'key procedural vote,' please.

What is it, what would it do?

I was so right about Sanders.

....and vote. What makes Sanders so special that he doesn't have to what he's being paid to do?

as the poster says.

and I bet it will feel great to be lauded by his followers as he rails against the Establishment, which he is a part of, and assails them for doing nothing. That pointy finger will be traveling at high speed.

Like, if the campaign was still going on, and Sens. Harris, Booker, Warren, and Klobuchar were home having musical guests and doing social media stuff instead of their jobs?

and what's with AOC saying the wealthy should receive money too? Somewhat contra to their unceasing meme, though, she, her squad and BS the Establishment millionaire don't really have to worry, do they?

If there is no means test, it is difficult to press opposition on the Randite line of 'makers and moochers' long popular on the right. Owing to similar calculations, there is no means testing on Medicare and everyone gets a Social Security check.

I rather like Ms.Ocasio-Cortez, and consider her a proper ornament to our Party.




"When things are not called by their right names, what is said cannot make sense. When what is said does not make sense, what is planned cannot succeed. When plans do not succeed, people become uneasy. When people are uneasy, punishments do not fit crimes. When punishments do not fit crimes, people cannot know where to put hand or foot."

I will try and remember.

...this afternoon and all voted Nay.

He was the only member of the Democratic Caucus who didn't consider it important enough to participate.

and had more pressing things to attend to.

...to vote against it. What makes him so special?

What "more pressing things" did he have to do? As a United States Senator what's more pressing than DOING HIS JOB?

being absent = being a nay.
Functionally speaking his presence would have made absolutely no difference.

....participated in.

Ninety four Senators voted - five are now self-quarantined and one didn't even bother to be in town. That one is the ONLY member of the Democratic caucus who not only didn't vote but wasn't even in Washington.

People can make all the excuses they want, but the fact is a sitting Senator is obligated to participate if he/she can.

If I find an important vote that Biden was absent for over his 30 years in the senate, do you promise that you will be equally upset with Joe as you are right now with Bernie? Should I go find one? (I don't believe that you will be equally upset so I'm not going to bother).

Instead of finding reasons to be upset that Bernie still exists even though he obviously lost, I think we all need to figure out how Joe can get more youth vote actually excited about his campaign and to convince them to actually bother to vote for him in greater numbers than they did for Hillary.

...his pay check still gets cashed.

I seriously doubt that Biden missed a vote that all other healthy Senators participated in. And I'm sure Biden didn't miss a vote when the country had such a double-barreled threat facing it.

This isn't whataboutism, and Biden isn't a Senator today.

There was no logical reason for missing this vote today. Beside, there were negotiations going on the last three days. What if there was a bipartisan deal reached this afternoon? What excuse would he have in that case?

That's 6 times higher than the median line.
But I don't think this makes him bad.

https://www.govtrack.us/congress/members/joseph_biden/300008

If you look at the chart on that page, he had a good track record most of the time but there are two huge spikes while he was out campaigning for other (non-senator) office positions.

and to convince them to actually bother to vote for him in greater numbers than they did for Bernie.

but the point is they're definetely NOT turning out for Biden like at all.

Voters under 45 continued to support Bernie Sanders by huge margins in Florida, Illinois and Arizona even as other groups came around to Biden

young voters and Latinx voters.

For the most part Biden closed the gap on Bernie with Latinx voters with the results in Arizona and Florida.

As for young voters, well a lot of them admired the freebies that Bernie was going to give them even though he had no way of possibly paying for them. I don't see the point of making empty promises and I don't think that Biden should make them to draw young voters who aren't going to show up to vote to begin with. When the general election arrives I have no doubt that Biden will draw a larger share than Trump.

to send to young voters.

than a bill to help the American people? What?

He obviously has a lot of ideas about what should be in that bill since he's putting them out on social media. Why isn't he in DC, doing the job he was elected to do?

The only excuse he could possibly have is that he's self-quarantining or is C19 positive.

His pretend campaign?

We Americans are in a fight for our very lives. OUR LIVES and he failed to stand for us.

Sending more emails and hosting more music acts?

This self-serving fraud needs to go run a charity. It’s what he seems to want to do now, rather than his job or what’s good for the country.

In a time of crisis it would have shown unity and solidarity to your fellows in the Senate and your fellows in Congress.

It would have show compassion to the men and women on the front line as they literally are putting their lives on the line without PPE. I thought he always fought for heath care for all, does that not mean protections for our front line during a crisis? Healthcare means protections. Where is he?

Fact. A Billionaire, and Bernie wants them wiped of the face of the earth, Smidt of Harbor Freight is donating their entire stock of PPE for hospitals. Imagine that, a billionaire donating millions to the caregivers. The people on the front line.

What has Bernie done? Hm, what?

and that's why you had your little hissyfit with Manu Raju?

Get your a*s back to the Senate and do your job, man. Or is your job something else? I'm confused.

This is a very bad look for the Senator. Oh, yeah, he's a Senator. Let's not forget that while his staffers and supporters scream at Biden for being "invisible."

People who keep apologizing for him have to ask themselves why.

I’ll show all of you by taking my toys and going home!

Good grief it’s one long tantrum with this dude.

Jesus FUCKING Christ

and reminding us of why we have to put up with his horseshit if we want his help?

That would be SOP.

Bullshit blackmail and shove it. And to that, I say: Go home, Grandpa. You’re done.

And what it has been, for some time. Thank you for saying it.

HIS doing. But being I-Sanders also means he doesn't have to do the work most senators do, and of course he's technically named to 6 committee but their meetings don't normally need him there.

And when votes are highly important symbolically, like this one, it's not unusual for him to choose those to vote against Democrats and use the attention to lie about them.

So,...whatever? I'd say he's VT's problem, but actually he really is. VT's elections are rigged to break competition for his seat by liberal Democrats. In VT, most conservatives register as Democrats but are overall moderately hostile to the national party, and his ratings are very high with them.

We only needed 40 votes tonight, and we got 47, so at least one Repugnant voted with us. Maybe our majority leader approved him keeping his campaign event happening, as his cash and supporters will be of use in the general.

We didn't know until this afternoon how many Democrats would vote against it. For god's sake, even Manchin has been stronger on this than Sanders had.

He had no idea that his vote wasn't needed.

Besides that, just what is his job exactly?

Doesn't that sound familiar?

I read here that Bernie is more of a Democrat than all the Democrats combined.

By voting no McConnell is in a position to seek a new vote whereas that wouldn't be the case if he had voted yes.

Then he went to Vermont to talk to Jane about his campaign. Now he's having coronavirus meetings with live music and other really important stuff. But he can't be bothered to do his fcking job.

Time for him to DROP OUT

He feeds off people fawning over him, complimenting him. It's why he can't stay away from campaigning not even long enough for a vote.

He hasn't been able to get anything but a post office name and a minor veteran's bill into committee for over thirty years.

Some fucking revolution.

Or something.

Link to tweet

Link to tweet

world's falling apart.

He needs rest for 3 days. Understood.

Maybe he shouldn't be?

The world's falling apart. We need leaders. Do you think Pelosi and Schumer might be exhausted too? What about Dr. Fauci?

What about all the healthcare professionals literally putting their lives on the line?

But poor, poor Bernie needs a break.

to work with his fellow Senators on probably the most important ‘fucking global crisis’ facing this country in his lifetime.

Sounds like his vote was not needed, so I'm fine with him not taking that risk.

on account of CV, but he thinks he’s OK to be president?

He most definitely should stay home and spend time with his family while he can. He would be a horribly risky choice for President.

I hope he just stays in Vermont and retires. He is not helping our cause whatsoever.

He probably should resign from the Senate as well, if he cannot make it to the Senate chambers for crucial votes.

Think about what you wrote for a minute.

Have you been going to crowded places the past few days? Remember, he's older than you.

I've been going grocery shopping when necessary, something that is allowed, even in quarantined areas.

Yes. Bernie Sanders is older than me by a couple of years. His fellow Senators are at work. If you are unable to attend Senate sessions due to your age, then you should not be a Senator. I am not a Senator. I am not a first responder. I am not a healthcare worker. Those people have to go to work in dangerous conditions. I thank them for their dedication. Our Senators, House Members, Governors, State Legislators, and many others in government don't get to stay at home during this pandemic, because their work is essential. I am also not an elected official.

So, never mind.

I went grocery shopping yesterday and had to avoid coughing shoppers. I wish there was an easier way to get groceries here, but there isn't.

I'm being very careful, in any case. Grocery delivery times are about a week here. It's not optimal.

... then why is STILL trying to get a more important one?