Our Revolution - A Song We've Heard Before

Chapter 2 of the Bernie Sanders Story is in rough draft. The Bernster would like to take the energy and passion his candidacy generated and turn it into a longview multi-pronged entity to push the goals of the 99% and to promote Progressive candidates. Sounds good, right?

It always sounds good. It sounded good with Howard Dean's Democracy For America whose goals are to:

WIN ELECTIONS - We recruit and train progressive candidates to run for office and win at every level of government . . .EMPOWER OUR MEMBERS - . . . empowering them to be effective advocates for progressive policies, game-changing supporters of progressive candidates, and candidates for office themselves. DRIVE THE CONVERSATION ON ISSUES: Through our issue campaigning nationally and locally, we put pressure on politicians and the media to put our country’s income inequality crisis at the center of the political debate, hear grassroots activists’ calls for populist progressive reforms, and robustly respond to injustice, however it emerges

It sounded good with Obama For America which morphed into Oranizing For Action:

Organizing for Action is a movement of millions of Americans, coming together to fight for real, lasting change . . . With more than 250 local chapters around the country, OFA volunteers are building this organization from the ground up, community by community, one conversation at a time—whether that’s on a front porch or on Facebook. We’re committed to finding and training the next generation of great progressive organizers, because at the end of the day, we aren’t the first to fight for progressive change, and we won’t be the last.

Here is the Bernie gameplan-
From USA TodayBernie Sanders seeks contributions for 'Our Revolution"

“Our Revolution,” the former Democratic presidential candidate writes, aims to bring “millions” of working and young people into the political system; recruit and support the “next generation of progressive leaders” running for office, from school board to U.S. Senate; and educate the public about “the most pressing issues confronting our nation” that he says the “corporate media” fails to emphasize.

We've seen this movie before, haven't we? Not to say there hasn't been some victories achieved by these groups, but the game is certainly slanted against them if they confine themselves to promoting Progressive candidates and Progressive initiatives beneath a Democratic Party umbrella, which, by default, they are forced under. Yes, that same Democratic Party whose last leader, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, openly proclaimed it worked to protect entrenched incumbents, the handmaidens of moneyed interests, from pesky grassroots activists.

How is this move to make the Democratic Party more progressive working out? How will it work out in the future as the Party pivots right and is accepting the influx of so-called moderate Republicans fleeing the grimacing orange clown face that is their current standard bearer?

I, for one, am seeing a pattern here - everytime a Progressive leader arises or appears to arise, apres election some vehicle is created for all those passionate, hepped-up liberals to join to vent all that excess energy and to make them believe "the movement hasn't died!". The movement hasn't died, it's just been placed in storage, like a float after the Rose Parade which can be redecorated and re-used in the next bowl game.

So this guy, John Opdycke in The Hill pops up and asks the question I've been asking, Bernie, you say you want a revolution, but whose?

Opdycke wants to know, as do I, whether this will be one more embellishment of the Democratic Party with some liberal knick-knacks or an effort for some real structural change? Opdycke defines the choice as: "remaking the Democratic Party or partnering with diverse Americans to remake the country. Big difference."

The country is ready for “Our Revolution.” But it must be ours. It cannot belong to a party or an ideology. It cannot be exclusionary or narrow. It must bridge the partisan divide, not add to it. It must involve the American people in answering the question “how do we do this?”

That’s the revolution we need.

So which is it Bernie? A revolution which like others before, suffocates itself in the blankets of the Democratic Party smothering its voice, or a real revolution run completely outside the confines of that structure which is a knock-down, not a rehab.

Bernie, if you really want a revolution, start your own party or align with the Greens, Working Families and others who will be much more receptive to change than Democrats.

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... it's either Jill or write in Bernie. From now forward, I vote for things, not against them, and not out of fear of the unknown.

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ZimInSeattle's picture

was only 23%. And we have mail in ballots. That's what happens when TPTB make it obvious that voting does not matter. And to think the Dem's want us to get behind Hillary? LMFAO!

The party went to extraordinary measures to deny, manipulate, and corrupt the voting process. And because of that alone, I can no longer support the Democratic party.

Sharpen your pitchforks and stoke your torches. We're going to have to do this the hard way.

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"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." - JFK | "The more I see of the moneyed peoples, the more I understand the guillotine." - G. B. Shaw Bernie/Tulsi 2020

Wink's picture

it won't. Everything is still in place, nothing has changed. The sequel should be the game changer! No reason it won't be.

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the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.

He is an old man who has has worked himself to the bone, and succeeded in his mission far beyond anyone's expectations. He is a bona fide progressive hero and he deserves great respect for what he's done, no matter what he decides to do from here on in. Now it's time for us to pick up the torch he has been carrying. Bernie has always insisted, "this movement is not about me, it's about us". I'd be very happy indeed, if we could prove that he was right.

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native

Wink's picture

rallies in three different cities (if not three different states) many times. One thing he wasn't was outworked. Hopefully we can work half as hard to finish the job.

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the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.

ChemBob's picture

Sorry for my bluntness, but 66 years of this crap, with it getting worse and worse (except now with 400% or so fewer assassinations of liberals) has finally caused me to do nothing but belly-laugh while crying inside when I see such movements promoted.

Bernie was leading a "revolution." Now that he gave up (for whatever reason, but I remember the 60s so perhaps giving up was a way to keep on breathing for himself or his family) it is over. There are no leaderless revolutions and Bernie's acquiescence took the wind right out of the sails of our ship of hopeful souls.

I'm younger than Bernie, but have neither the energy, physical capability, nor positional leaping off point to reignite this "revolution." I hope someone among you does, because otherwise, somewhere a bit down the road, a match is going to ignite that risks burning it all to the ground, the good along with the bad. I was hoping that with Bernie's leadership we could be more discerning between those two. Now Bernie is gone, along with my hope for peaceful improvement.

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Phoebe Loosinhouse's picture

immediately as regards healthcare. Initially they supported the Obama agenda for healthcare: public option, negotiated drugs in Medicare, re-importation of drugs, and fast track for generic drugs. But almost immediately the specific goals disappeared into just a generic "Our healthcare sucks" message and then the stupid houseparties where people were advised to gather together to discuss how much they hated their healthcare but without providing defined goals for change. The houseparty literature was insanely inadequate, by design, I've come to believe. Then the next great "blow off liberal energy" device was a "Day of Service". Hey! You liberals, why not do some shifts at the food bank or Meals on Wheels today and then blog about it and post pictures on Facebook?

I worked for a company that once a year had a "community service day" strictly for the PR harvest it would reap: pictures of all the employees dressed in the same tee-shirt picking up trash on a beach or cuddling kittens at the shelter or playing a piano at the retirement home emblazoned on the company newsletter - ACME* Employees Care! Same thing.

____________
*ACME is the fake company that made all the wily coyote's gear in his hapless quest to capture the roadrunner. I have no idea if there is a real Acme company, but if there is I didn't work for them and I am not talking about them

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" “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” FDR "

I would swear you got into my head and stole my thoughts! (Except I am 64!)

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Cassiodorus's picture

thread....

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“When there's no fight over programme, the election becomes a casting exercise. Trump's win is the unstoppable consequence of this situation.” - Jean-Luc Melanchon

What makes you think that Bernie's giving up? Don't you believe in using strategy against powerful and ruthless enemies against which whole countries are afraid to take a stand?

Bernie won the Dem nomination; they used every possible cheat against him and the American people and he still won, so they used the big corporate media-assisted lie and failed to count existing votes.

Bernie managed to avoid conceding to Hilary or releasing his delegates - why?

Are you aware that there are information releases and lawsuits in progress?

In a battle, you want to pick the time and terrain that suit you best. Now you reject his movement - because he didn't go all-out Rambo and get himself and his message of what's possible for the American people at best shut out of the corporate media and the public eye dependent upon this only? Bernie's consistency holds true - and he never stops fighting for democracy and the people, even at 74, and even against vile, insatiably greedy and immeasurably destructive international self-interests, including and supporting the Clinton machine they lend power to.

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

I unsubscribed from OFA when they demanded I support "President Obama's health care plan" before anybody knew if there was going to be a public option. Then I unsubscribed from MoveOn when they supported the ACA without a public option. I came back to MoveOn when they endorsed Bernie, unsubscribed again recently because they want to do GOTV for HRH HRC.

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"We've done the impossible, and that makes us mighty."

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Democrats, we tried to warn you. How is that guilt and shame working out?

It endorsed Bernie, despite Howard's desertion. I still keep up with it. And it should be noted that Bernie is NOT a Democrat. Keeping the organization going without a national candidate to focus it may seem like weak tea - mostly because it is - but it's better than nothing.

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Twain Disciple

Lookout's picture

Is the one I wish would return -
from wiki

The Progressive Era was a period of widespread social activism and political reform across the United States, from the 1890s to 1920s. The main objective of the Progressive movement was eliminating corruption in government. The movement primarily targeted political machines and their bosses. By taking down these corrupt representatives in office a further means of direct democracy would be established. They also sought regulation of monopolies (Trust Busting) and corporations through antitrust laws. These antitrust laws were seen as a way to promote equal competition for the advantage of legitimate competitors. At the same time, women's suffrage was promoted to bring a "purer" female vote into the arena. A second theme was building an Efficiency Movement in every sector that could identify old ways that needed modernizing, and bring to bear scientific, medical and engineering solutions.

Would that we could sing another round of that song!

I still haven't given up on Assange and wikileaks taking down the $hill.
RT says Assange will release more emails that will indict the $hill (3 min)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nB9u9dSQVkc

RT has an interview (an hour or half hour?) with him this weekend that should be interesting. I recently learned RT is Russia Today.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

OLinda's picture

RT says Assange will release more emails that will indict the $hill ...

Assange says there is enough information in the emails to indict, but also said L. Lynch will not indict H. Clinton.

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we have to admit that too big to fail and jail is real. I don't care what they have and expose on the Clintons, they are not going down.

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"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon

Lookout's picture

I'm hoping. And I think if Assange can stick our nose in the foundation corruption she could go down. As we've seen some people are above the law, so I'm not saying...just hoping.

And Phoebe is right an honest (muck raking) press would bring her down.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Phoebe Loosinhouse's picture

assisted by a muckraking press. Ida Tarbell, Upton Sinclair, Lincoln Steffins and others exposed

the political and economic corruption and social hardships caused by the power of big business in a rapidly industrializing United States.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Who are our modern muckrakers? Certainly no on on TEE VEE currently. I would say that Matt Taibbi, Amy Goodman, David Dayan, David Sirotta, Glen Greenwald, and a few others are people who I give credence to based on their track records. I can't think of a single name to include in the from the major newspapers.

The problem is that these guys expose the muck, but it goes no further in terms of promoting any actual social change. The exposed muck is ignored and buried by the corporate media

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" “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” FDR "

That's why the People's Revolution. If Americans don't step up en masse and organize to protect themselves from powerful self-interests, political change is not going to happen. Playing 'wait and see', as some on this thread have suggested they'll do regarding the organizations Bernie has planned and is beginning, at a time when your domestic law and country is being handed over to ruthless self-interests for their use and abuse, will do nothing; The People have to do it themselves, rather than, as it appears that some on this thread have, blame and denigrate one man trying to rouse the people to work with him, presumably for not being able to achieve a revolution against TPTB immediately, essentially on his own and at a rigged and staged nomination ceremony covered by complicit corporate media.

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

The Revolution approves of this message.

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That, I think, started with US Grant's election and included a whole series of forgettable, corrupt, ineffective Presidents and legislatures. We have a lot to learn from that period and the less corrupt period afterwards. I believe that's when people like Eugene Debs cut their teeth.

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Beware the bullshit factories.

Phoebe Loosinhouse's picture

"Oh, no, not this again!"

What would have excited me is if Bernie had stoically done his duty and campaigned for Hillary as he agreed to do and just made cryptic references to his plan for the future. In fact, I took a lot of comfort from his statement that he would return to the Senate in the original status he entered it, as an Independent. Ever searching for breadcrumbs indicating the path of Progressive salvation, I took that to be the first one.

In my fevered imagination, Bernie would return to his Vermont Batcave and emerge shortly after the election to announce the formation of a brand new party which used as it's foundation the community and ideals that had already been forged during his candidacy. Maybe the Modern Democracy Party or something like that with a bluebird as its emblem.

Now that would have been something to get excited about.

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" “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” FDR "

Are progressives, are they? Whatever "progressive" might mean. They certainly don't share Bernie's political beliefs.

Also, Bernie has specifically stated that his support is not just limited to democratics candidates; he's willing to support independents, so I don't see why that couldn't be wfp etc.

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I will keep in touch and review after the election. At this point my time and money is focused on the Green Party. Personally speaking I think the Democratic and Republican parties are to corrupt to govern the USA.

Bernie made a YUUGE mistake staying in the party.

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Lucky Bernie's finishing his term as an Independent and running again next election as an Independent, then, isn't it?

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

An all of the above solution where people regardless of what the tag they use as party identification pledge to support basic ideals - like protecting us from global warming and like creating a true democracy rather than the mockery we have now. It might lift all boats and all parties to a higher standard. And it would get around problems where in some localities you cannot do write ins or have certain parties because of whatever crap they have put in the way.

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glitterscale

Phoebe Loosinhouse's picture

together. I don't see anyway around that. Otherwise we're just individual voices crying out in the wilderness without a pack.

I see where you're coming from in regards to one particular issue however and that would be election integrity. That is one issue that should cut across all party lines and resonate with every voter, whether liberal, conservative or in-between. We can all live with loss, but it's hard to live with the idea of a stolen election. There should be a Group, Americans For Election Integrity who band together to push that issue.

On reflection , I would also join Americans for Single Payer Health. I would also join Americans Against Civil Seizure. I would also join Americans Against TPP. I would also join Americans for Free Higher Education. I would also join Americans For a Living Wage. I would also join Americans Against Privatizing our Aquifers. I could go on and on.

It would be a lot easier for me (selfishly) if I could simply join one Party that supported all those items and others.

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" “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” FDR "

Cassiodorus's picture

or he thinks we don't.

Realignment!

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“When there's no fight over programme, the election becomes a casting exercise. Trump's win is the unstoppable consequence of this situation.” - Jean-Luc Melanchon

Damnit Janet's picture

Once Sanders endorsed Rodham I have no time for his emails.

Words mean something in my house. And once he said I should vote for Hillary, even though my vote for Bernie was stolen, I had to quit listening.

Yes, he is wonderful. Yes he is brilliant. But he lost me once he sided with the War Mongering Liar.

But there are words and actions that go beyond. I don't have time for his anymore. Our world needs action. And since he no longer is leading... I no longer care what he says.

Jill Stein needs my energy and time.

The simple fact that Bernie said to support Hillary and didn't say a thing about Jill.. speaks volumes.

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"Love One Another" ~ George Harrison

lunachickie's picture

dead bodies have shown up and all have connections to the DNC speaks pretty damned loudly to me.

Makes me wonder how it sounded, being whispered into the ear of a distinguished older politician who has, to date, impeccable integrity? I'll bet it was ear-splitting and got his fucking attention, tout-suite..

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Damnit Janet's picture

But I wish he had shed light on it.

Protesting Hillary is dangerous.

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"Love One Another" ~ George Harrison

Wink's picture

Our Revolution is just getting started, but it's getting started from a core of 25 of us, or so, that have been Berniecrats, Bernie Bros and Bernie or Busters for a year or longer.
It will work this time - as opposed to previous efforts - becuz it's not just Libruls and Progressives that are pissed off. America is pissed off. Kansas Repubs and Conservies stayed home this week rather than get off their ass to go vote for Brownback and Company. If that happens in WI next week we got ourselves a Revolution. People want their slice of the American pie back. They're sick'n'tired of settling for the crumbs. And, it's now 12 years since that Dean scream. It took 12 years, but America is awake. Ready for Our Revolution.

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the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.

Given the election anomalies of the primaries, I would say the Democratic party will never be broadly progressive. The party establishment will be good on some issues such as choice. And it will respond to movements such as gay rights, but beyond that, pretty much neoliberal and neocon and big corporate money. The Democratic party establishment with money backers will either cheat (Sanders) or violently suppress (OWS) any emergent leftist insurgency whether inside or outside the party. There is right now, no legitimate way inside the party to overturn the neoliberal Dem party establishment.

Below is a link to an article that really hit the Sanders campaign very hard in February of this year from a socialist and black leftist point of view. Very early on, the BlackAgendaReport was claiming that Sanders was just in another line of sheepdogs. Fairly harsh. I don't think Bernie's campaign was in anyway deliberately or unconsciously doing the sheepdogging. In fact, a closer look at the voting patterns and suppression indicate that Sanders probably in fact won the nomination.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/blake-fleetwood/bernie-sanders-is-a-faux-s...

Bernie Sanders is this election’s Democratic sheepdog. The sheepdog is a card the Democratic Party plays when there’s no White House Democrat running for re-election. The sheepdog is a presidential candidate running ostensibly to the left of the establishment Democrat to whom the billionaires will award the nomination. Sheepdogs are herders,.... charged with herding activists and voters back into the Democratic fold who might otherwise drift leftward and outside of the Democratic Party, either staying home.

Bernie's campaign went from soaring heights to endorsing Clinton. Bernie it seems to me started to brow beat his supporters to vote Clinton.

The real effect of dis-affected progressives will show up in the 2018 midterm when I believe the Dems will have huge losses due to lack of any Dem turnout, and with a re-organized post-Trump gop. It might be a good time for 3rd party candidates as I believe we will be in a middle of some war started by Clinton.

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Wink's picture

endorse HRC. Yes, it Looked like he endorsed her - and in politics perception is reality - but the reality is He Did Not. And, we're gonna get more Libs and progs elected in the Dem party. No, Libs won't make up 80% of the party, but there's no reason it can't be 33 1/3 %. One Third of the party. And, if we have 1/3rd of the party we only need to build coalitions to make up the other 18% to move legislation and policy in a more Leftward direction. And, there's no reason we can't get that done by 2020.
A Third Party won't work. Never has, never will.

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the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.

Bisbonian's picture

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"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

Wink's picture

the word "endorse," does a great shake'n'bake to avoid using it.

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the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.

bondibox's picture

Bernie's movement is unique in a very fundamental way.

All of the previous movements, all of the examples you quoted, wanted people to get involved to help "recruit candidates." Invariably, those end up being candidates that meet the party seal of approval.

Bernie isn't asking you to help propel the next rising star, he's asking YOU to become a candidate. And he didn't say anything about running as a Democrat.

He's going Indie again, after vowing during the campaign to remain a Democrat for the rest of his career. He's encouraging people to run for office themselves. He's not encouraging anyone to be a Democrat or support the Democratic party. I'll bet he's just waiting for the right moment to set a match to this.

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“He may not have gotten the words out but the thoughts were great.”

featheredsprite's picture

youtu.be/b7mpnkgYrX8
or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7mpnkgYrX8&feature=youtu.be
maybe a better link.

The establishment dems are freaking!

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Life is strong. I'm weak, but Life is strong.

detroitmechworks's picture

How they keep repeating the same lies, over and over again.

Only now they've got a new one, which is that they are alleging that Stein claims WIFI causes cancer.

Which is horseshit. All Dr. Stein has said is that there are no long term studies and we need to think about the effects of Ionizing radiation, since it's never happened on such a wide scale and long term basis.

Of course, nuance is pointless to a smear artist, and I hope Dr. Stein stops bothering to correct them, since they continue to push the anti-vaxx lie even after full debunking. (Hell DKOS, now claims snopes is wrong for debunking Hillary's smear and the only reason I know that is that Google helpfully has it RIGHT after the Snopes article when searching for it.)

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Spinning in circles to try to convince us that the truth tellers, not themselves, are the real liars. Their time would be better spent owning up to their lies and trying to convince us of their reformed honesty.

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Beware the bullshit factories.

The Clintons and their financial/polluting industry funders/supporters have told too many lies to even be able to recognize reality any more - plus they'd have to 'fess up to so incredibly many criminal acts which would get anyone jailed in a sane system...

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

Lookout's picture

Here's a nice booster club selection of Jill clips for those of you spreading the word.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNPXLOZRCORjQiQl_sELbpw/videos

I hope we get up to 15% and have a place at the debates in front of a large audience.

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“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

But this is a bit of a mixed message. Not as good at messaging as Bernie.

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Great ad! And it mirrors the message Bernie is spreading while 'campaigning for Hillary', where he keeps saying 'Hillary says' regarding qualified low goals nothing like his or Jill's. I'm amazed that some people don't seem to recognize what's being achieved here...

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

mouselander's picture

Hillary_And_Donald_1.jpg

To me, a revolution is an effort to overthrow an established order by means other than those that said order has decreed are acceptable and legitimate ways to pursue change or transfer power. It certainly does not mean making a tactical alliance with the "good" faction of the oligarchy in order to defeat the "bad" faction.

As far as I'm concerned, a true revolutionary consciousness cannot be achieved until one stops making artificial distinctions between the Blue faction and the Red faction of the oligarchy, and begins to see them as they truly are, essentially interchangeable and identical in all the ways that really matter.

Sanders is, and really always has been, a "reformer" rather than a revolutionary, not trying to overthrow the existing system, but merely trying to make it more responsive, and to start focusing more on the needs of average citizens and less on those of the financial elite. In this effort he will surely fail, because the current system has become so incredibly toxic that "reforming" what amounts to de facto neo-feudalism is about as futile and delusional as attempting to reform the institution of slavery.

The great abolitionist Frederick Douglass said: "Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did, and it never will." At this point, Bernie and his remaining loyalists are making what amounts to a polite request. "We don't necessarily agree with all of Team Blue's positions, but we're supporting it anyway, because Team Red is even worse. Down the road, we'll try to nudge Team Blue in a more progressive direction." Good luck with that! If that's Bernie's idea of a revolution - well, all I can say is, it's not mine.

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inactive account

Wink's picture

Shumers with real FDR Dems may not be "revolutionary," but it sure as $h!t moves the party Left. Third party Greens aren't ever going to do that.

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the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.

Who has control of the Sanders campaign mailing lists?

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Northern Light

Phoebe Loosinhouse's picture

It's the membership roster of the Rebel Alliance.

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" “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” FDR "

Repeated reports & articles are that he's not turning it over.

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Wink's picture

Nobody ever has.

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the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.

This includes, of course, the Green Party etc. etc. First build a social base for a truly left politics, then that base will form a party and run candidates. You can't keep putting the cart before the horse and expect to make much progress down the road.

It's no big surprise that Sanders has chosen to focus on recruiting and supporting candidates - after all, that's the territory he knows best after working in it for most of his life. He deserves great credit for waking huge numbers of people up and getting them to pay attention to issues rather than personalities, but that's one of the starting places for a revolution, not the finish.

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Amanda Matthews's picture

I was being foolish because I am always so broke. Other than Stein, who I'll vote for, I see no one else thinking/talking about our corrupt political system. I still believe Sanders has the power to change our system, but like you I worry and wonder if he's serious. But I figured it worth a few precious bucks to take that chance.

I hate the way the 'endorsement' happened and every word that's come out of his mouth that sings the praises of one of the dirtiest politicians the Dems ever nominated as a candidate for the Presidency (another is her hubby) just throws me into fits. But what if this is for real? Is anyone else going to gamble a few bucks on the possibility?

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I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks

Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa

Jill Stein is having a 24-hour fundraiser tomorrow. I plan on donating $29. At least she's in it to win it.

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Wink's picture

to Bernie. How many 'muricans have even heard Jill's name? Exactly. And, therein lies the predicament. I'll vote for her. But, my $27 is going to Bernie's Our Revolution.

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the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.

Before the primaries? Jill's having a matching funds money bomb right now. She has a TV ad running nationally. She may get onto the debate stage during the general.

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that's my choice. Until I see other paths showing more success. I think the secret will be to remain open to what is working and what isn't, and not try to pick the winner out of the gate.

But for sure, take care of yourself and don't bet the farm. It's going to be a long game.

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Flowergirl58's picture

I'm supporting the Common Good over The Lesser Evil from now on. I just can't vote for a "Not as Bad as the Republicans!" or "Fear! Trump! Fear!", even if it Bernie who is asking. I really appreciate that Bernie has enlightened and inspired millions of Americans to be involved in our political struggle. I can't forgive him for endorsing Clinton BEFORE the convention. Bernie compromised his credibility when he did that and continues to lose credibility when he says we MUST vote for the Democratic Nominee. It smells of the"Sheep Dogging" that the Democrats have done before.
I will not give my hard earned money to the "Our Revolution" political organization. Not a penny. Not a dime.
I have and will proudly support Jill Stein and the Green Party in any way I can help them be successful.
In fact, I'm donating to the Jill Stein Money Bomb tomorrow(8/5/2016)at-

http://jill2016.com/money_boom_donation_page

I've tried to link Jill's commercial that's being played nationally. I hope it works.

Hope it works.

Never Thought

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AMERICAN ends in I CAN!

Flowergirl58's picture

I'm supporting the Common Good over The Lesser Evil from now on. I just can't vote for a "Not as Bad as the Republicans!" or "Fear! Trump! Fear!", even if it Bernie who is asking. I really appreciate that Bernie has enlightened and inspired millions of Americans to be involved in our political struggle. I can't forgive him for endorsing Clinton BEFORE the convention. Bernie compromised his credibility when he did that, and continues to lose credibility when he says we MUST vote for the Democratic Nominee. It smells of the"Sheep Dogging" that the Democrats have done before.
I will not give my hard earned money to the "Our Revolution" political organization. Not a penny.
I have and will proudly support Jill Stein and the Green Party in any way I can help them be successful.
In fact, I'm donating to the Jill Stein Money Bomb tomorrow(8/5/2016)at-

http://jill2016.com/money_boom_donation_page

Please consider donating to the Common Good if you can.

I've linked Jill's commercial that's being played nationally.

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AMERICAN ends in I CAN!

Lenzabi's picture

The sad thing is that all the "progressive" add ons to he Democratic party sink into obscurity as they bleed off the energy of those who believed. Bernie opened our eyes, then got sucker punched, he was so fervent that we needed a president who would mobilize to stop climate change like it was WW-2 all over again.

Jill Stein is just such a person to try that. The death grip of the corporatocracy is strong on the throat of American Politics. Time to cut that hand off.

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So long, and thanks for all the fish

You are right of course. But with no chance in hell of winning. The electoral college is set up that way. That is why Bernie lost as well. 75% delegates in my state. not supported by Super delegates. They went with the establishment.

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Of course the establishment tries to take you down. hell Bobby Kennedy was murdered. and Howard dean was taken down in a very sneaky way. His"yell" was not presidential. Give me a break

Bernie took the path bacause they are on the inside. The greens or libertarians do not have a prayer. Bernie would not have had a prayer. He got a lot of his platform into the Democratic Mission statement. Weather they keep it or not depends on how strong we are.
Going outside will only make us weak. Who care what they are called. Movements die a lot times from infighting. I see that happening . Or infiltrating I see that happening.
No matter who is president nothing can be down with out the right people in congress . Those who think just getting Jill or Bernie or any one else elected you have the game plan. nope. And Trump is just nuts. He will not work well with anybody. Bernie will still be around and will have more power now. I cannot stress this enough. Voting for Jill is fine but just one thing She ain't gonna win.

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So which is it Bernie? A revolution which like others before, suffocates itself in the blankets of the Democratic Party smothering its voice, or a real revolution run completely outside the confines of that structure which is a knock-down, not a rehab.

I believe he answered it many times over. “This is not about me. It’s about you,”

He's telling you that you get to decide; he won't do it for you. He won't tell you what to do. He expects each and every one of us to act of our own accord. Anyone who doesn't get the implications of that statement needs to take a little time to think about it.

So my take is that it's not about what Bernie thinks or about what Bernie wants us to do beyond the imprecation to "act." Together we can take the wheel in hand and steer this ship away from the shoals, or we can stand around waiting for someone else to do it for us, but I don't think that's what Bernie had in mind.

After all, it's our revolution.

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Roger Fox's picture

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FDR 9-23-33, "If we cannot do this one way, we will do it another way. But do it we will.

Yes, indeed! Thanks!

The revolution lies in The People making government of by and for the people, with equal rights, treatment and opportunity for all, rather than allowing self-interests to buy/back their their candidates to do their will at the cost of The People who legitimate democratic government exists to serve.

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Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.

A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.

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