Bernie Sanders
Related: About this forumA comment on a Bernie Sanders post grabbed me, despite all my cynicism.
I'm a typically progressive millennial who's at the higher end of the generational cutpoint-- I was around and watching during the Bush years, and know what it means when the 'decline' of America is referenced as a recent event.
I also felt the same disappointment that the Bernie Sanders-esque excitement that surrounded Obama in 2008 turned out to be....well, less exciting. That's not to say that Obama is a bad president, but merely that his presidency was not revolutionary in a policy sense.
We didn't jail any bankers, or dismantle the prison-industrial complex, or really make any big fundamental changes to our oligarchy. But we did get a competent leader.
But I'm too jaded to Feel The Bern the way I was excited by 2008 Obama. But sometimes a piece of writing comes along, and puts things in perspective.
and it was on Facebook, hardly the location of inspiration and politic. but there it was. Upon reading it, I felt for the first time the urge to share something simply because it needed to be shared. It's not substantively different than what many Sanders supporters already say, but it resonated with me.
comment found here--
A POLITICAL TIP FROM AUSTRALIA: The Republicans, Fox and Rupert Murdoch want Hillary to win the nomination so that they can crucify her in the Presidentials. (So much history, so much scandal, so many unanswered questions, so much to criticise,) They DO NOT want to face Bernie in the Presidentials because they know, when Bernie talks, people listen - REALLY listen. They know that Bernie will annihilate them in the Presidentals. He can't be bought, he can't be intimidated, he can't be tamed by corporate America and he can't be silenced. He has all the momentum now and is gaining momentum exponentially. There are people following him from all over the world, and millions more will follow him in the lead up to him taking the White House. Bernie is a once-in-a-generation WORLD leader. Be prepared for FOX and Murdoch to wage a vicious campaign depicting him as a radical who will destroy your country. Murdoch destroyed our Australian Democratic Prime-Minister and Treasurer even though they guided us through the Global Financial Crisis with a triple-A credit rating from the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, we avoided a recession (GFC? What GFC?) and our Treasurer Wayne Swan was awarded "World's Best Treasurer" at a ceremony in Washington in 2011. At the same time Murdoch waged a media war in Australia and tore them down with a relentless "ECONOMIC IRRESPONSIBILITY" campaign. SERIOUS! Be prepared to fight and spread the word. I cannot emphasise how destructive they will be. Rupert Murdoch will NOT want Bernie to get to the Presidentials, because someone like Bernie - who is not at all enamoured by obscene wealth - scares Rupert Murdoch to death. Rupert Murdoch - the man who relinquished his Australian citizenship to become an American, for the sole purpose of making BILLIONS OF DOLLARS. So please do everything that you can to help him win. Bernie fights for you, please fight for him. Please repost on your timelines. With you, in the struggle, Aleta Langdon. Australia."
having seen articles in the past that are in line with what this comment linked above says about australia, and knowing how true it is that our major party candidates are 'bought', this hit home. It's often said the Presidency is only a figurehead-- well, if that's the case, then it's curious how so many powerful white old Republicans are raising hundreds of millions to lay claim to a 'symbolic' seat.
It's not that Sanders knows a lot that Clinton doesn't--it's his willingness to frame these issues as nefarious actions taken against us, the people. Republicans rally their base ALL the time by naming names and naming enemies.
Sanders isn't afraid to call out the bad guys, nor is he connected to their money pipelines. Cynicism is when you accept the money from those who create our status quo. Bernie hasn't sold out. I remember being a big russ feingold fan back in the day. I think bernie is even better. Our guy Howard Dean got dismantled for yelling on stage-- but I saw Jeb Bush do the same last month and nary a media outlet grilled him for it.
The Democrats need Sanders. and on his FB page, you see comments from folks in sweden , australia, and across the English-speaking world admiring his courage. Clinton will borrow some of his talking points, but that's politics as usual. Bernie believes in this, and doesn't have connections to the neoliberal regime that the Clintons do( I respect both Bill and Hillary for what they have done, but still).
I guess I'm feeling the Bern. apparently he was here in Alabama this past sunday. He's willing, as a lower-dollar guy, to come to the deep south. He's not just pandering to big dollar donors. That's what it was like in the early days of Obama's candidacy. A feeling that we had a guy listening to us, not just carefully playing the political game.
edit: it's cool to get so many responses. the most important points written in this diary were not written by me, but a woman in australia. Bernie has got us all feeling some type of way! good stuff yall.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/07/15/1402366/-A-comment-on-a-Bernie-Sanders-post-grabbed-me-despite-all-my-cynicism#
peacebird
(14,195 posts)Admiral Loinpresser
(3,859 posts)marym625
(17,997 posts)99th_Monkey
(19,326 posts)Bernie's done a similar number on my cynicism *poof* ... OMG ... this man is authentic.
courageous and knows full well where the conventional lever$ of power are and how
they work. He's got an irresistible vision for America, to guild our Ship of State on a
long-overdue course-correction of epic proportions, because -- just maybe -- we still can.
GO BERNIE GO!!
Playinghardball
(11,665 posts)He can't be stopped even by the Republicans, Fox and Rupert Murdoch or Hillary
This is going to be the biggest thing since Roosevelt or maybe the Revolutionary War...IMO
loveallserveall
(11 posts)The fruit is RIPE for the picking and BERNIE has rightfully earned this PRIZE....
appalachiablue
(41,145 posts)"This campaign is catching fire for a simple reason, and the simple reason is we are telling the truth. And I think that's what the American people want". ~ Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Do Not Underestimate Bernie Sanders, The Real Deal
Volaris
(10,272 posts)But he might do well with a hat like that. It's been a long time (kennedy) since presidents wore a hat as a part of everyday out-dress. It would be a kick-ass way of him saying 'what I'm proposing isn't in any way new or scary (unless u watch Faux Nooze)...This is Old School, bitches..' lol
I say get that man a fedora. Yeah, stupid marketing sure whatever, but this IS politics (a game of optics even if it shouldn't be) and it IS politics in 'Murica, so I would think it could only help.
appalachiablue
(41,145 posts)cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom
artislife
(9,497 posts)cantbeserious
(13,039 posts)eom
artislife
(9,497 posts)Thespian2
(2,741 posts)Bernie is real...and has been pushing the same sensible policies for years and years...Do not be fooled...It is the Koch-suckers who will spend at least a billion to buy the next president...combatting that will be hard for us all...BUT BERNIE MUST WIN!!!
Enthusiast
(50,983 posts)passiveporcupine
(8,175 posts)Yes! Yes he is.
Divernan
(15,480 posts)4 of many powerful comments to the OP's link, all detailing support for Bernie coming from unexpected people (wealthy) who basically have decided to put patriotism before greed.
Example I:
Tangential business acquaintance. White-wing, from money, has more money, mover-shaker in republican parties in CA & NV. He's fed up. Apparently his greed is exceeded by his ability to see that if they steal it all, what's next? "Who wants to be King of shit hill?"
Anyway, it's gone too far for him. I think nationalism/patriotism is the biggest part of his motivation, but he's all in for Bernie.
I actually asked him, "You do know he's running as a Democrat?", he didn't care. That alone tells me this is really different.
"
Example II:
To drop a link to post from John Cassidy at The New Yorker. It didn't seem worth a diary all on its own, but skim down to the last two paragraphs:
. . ..Over the holiday weekend, I ran into a retired businessman who used to own a firm that employed more than a hundred people. Ive never been an extremist of any sort, he said, but Ive come to the conclusion that America, at this stage, would benefit from a modest dose of socialism. Yes, you guessed ithe was supporting Sanders.
One more piece of anecdotal evidence, but it adds up. The Murdoch-ites have to be getting twitchy about this, if they're not living in even more of a bubble than Karl Rove was in 2012.
Example III:
This is the third person I know personally that I would never in a million years have thought that they would even think of voting for anyone, i.e, Bernie, but the republican. And this guy is a not an inconsequential republican. If he calls they pick up. I'm hoping to meet my conservadem gem friend tomorrow just to find out what he's thinking.
and Example IV:
It's interesting about the patriotism.
I've been seeing some of that too, in people old enough to remember a pre-New Gilded Age U.S. You can have done very well in this economy, and still know something's gone horribly wrong. That "I want my country back" sentiment means something very different to these folks than it does to tea partiers, but my sense is that it's every bit as keenly felt, and could be a real game-changer this cycle.
Divernan
(15,480 posts)Yet another great comment following the OP's link!
If you've lived through the New Gilded Age and are among the millions that haven't done so well by it, why are the mainstream Dems pushing us away so hard? Because we don't have money? Really? We're at least millions of votes, if not tens of millions, but among the Dem candidates the only one with a key to unlock those votes is Sanders. The two candidates in the race that will not have a chance to get them are named Bush and Clinton, and there are reasons for that. Those names are synonymous with the policies that brought us this Gilded Age, and people know that.
It don't get no more pragmaticker than that!
immoderate
(20,885 posts)It is extremely rare to encounter, and have the opportunity to vote for, a candidate of the quality of Bernie Sanders. The last for me was George McGovern, and I am always happy I had the chance to vote for him.
My friend said he likes Bernie for president, then said Bernie is "too radical, and radicals are unelectable." So I talked about radicals like TR, (busted monopolies) and FDR, (socialized retirement) and (wait for it) ... Reagan! Voodoo economics! Old folks will remember that a Reagan candidacy was ridiculed in the 70s, and as heir apparent to Barry Goldwater, he was called "extremist."
I explained how the demographics puts the presidency well within the reach of whoever is the Dem nominee. In a dynamic, chaotic system, like a society, outcomes are not predictable.
--imm
DeeDeeNY
(3,355 posts)He was the very first presidential candidate I ever voted for!
immoderate
(20,885 posts)--imm
merrily
(45,251 posts)Then, they seized on his loss and Mondale's to say liberals could not be elected.
Meanwhile, Monday was also destined to lose--and was a centrist, not a liberal.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12778825 (be sure to read all the replies.)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12779277
Looking into this stuff instead of simply repeating the memes is a real eye opener.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)America needs him.
ellennelle
(614 posts)it just occurred to me. bernie in AL (hey howdy down there; graduated from huntsville hi in 67!). cannot believe he had the guts to go to b'ham!!! and he's going to visit numbers of states most candidates will ignore.
and he will get VOTERS, not just dems, but VOTERS - very energized and excited.
for this very reason, the damn dems would do well to recognize just what a gold mine he is. they'll have him to thank for a massive turnout nationwide. if IF IF they actually harness all that, instead of trying to snuff it.
a bit like howard dean, who was summarily kicked to the curb after his leadership swept congress in 06. (damn rahm)
serious stuff; those in power should be losing sleep, at least as much as hillary.
RoccoR5955
(12,471 posts)TheNutcracker
(2,104 posts)emsimon33
(3,128 posts)I do believe Bernie...again because I know his record. He is not a corporate shill like too many "Democrats." He is the real deal. I may not agree with him on everything (gun control comes to mind), but I am not a one-issue voter (or volunteer).
Go, Bernie!
MisterP
(23,730 posts)keep entering it in bodybuilding competitions
WillyT
(72,631 posts)MissDeeds
(7,499 posts)K&R
Scuba
(53,475 posts)zeemike
(18,998 posts)Is even if they lose they win, because she is unlikely to do anything that will change the bottom line of the 1%...and money is really the only thing they care about.
and if Bernie doesn't get the nomination Democrats will vote for her because she will at least keep the social status quo and we won't see our rights being eroded too much.
zeemike
(18,998 posts)The differences are more on the fasaud than on the inside.
But fear of the crazy right will keep us voting I am sure...and it serves that purpose well.
merrily
(45,251 posts)government decides you can't have it.
whereisjustice
(2,941 posts)life continues to degrade, Democratic Party Wonkheads will try to blame everyone but the transparently shitty, middle-class destroying trickle-down economics of their own greed infested DLC inspired 3rd way think tank.
The elite in both parties won't be happy until we have poverty and slums on the scale of China and India. Only then will they stop sending jobs to those places.
Both political parties continue to do everything they can to extract as much value out of human flesh as possible - whether it is here or over there and neither party really gives a damn about us. They only see the 1%. That's ALL that matters to our political elite and Hillary is no exception to this fact.
We have built an oligarchy that serves itself. Now all we can do is choose between Goldman and Koch at the voting booth.
pocoloco
(3,180 posts)democrats that the right wing wouldn't be able to pass, and still re-elect the asshats!
KansDem
(28,498 posts)Often using the two terms interchangeably.
Watch for them to continue conflating the two terms so that when the "average American" hears "Democratic Socialist," he or she will think "Communist."
But I think the Senator is ready and able to put them right!
arcane1
(38,613 posts)Here's hoping a Sanders candidacy will at least increase dictionary use!
Trajan
(19,089 posts)This is not a new fight ... Democratic Socialism is NOT classic Socialism or Communism, but they have always wanted to create the impression that it is ...
I have always resisted and defended Liberalism when the meatheads would try to demean it ... The ' S 'word has always been under attack and purposely misinterpreted ...
DEMOCRATIC Socialism is simply the act of passing social legislation within the constitutional process ... Nothing more and nothing less ... It's the best part of a functional Democracy ...
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)SoapBox
(18,791 posts)I saw the Houston but didn't know about Dallas.
I wish they would put these back up on his website under Events.
SusanCalvin
(6,592 posts)Wonder what happened.
hootinholler
(26,449 posts)Cause there's a Bernami comin!
ancianita
(36,085 posts)retrowire
(10,345 posts)terrific post!
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)so. It is so true.
The rumors and scandals (mostly untrue but often believed) that FOX and other conservative news media will bring out will drown the Clinton campaign.
If she had common sense, she would not run. That's how much nonsense there is about her out there.
It is unfortunate that this is the case, but it is the case, and it is going to come back to haunt Hillary if she gets the nomination.
Personally, I think it is Hillary who is not electable.
Hillary is not electable.
libodem
(19,288 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)SheilaT
(23,156 posts)I am absolutely not a fan of hers, but I hadn't given her candidacy this sort of thought.
I've been locked into more rational and every-day reasons why she's such a bad candidate, and gotten lost in thinking about how truly terrible a Hillary Clinton - Jeb Bush contest would be.
As you've pointed out, it goes far beyond that. It's a question of who benefits, and why?
PATRICK
(12,228 posts)the relative pervasiveness and acceptance of Murdoch media then and here(USA) and now. The wild attack would serve the dual purpose of screaming over the CONTENT that is simply cut out of the political "contest" that is about as popular(and relevant) now as the declining Miss America Beauty Pageant(replaced with really ugly or empty contestants).
More deadly is the inertia of the total corporate media bent that will never acknowledge Bernie or the movement or reality for that matter. What we are talking about is not candidate enthusiasm but enthusiasm for a completely different campaign that eclipses the current allowed bent. Destroying Bernie with any meme or lie possible is panic noise to sustain that.
And will continue when anyone like that is in the White House accomplishing great good- as the poster rightly mentions..
Hotler
(11,425 posts)raouldukelives
(5,178 posts)"He can't be bought, he can't be intimidated, he can't be tamed by corporate America and he can't be silenced."
For the first time, in a long time. we may actually have a President where the buck stops. For those who make a living helping Wall St deceive & defraud, for those who make a killing helping them kill, the thought of a Sanders presidency doesn't put them at ease.
Sadly, the easiest way to defeat our Democracy is for corporations to outspend and drown out the voices of leaders like Bernie.
With the help of every investor in the markets, they just may.
N_E_1 for Tennis
(9,734 posts)A big change is coming.
fredamae
(4,458 posts)FEEL THAT BERN, folks! Feel The Bern!
Seriously...take a few moments, Sit Down and relish "The Bern".
Now, pat yourself on the back.
It IS genuinely and Honestly Our hard work...The People's hard work Alone that has Helped Sanders Rise to global popularity and Hopefully we, ain't seen Nuthin' yet!
Remember...really just a few weeks ago Bernie was a virtual "unknown"
Thank you to All who have contributed in whatever way you could/can for doing this! Thank you from the bottom of my heart (for my grandkids).
Rosa Luxemburg
(28,627 posts)The Rupert gang wanted him because Tony Blair was part of the Bush thing. Now they have got Cameron again. I guess Jim Messina who backs Hillary campaigned with Cameron to get the Conservatives elected in the UK.
America needs Bernie.
Plucketeer
(12,882 posts)I SO want a Sanders presidency. There are sure no Democrats that could BEGIN to fill his shoes.
AwakeAtLast
(14,130 posts)Great food for thought, thanks for posting!
senz
(11,945 posts)Good to see the truth in print. Now we'll have to do our part to get him elected.
GoneOffShore
(17,340 posts)But then the Clinton supporters would be all over it in a New York minute.
DownriverDem
(6,229 posts)Has anyone noticed how repubs are not attacking Bernie? They know by the polls that folks will not vote for a socialist. The rpeubs have been saving all kinds of stuff on Bernie going back to the 1960s.They will unload on him big time if he gets the nomination. They don't want Hillary. They are afraid of Hillary. I just want a win and I hope Bernie supporters feel the same as me.
d_legendary1
(2,586 posts)because of her history and mostly because of Bubba. Let's not forget that Benghazi and Email gate are still fresh turds they can launch at her even though they're bogus. Bernie's too intelligent to deal with name calling and mud slinging. He sticks to what the people are P.O.'ed about not to mention he doesn't have albatrosses flying around his head. He's a smart man and he's going to be our Democratic Nominee wheather the establishment likes it or not!
RoccoR5955
(12,471 posts)but if it is a Bernie win, I will be dancing in the streets!
Who says that Americans will not vote for a socialist? Most don't even know what socialism is, since there never was real socialism on any place on Earth!
There has been, State run capitalism in the USSR, which is still going on in China, in a big way. Try to start a large business in China, and see if the government over does not want and require you to give them a big piece of the action.
No Socialism is when an enterprise's direction is dictated by the people who work in the enterprise. They are worker-owners. It's more democratic than capitalism, as far as I am concerned.
smokey nj
(43,853 posts)If you were truly a supporter, you wouldn't be spouting this nonsense.