Going from Bernie to Trump, Really?

In the 60's we talked about "heightening the contradictions," that if things got so bad in America, that they would have to take a turn for the better, that people would wake up from their Cold War stuper and slap themselves upside the head, saying "I coulda had a revolution!"

Then we little radicals would run in and claim our rightful places in the new government, after the old one crumbled from it's own weight, and would be hailed as conquering heroes, while still being under thirty.

Remember "Never trust anyone over thirty"? Now we are all over thirty, way over and we can look back on that time with a little it of reality and historical perspective

As a Bernie Sanders delegate who proudly case my vote for the most progressive, the only true progressive in the running this year, at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, I am living in a kind of deja vu. Shades of the 60's and Eugene McCarthy (although i was not "clean for Gene" back then, because I thought that was a rather condescending and demeaning phrase, assuming all young people were dirty and had to be cleaned up before they could go on the stump). We did not get the progressive candidate of our choice, but we did get a lot accomplished. Instead of taking credit for a job well done, instead of listening to Bernie Sanders when he urges us to vote for Hillary, when he even nominated her, some of his delegates are pushing Jill Stein, the Green Party candidate, who doesn't have a chance. Or worse, openly rooting for a Trump victory, because that will pave the way for a truly progressive president to emerge and win, next time.

Now, before you jump all over me and say I sold out, then or now, look at the parallels. In 1968, we had a choice between Richard "I am not a crook" Nixon and Hubert Humphrey. Humphrey had been a civil rights leader in his day. But these days he was looking just liberal, maybe a warmonger, certainly the establishment. Tricky Dick was a liar and a thief and sleazeball paranoiac, but we decided in our youthful wisdom that they were just the same, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum.
 

We marched in rallies when Humphrey came to town and chanted "Dump the Hump!" We didn't vote. (To be fair to my young self, I couldn't vote, as the voting age was 21 and I had just turned 20 that year). We got Nixon and the rest, as they say, is History. Ok, it would have been history one way or the other. But my point is we thought let them vote for Nixon; things will surely change. I bet some people even said what some Bernie Sanders supporters now say, If Nixon (Trump) is elected, we'll be setting the stage for a really progressive president next time." Fast forward past Cambodia, Kent State, Watergate, impeachment, resignation. Gerald Ford. 1975. The Vietnam War finally ends.

Then we do get Jimmy Carter, the earnest peanut farmer, one of the best I think, but weak as a president and vulnerable to an October surprise, paving the way to Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush. Finally Clinton, not the most progressive, but a Democrat; then George W. Bush, warmonger extreme and village idiot. Which brings us to Obama. And now, you say Trump will lead to a truly progressive era. The best we've been able to do is fight like crazy to clean up the mess left behind.

Been there, tried that. Bernie Sanders himself, who was also there and so is a part of living history some of his own supporters who now spout off on Facebook, should pay attention to. Am i in love with Hillary Clinton? I am not. Is she the lesser of two evils? She may well be. But do you really want to take a chance with racism, mysogeny, anti-immigration policies, anti-labor, and all that goes with Trump's vision of "Making America great again," as a social experiment you hope will turn out ok in the end.

If you won't listen to Bernie, pick up a damn book. Go on the History Channel. Google the last nearly fifty years and tell yourself how great it is to live in this post-Nixon time, when all is peace and love. Because, wait for it, the contradictions were heightened.

Magical thinking my friends. Accept reality, accept the very real victories we have earned with more than 1800 Bernie Sanders delegates in Philadelphia, with the most progressive and forward -looking platform the democratic Party has had in years, if ever, with Hillary invoking Bernie's name and policies. Don't see it as co-optation; see it as a chance. Don't squander it. That is the way to a truly progressive future, maybe even in your lifetimes.

Vote!

On the Road to Philly

Dear readers,

For the next few weeks I will be writing about becoming a Bernie Sanders delegate and my trip to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia at the end of July. As you may know from my previous blog, I was chosen as an elected delegate in the election held locally on May 1st, but as the third woman in the line, which per Party rules, alternates between male and female candidates, I was out in the cold on Election Day when Bernie and Hillary were neck and neck in my Congressional District, California's CD 2, stretching from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Oregon border. I even had a nice handout made up which explained why you should vote for me.

Me campaigning on May 1st

So then I applied for the other two delegate types, Party Leader and Elected Officials (or PLEO) and At-Large. When our State Executive Board met and the names of who had been chosen for those slots, my name was on that list either. I was hugely disappointed. My good friends, Mayme and Ruth, the first two women were going and I was not. I decided to just hang on to the money I had set aside for the Convention (not inconsiderable, since the hotels jack up the room rates more than three times the regular prices for these events), and plan a fun trip somewhere later.

Then this happened: Two days ago, I get an email from Party asking if I was registering at the Convention hotel. I replied, "I wish, but I am not a delegate, unless you know something I don't."  Well, guess what. She did. "Yes," came the reply back. You are on the list."

Still not believing this, I checked with the Democratic National Committee (DNC) liaison to our State Party and the answer was the same. "You are on the list." Later I found out that at least one person on the original list is no longer on it. Why I don't know. I still keep hoping it's not all a big mistake.

I have now registered at the Very Expensive Hotel (VEH) and purchased the Very Expensive Airplane Tickets (VEAT) and have signed up on every list-serve for Bernie delegates, and some for all Califonria delegates. In the end, we are all Democrats and committed to beating He-Who_Shall_Not-Be-Named (HWSNBN) in November. At least most of us are, and that's a story for another installment.

MWPAC members and speakers from NARAL and PP

For now, good news from the Supreme Court, which just struck down the odious Texas laws that had shuttered most abortion providers in the state because they did not meet some arbitrary and irrelevant standards set up to thwart a women's right to choose. An unexpected 5-3 decision. Three local delegates joined the Marin Women's Political Action Committee (MWPAC) last evening to celebrate.

We ate very unremarkable food, but the mood was hopeful, and gave us that warm united feeling.

Next time: What to eat on the road to Philly!

Me with one Hillary and one Bernie delegate

Of Campaign Bros and Women who Go to Hell

There's a meme about these Bernie Bros, who insult Clinton supporters. Then there's the one about Bernie Girls (do we call them the Bernie Bras?) who only support the Bernster because they want to meet boys, presumably the Bros.

And of course the one about a special place in Hell for women who don't support women. That one rankles the most to me, as a second wave feminist, who actually marched and attended endless meetings, and struggled with building a sisterhood, and struggled with men who were either dismissive, rageful or scared of strong women.

We were definitely women who supported women, and we still are. But that does not mean we knee-jerk support any woman who comes along. It's easy when its a Sarah Palin or a Carly Fioina or a Michelle Bachman. But harder when it's a Hillary, who we know has had her own struggles with that horn-dog husband of hers and building her own career in his shadow, and a right successful one at that.

But she just isn't the progressive feminist we want. She is friends with Henry Kissinger fer Heaven's sakes! She is chummy with Wall Street banksters. And she still opposes the Glass Steagall Act which would keep the banks out of the investment business that led to all this greed and corruption and monetary crisis that rained down on the middle and working classes of this country in the first place.

So yes, I am a proud Woman for Bernie. I have yet to meet a "Bro" but I have met several thoughtful young men and women who remind me of me in my younger days. Idealistic, smart, and ready for a "political revolution."

They do not insult people, and they should not be insulted either. As for us old broads? I'm sure someone will start the meme that we just think Bernie's hot! So there.