You are witnessing the first "Stochastic Smearjob"

[arendt]

For years, the DNC have done their best to ignore, marginalize, and disenfranchise the Progressive wing of the party. From Sister Souljah, through the two stints of Rahm Emmanuel in the WH, to the electoral disaster that is DWS, the party has beaten on liberals, aka "retards".

Only this year, the liberals have dared to stand up and fight. Despite the entire corporate media trying to smear him personally, no one has come anywhere near successfully smearing Bernie Sanders. Nor have they provoked him into a "Dean Scream".

So, they have invented a new tactic, which I call "a stochastic smearjob". The Nevada Convention "narrative" is the first stochastic smearjob. Here's how it works:

1) Continuously demean and insult Bernie backers. Refuse to acknowledge any legitimacy on their part. Ignore HRC's policies, and focus entirely on "its the math", "its her turn", and "I'm with her" - empty slogans guaranteed to drive any policy-minded person to distraction by their endless sucking of all the air out of the room. Basically, do everything you can to piss people off.

2) Continue to escalate the party hack gamesmanship of dws and the ratfucking of David Brock.

3) At some point, at some outrageous provocation, some one or some group of liberals will snap and do something that can be made to look one-sidedly stupid. That is the "stochastic" part.

4) Now that you have your desired "event", pull out all the media stops. Trumpet your "smearjob" from every propaganda platform. Who cares if Jon Ralston is a complete fraud? He has served his purpose in getting the story out there, for the corporate media to cite. Ralston is the equivalent of Matt Drudge in feeding bogus stories into the media.

It's just a variant of Limbaugh and Beck lathering up gun nuts to kill liberals. In this case, they lather up liberals into sabotaging their own cause - sorta like the dumb farmer in "McCabe and Mrs. Miller" who gets conned into touching his guy by the sociopathic gunslinger who just wants to kill someone.

Welcome to the next step downward in media manipulation.

[YouDig]

1. It's funny that you think math is some kind of provocation against Bernie.

That pretty much says it all.

[Ned_Devine]

26. ...

Member since: Mon Apr 18, 2016, 07:35 PM
Number of posts: 699
Number of posts, last 90 days: 699

[pangaia]

51. Ignore him and he will go away.

[arikara]

79. I have seen so frickin many

With that same MO the past few days. Joined middle of April, and 6-700 or so posts. Often saying the most inane comments, yet designed to inflame the situation. Its almost like English is a second language with some of them.

[reddread]

122. the script is quite fluent

the execution not always.

[bigbrother05]

127. Good to see the Brockster's getting his $1M worth

[KPN]

153. I wonder how much they get paid?

THat Wall Street money sure comes in handy.

[randome]

110. It's funny that you think math is some kind of provocation against Bernie.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Stop looking for heroes. BE one.[/center][/font][hr]

[Rockyj]

120. LMAO!

As Bernie SMEAR campaign grows even PROGRESSIVE RADIO talk hosts are SMEARING Bernie & saying its time for him to get out!
Where has our Democracy gone?

[LanternWaste]

137. No doubt, you'll explain the implicit and objective relevance, yes?

No doubt, you'll explain the implicit and objective relevance, yes?

Or was that merely a convenient rationalization to yourself that any and all who disagree with your bias are simply trolls?

[Ned_Devine]

144. It speaks for itself

But if you need a refresher I'll indulge you. Your candidate's superpac announced that it was spending $1 million to create an online presence to combat any negative posts being said about HRC. Since that announcement we have seen posters like this one. They all follow a certain pattern of being combative, condescending and inflammatory. It's like they are instigating a fight with the type of words and language they use.

Maybe I don't post very much, but it took me a few years to get to the number of posts that this person has in less than a month. I'm just connecting the dots.

[bvar22]

164. That plan to put paid trolls for Hillary on the Internet

was put into action and $1MILLION Dollars paid in April,
but it is only a coincidence that we have had so many show up HERE in April.
Any low information Pro-Hillary troll with an April registration is immediately suspect.

What does it say when a candidate has to spend $1MILLION Dollars to BUY Internet friends?

The goal of the propaganda assaults across the internet is not to convince anyone of anything.

It is to thoroughly hijack, pollute and therefore eliminate public spaces where real discussion and organization can occur. Occupy is disbanded with clubs and pepper spray. Dissent and organization online are disrupted with surveillance and propaganda.

It is no accident that propaganda brigades post new threads on discussion boards far out of proportion to their presence in the community, and that they nearly *always* demand the last word in any interchange.

The goal is to disrupt the important public space for liberal thought, discussion, and organization that these boards offer, and to keep the participants busy instead batting off the corporate lies and talking points.

woo me with science Sun Jul 28, 2013

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023359801

[CorporatistNation]

43. NO! THIS Guy's ENTIRE POST IS SPOT Fu**ing ON!

No refuting what is said here! And they think Bernie supporters will vote for Hillary ..IF... she is the nominee?

[reddread]

123. scrubba scrub scrub three billionaire media moguls in a tub

[senz]

171. The video proof remains.

There are several other variants of the video on YouTube.

[arcane1]

126. That poster is a troll and is not here for discussion. They have a role to play.

And multiple identities with which to play it.

[Progressive dog]

107. It is

Say it is or I'll throw a chair and blame the DNC.
I'm entitled to a temper tantrum because I'm outraged that Democrats showed up at a Democratic convention.

[Brainstormy]

121. I thought the same thing

Don't dare mention that she' winning.

[stevenleser]

139. Yup. Math is the enemy to Bernie and his supporters! nt

[underthematrix]

161. LOL! Best DU reply of the day.

[Scootaloo]

166. Speaking of math... 844 posts in 30 days?

When do you have time to go to the bathroom, man?

[YouDig]

174. Bernie people are good at counting posts. If only they put those skills towards counting delegates.

[Scootaloo]

175. Yeah, I've seen you post that before

I'm just amazed. Seriously. Go have a snack or a nap or something.

[YouDig]

176. Following me around, huh? Yeah, I seem to get that. Lots of people into my post number.

[G_j]

173. welcome!

[Ed Suspicious]

2. Makes me so sick. Good breakdown. Thanks for the post.

[brush]

57. Except that Clinton won on election day.

Get rid of these bullshit, vote suppressing caucuses and their 2nd and 3rd stages where the losers on election day can try to steal delegates.

Install a primary and votes and delegates are won or lost on that day and that's it.

[passiveporcupine]

60. Don't forget to make sure Independents can never vote.

You gotta get that voter disenfranchisement down pat, or you just aren't trying.

[brush]

73. Meaning what?

Caucuses are much more disenfranchising that primaries.

Even though Clinton won on election day in Nevada I still say we should get rid of the caucus.

Maybe good for small towns in Iowa but just silly in major cities because of all the people left out, including independents who also work, or go to school and can't spend 3-4 hours just to vote. Then comes the county convention, and then the state convention.

Just get it done in one day with a primary.

[passiveporcupine]

75. this speaks for itself.

where the losers on election day can try to steal delegates

[brush]

76. Did you not understand? With a primary, votes and delegates are decided on that day

Just as they were in Oregon tonight.

We know Sanders won so many votes and delegates, and Clinton won so many.

There's no need for a second and third determination. It's all done in one day.

Makes much more sense wouldn't you say?

[passiveporcupine]

77. I have no problem with eliminating caucuses

That's not what I was objecting to.

[redstateblues]

128. Nobody is stopping you from voting

[Surya Gayatri]

3. ...

"a stochastic smearjob"--Bwaahaaaaa!

[FlatBaroque]

4. Rec'd

[SusanCalvin]

31. Not sure what the point of the pic is, but I adore that movie.

[passiveporcupine]

72. what movie is this?

this reminds me of a fun day in Colorado, where my engineer group all got dressed up for engineers day, in high-waisted-high-water-pants, pocket protectors full of pens, mixed colored socks, glasses taped together in the middle. We went to Fudruckers for lunch, dressed like that, and had a ball. The whole place was cracking up because we looked so goofy.

[GummyBearz]

93. It is revenge of the nerds

Sounds like you did a pretty good re-enactment

[passiveporcupine]

95. Yes we did...we all looked like super nerds.

It's one of those things you will never forget. We used to have a lot of fun together. Engineers are really pretty cool.

[bigtree]

5. typical

...railing against what are essentially Democratic voters as your candidate slips even farther behind.

What's distinguishing you from any other opposition to our party's presumptive nominee? Your inability to do basic math?

"stochastic"

[senz]

17. There's one nice thing about you

and that's your avatar which always makes me think of caramel candies.

[farleftlib]

118. Mmmm

caramel candy!

[PufPuf23]

6. Accurate summary. Thank you. rec.

The neo-liberals want the anti-war liberals to leave the party so they can put a stake in the heart of the New Deal.

The neo-liberals and neo-conservatives have captured the Democratic party as a political mechanism to power by selling greed and fear.

We are the designated scape goats for any failure.

[Beowulf]

61. No, they don't really want the liberals to leave,

they just want them to be quiet and vote for whom they tell us to vote for. We are supposed to be quiet and civil and go along while they continually crap on us.

[Arugula Latte]

7. You just know that the Clinton camp has been studying the Rove playbook very carefully.

[senz]

15. Dubya calls Bill his "brother from another mother" and Hill his "sister-in-law."

Brock probably calls Rove "God."

One big happy family stealing elections for fun and profit.

[SusanCalvin]

28. Ick. nt

[reddread]

124. I imagine Karl has been turning the pages for them

or has he been seen lately?

[Brickbat]

8. I'm witnessing something, but I guess I wouldn't call it that.

[KittyWampus]

9. The word you mean isn't "progressive" it's IDEOLOGUE.

an impractical idealist : theorist

an often blindly partisan advocate or adherent of a particular ideology

[arendt]

13. Oh, please. Let us not start with the "purity" nonsense again. n/t

[MrMickeysMom]

23. Wait a minute...

I was having a good time with the purity of that fecal fling! ... wee!

[pangaia]

53. Oh go back to bed.

[stevenleser]

140. Yes, any clearheaded person would have realized this nomination race was over 6 weeks ago.

Every once in a while another Bernie supporter here posts an OP that they acknowledge she is the nominee and are moving on to the G.E.

Anything else at this point is silly.

[Jester Messiah]

10. Sleaze by the numbers.

Bing bang boom.

[KittyWampus]

11. yes, threatening children is sleazy. Doxxing is sleazy. Mob behavior is sleazy.

[Jester Messiah]

12. So is firing guns at and robbing campaign HQs.

You really want to go down this road?

[KittyWampus]

47. What road? The road where you post random cr*p that happens to justify what happened in Nevada

amongst other places and then Sanders' inability to do the right thing and act like a responsible leader?

[arendt]

14. He wants to go there - So are name actors punching Sanders supporters. n/t

[MrMickeysMom]

24. Yes...

Being gullible enough to believe all those things has an extreme icky feel to it...

[arendt]

16. An interesting observation...

I haven't heard specific names mentioned as the "violent actors". That keeps those accused from rebutting the charge. Publicize only the "crime", give the "criminal" no chance for a defense.

Whereas the name actor in Atlanta who was actually arrested for actual assault has been magically disappeared and in no way counts as an act of violence by HRC supporters.

The whole thing is a show trial by media.

[passiveporcupine]

70. I hadn't heard about this.

and it was a woman he hit. Big brave man.

[senz]

18. Thank you for an extremely insightful OP.

It's hard for some of us to stare into evil long enough to figure out how it operates. I appreciate your having done so.

Would you have any ideas how to counter it?

[arendt]

62. We haven't been able to legislate against Limpballs or Beck...

its the same thing.

It's really hard to prove harmful intent from a statistic. The tobacco companies hid behind that dodge for fifty years.

The only way to counter it is to label it, point it out, and mock it.

[dgauss]

19. I've been thinking something similar.

Two months ago, there was actually some talk about whether fighting for single payer was better than an incremental approach, and the influence of money in politics, Wall Street, trade deals and so on.

Potentially at least, not good stuff for Clinton. Now here we find ourselves in a mud fight and those issues aren't even superficially mentioned on mainstream media anymore. Advantage Clinton.

How did we get here? Political skill, and not the good kind, in my opinion.

[senz]

22. Hm. There was a man who whispered something in her ear before

she called off the vote, gaveled the election over, and ran off. Some people were mentioning him.

I wonder if he told her to do that knowing how outrageous it would be for the Bernie supporters who had requested a recount? Perhaps he wanted them to scream in outrage and hoped they'd resort to violence, which they didn't, but he and his people were ready to call it a riot for the purpose of accomplishing exactly what you suggest -- a change in the debate from meaningful issues to supposed infractions on the part of Bernie supporters.

That would also explain Bernie's not having elevated the real violence that his campaign experienced -- the gun shots to his campaign office and break-in and ransacking of his staff housing -- to the media. Because he is more interested in issues than in blaming the other side's bad behavior.

Does this sound plausible to you?

[arendt]

29. You betcha its plausible...

and, in classic intelligence op parlance, it is plausibly deniable.

Just the latest use of CIA delegitimation/destabilization tactics inside the US.

[dgauss]

30. Not sure at all about what the gunshots were about

but pretty sure he is more interested in issues than blaming the other side. So it's not surprising to me that he didn't release the internet hounds to blame Clinton supporters. As if he even had such a "party infrastructure" as they call it, to do such a thing.

As far as what happened in Nevada, who knows how much coordination there was? Maybe nothing directly. But when you see the quick and one sided media response and the orc like invasion of the internet, Camp Clinton seemed ready for it.

[hootinholler]

20. It's a little bit nutty and a little bit slutty

Hillary's Brock is showing.

[Darb]

21. Holy shit, is that tin foil?

Damn, loosen that fucker up.

[arendt]

25. Why are neocons so bad at "connecting the dots".

“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.”

- Upton Sinclair

[JackRiddler]

67. Just name one of the dots Saddam or Vladimir.

Or any Iranian. Then they have no trouble concocting "conspiracy theory."

[arendt]

69. LOL n/t

[Darb]

117. Incredibly vapid point.

You ever heard of agents provocatuers? You bernies jumped the shark about 60 days ago. Now you're jumping the Snake Canyon like Evil Knievel. Holy shit, this is just fucking surreal. Trump voters are obviously not the only saps out there.

Saying the Hillary campaign would resort to stealing ballot boxes after she has it in the bag is full scale fucknuttery.

[msanthrope]

182. I wish I had stock in ALCOA. nt

[SusanCalvin]

27. Interesting theory.

It sure fits what happened, whether intentional/planned or not.

Of course, what's that saying about never attribute to malice what can be explained by stupidity? Or something like that....

[arendt]

34. I like FDR's take on it...

Once is an accident, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action.

[SusanCalvin]

36. I never heard that one before. Like it, will use in future.

[JackRiddler]

46. I do believe that's the fictional character Auric Goldfinger

created by Ian Fleming, you heard of him?

Ironic case of memery transformation, given that FDR ended the gold standard!

[arendt]

52. I stand corrected. A google search turns up Ian Fleming, and not FDR. n/t

[MrMickeysMom]

32. I think it's been done before, arendt...

What are we, if we can't learn by the example of others?

Unfortunately, the lesson applied here helps the learning curve in what works to hold the power structure. Mistakes were made in the past, and when you cannot control the candidate, you marginalize their base.

This seems to be starting quite a revolution. Your analysis is best understood by those who at least try to become wise based on their account of history. It's the people's history of the United States. I'll bet if I were really smart, I'd find some kind of parallel to William Shakespeare. I never did read Shakespeare.

Based on the stupid comments in this thread... the deceived are among us.

So, as sent wonders what might be done, I think we must get very public. Philly is in my state, and I won't go quietly. I won't tolerate many more step downs in media manipulation.

Thank you for the valuable thread that has the mouth breathers gnashing their teeth.

[arendt]

37. This thread is going great...

I posted something similar on DKos, and instantly had the Tip Jar banned. I received non-stop ridicule and insults for three hours, with no one coming to my defence at all.

DU is light years more free than the locked down HRC/DNC site run by Mr. Inside - Markos M.

[FlatBaroque]

163. That is interesting

Hope you are journaling at jpr as well.

[PowerToThePeople]

33. Excellent OP!

This is their S.O.P.

We have seen it for a long time, but it is ramping up fast.

[arendt]

38. What does the downward green arrow icon mean? New to me. n/t

[PowerToThePeople]

40. I found it on the interwebs

A little searching and you could find it I think.

[arendt]

44. OK. "I won't vote for HRC". But you were not helpful. n.t

[PowerToThePeople]

80. Well

Trying to stay out of trouble. Kind of tough to do these days.

[arendt]

83. I'm interested. Please, how can you get in more trouble than posting the icon...

by explaining what it means?

Seriously.

[PowerToThePeople]

84. ?

I seem to get in trouble posting anything these days. I have a page full of laughable hides.

[arendt]

86. Sorry to hear that. I understand caution. n/t

[arendt]

39. You need a name, shorthand to keep calling them out.

Even though it has been done before, I never felt that it was this obvious.

Keep repeating "stochastic smearjob". If that gets traction, you have a two word rebuttal to all the "bad behavior" by "bernie bros".

[amborin]

35. K&R

[silvershadow]

41. You aren't wrong. Kick. nt

[procon]

42. If the whole world is conspiring against you, do they have grounds?

If everyone is in collusion to thwart your plans, then how will you get a majority to vote for you? I must admit, I'm somewhat skeptical of anyone at this level of paranoia, so when do you expect all those dastardly minions will overwhelm your tinfoil defense system and return you to the lizard overlords who rule this planet?

[arendt]

45. Provoke, passive aggressively deny, lather, rinse, repeat. n/t

[procon]

50. Then what defines acceptible?

Is it only the devout who are given leave to speak? Is praise and exaltation the limits of your tolerance then?

[BillZBubb]

54. We know you pro(conservatives), We know you.

[procon]

63. You know lots of labels and conspiracies, grant you that and a lolly, too. nt

[arendt]

58. People who speak verifiable and meaningful facts...

Lately, I'm with Matt Miller:

No fact is of any value except insofar as it forwards someone's agenda.

Thirty years of consolidated media, following after twenty years of deconstructionist philosopy, have completely detached us from reality. The internet just accelerates our disconnection from reality, our segregation into mutually incomprehensible polities. Who benefits from the destruction of community and of objective standards? The usual suspects: neoliberals (M. Thatcher - "There is no such thing as society.&quot

How is your take provably better than mine? If the Democratic Party was a community dedicated to helping the working man, as it was before the Third Way hijacked it, we could have a meaningful argument based on commonly agreed upon facts. These days, Pat Moynihan is rolling in his grave, because everyone is entitled to his own set of facts.

[arendt]

64. Hey, procon, got time to respond to #58, or is mindlessly bashing people more fun?

[procon]

97. Stop being a bully.

No one is here to entertain you. If you're looking for fun, go find something on the internet to calm yourself.

[arendt]

113. Pathetic deflection and insult. n/t

[procon]

115. Need a tissue?

And you whine... puhleese. If you don't like snark, maybe you shouldn't be throwing it around without being better prepared for it to be returned in kind, yeah?

[procon]

96. Is rigid ideological purity better?

Its strangling the GOP to death, so I say its not even a consideration. Look, you use a lot of malicious labels to frame an argument based on your so called "facts", but these are nothing more than your opinions and your personal viewpoints. Like everyone else, I have my own ideas and yours simply fall short of the mark. They are useless to me.

The Democratic Party has always been a big tent party that included many different perspectives from conservative Dems to communists and everything in between, so no one is going to kick them all out just to appease one faction. And since the world is not the same is it was Pat Moynihan's day, we have moved on too. Thankfully most people have broader, more diverse views than just the one size fits all version.

Your everyman fantasy of the quintessential American working man of yesteryear is gone, and manufacturing is gone with him. Even in countries with cheap labor, modern technologies is replacing man with machines. The world is evolving, and to remain viable the Democrats will change to embrace the future, maybe not in the way you want, but in a way that includes many more people.

[arendt]

108. It is a canard to claim anyone who opposes HRC is a "purist"

If the party is a big tent, why have the DNC been throwing out the liberals for 25 years. Your claim that the DNC is inclusive and liberals are exclusive stands reality on its head. The only terms under which liberals are allowed into the tent is complete submission to whatever self-serving lie the Third Way is telling this week.

So wanting the country to get better is "an everyman fantasy". Well thank you Mr. I've Got Mine Jack. You show complete contempt for the base of the party and everyone who is attracted to Trump and think it is a virtue. You are either really warped or a complete fraud.

The world is evolving. Right, that is just happening. No agency there. It is the impersonal forces of history. Where have I heard that before? Gee, your last paragraph sounds exactly like Joe Stalin's spiel on "dying classes".

The growth of the power of the Soviet State will intensify the resistance of the dying classes

- Joseph Stalin, Results of the First Five Year Plan, 1933

Yes. Machines are coming. But, it is the political terms on which we deal with that fact which will make us free men or slaves. Neoliberals want the 99% completely disenfranchised, with no say in the policies that redistribute wealth. Neoliberalism is the same bullshit economic determinism that Marxism was. Sheldon Wolin calls it "inverted totalitarianism".

Your words convict you of being a cruel, anti-social neoliberal. But, you claim we are the purists. What a fucking joke you are.

[procon]

125. And pinning simplistic tags on everything doesn't advance your position.

It was a tough slog to wade through all the pejorative smears and antagonistic labels you attached to everything you disagree with. Honestly, I just don’t get this fixation with the petty marques of ideological tribalism. Here's the thing, while you're occupied in waxing on the snark, the idea that Democrats must follow only a prescribed set of political doctrines to be considered pure enough to be the legitimate heirs to the party, is in itself, inherently undemocratic.

The problem is not the wildly variant views we hold under the Democratic banner, but those bombastic demagogues (hey, there's a label for you!) who are pounding away in self-righteous indignation and trying to convince everyone that only those who oppose HRC are authentic enough to wear the badge of a true Democrat. The basic concept of any democracy is determined by the sum of all its parts, everyone -- moderates and extremists, and everyone in between -- all of us together, not just the johnny-come-latelies who can scream the loudest or toss out the most-f-bombs. Did you catch that?

At best, political parties are a mixed bag of people will not be shoehorned into your narrow vision of rigid idealism. No one should be required to pass a litmus test or agree on every point. We'll settle this argument at the ballot box when the people speak with the power of their vote. I don't need to tell how that works, that would really be too cruel, yeah?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

156. Neutral arbitrar here

Hey, procon, got time to respond to #58, or is mindlessly bashing people more fun?

-arendt

Pathetic deflection and insult. n/t

-arendt

What a fucking joke you are.

-arendt

It seems you are engaging in the behavior you initially deplored. We need to not demonize those who disagree with us. And on this board what unites us is of more moment than what divides us. Most of the wars on this board exemplify Freud's narcissism of small differences.

[dgauss]

65. I think you're attacking some kind of straw man there.

Same thing with your post above suggesting the point of the OP is that "The whole world is conspiring against you."

You're exaggerating and misrepresenting the OP which, ironically, supports the OP.

[JackRiddler]

49. Party nomenklatura and corporate media hacks are the "whole world"?

Perhaps you need to get out more into said world.

[procon]

56. The approved list seems quite expansive and grows larger every day.

Who is on the safe list now, surely there must be some well known names and sources, or authorized content providers beyond the unknown bloggers who write wistful sonnets and paeans of adoration to a politician?

[arendt]

66. It is referred to as "the establishment". You might have heard of it. n/t

[arikara]

89. What if I told you it was done with mirrors

What if I showed you it was all a lie

https://m.

[Jitter65]

48. Bernie, if you don't like the Democratic Party why did you get in it? nt

[cantbeserious]

55. Well Stated

eom

[JackRiddler]

68. Good post - here's a poem for you.

But you also show you're well aware that "stochastic smearjobs" are as old as... history itself.

Or as CP Cavafy said:

Waiting for the Barbarians

What are we waiting for, assembled in the forum?

The barbarians are due here today.


Why isn’t anything happening in the senate?
Why do the senators sit there without legislating?

Because the barbarians are coming today.
What laws can the senators make now?
Once the barbarians are here, they’ll do the legislating.


Why did our emperor get up so early,
and why is he sitting at the city’s main gate
on his throne, in state, wearing the crown?

Because the barbarians are coming today
and the emperor is waiting to receive their leader.
He has even prepared a scroll to give him,
replete with titles, with imposing names.


Why have our two consuls and praetors come out today
wearing their embroidered, their scarlet togas?
Why have they put on bracelets with so many amethysts,
and rings sparkling with magnificent emeralds?
Why are they carrying elegant canes
beautifully worked in silver and gold?

Because the barbarians are coming today
and things like that dazzle the barbarians.


Why don’t our distinguished orators come forward as usual
to make their speeches, say what they have to say?

Because the barbarians are coming today
and they’re bored by rhetoric and public speaking.


Why this sudden restlessness, this confusion?
(How serious people’s faces have become.)
Why are the streets and squares emptying so rapidly,
everyone going home so lost in thought?

Because night has fallen and the barbarians have not come.
And some who have just returned from the border say
there are no barbarians any longer.


And now, what’s going to happen to us without barbarians?
They were, those people, a kind of solution.

[JEB]

71. K&R Thanks for posting this. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

74. I prefer the name Virtual assasination

same effect

[arendt]

81. Interesting, but I want to emphasize the statistical angle.

The whole thing is plausibly deniable because they don't pick who does the acting out. They just set up the trap and wait for someone to step into it.

Its not the virtuality that makes it effective. Its the deniability.

[nadinbrzezinski]

85. Yeah, my preference comes from a novel

which is no longer in print. It was sci fi, and the plot went like this. Instead of killing people, dirty and nasty, you basically killed them virtually by destroying their reputations and in some cases livelihood, Completely deniable and hard to prove. Funny, I remember the story line, but cannot remember the author

[arendt]

90. Bruce Sterling combines both our ideas

In Distraction , there is a server with a list of mentally unstable people. People put the names of folks they want killed on the list. The server sends inciting emails to the nutcases, and a string of lunatics shows up to assassinate the victim. All completely deniable.

Distraction is a great read.

[nadinbrzezinski]

91. Just got it, for after the primaries

[drokhole]

162. You might enjoy an interview I recently came across...

http://davidswanson.org/node/4671

Note particularly the point where the guest speaks to the fact that those in power often orchestrate or perform some egregious action, only to turn around and denounce reactions and feign innocence of any initial infraction or systemic injustice (a common tactic of the powerful and those in charge).

The book he wrote is a beast of a read, but highly recommended:

Madness at the Gates of the City: The Myth of American Innocence

[HooptieWagon]

78. There weren't any chairs thrown, but DNClinton isn't going to let facts get in the way of a smearjob

[arikara]

92. DWS interview

How can you tell when she's lying?

She's all twitchy, stammering, lump in her throat that looked like an Adam's apple bobbing up and down... And of course, her lips are moving.

If anyone did anything threatening or violent, I wouldn't put it past them to have done it themselves like bushes brooks brothers riot.

[Land of Enchantment]

134. I have been thinking exactly the same thing and am happy to

see you post it here. The 'threatening, vile phone calls'? If Brock can hire trolls to disrupt the boards then anything is possible. I would not trust them as far as I can throw this house.

[arikara]

185. Its not like it hasn't happened in the past

Many times. I don't believe for a minute that any Bernie people did what they're being accused of.

[bbgrunt]

82. thanks arendt. Very perceptive analysis. total ratfuckery.

[Uncle Joe]

88. Outstanding analysis!

Thanks for the thread, arendt.

[liberal_at_heart]

94. They will try to do to Bernie supporters what they did to OWS.

They will make Bernie supporters out to be the bad guys. It's too late. 2008 woke the American people up. The sleeping giant is awake. Great word by the way, "awake". That is what the word buddhi means, to wake up.

[merrily]

98. Great post. Dare I add that "Bernie Bros" was the progeny of "Obama boys" and

and both of Hillary's primary campaigns used generational, racial, sex (aka, gender) and religious divisiveness, cutting up the "big tent" into separate pieces of now fraying canvas?

Divide and conquer. Scorched earth. Bad for the Party; bad for the country.

[davidlynch]

99. Dead on...

And what happened is that they failed to get the key event in Nevada. Since it didn't happen the way they had hoped, they resort to lies and and say it did.

For example Roberta Lange came on CNN and testified that Sanders supporters "rushed the stage" and "threw chairs at the stage."

Neither of these statements are true. We saw the actual video and we have eye witnesses that were there.

Believe me, if this we're true, you can be certain that they'd be playing video evidence wall to wall over the networks and social media.

But they don't have video, or any evidence for that matter, because what they were praying for never occurred.

[Scuba]

100. Excellent post, thank you!

[Fast Walker 52]

101. a la Howard Dean

the media found a good way to really go after Bernie

[VulgarPoet]

102. Sounds like an excellent read of the situation, arendt.

[B Calm]

103. K&R Spot On!

[Adrahil]

104. Well I'll say this....

Bernie's more "ardent" backers have done this to themselves. I've tried to remain civil through this process. I've tried to stick to reasoning and realistic analysis. I admit that a few times I've failed, but I have always gotten back on the horse, so to speak. I have been insulted more than once here (and lots more in other media), and have been called everything from a paid troll to a fascist. My crime? I have not drunk the Bernie Kool-aid. Philosophically I agree with most of Bernie's goals. I just think his policy stinks. For that heinous crime, I've been labeled a DINO and a Republican-lite. I didn't make any Sanders supporter say that. Add to that the constant claims that any Clinton victory MUST be the result of "cheating," as if us Clinton supporters don't actually exist, and you've created a recipe for group-level stupidity.

When a campaign tolerates that kind of behavior, it's just a matter of time before the stupid bubbles up to a head. And no, I'm not saying Clinton supporters are completely innocent of this. And neither am I painting all Sanders supporters. My wife, aka the Greatest Woman in the World, voted for Bernie. About half my closest friends int he world did too. None of them are exhibiting this kind of epic level stupidity.

FWIW, I think NV is getting blown out of proportion. People at that level of involvement are passionate. I think the Sanders supporters expected to dominate the state convention and eek out a couple more delegates. But they didn't. But see above. They've created a narrative where any failure MUST be due to unfairness or cheating.

[JoePhilly]

119. Great response.

[MaeScott]

105. Absolutely and I'm ashamed of the party right now. Sad.

[drokhole]

109. Stories that unite vs. Stories that divide

Stories that unite
Have elements of play
Focus on changeable behavior
Identify qualities group members share
Poke fun at the powerful

Stories that divide
Lack elements of play
Focus on essences of people
Identify qualities few people have
Belittle, reject less powerful

"To tell great stories is to inspire, unite, animate, and find opportunities for power.

My study of fraternity teasing, however, also offered a cautionary tale about the potential abuses of power in storytelling. Our high-power, active fraternity members told stories that were often lacking playful markers. They went after lower-status targets in blunt, humiliating, and isolating attacks. This result has been replicated in other studies as well. Studies of bullies (PDF) find that their jokes generate little laughter but instead humiliate. Sexual harassment, always perpetrated by the more powerful, often begins in stories and jokes that isolate, demean, and coerce.

More generally, power can lead to a demeaning form of storytelling I call narratives of exceptionalism. These are stories that people who hold entrenched power tell about how extraordinary those at the top are.

Narratives of exceptionalism have the attributes of stories that divide. They focus on rare “essence” of people rather than changeable behavior, and suggest that the unusual traits of a select few separate them from the hoi polloi.

(...)

Narratives of exceptionalism matter. They are used to justify people’s positions of power, thus impeding social progress. They blind people to their own abuses of power. And they can deter deserving people from pursuing positions of power that would allow them to make valuable contributions to society." - Dacher Keltner (from The Power Paradox)

Now, let's look how each "side" officially responded following this past weekend's events:

The explosive situation arose in large part because a portion of the community of Sanders delegates arrived at the Nevada Democratic State Convention believing itself to be a vanguard intent upon sparking a street-fight rather than attending an orderly political party process. Surprised and outraged at the idea of being out-organized and thus outnumbered in the convention hall by Clinton delegates, a portion of the Sanders delegation rushed the dais immediately upon the opening of the convention and halted the progress of any convention business for much of the day. Indeed, every point during which Sanders delegates did not agree with any aspect of the proceedings saw them press up against the dais and scream obscenities and threats at the Chair, First Vice Chair, and any other speaker. In fact, event security provided by the Paris Las Vegas Hotel & Casino took it upon themselves to increase the security perimeter around the dais so the convention could simply move forward with its routine business in relative safety. In other words, the hour-to-hour business of Nevada Democrats was necessarily conducted in an atmosphere of impending eruption of physical threats and intimidation for more than 12 hours. Scuffles, screams from bullhorns, and profane insults marked nearly the entirety of the event. Numerous medical emergencies among delegates pressed up against the dais had to be attended to throughout the day.

The Sanders Campaign spent its time either ignoring or profiting from the chaos it did much to create and nothing to diminish or mitigate.

(...)

The people who fostered, encouraged, and gained from the unsettling scenes at the Nevada State Democratic Convention bring dishonor and discredit to our state and national parties. Having seen up close the lack of conscience or concern for the ramifications of their actions—indeed, the glee with which they engaged in such destructive behavior—we expect similar tactics at the National Convention in July.

And, from Sanders:

“It is imperative that the Democratic leadership, both nationally and in the states, understand that the political world is changing and that millions of Americans are outraged at establishment politics and establishment economics. The people of this country want a government which represents all of us, not just the 1 percent, super PACs and wealthy campaign contributors.

The Democratic Party has a choice. It can open its doors and welcome into the party people who are prepared to fight for real economic and social change – people who are willing to take on Wall Street, corporate greed and a fossil fuel industry which is destroying this planet. Or the party can choose to maintain its status quo structure, remain dependent on big-money campaign contributions and be a party with limited participation and limited energy."

The contrast couldn't be more stark. Right out the gate, the Nevada Democratic Party officials - with violently charged language - seek to smear and demean in "blunt, humiliating, and isolating attacks." Whereas Sanders, given the same opportunity in opening remarks, doesn't attack the disenfranchised and powerless, but calls for more inclusion and fights on their behalf.

"But once people feel powerful, their attention shifts. They often stop prioritizing others’ interests and the greater good. They become concerned with gratifying their own desires, and they become vulnerable to a lack of empathy, impulsive behavior, and stories that divide and humiliate others.

This is the power paradox: The very skills that help us attain power vanish once we feel powerful or live a life of privilege. And the paradox is evident in the ways in which power is intertwined with storytelling." - Dacher Keltner

[2cannan]

151. Excellent post, Drokhole. nt

[islandmkl]

111. modern variation of the Reichstag fire to accomplish a political goal...

use the press to promote the purported action (as embellished to present a certain desired point) that shows a great need for some reaction to the perps of said action...

CAUSE...EFFECT...CAUSE 2

[senz]

177. Yep. The media is their weapon of choice.

It's how they turn us against each other.

[lagomorph777]

112. K&R

[auntpurl]

114. Are we really using the word "retard" now, without any comment?

That's discouraging.

[TheSarcastinator]

129. it wasn't used derogatorily, but you know that, dontchya, "Auntie"?

It's too bad that most DUers are intelligent enough to see through your pathetic attempt to smear the OP, isn't it?

No wonder you're discouraged.

[auntpurl]

130. "It wasn't used derogatorily"

Yeah, there's really no other way to use that word.

You seem charming. Have a good day now.

[TheSarcastinator]

142. BWAHAHAHA

You're much, much too obvious: I sure hope you aren't getting paid to post this drivel.

[islandmkl]

179. for your own good...don't ever attempt to tune a car engine...

that whole 'retard' thing might inhibit your ability to get things set right...

[polly7]

131. uuughhhh ..........

Rahm Emanuel called a group of liberal activists "f---ing retarded."

It's pretty obvious what the OP was referring to.

[auntpurl]

132. It was wrong when he did it

and it's wrong to repeat it. I work in mental health. We really don't need to go back to the days of using derogatory language toward the developmentally disabled and emotionally troubled, no matter in what context.

[TheSarcastinator]

141. LOL: your "concern" is duly noted

The OP was NOT using the language as smear or in ANY derogatory sense, and you damn well understand that. Keep trying, though: it's kinda fun to watch you flounder and flail.

[polly7]

145. Except that the OP didn't use the term in any other context but to highlight what Rahm called

Liberal activists.

Spin, spin, spin. No agenda there, eh? Sexism, racism, VIOLENCE!!!!!, now derogatory language towards the developmentally disabled and emotionally troubled. What's up for tomorrow?

[reddread]

148. "Sanders is responsible for the IWR"?

what do I win?

[polly7]

149. Oohhhh ...........

that's excellent!

You win a REAL PONY (If I can figure out a cheap way to send him to you. And, he's never been ridden, but cute as hell.)

[reddread]

150. bet it bites like hell

[polly7]

152. LOL. Maybe, dunno really. It's a possiblility. (My sister needs to get rid of some). nt.

[reddread]

157. so much trouble in such a compact package

what could go wrong?
although, just
GETTING MY PONY
would be some fun.
lets install Sanders first.

[polly7]

158. Hey, you could train him and be a rodeo pick-up man/woman!

Doesn't that sound like fun?!? Or, he could bite your ear or fingers off and you wouldn't like him much. But still - a REAL PONY. All Sanders supporters want a real pony - at least that's what I've read here for so long. The hopes and dreams of people suffering are just rants expressed by spoiled, dumb kids wanting a pony. But ok ... I'll save him for one of those when I see one.

[reddread]

159. im sure it would fit neatly in the back of my 53 Ford panel truck

but first I need to finish connecting the transmission lines. and line the back with some newspaper.

[polly7]

160. That sounds great. But he'll probably eat newspaper, better get some straw and a shovel. nt.

[TheSarcastinator]

143. Concern Trolling

at it's finest!

[cui bono]

167. Rahm used it. It wasn't the OP's choice of words. n/t

[1StrongBlackMan]

133. I keep seeing that word "stochastic" appear ...

I have looked it up ... and I still have no idea what is being said. And this OP isn't helping.

[TheSarcastinator]

135. David Brock has Made the Democratic Establishment Comfortable with Limbaugh-style Smears

and Lee Atwater-style ratf*cking. No way it'll ever come back to bite them in the ass, of course. Never, ever, ever.

[Demsrule86]

136. Oh come on

I like Ralston...he told the truth and you know it...and with a sense of humor...you candidate's supporters acted badly...treating Democratic women to name calling...filthy names at that...and Bernie....well he doesn't care. He has more important issues than the right to choose (don't distract him) or women's stuff.

[rhett o rick]

138. The Left recognizes that we are getting close to the tipping point if we haven't already gone

passed from which we can recover our democracy. George Bush, using 911, rolled back many of our Constitutional rights and Obama didnt even try to restore them. Now we have the worst election system in the Free World. We treat our children worse that any other modern nation and many non-modern nations. And yet some still believe the power should be in the hands of the Wealthy.

Have you ever noticed that when someone stands up to a bully, that bully cowers and whines as the victim. That's what happened in Nevada. The ruling powers in our party do not respect progressives and have pulled shenanigans thru out this election. And when we object, bingo-bango they start whining. As Rahmbo stated, "The Left should sit down and shut the F up." This is the arrogance of the ruling elite of our party. They don't want democracy, they don't want fair elections, they want power. It's time to take them down (remove them from power).

[Optimism]

146. MATH ...

Let's do some math! The Republicans wouldn't be caught dead voting for Clinton in November. Nor would the vast majority of Independents. The Clintonistas have succeeded beyond their dreams at alienating the Democratic progressive base (and Dems only make up what ...29% of the electorate?)

So that leaves what ... . Maybe 15% of the country expected to deliver for Hillary?! That's not very encouraging MATH in my book.

[MisterP]

170. Clinton/Trump 43-39 and falling, Sanders/Trump 51-39 and holding

http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster#2016-general-election

[MoonRiver]

147. If you don't like the Democratic Party, why not affiliate with a different party or start your own?

Violence and whining will get you nowhere in life, except possibly a jail sentence and social isolation. Just saying.

[cui bono]

168. Or maybe chnage it like Bill Clinton did? He made it a centerist party when he accepted the DLC way,

what's wrong withliberals wanting to change it back?

I suspect, however, that you will get your wish and the progressives and liberals will let the centrists and corporatists have the Dem Party when they create a new party. Some things can't be walked back and this corruption and smear campaign against liberals is probably too much to forget.

.

[KPN]

154. Exactly right.

[polly7]

155. Kick and Recommend. nt.

[cui bono]

165. Agree completely except to add that they're also "lathering up" the right wing of the Dem Party

to hate liberals. And it's turned very violent already. Shooting Bernie's campaign office, vandalizing campaign worker's homes and a male Hillary supporter physically assaulted a woman because she is a Bernie supporter.

They are fomenting the anger just like the right wing does, as you said, and they have created a huge divide in the party that I do not believe will be overcome. It's deeper than degrees of differences on policy stances, it's a major difference in a person's make up and how they conduct themselves. And it's becoming more and more clear that the corporate Dems who are the right wing of the Dem Party are taking on the right wing's tactics and ethics. And it's not pretty.

Smears, lies and bullying. That's not what the Dem Party is supposed to be about.

.

[Ferd Berfel]

169. Well said - K&R

[nashville_brook]

172. arendt!

good to see you, and especially good to see your always on-point observations here.

Stochastic smearjob, indeed. Very well said.

[Enthusiast]

178. Kicked and recommended to the Max! nt

[sdaz]

180. I do not agree to your post also please edit

your word "retards" this word implies that mentally handicapped are stupid dumb and not intelligent.

[MisterP]

181. it's a reference to when Rahm Emanuel called the left "fucking retards"

[JCMach1]

183. Great work of fiction on the OP's part

Does anyone think the party leadership is that organized?



I don't... It's organic in its seamless nastiness... in the same kind of way the Nevada convention went off the rails.

An organic clusterfrak... courtesy of some nasty negative feedback loops... Most of them centering on Wasserman Schultz...

[davidlynch]

184. Why Is This No Longer Top of Greatest Threads? It has 185 Recs! n/t

[appal_jack]

186. Massive k&r. Thanks arendt. nt

[NewImproved Deal]

187. Thanks! Good piece...

[link:|