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Stand and Fight

(7,480 posts)
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:29 PM Mar 2016

If You Haven't Read Rolling Stone's Endorsement of Hillary -- PLEASE DO!

It's rare that I come across a piece of writing that is as genuine, mature, and honest as their endorsement. Honestly, although I'm a long time Clinton supporter, I had a hard time deciding who I would caucus for here in Nevada. I've been a fan of Senator Sanders for a long time as well, and I've watched his speeches in the Senate and House with great joy on CSPAN over the years. Ultimately, I decided to side with Clinton this year -- just like in 2008 -- and this article articulates my reasons very well for the most part.

I will admit, the endorsement largely leaves out one of the biggest reasons I couldn't go with Sanders and that's the nastiness of his supporters. There's Clinton supporters who can be that way as well on a far smaller scale, but as last night proved, it is NOT encouraged by the candidate. Whereas Sanders doesn't discourage his supporters from booing his rival, Hillary Clinton rarely ever has to discourage such behavior because we rarely engage in it. Just on my Twitter feed, Facebook interactions, and on other discussion forums or blogs like Daily Kos, I have often seen just how bullying, prone to group-think, condescending, sexist, bigoted, and racist some of Sanders supporters can be...

I think it comes down to a candidacy that is based on something I object to greatly -- anger. If one is only fueled by anger, the result is the likes of SOME Sanders and Trump supporters... I digress. Read the endorsement from Rolling Stone and enjoy. It speaks to my heart and mind. Here's some brief excerpts:



Hillary Clinton is one of the most qualified candidates for the presidency in modern times, as was Al Gore. We cannot forget what happened when Gore lost and George W. Bush was elected and became arguably one of the worst presidents in American history. The votes cast for the fantasy of Ralph Nader were enough to cost Gore the presidency. Imagine what a similar calculation would do to this country if a "protest vote" were to put the presidency, Congress and the Supreme Court all in the hands of the extreme right wing that now controls the Republican Party.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The debates between Clinton and Sanders have been inspirational; to see such intelligence, dignity and substance is a tribute to both of them. The contrast to the banality and stupidity of the GOP candidates has been stunning. It's as if there are two separate universes, one where the Earth is flat and one where it is round; one where we are a country that is weak, flailing and failing; the other, an America that is still a land of hopes and dreams.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You get a sense of "authenticity" when you hear Sanders talking truth to power, but there is another kind of authenticity, which may not feel as good but is vitally important, when Clinton speaks honestly about what change really requires, about incremental progress, about building on what Obama has achieved in the arenas of health care, clean energy, the economy, the expansion of civil rights. There is an inauthenticity in appeals to anger rather than to reason, for simplified solutions rather than ones that stand a chance of working. This is true about Donald Trump, and lamentably also true about Sanders.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I consider what's in their hearts, I think both Clinton and Sanders come out on the side of the angels; but when I compare their achievements in the past decades, the choice is clear. This is not the time in history for a "protest vote."



I know this may have already been posted, but here's the link again:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/hillary-clinton-for-president-20160323

Thanks for reading.
41 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
If You Haven't Read Rolling Stone's Endorsement of Hillary -- PLEASE DO! (Original Post) Stand and Fight Mar 2016 OP
Thanks S&F excellent anaysis still_one Mar 2016 #1
I agree: Sanders is fine: his supporters are sometimes bullies: Go Hillary lewebley3 Mar 2016 #6
On Twitter they are just as bad as they are here. Stand and Fight Mar 2016 #9
I have a suspicion that not all the twitter is not from the Sanders supporters; but lewebley3 Mar 2016 #13
I can agree to that. For example... Stand and Fight Mar 2016 #15
Rolling stone read was great one. Well thought out issues I certainly agree with FloridaBlues Mar 2016 #36
Happy to have done so. Thank you for taking the time to read it. n/t Stand and Fight Mar 2016 #37
beautifully stated. MariaThinks Mar 2016 #2
K&R! stonecutter357 Mar 2016 #3
Enormous K & R. Thanks for posting. Surya Gayatri Mar 2016 #4
"contempt for compromise." otohara Mar 2016 #5
Some of them have a willingness to compromise, but I believe they're a minority. Stand and Fight Mar 2016 #11
K&R mcar Mar 2016 #7
Yes I reccomend too Her Sister Mar 2016 #8
Stand and Fight! Her Sister Mar 2016 #10
Thank you, Her Sister... Stand and Fight Mar 2016 #12
KNR Lucinda Mar 2016 #14
Thanks! It's trending on Twitter too. :) n/t Stand and Fight Mar 2016 #16
Just finished the linked article in this piece. It was also excellent. Lucinda Mar 2016 #20
I haven't... Stand and Fight Mar 2016 #38
I am assuming that Matt Taibbi's head has exploded! Walk away Mar 2016 #17
I like him a great deal. Stand and Fight Mar 2016 #19
I checked. He has said the endorsement is be the editorial board not him. Walk away Mar 2016 #27
!!! Tarheel_Dem Mar 2016 #22
Excellent excerpts. Will read the article! SunSeeker Mar 2016 #18
There is another article linked in this one that is also well worth the read! Lucinda Mar 2016 #21
I made that other article into a thread Her Sister Mar 2016 #24
I'm glad you did! It's an excellent overview of how we got to where Lucinda Mar 2016 #26
Here's the thread. Her Sister Mar 2016 #29
Thanks for the tip. I loved this excerpt from that article: SunSeeker Mar 2016 #33
Love, love, LOVE this passage from the article: SunSeeker Mar 2016 #23
That is my favorite bit. Stand and Fight Mar 2016 #39
I found this bit very interesting, and it sort of encapsulates why I still can't "Feel the Bern". Tarheel_Dem Mar 2016 #25
And don't forget the lookie loos who will be staring in congresscritters' windows Iliyah Mar 2016 #32
Under the bus with Rolling Stone...I wonder WhiteTara Mar 2016 #28
Yup DryHump Mar 2016 #30
Good article. Koinos Mar 2016 #31
Great article UtahLib Mar 2016 #34
Great write-up. Nice big fat "atta girl". Makes me proud. nt lamp_shade Mar 2016 #35
Excellent and so true SharonClark Mar 2016 #40
excellent endorsement SanDiegoDem Mar 2016 #41
 

lewebley3

(3,412 posts)
6. I agree: Sanders is fine: his supporters are sometimes bullies: Go Hillary
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 01:53 PM
Mar 2016

Last edited Wed Mar 23, 2016, 04:09 PM - Edit history (1)

Stand and Fight

(7,480 posts)
9. On Twitter they are just as bad as they are here.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:05 PM
Mar 2016

I tweeted as much last night and got a high amount of positive feedback from fellow Hillary supporters. It's a systematic problem that many people are seeing. Whenever I talk about why I'm not with Sanders it's because of issues. Not lame attempts at character assassination. It seems to be all that they have, and it's a sure fire sign that one's candidate of choice may be weak on policy when that's their chief retort.

 

lewebley3

(3,412 posts)
13. I have a suspicion that not all the twitter is not from the Sanders supporters; but
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:09 PM
Mar 2016


maybe dark money is funding the attacks on Hillary using the
Sanders name.

Don't forget GOP is the party of tricky

Stand and Fight

(7,480 posts)
15. I can agree to that. For example...
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:20 PM
Mar 2016

I like Hillary Clinton, but some of the Sanders "supporters" on Twitter have him as their profile pic, him as their background image, and he is ALL THEY TWEET about. If you go through my Twitter feed, I tweet on foreign policy, current events, web design and development, finance... Otherwise, I have variety. One of them last night said I was likely a paid Hillary "shill" -- they're favorite term -- and I retorted with, "Unlike you, I use my real name, location, and picture. You can Google me and see I'm a real person. You? Not so much." Little piss ant shut up after that.

Stand and Fight

(7,480 posts)
11. Some of them have a willingness to compromise, but I believe they're a minority.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:06 PM
Mar 2016

Unfortunately, those who aren't willing to compromise are the most vocal.

Stand and Fight

(7,480 posts)
12. Thank you, Her Sister...
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:09 PM
Mar 2016

I simply don't understand where they get all of their anger from... I'm enrolled in school right now, have a somewhat large family to support, am solidly middle class, and I don't feel anywhere near that amount of anger. Perhaps if McCain had been elected in 2008 or Romney in 2012, but... I just don't feel that much anger and I'm very happy with things under President Obama.

Stand and Fight

(7,480 posts)
19. I like him a great deal.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:28 PM
Mar 2016

I hope that perhaps he played some part in at least contributing to this... I see him as being more of a Sanders supporter, but I won't throw him under the bus despite my comments yesterday saying, "F*** him." lol

Walk away

(9,494 posts)
27. I checked. He has said the endorsement is be the editorial board not him.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:54 PM
Mar 2016

So his head is quietly exploding shhhhhh

 

Her Sister

(6,444 posts)
24. I made that other article into a thread
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:45 PM
Mar 2016
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/why-the-2016-election-will-be-one-of-the-most-pivotal-moments-of-our-time-20151203?page=14
Why the 2016 Election Will Be One of the Most Pivotal Moments of Our Time
Every four years the political parties describe the impending presidential election as a historic event – and every once in a while it's true

BY SEAN WILENTZ December 3, 2015




pretty long and extensive.

SunSeeker

(51,550 posts)
33. Thanks for the tip. I loved this excerpt from that article:
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 03:19 PM
Mar 2016
...Tanden, who has also worked in the Obama White House on crafting the Affordable Care Act, finds it a "great irony" that Clinton is now considered suspect by parts of the progressive left. "As someone who worked for her in the Nineties, I can tell you that everyone on Bill Clinton's White House staff, and everyone on the outside, thought of Hillary as the liberal champion," Tanden says. "Liberal activists went to her to lobby. And the president's more centrist staff was scared of her." Tanden pauses for a moment, then continues, "I have to say, I think some of this is weirdly sexist. We assume she has the same views as Bill Clinton when it hurts her, and we assume she has different views when that hurts her."

http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/hillary-clinton-vs-bernie-sanders-the-good-fight-20160309?page=7


SunSeeker

(51,550 posts)
23. Love, love, LOVE this passage from the article:
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:41 PM
Mar 2016
Hillary Clinton has an impressive command of policy, the details, trade-offs and how it gets done. It's easy to blame billionaires for everything, but quite another to know what to do about it. During his 25 years in Congress, Sanders has stuck to uncompromising ideals, but his outsider stance has not attracted supporters among the Democrats. Paul Krugman writes that the Sanders movement has a "contempt for compromise."

Every time Sanders is challenged on how he plans to get his agenda through Congress and past the special interests, he responds that the "political revolution" that sweeps him into office will somehow be the magical instrument of the monumental changes he describes. This is a vague, deeply disingenuous idea that ignores the reality of modern America. With the narrow power base and limited political alliances that Sanders had built in his years as the democratic socialist senator from Vermont, how does he possibly have a chance of fighting such entrenched power?

I have been to the revolution before. It ain't happening.




Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/hillary-clinton-for-president-20160323#ixzz43kjTRoii 
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook

Stand and Fight

(7,480 posts)
39. That is my favorite bit.
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 03:53 PM
Mar 2016

I was listening to the score from "Crimson Tide", and it fit the tone of that article very well. I didn't want to give away the juicy bit, but that was MY FAVORITE part as well.

Tarheel_Dem

(31,232 posts)
25. I found this bit very interesting, and it sort of encapsulates why I still can't "Feel the Bern".
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 02:48 PM
Mar 2016
Hillary Clinton has an impressive command of policy, the details, trade-offs and how it gets done. It's easy to blame billionaires for everything, but quite another to know what to do about it. During his 25 years in Congress, Sanders has stuck to uncompromising ideals, but his outsider stance has not attracted supporters among the Democrats. Paul Krugman writes that the Sanders movement has a "contempt for compromise."

Every time Sanders is challenged on how he plans to get his agenda through Congress and past the special interests, he responds that the "political revolution" that sweeps him into office will somehow be the magical instrument of the monumental changes he describes. This is a vague, deeply disingenuous idea that ignores the reality of modern America. With the narrow power base and limited political alliances that Sanders had built in his years as the democratic socialist senator from Vermont, how does he possibly have a chance of fighting such entrenched power?


Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/hillary-clinton-for-president-20160323#ixzz43kkHbMPr
Follow us: @rollingstone on Twitter | RollingStone on Facebook

Iliyah

(25,111 posts)
32. And don't forget the lookie loos who will be staring in congresscritters' windows
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 03:12 PM
Mar 2016
I'll say about 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,001

DryHump

(199 posts)
30. Yup
Wed Mar 23, 2016, 03:03 PM
Mar 2016

This Rolling Stone editorial articulates every hesitation I have about Bernie. Bless his heart, but it ain't his time.

SanDiegoDem

(13 posts)
41. excellent endorsement
Thu Mar 24, 2016, 09:01 PM
Mar 2016

really well thought out, well written endorsement. Thank you to Rolling Stone. Werner comes out with an act of love for his country. Well done! Mature, insightful, well-reasoned. Really glad I read it. Thanks for the posting the link

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