LIVE STREAM: My Filibuster of the Tax Deal

I think we can do better, and I am here today to take a strong stand against this bill, and I intend to tell my colleagues and the nation exactly why I am in opposition to this bill. You can call what I am doing today whatever you want -- you can call it a filibuster, you can call it a very long speech. I'm not here to set any great records or to make a spectacle. I am simply here today to take as long as I can to explain to the American people the fact that we have got to do a lot better than this agreement provides.

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Comments

[Patricia013]

05:43 PM on 12/13/2010

Senator Sanders remembers the one thing Obama seems to have forgotten....the people of this country! We are not just a herd to be manipulated and shoved aside - we deserve better. We deserve at least some of the things Obama said he would fight for. The "yes we can"....whatever happened to that? Gone by the wayside. We got a watered down healthcare bill....we got shafted on prescription costs - the elderly and disabled will have their social security fund tampered with, yet again! - Obama's "transparency" turning into back room deals we are not privy to until the ugliness of them becomes public. I'm so sick of the whole mess - but that wasn't the worst....allowing the unemployed 99ers to become the hostage between democrat and republican until a "compromise" was made to extend the Bush tax cuts - I think that was the final slap in the face. President Obama - you like to compromise - but this may well be the straw that breaks the camel's back. My advise to you and "yes we can".....work on your resume sir.

[E Pluribus Unum 2010]

02:48 PM on 12/13/2010

Congressional Democrats and President Obama; we can't survive any more 'compromises.' The hour is far too late for you to be worrying about political survival. It's time for you to go down fighting for principal. We are.

p.s. God Bless Bernie Sanders

[cassie reinara]

01:59 PM on 12/13/2010

Thank you, Senator Sanders for your work on behalf of working class families! May you live a long life to continue your courageous battle for the American people!

[Charles Vanderbilt]

10:57 AM on 12/13/2010

Instead of tax cuts for the wealthy the government should offer long term bonds at an
attractive interest rate.. This could transfer huge amounts of cash into the economy, which
is needed right now. Isn't this what FDR offered during the great depression? ChuckV

[HLL]

08:26 AM on 12/13/2010

Thank you, Senator Sanders. You were awesome. Inspiring. Brilliant. Passionate. You showed us and the world what a Senator should be and rarely is. Thank you for fighting for the Middle Classes, which includes me. Thank you for being the heroic Mr. Smith/Jimmy Stewart in real life. Thank you for lifting the Spirits of millions of American who have felt un-heard and un-seen by this congress and abandoned by this President. Bless you ☮

[Peter Combs]

12:17 AM on 12/13/2010

The compromise will go through...Bernie is irrelevant...despite his hours long rant. All talk and convoluted logic never win..it just exposes the speakers lack of sense and beliefs on fairness...

[999theantiantichrist]

11:12 AM on 12/13/2010

As your post so brilliantly demonstrates.
Thank you.

[Cleverboots]

09:39 PM on 12/12/2010

Why is an Independent fromVermont the only Senator who has tried to stop the tax plan?Any Democratic Congress person who votes for the tax plan as written should be ashamed.The Republicans have no shame when it comes to bad legislation.

[HLL]

09:21 AM on 12/13/2010

f&f ~ Senator Franken was also vocal about protesting this tax deal with the GOPTP, as were Senators Landrieu and Brown on Friday, speaking alongside Sanders ☮

[Cleverboots]

04:50 PM on 12/13/2010

I wasn't aware of Franken or the other 2.Thanks for the heads up! F&F I've become a fan of Senator Sanders and am glad there were others who spoke up.

[dutt]

08:47 PM on 12/12/2010

Thank you Bernie Sanders!

[Cleverboots]

09:41 PM on 12/12/2010

F&F!

[organiccarrotjuice]

07:08 PM on 12/12/2010

Palin says she could filibuster for more than 8hrs. No big deal, except she can't write on her hand that small...

[MmeFlutterbye]

09:41 PM on 12/12/2010

But she can natter on and on about trivia using all the bumper-sticker phrases she has amassed. When will the MSM call her on her answers that go on and on and on saying absolutely nothing. m Yes she could filibuster for more that eight hours.because she's a compulsive talker and a total bore..

[Cleverboots]

09:43 PM on 12/12/2010

It just means she's full of hot air! Wish she'd float away! F&F

[Elwise1]

06:47 PM on 12/12/2010

So where were all the tea party supporters? Why wasn't the gallery and the republican side filled by every true financial conservative while Bernie spoke, and where were the other voices to carry the filibuster forward day after day?. Was Bernie the only one sincere in his representations to his constituents?? What a hypocrisy is Washington these days.

[MmeFlutterbye]

09:42 PM on 12/12/2010

Bernie for POTUS 2012.

[Roach Coach]

10:22 PM on 12/12/2010

Bernie Sanders sold out on a measure to audit the Federal Reserve. Sanders agreed to modify the measure in a way that requires audits of the Fed during the financial crisis, but not of the bank's monetary policy.

[GirlFriday123]

05:33 PM on 12/12/2010

There's a reason we keep sending you back to Washington, Bernie,

Just promise you'll keep representing the Great State of Vermont for as long as possible.

[filiusj]

03:53 PM on 12/12/2010

I'm proud of you Senator Sanders, real proud. Very few statemens left, the rest are politicians. Congratulations citizens of the green mountain state. You chose wisely.

[Johnniedog]

02:49 PM on 12/12/2010

I have never been more proud of a Politician in my Life. The information that Bernie gave to the public, the leadership he exhibited, and the intelligent way he went about it was the greatest display in the history of our Congress. I'll bet there were a lot of Senators that learned something from Bernie on Friday. I watched the entire thing from begining to end, pausing the DVR to use the restroom and grab a snack. If only there were more like Mr. Sanders, we could be a great Country once again. But alas, all we get are self-centered, greedy Politicians like Obama and almost all of the Republicans. All they think about is re-election and funding for their re-elections. What ever happened to just doing the right thing?

[Cleverboots]

09:48 PM on 12/12/2010

It went out the window when Jimmy Stewart died. Real politicians don't often have the courage of their convictions. Bernie Sanders is rare. F&F

[read matt taibbi]

01:36 PM on 12/12/2010

There are two kinds of leaders that emerge in a critical situation.
Let me use Soviet Union in early 1980s as an example.

Yuri Andropov - who just continued ineffective and failing policies of his predecessor.
Michail Gorbachev - who realized that significant structural changes were needed.

I think we live in times when significant fundamental changes are needed.
Sanders heroic speech on Friday is tantamount to calling on Barack Obama:
"Tear down that Wall Street, Mister President".

Now Obama has to choose whether he wants to be an Andropov or a Gorbachev.

[yournext865]

12:01 PM on 12/12/2010

Sanders for president 2012

[organiccarrotjuice]

07:12 PM on 12/12/2010

and maybe Oprah for Secretary of defense.... Peace Bro