The Democratic Establishment can't fight the GOP. But they sure can beat down the grassroots

[Armstead]

Last edited Sat Feb 20, 2016, 10:32 PM - Edit history (1)

Clinton hasn't won it yet.

But the way the Democratic Establishment (including the older contingent of insider "progressives&quot has rallied against a challenge to the pre-selected nominee sure shows that they are able to fight when its really needed -- to beat back any ornery "leftist" grassroots movements, progressive populism, economic liberalism...anything outside of the Corporate Centrist Template.

Powerless against the Big Bad GOP, as you constantly remind us. Can't do anything because they have the power.

Thank you Harry Reid, Jim Clyburn, and all the other DC insiders who've upped your game to beat down the grassroots. Wish you could have been as effective against the GOP all these years.

Wish you'd shown as much fight and backbone against the GOP as you've shown against those who want reform and change within you own party.

Wish you were fighting as hard to beat back conservatism as you are in beating back liberalism.

[Jester Messiah]

1. She'll never be president.

All she can do is make sure a Republican wins.

[GoneFishin]

134. +1000

[RKP5637]

152. Exactly what is going to happen. If it's Hillary/Trump, it is well likely that Trump will win IMO.

I still don't think the democratic honchos quite get what is going on in the populace.

[Yurovsky]

171. I can hear his ads now, "I can't be bought... She already has been!"...

and if anyone thinks that taking all of that dirty money from Wall Street won't bite Hillary in the ass with the general electorate in the same way that it has with progressives, they are high as a motherfucker.

The only person I could see Hillary having a remote chance of beating is Ted Cruz, just because he's creepy as hell and the evangelicals scare off more voters than they actually bring to the polls in November (JMHO).

I think Bernie could challenge Trump's "can't be bought" cred, plus he's bringing a specific, broad-based set of proposals to help poor and working-class Americans. Trump just promises to toss out 11 million immigrants with the assumption that the unemployed will take whatever work the newly deported were doing.

I believe Bernie could beat Trump, and while it wouldn't be a cakewalk, I think it would bring out enough young and progressive voters to tip the Senate and maybe, just maybe the House.

If Hillary is the nominee, Democrats from coast to coast are going to be in trouble. Youth/progressive turnout will suffer, and many close races will go to the GOP in a low-turnout election (akin to midterms).

[RKP5637]

174. Yep, exactly what you said, plus she will be Swift Boated like Kerry was, false or true, the

republican machinery will spin enormous mistrust about her. I really don't think the democratic DNC elite has any idea what is gong on in the general populace. They are in a bubble. And they don't get it that millions of Americans will say fuck it in the general election, many are so fed up with big money politics.

[dchill]

177. They won't have to lie or spin.

[RKP5637]

179. Quite true! n/t

[lob1]

191. Trump says he gave money to Hillary. If he still has the canceled check,

in an ad he could show the canceled check with Hillary endorsement and say,
"Hillary can be bought...because I bought her".

[PonyUp]

198. I hope Trump's people didn't read that! n/t

[Jester Messiah]

225. Critical hit!!

Holy cow, that's fuggin' brutal.

[PatrynXX]

183. I figured this long ago

and against Trump it'll be a Reagan Landslide as the seems to be the best of both worlds. Liberal and Conservative at the same time and won't owe his votes for the Christian Right. oh thats just gonna annoy them. They probably can't believe a bigger supporter of PP is running in front on the Right. Can't say if he's the same $$ support of PP with Hillary, I'd assume the same but with Bernie that gets Ironic. I bet my bottom dollar since he's not paid by the filthy rich , he's spend less on PP than Donald Trump has. X_X Odd bedfellows

[mgmaggiemg]

187. you are buying the beer on election night

[Jester Messiah]

224. If Hillary wins, I'll be drinking something with lots and lots of hops.

Acrid and bitter. If it's Bernie, I'll go with something smooth and malty, maybe a chocolate stout. If a Republican wins... I'll break out the hard stuff.

[CorporatistNation]

2. The TRUTH About Hillary's Veracty Is Slowly Becoming Common Knowledge!

&ebc=ANyPxKrIsA4jqscSuZDyWqVGm5yRQJZlFyOXObJBEneIoTdnyZfc0sfUSRMlVm5FbND2_os_D8CoDuo1C7J_1gdFEY6ZGL-xqQ

[MohRokTah]

3. Yeah, those grapes were probably sour any way.

[Armstead]

6. I'll admit it. I'm full of sour grapes

This has become much more than a contest between candidates.

[artislife]

4. It is shock and awe

and the results of changed hearts and minds will be the same as their earlier events.

[farleftlib]

5. Ain't that

the sad truth? They're united against us but can't come together enough to be an effective opposition party for us..

[Shandris]

7. It's almost like they let them change it back and forth every so often.

What with both parties being filled with 'neo-{ideology}' (read: the other ideology), why anyone thinks they won't continue to drift closer and closer together under the Establishment's 'tender mercies' is beyond me.

[gyroscope]

8. The DNC doesn't care if the GOP takes the WH

their primary goal is to keep populists like Sanders away from the WH.

[Dustlawyer]

50. The REAL "firewall"! They all lined up behind her from the beginning. Her Donors will or have

hooked their campaign's up, and they sure as Hell don't want to cut off all of that money! It's disgusting, but we have not lost yet, not for a long shot!

[warrprayer]

126. The smell of coffee

Is in the air!

[GoneFishin]

135. Absolutely true. Above all else they are the 0.1%. Republican and Democratic leadership alike

have got a sweet gig Kabuki dancing for lobbyist payoffs. They don't want any outsiders screwing it up.

[Yurovsky]

173. Exactly... When you see folks making $145k becoming multi-millionaires..

you know the real money is coming in peddling influence to wealthy corporatists, not serving their average constituent. If we cut off the K Street gravy train, we would have more Bernies and fewer Harry Reids and Diane Fiensteins (whose husband's firm gets hundreds of millions in commissions by leasing office space to ... you guessed it, the Federal Government).

I expect the GOP to fuck me over. It would be nice if the people running the Democratic Party weren't so damn busy cashing in and spent a little more time helping the hundreds of millions of Americans who AREN'T connected get ahead. Hillary is just another rich pseudo-liberal who wouldn't piss on you or I if we were on fire.

[GoneFishin]

188. Yep. I expect it from Republicans. It's a given that they are assholes. But when that behavior

occurs under the banner of the Democratic party they need to be called out. I don't want that shit on my team.

[freebrew]

203. As I said before...

Bribery used to be illegal...Now, it's lucrative!

[RKP5637]

180. I'm really beginning to think that. The highly monied PTB in the DNC are protecting their $$$$$'s.

And sanders would be in their way. This country used to be about 'we the people,' now it's about 'we the uberwealthy.' Just a brief look at the wealth distribution in the US shows how badly F'ed over the great majority of Americans are.

[TheProgressive]

9. "Wish you could have been as effective against the GOP all these years."

Had to laugh... We are citizen Democrats - they are establishment democrats.

Even when Democrats have power, they do very little or nothing for the American people...
And yes, they are better than republicans, but not much more...

[Kang Colby]

10. Sanders isn't even a Democrat.

He's an independent socialist ideologue who has tried to commandeer the Democratic Party infrastructure by promising anyone and everyone payment for their vote in the form of various freebies. But thankfully, the voters are seeing through his charade and will nominate someone who can properly lead this country instead.

[Armstead]

11. And all those millions who agree with him are also interlopers I suppose

[Kang Colby]

16. Nah, misguided or greedy. n/t

[malletgirl02]

25. Hillary Clinton Supporters complain about the Bernie Bros,

and here you are insulting Bernie Sanders supporters.

[Kang Colby]

28. That's who I am referring to - bernie bros....n/t

[malletgirl02]

30. You are just like the Bernie Bros

You are just like the Bernie Bros that you dislike, by insulting all Sanders supporters.

[LibDemAlways]

49. Has it dawned on you that Bernie's voters

would be needed in November if Hillary becomes the nominee? Why deliberately antagonize them? Don't be shocked if Hillary becomes the nominee and those Bernie supporters decide to sit on their hands.

[jhart3333]

59. Probably doesn't care. That's the gist of the OP.

[Kang Colby]

101. Most Bernie supporters will come around for the GE and do the right thing and vote for Hillary.

But I do recognize that there is a contingent of Sanders supporters that just don't vote or don't vote for Democrats. They are loud, they are all over social media, but for whatever reason they aren't showing up to cast votes. My theory is that they are an entitled class, who believes (foolishly), that Bernie will be elected which will allow them to be showered with free goodies at the expense of hard working taxpayers. Sanders wants to implement Tobin taxes which would impact both market liquidity and would materially harm everyone's 401K savings, especially young workers. It's such a stupid idea, even Sweden repealed their Tobin tax program. That style of program has been shown to LOWER tax revenues by reducing tax revenue from capital gains. Anyone who has any basic understanding of economics reads Sanders "plan" and has to laugh with disgust. It's shameful that there are so many gullible people out there.

To recap:

1) Sanders ENTIRE campaign is based on quid pro quo ("vote for me, and everything will be free!&quot
2) Even pretending that his policy proposals could make it through congress this side of 2024, the numbers just don't add up. They don't even begin to make sense.
3) His Chavez-esque anti business rhetoric and proposals would do nothing more than chase away U.S. based multinational corporations, leaving us with less tax revenue and more importantly less jobs.

[NRaleighLiberal]

113. Perhaps the most misguidely wrong stupid tripe I've

Seen posted at DU for some time.

[Jenny_92808]

162. +1

Thank you for writing what I was thinking.

[ultragreen]

122. the Tobin tax

The purpose of the Tobin tax is the reduction of short-term speculative trading of financial securities, of which there is a vast over-abundance. This has been a source of major financial instability throughout the world. Because the material impact of such a tax on long-term investment is negligible, its impact on 401k retirement savings would also be negligible. That's assuming, of course, that those retirement savings have been invested sensibly, rather than on the short-term casino gambling that has become so typical of Wall Street and other exchanges these days. Anyone with even a basic understanding of how economic systems function should be able to understand this.

As for your other criticisms of Bernie's proposals: All other developed nations in the world provide affordable or free college education and health care to their citizens. The United States is the only developed nation that doesn't do this. This is one of the reasons why we are lagging behind other developed, and even not so developed, nation-states on so many social indicators, such as economic inequality and the prevalence of poverty. If current trends continue, the United States will provide only third-world living standards for the vast majority of its residents.

[Kang Colby]

133. No, your opinion is based on an emotional understanding of short term speculative

trading. I have to make an analogy here that I think you will appreciate.

Plankton. Your average Joe walking around town probably doesn't know much about plankton, what it is, or how it supports the marine ecosystem. But I would hope like hell, that no one gets any ideas to go and actively try and kill off all of the plankton over mathematically unfounded populist concerns that they are just pesky nuisance critters. Same thing with "high frequency traders" and equity market speculators. These HFTs and speculators face off against each other everyday on an algorithmic arms race to take tiny fractions of a penny from each other. Knowing that as an average Joe Mackerel I have no chance in the world against those "plankton" - which in this analogy are HFTs and speculators, I stay the heck away from them. As far as possible by using sensible investments. But I still benefit from the planktons' effect on the market ecosystem. As they wage war against each other ripping pennies apart, they are also reducing the bid/ask spread so that 401K investors are getting the best price possible when contributing to their 401k. There is evidence that these plankton have reduced trading costs for Joe Mackerel's by about 1%. Sounds small right? But when calculated using compound returns and decades of regular 401K contributions, you are talking about tens of thousands of dollars for a middle class 401k saver. So hell no, I think Tobin taxes are just an emotional idiotic response to a "problem" that people don't understand.

To your other point, Bernie supporters always say other countries have all these freebies, why can't we? But Bernie Supporters ALWAYS overlook all of the strings attached and nuances of how these other countries have what they have. Unless you are willing to concede that we should be making determinations about a 4th graders aptitude and whether or not they should become low income/middle income/or high income earners later in life...then no I don't think you are truly advocating the meritocracy that's common in European educational systems.

With that said, welcome to DU.

[amborin]

140. LOL! sounds straight from zero hedge, more balderdash and gop talking points. are you one of th

These folks? If not, you might reconsider your position.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/30/business/economy/for-the-wealthiest-private-tax-system-saves-them-billions.html

[Kang Colby]

166. Got it. If you don't understand it, then it's a GOP talking point.

When it comes to market mechanics Sanders and his supporters remind me of climate change deniers. Sure, they have a 10th grade education and no scientific training, but by golly they sure do "feel" a certain way.

[amborin]

168. it's you who either doesn't understand it, or is speaking from narrow self-interestyu

you self-identified as small biz, right? historically, that is a reactionary group

[Kang Colby]

172. Sure, bud.

[Jenny_92808]

159. +1

[cui bono]

181. 1) Republican talking point noted.

Anything after that is ignored as all you are doing is pushing a right wing meme that you know is not true.

.

[liberalhistorian]

202. That would certainly be true of the youth/millenial

vote! They are hugely for Sanders, and to be beat down and back like this may very well alienate an entire generation of voters that could have gone Democratic. My son is a millennial and I gotta say that I have never, ever seen such enthusiasm among the young for a candidate as I have the millennials and youth for Sanders. Because they get the need to change a completely rigged system, a system rigged largely against them, and they get that he really is in for changing that system, that it's not just words. They want change and an outsider, and they know that Clinton is simply part of that same rigged system.

Like me and many DUers here of all ages, they really resent the fact that the party PTB have pre-selected the nominee regardless of what any voters, especially them, have to say, and that said party establishment is intent on shoving said pre-selected nominee down our throats and squashing any protest, no matter what. That will, as I've said, lose an entire generation of voters and the party poo-bahs will have no one but themselves to blame. I guess the stereotype really is true, that our party is really good at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.

[ultragreen]

118. Kang Colby's lecture, or Plutocrat 101

Yes, how dare the rabble in the USA expect affordable college education and health care! Never mind the fact that all other developed nations in the world already have this!

[Kang Colby]

120. Ugh huh.

There are much better policy options for improving our country than what Sanders has been able to come up with. I agree we need to overhaul education and health care. There are just better options than Tobin taxes.

What people have to take into account is the size of the United States, our culture and diversity (which is a key strength), our globally benchmarked economy, and the sheer size of our global equity market. In other words we aren't Denmark, which is something that I don't understand why Sanders supporters can't comprehend. We are Americans, we need to embrace that and work for changes using public policy options that make sense....meaning options that take into account the unique characteristics of the United States aka our big GDP and all the mouths we have to feed, educate, and take care of.

[k8conant]

132. OMG, that takes the cake.

Where is Hillary guiding you?
Do you share her Wall Street greed?

I believe in guiding principles of equity and decency and humanity.

[farleftlib]

12. Better dead than red huh?

Thanks for regurgitating that old meme.

[bobbobbins01]

24. Club politics are petty.

I don't care what label Bernie has, he has the integrity and policies I look for in a president.

[JRLeft]

26. Dude you sound like Alex Jones.

[LiberalArkie]

46. not according to Joe Biden.

[ReallyIAmAnOptimist]

67. Next you'll tell us that FDR, JFK and LBJ were socialist idelogues...

And the 'freebies' nonsense, seriously?

It's not about free stuff.

It's about priorities:

There are three clear places the American people are being robbed:

1) The first is simple tax evasion by corporations and billionaires.

2) The second is tax breaks for corporations and billionaires: We basically SPEND more on tax breaks than the entire ‘discretionary spending’ category (which is 1.1 trillion).

3) Furthermore military spending is 53% of 1.11 trillion in 2015 discretionary spending!
And that is excessive, wasteful, and unaccountable (we can't even identify where many billions actually end up).https://www.nationalpriorities.org/.../federal.../spending/

So real progressives just want tax dollars spent on We The People and The Commons, rather than to line the pockets of corporate America.

[ultragreen]

125. Bernie's single-payer healthcare would be cheaper

than the monstrous for-profit healthcare system that is now in place. Our health care system costs twice as much money as the single-payer healthcare systems of other developed nations, its health care outcomes are mediocre, and it doesn't even cover everyone. Another problem is that employers often pay for the health care premiums of their employees, making their businesses less competitive abroad. Thus, Bernie's proposed single-payer healthcare would save the United States trillions of $$$ while making it more competitive abroad. From these health care savings, the United States could easily make education at public colleges free. Thus, Bernie Sander's isn't offering "freebies" at all, contrary to what the Clinton "no we can't" supporters like to claim.

[truedelphi]

88. Now I feel so guilty for his promise to make me

Chief US inspector of dog kennels.

All the arm twisting I did, and such a minor promise to show for it!

I could have held out for so much more if only I had known he is not that hard to corrupt!

[BuelahWitch]

91. Heaven forbid anyone should appeal to those wanting quality of life!

And that's what (real) affordable healthcare, schooling without fear of going into debt and raising the cap on Social Security does. It brings quality of life. But there are those who "think it's time for a woman President" because "it's HER TURN" who would reduce our wish for quality of life to the free toys we get out of a cracker jack box.
With Hillary it's SSDD. Sorry, been there, done that, we can do better.

[406-Boz]

110. My dog has as much chance of becoming president as Hillary

It's just not going to happen, she and her Wall St buddies can't buy it.

[ultragreen]

116. Odd, Hillary isn't a Democrat either

[leveymg]

131. Your Democratic Party is no longer the one I wish to support. That goes back to 1968.

Hubert Humphrey was rhe losing establishment candidate we were stuck with then. Hillary is the one we will likely be handed again. No thank you.

[Armstead]

219. Humphrey would be considered "too liberal" todasy

[yodermon]

136. Is Sanders "giving us freebies" or "raising our taxes"?

Can't be both

[CrispyQ]

156. They aren't freebies. He wants to pay for them with tax hikes.

You're as bad as the republicans & the media perpetuating this lie.

Now, can he get elected telling Americans they are going to pay more in taxes, even if some of those are hedge fund managers & corporations? I don't know. I've never seen such a well-to-do population so stingy about putting money in the community pot.

[Kang Colby]

167. Middle class Americans are paying astronomical sums in taxes already.

Property taxes, sales taxes, state, local, and county income taxes in some cases, federal income taxes, FICA, capital gains, and the list just goes on and on.

[Carolina]

221. Yes, we're paying

the difference that corporations used to pay, we're paying what Hillary's Wall Street BFFs should be paying

And that's not going to change with HRC

[cui bono]

182. Why are you spouting Republican talking points?

[stupidicus]

190. sure he is

that's why he's running as one in the party primary

and we've all been hearing those "freebie" arguments from rightwingers for decades now.

and they have no say as to who is or isn't a "democrat".

[rynestonecowboy]

217. You do realize those are right wing talking points?

I can't stand the word freebies. All it does is tell me that the person using it really has no idea how rigged our economy is. I really feel like most HRC supporters are willing to stand with her to the end is they are just comfortable with taking the marching orders and hoping that electing a democrat will ensure they can hold on to their current quality of life. Almost every Sanders supporter I've talked too is far more educated on how badly our tax dollars are being managed and how legislation is sold to the highest bidder.

[iandhr]

13. Worlds smallest violin

[Armstead]

15. Thank you for providing a case in point

[iandhr]

17. No

Bernie supporters are whiter then the crowd of a University of Vermont hockey game (I attend more than a few of those) and are not a representative of the nation.


Bernie supporters don't get to be the gatekeepers of who is a progressive or who is grassroots. I have knocked on hundreds of doors for Hillary.

[Armstead]

18. Thank you for another case in point

[iandhr]

23. How naive are you?

You think you can win an election with only white liberals.

[Armstead]

27. You obviously aren't paying attention

Sanders is steadily broadening his original base...Time may not be on his side but his message is resonating with a wide swath of people.

And if you want to be 'realistic' it is POLITICALLY counterproductive for The Democratic Establishment to try to crush the enthusiasm of white liberal support -- and the potential of it spreading.

[iandhr]

32. I LIVED in Vermont for four years.

I know EXACTLY who his message is resonating with now. And I know enough about politics to know that those folks are not a representative of the country.

[Armstead]

34. I've lived next to Vermont most of my life

It isn't Mars.

And there is no reason that Sanders can't resonate with minorities, if familiar with him

[iandhr]

40. Not with stuff like this

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-english-only-dolores-huerta_us_56c8f49de4b041136f174654?

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/17/vermont-s-black-leaders-we-were-invisible-to-bernie-sanders.html

[Armstead]

43. And if the activist had asked Clinton the same question you think the answer wold have been better?

Sha’an Mouliert, an activist who founded the African-American Alliance of the Northeast Kingdom, recalled approaching Sanders at a state fair and asking him about a bill sponsored by Michigan Rep. John Conyers that would have examined the issue of reparations for the ancestors of slaves. Sanders, she says, was dismissive, telling her that he didn’t and wouldn’t support it.

[amborin]

146. DH got $100,000 from Clinton, which explains

her willingness to perpetrate a smear that hrc supporters gleefully amplify

[Nite Owl]

57. And there is no reason for accepting Clinton

What exactly has she done for them lately, or ever?

[tommcc99]

111. Nevada is representative of the country...

and Bernie did pretty good here today. Only 5% off and thats a pick up of 20% in 4 weeks. So say want you want, believe what you will and the numbers don't lie. The more people that hear the Progressive message - the better Senator Sanders does. See you at the convention.

[amborin]

147. here's what's so perplexing:

based on your posts, you seem to suggest that PoC support hrc (which is not accurate, since latinos support Bernie).

But if PoC do support clinton over bernie, why? If you say it's b/c she will continue Obama's policies, then how does that make sense? How are those policies helping? Can you name some areas or specific policies and provide evidence of their benefit?

what is objectively clear is that the policies seem to NOT be helping in this area:






if you calculate the slope or derivative, it surely looks as if the policies are having zero effect, or perhaps even a negative effect. In fact, for blacks, the rate of decline of income is greater between 2010 and 2013 than it is between 2007 and 2010, the period most impacted by the meltdown. And black poverty has increased between 2013 and 2014. So, are there other areas or arenas where the effects are sufficiently positive that they compensate for this?

[azmom]

31. The world is not black and white.

Brown people broke for Bernie in Nevada and they will all over the US.

[Loudestlib]

53. Is that right?

Bernie Sanders leads 53-45 with Latino voters in Nevada Entrance Polls
Try to keep up please...

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/2/20/1488339/-Bernie-Sanders-leads-54-43-with-Latino-voters-in-Nevada-Exit-Polls

[yuiyoshida]

107. I support him

AND I AM NOT WHITE.

[ultragreen]

129. the current race of supporters is unimportant

The current racial makeup of Bernie vs. Hillary supporters is unimportant. The important thing is this: Bernie represents the 99%, while Hillary represents the 1%. And so, if you are a liberal or progressive, you have only a single viable candidate to choose from in the Democratic primary. In most election cycles, there is nothing but 1% candidates to choose from and so the voters have no real choice.

[Odin2005]

14. I will repeat again: The Third Way does not care if they lose the general election.

They are more worried about a left-winger overturning their corrupt gravy train than the GOP winning.

[gyroscope]

21. The GOP and DNC

answer to the same Wall Street corporate paymasters.

[donf]

82. Gore Vidal seems more and more prescient every day.

Particularly when he said, "There is only one party in the United States, the Property Party . . . and it has two right wings: Republican and Democrat."

[BuelahWitch]

96. Boom!

[OhZone]

19. Yesh, she's gonna win. n/t

[libtodeath]

20. President Cruz is the words we will hear.

[Armstead]

22. Abnd if performance so far is any indication...Democrats will not give him any real challenge

This will be a change election. But the Democrats will offer more of the same.

[Karmadillo]

29. We wondered all these years what they were saving their powder for. Turns out it was us.

[Armstead]

33. Yep. They are spineless ninnies against the GOP, but tigers against reformers on the left side

[bbgrunt]

39. perfect response and obviously true.

[LibDemAlways]

52. This. Thanks!

[Autumn]

35. Yes they can. amazing the fight they have when

their gravy train gets threatened.

[Armstead]

45. Harry Reid let GOP beat the shit out of him in Congress, but he sure can play hardball against....

insurgencies within the Democratic Party

[AZ Progressive]

36. Its BS that they can't fight Republicans. They don't want to, they are part of the system

The Republicans' extremism is needed for Democrats to get the Democratic Party's constituents in lockstep. The party members are in it for the same reason the Republicans are in it for, the easy money and the fast track to wealth. Harry Reid is a perfect example.

That isn’t the only problematic land deal Reid was involved with at the time. In 2002, he put $10,000 into a pension fund controlled by another friend, Clair Haycock. The payment gave Reid a sizable parcel of land in Bullhead City, Ariz. According to the Los Angeles Times, Reid purchased the land for one-tenth of its estimated value -- and one-fortieth of what it had sold for a decade earlier. (Reid’s office said, “The Bullhead property is a money pit and has continued to lose value since Reid has owned it -- he's tried (and failed) to give it away for free!” The office pointed to articles showing that the property had declined in value.)

Two actions created suspicion afterward. First, Reid sponsored an $18 million earmark for a bridge that would connect Laughlin, Nev., and Bullhead City. (Reid’s office responds that readers “deserve the context of knowing it was actually a bipartisan, bicameral coalition supporting the New Laughlin Bridge.”) This bridge would likely increase property values in the area. (Reid’s office pointed to past articles showing “plenty of experts think the opposite and have said so on record.”)

Reid also introduced legislation that would benefit Haycock’s lubricant company. (Reid’s office: “It wasn't just Reid, it was a bipartisan coalition,” pointing to two articles describing the legislation and those who supported it. Further, he pointed out that the Haycock family has denied any relationship between the sale and the legislation.) Reid aides denied that his support for the earmark or lubricant dealer bill was related to the land purchase. As of 2012, Reid listed the property as worth between $250,000 and $500,000 on his financial disclosure form.

Read more: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2014/04/24/harry_reids_long_steady_accretion_of_power__wealth.html#ixzz40l7A5dan
Follow us: @RCP_Articles on Twitter


Democrats only pretend to be weak. They have to, because they really are not on the same side as us.

[Robbins]

37. Yes she has

we know for sure any state with caucus has been fixed for clinton.turnout will be depressed in november and GOP wins.

[brooklynite]

38. And by "beat back the grassroots" you mean "convince voters to support another candidate"

I think they call that a Primary Election.

[Armstead]

42. No..This is different than a primary battle between candidates

This is much bigger and mopre symbolic than, say Clinton v. Biden or Kerry.

This is having discouraged a wider selection of contenders long before the primaries even began by anointing the long time insider.

Then shooting down the basic tenants of liberalism when someone actually had the nerve to challenge the anointed candidate and capture both the idealism of young people and the frustration of older liberals with a party that had become complacent and corporate.

Not just contesting a candidate -- shooting down all liberal goals and values and ideals and replacing it with ''trust me. I have experience and will get some little things done, if the GOP allows it.''

I suspect if a Sherwood Brown or Elizabeth Warren had challenged Clinton instead, they wold have been subjected to the same demonization.

They cite the GOP as a Big Bad Monster whop won;lt let them do anything. But they sure do know how to exert power when it comes to forces of change within the Democratic Party.

[Broward]

41. Some are just conservative corporatist types so naturally they support Hillary.

Others surely fear retribution from the Clintons if Hillary wins the nomination. With Bernie, there's no such concern.

[olddots]

44. 1968 again

N.T.

[Todays_Illusion]

47. They should spend as much on voter registration as they do on hammering Sanders and

Sanders' supporters.

[SoLeftIAmRight]

48. I have watched this my whole life

it is time to fight harder - we now have a voice

[Starry Messenger]

51. So Latino and Black voters are not part of the grassroots. Got it.

Only disgruntled white voters get to claim the mantle of progressive.

[Armstead]

58. As much as you'd like to racialize it, that's not the case

The ''grassroots'' are not monolithic. It's about what policies, values, messages and affiliations (Big Bidness) drive our politics and government and the Democratic Party.

People who are frustrated by the status quo of all races creeds and colors are part of that.

[Starry Messenger]

60. People of color came out for Clinton in NV.

If you think the people most crushed by capitalism are in teh arms of big business as fifth columnists against the grassroots, then yes. You are ignoring the racial angle of this.

[Armstead]

63. And many came out for Sanders. Making it all about race is missing the point

But go ahead. Follow the GOP and Clinton playbooks and deny that people are individuals who can think for themselves, whatever their combination of demographic qualities

[Starry Messenger]

65. Majority did not.

Coalitions are about demographics, but honestly. Done doing your homework for you. On to the SC primary and Super Tuesday where the further foolishness of the approach used in the OP will be qualitatively demonstrated.

[Armstead]

69. Coalitions are about Big Tents....Not individual demographic encampments

You may be right about the overall alignment in terms of governing principles regarding what Sanders and Clinton represent. You may be wrong. Time will tell.

But making it all about race is wrongheaded.

[Starry Messenger]

79. The big tent is moving away from whiteness.

Not really my problem that one side refuses to see that, but whatevs. Sure, time will tell.

[Armstead]

85. The Big Tent is the Big Tent. That is the point of it.

Demographic composition is not the point. Common interests are.

[Starry Messenger]

89. Hey, you don't want my advice. That's great!

I don't really care. I have no interest in helping you.

[Armstead]

90. What's your advice? White Liberals go away?

Naw don't think so.

[Starry Messenger]

94. Sure, go with that interpretation.

It's doing nothing but winning for my candidate. Doing great, A. Head of the class.

[Armstead]

100. Yeah your candidate is great a racial polarization.

Worked for the GOP too.

[Starry Messenger]

102. Don't forget winning this race.

With non-whites. The other people feeling "polarized" are losing.

[Loudestlib]

68. Bernie Sanders leads 53-45 with Latino voters in Nevada Entrance Polls

http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/2/20/1488339/-Bernie-Sanders-leads-54-43-with-Latino-voters-in-Nevada-Exit-Polls

[Starry Messenger]

75. Not according to precinct reports.

https://twitter.com/Nate_Cohn/status/701171787795660801

[Loudestlib]

84. That's not an exit poll.

n/t

[Starry Messenger]

86. No, it's the election results.

[Loudestlib]

95. No

Nate Cohn didn't like the way that exit polling went and would rather look at the districts that people live in rather than the people that actually voted.

There is a difference....

[Starry Messenger]

99. Lulz.

Whatever you folks need to tell yourselves. Really don't give af.

[Loudestlib]

104. " Really don't give af." I'm sure you don't when you're wrong.

n/t

[Starry Messenger]

108. See you on Super Tuesday.

Oh, and after South Carolina, which Bernie decided to not mention in his concession speech tonight. Toodles.

[Number23]

103. You need to post that in bigtree's thread! I keep seeing post after post that Sanders won the

Hispanic vote in Nevada. That didn't make any sense to me. Your post brings a completely different perspective.

[Starry Messenger]

105. I thought I did!

I am sleep-deprived. I'll go find bigtree's thread.

[Firebrand Gary]

62. BINGO!

[sadoldgirl]

66. So the 44% of latino voters for Bernie

are disgruntled whites?

[Starry Messenger]

71. Um, the 56% Latinos for HRC are all oligarchs?

[YOHABLO]

54. These 'Establishment Dems' don't want change, they just want a little tweaking.

[Depaysement]

55. This sounds "crazy"

But honestly it is true.

Tonight, I am questioning why I am a Democrat. What is the point?

[jhart3333]

72. To vote for Bernie in the primary.

See if you can hang in until then.

[Depaysement]

76. That

You don't have to worry about.

[jhart3333]

80. Fair enough.

Not worried at all.

[Nite Owl]

56. To me that says

that they are more afraid of us, the change we want, the money they would no longer get than whatever the GOP will do---wars, selling
out even more to the corporations etc. is far more acceptable. And they wonder why people think both parties are the same?

[Waiting For Everyman]

61. They smile in our face and stab us in the back.

All colors. They prove Bernie's point -- it is all about money.

[mainer]

64. President Trump. Get used to hearing it.

It makes me sick, but I now think he's inevitable.

[Skeezer the Kat]

78. Gotta agree

If the present level of face-biting/eye-gouging I've witnessed in this site over the last few months continues until we know for sure who our chosen candidate will be, I call this election for the GOP.

Too many people here who are prepared to scorch the earth for their own choice of candidate and then pout and refuse to vote if their candidate doesn't prevail.

A GOPers wet dream if ever one could be imagined.

[Jefferson23]

70. It's what may split the party for good, it is more than a small possibility.

I totally get your message, it resonates with me too. One take away is how
much clearer things are...Democrats are taking note...especially millennials.

[shawn703]

73. They can think they beat back the liberals

But with the amount of support Bernie has, if the establishment wants our votes they'll need to make some concessions to earn them in the GE.

[scottie55]

74. Our Money Isn't Any Good

Now you get it?

[liberal_at_heart]

77. "Wish you'd shown as much fight and backbone against the GOP as you've shown against those who want

reform and change within you own party."
Well said!


Clearly they can fight when they want to. They just don't want to fight for the 99%.

[Markus Che]

81. I am a Bernie supporter and

congrats to the Hillary campaign today. I will vote for her in the general, but please stop saying Bernie is not a Democrat. If Bernie is not a Democrat, then I am not a Democrat and neither are his supporters. You are pushing me and people like me out of the party.

[Hiraeth]

83. Amen, brother.

[jalan48]

87. When it comes to the Republicans the Third Way Mantra is "No we can't"!

[antigop]

92. not just the DC insiders. It's also the state Dem party establishments. nt

[Berntheoligarchs]

93. The Nevada caucus today was a miscarriage of democracy

Was at the East Career & Technical Academy for the caucus and have never been apart of a more disorganized and chaotic situation. They had 4 computers to register people from 13 precincts! Had to be close to 2,000 people. It was run by a handful of volunteers who had no idea what they were doing. I saw at least 100 people get fed up and leave and 100's were forced to re-register to vote because they had registered to vote within the last 2 weeks and were not coming up in the system. I'd estimate 95% were Bernie supporters.
I was not allowed to do my duties as a precinct captain for Bernie because I had to run around and make sure people were not giving up or be given a hard time by the people in charge of registration. On top of that the Bernie signs I put up legally in our caucus room to designate what side of the room would be ours to gather were taken down by Clinton supporters while I was out letting people know what room their precinct was in.
I then come home to see local Democratic leaders and Harry Reid on the news calling today a success with a "few glitches". I have been a Democrat my entire 16 years of adult life and am embarrassed to admit that now. I am done with this party that has been hijacked by these corporate sell outs in the mold of 1990's republicans that will do anything to prevent a real Democrat in the mold of FDR from having a chance at the top of the ticket.

[Waiting For Everyman]

109. ^^ THIS ^^

Thanks for posting your experience. That much chaos isn't an accident.

[Berntheoligarchs]

114. You're welcome

and let me add that everyone was supposed to be registered by noon and the caucus done by 1. People were still registering at 2 and some precincts did not even wait for everyone to be registered and went ahead with their caucuses. My precinct ended at 2:45 with 5 delegates for Hillary and 3 for Bernie.

[tommcc99]

115. Caucus was a mess

I was at Spring Valley High school and had the same experience. Registration was a mess. move from line to line to line. being preregistered meant nothing. There was no coordinated direction or help. People were let into the caucus room and then moved back. I'm sure there were people who did not fill out ballot cards. My temporary precinct chair was so incompetent he dismissed the 67 voters in our precinct before we selected delegates. WHICH WAS THE WHOLE FUCKING POINT. Some of us jumped in and got the delegate cards from him (he had no idea they needed to be completed) and got both Bernie and Hillary delegates signed up. (Bernie supporters do the right thing) The Nevada Democratic Party should be ashamed of what they did today. I am sure this cost Bernie. I am sure it will cost the Democratic party.

[mountain grammy]

97. Chis Matthews just spewed that Rubio's second place in SC

will scare the Democrats into not nominating Bernie.. Because we're soooo scared.

[bluestateguy]

98. Or rank and file Democrats in Nevada just preferred Hillary

Casino workers, Teamsters, service employees, nurses, teachers, immigrants, veterans, miners, ranchers and retired persons.

I guess you can tell them that they are the "Establishment". Or that they are too stupid to think for themselves. I'm sure they will appreciate that.

[Armstead]

106. Believe it or not...I'm okay with whoever won.

But I do care about how they won. Harry Reid jumps in at the last minute to call in favors to beat back Bernie.

It's part of the overall circling the wagons of the power brokers to win at any cost and beating back of everything Sanders and the millions who agree with him stands for, incl;uding basic liberalism.

[mhatrw]

112. Ain't that the truth! nt

[amborin]

117. they work hand in hand with the GOP

[SixString]

119. DU Rec.

[MohRokTah]

121. he failure in your argument is assuming Sanders has 100% of the grass roots.

He does not.

[Armstead]

123. I don't assume that

The grassroots is not monolithic. I acknowledge that.

But he has obviously resonated with a huge swath of people, so far almost as many as Clinton.

It is the monolithic way that the Democratic Establishment has circles the wagons around Clinton, and the way they have gone out of their way to belittle Sanders and his supporters AND BASIC LIBERAL GOALS AND VALUES AND ASPIRATIONS that I object to. Plus the racializing and genderizing of a campaign in which both candidates are committed to social justice.

[MohRokTah]

124. The rules have been set for years. Any Democrat could have started a few years ago to change them.

OF course, one must have been a Democrat a few years ago to work to change the rules.

[Armstead]

141. Once a system is in place, it is very hard to dislodge BUT...

it should be receptive to change and opening up. But when the system works hard to cling to old systems -- WHICH ARE NOT WORKING POLITICALLY IN THE LARGER SENSE -- that is a system is will continue on its downhill slope.

And when I say working politically in the larger sense, that is what the Clinton message is an admission of. "We can't get anything done because the GOP is so powerful."

[HooptieWagon]

127. They've not beaten us down.

Next few weeks will be rough in the confederate primary, but it will only harden our resolve. After mid March Sanders gets into better territory in the NE, Rustbelt, Midwest, and west coast.

[Armstead]

128. I hope you're right. I'm just feeling discouraged.

Probably should stay away from DU when discouraged.

[HooptieWagon]

130. Don't be discouraged. Bernie isn't going to win every state.

There will be plenty to cheer about. This isn't over till the convention.

[amborin]

148. don't be discouraged

wait until Michigan, and wait until California; Bernie bumper stickers all over the freeways in SoCal, along with a few No Clinton/No Bush. There's hope!

[Waiting For Everyman]

138. That's right, and Repubs will win the South in the GE anyway.

All that will affect the Dem primary is the delegate count, which as you said can be made up in other states.

[grntuscarora]

137. +1.

[TBF]

139. I think it's crystal clear who Hillary is working for. nt

[sufrommich]

142. Which "grassroots"? The democratic grassroots is labor,

minorities and women.Clinton leads with all those groups.

[Armstead]

143. Familiarity, connections and ability to steamroll a message

The "inevitability meme" has been at play since long before the primary began. That is a part of the stifl;ing of alternatives./

Women -- I know several women who are supporting Clinton but prefer Bernie on a gender neutral basis. "I love Bernie and prefer his positions. But I really think we need a woman to be president."

Labor -- That's a wash largely because the leadership threw their chips in with the anointed candidate early.

Minorities -- As with all "demographic groups" they've been sold the inevitability meme since long before the primary began.

[sufrommich]

144. Got it,only white dudes really understand how

to decide who to vote for.

[Armstead]

145. Nope same thing goes for white dudes...Although you'd like to racialize it

[amborin]

150. the AFL-CIO is holding off their endorsement b/c so

many rank and file want Bernie

[DemocratSinceBirth]

149. I saw Latinas who looked like they would walk through walls for Hillary Clinton.

If they are part of the establishment this plebeian proudly stands with them.

[Armstead]

154. I am not talking about rank and file supporters

There are Latinos/AAs/White voters who swoon for Clinton. There are Latinos/AAs/White voters who swoon for Bernie.

This is not merely about Bernie vc. Clinton.

It is the stranglehold on the message and machinery of the Corporate centrist Democratic Establishment I am referring to.

They are weak and ineffectual and admit they are under the thumb of the GOP ("We have to settle for the crumbs we can get&quot ...Or else they agree with the GOP on issues of Wealth and Power too often.

But they effectively unify and play hardball to stifle a liberal/progressive populist movement within their own party.

[artyteacher]

151. fighting the GOP?

I seem to remember President Clinton and President Obama winning general elections.

[Armstead]

157. Both won because of support from progresives

They didn't run as "Gee let's pass bad trade agreements, deregulate Wall St and turn the keys over to Corporate America."


Once they got in they were a mixed bag. Clinton was a closet Republican. Obama found a brick walkl because the GOP were politically stronger. And the Democrats in Congress wilted too often.

[artyteacher]

160. if Clinton was so Republican...

Then why does the GOP hate the Clinton and have made up decades of lies about them.

[Armstead]

161. There is a theory in politics that I believbe is quite accurate

The degree of politics of personal destruction reflects how much difference there is in substance.

If there is an actual contrast in policies (liberal populism vs. corporate conservatism) the fights are over ideas and issues.

When the policies of opponents are similar, the personal aspects become more important.

Bill Clinton did not really represent a challenge to the Corproate CONservative agenda or GOP policies on issuesd of wealth and power. So to combat him politically the GOP had to dredge up personal stuff and attack him, or use narrow wedge issues.

[artyteacher]

164. Well actually team Clinton did and still do ...

Threaten GOP policies massively.

[Armstead]

165. Please name a few that really threaten the interests of Wall St and Big Bidness

[Jenny_92808]

169. Because they want THEIR Horse to win...Duh! n/t

[itsrobert]

153. The establishment are Blacks, Latinos, Women, the elderly?

That's who beat down Sanders yesterday.

[Armstead]

155. If you want to racialize what is happening be my guest

[rhett o rick]

158. That's because the Democratic Party Elite work for the same people that support

the Republicons. Mr. Goldman-Sachs boldly told everyone that the Olgarchy wanted Clinton. The Oligarchy has invested between 30 and 50 millions of dollars in HRC and about three times that in her husband. They badly want her to win.

There is nothing the Oligarchs hate more than an empowered People.

"The choice is stark, keep living under corporate rule under Hillary and watch things get worse, or go with Bernie and fight TPTB to regain our Representative Democracy!"

[CrispyQ]

163. Manny used to post these two pics. I added the pie chart.

It's a big club...

[Jenny_92808]

170. Excellent post

That says it all.

[dchill]

175. WE are the enemy.

The GOP are their good friends.

[cantbeserious]

176. This Revolt Has Been Building For Years - The DWS, DNC, DLC, Third-Way Has Only Themselves To Blame

eom

[2pooped2pop]

178. They don't actually disagree that far from gop

[Enthusiast]

184. K&R! This post should have hundreds of recommendations!

Well said, Armstead...

[Populist_Prole]

185. The TPP issue made this brutally clear

Lots of snarling contemptuous invective directed at the grassroots by the PTB of the party: As opposed to the bi-partisan, reaching out he tried with the GOP through all their obstructionism

[Armstead]

192. Yep one of the bipartisan steps

[Populist_Prole]

193. Curiously though

Well perhaps not, that this was/is THE ONE issue the GOP was all buddy-buddy with this administration on.

[mgmaggiemg]

186. we fight the GOP while the grassroots hide behind our skirts

[Rosa Luxemburg]

194. The grassroots are bigger than you think

If nominated Hillary will have to rely on what supporters she has now. The rest won't campaign for her - some might vote for her but it is not enough for the general election. She would be spread very thinly. She would be BBQ'd by the GOP.

[mgmaggiemg]

200. bernie is our handmaiden

why did bernie vote to deregulate swaps and derivatives etc?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

205. You can be assured

that Hillary won't get much help if she makes it to the general election. In 2008 didn't make people in the party angry.

[mgmaggiemg]

206. so you are voting republican then?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

207. It will be her fault

burning her bridges

[mgmaggiemg]

208. shame on you

[Rosa Luxemburg]

210. The Clinton campaign hasn't played it's cards right

[mgmaggiemg]

211. you are buying the beer on election night

there's no crying in baseball ....why are you posting on this site if you hate her so much?

[Rosa Luxemburg]

220. LOL

I don't hate her personally

[Armstead]

222. Because Clinton and the GOP rammed it into a necessary and massive budget bill at the last minute

It was passed by a sweeping majority to keep the government running

[stupidicus]

189. that's one reason why I quit being a dem long ago

imaginary timidity can hide a lot of collusion

[Armstead]

197. Bill Clinton was an expert at "Imaginary timidity"

The GOP made me do it.

I'm here today to sign a bill that is a major step forward...

[stupidicus]

199. you know it

he knows how to get his bread buttered http://www.bing.com/search?q=bill+clinton+and+Bush+sr+bffs&src=IE-SearchBox&FORM=IESR02&pc=EUPP_

[CanonRay]

195. They have the same corporate owners as the GOP

So I guess that makes them brothers-in-bucks.

[Jopin Klobe]

196. "Wish you could have been as effective against the GOP all these years." ...

Amen to that ... amen to that ...

[redruddyred]

201. remember when stewart interviewed pelosi a few years back all the comments were related

to how clearly freaking incompetent and clueless that woman was. "let's vote these DINOs out!"

trump is taking on the GOP machine and winning. why can't we do what the tea party did? has anyone studied the problem?

[humbled_opinion]

204. That is because...

for establishment Hillary supporters the ends justifies any means they will tear the party down grass root by grass root telling lie after lie just so Hillary will be the nominee and lead her blindly led sycophants to her ultimate GE failure... I guarantee that Donald Trump already has recordings of her comments to Goldman Sachs execs and it is going to tear our party apart when he goes public with them... I for one will never forgive her that lie when I hear her schmoozing with Wall Street execs and knowing that our true champion got snookered because she is a liar and a thief who would steal this election hiding behind her millions in contributions from wall street.

[Carolina]

223. K&R

[GreatGazoo]

209. Democracy should be about votes -- Not "Firewalls." NT

[democrank]

212. Today`s New Way Democratic Party reminds me of the old Company Store

where the bosses had you over a barrel.They made all the rules, didn`t allow dissent, controlled any and all outcomes.You worked for them, contributed to them, shopped for what you needed ONLY in their store because they had you convinced you had nowhere else to go.

Clinton supporters run the company store for the Democratic Party.

[jwirr]

213. Great message. I send it from this OP to my Minnesota

senators and congressmen.

If they truly cared about any of us they would stop endorsing candidates before the primary is over and would be fighting for the things we need.

Both of my senators have said they are against the TPP and have endorsed Hillary. Hard to believe.

[DrBulldog]

214. The Hillary campaign and the DNC has become so corrupt and so rigged that . . .

. . . every vote now for Hillary will be transformed into a vote for Donald Trump.

Why? Does anyone honestly think that the insults and abuse and lies heaped upon Bernie and his supporters ALREADY by Hillary Clinton's gang will be forgotten come November? Millions of Democrats will now absolutely not vote for her under any circumstances, including me.

Come November, if Bernie is not on the Presidential ballot, I will abstain. What's difference between a woman of gross dishonesty and a man of gross dishonesty? NONE.

[Bluenorthwest]

215. Reid and Clyburn are both DOMA yes voters who have been part of the opposition to equality with

a religious zeal as has Hillary Clinton.

[kas125]

216. I've never voted for a republican in my entire voting life which started in 1972. But

I have always said it's all just a play put on for the American people. I've said a hundred times that they stand on the floor of congress and rail against each other, call each other names, and act like they are enemies fighting for completely different things. Then they laugh and go out for dinner together because they're all on the same side, and it's not our side.

[Paka]

218. K&R

The harder they fight, the stronger it makes us.