Bernie Sanders can’t commit to serving full Senate term

By Hanna Bogorowski

U.S. Senate candidate in Vermont and incumbent Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders chatted about a possible 2020 presidential run at a Monday forum, in which he wouldn’t say whether he’d commit to fulfilling a six-year term if re-elected, because it’s “impossible to be a senator and a president at the same time.”

WIkimedia Commons/AFGE

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders

Sanders, who ran unsuccessfully for president in 2016, said at a Senate debate Monday night in Winooski, Vermont, that he’s not definitely throwing in another bid, but also wouldn’t say if he’s planning to completely serve another term.

“Right now, my focus is on the year 2018, but if you’re asking me to make an absolute pledge as to whether I’ll be running for president or not, I’m not going to make that pledge,” Sanders said, according to local Vermont newspaper Seven Days.

“The simple truth is I have not made that decision. But I’m not going to sit here and tell you that I may not run. I may. But on the other hand, I may not,” the senator said.

Among the chatter of potential 2020 Democratic presidential candidates, Sanders currently leads the field of contenders in terms of media attention and headlines, according to a Politico report that measured the amount of representation and attention figures are receiving.

Sanders holds a 17 percent share of the news coverage, appearing in 114,000 articles over the past three months, according to Politico’s analysis. The next potential candidate is former Vice President Joe Biden, who holds a 12 percent share.

Asked again at the forum whether he’d commit to serving out a third term if elected, Sanders said not if he’s president.

“If I’m elected president of the United States? Mmm. Probably impossible to be a senator and a president at the same time,” Sanders responded. “So the answer to that is probably no. But I haven’t made that decision as to whether I’ll run.”

A CNN poll from Oct. 14 showed the progressive Vermont senator in second place behind Biden in a matchup against President Donald Trump.

Sanders responded when pressed at Monday’s debate about missing 115 of 163 roll call votes in the Senate while he was running for president in 2016.

“I think maybe you didn’t hear me the first time,” he said, according to the newspaper. “I ran for president of the United States. And when you run for president of the United States, you actually go around the country. You have to campaign in order to do that.”

In the CNN poll, behind Biden and Sanders, in order, were Democratic Sens. Kamala Harris of California, Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Cory Booker of New Jersey, and former Secretary of State John Kerry.

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Images courtesy of Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons and WIkimedia Commons/AFGE

10 thoughts on “Bernie Sanders can’t commit to serving full Senate term

  1. Got to get to the painful end of this discussion for the FIRST mention that we have a reputable alternative to
    Socialist-commune-ista Sanders.

    Lawrence Zupan is running an honorable campaign and deserves every thinking vote

  2. The reason this guy sounds so good to the youth of today is because they have not had the pleasure of hearing him give the SAME speech, he’s given for the last 30 yrs. – as we have!!! Of course it must be very hard for any millionaire (including Bernie) to decide whether to take up the sure bet of having the VT suckers, who will surely put him back in office again, as opposed to having this whole new generation not catch on to his old Commie ploy and therefore put him into the white House!!! But as usual, as the VT newspaper “Seven days” has found out, when they asked Bernie what he will do? It was never about what was best for the Country or best for our State, it was an act straight out-of-a 3-Stooges comedy? Well, I wouldn’t say, “Yes” nor would I say, “NO”? But would you say maybe? “Err, Maybe.”
    This from the new leader of the Free World??? Maybe Not.

  3. Just what the country needs instead of Donald Trump. An angry 80 year old socialist with zero accomplishments in his entire life, other than duping the gullible into voting for him.

    • Robert, I need to correct you Bernie has accomplished one thing !!
      He has ” Fleeced ” Vermont since he arrived in 1980 for a paycheck.

      Some Vermonter’s must be really gullible …………………..

  4. So I receive a e mail from the esteemed El Burnmeister today,which I shall include a snippet of it here.

    Wednesday, October 31, 2018 11:50 AM

    Dear Mr. :

    Thank you for contacting me about the nomination of Judge Brett Kavanaugh as an associate justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. I announced my opposition to Judge Kavanaugh’s appointment to the Supreme Court early on in the confirmation process. I did so because I believed he would become part of a hard right majority on the court that would continue to rule for the wealthy and the powerful and against the interests of women, workers and the environment.
    incerely,

    BERNARD SANDERS
    United States Senator

    I would guess he’s been to occupied with a couple of fellow brothers,Harpo and Zippo to have responded to my letter of months ago in a timely manner.

    Thankfully the point of the letter is moot as Judge Kavanaugh is now Justice Kavanaugh,however one of Vermont’s representatives was too busy to even bother replying to a constituent in a timely manner.

    Beyond time for Vermonters to replace it’s employee for one that is more attendant to the position he was selected for by someone more attendant to Vermont and Vermonter’s.

  5. So Vermonters will not have a choice when he leaves? It will have to be an independent correct? Either way, even if he doesn’t run for President it’s clear now he’s not doing his job and for the next two years he also won’t be doing is job, because he’ll be at the very least feeling out the position.

    Even is you are for Bernie, we should really elect somebody else so he can focus on his candidacy for President.

    I have to say, based upon his debate with Zupan, he’s really not ready for a debate against anyone who’s outside his party.

    He want’s people to believe in all his “FREE STUFF”. The only thing people get free are toasters at time share demonstration, drugs from a street dealer trying to get you hooked and subversive politicians trying to destabilize a country via talks of democracy where the country falls and he’s part of the oligarchy that picks up the pieces.

    Ask him if he’s living up to his own tax plan. Did you give up 50% of your book earnings Mr. Sanders? That would be $500k for each of the last two years………you’ve been talking the talk for 27 years….can you walk the walk? Huh? Huh?

  6. Why do we still have this Buffoon running around the State, whoops let me rephrase that
    running around the US ?? Then pretending he’s a Liberal Democrat, spewing is socialist
    rhetoric ……………… Vermont we deserve better !!

    I listened to the debate between Sanders & Zupan. Sounds Like Bernie is more interested
    in Travel & Book sales then the State He represents. Then you have Lawrence Zupan a man
    not needing a job, but wants to work for the State as a US Senator !!!!

    So this is an easy choice come Tuesday …..Wake Up Vermont

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