#BernieOrBust.
#StopTrump.
The two party system is rigged.
We have to work within the Democratic Party to get the platform enacted.
What is a dutiful revolutionist supposed to do now????
If you've never worked within American establishment politics then, like me and hundreds of thousands of fellow Bernie supporters across the country - you are probably mildly hungover today. Yesterday, our beloved Bernie Sanders took the stage in New Hampshire where we helped him win by 22+ points and went on to endorse Hillary Clinton for president. After many months of exposing Hillary and the system as corrupt and in bed with big money, Bernie endorsed all of it - it feels. What we convinced ourselves was impossible became the staged... complete with logos and a handpicked unity audience. For me, the only comfort was that I still had some Grey Goose chilling in the freezer.
Watching Bernie wipe his brow repeatedly as he spoke and listened to her speak struck me as strange - yesterday was a cool and breezy day in New England and he never did that at the several other rallies I attended - was he under duress? As the livecast continued, comments streamed at lightning pace delivering theory and rumor aplenty. Bernie's position in the Senate was in jeapordy, Bernie's gains on the platform were at risk, Bernie's own family was being threatened. As alarming as all of that was, I wasn't prepared for what I would read over the next few hours... from lots of Bernie supporters all over the country.
"You betrayed us!", "I've been deceived!", "I wasted my hard earned time on you and I want my donations back!" - and these were some of the mild posts I subjected myself to. Reason began to push sadness out of my temper and I reminded some that Bernie said from Day 1 he would support the Democratic nominee if he did not win the primary. That was my consolation as I mixed the grapefruit juice and seltzer.
And then the calls and texts came in from local friends and Berners that I volunteered shoulder to shoulder with; "how are you?", "this hurts more than I expected it would", "what's your plan after the convention?" As the hours passed, the online community began to console each other a bit more - pointing out that Bernie hadn't actually conceded nor had he released his delegates. We insisted he HAD to do this in order to keep his own credentials and attend the convention. People started posting DNC convention rules, new memes started circulating. I participated in the delegate conference call, but by that time my head was pretty fuzzy from the emotion and the Goose.
Here is what I know. Today, ~30% of Bernie Sanders supporters will follow his request, at best, 40% are going Green, 20% are not voting in the general at all and 10% are voting Trump. The Bernie to Trump pipeline represents the weakest of our supporters; those that were probably always-on-the-mouse-but-never-leave-the-house types. And establishment Democrats CANNOT gaslight Bernie voters to get onboard or else Trump. It's a failed strategy. I started to tell myself that I would work to elect local progressive candidates and possibly sit out the general or write Bernie in. But if there is not even an accounting of write ins in my state, that's not an option.
Bernie supporters don't want Trump. But they don't want the Democratic establishment either. So here is my suggestion to the Democratic Party: Dismantle YOURSELF.
In the coming weeks especially, embrace Bernie supporters authentically to propel our issues into the Democratic Party priority list. Invite us to build coalitions, pump clean money into our local progressive candidates and every time Hillary or a surrogate speaks to the media, acknowledge Bernie and his effect on the party. Be sure EVERY BERNIE DELEGATE gets to the convention by donating to www.fundberniedelegates.com and reach out to them at events, meetings and online. Practice The Golden Rule. If we are really fighting the same battle of equal opportunity for every American, Democrats need to instruct Hillary supporters to extend respect, courtesy and appreciation to Bernie supporters. But - ABOVE ALL - start truly working on progressive issues; renounce your corporate donors, get back to acting on constituent needs rather than serving your big money masters, attend events being run by progressive organizations like 350.org, National Nurses United and The Citizens Trade Campaign to show solidarity with our fight.
Considering Bernie has fought for us for nearly fifty years, I'm going trust him and follow his lead. I hope to take as many progressives with me and I really hope establishment Democrats will not make that task more difficult than it already is.
#StopTrump.
The two party system is rigged.
We have to work within the Democratic Party to get the platform enacted.
What is a dutiful revolutionist supposed to do now????
If you've never worked within American establishment politics then, like me and hundreds of thousands of fellow Bernie supporters across the country - you are probably mildly hungover today. Yesterday, our beloved Bernie Sanders took the stage in New Hampshire where we helped him win by 22+ points and went on to endorse Hillary Clinton for president. After many months of exposing Hillary and the system as corrupt and in bed with big money, Bernie endorsed all of it - it feels. What we convinced ourselves was impossible became the staged... complete with logos and a handpicked unity audience. For me, the only comfort was that I still had some Grey Goose chilling in the freezer.
Watching Bernie wipe his brow repeatedly as he spoke and listened to her speak struck me as strange - yesterday was a cool and breezy day in New England and he never did that at the several other rallies I attended - was he under duress? As the livecast continued, comments streamed at lightning pace delivering theory and rumor aplenty. Bernie's position in the Senate was in jeapordy, Bernie's gains on the platform were at risk, Bernie's own family was being threatened. As alarming as all of that was, I wasn't prepared for what I would read over the next few hours... from lots of Bernie supporters all over the country.
"You betrayed us!", "I've been deceived!", "I wasted my hard earned time on you and I want my donations back!" - and these were some of the mild posts I subjected myself to. Reason began to push sadness out of my temper and I reminded some that Bernie said from Day 1 he would support the Democratic nominee if he did not win the primary. That was my consolation as I mixed the grapefruit juice and seltzer.
And then the calls and texts came in from local friends and Berners that I volunteered shoulder to shoulder with; "how are you?", "this hurts more than I expected it would", "what's your plan after the convention?" As the hours passed, the online community began to console each other a bit more - pointing out that Bernie hadn't actually conceded nor had he released his delegates. We insisted he HAD to do this in order to keep his own credentials and attend the convention. People started posting DNC convention rules, new memes started circulating. I participated in the delegate conference call, but by that time my head was pretty fuzzy from the emotion and the Goose.
Here is what I know. Today, ~30% of Bernie Sanders supporters will follow his request, at best, 40% are going Green, 20% are not voting in the general at all and 10% are voting Trump. The Bernie to Trump pipeline represents the weakest of our supporters; those that were probably always-on-the-mouse-but-never-leave-the-house types. And establishment Democrats CANNOT gaslight Bernie voters to get onboard or else Trump. It's a failed strategy. I started to tell myself that I would work to elect local progressive candidates and possibly sit out the general or write Bernie in. But if there is not even an accounting of write ins in my state, that's not an option.
Bernie supporters don't want Trump. But they don't want the Democratic establishment either. So here is my suggestion to the Democratic Party: Dismantle YOURSELF.
In the coming weeks especially, embrace Bernie supporters authentically to propel our issues into the Democratic Party priority list. Invite us to build coalitions, pump clean money into our local progressive candidates and every time Hillary or a surrogate speaks to the media, acknowledge Bernie and his effect on the party. Be sure EVERY BERNIE DELEGATE gets to the convention by donating to www.fundberniedelegates.com and reach out to them at events, meetings and online. Practice The Golden Rule. If we are really fighting the same battle of equal opportunity for every American, Democrats need to instruct Hillary supporters to extend respect, courtesy and appreciation to Bernie supporters. But - ABOVE ALL - start truly working on progressive issues; renounce your corporate donors, get back to acting on constituent needs rather than serving your big money masters, attend events being run by progressive organizations like 350.org, National Nurses United and The Citizens Trade Campaign to show solidarity with our fight.
Considering Bernie has fought for us for nearly fifty years, I'm going trust him and follow his lead. I hope to take as many progressives with me and I really hope establishment Democrats will not make that task more difficult than it already is.