Occupy, Democracy Now, the Bernie movement ... when people get pushed far enough, stuff happens. Moderation is a pacifier at best. The movement will go on, with or without Hillary, and stuff will happen.

Into legislation.

It seems to me that you obviously feel secure with the current situation, including your own.

elect like minded individuals at the state and federal level. Heck, even the Tea Party knew that much.

I wouldn't say though that there have been none elected at State and Congressional levels, but they have been largely in blue States.

What I'm saying is moderation is ineffective at dealing with our socio-economic problems meaningfully and will ultimately fail. Time will tell whether I am right or you. We shall see.

Moderation is a good thing when the long term trend is progress. We are in a regressive long term trend socio-economically that has largely been a result of popular ignorance and the Democratic Party's moderation in the face of GOP excess. The time for moderation has passed.

I believe the Democratic Party will always moderate unless and until its viability is threatened. What you are seeing today is its viability potentially being threatened.

be as progressive as you wish but it won't amount to anything. President Obama wanted to be more progressive but he knew he didn't have the votes in Congress to be successful. He had to moderate out of political necessity. This has always been the case in government.

President Obama moderated also out of personal ideology. He ran on one thing, but did another -- right out the chute.

of our society, so demonized, for so long it will not make its reappearance at the level you are wishing for overnight. So, you need these movements to cut through the BS in order to make more visible progress.

movements are adding to the general formation of the Zeitgeist that has made possible a very successful campaign by a Democratic Socialist Jew name Bernie Sanders! They are all vital if we are to ever cut through he corporatist/oligarchic firewalls injected into the system and to start moving the country back to its liberal foundations.

But she's been trying like hell to approximate them.

I hope the "loser" and followers do build a movement starting at the local level

I think that is what the anti-abortionists did and, as much as I hate it, they have built a movement so powerful that Planned Parenthood is no longer available for thousands of women who used its services for medical reason other than abortion

I am not sure why Democrats have ignored the local and county and state level offices when they are so important

I don't want to see the "loser" become a Nader whose followers accomplished no important political changes after 2000.

What some don't get is that others simply won't vote for Hillary because of her personal character (as they perceive it) and her record (as the facts show) regardless of the guilt trips you lay on them.

Look, we disagree. I happen to believe Bernie is a stronger candidate for the GE and will, be a more effective President as far as accomplishing progressive goals. So from my perspecxtive, if the GOP takes the White House, it's on you not me. Get over it already.

effort needs to be undertaken to address change at the local, state and federal level. You respond with your selfish thoughts about Hillary and assign blame for an election that hasn't happened yet. Get over yourself.

If Hillary is the nominee, the DNC will stay exactly the same. It is all about the money. They will fund their own local hand picked candidate and not let progressives in. Any one who has been paying attention should realize this.

Z

Change happens at the grass roots. Not at the DNC.

then the problem lies with the DNC. And, we have people here who have worked in the state Democratic Party who can attest to it. It has happened for years.

Z

This election has really shown how deeply the corruption goes within the party & its done so on a national level for all to see. But there are examples of progressives being snuffed out by the DNC in local elections going back years & years, all across the country.

At some point, we have to stop the abuse & leave.

The DNC has nothing to do with the school board or the city council

Running in those races means working in the community to build a name for yourself, enlisting friends to help you by inviting their friends to their home so you can talk with them, knocking on doors, etc.

Unfortunately, a lot of Republicans understood the importance of local politics and that's how they got their conservative agenda in the schools and towns

Don't look up; look at yourself and your friends to make changes at the local level

The Republican Party had churches to get their people in. The Republican party also helped fund the runs. And, it started in the 70's, not recently. I know because my ex-in-laws quit the Republican Party in the early 80's because too many evangelicals were in power positions in the party. It was a stealth movement.

Whether or not you want to acknowledge it, only those who have well paying jobs can run for anything. If you are working 2 part time jobs, tell me how you can run for anything. Tell me how you can have your friends over when they too are scrambling to make ends meet. If you have the time, you don't have a job. It is not the 70's any more, where someone like Bernie can mount a grassroots campaign. Now, if you don't have a job, you are labeled a freeloader, lazy or just too dumb to get a job.

Wake up and smell the coffee, time is running out for this planet. Just because you have it made, there are tons of people out there that don't, and soon it will affect you too. It is not time for incremental steps.

Z

in that churches were important in the anti-abortion movement. And the Koch brothers and their ilk funded state races.

But the Republican National Committee did not fund any local school board races or local small town city council members.

If you or your friends cannot afford to run for those type positions, maybe you can vote for someone on that level who will support your ideas. I personally cannot run for any thing myself because I have too many caregiving duties. All I can do is try to find out who the good guys are who are running for city council and school board.

who tow the Third Way neoliberal agenda, not progressives.

and was correct. Bernie's self defense did Not cause him to loose New York. Besides, Bernie and followers have been abused and attacked for months and will respond, not be bullied and beaten like a wimp, coward.

~ A Coward Dies A Thousand Deaths ~

- 'Young Women want to be with Bernie, Where the Boyz Are", Gloria Steinem.

- Women who don't support Hillary are Doomed, Madeline Albright.

APRIL 6. ••BREAKING•• Clinton Campaign LEAK - Plan to Bury Bernie, "DISQUALIFY HIM" - Running out of Patience
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1017350521

I attended an official county committee meeting yesterday. Two young people and the rest of us were over 60 and most over 70. I am not saying that it wasn't a good group because at least 3 Union reps were there. But there were also older members who were definitely status quo. As I walked in one woman was declaring victory for Hillary in the primary. She is also one of the few who knows the working inside and out of how things work.

IF there were other Bernie supporters at this meeting I did not know it. I wanted to discuss the 33 state deal but just shut up and let it go.

There was no doubt that I was setting in the middle of the establishment in my county. The only thing good about it is that I met a young coordinator of my representative to the House in DC. He was looking for volunteers. He has a tough campaign this year against a billionaire.

The 33 state deal was made at the state level - nothing will change unless we get involved with the nitty gritty on the lower levels.

I am not looking forward to attending more Hillary locals. But if I want change sometime in this year I am going to have to speak up. Problem is I am not sure what I need to say. When I get to the state convention I am going to try to find out what committee deals with rules and see if change can happen there.

1st off I support HRC and will enthusiastically support Bernie if he is the nominee. I am haphazardly involved in my local dem party. I am an old fart but we don't have many young progressives showing up here. Not saying the old farts aren't progressive because some of us were pretty radical in our younger days but I watched our local tea bags organize grass roots and started getting on county boards lime the school board and planning board and they took over the local GOP party.
Some people will choose to work outside the party structure and I see their point because I think inside party politics don't always represent the people so I have no argument there. But, if you want to change the dem party, you have to show up there.

please don't hold your breath until Her Royal Highness adopts progressive policies...HRH v the Donald is a huge win for the Oligarchs...they win no matter who the president is...

Hillary can not move to the left because she is owned by big corporations. Bernie has pushed her as far as she can go and even that is not believable to most voters. We know she'll pivot right in the general, anad to the radical right if elected. Just like her husband and Obama.

So do we say not this time and vote Dr Jill Stein, Trump, or not vote? Because voting for the lesser of two evils has destroyed the nation and is destroying the planet.

The clock has run out on kicking Climate Change down the road. Hillary worked with Obama to get a non binding agreement with other nation on climate change.

to go up against the Republicans to win the 2016 General Election. Obama abandoned his 2007-2008 Progressive Campaign Promises after the November 2008 General Election. His New Democrat/Third Way agenda was not accepted in Nov 2010 by the Democratic voters.

Hillary abandoned her Centrists Promises, soon after her April 2015 Primary Announcement (its a Primary first). The Delegates, Superdelegates and Republicans are paying attention. IMO, Progressive voters are not now, going to go for Clinton in 2016, either.

1. Bernie is still and will continue to lead the movement - that's who he truly is.

2. Hillary may "embrace" Bernie's positions during the primaries, but if elected she will govern according to those secret talks she gave to the wall street crowd. Her friends in big pharma, private prisons, bankers, hedge fund and super pac types will not see their money go to waste. That's who she truly is.

He's been slowly and steadily singing Hillary's praises more and more with each new day. His daytime show is starting to sound like Stephanie Miller's. I only watch his night show now.

HRC's path is certain, like night follows day..

fought for." ~ Referenced by Bernie Sanders. And Bernie is the Fighter we desperately need now, as President not only the leader of a movement. If Bernie wanted to start a movement he could have done that, without the tremendous, sincere effort he's put into a rocking successful campaign. The results of the New York primary are not an out, an end to his presidential campaign, at least for supporters, and it's premature to say so. Anything can happen.
Even with vote registration abnormalities, widespread new voting restrictions and suppression, election tampering and the DNC's and Mainstream Media's lack of support and disparaging, Bernie has managed to reach many hearts and minds, mobilize millions and win large primary support with his resonating message as you are aware.

Unlike any candidate I've ever seen, and that's many, and as others agree, Bernie has clearly laid out practical policies, concrete steps and alternatives to improve the nation now in distress. He's also informed, inspired and provided hope for the lives of millions of Americans who are in serious need now and demand real movement for change. The vulnerable and those age 45 and younger will face an unprecedented life road that is likely unrelenting and filled with challenges until systems and solutions are developed to handle major changes taking place particularly computer automation and record unemployment.
~ If there must be trouble, let it be in my day, that my child may have peace. ~ Thomas Paine.

Waiting on 4-8 more years of status quo moderation and incremental effort absent genuine fight against obstruction- what Hillary will deliver along with lack of spirit and innovation is not what is needed now. Many serious issues including the dismantling of our democratic institutions are now converging on the US; further unabated deterioration and decline this country cannot afford. We must also push immediate, aggressive measures to handle the TPP and Climate Change crises. The backlog is truly daunting.
In terms of electability, Hillary has the highest unfavorable ratings EVER since 2001, according to the newest NBC News/WSJ poll. In contrast, Bernie beats Trump and every GOP contender in all polls for months. Bernie can defeat Trump from the wide appeal and support he holds among Democrats, Independents and some Republicans based on his powerful message, feasible plans, call for progressive populist change and to "Think Big."

'Another Bernie will come along' is hard to hear for obvious stated reasons. Qualified advocates and public figures who can campaign for many of the same issues exist, but where are they? I see few on the scene now or in the near future, and none have come forward, at least of Bernie's caliber and determination to run for the presidential office. Would they bring the fortitude, background, strength and special attributes Bernie possesses? Above all Bernie's steadfast progressive record, courage and integrity. The only other progressive who comes to mind that is well known, valued, very respected and less controversial maybe, but not as persuasive and not running is Sherrod Brown. ~ Respectfully ask that you not comment on Bernie's known religion. Four mentions in two months from the left leaves issues. >As six-year followers we're grateful we found you, and Bernie through Brunch. Your amassed knowledge, unique perspectives and gift of effective communicating are appreciated and an education. Keep up the great work, the campaign battles will be surmounted to make a stronger country! All the best to you and yours.