It is admittedly a narrow path, but I would tell you, Seth, that there are a lot of people who are supporting me. We have a strong grass-roots movement who believe that we have got to stay in, in order to continue the fight to make the world know that we need Medicare for all, that we need to raise the minimum wage to a living wage, that we need paid family and medical leave.
— The eternal gnat, last night, buzzing around on "Late Night with Seth Meyers"
To … make … the … world … know what Bernie knows.
That's Sandersism, in a nut's shell.
Not that his ideological objectives are ill advised, but what Bernie knows is subject to no honest interrogation, no temporary compromise, no needed adjustments, no nothing but unwavering absolutism, which is, for sure, the mindset of most ideologues, but even more so of reckless fanatics.
Moreover, is there a soul alive within shouting distance of the Andromeda Galaxy who is unaware of, unknowledgeable about, Sen. Sanders' policy goals? Hence the only possible rationale for his continuing to apocalyptically beat his four horses of ideology is … the unending fulfillment of Bernie's bottomless ego.
He needs to update his wardrobe. It would all play better if he wore a robe and sandals and maybe carried a staff to point with instead of his knobby old finger. I'm thinking he should etch his demands on a stone tablet too and maybe set a bush on fire. I mean if he's been chosen to lead the people to the promised land, he should look the part.
Posted by: Freesia | March 31, 2020 at 11:14 AM
If he has so much grassroots support, why haven't they turned out to vote for him. Elections, even now, are all about the votes at the end of the day.
Posted by: Anne J | March 31, 2020 at 11:14 AM
If he can't be President, he'd prefer a second Trump term to a centrist Democrat. It's partly the desire to slay the "near enemy," as al Qaeda would put it. And partly the fantasy that making things worse will finally bring on the Revolution.
Posted by: shsavage | March 31, 2020 at 11:21 AM
It is all about the Benjamins. Bernie is raking in too much cash to give up the grift. The FEC is toothless, and even if it was not, it is too easy to legally move campaign donations to Bernie's wallet. How many of his books have been purchased by the campaign? Bernie has taken in nearly half a billion dollars over the past five years. We will never know how much of that money ended up in his pockets.
A lot. And if 2016 is any guide he can make money right through the convention.
Posted by: Tom Benjamin | March 31, 2020 at 11:36 AM
To a certain extent ego goes with the territory of running for the office of president. Let us face it, ego is all Trump ever had as both reason for seeking the office and excuse for praising himself. Somewhere inside your noggin should also be some grasp of reality. Bernie has demonstrated that of all the candidates who ran, including Tulsi's, his was the weakest.
Posted by: Peter G | March 31, 2020 at 12:13 PM
Yes Mr. Common Touch sure is quite the plutocrat. His hypocrisy is just as bad as his arrogance and sense of entitlement.
Posted by: Anne J | March 31, 2020 at 12:24 PM
"Somewhere inside your noggin should also be some grasp of reality," or as Socrates said, "Know thyself," and Dirty Harry updated, "A man's got to know his limitations."
Posted by: shsavage | March 31, 2020 at 12:35 PM
I didn't know that about that about his books. I went looking and it was something $445,00 plus. Not to mention that the book in question was basically just an update of a previous book. So his cult members give money to help him get to power to save the country from the greedy politicians and it goes instead into his pockets. If I understand this grift correctly.
Posted by: Freesia | March 31, 2020 at 12:44 PM
I think I might drop round Bernie's twitter feed and mention that that money he is raising to no purpose just might be money the senders will urgently need very shortly.
Posted by: Peter G | March 31, 2020 at 01:13 PM
Haha! Nice. The image really does fit, doesn’t it?
Posted by: Jason | March 31, 2020 at 01:57 PM
Time to mow the grass.
Posted by: LarrytheRed | March 31, 2020 at 02:01 PM
Rubin has a nice piece today about Bernie. She makes a good point that Warren essentially makes him obsolete. While he’s grandstanding to no avail, she’s busy sending policy papers to the Biden campaign in a grounded, pragmatic effort to advance progressive ideology. She understands the stakes and will bring about positive change from inside the party. He won’t. Here’s the relevant excerpt:
“Third, it would free up constructive, smart progressive leaders such as Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) to lead that wing of the party. She has already begun that process, contributing bankruptcy and student loan forgiveness plans to the Biden campaign. With a practical, crafty progressive in the Senate (hopefully in the majority and able to lead on legislation), Biden would be able to broaden his appeal and cultivate allies in the Warren wing of the party.”
Posted by: Jason | March 31, 2020 at 02:17 PM
Oh yeah. He's a legend in own mind. He thinks they'll be putting up statues of him years from now. (They won't. :-( )
Posted by: Freesia | March 31, 2020 at 02:30 PM
I think that was from 2016. He has written a couple more books, bestsellers like Trump Jr wrote a bestseller. He is also funnelling his ad buys - most of his spending - through a company that did not exist before 2015 and whose owners are unknown. In the meantime he is flying around the country in a Gulfstream. He isn't a billionaire but he's living the life.
Quit? Turn off the flow of cash? I think not. He will play out the string, and then like 2016, not bother with his final reports to the FEC. We'll never know how much he made on his failed revolution.
Posted by: Tom Benjamin | March 31, 2020 at 02:41 PM
Well isn't that adorable? Sounds a little Jill Stein-ish, too. She did some smooth moves with campaign cash as I recall.
Posted by: Freesia | March 31, 2020 at 02:57 PM
That would be the correct way to get shit done.
Posted by: Peter G | March 31, 2020 at 06:40 PM