Independent U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders is running for re-election, squelching speculation that he might retire at a difficult moment for Democrats The 82-year-old liberal icon from Vermont announced Monday that he's seeking his fourth term in the U.S.
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 presidential 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.
I am supporting him and even going donate. Sad he can't retire but I feel he only Senator trying to fight conservatism in the government. Wish he was running for president. Maybe in 2028.
Senate is a 6 year term so he'll be 88 at the end if he survives.
Besides just being with his family, the most important thing he could be doing is finding a replacement with similar politics to him and endorsing the shit out of them. Otherwise when he dies it will be a blood bath that might not end up with a progressive like him.
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.
Seconded. Bernie is going to be really hard to replace. He’s about as solid as they come when it comes to being pretty much exactly who he has always been. Anyone that comes in after has a far higher chance of being a standard neo-lib.
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.
Dude's 82. I'd vote for him, fuck I'd almost die to get him into office, but it is not a job for such an age. He's stressed as hell already, the presidency would almost definitely kill him with how awful being president is. He could seriously do a lot of good for us but he's gotta worry about himself too.
I'm really conflicted here. I love Bernie, and I'm afraid of a cooperate centrist taking the place of one of the few truly progressive votes in the Senate, but 82 is way to old to be signing up for another term. He still seems as sharp as ever, but will that be true for another 6 years? I don't want to see him go out like Diane Feinstein.
b
(1)
: to completely suppress : quell
squelch resistance
(2)
: silence
squelched the protesters
Forgive the loss of formatting, but it's perfectly valid. They say sense 1a dates from at least 1624, before the invention of radio (1895), so it's not like it was made up for radio and then used more generally.