Bernie Sanders is doing exactly what he should be doing. Let's all do it

Sanders has had some powerful videos and popular pieces in the last few years calling Trump out on his lies, the GOP on their attack against Social Security and Medicare, and trickle down economics in general.

When I see one, I post it or kick and recommend the thread where someone else has posted it.

"Sanders isn't a Democrat" "Democratic politicians have been saying this too", etc., almost always follow that.

But Sanders is doing exactly what he, and every other American politician, should be doing: calling out lies and protecting the American public.

If it pains you to see something posted favorably about Sanders, then post some excellent messages from politicians you like even more! I will kick and recommend those, too, especially if they are smart in their messaging and progressive in their approach.

In fact, let's all compete to see who can post and kick up the most Trump-hostile and citizen-friendly messages we can find, from the politicians who we like the best. Politicians who make those statements and messages are on our side. I read a lot about how much better Democratic politicians are than Sanders. I'm open to it. Bring their messages here, loudly and proudly, and let's all work on getting rid of Trump and the corrupt GOP congress! But don't dump on Sanders for doing the right thing - all of us should be doing the right things, and I'm happy to have him fighting the good fight along with my party.

would it be too much work for the media to actually talk about who politicians are

There have been so many times in my life where I've been following some political story, and then two-three years later I read something more in depth that describes who a politician is married to, or who their father-in-law is, or what their brother does for a living . . .

. . . and all of the scales fall from my eyes. Their motivations become clear, based on who the power base around them is, and their family ties.

For example, Mitch McConnell is a horrible human being. His actions seem to be quite evil. And some of that might be explained by the fact that his wife (who coincidentally happens to be our secretary of Transportation, and prior was a most surprising choice for secretary of Labor by W), is worth at least $24 million and happens to be the daughter of the chairman of one of the most powerful shipping companies in Taiwan, with large interests in the US and China. No conflict of interest there, then, for the Transportation Secretary.

Bill Frist, a Republican senator who was pretty miserable on health care and health insurance issues when he was in the senate, turns out to the be the son of the man who founded a for-profit hospital system called Hospital Corporation of America.

Susan Collins' husband is a lobbyist for a group that represents the health industries.

Ted Cruz's wife works (or worked) for Goldman Sachs

W Bush's various family members profited from his presidency in a variety of ways

etc etc

The media present these people as if they exist in a vacuum, and very rarely, if ever, mention their family interests and ties. How can we battle corruption if it is constantly swept under the rug?

If M*A*S*H were written by Republicans . . .

I caught some episodes of the classic series tonight with my daughter. It's now running on Hulu. The anti-war, pro-human message is so well carried forward. It made me wonder what the series would be like in today's pro-war, anti-human America.

Frank would be the hero, and Hawkeye would be "anti-American".

Colonel Flagg would be killing people with drone strikes.



The sentiments of the old series would never get made today, even though we have had 16 straight years and counting of continuous war.

The number of young conservative thieves who will soon be on the S. C.

means that I will never see the good guys win a case again in my lifetime.

This really will mark the start of an unassailable dictatorship.

Schumer better hold his coalition together.

Cory Booker's release of "confidential" information on Kavanaugh was political theater

It was carefully staged, as was his challenge to throw him out of the Senate.

However, having said that, I want more of this please! Well done political theater still demonstrates where we stand, indicates to our voters that you have the ability to at least fake courage (and possibly exhibit genuine courage when it matters), creates a media narrative that independents and conservatives understand also, generates headlines and is a strong signal that Democrats can and will stand up to Republicans, especially where Republicans are so obviously in the wrong.

Even an empty gesture (and Booker's action was not empty) is at least a gesture, and our side can use as much of that as possible.

Give us someone to root for, not just a cast of villains to root against.

More morale-boosting political theater please.

(For the record, I know that Booker has physical courage also, having jumped into a burning building recently. I'd love for him to take less corporate money, but that courage may come in time as well)

Rational National: Alex Jones Heckles Marco Rubio, Doesn't Go As Planned

Why do "Centrists" always seem to favor conservatives, rather than progressives?

I found this interesting little essay about, among other things, why Steve Bannon of all people had been invited to The New Yorker's festival.

http://www.ianwelsh.net/why-did-the-new-yorker-want-steve-bannon-to-headline-their-festival/

Uh oh, Duncan Hunter used campaign $ in (at least) five different affairs

that's not going to sit well with his base - one would think

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/sd-me-hunter-liaisons-20180830-story.html

Kavanaugh is literally a pig in a poke

I wonder just how bad it is that they have to hide it like this. Terrible, I'm guessing

Gretchen, quit trying to make "monkey it up" happen. It's not going to happen.