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LoneStarMike

Quick Berns - A Dozen Videos Under Two Minutes to Tweet and Share

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday March 14, 2016 · 3:58 AM PDT

2016/03/14 · 03:58

These are short videos for Bernie supporters to tweet and share on Facebook to help get the work out.

They are all done by the same person and they have the same "style." You'll have to watch one or two of them to see what I mean.

Many of them start by showing something he's said at a rally, then flashback to him saying the same things in Congress back in the 1990's. They do a good job of covering a lot of the issues, and the flashbacks show how consistent he's been throughout the decades.

Plus, they're short and most people will have the attention span to watch one or more of them.

Please do tweet and share if you think they'll make a difference.

Quick Berns: Undocumented Workers — Duration 1:54

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Quick Berns: Fighting For You — Duration 1:12

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Quick Berns: NAFTA — Duration 1:11

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Quick Berns: Socialism — Duration 1:09

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Quick Berns: Drug Prices — Duration 0:50

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Quick Berns: Trade Agreements — Duration 1:52

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Quick Berns: Civil Rights — Duration 0:35

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Quick Berns: Iraq War — Duration 0:35

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Quick Berns: Climate Change — Duration 0:49

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Quick Berns: Paying for the Plan — Duration 1:02

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Quick Berns: Immigration — Duration 0:45

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Quick Berns: Campaign Finance Reform — Duration 0:43

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The last one isn’t a “Quick Bern” but it’s a good web ad that targets North Carolina, Illinois, and Ohio 17-year-olds. from the Bernie2016 campaign.

Will you be 18 by November 8? You can vote! — Duration 0:16

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Two MORE New Bernie Ads! Both on TPP To Air In North Carolina & Illinois

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday March 11, 2016 · 3:17 PM PST

2016/03/11 · 15:17

Sanders Talks Trade and Jobs in Tar Heel State

Official Press Release From The Bernie Sanders Campaign

RALEIGH, N.C. – Bernie Sanders told thousands of supporters here on Friday that “we have lost millions of decent-paying jobs in this country” because of bad trade deals that hurt North Carolina more than other states.

Sanders’ campaign is hammering home the case on trade in new television ads which began to air on Friday in North Carolina and Illinois, another trade-battered state with shuttered factories and mills.

“Our disastrous trade policies for the past 30 or 40 years have had a horrendous impact on the lives of millions of working Americans,” Sanders told the crowd of 2,500 supporters filling the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium. In an overflow area outside, another 3,000 people, some of them climbing up trees to get a better view, heard from Sanders.

“I understood way back in the early 1990s what these trade agreements were about,” Sanders said. “Hillary Clinton, on the other hand, supported virtually all of these disastrous trade agreements.”

The new TV ads echo the point. “While his opponent has flip-flopped on trade deals, Bernie has fought them and stood with American workers,” the narrator says in the spot running in North Carolina. “He’ll take on Wall Street and their trade deals because he doesn’t take their money.”

Trade policy was a major factor for voters in Michigan, where Sanders scored an upset victory in Tuesday’s Democratic primary. The North American Free Trade Agreement led to the loss of 43,000 jobs and permanent normal trade relations with China put another 80,000 workers out of work. Sanders won 56 percent of Michigan voters who believed trade with other countries takes away American jobs, according to CNN’s exit polls.

North Carolina has lost more than 361,000 manufacturing jobs – nearly half of its manufacturing jobs – since NAFTA and permanent normal trade relations with China took effect.

In Illinois, where a version of the ad also will air, NAFTA has been blamed for the loss of 35,000 jobs. permanent normal trade relations with China, also supported by Clinton, led to the loss of 3.2 million jobs, including 132,000 in Illinois. “Now the Trans-Pacific trade deal could cost America 448,000 more jobs,” the spot says. “Only one candidate for president has opposed every disastrous deal: Bernie Sanders.”

Meanwhile, Sanders picked up a key endorsement in North Carolina from Dr. John Boyd, Jr., founder and president of the National Black Farmers Association. Sanders and Boyd met before the rally.

Here is the first ad:

Stood With American Workers — Duration 0:30

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And here is the second ad. It targets the jobs lost in North Carolina in the furniture and textile industries due to trade deals.

Disastrous Trade Deals — Duration 0:30

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I just love it that these ads and the time-spots they are shown in are being paid for by YOUR donations, and not some Super PAC.

Go Bernie! And Go Bernie Supporters! You all ROCK!

New Sanders TV Ads: We Need Real Political Change in Chicago and America

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday March 11, 2016 · 2:40 AM PST

2016/03/11 · 02:40

Traveling around in circles? It's time to switch the TV off and go to bed, knucklehead!

Traveling around in circles? It's time to switch the TV off and go to bed, knucklehead!

Good news Bernie fans! All those donations you’ve been making are being put to good use.

Press Release from the Sanders Campaign

CHICAGO – Bernie Sanders’ campaign released three new 30-second television commercials in Illinois on Friday. One features Cook County Commissioner Jesús (Chuy) García, a recent candidate for mayor. Another ad features Troy LaRaviere, a Chicago public schools principal. The ads call for major political changes in Chicago.

“People in this community badly want and need a fair shot,” the commissioner says. “For too long, politicians haven’t quite stood up for them. Bernie Sanders is about giving everyone an opportunity to do better. This is a year for transformative change. If you are beholden to big money, you will not be a transformative leader.”

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(There’s Spanish version of this ad as well.)

In the second ad, the principal says, “In Chicago, we have endured a corrupt political system. And the chief politician standing in the way of us getting good schools is our mayor. If you have a presidential candidate that supports someone like our mayor, you have a candidate who is not willing to take on the establishment,” says LaRaviere. “Bernie Sanders is definitely not afraid to take on the system. He looks beyond that system and sees better possibilities for us. He sees that this is not the way it has to be.”

In December, Sanders called for “any official who helped suppress the videotape of Laquan McDonald’s murder [to] be held accountable.”

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As a candidate, Sanders has made criminal justice reform a key issue in his campaign.

As a college student at the University of Chicago, Sanders was a leader of the Congress for Racial Equality. In 1963, he was arrested while participating in protests to desegregate public schools in Chicago. “The fight against injustice and inequality has been the work of his life,” the narrator says in the third ad entitled “Work of His Life.”

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Although it’s not mentioned in the press release, a few days ago the Sanders Campaign released a 15 second web-only ad urging people to vote. That one could be used for any state.

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Don’t be a Dunce! — Make your Voice Heard and VOTE!

Get Out The Word!

Get Out The Vote!

Forbes: Clinton's Charge That Sanders Did Not Support Auto Rescue Is Wrong

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday March 08, 2016 · 12:46 PM PST

2016/03/08 · 12:46

Chrysler Group LLC assembly workers put together a 2014 Ram 1500 pickup truck on the assembly line at the Warren Truck Plant during a tour of the plant's redesigned work stations in Warren, Michigan, September 25, 2014. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook (UNITED STA

Chrysler Group LLC assembly workers put together a 2014 Ram 1500 pickup truck on the assembly line at the Warren Truck Plant during a tour of the plant's redesigned work stations in Warren, Michigan, September 25, 2014. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook (UNITED STA

From Forbes Magazine

I am not a Sanders supporter, but the truth is always important.

Secretary Clinton is chastising Sanders in the Motor State for not voting for the bill that created the funding for an auto bailout. Except, it wasn’t known that the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) bill, designed to bail out Wall Street banks from their subprime mortgage loan debacle that was crashing the economy, would be used to rescue the auto industry at the time Senators Sanders and Clinton voted on it. Clinton voted yay. Sanders voted nay. It was President Bush who signed the bill into law.

In 2008, a separate bill was introduce specifically to bail out the auto industry. Both Clinton and Sanders voted for the bill, but it failed because Republicans voted against it. The Republicans’ reason for voting against the bill was because they wanted to destroy the UAW, which would have benefited from the bailout by having their healthcare fund and pensions protected.

When that bill failed, President Bush wanted to use TARP funds to bailout the auto industry, which would have been a band aid until a better compromise could be worked out.

While Sanders was 100% in favor of aiding the auto industry, is a dogged supporter of labor unions and was a full-throated supporter of the December bill that died in the Senate, he balked at voting for more TARP funds for Wall Street. Clinton voted for the second tranche as she had voted for the first one. And there is no evidence that Clinton voted for TARP as a means to specifically help the auto industry. Rather, she was convinced that the economy could only be saved by bailing out the banks.

It would have taken $79.68 billion to the auto industry at that point, but this $350 Billion bill only provided $4 Billion to the auto industry. As Forbes notes in the article, it’s a bit of a stretch to say Sanders’ “no” vote of a $350 billion bill that only would have provided $4 billion to the auto industry was a sign that he didn’t support the auto industry or a bailout.

Moreover, it’s pretty hard to argue that Clinton’s support of NAFTA hasn’t been far more detrimental to auto jobs in the U.S. than Sanders sticking to his principles on not bailing out Wall Street with tax-payer money.

Democratic Senators Take Issue With Hillary Clinton’s Portrayal Of Bailout Vote

From International Business Times

Heading into crucial primaries in auto industry states such as Michigan and Ohio, Hillary Clinton in recent days has argued that Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’ 2009 vote to block the release of Wall Street bailout money proves he “was against the auto bailout” and that he voted “against the money that ended up saving the auto industry.” But other Democratic lawmakers who voted the same way as Sanders are challenging Clinton’s portrayal of that vote.

[...]

Former North Dakota Sen. Byron Dorgan told IBT that the vote in question “was viewed by most as here’s what needs to be done to address the Wall Street issue” and that therefore he voted to block the money because “my view of it was if you don’t add some restrictions now, you’ll never add them, and so for the next year and a half Wall Street was able to work their will on a range of things that should have been done but were never done.”

[...]

A similar sentiment was expressed by Indiana’s former Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh — who also voted with Sanders to block the TARP money.

[...]

“My state, Indiana, is a big auto state, and I was always very strongly in favor of helping the auto companies, and I’m glad we did,” said Bayh, who has endorsed Clinton’s presidential bid. “So I would find it to be very unlikely that I cast something that at the time was perceived as an anti-auto vote.”

h/t DRo

Bernie News Roundup - 'Trade Policies 'Decimated' Michigan' and 'Jane on the Campaign'

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday March 03, 2016 · 3:07 AM PST

2016/03/03 · 03:07

Bernie and Jane Sanders Austin, TX — Bernie & Jane Sanders - A Future To Believe In

Bernie and Jane Sanders Austin, TX — Bernie & Jane Sanders - A Future To Believe In

Bernie Sanders: Trade policies ‘decimated’ Michigan

“State after state we have closed the gap, including here in Michigan,” Sanders said in an exclusive interview. “… We think that short term and longer term, a lot of states out there are in play and we can win. ... I’m not going to tell you it’s necessarily an easy path, but it is a path.”

Sanders said he will seek to differentiate himself from Democratic presidential frontrunner Hillary Clinton in Michigan by pointing out their “very different views” on trade policies often derided by unions. He noted he opposed the North American Free Trade Agreement that Clinton’s husband signed into law.

“Our disastrous trade policies — NAFTA, CAFTA and permanent normal trade relations with China — have decimated the state of Michigan,” he argued. “Tens of thousands of good-paying jobs have been lost.”

[...[

Clinton has not yet confirmed any Michigan events this week ahead of the Sunday night debate in Flint. She visited Flint earlier this month and addressed the city’s water contamination crisis. Sanders spoke with Flint residents before Feb. 15 campaign events in Ypsilanti and Dearborn.

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Remember NAFTA? Michigan can't afford another Clinton. @BernieSanders #FeelTheBern #LaborForBernie pic.twitter.com/QbYyEfGKDQ
— JaneBradshaw (@kujo71) March 3, 2016

For Jobs, For Us | Bernie Sanders — Duration 0:30

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h/t TomP

Sanders packs Breslin Center with turn out to vote message

EAST LANSING - Delegate counts and Super Tuesday results did little to dampen the enthusiasm of the more than 10,000 people who came to see Sen. Bernie Sanders speak at Michigan State University's Breslin Center Wednesday evening.

Crowds composed primarily of young adults listened as Sanders leaned heavily on his messages of social and economic equality during his hour-long speech.

“People out there don’t want you to vote or to participate in the political process because they want to make all the decisions for you,” Sanders said. “They love the idea that in the last winter election in 2014, 63 percent of the American people did not vote.”

[...]

Lines to get into the building wrapped around the Breslin Center hours before Sanders took to the podium. Several hundred attendees sat or stood on the floor, while roughly 10,000 filled the surrounding benches and seats, with some even catching the speech from high above in the upper level.

[...]

Much of the second part of his speech involved comparing his record against Hilary Clinton's, who bested Sanders in seven of the 11 states where primary elections were held Tuesday.

"We had to make a decision,” Sanders said. “Were we going to do what virtually every other campaign did in establishing super PACs to beg Wall Street for money?”

He answered no, to the approval of the crowd. He noted Clinton’s active super PACs, as well as her vote in favor of the Iraq War, contrasting it with his opposition to it back in 2002. In 10 months on the campaign trail, Sanders said he’s received more than 4 million individual donations.

Bernie: Corporate America should invest in Michigan manufacturing — Duration 1:40

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Looks like 10000 in Michigan are ready to create a political revolution from the ground up #FeelTheBern pic.twitter.com/6VsouJOZVi
— Cesar Vargas, Esq. (@DREAMerJ_D) March 3, 2016

The Three Reasons Why Bernie Sanders Is Staying In The Race

1. The map ahead favors Sanders, according to Devine.

“We understand that we have a long road ahead of us that we’re going to have to take if we want to win the nomination of the Democratic Party,” he said. “Super Tuesday, in my view, was perhaps the the single best day on the calendar for Hillary Clinton.”

[...]

Michigan is next on the calendar. Public polling shows Sanders trailing badly there, but the Sanders aides said a message focused on Sanders long-running opposition to free trade deals will close the gap. There hasn’t been much polling of California and New York yet.

[...]

2. Anything can happen, Sanders aides say. Things happen!

Devine pushed back on delegate math showing Clinton with a huge lead. He said late contests matter, and candidates can stay in because gaffes or other events can occur that up-end the presumptive nominee.

[...]

3. Clinton did it.

Hillary Clinton chased President Obama all over the country in the 2008 primary, with the pair fighting tooth-and-nail until the last day of the process in June. Four days after the last primary vote was cast, and the math showed Obama could not be defeated, Clinton conceded the nomination to him.

[...]

“As Secretary Clinton demonstrated in her own campaign, in 2008, in her challenge to Barack Obama which went all the through the final primary, I think President Obama benefitted from that competition all the way through the process,” he said. “I believe that we owe it to the voters, certainly Bernie feels the he owes it to the millions of people who have already come forward to support his candidacy through volunteering, through contributing and through other means to give them an opportunity to support him.”

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No worries peeps. We accomplished just what we needed to. Stay active and we got this. :-) #FeelTheBern #Bernie201 pic.twitter.com/kO4U5pj8t5
— PDX FOR BERNIE (@PDX_For_Bernie) March 2, 2016

Can Bernie win after Super Tuesday Results? — Duration 3:02

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Bernie Sanders wows crowd in push to win Maine Democratic caucuses

In an hour-long speech, Sanders talked about the need for a higher minimum wage and limits on money in politics, called out Gov. Paul LePage for “beating up on poor people” and insisted that a large turnout Sunday at the Democratic presidential caucuses around the state would mean a win for his campaign.

“If we win Maine, we move another step forward toward a political revolution in this country,” the Vermont senator told the crowd of about 1,800. Some who came to the rally were turned away when the State Theatre reached capacity. Another 650 people watched a live stream of Sanders’ speech from an overflow area at The Westin Portland Harborview hotel.

Sanders’ visit to Maine came a day after a flurry of Super Tuesday primaries and caucuses in 11 states around the country. He won contests in four of those states: Oklahoma, Minnesota, Colorado and Vermont. But he fell farther behind front-runner Hillary Clinton, who expanded her overall lead in the race for delegates with wins in seven states: Texas, Massachusetts, Virginia, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia and Tennessee.

Clinton now has 1,052 delegates to Sanders’ 427, with 2,383 delegates needed to win the nomination. There are 30 Democratic delegates at stake in Maine.

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One person speaking the truth can change the world #FeelTheBern pic.twitter.com/PXwIwMwxGb
— WilmingtonNC4Bernie (@WNC4Bernie) March 2, 2016

Sanders vastly outraised Clinton in February

Hillary Clinton raised $30 million in February and has $31 million on hand, her campaign announced on Wednesday — far less than Bernie Sanders.

Half of Clinton's donations came online and the average donation was less than $50, according to a campaign statement.

"We continue to beat every fundraising goal and, more importantly, make smart and efficient investments," said Hillary for America Campaign Manager Robby Mook. "Grassroots support is truly powering this campaign as the majority of our fundraising came from online donations. That support has helped Hillary Clinton gain momentum by winning three out of four contests in February, and eight on Super Tuesday. We move forward with a commanding pledged delegate lead and the resources we need to run a competitive race."

Clinton also raised $4.4 million for the Democratic National Committee under her joint fundraising agreement with the party.

Her rival, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, raised $43 million in February, with $6 million of that coming on Monday. Sanders' campaign has not announced its cash on hand, but as of the end of January, he had nearly $15 million in the bank.

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.@BernieSanders Campaign Joins Battle to Save Jobs at Nabisco Plant https://t.co/RFczfnTRH7 @CWALarry @ClemBalanoff @l4nguyen #FeelTheBern
— Becker - روبرت بيكر (@rbecker51) March 2, 2016

Bernie calls Phish 'one of the great bands' in America

Bernie Sanders took a strong policy stance on Wednesday by rightfully declaring Phish to be one of the country's greatest bands.

The Vermont senator, who rose to political fame as the mayor of Burlington, made the comments at a rally in Portland, Maine, on Wednesday, where he thanked the band's drummer, who had just performed with the opening band.

"Let me thank, I guess, one of Vermont's heroes who is now transplanted, Jon Fishman," Sanders said, prompting Fishman to yell out, "No, thank you!"

"Jon and Phish have made New England proud," continued Sanders. "They are one of the great bands, have been one of the great bands in this country," he accurately proclaimed.

[...]

Fishman, the group's eclectic drummer and namesake, is a vocal Sanders supporter, having appeared in a campaign video earlier this month, where he called on supporters to vote in the primary.

(There’s two videos in the story)

Ha ha! Fox News wasn’t expecting this.

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#FoxNews probably expected me to condemn @BernieSanders. I reveal largest contribution allowable https://t.co/4JxW3Lh7nM #FeelTheBern
— Thor Halvorssen (@ThorHalvorssen) March 2, 2016

Jane on a Plane

APPROACHING BURLINGTON, Vt. -- Jane Sanders, the wife of Democratic presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, is a near-constant traveling companion these days and has made a habit of making her way to the back of the campaign’s chartered jet to visit with the traveling press. The sessions have been off the record, until Monday night, when Jane Sanders decided to share her thoughts on the campaign more freely. It’s not an altogether unfamiliar role. During the candidate’s congressional career, his wife at times has temporarily filled staff vacancies, and she is a highly trusted adviser on the campaign, with input into advertising content and other decisions. Here are some excerpts from what Jane Sanders had to say on the eve of Super Tuesday, when Bernie Sanders will face off with Hillary Clinton in 11 states with primaries and caucuses.

On the outlook for Tuesday’s contests

On the outlook beyond Super Tuesday

On whether there’s a point at which her husband drops out of the race

On whether her husband has gotten tougher on Hillary Clinton

On whether the campaign has made mistakes in strategy

On whether Bernie Sanders staying in the race could wind up helping Donald Trump

Read full article: Jane Sanders on the campaign plane: 'Those issues and Bernie, they're not going away'

Jane Sanders Shuts Down Trump Question — Duration 1:29

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What I love most about Jane Sanders is her heart. There is room in it for everyone.https://t.co/RGZ5YUTucN pic.twitter.com/6Wd7SAJRYx
— Kaydee King (@KaydeeKing) March 3, 2016

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Wow. Just wow. #BernersUnited #FeelTheBern pic.twitter.com/UGWpLuw3F5
— Bernie Sanders (@BernersUnited) March 2, 2016

Every Single Vote Matters

Yes, every single vote really does count.

Bernie Sanders won over Hillary Clinton in the city of Methuen by exactly one vote on Tuesday, as he received 3,409 votes to her total of 3,408. That means Sanders won by a margin of .01 percent, according to Methuen’s official tally [PDF].

[...]

Methuen wasn’t the only close win for Sanders, according to initial results. He beat Clinton by two votes in Avon, with 402 votes to her 400. Not to be outdone, Clinton bested Sanders in Chatham 669 to 661 for a total of eight votes.

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Seen today in Miami, FL.#FeelTheBern pic.twitter.com/JidmwxqHVB
— Karls Barkley (@KarleeKanz) March 3, 2016

"I'm Dreaming Of A Better World" For Bernie Sanders — Duration 1:01

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Bernie Sanders’ secret weapon on Super Tuesday

Bernie Sanders won four out of 13 Super Tuesday contests last night — his home state of Vermont, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Colorado. Sanders knew the last three states, as well as Massachusetts (which he lost narrowly) were critical to remaining competitive with Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary. He had a natural advantage in these states, given that he polls better among white and blue-collar voters. But he had another secret weapon that gave him an additional edge: In battleground primaries, Sanders emphasized his firm position against hydraulic fracturing to drive a wedge between Clinton and Democratic voters.

[...]

Days before Super Tuesday, Bernie Sanders launched an ad campaign in Minnesota and Colorado highlighting his opposition to fracking. If elected, Sanders would be limited in how much he could do to ban fracking outright, but my colleague Ben Adler outlined some of what he could do to reform it.

It’s no coincidence that fracking and its associated operations is controversial in three of the four states he won in. Oil production has doubled and tripled in Oklahoma and Colorado, respectively, since 2009. Besides local concerns over its impact on water quality, there’s also been a corresponding boom in minor earthquakes near fracking sites. Scientists are growing more and more certain the quakes are linked to the wastewater injected in the ground after drilling.

[...]

Minnesota, meanwhile, is a popular source for silica sand, or “frac sand,” a sediment needed to drill in nearby fracking hotbeds. Industry groups say these operations in Wisconsin and Minnesota have more than doubled over the past decade to 75 million metric tons, primarily driven by the oil and gas industry’s demand for frac sand. Silica dust is a carcinogen that causes lung problems.

Nigel Holland & The Right On Band - Bernie In The House — Duration 2:29

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With 475 delegates in California, the race is far from over. We are fighting until the convention! #FeelTheBern #1u pic.twitter.com/qfyChFe508
— RoseAnn DeMoro (@RoseAnnDeMoro) March 2, 2016

The Media Depend on Us to Be Cynical About Our Ideals

Our political system is shot through with cynicism. The media creates and then revels in it. It’s so pervasive that someone who is not cynical risks being discredited and dismissed as naive, wide-eyed, and unsophisticated. Politics is like a house of mirrors in which attempts to be authentic are filtered through the lens of cynicism and emerge on the other side as mere examples of posturing. I would argue that that is precisely what we are seeing in the “spin” around Sanders and his idealism.

[...]

This is the psychological dynamic behind some of the current attacks on Bernie Sanders, both by Hillary Clinton supporters, as well as by a significant portion of the media. Whatever you think of the political feasibility of his programs or his electability, Sanders’ plain-spoken manner, enthusiasm, and passion about economic inequality momentarily break through the drone of policy wonks and Washington “insiders” who react defensively by cautioning us to be realistic and, above all else, to be ready, at any moment, to vote for the lesser of two evils. Having momentarily awakened us from our political sleep, Sanders inevitably triggers our cynical defenses. He’s a naïve idealist, the cynic in all of us whispers. Play it safe and support someone who knows the rules of the game and how to win it.

In truth, Hillary Clinton’s goals and ideals may be as high as Sanders'. But she has chosen to present herself as the candidate that practical people should vote for, the candidate for realists, pragmatists, and down-to-earth rationalists. Clinton’s “realism” hides its underlying cynicism, one that mirrors the cynical political zeitgeist that all of us assume is the natural state of affairs.

Sanders, for better or worse, challenges cynicism. True, many people who support Clinton do not fit into these caricatures and feel, themselves, genuinely inspired by her story and her ideas. But Hillary’s campaign and the media in her camp are putting special emphasis on the distinction between her realism and Sanders’ impossible idealism. They are playing the cynicism card. The media that is crucial in framing this contest is cynicism on steroids.

[...]

It seems to me that that’s what a progressive movement should be doing on a social level; namely, challenging cynicism and drawing people to our cause because our cause is big and grand and mirrors their own buried wish to be part of something just that big and grand. We need leaders who can present such a vision and fight the “realists” who want us to be afraid of our own deepest longings.

This is a long article, but the whole thing is worth reading if you have the time.

Feel The Bern Song #5,683 — Duration 3:32

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Goal Thermometer

The Bernie News Roundup is a voluntary, non-campaign associated roundup of news, media, & other information related to Bernie Sanders' run for President.
Visit the BNR group page to join or find past editions.

Visit The Bernie News Roundup Website!

Sign Up, Donate, Volunteer @ Bernie's official page.

More information about Bernie & The Issues @ feelthebern.org

Bernie's Austin Rally: A Photo Diary

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday February 29, 2016 · 7:34 AM PST

2016/02/29 · 07:34

Congress Avenue & State Capitol in Austin, TX — Congress Avenue & Texas State Capitol in Austin

Congress Avenue & State Capitol in Austin, TX — Congress Avenue & Texas State Capitol in Austin

I was fortunate enough to Attend Bernie’s “A Future to Believe in” Rally on Saturday, February 27 at the Circuit of The Americas in Austin. I think the rally was only announced at 6:00 p.m. the previous evening (according to a person in the crowd I talked to) So this was less than 24 notice.

Just look at that crowd

I wasn’t even going to go because of the location and the fact that public transportation doesn’t go anywhere near there, but fortunately a fellow Kossack who lives near me was volunteering at the event and offered to give me a ride.

We left about 6:45 a.m. (she had to be there by 7:30 a.m. while the gates to the public opened at 9:00 a.m.) I hung out with the volunteers for awhile. They couldn’t even get in until well after 7:30 because Secret Service was sweeping the area. I finally got in the public line around 8:30 a.m. One of the things I saw was a Bernie pickup truck used by the volunteers loaded with pamphlets and the blue “Bernie 2016” signs that were given out later.

The Bernie pickup truck

Here’s a cute video of a little girl saying why she supports Bernie Sanders, and you can also get a sense of the people standing in line (Duration 0:40)

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Secret Service set up the security screening (there were four of them) and people started going through about 8:50 a.m. For those who have wondered about being able to take cameras in — yes you can. The recommend just taking in cell phones, wallets, keys, but I took in a small bag about the size of a woman’s purse. All it had in it was my camera, my extra zoom lens, and my keys. Also, you have to take off your Bernie pins going through security because they will set off the metal detector. I had on sweat pants, so there was no belt for me to have to take off.

Then we had to stand in another line to actually get in the space — a grassy area in between two racetracks — where Bernie would be speaking. When they opened the gates, it was bedlam — people running to get as close to Bernie as they could. (Duration 0:55)

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Originally, I was up kind of near to the front — about 8 rows back, but I started thinking. Did I really want to be standing in that one spot for several hours? As people began to fill up more rows behind me, I started to feel like I might be claustrophobic, so I backed out of the crowd and found a picnic table off to the side and about 50 yards away. I figured I could periodically stand on the table and with a zoom lens and get some pretty good shots. There ended up being being two other couples at that table and they were very friendly.

The crowd continues to file in

While we were waiting for the speeches to begin, there was a mix of music played. Some was prerecorded like Burn Baby Burn, On the Road Again, and Looking for America, but there was also a live band as well.

The warm up band

You were allowed to bring in your homemade signs, but they couldn’t be on a stick — only flat signs and banners that you could hold with your hands. Here was one I saw. The photo doesn’t do it justice. What looks like a gray border was actually aluminum foil so it was very shiny and flashy.

Bern Baby Bern sign

We watched as they chose people from the audience to appear on stage behind Bernie. Once they were assembled and given signs, they did a practice cheer, waving their signs and the audience joined in as well.

The lucky Berniecrats do a practice cheer

When the program actually began, a man and his litle girl came on stage and the little girl was kind of nervous. She couldn’t have been more than 5 years old and had this little sweet childlike voice. I think she was shy, but the crowd gave her a big hand with lots of cheering. All the spectators seemed to be so nice and happy to be there. It was nothing like a Trump rally where the attendees rant and rave about the undocumented workers and the Muslims.

Then it was time for the national anthem.

Lady sings the Star Spangled Banner

Next up to speak was former Texas State Senator Hector Uribe. He said that even coming close would be a victory for Bernie in Texas, given where he started. Just finishing with some good numbers should resonate with people in the states that vote afterward.

Hector Uribe

The crowd continued to grow. We heard later that the entrance gates for cars to the Circuit of The Americas had been closed at 11:00 a.m. but if you were inside those main gates you were allowed to try and make the rally. You just had to find a parking place, make your way to the security checkpoints, and then make your way to the area where Bernie was to speak. This is how big the crowd was from my vantage point between Hector Uribe speaking and Jim Hightower, who had yet to come on stage. I couldn’t get a shot of the whole crowd, because the press stands to my left were blocking my view.

The crowd continues to grow

The next speaker on stage was Jim Hightower, former Texas Agriculture Commissioner, who hasn’t held office since 1991, but is a political figure nonetheless.

“Hello Revolutionaries! Welcome to this palace of populism,” , he said in a sarcastic nod to the Circuit of The Americas. (COTA is pretty much a cathedral of corporate welfare.) “It was built for the rich people, but today it belongs to real people.”

Jim Hightower

While Hightower was speaking, all of a sudden there was an excited roar from the crowd. People had spotted Bernie and Jane making their way behind the stage. And then there was that glorious moment when Bernie and Jane actually came up on stage.

Bernie and Jane with Jim Hightower

After Jane and Jim Hightower had left the stage Bernie began his speech. It started about 11:50 a.m.

Bernie begins his speech

This short video was taken by Zach — one of the Bernie volunteers here in Austin from the press platform. The first 40 seconds really gives you an good idea of the size of the crowd. The crowd in front of the platform and wrapped around both sides of it. (I was on the right side of the platform just behind it. Also, when the video is panned out, on the right side in the distance you can see people running. These were the people who had made it inside the COTA gates in their cars, but parked, went through the security checkpoints, and were running to hear Bernie speak.

Duration 3:23

x

I think Bernie was amazed by the size of the crowd.

Bernie “blown away” by the number of attendees. Note the tie “blowing in the wind.”

Bernie at the podium

The crowd ate it up.

The crowd listens to Bernie

My Best Shot of Bernie near the end of his speech

Bernie and Jane at the end of the speech

After he was done with his speech, Bernie, Jane, a couple of singers, and a guitarist sang This Land is Your Land. (Duration 4:02)

x

(Right at the 3:00 minute mark, they sang a special stanza written specifically for Bernie’s candidacy. Jane and Bernie were truly delighted! Only in Austin — Live Music Capital of the World.

After that, it was time to leave.

Filing out past the security checkpoints (the two white roofs)

Back to the parking lots after the end of a thrilling event

Reminder - CNN Town Hall Forum TONIGHT (Feb.3) on CNN

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday February 03, 2016 · 8:38 AM PST

2016/02/03 · 08:38

Just a quick diary. I think in all the discussion about the debate on MSNBC Thursday (which may or may nor happen) the fact that there will be a televised Town Hall Forum on CNN tonight may have been overlooked by some.

Dem candidates to attend New Hampshire town hall

CNN Politics

The Democratic presidential hopefuls will make closing arguments to New Hampshire voters Wednesday during a prime-time CNN town hall in Derry -- less than one week before votes are cast in the New Hampshire primary.

[...]

"We are delighted to partner with CNN on Wednesday's town hall here in New Hampshire," New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Raymond Buckley said. "We have ~~three~~ incredible Democratic candidates running for president and this is a fantastic opportunity for voters in New Hampshire and around the country to hear their plans to build on the progress we've made just days before the New Hampshire primary."

The event will air on CNN from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET.

Obviously, since Martin O’Malley has dropped out of the race, there will only be two candidates participating. With an hour for each candidate (minus commercial breaks) they should be able to cover a lot of ground.

5 things to watch in the Democratic town hall

CNN Politics

Hillary Clinton won the first round against Bernie Sanders -- even though the results in the Iowa caucuses don't get much closer to an even draw.

Now just a two-person race after Martin O'Malley abandoned his bid, Clinton and Sanders' week-long sprint to the New Hampshire primary goes before a national audience as they appear at a CNN town hall event moderated by Anderson Cooper.

Here are five things to watch in Wednesday night's event:

1. How low can Clinton's expectations go?

This was no triumph: It doesn't get closer than the margin by which Clinton won Iowa, with 49.9% to Sanders' 49.6%.

[...]

2. How angry will Bernie be?

In a similar CNN town hall in Iowa, Sanders absolutely unloaded on Clinton, hammering her as a newcomer to the progressive movement on income inequality, trade, energy and other issues.

Since then, the man who talks about never running a negative ad in his life has approved one that ripped into Goldman Sachs for paying politicians speaking fees -- a crystal-clear shot at Clinton who has received that money.

[...]

3. Clinton on the attack

Clinton returned to the one line that might best fit her campaign late Monday night in Iowa, telling supporters she's "a progressive who gets things done."

Will she continue her line of attack on Sanders that his ideas sound great but bear little resemblance to the political realities of Washington today?

[...]

4. What about the Republicans?

When Democrats attended a similar forum in Iowa, they'd notably reduced their usual tally of attacks on the Republican field.

There was good reason why: Polls were showing Sanders within striking distance in Iowa, and there was suddenly a race that could go either direction. Sanders was ready to criticize Clinton over her Wall Street ties, trade, the Keystone pipeline and much more, and Clinton had totally dropped her months-long refusal to even say Sanders' name.

Will the two turn their focus back to Republicans now that the first results are in?

[...]

5. Griping over who won Iowa

Sure, Clinton might have four more state delegate equivalents out of nearly 1,400.

But Sanders wouldn't quite concede defeat Tuesday in New Hampshire, telling reporters in Keene, "Well, we want to look at it."

How to Watch the CNN Democratic Town Hall Live Stream Online

Mediaite

Anderson Cooper will kick off coverage at 8 p.m. with 360, and the Town Hall will air on CNN from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. ET live from Derry, New Hampshire. The Town Hall will also be live-streamed online and across mobile devices via CNNgo. CNN International and CNN en Espanol will also simulcast the Town Hall.

Get the popcorn ready. This could be good.

Attn: Dems - Tonight is Fusion's Democratic Brown and Black Forum

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday January 11, 2016 · 8:02 AM PST

2016/01/11 · 08:02

I almost forgot that this event was taking place tonight at 8:00 p.m. Eastern/7:00 p.m. Central.

x

Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, and Martin O'Malley will be in attendance; Jorge Ramos and Alicia Menendez will be moderating.

Will be available on Fusion TV

Streaming on:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt3n7ugOj80

https://fusion.net

More info at

http://brownandblackforum.org/

From The Des Moines Register

6 things to watch for at the Iowa Brown & Black Forum

The Iowa Brown & Black Forum will unfold Monday night in Des Moines in an election cycle when many black and Latino Iowans, like their counterparts around the country, feel under siege.

A string of deaths of black Americans at the hands of law enforcement dating to the 2014 killing of an unarmed black teenager by a white officer in Ferguson, Mo., has called attention to festering tensions between minority communities and police.

[...]

Moderators will focus on economic development, immigration, education, bias in the justice system and health care issues, organizers say.

This May Be The Reason Bernie's Not Fundraising for the State Democratic Parties (UPDATED)

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Saturday January 09, 2016 · 11:44 AM PST

2016/01/09 · 11:44

There has been a lot of recent discussion lately on the 4th quarter fundraising totals by our two leading Democratic candidates for president. Sen. Sanders raised $33 million, while Sec. Clinton raised $37 million.

Politico reported that in addition to the $37 million Sec. Clinton has raised for her own campaign, she has proudly raised an additional $18 million to help Democrats in many of the state’s downballot races, while Sanders has raised nothing, preferring to focus on creating a “political revolution” to create a wave election that will elect other Democrats into office.

Sec. Clinton’s campaign manager Robby Mook explaindo s that

“Helping Democratic candidates win up and down the ticket is a top priority for Hillary Clinton, which is why she’s also proud to be doing her part to ensure Democrats have the resources we need to win,”

If that’s the case, shouldn’t the money being raised to help elect Democratic candidates at the state level stay at the state level?

Apparently not, because the Alaska Dispatch News is reporting

The Alaska Democratic Party has collected more than $40,000 from a political committee tied to the presidential campaign of Hillary Clinton that raises money from billionaire donors, complicating the party’s message as it calls for campaign finance reform.

The party, in a monthly report filed Friday with the Federal Election Commission, said it raised $43,500 from the Hillary Victory Fund, with $10,000 donations from billionaires, including hedge fund manager S. Donald Sussman and Hyatt hotel heir J.B. Pritzker.

In the same report, the Alaska Democratic Party said it transferred an equal amount of money, $43,500, [back] to the Democratic National Committee -- a move that, while legal, helps to effectively “obliterate” federal limits on donations to the national committee, according to one campaign finance expert.

“It just becomes a way to give more to the DNC to support the Clinton campaign,” said Paul S. Ryan, deputy executive director of the Campaign Legal Center, which advocates for campaign finance reform. “It’s effectively Hillary Clinton’s team soliciting Hillary Clinton’s supporters for much bigger checks than they can give to the campaign -- knowing that every penny could be spent on the Clinton campaign.”

(bolding mine)

This isn’t just happening with the Alaska Democratic Party, either. The Bangor Daily News reports

Clinton donors use Maine Democrats to skirt campaign cash limits

A Cuban-born sugar tycoon. A California-based registered foreign agent for the government of Sri Lanka. A Chicago billionaire.

All of them are recent large donors to the Maine Democratic Party via a complex fundraising scheme called the Hillary Victory Fund. The fund exploits recent court decisions and weakened campaign finance laws to maximize political contributions and funnel them to the Democratic National Committee.

[...]

But all the contributions haven’t stayed in Maine, or any of the other state Democratic parties to which Hillary Victory Fund donations have been funneled. Federal Election Commission reports show that the two October and November transfers totaling $39,000 from the Hillary Victory Fund to the Maine Democratic Party each sat for less than 48 hours with the party before the exact same amounts were transferred to the Democratic National Committee, or DNC.

[...]

While individual contributions to the state and national parties are capped, transfers between state and national committees are unlimited. That means that, effectively, donors can skirt contribution limits to the DNC or state parties by giving through joint fundraising committees like the Hillary Victory Fund.

The Huffington Post reports that (bolding mine)

A joint fundraising committee linking Hillary Clinton to the national Democratic Party and 33 state parties is routing money through those state parties and back into the coffers of the Democratic National Committee. So far, 22 of the state parties linked to the Hillary Victory Fund have received $938,500 from the fund and sent the same amount back to the DNC, according to available campaign finance records. The Clinton campaign claims to have raised an additional $18 million for the party committees in the final three months of 2015, although records will not be disclosed until Jan. 31.

The movement of money from a joint fundraising committee through state parties and to the national party committee has been criticized by campaign finance reformers as a way to get around campaign contribution limits.

I can’t wait for the reports to come out on January 31, so we can see if additional monies raised by Clinton’s campaign have been sent to the individual state parties only to be returned to the DNC where

the money can easily be sent to the state parties most advantageous to the candidate raising the money -- in a swing state, for example. Or, as is happening with the Hillary Victory Fund, that money can be sent to the DNC, which redistributes it as they see fit.

And you wonder why Bernie hasn’t been collecting any money for the state parties? And has entered into no agreements to do so? Why should he, since that money can legally be transferred back to the DNC to help Hillary Clinton’s campaign?

As the Huffington Post article notes, this “scheme” was all made legal by by the Supreme Court’s 2014 ruling in the McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission case that overturned aggregate campaign contribution limits. When the case was being hears, Justice Alito

called it a “wild hypothetical” that a joint fundraising committee would be used to raise huge sums by one candidate and then have the money directed back into one committee.

If any campaign was going to prove Justice Alito wrong, it would be Hillary with all her Wall Street connections.

To be clear, I’m not accusing the Clinton campaign of doing anything illegal. The Bangor Daily News article notes that transfers between between state and national committees are legal.

But on the other hand, I find it a bit disingenuous for Sec. Clinton to campaign on working to end big money in politics, while at the same time her campaign looks for loopholes to engage in the very actions that she denounces while on the campaign trail.

Bernie’s joint fundraising agreement only calls for him to raise funds for the DNC, but not for the state parties, and that arrangement was only made about six weeks ago, back on November 20.

And to be perfectly honest, I’m surprised he’s even entered into the one agreement that he does have with the DNC. I don’t know how they do it on the Republican side, but on the Democratic side, no other Democratic candidate for president has ever entered into this type of agreement before the caucus/primary votes have been cast. It is unprecedented for Sec. Clinton to enter into that type of agreement before the first caucuses/primaries have been held. It seems a bit presumptuous to me.

Obama entered into a similar arrangement with the DNC back in 2008, but it wasn’t until June of 2008 when he had already won enough delegates to be sure he would be the nominee.

Bernie is not going to campaign about ending big money in politics, and then turn around and look for loopholes to do just the opposite. Bernie Sanders is not that kind of man and that’s not the type of campaign he’s running. And it’s most likely why he hasn’t entered into any agreements to do fundraising for any of the state parties.

Congress doesn’t regulate Wall Street. Wall Street regulates Congress. Enough is Enough! — Bernie2016

Attn Dems: 2016 Brown And Black Democratic Presidential Forum Jan. 11

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Thursday January 07, 2016 · 3:02 AM PST

2016/01/07 · 03:02

Just a heads up:

The 2016 Brown And Black Democratic Presidential Forum will be broadcast Live on [Monday] January 11th at 7pm CT on FUSION, and broadcast on delay on C-SPAN & IPTV.

The Iowa Brown & Black Presidential Forum is an element of Urban Dreams’ non-partisan Project V.O.T.E. (Voting Opportunities Through Education). It is the nation’s only presidential forum in which all candidates have the opportunity to answer essential concerns of African-Americans and Latinos. The non-partisan event began in 1984 and has figured prominently in the Iowa caucuses. It is recognized as the oldest continuous minority forum for presidential candidates in America and one of the longest-running presidential forums in the nation.

More from The Des Moines Register

Next week, race relations will be at the forefront of the campaign for the Iowa caucuses, but only Democrats will participate.

The historic Brown & Black Forum will feature Hillary Clinton, Martin O’Malley and Bernie Sanders talking about issues important to black and Hispanic voters. The event is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Drake University, and it is scheduled to be broadcast live on the Fusion TV channel.

Former state Rep. Wayne Ford organized Iowa’s first presidential candidate forum on minority issues in 1976 and then co-founded the Iowa Brown & Black Forum with Mary Campos in 1984.

Ford said next week’s forum will focus on many of the same issues: immigration, criminal justice reform, economic development, education and health. “Those five areas, I don’t think, ever have changed,” he said.

[...]

People around the country often look down their noses at Iowa’s status in the presidential campaign. A population with more than 90 percent white people can hardly be representative of a more diverse nation, they say.

And yet, Iowa was the third state in the country to dump its ban on interracial marriage in the 1850s. The University of Iowa was the first public university to grant a law degree to an African-American. The Iowa Supreme Court effectively ordered school integration nearly a century before the U.S. Supreme Court. Iowans take a back seat to no one when it comes to caring about racial justice and civil rights.

It’s important for Iowa to facilitate and encourage a robust discussion of race and minority issues during the presidential campaign. That discussion must involve both parties.

I am glad to see that all three of our Democratic candidates will be participating in this forum, especially since a similar forum for Republican candidates, originally scheduled for Dec. 3, was canceled and has not been rescheduled.

Please help spread the word, and I have a favor to ask. Even though I’ve been a member here for 12 years, I really only started posting a lot beginning in July and knowing which tags to use is not one of my strengths. When it comes to diaries like this one, I am often unsure of the proper wording for tags to add to the diary, so for those of you you can edit tags, if you can think of additional tags that would help this get more exposure, please jump right in.

Attn: Dems - MoveOn to Launch Presidential Endorsement Vote on Thursday

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Wednesday January 06, 2016 · 2:59 AM PST

2016/01/06 · 02:59

URGENT: MoveOn to Launch Presidential Endorsement Vote on Thursday

In order to participate in this election you MUST be a member of Moveon before the election starts. (noon EST, Thursday January 7, 2015.)

Vote open to full MoveOn membership will begin at noon Eastern on Thursday and run through 2:59 a.m. Eastern Monday morning; vote continues MoveOn’s history of putting members in driver’s seat on key decisions.

MoveOn.org Political Action announced today that it will hold a formal vote of its membership to determine whether the organization will endorse a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination prior to the first caucuses and primaries.

In order for a candidate to earn MoveOn’s endorsement, she or he must win at least two-thirds of the vote in a four-way ballot between Hillary Clinton, Martin O’Malley, Bernie Sanders, and a “do not endorse” option. The vote opens at noon Eastern on Thursday and will run until 2:59 a.m. Eastern Monday morning.

“A key reason MoveOn exists is to elevate ordinary people’s voices in our democracy, which has been rigged by the undue influence of big money and powerful interests—and that’s exactly what this vote is about,” said Ilya Sheyman, executive director of MoveOn.org Political Action. “This vote gives millions of MoveOn members across the country a chance to weigh in on the presidential race prior to the Iowa caucuses, and if there is substantial alignment among our membership, MoveOn will endorse and work to elect the candidate MoveOn members support.”

Rules:

Voting is open to anyone who has been a MoveOn member prior to the start of the voting period. While any person may cast a ballot, only the votes of MoveOn members prior to the start of the vote will be counted.

You may change your vote as many times as you like, but only your final vote will be counted.

Members will be asked to choose between endorsing Hillary Clinton, Martin O’Malley, Bernie Sanders, and making no endorsement.

Voting opens Thursday, January 7 at noon ET / 9 a.m. PT and closes at 2:59 a.m. ET Monday, January 11 / 11:59 p.m. PT Sunday, January 10.

This is a big decision, and one thing we’ve heard loud and clear from MoveOn members is that it’s important for us to stand together. To win the 2016 presidential endorsement of MoveOn members, a candidate must earn a supermajority—67%, or, technically, 66.67%—of votes cast. If no candidate hits that threshold, we won’t endorse in the Democratic presidential primary.

If an endorsement is made, we’ll run a 100% positive campaign for that candidate.

No matter who’s endorsed in the primary, if members choose to make an endorsement, we’ve heard loud and clear that MoveOn members of all stripes want us to work to support the Democratic nominee in keeping a Republican out of the White House–and we’ll do that.

We’ll announce the results on Tuesday, January 12 after a secure confirmation of the ballots cast.

For more information, please contact Brian Stewart at press@moveon.org.

Sign Up Here

You’ll see a space to enter your name, email address, your password, then confirm password, then click on the button that says ”Register.”

I think that’s it. I didn’t get a confirmation email, but when I went back to moveon.org’s main page, it now says “Mike’s Dashboard.”

Remember: Moveon.org had the draft Elizabeth Warren Movement. Here’s your chance to support your candidate, whoever that may be. Moveon.org will make their official endorsement before the Iowa Caucus.

Sign up if you haven’t already, share with your friends and relatives, etc.

It doesn’t matter if you support Clinton, O’Malley or Sanders, this is something every candidate’s supporters can participate in to help their chosen candidate.

Christmas Caroling for Bernie

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Saturday December 12, 2015 · 7:44 AM PST

2015/12/12 · 07:44

It may be cold outside but the thought of a President Sanders warms my heart

Do any of you ever go Christmas caroling? If so, here’s an idea. Christmas Caroling for Bernie. I wouldn’t go house-to-house, but rather in a high traffic area next week — especially Friday night. You could carol for Bernie and remind folks of the debate scheduled for the following evening. And what songs would you sing? Why the ones from the Bard for Bernie Facebook Page.

________________________________________________________

Winter Wonderland

Oligarchs, are you listening?

Yeah, your coins sure are glistening…

A sickening sight, prepare for a fight…

We've had it with your piggish Plunderland.

All your games are illegal

We’re returning Glass-Steagal

We’re Feeling the Bern, get ready to learn

We've had it with your piggish Plunderland.

We know how you’d love to build a straw-man,

And pretend it’s not in your control,

Shame we gotta overturn that law, man,

Bernie surges more in every poll.

You’ll no longer conspire,

No more shills to acquire,

We’re calling your bluff, enough is enough,

We've had it with your piggish Plunderland.

_____________________________________________________________

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

It’s beginning to look a lot like Vic’try

Everywhere you turn…

Massive turnouts in every state

Yooger that “Hope ‘08”

Everyone can clearly Feel the Bern…

It’s beginning to look a lot like Vic’try

Leaps in every poll,

And the secret that makes us thrive,

Revolution is alive…

Right with in soul…

____________________________________________________________

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

You better cheer up, you don’t gotta cry,

You don’t gotta pout, I’m telling you why…

Sanders Claus is coming to town.

He’s making a lit of billionaire schmucks,

He’s calling them out on snatching your bucks,

Sanders Clause is coming to town.

He sees them when they’re stealing,

When they’re evading tax,

He knows when they buy candidates

Through shady Super PACs!

So…

You better cheer up, you don’t gotta cry,

You don’t gotta put, I’m telling you why…

Sanders Claus is coming to town.

_____________________________________________________

Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

Hark! Another survey says:

Glory to our honest prez!

Oligarchs, he will detain,

Decency shall finally reign!

Goodbye greed the rich can’t quench,

Join the triumph of the mensch,

Hear ye Goldman, Sachs and Koch:

Bernie’s here to fix what’s broke!

Hark! Another survey says:

Glory to our honest prez!

_____________________________________________

The Chipmunk Christmas Song

Bernie, Bernie time is near,

Time to be extremely clear:

We don’t need a corporate shill,

Hurry Bernie, say you will!

Want my income to be fair!

Me, I want my Medicare!

We can hardly stand to wait,

Please Bernie, don’t be late!

We can hardly stand to wait,

Please Bernie, don’t be late!

________________________________________________

Here come Santa Claus

Here comes Sanders Claus, Here comes Sanders Claus,

So completely on track;

He doesn’t care if you’re rich or you’re poor,

He has always had your back;

Sanders Claus will never let

Our great middle class disappear;

So fill your hearts with brand new hope,

‘Cause Sanders Claus comes next year!

Here comes Sanders Claus, Here comes Sanders Claus,

Smile and don’t lose faith!

He’ll come ‘round before you know it,

Next November 8th!

Healthcare’s yours, and college, too,

No trouble keeping afloat!

It’s no dream, it’s in your reach,

But you gotta make sure to vote!

_____________________________________________________

Jingle Bells

Dashing through the snow, to the night-time urgent care,

Hardly ever go, but I gave myself a scare;

Good thing I came in; they saved my life, and shucks…

What fun it is to get a bill for seven thousand bucks!

Oh

Single payer, single payer, single all the way,

Please come quick, and help the sick who can't afford to pay!

Single payer, single payer, single all the way,

It’s no joke, we’re going broke, please pass this law today!

Here’s another version on youtube written and performed by an elderly Bernie supporter who lives in Vermont.

x

_________________________________________________________________

I'll Be Home For Christmas

I’ll be broke for Christmas,

Please don’t plan on me…

Trump says I’m sour? Well, 8 bucks an hour

Does not put a lot ‘neath the tree…

Christmas Eve will find me

On an extra shift,

I’ll be broke for Christmas,

Please don’t expect a gift…

_________________________________________________

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Donald the red-neck reindeer

Had a rather noisy mouth,

He gave offensive speeches

All across the west and south;

Millions of reindeer praised him,

When he called out racist names,

Listing the types of reindeer,

Not allowed in Donald’s games;

Then one cold November 8th,

Bernie came to say:

“Donald with your hateful ways,

Won’t you scoot with no delays?!”

Then all the deer united,

And they cheered the whole night through;

“When we all stand together,

There is nothing we can’t do!”

__________________________________________________________________

I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas

I dream of a DIVERSE Christmas,

Unlike those WHITE ones in your song,

Where we’re all invited,

And stand united,

Where no one’s told they don’t belong…

I dream of a DIVERSE Christmas,

With every Christmas tweet I post,

May compassion spread coast to coast…

And may racist candidates be toast.

(Side note) Remember last year when Megyn Kelly said that Santa Claus is just white?

x

Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

Oh those bailouts for banks are frightful,

Wall Street Crooks are so indictful,

But since they give Clintons dough,

Let ‘em grow, let ‘em grow let ‘em grow.

It doesn’t show signs of ceasing,

Cuts in taxes keep increasing,

Seems Hillary can’t say no,

Let ‘em grow, let ‘em grow, let ‘em grow.

May we finally understand,

Just what forces are really in charge,

Wall Street shysters are in command,

Thousands of crooks are at large!

We’ve cancelled all regulating,

While our middle class is fading,

Our incomes are oh so low,

But let ‘em grow, let ‘em grow, let ‘em grow.

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