An Email from Sen. Bernie Sanders

[NJmaverick]

I'm an independent. So why am I writing on behalf of Democrats? Because we're only 28 days out, and polls show close races in at least 15 states. The GOP only needs to win 10 to take the majority. And their candidates are the most reactionary I've ever seen.

Yes, it's easy to get frustrated at the pace of progress in Washington, and I share the concerns of many progressives that the Democrats have not been as bold and aggressive as they should be. But, if those of us who want to move our nation forward don't act immediately, winnable races will be lost.

SNIP

If Democrats lose the Senate, everything we believe in - health care for all, full employment, transforming our energy system, preserving social security, a fair and progressive tax structure - will be set back. Nothing can justify sitting by and letting that happen.

Look, I've had my differences with Democrats in the past, but we set them aside to work together to move our country forward. That won't happen if Democrats lose the Senate. The obstruction we're seeing today will look like child's play. The Republican agenda - such as it is - is to stop at nothing to destroy President Obama and win back the White House in 2012.

They're getting powerful help. GOP-aligned groups including Karl Rove's American Crossroads plan to spend $400 million - a record-breaking amount - to elect Republicans. These shady groups funded by oil billionaires and secret donors are relentlessly attacking Democrats. Candidates who stand up to corporate influence risk their voices being drowned out.

SNIP

Republicans are counting on us to sit on our hands, but this is no time to opt out. It's time to seize the moment, win in November and move this country forward. Thank you for your help.

Sincerely,

Sen. Bernie Sanders

[StandingInLeftField]

1. I'm with Bernie on this one.

:thumbsup:

[NJmaverick]

2. We all should be

[displacedvermoter]

39. What aren't you with him on?

[FrenchieCat]

3. K&R

[Stuart G]

4. K and R

[AtomicKitten]

5. Bernie is right! K&R

[sandnsea]

6. Only rational choice n/t

[Spazito]

7. Well said, Senator Sanders...

Thanks for posting this, NJmaverick, it is much appreciated.

Recommended.

[Bobbie Jo]

8. K&R

:kick:

[TheBigotBasher]

9. Wide words from Bernie.

Republicans want "their Country" back, everyone else wants to move it forward.

[NJmaverick]

13. It's scary to think what they will do if the GOP get's what they desire

[JNelson6563]

10. Thanks Senator!

And keep on rockin'!

[treestar]

11. Bernie is smart!

:kick:

[DevonRex]

12. Everyone here should listen to Bernie. I couldn't even pick the best quote.

Maybe this one:

"The GOP only needs to win 10 to take the majority. And their candidates are the most reactionary I've ever seen."

Or maybe this one:

"If Democrats lose the Senate, everything we believe in - health care for all, full employment, transforming our energy system, preserving social security, a fair and progressive tax structure - will be set back."

Or how about this:

"The Republican agenda - such as it is - is to stop at nothing to destroy President Obama and win back the White House in 2012."

And I really liked this:

"Republicans are counting on us to sit on our hands, but this is no time to opt out. It's time to seize the moment, win in November and move this country forward."

Oh hell. I should have just copied and pasted the whole damn thing. It was that good.

[zipplewrath]

14. Not the DSCC

I've given alot this season. But not a dime to the DSCC. Straight to the candidates. I don't trust the DSCC any further than I can throw them.

[NJmaverick]

17. I trust Bernie's judgment more than I do yours

so I donated to them.

[zipplewrath]

18. He don't run the DSCC

I wonder if he gets cash from them, considering he ain't a democrat and all.

[NJmaverick]

20. Do you have any facts to support your speculation?

[zipplewrath]

21. Which speculation?

He doesn't run the DSCC. He is an independent. I do wonder if he gets any money from the DSCC.

[NJmaverick]

27. Your comment about him getting any money

do you have any facts to support that or was the comment unfounded and intended to reduce the impact of the Senator's important message?

[zipplewrath]

28. It was a question

It was clearly a question about whether the DSCC spent money on an "independents" campaign.

And did you see where Fiengold isn't taking their money? So now am I suppose to follow Feingold's lead, or Sanders?

[NJmaverick]

29. It was a question along the lines of "when did you stop beating your wife?"

In fact it might better be described as a back handed accusation

[zipplewrath]

31. How?

One wouldn't expect them to fund Sanders, he's not a democrat. And it one heck of a compliment to Sanders that he would back an organization that potentially wouldn't fund him. I don't know if they do or don't, which is why I wrote "I wonder".

You're just looking for a fight aren't you?

[NJmaverick]

37. "how?" The same way asking a poster here if they are getting money

from any political group would be considered a personal attack.

[zipplewrath]

38. It's a personal attack to ask if he is getting money from the DSCC?

First of all, I speculated/ask that he WASN'T getting money from them. But it was also in the context of a request BY HIM, to donate TO THE DSCC. And somehow that's "an attack"?

Like I say, you're just looking for an argument.

[NJmaverick]

40. Instead of listening to the important message he is trying to spread

you are instead speculating if he is getting money from the DSCC. Of course the unspoken message behind that speculation is that his support for the DSCC is driven by the money you "wonder if he is getting from them"

[zipplewrath]

41. Actually, I merely commented that I would support the candidates

but not the DSCC. I didn't mention his money stream until I responded to you. And then I wondered if he DIDN'T get money from them, being that he isn't a democrat.

As I say, you seem to be looking for excuses for an argument.

[NJmaverick]

42. I find it ironic that you call the DSCC untrustworthy while

making baseless speculations about a Senator that do support (and presumably trust) them.

[zipplewrath]

43. They a have a basis

He is an independent, and they are an organization dedicated to electe and re-electing members of the democratic party. They of course are free to spend their money as they wish, but it is not a stretch to extrapolate those facts into a suggestion that there is a likelyhood that they would not fund his campaign. (It would be especially difficult if there was a democratic challenger). Alternately, considering the extent to which he cooperates with the democrats, and the DSCC (including writing letters advocating donations to them) it wouldn't be particularly surprising if he would receive assistance, at least in the absence of a democratic challenger.

Which is why one might "wonder" if he is funded by them or not.

[Dappleganger]

32. He only asked a damn question.

Jesus.

[closeupready]

34. Are you implying the accuser is a Christian? How dare you!

:sarcasm:

[NJmaverick]

36. Thank you for the kick

[NJmaverick]

35. Thank you for the kick

[Ikonoklast]

15. Kick for Bernie, who lives in the real world.

[Wind Dancer]

16. I admire Bernie!

Wish we had a few more like him in power.
Thanks for sharing!

[Scurrilous]

19. K & R

:thumbsup:

[azmouse]

22. K&R

[CBR]

23. K&R nt

[MiniprotesterTodd]

24. Use miniprotesting to help Bernie's goal for Dems

Up here in the North Bay we're gearing up to show Californians the hypocrisy of gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman with miniprotests. For one set of protest strings we'll have these three main sign inscriptions::

Meg Whitman: Classic GOP Integrity Deficiency
Whitman Knowingly Retained Undocumented Housekeeper
Yet Says Those Who Hire Illegals Should be Held Accountable

and another set for other protest strings:

Meg Whitman: Classic GOP Integrity Deficiency
Knowingly Retained Undocumented Housekeeper
Then Fires Her Saying “You Don’t Know Me, I Don’t Know You, Understand?”

Find out more about miniprotesting at http://miniprotests.com where you'll discover tons of suggestions for your own miniprotests in your area on the Inscription Suggestion page. You can post your own on the Forum page.

Each miniprotest is essentially a "protest string" of 12 people, split into three groups of four, positioned on three consecutive street corners along a one-way street in the outbound commute. In each group there is a main 30"x40" sign held at waist level by the central miniprotester while the other three folks hold traditional overhead signs. The three main signs make a running message, such as the one above. And if you have 60 activists ready to hit the streets, then you can have five miniprotests spread around town, all with the same messages, or each one different. Miniprotesting gives progressives the most efficient use of their numbers, more concise messaging, and fast responses to GOP lies, hypocrisy, and the corporate motivations behind their words. And here's another batch of inscriptions on that theme:

GOP "Pledge to America" Written by Pfizer, AIG Lobbyist
GOP Wants to Repeal Obama Healthcare, Rebrand the Most Popular Parts as Their Own
How Gullible do Republicans Think We Are?

[glinda]

25. K & R n/t

[lamp_shade]

26. Morning nudge.

[Stuart G]

30. K and R

[closeupready]

33. Bernie is The Man - I would trust him with my life.

K&R for Bernie. :hi:

[saltpoint]

44. In my next life, can Bernie Sanders be my father?

Who do I contact to make those arrangements?

Recommended.