OK so what's going on?

Yesterday I received an email pitch from the Sanders campaign:

When we began this campaign a little over a year ago we were considered to be a fringe campaign. But over the last year, I think that has changed just a little bit.

As of last night, we have won 22 state primaries and caucuses with more than 11 million votes.

What we understand, and what every one of us has always understood, is that real change never occurs from the top on down, always from the bottom on up.

That is the history of America. Our fight is to transform our country and to understand that we are in this together. That is what OUR movement is about.

The struggle continues. We are going to fight for every vote in Tuesday's primary in Washington, DC, and then we will bring our political revolution to the Democratic convention in Philadelphia.

Say that you will continue to fight for the progressive future our country needs by adding a contribution to our campaign today.

Meaning no disrespect, Senator Sanders, but what's the money going toward? Shouldn't we get to know that BEFORE we pitch our hard-earned dollars at you? In the NYT we are told:

Senator Bernie Sanders plans to lay off at least half of his campaign staff Wednesday as his battered presidential bid continues despite Hillary Clinton’s being declared the presumptive Democratic nominee, two people close to the campaign said Tuesday.

Many of those being laid off are advance staff members who often help with campaign logistics, as well as field staff members who have been working to garner votes for the senator, according to a campaign official and a former campaign staff member, both of whom spoke on condition of anonymity.

So if they're pitching me for money, who's being hired? (We already know who's being fired.) Lawyers? Sanders' projected team to pitch for Clinton in the upcoming election? We can only wonder. Here's a curious news bulletin from left field:

The Justice Gazette reporters and others are conducting an investigation into voting irregularities and the theft of Bernie Sanders’s apparent California landslide victory by those supporting Hillary Clinton. According to popular actress Frances Fisher, a lawsuit is being prepared to require the counting of all the provisional ballots. If this lawsuit is successful, the actual vote count is expected to become known and Sanders will likely have a landslide victory in California.

There it is, folks. News so hidden from the public view that we need Frances Fisher to tell us what's going on. Is there a real lawsuit?

Meanwhile according to ABC news Sanders is set to meet with Obama, who says: "Battle With Bernie Sanders Made Hillary Clinton 'a Better Candidate'." This is, of course, nonsense -- as a candidate, Clinton won through influence-trading and election fraud while operating safely within the confines of the Democratic Party, and the question at hand is one of whether or not Trump, who only defeated fifteen rivals on the way to the Republican nomination, is any worse. So why's Sanders meeting with Obama? Congratulations, we cheated, you lost, welcome to the team?

Oh and then we can read Bill McKibben on the pointless platform-drafting effort:

Climate activist and Vermont author Bill McKibben, one of the Sanders supporters on the drafting committee, said he'll push the Vermont senator's ideas as the committee crafts the platform, which will get a vote at the convention.

“I think it’s got to be one of the vehicles for uniting people in a common effort against Donald Trump,” said McKibben. “There are millions and millions and millions of people who (Sanders) brought into this process. So it’s good to see those views represented so far here.”

I can hardly wait for the next five months of Bill McKibben touting the vast benefits of having a President who will do nothing to mitigate climate change, over a possible President who's a climate change denier. Yep, let's all unite for Hillary against the Donald, and never mind the pointlessness of the whole affair. Why did we do this anyway?

I'm beginning to feel good that I didn't bother with phonebanking or door-to-door pitches for Sanders. I'd have felt like just another liar, touting the benefits of a democracy that isn't there. (I did donate money, and I did vote for Sanders. Somehow that felt less embarrassing.) But there's still the bigger question to be answered: how do the Sanders folks run a motivating campaign for more than a year, and then completely forget about the public's reasons for participating?

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Comments

Azazello's picture

I trust him. I just sent in another $27 this morning. This time in response to an email that said the donation would be split with down ballot Berners; Canova, Gabbard, etc.

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We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.

Cassiodorus's picture

I might be willing to donate on those grounds -- though I don't at all think I'm out of line for asking the questions I've asked here.

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"the Democratic Party is not 'left'." -- Sabrina Salvati

JayRaye's picture

because you reminded me to pay attention and to be ready to stop that automatic monthly donation should Sanders endorse Hillary.

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Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth.-Lucy Parsons

downballot "Berniecrats" through their own ActBlue jars (an easy google). I prefer to decide how much I give to individual candidates and to make those donations to them directly. It does put me on their email begging list, but I'm OK with that.

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"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." --Jiddu Krishnamurti

I really want to see DWS go down hard. He may be a fake too, but she needs to be punished.

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

Hell he can fly to Rome again to visit Francis because it will make some heads I detest explode.

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Hell he can fly to Rome again to visit Francis because it will make some heads I detest explode.

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But it certainly didn't make her a better person.

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How can an out and out theft of the presidential election add up to a better candidate?

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'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 "

Hey, her team developed valuable skills for the general.

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Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

This wasn't very skilled election fraud. It was clumsy as hell, and could have been done much more subtly--and in fact, she could have run her whole campaign in such a way as to require much less fraud in order to get her over the finish line. They didn't bother, b/c they didn't have to: if the mainstream press and the legal system are in the bag for you, there's no one who will hold you accountable, barring revolution.

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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

elenacarlena's picture

November. Kind of like Gore, then Kerry.

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Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

Who needs skill, right?

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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

By November, the crazy coming out of Trump will be so accelerated, that people will vote in droves for Hillary. My prediction is there will be suppression, voting rigging but it won't be needed as much. Hillary wants a landslide.

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elenacarlena's picture

the win? Otherwise, I bet he starts to sound less crazy.

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Deja's picture

If Little Napoleon knew about it, it would explain the FP at TOP too.

But the plant part actually makes sense to me. She certainly can't win on her own merits, record, integrity. And has stooped to fraud, suppression, paid shills, paid protestors (in Bernie garb come Philly - you watch), manipulating search results, and God only knows what else. Why not pay the idiot to run against her? If so, she probably told him not to debate Bernie.

Speaking of debates, did you catch the prez mentioning the 20+ debates he had with her. And Bernie got 5 or 6? Add stacking the deck to things she has to do to win.

Edit to correct tense.

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elenacarlena's picture

we're supposed to regard him as the greater evil, a would-be Hitler.

But then if what her campaign says about him is true, which of these was true before?
She previously had no clue what he was really like?
She ignored it and was just using him to get his money?
Or she doesn't mind being friends with people who act like would-be Hitlers?

Either she had no clue (making her neither smart nor savvy) or she has no character.

I don't think it possible she would have no clue. I'd rather think they are both lying and playing a big game in which the voters are the patsies, than that the Clintons have no problems hanging out with someone who would be Hitler.

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earthling1's picture

I don't even live in his state, but I consider myself a constituent of his. His policies are my policies. At this point he has proven to me he can be trusted with my money.
What I won't do is give a damned dime to Clinton. I will fund Trump long before I fund Clinton. I see Trump as the lessor evil.
Clinton already has a machine that is primed to do maximum damage to us "little people ". THEY HAVE A FUCKING PLAN.
Trump, on the other hand, is totally unorganized. It will take him four years just to figure out how much power the POTUS has. He has supported SS and returning jobs to America and denounced the TPP, NAFTA, and CAFTA.
AND.......he is not well liked with establishment Republicans. A twofer.

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

stances on SS. The Rethugs will force him to do their bidding. Hence the reason why I can't vote for him or her Highness.

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O.k. When is the next meeting for the revolution?
-FuturePassed on Sunday, November 25, 2018 10:22 p.m.

earthling1's picture

Mine will be a spite vote. Pointedly at the DNC, Clinton and her fucking little dogs at TOP.

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

Alphalop's picture

I personally got no problems with a "Spite" vote, FSM knows they have earned it.

My personal preference is to use it to show my dissatisfaction with both, hence my intent to vote Stein if it comes to that.

However I would really like to see an amendment that requires a None of the Above option with minimum percentage thresholds to be met in order to qualify for ANY office.

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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

Leema's picture

He doesn't have real positions or values except personal gain. His words shift with the wind and the mood.

Having said that...since Hillary does not represent my values I cannot vote for her.

My hope (probably futile) is that CA will count all those provisional ballots and Bernie will have won CA.

My hope is that Bernie's honesty will prevail through whatever is yet to come. He has withstood corruption for a long time...but I have a feeling that he is going to be subject to a huge barrage that will play his love of country against his love of justice and life.

OH and I will continue to send him my monthly retainer as long as he is saying what needs to be said.

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When wealth rules, democracy dies.

earthling1's picture

Just egotistical to a fault. He is so full of himself that I don't believe he's willing to do anything that would cloud his precious image. IMHO, President Donald Trump will be very sensitive to his public image. I don't believe he gives a shit what estabishment Republicans think about him. They sure don't like Donald Trump the nominee.

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

He is not unhinged. He is acting. Hillary is much more scary because she will be able to accomplish much more terrible things than Trump because there will little protest against her. More likely people will take to the streets to stop Trump from enacting damaging policies. That said, I will not vote for him either.

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Cassiodorus's picture

We have to get more people to read gjohnsit's diaries.

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"the Democratic Party is not 'left'." -- Sabrina Salvati

TrueBlueinWDC's picture

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"Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change." Stephen Hawking

NEW: http://www.twitter.com/trueblueinwdc

Alphalop's picture

Hillary is indeed a Psychopath.....

Exhibit A

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

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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 am not a big fan of Hillary Clinton -- at least, not as a candidate or officeholder. I was a very active Bernie Sanders volunteer, and the campaign honored that by putting me in position to be elected a delegate. I will proudly serve in that role in Philadelphia - but it's posts like this -- and frankly, most of the nonsense about election fraud and other imagined delicts -- puts me in what is for me a very unnatural and even unpleasant place to be: defending Hillary Clinton against facile, glib, reactionary and fantastical attacks. She's got a temper -- and quick to ridicule opposition -- and she's also very bad on camera. That doesn't mean she's unhinged.

Trump, on the other hand is either seriously unhinged or playing a role for which the Clintons are probably paying him handsomely.

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Representing the 99% at the Dem Nat'l Convention in Philly.

of all the misbegotten war crimes that Hillary was involved in is just so much pearl-clutching and Correct the Record horseshit. There is nothing "facile, glib, reactionary (!), and fantastical" about a clear-eyed analysis of her destructive interventions (orchestrated by PNAC reps FFS!) And, BTW, just because you claim to be a Sanders delegate on the intertoobz doesn't make your specious commentary any more legitimate.

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Alphalop's picture

As much as I am loath to accuse anyone (as my misguided defense of one in another thread that was later proven by JTC I think it was?) it seems like we may be getting some more "Less than authentic individuals" posting lately.

I am by no means saying that this is the case with the OP, but if they think that voter fraud, etc is so much hullabaloo then I am doubtful that they have a grasp on the reality of the situation at best...

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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

First, I got tossed from DK because I was suspecting a brand-new poster of fabricating his tale of being a Sanders delegate in Nevada. I was an asshole. Now, I got tossed because I was accused of asking for prersonally identifying information, which I will argue was a huge misunderstanding of what I asked him. I asked him what precinct he caucused at, not to get his name, but because if it was in Vegas, I might have met him when I was poll-watching for the campaign. I didn't do what I was accused of, but, I was still an asshole.

Don't be as big of an asshole as I was.

I'm not bragging about being a delegate -- and it's not particularly relevant, other than as a set-up as to how uncomfortable I feel defending Clinton against irrational attacks. I have no reason to lie about it. It's not really significant. My views are my views and I would stand by them either way. I simply offered the info because I wanted to convey how difficult it is for me to feel pressed into defending HRC right now -- especially today. As for my bona fides, I had an interesting day today. First, I got called out as a Bernie-Bro...by one of Sanders' appointees to the platform committee. That was a very jarring experience to say the least. Then, I had the very bittersweet experience today of attending Bernie's DC rally. But, I got to reunite and hang with some of the other wonderful volunteers I met on the campaign, and that was the best I've felt since we got crushed here in Maryland.

I also met Cornell West -- one of my intellectual heroes, so that was pretty cool -- and I got to vent about Clinton to an Agence France Presse reporter, which was pretty cleansing...until I got home and made the mistake of checking out what people were writing in response to my comments here. Weird fucking day. Ups and downs. Wish it didn't end on a downer like this, because this shit makes me feel worse than witnessing the end of the Sanders campaign today. When I hear him, I'm filled with optimism, and then I read what some of his so-called supporters write online, and I despair.

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Representing the 99% at the Dem Nat'l Convention in Philly.

What I said really had nothing to do with being a delegate and I didn't offer that info to establish legitimacy. I put it out there to say that defending Clnton is not my first instinct and I don't enjoy doing it. It certainly doesn't come easy for me after spending months of hard work and do-re-mi trying to win votes for Sanders in Maryland.

And, calling strangers liars -- especially when yo have no reason to believe that or any real purpose in saying it other than to be an ass -- that is not a commendable way to behave.

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Representing the 99% at the Dem Nat'l Convention in Philly.

delegate" had nada to do with your apologetics for Hillary. Seriously? And if you don't think celebrating the death, dismemberment and anal rape on CAMERA of a former elected head of state and ALLY isn't "unhinged" tells me your moral compass aligns very well with Correct the Record.

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"just happened to mention I'm a Sanders delegate" had nada to do with your apologetics for Hillary. "

I didn't say it had nothing to do with it. I laid out the link in the original comment, and then in my follow-up, I elaborated on my explanation. Both times, I said that I was setting out my starting point to note that it doesn't come easy for me to do that, but that I couldn't read wild distortions without responding.

I recognize the internet is rife with distortion. I had a discussion about this at the Sanders DC rally, with a reporter from the Intercept. He wanted to argue that it's harder -- basically impossible -- to swiftboat candidates now, becaue of the internet. So easy to get out the refutation. That's true, but I argued there's much more misinformation in the internet era. I argued that, yes, in an era when everyone watched TV, political ads had more immediate impact, and there was less time to respond. But, I maintain that people were generally better informed because they got news from real reporters in the field -- not asshats with an agenda sitting in front of a laptop, cheaply creating the kind of viral misinformation that it used to take millions of dollars to produce and broadcast. We think we know more now, but we're deluged with poorly-sourced information, and our confirmation bias just helps us filter out the important, challenging information that might cause us to rethink our positions and recognize that there's more complexity in the world than we allow for in our ideology, whatever that ideology might be.

It's all well and good to criticize Clinton for lacking any great ideas or principles. I defy anyone to contradict that and offer evidence to the contrary. But, she's not a monster. What we might call defeatism or betrayal is to her mind pragmatism. Have the Clinton's enriched themselves? Obscenely so. But, I bet that in their mind, that's pragmatic, too -- allowing them to move in the moneyed circles they believe they need to be in to be effective. Or, maybe they're really just comic-book caricatures who think it's funny to see a mass-murderer killed and roll around on a bed stuffed with millions of hard cash and gargle with champagne.

And let's get real about Qaddaffi. He was a true lunatic. And he was hardly an ally. He gave up his nuclear program to avoid being next on W's hit list. But, he was an unstable murderous fiend who was a longtime enemy and who pillaged his country's wealth and tortured his "own people". He may have been the authority in Libya, but let's not get crazy about his being an "elected head of state." He was a Mafioso who managed to capture the reins of power in the country via a coup, took massive bribes, pludered his country's treasury and bought mansions around the world to indulge his exotic passions. He was a modern-day Nero or Caligula who had no legitimacy nationally or internationally.

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Representing the 99% at the Dem Nat'l Convention in Philly.

Haikukitty's picture

It's cool for me to break laws (see IG report) and personally enrich myself at the expense of my nation (See Clinton Foundation donations prior to actions as SOS)? I won't be a monster, because I genuinely see it as pragmatic.

Who gives a shit if Qadaffi was Hitler incarnate? Sure, you remove him from power, you lock him up, maybe you even execute him if you're bloodthirsty.

What you don't do is laugh about the death of someone sodomized with a bayonet. It's disgusting and speaks to character. Shit, you don't even laugh about the execution of Hitler himself. It's serious. You can argue it's necessary, but you can't argue it's a cause for gleeful laughter.

But I'm not basing my disdain for Hillary simply on this one thing. There are COUNTLESS reasons. I don't care if she genuinely believes every action of hers is saintly and for the good of all. They aren't and she is dangerous. She may not be a comic-book villain, but she is a fundamentally flawed candidate whose motives are always self-enrichment at the expense of other people and other countries.

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First off I was responding to the insinuation that she's unhinged. You might not like her, you might not agree with her policies, but she's one of the saner people.

But, if you're saying that video is "legitimate analysis" or that it establishes "war crimes" you're just not correct. That video is entirely facile. It starts with her laughing -- and it's pretty clear that we're coming into the middle of a joking conversation -- so the laughter and the remark about Qaddaffi are totally out of context. Yeah, you wouldn't be finding humor there, but that's not your life. We all find ways to laugh at ourselves and events in our lives. That stuff comes with the territory for a SecState. And sandwiching that with the Bush laughter at the end is a ridiculously facile trick. Oh, they both laugh. Ok -- they're the same, then.

The stuff that's sandwiched in between? Notonly do I not see a war crime there, I don't see anything I find objectionable. First, she talks about terrorist leaders who will be either captured or killed. The US is acting in self-defense and in defense of other nations in acting against these individuals. That's entirely within the norms of international law. Preventing attacks on civilian populations -- either here or in Afghanistan -- that's what we'd expect from any President. I'm pretty sure we endured months of hearings and savaged the Bush Adminstration for ignoring the Clinton Administration's warnings about al-Qaeda's threat. Then there's a comment about a "Democratic, Jewish state." That's a war crime? The U.N. voted to establish a Jewish state. THe whole notion of a "Democratic, Jewish state" is wrapped up in the idea of ending the occupation and establishing an independent Palestine alongside Israel, so that Israel can be both a democratic state and a Jewish state (which would be impossible if they maintain control over an Arab population that is larger than the Jewish population within the "greater Israel" borders that expansionist Israelis advocate for. Still nothing objectionable in what she's saying. Finally, she states that Iran is the greatest state sponsor of terrorism. That's pretty much an undeniable fact, unless you want to consider what Russia has perpetrated in Georgia and Ukraine as a greater "terrorism."

In the litany, there is only one "intervention" by the US -- that was in Libya. Speaking as someone who has an advanced degree in and used to practice international law, I can tell you that this was a classic example of what is called a "humaitarian intervention." Not only is that recognized in international law, a lot of us international lawyers have invested a lot of words advocating that there's not only a right of humanitarian intervention, there's actually a duty for international organizations to intervene and prevent massacres, especially of non-combatants. That's a complex argument that ties together legal, moral and practical considerations. Just because the aftermath in Libya has been messy doesn't mean the intiial intervention wasn't an appropriate use of force by a recognized international security organization. Actually, it was two internationally recognized security organizations, since the Arab League and NATO were both involved.

Obviously, the aftermath in Libya was miserable, but it does appear to be moving in the right direction as an internationally recognized government moved yesterday to wrest control of Sirte from the ISIL forces. I am far prouder of our actions in Libya to prevent the massacre and defeat of the rebels in Libya than I am of our decision not to support the rebels in Syria (at least, not when it might have spared the lives of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of Syrians).

The world out there is messy and complicated. Trying to oversimplify things that require nuance isn't helpful. True, some of our interventions have wildly unintended consequences. To wit -- Afghanistan. We supplied the rebels for almost a decade and brought about the downfall of the Soviet Union. That resulted in freedom for hundreds of millions of people. But, history never stops, does it? Russia slipped back into a corrupt, plundering, authoritarian regime. We abandoned Afghanistan -- because we do military things pretty well, but no one wants to spend money on actually helping people abroad -- and so it turned to shit. Still, the original concept of helping the locals fight back against invaders was a sound one -- a moral one. Not everything we do is noble, and there's usually a huge amount of self-interest involved in in our nobler ventures, but having self-interest doesn't obviate the nobility. Rather, it's a fundamental pre-requisite because no one would abide spending tax dollars or putting American lives on the line, if it wasn't in our interest. I find nothing wrong with what we did in Libya other than not securing the peace, which probably wasn't in our power to do anyway. That failure doesn't mean the intervention there was immoral or stupid. The final chapter there has not been written -- but, then again, there is no such thing as a final chapter. The Obama foreign policy has not played out very well, with few successes and multiple failures, but then again, the final chapter hasn't been written yet.

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Representing the 99% at the Dem Nat'l Convention in Philly.

You have just repeated every RW argument relating to war and "interventions" (R2P is a neocon invention) I've ever heard. I give a rat's ass if you claim to have even a tangential connection with "international law" (whatever the hell that means) because fallacious arguments (like appeals to authority) don't cut it here, capisce?. War crimes are war crimes, and any "legalistic excuses" (are you John Yoo?) are just more fodder for Nuremberg-type prosecutions, unless, of course, you're a captive D, and wanna "look forward" and can get a DoJ to co-operate and sell out for you. I'm done here.

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Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

we're not an echo chamber!

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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

Every comment I've read from FischFry makes me absolutely convinced that his/her politics has nothing to do with supporting or caring for the policies that Bernie Sanders spoke about in every rally and in his platform. Policies that I support fully and so many in the Democratic Party do not.

And reading FischFry's sig line after those comments makes me feel like I'm hearing fingernails scraping the chalkboard.

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Alphalop's picture

necessarily that did it, it was the obvious JOY she took in talking about what was a hideous death.

Did he deserve to die? Probably, depending on your viewpoints, but nobody, and I mean NOBODY of character, or at least character that I would ever trust, should take such obvious glee in the death of another.

Sometimes the death of another is indeed warranted, but nobody I would respect would take pleasure in it.

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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

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JayRaye's picture

It's silly nonsense to object to someone cackling over the death of another human being. Esp when that human being was brutally murdered.

Well you are, of course, entitled to your opinion. Watch the video and if you aren't bothered by it and you think Hillary's laughter was justified, And you think she presents herself in that video as dignified and Presidential, then fine, go on and vote for her.

Bu your chance of convincing most of us to do the same thru your mocking comments is slim to none.

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Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth.-Lucy Parsons

I didn't notice that I was mocking anyone.

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Representing the 99% at the Dem Nat'l Convention in Philly.

she's a nasty piece of work and a liar and a thief. You can glibly dismiss who she tells you she is, but most people don't have to get hit by the train to know it is coming.

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

Bisbonian's picture

Yeah, I've been noticing that he is "my" Senator for several years, now. He has always seemed to be representing all of us, not some narrow constituency.

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"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X

His co-senator Pat Leahy though? Not so much.

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Enjoy every sandwich. (ripwz)

Wink's picture

The Donald, but wouldn't have a sad if he won. Would rather see him win than Her Highness, in fact, the SCOTUS be damned. An HRC win doesn't change the landscape one bit, we're stuck with the same dynamics of the last 25, 30 years. Worse, it becomes more solidified (if that's possible). How does a Donald win make things worse?

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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.

...or trying to fit in with what I guess is the vibe here. then you're delusional. A Donald win will make EVERYTHING worse.

I thought I was really out of place at Daily Kos, but if these sentiments are sincere and representative of folks here, I'm REALLY in the wrong place.

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Representing the 99% at the Dem Nat'l Convention in Philly.

I'm really getting tired of your vibe. We have one rule here, DBAA, and just about every one of your comments are insulting. Yeah, maybe you are in the wrong place.

I don't mind your point of view, but I do mind your attitude.

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Because the Ds have been enacting every dam thing on the R wishlist while making excuses that just don't wash. I, and many others are just freaking sick and tired of people trying to excuse LOTE voting. It's gotten us to where we are today, and it ain't working, OK?
Oh, and please read the intelligent commentary here:
http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2016/06/200pm-water-cooler-692016.html

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I made a really glib remark when I was out with my brother and his not yet ex-gf, about 3 or 4 years ago. I baiscally repeated some other too glib thing that someone else had written on the internet about how Obama's first term was basically George W. Bush's 3rd term. Made some level of sense at the time and given my disappointment in Obama, I adopted the line for my own. Continued hte fight in the Afghan theater, escalated the drone war, continued the electronic surveillance, lots of tax cuts instead of spending in the stimulus, and adopted a GOP initiative on health care. And, my brother, who is an even bigger green than I am (I'm talking about environmentalism, not political affiliation), agreed and took up the line of argument.

The thing, it was bullshit then, and to say the same thing about the last 4 years would be farcicial. The second Obama term is probably the most liberal, activist Presidency since LBJ. You may say that's a pretty low bar, but when you claim there's little difference between the parties, you're just being glib. First, the parties are very different, but hte nature of our government, especially the rules of the Senate and the fact that we have had mostly divided gov't since 1969, the legislation that comes out of tf always represents a compromise rather than the agenda of one or the other party.

Yeah, in the days when the Democratic Party represeneted the conservative South, we didn't get the liberal legislation we'd like (taken as a whole, the Party wasn't that liberal, even if there were liberal lions like Kennedy and McGovern and Javits -- whoops Javits was a Republican...today's GOP is not your daddy's GOP) , and the first 2 years of the Obama Administration didn't give us what we hoped for -- but they did give us a huge stimulus bill even in the face of what was it then, a $15 trillion debt? They have also given us a health bill that provided coverage for almost 20 million people -- after an existential battle that consumed all the political energy for that session.

The fact is that the GOP has moved wildly to the right. And, the Democratic Party has lost enough elections that is a much more liberal party than it has ever been. True, they've been afraid to be true to their liberal nature, but Sanders' success has changed that. Al Franken supported Clinton months ago, but today, he was asked what will happen when Sanders stops in for lunch with the Democratic caucus. Franken answered that he'll probably get a standing ovation.

Sanders has shown what's possible -- that the votes and the dollars are out there, if only they stand up for a progressive agenda. All we have to do is give them a working majority again, and you'll see what's possible.

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Representing the 99% at the Dem Nat'l Convention in Philly.

elenacarlena's picture

but think a discussion of just how much worse Trump is than Clinton is a discussion that needs to be had, so we can decide what to do next.

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Alphalop's picture

I can't remember what I said exactly but here goes. (Short version for those that don't want to read, "I agree". Smile )

An in depth analysis is important to do on this, because while I will never vote for Clinton, we do to take a look at it from an analytical loss/gain perspective. (I agree with most in that it is hard to find any "Gain" in a Trump Presidency but I think there is a valid argument to be made for him over Clinton from a purely tactical perspective.)

The Scotus argument doesn't scare me with Trump as much as it would if it was Cruz or Rubio. They may actually be effective in choosing selections that the right would accept and the dems would capitulate on.

I think TPTB that control the right are actually as afraid of Trump as they are of Sanders, hence the newfound support Clinton has received from the likes of the Koch brothers.

The Democrats would never work with him on his agenda on the crazier side of it, the Republicans are unlikely to do so as well because they will want to get him out in 2020 just as much as we do, and as much of an asshole as he is, he is absolutely likely to be better for us on issues such as Trade than Clinton would be.

And this doesn't even touch on the tactical voting aspect of it for 2018/20...

Do I think that Trump would be a good president? Hell NO! But I feel the same way about Clinton, and I think it is important that we fully discuss it if for no other reason than to be prepared for what will come.

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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

elenacarlena's picture

are older. Trump could pack the court with crazy right wingers. It's a big deal. I don't see a whole lot of difference between Clinton and Trump, but SCOTUS is one.

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You remember, the guy Biden let through, and denied supporting testimony for Anita Hill ?? Stop now. The president CANNOT APPOINT A SC JUSTICE ALL BY HIMSELF
The D record of SC Justice appointments sucks, Obama has nominated business-loving, authoritarian, "centrist" neolib " "Identitarians"-because RW positions are always better from females, especially POCs. The Supreme Court argument has been nullified in toto by the ACTS of the Ds.

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elenacarlena's picture

Appointed by Dems: Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor, Kagan.

Ideal? No. But are those two lists substantially different? Of course they are.

Biden didn't nominate Thomas. That's on Bush.

Citizens United dissent: Stevens, Ginsburg, Breyer, Sotomayor.
Hobby Lobby dissent: Ginsburg, Sotomayor, Breyer, Kagan.

What do you want them to do, magically clone themselves?

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Look at, and count the freaking votes There is a yuge difference between NOMINATING and voting those suckers in, and the Ds have been complicit in some of the worst (unless you think Roberts, Thomas, Alito are OK?)

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elenacarlena's picture

and yes, usually cowardly Dems in Congress approve them. So we're talking about the Presidential race. Do you want to vote for Trump and let the SCOTUS be taken over by whatever fools he would nominate??

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who vote them in. Do you seriously think that neolib/neocon warloving crooked Wall Street tool Hillary would nominate someone better? And assuming, against all history she nominates a decent LW Justice, that they would make it through the RW Congress that she would have to work with? (Because, really, you think the Ds will generate "excitement" for the down ballot races?). The SC argument is a loser. The Democrats were in charge when they confirmed Alito and Roberts. The Democrats confirmed Clarence Thomas. The Democrats when they get a chance put in corporate judges (but sorta OK on social issues), but most of the court cases nobody hears about are corporate friendly. The social cases get publicity. Obama nominated Merrick Garland. Enough with the SCOTUS fear mongering. And another steal from NC:
"Lambert Strether
June 9, 2016 at 6:13 pm
I think one reason that the Supreme Court argument appeals so much to the 10% that forms Clinton’s base is that, institutionally, the Court epitomizes credentialed “meritocracy”; every 10%er with power over some hapless prole, even with the best of motives, likes to think of themselves as a Justice.

Unfortunately, for Democrats, Supreme Court justices have become a substitute for actually winning elections; see the Stupak Amendment and Executive Order 13535 for what Democrats actually do as opposed to what they say.

As we all know, the Obama administration has been an institutional disaster at every level but the Presidency, and not just the Senate, but all the way down through the state level. Are you really suggesting that Supreme Court decisions are a substitute for electoral power?"

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elenacarlena's picture

person on the court. All the Dem appointees I listed were appointed by either Clinton the Bill or Obama. Again on McCutcheon, dissenting were Breyer, Ginsburg, Sotomayor, and Kagan. These are the big two that let corporate money corrupt elections.

Do you have a record of pro-business decisions with which the Dem-appointed justices were in favor? Because from the cases I know, the Dem-appointed justices were on the right side. They were mostly overruled because of the Repub-appointed justices being on the wrong side. So who gets to nominate is crucial, and if you think Clinton of Hill fame is an extension of Bill/Barack, then well, those two did surprisingly well in their appointments. Garland excepted.

Look, I'm not trying to fearmonger. I think "be afraid of Trump!" is a LOUSY reason to vote for someone and I hope she will give us reasons to vote FOR her instead of AGAINST him. But "SCOTUS be damned" is not helpful, and "she will appoint people no better than Trump will," as far as I know unless you have evidence as above, is not in line with the facts of how the Supremes have voted.

There are a lot of issues at play. SCOTUS is one of several. IF Bern is not the nominee, then I will be looking at all those issues. Some have said Trump is even to the left of Hill on some issues. I tend to doubt that, but I'll sure explore it later, well before I vote in November.

We have a lot of alternatives to weigh, none of them good, IF Bern is not the nominee. I think we should be correct on the facts as we weigh our options.

As for the "SCOTUS appeals" op-ed, that has nothing to do with me. SCOTUS is not my only or even most prominent issue. I was responding to the commenter who brought it up.

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"Nominate" IS what a Prez does. The Senate confirms, and appoints, it isn't an Executive appointment. I am going by her history as a Zionist-loving, war-mongering, Wall-Street enabling, fracking and TPP and XL pipeline supporting actor (not to mention, she is all good with restricting abortion rights). Her SC nominations can only be horrific.

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Alphalop's picture

as a former corrections officer that has had to deal with inmates that I was quite sure were not in there appropriately (A couple of which whom actually were, years later, successful in overturning their convictions.) it is a huge issue with me and a total deal breaker.

Some people try to hedge it with the, "But she only means it for terrorists and stuff..." argument but that holds ZERO water with me.

When it comes to the death penalty, it's something you have to absolutely be right 100% of the time on. You are committing cold, calculated death that you don't have to commit to like in the heat of battle.

And we can I am pretty sure all safely say we agree that NO human endeavor can or will EVER be done with a 100% success rate.

We already know with absolute certainty that not only have we executed innocent people in the name of the state but we have done it DOZENS of times!

And she wants to still allow it.

Sorry, no thanks. I am good. I got enough guilt on my head already, I don't need those deaths on top of it.

That is just one of the many reasons Clinton will never get my vote.

Sorry if I came off a little strong there, it's one of the issues I am really passionate about.

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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

elenacarlena's picture

better. I'm still waiting for the convention, and willing to consider third-party voting, don't get me wrong. But if forced choice, Trump and Clinton, well, her justice appointments are not likely to be worse than Trump's. Or do you know something about him I don't know? I think he'd sentence someone to death and make fun of their death throes.

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Alphalop's picture

for him either. Smile

If not Sanders than Stein will get mine. I won't vote against my conscience anymore. I just can't do it.

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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

elenacarlena's picture

confirms, then

Confirmation by the Senate allows the President to formally appoint the candidate to the court.

This is backed up by HuffPo, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/the-conversation-us/four-steps-to-appointi... and they quote the Constitution itself:

Article II, section 2 provides that the president “shall nominate, and by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall appoint ... judges of the Supreme Court.”

So the President does indeed appoint, after the Senate does its thing.

However, if you think because of her prior actions and statements, Hill may make worse nominations and/or appointments than Bill or Barack, well okay, maybe.

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

one way or the other? His situation involves other considerations than simply casting a vote in November, be it protest or otherwise. He will still have an important job to do as a Senator, and needs not to make himself an instant pariah with every establishment Democrat in office.

Purity at the polls is far easier, and something I look forward to indulging myself in in November, than his continuing to work successfully at his job as Senator for the great state of Vermont.

If I still think HRC is a POS when I enter the voting booth, I will not vote for her, regardless of whether Bernie asks us to vote for her. Simple. And I will not think less of Bernie or consider him a sellout one iota. We are different people in very different situations. Not so simple.

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“What the herd hates most is the one who thinks differently; it is not so much the opinion itself, but the audacity of wanting to think for themselves, something that they do not know how to do.”
-Arthur Schopenhauer (1788-1860)

sending Bernie more money. I do trust him and if he says he needs it then it's his.

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O.k. When is the next meeting for the revolution?
-FuturePassed on Sunday, November 25, 2018 10:22 p.m.

JayRaye's picture

And I donate more when I can usually around state primaries, win or loose.

I will donate right up to the time that he endorses Hillary (if he does) at which time I will write to him and thank him for all that he has done, but respectfully decline to support Hillary.

And at that time, I'll ask him to not donate any money to the Clinton Campaign. Of course we gave him (I mean his Campaign) the money, it's his now, and he can do what he wants with it.

I think we all knew that some of our money might end up supporting Hillary depending on the course of action that Sanders decides to take. I don't think he ever was dishonest about that. I got the impression from the start that he would support the Democratic nominee.

The day that our money goes to Hillary, the Sanders campaign should let us know so that each of us can decide if we want to continue donating to Bernie under those circumstances.

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Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth.-Lucy Parsons

Alphalop's picture

I imagine he would mostly use it to both fund the necessary lawsuits in AZ, PR, Etc. as well as support down ballot candidates that are Bernicrats.

He is a smart man so there is not a doubt in my mind that he is aware how much it would annoy many of his supporters if their donations were used to help Clinton.

I trust Bernie to do the right thing and will continue to donate to the Campaign until the convention and to the movement thereafter if it is being lead by him or some other progressive that I trust.

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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

JayRaye's picture

Winnings to go to Sanders Campaign, of course.

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Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth.-Lucy Parsons

i can't imagine Bernie giving the Clintons or DWS a dime. I don't know what he wants the money for, but I trust him until proven otherwise.

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

Unabashed Liberal's picture

had his radio show on Air America (few years back), he did a segment on the topic.

(I'm talking before he ran for Senator. He had guests on to talk about it who were from the DNC.)

If/When our senators and representatives are tasked to fundraise for the Party, they have no control which congresspersons/senators get the money. It goes to the ones who need the funds the most (usually, members who have the closest races).

Since I heard that segment, we have been very careful to read the fine print on donation solicitations, since there is usually/should be a disclosure which indicates that a lawmaker is fundraising for the Party's general fund (if that's the case).

Supposedly, all lawmakers are required to do some fundraising for the general fund, or Party coffers. Elizabeth Warren is one of the most prolific at doing this. (or, so I've read)

But, that's all I know. Maybe Bernie has a waiver. Dunno. And, of course, most of each member's fundraising is for themselves--not for others.

(IOW, read the fine print, if it's a concern.)

Cheers!

Mollie


In Tribute To 'Barabas'
Please Visit Save Our Street Dogs [SOSD]

Barabas The Brave, Dearly Missed, SOSD

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

Alphalop's picture

expect that Sanders will be a registered member of the Democratic Party for much longer if he doesn't take the Nomination.

The party has made it pretty apparent that his values are not their values.

My suspicion is that Bernie will use the momentum raised here and channel it into a new party.

That is my hope.

But if not him, someone else will. I don't see all those recently awakened going quietly back to sleep. Sure some will, heck maybe even half will.

But the half that remains will still be enough to keep the fires burning until 2018 is my prayer to the FSM. 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

Unabashed Liberal's picture

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

Be give. To HRC? Lol. That's just absurd on the face of it

1) I doubt Bernie will have much $$ left by convention time

2) if anything he will use our money to help get down ballot candidates he endorsed elected.

3). IF you are worried he will use our money to directly support the status quo candidate email his campaign and ASK if he intends to do that.

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Orwell was an optimist

In 2000, when McCain threw in the towel, he sent his remaining campaign money to Bush.

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

Alphalop's picture

Bernie EVER will be.

I stand by my earlier analysis about how Sanders will meet the requirements necessary to keep his word without completely endorsing Hillary.

I could be totally wrong, but examining this man's history leads me to believe that his own integrity is worth more to him than doing the politically easy thing.

Edited to fix typo

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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

instead of "endorse Hillary". But I am rather cold to that nuance. Bernie always seemed straightforward not nuanced like lawyer Clinton.

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

Sandino's picture

IMHO.

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riverlover's picture

Whatever, there are multiple discussions ongoing, most of them civil and thought-provoking (with those who can still be provoked to think). I am usually tolerant of reading essays that I may not agree with, even at all. I find it interesting what pushed you to your conclusion. The sky is blue here. Wink

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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.

earthling1's picture

Within the next two terms ( 8 - 10 years ) climate change will be upon us without question, even among the deniers. Already we are seeing extreme weather events and sea level rise. Not to mention a constant rise in world temperatures that continue to break records.
It's like saying you will never get mugged. Then have a guy stick a gun in your face a demand your wallet. It will be unrefutable.
In fifteen years these pussy politicians will either be frantically trying to correct things or securing a place in some trillon dollar bunker to wait for the rest of us to perish.

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

Because I live in an east coast ZONE ONE hurricane area 3 blocks from the Atlantic Ocean

If a politician out here isn't addressing climate issues they are immediately attacked by the local voters who are STILL trying to recover from the aftermath of sandy.

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Orwell was an optimist

Alphalop's picture

important to us, considering the average overall elevation of the entire state...

It's one of the reasons I am considering selling my house and buying a nice boat along the lines of a Lagoon 440 to live aboard.

I almost got my wife ready to agree if it's one with as much usable square footage as that one has and we keep it at a nice Marina when not underway.

Fingers crossed, lol!

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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

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Beware the bullshit factories.

The mayor (?) of the last Dry Land is standing on that land proclaiming everything is peachy keen as he and the land slowly sink under the water.

If you can find that clip PLEASE post a link.

Thanks

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Orwell was an optimist

It's been raining there for days...

She keeps trying to get me to move out of NYC and near her but I tell her she's nuts... There was a tornado warning in Naples a few days ago.

If I move it will be to a desert area where I will wait for my new abode to become shorefront property .

An OLD friend who grew up out where I live returned to visit. After many years... Her first comment was WHY DID they fill in all the under the board walk areas... I explained that when we were kids there was no need for a. Barrier between the beach and the rest of the neighborhood but now there is.

Nothing makes global climate change more real or immediate that sitting I. Your home watching electrical generators blow up ALL around you as salt water came inland and never stopped coming... When I woke up the morning after Sandy came ashore the building I live in was surrounded by 5 feet of water... To say everyone out here was In Shock is an understatement.

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Orwell was an optimist

Alphalop's picture

I recommend where I live, Cape Coral, just to the north.

Was less expensive, access to better beaches like Sanibel, and much cleaner and more quite.

I am a compulsive researcher, so I analyzed storm trends, etc. when choosing.

Cape has only had 2 hurricanes do any significant damage in like 30 years and where I actually bought is way higher than sea level as well as having a connected section of land that is also of above average elevation for the area.

My family in Jersey said I was crazy for moving down here and between all the storms and whatnot, they have been without power for probably over a months worth of time in the last 3 years.

I lost it for about 4 hours once. 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

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