The most important question about Tulsi Gabbard

Why should this woman not be our next president?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7-9qF0sMyk

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Alligator Ed's picture

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@Alligator Ed
She is the only candidate that has natural gravitas, looks, sounds and thinks like a president. Listen to her speak! Outstanding composition and delivery. And behind that is a well thought out understanding of America and herself. No other candidate can put it all together. No other candidate has the respect that she has earned from all political sectors. America is rapidly sinking in the eyes of the rest of the world. I think that she gives us the opportunity to reverse this. Do you think that she can stand up to the Pentagon and the intelligence community? It sure looks like it. They are going to have a hard time manipulating her, and they might just prefer to work under her competent leadership. The fact that the Democratic establishment and Media don't like her is a sure sign. When someone like her comes along what would you expect the reaction to be from the insiders? The only president in my lifetime that I liked was JFK. But I was never quite sure that he could become a great leader. I'm more sure of Tulsi.

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Capitalism has always been the rule of the people by the oligarchs. You only have two choices, eliminate them or restrict their power.

thanatokephaloides's picture

@The Wizard

The only president in my lifetime that I liked was JFK. But I was never quite sure that he could become a great leader. I'm more sure of Tulsi.

The parallels between JFK and Tulsi are interesting. But it's also true that Tulsi has plusses that JFK doesn't (working-class background) which reinforce your ideas here.

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

@thanatokephaloides pols being compared to JFK -- almost always a kiss of death for them. Gary Hart. Jimmy Carter (not as much in his case, but only a one-termer and ended up bitter rivals with Ted K). Probably a bunch of other up-and-coming handsome pols being charitably and unwisely compared to JFK, now fallen by the wayside and no longer heard from.

Let's give her a little more time for some seasoning -- she's only been in the House a couple of terms, while JFK did that then went on to the senate for 8 yrs before running for prez. And he was considered then as too impatient, needed to get back in line and wait his turn, said the old fogies.

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Alligator Ed's picture

@wokkamile but strength of character is more important. Can anyone look at the video and not see that from start to finish. Check out her town halls, which to my knowledge do not preselect questioners or questions.

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@Alligator Ed is often overrated in our political discourse. See, e.g., Joe Biden, with 30 yrs experience in the senate, falling for Junior's Iraq WMD lie.

I meant to stress that since she is very unlikely to become the nominee or be selected as VP (for valid political reasons mentioned earlier), she might as well go back and continue to get more seasoning on the national and even international stage in Congress. Done right, this could make her a more formidable political force next cycle (assuming we have one).

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Alligator Ed's picture

@wokkamile

Done right, this could make her a more formidable political force next cycle (assuming we have one).

The next cycle--assuming we have one. That we will have another election cycle depends on the Dim's willingness to continue to destroy the fabric of our society as well as our government. If climate change doesn't do us in, the Neoliberals will make certain that life becomes too hard for us to do more than scratch out a living.

See Joker, the movie, for a modern allegory of the fruits of modern austerity.

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@Alligator Ed the Donald himself was doing a good job of destroying governmental norms and the Constitution. Dems stayed mostly polite and quiet, as they are wont to do, until finally roused enough to start Impeachment.

A likely trigger for the dissolution of the country into chaos and open civil war could well be Donald refusing to leave office when he's defeated in a valid 2020 election. He will claim it's rigged, just like R-gate and Impeachment. I believe his former lawyer -- this guy is capable of anything.

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Alligator Ed's picture

@wokkamile In other words--you are dreaming about a Trump dictatorship. But I wouldn't doubt a Hillary Rodent Clinton dictatorship if she overcame the OrangeMan next year.

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Pluto's Republic's picture

@wokkamile

A likely trigger for the dissolution of the country into chaos and open civil war could well be Donald refusing to leave office when he's defeated in a valid 2020 election.

Here, you are showing symptoms of PTSD and paranoid delusions. You should consider withdrawing from politics to preserve your mental health.

He will claim it's rigged, just like R-gate and Impeachment.

R-gate and Impeachment were rigged. Where have you been for the past three years? This community worked hard to uncover the full depth of this corruption based on solid physical evidence, while you still cling to the fruits of the corruption as your intellectual guiding light. You have, sadly, been overdosed on propaganda.

All opinions are welcomed. But they must at least be rooted in reality and based on possible logistics and repeating patterns.

We do have a few embedded 'spoilers' here. Most people know who they are. If that's your game, you are doing it wrong. But I don't think that is the case. I think you have acquired brain damage from noxious American politics. Many, many have also fallen. Take better care.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
Wally's picture

@Pluto's Republic

Please do tell.

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Pluto's Republic's picture

@Wally

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
Wally's picture

Pluto's Republic's picture

@Wally

It's up to everyone to find their own answers and rely on their own instincts. Consider this: You and wokkamile registered here within hours of each other. A mere coincidence perhaps, but neither of you have been here long enough to see the patterns. Give it time.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
Wally's picture

@Pluto's Republic

Perhaps?

,bmn;klahgo4y-98573491jn;bkln

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@Wally @Wally Wally, you and I seem to have a special bond someone has uncovered, something we can both celebrate, despite our disagreeing here 75% of the time.

Now, I will admit that sometimes I have difficulty sleeping and will go outside to look at the stars. Or go into the garage and work on that special radio set. But I'm guilty only of insomnia.

And that radio set -- that was a gift from a little girl I met on the campaign trail who knew I liked tinkering with such things. And let me make this crystal clear: Regardless of what they say about me, I'm going to keep it!!

(edit: now I must move on from this ... interesting thread ...) .

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@Pluto's Republic leave office if he loses, I'm just repeating what his former lawyer Michael Cohen stated under oath before Congress earlier this year. Cohen, though tainted, seems credible on this. Trump was pre-complaining about the "rigged election" even before Nov 2016. Trump is capable of anything, it's quite clear to even the dimmest observer, though perhaps not to all his supporters, some of whom may post on this site.

Re R-gate, merely an imprecisely worded sentence above, could have been made clearer but sometimes the fingers fly over the keyboard with a life of their own. Clearly a bogus scandal. A search of my previous comments on same will disclose I've consistently been skeptical since posting here. It's the rare thing where I agree with Donald. Deep State hoax.

Not impeachment. There's plenty of there there, just on Emoluments alone. Ditto obstruction of justice and obstruction of Congress. But we'll see which articles of impeachment the House votes to approve.

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@Pluto's Republic -- sounds like a euphemism for troll. So the site proprietor is aware but allows them to post for what, added spice and variety even though their overall effect is to spoil things?

Btw, next time you launch into another long-winded rant pulling up just short of a very strong accusation against another poster, you might want to check with the poster whose comments you strongly object to -- are you reading it correctly, is there another less harsh interpretation, was it just inartfully expressed? On some days I post a lot here, but can't always guarantee 100% quality in the editorial process on each post. Mistakes happen.

And to reiterate, I was skeptical of the R-gate hoax long before posting here, from the outset in fact. Analysts like Max Blumenthal, Michael Tracey, Aaron Maté and a few others reassured me in my thinking. So thanks for the unsolicited lecture, but next time save it for those few poor souls out there who still believe in Rachel Maddow. I tuned her out, and the rest of Msnbc, 3 yrs ago.

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Wally's picture

@wokkamile

It's Spoiled!

[video:https://youtu.be/L8lAYkLubE0]

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Pluto's Republic's picture

@wokkamile

If that's your game, you are doing it wrong. But I don't think that is the case.

You analyzed your editorial mistakes and my misconceptions perfectly.

I agree completely and we're both sincere and we're both sorry for the misunderstanding.

The site owner welcomes all opinions that are sincere and respectfully expressed. In that sense, we have no trolls. As far as I am concerned, we have never had any trolls. There have been difficult people and misunderstood people and depressing people. That's the last I will say on the matter.

[edit]

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato
Alligator Ed's picture

@Pluto's Republic This tolerance for non-uniform opinions, coupled with mutual respect is what makes c99 great. We couldn't do this without JtC and Joe but here we are. Disagree if one must, but do so with rationality. If a decision is based upon emotion, say so. That is acceptable. Many of my comments are emotional, but, hey, I'm a reptile at heart.

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@The Wizard
-- a male relative of mine.

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The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.

mimi's picture

More or less our last hope for change.
Thanks for the video. That said all I needed to know.

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@mimi Liz or Bernie, so 50% chance of a woman winning.

Btw, imo the Germans didn't do too well with their first woman head of state, Merkel, with her 1 million sudden flood of immigrants. Nor did the Brits with Thatcher. But at least these and many other countries have checked the female head-of-state box.

Not so other countries like France and the U.S. But, imo, Liz would make for a stronger general election candidate than either the unliked and flawed Hillary or the too-soft Ségolène Royal.

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Alligator Ed's picture

@wokkamile Give me a break. She has so much baggage, though not as much as JoJo. POCAHONTAS. Now some conservatives are calling her "LIE-A-WATHA".

This bit about being terminated from a teaching job when she was pregnant. Another load of Warren garbage. Trump can get away with spinning whoppers but Liz looks a frightened school marm when she is called out for hers. Trump is probably glad the Dims are gonna push Lizzie--until the great H. Rodent Clinton descends from the skies to rescue her party. Then he will be, shall we say, glad all over.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKHsFVp0KiQ]

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@Alligator Ed been reading my above post when below water. Actually what I said was in a relative comparison with HRC and Ségo, Liz is stronger. Important difference.

As for the rest, who gives a flip or a flop what the Rs and Trump will say. They will always come up with something. "Socialist!!" is already on tap for them. Ds shouldn't let the Rs dictate who their nominee is. Especially when Donald will likely be badly dinged by Impeachment, if still holding on barely to office, and with the economy possibly on very shaky ground by next year.

Oooh oooh! The Big Bad Republicans!! We'd better cower and wimper and pick someone they'll like and won't make fun of!!

I thought reptiles were tougher than that.

Btw, who is this "JoJo" you keep referring to?

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Alligator Ed's picture

@wokkamile I was not underwater when reading your comment. But JoJo is Mr. Joseph Biden, ex-Senator from Delaware. Your turn: who or what is segolene royal--Mr Google Translate did not help me with that part.

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@Alligator Ed the time, make the effort to give you her first and last names. Including the correct placement of both accent marks, ferchrissakes. Easily googleable..

But, ftr, she was the Socialist Party candidate for president of France in their 2007 election vs the conservative party pick Jock Sherock (iirc, long time ago). Judged not to have performed well in the debate. Pleasant personality, nice looks, former mistress of later president Frank Hollande, not so much on top of a lot of details on policy apparently, not tough enough in the rough and tumble of their far more open debate format.

Re "JoJo" -- I think you can do better. JoJo evokes images of youth, which Biden does not possess. Also reminds me of that Beatles/McCratney song "Get Back", which was likely Paul's veiled verses referring to partner John and the Yoko. Pretty good tune -- let's not mar it by dragging in the shopworn JoBee. Sorry I don't have a better offering -- you'll have to get back to your swamp and take some down time thinking up something more clever, more worthy of you. And no -- "China Joe" is just too narrow, inside baseball and not that funny.

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Alligator Ed's picture

@wokkamile You have clearly discerned the implied meaning of my nom d'scorn for ByeDone: Get back to where you once belonged! Yeah, JoJo, get back.

Jacques Chirac was the character whose name you alliterated. Francois Hollande. Jacques Chirac. Mickey Macron.

Man, them frogs have just as much talent picking governmental leaders as we do.

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mimi's picture

oh, how lovely this shit from the Guardian ...
Who won the Democratic debate? Our panelists' verdict

Here was Gabbard glitching in her new fascist Stepford mode, repeating the term “regime change war” with regards to American intervention in Syria more than 10 times in a few minutes

ok, I better read somewhere else.

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Centaurea's picture

@mimi
Corporate media: Stop saying things our oligarchy-MIC owners don't like!

The American people: But we agree with her. We're glad she's speaking up.

Corporate media: No, you do not agree with her. You are not glad she's saying those things. We will tell you what to think. We will tell you what you need to know. Trust us. Now be quiet and go back to sleep.

Here was Gabbard glitching in her new fascist Stepford mode, repeating the term “regime change war” with regards to American intervention in Syria more than 10 times in a few minutes

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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

Wally's picture

@mimi

To be fair, it wasn't an editorial by The Guardian that dissed Tulsi but a selected sample of takes by various people. Only one went out of their way to be nasty to Tulsi, but more than a few, I think, smeared other candidates, too -- except for Bernie who pretty much everyone there agreed was "on fire!"

Here's my selected sample (heh, heh):

I don’t know what meds Bernie Sanders is on, but I’d like some myself. It’s hard to believe he recently had a heart attack; he was bursting with energy, and challenging other Dems to find the guts to stand up to the insurance companies. While Bernie Sanders was on fire Joe Biden seemed rattled; his performance was “expedentially” worse.

it was very nice to see Bernie Sanders healthy, smiling and still calling for revolution.

People counted him out after a heart attack, yet he debated tonight with clarity, humor and more affection that previously seen on national stages. Using the war in Iraq and the bailout, he vigorously reminded Joe Biden that the former vice-president accomplished more than just the Violence Against Women Act while in office, which silenced Biden.

Sanders was the highlight . . . Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders did nothing to hurt themselves. . . Warren was the target for blows tonight over Medicare for All. They said she was “vague” about taxing to pay for it. . . Sanders was the highlight talking about the healthcare industry driving little people bankrupt: “I would like to see the Democratic party have the guts to stand up,” he declared, full of vim and vigor after a heart attack.

What I thought most interesting in the debate is that no one dared to attack Bernie. Bernie got off a few shots of his own against Biden while the other candidates kept whacking away at Warren who seemed flustered and exasperated throughout the debate although MSM talking heads pushed the idea that she handled the onslaught well. Tulsi tried to whack Warren but didn't really get a chance to develop her argument. She shouldn't have tried to ask Warren questions that wound up getting cut off by the moderators. Rather, she should have just gone for the jugular like she did in the first debate with Harris. Actually, I think Bernie did more of what I expected from Tulsi. One other think I've noticed is that Tulsi has never gone after Biden. Oh well, so it goes.

BTW, AOC is endorsing Bernie this Saturday at the outdoor NYC rally along with other members of "the squad." Today, liberal twitter is melting down in disbelief that AOC betrayed Warren. Did they really think that any elected socialist would betray Bernie?

Bourgie Warren supporters seem really, really upset by the endorsements:

I saved one of the best moments for last:

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@Wally you that no one directly went after Bernie -- he was coming off a recent heart attack and being too aggressive towards him would have immediately backfired, and he hasn't exactly been surging in the polls lately. Liz, a co-front runner and trending up, was the obvious target going in; downward trending Biden less so.

Tulsi, in a mixed bag performance, tried at the end of one of her comments to take a shot at Liz asking whether she had any experience to be CinC, but she left the Q too late in her comments and so ran out of time. Interesting implied view baked into the question which was left unexplored and obvious rebuttal -- is it necessary to have served in the armed forces to be considered qualified for CnC? I think not.

Bernie who looked and sounded healthy and who occasionally flashed some signs of humor and wit (clearly someone in his camp was reading my pre-debate recommendations) was the clear winner of the night. Liz did not properly handle the early Q on taxes for M4A. Instead of bobbing and weaving unconvincingly and defensively, she should have quickly acknowledged it by saying the great savings for the middle class in health costs with her plan would easily overcome any tax increase, a net plus for the pocketbooks of millions. Then quickly pivot to note the RW/Big Insurance/Big Pharma framing of this question, which debate mods have posed about 10 times so far in the debates. Call out the mods for trying to mislead people into looking at only one side of the equation as the MSM is in bed with their Pharma/Insurance big sponsors. Bernie too missed a chance to put the media on the defensive on this signature issue for him.

Why at this point, with hours having been spent discussing M4A, do any of its proponents still struggle to properly frame their answers? Why do they always fall into defensive mode on taxes instead of turning the question upside down and then throwing it back at the corporate mods?

The slipping and sliding Biden wasn't glaringly awful, but did have some peculiar remark about clipping coupons to pick stocks(?@!!) He also made a big mistake trying to claim credit for Liz' CFPB success -- she quickly shot him down with one of the best responses of the night.

I had to quickly shut off the post-game chatter on CNN when I heard a few of their many analysts drool over how well the moderates did, as they showed Mayor Pete on stage beaming and shaking hands, seeming to take a victory lap. When I heard the lame Van Jones seem to echo this view, I switched over to The Weather Channel to see if I could pick up more survival tips from Creek Stewart.

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Roy Blakeley's picture

@wokkamile more than offsets tax increases is bizarre. Bernie gave it a decent shot last night, but Warren and others did not. This should not be complicated. Just say, "The Mercatus Center, a Koch-funded think tank, has estimated that Medicare for All would increase taxes by $32 trillion over 10 years but would reduce expenditures by a predicted $2 trillion. Overall the elimination of premiums and co-pays would more than offset the tax increases so most people in this country, particularly poor and middle class people, would pay less and get better health care." One could throw in the fact that medical care would be much simpler, eliminating the need to look through plans each October and trying to figure out what works best for you and that M4A would be a great boon to small businesses because they would not have to deal with working out plans for their employees.

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@Roy Blakeley the deductibles and co-pays being eliminated. Bernie has mentioned them before, but needs to stop burying that fact in the middle of a blizzard of other facts and bring them up more to the top.

As for that study, sounds too costly from a political/voters' perspective -- best to avoid mentioning those high numbers and just skip to the overall conclusion.

Again, after 4 debates, the responses by Liz and even Bernie on M4A should be much sharper and precision-honed for maximum political benefit. Throw in the part about the MSM mods always asking about M4A in RW/Big Insur- friendly ways and it's a winning answer.

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mimi's picture

haven't given up already. Why this whole kabuki debating at all?

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Centaurea's picture

@mimi
gaslighting, distracting, manipulating, hypnotizing, mesmerizing, brainwashing.

Why this whole kabuki debating at all?

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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

@mimi The more voices speaking over each other, the less chance someone might say something to embarrass either TPTB or a certain sinking campaign.

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Idolizing a politician is like believing the stripper really likes you.

Centaurea's picture

I believe she will be the first woman president of the US. I thought that the first time I saw her campaigning with and for Bernie in 2015. I feel it even more strongly today.

The only questions in my mind are how and when she's going to get there.

I would be very happy to see a Sanders/Gabbard ticket in 2020. That would be the clearest path to the presidency for her, unless somehow the path to the 2020 Dem nomination opens up for her.

Of the current bunch of Dem candidates, Sanders already is the one most likely to beat Trump. With Gabbard as his running mate, I think they would be unbeatable.

(To note, I love and admire Nina Turner and think she will have an important role to play in the Sanders and Gabbard administrations. However, I don't think she would be the strongest running mate for Bernie.)

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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

mimi's picture

@Centaurea

Sanders already is the one most likely to beat Trump. With Gabbard as his running mate, I think they would be unbeatable.

I wished there were voices from Europe to support both. But they are the same douchebags here as they are there.
Dash 1

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Wally's picture

@Centaurea

Listen to this. It blew me away.

Maybe even wilder, here's Ilhan Omar talking about how Bernie is building a movement that transcends identity politics, that Bernie is a unifier, not a divider:

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@Wally her version of Proud Mary and also that River Deep/Mountain High song.

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Anja Geitz's picture

@wokkamile

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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

lotlizard's picture

@Anja Geitz  
I think wokkamile knows this and is pulling our collective leg.

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Anja Geitz's picture

@lotlizard

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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

@lotlizard keep forgetting there is no allowance for a little fun with some of my non-fans here ...

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thanatokephaloides's picture

@wokkamile

Exactly, but I keep forgetting there is no allowance for a little fun with some of my non-fans here ...

Ride easy there, wokkamile! I just didn't "get" your joke first time.

Wink

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

@thanatokephaloides got the horse saddled 'n' watered, in case'n I need to head on down the road right quick ...

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Alligator Ed's picture

@wokkamile Let's compare three versions

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULw1RHHPv5g]

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ue3Suoh200]

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6eSIzX8QoL4]

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Roy Blakeley's picture

@Wally Love the Omar commercial!!

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Pluto's Republic's picture

@Wally

...featuring Nina Turner and Ilhan Omar. I hope you post them elsewhere, they are so worthwhile to see. These wonderful women remind me of an important truth:

If the Millennials stand up and vote in this election (and they will if there is a candidate worth voting for) they will win by their numbers alone.

Godspeed.

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____________________

The political system is what it is because the People are who they are. — Plato

@Centaurea too with such a ticket, but it's not gonna happen. That would add way too much heat from the FP angle -- the ticket would be constantly hammered, daily, hourly, by the MSM for its pro-Assad isolationist position. Politically it would make no sense for Bernie to take on additional controversy -- notice that he's tried to position himself in FP in a way to keep clear of most controversies, saying just enough to keep his base mostly satisfied..

Tulsi this cycle is about trying to introduce FP and regime change wars into the national discussion. It hasn't been easy, as FP is usually not listed among the top-5 issues for voters, and the MSM still usually relegates FP discussions to the back-burner.

Liz is the more obvious pick for Bernie as his VP, as I've tried to suggest here many times to a mostly hostile audience. It's a natural fit ideologically and personally. No added controversy to such a ticket, and a proven popular candidate nationwide. Notice too how neither Bernie nor Liz have gone after each other directly in debate.

The only question now is whether it will be Bernie or Liz as the nominee -- I don't see Biden doing anything other than continuing to slide downward, and Mayor Pete seems the only other candidate remotely in the running, but he's no great threat to win despite MSM efforts to prop him up.

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WoodsDweller's picture

@wokkamile
Can a candidate free their pledged delegates to vote for another candidate on the first ballot?
ATM it seems like it's a three way race between Biden, Warren, and Sanders, with Biden fading. By the time the voting starts it's not implausible that only Warren and Sanders will have over the 15% threshold to receive delegates and will split the delegates between them, with other candidates swooping in to pick up a few in a particular race. I can see a situation where Warren plus Sanders has enough delegates to win on the first ballot, but neither individually has enough and the convention goes to a second ballot which opens the door to DNC skullduggery.
Do the rules allow them to pool their delegates on the first ballot, with whomever has the larger count being the nominee and a gentleman's agreement that the other will be VP? Thus a unity ticket of Warren/Sanders or Sanders/Warren.

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"The greatest shortcoming of the human race is our inability to understand the exponential function." -- Albert Bartlett
"A species that is hurtling toward extinction has no business promoting slow incremental change." -- Caitlin Johnstone

@WoodsDweller unusual, essentially voiding the votes of many primary voters, normally not considered a wise move politically. Imo only, pledged is pledged, on the 1st ballot, and thereafter the deal-making begins and candidates are then free to release their delegates, though I'm not in the party and am unable to cite you specific party rules. Did you have a specific strategy or political advantage in mind for releasing pledged delegates on the 1st rather than waiting for the 2d?

Most likely scenario in the event the leading progressive falls short of a majority on the 1st: unless the 2d progressive candidate is only very narrowly behind, the latter is likely to make a deal -- say Liz agrees to release her delegates for Bernie in return for 1) VP with Bernie, 2) dibs on picking his Treasury Sec'y and head of CFPB, and 3) his full support for her running for P in 2024 or 2028.

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Wally's picture

@wokkamile

As long as Bernie is the one with the most delegates:

Most likely scenario in the event the leading progressive falls short of a majority on the 1st: unless the 2d progressive candidate is only very narrowly behind, the latter is likely to make a deal -- say Liz agrees to release her delegates for Bernie in return for 1) VP with Bernie, 2) dibs on picking his Treasury Sec'y and head of CFPB, and 3) his full support for her running for P in 2024 or 2028.

Give her a Supreme Court appointment and the kitchen sink, too.

Better yet, make the deal now for her dropping out before Iowa!!!

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Alligator Ed's picture

@Wally The CFPB is her crowning achievement. She fought hard for the bankruptcy bill, against HRC and ByeDone. But what else has she done but lie, equivocate, backpedal? This is a question in the same vein (or artery) as "What was HRC's biggest accomplishment as SOS"?

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Wally's picture

@Alligator Ed

. . . given my many criticisms of her. Unfortunately, it should also be obvious that a lot of Democrats are.

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@Wally @Wally find the kitchen sink offer a bit sexist. ; -)

And staying in for a good while actually helps and frees the Bernmeister as Liz is the current Target on Her Back candidate.

(edit: kinda fixed it above -- have no idea how to retrieve and paste in an actual emoticon ..)

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Wally's picture

@wokkamile

Bernie vs Biden (who cares about the rest of the hangers-on?) sounds pretty promising to me.

As far as referencing the proverbial kitchen sink being sexist is concerned . . . it's not like men don't do dishes these days. And references to "everything but the kitchen sink" aren't typically made in the context of dishwashing. Or was this another attempt at humor on your part along the Nina/Tina Turner line? Besides, I read a poll the other day that showed that Warren supporters are more likely to have automated dishwashers than Bernie supporters.

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Centaurea's picture

@Wally

to have paid servants to load said dishwasher for them.

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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

Alligator Ed's picture

@Wally Dishwashergate! How about those who own clothes washers vs those who go down to the river to beat their clothes clean in the running water?

Just kidding of course but this Identarianism is the curse not only of the Dem party but of what they are doing to society.

Believe this: those who do vote ARE tired of this ID bullshit.

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Wally's picture

@Alligator Ed

She is often criticized by certain segments of the left as well as the right for being a practitioner of IdPol. But she really turns that notion right on its head at the beginning of the video when she talks about Bernie's campaign transcending race, gender, etc., emphasizing that Bernie is a uniter, not a divider. And what's up with such a supposed anti-Semite endorsing a Jew?

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@Wally phrase and reacted. Mild humor. I don't do emoticons but probably one of those winky-eye ones would have helped make it clear.

I still wish someone would show me how to highlight things in yellow, which I've seen here, so I can use that method to identify the silly stuff.

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CS in AZ's picture

@wokkamile

You just select the text you want to highlight and apply the underline formatting. Like this.

The site is set to display underline as a yellow highlighter. Easy-peasy. Smile

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@Wally I find the use of "automated dishwasher" to be funny in a throwback way, reminiscent of 1959 NYC and all those new, fancy Automats that dispensed food instantly.

Folks here just hand wash, even though we have wunna them fancy automated dishwasher thingies. Always seemed stupid to me to let a bunch of dirty dishes pile up in the dishwasher for days until enough had accumulated to warrant running a cycle. We only use it for the additional racks to put things on to dry.

Dunno if that makes me a lefty, righty or wacko socialist-back-to-nature communalist. But there you are.

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Alligator Ed's picture

@Centaurea

I would be very happy to see a Sanders/Gabbard ticket in 2020. That would be the clearest path to the presidency for her, unless somehow the path to the 2020 Dem nomination opens up for her.

If the DNC lets Bernie win, which he conceivably might yet do despite heart attack, Tulsi as Veep will get her into the WH lots quicker than the current generation of party elders who are trying now.

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@Alligator Ed route to the presidency, Ed. Highly overrated. Hasn't happened a lot in the modern era of politics. Poppy Bush was the last, 30 yrs ago.

Becoming VP almost spells doom for someone seeking a later promotion.

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Alligator Ed's picture

@wokkamile Al Gore--an undeniable truth--he ran a shitty campaign.
JoJo--prison-bound in my opinion and a thinly disguised crook.

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Tulsi had thoroughly eviscerated Harris’ campaign at an earlier debate. When she served up a pointed (at both ends) Syria question to EW last night Erin came to the rescue, stridently calling for an immediate commercial break. Warren’s blank stare was still firmly affixed to her face as the video feed was cut. Can’t have another Democratic front runner face planting with ten million plus Americans as witnesses.

Of course, after the commercial break rescue, there was no reply by EW to Tulsi’s question. Of course Tulsi was mocked for repeating “regime change wars” often enough to have millions wake up and hear what she was saying. When you start taking flak you know you’re over the target. Tulsi is right on target over our penchant for disrupting and destroying governments around the world for resources and profit. It’s what we do and who we are in the eyes of much of the world. Americans are not allowed to see this fact debated, live and uncontrolled.

By the way, Tulsi’s video had garnered 6,900 likes vs. 311 thumbs down, and 78,229 views as of 7 am today. She’s getting noticed by the American public and they like what she’s saying.

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Capitalism is the extraordinary belief that the nastiest of men for the nastiest of motives will somehow work for the benefit of all."
- John Maynard Keynes

Because of her dated, restrictive abortion views. "Safe, legal, and rare" just stigmatizes abortion, by stating it should be rare. It implies that it happens when it should not.

Also, though less important her false assertion that the NYT called her a Russian asset, when it actually just noted she is mentioned on Russian media frequently.

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@Vex did far more than "just noted she is mentioned on Russian media frequently." It strongly implied she was a witting and amenable recipient of or stooge for Russian state media favorable coverage and Russian online bot activity. It also noted for the umpteenth time her alleged coziness with Assad. And threw in some more propaganda about favorable comments and support from RW figures, which of course she hasn't solicited or approved.

I think it was the CNN idiot commenter -- one Bakari Sellers -- who may have used the term "Russian asset" in describing her. But the same idea can be reasonably inferred from the NYT hit piece, which conclusion the Times obviously wanted the reader to draw.

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@wokkamile

for the russian government.

starts his bit at 3:40 on video

https://www.rawstory.com/2019/10/cnn-panel-stunned-after-bakari-sellers-...

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@irishking of work. Says it's "not mere allegation. I firmly believe ..." offering no evidence, just the usual smear of Tulsi meeting with Assad. So it is mere allegation.

And CNN is paying this guy.

At least they disclosed he was supporting (or working for also??) Kamala Harris.

No career repercussions for this of course as he's attacking the patriotism and loyalty of a MSM despised candidate. He would be on far shakier ground in his job had he gone after Biden in similar fundamental ways.

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travelerxxx's picture

@wokkamile

And CNN is paying this guy.

Probably getting another payday from a second organization. HInt: Three letters, starting with "C" and followed by two vowels.

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Centaurea's picture

@travelerxxx
alphabet agency involvement, but he (Bakari Sellers) is a well-known political establishment operative, and a Zionist, to boot. I'd call him "Clintonist", but it appears that he's more of a mercenary. So it's certainly possible that he takes orders from the alphabets.

From a recent article at BlackAgendaReport:

Bakari Sellers: Hitman for Israel, Hillary and Wall Street

CNN talking head Bakari Sellers is a mercenary for the rich and powerful, a veteran operative of the Israel lobby, and a receptacle for whatever words kings and queens of corruption like Hillary Clinton put in his mouth. It’s all part of Sellers’ upward mobility strategy. “He has eagerly deployed himself as one of Zionism’s Black up-and-coming political stars. In return, AIPAC has helped bankroll his political career.”

https://blackagendareport.com/bakari_sellers_hit_man_israel

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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

Anja Geitz's picture

@Vex

I thought of comprehensive women's healthcare that included available contraception to young women as the alternative to engaging in unprotected sex, getting pregnant at 16 years old, and going through the trauma of an abortion.

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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 Phrasing matters. We don't speak of other medical procedures needing to be "rare".
For example one might promote a healthy lifestyle, but it would be odd to hear someone say that heart bypasses should be rare.

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@Vex
That's why we spend so much money on research into the causes of the pathologies that lead to them.

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The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.

thanatokephaloides's picture

@Vex

For example one might promote a healthy lifestyle, but it would be odd to hear someone say that heart bypasses should be rare.

I've heard doctors say that several times.

Not in public, of course. There, you're on the money.

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

@Anja Geitz
In fact, I thought I posted a comment explaining this in more detail, but it disappeared.

Abortions are surgical procedures whose purpose is to fix a medical problem -- an unwanted pregnancy. They are not risk-free; they are physically, and for some women emotionally, unpleasant; and they have direct and indirect economic costs.

In addition to your mention of "comprehensive women's healthcare that included available contraception to young women", there's at least one straightforward social prophylactic: Intelligent, complete, accurate, and psychologically healthy sex education, including a full treatment of contraception.

If the anti-abortion faction really wanted to avoid abortion, they'd be demanding sex education and access to birth control. Unfortunately, what they really want to do is grind their big hate axe for the messy reality of human biology and psychology. They hate the fact that humans are animals, and that hate carries directly into an actual hatred for humanity, though they could never admit that to themselves.

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The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.

Anja Geitz's picture

@UntimelyRippd

Would be very happy to legislate women's reproductive system so that the "choice" is for them abstain from sex, or give birth.

Fred Flintstone was more progressive than some of our congressmen.

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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

Roy Blakeley's picture

@Anja Geitz For decades attitudes toward abortion and contraception were not split along party lines. If anything Republicans were more pro-contraceptive than the Democrats in the 1950s (with a nasty eugenics component in some cases). However, when both parties became parties of military aggression and big business, it was necessary to create lines of division between the two branches of the uniparty, preferably lines of division with strong emotional content which facilitated persuading people to vote against their economic interests. The Republicans came to see people who, for religious reasons, found abortion repugnant as people that could be persuaded to vote Republican against their best interests. They also tapped into racism and fear of crime (with a strong racist component). Democrats assumed a pro-abortion rights stance that has become hardened over time, and the issue has become more or less a defining issue between the two parties. I think the leadership of the Democratic Party is genuinely pro-abortion rights, but it does serve to take the focus away from issues of economy and class.

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Alligator Ed's picture

@Vex Third trimester abortions are a monstrosity unless the health of the mother is absolutely imperiled by not doing so. There is plenty of time for a woman to have considered the ramifications of carrying a child conceived by rape, incest or other cause, during and even before the second trimester. I am pro-choice but third semester abortions are barbaric.

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Centaurea's picture

@Vex
Tulsi mentioned both the NY Times and CNN as having smeared her with the "Russian asset", Russian puppet" accusations. It was at that point in the debate that she called CNN's actions "despicable".

She was describing the situation accurately on all counts.

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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

Anja Geitz's picture

Everytime Gabbard said "These Regime Change Wars"

image_22.jpeg
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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

is the fact that a complex situation such as the US involvement in Syria can't be reduced to 75 second sound bites. I'm a huge Tulsi supporter, but feel that she kind of fumbled the ball last night in this area, which should have been one of her strong suits. The knee-jerk response you heard from most of the candidates about how Trump deserted our Allies, the Kurds, was simple yet effective, but a more nuanced explanation of how we got where we are in Syria was not something that could be explored within the limited time allotted, such as the fact that the original mission (to combat ISIS) became subservient to the goal of overthrow of the Assad regime, whose opposition included elements of the Jihadist terrorist organizations that attacked us on 9-11. That point (which Tulsi was trying to make by her repeated use of the phrase "regime change wars") did not clearly resonate, and furthermore, it was disappointing that none of the candidates responded to the direct question of how they would handle the situation now. It was even more frustrating to see how Buttigieg was allowed to get away with calling Tulsi an isolationist, which could not be further from the truth, as she has repeatedly called for diplomatic engagement as opposed to military intervention or crippling economic sanctions.

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@JCWeb
by repeating the phrase often is spot on, whether or not it resonates in a sound bite kind of way. Most Americans do not see or understand that we, the noble champion of democracies around the world, are actually net exporters of misery and suffering that arrives unbidden with the weapons and troops and terrorist allies that we deliver as we spread our unique form of “Democracy” to countries who have no wish to join the long list of ruined countries who refuse to live under the thumb of American empire builders.

The world needs to find a way to build a web of unprecedented cooperation if we are to have any chance of long term survival on this planet. Our endless stream of “regime change wars” perpetuates divisiveness and discord, exactly what the world does not need.

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Capitalism is the extraordinary belief that the nastiest of men for the nastiest of motives will somehow work for the benefit of all."
- John Maynard Keynes

and lost bad.
Of course the reviews also say that Tulsi was "repeating Assad's talking points".

The media is jumping ship on Biden and throwing in with Mayor Pete, saying that he had a great non-response to Tulsi Syria question.

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Wally's picture

@gjohnsit

And it seems they each were allotted more time than Bernie.

Funny how first the MSM first jacked up Harris, then Beto, then Warren, and now Buttigieg. Flavor of the month to keep them all in the race to divert support from Bernie.

My guess is that they are going to be taking more and more potshots against Warren now.

And they'll be running with how those "urban" radicals are supporting Bernie. How precious of them! First, he didn't have enough minority support, now he's criticized when he gets pivotal endorsements from minority women who are the future of the Democratic Party.

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@Wally
even the MSM admits that Bernie had a good debate.
He's ranked as #1 or #2 in debate performance.

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