Something Is Happening - by Jim Hightower

[Ferd Berfel]

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/21/something-happening

The 'Sanders Sensation' is a spontaneous, unusually vibrant grassroots uprising that has already shattered the Democratic Establishment's holy myth that corporate centrism and super PAC money are the only means to victory.


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When I crossed paths with a Democratic Party campaign consultant in Austin last March, I suggested he come out to the local International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers hall to hear Bernie Sanders, adding that the Vermont senator was pondering a run for the presidency. "You gotta be kiddin' me," the political pro snorted. "Bernie Sanders? Let me tell ya, his chances are slim and none, and Slim don't live in Bernie's precinct. First of all, no one south of Greenwich Village ever heard of him. Second, who's gonna vote for some old senator from a tiny state of Birkenstock-wearers damn near in Canada?"

So that scoffer was a no-show, but we really didn't have room for him anyway. We had expected about 200 people — the capacity of the hall — but nearly 500 Texans showed up that night to hear the undiluted populist message of this senator "no one ever heard of."

Austin was one of the first stops on a cross-country trip that Sanders was taking to assess whether an unabashedly progressive, movement-building presidential campaign could rally any substantial support. If he ran, he intended to go right at the moneyed elites who've thoroughly corrupted our politics and rigged our economy to squeeze the life out of the middle class. But, would anyone follow? Were people really ready to do this, and could a 74-year-old, notoriously brusque Vermonter with a conspicuous Brooklyn accent be the one to spark such a modern-day American revolt? He wasn't sure, and even if it might work, he assumed it would be a slow build.

[NorthCarolina]

1. I never believed the myth that corporate centrism

was the only path towards victory...unless you're talking victory for the elites. That "centrist necessity" meme will be dead and buried once Bernie takes the lead in a red state. I predict he will beat Hillary in South Carolina; North Carolina too.

[RKP5637]

2. I've always thought the "centrist necessity" meme was a cop-out by the democratic TPTB,

because they have always been so crap poor on messaging, and could not figure out how to beat the republicans, so they decided to use the republican tactics.

Then the dems started trying to out-right republicans. And the mess grew and grew while millions upon millions of Americans were left out of the equation.

Now, it's time for the tables to turn. Millions and millions of Americans have had it with both parties. They are fed up with seeing the parties support the wealthy, and take their share too.

Just a brief look at the wealth distribution in the US lets one know how fucked up all of this has been for millions of Americans who are now fed up with the charade by both parties.

[99th_Monkey]

10. 3rd Way excuse was that Union money had dried up, cuz unions were being decimated.

But which came first? The chicken or the egg?

I think at first it was so-called 'progressive' seemingly innocuous corporations with 'enlightened'
CEOs .. but it quickly became a headlong slippery slope.

[RKP5637]

12. Yep, and now we're hopefully at the bottom of the slope trying to climb out, I hope! n/t

[Dustlawyer]

19. The union's themselves are not as strong as they used to be when it comes to

voting Democratic. Many of the members have swallowed the RW propaganda and have no understanding of the ramifications of their vote. Our so-called media, has been subtlety shaping views over a long period of time. Sometimes not so subtlety!

It is going to take someone like Bernie, and a whole hell of a lot of people, motivated to pressure Congress into re-writing the rules on campaign finance. The influence needs to go.

[99th_Monkey]

22. +12

[Spitfire of ATJ]

20. That was Beltway "wisdom" from the rich to the fellow rich.

[Fawke Em]

3. Buffalo Springfield

[Ferd Berfel]

5. It's a Sea Change

[marions ghost]

13. This is what it will take

[chervilant]

32. So very many of us recognize

that Senator Sanders' campaign represents a sea change in our political landscape. This gives me great hope.

[libdem4life]

27. First year in college. The protests of the 60s need the Boomers to show the way in the

21st Century. Not all of us lost our way. It will come from the youth. Funny, that's Bernie's largest constituency. I have faith that they will vote.

[hobbit709]

4. I've known and supported Jim for 30 years. He's right on as usual.

[zentrum]

6. Hightower is great. n/t

[mountain grammy]

7. I love Jim Hightower.. a great Texan, and unabashed liberal.

I had the great pleasure of voting for him while living in Texas in 1982.

[NBachers]

8. I'd like to see Hightower in a Sanders cabinet.

[Ferd Berfel]

9. Yes! Sec of the Intererior?

[Spitfire of ATJ]

21. Put him in charge of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

[Ferd Berfel]

29. I was thinking Warren for that one

[Spitfire of ATJ]

31. Either there or Treasury Secretary.

[Ferd Berfel]

33. True. Either one!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

34. Although we have Robert Reich now too.

[AzDar]

11. Bernie!!

[senseandsensibility]

14. K and R

Love both of 'em.

[Karma13612]

15. "he assumed it would be a slow build"

Or maybe a "slow burn"

#FeeltheBern

[dae]

16. K & R nt

[Live and Learn]

17. K&R nt

[elmac]

18. The Wind of Change

[blackspade]

23. Big K&R!

[colsohlibgal]

24. Jim As Usual Is Right

It is maybe strange that in a hotbed of crazy religious wing nuts Texas has produced populists like Jim and the late great Molly Ivins.

More and more people are figuring out that it has gotten to be a rigged game in both parties economically. Big money rules both parties Bernie is running against that reality.

[leftcoastmountains]

25. Gotta love Jim Hightower!

[randys1]

26. Bernie might be able to do what Obama couldnt, for no fault of his own.

Obama was hated, is hated, for the SOLE reason of being a Black person who isnt a Clarence Thomas type, which are the ONLY Black people allowed in the GOP.



Period.

Bernie might be able to convince those middle class folks who vote against their interests year after year to stop doing that insanity.

My concern with Bernie is not him, but his supporters and their flippant attitude about social issues including the big one.

[libdem4life]

28. Speaking of Texas...wonder what Molly Ivins would say if she were still with us?

[SammyWinstonJack]

30. Feel the Bern....what else....

[libdem4life]

35. There's that...but she had a mighty unique way of saying the "wrong" things at the right time.