Dr. Jill Stein, 2012 GP Presidential nominee and 2016 candidate I urge all my Houston-based friends—especially my Bernie Sanders–loving friends—to take an opportunity this weekend to meet Dr. Jill Stein. She's arriving in Houston tonight, and will be making the rounds tomorrow:
Many recovering Progressive Democrats like me can safely infer from long experience that the Democratic Party will not allow Sen. Sanders to be nominated. Democratic conventions are where progressive ideas go to die, and where progressive candidates go to make concession speeches. Why? Because too much progressive talk runs the risk of alienating the corporate contributors. Also, too many of the Democratic super-delegates, most of whom are Party establishment types, are likely in Hillary Clinton's camp.
Ted Kennedy. Jesse Jackson. Jerry Brown. Dennis Kucinich. Even Howard Dean. All were given their time in the sun, then dissed and dismissed. The Democratic National Committee's biggest fear is nominating another George McGovern, the anti–Vietnam War senator from South Dakota who won only Massachusetts and DC in the 1972 general election. Richard Nixon, not exactly the guy most voters wanted to have a beer with, won by a popular and electoral landslide.
A young friend of mine, who just a month ago was a fervent Sanders supporter, got a huge buzz from catching his recent appearance at the University of Houston. This friend is also the child of Syrian immigrants and a fierce advocate for peace and self-determination in the Middle East, including the Arab population of Israel-Palestine. When she read that Sanders had actually voted for resolutions supporting Israel's attacks on Gaza, that he can always be counted on to cast votes in Israel's favor, and that he seldom speaks out against Israeli military actions, her support wavered. She may still vote for Sanders in the Democratic Primary, but is looking into voting Green in November.
Jill Stein's slogan is People, Planet, and Peace before Profit. Bernie Sanders, for all his talk, is not so strong on the Peace part.
I have not been engaging in online debates or disputes with my friends who support Sanders. That's counter-productive, because nobody likes a troll. Instead, I have been gently reminding them that, just in case there's no Bernie to vote for in November, they should consider voting for Jill rather than holding their noses and voting for Hillary (or not voting for President at all).
Last selling point: Do you plan to vote for Sanders because of his history as a Democratic Socialist who actually gets elected to high office? You should know that Jill Stein's Power to the People Plan is far closer to European-style socialism.
- Morning: LULAC's monthly chorizo & menudo breakfast
- Afternoon: East End Street Fest on Navigation Boulevard, 1 to 4 pm.
- Evening: open mic slam/jam meet & greet at the home of HCGP stalwarts Deb Shafto and George Reiter, PhD
Many recovering Progressive Democrats like me can safely infer from long experience that the Democratic Party will not allow Sen. Sanders to be nominated. Democratic conventions are where progressive ideas go to die, and where progressive candidates go to make concession speeches. Why? Because too much progressive talk runs the risk of alienating the corporate contributors. Also, too many of the Democratic super-delegates, most of whom are Party establishment types, are likely in Hillary Clinton's camp.
Ted Kennedy. Jesse Jackson. Jerry Brown. Dennis Kucinich. Even Howard Dean. All were given their time in the sun, then dissed and dismissed. The Democratic National Committee's biggest fear is nominating another George McGovern, the anti–Vietnam War senator from South Dakota who won only Massachusetts and DC in the 1972 general election. Richard Nixon, not exactly the guy most voters wanted to have a beer with, won by a popular and electoral landslide.
A young friend of mine, who just a month ago was a fervent Sanders supporter, got a huge buzz from catching his recent appearance at the University of Houston. This friend is also the child of Syrian immigrants and a fierce advocate for peace and self-determination in the Middle East, including the Arab population of Israel-Palestine. When she read that Sanders had actually voted for resolutions supporting Israel's attacks on Gaza, that he can always be counted on to cast votes in Israel's favor, and that he seldom speaks out against Israeli military actions, her support wavered. She may still vote for Sanders in the Democratic Primary, but is looking into voting Green in November.
Jill Stein's slogan is People, Planet, and Peace before Profit. Bernie Sanders, for all his talk, is not so strong on the Peace part.
I have not been engaging in online debates or disputes with my friends who support Sanders. That's counter-productive, because nobody likes a troll. Instead, I have been gently reminding them that, just in case there's no Bernie to vote for in November, they should consider voting for Jill rather than holding their noses and voting for Hillary (or not voting for President at all).
Last selling point: Do you plan to vote for Sanders because of his history as a Democratic Socialist who actually gets elected to high office? You should know that Jill Stein's Power to the People Plan is far closer to European-style socialism.
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