I’ve looked forward to the kickoff to Our Revolution for some time and will watch what I can of it tonight, but I’ll be tied up with home care. I was very disappointed to learn that several of his aides abandoned him at the last moment and hope he can proceed with it. I’ll reserve judgment until more info comes out, but fear that some Berners are burning Bernie.
A week before its launch, a liberal advocacy group started by former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ campaign staffers as the next stage in the "political revolution" is facing a liberal civil war.
One-third of the 15-person team Sanders put together to run a nonprofit advocacy group focusing on issues of election reform and economic inequality have quit amid a heated internal debate about how the organization should be structured, who should run it and whether its existence as a nonprofit violated campaign finance laws prohibiting electioneering by such groups.
ABC News reported last week that former Sanders campaign manager and longtime adviser Jeff Weaver was tapped by Sanders’ wife, Jane, to lead the new group "Our Revolution." Weaver’s presence reignited an internal rift between old guard Sanders advisers like Weaver and the younger generation of political operatives who helped make Sanders a political sensation in the age of digital campaigning…
From <UPI>
It seems like a power play, as Rachel Maddow pointed out.
Unless I hear reasons to change my mind, I would tend to support Weaver, because Jane would not have brought in Weaver, if he wasn’t who Bernie wanted. Also the younger operatives have been unable to raise money the way they could with Bernie in the race.
Also, as I’ve been researching this story, I’ve noticed many comments to the effect that if "Our Revolution" includes Hillary voters, then they need to move ahead without Bernie. I can guarantee them that "Our Revolution" includes Hillary voters. Bernie is one. Bernie Sanders has done more for progressive politics that anyone else in this century. Abandoning him over hatred for Hillary, if that’s what’s behind this issue, is the most shameful thing they could do. Time will tell.
12 Responses to “Are Some Berners Burning Bernie?”
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Yeah. I have been shocked, disappointed, angry, and grieving for months now at the extent and the manner in which "Bernie supporters" have been burning Bernie. From acting like spoiled brats when the primaries were going his way, through bleating that they would rather vote for Trump than Hillary, to kicking him in the teeth just when he is trying tto do something for them and for their futres, their children, their grandchildren – what can I say but that I am appalled. Apparently peace and love on the left were consumed by the same mind-altering air and water pollutants from (at least) the seventies on that consumed the intelligence of the right into what it is today.
One side effect which may be helpful in the short run, and perhaps in the long run, is the realization that if these are the people who, along with the right, are convinced that Hillary is a crook, it is time for any of us who has any sneaking suspicion to that effect to start looking into the falsity behond that. Mindful of my three-link limit, I won't give any links today I've given before (those can still be looked up), but will just share these:
http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/7-less-noted-still-very-sexist-attacks-hillary-clinton
Don't get pissed off by the title – read it all and judge fairly.
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/8/24/1563375/-What-the-Clinton-Foundations-does-and-why-Hillary-Clinton-should-point-to-it-with-pride
The MSM does not have a clue what it is or what it does.
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/8/24/1563383/-Great-read-Clinton-s-e-mail-scandals-are-pure-fiction
Interesting facts with a link to a knowledgeable source.
You may not even have to hold your nose in November.
Thanks for the links, Joanne.
Hood ones.
You can always reply to your own comment with three more.
Bernie has made it abundantly clear that he is supporting HIllary. His supporters need to do the same. I was disappointed that he did not get the nomination, but will support the Blue candidate.
It's sad that things play out this way, but perhaps it's about time that the Bern, that so many have been feeling to an extend that they lost touch with reality a liitle bit, is coming down a tad to have it's feet planted on terra firma again. Change can't happen over night. It needs time to turn things around, some wrong steps will be taken along the way that need to be retraced, people will be people and power play will unfortunately be an issue that any organization, no matter how idealistic, will have to deal with.
It is disappointing that progressives do not get the (financial) help they need to win state primaries, so if the young, and often very idealistic, team members of "Our Revolution" can't manage to get more money together to fight a new battle on an old battlefield against very experienced "old fashioned" fighters, then it's sometimes necessary to step back a bit, look at the priorities again and make other, not necessarily popular or idealistic, choices and put Jeff Weaver in charge of the group. Of course that reeks to much of "Hillary" to the sensitive noses of the young progressives, and it's very understandable they are deeply unhappy with it, but they've yet to learn that a certain amount of pragmatism is needed to get ahead in this political minefield. The reality is that time is not on Our Revolution's side if they're aiming to change politics within the next few months; that much is clear. And with half of the team quitting 24 hours before its launch, Our Revolution may become Sander's greatest battle yet.
Very well said. It seams that every four years I'm arguing that fall of an election year is too late to implenent major change, and winter right afterward is time to start working, but winter right afterward the ideologues return to their pet botique issues.
We know that liberals and conservatives reason with different parts of their brains. I wouldn't be surprised if ideologues and people who can organize and get things done also are living in different parts of their brains from each other, if that makes sense.
If people truly believe in Bernie and his revolution, then they need to literally follow him and trust him. They need to become part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
Amy Goodman's Democracy Now! interviews 2 key people in this discussion of Bernie Sanders' "Our Revolution".
Text & Video:
""Our Revolution"? Bernie Sanders Launches New Organization, But Key Staffers Quit in Protest"
http://www.democracynow.org/2016/8/25/our_revolution_bernie_sanders_launches_new
.
Thank you all!
It's terribly sad that any Bernie supporters would turn on him (and "the cause" of Progressive Unity) by tossing hissy fits (reminds me of Trumpi$h types)…:( This election cycle I gave to Bernie & to Tammy Duckworth – and last night to Alan Grayson (because Dennis Kucinch is supporting him). After Kucinich was so badly treated – the Democratic Party totally abandoned him in favor of another Democrat that I knew nothing about – I doubted I'd ever donate again. Bernie actually said everything Kucinich said before – but this time the Media COULDN'T shut him down. I respect that. It seems to me that a New Progressive PARTY is the next step, however long it takes, and Bernie's plan makes sense!
Unless the Berners want to be calling Drumpf "Mr. President", they better start pulling in their horns and read what all is in the Democratic platform since Bernie helped them rewrite it!!! It has a LOT of Bernie's ideas in it!!!
Hang up the "Bernie or Bust" signs in the garage and get on the bus that will help send Drumpf back to his "Tower" to pick his wounds!!!