tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-270188528980723422024-03-27T02:38:18.521-04:00BerniementumUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-58499304756182975342016-05-20T10:21:00.001-04:002016-05-20T13:22:26.783-04:00Bernie, Please Consider Running Third Party Through NovemeberDear Bernie Sanders,<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/188096/democratic-republican-identification-near-historical-lows.aspx" target="_blank">42% of Americans</a> identify as Independent, and <a href="http://usadailypolitics.com/poll-65-voters-will-support-candidate-isnt-clinton-trump/" target="_blank">65% of Americans</a> would support a third party candidate. On the Republican end, <a href="http://usherald.com/poll-shocking-percentage-republicans-wont-vote-trump-vote-hillary-instead/" target="_blank">25% say they will consider a third party candidate</a> if Trump wins the nomination. As I'm sure you've seen during your campaign, Americans are clamoring for another voice in the race.<br />
<br />
You've said repeatedly that you will do everything you can to make sure a Republican doesn't make it into the White House. It turns out <a href="http://thefederalist.com/2016/05/16/these-numbers-say-a-third-party-can-win-the-presidency/" target="_blank">there is a mathematical possibility</a> of an Independent winning the race. And by running Democrat, you have already secured the 15% requirement in national polls that would allow you to join the presidential debates along side Trump and Clinton.<br />
<br />
You yourself have seen the polls that show <a href="https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UTF-8#q=trump+beats+Clinton+national+poll" target="_blank">Trump beating Hillary</a> nationally. It's estimated that a fourth to a third (sometimes even higher margins) of your supporters refuse to vote for Hillary in a general election. Outside of your supporters, it's scary to realize Clinton's favorable ratings <a href="http://www.gallup.com/opinion/polling-matters/190787/clinton-image-among-democrats-new-low.aspx?g_source=&g_medium=&g_campaign=tiles" target="_blank">continue to drop</a> and that she's <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/the-poll-that-might-scare-clinton-supporters-688508995933" target="_blank">never been able to raise</a> her poll numbers in any campaign she's run.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj773QDVSvRb5a2auqXKTt_HrWXDa1AkB4GcDmy6ecIGjVyE_XZUwKgDdNtav7Z0xqZalU-Y13aL3642UywJS8eCh8reTJ67MSXgU1-1x6_kK-VwtMNiS8Et9VC4cBB9_WPznMSrq7gZA/s1600/150706_POL_Sanders.jpg.CROP.promo-xlarge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj773QDVSvRb5a2auqXKTt_HrWXDa1AkB4GcDmy6ecIGjVyE_XZUwKgDdNtav7Z0xqZalU-Y13aL3642UywJS8eCh8reTJ67MSXgU1-1x6_kK-VwtMNiS8Et9VC4cBB9_WPznMSrq7gZA/s400/150706_POL_Sanders.jpg.CROP.promo-xlarge2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I still have hope that you can <a href="http://berniecounter.com/" target="_blank">overtake</a> Hillary's delegate lead and present a challenging case to the superdelegates in July. But if that doesn't happen, if Hillary is the Democratic nominee, I ask you not to put yourself behind such a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/even-supporters-agree-clinton-has-weaknesses-as-a-candidate-what-can-she-do/2016/05/15/132f4d7e-1874-11e6-924d-838753295f9a_story.html" target="_blank">weak candidate</a> who could so easily lose the general election. Your campaign has always had the momentum. I ask you to keep it going.<br />
<br />
If, for whatever reason, you can't or won't continue, I ask instead that you endorse Jill Stein. Many of your supporters are already interested in <a href="http://www.jill2016.com/" target="_blank">her campaign</a>. Many are also prepared to vote for her in lieu of writing in your name on the November ballot. Your endorsement could raise in her the polls, giving her the 15% she needs to join the debates. Not only, would she provide a fresh voice against Trump and Clinton, but she'd represent a woman candidate for President worth voting for.<br />
<br />
I will continue to fight for your win, but if it doesn't happen, please don't back the establishment we've all been fighting against. That would be the biggest momentum killer of all.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-31000052625263805412016-05-18T21:14:00.000-04:002016-05-19T10:20:28.483-04:00We Were Awake Before Bernie Sanders Got Here<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvkTu8FmVWWT8aN5Z_v9-HajtAXyNyEkjuD463ljpa2W2IZ3UF0BV4KpaWhwjFYSSyd6xrUlKmx_riVbHNvW3_lxKNUWN23ErUaIKS0ZguNmkoywfq5eH_Yc4Xd9ZYlkiXOL840lCFw/s1600/capitalism2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNvkTu8FmVWWT8aN5Z_v9-HajtAXyNyEkjuD463ljpa2W2IZ3UF0BV4KpaWhwjFYSSyd6xrUlKmx_riVbHNvW3_lxKNUWN23ErUaIKS0ZguNmkoywfq5eH_Yc4Xd9ZYlkiXOL840lCFw/s1600/capitalism2.gif" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmWt4aCTRG0" target="_blank">The Nevada convention was a mess</a>. And after allegations of <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/05/17/nevada-democratic-party-accuses-bernie-sanders-campaign-of-inciting-violence/" target="_blank">alleged violence</a> from Bernie Sanders supporters, the media insisted Bernie needed to tell his followers to tone it down:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"It's not wrong for Sanders to see corruption baked into the law and the political process as it currently exists. Nor is it out of bounds for his campaign to point out the very flaws he is fighting to change. But the Campaign should remain cognizant of the fact that suggesting the entire political process is unfair is quite different from drawing policy contrasts - and more likely to have negative and destabilizing consequences for the party as a whole." -- <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/05/is-the-democratic-primary-really-rigged/483168/" target="_blank">The Atlantic</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"He's suggesting that the win is being stolen by a corrupt establishment, an impression which will be validated when his phony prediction turns out not to be true. Lying like this sets you up for stuff like happened over the weekend in Nevada. As I said, it all comes from the very top." -- <a href="http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/it-comes-from-the-very-top" target="_blank">TPM</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"Bernie Sanders himself could help clear the air by informing his supporters that while there are many things about the Democratic nomination process that ought to be changed, no one has "stolen" the nomination from him or from them. Perhaps a thousand small things gave Hillary Clinton an "unfair" advantage in this contest, but they were mostly baked into the cake, not contrived to throw cold water on the Bern." -- <a href="http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2016/05/sanders-needs-to-talk-down-his-supporters.html?mid=fb-share-di" target="_blank">New York Magazine</a></blockquote>
Here's what they don't get: Bernie Sanders supporters were awake before Bernie Sanders came along.<br />
<br />
We know it was a rigged system that allowed George Bush to gain the presidency in <a href="https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2000/11/fox-n17.html" target="_blank">2000</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7W7rHxTsH0" target="_blank">2004</a>. We know that voting machines are <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7tjnuG-l6g" target="_blank">easily hackable</a>. We know that our political system <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tu32CCA_Ig" target="_blank">runs on money, not votes</a>. We know that Democrats and Republicans are <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gnzl_oqN2PA" target="_blank">two heads of the same snake</a> and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eS1hK4Nhx9E" target="_blank">deliberately shut out other voices</a> to keep themselves in power.<br />
<br />
When we first heard Bernie Sanders speak about a rigged system, we didn't say, "Hey, this guy has a point!" We said, "Finally, a politician who aligns with my views!" If you believe the rigged system is a lie, Bernie Sanders didn't perpetuate it. We've been discontent with the political system long before he came along.<br />
<br />
So when we learn the DNC chair Debbie Wasserman Shultz was co-chair of Hillary's presidential campaign in 2008, when we see how <a href="http://usuncut.com/politics/debbie-wasserman-schultz-hillary-clinton/" target="_blank">she's the stacked the deck</a> in Hillary's favor, when we hear Bernie votes have <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynbA3OWinYY" target="_blank">scrubbed in audits</a>, we see that exit polls where Hillary wins states <a href="http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/05/16/clinton-does-best-where-voting-machines-flunk-hacking-tests-hillary-clinton-vs-bernie-sanders-election-fraud-allegations/" target="_blank">do not add up</a>, when we we learn the <a href="http://usuncut.com/politics/brooklyn-voter-purge-official-fired/" target="_blank">official fired for the NY voter purge</a> has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nOxhYHp018" target="_blank">Hillary campaign ties</a>, we don't need Bernie Sanders to tell us what we already fully understand. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MHYOB5uptc" target="_blank">The system is rigged</a>.<br />
<br />
<div>
Close your eyes to it if you want to, but we are and always have been awake. You are ones who are just now finding out about it. </div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-48343006620927776752016-05-13T16:19:00.001-04:002016-05-17T10:22:20.140-04:006 Big Reasons Not to Vote for Hillary Clinton<a href="http://mindy-fischer-writer.com/" target="_blank">Mindy Fischer</a> put out a blog post titled, "<a href="http://mindy-fischer-writer.com/2016/05/6-big-reasons-to-vote-for-hillary/?adsafe_url" target="_blank">6 Big Reasons To Vote for Hillary</a>." I have Hillary supporter friends, and one of them posted the article on Facebook. I rolled my eyes and tried to ignore it, but I couldn't. So, here we go. A response to each of Mindy's points.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D3WV63H-F59cNikB906-w8cuiYgMv27HPaDlkXqtEb2yc2gc1bWbyr35YaBGDwWTVQixZE-qEBr5dWiB0F0mDtBRUdwcuCOExnEJzc2hJrux9bGkFsfzcnmF4fUrILzg_pEPhtX0Gw/s1600/gettyimages-481249646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4D3WV63H-F59cNikB906-w8cuiYgMv27HPaDlkXqtEb2yc2gc1bWbyr35YaBGDwWTVQixZE-qEBr5dWiB0F0mDtBRUdwcuCOExnEJzc2hJrux9bGkFsfzcnmF4fUrILzg_pEPhtX0Gw/s400/gettyimages-481249646.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There's a tight race looming in the distance with a very possible Hillary vs Trump general election. Many fear Trump and gawk at the #BernieOrBust or #NeverHillary movements. Surely Hillary is a far better candidate? Well, not really. </div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Obama's Third Term</b></span><br />
<br />
I like President Obama in general. He pulled us from Iraq and Afghanistan (although not completely), and he passed the Affordable Healthcare Act that was an invaluable boon for me going into college. But we still have people who can't afford healthcare or are underinsured. So, yeah, he's accomplished some great things. But overall I wish he'd done better. Hillary follows many of his short comings.<br />
<br />
The Great Recession may be over, but <a href="http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-recessions-economic-trauma-has-left-enduring-scars-1462809318" target="_blank">we're still feeling its effects</a>. Jobs are <a href="http://time.com/money/4298904/great-recession-impact-gen-x-millennials/" target="_blank">hard to come by</a> and there's a <a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2016-05-11/years-later-psychological-scars-from-great-recession-skew-spending" target="_blank">trend toward people saving money</a> rather than spending. Our economy isn't where it should be, and the people have lost faith in it. I have no confidence in <a href="http://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/1937748/why-hillary-clintons-wavering-tpp-could-be-nail" target="_blank">Hillary's stance on opposing the TPP</a>, a trade deal Obama sadly supports and one that would only ship more American jobs overseas. This is the last thing our country needs.<br />
<br />
On immigration, while Hillary has promised only to <a href="https://youtu.be/RChZSOQVWKA?t=8s" target="_blank">deport violent criminals</a> and has specifically state she won't deport children, she <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFI_uckqtVo" target="_blank">stands by her previous decision</a> to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtu50I9IMys" target="_blank">send back child refuges</a> from Central America. So which is it, Hillary? You can't have it both ways. Obama deported hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants during his first term alone, <a href="http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/10/02/u-s-deportations-of-immigrants-reach-record-high-in-2013/" target="_blank">reaching a record high</a>. If Hillary really is the next Obama, we can expect much of the same.<br />
<br />
Hillary <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaign-updates/hillary-clintons-connection-oil-gas-industry/" target="_blank">has ties to gas and oil</a> companies. She has promised to install 500 million <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2015/09/23/3704776/hillary-clinton-energy-infrastructure/" target="_blank">solar panels across the country along with infrastructure upgrades</a> to improve our transporting systems for coal, oil, and gas. Keep in mind it took her <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/hillary-clinton-finally-comes-out-against-keystone-pipeline" target="_blank"><i>forever</i> to come out</a> against the Keystone pipeline in a decision that should have been a no brainier from the start. Hillary also <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/09/hillary-clinton-fracking-shale-state-department-chevron" target="_blank">sold fracking to the world</a> and <a href="https://youtu.be/gPVhPqy_Z6U?t=27s" target="_blank">can't promise to abolish it</a> in the US. Obama's taken <a href="http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/obama-has-done-more-for-clean-energy-than-you-think/" target="_blank">some strides in green energy</a> initiatives, but not nearly enough to <a href="http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-energy-policy/" target="_blank">draw us away from dirty energy</a>. Expect Hillary to follow suit.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2F30cEMceQvU1gqLBs2eoCsY5wRRqUbriHRZX0zcTmX7KPgBKl7mX7mxrYnkVNSZWRnjCGac14_rQhNWxNLE-0WoBNTrPsrlJppsJXxe6Ko8sEg6CnKhIlPxu_vNR4DSGk0j_PS0E6A/s1600/hillary-and-obama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2F30cEMceQvU1gqLBs2eoCsY5wRRqUbriHRZX0zcTmX7KPgBKl7mX7mxrYnkVNSZWRnjCGac14_rQhNWxNLE-0WoBNTrPsrlJppsJXxe6Ko8sEg6CnKhIlPxu_vNR4DSGk0j_PS0E6A/s400/hillary-and-obama.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Hillary plans on "expanding" Obamacare by making it more <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-hillary-clinton-reveals-her-plan-obamacare-20160223-column.html" target="_blank">affordable</a>. Cheaper care sounds good in theory but it's not a guarantee of ensuring <a href="http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-healthcare/" target="_blank">all American citizens have access</a> to affordable quality care. The Affordable Care Act is likely to go in the history books as Obama's shinning moment. I would challenge Hillary to reform it, not simply hold on to it and make it cost less.<br />
<br />
Hillary has spoken in support of Dodd-Frank, but if you expect her rail in Wall Street, <a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/129247/hillary-clinton-wants-believe-shes-tough-wall-street-shes-not" target="_blank">think again</a>. If her <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/02/clinton-speeches-218969" target="_blank">speeches to Goldman Sacs</a> (one of her top campaign donors <a href="http://www.nybooks.com/daily/2016/04/12/hillary-clinton-goldman-sachs-why-it-matters/" target="_blank">among other disturbing ties</a>) don't bother you, she also refuses to reinstate <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/15/upshot/what-is-glass-steagall-the-82-year-old-banking-law-that-stirred-the-debate.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FGlass-Steagall%20Act%20(1933)&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=4&pgtype=collection&_r=0" target="_blank">Glass Steagall</a>. And she has promised only invoke Dodd-Frank <i>if </i>the banks pose a risk, nevermind the fact that they are now <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/02/12/bernie-sanders-is-right-the-biggest-banks-in-america-have-gotten-bigger/" target="_blank">bigger than they were</a> in 2008. Obama's "great" Wall Street reform was to pass Dodd-Frank. Hillary has followed and <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/01/05/3736113/bernie-sanders-wall-street-plan/" target="_blank">proposed a weak plan</a> (though she calls it comprehensive) to combat excess spending.<br />
<br />
So yeah, if you are happy with all of that and you think it's the direction our country needs to go in for the next 8 years, Hillary's a great candidate.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Experience</span></b><br />
<br />
Hillary's experience has been touted from day one. Mindy herself says "no one in our history has ever come to this office as ready on day one as Hillary." She's wrong. Even if you include Hillary's time as First Lady, Bernie Sanders <a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2016/2/4/1479939/-Bernie-Sanders-Actually-Has-a-Lot-More-Experience-than-Hillary-Clinton" target="_blank">has 12 more years of experience</a> than she does directly related to governance and congressional work.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AeMAeAGYCn-afrxKIyGyNctbZ0ZuIIKxtpG0u7IqPMNHbmJncOvLHxa7SK8zUNm4we1gbZMbChjYtzkmTcx0GlhgwuPVVoXdBi3h1q0N4Q-J3A0hViY9X-EDjyNnoao441wOXtV8vQ/s1600/CYsWLmtWAAASucn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7AeMAeAGYCn-afrxKIyGyNctbZ0ZuIIKxtpG0u7IqPMNHbmJncOvLHxa7SK8zUNm4we1gbZMbChjYtzkmTcx0GlhgwuPVVoXdBi3h1q0N4Q-J3A0hViY9X-EDjyNnoao441wOXtV8vQ/s400/CYsWLmtWAAASucn.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hillary also calls herself "a progressive who gets things done," and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/monkey-cage/wp/2016/04/07/hillary-clinton-was-a-more-effective-lawmaker-than-bernie-sanders/" target="_blank">the Washington Times touted her record</a> in the Senate and her ability pass laws. But that article is highly inaccurate. You can fact check <a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/hillary-clinton/C001041" target="_blank">Hillary</a> and <a href="https://www.congress.gov/member/bernard-sanders/S000033" target="_blank">Bernie</a> on congress.gov yourself and see how the two compare bill for bill. Something less known is Bernie Sanders was called <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2016/mar/24/bernie-s/bernie-sanders-was-roll-call-amendment-king-1995-2/" target="_blank">the Amendment King</a> for his ability to pass laws through a Republican held Congress (1995-2007). He's <a href="http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/bernie-gets-it-done-sanders-record-pushing-through-major-reforms-will-surprise-you" target="_blank">just as capable if not more so</a> than Hillary (he's been in Congress nearly 3x longer than her) to get stuff done.</div>
<br />
Along with Clinton's experience, Mindy says, "Hillary has proven herself tough enough to handle anything." Has she? I wouldn't call a woman tough who lets <a href="https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/02/now-hillary-clintons-real-life-supporters-are-desp.html" target="_blank">others use sexism as a shield for her</a> and doesn't rebuke it. I wouldn't call a woman tough who can only give <a href="http://dailycaller.com/2016/02/04/hillary-im-cant-be-the-establishment-im-a-woman-video/" target="_blank">her gender as an example</a> to how she's different than Obama or why <a href="http://opinion.injo.com/2015/10/249170-no-hillary-clinton-simply-woman-not-make-different-obama/" target="_blank">she's not establishment</a>. I wouldn't a call a woman tough who says one thing and has to use the excuse that <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=Hillary+clinton+mispoke&oq=Hillary+clinton+mispoke&aqs=chrome..69i57.4198j0j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8" target="_blank">she misspoke</a> to cover her tracks. I wouldn't call a woman tough <a href="http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2015/10/democratic-debate-hillary-clinton-flip-flop-213247" target="_blank">who can't give a position</a> on anything until the political climate is right for it. I wouldn't call a woman tough who has to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hGC2vg27bFI" target="_blank">lie repeatedly about her record</a> and hope no one Google's it. I wouldn't call a woman tough who feels she has to change her accent to match the area she visits visits while campaigning. I wouldn't call a woman tough who tells Bernie Sanders to "<a href="http://dailycaller.com/2016/03/28/clinton-strategist-hillary-wont-debate-bernie-in-new-york-unless-he-changes-his-tone-video/" target="_blank">tone it down</a>" when she expects to go up against Donald Trump.<br />
<br />
I don't expect her to be kicking ass and taking names as president.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Foreign Policy</b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInY76kaMrPrgOQRDxVvIHQDcBMGVT0PfbNS6mOMh26JEwphAnhh7ftNMHYGzcxbKZoeiDriOg62mk-9vVWQV9A4jbvdZ76_O6gRT-u7RFz8dbO0yb_AxVdWzNimw8vxGArwCsZi1Unw/s1600/rtxz70u.jpg.CROP.promovar-mediumlarge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInY76kaMrPrgOQRDxVvIHQDcBMGVT0PfbNS6mOMh26JEwphAnhh7ftNMHYGzcxbKZoeiDriOg62mk-9vVWQV9A4jbvdZ76_O6gRT-u7RFz8dbO0yb_AxVdWzNimw8vxGArwCsZi1Unw/s400/rtxz70u.jpg.CROP.promovar-mediumlarge.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Hillary's friendship with Henry Kissinger is <a href="https://theintercept.com/2016/02/12/henry-kissingers-war-crimes-are-central-to-the-divide-between-hillary-clinton-and-bernie-sanders/" target="_blank">nothing to be praised</a>. And her foreign policy record is a terrifying thing to wade through, showing one <a href="http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/05/03/hillary-clintons-foreign-policy-resume-what-the-record-shows/" target="_blank">reckless war-addicted decision after another</a> that often ends in destabilization of the area. Iraq. Benghazi. Honduras. Afghanistan. Russia. Syria. Lybia, which is actually credited as "Hillary's War." Hillary says the one thing she learned from Lybia was that <a href="http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/04/14/hillary-clinton-has-no-regrets-about-libya/" target="_blank">the US's presence is needed in the middle east</a>. You can bet as president she'll be sending us into <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-shakman-hurd/will-hillary-clinton-lead-another-war_b_9378252.html" target="_blank">another costly war</a>,<br />
<br />
I get when people say Trump would be worse, but that's no reason to hold Hillary up as shinning example when she seems to hold such blatant disregard to lives lost and effected by war.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Guns</b></span><br />
<br />
While Hillary has a plan for gun control here at home, she has no qualms supplying arms deals to her donors as Secretary of State, including <a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/clinton-foundation-donors-got-weapons-deals-hillary-clintons-state-department-1934187" target="_blank">Sadia Arabia, Algeria, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Qtar</a>. I wish I was fucking kidding.<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Women's Rights</b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRJb9uBt3HiNdVneXMS3vH8f8tqzN0WHNKrrz0wwgPHn1a703mbw95EeZKAaB0Jo8ewrKkZTsVTl0dPc2DvRQ15SmlisvqmMcCCr-t4nmtv7Mh4dmu5eZkZNJ9c_b2xDcxfAyXa9iKQ/s1600/3500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjRJb9uBt3HiNdVneXMS3vH8f8tqzN0WHNKrrz0wwgPHn1a703mbw95EeZKAaB0Jo8ewrKkZTsVTl0dPc2DvRQ15SmlisvqmMcCCr-t4nmtv7Mh4dmu5eZkZNJ9c_b2xDcxfAyXa9iKQ/s400/3500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Those who question Hillary as a feminist, point to her <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jan/14/hillary-clinton-haunted-by-efforts-to-destroy-bill/?page=all" target="_blank">record of silencing women</a> who came out about sexual assault by her husband. Others point to her <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2014/jul/17/did-hillary-clinton-ask-be-relieved-rapist/" target="_blank">defense of a child rapist</a> and her decision to paint the victim as "attention seeking and emotionally unstable." I personally have no respect for a women who uses the <a href="http://usuncut.com/politics/clintons-sandy-hook-attack-backfires/" target="_blank">deaths of children as a political ploy</a>. Though these issues can be pushed aside for situational reasons, they are still unsettling.<br />
<br />
Other concerns include Hillary taking <a href="http://www.salon.com/2015/10/15/the_worst_thing_hillary_clinton_has_ever_done/" target="_blank">donations from countries that oppress women</a> and cutting programs while <a href="http://www.salon.com/2015/10/15/the_worst_thing_hillary_clinton_has_ever_done/" target="_blank">head of the Children's Defense Fund</a>.<br />
<br />
She takes <a href="http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/34688-big-campaign-cash-for-clinton-from-monsanto-lobbyist" target="_blank">donations from Monsanto</a>, a company that dumps tons of pesticide into the ground and waterways, abuses workers and local farmers, and is pushing against legislation to mandate GMO labeling on foods. Hillary also served as <a href="http://www.progressivepress.net/hillary-clinton-was-a-wal-mart-director-for-6-years/" target="_blank">Director of Walmart for 6 years</a>, a company known for its aggressive anti-union practices, unlivable wages it provides its employees, and a tendency to accept goods from <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/12/walmart-bangladesh-factories_n_3430020.html" target="_blank">near-slavery condition factories</a>. Though she has since left the company, she has yet to speak against it. Those against Hillary argue her ties to such companies bring her convictions into question. If she wants what's best for women, why would she accept or give support to such groups that hurt women, their families, and their children?<br />
<br />
Hillary's policies on mass incarceration, big oil, climate change, health care, and unions are also criticized as being too lax for women and children who would benefit from stronger reform.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Trump</b></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqmvCS6WiqF1wQ5FkyWayXV4ni5kY9gTwVYI371gM9ixCu7TLo9m2Vt2Zkj_2Y2fvXYtUHCEJNcAbZTr9fPFY25_JDn_XT47Qe0bDQZbqgIPvmyCiaeq_hZ0S5AqDoJtvqNChONusBA/s1600/GTY_donald_trump_hillary_clinton_sk_150619_16x9_992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqmvCS6WiqF1wQ5FkyWayXV4ni5kY9gTwVYI371gM9ixCu7TLo9m2Vt2Zkj_2Y2fvXYtUHCEJNcAbZTr9fPFY25_JDn_XT47Qe0bDQZbqgIPvmyCiaeq_hZ0S5AqDoJtvqNChONusBA/s400/GTY_donald_trump_hillary_clinton_sk_150619_16x9_992.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Is Hillary better than Trump? I suppose you could say that. Is she a champion of women and children? Hell, no. Should you vote for her anyway? Both of them are horrific candidates, and it's time as US citizens we take the presidency into our own hands and stop voting for the lesser evil because there is another choice.<br />
<br />
Write in Bernie Sanders for the general election or vote Green.<br />
<br />
You roll your eyes. You laugh. No third party candidate has ever won a single state. Writing in Bernie Sanders is "throwing away your vote." But that's only true because you believe it.<br />
<br />
If every single person in the US who looked at Trump and/or Hillary and said "hell no" voted third party we really would have a political revolution on our hands. Stop voting scared, and vote with integrity. We have more choices than just two. It's up to you to decide whether to give in to this sick, destructive cycle of crap-ass candidates the Republicans and Democrats keep throwing at us or to take a chance and vote for the country's future.<br />
<br />
If the only benefit of voting for Hillary Clinton is to stop a greater evil, we gain nothing. It's still a vote for evil.<br />
<br />
UPDATE 5/17/16: added paragraph on "getting stuff done" under Experience.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-32450881275804164742016-05-03T11:59:00.000-04:002016-05-03T11:59:03.787-04:00Bernie Sanders and Superdelegate MathBernie's plan to win Superdelegates comes in a total of 3 parts:<br />
<ol>
<li>Convince undecided superdelegates to support Bernie</li>
<li>Convince Clinton-supporting superdelegates of states where Bernie won the majority to support Bernie</li>
<li>Convince superdelegates who pledged their vote to Clinton at the very beginning of the primary season when a rival to Clinton was not conceivable to consider supporting Bernie</li>
</ol>
<div>
Would any of this help? Could Bernie win the DNC convention? Let's look at the math.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cpress.org/leftnews/sanders-michigan.jpg/@@images/image/large" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cpress.org/leftnews/sanders-michigan.jpg/@@images/image/large" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Currently, <a href="http://ap.org/products-services/elections/FAQs" target="_blank">AP</a> is reporting that Clinton has 520 delegates and Bernie has 39. It's worth noting that these are estimates and different sources are reporting different numbers. For math purposes, I'm using <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Democratic_Party_superdelegates,_2016" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> solely because they provide a break down of the delegates than can be counted and manipulated. They are reporting Hillary at 498 and Bernie at 41.<br />
<br />
If Bernie is able to persuade all undecided superdelegates (and one O'Malley superdelegate) to his side, he would gain 176 votes. In states where he won the majority vote, there are 49 total superdelegates that have pledged their vote to Clinton. If Bernie were to win the remaining states in the primary, there are currently 89 pledged superdelegates in those states pledged to Clinton the he would need to convince to come to his side.<br />
<br />
Adding all of this up and subtracting pledged superdelegates from Clinton, would make the final superdelegate tally (Bernie +176+49+89, Clinton -49-89):<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Clinton 360</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Bernie 355</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>If we go with the AP report, the scores would be Hillary 382, Bernie 353</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>(or slightly lower for Bernie given 20 delegates unaccounted for in the AP numbers).</i></div>
<br />
The math seems unlikely. After all, how could Bernie convince ALL the superdelegates he needs? Even with the numbers so close, it still seems the convention would go to Hillary. How could Bernie possibly win? This is where part 3 comes in.<br />
<br />
Bernie has a <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/04/12/sanders-most-liked-candidate-and-his-popularity-growing-poll" target="_blank">higher favorable rating</a> than Hillary, he <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/2016_presidential_race.html" target="_blank">polls better than her</a> against the Republican candidates, and Bernie is bringing out the <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/04/25/bernie-sanders-is-profoundly-changing-how-millennials-think-about-politics-poll-shows/" target="_blank">youth</a> and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/independents-may-feel-the-bern-but-they-cant-vote-in-new-yorks-closed-primary/2016/04/17/9d764134-0291-11e6-9203-7b8670959b88_story.html" target="_blank">independent</a> vote - huge voter bases that can make a difference in the general election.<br />
<br />
Bernie Sanders is all around a stronger democratic candidate than Hillary for the general election. Winning the superdelegates hinges on how many of them can acknowledge this fact. Winning the remaining primary states would also be a good push for Bernie in convincing superdelegates that he can go the distance. But in order to win votes Bernie needs our help, now more than ever.<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">What can I do?</span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://map.berniesanders.com/#zipcode=29642&distance=50&sort=time&f%5b%5d=campaign-office&f%5b%5d=bernie-event&f%5b%5d=official-event&f%5b%5d=phonebank&f%5b%5d=gotv&f%5b%5d=canvassing&f%5b%5d=carpool&f%5b%5d=register-voters&f%5b%5d=barnstorm" target="_blank">Volunteer for Bernie.</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/content/phonebank" target="_blank">Phone bank for Bernie.</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/lets_go_bernie?refcode=em160502" target="_blank">Donate to Bernie.</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://superdelegatelist.com/list" target="_blank">Write your superdelegates! </a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
When writing superdelegates, be respectful! It should go without saying that threats, aggression, name calling, and the like only serve to hurt our cause. If you can't be respectful, ask a friend who can be to help you in writing your communication or <a href="http://berniementum.blogspot.com/2016/04/write-your-superdelegates.html" target="_blank">use this sample letter</a><br />
<br />
The path to victory is <a href="https://berniesanders.com/in-it-to-win-it/" target="_blank">narrow</a>, but we can win if we're determined to fight.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-81880217983823652792016-04-28T16:58:00.001-04:002016-04-28T16:58:42.872-04:00Write Your Superdelegates!Bernie's path to the White House relies on winning as many delegates and superdelegates as possible. For the delegates, we keep doing what we've been doing: canvas, phone bank, and volunteer. For superdelegates, we need to write to them and let them know why they should support Bernie over Hillary.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5fsx9oJNwZOm5pncn1IJjKu_tBSkFAdZL_RkBM28ZdOi6khY_2lE7f0-iuhyphenhyphenKmX5NBVwrW4rg7FQtyuFgy1ufEbj0ydIZbO_DsXvz3UdM_CUI_s-v1s1rT6hyNRDY8fwH16pShlyEA/s1600/superdelegates_sac0213cd_zps231gfo1h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw5fsx9oJNwZOm5pncn1IJjKu_tBSkFAdZL_RkBM28ZdOi6khY_2lE7f0-iuhyphenhyphenKmX5NBVwrW4rg7FQtyuFgy1ufEbj0ydIZbO_DsXvz3UdM_CUI_s-v1s1rT6hyNRDY8fwH16pShlyEA/s400/superdelegates_sac0213cd_zps231gfo1h.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
There's been <a href="http://www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/State-s-Democratic-superdelegates-feel-heat-7348068.php" target="_blank">some really bad communication</a> between Superdelegates and Bernie supporters. We cannot argue our point with threats, name calling, or angry messages. This only serves to hurt our cause. If you feel you cannot be civil, leave the communicating for someone else. Otherwise, you can find a list of delegates and their contact information <a href="http://superdelegatelist.com/" target="_blank">here</a>. Below is a sample letter you can use:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Dear [superdelegate
name],</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
I am a citizen of
(your state), and I am writing to urge you to consider supporting
Bernie Sanders for the Democratic Nomination.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
It may be that you
personally prefer Hillary Clinton's policies over Bernie Sanders's.
It may also be that you are drawn to the idea of a woman president. I
ask instead that you consider the general election in November and
which candidate would perform best for the Democratic Party.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Hillary Clinton
mainly appeals to loyal Democrats. Bernie Sanders, however, appeals
to Democrats, Independents, Republicans, young voters, and voters who
have long abstained from participating in our political process.
Bernie appeals to a much wider base of voters, a third of which will
not back Hillary but would be a huge advantage to the Democratic
Party during the general election.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bernie Sanders is
more well liked than Hillary Clinton. A mid-April Gallup poll found
Bernie had a net favorable rating of +52 among Democrats. While
Bernie's favorable rating has climbed since last July, Hillary's has
dropped to +36. Her rating could continue to fall and prove to be a
detriment in the general election, where voters who dislike both
Hillary and the Republican candidate could choose to stay home.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bernie Sanders also
polls better than Hillary against Trump and Cruz. Against Trump, Real
Clear Politics has Hillary winning by a polling average of 8.5
points, whereas Bernie wins by 15.2 points. With Cruz, Hillary wins
by 3 points and Bernie wins by 12. Bernie Sanders is clearly the
better candidate of choice to propel the Democratic Party to victory.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Bernie Sanders has
faced tremendous odds during the primaries. The major media networks
will not cover him. Issues of voter suppression across the primaries
have cost him in delegates. Yet, he has come impressively far and has
proven himself to be a real contender against Hillary Clinton. If
this is what he can do with forces acting against him, think of how
much farther he could go with the Democratic Party's backing.
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
For the good of the
Party, I urge you to consider voting for Bernie Sanders for the
Democratic Nomination.</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Sincerely,</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0in;">
[your first and last
name]</div>
</blockquote>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-91475870395921810472016-04-27T21:21:00.001-04:002016-04-29T11:04:16.601-04:00Bernie Supporters, Now is Not Time to Jump ShipBernie's defeat during last night's Super Tuesday was disheartening to say the least. But just because the majority is paying attention to the sharks and ship captain, doesn't mean you give up on the guy pointing out the disaster we're heading into.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFsUhtXwMIMELB1UI08kI16wBxfDXyEzGyMhHRp9dTrz7GFCFPjhbfAHpzAYNHP5FfmPa6A7Mp5HFDruSISNysUUbiirpbNMqefHvTpL0uoaRAHMyaczCyrbTuul1jNlMh5Fx5lBYgQ/s1600/TnwXONg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNFsUhtXwMIMELB1UI08kI16wBxfDXyEzGyMhHRp9dTrz7GFCFPjhbfAHpzAYNHP5FfmPa6A7Mp5HFDruSISNysUUbiirpbNMqefHvTpL0uoaRAHMyaczCyrbTuul1jNlMh5Fx5lBYgQ/s400/TnwXONg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Months ago, before any #StillSanders hashtag appeared, I was asked in an anonymous Tumblr message if I would change my blog name and start following another presidential candidate if Bernie didn't win the nomination.<br />
<br />
The question seemed absurd to me then. I didn't start a blog and several social media channels so I could flip flop between lackluster political candidates. I don't spend <i>hours</i> of my day every day reading Bernie, sharing Bernie, discussing Bernie just to give up once he secured the white house. Win or lose, Bernie champions a message I care about, and as long as that message is carried, I will kept fighting for it.<br />
<br />
I thought others who proclaimed they "feel the bern" were the same as I, that they too had latched on to the message and were in it for the long haul. Now, with Bernie's chances for the nomination growing slimmer, I was disappointed to see messages of those I once trusted urging others to vote for Hillary to save the country from the impending Trump nomination.<br />
<br />
And if you're one of those people who championed Bernie but are now limping away and suggesting we all do the same, then I have to ask you, what were you fighting for in the first place? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7uE-y8UjXU" target="_blank">Because the issues haven't changed, and if you ever really cared about them, Bernie is still the best choice for president.</a> Do you not owe it to yourself and this country to continue fighting for Bernie?<br />
<br />
Running scared to vote for the lesser evil is what establishment politics <i>wants</i> you to do. How many presidential elections have you heard the saying "But I can't vote for him because he can't win?" We, a country built by revolutionists, have let ourselves believe we have no power. Many of us are sick and tired of our political system, but we've bought into the fallacy of the throwaway vote. The reality is if we only had the courage to band together, we could truly change something.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bQfP_ac1BCFNLGThyphenhyphentHEIiWuqLfssEWWAONsCbqrGR0mWa7kM7Djf75kHaPTjU1w32gJugGg99jS19jvPqiM2Y4pSEvCctIamS1O-_RU5Euz6O1RI9SQkCawf4hnIrQ8NKSm7B_ikg/s1600/voterapathy_590_444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1bQfP_ac1BCFNLGThyphenhyphentHEIiWuqLfssEWWAONsCbqrGR0mWa7kM7Djf75kHaPTjU1w32gJugGg99jS19jvPqiM2Y4pSEvCctIamS1O-_RU5Euz6O1RI9SQkCawf4hnIrQ8NKSm7B_ikg/s400/voterapathy_590_444.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
There is, even now a path to the white house. Bernie does extremely well with <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/independents-may-feel-the-bern-but-they-cant-vote-in-new-yorks-closed-primary/2016/04/17/9d764134-0291-11e6-9203-7b8670959b88_story.html" target="_blank">Independents</a> and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/04/25/bernie-sanders-is-profoundly-changing-how-millennials-think-about-politics-poll-shows/" target="_blank">young people</a>, two groups that have felt excluded by and haven't participated in our political process. Bernie is the only candidate with <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/news/2016/04/12/sanders-most-liked-candidate-and-his-popularity-growing-poll" target="_blank">a net favorability rating</a> among voters and <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/2016_presidential_race.html" target="_blank">polls better than Hillary</a> against the Republican candidates. While <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/184346/sanders-surges-clinton-sags-favorability.aspx" target="_blank">Hillary gains support mostly among democrats</a>, Bernie appeals to a wide group voters, Democrats and Republicans alike. Bernie's support can be expected to grow after the primary as he gains more exposure among the American people. Hillary's support may not as <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/2016_democratic_presidential_nomination-3824.html" target="_blank">her numbers have stayed around the same</a> since the primary started. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgPZs7_XH0w" target="_blank">Bernie plans to fight all the way to the convention</a> where it all comes down to super delegates. If Bernie can pull off an impressive delegate count to rival Clinton, and the delegates recognize Bernie has the support and the momentum to win the general election in a way that surpasses Clinton's chances, they should vote for him.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Of course, there's always the chance Bernie doesn't win. But what really changes then? Do you honestly believe our country is best served by voting for another candidate? We backed Bernie because we believed in what he represented. None of that changes if he doesn't win the nomination.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
What about the fossil fuels destroying our planet? What about people who still can't afford life saving healthcare? What about preventing Wall Street from crashing our economy again? Our crumbling education system? The disappearing middle class? Our bought politicians? Our obsession with continuous warfare? Our terrible mass incarceration and criminal justice issues? No one said the political revolution was going to be easy. And I for one fail to see how turning in my values and beliefs for an establishment candidate is going to be helpful.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Gf6pZymm1Xz6Ynk4qOAeGS1kanmA8yiyp098uLCEWSCCgxf-UFe2Pw8gBs-ayX2F671qlAi-AEyt0__zv4XKucHRrz05gNQZxkcXKY7tjOFTciluh8_PoIRXLYVyCzhhgQK5opR7Lw/s1600/63594013765109763995071954_branco-trump-and-hillary_0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Gf6pZymm1Xz6Ynk4qOAeGS1kanmA8yiyp098uLCEWSCCgxf-UFe2Pw8gBs-ayX2F671qlAi-AEyt0__zv4XKucHRrz05gNQZxkcXKY7tjOFTciluh8_PoIRXLYVyCzhhgQK5opR7Lw/s400/63594013765109763995071954_branco-trump-and-hillary_0.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Our country cannot continue to survive like this, and <a href="http://berniementum.blogspot.com/2016/02/hillarys-im-woman-card-is-ridiculous.html" target="_blank">Hillary is not going to fix it</a>. Yes, Trump is scary, but that's no reason to buy into the establishment ploy and drag our country though 8 more years of income inequality, corrupt politics, and no change. <a href="https://theindependentthinker2016.wordpress.com/2016/03/05/i-used-to-be-in-love-with-hillary-clinton/" target="_blank">Hillary is just as likely to destroy the country as Trump</a>, she'll just do it quietly and behind closed doors.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/bernie-sanders-says-hillary-clinton-has-to-earn-his-supporters-votes-herself-a7001606.html" target="_blank">Hillary has to earn our vote</a> and has already <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pEZLNItsqjw" target="_blank">demonstrated how little she cares</a> about it. So what do we do? We get back to what we've been doing. We <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/content/phonebank" target="_blank">phone bank</a>, canvas, and <a href="http://berniementum.blogspot.com/2016/01/how-to-volunteer-for-bernie.html" target="_blank">volunteer our heart out</a>. We show up and vote and drag our friends and family out with us. We make Hillary fight for every last delegate until the convention.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
And what if Bernie doesn't get the Democratic nomination? Then we see if a <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/presidential-campaign/277799-bernie-sanders-is-the-third-party-candidate-youve" target="_blank">third party candidacy</a> is an option, and if it is we fight our heart out for that. And if not, we continue to fight for Bernie and his beliefs and <a href="http://berniecrats.net/" target="_blank">vote berniecrats</a> into office one county, city, state at a time. <a href="https://brandnewcongress.org/" target="_blank">We change Congress</a>. We get involved in our political process, attend protests, and demand that our representatives work for us. We do not give up! And we do not give in!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Bernie has been fighting for us for over 40 years, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-yR0pKtP7w" target="_blank">even when no one was around</a> to take him seriously. Now is not the time to jump ship, or perhaps the perfect time if you were never serious to be begin with. We are the political revolution, and it can only go as far as you decide to carry it. Sign the <a href="https://citizensagainstplutocracy.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">Bernie or Bust pledge</a> to write in Bernie's name or vote Green in the general election. Tell the establish we're not playing their game anymore.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK2XHWNTc8q1HBr3MeA3UEaxop29_vVu80OisunW6yjUweA0jG19F50fUr58ZXHRwIslvoXC4WEjk8bVjRuyYK-3DsP9RD0AmVvPMm8WaBqBrmJpuWjuvuj46CLiyGG6oKmsRN7NNhA/s1600/tumblr_o4bkr9GABI1ugmkf5o1_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcK2XHWNTc8q1HBr3MeA3UEaxop29_vVu80OisunW6yjUweA0jG19F50fUr58ZXHRwIslvoXC4WEjk8bVjRuyYK-3DsP9RD0AmVvPMm8WaBqBrmJpuWjuvuj46CLiyGG6oKmsRN7NNhA/s400/tumblr_o4bkr9GABI1ugmkf5o1_1280.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-37820780487651535742016-04-01T16:29:00.001-04:002016-04-07T12:44:49.327-04:008 Times Bernie Supporters Revolted on TwitterThe primary election has garnered a slew of hashtags with which Bernie Supporters have spurred the revolution, crying out against corruption and media bias. Some have been quite comical, others far more serious. <i>The following list will be updated with additional tags as the primary continues. Hashtags are in order of date of appearance.</i><br />
<b><br /><span style="font-size: large;">
#HillarySoProgressive</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
During the <a href="http://berniementum.blogspot.com/2016/02/msnbc-fifth-democratic-debate-recap.html" target="_blank">fifth democratic debate</a>, Hillary was asked whether she considered herself a moderate or a progressive after previously laying claim to both labels. Hillary insisted she was a "progressive who gets things done." But her words didn't seem to convince Twitter users, who tweeted the hashtag <a href="http://www.vox.com/2016/2/4/10918368/hillary-so-progressive-twitter" target="_blank">#HillarySoProgressive</a> to point out her more moderate record.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGSBQLueHl-AkL5lk_hvTJpSAZZGKMpn0ASlucy1bw8rJyphKcSsNEecS6dVNoh-CAnyMHVGOCHu6US4ouBUqSmXBZD25b6Rf6rjZKfjq5IMDRfWe80eOketeRLOqz69w1LcnaHu9Xw/s1600/Screen+Shot+04-01-16+at+01.49+PM.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGSBQLueHl-AkL5lk_hvTJpSAZZGKMpn0ASlucy1bw8rJyphKcSsNEecS6dVNoh-CAnyMHVGOCHu6US4ouBUqSmXBZD25b6Rf6rjZKfjq5IMDRfWe80eOketeRLOqz69w1LcnaHu9Xw/s1600/Screen+Shot+04-01-16+at+01.49+PM.PNG" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">#WhichHillary</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Ashley Williams, a Black Lives Matter activist, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/clinton-black-lives-matter-south-carolina_us_56ce53b1e4b03260bf7580ca" target="_blank">protested at a Hillary Clinton fundraiser</a> holding a sign with the hashtag <a href="http://www.mediaite.com/online/whichhillary-blows-up-on-twitter-with-challenges-of-clinton-flip-flopping/" target="_blank">#WhichHillary</a> and a quote from Clinton referring to black youth as "superpredators" from a 1996 speech in support of the Violent Crime Control Act. Hillary has said that <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/hillary-clinton-yes-black-lives-matter" target="_blank">she stands with</a> the BLM movement, but she had no comment for Williams on her concerns and had the girl escorted out. Once the video of Ashley's protest was posted, Twitter users tweeted the hashtag to call out Clinton on her history of shifting viewpoints and to question which of those views points she actually holds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpyWHBpuWwjpk9xB3LKT4cNBZPkRokcYucWYqBFqNUw8wptwZFT0flKl08maQNTbYmOfQXgraA1tASB9WUJ5MQYjv543SpFrSa1nSmcCDy80kYJPJWaMhux2mPJlp32OujsJmEDONzg/s1600/Screen+Shot+04-01-16+at+01.58+PM.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLpyWHBpuWwjpk9xB3LKT4cNBZPkRokcYucWYqBFqNUw8wptwZFT0flKl08maQNTbYmOfQXgraA1tASB9WUJ5MQYjv543SpFrSa1nSmcCDy80kYJPJWaMhux2mPJlp32OujsJmEDONzg/s1600/Screen+Shot+04-01-16+at+01.58+PM.PNG" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">#MoveBillGetOutTheWay</span></b><br />
<br />
During the Massachusetts primary, Bill Clinton campaigned for his wife outside of a polling station, blocking voters from getting to the polls, prompting the hashtag <a href="http://www.vocativ.com/news/292163/mad-berners-accusing-bill-clinton-of-ruining-super-tuesday/" target="_blank">#MoveBillGetOutTheWay</a>. He also went inside of the polling location and shook hands with poll workers and voters. There's some <a href="http://www.bostonmagazine.com/news/blog/2016/03/01/bill-clinton-massachusetts-voting-laws/" target="_blank">dispute</a> on whether or not Clinton was in violation of campaign law, which states there can be no voting solicitation with 150ft of a polling place. However, a <a href="https://www.change.org/p/massachusetts-attorney-general-maura-healey-arrest-prosecute-bill-clinton-john-f-mitchell-violation-of-ma-election-laws?recruiter=474162058&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink" target="_blank">petition was started</a> for his arrest and a <a href="https://thehornnews.com/clinton-sued-election-fraud/" target="_blank">law suit filed</a> against his actions. There's allegations that Bill Clinton continues to break campaign law at <a href="http://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/Bill-Clinton-Campaigns-for-Hillary-Clinton-in-Chicago-on-Election-Day-372124682.html" target="_blank">other polling places</a> across the country.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHLXgRApm2LNpWBHVyHytdWNpn4JXpB6NegpYpM7DIwpzJICmVXB847eL6585hTiqWEUirUTdWoubIUxdEsoF3kuzK6FUhUnFzwTZqLFzlL48nbabyEpCjQcBpYsVwnl6YF2LrpwFLQ/s1600/Cc433ROUEAASYgo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBHLXgRApm2LNpWBHVyHytdWNpn4JXpB6NegpYpM7DIwpzJICmVXB847eL6585hTiqWEUirUTdWoubIUxdEsoF3kuzK6FUhUnFzwTZqLFzlL48nbabyEpCjQcBpYsVwnl6YF2LrpwFLQ/s400/Cc433ROUEAASYgo.jpg" width="325" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">#BernieMadeMeWhite</span></b><br />
<br />
Throughout the primary, the media has reported that Bernie <a href="http://www.teenvogue.com/story/bernie-sanders-white-voters-strategy" target="_blank">only does well with white</a> youth voters. When Bernie swept the caucuses in Washington, Hawaii, and Alaska, three of the most diverse states in the US, the media continued their rhetoric. Twitter shot back with <a href="http://www.npr.org/2016/03/28/472160616/-berniemademewhite-no-bernie-sanders-isnt-just-winning-with-white-people?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social" target="_blank">#BernieMadeMeWhite</a> where people of color voiced their support for Bernie and their frustration at the media's refusal to acknowledge their existence.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMcNnJKqdCFpGbh_8MXynpyqwCa1FITxGtU5IvjqgkEo4qldKSVjcV9VMw162gnXKo68plDWS33O9Yuqh1rTuJC4VvAKJ8pr56KBSpnwFiVe_pmhZuenmfeqOqyNwzYraTmr5A1Pqqw/s1600/Cek_ACqXIAY2gkO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKMcNnJKqdCFpGbh_8MXynpyqwCa1FITxGtU5IvjqgkEo4qldKSVjcV9VMw162gnXKo68plDWS33O9Yuqh1rTuJC4VvAKJ8pr56KBSpnwFiVe_pmhZuenmfeqOqyNwzYraTmr5A1Pqqw/s400/Cek_ACqXIAY2gkO.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">#ToneDownForWhat</span></b><br />
<br />
Bernie Sanders <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2016/03/27/bernie-sanders-challenges-hillary-clinton-to-debate-in-new-york/" target="_blank">challenged</a> Hillary Clinton to a debate in NY before the April primary, but an aid for the Clinton campaign said the debate wouldn't happen until Sanders <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2016/03/28/clinton_advisor_bernie_sanders_needs_to_change_tone_if_he_wants_more_debates.html" target="_blank">changed his tone</a>, alleging that Sanders had broken his pledge not to run negative attacks. Twitter responded with <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/clinton-campaigns-hesitance-debate-sparks-tonedownforwhat" target="_blank">#ToneDownForWhat</a>, asking if pointing out the truth of Hillary's record and campaign donations could be considered negative and whether or not Hillary could handle Trump if the pressure from Bernie was too much. The Clinton campaign later <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-next-debate-221379" target="_blank">agreed to a debate</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKpcMD4dit3YuSR28t3LTSc0XXUgWDt29t_CVVp22_Ad7ucOXABmSC54QfpZt-iBFSLz-aO-J7ng6tP7hU7sbLUdck0qGJqxldn6c-hNJJWe8_okCw9JrYk6dcqvm7UGYCQhA0jBuuw/s1600/12920292_10208022323129855_6922712484731884185_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHKpcMD4dit3YuSR28t3LTSc0XXUgWDt29t_CVVp22_Ad7ucOXABmSC54QfpZt-iBFSLz-aO-J7ng6tP7hU7sbLUdck0qGJqxldn6c-hNJJWe8_okCw9JrYk6dcqvm7UGYCQhA0jBuuw/s400/12920292_10208022323129855_6922712484731884185_n.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">#ImSoSick</span></b><br />
<br />
A <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/im-the-greenpeace-activist-who-asked-hillary-clinton-to-pledge-to-reject-fossil-fuel-contributions-at-the-purchase-ny-campaign-rally/#.Vv6XQTWAlMY.facebook" target="_blank">Greenpeace activist asked</a> Hillary Clinton at a rally if she would pledge to refuse campaign donations from big oil. Hillary's response was heated, saying "I'm sick of the Sanders campaign spreading lies! I'm sick of it!" But Hillary's connections to the <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaign-updates/hillary-clintons-connection-oil-gas-industry/" target="_blank">fossil fuel industry</a> aren't lies, and Twitter users tweeted <a href="http://usuncut.com/politics/twitter-reacted-hillary-clinton-flipping-climate-activist/" target="_blank">#ImSoSick</a> with their own frustrations, calling out Hillary for her establishment ties and the media for their bias toward Hillary's campaign.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdKASyM1wjTdIhO5p0FcLb1aC-0qdxOGeldfKso7TZqfVAkUKbQ6ARyscH37H9pUjbk5f3_pr6Dx0lHpLWWyOwT_X5jrvXrtFxrGt_7rad39WknEq0jebVpP01pKZA9LFXhBiyr3DkQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+03-31-16+at+10.42+PM.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMdKASyM1wjTdIhO5p0FcLb1aC-0qdxOGeldfKso7TZqfVAkUKbQ6ARyscH37H9pUjbk5f3_pr6Dx0lHpLWWyOwT_X5jrvXrtFxrGt_7rad39WknEq0jebVpP01pKZA9LFXhBiyr3DkQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+03-31-16+at+10.42+PM.PNG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>#ApologizeForWhat</b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Still following the events after the <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/im-the-greenpeace-activist-who-asked-hillary-clinton-to-pledge-to-reject-fossil-fuel-contributions-at-the-purchase-ny-campaign-rally/#.Vv6XQTWAlMY.facebook" target="_blank">Greenpeace activist</a>, Hillary Clinton made a statement that she <a href="http://www.mediaite.com/tv/hillary-i-feel-sorry-for-the-young-people-who-believe-sanders-camps-lies/" target="_blank">felt sorry for people</a> who believed the lies perpetuated by the Sanders campaign about her receiving fossil fuel donations. After such remarks, Bernie asked Hillary to <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/bernie-sanders-demands-apology-hillary-clinton-accusing-lying/story?id=38096138" target="_blank">apologize for lying</a> about his campaign. Hillary supporters took to Tumblr with the hashtag #ApologizeForWhat, <a href="http://www.bustle.com/articles/151753-apologize-for-what-started-with-hillary-clinton-supporters-but-it-ended-with-bernie-sanders" target="_blank">accusing Bernie's campaign</a> for lies and smears against Hillary. But the hashtag was quickly taken over by Bernie Supports who tweeted various <a href="http://www.bizpacreview.com/2016/04/02/what-could-possibly-go-wrong-with-this-hillary-hashtag-oh-let-us-count-the-ways-324475" target="_blank">downfalls of Hillary's political career</a> that they felt she needed to apologize for.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXS4ggUoSN5TzvUWIqfQTE2d9MegRidQSWHd9Ey2fjP33V2g_u4xBjTw6vrFtxUeVcWkvR45phcovWsZxNStN7Z59YdHMInaFGvb0hyphenhyphenczTwNpexu1JFNAHxqT7NSEhrGCNmoCiF86Fg/s1600/Screen+Shot+04-04-16+at+09.22+AM.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXS4ggUoSN5TzvUWIqfQTE2d9MegRidQSWHd9Ey2fjP33V2g_u4xBjTw6vrFtxUeVcWkvR45phcovWsZxNStN7Z59YdHMInaFGvb0hyphenhyphenczTwNpexu1JFNAHxqT7NSEhrGCNmoCiF86Fg/s1600/Screen+Shot+04-04-16+at+09.22+AM.PNG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">#HillarySoQualified</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
After Bernie stated that Hillary <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/04/06/politics/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-qualified/" target="_blank">was not qualified to be president</a>, Hillary supporters went to Twitter with the hashtag #HillarySoQualified to tout her qualifications. But Bernie supporters <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/04/07/hillarysoqualified-pro-clinton-hashtag-goes-wrong-fast/?postshare=671460024608074&tid=ss_tw" target="_blank">hijacked the hashtag</a> and tweeted all the ways they felt Hillary wasn't qualified.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaMTbxw68b21K7Cf1PyMM9kbSGFdYGgsb1g5W2tv-iTYjp_XhKceAi1lCatHANsntVVVJHf86ceFdoNz8rvpyX3j3ht_O8GMlCaPsLZNA2CMnvtNN9XkYv9M0vXbMdlN1dIcnPUbh-Q/s1600/Screen+Shot+04-07-16+at+12.43+PM.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvaMTbxw68b21K7Cf1PyMM9kbSGFdYGgsb1g5W2tv-iTYjp_XhKceAi1lCatHANsntVVVJHf86ceFdoNz8rvpyX3j3ht_O8GMlCaPsLZNA2CMnvtNN9XkYv9M0vXbMdlN1dIcnPUbh-Q/s1600/Screen+Shot+04-07-16+at+12.43+PM.PNG" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-4026089475865059322016-02-09T11:19:00.000-05:002016-02-09T15:16:58.511-05:00Hillary's "I'm a Woman" Card is Ridiculous and InsultingHillary plays the "I'm a Woman" card every chance she gets, like somehow the fact she has different genitals than most of her running mates makes her a better candidate. Has she forgotten there's <a href="http://2016.republican-candidates.org/Fiorina/" target="_blank">a woman running</a> on the GOP side? I'm not more likely to throw my vote to her than I am any other GOP candidate. Why would someone's gender make any difference on the Democratic side?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/crop_0_777_5496_2687,scalefit_630_noupscale/562a5b8c1400001b013c8fcb.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/crop_0_777_5496_2687,scalefit_630_noupscale/562a5b8c1400001b013c8fcb.jpeg" height="195" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
When you're asked, Hillary, what makes you different than Obama, the correct answer is not, "I'm a woman." And when you're asked if you can be considered establishment, the correct answer is not, "I can't be because I'm a woman." Why would you ever suggest that voters would support you because of what's between your legs or on your chest vs what positions you actually support?<br />
<br />
Does being a woman make you more likely to fight against the Keystone pipeline?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><u>No.</u></b> Hillary didn't take any stance on the Keystone pipeline until finally coming out <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/oct/14/hillary-clinton/clinton-says-her-keystone-xl-position-isnt-flip-fl/" target="_blank">against it in September, 2015</a>. Meanwhile, Bernie was against it from <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/cifamerica/2011/nov/10/tar-sands-oil-keystone-xl-dirty-secret" target="_blank">the very beginning</a>. </blockquote>
Does being a woman make you more likely to rail against the greed of Wall Street?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><u>No.</u></b> Hillary refuses to <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2015/10/06/politics/hillary-clinton-glass-steagall-act-martin-omalley/" target="_blank">reinstate Glass Steagall</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg897Ux_UIU" target="_blank">during the last debate</a> said she'd only look at breaking up big banks <i>if they posed a risk</i>. Meanwhile, she has <a href="http://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/030415/hillary-clintons-wall-street-ties.asp" target="_blank">several ties to Wall Street</a> she may be reluctant to sever and Bernie has been wanting to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yfAxNYUwBWI" target="_blank">break up the banks since the fallout</a> where they already proved their risk to the economy.</blockquote>
Does being a woman make you most qualified to lead us in clean energy?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><u>No.</u></b> Hillary has yet to name a <a href="http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2016/01/clinton-sanders-omalley-fracking" target="_blank">stance on fracking</a>. Meanwhile, Bernie's climate plan goes further than Hillary's in addressing clean energy <a href="http://www.bustle.com/articles/128195-4-ways-bernie-sanders-climate-plan-differs-from-hillary-clintons" target="_blank">on a global scale and on transportation</a> in addition to home energy sources.</blockquote>
Does being a woman make you more likely to fight for better health care?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><u>No.</u></b> Hillary wants to <a href="https://www.hillaryclinton.com/issues/health-care/" target="_blank">"build" on the Affordable Care Act</a> and "reduce costs" with no clear end goal other than to make it better. Meanwhile, Bernie has <a href="https://berniesanders.com/issues/medicare-for-all/" target="_blank">a plan for universal healthcare</a> for all Americans that <a href="http://truecostblog.com/2009/08/09/countries-with-universal-healthcare-by-date/" target="_blank">should have been enacted years ago</a>.</blockquote>
Does being a woman make you more likely to fight for fair trade policies?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<u><b>No.</b></u> Hillary only <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/oct/13/hillary-clinton/what-hillary-clinton-really-said-about-tpp-and-gol/" target="_blank">came out against the TPP</a> October, 2015 after hoping it would set a gold standard. Meanwhile, Bernie has been <a href="http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/the-trans-pacific-trade-tpp-agreement-must-be-defeated?inline=file" target="_blank">against it at least since December</a>, 2014. And he's always been <a href="http://progressive.org/news/2011/10/170238/bernie-sanders-denounces-free-trade-pacts" target="_blank">suspicious of unfettered free trade policies</a> where as Hillary <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2008/feb/25/barack-obama/clinton-has-changed-on-nafta/" target="_blank">has back-peddled on NAFTA</a>. Only Bernie has actually spoken about the real horrors of the bill - being negotiated behind closed doors and giving corporations the power to challenge environmental laws, to name a few- while Hillary only said it would hurt American workers.</blockquote>
Does being a woman make you more likely to stand up for LGBT issues?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<u><b>No.</b></u> Hillary was <a href="http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2015/jun/17/hillary-clinton/hillary-clinton-change-position-same-sex-marriage/" target="_blank">against same-sex marriage until 2013</a> and up to that point only supported civil unions. Meanwhile, Bernie <a href="http://www.sevendaysvt.com/OffMessage/archives/2015/06/30/32-years-before-scotus-decision-sanders-backed-gay-pride-march" target="_blank">approved Burlington's first gay pride parade in 1983</a>.</blockquote>
Does being a woman make you more likely to fight against mass incarceration?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><u>No.</u></b> While Hillary and Bernie fair equality in supporting reductions in jail sentences for non-violent drug offenders and deprivatizing our criminal system, Hillary refuses to decriminalize marijuana, making it <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/hillary-clinton-calls-easing-restrictions-marijuana" target="_blank">legal only for medical purposes</a>. Meanwhile, Bernie <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/10/bernie-sanders-federal-marijuana-legalization/413197/" target="_blank">wants it off the list of outlawed drugs</a> altogether.</blockquote>
Does being a woman make you more likely to keep us from another complicated and costly war?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><u>No.</u></b> Hillary is supportive of having <a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/run-2016/2015/11/19/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-lay-out-isis-plans" target="_blank">the US lead the charge against ISIS</a>, bringing up questions of how well she's really learned from her mistake in voting for the Iraq war. Meanwhile, Bernie has said that <a href="http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-isis/" target="_blank">regional nations should lead the charge</a> with US assistance. He has also questioned the US's role as "world police" and the amount of <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/bernie-sanders-isis-iraq_us_5647eccfe4b08cda348926c2" target="_blank">instability that is brought to a region</a> when a regime is toppled.</blockquote>
Does being a woman make you more likely to fight for a living wage?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><u>No.</u></b> Hillary wants to raise the minimum wage to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hillary-clinton-raise-federal-minimum-wage-to-12-per-hour_us_56394247e4b0411d306eca12" target="_blank">$12 and hour</a>. Meanwhile, Bernie wants to <a href="http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-minimum-wage/" target="_blank">raise it to $15</a>, which is calculated to get working families out of poverty and off welfare.</blockquote>
Does being a woman make you more likely to fight for affordable education?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><u>No.</u></b> Hillary wants to implement <a href="http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/clintons-sweeping-new-debt-free-college-plan" target="_blank">debt-free college</a>, meaning students and their families will still have to play. Meanwhile, Bernie wants to remove any barriers to achieve a college education by making it <a href="https://berniesanders.com/issues/its-time-to-make-college-tuition-free-and-debt-free/" target="_blank">tuition-free</a>.</blockquote>
Does being a woman make you more likely to fight to take big money out of politics?<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<b><u>No.</u></b> While Hillary has said she wants to overturn Citizens United, she has taken large corporation donations<a href="https://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/contrib.php?cid=N00000019&cycle=Career" target="_blank"> throughout her political career</a> and during her current campaign. Meanwhile, Bernie has sworn off such donations. During his political career where he's been offered corporate money, he's either <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/news/politics/2015/10/15/bernie-sanders-rejects-ceo-martin-shkreli-campaign-donation/FcSKxu1VIr7pubg9cI3CQN/story.html" target="_blank">refused it</a> or <a href="http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/05/26/bernie-sanders-comes-clean/?_r=0" target="_blank">donated it</a>.</blockquote>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/561e6ec19dd7cc1b008c1c4a-480/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-debate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://static6.businessinsider.com/image/561e6ec19dd7cc1b008c1c4a-480/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-debate.jpg" height="245" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm asking, Hillary, because these are the issues I care about. And when placed side by side, you are weaker on these issues than Bernie Sanders. The two of you fair equally in your stances on Social Security, police reform, and women's issues. But why stop there? When it comes down to it, there is another candidate who will fight more for the positions I care about and who has a consistent record to back it up (you don't). Yes, he happens to wear pants. So do you, by the way. Why would you insult the intelligence of your voters, especially women voters, by suggesting your vagina makes any kind of a difference?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-20076429787056631202016-02-06T23:00:00.003-05:002016-02-06T23:17:16.626-05:00MSNBC Fifth Democratic Debate Recap - The Hillary DebateSo last time, I declared <a href="http://berniementum.blogspot.com/2016/01/nbc-fourth-democratic-debate-recap.html" target="_blank">the fourth democratic debate</a> the Bernie debate. This one, I'm declaring the Hillary debate, though not in a good way. If you missed the debate, you can <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fgBT0eec_4" target="_blank">watch it here</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2016/02/160204_POL_Clinton-Sanders-Shake.jpg.CROP.promo-xlarge2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.slate.com/content/dam/slate/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2016/02/160204_POL_Clinton-Sanders-Shake.jpg.CROP.promo-xlarge2.jpg" height="285" width="400" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"></a><span id="goog_1553588717"></span><span id="goog_1553588718"></span><br />
Hillary came into this debate full throttle. She was ready with a punch at every turn, often taking the words out of Bernie's mouth before he could speak them. For undecided voters watching the debate who hadn't read up on either candidate's record, I was certain they'd be leaning toward Hillary.<br />
<br />
The biggest moment of the debate was when Hillary "called out" Bernie on his attacks of her being establishment, resulting in boos from the audience and the Bernie's best statement of the night.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nO4cV8IcZWM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nO4cV8IcZWM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
But what makes this debate the Hillary debate, for me at least, is not what happened so much during the debate, but what came after.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
During the debate, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLFkJcPUDIc" target="_blank">the question was brought up</a> over whether Hillary was a progressive. While Hillary stuck to her story that she was, the internet called bullshit. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NS9DLDYgUkM" target="_blank">Young Turks</a> proclaimed that she really has no idea what a progressive is, and <a href="http://buzztrends.net/buzz_trends/372341-hillarysoprogressive" target="_blank">Twitter exploded</a> with the hashtag <a href="http://www.vox.com/2016/2/4/10918368/hillary-so-progressive-twitter" target="_blank">#HillarySoProgressive</a> where Tweeters pointed out her not-so-progressive record.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hillary also <a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/129247/hillary-clinton-wants-believe-shes-tough-wall-street-shes-not" target="_blank">defended herself</a> from the accusation that taking funds from Wall Street could influence her, claiming that wasn't the case. But <a href="http://billmoyers.com/story/elizabeth-warren-recalls-a-time-when-big-donors-may-have-changed-hillarys-vote/" target="_blank">a video from 2004 with Elizabeth Warren</a> explaining how Wall Street funds changed Hillary's mind on an important piece of legislation circled around Tumblr. Another, perhaps <a href="http://usuncut.com/politics/video-surfaces-of-hillary-clinton-blaming-homeowners-for-financial-crisis/" target="_blank">more damning video</a> circled of Hillary blaming homeowners for the financial crisis during a speech at NASDAQ headquarters.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When Hillary called on viewers (during the debate and the town hall meeting the day before) to find anything Wall Street had influenced her on, a Daily Kos author <a href="http://m.dailykos.com/story/2016/2/4/1479904/-Clinton-Last-Night-Name-Anything-Wall-Street-Has-Influenced-Me-On-OK-I-Will" target="_blank">took up the charge</a>. Even CNN, which has been Clinton biased throughout the democratic race, published an article <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/05/politics/hillary-clinton-bill-clinton-paid-speeches/" target="_blank">on Hillary's speaking fees</a>. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A YouTube video of Hillary "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dY77j6uBHI" target="_blank">lying for thirteen minutes straight</a>" also circled Facebook where quotes from Hillary during the CNN debate are placed against contradictory statements made by Hillary in the past. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.aei.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/email_saga_hillary_clinton_2016_fbi_state_020416_500x293.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://www.aei.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/email_saga_hillary_clinton_2016_fbi_state_020416_500x293.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Why does any of this matter? Surely Clinton has faced attacks after every debate? True, but I've never seen them circle with such ferocity before. I can honestly say that for the first time I understand why the first word that comes to mind when people think of Hillary <a href="http://www.weeklystandard.com/quinnipiac-liar-dishonest-most-used-to-describe-hillary/article/1020252" target="_blank">reportedly is "lair."</a> When Hillary promotes her "solid" record, either she has completely forgotten what her record entails, or she's flat out lying through her teeth and hoping voters don't do the research.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Hillary was hit hard after this debate. What's worse (for her) is outside the debate, a crowd of <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/02/04/3746580/bernie-sanders-nh-debate/" target="_blank">college students wearing American flag capes</a> held signs supporting Bernie Sanders.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The bern is being felt in more ways than one.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-25077679043124282762016-01-22T10:00:00.000-05:002016-02-06T23:01:11.353-05:00NBC Fourth Democratic Debate Recap - The Bernie DebateRemember when <a href="http://berniementum.blogspot.com/2015/10/who-won-debate-why-heck-do-we-care.html" target="_blank">I said I didn't understand</a> why we like to decide who won debates? Well, I have to take it back because I really felt like Bernie killed this debate. For once, I wasn't staring at the screen listening to candidates talk about their different perspectives or yell at one another. This time, something more came through, and I really felt like Bernie came out on top. Here's a break down:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/3896484/original.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/3896484/original.jpg" height="278" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Before the Debate</span></b><br />
<br />
Lots of things happened before the debate, and I think they added to the momentum.<br />
<br />
First there was the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hgnbholp7g" target="_blank">MLK roundtable</a> with Cornel West, Killer Mike, and Nina Turner. The link before is the full discussion, but there's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=befhumio-wo" target="_blank">another shorter version</a> with clearer audio that the campaign also released.<br />
<br />
Before the debate, Bernie also found time to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mcwvxS1xZ_w" target="_blank">join a march</a> in Charleston for living wages.<br />
<br />
Also, Bernie released <a href="http://berniementum.tumblr.com/post/137525186724/berniesrevolution-as-the-debate-nears-bernie" target="_blank">some details on his health care plan</a>.<br />
<br />
And before all of that happened Bernie issued a <a href="https://berniesanders.com/press-release/michigan-governor-must-resign/" target="_blank">statement for the resignation</a> of Michigan governor Rick Snyder as a result of the Flint water crisis. If you'd like to help the city of Flint, you can check out <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/how-to-help-flint-water-crisis_us_569e8e78e4b0cd99679b9541" target="_blank">this article</a>.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Debate Itself</span></b><br />
<br />
If you missed the debate, you can <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti2Nokoq1J4" target="_blank">watch it here</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/msnbc/components/video/__new/2016-01-18t01-59-57-333z--1280x720.nbcnews-ux-1080-600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/msnbc/components/video/__new/2016-01-18t01-59-57-333z--1280x720.nbcnews-ux-1080-600.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
If you're just <a href="http://www.today.com/video/hillary-clinton-bernie-sanders-spar-at-democratic-debate-603672643727" target="_blank">looking for the highlights</a>, the debate got pretty firey with punches coming left and right from Clinton while Bernie dodged them all with grace.<br />
<br />
One moment that went viral during the debate was Bernie's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9J97b_oOMc" target="_blank">side eye</a>" that he gave Hillary after she accused him of calling Obama "weak." I actually missed this moment because I was giving Hillary a similar look from my couch.<br />
<br />
Another moment that got shared a lot was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVJYA8ikdO4" target="_blank">Bernie's answer to how</a> he would make sure that cases of police violence were reviewed and prosecuted fairly.<br />
<br />
The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTHpdjvTJcs" target="_blank">debate on Wall Street</a> and campaign funds is also worth watching.<br />
<br />
Check out <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YiysCB3cxok" target="_blank">Bernie and Hillary's disagreement</a> on how to handle Iran.<br />
<br />
And Bernie and Hillary's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA2vDGpYMk8" target="_blank">disagreement on health care</a>.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">After the Debate</span></b><br />
<br />
Even if while watching the debate you weren't sure who came out on top, the after effects of the debate were clear.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/democratic-debate-bernie-sanders-003.jpg?quality=75&strip=color&w=1012" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://timedotcom.files.wordpress.com/2016/01/democratic-debate-bernie-sanders-003.jpg?quality=75&strip=color&w=1012" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
If the first time since the Democratic debates started, Bernie ended up with <a href="http://www.vox.com/2016/1/17/10784706/sanders-speaking-time-democratic-debate" target="_blank">more speaking time</a> than Hillary.<br />
<br />
NBC Today called the debate "<a href="http://www.today.com/video/chuck-todd-this-was-the-bernie-sanders-debate-603671619858" target="_blank">clearly the Bernie debate</a>."<br />
<br />
During the debate, Bernie was <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zMmeAs9-IQs" target="_blank">the most searched candidate</a> in every state across the country.<br />
<br />
Bernie did so well, that the campaign released <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4wC9gEoKLc" target="_blank">this moving video</a>.<br />
<br />
During the debate, Bernie <a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jan/18/sanders-raises-1-million-36000-contributions-durin/" target="_blank">raked in $1 million</a> in campaign donations.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-16330064534871017462016-01-21T17:13:00.002-05:002016-01-27T10:53:11.636-05:00When to Register and Vote for Bernie in the Primaries<a href="http://voteforbernie.org/">VoteforBernie.org</a> is a fantastic resource for information on when to vote and register for voting in your state. If you visit the website, a pop up will even appear where you can sign up to receive email reminders for deadlines in your state. (If for some reason it doesn't pop up, you can find the sign up on the webpage just before the states are listed)<br />
<br />
But, one of the things I've been looking for and haven't been able to find is a list of registration and voting deadlines by <i>date</i>, while <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/" target="_blank">VoteforBernie,org</a> lists these deadlines by <i>state</i>. Their method is great for people going to their site to look up voting information for their state, but it's not so useful for people wondering what deadlines are coming up so we can get the news out on social media.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/3258208/images/o-BERNIE-SANDERS-facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.huffpost.com/gen/3258208/images/o-BERNIE-SANDERS-facebook.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
So, taking the information on <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/">VoteforBernie.org</a>, I have reorganized voter registration deadlines and primary dates in order so everyone can see what is coming up. Note that some states have party affiliation deadlines, which are also listed. <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/" target="_blank">Check your state</a> for more information.<br />
<br />
<b>Special Note - 17 Year Old Voters</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://sanders4prez.tumblr.com/post/124154089549/did-you-know" target="_blank">In some states</a>, if you are 17 but will be 18 by the presidential election Nov 8th 2016, you can vote in the primaries. <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/" target="_blank">Check your state</a> for more information.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Deadlines</span></b><br />
<br />
<b>Oct 2015</b><br />
9 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/new-york/" target="_blank">New York</a> party affiliation deadline (must affiliate as Democrat)<br />
30 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/new-hampshire/" target="_blank">New Hampshire</a> party affiliation deadline (must affiliate as undeclared or Democrat)<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>December 2015</b><br />
31 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/kentucky/" target="_blank">Kentucky</a> party affiliation deadline<br />
<br />
<b>January</b><br />
4 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/colorado/" target="_blank">Colorado</a> voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
26 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/connecticut/" target="_blank">Connecticut</a> party affiliation deadline (must affiliate as Democrat)<br />
26 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/rhode-island/" target="_blank">Rhode Island</a> party affiliation deadline (must affiliate as undeclared or Democrat)<br />
27 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/south-carolina/" target="_blank">South Carolina</a> voter registration deadline<br />
30 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/new-hampshire/" target="_blank">New Hampshire</a> voter registration deadline (must register as undeclared or Democrat)<br />
<br />
<b>February</b><br />
1 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/arkansas/" target="_blank">Arkansas</a> voter registration deadline<br />
1 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/georgia/" target="_blank">Georgia</a> voter registration deadline<br />
1 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/iowa/" target="_blank">Iowa</a> caucus and voter registration deadline (must register as undeclared or Democrat)<br />
1 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/tennessee/" target="_blank">Tennessee</a> voter registration deadline<br />
1 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/texas/" target="_blank">Texas</a> voter registration deadline<br />
3 -<a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/louisiana/" target="_blank"> Louisiana</a> voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
5 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/mississippi/" target="_blank">Mississippi</a> voter registration deadline<br />
5 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/oklahoma/" target="_blank">Oklahoma</a> voter registration deadline (must register as undeclared or Democrat)<br />
8 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/michigan/" target="_blank">Michigan</a> voter registration deadline<br />
8 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/virginia/" target="_blank">Virginia</a> voter registration deadline<br />
9 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/new-hampshire/" target="_blank">New Hampshire</a> primary<br />
10 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/massachusetts/" target="_blank">Massachusetts</a> voter registration deadline (must register undeclared as Democrat)<br />
12 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/alabama/" target="_blank">Alabama</a> voter registration deadline<br />
15 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/florida/" target="_blank">Florida</a> voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
16 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/illinois/" target="_blank">Illinois</a> voter registration deadline (must register as undeclared or Democrat)<br />
16 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/ohio/" target="_blank">Ohio</a> voter registration deadline (must register as undeclared or Democrat)<br />
17 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/missouri/" target="_blank">Missouri</a> voter registration deadline<br />
19 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/maine/" target="_blank">Maine</a> voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
19 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/north-carolina/" target="_blank">North Carolina</a> voter registration deadline (must register as undeclared or Democrat)<br />
20 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/nevada/" target="_blank">Nevada</a> caucus and voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
21 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/utah/" target="_blank">Utah</a> voter registration deadline (must register as undeclared or Democrat)<br />
22 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/arizona/" target="_blank">Arizona</a> voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
24 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/vermont/" target="_blank">Vermont</a> voter registration deadline<br />
26 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/delaware/" target="_blank">Delaware</a> party affiliation deadline (must affiliate as Democrat)<br />
27 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/south-carolina/" target="_blank">South Carolina</a> primary<br />
<br />
<b>March</b><br />
1 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/alabama/" target="_blank">Alabama</a> primary<br />
1 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/arkansas/" target="_blank">Arkansas</a> primary<br />
1 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/colorado/" target="_blank">Colorado</a> caucus<br />
1 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/georgia/" target="_blank">Georgia</a> primary<br />
1 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/massachusetts/" target="_blank">Massachusetts</a> primary<br />
1 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/minnesota/" target="_blank">Minnesota</a> primary and voter registration deadline<br />
1 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/oklahoma/" target="_blank">Oklahoma</a> primary<br />
1 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/tennessee/" target="_blank">Tennessee</a> primary<br />
1 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/texas/" target="_blank">Texas</a> primary<br />
1 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/vermont/" target="_blank">Vermont</a> primary<br />
1 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/virginia/" target="_blank">Virginia</a> primary<br />
5 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/kansas/" target="_blank">Kansas</a> caucus and voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
5 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/louisiana/" target="_blank">Louisiana</a> primary<br />
5 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/nebraska/" target="_blank">Nebraska</a> caucus and voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
6 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/maine/" target="_blank">Maine</a> primary<br />
8 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/michigan/" target="_blank">Michigan</a> primary<br />
8 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/mississippi/" target="_blank">Mississippi</a> primary<br />
15 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/florida/" target="_blank">Florida</a> primary<br />
15 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/illinois/" target="_blank">Illinois</a> primary<br />
15 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/missouri/" target="_blank">Missouri</a> primary<br />
15 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/north-carolina/" target="_blank">North Carolina</a> primary<br />
15 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/ohio/" target="_blank">Ohio</a> primary<br />
16 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/wisconsin/" target="_blank">Wisconsin</a> voter registration deadline<br />
22 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/arizona/" target="_blank">Arizona</a> primary<br />
22 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/idaho/" target="_blank">Idaho</a> caucus and voter registration deadline<br />
22 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/utah/" target="_blank">Utah</a> caucus<br />
25 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/new-york/" target="_blank">New York</a> voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
25 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/wyoming/" target="_blank">Wyoming</a> voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
26 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/alaska/" target="_blank">Alaska</a> caucus and voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
26 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/hawaii/" target="_blank">Hawaii</a> caucus and voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
26 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/rhode-island/" target="_blank">Rhode Island</a> voter registration deadline (must register as undeclared or Democrat)<br />
28 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/pennsylvania/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania</a> voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
28 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/washington/" target="_blank">Washington</a> caucus (no voter registration needed)<br />
<br />
<b>April</b><br />
2 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/delaware/" target="_blank">Delaware</a> voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
4 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/indiana/" target="_blank">Indiana</a> voter registration deadline<br />
5 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/maryland/" target="_blank">Maryland</a> voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
5 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/wisconsin/" target="_blank">Wisconsin</a> primary<br />
9 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/wyoming/" target="_blank">Wyoming</a> caucus<br />
13 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/new-jersey/" target="_blank">New Jersey</a> party affiliation deadline (must affiliate as Democrat)<br />
16 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/puerto-rico/" target="_blank">Puerto Rico</a> voter registration deadline<br />
18 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/kentucky/" target="_blank">Kentucky</a> voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
19 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/new-york/" target="_blank">New York</a> primary<br />
19 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/west-virginia/" target="_blank">West Virginia</a> voter registration deadline (must register as undeclared or Democrat)<br />
21 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/connecticut/" target="_blank">Connecticut</a> voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
26 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/connecticut/" target="_blank">Connecticut</a> primary<br />
26 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/delaware/" target="_blank">Delaware</a> primary<br />
26 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/maryland/" target="_blank">Maryland</a> primary<br />
26 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/oregon/" target="_blank">Oklahoma </a>voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
26 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/pennsylvania/" target="_blank">Pennsylvania</a> primary<br />
26 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/rhode-island/" target="_blank">Rhode Island</a> primary<br />
<br />
<b>May</b><br />
3 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/indiana/" target="_blank">Indiana</a> primary<br />
8 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/montana/" target="_blank">Montana</a> voter registration deadline<br />
10 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/new-mexico/" target="_blank">New Mexico</a> voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
10 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/west-virginia/" target="_blank">West Virginia</a> primary<br />
16 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/washington-dc/" target="_blank">Washington DC</a> party affiliation deadline (must affiliate as Democrat)<br />
17 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/kentucky/" target="_blank">Kentucky</a> primary<br />
17 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/new-jersey/" target="_blank">New Jersey</a> voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
17 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/oregon/" target="_blank">Oregon</a> primary<br />
23 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/california/" target="_blank">California</a> voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
23 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/washington-dc/" target="_blank">Washington DC</a> voter registration deadline (must register as Democrat)<br />
23 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/south-dakota/" target="_blank">South Dakota</a> voter registration deadline (must register as undeclared or Democrat)<br />
<br />
<b>June</b><br />
5 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/puerto-rico/" target="_blank">Puerto Rico</a> primary<br />
7 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/california/" target="_blank">California</a> primary<br />
7 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/montana/" target="_blank">Montana</a> primary<br />
7 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/new-jersey/" target="_blank">New Jersey</a> primary<br />
7 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/north-dakota/" target="_blank">North Dakota</a> caucus (no voter registration needed)<br />
7 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/south-dakota/" target="_blank">South Dakota</a> primary<br />
10 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/new-mexico/" target="_blank">New Mexico</a> primary<br />
14 - <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/state/washington-dc/" target="_blank">Washington DC</a> primary<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://localtvwnep.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/vote_2016.jpg?w=1200" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://localtvwnep.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/vote_2016.jpg?w=1200" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>I missed my state's party affiliation / voter registration deadline. Now What?</b><br />
<br />
Some states offer same day registration if you miss the original deadline. <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/" target="_blank">Check your state</a>. You may need to call your state or local voting office to make sure you can still change your party affiliation.<br />
<br />
<b>My state doesn't offer same day registration.</b><br />
<br />
Some states offer <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-illinois-voting-changes-20141031-story.html" target="_blank">grace period</a> registration for citizens who missed original deadlines. You will need to call your state or local voting office to see if grace period registration is available.<br />
<br />
<b>My state doesn't have grace periods or same day registration. :(</b><br />
<br />
Sadly, you won't be able to vote, but you can still make your voice heard and help Bernie win. Check out all the ways <a href="http://berniementum.blogspot.com/2016/01/how-to-volunteer-for-bernie.html" target="_blank">you can volunteer</a>. Check <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/event/search_simple" target="_blank">local events</a> to see if people are gathering in your area to support Bernie. Every little bit helps. Do whatever you feel able to do to.<br />
<br />
<b>How can I connect with others in my state who are voting for Bernie?</b><br />
<br />
Always check with <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/event/search_simple" target="_blank">local events</a> to see if any meet ups are happening in your area. Also, Grassroots for Bernie has put together <a href="http://berniementum.tumblr.com/post/137817815509/join-others-in-your-state-who-are-voting-for" target="_blank">Facebook events</a> for every state's primary. Join up and share.<br />
<br />
UPDATE 1/27/16: fixed Puerto Rico and South Carolina date errorsUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-78901381318179012382016-01-14T22:17:00.001-05:002016-01-29T10:50:21.069-05:00How to Volunteer for BernieI've noticed on Bernie's <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/event/search_simple" target="_blank">campaign events</a> that there's a lot going on in the way of door knocking, phone banking, and voter registering. Now seems to be prime time to reach out to undecided voters and tell them about Bernie. There's tons of resources out there, so here's a comprehensive guide.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://virginiansforbernie.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/bernie-volunteers.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://virginiansforbernie.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/bernie-volunteers.jpeg" height="292" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">1. Check for local events</span></b><br />
<br />
It may be that there are volunteer events <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/event/search_simple" target="_blank">happening in your area</a>, in which case all you need to do is sign up. The host of the event should be able to provide you with all the details. If, however, you can't find a local event, you can <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/event/create" target="_blank">create your own</a>. Bernie's campaign has all the info you need for <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N3OoyWsy1RaEsTLh7YYZXdtJw1RKNd-yeN1TzcxUBUs/edit#heading=h.a17z166oodq7" target="_blank">hosting a successful event</a> and using the <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-s1kDpJZH-5-9J7N6du4agT3dGJBIcYI_t-Ei6HKvVA/edit" target="_blank">event tool</a>.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">2. Get to work</span></b><br />
<br />
Fill out <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/s/work" target="_blank">the linked forum</a> and check the kind of work you'd like to do for Bernie. A campaign staffer should get back to you with more information on how you can help.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">3. Phone banking</span></b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/content/phonebank" target="_blank">Phone banking</a> involves calling voters in early primary states and asking them which candidate they support. This helps the campaign identify undecided voters and voters leaning toward Bernie so campaign efforts can target those voters. Identifying Bernie supporters also allows the campaign to connect them with volunteer opportunities. There are four states that have their primary voting in February. Eleven more states their primary March 1st. Rather than do this all yourself, why not <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1H_2jLrNr_i5XMDcleLogvv01jT49VAOmxN1KzxUdpm0/edit" target="_blank">host a phone bank party</a>?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.losangelesforbernie.org/volunteer/hollywood-farmers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.losangelesforbernie.org/volunteer/hollywood-farmers.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">4. Flyering</span></b><br />
<br />
Print and pass out flyers anywhere you can. Here's an <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Xo9ilyyLMkyDA02z3y_ewRcWWJlTiaMyf2z5FqX1NP8/edit" target="_blank">official field guide</a> to get you started. <a href="http://feelthebern.org/flyer-kit/" target="_blank">FeelTheBern.org</a> has tons of flyers on every issue Bernie supports in English and Spanish. Also check out <a href="http://flyers.forbernie.com/" target="_blank">FlyersforBernie</a>, <a href="http://nyc4bernie.com/resources/pamphlets-flyers/" target="_blank">NYCforBernie</a>, and <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2S02Zbm_sQANy1aMVltSGpiYTA/view" target="_blank">one</a> or <a href="https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B84mChItzxZjfjFoYno1LUxIVWt0VTZTeUdJN21ucXM0OXVqb3RMakVVRzBWTWhaYmtFWVE&usp=drive_web" target="_blank">two</a> other resources. Googling "Bernie flyer" also earns some <a href="https://www.google.com/search?site=&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1366&bih=643&q=bernie+flyer&oq=bernie+flyer&gs_l=img.3..0j0i30j0i8i30l3.1326.2845.0.3707.12.10.0.0.0.0.273.1181.0j5j2.7.0....0...1ac.1.64.img..5.7.1178.0mhNdCLX7cQ#imgrc=_" target="_blank">great results</a>.<br />
<br />
Business cards have gained favor with some people over flyers for their convenient size and how most people are more likely to slip them into a pocket to read later. You can find Bernie business cards <a href="http://dirt2.com/resources/clipart-stock/bernie-sanders-business-cards/" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9dmlTHHwiXJfjNHMnE4VFpuV3g3OHZseHdyTkRJWlpabVBaRGdYOUdkT3U2OGt3NFRGTFU&usp=sharing" target="_blank">here</a>. And <a href="http://sc.forberniesanders.com/blog/the-bernie-business-card-an-idea-whose-time-is-now/" target="_blank">SCforBernie has cards</a> you can order without the hassle of printing them yourself.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. Tabling</b></span><br />
<br />
Tabling involves registering (and sometimes paying) for a table at a college, farmer's market, conference, or other event. You'd talk to people about Bernie, hand out flyers, and <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1X_jJlKr_fifpJRfwNuPw2ID-5NEvJ68IwP8Biv9SwxA/edit" target="_blank">collect information</a> from people who'd be interested getting updates from the campaign or volunteering. I wasn't able to find specific information from the campaign on tabling, but I did find a nice guide from <a href="http://www.aauw.org/resource/how-to-tabling/" target="_blank">AAUW</a> and I have seen <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/event/search_simple" target="_blank">tabling events</a> on the campaign site.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">6. Door Knocking / Canvassing</span></b><br />
<br />
Door knocking is exactly as it sounds. The campaign has <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1PMGYHYVSOYAn8hSqLwOY7qoHxslMEYaETwX4FentFX0/pub" target="_blank">a helpful guide</a> on what to say and what data to record. You can do this in your own neighborhood or check for or create <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/event/search_simple" target="_blank">local events</a> to cover more ground with more people. Here's<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36Tq1vyu214" target="_blank"> a helpful video</a> from Bernie supporters on canvassing.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">7. Gathering petition signatures</span></b><br />
<br />
Bernie needs signatures to get on the voting ballet in some states. The <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/signup/ballot-access-petition-sign-up" target="_blank">campaign has a list of states</a> where signatures need to be gathered. Sign up to help if you can.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5632548de4b000b8ae3b353b/567ea05f1c1210bb2745c304/567ea07fa12f44019c9d4eed/1451139203449/12032897_10206529382184716_8577076028956818783_o.jpg?format=750w" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://static1.squarespace.com/static/5632548de4b000b8ae3b353b/567ea05f1c1210bb2745c304/567ea07fa12f44019c9d4eed/1451139203449/12032897_10206529382184716_8577076028956818783_o.jpg?format=750w" height="257" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">8. Writing letters to the editor</span></b><br />
<br />
Since mainstream media isn't as interested in covering Bernie, it's up to us to write letters to the editor of our local newspapers. Those letters hopefully get published and Bernie gets publicity. You could this on your own just by locking up your local newspaper and their submission guidelines. But why not <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/11ttVLHVgVZOPt2AHaBnERnC4tPTVEakV3RU2b9HUIlI/viewform" target="_blank">join a group</a> while you're at it? The campaign also has a guide for <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/17oipPhMhLXTOsvmvqCIK3Yb72TVke8v0vrfZ0M9JXCg/edit" target="_blank">letter party hosting</a>.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">9. Hosting a watch party</span></b><br />
<br />
<a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/event/create" target="_blank">Create an event</a> on the campaign site and host a watch party for a debate or important Bernie announcement. The campaign has <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1LuPzTLZHWDcCfZc0eHYS159sLO-92AKlcSamslCJ3GY/edit" target="_blank">this helpful guide</a>.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">10. Fundraising</span></b><br />
<br />
Fundraising for Bernie can very a simple process. Supporters have hosted events and sold <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/event/detail/volunteeractivityormeeting/4vts3" target="_blank">baked goods</a> or <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/event/detail/volunteermeetingtogetorganizedorlearnmore/4j4s3" target="_blank">beer</a>, the proceeds of which are then donated to Bernie's campaign. Others simply <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N3OoyWsy1RaEsTLh7YYZXdtJw1RKNd-yeN1TzcxUBUs/edit#heading=h.a17z166oodq7" target="_blank">host events</a> and ask for donations at the door. Musicians have sang, and artists have sold art for Bernie. Others have created <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1620781928163137/" target="_blank">facebook events</a> and invite people to donate small amounts of money on a specific day. The possibilities are endless.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">11. Chalking the Block</span></b><br />
<br />
Chalking the block involves doing chalk art for Bernie in public spaces. Check out the <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O0I4IX8ovDitCAfrXEhhw7gG4TlBfuBLxj57kpHV5xg/edit" target="_blank">campaign chalking guide</a>. And don't forget to look for or <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/event/create" target="_blank">plan your own event</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsaPokJdb8oZFTaZt34bdF8ddZeDWlKsYh-JCv8OsQ_dCFqryk-TLt_GXsC30llYhGCoI3qrKFvoGNHANpkMxhDZZnP2v3eWJc7VPQa-N__0l2lPf0XSQOPJaGCeBO-HMLa4P3U2fAg/s1600/Georgia4Bernie-Lights1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJsaPokJdb8oZFTaZt34bdF8ddZeDWlKsYh-JCv8OsQ_dCFqryk-TLt_GXsC30llYhGCoI3qrKFvoGNHANpkMxhDZZnP2v3eWJc7VPQa-N__0l2lPf0XSQOPJaGCeBO-HMLa4P3U2fAg/s1600/Georgia4Bernie-Lights1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">12. Sign waving</span></b><br />
<br />
Sign waving involves creating Bernie signs and going out to high-traffic areas and waving signs to spread the word about Bernie. It's always safer to <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/event/create" target="_blank">do this in a group</a> and remember to stay out of the road.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">13. Light brigade</span></b><br />
<br />
The <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SandersForPresident/comments/3zfcw1/its_time_for_our_next_bernie_light_brigade_join/" target="_blank">Light Brigade</a> is a group of volunteers who build light signs supporting Bernie and display them in busy areas to gain support for Bernie. Signs are <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1jwJFxwFxkC7bX-UxjduMd92fUW7jSNFJ1GCCEI3YnR4/edit" target="_blank">easy and relatively cheep</a> to make. And it's fun to do as a group.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">14. Voter registration</span></b><br />
<br />
Register people in your area to vote. The campaign <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fPU1Da4YopBrud30kdiX1dxTpGYvMgUV0oGfheekbXQ/edit" target="_blank">has a guide</a> on how to choose a location and what tools you will need. And as usual, <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/event/create" target="_blank">create an event</a> to go with a group of people.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">15. Primary state campaigning</span></b><br />
<br />
Primary state campaigning involves taking any of the suggestions listed here and traveling to a primary voting state to raise support for Bernie. This is best done in a group, and you should especially check for <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/event/create" target="_blank">carpools or other events</a> in your area if you live near a state about to enter primary voting.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>16. Social media</b></span><br />
<br />
Share what you can about Bernie on social media with your family and friends. Spread awareness and stimulate conversation.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CUiKKyWUAAApbhi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="311" src="https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CUiKKyWUAAApbhi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">17. Decorate your car</span></b><br />
<br />
You don't have to go <a href="https://assets.dnainfo.com/generated/photo/2015/09/bernie-sanders-mobile-1442609307.JPG/larger.jpg" target="_blank">all out on your car</a>. A simple bumper sticker can go a long way to drawing awareness for Bernie.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Other resources</span></b><br />
<br />
Check out other volunteer resources and apps <a href="http://www.bernkit.com/" target="_blank">at the Bernkit</a> and the <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/content/toolkit" target="_blank">campaign's official toolkit</a>.<br />
<br />
Rallies and marches are also an effective method of raising awareness, but they can take <a href="http://www.toolsforchange.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/rally-zine.pdf?4c19cd" target="_blank">a good amount of planning and organization</a>.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-81988717164307215122016-01-10T13:31:00.000-05:002016-01-23T10:37:58.781-05:00How to Caucus for Bernie SandersThe way we choose presidential nominees in the US <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/monkey-cage/wp/2015/05/12/everything-you-need-to-know-about-how-the-presidential-primary-works/" target="_blank">is a little confusing</a>. First, votes are cast by state citizens, either through primaries or caucuses. The percentage of the vote determines the number of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/cfr/world/slot1_20080204.html?pagewanted=all" target="_blank">delegates</a> each candidate receives. The delegates then go the national convention of each party to represent and vote for their candidate for the presidential nomination.<br />
<br />
Most states vote through primaries where citizens go to designated polling areas and cast a vote. But some states hold caucuses. Voters must travel to their precinct meeting place and gather into groups to show support for their chosen candidate. Caucuses can take hours to complete as opposed to primaries, meaning that many voters don't show, which is why it's super important for Bernie Sanders supporters to show up to ensure he receives the most delegates possible. Visit <a href="https://youtu.be/fobO82jbNRg?t=1m21s" target="_blank">this link</a> to see what the Democratic caucusing process is like.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2008/0205/20080205_105113_cd05caucus6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site36/2008/0205/20080205_105113_cd05caucus6.jpg" height="251" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
States that hold democratic caucuses in 20016 and their dates are as follows. These dates are subject to change, so make sure you double check if you want to caucus for Bernie! You must be a state resident and a registered voter to caucus for Bernie. Some states also require that you are a registered Democrat. You can check your state and registration deadlines <a href="http://voteforbernie.org/" target="_blank">here</a>. Click the state links to find out where your local caucus will be meeting. You should also check your <a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/event/search_simple" target="_blank">local area</a> for caucus training if you're not sure what to expect. Additionally, you can check out <a href="http://bernadvisory.org/" target="_blank">this caucus tool</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>February 1</b><br />
<a href="http://iowademocrats.org/caucus/" target="_blank">Iowa</a><br />
<br />
Bernie's campaign is currently reaching out to Iowa voters. Take<a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/content/prove-them-wrong" target="_blank"> the pledge to caucus</a> and earn points toward a free Bernie T-shirt.<br />
<br />
Iowa for Bernie has put out <a href="https://www.facebook.com/iowaforbernie/videos/336359106488446/" target="_blank">this caucus video</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>February 20</b><br />
<a href="http://action.nvdems.com/page/content/caucus_faq/" target="_blank">Nevada </a><br />
<br />
<b>March 1</b><br />
<a href="http://www.coloradodems.org/action/caucus-2016" target="_blank">Colorado</a><br />
<a href="http://mnvotesinfo.sos.state.mn.us/voters/precinct-caucus/" target="_blank">Minnesota</a><br />
<br />
<b>March 5</b><br />
<a href="http://www.ksdp.org/event/2016-democratic-caucuses/" target="_blank">Kansas</a><br />
<a href="http://nebraskacaucus2016.org/" target="_blank">Nebraska</a><br />
<br />
<b>March 6</b><br />
<a href="http://www.mainedems.org/page/2016-caucus-and-convention" target="_blank">Maine</a><br />
<br />
<b>March 22</b><br />
Idaho - not yet available<br />
<a href="http://utahdemocrats.org/caucusnight2016/" target="_blank">Utah</a><br />
<br />
<b>March 26</b><br />
<a href="http://www.alaskademocrats.org/caucus-locations/" target="_blank">Alaska</a><br />
Hawaii - not yet available<br />
<a href="http://www.wa-democrats.org/events/2016-precinct-caucuses" target="_blank">Washington</a><br />
<br />
<b>April 9</b><br />
Wyoming - not yet available<br />
<br />
<b>June 7</b><br />
North Dakota - not yet available<br />
<br />
UPDATE 1/11/16: Added paragraph links<br />
UPDATE 1/13/16: Added caucus training link and caucus pledge<br />
UPDATE 1/14/16: Added caucus tool<br />
UPDATE 1/21/16: Iowa for Bernie video addedUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-59951674851730836882015-10-14T13:53:00.000-04:002016-02-06T23:02:27.307-05:00CNN First Democratic Debate Breakdown<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/561ded0e5afbd30f6c8b456f-800/ap-clinton-seeks-to-move-past-email-woes-in-democratic-debate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://static4.businessinsider.com/image/561ded0e5afbd30f6c8b456f-800/ap-clinton-seeks-to-move-past-email-woes-in-democratic-debate.jpg" height="280" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Who Won?</b><br />
<br />
I really don't get this whole "Who won the debate?" thing. It's all opinion anyway. People who like Hillary are going to feel Hillary won, and people who like Bernie are going to think Bernie won. What is the point of this argument? No one is going to agree. And I'm really not into arguing for the sake of arguing.<br />
<br />
And, yes, there are polls out there, and yes Bernie did <a href="http://berniementum.tumblr.com/post/131152782804/bernie-sanders-has-a-lot-of-support-from-the" target="_blank">really well</a> and <a href="http://berniementum.tumblr.com/post/131152816419" target="_blank">then some</a>. And then the media went out and <a href="http://usuncut.com/politics/6-reasons-bernie-sanders-actually-owned-the-debate-despite-what-pundits-claim/" target="_blank">ignored their own polls</a>. But still, who exactly are participating in these polls? And how exactly does that reflect the rest of the United States who maybe didn't care enough to participate but still watched the debate? Or people who didn't care enough to watch the debate at all? Are we just assuming these people aren't going to be bothered to vote or that they don't care that much about social media?<br />
<br />
I just don't take much store in these things. They're cool and all. I'm just not convinced of their accuracy. And I find the debate over who won the debate completely pointless until someone is actually elected President. Then, and only then, can we actually point to who the people support (unless you're George Bush, but we don't talk about that).<br />
<br />
<b>Joe Biden</b><br />
<br />
[RANT WARNING!]<br />
<br />
Before the debate started, the announcers spent a good amount of time speculating about Joe Biden, which drove me nuts. Dear media, please shut up about Joe Biden. No one freaking cares. Like at all. I am so sick and tired over speculation about Joe Biden. Will he run? Won't he run? Would he hurt Hillary or help Hillary? Would he hurt Bernie or help Bernie? Hey, Bernie, let's take up some of your valuable time and ask you what you think of about Biden!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/417/639/415.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i3.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/417/639/415.png" height="320" width="289" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
No. One. Cares. Please, for the love of God, just stop it already. The man is <i>not</i> running. And if he does decide to run (unlikely at this point, don't you think?), you can talk about him then. Not before. Please stop wasting valuable air time talking about such a pointless, unproductive, unimportant issue.<br />
<br />
[RANT OVER]<br />
<br />
Okay, I'm done. I digress.<br />
<br />
....<br />
<br />
So, Bernie debate parties. I didn't go, and I didn't throw one. I wanted to, but I decided the time of the debate was a little too late for me to hang out with strangers when I'm going to immediately want to go to bed afterwards. Still, there were a lot of cool pictures, and I did participate in #DebateWithBernie on Tumblr. So there. I was a good grassroots participant.<br />
<br />
There's a lot of snark in this post. I don't know if you're picking up on it. But if you are, I apologize. Pointless things get me riled up.<br />
<br />
<b>Best Bernie Moments</b><br />
<br />
Speaking of pointless things, one of the best moments of the debate was when Bernie said Americans were sick and tired of hearing about Hillary's "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOOfwN0iYxM" target="_blank">damn emails</a>" (and here's the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbO-Emwj2J4" target="_blank">part of that speech</a> that CNN cut out from their regular broadcast).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aOOfwN0iYxM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aOOfwN0iYxM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Other good moments of the debate:</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When Bernie said, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3mvbxeA1UA" target="_blank">Black lives matter</a>."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When Bernie said, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1pWRnyFtsg" target="_blank">Wall Street regulates congress</a>" (and here's the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeZI3lhnOKg" target="_blank">whole big banks debate</a>).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When Bernie said, "You have not been in the US congress. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXcKOGfNt3k" target="_blank">And if you think we can simply go forward and pass something tomorrow without bringing people together, you are sorely mistaken</a>" (gun debate). Here's <a href="https://youtu.be/0PaZOEDBl1c" target="_blank">Bernie's initial statement</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When Bernie said, "<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9aEEG0Km00" target="_blank">I suspect I would vote yes</a>" (marijuana debate). Here's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PMK90di9gI" target="_blank">Hillary's response</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When Bernie said, "What we said 50 years ago is every kid in this country should be able to get a high school education regardless of income. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhMOfU7Ef08" target="_blank">I think we have to say that is true for everybody going to college</a>."</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When Bernie answered <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7jlAZSGXf4" target="_blank">how a Democratic Socialist could win the white house</a>. (Seriously, there's so many good lines in here, I couldn't pick one)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When Bernie said <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t48MyL5QdAc" target="_blank">climate change was the biggest threat to national security</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When Bernie said <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24pR3USBJYo" target="_blank">he'd shut down the NSA</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When Bernie explained his vote <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgFoetesH9w" target="_blank">on Immigration reform</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
When Bernie explained when <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2qK3UQz61E" target="_blank">he'd use force to defend the US</a>.</div>
<br />
Other good discussions were the ones on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVW7lvb9TCQ" target="_blank">Social Security and Healthcare</a>.<br />
<br />
Bernie's <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6C0Kon8uqE" target="_blank">closing statement</a>.<br />
<br />
Additionally, if you missed the debate, the full debate is currently on youtube in various formats. Just search "CNN full debate 2015" and it will come up.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-11752508870564510242015-09-19T10:36:00.001-04:002015-09-19T10:36:42.783-04:002016 Democratic Debate Party FoodThe Democratic debates are coming up (not nearly fast enough). And I know people are planning on getting together. What might food at a Democratic Debate Watching look like? Well if you want to get all thematic, here are some drink and food suggestions listed by candidate.<br />
<br />
<b>Lincoln Chafee</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<a href="http://blog.tinyprints.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/mini-hot-dogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://blog.tinyprints.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/mini-hot-dogs.jpg" height="112" width="200" /></a>Lincoln Chafee hails from Rhode Island. Iconic Rhode Island drinks include the <a href="http://liquor.com/recipes/rhode-island-red/#gs.uWArKpM" target="_blank">Rhode Island Red Cocktail</a>, <a href="http://whatscookingamerica.net/Beverage/CoffeeMilk.htm" target="_blank">Coffee Milk</a>, and <a href="http://www.drinksmixer.com/drinkvw18336.html" target="_blank">Rhode Island Ice Tea</a>.<br />
<br />
In terms of food, here's a <a href="http://www.rhodeislandtravelhandbook.com/Rhode-Island-Food.html" target="_blank">list of favorites</a>. <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/rhode-island-clam-cakes-224013" target="_blank">Clam cakes</a> and <a href="http://www.modmommy.com/recipe-rhode-island-style-pizza-strips/" target="_blank">pizza strips</a> should go over well as party food. Or make some <a href="http://australian.food.com/recipe/mini-hot-dogs-445501" target="_blank">mini hotdogs</a> or <a href="http://www.pillsbury.com/recipes/mini-crescent-dogs/e8abc84e-8a0e-42d6-ae7e-23b677a161ac" target="_blank">mini crescent dogs</a> to dip in homemade <a href="http://olneyvillenewyorksystem.com/make-our-wiener-sauce-at-home/" target="_blank">New York System Wiener Sauce</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.cookrepublic.com/images/blog/archive/chicken_pinenut_sliders4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.cookrepublic.com/images/blog/archive/chicken_pinenut_sliders4.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a><b>Hillary Clinton</b><br />
<br />
Hillary Clinton was born in Chicago. Here's <a href="http://chicago.eater.com/maps/thirsty-here-are-20-iconic-drinks-in-chicago" target="_blank">20 Chicago drinks</a> to choose from. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_River_(soft_drink)" target="_blank">Green River</a> is the iconic soft drink from IL. If you can't get hold of it, you can make your own <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=limeaid&gws_rd=ssl#q=limeade+recipe" target="_blank">limeade</a>.<br />
<b><br /></b>
Slate <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/life/food/2008/02/how_hungry_is_hillary_clinton.html" target="_blank">did a piece</a> on Hillary's favorite food, so we don't have to look far for party ideas. Apparently, what Hillary enjoys most is called an Oliveburger, which is a hamburger topped with pimento-stuffed green olives. So buy some hamburger meat, make some small patties to top with a pimento-stuffed olive and put a toothpick through both. Like with the image to the right, but with an olive on top - bun, lettuce, and tomato optional.<br />
<a href="http://www.saveur.com/sites/saveur.com/files/styles/large_1x_/public/import/2012/images/2012-02/7-smith_island_400.jpg?itok=w9NPn-0r" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.saveur.com/sites/saveur.com/files/styles/large_1x_/public/import/2012/images/2012-02/7-smith_island_400.jpg?itok=w9NPn-0r" height="200" width="168" /></a><br />
<br />
<b>Martin O'Malley</b><br />
<br />
Martin O'Malley is from Maryland. The signature cocktail of Maryland is the <a href="http://www.southernliving.com/food/entertaining/race-day-cocktail-drink-recipes/black-eyed-susan-cocktails-recipe-preakness" target="_blank">Black-Eyed Susan</a>, and the signature soft drink is ginger ale.<br />
<br />
Like Rhode Island, Maryland is also known for its crab cakes. <a href="http://msa.maryland.gov/msa/mdmanual/01glance/foods/html/food.html" target="_blank">Other foods</a> include oysters, chicken with white cream sauce, and <a href="http://smithisland.org/smith-island-cakes/" target="_blank">Smith Island Cake</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://foodnetwork.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/food/fullset/2013/9/23/0/HB0106H_Maple-Bread-with-Soft-Cheese_s4x3.jpg.rend.sni18col.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://foodnetwork.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/food/fullset/2013/9/23/0/HB0106H_Maple-Bread-with-Soft-Cheese_s4x3.jpg.rend.sni18col.jpeg" height="149" width="200" /></a><b>Bernie Sanders</b><br />
<br />
I did <a href="http://berniementum.blogspot.com/2015/08/bernie-sanders-vermont-maple-themed.html" target="_blank">a whole post</a> on Bernie Sanders themed drinks, so you can take your pick, but my favorite was <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/haymakers_ginger_switchel.html" target="_blank">this homemade recipe</a> for Vermont Switchel.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<a href="http://img.aroundme.com/slides/2/2/3/8/4/1/2238412502/2efe9accdcd03c9e6ca3ced7e28ad2687d50e0ec.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.aroundme.com/slides/2/2/3/8/4/1/2238412502/2efe9accdcd03c9e6ca3ced7e28ad2687d50e0ec.jpeg" height="145" width="200" /></a>Maple is staple in Vermont. There's <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=maple+bread&gws_rd=ssl" target="_blank">tons of recipes</a> for maple bread. My personal favorite was <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/amy-thielen/maple-bread-with-soft-cheese.html" target="_blank">this recipe</a> topped with soft cheese. Finish with a toothpick.<br />
<br />
<b>Jim Webb</b><br />
<br />
Jim Webb is from Missouri. The staple cocktail is the <a href="http://jollybartender.blogspot.com/2015/06/missouri-mule.html" target="_blank">Missouri Mule</a>, and the staple soda is IBC Root Beer.<br />
<br />
Finding Missouri staple food was a little difficult, but here's <a href="http://www.aroundme.com/locations/7793/12-fun-foods-you-didnt-know-were-invented-in-st-louis#page=1" target="_blank">a whole list</a> of food from St. Louis. This includes <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/16907/st-louis-toasted-ravioli/" target="_blank">toasted ravioli</a>, <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/st-louis-style-gooey-butter-cake-195977" target="_blank">gooey butter cake</a>, and St. Louis style BBQ.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-11217542578626418842015-09-18T11:25:00.003-04:002015-09-19T15:54:41.444-04:00What is Bernie Sanders' Plan for the Deficit / Budget / Debt?I've seen this question pop up a lot in one form or another. So, first let's have a little vocabulary lesson.<br />
<br />
The <b>budget</b> is when the government plans where to spend money and how much to spend for the fiscal year. This isn't concrete. The government can over or under spend in areas just like you or I.<br />
<br />
The <b>deficit</b> is when the government spends more money than it takes in.<br />
<br />
And the <b>debt</b> is when the government borrows money to account for the money it overspent.<br />
<br />
When a country doesn't have a deficit, this does not mean that leftover money automatically goes toward the debt. The government has to decide to what to do with that extra money, and it could just as easily (and probably more likely) be spent on something else than go toward the debt.<br />
<br />
For 2015, the US is estimated to have a deficit of <a href="http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/federal_deficit_chart.html" target="_blank">$583 billion</a> and a debt of <a href="http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/debt_clock" target="_blank">$18.6 trillion</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nationofchange.org/2015/wp-content/uploads/bernie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.nationofchange.org/2015/wp-content/uploads/bernie.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>General Provisions</b></span><br />
<br />
I don't know what Bernie Sanders plans to do about this in the way of specifically setting aside money to pay back the debt or putting in careful calculations to make sure we don't have a deficit. But I do know he's looking for specific ways to cut spending.<br />
<br />
<b>Military Spending</b><br />
<b><br /></b>We currently spend more money in military spending than the next 9 countries combined. The Military budget for 2015 was <a href="https://www.nationalpriorities.org/campaigns/military-spending-united-states/" target="_blank">$598.5 billion</a>. Bernie Sanders <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1z1c4AEyjCg" target="_blank">wants to cut</a> that. He hasn't said how much, but we could cut the budget by 60% and still lead the world in defense spending. If we did that, we'd have $359.1 billion in savings.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://media.nationalpriorities.org/uploads/u.s._and_world_military_spending_chart.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://media.nationalpriorities.org/uploads/u.s._and_world_military_spending_chart.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">https://www.nationalpriorities.org/campaigns/us-military-spending-vs-world/</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Mass Incarceration</b><br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/wp/2015/04/30/does-the-united-states-really-have-five-percent-of-worlds-population-and-one-quarter-of-the-worlds-prisoners/" target="_blank">2.4 million people</a> we imprison in this country, costs us <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2015/09/the-true-costs-of-mass-incarceration/405412/" target="_blank">$80 billion</a> a year. If we ended the War on Drugs and gave people medical treatment instead of putting them behind bars (as <a href="http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-drug-policy/#treatment-for-drug-offenders" target="_blank">Bernie Sanders wants</a> to do), this would cut our prison costs by over half, saving <a href="http://www.cato.org/publications/white-paper/budgetary-impact-ending-drug-prohibition" target="_blank">$41.3 billion</a> a year. (Ah! You say. But what about health care costs? We'll get there.) This would also save money in welfare costs as <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/welfare-for-drug-felons_55ba38bfe4b0b8499b187591" target="_blank">about half of US states</a> provide welfare for convicted felons who struggle to find jobs once released.<br />
<br />
<b>Ending Off Shore Tax Havens</b><br />
<br />
Bernie Sanders wants to put an <a href="http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/offshore-tax-havens" target="_blank">end to offshore tax havens</a>, which allow corporations and rich Americans to store money overseas. They then pay less taxes to other countries, which costs the federal US government $150 billion year and state governments a total of $39.8 billion a year (<a href="http://www.uspirg.org/reports/usp/hidden-cost-offshore-tax-havens" target="_blank">source</a>).<br />
<br />
<b>Ending Corporate Welfare</b><br />
<br />
No one knows for certain how much money is paid to corporations each year in subsidies, but it's estimated to cost <a href="http://www.cheatsheet.com/business/high-on-the-hog-the-top-8-corporate-welfare-recipients.html/?a=viewall" target="_blank">$110 billion</a> a year. The top 8 paid corporations (such as Boeing, Nike, Shell, and Intel) made up $22 billion of that cost last year. (And while you're at it, here's a <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2015/03/17/the-united-states-of-subsidies-the-biggest-corporate-winners-in-each-state/" target="_blank">Top 30 list</a>.) A number of these companies are Fortune 500 companies that don't need government handouts, and some of them aren't even US companies (<a href="https://pando.com/2014/02/26/fortune-500-companies-receive-63-billion-in-subsidies/" target="_blank">source</a>). Bernie Sanders <a href="http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-small-business-and-entrepreneurship/" target="_blank">isn't against business</a>, but he <a href="http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-corporate-regulation/#big-business" target="_blank">is against</a> giving tax payer dollars to corporations that already making millions or billions of dollars in profit.<br />
<br />
<b>Raising the Minimum Wage</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.embed.ly/1/display/resize?key=1e6a1a1efdb011df84894040444cdc60&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpbs.twimg.com%2Fmedia%2FBmeeQ8ICQAAYhUu.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://i.embed.ly/1/display/resize?key=1e6a1a1efdb011df84894040444cdc60&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpbs.twimg.com%2Fmedia%2FBmeeQ8ICQAAYhUu.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
It's estimated that <a href="http://www.politicususa.com/2015/04/14/report-taxpayers-subsidize-153-8-billion-wages-annually.html" target="_blank">$152.8 billion</a> a year is spent in taxes on welfare programs for minimum wage employees who <a href="http://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/022615/can-family-survive-us-minimum-wage.asp" target="_blank">don't make enough</a> to support themselves or their families. Raising the minimum wage to <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/bernie-sanders-federal-minimum-wage-120468" target="_blank">$15 an hour</a> would eliminate that cost.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Tax Reform for the Rich</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
No one knows the exact numbers, but it's estimated that <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2011/10/report-25-of-millionaires-pay-less-in-taxes-than-the-middle-class/246623/" target="_blank">25% of millionaires</a> and at least the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/18/billionaires-taxes_n_1102234.html" target="_blank">top 400 billionaires</a> pay less in taxes than the average middle class American. Bernie Sanders <a href="http://feelthebern.org/bernie-sanders-on-economic-inequality/" target="_blank">wants to fix this</a> by raising income taxes on the richest Americans, abolishing tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, and changing the cap on and raising the estate tax. It's estimated reform on the estate tax alone would bring in <a href="http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/release-sanders-bill-restores-estate-tax-on-billionaires" target="_blank">$31.9 billion</a> a year. We don't currently have numbers for the other areas.<br />
<br />
<b>Tax Wall Street</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Bernie Sanders wants to implement a <a href="http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/recent-business/robin-hood-tax-to-reduce-wall-street-greed" target="_blank">Financial Transaction Tax</a> (a.k.a Robin Hood Tax), which is a small tax (.003%) on each transaction of a stock or bond. This would bring in $35.2 billion a year.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Specific Programs</b></span><br />
<br />
The following includes a number of programs that Bernie Sanders wants to implement a discussion on how they may or may not contribute to deficit. You can read more specifics about these bills in a <a href="http://berniementum.blogspot.com/2015/07/how-does-bernie-sanders-plan-to-pay-for_29.html" target="_blank">previous post</a>.<br />
<br />
<b>Green Energy Initiatives</b><br />
<br />
The <a href="http://www.sanders.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/0121413-ClimateProtectionAct.pdf" target="_blank">Climate Protection Act</a> and <a href="http://www.sanders.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/021413-SustainableEnergyAct.pdf" target="_blank">Sustainable Energy Act</a> implements a number of green energy initiatives. This would be paid for by implementing a $20 carbon tax per ton of carbon emissions, rising by 5.6% per year over 10 years. The bill would also end fossil fuel subsidies. The revenue from these bills would generate approximately $300 billion to go specifically toward debt reduction.<br />
<br />
<b>Tuition Free College</b><br />
<br />
Bernie's <a href="http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/collegeforall/?inline=file" target="_blank">College for All Act</a> would be paid for by taxes on Wall Street. While the bill costs $47 billion, the taxes on Wall Street is projected to bring in hundreds of billions of dollars a year. And extra revenue could be used elsewhere.<br />
<br />
<b>Create Jobs Rebuilding America's Infrastructure</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Bernie Sanders' <a href="http://www.sanders.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/sanders-introduces-bill-to-rebuild-americas-crumbling-infrastructure-support-13-million-jobs" target="_blank">Rebuild America Act</a> would cost $1.6 Trillion (paid for by the development of a National Infrastructure Development Bank that would then give out loans). However, this bill would presumably provide jobs for those who are unemployed, saving in welfare costs. This bill would also build up our infrastructure to allow it to compete with the rest of world. A <a href="http://www.cggc.duke.edu/pdfs/aam_report_oct15_7vm62z7l5.pdf" target="_blank">study by Duke University</a> estimates that every dollar spent into transportation infrastructure pays back $3.54 in economic impact. It's not clear how exactly this would impact the deficit, but it's information worth having.<br />
<br />
<b>Health Care</b><br />
<br />
I don't know how much Bernie's <a href="http://www.sanders.senate.gov/download/american-health-security-act-of-2013?inline=file" target="_blank">American Health Security Act</a> would cost (someone smarter than I will have to look at it). But is it estimated that the US spends <a href="http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20150728/NEWS03/150729830" target="_blank">$3.1 trillion</a> on health care. That includes <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/14/us-health-spending-medicine-idUSKBN0N508I20150414" target="_blank">$374 billion</a> in prescription costs, which Bernie <a href="https://berniesanders.com/press-release/sanders-plan-would-stop-runaway-prescription-drug-prices/" target="_blank">wants to lower</a>. It also includes <a href="http://www.cbpp.org/research/policy-basics-where-do-our-federal-tax-dollars-go" target="_blank">$836 billion</a> in Social Security costs for Medicare, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance (CHIP). The American Health Security Act would replace these programs along with Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB), TRICARE, and provisions under the Affordable Care Act.<br />
<br />
Whatever the cost of Bernie's American Health Security Act, it's important to note that its cost wouldn't go on top of what the US already spends in health care. The American Health Security Act would absorb the programs we already have. In effect, the money the government currently spends in health care programs would simply be transferred to the American Health Security Act, and our previous health care programs would be eliminated. So, one way or another, the cost of this new bill should come out as a general wash.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Conclusion</span></b><br />
<br />
Bernie Sanders has a lot of changes he wants to make for America. It's easy to take them at face value and miss the cost savings underneath. Pass this article around for those who have questions.<br />
<br />
UPDATE 09/19/15: Added more headings and a more of Bernie's programsUnknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-91387951024054590152015-09-01T13:41:00.000-04:002015-09-01T13:44:23.526-04:00How Obama Won and Bernie Sanders Can TooHow many times have you read the words in an article, "It's a reality that Bernie Sanders can't win?" Bernie Sanders has no chance. Bernie Sanders will never be the democratic nominee. Bernie Sanders will never be president. Over and over and over again.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I seem to remember Hillary going up against an African American in 2008 who got the same kind of press over and over again saying he couldn't win. Gee, I can't remember who that was...</div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://assets.hightimes.com/ObamaLaughing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://assets.hightimes.com/ObamaLaughing.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<i>He's the freaking president of the United States, people! </i></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And Hillary's not. How many news journalists and political science experts told you that would happen? Not very many, if any at all.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So let's just stop with all this "reality" crap. It is <i>not </i>reality that Bernie Sanders won't be president of the United States. Hillary was defeated once, and if the right pieces come together, she can be defeated again. The only "reality" is when the election happens and we have the final votes counted.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeTJxqzKow-D8PF2zn3H5UW0HsDCLqZsP2UUG1uPV1kmmhQ3N915W6sUZAN684E9dPOenWmfqWuSw-fbWRZfQjlFg5M4c1rYACB_NJCrMV5hQGfYORS-jbG0jwk-XBC0ZG1nHE7VXiw/s1600/prw8w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkeTJxqzKow-D8PF2zn3H5UW0HsDCLqZsP2UUG1uPV1kmmhQ3N915W6sUZAN684E9dPOenWmfqWuSw-fbWRZfQjlFg5M4c1rYACB_NJCrMV5hQGfYORS-jbG0jwk-XBC0ZG1nHE7VXiw/s400/prw8w.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Social Media</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><br /></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Part of what made Obama's campaign so successful was his ability <a href="http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2008/11/19/barack-obama-and-the-facebook-election?" target="_blank">to utilize social media</a> to invigorate volunteers and grow into a grassroots movement to reach other to potential voters. His popularity on social media also helped him with gaining the youth vote.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Bernie Sanders is <a href="http://topsy.com/analytics?q1=feelthebern&q2=Bernie2016&q3=Hillary2016&via=Topsy" target="_blank">trending well on Twitter</a> with both of his hashtags winning the fight against Hillary's for the most part. But <a href="https://channelmeter.com/channels/LRYsOHrkk5qcIhtq033bLQ" target="_blank">Hillary</a> still far outreaches <a href="https://channelmeter.com/channels/H1dpzjCEiGAt8CXkryhkZg" target="_blank">Bernie</a> on Youtube. Though he may be gaining on her <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/06/hillary-clinton-and-bernie-sanders-dominate-on-facebook-119207.html" target="_blank">on Facebook</a> (that article is from June).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
However, what none of those statistics can tell us is how many people are actually engaged with Bernie's or Hillary's campaign and if those people are making efforts to reach out to other potential voters and if those efforts are effective. If they are, Bernie's campaign could turn out a lot like Obama's.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>The Issues</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another factor that helped Obama was his ability to <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/news/why-obama-won-04-11-2008/" target="_blank">address voter concerns</a> regarding the economy. Today, voter concerns have not changed much. The GOP debate might have been entertaining (and guess <a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2015/08/2016-presidential-tweet-bernie-sanders-most-retweeted-121157.html" target="_blank">which candidate</a> actually came out on top), but there was little to no discussion about the issues Americans want to hear about.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
According to <a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/2015/06/29/whats-the-top-issue-for-2016-depends-where-you-look" target="_blank">several polls</a>, Americans want to hear the candidates discuss real issues. They want to hear about fixing the economy, about jobs, about education and healthcare. Bernie Sanders has been consistent in his message about income inequality and protecting working families. Supporters have flocked to him because he's speaking about real issues that the American people want to hear about.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another draw for Sanders is that he refuses to use attack ads against other candidates. On multiple occasions he has <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGv2SPB8pNU" target="_blank">spoken against the media</a> for their focus on political drama and not on the real issues facing American citizens. He has garnered a lot of respect from potential voters on that aspect alone.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Enthusiasm</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/529c3d22e5d49f47f2f44ebb3ccf6f22b508ea01/0_424_4259_2556/master/4259.jpg?w=620&q=85&auto=format&sharp=10&s=66a420ca594f8c04b3df50c9ec720056" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/529c3d22e5d49f47f2f44ebb3ccf6f22b508ea01/0_424_4259_2556/master/4259.jpg?w=620&q=85&auto=format&sharp=10&s=66a420ca594f8c04b3df50c9ec720056" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Obama's campaign had a lot of enthusiasm, and Bernie's campaign is showing signs of having more. At the beginning of July, Obama had 180,000 small donors contributing, <a href="https://twitter.com/PatrickRuffini/status/616653952399114241" target="_blank">Sanders had 250,000</a>. Bernie Sanders has consistently <a href="http://inthesetimes.com/article/18334/bernie-sanders-is-drawing-massive-crowds-around-the-country.-no-big-deal-sa" target="_blank">drawn bigger crowds</a> than any other presidential candidate.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
July 29, 2015, one hundred thousand people <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/07/30/sanders-hosts-a-nationwide-house-party-for-over-100000-would-be-foot-soldiers/?_r=0" target="_blank">attended house parties</a> for Bernie. Double that number is being called to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1636611586577118/" target="_blank">march on Washington</a> for Bernie rally. Bernie Sanders has the most active <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SandersForPresident" target="_blank">Reddit page</a> of any presidential candidates. And supporters of Bernie Sanders came together on their own to <a href="http://feelthebern.org/" target="_blank">create a website</a> that made it easy to find and understand Bernie's position on important issues.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The enthusiasm for Bernie Sanders is there, and it can only grow. And we're still four months away from 2016.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Voters</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Another thing Obama did well was get young people and minorities out to the polls, demographics known for not voting. A large number of Bernie supporters <a href="http://elitedaily.com/news/politics/bernie-sanders-saying-what-millennials-thinking/1057989/" target="_blank">are millennials</a>. He has the young vote for sure. The test will be if he can amp up his appeal to minorities. Time will tell.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Poll Data</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Bernie is currently 24.2 points behind Hillary in <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/2016_democratic_presidential_nomination-3824.html" target="_blank">the national polls</a>. At the same date in 2007, Obama was 16 points behind Hillary <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/us/democratic_presidential_nomination-191.html" target="_blank">nationally</a>. Though Bernie has a much larger gap to cover than Obama, Bernie has recently <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/nh/new_hampshire_democratic_presidential_primary-3351.html" target="_blank">surpassed Hillary in NH</a>, something Obama <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/nh/new_hampshire_democratic_primary-194.html" target="_blank">didn't achieve until January</a> of his election year. Bernie's still <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/ia/iowa_democratic_presidential_caucus-3195.html" target="_blank">closing the gap in Iowa</a>, but he has <a href="http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2008/president/ia/iowa_democratic_caucus-208.html" target="_blank">four months</a> (Obama's turn around) to get there. There's still plenty of time for Bernie to catch up, and the enthusiasm behind him, and how quickly he's climbed, I'd be worried if I were Hillary.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>A Different Campaign</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Obama's campaign is different that Bernie Sanders'. But if we should have learned one lesson from Obama's win, it's that nothing is for certain. So go ahead. Continue saying Bernie will never make it. I'm willing to bet you'll be eating those words a year and a quarter from now.</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-30586173974598994292015-08-26T16:06:00.001-04:002015-08-26T18:17:37.454-04:00How Voter ID Laws Infringe Upon the Voting Rights of Millions of Americans<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/MustShowIDToVote_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://s3.amazonaws.com/static.texastribune.org/media/images/MustShowIDToVote_jpg_800x1000_q100.jpg" height="263" width="400" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
You may have heard the argument that Voter ID laws are a deliberate attempt by Republicans to block minorities and the poor (who are most likely to vote Democrat) from voting. Do I think there are Republicans sitting in office and twirling their evil mustaches as they laugh at how their legislation has taken root in <a href="http://ballotpedia.org/Voter_identification_laws_by_state" target="_blank">so many states</a>? Maybe a little.<br />
<br />
But when it comes right down to it, Republicans aren't the problem. It's us. We're the ones who passed the legislation. We're the ones who, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbeVF4KTCWY" target="_blank">when asked on the street</a>, say that voter ID laws are perfectly reasonable. It's our own fault.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Middle Class is Part of the Problem</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I grew up in a middle class family. My mom kept our birth certificates and Social Security cards in a filing cabinet. Sometimes, she'd take them out and explain to me how important they were. When I turned sixteen, I knew exactly where those documents were so I could obtain a driver's license, and I knew how to store them after so they wouldn't become lost.<br />
<br />
When I turned eighteen, I proudly displayed that license as I walked up to the voting booth. If someone had asked me then, or even a few years ago, if voting ID laws are reasonable, I would have said yes. It was so easy for me to get my ID, after all. And they're required for so many things. Who wouldn't have one? At the time, voter ID laws seemed logical. Any reasonable American citizen could understand their use. And I'd honestly thought they'd been around forever (it blew my mind when I discovered states <a href="http://www.propublica.org/article/everything-youve-ever-wanted-to-know-about-voter-id-laws" target="_blank">only started requiring them in 2006</a>).<br />
<br />
It's a view point many American's have, and it's born of our own ignorance.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">It Can Be Really Hard to Get a State ID</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.msnbc.com/sites/msnbc/files/steve-frank67FAC2A7-A14C-4F72-D3C8-71613E397404.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.msnbc.com/sites/msnbc/files/steve-frank67FAC2A7-A14C-4F72-D3C8-71613E397404.jpg" height="207" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>You have no need for a Driver's License if you don't own a car. </b>Minorities (who are more likely to be poor) the elderly (who often don't drive) and students (who often live on campus) are less likely to own a car. They have no need for a driver's license, so many don't have one.<br />
<br />
<b>A state ID costs money. </b>Anywhere from $3 to $30 <a href="http://www.thepiratescove.us/2008/04/28/what-does-a-state-id-cost/" target="_blank">depending on the state</a> you live in. And while that may not seem like a lot, for someone who lives pay check to pay check (or for whom one paycheck doesn't even cover expenses), spending money on a piece of plastic versus food or rent is not a justifiable expense.<br />
<br />
<b>ID-Issuing offices can be hard to get to. </b>Many of those hurt by voter ID laws <a href="http://www.brennancenter.org/publication/challenge-obtaining-voter-identification" target="_blank">don't have a DMV within close distance</a> (that distance is even grater if you don't have a car to travel by). And due to budget cuts, many ID-issuing offices aren't open very often, some only two days a week and others fewer than that (see previous link).<br />
<br />
<b>Waiting at the DMV costs time. </b>If your local DMV is only open during normal business hours, you're going to have to take time off work. Anyone who has ever waited in line at the DMV knows a simple lunch break won't do. For many middle class Americans with full time jobs, taking a personal day is easy. For the poor who often work multiple part-time jobs, taking time off is not only difficult, it also isn't feasible. Time off work means less pay and a boss who sees you as less dependable and will probably dock your hours.<br />
<br />
<b>If you don't have a birth certificate, you're out of luck. </b>The elderly born in rural areas, like a farm, don't have birth certificates. Many elderly African Americans were birthed at home (shortly after the slavery era). They don't have birth certificates either. Other Americans have lost their birth certificates due to fire or other accidents. While many states require a birth certificate to get a driver's license, they also require a driver's license to get a birth certificate (you can check your state's requirements <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/w2w.htm" target="_blank">here</a>). So it is literally impossible to get a state ID in some states if you don't have one and you've also lost your birth certificate.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Voter Fraud is Practically Non-Existent</span></b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/voterfraud.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://thepoliticalcarnival.net/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/voterfraud.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Voter Fraud cases represent <a href="http://votingrights.news21.com/article/election-fraud/" target="_blank">only 1 out of 15 million votes</a>. Voter fraud most frequently occurs in absentee ballots and during voter registration, cases that voter ID laws (which require you to show an ID at the physical polls) do not prevent. And in most cases, voter fraud charges are dropped since it's difficult to prove a person knew they were doing something illegal and did it on purpose. It's more likely that many voters didn't know they were doing something wrong:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Felons or noncitizens sometimes register to vote or cast votes because they are confused about their eligibility. The database shows 74 cases of felons voting and 56 cases of noncitizens voting. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Voters make a lot of mistakes, from accidentally voting twice to voting in the wrong precinct. </blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Election officials make a lot of mistakes, from clerical errors — giving voters ballots when they’ve already voted — to election workers confused about voters’ eligibility requirements. (<a href="http://votingrights.news21.com/article/election-fraud/" target="_blank">source</a>)</blockquote>
The only voter fraud that voter ID laws help prevent is voter-impersonation fraud. <a href="http://votingrights.news21.com/article/election-fraud/" target="_blank">News21's investigation</a> of voter fraud cases from 2000 to 2012 found only 10 instances of voter-impersonation fraud across all 50 states.<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Voter ID Laws Disenfranchise Millions of Americans</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://trcfwpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/33845209_1_voter-id-law-state-carol-aichele-department-of-state-id.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://trcfwpa.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/33845209_1_voter-id-law-state-carol-aichele-department-of-state-id.jpeg" height="270" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
While voter ID laws could prevent only 10 cases of voter-impersonation fraud, it disenfranchises <a href="http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/legacy/d/download_file_39242.pdf" target="_blank">21 million Americans</a> who do not have the required identification. Of this 21 million,<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
25% are African American<br />
18% are over 65<br />
18% aged 18-24<br />
15% earning less than $35K a year<br />
8% are white<br />
(<a href="http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/default/files/legacy/d/download_file_39242.pdf" target="_blank">source</a>)</blockquote>
So, let's recap. Voter ID laws prevent only 10 cases of voter fraud in 12 years, while <i>every year </i>they they deny 21 <i>million</i> Americans their right to vote.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Voter ID Laws are Unconstitutional</span></b><br />
<br />
The right to vote is granted by our constitution. And many Americans had to fight for that right, women and African Americans, especially. When a law is put in place that does nothing to protect voters but instead infringes upon the voting rights of millions of Americans, something is wrong with that law.<br />
<br />
Prior to voter ID laws, the United States employed a poll tax as a prerequisite to vote. This tax, as you can imagine, disenfranchised the poor (including minorities and the elderly) and women (who earned far less than men), much as voter ID laws do today. American citizens fought against the poll tax, and the 24th Amendment was added to the constitution, abolishing poll taxes. It's time we fight against voter ID laws.<br />
<br />
Share this information with everyone you know, write your state representatives and tell them you do not support voter ID laws, start a petition for your state, and if someone with a microphone stops you on the street and asks if voter ID laws are reasonable, tell them no, they most certainly are not.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-53824592609591603592015-08-22T10:15:00.001-04:002015-08-22T10:15:49.932-04:00Bernie Can't do it Alone, but are his Supporters Getting the Message?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://devoketheapocalypse.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/rally-bw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://devoketheapocalypse.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/rally-bw.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.beyondthechoir.org/diary/143/whats-wrong-with-activism" target="_blank">From BeyondtheChoir.org</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Bernie has said a number of times that it's not enough to elect the best president anymore. The president alone can not get done the changes that need to happen in this country. He has called for a <a href="http://berniementum.blogspot.com/2015/07/are-we-ready-for-political-revolution_1.html" target="_blank">political revolution</a>. He has called for us to become activists, to get involved in our local politics. We can't just elect Bernie. We have to elect good local and state representatives, and we have to tell the bad ones we're not satisfied. We must do these things if we want real change to happen. </div>
<br />
On Wednesday, I received <a href="https://iqconnect.lmhostediq.com/iqextranet/view_newsletter.aspx?id=2134077&c=SC03JD" target="_blank">this email</a> from my local congressman, Jeff Duncan, representing the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Carolina%27s_3rd_congressional_district#/media/File:United_States_House_of_Representatives,_South_Carolina_District_3_map.png" target="_blank">3rd district</a> of SC. Among other issues, he speaks against Planned Parenthood and the Iran Deal, both of which Bernie Sanders supports. I <a href="https://jeffduncan.house.gov/contact-me" target="_blank">wrote back</a> to Mr. Duncan, politely encouraging that he support those issues.<br />
<br />
While I was at it, I also contacted two SC-for-Bernie pages, one on Facebook and one on Twitter, providing them with the email link and asking that they post it so local Carolinians could also respond. Though both pages responded positively to my request, neither of them posted the link. For whatever reason, they didn't feel it warranted posting. And that worries me.<br />
<br />
On my <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Berniementum" target="_blank">Bernie Sanders FB page</a>, I recently posted a <a href="http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/101/304/230/?z00m=25612314&redirectID=1778466342" target="_blank">petition</a> to ban <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAiIGd_JqZc" target="_blank">microbeads</a> - small pieces of plastic companies put in consumer products that most water treatment plants can't capture and end up in our water streams and eaten by wildlife. Bernie Sanders hasn't said a single word about microbeads, but I posted the petition because it's an environmental issue, and Bernie cares a lot about our environment. Therefore, microbeads should fall right in line with his concerns. Yet, this post had had zero shares. About the same effect when I tried to share with people the utterly amazing <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/07/30/shell-no-dangling-from-a-bridge-to-stop-arctic-drilling/" target="_blank">Shellno protest</a>.<br />
<br />
I have this growing concern that we, as Bernie supporters, care a lot about what Bernie has to say. But we have very little momentum when something doesn't directly come from him. And that's a problem. While attending a recent Bernie rally in SC, Bernie again stated that he can't do this alone. Since the video of that rally isn't up yet, I'll borrow a his quote from a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBeSUZdCwKQ" target="_blank">WI rally</a>: "<i>Nobody in the White House, no matter how good he or she may be, can address the major issues facing working families without an active politically conscious grassroots movement</i>."<br />
<br />
I'm starting to wonder if people realize Bernie isn't talking about a grassroots movement to get himself elected. He's talking about a grassroots movement to battle the political corruption in our country. And that means going beyond what Bernie directly has his hands in. As I looked around the room at the rally, I wondered how many people there were only willing to fight for Bernie. They would volunteer their time to local rallies, to knock on doors, or to pass out voter registration forms (all good things).<br />
<br />
But how many of them would bother to look up their local congressman and subscribe to their newsletter and write back when they wanted their voice heard? How many of them would take the time to research and vote in elections other than the presidential one? How many would look up political activist movements in American and around the world? How many would march on Washington for a better America?<br />
<br />
Even with Bernie in the White House, how can we hope to change America for the better if we can't muster the effort to make it happen?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-588462437513858802015-08-18T16:02:00.000-04:002015-08-18T16:04:50.598-04:00What Would Happen in a Trump vs Sanders Presidential Race?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://api.theweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/tw_image_6_4/public/TrumpSanders.jpg?itok=Y4rQJTKu" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://api.theweek.com/sites/default/files/styles/tw_image_6_4/public/TrumpSanders.jpg?itok=Y4rQJTKu" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
A month ago, I would have told you I was sick of the Bernie & Trump comparisons. The two men are the polar opposite of each other, at least in personality (the two have a surprising <a href="http://freebeacon.com/blog/donald-trump-and-bernie-sanders-are-the-same-person-analysis-finds/" target="_blank">number of issues</a> they agree on). Trump represents the capitalist billionaire class, and Bernie champions socialist ideas to raise the middle and impoverished classes.<br />
<br />
Despite media cries that neither one of them will be their respective party's nominee, let alone president, their poll numbers keep climbing (weeks and months after the media insisted, and continues to insist, that those numbers will level out). As much as I hate to admit it, the more I look at the trends and consider the options, a Trump vs Sanders presidential race in 2016 seems very likely.<br />
<br />
Bernie Sanders has said since his campaign began that the American people are fed up with conventional politics, and he was right. What no one paused to consider is that people on the right might be just as fed up as people on the left. In fact, a <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-cupp-trump-bush-christie-hillary-clinton-sanders-perspec-0817-jm-20150816-story.html" target="_blank">Chicago Tribune article</a> goes so far as to say Trump and Sanders are appealing to the <i>same</i> voter base (let that blow your mind for a second).<br />
<br />
As a Bernie supporter who has no doubt in the candidate's electability and constantly points to his trending poll numbers, I have to consider (as much as I don't like to) that Trump's electability may be in the same boat. Bernie supporters have praised his straightforwardness, and Trump supporters have done the same. We're all tired of the bullshit of secular politics, and Bernie and Trump represent the chance to break away from it (this <a href="http://www.salon.com/2015/07/24/pulver_on_sanders_and_trump/" target="_blank">Salon article</a> points out a similar theme).<br />
<br />
I don't want Trump to be the Repubican nominee. But, when it comes right down to it, I don't want any Republican candidate to be the nominee because it means we have a chance that one of those guys could be president and none of them seem ideal (though, to me, Rand Paul seems the safest).<br />
<br />
However, when I think about it, a 2016 Trump vs Sanders race would be amazing because it would send a message that Americans are tired of our political parties. It would be the first time a Bush and Clinton both ran and were turned down by voters. The family and political party dynasty that has held the presidential seat for decades, would be cast aside. It would change America's politics forever.<br />
<br />
I say, bring it on.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-67540791489201531522015-08-15T08:00:00.000-04:002015-08-15T08:00:02.103-04:00Bernie Sanders / Vermont / Maple Themed Patry Drinks (and some food)I did a post a while back about Bernie themed <a href="http://berniementum.blogspot.com/2015/08/bernie-sanders-themed-party-food_2.html" target="_blank">party food</a>, and I got to thinking - Bernie themed drinks? Why not.<br />
<br />
<b>Senator from Vermont </b>(suggested on <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SandersForPresident/comments/3etvzx/bernie_themed_drink/" target="_blank">Reddit</a>)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://cook.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/cook/fullset/2013/1/23/0/CCBAB306_Old-Vermont-Cocktail-Recipe_s4x3.jpg/jcr:content/renditions/cq5dam.web.266.200.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cook.sndimg.com/content/dam/images/cook/fullset/2013/1/23/0/CCBAB306_Old-Vermont-Cocktail-Recipe_s4x3.jpg/jcr:content/renditions/cq5dam.web.266.200.jpeg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/maple-bourbon-smash" target="_blank">Maple-Bourbon Smash</a> - maple syrup, orange juice, lemon juice, bitters, seltzer, and bourbon. Looking around, there's actually a few variants on this "Old Vermont" cocktail (<a href="http://www.cookingchanneltv.com/recipes/bobby-flay/old-vermont-cocktail.html" target="_blank">one</a>, <a href="http://www.absolutdrinks.com/en/drinks/vermont/" target="_blank">two</a>, <a href="http://paulmcgee.blogspot.com/2010/11/vermont-cocktail.html" target="_blank">three</a>). Pick your favorite or mix and match to make your own variant.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Feel the Bern</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBWsG8vqccuFoZy5jq61DeqGiFxF1qPjA67pE0F6QSqPieDRBzH0j9Na6DUdYjAHsAuI4Mop2hcIJ5V07bh04Q7xnkHUH0wYVL472LFvyA93muImqgesrL28PFnXTKEaDYVibmmH7mw/s1600/bern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDBWsG8vqccuFoZy5jq61DeqGiFxF1qPjA67pE0F6QSqPieDRBzH0j9Na6DUdYjAHsAuI4Mop2hcIJ5V07bh04Q7xnkHUH0wYVL472LFvyA93muImqgesrL28PFnXTKEaDYVibmmH7mw/s200/bern.jpg" width="158" /></a></div>
<br />
Shot of Everclear or another "berning" liquor.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Vermont Switchel</b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.americanfoodroots.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/quart-jar-switchel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.americanfoodroots.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/quart-jar-switchel.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Image from American Food Roots</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A mix of apple cider, maple syrup, ginger, lemon juice, and molasses. You can read about the drink's origins <a href="http://www.americanfoodroots.com/features/american-made/american-made-switchel/" target="_blank">here</a>, buy it <a href="http://www.vtswitchel.com/shop/" target="_blank">here</a>, or make <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes/haymakers_ginger_switchel.html" target="_blank">your own</a>. Add alcohol if desired.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Vermont/Maple Lemonaid</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fromscratchclub.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/img_63281.jpg?w=630&h=421" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://fromscratchclub.files.wordpress.com/2014/05/img_63281.jpg?w=630&h=421" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Image from <a href="http://fromscratchclub.com/2014/06/20/summer-drink-maple-sweetened-lemonade/" target="_blank">this recipe</a></i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
You can read about the drink <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/05/22/brooklyn-lemonade-stand/2352971/" target="_blank">here</a>. The recipe is pretty easy, just make lemonaid and use maple syrup to sweeten it instead of sugar. The internet is full of variants on what measurements to use. Best for your to decide for yourself based on how sweet and lemony you like'd like things to be. Add your favor liquor if desired.<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Maple Soda</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fivestarsoda.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/photo-feb-25-3-53-10-am.jpg?w=894&h=596" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://fivestarsoda.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/photo-feb-25-3-53-10-am.jpg?w=894&h=596" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
This drink is exactly what it sounds like. You can read what some non-Vermonters thought about it <a href="http://fivestarsoda.com/2015/02/28/vermont-sweet-water-maple-soda/" target="_blank">here</a>, buy it (and other sodas) from a Vermont company <a href="https://www.vtsweetwater.com/products.html" target="_blank">here</a>, or google "Maple Soda" and see if there's any recipes out there you are up for trying (some of them seem a little complicated).<br />
<br />
<br />
<b>More Recipes</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images.media-allrecipes.com/userphotos/720x405/2280550.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://images.media-allrecipes.com/userphotos/720x405/2280550.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Okay. So maple everything, right? That's all you need. Well, I got thinking about "Vermont Food" and Allrecipes came up with a <a href="http://m.allrecipes.com/recipes/1812/us-recipes/us-recipes-by-state/vermont/?mxt=t06rdn&page=2" target="_blank">page</a> offering New England beans (multiple recipes), molasses cookies (multiple recipes), <a href="http://m.allrecipes.com/recipe/12332/maple-syrup-tarts/" target="_blank">maple tarts</a>, and a <a href="http://m.allrecipes.com/recipe/20501/vermont-maple-float/" target="_blank">maple float</a>!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-35482789548684320262015-08-14T13:51:00.000-04:002015-08-14T15:02:51.575-04:00DIY T-shirts for Bernie for Under $10Two weeks ago, I did a post on <a href="http://berniementum.blogspot.com/2015/07/how-to-make-diy-bernie-t-shirts_30.html" target="_blank">How to Make DIY Bernie T-shirts</a>. I finally got around to trying it out for myself.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Step 1: Buy Your Supplies</b></span><br />
<br />
My thrift store shopping turned out pretty well. I found three shirts in the colors I wanted for $1 each (one a size larger than I usually wear). Way better than buying a pack of mixed t-shirts at a clothing store. And if I messed them up, I wouldn't feel too bad about it.<br />
<br />
While I specifically looked for blank shirts, don't be afraid to experiment. I found a number of shirts with "America" on them. You could easily paint "vote for Bernie" underneath. I also found a few pink ribbon shirts you could pain "women for Bernie" on. Grab a "Harley" shirt and make it "Harley for Bernie." Be creative!<br />
<br />
After some consideration, I also decided to buy <a href="http://www.makeit-loveit.com/2011/01/what-is-freezer-paper.html" target="_blank">freezer paper</a> for the sake of simplicity (you will find it with the aluminium foil). This was the only thing I could not find cheap. It cost $6 (no luck at finding it at the dollar store). So all together, I spent $9.16 and some taxes. I didn't spend anything on actual painting supplies since I decided to use what I already had on hand.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 2: Conceptualize </span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisXs7RYh2tehJmYT46aB4Q-VhamaeHUuv-rzQ17cEDd6u2qmvFrPBMBi1qCCaWorZqRLK3nOcf_ArddZ5f1rDP7imThAo1m2ZcOVsNc_90ZknHCWVZ4WSFUhGoLoL-3QZEPZJHnEZsSs/s1600/IMG_1835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhisXs7RYh2tehJmYT46aB4Q-VhamaeHUuv-rzQ17cEDd6u2qmvFrPBMBi1qCCaWorZqRLK3nOcf_ArddZ5f1rDP7imThAo1m2ZcOVsNc_90ZknHCWVZ4WSFUhGoLoL-3QZEPZJHnEZsSs/s400/IMG_1835.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
I first did some thinking on what kind of designs I wanted to make. Then I thought of which colors those designs would go well on. I laid the shirts out with a piece of printer paper and imagined what size I wanted the designs to be (one sheet of paper or two? Landscape or portrait?). This helped <i>a lot </i>when it came to figuring out how large I needed the designs and font to be when I built them in MS Word, and I highly recommend doing it. You can also use <a href="http://www.spreadshirt.com/design-your-own-t-shirt-C59" target="_blank">this online program</a> for some help visualizing.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Step 3: Build Your Designs</b></span><br />
<br />
Build your designs in MS Word or any similar program so you can print them out to serve as a stencil for painting. I'll explain this step a little more with each individual shirt, and I'll give you resources to look through at the end. One thing I will point out is I took the margins off of the documents to get the font and images the size I wanted them to be. My printer, however, is not one that prints off the margins, so I had to color in some areas on the stencils that my printer didn't get with sharpie marker. No big deal, but something to be aware of.<br />
<br />
You can skip this step and the next few all together if you decide not use a stencil. But I highly recommend using a stencil. It's a lot of work, but it made the printing step a lot easier.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sept 4: Prepare the Freezer Paper</b></span><br />
<br />
The roll of freezer paper I bought was 331/2 yards by 18 inches, which means I had to cut it down to the proper size. You could use a ruler to do this, but I ended up taking a piece of printer paper and just tracing it. It all depends on whether you want to attempt printing on the freezer paper and how finicky you feel your printer is. My printer took my imperfectly traced sheets just fine, but yours might not.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImHhmjIRazHt9Ym3a7gLNxMXnRjjF_buzJlQqXUmUEbjvN72_LcoMWyqT6DSot_fy5_xlRCikz8C03ISKPTl9_CGAcRfZ703qmZiuRxs1EZk1OxkwmV3yp-bt-gDXjREqyBV8-kuELTs/s1600/IMG_1838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjImHhmjIRazHt9Ym3a7gLNxMXnRjjF_buzJlQqXUmUEbjvN72_LcoMWyqT6DSot_fy5_xlRCikz8C03ISKPTl9_CGAcRfZ703qmZiuRxs1EZk1OxkwmV3yp-bt-gDXjREqyBV8-kuELTs/s400/IMG_1838.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
If you decide not to attempt printing on the freezer paper, you'll need to print your designs on regular paper. Then lay the freezer paper over top (it's translucent) and trace the design. Alternatively, there are <a href="http://www.joann.com/quilter-s-freezer-paper-sheets-8-1-2inx11in-30-pkg/2008514.html#close" target="_blank">freezer paper printer sheets</a> online to purchase, but they're expensive compared to buying the roll. And if you have a very temperamental printer, the paper might be too thin to work properly for you anyway.<br />
<br />
If you want, you can omit the freezer paper from your t-shirt making all together and just use normal printer paper. But the fact the fact the freezer paper sticks to the shirt fabric and prevents your design from shifting is useful.<br />
<br />
Once you have your designs on paper, cut out your designs with an x-acto or utility knife. Make sure to save any small "scraps" from the inside of letters or designs. You'll want them for the ironing step. If you'd rather avoid having little pieces to deal with, you can download <a href="http://www.dafont.com/theme.php?cat=114" target="_blank">stencil font</a> to use.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 5: Prepare the Shirts</span></b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NFyiflToQsFlx8GrntArP6Jwl5MzjAT_gyYzJRJmXjRLF69j6Mvy9WbGKsjSdnkXqmjHM-98GOz3LE1qtOgeHnrMhQXxjp_cB9gwDF1kmJwYAt5f9Yz7Zd6fnPHPl7XWnd9-Estu4Xg/s1600/IMG_1840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NFyiflToQsFlx8GrntArP6Jwl5MzjAT_gyYzJRJmXjRLF69j6Mvy9WbGKsjSdnkXqmjHM-98GOz3LE1qtOgeHnrMhQXxjp_cB9gwDF1kmJwYAt5f9Yz7Zd6fnPHPl7XWnd9-Estu4Xg/s400/IMG_1840.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Once you have your design ready, you'll want to iron your shirt flat. Then place the freezer paper on top of the shirt (wax side down) and iron it till it sticks. Then place cardboard or another surface inside the shirt to prevent paint from bleeding through to the other side.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Step 6: Paint</span></b><br />
<br />
<b>Bleach - Ask Me About Bernie sanders</b><br />
<br />
I've been wanting an "Ask Me About Bernie Sanders" shirt since I found out about the campaign. I could have easily painted this by hand, but I wanted a specific look. So I put some text in a Word doc, blew it up as big as I wanted, and printed it out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKRbViQRE9kekWR8FOuFF-m03kp5MqO9Z41jS2LmZjTKirOoWcNQ-UR4ORdEbRCM9RqcQbVLpai2JzeODM2K4NzNmVGM0Sgnk9AMcU3JcbMCRIYwEd4D6K1_fuSlJpaJKE7fW-5pVLfM/s1600/IMG_1843.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixKRbViQRE9kekWR8FOuFF-m03kp5MqO9Z41jS2LmZjTKirOoWcNQ-UR4ORdEbRCM9RqcQbVLpai2JzeODM2K4NzNmVGM0Sgnk9AMcU3JcbMCRIYwEd4D6K1_fuSlJpaJKE7fW-5pVLfM/s400/IMG_1843.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Pour a small amount of bleach into a container and use a paint brush to paint on the bleach. Be careful not to drip and you'll probably want a fan going to get some air circulation from the fumes. Over time, the bleached areas will get lighter and lighter. So let the design sit for a while. I moved on to cutting out another stencil while giving the bleach time to work and letting the shirt dry.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3-8lVFyjHpbsx6pfZU4wKfOPA63IGkzgDUcP9jshCYillFZNw6SfSSoIAjDhZwRrAj8g8YiCicO_Q1xjGzuRHqbLmGluA5JOFR7pBR3HLKJvpbNX7ZzNBMGPsZeFnUe_1DB42QBXfZ8/s1600/IMG_1845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd3-8lVFyjHpbsx6pfZU4wKfOPA63IGkzgDUcP9jshCYillFZNw6SfSSoIAjDhZwRrAj8g8YiCicO_Q1xjGzuRHqbLmGluA5JOFR7pBR3HLKJvpbNX7ZzNBMGPsZeFnUe_1DB42QBXfZ8/s400/IMG_1845.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
One thing about this method that I didn't expect is the bleach ate my paint brushes. I had a 4 set of the cheap Crayola brushes, and they are now useless. Not a big deal and probably should have been expected, but none of the tutorials I looked at mentioned this happening. Maybe I just needed better quality brushes. I also could try diluting the bleach, but none of the tutorials I found mentioned this either, and at least one specifically said not to.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBIzzdFFs2IyjKMChweda1bAEXLmwSPARYLS4rjgArn_tTbcAIs40ejShX9_iKXgsFB9eKNKb7jhyphenhyphenl3V-8ODuTJlo8u1HLC5Uc2WnipICr0F0SS_zUb49vGbS3ZY545d8Tmy9_ZGVSg/s1600/IMG_1847.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFBIzzdFFs2IyjKMChweda1bAEXLmwSPARYLS4rjgArn_tTbcAIs40ejShX9_iKXgsFB9eKNKb7jhyphenhyphenl3V-8ODuTJlo8u1HLC5Uc2WnipICr0F0SS_zUb49vGbS3ZY545d8Tmy9_ZGVSg/s400/IMG_1847.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
I'm not sure what happened here. Presumably, I used too much bleach. But I really didn't feel like I used that much. I believe what may have happened is the bleach ate through the wax. That's the only thing that makes sense to me. When doing the back of the shirt, I used a q-tip (which did not dissolve like my paint brushes) to paint on the bleach. So I know I ended up using less bleach there, but I still ended up with the same results. So if you plan on doing a bleached design, hand painting it might be best.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJi_7qiSCzRaac1gsXY3NEpbHIjFTZ9mY7MfZt0DbU-GDDnM3e1LJoEMsjbI2Nty8cYajkOvYygUq1gB4FKG4OTW-8DRMZDGX-1oksse1dF8e_ULhi_bSLXn_jXjr3YrQ0LwwplDMHuQ/s1600/IMG_1854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJi_7qiSCzRaac1gsXY3NEpbHIjFTZ9mY7MfZt0DbU-GDDnM3e1LJoEMsjbI2Nty8cYajkOvYygUq1gB4FKG4OTW-8DRMZDGX-1oksse1dF8e_ULhi_bSLXn_jXjr3YrQ0LwwplDMHuQ/s400/IMG_1854.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
But all is not lost. There is more than one way to paint a shirt. Hello, Sharpie.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IpOeh8Wh5a_6iN0tQZQGTQR2wRZdwoHxYRHfErw5bpg5TA3huSPth233u1f4TDwC3z2AO9Zo3bbRVEsejAkzS1gXoLDDFKzYQn3wtfLLa2BAAcpKkeiedSOiWH4fXc2w2AmiVRwH3g/s1600/IMG_1859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4IpOeh8Wh5a_6iN0tQZQGTQR2wRZdwoHxYRHfErw5bpg5TA3huSPth233u1f4TDwC3z2AO9Zo3bbRVEsejAkzS1gXoLDDFKzYQn3wtfLLa2BAAcpKkeiedSOiWH4fXc2w2AmiVRwH3g/s400/IMG_1859.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Spray Paint - Bernie Hair and Glasses</b><br />
<br />
I'm a fan of <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0868/3032/products/midnightnavy_mens_bernie_1024x1024.jpg?v=1431801608" target="_blank">this shirt</a> design. It's just awesome. And if you look around there are several different variants of it, so I felt free to do my own. I eventually settled on <a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0283/2138/products/bernie-sanders-hair-blue-button_large.jpg?v=1438308384" target="_blank">this style</a> hair and glasses. I cropped the image, and then put it into this <a href="http://www181.lunapic.com/editor/" target="_blank">online editor</a>. I used the "negative" affect to get the white hair and glasses to turn black. This also turned the blue areas orange, and I used the bucket in the sidebar to color these areas white. Then I cleaned the rest up in MS Paint.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUakpVFhyphenhyphen-DSUUyPWjc6jzYF8tFyp5GSt-khhgaI_2yiBb1CsgwCK1V82cP7eZb_zhqjUro2scGr95_aib4hIS7eUEjVVf_SQ2Os3cJZ18MH18l8vT0r2RM8UitQDV5aAa9P_UU7WOZxQ/s1600/IMG_1848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUakpVFhyphenhyphen-DSUUyPWjc6jzYF8tFyp5GSt-khhgaI_2yiBb1CsgwCK1V82cP7eZb_zhqjUro2scGr95_aib4hIS7eUEjVVf_SQ2Os3cJZ18MH18l8vT0r2RM8UitQDV5aAa9P_UU7WOZxQ/s400/IMG_1848.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
I put extra freezer paper around the design for extra protection from the spay paint.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6iJE59ZikMf0iYsEArWW1GN9YZh3ip8aI9RXNN_InY5D1M6EHEOlkhJVI837DxaeNJHHsdkRJgUw2yV4vEmDsB-8pTJun3J25uyseZKMVU8xfStTwlvMgPdA98CS_1xBbsiii_tVA7I/s1600/IMG_1849.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR6iJE59ZikMf0iYsEArWW1GN9YZh3ip8aI9RXNN_InY5D1M6EHEOlkhJVI837DxaeNJHHsdkRJgUw2yV4vEmDsB-8pTJun3J25uyseZKMVU8xfStTwlvMgPdA98CS_1xBbsiii_tVA7I/s400/IMG_1849.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Find a well ventilated area (I went out to the garage and opened the door). Place extra paper to cover the shirt and protect from paint. I discovered while painting that it's easier if the shirt is vertical, rather than lying down. So what I should have done was propped it up against the wall and instead of newspaper, I should have used larger freezer paper sheets where I could just iron an inch or so onto the shirt and then left the rest hanging over to make a barrier. Or I could have just taped the newspaper down with masking tape or something. With what I did here, paint got under the lose paper.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOw7bpklHtevOEOysVLiXufpaBYvyRNuyFrXScfHz0lzrO9J3kX2pVksIlSPJk8-yVxORxIuxLFwg6E2ma9eAUelwJl2kac3QcJI89h9PhAn-85cOwWi9BQ1hsBxw77sJ93jk79PotA/s1600/IMG_1851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOw7bpklHtevOEOysVLiXufpaBYvyRNuyFrXScfHz0lzrO9J3kX2pVksIlSPJk8-yVxORxIuxLFwg6E2ma9eAUelwJl2kac3QcJI89h9PhAn-85cOwWi9BQ1hsBxw77sJ93jk79PotA/s400/IMG_1851.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
This was a little discouraging to see. I have paint splatter all around where I didn't have the freezer paper ironed. And my design got way over saturated, which was completely my fault. But I had never painted fabric with spray paint before. When I sprayed the paint, the shirt still looked green. So I ended up spraying several coats of paint when I really only needed somewhere between two or three. Once the shirt dried, I decided to forgo the spray paint and use acrylic to paint the back.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfhdjXXiTMNe4wT4PHZ8Bhx4n269imqms8u5qysySvD-17B2cKdtraS1DfkiSv8gyoItxBybn1Lwdw_kwUPStm_7dDVoWUGfwjtNtVIiMioJq-_TcPVs6wjPDe1-evd0_ZNYBf-MX1A/s1600/IMG_1858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfhdjXXiTMNe4wT4PHZ8Bhx4n269imqms8u5qysySvD-17B2cKdtraS1DfkiSv8gyoItxBybn1Lwdw_kwUPStm_7dDVoWUGfwjtNtVIiMioJq-_TcPVs6wjPDe1-evd0_ZNYBf-MX1A/s400/IMG_1858.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b>Acrylic Paint - Feel the Bern</b><br />
<b><br /></b>I did some research, and there's mixed feelings over weather or not acrylic paint is okay to use on fabric. (Even more confusing is my bottle of acrylic paint says it "sticks permanently" to surfaces like fabric and wood but that it also "washes out with hot water and soap." Huh?) Acrylic paint isn't much different from fabric paint in terms of composition, but it's thicker than fabric paint. This means it tends to sit on top of the fabric rather than soaking into the fibers, resulting in a stiff design that can crack.<br />
<br />
There are different texture mediums that can be used to convert acrylic paint to fabric paint (the most recommended one I found was <a href="http://www.michaels.com/golden-artist-colors-gac-900/10121245.html" target="_blank">Golden GAC 900</a>) but that stuff is expensive. I also found <a href="https://blog.udemy.com/acrylic-paint-on-fabric/" target="_blank">a post</a> suggesting the use of glycerol or <a href="https://www.google.com/shopping/product/15078025738498096823?q=liquitex+acrylic+mediums&client=safari&rls=en&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.66917471,d.cGU,pv.xjs.s.en_US.iZDr9Av0tZE.O&biw=1075&bih=802&tch=1&ech=1&psi=SUF6U4GAFMrJoASg0oH4AQ.1400521034208.3&ei=X0F6U7r-MtjYoASO44G4Cg&ved=0CHUQpiswAQ" target="_blank">Liquitex Acrylic Medium</a> as a cheaper alternative.<br />
<br />
Honestly, I found all these different mediums confusing. And I found someone online who suggested just adding water to acrylic paint (no more than 10%) to thin it out. So that's what I did. I squirted some paint onto a paper plate and added a few drops of water to it till was thin (no specific measuring) and painted it on.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gvPvC9AMI8JHksNKU-TIPwk27QxXXWy_Oe7sjijTSi2PmaFBBNtLIm-1EOD_xCdyr87OZCASWUGa-RrCdO9QOMgsBcWvwL9HSYVR1s2HKyA_xW7s0EXn51Y-R6Zb4pyyCfJgsm1dMg/s1600/IMG_1852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9gvPvC9AMI8JHksNKU-TIPwk27QxXXWy_Oe7sjijTSi2PmaFBBNtLIm-1EOD_xCdyr87OZCASWUGa-RrCdO9QOMgsBcWvwL9HSYVR1s2HKyA_xW7s0EXn51Y-R6Zb4pyyCfJgsm1dMg/s320/IMG_1852.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OzNkudQ-Lhzm5Dj1bhVcxnAZLpFE_tG3t5g7EFsU5sAw40X04RMqVsBOcvTm6FjZHKUsZmiglOrWruqoPoNBk_RHNPZEOl0Geavd_63lpAuD3fKSgOEWRUJAcc_2-wEW5jMIyEVIKg/s1600/IMG_1855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4OzNkudQ-Lhzm5Dj1bhVcxnAZLpFE_tG3t5g7EFsU5sAw40X04RMqVsBOcvTm6FjZHKUsZmiglOrWruqoPoNBk_RHNPZEOl0Geavd_63lpAuD3fKSgOEWRUJAcc_2-wEW5jMIyEVIKg/s320/IMG_1855.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Step 7: Heat Set & Wash</b></span><br />
<br />
You should heat set your designs after they have dried and before washing them (with the exception of bleached). This will help the design hold to the shirt and make it less likely to wash out. To heat set, lay a cloth over your design (I just used a piece of paper) and iron it for 3 to 5 mins. Then you are all set. Always wash in cold water.<br />
<br />
<b>Bleach</b><br />
<br />
No heat setting required! Once the bleach has dried or it's set in to where you want it, rinse the shirt in cold water, then let it air dry. After that you can wash it normally. When I rinsed out the front of my shirt and let it dry for the first time, it felt stiff. I was worried that this may be an effect of the bleach somehow, so I washed it by itself, then hung it again to dry in the air. It felt normal again.<br />
<br />
<b>Sharpie</b><br />
<br />
This design gets a little smelly when you heat set it. And I ended up with brown around the edges of the letters (I suppose from the Sharpie bleeding a bit), but one round through the wash and the brown came out.<br />
<br />
<b>Spray Paint</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Since I ended up with so much paint on this shirt, I washed it once by itself with some stain release without heat setting. A lot of the stiffness came out of the shirt along with most of pain splatter. Yay! This design was particularly horrible to heat set. So smelly! I had to open all the windows in the room.<br />
<br />
<b>Acrylic Paint</b><br />
<br />
I had no issues with heat setting this, smell or otherwise. Like with the spray paint, a lot of the stiffness came out of the shirt after washing.<br />
<br />
<b>Washing</b><br />
<br />
Once I was done heat setting all of the shirts, I washed them together because I wanted to make sure nothing would bleed onto other clothing. I turned the spray and acrylic paint designs inside out for extra security. Always wash painted shirts in cold water.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Final Verdict</span></b><br />
<br />
I got to do some fun crafting in an area I had never tried before, and I got some cool shirts out of it.<br />
<br />
<b>Bleach & Sharpie</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhembQ_yaW9uvl_NC088JTJ4I516uMhxeOAHGJrf9R8U0BokyhUSS5AJJNvzbvlvbkKhqnpI0qPh9WadlJUXk_tScJ11VVO0NEIbLcSVrCPDZTUQ0ziBEcclMbHvH3O9gS1DO8dp4NXQw/s1600/IMG_1869.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhembQ_yaW9uvl_NC088JTJ4I516uMhxeOAHGJrf9R8U0BokyhUSS5AJJNvzbvlvbkKhqnpI0qPh9WadlJUXk_tScJ11VVO0NEIbLcSVrCPDZTUQ0ziBEcclMbHvH3O9gS1DO8dp4NXQw/s320/IMG_1869.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
I just love this shirt. I think it came out fantastic. The smushed letters from the bleach may have been a happy accident. I love the way this shirt looks, and it doesn't have any of the stiffness of the other two shirts from the paint. I would definitely do this again.<br />
<br />
<b>Spray Paint</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmUAmHJL9IK5R8NX7QyAHpRwUzUAHjDH6nst99lPMsyu2jFSxc_G7gzMNuGGfQyU6xECQdDcjfoKMqwjGA6Ro7uanSW5Ar1pdBf9uemODcJQ_CscsWA0vSWeWpGFBMn4c9_8WJJlDqQ/s1600/IMG_1868.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmUAmHJL9IK5R8NX7QyAHpRwUzUAHjDH6nst99lPMsyu2jFSxc_G7gzMNuGGfQyU6xECQdDcjfoKMqwjGA6Ro7uanSW5Ar1pdBf9uemODcJQ_CscsWA0vSWeWpGFBMn4c9_8WJJlDqQ/s320/IMG_1868.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
This shirt looks and feels better each time I wash it. With how disappointed I was with its initial turn out, I think this shirt ended up just fine. I'm liking it more and more. However, I don't think I'll ever attempt to spray paint a shirt again. If spray paint was all I had, sure. But why bother if I already have acrylic or fabric paint? I just think the second option is easier (it requires less set up, you can do it indoors, and it's a lot less smelly to heat set).<br />
<br />
<b>Acrylic Paint</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJQ98cpNE09d4cLVHKyUtjuL6wVpSi-WvMbQ7n3TL0S1zewKIXDD1dST3pdZ5g0i_itiER2T59xPpomZFFs_HL5mh6es0lPYJskl9dOEhay-sj_cn0isntH75fg1TgWJt3xMkmcV_Ow/s1600/IMG_1863.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTJQ98cpNE09d4cLVHKyUtjuL6wVpSi-WvMbQ7n3TL0S1zewKIXDD1dST3pdZ5g0i_itiER2T59xPpomZFFs_HL5mh6es0lPYJskl9dOEhay-sj_cn0isntH75fg1TgWJt3xMkmcV_Ow/s320/IMG_1863.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
When conceptualizing, I thought this was going to be my least favorite shirt - something that just came out okay. But I really like it. It looks great, it was fun and easy to paint, and I didn't have any hassles with it like the other two shirts.<br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">Resources</span></b><br />
<br />
If you are interested in the designs I used, you can find them <a href="https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B2S02Zbm_sQAfnJJNi1ZNG5uczZ3RGw4bVowT1hOVkgwVFo2NWFzNlNYSXM4M0tNN1B1dE0" target="_blank">here</a> (files named after shirt color) in PDF (for exact size) and Word Doc (if you want to change the sizing and font). You can also find some Bernie stencils <a href="http://subbass49.wix.com/stencils-for-bernie" target="_blank">here</a> and the mega graphics Bernie thread <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SandersForPresident/comments/34qpvz/official_graphic_design_megathread/" target="_blank">here</a>. Or Google "Bernie Sanders T-shirt" and see what <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=bernie+sanders+stencil&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CCQQsARqFQoTCILc5_DsgccCFcuqHgodbGYFxw&biw=1093&bih=514#tbm=isch&q=bernie+sanders+t-shirt" target="_blank">designs</a> catch your attention.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com34tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-21872139558378031902015-08-10T08:00:00.001-04:002015-08-12T16:30:38.020-04:00The Crazy Theories of Bernie's Black Lives Matter ProtestsThere's been a lot of questions surrounding the Black Lives Matter protests of Bernie. And with the questions have come a lot of theories. Crazy or plausible, who can say?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6BnbwUT7lBg/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/6BnbwUT7lBg/maxresdefault.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Questions:</span></b><br />
<b><br /></b><b>Why Bernie?</b> As has been discussed among Bernie supporters many times, he has an extensive <a href="http://berniementum.blogspot.com/2015/07/bernie-sanders-on-civil-human-rights.html" target="_blank">civil rights record</a>. He would seem like the candidate to go after the least, yet he's been targeted the most.<br />
<br />
<b>Why not other candidates?</b> Bernie has been targeted twice now with no protests at the events of other candidates. You'd think there'd be at least <i>some </i>action at a few GOP events. O'Malley was at Netroots during that protest, but Black Lives Matter hasn't protested one of his events since. Was it Bernie they were after all along?<br />
<br />
<b>Why do the venues seem to cater to the the protesters?</b> No efforts were made to remove the protesters at Netroots or Seattle. And in Seattle, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BnbwUT7lBg" target="_blank">music was played</a> as the protesters took the stage. Did they somehow get control of the sound system?<br />
<br />
<b>If they wanted a response from Bernie, why don't they just ask?</b> With Bernie's civil rights record and the numerous responses (<a href="http://bernieforthewin.tumblr.com/post/126290414903/black-lives-matter-protesters-interrupt-bernie" target="_blank">tumblr</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/People4Bernie/status/630565765238763520/photo/1" target="_blank">twitter</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDI-qzGPR_w" target="_blank">youtube</a>, <a href="https://berniesanders.com/issues/racial-justice/" target="_blank">website</a>) he's given on the issue, you'd think he'd be open to the idea of having a conversation with BLM. So <a href="http://berniementum.blogspot.com/2015/08/has-anyone-from-black-lives-matter.html" target="_blank">why don't they initiate</a> one? Surely, that would be ideal. Since when is screaming at someone and forcing them off the stage effective in getting your questions addressed?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://static.seattletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/e0fc6412-3e27-11e5-a580-5d86ec2e3b6f-780x465.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://static.seattletimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/e0fc6412-3e27-11e5-a580-5d86ec2e3b6f-780x465.jpg" height="237" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Theories</b></span><br />
<br />
<b>They aren't actually protesting Bernie. </b>Netroots stated it's policy for them not to quiet the voices of women or minorities as reasoning for why they didn't shut down the protest. And if someone actually did give the protesters access to the sound system in Seattle, then it seems like these two events were ones the protesters knew they could get into. So, one running theory is these protests don't have anything to do with Bernie at all. His events are just less "secure" than an event by someone like Hillary Clinton. And the protesters are simply using the events they know they can use to draw attention and broadcast their message. Nothing more.<br />
<br />
<b>They're being paid to do this. </b>Why aren't they protesting other candidates with far worse track records? And why Bernie even though he has an extensive record? Because someone wants to run a smear campaign on Bernie Sanders and get his name pushed negatively in the media.<br />
<br />
<b>They're actually pushing Bernie. </b>These "protesters" actually see Bernie as the ideal presidential candidate. They keep appearing at his events because they want to push him on the issues so he continues to respond. By continuing to show up at his events and giving voice to their issues, they're more likely to get the policies they want implemented because they know Bernie's track record and they know he'll respond.<br />
<br />
<b>These are extremists from the BLM movement. </b>Black Lives Matter doesn't actually hate Bernie. The protesters who have shown up are just using the connections they have to voice their personal frustrations and should largely be ignored.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.thestranger.com/binary/2fb5/1439083013-11871799_10103807944600530_800042657_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.thestranger.com/binary/2fb5/1439083013-11871799_10103807944600530_800042657_o.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: large;">The Alternative</span></b><br />
<br />
I'm not sure I believe any of these theories. But they certainly make it confusing when trying to talk to people about the issue. Of course, the alternative to all those theories is that Black Lives Matter really <i>is</i> protesting Bernie.<br />
<i><br /></i>I've <a href="http://berniementum.blogspot.com/2015/08/has-anyone-from-black-lives-matter.html" target="_blank">said it before</a>, and I'll say it again, Bernie and representatives of BLM <i>really</i> need to schedule a publicized meeting with each other and just get this all out in the open. It would answer a lot of questions, put these theories to bed, and I think make a whole bunch of people breathe a lot easier. That, I feel certain about.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-24878489486743444242015-08-08T08:00:00.000-04:002015-08-12T16:29:11.112-04:00Has Anyone from Black Lives Matter Actually Tried Contacting Bernie Sanders?Yesterday, there was a second disruption of one of Bernie Sanders' events by the Black Lives Matter Movement. You might remember that there was a previous disruption at Netroots Nation where Sanders and Martin O'Malley spoke. (I've heard rumors that in both cases these may have been extremists from the movement and the protests weren't officially sanctioned, but I have no idea how much truth there is in that).<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://imgick.oregonlive.com/home/olive-media/width960/img/oregonian/photo/2015/08/08/-812b18f53f79cdba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://imgick.oregonlive.com/home/olive-media/width960/img/oregonian/photo/2015/08/08/-812b18f53f79cdba.jpg" height="211" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The first time this happened, <a href="http://berniementum.blogspot.com/2015/07/bernie-sanders-at-netroots-nation-black.html" target="_blank">I was sympathetic</a>. The issue of police brutality in this country and the alarming number of African American lives that have been taken as a result is a serious one. And despite Bernie's long history of upholding <a href="http://berniementum.blogspot.com/2015/07/bernie-sanders-on-civil-human-rights.html" target="_blank">human and civil rights</a>, the protesters at Netroots specifically wanted to know "not what you have done, but what you will do." That, to me, seemed a perfectly valid distinction. And I think both O'Malley and Sanders were caught off guard and weren't confident in how to address it (though, I agree with the sentiment that's hard to respond properly to people screaming at you).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Even so, the issues of racism and police brutality were issues that Bernie hadn't discussed much, and I felt his reply at Netroots fell a little flat. But since the event, Bernie <i>has</i> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDI-qzGPR_w" target="_blank">spoken to it</a>, both in interviews and on <a href="http://mic.com/articles/122768/in-one-tweet-bernie-sanders-says-what-we-re-all-thinking-about-sandra-bland-s-death" target="_blank">social media</a> (and in more places and ways than I can possibly link to). And then he's protested again.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I haven't been able to find complete footage of the event, but <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BnbwUT7lBg" target="_blank">this video</a> shows the protester's takeover and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWOuCfdJYMM" target="_blank">this one</a> shows what happens when they are handed the mic. I don't know at what point Sander's rally was shut down and he decided not to speak anymore (at least, I assume that's what's implied by "shut down").</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As I've said, I was sympathetic with the first event. But this one just rubbed me the wrong way. For one thing, I cannot get passed the attitudes of the protesters. The guy who takes the podium after Bernie steps back tells the protesters that he will give them the mic after Bernie has had the chance to speak. And the girls just keep screaming over him.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
True, the same happened at Netroots. But I was more understanding at that point of the feeling that you have no choice but to force your way through to have your voice heard. As I said then, that's what Bernie's campaign is all about - stepping up and making yourself heard when big money won't listen. So it made sense to me that the protesters felt the need to do the same. Especially since, Bernie hadn't talked about the issue much before.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But Bernie <i>has</i> responded to the protest at Netroots, more so than other presidential candidate. I have no doubt that he hasn't spoken to everything the BLM movement would want him too, but he's at least shown that he's willing to respond. Why, after getting such a response from him, would they feel the need to protest <i>again</i>? They keep shouting over and over about not wanting to be silenced, but Bernie has already shown that he <i>agrees</i> with their movement and is willing to speak to the issues! Why do another protest? It just boggles my mind why some progress isn't being made here!</div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9MWyawADbjg94m2pkldF4CyTXCNGaXqxm1qVNbYEMcDZECdaTvEMOwB-0gJjmUvTyzJRlRRxUXvpi6J2WoTR9l2QibUeRXLMgfoYVJ2NDWT4vW2tu8yOnuEVHSYqU72dQyNh6mUaOWs/s1600/pauzb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI9MWyawADbjg94m2pkldF4CyTXCNGaXqxm1qVNbYEMcDZECdaTvEMOwB-0gJjmUvTyzJRlRRxUXvpi6J2WoTR9l2QibUeRXLMgfoYVJ2NDWT4vW2tu8yOnuEVHSYqU72dQyNh6mUaOWs/s400/pauzb.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The question that I keep coming back to over and over again is <i>has anyone from the Black Lives Matter movement actually tried contacting Bernie Sanders and asking for an interview or a filmed Q&A or to speak at a rally with him?</i> Seriously, I want an answer to this because I can think of no reason for Bernie to turn such a request away. I'm certain that if contact was made, Bernie would be more than happy to have a two-way conversation where people don't have to scream over each other.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And let's say for a moment that these protesters were in fact extremists from the movement and they just organized all of this on their own. It <i>still</i> looks bad on the official movement. Since the Seattle protest, I have heard from a number of people who previously supported BLM and are now withdrawing that support. Like me, they can't justify this second protest that seems a blatant disregard for the fact that Bernie <i>is</i> willing to listen and speak to the issues. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm sure there are heated emotions on both sides, from Bernie Sanders supporters and supporters of BLM. Assuming contact has not been made previously with Bernie's campaign, I hope and in fact urge that both Bernie and BLM reach out to each other to make such contact and mutually agreed meeting and talk happen. Both sides could benefit from settling the dust and opening discussion.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Black lives matter. So, let's <i>talk</i> about it. No one wants to see another Seattle protest.<br />
<br />
I have written to both Bernie's campaign and the Black Lives Matter movement requesting they work toward a filmed meeting. If you'd also like to politely make such a request to mend relations, you can email Bernie's campaign at info@berniesanders.com and BLM through <a href="http://blacklivesmatter.com/contact/" target="_blank">this form</a>.<br />
<br />
UPDATE 8/11/15: fixed incorrect video link.<br />
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27018852898072342.post-77536606821256958702015-08-07T10:37:00.001-04:002015-08-12T16:27:35.974-04:0010 Reasons the DNC Debate Schedule is Damaging for Every Candidate (Including Hillary) and What You Can do About it<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
The DNC has scheduled 6 debates for the 2016 presidential run, 77% less than the 26 debates we had for 2008. Not only that, but the number of DNC debates is only half of the 12 debates scheduled by the RNC. And while the RNC debates started this month, the DNC debates won't begin until October. This is a problem, not just for the democratic candidates (including Hillary Clinton), but for all democratic across the nation, voters and representatives alike. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.poynter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/debatepreps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.poynter.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/debatepreps.jpg" height="275" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
(1) More debates contributed to much higher voter turnout among young people during the 2008 presidential run. Having fewer debates risks a close-vote election, where it may be a struggle not only in electing a Democrat for president but also the election of Democrats in Congressional and state elections — where Republicans have gained considerable ground.<br />
<br />
(2) Early and frequent primary debates bring people’s attention to the fact that there is going to be a primary election in the first place, and so they are more likely to register to vote in time for both the primary and the general election. Having so few debates and having them start so late risks the chance that less people may turn out to vote Democrat.<br />
<br />
(3) Inter-party debates, and more debates in general, give voters the opportunity to see where all the Democratic candidates stand on different issues, and how their positions contrast with those of the Republicans. This helps undecided voters determine what they care about and who they might prefer to support in the general election. But now, we have two months and twice as many debates where the American people are hearing Republican voices. If that's what they're hearing most often, who do you think they are more likely to vote for?<br />
<br />
(4) Inter-party debates also provide the opportunity for conservative Democrats to distinguish their brand with that of the Republican field. Republicans and independents who lean conservative might be receptive to what Democrats like Chafee and Webb (who both defected from the Republican Party) have to say. Providing more debates increases the changes for some Republicans to vote Democrat in the election.<br />
<br />
(5) More debates means more of a chance for debates to take place in neglected, more conservative-leaning states, like Texas, Mississippi, Utah, Wyoming, West Virginia, and Kentucky. Bernie Sanders has had a lot of success campaigning in deep red states that have historically been ignored by Democrats. There's opportunity to capture voters there that the DNC is neglecting with their current debate struggle.<br />
<br />
(6) More debates increase the chance of having single-issue debates, which gives candidates the chance to present innovative ideas that policy makers and the future presidential candidate might be able to learn from. For example, the debate over healthcare in the Democratic primary was definitely a huge reason that Obama decided to prioritize Health Care reform at all. If we want to elect a president who works for the people, we need more debates so important issues held by the American people are heard.<br />
<br />
(7) More debates help the Democratic candidate become comfortable and practiced enough with debating to be able to hold their own against the Republican challenger in the general election.<br />
<br />
(8) There is widespread Democratic party support for a competitive primary. This <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/articles/2015-04-10/bloomberg-politics-poll-democrats-and-independents-don-t-want-a-hillary-coronation" target="_blank">Bloomberg Poll</a> says that 72 percent of independents and Democrats think a robust primary would benefit the Democratic Party.<br />
<br />
(9) Failing to have as many debates as the RNC is going to concede a lot of press coverage to the Republicans. This elevates the policy suggestions and all around press coverage of the Republican candidates at the expense of Democrats. With fewer debates, the Democratic party isn't going to have as loud a voice as the Republican party this primary season.<br />
<br />
(10) Debates give control over the dialogue to the candidates. With fewer debates, the media will instead opt to report on gaffes and small controversies. They've had some success assassinating Clinton's character and misleading the public about Sanders' ideology, and that will only become more and more exaggerated unless the DNC gives people like Clinton and Sanders the opportunity to wrest control of that perception away from those biased sources.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">*This list was edited from the <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SandersForPresident/comments/3fvqtd/wewantdebate_push_todays_the_day/" target="_blank">#WeWantDebate Push</a> post on Reddit.</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site200/2012/1002/20121002_090519_Presidential%20Debate_Berr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/media/site200/2012/1002/20121002_090519_Presidential%20Debate_Berr.jpg" height="278" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
It's apparent that the DNC's decision to have fewer and later debates this presidential election is grievous mistake. If want the Democrats to win not only the presidential election (regardless of which candidate you support), but also Congressional and state elections, we NEED more debate.<br />
<br />
<b>What can I do?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>Call the DNC at 202-863-800 and tell them you want more debate. You can also email them through <a href="http://my.democrats.org/page/s/contact-the-democrats" target="_blank">this form</a>. Find the DNC on <a href="https://twitter.com/TheDemocrats" target="_blank">Twitter</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/democrats?fref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and use the hashtag #WeWantDebate. Sign the <a href="http://act.credoaction.com/sign/dem_debates" target="_blank">petition</a> for more debate.<br />
<br />
More Twitter handles to contact:<br />
@TheDemocrats (DNC)<br />
@DWStweets (DNC Chair, D Wasserman Schultz)<br />
@TulsiGabbard (DNC Vice Chair, Tulsi Gabbard)<br />
@HollyShulman (DNC spokesperson)<br />
<br />
<a href="https://go.berniesanders.com/page/s/debates?source=em150603su-e" target="_blank">Bernie Sanders</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/MartinOMalley/status/629027680919293953" target="_blank">Martin O'Malley</a> have both called on the DNC to increase the number of debates. Ask <a href="https://twitter.com/LincolnChafee" target="_blank">Lincoln Chafee</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/JimWebbUSA" target="_blank">Jim Webb</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton" target="_blank">Hillary Clinton</a> to do the same.<br />
<b><br /></b>When using social media, use hashtags for all the candidates to draw attention to the issue:<br />
#Bernie2016<br />
#Hillary2016<br />
#Chafee2016<br />
#OMalley2016<br />
#Webbnation<br />
<br />
Other hashtags to consider:<br />
#DemDebate<br />
#DemocracyRising<br />
<br />
Spread the word about why #WeWantDebate and how to join as far as you can!<br />
+ Comment on FB groups and pages supporting any candidate.<br />
+ Follow the previously listed hashtags on twitter and reply to supporters.<br />
+ Comment on online articles talking about the DNC and GOP debates,<br />
+ Find and contact your state and local democrat groups (FB, Twitter, and online).<br />
+ Comment on youtube videos<br />
<br />
Join and share the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1479891245656430/" target="_blank">FB event</a> and/or upvote and follow the <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/SandersForPresident/comments/3g1bpx/lets_make_august_the_month_to_tell_the_dnc/" target="_blank">subreddit</a> (where you can also find suggestions on what to tweet). Share this blog post wherever you can.<br />
<br />
<b>What if I don't have a Twitter Account?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>You can make one. Or, if you'd rather not, you can still help spread the word. Do all the steps you can given above!<br />
<br />
UPDATE 8/9/15: Added petition linkUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0