Bernie Sanders Has an Idea for the Left: Don't Run as Democrats

[Polybius]

Source: NY Times

Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has a message for his fellow progressives: Why don’t you shed the Democratic label and run as an independent, the way he does?

Mr. Sanders’s admonition came in an interview with The New York Times on the eve of a three-day, five-city swing through Western states alongside Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York. He predicted that they would draw tens of thousands of people to rally against President Trump, Elon Musk and the influence of billionaires on the American government.

“One of the aspects of this tour is to try to rally people to get engaged in the political process and run as independents outside of the Democratic Party,” Mr. Sanders said in the interview on Wednesday. “There’s a lot of great leadership all over this country at the grass-roots level. We’ve got to bring that forward. And if we do that, we can defeat Trumpism and we can transform the political situation in America.”

The suggestion that would-be leaders of the left should abandon the Democratic Party picks at a political scab that has never fully healed. Mr. Sanders, 83, a longtime independent, has had a tense yet codependent relationship with the party for decades.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/us/politics/bernie-sanders-democrats-independents.html

[Phoenix61]

1. Well isn't he the helpful little friend.🤬

[SSJVegeta]

5. He didnt say what the headline suggests

Last edited Fri Mar 21, 2025, 12:13 PM - Edit history (1)

What he said:

“If there’s any hope for the Democratic Party, it is that they’re going to have to reach out — open the doors and let working-class people in, let working-class leadership come into the party,” he said. “If not, people will be running as independents, I think, all over this country.”

On edit: (yes he did)

[Phoenix61]

12. Yes he did.

“One of the aspects of this tour is to try to rally people to get engaged in the political process and run as independents outside of the Democratic Party,” Mr. Sanders said in the interview on Wednesday. “There’s a lot of great leadership all over this country at the grass-roots level. We’ve got to bring that forward. And if we do that, we can defeat Trumpism and we can transform the political situation in America.”
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/20/us/politics/bernie-sanders-democrats-independents.html

[SSJVegeta]

19. Yes he did

[Skittles]

7. yup, the usual

zzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[JohnSJ]

2. Let's split the ticket because there will be Democrats running. In

other words how to help rethugs win elections.

I won’t elaborate but this is divisive and bullshit.

[SSJVegeta]

4. He didnt say what the headline suggests

What he actually said:

“If there’s any hope for the Democratic Party, it is that they’re going to have to reach out — open the doors and let working-class people in, let working-class leadership come into the party,” he said. “If not, people will be running as independents, I think, all over this country.”

[JohnSJ]

9. Nonsense. Biden and Harris did reach out to the working class and labor

Those in Labor and the working class will pay a heavy price for those that voted for trump, and they deserve it. Unfortunately the rest of us don’t.

Suggesting to progressives to run as independents instead of a Democratic with the implication that the Democratic Party doesn’t reach out is flat out wrong.

Trump didn’t hide what he was going to do, it was all in Project 2025. The only conclusion is those that voted for him agree with that.

[SomewhereInTheMiddle]

18. "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity."

Trump didn’t hide what he was going to do, it was all in Project 2025. The only conclusion is those that voted for him agree with that.

I think in many cases two more likely conclusions are that 1) Many voters never bother to find out about Project 2025 and simply bought into the positive hype Trump and his followers spewed. 2) They heard about Project 2025 but either believed Trump when he said he was unfamiliar with it or did not believe it was as bad as we were saying without ever looking for themselves.

In the words of Hanlon's razor they were stupid not malicious.

I have heard it argued that ignorance, wilful or not, is no excuse. And to an extent I agree. But I think a lot of voters never bother with thoughtful reflection or rigorous investigation. They simply vote for their team and hope/believe they will do right by them.

While many/most politician lie, the Old Man takes it to a level not seen in modern history and manages to fool vast swaths of the population. It is certainly past the "fool me twice" stage and those that keep falling for his tricks should be ashamed.

But I do not think they all wanted this suicidally destructive tornado tearing down everything, if only because they did not want their own houses demolished.

If ~30% of the electorate truly want this shitstorm, America has bigger problems that an orange buffoon and an idiotic oligarch.

Or so it seems to me.

[SSJVegeta]

3. Surprise surprise the NYT is spreading the same lie

What he actually said

“If there’s any hope for the Democratic Party, it is that they’re going to have to reach out — open the doors and let working-class people in, let working-class leadership come into the party,” he said. “If not, people will be running as independents, I think, all over this country.”

[JohnSJ]

10. The fact is Democrats have and do reach out. They have and open

tent, which is its strength and weakness.

[JohnSJ]

11. The fact is Democrats have and do reach out. They have and open

tent, which is its strength and weakness.

[BaronChocula]

15. Democrats never get the credit they deserve

If we revisit the Biden presidency it scored record legislative successes, but by the time the 2024 election came, none of it mattered.

In spite of their incompetence and unpopular policies, the republican party is the party of the white establishment and there are just enough voters to be comfortable with that alone they can still win elections.

[msongs]

6. in one respect bernie and trump are alike

they are celebrities running on a persona to some degree and people turn out to see their show when they come to town. of course the content is totally different. Oh and another thing they are plain spoken in their presentations.

[Skittles]

8. very alike

yup

[pnwmom]

13. How about showing greater respect for Democrats, Bernie?

Hillary wants to know.

[SunSeeker]

14. ...

[Beastly Boy]

16. It's 2016 all over again.

Like he never learned a thing since then.

[LudwigPastorius]

17. You can't spell "Sanders" without N, A, D, E, R.

[ismnotwasm]

20. Because that works out so well locally.

Jesus fucking Christ

[Sober Retiree]

21. What can it hurt?

Either way you look at it were f*****. Get into the solution to late to look back. It’s all about what’s going on in real time. We need to unite not go on a let’s bash Bernie tour. What ever it takes,do mean what ever! Pray for Justice Roberts he is our only current hope!!!!!!