To sustain and grow the Progressive movement, Bernie needs to pivot to supporting Congressional candidates. With his fund raising capacity, he can support new more Progressive Dems AND he can greatly influence existing Dems toward a more Progressive agenda. He might not own the circus (the President is considered a Party’s leader) but he could be the Ringmaster for a Congressional Progressive movement.
Woe to the Clinton Administration if it attempts to run astray of the Progressive agenda that Bernie has pushed her toward; he could make the Freedom Caucus intransigence against the GOP Establishment look like child’s play. Moreover, his Progressive alliance’s constant critique to keep the Clinton Administration on a Progressive track would carry the “big stick” of a 2020 primary challenge, and with his outstanding ally of Senator Warren, it would be pretty clear how formidable that threat.
If one can honestly look at the differential between what a President Sanders and President Clinton could ACTUALLY accomplish in today’s political environment, and the likelihood of that environment being the case for at least a few years, one would conclude that he could leapfrog that by leaps and bounds by becoming the Ringmaster for a Progressive Congress.
None of this is possible with a GOP nutcase in the White House (and they are ALL nutcases). Sanders needs Clinton in the White House to extend his Progressive agenda. That doesn’t mean he has to surrender to her political philosophies, policies and agenda as being better. Instead, he has to let it be clear that while what he wants can only be through her Presidency, that Presidency will not only be beholden to the Progressive votes he brought to her but a Presidency that will only succeed in its legislative agenda by measuring up to what the Progressive Congressional Alliance, lead by its Ringleader, can support. A Presidency that will have to operate within the context of a potential 2020 challenge that will make their 2016 anxieties pale in comparison IF they fail to be Progressively aggressive.
Ringleader Sanders needs to identify the primary benchmark that will make it clear what the Clinton Administration has to accomplish or die trying. There is a plethora of Progressive agenda needs, but there needs to be one that is clearly THE benchmark. That could be taking on Wall Street, breaking up the big banks, increasing taxes on the elites, expanding the social safety net — all important and desperately needed. But he needs to go deeper; into the dirty bowels of what is making this Nation constantly failing — campaign finance DISRUPTION.
Not some nambie-pambie “reform,” not even an “overhaul;” it needs to be complete disruption. What is needed is COMPLETE REPLACEMENT of the existing system. My humble suggestion (there are plenty of smart Progressive who know more than me on this) is federal funded campaigns with an exception of $25-50 maximum monthly individual donations — that’s it, no PACs, no corporations, nadda — and people go to jail if they try getting around even just the spirit of the law.
With Clinton in the White House comes a SCOTUS nomination or two. How that nominee stands on a host of Progressive issues will obviously be key to the Progressive Congressional Alliance. But the litmus test must be Citizens United.
Sanders supporters need to get this, and soon — we need Clinton in the White House. Clinton supporters need to understand that comes with a duty for them.
I believe for most Clinton supporters, they will welcome Sanders as the ringleader for first a push for a Progressive Congressional Alliance and then keeping a Clinton Administration to the Progressive grindstone. Most Clinton supporters have never had a problem with Sanders’ Progressive dream, it's how to make it actually happen. An alliance between a President Clinton and a Progressive Congressional Alliance Ringleader is exactly how.
