2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumBernie Sanders agenda... Wow
I have been keeping an open mind to all Dem candidates
But had not seen this before, this is to the point and sounds very good imho
.
Full list here
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/agenda/
1. Rebuilding Our Crumbling Infrastructure
We need a major investment to rebuild our crumbling infrastructure: roads, bridges, water systems, waste water plants, airports, railroads and schools. It has been estimated that the cost of the Bush-Cheney Iraq War, a war we should never have waged, will total $3 trillion by the time the last veteran receives needed care. A $1 trillion investment in infrastructure could create 13 million decent paying jobs and make this country more efficient and productive. We need to invest in infrastructure, not more war.
5. Raising the Minimum Wage
The current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour is a starvation wage. We need to raise the minimum wage to a living wage. No one in this country who works 40 hours a week should live in poverty.
Full 12 point list is here
http://www.sanders.senate.gov/agenda/
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)It's trump and Hillary 24/7.
musiclawyer
(2,335 posts)They are almost irrelevant
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)If Hillary continues to nose-dive, enter Joe Biden to pick up & champion
the 3rd Way banner, including picking up her endorsements & her war-chest.
I don't think this is completely out of the question.
Divernan
(15,480 posts)Last edited Wed Aug 26, 2015, 02:40 PM - Edit history (1)
But HRC's various Super PACs are another story. They by law retain control over moneys promised to/collected by them.
What's a super PAC?
A new type of PAC was created after the U.S. Court of Appeals decision in Speechnow v. FEC in 2010. These PACs make no contributions to candidates or parties. They do, however make independent expenditures in federal races - running ads or sending mail or communicating in other ways with messages that specifically advocate the election or defeat of a specific candidate. There are no limits or restrictions on the sources of funds that may be used for these expenditures. These committees file regular financial reports with the FEC which include their donors along with their expenditures.
http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/superpacs.php
But anything donated directly to Hillary?
Should HRC drop out of the race, she keeps all moneys donated directly to her. There are limits as to how she can spend it - and she is allowed to donate those moneys to other political candidates' campaign "war chests", or to spend it on politically related activities - such as attending politically-themed gatherings and meetings in the U.S. or abroad.
I had to look into this issue some years back for a state legislator who chose not to run for re-election, but had a big fat "war chest" he'd been building up for many years when he had no opponents in primary or general elections, but held many lucrative fundraisers every year anyway. His donors were special interest groups/lobbyists paying for quid-pro-quos.
As slick as Hillary & Bill are, with their "it depends on what the meaning of 'is' is" approach to ethics and morality - I have zero doubt that they could figure out a way to turn over all those funds to the Clinton Family Foundation for some "politically-themed" project, involving annual meetings at luxury resorts/5 star hotels.
99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)very informative, and much appreciated.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)Presidential campaigns mean big business and lots of money flowing into the coffers of media consultants, the media itself, ad (film) producers, pollsters, all the hanger-on of politics.
It isn't about picking the best candidate for some of them. That's not why they are backing Hillary and pushing for Biden to enter the race. It's a money-making business for them.
Sanders' approach, his condemnation of Citizens United and refusal to run his campaign in the usual spendthrift way is a bit threat to the campaign business hangers-on. Nothing against them personally. I appreciate that they fear losing their livelihoods. In that respect, Bernie's low budget campaign probably makes them feel just as insecure as other workers in our country feel.
But Bernie is just the best candidate, has the best ideas and is gaining a lot of momentum.
August has been slow, but look at the crowds Bernie has mobilized. The thing about the crowds is that they represent effort on the part of the people who make up the crowds. I took three metro trains to get to Bernie's event in Los Angeles, three each direction and then waited over an hour to get inside the stadium. And a lot of people were there before me and had to travel routes more difficult and longer than mine. Bernie is really inspiring people.
That means that Bernie will be able to get the vote out.
We shall see what happens. But history is change. Yes, there are patterns, and the pattern suggests to me that we are about due for a populist makeover. Bernie might call it a revolution. I think that the word revolution suggests violence, and I don't think that is what will happen, not if Bernie is elected. I think he will bring the country together.
The media may black out Sanders. But he is on YouTube and people are finding him there. It's actually better if people can hear Sanders without a lot of media comment.
Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)at least among the movers and shakers. Bernie's a threat to that
Divernan
(15,480 posts)But the campaign advisers, many of whom get a percentage kick-back on advertising moneys spent, will always advise candidates to spend more, More, MORE!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/25/obama-romney-advertising-final-days_n_2019945.html
libdem4life
(13,877 posts)has events we call Quantum Leaps. Other terms ... 100 Monkeys, Tipping Point, Revolution...whatever. But Bernie is the one, by definition, in this race. Even if one does not vote for him, which I plan to do, few can detract from the fact he's his own man/politician and doing it his way.
Another thing that is impressive is that even though he wants very much to be President, it does not change his method of seeking that office. He's not willing to do "what they all have to do" to get there. He's enlightening a lot of people.
I think it's our last chance to engage our "pitchforks" at the ballot box. Now that people are awake, even 4 more years of pilfering our national treasures and our bought and paid for Congressfolk, could be not as contained in the populace.
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)than trashing him. But the billionaires will put their money to good use in trying to bring him down like they did Kerry. Ironic how the Clinton supporters have decided that CU, which came about from an effort to stop Clinton, is ok as long as their candidate can have the benefits from it.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)WHEN CRABS ROAR
(3,813 posts)Now is the time for a real progressive populist movement, but the message needs to be clear and not overly complex and it needs to be repeated over and over to drive it home into the minds of the people.
Then Bernie will win
Lorien
(31,935 posts)the nomination, they won't bother voting in the primaries, which will give Bernie the edge...IF the primary isn't stolen. We need exit polling, and a lot of it.
roguevalley
(40,656 posts)wow, my dear friend because they haven't until now.
TheProgressive
(1,656 posts)Are we re-living the 1930's and 1940's and Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders
is the present day FDR?
We can only hope the people of the USA understand the need we have for Senator Sanders
as President of the United States...
KelleyKramer
(8,985 posts)When reading that list it reminded me of a cross between FDR and Harry Truman
TheProgressive
(1,656 posts)My dad had respect for Truman.
What are your thoughts comparing what Truman did and FDR?
Thanks...
KelleyKramer
(8,985 posts)That is the connection I made that Bernie is like FDR and Truman
Most of his policies look a lot like FDR
Did you read the list?
silverweb
(16,402 posts)Bonobo
(29,257 posts)Go Bernie, go!
All those extra consumers, tourist inflow, money circulating.... How can anyone doubt this would be a wonderful thing on so many levels.
If we stopped focusing so much on war and protecting the sleazy robber barons that have bought their way into our democratic system, we would be much more like the other Western industrial nations.
lovemydog
(11,833 posts)Rebuilding Our Crumbling Infrastructure
Reversing Climate Change
Creating Worker Co-ops
Growing the Trade Union Movement
Raising the Minimum Wage
Pay Equity for Women Workers
Trade Policies that Benefit American Workers
Making College Affordable for All
Taking on Wall Street
Health Care as a Right for All
Protecting the Most Vulnerable Americans
Real Tax Reform
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)Ending the excessive incarcerations.
valerief
(53,235 posts)beam me up scottie
(57,349 posts)They did an excellent job.
AdHocSolver
(2,561 posts)Not much will be accomplished if there is an obstructionist Republican majority in Congress.
eridani
(51,907 posts)Which we will need no matter what happens in the presidential election.
Left Coast2020
(2,397 posts)Dem Governors and legislatures are very important too. Probably more critical than federal races.
emsimon33
(3,128 posts)But we need to get rid of the Republicans in Congress and the Senate, too. Until Bernie came along, I was going to concentrate my efforts on local races and the Congress as our Democratic congresswoman is retiring.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)Sunlei
(22,651 posts)Scuba
(53,475 posts)Doctor_J
(36,392 posts)Then did nothing about it.
The most corporate president in history
Btw if you check the entire list, Obama has been working on two of them.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)Some businesses also responded over the past couple years to raise pay level because of Obama led calls. He also EOed in a 'pay raise' for Gov. contracts, where when they sub-contract out the work they have to pay a decent wage to whoever they make do the actual 'work'.
I always disagree with you over President Obama. I disagree with you over that shallow, shallow 'list' too.
If you're really for Bernie Sanders, who is and has been a sitting Senator for decades, it's better for Bernie's "promotion" to note how he has stood by President Obamas policies as well. And he has.
I very much doubt Republicans will spend any current time tearing up Senator Sanders decades of gov. 'records' unless he wins the primary. They just sit back and let the D party tear-up our couple of candidates, and the D president for free. I will not carry water for republicans!
Ham-fisted, and immensely amusing
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)emsimon33
(3,128 posts)Then they will find that their issues may be addressed but nothing else. Hillary will owe the same people and groups that Obama did and that her husband did. And nothing will change. The puppet masters will continue to suck America dry until it is a husk of a third world country. There is a reason that Bernie and Trump are doing as well as they are--Trump despite his fight with Fox and Bernie despite limited corporate media coverage: Enough is enough. This is a revolution. Out with the Tea Party and the religious fanatics on the right and out with the neoliberals and hawks on the left.
Sunlei
(22,651 posts)If Senator Sanders wins the D primary that is.
Otherwise R- Corps will not spend the money or time to rake over Bernies millions of emails and letters.
Lorien
(31,935 posts)vote as a block? I don't believe that Hillary gives a rat's ass about equal pay for equal work. the ERA or reproductive rights. She's a member of the Good ol' boy's network; she's running to advance their agenda. She won't do any more to help American women than Obama has to help black Americans.
Sancho
(9,070 posts)I would agree with about half of the 12 steps (mostly the even numbers: 2,4,6,8, 10), but my most important targets would be:
- a path to citizenship for millions of undocumented Americans
-voter rights and fixing the election system; registration, vote counting, gerrymandering
-public education; equity, preschool through HS, supporting teachers (college is great, but not most important)
-gun control!!!
-INTERNATIONAL bank control; this requires cooperation from other countries and is bigger than Wall Street
-more butter, less guns!
Erich Bloodaxe BSN
(14,733 posts)You might find some of your issues showing up in the future.
He's not a mind reader, but he is open to working with people on important issues if they actually tell him those issues are important.
Sancho
(9,070 posts)We're fighting to keep guns out of schools now. Jeb made a mess out of election manipulation that continues today.
Even though higher education costs are a problem, Florida tuition is some of the lowest in the country. Our colleges are pretty segregated (mostly white). We have large community colleges everywhere. K-12 education is more of an issue.
Actually, I see lots of debate about Bernie on DU and listen to Thom Hartmann of course, but here in Florida he's still unknown so far.
That's the first time I've looked at the "12 Steps".
I'll see if an opportunity arises.
HerbChestnut
(3,649 posts)Are big parts of Bernie's stump speech.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)it can do about many of the problems some States have. Those States that have been aware of those problems for a great deal of time really need to at least attempt to make changes.
My State has automatic voter registration, no showing of ID to vote ever, no lines for polling places and no electronic voting. We get healthy turn out and we really do not want the Federal government to attempt to change our system because we like our system. So when you say you don't care about infrastructure, trade or expanding social safety nets but you want to mess with our elections I am not at all impressed. We have very little in common politically.
libdem4life
(13,877 posts)and gun control...he does have to do a two-step here, but certainly banking regulations and Warren we know is talking to him. About the butter and guns...he's spoken of illegal wars and vets coming back to benefits.
So 5 out of your 6 points he's speaking my language. And I grew up in a rural area and our guns were for food for the table, taking out a predator animal, getting a skunk or snake who was eating the eggs and baby chicks, etc. That's the 2-step. As long as there are rural areas and people who hunt for food (not sport, BTW) , I doubt zero tolerance for guns is going to make it. And no, I'm not a NRA member. They do more damage than good.
LondonReign2
(5,213 posts)L0oniX
(31,493 posts)colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)Hillary supporters mostly like the idea of Hillary as president. Some like her because she is a woman. I get that as a woman.
But I have no doubt Bernie, if he had a congress to work with, would be FDR2. He echoed FDR when he said he welcomed the hatred of Wall Street and the wealthy.
Hillary might veer left some but....she is a Wall Street democrat underneath it all. She voted for the Iraq war, she voted for the Patriot Act. Bernie voted no on both.
But voting for change with Bernie is not enough. We need to get him majorities in congress, and that includes 2018, get out and vote!
Finally - keep pushing to eliminate computerized voting, to make voting easier to do, to tighten up procedures for custody and counting. We don't come close to paying enough attention to secure and foolproof voting.
George II
(67,782 posts)As Seinfeld's J. Peterman said:
A lot of words saying what we HAVE to do, but not a single word on HOW it will be done. They're lofty and admirable ideals, but without telling us how he plans on getting them done, they remain just words.
demwing
(16,916 posts)right there on her website...somewhere...eventually...maybe...
George II
(67,782 posts)demwing
(16,916 posts)details on how to maintain the status quo!
I'll check that right out...
Response to George II (Reply #42)
Amimnoch This message was self-deleted by its author.
Uncle Joe
(58,445 posts)Thanks for the thread, KelleyKramer.
turbinetree
(24,720 posts)Thanks
Honk--------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016
dorkzilla
(5,141 posts)104,000 RSVPd yes!
turbinetree
(24,720 posts)I must have missed it on my Bernie site..........................104,000 + 1 (me )
Can't wait -----------------------yippie
Honk----------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016
dorkzilla
(5,141 posts)Here ya go:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1636611586577118/
ETA - 10/17 is the working date - we should know more by tomorrow as theyre having a conference call about it tonight.
From the FB page:
DO NOT BOOK ANY ROOMS OR TRANSPORTATION!!!
THERE IS NO DATE, NOR HAS THIS EVENT BEEN APPROVED YET!
Please be patient. We have a conference call Wednesday evening, August 26th with a Bernie 2016 National Campaign representative joining us for the 1st time.
Updates and any confirmation, details, official date of this event will be posted as soon as the information is available.
turbinetree
(24,720 posts)Honk------------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016
dorkzilla
(5,141 posts)It would be GREAT! Im all for that too!!!!
turbinetree
(24,720 posts)with a yellow poster board about the WTO, and 25 million being unemployed and I will add TPP to the list on the board----------see ya there
Honk--------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016
dorkzilla
(5,141 posts)Cheers!
turbinetree
(24,720 posts)Honk-------------------for a political revolution Bernie 2016
dorkzilla
(5,141 posts)And the cool thing his supporters dont have to proselytize; his own words and his voting record tell it all. More and more people are emailing me hey that guy you were telling me about - I checked him out. Wow! Hes got my vote!"
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)Or criminal justice reform?
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)Democrat considering how we have been told, consistently, that a Progressive Message can't win elections.
Yes it can, Sanders speaks for a majority of Americans according to polls.
And that is why he continues to climb in the polls despite being completely unknown to a majority of Americans just three months ago.
ChiciB1
(15,435 posts)kenfrequed
(7,865 posts)I just don't understand people that don't support him. I mean, if you have to vote for Hillary why not just wait until after the primaries are over since those people think she is "inevitable." If she really is inevitable won't you just get to vote for her a year from November anyhow? And if that is the case then why no support the best candidate for the best of all worlds?