and the system grinds on
How consistent systems are. Tonight we were informed that the oligarchy has decided to stop Bernie before the remaining sham primaries because they fear the result.
They are hoping that this will be enough. Force is messy and using the system they have created is meant to prevent the need for force. Their hope is that the threat has been ended and that those who were foolish enough to believe they could use this system to take away their power will now lick their wounds and get back in line.
I've been waiting for the show down because I knew it had to come. Bernie has made a statement which is a restatement of the obvious. There can be no tally of superdeligates before the convention. The obvious answer to Bernie comes from Humpty Dumpty in Alice in Wonderland:
“When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’’The question is,’ said Alice, ‘whether you can make words mean so many different things.’
’The question is,’ said Humpty Dumpty, ‘which is to be master — that’s all.”
Yes which is to be master - that's all.
So now what? The old Chinese curse comes into play again: May you live in interesting times"
I don't know about you but I am finished with sham democracy. Let's get this movement organized and come up with a realistic plan. We have little time before the climate or war devastates the planet.
Comments
They just don't get it.
We are not with her. Sanders is with us. What we want matters and they will find that out in November.
yes but they will not be kind to those who break ranks
they are very ugly people and will hurt anyone who does not bow down
An idea is not responsible for who happens to be carrying it at the time. It stands or it falls on its own merits.
the bravest fall first :)
i agree..
Once more into the fray...
Into the last good fight I'll ever know...
Live and die on this day...
Live and die on this day...
In the end, it is important to remember that we cannot become what we need to be, by remaining what we are...
Goodbye Democrats
Instead of using the insanity of Trump to unify & energize the Democratic party to not only win the presidency in a landslide creating an actual mandate and flipping both houses, the party has decided to light themselves on fire.
I will support and work for Bernie through the convention. If the nominee who emerges is Hillary I will be voting for Jill Stein. Great job Hillary, Bill and the DNC, goodbye from me and millions of others for at least a generation.
They do get it; they don't care. Their hands are on the controls
and they have the enforcers (see, e.g., the ruthless quashing of OWS nationwide in federally coordinated actions). They have the surveillance eyes and ears. They have the movement infiltrators. They have the security state. They have the militarized local police forces. They have the Internet kill switch. They have the voting machines. They have the cover stories ready.
We have us, together, united. Eyes that see what is and ears that can decode Newspeak and demagoguery and propaganda. We have the bullshit detectors, and they've been clanging madly. We have enough uncooperative mass to make them show their hands and batons and tear gas and rip right through those at-the-ready cover stories.
Let's see what the People's Summit births. Let's see what the gatherings in Philly bring. Let's see if all that coming together heralds a coming apart. Long overdue.
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." --Jiddu Krishnamurti
The security state is more than a little pissed with Hillary
Which is not to say that they are on our side.
But I don't think the last shoe has dropped on that.
Unless the spooks have way less power than I think they do, and a sitting President and Attorney General can just thumb their noses at them with impunity. Which I doubt.
I think there's a bit of an argument going on between the military and industrial sides of the military-industrial complex.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Sanders Campaign statement tonight
So how much does it cost --
to have AP release the statement you want?
The ruling classes need an extra party to make the rest of us feel as if we participate in democracy. That's what the Democrats are for. They make the US more durable than the Soviet Union was.
Who Cares?
The Clinton Play-For-Pay fund has enough to OWN a large chunk of the media.
Vowing To Oppose Everything Trump Attempts.
nothing, they happily supply everything needed for free/nt
https://www.euronews.com/live
As usual Hillary & the Dems are so F'in stupid
If there was any chance that Bernie was going to concede after today that has gone up in smoke
I have one message to Hillary & The DNC from a 57 yo lifetime Dem. If you end up pushing your corrupt candidate to the nomination I not only will not vote for your corrupt coronation but I am going g to be both voting for Jill Stein, donating to her and working for her campaign.
I've been holed up in meetings.
All fricking day. Then I come home to this pile of happy horse carp. All I can think is CA is not going the way they want so these "announcements" are designed to discourage the vote here.
The revolution will not be televised.
Clinton supporters may not show up tomorrow to vote
Wouldn't it be funny if some Clinton supporters didn't feel a need to vote tomorrow since the Queen has crowned herself? This desperate act by the Clinton campaign could backfire. I have already voted for Bernie, but if I were in California, I'd darn make sure I voted for him tomorrow. People don't like it if they think they are being manipulated and usually will take some action and show "them."
phone banking for Bernie last night
the voters for Bernie way outnumbered those for Hillary (CA). The Hillary camp is frightened, and the msm is backing her up....even if the DNC did come out a few days ago and say that the superdelegates' votes can not be counted until the convention--such a silly thing to say! what a world.
Hi Don, thanks for diary....
I'm hoping I never see the man behind the curtain.
yes it is not a pretty sight
An idea is not responsible for who happens to be carrying it at the time. It stands or it falls on its own merits.
Unfortunately, I think I see something.
And it is big and ugly and extremely powerful. And frightening.
It looks to me like the powers behind the AP declaration [echoed by all the rest] are bigger and stronger than the Clinton machine. The Clintons are their hired help.
Obviously, Bernie is a threat to a group of people. But the Berniecrats are a much bigger threat to them. The fire has already started and lives inside the hearts of millions of people. I guess that makes us very dangerous.
Just because I may be a little bit paranoid, that doesn't mean that they aren't out to get us.
Life is strong. I'm weak, but Life is strong.
A declaration by the media has, in the past, created
opinion. All those young people who support Bernie don't listen to the tradmed. It takes about 3 and a half seconds for the word to get around that they shouldn't vote for Hillary if Bernie is treated poorly. Clinton and her minions are trying all the traditional tactics and they aren't working. They're freaking out. GOOD!!!
"You furnish the pictures and I'll furnish the war."
Sadly, for many Americans not much has changed from Hearst's day. At least millennials understand what's going on.
very well ssid
you hit the nail om the head
An idea is not responsible for who happens to be carrying it at the time. It stands or it falls on its own merits.
They cannot spurn our vote and have it too.
The Democratic party is engaged in a classic fallacy.
Now they're going to complain we lost them the election, because
NADERBERNIE!I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
There is no spoiler within a party primary - misuse of the term
None of us should give a damn what "they" think. We owe no one and nothing an explanation or defense of our vote. I'm the sole arbiter of my conscience. It tells me #BernieOrBust and #NeverHillary.
Watch the party's ranks shrink more and faster right before or after the GE if Clinton's the nominee. Potemkin parties, Potemkin democracy, corrupt process and candidate. A whole hell of a lot is riding on James Comey's integrity.
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." --Jiddu Krishnamurti
Comey's A Bit Player.
He's an aircraft "accident" away from being completely neutralized.
Vowing To Oppose Everything Trump Attempts.
OK, that's enough.
I can't stand $hillary either, but your repeating truly right wing bullshit CT theories about Ron Brown's death takes away credibility from this site.
“Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.” - John Steinbeck
You Brought Up Ron Brown
I'll see your right-wing bullshit CT and raise you a Brown is ancient history as far as today is concerned. I'm talking about Paul Wellstone, JFK Jr, and Michael Connell, Rove's IT Consultant, all of whom died in suspicious plane crashes. And just to keep things even, check out Michele Clark. This means that even commercial airliners are fair game.
Vowing To Oppose Everything Trump Attempts.
Even if your idea was right
The notion that it's just Comey who's pissed at Hillary is not.
She has interfered with covert operations. She has endangered the security of their secrets.
They are not amused.
Why do you think there's even an investigation *at all*? You'll notice George W Bush and Dick Cheney never faced one.
It's because she has genuinely pissed off powerful people.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
It Is Only Comey
No other Republican is about to do anything except to let Hillary hang on her own petard.
Obama is involved in why there has not been an indictment to date. He either is holding Comey's leash, or he's sic'd Valerie Jarrett on Loretta Lynch to prevent her from acting.
Vowing To Oppose Everything Trump Attempts.
but they can't lose the election
don't you see that? it is win win for them
An idea is not responsible for who happens to be carrying it at the time. It stands or it falls on its own merits.
Not exactly.
They've decided to burn through the illusion in a remarkably blatant and ham-handed way, when it wasn't necessary--they could have rigged the election in a dozen ways that would create doubt and fuel a "sore loser" narrative.
They seem oddly off-balance, or nervous. Or perhaps it's just hubris.
The question is, as it's always been, what are the people (us) going to do in response.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
very insightful comment and I agree
something serious is going on behind the scenes, imo
Sea Turtle
BUT IT'S HER TURN! (tm) n/t
“Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.” - John Steinbeck
Well, Don, it was a damn fine illusion
of democracy, huh? Fine on paper.
"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981
And the PTB kept it going a long time
Sanders' campaign ripped the mask right off. He deserves respect and gratitude.
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." --Jiddu Krishnamurti
If you were foolish enough to buy it
go back and read Helen Keller...she said it all back then
An idea is not responsible for who happens to be carrying it at the time. It stands or it falls on its own merits.
“Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?”
“A Republic, if you can keep it.” - Ben "The Wild Eyed Radical" Franklin.
“Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.” - John Steinbeck
Ben Franklin warned us, but we didn't listen
As he was leaving Constitution Hall in 1787, a Mrs. Powel asked him what sort of government they had created. His reply, "A republic, madam, if you can keep it".
We couldn't keep it.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
Well, if history is any guide...
At least the end will be quick.
Britain : 30 years
Japan: 10 Years
Germany : 12 Years
Rome: 80 Years
So, to go by the acceleration of history We're looking at a breakup pretty soon.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
meanwhile the planet is in trouble and
species are going extinct and oceans are rising and water is being polluted and and and
An idea is not responsible for who happens to be carrying it at the time. It stands or it falls on its own merits.
Most of the problem with planetary ecodestruction
is wrapped up in our current inability to do anything about it. Grant the masses agency, and the whole picture changes.
The ruling classes need an extra party to make the rest of us feel as if we participate in democracy. That's what the Democrats are for. They make the US more durable than the Soviet Union was.
Brilliant comment, Cass, mainly b/c it succinctly sums it all up
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
maybe asking Santa would be more realistic?
An idea is not responsible for who happens to be carrying it at the time. It stands or it falls on its own merits.
It's actually quite possible.
The problem is that it doesn't look that way right now.
The ruling classes need an extra party to make the rest of us feel as if we participate in democracy. That's what the Democrats are for. They make the US more durable than the Soviet Union was.
Out of curiosity, do you mean Japan had a republic for 10 years?
When would that have been? Or were you referring to something else?
Dang!
I didn't see this before I posted. But it DOES bear repeating.
“Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.” - John Steinbeck
My antidote to ...
... the poison put out by the powerful:
The video I'm referring to is in the link in my Tweet. Couldn't find it on YouTube.
The establishment has a lot of power and virtually zero leadership. Just watching ONE of Bernie's surrogates, Nina Turner shows incredible leadership and the invocation of power from the bottom up.
They're using their power blatantly, but I see no reason or judgment or even sanity in how they're using that power.
They really don't get this movement. It's not about me. They can't see any other motivation than "me."
Beat in the USA.
I think you're right.
You have put your finger on a weakness of the oligarchy: they are a collection of egoists and, consequently, they aren't well organized and probably never will be. They only know greed exemplified by power and money and will not relinquish their personal power readily--not even to their fellow oligarchs. Look again at Donald Trump. I think they have trouble acting in concert and cannot really understand that others will actually sacrifice for one another. They have been able to accomplish their goals so far because no one has really challenged them. Public apathy has been their biggest ally.
Now we are at roughly the same place the populace was in the 1930s. It is a grim place and with climate change looming, not a place where we have the luxury of time. However, as you say, there seems "no reason or judgment or even sanity in how they're using that power". Our hope is in acting quickly, in concert, and with only a few well defined and well articulated goals thus concentrating our power. After all, that's the way karate punches work: force on a small area breaks boards but diffused power just causes bruises. I think the 60s failed in part at least because of distractions such as LSD. I admit I could be very wrong about this, but it's not important whether I am or not. What is important is that this time it looks as if it's our last chance. We had better keep our eye on the ball.
-Greed is not a virtue.
-Socialism: the radical idea of sharing.
-Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
John F. Kennedy, In a speech at the White House, 1962
the 60s movement failed because he liberals
destroyed it with electoral politics
An idea is not responsible for who happens to be carrying it at the time. It stands or it falls on its own merits.
Not taken into consideration often enough
Don't forget the major political assassinations of the 1960's that obliterated an entire generation of progressives in America.
I wasn't there, but it looks from my angle like
the 60s failed because the establishment kept murdering the leaders of movements until the movements finally gave up.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I was there. You're not far wrong. n/t
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
Thanks for the confirmation--
but man, does that suck.
I'm with Olbermann on this. And this, btw, is one of the reasons I will NEVER vote for Hillary.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLNFsl130_Y
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
what you are seeing is desperation
they know what is coming
An idea is not responsible for who happens to be carrying it at the time. It stands or it falls on its own merits.
As I said in another diary...
Those in the remaining states, no matter what, vote tomorrow and spit in their eye.
"There ain't no sin and there ain't no virtue. There's just stuff people do.”
― John Steinbeck, The Grapes of Wrath
and those votes are just as useless as the ones already cast
elections are a sham
An idea is not responsible for who happens to be carrying it at the time. It stands or it falls on its own merits.
No, Don, they aren't.
As long as there's alternative media and crowdfunded exit polls, those votes are a credibility barometer--and a way for the people to see their own numbers.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
wishful thinking, how many read the alternative media ?
I would like to have your optimism, but I don't.
https://www.euronews.com/live
A lot of people under 45.
That's been obvious on everything from Gaza to the Democratic nomination.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
ok, I am willing to "hope", everything else doesn't make
sense. Sorry to blow the dark tunes this morning. Just had so many nightmares last night.
https://www.euronews.com/live
Maybe take some hours off from this nonsense?
Restore and refresh yourself with things you love.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
there are far better ways
An idea is not responsible for who happens to be carrying it at the time. It stands or it falls on its own merits.
Hillary just won the general election.
I know this because there was a poll taken of how the voters intend to vote. Heh
Agreed
The Democratic party is just one more brick in the wall of oppression.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR5ApYxkU-U]
"You can't just leave those who created the problem in charge of the solution."---Tyree Scott
This whole process has been a sham . . .
At this point it isn't even really that surprising that Clinton's people would do this kind of stunt. But still, it's a measure of just how little confidence they have in Clinton.
Is there any kind of a precedent for this kind of intervention at this stage in a primary contest?
Here's hoping it's a "Dewey Defeats Truman"
Course that was just a stupid mistake. This is willful and planned.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
no not "Clinton's people" ....the people who own Clinton
An idea is not responsible for who happens to be carrying it at the time. It stands or it falls on its own merits.
3.45%
was the turnout number is PR yesterday.
Not the turnout for Bernie. The ENTIRE turnout.
60,000 out of 1.7 million. Or, to put it another way: a suppression rate of 96.55%
That is not an election; it's a push poll.
And 7,000 of those voters were convicts paid by the Dems to vote only for Hillary - at the cost of their lives if they voted for Bernie.
There are military juntas who run fairer elections than these people.
The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?
Threatened with death if they didn't vote for Hillary
What a horrific version of the so-called "granny-farming" they did earlier in the race.
After that, it blows my mind that anybody is willing to stay within the confines of the Democratic party past November.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Let's push for a new party
Let's use this abuse from the Democratic party of Progressives as a reason to form a real Progressive party. If we start now we could field candidates pretty quickly.
Brand New Congress and Working Families Party . . .
are two approaches that could work.
Brand New Congress is more like a pressure group where you primary the GOP and Democrats in districts where they are strongest from the left. This is how a number of single-issue advocacy groups have been successful.
Working Families Party has an approach that has had some success too. The idea is to build up an organization independent of the Democratic Party that will sometimes make strategic alliances with the Democratic Party, sometimes run its own candidates, or it might make alliances with other groups.
The big challenge is that our system isn't very friendly to third parties. If the GOP collapses it could trigger a realignment. The Democratic Party, however, probably would have a big advantage at first aligning with big money GOP interests -- frankly it looks like it's already happening.
I think the best chance is to continue to pound away in primaries and score some victories inside the Democratic Party. People should stop giving money to party committees too, if they haven't already, because the party committees are at best indifferent to progressive economic interests, and often actively hostile and will spend money trying to beat back more progressive challengers.
I'm sure there will be plenty of ideas about the best way forward over the next few months. Things can't continue as they are.
Getting organized using "The Art of War" by Sun Tzu
Could we modify this military manual to help organize our cause? The first premise of Sun Tzu is to avoid war. There are shorter versions of the text that offer summaries. There are several who have provided translations from ancient Chinese over the years. It is used by military schools and Corporations for planning, organizing and executing strategy and tactics. A good topic for a diary for someone more familiar than I?
http://classics.mit.edu/Tzu/artwar.html
Translated by Lionel Giles
Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. Stephen Hawking
Sun Tzu accepted things we cannot.
If we want to play by the rules of our elections.
He was a TRUE realist, and while not Machiavellian, did state quite openly about the need to undermine and destroy the enemy. When he said the epitome of Skill is not to win 100 battles out of 100 battles, but to defeat the enemy without fighting, he was saying that the war must be won before it ever gets to the point of conflict.
So, to really get into the feel of Sun Tzu, keep in mind he advocated fighting "Dirty". REALLY dirty. Personally I prefer "The Book of Five Rings" By Miamoto Musashi, but that's a later and Shinto inspired as opposed to Confucius Inspired.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
For you listening horror
Hillary Rodham, 1969 Commencement audio released yesterday
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
We need to phone bank and, if
We need to phone bank and, if in the states voting today, canvas. We must get people to the polls. Or we lose. Most people do get their news from the mainstream media and they are being told to not bother voting. We need to make calls.
We have been told we lost
so screw them. They are not the boss of me. I can't even look at the NYT, gave up on the Guardian pre-cartoon logos for primary characters. Too bad Joe S is on vacation, good for him. I figure the internet will get shut down before July.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.