ProfessorPlum
ProfessorPlum's JournalI have been an active member of DU since 2001, and I have survived with this board
through some tough times.
There was the heartbreak of the Kerry-Dean primary. The heartbreak of the Obama-Clinton (and briefly Edwards!) primary. The heartbreak of the Clinton-Sanders primary.
I thank the moderators from the bottom of my heart for keeping it up and running, through difficult times like those and through technical difficulties and changes.
They can be tough times. But after each, the rival supporters have come back together to face our greater enemies, and DU continued to be a rich resource of excellent articles, news, essays, and humor to support a vision of the world that governs better and treats people better.
Let's do that again. It's way past time.
To use a more pungent metaphor
I'd rather have Sanders in the tent pissing out on Trump and the Fascists (great band name), than outside the tent pissing in.
If a few corporate friendly Democrats get a little Sanders pee on them, they can soothe their hurt feelings by rubbing piles of their lobbying money on it.
When a friend is addicted to something that is harmful to them
The people who love that person gently encourage them to wean themselves off of that harmful substance.
Many Democratic politicians are addicted to corporate campaign cash, and corporate influence. And lucrative corporate lobbying jobs that come as their rewards for doing corporate bidding. This is harmful to their ability to represent the interest of non-corporate Americans (we used to call them "people"
.
As a member of the Democratic party, I have a great love for Democratic politicians, and would gently encourage them to wean themselves off these harmful substances. If that is "criticism" , or "constant criticism", of the Democratic party, then I am guilty as charged.
Or maybe people only get upset when certain influential politicians, who also love the Democratic party, make those kinds of points.
Sernie Banders: A Thought Experiment
Let's think this through, together.
What is the Democratic coalition? Democratic politicians and party members, and other politicians and other voters who will often vote Democratic or support Democratic policies.
What would one do if they wanted to weaken the Democratic coalition?
If I wanted to weaken the Democratic coalition, I would want to drive wedges between the different groups.
What would one do if they wanted to strengthen the Democratic coalition?
If I wanted to strengthen the Democratic coalition, I would want to emphasize what the different groups have in common, and how they can work together towards common goals.
Tom Perez, the head of the DNC, is someone who has an interest in strengthening the Democratic coalition. He seems to be doing this by bringing different members of the Democratic coalition together and working with them, emphasizing their common interests, and using different parts of the Democratic coalition to excite and unite the different members of the Democratic coalition.
Personally, as someone who wants to strengthen the Democratic coalition, I welcome all members of the Democratic coalition, whether they are Democratic party members or not, to work together with us towards common goals. I personally am a Democrat, but I love that there are other people who, even though they are not Democrats, work with the party to further goals that help all Americans.
Now, if one wanted to weaken the Democratic coalition, how might one drive a wedge between the different parts of the Democratic coalition?
Well, for example, let's posit the existence of a really popular politician who isn't a Democrat, but who is part of the Democratic coalition. Let's further assume that this politician is the most popular politician in the country right now.
If I wanted to weaken the Democratic coalition, I would want to drive a wedge between the Democratic party, and this very popular politician. Let's call this politician Sernie Banders, for the sake of this wildly fantastic thought experiment.
How might one do that?
You might, for example, compile lists of every criticism that Sernie Banders ever made about the Democratic party. You might, for example, go on and on and on (and on and on and on and on) about how Sernie Banders is not a member of the Democratic party, and imply he should be hated and not trusted because of that. As if it mattered.
You might, for example, find constructive criticism from that politician, advising the Democratic party not to be harlots for the Wall Street banks, and cast that as criticism (heaven forfend!) of the Democratic party, and emphasize that the Democratic party and this politician should never work together.
You might, for example, keep a nearly constant stream of chatter up with negative stories about Sernie Banders.
If you wanted to weaken the Democratic coalition, you would be afraid of the most popular politician in the country working together with the Democratic party to achieve common goals. You would be pants-peeingly, underwear-poopingly, afraid of that.
Fortunately, this is all just a thought experiment, and nothing like this is happening in the communities of the Democratic coalition. In those communities, we recognize allies and work together toward common goals. And we welcome the allegiance of allies from any and all other parties.
In the world of the thought experiment, though, the stuck pigs squeal the loudest.
Bernie! Bernie, bernie bernie bernie bernie bernie. Bernie: Bernie bernie
Why are some people so afraid that people like Senator Sanders?
He really seems to scare people. People here.
He's just one senator, guys. One old senator. One old senator who fights for some humaneness from the government. Who fights trickle down economics. Who likes the social safety net.
It's going to be ok - Sanders isn't going to come short sheet your beds when you aren't looking.
He's a great asset, ally, and friend to the best parts of the Democratic party and policies.
Enjoy him. He's fighting to make your lives better, too.
You can smear him all you want, but it is his IDEAS that are popular, and you can't change that by trying to throw out weird put downs or with purity tests that no other politician is measured by.
Relax already.
The GOP now controls Congress, the Executive Branch, and the Supreme Court
And they are clearly also completely corrupt, lawless, grifting, and power hungry.
And yet, we seem to expect that they are going to set up and allow elections in which the Democratic party could win back control.
Do we really expect that?
Do we really think they are willing to reap what they have sown with an angry electorate?
I, for one, don't think they will. They already cheat, gerrymander, suppress, and otherwise fuck up the vote. I expect epic levels of fraud for any elections to come.
Will we face a situation in 2018 where, gee, the outcome didn't match the polls beforehand, and the wave of Democratic victories mysteriously don't materialize? What will we do about that? It's happened often in the past, and each time the Democratic party just takes it.
Are we facing de facto one party rule from now on?
Do the leaders of the Democratic party even seem to understand this potentiality? Do they have a plan in place? Are they willing to fight for actual democracy where votes count?
I'd like to hear a little more awareness and strategy and fight from them about this.
Happy Zombie Jeebus Day, DU
The "Arrested Development" White House
Patriarch runs real estate company with family name, commits some "light treason".
Two nefarious sons who are clueless, greedy, lazy, and selfish.
One blonde daughter who is a daddy's girl.
Another sibling who is not that impressed with the family and its maturity level.
Patriarch's wife lives apart from him.
Their communications are being monitored by the government.
The only thing is, I can't see how Jared Kushner = Tobias Funke.
I know the Bluth's were originally based on the Bush's. But this seems an even better fit.
That man was tased, and it will come out
You don't start shrieking like that unless you are being tased, or someone gets you in a nipple twist. Just wait.
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Member since: 2001Number of posts: 11,279
