Progressives (Liberals)

Absolutely. I have had a few disagreements with things he’s said or done. Minor, though.

Usually, you’re logical.

The first go round, he got in the race very simply to pull Queen Republican a little left. He had no idea he’d draw clamoring crowds and nearly win.

There was NO REASON in his mind to worry about the tax thing.

He’s the front runner this time. Of course, he must.

Changes you won’t see from elitist democrats protecting their billionaire donors, either, which is why I’m #BernieorBust.

Considering the state of American politics, we really don’t know who might surge or fall. The first major exposure could change everything.

Like when he endorsed Clinton in 2016, huh? Minor point...

I have been under the weather this past week (first time in more years than I can account for) so I haven't read Blatham's treatise as yet. I wanted to be clear minded so as to comprehend and offer my best response, when I do.

Good links. Clearly the term "socialism" has lost much/most of it's negative connotations built up within my generation. That is surely a consequence of time and generational change but I think we have to tip our hat to Sanders for reintroducing the term/concept into American political discourse.

I think so too.

This made me laugh but seriously... if my crystal ball still works, what awaits the US left (which I take as including democrats) after 2020, if Trump wins, is a modern, "softer" version of what the fate of German communists and socialists in 1933... i.e. prosecution.

At your leisure, edgar. Bitly, the URL shortening function, used to have a capacity (it still might) of recording how many readers actually clicked on the link you've put into your post. It was rather sobering to find out that only a seriously small percentage of readers bothered. And then there is the rather constant evidence of careless readers responding to one's quotes or original content. This is why god invented alcohol.

The "Look everyone! I think what the intellectuals think!" game is pretty boring actually. I'm surprised that anyone bothers at all.

Yes. Of course. Leftists belong in prison.

We need to get the FBI and IRS combing through the lives of these leftists to see if there are any crimes that they can be prosecuted for. And then we need to prosecute them and send them to prison.

Those "German communists and socialists in 1933" (and Social-Democrats) were the first to get in the new concentration camps, they weren't in prisons.

Prison is appropriate for American leftists who are convicted of crimes in 2019 however.

About Bernie-or-bustism, and who does or doesn’t ‘deserve’ your Democratic vote, let me just submit this little factoid. Noam Chomsky supported Hillary Clinton. Angela Davis supported Hillary Clinton. Who has more bonafides as a stalwart against imperialism and corporatism (and for libertarian socialism) than Chomsky? Is his opinion and support significant? Who can claim more credibility as a frontline fighter for civil and human rights and against institutional racism and injustice than Angela Davis? Shouldn’t it matter when committed, revolutionary thinkers and doers like this choose to publicly support a candidate?

Now, I admit these figures might not be on par with giants like Killer Mike and Susan Sarandon, but IMHO, their views rightfully carry some weight.

I wanted to underline a very important aspect to this matter.

It is not an "us" versus "them" issue. Not Dem versus Republican nor Sanders' supporters versus other candidate supporters. If we accept that framing, then we fall into the rabbit hole Republicans have happily dived down into with their narrative of "Dems demand his returns for political reasons thus the demands are invalid and can be rejected".

It is entirely a matter of integrity, honesty, ethics and valuable political norms.

Republicans are almost fully supportive of Trump's refusal to publish his returns even though presidential candidates have abided by this norm for many decades and even though Congress has the legal right to demand and gain the release.

The one strategy the Dems cannot follow is anything like what the Republicans are now doing here. This is not just about Trump or even mainly about Trump. It is about Dems demanding and demonstrating ethical/moral behavior in government.

Most citizens aren't stupid. Most citizens can easily recognize the difference between bad behavior and good behavior at this level and Dems must behave differently than Republicans are presently behaving or much of the rationale for supporting Dems falls away.

Which is why I expect it to happen.

Noam supported Bernie, but held his nose and voted Hillary. He damn sure wasn't going to vote Trump.

'Who is the world-renowned political dissident Noam Chomsky voting for? “In the primaries, I would prefer Bernie Sanders,” Chomsky says. “If Clinton is nominated and it comes to a choice between Clinton and Trump, in a swing state, a state where it’s going to matter which way you vote, I would vote against Trump, and by elementary arithmetic, that means you hold your nose and you vote Democrat. I don’t think there’s any other rational choice.”

https://www.democracynow.org/2016/5/16/chomsky_on_supporting_sanders_why_he

Do you think German communists and social-democrats managed to sort out their slight while in Dachau?

In today’s world, Trump won’t even need to send many Dems and affiliates to prison. Lock up one or two now and then, and summon never-ending prosecutions for the rest. That will kill their political careers for good, for the benefit of those politicos who chose to work with Trump...