Thread by @LolaMotz

Mini thread.
"Bernie has no accomplishments" talking point has been created in 2015 by Hillary's campaign.
I notice that a lot of Benrie supporters answer that talking point with listing Bernie's accomplishments. I don't think this is a good tactic.

The claim is of course ridiculous. Bernie has been a public servant for decades. He has been elected and re-elected. Even without examining his record saying "Bernie has no accomplishments" is a very strange statement. So, let's examine it.

What do those accusing Bernie of no accomplishments mean?
They claim "accomplishments"are "bills passed" and most of Bernie's bills were naming of post offices. What they FAILED to notice was Hillary's record of "bills passed" was also post offices named.
govtrack.us/congress/bills…

It was obvious in 2015/6 that Hillary supporters never even bothered to look at Hillary's page on the website that tracks "bills passed," even if the claim that Bernie "didn't accomplish anything" was based on the premise that "bills passed" were THE measure of accomplishment.

The fact that Clintonites are now seriously considering Pete Buttigieg, who has EVER only been a small town mayor confirms that they never really cared about "accomplishments." But hey, Pete"s candidacy gives us an opportunity to examine what kind of mayor Bernie was.

And let me tell you, Bernie was a GREAT mayor. His messaging team should really did into those old videos and other records. Bernie emerges as a CARING, COLLABORATIVE leader, full of ideas, bringing those ideas to fruition and REAL change to people. m.dailykos.com/stories/2019/5…

Bernie was re-elected as mayor 3 times and created LASTING CHANGE for his town. It seems what motivated him to run for congress was to continue bringing positive change to his area- being mayor has limitations obviously.His job in Washington was to represent and work for Vermont.

If you can get Democratic party leadership and donors support for a presidential run JUST on the basis of being a mayor of a small town (very successful one, unlike Pete Buttegieg), everyone should be flocking to Bernie. But, alas, it's not really about accomplishments. Lets ctn

Next Bernie represented Vermont in Washington,DC as congressman, until he was elected senator he still is today. His job, and we need to spell it out because it's continuously misrepresented, was/is to WORK FOR BENEFIT of voters who elected him. His job approval? 83%

Whatever Bernie's critics think about what he did in congress for the last few decades, guess who thinks he did great? The people who "hired" him - the people of Vermont who elected him. And it's because he worked hard to improve their lives. He did his job. It's so simple.

First of all legislators shape the country's laws by VOTING "yes" or "no" on bills that are proposed by others. By that measure Bernie is the most progressive member of congress, gaining 100% approval from such organizations as NAACP, Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood.

In context of accusations of Bernie "never doing anything" it is important that Bernie was notorious for NEVER MISSING WORK for decades until the campaigning schedule in 2016 began colliding with his duties as senator.
Bernie & the empty congress in 1991

Bernie's speeches to the empty house and all those progressive Bernie bills that our congress did not want to enact are presented by the Stop Bernie crowd as FAILURE. We hear that"He didn't convince anyone""He wasn't even FIRST to say those things."" Everyone is saying them now."

These people don't believe in human agency. They think history just "happens" without taking active part in shaping it.
But BERNIE was always a thermostat not just a thermometer. Not the ONLY one, but one of. Here he is in 1991 speaking on cars.

Also, let's not underestimate the importance of Bernie being on the right side of history for decades even if the media kept him unknown during that time without the internet. But all this has been changing. Now those old clips on YouTube make it possible for us to TRUST Bernie.

If you have no other reason to watch Bernie on You Tube, consider this is quite a political education to follow his speeches and his work on the committees as he was asking questions during congressional hearings.