Surprise For NYT: BERNIE IS ELECTABLE!

[olegramps]

32. "...he won't be able to do anything more than Obama has been."

Unfortunately, I believe that this could be he sad truth unless, a big unless, the senate and house are controlled by Democrats. It really bothers me that many in recent months have seemed to cool on Obama forgetting how he was obstructed from the very onset.

Here is an important fact that is I believe often overlooked. The Republican Party's influence is not restricted to national elections but has its main strength in local and state government. They have very effectively made themselves the protector of the religious fundamentalist and evangelical blocks. They have also used wedge issues to capture a significant share of the traditionally Democratic Catholic vote. The fundamental and evangelical voters are virtually controlled by their leadership and actually pledge to vote Republican at church sponsored registration rallies.

They have run a brilliant campaign that began at the very root of local elections including school boards, city government and state government. This how they have taken over school boards and inaugurated programs to replace public education with charter schools that have flaunted laws prohibiting religious indoctrination. Peer pressure can suppress any resistance by students who fear being ostracized. Anyone and anything that challenges their agenda such as comprehensive sex education, history and sexual orientation are suppressed.

As a result of their local control coupled with extremely dominate control of the talk shows and the likes of FOX News, they have been able to control an increasing number of state houses resulting in vote suppression and gerrymandering. The bottom line is that Democrats have been increasingly marginalized and it makes little difference that they prevail in presidential elections.