2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumIn 2008 I was a Clinton supporter throughout most of the primary season
Last edited Sat Jan 2, 2016, 06:48 PM - Edit history (1)
Some of you here probably remember that. I shifted my support to Obama late, after he won the Oregon primary and it became clear to me that Hillary had no real chance left of winning the nomination. I thought then that the time for unity had come. Clearly we have not yet reached that point during this cycle, but yes that time will arrive soon enough.
Hillary Clinton wasn't my first choice for the Democratic nomination in 2008, actually she was my 4th. Earlier I held out hopes of either Clark, Feingold, or Gore running but of course none of them did. Then I briefly backed Joe Biden before it became clear to me that his candidacy that year wasn't viable. Barack Obama was my 5th choice, but not far behind Clinton in my overall rankings. I saw some societal good in America electing either our first female or first black president. I saw the Obama and Clinton overall platforms as pretty darn similar. Each of course had some pros and cons, but I gave the edge to Hillary because I believed she was better prepared to confront and deal with strident Republican opposition than Obama was at the time.
I didn't buy into the argument that Republicans would fight harder against their old foe Hillary Clinton than they would against a man who proclaimed that there wasn't a red or blue America, just one America. In a fundamental way of course Barack was right, but politically I just wasn't buying it. I was under no illusions about the differences between our two major parties. I knew that we would be much worse off as a nation if any Republican nominee went on to win the White House rather than a Democratic one.
I know that many of Barack Obama's most fervent supporters viewed his possible election as a potentially transformative event. Aside from America finally integrating the presidency, I didn't. The reason why I didn't was soon on display as our President negotiated in good faith with John Boehner over what was being billed as a historic budget Grand Bargain - which IMO we were fortunate that the Republican Right balked at signing off on.
My support first for Hillary Clinton, and later for Barack Obama, was essentially pragmatic. That doesn't mean though that I thought ill of either person, actually I admired both of them. Nor does it mean that I was unappreciative of the good things I knew both of them would sincerely strive to accomplish as President, neither am I unappreciative now of the many good things that President Obama has in fact already accomplished as President. In the big picture I saw both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama as status quo politicians. Having said that let me explain that I do not see the status quo as a single undifferentiated mass with no discernible differences between those who seek to represent it. The status quo in my mind isn't a specific set of policies or a particular political platform. It is more of an intrinsic agreement about the size and slope of the playing field that politics is played on - on where the in and out of bound lines get drawn on that field rather than which side of it a particular team lines up on.
Winning or losing the political game as we know it has real consequences. It determines which human being ultimately gets to make the final call on whether to invade another country for example. It determines who gets to select the Supreme Court Judges who decide whether unlimited campaign donations from an individual donor are a form of protected free speech or, in the case of the 2000 Presidential Elections, who gets to take the oath of office to sit inside the oval office. All status quo choices are not equal, many flow from good intentions and often do some good, many have more selfish intentions and end up harmful to the interests of most average Americans. What all status quo choices have in common though is that none of them fundamentally challenge the basic status quo.
I believe that Hillary Clinton is the current benign face of the status quo - and I do not say that in any way as an insult. I like Hillary Clinton. I supported her before and I can support her again. When she horse trades on the political market I believe she keeps our interests in mind, which is not what I would say about virtually any of the leaders in today's Republican Party. She horse trades in the designated trading areas with formally recognized traders using officially accepted forms of currency with values determined by the central societal bank of the establishment. Standing on that playing field, playing by those rules, there are few as effective as Hillary Clinton is at racking up some points for our side. If the status quo can't be fundamentally changed than I want someone like Hillary Clinton fighting for our team.
But it is the status quo itself that is harming most Americans. Millions of us have been cornered by it with our backs against the wall, while millions more fall toward us threatening to crush us all under the collective weight of suffering. In 2008 I was voting to buy us a little time while we searched for the means to fundamentally alter a status quo stacked against us. In November I will do the same if I have no better choice. Right now though I do, in the candidacy of Bernie Sanders. This is the chance that I have been waiting for. I will back a reformer if the only alternative is deeper oppression. I will first choose a revolutionary though committed to bringing deep and essential substantive change. Bernie Sanders has spent a long life time preparing for this very moment. He could not be clearer on what must be done, and I can not be clearer that he is the man best prepared for the challenge in front of him, in front of all of us, in challenging the status quo .
Proserpina
(2,352 posts)Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)I wrote this back in April:
"There in NO Downside to Bernie running. NONE"
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026589128
I just don't see frame this primary fight as a struggle between the light and dark. I respect Clinton supporters,and like Bernie himself, I like and respect Clinton. But I am clear in my view of what our nation needs right now.
roguevalley
(40,656 posts)leveymg
(36,418 posts)Curious omission. No mention of Clinton's IWR vote and Obama's express opposition to invading Iraq. Not a word about Madam Secretary and her primary role in pushing regime change across MENA. How benign is her face on that status quo, Tom? Why is that?
Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)My top three all opposed the IWR (can't remember for sure about Biden). But you might recall that McCain/Palin was not exactly a dovish ticket nor will the next Republican one be either. Tell you what, if Clinton wins the Dem nomination and you think you can make a case for why I should vote Republican instead of backing her then, I will be all ears. Meanwhile, I back Bernie.
nc4bo
(17,651 posts)CharlotteVale
(2,717 posts)Live and Learn
(12,769 posts)cui bono
(19,926 posts)This sign from yesterday's Feel the Bern Rose Parade March says it all:
.
Marty McGraw
(1,024 posts)on that parade, it would now be so cool if a slogan would read:
'Remember Smiling? (or Smiles) - Vote Bernie 2016! -
Thank you for partaking cb!
jkbRN
(850 posts)Triana
(22,666 posts)I feel as you do about her. She'll get my vote if Bernie Sanders loses the primary. I admire her greatly and know she'll make a good President - and yes, she'll continue Obama's centrist legacy. If that's all we can do then I'll do it. But I think we really need Sanders to stop the Oligarchy and get back to something resembling a Democracy or Democratic Republic. Otherwise...we'll continue sinking into Oligarchy.
Funtatlaguy
(10,870 posts)U and OP sound like my brother from another mother or sister from another mister. Ha!
MeNMyVolt
(1,095 posts)Tom, you were a class act back in '08, and you still are.
Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)TryLogic
(1,723 posts)silvershadow
(10,336 posts)But that time will come after the primaries are well under way. I would just like to point out too, that thus far the candidates have run a tremendously superior race, as compared to the Republicans. On DU of late, there has been clear animus seeping out at the seams, myself and my snark included. I hope the candidate continue to run strong, each on their own, and may the best person win. My money is on Bernie. Literally. I feel it is Bernie or bust. I will, begrudgingly, vote for Mrs. Clinton if and when that time comes. The primaries are rigged, in my opinion, in that my state votes late and the nominee is usually chosen by the time the primary gets here. I feel a more fair way is a single primary day, but my calls for this to the Democrats thus far have been met with silence. Anyway, food for thought. Rock on! #feelthebern
Duval
(4,280 posts)Iggo
(47,552 posts)tblue37
(65,340 posts)Paka
(2,760 posts)Beautiful post. We have bought time with the status quo long enough. It's time for real change.
Marty McGraw
(1,024 posts)brings one to smart & reasoned choices. and you are a really smart and reasonable individual Tom!
KoKo
(84,711 posts)As, I Am. And, I have been involved here in my state...but, I think more these days about if the "Dark State" had collapsed back aways and things exposed which would have cost "Pain to the People" for a Short While rather than what we have suffered through since.
I won't say more because some Dems get banned here if they speak their minds....except to say that it might have been better for us if everything "Crashed and Burned" years ago, than what we are living through, NOW.
Just saying... Regards to You..in that I understand what you say.....but, it's just more "Kick the Can Down the Road" point of view.
Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)...that at least the last round of "Kicking the can down the road" may have turned out to have set the stage for Bernie pulling off his political revolution. I've flirted with it in the past, but I don't subscribe to the "it has to crash and burn first before anything good can rise from the ashes" line of thinking. Yes it can work that way, or it could go instead to the once almost unthinkable - like Hitler's Germany after the Left failed to ride discontent into power. The stakes have become so very high. A two term right wing presidency could tilt global warming toward an irreversible catastrophic scenario, maybe even a single term might seal that fate at this critical point in Earth's environmental history. A trigger happy Islamic world bating president might ignite a conflict that could devolve into a war of civilizations, and so on. I no longer count on the likelihood of a hard core right wing administration totally discrediting the Right. Eventually I suppose, but turning people against people and placing all blame on scapegoats can go on at fever pitch for a long time before burning out, and a lot of corpses may end up in the ashes first.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)I'm just rethinking how we Dems grew strong under the Bush Fiasco Presidency..and, how much we've lost since then because we didn't have an opponent and were too busy defending our figureheads who were defending themselves.
That's what I mean. I do understand where you are coming from...
Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)But we lost Citizens United under the Bush Court. It can be a close call. In my mind Obama believing in Climate change and acting at least somewhat in accord with that AND his willingness to negotiate a settlement with Iran rather than bomb them and us into a new war made it worth it. We have to get better as a movement at organizing against a Democratic President when er need to rather than near hero worship them. We were able to do that under LBJ. We have to be able to do that.
Yes, we need to do that. There's too much hero worshiping causing the Progressive Wing to spend time defending rather than mobilizing. And, that started under the Clinton Administration when we got into the mode of constantly defending him against the RW Crazies rather than look at his DLC policy decisions on Deregulation that cost us dearly. We didn't pay enough attention because we were overwhelmed in defense mode.
With Hillary and Bill in the White House we are in danger of that once again. I would feel better if both had taken a second look at his administration and admit that the Deregulation Policies along with Trade Agreements have hurt our country and citizens and need to be reversed in some cases and heavily revised in others.
We have to do better. I hope a strong Sanders/Warren Movement, whether Bernie wins or not, will give us more strength to move forward.
"but, I think more these days about if the "Dark State" had collapsed back aways and things exposed which would have cost "Pain to the People" for a Short While rather than what we have suffered through since. "
That's a pretty messed up sentence.... and a messed up thought.
Fast Walker 52
(7,723 posts)Douglas Carpenter
(20,226 posts)Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Leader who has the ability to make decisions based on the information currently available. The status quo from last century does not meet the needs of the twenty-first century. This is one reason why I am supporting Hillary Clinton. She has leadership ability.
Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)But the status quo that I see threatening us is very much full blown 21st century in substance. Greed is an affliction that is timeless. The choice of whether to confront or accommodate it must be made by every generation. That fight is always here and now, but sometimes we are more in danger of losing that fight than at other times. The risk now is very high. These times call for Sanders, but I realize that we do not seem to agree on that. I look forward to working together to elect whoever wins the Democratic nomination.
thesquanderer
(11,986 posts)That's one of the biggest knocks against Hillary. Based on the information available, she has not always made the best decisions. The obvious one, of course, is the IWR, but there are numerous others where she ended up later reversing her position (i.e. gay marriage, trade deals). There are those who say that her position shifts are due to her "weather vane" inclination rather than due to her having come to a better understanding, but really, what does it matter, neither explanation is great, if you want someone who gets the decision right the first time.
Regardless, it has nothing to do with the point of the OP, that Hillary is the candidate of the status quo (broadly defined, as the OP did), and Bernie is the "anti-status quo" candidate. Hillary does have strong leadership qualities, but she has no desire to lead us very far from where we already are.
For a simple example: Do I expect that Sanders could get us a single payer health system before the next (2020) presidential election? Highly unlikely. But I expect he will force the conversation, and start taking steps that could move us in that direction. OTOH, I expect that Hillary would do absolutely nothing toward that end.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)not addressing the problems in the twenty first century. You bring up one vote, I can bring up the five times Sanders voted against the Brady Bill, his vote on ILA, he has also voted for military action more than once, so no Sanders has not always made the right decisions. Sanders was for civil unions in 2009 so the stories he has not always been for gay marriage publically.
thesquanderer
(11,986 posts)Yes, Sanders voted against the Brady Bill. (Five times is irrelevant, it was the same bill. That's a no-win scenario. If he had finally changed his vote, he would as easily be attacked for flip-flopping, or being "against it before he was for it". But yes, most dems would consider that a bad vote, I'll give you that one... though he did have a rationale for voting against it, and did vote in favor of other gun restrictions around the same time.)
What is ILA?
Which military actions did Sanders vote for that you think was a wrong decision, or where Hillary was on the other side?
Being in favor of civil unions does not mean someone is against gay marriage. Bet you can't find anyplace where Sanders said he was against gay marriage.
See http://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/gay-rights-activists-committed-to-moving-beyond-civil-unions/Content?oid=2128715
Note that since the numbers add up to more than 100%, obviously many of the people supporting civil unions also supported gay marriage. It is ridiculous to say that support for the one means you couldn't have also supported the other.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)George W Bush when he ran for governor, Obama after his keynote speech, as I did MOM in his presidential run and I have also with Bernie Sanders. Information is easily available, though some seems to be covered or not easily found but after early information I found on Bush I have learned to save information in my personal files.
thesquanderer
(11,986 posts)It doesn't address anything we were talking about. Maybe it was meant as a reply to some other message?
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)candidates I may have supported or opposed, the information I provided was found in research of the candidates.
Questions like these has answers. I support Hillary and I know her positions and her votes while in congress.
What is ILA?
Which military actions did Sanders vote for that you think was a wrong decision, or where Hillary was on the other side?
Being in favor of civil unions does not mean someone is against gay marriage. Bet you can't find anyplace where Sanders said he was against gay marriage.
thesquanderer
(11,986 posts)You mentioned Sanders' bad vote on ILA, I can't respond to that because I don't recognize the acronym.
You mentioned Sanders' bad decisions on military action votes, but I don't know which votes you think were bad, and am not aware of any military action he voted for that Hillary opposed. (I do know some that Hillary was for that Bernie opposed, though.)
You mentioned Sanders's support for civil unions as evidence that he has not always been for gay marriage, which I showed was a logical fallacy. And unlike Hillary, he has never said he was against gay marriage.
If you can't (or are unwilling to) backup your assertions, though, then I guess we'll just leave it at that.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Sanders said Hillary was for regime changes but he may have forgotten his vote in the ILA.
Sanders voted for the AUMF of 2001, he voted for bombing Kosovo, he voted for expansion into Afghanistan. Maybe other occasions, this is a start.
thesquanderer
(11,986 posts)(which they may or may not be, that's open to debate)
then I think the question is, was Hillary against any of these things? Or would she have made what you consider to be the same "bad" decisions?
I'll save you the effort:
...she also voted for AUMF
...she also supported the Kosovo bombing (see http://www.ontheissues.org/Senate/Hillary_Clinton_Kosovo.htm )
I don't know that she's ever spoken out specifically about the Iraq Liberation Act, but since it was Bill's policy AND it was used largely as the basis for the IWR that she did vote for, I think it's pretty safe to assume that she supported it.
I'm not sure what you mean about "expansion" into Afghanistan. The initial action was done via the aforementioned AUMF, which I assume you're not counting twice. Further expansion beyond that was opposed by Sanders, i.e. he opposed the 2009 surge (see http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-afghanistan/ ). Hillary, of course, strongly supported the surge.
There are other times that Hillary has supported military positions that Bernie has opposed... besides the IWR and the Afghan surge, the Kyl-Lieberman amendment and the Syrian no-fly zone come to mind. Maybe you think Hillary's more hawkish stances are examples of good decisions, that's certainly your prerogative. Though I think it may be hard to sell Bernie's less hawkish positions as "bad decisions," at least to many Dems/progressives.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Other votes Sanders has made I do not agree, the five votes against the Brady Bill, but it seems as he has returned to a more left position on gun bills from his right wing position. I am interested in learning how he is going to cover the cost for his agenda of which WSJ says will be Trillions in ten years.
thesquanderer
(11,986 posts)But as I said, if you're going to suggest that supporting the ILA was a bad vote on Bernie's part, I'd suggest that Hillary's position would have been the same, so just as "bad."
IMO, while it's not too hard to find times where Bernie had the "right" postion and Hillary had the "wrong" one, it's far more difficult to find the reverse. The Brady bill is nearly the only position that he regularly gets taken to task for, where Hillary was on the other side of the issue. The other related one being the vote that protected gun manufacturers' from liability. Even here, you're arguing about whether his support from the NRA merited a D- rather than an F, since he also supported various gun control measures. But yes, HRC is stronger here.
As for the other, he has announced that a lot more of the detail on the economics of his plan is forthcomining, I'd like to see it as well. However, one flaw in that WSJ figure which has been widely discussed is that they counted how much a single payer health care system would cost, but did not balance the conversation with what would be saved. For example, if a transition to a single payer system costs someone $x a month in increased tax but saves that same person $y a month in private health care premiums and related expenses (decuctibles, etc.), then it may not be so sensible to say "we can't afford it."
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Hillary being on the side of regime change, I can not determine if Sanders thinks regime is bad but it sounded like a dig to me and then she brought up the fact he had voted for regime change with the ILA. Maybe Sanders thinks it was a bad vote. I am nit here to deny any of Hillary's votes or positions.
On Medicare for all, currently there is a tax paid to help cover Medicare and those participating in Medicare also pays a premium monthly and I also have a Medigap insurance policy to assist in my medical expenses. I have gotten the feeling some may think it will be without any cost but it isn't true. I would like to see the cost of Medicare going down, this may be the priority and then get a national health insurance.
thesquanderer
(11,986 posts)re:
" I have gotten the feeling some may think it will be without any cost but it isn't true."
Agreed.
re:
" I would like to see the cost of Medicare going down, this may be the priority and then get a national health insurance."
I don't see Medicare cost going down, because the size of the trust find is already declining. I think the only way it could possibly go down for some is to get everyone into the system and lower medical costs and/or raise total available funds overall. In other words, national health insurance may be the best route to get the individual cost of Medicare down. I don't know that it would happen, but I don't see any other likely way it could happen. I mean, how would you suggest financing the cost of what you want (Medicare costs per person going down), if not by expanding it into a universal system? Though honestly, I wouldn't expect it to go down regardless, at least in the near term. Nobody is campaigning on reducing what we as individuals pay into these systems. Well, no Dem, anyway. Are you sure you're in the right party?
Seriously, that is kind of the distinction when it comes to social programs... Repubs often want to cut what people pay and also cut benefits; Dems want to maintain or increase benefits, but not cut what people pay. Or as they say, you generally can't have your cake and eat it too. Maybe, if we get universal health care, there will eventually be enough surplus to reduce individual costs, but I don't see it happening now.
As for regime change, the only reason it came up is that you listed ILA as a bad vote. Maybe it is... nobody is claiming that anyone gets every position right 100% of the time. But if you're going to suggest that Hillary would make the better decisions of the two (as in your post #29 that started this thread), it doesn't really make sense to list "bad" Sanders positions that were the same as Hillary's positions.
Thinkingabout
(30,058 posts)Etc will become more stable, prescription prices are higher in the US than the rest of the world.
thesquanderer
(11,986 posts)But arguably, the best way to control medical costs might actually be to have a single payer system.
uponit7771
(90,335 posts)... leaders but do the least amount of work to get FDR congress's.
The leaders then have to compromise and the complacent left .... complains...
The real harm comes from people who don't want to work for the country that's needed, they want the other guys (or gal) to do it for them
Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)Obama missed a great opportunity to keep his movement in 2008 fully engaged after he took office. Sanders always speaks of the importance of a mobilized public, continually saying he can not accomplish anything of substance without that. We need more election years like 2006, not just like 2008 o 2012.
uponit7771
(90,335 posts).. I'm talking about.
People, like Sanders, didn't mobilize crap...
They sat and complained from afar while America drew the most gerrymandered congress in US history !!
then
when things moved slower than what they liked they intimated primaring folk like Obama
I'm expecting the president to be the start of something big not the organizer and the implementer too!!
Lincoln didn't do it himself
FDR didn't do it himself
JFK didn't do it himself
LBJ (sans Nam) didn't do it himself
These people had others to help move ideals, not boo from the sidelines after Obama gets 76% of his agenda done
Armstead
(47,803 posts)It depends on what you mean by complacent. In political terms that can be applied to every ideology, expect for hard-core partisans. Most people have to live their lives and can't afford to be fuill time political activists.
It also depends ion hiow one defines "complacent." There are many on the "left" (and I will use that term broadly) who pursue their beliefs and push for their values in innumerable ways besides politics. They support local and national initiatives to set up alternatives to the corporate model, they support and/or work for organizations, they have jobs they believe in.... They start businesses based on humanistic values.etc. They adviocate ion specific issues....
Some of these fail, some succeed some make a little difference.
In terms of political fever they may also support and/or work on campaigns that represent the larger goals and values they have for society. That should not be disparaged, or used to dismiss their commitment.
uponit7771
(90,335 posts)... that on its face is lazy as hell.
By complacent I mean willing to sit back and put most of the work on one person and when they don't deliver to the purity and unrealistic expectations the complacent left gets petulant.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)The left is disproportionately represented in the ranks of grass roots electoral activists. There are plenty of centrist and moderate Democrats working hard at that level too, I grant that, but the Left carries more than its fair share of the weight, always has. I am the Chair of my Town's Democratic Committee and we just went through a local election cycle in our town where we won every contested seat, and it was leftists like me who did most of the nitty gritty grunt work. In 2006 it was the anti-war left that mobilized to win the House of Representatives away from the Republican Party, and that too wasn't a presidential election year. 2010 was a set back granted, but don't blame the left for not delivering more than their share of energy to the campaign. The left, second only to African Americans, is the most reliable voting block the Democratic Party has. Enthusiasm was down on the left in 2010 after Obama left most of the Bush tax cuts in place and failed to deliver a public option for health insurance, true, but we still worked harder than most Democrats in that election also. It is third way Democrats, DLC Democrats, who are content to make their back room deals and expect to win with corporate funding rather than working the base of the Democratic Party, not the Left.
uponit7771
(90,335 posts)... and the left sat out complaining about what it expected out of the party !!!
Some would say "Well where's the DNC" the left was NEVER EVER just the DNC!!!
The left leadership, in the past, never needed the DNC to mobilize!!!
This is my main thorn with Sanders; he never was the leader he expected Obama to be, he was one of those that sat back and threw rocks after 100% of all the left agenda wasn't complete by 2010!!!!
The "movement" started with the election of Obama and stopped the second people expected the president of the US to continue to be the movement organizer too!!!
That's not even realistic
Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)Even though it wasn't Single Payer and didn't even include the promised Public Option. That's not "throwing rocks" because of a less than 100% agenda being realized. I am exactly the type Democrat you are insulting. So are most of the members of our local Democratic Committee and we work hard for the Party every year. Is the same true for you or are you just throwing rocks at us?
uponit7771
(90,335 posts)... had to do coming into this screwed up situation after Bush the ACA was just one thing the left dis'd the guy on
By 2012 Sanders was calling for Obama to be primaried, it wasn't just because there were compromises on the ACA.
But be damned if Sanders was organizing a million left march, for the most part OWS started without the DNC and Sanders...
I am exactly the type Democrat you are insulting. So are most of the members of our local Democratic Committee and we work hard for the Party every year. Is the same true for you or are you just throwing rocks at us?
The left isn't the DNC, I said that in my post... the left is more than the DNC and can act in concert or without the DNC.
OWS was started without the DNC or anyone who caucused with them
Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)MLK Jr never ran an election campaign. The woman's movement, the environmental movement, the labor movement etc. were first and foremost social movements. Only after they break through and achieve traction are those advances sometimes reflected in our electoral process.
Skwmom
(12,685 posts)BernTheRich
(29 posts)I especially liked what you said about Bernie having spent his life preparing for this moment.
And, as we know, he hasn't done it in a political, calculated way, but has proven himself by standing up and working for progressive causes meant to uplift and improve the lives of many. I don't think of him as a politician, but as a decent human being who sees what's been happening in this country and wants to do something to change it. I'm grateful to him for being on our side.
Thank you for posting.
MrMickeysMom
(20,453 posts)I believe people who achieve that stature understand the games constantly running in the background. They can manage to separate the real from the perceived.
The rest of politics (local, for sure) is achieved by understanding the needs of the many while not been influenced by the high net worth players.
Easier if your expectancy coming into this life allows for this self-evolution to occur.
SheilaT
(23,156 posts)Thank you for sharing your thinking process with us.
blackspade
(10,056 posts)You make a compelling case for Sanders.
JDPriestly
(57,936 posts)Hassin Bin Sober
(26,326 posts)I was a Hillary supporter early on and at odds with some of my real life friends who were hardcore Obama supporters.
Honestly, I didn't see an inch of daylight between their policy positions. I leaned more toward Hilary because, like you, I figured she would know what was in store for her from repigs.
I laughed out loud at my friends that said Obama would bring everybody together. I disowned a friend who sent me a gif of Hillary standing in front of a "Countrywide" sign with her head obscuring the "o" and the "wide" cut off. The reaming I gave him via email was epic. Some of those friends are public school teachers and can't mention Obama's name without spitting now.
Also, I thought then, and I still think today, Obama would have voted for the IWR because he too was running for president as a Senator. He certainly did some "evolvement" of his own from his very liberal positions when he was a south side state Senator here in Chicago (gun control and gay marriage).
I voted for Obama in his Senate race both primary and general. I had friends who were involved in the Chicago machine and had ties to Hines. But I ran in to an old friend in The Merchandise Mart who was on his way to phone bank for Obama's senate primary campaign. I think he was an original Obama-bot LOL. He convinced me.
I stood in a gay bar on Chicago's north side and watched the returns come in and cheered and cried when we won that historic election. But part of me was also saying "yeah, we'll see"
I don't dislike Hillary. And I have to be honest, part of me will get a big kick out of the conniptions my in-laws and other assorted republicans in my life will have if the Clintons get back in the White House. There isn't enough popcorn in the world. Lol.
But right now, I'm leaning toward the more liberal person in the race - Bernie. My friends who were staunch Obama supporters are supporting Bernie.
I'm not going to bash Hillary. If she wins the nomination, I will gladly vote for her. But I fully understand people who have a problem with her record - including the IWR. Bernie was right and she was wrong. You can't argue that. Hillary will make a fine President. Bernie losing will mean we aren't ready for real change and that will be a disappointment.
eridani
(51,907 posts)I greatly prefer Sanders, but will support Clinton if she gets the nomination.
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)But it is the status quo itself that is harming most Americans. Millions of us have been cornered by it with our backs against the wall, while millions more fall toward us threatening to crush us all under the collective weight of suffering.
This is what I think many people are blind toward. We have lived with the status quo for a long time. While President Obama has accomplished a lot, there is a limit to the amount of things that can be done in 8 years. When he came into office the ship was sinking.
After two terms of W's horrific mistakes, there were tons of things to fix. The middle and lower class are still in trouble even with President Obama's hard work the last 7 years. Part of that status quo is campaign finance and the revolving door in Congress where those who have served end up lobbying Congress people.
I have asked people time and time again on DU to think about who will work to change campaign finance and who will take advantage of lack of rules for reelection. Honestly I think there are a lot of naive people who have the wrong answer.
DhhD
(4,695 posts)is very important as is ending Citizens United.
https://newrepublic.com/article/122324/elizabeth-warren-challenges-hillary-clinton-end-revolving-door
Some people refer to keeping these two polices, the third way choice. And it is a main reason that Democrats should be for Sanders. And it we are not ready to accept the changes necessary, then we will remain Right of where a pooring and unequal America, should be going (back Left).
Betty Karlson
(7,231 posts)Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)I really appreciate it. Today happens to be a very long work day for me and I am leaving the house now and won't be around again to participate in any discussion until sometime this evening I don't want anyone to think that I'm ignoring them. This community is important to me. I know that the vast majority of us will be working together come Summer and Fall - with varying levels of enthusiasm of course depending on the outcome of the nominating process, but together none the less.
raouldukelives
(5,178 posts)Faux pas
(14,672 posts)archiemo
(492 posts)My feelings about both candidates are right on par with the sentiments expressed in the OP and many of these replies! Such a treat to read this thread.
brooklynite
(94,520 posts)...when I became convinced that Obama could run and win a national campaign. I have no objection to any of Sanders' position, but I don't have the same same confidence he can win in November.
SoLeftIAmRight
(4,883 posts)the one you sing the most
Good to hear
brooklynite
(94,520 posts)I've haven't criticized Sanders; just his supporters.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)(though your opinion about Clinton is kinder than I feel )
Tom Rinaldo
(22,912 posts)But I don't always think that the pragmatist in me is right. I prefer to hold it at bay for awhile whenever possible and give room for what I really believe instead. I really love that Bernie does not shy away from his deepest convictions, while at the same time he also keeps an eye fixed on what is possible - and then fights for that as long as possible and only then does he fall back on pragmatic considerations. What I so respect about Bernie is that when push comes to shove he doesn't let the perfect undermine the good, but he also never gives up prematurely on seeking what is truly best. I trust his timing and his sense of what is potentially achievable if we fight with true determination.
He won't undermine the Democrats chances of winning the White House in the fall if he can't be our nominee, but in the meantime he'll fight like hell to become it without compromising his beliefs in that effort.
I think Hillary committed herself decades ago to mastering politics as we know it as the best route available for achieving real influence in this society. She's all in with that strategy now, it's too late for her to fundamentally rethink those underlying assumptions, she's traveled too far down that road and formed too many alliances with the powers that be to get where she is today for her to change that course now. Clinton is extremely competent and I believe that she's compassionate but her compromises have compromised her ability to become the leader we need now.
ChiciB1
(15,435 posts)We don't need more of the same, we don't need status quo... WE NEED a new direction to stop the downward spiral!
ChiciB1
(15,435 posts)tell you how well you explained EXACTLY where so many of us are! And why so many of us who are very long time activists WILLINGLY will stand with BERNIE SANDERS!
They say he's only attracting a certain group of people, but those of us who are out working for him KNOW differently!
THE TIME IS NOW!!!!