Surprise For NYT: BERNIE IS ELECTABLE!

[Segami]

"...When good patriotic American citizens get energized, organized, and united anything is possible!..."

A couple of months ago I might have agreed with the NYT that Bernie Sanders was unelectable. He didn't even have the name recognition that Elizabeth Warren had. However, after listening to his speeches and feeling the energy in the responses of his audience, I've changed my mind. The NYT is underestimating the mushrooming fury that is brewing in the middle class and the poor. If Bernie Sanders can continue to tap into that anger he may very well be a viable candidate. Main stream Americans (Democrats, Independents, and even many moderate Republicans) understand that business as usual with its increasing income inequality is unsustainable in a Democracy (or a Republic). About 8 years ago, when I learned that an African American man had tossed his hat in the ring to run against Hillary, I said hell would freeze over before we elected Barack Hussein Obama. I knew almost nothing about him. This was after 9/11. No way would we elect someone with a Muslim sounding name. Besides, as a feminist, I was very excited about the thought of our first woman POTUS.



Then I just happened to be watching a late night talk show and I heard President Obama speak for the very first time. The next morning I called my sister and said I was going to vote for Obama. His message resonated deep within my soul and that is also how I feel about Bernie Sanders. I would still love to see a woman President before I die, but I'm going on 73 years of age. I wanted Elizabeth to run, but she stayed strong in her resolve not to do so. I can live with the idea of never seeing a female president in my lifetime, but I can't live with the idea that nothing will change for the better for another four years. I can't watch the wealthy continue to corrupt our democratic way of life. Obama excited us, we believed in him, and we all got behind him and gave him our support financially and at the polls. Let's do that for Bernie Sanders. I regret to say that Hillary just doesn't stir up any emotional response for me. She doesn't have the passion or the fire that Bernie has. She has way too much baggage and is too close to Wall Street. She appears to lack commitment on bold progressive ideas. I fear our capitalism on steroids would continue and the evaporation of the middle class would persist during her tenure. Bernie will have an uphill battle. He will have to make people understand that socialism is not a dirty word. The neo-cons will try their best to make him seem like a communist. He'll be fighting the Koch's and the 1%. His lack of experience with foreign affairs may be a problem. However, with a good staff of effective advisers that is not insurmountable.



The Republican clown car (or clown bus) is filling up quickly, but so far there does not seem to be any candidate that can unite the entire party. That is an advantage to the Democrats if only we can stand united behind a single candidate who has an unwavering and unlimited resolve to fix what is broken in our country. Bernie Sanders is calling for a revolution. He is correct - that is what it will take. Think what could be accomplished if every individual who lost a home, a job, or retirement savings when the bubble burst got solidly behind this candidate. What if every family that is struggling to send their kids to college, or to pay down credit card debt supported Bernie? Or every worker who earns minimum wage or every senior struggling to survive on Medicare? Or every person who needs social services, but can't find help because of slashed budgets? Or every person who works in unsafe conditions because there is no union fighting for his rights? Or if everyone who cares about protecting our environment for future generations? This list would be mighty long if I included everyone who would be helped by Bernie Sanders and his progressive views!




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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/06/06/1391000/-Surprise-for-NYT-Bernie-is-Electable