August 31, 2015

Ya gotta start off each day wid a song. Today's Bernie Sanders song: Give Bernie Sanders Your Vote.

August 31, 2015

That's nothing. Democrats began 2010 with massive control of both houses. Kaine got a Senate seat.

Before that, Dean, who was a huge success at the job 2005-2009 got booted and replaced by Kaine. The rewards and punishments seem to vary inversely with results at the polls. Kaine's midterm strategy was--and I quote---"Don't give 'em back the keys." Even Dem loyalist Jon Stewart could not believe his ears and correctly predicted disaster at the polls.

http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/x3j2f8/tim-kaine

Debbie Republican Shultz's 2014 midterm strategy was "Since Obama seems to enjoy singing, let's see how he does belting out 'Say My Name.'"

It's not only DWS who needs to go. The DNC leadership needs a shake up. Third Way is not selling and their reaction to the 2014 rout was to double down.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025769052

August 30, 2015

Am I the last to realize that Firedoglake became Shadowproof?

http://shadowproof.com/2015/07/30/after-firedoglake/

FWIW, I thought Gosztola and Wright were the best columnists at FDL. I always smiled at the references here at DU to "firebaggers" because, in the end, Hamsher and the regular columnists were all, worst case for the Democratic Party, advocates of LOTE voting. They were simply more critical than some. I don't think a Stepford citizenry is a good thing.

Obviously, I much prefer DU. However, I wish Shadowproof and its contributors the best. The more leftist and leftish voices on the internet and elsewhere, the better for humanity in general, IMO.

Bon voyage, Shadowproof!

August 28, 2015

Sanders Group Appreciation Thread

Thank you to our group hosts, to those who start so many great OPs in this group and to those who post such great and thoughtful replies and/or such enthusiastic, encouraging replies. And, to OS, who has been doing such great work making sure this group donates to Bernie.

You are all the best! I wish I could give each and every one of you a big hug and big kiss on the cheek.

If the hosts think this is meta, I'll understand. 'Cause it is!

August 27, 2015

Good ole NPR: "Exactly what kind of socialist is Bernie Sanders?"

http://www.npr.org/sections/itsallpolitics/2015/08/27/434872755/exactly-what-kind-of-socialist-is-bernie-sanders

The kind who wants Medicare for all and more humane Social Security, motherfuckers!

See also: http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2015/aug/26/bernie-sanders-socialist-or-democratic-socialist/

The NPR article is not that bad:

"It's a relatively mild, I would say a vanilla socialism," Nelson said Sanders told them. "It's basically focused on big businesses, and capitalist inequalities."

Eric Davis, a retired Middlebury College political scientist, agrees.

"In Western Europe, these are mainstream political parties that are in and out of government all the time," he said.

Of course, Sanders is not running for president of Sweden. And for many U.S. voters, socialist sounds a lot like communist.

The bad news for the red baiters: 47% of Americans polled (ALL parties, mind you) would have no problem voting for a straight up socialist AND more young voters approve of socialism than approve of capitalism.

Deal with it!

August 27, 2015

Who ya gonna believe, pundits or your own lying eyes? Okay, Bernie did not say that.

But he came damn close!

The pundits cannot believe — it’s beyond their worldview to believe — that somebody who is not part of the establishment, somebody who does not have a super PAC, somebody who does not have connections with George Soros and all the other billionaires, can actually win,” Sanders said. “But use your own eyes and see what you can see.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sanders-to-seek-support-from-democratic-party-establishment/2015/08/26/325f41ec-4be5-11e5-902f-39e9219e574b_story.html

Not to argue with Bernie, but they do see it and that's exactly what made them run to Biden and Gore. Senator Sanders, you're the last one the establishment, Democratic or Republican, wants in the Oval Office. They don't even want Americans hearing what you have to say.

Keep calm and campaign on, Senator!

One of many things he is up against:

Roughly one-fifth of the delegates who will pick the nominee at the Democratic convention are superdelegates — elected officials and other party leaders who are not bound by voting in their states. So far, those superdelegates have sided overwhelmingly with Clinton.

After this election, we should focus on eliminating super delegates.

Beware of bs like this though:

The senator also will appear with other White House hopefuls this week at a meeting of the Democratic National Committee and will urge party leaders to embrace him as a candidate who can attract new voters and energy, just as President Obama did eight years ago.

Nine years ago, in 2006, party bigwigs approached Obama to run. Daschle said as much on TV during the 2008 primary, claiming Obama thought it was too soon. Daschle went on to say that he had told Obama that a record could go against him (Obama) as had happened to Daschle. (As if Obama didn't know that?) And Daschle said he had told Obama "This is your time."

See also: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31318.html

August 26, 2015

Boston Public Market open Wednesday to Sunday, 8 am to 8 pm, serving lunch, too!

Great story on Chronicle tonight about the Boston Public Market. https://bostonpublicmarket.org/

It's above the Haymarket Square T Station, selling locally grown food.

It's not for profit. It's year round (unlike the outdoor farmers' markets that dot Boston until November).

All but 2 of its vendors are from Massachusetts, so it's "hyper local."

It matches SNAP dollar for dollar, thanks to a Boston Mayoral program.

Everything isn't fruit and veg. There are doughnuts! And locally "grown" honey.

There are cooking classes, including one for kids that is taught by Children's Museum staff and Cooking on a Budget, sponsored by Project Bread.

There is an educational program called "taste of the season" sponsored by Blue Cross/Blue Shield.

http://www.thetrustees.org/things-to-do/greater-boston/bpm-1024.html

And more.

It's the first indoor public market to open in Boston since the venerable Quincy Market.

It serves lunch.

Check out the website and y'awl come!

August 26, 2015

YES! "Bernie Sanders’s Success in Attracting Small Donors Tests Importance of ‘Super PACs’"

By ERIC LICHTBLAUAUG. 25, 2015

WASHINGTON — Donna Mae Litowitz, a Miami Beach retiree, likes Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont so much that three months ago she sent his presidential campaign $10,000. His campaign sent back all but $2,700 because it was more than he was allowed to take under federal election law, but she wishes he had kept it all.

“I like what Sanders stands for, and he says what needs to be said,” said Ms. Litowitz, who gave money in 2008 to Senator Barack Obama’s presidential campaign. “And I don’t like Hillary Clinton.”


......

Mr. Sanders has raised more money in gifts of $200 or less than any candidate, Democrat or Republican, an analysis of campaign finance reports shows. A huge chunk of his money — $11.4 million, or about 75 percent of all his contributions — has come from small donations routed through ActBlue, an online site that facilitates contributions to Democrats, records show.

The influx of support has helped Mr. Sanders build a formidable war chest, with his campaign raising $15.2 million as of the most recent filings with the Federal Election Commission in July. Campaign officials say he has raised millions more since then and will far surpass that total this quarter. That still puts him far behind Mrs. Clinton’s fund-raising juggernaut, but Mr. Sanders said in an interview that he was unbowed.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/26/us/politics/bernie-sanders-success-in-attracting-small-donors-tests-importance-of-super-pacs.html?_r=0


Great article. Read it all. Great inspiration for the September 8 money bomb.

If you really want to get big money out of politics, you get big money out of YOUR politics. Walking the walk is a lot harder than learning that this is a number one issue for Americans in polls and then talking the talk. Bernie has always cared more about walking the walk than he has about talking the talk for the sake of getting votes.

Beloved Bernie supporters, if you are REALLY opposed to Citizens' United, make sure you wish Bernie a happy birthday on September 8.

August 26, 2015

Bernie Sanders' "fearful?" Not bloody likely. Shame on TIME (Yes, it still exists.)

Fearful of risking exclusion from a major national debate against Hillary Clinton, or elevating some of his lesser rivals, Sanders’ campaign has said he will not debate unless all the Democratic candidates for president are on the stage.

http://time.com/4010576/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-debate-martin-omalley/

Bernie Sanders has risked his life for what he believes in.

Warner C. White, a white minister who was a civil rights activist in Alabama and Mississippi, said during an interview:

North of the border

White's band of clergymen were never attacked. Did his skin color offer him protection?

"Oh no — I don't think so, at all," he said. "Lots of white people were attacked. Heavens: look at the number of murders there were back then."

Was he ever fearful for his safety?

"Yes, absolutely."

Where was that?

"Back in Chicago," White answered. "That's where I met the real hostility from whites."



http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/news/

Under such circumstances, as a student at the prestigious University of Chicago, Bernie Sanders was a student organizer for SNCC. He also became a leader of the Congress of Racial Equality, aka CORE, at a time when most civil rights leaders were African American.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12809672


Sanders is not fearful. He does not shy away from a fight and he fights hard. However, if you do get into a fight with Sanders, do NOT expect to be hit below the belt. He is honorable and he plays by the rules, apparently, even when the rules themselves seem considerably less than honorable.


And then TIME "treats" us to "expert" analysis, aka mindreading, of Sanders by someone from the Annenberg Public Policy Center in Pennsylvania, apparently because she knows Senator Sanders' innermost thoughts. (Did Sanders refuse any request from TIME to comment on his own behavior? If he did, the article does not so indicate.)

“It is not in Sanders’ self-interest to give up the possibility of debating Hillary Clinton,” said Kathleen Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.

id.

Um, no. Self-interest is not his motivation, either. As an extremely popular politician in Vermont, he refused to run for the Senate until a Vermont US Senate seat was vacated, even though being a US Senator is more prestigious and secure than being a Representative. When Jeffords, a Republican turned Indie who caucused with Democrats retired, then Sanders ran and won easily--as he would have had he chosen to challenge Jeffords. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders

Cowardice and self-interest are not the things that guide the behavior of Senator Sanders. This article is projection and laughable bullshit, very bad journalism and yet another example of how utterly disgraceful msm is being toward Sanders.

August 25, 2015

Most definitely NOT breaking news, yet relevant: Echoes of 2006 - 2008

The entire article is not long and is very worth a read, esp. at this juncture. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31302.html

2004-Hillary considered jumping into the primary (as Biden is rumored to be doing now)

– Before the 2004 Democratic presidential primary, party strategists Mark Penn and Mandy Grunwald, both then working for Sen. Joe Lieberman’s presidential candidacy, met secretly with then-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton and a group of her closest confidantes to consider a last-minute entry into the race – and even polled New Hampshire voters about the idea. Ultimately, though, Chelsea Clinton persuaded her mother to opt out of a run, arguing that voters wouldn’t forgive her for breaking a pledge to serve a full Senate term.

(Reportedly, Gore also considered jumping in.)


2006-Hillary instructed aides to prepare to counter rumors that Bill was having another affair

– Members of what the authors call Clinton’s “war room within a war room” became convinced in 2006 that Bill Clinton was having a serious extramarital affair, prompting Hillary Clinton to instruct her aides to be prepared to combat the story.

2006: Democratic Party Leaders want Obama, not Hillary

– Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and a group of other senators who would back Hillary Clinton’s candidacy encouraged Obama to run for the White House as early as 2006. The concern over Clinton was that she would be a weak Democratic standard-bearer while Obama could energize the party. In late summer 2007, Schumer – using an Obama ally, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), as a back channel – pushed the candidate to “take a two-by-four to Hillary,” as the authors put it.

2008: Trouble in Paradise: Obama and Biden

The relationship between Barack Obama and Joe Biden grew so strained during the 2008 campaign, according to a new book, that the two rarely spoke and aides not only kept Biden off internal conference calls but refused to even tell him they existed.

The above and more is from Game Change. I've had the book for a while. Guess I should really try to read it.