Our Revolution. Hard to tell.

There were about 25 or so folks in the back of a bar that had multiple tv screens set up just for the occasion. Was headed up by a local Dem guy from a law group next door who had lent their offices to the Bernie campaign, which became our local hub for the NY primary, and a Bernie team member who had worked for the campaign for over a year. There were volunteers, a Labor for Bernie shirt and folks who were just supporters wanting to see what's next.

My purpose in going was to see not only what Bernie would say and how people would react to it, but to gauge the feeling among the supporters gathered there, on how they would be voting, what people thought of the voter suppression and voter fraud and how we should proceed. I left more on the disappointed side, save for the views of a Socialist Alternative friend and historian who made a short impassioned speech saying that we need to discuss and make possible progressive inroads at the local level, ala Fiorello LaGuardia.

After exchanging pleasantries with the law group fellow who I had met a few times during the campaign I asked what his feeling was about voting Green Party. He was dismissive and changed the subject. To my surprise that wouldn't be the only of such encounters.

Across the table from me was a nice guy who told me he hadn't volunteered or canvassed like I had but that he donated money and supported on social media. He told me he worked for the MTA and said all the right things, commenting positively on the OWS shirt I was wearing and mentioned how he both went there to support and was indignant about the way it was swept away by brute force. Said he had come to America in 1971 as a boy and has never seen it so bad and that the Occupiers were doing us a service, and wants to be involved to do something about it. I wanted to talk about the way the election was rigged, the votes suppressed and voting results stolen. He thought it was probably so but didn't seem to know the extent of it, or much about the thuggery at the fascistic DNC. I said because of all this and how corrupt and the antithesis of everything Bernie stood for that Clinton is, that I'd be voting Green Party....He began with the Trump fear. It was the same later with another guy who said he was tired of "these Bernie or Bust" people, after speaking all the right things about corrupt gov't, social justice, etc.

Here was the kicker for me though. At the end after the two hosts and a member of NY Bernie tech teams had spoken, another asked if he could get up to address the crowd. He began by saying how he'd never been involved in politics before but at the beginning of the Mayoral campaign in 2013 he aligned with DeBlasio, piqued by his rhetoric. He said he was also involved in gay politics. I recognized him and leaned over to my friend, and said that he was big Hillary supporter, having seen his Twitter feed.

He went on to say that his involvement in politics led him to become the leader of the Stonewall Democrats, and then talked about a certain race in which we need the good guy to win, etc. It was a rah-rah speech to motivate us to get involved. He then lofted praise on us, saying "you won this district." To which, the jig was up and he admitted that for someone who supported Hillary he was very impressed. Others gasped and I let out an unconstrained short boo. A fucking Hillary supporter at the inception of Our Revolution, as inspiration to get involved with continuing Bernie's mission? Huh?

I left torn between the obvious need for galvanizing all the incredible energy and commitment generated by Bernie to take over all levels of gov't, and the more treacherous creeping reality of the veal pen scenario as an enticing appeasement after having been beaten and bruised by the Neoliberal thug counterparts of the Right Wing menace, which has masterfully divided and conquered the 99%. The Duopoly Strikes Again.

At this moment I'm more apt to put my energies into outside social movements. But we'll see. Howard Zinn's life's work tells me that's where it's at.

Seems lots of folks were glad for the opportunity last night to reconnect, but for what the jury remains out. There's no doubt this movement continues the trajectory of more and more people awakening and voicing publicly their deep dissatisfaction with the status of quo of corrupt politics.

Everybody now seems to be a lot more conversant, after Occupy laid the groundwork then Bernie hammered it home, about the chronic dysfunction and revolving door politics in DC because of Money In Politics. We'll see how it manifests. In the meantime I see this slog of a political season featuring the two most loathed, corrupt, dishonest and untrustworthy candidates of all-time resulting in a culminating restlessness and anger that will have its outlet in something ugly.

I'm not signed up over at TPW (was heartening to recognize some former TOP allies though!), but thanks for bringing that discussion to our attention. Feel free to copy and paste my observation to share with the over there.