Mr. D. Goes to Washington: Revolution
The revolution will not be televised... Or, livestreamed!
This is three of three tonight! I hope you enjoy this new series of videos. I'll be interested in seeing how people react to me doing something which has nothing to do with religion. I now officially talk about the two things you're never supposed to talk about in polite company. Does that make me impolite? And what's the third thing? Sex? Drugs? Rock n' Roll? Maybe I could start making videos about those topics too. I'm going for that complete social outcast vibe.
Again, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! B
Comments (26)
I just want to make you aware of why my support for Hillary is so thin. A blog I read regularly is called Naked Capitalism and is written but a woman named Yves Smith. She has a great deal of experience in the financial world and I believe really knows her shuff. (www.nakedcapitalism.com) Anyway she penned an article in Politico (<a href="http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/06/wall-street-2016-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-213931)" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/06/wall-street-2016-donald-trump-hillary-clinton-213931)</a> that gives voice to much that I feel would be the result of a Clinton administration. I know you're very busy (at least, I hope you are. I've enjoyed you work for many years now) but if you could find any free time, I would be very interested in hearing your reaction to the points she makes. Thank you very much for giving me the language to give voice to how I feel in a somewhat coherent manner and I look forward to hearing your thoughts someday.
I read that piece. I don't know what to say to progressives who will vote for Con Don over Hillary. In 2000, progressives voted for Nader over Gore and gave us W, which brought us tax cuts for the rich, cuts for the poor and elderly, two endless wars, ISIS, and a global economic meltdown. And Trump makes W look like a fucking Rhodes scholar! These elections have huge consequence which the poor and disadvantaged will feel far more intensely than you or I. I hate ideologues, and that's what this looks like. The Republicans live in the fact-free bubble. But some progressives live in the reality-free bubble, seeming unaware that a small step forward is better than a huge leap backwards. Our democracy will not burn to ground if Trump is elected. Nor will it rise like a progressive Phoenix after. Politics is a game of inches in a democracy. You get the little bit you can while you can get it. To me, these progressives are as suicidal as the Republicans who voted for Trump.
TL;DR
"I come here not to praise Caesar, but to bury Caesar" Damning with faint praise? LOL
With respect to Terry's plea*, I think the old faithful FCC doctrine of "equal time" that I grew up with on the media and Reagan dispensed with (using those weak Presidential powers you mentioned (He seemed to use (and abuse) them a lot, didn't he? LOL) is important enough for me to request a "rebuttal" (I like to bring up the old "fairness doctrine" as often as possible as I've found so many people today have no idea there was ever such an animal) So, here goes; LOL So here goes; Did you even watch Mr. Smith Goes To Washington? LOL, of course you did! It was filled with HOPE and the willingness to fight the good fight. We need that spirit, NOT your “pragmatism”. Yes, lasting change means we have to clean House (and Congress) pun intended, obviously ;-) . But the president’s IMPOTENT? Then how did LBJ force integration and the Great Society against such determined opposition in the legislature? A society that people like Hillary have devoted their political lives to disassemble! Bernie may not bring about everything he wants to do BUT he can make a CHANGE IN CONSCIOUSNESS. And you have to admit, the REAL reason Obama faced such relentless obstructionism wasn't about politics, even ideologue politicians negotiate. Remember LBJ’s fight? I do. He fought, used the power inherent in the office of the Presidency, they caved and negotiated. With Obama it's deeper than ideology, it's RACISM pure and simple. It's Racism behind all of Trump's success too. The Republican party taped into that deep core of racism still in too many of us, maybe to their regret. Ideology you can fight, racism, those people just have to grow old and die. (I was born and raised in the South and I chose to change rather than die, at least not yet. LOL Bernie can use the "Bully Pulpit" and make change that OBAMA COULD NOT DO just because he was black and faced such race based hate filled opposition. Frankly, I think the Republicans are burned out and have committed suicide by using their “Southern Strategy” and the Religious right to bolster their base, alienating the moderates who are the majority. And now Obama, who is the HEAD of the Democratic party, (and once the great ‘black’ hope of progressives) nominated a PRO citizens United to SCOTUS? Who we really need to fear are the Neo-Liberal Neo-Con consortium of the current establishment Democrat (the Republican Lite) like Hillary. We NEED a REAL Democrat, an OLD STYLE NEW DEAL LIBERAL to raise the consciousness of the nation. Think of the way Obama betrayed his grass roots followers and embraced Wall Street money (he got more of their cash than the Republicans did, and paid them back ROYALLY too). And Hillary doesn’t even PROFESS to progressive values (until forced to by whom? Senator Sanders!) I hope Hillary supporter will feel free to read my essays on the subject here. <a href="https://airplayn.wordpress.com/2016/06/02/how-fascism-won-wwii-long-after-the-final-shot-was-fired/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://airplayn.wordpress.com/2016/06/02/how-fascism-won-wwii-long-after-the-final-shot-was-fired/</a> <a href="https://airplayn.wordpress.com/2016/06/01/message-to-all-democrats-remember-what-we-once-were-2/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://airplayn.wordpress.com/2016/06/01/message-to-all-democrats-remember-what-we-once-were-2/</a> <a href="https://airplayn.wordpress.com/2016/04/30/bernie-sanders-his-dream-is-my-dream/" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://airplayn.wordpress.com/2016/04/30/bernie-sanders-his-dream-is-my-dream/</a> (hopefully you might just find some interesting content too). *I do not wish to be an obnoxious political “troll” either, but feel this needs to be said.
You're making specific arguments about this guy and that gal. But this video is about the general FACT that if you can't bring legislation to the floor for a vote or get the sixty votes to overcome a filibuster, you are NOT going to be able to pass ANY revolutionary legislation like single payer health care or free college. The video was not pro Hillary or anti-Bernie. It was simply a reminder that winning the Presidency will get you nowhere without the rest of the package. Let's all just settle down and figure out how to do that.
Brian, the most important thing you may have done here is to create a (fingers crossed) troll-free space where intelligent and thoughtful (just look at this excange) people can actually explore these issues without the outrage that pollutes mose other venues.
That would be a dream come true!!! I always say that the best thing about creating Deity and the other series is the amazing people I've met because of it and the people who graciously take the time to comment. The level of thought, humor, and discourse is truly off the charts. When I say I love you people, there is no hyperbole. My life is infinitely better and more enlightened because of youz guyz. No shit!!! I just wish I weren't the big winner. I'd prefer to give more than I receive. But I'll take it!!!
Agreed. But imagine Obama (or Bernie, or Hillary) with a democrat House and Senate!
"If you want change, that piece of the puzzle is probably the most important. Don't you think?" Perhaps; but despite that, President Obama (just as an example) has gotten an awful lot of good done since he's been President... and (no apologies to the Republicans nor their Speaker) I wouldn't credit many of them with those changes. I've been hearing plenty recently, though, from HRC supporters that Bernie wouldn't be able to get anything done. Well, who knows? None of us has a crystal ball. That said, looking at the record of both HRC and Bernie it could be said that they both get things done (Burlington, VT runs on 100% renewable energy--something done with Bernie Sanders as mayor). The question becomes, "what types of things need done?" And I don't intend on skipping your point that the mid-term elections aren't important because they are. It's just that this year is kinda important, too.
Furthermore, if we're talking about the people rejecting the idea of kings in America--who are the real leaders? The members of Congress, or the top 1% of earners and corporations who pull the puppet strings of members of Congress? My point is basically that if it doesn't matter who the President is that it didn't matter that we had Barack Obama as President for the last 8 years. Surely you're not arguing that.
Never said it didn't matter. Said only that it's not the most important piece of the puzzle. The Speaker, for instance, is the only person in our government who can bring up legislation for an actual vote (if I understand things correctly). If you want change, that piece of the puzzle is probably the most important. Don't you think?
<a href="http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3941422-156/op-ed-seeds-of-todays-economy-were" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/3941422-156/op-ed-seeds-of-todays-economy-were</a> . . . I'd say Obama was an effective President. If who is elected President isn't that important, then why not Sanders?
Au contraire - the President is extremely important - for foreign policy, foreign affairs, and foreign military action. That's where all the power lay in the executive in the Constitution. The President can be powerful, if he is of the same party as Congress. Bernie's awesome, has great ideas for domestic policy - education, income-equality, etc. He's more useful in the Senate. ALSO he has done a great service by trumpeting his spot-on domestic agenda into the national conversation.
I like this. I can't decide if I like it more than Mr. Deity... Nope, Deity will always be #1. But still, definitely worth the patronage! Can't wait to see more!
...e's agenda (sorry, hit the Enter key by mistake there). The hope is that if there are enough people in this country outraged enough to vote for Bernie in the first place, there will also be enough people to vote out the current bums and vote in the people who can actually make the change happen.
I think you mischaracterize the "revolution" Bernie is calling for. He has repeatedly acknowledged the fact that he can't do it all by himself and that simply electing him president won't solve anything. Instead, the "revolution" specifically calls for people to do all the things you mentioned, most importantly voting in mid-term elections to elect senators and congressmen who support Berni
I understand he's said that stuff. But he's said so much more about the revolution and the stuff he would do. The proof is, my 18 year old step daughter thinks he'd get in and be able to do exactly what he wants. She'd get free healthcare, college, and start getting $15 an hour by the end of January 2017. That's not completely his fault. But think of how disillusioned these kids would be if he got in and couldn't do any of it. I worry about that kind of thing in the long run. I'd rather people be informed about what is realistically possible. Especially the young.
Thanks for this, Brian!
While what Mr. D says about the division of powers and the futility of trying to bring about change from the top down as well as the paramount importance of getting off one's butt every two years and dragging yourself off yo the polls to repair the electorial system are spot on, without Bernie raising the issues he has so well articulated, there would have been nary a whisper about them. (Well, maybe a whisper, but certainly not the conversation that has occurred) The fact remains the two of the three candidates (not counting the Libertarians and Socialist Party or Vermin Whatshisface) are in a mad race to become the most disliked people to ever run for the White House in the same election. Unless Hillary can quickly learn to handle an opponent that changes positions more often than he changes his underwear, she will win that race and lose the White House in a landslide. So, while Hillary and T-Rump see who can pile the most negative impressions, there is one candidate who is actually has a net positive impression and according to every national, regional and state poll I'm aware of AND out polls T-Rump by double digits (in some states). So, with that in mind, when I vote next week it will be for Bernie. (And, yes, I will vote for Hillary in the general election, if I have to), but when we have the leadership of the DNC and the neo-liberal DLC on board to gut the CFPB, (among other issues) it makes it very hard for me to support the party choice.
As long as you're on board to keep Con Don out of the Whitehouse, I don't care what you do in the primary. And you make a good point about Bernie (and Elizabth) bringing these issues to the fore. They are the Malcolm to Hillary's Martin.
If you want a revolution, first you have to start voting for what you want instead of voting your fears. Personally I have never voted for a Republican or a Democrat for president since I started voting in 1980. If more people stopped encouraging the bought and paid for established parties, the country would be better off. There are other choices. I suggest isidewith.com as a place to start exploring your options.
I suspect that the revolution you describe will only be possible with universal, mandatory voting. Perhaps every ATM is enhanced to accept ballot "deposits" or we get serious about internet security and enable online voting. I recently coached a group of computer science seniors through creating such a system as a proof of concept. The universal service the government could provide is guaranteed access to a smart phone. Now everyone has at least nominal access to information, community, organization and public action.
Great ideas. Make it so!!!
Constitutionally, the Executive (President) does not wield much power domestically. True. You are absolutely right about that; this is why President Obama - who has accomplished a great deal - has had to do so much of it through Executive Orders. However, the Executive can wield GREAT power in foreign policy. The power of the U.S. Presidency is vast when it comes to military action. The idea that we could inflict a President Trump on the world is absolutely horrifying.
Actually if the country followed the constitution then the president would be limited in terms of using prolonged military action, but congress absconded that particular right through the war powers act and by simply not challenging the president on military actions.