Some background on Bernie’s amazing antiwar speech, and credit where due
Recently Jimmy Dore did a segment on Bernie Sanders giving a strong statement about the sorry mess of this country’s endless wars, and giving him “gold stars” for bringing up some important points. Thank you to azazello, who posted it in the evening blues and also to dkmich for highlighting it in an essay. I confess I don’t watch Jimmy’s show very often anymore and I wouldn’t have seen this otherwise. I did take the time to watch it. And I had some questions, so I did a little background research. Not in great detail, but I thought I’d share some of what I found, for anyone who might be interested.
My first questions were, where and when and in what setting was this statement? Bernie says it’s time now for something to be done. So I’m wondering, why is now the time, at long last? Any time now is better than never, of course, but still, why now in particular? Bernie also mentions a panel and presentation they have apparently just seen. So I’m wondering what panel was this? What’s this about?
It turns out the answer is, it was at a “hearing” convened by senator Rand Paul. And in case you think that implies some kind of legal proceedings, like I did at first, it doesn’t. It means a meeting to hear invited presenters on a given topic, and ask them questions.
So, props and one gold star to Rand Paul for holding this hearing.
Dr. Rand Paul Holds Hearing on Effects of Unauthorized War
This afternoon, U.S. Senator Rand Paul, chairman of the Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management (FSO) Subcommittee for the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), held a hearing entitled, “War Powers and the Effects of Unauthorized Military Engagements on Federal Spending.”
Today’s hearing focused on the constitutional implications of open-ended war under both the existing Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) and the revised AUMF proposed by Senators Bob Corker (R-TN) and Tim Kaine (D-VA).
The FSO subcommittee heard testimony from Judge Andrew Napolitano, Senior Judicial Analyst at the Fox News Channel; Professor Jonathan Turley from The George Washington University School of Law; and Christopher Anders, Deputy Director of the ACLU’s Washington Legislative Office.
In addition to FSO subcommittee members, Dr. Paul opened the hearing to other senators, with Senators Mike Lee (R-UT), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tom Udall (D-NM), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) asking questions of the witnesses.
Let me just say, it’s bizarre and annoying how they use legalistic sounding terms like “hearing” and “witnesses” and “testimony” that makes this sound very, very serious indeed. But anyway, great, a “hearing” on this topic is a great idea. Again, why now though? Well, there’s this bill that’s been introduced called the Corker-Kaine resolution, which I learned is, according to senator Kaine, “a true bipartisan compromise.”
Uh-oh. I already don’t like it. But let’s see, what is it?
A Bill to Curtail the Forever War, or Extend It?
This article is pretty good, explains this proposed bill and gives some “both sides” coverage. It also contains this great passage, which I liked because it explains how we feel when we hear these speeches and “hearings” (sorry, I apparently can’t type that without the scare quotes).
As we lurch through the second year of Trump administration, it’s hard to know whether to just give up the whole rule-of-law thing or rejoice at the very faint stirrings of conscience appearing on Capitol Hill.
Ain’t that the truth.
So anyway, the reason that Rand Paul held this, um, meeting, was because Congress might possibly vote on this “true bipartisan compromise” to either put some minor restraint on the exec branch bombing anywhere it wants with no oversight, or maybe it actually codifies the power of the president to wage the war on terror however it sees fit.
There’s a lot of analysis out there on whether it’s good or bad. I’ll leave it others to fill in on that, or you can read about it if you care about the details. From what I read, I’m going with probably bad. But, more important, probably not going to become law either way, and even if it did, probably not going to make any difference.
Nobody on either side really seems to think that passing this bill will materially affect the choices the nation makes going forward.
Well, ok then. Good to know.
The nature of the “dispute” over the use of military force and the global war of terror, such as it is:
Melancholy as it seems, the real division of opinion in this dispute is between those who believe the war should go on without color of law, because authorizing it will set a malign precedent for later presidential war-making, and those who believe that it is important to create a structure of law, however chimerical, around the current anti-terrorism effort—to make the point, that is, that the Constitution governs, at least formally, even in 2018. Seventeen years of semi-secret “war,” against shadowy enemies and in pursuit of classified goals, have placed our system under intolerable strain. Virtually nothing is left of “law” in this area; the only question is what legal fiction we choose to describe this apparently multi-generational conflict.
So, good news, they are figuring out how to make the forever war legal and proper. Whew.
So to bring this in for a landing. Props to Rand Paul for holding this meeting, and providing a platform for an airing of some of these facts, and props and gold stars all around to Bernie and the presenters and the other people there who said important things. We do need to hear these once in a while.
However, I’m not overly excited about it, as I tend to agree with the conclusion of the article.
Jack Goldsmith of Harvard Law School, who during the George W. Bush Administration forced the withdrawal of the infamous “torture memos,” wrote in an email that the debate over AUMF renewal is “political theater.” He wrote, “I do not think passage of the Corker-Kaine bill matters to anything real. The nation supports, or at least acquiesces in, the stealth Forever War, for better or worse.”
Sorry to rain on the parade or harsh your buzz... but I’m thinking let’s not throw any parties just yet that there’s been a shift in thinking or that there’s going to be any real, sustained antiwar messages coming out Bernie or anyone else in Washington DC any time soon.
Comments
I’ve been looking for a statement from Bernie, or anyone
in Congress about their position on the Corker-Kaine bill. The only one I found was Barbara Lee, who is opposed. No surprise there.
As far as I can find, Bernie hasn’t said if he’ll vote for it or not, nor signed on as an endorser. Nor has any other senator, again not that I see. Not Rand Paul either. That seems odd, for a true bipartisan comprise doesn’t it?
Generally the consensus from the ‘left’ like ACLU etc is it would make things worse and gives the president a blank check.
And from the pro war side, they don’t think it’s necessary. Trump (his administration) didn’t even bother to give any legal justification for bombing Syria. They just did it, and said the reason is a secret. So this bill appears to say you can’t do that. You have to tell us who you’re bombing every so often. Opponents of the Corker-Kaine bill on the right don’t want even that much veneer of restraint.
Anyway, the possibility they might even vote on it seems remote. Nobody seems to like this true bipartisan compromise. Imagine that!
Ahh, but Bernie's Talking
Points are out there,
and he's "on record" as saying something something about the endless war.
Something he can point to on the campaign trail. If there is one.
Which was, I believe, the point.
Other than that there's nothing to see here.
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.
Thanks wink
That was a nice, concise summary of Rand Paul’s “hearing” and for once I think I completely agree with you!
On the other hand, political theater has its audience, and they need good stuff to watch sometimes. Nothing wrong with that. We are all hungry for glimpses of sanity and hope.
Personally, I’d rather go see Avenue Q again. But to each their own.
I knew of all of this. It doesn't harsh the reality that
at least someone up there is saying out loud that war is bad.
I believe Dore said this in his video. I could be wrong. As far as codifying endless war being in the bipartisan works, I read that somewhere too. So what else is new?
Anyone who believes that anything up there is going to change without some sort of major upheaval is naive. This is why those of us who vote think voting is such a waste of time. We do it because somebody has to. Bernie probably made that speech for the same reason.
As I said, at least someone up there is saying out loud that endless war is bad.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Why not think out of the box?
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
What box?
If you mean not voting, no. It isn't acceptable. People complain there are no progressive candidates, good candidates, worth voting for. When they run, they lose. Why? Because among others, the same people who complain about corporate Dems and batshit crazy Republicans don't show up to vote. I don't mean to stir up this fuss again. I respect everyone's right to do with their vote what they please.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
As evidenced
By your comment about the importance of voting in an essay that was not addressing electoral choices?
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
Interesting, indeed. n/t eom or that's all
Well, I didn’t know any of it
Jimmy does not say in the video what the context was. He says something like “Rand Paul is going to hand it over to Bernie now” but that’s it.
I had to search for Rand Paul and Bernie Sanders to find out. I spent a couple hours reading about it, because I wanted to know more. Possibly others don’t know all of it either. Sorry if you feel I shouldn’t have made an essay out of this. I thought we were allowed to post about whatever we want or find interesting.
I did say props to Rand Paul for having the hearing, and to everyone who spoke at it, including Bernie. I guess I think Jimmy could have said kudos to the rest of the speakers too, but whatever. Sorry if I pissed you off by posting my mornings reading and musings.
Edit to add, I didn’t say anything about voting, so I’m not sure what you’re getting at there.
Sorry if I made you feel that way.
I am glad you elaborated on it for those who don't know the background. If I didn't hear Rand Paul hearings from Dore, then I must have read it in the Intercept. I believe I also read about the newest bipartisan effort to legalize eternal war in the Intercept too. I'm worse with remembering people and names now than I ever was. I like to tell myself it is because I am like Einstein...I never remember anything that I can look up.
To me there are two points that I come way with in all this detail. 1) Bernie is exposing the US governments ugly family secrets on a soapbox bigger than c99, and 2) still, nothing will change. The 2016 primary theft really destroyed any institutional trust that might have remained somewhere in me.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Also, one other thought
This was not directed at you, and I hope you didn’t take it that way. In fact, I decided to post it separately rather than as a comment/reply in your post specifically because I didn’t want it to seem like I was arguing with you.
It all started when I started to post a question there after watching the video: what was the context? where was this speech?
Then I figured don’t be lazy, go look it up. So I did. And then maybe stupidly thought I’d share what I’d learned, even though it was a little disappointing.
Again, sorry I came across like I minded.
I didn't take your post personally. The emphasis being on the negative side of the event instead of applause for the positive thumped my deflated spirits.
GoodNot bad news is so hard to come by."Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Cool, we’re good then, thank you
I did realize it was going to harsh the buzz from the uplifting speech, that’s why I apologized for that aspect of it. Still I thought it was something others might want to know. I think we can appreciate the fact it happened and was a good statement, and still face the reality. I’m thinking we agree on that.
Thank you again.
Before I get the Pom Poms out
I'm going to question the motivation of any anti-war messages coming from a politician controlled by the establishment.
"Because it needs to be said", just ain't as persuasive a reasoning as it used to be.
There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier
Was it an antiwar message?
I think that's debatable.
Please elaborate Big Al
If you will.
From what I heard, I thought it was essentially a “war is too expensive” message.
What’s your take?
Seriously?
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Well, yes
and no. As for my own “take” on the speech, that comment was slapdash and not intended to be a serious analysis of the content. I’d have to put a lot more effort into doing that.
But I am entirely serious that I would very much like to hear what Big Al thought about it. If it’s debatable then I’m interested in hearing more on that. Is that ok?
Haven't had time to put together a decent response CS.
I did just watch the video again and still don't see where it's an antiwar message. I guess I'd have to ask those who think it's an antiwar message to elaborate more as to why they think that. He makes a few good points about past lies but I didn't hear him say anything that would indicate he's "antiwar". Antiwar means against all war, he's certainly not that and he didn't say that.
In fact, with Iran it sounds like he's actually supporting the current false narrative that Iran is evil but simply pointing out it's Congress' responsibility to declare war on Iran when the time might come.
He does make a good point about debating the war OF terror after 17 years, but that's not antiwar, he's just saying Congress needs to do it's job. Which is what's kind of disingenuous about this whole thing. Congress can get involved any time it wants but the two political parties are fully on board with U.S. imperialism, the war OF terror, and all the wars and regime changes. Both parties ARE Congress, so who's he trying to fool?
Congress passes the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) every year as well as the national budget in effect reauthorizing the war OF terror, the Afghan war, and all the other war and imperialist actions. If Congress wanted to, it could stop all this shit that way but there's no way with the duopoly in charge. And what about all the sanctions passed by Congress on various countries, including those on Iran and Russia supported by Sanders. It's a well known fact that sanctions are in effect an act of war. Then there's the almost unanimous support for apartheid terror state Israel of which most of the MENA wars can be directly linked to.
The more I think about it, the more I think it's just a bunch of showmanship that won't change a damn thing.
Thank you Big Al, that’s a great response and I appreciate it
As someone who doesn’t know much or anything about most of these details, a lot of that nuance of the actual content of the speech went over my head, I admit. But you make some excellent points, and I don’t disagree at all.
I don’t remember everything he said (I’m betting no one does), but what I tuned in to and remembered from it were mostly the parts where he talked about the insane expanse and stunningly expensive costs of war, in both lives and money, in a way that sounded both grave and disapproving... leaving the impression he was against that waste. In a general sense. Thus how I think people, including me, saw it as a strong antiwar message upon first hearing.
And that sort of makes sense, that I would focus on that, because I think that’s the only kind of antiwar message that has any chance of working to change minds. It’s like you said about your brother and taxes, you can get people to think about the forever war as a massive example of government run amok and wasting our tax dollars, they often suddenly become a lot more “antiwar” — even though they still are into the military and empire. It doesn’t make them philosophically antiwar by any means. But it can make them start questioning if empire and global domination are really a good idea.
So I liked the speech, in that way.
But at the same time, did also trigger my spidey sense... I’m sure that’s why I found myself wanting to have some context. Where was this, and why now?
By the time I finished reading for a couple hours to answer those questions, and also watching Rand Paul’s opening statement and press release (included in my essay), I came to the same conclusion:
Interestingly, that seems to be something almost everyone here actually agrees with.
It was a political theatre. It was a good performance, it pleased its intended audience a lot, and it accomplished its purpose, like wink said up above.
Thank you for taking the time to elaborate on how you saw it. Knowing what antiwar means to you — against all war — no it certainly was not that.
Ya, thanks for that background.
I haven't delved much into what they're doing with this new AUMF but a whole lot of hypocrisy going on. Sanders is a mixed bag but he's already stated his foreign policy approach would probably be like Obama's, which should be end of story. He'd be Obama, do we want another Obama?
I personally cannot imagine the war OF terror ending any time soon. In fact, they're busy trying to transfer their terror mercenaries to Russia and China, just like what was predicted years ago.
And I'm not sure many people have focused on how ingrained it is into our entire society from local communities on up. How can that ever end?
I can understand the temptation for Sanders. Trump and the republicans are so fucked up, it's hard not to want to get them out of there anyway possible. But that's exactly the situation in 2005/6 under Bush and his group of neocons, most of the same under Trump. Then along came Obama and people were singing praises to the lord. I voted for Obama.
But hell, look where that got us. Talk about the perpetual war of terror, what about the perpetual shell game with the duopoly. It's like your parents when you were young, "we can do this all night if you want". Well, we can do this all century if we want, it won't change anything.
Woo, you do have a way with words!
I agree with this completely. It does feel like “we can do this all century” — exactly!
I admit that made me laugh, despite the sadness of your point.
Yes I’m quite certain that whether it’s going to Bernie (which I kind of doubt) or Tulsi Gabbard (also unlikely imo) or Kamala Harris, or Booker, or someone new and unexpected who will appear out of central casting, the democrats will absolutely nominate another Obama, if they can find one. Or as close to it as they can get.
Except this time they will pass Medicare for All, doncha know. And they will certainly be a lot nicer and smarter and well spoken than the oaf that is Trump. (Not a high bar.) They will be supportive and inclusive of everyone’s identity. That’s important.
And they will continue the forever war. We can do this all century.
Democrats do seem to be lurching toward a vaguely antiwar message. Maybe it’s being poll tested.
Because yes, after Bush we were all *dying* for someone who wasn’t a total fucking moron. Someone who made a good image. And that was enough for us to cry tears of joy over him. Good grief. And yes this current situation is like deja vu all over again.
Obama did very well at coming off as both somehow against war, a president who was going to bring peace (premature Nobel, anyone?) and yet also tough and bad ass enough to kill Osama bin laden.
We overlooked that mixed message, too many of us, or some people saw it but just didn’t care, we needed to get over Bush and Obama was the life raft we clung to, the only one in sight. Feels the same now.
What can we do about it? Excellent question, one I believe most of us struggle with. Except for those who are fortunate enough to still have faith in the system and feel confident in electoral politics as a viable path to change. I almost wish I still could too, but 2016 wiped out any chance of that for me. I saw the strings too clearly, now the show looks entirely fake to me.
My advice, for what it’s worth, just keep telling the truth, calling it like you see it. You do have a way with words. And words do have power. Don’t doubt that.
I’m thinking about trying to do some posts on “change agents”, people like Michael Pollan, who are making a significant difference, in ways that are outside of electoral politics.
Changing minds I believe is the necessary first step. For the surfs to ever start to work together and find solutions, or choose a different way, people must first start questioning the status quo. To see there are choices, and there is not just one deep rut that must be followed, in an endless circle. Then we can start to look for a new road.
In the meantime, take care of ourselves, and each other. As best we can. That’s my way of dealing with it anyway.
So how many times will congress give a president the okay
for war if congress takes back its power to declare war? We've seen them agreeing to continually increase the military budget even giving Trump more than the $54 billion he asked for. The budget increase was $80 billion. Twice the amount of Russia's entire military budget which Putin has just cut back some. Congress knows damn well that our troops aren't fighting for to make us safe, but too make countries safe enough for corporations to go in and rape their resources.
Caitlin as usual nailed her position on the people who join the military.
There Are No War Heroes. There Are Only War Victims.
Of course she isn't telling us anything new. Smedley Butler told us this back in the 1930's.
So yeah, congress will continue to let our military wreak havoc all over the globe no matter what. It's good to hear Bernie saying what he did, but ... imagine if he had said that during his speeches during the primary where his words would have gotten the attention they deserve. It might have been the start of a new anti war movement just like he started people demanding universal health care and free college and the other issues he ran on.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Thanks snoopydawg. I agree
That was pretty much how I felt too. Leading to my wondering, why now?
Yes, it was a great statement. But I doubt he will be taking this up as a cause or really push it as part of his platform going forward. I sincerely would love to be proven wrong on that! If Bernie runs on a solid antiwar platform or talks more about this, I’ll be very glad to see it.
I always thought he missed a big opportunity to tie together the huge waste of money on the forever war as an answer to all the wailing about “how will we pay for it” re single payer, free college, etc.
He always just said, basically, we can figure that out, every other major country on earth can do it. But he could have said this then — how about we stop pouring trillions of dollars waging global war? That’s how we’ll pay for it.
He had the attention of the whole country, and he soft-balled that question every time. Because probably he felt it wasn’t a winning message to go there.
Too little, too late..
I feel the same way about Elizabeth Warren. Like Obama, Bernie and Elizabeth Warren had a chance to really make a place in history, and they all walked away. I wonder if Bernie has missed his boat totally. They say one can never go home again.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Yes, exactly
Agree completely.
Except the war(s) and
"Foreign Policy" aren't
near the top of his list.
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.
I realize that
And that is why if he had become president he would never have been able to pass his economic agendas because there is no money for him to do so. Hillary was right about one thing:
"This country will never ever get universal health care!" Not as long as the military budget is as high as it is. This was why I kept asking people if they knew what Bernie's foreign policies were during the primary and as I stated in another recent essay I was told that he has to fix our economic policies first and then he can fix our foreign ones. No he couldn't fix the economic ones first because of the reason I stated.
Both policies are equally important to me. That was what I thought Obama was going to do, but I wasn't listening to him close enough. But I had been warned.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
In his Presidential run, he took a lot of criticism for this
but Bernie never allows himself to be side-tracked.
https://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/the-foreign-minister-of-burlingto...
This sister site program used to be far more active, and of course $10,000 in funding went a lot further back in the day... but they may no longer no longer have an activist as Mayor, since Bernie went on to the Senate and a Prog from his government, Peter Clavelle, setting a record for Mayoral longevity in Burlington, stepped down in 2006.
Meanwhile, Bernie never become a murderous imperialist warmonger. Any vote of his I'd seen criticized during his Presidential run as 'being for war' has always turned out to have been (and I checked, or read the results of the searches of others, at the time, on every such attack 'from the left') because of such as appended versions of bills at least providing adequate equipment/supplies (or even, if I recall correctly, pay/necessary pay increases) for troops hinging upon it.
What point in adding to the evil of Americans being sent off to commit war-crimes which they had no control over by not voting for an addition to at least ensure some protection for them, when the war-crime involved would go through without this, anyway?
https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/has-burlington-abandoned-its-sister-...
Still, Burlington is a very progressive city. Would it have progressed this far without Mayor Bernie's influence?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burlington,_Vermont
Look at Bernie's life, as a decent human being and political moderate, against war and other violence, toward democracy and against corporate greed and control - and remember this when he's accused of being a bloodthirsty warmonger just like the others put forward by TPTB as 'choices'.
I cannot explain why he'd repeat Russiagate nonsense, barring threats against loved ones, but he'd know that nobody informed would swallow this - and had previously warned people not to do anything he might be forced to say after the Dem nomination selection, such as voting for Hillary, who'd leased the DNC for the duration. And even if he has been actually sucked into the bubble, at least he listens to the facts when provided and checks into things for himself, given the opportunity.
At this point, there's anyway little constructive in that area that can be done by one senator trying to encourage a people's movement toward democracy and needing to retain corporate media access to keep validating the concept in the face of otherwise endless propaganda and censorship blanketing a public in large part convinced that anyone exploding the Russiagate claims is a 'Putin puppet' to be repudiated and ignored.
Any attempt to do so would likely result in his disappearance
Life under fascism is never easy.
This becomes especially obvious when looking at the body count around the Clintons, regarding those connected with any opposition.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernie_Sanders
In view of what he's accomplished and encouraged and the fact that, life-long, Bernie's always been consistent and the fact that the corporate media would prevent his reaching the public to keep the message of democracy as a possibility in America alive in the public mind, should he stray too far from the party line, would it not be reasonable to suppose that Bernie is the same as he ever was - and is sacrificing himself in the interest of continuing to encourage the American people to try to take back their government in the manner he believes, on the basis of extensive experience within the maw of the beast, might most likely have some chance of success, by their forming initially at least one political party themselves - one that the system has been set up to allow?
It may not strike some as the best route to follow, as the Dem Party is currently packed with psychopathic corporate/billionaire representatives and, increasingly government is being more directly filled by corporate interests and billionaires themselves.
But '3rd parties' have been roadblocked to the point where it's virtually impossible for progressive parties to even get into debates, as Bernie - and Dr. Jill Stein - know all too well.
Just because the fight to achieve democracy is hard won't stop him from trying; it never has.
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.
Oh, we have an "activist" Mayor, all right
He's actively making deals with his developer buddies to turn this place into yet another boutique city that no one can afford to live in. A true capital-D Democrat, cut in the same pattern as every neoliberal DC denizen. Our streets and sidewalks are a a disaster and we can't find the political will or capital to improve safe infrastructure, but hey! Let's spot-zone and offer fat tax incentives to turn a two-story downtown mall into a 14-story monstrosity with "market rate" condos and its own gym and swimming pool! And, while we're at it, we'll "redesign" (read: sterilize) City Hall Park and tear down a bunch of Dutch elms so that when even more people end up homeless, they don't decide to hang out in the middle of town and make the second- and third-homeowners uncomfortable.
Sorry for the rant, but Weinberger makes my blood boil. Whatever Progressivism we had under Bernie and Clavelle has been flushed down the toilet. And since someone else already brought up voting: I voted third-party in the last mayoral election and fat lot of good that did. I'm not sure it's even worth it at the local level anymore.
Please, never apologize,
especially for such informative 'rants'!
I'm so sorry (unfortunately not surprised, though,) that you guys got stiffed by a CorpoDem...
If there wasn't a suitable Prog to run for Mayor last time, what about the next? If there's nobody suitable that you've heard of, do you know of anyone likely? If so, no time like the present to get people familiar with and excited about him/her - and get the corpoDem the hell out of what he seems to be turning into a 'public/private' office. And if people don't yet know what he's doing to their community, they have a right to know, before it's been sold under their feet.
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.
Sadly, this is his second re-election.
There were two seemingly suitable Progs in this last election; one, in particular (Infinite Culcleasure, for whom I voted) really galvanized the student population, who went all-out to canvass for him, showed up at debates with signs, etc. He split the vote with Carina Driscoll (Bernie's step-daughter), which meant Weinberger didn't even win a majority (48 percent), but he loves running around announcing that Burlingtonians have "clearly mandated" his "agenda." It's all bullshit.
On the one hand, I wish he'd only had one challenger; he may have been defeated that way. On the other, I don't want to discourage anyone from stepping up to run. Still, it all seems hopeless when so many of the residents here have been brainwashed by "D = good."
Hate that - and it happens all the time,
where there really are people/policies worth voting for...
Drat, had a comment waiting for 'sharethis' to appear, so as to check it and doubtless miss any typos; had to go deal with the dog bringing major chucks of mud in (her feet aren't that big, don't ask me how this works, lol) from the side yard clear though the kitchen, hallway and livingroom, end to end and all over; personal/household chemicals used down there mess me up something awful and I tend to spend as little time as possible down there.
Eventually came back to find kitty occupying my chair; she'd saved me a small corner so I perched on the edge to find the page shifted elsewhere, went back to find the comment gone, had had it saved but only a few words appeared on paste, so dunno if kitty disapproved of the comment... but not up to remembering/rewriting it.
Just... it's heartbreaking and, like many others, I do know how you feel, and, also like many others, know that something must be done, but not how to achieve any of it. But somebody will; the time has come.
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 Way of the Bern has an excellent discussion about Bernie
and Jimmy Dore asking him why he won't come on his show.
Damn good question, Jimmy.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Wow, interesting
Was this recently? Jimmy also says:
Yeah, I can see why Bernie doesn’t want to answer those questions.
It's been the last
month or so
that Jimmy has been on Bernie's case to $h!t or get off the pot concerning these issues.
Bernie still dodging them, I believe, becuz he still hasn't announced.
It's not exactly a win-win for him at this point, so why would he address them?
Jimmy's show getting better lately.
If you haven't seen this one with Nellie McKay it's worth a look see.
She knocks it out of the park!
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C9NK6CXoYQ&t=977s]
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.
Ok, I’m glad I finally clicked play on this one too
I had to stop it at the part where she says, about sticking with the Dems, “it’s an abusive relationship. The only pragmatic way is out.” to say amen. I’ve been saying that for months now. Exactly right.
Now I’m going to watch the rest of it. Thanks again Wink.
@CS in AZ
Not surprisingly, a diary at GOS was gang piled because it was about that same abusive relationship. (Prior to non-bot purge.) I tried to defend it, but like here, I'm just a nobody. They used identity bs, and of course the whole disrespect for "real" domestic violence victims. I believe the author was a male, so they really dug in.
It's exactly like an abusive relationship. "We don't need you." "Special place in hell." "Sexist/racist/bros." Then, "You didn't vote." "You voted 3rd Party." "Spoiler." "Then you elected Trump!" And now, the honeymoon phase, "We need you!" "Donate!" "Impeach Trump and make things right." See how it devolves from there, back to abuse? "You owe us because sidelines."
Heh, well I have the credentials
Very long ago, I was in a relationship like that, with my first husband, very long story but let’s say I learned what it looks like, and those exact dynamics you describe. And I learned that sometimes, walking away is literally the only sane thing to do.
I don’t agree that you’re nobody here though Deja. It’s good to see you again. Thank you!
Walk away? I ran with a kid & hid for 6 yrs
Kindred spirits, I guess, unfortunately. And thank you. I love reading what you post. You are so spot on and filled with passion!
Those poor deluded fools
"Impeach Trump and make things right."
Pelosi has said more than once that she is not interested in impeaching Trump. In fact congress already had the chance to vote on this and it was shot down.
But so far they have also ignored all the times that just enough democrats have voted with the republicans to pass their legislation, Trump's cabinet picks and a number of unqualified people for judicial appointments.
Good for you still trying over there. A few other members here are doing that and they too are being shot down. BTW, did you know that most of us here were long time Russian plants who were just waiting until Hillary ran again so that we could bad mouth her over there? Yep. ''Tis true. I read it again just today.
Good to see you again. Don't be a stranger.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Pre purge, sd
Mostly I've seen it all since, at places like Twitter and Facebook. I'm so sick of the "libtard" "rethug" bullshit, I can't stand it. Snowflake, Nazi. Jesus Christ, it's so obvious, but so few see it.
And no, I don't go to dkos. Hell, I barely even lurk here, anymore. But I'm here now, frankly, because I have shingles, and have had it for a week already. I'm losing my mind with the weirdest fucking shit I've ever dealt with, and could lose an eye if the shit doesn't stop encircling my eye, and actually starts healing.
Bernie the Messiah, and just vote (Bwahahahaa!)? He voted FOR the moving of the embassy to Jerusalem. Yeah, that'll make a shithole all better. Fuck him! Sorry. I'm just over him, and this whole joke I thought I was a part of. My voice, my vote, my money, means absolutely nothing to the political establishment. Fuck that whole thing too.
[video:https://youtu.be/92i5m3tV5XY]
Ahh, reading comprehension, my bad ...
Shingles! Ouch. Sorry to hear about that. Yes they are very nasty especially when they are close to ones eye. Are you also seeing an ophthalmologist or just your regular doctor? Yep. Very nasty shit!
I like looking in at ToP because now and then an older member will write something worth reading. But mostly the wreck list is full of either Russia Gate or some other tabloid gossip. And apparently their misogyny and sexism rules only apply to Herheinous. Other women? Nah, not so much. And apparently in this age of sexism and misogyny no woman could have been elected president. Nope. No other one.
Bernie also jumped fully on board with this Russian crap. He knows damn well that Her lost because she was a crappy candidate and wouldn't have tried to pass any of the stuff in her "most progressive platform evah!
Good luck with fighting your shingles. Nasty stuff. I said that already, right?
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
No ophthalmologist. PCP said ER if my vision changes
20 or more miles in any direction. Is it any wonder country folk don't call 911? "Let the buzzards sort it out."
PCP said I couldn't spread it to myself, but online says otherwise. Washing my hands like crazy!
I'm still reading about the proposed coupe you linked to earlier. Woah! And thank you!
Shingles, oh God.
Adult chicken pox survivor here, was the worst thing I have ever had in my life and I'm going to check into getting that Shingles vaccine as I may be "old" enough now. Hang in there, ugh.
Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur
Thanks, lizzyh7. Shingles suck, big time!
It's definitely not fun. I've had chicken pox 2x. Once when I was 3 or 4 and again when I was about 35. This is completely off the wall.
For a day or so, I'd get random, piercing pain where my jaw meets my ear - like someone stabbed me with an ice pick. I involuntary screamed out several times. So incredibly bizarre.
A side effect of the meds is a headache. Only the front, right quadrant of my head had minor, irritating pain before the meds. Now, it's the whole thing, and worse than minor and/or irritating. And the pain, for me has nothing to do with the lesions. It's between my bones and skin. Not a good description, but the best I have.
As for the vaccine, I'm 11 years from "being old enough" for it, but I'll be asking about it after this hell ends, regardless of age.
Sad part is, I tried to go to the doc last Wed, but she's off Weds, apparently, and she's my PCP, so too bad. Thur, she misdiagnosed my initial huge, hideous lesion, that actually showed up Mon, as a fungus, because it wasn't painful. I walked into the clinic Fri morning with more lesions, a swollen lymph node under my right ear, and pain where my jaw meets my ear. I've been told it takes a week. Feels like forever.
Get the vaccine!!!! Everyone, get the vaccine!
BTW
"But her emails" is another of their favorite sayings. Meaning that we didn't vote for her because of her private email server. Like that was the problem I had with her becoming president.
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Has anyone said anything about
ending the ruling class quest to rule the world via a global military mafia hit-squad and the bipartisan agenda supporting U.S. imperialism?
Better yet, anybody pushing a new 9/11 hearing?
Didn't think so.
Yes, on the second count
Two groups are petitioning the US District Court of southern NY to enact a grand jury investigation of the 'official' explanation given by the government regarding responsibility for 9/11. Saw the press conference in Brussels, near the new NATO headquarters. Posted links a couple weeks ago. Some serious blowback.
https://www.globalresearch.ca/video-911-justice-every-nation-every-citiz...
question everything
Actually I was talking about our so called representatives,
but glad to see someone pushing forth.
Yep, it is good
I will say I’m still skeptical of some aspects of the inside job theory, primarily because I have a hard time believing there is an agency or team within our government with the high-level competence that pulling off such an operation and coverup would require. It’s easier for me to believe they intentionally looked the other way for the attack, allowing it to happen. Even possibly that there was some coordinated effort at recruiting the attackers. But then I wonder, why use Saudis? That never made sense. The fact the towers came down though... well. It is fucking amazing how they fell, but I’m not convinced that wasn’t as surprising to them as it was to everyone else. Them being whoever did plan it and/or allow it to happen.
On the other hand, it’s weird that questions and questioners are so aggressively quashed and shamed into silence, mostly, as conspiracy nuts. That commitment to aggressively shutting down all questions, is also suspicious. So who knows? The truth is out there. (Like an old tv show used to remind us.)
So yes, good someone is still pushing it.
And you’re right, no one in congress will ever talk about it. Especially not if they hope to be re-elected.
A $Trillion or more
exchanged hands
about 30-40 mins. before the first plane hit.
If in fact a plane hit the building.
A phone meeting with 7 or 8 staffers was scheduled for 8:30 am on the same floors where the "plane hit." The boss conducting the call did so from his upper west side apartment. "Sorry I can't be there... hello... hello?"
A bunch of FBI and SEC evidence on investigations into "insider trading" disappeared when Building 7 went down.
It may not have been an "inside job" but people knew it was going to happen on that day and at that time. Some stayed home from work that Tuesday.
The caper was mostly about stealing Big Bucks and offing anyone that had an inkling. Dead men (and women) tell no tales. The rest of it, "the Terrists did it," is just serendipity. And, as we expected, total b.s. The neocons got their Pearl Harbor. G. Dubya got his "War on Terra." And, the thieves got away with $Billions.
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.
Two Words
Operation Northwoods
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Woah! n/t eom all that jazz
True or false?
Lots of people have evaluated the evidence of the WTC towers collapsing and this one shows that the building was pretty much pulverized as it was collapsing. No big chunks of concrete and cables, etc seen.
Plus you can search for the videos on how it was impossible for a plane to hit the pentagon at the angle it did. Plus there is barely any material one usually sees at plane crashes.
Lots of other videos about whether they came down from the damage from the fires or if because they were blown up from the inside can be found on this link.
The other thing is that no one was allowed to look at the evidence after it was cleared up. The fires burned for days and just what all was in the dust that the rescuers breathed in that caused so many illnesses and deaths?
Bottom line is that Big Al has the right idea. Reopen the investigation into it and see what's what. No matter your opinion on what happened that day your view is welcome. I certainly won't tell you if your opinion is right or wrong. It's your opinion and your mind.
But I'm in the camp that the towers were rigged to come down. Building 7 is the key for me. A tv reporter in the U.K. said that "building 7 has also come down" while standing in front of the visual on her screen and 20 minutes before it actually did. People were heard saying, "let's pull it " and others had heard explosions before all 3 started falling.
And as I posted above, the PTB had already thought that would be a great way to get people on board with a new war. "So why not pull out the plans and update them? People will believe anything we tell them to."
Scientists are concerned that conspiracy theories may die out if they keep coming true at the current alarming rate.
Thanks for the video!
I initially thought the time given for the video (which I must have missed earlier, might have been posted while my computer was down,) would be too long for me to watch the whole thing tonight and that I anyway would already have had some idea of the evidence behind this action, (this presumably to be addressed up front, as it was,) especially since I've spent time on the Architects & Engineers site within the past year, but wound up watching the whole, well-presented and fascinating video.
I certainly hope that their strategy works, although TPTB might then simply claim that the US Constitution has been secretly revoked and cannot therefore be invoked to force this investigation - or might anyway rig the Grand Jury by making them up of Bush Admin officials and various war-profiteering contractors... but that could topple the whole nightmare's nest, if the truth were known and actual justice done. Which t'were best done quickly.
As was stated in the video, what's needed for success is a pincher movement, with pressure from grassroots and the top, to squeeze whatever's needed out - which was Bernie's plan as well, of course, even if stymied that time around, as was the Truth movement for so long.
I hope the perps and any and all aiding and comforting, paying or profiting through them get squashed into prison cells forever.
As I said to my roommate when taking a break to go downstairs to make a cup of tea, since the official 9/11 story involves the US harboring the terrorists within their country to enable them to hijack the planes, perhaps that's also their excuse for attacking their own citizens?
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.
What does he mean by "the nation?"
Seems to me that a couple of years ago (2013/2014) the country was heartily opposed to yet more semi-acknowledged Middle East wars. But who asks us?
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver