Our Revolution

Larry Sanders cast his official vote from those for Sanders Abroad for his brother, Presidential Nominee Bernard Sanders 7.26.2016.

Popular Votes Total for Bernie: 13,168,222

Popular Votes Total for Hillary: 16,847,084

Yesterday Bernie Sanders officially conceded as he gave his electoral votes to Hillary Clinton. In so doing his remarkable campaign has come to an official end. Today the sadness sunk in for me. Bernie got so close. The votes short could easily have been made up from votes tossed or lost, and of course from Independents who were not eligible to vote in primaries in so many states, including our own here in the Land of Enchantment. 

Bernie supporters knew all along of an obvious bias for Clinton coming directly from the democratic headquarters as well as the mainstream media. Too late in the process this finally got exposed. The media started to question it's own reporting and tried to make up, while the chair of the democratic party, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, due to exposure of damaging e-mails via Wikileaks (Russia?) finally, under pressure, stepped down just before the convention. Now she may be in trouble for her re-election to the senate and given her support of TPP I am not sorry for her.

So with deep sadness I mourn the loss of my vision of a Social Democrat for President of the United (or divided) States. This would have been a president not swayed by corruption, a president not filled with lies (Bernie has not yet been caught with his pants on fire) but a Jewish president with a heart big enough to hold concern for the Palestinian people. A president for the working class people and the poor, not only the upper middle, professional class and rich. A president that wold have pushed for a green economy and opposed TTP and fracking for real. A president that would have understood the dire urgency of climate change and toxic load on our environment. It would have been a damn interesting experiment. It could have been so very exciting to see those changes we hold so dear for so long in our heart become reality. Solar power for all, certainly in our mostly sunny state. Our national lab focused primarily on the developing of green energy, rather then in service to the weapons industry. A living wage that would stimulate our local economies. Last, but not least health care for all, rather then a give-away to the pharmaceutical industry. 

The reality Social Democrats or Bernie supporters envision is not extreme, rather it is a reordering of our values, of our priorities with the recognition that the top 1%, the cream of the cream, profit from the current system unfairly, while the poor  and working stiff have it too tough. The system is rigged in so many ways, it needs an overhaul badly and the majority of Americans seem to agree on that, if not the remedy.

Besides policies there is the simple human factor, men like those Sanders brothers, able to cry in public, because we no longer belong to a patriarchal system of thought that equates emotions with weakness and strength with dominance and bullying.

Bernie, as I like to refer to him affectionally, not disrespectfully, has been nothing but a model of civility and eloquence, even under an enormous amount of pressure. The work to steer the US back toward the left and progressive values will continue. Bernie started the Sanders Institute, this e-mail was sent out yesterday.

"Our work will continue in the form of a new group called Our Revolution. The goal of this organization will be no different from the goal of our campaign: we must transform American politics to make our political and economic systems once again responsive to the needs of working families." 

A Purple People's Party

Photo credit to the one and only, incomparable, highly talented, passionate about art & life, 

professional photographer Jennifer Esperanza,

May 20, 2016, Bernie Sanders Rally, Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Yes, I am all for a third party, based on Bernie's progressive platform and his current supporters aimed at 2020 elections. Independents make up the largest percentage of voters, meaning they (we, strictly I am still registered as Democrat, but that might change after the democratic convention, or by fall, or with a renewed attempt to establish a viable alternative to the 2-party system of Democrats and Republicans.)

Bernie chose to hitch his wagon to the Democrats, for now. It was an excellent choice, I believe, he would never have gotten the exposure he has gotten as a 3. party candidate from the start. I do not believe he can defect the Democratic party in favor of a new 3. party now. He would lose credibility and be seen as an opportunist. Bernie will be in a great position to work on a progressive agenda from within the democratic party. Meanwhile from within Bernie's movement we have already leaders such a as Professor Robert Reich, Secretary of Labor under President Clinton, who has proven himself to have been a most eloquent advocate for Bernie and the issues so important to us, and the formidable Nina Turner who as a Senator of Ohio introduced legislation S.B. 307 to regulate men's reproductive rights, in retaliation to male legislators attempts to restrict women's reproductive rights, hilarious. 

Bernie created a movement whose time may not have come yet, but will. It is crucial to gather the momentum in to positive action for a future we truly can believe in, but not on cost of a Trump presidency! Change takes time. Impatience will not get us what we want, but a long view will eventually. Time is on our side, I am hopeful.

THANK YOU BERNIE!

Yep, I voted the first morning of early voting in my community.

Yep, I voted for Bernard Sanders, not because I need access to a free education, I already had that, not because I want free hand outs, certainly not because I am looking for a boyfriend as was claimed early on in the campaign, and not because Bernie is the most charming of them all, although I do find him endearing and find it amazing that he is not more pissed off, but manages to stay civil and on point even during idiotic interviews and irrelevant questioning and unfair coverage through most of his campaign.

I even got to get a peek of the real man when he came to Santa Fe on very short notice and gave a speech in a hall filled to capacity on a Friday afternoon, when most were committed to work, yet still hundreds like me outside the hall that got treated to an impromptu greeting by the couple and not so short of a speech by Bernie. This was my first sighting and attendance of an event of a presidential nominee. 8 years earlier I attempted to attend Barack Obama's event in the evening, but a very long line of cars made it impossible, we were ordered to turn around

I was truly overjoyed when I heard from my friend Amy, the owner and chef of Venus, a farm to table restaurant in Berkley CA, that Bernie Sanders with entourage was on his way to have a bite at her establishment. Amy is an amazingly creative cook and sweet friend that surprised me and my friends with a truly delicious send-off 12 years ago, before I left the bay area for good to return to the City Different in the Land of Enchantment. Guess what Bernie asked for in one of the finest eateries in Berkley. Fish & chips is what he wanted and bless her heart, Amy did not question his order, did not try to  convince him to eat something better and healthier, but gave him what he wanted as she recognized he simply was looking for fuel after another very large and successful rally in Oakland.

THANK YOU BERNIE!

Yesterday's primaries were disappointing for us Bernie supporters. I had hoped New Mexico would feel the bern, he came short last I read 6%. Democratic voter turn out was around 30-something % of eligible voters. Higher then before, but surely nothing to brag about. New Mexico's primaries are closed and I could not convince those Independents I know to switch their allegiance to the Democratic party, if only to give their vote to Bernie. This seemed too much to ask from most Progressives. Main media had declared Hillary the winner, the Presumptive Democratic Presidential Nominee the night before, counting pledged votes unfairly, by delegates, that include lobbyists, committed long before Bernie was even in the running. That is what we call a rigged system.

But Bernie Sanders already won with the millions he mobilized and energized and spoke to their hearts and their minds, with integrity and intelligence and a vision for a better life for Americans, a system that serves the people more then for profit corporations. The profit motive should have no place in education, and basic health care. Prisons should not be run for profit, elections should not be bought. Independents should not have to pay with their tax dollars for elections they can not participate in. There is a lot wrong with our current system. Bernie brought the main issues to the table and proposed sane solutions, I for one am very grateful to Bernie Sanders and his wife, Dr. Jane Sanders for the trouble they have put themselves through for us during this last, long and intense year. They have succeeded beyond expectations. Bernie is spearheading a movement for social justice, it will go on far beyond the elections for US president this  coming November. Bernie Sanders earned the right to carry his message through and in to the democratic convention in July to make the most of it.

So it saddens me to feel no elation about the US having it's first female presumptive presidential nominee in Hillary Clinton. I, a woman of a certain age, close to Hillary's age, am in accord with Naomi Klein in that electing according to gender is a very shallow feminism and just is not good enough. I am a first generation US immigrant, a drop out who did not believe in mainstream culture, including politics, although I always voted in national and most local elections. Over the last year, since I got very excited about Bernie Sander's running with his message straight out of Occupy and of course earlier the civil rights movement, I have been given an education. I devoured most everything written in regard to these primary elections. I learned more about Hillary and the Clintons then I ever wanted to know. I don't believe them to be evil as so many on the far right and far left seem to believe. In fact I do not believe in evil, basta, but consider it an outdated religious concept, I find too often in posts on social media from the extreme sides. We tend to judge people and their intentions too harshly. What I do find though is that Hillary has shown bad judgment, despite her intelligence, again and again and keeps standing on the wrong, the establishment side of issues, on the other side from where I am which is deeply troubling. This can be seen in her statements in regard to Israel and lack of such in regard to Palestine, in her acceptance of the death penalty, her disregard of whistle blowers, her promotion of GMO crop world wide, her lack of stance against Walmart where she was once a board member, her support of TPP and especially her willingness to go to war, to be aggressive as if she needed to prove that as a woman she too could act like a man. Sadly this is not the kind of woman I would like to see in the White House. 

Drumpf, the emotional retard with the vocabulary of a 6 year old, will be worse, I have no doubt, although not all of my facebook contacts share this view with me, very troubling. It may come to a vote of keeping out the unmentionable, we will see, a lot of water yet to flow under the bridge.

The Cost of War - Rep. Tulsi Gabbard for Bernie Sanders

What We Can Be

"What We Can Be" by fervent Bernie supporter Chris Lockett

Bernie heads a moral movement with roots in Occupy, and prior the labor - and social justice movements. Bernie supporters are not free loaders, are not simply upset about not having gotten a raise or not having advanced in to the middle class or up from wherever they find themselves on the social climbing pole, for laughing out loud.

I believe the US needs a fundamental change, a re-evaluation of our values. Corporate control has to be reigned in. Citizens United has to be reversed.

US manipulation in foreign affairs for it's own good has to come to an end. Unquestioned support of Israel has to give way to a more fair appraisal with an insistence that Palestinians are given a fair shake. Money funneled in to the military complex, 601 Billion in 2015, more then 50% of the overall US budget, should be drastically reduced.

Let us redirect those funds in to a commitment toward a fossil fuel free, green, sustainable future that advances alternative sources of energy. The US could and should lead in it's scientific research, it's implementation and creation of green product lines. I would like nothing more then for the focus of our nearby Los Alamos National Laboratory to shift from the defense industry to developing green energy. Climate change is real and Bernie is the one that makes it his top priority.

Let us be bold and rebuild our crumbling infrastructures and create jobs for Americans. Let us create social support systems such as a single payer health care system for people in need rather then profit for the insurance and pharmaceutical industries.

Let us make education a priority and start with free access to Community Colleges. Let's stop the profiteering of loan sharks from students. There ought to be a cap in the single digits of what is legal and fair profit made off the poor.

Last but not least, as a 'Recovered Catholic' I am so very grateful that Bernie Sanders unlike every repugnant Republican presidential nominee, has not forced religion down our throats. I can relate to his sense of us being in this together, of feeling the pain of another and of synchronicities that seem to guide his seeking the presidential nomination.

What I can not relate to, is Republicans taking away women's health care with their unwarranted attacks on Planned Parenthood, with closures of abortion clinics, with wanting to take away women's choices in pushing to make abortions illegal, going as far as even wanting to criminalize the women choosing an abortion. While the loser finds a return to coat hangers acceptable, women find the repugnant Republican stance on women's rights absolutely unacceptable. We are moving forward, not backward! 

Thankfully Bernie polls best in defeating the repugnant current front runner for the presidency. Imagine vane, vindictive and thin-skinned Drumpf in control of nuclear power and the most powerful military in the world! Strangely this option is not an April 1st joke.

Change is possible. It will not happen over night. It's a process that asks for our engagement and the political will to carry it forward.

"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing." Arundhati Roy

(All images off social media.)

Two Masters: About Citizens United and Bernie Sanders

We Shall Overcome

Feel The Bern

I Stand With Authentic Passion And Outrage

I stand with authentic passion and outrage, and with cutting through the bullshit to focus on what really matters, rather then polished 'politiking'. I loved Bernie's zooming in on the real issues right from the start, rather then pandering to American family values by reciting boring personal facts. 

I stand with Bernie's decency in citing the best line of the night in blasting the media's attention on those "damn e-mails." Check out the edited version versus the original version on The Intercept and regain a new appreciation for how the media spins the news it feed us! Yes, we are sick and tired of hearing about it. Yes, let's talk about Citizen United and how to get money out of politics. I don't care about Hillary's e-mails, but I do care about her hawkish stances in foreign affairs.

I don't mind Bernie's shouting one bit, we all should be getting angry and should be objecting to the obscenities of politics these days. I take shouting any time over threatening with the imposition of guns (Tea Party.) In conversation with Rachel Maddow, a friendly interviewer, right after the Republican debate, we can clearly recognize Bernie's depth and thoughtfulness:

I stand with Bernie on the de-criminalization of dope and the taking back of prisons and jails from private enterprise. Support of medical marijhuana is not good enough, the evidence is in, give it up already, enough is enough. This coming from a non-smoker, non-drug user of any kind (illegal, legal or pharmaceutical.)

I stand with Bernie on recognizing the importance of Snowden and believe he would be sacrificed if he did what Hillary said and "faced the music." I must admit that personally I am unsure about the NSA surveillance, on what collection of data may be appropriate and what not.

I stand with Bernie in pointing out the absolute immorality of the 1% paying less tax on their profits then the average American while lobbying Congress and buying legislation to their benefit with their influence. Yes, Bernie has it right and really should know more so then anyone, Congress is bought!

I stand with Bernie in his refusal of corporate money, but his being powered by the people with average donations of $30! Bernie raised a phenomenal $3.2 million in the week of the debate! True to character though Bernie refused the $2,700 donated to his campaign from Shkreli, the pharma poster boy of outrageous price hikes and greed of pharmaceutical companies. The money will be donated to health clinic and the Shkreli will not get his desired meeting with Bernie, the presidential hopeful. An obscene amount of money is now needed to take part in the debates, something I abhor, as we all know how many are in such dire financial need, even here in the US. Therefor Bernie's decision to work from the grass roots up with individual donations, rather then top down with super pacs deserves our support.

I stand with Bernie in the belief that we need a revolution, one happening at the polls, with our voting, with real discussions around real issues, not weapons.

Hillary never looked or sounded better then last night during the 1. Democratic Presidential Debate. As a woman close to Hillary's age I surprise myself in not embracing whole heartedly a vision of a first woman president for 2016. But being a woman in and of itself is not enough. 

Hillary's support of medical marijuana alone is not good enough, the evidence is in, give it up already, enough is enough. This coming from a non-smoker, non-drug user of any kind (illegal, legal or pharmaceutical.)

Hillary's connection and I suppose support of Monsanto, their products such as genetically modified seeds and the Round Up pesticide as well Monsanto's business practices that are horrible to those farmers not willing to go along are abhorrent and an absolute deal breaker to me.

Hillary's support of Israel with no mention of the Palestinian plight is unacceptable, business as usual as expected. Actually the debate was mum on this issue, but I assume it will come up in the future.

Hillary's support from corporate sources are well known and to my mind absolutely obscene and unsupportable. It alone should sway us to look the other way. Money can not be allowed to dominate our political choices, much less agenda. For more on Hillary's stance on the banking industry check out Matt Taibbi's latest in Rolling Stone.

This is a draft that likely will undergo still some changes, thanks for reading, your comments are welcome.

Bernie Sanders - The Man

Bernie Sanders announced, barely, that he did decide to run for the US presidential elections and within days I was down at our county clerk's office to affiliate myself back with the Democrats, so I too can have a vote in the upcoming primaries. Not fair that third party voters pay for primaries with their taxes, but are given no ballots! I want to vote for Bernie. Shocking since I am a woman not far from Hilary Clinton's age, yet I have not a moment of hesitation as to whom I would vote for. Yes, the idea of a woman in power, a woman for US President, would surely break one hell of a glass ceiling. But Bernie is my man, he speaks and he acts and he votes in ways that make my heart glad.

I feel relief that finally one lawmaker gets it (except on the Israel/Palestine conflict, I must admit.) So here is Bernie talking to Alan with more to come, no doubt, because here we have another man worth listening to and worth spreading his outrage, which really should be our outrage that we all ought to feel and express, if we are not asleep, but pay attention.

I am certain we can come up with a 12th step and then some.