Monday, February 08, 2016

Bernie Sanders and the Attack of the Millionaires



With Bernie Sanders seemingly headed for a decisive victory in tomorrow's New Hampshire primary, it seems that the Millionaire's Club is starting to feel the heat, or the Bern.

For first there was Rex Murphy on the National, denouncing Sanders for his class politics, and suggesting he's a communist.

Even though that tool of Big Oil is a millionaire, and lives in one of the glitziest condos in my neighbourhood. So it's yet another conflict of interest to add to Rexy's record.

And then yesterday, charging out of the gate like an enraged bull, came that other well known millionaire.



Bill Clinton.

Bill Clinton uncorked an extended attack on Senator Bernie Sanders on Sunday, harshly criticizing Mr. Sanders and his supporters for what he described as inaccurate and “sexist” attacks on Hillary Clinton.


“When you’re making a revolution you can’t be too careful with the facts,” Mr. Clinton said, deriding Mr. Sanders’s oft-mentioned call for a political revolution.

Accusing Sanders of running a dirty campaign, even though his campaign is probably the cleanest in American history.

But then why should we be surprised that the Millionaire's Club is so agitated? When Bill and Rexy must hate this message...



Especially Clinton.

Hillary Clinton and her husband, former President Bill Clinton, combined to earn more than $153 million in paid speeches from 2001 until Hillary Clinton launched her presidential campaign last spring, a CNN analysis shows.

The two also reported at least $7.7 million for at least 39 speeches to big banks, including Goldman Sachs and UBS, with Hillary Clinton, the Democratic 2016 front-runner, collecting at least $1.8 million for at least eight speeches to big banks.

And the reason the rich are feeling so threatened is because so many Americans are so angry. The American dream is fading, the middle class is shrinking. 

And as Alexander Panetta writes, both Sanders and Donald Trump are riding on the wings of a working class revolt. 

The rumpled socialist and the bewilderingly coiffed billionaire may be different personalities, with different worldviews, proposing different solutions. But they’re pointing to the same issues, real or alleged: free trade, decent jobs shipped overseas or replaced with machines, and an indifferent political class distracted by the priorities of its campaign donors among the mega-wealthy one per cent.

For Sanders, the proposed fix involves a drastically expanded social-safety net: free college tuition, Canadian-style health care, and paid parental leave. For Trump, it’s about kicking out millions of illegal migrants from Mexico, who are working under-the-table for cheaper salaries than Americans would.

Which is why Bill Clinton is trying to shift the battlefield from class politics to the gender struggle.

By appealing to the many progressives who believe that the time has come for a woman to be President.

But while that is a worthy goal, and one that I share, I don't think it's going to work for the Clintons this time.

Not when they don't have the support of the young who are flocking to Sanders in huge numbers.



Sanders took 84 per cent of the youth vote in Iowa, according to exit polls that showed Clinton winning richer, older voters.

Who want to believe in something better.

And will almost certainly believe that Clinton's attack on Sanders is an attempt to divide them, and continue to support Bernie as the one who can unite Americans.



And all I can say is who knows where this one is going?

But it's hard not to feel that whatever happens, the United States will never be the same again.

The seeds that were planted by the Occupy movement are finally beginning to bear fruit.

The millionaires are quaking in their boots. 

The future is on the march.

Go Bernie go...



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16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great post. Always have had an uneasy feeling about Clintons. Loved the SNL scene from weekend with Larry David. All about the 1%'ers. I don't imagine very many Americans can relate to Hilary.

TS

Anonymous said...

Rex Murphy expounding on the National? Suggest everyone tweet Minister Joly asking her to fix CBC so that we can get real information.

lagatta à montréal said...

So far, Bernie has had really great ads. The SNL sketch was hilarious, with Bernie (as his ancestor in a flat cap, arriving in NYC) laughing at himself.

Anonymous said...

The clintons were the best republican presidents the 'murcans had seen in 30 years....and they will be again, too.

Ben Burd said...

Who the fuck watches windbag Rex any more that's my signal to change channels.

John said...

I wish the best for Bernie Sanders in the USA Jeremy Corbyn in the UK and I sincerely hope Canada"s NDP can find leadership that returns it to its Social Democratic roots at their April Convention. The public want that direction. They are sick of governments of big corporate interests by big corporate puppets for big profits who spout off concern for the working class and vote to give corporations even more breaks.
Great blog posts Simon. One of my daily highlights!

Dan said...

Rex once thought the major idiot and grifter Sarah Palin would be a force in US politics. That by itself should be a warning for all to never to take the bug eyed fool seriously at least on US politics (and pretty much everything else.)

e.a.f. said...

As much as I would like to see a female President, I don't think Clinton has enough to offer the younger generations. Now that may sound peculiar given Sanders is even older. The Clintons have become part of the international elite and their vision for AMerican no longer is routed in the working/middle class. They aren't part of it and their memories are not long enough to remember.

Sanders never left the working/middle class. He understands what is needed in the country. If he were to become president it will be interesting. He will have problems with a republican dominated Congress and Senate, but he may well not care that much about them.

If I were voting in the U.S.A., I'd vote Sanders. One of the major groups which is supporting him is named, "Working Families". I'm on their mailing list and they have some interesting campaigns.

Simon said...

hi TS...I must admit I'm a bit conflicted about Hillary Clinton, because she has fought many good battles, and I would love to see a woman in the White House. But I just think that at this time in history, the U.S. needs something different, and her ties to the banksters are too close for comfort....

Simon said...

hi anon...nobody can accuse me of being a slacker when it comes to denouncing Rex Murphy and his presence of The National. I must have written at least a dozen posts on why he should be fired. But yes, the more the Liberals hear that we want our CBC back, the sooner they will do it...

Simon said...

hi lagatta...yes he has had some great ads, but so far there are not enough of them. Hopefully he is saving some more for later in the campaign, because you can be sure that the Clintons and their super PAC are going to flood the airwaves with their own.
Hopefully the young will churn out free ads and help Bernie out....

Simon said...

hi anon....you may be right. The establishment and almost all the Democrats in Congress are on Hillary's side, so it will not be easy for Sanders to overcome that machine. But you know me, I am eternally optimistic, and nothing can dent my hopes for real change and a better future...

Simon said...

hi Ben...I have told people before how I have almost sprained a muscle, or ruptured myself, lunging for the TV remote control every time Murphy pops up on my TV screen. But the idea that he is on the CBC, spreading his right-wing propaganda while being paid with my tax dollars, drives me nuts, and I want him removed...

Simon said...

hi John...thank you. I'm glad you liked the post. I enjoy writing some posts more than others, and that was one of them. For I am cheering for Bernie, just like I'm cheering for Jeremy Corbyn in the UK, and like you I believe that only progressive governments can hope to tackle the many urgent challenges we are facing. I know Bernie is a long shot for President, but I'm really enjoying the Bern, and no matter what happens I'll never lose hope in a better more human future...

Simon said...

hi Dan...he was indeed a Sarah Palin groupie, and I recently ran a piece of his where he not only defends Palin, but attacks Obama like only a teabagger could. For that is what he is a right-wing demagogue, and how the useless CBC managers can't seem to see that drives me absolutely bonkers....

Simon said...

hi e.a.f...as I mentioned to another commenter I am conflicted about Hillary Clinton, but I just think the U.S. needs somebody different, someone who isn't as tight with the millionaire class as she is. So if I was an american I wouldn't just be voting for Bernie I'd be working for him...