A Confederacy of Dunces: The Democratic Establishment’s Assault on Sanders Begins

[G_j]

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/01/26/confederacy-dunces-democratic-establishments-assault-sanders-begins


A Confederacy of Dunces: The Democratic Establishment’s Assault on Sanders Begins
byJohn Atcheson

Sen. Bernard Sanders, who’s running to Hillary Clinton’s left for the Democratic presidential nomination, has become a target for his outspoken challenge to the status quo. (Associated Press)

"When a true genius appears in your world, you may know him by this sign; that all the dunces are against him in a confederacy."
—Jonathon Swift

Well, it’s started. You knew it would. The Democratic establishment is going into attack mode as their anointed one – Hillary Clinton – is in danger of losing.

Take a look at some of the assaults that have been launched within the last five days:

...more...

[beam me up scottie]

1. Bravo!

In Sanders we have a leader who – against all odds -- has broken through the rigged system, reached out to us, and given voice to the 99% who’ve been left behind.

If we choose courage over fear; tolerance over jingoism, hate and bigotry; a belief in our own industry, resourcefulness and ability over the siren song of magic markets and easy money; if we stand together, we can put this evil genie back in its bottle, and we can take back our country and make government work again, and make it work for us.

That is the source of our power. And it is the only power that can take on the confederacy that is gathering now, to hold on to what they’ve taken.

[Dawson Leery]

2. Berns is a come lately Democrat.

He was never a Democrat. He says he wants to bring the party back to being the FDR/JFK party. Problem is, Bernie was anti-JFK in 1960. The far left was against FDR because they too wanted to overthrow the system.

You cannot expect the party to support someone who doesn't support the party. Why would Obama campaign for Bernie when Berns says he does not want any continuation of Obama's policies?

If it comes to that, Obama and Biden may openly endorse Hillary and campaign for her during the primary.

[Ichingcarpenter]

7. Geez you really believe that Crap?

A Revision of history and reality?

[cali]

13. Why would you care? He's caucuses with dems his entire Congressional career

And where did you get the information that he was anti-Kennedy in 1960? For that matter has he ever said that he wants to bring the party back to being the JFK party. Please link to sources substantiating your claims.

And Bernie has said he wants to build on Obama's policies.

You consistently make shit up. I'm so tired of that conservadem hillarian habit.

[Lordquinton]

24. If you want to go back to the 60s

Hillary was a republican! Why do you want to vote for a former republican?

[scottie55]

80. Bam

I mean BAM!!!!

[LittleGirl]

99. +1 n/t

[randome]

103. So was Elizabeth Warren.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]"The whole world is a circus if you know how to look at it."
Tony Randall, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964)[/center][/font][hr]

[LiberalLovinLug]

118. The difference between Hillary and Elizabeth....Both former Republicans

is that Elizabeth saw the light, and realized she was in the wrong party because she was concerned about the inequalities in a corrupt system mostly represented by Republican "values".

Hillary jumped into the Democratic party, then not only slid back to her Republican "values" roots, but helped to drag the Democratic party with her in a desperate attempt to align her family, and her greedy Third Way D cohorts in Washington, with those on the receiving end of that inequality.

[Rebkeh]

25. Bernie has consistently held and fought for

progressive values, this is what matters. The Democratic Party? Not so much. They keep changing the standards, party identity and loyalty can only go so far. If the Democratic Party wants loyalty to the brand, maybe they should listen to its people.

[mrmpa]

111. Bingo...we have a winner..........

The Democratic Party should not be what the National Committee says it is, but rather what we its members say it should be.

[bvar22]

26. Please post a link to your claim:

"Berns says he does not want any continuation of Obama's policies"
---Dawson Leery, post #2, this thread.

...or did you just make that up?

I'm calling BS.

[senz]

70. Yes, it's a b.s. claim.

They make stuff up.

[PatrynXX]

27. I'm in no mood to vote for a Conservadem

heck she's taking pages out of Roves playbook how insulting can you be.. voting for the only Democrat running in the lead. Bernie Sanders. No Clinton Trumps

[randys1]

76. You mean in the primary, I assume.

[senz]

85. ...

[CorporatistNation]

100. AGREED!

!

[shawn703]

39. Typical of Camp Weathervane

Making shit up as they go. It's tiresome.

[Moral Compass]

40. And you'll be there helping to circle the wagons?

[Feeling the Bern]

43. Clinton campaigned for Goldwater in 1964 and worked for Walmart on their BOD.

Sanders was getting himself arrested for civil rights and has caucused with Democrats since being in Congress.

Epic, epic fail.

[RoccoR5955]

47. What are you talking about?

Did you get those talking points from Fox News or Rush?

Bernie was not anti JFK afaik, and he DOES want to bring the Party back to the FDR days, when the Dems cared about people more than corporations.

Bernie only left the Dems, because the Dems left WE THE PEOPLE, in favor of them, the corporations.

[SunSeeker]

49. +2

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

56. "You cannot expect the party to support someone who (isn't a Dem)"

That's different from "someone who doesn't support the party." Bernie has always supported the Democratic Party, that's why he caucuses with it.

This is typical of the Democratic Party, take your base for granted, and Bernie's supporters represent the base. Obama took the base for granted in both 2008 and 2012.

[AlbertCat]

67. Meh...

... The same old debunked song....with no hint of the real history.

Sanders may have been an Independent, but you pretend he was caucusing with the GOP and anti- anything-Dem... which is completely absurd. He supported the party when it acted progressively.... and even then some. (We've already seen what an Indie who leans way to the right looks like)

The "FAR Left" in FDR's time were mostly Communists, which Sander's isn't. He's really not that "far" left either. (Hey.... isn't he supposed to be a gun nut?) Also, that last FDR term was WWII.... which is most certainly not the USA's normal state affairs anyway. Also, Dems were sorta the conservative party then..... until Civil Rights....

And you'll have to point to where Sanders said he didn't want "ANY continuation of Obama's policies". Policies concerning what exactly? Or is it "any and all"?

"Obama and Biden may openly endorse Hillary" Yeah well.... I don't remember all these Dems using Obama to support their candidacies in the last elections. Do they think he's "usable" now?


These lame memes get trotted out again and again as if they actually mean anything. It's like ditto heads!

[Unknown Beatle]

77. The OP is about the attcks that are coming from the left.

And lo and behold, first thing someone does is attack.

[questionseverything]

78. right on schedule

[shenmue]

81. He's been a Democrat for a few months

Opportunism.

[bvar22]

113. Lets take a look at Bernie's "opportunism":

* Sanders has supported gay rights since 40 years ago. Clinton and Republicans have not.

* Sanders wants to end the prohibition of marijuana. Clinton & The Republicans do not.

* Sanders wants to end the death penalty. Clinton and Th Republicans do not.

* Sanders wants to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Clinton and the Republicans do not.

* Sanders wants to break up the biggest banks. Clinton and The Republicans do not.

* Sanders voted against the Wall Street bailout. Clinton and the Republicans (and too many "Democrats) did not.

* Sanders introduced legislation to overturn Citizens United. Clinton and The Republicans did not.

* Sanders refuses to accept money from super PACs. Clinton and the Republicans do not.

* Sanders supports a single-payer healthcare system. Clinton and The Republicans do not.

* Sanders refrains from waging personal attacks for political gains. Clinton and The Republicans do not.

* Sanders considers climate change our nation's biggest threat. Clinton and The Republicans do not.

* Sanders opposed the Keystone XL Pipeline since day one. Clinton and the Republicans do not.

* Sanders voted against the Patriot Act. Clinton and the Republicans did not.

* Sanders voted against the war in Iraq. Clinton and The Republicans did not.

* Sanders wants to Raise (or eliminate) the CAP on FICA deductions. Clinton and the Republicans do not.

* Sanders opposes unrestricted "Free Trade". Clinton and the Republican do not.

*Clinton and the Republicans want ti INCREASE more cheap foreign labor. Bernie does not.

Hillary sure seems to agree with Republicans a lot.
I don't,
that is why I am a Democrat, and voting for a Democrat....Bernie!

[cascadiance]

91. And he also was never a REPUBLICAN, UNLIKE some of these holier than though PTB...

... that have taken over this party to drive it more towards fascist alignment with the economic royalists instead of fighting them off the way a REAL Democrat like FDR did in his time and got reelected THREE TIMES by the people who respected that he worked for THEM and not the power mongers at the top!

[jillan]

92. You're right. Bernie IS an Independent because he does not toe the party line. And

that is exactly why so many people support him.

[mwooldri]

95. Who cacused for years with which party in Congress?

Last edited Wed Jan 27, 2016, 02:11 AM - Edit history (1)

I guess the next thing I'll be hearing is that Donald Trump is more of a Democrat than Bernie Sanders.

In any case I think I heard that Bernie doesn't want to just continue President Obama's policies.... he wants to take them to the next level. Links on proof to follow.

Edit: cant be bothered digging up the exact thing i remembered so make do with this offering that alludes to my point: Clinton will continue the status quo and Sanders will want to push harder for the people.

http://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/clinton-sanders-offer-dems-choice-evolution-or-revolution

[A Simple Game]

102. Doesn't matter if Bernie was anti-JFK he couldn't vote in 1960.

Not that I believe a word you said in your post.

It appears you are against new Democrats like Bernie and me. Does that mean you are for the ever increasing loss of party members to the status of unaffiliated?

Why would President Obama support Hillary after he said he would not take a third term if possible because the job needs new ideas on a regular basis if Hillary says she would continue the President's agenda for the most part?

Signed: A Dino from the left, and proud of it

[sulphurdunn]

106. Bernie Sander

is many things, a member of the far left isn't one of them. If that seems so, it may be because the Democratic Party has followed the money trail so far to the right that what was once a liberal social progressive now looks like the disheveled caricature of a Trotskyite bomb thrower to you.

[wavesofeuphoria]

120. This sounds a lot like birtherism thinking ...

Pure bloods vs half bloods?

[workinclasszero]

3. Funny that this site is called democratic underground

And is in support of the party and here are posts attacking that very party.

Sad.

[G_j]

6. The OP reads party Establishment

btw

[Duval]

82. Thanks for reminding "some" of us! I'd recommend your post if I could.

[Goblinmonger]

10. This is a site for Progressive Democrats

And you are somehow shocked that progressives overwhelmingly support Sanders? Clinton can say she is a lifelong progressive all she wants; her voting record makes the truth much more clear. Feingold is a Progressive. Wellston was a Progressive. Compare their voting records to hers and maybe it will make some sense to you.

[murielm99]

38. This is a site for ALL Democrats.

We are a big tent.

[redstateblues]

107. Thank you

I'm sick of BSS deciding who REAL Democrats are.

[JTFrog]

93. A diverse community of people holding a broad range of center-to-left viewpoints.

Our Community Standards

It is the responsibility of all DU members to participate on our discussion forums in a manner that promotes a positive atmosphere and encourages good discussions among a diverse community of people holding a broad range of center-to-left viewpoints. Members should refrain from posting messages on DU that are disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate. These broad community standards of behavior are maintained through the combined efforts of members posting and serving on citizen juries, using their own best judgment to decide what behavior is appropriate and what is not.

Members who cannot hold themselves to a high standard risk having their posts hidden by a jury of their peers, and being blocked out of discussion threads they disrupt. Those who exhibit a pattern of willful disregard for the Community Standards risk being in violation of our Terms of Service, and could have their posting privileges revoked.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I don't think you get to arbitrarily decide otherwise.

Just sayin.....

[litlbilly]

14. then explain why all of us Bernie supporters are banned from your precious Hillary group.

[Action_Patrol]

20. Every group is a safe haven.

Every single group excludes people that would attack the members of the group.

[daleanime]

29. Or like me....

get banned for nothing.

[Action_Patrol]

32. I have no idea what you did to get banned.

But every group is a safe haven.
What may have seemed innocent to you could have been insulting or confrontational to someone else.

I don't participate in any of the candidate groups.

Insert smiley doing something here.

[daleanime]

34. ........

The above is all you needed to be banned from Hillary land. How is that 'insulting or confrontational'?

[Action_Patrol]

35. Take it up with them.

No idea what context that was in or what you used that as a reply to.

[daleanime]

36. So, that's a yes?

Good to know, have a great day.

[Action_Patrol]

37. What the hell does that even mean?

Do you realize I don't know you, have never had discourse with you nor contributed to any of your persecution?

I bet you're awesome at parties.

[Hulk]

66. Cha banned me from the "pro-HRC" threads por nada

I agree with you. Just don't upset the canoe cause the HRC thread-makers have thin skin and will ban you in a heartbeat for questioning their undying loyalty. Cha is a perfect example of that cowardly tactic.

[LiberalLovinLug]

119. There could be a whole other large group: Hillary Group Castouts

I was for my first post, which was quite benign. It took less than a minute.

Maybe it was my sig graphic that made someone uncomfortable.

[Fuddnik]

33. Me too.

[RoccoR5955]

48. Me too

Banned for nothing as well.

[Paka]

58. Me too!

Banned for nothing.

[Ned_Devine]

59. I got banned for saying I was going to remove my brain so we could have a fair debate

[Art_from_Ark]

110. LOL

[Enthusiast]

64. Me too.

Although I might have had hidden bad intentions.....considering.

[senz]

71. Me too.

I didn't even know I had posted in the Hillary Group until I got an email telling me I'd been banned from the group. The offending comment was a long, thoughtful delineation of my evolution from Hillary supporter (when she was FLOTUS) to Hillary critic after witnessing her treatment of Obama in 2008.

[nolabear]

53. Funny how that works. I got banned from the Bernie group for trying to have a discussion.

No aggression, no attack, just a couple of questions and when I was attacked I said I didn't think that was doing the cause any good. I was out of there. DU used to be a place to learn.

[Tanuki]

75. I got banned from the Bernie group for my first post there, namely this:

" Has Mannie Garcia endorsed anyone yet?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mannie_Garcia "
_____________________________


You can see it yourself here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/128091802#post2|

Yes, that is all it takes to get banned from the Bernie group, so give it a rest.

[workinclasszero]

121. Are you serious?

I and many others are banned from your precious Bernie group as well.

But I bet you all are good with that right? SMH

[litlbilly]

122. And who's fault is that? too funny

[workinclasszero]

123. See, you are good with it

Hypocrisy...got to love it?

[cali]

15. You seem to be advocating blind support with the party

That is a very unhealthy approach.

[Enthusiast]

65. You seem to have no regard for the insurance industry.

[questionseverything]

79. omg yesssssssssssssss please think of the insurance ceos

i miss the yes men

[rurallib]

21. true, we should march in lockstep and be obsequious to our leaders

else we fail.
Wasn't it that great Democratic leader Rudy Giulliani that once said that obedience to authority is the greatest form of freedom?

Feel the freedom!
I'd rather feel the Bern and at least know that we tried to change a rigged system rather than let fear keep us contained.

[Broward]

22. Are you suggesting blind allegiance?

Should we not call out Party leaders when they stray far from what were once core Democratic principles?

[zeemike]

30. That scares me when I see that.

When "The Party" becomes an untouchable holey object above criticism...like it is a Orwellian entity.
The party is no better than the people that are running it...and when they fail us they must go or we will lose not only elections but the democratic part of the Democratic Party...It is the whole reason for the underground part of DU.

[VulgarPoet]

31. “If you want a picture of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face, forever." eom

[stonecutter357]

42. +1

[SunSeeker]

50. +2

[cui bono]

116. Some people actually care what the party is supposed to stand for. You know, principles.

Some just care about the name and are glad it's become corporate.

Sad.

.

[merrily]

4. The attacks have "started?" Where has the author been for the last year or more?

Factoid: Confederacy of Dunces was also the title of the first novel of John Kennedy O'Toole that was first published 11 years after his suicide at age 31 and won a Pulitzer Prize. The man character was a Don Quixote type.

[Nanjeanne]

5. Love this

Especially this part:

In Sanders we have a leader who – against all odds -- has broken through the rigged system, reached out to us, and given voice to the 99% who’ve been left behind.

If we choose courage over fear; tolerance over jingoism, hate and bigotry; a belief in our own industry, resourcefulness and ability over the siren song of magic markets and easy money; if we stand together, we can put this evil genie back in its bottle, and we can take back our country and make government work again, and make it work for us.

[Ichingcarpenter]

9. Great lines

And like a rock, the hardness of the truth, will survive over the falsehoods made of clay as the waters of time decide which will survive.

[senz]

72. Keeping the genie in the bottle after it's been out this long

is going to take some effort.

[mythology]

8. I'm not sure the author understands that Swift was a satirist

But also do they really want to risk invoking comparisons to Ignatius J. Reilly?

[Goblinmonger]

12. I think the author gets Swift's point.

And you do know that the claim that Reilly was a true genius is true only in him mind, right?

[cali]

16. It's clear the author understands it's satire.

[Tanuki]

74. My first thought too was the hilarious John Kennedy Toole novel!

i agree, they may want to rethink this.

[WillyT]

11. First They Ignore You...

[ymetca]

69. I've always felt this saying was missing a critical step

between "then they fight you" and "then you win" ...

"Then they kill you."

MLK said it better: "I might not get to the mountain top with you.."

Political pragmatists are simply, and always, the status quo. The Establishment.

[Faux pas]

17. Kickin'

[thereismore]

18. The Revolution has not been televised—but the counterattack will be.

Powerful article. Let's embrace their hatred for us.

[G_j]

19. true

yes, only the attacks on the revolution will be televised, and with great gusto...

[nolabels]

109. At what point does it become ripe?

Or to think a little deeper, if it were much farther along than ripe, to the point of being putrid, then such works with attacks or counters only open it up more to hasten more of the nastiness, turmoil and the loss or trust that many have been feeling. Many are getting to know the fact that it is not what is being said but what is being done.

I would even go further to postulate that the only part that will work for establishment clubbers is the counter, as like making it counterproductive for them making such moves. Attacking something larger than your able to conceptualize has never been a good idea

[Blue_Tires]

23. There's that word again...

[ejbr]

28. Excellent read

Thanks for sharing!

[WillyT]

41. HUGE K & R !!! - THANK YOU !!!

[stonecutter357]

44. Are you a true Bernie supporter ?

[G_j]

46. Who?

I am, but why do you ask?

[VulgarPoet]

51. not sure if sarcasm but

they expect the disenfranchised 99% to just roll over and accept hilary as our lord and savior if she wins the primary.

[senz]

73. Disgustingly off-putting photo

So glad she's using it.

[Duval]

83. It's just delightful! (sarcasm)

[senz]

86. lol

been so many Hill types around today, I was reluctant to check the reply -- and then delighted to see a friendly name and face!

[BeanMusical]

96. .

[azmom]

45. K&R

[TIME TO PANIC]

52. The democratic establishment is willing to commit suicide, in order to coronate Hillary.

They have turned their back on the left and traditional democratic values.
A winning strategy.

[840high]

55. They've turned their backs on me for sure.

[TIME TO PANIC]

57. and everyone who's not part of the 1% club.

[cui bono]

115. Yeah, and it started a long time ago.

When Bernie become president he will welcome the left and the masses of people demanding change. He won't shut us out and have his COS tell us to STFU and call us fucking retards.

.

[TIME TO PANIC]

117. Yeah, and that's the difference, Bernie is inclusive. n/t

[elljay]

54. In the "liberal" media, too

There is also a concerted effort to trot out the leaders of NARAL, Planned Parenthood and Human Rights Campaign so they can feign hurt that Bernie would call them "establishment." We all know that what he meant was that the leaders of these organizations made the endorsement; their membership was never polled. Chris Hayes keeps going on and on about this on MSNBC. Do they think we're too stupid to see what they're doing? I will gladly support Hillary if she is the nominee and I see no need to bash her. I am voting for Bernie because I agree with his policies, not HRC's. Nothing personal, I just happen to be a progressive and she is not. She should stand up for her policies, show how they differ from Bernie's, and make the case for why she would be a better candidate. Instead, she seems to be pulling out all stops to try to discredit his true progressive credentials. No one who is familiar with Bernie is going to buy the line that he is weak on abortion and women's issues, or LGBT rights, or gun control. It just makes Hillary look desperate.

[Fast Walker 52]

60. Tom Friedman is a classic detached rich pundit asshole

according to the piece, he called Sanders a communist.

Good thing hardly anyone pays attention to him any more.

[bread_and_roses]

61. Good article - here's another

https://www.jacobinmag.com/2016/01/vox-bernie-sanders-single-payer-ezra-klein-matt-yglesias/

Long, wonky, dense, interesting. Good breakdown of pundit disavowing previously held position - now that said previous position would support Bernie

[MisterP]

87. I'll always remember Yglesias on the Bangladesh factory collapse

scum

[G_j]

88. awesome

Last edited Wed Jan 27, 2016, 03:04 AM - Edit history (1)

well done!Well worth the read.

[99Forever]

62. Superb piece.

This is indeed the battle for our very future.

[DonCoquixote]

63. the best slice of the feast

"Bottom line, until Sanders, the terms of the national debate were dictated by the Plutocracy, and there was no way to pierce the carefully constructed interlocking web of money, media, and myth the Oligarchs constructed. Oh, there were voices – but they were largely consigned to the fringes of society, with little or no chance of breaking through to reach the masses of people who’ve been duped, fleeced and fooled into believing that government is inevitably inept, taxes are a curse, and an uber-free market our salvation."

[G_j]

124. until Sanders, the terms of the national debate were dictated by the Plutocracy

[Enthusiast]

68. Kicked and recommended!

[Duval]

84. K&R!

[cantbeserious]

90. When We Stand Together - No Citizen Need Settle For The Lesser Of Two Corporate Evils - Go Bernie Go

eom

[randome]

104. Unless Sanders is in reality Jesus Christ, we ALWAYS settle for the lesser of two evils.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]"The whole world is a circus if you know how to look at it."
Tony Randall, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964)[/center][/font][hr]

[cantbeserious]

108. And Some Are Fine With That - Too Sad

eom

[Zorra]

94. The enormous extent of oligarch control has been exposed during this

primary season.

There's no going back, and no forgetting of who their minions are.

[BeanMusical]

97. Kick and R

[AtomicKitten]

98. Social media has changed the paradigm.

Hopefully enough to make Bermie impervious to the attacks. The truth will prevail.

[raouldukelives]

101. Big K&R

Just an observation, the largest recipients of welfare are not corporations, they are the individual shareholders of them.

[LWolf]

105. As expected.

We knew the corrupt establishment wouldn't back down, that they'd come at us like with their main weapons: fear, disdain, ridicule, and dishonesty.

If we choose choose courage over fear. We must choose tolerance over jingoism, hate and bigotry. We must hold a belief in our own industry, resourcefulness and ability over the siren song of magic markets and easy money. If we stand together, then we can put this evil genie back in its bottle and we can take back our country and make government work again – for all of us.

That is the source of our power. And it is the only power that can take on the establishment confederacy that is now gathering against us.

Sanders has been saying this all along, and he's right.

[Ivan Kaputski]

112. She's was a communist on the board of Wall-mart helping to get Chinese goods on the selves.

...or at least a communist sympathizer ...for money.

[LiberalLovinLug]

114. Big K & R