Bernout: Why I'm Supporting Hillary Now

[wyldwolf]

While I was writing what comes below, a New York Times web notice came in about the death of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Presidents do important things during their four years in office, but perhaps the most important thing they do is nominate new justices to the Supreme Court. Long after those presidents are gone, those justices are there, on the bench, deciding what kind of lives we are permitted to have.

In the next year, the Republicans will do anything they can to keep an Obama nominee from getting a seat on the Court. They will block hearings; if there are hearings, they will keep them from going anywhere. Their majority leader, only a few hours after Scalia’s death, said so.

Presidents matter.

At first, I really liked Bernie Sanders. I liked his passion, his opposition to the way Big Money dominates so much of American life and politics, his opposition to villainy in the financial industry.

I sent him money. It wasn’t that much, but I soon started getting emails—sometimes three of them a day—beginning, “As a major donor to Bernie’s campaign…” The emails soon began to feel like spam, but I let it go because, if the little I gave made me a “major donor,” then his claim that his campaign was funded by small donations from ordinary people seemed true. That, I thought, was nice. It was before I found out he was drawing from at least one Super PAC.

Then, after listening to him a lot, I realized I was hearing things again and again, but I wasn’t hearing anything more, anything new, anything deep, anything practical. It was all slogans.

Everything comes back to villainy and grand goals. I keep waiting for specifics: How are we going to pay for this? How are we going to make those changes, given that the Republicans will surely continue to control the House and may in all likelihood continue to control the Senate? How are we going to make any of this happen?

Sanders’s response is, “Trust me. It will.”

Specifics never come. The hand-waving and finger-pointing and shouting continue. The unmodulated, angry voice continues. The list of monolithic villains—“Wall Street” in particular—continue. It is all, “My intentions are good. Trust me.”

For a while, I was mesmerized by Sanders’s passion and his singular vision.

But now I think his singular vision is as narrow as any of the Republican front-runners. They hate foreigners; he hates Wall Street. They have no foreign policy; Bernie has no foreign policy. They are pissed off; he is pissed off. They have no ideas about how to run a country; Bernie has no ideas about how to run a country.

Pissed off is not a desideratum for electing a president.

Bernie is easy to identify with. He’s pissed. We’re all pissed. But he offers us nothing.

More: http://www.dailypublic.com/articles/02172016/bernout-why-im-supporting-hillary-now#.VsgjCI5JMPe.twitter

[Joe the Revelator]

1. Thanks for the article, but for the reasons listed in your OP, I'd rather nominate the guy who polls

better.

[misterhighwasted]

14. Polls are everything, especially when it comes from bernies own FB page

[Cryptoad]

40. latest poll, if u are voting by poll

http://www.oann.com/pollnevada/

http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/election-2016/primary-forecast/nevada-democratic/

[RBInMaine]

57. This far out, the polls you cite don't mean diddly shit right now.

Wait until he's attacked by the R machine. His poll numbers will drop faster than a guillotine blade.

[Kall]

124. So better to go with

the candidate who already has...

[PatrynXX]

67. I'd rather be voting for someone who's you know an actual liberal

if you want another Scalia be my guest.

[Fawke Em]

133. And who isn't being investigated by the FBI.

[demigoddess]

137. apparently you do not remember the Hoover era.

FBI messed in politics like crazy.

[misterhighwasted]

162. OR being investigated by the FEC for fraud..that's a big red flag!!

From the one running against campaign big dark money.
Buyer Beware

[Fla Dem]

173. Crickets...........

[CorporatistNation]

190. Agreed And This OP Apparently Could Give A Rat's Ass If Said Candidate Has A Distinct Propensity To

"Twist" the truth virtually ALL the time. Cannot answer a straight question as to whether she lies or not...


Hillary now being LAUGHED AT!!!! She has zero people to blame BUT herself!

Anyone who votes for Hillary has a fatal affliction of DENIAL and Cognitive Dissonance.

Anyone heard about Hillary "landing in Bosnia under Sniper Fire"?

"I was named after Sir Edmund Hillary" who climbed Mt Everest 6 years AFTER she was born!

Chelsea was jogging around the World Trade Center when September 11th took place!

TRUST is her biggest drawback... People do NOT Trust Hillary! Now the transcripts! She owns them and she has to ...

"Look into it... "

[roguevalley]

152. I want the person the pugs hate less. she will be

blockaded more than obama.

[George II]

154. I'd rather nominate the "gal" who is most qualified.

[workinclasszero]

2. This person gets it

But now I think his singular vision is as narrow as any of the Republican front-runners. They hate foreigners; he hates Wall Street. They have no foreign policy; Bernie has no foreign policy. They are pissed off; he is pissed off. They have no ideas about how to run a country; Bernie has no ideas about how to run a country.

Pissed off is not a desideratum for electing a president.

Bernie is easy to identify with. He’s pissed. We’re all pissed. But he offers us nothing.

[Hortensis]

27. Exactly. Foolish to trust promises without specifics.

Especially when the other candidate supports the same goals, just differing in degrees and timetables, but with many detailed explanations of how they will be achieved.

[Armstead]

52. So you prefer "We have to Study This" Clinton?

Okay.

[Hortensis]

72. That is honest. Pretending fixes are obvious and easy is not.

So, yes. What she believe she can accomplish she says she will and explains how and what. I like that, yes.

[misterhighwasted]

123. Yup. The only honest person in this election.

The rest? Not at all.
I'll stick with the honesty & strength of the Dem Party.
Not the thinly veiled prophet of the Koch Birchers.
Nice to see the truth of that finally coming to light.

Hillary will defeat them all & the Dem Party will survive stronger than ever.

[7962]

136. "Honest" has never been a word associated with Hillary in ANY poll.

As a matter of fact, its been quite the opposite.
And if she's the only honest one, then what exactly is DISHONEST about sanders? He's admitting that most people will have to pay higher taxes for his ideas. HRC simply claims that only taxing the "rich" will accomplish hers, knowing that its not true. Unless people in my income bracket are considered "rich"

[GoneOffShore]

149. Sorry no. HRC will destroy the Democratic Party by dragging it further rightwards.

And her hubris and sense of entitlement will drive voters away.

You think the Tea Party nuts hated Obama? Wait until they get started on HRC.

She's the nominee, we lose The White House, Congress and some more state houses.

[misterhighwasted]

156. Which Dem Party? The true Dem Party lead by HRC,

Or the new dream version lead by Sanders & endorsed by Koch billionairs. Re: Republican Party of the past that was destroyed under the Koch Bircher Purchased Teaparty.

I'll stick by my True Dem Party. The one Sandrrs hates from Obama on through.

Because he says the Dem Party must be destroyed, doesn't make him correct.
It makes me wonder who he really represents.
The Dem Party is as fine today as always.
Why would the Koch Bircher$ be giving Sanders a public pat on the back?
They Hate the Dem party as they Hated the GOP.

[GoneOffShore]

159. Did you actually read what Koch wrote?

Doesn't sound like it.

The Democratic Party has been gutted by 3rd Way apologists and their enablers.

Bernie is an FDR Democrat. HRC not a lot.

[misterhighwasted]

168. Sanders is Not an FDR Dem. In fact he's never been a Dem at all

Untill this 2016 election.
What's his purpose in the Party?
The fact that the Kochs are publicly parroting his stump speech one liner dog whistles tells all we need to know to answer that question.

I'll take the true Dem Party over the fringe that comes & goes, Koch endoesement in hand.
Hillary Clinton & the strong Dem Party has & will survive this attack. We've seen it before & still remain strong.

[GoneOffShore]

181. Yeah. Cool story, bro.

Just keep believing.

I believed in the Clinton's until 2008 when they went full right wing.

Actually when he signed DOMA, NAFTA & DADT.

Talk about shilling for the republicans.

HRC has always been the staunch corporatist.

[Hortensis]

194. Have you? Koch's on record as saying the only role

for government is protection of person and property. That's it. W.F. Buckley labeled their platform back in 1980 "anarcho-authoritarianism," and if that doesn't make sense to you, you don't need to understand as far as Charles Koch et ilk are concerned. Neither making education compulsory or public funding for a knowledge-enpowered populace are on their list of appropriate government functions.

BTW, they took their revolution underground after the electorate gave them a big 1%, and they've been doing far better, quite well, in fact, ever since, having long infiltrated Koch-lite versions of their ideology into the legal system and the judiciary, universities, media, government at all levels, and the heads of most Americans.

Taxes are bad and cause loss of jobs, we need to get rid of big government , small government is better but all government causes more problems than it solves, and we need to get off the backs of business. Any at all of that sound familiar?

As for Bernie, they want Bernie to win the primary so the GOP candidate will stand a better chance of winning. Either they're not confident their strongly suspected election stealing will work or they're just pretending.

[gordyfl]

153. One Promises Crumbs

The other promises to fight for a slice of the pie.

One is "the status quo".

The other is "a movement".

So yes, there are differing in degrees.

[misterhighwasted]

157. Lol. oh its a movement alright!

[shawn703]

61. Just because you stick your fingers in your ears saying "I can't hear you"

Over and over again when he tells you his ideas about how he'd run the country, doesn't mean he offers you nothing. My biggest problem with Camp Weathervane is the blatant intellectual dishonesty.

[Dustlawyer]

115. Hogwash! The OP has never been to Bernie's FB or website!

This is just another low blow attack on Bernie who has detailed policies and states clearly how he plans to accomplish his/our goals. If his policies had no chance, then why are TPTB so scared of him?

The OP's priorities are all out of whack since they don't seemed to concerned with the corruption of our election process and our politicians. "It's too hard to accomplish!" so we should just give up and agree to continue living under corporate rule?

Anyone who truly believes Hillary is a reformer is out of touch or in denial. Tom Donahue, head of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, recently told a group of conservatives not to worry, Hillary would vote to pass the TPP. He is right, she will say anything to get elected and then will backtrack on all of her newly found Progressive positions. It will be a repeat of Obama's 08 campaign promises to go after Wall Street, once in he put Wall Streeters in charge and nominated useless Eric Holder who famously said that Wall Street banks were just too big to investigate and prosecute.

[freebrew]

147. That's how it struck me, too...

'Super-PAC'? It was a PAC of small labor donations.

I wish they wouldn't confuse the two, but that's what they do...

[notadmblnd]

158. Obama didn't have any idea how to run a country either. Yet we're all still here.

To quote Hillary "All he had was a speech..."

[Boomer]

3. Yes, presidents matter

I'm voting for Bernie, and I can't say that your description of why you changed your mind has much persuasive power. It's a mischaracterization of Sanders in any number of ways.

If your original support of Sanders was based on these misperceptions of him as a candidate, then your current position doesn't have much weight either.

[EmperorHasNoClothes]

4. There's plenty of specifics here, if you just read a little...

https://berniesanders.com/issues/

[earthside]

11. Exactly.

The article is blah, blah, blah.

Hillary is for?
Hillary. (Sigh.)

First woman president, yeah, we get it.
'Got to be prudent'.
Status quo great and lots of elitist experience ... blah, blah, blah.

Sen. Sanders has all kinds of specific proposals and how they would be paid for. Of course, it is all theoretical now as it is for all candidates running for office. In fact, however, it is rather astonishing that Sanders has been as bold and daring in his plans as he has.

As EmperorHasNoClothes shows us: https://berniesanders.com/issues/

All I get from these kinds of articles is someone who thinks Hillary really is The Inevitable One and is climbing on the bandwagon and is trying to find any excuse, even a lame excuse will do, to rationalize why they are for the most conservative of the two remaining major Democratic Party candidates for the presidential nomination.

[secondwind]

51. BINGO earthside

[7962]

134. But according to a post above, she's the ONLY "honest" candidate.

If you can believe that!

[Loki]

103. I can hear the word "impeachment" now.

A Sander's présidency with no support from a republican congress and he will executive order everything lol. You think Benghazi was bad, they will go nuclear and it will be ugly. I've watched them do this for the past 8 years, they have refined their propaganda machine to make every Democrat a liar, a villain, someone who can't be trusted. Hell, we even have people on this board who believe this shit. Welcome to the party beast. it will be a duzy.

[zeemike]

160. So you are saying Hillary will have Republican support?

Well that is enlightening. But I would have guessed that too because they are in tune.

But Hillary's problems are projected on to Bernie...they will impeach him for things not yet revealed. But not Hillary for things we already know about.

[Loki]

172. Amazing the tortured twisting of reality

that is required to live in Bernie world.

[Aerows]

196. Hillary Clinton isn't even President yet

and she is knee deep in investigations and Republican barbs.

That bucket "Republicans will attack Bernie more vigorously than they will attack Clinton" doesn't hold any water. That has to be the most often quoted statement by pro-Hillary supporters, but reality is harshly different.

"Hillary is the only person that can win the election" is also turning out to be a fallacy. Didn't I hear, a few years ago, that Hillary Clinton would be the next President of the United States and that a black man had no chance of winning the election?

Rumors of Hillary Clinton's predestined path to the Oval Office have been greatly exaggerated.

[Loki]

199. Investigations such as what?

Benghazi? You've got to be kidding. The FBI and email? Really? You need to turn off Faux News and quit promoting rebuke propaganda.

[Aerows]

200. With or without merit

they are still shit-stirring.

She doesn't need any help whatsoever in the "people think she is untrustworthy" department.

[Loki]

203. I won't post what I really think of your comment.

n/t

[Aerows]

204. Well I'm not going to sit here and worry

what you might or might not have said.

I'll just sit here and laugh, instead, because it appears you don't have an adequate rejoinder.

[Loki]

205. Well, let's say, I'd probably lose my posting privileges,

but let's just leave it at that. So laugh away.

[Aerows]

206. If vulgarity is the only way you know

to express yourself, then I'll also just sit here and wonder how the educational system failed you and how we can go about improving it.

[Loki]

207. Whatever.

You choose to believe the rightwing propaganda that has been spewed constantly since they saw an opening with Benghazi and it disgusts me, that we have people who supposedly claim to be Democrats, spewing the same BS just because they have a different political candidate. You mentioned vulgarity, says more about how you handle yourself than it does about me.

[Aerows]

208. Do elaborate on the posts I've made about Benghazi

The posts I've made to slander Democratic candidates.

I'll again, sit here and wait for links that you can post to verify your assertions.

[Loki]

209. How about the knee-deep in investigations?

Which ones has she been knee deep in for over 18 months? Perhaps Benghazi was one, maybe, huh? Or was that just a bad dream we all had. I do believe there is still one ongoing with mr greasy Trey Goudy, and the FBI looking into her emails and the server. What other ones would you perchance be talking about? You don't have to say the word now do you? Implied is enough for most people to understand what you are talking about.

[Aerows]

210. *That* is your charge?

The post I made that you took exception to?

Good heavens.

Wait, here is some more fodder - *I* Aerows, support Trey sheen of sweat Gowdy (spell his name right at least).

I would appreciate it if you would post a link to where I ever said I agreed with Trey Gowdy.

Because that will be some excellent email/post server kung fu.

Good grief. I'll just sit here and hear the charges levied against my character that have not a flea's diet of truth.

[Blanks]

94. The specifics aren't realistic...

Yes, buried deep within the slogans that he repeats ad nauseum - there are specifics.

Every one of those specifics has something in common: they require legislation from congress be sent to him (as president) for his signature.

Read through his 'specifics' and point out an example of even one of his solutions that can be accomplished without cooperation from the republican controlled congress.

Don't get me wrong, if he gets the nomination, I'll vote for him in a heartbeat, but anyone can identify the problems and point them out repeatedly (we all know what the problems are), but the president can't single-handedly fix the problems that he's identifying.

https://berniesanders.com/issues/income-and-wealth-inequality/

The democrats need a party leader that is a member of the party.

[NJCher]

144. I don't understand this thinking

The democrats need a party leader that is a member of the party.

The party is pretty much proven corrupt. They just opened up donations to be unlimited. What part of that don't you understand?

That Bernie is an outsider to this system is actually in his favor--that is, if our goal is representatives and office holders who represent US instead of corporate powers.

When you hear the term "revolution," think "getting rid of all the 'moneychangers,'" and that means people like DWS.


Cher

[Blanks]

211. I'm ok with getting rid of DWS...

But our system of government is built on compromise, we don't need a revolution.

What we need is a method of disseminating the ACTUAL republican record. That's where the DNC is failing. Too many people vote republican because they believe they are the party of fiscal responsibility since they're the ones that want to cut spending. Folks believe that the republicans are the party that wants less government, yet they're the ones against marriage equality freedom of religion (other than Christian), and are against choice.

Sure, the democrats could better represent us, but as long as we have people who believe the republican's stupid nonsense, we aren't going to get anywhere. There's too much gerrymandering to take back the House of Representatives, so until people understand that the republicans are the problem, there isn't going to be a sanders revolution.

That's DWS failing, they need to brag up the positives of the democrats instead of constantly begging for money. They need to make videos like Robert Reich does and run TV spots instead of expensive commercials.

We need 'down ticket' victories even worse than we need the White House if any of Sanders agenda is to be advanced.

[Nevernose]

175. He got a hell of a lot more legislation passed

Than Hillary did.

[Skwmom]

5. So let us bring back the Disastrous Duo that has so many people upset. Let them continue policies

that destroy the middle class, drive more people into poverty, and lead this country into bankruptcy (by letting the corporations, their families and friends, and billionaires feed at the public trough and by their disastrous wall street policies).

Oh yeah, that makes a hell of a lot of sense.

[JRLeft]

13. Her policies are great for ISIS too, her foreign policy will grow ISIS membership.

[Skwmom]

17. She is a walking, talking, disaster on foreign policy.

[JRLeft]

21. A ground war is a certainty if she or another republican is president.

[DUbeornot2be]

29. It all...

...depends on what the derinition of ISIS...

[farleftlib]

105. DUzy

Very very clever

[berningman]

6. HRC is pissed. pissed the proles dare question her coronation. exactly what does camp weather vane

offer us? More opportunities to remain pissed?

[Motown_Johnny]

7. Have you bothered looking for specifics?

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/2/19/1487878/-Joint-Economic-Committee-Executive-Director-Calls-Out-Krugman-et-al-Over-Hit-Piece


^snip^

"You write that you have applied rigor to your analyses of economic proposals by Democrats and Republicans," Galbraith wrote in a letter to Krueger, Romer, Goolsbee and Tyson. "On reading this sentence I looked to the bottom of the page, to find a reference or link to your rigorous review of Professor Friedman's study. I found nothing there."

Friedman, who is a political supporter of Hillary Clinton, had projected a 5.3 percent economic growth rate under Sanders' platform. That rate is high relative to recent years' growth, but Galbraith said it is clear from the paper that Friedman reached the figure by relying on "standard impact assumptions and forecasting methods."

"What the Friedman paper shows, is that under conventional assumptions, the projected impact of Senator Sanders' proposals stems from their scale and ambition," Galbraith wrote. "When you dare to do big things, big results should be expected. The Sanders program is big, and when you run it through a standard model, you get a big result."

[misterhighwasted]

20. Ummm..bernies own economist is voting for Hillary Clinton.

Wonder why.??

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/02/18/the-economist-who-validated-bernie-sanders-big-liberal-plans-is-voting-for-hillary-clinton/

 
The economist who vouched for Bernie Sanders’ big liberal plans is voting for Hillary Clinton

[Motown_Johnny]

23. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[misterhighwasted]

32. Yes, the fattest Wallet in town agrees with Sanders..the Koch Birchers!!

Who would have thought the two entities who despise the two tiered GOP & DEM would emerge united in a 2016 Pres Election.

Truth like cream, rises to the top.
Match made in $$$$$ heaven.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/charles-koch-this-is-the-one-issue-where-bernie-sanders-is-right/2016/02/18/cdd2c228-d5c1-11e5-be55-2cc3c1e4b76b_story.html

[Motown_Johnny]

35. You don't agree with that?

From your own link.


Charles G. Koch is chairman and chief executive of Koch Industries.
As he campaigns for the Democratic nomination for president, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders (I) often sounds like he’s running as much against me as he is the other candidates. I have never met the senator, but I know from listening to him that we disagree on plenty when it comes to public policy.

Even so, I see benefits in searching for common ground and greater civility during this overly negative campaign season. That’s why, in spite of the fact that he often misrepresents where I stand on issues, the senator should know that we do agree on at least one — an issue that resonates with people who feel that hard work and making a contribution will no longer enable them to succeed.

The senator is upset with a political and economic system that is often rigged to help the privileged few at the expense of everyone else, particularly the least advantaged. He believes that we have a two-tiered society that increasingly dooms millions of our fellow citizens to lives of poverty and hopelessness. He thinks many corporations seek and benefit from corporate welfare while ordinary citizens are denied opportunities and a level playing field.

I agree with him.

[misterhighwasted]

59. Thats great if you want a Bircher Society. Which is the goal of the Kochs.

Take a look at the destructive do-nothing Teaparty legislature.
And you agree with the Koch dog whistles?
Like the Sanders dog whistles.
No policy, no plan, no endorsements, no contribution to other Dem candidates, nothing but dog whistles for the Koch Birchers to one day have their full owner$hip of the US government.
Birchers..really?
That's what you defend?

No thanks. I will fight with Hillary & the Dem Party against the full destruction of our Democracy by the fat wallet$ of the Bircher Kochs.
Choose what you want

Buyer Beware

[earthshine]

93. Hillary Clinton is the face of abject corruption. Her backers are lobbyists who control the party.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017331184

There's nothing more to say here. This is the Clinton machine.

[misterhighwasted]

99. Nope. The Koch Birchers for Bernie is THEE machine.

Can't spin that one away.
They came out & publucly put their $$$$$$ behind their horse.
Go Bernie!!!

[earthshine]

121. Please provide specific source.

There are all sorts of shenanigans going on.

Bernie rails against these people.

[misterhighwasted]

129. Sure he does. Because if he told the truth of who he represents..

No one except the fringes would listen to him.
When the Koch Birchers agre with you about "big money in gov't", you can see their method to their madness.
His campaign theme is exactly Koch Bircher.
They did the exact same thing with the RW Teaparty, to destroy the once reasonable GOP.

I'll take the real Dem Party of the people, forever.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/charles-koch-this-is-the-one-issue-where-bernie-sanders-is-right/2016/02/18/cdd2c228-d5c1-11e5-be55-2cc3c1e4b76b_story.html

[earthshine]

139. Okay, I understand now why you posted it.

I did read about this and laughed it off. I couldn't take it seriously.

Recently, the Kochs have been on some kind of a PR campaign for themselves. They are attempting to make themselves look more human.

To me, these people are at the level of super villains from a James Bond movie.

You see through it and so do I, but somehow you're attributing something here Sanders.

Did you see the Koch interview with Mika and Morning Joe? It's was all over-the-top PR, with the two morning hosts falling over themselves to kiss his feet. They showed no dignity.

Thanks for your input.

[Motown_Johnny]

101. I agree with this statement:

many corporations seek and benefit from corporate welfare while ordinary citizens are denied opportunities and a level playing field.



If Charles Manson told me the sky is blue I would agree.


If Karl Rove told me that water is wet I would agree.


I am capable of grasping reality no matter who is stating that reality. You seem not to be.

[misterhighwasted]

112. Then vote for the candidate backed by the Koch Bircher$

I'll stay with the Dem Party & Hillary Clinton

Birchers for bernie. That's about what I figured, from day one of his campaign.
Great! We would look forward to a Birch Society & bernie is just fine with that.
Eve of destruction with Birchers for Bernie.

Seems just a year ago the Bernie supporters & Bernie were damning the Kochs. Now their bff's.
Weird world.

[Motown_Johnny]

120. He agrees with Bernie on only one issue. That issue is a reality.

Your movement from one specific argument to a general overview of policy positions is what is misleading you.

On the reality of a two tiered economic system I agree. If you don't then you have serious issues.

On most anything and everything else the Koch brothers stand for I disagree.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

76. no no no - you are listening to the machine

About ten years ago a book was published that detailed the 40 right wing think tanks funded by a billion dollars each year. The goal of these organizations is to limit the range of topics that get broadcast to the world and frame how these topics are to be understood.

Many of the talking heads have been trained in these places and they have been very effective in directing the way the American think about issues. Climate change is a very good example. Many here can see through the confusion spread about this issue but still are not able to do the same with so many other issues.

No we can't is true for those living in the right wing world. There are many wise people that quietly offer rational solutions to many of the problems that we face. It is time to listen to these voices. It is time to elevate a different and rational approach to our problems.

Sanders offers us a chance to take a fresh look at the world around us. Sanders offers us a chance to explore new possibilities in the way we deal with our challenges.

Sanders offers us a chance to Change the Narrative.

Take the chance - accept the challenge - join the movement that can Change the Narrative.

[misterhighwasted]

78. Haaahaaahaa Ya, well when his narrative is parroted by the greedy Koch Birchers,

Think I'll stay with the real Dem Party.
Birchers for Bernie..jaysus, it really is the "eve of destruction" isn't it.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

85. singing the meme of the day shows that you can not see clearly

Break free of the media - listen to the suppressed voices.

[misterhighwasted]

90. Lol. Yup lots of suppressed voices since the Koch Bircher Teaparty toppled the GOP

We now know Sanders purpose & its not about un-suppressing voices.
Koch Birchers agree with Sanders now?? Rotten to the core.
I'll stick with the Real Dem Party. Thanks anyway.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

91. so silly

I will move on now

[Gary 50]

143. Mr. Highwasted, put down that crack pipe.

Sanders purpose is not un-suppressing voices? Koch Birchers agree with Sanders? Your posts are so ridiculous its pathetic. Thanks for the comedy routine.

[Herman4747]

54. A much bigger issue: Who precisely is Goldman Sachs voting for?

Anxiously awaiting your reply.

[misterhighwasted]

73. Well its not Hillary Clinton.

Kochs, Goldman, Wall St..they despise Clinton.

Your big money/anti Clinton stump speech memes have worn themselves thin.
Dog whistles from Sanders & the Koch Birchers.
He's got nothing else but miles of stunp speech dog whistles.
That should tell you all their is to know about why Sanders is really in this race.

The Dem Party will emerge as strong as it has always been.
No Koch Birchers nor $anders will defeat it.

[Herman4747]

77. And Goldman Sachs shows just how much they hate Hillary...

...by repeatedly giving her hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Stop it, the laughter is causing my abdomen to hurt.

[misterhighwasted]

84. Hundreds of thousands to what?

You make no sense with your koch bircher/bernie mantra.
Same old meme with zero proof.

Old news.
Got anything new to say?

[earthshine]

97. You need more proof that she accepted their money? Mind numbing. nt

[misterhighwasted]

106. Accepted their money for what?

Speeches?
So have alot of people. Even bernie..

So tell me what it was she spoke about?

[earthshine]

118. She should release the transcripts so we can know for sure.

You don't care what's in them?

[misterhighwasted]

188. Nor do you care whats in them. As long as its a meme to assume & slander

You dont really want to know. It would riun bernies parade of slander .
Rove does this all the time. Hillary's seen all it for 25 yrs.
Sticks & stones & not a smidge of truth to it.
Leave it to campaign bernie, to parrot Rove & the RW .
Hillary will be waiting for all others to release their corporate speech transcripts. Including bernie sanders.
Bet we never see them either.

She takes a back seat to no one
Sanders is running out of one line Rovian memes to discredit Hillary.
Got anything new?
Doubt it.
Bye

[earthshine]

192. Sorry you're so upset. Try not taking it personally.

It leads to incoherent rambling.

Obviously, you shouldn't tell me what is on my mind.

Bernie already released the two in question a few days ago. All proceeds were donated to charity.

[islandmkl]

183. you said it perfectly: "Accepted their money for what?"...Jesus Christ and a couple of cousins...

you don't even see the irony in your attempted rebuttal, do you?

As Ray Wylie Hubbard says, "The problem with irony is that not everybody gets it."

So yeah...why exactly did they pay HRC $225,000 PER HOUR for a goddam speech, not once, but at least three times...

WHAT did they get?

[misterhighwasted]

186. Haahaa..i don't know what they got and neither do you..

And thats the big problem with the assuming you know what you do not.
Slander is making stuff up with no proof to support your accusation.
Make it Fake it, just get it out there.
Let me know when you have the content & Subject of her speeches.
You assume you have enough info..you do not.

[islandmkl]

195. it isn't the content of the speeches, you do realize that don't you?

the MONEY is the deal...

I don't know what you know about the makeup of the American population that I don't know...

I'll let you go peddle that $225K/hr 'speaking fee' to the electorate and tell them 'it's nothing...'

maybe Hillary is the one with the 'MAGIC WAND' and can make that money go away...

[George II]

155. Who is that? Last I heard Sanders hadn't told anyone who his "economic advisors" are yet.

[indivisibleman]

174. Friedman makes plain that his support for Clinton is more in regard to issues other than. . .

her economic policies.
So Clinton is a Democrat when it comes to social issues but a Republican when it comes to economic issues.
Here is the thing though. Democratic economic policy will have the greatest influence in improving America's economic well-being and in my view will create an environment in which Democratic social positions will thrive.

[Number23]

198. Ho. Lee. Shit. THAT's just... Good Lord. How does anyone recover from something like that?

[rtracey]

81. wonderful

These plans are fantastic, if passed by congress, if not then what? Trump seems to forget this also. CONGRESS CONTROLS THIS COUNTRY. Not the voters, not the president, not the bankers or the teachers, etc....but Congress. They control the money, that is the key to this and every election in this country. It does not matter who the president is, it matters if the congress is left or right. They control who becomes a judge, a justice, if you can have cable, if you get social security, medicare, health insurance, prescription drugs...all of it. If a repub becomes president and democrats control congress.... ACA stays, medicare expands, S.S. stays, etc. If a democrat is president and GOP control congress....you get the Obama presidency... very little assistance on anything...

[Motown_Johnny]

117. Bernie is a far better bet to win in November than Hillary.

As Lawrence O'Donnell noted after a recent Democratic debate, Hillary's numbers never go up. They start out at a peak and just go down from there.



http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/02/17/usa-today-suffolk-poll-whos-more-electable/80452560/

^snip^

WASHINGTON — Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders fares a bit better than rival Hillary Clinton in head-to-head matchups against Republican presidential contenders, a USA TODAY/Suffolk University Poll finds, and he has pulled within 10 percentage points of her for the Democratic nomination.

[rtracey]

130. and

And that is great, I didnt say anything about support. My post is accurate. If at least one part of congress does not go democrat, it wont matter who is a democratic president, it will be another Obama presidency, no cooperation, only backstabbing. Too many supporters on both candidates are not looking at the big picture, they see free education, single payer, etc, etc, but they are not seeing that it needs to pass muster.

[misterhighwasted]

148. well good thing we have One Dem candidate raising campaign funds

..and distributing a large share to elect other Dems to support her policies as MPOTUS.
No one rides for free..and gets elected.
No one.

[Motown_Johnny]

166. Unless we get meaningful campaign finance reform.

Endlessly trying to win the money battle with the Republicans is a fool's errand. How long are you willing to continue with that as the basis for winning elections?

[misterhighwasted]

169. Unyil the end of 2016 when HRC in in power & the Koch influence is gone

It comes with building a Dem Senate & Congress and supporting their elections.
And its not happening with Sanders is it.
What he says is not what he is capable of accomplishing as a one man show as Pres.
He will never defeat the Dem Party. Kochs or no Kochs.

[Motown_Johnny]

178. Hillary will increase the Koch influence. She claims money does not influence policy.

If money does not influence policy, then there is no reason to limit it much less eliminate it.

[Motown_Johnny]

165. Then shouldn't the next President at least try to change the conversation

toward a more progressive agenda?


There will be more elections. If either Hillary or Bernie will be the same as President, then why not elect the more progressive one?

[George II]

161. "Favorability" isn't on the ballot. Besides....

...people are voting for an effective leader, not a rock star.

If that were the case, Taylor Swift would win in a landslide.

[Motown_Johnny]

164. This graphic is old so the numbers should be updated... But....

As you can see, any time a nominee is outside a reasonable margin of error in regards to favorability, the nominee with the higher net favorability wins.

Hillary is a terrible candidate.

[indivisibleman]

176. Ummm, yes it is.

That is all we heard about at the beginning of the campaign as to how Clinton was the most favorable candidate.
Now that Sanders is polling as the more favorable candidate the favorability component is somehow irrelevant?

[demwing]

119. If (your candidate) doesn't pass their agenda, then what?

Either you think Hillary will get more cooperation from Republicans ( ), or you're admitting that Hillary will give more cooperation to the Republicans. Which is it?

[rtracey]

125. NOPE

I am not admitting anything on either Bernie or Hillary. My point was my post. My point is either will have a hard time if there is not at least one part of CONGRESS that is left..... I never stated who I was supporting, I stated what if his agenda doesnt pass, same with Clinton. To many are not looking at the big picture, including the young Bernie supporters. They see free education, single payer, etc, etc, not the real life aspect.

[demwing]

135. if it doesn't pass it doesn't pass

the same can be said for any candidate.

and this is why Bernie has said, OVER AND OVER AND OVER, that NO PRESIDENT can do this alone.

I'm not going to type out Bernie's stump speech here. You can find it online, here:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/wires/videos/%7Bepisodedate%28yyyy-mm-dd%29%7D/reuters/sanders-no-president-can-fix-economy-alone/2016/01/05/b7db3aa6-b3e6-11e5-8abc-d09392edc612_video.html

[nc4bo]

8. Wow...now Bernie had no policies at all. LOL!

Money in politics is the root of so much evil and taints our very democracy including the infested Democratic Party.

I guess either DkOP is either too lazy to do their own research on Sanders' position(S) or their fingers are too deeply embedded in their ears to hear them.

[oasis]

9. In other words: "It was a great ride, but it's time to get real".

[Armstead]

55. What is Reality? That's the Sprits we need here at MoreScience High

[oasis]

80. The rejection of fantasy. nt

[Armstead]

86. In a few decades we'll all be dead. Nothing ultimately matters. That's Reality

Let's run a campaign on that. Hey that'll inspire people.

[oasis]

96. While we're waiting to pass through the pearly gates, we need

workable solutions to problems here on planet Earth. With emphasis on the word "workable".

[Armstead]

98. Nothing "works. " Systems all fail to entropy.....Haven't you figured that out yet?

Just messing with you.

[Ed Suspicious]

10. Horseshit.

[GreatGazoo]

12. Ahh the cynical strawman argument, again

I don't think shoring up Social Security is "villainy and grand goals."

And much of this strawman is a recycle of the 'sanders is a one issue candidate' nonsense.

[Octafish]

19. Big money to be made justifying greed.

Pete Peterson and Friends don't like the New Deal, as demonstrated by the actions of the politicians they back. They don't care much for democracy, plutocrats.

[NurseJackie]

15. This ...

But he offers us nothing.

... says it all for me.

[kstewart33]

95. I second that, NJ.

Sky high promises but no concrete explanation of how he will get any of it done. Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

[earthshine]

100. That would literally make you a zero-issue voter.

The intelligence level of pro-Hillary posts is falling.

[indivisibleman]

177. lol. Perfect. n/t

[w4rma]

16. Hillary is still as unelectable as she was in 2008. Maybe moreso. (nt)

[pandr32]

18. Bernie spews rhetoric

"It was all slogans" is exactly right. He is Mr. dog whistle. He can rattle off the exact same spiel in his sleep and over the years has inserted "billionaire" for "millionaire" because, like in Austin Power's hilarious ransom demand of "One million dollars" to save the world--times have changed.

[redstateblues]

25. I love the Austin Powers reference!

[pandr32]

63. Thank you!

[misterhighwasted]

26. When his own economist is voting for Hillary..then he's kinda screwed.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/02/18/the-economist-who-validated-bernie-sanders-big-liberal-plans-is-voting-for-hillary-clinton/

The economist who vouched for Bernie Sanders’ big liberal plans is voting for Hillary Clinton


Just Sayin..

[pandr32]

62. Ha-ha! You've got that right!

He ought to know, too!

[w4rma]

68. Heh. That's actually a great article. You probably should have read it before using it as an attack.

Here is another great article:

Krugman, et al, Called Out by Former JEC Executive Director, James Galbraith, Over Hit Piece
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/2/19/1487878/-Joint-Economic-Committee-Executive-Director-Calls-Out-Krugman-et-al-Over-Hit-Piece

[Petrushka]

140. Excerpt from James K. Galbraith's letter --- with emphasis added --->

But let me point out, in case you missed it, that Professor Friedman is a political supporter of Secretary Clinton. His motives are, on the face of it, not political.

For the record, in case you're curious, I'm not tied to Professor Friedman in any way. But the powerful – such as Paul and yourselves – should be careful where you step.

Let's turn, finally, to the serious question. What does the Friedman paper really show? The answer is quite simple, and the exercise is – while not perfect – almost entirely ordinary. What the Friedman paper shows, is that under conventional assumptions, the projected impact of Senator Sanders' proposals stems from their scale and ambition. When you dare to do big things, big results should be expected. The Sanders program is big, and when you run it through a standard model, you get a big result.

That, by the way, is the lesson of the Reagan era – like it or not. It is a lesson that, among today's political leaders, only Senator Sanders has learned.

Yours,
(Jamie)
James K. Galbraith
Executive Director, Joint Economic Committee, 1981-82

[Rosa Luxemburg]

22. They want you to think like this

This is called framing. The Clinton campaign is trying to frame and with the help of the media and big donors. The ordinary person deserves better.

[DUbeornot2be]

31. It really...

...makes me wonder why they spend so much time doing it here though... It's not like they've accomplished anything but put du at about 80% for Bernie...

I can only surmise they post here because it's very visible to whomever is writing the checks...

[redstateblues]

24. Bernie has no plan

He has no plan to win back the state houses, no plan to win back Congress, no allies in Congress. He is not using his popularity to raise funds for other down ballot Democrats.

[Katashi_itto]

50. Lol, and Hillary does?

[Sheepshank]

163. It's whay Bernie has done his whole life.

He's Tried to think big and hope someone else implements it, because lord knows he's never implemented anything in his congressional or senatorial career. He, of course, is big on voting for other's actions and has already set the stage that the programs can only work if everybody wants them badly enough, via this revolution. he wouldn't know how to implement anything.

[libtodeath]

28. Just more of the "repukes wont like him" meme

So what,we try to elect a President that will nominate justices the rw likes?

[SoLeftIAmRight]

30. " hearing things again and again" - "But he offers us nothing."

Sanders has had to introduce himself over and over because he was not Woman of the year after year after year. Many people have listen to him over those same years talk about many issues. It is sad that you have not explored the many things that Sanders has done.

Sanders offers the greatest think there is - a change in the narrative. Since the 80's the ideas and language used in politics has been push out of right wing think tanks. Far too many people do not even know that there are other way of describing the problems and solutions.

Step out of the world created by the right wing and find a new way to look at the world.

[misterhighwasted]

41. see post 32. This explains who aligns with Sanders.

Their own little Dem version of the destructive GOP teaparty emerges.
Wow, what money can buy nowdays!

Imagine a full blown Bircher Society.
We had a glimpse of it in the last 4 years of our do nothing legislature.
Burn it down. That'll teach them Dems & Repubs.
Bern & the Koch Birchers.

Some saw it coming from the day Sanders entered the race.
Some will applaud the Kochs.
Reality is a firm smack in the face some days.

[RoccoR5955]

33. I am for Bernie for two main reasons

1) Bernie uses we and us a lot, whereas Clinton uses I and me too much. This tells me a lot about one's character.
2) Bernie is from Brooklyn, and still has those old fashioned Brooklyn values, along with the accent. I, being born and raised in Brooklyn find a certain homeyness about this.

There are many other reasons as well.

I do remember that when Hillary ran for Senate here in NY, I got to shake her hand. I felt like I was handling a fish, yucch!

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

34. I don't like HRC either, but this article is spot on. Many of my black family members that I spoke

say that while they like Sanders, he offers no specifics on how he would get things done with Democrats---not to mention Republicans.

I used to be a Bernie Sanders voter. I'm no longer one because he hasn't convinced me of anything beyond mere platitudes.

[Armstead]

64. What does she offer beyond platitudes?

"I know how to get things done."

Yeah she did such a great job with healthcare. All those people thrown to the wolves because of welfare deform.Helping to open Pandora's Box to let out Isis....

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

75. Again, STOP DEFLECTING! I'm not talking about Hillary Clinton. This is about Bernie Sanders.

How will HE get what he's talking about THROUGH a Republican Congress?

That is the question that he has yet to answer.

I'm not voting for Hillary. I'm trying to get you Sanders fanatics to convince me. If you can't convince me and only issue insults and ad hominem attacks against anyone who doesn't worship Sanders, then I don't know what to tell you.

The candidate himself has offered nothing in terms of substance and getting things THROUGH Congress! And that's a problem.

[Armstead]

82. You should look up his experiences and record as Mayor....

They said the same crap when he first ran for Mayor of Burlington

"He's just a radical ideologue that spouts the socialist line. Doesn't know how government runs. He won;t be able to work with others because conservatives hate him. He never compromises..."

That's what they said about him when he first ran for Mayor of Burlington. But lo and Behold...Turned out to be a damn good mayor in a ptactical way and fot things done.

I know. "Mayor is a lot different than President." But I would respond that's it's the same job on a different scale, and he showed the pragmatic leadership qualities that are very transferable.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511276311

Mayor of Burlington

Voted as one of America’s best mayors by U.S. News & World Report in 1987.

...He won re-election three times, defeating Democratic and Republican contenders.

Caused voter turnout to double during his tenure.

Burlington became the first city in the country to fund community-trust housing under Sanders’ leadership.

He not only balanced the city budget, but undertook ambitious downtown revitalization projects. He even helped bring in a minor-league baseball team to the town, the Vermont Reds.

He sued the town’s local cable franchise and won reduced rates for customers.

Kept a developer from turning important waterfront property into condominiums, hotels, and offices to be used only by the wealthy and affluent. Instead, it was made into housing, parks, and public space. Even today, the area still has many parks and miles of public beach and bike baths, including a science center.

Provided new firms with seed funding, and helped businesses create trade associations. He funded training programs to give women access to nontraditional jobs and even gave special attention to women wanting to become entrepreneurs.

[earthshine]

109. You have already shown here, and in other posts, that you are your own person.

No one will convince you of anything. I decline to try.

You offer yourself up as the proverbial red herring by begging your own questions.

[Loki]

113. No one will answer that question L_S71

No one. I've asked it a lot on this board, and believe me, they think the repubs will just absolutely fall on their knees in front of the Powerful Bern. Have they been living on another planet for the past 8 years? It's like all the Rand Paul fundies who lost their boy have become the Burnout's. Living in a land that will never exist. Someone told me the Hillary is just so untrustworthy, well guess if you are a rebuke plant who spreads the lies of Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi forever ad infinitum, you would want people to believe that. Ask them if they have ever told a lie. LOL Everybody is perfect in Bernie World.

[retrowire]

36. fake

"Then, after listening to him a lot, I realized I was hearing things again and again"

more single issue campaign smearing lol

Don't insult our intelligence, Bernie talks about a lot more than one thing. I know no one will challenge me on this because proof is at the ready.

[Snotcicles]

74. It's is getting old and tired isn't it. nt

[indivisibleman]

179. Exactly ^^^^ n/t

[RoccoR5955]

37. Nice hit piece.

If you didn't hear specifics about how Bernie is going to pay for his stuff, you apparently were not paying attention.
Perhaps you like Clinton's pant suits better though.
Nice job, you must work for the DLC. Keep it up with the lies. Those of us who KNOW the truth, shall put it out there, and there are more of us than there are of you!

[Perogie]

38. You see what you want to see, so Bernie won't be the candidate for you.

Luckily there are millions of Americans that look with open eyes.

[SoapBox]

39. And Hill offers us nothing...

Big money, big power, War Hawking, Wall Street Banksters, Kissenger (yuk), lies and bringing a Slick Willy back to the White House.

No thanks...No More Clintons Ever.

[misterhighwasted]

45. Big money you say? See post 32. There's the problem with your redundant mantra.

When the Koch Birchers and Bernir Sanders sound the same, then you get a glimpse into what betnie sanders is really about.
Birchers for Bernie. REALLY???
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!!!!!

[DrBulldog]

42. Good gawd. Don't be so lazy. Read his details on his web site.

They have been posted there for months.

[2pooped2pop]

43. I double checked

But no, I just don't care so didn't bother to read your post and wondered why you would think anyone wants to read your opinion.

[Cryptoad]

44. Somebody who shares ur idealogy

without any leadership skills, is worthless.
26 years in Congress and Bern has shown no leadership
he averaged working on 4 bills a yr

I share many of Berns beliefs but he is not horse to pull the load.

[misterhighwasted]

49. Makes ya wonder what his real purpose is in this election.

Post 32 explains the clear answer to that question.
Who'$ behind the destruction of the Powerful Dem Party.

This is exactly why the Dem leadership put into place, the Super Delegate clause.
The Party will never be destroyed by an outside fringe with nefarious intent.

(Unlike the GOP allowed with the Koch Birchers Teaparty)

[earthshine]

111. The superdelegates include many high-powered lobbyists running the party from the inside.

These are Hillary's backers.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017331184

Democracy is being destroyed by insiders with nefarious intent.

[misterhighwasted]

150. Oh lord!

That's exactly what the Koch Birchers said in defense of bernie.
Gee..wonder why?

[earthshine]

193. I really don't know what the Koch's are up to. But, for sure, it is no good.

Bernie has spoken against them many times. I've been following him for years.

[misterhighwasted]

213. They gave a pat on the back to bernies "big money in politics",

The very thing they've been guilty of endlessly doing in our Govt.
They funded the Palin lead Teaparty. Look what we got for that big money move. A stalled legislature.
The once reasonable Republican Party was removed for , well , being reasonable, and replaced with Koch big money teaparty revoluuuushonists.
Its the Koch Bircher wet dream to have a second go at it.
Just Sayin'
Buyer Beware.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/charles-koch-this-is-the-one-issue-where-bernie-sanders-is-right/2016/02/18/cdd2c228-d5c1-11e5-be55-2cc3c1e4b76b_story.html

[Armstead]

58. Nope Bernie doesn't know how to lead

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511276311

Mayor of Burlington

Voted as one of America’s best mayors by U.S. News & World Report in 1987.

...He won re-election three times, defeating Democratic and Republican contenders.

Caused voter turnout to double during his tenure.

Burlington became the first city in the country to fund community-trust housing under Sanders’ leadership.

He not only balanced the city budget, but undertook ambitious downtown revitalization projects. He even helped bring in a minor-league baseball team to the town, the Vermont Reds.

He sued the town’s local cable franchise and won reduced rates for customers.

Kept a developer from turning important waterfront property into condominiums, hotels, and offices to be used only by the wealthy and affluent. Instead, it was made into housing, parks, and public space. Even today, the area still has many parks and miles of public beach and bike baths, including a science center.

Provided new firms with seed funding, and helped businesses create trade associations. He funded training programs to give women access to nontraditional jobs and even gave special attention to women wanting to become entrepreneurs.

[R B Garr]

46. Excellent piece, and this summary "villainy and grand goals"

really says it. The details never come because that talk of reality would interfere with his simplistic sermonizing. It's hard to believe people actually believe this bullshit. UGH. ENOUGH is enough of this simplistic bloviating.

REC! THANKS for posting.

[jalan48]

47. I don't think Hillary's "Cut it out" policy is the one I want, no matter how bi-partisan its appeal.

[Armstead]

48. So he went from blind admirer to blind basher

I appreciate his concern

[sarge43]

56. He evolved. n/t

[Armstead]

60. Devolved -- "I love his ideas, but he won't hold my hand."

[AlbertCat]

53. Hillary's gonna SAVE THE WORLD! with her Supreme Court appointee!

Talk about rainbows and unicorns!

Hillary LOST the last primary. She'll lose the general too.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

65. The author doesn't think that Bernie would appoint good SC judges?

[hoosierlib]

66. Sounds like a bullshit hit piece...

Hillary will be no more successful...the right hates her more than Obama and she repels the independents and moderates that you need to get elected and to have coat tails...

If nominated, she WILL lose...

[rock]

69. I could have written that piece myself

(If I was a good writer). Thanks for clarifying some obvious points. -- Bernie is a bumper-sticker candidate.

[CarrieLynne]

70. idk dewd...i just want big changes, not just a lil tilt left

I've never felt so excited or impassioned about a candidate - never felt like I, my friends, family etc might actually have a shot at something other than paycheck to paycheck - never felt anything but lesser of two evils voting....

how do I NOT get on board with this?....with ever fiber of my body - with every memory of every shitty job I have endured - of losing everything during the recession after working my whole life - knowing had I been able to afford to go to college - I could have done and been more - a lifetime of financial stress - somethings got to give - they are killin us.....

I support Bernie - completely - if he doesnt get the nomination - I'll vote hillary, sadly.....knowing I will never see that opportunity again....

[kstewart33]

108. I understand your excitement and passion.

But can you please explain specifically how Bernie is going to get any of his promises accomplished?

Because Bernie hasn't. With a Republican-controlled Congress, there is absolutely no way any of this will get passed. And if Congress rejects it, his platform is DOA. A taste of this is their refusal to even consider an Obama nomination for the Supreme Court.

Bernie says A Revolution will do it. Revolutions are made in Congress. And Congress will remain solidly in the hands of the Republicans.

So what will Bernie do?

[CarrieLynne]

212. not 'he'.....US

Getting him in there is only the start......

[GeorgeGist]

71. Oooooooo ...

He has a thesaurus!

[DisgustipatedinCA]

83. Nice account. Polling indicates there are millions of similar, but opposite stories to be told too.

[greymouse]

87. Maybe Hillary would appoint Jamie Dimon, would that ring your bells, OP?

[misterhighwasted]

92. And Bernie can appt both Koch Birchers ..ya know..to get big money out of gov't..

Haahaaaha

[yourpaljoey]

88. Hillary will not win against Trump

She has so many skeletons he can
turn against her, she will spend all of her time
fetchin' and steppin' while he breezes into office.
No doubt he has skeletons as well - the things is,
his skeletons are read meat to his supporters.
So the question to ask is:
WTA -- Who will Trump Appoint?

[UglyGreed]

89. lose one gain ten

[I hate liars]

102. About this...

You wrote:

Then, after listening to him a lot, I realized I was hearing things again and again, but I wasn’t hearing anything more, anything new, anything deep, anything practical. It was all slogans.

If you've heard Sanders repeat his stump speech during one of the rare occasions when the press decides to give him air time, it's because you're among the minority of voters who is paying attention.

Sanders should be forgiven for repeating his "slogans" at this point in the cycle. He might have to say something 100 times before the average voter hears it on a newscast.

And if you want to hear a broader range of his views, you might want to listen more closely to his interview and debate responses.

[Akamai]

104. Bernie does have specifics about how his programs will be paid for

The tuition to public colleges and universities will be paid for by a stet tax (stock exchange transaction tax), which will also hugely stabilize the markets and help prevent boom and bust disasters.

All of his major proposals have funding methods specified.

You certainly can vote for whoever you want, but Bernie's methods of finance seem very, very dependable.

Go Bernie!!#

[kstewart33]

114. First, his programs must get passed by Congress. That's why they are DOA.

A Republican-controlled Congress with a huge majority in the House. The best to hope for is that Dems win some seats in the Senate and they regain the majority. But that's a big 'if' and even then, the House will kill Bernie's bills.

The one specific that Bernie has not addressed is how he will build majorities in the Congress which is absolutely essential.

Why? Because he knows it won't happen. And if he provides specifics, the press will begin to take a closer look at the specifics which he does not want. Because the truth will come out, and he certainly does not want that.

[sarge43]

122. Right. Because the Repugs love Hillary so very much,

her bills will move through a Repug congress like stuff through a goose. Of course, if her bills are exactly what they want ...

Keep trying. There has to be a pony somewhere in that box.

[misterhighwasted]

171. Well it helps to contribute campaign funds to bring a Dem Legislature to support your Presidency.

What's Sanders contributed?
Z E R O.
Guess he thinks that Repub Teaparty legislature is going to love him so much they'll give him whatever he wants.

Sure.
NOT!

[w4rma]

182. So, Hillary brings Goldman Handcuffs to the DNC, which she then funnels to her own campaign.

Then she takes credit for "funding" the DNC, when:

"But the states have yet to see a financial windfall. Meanwhile, Clinton’s own campaign has been a major beneficiary, getting an infusion of low-dollar contributions through the committee at a time when rival Bernie Sanders’s army of small donors is helping him close in on her financially. The fund is run by Clinton campaign staff, and its treasurer is Clinton’s chief operating officer."
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/democratic-party-fundraising-effort-helps-clinton-find-new-donors-too/2016/02/19/b8535cea-d68f-11e5-b195-2e29a4e13425_story.html
http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1277476

[Akamai]

128. Bernie has said repeatedly that he thinks a revolution has to happen for him to be elected -- Yes!!!

And it is happening now! Huge support for him will translate into far-ranging political victories in state after state. Also in many states written off by the DNC and in which the RW voters have never encountered Bernie's ideas, ideas which are supported by the overwhelming majority of Americans.

His coattails will be long, I truly believe, and not just a mild, tepid win. With Bernie as the leader Dems can vote straight ticket and be assured that they have the best chance for meaningful, important change.

Bernie doesn't mind inspection of his ideas at all. He welcomes it and that's why he was always for MORE debates, unlike a certain Democrat he is running against.

Go Bernie!!!

[californiabernin]

107. What a load of crap.

Not even worthy a point by point response. Absolute nonsense.

[cantbeserious]

110. Predictably Spreading Establishment FUD - Meme Number 49

eom

[sulphurdunn]

126. Aside from the dismissive ad hominem attack against Sanders

(a variant of the Howard Dean Scream),what most amazes me is the manufactured meme that a man with 26 years of elected federal office experience doesn't know what he's doing and can't get things done, but that an opponent with a less than half that experience does and can. If any rational person compares Clinton's legislative record with Sanders, such an argument is exposed as simple nonsense. If one throws her disastrous tenures as First Lady, presidential candidate and Secretary of State into the mix, it becomes laughable.

[Nyan]

127. Okay then.

Buh bye!

[Jester Messiah]

131. How 'bout no.

He offers us plenty. Hillary also offers us plenty... plenty more of the same. No thanks.

?1?fb

[Z_California]

138. Cool story bro

Maybe everyone will vote for the candidate they don't trust to tell the truth. That might happen.

[jillan]

141. Since Bernie performs better against all GOP candidates than Hillary, I hope you enjoy Ted Cruz'

nominees.

[raindaddy]

142. Seriously hard to believe you were ever really for Sander's if you believe he offers nothing...

While you're leaving Sander's because you believe he offers nothing, a whole lot of people have left the Democratic party because they believe for over thirty years the Democratic party has offered them next to nothing...

I'll take righteous anger with the possibility for real change over more of the same anytime...

[Live and Learn]

145. Judging by the poll trends, it seems to me that a lot more Hillary supporters are changing to Bernie

than vice-versa.

[dubyadiprecession]

146. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, But yours is a moment of clarity for us all..

Bernie is just the man behind the curtain, Making promises he knows he can't deliver in this political climate.

The republicans are salivating at running against a self described socialist. He may very well win the nevada caucus, but only because republicans are allowed by the rules in nevada to register today as democrats and vote for him. Rachel Maddow reported on this last night.

[misterhighwasted]

170. lol.."everyone is entitled to their opinion...but yours"

Lord.

[Phlem]

151. Derp.

The same old talking points.

Derp.

[indivisibleman]

167. Seriously?!! Either you don't think clearly or you are posing as someone who changed their mind.

The goal is to vote out the establishment and the Supreme Court nominations will follow suit.
Yes, Presidents matter.

Anyone who has sent money to any particular candidate will get more requests for more donations. I can only give so much. I just ignore the new requests. I am not offended by them. They are just doing their job and doing it well.

Sanders himself has made it clear that he does not want support from Super PACs. But completely avoiding the tool of a Super PAC is not that easy to do. It is important to note that not every Super PAC is alike. There are some, such as those that are used in support of Bernie, that are composed of many individuals and are not created by a couple of billionaires. There are plenty of articles available that explain the technicalities. Please take some time to check them out.

You said that at first you liked Sanders' passion, his opposition to big money and his opposition to villainy in the financial industry. But now you want to support Clinton's lack of passion, support of the status quo and is generally milk-toast when it comes to addressing the current corruption in our financial industries. Makes perfect sent to me. NOT.

You are hearing things again and again? Isn't that what campaigning is? The man is traveling around the country repeating his message to new groups of people every day. Clinton is doing the same thing. Slogans? I don't really hear slogans from Bernie. I hear statements of his position on the issues. I hear definitions of what his presidency would stand for of what his philosophy of government is. I don't expect him to be that detailed when speaking from the podium. The details and specifics are readily available on his web site and in numerous commentaries and analysis by others.

Your fear of the Republican control of the House and Senate is understandable but in my opinion it should not influence us to vote defensively and pessimistically. A defensive/pessimistic vote is Clinton. An offensive/optimistic vote is Bernie and it includes the ideal of working towards a Democratic House and Senate. THIS is how we can and will make progressive change happen. Face it. Clinton won't get anything done either if the House and Senate doesn't change. They both need a cooperative government to accomplish anything. But Bernie stands for and will work for what most Americans really want for this country. His presidency is the first step in many that will carry America toward that which we know it can and should be.

[Agony]

180. This interview of Les Leopold is slightly more lucid...

http://www.dailypublic.com/articles/02032016/interview-les-leopold-economic-inequality

Well, actually considerably more lucid.

[lunamagica]

184. Wonderful analysis Wyldwolf!

It's what we've been saying for months! Hopefully more and more will see the light!

[islandmkl]

185. throughout these threads I notice a fairly recent, concerted effort to establish a new meme:

The Koch Brothers support Bernie!!

The poster(s) either bother to cite or expand the quotations they reference, thereby doing the old-school 'contextual' establishment of their point....

this is either a poor attempt at trying to get the latest POS to stick in the manner of Brock...or just a fairly amateur effort at creating discourse...

I personally like the 'hammer and sickle' meme better...reminds me of my youth in the 50's and 60's....

[Beacool]

187. Thanks for the great article!!

Then, after listening to him a lot, I realized I was hearing things again and again, but I wasn’t hearing anything more, anything new, anything deep, anything practical. It was all slogans.

Everything comes back to villainy and grand goals. I keep waiting for specifics: How are we going to pay for this? How are we going to make those changes, given that the Republicans will surely continue to control the House and may in all likelihood continue to control the Senate? How are we going to make any of this happen?

Sanders’s response is, “Trust me. It will.”

People will uprise and we'll have a political revolution.

[INdemo]

189. You've posted this before and its just a repeat of an article from a couple weeks ago

of someone that supposedly supported Bernie earlier but now Hillary...Well its BS ...didn't fly then and wont fly now

And the Email part is Bull Shit. I might get an email from the Sanders campaign once every other day ...let me check (I just did)
and no email today..Now I am a reg small donor to Bernie's campaign and no I don't get harassing emails from them at all.
So you the email claim is Bull shit (didn't I just say that)

Your/their claims are Bulls Shit.

[wyldwolf]

191. Really?

Show me a link

[Number23]

197. uponit777 has brilliantly declared that "the revolution is a temper tantrum"

And damned if that ain't right.

The fact that not a day goes by without MYRIAD economic and policy experts saying that Sanders' vision is great and is ground breaking but the fact that his team has never taken the time to explain how they are going to implement any of it let alone PAY for any of it says it all for me.

This is a common refrain about his policies. That they are poorly thought out and completely unrealistic. The word "delusional" has been used more than once. He may not be running as a fringe candidate anymore but he sure seems to still be running a fringe campaign. And the determination of some people to support his "policies" in spite of how poorly thought out and articulated they've been does absolutely resemble alot of the right wing idiocy that is pouring out of the other side.

[bkkyosemite]

201. I have experience. I'll be ready on day one. I have experience I'll be ready on day one

over & over again.

[aikoaiko]

202. That's a really good example of someone who likes the status quo...

and really should have supported HRC the whole time.