Pg. 1 Lede in Today's NYT: "'Stop Sanders’ Democrats Are Agonizing Over His Momentum"

...and a similar headline--regarding today's Times article--over at CommonDreams.org, on Tuesday: "As Sanders 2020 Campaign Gains Steam, Corporate Democrats Reportedly 'Growing Increasingly Nervous'," are basically telegraphing to the public that the writing's on the wall, as far as the Democratic Party's status quo's 2020 Presidential Primary campaign strategy is concerned. And, regrettably, it looks eerily similar to the "F*ck Bernie" effort the Party shoved down voters' throats in 2016.

First Common Dreams...
(This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.)

As Sanders 2020 Campaign Gains Steam, Corporate Democrats Reportedly 'Growing Increasingly Nervous'

By Jake Johnson, staff writer
By Common Dreams
Tuesday, April 16, 2019

"Being loathed and feared by the rich is a big reason why Bernie is so appealing, and Democrats who don't understand this by now will never get it."

Sen. Bernie Sanders' 2020 presidential campaign is rapidly gaining momentum early in the primary fight, and corporate Democrats are reportedly starting to get nervous.

The New York Times reported Tuesday that political operative David Brock has discussed launching "an anti-Sanders campaign" with other Democratic strategists and "believes it should commence 'sooner rather than later.'"

"[T]he Bernie question comes up in every fundraising meeting I do," Brock said.

In a fundraising letter sent shortly after the Times article was published, Sanders' campaign manager Faiz Shakir said the corporate forces working to stop the Vermont senator from becoming the Democratic nominee "don't just hate Bernie Sanders."

"They hate everything our political revolution embodies," wrote Shakir. "They hate Medicare for All, the Green New Deal, breaking up big banks, free public college for all."

Brock, a former Republican "media hitman," is just one of many prominent Democratic operatives and deep-pocketed donors who are "agonizing" over the possibility of the Vermont senator becoming the Democratic presidential nominee, according to the Times.

Steven Rattner, a Wall Street financer who served as head of Obama's Auto Task Force, told the Times that Sanders is discussed "endlessly" among his circle of wealthy Democratic benefactors.

"From canapé-filled fundraisers on the coasts to the cloakrooms of Washington, mainstream Democrats are increasingly worried that their effort to defeat President Trump in 2020 could be complicated by Mr. Sanders," the Times reported.


NEW: Establishment Dems are growing increasingly nervous about the
BERNIE threat - and a messy convention

Why?

-His bottomless online $
-Massive field
-A mere 15% threshold for delegates
-Early Super Tues

And what or sticks are there for him?https://t.co/yGH0fouIFY

— Jonathan Martin (@jmartNYT) April 16, 2019

The Times added:

The matter of What To Do About Bernie and the larger imperative of party unity has, for example, hovered over a series of previously undisclosed Democratic dinners in New York and Washington organized by the longtime party financier Bernard Schwartz. The gatherings have included scores from the moderate or center-left wing of the party, including Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Senator Chuck Schumer, the majority leader; former Gov. Terry McAuliffe of Virginia; Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend, Ind., himself a presidential candidate; and the president of the Center for American Progress (CAP), Neera Tanden.

The Times' reporting comes just days after Sanders sent a scathing letter (pdf) to CAP denouncing the organization for playing a "destructive role" in the effort to defeat Trump in 2020.

"Center for American Progress leader Neera Tanden repeatedly calls for unity while simultaneously maligning my staff and supporters and belittling progressive ideas," Sanders wrote. "I worry that the corporate money CAP is receiving is inordinately and inappropriately influencing the role it is playing in the progressive movement."

Sanders' letter was prompted by a widely decried video published by ThinkProgress, CAP's purportedly "independent" news outlet. The video accused Sanders of shifting his rhetoric on income inequality after becoming a millionaire on the back of his book sales.

In a statement Monday, Tanden said the video was "overly harsh."

In response to the Times' reporting on Tuesday, Splinter's Libby Watson pointed out that a significant component of Sanders' popularity among progressives lies in the fact that he is despised by the corporate donor class and the Democratic establishment.

"Being loathed and feared by the rich is a big reason why Bernie is so appealing, and Democrats who don't understand this by now will never get it," Watson tweeted.

Below are the first few 'graphs of today's NYT article (do yourself a favor and read the entire piece...essentially, it's 2016, all over again; but this time, the Democratic Party status quo--emboldened by recent court decisions that, basically, allow them to do whatever they want--are just being a bit more "transparent" about their skullduggery)...

'Stop Sanders’ Democrats Are Agonizing Over His Momentum

By Jonathan Martin
New York Times
April 16, 2019

WASHINGTON — When Leah Daughtry, a former Democratic Party official, addressed a closed-door gathering of about 100 wealthy liberal donors in San Francisco last month, all it took was a review of the 2020 primary rules to throw a scare in them.

Democrats are likely to go into their convention next summer without having settled on a presidential nominee, said Ms. Daughtry, who ran her party’s conventions in 2008 and 2016, the last two times the nomination was contested. And Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont is well positioned to be one of the last candidates standing, she noted.

“I think I freaked them out,” Ms. Daughtry recalled with a chuckle, an assessment that was confirmed by three other attendees. They are hardly alone.

From canapé-filled fund-raisers on the coasts to the cloakrooms of Washington, mainstream Democrats are increasingly worried that their effort to defeat President Trump in 2020 could be complicated by Mr. Sanders, in a political scenario all too reminiscent of how Mr. Trump himself seized the Republican nomination in 2016.

How, some Democrats are beginning to ask, do they thwart a 70-something candidate from outside the party structure who is immune to intimidation or incentive and wields support from an unwavering base, without simply reinforcing his “the establishment is out to get me”’ message — the same grievance Mr. Trump used to great effect?

But stopping Mr. Sanders, or at least preventing a contentious convention, could prove difficult for Democrats.

He has enormous financial advantages — already substantially outraising his Democratic rivals — that can sustain a major campaign through the primaries. And he is well positioned to benefit from a historically large field of candidates that would splinter the vote: If he wins a substantial number of primaries and caucuses and comes in second in others, thanks to his deeply loyal base of voters across many states, he would pick up formidable numbers of delegates.

To a not-insignificant number of Democrats, of course, Mr. Sanders’s populist agenda is exactly what the country needs. And he has proved his mettle, having emerged from the margins to mount a surprisingly strong challenge to Hillary Clinton, earning 13 million votes and capturing 23 primaries or caucuses.

His strength on the left gives him a real prospect of winning the Democratic nomination...

Welcome to the REAL 2020 Democratic Primary...

Everyone knows that Joe Biden's about to announce: "Biden to campaign as extension of Obama's political movement."

BLUFFTON, S.C. (AP) — Joe Biden is finalizing the framework for a White House campaign that would cast him as an extension of Barack Obama’s presidency and political movement. He’s betting that the majority of Democratic voters are eager to return to the style and substance of that era and that they’ll view him as the best option to lead the way back.

The former vice president has begun testing the approach as he nears an expected campaign launch later this month. After remarks at a recent labor union event, Biden said he was proud to be an “Obama-Biden Democrat,” coining a term that his advisers define as pragmatic and progressive, and a bridge between the working-class white voters who have long had an affinity for Biden and the younger, more diverse voters who backed Obama in historic numbers...

So, what is different in the 2020 primary race, as opposed to the 2016 fiasco? Long story short: The Democratic Party status quo are freaking out in public, from the get-go.

In fact, I'd say the Party's leadership might want to consider budgeting for at least a year's supply of Depends® for their key staffers...maybe even customize 'em with a Democratic Donkey silkscreen imprint on the derriere!

I'm making another donation to the Sanders Campaign this week.


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Suddenly they can no longer deny the strength of Bernie's message.

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Anja Geitz's picture

Why Corporate Democrats would announce their "worries" about Sanders momentum and their "plans" to launch an anti-Sanders campaign out loud so that the NYT can write about it in the lede on page one?

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

OzoneTom's picture

@Anja Geitz
Maybe they don't feel that they have the luxury of time for of subtlety and secrecy. Probably didn't expect statements to be leaked either since their media are usually complicit.

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Wally's picture

@Anja Geitz

Also because folks like David Brock like the media attention? Brings him more business and more $$$.

And maybe becuz Bernie is actually scaring the bejezus out of them this time around?

Why do you think they are doing it?

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Anja Geitz's picture

@Wally

And maybe becuz Bernie is actually scaring the bejezus out of them this time around?

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Wally's picture

@Anja Geitz

So like Bob Dylan noted, "Money doesn't just talk, it swears" (close enuff I think)

Also, knowing about Brock somewhat, I think he is going to use that money especially in California where he thinks Kamala can win.

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OzoneTom's picture

@Wally
They have silver bullets lined up, but have all failed in turn. I have doubts about Biden even bothering to get in any more. And Super Tuesday may even seal the deal for Sanders.

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@OzoneTom

in a popular Democratic administration. Instead, he waded right into Creepy Joe. If he wasn't smart enough to have foreseen that come down, he sure isn't smart enough to be President. And, if he thinks he's dealt with it by saying I get it, then coming out with a "creepily touching kid and joking about being handsy" video, he is the political mental equivalent of a snail--no offense to snails intended.

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Raggedy Ann's picture

@HenryAWallace
with anything that doesn't involve stroking their EGO! Biden is a classic example! Imagine the ego you must have to go around touching women inappropriately and smelling their hair. EEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

@Anja Geitz

The answer to your question is similar to the answer to the question: "Why do male dogs lick their testicles?" (Answer: "Because they can.")

Why does the Democratic Party (via the DNC) status quo put their thumbs on the presidential primary election scale to choose the favored candidate over everyone else? Because they can, due to a August 2017 Florida court decision.

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"Freedom is something that dies unless it's used." --Hunter S. Thompson

Anja Geitz's picture

@bobswern

As far as I can see. Not to mention that I can't remember any senior campaign adviser expressing "worry" about another candidate's viability in any previous election that I can recall. Quite the opposite.

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

@Anja Geitz

It's "the Moulitsas strategy," on a national scale. The DNC is saying: "We're going to do whatever the f*ck we want (because we can), and you better get onboard, or GTFO!" (Pretty simple, actually.)

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"Freedom is something that dies unless it's used." --Hunter S. Thompson

Anja Geitz's picture

@bobswern

I'm not buying it.

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Amanda Matthews's picture

@Anja Geitz
BS.

Medicare for All is popular. So are most progressive policies. We can get there without Sanders. That way, he’s free to keep harping on ‘collusion’ and RUSSIAN ‘interference’ in the 16 election that caused the Clinton Creature to lose.

He had a choice. Stay honest or join the seditionists. But others obviously can overlook little ‘details’ like that. Millions of others can’t and won’t. It will be an ‘interesting’ election.

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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

snoopydawg's picture

@Amanda Matthews

by telling people the truth about her history. Bernie said nothing that she didn't say about Obama during their election. In fact she went even further on being nasty when it was obvious that she couldn't win. "Hey I have to stay in the race in case someone kills him."

I read the DK diary on this and people are still saying exactly that. He ruined the chance for her to be elected. Funny how in every election before that one it was okay for people to say why they don't think the other person should be picked over them. But that was a special election wasn't it? Why? For no other reason then it was her turn. The rules from that election have gone out the window when it comes to Tulsi.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

@snoopydawg

chance to be elected by, you know, defeating her at the polls? For better or worse, she was the nominee; and, for better or worse, Bernie endorsed her and campaigned for her. Had he won the primary, sure that would have ruined her chance to be elected.

Then again, according to her book, didn't everyone and everything ruin her chance to be elected? After all, there was that butterfly in the Adironacks that farted in 2016. Causation, if ever I saw it!

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snoopydawg's picture

@HenryAWallace

by telling people the truth about her history.

As said above I see people saying that over on ToP. If Bernie hadn't said what he did and ruining Hillary's chances of winning.....

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

@Anja Geitz

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Unabashed Liberal's picture

@Anja Geitz

to the Dem PtB with voters.

Could be wrong, but, sorta figure that the Dem Party Machine wanted the word out. Could it be a message to Big Business and major Dem donors, maybe?

(IOW, the intention may be to assure the aforementioned that the Dem Leadership plans to put a stop to the passage of MFA, a Green New Deal, etc.)

My best 'guess.'

Have a good one!

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, Comedienne

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Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.

Anja Geitz's picture

@Unabashed Liberal

Dem Party Machine wanted the word out.

Big question is to what purpose?

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Unabashed Liberal's picture

@Anja Geitz

simply want to assure jittery corporations and DP big donors that they are planning to stop Bernie (or, put obstacles in his path to the WH), since he's going to advocate for MFA, and other progressive legislation.

That would be the only 'audience' for that message, that makes sense (to me). Hey, just a 'guess.'

Smile

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, Comedienne

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Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.

Anja Geitz's picture

@Unabashed Liberal

simply want to assure jittery corporations and DP big donors that they are planning to stop Bernie

Where they could do that? Why announce something we've frankly never seen in an election before on the front page of the NYT

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Unabashed Liberal's picture

@Anja Geitz

could pretty easily use those channels to contact Big Donors.

OTOH, I'd imagine that the numbers of Big, Medium (and, perhaps, Small) businesses that they want to placate would be relatively staggering. Of course, I may be completely wrong in surmising that they are the intended targets of the NYT messaging.

Hey, can't argue that we've not seen this before. Consider, though, that for the most part--since DT ascended to the Office of President, any and all of the 'normal' rules of journalism appear to have been pretty much thrown out the window.

(Maybe the NYT went rougue--but, I doubt it, since their reporters are regularly on Cable teevee, and blatantly shilling for the Dem Party.)

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, Comedienne

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Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.

@Unabashed Liberal

colorably credible message to many voters, not big donors. And, its being the front page of the NYT is practically a written invitation to others, from Tweeter Trump to CNN, to SNL, to "catapult the propaganda."

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Big Al's picture

@Unabashed Liberal and they can't put it back in. So they go out front and a natural would be to put Bernie on Fox. Good move on the ruling class part. There are already signs this thing will get so watered down with incremental steps that it will make the ACA look good and Bernie is preparing the groundwork for that with indications of "everyone gets covered" and "pre-existing conditions" sprinkled in with the general talk about medicare for all. All that with the national debt topping 22 trillion and the budget deficit at all time highs, which none of them are talking about, yet, as well as a recession looming and over half a million workers in the health insurance industry. The propaganda is out in full force, and it's not always what it seems. The duopoly is not going to get this done and it won't get done by voting for politicians, it will have to be part of an overall plan coming from an independent people's movement.

Edit, oops, sorry U.L., not meant as a reply to you, just a general comment.

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ggersh's picture

@Anja Geitz aren't raking in the bucks, so they are
using Bernie to try to scare the donors into donating
money to their coffers, but the reality is the donors are
laughing their asses off cuz why in the FUCK do they
need to donate to the D's for, absolutely nothing.

The D's have become obsolete.

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I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

WaterLily's picture

@ggersh Absolutely.

In everyone's minds but their own. What sucks for us is that their minds are all that matter, in terms of what we have control over.

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ggersh's picture

@WaterLily this too shall end

What sucks for us is that their minds are all that matter, in terms of what we have control over.

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I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

snoopydawg's picture

@ggersh

after she lost. Then they started going to McCain's foundation instead. Most of the republican war hawks backed Hillary instead of Trump's campaign because he didn't seem to be as big a warmonger. It's all about the money.

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

WaterLily's picture

@Anja Geitz All this hair-on-fire public "worry" about Bernie is actually intended to further inspire his existing base, and rustle up new support, via the implicit (or explicit, depending on how you look at it) message that he stands for everything the vast majority of voters in this country want.

Voters are disenfranchised by the two-party system and will be even further so after reading articles like this. As a result, they will become even more resolute in their belief that Bernie is somehow different, and will march to the polls in the primary and, eventually, the general, to prove it with their indisputable and overwhelming support.

Bernie will likely win, and all who voted for him will cry genuine tears of joy that they finally, finally, busted the duopoly and got the President who will change the world.

Joke's on them.

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Wally's picture

@WaterLily

Sounds great to me.

Who would've thunk anyone would have been thinking or stating such a thing even so much as a month ago?

I'm not so convinced, but if so, then more struggle.

That's life.

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WaterLily's picture

@Wally I believe he will win, and I believe the Corporo-Dems believe he will win.

Ay, there's the rub.

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@WaterLily

I get the 11th dimension chess argument every time I press on Bernie not speaking out for Assange. So if Bernie only says what the people want to hear, how is that different from Obama?

Good question from Zoebear. Why are they advertising it? Fund raiser? SCOTUS!!!!!!!!!!!! Bigger question. If the Dems steal the primary again in plain site, what will happen? Blue no matter who again? OMG I hope not.

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

WaterLily's picture

@dkmich I'm beginning to think they won't steal it again. Which relates back to my first point. And yours. (See: Obama all over again).

It's no longer 2015-2016, folks. That horse has left the barn.

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Wally's picture

@WaterLily

Take it easy, but take it.

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

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WaterLily's picture

@Wally Change?

Damn straight. And it's going to take blowing up the duopoly to accomplish it. Electing another Dem won't do it. The (I) next to Bernie's name means diddly-squat when he's running for President on the Democratic ticket.

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Wally's picture

@WaterLily

You got another critical mass out there you been hiding on me that can supplant it?

Coz I'm no fan of the Democratic Militarist Corporatist Party.

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WaterLily's picture

@Wally By supporting them, and asserting that Bernie is our best chance.

This is the kind of learned helplessness the duopoly depends on. Do I personally have a critical mass assembled behind me, ready to blow it up? No. But I can be part of it. So can you. So can everyone else on this board, and everyone at that FOX town hall, and all the tens of thousands of people who showed up at Bernie 1.0 rallies around the country. And the millions of people who would have voted for Bernie but chose Trump because Her Heinous is a shitty person.

There already IS a critical mass of people who want something different. But we're not going to get it by settling for the "best we can get" under the current system. This is the psy-op game the duopoly plays every single election cycle, and Americans fall for it every single time. I'm sorry to say it, but we have to abandon the cult of personality. We need our own "come-to-Jesus-or-the-Tooth-Bunny" moment. Bernie is not the answer.

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Wally's picture

@WaterLily

In my way of thinking, a critical mass is organized and moving in a certain direction.

I don't think advocating for and being supportive of Bernie is shooting myself in the foot.

Bernie is not the answer in and of himself.

But I long ago gave up on the Democratic Party otherwise.

And you probably recall my speiel about March 3, 2020.

And any kind of electoral or other possible politics after then.

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WaterLily's picture

@Wally See, that right there is the problem.

You've either given up, or you haven't. You can't have your cake and eat it, too.

If you see a critical mass as an established entity with forward momentum, who starts that? It has to start somewhere. But whenever people point to the fact that it hasn't yet, and uses that fact to justify why there's no other alternative but to vote for "the best option" under Team Red or Team Blue, then it likely never will.

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Wally's picture

@WaterLily

And it's how to most effectively challenge the duopoly. We obviously have different perspectives on how it can be done.

I haven't given up on the critical mass that is supporting Bernie or on the idea that Bernie can win and make important and necessary changes and challenge the duopoly. Will he be able to defeat the duopoly? Certainly not on his own. He's not the Messiah. It's going to take a concerted effort through ongoing struggle. But Bernie winning the nomination and then the general are steps that allow for the possibility of change.

There is a critical mass now as imperfect as it may be. I don't see any evidence of another viable one emerging any time soon. And I see time as running out to get done what needs to be done. You seem to think the possibility exists for another critical mass to emerge in time and I hope you're right. But I just don't think so.

Now you may say my outlook is also predicated on a non-falsifiable hypothesis. But if another critical mass emerges in time before the 12 year window of opportunity the IPCC folks says we have to stay the inevitability of catastrophic climate change, then my hypothesis will indeed be proven wrong. So it goes.

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Wally's picture

@dkmich

Obama never said that.

Bernie kept voting to cut the military budget. Obama?

Bernie is saying M4A. Obama?

Bernie is saying free education. Obama?

I could go on but in any case, the struggle will continue.

No magic bullets.

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WaterLily's picture

@Wally Bernie said all of those things then.

Were you of voting age in 2008?

I bought a fucking Obama purse in 2007 and carried it around wherever I went. I had a hotel clerk run up and hug me in the swing state of North Carolina because he saw that purse. I bawled watching the election results, and then again during the inauguration.

Pardon me for being done with this bullshit.

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Wally's picture

@WaterLily

I never bought an Obama anything. I voted for him twice figuring he might deliver in his second term. We know how that worked out.

Sorry, but your gonna have a hard time convincing me that Bernie is gonna be just like Obama.

If Obama endorses him before the convention, then I'll worry.

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Jen's picture

@WaterLily
I've never voted. For anyone. I was hopeful but very skeptical about Obama. That hope was gone before the first 100 days of his presidency were over.

I first heard about Bernie through his own words in an essay that he posted on TOP back in the days of little Bush. Actually, thinking back, I'm pretty sure his post was what got me to start reading at TOP regularly. I remember that when I read it and found out who he was, the first thing I said/thought was, "this guy should be president". I think what he said then is pretty much the same thing he's saying now. I can't be sure because no matter how or what I search, I can not find the post(s) he made. Maybe they got deleted.

So Obama comes out with hopey changey and it did not even sound half as good as what I'd read from Bernie. I wanted Bernie in 2008! But hardly anyone knew who he was. So, after suffering though 8 long years of Obama and about 10 years after I'd first read his TOP post, imagine my surprise when Bernie announced in 2016.

BUT. I knew he would not even win the primary. I cried the day they announced even though I was not surprised. I texted my daughter that day and told her to get ready for the orange turd to be pres.
I was disappointed in Bernie for not calling out the obvious rigging in the primary and it seemed like he went on a downhill slide from there. I am still disappointed he chose to repeat the Russia bullshit. I am disappointed that he pushed the narrative that Maduro is responsible for the crisis in Venezuela - but he has also said that we do not need regime change wars. I am disappointed that he has not said anything about Assange's arrest.

I watched his town hall on Fox and I saw the man I want to be president. He's not perfect. Far from it. But I truly believe he is our best hope. If he can do just half the things he's said, we'd all be better off (unless you're a 1%er). I know I will be. But I'll save my tears of joy for when I actually have a M4A card in my hand.

Not only have I never voted, I've also never donated to any politician nor have I ever bought any political merchandise. I probably never will donate or buy anything. I will only vote if Bernie makes it to the general.

If he wins and turns out to be more of the same, I doubt I'll live long enough to regret voting for him.

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Is it great yet?

Wally's picture

@Jen

Tennessee has an open primary so you can vote in the Democratic Primary no matter how you are registered. The date for the TN primary has not yet been determined.

Voting in the primaries is the only way to get Bernie nominated.

Thanks for your enthusiasm and consideration.

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Jen's picture

@Wally
I'm not even registered to vote. I saw no reason to register when I didn't ever plan to vote. I still won't vote in the primaries though. I mean, if they're going to cheat him out of the nomination again, my one little vote won't change a thing.

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Is it great yet?

Wally's picture

@Jen

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WaterLily's picture

@Jen I'm Bernie's constituent, and he's been faithful to his core values, and spreading a consistent message, since before he became the unlikely Mayor of Burlington in 1981 (I didn't live in Vermont then, but have done my research on the guy).

He's just never going to be able to do what he says he's going to do within the Democratic party. I mean, FFS, city-level Democrats here, including our asshat mayor, barely hide their contempt for Progressives (a bona fide third party here) and actively engage in slime campaigns.

If Bernie wins, he'll certainly make us all feel better about ourselves, and that's not an insignificant thing these days. But as I've said before, the rest of the Democrats will see to it that that's about all he'll accomplish. All the while, they'll publicly gnash their teeth and proclaim they actually do want to enact Bernie's bold plans, but they can't because the Republicans are mean and/or we have to compromise/be pragmatic in order to get things done.

There goes my blood pressure.

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Jen's picture

@WaterLily
I get what you are saying. But this "critical mass" that's been mentioned, under which president do you think that would go over better? The president we have now, some random corporate dim, or President Sanders?

I believe under the current pres it would be very bloody. Under any random corporate dim it would also be very bloody. But I like to hope that a President Sanders would not allow Americans to be mowed down by the military and militarized police.

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Is it great yet?

lotlizard's picture

@Jen  
(D-CT) to protect demonstrators at the 1968 Democratic national convention against fellow Democrat Mayor Daley and the Chicago police.

The “four dead in Ohio” at Kent State in May 1970 were shot by the Ohio National Guard.

More and more, states and municipalities are carving out zones of defiance of federal law enforcement authority. Currently it’s in the name of “progressive” causes (“sanctuary” to shield people who entered the U.S. illegally from the federal government). But the new “states’ rights” / “city rights” nullification doctrine could just as easily be invoked by state and local leaders who lean the other way.

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@WaterLily a museum guard, a black man, in Bangkok, when he and I said "Obama". My travel mate, a Republican, cursed him, walked away.
And then, time passed...

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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

@WaterLily
I just want the American working man (and woman and whatever their color or orientation) to get a fair break like in the '50s.

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I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

WaterLily's picture

@The Voice In the Wilderness

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Anja Geitz's picture

@bobswern

Did everything to tamp down the appearance that Bernie's campaign was a threat to Hillary. So, why is the establishment getting on top of the highest building in the country with a bullhorn and announcing that his campaign is a threat to the status quo?

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Wally's picture

@Anja Geitz

They saw him as a joke or at best being someone who could bring in more voters come November.

Also, I don't think they're the sharpest tools in the shed. Their bottom line is always money.

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Anja Geitz's picture

@Wally

Was not the act of a party who thought he was a joke.

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Wally's picture

@Anja Geitz

Then they just intensified their dirty work ten times over. They already had the money rolling in.

Plus they just hated to see Bernie doing as good as he was doing, Michigan freaked them out. That't the night they launched their crap about Bernie not being in those protest photos from the University of Chicago. And the nonsense about never seeing Bernie in Selma.

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Shahryar's picture

@Wally

he "saw Hillary there". No he didn't. He baldly lied and, in a way, revealed the corruption of the Hills campaign.

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@Wally
The lost Michigan. Probably because they just felt entitled to the votes and didn't hear their pain like Bernie (and Trump!) did. It was "flyover country" you see.

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I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.

@Anja Geitz

...as soon as they realized he was a major threat to Clinton. But, the Clinton campaign co-opted the Party early on, financially, with $$$. (The Democratic Party's infrastructure was in desperate need of money. And, long before the primaries commenced, everyone thought Clinton would be the nominee. Hillary was scheduling her coronation YEARS before 2016. I understand, memories are short...but that IS what happened. It was Spring 2014 when DKos [via messengers like Denise, et al] all but stated: "Hillary will be the Party's candidate in 2016. Get with the program!")

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"Freedom is something that dies unless it's used." --Hunter S. Thompson

Anja Geitz's picture

@bobswern

But again, they never conceded he was ever a threat. Now, they are announcing to the world he is? I'm just wondering if there's an angle here that they are playing, and what it is.

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

@Anja Geitz

...Sanders had won New Hampshire, and virtually tied Hillary (actually, Sanders lost by miniscule margins) in Iowa and Nevada! "This wasn't supposed to happen!!!" So, "...they never conceded he was ever a threat..." is simply not an accurate historical statement of facts on the ground at the time.

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"Freedom is something that dies unless it's used." --Hunter S. Thompson

Anja Geitz's picture

@bobswern

I must've missed the front page article in the NYT where Clinton's campaign announced they were worried about Bernie's threat to their campaign, which is the corollary I'm drawing here.

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

@Anja Geitz

...counter to (and fully answer) your "concerns," throughout these threads. But, the response that I'm commenting about/to now tells me I'm wasting my time. The facts really do--extensively--run counter to your speculation. For quite awhile (and, I've experienced this both personally and professionally, "out in the field," in previous elections, even at the congressional level, for at least the past 12-14 years--since Rahm Emanuel ran the DCCC), the DNC has blatantly put their thumbs on the scales in competitive primary races all around the country (from hotly contested congressional campaigns to competitive presidential primaries--again, many races throughout the country, nationally on down). Now, with recent court decisions fully supporting this ongoing bullshit, the DNC really doesn't give a sh*t what the public thinks. And--personally and ultimately--I think that's just going to accelerate the downfall of Democratic Party in coming years. They've (TPTB) been grossly overreaching for a very long time. And, it's biting them in the ass...despite the court's siding in their favor in the past 18-24 months.

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"Freedom is something that dies unless it's used." --Hunter S. Thompson

Anja Geitz's picture

@bobswern

Which facts did I dispute?

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There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Wally's picture

@Anja Geitz

It's been a great conversation all around.

Lots of give and take, very engaging and challenging, and not in a nasty way.

Best of all, no straw men.

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@bobswern where Bernie won the primary but Hillary got the delegates?

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They say that there's a broken light for every heart on Broadway
They say that life's a game and then they take the board away
They give you masks and costumes and an outline of the story
And leave you all to improvise their vicious cabaret-- A. Moore

@Johnny Q

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"Freedom is something that dies unless it's used." --Hunter S. Thompson

Mark from Queens's picture

@bobswern
but at the convention $hillary was awarded more delegates. There were a few more like this (especially in states where there were caucuses and he absolutely demolished her). Truly, staggeringly unbelievable.

Do the mainstream masses really know this stuff/just how deeply corrupt and fraudulent the whole process is?

HOW THE DNC RIGGED WEST VIRGINIA

One delegate's story:

BC DeGraff: “What was a your experience when you arrived in Philly?”

Alissa Ponzurick:”We arrived to our dorm accommodations at Rutgers in Camden, NJ. Our room was nice, and there were four of us total. It was more like an apartment. The vibe was so infectious- it felt like we were all there because we’d ‘woken up’ and wanted to make the world a better place. And here, in this big hodgepodge of people, all ages and colors, from everywhere- there was just so much hope and Positivity. When we arrived at Bernie’s speech at the convention center, it was as if everything had changed overnight. We had our training the day prior, and the plan was to hold two seminars in rooms A&B, and then to man the doors, locate and situate press, and the room would be combined into one larger space, and Bernie would be speaking”

BC DeGraff: “When you left the convention, what was the message you left with?”

Alissa Ponzurick: “Democracy isn’t real. It’s a smokescreen from the ruling class. It gives us the illusion of choice. However, the moment Bernie preserved the roll and did not request contention, the world as I’d known it, ceased to exist.”

BC DeGraff: “Did you watch your state go to Hillary right at the convention? If so, what were your thoughts? How did you feel?”

Alissa Ponzurick: “I did, and I’ll never forget it. It was one of the most defining moments of my life. I knew, exactly at that time, that filling stadiums, selling out concert halls, blatant winning of states (WV was 55/55 counties for Bernie in the primary), none of it mattered. All the rules we’d been living by, the media blackout, it was so definite in that moment. It was seeing WV super delegates, whom were NOT in attendance, cast a vote magically to flip our state to Hillary. It was realizing that even though WE TOOK OUR STATE 100%, we still lost.”

BC DeGraff: “ Who did you vote for in 2016?”

Alissa Ponzurick: “Jill Stein, I don’t agree with her on everything, but I could not vote for either candidate from the major parties. My moral compass would not allow for that. Back to arriving at the Convention Center…

the room was already opened up. There was an ‘audience’ of chairs. We were confused as to whether the workshop seminars were still being held. I worked the center doors because I’m loud. Press that was previously not given access were eventually given access. We checked credentials, and that was the speech from Bernie where Jane famously whispered “they’re still with you”. The entire room was adorned in robin-hood hats. And honestly, that was the last of my hopeful, ignorant perspective on politics. Later that day, our world as we knew it would never be the same. And we haven’t stopped working to change things since then”

BC DeGraff: “Do you feel that the DNC is salvageable?”

Alissa Ponzurick: “I’m not sure. If you had asked me two weeks ago, prior to the purge of Bernie stalwarts, I’d say yes. If Bernie founded his own party for 2020, or runs as an Independent, I still believe that he’s a viable winner. I’d say the DNC needs Bernie more than Bernie needs the DNC.”

And another:

BC DeGraff: “What was your overall impression of the DNC?”

Selina Vickers: “Washington insiders running everything and the vast majority of the dnc follow. The up-risers get shut down quickly. They are going to be playing identity politics primarily.”

BC DeGraff: “What was the message you left the convention with?”

Selina Vickers: “Interesting question. What they said they were going to do — “every zip code counts” and “Unity” sounded great. What their actions said — stacking the deck with insiders, sent a different message. I left thinking that we need to #BecomeTheDNC We have to take over our state and national Dem parties.”

BC DeGraff: “After the recent Donna Brazile revelations that the event was paid for by the Hillary Clinton Campaign, are you still willing to remain a Democrat despite Hillary Clinton taking control of the party financially?”

Selina Vickers: “Am I willing to remain a Dem after all this? Why should I leave? I haven’t done anything wrong. I didn’t get drunk with power and throw up on the couch at the party and ruin things for everybody. THEY need to leave — and they won’t go willingly. We have to replace them. And, its hard because they DO have the power. But, what else can we do? I don’t understand the DemExit strategy. Once you exit you have NO say in what goes on. The 2 party system is too pervasive and corrupt to let both continue with out any checks. I’m all about staying, challenging, pushing, and replacing the corrupt people. AND, what I have found both in the state and national level is that most people are ready for change. There are a few people that keep things blocked at the top. The people are ready to move and its bottlenecked at top.”

BC DeGraff: “What moment stood out the strongest in your experience at the convention?”

Selina Vickers: “Can I say 2?”

BC DeGraff: “Yes”

Selina Vickers: “There are many, but the 2 most significant that stand in my mind are 1. The Tuesday morning of the convention (that’s the day the vote is given). You vote in the morning delegation meeting. We were scolded for booing the night before, we were told that we MUST be in the WV delegation area for our vote to count. If we aren’t there, our vote will not be counted. I asked to speak before we voted. I went over the primary numbers in Wv (See graphic). I told them that if HRC was the nominee, we would lose everything in Wv — which we did — because we couldn’t get the vote out for HRC, but everyone for Trump would show up and vote R down ballot. We talked about the Wikileaks that had just come out and how now we knew the primary had been rigged. We told them about the polling showing Bernie could beat Trump and HRC might not. They treated us like we were stupid. Like they knew everything. We knew nothing. Not everyone. But, several. Some were sympathetic in that room. I remember that. I remember who they were. The chair thought it was outlandish to suggest that HRC might not win the general. It was inevitable. (I think Shane has recording of this meeting) 2. That night, the vote. They were going through the states. They got to around Louisiana and I noticed that 2 of the supers weren’t there — Sen Manchin and Gov Tomblin. I went to Belinda Biafore (WV chair) and told her that they weren’t there and that the vote count should change. She said no. I reminded her what she had told us that morning about needing to be present and she ignored me. Other people were calling for a roll call. She ignored us. She gave the vote. I called the parliamentarian back home and he told me what motion to make to challenge and I did. She ignored that. She said that Manchin had a proxy — Supers aren’t allowed to have proxies and she said Tomblin was there. He was — but not in the WV delegation area. She never picked up the phone to register our motions, which was the process. The lies were what got me the most, I think. Now, knowing we were right and that if maybe we had done something more, maybe we could have Bernie now. I can’t change that. What I/we can do is make sure that the next time a Bernie comes around, there is a fair process in place. We are getting rid of our chair as soon as we can. We are going to state and national meetings and shining a spotlight on unfair and unethical activities. I did that today, btw. Wv State Exec meeting held without following their bylaws to have public meetings announced. They didn’t make any public announcement. I just happened to learn about the meeting and 2 Berners showed up. Called that out — politely. Next time they will probably make a public announcement.”

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"If I should ever die, God forbid, let this be my epitaph:

THE ONLY PROOF HE NEEDED
FOR THE EXISTENCE OF GOD
WAS MUSIC"

- Kurt Vonnegut

@Mark from Queens

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"Freedom is something that dies unless it's used." --Hunter S. Thompson

Wally's picture

@Anja Geitz

He just kicked the doody out of the FOX cohosts.

In 2016, the polls were favoring Hillary throughout.

Bernie always excelled when he got media attention, but the FOX thing was him hitting a walk-off grand slam.

There are still games left to play, though,

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@bobswern

The whole setting of the Democratic debate schedule screamed interference. And it allowed the Republican primary campaign, chiefly Trump, to use all the media oxygen in the room for weeks because nothing was happening on the Democratic side.

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@Wally

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"Freedom is something that dies unless it's used." --Hunter S. Thompson

Raggedy Ann's picture

@Anja Geitz
they don't understand who Bernie IS. I believe they think he will put his tail between his legs - HORRORS! The DNC despises me! - and drop out of the race. I sincerely believe that. This tells me THEY DON'T KNOW BERNIE.

My $.02

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Not Henry Kissinger's picture

@Anja Geitz

and are trying to 'unify' the Obama and Hillary wings of the CorpoDem cartel before the lobbyists realize Bernie's a lock and jump ship to Trump.

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The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?

Wally's picture

@Not Henry Kissinger

I have mixed feeling about who Obama is pushing for. . . his ol' bestest buddy Joe or Kamala.

My sense is that Feinstein and probably Pelosi are with Joe.

But Joe historically has shown himself to have cold feet.

What's he waiting for to announce? Stacey Abrams to commit? ISTM that given her spot on the Council for Foreign Relations, she'll do what's she's told to do.

Meanwhile, it seems Kamala is trying to fly under the radar. Maybe she's just a stalking horse for Hillary to come in on the second ballot. Lots of ifs and maybes right now.

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Not Henry Kissinger's picture

@Wally @Wally

Another phony populist who atomizes the anti-Bernie vote even more.

Plus he pulls resources from the other Obama donor backed candidates, like Beto and Buttigieg. (Harris and Booker are supported by the Clinton network.)

In the end, though, I don't think he runs because Obama doesn't want ol' Gropey Joe making himself the public face of the 'Obama-Biden Democrats' and turning the primary into a referendum on the Obama years.

"Better to back a fresh face without all the baggage," is what I think Obama is quietly telling his network and why Biden is reportedly having trouble raising funds.

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The current working assumption appears to be that our Shroedinger's Cat system is still alive. But what if we all suspect it's not, and the real problem is we just can't bring ourselves to open the box?

Wally's picture

@Not Henry Kissinger

This has been a great convo all the way around.

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@Wally

is Barack's pick.

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@Anja Geitz . lo @HenryAWallace I don't know, he is not favored by the establishment, MSNBC has frozen him out. He has not had a prime time town hall, I don't know if he was offered and refused. CNN is advertising a town hall with several candidates and Beto is not one of them. I have not listened to Buttigieg but I have read that he has been using words used by Obama.

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It's simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves that we've been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back. Carl Sagan

Centaurea's picture

@chambord

I have not listened to Buttigieg but I have read that he has been using words used by Obama.

He is also using words that were used in the 1980s and '90s by Bill Clinton and the DLC. Prime example, Pete has been talking lately about his support for "democratic capitalism".

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"Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep ... Don't go back to sleep."
~Rumi

"If you want revolution, be it."
~Caitlin Johnstone

gulfgal98's picture

@Not Henry Kissinger I think they are trying to assure their donor class that they have Bernie under control. It may also be a signal to the super delegates that they better toe the DNC line because they are going to make sure that the convention goes to the second round.

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

snoopydawg's picture

@Anja Geitz

Does seem kind of obvious doesn't it to post something that would get the base riled up. Which it did. Just tried to read about this on ToP and whoo boy, it's like people have stuck their fingers in their ears and shouted,, "nah nah nah I can't hear YOU!!"

Even when there is something spelled out in b and w anymore people have been so blinded by tribalism they ignore it. 54 recs for the diary, 419 comments. That tells you which side is being the most vocal.

PIE!! Duck!!

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Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.

Wally's picture

@snoopydawg

I've seen that reference here over and over. DKos?

Which diary are you referencing?

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WaterLily's picture

@Wally "ToP" = "The Other Place," also commonly known as "GoS," or the Great Orange Satan.

(That last one is hilariously ironic these days).

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Wally's picture

@WaterLily

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@Wally

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Raggedy Ann's picture

@Anja Geitz
that I think addresses your question:
https://fair.org/home/maybe-rich-liberals-dont-hate-sanders-because-they...

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"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

@Anja Geitz

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