Posted on 03/06/2014 1:01:27 PM PST by Sub-Driver
March 06, 2014, 02:08 pm Sanders: 'I am prepared to run for president'
By Mario Trujillo
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said he is prepared to run for president and will look seriously at the race in 2016.
“I am prepared to run for president of the United States. I don't believe that I am the only person out there who can fight this fight, but I am certainly prepared to look seriously at that race,” he told The Nation in an interview published Thursday.
Sanders has broached the subject of a presidential candidacy before but has predicted the odds of running are slim.
The Vermont independent said he had not decided how he would run — either as an independent third-party candidate or by entering the Democratic primary.
Running as an independent, he said, would require him to build a whole infrastructure, and there would always be the potential for, what he called, the “Nader dilemma,” in which a liberal third-party candidate peels off votes from a Democratic contender, making it easier for a Republican to win.
“The question that you asked is extremely important; it requires a whole lot of discussion. It’s one that I have not answered yet,” he said.
He said he is not actively raising money or organizing a campaign but he is talking to people about it and plans to make trips around the country.
“If I run, I'm not going to be raising hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars,” he said. “I think I have the capability of raising a lot of money, and that's important, but that at the end of the day, is not going to be what's most important.”
He said people underestimate the voters’ frustration with the status quo and are looking for a candidate to address it. He said the Democratic Party relies too heavily on “big money interests.”
Sanders gave a series of interviews with The Nation and Time magazine in which he discussed much of the same topic.
In the Time interview published Wednesday, Sanders said Hillary Clinton is not the Democratic candidate to lead the political revolution he envisions.
He said he would make a better president than her.
“I think, you know, if you talk about the need for a political revolution in America, I think it’s fair to say that Secretary Clinton probably will not be one of the more active people,” he said.
Sanders ticked off his populist wish list, which includes universal healthcare and access to college, a stricter tax system for corporations and the wealthy, and campaign finance reforms that would roll back the Supreme Court decision that opened up corporate political donations and led to the creation of super-PACs.
“Do you think that’s Hillary Clinton’s agenda? I don’t think so,” he said.
Is he running as a communist?
Of what? Venezuela?
Shouldn’t it be Bernie Sanders(S)?
______________________________________
It should and Bernie may very well run as a third party candidate. He is an unabashed socialist and is unafraid to say so. His candor is his only redeeming quality. He doesn’t feel the need to hide his true agenda with lies as the Democrats do. He just comes right out and tells you.
I despise his politics but I can’t fault the guy for being a liar.
The way things are going, he’ll probably run as a Republican.
Good, he will drain away votes from the current ruling commie party.
Hey, he’ll peel off some votes!
I'd much rather have him run as an independent in November to split the Democrat vote!
On the Democrat ticket or the Socialist?
A Socialist who actually admits that he’s a Socialist. The honesty is so refreshing that I have to applaud.
I thought ol Bernie was a Socialist. At least he doesn’t pretend like most of the Progressives.
>>Shouldn’t it be Bernie Sanders(S)?
Our “two”-party system only recognizes R, D, and I. Sanders has never claimed to be anything but a Socialist since he came out as one. (Quotes around “two” because the second party is a figment of the people’s imagination.)
We already have a SOCIALIST as President. We do not need another.........
We need the Left to split their vote for a change. Why does the third party always have to be on the right?
Don’t be so sure. If he chooses Lizzy Warren as his running mate, he could win. Don’t underestimate the voters in this country.\Many are voting for a living.
we’re behind you all the way....run, run, run, I say with a certain glee in my eye.
maybe we can get cynthia mckinnie on the green ticket. anything that’ll help the cause.
“Oh goodie!”
Yeah, cool. Has “Burnie” ever hosted SNL?
Sanders ticked off his populist wish list, which includes universal healthcare and access to college, a stricter tax system for corporations and the wealthy, and campaign finance reforms that would roll back the Supreme Court decision that opened up corporate political donations and led to the creation of super-PACs.
Oh terrific. A White Barack Obama.....
OHH HELL NO!
Yeah, Bernie. And I’m “prepared” for my date with Anne Hathaway.
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