OT - 6-23-16: Bernie's Shoe, Revolution and other Ramblings
I was thinking how ironic it is. Ignorant hacks were predicting Bernie's ceiling was 30%. But what if Bernie hadn't run at all? What if it were Hillary and O'Malley? I think it's O'Malley whose ceiling would have been about that. Why? Because there's a certain "anybody but Hillary" vote that he would have gotten but he's not inspiring the way Bernie is. Bernie appeals to more than just the anti-Hillary people.
Enough of Bernie, though. I want to talk about what we'd do without him and imagining he hadn't run is one way to approach it.
There'd be none of this....this worship of Bernie's shoe!
Ok...what would we do? Because if Bernie doesn't get the nomination we'll be in that position. And anyway, he keeps saying it's not about him, it's about us.
So what would we do if Bernie hadn't run? I picture a fairly rudderless situation with some of us backing Jill Stein, some of us backing O'Malley "just because", some of us opting out of the electoral process. In that sense it's been really important that Bernie's been a candidate. He's focused the energy of a lot of us on all that's wrong with the Democrats. I've got to thank him for running, for exposing just how bad it is.
But without him as President we're going to need a road map, whether he continues to lead or whether we have to make it up ourselves. Because I love those Beatles and 60s music I think how that group led and others followed and when they broke up music splintered. Well....white music, anyway. It's like that now. With no Bernie or central figure as a guide we're likely to go off in all directions.
We'll see what Bernie does but, again, I want to assume he's not there, in order to see how we are going to work on the problems.
We don't trust much. That People's Summit, sponsored by Coca-Cola...ok, I made that up but it sort of felt like it. The World Socialist Web Site has an interesting article about it.
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2016/06/17/peop-j17.html
As Sanders sees it, his challenge is now to prevent those attracted to his campaign from breaking with the Democratic Party. He has not yet formally endorsed Hillary Clinton in part because he wants to keep the attention of his supporters on the Democratic convention, claiming that he may be able to wrest significant concessions from Clinton on aspects of the Democratic Party platform—a meaningless document that has no impact on policy.
I keep skirting around this, don't I? I keep coming back to Bernie running when I'm trying to picture him out of the race. I guess this has been our problem all along. Bernie's running has helped us identify that the game is rigged this way and that. Voting, apparently, doesn't mean anything. If the Clinton campaign (meaning the DNC and its ilk) has rigged it then they can rig a general election with Bernie or some other good candidate running outside the Democratic Party.
We don't like the influence of money in the campaigns. We have to be loud about that. We can't let rigging elections be ignored. We have to be loud about that. Here's what I've learned from marketing and how I think I might proceed. Well-researched press releases or letters to places where a message can be heard are invaluable. I get more business when I market. My musical group gets more press when I send out properly timed info to the local weeklies. Those people who write the news stories are lazy. Give them the story already written out and they'll print it. We have to be careful, though. Since they protect the status quo they won't take kindly to bomb throwing. It's got to be phrased in a common sense sort of way that they can understand and that won't push them away. It can be done! And I know we have plenty of good writers here who know how to do that.
At the moment I think getting the word out is one way to go. Get it out there, keep it out there. Bernie's exposed a lot, given us some great topics. Let's go get 'em!
One hour later....wait a second, that won't do anything.
Ok, here's what I really think. Honestly.
There are four ways things will get fixed.
1. A Soviet Union style dissolution of the country
2. A Great Depression that collapses the current government
3. A foreign resistance/invasion that puts an end to the United States' warmongering
4. A tax revolt where everyone stops funding the powers that be
5. An actual revolution
I am so reluctant to discuss this fifth one. It would have to get bloody, with death and everything. That last resort is probably the most effective one but, you know, "not me!"
Meanwhile I read something funny today. I haven't found it again...need to! I'm pretty sure I read a headline where Hillary said "it's not about me, it's about us". Cor blimey! Lord love a duck!
Ok, on to our music segment. There's a song I've always enjoyed, "I'm In With the In Crowd" by Dobie Gray. Good music, lyrics that hold together. I like getting dressed up, being a bit of a dandy. I enjoy hanging out with my friends. But yeah, it's elitist. For us I think this Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs song is more like it. "I'm In With the Out Crowd".
Well...short and sweet and confused for this one. I've got to get ready to go rehearse for this show I'm doing Saturday (Mississippi Studios in Portland, Oregon). Shaz and I have worked up a plan. We're not keen at all on The Kingsmen (who play at 9...my ensemble plays at 10:20) so we'll see some of the early bands, then go to dinner during the Kingsmen's set. It'll be a great way to forget politics for awhile
Comments
Morning shahryar
I like being in with the out crowd. My kind of people.
It aggravates me when all these talking heads say Bernie is going to sell us out and support Hillarity. We don't yet know what he will do. There are many variables...no telling what the situation will be next month.
I hope you and the cool whips have a great gig this weekend. Play purdy and have fun.
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
We are the roadmap. All of us, together.
The whole world. If only we could make that concrete.
edited to remove pessimism, which was 90 percent of the former comment.
Peace and love be with you, reader.
Elegy for the Arctic
This greenpeace project is sadly lovely.
Read about the project here:http://www.commondreams.org/further/2016/06/22/elegy-arctic
Listen here:
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHpHxA-9CVM]
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
I was so tempted to post that yesterday, the music
got to me. Thanks.
https://www.euronews.com/live
Good Morning, Shahryar, I definitely feel with the outcrowd,
... just try to figure out since when ... and had difficulties to find the time when I began feeling that way. ..I like your way of making a point in having dinner during the Kingsmen performance. Enjoy a sweet dessert.
Anyhow, I am so confused with the world these days, I just dump this interview with Museveni from Uganda. I would think it's a telling interview. I think Obama and Hillary should have thought about that kind of reaction from a guy like Museveni. But who can think about all that kind of stuff, when it actually would have been needed to think about that. Too much to ask. Being in the outcrowd for an African politician ... I guess you get flak from the front and the back. No chance to just ... take a nice dinner to avoid the unpleasant consequences. So, what's your favorite dish?
plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose...
Are you as tired as I am?
https://www.euronews.com/live
Museveni's argument is essentially racist
The idea that African politicians should be able to kill and rip off their people with impunity because they are black doesn't sit well with me. Crooked black politicians in the US often make similar appeals to racism, but the "white people should not be able to punish black crooks" argument doesn't wash any more than the notion that Wall St. crooks should be above the law because we don't want to tank the economy argument washes.
if you have two people from different ethnicities or races
arguing about something political or socio-economical, it's automatically silently considered racist by both sides.
https://www.euronews.com/live
Bernie writes op ed in WashPost (g'morning, y'all!)
You can find the op ed here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/06/23/bernie-sande...
"What do we want? We want to end the rapid movement that we are currently experiencing toward oligarchic control of our economic and political life. As Lincoln put it at Gettysburg, we want a government of the people, by the people and for the people. That is what we want, and that is what we will continue fighting for."
"Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change." Stephen Hawking
NEW: http://www.twitter.com/trueblueinwdc
Bernie is so awesome!
Excellent op-ed. As usual, Bernie knocks it out of the park and continues his challenge to hrc on all fronts.
Here's the beginning - please go there and read to the end.
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Hi all. RA, I saw that mentioned in a post on FB
and thought would come here to share it. Of course the open thread is on the topic already. And you are already posting the link as well. Thanks!
(PS We are still on self guided safari in Africa, but heard from a frin who said NM is unusally hot just now. Hope all is well.)
A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.
It's a heat wave here, divine.
We got a spot of rain yesterday, which was great. We had a big fire in the Manzano mountains - near me - which got 24 houses and almost got the village of Chilili. The Chililieans fought it off themselves - amazing people. We were about 12 miles from the fire, but in the valley, so it would have taken quite a bit to get to us, but we got ready to evacuate. Many people were evacuated. It was 61% contained yesterday when the rain came and snuffed it out. WHEW! We have chances for rain the next few days. It's hot, hot, hot, right now, but the afternoon might bring much needed shower relief.
Hope you are enjoying Africa! xo
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
Great Essay
Thanks for sharing it! I love hearing directly from Bernie.
Best for everyone's blood pressure, though, to avoid the comments. Crawling with hillbots, it's all bow down to the queen! Sore losers! Why haven't you congratulated the winner!?
It's sad and infuriating. On that last one, it would not likely do any good to point out that I don't congratulate cheaters.
You're right, Shahryar. This isn't going to get fixed by working with the status quo sycophants. They're simply unreachable. I don't have the means to prepare my home for the inevitable societal collapse (it's already here anyway). But it's good to be reminded to prepare our spirit and resolve. Now is the time for courage, not capitulation.
Typo edit.
Change is the end result of all true learning. ~ Leo Buscaglia
Of the five listed
I suspect the most likely one will be #2. I do not know why, but I have felt that economic collapse may end up being the best thing that happens to us. I am hoping some of our more knowledgeable members here will weight in. #3 is also very likely, although I see it as being an economic invasion.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
China is already buying us piecemeal
No doubt they'd like a chance to buy us up wholesale and at bargain prices.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
International economic depression
is reasonably likely. International capitalism seems incapable of fixing itself. The question is what will happen after that--Lenin, Roosevelt or Hitler. As things stand, a fascist revolution looks more likely to me than a progressive revolution. We will also eventually run up against resource depletion (maybe water will be the first very difficult resource problem) and the consequences of human-induced climate disruption and these will cause strains that will dramatically alter governments.
the
Soviet Union broke into pre-existing constituent parts, that the Russians had absorbed into empire; even then, it was incomplete (see Chechnya, Siberia, not permitted to break away, still occupied). Something different would have to happen in the US, unless it were to revert to the tribal boundaries that existed prior to the white people. Another "great depression" would most likely generate another grudging capitalist fix, as with FDR's New White Deal. Foreign invasions solve nothing; they just replace one boss, with another. There is already something of a tax revolt, and long has been; that this is not generally known, that's fine. Revolution may want blood—more meet the new boss, same as the old boss—but evolution doesn't.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvViRsQYGfw]
This country broke up once before
and was hauled back together by force and bloodshed. There is still festering resentment over it.
Do you really want to bet that it couldn't happen again?
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
you'll note
I responded to the assertion there might be "a Soviet Union style dissolution of the country." That I offered that if the US breaks, it will must needs break differently than did the Soviet Union.
And if it "happens again," no, it will not be because knuckledragging retroverts insist on owning human beings as slaves, which is what occasioned the break-up you reference.
The Republic died decades ago…Imperial America is dying.
Infrastructure for the core imperial citizens is allowed to decay.
Imperial 'homeland' jobs are being shipped to other countries in exchange for acknowledgement of imperial control as well as profit by external entities granted imperial personhood, but allowed to use that personhood in order to further control the imperial political class leadership.
Imperial crackdown on freedoms and rights.
Imperial attempts to limit free speech.
Imperial attempts to limit and or hamper the the ability of the populace to arm themselves.
Imperial circumvention of 4th amendment rights.
Imperial political class regularly sets aside any Imperial political class wrong doing, and wrong doing by business as 'off the table' because it would delay imperial action in other areas against the populace, and it would affect to many imperials among the political and wealth classes to be allowed.
Imperial corruption runs deep, to the core, as in corruption is in the DNA of the empire now with little or no way to remove it.
Imperials rigged elections no linger provide the same pressure value to populace frustrations they once did. The illusion of freedom, as well as the failing of 'national pride' are creating problems for the leadership.
Imperial parties blame voters for political class failings. Imperial political leaders have come to believe that the people exist to provide them with position, as well as providing the political class with new paths into the wealth class to further cement the political symbiosis between money and politics.
May as well Enjoy the decline. The old Republic isn't going to be restored. The empire won't go down without a fight.
Imperial citizens will be punished until morale improves. Once morale reaches appropriate positive levels, punishments will continue to ensure morale remains high.
My vote's for
evolution.
Only connect. - E.M. Forster
It's unfortunate
but 42% of Americans don't believe in evolution.
In U.S., 42% Believe Creationist View of Human Origins
The last sentence is the only part that gives me hope things might ever change. Unless and until those percentages are reversed and the creationists no longer hold sway over our scientific, educational and political outlook, we'll continue on a course that's destined for destruction.
it's okay
Evolution believes in them. ; )
In keeping with the musical side of the thread,
I present for your consideration one of the most creative covers of this seminal song about being in the out crowd: Human Sexual Response doing a proper slagging-off of the lipsync process with the Capitols' "Cool Jerk"... (Put your right foot on the kick pedal, Malcolm!)
Ahhh. I *needed* that...
ouch, I don't know, watching this, I think
number #4. tax revolt might become a "solution".
One thing seems to be sure, he doesn't want to lose money and he wants to win. Does that makes him "easy to handle" or is it the opposite?
[video:https://youtu.be/OCabT_O0YSM]
https://www.euronews.com/live
I find it funny that nobody gave me thumb up for this ...
... it was meant to make you think how you fight and find answers to the points Trump has made during the years, which apparently some folks in the US find so cool now.
Oh well, that was a "judgement fail" of the readership here, I guess. Or may be you are just tired of the whole infowar fare?
Why is Trump reminding me of Elivs? To be honest I never liked Elvis much either. Just trying to figure out what my guts had against Elvis and why my guts have something similarly against Trump. Something about babyfaces in both men, I guess.
Sigh, this is getting tiring. Sorry for have posted something you didn't like to see.
https://www.euronews.com/live
maybe
The Hairball reminds you of Elvis because when Elvis died his colon was swollen with 30 pounds of shit. And I imagine The Hairball, he packs around at least that much.
Trump Courts Bernie Sanders Voters, does TYT convince you?
Trump Courts Bernie Sanders Voters:
[video:https://youtu.be/65GiwwOqQAA]
Uh, oh, that sounds seductive, doesn't it?
Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest con of all? [
SnowBoth White]Donald Trump Kicks Off Anti-Hillary Speech with Pitch to Bernie Sanders Supporters -
by Tommy Christopher | 11:29 am, June 22nd, 2016
You know that if two dogs quarrel, a third rejoices, and when I looked for a video that would represent that fact, I ran into this:
The Dhammapada (Sayings of the Buddha) from The Refuge on Vimeo.
Just saying it here, because over there in another essay people seem to forget.
https://www.euronews.com/live
oh man, I didn't know the Buddha says so much,
first time I hear him "speak". I guess the first couple of sentences of the first minutes of that video is enough already. Shame on me non-religious person. But the first sentences are quite good, actually.
https://www.euronews.com/live
no one knows
what the buddha said. He wrote nothing. The first words attributed to his mouth were not scribbled down until centuries after he went under the ground.
dr. seuss
has shoe wisdom.
you have brains in your head
you have feet in your shoes
you can steer yourself
any direction you choose
you're on your own
and you know what you know
and you are the one
who'll decide where to go
sometimes
the shoes get took.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxsc5zh2g3Q]
Bernie has taken off his shoe
and thrown it at the political establishment.
We should all do the same.
Or maybe even better, do like the Amish and shun them - turn our backs on them (literally or metaphorically) and refuse to have anything to do with them.
Why isn't this on the news?
They are still counting votes in the California primary! Also too, the provisional ballots haven't been counted yet.
John Laurits: How We #BernTheConvention (w/ Math)
"We've done the impossible, and that makes us mighty."
some of the things I believe are important today
[video:https://youtu.be/E7Z8LqgsHvg]
edit: jumbled up my subject line
'Well, I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years, Doctor, and I’m happy to state I finally won out over it." Elwood P. Dowd "
Show us the way?
We're always looking for leaders from with in the fucked up system. What's that about? The Shoe will show us the way forward. The latest Shoe of and for the people has been chewed up and swallowed by the body of beasts posing as representatives in democratic republic.
There is no way to use any part of this vast RW conspiracy, the global 'oligarchical collectivists' as a vehicle to get some relief. I'm not saying Bernie betrayed us or that he's not a comfy great working shoe but in order to have any power he cannot do the needed job. No one person can. Even if he is sheep dogging the supporters of a needed political revolution into the pens of the Democratic mafia we do not have to go there.
Everyone said OWS needed to get a leader and enter the political fray under the umbrella of the Democratic Peoples Party. There is no peoples party. It's where all good movements go to get neutered and absorbed so they won't cause any grief to the inevitable powers that be. Bloody revolution is just swapping one batch of power happy violent assholes for another.
I don't think you can plot out the way forward, political scenario of how to pry this vampire squid off the face of humanities face. I vote for busting up centralized power. Bio-regions that's the ticket. The US is not to big to fail nothing is. We seem unable to conceive of any alternative means of bring about some change and impose limitations of our power as humans based on fear of the inevitability of blood and the jack boots they always send out to stomp resistance down.
The chance that the rest of the world will take us out by invasion seems unlikely. Economically maybe. Then what? We just trade the current facistic western Goldman Sachs rules the world crowd for the new winners in the global race to the top? China? They already own my city via investors from Shanghai. A centralized global power that's based somewhere else is not going to make it better for humans or the planet.
I think the first step is for people to their withdraw consent to be governed. That won't stop this insanity as this lot of psycho's who want to rule the world could care less about consent. Bernie started the process by exposing the sham of democratic representation. If we quit looking for the perfectly fitted shoe to lead the way maybe people could imagine a different way to proceed that did not accept this 'world as we find it'. Nothing is inevitable and history is a moving story. If it wasn't there would never have been any human progress, universal human or civil rights or even the concept of democratic governance. We are not limited by what these fuckers tell us is possible.
Still going to try to get down there Sat night
Shahryar. Thanks for your time slot, I looked it up on line but could only tell the Kingsmen going on at 9:00. I'm going to try to get there before that and stick around for your gig. I'll try to look you up, never been there though so don't know how easy or difficult that might be.
too depressed to get into commenting today
do you ever have days when everything ticks you off? Pretty much every essay today has something that just bugs me. Clinton supporter whacks woman with cane, NY Dems make Cuomo head of delegation without vote, Further evidence that corporations rule the western hemisphere. China ordering demolition of a Buddhist temple. Thom Hartmann shutting down discussion of what's wrong with Hillary. Kabuki to the left of me, jokers to the right...
i had
one of those days yesterday. I went across the street and bought some fish.
It helped.
You did the shoes this morning. Maybe you could paint your shoes.
That might help.
; )
**waves**
Hi folks! I don't ever go to dkos anymore. I blocked it in my hosts file so I can't even hit a link accidentally. I wanted to stop in and say hello to all the familiar faces. I really should come by these parts more often. This primary has been an attack on the progressive online community with the goal of breaking and scattering it.
For the record, my wife and I will almost certainly be voting Stein here in Florida. I remain a Democrat to vote for Grayson in the Aug 30th primary. He isn't great but he's a hell of a lot better than max-Romney donor Patrick Murphy. I'll change to indie after that primary. I don't think I'll ever look back after that. The masks have been ripped off this primary. Everything I've long suspected about the party has been confirmed.
Hi quince!
great to read you here. Welcome. Your one of the poster from dkos I really liked. I hope you do come by these parts more often. See you around I hope.
I see a lot of my favorite posters over here
Including you.