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[Oni Jazar]

Amid a swirl of speculation about Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker, and practically everyone else under the sun as potential Democratic presidential contenders, most of the political class is ignoring the elephant in the room. Bernie Sanders is, by some measures the most popular politician in America, by far Democrats’ most in-demand public speaker, and the most prolific grassroots fundraiser in American history.

Sanders became their champion over the course of 2016 and continues to hold that status now. But while in 2016 he faced a unified — and intimidating — opponent and launched with a ramshackle campaign, today he has a strong national political organization, a proven fundraising track record, and is moving decisively to address his weak points on international affairs, policy development, and minority outreach. Everyone agrees that in a perfect world he’d also wave a magic wand and scrape 10 or 15 years off his age, but that’s not possible. The movement he’s created lacks an obviously more compelling successor, and he continues to be broadly popular with the public.

Predicting the future is a mug’s game. But if Bernie Sanders runs again, he’ll be hard to beat. And as far as one can tell, he’s doing everyone you would do to set yourself up to run again

Full article here:
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/7/5/15802616/bernie-sanders-2020

Are we ready to feel the Bern again? I supported Hillary from primaries to general but I would be ok with Bernie. He is a known entity, always on message and has a passion that the people can get behind in full force. This is something severely lacking in today's Dem pool. Obvious problem is his age. He'd be 78 if he wins. It's not a sure thing he will run but it's looking likely.

 

[The Technomancer]

Setting aside anything else he's too old. I don't just mean for political reasons, I mean he is literally too old.

 

[Deepwater]

bernie is old enough to have served in the revolutionary war, no thanks

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

I honestly hope he retires and elevates someone younger in his place. He is way too fucking old.

 

[Mufc1427]

He is gonna be 80 in 2020.

 

[benicillin]

I love Bernie but he's too old. I don't think he'll run.

 

[Imperfected]

Too old, and I'm still worried he didn't weather enough serious opposition research.

Do what politics does: find someone more palatable to carry his message to the people.

 

[mlclmtckr]

If he runs and gets the nomination it will be Clinton all over again. He'll be grudgingly supported by the party and then lose.

Everyone already knows this but there is a lot of juicy Bernie opportunity waiting to be droppoed.

 

[kirblar]

Yglesias is obsessed with this narrative when Sanders is going to be 78 in 2020.

It's not going to happen.

 

[Spiritwalker]

That would be a mistake. He's just too damn old.

 

[Veritigo_X]

He probably won't run, but he'll throw all his support behind somebody early in the primaries for sure.

 

[Mathieran]

I think Bernie is great but it would be better to get someone just like him but younger. Don't know who that would be though.

 

[CarlisleDavid1979]

Far too old to serve in office. Dude is awesome though.

 

[Synless]

I see a lot of age discrimination in this thread.

 

[Siegcram]

He's not running for Pope. You can't have an octogenarian in the White House.

Job's far too demanding.

 

[double jump]

Go ahead and get on that train if you want trump to win again.

 

[RPGCrazied]

He is gonna be 80 in 2020.

This post nails it.

 

[benicillin]

He probably won't run, but he'll throw all his support behind somebody early in the primaries for sure.

Is there anyone Bernie likes enough to do that?

 

[Skellig Gra]

I mean I'll vote for him over Trump but no thanks.

I see a lot of age discrimination in this thread.

More like, Baby Boomers have controlled things long enough and our generation should get a say in running the country.

 

[SnakeXs]

Too old. Veep, though...

 

[BocoDragon]

So what if he's old. Pick a cool running mate.

 

[Kyzer]

He's not running for Pope. You can't have an octogenarian in the White House.

We have before and currently do

 

[Horns]

I really hope not. I am hoping for a new candidate.

 

[Deepwater]

I see a lot of age discrimination in this thread.

Obama is young as fuck and aged like 20 years during his tenure. No thanks.

 

[kirblar]

I see a lot of age discrimination in this thread.

We've had one recent 70+ president who was going through Alzheimers and a current one who sure looks like he might be.

 

[CoolOff]

Everyone agrees that in a perfect world he'd also wave a magic wand and scrape 10 or 15 years off his age, but that's not possible.

And that's that then, right Vox?

We have before and currently do

Octogenarian (plural octogenarians)
One who is between the age of eighty and eighty-nine, inclusive.

Trump is nine years off mate.

 

[Teknopathetic]

Hard no on that shit.

 

[fantomena]

PoliGAF gonna go avada kadavra on this thread.

Anyways, hell yes from me. Bernie got my axe, sword, bow/arrow and whatever he needs.

 

[jWILL253]

The man that got mopped in the primaries is the next frontrunner simply because people keep wanting him to speak so we can re-live the primaries again.

Ok.

 

[Lights and Waves]

No thanks.

 

[ezekial45]

He's too old, and he was a part of the most toxic democratic primary run (the drama with Clinton and the DNC) in decades.

This is a big no from me. Sanders had the window in 2016, and he couldn't win. It's too late now.

 

[Neoweee]

Maybe a slight frontrunner, but only because he was the (distant) runner-up. He isn't going to be viewed as particularly threatening, and his presence won't discourage anyone from running.

When 20 candidates declare for 2020, his supporters are going to scream at that as evidence of DNC corruption during the 2016 election. But...

1) A weak primary front-runner, if any.
2) A very unpopular sitting president.

... both suggest there's going to be a shitload of candidates.

Sanders is too old, but he was too old this year, and that didn't stop him. I could see him running again just to shit on the Democrats. He'll be a lightning rod for people screaming "rigged!" when he comes in 4th in a 20 person field.

 

[Imperfected]

I see a lot of age discrimination in this thread.

Age discrimination at 70+ is entirely acceptable. You aren't going to hire someone that old to do any sort of physically demanding or dangerous job, for example. Physical reality is a thing.

 

[Wanda/Wander]

I would vote for a chatbot powered by Bernie's consciousness.

 

[Deepwater]

We have before and currently do

reagan and trump aren't exactly shining examples

 

[Phrozenflame500]

Way to old. If he can find a successor I might be on board.

 

[JustSurvive]

His age will definitely work against him, not to mention put all the eyes on who he picks as his running mate, I think he would be better suited as a VP.

 

[SDBurton]

No thank you.

 

[br3wnor]

Too old which unfortunately takes Biden out of the running for me as well. I’d actually be fine w/ either of them as a candidate, but it’s gonna be really hard to nominate guys in their late 70’s and be successful. All that being said, IF Bernie does run, I actually see him getting the nomination. He’ll have the biggest core support in the beginning and it’s going to be a madhouse w/ how many people will run and fracture the rest of the base.

 

[Ninja Kn1ght]

He's probably too old, but he's still only 4 or so years older than Trump.

 

[CoolOff]

He's probably too old, but he's still only 4 or so years older than Trump.

And would serve 4-8 years later as well...

 

[balladofwindfishes]

I see a lot of age discrimination in this thread.

Our current president got lost walking to his limo two feet in front of him just yesterday.

I don't think it's ageism to consider if someone might be too old to be president.

 

[Blader]

Well he is literally the frontrunner, insofar as he is the most well-known and popular national Dem and was the runner up of the last primary.

 

[Skinny Pete]

Really? An 80 year old is all they can come up with? UGh.

 

[Veritigo_X]

Is there anyone Bernie likes enough to do that?

Yeah good point. He and Sherrod Brown used to be close in the Senate, but the 2016 primary kinda mucked things up between them.

 

[GuessMyUserName]

Not even Bernie should want this anymore. American politics needs to push for new blood.

 

[Kusagari]

I think it could work if he pledges to only serve one term and picks a 40-something VP.

 

[King Tubby]

He will be too old, and this thread is going to be a total shitshow.

I see a lot of age discrimination in this thread.

It's the most stressful job in the world and he would be by far the oldest to ever take the job. Age is absolutely a legitimate factor to consider.

 

[Tal Shiar Agent]

We need a 35 year old President. A Generation Y President.

 

[Crayon]

That boat sailed. We fucked up.