Sen. Claire McCaskill is nuts

Sen. Claire McCaskill

It's not enough that Hillary Clinton is disparaging her opponent, Bernie Sanders, but now the Democratic establishment is organizing to defeat the Bern. Sen. Claire McCaskill said, “I think it would be absolutely impossible for a self-declared socialist to win states like Missouri,” adding Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania to the lot.But a 2010 Gallup poll reported that 36% of Americans had a favorable view of Socialism and that has improved measurably over the years.

 And just 9 percent of a select group of Millennial voters say Sanders' description of himself as a Democratic Socialist makes them less likely to support him. YouGov says that 36% of Millennials as a whole have a positive view of Socialism. In October 2014, a Rasmussen poll found that the Democratic Party views Socialism on a 50-50 basis with Capitalism. All of which makes McCaskill's "absolutely impossible" statement both dumb and ludicrous. But if the Dems do decide to mount an all out campaign against Bernie Sanders it will just piss off his supporters even more.

The Senator from Vermont seems to be ahead in both Iowa and New Hampshire, and that does not register well with the party's die-hards. Sanders committed a mortal sin by becoming an Independent to begin with. Then came the next egregious offense, at least as far as Debbie Wassermen Schultz was concerned, by daring to run in the Democratic Primary to oppose her favorite, Hillary Clinton. In other words, the Bern upset the establishment and that is what he is all about.  

Bernie Sanders Sayings

Voting among the poor is almost non-existent. Among different age groups, the young vote in lower numbers than any other group. Public cynicism about the Democratic process has never been greater, and individual belief in the possibility of democratic change has never been more threatened.

Do you despise Wayne LaPierre? Watch this video and you will

Charles Topher calls the head of the National Rifle Assn. (NRA), Wayne LaPierre, despicable, disgusting. Topher says his moral code embraces only money, calling for more guns in schools immediately following the gun massacre of 20 six-year-olds and 6 teachers at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. Well, I couldn't have said it better except my description would have included many expletives.

LaPierre cowardly refused to appear with Barack Obama at the "Guns in America" town hall on CNN January 4. Then it took him two weeks to come up with an answer in which he challenges the President to a one-on-one gun control debate. The terms: "...that the debate be one hour with a moderator, no pre-screened questions and no long answers." Apparently LaPierre isn't capable of putting together long sentences unless he has a script in front of him.

This challenge from the country's head gun nut consists of an eight-minute propaganda video designed to showcase his arrogance and ignorance of the issues, while completely ignoring the facts. LaPierre is the epitome of the village idiot who stumbles through life as an...idiot. Read the article and watch the video--if your stomach can handle it--here.

Bernie Sanders Sayings

Although the corporate media doesn't discuss it too often, the facts are quite clear. In the presidential election of 1996, half of all eligible voters cast their ballots. Two years earlier, when the Gingrich-dominated Congress was elected, only 38% of Americans voted. This compares with over 70 percent participation in most other major industrialized countries.

Sanders cuts Clinton So. Carolina lead 17% in 30 days

Hillary Clinton is leading Bernie Sanders 47% to 28% but Bernie's surge is significant in that Clinton led 67% to 31% last December 17, which totaled 36 points at the time. Phil Noble, President of the So. Carolina New Democrats says the Clinton lead still worthy but Sanders is "closing fast." The Democratic SC Primary is February 27. Here are some more figures from Phil Noble:

Among key subgroups, the results of the poll were as follows:

African Americans voters are expected to make up 60% of the primary electorate: Clinton 54%, Sanders 18% and O'Malley 2%.
White voters are expected to make up 40% of the primary electorate: Clinton 39%, Sanders 44%, and O'Malley 2%.
Men voters are expected to make up 40% of the primary electorate: Clinton 37%, Sanders 44% and O'Malley 3%.Women voters are expected to make up 60% of the primary electorate: Clinton 48%, Sanders 32% and O'Malley 2%.

"We believe this poll gives a good snapshot of the state of the race in South Carolina today," said John Thevos, Research Director of SC New Democrats who managed the survey. "Most of all, it shows that things can change very quickly in the Palmetto State and the primary on February 27 could well surprise lots of folks."

A couple of months ago So. Carolina was all gloom and doom for Bernie Sanders since it was assumed that Hillary Clinton had locked up the African American vote. Now it is obvious that the state as a whole is rethinking its loyalties. It is simply a matter of recognition of the candidate and his issues and it is obvious that once folks learn what the Bern is all about they begin to feel it.

Bernie Sanders nailed Sunday's debate

If you watched last nights Democratic debate you should be even more convinced that Bernie Sanders should and will be our next President. All the immaterial Republican candidates aside, this was a battle between three extremely well-qualified individuals that want to go to the White House in 2017. I say three because Martin O'Malley is now a shining star for the 2014 campaign, proving why he has remained in the 2016 race.

But the night was Bernie's and he made good use of it to point out the differences between his campaign and that of Hillary Clinton. It's all about change, which, by the way, is what put Barack Obama in the oval office in 2009. Bernie Sander's Revolution is catching on and Clinton can't cope with the fact that the American public sees a future in Bernie's Independent approach. Yes, he is truly the Independent the country has been waiting for that will set the two-party system on its heels.

As you will see in tomorrow's post, the Bern has already made great strides in So. Carolina but Sunday's debate should improve this even more.

Bernie Sanders Sayings

Why don't the great majority of Americans elect a government that will look out for their interests and fight for a fairer distribution of wealth? We can only answer that question if we look the unpleasant truth straight in the eye. And the truth is that the fabric of American democracy is currently extremely fragile, and that the U.S. government as currently constituted does not represent the interests of the ordinary citizens.

Bernie Sanders has surged in national polls in six months

The Huff Post has combined a number of national polls starting in January of 2015 through this January, showing the phenomenal growth of Bernie Sanders' campaign. As an unknown, he polled a low 4% on January 12, 2015, Hillary Clinton 60.8% and Martin O'malley .09%. Today, Sanders is 37.5%, Clinton 51.6% and O'Malley 2.7%.

Since Clinton has lost 9.2 points, O'Malley has gained only 2.6, that would indicate to me most of the 33.5 additional points Bernie Sanders has added are from formerly undecided voters. The interactive Huff Post also shows just under a twenty-percent increase for Bernie in just one month; Dec. 2015 31.4%, Jan. 2016 37.5%. In that same period Hillary lost 4.1 points. If you believe in polls, and keep in mind this is a collection of several, this is significant.

The Iowa Caucus is February 1, New Hampshire Primary following on the 9th. And then there are the Nevada Caucus and South Carolina Primary on February 20. It has been said that, even if Bernie Sanders wins Iowa and New Hampshire, and he is ahead in both, he will fade in Nevada and South Carolina and beyond. I say that is no longer true, based on the fact that his national recognition has grown by at least 20% since starting his campaign, and the last month continued to confirm that this will continue and play heavily in all future primaries.

South Carolina is already showing promise for Bernie Sanders but Nevada is uncertain at this point. More on this tomorrow.

Bernie Sanders too old?...Nah

Guess how old Ronald Reagan was when he was elected to office: he was 69. Bernie Sanders is just 74, five years older, and in good health, but it is reported that the Clinton campaign plans to attack Bernie on his age, perhaps even in the debate tonight. If this happens, it will be one of the low blows of the campaign, and hopefully Bernie will respond with his usual emphasis on the issues, showing Hillary's desperation in losing ground.

And then there are all the skeletons in Clinton's closet like Benghazi and the Emails that the Bern has elected not to pursue. Bernie Sanders has stayed on issue during this campaign just as he has in the 34 years he has been in political office. Hillary Clinton has flip-flopped on same sex marriage, gun control, the Iraq War and drivers licenses for illegal immigrants.

Okay, it's four to one; Bernie just flip flopped on his support for a bill that gave legal immunity to gun manufactures, now promising to back one that strips them of this immunity. But any way you cut it, there is more consistency in Bernie Sanders than Hillary Clinton. And you can depend on this consistency in his Presidency because he has no obligations to big donors, big business and those represented by Clinton's PACs.

By the way, Hillary Clinton is 68 years old.

Wanna know what Bernie Sanders is all about?

Here's what to expect with a Republican controlled Congress

Paul Ryan's budget

Bernie Sanders Sayings

By slashing special breaks for corporations, we could help working families immensely--and ordinary Americans would not have to pay a cent more in taxes.

Bernie Sanders considered significantly more honest than Hillary Clinton

Why enforcing current gun laws hasn't worked

Members of Congress, including some Democrats, answer new gun control legislation with, 'Just enforce the current gun laws.' During Barack Obama's town hall on guns broadcast on CNN last Thursday, he at least partially answered the question. These same members of Congress "...then cut (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives) budgets to make it impossible to enforce the law," he said.

An example is my post yesterday connecting new Speaker, Paul Ryan, to "voodoo economics" in his 2014 budget, designed to cut taxes to the bone, eliminating needed programs like those above. Another vivid illustration is the GOP action, initiated and backed by the National Rifle Assn. (NRA) some years ago that refuses to allow the CDC to release figures on gun violence. These valuable statistics would allow the government to prioritize gun laws.

And then while Obama was actually speaking at the CNN town hall on guns, the NRA boneheads, who didn't attend the town hall, tweeted to the President, "If the goal is to save lives, then prosecute criminals." Wayne LaPierre, NRA head, just keeps putting out the same old shit.

THE NATION Magazine endorses Bernie Sanders

If you haven't read The Nation and you are a Progressive, you should. If you are a conservative, you should read The Nation just to find out how ridiculous your ideologies are. It is the top Progressive publication on the market and I have followed this publication for the last few years; it has strengthened my Progressive position more with each article read. Today, it endorsed Bernie Sanders.

This endorsement confirms with no doubt who the Progressive candidate is in the Democratic primary, placing Bernie Sanders in the position of being the people's candidate. If you're not sure what that means, it indicates the only one running for President who wants to put the middle class and the disadvantaged before the wealthy and big corporations.

It is an endorsement that Bernie can take to the bank. The Nation has endorsed Democratic candidates only twice. Jesse Jackson in 1988 and Barack Obama in 2008.




















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Bernie Sanders Sayings

We can also reverse the inequitable distribution of wealth by closing loopholes in corporate taxes. If we eliminated tax breaks for corporations, corporate subsidies, and other forms of corporate welfare, we could save $125 billion a year. Those savings could be applied to healthcare, education, social services--and to balancing the budget. 

Paul Ryan ups John Boehner on untruths

MSNBC says the Beltway "considers Paul Ryan some kind of numbers-wiz policy wonk," even though his 2014 budget that passed the House was considered "voodoo economics." But Steve Benen says, :...his answer yesterday was a reminder that the Wisconsin congressman really doesn’t know what he’s talking about." Benen refers to Ryan's attempt to explain the success of the Obama-era economy.

It's almost like the new Speaker lives in a dream world of his own and, unfortunately,  he is only two heart beats away from the Presidency. Here's Ryan's "gibberish," as Benen refers to it:

1. Paul Ryan opposes the Fed’s recent monetary policies.
2. Paul Ryan believes the Fed’s recent monetary policies are bad for the economy.
3. Asked about positive economic developments, Paul Ryan credits the policies he doesn’t support.

Paul Ryan is obsessed with rewarding the wealthy at the expense of the working class and the needy. Bernie Sanders will remedy that when his Presidency sweeps out the House GOP majority and replaces it with Progressives.  

Bernie Sanders Sayings

It is also time, high time, to establish a tax on wealth similar to those that exist in most European countries. Simply stated, a wealth tax would require the very wealthiest Americans, people worth millions of dollars, to pay taxes on their accumulated wealth, rather than enabling them to get ever richer without giving anything back to the society that makes their wealth possible. A tax on wealth could raise tens of billions of dollars a year.

Close connections between President's SOTU speech and Bernie Sanders campaign

Barack Obama closed the last year of his Presidency with an excellent SOTU speech that reverberated through all the accomplishments of his seven years and the conflict that he has experienced with the GOP Congress in opposing almost everything he has proposed. No hostility, just hard facts that should put Republicans on notice that this will probably gain momentum with the new Democratic President in January 2017.

He did not identify who the next President will be but he indicated the United States is now on a course of Progressivism, one that is supported by the American public, and one that must be advanced in the future. Obama also touched on some topics he felt were priorities for this country that have been championed by Bernie Sanders for the last 30 years and are major thrusts of his campaign for President.

The income and wealth inequality, something Joe Biden praised him for saying this was new territory for Hillary Clinton. Getting big money out of politics. Establishing a living wage, increasing the minimum to $15.00 per hour. Creating decent paying jobs. Strengthening and expanding Social Security, to name only a few. Clinton has picked up on many of these issues, attempting to make them her ideas. But the voting public is beginning to get wise, as they become more familiar with the Senator from Vermont.

President Obama has said he won't endorse one of the Democratic candidates. After tonight's SOTU, it won't be necessary.

Sanders takes lead in Iowa and thunders to new high in New Hampshire

A new Quinnipiac University poll out today places Bernie Sanders with 49% of likely Iowa Democratic Caucus voters with Clinton at 44%, a five point lead. Just recently Clinton led Sanders by three points.  The men are 61 to 30 percent for Bernie, the women 55 to 39 percent for Hillary. And Sanders favorability with this same group is 87-3 compared to Clinton's 74-21. Hillary Clinton does lead Bernie Sanders when it comes to who would win in the general election, 85% to 68%.

In the New Hampshire Primary, Bernie has taken a significant lead of 14-points over Hillary, 53% to 39% in todays Monmouth University poll. With 52% of New Hampshire primary voters completely decided on who they will support, in addition to the 53% currently supporting Sanders, "... another 20% of primary voters say they could end up voting for him on February 9th instead of their current choice.

For the General Election in November, Bernie Sanders against the GOP leading candidate, Donald Trump, 51 percent to 38 percent, but Hillary Clinton only 44 to 47 percent, both Quinnipiac polls.

Now, onward to South Carolina.

Bernie Sanders Sayings

That {a flat tax}is precisely the wrong direction to take. We need to reaffirm the just principle that those who benefit the most economically from our society should pay the most to sustain it.

Gun Control could be Bernie Sanders weak link in long haul

Hillary Clinton hammered Bernie Sanders on gun control by pointing out his votes to grant immunity to gun makers from lawsuits when their products are used in crimes, and for voting against the Brady Bill five times. Clinton says Sanders shows no signs of changing his positions on these issues and that does not correspond with the wishes of the American public which is veering more in the favor of reasonable gun control.
I have been critical of Bernie's failure to come out strong for gun control from the beginning and believe it hurts him now more while the realization is finally hitting the U.S. that too many guns are responsible for the daily shootings and mass killings in this country. I really cannot see how someone can be a true Progressive and not realize how much negative impact guns have on the total population. The 2nd Amendment be damned, America needs to rein in the gun culture now.

In last Thursday's CNN Town Hall on gun control, Barack Obama came out moderately for more action on guns, with much less force than I had expected and hoped for. Again, I have felt that the President has also been much to soft on this issue, and this has been another let down for me. Sanders spokesman Michael Briggs told Politico,  Sanders was “willing to take another look at the gun manufacturer immunity legislation.” Not good enough for me and, I am sure, many gun-violence-fed-up Americans.

I am for Bernie Sanders to the end, which I envision to be the day that he and Jane walk into the White House after he is elected President. But in the meantime, too many innocent people, including children, are dying from gun violence and I believe that all that are involved in this fiasco know what has to be done. So why don't we do it.

Bernie Sanders Sayings

They {the wealthy} and many of their conservative mouthpieces are even trying to sell the nation on a flat tax, allowing a billionaire to pay the same rate as a mother of two earning $5.50 an hour in her service-sector job.

Obamacare survives with President's veto

Over 50 times now the dunce cap kids have tried to repeal The Affordable Care Act that has more people covered for their health care needs now than ever before. Okay, I hear the naysayers, and yes there are still problems that have to be fixed but what if they had given up on Social Security and Medicare during their trying times? In the MSNBC article, one reader posed this question:

"I know that republicans will do whatever the NRA wants because of the millions of dollars that they receive in bribes. What I'm not sure about is why they are so stuck on continually trying to abolish or not fund Obamacare? Who has bribed them on this one?"

 That's an interesting question and raises another equally absorbing query; just who has the GOP's gonads on this one. One would need only to look at the health care industry and health professionals. The GOP and conservative groups receive far more in donations than Democrats and Progressive organizations. Which would indicate to me that if you are a Republican politician, you're in it for the money. Sure, the Dems do it but the scales are weighed heavily toward the GOP when it comes to taking money for favors.

Of course there is still that factor of animosity toward Barack Obama and anything he has or is trying to accomplish in his presidency. This will perhaps go down in U.S. history as the most egregious act ever perpetrated by a Republican Congress.  

President Obama drops gun control fact bomb on CNN Town Hall

After the President determined that Wayne LaPierre, head of the National Rifle Assn. was too much of a coward to debate him at the CNN Town Hall on guns, he made the following compelling statement:

“…there’s no other consumer item that we purchase…There’s nothing else in our lives that we purchase that we don’t try to make a little safer if we can. Obama on guns."

But we don't do this with gun, despite the ease in doing so, because LaPierre and his NRA henchmen have Congress by the balls. Pathetic.