Bernie missed an opportunity.

[longship]

I really like Bernie's narrative. However, if one is going to invoke FDR, I would not have chosen his 1944 speech.

I would have invoked his State of the Union speech in 1941, when he introduced the four freedoms. This, in my opinion, is what FDR was about. And what Bernie Sanders should have cited.

Here it is:

Of course, FDR was speaking in the context of a world on the edge of world war. But I would ask, how is January, 1941 any different from now?

Just posted for comments.

I hope you enjoy it.

My best regards to all of you.

[demwing]

1. k&r

[RiverLover]

2. I agree.

Thanks so much for posting this. I could cry. This is exactly when our country became great. We aren't great anymore, unless one judges solely on the size & scope of our military. That would be a very small & messed up way to view the world.

Yep, Bernie lost an opportunity, but there's still time before primary voting begins. Here's hoping!

[longship]

3. A truth told in common culture!

Sometimes the truth is difficult. That is one thing we have forgot. Too bad.

on edit: Fuck YouTube's video cannot be linked bullshit!

Google "Newsroom America is not great" and view the video. You will see a great narrative about US politics. Choose the longest video. Jeff Daniels is, as always, brilliant.

[RiverLover]

4. That's the only episode of Newsroom I've watched.

The truth of it really stung.

I hope others watch it though. The truth is painful sometimes, but needs to be shown a light on. Even the small part about liberals always losing. That's true & I'm sick of it.

We HAVE to get money out of politics.

GO Bernie!!!!!

[longship]

5. Love Bernie! But go Democrats!

No matter who gets the nomination, I will work to get them elected. The GOP is seriously mad, taken over by lunatics. How can anybody infight on the Democratic nomination when such abject lunacy is against us?

Maybe I just do not understand what is going on here. Please, somebody explain it to me.

BTW, You had better have a fucking good argument and not the bullshit that is put forth in the GD.P forum, let alone the Balkanized so-called safe havens, none of which do any good. It is either warfare or cheerleading. You pick.

In the meantime, I remain neutral here as to my preference. That is not to say that I have no preference. I just would prefer not to plunge myself into the vat of necrotizing fasciitis that has become DU discussion.

How many long term DUers have to bail out before the adults here realize that we're doing things wrong?

Too many two year olds here. Shame!

[RiverLover]

6. FDR Dems vs Conservative Dems

Neoliberals vs Liberals

Centrists vs Progressives

Its a fight for the soul of the Democratic Party. Liberals have lost within Democratic Leadership, but apparently there are many of us not going along for the ride. Even after progressives like Sherrod Brown & Alan Grayson fell in line.

Go figure. For some of us its principles & issues, & for others, its only WINNING. Principles be damned.

[longship]

7. We lose at our collective peril.

That is what is most important.

Plus, one Major issue. The party's direction is not from the Oval Office, but from the delegates. One only has to see how the GOP turned when both Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson got involved in the late 70's to see how it is done. When all the precinct delegates are Christian wackaloons, an entire national party can become religious wackaloons. And for some strange reason there is sufficient big business interest to support such utter madness. More recently, thank you Citizens United.

If one wants to take over the Democratic Party, one has to start at the bottom, just like Falwell and Robertson did in the 70's.

It does no good to put a liberal in the Oval Office if the rest of the party is against him, to say nothing about the opponent party.

If one wants to change the direction of a country, it cannot come from the top down. Any politically aware person should know that.

If one wants to make a difference, run for precinct delegate and encourage like minded people to do the same. It may take years to turn the party around, however that is what it takes. What Falwell and Robertson understood, and many here do not, is that it can only happen bottom-up.

My best regards to you all. Respectful disagreements encouraged.