The Ballad of Bernie

     

I walked into the voting place

To cast my ballot; where

I saw the arsenic and old lace

But Bernie wasn’t there.

An honest man was swindled by

A ceiling made of glass

The Democrats were riding high

A woman Prez at last.

I thought I'd vote for Dr. Stein

The Greens were my best bet

Although my conscience felt just fine

My heart was heavy yet.

Bernie Sanders ran a race

From him we all did learn

To live with honor, truth and grace

And always Feel the Bern...

What’s the Beef with Bernie: The Method to His Madness

           

Lately I have been reading about betrayal, defeat, and surrender of Bernie Sanders.   This has been emanating from angry disappointed people who a short month ago were Feelin’ the Bern in a large way.   Who is the culprit?  Hint:  They rigged the primaries and stole the nomination from Bernie.

Now some people are the trying to condemn the inspiration of the Political Revolution as though all was over for progressives.  Nothing could be further from the truth. 

For the record, I will not be voting for either nominated nasty nutcase.  My vote will be cast for whichever progressive is on the most state ballots.  Right now that looks like the Greens and Jill Stein and that is fine with me.

Those who think we have heard the last of Bernie Sanders are not Vermonters, the people who know him best.  Bernie never gives up.  He has defied attempts to underestimate him time and time again.  Bernie will return to the Senate, promoting progressive legislation and doing his best to hold Hillary to her tenuous promises.

Why then, did Bernie endorse the queen of corruption?  Why is he urging his supporters to vote for Hillary?  His stated reason is to block the horror of an orangutan in the oval office.   After all, who would clean up the mess?  That is a valid argument but I think there is more in play here.

Bernie is not really a Democrat.  He is the longest serving Independent legislator in American history.  However, he was always in the Presidential race to win.  Though we hate to admit it, third parties historically have a hard fight and are at somewhat of a disadvantage.  So, he ran as a Democratic Socialist.  As the candidate of a major party the presidency was realistically within his grasp. 

Bernie spoke to rank and file Democrats.  Perhaps this honest and straight forward man did not count on the extreme swindle of the DNC in their compulsion to anoint Hillary.

I say, glass ceiling be damned.  I am disgusted but not surprised by the dastardly DNC.

Did Obama boast about his African American heritage?  No, he has too much class to play the black card.  He accepted the nomination as a candidate, not a black candidate.  I respect him for that.  He must have followed the example of Jackie Robinson who broke the color barrier in baseball but excercised humility and never traded on his breakthrough.  He just played great ball and revealed himself in that way.

Bernie knew when he cast his lot with the devilish Democrats that should he lose the nomination he would be required to endorse and support the nominee no matter how distasteful it was to him personally.  He knew this going in and he deemed the risk worth it to legitimately engage in the presidential race.  As a man of honor, he lived up to his promise.  Also, he got some progressive concessions.  Who but Bernie will hold Clinton’s feet to the fire on these claims and promises.

Once the elections are over, he will Bern brighter than ever inspiring and leading the Political Revolution.  After all the aspersions and accolades he and ourselves experienced, who would believe Bernie would abandon the movement?  If you think so for a minute you have another thing coming.  As I said before and his opponents have learned:  underestimate Bernie Sanders at your own peril.

So, I implore Political Revolutionaries not to abandon Bernie as he would never do to us.  The Bern may be subdued for the moment.  It is temporary.  We should respect the man and the movement now more than ever.

Scum and Scummer

                                           

Do not deny it.  The majority of Americans even marginally interested in politics were rooting against a Trump and Clinton general election.  Some may be resigned to politics as usual, but this is far worse.  These two are likely the least deserving or capable of serving as President and Commander in Chief.

We could go into their many shortcomings and long winds as has been done to death.  Here is a different slant:  I am offended that such egotistical elitist punks feel entitled to the most powerful office in the world by self promotion and proclamation.  Who died and left them boss? 

So why, to the disgust of many did these two dangerous corporate cons get the go and who is responsible.  The causation lies with two archaic parties who need to become extinct as Tyrannosaurus Rex (no offence to this noble creature.)  While we are at it, we need to get rid of legislative whores who represent corporations for bribes rather than the people who elected them.  Is jail appropriate for bribe taking?

The Democrats need to reveal without deception their conservative cadence.

A third progressive party needs to be consolidated.  That is where Bernie’s Political Revolution, the Greens, and any truly liberal Democrats and Independents come in.  We will all feel the Bern again and sooner than we think.  Vermonters have learned never count Bernie Sanders out.  His message is in his genes.  He could not stop if he wanted to which he does not now or ever despite his apparent endorsement.  He wants to beat Trump, who can blame him for those sentiments?

The Republicans need to go away.  Their nomination of Trump and rush to his sleazy side is their swan song.  These operatives and religious nuts are paranoid to the point of psychosis, candidates for strait jackets.  Beginning with Reagan, these control freaks devolved into the Tea Party who hate everybody and any idea that emanates elsewhere.  

They crossed the line of dirty politics into plain old insanity.  There is nothing new in the political world.

It’s the Parties.  They do not care a hoot about the quality of their candidates.  The Democrats cheated and chaffed Bernie in order to keep a lame promise to Hillary made in 2008; she is less relevant now than then when an obscure Senator put her in her place.  Between her and Bernie, she is the lesser candidate.  The party’s choice over the popular and qualified Sanders could lead to a Trump White House.  Imagine that.  We may live to be sliced to bits by the falling glass ceiling.

The Republicans disdained and dismissed Trump while one by one being humiliated and dropping out.  When the grim truth was no longer avoidable, they flocked to their nemesis like moths to a light.  These guys will jump on any band wagon they think will carry them to victory.  Problem is the driver is a megalomaniac among other horrible traits too numerous and too well known to dwell on here.

Our conscience dictates that we vote for neither anointed one and cast one for Jill Stein or whichever progressive gets on the most state ballots.  Right now, the Greens are getting closer than anyone else.  Perhaps it is time to start the Political Revolution right now.  Why wait?  Corporate capitalist America has crushed the American people long enough.  The time for major structural change is now.  One certainty is that the conservative Democrats and nutcase Republicans will fight the bad fight to prevent that from happening.

We need to ignite the embers in order to delight in our progress.  The Bern still feels us.  Those who deny Bernie do so at their own peril.  I Feel the Bern.  Do you?

Alone With My Indecision

I feel stranded on a planet of indecision.

Hillary was dead to begin with.  She was dead on arrival to the convention.  I’ll give her this:  she delivered an inspiring speech with cutaways to the beaming Bill vicariously reliving his glory days.  Problem is there is a striking lack of veracity in her progressive pretending.  I give her a 10% or less chance for having been honest.  People laughed and applauded on cue, but it rang hollow.  Why do people cheer a cunning collusion with corporations.

Trump presided over a fear and loathing convention.  It will be a long and horrid road to “Make America Great Again.”  My suggestion:  get out of the race and take your billionaire corporate life sucking bunds with you.  This guy scares me and I am not ashamed to admit it.  He believes he is the only savior capable of saving our crippled nation. A racist fascist blowhard, he has plenty of Republican operatives lusting to bring about the foul winds of change Trump style.  He is selling us a dark vision, one assured to turn into a black hole.  The last person to gaze into Putin’s eyes and find a good and decent man was the great and wonderful George W. Bush.  What a fine example to follow.

Then there is Jill Stein, a fair and honest woman with values close to those of the Sanders Political Revolution.  I can envision the Greens and Political Revolutionaries banding together in a third party when this current malicious nonsense is over.  Problem is can she win?   It would be as joyful as it is unlikely.

I want more than everything to vote my conscience.  Those who fear Trump are not just whistling Dixie.  They are not fear mongers duped by desperate deceitful Democrats.  This demagogue is destined to push us in a very destructive direction which, with Supreme Court nominees, would carry cursed conservatism for generations.  Corporate establishment Hillary is little or no better at best.

I have not yet decided how to vote.  I will vote no matter what ensues.  That is my right and responsibility.  For now I refuse to pour cold water on the Bern.  He got this movement going, bigger than anyone expected.  I suspect we have not heard the end of Bernie.  There are down ticket progressive candidates to support and Bernie has not ruled out another run.  

We have to continue to Feel the Bern for the movement.  Bernie would point out that no one man is as important as the process of great structural change.  Whether we like it or not we have to be steadfast and patient.

My vote will depend on events yet to happen.  It is not an easy decision.

The Wicked Trump

It makes me sad, but I have to agree with much that has been said here in the Bernie for President 2016 community. I too feel the disappointment and perceived betrayal. But is it really a betrayal?
Unfortunately few Bernie supporters have broached the subject of the nature of a Trump presidency. He would appoint conservative Supreme Court justices and we would never overturn Citizens United, the source of corrupt funding and legal bribery of crooked greedy legislators.
Trump is a racist fascist demagogue and megalomaniac. Reagan was the opening act, a dress rehearsal for Trump. Like Reagan, he will use ruthless and experienced Republican operatives to carry out his dark and hideous agenda.

That said, I dislike and dread Hillary almost as much as Trump. Only a nut like Trump could even make me consider a vote for the lying, expedient, corporate agent Clinton. If Hillary wants my vote, she can start by attempting to be a better person; this time making good on her promises.

I like Jill and her policies. I am with the Political Revolution and so is Bernie. We will see whether he still feels the Bern. I will not blame or disdain him after all the Berning I have done. Bernie thinks the best option for the progressive movement is keeping the wicked Trump out of the White House. Is he right or veering right?
What do you suppose Trump would do to us Revolutionaries?

I am still undecided and looking for answers.
The one thing I know for certain is that we have started an important movement and we must do that which will best carry the cause.
The Bern may now be embers, but you can be sure it will flame up again. The revolution is not about elections, it is about a process. It is not about a man but a movement.
Let's lick our wounds and Feel the Bern again.

The Devil, the Liar and Me: Where Do We Go From Here: Part 2

This post script was a reply to a person whose conscience would not let her vote for either evil, Trump or Clinton.  She is supporting Jill Stein which shows solidarity with the Political Revolution. Corporate America must stop sucking the air out our lives and honor the needs of ordinary Americans.


I had the terrible experience of living through Reagan, a mild version of Trump who gathered political operatives to implement his dark vision. Trump will do the same and worse. It scares the hell out of me and I cannot relive that horror.

On the other hand, her words express my thoughts exactly. I have become fond of saying, "the lesser of two evils is still evil."  Trump and Hillary will both make us poorer and big capitalists richer. The misery index will soar either way. I want to vote for Jill Stein so that I am true to the Political Revolution rather than a choice of corporate agents. The time has come for a major structural shift, and those two would be leading us down a garden path with the wrong vector.

I live in Blue Vermont. If I were in a swing state, my decision would be drastically tougher. However the same principals apply.

A vote for Jill makes me feel good; the prospect of Trump scares bejeezus out of me.

I am leaning toward Jill but with fear and trepidation.

Who can argue with voting your conscience?

How could I possibly vote for either capitalist bund? 

Third parties will siphon votes from the evil edifice which must be torn down.

Chill with Jill.  Still...

Trump is a racist, a hateful demagogue, a megalomaniac; he is unstable, unpredictable, thin skinned and mean.  He is a dreadful dangerous demon.  If I vote for a third party and this guy wins I may live to regret my own integrity. 

Am I eating sour grapes?   Do I feel the embers of the Bern?  I believe that a vote for Hillary is repugnant.  We are facing a horrible dilemma.  Which is worse:  the repugnant or the demon.  Either way, nothing good can come from this.

Conscience or caution:  which will prevail?

Where Do We Go From Here?

What do we do now?

Bernie Sanders is a man of integrity and grace.  He is humble and respectful. Bernie accomplished a major coup; an American political heresy.  He awakened us to the dream of a fair and positive country and culture.  He sounded the urgent alarm on climate change.  He would have beaten Trump and become an outstanding President. His stature in the Senate will no doubt be much greater and he will be the inspiration and leader of the Political Revolution.  His place in history is assured.  And he is not done yet.

How disappointing that the two candidates who got nominated are so gross and disgusting.  Vladimir Putin is now the second most dangerous person in the world.

I used to think of Trump as somewhat funny:  an orangutan blowhard, buffoon carnival side show barker.  Then he nominated Mike Pence and the Republican Convention slithered onto TV.  Trump is the mongrel offspring of Hitler, Mussolini, and Beelzebub (and this from an atheist:  Corey Booker said that observing no religion was now permissible, thank you very much.)

A progressive platform is proffered by the Shill of Wall Street.  Even Bernie said this was the most progressive platform in Democratic history.  What about FDR and JFK? 

If she is running so progressively, why does she favor fracking, TPP, and Tim Kaine, a conservative.  

Even if the platform is progressive like Bernie says, who will hold her female feet to the fire if she is elected and basks with Bill in the unlimited power for which she has lusted so long.  Nobody will be able to hold her to her promises.  We all know how well she keeps promises.  They are kept only if it is expedient to her.  

So, what to do?  I have felt the Bern for 15 months now.  Never in my long life have I invested so much time, emotion, and devotion to a political cause.  I would hate to go against Bernie, but I am reluctant to vote for a person I consider to be immoral, in league with Wall Street and billionaire corporations, and so greedy for the Presidency to be willing to bend or break election rules.  A pants on fire Pinocchio In league with the DNC, she denied Bernie the election which he deserved to win and would have if the nominating process was fair and honest.  Bernie says the first step for the Political Revolution is defeating Trump.  Who could argue with that?

My heart says vote for Bernie anyway even if it is a write-in.  My brain says vote for Jill Stein.  The Green Party shares many of the same values as Bernie and the progressives.  They are on the ballot in most states.  My fear says hold my nose and vote for Hillary in order to stop the dreaded Trump.  What ever I do, my decision is faulty and unsatisfying.  Trump is really scary, he must never get to the Oval Office.

My anger and disappointment say do not vote at all.  That is not an option for me.

I repeat, what should we do?   I yearn for the Bern right now.