Bernie Sanders is the biggest threat to socialism in the US

Remaking this thread cause last one got taken down. So here it goes.

I was confused for quite a while on whether Sanders is a total net positive or negative for the socialist cause. But current events plus commentary by Chris Hedges pushed me towards the conclusion that Sanders is not only a net negative for socialism but will eventually be its greatest threat.
youtube.com/watch?v=zVii98IcUOs

So far Bernie Sanders has been a huge boon for the leftist movement in the U.S. His campaign is directly related to the immense increase of DSA membership as well as showing the deep faultlines with American "democracy" to millions of citizens. Perhaps most importantly, he has "despooked" the word socialism for the American psyche which will pave an easier path for anarchists and communists to regain legitimacy.

But who is Bernie Sanders? He is a man who advocates "reforms" such as "free healthcare", "free college", "taxing the 1%" and "environmental investment". On domestic issues he is seeking to "reform" capitalism. In other words, he is not a socialist but a soc-dem–as most of us know.
However on foriegn affairs, Sanders has proven to be nothing more than a tool of U.S imperialism. He has voted with the Democrats an astonishing 98% of the time. He has voted for 100% of military appropriations bills with the exception of Iraq, but supported it fully afterwards. In recent times, Sanders has accepted the establishment plans for WW3 by his pathetic response to the exceedingly dangerous escaltion of force in Syria and North Korea by the ruling elite. He has confirmed the false flag chemical attacks in Syria. He has been an active participant in the disgusting "red baiting" and fearmongering by the Democrats and notable Republicans on Russia and the Trump administration. Rather than giving support to politicians such as Tulsi Gabbard(perhaps an opportunist herself) who is actively pushing to prevent war, Sanders is retreating from this issue like a coward.

Analyzing both his domestic style of "reform" and foreign policy of imperialism, Sanders is a modern day FDR. And this is a very dangerous prospect for the socialist cause. There is an market crash like that of the Great Depression coming very soon and the imminent danger of WW3. Under such conditions the most popular politician in the U.S is Bernie Sanders and in addition his campaign has caused millions of otherwise reasonable people to become extremely loyal followers who Sanders has full control over.

In these tumultuous times where class anger is bound to explode we have a "reformer" who will likely be able to successfully channel class anger into "reforms". But we are at a time in human history where "reforms" will no longer cut it. With the threat of climate change and nuclear armageddon, the root cause of these illnesses–capitalism–must be destroyed. Sanders represents a force that is unwilling to confront these forces, especially its strongest link–the military-industrial complex. His record of acquiescence to the establishment proves that he will continue to be a servant to the needs of imperialism and placing faith on this man will cause the ultimate destruction of the socialist cause, and perhaps even the human race.

"I'll kneecap my own electoral chances for 30 years by lying about being a socialist when I'm not one, just so I can squash a revolutionary wave I've got no reason to believe will ever happen. Brilliant!"
t. Bernie Sanders Killed Rosa

I agree with you insofar that Sanders was cucked by Clinton and the DNC, but he didn't really support neoliberal interventionism; he just didn't really care about foreign policy during his campaign.

He's a SocDem but that's already far-left in Burgerland. He is probably also hiding his power level. In bourgeois politics, you can't just go full socialist if you want to have a chance of winning - at least, as long as the situation isn't so miserable that people start embracing radical ideologies. But otherwise, establishment and media can destroy you.

I believe that he wholeheartedly thinks he is doing the right thing, domestically of course. However, working in office changes people and he has a record of imperialism which you cannot deny. He has supported imperalism throughout his career and if history is anything to go by, he will continue to do so.

That is not just Sanders though, much of the left has moved in that direction. Away from criticism of Israel, towards demonization of Muslims and lately Russians. Not saying all fall for this, but it's a bad trend, and it most affects many newer liberal/progressive shows.

Democracy Now >>>> TYT, Secular Talk, David Pakman, Majority Report

that at least is fair I just think the whole "he's a socdem!" cries rely on him lying about his politics to leave himself actively worse off for THIRTY YEARS because ???.

He's a smart guy, he knows what a social democrat is, if he considered himself a social democrat i think he'd call himself a social democrat.

As I said in the deleted thread, I think he advocates for scandinavian welfare states to take advantage of the fact that everything left of pinochet has been decryed as socialism and go "well since you like scandinavian welfare states you like socialism and basically whether or not we should send all the kulaks to the gulag for hording grain is a matter of taste."

Bernie is a mensch. He's just trying his damnedest to make life better for people, right now. And sometimes he fucks up.

If you find yourself in 2015, and want to use the democratic process to improve people's lives, you're gonna have to go through the Democratic or Republican party. You can't reform the system, or organize a people's movement in one election cycle (him and his people tried their best though). The platform he ran on was about as radical as you could work with in the democratic party, and they still shanked him.

True enough, but that doesn't mean you just let people die and languish in misery while we wait for the revolution. You should at least try to do what you can to improve people's lives from the position in society where you find yourself. That's what Bernie's campaign amounted to.

Even if you think Sander's votes for military appropriations have a long term or significant impact on american imperialism (hint, they don't), it's simply absurd to think he's done more damage than good.

If it hadn't been for him, there would be 0 (zero) public awareness of leftwing alternatives to neoliberalism, near zero interest in socialism as a solution. In the event of a crisis, the radicals, including the DSA and other groups, will have an actual profile. Perhaps a reformer might ultimately win, but if it wasn't for Bernie, the it would almost certainly be a complete reactionary/fascist. Sanders himself will probably be too old to be put in power by the time the fallout of crisis hits.

...

Hey, OP, how about this: fuck you, Bernie voting with Democrats 98% of the time proves that, if anything, Democrats are for a hefty number of "socialist" policies.