All purpose news and politics thread part v: The quickening

[Malvolio]

She's like a red wine stain

And when you wear white all the time, as Tulsi does, that stain really shows.

[Elmo]

In case anyone is worried Tulsi Gabbard is still alive and running for Prez. #markedsafefromsupertuesday

She just wrote this awesome article for the Hill last week:

https://thehill.com/blogs/congress-b...ndemn-election

Love Tulsi. She keeps it real

[Bruce Wayne]

I know Texas well -- spent years there in both the north and the south of the state, both small town and big city.

Used to go to Astroworld and even went to an event in Nacogdoches called "Nacapalooza" where Buckwheat Zydeco played out in a big open field.

Republicans are afraid it will become the next California and they are desperate to prevent that from happening.

They know once they lose Texas, it's practically over for them in terms of the White House and possibly Congress as well.

This is the main reason why I have stayed there. To wait and see it happen.

[PwrdOn]

I’m guessing Warren will endorse Biden under the premise she can do more good from within the administration than from the outside looking in, and the resulting backlash will then feed the news cycle some more about toxic Bernie Bros and why that makes him unelectable. Then, if Biden somehow actually wins, she’ll get denied a cabinet post cause she’s still too progressive for the DNC to stomach.

[Theleviathan]

I just don't think we should be celebrating anything until we get some concrete policy wins in the books. Patting ourselves on the back for some supposed "blue wave" that hasn't managed to move the needle an inch in terms of actual governance is a bit pathetic to be honest. I don't know if Bernie can deliver on his promises, but I'm certain he'll put up a better fight than Biden will.

It's almost too rich. A progressive arguing we should "wait until something concrete" happens. Can't make it up.

I want progressive policies, but do you know what needs to happen first? A deliberate, nation-wide effort to get progressives to participate in elections. Until that happens, ALL of your whining about the establishment is hollow. Progressives don't deserve a voice in the party until they rise up to earn it.

[Theleviathan]

Reposting again: https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/embedded...mvo80022085859

I said two days ago I wondered how long until he flip flopped. Even I wouldn't have taken the under on 3 fucking days.

Good thing? He's losing on every front, so we probably can play the "when does he flip again?" game as the convention nears.

[TheDarman]

It's almost too rich. A progressive arguing we should "wait until something concrete" happens. Can't make it up.

I want progressive policies, but do you know what needs to happen first? A deliberate, nation-wide effort to get progressives to participate in elections. Until that happens, ALL of your whining about the establishment is hollow. Progressives don't deserve a voice in the party until they rise up to earn it.

I always think of this clip when stuff like this gets said:

https://twitter.com/patrickakarlson/...064120832?s=21

[TheDarman]

I’m guessing Warren will endorse Biden under the premise she can do more good from within the administration than from the outside looking in, and the resulting backlash will then feed the news cycle some more about toxic Bernie Bros and why that makes him unelectable. Then, if Biden somehow actually wins, she’ll get denied a cabinet post cause she’s still too progressive for the DNC to stomach.

We can only hope

Except for her not getting a cabinet position, because I do think that will happen. But man, everything is really a DNC conspiracy with you, isn’t it?

[TheDarman]

Reposting again: https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/embedded...mvo80022085859

I said two days ago I wondered how long until he flip flopped. Even I wouldn't have taken the under on 3 fucking days.

Good thing? He's losing on every front, so we probably can play the "when does he flip again?" game as the convention nears.

“This race *Bernie smacks his lips* was never about who could win the nomination with the DNC—the establishment candidate or me? This election *smacks lips* is about who is the best CANDIDATE *yells candidate, but moves to milder tone with next phrase* to beat Donald Trump. And, as you can see by the polls, I only perform one point below Biden—so clearly I’m the best.”

[Celgress]

Warren did the right thing for her ideology as did Pete, Amy & Bloomberg for theirs. Now there is a clear choice for the voters moving forward. I still think there is a better than %50 chance Biden crushes Sanders in most upcoming states given the mathematics involved (if one adds up a plurality, let all own, all of the voters who voted for Pete, Amy, and Bloomberg), but we'll soon find out either way.

[Darkspellmaster]

Was meaning to quote this last night as a really interesting discussion about the way people are treating the black vote and a well thought out explanation of why people are voting the way they are.


http://https://www.resetera.com/thre...n-here.173269/

We need to have a serious talk about the way the black electorate is discussed on here.

Brawly Likes to Brawl

So Super Tuesday is over and it's looking likely that Joe Biden will be the democratic nominee, in thanks largely to southern states, particularly black voters.

Before going into the topic of this thread, I'd like to make my perspective on what's been going on clear. I'm black and the son of Haitian immigrants. I identify as a socialist and decided to support Bernie this cycle (with Warren as a close second), and I would've voted for him yesterday had my state been a part of Super Tuesday.

To say that last night was disappointing for Sanders supporters is an understatement. Many are curious to know why Biden was able to gain such a massive amount of momentum. Now, I have no problem with people wondering why certain demographics choose to vote the way they do. Post-election analysis is a perfectly normal area of discussion and it's important to ask questions in order to gain a better perspective of things. However I believe that some people not just on here but other sites like Twitter have crossed a line and are not simply expressing curiosity.

Let me make one thing clear, black people who choose to vote for Biden as the nominee this year are not "low-information" voters, nor are they voting against their own interests, nor do they lack empathy. Black voters have access to the same media coverage and resources that every one else does. We know what Bernie's policies are, We know that Biden has a far from sterling reputation concerning black issues. I believe that people who are shocked by Bernie not being the clear front runner coming out of Super Tuesday have trouble reconciling Biden's strong black support and are quick to resort to dogwhistles as a reaction.

I'll try to explain the best that I can why Biden is performing so well among the black community, particularly with older black people.

1) HE'S THE VICE PRESIDENT TO BARACK OBAMA - It feels silly that I have to point this out, but Obama was the first black president of the united states. Older black voters like my mother thought that they would never live to actually see something like this happen. Before 2008, Black Presidents were something that you saw Hollywood movies flirt with but never thought would seriously happen. On top of that, Obama is extremely charismatic and his family is looked up to as role models in the black community. Being adjacent to someone like that is no small deal.

2) The black electorate is used to presidential candidates being either oblivious to, if not outright hostile to black issues - It is extremely rare that black voters have the luxury of choosing a candidate that is both viable and speaks to their unique issues. For many, Obama's run in '08 was the first time they truly saw themselves on presidential election stage. Being a black voter in America is a an exercise in harm reduction. We know that when Republicans gain power it's a guarantee that we're going to be hurt. Black voters, especially older ones that have witnessed multiple election deal with the lesser evil because the system rarely offers better viable choices

3) They don't trust Bernie's electability and ability to actuate his policies. - It's one thing to believe Bernie's policies will be better for you. It's another to believe he has a chance of winning. Black People don't not trust white people to choose socialism over trumpism. They see Bernie as a risk. They don't think the senate would allow his bills to pass. The top priority of older black voters is to get Trump out of the White House. These past four years have been traumatic as it is and another four would be such a disaster that naturally they want to go for a candidate that they consider safe. I personally think that Bernie's chances are better than the media give him credit for, but that doesn't mean that everyone else does.


4) Black Voters are tired. Just like everybody else. - We all want this **** to be over with. Everything about the Trump administration is exhausting. If Trump gets another four years, it's not going to be white who catch the brunt of the consequences. Black voters want things to be stable rather than worry about revolutions on top of making sure we don't get rolled again this year.


To finish this off, I like to speak about this terrible relationship that political media and commentators have with black people. Whenever we help bring a (usually white) candidate to victory, we get everything short of a ticker tape parade for a day or two but then get forgotten about. We're practically the backbone of the democratic party, yet that isn't reflected in policy decisions or coverage of what affects our communities. The minute that the black vote doesn't go exactly the way people expect we get **** on by armchair analysts asking what our damage is and continuing to ignore us. The whole country knows that we vote democratic because the alternative is worse, so why bother actually changing policy for us?

Meanwhile white people can vote in droves to install a blatantly corrupt and authoritarian president, but nobody would dare bad mouth the white electorate. They get article after article after article written about how they were these poor souls who got abandoned and we need to stop being mean to them!

You're allowed to be upset that Bernie isn't doing well. I'm not happy either. I want things in this country to meaningfully change for the better. But these shitty remarks about a group of people who are simply trying to keep their heads above water is completely out of pocket. Take a breath. Gain some perspective. Try something different next time.

[Theleviathan]

That's an excellent message she has. We had the same thing happen in these threads. Frankly, the idea that black voters have to be shamed for their voting choices is racist.

Which makes it really ironic that those people making demeaning, racist remarks can't figure out why those same black voters want nothing to do with their Bernaid drinking nonsense.

[Tazirai]

Warren drops out
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/05/u...e=articleShare

Here's hoping she does the right thing.
BUT I wouldn't count on it.
Bernie should court her, but run like she's gonna endorse Biden.

Her buying into the sexist, and Bernie Bros narrative was not a good look on her.

So let's see what happens next.

[Tazirai]

That's an excellent message she has. We had the same thing happen in these threads. Frankly, the idea that black voters have to be shamed for their voting choices is racist.

Which makes it really ironic that those people making demeaning, racist remarks can't figure out why those same black voters want nothing to do with their Bernaid drinking nonsense.

As a black person, I disagree with your nonsense and disingenuous attacks on people like me, and voters who don't support your Black people hate Bernie narrative/smear.
When it's not true.

[Tazirai]

If Bernie wins the nomination and runs against Trump.
I expect the Democratic party to fully support and not sabotage him and lie about his supporters.

But I also see a future where if Biden is the nominee. Bernie will run hard for him, and offer his support. Some of his voters will go to Biden, most will.
But Biden runs and Trump clobbers him. The Establishment is going to 100% blame Bernie for the loss, and continue their smears of Progressives and
learn absolutely nothing.