Can A Socialist Ever Be Elected Our Next President??

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 11:50:48 -0400

Does a self described Socialist have a chance at the Democratic Nominee For President??

Response by Sgt Tom Cunnally made Sep 18 at 2015 11:57 AM

Sgt Tom Cunnally — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 11:57:19 -0400

I can't for the life of me figure out why Old Bernie's doing so well?? And why are so many people feeling the Bern?? I always thought being a Socialist would be impossible to win a nomination for President. Increase taxes to pay for programs for the poor??. Add trillions to the national debt?? We must be living in changing times is all I can say.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2015 11:59 AM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 11:59:24 -0400

Sometimes, parts of me thinks that all of the Presidents have a little Socialist in them.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Sep 18 at 2015 12:03 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 12:03:40 -0400

This one is sufficient, for now. If our institutions of higher learning continue with their brain washing/propagandizing our youth, a good possibility in the future. All that will save us is if they get jobs and find out who pays for the Socialization.

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made Sep 18 at 2015 12:05 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 12:05:03 -0400

Self proclaimed or not...pretty evident to most that it already happened

Response by SGT David T. made Sep 18 at 2015 12:25 PM

SGT David T. — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 12:25:14 -0400

This is America, anything can happen.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Sep 18 at 2015 1:04 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 13:04:24 -0400

Part of this is the general misunderstand of what "Socialism" is, much like there is a general understanding of what being a "Liberal" or a "Progressive" is.

In general, these terms are often used as insults, or have a negative connotation, but that doesn't mean that "specific programs" are bad. Sometimes a "Socialist Program" is the most effective way to do something within the government. Sometimes it is the least effective way. If it's the least effective way, don't use it. If it's the most effective, or most efficient, consider it.

Now, as for Mr. Sanders, he subscribes to a different political philosophy than most of the members of this forum. Myself included. I disagree with him on about 90% of things. However, he is consistent in his message. He is consistent in his vision. And say what you will about his philosophy, I can respect someone I disagree with, as long as they have qualities worth respecting.

But I digress. Now, Mr. Sanders has specific goals. Those goals are no different than any of the other candidates. His METHODS are different. His methods are what most people disagree with. It's a nuanced difference. It's like getting a truck out of the mud. Conservatives want to go forward. Progressives want to go backward. Socialists want to pull it sideways. Everyone wants it out of the mud though, they're just arguing about how.

But the reason people are considering Mr. Sanders is that he is completely different than what has come before. He's not the Conservative Party (R), and he's not what the Progressives (D) are offering up (Ms. Clinton).

Socialism, as in true (American) Socialism, appeals to a very specific subset of society. Namely the 18-25~ crowd who (without living in the real wold first) think that the government can solve their (perceived) problems.

But, Mr. Sanders has a few very redeeming factors. He doesn't sling mud. He's been doing this for a long time. He's not actually a Democrat. He's an Independent who caucuses with the Democrats.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Sep 18 at 2015 1:15 PM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 13:15:35 -0400

The same sentiment in the attached can be said about the possibility of electing a Socialist.

By the way, I think one has already been elected and he is in office now.

Response by Maj Matt Hylton made Sep 18 at 2015 1:24 PM

Maj Matt Hylton — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 13:24:30 -0400

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2015 1:54 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 13:54:01 -0400

I don't think it really matters how he is doing, the DNC and it's super delegates will select the party Nominee.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 18 at 2015 2:02 PM

SSG Warren Swan — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 14:02:52 -0400

Why not? We are standing on the cusp of having a man (Trump) who has better one liners than Bruce Willis in any Die Hard movie yet makes less sense than ET, and we have a possible inmate (Clinton, not really going to happen) running at the same time, a man who has no idea what he supports when asked, but did fight the unions and won in Wisconsin, another who's slicker than a wet willy (Cruz), Finally a fat candidate (Christy), the Christian Extremist (well he really has no chance) Huckabee, the Token Affirmative Action guy (Carson), The Twisted Sister Dee Snyder twin (Carly), and the rest of the "I think I can's but know I won'ts" So why not?

Response by SGT Christopher Churilla made Sep 18 at 2015 2:38 PM

SGT Christopher Churilla — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 14:38:46 -0400

Based on the current polls, Sen. Sanders certainly has a shot, but we are more than a year out from the election. The real question is, can he sustain his campaign until then?

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2015 4:54 PM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:54:21 -0400

No, because even though socialism is not communism, Americans as a group have too short of an attention span to tell the difference, and as a group we really don't care. We've been force fed media bullshit and don't want to listen to anything that contradicts that world-view.

Response by Sgt Kelli Mays made Sep 18 at 2015 4:55 PM

Sgt Kelli Mays — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 16:55:58 -0400

Our current president is a socialists

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2015 5:09 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 17:09:03 -0400

Never say never. The fact that he has gotten as far as he has shows how dissatisfied people are with the same ol' same ol'. And since "trickle down" obviously isn't working, people are increasingly willing to roll the dice. I can't blame them. All the prosperity we've been promised has been outsourced.

Response by SPC Dr. Ernest Rockwell made Sep 18 at 2015 6:19 PM

SPC Dr. Ernest Rockwell — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 18:19:35 -0400

The question isn't whether we might elect a socialist but rather if we will elect *another* socialist. The only difference being that Sanders unabashedly owns up to the label. Many of our 20th-century presidents subscribed to one form of socialism or another, as has Obama. All of the current potential nominees on the Democratic side are socialists of one stripe or another. Half the Republicans are too: e.g., Jeb Bush, Lindsey Graham, John Kasich, et al. America's Cold War victory was a Pyrrhic one if ever there was one. The enemy is firmly entrenched within our political body, and Americans lack the will to do what must be done to rid our country of that cancer. Ben Franklin, Ronald Reagan, and host of others warned us what would happen if we did not carefully guard our republic, and their words have been proven true. We are now a nanny state.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2015 7:29 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 19:29:31 -0400

What would you call O'Bummer if not a sanctimonious Socialist???

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 18 at 2015 7:35 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 19:35:15 -0400

Clearly he (Sanders) can, based on the way that he's polling. The majority of US citizens don't know and don't care to know a lot about political theory or economics. The term "socialist" doesn't raise their hackles like it did in McCarthyism's heyday, especially after two terms under the yoke of a fairly moderate Democrat who's been described as a socialist.

Now the real deal is here, and voters can't tell him from the imitation. We're going to pay dearly for that if he ends up taking the oval office.

Response by Cpl Tou Lee Yang made Sep 20 at 2015 1:44 PM

Cpl Tou Lee Yang — Sun, 20 Sep 2015 13:44:22 -0400

It will never happen because the Capitalist will never allow this to happen. Remember, the top 1 percent holds more wealth than the rest of the 99% combine.