Independent senator, 82, stresses need to improve healthcare and protect abortion rights – and condemns ‘extremist’ Netanyahu
Bernie Sanders, the Vermont independent senator and former candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, announced on Monday that he will run for a fourth six-year term – at the age of 82.
In a video statement, Sanders thanked the people of Vermont “for giving me the opportunity to serve in the United States Senate”, which he said had been “the honor of my life.
“Today I am announcing my intention to seek another term. And let me take a few minutes to tell you why.”
In his signature clipped New York accent, Sanders did so.
How likely is it that his replacement will be a progressive, given the party’s years of anti-progressive fuckery?
OK so what’s the logical conclusion here? Bernie has to stay in office until he literally dies because his seat might go to a Democrat?
I mean, kind of. Socialist/the progressive left have a toehold in our government. Bernie sanders has done a shit ton to drag the Overton window towards the left (see healthcare for just one example) both in his run for president and his time as a senator passionately arguing in favor of leftism. Our country is designed not to build coalitions with anything but the two ruling parties. It’s a good thing though that there are people like AOC, who, while not as radical as Bernie and has some questionable positions, are able to become the new guard.
The very fact that you can think of people who qualify as the new guard just tells me that Bernie has more of a legacy in place than he might think. He went from giving speeches to completely empty chambers to there being an entire ‘squad’ of politicians that share his views. That is progress. That is a major accomplishment that he should be thrilled about!
I get that people like him, and I’m sure he doesn’t feel like he’s too old, but I’m firmly of the mind that age limits in government are necessary. Being a spry 82-year-old is still being an 82-year-old. He can find a progressive millenial or gen z-er in the state of Vermont to throw his weight behind for the future. If he can’t, well frankly that’s his fault and not a valid excuse to be yet another dinosaur clinging to power.
No, just that he may be holding on for essentially that reason.