have gone full lunatic, but many democrats have gone full republican

[wendylaroux]

7. word nt

[dorkzilla]

8. Hear, hear!

Well said!

[lewebley3]

68. No, no not well: FDR was a rich man: 1% person: HIllary is his legacy: She is a fighter

[Fawke Em]

76. Seems someone let in a Myna bird. eom

[MrMickeysMom]

81. ...

I'm tempted to link the Myna bird to historical accounts, but if they're not willing to read history, what's the use?

[L0oniX]

109. LMFAO

[emsimon33]

11. What I have been saying for years

Also, if our elected officials do not like being beholden to lobbyists and big money, they could have long ago had public financing of elections and limited the influence of lobbyists as well as the revolving door.

[L0oniX]

56. ^^^this^^^

[emsimon33]

9. K&R and a big DUH!

The Democratic Party has been taken over by Third Way, Neoliberal "Democrats" who are little more than what was once moderate Republicans.

Bernie is the first presidential candidate in years who walks the walk and talks the talk of a true Democrat and has the voting history to prove it.

[rusty quoin]

12. I agree, and so does Thom Hartmann. These are our real values as a party.

[lewebley3]

70. Thom Hartmann for gets to tell you FDR was a rich man: Hillary is FDr legacy: not Sanders.

[Armstead]

14. Kudos, great statement

[yourout]

15. I think that is a given.

[WillyT]

16. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[MissDeeds]

18. Excellent post

K&R

[short circuit]

19. The sooner the Clinton supporters get it, the better chances for Bernie

because by then if they don't understand why we're working with Bernie, then they aren't part of the political revolution.

[truebluegreen]

20. Hear, hear!

The Bernie's-not-really-a-Democrat meme is such BS; the Democrats aren't really Democrats imo, and haven't been for decades. Bernie is an FDR Democrat (minus the racist bits).

[donf]

29. You're absolutely right!

In the last three decades the political center has been pulled so far to the right in this country that many people who wear the label "Democrat" don't seem to remember what it once stood for. Fortunately, the American people are realizing how desperately they need those values and the policies that spring from them, and they don't particularly care about the label. And that is why Bernie is gaining so much momentum.

[LovingA2andMI]

21. K/R!!!!

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

23. You convinced me!

[glinda]

24. THAT and the environment is why he gets my vote.

[AgingAmerican]

25. And that's really it

Most of Bernies positions are standard traditional Democratic.

[SoapBox]

26. Bravo!

[Fairgo]

27. Evolving is more than change...

Evolution is movement to a superior construct. It requires work over time...a brave discourse, and guiding set of principles. What we have seen over recent decades is the devolution that follows when principles are abandoned for expediency. "Just-in-time evolution" is ideological camouflage; hard to know what lies beneath the surface.

[beam me up scottie]

28. "Just-in-time evolution"!

That is PERFECT!

[libdem4life]

51. Just-in-in-time evolution...pretty well covers it. My Dad used to say,

if someone can change your mind, then someone else can change it back.

[slipslidingaway]

30. "We are ripe for another New Deal - a Real Deal where our interests are once again put front and ..

center"



You hit the nail on the head

[Dont call me Shirley]

93. And A Good Deal for the 99%.

[JDPriestly]

31. Brilliant. Thank you. K&R.

[99th_Monkey]

32. Yep. Bernie's taking us back to where we took a wrong turn

so we can actually start making real progress.

Thanks for your OP.. I totally agree. In fact I've often said on DU that it's telling
how it's taking an Independent Socialist to remind the Democratic Party of what
a real Democrat looks and acts like.

[Puzzledtraveller]

33. Exactly!

Well said. A good cohesive explanation of where we are at and how we got here. I have been arriving at the same conclusions but I am not as articulate. Thanks for the post.

[beam me up scottie]

34. Almost 70 recs in less than 2 hours?

And on a Saturday night?

You really struck a chord!

Congratulations!

[PatrickforO]

38. LOL I guess! But you remember you said I should post this, so we made a good chord.

[beam me up scottie]

39. Beautiful music!

[BlueJazz]

113. FDR was a rich man, a Trust baby: Sanders would people would hate FDR

Sorry, I couldn't resist. Damn, for a few posts there, I thought I was in the movie "Groundhog Day"

[beam me up scottie]

114. LMAO!

You got me!

I saw the title in my posts and was like you gotta be kidding me...

Groundhog Day - exactly!

[Milliesmom]

35. Tom Hartmann said he may be our FDR

The video was posted on here a few days ago, it came from Daily Kos, just in case anyone missed it....



http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/08/1400337/-Bernie-Sanders-could-be-the-next-FDR

[Michigan-Arizona]

40. K&R n/t

[mak3cats]

41. K & R!!!

Both to the post and to the crickets...

[Uncle Joe]

42. Well said, PatrickforO, I believe you nailed it!

Thanks for the thread.

[jtuck004]

43. "and created a powerful middle class " < Uh, using black folk for no pay helped with that too, eh?

Blowing the fuck out of the rest of Europe and Japan and then selling them what they needed to rebuild did a fair amount of that too, yes?

I don't think a message did that, except the one in which we lied to ourselves about how much better we were than everyone else. While denying black folk the vote.

There was no horrible communist threat. The threat was LABOR, trying to get a fair wage. Instead "communism" was thrown out as a scare tactic of the time, used partially by business unions, business, and the government who conspired to destroy the populist labor movement of the time, the democratic Industrial Labor Unions, because they threatened this capitalist way of life we know now.

What Bernie is tapping into is the frustration with the lies we have been told by people who are right in front of our face, people who we need to quit kidding ourselves about.

I don't mean to disrespect you, and you can go with all that rah-rah crap if you want to, but perhaps that is why we are in the hole we are in as a nation.

[navarth]

64. +1 agree wholeheartedly nt

[PatrickforO]

91. I agree with most of your post.

However, in 1932 when FDR was elected, labor was winning. Lots of people were looking at the new Soviet Union. Many Americans went there - yes they got disillusioned by Stalin - but they still went. And at that time people were marching in the streets and getting shot down by police.

You bet it was about labor. And you know what? FDR was the greatest friend the oligarchs had because the New Deal in fact delayed the revolution which would surely have come.

As to racial oppression, I'm in sad agreement with you.

Bernie is calling for a 'political' revolution, and I'm supporting it because I'm 57 on my next birthday and I really don't want to live through a pitchfork type of revolution. Because our system now is unsustainable, and as angry (justifiably) as you are about the profound racism that still grips this country, many more are getting angrier by the minute at the economic oppression we all face. The next step? Pitchforks. That's why I'm supporting Bernie.

It isn't rah-rah crap. It is one last tilt at the old windmill - one last try at doing it from within. FDR wasn't perfect by a long shot, nor was the New Deal, particularly through the eyes of Jim Crow. Bernie's plan is better because he does take racism into account.

So, we'll see where it goes.

[jtuck004]

94. If you discount the Industrial Union and the IWW as nothing more than floor sweepings, sure. But

I don't.

The people's union, one big union, the Industrial Union, the IWW - it was kind of fluid, but THAT labor movement, which sought control, was not content to be subservient to business owners...had already been tortured, murdered, killed and jailed out of existence with the collaboration of government, the AF of L, and business by the time you choose to start counting. That's convenient. For you.

What you call "winning" was more collaboration. And if I might direct your attention to the bolded phrase below:

" First Red Scare"

A "Red Scare" is a somewhat like today in which one group chooses a non-existent scary thing to divide and subjugate others. There was no communist menace - it was business using this as a scare tactic against labor.

It was very effective. Got you, as you keep proving. And I bet you didn't feel a thing. Don't worry, it got hundreds of millions of Americans, and still does.

Labor had already lost a lot by the time you start keeping track. Maybe too much.

...
"In the 1910s and early '20s, the IWW achieved many of their short-term goals, particularly in the American west, and cut across traditional guild and union lines to organize workers in a variety of trades and industries. At their peak in August 1917, IWW membership was over 150,000.[9] However, the extremely high rate of IWW membership turnover during this era (estimated at 133% per decade) makes it difficult to state membership totals with any certainty, as workers tended to join the IWW in large numbers for relatively short periods (e.g., during labor strikes and periods of generalized economic distress).[10]

Nonetheless, membership declined dramatically in the 1920s due to several factors. There were conflicts with other labor groups, particularly the American Federation of Labor (AFL) which regarded the IWW as too radical while the IWW regarded the AFL as too staid and conservative.[11] Membership also declined in the wake of government crackdowns on radical, anarchist and socialist groups during the First Red Scare after WWI. The most decisive factor in the decline in IWW membership and influence, however, was a 1924 schism, from which the IWW never fully recovered."
...

-wiki, and about a dozen really good history biographies, autobiographies, and descriptions.

[PatrickforO]

115. The Wobblies were great - but the government did put them down. Bloodily.

And you forgot the sedition act - I think that's what it is called - which allowed the government to charge people who were against the war, which most unions were.

[jtuck004]

116. Industrialists were making the money, using the workers as cannon fodder, and the workers were

against being used in war and at work for the profit of a few. Remember, many had left fascists, tyrants, and being owned before they came here. \ So business people and the AF of L lobbied and got a law passed which jailed or murdered the most effective activists and labor workers and organizers. They also murdered the governor of Idaho, a friend of labor, but that was earlier.

Your government at work. They made the Teaparty look weak in comparison. And I didn't forget anything. The government was in the pocket of business and together they were hurting American workers for the profit of their friends.

Not a thing has changed.

The communists were't the problem. It was the fascists in our government and business using their power to beat down American labor.

They depend on folks like you being misinformed in school, and then spreading those falsehoods far and wide, telling people the wrong story, so they can keep using the scary shadows to scare people for their own profit.

Just like Bush and his WMD. Heck of a job.

[PatrickforO]

117. So join the political revolution. We're on the same page.

We both want economic and social justice. An end to exploitation, racism and sexism. We should not be arguing.

[jtuck004]

118. We wouldn't be arguing if you would give proper respect to labor and pay attention to

history, quit relating the lies and falsehoods that our opponents want you to spread, people who are trying to manipulate you and others for their own greed, eh?

I've been encouraging those things you say we should be fighting for in a lot of ways for a long, long time. I found out that many people will pretend to be your friend, they will lie to your face, and the only defense you have is to know the history better than they do.

Know your subject else you will fall into their trap, and won't be of any use to anyone.

[AtomicKitten]

44. You've got that right

[Juicy_Bellows]

45. Beautiful post.

A hearty, chunky kick!

[BeanMusical]

46. Kick and R

[Vinca]

47. He's definitely more of what a Democrat should be.

Over the years the party has edged to the right rather than standing its ground. Maybe this is a reversal.

[Scuba]

49. Kickety kick kick.

[NorthCarolina]

50. No "may be" about it. Bernie embodies what I want the Democratic Party to return to. eom

[RKP5637]

52. Exceptionally well said! K&R! n/t

[cyberswede]

54. Good post.

It's sad how far to the right the D party has drifted.

[RufusTFirefly]

55. Yes. Ever since Birchers co-opted the GOP, traditional Republicans were forced to flee

And guess where they wound up?
They didn't change their views. Just their party affiliation.

The time has come to restore the Democratic Party. And it makes sense that it takes an "outsider" to do it.

[rhett o rick]

57. I agree. Kick the conservatives out of our party. nm

[Triana]

58. He IS more of Democrat than today's so-called Democrats

Bernie is embracing and speaking about policies and ideals that are traditionally Democratic ones but which today's "Democratic" party has long since forgotten about or abandoned. So much so that they don't even RECOGNIZE a true Democrat like Sanders anymore. Listen to FDR or read his speeches. Sounds much like Bernie Sanders!

The Democratic Party has lost its way. One way it can return to traditionally Democratic ideals is to EMBRACE and uphold Bernie Sanders as a true Democratic candidate.

[MisterP]

59. the party's been PREDICATED on not acting Dem while keeping the voters going

since like 1994
and Eisenhower was for infrastructure beyond "drill here, drill now"

[lewebley3]

60. FDR was a rich man: Sanders supporters would hate FDR : FDR was a 1% and a trust baby

Hillary is FDR's legacy: She educated, experience, successful,
she can play a good game of poker.

FDR said what it takes to be a good President is a good card player,
Sanders has never been in a poltical fight.

[Indepatriot]

79. Is there an echo in here?...

[nxylas]

95. They say that if several people tell you something, however absurd, you start to believe it

One person saying the same thing over and over again, however, doesn't have the same effect.

[DirkGently]

61. He's flying in the face of the donor-favored Republican Lite

branding being pushed so hard by corporate interests. Money people would very much like to turn the Democratic brand into nothing more than a more socially liberal version of the same platform Republicans are selling.

I think the fevered culture war the Republicans have been using to whip up their base is annoying the money people in the donor class and their corporate brethren. They don't really care one way or the other about civil rights or women's reproductive freedom or logical immigration policy or anything else. They want unregulated markets, no leverage for labor; no national ownership of resources or government-supplied social safety nets.

So a lot of corporatists have slid over under the Democratic banner. For some reason, they're comfortable with the "progressive" brand, and are working furiously to make sure that has nothing whatsoever to do with economic issues.

The rationale they typically deploy is that anyone not on Wall Street's good side is "unelectable" (read: won't be able to get enough corporate / billionaire support to compete).

Sanders is screwing that up, and you have to assume they don't like it.

[moondust]

73. Yup.

Well framed. Time for a "correction."

K/R

[Lunabell]

74. Bernie gets it

He's a working class dude with a heckofalot of smarts.

[cui bono]

77. There's no "may" about it.

He most absolutely is!

[Joe Chi Minh]

80. Maybe? eom

[PeteSelman]

82. May be? I'd venture to say he's the ONLY real Democrat in it.

The rest of them are variants from Mostly (O'Malley) to Should have just stayed a Republican (Webb).

[valerief]

83. We know that. The "he's not a real Democrat" crowd have an agenda, and it's not

to see the 99% live in a democracy.

[Live and Learn]

86. +1 I certainly think so.

And he really listens to people and learns from them. I couldn't ask for a better candidate.

[George II]

87. Yes, he's doing a lot of talking....

....but he hasn't done two other things that may be more important than merely talking:

1. He's not doing any LISTENING, which is probably more important than talking!

2. He's not putting for credible solutions for all the problems and ills that he's pointing out.

[d_legendary1]

97. Where do you think he gets his positions come from?

His constituents are the one relaying their problems to him so of course he's going to be airing out the problems of the middle class. He's put out no-sense legislation to protect the middle class, but the bought and paid for Congress won't bring his ideas to a vote. This includes the blue dog (another term for sell out) Democrats who want to keep their donors in the game.

[SunSeeker]

99. If he has been blocked by Congress, how is he going to get around that?

How is going to get his "no nonsense legislation" through? A solution that can never be implemented is not a solution.

[George II]

101. And he's rarely, if ever, provided a "solution". A solution is detailing how to get his ideas...

....implemented.

A President can have the best ideas in the history of the country, but if he's unable to get them implemented they're useless.

[d_legendary1]

102. Maybe he can do what a lot of legislators do in order to pass legislation

Add tax cuts to his bills, deregulate an industry, or make it easier to outsource more jobs out of the country. That's what is called bipartisanship now a days, right?

[SunSeeker]

103. Yeah, I figured you didn't know.

Don't feel bad, Bernie doesn't know how he'll do it either.

[George II]

100. "the bought and paid for Congress won't bring his ideas to a vote."

You hit the nail on the head. Regardless of how Congress got there (i.e., the obligatory dig at their campaign financing), THEY WON'T BRING HIS IDEAS TO A VOTE!!!

So how do you think he can be an effective President?

[d_legendary1]

104. Well for one thing he can stop the TPP

unlike HRC who is gun-ho for its implementation. He can stop crappy legislation from ever getting implemented. He can enforce the laws we already have like the Sherman Acts. There's plenty of things he can do to disrupt the status quo. Bernie's a brilliant guy so I'm sure he'll think of something.

[tblue]

89. Yep. I guess I'm a Bernicrat!

Always have voted Dem, but my party is barely recognizable much of the time.

[John Poet]

119. There is no 'maybe' about it.