Bernie, Please Consider Running Third Party Through Novemeber

Dear Bernie Sanders,

42% of Americans identify as Independent, and 65% of Americans would support a third party candidate. On the Republican end, 25% say they will consider a third party candidate if Trump wins the nomination. As I'm sure you've seen during your campaign, Americans are clamoring for another voice in the race.

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 there is a mathematical possibility 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.

You yourself have seen the polls that show Trump beating Hillary 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 continue to drop and that she's never been able to raise her poll numbers in any campaign she's run.

I still have hope that you can overtake 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 weak candidate who could so easily lose the general election. Your campaign has always had the momentum. I ask you to keep it going.

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 her campaign. 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.

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.

Bernie Sanders and Superdelegate Math

Bernie's plan to win Superdelegates comes in a total of 3 parts:

1. Convince undecided superdelegates to support Bernie
2. Convince Clinton-supporting superdelegates of states where Bernie won the majority to support Bernie
3. 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

Would any of this help? Could Bernie win the DNC convention? Let's look at the math.

Currently, AP 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 Wikipedia 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.

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.

Adding all of this up and subtracting pledged superdelegates from Clinton, would make the final superdelegate tally (Bernie +176+49+89, Clinton -49-89):

Clinton 360

Bernie 355

If we go with the AP report, the scores would be Hillary 382, Bernie 353

(or slightly lower for Bernie given 20 delegates unaccounted for in the AP numbers).

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.

Bernie has a higher favorable rating than Hillary, he polls better than her against the Republican candidates, and Bernie is bringing out the youth and independent vote - huge voter bases that can make a difference in the general election.

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.

What can I do?

Volunteer for Bernie.

Phone bank for Bernie.

Donate to Bernie.

Write your superdelegates! 

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 use this sample letter

The path to victory is narrow, but we can win if we're determined to fight.

Bernie Supporters, Now is Not Time to Jump Ship

Bernie'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.

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.

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 hours 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.

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.

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? Because the issues haven't changed, and if you ever really cared about them, Bernie is still the best choice for president. Do you not owe it to yourself and this country to continue fighting for Bernie?

Running scared to vote for the lesser evil is what establishment politics wants 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.

There is, even now a path to the white house. Bernie does extremely well with Independents and young people, two groups that have felt excluded by and haven't participated in our political process. Bernie is the only candidate with a net favorability rating among voters and polls better than Hillary against the Republican candidates. While Hillary gains support mostly among democrats, 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 her numbers have stayed around the same since the primary started. 

Bernie plans to fight all the way to the convention 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.

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.

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.

Our country cannot continue to survive like this, and Hillary is not going to fix it. 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. Hillary is just as likely to destroy the country as Trump, she'll just do it quietly and behind closed doors.

Hillary has to earn our vote and has already demonstrated how little she cares about it. So what do we do? We get back to what we've been doing. We phone bank, canvas, and volunteer our heart out. 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.

And what if Bernie doesn't get the Democratic nomination? Then we see if a third party candidacy 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 vote berniecrats into office one county, city, state at a time. We change Congress. 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!

Bernie has been fighting for us for over 40 years, even when no one was around 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 Bernie or Bust pledge to write in Bernie's name or vote Green in the general election. Tell the establish we're not playing their game anymore.

2016 Democratic Debate Party Food

The 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.

Lincoln Chafee

Lincoln Chafee hails from Rhode Island. Iconic Rhode Island drinks include the Rhode Island Red Cocktail, Coffee Milk, and Rhode Island Ice Tea.

In terms of food, here's a list of favorites. Clam cakes and pizza strips should go over well as party food. Or make some mini hotdogs or mini crescent dogs to dip in homemade New York System Wiener Sauce.

Hillary Clinton

Hillary Clinton was born in Chicago. Here's 20 Chicago drinks to choose from. Green River is the iconic soft drink from IL. If you can't get hold of it, you can make your own limeade.

Slate did a piece 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.


Martin O'Malley

Martin O'Malley is from Maryland. The signature cocktail of Maryland is the Black-Eyed Susan, and the signature soft drink is ginger ale.

Like Rhode Island, Maryland is also known for its crab cakes. Other foods include oysters, chicken with white cream sauce, and Smith Island Cake.


Bernie Sanders

I did a whole post on Bernie Sanders themed drinks, so you can take your pick, but my favorite was this homemade recipe for Vermont Switchel.

Maple is staple in Vermont. There's tons of recipes for maple bread. My personal favorite was this recipe topped with soft cheese. Finish with a toothpick.

Jim Webb

Jim Webb is from Missouri. The staple cocktail is the Missouri Mule, and the staple soda is IBC Root Beer.

Finding Missouri staple food was a little difficult, but here's a whole list of food from St. Louis. This includes toasted ravioli, gooey butter cake, and St. Louis style BBQ.

10 Reasons the DNC Debate Schedule is Damaging for Every Candidate (Including Hillary) and What You Can do About it

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. 

(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.

(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.

(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?

(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.

(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.

(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.

(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.

(8) There is widespread Democratic party support for a competitive primary. This Bloomberg Poll says that 72 percent of independents and Democrats think a robust primary would benefit the Democratic Party.

(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.

(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.

*This list was edited from the #WeWantDebate Push post on Reddit.

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.

What can I do?

Call the DNC at 202-863-800 and tell them you want more debate. You can also email them through this form. Find the DNC on Twitter and Facebook and use the hashtag #WeWantDebate. Sign the petition for more debate.

More Twitter handles to contact:
@TheDemocrats (DNC)
@DWStweets (DNC Chair, D Wasserman Schultz)
@TulsiGabbard (DNC Vice Chair, Tulsi Gabbard)
@HollyShulman (DNC spokesperson)

Bernie Sanders and Martin O'Malley have both called on the DNC to increase the number of debates. Ask Lincoln Chafee, Jim Webb, and Hillary Clinton to do the same.

When using social media, use hashtags for all the candidates to draw attention to the issue:
#Bernie2016
#Hillary2016
#Chafee2016
#OMalley2016
#Webbnation

Other hashtags to consider:
#DemDebate
#DemocracyRising

Spread the word about why #WeWantDebate and how to join as far as you can!
+ Comment on FB groups and pages supporting any candidate.
+ Follow the previously listed hashtags on twitter and reply to supporters.
+ Comment on online articles talking about the DNC and GOP debates,
+ Find and contact your state and local democrat groups (FB, Twitter, and online).
+ Comment on youtube videos

Join and share the FB event and/or upvote and follow the subreddit (where you can also find suggestions on what to tweet). Share this blog post wherever you can.

What if I don't have a Twitter Account?

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!

UPDATE 8/9/15: Added petition link