Look, I know I don't have a lot of street cred around here, nor should I, really. I donated to Bernie. I voted for him. I converted my mother and other family members here in Ohio to vote for him as well. But I didn't do much else. I didn't phone bank or knock on doors. I didn't pour as much blood and sweat and tears into the movement as many/most/all on here have done. I've only posted a couple times. And I think this is my first diary, and one that is destined to be unpopular, to say the least. But some things need to be said, and as a student of law (JD) and political science (BA) I fear it is getting too much like and echo chamber around here, and that is dangerous for decision making: see Barbara Tuchman's classic book, "The March of Folly." Plus, I do know a thing or three about politics and our nation, so please, at least give me a read, even though you may not like some of it.

I'm certainly no stranger to politics or being pissed off by the Democratic party or it's corporate leanings. My candidate has never/rarely won the primary in my voting lifetime: Jesse Jackson in 1988; Tom Harkin in 1992; Bill Bradley in 2000; Kucinich in 2004; Bernie in 2016. I would have voted Edwards in 2008, the Two America's thing was right, but then the infidelity thing blew up and I switched to Obama before Ohio voted. I wrote in Ralph Nader in 1996 after Bill Clinton disgraced the nation and voted for Nader again in 2000 after Al Gore called Clinton the greatest 20th century President (over FDR, child please). I canvassed hard for Kerry in 2004. I was an organizing fellow for Obama in 2008 but voted for Jill Stein in 2012 after Obama refused to prosecute the big banks. I wrote a diary saying so on ToS and promptly was banned.

Hell, I wasn’t 100% sure I'll vote for Hillary until last night, so I feel you. I've NOT voted democratic in November for President multiple times in my life, so some may say I'm being hypocritical now in criticizing those who won't vote Hillary this time. But I believe the situation this year is a bit different on a number of fronts. First, the stakes are so much higher than before. Both in terms of the disaster that awaits if Trump wins, and the probabilities of achieving some lasting, tangible, game-changing results in the next four years that will evaporate if we don't seize on them now. Second, the progressive movement has more support now at any time in my voting lifetime, thanks to the efforts of the Berners and millenials, let's not throw it away, let's build on it. Don't act in a way that turns people away from the movement you are trying to expand. Which is what is happening now via the disruptions.

Again, just to reiterate, I don't have a problem with being angry, we SHOULD be angry at a lot of things: corporate dems, cheating at the DNC, TPP, the 40 year stagnation of the middle class and wages, prescription drug prices, having centrists kick sand in our faces for 40 years then come running to us for help in November, all of it and more. But my problem with the BoBs isn't how you feel, or even how you will vote (though there is some of that), but how you are ACTING. Like a bunch of little Veruca Salts (I want my revolution NOW, daddy!). And calling Bernie a Dem shill is ridiculous. Sarah was right about that.

For those too young to get the Veruca Salt reference, click the link below. For those of you still reading, please read on for some more detail below, as I'll go into some more detail on the four points made above.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRTkCHE1sS4

I. Calling Bernie a shill is ridiculous

He's not been a shill his entire political life. He's doing exactly what he said he'd do the entire time. He said he'd support the nominee if he lost. He's doing that. He said Hillary on her worst day is still 100x better than Trump. That is still true. He said he'd do everything in his power to defeat Trump. That is exactly what he is doing.

He's always said he'd support the nominee if he lost. That is what he is doing. He always said Hillary Clinton on her worst day is 100x better than Donald Trump. That is true, for all her faults. He always said Trump must be defeated and he'd do everything he could to defeat him. That is what he is doing. That isn't being a shill, it is keeping your word. See the difference?

He always said that we should treat each other with dignity and respect, even to those with whom we disagree. This is precisely what the BoBers on the floor were NOT doing. Disrespecting others. Elijah Cummings doesn't deserve to be heckled. Liz Warren? We trusted you chants? My god, if Elizabeth Warren isn't a strong enough advocate against Wall Street for you, then no one is. And booing Bernie when he calls for unity WHEN HE SAID ALL ALONG THAT'S WHAT HE'S GOING TO DO? Ridiculous. Heck, HE TRUSTED YOU by selecting you as delegates to the convention, and this is how you act?

Again, I'm talking about how you are acting inside and heckling speakers. Protest outside? Fine. Decide you want to hear more from camp HRC before you support her? Fine. Keep the pressure on by all means. Heck, even decide you can't support the Dem ticket or folks running for office? I think it is a big mistake this time, but fine. It is your right. But acting disruptive inside while folks are trying to talk about criminal justice reform or anytime HRC's name is mentioned makes you look like brats and ultimately harms the movement you are trying to build. This coming from someone who is extremely sympathetic to your goals and has walked in your shoes at other times this election cycle and in past ones. I think the view from folks who are less sympathetic to your views and aspirations will view it MUCH more harshly. And thus the damage to the movement you are tying to grow.

EDIT: The Day 2 walkout (around 150 of 1,800+) was perfectly fine. No issues with that at all in terms of behavior (the wisdom of not voting for HRC is another matter, but to that later).

II. Again, no problem with being angry, you SHOULD be angry

I understand being pissed about the emails, and we all should be. Clinton cronies putting their fingers on the scales while they profess neutrality exposes them all for liars and frauds at the DNC. And using religious beliefs (or lack thereof) to do it while publicly decrying Trump dividing us on racial lines in purely disgusting. Boo DWS and her cronies all day long, and loudly, they deserve it. But also realize it is a kind of weird compliment. We had them worried. Scared. Won 23 contests. 45% of pledged delegates. If it is really no contest, you don't scheme about ways to cheat for your candidate.

I understand being pissed about the current corporate state of the democratic party establishment, and we all should be. It has damaged the middle class for 40 years. I understand the rank hypocrisy and general annyoing-ness of Hillbots who forgive anything if a Clinton or a Dem does it, but rail against it if it harms their candidate or someone does the same TO them. The sight of Hillary Clinton and Nancy Pelosi (of all people) saying single payer would never happen was disgusting. Or that Bernie’s college plan didn’t add up (it did). Or that single payer might not save money (it does).

But Sarah was right last night, those people were acting ridiculously. You are making Ted Cruz look gracious. You sound like idiots when interviewed on the convention floor (like the girl who was upset that Bernie spoke last: memo to Bird-brain, that the most honored spot). Furthermore, the way you guys are acting damages the movement you are trying to build.

III. This type of behavior damages the movement

EDIT: I started this diary Tuesday but didn't get it finished until Wed, and in looks like Think Progress was thinking along the same lines, full article/link here:

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/07/26/3801963/bernie-protesters-u...

First off, it makes those doing it look childish and ill-behaved. Less likely to get a seat at the grown-up table that way.

Second, it shows a stunning ignorance for how politics works. Please, spare me a diatribe on how you are sick of politics at usual and are trying to change HOW it works and don't want to support it. I get that. That's all well and good. But that is not what I mean.

I mean that politics, inherently, is more than just fighting for causes you believe in and trying to win elections. That is certainly part of it. And the incredible passion shown by the movement this cycle his incredible. But, politics is more than that.

It's also about relationships that are built up over time. That's why it is so hard to storm the castle in one cycle. There are a lot of folks out there that have been relying on, and having favorable results, dealing with their local reps over time. When you ride in, as an outsider and tell them the whole thing is corrupt, that doesn't jibe with their experience with their local rep. Further, that local rep has likely built up those relationships over a long period of time in the community, while the outsider has not. It is just a fact. This is particularly true in AA and Latino communities. Heck, I know I wanted it to happen fast as well. And foe a brief moment there, it looked like we had a shot, but we came up short. But keep working. Get progressives in at the local level, and then we'll have a much better shot. It will take time, however.

Lastly, it is also about having chips to cash in. There is a YUUUGE opportunity for us to collect a TON of chips this time. Let's not pass it up. The results of the Dem primary were decided in 2008, IMHO. That's when this cake was baked. Obama beat Hillary in an election that was much closer and much more divisive than this one. In some states (I know Indiana), over half of HRC supporters said they wouldn't vote for Obama and 1/3 said they'd vote for McCain. Obama had issues with white-working class voters (they cling to their guns and religion, you know). Hillary and Bill both busted their butts and the convention and on the stump, working for Obama. She delivered the PUMAs (Party Unity My Ass, for those too young to remember). Obama won. She got SoS and the support of the Dem establishment if she decided to run post-Obama, which she did.

With the support of the entire Dem establishment behind her, it was going to be nearly impossible to beat her. Bernie came closer than I ever thought possible. But if we deliver for HRC this time, and for down ballot dems, WE are the ones who will have the chips going forward. And we've seen fist hand how useful those can be. This is an opportunity for progressives that we should not waste.

IV. The stakes: great opportunity and possible disaster

The opportunity:

It isn't just about the chips we can gain politically if we win. That is certainly a part. But there are also an unprecedented number of actual progressives running this time. And a lot of folks who endorsed Bernie. Check the list out:
http://berniecrats.net/

It took a lot of guts to come out against HRC this year. And it takes a lot of guts to make a real progressive stand after 25 years of triangulation in the Democratic party. The power of the movement, both in terms of poll numbers and enthusiasm, and fundraising encouraged these folk to take a stand. The more of these folk we get elected, it will encourage more to take similar stances in the future. All while building the types of relationships I was talking about before. That's how you grow a movement.

However, if we have a snit and leave them on the vine to wither because we abandon Dems because Bernie lost, what are the chances that progressives come out of the woodwork anytime soon? In the words of Galadriel, "Do we let them stand alone?"

This is true both on the local and national level. HRC has bent over backwards in a lot of ways to progressives. The first night of the convention was all us: Bernie, Liz, Ellison, Grijalva, Merkley, etc. I haven't heard hardly a discouraging word from a Dem about the protests or heckling. Very understanding. Not to mention the platform concessions. The implied bargain here is we bust our butts in return. If we deliver, more Dems. More progressives. More chips. More opportunities to build relationships inside the party. More clout. More likely that more progressives run. Less likely to get bad laws this way.

This is an opportunity I haven't seen in my adult lifetime, lets not waste it. We are poised to make a serious run here, potentially. Voting patterns are shaped in young adult hood and usually hold for a lifetime. People who came of age in the age of FDR are the most liberal around. Those who came of age in the age of Reagan the most conservative. Good pols know this. If we can turn out large numbers of progressive millennials, that could hold for a LONG time. Doubly so if we have an Obama--> Clinton ---> genuine Progressive dynasty which is certainly on the table.

I fully believe that if it had been anyone but Clinton, Bernie would have won this thing. And if he had, he'd be up on Trump by 10+ points. Next time, we have a real shot. The whole party is shifting left. If the Obama coalition holds: blacks, Latinos, Asians, unions, young people, and liberal whites, things will only get MORE progressive as time goes on, especially given the size and very liberal beliefs of the millennials (more numerous than Baby Boomers). And the progressive bias of good policy, if we can get in enacted.

Lastly, the vacancy on the SCOTUS is an opportunity we can't pass up. One more justice and Citizens United can be overturned. Gettng money out of politics is the domino that must fall for progressive change to happen and corporate domination of our democracy to end. It could cripple the Koch brothers. And that next justice will also make 5 justices appointed by democrats on the court for the firs time since FDR/Truman appointees were manning the court. A VERY long time. A lot could happen there. Gerrymandering. Voting rights. Union rights. EPA's ability to regulate carbon. And it could be a lot more slots: RBJ is 83; Kennedy is 80; Breyer is 78, Thomas 68. Next Prez could remake the SCT for DECADES.

The disaster:

Trump. This isn't just about his personal disaster, which is true. He's 100x worse than Romney, McCain, or even W. But the SCT will likely be lost for decades. Corporate Dems will cry that we shifted too far to the left and likely progressives won't come out again for 20 years.

We can't let this happen. As distasteful as it may be, let's rally and vote for HRC. And especially for down-ballot dems and progressives. I we want to sit out a couple (DWS should she win the primary is a good place to start) and few scalps will help our cause. But not at the Presidential/Senate level. The stakes are too high, and the potential gains too great.

Sorry for the length, thanks for reading.