Should Sanders Build a Progressive Movement All the Way to the Convention and Beyond?

[Karmadillo]

http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/should-sanders-build-progressive-movement-all-way-convention-and-beyond

Should Sanders Build a Progressive Movement All the Way to the Convention and Beyond?
By Peter Bloom / AlterNet March 21, 2016

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Still, his campaign going forward must be about more than just words. Rhetoric without concrete demands may inspire the “poetry” of campaigning but too often loses in the “prose” of real governance. Sanders has largely won the war of ideas, it is now time for him to turn his attention to fundamentally transforming first the Democratic Party and with it American democracy.

Specifically, this involves forcing the Party to change how it operates both financially and politically. It means urging it to disavow all corporate money and Super PACs. To renounce its reliance on vested special interests such as in Wall Street and the arms industry. Such a strategy may sound far-fetched; however, it has already been shown to be not only feasible but also quite viable in this very Democratic primary. The uproar over Clinton’s acceptance of money from the private prison lobbyled her to joinwith Sanders in calling for a blanket rejection of all future contributions from this industry.

Additionally, it means promoting progressive candidates at all levels and in every state. Sanders should take the lead of the so-called “Bernie’s Army,” using his media platform as a Presidential candidate to publicly advocate for all those running who share his values. Simmering beneath the hotly contested race between Clinton and Sanders is a brewing Party-wide civil war pitting progressives against the Democratic establishment.

Sanders has already used this strategy effectively on a smaller scale in the recent Illinois primary. His attacks against Clinton's support of Rahm Emmanuel were arguably a key part of his exceeding expectations in Chicago and almost winning the state as a whole. It is crucial that he takes these efforts nationally, creating with each stop of his campaign a platform for promoting a more progressive Democratic Party not just today but tomorrow.

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[djean111]

1. This campaign has clearly shown me that if Hillary is the nominee, the Democratic Party has oozed

too far to the right for me. So I hope there is somewhere to go from here.

DWS will continue, of course, to squelch liberals and progressives when she can.

[VulgarPoet]

23. Forever amen.

Maybe the Green party? All I know is if they nominate Clinton, then yes, this party is way too close to the right for me to agree with. I'm still in the air.

[mikehiggins]

2. About that specific question? The answer is "Hell, yes!"

And supporting democracy in the US? Hell, yes!

[Ken Burch]

3. Of course. A permanent political movement needs to be created out of this.

That was what the Rainbow Coalition was supposed to be, before Jesse made the still-inexplicable decision to shut it down as a mass organization.

[2banon]

57. This!^^^^^^10000! n/t

[bigtree]

4. weird

...thought that's what he's trying to do right now.

The success or failure of his campaign will determine the success or failure of such a movement. I suspect both campaigns will serve to advance many progressive initiatives and ideals into the political debate going forward.

I think this article sets sights a bit low. Rattling Rahm might be good fun, but it doesn't represent progressive change as most voters understand it. At any rate the Greens' 'Plan B' is a recipe for isolating the progressive movement, not expanding it. Without the Democratic coalition of support, as Sanders clearly understands in this election, there's little chance of even getting these issues even a decent hearing in Congress, much less any significant amount of votes.

So, it's the familiar siren song of the third-party. Good luck with that.

[Surya Gayatri]

14. Weird, indeed. This was what it was supposed to be all about, no? Bizarre conjecture...

"...thought that's what he's trying to do right now."

[JonLeibowitz]

27. The goal of Bernies progressive movement is to effect change.

The long term success is not determined by a short term set back.

I can assure you the Clinton campaign will not deliver on such goals, as she is not a progressive.

[Sunlei]

48. Even with a loss Bernies supporters need to stick with him to 'help' effect change. If only Occupy W

If only Occupy Wall Street continued for a couple years we would have had some 'change' by now.

People tend to give-up backing their causes to soon. No elected official can do much of anything alone, except slip-in bill riders/bill attachments and perhaps some presidential mandates.

[Phlem]

32. "The success or failure of his campaign will determine.....

Bullshit.

The movement will continue whether he loses the campaign or not. It is time to purge the Democratic party of the Third Way and blue dogs. Conservatives belong in the GOP.

Right now there is no balance in our Democracy and hasn't been for decades thanks to the Thirdway.

However it may seem the 2 party system is joined at the hip economically and has been for decades. Coincidence that middle class is disappearing? Hardly.

Isn't it curious that no bankers were prosecuted or charged for the economic crash? The same bankers that funded Obama's campaign.

The left has marched to the right and also bent over backwards for the right.

That shit stops sooner rather than later and I will fight it till my dying breath.

[creon]

66. Get organized.

Get organized; get disciplined.
You will need to build a mass organization from the ground up.
Getting a progressive majority in both houses of Congress will take many millions of votes.
You will need, at least, 63 Senators and 250 Representatives in the HoR to pass the laws that you want.

[SheenaR]

46. Yes

Because every movement in history was put together in less than a year and was wildly successful against the most powerful and corrupt machine known to man.

Good one

[LongTomH]

55. Every movement in history had to start somewhere.

Bernie's revolution was put together in less than a year; but, it needs to, and I believe it will continue to build.

The desire for change, especially among young people, is too deep to be ignored.

[HereSince1628]

5. One would think that is more the point of his candidacy than the presidency alone

As president...Sanders would need a big boost in congressional support in 2018...that has to be part of a continuing movement.

If Sanders doesn't become president... he and a handful of other progressive/populist politicians in the past 24 months have shown the democratic voting base seeks broad changes in the orientation and attitudes of the party establishment.

Changing the culture and personnel that are the party establishment is obviously a very very large project whose expeditious completion requires broad support and 'in detail' actions of a national movement.

Clearly, the energy at this time is focused on his campaign, however that ends, the movement to rennovate the democratic party must proceed toward 2018 and beyond.

[Surya Gayatri]

9. Shhh! His acolytes have delicate sensibilities and are easily upset...

Here's a verity they'd rather not hear:

"Sanders would need a big boost in congressional support in 2018...that has to be part of a continuing movement."

[Scuba]

11. We all understand that and are committed to getting him a progressive Congress.

It won't happen in 2016, may happen in 2018, may take longer.

But we're in this for the long haul.

[Surya Gayatri]

16. May your keyboard warrior minions stay for the "long haul"...

Because, when the newly converted faithful see that Bern can't get his lofty ideology implemented, they'll turn on him just like they did on Obama.

[Scuba]

19. Keyboard warriors? I beg to differ ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1280154296


This group understands that Bernie alone can't accomplish much and the political revolution is about all of us. Ignore us at your own risk.

[yourpaljoey]

35. Bernie has let the genie out of the bottle

The Third Way will crash.
The Dem party is becoming the Berniecrat Party.

[Scuba]

38. +1

[marions ghost]

60. Well said

----

[JoePhilly]

6. He should have started 8 years ago when ...

... many of you were complains about how bad Obama was immediately after he was elected.

Or even back in 2011, when many of you, including Bernie supported a primary challenge against Obama.

But no. The angry left spent those years doing nothing but complaining while waiting for their savior to arise from thin air.

[Surya Gayatri]

7. Yeah, just think of the head start he would've had...lost opportunity.

"But no. The angry left spent those years doing nothing but complaining while waiting for their savior to arise from thin air."

[JoePhilly]

8. And once this election cycle ends ...

... they'll go back to doing what they do best ... impotent, actionless, online outrage.

[Surya Gayatri]

10. Jeezus, did you hit the proverbial nail there, Joe!

"...impotent, actionless, online outrage."

[lostnfound]

17. Sounds like you would celebrate that? Are you not a progressive too?

[JoePhilly]

20. I predicted all of this back in 2011.

I tried to explain to our perpetually disgruntled friends that instead of waisting their time demanding a primary challenge to Obama (for which they had no candidate) they should be out building up an array of sufficiently liberal candidates for 2016.

I further explained that if they did not do this, by 2015, they'd be doing nothing but complaining about Hillary while praying for a savior to arise.

In 2015, that savior was going to be Warren. But she did not want the role. So Bernie stepped in.

The reality is that these disgruntled folks lose because they want massive change, but they won't do the real work of building up candidates for the long term.

You can feel free to prove my wrong between now and the next election cycle. I'd be perfectly happy to see a larger number of progressive candidates.

[DemocracyDirect]

31. It's easier than you make it sound.

Monthly meetups in ever congressional district.

Primary every Democrat who isn't progressive.

Just takes a few people in every district to get it going.

[JoePhilly]

34. And yet it has not happened.

The folks who are on line endlessly complaining aren't willing to do any of that ... at least they have not been.

But hey ... maybe this time they'll get busy.

[DemocracyDirect]

43. Be careful.

I think it's about to happen.

Times are changing.

"That's not a storm, those are battle formations."

[JoePhilly]

45. I'd have no problem if it happened.

And I said that back in 2011 too.

And I had some tell me that it was definitely going to happen by 2016.

[DemocracyDirect]

47. Technology

Social media, smartphones, meetup web sites.

It makes it all easy now.

The pieces are all coming together.

Now we are just waiting for the right moment when the people will come together.

[JoePhilly]

64. ok

[revbones]

51. Links?

I'd like to read those predictions and your words from 2011.

[JoePhilly]

62. No need to. Long time members know.

From 2011-2013 I explain this many many times.

Maybe later when I'm at my computer I'll find you a few.

Or do this if you don't want to wait til later, simply search DU for the phrase "perpetually disgruntled" ... I coined that phrase during that same time period.

[uponit7771]

36. Yeap, Sanders right now is the culmination of complain loud and do little. If he TRULY has a...

... revolution vs just a bunch of mostly racial establishment people complaining about losing power then there's no doubt it'll continue past this run for president.

[Myrina]

12. Well ....

Bernie's platform aligns with the traditional FDR / JFK Dem platform, so in that way I would say NO, he doesn't need to go 'third party' because he is - and represents - the real Democrat's philosophy. But, understanding that the neo-Dems have steered the party rightward and into the pockets of the bankers and the military industrialists, it may be time to leave 'that' version of the Democratic Party behind.

Fundamental in this election cycle, I think, is a question of "Who are we?" - at our very soul.
Are we who we like to think we are - represented by the policies that a President Sanders would work to put in place (a TRUE "kinder, gentler" nation as it were) or are we neo-Dems who are beholden to the highest bidder and allowing only the smallest progressive steps - and then only as a means to keep the pitchforks at bay?

[lostnfound]

18. +1 nt

[Trajan]

53. +1,000,000 ...

Well said ... Bernie's platform is a classic set of progressive policies that FDR/HST/JFK/LBJ could be proud of ...

We need to RETAKE our party from the neoconservative assholes who stole it from us ....

[Half-Century Man]

13. Yes

[pampango]

15. "There is significantly more than just the presidency at stake—there is a progressive movement to

build. The success of Sanders campaign will historically judged not by his own victory but the degree he ushered in an era for the progressive victory of others."

...perhaps the important question is not if Sanders should remain in the race but rather why and for what ultimate ends. There is significantly more than just the presidency at stake—there is a progressive movement to build. The success of Sanders campaign will historically judged not by his own victory but the degree he ushered in an era for the progressive victory of others.

Indeed, without continuing the struggle, the racism and authoritarianism that Trump represents may be temporarily dampened but be far from extinguished. To do so Sanders needs to draw on his surprising success to invest in a progressive movement from the ground up. In this way, to quote one recent commentator, “Bernie Sanders can still lead a political revolution—even if he loses.”

It would be great to see Bernie win but, either way, "there is a progressive movement to build ... from the ground up".

[jwirr]

37. One of the biggest impact his race should have win or lose

is to move our congressional Democrats farther to the left in an effort to show that they recognize what the voters want. This should especially happen if the votes are close. Which I think they will be.

I have 5 super-delegates and my state went for Bernie. I would expect to see those delegates follow our example.

In fact in the past Presidents have often took the direction of their term in office from the voters. But our present system does not seem to allow that for Hillary - most of her donors (the big ones) do not care what the people want. They expect her to do what they paid for.

We are making an impact that should bring about change just because of the numbers of voters and small donors who moved us from 4% to what we are seeing today. This action calls for a responding result - a move toward change.

[brooklynite]

21. " it means promoting progressive candidates at all levels and in every state"

Who has Sanders supported in the past? Only ones I know of are the very establishment Senate candidates at the DSCC retreat in Martha's Vineyard.

[Hydra]

22. This is already happening

And the party establishment is standing in the way of it.

The movement will continue, inside or outside the party.

[Punkingal]

24. I don't see how he can when he will endorse Hillary if she wins the nomination.

But more than anything I wish it could happen....someone tell me how it can under those circumstances.

[djean111]

25. I believe Bernie would support Hillary.

BUT - I do not believe that the grass-roots organization and all his supporters - particularly the younger, new-to-politics supporters, will go with him. (Cue the pointless say hello to president trump/cruz/whatever crap). They don't think the GOP OR Hillary means anything good for them. War, fracking, tuition, the TPP - just for a start - will affect them mightily.

[Ed Suspicious]

29. That will be the precise moment Bernie loses the movement.

The differences between Bernie and Hillary are the essence of the movement.

[djean111]

33. Oh, I know. I really do know.

I hope I don't have to find out.
The platforms are diametrically opposed.

[Punkingal]

44. Yes. I think he will endorse her, though.

He has always caucused with the Dems, and he certainly doesn't want Trump in office. I want the movement to continue, though. Do you see any way for that to happen if he endorses her? Maybe with someone else, like Keith Ellison? I don't know Ellison's record, I just know he has stood by Bernie from the beginning.

[JoePhilly]

65. Bernie was never leading the "movement"

If you go back in time just a little bit, you might recall that the "movement" wanted Warren to run for President in 2016. Warren was their choice of leader.

She turned them down.

So Bernie, who had supported the idea of a primary opponent for Obama in 2012, decided to step up and help the "movement".

Bernie will endorse Hillary when he thinks the time is right to do so ... and the "movement" will freak out.

[jwirr]

41. I don't know if he will go so far to work directly with Hillary

but I do see him campaigning for down ticket candidates in order to take back the Senate, get progressives into the House and help states to turn their governments left.

That is part of our movement. I can accept that.

[rateyes]

26. Yes, WE should.

[Phlem]

28. In short.

Hell Yes!

[oldandhappy]

30. yes!

We need him to continue to build for a progressive party in the future. If Dems are going to be status quo then either we need to powerfully infiltrate that party for change and all the points Bernie covers in his campaign speech or we need to make independents a real party and take in all the disenfranchised repubs and progressive dems. (my spell checker always changes dems to gems which seems appropriate!)

[DemocracyDirect]

39. It's easier than it sounds...

Start or join monthly Progressive meetups in every congressional district.

Takes only 2 or 3 people in every district to get going.

Start a primary challenge for every Democrat that doesn't support Bernie's platform.

[killbotfactory]

40. That's what he's doing, that's why I'm donating to his campaign,

and that's why I'm going to caucus for him on Saturday.

I think he's been pretty clear on the idea that even if he gets elected president, he's not going to be able to pass the reforms he wants unless people get out and vote in a mass movement.

I expect a big political re-alignment is going to occur after this election, in both parties.

[Chan790]

42. Build a progressive movement all the way to forever-and-ever, Amen. n/t

[ThePhilosopher04]

49. If he doesn't, his life's work will have been in vain. Bernie sees the big picture.

[randome]

50. It's too bad he didn't see the big picture before he joined the Democratic Party.

It would have done him some good to work on uniting the party instead of continually criticizing it.
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[DemocracyDirect]

52. When Berniecrats primary every Democrat congressman and put Progressive Democrats against every Repu

Then you will see it differently.

[randome]

56. Yeah. I will. I have no problem voting for a viable third party.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]TECT in the name of the Representative approves of this post.[/center][/font][hr]

[Frances]

54. I think that win or lose the Dem presidential nomination

all of Bernie and Hillary's supporters should focus on electing Dem candidates at every level.

I think that we need more Dems in political positions at the city council, mayor, county, and state level. We need to focus on changing the country not just from the top down but from the bottom up politically.

[2banon]

58. stating the obvious, the burden isn't Bernie's to carry, it's up to us.

and yeah so called progressive media pundits should have been on the beat since forever, as well as STAYING on message when needed most, such as THIS campaign.

but oh no.. bending over vis a vis self censorship and pandering/playing to the fear factor is just another face palm moment among too many other facepalm moments to keep track.

[Rebkeh]

59. This is a marathon nt

[pat_k]

61. Yup

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511507143

[creon]

63. Of Course he should

A progressive movement must be built.
If you want a progressive agenda to become law, you must have a substantial majority in both Houses of Congress and a progressive President.

That movement must be built up from the grass roots and on up to Washington.

Progressives must build an organization, run for office and get elected. Then, and only then, can progressive laws be passed.