In this primary Stalin's quote is true, "Those who cast the votes decide nothing.Those who count the votes decide everything."
I did not not think they would lose their composure so quickly but they muist be willing to risk it. Nevada was the turning point I think.
The tactics used there foretell what is coming. Look for it to get much worse. They fear the massive turn out expected at the Philadelphia convention and will make it clear that you go there at your own risk.
We saw the willingness to use force against us in the 1960s and 1970s. It is time to be realistic about what this oligarchy will do to hold onto power.
Understand that the real power is shielded by layers of protection. The election system is one layer. It has held up quite well until now. Bernie has exposed it for what it really is and the facade is crumbling.
This is serious business and if you thought you were going to win without a real fight you were very naive.
I hope someone out there has a plan for dealing with this situation because lots of people could be hurt.
We saw their violent nature back then and many were hurt. This is not just an election. It is a revolution. It will not be fun.
Comments
I wish you weren't right, Don.
'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 "
So do I
but revolution has a price.
Anyone who isn't willing to lay their future down, including their own ability to breathe, should back off now. Because as Don notes, it is going to get damned ugly and painful. Are we up to it?
Well, the problem is that we may not be able to keep
our futures or our ability to breathe, which makes the decision easier.
The difficult part is when you've got enough left that you could still have some nice years before the end. That, and loved ones, makes it hard again.
"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
Good point. I would add that people are already being hurt.
And they are being hurt badly.
There's been an unexpected decline in life span among Euro-descended non professionals due to the deteriorated job situation. When these people who have felt the brunt of neoliberal policies stop blaming themselves and wise up to who is profiting from their misery, they may feel that people of color are not the real enemy after all. Some have: they support Sanders or Trump. It's up to those with the facts to help them realize this has been planned for decades and NAFTA, et al are the manifestations of the conspiracy. (I call it a conspiracy because most of it is done in secret and goes against how Americans feel as reflected in polls.)
If Trump is to be believed, and I cannot take him seriously because of his back-and-forths, he favors SS, Medicare, and keeping well paying jobs here instead of shipping them to China, India and Mexico. I think this explains a lot of his appeal to those who otherwise would not have anything to do with "populism" or solidarity.
"The justness of individual land right is not justifiable to those to whom the land by right of first claim collectively belonged"
it has never been an election
A movement is on going. Civil rights are far from achieved. Here in Alabama,
My point being that like civil rights this is a long term effort. The election has crystallized and sharpened the picture of the oligarchy, but the effort will not end after November. In fact if Bernie does win, the struggle will really be in full swing. Let's keep working.
But may be, just may be, we may try to reach toward what we started in the sixties .
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
Alabama IS a Fascist state
and it isn't only People of Color who are feeling the jackboots. It's anyone and everyone who doesn't support The Party - or worse, has the effrontery to run for re-election on the other ticket and actually win (temporarily, until enough "lost votes" are conveniently "found"). Then it's off to jail on trumped-up charges, and throw away the key.
There is no justice. There can be no peace.
tell it sister
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
On the way out the door, but have to drop this
The videos tell the story:
http://heavy.com/news/2016/05/nevada-democratic-convention-raw-video-vid...
'What we are left with is an agency mandated to ensure transparency and disclosure that is actually working to keep the public in the dark' - Ann M. Ravel, former FEC member
nice link
Your link: Nevada Democratic Convention: The Videos You Need to See is awesome.
One video midway through the article, with Robert Kern, an attorney who has represented several Sanders supporters, was especially noteworthy, but because it's FB I can't embed, but here's a direct link to the video.
https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?allowfullscreen=true&app_id=2...
I have some suggestions
First, continue to do everything you can to try to get Bernie the Democratic nomination. Who knows where that will lead?
Second, help the Greens get on the ballot in states where they are still struggling. This is especially needed in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Third, support Brand New Congress, which is already working on opposing some incumbant House members.
Fourth, the People's Summit in Chicago after the convention. If you can't go, you can contribute to their "scholarship fund" to help someone else go.
And, of course, sign the petition at:
http://movement4bernie.org/
I believe that all of these actions will help keep the revolution in motion.
[And yes, the convention in Philly just might get ugly.]
Life is strong. I'm weak, but Life is strong.
Looking forward
I am depressed at the success the HRC campaign and the media have had in dismissing Bernie's platform by making false claims about the cost of his proposals. They never put all the appropriate eggs in the basket before they break them.. NEVER, EVER do the consider NEW PRIORITES in spending, and appropriations. Never any discussion about reducing our military spending, subsidies to corporations, the current cost of the ACA, Medicaid, Medicare, and the exorbitant cost of insurance premiums paid by ALL of us. Never do they truly offer any consideration of a penny tax on the 30 million ( I'm hedging on the conservative side, but that may be BILLION. I googled it several months ago, but my old mind loses some stuff these days) stock transaction per month... only that new taxes are BAD, and inflationary...Shit; most people will not bend over to pick up a nickel in the parking lot, but squeal like a suck hog over the prospect of a penny tax on a speculative financial transaction...aaaarrrgghhhh
Philadelphia convention ... go there at your own risk.
Nice quote. Excellent article! Short and all meat. I want to quote the whole second half ;->
Wouldn't Go even
if I lost a bet. I remember Chicago '68 too well.
Something tells me we could watch a repeat in Philly. I hope not, but things are so much worse in this country than they were back then.
Meddle not in the affairs of Dragons - For thou art crunchy and good with ketchup
Good luck to my young friends in Philly
Like Pariah Dog, I too remember 1968. Which means I'm well past "millennial" and will be with all of the people who do go to Philly, in Spirit only.
Think what's most important is to use any social media possible to really convince the Super Delegates, no matter what polls they read, WE WILL NOT SUPPORT THE CLINTONS.
The talk of "unity" is worse than a joke, it is a LIE. This is 2016, not 2008. We are not "pumas" cuz so many of us are Independents, or definitely NOT DWS/DNC/DLC/ThirdWay/Clinton Democrats. Those days are over, past, gone, toast, moldy and infectiously past their sell by date.
Bernie Sanders supporters are not for sale. If anyone does manage to get the email list of donors, it will be useless to them.
NOT FOR SALE!
And not available for anything else, either. The first DNC goon that calls me on Hillary's behalf is going to get such an earful....
I really want to go.
But my guess is that my boyfriend will convince me not to, mainly because he's going to worry himself sick if I go.
If he goes w/me--well, things might not go well if someone decided to hurt me. That's all I'm gonna say.
So if I go alone, he'll worry himself sick about me--
If we go together, I'll worry myself sick about him.
It was simpler being single. Not better, necessarily, but simpler.
"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
And yes, I know how lame this sounds.
"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
Rebellion will come.
The people are finding out just how rigged our "democracy" really is. We are not free. We are controlled. Social media is exposing all of it. If the people don't rise up thus time, I fear we are doomed. I don't say this lightly.
"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
"We are not free. We are controlled."
The only thing missing is the tanks.
The tanks will be coming soon. This could turn out to be the US's Tiananmen Square.
Nowadays they may use water cannon and MRAPs instead.
http://egypt.usembassy.gov/pr051216.html
The Americans are cowards.
I can't imagine any American standing in front of a moving tank and being willing to be run over to make a statement -- even knowing that it could well be in vain.
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
Neither could I
until this year.
It seems uncertain whether or not you have any idea how many Americans have nothing else to lose at this point. I have half an idea we'll see something far crazier than some fool white guy standing in front of a moving tank...
Well, there's the veteran who came
to the National Mall last year w/a sign that said "Tax the Rich." He was in uniform, he saluted the Capitol Building, and he blew his brains out.
And then there's the American girl who was run over by the IDF in Israel.
And then there's Snowden, who was fairly brave.
But you may be right in your assessment, though not in your diagnosis of why it is.
Most white Americans, and even some POC who aren't black, have a fundamental belief that they have rights that the government will not interfere with and a corollary belief that the US military will not be turned on its own citizens like that. That's something that happens in other countries, bad places with propaganda instead of news and election fraud instead of honest voting.
When you say they are cowards--it's not just the fear of being crushed under a moving vehicle that's working. It's a horrified inability to accept the reality of the situation.
That's what's fucking us over.
"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
"horrified inability to accept the reality of the situation"
thank you, that is the money quote here in my opinion. It is hard to believe, even though I have read enough to see it coming, I still am surprised by it. The open-ness of it I guess, the fact that they're just not even going to try to hide it anymore. I want to think that I am merely over-reacting, but damn, I know I'm not.
I want to go to Philly but I too am scared. I'm mid 50's and don't run that well anymore, and that scares me, sorry, but there it is.
Only a fool lets someone else tell him who his enemy is. Assata Shakur
Your comment is illogical.
The sentiment of the last clause does not match the sentiment of the first clause. A person might be willing to stand in front of a tank if they knew it would NOT be in vain. You have a very disorganized mind.
lightly
You are correct. It is not a time to be brushed aside...it is a pending conflagration, and I'm afraid the Nevada Democratic establishment was directed to light, and throw the first match into this incendiary pile of shit the DNC and Clinton Machine have created. I pray the revolution can be more like a Markos/Phillipine overthrow of the corruption, i.e massive peaceful movement by the people, rather than a Tianemin Square situation. After the last several years of militarized brutality by police nationwide, I don't think "We, the People" are ready or willing to complacently sit out this breach of our national interests...and if we are, it is over. We may as well just admit internationally that our system of government, and the structure of our economy is an abject failure for all but the extremely wealthy.
we are the rulers of an empire
the powers that be will not give that up peacefully
even a glance at our history shows how bloodthirsty they are
An idea is not responsible for who happens to be carrying it at the time. It stands or it falls on its own merits.
Well....*we* aren't!
That much is certain.
If *I'm* the ruler of this empire, some things are gonna change pretty fast, damned skippy!
"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
Another damn good reason to keep fighting!!!
http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/clinton-caught-in-end-of-the-prima...
Another damn good reason to keep funding and fighting until every primary vote is cast!
President Sanders
This sums up everything I hate about the Clinton campaign
Here's a novel idea - have a fucking stance on the issues and stick to it, instead of trying to say something different to every audience.
Honestly, someone should tell Hills she doesn't need to worry about alienating Sanders supporters.
But what the article doesn't say - and should - is that if she doesn't keep pretending to be a progressive, she'll alienate many Clinton supporters. Its pretty obvious the Sanders supporters are already alienated, but as long as there is a viable Progressive Primary contender, Hills has to keep pretending to be progressive or lose more Primary votes.
But once she has the nomination, her campaign figures Democrats will have no where else to go when she pivots right - standard DNC playbook.
Screw her and her disgustingly insincere campaign.
Election fraud
A clear telling of how we find ourselves here: Noam Chomsky's
documentary, "Requiem for the American Dream":
http://requiemfortheamericandream.com/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-berkowitz/requiem-for-the-american...
"It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society." --Jiddu Krishnamurti
I watched that!
Just last week. I've had it on my watchlist for a while now and decided it was time to give it a look.
With a few minor deviations from the way I remembered things - and I don't know if that was his problem or mine - it was a spot on, if depressing, history of our decline.
Excellent program for younger people to watch, as too many think that the way things are now is the way they've always been.
Meddle not in the affairs of Dragons - For thou art crunchy and good with ketchup
The concept was also used by V. Nabokov in
Pale Fire, where he had his insane protagonist say:
E. Miller, the secretary of a musical organization, reworded this years later to say
This refers, of course, to the power of the Secretary to write the Minutes of the meeting. The Minutes record what happened -- in the mind of the Secretary. Motions not properly moved, seconded, voted upon and carried "did not happen". The organization voted to use Bourinot's rules of Parliamentary procedure.
The Americans in the organisation had never heard of Bourinot (of course) and wanted to use Robert.
Thankfully, they were voted down.
There are known knowns; there are things we know we know. We also know there are known unknowns; that is to say we know there are some things we do not know. But there are also unknown unknowns – the ones we don't know we don't know.
These byzantine delegate selection rules are designed
to give the state (and national) party establishments the results they want, regardless of the outcome of the popular or, in Nevada's case, caucus vote.
They just want things to go their way.
And given that the Democratic Party is so infested with DLC/Turd Way Dems, such that even Terminex couldn't deal with them, it's always going to look like this whenever anyone running recognizes the real problem. as laid out by Naomi Klein: Climate change means we have to either be rid of capitalism, or curb its standard operating procedure drastically.
"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
Looking forward
It is sad to see the obvious, and real efforts to squash the sander's movement so early. I am dismissing the lack of media coverage thus far, and the DNC tilt throughout the campaign...this is a different, and dangerous catalyst to throw in the kettle now. I guess a peaceful political revolution is not what the establishment wants, but rather proverbial torches and pitchforks.
Also very sad to realize how prescient Bernie's stump speech about a rigged system is, and to see it so blatantly being exposed.
They appear to want to start shit
so they can show off all the new toys the Department of Defense has spent stolen billions making in the last ten years.
Bastards.
Also brace yourself for the violent anarchist argument
It's already being made by Hillary people.
You know the one: "Ooooh, those nasty protesters BROKE A BANK WINDOW!" (when two protesters out of 5500 broke one bank window) "We thought they might have had a point but now they've gotten completely out of hand! They've shown how immoral and violent they are! Violence is never right! She was right to call in those cops!"
Next step: calling us terrorists, denying us access to Philly b/c of "national security concerns"
"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
Let them
They're cowards.
I expect nothing less from such ugly people. They're not going to deny anybody, though.
Both conventions could be very interesting
I would still be surprised if there is much violence, but there will be demonstrations.