Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said the reelection of former President Trump would be the “end of democracy” in an interview released Saturday by The Guardian.

“It will be the end of democracy, functional democracy,” Sanders said in the interview.

The Vermont senator also said in the interview that he thinks that another round of Trump as the president will be a lot more extreme than the first.

“He’s made that clear,” Sanders said. “There’s a lot of personal bitterness, he’s a bitter man, having gone through four indictments, humiliated, he’s going to take it out on his enemies. We’ve got to explain to the American people what that means to them — what the collapse of American democracy will mean to all of us.”

Sanders’s words echo those President Biden made in a recent campaign speech during which he said that Trump’s return to the presidency would risk American democracy. The president highlighted the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol in an attempt to cement a point about Trump and other Republicans espousing a kind of extremism that was seen by the world on that day.

  • Poayjay@lemmy.world
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    9 months ago

    They are moving away from “Both Sides” and starting “Biden supports genocide.” It’s just a new way for below average people to think they’re smarter than everyone else.

    • mozz@mbin.grits.dev
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      9 months ago

      Biden does support Genocide, in this particular instance. Giving him hell for it and trying to do what people can in order to save all the innocent people getting bombed and shot right now, is fine.

      Trump is still infinitely worse. If you think 20,000 dead Gazans is bad, wait until you see what Trump wants to do. Last time around, he fucked up the response to a global crisis that’s currently killed over a million Americans, and that was without even trying; and without any of the vengeful things he’s itching to do this time around if he gets in.

      • AnonTwo@kbin.social
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        9 months ago

        Yes, I think the main issue is (sadly), I don’t think we have an option that actually wants to stop the genocide. It would likely need to be handled by something other than elections, like larger protests.

        • GregorGizeh@lemmy.zip
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          9 months ago

          America and Israel are joined at the hip. Anything less than unconditional military support is not a political position conducive to getting elected, there is intense lobbyism going on to make sure of that. Then there is also the evangelical angle that the jews must control Israel for the rapture to come, so they don’t give two shits about genocide.

        • mozz@mbin.grits.dev
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          9 months ago

          Yeah. I saw the stories about protests around the world and felt guilty that I wasn’t in them.

      • teamevil@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        That mother fuckers incompetence is going to kill millions on millions as well as any hope for America’s future. Fucking Nero while Americans burn

    • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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      9 months ago

      If Biden doesn’t want people saying the he supports genocide, he should stop supporting genocide.

      When a centrist Democrat breaks out the insults, it’s a surefire indicator they can’t defend their positions on their merits. And since genocide is indefensible, insults are all centrists have. Not that they’ve ever had much else.

        • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          If you are willing to look the other way while the de facto head of your party is enabling genocide, you’re not in a position to lecture.

        • agitatedpotato@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          I feel like genocide is pretty black and white, but if you wanna play in the ‘grey area’ of genocide that’s your prerogative, just own it loud and proud.

        • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          He’s selling weapons to Netanyahu which are being used to commit genocide.

          That’s supporting genocide.

          • nbafantest@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            The weapons are being used to remove Hamas. Its sickening seeing people stan hamas on here.

            • MotoAsh@lemmy.world
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              9 months ago

              No one is defending Hamas when they say Israel is using too much explosive near too many civilians, you unnuanced pathetic worm of a loser.

                • MotoAsh@lemmy.world
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                  No, people equate what Israel is doing to “remove Hamas”, and what Israel is doing is indeed disgusting.

                  Notice how calling what Israel is doing digusting in no way defends or endorses what Hamas did or does. What’s digusting is the complete lack of care towards civilians. To the point where “genocide” becomes an actual, valid (and obvious) question when Israel has killed multiple times more civilians than Hamas could dream of. If you want to drag Hamas infront of some international court too, be my guest: I’m not on their side, either.

            • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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              9 months ago

              The weapons are being used to remove Hamas.

              That’s what Netanyahu claims. But much of Hamas leadership is not in Gaza. He cannot accomplish his stated goal of wiping out Hamas by attacking Gaza. But he can kill a lot of Palestinians that way.

        • chitak166@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          I’m curious.

          Do you think he’s not supporting Israel in their genocide of Palestinians, or do you believe Israel is not committing genocide?

        • Cosmic Cleric@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          It obviously goes without saying, but Biden does not support genocide.

          It might be more accurate to say that he (or any other President) does not support genocide, as long as it does not go against American interests.

          Unfortunately.

    • PhlubbaDubba@lemm.ee
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      9 months ago

      “I have serious objections to American foreign policy not being aggressive enough against genocide even when committed by geopolitical allies.”

      “Let me take the exact course of action that will put power into the hands that gave the particular genocidal state I’m ostensibly so upset with at this moment the Golan Heights, West Jerusalem, and significant chunks of the West Bank.”

      “I am a very smart person!”

      • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Centrist Democrats become very angry at the assertion that Biden should not be supporting genocide.

        I’m voting for Biden.

        • HACKthePRISONS@kolektiva.social
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          9 months ago

          >I’m voting for Biden.

          you don’t need to tell him that. tell him your vote depends on fulfilling all your agenda items then vote quietly.

          • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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            9 months ago

            I mean, it doesn’t matter how many times I say it.

            Centrist Democrats see criticism of Biden and immediately start thinking of how to dismiss or abuse the critic. The more valid the criticism is, the more vitriolic centrists become. Just watch. At least one of them will ignore that I said I’m voting for Biden and act like I’m not voting or voting for Trump.

    • Alsephina@lemmy.ml
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      9 months ago

      Whoa people are mad that their president is funding a genocide?? :0

      Smh they should just stfu and vote. Who cares about foreigners dying

      • kameecoding@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        Trump didn’t care about US citizens dying, or did he apologize for fucking up his covid response yet?

        • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          Trump is a fascist piece of shit.

          Biden is not, and he should not be supporting a genocide.

        • Alsephina@lemmy.ml
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          9 months ago

          Lmao did you think I was suggesting he’s somehow better?

          I just find it funny that Americans pretend like their bourgeois “democracy” isn’t just a poorly veiled oligarchy where you get to “choose” between the genocidal zionazi party and the fascist party.

          Neither of whom give a fuck about the working class, though one is a bit better at pretending like they do.

          • kameecoding@lemmy.world
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            One side is clearly better unless you do false equivalence, look at the mortality rate of mothers in states with abortion bans and without etc.

            I know this is not as edgy of a take as your both sides cuntery but there is clearly a better and worse choice for the US regardless what kind of zionazi epic words you want to use from your basement setup.

            It’s not like Americans don’t know their system is broken, but it’s not like they can fix it one day to the next, they have an election coming up where they have to choose between a shit candidate and a straight up fascist who tried to overthrow their election

            • Alsephina@lemmy.ml
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              Yeah I do agree people should probably still vote for the genocide party, as long as they’re organizing outside the system and building class consciousness to eventually overthrow it.

              Just that they shouldn’t pretend like they’re not voting for a genocidal zionazi.

              what kind of zionazi epic words

              Are “genocide” and “nazi” also “epic words”? It conveys the fact that Biden is a zionist and a nazi quite well, no? Specially when I’ve linked him admitting he is one.

              • Quadhammer@lemmy.world
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                9 months ago

                He’s backing Israel because it’s what they’ve always done. It’s a strategic alliance. It’s Nathan yahoo dropping bombs on cities

                • Alsephina@lemmy.ml
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                  9 months ago

                  Is that why Biden is such an ardent zionist?

                  It’s Nathan yahoo dropping bombs on cities

                  People trying to blame one guy for everything wrong instead of blaming the capitalist system that necessitates supporting a genocidal colony for profit and expansion in the first place will never not be funny.

                  Take “Nathan yahoo” out of power; not much will change until Palestine is decolonized against US and Europe’s capitalist interests; i.e the basic material conditions for this conflict happening in the first place are addressed.

                  It’s a strategic alliance

                  Correct, it serves to continue to destabilize the middle east to slow down opposition to western imperialism by not letting the region unite.

            • Alsephina@lemmy.ml
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              9 months ago

              How is what Americans pretend to do relevant here?

              Ah sorry, were we talking about African elections?

              did you think I am American?

              When did I say you were?

              • kameecoding@lemmy.world
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                9 months ago

                Oh so you just went on some rant about Americans as a reply to me even though it’s not relevant at all, gotcha

                • Alsephina@lemmy.ml
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                  Yeah sorry I thought we were talking about American elections for a second there

                  • Arelin@lemmy.zip
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                    9 months ago

                    I think they’re suggesting that what regular Americans think doesn’t actually affect the results of their “democracy” so it’s not actually relevant. So ig they do agree with you

                  • kameecoding@lemmy.world
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                    But you do get how it is clear to everyone that you thought you were talking to an American otherwise your reply makes no sense?

                    Unless you don’t get it, in which case sorry for your affliction.

    • fastandcurious@lemmy.world
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      Lemmy needs to fricking understand that saying ‘Biden supports genocide’ IS NOT the same as ‘vote for Trump’, if he is committing an atrocity, he is gonna get called out by any sane person, I agree Trump is infinitely worse, but that doesn’t make Biden good, the American electoral system needs a reform but until then, you have to keep electing the lesser evil, but it isn’t equal to good

      • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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        Lemmy needs to fricking understand that saying ‘Biden supports genocide’ IS NOT the same as ‘vote for Trump’

        Lemmy’s centrists already understand this. But since they can’t defend support for genocide because it’s indefensible, they have to attack the person saying it with the standard litany of false assumptions, wild accusations, condescension, gaslighting and overt abuse.

        • fastandcurious@lemmy.world
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          9 months ago

          That’s what bugs me the most, instead of saying that ‘biden sucks, but we have no other option’, they are saying ‘You are dumb/Astroturfing and whatever’ Biden is a piece of shit and I am gonna say it, but that doesn’t make me a Fascist

          VOTE FOR BIDEN, just to be on the safe side

    • Riccosuave@lemmy.world
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      It’s just a new way for below average people to think they’re smarter than everyone else.

      Now if that ain’t the pot calling the kettle black…

      We should not be afraid to speak out against morally unjustifiable support for the mass killing of innocent civillians in our name, and with our tax money. That is the reality of the situation, and it is wrong. It will always be wrong regardless of who is doing the killing.

      You thinking you have the more enlightened position simply because you are willing to carte blanche accept this behavior or foreign policy position from the candidate that will be better for the United States doesn’t make you a genius, it makes you self-rigtheous and self-centered. Real innocent people are really dying, and your ability to shrug that off in such a smug, self-satisfied way is truly appalling.

      • agent_flounder@lemmy.world
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        9 months ago

        We absolutely should be speaking out against the genocide in Gaza and the US role in it. It is horrific. And I cannot shrug it off in good conscience.

        I also intend to take action to prevent things getting worse via Trump being elected again. It is possible to do both.

        What I cannot fathom is the same handful of users saying over and over how they cannot vote for Biden in good conscience while refusing to acknowledge that by doing so they are effectively permitting Trump to take office–and that such an outcome will be worse for gaza and worse in many other ways. These are the same folks that somehow don’t see how Republicans getting in power will significantly damage our democracy more than any time in the last half century.

        Their inflexibility and refusal to genuinely engage on the topic reminds me an awful lot of the rampant astroturfing on Reddit back when. It gets exhausting seeing the same inane bullshit talking points over and over.

        • Riccosuave@lemmy.world
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          What I cannot fathom is the same handful of users saying over and over how they cannot vote for Biden in good conscience

          I can definitely appreciate that, but I’m not one of them.

        • Ensign_Crab@lemmy.world
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          What I cannot fathom is the same handful of users saying over and over how they cannot vote for Biden in good conscience while refusing to acknowledge that by doing so they are effectively permitting Trump to take office–and that such an outcome will be worse for gaza and worse in many other ways. These are the same folks that somehow don’t see how Republicans getting in power will significantly damage our democracy more than any time in the last half century.

          Some people won’t pull the lever to divert the trolley.

          I will, but I don’t think Dudley Do-Right is justified in tying people to the tracks just because Snidely Whiplash does.

      • osarusan@kbin.social
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        You thinking you have the more enlightened position simply because you are willing to carte blanche accept this behavior or foreign policy position from the candidate that will be better for the United States doesn’t make you a genius, it makes you self-rigtheous and self-centered. Real innocent people are really dying, and your ability to shrug that off in such a smug, self-satisfied way is truly appalling.

        This really isn’t at all what he said, and is an extremely dishonest thing to post.

        You complain that your comments fall on deaf ears, but when you accuse people of things that are blatant lies, what do you expect?

          • osarusan@kbin.social
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            9 months ago

            No it wasn’t, not even in the least. It’s absolutely dishonest to pretend that’s what it was.

            Go after him for what he actually said instead of making up things to be angry about.

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              Look, I don’t agree with you. I found what the OP said to be smug and self-satisfying as I said. I also found it to be pointedly critical towards anybody pointing out that Joe Biden has a blind spot in supporting Israel’s unethical campaign against Palestinians.

              You want to ignore that element, or you don’t see it that way. That’s your prerogative, but don’t call me dishonest because I’m not being dishonest. There’s a difference between legitimate disagreement and dishonesty.

              • osarusan@kbin.social
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                Look at the text you wrote, and the parts that I bolded.

                There is a difference between legitimate disagreement and dishonesty.

                Pretending that OP is giving carte blanche to genocide or shrugging that off is an outright lie. Accusing them of anything else based on that lie is also dishonest.

                • Riccosuave@lemmy.world
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                  You either cannot or will not admit the hypocrisy of OP being hyper-critical and condensending towards people who are upset about the immoral support that is being given to kill innocent civillians, and then trying to bully them for it.

                  Whichever it happens to be, I no longer give a shit. Therfore, we are at an impasse. So, I’m done arguing with you as it is a waste of time. It’s been real, it’s been fun, but it ain’t been real fun ✌️

                  • osarusan@kbin.social
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                    See, I might have cared about OP’s post being hypocritical or condescending. But then you went and posted something so outrageously dishonest, and when it was pointed out instead of owning up to your mistake and trying to do better, you doubled down on it and got pissy. But since you don’t care, I guess that’s where we end it.