dagblog - Comments for "Why Bernie Matters"

Thanks AA. There's a lot of

HSG — Sat, 06 May 2017 00:33:22 +0000

Thanks AA. There's a lot of wisdom in this piece.

Why Can't the Left Win?

artappraiser — Fri, 05 May 2017 21:08:42 +0000

Why Can't the Left Win?

By Conor Friedersdorf @ The Atlantic, May 4

Advice and constructive criticism from observers who believe that America would benefit from a healthier opposition to the governing coalition

Just offered as a read that you might want to know about. I found as it had rocketed to #2 on their "most popular" list, illustrated with a picture of Bernie.

I would think: he is half

Peter Schwartz — Wed, 03 May 2017 00:00:41 +0000

In reply to I agree with your observation

I would think: he is half white, raised by whites, in an Asian country and then at a mixed race college prep school, where can all of this be coming from, the color of his skin?

It wasn't just his skin that drew people; it was the things he stood for and talked about and had done in his life, e.g., community organizing. Someone identical to him in looks and background, but saying different things wouldn't have drawn liberals in nearly the same way.

He broke the color line because, when people look at him, they see a "black person." That he's half white and lived in an Asian country and was brought up by a white mother and white grandparents isn't visible. The color line is simultaneously shallow--as shallow as one's outer epidermis--and deep--as deep as the beliefs and emotions white America (and black to some degree) attaches to the color of a person's skin.

Obama- who is planning on

Peter Schwartz — Tue, 02 May 2017 21:17:23 +0000

In reply to Peter, I'm tired of being

Obama- who is planning on devoting millions of dollars of personal income to help train young people as activists - is being slammed for raising the money that will pay for that work (and yeah financing his cool vacations).

I didn't see much slamming in Nathan's post, Michael, and I didn't intend it that way. In fact, he suggests in the first paragraph that Obama plans to do what you suggest, though with a bit less sarcasm. I don't know whether Nathan is correct about what Obama IS going to do, however, which would be something to watch. In any event, I don't see you cheerleading. I'm just trying to have a convo...

I mostly posted NM's piece because I thought he went into some substantive points on ways forward that folks might want to chew on. I agree with you (elsewhere) where you say the Democrats need a "core ideology" that they stand for, but the Bernie v Hillary family feud, I think, is fruitless. It's a rut.

Optics is important, but I can't get worked up about this choice, even if it wasn't the right one optically. Plus, optics are ephemeral. As soon as you grok the moment, it's gone. In 2012, Trump tried the same game, but the optics were all wrong. And what should we do now to address the optics? Find a rich guy to run who can't be bought? Or find candidates who have no money? The problem with addressing optics is that it's like trying to catch the wind.

If Newman is right about Obama, he's trying to make a real difference using the resources at his command.

Curioysly I've never read

PeraclesPlease — Tue, 02 May 2017 21:11:14 +0000

In reply to Thanks PP. Now I know that

Curioysly I've never read Bulgakov. Inexcusable even.

It's a free country.

NCD — Tue, 02 May 2017 21:03:58 +0000

In reply to Sure, Obama's people can try

It's a free country. Optically, purity zealots would need an electron microscope to blow this up to the scale of "the damage" that is being wreaked on the nation by the Trump administration and the GOP. And they do not seek purity, but power.

Thanks PP. Now I know that

HSG — Tue, 02 May 2017 20:27:28 +0000

In reply to We come to bury Caesar, not

Thanks PP. Now I know that two of my favorite works of art - Sympathy for the Devil and the Master and Margarita - are closely connected with the latter inspiring the former. I sure didn't know that until I started googling in response to your post. Don't start asking me questions about the Bulgakov novel though even if I claim it as a favorite. The only thing that stands out lucidly is a giant cat named Behemoth - and I probably got the name wrong.

and, ah yes, you say want a

artappraiser — Tue, 02 May 2017 20:27:21 +0000

In reply to We come to bury Caesar, not

And, ah yes, on "you say want a revolution?" You got me thinking not just of Russia but further, of old Monsieur l'Incorruptible and how In more recent times, his reputation has suffered as historians have associated him with an attempt at a radical purification of politics through the killing of enemies. What is "corruption" after all?

There's a couple smears here

artappraiser — Tue, 02 May 2017 19:35:17 +0000

In reply to We come to bury Caesar, not

There's a couple smears here @ Pompeii: Graffiti, Signs & Electoral Notices

like All the deadbeats and Macerius ask for Vatia as aedile

but I recall reading of much worse in grad school and through a scholar friend, maybe not in Pompeii but elsewhere, stuff along the lines of, say, Vatia only fucks little boys

We come to bury Caesar, not

PeraclesPlease — Tue, 02 May 2017 18:11:23 +0000

In reply to I got to go with Michael.

We come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. Yes, Salt of the Earth has perhaps the strangest lyrics to come out of the Glimmer Twins, perhaps still inspired by Bulgakov's Master and Margarita and the abominated Russian Revolution.