General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Bernie Sanders thanks Kamala Harris for endorsing single-payer [View all]GaryCnf
(1,399 posts)First Paragraph:
Since you didn't seem to know what specific issues are being raised by people like me who are not enthralled with Senator Harris , it does not surprise me how little you know about how every day Sanders supporters feel about some of his past positions.
Regarding the "Community Protection Act of 2006," I was appalled both by Sanders' vote and by his explanation. Moreover, I was disappointed by the needless political pandering. I personally favor open borders.
Regarding Sierra Blanca, the accusation is pure politics and the use of the term "environmental racism" is part of a meme which helped us lose the election. Sanders supported an interstate compact (meaning it required TEXAS to agree) to allow Vermont to dump waste which could not be safely stored in the Vermont or elsewhere in the Northeast amounting to less than 10% of the total waste being dumped. The dump was being built regardless. The vote had ZERO to do with whether the dump would be built. No basher has ever said what should have been done with the waste as an alternative.
Regarding the gun industry, I'm not going to refight the primary with you as much as I know you would love to, AND I will add that I was not pleased with even Sanders' MINIMAL support for the gun industry and have no problem criticizing it.
Regarding the F-35, I don't pretend to be a supporter of our overblown military and even though he was doing his job by bringing jobs that were going SOMEWHERE to Vermont, disapprove of that position as well. At some point, we just have to stop trying to dominate the world with military might.
Regarding big sugar, more politicking, more refighting, won't join in. Suffice to say there is plenty of sugar to go around.
Second Paragraph:
Then-California Attorney General Harris was designated the heir apparent to Secretary Clinton years ago AND IT WASN'T LEFTISTS WHO DID IT. It was people who admired her political savvy. You repeating the LIE that it is a smear from leftists doesn't change that. As for those people who claim that being "the next Hillary" disqualifies Senator Harris, I already said they are FULL OF IT and COMPLETELY AGREE with you that this is just repeating an infantile "establishment=bad" mantra in lieu of actually talking about policy.
Since I disapprove of the establishment=bad idea in the first place, how "establishment" is defined may not be that important BUT let me say I again AGREE that NOT including middle of the road male politicians who've been in Washington for years in our definition of "establishment" while at the same time including middle of the road female politicians who have not grown roots in DC is patent. misogyny. Aside, given Senator Harris's recent positions, I would hesitate from calling her "establishment" under ANY definition. So, not only do I disapprove of using the term as a pejorative, I don't think it is accurate.
Third Paragraph:
The caucus issue is bullshit, but not nearly as much as is the accusation that supporting caucuses is an attempt to exclude truly oppressed voters from choosing our candidates. Moreover, it's part of the same meme that contributed mightily to our defeat. Primary elections are better than caucuses when it comes to encouraging participation BUT, when it comes to oppressed groups, whether it's 1 hour to get to the polls to vote, or 5 hours to sit around at a caucus, TRULY oppressed groups don't have the time and/or opportunity to participate in EITHER process -- just like they don't have the time or opportunity to participate in the GE. This isn't about the oppressed groups. If it were, we'd be advocating that primaries elections be run with the same openness we are demanding for general elections. Same day registration, automatic registration, vote by mail, remote location voting, et cetera. (You know, ENCOURAGING turnout) AND WE ARE NOT.
Fourth Paragraph:
And now we get to the ultimate straw man, FDR. I don't lionize FDR and it not just because I am black. I am a Marxist and FDR's ultimate goal was to maintain capitalism by making it less onerous. It is impossible to both maintain capitalism and achieve any semblance of social justice and I can start with 60 Trillion reasons why. That is why a huge percentage of the heroes of the civil rights movement, including my mentors with the BPP, as well as King, El-Shabazz and others were also Marxists. You are just going to have to talk about MY views.
As for centrism being part of history, Ms. Harris has already shown that more clearly than I could ever dream of doing.
Sorry if this doesn't fit your stereotype.
Edited to add: I wanted to add that I know full well that I and the other black Marxists who came to political awareness in the late 60s are even more a part of the dustbin of history than centrism. Such is progress.