General Discussion

Jim Lane

(11,175 posts)

113. Thanks for pointing out that not ALL our problems are because of Trump.

Reply to Hassin Bin Sober (Original post)

Wed May 16, 2018, 05:59 AM

May 2018

If someone like McCain, Romney, or Kasich were President, we wouldn't have all these demented tweets, we wouldn't have the shocking level of ignorance, we wouldn't have the barrage of scandals. Trump is truly sui generis.

BUT if one of those more conventional Republicans were President, we would still have the problem of oligarchy. Of course, even if Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders were President, we'd have that problem, but at least there'd be some counterweight.

Trump is so terrible that he's using up a big percentage of our capacity for outrage. We have the difficult task of continuing to call him out when it's necessary, as it so often is, and yet not losing sight of the larger problems. I'm glad Bernie and others are keeping their eyes on the prize.

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Sen. Bernie Sanders says this one issue keeps progressive policies from advancing [View all] Hassin Bin Sober May 2018 OP

Hassan. A question for you. Trumpocalypse May 2018 #1

. Hassin Bin Sober May 2018 #3

Only two? Trumpocalypse May 2018 #4

Look again. Your hypothesis is falling apart before your eyes Hassin Bin Sober May 2018 #5

So you went back and added two more. Trumpocalypse May 2018 #8

You should have done a search before spouting. Hassin Bin Sober May 2018 #11

I just asked a question Trumpocalypse May 2018 #16

Indeed! George II May 2018 #25

That's par. NurseJackie May 2018 #63

Unhmm sheshe2 May 2018 #95

I know, silly... sheshe2 May 2018 #103

Indeed. (nt) ehrnst May 2018 #124

And... *poof* nt Snotcicles May 2018 #121

HBS, you're fine... always enjoy your posts. InAbLuEsTaTe May 2018 #30

Thanks! Hassin Bin Sober May 2018 #33

Me, too. ehrnst May 2018 #167

Same here HBS. CentralMass May 2018 #185

+1 Uncle Joe May 2018 #119

That's Hassin--as in Hassin bin Sober WhiteTara May 2018 #38

Thanks! Not to mention, I am an aristocrat Hassin Bin Sober May 2018 #57

Who appointed you gatekeeper? doxyluv13 May 2018 #44

This message was self-deleted by its author sheshe2 May 2018 #97

Lol..Thank you! whathehell May 2018 #104

What is wrong with that? n/t MicaelS May 2018 #194

Never that it was. Trumpocalypse May 2018 #195

Your question was not 'if' I post nothing but Sanders threads, but WHY I post nothing but ... Hassin Bin Sober May 2018 #199

Again I do apologize for mistaking for another poster Trumpocalypse May 2018 #200

My guess is: Division. JNelson6563 May 2018 #2

Hassan, thank you for everything you post!! babylonsister May 2018 #6

Aww shucks. Thanks! Hassin Bin Sober May 2018 #34

That's Hassin--as in Hassin bin Sober WhiteTara May 2018 #94

Tad Devine knows some oligarchs. nt R B Garr May 2018 #7

Ha. nt sheshe2 May 2018 #9

Post removed Post removed May 2018 #55

Back atcha sheshe2 May 2018 #58

You calling someone here "derp", i.e., "meaningless or stupid"? George II May 2018 #91

Not surprised. sheshe2 May 2018 #98

You're comparing sheshe2 to Rachel Dolezal, a white woman pretending to be black. betsuni May 2018 #118

I call your insulting implication that sheshe is a liar and raise you one ehrnst May 2018 #169

LOL! (Daaaaamn!) NurseJackie May 2018 #68

Jeff Weaver does too....just saying; nt Docreed2003 May 2018 #81

Of the Russian criminal persuasion. nt Blue_true May 2018 #87

Kicked and recommended. Uncle Joe May 2018 #10

You are welcome! Thanks for your contribution Hassin Bin Sober May 2018 #92

Booooo Bernie!!! Lucky Luciano May 2018 #12

I agree with the idea, completely. Is there some word or phrase that could be used enough May 2018 #13

Yeah--the 1%. nt tblue37 May 2018 #21

Fat cats... mudstump May 2018 #28

aristocracy? ProfessorPlum May 2018 #74

I can't help noticing that I never heard complaints about the "oligarchy" until 2016 EffieBlack May 2018 #14

I didn't see any complaints about racism, climate change, criminal justice, health care, etc... leftofcool May 2018 #17

You were around in 2008-2012 correct? sheshe2 May 2018 #24

You didn't? EffieBlack May 2018 #50

leftofcool, S.E. TN Liberal May 2018 #54

Yea, because as soon as we get rid of the rich folks, racism will just go away leftofcool May 2018 #79

leftofcool, S.E. TN Liberal May 2018 #82

Like I said leftofcool May 2018 #89

They just called you simplistic. sheshe2 May 2018 #101

This is a joke, right? pnwmom May 2018 #108

Here you go Uncle Joe May 2018 #26

Well, there's those. And the Occupy Wall Street. Hassin Bin Sober May 2018 #62

That's true Hassin Bin Sober Uncle Joe May 2018 #212

And to think.."You mean all this time we could have been friends?" Autumn May 2018 #249

Very impt. point that big US media says 'billionaires' not 'oligarchs.' appalachiablue May 2018 #78

Thank you appalachiablue Uncle Joe May 2018 #211

+1000 (nt) ehrnst May 2018 #229

EffieBlack, S.E. TN Liberal May 2018 #67

That may be. EffieBlack May 2018 #69

Bernie has been talking about oligarchy for a long time garybeck May 2018 #96

He speaks in Vermont? murielm99 May 2018 #99

.... sheshe2 May 2018 #102

His approval rating has declined among his constituents since 2016. ehrnst May 2018 #127

No, it's not and it IS a very important idea whathehell May 2018 #106

I think of Russia or early 20th century U.S., but not the U.S. now. betsuni May 2018 #111

Sen Sanders is right elmac May 2018 #15

Of course Bernie is right... always telling it like it is and shining the light of truth on those InAbLuEsTaTe May 2018 #32

I'd like him to shine some of that light on his personal finances, ehrnst May 2018 #131

I agree with you ehrnst, if Bernie runs in 2020, he, like all candidates, should then InAbLuEsTaTe May 2018 #139

I think that the example set by Hillary for 8 years should be the minimum, if not the standard. ehrnst May 2018 #146

Post removed Post removed May 2018 #162

I simply stated that all candidates should follow her eight years of returns ehrnst May 2018 #163

I can't believe I read what you responded to here on Democratic Underground. George II May 2018 #180

LOL. I suggest letting go of the anger and resentment you are harboring. DanTex May 2018 #164

Maryland has already adopted a ballot access laws requiring release of tax returns Gothmog May 2018 #174

Exactly. Let's see those taxes. Let's see Tad Devine's taxes, as well. R B Garr May 2018 #165

Yes he is. whathehell May 2018 #107

I find it interesting that he never mentions millionaires anymore. sheshe2 May 2018 #18

Yeah, I've noticed that, too. And the Amazon billionaire is singled out, R B Garr May 2018 #23

I forgot about the Amazon billionaire. sheshe2 May 2018 #27

There's A Pretty Good Reason For That ProfessorGAC May 2018 #123

yup zipplewrath May 2018 #159

Oh, right. Now he's one of those millionaires. ehrnst May 2018 #132

Later in the day, Senator Sanders sneezed. And thus sneezing was invented. Squinch May 2018 #19

Holding back a lol. sheshe2 May 2018 #20

But thank God, now you can sneeze because that trail has been blazed. Squinch May 2018 #135

Or the "the fire has been lit" or "the progressive voice has been awakened" ehrnst May 2018 #137

Thanks for the memories. sheshe2 May 2018 #151

Yes, yes! He lit the torch! By touching it to the bonfire the Democrats had previously built! Squinch May 2018 #203

What kind of fascist hellhole would America have been for the last 30 years without ehrnst May 2018 #209

... mcar May 2018 #35

I'm at home and I laughed out loud. n/t LisaM May 2018 #41

That's pretty funny. EffieBlack May 2018 #51

Sounds familiar... NurseJackie May 2018 #65

LOL!! peggysue2 May 2018 #83

Then many bitter people got online to bitch about it. CentralMass May 2018 #187

No, no! We all WANTED to sneeze, but none of us knew we COULD sneeze until Senator Squinch May 2018 #202

Hardly an epiphany, but the more who say it, the better. Hortensis May 2018 #22

Apathy/not voting/voting poorly Proud Liberal Dem May 2018 #29

Thanks for this, Hassin peace frog May 2018 #31

Thank you! Hassin Bin Sober May 2018 #84

Sounds like the Democratic party platform mcar May 2018 #36

;-) stevenleser May 2018 #37

Are you saying Bernie sounds just like a Democrat? Hassin Bin Sober May 2018 #43

Cute gif. sheshe2 May 2018 #46

If the point is that millionaires entrenched in powerful positions lapucelle May 2018 #56

Correct. sheshe2 May 2018 #60

Aren't Bernie and Jane millionaires? George II May 2018 #90

Aren't the Clintons? Lordquinton May 2018 #110

Did either Clinton ever blame millionaires for a "lack of progressive accomplishments?" ehrnst May 2018 #133

+1 betsuni May 2018 #134

Did they speak at the forum discussed in the OP? George II May 2018 #147

Just balancing the information, nothing more Lordquinton May 2018 #171

Lordquinton, this is a discussion about a policy forum in Washington in 2018. What Hillary or... George II May 2018 #172

The state of the party is irellevant? Lordquinton May 2018 #181

Where did you get that? George II May 2018 #183

I read your post. Lordquinton May 2018 #188

Then where did you get that? George II May 2018 #193

Already answered Lordquinton May 2018 #218

Where? Yes, it was a GREAT day for me. You? George II May 2018 #221

I bet Tad Devine knows what's relevant. nt R B Garr May 2018 #189

I thought only republicans did that shit.. so sick of this shit Eliot Rosewater May 2018 #243

If it isn't "yeahbut" it's "whatabout" and then claim something was said that actually wasn't. George II May 2018 #244

Most politicians are, or like Bill and Hillary they become wealthy after leaving office. Autumn May 2018 #142

Again, what do the Clintons have to do with this discussion? But as you point out.... George II May 2018 #148

Bills primary was over many years ago George and there is nothing to fight over. Autumn May 2018 #152

There are thousands of out of office politicians in the country, yet you zeroed in on the Clintons. George II May 2018 #153

And many do. nt Autumn May 2018 #154

Isn't it the hypocrisy? When your entire political platform revolves around R B Garr May 2018 #161

That's not what Bernie does. He doesn't smear people who have money, there are Autumn May 2018 #170

He didn't separate the 1% from his smears about Wall Street fraud, R B Garr May 2018 #177

Sure. nt Autumn May 2018 #178

There is tons more, but you know... R B Garr May 2018 #179

You are right, I DO know. So do you. It all depends on ones personal values and perceptions. Autumn May 2018 #190

Then it is about the hypocrisy. When you place yourself as a moral R B Garr May 2018 #191

Wrong we don't agree. and no I won't refight the primaries with you. Bye. Autumn May 2018 #192

At least you are honest about the obvious double standards. R B Garr May 2018 #196

Concern? Stating facts as a comparison is concern? Sure. Autumn May 2018 #197

Again? Only one placed themselves as a moral authority. You brought R B Garr May 2018 #198

sheshe2, S.E. TN Liberal May 2018 #59

Here's the 2012 Democratic platform. lapucelle May 2018 #70

Please post all the changes they made to the platform she ran on. sheshe2 May 2018 #71

sheshe2, S.E. TN Liberal May 2018 #77

I am well aware what went on. sheshe2 May 2018 #80

sheshe2, S.E. TN Liberal May 2018 #85

Why? Because it IS the Democratic Platform! It's not the "Bernie" Platform. George II May 2018 #88

Hmm. sheshe2 May 2018 #100

He has borrowed from the Democratic Platform for years ehrnst May 2018 #136

Post removed Post removed May 2018 #206

The DLC doesn't exist anymore. ehrnst May 2018 #207

ehrnst, S.E. TN Liberal May 2018 #210

Tenn... ehrnst May 2018 #227

Anyone still whining about "DLC" or "DWS" can be safely dismissed. NurseJackie May 2018 #232

+1 betsuni May 2018 #234

+1 betsuni May 2018 #236

S.E. TN Liberal, "Much of what was in the 2016 Democratic Platform was written by Bernie's staff"... George II May 2018 #213

George II, S.E. TN Liberal May 2018 #216

S.E. TN Liberal, George II May 2018 #217

George II, S.E. TN Liberal May 2018 #219

S.E. TN Liberal, George II May 2018 #220

It is very confusing! betsuni May 2018 #225

S.E. TN Liberal. Bernie supports the Democratic Party's plan to add a public option to the ACA. betsuni May 2018 #224

When Bernie is actually vetted ehrnst May 2018 #228

Tax returns tax returns tax returns... Eliot Rosewater May 2018 #241

Old Town Media. ehrnst May 2018 #245

Single payer is one strategy towards universal health care, and is the most problematic ehrnst May 2018 #230

Thank you, ehrnst. brer cat May 2018 #235

Ted Kennedy in 1971... ehrnst May 2018 #231

S.E. TN Liberal. What is "someone with a Hillary stick up their ass"? betsuni May 2018 #223

I wish these OUTRIGHT VICIOUS attacks of HILLARY CLINTON would FUCKING stop! Eliot Rosewater May 2018 #240

These are distractions from the reality that Hortensis May 2018 #208

That gif is an attack of Hillary Clinton, isnt it? Eliot Rosewater May 2018 #242

That made me laugh..thanks. mountain grammy May 2018 #61

I'll be here all week... Hassin Bin Sober May 2018 #64

Where's the tip jar? Autumn May 2018 #144

Lol! demmiblue May 2018 #120

Democrats are progressive. ehrnst May 2018 #125

"They just didn't love you enough." betsuni May 2018 #129

Has To Be Me. May 2018 #149

Right? That's so mean! Bernie can't help it if he wasn't popular enough. betsuni May 2018 #160

Gosh Now I Feel As Much A Meanie Me. May 2018 #166

lol... disillusioned73 May 2018 #155

Bernie has always sounded like an FDR Democrat to me. Uncle Joe May 2018 #214

Ha! SammyWinstonJack May 2018 #247

Thank you! NastyRiffraff May 2018 #158

Actually, it sounds like the things that Dems say when running for office, but not necessarily hughee99 May 2018 #173

Oligarchy, the one issue.... OxQQme May 2018 #39

BINGO!!!! S.E. TN Liberal May 2018 #72

Intriguing. Spot on. Scary. Beartracks May 2018 #76

Your sig line is very interesting. sheshe2 May 2018 #40

I think it's the failure of so many to vote. Honeycombe8 May 2018 #42

Yep, Bernie nails it at the core. Equinox Moon May 2018 #45

Yes Equinox, like he always does... such a breath of fresh air. Bernie has indeed taught us the way InAbLuEsTaTe May 2018 #140

Yes, true, steady, honest leadership--- Bernie Equinox Moon May 2018 #176

DURec leftstreet May 2018 #47

So how are we going to implement solutions (Bernie) to the problems if we don't get a majority? YOHABLO May 2018 #48

I got an email just today MuseRider May 2018 #53

I got an email from Hillary Clinton about that. R B Garr May 2018 #75

So true, we gotta motivate our base...nothing like advocating for throwing the Traitor-in-Chief InAbLuEsTaTe May 2018 #143

Stop picking on the poor, maligned billionaire-oligarchs!...LOL appalachiablue May 2018 #49

wtf. bernie does what every one does. how do they do that bernie? certainot May 2018 #52

K&R thanks for posting mountain grammy May 2018 #66

You are more than welcome! Hassin Bin Sober May 2018 #73

Yep, Bernie has it right, big money in politics is ground zero for our country's problems. Bluepinky May 2018 #86

Could be that "progressive policies" don't coincide with "Democratic policies"? George II May 2018 #93

Exactly. We've become like a corporatocracy mvd May 2018 #105

Bernie's using the same "oligarchy" analysis Ralph Nader used in 2000 in his third party run. pnwmom May 2018 #109

So what? Jim Lane May 2018 #112

Bernie has left the Democratic party and I haven't seen any indication he plans to return. pnwmom May 2018 #114

Sorry, I still don't understand the Nader stuff. Jim Lane May 2018 #115

There would be a great difference between a Bernie run in 2016 vs. 2020. pnwmom May 2018 #117

Thanks for pointing out that not ALL our problems are because of Trump. Jim Lane May 2018 #113

Absolutely true. VOX May 2018 #122

K&R demmiblue May 2018 #116

When he says this, I have to wonder why he chose to start a PAC that can accept dark money. ehrnst May 2018 #126

It is just about impossible for an average person to win a national public office. Vinca May 2018 #128

"Oligarchy" isn't an issue. dawg May 2018 #130

And each of those incremental reforms will be fought against tooth and nail.. aidbo May 2018 #150

And one way they do that is to convince some liberals that incremental changes ... dawg May 2018 #156

dawg, the wonkish reforms can't happen... OxQQme May 2018 #222

But you said it yourself ... it's a binary choice. dawg May 2018 #237

My apologies. I confused you with another poster. Trumpocalypse May 2018 #138

"ending voter suppression, "extreme gerrymandering" and overturning the Citizens United Supreme pampango May 2018 #141

What why I have never heard this not ever !!!! Demsrule86 May 2018 #182

I'm not necessarily anti-Bernie, but he doesn't own these issues. dawg May 2018 #239

It really is sad how jealous some people are that Bernie is so widely loved and admired. aidbo May 2018 #145

Yeah, that's it. It's jealousy. MrsCoffee May 2018 #157

The dismissive smear of "politics of envy" gets deployed from the left.... ehrnst May 2018 #168

I know. Today he invented coffee and DVR's. "Some people" are going to bust with envy over that. Squinch May 2018 #204

I agree with this statement from Bernie workinclasszero May 2018 #175

Great post as usual HBS CentralMass May 2018 #184

Far from the only roadblock... Orsino May 2018 #186

Yes, but a rising tide lifts all white boats, so we don't have to think about that... Right? Squinch May 2018 #205

The wealthiest need to be removed from our politics. democratisphere May 2018 #201

I know this is very simplistic, but... BobTheSubgenius May 2018 #215

'He called for billionaires to start paying their "fair share" in taxes ...' ucrdem May 2018 #226

An example of Oligarchy in today's 'toons OxQQme May 2018 #233

OK, but Trump is part of the oligarchy. He represents and protects it Zing Zing Zingbah May 2018 #238

To "successfully confront it," we must elect Democrats. Garrett78 May 2018 #246

He's completely right Kentonio May 2018 #248