Bernie versus Beto = Wagging the dog

Bernie supporters hate Beto O'Rourke.
Bernie supporters fear Beto O'Rourke.
Bernie supporters are at WAR with Beto O'Rourke.

Bernie supporters couldn't give two shits about a centrist candidate like Beto O'Rourke who lost to Ted Cruz.

I believe what the media is doing is creating "a war" amongst "the left" that doesn't exist in reality.
It's actually kind of brilliant in a way.
It keeps people distracted from the issues by focusing on a candidate that has no chance at all, by creating a misleading narrative about who Beto is and what progressives care about.

Lie #1: Beto is a progressive.

TheHill: From Bernie to Beto, a progressive era begins
CNN: Bernie Sanders supporters should worry about Beto O'Rourke
TheWeek: Beto is the new Bernie

Lie #2: Beto has a chance

VanityFair: “Trump Got Lucky”: Why G.O.P. Insiders Fear Beto and Biden Over Warren and Sanders

And then, with the hype machine getting some momentum, actual progressives looked at Beto's voting record.

Given their at-times extreme antipathy toward Bernie during his first presidential run, mainstream news media are likely to have an appetite for a 2019 storyline that Sanders’ support is eroding. O’Rourke is apt to be quite useful for such a narrative. The Democratic Party establishment that went all-out to get Hillary Clinton the 2016 nomination is palpably eager to block Bernie. And some in that establishment are already indicating that they believe O’Rourke might do the trick.

A revealing sign came early this month from a leading sentinel of the Democratic Party’s corporate wing—the relentless Clinton loyalist Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress. What set her off was a matter-of-fact tweet from investigative reporter David Sirota, who told people “Something I didn’t know: Beto O’Rourke is the #2 recipient of oil/gas industry campaign cash in the entire Congress.” Sirota provided a link to campaign finance data.

Tanden quickly went into onslaught overdrive with a tweet lashing out at the sharing of such information about the three-term congressman: “Oh look. A supporter of Bernie Sanders attacking a Democrat. This is seriously dangerous. We know Trump is in the White House and attacking Dems is doing Trump’s bidding. I hope Senator Sanders repudiates these attacks in 2019.”

Pointing out the facts is seen as an attack according to the establishment press. Reality is seen as the enemy to mainstream liberals.

Which brings us Lie #3: Bernie supporters are being hateful, intolerant and unreasonable.

TheAtlantic: Beto O’Rourke and the New Democratic Purity Test
WhyY: Bernie versus Beto: Democratic cannibalization begins
MSNBC: Inside Bernie-world's war on Beto O'Rourke
NewYorkMag: Why the Bernie Movement Must Crush Beto O’Rourke
VanityFair: “They Are Suspicious of Beto”: Why Are Democrats Trying to Annihilate an O’Rourke Campaign Before It Has Even Started?

The howls about O’Rourke from the Chapo wing of the Internet say as much about Bernie Sanders’s diminished stature as they do about the golden boy from Texas.

This is a huge, manufactured joke.
Bernie supporters aren't at war with Beto.
Beto isn't even on the radar for progressives.
This is just another false narrative intended to cast Bernie supporters in a negative light and to distract us from the important issues.

Demographically, Beto's base overlaps with Bernie's base. So if Bernie people are leading the attack on Beto in this non-existent war, it could alienate potential Bernie supporters.

All this proves is that the Democratic establishment still feels threatened by Bernie Sanders and his supporters, and that's a good thing.

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ggersh's picture

https://www.infowars.com/why-isnt-anyone-reporting-that-beto-orourke-is-...

But Beto never talks about the fact that he is married to the daughter of one of the richest men in America.

His name is William D. Sanders, and he is known as “the Warren Buffett of real estate”. This is what Wikipedia has to say about him…

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

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

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

GreyWolf's picture

@ggersh Beto's Billions

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Unabashed Liberal's picture

the Dem Party Base, and, perhaps, left-leaning Independents--that's nothing new.

However, considering how many folks have bought into the MSM/DS "fabricated out of whole cloth" Russia Ruse, I wouldn't totally discount their propaganda. (not to say that you have)

I follow Sirota on Twitter, and have been struck by how much he touts leading a war against Beto. He's Tweeted that Bernie campaigned for his wife, Emily (I think is her name)--a soon to be a US Rep from CO. So, maybe he's trying to win favor with Bernie, by defending him against MSM claims of Beto's political ascent. Dunno.

From what I've observed, Sirota's had several ideological reinventions over the years. But, he's basically a Democrat, when all is said and done. (I was a caller to his online Colorado radio program, too--a lifetime ago, it seems. Wink ) Bottom line, he's known to disseminate important info, so, I respect him as a writer--which is why I continue to follow him.

Blue Onyx

"Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust.

They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made."

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

@Unabashed Liberal

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Unabashed Liberal's picture

@gjohnsit

to dispute that the Third Way/Clinton/Obama Wing of the Dem Party is not out to thwart the possibility of a Bernie, or any more progressive Dem or Indie, from becoming the Dem Party Presidential nominee.

Sorry, if I gave that impression!

Pleasantry

Blue Onyx

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

@Unabashed Liberal
Not disputing you.

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Unabashed Liberal's picture

@gjohnsit

since I did state my opinion rather strongly--that I'm in agreement that the Third Way crowd attempts to undermine Dems/Indies who are to their left.

Heck, I have long detested the DLC/Third Way/No Labels crowd, and, over many years, have posted scores of links and videos to spread the word about them. Appreciate your efforts!

Blue Onyx

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

Big Al's picture

to focus people on the next duopoly election rather than focusing on taking down these two corrupt oligarchy controlled political parties that O'Rourke and Sanders (and his supporters) are part of. It proves that we're going to be subjected to another two years of this bullshit from the corporate media to keep people in their places, which is what the corporate media does.

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@Big Al
that there is a significant difference between New Deal Democrats and Third Way Democrats.

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Big Al's picture

@gjohnsit but they all play for the same team. And we've got plenty of evidence that this duopoly political system is beyond repair and that the democratic party is still fully in control of the oligarchs.

But my point was about your premise of wagging the dog, i.e., the intentional focusing on something less important to prevent the focusing on the more important. In this case, people are focusing on an election two years away between two corrupt political parties instead of say, participating in building a third party or organizing an independent working class movement against the duopoly/oligarchy. That's how it works and it does work.

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divineorder's picture

@Big Al

Maybe this, por emplo?

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A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.

wendy davis's picture

@divineorder

example of a for instance, amigo. i wish so much stuff weren't on facebook; i'm not on it. sorry, glenn; i totally disagree, most especially about bernie. on edit: i should have noted that ocaisio had already burned her 'i have a peace plan' branding glurging over HRW bush ad john mccain. but come to think of it, so had bernie.

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@Big Al

Not talking about personalities. This is all about policy and votes and having the record to back up their mouths.

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

Big Al's picture

@dkmich I wouldn't bet on that track record. Those on here who still believe the democratic party can be effective because of the "progressive blue wave" or whatever, more power to you. But for some of us on here, it's not about policies, those are a dime a dozen and the promises that come with them. It's about a corrupted, non-democratic political system that has to be changed.
You want to vote policy and vote for some democratic party politicians, you're still voting for the whole democratic party imo.

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@Big Al

I think both parties are corrupt and corrupt 99% of everyone that gets elected. If you are saying that no human can get elected and be true to his values, you could talk me into that. If there is even one person that is true of, and I hope it is, then I would have to vote for them. Bernie is as close as it gets.

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

He always struck me as left of the left. I checked his posts when I really wanted to know what was going on. He is one of the few investigative reporters left. Bernie did endorse his wife, but he was an early Bernie 2016 supporter. Sirota never did a lesser of evil thing with Hillary that I recall, but I could be wrong.

DailyKos hated Sirota. DLinMI or something like that got into a war with him for no GD reason other than he was the biggest jerk on the site. Bigger than Armando. They also got rid of Palast, Sheehan, Cenk, and Sirota - more I'm sure.

I think Bernie supporters are all about fighting back and getting out the word now since the Third Way has declared war on Bernie before he's even announced a candidacy. They want everyone to know that Robert Francis ORourke was born with a silver spoon in his mouth and has a billionaire heiress at his side. He is no "beto", he is "white Obama".

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

boriscleto's picture

@dkmich And he will always support Israel...

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" In the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry, and is generally considered to have been a bad move. -- Douglas Adams, The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy "

@boriscleto

I was speaking of Sirota when I was talking about not doing the lesser of evil push for Hillary.

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

lotlizard's picture

@dkmich

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Pluto's Republic's picture

We are looking at two separate parties, here. It's a house divided. The Democratic Party and the People's Party (the Left) — are much further apart than the Democrats and Republicans are. The People's Party is in a completely different quadrant of the political compass than the Duopoly occupies.

Looking at this realisticly, the Dermocrats are already counting the votes of America's disenfranchised Left, and the Left will vote out of despertion and compromise. They get to vote for "not as many wars", and "partial" healthcare for everyone. They'll vote to fill the potholes in lieu of constructing a real transportation infrastructure in the US, and they'll vote for "not as much" oil drilling. They'll vote for a free collage new deal — pay for the first three years and get your fourth year free. Neither non-representative party has a platform mandate to invest in the nation and the People. Their wealthy connstituants will will have none of that. So, there will be no social mobility because the nation's assets have been privatized and picked clean. The center is hollow and there is only debt to service and rent to pay.

The new congress will be bent to the yoke in no time at all, and they will be grateful for a little bump in Medicaid. And the propaganda will continue funneling the People's anger over their economic insecurity onto the Russans, the Chinese, the poor, the immigrants, the Muslims, the Mexicans, and the Canadians.

Same as usual.

[edit: gramma, clarity]

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____________________

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

@Pluto's Republic

Looking at this realisticly, the Dermocrats are already counting the votes of America's Left, and the Left will vote out of despertion and compromise.

This War on Beto is to undermine Bernie's base. That's all.

Biden is the designated tar baby for progressives. He's there too absorb the energy of The Left during the primaries. Biden will go down, but he'll take so much energy fighting him that the Dems will want progressives to settle for Harris or Booker.

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arendt's picture

@gjohnsit

is another corporate stooge. (And, even Governor Moonbeam has turned into a complete sellout.)

Do they think that being blank means no one will look at who is bribing them?

I plan to vote Third Party in 2020. I no longer recognize the Democratic Party. Its just another pile of corrupt hacks selling out the people to the oligarchy.

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@arendt @arendt

I vote for candidates with the policies I support, and the track record to back up his/her mouth.

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

Unabashed Liberal's picture

@dkmich

from everything I've observed since leaving the Dem Party in 2004, it appears (to me) that Dem lawmakers are under the iron grip or vise of the Party Leadership. (I'm referring to the top two spots--Pelosi's and Schumer's.)

At times, I wonder what the outcome would be if Bernie were to reject the corporatist Dem Party, and run as a Indie in 2020. It seems to me that he's already demonstrated [in 2014] that he's more than capable of raising sufficient funds to make a viable run. And, he's by far the most visible Dem pol on Cable News. (Don't get network news, so, can't speak to that.) And, he has a head-start on having a sizable and dedicated following.

Maybe, if it looks like DT could win another election, he'll change his mind, and run as an Independent candidate.

(I'm assuming the same rules will exist, or, that a candidate wouldn't be allowed to run as a Dem, then choose to run as an Independent--for President--in the same election cycle.)

It appears that there may be (at least) one corporatist Republican candidate who'd consider a run as an Indie in 2020. John Kasich. And, clearly, he could garner pretty strong bipartisan corporatist Establishment support.

Hopefully, Bernie wouldn't let that happen. We'll see.

Have a nice New Year's! Drinks

Blue Onyx

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

@Unabashed Liberal @Unabashed Liberal

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

Unabashed Liberal's picture

@arendt

somebody said it, so I don't have to!!!

Good

Have a nice New Year's! Drinks

Blue Onyx

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

SnappleBC's picture

@arendt

Honestly, I don't care where they come from or what party they are from. I only care about whether they are from my party (the 99%) or the other party (the 1%). I fully expect my senators and legislators (from Washington State) to be full-on oligarchy candidates. So they won't get my votes. But if I'm astonished and there is a populist candidate on the ticket than red, green, or blue, they get my vote.

The same rules apply to the presidency. In 2016 I voted Stein and I fully expect to do so again because she'll be the only 99% candidate available to me.

Dear Democrats:
If you want me to vote for oligarchy candidates, you should make me a member of the oligarchy! Please send a billion dollars and I promise to get on board... or think about it anyway. No wait. I still have a soul and I'd like to keep it so scratch that.

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A lot of wanderers in the U.S. political desert recognize that all the duopoly has to offer is a choice of mirages. Come, let us trudge towards empty expanse of sand #1, littered with the bleached bones of Deaniacs and Hope and Changers.
-- lotlizard

wendy davis's picture

@SnappleBC

running, but i've sworn off her for good. she raised boatloads of buck to 'recount the votes' in three states because: 'russians interfered with our elections' (later 'foreign gummints). she did so against the express wishes of not only ajamu baraka, but the green steering committee, for cripessake. as in: sheepherding for the Ovien Queen. pffft.

but this might be interesting for you: bruce dixon's 'why we can't have nice things (you used the phrase recently) 'like a fighting green party'.

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lotlizard's picture

@wendy davis

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wendy davis's picture

@lotlizard

the anointed one, clinton who has ovaries. 'she was robbed of the presidency due to russian interference in the election!'.

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lotlizard's picture

@wendy davis  
as in the queen of a termite or ant colony — or maybe of an insectoid alien race in science fiction, like the xenomorph queen in Alien or in Endor’s Game.

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wendy davis's picture

@lotlizard

might be the same thing, as far as i'm concerned, most especially the termite queen.

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divineorder's picture

@arendt

Go ahead. But third party in national election is not going to save us from ourselves vis a vis climate crisis imo.

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A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.

Unabashed Liberal's picture

@Pluto's Republic

that you pretty much nailed it. Wink

Have a very Happy New Year's!

Drinks

Blue Onyx

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

snoopydawg's picture

@Pluto's Republic

They get to vote for "not as many wars", and partial healthcare for everyone, They'll vote to fill the potholes instead building a real transportation infrastructure in the US, and they'll vote for not as much oil drilling.

With Obama we got involved with at least 5 more countries having drones flying over them. Two countries physically invaded and troops put back into Iraq. Supported the Honduran coup and instigated the Ukrainian coup. I don't remember any infrastructure bill, but maybe I wasn't paying attention.

The ACA is beyond hideously flawed for many people. High premiums with ungawdly high deductibles that makes insurance out of reach for many.

Obama opened up the country to more drilling and we exported more oil than during the oil Kings Bush 1 & 2. Fracking you say?

Just read that the "new" progressives aren't doing anything that previous democrats have been doing or working for, but getting progressive stuff is hard work and it takes time for it to be achieved don't you know? Besides, Hillary ran on the most progressive platform evah and people let her down by not voting for her. She has been working towards universal health care since she was First Lady. There was more, but I was cracking up so ... but then I read that Pelosi almost got us universal health care, but the republicans blocked most of the things that she wanted in the bill. Hmm, didn't Joseph Lieberman have something to do with killing single payer or was that already chucked aside by Obama by the time it came to vote on it?

Yeah. It's hard to get what you really want when you have all branches of government. Except I'm told that they didn't actually because ... I've forgotten. This keeps changing.

BTW. People are upset with Trump for freezing federal pay. Didn't Obama do that too or is it just something republicans do? Asking for a friend.

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

Unabashed Liberal's picture

@snoopydawg

President announces two-year pay freeze for federal civilian employees

President Obama announced today a two-year freeze on pay for all federal civilian employees.

The announcement noted the important services provided by federal employees and stated the reason for the move “is not to punish federal workers or to disrespect the work they do.” Rather, the White House said it is one of a series of actions, requiring “some sacrifice from all of us," designed to cut government costs and reduce the deficit ($1.3 trillion in FY2010).

Happy New Year's to you, Charlie & Abby! Pleasantry

Blue Onyx

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

Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

@Unabashed Liberal

Who's "us?"

There seem to be some people left out of "us."

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"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

SnappleBC's picture

@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal

Why, I'm certain that somewhere in the world there's a billionaire who really wanted to buy that 3rd yacht and was wanting something the size of an aircraft carrier. But austerity hits us all equally so instead he had to settle for a little 400' dinghy.

Why won't anyone think of the billionaires?

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A lot of wanderers in the U.S. political desert recognize that all the duopoly has to offer is a choice of mirages. Come, let us trudge towards empty expanse of sand #1, littered with the bleached bones of Deaniacs and Hope and Changers.
-- lotlizard

dervish's picture

@SnappleBC They'll get to buy an ever bigger boat than they wished for.

There is no austerity at all for the rich.

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"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

SnappleBC's picture

@dervish

At least THEY were thinking about the poor billionaires while us lefties were being divisive and casting blame Smile

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A lot of wanderers in the U.S. political desert recognize that all the duopoly has to offer is a choice of mirages. Come, let us trudge towards empty expanse of sand #1, littered with the bleached bones of Deaniacs and Hope and Changers.
-- lotlizard

Unabashed Liberal's picture

@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal

a retired fed, you sure as heck won't get any argument out of me!

Pleasantry

Hey, hope you and your Partner (and the rest of your Family) have a super nice New Year's Day, if I don't see you before then. Drinks

Blue Onyx

"Dogs have given us their absolute all. We are the center of their universe. We are the focus of their love and faith and trust.

They serve us in return for scraps. It is without a doubt the best deal man has ever made."

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

lotlizard's picture

@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal

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@Unabashed Liberal

I had a little forlorn, naive hope that obama would lead a New Deal type of relief for the country. Unemployment was huge, families were losing their homes (often fraudulently) right and left, and long pointless wars were bleeding the world.

Instead, Forbes magazine published a story about a record number of new billionaires (soon taken down, couldn't find it again), homelessness skyrocketed, the wars continued and expanded. And then obama blamed workers for the deficit. It felt like a kick in the gut.

There were early signs. I recall a quote well before 2016 where he dissed "rich _white_ people". Not "rich people". That set off some bells for me.

Remember all that screaming about "WE'RE BROKE!"? Where did that go? They counted on the very-short-term memory of a nation of induced tv addicts.

But still -- I can't bring myself to blame all the people who clung to the illusion of hope. I can't bring myself to blame black people for celebrating that SOMEONE in power was not lily-white.

Blame the Power, not the people.

We have to put away broken dreams and plan for the future. AND: keep looking over our shoulders.

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Pluto's Republic's picture

@snoopydawg

I don't remember any infrastructure bill, but maybe I wasn't paying attention.

Sure you do. Day One. It was the big stimulus bill. There was money for "shovel-ready jobs," working on the public infrastructure. They also had a big pile of money for rescuing homeowners who were hustled into refinancing with new adjustable rate mortgages. Greenspan then jacked up the interest rates 17 times in a row. Oops. Mortgage payments doubled while their jobs disappeared and their salaries sunk. It was a blood bath, but there was no rescue for the middle class and no infrastructure jobs. It turned out there was a need for more bailouts for the wealthy and their corporations than they had anticipated. Alas, the Stimulus wasn't large enough to stimulate Main Street, too.

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____________________

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

@Pluto's Republic

Obama was just the next in line to further the stripping of our assets after Bush blew up the economy after Clinton teed it up for him. Obama was dangled as our hope that he'd fix what Bush did. Wealth inequality went up to levels never seen in the nation after $20 trillion was taken out of household wealth. Did Obama even talk about raising the federal minimum wage? When I started working it was $3.25. It's gone up less than $5 in 40+ years.

And now it's time for a Trump type to finish it. The congressional tax cuts transferred even more wealth to the obscenely wealthy people and corporations while our cost of living has gone up. So it's going to be the next president who is going to offer us more hope right? Many people think it's going to be a democrat because of the things Trump has done. Look at how many people are saying that the democrats are going to fix what Trump has done. It's easy to see the pattern now isn't it? Does anyone really believe that the democrats are going to reverse the tax cuts?

Good article, but I don't agree with that congress is ignoring us.

The real world of the working poor: Here's what politicians all ignore

How many people here are Alice? asset-limited, income-constrained, employed folks who struggle week to week.

I'm an Alicu. Or an Alicd. Blood bath indeed, Pluto!

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

TheOtherMaven's picture

@snoopydawg

that the Rapes have done to us. And they never will.

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There is no justice. There can be no peace.

wendy davis's picture

@Pluto's Republic

'shovel-ready jobs' ended up being resurfacing federal highways.

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Amanda Matthews's picture

@wendy davis
success. /s

Most of the job growth under Obama involved temp work or the words “do you need ketchup and mustard with your order?”

Obama Didn't Say What Kind of Jobs

http://www.economicpopulist.org/content/obama-didnt-say-what-kind-jobs

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I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks

Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa

wendy davis's picture

@Amanda Matthews

great exposé and detailed analysis, amanda. but he'd forgotten: Obomba saved the detroit auto industry all by by himself!'/s (of course, three-tiered hiring came into play, crap wages for the new two two tiers.)

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divineorder's picture

@wendy davis near enough.

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A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.

Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

@Pluto's Republic

People, even neoliberal establishment shill Paul Krugman, said it wasn't big enough even before Greenspan raised the interest rates. It was never going to be big enough; it was just there to provide some optics that would preserve Obama's credibility a little longer, as well as allowing him to say "We tried a new New Deal. It didn't work."

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"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

EdMass's picture

Beto is so so Kennedyesque!

Someone should tell good ole Joe III in Mass that he's been out Kennedy'd...

LMAO

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Prof: Nancy! I’m going to Greece!
Nancy: And swim the English Channel?
Prof: No. No. To ancient Greece where burning Sapho stood beside the wine dark sea. Wa de do da! Nancy, I’ve invented a time machine!

Firesign Theater

Stop the War!

@EdMass

the only political heir left. The Obamabots remind me of Beleibers at a Justin Beiber concert. swoon.

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

It seemed to me that one of the more successful propaganda memes against Bernie and supporters was that of "BernieBros", who were painted as racist misygonist white guys. It will be easier later to attack them of being Putin puppets.

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TheOtherMaven's picture

@MrWebster

Not that logic ever has anything to do with shaming and blaming....

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There is no justice. There can be no peace.

wendy davis's picture

too. Oprah (rec'd by ian welsh) is running on an O ticket. fancy: 'look under your seats, people! 12 shares of O stock and the keys to an electric car!!!!' (you pay the taxes) 'dr. phil mcGraw (he's not a real doctor) will be my secretary of state...stedman...well, he'll be my secretary of the
treasury.'

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CapOp332ChQ]

i got $10 grand burnin' a hole in my pocket...it goes to O, given only biden and bernie sanders poll better than she does...two years out!

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wendy davis's picture

@wendy davis

wise was to make a more serious point: amerikan presidential elections are all by way of bread and circuses, to keep people reckoning they actually have a choice to 'right the ship of state'. yes, some folks have gotten arrested in the past when they'd 'occupied the federal debate commission' because:

"In 1988, the League of Women Voters withdrew its sponsorship of the presidential debates after the George H. W. Bush and Michael Dukakis campaigns secretly agreed to a "memorandum of understanding" that would decide which candidates could participate in the debates, which individuals would be panelists (and therefore able to ask questions), and the height of the lecterns. The League rejected the demands and released a statement saying that it was withdrawing support for the debates because "the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter."

so...the national commission on elections decide to turn it all over to the duopoly to sponsor, administrate, and adjudicate.

"In 2000, the CPD established a rule that for a candidate to be included in the national debates he or she must garner at least 15% support across five national polls. This rule has been controversial as it has effectively excluded U.S. parties other than the two major parties."

pfffft. given that all polls are push polls, and the legacy parties want no competition, i can imagine how the question is asked matters a lot. the 'if the vote were held today, who would you vote for? do they suggest a list? if so, what's the order of the list?

anyhoo, Oprah hasn't decided as i understand it, but angelina jolie hasn't ruled it out, either (stupid interview at the guardian).

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The Aspie Corner's picture

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Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.

Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.

dervish's picture

Great essay.

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"Obama promised transparency, but Assange is the one who brought it."

SnappleBC's picture

I wouldn't say I'm at war with him though. I would absolutely agree that I'm at war with the oligarchs and the parties which represent them however. Insofar as Beto personally, I'm certainly aware of him. He first surfaced to my attention as the establishment's golden boy. That automatically means I don't want him. I didn't research any further but sure enough, within a week other people had and it turns out my gut "I don't want him" was fully justified... go figure.

Now, Beto, along with Harris and Biden sit on my list as the chosen generals of the establishment. I remain aware of them for that reason.

Personally, I don't think the "at war" phrasing was all that far off although I despise "war" analogies that aren't referring to war. It's like calling a wolf whistle "rape". It cheapens the real thing and makes us all inured to it.

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A lot of wanderers in the U.S. political desert recognize that all the duopoly has to offer is a choice of mirages. Come, let us trudge towards empty expanse of sand #1, littered with the bleached bones of Deaniacs and Hope and Changers.
-- lotlizard

divineorder's picture

@SnappleBC

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A truth of the nuclear age/climate change: we can no longer have endless war and survive on this planet. Oh sh*t.

Amanda Matthews's picture

The DNC Dims that is. Their victim routine isn’t working, they haven’t changed at all - these people are still opportunistic, money-grubbing, election tampering, war whores.

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I'm tired of this back-slapping "Isn't humanity neat?" bullshit. We're a virus with shoes, okay? That's all we are. - Bill Hicks

Politics is the entertainment branch of industry. - Frank Zappa