March 30, 2016

I'm not trying to pin "all the world's woes" on Clinton, only 2 of the worst ones...

...the ones she bears special responsibility for: Honduras, and the destabilization of Iraq, Libya, and Syria.

On Honduras, her emails reveal her direct, stated intention NOT TO PERMIT the return of the ELECTED president of Honduras, who was kidnapped by the U.S.-supported Honduran military at gunpoint and flown out of his own country with a re-fueling stop at the U.S. airbase in Honduras. She explicitly stated that she would prevent his return, and she did! The rule of law was never re-established in Honduras, and the result is the "killing fields" of Honduras, where WOMEN who peacefully oppose these fascists supported by Clinton, are a major target for murder and rape, and where gays are also being targeted for brutality and repression.

It is quite unforgivable, what Clinton did in Honduras. And it is right out Henry Kissinger's playbook.

I don't blame Obama who was only six months into his first term at the time, and preoccupied with Bush-Clinton induced global financial meltdown and two Bush wars. I wasn't sure at first, but I did see that his first instinct was to withdraw U.S. funding to the Honduran fascists (he said it was "a military coup," which triggers the law). Then somehow Clinton got control of the situation and she continued sending these fuckwads billions of our tax dollars, and PREVENTED the restoration of Honduran democracy. In her own words.

On destabilization of Iraq, Libya and Syria, Clinton voted for the goddamn war on Iraq and enthusiastically supported it. Result: chaos.

On Libya, Obama bears responsibility for taking his Sec of State's wretchedly wrong advice, and she personally claimed the result on Libya in an taped interview in which she states, Caesar-like, "We came. We conquered. He died!" and then LAUGHS. The callousness is unbelievable. Yeah, Gaddaffi was dead. Result: chaos.

Syria: I can only point out the significant change of direction under Sec of State John Kerry. Clinton was heading us to war with Iran and Russia--with Syrian 'regime change' and chaos as the collateral damage. This was right out of Bush, Cheney & Rumfeld's PNAC playbook, via Robert Kagan. Kerry is out there vigorously pursuing diplomatic solutions, and, in my opinion, trying to UNDO the damage that Clinton did as Sec of State (and is trying to do the same in Latin America with Obama's visit to Cuba and their support for the Colombia/FARC peace talks). The immediate result of attempted 'regime change' in Syria (Clinton's advice and actions): chaos.

Chaos in the ME is another name for The Project for a New American Century, which brought us the Iraq disaster, with the help of warmongering senators like Hillary Clinton.

As for your disparagement of Bernie Sanders as a poof, I can only say that that is NOT my reading of his character. Also, isn't it time we stop fucking around invading and intervening in other countries, and causing misery everywhere we go, and pay some goddamned attention to OUR OWN HOUSE? A few house repairs are in order, it seems to me, before we go adventuring again. And I sincerely hope that any future adventuring we do is to STOP GLOBAL WARMING, and maybe go to Mars and beyond-- cuz at the rate things are going now, we're going to need another planet.

March 23, 2016

Let's clear this up: SANDERS WON TONIGHT!

NYT projected Sanders win in Utah: 74%
NYT projected Sanders win in Idaho: 78%
NYT projected Clinton win in AZ: 59%

So he won 2 of 3 states by very big margins. If you break this down, giving the candidates approximate shares of the available pledged delegates, based on their % of votes, you get this:

Sanders: Utah 25 delegates
Sanders: Idaho 18 delegates
Sanders: AZ 30 delegates

Sanders total: 73 delegates

Clinton: Utah 8 delegates
Clinton: Idaho 5 delegates
Clinton: AZ 44 delegates

Clinton total: 57 delegates

NET TO SANDERS: 16 delegates

Sanders won 2 of 3 states and 16 more delegates overall than Clinton. SANDERS WON!

March 16, 2016

A "Seabiscuit" campaign that all can admire (Sanders)

I think most people know about that amazing racehorse, Seabiscuit, awkward and knock-kneed as a colt, not expected to win anything. For our youngsters and those who haven't seen the movies:

Seabiscuit lost his first 17 races, and when he started winning (under a new trainer, Tom Smith) did so (won or placed) under heavy handicap weights. Seabiscuit had many up's and down's before he finally faced "the seemingly invincible War Admiral" in the "Match of the Century." Way against the odds, Seabiscuit won that race, becoming the inspiration to millions of people suffering in the Great Depression.

Seabiscuit suffered further up's and down's, including a serious injury, and a grave injury (smashed leg) to his jockey (Red Pollard). Then, in the most surprising comeback in racing history, Seabiscuit (with Pollard riding) won the Santa Anita handicap, in 1940. As wiki says:

Seabiscuit is the Horatio Alger hero of the turf, the horse that came up from nothing on his own courage and will to win.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabiscuit

And for those who don't know who Horatio Alger is...suffice it to say that Americans (and probably all humans) love an underdog!

I wrote the following early this morning in response to liberalmike27's OP, here (comment #30):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511504606

It kind of got buried in the comments there, so I posted it in the Bernie Sanders forum and now I'm posting it in GD: Primaries, because I think it's of general interest to all Democrats and progressives, to anyone interested in politics and to anyone interested in the issues that Sanders has raised, whatever your politics and even if you're non-political. I think it might be of interest to the Clinton supporters, in particular, to help you understand why we persist against the odds.

I think that the Bernie Sanders campaign is the most important event in modern U.S. political history, whether or not Sanders wins the Democratic nomination.

My comment to liberalmike27 was mostly about the HANDICAPS that the Bernie Sanders campaign has had on its back all along, now even more so. I stumbled upon the "Seabiscuit" analogy half way through this comment.

liberalmike27
http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511504606

30. "truth is, last night wasn't too bad" --I totally agree.

But--viewing this as a 'horse race' (which is a narrow way to look at it)--we need to factor in the ENORMOUS HANDICAPS that have been imposed on the Bernie Sanders campaign from the beginning, from the outside. These include:

--the current Clinton/Corporate narrative that "it's over"
--the past Clinton/Corporate narratives that it was "over" at each marker on the racecourse
--the beginning Clinton/Corporate narrative that our 'Seabiscuit' never had a chance
--the cumulative impact of all of these narratives: NO COVERAGE
--the heavily imposed Corporate narrative that it's a 'horse race' and NOT ABOUT IDEAS
--the brainwashing and heavy dumbing down of the American electorate
--the shocking 99% coverage handed to Trump vs a campaign of IDEAS (Sanders)--TWO insurgent campaigns, one gets 24/7 coverage, the other gets, oh, 0.01% grudging notice after huge wins

--the Democratic National Committee's incredibly unfair bias toward Clinton
--the existing system of pay-to-play that puts almost all Dem elected officials in debt to Clinton/DNC
--all Dem elected officials (& most candidates) dependent on corporate/billionaire $ (unlike Sanders who rejects it)
--almost all Dem party officials & leaders part of the pay-to-play system
--labor unions decimated by Reagan junta; almost all labor union upper-mucks now 'players'
--erosion (almost disappearance) of Dem party principles: pro-workers, pro-poor, etc.
--in general, the simply gargantuan power of Wall Street, banksters, transglobal corps, MIC privateers, consolidated Corp media, et al, and foreign influences (the Saudis, other $$ investors)

--the frontload of rightwing states in the primaries (handed Clinton a winning 'narrative'--in truth a hollow one--going into the swing states; Sanders early wins and ties--a remarkable showing--swamped when Dixiecrats hit the Corporate airwaves).

And one self-imposed handicap: no superpacs, no Corp or billionaire money (This handicap is the core of the Sanders campaign, but it is nevertheless a handicap for operating in this atmosphere--for one thing, it doubles-down the determination of all of the above to kill Sanders' ideas and stop his campaign).

Personally, I would add this handicap: The privatized vote counting system (since 2004), with 'TRADE SECRET' code in all of our voting systems, nationwide, owned and controlled by a handful of private corporations (the biggest one, ES&S/Diebold with far rightwing connections) and no auditing in half the states and inadequate auditing in the other half. Who knows what they are doing? They, do, in fact, have the ability--the easy ability--to rig elections, and have probably done so (Bush '04, Congress, governors, state leg's).

NOTE ADDED LATER: Clinton supporters should be concerned about the 'TRADE SECRET' voting systems, too. The owners and funders of ES&S/Diebold are extremely rightwing (with connections to far RW 'christian' nutballs--for instance, ES&S was funded by Howard Ahmanson, who also gave one million dollars to the RW 'christian' Chalcedon foundation, which touts the death penalty for homosexuals!).

Conclusion: It is utterly amazing how well this campaign of ideas, led by the most principled and honest politician in the USA--and the best Democrat!--has done so far. Sanders is, in fact, still in the running as to the 'horse race' due to his incredible energy, the power of his ideas and the millions of people who have supported him as volunteers, donors and internet news activists. He has run a brilliant campaign and so have we. This campaign had NO chance six months ago. Now it has a chance, as to the 'horse race,' with March 15 behind us, and blue skies ahead.


But we need to be aware--very aware--of the handicaps we are operating under. They will probably intensify. I'm a Californian and, believe me, our state party is now a Corporate Democratic Party like all the rest. And that includes Gov. Jerry Brown. We are a socially liberal state but our Establishment is as bad as any of them on the most important matters: income inequality and filthy campaign $$ (and all its ills--lobbying, revolving door, rule by the uber-rich, etc.). I'm not saying Sanders can't win here--I think he can--but it won't be an easy ride.

ONE MORE TIME: This is a campaign of IDEAS, not a 'horse race'--or not only a 'horse race.' That is why Sanders is in it to the Convention, and, as to ideas, beyond the Convention. He has sparked a revolution--and we have sparked a revolution--that has the power to transform the Democratic Party into the party of the people once again, and to transform our country back into a democracy, which it has not been for some time now. We have only the vestiges of a hollowed out, rigged, and now Corporate-run democratic system to work with. Consider this to be the FIRST massive effort to change it from within. An amazing accomplishment, truly. And remember...SEABISCUIT! (Americans love an underdog!)

March 16, 2016

Our "Seabiscuit" campaign for Bernie Sanders

I think most people know about that amazing racehorse, Seabiscuit, awkward and knock-kneed as a colt, not expected to win anything. For our youngsters and those who haven't seen the movies:

Seabiscuit lost his first 17 races, and when he started winning (under a new trainer, Tom Smith) did so (won or placed) under heavy handicap weights. Seabiscuit had many up's and down's before he finally faced "the seemingly invincible War Admiral" in the "Match of the Century." Way against the odds, Seabiscuit won that race, becoming the inspiration to millions of people suffering in the Great Depression.

Seabiscuit suffered further up's and down's, including a serious injury, and a grave injury (smashed leg) to his jockey (Red Pollard). Then, in the most surprising comeback in racing history, Seabiscuit (with Pollard riding) won the Santa Anita handicap, in 1940. As wiki says:

Seabiscuit is the Horatio Alger hero of the turf, the horse that came up from nothing on his own courage and will to win.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seabiscuit

And for those who don't know who Horatio Alger is...suffice it to say that Americans (and probably all humans) love an underdog!

I wrote the following early this morning in response to liberalmike27's OP, here (comment #30):

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511504606

It kind of got buried in the comments there, so I'm posting it here, first of all for Bernie Sanders forum members. Later I'll post it in GD: Primaries. This is my first post in this forum, though I've been a Sanders supporter from the beginning. I'm even more of a Sanders supporter now (if that is possible). I think that the Bernie Sanders campaign is the most important event in modern U.S. political history.

My comment was mostly about the HANDICAPS that the Bernie Sanders campaign has had on its back all along, now even more so. I stumbled upon the "Seabiscuit" analogy half way through this comment.

-----------------------------

30. "truth is, last night wasn't too bad" --I totally agree.

But--viewing this as a 'horse race' (which is a narrow way to look at it)--we need to factor in the ENORMOUS HANDICAPS that have been imposed on the Bernie Sanders campaign from the beginning, from the outside. These include:

--the current Clinton/Corporate narrative that "it's over"
--the past Clinton/Corporate narratives that it was "over" at each marker on the racecourse
--the beginning Clinton/Corporate narrative that our 'Seabiscuit' never had a chance
--the cumulative impact of all of these narratives: NO COVERAGE
--the heavily imposed Corporate narrative that it's a 'horse race' and NOT ABOUT IDEAS
--the brainwashing and heavy dumbing down of the American electorate
--the shocking 99% coverage handed to Trump vs a campaign of IDEAS (Sanders)--TWO insurgent campaigns, one gets 24/7 coverage, the other gets, oh, 0.01% grudging notice after huge wins

--the Democratic National Committee's incredibly unfair bias toward Clinton
--the existing system of pay-to-play that puts almost all Dem elected officials in debt to Clinton/DNC
--all Dem elected officials (& most candidates) dependent on corporate/billionaire $ (unlike Sanders who rejects it)
--almost all Dem party officials & leaders part of the pay-to-play system
--labor unions decimated by Reagan junta; almost all labor union upper-mucks now 'players'
--erosion (almost disappearance) of Dem party principles: pro-workers, pro-poor, etc.
--in general, the simply gargantuan power of Wall Street, banksters, transglobal corps, MIC privateers, consolidated Corp media, et al, and foreign influences (the Saudis, other $$ investors)

--the frontload of rightwing states in the primaries (handed Clinton a winning 'narrative'--in truth a hollow one--going into the swing states; Sanders early wins and ties--a remarkable showing--swamped when Dixiecrats hit the Corporate airwaves).

And one self-imposed handicap: no superpacs, no Corp or billionaire money (This handicap is the core of the Sanders campaign, but it is nevertheless a handicap for operating in this atmosphere--for one thing, it doubles-down the determination of all of the above to kill Sanders' ideas and stop his campaign).

Personally, I would add this handicap: The privatized vote counting system (since 2004), with 'TRADE SECRET' code in all of our voting systems, nationwide, owned and controlled by a handful of private corporations (the biggest one, ES&S/Diebold with far rightwing connections) and no auditing in half the states and inadequate auditing in the other half. Who knows what they are doing? They, do, in fact, have the ability--the easy ability--to rig elections, and have probably done so (Bush '04, Congress, governors, state leg's).

Conclusion: It is utterly amazing how well this campaign of ideas, led by the most principled and honest politician in the USA--and the best Democrat!--has done so far. Sanders is, in fact, still in the running as to the 'horse race' due to his incredible energy, the power of his ideas and the millions of people who have supported him as volunteers, donors and internet news activists. He has run a brilliant campaign and so have we. This campaign had NO chance six months ago. Now it has a chance, as to the 'horse race,' with March 15 behind us, and blue skies ahead.

But we need to be aware--very aware--of the handicaps we are operating under. They will probably intensify. I'm a Californian and, believe me, our state party is now a Corporate Democratic Party like all the rest. And that includes Gov. Jerry Brown. We are a socially liberal state but our Establishment is as bad as any of them on the most important matters: income inequality and filthy campaign $$ (and all its ills--lobbying, revolving door, rule by the uber-rich, etc.). I'm not saying Sanders can't win here--I think he can--but it won't be an easy ride.

ONE MORE TIME: This is a campaign of IDEAS, not a 'horse race'--or not only a 'horse race.' That is why Sanders is in it to the Convention, and, as to ideas, beyond the Convention. He has sparked a revolution--and we have sparked a revolution--that has the power to transform the Democratic Party into the party of the people once again, and to transform our country back into a democracy, which it has not been for some time now. We have only the vestiges of a hollowed out, rigged, and now Corporate-run democratic system to work with. Consider this to be the FIRST massive effort to change it from within. An amazing accomplishment, truly. And remember...SEABISCUIT! (Americans love an underdog!)