Bernie Sanders Can Win The Nomination Despite So Many Of The Superdelegates Pledging Their Vote To Hillary Clinton

The establishment insiders want you to think that Bernie Sanders can't win the nomination because Hillary Clinton has so many of the Superdelegates "locked up". But this is not exactly true.

Superdelegates have never decided a Democratic nomination. ... When you look at the astounding numbers from IA & NH, where more than 80% of young voters have chosen Sanders over Clinton... it's clear that Clinton already finds herself in a very tenuous position for the general election. ...any hint that Bernie was screwed by the establishment will result in total abandonment. Democrats win when turnout is high, and if the DNC decides to go against the will of the people and force Clinton down the electorate's throat, they'd be committing political suicide. The important thing to know here is that Superdelegates are merely pledged to a candidate. We know who they support because they've stated it publicly... They are not committed, and can change at any time. If Bernie Sanders wins the popular vote, he will be the nominee. End of story. (After Sanders' Big Win in New Hampshire, Establishment Figures Want to Scare You with Superdelegates. Here's Why It's Bullshit. by Shane Ryan. Paste Magazine 2/10/2016).

The superdelegates aren't locked up. They are "pledged", but they can change their votes, and WILL if Bernie Sanders gets more "regular" delegates than Hillary Clinton (wins the popular vote). Which means that if you're for Bernie... you should absolutely NOT think your vote in the primary is pointless because Hillary is inevitable and you need to GET OUT AND VOTE!

Be you a registered Democrat or a unaffiliated. Just be aware that to vote for Bernie in the primary you need to be registered as a Democrat (and each state has it's own cutoff deadline for doing this. See voteforbernie.org for info re your state).

SWTD Tags: 2016 Election, Bernie Sanders, Hillary Clinton.

PE Comment: Re Superdelegates.

DSB #35

Immediately Following Death Of Antonin Scalia, Repubs Promise To Obstruct Obama In Appointing Replacement

Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia has passed away at the age of 79. WND says "the horrid reaction and comments about his death expressed by many liberals online illustrate that Scalia was hated by many people". While I don't know about that (haven't seen any "horrid comments", I will acknowledge I did not like Scalia (viewed him as a racist and toady for the plutocrats). But I never once wished he would die.

There are several SCOTUS members who are getting up there in age and both sides are aware that the next president will likely get to appoint a few new justices, which will sway the political leanings of the court. This makes the next presidential election potentially quite uconsequential. I never imagined that a justice would die this close to the end of Obama's term, however. But now that it has happened, it is Obama who gets to nominate the justice of his choice (as per the Constitution).

In fact the selection of a new justice was the subject of an email I received from WND this morning (I'm on the WND email list). WHY would they be speaking of nominating a SCOTS judge, I thought. Had one of them died? Yep. The awfulest one. Hurray!... is NOT what I thought. What I immediately thought was that the Repubs were going to do EVERYTHING to delay his replacement. Put it off to after the upcoming election so that President Trump can do the selecting. Or President Cruz (even though he might not be Constitutionally eligible to be president. But he isn't a Democrat so his being born in Canada probably won't be as big an issue as Obama NOT being born in Kenya was).

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the Senate should not confirm a replacement for Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia until after the 2016 election — an historic rebuke of President Obama's authority and an extraordinary challenge to the practice of considering each nominee on his or her individual merits. The swiftness of McConnell's statement — coming about an hour after Scalia’s death in Texas had been confirmed — stunned White House officials who had expected the Kentucky Republican to block their nominee with every tool at his disposal, but didn't imagine the combative GOP leader would issue an instant, categorical rejection of anyone Obama chose to nominate. (McConnell throws down the gauntlet: No Scalia replacement under Obama by Burgess Everett and Glenn Thrush. Politico 2/13/16).

All I can say is that this is bullplop and I pray that McConnell and his fellow obstructors don't get away with it. But I am sure they're going to try like hell to deny Obama what the Constitution grants him. But if they do manage to get away with it, then it'll be president Hillary Clinton or president Bernie Sanders who does the appointing. Which would be even better (if it's president Bernie Sanders).

Still, it is Obama who (under the Constitution) who should be doing the appointing, so that better be what happens. I mean, I very, very, very, much doubt that if the president were a Republican and Congress were controlled by the Democrats that the Democratic majority leader would be suggesting such a thing.

Video: Bernie Sanders says "I Don't Think Mitch McConnell Has it Right... The Constitution Is Clear".

SWTD Tags: Barack Obama, Bernie Sanders, SCOTUS.

Swash Zone: Ding Dong the Witch is Dead! by Flying Junior (2/13/2016) and Obama, Texas Strangler by Capt. Fogg (2/15/2016).

PE: Antonin Scalia and the Phony GOP Devotion to the U.S. Constitution (2/16/2016).

DSB #34

Right-winging Bitter Clinging Proud Clingers

Half wit, half term ex-Alaska governor Sarah Palin, wordsmither of "refudiate", Shakespeared another neologism during her 1/19/2016 Trump endorsment.

[Sarah Palin] And you quit footing the bill for these nations who are oil-rich, we're paying for some of their squirmishes that have been going on for centuries. Where they're fighting each other and yelling "Allahu akbar", calling jihad on each other's heads forever and ever. Like I've said before, let them duke it out and let Allah sort it out". [NYT Commentary] Here, Mrs. Palin accomplishes many things unusual for a political speaker: She recites the Arabic phrase for "God is great", and, more notably, coins a new word, squirmishes, a cross between squirm (which means to wriggle the body from side to side) and skirmish (which means a brief fight or encounter between small groups). Twitter embraced the new term instantly. (The Most Mystifying Lines of Sarah Palin's Endorsement Speech by Michael Barbarojan. NYT 1/20/2016).

Frightening that she could have actually been elected VP. Although this time around the GOP electorate might go for the Canadian-born, Green Eggs and Ham reading Ted Cruz. Not that there are any good Repub choices... but is this guy even eligible?

In any case, please find below some humorous takes on the Palin endorsement (via YouTube)...

Video1: Yosemite Sarah Palin (0:27).

Video2: SNL Palin Trump Endorsement Cold Open (5:09).

SWTD Tags: 2016 Election, Donald Trump, Sarah Palin.

DSB #33

Flint Water Crisis Proof Republicans Are Evil & Hate Poor People

OK, so the title of this post might be a little hyperbolic, but not by much. Perhaps I should revise my title to read "some Republicans are evil and hate poor people". Which is, incidently, quite Randian of them. Anyway, if you don't know what I'm talking about, what follows is a summary of the Flint water crisis.

[The] drinking water contamination crisis in Flint MI started in April 2014 after Flint changed its water source from treated Detroit Water and Sewerage Department water (which was sourced from Lake Huron as well as the Detroit River) to the Flint River. The corrosive Flint River water caused lead from aging pipes to leach into the water supply, causing extremely elevated levels of lead. (Wikipedia/Flint Water Crisis).

What we're looking at here, IMO, is negligent homicide at the direction of the MI governor, Rick Snyder. For which people should go to prison (people including the governor).

When Governor Snyder took office in 2011, one of the first things he did was to get a multi-billion dollar tax break passed by the Republican legislature for the wealthy and for corporations. But with less tax revenues, that meant he had to start cutting costs. So, many things - schools, pensions, welfare, safe drinking water - were slashed. Then he invoked an executive privilege to take over cities (all of them majority black) by firing the mayors and city councils whom the local people had elected, and installing his cronies to act as "dictators" over these cities. Their mission? Cut services to save money so he could give the rich even more breaks. That's where the idea of switching Flint to river water came from. To save $15 million! It was easy. Suspend democracy. Cut taxes for the rich. Make the poor drink toxic river water. (10 Things They Won't Tell You About the Flint Water Tragedy. But I Will by Michael Moore. HuffPo 2/01/2016.

BTW, they (Snyder and his administration) knew pretty early on that there was a serious problem, but they decided to keep it quiet, while switching some (big business interests like GM) back to the good Lake Huron water.

Can you believe the level of indifference/depravity this took? Yeah, that's why I'm with Michael Moore on this... he says Snyder should be arrested and prosecuted. Hell, if it were possible for Snyder to receive a fair trial I think he could be convicted of murder and receive the death penalty. Of course that ain't going to happen.

Apparently Cher tweeted about this and suggested that Synder be executed by firing squad (with the use of the hashtag #FIRINGSQUADWORKSFORME). OK, so 88% of criminologists do not believe the death penalty is an effective deterrent and (as a Progressive) I am opposed to the death penalty (for this reason, among others). But I'm going to go ahead a SAY that in Snyder's case I think we should make an exception. But only because it will outrage Republicans.

SWTD Tags: Michael Moore, Republican Racism.

DSB #32

Rep Alan Grayson On The Republican Charge That Hillary Clinton Did Something Illegal Or Dishonest Re Benghazi

The following is an excerpt from comments made by Rep. Alan Grayson on the Thom Hartmann Radio Program, 1/15/2016, in regards to the Republican's fake Benghazi investigation. (Note that I edited these comments for brevity and clarity).

Caller: I want to commend you on your Benghazi committee ethics complaint and I'd like to know what the status of it is.

Alan Grayson: It's under consideration. We will not hear back until they've reached a conclusion. For those who are not familiar with this - Kevin McCarthy, when he was planning on running for Speaker, admitted on national TV that the purpose of the Benghazi Committee was to make Hillary's numbers drop. That isn't an appropriate purpose for a taxpayer funded investigation - to hurt an opposing political candidate (SWTD #314).

Recognizing the ethical implications, I submitted a complaint against McCarthy and the head of the committee [Trey Gowdy] and the following day McCarthy dropped out of the Speaker's race. He clearly recognized that this was a problem. When he dropped out and held a news conference to explain his decision a reporter asked him whether the Benghazi Committee controversy had been the basis for his decision, and his surprisingly honest answer was that "it sure didn't help".

But the fact is that the problem is still there because the committee is still there. It's gone on longer on the 9/11 Commission and there is still the possibility that it will be used to try and alter the outcome of the the 2016 presidental election in an unfair way - using taxpayer dollars to tip the scales against the Democratic candidate [should that candidate be Hillary Clinton].

I have read every single classified document regarding Benghazi. I'm on the Foreign Affairs Committee. I have free access to that information. It took me a long time, but I went into the bowels of the Capital where we keep the secure information, and I read every single cable and email and so on. It's pretty clear to me that Hillary did nothing wrong.

Wherever you stand regarding the presidential nomination, it's improper for the Republicans to use their control of the House of Representatives - which they obtained through gerrymandering and dirty money - to attempt to harm the potential Democratic presidential nominee.

[End Alan Grayson Comments]

Alan Grayson also mentioned the fact that he is the only member of the House of Representatives who raised most of his campaign funds in 2014 from small contributors and that he hopes to do the same this year in his Senatorial bid (for Marco Rubio's seat). Grayson added that the only Senator who the same applies to is Bernie Sanders. (Politifact article: Alan Grayson says he is No. 1 in the House for small donations. Politifact says: TRUE).

SWTD Tags: 2016 Election, Bernie Sanders, MSNBC, Thom Hartmann.

OST #100: Concerning The Willis Hart Obsession With Rightwing Spun Fiction Re Hillary Clinton "Lying To Benghazi Families" (1/28/2016).

DSB #31

Thoughts On A Bloomberg 2016 Presidential Campaign Via The Thom Hartmann Program: "It's A Joke" & "It's Just Ridiculous"

The following is an excerpt from comments made by the former Republican Representative from Ohio's 18th district Bob Ney (now with Talk Radio News) on the Thom Hartmann Radio Program, 1/26/2016.

Thom and Bob discuss the speculation that Michael Bloomberg may run for president as an Independent. (Note that I edited these comments for brevity and clarity).

Thom Hartmann: It seems to me like the Bloomberg speculation is just a vanity thing, trial balloon, slash joke.

Bob Ney: I really hope people from across the political spectrum pile on to put an end to him today. I really do. Because it's an ego thing. That's for sure. I think this is the most ridiculous thing. I don't think this is going to be viewed as legitimate.

[End 1/26/2016 THP Excerpt]

My thoughts on a possible Bloomberg potus run? It's one of the signs that the plutocrats have WAY too much money. That one of them is contemplating spending a Billion dollars to NOT be elected president!

Money that won't do much good, as most of it will go to mega multi-media corporations (for ads) and high paid Insider political consultants. I'm positive he could put this billion dollars to better use AND feed his ego at the same time. I mean, there are some people who bow down and worship the oligarchs who use their money to ensure their legacy (and, incidentally help some needy people in the process).

Seems to me that a joke bid for the presidency might be a good idea for a uber-wealthy person who wanted to do some damage to his legacy.

SWTD Tags: 2016 Election, Thom Hartmann.

DSB #30

Republican Congress To Pass Legislation Which Would Effectively Bail Out Volkswagen? (Proof The GOP Is In The Pocket Of Big Business/The Wealthy)

An excerpt from a 1/4/2016 Fiscal Times article titled A Bailout for Volkswagen? Congress Wants to Do Something Absolutely Crazy"...

When Volkswagen admitted to cheating on air pollution standards tests in September, it opened itself up not only to government punishment, but lawsuits from 500k US purchasers of its "clean" diesel vehicles. Volkswagen has yet to fix the vehicles to bring them into emissions compliance, and even if it does, that will likely create a lower-performance car than consumers paid for. ...a bill in Congress consisting of a little more than 100 words would not only prevent [Volkswagen clean diesel buyers] from seeking justice but also cripple virtually all class-action lawsuits against corporations. It's known as the Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act, but lawyers and advocates call it the "VW Bailout Bill". ... [According to one lawyer] "This [legislation would be] devastating because it sets up all class-actions to fail"... (Article by David Dayen).

The class actions are setup to fail because, instead of suffering similar injuries, all the participants in the class action must suffer the same injury under the proposed legislation.

[The legislation would require] that everyone in the suit have identical injuries or losses, such as experiencing a broken leg because of a car's faulty brakes. People with broken arms would have to file a separate lawsuit against the carmaker. (Orwellian-named Fairness in Class Action bill aims to restrict consumers' access to court. LA Times 6/30/2015).

Sounds to me like who this legislation is supposed to make the process more "fair", by rigging the system (more) in the favor of corporations. That the GOP Congress is proposing this to protect Volkswagen (or at least make any class action filed against it that much harder to push forward on) is an action I find particularly odious. Given the fact that Volkswagen did not make a mistake but perpetrated a deliberate deception.

Further proof that Republicans dance to the tune of Big Business (and, apparently this is something the Chamber of Commerce wants as well).

This legislation, put forward by House Republicans Bob Goodlatte of Virginia and Trent Franks of Arizona who say the bill is "a much-needed improvement to the US legal system".

"Much needed" by their corporate masters, I think.

SWTD Tags: Rigged.

DSB #29