Bernie Sanders's moment is calling him -- in the U.S. Senate

[Zorro]

The Democratic race for president is over. On Tuesday night, former vice president Joe Biden continued his remarkable run of primary victories, sweeping away Sen. Bernie Sanders’s challenges in Florida, Illinois and Arizona. As he did in Michigan and Mississippi a week before, Biden dominated the most important contest of the evening — Sanders (I-Vt.) did not win a single county in Florida. After Biden’s commanding performance on Super Tuesday, I cautioned that Democratic leaders should not push Sanders out of the race too quickly. That was then; this is now.

The United States finds itself in the midst of a crisis that is without parallel. Health-care experts warn that our emergency rooms may soon turn into war zones, unemployment could rise as high as 20 percent and worker’s retirement accounts can expect to fall even further on Wall Street. The crisis we are entering could be the most challenging since World War II. That is why the Democratic Party must begin to present its alternative vision to Donald Trump’s presidency in one voice.

Were the dynamics of this race different — had Biden performed in a less dominant manner on Tuesday, had Sanders shown a viable path forward over the past three weeks, had the former vice president not turned in his most impressive debate performance on Sunday night — I would argue that this race should go on. But it is now clear that Joe Biden will be his party’s nominee for president.

We heard throughout this long Democratic primary all about the “damn bill” the Vermont senator wrote. He told us all he had done to make the Senate more responsive to the needs of working Americans. If Sanders has that ability to shape the national debate and bend history toward a more just future, then that opportunity is awaiting him on the floor of the U.S. Senate, and not in an empty studio fighting a lost cause by streaming irrelevant campaign speeches.

[NurseJackie]

1. What will his future role be in the Senate? It's my firm belief that all future...

What will his future role be in the Senate? It's my firm belief that all future chair and committee assignments should be contingent on his swift withdrawal and his full throated and sincere endorsement of Joe Biden... along with his continued, cooperative, and coordinated help in taking the fight directly to the GOP... and an immediate and permanent cessation of all hostilities, smears, lies, divisive and derogatory remarks about Democrats, the Democratic party, and Joe Biden.

There's really no two ways about it. Either he's with-us, or he's not. If he's an "ally" then he needs to start acting like one. If he cannot act like one, if he cannot get with the program... then the Democratic party (which he refuses to join) needs to stop affording him certain honors, assignments, privileges. I think that's a perfectly reasonable condition to make. There's nothing wrong with setting minimum standards and having higher expectations.

As a party, we deserve better. As a body, the Senate deserves better. As a nation, we deserve better... and the only way that's going to happen is if EVERYONE (that includes Bernie Sanders) is on the same page, working in unison to get rid of Trump and to defeat the GOP.

[Thekaspervote]

5. Agree completely!

[Demsrule86]

2. Excellent post...thanks K&R

[William769]

3. Kick & recommended.

[marble falls]

4. Bernie has always been good in the Senate with a few exceptions. Much better than he has been ...

as a candidate. The first letter I ever wrote to any Senator was to him during the W years, I felt/feel he acts as the Senator for the people. I hope he continues in the Senate, but we need Joe in the White House.