After many months of fighting the good fight, and losing, we’ve come to the end of the line for Bernie Sanders. He was our last best hope, but for whatever reason, people opted for the “safe,” status quo candidate Hillary Clinton. This may have been engineered, to a large degree, by a party apparatus that opposed his candidacy — the DNC email leak last week made it clear that they were out to get him, and it’s likely the party’s animosity toward Sanders trickled down to local party people across the country. No wonder people thought there was voter suppression and shenanigans — the Democratic party was at war with its own progressive wing. But so be it.
After a strong showing in the primaries (45% is not shabby), Bernie had to admit defeat when many of the bigger late states cast their lot with Hillary. In a matter of weeks, Sanders went from upstart insurgent challenger to staunch Hillary Clinton supporter, in direct contradiction with everything he had exhorted us to stand for. It’s sad, but we know why he’s doing it and we understand. Still, it means he’s done, almost as done as the Democratic party itself. He can no longer lead his own movement.
But that’s ok—we knew this day would come. Bernie had to win to be truly effective. And even if he lost, he would have had to stay independent of the party machine to have any credibility. As it is, he lost and then caved, counting Hillary’s campaign promises and last minute concessions as evidence that she’s the better choice, and despite the fact that her people were willing to thwart the will of the voters to win.
Which brings us to those emails — who cares where they came from anyway? They’re obviously genuine, else why did the DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz resign? Why did party representatives apologize? No, the Russia/Trump thing smells like a red herring, floated by the Democratic party (Hillary’s campaign manager seems to have started the rumor) to distract us from their own misdeeds. Don’t be mad at us, they say — be mad at the Russians for exposing us! Yeah, right.
Finally, this notion that a Donald Trump victory would lead to the end of the world as we know it is nonsense. We thought that about George W. Bush, but we survived. Much of the appparatus of the now entrenched military and surveillance state that Bush/Cheney instituted was not just continued but extended under Barack Obama. We don’t even care about that.
No, if Trump is elected, and that’s a big if, he’ll do all the same sorts of things other presidents do — fun and games with Wall Street, with education and health care, with people of foreign lands across the globe. And despite our leadership’s distrust of voters, there is still that crazy thing called the United States Constitution which provides rules for just how out there a president can go. Checks and balances exist. Unless Congress, the judiciary, and the media want our country to become a fascist police state, there’s no way Trump can do it on his own. American presidents don’t have quite enough power to completely subvert the constitution.
Meanwhile, as much as Bernie would like us to fall in line behind the nominee, I just can’t reward her or the DNC for their despicable (though all too predictable) behavior. So as in 2012, I’m going to have to leave this to the partisans. There are plenty of voters out there, and I have no doubt someone will win the election, probably Hillary, because the law of divine justice that governs American elections says that whoever people are the least enthusiastic about will win.
Too bad, we had a chance to turn this thing around. But hey, kids, in eight years we’ll get a chance to have our hearts broken again!
Remiss if I didn't vote
One of the interesting things about Bernie is what’s next for him. Aside from remaining in the senate, Bernie has found a voice and that voice will catch attention even post election, and Hillary and the senate knows that. Of course, she could always send him off to an ambassadorship somewhere, but would he end up in a cabinet post? There’s just too many possible Bernie ‘things’ that will keep him in some kind of spotlight.
Ironically, it’s the Bernie supporters that might help to put Trump in the WH. Now that’s a bitter pill to swallow.
I’m not really any particular candidate supporter, but if I were a Bernie supporter, I’d feel remiss if I didn’t vote for the Hill.
food for thought
Senator Sanders ran a very credible campaign even in the face of the obstruction from the Democratic Party and being ignored by the press. He raised a lot of awareness and brought many folks out who otherwise probably would have stayed home. Trump, on the other hand, had tons of press that in turn brought a lot of folks out in support of him despite tons of cash and support the other Republican candidates had.
As the general election unfolds, I believe Trump is going to get a lot of votes from supporters who have never voted before or have sat out the last several elections. The landscape is littered with people that have been very unhappy with the W. Clinton/GW Bush/B. Obama administrations. The tipping point in this election is going to be decided by those who decide to show up and vote and by those who decide who stay home.
Every vote and non vote will matter.
every vote and non-vote will matter
spot on analysis, Fishboy
ps
don’t take my comments me “berating” you to get on board and vote for HRC, like many others like Sarah Silverman, Sen. Franken and others. There has been too much of that from both the R’s and D’s.
I respect your choice.
How it works in America
But that is not how it works in America. People have to leave the house and get in line to vote. And if they live in poor, Black or Hispanic neighborhoods, they not only have a longer line to wait in, everything is being done to literally stop them from casting a ballot. So in most elections it’s hard to get even 50% to turn out to vote. And therein lies the problem for November – who is going to have the most motivated, most inspired voters show up to vote? You know the answer to this question. Who’s the candidate with the most rabid supporters? Whose crazed fans are going to be up at 5 AM on Election Day, kicking ass all day long, all the way until the last polling place has closed, making sure every Tom, Dick and Harry (and Bob and Joe and Billy Bob and Billy Joe and Billy Bob Joe) has cast his ballot? That’s right. That’s the high level of danger we’re in. And don’t fool yourself — no amount of compelling Hillary TV ads, or outfacting him in the debates or Libertarians siphoning votes away from Trump is going to stop his mojo.
Never in my life have I wanted to be proven wrong more than I do right now
—Michael Moore
Still a weevil
On Michael Moore's Assessment
I also read the above quote in an e-mail from Michael Moore. I fearfully agree with him. He said that next week, he would give advice on what we can do in this situation. I look forward to the next e-mail. In the meantime, am out canvassing in my own way.. Even against the odds.
Still continuing
I am so sorry that all our volunteer hard work could not deliver Bernie the nomination. Thank you for knowing that it was/is a rigged system, rather than any failure on our part in volunteering to turn out the vote.
I am proud of how far we got in our work against the odds. I am grateful, how Bernie represented us. Many people heard the message of income inequality and the need for real justice. We put just economic and social equality forth. We stood up and proclaimed loud and clear that we were behind Bernie and Elizabeth Warren and against wealthy people conning greed, or others giving some charity-good works rather than sharing the wealth equitably.
We will continue to work to systemically change the system, as well as immediately elect progressive candidates around the country.
I too am disappointed we volunteers could not win against a rigged system and the DNC deceit. Sorry we could not do that for him, ourselves and you.
I am proud of what we could do, and what we will continue to do. Am proud of Bernie as our facilitator and leader. I met so many old and young folks working against the odds and still continuing to work. We will continue to do so, first to make sure that Trump avoids becoming President , and that the whole system needs to be revised, regulated, reformed .
We have taken some huge steps. I am tired, but not defeated. For the sake of my grandkids and yours, we continue.. Thank You all the volunteers and supporters . Thank you Bernie.. The revolution continues:
I responded “Yes” to this letter from Bernie Sanders.
“Our campaign has always been about a grassroots movement, standing up and saying: “Enough is enough. This country and our government belong to all of us, not just a handful of billionaires.”
I just finished speaking at the Democratic National Convention, where I addressed the historic nature of our grassroots movement and what’s next for our political revolution.
I hope that I made you proud. I know that Jane and I are very proud of you.
Our work will continue in the form of a new group called Our Revolution. The goal of this organization will be no different from the goal of our campaign: we must transform American politics to make our political and economic systems once again responsive to the needs of working families.
We cannot do this alone. All of us must be a part of Our Revolution.
Join Our Revolution and help continue our critical work to create a government which represents all of us, and not just the 1 percent – a government based on the principles of economic, social, racial and environmental justice. Add your name here.
When we started this campaign a little more than a year ago, the media and the political establishment considered us to be a “fringe” campaign. Well, we’re not fringe anymore.
Thanks to your tireless work and generous contributions, we won 23 primaries and caucuses with more than 13 million votes, all of which led to the 1900 delegates we have on the floor this week at the Democratic convention.
What we have done together is absolutely unprecedented, but there is so much more to do. It starts with defeating Donald Trump in November, and then continuing to fight for every single one of our issues in order to transform America.
We are going to fight to make sure that the most progressive platform in the history of the Democratic Party becomes law. This means working for a $15 federal minimum wage, fighting for a national fracking ban, and so many more progressive priorities.
The political revolution needs you in order to make all this happen and more.
Add your name to say that you will join Our Revolution and be part of the fight for our progressive vision for America.
Thank you for being a part of the continued political revolution.
In solidarity,
Bernie Sanders”
I don't think I have ever
I don’t think I have ever been more proud to be a supporter of Bernie Sanders than I was watching and hearing him at The Democratic convention. I can’t imagine how difficult; how sad he must have been standing up there giving his speech and knowing that in a just world the speech he should have been giving was his acceptance speech as the Democratic candidate for President. He showed enormous grace and tenacity and passion in a difficult situation. I’m very torn on my actual vote. I never thought I would ever be quoting Ted Cruz but I do feel that I need to “vote my conscience”. And, I’m not sure my conscience would be clear in voting for Clinton. The reasons why are myriad and shared by thousands of other people =Bernie supporters and not. I do believe that Trump would be horrific as President – worse than Bush because Bush had the common sense to surround himself with intelligent people. Evil people but intelligent just the same. I don’t think Trump has the intelligence or the common sense to do that.I think he is looking for puppets who will support his insanity or at least not try to stop it. But, we did survive 2 terms of a disastrous leader and we could do it again , if need be. I believe that either candidate is wrong for this country and their errors will manifest themselves in different ways but will all be terrible. I’ve been voting for 4 decades and this is the scariest and worst election I can remember. But, it’s clear that the awakening of the American people that Bernie caused will continue and only become stronger and more powerful. I look forward to being a part of it.
Choice
A contest between Trump and Clinton would be like a “choice between cancer and a heart attack.” — Charles Koch
I never thought I’d ever agree with Koch!
If Only
If only he had the courage of a true statesman (Ron Paul) and didn’t endorse the candidate.
I would have such respect for him. But he bowed to the establishment in the end. And that will cost him. Not politically, of course, because Hillary will use him in her administration. And he’ll like that and forget his supporters while enjoying the fruit of their labor.
He may not have any credibility if he chooses to run again. But I don’t think you’ll see that happen.
I feel quite confident that
I feel quite confident that he will not forget his supporters. He gave a voice to millions of people across the country who have felt disenfranchised and forgotten in this government. He got people involved in a powerful political movement who had never been involved before. He knows that his supporters are grateful for and empowered by his passion and his determination to begin the arduous battle of affecting real change in the way this country is run. At 73 years old I doubt very much that he would choose to run for President again. But, if he did his credibilty would still be intact and he would, once again be able to gather old and new supporters who believe in the changes he seeks.
Credibility and Courage to Continue the Revolution
He has credibility with me, and will continue to do so. He did the right thing for his conscience in working on Hilary, and it is the right for my conscience to vote for her. I believe that we made progress with the Democratic Platform, and more progress is to come. The economic and social equalization has begun. We will work to defeat the hate-centered message of Trump. We will continue to work hard and harder to reform and revitalize the system. We understand the systemic problems, and we will work hard, against the odds. I am grateful for Bernie.
Conscience and revolution
I am feeling like Senator Sanders got what he wanted. He ran an insurgent message-driven campaign within a political party that he only joined to run this campaign. I think he looks relieved to not be the one now doing the very heavy lift of actually forming an administration and actually leading – not just his supporters, but the entire nation. I voted for Sanders in the primary and I agree with his core message about the economy and about democratic socialism. However, Bernie Sanders is at heart an independent. He is not a joiner, but a great speaker of his own passionate ideas.
He clearly never had the desire to run as a third party independent in the general election. He certainly moved the needle of the political debate a significant amount. Now the actual process of winning the general election goes to the two party system that he participated in for the last year. This is not about the lesser of two evils, this is about the same old incrementalism that is American democracy: checks and balances, obstructionism, deal making, awkward compromises – and on and on.
Some of his supporters want that third party approach (Jill Stein, Ralph Nader, Ross Perot) but Bernie clearly does not. Trump actually succeeded in taking over the Republican Party. Some are disappointed that Bernie did not succeed in taking over the Democrats. But Bernie is not Trump. Sanders ‘gets it’ that the party is now ‘the thing’.
Certainly vote your conscience – but keep in mind across this great land of ours that a Trump win would be unconscionable. Bernie is a class act. Keep the revolution alive by running for local office, state or national office – stay involved. But a Trump victory would be the most counter-revolutionary thing to happen to our country in a long time.
Andy Davis
This is about the lesser of two evils
I think your analysis is pretty much spot on, Andy. But, no matter where the Bern revolution goes, in this election in real-time, post primaries, we are truly face with a lesser of two evils.
evil
I can’t argue that “lesser of two evils” is a part of the national political language and culture. This phrase is a standard expression used to express frustration with our national political system. I am not a “fie on both your houses” kind of person.
Interesting – to me anyway – is that in democratically socialist countries coalitions regular form among political opponents. It is part of that system to enter into strange looking alliances in order to form a government and get to choose the prime minister. I believe that this European system helps tamp down the polarization and demonization of political opponents that is so common in our Two Party (Plus Gadflies) system.
I personally detest the name calling going on around who to vote for. Hey, the voting process is private. And for the last time in my life I will quote Ted Cruz: “Vote your conscience”.
Andy
A pox on both your houses
Vote your conscience is about as cute as the lesser of two evils but I and many of us use the phrases as if they have meaning. Between the two, the lesser of two evils is, indeed, standard fare. And, I have no problem with spitting “A pox on both your houses.”
The voting process is private if you want it. And, even then, are you so sure it’s really private?
Philosophical Complexities of Voting
Rather than try to get my mind around the conundrum of why the only moral choice is to vote for HRC, I’m left with my ongoing belief that it’s completely up to each person who they vote for or whether they vote at all. It’s your thing! Do what you want to do! And I will too.
Also wanted to mention that I have enormous respect for Bernie Sanders and I’m grateful for his efforts for the last many years. He lost me when he went all out for Hillary, and I think that’s clear from what I said above. I’m not angry, but I think he’s done as far as being a part of the movement to create change. I’m also less optimistic about our chances of effecting real change, now that our movement is leaderless (again). But there will be lots of agitation, I have no doubt, from groups across the political spectrum. Beyond that, I wouldn’t dare predict.
Except to say, it’s going to be Hillary in November. The Dems and Clintons will defeat Trump, whatever it takes. Many millions of Americans will help them.
For Some
I think that yes for some he is done, for others of us, we are continuing our change efforts and so is he, and we with each other, and him. I think that the varied reactions expressed here are understandable. We each choose the way we work which we see as most conscientious and helpful for ourselves and the common good.
For me, one of the ways is saying “Yes” to Bernie and The Continued Revolution. And the decision to doubling my time and efforts in doing so. Defeating Trump is just the first item to work on, as we continue to work on changing Citizens United and more, and systemic inequalities of oligarchy.
Worth repeating
“Defeating Trump is just the first item to work on, as we continue to work on changing Citizens United and more, and systemic inequalities of oligarchy.”
(Just thought that was worth repeating.)
It was rough watching
It was rough watching Bernie’s face last night whenever Hilary mentioned his name. Some people mentioned that he looked angry. I thought he looked sad and disappointed- normal feelings for the situation. It seems that some Hilary supporters on FB this morning felt that he should have “been happy” and smiled .
Perhaps he should have worn a party hat and held a big balloon saying
” Yay! Hilary!”. Can we just give this man a ******* break? He endorsed her.
That’s what the Hilary folks wanted and he did it. I’m not sure we can also expect him to be ecstatic about it.
Giving a break
And as to the comment of: Can’t we just give this man a break.
Yes. Thank you, and can I give some others a break too. I am sorry that local people’s intentions and intelligence has been misjudged. I hope I will give those good people who are working so hard among us, that break too. They are following their consciences in working for the common good in the best way they see is right for them. Fear of what is, and possible political outcomes, seems to be resulting in unhelpful judgement on good community people who have worked hard for years. Thank you for all your good work, in our differing decisions on how to work.
Maria, I'm not sure I
Maria, I’m not sure I understand your comment nor do I think you understood mine. I’m not questioning anyone’s intentions or intelligence. People need to do whatever they feel is the right thing to do. My point is that for months now the Democratic party and the Clinton campaign were vilifying Bernie because he hadn’t yet endorsed Hilary. Even when he was still very much in the running there were cries for him to drop out and endorse her. He did endorse her and he did it with an enormous amount of grace and passion. That’s what they wanted him to do and he did. And. almost immediately there are concerns and complaints because he didn’t look “happy” and he apparently had not met his quota of smiles. Rather than being grateful that he took such a positive stand for Clinton they wanted him to also be joyful about it. Really? I understand that to support Clinton now is seen as a unifying step; something we will do for the “greater good”. ( although it remains to be seen exactly how much “good’ she will bring to the country) Unifying for the good of this country should not include continuing to slam a fine candidate and good man because of his facial expressions in one small moment of a 4 day event.
Whether or not you see my “judgement” as unhelpful or not really doesn’t matter. I have the right to call out unfairness when I see it. And the continuing sniping at Sanders is unfair and useless. I have been a devoted supporter of Bernie and will continue to be in whatever form that may take in the future. And whatever I decide to do in the voting booth in November is my right. That’s the great thing about having the right to vote. We can vote for any candidate we want or write in our own choice. Or,not vote at all.It is an individual decision and no one should feel that they have to yield to the ongoing pressure to do the right thing and vote for Hilary. The right” thing to do is what each individual person decides is right for them. We all need to make a decision we can live with regardless of the relentless clamor out there now.
Generally
KAlden
I thought I was agreeing with you in giving Bernie a break, and therefore your openess reminded me that I need to give everyone a break.
I was attempting to make more of a general statement, about me avoiding judgement rather than particular to you.
I possibly should have posted somewhere else to avoid mistakes.
I mistakenly posted my words about me and generally meant words and they looked as a reply to yours. What you write/wrote makes sense to me.
I especially like your summarizing conclusion: ” The right” thing to do is what each individual person decides is right for them. We all need to make a decision we can live with regardless of the relentless clamor out there now.”
Thank You.
Your words help.
Maria, Thank you for this
Maria, Thank you for this response. It’s easy in this type of forum to have your comments end up following a post that you didn’t intend to respond to. Your comment did seem confusing to me because I felt that i was speaking from the heart and just emphasizing how unfair and ridiculous this campaign season has been so far. I appreciate everything you’ve written on this site and I agree that we all have some difficult soul searching to do in the next few months. Hopefully we will not end up with a hateful, racist, misogynist, uneducated and dangerous man in charge of our country.
With the emphasis on democrat
We can’t overlook the fact that for most of Sanders senator career he was barely indistinguishable from the democrats when you look at his voting record. Being known as a socialist-democrat is a misnomer. He has always been a democrat-socialist, with the emphasis on democrat.
A human tendency to forge alliances
Will Sanders Supporters Come Around?
Of course, the Democratic primary this year revealed important policy differences between Mr. Sanders and Mrs. Clinton…But while the political particularities of the present moment merit consideration, lurking beneath them is a human tendency to forge alliances as the context demands. And for Democrats, the context is now the threat of a President Trump.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/31/opinion/sunday/will-sanders-supporters-come-around.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-left-region®ion=opinion-c-col-left-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region&_r=0
Where is Bernie Now?
Here is a bit of a convoluted (to me) article on what some folks think about what Bernie and Warren are doing post primary and what they might do, or not do, next.
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/08/bernie-sanders-elizabeth-warren-226483
Longer election cycle than usual
“There are still 100 days until the general election on Nov. 8. If that seems longer than usual, it’s because it is: In 2016, the gap is 40 days longer than the 62 interim days between the 2012 party conventions and Election Day. Both conventions were moved up nearly a full month this year, in hopes of giving candidates more time to raise money and campaign before the general election and to accommodate the Summer Olympics in August, which will eat up a lot of voters’ attention.”
http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/what-expect-longer-usual-general-election-n619996
The election & other options
I am not a Hillary supporter nor an apologist for any of her stands, her Wall St. coziness, her choice of running mate, any of it. But I am going to vote for her. This is not just a “lesser evil” situation. I urge people to read “Trump’s Boswell Speaks” in the July 25 New Yorker. It’s about the guy who ghostwrote the Art of the Deal and what he reveals about Trump. I am absolutely terrified that this man could actually become president. I disagree with many of his views (though agree with him about the TPP), am revolted by the hate he spews, but that’s not why I am terrified. It’s because he has absolutely no interest in anything other than himself, and the thought of someone so uninformed and intemperate in a position of power, especially in the current volatile geopolitical situation, is very very scary. I’m not generally an alarmist but I am not sure if the world would survive a Trump presidency, and I mean that literally.
Hillary has many flaws and I don’t trust her to do anything for working people but I do think she will actually bother to inform herself before making decisions. It doesn’t mean she’ll always get it right but she will at least read briefings and think about them. It’s sad that this is the basis of my decision but it is that basic for me. I will never campaign for her, I won’t defend her from well-deserved criticism, but I will, grudgingly, vote for her.
But really what is more important is that Bernie’s supporters stay active in building a grassroots movement for change. Bernie didn’t win the nomination but he did show that there is widespread support for the things he is talking about: universal health care, affordable higher education, a livable minimum wage, racial justice, and tax policies that can reverse the growing inequality that is leaving more and more people teetering on the edge. I think it’s only if we continue to organize both within and outside of the electoral system and the kind of change Bernie was talking about will come about. That is where I find hope.
"Trump's Boswell Speaks" in the July 25 New Yorker online
http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/07/25/donald-trumps-ghostwriter-tells-all
Bernie Sanders Cameraman explains Clinton Endorsement
I found this to be worth the watch (for me) and put into words better what I have experienced. And why I am canvassing for Hilary with Bernie’s goodness and wisdom in mind as I do.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=share&v=Kd9l57IOzgQ&app=desktop
Latest Message from Bernie and the Revolution Continues
Rather than the end of the line for Bernie and the Revolution.. I am doubling my efforts.. Here is a letter and an invitation to participate:
“Political pundits and the billionaire class are watching very closely to see what Bernie supporters do next. Some of them might be tempted to believe our political revolution is toast.
They want our extraordinary phone banking, door knocking, and grassroots organizing efforts to stop. They want us to get discouraged. They want to vanquish our movement once and for all.
We aren’t going to let that happen.
That’s why, on the evening of August 24, we will kick off a new organization called Our Revolution with a major live stream address where Bernie will talk about the specifics of what we can do as organizers going forward to fight for every single issue that drove this campaign. In order to get as many people watching as possible, we need to set up grassroots watch parties all over the country.
The most important thing you can do today to move the political revolution forward: Sign up to host one of these events on August 24 at 9pm ET / 6pm PT.
I’LL HOST A WATCH PARTY
Bernie’s said from the very beginning that no one person can alone accomplish what must be done to turn our country around. We all must do our part.
I hope to see your event listed on our website. It’s an honor to be with you in this movement.
In solidarity,
Claire Sandberg
Our Revolution
Paid for by Our Revolution
(not the billionaires)
603 2nd St NE, Washington, DC 20002 | (855) 4-BERNIE”
https://berniesanders.com/stream/
Sign up at the bottom of the video, and you will be notified of the event, and can sign up to host the event, or attend upcoming events.
If anyone has a better link, please reply. Much appreciated.
Interesting Advertisement Arrived today
This came today the day before tomorrow’s election;
“IF YOU STILL FEEL THE BERN
YOU CAN STILL GET IT DUNNE”
Bernie Supporters Help and are Still Going at it
Two weeks ago in Philadelphia, MoveOn members and our allies scored a partial victory when, giving in to grassroots pressure, the Democratic Party Rules Committee voted to reform and greatly reduce the power of the superdelegates! 1.
“During the Democratic National Convention, members of the MoveOn staff attended the Rules Committee meeting to deliver more than 500,000 signatures demanding that voters, not superdelegates, decide the outcome of Democratic primaries.
A number of the Rules Committee members, many of them delegates supporting Bernie Sanders, pushed until an agreement was reached that will result in a two-thirds reduction in the total number of superdelegates.
Collectively, your efforts, along with those of our progressive partners and DNC delegates, have made our democracy stronger and provided a fairer way to choose the next Democratic nominee.
This process to end superdelegates within the Democratic Party will take at least a year or more to complete. As this process moves forward, it’ll be up to all of us to keep a watchful eye on this important journey.” Move On
Bernie, and Revolution working Today
I want to see Debbie Wasserman dethroned!
This is going to take, phone banking, contacting/ encouraging friends/relatives in Florida, donating a small amount of money, and more
The Revolution continues in Florida Today.
Perhaps we can pull off this challenge Bernie is backing, right now:
“I’ve endorsed a candidate, Tim Canova, who is challenging the former head of the Democratic Party Debbie Wasserman Schultz in Florida.
This race is very important for Our Revolution because if we can win this tough fight in Florida, it will send a clear message about the power of our grassroots movement that will send shockwaves through the political and media establishments. The latest poll shows us within reach.
July 31 Poll
Debbie Wasserman Schultz: 46%
Tim Canova: 38%
Undecided: 16% “
Lise,
Lise, Your broken heart words resonated including that in eight years we would have a chance to have them broken again. Hurts.
Hope the efforts I and others are working on, and recently written about here, will help you feel a bit better. Besides being politically concerned, I am concerned about you and all of us who not only have broken hearts, but in addition we can very understandably loose heart for the work.
Thank you for all that you do. It is amazing work for me to witness.
Thank you for ibrattleboro and your concerns for the common good.
Thank you for living and sharing in Brattleboro.
Such a gift!
I am grateful
More Bernie inspired Revolutionary Work
Excerpts from Democracy for America Events:
Website: https://www.democracyforamerica.com/
“Wow! More than 3,000 Democracy for America members signed up to participate in our very first Political Revolution Night School session last night — and it was incredible.
In addition to the training, participants also got to hear from both Shannon Jackson, Executive Director of Our Revolution — Bernie Sanders’s new organization — and Pramila Jayapal, the DFA-endorsed and Bernie-endorsed progressive champion running for Congress in Washington state.
It was inspiring to watch so many dynamic progressive leaders learn — and share — the basic skills they need to build the political revolution by running for office or supporting other candidates running for office across the United States.
We’ve got big plans for our Political Revolution Night School series. Over the coming weeks, we’re hosting 4 more sessions on everything from fundraising to narrative-building, designed to help grassroots activists and leaders run for office and advocate for progressive candidates and issues more effectively.
DFA is excited to train this huge surge in new progressive candidates and activists …
DFA has a long history of movement-building and supporting progressive candidates: We’ve helped elect 836 progressives to higher office since our founding in 2004. We frequently use our endorsement program to support progressive candidates like Bernie Sanders who are in tough fights against the establishment, and our fundraising and volunteer recruitment have been key to putting many progressive challengers over the top in their races.
Now, we’re using our Political Revolution Night School trainings to make sure that progressive leaders energized by Bernie’s game-changing campaign have the skills and support to run people-powered campaigns and win races up and down the ballot in all 50 states.
Through our candidate endorsements and training programs like Political Revolution Night School, DFA is showing the establishment and the country what a real, sustained, progressive movement looks like….
Thanks for doing what you can to make Political Revolution Night School a reality — and a success. The future of this movement depends on you. ”
– Charles
Charles Chamberlain, Executive Director
Democracy for America
hm
The stridency of Lise’s comments is not all that surprising given the stridency and the seemingly interminability of this election. (Today I came across a section of the New York Times that I had saved from February 2012, and discovered an article laying out the prospects for the “upcoming” 2016 election.) My take on Bernie is probably a bit too elitist for most tastes, but chacun a son gout.
In a journal of the famed French film director Robert Bresson, he wrote that he felt that after 1968 it was impossible for the individual to live. I believe what he meant by that was in an atmosphere of sheer and incessant politicization, oxygen disappears. It is a rather profound, if desperate, if impossible to prove, thought, but my mind keeps going back to it probably as some way to try to explain to myself where my generation’s politics has taken us. I’d feel somewhat responsible were it not for the fact that, for the most part, I’ve run in frightened disgust from it most of the time!
In full disclosure, I have never voted for Bernie Sanders, not because I didn’t agree with him, but rather I saw him more as a professor than a politician interested in democratic governance. Through the years, there were anecdotes as to how he managed his council in Burlington that I found distasteful. But then hypocrite that I am, every time I go to Burlington I can’t help but enjoy the Church Street pedestrian area or the park along the lake, both very visible accomplishments by Sanders. He’s of course proved to be a very hard working Congressman and Senator, with huge popularity but I’m as proud a curmudgeon as he is, and I continued to withhold my vote.
When Donald Trump joined the electioneering something in me started buzzing. And after awhile, I started thinking that what we had before us was twins separated by birth, albeit mom had to dash from Brooklyn to Queens after she birthed Sanders. But while it appeared on its face as a coincidental fluke, I felt just the opposite.
It should go without saying that if you go to any comments section under any article about anything, but especially politics, you will see not anything remotely close to a debate, but rather clever, if mendacious and exasperating, turning of tables. One person accuses Bush; another accuses Obama of much the same thing. Someone calls out Trump; and Clinton gets trashed for worse. It is not remotely anything that any sensible (and mature) person would call making politics. But that is how I came to see the phenomenons of Sanders and Trump – two sides of the same coin, both trying to claim rightful ownership of the whole coin. Oddly enough Trump didn’t trash Sanders as much as Sanders attacked Trump, most likely due to a political calculation on Trump’s part that he could attract Sanders supporters down the line. But here’s my point, worth, mind you, a mere 2 cents. Newtonian physics is alive and well in US politics. For every force there is an equal and opposite force. And at a time when Sanders was popularizing, on a national scale, the sort of politics he had a relatively easy time doing here in Vermont, is it any wonder that an alt-Sanders would arise?
I don’t mean to suggest that Trump’s entrance in the race had anything to do with Sanders. But the result is as if he had. I have to hand it to Sanders for showing some real decency and relative intellectual honesty in his presentation (he got problematic when pushed for details). But it is not surprising to me that we should be faced with this vehement Trump revolution (and there is no other word for it) after Sanders so successfully (and he was successful even without the nomination) pushed his own.
Back in February of this year, there was an interesting editorial in The Commons about the Base Income thing that was being considered in some European countries. The gist of the opinion was that such a thing could never take root here because, after all, Republicans don’t care for the poor. I like the idea of a Base Income. I don’t like the idea of belittling a whole group of people, let alone that person you might be debating in a Congressional hall, based on a childish, self-serving stereotype. Once you take that approach, it is a certainty that it will come back to bite you. Lise and about 13 million others are understandably disgruntled that Sanders didn’t win the nomination. Nevertheless, if you’re going to take a certain amount of euphoria in the rhetoric of your revolution, you must understand that there is going to be the same euphoria going on in the opposite direction.
" Nevertheless, if you're
” Nevertheless, if you’re going to take a certain amount of euphoria in the rhetoric of your revolution, you must understand that there is going to be the same euphoria going on in the opposite direction.”
Little euphoria for me, little rhetoric and little idealism.
Am recalling the phrase that a “Cynic is often a disillusioned idealist”.
Just years and years of hard work on the ground with others,
sometimes within the system,
more often outside of it..
I am very afraid of the Klan, and wherever it most resides and those who abide by Klan followers. Klan are at Trumps rallies and abided by him. Not so with the other candidates.
And yes there are days when cynicism and certainly cynics resonate with me.
Feel for us.
Seems as if so many people continue on to work, in many ways, even within the realities we are faced. Thanking them.
Hilary on TPP with Bernie and Warren rather than Obama
Now let’s make sure she really is:
“At a major economic speech in Michigan on Thursday, Hillary Clinton made a strong case against the Trans-Pacific Partnership. She said “I oppose it now, I’ll oppose it after the election, and I’ll oppose it as President.”
But, just this week, President Barack Obama said he plans to continue pushing for passage of the TPP in Congress despite increasing pressure from across the political spectrum to let this job-killing trade agreement die. According to Washington Trade Daily, the White House is planning to convince lawmakers to vote for the TPP after the “dust settles” on November’s election — and before the next president takes office.
Let’s be clear: Hillary Clinton stands with Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren in opposition to the TPP. And so do most Democrats, including key leaders in Congress.
Now, I’m joining with my friends at Democracy for America and CREDO in asking Sec. Clinton to demonstrate her leadership and stop this disastrous trade deal by specifically speaking out against holding a vote in the “lame duck” session of Congress, after the election on November 8.
Please join with me in signing our petition: Ask Hillary Clinton to publicly urge the White House to stop pushing for a “lame-duck” vote on the TPP after the November election.
Big corporations and Wall Street are enthusiastic about the TPP, a deal that includes countries responsible for 40 percent of the global economy. The TPP would give giant corporations even more patent protection overseas.
And — through the dangerous-to-democracy “Investor-State Dispute Settlement” process in the TPP — the deal would allow corporations to challenge any nation’s health, safety and environmental laws that stand in the way of their profits, including our own.
It’s unlikely that Congress can pass the TPP before the November election. After the election, but before the newly elected members are sworn in, Congress meets for the so-called “lame duck” session. Members of Congress who have retired or been defeated still get one last chance to vote on legislation — and that could include the TPP.
Hillary Clinton has spoken out strongly against the TPP. Now she has a chance to take a bold step forward and help us prevent a vote on the TPP. The White House would have a hard time saying no to her if she made such a public request. Will you join me, DFA, and CREDO and urge her to act?
Sign our petition and ask Hillary Clinton: Publicly urge the White House to not hold a vote on the TPP — before or after the November election.
Thank you for helping stop this global corporate power grab.
Robert Reich
Former Secretary of Labor ”
Doing The Right Thing
I’m totally with you about the TPP – I’m agin it. But I truly wish that we didn’t have to petition our political leaders to do the right thing. Why don’t they just do the right thing on their own? Why this constant battle to get them to represent us? The cynic in me says we can petition all day long, but they’re still going to do what they’re going to do, and our views are not going to influence them unless they need us for some reason. Hillary only needs us until election day in November. After that, who thinks she’s going to be paying attention to citizen petitions?
Case in point: a few weeks ago, Congress managed the push through so-called GMO labelling legislation that overrides Vermont’s labelling law, and allows food producers to label their GMO-containing products without actually putting that information on the label. Citizens who opposed the new federal law petitioned Obama to veto it when it got to his desk. Did he? Of course not — he signed it into law the day it was presented (a mere 30 days from the day Vermont’s law went into effect) and then made a little speech.
Politicians are very good at delivering the speech that starts with “I hear you and feel your pain” and ends “but I’m going to do the thing that you don’t want me to do anyway,” supported by a variety of very convincing reasons. In the case of the TPP, the reasons will be that it has been amended and all the bad stuff has been taken out, that we need it for the good of America and all Americans, and that Americans need to get behind it and stop getting in the way of progress with their naive and antiquated views on globalization…
We’ll see if it goes that way or not, but my money is on the tried and true, since it’s worked so effectively in the past. Now, if we the people would stop falling for these games, things might be different. But so far, we still seem caught in the rhetorical trap of professional politics… 😉
Corporations are people too
LLP: “The cynic in me says we can petition (political leaders ) all day long, but they’re still going to do what they’re going to do, and our views are not going to influence them unless they need us for some reason.”
Now that corporations are people too, I’m afraid to say that political leaders do, indeed, represent “us.” And, therefore, like “we the people,” the corporation person is part of the, what is “for the good of America and all Americans.”
Resonates
Lise,
” But I truly wish that we didn’t have to petition our political leaders to do the right thing. Why don’t they just do the right thing on their own? Why this constant battle to get them to represent us? The cynic in me says we can petition all day long, but they’re still going to do what they’re going to do, and our views are not going to influence them unless they need us for some reason. Hillary only needs us until election day in November. After that, who thinks she’s going to be paying attention to citizen petitions?”
Me too. That is how I feel. Not feelings I always act upon, but definitely how I think and feel at times. Thanks for writing this. Understandable to me. Resonates. Helps
um
I’m not quite sure how my comment warranted a protest about TPP. Perhaps, it was just an added thought on your part.
I wish I were smart enough to have an opinion on TPP. It seems to be one of those “big issues” where someone looks at you and talks at you as if you’re nuts because you don’t see how clear cut and simple the solution is. Yet you know good and well, the person lecturing you on it is a partial expert, at best. So mea culpa for me being “nuts”. TPP is one of those things that just turns my brain off, and I’m just not going to think that stopping it will end a world of corporations. That’s just a tad unrealistic.
As for Lise’s comment about politicians, I have to ask what exactly she wants? Governance, or puppets? I caught some of a roundtable discussion on Face the Nation this morning (only “some” because I found the women’s marathon more exciting a few channels over), and I found it interesting, if only that it gave a face to the “other”. It was fascinating to me to see a human face to those types (Republicans!) that I’ve usually voted against. I’m not sure whether all of them were the signatories of the letter against Trump last week; Tom Ridge and Michael Hayden were there and talking. But every single one of them, including a former Rep governor of Utah, were talking about consensus as being the necessary trait in a president and talking against “my way or the highway” of the ideologue. I found it rather refreshing, which is a very strange thing for me to feel about political discussion.
The question I have is simple: Why is compromise such a dirty word? When there are real conflicting interests in a democracy you have to bring to the table the best information and then let the decision happen. Seems to me the issue isn’t the promise of whether Clinton will stop TPP (my bet is she’ll push to alter it), but rather whether she will keep her promise to get Citizen’s United rolled back. I believe her when she says she wants to change it and at the same time, I have no idea how she can do that short of packing the court. We live in interesting times. But I take a little comfort that it’s not my curse alone.
The only real tool Americans have is voter turnout
The processes and actions of the federal government, and rarely states governments are not subject to ‘we the people’ petitions. Petitions are merely 99% public relations and a release valve for people to express their opinions.
It is a cold reality that politicians “need us until election day.” Oddly enough, that’s why elections are so important. You take your best shot. It’s us usually the only one we get.
In this election cycle I hear people on both sides of the aisles talking about “revolution.”
There is no revolution and,certainly not a peaceful one. The Bern notwithstanding, there will be none.
The only real tool Americans have at their disposal is voter turnout. Those who don’t exercise that tool forfeit that right and left with the one thing every American has: an opinion.
The Starting Line for Bernie Sanders
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2016/08/10/bernie-sanders-buys-a-half-million-dollar-vacation-home-and-the-internet-cries-hypocrisy/
For his part, Sanders has yet to respond to the criticism and calls for donor refunds. He’s probably too busy writing his forthcoming book. “Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In” is set to hit bookshelves on Nov. 15.
writing a book?
Bernie’s not writing a book. Someone else is writing it & Bernie will put his name on it.
That’s the way things work these days.
Turns and Terms
Language can be peculiar. I’m trying to sort why use of the word revolution in Bernie’s lexicon irks me so. There’s no problem hearing that word in the context of a planet’s rotation, or an athlete spinning a certain number of times in a dynamic move, or affixed to epochal changes. But when it comes up in light of this election, I keep seeing in my mind’s eye Havel and the Velvet Revolution, or similar movements where overbearing oppression was faced. Not that the stakes aren’t high now. Maybe history itself has to award the term, rather than it being employed as a slogan. Still working it out.
On the New Property/Home
Although I am of the personal belief that I only want to have one home until others can at least have one: I realize that there are exceptions to that personal rule of mine. (a rule and a financial requirement too :).
As a Bernie supporter who has seen him loose a major amount of his Secret Service Security, while he has placed himself in the position of being a more visible public figure and therefore dangerous situation: I think it is only right for safety sake to have a place that can offer more personal and family privacy, as well as a bit more security.
Only right to take whatever privacy and protective measures one can on the budget that selling his wife’s family place has provided him and their children..
Don't have a strong opinion
I forgot to use quotation marks for the brief synopsis under the Washington Post web link I provided.
I don’t have a strong opinion on Sanders’ current and possible future growing wealth and acquisitions.