2020 Presidential Election

[Martina]

Seriously, wasn't that out of left field? I wish he'd run in the Republican primary.

[CherylNYC]

Originally Posted by Martina

Seriously, wasn't that out of left field? I wish he'd run in the Republican primary.

My thoughts, exactly. Besides that he's a criminal and a traitor, Trump has proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that a political neophyte has no place occupying the most powerful office in the world. A person needs to have some ideas about how our political system does and doesn't work. There's no room to learn as you go.

[dark_crystal]

I thought this was an excellent article. I wish that last sentence could be shouted from every rooftop.

Bernie’s Likely 2020 Bid Could Transform the Political Landscape, by Norman Solomon, Truthout

The likely Bernie Sanders campaign for president offers a boost and a challenge to progressives. From the outset, the campaign’s strength would largely depend on how much synergy develops with social movements on the ground. Much more than the presidency is at stake. A powerful mix of grassroots activism and electoral work could transform the country’s political landscape.

<snip>

While conflicts between election-focused campaigns and issue-focused activism may be inevitable, there’s great potential to make such tensions creative rather than destructive. During this decade, the trajectories of progressive election campaigns and progressive organizing have become more intertwined.

<snip>

But relations between electoral campaigns and social movements are frequently difficult, and tensions are bound to develop. “Bringing the vibrancy and democracy of activist movement culture to a political campaign is necessary but complicated,” Tori Osborn, a longtime progressive organizer who eventually ran for political office, told me. “Activist protest culture is spontaneous, often angry and wildly uncontrollable. Campaigns have to be rigorously disciplined and controllable.”

<snip>

Routine media coverage about “a blue wave” has obscured the deeper opportunities for “a progressive wave” that could drastically extend the boundaries of public discussion and political power. The default position for mass media is to define electoral conflicts in partisan Democrat-vs.-Republican terms, but a key task for grassroots progressive leadership in election battles is to develop community-based power to replace corporate power.

Overall, a Sanders 2020 campaign could be a powerful catalyst for creating a new political culture that nurtures activism as a year-long, every-year way of life for millions of people across boundaries of race, class and region. For a future of democracy instead of oligarchy, that political culture has got to include and transcend electoral work.

<snip>

As progressives weigh involvement in the Sanders campaign and many other 2020 races, the Democratic Party should be approached much like we approach the government itself — an entity capable of inflicting great harm on a systemic basis, while also capable of mitigating systemic harm and doing profound good in response to social movements.

[C0LLETTE]

Any opinions on Marianne Williamson running?

[homoe]

Originally Posted by C0LLETTE

Any opinions on Marianne Williamson running?

I'll jump in COLLETTE, again like Schultz, really what are her qualifications?


I guess this time around I'm seeking someone who has political experience.

[dark_crystal]

Originally Posted by homoe

I'll jump in COLLETTE, again like Schultz, really what are her qualifications?


I guess this time around I'm seeking someone who has political experience.

HELLO?? She is Oprah's spiritual advisor what more do you need?

(just kidding)

Wikipedia says

• She ran for congress in 2014
  
• "She campaigned on a broad array of progressive issues, including: greater access to high-quality education and free college; child poverty; economic justice; climate change & renewable energy; campaign finance reform; universal health care; criminal justice reform; ending perpetual war and increasing investments in peacebuilding; women’s reproductive rights; and LGBTQ equality among others"
  
• Williamson has been a public advocate in the arenas of racial justice and race relations. She is known for leading public apologies for slavery and has encouraged paying reparations for slavery. Williamson has also worked in support of reforming the criminal justice system.
  
• Williamson advocates for an open border immigration policy, stating that as long as individuals are vetted, they should be allowed to move to the United States.

Anyway, she's toast lol

[homoe]

..

Cory Booker jumped in this morning.....