so am I. I have always been a socialist.

It's a nice feeling, isn't comrade.

there are a few who claim to be capitalists who will vote for Bernie.

"...a remarkable 43 percent of likely Democratic caucus participants describe themselves as socialists, including 58 percent of Sanders’s supporters and about a third of Clinton’s."


https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/can-clinton-find-the-spark-to-fend-off-the-challenge-from-sanders/2016/01/16/a6b4d98a-bc6f-11e5-829c-26ffb874a18d_story.html

it definitely was underrated.

They wear the mantle of first-in-the-nation with integrity. I am not surprised.

People underestimate Iowans but they were ahead of the curve in 2008 before any other state.

and welcome to DU.

I volunteered for Obama in Des Moines from 2007-2008 and in doing so, I gained a healthy respect for the caucus process -- it's the closest thing to the Athenian concept of pure democracy we have in the U.S. when done correctly -- and "Iowa Nice" Iowans.

I'd ask you more but do not want to put you on the spot. Thanks again for the welcome!

referred to as a 'PM' around here (PMed you)

click on the yellow banner when it comes up or click on 'my inbox' in the upper right corner.
will be busy for a few hours but will check back before end of day

I was hoping we could "talk" but wanted to respect your privacy. I will PM you back later, too.

and work to do a good job. I trust them to know that Bernie is a good choice.

Ergo, the result in 2008.

They deserve to be proud of their role. I have huge respect for them, and look forward to seeing what happens in this caucus in particular.

I did telephone-campaigning for Kerry in 2003/2004, and found Iowa voters by far the most knowledgeable and most serious voters I encountered in the entire campaign.
They really took their caucus responsibilities seriously.
I found myself thinking, "If all voters were like this, our country would be in better shape than it is."

Are you doing anything now for any candidate? I was crushed by what happened to Kerry in 2004 but have been very proud of him since, especially now as he is the absolute best Secretary of State in my lifetime. Honestly, he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize.

I was all in for Kerry and Obama, but I am not committed to anyone yet (except to voting for the Dem candidate in November). Also, unfortunately, I am forced by circumstances to focus on keeping my home fires burning right now.

But my Iowa phone-banking for Kerry was truly a wonderful experience. People were so open and earnest and knowledgeable. I know I swayed at least one undecided voter, too. She had been featured on NBC News as an undecided voter; from what had been revealed about her background, I knew just how to reach her. (Key themes of my pitch revolved around 4-H and Pella Windows ). So, after blissfully ignoring the phone-bank supervisor's rules about which phone lists to call that day, I hunted her down (at her office! on a Saturday!), and then, when she told me that she and NBC News were going to be at a tea with Teresa Heinz Kerry, I passed the info onto the Powers that Be. Then, on caucus night, she announced her choice for Kerry on NBC News!! When asked what swayed her, she said, " A phone call from Sen. Kerry". (Good! He/they did exactly what needed to be done!).But I think I get to take credit for starting the ball rolling in the first place. A proud moment - too bad I can't list it on my resume!

I worked in New Hampshire, too, but Iowa was the best.

time to board or get out of the way.

i was amazed at the somewhat evenhandedness of chuck toaster pastries. he is almost starting to act like a real analyst and not a campaign hack.

I was looking forward to Dickerson on FTN but his interview with Bernie was all attempted gotcha questions with a bizarre camera angle on the 2-shot that made Bernie look lilllputian.

and i was hopeful initially. mtp did the best job.

wait.....what's happening to me???

He was fairly evenhanded and that shocked me. Hillary, otoh was using dog whistles galore against Bernie, just like the rethugs he interviewed. Rubio was off the fricking wall. That guy is crazy.

many of us. he might turn out to be a voice of reason. wouldn't that be hilarious?

with an axe to grind.

I have a feeling about Rubio: what he wants, what he really, really wants? His finger on the button.

i wish i could disagree

but i can't

A narcissistic, shamelessly careerist, unprincipled, completely irresponsible (especially about the responsibilities of his elected offices), lying, spoiled brat lunatic. I continue to marvel how he can reel out a superficially-fluent flow of words, without actually saying anything.
And, yes, Chuck Todd was good yesterday to my surprise as well. Hopefully, he'll keep it up.

but it won't do them any good this cycle...even the repubs are bucking the establishment. keeping fingers crossed that todd turns into a real pundit with fairness and evenhandedness..

If true, Iowa Democrats are starting to get it.

I need a new Lamborghini.

By simply saying so what? and reminding people of what socialism really is, and how
socialism works for ALL of us through SS, Medicare, etc.

changing the narrative. Challenging the excuses. Repeating the information often so it sticks.

I think what happened here is that the question creates a "choice" leading most to choose one or the other.

The second thing is that it shows the combination of how the word "capitalism" has increased negatives, while socialism is - at least seen as more benign than capitalism.

Back in 2010, a British English teacher was telling us that she showed her students both the Obama hope poster and a 2010 Republican version that made Obama blacker and replaced "hope" with "socialism". The idea was to show the power of graphics and propaganda. It didn't quite work -- until she explained that in the US "socialism" was considered a bad thing!

It is interesting that this either shows that capitalist has become MORE toxic or socialism ( ie SS, Medicare etc) is becoming less demonized.

it seems to go in waves. We had heavy socialist voting back in the very early 1900s. The unions get strong and put up socialist candidates (or at least very liberal), they make progress w/hours etc., capital pushes back with ad campaigns & weakens the unions, conditions start deteriorating, workers start organizing again, rinse and repeat. It seems to go in cycles. The past 30+ years have been full of corporations/churches taking over in every possible way. People are starting to realize they are not the winners in that situation.

take over in every possible way.

Who gets in the way of their profits.

Chevron / Texaco Kills Thousands
http://www.amazonrainforestnews.com/2009/09/ecuador-vs-chevron-saga-of-death.html

Millions Starve From Goldman Sachs Crisis
http://foreignpolicy.com/2011/04/27/how-goldman-sachs-created-the-food-crisis/

The list goes on, and on, and on.

Murder for profit.

Anyone see why some might consider Capitalism anything less than perfect?

By they way, after killing thousands, or millions, no one went to prison.

That's how the world turns right?

Bernie, and Us can stop this madness. Once and for all. Before it is too late.

The result of Wall Street’s venture into grain and feed and livestock has been a shock to the global food production and delivery system. Not only does the world’s food supply have to contend with constricted supply and increased demand for real grain, but investment bankers have engineered an artificial upward pull on the price of grain futures. The result: Imaginary wheat dominates the price of real wheat, as speculators (traditionally one-fifth of the market) now outnumber bona-fide hedgers four-to-one.

Today, bankers and traders sit at the top of the food chain — the carnivores of the system, devouring everyone and everything below. Near the bottom toils the farmer. For him, the rising price of grain should have been a windfall, but speculation has also created spikes in everything the farmer must buy to grow his grain — from seed to fertilizer to diesel fuel. At the very bottom lies the consumer. The average American, who spends roughly 8 to 12 percent of her weekly paycheck on food, did not immediately feel the crunch of rising costs. But for the roughly 2-billion people across the world who spend more than 50 percent of their income on food, the effects have been staggering: 250 million people joined the ranks of the hungry in 2008,

//////////////////////////////////////////

this article explains why wall street is so dangerous to us all

But if we realize as a people that we can turn that around so that banking and Wall Street serve the common need instead of enriching just a few, then we could make this country and this world a pleasure for everyone to live in.

Yank the Fed's charter, repeal the Federal Reserve Act of 1913 and nationalize the central banking system. Ellen Brown has it right in 'Web of Debt.'

instead of enslaving us

people point to reagan as the turning point but it was actually 1913

capitalism, there can only be one decision.

That is why I'm supporting Bernie Sanders.

I'm sorry to inform you that Sanders, bless his soul, is as capitalist as the day is long.

I like him a lot but let's be honest: Most Americans don't have the slightest idea what socialism is or what it means.

but it needs to be neutered with socialism. Together they work. Alone they each have problems.

becomes totalitarian and in the end destroys itself.

country WANT a Democratic Socialist Govt. And nearly half of all Americns would vote for Dem Soc candidate.

The old cold warriors don't understand that their propaganda doesn't work in today's world where people can educate themselves on what the world Socialist means.

They are more concerned with making sure their cell phone gets charged. In fact a lot of them don't even know who Jimmy Carter or Richard Nixon are.

The republicans really want to run against Sanders.

A candidate like Bernie is uniquely qualified to expose the illegitimacy of the Republican Party. They in no way represent the will of the people, instead using wedge politics to win elections for their rich donors' interests. Since Hillary and other establishment Democrats are slightly better versions of the same process, the GOP lie is not exposed by most in our party, but Bernie can and will show how wrong they are.

But 50% of Americans overall have a negative opinion of Socialism.

Psst, I think it's gathering a LOT OF MOSS! And the numbers will grow larger for Socialism. We've only just begun to "talk about" Socialism in the las 7 to 8 months.

IT'S EARLY!

and now it just means society, like social medial, social security, social club. It used to be connected with Communism, but no one talks about that anymore. Those polls should ask folks what they think Socialism and Capitolism mean, and it's probably people vs banks and Wall Street.