Could the preemptive announcement of a Democratic ticket during primary season catapult another candidate past Sanders and into the White House?

As I’ve said before, I intend to enthusiastically support Senator Sanders should he win the nomination of the Democratic Party. With that said, however, I do have concerns about him as a candidate. First, as we’ve discussed, I think that, of all the candidates still standing, he’s the one that Donald Trump would have the easiest time positioning himself against. [And we know that the Republicans have a ton of opposition research to work with.] That, in itself, however, isn’t an insurmountable problem as I see it. If he can bring energetic new people to the party, it might be enough to overcome the fear-mongering, anti-Socialist attacks that Trump and the Republicans will inevitably hurl at him. My second issue, and this one is more difficult for me to overcome, is that I don’t see him as being an effective leader. While I like a great deal about his platform, I’m just not sold on him as someone who can either construct an effective administration or build the consensus necessary in Congress to actually deliver on the things he’s been discussing. I’d still much rather have him in the White House than Donald Trump, but, personally, I think there are others, like Elizabeth Warren, who are better positioned to actually make things happen. I’ve felt this way for a while, but I’ve been quiet about it, not wanting to say anything that could be perceived as unfavorable about the man who could well be our candidate. The truth is, though, I just don’t like they way he’s been running his campaign, and it’s making me nervous. Specifically, I’m troubled by this most recent polling conducted by Emerson College, which seems to indicate that, if Bernie doesn’t win the primary, a huge percentage of his followers may not turn out and vote for whomever does end up running against Donald Trump. And that’s something that I think we need to discuss.

I’m reluctant to lay all of this at the feet of Sanders, who I can still remember coming to Ann Arbor in 2016 and campaigning on behalf of Hillary Clinton. I suspect, if he were to lose this time, he’d likely do the same thing, as he knows the danger that Donald Trump poses to the Republic. And I’d like to think that he could convince a majority of his followers to throw their support behind someone else. With that said, though, I think it’s safe to say that, up until now, the Sanders organization has done very little to keep this from becoming an issue, as surrogate after surrogate has gone after the other candidates.

I get that campaigns aren’t for the weak of heart, and that, in order to win, you have to draw sharp comparisons with your opponents, but the attacks by Sanders surrogates seem harsher, less productive, and more corrosive to the party than most. Again, I’d like to think that he’s not necessarily calling the shots, and orchestrating these attacks himself, but the fact that he’s either unwilling or unable to stop them concerns me greatly. For one thing, as you can see in the above polling, it’s contributing toward a “Bernie or No One” culture within the Sanders camp. And, for another, it’s demonstrating to me that Sanders might not have what it takes to lead a successful administration. If you can’t keep your campaign on message, I’m thinking, how can run an entire administration?

So, that’s what I’m thinking about tonight. And I know I’m not alone. I’ve read recently that the Democratic National Committee is considering ways to keep Sanders from winning the nomination, which, by the way, I think would be absolutely terrible. We need to be a party that actually lives its values, and I’d hate to see anything done to either advantage or disadvantage one candidate over another. With that said, however, it’s got me wondering what individual candidates might do in order to break the logjam in the polls, and move us toward an non-contested convention. [I think we’d agree that a brokered convention would be absolutely devastating, and hurt our chances against Trump, correct?] So, all of this got me wondering whether or not any of our other candidates might come together now, before we get into the individual primary battles, and essentially form a ticket. I know it would be unorthodox for a candidate to announce a ticket during the primaries, but it occurs to me that there might not be anything stopping our remaining candidates from doing just that. Could Joe Biden and Elizabeth Warren, for instance, if they really felt strongly that Sanders couldn’t win against Trump, strike a deal to run together, perhaps with Kamala Harris as Attorney General, and Stacey Abrams running the Federal Elections Commission… But you get my point, right? And it wouldn’t, as I see it, primarily be about keeping Sanders from getting the nomination. It would be about demonstrating the kind of “we’re all in this together” approach that we’re going to need to defeat Trump. I know it would run contrary to everything we know about politics, and that none of these remaining candidates want to step down when they think they still have a legitimate shot at being at the top of the ticket themselves, but I think it’s at least worth considering.

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61 Comments

  1. Jean Henry
    Posted February 2, 2020 at 11:02 pm | Permalink

    That sounds like an idea likely to divide the country further. I honestly think no one wants to see the DNC pulling any stunts right now. Their candidates may be popular but they are not.

    I hate Bernie and I still want to see if he can pull this coalition thing off. Because a movement is what we need. And that’s more than the titular head. And a lot wider and deeper than he ran his race last go around. I hate the guy but his coalition, if it stands, is hopeful. I also think if Warren went hand in hand with Biden now as VP, a lot of her followers including me would be totally furious. Biden’s an ass. Better she ran with Bernie, but no, I’d rather she lose than be VP. VP is a nothing job. She’s better than that. How many times does a more qualified woman have to play second fiddle to a white dude.

    Lastly what the hell is wrong with Yang supporters?
    What a disappointment his campaign turned out to be.

  2. Jean Henry
    Posted February 2, 2020 at 11:06 pm | Permalink

    Also, populism sucks. It runs on enemies and hatred. Some legit; some manufactured, but it’s followers rarely can distinguish the difference.

  3. Frosted Flakes
    Posted February 2, 2020 at 11:59 pm | Permalink

    Yes! Screw Sanders over again while talking out of both sides of your Janus faced mouth—talking about how it would not be to disadvantage Sanders—which would be “terrible”! No, we are just trying to clear “logjams” and demonstrate our “we are all in this together” approach—when we push Sanders aside.

  4. Lynne
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 2:41 am | Permalink

    I have not ever gotten a “we are in this together” vibe from Sanders or his campaign. I also have some concerns about his leadership ability. I don’t like how his proxies keep attacking other candidates unfairly. He approved a VERY misleading ad about Biden for instance. I hope that stops once a clear frontrunner emerges, especially if it is him. Also, considering his recent heart attack, if he gets the nomination, I hope he picks a good VP.

  5. iRobert
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 7:25 am | Permalink

    A Sanders vs Trump general would be very interesting. I think it would go a lot better for the Democrats than the DNC and folks like yourself think.

  6. Demetrius
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 7:47 am | Permalink

    If Bernie loses fair and square, so be it.

    If, on the other hand, the Democratic party establishment pulls the same bullshit they pulled last time, I think they’ll end up with the same end result.

    The recent spate of hit pieces and hand wringing/concern trolling by the NYT and others are designed to cast him as to “risky” and “extreme” and aimed at scaring primary voters … and it feels an awful lot like a replay of 2016.

    I think Bernie is far from a perfect candidate, but I disagree with the premise that he’s the *least” capable of winning against Trump.

    If Dem leaders think they’re going to beat Trump by running a milquetoast moderate, they clearly haven’t learned their lesson.

  7. Wobblie
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 8:11 am | Permalink

    Aloha despite liberal believes the reason Hillary lost in 2016 was the 70000 plus Michiganders (17000 in Flint alone)who voted Obama who did not bother to vote in 2016. Sanders and Gabbard and maybe Yang are the only ones who are going to motivate substantial numbers of them to return to the polls.

  8. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 8:57 am | Permalink

    Welcome back John Podesta to the DNC.

  9. site admin
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 9:29 am | Permalink

    A few clarifications on behalf of the author of this piece. First, please note that he did not say that Sanders would be the least capable going up against Trump. He said that Sanders would be the easiest for Trump to position himself against. There’s a difference. Second, he agrees that the DNC should stay out of this, and not try to rig anything against Sanders. That was the point of this post. He was suggesting that, instead of that, it might be possible for some of the individual candidates to begin working together on a unity ticket, pulling together their bases. As he sees it, it would be different than the DNC getting involved to scuttle the Sanders campaign.

  10. Frosted Flakes
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 9:46 am | Permalink

    Please. Mark wants to pull stunts to make it less likely that Sanders will win because he thinks others would have a better chance to beat Trump. Own it, man.

  11. site admin
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 9:51 am | Permalink

    Mark didn’t say he wanted to do it. He also said he’d support Sanders if he won the primary. He merely asked if the members of the Democratic Party who are still in the race (Sanders is not in the Party) would be within their rights to self-select I to a ticket.

  12. Anonymous
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 10:00 am | Permalink

    Claude Taylor: Bernie folks can hate on me all you want…I’ve been an active Dem since childhood. Grumpy, finger wagging, socialist, dead beat dad who didn’t vote or have a job until 40 will not win most states. Will I vote for him in general? Yes. But if I have to we’ve already lost.

  13. Frosted Flakes
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 10:15 am | Permalink

    Mark took pains to package a horrible idea in the most palatable way possible. I think the term used a few weeks ago by Anonymous was “mealy-mouthed”.

    Own it.

  14. Bob
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 10:23 am | Permalink

    Jean and Lynne are part of the problem, not the solution. Still want to defend that awful human being Hillary Clinton?

  15. Posted February 3, 2020 at 10:24 am | Permalink

    Iowa Caucus watch party with Bernie supporters at Pizza House 8:30pm tonight.

    From Students For Bernie 2020 at the University of Michigan:

    “Join us for a watch party the night of the Iowa caucuses as we watch the results come in live! All students and community members are welcome. We will have a few pizzas purchased to start the night. Pizza House has an extensive menu, and they are graciously letting us use their space, so you may order your own meals, snacks, and drinks as well! Let’s celebrate together and get excited to help Bernie win the rest of the primaries! When you enter Pizza House, just go to the front and let the host and hostesses know you are there for the Bernie Iowa Caucus Watch Party. They will direct you to our seating area. “

  16. Lynne
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 10:55 am | Permalink

    Yes Bob. She would have been so much better than Trump. Bernie Bros like you are the problem. I get it that you don’t like it that women have voices and can choose to vote in ways different than you vote. I am still going to vote for him if he gets the nomination because unlike you assholes, I actually care about vulnerable people and am not willing to throw them under the bus.

    I am thinking about voting for Biden in the primary now though in the hopes that he can beat Sanders. I don’t think Biden will necessarily be a better president but at least his supporters aren’t quite as horrible.

  17. Jean Henry
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 3:04 pm | Permalink

    “it might be possible for some of the individual candidates to begin working together on a unity ticket, pulling together their bases. As he sees it, it would be different than the DNC getting involved to scuttle the Sanders campaign.”– it would be perceived as DNC machinations. Most of what Bernie blamed on the DNC was in fact about state party machinations (and he manipulated the hell out of those systems too; he just lied about it). Nevertheless, I think it’s important to respect the current distrust of the DNC as an existential threat to the party itself and understand they must rebuild trust.

    Bernie’s coalition is hopeful and I think we should give it every chance of succeeding. I actually think the coalition his campaign is building (which is hopeful and grassroots v Bernie’s angry populism) is the best antidote to the ‘anti-identity politics’ sexist assholes on his team and among his base. They will chasten them (and him) in a way million of white liberal women can’t. My position is fimrly blue no matter who and no I would never vote for Biden over Bernie. No fucking way. Anita Hill. They are basically the same person to me in terms of personality but I align more with Bernie’s policies. I hope he learns about diplomacy between now and the general. or God forbid the Presidency.

    https://theintercept.com/2020/02/03/iowa-first-caucus-satellite-pork-plant-workers/?fbclid=IwAR0Ghlzyk-Z1UHms9NiSCisfjihCnd1X-0d_UrGfaehnekcJ-C29qVq71S0

  18. Jean Henry
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 3:09 pm | Permalink

    Bob isn’t part of any problem. Bob is a problem. What redeeming characteristics or insights do you offer the world, you relentless bully.

    Oh, I thought of one– every time you deny bros exist and simultaneously demonstrate yourself to embody the archetype, it’s a win for me.

  19. Lynne
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 4:02 pm | Permalink

    Yeah. Voting for Biden to piss off the Bernie Bros is not the solution. I will vote for the person I think will be the best candidate instead. If he wins the nomination, I am not sure I will be able to bring myself to donate time or money to his campaign but that might be a good thing. I would donate those resources to down-ticket campaigns instead and they are also important but often neglected.

    I do agree though with those who say that Sanders’s supporters are giving him an electability problem. His 2016 campaign was just so negative and people, myself included, are still bitter about it. He really shouldn’t have run this time. He probably should have dropped out when he had a heart attack because now in addition to his horrible supporters, there is a valid concern that he may not be healthy enough for the job (although if he chooses a good VP, that can be dealt with).

    I had to laugh today because Michael Moore was being a total Bro and railing on Clinton. I think it is awesome that she can finally speak her mind on Sanders since she is not running. I also find it ironic that Michael Moore of all people would tell her to STFU when he is so toxic himself.

  20. anonymous
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 4:24 pm | Permalink

    https://mobile.twitter.com/TheRoot/status/1224341977162047493

    “Barbara Smith, founding member of the black feminist Combahee River Collective that coined the term “identity politics,” has endorsed Sen. Bernie Sanders for president”

    vid of her explaining why she endorses bernie:
    https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=6hMOP2-iVpY

  21. anonymous
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 4:30 pm | Permalink

    biden has repeatedly lied about his involvement in the civil rights movement:

    https://mobile.twitter.com/shaunking/status/1222849290785251329

    https://mobile.twitter.com/shaunking/status/1224419993909112836

  22. anonymous
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 4:33 pm | Permalink

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ikgh4JbAWUU

    killer mike is feeling he bern

  23. Wobblie
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 6:16 pm | Permalink

    Aloha, more evidence that karma exists. Limbaugh announced he has advanced stage lung cancer. HW you are young enough that you might still be able to reverse the effects of your bad karma. Rush will go the way he lived his life, drugged out on opioids.

  24. iRobert
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 6:29 pm | Permalink

    It’s those cigars Limbaugh loves.

    That’s why I was talking with HW about edibles. I can’t remember if he said he’s switching to them or still smokes.

  25. Wobblie
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 7:10 pm | Permalink

    Aloha iRobert, more liberal lies Has nothing to do with him smoking those Cubans and everything about his attitude.

  26. Bob
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 7:53 pm | Permalink

    You have to be a real asshole to hate the idea of populism. No one has been more hateful and insulting than the two of you with your “Bernie Bros” garbage for the last four years. Continue to follow Hillary’s example and poison the well rather than admit you have been wrong all along.

  27. Sad
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 8:57 pm | Permalink

    Wait.

    Isn’t Mayor Pete starting his march to the nomination tonight?

    He’ll take the Bernie Bros and the Biden Biddies.

    Every one.

    What ever is needed to defeat Trump.

  28. Wobblie
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 10:09 pm | Permalink

    Aloha Sad. Mayor Pete and Bernie seem to be out performing the polls while Biden is getting blown out. Liz is hanging in, but will she do better than the uncommitted is the question.

  29. Jean Henry
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 10:15 pm | Permalink

    Bob does not know American history, and the history of its populist movements, or the history of populist movements abroad and fails to see the distinction between them and grassroots movements. This explains a lot. He has no understanding of how populist movements are corrupted.

  30. Wobblie
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 10:16 pm | Permalink

    Aloha JH and Lynne. 58% of Iowa caucus goers are woman. But according to 538 there does not seem to be a candidate they are going for preferential. Also nearly 60% are under 45.

  31. Jean Henry
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 10:20 pm | Permalink

    Wobblie– Did Lynne or I at any point suggest women were a monolith ot even feminists? No we did not. We will all arrive at different conclusions.

  32. Jean Henry
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 10:22 pm | Permalink

    For Bob.
    “Populists are dividers, not uniters, Mudde told me. They split society into “two homogenous and antagonistic groups: the pure people on the one end and the corrupt elite on the other,” and say they’re guided by the “will of the people.” The United States is what political scientists call a “liberal democracy,” a system “based on pluralism—on the idea that you have different groups with different interests and values, which are all legitimate,” Mudde explained. Populists, in contrast, are not pluralist. They consider just one group—whatever they mean by “the people”—legitimate.”
    A primer: But it does not get into the legacy of populist leaders is the US which is a startlingly corrupt one.

    https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/02/what-is-populist-trump/516525/

  33. Jean Henry
    Posted February 3, 2020 at 10:24 pm | Permalink

    Populists are the dividers, Bob. Not feminists. Populism is a political strategy not a belief system and its’ neither right nor left.

  34. Lynne
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 12:30 am | Permalink

    Most white women voted for Trump, fwiw. Women can be very patriarchal especially those married to white men.

  35. Lynne
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 12:34 am | Permalink

    I don’t believe that karma has anything to do with cancer, wobblie. Illness strikes good people and bad just the same.

  36. Jean Henry
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 7:10 am | Permalink

    Why does it not surprise me that Wobblie thinks people earn their cancer?
    Is there a moment when you are t wagging your finger and scolding everyone for not agreeing with you? Now you think it causes cancer!

  37. Wobblie
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 8:20 am | Permalink

    Aloha , I love the fact that both of you are devoid of any sense of humor. And like HW you believe this is some sort of contest with winners and losers. Reminds me of trying to share info with HW.

  38. iRobert
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 8:36 am | Permalink

    Wobblie, Jean was born without a sense of humor. It’s kind of cruel of you to point out that very painful disability.

    Jean says she has a really great sense of humor in real life. She just doesn’t share it here because none of us are worthy of it. If only we could all become what Jean wants us to be. Then we could bask in the warmth and light of her brilliant wit.

    By the way, Wobblie, it turns out Lynne isn’t black. Did you know that? I didn’t until very recently. I always figured she was a black woman Mark was paying to pretend to be interested in this blog.

  39. Frosted Flakes
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 8:39 am | Permalink

    I had a professor who forbid the use “ism” words in his students papers. He said he would mark off half a grade every time a word ending in “ism” was used. He claimed it was an empty and lazy way to talk about things.

    IMO Jean overuses the term “populism”. The use of the term does not communicate much of anything useful, imo.

  40. Wobblie
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 9:02 am | Permalink

    Aloha I see there is an interesting article in the LA Times on the developer of the app. Is it any surprise they were connected to the 2016 Clinton campaign?

  41. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 11:05 am | Permalink

    Largest turnout of all time for an incumbent in Iowa for President Trump! Trump wins the Iowa caucuses.

  42. Lynne
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 11:32 am | Permalink

    What? Trump is popular with rural racist and sexist white people? Only a “genius” could h!ave predicted that.

  43. Frosted Flakes
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 3:02 pm | Permalink

    You are dumb Lynne. The claim/stat, assuming it is true, is measuring popularity relative to the same/similar sets of people (Iowans) who are living under similar conditions (Iowa) over time.

    Lynne is the person who predicted that Trump would get roughly 0% of the black Detroit vote. It was a piece of “evidence” in her mind that Trump was in fact a racist and perceived as such. That “evidence” never materialized. Evidence that does not materialize is not evidence.

    What is Lynne going to say if Trump gets a lot more of a share of the black vote? (It’s coming I think!)

  44. Lynne
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 3:20 pm | Permalink

    FF, just so we are clear, Trump got something like 4% of the vote in Detroit. I imagine that at least some of that 4% were white people. The evidence emerged but it doesn’t matter because evidence and facts are something you routinely dismiss if they cause you even the slightest bit of cognitive dissonance. Also, you have no business shaking the stupid stick at anyone here. Just don’t. It makes you look pathetic.

    But we are talking about 2020. It is possible that Trump may increase his share of the black vote. I was talking to a friend about just that recently. His mother, a black woman, is very involved in the Democratic party politics in Detroit. She says that she can see Trump sucking up to the black community a bit and thinks maybe it is time for white suburban democrats to do the same. I can’t say that I disagree. Anyways there is a lot of talk that Trump might pardon Kwame Kilpatrick in an attempt to woo black Detroit voters. I don’t think he will but it will be interesting to watch.

  45. iRobert
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 3:24 pm | Permalink

    Lynne: “What? Trump is popular with rural racist and sexist white people? Only a “genius” could h!ave predicted that.”

    That’s a pretty bigoted statement, and not true. I have met many thousands of Iowans, and with almost no exceptions, they are good and decent folks who are very progressive in their ideas and actions with regard to race. It’s true that Iowa is vastly “white” like you Lynne. But they are much less arrogant, combative and hateful of people different than themselves. It’s one of the reasons they seem to enjoy holding the nation’s first caucus every four years. They are very hospitable and welcoming people, who seem to relish in meeting people of different backgrounds and heritage.

  46. iRobert
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 3:33 pm | Permalink

    I know you were sort of joking, by the way. I wasn’t born without a sense of humor. But you are a bit mean, angry and unfair. You know you are. I am also.

  47. Posted February 4, 2020 at 3:42 pm | Permalink

    FF and Lynne,

    Did you see Trump’s ad on Fox 2 during the Super Bowl which was directed at black folks?

    Check it out:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xtv_PJE8xns&feature=emb_title

  48. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 3:47 pm | Permalink

    That’s some of that good shit.

  49. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 3:49 pm | Permalink

    Lynne is a bigot. It’s true. Even her rationale that it is impossible to be bigoted towards white people…is bigoted.

  50. Lynne
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 4:20 pm | Permalink

    iRobert. I guess they aren’t really nice people like you think. I mean sure, many of them are, but not the ones who voted for Trump. His rhetoric is such that the ONE thing we know about every single Trump voter is that they voted for someone who regularly engages in racist and sexist talk. At the very least they had to overlook that and that is pretty racist and sexist in itself imho. It is also a fact that Trump is more popular with rural voters than urban ones.

    I don’t doubt that Iowans are very hospitable people btw. I don’t doubt that they tend to be kind. A person can be those things and still be racist and sexist.

    I hadn’t seen that ad but that is one of the things he has done which will appeal to many black voters. For good reason too. So the question is what are the Democrats going to do to appeal to black voters? Especially since many black voters are socially conservative and thus possibly a more natural fit with the GOP if the GOP would ever stop being so racist. What are Democrats going to do for black people? I honestly haven’t heard much on this score from any of the candidates. Sanders and Warren seem to think that economic fixes aimed at poor people will be enough but I am not so sure. None of the other candidates seem to be talking about any kind of policy to address racism in our society.

  51. Lynne
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 4:22 pm | Permalink

    wobblie, I admit that after going through some VERY painful cancer treatment this past year, I don’t find it funny to rejoice in someone else’s cancer diagnosis.

  52. Lynne
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 4:25 pm | Permalink

    I wasn’t very clear there. Iowans can be nice in many ways but if “nice” = not racist and not sexist then they are not. Nice is a very subjective word.

  53. Sad
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 4:26 pm | Permalink

    Mayor Pete has the Douglas Plan.

    It’s something.

    https://peteforamerica.com/policies/douglass-plan/

  54. Lynne
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 4:32 pm | Permalink

    Sad, I did not know about that plan. I am glad that he has some women of color on his team. Maybe the issue is that the Democrats need to get better with their messaging?

  55. iRobert
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 4:43 pm | Permalink

    Lynne,

    8% of black voters in 2016 voted for Trump.

    29% of Hispanic voters voted for Trump.

    By your standard, these millions of people are supporters of racism.

    People are not racist simply because they voted for Trump. Most white people voted for Trump for the same reasons the 8% of black voters did, and the 29% of Hispanic voters did.

  56. Posted February 4, 2020 at 4:54 pm | Permalink

    “…When you teach a man to hate and fear his brother, when you teach that he is a lesser man because of his color or his beliefs or the policies he pursues, when you teach that those who differ from you threaten your freedom or your job or your family, then you also learn to confront others not as fellow citizens but as enemies – to be met not with cooperation but with conquest, to be subjugated and mastered.

    We learn, at the last, to look at our brothers as aliens, men with whom we share a city, but not a community, men bound to us in common dwelling, but not in common effort. We learn to share only a common fear – only a common desire to retreat from each other – only a common impulse to meet disagreement with force. For all this there are no final answers.

    Yet we know what we must do. It is to achieve true justice among our fellow citizens. The question is now what programs we should seek to enact. The question is whether we can find in our own midst and in our own hearts that leadership of human purpose that will recognize the terrible truths of our existence.

    We must admit the vanity of our false distinctions among men and learn to find our own advancement in the search for the advancement of all. We must admit in ourselves that our own children’s future cannot be built on the misfortunes of others. We must recognize that this short life can neither be ennobled or enriched by hatred or revenge.

    Our lives on this planet are too short and the work to be done too great to let this spirit flourish any longer in our land. Of course we cannot vanish it with a program, nor with a resolution.

    But we can perhaps remember – even if only for a time – that those who live with us are our brothers, that they share with us the same short movement of life, that they seek – as we do – nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and happiness, winning what satisfaction and fulfillment they can.

    Surely this bond of common faith, this bond of common goal, can begin to teach us something. Surely we can learn, at least, to look at those around us as fellow men and surely we can begin to work a little harder to bind up the wounds among us and to become in our hearts brothers and countrymen once again.” – RFK

  57. Lynne
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 5:23 pm | Permalink

    Yes. Black people can have racist biases against black people. Women can support the patriarchy. Every single person who voted for Trump chose to overlook his blatent racism and sexism. Overlooking that is itself racist and sexist in my opinion. Therefore, I also hold the opinion that all Trump voters are racist and sexist.

  58. Frosted Flakes
    Posted February 4, 2020 at 6:33 pm | Permalink

    Lynne used her belief (which turned out to not match the facts) that close to 0% of black people in Detroit would vote for Trump as a sort of evidence that Trump is a racist. Although she was wrong her calculus only worked if she also held a brief that Black people would not vote for a “blatant racist”. So she in effect admitting she was doubly wrong if we accept what she is trying to sell now?

    #slipperylynne

  59. anonymous
    Posted February 27, 2020 at 1:53 pm | Permalink

    Everyone should have listened to you.

  60. Jean Henry
    Posted February 27, 2020 at 3:22 pm | Permalink

    It would have backfired, anonymous.
    The integrity of the process matters, especially with so many Bernie and Trump both maligning it even while they hold the leads.

    And I hope Warren absolutely refuses to take a VP slot. Especially behind Biden– (who today called Anita Hill’s hearing a ‘he said/she said’ situation instead of a railroading at his hands) She’s too qualified. Feminists would prefer she take her ball and go home then be subservient to an ass. Mayor Pete is the ideal VP candidate. He is a diplomat by disposition and training. And he isn’t qualified for any other role.

  61. Lynne
    Posted February 28, 2020 at 12:28 am | Permalink

    I would vote for a ticket that included Mayor Pete as VP!

    I don’t think Warren would be subservient to anyone even if she accepted a VP role but I also couldn’t see her accepting it if the nominee were Biden or Bloomberg.

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