@Miller,
Somebody left the kennel open?
Robert Reich
7 mins · San Francisco, CA ·
Last night on Chris Hayes MSNBC show, Chris asked me if there’s a “Democratic establishment.” Of course there is. It’s comprised of current and former Wall Street executives who make massive campaign donations to Democrats (some of whom have served in the Clinton and Obama administrations and then returned to the Street); hedge-fund partners who make even larger contributions; moguls from large high-tech corporations and entertainment companies who both contribute directly and also “bundle” contributions from their friends; and major Washington lobbyists and lawyers who focus their bundling and their political activities on Democrats (half of all retired Democratic members of Congress in recent years have become Washington lobbyists).
The Democratic establishment is slightly more liberal than the Republican establishment, but their world views are not wildly dissimilar. After all, they have similar large homes in Westchester or Bethesda; they frequent the same vacation spots in the Hamptons or the Vineyard; attend many of the same charitable balls and dinners; serve on many of the same corporate and nonprofit boards; go to the same conclaves, such as Davos; travel in similar private jets; and are invited by presidents (Republican or Democratic, depending on who they’ve supported) to attend similar White House parties and receptions, and to serve on similar presidential commissions and advisory boards.
So the Democratic establishment sees the world much as the Republican establishment sees it: a system of privilege and power, to which they’re entitled because of their superior intelligence and ambition. And they view the vast and widening inequities of income, wealth, and power in America as natural and inevitable and, ultimately, just.
@maxdancona,
For that state and for the ones who show up, I guess it will be a good survey.
Relative older article (1-11-16) with facts which needs updating but interesting.
What Happens If Bernie Wins Iowa and New Hampshire?
Quote:Bernie Sanders has a legitimate shot to sweep the first two nominating contests of 2016. That’s the big takeaway from the latest polling from NBC News and the Wall Street Journal, which found Sanders and Hillary Clinton running neck and neck in Iowa and New Hampshire with three weeks to go until the former and four until the latter.
A Sanders sweep—possible, albeit still not probable at this point—would fundamentally alter the Democratic race. In the span of eight days, the self-styled democratic socialist would be transformed from establishment gadfly to real-life Democratic challenger. The political press, long desperate for intrigue and uncertainty in a race that has so far been devoid of it, would shower Sanders with attention and praise while simultaneously questioning whether Hillary Clinton was doomed to suffer the same fate she did in 2008 at the hands of another unlikely challenger. (Expect every talking head on cable TV to remind you in unison that only once in modern political history has a nominee from either party failed to win either of the first two states—a stat that sounds rather ominous until you consider the non-incumbent sample size.) Bernie, in turn, would see a bump in the polls and an uptick in his fundraising, all at a time when many would-be primary voters are paying attention to the 2016 campaign for the first time. All this would be a big deal for Sanders.
What would not change, though, is that Clinton would remain the clear favorite for the Democratic nomination.
Even if Hillary staggers out of New Hampshire with her second loss in as many contests, she’ll still have the same massive advantages she enjoys today: the campaign and super PAC cash, the ground game, the endorsements, the pledged superdelegates, and the general support of a party establishment that won’t soon forget that her challenger is not technically even a part of the Democratic Party. An unexpected loss in Iowa and a less surprising one in New Hampshire wouldn’t change that.
She’d also have a chance to get back on her feet—and fast. Consider what comes next: Nevada (Feb. 20) and South Carolina (Feb. 27), two significantly more diverse states than lily-white Iowa and lily-whiter New Hampshire, and two places where Clinton currently enjoys massive leads in the polls. According to the RealClearPolitics rolling average, Clinton holds a 20-point advantage in Nevada and a whopping 40-point lead in South Carolina. March brings better news still for the former secretary of state, starting with a Super Tuesday slate that includes friendly territory in the form of southern states like Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia. The rest of the month, meanwhile, includes several big, delegate-rich contests that she won eight years ago during her battle with Barack Obama: Michigan, Florida, and Ohio. Yes, Sanders could have the momentum this time next month, but it’ll be on him to to find a way to keep it as he heads into significantly more challenging terrain than Iowa or New Hampshire, which were always going to offer his best chance at pulling off an early upset or two.
None of this is to say that Clinton has the nomination locked up already. She doesn’t. But if Iowa and New Hampshire are must-wins for anyone, it’s Sanders. Hillary can—and likely would—survive a slow start and still be the one standing on stage at the Democratic National Convention when the balloons come down this summer. Bernie, though, has no such margin of error.
@revelette2,
I agree with everything in this article, but let me highlight this section.
Quote:she’ll still have the same massive advantages she enjoys today: the campaign and super PAC cash, the ground game, the endorsements, the pledged superdelegates
All Bernie has is millions of regular Americans behind him and supporting him. We need your help.
http://www.feelbern.org/donate/
I'll say one thing for Bernie. At least he's trying to take the right path to the White House. Democrats criticized Nader for taking votes away from them in the general election. At least Sanders isn't going that route. In a sense he's doing what we used to tell Nader to do.
@edgarblythe,
True; the game is all the same, and it's called 'power.'
They say it's a "baseless attack" on Hillary's part to criticize Sanders' lack of foreign policy expertise but he really did suggest sending Iranians to Israel's border with missiles. I think Hillary has a point there.
@jcboy,
Hillary's criticism of Sanders on the 'lack of foreign policy' is laughable at best. Most presidents elected to office never had foreign policy expertise. That's the reason they have advisors.
I would have to see a reputable source for that claim about Sanders wanting to put Iranians with missiles at Israel's border.
http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-israel-and-the-palestinians/
http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-iran/
@edgarblythe,
I like Bernie even more than before after reading about him. A very good man.
@edgarblythe,
I'm an anti-war sort but I can understand Iran wanting to have a useful defense, for pete's sake.
Whether the U.S. president should "put them there", well, dumber things have happened by far but that would (to me) only ratchet up a situation that could use ratcheting down big time, preferably with moves by Israel that I know they won't do - see latest land grab info, just today. I've no link but it was announced somewhere on google news, I think.
Anyone know who Pete is?
@ossobuco,
These maps tells the true story about Israel's land grab.
http://whatreallyhappened.com/WRHARTICLES/mapstellstory.html
As I've mentioned before, Israel is not a democracy. Palestinians have many travel restrictions, and their cars must have green license plates. There are many armed checkpoints on the roads in Israel. I've seen them.
On the other hand, I've seen both Palestinians and Jews living peacefully in the walled city.
@cicerone imposter,
I haven't looked at that, but I am thinking that was not today's (or yesterday's) land grab announcement, more territory coming.
@maxdancona,
Nope. If Bernie is nominated I will vote for him in a country minute. But believing everything he claims he can get done is childish. At least Hillary is talking about things that might be possible even with a republican congress. Bernies chicken in every pot and a car in every garage has already been promised, with the same result that will be seen by President Bernie.
OMG. Have you seen the one minute spot? Simon and Garfunkel's "America." It resonates...
The youtube method doesn't work for me. Here's the best I can do.
https://youtu.be/2nwRiuh1Cug
Jesus Christ, I have to say I'm in tears every time.
@RABEL222,
Not at all. You should try it sometime.
@Lash,
Lash wrote:
OMG. Have you seen the one minute spot? Simon and Garfunkel's "America." It resonates...
The youtube method doesn't work for me. Here's the best I can do.
https://youtu.be/2nwRiuh1Cug
Jesus Christ, I have to say I'm in tears every time.
That's great First time I saw it.
@edgarblythe,
Nice for me to share first time with you. Made me laugh to say that.
