@Meteor Man

Or the perhaps the owners of the two Corporate Party wings simply want to leave Americans an allowable 'choice' between two virtually identical-in-results groups of corporate/billionaire management to bleed the people and country dry, as they've pretty much done? It's not as though anyone except their owners actually determines policy enacted by either brand of 'political party'...

From way back in July:

That’s the fucking problem with Democrats. They mistake weakness for pragmatism. They mistake pandering for savvy. They always seem to imagine that the closer they edge to Republican policy positions, the more votes they will inevitably capture, due to math.

They—the establishment, the ones in control, with all of the plugs plugged into the current power grid—are unable to imagine a world in which they lead voters to their side with bold, progressive policies, and by telling the truth. That is considered hopelessly unrealistic, by the circle of operatives that helped to lose to Donald Trump.

http://splinternews.com/democrats-wake-up-and-smell-the-failure-1797015279

@The Aspie Corner , you ready for Irma? What part of the Dumbass State do you live in?

They're running against their own voters. Every 2 to 4 years a donkey and an elephant stand in the china shop with the donkey threatening 'Either you unwashed take the packing peanuts we give you....or else.' The elephant holds a plate, ready to drop it at any moment, should the unwashed not give in to the demands of the donkey. The plate is usually something like social security, medicare, bodily autonomy for women etc. And then, should the donkey actually win, they let the elephant break the plate while no one pays attention.

This kind of extortion happens everywhere and differs from state to state, district to district. Hell, in some cases the donkey rides the elephant rodeo style through the china shop no matter who wins, like here in Flawer-Duh. And sometimes, even the Libertarian hedgehog will hop on the elephant and join in the fun. Because nearly 40 years ago, Libertarians like the Kochs and their think tanks figured out it was easier to buy influence than to get elected.

@The Aspie Corner

The Democratic Party is not running against Republicans.
They're running against their own voters.

They're running against their own voters. Every 2 to 4 years a donkey and an elephant stand in the china shop with the donkey threatening 'Either you unwashed take the packing peanuts we give you....or else.' The elephant holds a plate, ready to drop it at any moment, should the unwashed not give in to the demands of the donkey. The plate is usually something like social security, medicare, bodily autonomy for women etc. And then, should the donkey actually win, they let the elephant break the plate while no one pays attention.

This kind of extortion happens everywhere and differs from state to state, district to district. Hell, in some cases the donkey rides the elephant rodeo style through the china shop no matter who wins, like here in Flawer-Duh. And sometimes, even the Libertarian hedgehog will hop on the elephant and join in the fun. Because nearly 40 years ago, Libertarians like the Kochs and their think tanks figured out it was easier to buy influence than to get elected.

@The Aspie Corner You're in FL too? Wow, there's a lot of us. Are your hatches battened down?

They're running against their own voters. Every 2 to 4 years a donkey and an elephant stand in the china shop with the donkey threatening 'Either you unwashed take the packing peanuts we give you....or else.' The elephant holds a plate, ready to drop it at any moment, should the unwashed not give in to the demands of the donkey. The plate is usually something like social security, medicare, bodily autonomy for women etc. And then, should the donkey actually win, they let the elephant break the plate while no one pays attention.

This kind of extortion happens everywhere and differs from state to state, district to district. Hell, in some cases the donkey rides the elephant rodeo style through the china shop no matter who wins, like here in Flawer-Duh. And sometimes, even the Libertarian hedgehog will hop on the elephant and join in the fun. Because nearly 40 years ago, Libertarians like the Kochs and their think tanks figured out it was easier to buy influence than to get elected.

@The Aspie Corner

Thanks for one of the best descriptions of the situation that I think I've ever read - and I've read some great ones!

They're running against their own voters. Every 2 to 4 years a donkey and an elephant stand in the china shop with the donkey threatening 'Either you unwashed take the packing peanuts we give you....or else.' The elephant holds a plate, ready to drop it at any moment, should the unwashed not give in to the demands of the donkey. The plate is usually something like social security, medicare, bodily autonomy for women etc. And then, should the donkey actually win, they let the elephant break the plate while no one pays attention.

This kind of extortion happens everywhere and differs from state to state, district to district. Hell, in some cases the donkey rides the elephant rodeo style through the china shop no matter who wins, like here in Flawer-Duh. And sometimes, even the Libertarian hedgehog will hop on the elephant and join in the fun. Because nearly 40 years ago, Libertarians like the Kochs and their think tanks figured out it was easier to buy influence than to get elected.

@Dr. John Carpenter

If a timeout doesn't make his supporters heel, then they ban him.

What threat do they think they hold over us? They aren't offering shit to us anyway. They don't intend to offer anything other than empty promises, if that. Their contempt for us is naked. We can see through their attempts to bring us to heel. So, it seems to me that unless they can make "the other guy is worse" work for them, which so far they haven't, we have the upper hand here.

@WoodsDweller @WoodsDweller
his show Tuesday. Is he going to ask her why she is blaming everyone but herself?

Bernie was trying to talk about issues, Colbert wanted to talk about Clinton's "pony" comments.
The reason Clinton lost: she thought a public option was a "pony". She thought $15 minimum wage was a "pony". That kept millions from voting for her. Obama was a smooth talker without much of a track record and convinced us that he didn't think progressive issues were "ponies". We were fooled. There's no way for Clinton with a lifetime of public baggage to hide her "ponyist" attitudes. Failure, even against the second worst candidate in American history, was inevitable. I'm only surprised that it was as close as it was.

@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal Locked in the basement of the Democratic Party, trying desperately to come up with a way to win with the complete train wreck they've been given... and yet never giving up.

You gotta admire the spirit, but I think turning the attention to BREAKING OUT OF THE PRISON would be a better idea.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GND10sWq0n0]

He can't tell us what to think. It wouldn't work if he did.

Those of us who haven't been convinced to fall in line by now are those who are such independent thinkers that if he said any such thing, it would merely make his credibility decrease.

@SnappleBC

Just as Bernie's said all along: change has to come from the people. One man or one party cannot beat the ruthless global monster we must face.

Many Democrats are concerned that Sanders no longer has any control over the vast political network surrounding him after his 2016 campaign manager

Doesn't that just tell the tale right there? Democrats think that politicians should control the people. I tend to think it's the other way around.

@native As usual, you cut right to the (very grim) chase.

Our problem is not these despicable courtiers, but the nobles they serve.

are corporate-funded, devoutly imperialistic behemoths. Neither of them is capable, or even desirous of fundamental reform. Working in tandem, the two Parties have effectively divided and conquered the people, so as to rule them.

The rulers themselves? The very same corporate syndicates, banking cartels, and military industrialists who support and perpetuate the Republican Party, also support and perpetuate the Democratic Party. Together they form what Kevin Shipp has called the "Shadow Government". It is a vastly wealthy and powerful force, and it is something any "New Party" would perforce need to deal with. Somehow or other.

@Unabashed Liberal As many other commenters have noted, they seem to think Sanders has the ability to issue marching orders and can end all this discontent among us by sheepdogging harder. It's also got to be driving them nuts that he still hasn't given up the email list.

Otherwise, you're 100% right. He's pretty much a company man and the scapegoating is just bizarre.

since (at this point in time) he doesn't appear to be bucking their agenda. If anything, he could be helping them out by proposing a non-MFA 'public option' bill--purposely, or not.

I believe that I've already posted about his comments to a WaPo reporter that MFA would not be a 'litmus test.' He made that, and a couple other comments, indicating that he plans to continue working with conservadems who oppose his upcoming bill. At any rate, I'll repost the piece when he introduces his bill. My 'guess' is that it might be delayed until the bipartisan ACA bill is either voted on, or signed into law. From what I'm reading, that will likely happen within the next couple of weeks.

BTW, I tend to agree with those folks who say that some Dem Party donors, and corporatist-conservative activists are worked up about his role in the Party.

OTOH, remember that Bernie 'is' Leadership. He's the Chair of the Senate Outreach Committee. On the issue of his public option proposal (incorrectly labeled MFA), he is doing the same thing that he did when he ran against FSC--he's declaring that he will not buck Leadership on this issue.

And, Warren, since 2014, has been in a 'special' Dem Party Leadership post--'Strategic Policy Adviser to the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.' Which means,

In the new position, Warren is expected to serve as a go-between to liberal groups to ensure their voice is part of the leadership’s private deliberations. A Reid spokesman said she will have a “role in shaping policy and messaging."

Both positions were created in November, following a Dem Party shellacking in 2014 and 2016.

A couple months ago, I posted a blurb at EB in which Schumer told Tom Perez that his reforms were fine with him--just so they pleased Bernie and Ellison. Here it is,

Earlier this month, Perez held a meeting to discuss the issue with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sanders, both of whom supported Rep. Keith Ellison in the DNC chair race.

Schumer, pointing to Ellison and Sanders, told Perez, "If he's happy, and if he's happy, then I'm happy,” according to two sources.

In what way does that sound like an adversarial statement?

I honestly believe that a number of recent articles--which appear to be designed to pump up the idea that there is a lot of friction between the Dem Leadership and Bernie and/or Warren--are balderdash, or 'Kabuki.'

Remember, it was quite a long time before it was revealed that Warren was actually the 'pick' of the Reid, Schumer, and Murray to run for the Massachusetts Senate seat--based upon DCCC internal polling. Which was because the Dem Leadership was clever enough to present another (false) face to the progressive Base--in effect, creating the situation in which activists 'thinking' that they were going against the Dem Establishment, were actually fulfilling Leadership's goal of getting Warren elected. Talk about a textbook case of manipulation--whew!

Mollie

---

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures--they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive."--Gilda Radner

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."--Will Rogers

Fences For Fido

When a dog is unchained, a transformation begins.

It starts with what we call “zoomies:” The running, jumping, exuberant joy our Fidos display once unchained – many for the first time in years.

That visible happiness puts smiles on the faces of our volunteers and most importantly, on the faces of our client families who through this process being to connect with their pets in a more meaningful way.

Meet 'Cupcake' - FFF's 1000th Zoomy!

[video:https://youtu.be/wmTPDjXW8gE width:250 height:150]

Thank You 'Fences For Fido' Volunteers - You Are All Saints!

@Unabashed Liberal Except that I don't believe Schumer for two seconds. That's all PR bullshit. If he were pointing at Jamie Dimon and Lloyd Blankfein, then I'd believe him.

since (at this point in time) he doesn't appear to be bucking their agenda. If anything, he could be helping them out by proposing a non-MFA 'public option' bill--purposely, or not.

I believe that I've already posted about his comments to a WaPo reporter that MFA would not be a 'litmus test.' He made that, and a couple other comments, indicating that he plans to continue working with conservadems who oppose his upcoming bill. At any rate, I'll repost the piece when he introduces his bill. My 'guess' is that it might be delayed until the bipartisan ACA bill is either voted on, or signed into law. From what I'm reading, that will likely happen within the next couple of weeks.

BTW, I tend to agree with those folks who say that some Dem Party donors, and corporatist-conservative activists are worked up about his role in the Party.

OTOH, remember that Bernie 'is' Leadership. He's the Chair of the Senate Outreach Committee. On the issue of his public option proposal (incorrectly labeled MFA), he is doing the same thing that he did when he ran against FSC--he's declaring that he will not buck Leadership on this issue.

And, Warren, since 2014, has been in a 'special' Dem Party Leadership post--'Strategic Policy Adviser to the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.' Which means,

In the new position, Warren is expected to serve as a go-between to liberal groups to ensure their voice is part of the leadership’s private deliberations. A Reid spokesman said she will have a “role in shaping policy and messaging."

Both positions were created in November, following a Dem Party shellacking in 2014 and 2016.

A couple months ago, I posted a blurb at EB in which Schumer told Tom Perez that his reforms were fine with him--just so they pleased Bernie and Ellison. Here it is,

Earlier this month, Perez held a meeting to discuss the issue with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sanders, both of whom supported Rep. Keith Ellison in the DNC chair race.

Schumer, pointing to Ellison and Sanders, told Perez, "If he's happy, and if he's happy, then I'm happy,” according to two sources.

In what way does that sound like an adversarial statement?

I honestly believe that a number of recent articles--which appear to be designed to pump up the idea that there is a lot of friction between the Dem Leadership and Bernie and/or Warren--are balderdash, or 'Kabuki.'

Remember, it was quite a long time before it was revealed that Warren was actually the 'pick' of the Reid, Schumer, and Murray to run for the Massachusetts Senate seat--based upon DCCC internal polling. Which was because the Dem Leadership was clever enough to present another (false) face to the progressive Base--in effect, creating the situation in which activists 'thinking' that they were going against the Dem Establishment, were actually fulfilling Leadership's goal of getting Warren elected. Talk about a textbook case of manipulation--whew!

Mollie

---

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures--they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive."--Gilda Radner

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."--Will Rogers

Fences For Fido

When a dog is unchained, a transformation begins.

It starts with what we call “zoomies:” The running, jumping, exuberant joy our Fidos display once unchained – many for the first time in years.

That visible happiness puts smiles on the faces of our volunteers and most importantly, on the faces of our client families who through this process being to connect with their pets in a more meaningful way.

Meet 'Cupcake' - FFF's 1000th Zoomy!

[video:https://youtu.be/wmTPDjXW8gE width:250 height:150]

Thank You 'Fences For Fido' Volunteers - You Are All Saints!

@Unabashed Liberal If it wasn't obvious before last year, it sure became obvious then!

since (at this point in time) he doesn't appear to be bucking their agenda. If anything, he could be helping them out by proposing a non-MFA 'public option' bill--purposely, or not.

I believe that I've already posted about his comments to a WaPo reporter that MFA would not be a 'litmus test.' He made that, and a couple other comments, indicating that he plans to continue working with conservadems who oppose his upcoming bill. At any rate, I'll repost the piece when he introduces his bill. My 'guess' is that it might be delayed until the bipartisan ACA bill is either voted on, or signed into law. From what I'm reading, that will likely happen within the next couple of weeks.

BTW, I tend to agree with those folks who say that some Dem Party donors, and corporatist-conservative activists are worked up about his role in the Party.

OTOH, remember that Bernie 'is' Leadership. He's the Chair of the Senate Outreach Committee. On the issue of his public option proposal (incorrectly labeled MFA), he is doing the same thing that he did when he ran against FSC--he's declaring that he will not buck Leadership on this issue.

And, Warren, since 2014, has been in a 'special' Dem Party Leadership post--'Strategic Policy Adviser to the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.' Which means,

In the new position, Warren is expected to serve as a go-between to liberal groups to ensure their voice is part of the leadership’s private deliberations. A Reid spokesman said she will have a “role in shaping policy and messaging."

Both positions were created in November, following a Dem Party shellacking in 2014 and 2016.

A couple months ago, I posted a blurb at EB in which Schumer told Tom Perez that his reforms were fine with him--just so they pleased Bernie and Ellison. Here it is,

Earlier this month, Perez held a meeting to discuss the issue with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sanders, both of whom supported Rep. Keith Ellison in the DNC chair race.

Schumer, pointing to Ellison and Sanders, told Perez, "If he's happy, and if he's happy, then I'm happy,” according to two sources.

In what way does that sound like an adversarial statement?

I honestly believe that a number of recent articles--which appear to be designed to pump up the idea that there is a lot of friction between the Dem Leadership and Bernie and/or Warren--are balderdash, or 'Kabuki.'

Remember, it was quite a long time before it was revealed that Warren was actually the 'pick' of the Reid, Schumer, and Murray to run for the Massachusetts Senate seat--based upon DCCC internal polling. Which was because the Dem Leadership was clever enough to present another (false) face to the progressive Base--in effect, creating the situation in which activists 'thinking' that they were going against the Dem Establishment, were actually fulfilling Leadership's goal of getting Warren elected. Talk about a textbook case of manipulation--whew!

Mollie

---

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures--they give unconditional love. For me, they are the role model for being alive."--Gilda Radner

"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went."--Will Rogers

Fences For Fido

When a dog is unchained, a transformation begins.

It starts with what we call “zoomies:” The running, jumping, exuberant joy our Fidos display once unchained – many for the first time in years.

That visible happiness puts smiles on the faces of our volunteers and most importantly, on the faces of our client families who through this process being to connect with their pets in a more meaningful way.

Meet 'Cupcake' - FFF's 1000th Zoomy!

[video:https://youtu.be/wmTPDjXW8gE width:250 height:150]

Thank You 'Fences For Fido' Volunteers - You Are All Saints!