otohara
otohara's JournalDemocrats’ caucuses aren’t very democratic
Maybe the state Democratic Party should change its name. Because it isn’t at all democratic how they’re choosing a presidential nominee.
The caucuses held here last weekend were described in media reports as “packed” and “bursting at the seams.” Lines around the block were reported, as well as crowds in overflow rooms. It gave the feeling of massive civic engagement.
But in reality, only 5.8 percent of the state’s registered voters showed up. That means 94 percent of voters didn’t. Even the most moribund municipal election for, say, water commissioner, gets turnout rates five times that amount.
This also means that Bernie Sanders’ landslide win was earned with the backing of just 4?percent of our 4 million registered voters.
Can you call something a peoples’ revolution with that few people?
The problem isn’t with the candidates or their caucusing supporters. It also isn’t just public apathy.
It’s the hidebound political party that simply refuses to let the people fully into its nominating process.
We could have voted in a primary election this year, using mail-in ballots, but the state Democratic Party flatly rejected that. They stuck with a caucus system that, quaint as it may be, dramatically suppresses the vote.
The party likes it because people have to give their email addresses and phone numbers. This contributes to “party-building,” meaning the recruitment of volunteers and the creation of fundraising lists. What it does not contribute to is equity, access or the enfranchisement of the people, especially for marginalized populations — all things the Democratic Party says it cares deeply about.http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/democrats-caucuses-arent-very-democratic/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=article_title_1.1
I wrote to my State Senator about this and they are considering changing back to primary for presidential elections. Working on a petition.
Hillary About to Speak - live feed
unless MSNBC decides to pull her because Trump farts
http://www.livenewschat.eu/politics/
Bernie Delegate Gets In The Face Of
a lifelong Democrat, Vietnam Veteran, Hispanic, owner and operator of residential patient facilities for paroled adults and teens by providing vocational research, treatment, shelter etc. today at the Denver Democratic County Convention/Assembly about his super-delegate vote for Hillary.
The gentleman is and has been a DNC super-delegate for a while, he was for Hillary in 08 also and did not switch to Obama.
My son was there and filmed this BS supporter berate this man yelling at him, calling him one of the elite and he should switch his vote to Sanders because he personally registered thousands of new Democrats which resulted in millions of votes for Sanders in Colorado. (only 120,000 Democrats participated in this years caucus) He wouldn't let the man speak or leave until he was finished splaning in a very loud and condescending manner. Sadly Sanders supporters think Hispanics and African-American Democrats are low-information-voters and need to be told how wrong they are.
My son will upload it and I will post it when he emails it to me - pretty disgusting stuff.
Hillary Clinton Secretly Pushed Cuba Deal for Years
By Josh Rogin
Although President Barack Obama is taking the credit for Wednesday’s historic deal to reverse decades of U.S. policy toward Cuba, when Hillary Clinton was secretary of state, she was the main architect of the new policy and pushed far harder for a deal than the Obama White House.
From 2009 until her departure in early 2013, Clinton and her top aides took the lead on the sometimes public, often private interactions with the Cuban government. According to current and former White House and State Department officials and several Cuba policy experts who were involved in the discussions, Clinton was also the top advocate inside the government for ending travel and trade restrictions on Cuba and reversing 50 years of U.S. policy to isolate the Communist island nation. Repeatedly, she pressed the White House to move faster and faced opposition from cautious high-ranking White House officials.
After Obama announced the deal Wednesday, which included the release of aid contractor Alan Gross, Clinton issued a supportive statement distributed by the National Security Council press team. “As Secretary of State, I pushed for his release, stayed in touch with Alan’s wife Judy and their daughters, and called for a new direction in Cuba," she said. "Despite good intentions, our decades-long policy of isolation has only strengthened the Castro regime's grip on power.”
Yet Clinton played down her own role in the issue, which will surely become important if she decides to run for president. Top prospective Republican candidates, including Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio have all come out against the president’s policy shift.http://www.bloombergview.com/articles/2014-12-18/hillary-clinton-secretly-pushed-cuba-deal-for-years
Live Link of First Family Tour Havana
It hasn't started yet, but there's some nice catchy Cuban tunes to dance to.
Sanders had big ideas but little impact on Capitol Hill
Democrats who worked with the Vermont senator say he contributed to the debate, but rarely forged actual legislation or left a significant imprint on it.
At the heart of Bernie Sanders’ campaign is a promise to bring about sweeping change. But on some of the top issues at the center of Sanders' presidential bid -- health care, taking on the big banks and corporations, fighting for rights, raising attention to income inequality -- the revolution has been slow in the 25 years he's spent in Congress.
Sanders and Clinton both repeatedly turned to his Senate record at the Democratic debate in Miami Wednesday night. Clinton hit him for voting against the TARP II bailout, arguing that “if everyone had voted as he voted, we would not have saved the auto industry,” and attacked him for voting against the 2007 immigration reform bill.
"Madam Secretary, I will match my record against yours any day of the week," Sanders responded, in one of the many moments he brought up his Senate work.
He was on the committee that wrote Obamacare, he said again, and he introduced what he called “the most comprehensive climate change legislation in the history of the Senate.”
“I have been criticized a lot for thinking big, for believing we can do great things as a nation,” Sanders said.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/bernies-record-220508#ixzz42jBbicuz
Profile Information
Gender: Do not displayMember since: 2001
Number of posts: 24,135
