In Philly: Dissent, revolution, disruption or?

Last night was an historic moment, one which the optimist in me wants to believe signals a move forward. After a long roll call vote of all fifty states, with Vermont passing until the end, and Hillary clearly having the numbers to secure the nomination,when Vermont came back up, Bernie rose to nominate Hillary by acclimation.  The disappointed and passed off Bernie delegates, or a large number of them, yelled out Nay! But again, clearly the ayes had it.

Some of them walked out in protest, headed for the media tent to continue the demonstration.  Where hear they were surrounded by the police.

While I join in the frustration, grief and even anger, I am a Democrat committed to making change from the inside,which w have done, with the CDP Progressive Caucus, our California platform and trying to elect progressive officials in and out of the Party.

All this reminds me of 1968 and the Democratic Convention and its aftermath.  Those who were "clean for Gene(McCarthy)," something I found personally insulting,implying that we really were dirty hippies, plus all us radicals were not going to accept Hubert Humphrey. I wasn't old enough to vote, you had to be 21 in those days, but we marched and yelled "Dump the Hump" and called Humphrey and Nixon "Tweedle Dum and Tweedle Dee". We really did believe the revolution would come, before we were 30 (remember "Don't trust anyone over 30?") and we also wanted to heighten the contradictions.

Well we did that, and got Nixon and a lot of us left the movement in frustration, back to the land or whoever.  Others stayed, like me, and joined the women's movement and other outlets.

I don't know if there were any inside baseball deals made with Humphrey, but I kind of doubt it.  Anyway,  he lost.

Off to DFA training. Where people are still touchy.  More to come.

Day Three in Philly

Woke up groggy after it a bad sleep but after a very emotional day on the convention floor, one that left me wired at 1 AM.

Like herding cats, only more so, the Bernie delegation was all over the proverbial map. Some smuggled in NO TPP signs, referring to the Trans Pacific Partnership that both candidates disavow at least in the this form, but the Hillary delegates allowed to go through in the platform, because the did not want to disrespect Obama who is on a fast track with it.  It would allow rules pushed by international corporate interests to override environmental rules and workers rights here and elsewhere.

It has become Bernie's rallying cry to keep it from coming up in the lame duck session. Hillary has said she would reform it at least.

We heard Bernie in the afternoon in a private (sort of, nothing. Is private when announced on the inter webs, folks) gathering. He gave mostly his stump speech, ending that we must support Hillary now, for the sake the of the future. Donald Trump is too dangerous.

He was booed by some of his own people, even. On the floor, where he was the last speaker, just after Paul Simon singing Bridge over Troubled Waters, which gave me chills like nothing else, who felt he was "selling them out."  Not all I hasten to add. Disappointed as many were, they accepted it. We have to stop Trump. That is job one.

The rest will never be involved in Party politics. Many feel he should have talked to us differently. Someone on Facebook said words to the effect he talked down to us.

But of course. It wasn't just us, it was the press, and anyone else listening in. Was he pressured by the DNC to fall in line? What could they threaten him with?  No, I believe him sincerely. It was a bittersweet moment when he took the stage, to rousing applause and cheers.  Extended applause and cheers,that continued throughout.

And tears. The sadness of saying goodbye to a years long endeavor.  He did do a lot to energize youth, brought up issues no one else was, made the a platform the best it's ever even.  We did that.  He did that.

Now we must go forward, elect 100 progressive new legislators. The Political Revolution continues!

More to come of course.

Back on the Road to Philly

The day before the plane leaves, I run around looking for essentials, like contact lens solution in small bottle. None exists. I set my answering machine. I make lists.

Then I watch the Rules Committee meeting now happening. As you may guess, Bernie people are not happy with Tim Kaine. Chris Matthews (I think it was Chris) said, "the best thing you can say about him is he's the most liberal governor Virginia ever had." Faint praise?

There are not enough chairs in the Rules Committee meeting room. Will they get more? Bigger room. Barney Frank, no fan of Bernie, is convening it, I believe. All this I know from Facebook. Maybe I'll just stay here and watch it all unfold on my computer.

Bernie may let us all go tomorrow. He may call on us to join Party unity.  While fighting for issues, no fracking, no TPP at least not fast track. And as he has said, campaign finance reform

For the first time I think I should have taken the red eye, just like when I was in my twenties and we all went standby, lots comraderie in lines at midnight.

We must stop Trump. He is Hitler reincarnated, I believe that. That is job one.

It is the only way to save Mother Earth,and her children. Onward to Philly..

First day of Convention.  Last night we all heard and saw on CNN, that Wasserman-Schultz was out, but still convening the Convention.  At breakfast, chants of "Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!" filled the room, and when Secretary of. state Alex Padilla spoke, chants of "Count our votes!"  A bunch of not happy people saying we told you so, in the aftermath of the Wikileaks. Revelation of DNC emails showing disparagement of Bernie and what many seas the foreordained coronation of Hillary.

One Bernie delegate from our District says, "tell people not boo, because that's all the press will pick up on." Probably true.

Unfortunately cat is out of the bag, horse is out of the barn. More Wikileaks say big donors promised to appointments.  DWS To be top Clinton advisor.  No matter people are pissed. Here we are eating our own again. Or being eaten.  No one wants to be on the dinner plate.  Stay tuned.http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3706004/Democratic-party-chairwoman-Debbie-Wasserman-Schultz-steps-down.html

Off to Medicare for all rally, Bernie delegate meeting.

Back on the Road to Philly

The day before the plane leaves, I run around looking for essentials, like contact lens solution in small bottle. None exists. I set my answering machine. I make lists.

Then I watch the Rules Committee meeting now happening. As you may guess, Bernie people are not happy with Tim Kaine. Chris Matthews (I think it was Chris) said, "the best thing you can say about him is he's the most liberal governor Virginia ever had." Faint praise?

There are not enough chairs in the Rules Committee meeting room. Will they get more? Bigger room. Barney Frank, no fan of Bernie, is convening it, I believe. All this I know from Facebook. Maybe I'll just stay here and watch it all unfold on my computer.

Bernie may let us all go tomorrow. He may call on us to join Party unity.  While fighting for issues, no fracking, no TPP at least not fast track. And as he has said, campaign finance reform

For the first time I think I should have taken the red eye, just like when I was in my twenties and we all went standby, lots comraderie in lines at midnight.

We must stop Trump. He is Hitler reincarnated, I believe that. That is job one.

It is the only way to save Mother Earth,and her children. Onward to Philly..

First day of Convention.  Last night we all heard and saw on CNN, that Wasserman-Schultz was out, but still convening the Convention.  At breakfast, chants of "Bernie! Bernie! Bernie!" filled the room, and when Secretary of. state Alex Padilla spoke, chants of "Count our votes!"  A bunch of not happy people saying we told you so, in the aftermath of the Wikileaks. Revelation of DNC emails showing disparagement of Bernie and what many seas the foreordained coronation of Hillary.

One Bernie delegate from our District says, tell people not boo, because that's all the press will pick up on.  Probably true.

Unfortunately cat is out of the bag,horse is out of the barn. More Wikileaks say big donors promised to appointments.  DWS To be top Clinton advisor.  No matter people are pissed. Here we are eating our own again. Or being eaten.  No one wants to be on the dinner plate.  Stay tuned.

This device will not let me access pics off its own camera, so will be working on that. Off to Medicare for all rally, Bernie delegate meeting.

Make America One Again

Day 4. Make America One again   

One what? Number one

Instead of a real blog post, here are some of my ongoing Facebook posts and comments received. Feel free to add your own.

4 hrs ·

Trump is channeling Hitler, Mussolini, and Atilla The Hun. With a little Nixon thrown in. I like the way he blames Lyndon Johnson now. Remember The Great Society? I don't think Johnson meant the same thing as Trump's Make America great again. Bring back the robber barons, that's what he might as well be saying. It was great for them.

Bernie Sanders rips Trump’s speech from home: ‘Is this guy running for president or dictator?’

While GOP nominee Donald Trump took to the podium at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, former Democratic candidate for president Sen. Bernie…

rawstory.com

Judy Jessica-Sass 😂😂😂The pot calling the kettle black😂😂😂

Like · Reply · 3 hrs

Kay Karpus Walker I'm glad you mentioned channeling but I got a different leader coming through for one crazy moment and that was Julius Caesar - definitely Roman and definitely an Emperor. This is the type of leader who appealed to the masses way before Hitler. That wa...See More

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Dotty LeMieux

16 hrs ·

Yes, blame Bush. Blame Cheney. Now blame Trump.

Bernie Sanders on Twitter

“Trump is wrong. The real cause of instability in the Middle East was the Bush-Cheney invasion of Iraq. By the way, where is President Bush?”

twitter.com

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7Deb Heaphy, Gina Fromer and 5 others

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Dotty LeMieux

16 hrs ·

Now he claiming Sanders supporters will join him because of TPP. Do not fall for it! These people ARE the establishment. They ARE big business. They will not save us from it.

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30David Murray, Kevin Reilly and 28 others

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Jerilyn Stapleton Trump said he wants to get rid of NAFTA so he can bring in the much worseTPP

Like · Reply · 16 hrs

Kay Karpus Walker replied · 2 Replies · 4 hrs

Rebecca Curry this is a little beyond 'establishment' dotty

Like · Reply · 15 hrs

Dotty LeMieux replied · 1 Reply

CJ Barker Anyone who believes that this man means ANY populist thing he says is just delusional. He says whatever will rile people.

His business success- like that of far too many of the mega rich- is grounded in inherited wealth, bullying, cheating, lying, and legal intimidation of anyone who crosses him or complains. The idea that brining that approach to governing a nation will net any long term good is ludicrous.

Like · Reply · 4 hrs · Edited

Dotty LeMieux Great article in New The New Yorker by the man who ghost wrote "the Art of the Deal" for Trump and how he regrets it and is doing penance years later. He says if people think Trump will help them, they need to know he won't. He's all for himself. Period.

Like · Reply · 1 · 4 hrs

 

Trump is throwing red meat raw meat to the lions, while Code Pink is hauled out of the hall. His code words of the night are "law and Order". Fear that.

  

Don St.Clair Fascism comes to America

Like · Reply · 1 · 12 hrs

Sabine Jordan-Lott As I keep saying, he sounds exactly like Hitler. Leave now while we still can. Dark days ahead for America. Took Germany nearly two decades to emerge from the darkness, and they are forever stained by what happened. I guess the unenlightened here in this country want the same to happen, cause its coming.

Unlike · Reply · 2 · 12 hrs

Michelle Sura Oh, I think Americans love their freedom too much to have Trump's law and order.

Like · Reply · 4 hrs

Melanie Nathan When I heard those words .....law and order..... In the context of his personality lack of qualification and reprehensible anti minority platform .....I wanted to throw up. Our flag's stars are about to be replaced by swastistars!

Like · Reply · 3 mins

Day Three of the Republican National Bloodfest

It was more Hillary bashing last night. Talk about blood coming out everywhere. Not to mention fire and brimstone. Chants of "Lock her up!" Echoed through the hall and someone even called for a firing squad.  As a staunch Bernie supporter, that is just so over the top.  Free speech is one thing, but that is shouting "Fire" in a crowded theater, throwing red meat to the lions.

Mike Pence was the least nasty, but with scary undertones. As Governor in Indiana he legalized discrimination against LGBT people, put tough regulations on abortion, likened Obamacare to 9/11 and other choice legislation (what was that kiss from the Trumpster?). Then were more loyal Trump children, the dutiful Stepford Family in full force, running Daddy's casinos, his golf course in Scotland (Brexit was really good for business Trump decreed, and that's all that counts to him) and a bunch of gold plated hotels.

"Lyin' Ted Cruz was the highlight of the show, urging people vote their conscience, prompting the faithful to boo and Trump to show up with the hook. (No kisses for you!)

Someone burned a flag outside the Convention Center, a protected activity by the way (it was the same guy who litigated and won that right in then Supreme Court some years back, by the way). You can imagine how popular that was with the crowd and the cops.

Oh yeah, the theme of the evening was Make America First again, first in what you might ask. We're already number one in people locked up. And we're number two in ignorance. Let's move that rank up kids! Trump has said he loves the poorly educated. So let's dumb down America some more. Do it for the Trumpster!

On the Road to Philly -Cleveland, DayTwo

The theme of Day Two of the Republican  National Convention was "Make America work again".

Paul Ryan vowed to bring all offshore companies back home, tax them heavily and make them pay their workers a decent wage. "$15 an hour or bust" he shouted to the thunderous applause of the patriotic crowd.

Which Convention was this? Or is the W for "work?"

Or no, wait, That was in a dream I had. He really said something along the lines of  "Poor Americans deserve the right to a job like everybody else" Translation: "Get off your lazy asses and go to work," or "get a job you bums!"

Then it was back to business as usual, as Chris Christie held a mock trial of a Hillary Clinton in the court of (Re)public(an) opinion in which she was found guilty of every transgression from the death of Christ to the framing of Roger Rabbit.

Even the good Doctor, Ben Carson, called her the spawn of  the devil.

The Stepford children had their night in the limelight. Poor chipmunk faced Tiffany was nervous extolling the virtues of her kind, loving dad,and Donald Jr., who everyone in punditry agreed made the best speech of the evening, but I can't remember what he actually said,can you?

The Donald himself put in a cameo appearance with trademark squinty eyes and trumpet mushroom mouth, a scrap of his grandmother's musty old dead muskrat coat perched on his head, and said "You love me, you suckers."

Not sure which lines of tonight's speeches were plagiarized. Or whose songs were stolen. But we have two more days to go but predictions of a rousing stiff armed salute to lose out the proceedings are already popping up on the inter webs or will be when post this.

For tonight, drink a Moscow Mule or three and all will be well. Make America drunk again!

 From Esquire magazine:

The Moscow Mule is not, by the way, the first silly vodka drink. That distinction belongs to the Blue Monday, first printed in the English Savoy bar book in 1930. The BM, which appears to have been quite popular in Europe, mixes vodka with a splash of Cointreau, which is just a superior brand of triple sec or white curaçao, and blue food coloring. It's a simple step to premix the curaçao and the dye, yielding blue curaçao -- the first artificial liqueur (have you ever seen a blue-orange?).

Moscow Mule

Level: Easy

Ingredients

• 1/2 oz. lime juice
• 2 oz. vodka
• 4-6 oz. ginger beer

Directions

1. Squeeze lime juice into a Collins glass (or Moscow Mule mug) and drop in the spent shell.
2. Add 2 or 3 ice cubes, then pour in the vodka and fill with cold ginger beer (not ginger ale, although what the hell).
3. Serve with a stirring rod.