Bernie Sanders running for preznit?

[brekin]

Just a thought, since this is hot right now, a swift and well produced Kickstarter (or equivalent fundraising body) campaign by Sanders or some of their affiliates could probably save the college rapid fire and provide for some future rainy day funding for them while also ameliorating the fallout from the situation and elevating the grass roots nature of Bernies appeal.

It's a win, win. Anyone think of any reasons why not? Anyone able to get this idea to Sanders people?

It's a win, I'd agree on that much. But it would just be raising money to rehabilitate the image of Jane Sanders, really -- the college in question is a corpse with no assets but an accreditation which is about to be null and void. There is no faculty, no administration and no campus. So...save what?

Burlington, VT does not exactly need another college. Which, after all, is why the institution was dying when Jane Sanders inherited the mess.

Agreed, a win to save a seemingly cool small liberal arts college, but a loss anyway it flows for Sanders. It just reinforces the idea that progressive people's pie in the sky reforms can only happen if there are unlimited rescue me funds flowing in. Which makes them basically untenable because they are not reforms of the current system but expensive trials for a future non-existent system. Are we going to have to need Kickstarters for the rest of Bernie's policies to keep them operating when they bloat out of proportion?

The business crowd laughs at stuff like this and shakes their head at those "what if" wooly heads who think everything would be solved through education when most progressive administrators can't really manage their schools as businesses and only really can be successful with massive cash infusions from private donors and corporations. (Granted those private donors and corporations have benefitted from tons of free gimmees, tax breaks & shelters, inherited capital, bailouts etc. themselves, but in a sense, they are the ones doing the sneaky dirty work themselves, while those with their progressive hands out, are seen as just moochy derivatives who want the blood money fought for, more equally divided.) Hilary's and Trump's shady real estate deals, were at least, successes. Although, Trump's "college" also went belly up, no?

[Wombaticus Rex]

Actually, I was saying the "win" in question was PR for Sanders.

Burlington Vermont neither needs nor wants another liberal arts college, which is why the institution in question went bankrupt.

Are we going to have to need Kickstarters for the rest of Bernie's policies to keep them operating when they bloat out of proportion?

Reminds me of Etherium, which is shaping up to be kind of exactly that if it doesn't implode. Group partnership crypto-currency pool aimed at funding engineering projects and large-scale solutions. Or it will just be a clinical demonstration of the fundamental failures of democracy among the primates. Or, something far stranger than any of this.

You make an important point that most businesses, period, are not profitable and are fundamentally underwritten by either subsidies or externalized costs. Few arguments against socialism don't apply to capitalism as they are actually practiced. Just as the DNC and GOP platforms converge over time, so too do we find the two most powerful nations on Earth in 2016 running governments with ostensibly opposed ideologies who govern via military force, eminent domain and surveillance capitalism.

[Laodicean]

[coffin_dodger]

Get Control, Senator Sanders, or Get Out newsweek.com Kurt Eichenwald 18 May 2016

Violence. Death threats. Vile, misogynistic names screamed at women. Rage. Hatred. Menacing, anonymous phone calls to homes and offices. Public officials whisked offstage by security agents frightened of the growing mob. None of this has any place in a political campaign. And the candidate who has been tolerating this obscene behavior among his supporters is showing himself to be unfit for office.

So, Senator Sanders, either get control of what is becoming your increasingly unhinged cult or get out of the race. Whatever respect sane liberals had for you is rapidly dwindling, and the damage being inflicted on your reputation may be unfixable. If you can’t even manage the vicious thugs who act in your name, you can’t be trusted to run a convenience store, much less the country.

When Bernie Sanders launched his presidential campaign, he seemed to be the kind of candidate who would inspire voters from the liberal blocs of the Democratic Party, push the party leftward and influence the future direction of politics—either as the nominee or as a force for change. But Sanders has increasingly signaled that he is in this race for Sanders, and day after day shows himself to be a whining crybaby with little interest in a broader movement. His vicious—and often ridiculous—attacks on the party whenever he doesn’t win a contest have inspired a level of ignorant fanaticism among a large swath of his supporters that is becoming more akin to what might be seen at an out-of-control rally for Donald Trump. Signs are emerging that the Sanders campaign is transmogrifying into the type of movement through which tyrants are born.

The ugly was on display at the recent state convention of the Nevada Democratic Party, where Hillary Clinton won more delegates than Sanders. Now, this should hardly have been a surprise to anyone except the Sandernistas, whose certainty in their righteousness has overwhelmed any commitment they may have ever had to democracy. Sanders lost the Nevada caucuses in February by more than 5 percent. A rational person who cared about the will of the people would presume that Clinton would emerge from the state with the most delegates. But Sanders supporters were outraged—outraged!—that the person with the largest number of votes ended up with the largest share of delegates.

From the moment Sanders lost the state, the campaign and its supporters have been playing a badly planned long game, hoping to overrule the voters. Sanders and his managers have already proclaimed plans they hope will gain him the democratic nomination by manipulating the rules in Philadelphia at the national convention in a way that will reverse the electoral outcome. These same rules are the ones he decried until the moment he figured out they might play to his advantage, and his supporters launched a dress rehearsal in Nevada.

cont (in an ever-increasingly hostile vein ) - http://www.newsweek.com/bernie-sanders- ... ace-461195

[82_28]

A lot of people don't know this term:

You can't win to lose.

My grandma used to say that. It just means all of the best intentions in the world will still gain you enemies. That hit piece there is something else. Did the author bother to ask what the "real" Sanders supporters stand for? I really truly believe that real Sanders supporters would not do any of what we have heard, hence that is why he is liked. Since I can only speak for myself, I would do what Sanders has already done and disown them. But the damage has been done. When did you stop beating your wife? Or however it goes.

http://www.fallacyfiles.org/loadques.html

No. Sanders should not get out. In some way or the other he was set up for this to happen. I don't think he is the great "white hope" as it were, but he has been vilified since day one starting here in Seattle. He has decades, a lifetime of integrity and honesty under his belt. The incongruity is glaring. Same thing sorta happened with Nader. Some liberal sites I used to read blamed us for dubya. When the real story was fraud and deception. Yet it blamed on us "turncoat" Nader people.

Just win CA, which I think he will "in theory" and peel off as an indie. The only reason I got all the Sanders calls is because I am a registered D. It gained his campaign access to the database of likely liberals and I've had the same number for almost 20 years. I did so to vote for Kucinich. This shit be getting blowed up! It is fucked and is only going to get worse.

[Wombaticus Rex]

I always thought it was "You can't win for losing," a failure's lament that they cannot even get credit for the creativity and totality of their defeat.

Sanders will not run as an Independent. I haven't talked to anyone from his staff that believes that could happen for a second. Sanders and his wife, as I've probably said here before, are of an age and from a crowd where "Nader" is a stinging epithet to this day.

That said, the longer he persists, the more he exposes and the more his base gets radicalized and I'm all for him continuing to spend more.

[bks]

I always thought it was "You can't win for losing," a failure's lament that they cannot even get credit for the creativity and totality of their defeat.

Sanders will not run as an Independent. I haven't talked to anyone from his staff that believes that could happen for a second. Sanders and his wife, as I've probably said here before, are of an age and from a crowd where "Nader" is a stinging epithet to this day.

That said, the longer he persists, the more he exposes and the more his base gets radicalized and I'm all for him continuing to spend more.

Basically this, exactly. At heart Bernie is what good ol' Chuck Schumer called a "constructive" person, by which I mean he's not into throwing away a lifetime of effort at appearing respectable and accommodating the demands of the powerful he walks among. Privately, allegedly, he already made firm assurances to his Senatorial brethren that he'll fall squarely in line. He's not the hero you're hoping for.

But here's the rub, again: HE DOESN'T COMMAND THE OBEDIENCE OF HIS CORE FOLLOWERS. That's because one of his staunch supporters are supporting him. They're supporting the ideals he espouses. If he holds Clinton's arm up at the convention, all they'll smell is the odor. They'll bolt for Jill Stein or sit it out or, if they're feeling overly betrayed, vote Trump. In any instance, it spells major trouble for HRC. Which is very, very good. I fully support his running all the way through, amassing as many delegates as he can, and being as big a pain in her ass as he can (before he chooses to lay down like a dog).

[82_28]

I always thought it was "You can't win for losing," a failure's lament that they cannot even get credit for the creativity and totality of their defeat.

Sanders will not run as an Independent. I haven't talked to anyone from his staff that believes that could happen for a second. Sanders and his wife, as I've probably said here before, are of an age and from a crowd where "Nader" is a stinging epithet to this day.

That said, the longer he persists, the more he exposes and the more his base gets radicalized and I'm all for him continuing to spend more.

Yes. Can't win for losing is the more correct version. I just liked my grandma's version better I guess because I picked up on it and I have said it all my life.

[NeonLX]

I was listening to liberal talk radio for a few minutes today. The whitewashing of $hillary was so blatant that I could only take about 15 minutes of it. I guess I've been taken in my Bernie's "good intentions"...but knowing very likely that he will "lay down like a dog" as bks suggests.

I guess then for the general election, it is time to vote for a TRUE independent, namely Jill Stein.

[bks]

The peacemaking begins. Like the selection of West and Parker. But who the fuck cares about the platform. She'll just ignore it.

Peace deal to increase Sanders say over Dem platform

by Thomas Fitzgerald, Political Writer @tomfitzgerald

Sen. Bernie Sanders stands to have an expansive say over the Democratic Party platform this year, even though he is expected to lose the nominating contest to Hillary Clinton, thanks to an agreement to increase his representation on the drafting committee reached amid rising tensions between the campaigns.

Clinton picked six members and Sanders, of Vermont, picked five – which roughly corresponds to the popular votes each has received in primaries and caucuses. Democratic National Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz named four.

The 15-member drafting committee will decide the platform presented to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia in July. Under party rules, Wasserman Schultz – who personally supports Clinton - has the power to appoint all of the members of the committee....

His picks: Arab-American Institute President James Zogby; noted professor Cornel West; Minnesota Rep. Keith Ellison; Deborah Parker, an activist on Native American rights; and Bill McKibben, an activist on environmental issues.

Clinton's picks: Center for American Progress president Neera Tanden; former State Department official Wendy Sherman; Rep. Luis Gutierrez of Illinois; former White House climate change adviser Carol Browner; State Rep. Alicia Reece of Ohio; and Paul Booth of the AFSCME public-employee union.


http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/big_ ... tform.html

[brekin]

What happens when Bernie is Hilary's VP nominee?

[Wombaticus Rex]

Bill McKibben is, it is worth noting, definitely the Rockefeller Family's pick, too. He's been running point on their fabulously successful (and profitable!) divestment campaigns for many years now, and doing great work. He's their Prophet of Green.

Washington Times is, of course, drivel, but they're one of the few outlets with the motiviation to publish it not named Breitbart, too. Their site is just as loaded with pop-up ad crap, though, don't click:
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/201 ... ssil-fuel/

Rockefeller Brothers joined more than 800 global institutions and individuals in announcing Monday their intent to divest a combined $50 billion in fossil-fuel investments over the next five years as a precursor to this week’s U.N. Climate Summit, the Divest-Invest coalition said.

The Rockefeller fortune is based on John D. Rockefeller’s founding of Standard Oil. Even so, Mr. McKibben acknowledged three years ago in an interview with Climate Challenge that 350.org had received funding since its inception from the foundation.

In the video interview unearthed by OSFC, Mr. McKibben appears reluctant to disclose the name of his funders, but then admits under questioning that the foundation “gave us some money right when we were starting out.”

“Rockefeller’s is one of our … is a great ally in this fight,” Mr. McKibben says.

The classic question: "What if we built a better world for nothing?" I'm fine with divestment, even more okay with transitioning to renewables, but the "Fight the Power" rhetoric just chafes me so hard when I know The House Always Wins. PR is still just bullshit, no matter how great the cause.

[JackRiddler]

What happens when Bernie is Hilary's VP nominee?

What happens when she picks Romney? Asking because that's a likelier scenario.

CYA NOTE: I suppose it's possible if certain extremely unlikely conditions are met: Sanders comes back to win on pledged delegates, the supers give it to Clinton anyway, upheaval ensues, and Obama and Biden step in to broker a salvation deal. Which they won't do, and neither Clinton nor Sanders will accept. It's bad enough he's going to keep his promise of an endorsement, do you really see him making a historical mockery of himself by joining the ticket and then participating in the destruction of all that he stands for? I suppose another scenario is an indictment, but that's not happening either. Even then, bottom line, Clintons are no different than Bushes. They will stay 100% within their own circle of made men.

All of which admittedly is just blah-blah speculation, stated with confidence, like the rest of what we're writing here.

It will be Tim Kaine, by the way:
http://www.nationalreview.com/article/4 ... -tim-kaine

That his photo looks as if he hits the sauce hard is just about the best that can be said for him. Also, he paid dues as an immigration lawyer before starting the usual modern politician's career as a hardcore neoliberal.

[bks]

Apparently Zogby is a BDS proponent, so that's a mark in his favor:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/james-zog ... 75794.html

It's bad enough he's going to keep his promise of an endorsement, do you really see him making a historical mockery of himself by joining the ticket and then participating in the destruction of all that he stands for?

It is bad he's going to support her. He won't be on the ticket, thankfully.

The dumbest thing about the strategy he's taken is his belief he can effectuate real reform inside the Democratic Party. WTF?? You just raised a couple hundred million dollars 20 bucks at a time from real flesh and blood human beings, making yourself the 2nd or 3rd most powerful liberal/Democrat in the country in the process. HOW DO YOU NOT TAKE THAT MONEY MACHINE AND BOLT FOR A FRESH START? Announce a 3rd party run, implore your supporters to support down-ticket Democrats against Republicans, risk a President Trump with a Democratic Senate majority and a much more balanced House, ensuring nothing really bad (or nothing worse than a war-mongering Clinton presidency) happens, and then in 4 years you have hundreds and hundreds of millions of dollars to run a presidential campaign and contest dozens of federal congressional districts and state house/senate races across the country! How can he not want that, after the impression he's made?

[RocketMan]

Surpriiiiiiiise. She reneged on a promise.

http://usuncut.com/politics/hillary-dec ... ia-debate/

Hillary Clinton Refuses to Debate Bernie Sanders in California