Bernie Sanders
Related: About this forumWe, the citizens, have to change the game.
One thing the Establishment (does that word date me? ) hasn't had to deal with in recent years is a mobilized and energized public.
In fact, I would argue that they have done their best to disengage us from activism.
Absent citizen involvement and action, a candidacy like Bernie's will go nowhere, and if that citizen participation wavers after the election, everything reverts to "normal." Unfortunately, "normal" is an ecological, cultural and physical death trip.
Can we make things go differently this time? I don't know. But I know I have to do my little part to help, and the people I know who are into Bernie are into him in a big way, seeming ready to put some major effort into it.
There's too much riding on the outcome this time to do less.
elleng
(131,457 posts)it's tptb (the powers that be) today.
Citizen involvement is critical, I support Martin O'Malley as #1, Bernie #2, and agree we've got to keep it up; 'they're counting on us not doing that, forgetting the importance of their wall street/corp/mic connections.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)O'Malley seems OK as a backup.
swilton
(5,069 posts)crowd....
My guess he is running as a veep, compromise (your words were backup), or positioning himself for 2020...
His following makes the claim that he is progressive - having lived in Maryland where his balancing the budget programs were done at the expense of society's weakest members, makes him have mixed reviews as 'progressive'...Furthermore, one doesn't become Governor of one of DC's major suburban states without having patrons from inside the beltway...I lived in the DC suburbs for 30 years in both Virginia and Maryland.
smokey nj
(43,853 posts)I don't know either, Jackpine, but damn it's going to be fun to try!!!
marym625
(17,997 posts)Damansarajaya
(625 posts)A lot of colleges have fall break around mid-October.
That would be a heck of a good time to do a march on Washington.
I'm pretty sure I could make it for "Occupy Washington." Now, who could organize something big like this? DFA?
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)However, any "Occupy-like" theme (or meta-theme) can easily be played as "Bernie's Bringing the Commies" and succeed in scaring the living Bejesus out of apolitical and uninformed people who were raised on either the presence or the strong memories of the Red Menace.
Mid-October even amplifies that theme. Ever hear of the "October Revolution?
So what I would propose is just a national celebration, all positive, joyful & patriotic, during which we reclaim our own flag, remind ourselves of the gains we had once made in civil rights, economic justice, universal education, and the like, as well as the new ones we have gained, such as those on the LGBT front, and sing the praises of the Left. Get people together and get them focused on the positive. Then maybe slip them some Bernie propaganda.
Damansarajaya
(625 posts)He isn't empty symbolism.
I say we bring the "commies," and let people get used to it.
As for the best time to march on Washington, have you ever been there in the summer? It's dreadful. Don't know how King and all those folks survived in 1963 . . .
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)It would have to be an overwhelming number of people to get the attention of the country.
Maybe something like the coordinated events staged by OWS around the country and the world which was very impressive.
Made it easier for people to get to them in their own states and countries, and was perfectly planned with great speakers, fantastic music, and the crowds were huge.
Something to think about.
Cleita
(75,480 posts)I think that word needs a revival. Maybe call them the Establishment One Percenters.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)swilton
(5,069 posts)<iframe width="560" height="315" src="
" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Bernie's campaign has been active for all of three weeks whereas Hillary's campaign has been active for 240 months! No comparison...Furthermore, the issue seemingly brought up is that Bernie suggested that Obama should be primaried in 2012.............I would ordinarily dismiss both of these for the rubbish that they are but you know the old saying ...................if you repeat a lie often enough...........
Anyway, this thought is posted as a heads up as well as to post this thought...
From the Rolling Stone article - Hillary's strategy is to go after women and minority voters - perhaps in bringing the minority issue up (indirectly of course) she's trying to get Bernie to play by her rules.
Jackpine Radical
(45,274 posts)I noticed this story too & saw it for what it was. It's unavoidable; it's true--he DID say that, and I don't think it was a bad thing for him to say, but a whole lot of people don't or choose not to, see it that way. One just hopes that everyone gets to see enough of the uncensored Bernie to make their own minds up about him.
RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)Jefferson23
(30,099 posts)I am in to win and happy to be hopeful regardless of the odds.
Sounding the alarm, work hard at it, stay focused.
I wonder if Bernie will be setting a time frame in asking Americans to march on DC.
I hope he does it, more will come than some might expect...the objective must be
abundantly clear.
Warren Stupidity
(48,181 posts)We will miss your voice here.
SoapBox
(18,791 posts)Amen.
hopemountain
(3,919 posts)"There's too much riding on the outcome this time to do less." - rip, jackpine radical
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)RIP Jackpine you will surely be missed,
Autumn
(45,120 posts)Last edited Sun Jun 14, 2015, 08:27 PM - Edit history (1)
without you.
L0oniX
(31,493 posts)RobertEarl
(13,685 posts)BlancheSplanchnik
(20,219 posts)octoberlib
(14,971 posts)We will miss you. This has been a very sad week.
smokey nj
(43,853 posts)pa28
(6,145 posts)R.I.P. Jackpine Radical.
Art_from_Ark
(27,247 posts)Jackpine was one of the good ones
merrily
(45,251 posts)KoKo
(84,711 posts)(Some good Progressive Insight in his writings at his Blog...Good for reference---keeping his thoughts alive)
Jackpine Needles
Cranky Commentary from a Countrified Curmudgeon
http://jackpineneedles.blogspot.com/
Dammit, some days it's just hard not to imagine a huge conspiracy is controlling the course of events in the world.
Monday, October 4, 2010
The US is now facing the greatest concentration of wealth at the top that we have seen since 1929, and we seem to have a Forever War going on. Even during the Clinton years, between the two Iraq wars, we continued a program of "low-intensity" warfare against Saddam. We have now shifted our focus to Afghanistan--that eternal sink of imperial ambitions--and will likely take on Pakistan next, followed by Iran.
The New Democrats in the US seem to be imperialist Republicans minus the hoods and burning crosses. The nation is being swept by anti-intellectualism: fundamentalist religion, climate change denial, writing Thomas Jefferson out of the history books, and the like. The public schools are being reduced to serf academies where students learn the minimal literacy and numeracy skills required to make them useful for their masters, while those parts of the curriculum having to do with critical thinking, artistic expression, and general understanding of the world are being subverted by various strategems.
A large portion of this country seems to think they live in a universe equipped with different physical laws than the one I believe myself to inhabit. Somehow, I think this is no accident. People who are willing to believe that humans coexisted with dinosaurs are also likely to accept the notion that their interests will best be served by deregulating the corporations and predatory investment banks, and that their true enemies are the trade unions, the Muslims, the socialists, and the brown-skinned unfortunates who pick their crops under brutal conditions for desperately little pay.
-------------------
A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little reality-based minds.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Give up consistency, give up rationality, give up the shackles of logic, and all things become possible to you.
You can balance the Federal budget by cutting taxes on the rich and create jobs by busting unions.
You can deny the poor the basic necessities of life, secure in your knowledge that you are doing the work of the Lord.
You can run an oil-based economy forever because oil is a renewable resource and there are no harmful consequences to burning it.
You can call your opponents enemies and traitors and advocate their assassination and rest assured that you have no responsibility when someone acts on your word.
You can take from others whatever it pleases you to take, and do to them whatever it pleases you to do, knowing that you are merely helping the Lord to carry out His will on those who deserve no better.
You can subject your enemies to pain, torture and death, knowing full well that you have the Lords blessing because they are also His enemies.
And finally, if you have any mild twinges of fear for your soul, at the end of your days you can utter certain magical phrases and all will be forgiven--if, indeed, there is actually anything to be forgiven in one who has lived such an exemplary life as yours has been.
http://jackpineneedles.blogspot.com/
merrily
(45,251 posts)blog posts. If not, at least we have this.
((((jackpine and his loved ones, admirers and friends))))
marym625
(17,997 posts)Like he will just suddenly pop up and reply.
I would feel cheated that we were going to meet within a couple weeks and he left before it happened. But I know how lucky I am to have had the privilege to get to know him some.
Devastating loss to us all. My heart goes out to his wife and family.
His 12 step program for DUers.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10026836140
blm
(113,142 posts)marym625
(17,997 posts)appalachiablue
(41,221 posts)Dont call me Shirley
(10,998 posts)Jackpine Radical.
We must all become radical, radical for equality, fairness and goodness.
2banon
(7,321 posts)CrispyQ
(36,581 posts)Check it out by zip code here: http://map.berniesanders.com
I'm attending a get-together down the street with 8 others I've never met!
Lifelong Protester
(8,421 posts)I always clicked on your posts.
sabrina 1
(62,325 posts)Every word he said in this post is so true. He did his part now we have to do ours because he was right, the people have to do what is necessary to change the direction of this country Politicians won't do it and those who want to, can't, without having the people behind them.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)And he was right, too - there is too much riding on this to do less.
RIP, Jackpine. You were a voice that carried, and one eager to make this planet a better place.
No one can fill your shoes, but we can all sure as hell try.
darkangel218
(13,985 posts)RIP Sir : '(
darkangel218
(13,985 posts):' (