It's going to get ugly again down at the ground.

Let's be ready to meet it peacefully but decisively.

Nevada Dems Hire Buttigieg Organizer As "Voter Protection Director" (Jimmy Dore, 4 min.)

The Nevada Democratic Party has hired Emily Goldman, an organizer for Pete For America (a full-time job), as their “Voter Protection Organizer.” Emily has suddenly locked her Twitter account and scrubbed her LinkedIn history. Wonder why?

Remember the Nevada 2016 primary? Open, obvious cheating of Bernie supporters, bald-faced lies (reprinted in the NYTimes) of “thrown chairs,” Barbara Boxer giving us the finger? This time we'll be ready for it.

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

_____________

Media Caught Repeatedly Lying To Boost Buttigieg (Jimmy Dore, 20 min.)

"The establishment media is starting to say the quiet part out loud." Numerous examples along with Dore panel humor & very smart observations.

[video://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHl9SdbOThE]

______________

Buttigieg Staffers Are Harrasing (sic) Progressive Journalists Vilifying Dissent (Hard Lens Media, 12 min.)

Buttigieg staffers are ripping press IDs off of alternative media reporters, roughing them up physically, calling the police on them, pushing and grabbing reporters who are filming with cameras.

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

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Comments

Hawkfish's picture

Is complete without this brutal dissection of his political biography. A taste

See the way Buttigieg thinks here. He dismisses student labor activists with the right-wing pejorative “social justice warriors.” But more importantly, to this day it hasn’t even entered his mind that he could have joined the PSLM in the fight for a living wage. Activists are an alien species, one he “strides past” to go to “Pizza & Politics” sessions with governors and New York Times journalists. He didn’t consider, and still hasn’t considered, the moral quandary that should come with being a student at an elite school that doesn’t pay its janitors a living wage. (In fact, years later Harvard was still refusing to pay its workers decently.)

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29 users have voted.

We can’t save the world by playing by the rules, because the rules have to be changed.
- Greta Thunberg

@Hawkfish . Nathan J. Robinson, another brilliant young millennial, does excellent work on behalf of us all. His diagrammatic explanation of the candidate ideologies when Warren was surging was very helpful for me: https://www.currentaffairs.org/2020/01/thinking-about-the-democratic-pri...

Most of Jimmy Dore's examples on Buttigieg abuse of alternative media derive from Whitney Webb's Mint Press News piece, "Buttigieg Campaign Aggressively Targeting Progressive Activists, Media."
https://www.mintpressnews.com/buttigieg-campaign-aggressively-targeting-... It goes into more detail on what the Buttigieg campaign is up to. Truly, Pete is doing the Lord's Oligarchy's work.

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24 users have voted.

Lurking in the wings is Hillary, like some terrifying bat hanging by her feet in a cavern below the DNC. A bat with theropod instincts. -- Fred Reed https://tinyurl.com/vgvuhcl

Cassiodorus's picture

@laurel his diagrams of "left," "right," "center," and "center-right" illustrates for me why I'm going to give up on the whole "left versus right" thing in my own writing and just deal with people individually.

Bernie Sanders is a social democrat. Biden is an old neoliberal with dementia. Bloomberg is pretty much of the same subspecies as Trump, East Coast rich troglodytes. Klobuchar is a prosecutor along the lines of Kamala Harris. Buttigieg and Warren are social climbers who have taken slightly different avenues in their pursuit of power. Some of Warren's proposals are good but we need not assume there's anything "left" about her personally because for all we know it could be as insincere as her claims to Native American ancestry.

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25 users have voted.

"The war on Gaza, backed by the West, is a demonstration that the West is willing to cross all lines. That it will discard any nuance of humanity. That it is willing to commit genocide" -- Moon of Alabama

@Cassiodorus , especially theoretical abstraction, shaves off the plain, pertinent facts. That's one reason why I can't seem to fall in line with abstract systems like socialism and capitalism. The real lives of real people rarely fit neatly between the lines.

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11 users have voted.

Lurking in the wings is Hillary, like some terrifying bat hanging by her feet in a cavern below the DNC. A bat with theropod instincts. -- Fred Reed https://tinyurl.com/vgvuhcl

@laurel
met one night in a dark jazz club
somehow ended up having rough sex
socialism was their baby

maybe make it into a reality tv series
or least a front page spread on
national enquirer

head liners

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6 users have voted.

@QMS The headline would be "Dastardly Communism spawns evil illegitimate child and scurrilously besmirchs saintly Capitalism's reputation".

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10 users have voted.

@MinuteMan

might buy a copy of that if waiting in line
at the inconvenience store

thanks for the guttural laugh

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6 users have voted.
Cassiodorus's picture

@laurel depends upon capital accumulation, the ongoing profit of businesses as leading toward their economic domination of society in an endless quest to stabilize their gravy trains. The capitalists work their magic by using money, property, and commodities to manipulate value so that value (which after all is merely what people value) becomes an autonomous force determining the courses of people's lives.

The term "socialism" is used to mean a lot of different things; perhaps it ought to be discarded as uselessly vague. The Karl Marx utopia, which perhaps ought to be called "associated production" like George Henderson calls it, is a future society organized as a UNION OF FREE PRODUCERS, a society in which collectives of people have mastered value rather than value mastering them.

I don't really see any ambiguity or shades of gray in the above distinction. It's not like "left" or "right," not at all.

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11 users have voted.

"The war on Gaza, backed by the West, is a demonstration that the West is willing to cross all lines. That it will discard any nuance of humanity. That it is willing to commit genocide" -- Moon of Alabama

@Cassiodorus but to the purists, it doesn't even come close. There are dictionary and encyclopedic definitions of the terms, and to most "real" socialists (like the ones at wsws.org) Bernie is not a socialist. What gets me about "true" socialists and "true" capitalists is their rigidity, their inability to bend the system to meet the actual needs of the people. They are ideologues, just short of being cult members. The only "ism" that resonates for me is populism, which I consider the messy cousin of small-d democrat.

It's unfortunate that Bernie's enemies are going to roast him with their own false definitions of "socialism" and phony scare stories about the evils of communism, which they're going to dump all over him. I hope we can counter this wave of misinformation.

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0 users have voted.

Lurking in the wings is Hillary, like some terrifying bat hanging by her feet in a cavern below the DNC. A bat with theropod instincts. -- Fred Reed https://tinyurl.com/vgvuhcl

CIA Pete policies allegedly unify:

I'll just say, as a Canadian, that a lot of boomer Karens who have benefited from socialized healthcare but don't want to expand to it to everyone are heartless, and as a millennial, I won't have any problem with the day the last of these expensive boomer Karens are off the government Medicare teat and six feet under.

But back to Pete Coup-ttigieg! Bringing people together with hope for everyone!

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23 users have voted.

@Le Frog It's understandable when people are poor and desperate, but the comfortable middle class can afford to care for others. If these comments are typical, Butti won't be getting much from minorities and the working class.

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16 users have voted.

Lurking in the wings is Hillary, like some terrifying bat hanging by her feet in a cavern below the DNC. A bat with theropod instincts. -- Fred Reed https://tinyurl.com/vgvuhcl

OzoneTom's picture

@laurel
"I'm all right Jack."
As described in the Urban Dictionary:

Meaning when a man had got safely on board ship by climbing the ladder from the sea or from a lifeboat, don't bother about saving the rest of the guys because I don't really care about them.

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17 users have voted.
Mark from Queens's picture

@OzoneTom

finishing..."Keep your hands off of my stack."

Roger Waters: ‘The U.S. Is Not a Fool’s Paradise, It’s a Fool’s Hell’

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3 users have voted.

"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

earthling1's picture

@laurel
is just false to begin with.
Those still working will still pay. It will come out of their paycheck like it always has. Only the amount will increase to fund the added recipients, but still much less than paying the middle man insurance industry.
Working in the union, they took money out of my check to pay for my insurance, to the tune of 10k a year. But it covered my whole family and included dental and vision care.
Now retired and on Medicare, I still have money taken out of my Medicare check and I still have to pay a reduced amount to my union plan to keep my dental and vision benefit.
Nothing is free.
But it's alot cheaper without the middleman insurance industry skimming off the top and ruling what I can and can't have in medical care.
Slowly lowering the eligibility from 65 to 55, then to 45, 35, 25, etc. would soften the blow to the economy and the phase-out of the predatory private insurance industry.
If you must have private insurance that provides house calls or something M4A does not provide, have at it. At your expense.

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26 users have voted.

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

Pricknick's picture

@Le Frog

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16 users have voted.

Regardless of the path in life I chose, I realize it's always forward, never straight.

@Pricknick

as in begone like biden time

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Pricknick's picture

@QMS
is a treasure.
I don't always agree with everything she does but she's very multifaceted.
Stingingly political, poetic and a damned good illustrator in my opinion.
https://caitlinjohnstone.com/2020/02/12/just-some-illustrations-ive-done...

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14 users have voted.

Regardless of the path in life I chose, I realize it's always forward, never straight.

@Pricknick

a very colorful landscape
especially with the concepts
that touch all of our brains
in new ways

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6 users have voted.
snoopydawg's picture

@Le Frog

Having privatised AND medicare go really well together, a la Australia. Having just medicare isn't going to happen.

This is just what Bernie is offering. I let her know. People who do this shouldn't be allowed to without pushback.

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20 users have voted.

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

@snoopydawg and I hope she is willing to listen. I guess it never occurred to these people that healthcare coverage tied to having a job is only if you have a job or your company stays with a private provider you like.

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18 users have voted.
snoopydawg's picture

@Le Frog

Remember when GE cut off people's health insurance when workers were striking? Wife got cancer and your boss wants you to do something you would rather not do? You do it anyway or your wife dies. This right there is the number one reason against tying it to your job. And do people really think unions that "fought hard for their insurance policies' wouldn't rather see higher wages and single payer instead?

It seems like a no brainer for me. As Obama's ex Medicare head said, "the only thing different with "government run health insurance'' is who pays for it. We already have Medicare for millions. Veterans health care. If we just cut 3 words..."Medicare for over 65". This country has been paying for Medicare since the 60's. I'm sure it wouldn't be all that hard to implement.

Luv this.

Bernie isn't a democrat, but Bloomberg is? Pulease.

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19 users have voted.

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

@Le Frog . Healthcare coverage tied to a job puts power over your healthcare into the hands of your employer. It should be a basic right, a birthright, what our founders would have called an unalienable right.

More power to the people!

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4 users have voted.

Lurking in the wings is Hillary, like some terrifying bat hanging by her feet in a cavern below the DNC. A bat with theropod instincts. -- Fred Reed https://tinyurl.com/vgvuhcl

CS in AZ's picture

@snoopydawg

I’d say this is what Bernie is advocating. He cannot offer it, because he doesn’t have any feasible way to deliver it. I do hope everyone understands this and does not expect that electing Bernie means we’ll actually get M4A. I think “Karen” was giving her opinion that it won’t happen. I agree, because I see no possibility of congress passing such legislation.

I’ve been told many times that in a negotiation, one always should start with an ask that is much more than you expect to get in the end. I assume this is Bernie’s strategy. Maybe he’ll get a public option out of them, or a lower eligibility age, or something like that. His campaign “promises” on healthcare are his “opening bid” in the negotiations with congress that would inevitably occur if he wins.

If people don’t understand this, get ready for extreme howling at his “betrayal” when the negotiations ultimately lead to a compromise.

Also too, I remember when a public option was considered a good outcome and a progressive goal. Everyone demanded a public option from Obama, and were pissed when he gave it up. But now, any candidate who advocates a public option is viewed as evil. It’s got to be everything or nothing. But Bernie isn’t going to be able to deliver on getting everything. Because it takes congress to pass new laws. In a best case scenario, he’d still have to make many compromises.

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8 users have voted.

@CS in AZ

being unchallenged with trumpet and obomber
would not preclude a wall built between
the insurance industry and health care
costs to us

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10 users have voted.
CS in AZ's picture

@QMS

However, I’ve never heard Bernie or anyone else say that such a sweeping change to our entire healthcare system could or would be implemented via executive order. For one thing, the next president could simply rescind it with another EO.

When asked how he’ll get it passed, Bernie always says through pressure on Congress critters. Pressure from his supporters, the voters who will vote out senators and representatives who obstruct the path. As far as I know, that’s his plan.

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9 users have voted.

@CS in AZ

just saying there are ways to do things outside
the normal limitations of executive authority
just ask congress, they'd agree

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7 users have voted.
WaterLily's picture

@Le Frog The "Karens" are GenX. I unfortunately grew up with many of them.

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1 user has voted.
Not Henry Kissinger's picture

Iowa Democratic Party Chairman Troy Price to resign after caucus chaos

Troy Price resigned his position as chairman of the Iowa Democratic Party on Wednesday as the organization grapples with the fallout of a botched caucus process that has left the party and state reeling.

"While it is my desire to stay in this role and see this process through to completion, I do believe it is time for the Iowa Democratic Party to begin looking forward, and my presence in my current role makes that more difficult. Therefore, I will resign as chair of the Iowa Democratic Party effective upon the election of my replacement," Price said in a letter to the Iowa Democratic Party's State Central Committee.

...about time.

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22 users have voted.

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?

@Not Henry Kissinger was insufficient to stop Sanders, right? And anyone else here who doesn't think was a voluntary resignation?

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23 users have voted.

@Le Frog how truly voluntary that really is. Easy to blame him and the Iowa dems in particular than the ownership of it all by the DNC. I myself will withold judgement from Iowa in and blame the owned DNC in entirety. They own it.

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19 users have voted.

Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur

Creosote.'s picture

@lizzyh7

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3 users have voted.
earthling1's picture

@Le Frog
We will know when he fails up or fails down.

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17 users have voted.

Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

@Not Henry Kissinger the prominent Buttigieg role in the fiasco should nevertheless be investigated. Goes way beyond mere incompetence.

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21 users have voted.

Lurking in the wings is Hillary, like some terrifying bat hanging by her feet in a cavern below the DNC. A bat with theropod instincts. -- Fred Reed https://tinyurl.com/vgvuhcl

"The world’s first laboratory-grown presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg met with boos and chants of “Wall Street Pete” at a recent Democratic Party event in New Hampshire..."

Here's the link.

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16 users have voted.
Wally's picture

@artisan

. . . in the comments under my Exit Poll Takeaways article below on the front page.

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4 users have voted.

@Wally wonderful ice-breaking boo. (Will check out your thread later.)

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7 users have voted.

Lurking in the wings is Hillary, like some terrifying bat hanging by her feet in a cavern below the DNC. A bat with theropod instincts. -- Fred Reed https://tinyurl.com/vgvuhcl

@artisan

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8 users have voted.

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

WaterLily's picture

@The Voice In the Wilderness See: Primary Rat-Fucking.

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2 users have voted.
Wally's picture

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17 users have voted.

@Wally Just the kind of feet on the ground we need.

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12 users have voted.

Lurking in the wings is Hillary, like some terrifying bat hanging by her feet in a cavern below the DNC. A bat with theropod instincts. -- Fred Reed https://tinyurl.com/vgvuhcl

GreatLakeSailor's picture

...and looking for accommodations:

We live near where the Pike River enters Lake Michigan - 40 minutes from downtown Milwaukee (not counting traffic). Unfortunately, we're not really able to put anyone up in our small house, but we have yard space for a couple of tents, kitchen & bathroom, driveway to park. It's a quiet, fairly tightly-packed neighborhood and guests will respect that.

We had a network of folks in '16 called KenoshaForBernie. (Others have taken the lead this time around so I'm not so involved.) I still have all the email addys ~250. If there is need/interest I can try to broker accommodations with volunteers in the area.

C99 message me if you have need.

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11 users have voted.

Compensated Spokes Model for Big Poor.

Mark from Queens's picture

@GreatLakeSailor
Thanks, man.

Not sure if I'll make it there. But had come up with a couple of Occupy comrades who are naturally for Bernie(Echoes of Occupy Wall Street Are Reverberating Through the Iowa Caucus).

I know one thing. At some point I'd like to pay homage to a city with deep Socialist ties.

But the DNC being held there this year, amazingly at the same time that a socialist has gotten this close to the presidency, is enough to give me goosebumps and the incentive to get my ass in gear.

Thanks again, GLS.

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5 users have voted.

"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

GreatLakeSailor's picture

@Mark from Queens

Maybe we'll meet this summer. I'd like that.

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3 users have voted.

Compensated Spokes Model for Big Poor.

The campaign is going to be outspent unless we the people can donate some bucks to Bernie.

Sent from the Bernie campaign the night of 2/11 from Bernie (excerpts only):

From Bernie Sanders
Subject: We WON New Hampshire

Tonight, we won here again because we built the largest grassroots organization of anyone else in this race.

Let me be very clear:

Now that we've gained another victory in New Hampshire, the establishment and financial elite are going to throw everything at us except the kitchen sink. And I have a feeling that the kitchen sink is coming pretty soon as well.

So we need to be ready, which is why I'm going to hold a fundraiser right here, right now, all across America. Lots of people making small donations is the only way we're funding this campaign. Can you add yours?

_________________________________________________

Sent today, 2/13 (again, only excerpts) --

From: Bernie2020@info.berniesanders.com
Subject: they’re here

We’ve got a super PAC problem. Two, in fact.

Super PAC Problem 1: The Democratic establishment super PAC that spent close to $1 million attacking Bernie personally in Iowa is filming a new ad to attack us in Nevada. We don’t know how much they’re spending yet, but it’ll be big.

Super PAC Problem 2: Pete Buttigieg’s super PAC, which spent almost $2 million in New Hampshire, is putting up ads in Nevada AND South Carolina.

We’re not just competing with other candidates... we are competing with super PACs and billionaires too.

The whole damn one percent is out to stop our campaign. So we’ve got to respond. We’ve got to show we’re more powerful than the billionaire class.

_________________________________________________

The most recent email asks for contributions through this address: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/bernie-february-donate

Any little bit helps because it all adds up. I don't want to look back and regret not supporting when I could have.

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6 users have voted.

Lurking in the wings is Hillary, like some terrifying bat hanging by her feet in a cavern below the DNC. A bat with theropod instincts. -- Fred Reed https://tinyurl.com/vgvuhcl