Should Progressives Unify with the Democratic Party Establishment? Hell No!
http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/05/19/should-progressives-unify-democratic-party-establishment-hell-noPerhaps the greatest achievement of the Bernie campaign is that it has transformed the political spectrum and the way people (even including a few mainstream pundits) view the spectrum. Instead of a binary band with Republicans on the right and Democrats on the alleged "left," the political spectrum now looks like it’s divided into three parts:
The Republican Right, led by the Trumps and Cruzes, rallies its base through racist appeals, anti-immigrant hysteria, misogyny and "America First" rhetoric – a base that is still sizeable and dangerous, even though it is aging and declining as whites lose their super-majority status, and as young whites aren’t as homophobic or bigoted as their elders.
The Democratic Centrist Establishment, personified by Hillary Clinton and dependent on its base of corporate funders, is adept (though not as convincingly as before) at campaigning to the left with rhetoric about "working families" and "breaking down barriers" – while governing mostly on behalf of an unequal status quo, once in office. (Because of Trump’s unpredictability and Clinton’s reliability, the centrist establishment will likely gain support this year from Wall Street Republicans and neoconservative hawks.)
The Progressive Left, embodied by (but broader than) the Bernie campaign, is gaining popularity by articulating issues ignored by major party elites:
free public college tuition funded by a Wall Street transaction tax
healthcare as a right through Enhanced Medicare for All
ending the drug war and mass incarceration
cuts in military spending
government jobs programs to rebuild infrastructure and transform to renewable energy
Progressives owe a debt of gratitude to Bernie Sanders for what he’s accomplished. But no matter what Bernie does or says or advises at July’s Democratic Convention in Philadelphia, progressives must stay independent of Democratic elites. As the Bernie vs. Clinton primary contest has shown, we and they have different agendas, funders and values.
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http://www.commondreams.org/views/2016/05/19/should-progressives-unify-democratic-party-establishment-hell-no(snip)
While remaining independent of the Democratic establishment, progressives must take the Trump threat seriously and make sure he’s defeated in November. If it’s a contest between Trump and Clinton, I support a "safe-state voting" tactic, where you can cast a protest vote or a Green Party vote in most of the country, but you vote against Trump by voting for Clinton in the dozen “swing states” where polls show a close race.
As Noam Chomsky said on Democracy Now! this week: "If Clinton is nominated and it comes to a choice between Clinton and Trump, in a swing state – a state where it’s going to matter which way you vote – I would vote against Trump, and by elementary arithmetic, that means you hold your nose and you vote Democrat. I don’t think there’s any other rational choice."
One can "hold your nose and vote Democrat" – tactically – without becoming a Democratic Party hack or a Clinton apologist. Defeating Trump does not mean we exaggerate any positives about the Democratic establishment. More important than how we vote is how we build independent progressive organizations and movements (and media) in the coming months and years.
(snip)
Noam Chomsky:
http://www.democracynow.org/2016/5/16/chomsky_on_supporting_sanders_why_he
It means, after 2016, OUR WORK AS PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS IS ONLY BEGINNING.
http://www.brandnewcongress.org
https://www.democracyforamerica.com/
http://www.pdamerica.org/
I was getting called everyday and sometime twice a day since I've been on this site, I was at 100% and 90% and still was called on a regular bases. But for the last month, well I can give you the exact date April 9th, was the last call. I've been on the site the same amount of time and was ALWAYS Fair and even handed, I rarely hid anyone with the caveat of only obvious trolls from off site, not HRC or Bernie supporters. I'm not the only one this has happened to. So indeed I'll chill out and let all my friends and union brothers and sisters who I've always told that this WAS a good site That it might be good to find somewhere else. I have, but I stay here as well to support Those who keep trying to educate people on the truth. (note the small "t" we all know the truth is a relative thing) 
We need this kind of post. I support Bernie. I am disgusted with the DNC to the point I will change my registration but vote Dem for the most part. I have been sadly disappointed with the failure of clinton to 'see' what was happening and to embrace the progressive movement. It would have been so easy! And now her 'stop it' remarks are making people less willing to unite. I am sorry about that also. 
