February 5, 2016

On contributing to political campaigns and voting.

Contributions to Political Campaigns

If legislators are really opposed to Citizens United or corporate donations, why is the limit for individual donations so low?

Just as examples, Hillary and Bernie both announced formally about seven months ago and primary season still has several months to go. You don't have to be a billionaire to donate $300 a month throughout primary season, if it means a lot to you, either from income or savings. That would put you over the limit of $2700 per candidate per election.

Why is the political contribution limit for humans only $2,700 per candidate per election, especially since we profess to hate Citizens United so much?


Voting

If our votes are so important, why can't we get at least three hours off from work to vote, if we provide proof of having voted? For example, a man who works in my building has two full time jobs, from 7 am to 3 pm in my building and from 3 pm to 11 pm in a building nearby (both buildings managed by the same company, so they cut him a little slack running from one building to the other around 3 pm). His commute to Boston is about 40 minutes. There is no way he can vote where he lives without taking off from work. Also, until this year, the very blue town of Boston had only day on which people could vote, which was a Tuesday, a work day for him.

The same people who beg us to GOTV for them every two to four years never passed laws enabling this hard-working man to get to the polls. Why?

What are our real priorities? Should we be pushing for change in these two areas that are so pivotal and foundational to our system?

February 4, 2016

Sea changes in US politics, thanks to Senator Sanders and his supporters

1. Thanks to United States Senator Bernie Sanders, Americans learned that a candidate for the Democratic nomination for President of the United States can run a campaign solely on contributions from individuals, to a maximum of $2,700 per individual, without donations from PACs and corporations or so-called "dark money." In your face, Citizens' United!

2. Thanks to donors of Senator Sanders, we learned that small donors to a political campaign can provide at least a million dollars in ninety minutes, at least three million dollars in twenty-four hours, at least twenty million dollars in one month and at least 3.5 million individual donations in seven months. In your face, Citizens' United!

3. The only two candidates for the Democratic Presidential nomination are vying to be the more progressive--and one of them is DLC founding member, Secretary Hillary Clinton!

4. The only two candidates for the Democratic Presidential nomination are promising help for students seeking formal education beyond high school--and one of them is DLC founding member, Secretary Clinton!

5. Neither candidate for the Democratic Presidential nomination is mentioning cutting "entitlements"--and one of them is DLC founding member, Secretary Clinton!

6. A candidate for the Democratic Presidential nomination cancelled a fund-raising trip to Bain Capitol this week, ahead of the New Hampshire primary--and that candidate is DLC founding member, Secretary Clinton!

7. Instead of running from terms like "left" and "liberal," down ticket federal candidates and state candidates are now bragging about challenging incumbents from the left, not taking campaign contributions from corporations, etc.

Edited to add this: 8. Maine Democrats are voting on whether to end super delegates.
http://jackpineradicals.org/showthread.php?10572-It%92s-Happening-Maine-Dem-Party-Officials-to-Vote-on-Eliminating-Superdelegates&p=64722#post64722


That is an impressive list of sea changes (so far) for only one Presidential run, especially given an uphill battle against the DNC, almost all of the Democratic Party, the msm and big money donors.

THANK YOU, Senator Sanders.

As for the no good, no account supporters of Senator Sanders, every dollar and every hour you have spent so far has changed United States Presidential politics and the story of the modern Democratic Party going forward for some time to come.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1280&pid=104497






THANK YOU, supporters of Senator Sanders.

You/We are not finished, so PLEASE do not stop now, but double down.

And now, because you've been so very very good and sea change-y:

http://jackpineradicals.org/entry.php?191-Chansons-de-Charles-Trenet

February 3, 2016

Bernie quotes Hillary. "Low blow," says Hillary.

September 10, 2015 news story out of Ohio about a talk she gave in Ohio at a Women for Hillary event in Ohio:

Hillary:

You know, I get accused of being kind of moderate and center. I plead guilty.

http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/10/politics/hillary-clinton-democrat-progressive/

October 13, 2015 news story about the Democratic debate:

Cooper asked Clinton if she changed her political stance based on who she was talking to and mentioned a comment that she made last month in New Hampshire in which she said that she pleaded "guilty" to "being kind of moderate and center."

Hillary:

I'm a progressive, who likes to gets things done.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/hillary-clinton-progressive


February 1, 2016 news story about Hillary's self-declared victory speech during the Iowa caucuses

As the Iowa caucuses were winding down, Hillary described herself as a progressive and a change agent.

Hillary:

I am a progressive who get things done for people. I am honored to stand in the long line of American reformers who make up our minds that the status quo is not good enough, that standing still is not an option, and that brings people together to find ways forward that will improve the lives of Americans.

http://www.democracynow.org/2016/2/1/watch_hillary_clinton_touts_progressive_record

Bernie:

Except when she announces that she is a proud moderate, and then I guess she is not a progressive.

Hillary described Sanders' comment as a low blow!

http://time.com/4206675/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-new-hampshire-primary-progressive/

February 2, 2016

Voting fraud by Clinton people?

http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4578575/clinton-voter-fraud-polk-county-iowa-caucus

And what was up with the 90 precincts? http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511117888

FYI: In Sanders shoes, I would never have trusted the Democratic Party with the counting after the way the DNC has been behaving, but that's me.