Étiquettes

, , , , , , ,

From out-of-control lobbyists to the influence of Wall Street, the Democratic Party can’t be fixed by one man alone

Robert Goldsmith

The problems run deep: Bernie's movement and ideas can't fix what ails the Democratic PartyBernie Sanders (Credit: AP/Alex Brandon)

Maybe you’re sick to death of hearing about closed primaries, too few debates and Katherine Harris… er, I mean, Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

You probably know about the ridiculous coin tosses that Hillary won a statistically impossible number of, and the laughable conduct of the Nevada chairwoman to suppress the rights of the Sanders supporters.

More under the radar are the numerous exit polls which showed Sanders doing much better than he actually did in several primaries, and let’s not forget the 125,000 people mysteriously not on the Democratic rolls on primary day in NY. What this shows is that it’s not just the Bernie v. Hillary contest that has proven to be rigged. Nor is it just the national party led by Wasserman Schultz, Clinton, and Harry Reid that is hopelessly corrupt. Sanders always says that revolutions start from the bottom up, but in the case of the Democrats the corruption starts at the top and trickles down. Now, in 2016, the party is a disaster at every level.

Sadly, the primary shenanigans is only one tune from the Democrats double album of skullduggery.

Over the awful din of the primaries you may have missed some of the party’s other hits.

Colorado is voting this year on Amendment 69 which would create a system to pay every state resident’s (except Medicare recipients) health care costs. Democratic consultants are raking it in to help Coloradans for Coloradans, a health care industry group defeat the measure. On the payroll are Global Strategies Group who advise one of Hillary’s super pacs, Priorities USA, The Hilltop group (composed of ex-Obama campaign staff) and the Trimpa Group (run by a Democratic strategist).

In Pennsylvania the Democratic party is spending over $1 million to foist fracking lobbyist Katie McGinty off on voters in the Senate election against Pat Toomey. They are trying to stop former three term Congressman Joe Sestak who will not accept the party’s directives. Sestak who has a stellar labor voting record defeated ex Republican Arlen Specter also the recipient of massive Democratic party support in 2010 and narrowly lost 51-49 to Toomey in one of the worst years for Democrats ever.

The DSCC is pulling its hair out over the Senate primary campaign of liberal firebrand Alan Grayson in Florida. Obama, Biden and Harry Reid are all endorsing his opponent, the former Republican, Congressman Patrick Murphy who contributed to Mitt Romney in 2008.

In Colorado, again, Democratic lobbyists Tim Gill and our old pal Ted Trimpa are working for deceptively named ad hoc group Protecting Colorado’s Environment, Economy, and Energy Independence which is fighting three ballot measures that would limit fracking.

 And in one of the most miserable episodes New York’s Andrew Cuomo has decreed that the state can’t do business with any institution that has expressed any support for the BDS movement. To embellish his McCarthyite swagger he’s directed the publication of a list of companies that his administration has deemed supports the boycott movement. It’s up to the companies to prove they don’t belong on the list. This is probably the state’s first public political blacklist. Of course, fellow Tammany Hall member Chuck Schumer is now pushing for a similar Federal measure. Mind you, Cuomo is not opposed to using boycotts to apply political pressure; not even three months ago he banned state officials from traveling to North Carolina on account of that state’s anti-transgender law. Cuomo is all for tolerance as long as it doesn’t extend to the Palestinian people or upset powerful supporters.

What all this shows is the Democratic Party exists in the minds of those who run it to toady to large corporations, offer blind obedience to Israel no matter what its right-wing government does, and that they’ll permit no freethinking or deviation from the putrid party line by Democratic candidates. I’m convinced they would rather lose to Republicans than let their party be taken over by Bernie or to let there be a Senator Grayson.

 I’ve been voting for these clowns since 1980. I pull the lever for whatever milquetoast the Dems throw forward, each one worse than the last it seems, because I don’t want the big, thcary Republican to win. No more.

Just what is the incentive to keep supporting the Hillary, Harry, Chuck, Debbie political cabal? You’re worried about the environment? Hillary has pushed fracking all over the world. The economy? Democrats pursue one trade deal after another which gut the job market here and should more properly be called Corporate Rights treaties. The ridiculous Donald Trump is to Hillary’s left on this. Want an end to endless war? We’re already involved in about four wars and with Hillary in charge the number will probably double. I doubt his Orangeness will do any worse in this department.

Let me know when I can vote against Goldman Sachs, Pfizer, the national security state or endless war. Then I’ll ride the donkey again.

http://www.salon.com/