Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont announced Monday he will run for reelection this year, squelching speculation that the 82-year-old progressive icon might retire at a time when the Democratic Party is anxious about the advancing age of its top leaders.
Hailing from a Democratic stronghold, Sanders’ decision virtually guarantees that he will return to Washington for a fourth Senate term. And his announcement comes at a critical moment for Democrats as the party navigates a growing divide over Israel’s war against Hamas in Gaza.
Sanders has criticized President Joe Biden’s handling of the U.S. relationship with Israel even as he’s hailed much of Biden’s domestic agenda ahead of what could be a tough reelection fight for Biden against presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump.
Bernie is one of the few senators that actually understands the opportunity barriers that young people face in the US. That said, I’m going to feel pretty hypocritical backing his candidacy, while I’ve said his 80+ year old colleagues are too old for the job.
He’s still sharp as a damn tack, but at some point, you’re just at a very high risk of the machinery breaking down on the job.
I’m going to feel pretty hypocritical backing his candidacy, while I’ve said his 80+ year old colleagues are too old for the job.
It’s okay to acknowledge exceptions to a general rule.
Another exception: If I remember correctly, Bernie was the only candidate (last time he ran) with the open intention of getting money out of politics. That and replacing the first-past-the-post voting system would unlock US political reform, IMHO.
Well shit.
I misread what was on the ticker on TV. I thought he was running for president.
I’d be okay with that. Bernie and gore as presidents would have changed the face of the nation.
Now we’re fucked to either swirl the toilet or force the cosmic plumber to break out a plunger.
“liberal icon”
The only two acceptable viewpoints are “liberal” and “conservative”, so center-right to far-right. Everything else is extremism and has no place in current politics.
Blame Rush Limbaugh. He turned ‘liberal’ into a word that means ‘anyone and everyone to the left of the current Republican party agenda.’
Bernie Sanders: I am a democratic socialist
AP: Well known liberal
Love Bernie but it’s time to move over for someone younger.
Yes, his seat is safely blue if he has to quit early, but meanwhile someone younger isn’t getting the experience to lead into the future.
Old politicians are like old teachers who just can’t seem to retire. It’s really weird. I love Bernie too and think the same thing.
I would say AOC fits that description. No reason why we can’t have both at the same time. There just aren’t enough people like them.
AOC is in New York. Bernie is in Vermont.
The only reasonable replacement would be Howard Dean.
Vermont is a very small state. Bernie is an OG with ties to actual radical movements. Dean, not so much.
For a senator of Vermont, Bernie is fine. For the population, his age isn’t as problematic; we don’t have as many viable candidates.
When it comes to something like president? Absolutely. But also, Bernie should have been president twice, and Biden, Hillary, and Trump all know it. Bernie isn’t bowing out of the game before them if he can help it, and I don’t blame him.
I do. I blame him. How are we supposed to cultivate the next generation of progressive leadership when the previous one refuses to leave?
And I don’t care if it’s ageist. 80 year olds have no business being in positions this important. I’m sick of seeing people being literally wheeled into the Senate chambers to cast votes before being sent back to a hospital.
I mean if you’re not a Vermonter it doesn’t really make a difference to you. You’re not going to get a Vermonter more radically left in that seat. If you want left, Bernie is your best bet second to Dean.
He’s a Senator. This doesn’t just affect Vermont. Having yet another Senator over the age of 85 will absolutely make a difference to me! I just can’t vote on it because I live in Ohio.
I was referring to the old giving way to the young, not explicitly who should fill Bernie’s seat in Vermont.
Because the young are already here, working alongside the old. And that’s better than the alternatives. The biggest problem is that you can count people of Bernie & AOC’s caliber (people who prioritize human wellbeing above financial gain & personal power) on one hand.
Ew. Don’t say squelch.
Also: Eww, don’t slander him by calling him a liberal
Run for president instead, you would win this time, I swear
The DNC would nominate a literal puppet – strings and all as a nominee instead of giving Bernie the nomination because they know he would win and actually make them work for the people again.
Bernie is too far left to be a liberal. Good luck to him though.
