May 21, 2016

Why Bernie Sanders Is Our Best Chance to Beat Donald Trump

And why Berners shouldn't let themselves get discouraged by the Clinton machine's mind games!

- - - - snip - - - -
Hand-wringing over party unity misses the point. No one cares about your precious parties.
As Hillary Clinton joylessly stumbles her way to the Democratic nomination, calls have increased for Bernie Sanders to either drop out of the race altogether or, at least, to stop fighting so darn hard. We’re told that Bernie should drop out for the good of the party. Bernie should drop out so that Hillary can make her general election “pivot” (which presumably means she can be free of the burden of pretending to be a liberal). … Hogwash. ... Bernie Sanders is our best chance to beat Donald Trump and to prove to the young voters backing him that the Democratic party actually stands for something.

Error in thinking #1: Sanders supporters care about the existing system.
... These young voters are expected to back down for the sake of a party they tell pollsters they don’t identify with, in the service of nominating a presidential candidate who promises to maintain a system that has conspired to screw them at every turn.

Error in thinking #2: Uniting around Clinton is the best shot to beat Trump.
The very same people who condescendingly exhort Sanders followers to “do the math” on the nomination process seem to have left their own calculators at home when it comes to figuring out who can actually win this fall. … According to the math, Sanders is a much better bet for November, which makes sense when you think about it. Consider, for example, that he has cleaned Clinton’s clock with independents.
Here’s a reality check folks: Independents win elections. They like Bernie and they hate Hillary. That’s to say nothing of the fact that a majority of voters find Clinton untrustworthy, a reality I’m confident will not be helped by her general election “pivot” to yet another version of the real HRC.

Error in thinking #3: Winning is the only goal that matters.
Let’s pretend Hillary Clinton is a winner. Is this really what the Democratic party has been reduced to? Not fighting for the poor? Not standing up for the working people of this country? Not fighting with every breath to push the money and corruption out of a system that only works for a glossy few?
Of course, we know that for much of the party establishment the answer is yes. Bill Clinton provided a master class in how to sacrifice your principles to the gods of electoral success. A tactic, by the way, that may have found some success at the presidential level, but which has led the Democratic party to historic, crushing defeats in most of the country. For reference, just examine the largest number of state legislatures in our nation’s history in Republican hands or the way inequality has soared unchecked as Democrats decided that winning national elections mattered more than fighting for the middle class or the working class or the poor.
So to the Bern-baby-Bern crowd I say, keep fighting. Your fight is worthy. Your cause is just. Your passionate existence irritates the Democratic powers that be because you remind them of all that they are supposed to stand for.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/krystal-ball/why-bernie-sanders-is-our_b_10064830.html

May 18, 2016

Oh the hyperbole coming from the Hillary folks this morning!

Here's one of the best:

What will it take for Bernie to reign the Death Threats in? Does someone have to Die????
…the horrific, ugly and sexist acts of terrorism against Democratic women.
He has not even contacted Roberta Lange … to see if she, her family and her five year old grandchild are alright and try to help stop the minute by minute harassment they are suffering in his name.
… After watching children being terrified at Hillary rallies by Sanders supporters and now this 5 year old child, I can't imagine what kind of miserable human being he must be

People get angry at a transparently rigged convention and the Hillary side then blows it up into (I've even seen it called a "riot" and now) a reign of death threats here this morning.

Jam a stick into someone's eye and then call them -- blame them for being -- "violent" barbarians for pushing you back. It's almost Machiavellian in its spin!

May 11, 2016

Hillary won West Virginia in 2008 by a 67-26 margin! Bernie just beat her by 15 points ...

51 to 36 percent; plus he carried every county in the state—taking several with over 60 percent of the vote.

Go Bernie!!!

May 10, 2016

Is it just me? Or are others seeing more locked threads and getting more hides

here in the GD: Primaries forum?

I dunno. It just seems like there's a concerted effort to stifle expression right now.

Maybe it is time for Skinner to "call it" if that is what truly is going on.

May 4, 2016

Another jury result.

Hillary Clinton’s Damning Emails ~ Consortiumnews.com
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511896118

REASON FOR ALERT

This post is disruptive, hurtful, rude, insensitive, over-the-top, or otherwise inappropriate.


JURY RESULTS

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Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE
Explanation: Meh. It's an issue that is out there. Hiding it won't make it go away.
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: idiot conspiracy
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT
Explanation: More right wing bullshit posted by an alleged "progressive."
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Explanation: There is an FBI investigation.
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Explanation: This is not going away, and pretending it will is delusional. Leave it.
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May 4, 2016

Just an observation before going to bed ...

the Hillsies are out in force tonight here at DU.

Indiana has obviously amped their posting proclivity. Wondering why (denial?, outrage at insurrection? insecurity? their earth moved? ...), but too tired to offer any cogent theories at the moment.

Anyone care to help?