God, give me the arrogance of a 77-y/o white man

[ZaphodBeeblerox]

Bernie Sanders announces presidential run

Can you just imagine the complete uproar if HRC said she was going to run???

[NameChangeNugget]

God help America if she does

[ZaphodBeeblerox]

Not suggesting she should (although really not a fan of the Orange Puppet-in-Chief). Just imagining the talking heads all exploding if she considered it. Whereas Bernie is just welcomed back into the fray??? Egads!

[cardibach]

I’m not an expert on American politics, it wasn’t he quite popular last time? Lots of people said the democrats should have chosen him not Hilary Clinton.
I’m sure he probably is a bit arrogant - you would have to be to think you could be in charge of the whole of America! Not sure you’ll get many self-effacing types putting themselves forward...

[recrudescence]

Yes, 77 is far too old - should be taken out and shot like a lame horse. As for being white .... disgusting!

[ZaphodBeeblerox]

He was popular but ultimately lost the Democratic nomination. Of course his supporters would say he should have been the candidate, but he lost to her. And his supporters then (not all of them obviously) said they didn't want to vote for Hillary and eschewed the entire process, which contributed in part to Hillary's loss. (Of course that's a gross oversimplification). But if you compete, and lose, surely you go away. Not come back next time to say I still think I can win this time around? Are there any candidates who've lost their party's nomination but come back next cycle? (I seem to remember there's a couple who've lost the overall race and tried again in 4 years).

[ZaphodBeeblerox]

Oh come off it @recrudescence - I wasn't saying older candidates shouldn't compete, or that white candidates shouldn't compete for a job that has (almost) exclusively been held by old white men throughout its existence.

I'm just musing about the complete double standards when it comes to men vs women here, and what an uproar there would be if HRC decided to compete again. Yet, Sanders feels entitled enough to compete again for a job where he previously lost in round 1. As a woman POC I wish I had me some of that sense of entitlement.

[Nydj]

I agree with you that Bernie shouldn’t run this time.
In answer to your Q about anyone else having done similar - Hilary ran and lost the dems nomination to Obama and ran again to beat Bernie and be the dems candidate in 2016.

[ZaphodBeeblerox]

In answer to your Q about anyone else having done similar - Hilary ran and lost the dems nomination to Obama and ran again to beat Bernie and be the dems candidate in 2016.
Oh man, that's such a good point - how did I forget that?
I guess because she spent two terms working with the administration it felt more like it was an entirely new run. But I stand corrected!

[TheHodgeoftheHedge]

But if you compete, and lose, surely you go away. Not come back next time to say I still think I can win this time around?

You realise that many of the USA presidents "didn't win" the first time around?!

•1789--John Adams (lost to George Washington) became 2d President
•1796--Thomas Jefferson (lost to John Adams) became 3d President
•1808--James Monroe (lost to James Madison) became 5th President
•1824--Andrew Jackson (lost to John Quincy Adams) became 7th President
•1836--William Henry Harrison (lost to Martin Van Buren) became 9th President
•1844--James Buchanan (lost to James K Polk) became 15th President
•1856--Millard Fillmore (lost to Franklin Pierce) became 13th President
•1860--Andrew Johnson (lost to Abraham Lincoln) became 17th President
•1864--Ulysses S Grant (lost to Abraham Lincoln) became 18th President
•1888--Grover Cleveland (lost to Benjamin Harrison) became 24th President (after already serving as 22d President)
•1960--Richard Nixon (lost to John F Kennedy) became 37th President
•1976--Ronald Reagan (lost to James Earle Carter) became 40th President
•1980--George H. W. Bush (lost to Ronald Reagan) became 41st President

Several lost their own party nominations as well...
•Nixon (won the GOP nomination, but lost the general election in 1960; won 1968)
•Reagan (lost the GOP nomination in 1976; won the general in 1980)
•Bush (lost the GOP nomination in 1980; won the general in 1988)

[DishingOutDone]

Um, I thought he was a highly principled man who wanted his country to be governed by someone with any form of conscience whatsoever? I am sure he'd rather have his feet up with a cup of tea and a digestive, but he feels that America is going to hell in a hand basket and he wants to act. I think anyone in their right mind would feel like that, at any age.

[TheHodgeoftheHedge]

I'm just musing about the complete double standards when it comes to men vs women here, and what an uproar there would be if HRC decided to compete again. Yet, Sanders feels entitled enough to compete again for a job where he previously lost in round 1. As a woman POC I wish I had me some of that sense of entitlement.

Whilst I am normally one of the first to point out sexism wherever it presents itself, and don't get me started on how sexism played a role in Trump's election, that's not exactly what's going on here. Bernie has nothing to be ashamed of having another punt at the job (he didn't do anything wrong per se originally to lose the nomination) and as per my other post, it's pretty common to have more than one go at being president, particularly in the USA.

[TheHodgeoftheHedge]

PS regarding age, Bernie is only 5 years older than Trump although Trump is officially the oldest president (Reagan was 69 when sworn in compared to Trump's 70).
Although interesting side note, if Hilary had won, she'd have been the second oldest, also at 69.

[Loopytiles]

It’s interesting that the US (male) politicians seem to face less ageism than UK ones, eg Menzies Campbell.

Or perhaps not, it seems intrusive that Trump and others have published their health information, eg BMI and ailments!

[TheHodgeoftheHedge]

Or perhaps not, it seems intrusive that Trump and others have published their health information, eg BMI and ailments!

LOL if you believe any of it! And yet he managed to get away with not publishing his tax returns...

[nancy75]

A man like Bernie is what America needs. I like Hilary but she was so bogged down by her past & her husband that she never had a chance. The ideal scenario would have been for her to win instead of Obama & then for Obama to be the president after her. America was more ready for a white woman than it was for a black man

[EstrellaDamn]

I have to admit my heart sank when I saw his name appear on Twitter this morning. We need an antidote to what we've got, and I think some of that is people seeing that someone understands the mindset and needs of their generation, which Bernie can't properly demonstrate.

I could have seen a Biden/Harris ticket being a winner though, as it blends credibility, likeability, and the next gen/PoC angle too. Even though Biden is 76!

[stopfuckingshoutingatme]

This thread stinks of ageism and sexism

These factors being taken into account are vile

Judge him on his politics and that alone

[Mummyoflittledragon]

He was given a clean bill of health a few years ago when running. I’d be concerned about him slowing down too much but he’d make a better POTUS for sure..... and yes, what a shame HC wouldn’t be given another chance. Especially seeing as she actually won the popular vote.

[MissConductUS]

You realise that many of the USA presidents "didn't win" the first time around?!

Hillary ran and lost twice. There is zero chance she'd get the nomination for a third attempt and she knows it.

[CoolJule43]

Can't see why you have mentioned the word 'white'.

I thought we were trying to eradicate discrimination on the grounds of colour, race, creed etc. Why would you even mention it?

[MissionItsPossible]

America was more ready for a white woman than it was for a black man

I'm not sure I understand that as Barack Obama was president for 8 years and Hilary, or any other woman of any colour, has never been president of the United States

[EstrellaDamn]

stop we can't pretend that a 77 year old will necessarily have the same stamina, energy and even - let's face it - mental capacity to sustain a successful and safe presidency for four full years, as, say, a 50 year old would likely have. I know that when my Gran was 77 she had the beginnings of dementia, but it only became clear when we looked back over the years what had been going on.

It's not ageism to recognise that most people are knackered by 77 and most often are fully retired, for sensible reasons.

Vote if you agree with his policies? Sure.

Also have concerns about his age? Perfectly understandable.