but chugging down the kool aid with gusto. The very worst for me was seeing the professionally done pandering by brand new diarists welcomed with enthusiasm. People embracing being played. If folks want to support Hillary that is bad enough, but to so readily embrace their own manipulation leaves me with a feeling of disgust deep down in my soul.

I am appalled how quickly what I used to think of as my internet hangout turned into something else entirely.

I used to think I would see the revolutionary changes in my lifetime -first in the late 60's, then with Obama, now with Bernie, but now I think not. There have been major shifts, feminism ( we used to wrangle on whose job housework is -answer -it's everybody's), mix race couples could not marry ( now same sex couples can) marijuana is legal in some areas( hooray!) ( I am starting to sound like MP-what have the romans done for us?)

But, as for changing the system from capitalism to socialism -I don't think the American people want it enough. Maybe there are more buy-ins or fantasy buy-ins than we thought. The young people get it. We oldsters don't. It's like people on limited income voting republican -same stupid.

The really bad thing about delaying the revolution is the environment will be worse, the world will suffer more from our imperialism ( war mongering) - there will be many more repercussions that will ultimately make Americans suffer too. We cannot get away with no price tags on our behaviour much longer. How do you feel about the rest of the world reviling Americans? We will find out - maybe sooner than we think.

So, I am beginning to believe that it will not happen in my lifetime ( I will be 68 this year). Still it is important to work towards the new day for us and the world. Go Bernie!

But in my state, it is the law that no write-in candidates are allowed in a POTUS election. That only leaves me the choice to vote Green Party, which I will do. Of course, our own ex-Gov Gary Johnson is running as a Libertarian. So, I've got two choices.

I know it won't be counted as an official vote for Bernie, but it won't spoil the rest of the ballot (the only thing i was worried about).

in Hawaii. (while she was a Honolulu City Council Member)

***Edited to add the link on Gabbard.***

I posted a blurb on this at Evening Blues several weeks ago.

Don't have time to find my original post, but here's a blurb from a quick search:

She also introduced Bill 54,[43] a measure that authorized City workers to confiscate personal belongings stored on public property.[44]

The measure overcame opposition from the ACLU[45] and Occupy Hawai'i,[46] and a potential conflict with Hawaii's constitutional law, Kānāwai Māmalahoe, which protects "those who sleep by the roadside". Bill 54 passed[46] and became City Ordinance 1129.

and,

As a state representative, Gabbard opposed LGBT rights, including same-sex marriage and civil unions.

When voting against legalizing civil unions, she stated: "To try to act as if there is a difference between 'civil unions' and same-sex marriage is dishonest, cowardly and extremely disrespectful to the people of Hawaii who have already made overwhelmingly clear our position on this issue. … As Democrats we should be representing the views of the people, not a small number of homosexual extremists."

In August 2004, she defended her then-Republican father's anti-LGBT work, and called supporters of U.S. Congressman Ed Case "homosexual extremists."

Gabbard experienced a "gradual metamorphosis" during and after her overseas deployments, stating that "some of these experiences living and working in oppressive countries, not only witnessing firsthand but actually experiencing myself what happens when a government basically attempts to act as a moral arbiter … it really caused me to take a look at myself and the way we’re doing things here at home, locally, and nationally." She subsequently opposed the Defense of Marriage Act, arguing that "marriage is a bond of love, and it's spiritual and metaphysical in nature. It's a sacred bond, and that is not an area where government should be involved."[21][22]

Here are her very briefly stated stances on Social Security and Medicare:

Medicare and Social Security

Gabbard supports full funding for Medicare and Social Security and opposes any efforts to reduce benefits.[85]

and,

Government-sponsored healthcare

Gabbard is in favor of allowing Medicare to negotiate with prescription drug firms, stating that, on average, that would save US taxpayers "around $14 billion a year".[103]

Which is not to say that she should not be considered as a potential progressive leader--but I'd, at least, vet her very carefully.

Hope folks take time to read the entire entry. I wanted to post this before 'soundbites' defined her.

I've seen this happen many, many times. It's partly how we wound up with ultra conservatives like Claire McCaskill, Amy Klobucher, and Tammy Duckworth, etc.

Heck, I recall Al Franken interviewing the first two Senators on Air America (casting them in a very favorable light). IIRC, we even sent money to fund Klobucher's campaign. Whew! Can't imagine doing that now!!!

Again, this is not to say that she's totally unacceptable--just that 'new' promising progressive leaders need to be carefully vetted. I think that she can be an asset as an advisor on military matters (for Bernie, or any progressive), but not necessarily be the person one would want for their US Rep or Senator. (if that makes sense)

Have a good one!

Mollie

. . . Integrity and courage are powerful weapons. We have to learn how to use them."

Chris Hedges--Author, Journalist, Activist

Didn't realize it was quite THAT long, and was too lazy to google it. Thanks, ChemBob.

Yeah, so that really puts it into perspective, doesn't it? Not having fanaticism on our side, for the most part, makes it hard to follow a course for 50 years.