2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumWhy Bernie is our best, and perhaps only, chance.
Bernie is in this race to the convention. This is clear. Win, lose or draw, Bernie and his supporters will be a major force on the convention floor. His inclusivity, his progressive (i.e. mainstream) values, his outstanding integrity and most importantly his unprecedented, record breaking volunteer support (to this point in the cycle) have taken him from a national unknown to the status of possible nominee and a symbol of historic change as more and more Americans reject Reaganism and neoliberalism. But platform power is simply not enough. We need dramatic national and global action. Despite Corporate Media propaganda to the contrary, Bernie can and should be the Democratic nominee.
In response to Reagans landslide in 1984, the Democratic Party embraced and has clung to neoliberalism even as popular discontent has increased and respect for American institutions has declined in the Age of Reagan. Now is the chance for the Party for reject neoliberalism (represented by the Hillary candidacy) and accept the progressive values upon which the Party was re-defined by FDR, thus ending the Age of Reagan. Inclusiveness, or at least lip service for it, is how neoliberal candidates sometimes cover their left flank. For example, it is no longer controversial for a neoliberal candidate to support gay marriage. But the unequivocal, consistent advocacy for inclusiveness (and an expanding definition thereof) has been a hallmark of progressive Democrats since LBJ. Having said that, the need for economic and social justice are clearly progressive values, but for neoliberals, not so much, imo.
So now the choice is clear, will the party look to Millenials of all strata as the future, rejecting its recent dark past of neoliberalism and returning to the principles of progressivism, or doom itself to irrelevance? The dilemma poses a significant risk in 2016. Hillary is clearly less likely to win the GE than Bernie, based on consistent polling trends. I believe she can beat Trump, but I have serious doubts whether she can beat Cruz, Kasich or Ryan, based on polling data.
Before Bernie declared I had assumed for several years that at least world civilization, and possibly the human species, are doomed. This belief was grounded in how scientists are interpreting the ever worsening data on climate change, sixth extinction, etc. Bernie gave me hope because I believe our collective chance of survival would be enhanced by American leadership on the ecology and reversing wealth transfer to economic elites. Our choice as a party has global implications which are hard to overstate. The time for incrementalism is long past. Our best chance for the Party and the planet is a fight for justice and for Bernie.
Tarc
(10,476 posts)Admiral Loinpresser
(3,859 posts)Tarc
(10,476 posts)Admiral Loinpresser
(3,859 posts)But your snark is noted. Welcome to "ignore." Over and out.
Tarc
(10,476 posts)Pretending the world will just go away,
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)And he's gonna "gain" a whole lot more next Tuesday.
grossproffit
(5,591 posts)global1
(25,251 posts)manipulated it into the direction it wanted it to go. Otherwise Bernie would be the presumptive nominee by now.
Tarc
(10,476 posts)all american girl
(1,788 posts)back in time to make sure all the rules benefited her. That Doctor, he's so helpful.
Joob
(1,065 posts)They are just in it for the money. Profit>People. And the profit doesn't go towards the people.
Just the corporations. Corporations that profit from oil, disease and war.
It's holding us back. People need to step back and ask themselves why Hillary is getting massive donations from corporations. People need to step back and ask themselves, why was Hillary fracking around the world? People need to step back and see, The main problem we have with Hillary. Are those issues.
ViseGrip
(3,133 posts)no one like Bernie will get near office again, without being bought out, or using your own money. Gads, look what they 're doing to Alan Grayson in Fla, just because he is not owned. This is exposing all the crookery, and the revolution should grow, not deflate,
Since when are we desensitized to election theft?
brooklynite
(94,591 posts)ieoeja
(9,748 posts)Bernie's delegates at the Colorado state convention voted out the three DNC sitting delegates, all of whom back Hillary. So in 2020 the Colorado DNC delegates will be far more progressive.
If that happens enough around this country, the revolution will have won, and the DNC establishment will be backing more liberal candidates.
Restoring the Party is more important than winning a Presidential term.
liberal from boston
(856 posts)Kudos ViseGrip-- Love your post!!!
FSogol
(45,488 posts)Save us Bernie, even though we are not worthy of your divine blessings!
Save your humble followers! We beseech you!
* ?
Admiral Loinpresser
(3,859 posts)FSogol
(45,488 posts)Stuckinthebush
(10,845 posts)You mush have been slacking.
FSogol
(45,488 posts)DOOMED!
liberal from boston
(856 posts)As a Catholic & I am sure other Catholics were offended by their disrespect but not surprised at all --Hillary supporters lost their collective minds when The Vatican invited Bernie to speak at the Vatican Economic Conference.
FSogol
(45,488 posts)announcement. The image (actually created by a DUer) was intended to rip some Sanders supporters for treating their preferred candidate as a messiah, a practice that some continue today.
riderinthestorm
(23,272 posts)We'll have a clear conscience.
Madame President will go down as the worst president ever for her "incrementalism" and her support of the status quo for the worst polluting industries like fracking. Constant war will also play its part.
Climate change is upon us. There's no more time.
Admiral Loinpresser
(3,859 posts)Otherwise, Hillary would be holding an olive branch and The Corporate Media would not be hysterical. Apparently Bernie is very much a threat to win the nomination.
Of course, it is possible TCM could win Hillary the nomination, just as they sold us the war in Iraq. But I think near-zero credibility of TCM means we are very much in this thing. California is two and a half months away. Anything can happen at this point. We just have to ignore TCM and keep working.
Orsino
(37,428 posts)Sanders found enough hunger among us for progressive change to warrant mounting a primary challenge to the party's coronation. That movement will last for as long as inequality keeps accelerating. If Sanders isn't the nominee, the nominee will still be lobbied by delegates and the rank-and-file.
Sanders is a leader, but he is a symptom rather than a cause.
Admiral Loinpresser
(3,859 posts)But I take your point. Regardless of whether Bernie is elected president, the real battle will have only begun. But if Bernie wins, that will change history. If not, we need a national strike, imo. Probably not enough dissatisfaction for that yet, but time is on our side in that regard.
But ecologically, the clock is ticking.
Orsino
(37,428 posts)Every 4-8 years we fail to address our most urgent crises, the more is left to do once we engage.
redstateblues
(10,565 posts)Will Bernie do anything after he doesn't win the nomination. We'll see.
Orsino
(37,428 posts)The relevant question is: will we still be fighting for progressive change?
PowerToThePeople
(9,610 posts)RIP USA.
Admiral Loinpresser
(3,859 posts)Bernie has a real shot to win it all. I believe if you had asked him on April 30, 2015 whether he would take the current position: ahead in the polls, ahead in money and a massive organization and around 200 delegates behind, he would have said "Hell, yes!"
Response to Admiral Loinpresser (Reply #22)
Name removed Message auto-removed
Admiral Loinpresser
(3,859 posts)some even only including registered Dems.
Response to Admiral Loinpresser (Reply #26)
Name removed Message auto-removed
Admiral Loinpresser
(3,859 posts)Even with only registered Dems.
As to GE polls, I have yet to see a poll where he doesn't outperform Hillary.
redstateblues
(10,565 posts)his numbers would drop like a rock. Hillary has handled him with kid gloves- wisely so.
workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)Wow.
Do we need to be baptized in his name or is that optional?
Admiral Loinpresser
(3,859 posts)workinclasszero
(28,270 posts)Thanks (even though you cant see this)
WiffenPoof
(2,404 posts)Well written and completely in line with my own thoughts. Thanks