Nice to meet you all. I hope you won't go away.

I've only posted here a little, but I've actually been lurking for awhile. I'm going to try and post more often. I live in a very conservative little town and I don't get the chance to talk to many people like me. Some of you may know me from Daily Kos as martianexpatriate.

Things are moving towards a resolution so far as the election goes. I get the sense that Sanders unfortunately won't make it into office. I don't like that much, but I'm still going to pay attention to what's going on. Even if Hillary Clinton doesn't want to do certain things, I'm hoping that it's possible to get her motivated to do the right things. I feel this is important, because our country is moving into an existential crisis. Things are getting so bad for people on the bottom that it threatens the long term existence of the country. What is scary to me is just how oblivious many people in the middle class are to what's going on.

Whether or not Bernie Sanders were elected President, a lot more needs to be done. Even if he were elected, getting the new legislation passed that is needed will take a lot of work.

I know that some people will be leaving angry if he loses. I hope that it won't be too many, and that I can talk to more of you here.

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Gerrit's picture

a long time. No worries, c99 is about more than the 2016 election: it's a full spectrum progressive site :=) It's a friendly place and you'll enjoy chatting aobut anything and everything here. Best wishes,

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Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.

Don't hold your breath on this:

Even if Hillary Clinton doesn't want to do certain things, I'm hoping that it's possible to get her motivated to do the right things.

Clinton will do what's best for clinton...and her owners.
I may be wrong but I get the sense from your post that if Bernie doesn't win the primary we ought to support clinton? If so, and I'm only speaking for myself, you've come to the wrong place...

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Raggedy Ann's picture

what I say is if you are voting for hrc in the GE, you will not find much company on this site. From what I gather, the majority here will not vote for hrc, EVER! Count me as one of those.

Otherwise, welcome.

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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

Alphalop's picture

as the GOS.

If you want to vote for Hillary, that is your choice. We may not agree with it but if you stay here long enough we may indeed contaminate you to the point where you may decide that voting for the Lessor Evil may indeed be the incorrect choice if you are looking at the long term picture and goal. (Which for me at least is to make sure that the 3rd Wayers lose control of our political process, at least on the left side of the spectrum.)

So please people, lets try to hold ourselves to a higher standard of tolerance for respectfully expressed dissent than that other place.

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"I used to vote Republican & Democrat, I also used to shit my pants. Eventually I got smart enough to stop doing both things." -Me

I may be one of the few here who would advocate supporting whoever the D nominee is for the General, given the choices that are available. Alphalop's post is the perfect example why I still like the company here better than The Other Place. We can stick our heads together and figure out ways to go forward and make a difference.
It just hit me again today: As ridiculous and phony and uninformed as the Tea Party movement was/is, they got where they are now not so much by winning with their own candidates. They succeeded in taking over the GOP because they made all other Republicans afraid of them, so now they are all singing from the Tea Party hymn book. I think the Sanders revolution has already had an impact that way, and we just need to build on it. "Yesss but they only talk the talk, they don't believe in it!" you say. Well, at least they talk the talk - and we need to keep tabs on 'them' and keep them on their toes.

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Gandalf and Saruman unite, demand to bring back Greywolfe359!

They succeeded in taking over the GOP because they made all other Republicans afraid of them, so now they are all singing from the Tea Party hymn book.

is why we can't arbitrarily support who ever the DNC puts in front of us. We have to make them afraid of primary opponents and not getting our votes. I'm starting in November should clinton win the primary. As for your other comment.

I may be one of the few here who would advocate supporting whoever the D nominee is for the General, given the choices that are available.

Where do we draw the line? I know a lot is at stake this time around but it's pretty much the same thing every cycle. There's always a crisis looming on the horizon. I've had enough. If we're going to make changes it's not going to be by holding our noses and voting for clinton. By doing that we change nothing.
No disrespect intended towards you. I'm just in a foul mood over this whole rigged primary...

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Oldest Son Of A Sailor's picture

If that means you live in a "Solid Red State," that makes you free to not vote for $hillary, as the electoral college votes will with 100% certainty go to the Republicans whether you vote or not...

If you live in a swing state, then you might have reason to consider a vote to stop tRump from gaining office, if $hillary somehow manages to do what many of us think cannot be done...

Either candidate winning isn't necessarily bad for the revolution, each of them will strengthen our resolve, and make more people ready to join us...

We're in it for the long haul...

Anyway it is your choice...
There are no oaths of fealty required here...

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"Do you realize the responsibility I carry?
I'm the only person standing between Richard Nixon and the White House."

~John F. Kennedy~
Economic: -9.13, Social: -7.28,

your isolation. I live in what is considered a very liberal state, but until two years ago lived in a rural area that was extremely conservative. I was appalled at the huge number of people I couldn't socialize with because of their disgustingly racist, sexist, homophobic or other generally Republican views.

Fortunately, we moved to a place where it seems like damn near everyone is liberal. And fortunately you found this place. I can't say I read every thread here, but on those occasions where I see people disagree, it's been amiable. Welcome!

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"The real power is in the hands of small groups of people and I don't think they have titles. -- Bob Dylan"

If you're angry at Clinton, this is the right place to be. We are a lefty blog and free speech zone as long as it is civil. There isn't one partisan here that I am aware of, and we are not fans of Hillary, Democrats or the two-party farce they call government.

Welcome. Glad you are here.

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

lunachickie's picture

I think honestly, as far as being progressive and talking about progressive things, you would always be welcome. But despite what the DNC, TV and newspapers keep insisting, Mrs. Clinton is no progressive. Advocating for her here would be kind of an empty exercise, not worth the time or energy. Anyone here who's mind is already made up about her is not going to change it. And that's probably the vast majority of members here...

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martianexpatriate's picture

A lot of the thing she says were originally Republican talking points. She's triangulated her way time and time again. I'm hoping that Sanders made a point by doing so well as he did, and that we can force progressive issues down her throat in the future.

If nothing else, we really need to get the minimum wage increased. It is desperately needed.

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Alphalop's picture

I have never, ever wrote poetry, so I am sure this is gonna suck but your post inspired me to toss these words out. Smile

Do not fret, we are not that fickle
Sure come this June we may be in a pickle.

But when we started, we knew it wouldn't be easy
To conquer those that make politics sleazy.

As the Primary closes, come what may
We Sanders supporters are here to stay
To loudly proclaim "We and our Ideals will not go away!"

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"I used to vote Republican & Democrat, I also used to shit my pants. Eventually I got smart enough to stop doing both things." -Me

mjsmeme's picture

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Alphalop's picture

We need to keep our spirits up, and humor always worked great for that for me. Smile

But cheekiness aside, the sentiment was real...

Damn, this movement is turning me into a sentimental goof, so much for my families suspicions that I may be part Vulcan. Wink

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"I used to vote Republican & Democrat, I also used to shit my pants. Eventually I got smart enough to stop doing both things." -Me

gulfgal98's picture

I love your sense of humor. Feel free to drop some more poetry on us any time. Wink

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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

Martha Pearce-Smith's picture

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Please help the Resilience Resource Library grow by adding your links.

First Nations News

detroitmechworks's picture

But we've got this nifty website, so I'll stick around. Smile

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

Alphalop's picture

Now we just gotta organize who is bringing what to the celebration and get it organized. Smile

I am looking forward to the formation of the New Progressive Party (even if they don't pick that name. Smile )

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"I used to vote Republican & Democrat, I also used to shit my pants. Eventually I got smart enough to stop doing both things." -Me

Wink's picture

We have one site semi-organized. As organized as progs can be. This one. We just need fifty more. One for each state. C-99 NY, C-99 Cali, C-99 FL, C-99 IA... ... We get that done we start winning.

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the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.

Alphalop's picture

for each state under the same domain.

We are going to need a lot of cross coordination. For example, there may not be any viable candidates down here in my state (Florida) in 2018 to donate to but there may be several others across the nation that I can then donate. phone bank or otherwise support.

We need to focus both on a state and national level and work together accordingly.

Heck, I started researching what would be necessary to run for local office, I actually have a pretty decent resume of public service, activism and doing speaking engagements (Currently a speaker for LEAP.) and without so much as a parking ticket on my record, that right there should put me leaps and bounds above most "Mainstream" politicians, lol!

Now I just need to find someone that REALLY knows the ropes to help me select an appropriate position and with organization. Smile

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"I used to vote Republican & Democrat, I also used to shit my pants. Eventually I got smart enough to stop doing both things." -Me

Wink's picture

"We need to focus both on a state and national level and work together accordingly." Exactly. "We are going to need a lot of cross coordination." Indeed. I can't think of a better place for that to start than right here.

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the little things you can do are more valuable than the giant things you can't! - @thanatokephaloides. On Twitter @wink1radio. (-2.1) All about building progressive media.

Deja's picture

I've read your local school board is a great place to start, then onto city or county, then state, etc..

Good luck! I'm sure you'll keep us informed, and let us know what we could do to help.

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a sigline!

"Progressives don't have a party anymore. But we've got this nifty website, so I'll stick around."

Well-said, detroit!

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"The real power is in the hands of small groups of people and I don't think they have titles. -- Bob Dylan"

Oldest Son Of A Sailor's picture

You have landed in the new home...
We're here to stay!
Even if Bernie doesn't become the nominee, remember this wasn't about Bernie...
It was about Us...
Bernie has said that himself...

Despite what the $hillary supporters have claimed on that Neo-Liberal propaganda site full of paid shills and paid comment trolls, this is indeed a revolution...

As the primary campaign is winding up, Bernie is closing down elements of his campaign that are no longer needed in states where the primaries are over to focus on the remaining states and additional work needed to bring about the revolution...

Hillary and the Media will claim that Bernie is shutting down his campaign and revolution but nothing could be further than the truth...

We are the revolution, some of us were Nader Supporters, some of us fell for Hope & Change, some of us were OWS, and we support Bernie...

If you notice this band of revolutionaries hasn't gone away or gotten smaller...
But with every candidate of the oligarchy getting into office we've gotten bigger and stronger...
2016 may not be our year yet, but we are looking forward to 2018 to make changes, and 2020 for a big win!

Bernie has directed several very good staffers to start a new project essential to the next phase of the revolution...

Go to that link and sign up!
The revolution is on!

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"Do you realize the responsibility I carry?
I'm the only person standing between Richard Nixon and the White House."

~John F. Kennedy~
Economic: -9.13, Social: -7.28,
gulfgal98's picture

As one of the founding members of this site, I can guarantee that we are not going anywhere. Caucus99% was founded in January 2015 at this location, but the base of this group goes much further back. Our intent here was to provide a site where issues from a left perspective could be freely discussed. With over 1,500 members now, we are seeing some amazing writing from our membership. We have only one rule here and that is that we treat each other civilly. I hope you will feel at home enough to comment and contribute too.

I encourage you, if you have not already done so, to click on the Welcome New Members link located on the left hand side of the page. Also, if you would like to know more about the history of C99, read this article, Dreaded Site Meta #1.

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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

Bob Herbert said it best 15 years ago: "The Clintons are a terminally unethical and vulgar couple, and they've betrayed everyone who has ever believed in them."

Or, maybe it was George W. Bush who summed it up:

“There's an old saying in Tennessee — I know it's in Texas, probably in Tennessee — that says, fool me once, shame on — shame on you. Fool me — you can't get fooled again.”

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couldn't do the right thing if they wanted to, their brains are not wired for that.Beside the fact that they are in debt to so many people and special interests.

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Unabashed Liberal's picture

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

riverlover's picture

and I may be talking in code to you alone, but I encourage to show us your art and frustrations with trying to fix the images you want. I am absolutely sure that you can show your work, work-in-progress here, and get good, kind feedback. Go for it!

On a more personal level, I hope your situation is more quiet and useful to you. Wink Best, and Peace.

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Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.

PriceRip's picture

          Just thought I would reiterate Raggedy Ann's point that many here, including me, my wife, and my daughter will not be voting for Hillary, ever.

          But I am always up, even if not online, for a good conversation. Like many, I wish we would dump this arcane electoral process. As a member of the technical cognoscenti I know many better ways to do the process, but without the will, and proper oversight nothing will change. That's a big part of why I like Bernie, he has demonstrated a willingness to move into a modern way of thinking.

          Welcome and have fun. If it ain't fun it ain't worth doing.

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martianexpatriate's picture

functional reason why we couldn't go to a much more streamlined process of voting for President. One person, one vote... states are irrelevant.

I've said that many times. I think it would eliminate a lot of corruption. The responses against it have never been very convincing.

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