Our "Seabiscuit" campaign for Bernie Sanders

[Peace Patriot]

I think most people know about that amazing racehorse, Seabiscuit, awkward and knock-kneed as a colt, not expected to win anything. For our youngsters and those who haven't seen the movies:

Seabiscuit lost his first 17 races, and when he started winning (under a new trainer, Tom Smith) did so (won or placed) under heavy handicap weights. Seabiscuit had many up's and down's before he finally faced "the seemingly invincible War Admiral" in the "Match of the Century." Way against the odds, Seabiscuit won that race, becoming the inspiration to millions of people suffering in the Great Depression.

Seabiscuit suffered further up's and down's, including a serious injury, and a grave injury (smashed leg) to his jockey (Red Pollard). Then, in the most surprising comeback in racing history, Seabiscuit (with Pollard riding) won the Santa Anita handicap, in 1940. As wiki says:

Seabiscuit is the Horatio Alger hero of the turf, the horse that came up from nothing on his own courage and will to win.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabiscuit

And for those who don't know who Horatio Alger is...suffice it to say that Americans (and probably all humans) love an underdog!

I wrote the following early this morning in response to liberalmike27's OP, here (comment #30):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511504606

It kind of got buried in the comments there, so I'm posting it here, first of all for Bernie Sanders forum members. Later I'll post it in GD: Primaries. This is my first post in this forum, though I've been a Sanders supporter from the beginning. I'm even more of a Sanders supporter now (if that is possible). I think that the Bernie Sanders campaign is the most important event in modern U.S. political history.

My comment was mostly about the HANDICAPS that the Bernie Sanders campaign has had on its back all along, now even more so. I stumbled upon the "Seabiscuit" analogy half way through this comment.

-----------------------------

30. "truth is, last night wasn't too bad" --I totally agree.

But--viewing this as a 'horse race' (which is a narrow way to look at it)--we need to factor in the ENORMOUS HANDICAPS that have been imposed on the Bernie Sanders campaign from the beginning, from the outside. These include:

--the current Clinton/Corporate narrative that "it's over"
--the past Clinton/Corporate narratives that it was "over" at each marker on the racecourse
--the beginning Clinton/Corporate narrative that our 'Seabiscuit' never had a chance
--the cumulative impact of all of these narratives: NO COVERAGE
--the heavily imposed Corporate narrative that it's a 'horse race' and NOT ABOUT IDEAS
--the brainwashing and heavy dumbing down of the American electorate
--the shocking 99% coverage handed to Trump vs a campaign of IDEAS (Sanders)--TWO insurgent campaigns, one gets 24/7 coverage, the other gets, oh, 0.01% grudging notice after huge wins

--the Democratic National Committee's incredibly unfair bias toward Clinton
--the existing system of pay-to-play that puts almost all Dem elected officials in debt to Clinton/DNC
--all Dem elected officials (& most candidates) dependent on corporate/billionaire $ (unlike Sanders who rejects it)
--almost all Dem party officials & leaders part of the pay-to-play system
--labor unions decimated by Reagan junta; almost all labor union upper-mucks now 'players'
--erosion (almost disappearance) of Dem party principles: pro-workers, pro-poor, etc.
--in general, the simply gargantuan power of Wall Street, banksters, transglobal corps, MIC privateers, consolidated Corp media, et al, and foreign influences (the Saudis, other $$ investors)

--the frontload of rightwing states in the primaries (handed Clinton a winning 'narrative'--in truth a hollow one--going into the swing states; Sanders early wins and ties--a remarkable showing--swamped when Dixiecrats hit the Corporate airwaves).

And one self-imposed handicap: no superpacs, no Corp or billionaire money (This handicap is the core of the Sanders campaign, but it is nevertheless a handicap for operating in this atmosphere--for one thing, it doubles-down the determination of all of the above to kill Sanders' ideas and stop his campaign).

Personally, I would add this handicap: The privatized vote counting system (since 2004), with 'TRADE SECRET' code in all of our voting systems, nationwide, owned and controlled by a handful of private corporations (the biggest one, ES&S/Diebold with far rightwing connections) and no auditing in half the states and inadequate auditing in the other half. Who knows what they are doing? They, do, in fact, have the ability--the easy ability--to rig elections, and have probably done so (Bush '04, Congress, governors, state leg's).

Conclusion: It is utterly amazing how well this campaign of ideas, led by the most principled and honest politician in the USA--and the best Democrat!--has done so far. Sanders is, in fact, still in the running as to the 'horse race' due to his incredible energy, the power of his ideas and the millions of people who have supported him as volunteers, donors and internet news activists. He has run a brilliant campaign and so have we. This campaign had NO chance six months ago. Now it has a chance, as to the 'horse race,' with March 15 behind us, and blue skies ahead.

But we need to be aware--very aware--of the handicaps we are operating under. They will probably intensify. I'm a Californian and, believe me, our state party is now a Corporate Democratic Party like all the rest. And that includes Gov. Jerry Brown. We are a socially liberal state but our Establishment is as bad as any of them on the most important matters: income inequality and filthy campaign $$ (and all its ills--lobbying, revolving door, rule by the uber-rich, etc.). I'm not saying Sanders can't win here--I think he can--but it won't be an easy ride.

ONE MORE TIME: This is a campaign of IDEAS, not a 'horse race'--or not only a 'horse race.' That is why Sanders is in it to the Convention, and, as to ideas, beyond the Convention. He has sparked a revolution--and we have sparked a revolution--that has the power to transform the Democratic Party into the party of the people once again, and to transform our country back into a democracy, which it has not been for some time now. We have only the vestiges of a hollowed out, rigged, and now Corporate-run democratic system to work with. Consider this to be the FIRST massive effort to change it from within. An amazing accomplishment, truly. And remember...SEABISCUIT! (Americans love an underdog!)

[dana_b]

1. I love your positivity

I need to learn from people like you.

And yes, California won't be easy but it can be done. I am also afraid of dirty pool but we say that EVERY election season. It's pretty much too late for this season.

[peacebird]

2. Great OP! Thank you!

Agree totally.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. Your OP is right on, my dear Peace Patriot!

The analogy with Seabiscuit is PERFECT.

[thereismore]

4. The bolded paragraph is awesome. Really truly, what were we thinking when Bernie was a 60% underdog?

We did not give up then. Now, with clear skies and a possibility, is not the time to get weak in the knees!