'The Seven Stages of Establishment Backlash: Corbyn/Sanders Edition'

[CobaltBlue]

The Seven Stages of Establishment Backlash: Corbyn/Sanders Edition

By Glenn Greenwald (01.21.2016)
@ https://theintercept.com/2016/01/21/the-seven-stages-of-establishment-backlash-corbynsanders-edition/

The British political and media establishment incrementally lost its collective mind over the election of Jeremy Corbyn as Leader of the country’s Labour Party, and their unravelling and implosion shows no signs of receding yet. Bernie Sanders is nowhere near as radical as Corbyn: they are not even in the same universe. But, especially on economic issues, Sanders is a more fundamental, systemic critic than the oligarchical power centers are willing to tolerate, and his rejection of corporate dominance over politics, and corporate support for his campaigns, is particularly menacing. He is thus regarded as America’s version of a far-left extremist, threatening establishment power.

[Ichingcarpenter]

1. U.S. reaction to Sanders is closely following the same script:

the U.S. reaction to Sanders is closely following the same script:

STAGE 1: Polite condescension toward what is perceived to be harmless (We think it’s really wonderful that your views are being aired).

STAGE 2: Light, casual mockery as the self-belief among supporters grows (No, dears, a left-wing extremist will not win, but it’s nice to see you excited).

STAGE 3: Self-pity and angry etiquette lectures directed at supporters upon realization that they are not performing their duty of meek surrender, flavored with heavy doses of concern trolling (nobody but nobody is as rude and gauche online to journalists as these crusaders, and it’s unfortunately hurting their candidate’s cause!).



STAGE 4: Smear the candidate and his supporters with innuendos of sexism and racism by falsely claiming only white men support them (you like this candidate because he’s white and male like you, not because of ideology or policy or contempt for the party establishment’s corporatist, pro-war approach).

STAGE 5: Brazen invocation of right-wing attacks to marginalize and demonize, as polls prove the candidate is a credible threat (he’s weak on terrorism, will surrender to ISIS, has crazy associations, and is a clone of Mao and Stalin).

STAGE 6: Issuance of grave and hysterical warnings about the pending apocalypse if the establishment candidate is rejected, as the possibility of losing becomes imminent (you are destined for decades, perhaps even generations, of powerlessness if you disobey our decrees about who to select).

STAGE 7: Full-scale and unrestrained meltdown, panic, lashing-out, threats, recriminations, self-important foot-stomping, overt union with the Right, complete fury (I can no longer in good conscience support this party of misfits, terrorist-lovers, communists, and heathens).

Britain is well into Stage 7, and may even invent a whole new level

[merrily]

4. When the Clintons are in Stages 6 and 7, they tend to shoot themselves in Hillary's foot.

And I think they're there right about now.

[Ichingcarpenter]

8. I actually think 'THE DEEP STATE'

is the real source behind these latest pushes we see from the establishment dems and the media. Meanwhile the oligarchs have sent out their latest meme and the media is pushing it.

Notice that 'too big to jail too big to fail'' is now totally removed from the Clinton dialogue.

Biden's newest talk on Bernie is also revealing when Biden in Switzerland just said he wanted to protect the shareholders in front of Banksters and oil men.


http://www.reuters.com/article/us-davos-meeting-biden-idUSKCN0UY2FY

One of the predominant themes of the 2016 presidential campaign thus far — and one that is unlikely to lose significance once the primaries give way to the general election — is the American people’s exasperation with a political system they see as corrupt, self-serving, disingenuous and out of touch.

It is not an especially partisan or ideological sentiment; you can just as easily find it among supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders as among fans of Donald Trump. You can even find those who support paragons of the status quo, like Hillary Clinton or Jeb Bush, making similar complaints. It’s about as close to a consensus position as you’re likely to find nowadays in American politics.


Recently, Salon spoke over the phone with Lofgren about his book, the deep state and his read on the current sorry state of American government and politics. Our conversation, which also touched on President Obama’s relationship with the deep state, was edited for clarity and length.

How should we think about the deep state? Is it an elite conspiracy? A loosely defined social group? A network of specific institutions? How should we conceive of it?

Well, first of all, it is not a conspiracy. It is something that operates in broad daylight. It is not a conspiratorial cabal. These are simply people who have evolved [into] a kind of position. It is in their best interest to act in this way.

And given the fact that people would rather know about Kim Kardashian than what makes up the budget or what the government is doing in Mali or Sudan or other unknown places, this is what you get: a disconnected, self-serving bureaucracy that is … simply evolving to do what it’s doing now. That is, to maintain and enhance its own power.


more of the interview

http://www.salon.com/2016/01/05/controlled_by_shadow_government_mike_lofgren_reveals_how_top_u_s_officials_are_at_the_mercy_of_the_deep_state/

[merrily]

10. Agree with a lot of what you say, but I don't know what people would rather know. I know only what

msm claims people would rather know--and I trust msm as little or less than I trust politicians.

[artislife]

15. I love the bullet points!

Yeah, we are following that to a tee.

We were warned it would get batshit crazy just before Iowa, and here it is!

[Populist_Prole]

25. Boy you called THAT accurately. n/t

[pangaia]

2. The whole idea of Sanders being 'far left' is just too funny

to comprehend.

It just proves how far right the American POLITICAL class has gone.

The American populace is WAY to the left of the political class, even if millions do not realize it yet.

[merrily]

5. Like that filthy Communist from Missouri, Harry S. Truman and that multi-mllionaire Communist family

from Massachusetts, the Kennedys.

Ice up for another Cold War! Very bad things could happen, like Grandma getting an extra five bucks a month in her Social Security check, so she can finally afford the premium brand of cat food.

[pangaia]

6. The damage done by McCarthy and his redbaiters is still

being felt..

[merrily]

7. To be totally fair, McCarthy, while vile, was far from the first Cold Warriors.

No one in the ruling classes, including FDR, Joe Kennedy, Truman or anyone wanted to see a repeat of 1917 in the US or anywhere else (domino theory). Hence Korea and Vietnam. (Also, hence, IMO, the parts of the New Deal that benefited the 90%.) The amount of blood and treasure we've spent fighting Communism and socialism since World War II, from propaganda to spying to actual combat is so enormous that it can never be calculated.

[draa]

3. We are somewhere between #5 and #6 already.

When we get to #8 we win.

[merrily]

11. When campaign surrogates start talking hammer and sickle, I think we're at 6, at least.

[draa]

12. Yep, we crossed that line yesterday with McCaskill's comment.

[closeupready]

21. Oh yeah. Her hysteria was ugly and unfair, but indicative of

how frantic Hillary's campaign has obviously become.

[Dems2002]

30. So old!

Hearing this comment it just makes her seem OLD. I'm 40 and yes, I remember the Soviet Union flag, but barely. And the context and threat of it is so old it holds zero meaning for me. Yes, I did nuclear bomb drills in elementary school. (Lol) But I paid attention when the Soviet Union collapsed and Bill Clinton's cronies tried to turn them into a capitalist state. Yeah, how'd that work out? It was crony capitalism, graft and corruption that immediately took hold. And the current state of Russia seems little better or worse than what it was like under communism. At least from this outsider's perspective.

I can't imagine the hammer and sickle comment having much meaning at all for anyone my junior.

[merrily]

31. Behind the times, to say the least.

[Cal33]

9. Yes the Republican Party, with the permission, encouragement and tremendous financial aid

of the Corporate Power people, have been slowly and surely winding its arms around
the necks of the mostly unaware populace -- like the tentacles of a giant octopus --
and are now beginning to apply the death squeeze.

Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are among the few loud and clear voices warning
the American people of the danger, and urging them to fight back.

[draa]

13. Cal33, let's be clear, it's BOTH parties.

Not just Republicans but our "establishment" assholes as well.

They've played this game for years. Where they messed up this time is they can no longer control the people who believed their lies. That's why we have Bernie and Donald. People in both parties are waking up. I hate Trump but at least he tells the truth about our corrupt political system. Thanks.

[Cal33]

16. Yes, I agree. I have written in other posts that many of the Democratic Establishment people

are more Republican than Democratic, and some of them are trying to milk the cows from
both sides.

[draa]

18. The opening of my last comment came off a little strange lol. I think it was "clear" that did it.

Yeah, I think I've actually seen some of your stuff before so it's all good

Anyway, have a nice day.

[Cal33]

19. Thanks. Where I live, today is the last nice day, and then comes 2 to 3 days of snow storm.

We can expect up to about 2 feet of snow.

[draa]

22. Holy crap that's a lot of snow.

I live in Florida so I'd probably die straight out from that. Just the system shock alone would kill me.

Buuuurrrr. Stay safe. eom

[azmom]

14. When we stand together, we win.

Stand steady people. It's going to be a rough ride.

[mountain grammy]

20. Yes it is..

stand together, stand steady. We can do this

[azmom]

27. Si se puede

More and more latinos will be joining in the revolution in weeks to come. I guarantee it.
We won't be divided. #unidosconBernie

[99Forever]

17. Doesn't matter how slimy and dirty the Hillarians get...

Last edited Thu Jan 21, 2016, 01:02 PM - Edit history (2)

...the fucking Coronation is off. We the People will take OUR. Nation and it's government back from the corrupt neoliberal scum that has infested it.

[TIME TO PANIC]

23. +1,000,000

[Proserpina]

24. "The Coronation Is Off!" is a great campaign slogan.

[azmom]

28. [phone]

[Populist_Prole]

26. Pithy post. Thanks.

Should be handy for reference as event unfold.

[pa28]

29. It's happening just the same way here.

Number 7 has been distressing to watch. Establishment labour is still trying to marginalize and sabotage Corbyn even after the leadership election. The prefer Cameron!

If Bernie is nominated expect the same thing here.