February 28, 2016

Establishment Media and Economists Attack Sanders' Agenda

http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/34978-the-dominant-media-left-leaning-economists-and-the-illusion-of-consensus

The Dominant Media, "Left-Leaning" Economists and the Illusion of Consensus

In a matter of a few days, The New York Times and a handful of liberal economists, most of them with close ties to the Democratic Party establishment, created an imaginary left-wing consensus against the most transformative Keynesian reforms in Bernie Sanders' economic agenda. Many economists and experts have since attempted to counter this manufactured consensus, but the mainstream media have largely ignored these efforts. As this false narrative turns into conventional wisdom, prospects for much-needed and substantive changes to our economy - universal health care, access to higher education, a dignified standard of living for all - continue to dwindle.

This development shows the power of the propaganda function of the mass media in the United States, which keeps parameters of debate limited on an extremely narrow spectrum. These parameters are largely shaped by the political parties, with the Democratic Party reflecting the liberal end of acceptable discourse in publications like The New York Times - thus far and no further. To go beyond this point will result in one being marginalized, ignored or mocked - treated as if they have taken "off from the planet," as Noam Chomsky once described the phenomenon. Given the narrative the mainstream media have pushed in recent weeks, it appears that proposals like single-payer health care and tuition-free college go well beyond these parameters. This is not all that surprising given the Democratic Party's financial relationship with the pharmaceutical industry and the financial services industry.

Establishment Media and Economists Attack Sanders' Agenda

On February 15, 2016, the Times published an article called, "Left-leaning economists question costs of Sanders' economic plans." The article cited, interviewed or quoted five establishment (if liberal) economists (and one pundit) critiquing, attacking and at times flat-out mocking the "seriousness" and plausibility of Sanders' economic plans for things like single-payer health care and major investments in infrastructure or higher education. The attacks were largely aimed at an analysis calculated by University of Massachusetts economist Gerald Friedman, using what Friedman and others insist is conventional economic modeling. The Times' sources described Sanders' plans and Friedman's conclusions in the following ways: "puppies and rainbows"; "magic flying puppies with winning Lotto tickets tied to their collars"; "fairy tales" and "wishful thinking."

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But then..... facts just don't matter (in the right-wing brain)

The most depressing discovery about the brain, ever
http://www.rawstory.com/2016/02/the-most-depressing-discovery-about-the-brain-ever/#.VtMdRZtVt0c.facebook

(snip)
Nyan and his collaborators have been running experiments trying to answer this terrifying question about American voters: Do facts matter?

The answer, basically, is no. When people are misinformed, giving them facts to correct those errors only makes them cling to their beliefs more tenaciously.

February 28, 2016

Hillary Clinton's Faux Feminism

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/35006-hillary-clinton-s-faux-feminism

Clinton and her supporters often point to the potential of a woman president to inspire little girls, letting them know that women can do anything. Yet her own life narrative is not a stirring feminist parable. It is probably true that neither Bill nor Hillary Clinton could have come so far without the other. But who wants to advise our daughters to marry an ambitious, egomaniacal man; stay with him no matter what; and be the first lady for many years? Eventually it will be your turn. Is this a career plan?

Hillary Clinton is not alone: Around the world, many female heads of state have attained their positions through marriage or bloodlines. While it is common for a woman to advance in this way, it is neither interesting nor feminist.

February 27, 2016

New Poll Shows Sanders Ahead of Clinton by Widest Margin Yet

http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/02/24/new-poll-shows-sanders-ahead-clinton-widest-margin-yet


Senator from Vermont leads Clinton by six points in new Reuters/Ipsos poll released Tuesday

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll shows Bernie Sanders ahead of Hillary Clinton by six points nationwide, his biggest lead in the presidential race so far.

The survey, released Tuesday, shows Sanders polling at 41.7 percent among 998 likely Democratic voters, while Clinton got 35.5 percent.

As Salon points out, Reuters' daily tracking feature "illustrates that Sanders has led Clinton nationally for a majority of days in February."

The figures come just ahead of the Democratic primary in South Carolina on February 27, where Sanders is still trailing the former secretary of state. According to Bloomberg, the senator has 200 paid staffers on the ground in South Carolina, making it his biggest state operation thus far.

February 26, 2016

Attention Illinois Bernie Supporters

IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT YOUR MARCH 15 VOTE

THERE IS A "MISTAKE" ON THE BALLOT IN AT LEAST SOME ILLINOIS DISTRICTS

In some districts there are TOO MANY Bernie Sanders Delegates listed on the ballot. If you vote for more delegates than are allowed by your particular ballot – YOUR VOTE FOR ALL DELEGATES WILL NOT COUNT !

Examples:
#1 - The Fremont Ballot in Lake County shows 6 delegates for Bernie Sanders. You are only ALLOWED to vote for 5 on THIS ballot. If you vote for all 6, this section of your ballot IS NOT COUNTED. None of it!


#2 - The Greenwood Ballot in McHenry County shows 5 delegates for Bernie Sanders. You are ONLY allowed to vote for 4 on THIS ballot. If you vote for all 5, this section of your ballot IS NOT COUNTED. None of it!



Explanation:
One of two things occurred for this to happen--either someone not on the endorsed slate of Sanders delegates collected and submitted a petition that went unchallenged (could be an over enthusiastic Bernie supporter or as folks are assuming, a plant) or, the Sanders campaign accidentally submitted the extra candidate. Do not rule out either possibility.…. Nothing can now be done about this now. Everyone now has a big voter education project.

This "Mistake" MAY OCCUR in other Counties
READ YOUR BALLOT INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

Only Vote for the Maximum number of Delegates allowed

In a side note you will also see that (on the Fremont ballot) Bernie is at the bottom of the Presidential section behind a guy that is no longer in the race, and, three people no one I know has ever heard of.

February 25, 2016

Attention Illinois Voters - Bernie Supporters

IMPORTANT INFO ABOUT YOUR MARCH 15 VOTE

THERE IS A "MISTAKE" ON THE BALLOT IN MANY ILLINOIS DISTRICTS

In some districts there are TOO MANY Bernie Sanders Delegates listed on the ballot. If you vote for more delegates than are allowed by your particular ballot – YOUR VOTE FOR ALL DELEGATES WILL NOT COUNT !

Examples:
#1 - The Fremont Ballot in Lake County shows 6 delegates for Bernie Sanders. You are only ALLOWED to vote for 5 on THIS ballot. If you vote for all 6, this section of your ballot IS NOT COUNTED. None of it!

#2 - The Greenwood Ballot in McHenry County shows 5 delegates for Bernie Sanders. You are ONLY allowed to vote for 4 on THIS ballot. If you vote for all 5, this section of your ballot IS NOT COUNTED. None of it!

Explanation:
One of two things occurred for this to happen--either someone not on the endorsed slate of Sanders delegates collected and submitted a petition that went unchallenged (could be an over enthusiastic Bernie supporter or as folks are assuming, a plant) or, the Sanders campaign accidentally submitted the extra candidate. Do not rule out either possibility.…. Nothing can now be done about this now. Everyone now has a big voter education project.

This "Mistake" MAY OCCUR in other Counties
READ YOUR BALLOT INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY AND TELL YOUR FRIENDS!

Only Vote for the Maximum number of Delegates allowed

February 24, 2016

How the Media Is Misleading Voters Into Believing Clinton Is 'Inevitable'

http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/how-media-misleading-voters-believing-clinton-inevitable

By including superdelegates in their official list of totals, the press is misleading the public into accepting a faulty narrative

After three primary battles, Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton are tied in pledged delegates, or delegates that are decided by the voters, 51-51, and due to New Hampshire’s open primary that Sanders won overwhelmingly, he leads the “popular vote” 60% to 40%. But one wouldn’t know that after a cursory glance at the delegate count of media sources including ABC News, NPR, Chicago Tribune and the New York Times:

February 23, 2016

I Worked on Wall Street - Here's Why I'm Skeptical Hillary Clinton Will Rein It In

http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/i-worked-wall-street-heres-why-im-skeptical-hillary-clinton-will-rein-it?akid=13998.130268.xLhFWV&rd=1&src=newsletter1051112&t=11


Wall Street is very much intertwined with the Clinton's. I doubt that will change anytime soon.

I owe almost my entire Wall Street career to the Clintons. I am not alone; most bankers owe their careers, and their wealth, to them. Over the last 25 years they – with the Clintons it is never just Bill or Hillary – implemented policies that placed Wall Street at the center of the Democratic economic agenda, turning it from a party against Wall Street to a party of Wall Street.

That is why when I recently went to see Hillary Clinton campaign for president and speak about reforming Wall Street I was skeptical. What I heard hasn’t changed that skepticism. The policies she offers are mid-course corrections. In the Clintons’ world, Wall Street stays at the center, economically and politically. Given Wall Street’s power and influence, that is a dangerous place to leave them.

Salomon Brothers hired me in 1993, seven months after President Bill Clinton’s inauguration. Getting a job had been easy, Wall Street was booming from deregulation that had begun under Reagan and was continuing under Clinton

When Bill Clinton ran for office, he offered up him and Hillary (“Two for the price of one”) as New Democrats, embracing an image of being tough on crime, but not on business. Despite the campaign rhetoric, nobody on the trading floor I joined had voted for the Clintons or trusted them.

(snip)

Hillary Clinton continues to receive large donations from top bankers. Ask anyone who has spent the last two decades on Wall Street which politicians have worked for them the hardest and most will grudgingly admit it’s the Clintons. I doubt that will change anytime soon.

February 21, 2016

The Democratic Party Has Suppressed It's Own Vote: Why

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/2/21/1488624/-The-Democratic-Party-Has-Suppressed-It-s-Own-Vote-Why



There is an old adage in advertising: Unseen is Unsold.

In 2008, my candidate, Barack Obama became the first African American President of the United States. It was a tearful night for many in this country as it was for my wife and I as we watched the television monitor.

In that election we also took the Senate and the House dramatically. It was a mandate, and my wife and I talked of all the wonderful things that could now be accomplished. It was a time of HOPE.

(snip)

That was then this is now.

We live in a time of revolving door politician/lobbyists. Our government is an extension of the multinational corporate system. That is one of Senator Bernie Sanders main points. We no longer govern ourselves but are controlled.

This election season we have had a person running our Democratic Party, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who is receptive only to the multinational corporations. In a stunning betrayal of Democracy itself she has autocratically worked toward the destruction of the Democratic Party. To the Sanders campaigns credit they knew it would be this way. They knew the multinational corporate media conglomerates would control the process and they would receive none of their help and would be a hindrance if anything.

Despite all this the Sanders Campaign, in effect in eight months time, has built their own media system out of social media and carved out their own Democratic branch of the Democratic Party. It is growing exponentially everyday. The Sanders Campaign has built, and are currently fine tuning, their own people funded mega monetary political force.

February 21, 2016

Yes, We Have a Turnout Problem. And Here's the Biggest Culprit:

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/2/21/1488628/-Yes-We-Have-a-Turnout-Problem-And-Here-s-the-Biggest-Culprit



The bad news (and yes, it is bad) following the first three Dem presidential primaries of this cycle, is that Dem turnout is lower than it was in the wave election year of ‘08, and (this is the really bad part) that the GOP turnout is commensurately higher. This, indeed, does not bode well.

But to attribute the problem (and yes, it is a problem) totally to the incompetence of the two remaining Dem candidates’ campaigns is an extremely blinkered notion, especially since this very outcome was predicted months ago, based on the strategic idiocy of the Debbie Wasserman-Schultz-led DNC. Here’s what I wrote in that diary of Aug 5 last year:

So the Chair of the DNC, in a brilliant strategic move, is encouraging Democrats to inflate the ratings of the FOX News network as they go about the business of promoting the personalities and policies of the GOP Presidential field??? And she's hoping we'll use the DNC's Bingo game to make a fun night out of it??? This is not a game, Debbie, it's the most critical political juncture in the history of the world (and that's not even close to hyperbole) and your plan is for us to sit down with popcorn and Bingo cards and have some fun! Meanwhile, the whole country (and the world) is going to be subjected, without a countervailing event from the Democrats, to the distortions of the John Birch Society that has rebranded itself as the Modern GOP.

February 18, 2016

Rubio: If You Like Bernie Sanders, ‘Move To A Socialist Country’

Who put the Rube in Rubio?
________

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/02/17/3750279/marco-rubio-bernie-sanders-radicalized/

"The Democratic party has been radicalized," Rubio said.

The growing popularity of Democratic socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) proves that Democrats, not Republicans, have been “radicalized” over the course of the 2016 presidential election, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) said on Wednesday.

Speaking in front of an audience in South Carolina, the Republican presidential candidate pushed back against claims that Donald Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) have driven the Republican party toward the radical right. Those claims were sparked after Trump proposed policies like banning all Muslims from entering the United States and killing the families of terrorists, and Cruz proposed “carpet bombing” ISIS.
But according to Rubio, it’s the Democrats who have gone too far.

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We haven't' even begun Rube-baby
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75 Ways Socialism Has Improved America

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/03/29/1078852/-75-Ways-Socialism-Has-Improved-America

Well I hate to be the one to tell you, but Socialism, which you have been told to fear all your life, is responsible for all this...

1. The Military/Defense - The United States military is the largest and most funded socialist program in the world. It operates thanks to our taxpayer dollars and protects the country as a whole. From the richest citizens to the homeless who sleep under the bridge. We are all protected by our military whether we pay taxes or not. This is complete socialism.

2. Highways/Roads - Those roads and highways you drive on every single day are completely taxpayer funded. Your tax dollars are used to maintain, expand, and preserve our highways and roads for every one's use. President Eisenhower was inspired by Germany's autobahn and implemented the idea right here in America. That's right, a republican president created our taxpayer funded, national highway system. This was a different time, before the republican party came down with a vicious case of rabies that never went away.

3. Public Libraries - Yes. That place where you go to check out books from conservative authors telling you how horrible socialism is, is in fact socialism. Libraries are taxpayer funded. You pay a few bucks to get a library card and you can read books for free for the rest of your life.

4. Police - Ever had a situation where you had to call the police? Then you have used a taxpayer funded socialist program. Anyone can call the police whether they pay taxes or not. They are there to protect and serve the community, not individuals. This is complete socialism on a state level, but still socialism all the same. Would you rather have to swipe your credit card before the police will help you?

etc
etc
etc