"MTP" Extensive Interview with Bernie Sanders on The Issues: Guns,Trade,Capitalism,Obama,Syria

[KoKo]

Meet the Press
Oct 11 2015, 9:56 am ET


Sen. Bernie Sanders sat down with NBC's Chuck Todd for a wide-ranging interview that aired Sunday on "Meet the Press." During the interview, Sanders suggested his "consistency" on issues was a major selling point against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Democratic presidential primary, and criticized some of President Obama's policies. Here's what else you need to know from Sen. Sanders' interview:

The Interview is in Video Segments for each Topic and there is a Transcript at the "MTP" Link.

Great watch, particularly Bernie's hilarious interaction with Chuckie T on Captialism


http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/bernie-sanders-voters-will-contrast-my-consistency-hillary-clinton-n442411

[cheapdate]

1. Bernie Sander's on U.S. military involvement in Syria :

"Saudi Arabia and the other countries in the region have got to get their hands dirty, their troops on the ground. I believe we should pay a supportive role, very supportive, but I want to see them, the Muslim regions, lead the effort"

So, Sanders believes that the mighty U.S. military machine must continue to play a "very supportive" role in Syria's conflict.

I strongly disagree.

[beam me up scottie]

2. Why are you only posting part of the interview?

Sanders said Obama had tried to "thread a very, very difficult needle," which was to avoid going into combat in Syria — a point on which he said he agreed with the president. But Sanders opposed the president's request to use military force against ISIS and told "Meet the Press" he'd take a less interventionist approach to battling the group.

"Saudi Arabia and the other countries in the region have got to get their hands dirty, their troops on the ground. I believe we should pay a supportive role, very supportive, but I want to see them, the Muslim regions, lead the effort," he said.

You wouldn't be trying to gaslight, would you?

And what is Hillary's position on Syria again?

[cheapdate]

3. Because that's what I believed was the important take-away.

That he would take a "less interventionist" approach, followed by his proposal to remain "very supportive" means what exactly?

I would rather hear Sanders, or any candidate, say that our entire foreign policy in the Middle East badly needs to be reexamined and that the costs and consequences of maintaining U.S. Central Command's hegemony in the region are something that demands a serious and sustained public discussion.

I like Sanders. I've liked him as a senator for years. I'm supporting him for the Democratic nomination. I didn't vote for Hillary Clinton in the 2008 primary and I'm not voting for her in 2016.

I had to look up "gas lighting". It seems to mean using manipulation to frame someone as crazy or unbalanced. I assure you that's not my objective at all. I would appreciate it if you took my comments at face value with a presumption that they are sincere.

Lastly, Hillary has always had a "conventional" view of so-called "American Exceptionalism". She considers it a moral obligation to impose Western political forms on "less-developed" countries around the world. This is one, but by no means the only, reason why I don't support her for the Party's nomination.

[beam me up scottie]

4. Thank you for the civil response.

I apologize for thinking that you were trying to portray Bernie as a middle east hawk, there's been a lot of that going around here lately.

Here is some info on Bernie's position, it may not be far enough to the left for many but I'm in complete agreement with him:

http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Bernie_Sanders_War_+_Peace.htm

Again, apologies for the snark.

[cheapdate]

5. Thank you for that. More context is helpful.

[sabrina 1]

6. No, here's the important takeaway. Bernie opposes the US Military going into Syria.

WE Caused the horrible situation that now exists in the ME. The US. People like Hillary supported this horrible, on going human tragedy which BERNIE SANDERS PREDICTED.

Now, he knows that despite his own well thought out refusal to suppor the Iraq War, the US OWES the people there something.

Unless you think we should continue to rampage through other nations, then just pick up and leave the trail of blood and death we have left over there, and take zero responsibility for it.

THIS is why I support this man for President.

Even though he was so opposed to that war based on OBVIOUS lies, he knows the US bears responsibility for it and is willing to accept that.

I don't know how he keeps his temper and doesn't lash out at those who put the US in this position.

But I guess that's what makes him a good leader, unlike many of us who would not be able to remain that calm in the face of the inept people who worked AGAINST HIM and are now asking us to give them more power to make even MORE decisions like this?

[senz]

10. Yes, Bernie's judgment is a thousand times better than Hillary's

and it shows in all the areas where he has been right all along and she belatedly tries to "catch up" in order to look good. We need to keep reminding people of this.

[senz]

8. Sorry, I should have read the whole thread.

Your response managed to push several buttons as you probably know by now. I know how hard it is to say exactly what we mean on these complex topics.

[cheapdate]

15. The book, Just and Unjust Wars - A Moral Argument With Historical Illustrations,

by Michael Walzer, really sharpened my awareness of matters of war and peace.

It's fairly comprehensive. It traces the historical development of just war theory. It gives the reader an understanding of the moral framework of war and the language needed to talk about war. It describes what is called the conventions of war and gives example of their application. It focuses more on the moral arguments and choices than it does on narrow questions of legality. Great book.

The book solidified ideas and thinking I've had on war for a long time.

ISIS is a problem. On the one hand a country, and political groups within that country, must determine their own political future. Lasting solutions cannot be imposed from outside. The bar for intervening in a country's internal conflict and violating their territorial sovereignty must be very high.

On the other hand when a group is so appalling and so wanton in violence and murder that it shocks the conscience of the world there may come a point when intervention is not only warranted, but becomes a moral obligation. In this regard, the fight against ISIS can be thought of as a humanitarian intervention.

Another framework for ISIS might be invoking "Supreme Emergency". It's never easy. Every crisis is a supreme emergency to someone.

But personally, I don't think intervention against ISIS is justified under either framework. There is a central government in both Syria and Iraq. The responsibility for mustering the will to fight ISIS lies with those governments and with those the people. ISIS is horrible, but there have been other groups nearly as awful in that region. And I just don't see the Supreme Emergency.

As I said, I like Bernie Sanders. I'd like to see him propose a radically new approach to our foreign policy in the Middle East and North Africa. I'd like to see a real public discussion about our objectives and interests in tose places. Hillary isn't going to do it, I know.

Bernie is better but I still question what in the hell are we doing in Syria?

[senz]

7. Don't try to mislead people on what Bernie said.

He wants us to stop fighting their wars for them and get them started taking responsibility for their own countries and region. This is what we should have done all along -- instead of butting in and taking over a la Bush.

You have a problem with that? That was his point. Don't try to bury it.

As for support, well of course we should support the countries that we want to win, since the Middle East is important to us and important to the world -- as fellow human beings. They matter.

He said nothing about "the mighty U.S. military machine." Shame on anyone who tries to put words in the mouths of other people.

[roguevalley]

9. given that ISIS is coming for Mecca and the King's head on a pike, they

need to give a shit before the sewage laps at their gucci-clad feet from a fed up populace and the raging id of ISIS.

[senz]

12. ISIS is trying to take over the entire region, and yes,

the Saudis should be worried. They are extremely oil rich and well-connected, but ISIS is cagey, unprincipled, determined, and fights in unbelievably savage ways, as you know. It shouldn't be that hard to nudge Saudi butts into action; they're backwards but not stupid.

I like your writing, particularly the phrase, "the raging id of ISIS." It is the direct result of our outrageous meddling in the M.E. culminating in Cheney, et. al., openly playing with Iraq like a cheap, disposable toy. Guaranteed to provoke world scale karma and retribution.

I love Bernie's adult, balanced approach to the deadly issues like guns and foreign wars. He is such a mature, seasoned idealist. I can't remember the last time we had a potential leader with that combination.

[Cheese Sandwich]

11. That was really good

[KoKo]

14. Bernie is very good at sparring and,

in this interview he was great at redirecting "Chuckie T's" questions back to the issues he feels are important every time Chuckie tried to do "The Gottcha Moment."

Have to say that this was the best interview I've seen Bernie participate in. He shot down the MSM view that he is the "Grumpy Old Uncle" that Conservatives keep portraying him as. He was solid in his replies but had quick comebacks whenever "Chuckie T" tried to get him to veer off his message. Plus, he showed his Funny and Charming Side in his back and forth in the interview with Chuckie.

I was glad I watched it today. I'm not a "Meet the Press" fan, or regular watcher.