Feel the Bern

[Bob Gillanders]

This is the best political video I have heard in a long time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN0_YVkGFyo

[Bob Gillanders]

Re: Feel the Bern

Has anyone else seen The Big Short?
I saw it yesterday, not exactly what I expected, but glad I saw it.
Based on the book by Michael Lewis about the financial collapse of 2008.
It explains the corrupt financial system thru the eyes of a few eccentric characters who saw the collapse coming and bet against the housing market and became billionaires.

Yes, sorry, this is not chess related, so please forgive me.

The US government has done very little to punish those responsible or to regulate to prevent another collapse, the “too big to fail” banks are now even bigger than in 2008.

Only Bernie Sanders seems ready to take them on. I was happy to see a major endorsement from leading economists today.

https://berniesanders.com/wp-content...t-Letter-1.pdf

[Vlad Drkulec]

Re: Feel the Bern

The US government has done very little to punish those responsible or to regulate to prevent another collapse, the “too big to fail” banks are now even bigger than in 2008.

The people responsible were congress as shown in a brilliant Saturday night live skit a few years ago.

[Bob Gillanders]

Re: Feel the Bern

Bernie Sanders wins big in New Hampshire primary!
Hurrah. :)

[Bob Armstrong]

Re: Feel the Bern

Bernie Sanders wins big in New Hampshire primary!
Hurrah. :)

Kind of unbelievable from a 6 months ago perspective! I think he has a real shot at winning the nomination (which will drive the Democrats establishment nuts, because they see him as unelectable in a race with the GOP for President). The Establishment is certainly behind Hillary, and will be pulling out all the stops to shut the Bern down.

Does anyone else see Bernie winning the nomination?

Bob A

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: Feel the Bern

When it comes to putting their money down, bettors have different ideas than the voters.

http://www.oddschecker.com/politics/...crat-candidate
http://www.oddschecker.com/politics/...ican-candidate
http://www.oddschecker.com/politics/...on-2016/winner

[Bob Gillanders]

Re: Feel the Bern

Kind of unbelievable from a 6 months ago perspective!
Bob A

Bob, not at all, I saw it coming. Check your email. We had a short chat on politics and I sent you this email on June 7, 2015.

Bob A.,

We just might be in the early days of a generational shift to the political left in both Canada and USA.
Some 40 years ago, the sands began shifting right under Ronald Reagan. I recall as a young accounting student, and myself on the political right, buying into the unions are too strong, entrepreneurs are great, free trade hurrah, and cheering for Preston Manning. Seems crazy to me now, but to be fair to my younger self, it was a different world. A shift to the right, okay. But after 40 years, enough is enough.

I think the silent majority feel the same way. They just need a excuse to break ties with the old line parties. Look at recent Alberta election. Jim Prentice continued the arrogance of the Alberta conservatives, calling the election early to catch the opposition unready. Then his condescending comment to Rachel Notley about “math is difficult”. The voters had enough. Throw out the bums.

The Canadian Senate scandal. Great potential for a protest vote against the establishment. We’ll see.

In the USA, the Citizens United decision, the absurd list of lunatic Republican candidates, endless wars, the opposition to health care, and climate change deniers, it is only a matter of time until Americans say enough is enough.

Bob G.

[Nigel Hanrahan]

Bernie Sanders is the first Jew in US history to win a Presidential primary.

Bernie Sanders wins big in New Hampshire primary!
Hurrah. :)

Bernie Sanders is the first Jew in the history of the United States to win a Presidential Primary. Personally, I'd rather see him run as an independent, as suggested by Seattle City Councillor Kshama Sawant, but his accomplishment is remarkable.

It's also noteworthy that young people, who have supported Sanders in droves, have a higher opinion of socialism than capitalism. Sanders has been campaigning as a socialist [on domestic issues anyway] and getting oodles of support.

Choke on it, neo cons. lol.

[Bob Armstrong]

Re: Feel the Bern

Bob, not at all, I saw it coming. Check your email. We had a short chat on politics and I sent you this email on June 7, 2015.

Bob A.,

We just might be in the early days of a generational shift to the political left in both Canada and USA.
Some 40 years ago, the sands began shifting right under Ronald Reagan. I recall as a young accounting student, and myself on the political right, buying into the unions are too strong, entrepreneurs are great, free trade hurrah, and cheering for Preston Manning. Seems crazy to me now, but to be fair to my younger self, it was a different world. A shift to the right, okay. But after 40 years, enough is enough.

I think the silent majority feel the same way. They just need a excuse to break ties with the old line parties. Look at recent Alberta election. Jim Prentice continued the arrogance of the Alberta conservatives, calling the election early to catch the opposition unready. Then his condescending comment to Rachel Notley about “math is difficult”. The voters had enough. Throw out the bums.

The Canadian Senate scandal. Great potential for a protest vote against the establishment. We’ll see.

In the USA, the Citizens United decision, the absurd list of lunatic Republican candidates, endless wars, the opposition to health care, and climate change deniers, it is only a matter of time until Americans say enough is enough.

Bob G.

Hi Bob G:

As you know, my memory is pretty faulty....but you seemed right on.....it is a tidal wave building.

Bob A

[Tom O'Donnell]

Re: Bernie Sanders is the first Jew in US history to win a Presidential primary.

Of course young people feel that way. Most of them haven't earned much in their lives and have been given every material thing by their parents.

young people, who have supported Sanders in droves, have a higher opinion of socialism than capitalism.

[Frank Dixon]

Re: Bernie Sanders is the first Jew in US history to win a Presidential primary.

My own political position is similar to that of Bernie Sanders, having had my grandfather be among the founders of the Co-Operative Commonwealth Federation (fore-runner of today's NDP) in 1932, and three generations of my family since then staying involved with the CCF/NDP. Actually, the Canadian Chess Federation (CCF) had to change its name and acronym to the Chess Federation of Canada (CFC), to avoid confusion with the CCF, which became the NDP in 1961! :)

My preference would be for a Hilary Clinton -- Bernie Sanders Democratic Party ticket for President and Vice-President. I just don't think Sanders will have enough staying power in Southern states to take the presidential nomination. Hillary is going to win it. If she is smart, she will pick him as running mate.

I think that if Donald Trump were to win the presidency in 2016, we would see nuclear war in the Middle East. Jeb Bush recently questioned Trump's mental stability, with good reason.

[Nigel Hanrahan]

Meathead replies

Of course young people feel that way. Most of them haven't earned much in their lives and have been given every material thing by their parents.

My dad, and Archie Bunker, used to talk like that in the 1960's. You're giving away your age, Tom. Truth is, when idealistic young people rebel against their own society, then this is often the surest sign that that society is rotten to the core and overdue for change.

The 1% should be afraid.

[Nigel Hanrahan]

Re: Bernie Sanders is the first Jew in US history to win a Presidential primary.

I just don't think Sanders will have enough staying power in Southern states to take the presidential nomination. Hillary is going to win it. If she is smart, she will pick him as running mate.

Some commentators are actually saying that Clinton is finished. I don't know enough to comment on that.

In any case, remarks like Frank's above is partly why Kshama Sawant in Seattle suggests that Sanders would do more good by running as an independent. I haven't checked her website to see what she is saying now, but the basic idea is that the electoral system, dominated as it is by uncontrolled money (one analyst remarked that this election would cost 5 billion dollars by the end of it!), is fixed in advance, and it would be better to run a campaign that is not diluted and/or destroyed by the Clinton dynasty and establishment Democrats. I mean, just look at how little the current Dem President has accomplished.

Better, say some, for Sanders' Presidential campaign to be the start of a mass movement for change. In the end, it is not elections that will bring about the needed change in the US (or Canada). The Quebec students, for example, did not bring the hated Charest regime to an end by marking ballots.

[Bob Gillanders]

Re: Bernie Sanders is the first Jew in US history to win a Presidential primary.

but the basic idea is that the electoral system, dominated as it is by uncontrolled money (one analyst remarked that this election would cost 5 billion dollars by the end of it!), is fixed in advance, and it would be better to run a campaign that is not diluted and/or destroyed by the Clinton dynasty and establishment Democrats. I mean, just look at how little the current Dem President has accomplished.

Better, say some, for Sanders' Presidential campaign to be the start of a mass movement for change. In the end, it is not elections that will bring about the needed change in the US (or Canada).

Calm down there Nigel. For all the problems of the US electoral system, Bernie is showing us that maybe it is possible to fix it through the ballot box. Give him a chance.

[Tom O'Donnell]

Re: Meathead replies

Some people get smarter with age. Some don't.

I've always wondered why the people who whine about the 1% don't become CEOs and bankers if the jobs are so easy and pay so well then donate 99% of their income to the less fortunate.

You're giving away your age, Tom. ...

The 1% should be afraid.