March 31, 2016

I can't believe I'm typing this: In Defense of Republicans!!!

We have a lot of people on this board who have an "auto ignore" in place when their candidate is criticized. This seems especially true for those who admire, respect and support Hillary Clinton, who has candidly been the target of more right wing vitriol than anyone other than her husband since the pair first came onto the national political scene in the early 1990s. She has NEVER been a "stay home and bake cookies" type of woman, and her keen intellect definitely irked the "sit there, shut up and look pretty" crowd.

I was an adult during the 1990s, and I believed the Clintons were unfairly attacked on a regular basis. Some of it was undoubtedly their own fault as they struggled to adjust to their new neighbood and made a fair share of mistakes, and some of it was bitter partisan politics, and a great deal of it was hypocritical political theater. I though Bill was a good President, but honestly, the ongoing drama got old.

The Bush years were the worst. (shudder)

When Benghazi was mentioned, I started rolling my eyes. Of course the State Department lied a bit to the public in the beginning - duh! Don't reveal the extent of your surveillance of criminals on the nightly news! - and the hearings seemed like "Clinton Witch Hunt 2.0" to the point where after a cursory skim of the topic, I tuned it out. The "silly email scandal" seemed like more of the same...

BUT.

It's not.

Like it or not, the Republican led subcommittee actually did their jobs. They uncovered a serious, actual real live SCANDAL involving issues of national security. There are dozens of articles and threads on this site explaining the sort-of complicated/but not really difficult to understand story, but bluntly, at the end of the day, this is 100% a Hillary Clinton Epic Screw Up.

And the Republicans caught her.

Now, this is the hard part for me: They did what they were suppose to do.

That is hard to swallow for me, but the reality is we have a two party system so they can keep an eye on each other and make sure neither abuses the system. They are BOTH supposed to hold each other accountable, and we as citizens EXPECT them to do that.

It's only when "both sides" collude to hide wrong doing that things get messed up - the fact the Democrats didn't scream bloody murder about the non-existence of WMDs in Iraq is a great example - because, while we want them to "get along", we also know the more eyes watching each other, the better because we are talking about access to power and money at levels that tempt and corrupt most mere mortals.

Hillary Clinton is now going to be deposed under oath in two separate law suits about hiding government records from groups using the Freedom of Information Act. The FBI is ALSO completing an investigation into whether any criminal charges should or will be brought for her actions. These things are NOT SMEARS - no Republicans took her by the hand and instructed her to behave like an entitled idiot "because she didn't want to carry two devices" to quote her justification.

She screwed up. The Republicans did their jobs. I am stunned to say it, but I think the system worked as intended.

I would have preferred if the offender, however, hadn't been someone on the Democratic Team.

March 29, 2016

Want to know how Bernie loses?

He stops trying.

The minute that happens, it's over.

But he isn't going to stop trying to win.

The last vote for delegates takes place on June 14, 2016 in Washington, DC but the roller coaster ride includes some hugely exciting bumps on April 19 (New York with 247 delegates), April 26 (Pennsylvania with 189 delegates) and June 7 (California with 475/New Jersey with 126) plus all of the smaller states who also matter.

Bernie has publicly stated he is taking this fight all the way to the convention.

That means his opponent has to keep convincing DEMOCRATIC VOTERS why she will be a good DEMOCRATIC President until then.

That convention will take place on July 25 - 28, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is to be hoped that leaders of the party will negotiate behind the scenes to make sure key voter motivations are addressed as the Democratic nominee is decided.

Neither candidate has done personal attack advertising. They have done position advertising, which will serve them well in the General Election. Bernie's positions are very old school Democratic values. Hillary's positions are more centrist. There is overlap in goals, but very different perspectives on problem solving approaches.

Meanwhile, the opposition has not rallied around "one" candidate yet, and probably will not until their convention.

The Republican convention takes place July 16 - 18, 2016 in Cleveland. It is unlikely to make most of the Republicans happy regardless of their final candidate.

The instant Bernie quits, the voice of the people who support him is silenced and/or strongly muted. The same is true for Hillary.

Bernie is NOT GOING TO QUIT. Hillary is going to have to fight to the end - including avoiding any legal trouble - if she wants to become President.

If your fear is that this lack of unity by Democrats behind one candidate at this point in the election cycle will increase the odds of a Republican winning the White House in the fall, ask your own candidate to step aside in favor of Bernie, and throw her millions behind supporting him.

He is not fighting HER. He is fighting FOR US and the only way he loses is by quitting AND HE IS NOT EVER QUITTING.

He has already proven that a Senator from a small state can compete against Super PAC money, which means the Citizens United decision is simply legalized corruption and not a necessary fact of political reality.

He has already proven that core Democratic values matter to millions of voters.

He has already proven that young people will engage in the political process.

You might not realize it, but BERNIE SANDERS HAS ALREADY WON THIS ELECTION.

And so have the American people.

March 29, 2016

"How to Talk to Your Kids About the 2016 Election"

This is interesting from advice columnist Leanna Landsman; her focus is on education, with advocacy work for both teachers and parents.

I have been seeing similar stories from friends on my Facebook feed. (I have a very diverse set of friends all over the country due to my work with preemie and special needs issues.) This is so upsetting that we are even having to have these talks - leave our home? Go to war? Be hurt at a rally? But that is what the GOP has brought to the American public as acceptable discourse - a return to old hatreds.

My twins just turned 9 a few weeks ago, and just completed their 3rd grade Social Studies curriculum dealing with American values and patriotism. I now understand where I get my own idealism - "equality under the law" and "rights and responsibilities" were front and center in the textbook, along with some candid, age appropriate discussion of civil rights issues and Martin Luther King. These common sense values aren't even discussed by the Republicans.

I am truly convinced our politicians need to be able to pass a standard high school civics test before we let them run for office.

March 26, 2016

Bernie & the Bird: Good Friday & Purim

Much focus has been on the fact that the Sparrow Incident occurred on Good Friday. Bernie quickly recovered from the startlement of the experience with a joke about the bird "really being a Dove asking for World Peace."

May I remind everyone that Friday was also the ending of the Jewish holiday of Purim?

I love the Purim story. For those not familiar, it is recounted in the Book of Ester, and is about bravery in the face of potentially deadly authority, and finding a way to save the Jewish people from being legally killed for the "crime" of being Jewish.

From Wikipedia:

Ester's bravery - chancing death by appearing before the King without invitation - seems incredibly symbolic to me as people all over the country are standing up to "the Establishment" in order to prevent the death and destruction of our people as not only a Nation, but also (with climate change concerns) as a World.

I am proud to support the Jewish guy who cares about the poor during this election cycle, and I hope this post reminds everyone of the value of courage against what looks like impossible odds.

Impossible things happen every day. I saw a video of sparrow alight upon the podium of a man who will become President.

Impossible, some say. Everything is against him. But thousands of years after the fact, Ester's courage and Mordechi's wisdom are still remembered, and I believe in such miracles. What is one more impossible thing in the scheme of the universe?

March 23, 2016

Arizona is the perfect place for Bernie to prove he will FIGHT FOR VOTERS.

In theory, it is a great opportunity for Hillary, too, but I am cynical. If she joins in, I will acknowledge it.

Back in 2004 there were serious discrepancies in voting issues. I ended up instigating a recount of New Hampshire where things were extraordinarily "odd" but it wasn't easy. You can look up some of the posts from those early days in the DU archives.

As an IT person, I had to explain an "IT secret" - we copy code A LOT, then modify it as needed. The upside is we can be fast, but sometimes that means we copy "mistakes".

I spoke with one of the highest people in the Kerry campaign, and was bluntly told they would NOT support a recount of New Hampshire because "they would look like fools recounting a state they won". My pointing out that "buggy code" in one state undoubtedly meant "buggy code" elsewhere did not sway the decision maker. The Kerry campaign basically walked away from the hundreds of reports of election fraud, leaving the 3rd party candidates to lead the charge on behalf of the disenfranchised voters.

Kerry did not FIGHT for us. Will Bernie? Will Hillary?

In Arizona there are documented issues and problems affecting thousands of voters. Lifelong Dems discovered they were listed as registered Republicans. New Democrats were listed as "blank".

This primary election is a blatant wake-up call that something is hinky in Arizona. It needs to get cleaned up BEFORE the General Election.

Bernie Sanders has nothing to lose and a team of people with nothing to do until the convention.

Will Bernie Sanders FIGHT for the voters of Arizona? Will Hillary?

This is a test of character. It would be extremely easy to walk away and deal with the next primary state. There are those who will always impugn the motives of those who FIGHT (ah, the "sore loser" routine - been there, done that).

Will Bernie Fight? Will Hillary?

Who really cares about the voters of Arizona? Who cares about the people of this country?

This is a test. We are ALL watching.

Is he REAL or just RHETORIC?

March 21, 2016

"How much do I have to PAY to make this woman GO AWAY?"

Sick of the non-stop Hillary posts that are ruining your DU experience? Tired of arguing with True Believers over whether her sainthood makes her more or less qualified as Ruler of the Known Universe? Wincing at the idea of endless drivel about her perfection and nauseous at the idea of the endless attacks the GOP will be launching?

You've tried the Ignore Feature. You've tried the Trash Thread feature. You've been polite, and you've even tried snarky, but just when things started feeling pleasant again, the timeout ban was lifted and the rudest rabid supporters began posting the same way AGAIN. ARGH! The painful irritation is excruciating - near Sarah Palin worthy!

Your rising blood pressure is putting your health at risk. The endless flip-flops (that wasn't what she said last week - oh, right! new focus groups) make your head spin. The "forgetfulness" on important issues makes you question your own memory. ("Nancy Reagan the AIDS advocate - wtf?&quot WILL IT EVER END?

Until indictments are filed or Bernie wins, She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is going to keep popping up in your DU experience. Is there anything you can do about it?

YES! SAVE YOURSELF FROM IT IN THE GENERAL ELECTION BY DONATING TO BERNIE!

Your small donation is actually something that will not only STOP THE ENDLESS HILLARY BABBLE, but also send a clear message about who our politicians actually work for - big money donors or the PEOPLE of this country!

Do it. Do it NOW. In fact, every time you find a new thread DEMANDING A HILLARY LOYALTY OATH, donate $5 to the cause of MAKING HER GO AWAY!

You have the power - send money now!

Donate to DU for Bernie at Act Blue here: https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/duforbernie






Jury: This is intended as a humorous, tongue in cheek take from a Bernie supporter, posted in a protected group. Any insulting resemblance to reality is purely coincidental.

March 20, 2016

"I, for one, welcome our new insect overlords."

Just a reminder to both Bernie and Hillary supporters that counting on voters to be "smart" about picking a Democrat in the fall is not the best strategy.

50% of the population, by definition, is below average. A large majority are unclear as to the duties of a President (see Trump), don't understand what the 1st Amendment actually means (see anyone who mentions 1st Amendment and protesters in the same breathe), and even think "War Crimes" an entertaining reality show that deserved better ratings.

Yes, there are good and thoughtful people who will support a sensible choice, BUT DO NOT COUNT ON IT.

Trump is an Ass. Cruz is a Nut. Hillary is Untrustworthy. Bernie is Grumpy. Jesus flipped tables in a temple. Etc.

And to this day, there are a large number of people who proudly proclaim that they voted for Bush Jr., aka Disaster President.

Don't count on a smart electorate. At the end of the day, this is a POPULARITY CONTEST, and one guy has more media experience than the rest of the candidates put together. He is also a very effective DEMAGOGUE - look the word up - and has been portrayed as a boss For Years.

I have hopes for the election. Candidly, they are not high.

I will not, however, welcome ANY new overlords - even if my side loses, I will still work to help the people who need it, because we WILL survive it.

Most of us anyway. I hope.

March 20, 2016

Call Me Cassandra: I am no longer worried about Hillary.

After spending way too much time reading up on the CONTENT of the wiki leak emails, I think she is going to be facing a criminal prosecution before the convention.

Bernie needs to stay in the race, and continue to work his bottom off.

I think things are going to get very ugly; Hillary was given rope, and hung herself. Between the issues with Blumenthal copying Top Secret material and how he had access when he was banned as well as the ties with the Clinton Foundation, the evidence is damning. As usual, it is part of her continuing pattern of bad judgment: a completely unnecessary stupid decision.

I think the True Believers will be very upset as they seem 100% convinced of her - I don't even know what to call it. Purity of Spirit? Noble Intent? Something that makes no sense to me. Sigh. Not my problem; I've got my own disillusionment to deal with.

I trust Obama to make sure the right thing gets done. I am grateful I do not have his job.

This isn't really "Bernie vs. Hillary" - it is "Obama vs. Hillary Rnd 2" because he *knows* what is going on behind the scenes, and has to decide if he's going to let it continue.

I don't think he will. As I said, call me Cassandra, but I think he's going to take her down.

You just don't mess with someone who plays Chicago politics.



P.S. I am not going to answer the Hillary folk who respond to this thread and will be putting them on ignore. This is my opinion, based (as I said) on my reading of the evidence. She endangered national security, and if she is deemed above the law...

March 17, 2016

"This fire needs gas." (Sidney to Hillary, 10/26/2012)

The bold is my emphasis. This is one of the MANY email exchanges between the Secretary of State and the guy who Obama BANNED FROM HIS TEAM in 2009. (Source: New York Times, August 16, 2009: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/16/us/politics/16emanuel.html?_r=0.) Please note the following email showing the communication about not "outing" this directive being ignored...



No one gives "free" advice at these levels. The Clinton Foundation was paying Blumenthal $120k a year and Hillary was listening to him AGAINST OBAMA'S INSTRUCTIONS. One of the most damning is a complete analysis of Libya from April, 2011 that influenced her Libya decision making - https://wikileaks.org/clinton-emails/emailid/10115#efmBESCAL - and turned out to be WRONG.

Email storage bores me and I am a tech person. This isn't an email scandal - the email is what is called a PAPER TRAIL for inappropriate influence peddling.

You see, a former President of the United States (Bill Clinton) was using OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY (donations to his Foundation) to pay people to influence his WIFE'S DECISION MAKING WHILE SHE WAS SECRETARY OF STATE UNDER A DIFFERENT PRESIDENT AND SHE WASN'T DISCLOSING IT TO HER BOSS.

Money and access to the people in power - this is how a former President maintained his influence at the highest levels of government. And now he and his wife are going to be back there. Most members of this board will ignore this because "it's just an email scandal."

No. For the first time in recorded history, you can actually VIEW THE EVIDENCE TRAIL.

Here's a link -- https://search.wikileaks.org/advanced?q=Blumenthal+&exclude_words=&words_title_only=&words_content_only=&publication_type%5B%5D=42&sort=0#results

To be fair, this is stuff the Republicans have been doing for decades -- AND THAT IS EXACTLY THE PROBLEM.

Pretend for thirty seconds that the guy doing this crap was named George W. Bush Jr. and he was collecting millions of dollars from corporations, then using that money to pay people to push his "sponsors" agenda and subverting all of the rules about lobbyists and disclosure of interests with back door emails.

Do you feel outraged? Well, the power of a name is that former President Bill Clinton and First Lady/Senator/Secretary of State Hillary Clinton did it instead, and a significant number of people who should KNOW BETTER want to put the pair of them BACK IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

March 16, 2016

Am I a Democrat or an Independent? Political Evolution.

I have voted for every Democratic presidential candidate since I was old enough to vote. Yet it wasn't until recently (President Obama) that I became comfortable publicly identifying as a Democrat.

I was an Independent. That meant I voted for the person best qualified for the job, which meant splitting my votes down ticket as I deemed fit. (Believe it or not, there was a time, prior to Bush Junior, when I didn't think all Republicans were horrible people!)

In 1996 I voted a straight party Democratic ticket for the first time in my life. It was a pure, rage induced protest vote based on the fact a Republican congress wanted to (and eventually did) IMPEACH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR LYING ABOUT HIS NON-MARITAL SEXUAL ACTIVITIES in a blatantly partisan witch hunt led by a bunch of hypocritical moral degenerates. Betrayal of a "best friend" relationship (Linda Trip vs Monica Lewinski) and the fact that apparently Monica didn't swallow when performing oral sex at work/the President ejaculated on a blue dress and we all had to hear about it non-stop for what seemed like FOREVER along with earnest discussion about whether he was just a sex addict or there was something wrong with his wife dominated the public discourse. Concessions were made in regards to important legislation because of his lack of power, and bluntly, the whole situation was a national embarrassment. Political discussions invariably centered around the fact that a President's sex life was private, but the whole thing had started because Bill couldn't keep it in his pants and Hillary was subject to the same level of scrutiny. Why was she still with the lying cheater? Did she secretly approve? She was obvious distraught by the situation. Poor Chelsea! Etc.

Ad naseum.

In the 2000 election, despite significant accomplishments for the country under the Clinton administration, the Vice President distanced himself from his boss while running for the office. The man was incredibly well qualified: smart, experienced, a true statesman. I was proud to vote for him. And we ended up with Bush Junior instead - a man who admitted to being an active alcoholic until only a few years before, whose only significant life achievements involved a string of bankrupt companies that were barely concealed money laundering operations for influence peddling, and being born with a famous father.

I joined DU in 2004 as an independent Kerry supporter. My cynical view of national politics was that Republicans are corrupt, and Democracts are inept. How else to explain the whole "bully Republican versus Democrat wearing a kick-me sign"?

Thank God for Obama in 2008. He was amazing. He was able to handle the "rough and tumble" of politics, and I have not once been embarrassed by him during his entire tenure in office.

Let me repeat that: NOT ONCE.

I now admit to being a proud Democrat. Mitt Romney actually pushed me over the edge. I am comfortable with voicing a preference for the candidate I want my party to offer in the General Election - Bernie Sanders. I would be pleased and honored to vote for and support this man. I already have a sign in my yard and a magnet for my car. He is not a perfect candidate, but I really like him. I am a liberal, progressive Obama loving Democrat.

I am not a Hillary Clinton Democrat. I am embarrassed both by her baggage, her indefensible appearance of personal financial corruption similar to the Bush family, her lack of moral leadership on matters of LGBT rights and the IWR, and the weekly gaffes and missteps that have dogged her entire political life. I do not trust her judgment or her word. I find myself reacting to her with the same visceral negativity as I did Bush Junior: there is just something "not right" about her - she is calculating, but my perception is that it is about HER SURVIVAL AND NOT MINE.

The convention is still a few months away. I have shared my issues and concerns about this presumptive front runner for some time. Currently, it appears the choice is going to be Trump versus Clinton, and the thought makes me consider the benefits of Canadian immigration. Ha ha, right?

I would not be proud to vote for Hillary Clinton. I am not sure I can. I am not big on fear and blackmail - "do it or your daughter loses her reproductive rights" - and the most honest sign I could put up would be "Not Trump!" God help the Democrats if the Republicans find a way to broker their convention to get that boob off their ticket, because if they drop the crazy anti-abortion/anti-gay racist stuff, I'd bolt to them in a heartbeat if my only alternative was Hillary.

Republicans are corrupt. Democrats are incompetent. If she is the nominee, I will return to being an Independent. I guess I am only a team player if I like the captain.