2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumBernie Sanders Just Showed Us What a Mensch Looks Like
https://www.thenation.com/article/bernie-sanders-just-showed-us-what-a-mensch-looks-like/Bernie Sanders Just Showed Us What a Mensch Looks Like
Only a charisma-free, 74-year-old, Brooklyn-born Jewish socialist from Vermont could have brought the political revolution this far.
By D.D. Guttenplan
Today 1:18 am
Bernie Sanders takes the stage on the first day of the Democratic National Convention on July 25, 2016. (Photo by Riccardo Savi)
This is what a mensch looks like.
Al Franken couldnt do it. Elizabeth Warren couldnt do it. Cory Booker didnt even come close to doing it. Even Sarah Silverman, may her light ever shine, couldnt quite do it. Only Bernie Sanders, a charisma-free 74-year-old Brooklyn-born Jewish socialist from Vermont, could have gotten the political revolution close enough to take off to change the national conversation, expand the boundaries of political possibility far over to the left, and demonstrate conclusively the immense power of Americans united against the gilt facade of Citizens United.
Only Bernie Sanders had the power, and the wisdom, not to walk out but to deal himself and his supporters in to negotiate the most progressive platform in the history of the Democratic Party.
And having gotten so closeheartbreakingly close. Close enough that many of his own supporters booed him just a few hours ago for daring to point out the F**king Obvious fact that the stakes for themselves, their children, and their country were simply too high to stay home and sulkonly Bernie Sanders could have landed that plane carefully, even delicately, on prime time, with both wings intact and more or less right on schedule.
snip//
My own view is that Sanders might not have made it without Michelle Obama. Before she came on, I thought the best speech of the night was given by a man who has actually been dead for over a year. But not even Mario Cuomo outshone Obama. In the quiet tones of a woman in her own kitchen, the first lady reminded the convention how far this country had come: I wake up every morning in a house that was built by slaves. When she reached the line about watching her daughters, two beautiful and intelligent young black women, playing on that White House lawn with their dogs, a lot of us were crying. And while other speakers praised Clinton and were booed for it, no one dared disrupt Michelle Obama.
Her soaring message made an odd lead-in for Elizabeth Warrenthe first speaker of the night to acknowledge how much remains to be done (and, implicitly but unmistakably, how much the Obama administration has left undone). Warren was lethal on Trump, but otherwise pedestrian; those who think shed have won the nomination in a walk got no help tonight.
But what she did perfectly was to set the stage for Sanders, who after a brief medley of his campaign speechesincluding, to my great delight, the call-and-response for $27gave it to us straight: If you think you can sit it out, take a minute to think about the Supreme Court justices Donald Trump would appointand what that would mean to civil rights and civil liberties. Sanders made it clear he was taking this election personallyand would continue to strain every sinew to put his former opponent in the White House.
Because, as Bernie has always told us, this isnt about him. Because hes a grownupand he knows whats a stake. It cant have been easyespecially after those (new) damned e-mails. I just hope Hillary is grateful. Hell, if she wins I hope they erect a huge statute of Bernie on the Mall. Pointing his finger. Paid for by public subscription. At an average donation of $27.
Shankapotomus
(4,840 posts)can we concentrate on defeating Trump now?
Xipe Totec
(43,888 posts)SammyWinstonJack
(44,129 posts)Highway61
(2,568 posts)What is happening to DU? The disrespect is dreadful.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)There were a lot of people who could have done what Sanders did. That includes most people's first choice over him, Warren. The deitization of Sanders is false. He filled a void and few argue against the fact that others could have done it better. He wasn't a candidate by choice.
He did very well. He was not the only one. Every time I read pieces like this I think of Giethner.
TCJ70
(4,387 posts)Which begs the question...could they? Really?
babylonsister
(171,029 posts)could have done this, who has been walking the walk for decades, who had/has the fire in their belly to take such an enormous undertaking on in the first place. I'll wait.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Geithner was the only one.
I just don't get this. Sanders supporter after Sanders supporter said he wasn't the best candidate. I do think "he's the only one" and "he reminds me of another carpenter" are simply amusing BoB's detached from reality.
babylonsister
(171,029 posts)about, the banker? I don't recall him even running. And if you're speaking of him, there is no comparison.
But your reference to BoBs and reality is cute. Probably insulting to BoBs, but cute.
So I post an article about Sanders and his ability to move the country forward to support your candidate, and you still have to gripe. Got it.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Just went over it again. I feel my comment was spot on. I find the "he is the only one" crowd to be what is cute.
babylonsister
(171,029 posts)as the equivalent of Sanders? You're jumping around so much I can't keep track, or is that intentional?
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Anyone who has paid a lick of attention to politics will get that.
babylonsister
(171,029 posts)Yea, and I really don't pay any attention.
marions ghost
(19,841 posts)beaten down in this economy. He has no plan for real reform. Comparing him to Bernie makes no sense.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)That means a hell of a lot. We have been in the slowly boiling lobster pot since 1980. Bernie is one of the few Democrats who actually tried to warn we lobsters, but was ignored and marginalized for decades -- DECADES!
I've known Bernie has had our back since the 1990's, while too many otehr Dems were selling us out with a cheery smile.
He IS the ONE who brought the awful truth into the public Square, as well as the Hope that we Can Do Better.
Without Bernie, we'd still all be stuck with nothing but the Wall Street/Big Business/Big Media Bullshit as the entire political "debate" while the water continues to boil.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)"Without Bernie, we'd still all be stuck with nothing but the Wall Street/Big Business/Big Media Bullshit as the entire political "debate" while the water continues to boil. "
"There were some who COULD have but DIDN'T BOTHER"
I wouldn't say didn't bother. More that they feel Clintons excellent and progressive platform is what they were looking for combined with a campaign that can win. Big difference.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)It is myopic to think that the Democratic Party has been an effective and clear opposition/alternative to the New Gilded Age trickle down bullshit we have been sliding back towards since 1980. Instead, its "centrist" leadership has aided and abetted that process, but with a kinder and gentler face than the GOP.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)"Without Bernie, we'd still all be stuck with nothing but the Wall Street/Big Business/Big Media Bullshit as the entire political "debate" while the water continues to boil. "
This section is even more myopic.
"He IS the ONE who brought the awful truth into the public Square, as well as the Hope that we Can Do Better."
"He IS the ONE"
Feels like I'm in a Catholic Church with this type of religious talk.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)The usual binary Awful GOP vs. empty bromides about the wonderful American Dream if we'd all just "work hard and play by the rules" and "elect the Not GOP Party" .........while our economy continues to be siphoned into the hands of a few powerful corporations and individuals, true opportunity is minimized, and government continues to be a subsidiary of Big Business and the Elite Investor Class.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Clinton v Trump
Clintons platform is excellent, progressive, and independent of Sanders.
The Dem platform damn near mirrors her platform.
This is a binary election that looks absolutely nothing like that which you have just described.
Progressives won. Clintons progressive platform won.
Armstead
(47,803 posts)It's been like an endless series of sequels for many years.
Sorry if that sounds cynical, but I was enthusiastic abotu Bill Clinton at first -- until he sold us all out. Then I was Big Time for Obama -- and still love the guy -- and found it very disappointing when he took that pivot to the Corporate/Wall St. Party Line and marginalized "our friends on the left" on too many issues.
Bonhomme Richard
(8,997 posts)BobbyDrake
(2,542 posts)BobbyDrake
(2,542 posts)Stop already. If it's legitimately "not all about Bernie," why the desperate rush to assign him all the credit for everything positive the Democratic Party has stood for years before Sanders signed on? Enough already.
Ford_Prefect
(7,867 posts)Bernie knew it was time to stand up, not fold and negotiate away the things they used to stand for.
There are at least 13 million reasons for Hillary and the party to be grateful for if they want more than the Office.
BobbyDrake
(2,542 posts)Unlike the embarrassment that is the Green Party. He used us for his own ends, nothing more. And I won't be surprised when his need for purity gets the best of him and he goes back to being an independent. Rumor is he's already registered for 2018's Senate campaign as an independent again.
angrychair
(8,677 posts)You do realize that Sanders has been caucusing with Democrats for 30 years right?
That he is the co-founder of Congressional Progressive Caucus?
That he has been the foundation and tip of the spear for many of these things that the the Democratic Party has stood for in those 30 years?
People like to mention that he didn't have a lot of support from members of congress but never ask the right question, "why?".
You don't make to many friends being the pointy end of the stick because that isn't your job. Your job is to go out there and jab people and coax them in the right direction. To remind people what their values and mission really are. A sometimes inconvenient truth.
That mission doesn't always make you a lot of friends.
That is who Sanders had been.
He has been there, decade after decade, helping shape the message and mission of the Democratic members of congress, to act in our best interest, if they liked it or not.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)mountain grammy
(26,595 posts)but Bernie's speech was the crowning finale of a beautiful opening night. I cheered when he told his delegates to vote in the roll call. My vote will be heard. I cheered even louder when he came out fully for Hillary. Bernie did start a political revolution, of that I'm certain. I saw it here, in my sleepy little tourist trap and everywhere else.
To the very few people who can't give up I say, you're not giving up. We've won battles and will live to fight others, but first, lets not lose the war. If Democrats lose this election, we all lose.
NCTraveler
(30,481 posts)Including the part about you vote being heard on the convention floor.
SammyWinstonJack
(44,129 posts)from Bernie's supporters to beat tRump?
klook
(12,151 posts)lillypaddle
(9,580 posts)Akamai
(1,779 posts)Very, very classy grownup! Go Bernie!
rtracey
(2,062 posts)Corey Booker NAILED IT. He will be president one day. Mark my words.. Ill say it loudly...COREY BOOKER WILL BE PRESIDENT
auntpurl
(4,311 posts)And I agree, I think he has a huge political future in front of him. He has such charisma and presence.
rtracey
(2,062 posts)call him Corey.....hahahaha playing
pangaia
(24,324 posts)Cryptoad
(8,254 posts)First Lady, Senator Warren, and other speakers, and he said nothing to them.... yea he's Great.