Caucus99percent must grow quickly!
"I've been watching politics a long time and I've never seen anything like the Hillaryites' incapacity to make an argument for their candidate." -- Doug Henwood
"The American ruling class has been trying to figure out for years, if not decades, how to manage decline, how to get Americans to get used to diminished expectations, how to adapt to the notion that life for the next generation will be worse than for the previous generation, and now, how to accept (as Alex Gourevitch reminded me tonight) low to zero growth rates as the new economic normal. Clinton's campaign message isn't just for Bernie voters; it's for everyone. Expect little, deserve less, ask for nothing. When the leading candidate of the more left of the two parties is saying that -- and getting the majority of its voters to embrace that message -- the work of the American ruling class is done." -- Corey Robin
Dear Caucusers,
Please pay no heed to all the nice people on Daily Kos trying to rationalize Markos's early declaration of victory for the Clinton campaign. The problem is not that Clinton isn't going to win -- it's too early to tell still -- but rather that there's really nothing there for us to win beyond, as one diarist here put it, understanding that Markos sold out. Let's take a look at the money paragraphs of Markos' statement. First, on the rhetoric he's planning to ban people for:
Do I need to spell it out? It’s the difference between “We need to put pressure on her to do the right thing on TPP” versus “she’s a sell-out corporatist whore oligarch.”
As if anyone at Daily Kos would ever have the power to put pressure on Hillary Clinton! I can see two ways of putting pressure on Hillary Clinton. 1) threaten not to vote for her if she doesn't enact our agenda. I wrote an organized diary about that. But it's not as if Markos and his team of hall monitors would ever permit it. and 2) make a contribution to Clinton's ceaseless accumulation of money. I suppose that we could all save up our pennies in a few strategic piggybanks, and then when we’ve got enough money, say maybe never, we’ll invite her to speak in front of our organization while being able to pay her standard speaking fee! And maybe, just maybe, at this event she’ll issue some of her patented retractable promises, or whatever she does at those engagements (since we never get to see the transcripts).
Okay, so here's Markos on bannable labels for Clinton:
In general, if you’re resorting to cheap sloganeering like “oligarch” or “warmonger” or “neocon”, you might want to reframe your argument in a more substantive, issue-focused and constructive matter. Again, I’m not interested in furthering the Right’s hate-fueled media machine.
As if the Right wanted to use any of these words! It's not as if the Republicans were against oligarchy, warmongering, or neoconservatism. So, yeah, these are all "Left" labels for Clinton - never mind their appropriateness -- and we are not to talk about them because we are to be brought into conformance with what I once called the "Elmer Fudd Theory of Electoral Victory." Say something nice about Clinton, declaim the Republicans as worse, and be VEWWY VEWWY QUIET about why she wants to be President, about what we expect from her, or, well, about anything.
Oh and this idea of "constructive" criticism of Clinton! Can anyone imagine it? Constructive criticism, as you may have gathered already, has to pertain to what exactly is being constructed. So what would constructive criticism of Clinton look like? "Secretary Clinton, I can't really think of much to suggest that you're not already doing. Be sure not to lie too much when you might get caught by too many people. Censor Sanders some more -- make sure the word about him doesn't get out. Pay the other members of your syndicate well." Or something like that.
So let's be clear -- real political organizing isn't going to happen at Daily Kos. But it needs to happen somewhere -- so why not here?
We should have a bigger server sometime soon here. I know, that's going to cost money. It cost a ton to run a Presidential campaign, too. But that didn't stop Bernie! Anyway, why limit ourselves to a donation box? Let's auction stuff! Or how about a benefit concert or two? Caucus99percent has a chance to be far better than Daily Kos ever was -- because this is a forum for the 99 percent, and not for an owner who wants to bring us into conformance with the 1% in the name of the "Democratic Party."
First thing we have to do around here is create some regular avenues for culture around here. Anyone for a regular column on climate change? Music history (with appropriately danceable videos)? The travails of the 99% as they hope to pay their bills?
Let's recruit a ton more people too. Growth is fun! It's sure a lot more fun than voting for neoliberal candidates year in and year out.
Comments
Ruling society 101
Boy,
Did we we sure lose George at the wrong time.
We are not embracing a politics of envy if we reverse a politics of greed. - Joseph Stiglitz
Oh Yay! n/t
'Well, I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years, Doctor, and I’m happy to state I finally won out over it." Elwood P. Dowd "
The next stage in the evolution of C99P
is to stop caring (or at least care less) what happens on DKos.
Face it. DKos is a backwards-looking group, to the "glory days" of Bill Clinton's presidency.
Bernie Sanders merely showed us what is possible. Now we need to look forward.
we're not quite there yet
We're not quite there yet, but almost. Once we get most of the people we care about over there participating here, and walk them through the grieving and healing from what DK had been once upon an ancient time to them, the subsequent happenings will lose all power hereabouts by themselves.
It's an occupational hazard of c99p's emphasis on people before power or profits. And I daresay we'd all rather live with that occupational hazard than have this place be anything else.
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Liked your comment
but recced for your signature line!
The smaller the mind the greater the conceit. --Aesop
thank you!
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Wow, what a great sig!
"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
thank you, too, CantStopTheSignal!
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
I'll miss the climate and environmental diarists
until they come over here. There was some really good material, to watch for at unpredictable intervals. So yes! A regular column along those lines would be great!
you'll like this then
When it rains, it pours
More rain is good for southern California
Just sayin'.
"there's something so especially sadistic about waving the flag of a country that you're actively destroying" -- Aaron Mate
joe does climate change
and if you want to do a regular column on this essential 'issue' please do. I'll read it and if you stick around you'll see it covered from gjohnsit to Joe and it runs though all the posts here.
True - but with any trauma - healing takes time :)
And having a place for people to vent and discuss their anger and disappointment is a good thing. Everyone will move on in time, but people are hurt. I know I was - at root I think that's why I was so angry. To be told on a site that is supposed to be about democracy and community that your particular idea of democracy and community is not welcome or allowed is hurtful. After spending far too much time thinking about why I was so upset about a blog on the internet, I finally figured out that it was because it caused a feeling of betrayal and indifference to my thoughts and feelings, a particular triggering point for me.
Lordy - I feel like I'm back in therapy...
You have it right, HaikuKitty
My feelings were hurt. Since 2003, I would go there every day, and sometimes spend the whole day. (I am disabled and can't move around much)
It was like my window to to the world, and I could learn, and laugh, and see so many awesome peoples' feelings and beliefs.
But there isn't any reason to believe it can't be the same here.
'Well, I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years, Doctor, and I’m happy to state I finally won out over it." Elwood P. Dowd "
For me, it IS the betrayal
Just like it is with ConservaDems in general. I believed for years in the Democratic party, and voted for Bill Clinton both times, Obama too. But after Obama's first term, after the financial crash and I started reading more non fiction, well, I saw that for the betrayal to Democratic principles that it is. His support of TPP stunned me, at first. And then the anger set in. And that anger is a lot hotter than anger at stupid Repugnant policies. That anger is the result of betrayal and being out and out played. There's no going back from that for me. While I will miss the Kos, I wasn't on it as long as many were, and I only lurked and commented. I won't log in there ever again. They get no traffic from me.
Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur
How can we stop caring, when he
followed us here??? lol. Markos, User #663
Seriously, don't know if that's someone just kiddin' around, or if Markos decided he, too, needs to get the f outta dodge?
"When the powerless are shut out of the media, we will make the media irrelevant" ~Anonymous~
where did you find her/him?
possible troll?
Markos is on the members list
I saw it & thought it must be someone else just using the name.
Be truly surprised if one of his surrogates isn't checking up for him though.
Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible. ~ Frank Zappa
I saw it too.
Either it is someone with a great sense of humor or an ominous warning that he who shall not be named has followed us.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
He's welcome here.
And the whole calling us morons thing can be forgiven if he wants to engage in reasoned and fair debate. Lord knows you won't find it at HIS site.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
I saw a diary of his before this last one.
He called us all kinds of foul names. I was stunned for awhile.
'Well, I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years, Doctor, and I’m happy to state I finally won out over it." Elwood P. Dowd "
I looked long and hard look at that account...
the email address and the IP number used to register with did not seem to match that of who you reference. I am fairly certain (99%) that it is not he. Unless of course a proxy or VPN was used, but one does not need to be a member to read essays and comments here.
If Markos wants to join,...
...I for one see no problem with that. MM would be subject to the same culture of the site as any other new member.
I would hate for us to become walled off. C99P, if it wants to make an impact, should be open, within reason (and reasonable).
Agreed totally, dance...
everyone is welcome.
Me too (n/t)
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Obviously Clinton won't enact our "agenda"
whatever that is, no matter what "we" do.
I guess my question at this point is, is this a democratic party blog like Daily Kos only different?
What happens if Sanders does lose and many of us decide we're going to the Greens and Jill Stein, or what if some decide to boycott the election between Clinton vs. Trump altogether because voting for Stein is a losing proposition (unless one believes in moral victories)?
Perhaps we need more definition so we know what we would be recruiting people for. Kos and Daily Kos is and always has been an establishment Democratic party blog. The Democratic party is the establishment imo. What is going to differentiate this blog from DK or any other?
I, for one, do NOT want it to be for the Democrats
I mentioned a little while back about taking over the local Multnomah County Democratic party...well, not me personally but like minded people. To do that I'd get nominated for, and elected as a Precinct Committee Person. I just received an email (seriously, just received it 18 minutes ago, reminding me that tomorrow is the deadline.
I view the Democratic Party as a vessel that we can fill until it returns to what it....wait...wait...bulletin...it might never have been that at all. Ok, scratch that, until it becomes what we want. Ballot access, public perception and such make it more useful than the Greens.
Bernie's half a candidate which is, in this society, half a candidate more than anyone else running in either of the two big parties. I have no objection (why should I?) to people doing what they can to help him get elected but boy, oh boy, I'd hate to see us turn into Bernie Central.
I'm with you, Shah
and Big Al, too. Just not interested in
throwing my support to the Establishment
ever again.
The hard work is in finding a better way to
do things.
Only connect. - E.M. Forster
Well, alot of Sanders supporters came over here from DK,
that's a fact, and it has to play out. If the "inevitable" does happen and Clinton is the nominee, then this blog could be something like Revolution central, a place to continue the work the Sanders campaign and supporters have built. Many have concluded that any real revolution will have to take place outside the two party system, independently. We'll see how it shakes out soon.
The Sanders Legacy
Regardless if Bernie Sanders wins the primary or not, he has stood the SOS rules of politics on its head. He proved that you can be completely ignored and/or vilified by mainstream corporate media and it doesn't matter. He proved that a candidate can be completely ignored by PACs and Big Money and it doesn't matter - small individual donors are capable of picking up the slack. He proved that you can ignore smear politics and pandering and it doesn't matter - we know we can't agree on anything but at least we know that Bernie believes what he tells us he believes.
Bernie Sanders has refilled a cup of hope for a better world that had been drained and replaced with cynicism and low expectations.
It will be interesting to see where and how the energy hope and enthusiasm disperse if and when Bernie loses. I personally think that a "Sanders wing" of the Democratic Party could grow as a subgroup; a group of candidates and voters that follow the Bernie model of no PAC or corporate money and sworn to uphold policies that benefit citizens over conglomerates. Bernie can be the titular head of the wing indefinitely. I hope they don't knuckle under out of misguided loyalty like the Progressive Caucus did on a regular basis where their large number of votes could be taken for granted and be worth less strategically than a single Blue Dog who had to begged and cajoled and whose vote had to be bought with diluted legislation. F**k that!
I hope he opens his campaign funds if he has any left over to promote this cause in the future.
Anyway, that's how I hope things go instead of just sputtering away and dissipating.
Blogs and social media will have to continue to drive the discussion - that's why venues for honest discourse are so important that are without dictates from blog owners or harassment from roving gangs of ideological hall monitors.
***edit to add - I'm not saying this should be a Democratic Party oriented blog. I pretty much loathe the Democratic Party in its current iteration. I'm just hoping Bernie and his followers could provide some triage and treatment to bring it back to its roots. If that doesn't happen, I'll just be a sporadic supporter of whatever candidate wherever steps up to earn a vote with something better than "lesser evil."
(My first comment! I look forward to participating here. I have a few diaries that I was working on that I would rather publish here as opposed to elsewhere. The writing interface seems pretty user-friendly. Love that comments can be edited.)
" “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” FDR "
Glad to see you here
I was hoping you would come.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
I have been meaning to come over for quite a while
I've always been pretty much a one location blogger - that's all I ever had the energy and time for. But I can't stand a hive and stupid drones who live for stinging and winning the blog; it's like junior high all over again. When dictates come from the highest level for a free-for-all and a minority report thought crime environment enforced with anonymous flags, the writing was clearly on the wall. So glad you guys had the foresight to provide a safe harbor. Thanks.
" “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” FDR "
Me too.
I have been going back just to rec people's thoughts that I care about; thanks for being here. Even if we are 'all white.' Still sad about that characterization from GOS.
I saw that too...
Very disappointing and hateful. We are not all white here.
Yes
I do not know if remember that I had asked you to check us out sometime ago, but you replied you did not have the time to be at more than one site at that time. I am so glad to see you are now with us. You are a very good writer and I hope we will see some contributions from you in the future.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
I definitely remember your message
You were always a favorite poster of mine at Kos. I have made frequent visits here in the meantime, just didn't register. I always knew that if I ever needed a new roost with congenial company, this would be a good bet; there are not many places to congregate on the internet that offer a good writing platform and enough input and activity to keep things interesting. It will be fun to be part of helping this site build even greater critical mass and hopefully become the new place to come first on the interwebs for progressive writing and commentary without Party constraints.
" “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.” FDR "
me, too :)
great that you made it here!
i've always enjoyed your diaries, & now i don't have to do without them.
An excellent first comment it is.
I agree with you. And Shah.
C99P will have pertinence to the degree that it focuses on the goals -- no more wars, heal the planet, balance the advantages across race and wealth and justice, put power (money, communication, influence, basic human needs such as health and energy and shelter and water and food) back in the hands of the people, and much more -- and regards elections as just one tactical component of that, not as the be-all-and-end-all in themselves.
I hope we will collectively begin to develop strategic groups, not to divide us or compartmentalize issues, but to identify expertise and explore these issues in greater depth to bring back to the entire community for melding into a complex system that is fairer and more sustainable for all. And I see that as the revolution that exists with or without Bernie at our apex. We have the numbers (and some damn fine talent) here now to take that step here. We have little time to turn this ship of a "civilization" to a new path, no time to waste on personal or cliquish advantages. This is also what will make C99P worth pursuing.
There will be a period of adjustment -- giving the finger to dKos is part of that and doesn't do any lasting damage to anyone -- that this site experienced before, when its first members gathered to set this space up. That period is not very long, though, and newcomers will find that we become our own community quickly. The growth and the focus will contribute to that community.
We still have refugees making their way to our virtual shores. I hope over the coming month or two that with some strategic planning and energy (and the bigger server) we will see the expanded membership assert itself as a force. We have the building blocks. What can we make with them?
refugee here
Thank you for creating this site. I spent eight years on the orange site and felt that many of the diarists were knowledgeable and focused on relevant topics. There were citations aplenty and this allowed me to explore a wide range of concerns in depth. Now, much less so. So I have hope that the best of what occurred there might be the main focus here, and appreciate this new gathering.
That being said, I find the "purge" frightening. Why? Well, news came out this year that Exxon Mobile has known and developed scholarship on climate change decades ago. http://insideclimatenews.org/news/18092015/exxon-confirmed-global-warming-consensus-in-1982-with-in-house-climate-models
And if this powerful and politically enfranchised company knew about this, I don't think its too big a stretch to assume that every Administration since that time also knew this information.
And we have a virtual blackout in the mainstream media of the depth and scope of environmental harms occurring all over the globe.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telecommunications_Act_of_1996
Monopoly ownership of the media enacted from this date onward.
There appears to be a great deal that we are not being informed about. I will have more to say further on here, but I find these two concerns related, and menacing.
1996, eh?
Let me think ... who was President in 1996 ...
"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
dance, your comment is also very excellent!
I think you have summarized extremely well what many of us hope to accomplish with this site. Your comment sets forth a really nice mission statement.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
I honestly think that was the idea
He was building a coalition of like minded people. Being president would be great but he has always said it was a long shot. To me that means he has another goal as well. I expect we will be hearing from him even if he is not the nominee. Having listened to him for years on the Tom Hartman show I am left with the impression that his understanding of how government works is a valuable resource.
This:
This has yuuge potential, in my book. Bernie can just do what Bernie wants to do. I acknowledge his leadership, but I won't presume on his time and energies. If there were to be a fund created to support candidates that held to these principles it could begin to provide shelter in the storm. And it is a damn powerful shield. It is the message that should make the noise, not the size of the bullhorn.
And I would like to support any candidate of any party that would follow these guides. Take the power away from the parties and put it back into the hands of the people. With social media the way it is this could be very powerful for a long time.
Another thing I would like to see is boilerplate legislation created for these candidates. It takes a lot of time and money to work this stuff out and the stuff that finally dribbles out the end of the electoral digestive system is called the law. It really gets chewed to hell on the way through and too often stinks. Two can play at the ALEC game. Elected officials don't have to be a part of the team to support good legislation if that legislation is seen to have popular support. They can be forced to support it while holding their nose the same way guns have been pushed by the NRA while everyone holds their nose.
Over the last 30 years we have seen corporations take control for their benefit. Well, fuck em. They are not popular. The truth exists and I love Bernie for his consistent presentation of the truth to power more than anything. When Bernie says he can't do it alone this is what he needs - real support from real people.
"If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back" - Regina Brett
Nice to see you again, Phoebe. Look forward to
tapping your 'ACA' acumen and knowledge (if FSC takes the nomination) to expose the flaws in her health care 'plan.'
If it even qualifies as such!
Welcome!
(Music City) Mollie at DKos
elinkarlsson@WordPress
"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive."
----Gilda Radner, Comedienne
National Mill Dog Rescue
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
Hi Phoebe!
If some of this could be done by people like me, disabled and pretty much housebound, I'm willing to bet you could have a power chair brigade. I understand that it can be hard to do, each one of us are different, we have different problems. But I'm pretty sure we could figure out how to solve those problems.
I have thought from the beginning that we have to keep it going. I have watched this man for years. This is the second time out of anytime I've voted, that I have felt like this about a campaign. I was pretty excited about Rev Jesse Jackson. I was so much younger. I still love Jesse. I have now added Bernie to my very short favorites list. I hope with all my being he becomes the next potus.
'Well, I've wrestled with reality for thirty five years, Doctor, and I’m happy to state I finally won out over it." Elwood P. Dowd "
Have you seen this one?
Sanders endorsement of Jesse Jackson
"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
Me three
I have no interest whatsoever of participating on a blog that's partisan or is about electing better Dems including the' Brooklyn Deli Guy' as hecate has dubed Bernie. The perfect, from my point of view, outcome of this farce of a primary and general election would be to have the freaking corrupt evil Democratic party disintegrate and disappear off the face of the earth. I'm done organizing for any pol or party. I'm with Big Al I won't and don't want anything to do with the Democratic party their pure evil. The fix is in as far as this election goes both primaries and the general. I'll vote for Bernie even write him in the general, but i will not organize or caucus with or for the Democratic party or the so called progressives regardless of their preferred candidate in this side show.
We do need to find a better way and another vehicle for getting some damn representation and a actual democracy that isn't owned lock stock and oil barrel by the blood sucking vampire squid. Bernie can't do anything other then be just another shallow entertainer to placate the masses into thinking they have a champion who will caucus to mitigate the damage done. It's not that I don't like Bernie it's that this isn't going to do a damn thing. I don't want to belong to the People's Judean Front either. I want a real political revolution. enough is enough. While I love this site I sure as hell don't want to be organized to aid and abet the very system I am against. This is why I came here in the first place. I'm a cat that has had it with being herded.
This part of Cassiodorus's suggestions
I can get behind. Community is a good thing. It would be a good idea to focus and organize content on issues that are not partisan or establishment orientated. I'm just worried that this site will turn into the liberal flip side of dkos. I enjoy the lack of indoctrination and quirky voices here.
Community is a good thing.
Community doesn't just happen, and we see how fleeting community can be (as I watch humans turn on one another when I go back to rec the comments of Sanders supporters.) I would be happy to see a commitment here, somewhere, to nurture, to encourage, to mentor. I have seen enough slice and dice there.
I always duck quacky commentary. One must erne
One's win in the mallard box.
Agree, agree, agree
I don't think I can get banned for this here,
but damn, if we can't elect President Sanders, then I kinda see a "twofer" - the Republican party is destroyed by Trump, and the Democratic party is freed from the Clinton Clutches.
Honestly don't think anything could be worse than having the Clintons back in the White House.
Never say it can't get worse.
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jdxqBnu3S-8]
Imagine Clinton back in the White House, and she taps the most experienced elder statesman that the US has with regards to the middle east for SOS.
Dick Cheney.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Agree, agree, agree
with your comment, Caerus. We need to be heal ourselves of the Clinton-crud!
"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
Banned?
Nah, I just recced your comment.
Freedooooommmmm!!!
Twain Disciple
Eh, I prefer the line...
"God says don't change the subject, just answer the Fuckin' question!"
But of course that's C99 thinking, not TOP thinking.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Policy, not people!
Much as I love Bernie, it's for his policy stands (our agenda), not his physical person (sorry, Bernie).
may be this could be a "Social Movement Central"? /nt
I think it will be a bit Democratic bloggish for a bit, with all
the new members fleeing the HRC campaign arm that kos wants DK to be, but if we, the original members, just keep plugging away at our memes and concerns, they'll come around and join in. Rather enthusiastically too, I'm guessing, given that Bernie's supporters' concerns mirror a lot of our own on this site.
So I guess that would be one rule on this site: Don't be shocked when we don't genuflect in the direction of any Democrat.
"Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it."
-- John Lennon
I can deal with that.
The (non)Democratic Party left the station going the wrong way with Clinton I. It has shown itself to be completely money-driven and no longer for any majority of the populace.
Whether the Party implodes or a new movement arises, something new has to happen. And it has to happen fast, not 4 election cycles from now, or it's too late.
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.
Independent here
Haven't been a member of Democratic party since it was taken over by the Clintons/DLC/Third Way.
Live in Western MA, wouldn't vote for Martha Coakley,(see: Gerald Amirault) Ma Dems are dinosaurs, wouldn't listen to petitions, second time we at least got Evan Falchuk and United Independent Party.
No idea how this plays out on national level, but have no interest in saving Democratic Party "as it stands now." ( sorry, still so angry at what's happened to it!)
Still feel it's important to use every threat, fear, whatever to get those phuquing "Super Deegates" to see they won't get Bernie Sanders supporters votes. Evah!
Caerus, just heard Granholm on MSNBC, grousing about Sanders'
'tone.'
IMHO, those who hope to override Establishment support for FSC, should consider concentrating on sending a message to the tons of her surrogates [who flood Cable News around the clock].
Sorta hard to do anything to influence Granholm since she's not currently holding any office (that I know of), but FSC has a ton of sitting Senators who are surrogates. The Dem Party Establishment intends to 'have its way.' But, if some of their jobs are put on the line by their constituents, maybe they will back off.
IOW, I'm not sure that it's enough to just submit a petition to the DNC. We don't elect DWS.
If it were me, I'd go after my Dem Senators and Representatives. (BTW, I absolutely mean nothing nefarious or threatening by that statement.) I'm saying that I'd let them know that if they try to impede Bernie's path to the Presidency, they may find their jobs at risk.
Also an 'Independent,' since the Dem Party Leadership scr*wed over Dean.
Anyhoo, just a thought . . .
Welcome!
(Music City) Mollie at DKos
elinkarlsson@WordPress
"Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare."--Japanese Proverb
"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."--Author Unknown
Visit Us At Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD)
Visit Us At C99Percent!
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
You say,
Hear, hear!
Welcome, riverlover!
(Music City) Mollie at DKos
elinkarlsson@WordPress
"Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare."--Japanese Proverb
"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."--Author Unknown
Visit Us At Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD)
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
My apologies--unintended duplicate post/comment. ;-)
(Music City) Mollie at DKos
elinkarlsson@WordPress
"Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare."--Japanese Proverb
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
As one of the earliest members here
I can only speak for myself as to how I saw the purpose of this forum and I believe many of the other early members would agree. We wanted this forum to be a place where we were primarily issue oriented and not representing any political party. While many of the members here are supporting Bernie in the Presidential race, that was never the purpose of this site in the beginning.
The official birth of this site on this location was January 2015, prior to any candidate formally declaring. But the nexus for this site goes back further when a group of like minded people under the leadership of Can't Stop the Signal formed a google group. Discussing issues on the google group location was awkward due to the format there. So JtC volunteered to be our webmaster and a group of us donated the funds to set this site up.
Since the early days of CC99, JayeRaye (labor), Robyn (transgender issues), and Joeshikspak (Evening Blues) have posted their regular series here. Gjohnsit has been writing with us since the beginning concentrating on economics and the wars. It would be wonderful if we had other writers who would contribute regularly in various areas. We also have six of us who do the daily Open Threads, which can be about anything and do not have to be serious.
If anyone wishes to participate or contribute to doing a series or sharing an Open Thread spot, we would welcome that.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Trying to do a daily story
because if there's a time when it's needed, it's RIGHT NOW when we have the most need of new content.
Apologies that I tend to be all over the place because that's where my interests are. I fully believe that specialization is for insects.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Well, I know MB is a member here, maybe he'd
consent to doing some of his Climate Change diaries over here, too? Or would permit them to be re-posted, at least.
"When the powerless are shut out of the media, we will make the media irrelevant" ~Anonymous~
That's an interesting thought.
Does he own his own content or does Kos? Would Kos see it as traitorous? MB followed Evening Blues here. He was a regular visitor when it published at dkos, and MB was truly sorry to see it go. If he's posted much more than 3 times at c99, I'd be surprised.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Speaking for me personally and
as a founding member of the joint, this is anything but a Democratic blog. There is no loyalty oath to any party or candidate. Green, socialist and non-voters are all welcome here. If you're pissed and want to vote for Trump, your vote is your business. There isn't one Hillary supporter in this place unless they are here from dkos to play games. There is no policy that requires anyone to vote for or support any person or policy because terror, terror SCOTUS. There is no trap or edict against CTs This IS a civil, adult, liberal blog first and foremost. Everyone is free to disagree with anyone on anything as long as they do it respectfully. . If
I do not believe that Hillary supporters, conservadems, neoliberal pro-establishments Dems would be happy here. This is my opinion.
If you want to organize and write a regular series that is topic specific , I know of no reason why you can't. In fact, I'm guessing it would be appreciated and front paged just like the essays written by Robyn and JayRaye.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
How much do you all know about the Greens?
I've been a Green for most of my existence as a voter. The Green Party doesn't support its candidates and there really aren't that many members out there. My area hasn't had a local for at least a decade now.
We might do better starting a fourth party. Joining the Greens means sitting through meetings at which pleasantries mask some very low-stakes fights and at which "consensus process" grants certain people the right to make the meetings quite pointless.
"there's something so especially sadistic about waving the flag of a country that you're actively destroying" -- Aaron Mate
There is a labor party in this country
It is small, but it exists. Labor Party
WFP
Do they have more steam than Green? If Bernie doesn't win, I have a vote that needs to be put somewhere. I've threatened to vote for Trump to assure her loss because I would have no problem watching the Democratic Party crash and burn. Sometimes it has to break before you can fix it.
"Religion is what keeps the poor from murdering the rich."--Napoleon
Looking at the internals of the votes cast in Lousiana,
it's beginning to look like Cruz might be a foil, and neither candidate will garner enough candidates for the nomination.
The Republican Establishment and the One Percent (as illustrated by the endorsement of John Kasich by at least 30 newspaper Editorial Board) will likely push him at a brokered convention. That's their hope/plan, anyway.
Between that possibility, and the current negotiations to 'offset' 1.070 Trillion Dollars--to come mostly from Social Security and Medicare--this election may be coming a bit too late, to protect so-called entitlements.
When I was checking the reporter's Twitter feed who reported this a little over a week ago, found an interesting tidbit.
(Per Congressional Reporters Ferrechio's Twitter fed from December 2015.)
I'm going to try to find more on this, and post it at EB.
Of course, last year, Reid and the Dems tried to block a bunch of bills.
IMHO, if that's true, 'the fix is in.'
(Music City) Mollie at DKos
elinkarlsson@WordPress
"Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare."--Japanese Proverb
"Every time I lose a dog, he takes a piece of my heart. Every new dog gifts me with a piece of his. Someday, my heart will be total dog, and maybe then I will be just as generous, loving, and forgiving."--Author Unknown
Visit Us At Save Our Street Dogs (SOSD)
Everyone thinks they have the best dog, and none of them are wrong.
If you are still interested in the Green Party
--and they are the only national party that isn't explicitly right-wing -- you may wish to contact Jill Stein in MA or Howie Hawkins in NY (I think he's still in Buffalo) or Carl Romanelli in PA -- or maybe Alex Kantorowitz in IL. These days my loyalty to "Greens" is to individual Greens rather than to the party apparatus, which in my opinion really screwed up in Milwaukee in 2004.
http://socialistworker.org/2004-2/505/505_05_Greens.shtml
Let me put it this way, dkmich. The Green Party primaries are all beauty contests. The real decisions are made, in undemocratic fashion, at the national conventions. The Party doesn't support the candidates. Consensus process is used inappropriately. All the real support for the candidates comes from people who don't belong to the Party or participate in its conventions, its retreats, or its locals. It's still the best thing around. I'm going to reregister Green after casting my vote for Sanders.
"there's something so especially sadistic about waving the flag of a country that you're actively destroying" -- Aaron Mate
Labor Party?
Could you write a post about that?
current Labor Party website
Following your link, I found an article about the Labor Party. My custom in cases like this is that I then go to the base website of the document to see if I can read more. Doing this with your linked document, I discovered that the Labor Party has moved its current materials to http://www.thelaborparty.org. That's where you'll find the LP's Constitution and current materials.
I strongly recommend reading this article on that site. Many great points to be made!
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
I was involved in some of this organizing in the early 90s
before I moved to Texas. This was when it was in the planning stages. There was some basis for support with the more left-leaning of those within the building trades and other unions. Sadly, the Labor Party really never went anywhere. What we need is some unity between between the Labor Party, the Greens, the Democratic Socialist of America, etc.
With so many of us now refusing to participate any longer in "lesser evil" voting, perhaps now is the time that a real mass third party movement could take hold.
Labor Party National Organizer: Tony Mazzocchi
http://www.thelaborparty.org/a_tm.htm
Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth.-Lucy Parsons
I agree entirely, JayRaye!
Especially with:
and
I've been wising, in recent days, that this political moment could somehow develop into some kind of 'real mass third party' could take hold (not just in America).
And I've been thinking that, in a 1% vs 99% world, all people everywhere are Labor, unless they are Fodder, or both.
But what could be the kernel, the idea around which such a Party (if we can call it that) could coalesce? One would think that the various religions might be a place to start, but they have been used as weapons for too long. (MLK's version of Christianity would have worked well, I think.)
Not suggesting this as an answer, but tonight a guy named Robert Fuller wrote a diary on 'Dignitariansm'. His position (as I understand it) is that Dignity is a universal human value, and the political and economic harm that is done in the world is based on not recognizing each person's inherent Dignity. (He wrote before on dKos about Rankism, which seemed to be coming from a similar place.)
I'm not familiar enough with his work to explain it here, but what he seems to be saying is that if people altered their political, economic, and social structures so that they supported each person's inherent Dignity, many of the harms now prevalent would cease to be.
(Lovely as that sounds, and as much as I could wish for such an outcome, I know that this dream-world of rainbow unicorns cannot be completely accomplished in this world of human beings. For example, I for one could never be brought to accept that the inherent human Dignity of, say, a sexual predator of children was equal to that of, say, Desmond Tutu. Or even of the mean lady at the laundromat. This kind of evaluation really does bleed over into the realm of religion, not of politics, law, or social structure.)
But even with this type of possible shortcomings, it is interesting to think about what a political/social structure based on a concept like respecting the inherent Dignity of each human being would be like.
I voted for Jill Stien
in 2012 and it was shocking that she got less then 1% of the votes. right now I'm registered in Working Family Party but I'm not happy at all about them. One of their people registering voters outside my local grocery store told me they are trying to sign up centrist Democratic voters. Centrists are one of the reasons I don't want to be a Democrat anymore.
We both back in the early Bushie regime days became active Multnomah County Democratic party members. Shah was a precinct captain and went to all their meetings and functions. I didn't go to the meetings as I'm pretty disorganized and have a large anarchistic streak. Like here at caucus there was a huge influx of new members as people were freaked out about Bushies selection. I was recruited to the county party by a Green. She said she was going to work for the Democratic party as the RW coup needed to be undone and we needed to form coalitions on the left. Turns out it was a by-patisan coup.
I did do grassroot canvasing etc. for local so called progressive candidates city county and state. I went to hear speeches sponsored by the party including Howard Dean at Portland state and local meetups for DFA. I also registered a lot of new Democratic voters. I feel I should go back and apologize to these people duping them. Our state house representative at that time said our district was so full of reds (as she called the flaming liberals) that Che Geverra would have a hard time getting himself elected. We managed to get a lot of younger progressives on the ballot who won on the wave of hope and change. 8 years later they turned out to be a bunch of corrupt Democrat's in progressive clothing. Now my community here has been 'gentrified' and is getting literally demolished.
If I seem leery of organized mainstream organized politics this one of the reasons. . Once bitten twice shy I guess. I have gotten sucked back into electoral politics by Bernie's campaign. The ordinary people who are responding to his populist message are what excites me. I think any progress is going to have to be global. I see the sparks of democracy and populism all over the world these days. I'm just in a head space that tends to look askew at any loyalty to political parties or candidates. But hey that's just me and this site is made up of people across the political spectrum which I like. I apologize if I came off as being negative or a grumpy disgruntled get off my lawn type. I look forward to learning, reading and sharing with a group of people who are interested in finding ways to understand and grow a humanistic, democratic site and world both inside and out of the garage can called politics.
I have over the years learned, changed and expanded my point of veiw from the writers at dkos, many of them are here now. Cassidorus being one of the people who's writing led me to understand more about socialism and capitalism in a way that's not all theory and wonky talk. Just a comment that say's I'm all in. My cup runneth over. A positive suggestion now that i've huffed about. We have the talent and knowledge, people could organize and write under broader issues like the environment, climate change. Even a subject like organic gardening would fit in this category. Anti-capitalism is another topic i'd like to read about and discuss. Coalitions, community, movments and solidarity are essential in these strange times, this site is a great opportunity to build a good one. Thanks for the positive dairy Cassiodorus your suggestions are excellent.
Why can't we focus on progressive causes...
wherever they may be found? Although I've always been a Democrat, and will likely be one for the forseeable future, since it gives me a voice in the primaries, I have no need to be one forever if something better ever comes into existence. I'd love to see the Democratic party become the party of progressive politics again, but if that can't happen, I'd also love to support Green party members downticket (until there are enough of them to operate at the national level).
I guess what I'm trying to ask is - why does it have to be limited here? Does it have to be limited?
I agree
I hope my post above was not misinterpreted as any attempt to shut down discussion. It was meant to clarify that we are NOT a Democratic (Party) website but we were founded as a democratic website with a primary focus on issues.
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
Hell, no!
I owe no allegiance to the Democratic Party. I have values and goals, and I'll go wherever that takes me.
Thank you, gjohnsit! (n/t)
Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?
“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy
I would hope it's a populist site
Specifically by "populist" I mean "in contrast to the oligarchy". I don't give a rat's ass about any of the establishment labels. I care about things which will benefit the 99%. I care about a government which is responsive to the will of "we the people".
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
No way. Not for the Democrats
That's my strong feeling as one of the founding members.
No partisanship. Just independent thought, moral decency, and good hearts. And hard work, if we decide on a collective project.
"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
If Hillary Clinton is not an oligarch,
then who the fuck is?
They may be first-generation, but the Clintons are definitive oligarchs.
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.
And the banhammer for "neocon"?!
I mean, what else would you call someone who adores Henry Goddam Kissinger and is endorsed by Robert Fucking Kagan fercrissakes?
"Our society is run by insane people for insane objectives. I think we're being run by maniacs for maniacal ends and I think I'm liable to be put away as insane for expressing that. That's what's insane about it."
-- John Lennon
So “neocon” is now a Daily Kos privileged, protected category…
Very revealing of where true loyalties lie.
As someone much smarter than I am stated,
"You know who your owners are, by who you're not allowed to criticize".
"When the powerless are shut out of the media, we will make the media irrelevant" ~Anonymous~
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