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Rebkeh

Rebkeh's Journal
Rebkeh's Journal
March 24, 2016

Well, there's a thought

Could Bernie Sanders be our First Write-In President?
Why not utilize the sheer will of the people to force the revolution we want to see happen?

By Pamela Elaine - March 2, 2016


I doubt it but hey.. I've seen stranger things happen. Apparently, it's complicated to get on the ballot as a write in but it's still worth consideration as a strategy. I live in a red state so as it stands, IF it comes to it, I probably will write in Bernie as my vote if I can. My state is decidedly going to go red, it's a pretty safe bet, so my party line vote would be meaningless anyway. November is a long way off so I am not committing to anything at this time.

:snip:

As we see more voters in some historically conservative states becoming more liberal, and more fears that there is too much money in the political process, the Electoral College seems like an antiquated method of doing business and way too much like business as usual. We may have to storm the Bastille and take the election into our own hands, literally. We have seen the crowds that Bernie Sanders has drawn to his speaking engagements.

Why not utilize the sheer will of the people to force the revolution we want to see happen? As people square off, trying to decide what they will do if Bernie doesn’t win the party nomination, they only seem to see two options; to vote for Hillary with gritted teeth or stay home and not vote at all. The problem is gathering enough momentum behind the process to actually mean something, and that means dealing with the apathy that seems to beset Progressives and Liberals on voting day.

If the status quo or the establishment refuses to work for the will of the people, the people have to force their hand and maybe we have reached a point in history where the write-in vote can move the political process out of those dark rooms and into the limelight.


More: http://progressivearmy.com/2016/03/02/bernie-sanders-first-write-president/
March 24, 2016

ICYMI - Bernie Sanders and #WhichHillary

Bernie Sanders and #WhichHillary
By Michael Graham - March 22, 2016

(ProgressiveArmy.com) Well, well, well… They say the truth never changes. If you only speak truth, you sound like you are repeating yourself. We see that Bernie Sanders is a truthteller of the highest order. My main attraction to Bernie has always been his Progressive stances and Speaking Truth to Power. Many Twitter revolutionaries have been telling you that Bernie is only talking, and his activism in Chicago is ancient history. I say that is a sign of character. It turns out I was correct. In his speech on foreign policy in the Middle East, Bernie told some truth unheard in the modern era from a competitive American presidential candidate. His policy positions were logical and even handed. Further to the left than any politician in the Final Five. For me, someone that pays close attention to policy in the region, it was refreshing to hear. It was a ray of light at a very dark time in US foreign relations.



More: http://progressivearmy.com/2016/03/22/bernie-sanders-whichhillary/
March 21, 2016

If you blame Bernie or Bust, call it what it is

Blaming the victim. See how far that goes. (I hope you don't)

If the democratic party fails to get votes, the onus is on them and nobody else.

March 21, 2016

Hate Trump?

Vote Bernie.

It doesn't get any simpler than that.

March 21, 2016

I may get an alert ...

I hope not but I'll take my chances. I'm done walking on eggshells.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511539834

March 20, 2016

About the issues

Cross posted from gd-p


About the issues

If your vote is determined based on the issues, there's only one candidate that meets the highest standard. The majority of the people align with Senator Bernie Sanders on nearly every issue, he's no "radical," as they like to label him. His positions are not only mainstream, but overwhelmingly supported by the majority. But that's still not enough, you have to trust that your chosen candidate will follow through on what he or she says he or she will do, regardless of the issues. So trust is part of that package, yes? Again, only one candidate scores high in trustworthiness, honesty and integrity. Only one candidate has a strong record of ethical behavior, even when it was politically painful. He still stood on the right side of history in nearly every instance.

If your vote is going to be based on effectiveness and experience, again, Senator Bernie is no slouch. He's been fighting for main street, for regular folks for decades. And winning.

If, however, your vote is to be decided based on other reasons such as practicality, that's your right. Your inalienable right to vote however you see fit is still legit. And Bernie is a practical choice, regardless of the rumors.

Many will try to frame the debate in terms of the general election, but last I checked, we are still in the swing of the primaries. You still have a choice for the democratic nominee, regardless of the math. Your options are still open.

Edited to add: I almost forgot another reason to vote for Senator Bernie Sanders. If voting against Trump is your thing, according to polling, Bernie beats every republican by huge margins, including Trump. Especially Trump.

Lastly, let's be real - on the issues, Bernie is clearest choice.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/12511535901

March 20, 2016

About the issues

If your vote is determined based on the issues, there's only one candidate that meets the highest standard. The majority of the people align with Senator Bernie Sanders on nearly every issue, he's no "radical," as they like to label him. His positions are not only mainstream, but overwhelmingly supported by the majority. But that's still not enough, you have to trust that your chosen candidate will follow through on what he or she says he or she will do, regardless of the issues. So trust is part of that package, yes? Again, only one candidate scores high in trustworthiness, honesty and integrity. Only one candidate has a strong record of ethical behavior, even when it was politically painful. He still stood on the right side of history in nearly every instance.

If your vote is going to be based on effectiveness and experience, again, Senator Bernie is no slouch. He's been fighting for main street, for regular folks for decades. And winning.

If, however, your vote is to be decided based on other reasons such as practicality, that's your right. Your inalienable right to vote however you see fit is still legit. And Bernie is a practical choice, regardless of the rumors.

*Edited to add: If voting against Trump is your thing, according to polling, Bernie beats every republican by huge margins, including Trump. Especially Trump.

Many will try to frame the debate in terms of the general election, but last I checked, we are still in the swing of the primaries. You still have a choice for the democratic nominee, regardless of the math. Your options are still open.

Lastly, let's be real - on the issues, Bernie is clearest choice.

March 20, 2016

How Trump Dog-Whistles the Business Establishment

How Trump Dog-Whistles the Business Establishment:

He cleverly woos the GOP base on issues like trade, but this working-class hero is actually a willing agent of the 1 percenters.


William Greider
3/18/16


(The Nation) Even as Donald Trump woos working-class voters by trashing Washington politicians, he is sending a reassuring message to the business-financial establishment: Don’t worry, I’m on your side, he’s telling corporate execs in coded language. Trump the deal maker has signaled that he’ll deliver mammoth tax “forgiveness”—worth hundreds of billions—to the largest multinational corporations.


snip

“I’m disgusted with it; I’m tired of seeing it,” Trump told his adoring fans. “People can’t get their money back into the country because the politicians can’t get along, they can’t make a deal…. Companies are leaving our country in order to go and get money—that’s their money—because there’s no way of bringing it in.”

Trump says he would change all that instantly as president. The deal maker would introduce a cooperative spirit of compromise. “If I sat down with a few of the senators, or a few of the congressmen, you could make a deal on that in 10 minutes,” he said.

Like so much of his campaign rhetoric, Trump turns reality into baloney. The multinationals can bring their profits home anytime they wish. Like right now. They merely have to pay the taxes they already owe. The threat to American citizens is that both Democrats and Republicans will cave in and collaborate in giving the corporate tax dodgers what they want. The rest of us will pick up the tab.


http://www.thenation.com/article/how-trump-dog-whistles-the-business-establishment/

Bernie is the better contrast, and he is the better choice for the "temporarily embarrassed millionaires" that think they will get to that level of wealth eventually and want to keep the system intact for when they finally arrive. Bernie is also the only democrat talking to these people, Trump supporters.

I don't want to talk about Trump, personally, unless it's to demonstrate the better alternative for this particular demographic.

Democrats used to talk about the decline of upward mobility. What ever happened to that?


(cross post from Bernie Group)

March 20, 2016

What I am listening to

I have a feeling this is going to be really good, I thought I'd post it now even though I haven't heard it yet.

http://www.thenation.com/article/start-making-sense-bernie-isnt-finished/

What’s left for Bernie Sanders after Tuesday’s primaries? Plenty of opportunities, says John Nichols—he’s The Nation’s National Affairs correspondent.

Plus: North Carolina’s new voter ID requirements, the most restrictive in the country, went into effect on Tuesday—Ari Berman explains the problem. He is the author of Give Us the Ballot.

And Thomas Frank asks the question: Whatever happened to the party of the people? His new book is Listen, Liberal.


Start Making Sense is hosted by Jon Wiener and co-produced by the Los Angeles Review of Books.
March 20, 2016

How Trump Dog-Whistles the Business Establishment

How Trump Dog-Whistles the Business Establishment:

He cleverly woos the GOP base on issues like trade, but this working-class hero is actually a willing agent of the 1 percenters.


William Greider
3/18/16


(The Nation) Even as Donald Trump woos working-class voters by trashing Washington politicians, he is sending a reassuring message to the business-financial establishment: Don’t worry, I’m on your side, he’s telling corporate execs in coded language. Trump the deal maker has signaled that he’ll deliver mammoth tax “forgiveness”—worth hundreds of billions—to the largest multinational corporations.


snip

“I’m disgusted with it; I’m tired of seeing it,” Trump told his adoring fans. “People can’t get their money back into the country because the politicians can’t get along, they can’t make a deal…. Companies are leaving our country in order to go and get money—that’s their money—because there’s no way of bringing it in.”

Trump says he would change all that instantly as president. The deal maker would introduce a cooperative spirit of compromise. “If I sat down with a few of the senators, or a few of the congressmen, you could make a deal on that in 10 minutes,” he said.

Like so much of his campaign rhetoric, Trump turns reality into baloney. The multinationals can bring their profits home anytime they wish. Like right now. They merely have to pay the taxes they already owe. The threat to American citizens is that both Democrats and Republicans will cave in and collaborate in giving the corporate tax dodgers what they want. The rest of us will pick up the tab.


Bernie is the better contrast, and he is the better choice for the "temporarily embarrassed millionaires" that think they will get to that level of wealth eventually and want to keep the system intact for when they finally arrive. Bernie is also the only democrat talking to these people, Trump supporters.

I don't want to talk about Trump, personally, unless it's to demonstrate the better alternative for this particular demographic.

Democrats used to talk about the decline of upward mobility. What ever happened to that?

http://www.thenation.com/article/how-trump-dog-whistles-the-business-establishment/

Profile Information

Gender: Female
Home country: USA
Member since: Sat Oct 17, 2015, 10:59 AM
Number of posts: 2,450

About Rebkeh

Progressive in the Midwest, a transplant from both coasts, homesick for the eastern one. Traipsing the line between calling it like I see it and knowing when to keep my thoughts to myself. *note: I slip a lot.
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