What Is Bernie's Price for Playing Nice?

[eridani]

http://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/36628-what-is-bernies-price-for-playing-nice

To understate the case, a victory for bully-boy Trump would not be good news. Not for the planet. Not for women. Not for Mexicans, other Latinos, and blacks. Not for Muslim-Americans. Not for Jewish-Americans. Not for immigrants facing deportation. Not for disaffected white working-class men, whom he would inevitably betray. Not for the poor, whom he despises as losers. Not for the different or disabled. Not for the Supreme Court. And, not for those of us committed to continue our fight for a democratic socialist revolution.

On foreign policy, he will run well to Hillary’s left. His open support for improved relations with Russia and China, his skepticism toward NATO, which I share, his iffy opposition to the no-win war in Iraq and French-led intervention in Libya make him appear far more realistic than the hawkish Hillary. But he favors torture whether it works or not. He revels in targeted assassinations far more than do Obama and Clinton. He speaks too easily about using nuclear weapons. And he’s too xenophobic, simplistic, reckless, and unpredictable to be allowed anywhere near the CIA, the Pentagon, or the nuclear button.

Hillary is bad enough. Look at her history as an imperial warmonger long before the neo-cons backed her. Listen to her self-righteous avowal of “American exceptionalism,” which is just another form of too much nationalism. But, like her or not, she has shown herself more cautious, circumspect, and open to dissuasion by allies than Trump would ever be. She is indeed the lesser evil.

Trump has already sharpened his tongue against her, calling her “Crooked Hillary” and promising a devastating campaign against her supposed foreign policy strengths as well as her personal unpopularity, which easily rivals his own. I still don’t think he can win, but she would be a fool to underestimate him. This is especially true because he poses a threat that takes us into a very dark realm. By spouting his off-the-cuff racist, religious, and nationalist bigotry, Trump has opened wide the door to America’s venomous Ku Kluxers and other white supremacists, violent skin-heads, and Christian nationalists with all their armed militias. He has even begun to extend his hand to Europe’s neo-fascists, welcoming a visit and endorsement from Matteo Salvini, leader of Italy’s racist and anti-immigrant Northern League. Trump is still showing caution about getting too close to other of Europe’s neo-Fascists, many of whom have shown caution about getting too close to him. But, stay tuned.

[djean111]

1. No matter what "price" Bernie has - in this case, a Progressive agenda - Hillary cannot be trusted

to follow through. In fact, it would be the height of delusional naivete to think Hillary would keep her word.

And - isn't it fascinating how many Hillary supporters see this in terms of "price" - as in being bought.

And, as the article points out, Bernie cannot deliver his supporters' votes to Hillary. This is not a Bernie cult, which I know is hard for some to understand - it is people who are fed up with the establishment that Hillary is owned by and represents. Hillary has her Third Way and MIC to-do list. Unfortunately, for many others, it makes their to-do lists into bucket lists.

She made a fucking "mistake" about Iraq. She was privy to the details, and she made a fucking "mistake", she even made an impassioned, shilling speech about how we need to let Bush declare war in Iraq - and then she fucking LAUGHED and said hey, that's why my book is called Hard Choices. She made that decision based on money. I will not vote for her, she is unfit.

[Duckfan]

2. If she gets in WH (hopefully not)

The best we could hope for is Mitch McTurtle to block any legislation that sets us back. But the Repukes will likely block everything anyway--with exception of her corporate, centrist, anti-progressive SC nomination.

[greymouse]

3. Bernie is nice and he is Not For Sale

Only a stupid person would believe anything Hillary says.

[silvershadow]

4. Title and premise of the article assumes a paradigm as usual, which Bernie is not part of. nt