[identity profile] luzribeiro.livejournal.com posting in [community profile] talkpolitics
Quite an interesting piece, this.

Revolutionaries Have to Be Smart and Ruthless

Particularly this part:

"Look, I understand the sentiment that the system is rotten and the game is rigged. I do. But I don’t take people seriously who seek power but have no real idea how power works. If you want to be the nominee of the Republican or the Democratic Party, you need to figure out how that can be done. And, if you’re an outsider who is running with a message that the gatekeepers are all a bunch of losers and morons, or that they’re all corrupted by money, then you’ll need a plan for winning the people you’ve insulted over to your side."

The argument here is that neither Trump nor Sanders seems to understand how to gain power nor how to keep it. They've alienated the very structures through which they need to gain power and maintain power. Neither have been savvy enough to both retain the outsider status but sustain a good relationship with the party. Neither will be elected without the party machine behind them. Now, it's true Sanders hasn't alienated the Democratic party as much as Trump has alienated the Republican party, but he hasn't nurtured the best relationship with his own party, either.

While I do like Bernie in many ways, in fact he may be the Democratic version of the Tea Party movement playing to the frustration and anger of his followers. As for Trump, he is the tail-end of the Republicans' own Tea Party self-destruction. An angry voting block only needs trigger words, not solutions. Trump uses the same trigger words playing to the other side's anger. Neither side requires reality. We know how all that works. It is quite predictable, then, that Bernie and Trump intersect in many areas, including the above-described one.

We could argue that Bernie has adopted the Occupy crowd in a sense. As Trump has adopted the Tea Party crowd. Frankly, it wouldn't surprise me to see both these guys mount an independent run if they don't get the nomination. They both are addicted to the crowds at those rallies. Heard both campaigns saying the system is "rigged." Etc, etc. The similarities are more than a few.

(no subject)

Date: 14/4/16 18:14 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pigshitpoet.livejournal.com
CBC’s (March 11th) Fifth Estate tackles Trump:

The Fire Breather: The Rise and Rage of Donald Trump is a jaw dropping documentary we saw on the Fifth Estate on CBC. While we know how horrendous the man and his campaign are, there is new information that really adds to what we know about Trump's dangerous, dodgy character. I know this is longer in length but it is well worth a viewing and the best piece I have seen on him on any network thus far.

He has launched often vitriolic attacks on minorities Muslims, women and pretty much anyone else he wants - and yet Donald Trump’s popularity just keeps on climbing. After Super Tuesday, he is strongly in the lead win the Republican nomination . . . and his next victory, he hopes, will be the White House. Bob McKeown joins the campaign trail for a disturbing look at an ugly side of America . . . and why Trump my be winning.

http://www.cbc.ca/player/play/2685100496

I apologize for posting such a long video as I resent it when people send me time-consuming clips but I really hope you can see this because it’s very well done.
Maybe you can make yourself a nice cup of tea or coffee before viewing.

(no subject)

Date: 15/4/16 00:37 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] pigshitpoet.livejournal.com
; )
everything stops for tea.. except maybe, the tea party..

(no subject)

Date: 15/4/16 04:18 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] htpcl.livejournal.com
I liked this one. :-)

(no subject)

Date: 14/4/16 19:15 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oportet.livejournal.com
So, eventually - Trump and Sanders are going to have to kiss elite party member ass to have a chance. It's a risk - because it will disappoint their followers, but a necessary risk - because it's the only way.

Trump might be able to do it in the form of a VP pick. Sanders won't have that option - he'll have to act sooner.

(no subject)

Date: 14/4/16 19:25 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] airiefairie.livejournal.com
He is just not the front-runner.

(no subject)

Date: 14/4/16 20:30 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] oportet.livejournal.com
If there isn't a rule against naming one before getting the nomination - I guess he could do that. (I don't know if there is one, I just don't remember it ever happening).

(no subject)

Date: 17/4/16 06:43 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] mahnmut.livejournal.com
It wouldn't make much sense to name a VP if you're not at least the front-runner for the nomination. Would come across as too presuming.

(no subject)

Date: 14/4/16 19:25 (UTC)
From: [identity profile] luvdovz.livejournal.com
Oh, they could take power without help from the party elite - but they wouldn't be able to hold it.

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