Senator Sanders Announces for President

See blog list at left for yesterday's live blogging posts of the Sanders Announcement.  Posts are in reverse chronological order.  

"...this disastrous Citizens United decision."
"...we need public funding of elections."

"It is time to break up the largest financial institutions in this country....
If a bank is too big to fail that bank is too big to exist."

"We must say to the billionaire class: 'You can't have it all!"...
"You cannot take advantage of all the benefits of America if you refuse to accept your responsibilities."

"We need paid sick leave and paid vacation time for every worker in this country."

"We must establish wage equality for women."

"The current minimum wage of $7.25 an hour is a starvation wage and must be raised."

"...to benefit the many at the expense of the few."

The best way to create jobs, says Sen. Sanders is to rebuild our crumbling infrasturure.    He has introduced legislation to fund one trillion dollars to rebuild our infrastructure to create 13 million good-paying jobs.

"What is the agenda?... The agenda begins with jobs."

"We are going to turn this country around!  That is what this campaign is about."

Sanders speech is full of statistics, many of which have become familiar by this point. 

Evils of Oligarchs Detailed

Sen. Sanders has today decried the power of billionaires such as the Koch brothers and someone named Sheldon (?).

Live Blogging: the Sanders Announcement

Stay tuned here...

Will Sanders Candidacy Help or Hurt Efforts to Stave Off Republicans?

An open question is whether the candidacy of Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont will help or hurt Democrats' chances in 2016.  With the election a year and a half away, it is too early to tell for sure.  However, as in every nomination battle, there is always the danger of a split within the party leading up to the fall campaign.  What happens depends very much on the way the primary campaigns are conducted.  Clearly, the Sanders campaign helps the Democrats on policy questions.  I have heard Mr. Sanders speak several times now, and he is quite impressive.  He may or may not be the next Robert Lafollette but he is of good character, a solid, patriotic American, and a contender.  That is saying a good deal.

What is to be avoided by all means, is a repeat of 2000, when Ralph Nader siphoned off votes from the Democrats, helping assure a "W" victory with Supreme Court help.  The Bush II Presidency led to two disastrous wars and an economic panic on Wall Street.

It will be up to Mr. Sanders, Ms. Clinton, and any other candidates to make this a constructive debate.  At this point, at least, Sanders' inclusion in the contest is a most welcome addition.

U.S. Senator Bernard Sanders (I), Vermont

Wealthy Republicans Spend Huge Amounts to Undermine Democratic Efforts

The absurdist Koch brothers are at it again, according to the article linked to below.  The ingenuity of the Kochs knows no bounds when it comes to undermining Democratic efforts among members of the Democrats' core constituencies.  The latest report from The Washington Post, documents their efforts to curry favor with Hispanics while raising doubts about the Democrats in order to surpress votes.

Do the terms fascist and anarchist apply here?


Democratic Worry Over Republican-leaning Latino Outreach