June 19, 2015

July 28 - Burn the Rebel Flag for the 14th Amendment!

July 28, 1868 -- the day that the Secretary of State certified the 14th Amendment had been approved by the required 28 of the 37 states. In a little more than a month, we'll see the 148th anniversary of that day.

I say that in honor of the 14th, we orchestrate rallies in the capitols of all former Confederate states, have a group reading of the 14th Amendment, and burn a Confederate flag.

Popcorn is optional...

Think that will send a message to anyone?

June 17, 2015

This Ain't 1972

I just read a post here on DU where a kindly soul warned us all that Bernie Sanders was our modern George McGovern, having absolutely zero chances of winning an election.

Though I'm sure that the warning was given out of the goodness of his/her heart I started counting all the ways that this election was like that election.

What a task! I had to stop when I got to Zero!

I just don't see how 2016 compares to 1972...we've lived through a generation of profound changes since that year. As Bill Nye the Science Guy used to say: "Consider the following..."

• In 1972, a black man had no chance of running for the Presidency, let alone winning it twice.
  
  
• In 1972, a woman had no chance of getting the Democratic party nomination, let alone being the front runner.
  
  
• In 1972, being in favor of gay marriage was a career killer.
  
  
• In 1972, banks were regulated and couldn't destroy the economy.
  
  
• In 1972, we had not already lived through 20-30 years of trickle down economics.
  
  
• In 1972, there was no Citizens United to act as a lightning rod.
  
  
• In 1972, there wasn't a clown car full of insane Republicans running against us (and each other).
  
  
• In 1972, there was no Internet to organize the troops.
  
  
• In 1972, these thing's didn't all come together to create a perfect storm for populist reform.
  
  
• Most importantly, in 1972 we didn't have Bernie Sanders to kick some corporate ass!

So hey all you worry warriors? While we appreciate your sincere concerns, we really don't share them.
This ain't 1972. Bernie Sanders isn't repeating history. He's making history.

June 13, 2015

Hillary Clinton IS A Liberal? So What?

I don't doubt her credentials on that front.

I'm just saying that at this place and in this time, being liberal is no longer enough.

We are in an economic fight for our lives, and we need an economic populist to lead that fight. Despite Clinton's impressive resume, despite her liberal street creds, she has never really been a populist.
Despite her progressive words, she has never really stood with the 99%.
Despite her campaign rhetoric, she has never really been willing to fight for the middle class, not when doing so might jeopordize her relationship with the same Wall Street interests that underwrite her campaigns.

She's a great Lefty Liberal, in an America that can no longer choose candidates based on their Left-Right differences. Times have changed. The rules of engagement have been rewritten.

To paraphrase another Clinton campaign: "It's the Economic Justice, Stupid!"

There's only one candidate in this race that can draw a real comparison to the New Deal policies of FDR.
There's only one candidate in this race that could stand on Roosevelt Island and give a speech about economic justice, without bringing up the spectres of Glass-Steagall's repeal and Goldman Sach's donations.
There's only one candidate in this race that can really lead a battle against Wall Street.

Ask yourself honestly if you think that candidate is Hillary Clinton, or if that candidate is Bernie Sanders.

In honor of our choice, I'm changing my populist icon from Warren to Sanders, and am sending Bernie another $50.

No hate for Hillary, I just want someone whose desire to defend the 99% outweighs their fear of offending the 1%.

June 13, 2015

The Long Game - A Lesson In Creative Genius

I ran into a DU thread yesterday where the OP, refering to the job market, stated:
"If you are over 50 usually you are going to the bottom of the list"

If you have ever felt that way in your personal life, I urge you to watch these two videos...

Part 1 - Da Vinci Was a Loser?
vimeo.com/84022735

Part 2 - Our Obsession With Youth
vimeo.com/87448006

Overnight success often takes years, don't sell yourself short.