We finally have Presidential candidate...

[SHRED]

...who is for "we the people" in Senator Sanders.

What absolutely astounds me is that he doesn't have a huge lead over all candidates in all parties.

What do people want?
I mean here we have someone and yet people hang on to the wealthy status quo that control our government instead.

It's quite remarkable.


..

[liberal_at_heart]

1. A lot of Hillary supporters are already financially comfortable.

They already have a living wage, can pay their medical bills, send their kids to college, and contribute to their 401(k). They are okay with the status quo. The status quo is just fine for them.

[SHRED]

4. I am set pretty well myself however...

...I don't want to live in an impoverished country.

[lostnfound]

7. I am SO totally in agreement with you.

It's heartbreaking to see the lack of opportunity and the struggles that people have, just to live.

Working hard should be enough.

[liberal_at_heart]

9. It's great that you can look outside yourself. Some with money can't do that.

[TheBlackAdder]

85. Same here. I make out whomever is in office. Some want TPP to bolster their 401Ks before retirement.

.


If you were to look at them, there would be a solid tinge of Libertarian self-affectiveness inside.

They call themselves Democrats, because of a few issues, but inside, their Reagan Republicans.


.

[SHRED]

86. Deep

Thanks for that perspective. Appreciated.

[Fantastic Anarchist]

108. I'm also doing well ...

... and can't stand the status quo.

[WhaTHellsgoingonhere]

73. Yep

[TheBlackAdder]

84. The OVER-40 crowd stuck the Millenials with a $17T credit card debt, expensing 30 years of bills. nt

[SHRED]

88. There is no "over 40 crowd"

We are all individuals with different ideas and lives.

[TheBlackAdder]

91. I'm over-40, we've all benefited by placing debt onto the Federal Deficit, even Millenials.

.



But, the lion's share of the federal deficit was amassed by the Baby Boomers and Gen-Xers.

While we're all individuals, both parties were in office, and we liked the "perceived prosperity."


.

[yourpaljoey]

2. amazing, is it not?

[Jennylynn]

3. Remarkable indeed

It's the devil you know syndrome. In my view.

[Broward]

5. Many voters are just uninformed or misinformed.

However, I suspect that many of those that back Hillary here are just on the right side of the political spectrum.

[SHRED]

6. My dear sister and her wife...

...are big for Hillary.

I asked her if she's watched the debates and town halls. She said she didn't. So yeah...there's that.

[redstateblues]

58. Condescending Bullshit. Hillary was one of the most liberal Senators in Congress

You are sadly misinformed

[Broward]

61. Hillary's about as liberal as Richard Nixon was.

[tokenlib]

69. Is it possible Nixon was to the left of Hillary on a few things? N/t

[Broward]

71. Yes, I actually should've said that she's to the right of Nixon.

[AgadorSparticus]

99. So anyone who disagrees with you is uninformed or misinformed?

This is the kind of thinking that needs to go away.

[Broward]

100. Not anyone, but many yes.

[brooklynite]

8. Translation: why doesn't the rest of the country see things exactly the way I do?

[NanceGreggs]

11. Exactly.

[PufPuf23]

30. Here is how I see Hillary Clinton.

Make an excuse for that.

Repulsive psychopath.

We deserve a better choice from our Democratic Party.

I was never a fan of Hillary Clinton but have been repulsed by her since the 2008 POTUS cycle.

[Agony]

72. There is no excuse for that. it is fatal flaw in someone asking to be granted a leadership role.

[rateyes]

77. Good gawd. Makes me want to puke.

[SHRED]

13. Nope

I compare Bernie's life, friends, personal wealth, and positions he takes compared to her's.

By any objective measure they are far apart in who they care about and who they answer to.

While she has a degree of compassion for us "little people" she can't touch Sanders.
With friends like Rahm and Henry who needs enemies?

[brooklynite]

20. Sorry, you lost me at "objective"...

I learned many years ago not to confuse my personal opinions with "objective" reality.

[SHRED]

22. One word trips you up

So you discount what I posted.

Real nice.

[revbones]

75. What objective measure says different from what he said?

Objectively looking at the positions, she's less liberal or progressive.
Objectively looking at the emails or the money from Wall St, or her bankruptcy bill vote, she's corrupt.
Objectively looking at what she told the unions about the Colombia Free Trade Agreement and what she actually did (lobby for it) you see that she's a liar.

[sister_rosa_refried]

70. Thank you, dear

[tokenlib]

74. Translation: after over two decades New Dems are facing a rebellion. N/t

[PufPuf23]

78. Why are you not commenting on how I see Hillary Clinton? nt

[Major Hogwash]

10. Maybe they only heard half of the lies she has told so far.

And don't know about the other half of the lies she has told so far.

[BillZBubb]

28. They don't want to hear, they don't want to know. That is the problem.

[Major Hogwash]

46. She sounds like a Democrat to me . . .

. . . half of the time.

The other half of the time I can't tell the difference between her and a Republican!!!

[Vattel]

12. It is remarkable. The power structure gets internalized, I guess.

[pat_k]

15. Beltway group think internalized by people "out here."

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=1570023

[Vattel]

16. Nice post pat k. Thanks for the insight.

[SHRED]

19. Yep

[beltanefauve]

113. Thanks!

Very well written!

[Trust Buster]

14. People tend to be realistic. They know we live in a representative government.

Sanders want to take from others. Those "others" aren't wild about that. They have representatives in Congress as well. Neither side can rule with an iron fist. Most people know that compromise is essential. Most people reside in the political center in this country. That's the way it's supposed to be.

[Broward]

17. Yes, keep compromising ever rightward. That's why today's center is yesterday's right.

[SHRED]

18. "Sanders wants to take from others"

Nonsense.
The word is RECOVER.

He wants us to recover what's been taken.

[Trust Buster]

23. Oh O.K., good luck trying to convince the elected representatives of those folks that you only are

looking to "recover" your money. May the wind be at your back with that one....

[SHRED]

25. Are you defending low tax rates on the wealthy?

[Trust Buster]

29. No, I understand the political reality. The Republicans will not hear of it.

[highprincipleswork]

31. Pitchforks time!!!!

[Trust Buster]

38. You would need 60 votes in the Senate. We currently have 46.

[highprincipleswork]

94. I am not interested in weak tea.

[SHRED]

35. Well let's not upset the Republicans fer god sake

[Trust Buster]

40. Do we have 60 votes in the Senate ?

[SHRED]

45. It's not 2017 yet. The election hasn't happened yet.

[Trust Buster]

50. We're not going to have 60 votes in the Senate in 2017 or control of the House.

[DemocracyDirect]

103. Are you from the future?

Your foreknowledge is amazing.

[Trust Buster]

105. Thank you. I follow this stuff pretty closely.

[BillZBubb]

32. Geez, poll after poll shows a majority of BOTH Democrats and Repubiclans

support higher taxes on the wealthy. The only people who don't are the ultra right and Hillary supporters.

[Trust Buster]

43. Senate votes are the votes that matter. We don't have 60. We only have 46.

[BillZBubb]

55. Hogwash. You "no we can't" types are pathetic.

We need to get near 60 and we can. Then with a president who will truly fight for what is needed we can get a few republicans to play ball. Majorities of both parties support this. What is needed is real arm twisting and power politics. That is something we won't have with Hillary--she's already given up before the fight.

[Trust Buster]

68. The Koch brothers are spending huge money at the state level. In my state of Ohio,

you can't turn on the t.v. without our candidate getting pounded by the Koch's. They're better funded and better organized. We'll be lucky to retake the Senate with a slim majority. I will be satisfied if Hillary is elected, reshapes the Supreme Court and holds serve legislatively.

[BillZBubb]

81. Of course you'll be satisfied with that, you support the "no we can't" candidate.

[senz]

59. Which tells us something about Hillary supporters.

[loyalsister]

95. That's right

People want to RECOVER their quality of life, and an expectation that their children will grow up and have good ones, themselves.

[bvar22]

27. And there are some who want to keep the re-distribution of wealth flowing upwards to the 1%

Bernie wants the 1% to share with all Americans. We ALL contribute.
Are you an only child?

Are against ALL taxation?
Taxation takes from your vague "others" too, only now, it flows upwards to those who are already obscenely RICH.
I would like to see that taxation provide Health Care and Education to EVERYONE.
No exceptions.

That is what a democracy is all about..."promote the General Welfare" (Preamble of the Constitution.).
You would directly benefit from a healthy and educated citizenry too.

[Trust Buster]

33. But you would have to find 60 votes in the Senate to end a filibuster. Currently, we have 46.

[SHRED]

39. Defeatism is for losers

[Trust Buster]

47. Numbers don't lie.

[SHRED]

51. So you already know what the Senate makeup will be?

Damn you're good.

[Trust Buster]

53. Take a look at the Cook Report. The numbers don't lie.

[SHRED]

57. So is it more compromise with Repubs you're after?

[Trust Buster]

62. It's not a matter of what I'm after. A President's power is limited to his Party's power in Congress

That's always been the case. The priority in this election is to have a Democrat reshape the Supreme Court. Legislatively, incremental gain is all that's possible and, even then, we'll have to offer some carrots to Republicans. We live in an atmosphere of divided government and polarization. For that reason, I've have not taken Sanders seriously at any time throughout this primary season.

[Gregorian]

65. A crucial part of Bernie's campaign is citizen involvement.

Also, Bernie wants to "bring Congress closer to the grassroots organizations".

Bernie is one who would use the bully pulpit to his advantage (our advantage).

There are things you may not be taking into consideration. Not the least of which is, he can beat the republican nominee.

[Trust Buster]

98. You don't start with a 74 year old nominee and then build grassroots. It's the other way around.

[bvar22]

112. The Democrats HAD a large majority in the HOuse,

AND a 60 vote filibuster proof majority in the Senate for about a month.

You would think they would have kept the Senate In Session Day & Night to get a Democratic Party Agenda passed.
The Republicans would NEVER waste a golden opportunity like the one the Democrats had in 2008.

How much significant Democratic legislation did they cram through when they had this Golden Opportunity?
I'll give you a hint by listing everything of importance after this sentence:
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

...Thats about it.
In reality, the Democrats FEARED a 60 vote majority in the Senate. That is why they dawdled and let Franken twist in the wind for so long instead of raising an unholy uproar to get him seated as quickly as possible, like the Republicans did in 2000.

[Bleacher Creature]

21. You know there are ways to support your preferred candidate . . .

. . . that don't involve flat-out insulting everyone who doesn't.

It might be a more effective approach.

[SHRED]

24. A standard rebuttal when facts are too uncomfortable

I understand.

[Bleacher Creature]

36. Thanks for proving my point!

And for the record, I'm pretty comfortable with the facts on my side.

[BillZBubb]

41. There is no other way to explain it. If you find that insulting that is on you.

[Thinkingabout]

26. We the people who have more votes for Hillary is the Democratically who will be making

The decision, more votes, more delegates.

[Lizzie Poppet]

34. It's almost as if people voted against their own self-interest.

But we're not supposed to say that...

[SHRED]

42. And they defend it right here on this thread

[Broward]

44. Yes, you're only supposed to say that about Republicans apparently.

[longship]

37. Let the bird decide.

Well, I guess this one is in the bag for Bernie.

#thebirddecides

#naturecastsitsvote

[Bluestar]

48. The audacity

I'm so tired of being "shamed" by sanctimonious Bernie supporters.

[Bread and Circus]

49. I know WillyT got banned for this but he was on to something when he said "x" which I cannot repeat

because apparently DU isn't a place to deal with some real, hard truths.

[redstateblues]

60. Yep. The hard truth that racism is still alive and well

[Bread and Circus]

76. True, but the insinuation has been overused to point of abuse

When it comes to Sanders and his supporters.

[bvar22]

97. Not just racism is alive and well,

but Classism is also dominating our Political scene.

[uponit7771]

96. ...or isnt a haven for overt racist bullshit coming from the same folk who hate Obama to the core?

[senz]

52. Wealth controls the MSM and the Party. If people don't know much about him, they

won't be voting for him.

One thing wealth doesn't control yet is the internet and all social media -- which have been able to spread the good news about Bernie to the point that he's giving the oligarchy's favored candidate a real run for her money. People are voting for him in larger and larger numbers.

Meanwhile the oligarchic candidate's minions swagger and gloat about their candidate's good, but diminishing, showing.

[Califonz]

54. A curious riddle it is indeed

"Democracy is that system of government under which people, having 60,000,000 native-born adults to choose from, including thousands who are handsome and many who are wise, pick out a Coolidge to be head of state. It is as if a hungry man, set before a banquet prepared by master cooks and covering a table an acre in area, should turn his back upon the feast and stay his stomach by catching and eating flies." -- H.L. Mencken, on the election of Coolidge in 1924.

The more things change, the more they stay the same, eh?

[SHRED]

80. Profundity

[Chezboo]

56. In the end, sadly, it appears it's not We the People who decide

"You "think" they are stealing elections? They have been doing it for decades. And they have been very successful.
Election Fraud is the third-rail of American politics. No one will touch it, even those who have lost elections due to fraud."

(More in Responses following blog)

Five Democratic Primaries: Exit Poll Discrepancies and Win Probabilities

Richard Charnin
Updated March 20, 2016

https://richardcharnin.wordpress.com/2016/03/16/five-democratic-primaries-exit-poll-discrepancies-and-win-probabilities/

[Lizzie Poppet]

66. If voting mattered, they wouldn't let us do it.

[questionseverything]

111. love charnin's work

the truth is we have no clue if hc actually won those southern states or by what margin

there is not much paper to count (blackboxvoting) and the election officials wouldn't let it be counted if there were

i do not believe the US is nearly as "red" as the blackboxes tell us they are

[Gregorian]

63. Maybe fear or misinformation. I think people are not fully informed, or they might change their mind

First should be stopping republicans.

So right there, we have a point that is important.

What is important is not whether unicorns can be delivered today, but which direction the candidate's democratic vision points. Not the one the media portrays, but the real one. What were you? What is important? How has it been translated in reality.

I'm recovering from initial shock at lack of enthusiasm for Bernie. As time goes on, people will catch on. Let's just hope enough do.

[SHRED]

79. Agreed

[deathrind]

64. It is...

...pretty amazing and not in a good way. Bernie is the first candidate in my life that is actually campaigning on the issues I have heard the Democratic Party talk about for decades. Healthcare reform, education reform, financial reform etc yet the party establishment has turned their back on him and done their best to minimize and make go away.

The Democratic Party of today is not the party I have grown up supporting and voted for. Over the years it has consistently tacked to the right.

Who knows, maybe that is a good thing. People have been bemoaning the lack of more than two choices in politics for years. Perhaps this will be what it takes to get people involved.

[SHRED]

67. Well said

[moondust]

82. I'll take a guess.

Perhaps the establishment deciders decided as much as 7-8 years ago that it would be her turn next, that she would be the de facto candidate in 2016, and they've been grooming her and counting on that ever since.

[SHRED]

83. Good "guess"...LOL

[flamingdem]

87. He just needed more time

even just a few more months.

People don't know him well enough.

[SHRED]

89. Sadly so.

But his ideas will keep enlightening others long into the future I predict pressuring our elected representatives in that direction.

[flamingdem]

90. He'll extract plenty from Hillary

and thank gawd for that!

I do wonder how he'll keep the movement going. He really is "the one" that inspires the love that inspires change.

[SHRED]

92. I think he is seeing a new frontier in politics

A populist movement.
A lesson to those coming up.

Speaking the truth is new in politics.

[flamingdem]

93. I agree, he's developing a vision

and can't imagine him letting it go.

I trust him to figure it out. The question would be how to structure a movement without threatening the Democratic party. He'd have to sell it as an element of the party, the way he added funding for health clinics to ACA. He can persuade and point out it's for the long term benefit of the party. That way there might be some funding. I don't know if there's a format where he or rather a movement sparked by him can keep getting funding from small donors, maybe.

[NorthCarolina]

101. The MSM has apparently earned their keep this election cycle.

They paint "reality" for the masses.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

102. So you are amazed that anyone who you assume shares your ideals and political

position would not see the value in Bernie.

It is frustrating as I too believe that Bernie is like a dream come true.

So can I assume you are equally, yes equally amazed at the idea any of these same people would not vote for Hillary in the GE for ALL of the obvious same reasons?

[SHRED]

104. Should Hillary get the nomination...

...I will hold my nose firmly shut and vote for her.
She is vastly superior to any Republican but not close to Sanders in my opinion.
For the sake of the SCOTUS alone I'll vote for her.

[Jackie Wilson Said]

107. Translation, you put the needs of others above your own.

[jwirr]

106. Excellent question.

[Utopian Leftist]

109. Hillary's supporters are "realistic," donchaknow?

As opposed to Bernie's supporters who are optimistic.

Guess which of those qualities wins more elections???

Hillary: "Aim lower, so your expectations will be less hurt by my inevitable betrayal."

[SHRED]

110. My expectations

I'm for a candidate that doesn't carry on and take advice with a war criminal (Kissinger).
I'm for a candidate that doesn't have Super PACs.
I'm for a candidate that does not engage in high dollar speaking events (let's see the transcripts) with the forces that have all but ruined our government.