Sanders has stepped up as a “leader” since he pissed away most of his influence in 2012. That is really good. And that is why he is the one expected to “speak up” in these kinds of hearings and why he gets media coverage.
But a LOT of work happens in the government that doesn’t get media coverage. One could argue that almost all meaningful and productive work falls into that category.
If people want to say “Good on Bernie for telling it like it is” and “Good thing Bernie is there to step up”, I am all for it. But “he’s the only adult in a room full of children” is an active insult to everyone who is trying to make this shitshow work.
And even if you don’t care about actively disrespecting the people trying to attempt to make this country a more bearable place: Sanders is 78. We need to not pin all our hopes and dreams on someone who very likely won’t be in office in 2028.
If people want to say “Good on Bernie for telling it like it is” and “Good thing Bernie is there to step up”, I am all for it. But “he’s the only adult in a room full of children” is an active insult to everyone who is trying to make this shitshow work.
Oh, people who hate Sanders suddenly don’t like it when people are called children?
My take of his argument is that all of what we see is theater, and that there are actual adults in the background trying to hold everything together, and that labeling all who work in politics as children does nothing but a disservice to a large majority of civil servants
If people who hate Sanders object so mightily to calling people children, that shouldn’t have been their go-to dismissal of everyone to their left for the past 8 years.
He had plenty of influence. Up until he lost but he and his supporters were insisting they were still in it and trying to convince delegates to change their votes. And, rather than get concessions, he mostly just made Hilary look less legitimate. Its great that he still inspired folk like AOC but his influence was MUCH smaller than it should have been for being runner up.
Whereas, in 2016, he conceded at close enough to the right time and, by all accounts, got a decent number of things added to Biden’s platform. I would still have preferred he focus more on building up the younger progressive politicians while he had a platform but, so be it.
Sanders had The Voice Of The People. And rather than use it to build up the representatives and senators that we need to get actual progressive legislature through Congress, he mostly built up a cult of personality. People like AOC and the rest of The Squad are doing a MUCH better job of carrying on Bernie’s “legacy” but they are also young and prone to stupid gaffes.
Also: If Sanders HAD won (and not gotten demolished in the actual presidential election because of his long history of easily soundbited statements…): Biden is struggling to get freaking means-testing student loan forgiveness through. Can you imagine how fucked any attempts at ACTUALLY progressive legislature would be?
Sanders has stepped up as a “leader” since he pissed away most of his influence in 2012. That is really good. And that is why he is the one expected to “speak up” in these kinds of hearings and why he gets media coverage.
But a LOT of work happens in the government that doesn’t get media coverage. One could argue that almost all meaningful and productive work falls into that category.
If people want to say “Good on Bernie for telling it like it is” and “Good thing Bernie is there to step up”, I am all for it. But “he’s the only adult in a room full of children” is an active insult to everyone who is trying to make this shitshow work.
And even if you don’t care about actively disrespecting the people trying to attempt to make this country a more bearable place: Sanders is 78. We need to not pin all our hopes and dreams on someone who very likely won’t be in office in 2028.
Oh, people who hate Sanders suddenly don’t like it when people are called children?
That’s not what he’s saying
He sure seems pissed off that someone called them children.
My take of his argument is that all of what we see is theater, and that there are actual adults in the background trying to hold everything together, and that labeling all who work in politics as children does nothing but a disservice to a large majority of civil servants
If people who hate Sanders object so mightily to calling people children, that shouldn’t have been their go-to dismissal of everyone to their left for the past 8 years.
Okay, well there’s a big context here I’m clearly missing.
Nobody is calling him “king Bernie” either. Pick your battles.
I think you misunderstood. The “room” mentioned isn’t all of Congress, but the physical room where this one committee was.
Sorry but you’re asserting that Bernie had no influence when he was running his highly successful and disruptive presidential campaign?
He had plenty of influence. Up until he lost but he and his supporters were insisting they were still in it and trying to convince delegates to change their votes. And, rather than get concessions, he mostly just made Hilary look less legitimate. Its great that he still inspired folk like AOC but his influence was MUCH smaller than it should have been for being runner up.
Whereas, in 2016, he conceded at close enough to the right time and, by all accounts, got a decent number of things added to Biden’s platform. I would still have preferred he focus more on building up the younger progressive politicians while he had a platform but, so be it.
Sanders had The Voice Of The People. And rather than use it to build up the representatives and senators that we need to get actual progressive legislature through Congress, he mostly built up a cult of personality. People like AOC and the rest of The Squad are doing a MUCH better job of carrying on Bernie’s “legacy” but they are also young and prone to stupid gaffes.
Also: If Sanders HAD won (and not gotten demolished in the actual presidential election because of his long history of easily soundbited statements…): Biden is struggling to get freaking means-testing student loan forgiveness through. Can you imagine how fucked any attempts at ACTUALLY progressive legislature would be?
Sorry, but you do realize he’s the chair of this committee?
Yes. As of 2023.
kind of a dumbass, aren’tya? kinda just made a big dumb ol’ mountain out of a nothing mole hill, didn’tya?