Sure. Whatever can be done to force the Democratic Party left should be done. It should have started with #ForceTheVote, sinking Pelosi's speakership if she didn't bring a vote for M4All to the floor, but the Squad and the other Justice Dems wouldn't exercise their enormous leverage when they had it. Let's face it. The Dem Party actively undermines progressive candidates at every opportunity. The Dem Party is the enemy, not an ally. It needs to be fought however and whenever possible. The Justice Dems need to grow a pair, assuming they aren't complete frauds, and use their leverage to force votes and force policies whenever possible. We should also support candidates who run as independents, Greens, and People's Party candidates.
Bernie will never have the courage to run as an independent candidate. Had he the courage, he would have done it in 2016 when it was clear that he was cheated out of the nomination. Instead, he tucked his tail between his legs and supported Hillary, perhaps our single worst enemy. He has been a sheepdog for the Dems his whole life, even though Dem Party leadership hates his guts.
I appreciate your opinion and insights. There is truth and validity.
Now, I put the blame on the corrupt political system, which blocks and punishes our good progressive allies in Congress. It is powerful beyond belief.
Two points of necessary action:
1) Third parties can get no traction without public-funded elections and ranked choice voting. Those two democratic reforms will pull the rug out from under the Duopoly. Until then, most progressives run as Democrats--because sometimes they win! There are no Greens in Congress.
2) We need to back the progressives in Congress. As you say, Democratic Party leadership is the enemy. When Dem leadership sees that AOC, Bernie, and the Squad are backed by people-power, that's when they will fear for their political careers. How do we empower our allies? By 24/7 nonviolent protest and civil disobedience, on the Washington Mall and around the country. To me, that is the essence of #NotMeUs.
How about democratic reforms & massive, continuous nonviolent protest. What do you think?
Yes, we will never have government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people without publicly funded elections, ranked choice voting, multi-winner districts instead of winner-take-all districts (which make gerrymandering possible), and the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Isn't it odd that the Dem Party doesn't promote publicly funded elections, ranked choice voting, multi-winner districts, and the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact as part of its platform? (sarcasm)
Massive, continuous nonviolent protest would be great. What would also be great is if elected reps like AOC would do what she ran on: put her career on the line for the cause and sacrifice it if necessary. There's a pre-election video of her discussing this, saying something like she wouldn't mind going back to her job if she lost her seat in Congress after one term.
Corruption goes both ways. Yes, it's the system, but it's also having politicians who willingly sell themselves for personal and political gain.
Allegedly, AOC went from living in a small DC apartment with roommates to living in a fancy DC townhouse. I haven't taken the time to check that out.
I admit that AOC and all the alleged progressives voting for sending $54 billion to Ukraine (or actually to Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and other arms manufacturers) for a war that cannot be won, and that will severely harm economies all over the world and make the lives of hundreds of millions, perhaps billions, of ordinary people much worse, was really a blow. I lost all faith in the "progressive" Dems.
Every college and university I attended (Oberlin, University of Texas, Duke) required a Ph.D. or other advanced degree to be a professor. AOC has a B.A. from Boston U. Perhaps she could teach a course in political corruption (something she has first-hand knowledge of) as an adjunct instructor at a community college (part-time, non-tenure-track), although most of those positions require at least a masters.
More likely, she will become a lobbyist for some corrupt industry for an obscene salary. She is accustomed to the good life now. Few people are willing to give that up.
If it were up to me, I would give her a promotion from barmaid to bartender. I don't hold grudges.
Stop scapegoating individuals. The problem is the SYSTEM is corrupt.
Most honest people wouldn't perform any better than AOC, if they were elected to Congress. Individuals are in a weak position, and the system is all-powerful.
Punch up higher, Anti-War Leftist. You are up against "The System."
Weaver's statement was made just last week. It's interesting because it deviates from Sanders' previous election strategy. Not to say Weaver's statement was official, but I have never heard primarying Democrats as a strategy that has ever before come out of the Bernie Camp. It's a first.
Somewhat premature but an interesting idea as a few variables must fall into place. Success here would deny a majority of electoral votes and throw the decision to the U.S. House where we would need to have 26 Democratic controlled state representatives.
A long and difficult strategy, but to plant the seed:
CALIFORNIA will count write-in votes for Bernie Sanders in the General Presidential Election if and only if 54 voters file elector paperwork with the SOS.
The system is rigged against a 3rd party and it is a good idea in theory but is a bad strategy. https://archive.vn/NsMIe The best strategy is to use the DP ballot-line in order to elect progressive politicians. Meagan Day discusses why the timing is not right for a 3rd party. Meagan Day talks with Krystal Ball about the future of the left. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6Wf9fxGM2Q&t=314
The presidency alone is not enough to pass enough legislation to fundamentally change the system either during a term of 4 or 8 years. To change the system we need an organization working on the local, state, and national levels. Bernie has formed Our Revolution to restructure the DP by primarying and replacing candidates that take SuperPAC money.
Regarding non-presidential candidates - Berniecrats support candidates from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), Social Democrats USA (SDUSA) and the Working Families Party (WFP) who are all on board with the Berniecrat inside /outside strategy of using the DP ballot-line to get progressives elected. (citations on these groups strategy available upon request)
Stop with the independent /3rd party for president magical thinking; it's not going to happen.
"Consider registering to vote in the Democratic primary." ---- Jane Sanders Left Forum 2018 Opening Plenary - A Broken System: How We Got Here Streamed live on Jun 1, 2018 - https://youtu.be/5vAewHKGxy8?t=3580
Sure. Whatever can be done to force the Democratic Party left should be done. It should have started with #ForceTheVote, sinking Pelosi's speakership if she didn't bring a vote for M4All to the floor, but the Squad and the other Justice Dems wouldn't exercise their enormous leverage when they had it. Let's face it. The Dem Party actively undermines progressive candidates at every opportunity. The Dem Party is the enemy, not an ally. It needs to be fought however and whenever possible. The Justice Dems need to grow a pair, assuming they aren't complete frauds, and use their leverage to force votes and force policies whenever possible. We should also support candidates who run as independents, Greens, and People's Party candidates.
Bernie will never have the courage to run as an independent candidate. Had he the courage, he would have done it in 2016 when it was clear that he was cheated out of the nomination. Instead, he tucked his tail between his legs and supported Hillary, perhaps our single worst enemy. He has been a sheepdog for the Dems his whole life, even though Dem Party leadership hates his guts.
I appreciate your opinion and insights. There is truth and validity.
Now, I put the blame on the corrupt political system, which blocks and punishes our good progressive allies in Congress. It is powerful beyond belief.
Two points of necessary action:
1) Third parties can get no traction without public-funded elections and ranked choice voting. Those two democratic reforms will pull the rug out from under the Duopoly. Until then, most progressives run as Democrats--because sometimes they win! There are no Greens in Congress.
2) We need to back the progressives in Congress. As you say, Democratic Party leadership is the enemy. When Dem leadership sees that AOC, Bernie, and the Squad are backed by people-power, that's when they will fear for their political careers. How do we empower our allies? By 24/7 nonviolent protest and civil disobedience, on the Washington Mall and around the country. To me, that is the essence of #NotMeUs.
How about democratic reforms & massive, continuous nonviolent protest. What do you think?
Yes, we will never have government that is of the people, by the people, and for the people without publicly funded elections, ranked choice voting, multi-winner districts instead of winner-take-all districts (which make gerrymandering possible), and the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Isn't it odd that the Dem Party doesn't promote publicly funded elections, ranked choice voting, multi-winner districts, and the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact as part of its platform? (sarcasm)
Massive, continuous nonviolent protest would be great. What would also be great is if elected reps like AOC would do what she ran on: put her career on the line for the cause and sacrifice it if necessary. There's a pre-election video of her discussing this, saying something like she wouldn't mind going back to her job if she lost her seat in Congress after one term.
Corruption goes both ways. Yes, it's the system, but it's also having politicians who willingly sell themselves for personal and political gain.
Allegedly, AOC went from living in a small DC apartment with roommates to living in a fancy DC townhouse. I haven't taken the time to check that out.
I admit that AOC and all the alleged progressives voting for sending $54 billion to Ukraine (or actually to Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and other arms manufacturers) for a war that cannot be won, and that will severely harm economies all over the world and make the lives of hundreds of millions, perhaps billions, of ordinary people much worse, was really a blow. I lost all faith in the "progressive" Dems.
I can see AOC very happy as a university professor!
Every college and university I attended (Oberlin, University of Texas, Duke) required a Ph.D. or other advanced degree to be a professor. AOC has a B.A. from Boston U. Perhaps she could teach a course in political corruption (something she has first-hand knowledge of) as an adjunct instructor at a community college (part-time, non-tenure-track), although most of those positions require at least a masters.
More likely, she will become a lobbyist for some corrupt industry for an obscene salary. She is accustomed to the good life now. Few people are willing to give that up.
If it were up to me, I would give her a promotion from barmaid to bartender. I don't hold grudges.
Stop scapegoating individuals. The problem is the SYSTEM is corrupt.
Most honest people wouldn't perform any better than AOC, if they were elected to Congress. Individuals are in a weak position, and the system is all-powerful.
Punch up higher, Anti-War Leftist. You are up against "The System."
Weaver's statement was made just last week. It's interesting because it deviates from Sanders' previous election strategy. Not to say Weaver's statement was official, but I have never heard primarying Democrats as a strategy that has ever before come out of the Bernie Camp. It's a first.
Somewhat premature but an interesting idea as a few variables must fall into place. Success here would deny a majority of electoral votes and throw the decision to the U.S. House where we would need to have 26 Democratic controlled state representatives.
A long and difficult strategy, but to plant the seed:
CALIFORNIA will count write-in votes for Bernie Sanders in the General Presidential Election if and only if 54 voters file elector paperwork with the SOS.
https://www.sos.ca.gov/administration/news-releases-and-advisories/2020-news-releases-and-advisories/ap20103
.
Get your 2024 California Write-in Elector Form here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1W83Qbpan13DVI4cpj7AczcspIp4baRrHRqoDFEtoz38/edit?usp=sharing
.
Sooner is better than later.
Bernie is not going to run as an independent or 3rd party. https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/sanders-rejects-effort-draft-him-starting-new-political-party-n719931 (more citations upon request)
The system is rigged against a 3rd party and it is a good idea in theory but is a bad strategy. https://archive.vn/NsMIe The best strategy is to use the DP ballot-line in order to elect progressive politicians. Meagan Day discusses why the timing is not right for a 3rd party. Meagan Day talks with Krystal Ball about the future of the left. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6Wf9fxGM2Q&t=314
The presidency alone is not enough to pass enough legislation to fundamentally change the system either during a term of 4 or 8 years. To change the system we need an organization working on the local, state, and national levels. Bernie has formed Our Revolution to restructure the DP by primarying and replacing candidates that take SuperPAC money.
Regarding non-presidential candidates - Berniecrats support candidates from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), Social Democrats USA (SDUSA) and the Working Families Party (WFP) who are all on board with the Berniecrat inside /outside strategy of using the DP ballot-line to get progressives elected. (citations on these groups strategy available upon request)
Stop with the independent /3rd party for president magical thinking; it's not going to happen.
Fair points, though your sources are getting old.
Sources are only old if you have more current ones that refute them.
Bernie Sanders speaking at the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) conference in Baltimore - May 6, 1991. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WWtqYbcefM&t=0s
Sen. Bernie Sanders on running as Third-Party Candidate (C-SPAN) - Jul 30, 2015
https://youtu.be/YNmx3qKmI8Y?t=74
.
Democratic Party Reform Press Conference | Bernie Sanders (Jun 14, 2016)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7gzE-ceQyo&t=2s
.
Sanders Rejects Effort to Draft Him Into Starting a New Political Party. Feb. 12, 2017 - https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/sanders-rejects-effort-draft-him-starting-new-political-party-n719931
.
Why Bernie Won’t Be Drafted For a People’s Party - Apr 4, 2017 - https://medium.com/@lilystarling/why-bernie-wont-be-drafted-for-a-people-s-party-f30c7db33a0f
Sen. Bernie Sanders on Transforming the Democratic Party – December 14, 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3iRyd9QxmM
.
Bernie Sanders calls for 'total transformation' of Democratic Party - February 27, 2017 - https://archive.ph/qzciO - https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2017/0227/Bernie-Sanders-calls-for-total-transformation-of-Democratic-Party
.
"Consider registering to vote in the Democratic primary." ---- Jane Sanders Left Forum 2018 Opening Plenary - A Broken System: How We Got Here Streamed live on Jun 1, 2018 - https://youtu.be/5vAewHKGxy8?t=3580