Samantha
Samantha's Journal"Bernie Sanders vows to continue Obama's Executive Orders on Guns If Elected President"
http://www.politicususa.com/2016/01/05/bernie-sanders-vows-continue-obamas-executive-orders-guns-elected-president.htmlDemocratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders went beyond supporting President Obama executive actions on gun violence. Sanders is promising that if elected president he will continue Obama’s executive orders.
In a statement Sen. Sanders (I-VT) said, “It’s become clear that no mass shooting, no matter how big or bloody, will inspire Republicans to put children and innocent Americans over the interests of the NRA. They are simply more loyal to gun lobbyists than our children. That’s why I support President Obama’s executive actions to make our communities safer. A vast majority of the American people, including responsible gun owners who are sickened by the deaths of so many innocent people, agree with the common sense reforms announced today. As president, I will continue these executive orders because it’s past time to end the moral outrage of Aurora, and Newtown and Charleston.”
Sam
The extreme irony of the Clinton/Sanders debate over income inequality is striking
Senator Sanders comes out swinging against income inequality and saying "we have to tell the top one-percent you can't have it all." Hillary Clinton immediately incorporates campaigning against income inequality into her platform. (Adopting a plank from an opponent's platform dampens the opponent's ability to differentiate him or herself from your campaign. It dulls an edge that person might have in the contest.)
Some probably do not realize how ironic Hillary Clinton attacking this issue is since she and Bill are in the top one-tenth of the top one percent; in other words, the same group Bernie was describing as those receiving 99 percent of all new income.
"What we're seeing, Chris, right now is that for 40 years, the American middle class has been disappearing. Millions of people are working longer hours for lower wages despite a huge increase in technology and productivity," Sanders said. "And what we have seen during that period is a massive transfer of trillions of dollars from the middle class to the top one-tenth of 1 percent of America — massive wealth and income inequality, where you have 99 percent of all new income today going to the top 1 percent."
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/apr/19/bernie-s/bernie-sanders-says-99-percent-new-income-going-to/
and
Hillary and Bill Clinton have pulled in so much money through speeches since January 2014 that their income is more than 99.9 percent of all Americans.
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/may/19/top-1-try-top-01/
In the real world, who believes that Hillary Clinton will champion eliminating the disparity income inquality creates among the American classes of people when she and her husband are in the exact group targeted to take a massive haircut?
Sam
In the words of Oscar Wilde
"To recommend thrift to the poor is both grotesque and insulting. It is like advising a man who is starving to eat less." Oscar Wilde, The Soul of Man under Socialism.
And that is exactly the equivalent of what Republicans today suggest. And even more inconceivable is the fact that some Democrats agree.
But a former Democratic President still speaks to us in these words he left behind: "If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich." That Democrat was John F. Kennedy, who made this comment in his 1961 inaugural address.
Food for thought in these trying times.
The above is reposted from a thread I submitted July 08, 2011. Here we are almost five years later but what has changed? I think it is important not to lose sight of those thoughts. As you might already know, Oscar Wilde was a socialist. Today we have a Democratic candidate championing the needs of the poor. In case you missed it, listen to Bernie Sanders in a recent interview by Rachel Maddow saying, "Hopeless Poverty Threatens Democracy."
http://crooksandliars.com/2015/12/bernie-sanders-hopeless-poverty-threatens
Bernie also states "we should not lead the world in childhood poverty:"
We should not be the country that has the highest rate of childhood poverty of any major country and more wealth and income inequality than any other country. We should not be the only major country on Earth that does not guarantee health care to all of our people as a right of citizenship and we should not be the only major country that does not provide medical and parental leave.
http://www.ontheissues.org/2016/Bernie_Sanders_Welfare_+_Poverty.htm
This Country needs a leader who will attack these problems today rather than tomorrow. That person is Bernie Sanders. Seldom have we had a chance to undo some of the wrongs that have been thrust upon our society the last 40 plus years. But that chance is coming in the contest for the 2016 Presidential race. I hope we don't squander it.
Sam
Looks like the MSM, in the face of becoming politically expendable, has canceled The Big Ignore
I believe the media thought if it just ignored Bernie Sanders, his campaign would wither away. He could not compete with Hillary Clinton without media coverage, so s l o w l y he would go away ... down ... and out.
But go away he did not. He wagered if he just played his cards well by sending out his message via alternative media, many would hear and line up to support him. Surprisingly enough, the line to do so grew so huge THE BIG IGNORE could no longer survive. The broadcast and print media gradually began to realize that while in the past they could make or break a candidacy, today a candidate is demonstrating the MSM's words and cameras are in fact expendable.
The MSM is no longer a political king- or queen-maker.
Lightning bolts struck when the MSM realized it could no longer ignore that object in its rear view mirror which kept getting BIGGER and BIGGER. Suddenly cameras are returning to capture the man upon whom the MSM had tried to force sudden political death. He had lived to fight another day! And another! Numbers climbed to startling heights.
Death by media dehydration had not killed the candidate's revolutionary run. It had made apparent success could be achieved with or without the MSM. Rather than become a dinosaur in a political cemetery, the MSM reconnoitered its position and came out in the open to stay in the game. Lights, cameras and action for Bernie Sanders are starting to happen. Why?
Because rather than go away, he lived to fight another day, and in so doing, won a striking victory over The Big Ignore.
Sam
Postscript: It is well past time Martin O'Malley be given his fair share of a place in the sun. Certainly, many of the Republicans are highlighted, even those most assume will be dropping out of the race soon. Martin O'Malley is an outstanding politician with a wonderful record of achievements. He too has been victimized by The Big Ignore.
I think we will see a huge push to eclipse coverage of Sanders' speech tomorrow
That taunt from Hillary was just the start of the obfuscation. Now here comes the BIG announcement regarding President Obama's intention to implement gun control measures through executive orders is scheduled to take place Tuesday. What a coincidence.... The talking heads have already started headlining the announcement this evening. Recently, it was said he would make the announcement soon. "Soon" then became "in the coming days." Now we learn it is the same day of Bernie's big speech.
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/obama-announce-executive-actions-gun-control-tuesday/story?id=36070572
Looks like it is shaping up to be a BIG NEWS day. Bill Clinton started campaigning in New Hampshire for Hillary this week. Of course, that HAS to be covered.
And other things could erupt -- just a few hours ago we learned the FBI started working with the local sheriff in Oregon handling the militia's takeover of the wildlife preserve. Got to cover that of course.
Stocks tumbled on Wall Street today so that as well must be covered.
Yep, it is certainly looking like a BIG NEWS day tomorrow. Dollars to doughnuts Bernie will not get the coverage he deserves, and naturally no one will cover it Wednesday because it will be stale news by then....
I feel pretty confident in saying President Obama prefers Hillary over Bernie for several obvious reasons, not the least of which is Obama's determination to keep pushing for the TPP. If Sanders were to prevail, obviously that would have a negative backlash on that "trade bill." So take a wild guess which issues the networks will cover extensively.
No disrespect intended toward President Obama. This is just politics and part of the way the game is played.
Sam
I cannot believe what this woman just said about Sanders' supporters
"Sanders' supporters are also Trump supporters." She was featured on Lawrence O'Donnell's show this evening. I had to look her up because I could not believe anyone could actually make a remark like this. So here she is:
https://www.facebook.com/carriesheffield/?ref=br_rs
Carrie Sheffield.
She also mentioned Sanders is a part of the fringe. When O'Donnell questioned her on this, she said, "Of course he is. He is a Socialist."
This woman is either incredibly dumb, very disingenuous or is desperate to drive people to her Facebook page (which is of course what I just did).
I am speechless. How low can these people go?
BUT
All of this was in the context of Sanders' seeking to siphon off some of Trump's supporters. I have always said since this race started I thought Sanders would attract a good number of Republicans. And now that this is a topic of political speculation on MSNBC no less, I have caught my breath and say to Trump supporters who also sympathize with the middle class losses as well as those of the poor these last few decades, come on over, the water is fine. Feel the Bern.
Sam
At this particular moment in time
"The essential ingredient of politics is timing." Pierre Elliott Trudeau
I think it is important to say that the timing of this DNC database breach scandal is truly suspect. It was known for three months the database was vulnerable. The problem was allowed to percolate until yesterday. It blew up into a firestorm today, on a Friday in Washington, DC -- the night before the next Democratic debate, the week before Christmas, and just a matter of maybe five or six weeks until Iowa and NH caucus.
Knowing how close both those races are and knowing that the political destiny of Bernie Sanders rests on his wins or losses in those two states, it is just too convenient for his opponents for his campaign to be database castrated at this particular moment in time.
Just my opinion....
Sam
I support Bernie but I also admire Martin O'Malley - I believe he has been denied coverage as well
One of the reasons I believe both of these candidates are being ignored is that both are against the TPP. Hillary Clinton has given several speeches supporting it, although she now says she cannot say if she will support it until she has a chance to read the finalized version. 
President Obama himself did not want the content of this so-called trade agreement -- there is something like 26 chapters only three of which cover trade -- made public until absolutely necessary because he knew many Americans would be outraged at the content.
Corporation lobbyists wrote much of this document. Among those are companies such as Comcast, and it, for example, absolutely doesn't want even simple constructive criticism on the proposed legislation aired. Many people believe this is why Ed Schultz was dismissed from MSNBC -- because he constantly covered extremely controversial (and that is an understatement) aspects of this legislation on air, and he even had political opponents such as Bernie Sanders often contributing anti-TPP commentary.
Martin O'Malley has publicly said opposing the TPP is just common sense. So I believe this is one of the reasons we see the debates aired at extremely usually odd times, times when obviously not too many Americans will be watching, and opponents of the TPP will be muzzled (again an understatement).
Free speech is one of the liberties of which most Americans are very protective. To protect major legislation from critical scrutiny and public comment before it is essentially finalized in form and close to an up or down vote by Congress is not what this Country is about.
Perhaps this topic is one Iowans should discuss along with the candidates when they caucus. It certainly would be in their best interests (IMHO).
Sam
From The Des Moines Register: Clinton grows lead to 9 percent (December 14, 2015 video)
Sometimes if one has questions, it is good to go right to the home source:
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/media/cinematic/video/77272582/clinton-grows-lead-to-9-points-in-new-iowa-poll
Note the use of the word "grows" in the paper's headlines.
Keep in mind that our own DU Iowans have posted that many Iowans do not make up their minds until the day of the caucus. Additionally, Republicans who choose to vote for Sanders can change their registration the day of the caucus.
It is interesting the commentators noted that if Warren chose to join Sanders, that would cut the lead down to 6 points.
IMHO, Sanders will attract a lot of Independent voters. Check out this link on Bernie Sanders' secret weapon:
http://washingtonforberniesanders.com/latest-news/9-bernie-s-secret-weapon-independent-voters
There are more registered Independents than either Republicans or Democrats:
Note: this chart is from the link noted above.
The article itself makes some very significant arguments:
A poll of only Democratic Leaning Independents would likely lead to even greater support for Bernie Sanders. It is therefore likely that at least two out of three Democratic Leaning Independents support Bernie's positions on major issues – more than enough votes to overcome Hillary's lead within the Democratic party.
* * *
Independent Voters Want an Independent President
As a final factor, Independents have long called for an Independent President not beholden to Wall Street or to the power brokers in either political party. Bernie Sanders has not only called himself an Independent, but he is the longest serving Independent to ever be elected to Congress. Many Independent voters would support Bernie because he is like them – a true Independent. This makes Independent voters Bernie's secret weapon. If Democratic Leaning Independents turn out and vote for Bernie in the 2016 Democratic Primaries and Democratic Caucuses, Bernie will be the Presidential Nominee of the Democratic Party in 2016 and he will be the next President of the United States.
Equally important, however, is the fact that four of Bernie Sanders' salient campaign issues are issues equally important to Independents: campaign finance reform, restoring a fair tax structure, reducing income inequality and regulating or breaking up too big to fail banks. (Paraphrased from the Bernie's Secret Weapon article presented by the Washington for Bernie 2016 campaign, specifically David Spring M.Ed.)
Factoring in all of the above plus the addition of some Republicans choosing to support Sanders, and one is left with the obvious hope that Bernie Sanders can indeed win this race, and sorry to be trite, but it ain't over until it's over, and don't allow anyone to convince you otherwise.
Sam
If a network gets rid of someone like Ed Schultz because he is against the TPP
why would that network along with the others participating in supporting the TPP give Bernie Sanders time to campaign against it?
And this is exactly why Hillary Clinton is boxed in. She worked on the TPP for years, and of course she supports it. But when asked recently, she equivocated. She cannot cede an advantage to Sanders since he is a serious threat to her winning; but she can't outright deny supporting it because her corporate sponsors, not to mention some patrons of the Clinton Foundation, might not understand....
Caught in the middle of the proverbial political rock and a hard place, she at least has the comfort of knowing the networks have her back.
Sam
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