In pure “feel the Bern” fashion, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) postured his affinity for millennial culture on Wednesday by retweeting a quote from rap sensation Cardi B, who recently dropped her encyclopedic knowledge of U.S. presidents in an expansive interview with GQ.
In that interview, Cardi B, whose real name is Belcalis Almanzar, took a deep dive into her self-professed obsession with the 32nd president, Franklin D. Roosevelt, whom she said was the “real ‘Make America Great Again’ President because if it wasn’t for him, older Americans wouldn’t even get Social Security.”
A longtime advocate for expanding Social Security, Bernie retweeted that quote to champion his push for reform, which was a key part of his platform in his 2016 presidential bid.
Cardi B is right. If we are really going to make America great we need to strengthen Social Security so that seniors are able to retire with the dignity they deserve. https://t.co/B8cOkoOdLc
— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) April 18, 2018
I’d like to propose a summit meeting between Hillary and Bernie with the goal of achieving a grand bargain for party unity. Bernie’s supporters vociferously believe Hillary should just shut up and go away. Hillary’s supporters devoutly wish that Bernie would just shut up and go away.
My modest proposal is that, although both of their supporters’ believe that only one of the two should shut up and go away while the others continues speaking out and going strong, the best thing for the party and the nation is that they both just shut up and go away. Make a negotiated joint statement about the good of the party and their age and desire to retire and spend time with the grandkids (or whatever). And thereafter, make no public statements or tweets or comments other than the obligatory expressions of condolence after the deaths of prominent people. Not even low-watt congratulations to inspiring kids who win STEM awards or do good works or to local ball teams who when the championship, because at this point, even that will set off a goddamn fight.
Yes. This will leave the supporters of both feeling aggrieved over the unjust goring of their ox and like their favorite has been unjustifiably silenced when it’s really only that other expletive who needs to shut the fuck up and go away. But that’s how compromises work–if both sides feel about equally put upon, it’s probably about right.
So, Hill? Bern? How about it? For the good of the nation and the world, take one for the team.
That is totally unrealistic, whatever the merits.
I agree halfway though: Hillary and Bernie should forge a public alliance, and in doing so Bernie will implicitly (or explicitly) eschew a 2020 run, as they both focus on unifying the party, strengthening a core message, and supporting candidates down the line.
Cardi B is nastily transphobic and may not be a person Bernie wants on his team.
Sensational idea! And for good measure can we throw Joe Biden’s name into this pledge?
The only thing the Hillary faction will accept is total surrender. They used shady means to keep control at the DNC, and they are deep rooted at the DCCC. They don’t really care if Dems win so long as Berniecrats don’t. For them, reform is a four letter word.