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davidn3600

(6,342 posts)
Wed Apr 29, 2015, 08:28 PM Apr 2015

Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders: 'I am running for president'

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Promising to fight what he deems "obscene levels" of income disparity and a campaign finance system that is a "real disgrace," independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders said Wednesday he will run for president as a Democrat.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Sanders confirmed his plans to formally join the race Thursday.

The self-described "democratic socialist" enters the race as a robust liberal alternative to Hillary Rodham Clinton, and he pledged to do more than simply raise progressive issues or nudge the former secretary of state to the left in a campaign in which she is heavily favored.

"People should not underestimate me," Sanders said. "I've run outside of the two-party system, defeating Democrats and Republicans, taking on big-money candidates and, you know, I think the message that has resonated in Vermont is a message that can resonate all over this country."

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"What we have seen is that while the average person is working longer hours for lower wages, we have seen a huge increase in income and wealth inequality, which is now reaching obscene levels," Sanders told the AP.

"This is a rigged economy, which works for the rich and the powerful, and is not working for ordinary Americans. ... You know, this country just does not belong to a handful of billionaires."


http://news.yahoo.com/vermont-sen-bernie-sanders-am-running-president-000144179--election.html
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Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders: 'I am running for president' (Original Post) davidn3600 Apr 2015 OP
Kicking AuntPatsy Apr 2015 #1
Okay, may the best candidate win. ucrdem Apr 2015 #2
Well we can be assured he won't sell his soul to Wall Street. nm rhett o rick Apr 2015 #3
That leaves big oil, weapons, and nukes. ucrdem Apr 2015 #4
All publicly traded companies, thus they're just as "Wall Street" as Goldman Sachs. arcane1 Apr 2015 #6
Yes, but that's my point. ucrdem Apr 2015 #8
He's counting on people actually participating in democracy, not leaving it up to the rich. arcane1 Apr 2015 #10
Barack and Hillary have gone there too ucrdem Apr 2015 #12
Hillary Clinton and Goldman-Sachs are very close. And she is expected to raise rhett o rick Apr 2015 #17
+1 nationalize the fed Apr 2015 #13
I think that's a good sign. nm rhett o rick Apr 2015 #18
By collecting small donations from people like us, and calling out the fat-cats at every turn arcane1 Apr 2015 #5
Okay but where's the organization to solicit and collect ucrdem Apr 2015 #7
He's running as a Democrat, as he said 1,000 times. Meanwhile, he has a website just like the rest: arcane1 Apr 2015 #9
He's not a Democrat yet ucrdem Apr 2015 #11
All the info is out there. You just have to read it. arcane1 Apr 2015 #15
Sorry, but I am enjoying your consternation that a real people's candidate is running. rhett o rick Apr 2015 #20
Okay it turns out he's a member of the DSA ucrdem Apr 2015 #21
He is running in the DEMOCRATIC primary, but you knew that and just want to ...... Dragonfli Apr 2015 #19
So let's not try BrotherIvan Apr 2015 #16
This is the presidential announcement I've been waiting for. Initech Apr 2015 #14

ucrdem

(15,512 posts)
2. Okay, may the best candidate win.
Wed Apr 29, 2015, 08:32 PM
Apr 2015

Yes, the sums required to run a national campaign are obscene. That said, exactly how is Bernie planning to finance his national campaign?

ucrdem

(15,512 posts)
4. That leaves big oil, weapons, and nukes.
Wed Apr 29, 2015, 08:50 PM
Apr 2015

Also pharmaceuticals, agribusiness, and coal. Maybe Google and Microsoft. Any predictions?

 

arcane1

(38,613 posts)
6. All publicly traded companies, thus they're just as "Wall Street" as Goldman Sachs.
Wed Apr 29, 2015, 08:54 PM
Apr 2015

If their money is mandatory, then our democracy is dead. I'd like to try it just once without their help (and, more importantly, without their expectation of payback)

ucrdem

(15,512 posts)
8. Yes, but that's my point.
Wed Apr 29, 2015, 08:56 PM
Apr 2015

At the moment he doesn't have much choice but to boldly go where Hillary and Barack have gone before unless he's got a printing press in his basement.

 

arcane1

(38,613 posts)
10. He's counting on people actually participating in democracy, not leaving it up to the rich.
Wed Apr 29, 2015, 08:58 PM
Apr 2015

I'm ready to join him in that noble cause.

 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
17. Hillary Clinton and Goldman-Sachs are very close. And she is expected to raise
Wed Apr 29, 2015, 09:27 PM
Apr 2015

$2 billion, yes that billion with a B, from the big money boys. I side with the Populist candidate.

nationalize the fed

(2,169 posts)
13. +1
Wed Apr 29, 2015, 09:07 PM
Apr 2015

I just signed up to volunteer. Took 12 hours to finally get through to his website.



Bernie's gonna stir it up

 

arcane1

(38,613 posts)
5. By collecting small donations from people like us, and calling out the fat-cats at every turn
Wed Apr 29, 2015, 08:50 PM
Apr 2015

That's how!

ucrdem

(15,512 posts)
7. Okay but where's the organization to solicit and collect
Wed Apr 29, 2015, 08:54 PM
Apr 2015

and where does he get your email address? What national party is going to help him out for example?

ucrdem

(15,512 posts)
11. He's not a Democrat yet
Wed Apr 29, 2015, 08:59 PM
Apr 2015

and there's no "democratic socialist" party with a national fundraising operation that I'm aware of.

 

rhett o rick

(55,981 posts)
20. Sorry, but I am enjoying your consternation that a real people's candidate is running.
Wed Apr 29, 2015, 09:41 PM
Apr 2015

By the way there is a Populist Movement just waiting for a leader. It's way past time to throw the Plutocratic Oligarchs out on their asses.

I understand your snide implication that Sen Sanders will not get the big money from the rich fat cats that you seem to admire. He is a candidate for the people not Goldman-Sachs and the Wall Street dancers.

ucrdem

(15,512 posts)
21. Okay it turns out he's a member of the DSA
Wed Apr 29, 2015, 09:50 PM
Apr 2015

which is a national organization.

http://www.dsausa.org/

Their honorary chairman is Cornel West.

BrotherIvan

(9,126 posts)
16. So let's not try
Wed Apr 29, 2015, 09:19 PM
Apr 2015

Yeah, let's just throw up our hands and let only the wealthy decide. That's so much better.

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