Power to the People!

Power to the People!
by Cindy A. Matthews

 "Anybody knows that the people have the power. All we have to do 
is awaken the power in the people." - John Lennon

Our Revolution has begun.

Bernie gave a masterful speech in New York City entitled "Where do we go from here?" and outlined that we have much to do to bring about a future to believe in. His live stream address last week asked if we were ready to run or help others run for office to bring about real change and over 20,000 individuals responded they would. (You can still respond to the call at http://berniesanders.com/win )

Yes, that's twenty thousand Americans willing to break the bonds of fear and apathy and become leaders of our democracy. We are the people, and we have the power!

The People's Summit in Chicago this past week also brought forth many great leaders and speakers who encouraged us all to do more than just take to the streets in Philadelphia in July (information about the March on DNC can be found on our page on the sidebar). Nina Turner's speech at the summit energized us with her admonition to become "Doers of the deed!" I believe she meant that now isn't the time to sit back and lick our wounds or fall into a funk--it's time to get out and fight hard to restore our democracy. As John Lennon said it's time to wake up. As Rosario Dawson points out we can't "un-know" how powerful we are once we've discovered it. We're awake and we're powerful and we've been given our orders.

See you in Philly. Power to the people! 

Take a stand and join the political revolution like our bloggers this week. Check out the "how to submit" page for instructions on how you too can support your fellow revolutionaries by writing for and donating to The Bernie Blog. Thank you.
 

 Fighting for our Democracy

by Dirk Droll 

Friends, we are in the fight of our lives, the fight for our country and our future. Let there be no doubt: The foremost battle we need to win in this fight is the battle for our democracy. All our hoping and voting will do us no good as long as the crooks controlling the electoral process can simply make up the election results to the cheers of our corporate media, accompanied by our quiet resignation when too many of us dazedly believe their fabrications and never push back. The fraud is real and massive. But so is our ability to fight back!

For many, election fraud in our country is hard to believe because it is so sophisticated. But haven't you noticed a few things?

We are not stupid. We are simply too busy to notice or fight the small stuff. Sly as they are, the enemies of our democracy come for our vote in multiple attacks. They steal a piece here, another there, hoping you won't notice or raise more than an eyebrow. Remember the rumors you may have heard about purged or switched voter registrations, mysterious absentee votes completely flipping the night's results at the last minute, Clinton's late-arriving votes bringing the number of votes above the number of voters, the night's tally of one candidate (Bernie's, of course!) actually going down instead of up, and official counts disagreeing totally with exit polls way beyond the margin of error? Usually, where there is so much smoke there is a fire. Many small fires make an inferno. (Editor's note: Check out the article links on our Election Fraud and Voter Suppression Page for more information.)

By these many small to mid-sized attacks our elections die the death of a thousand cuts. Each instance is easily played down by the corporate media and easily dismissed by each of us as a minor glitch which won't affect the total outcome. However, they add up to hand the nomination (and possibly later the presidency if the GOP doesn't cheat even more efficiently in November) to a certain Hillary Rodham Clinton. As Secretary of State, if the reports are true, she  made dozens of arms deals with corrupt foreign regimes in return for bribe money she uses now to  buy herself the presidency. Will she be prosecuted? We will see. In the current state of our nation, criminals in high places usually go scot-free.

If this election fraud surreptitiously had not accompanied the primaries and caucuses from day one, Bernie would already be our Democratic Party nominee. Hillary's race would have been over months ago, exposed for the unpopular power grab from above that it is. It is high time we fight back!

I have compiled a list of their machinations and how we can stop them, adding of which would unfortunately exceed the desired word count on this blog. You can find it in the full version of my article on my own little blog where I have no word limit. Read it and act. Let's stand together.

When we act, the 99% are too big to fail!

~ Dirk Droll, aka Beanstock, has had a long string of careers and writes in his spare time about life, the universe, and everything, both seriously and in jest. Sometimes even both.

***

An Open Letter to the DNC: 
You are on Notice

by Bern Notice 

To the DNC:

At the beginning of this primary season, you were sure that everyone was ready for Hillary. You, and the corporate media were 100% certain that your candidate would breeze to the nomination without a real challenge. I'm sure that you thought that this year would be another year to simply herd the masses behind your pre-packaged candidate. In some ways, I'm sure that you still think you can simply wave your hand and say, "Follow our candidate! You have no other choice."

Well, that plan is going to be more difficult than you thought. If you think that this is over, you couldn't be more wrong. I have a saying, "The greatest threat to government corruption is a well-informed electorate." Up to this point, you have been able to have your way because of either the lack of awareness or the apathy of the general public.

That apathy has now turned into anger. Prior to this point, many on the internet focused more on cat videos or other recreational pursuits than anything else. Now, the internet is being used as it should be--a tool to advance discussion and a resource to undercut the spin and lies you try to feed us whenever you want us to follow you like a bunch of lemmings.

As we share information and show the actual historical footage and documentation of what happened, we open the eyes of yet another person who thought that you actually represent "the working class citizen." I don't know whether someone has told you or not, but let me you: You haven't represented us at all, and we are hip to your game.

You represent your own selfish craving for wealth and power. You represent the corporations and multi-millionaires. You only represent us when it is convenient for you. You put on a front trying to be this shining light for the working class citizen while getting your pockets lined by the wealthy lobbyists and donors who control your puppet strings.

Make no mistake, some of the blame for your failures fall on us, the voter. We made it easy for you to ignore us because we didn't vote you out of office regularly enough and replace you with fresh faces. Some of us voted straight down the party line instead of checking your voting record and holding you accountable for it.

We made mistakes, but we are rectifying those mistakes right now. The rest is on you, DNC. When you ignore your constituents calls for action for or against a bill, that is your choice. When you punish average citizens for violations of laws and statutes, then grant a pass to a colleague for the same violation, that's your choice. When you suppress the vote, or alter results in an election so that you can elect your chosen candidate, that's your choice.

The Sanders campaign that challenged your reign of oligarchy was not a anomaly. It is a warning. If you think Berniecrats will fall in line after what you did in this primary, think again. Loyalty isn't gained through fear and threats. It is earned through deeds and integrity and performing the will of the people. We are far from done.

We will stay active to ensure the mayors, governors, Congress members and other members of the political elite are voted out of office. We will replace them with people of integrity who have a desire to fulfil the will of the working class voter. You have not earned our vote based on your actions. You have earned our contempt and with that comes consequences on election day in 2016 and into the future.

Your "Third Way Democrat" supporter base shrinks while our numbers grow. Your grip on power has loosened as has been shown in this campaign. It is no longer iron clad. It is faltering. We know this because you would not have to go to the lengths that you did in this election otherwise.

This is your wake up call. This is your political warning. Either submit and do the people's work or know  your position is in peril come the next election. You are now on notice!

Bern Notice frequently gives notice online at Google+ and in the chat room at Political Revolution.TV

***

This Woman is Bernie Strong!

This week's "This Woman is Bernie Strong" commentary is a bit different. The information below is for Berners to join the class action fraud lawsuit against the DNC because they misrepresented how our donations to the Democratic primary  were going to be used. Since most of us did not intend our donations to the DNC and/or Bernie Sanders campaign to be used to finance criminal activity to suppress the vote or rig voting machines and ballots, we have the right to sue for redress.  Email the attorneys below to join. (I did.) Power to the people!

Dear Fellow Citizen:

What is This Case About?

This is a fraud lawsuit.

On June 15, 2016, an anonymous hacker known as Guccifer 2.0 released documents purportedly hacked from the servers of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), the formal governing body of the Democratic party, and the coordinator of the 2016 Democratic Presidential primary race.

The hacked documents strongly suggest that the DNC colluded with Sec. Hillary Clinton's campaign to perpetrate a great fraud on the public. 

This class action lawsuit is against the Democratic National Committee (DNC), and any affiliated persons and entities.

How to Get Started

Thank you for reaching out to us.  As attorneys, we are truly energized by the outpouring of support for this class action lawsuit.  Class actions are, and should be, client-driven lawsuits, where a group of people represent everyone in the Class, and act with everyone's interests in mind.

Please email us at dncfraud@jampac.us to obtain a copy of the legal papers on how to get involved.

If you have donated directly to the DNC since Bernie entered the race, we would like to speak with you! (Editor's note: I was informed that you can join the lawsuit if you donated only to Bernie as well.)

Time is of the essence, so your prompt attention is greatly appreciated.

Updates

We have started a Facebook page to update the public on progress.  https://www.facebook.com/DNCfraudlawsuit/

 ELIZABETH LEE BECK, ESQ. | Beck & Lee Trial Lawyers

***  

Here's a great quote from Berner Anthony Lewis: "Bernie has said it since day one: We need a political revolution. This campaign is about a political revolution — millions of people standing up and saying, enough is enough."

"We win when people come together. We win when we reject division. We need policies that bring us together and create an economy that works for all of us, rather than a few. Welcome to the political revolution."

Let's end with a rousing anthem--Power to the People! It's #OurRevolution

Get out and fight for democracy this week. You'll be glad you did. 

 

Team Bernie Brings America Together

This week on The Bernie Blog we take a look at some intriguing opposites in the "Berniverse". We have a male's perspective and a female's perspective. We have the perspective of a Big Ten college rivalry tradition.  We have the heartfelt commentary and photo of those who heard Bernie speak in Toledo this past Friday. The Ides of March are upon us... Come on Team Bernie, we can do it! We can bring America together for a future to believe in!

Why America Should Elect Sanders 
 by Dirk Droll 

Note: The original and far longer article appeared on Beantock's World.

Bernie Sanders has stood for what is right throughout his 34 years in elected office and even before. He knows the system inside and out and doesn’t in the slightest seem to have been corrupted by it. Now, as America desperately needs a true people’s candidate for its presidency, he makes the sacrifice to run for the office instead of taking a well deserved retirement. He has lived a full life and may not even survive his presidency. Thus, he can boldly stay his course on the issues.  Sanders has little reason to be as timid as Obama has been, a man who promised us so much but delivered so little. Obama had huge popular support. He was our first black president; his very existence improved our record of racism in the eyes of the entire world. He also had promised real health care reform and vowed to close the great shame of our nation, Guantanamo Bay. On neither of these he delivered. Instead of wheeling and dealing and giving in, Obama could surely have shamed his opponents, named them publicly every time they were blocking him. We would have supported him. His opponents would have felt our anger. We loved Obama then and would have done much at his behest.  But he didn’t have the guts to challenge the establishment. He didn’t dare.  Sanders is known to dare, and he can afford to dare greatly – having little left to lose at his age. Bernie Sanders was an independent most of his years in public office. This alone takes balls in the American political system where the two big parties monopolize access and rising to national political office without party support is nearly impossible. This fact speaks for an enormous dedication to the people’s issues and an adamant resilience against being bought by the establishment. It also speaks for Bernie's loyal voters who knew what they had in him. Only for this presidential race, so as not to be blocked by the monopoly, nor to risk ushering in an outlier from the far right by splitting our vote, has Bernie Sanders joined forces with the Democratic Party. It used to marshal common people’s issues in the past but needs renewal like our whole system does.  This move proves Sander’s political acumen. He knows what he’s doing and when to do it. I can’t believe our luck that we have one like him stepping up to the plate at this critical time. We better take advantage. It may be a while before another like him comes along. Bio: Dirk Droll, aka Beanstock, has had a long string of careers and writes in his spare time about life, the universe, and everything, both seriously and in jest, sometimes even both. ***

This  week's  "This Woman is Bernie Strong!" takes a look at how women have been unnecessarily polarized in our current political discussion.

This is Not Progress

Generational Polarization of Women 
in the Political Debate

A perspective

by Suki Liebow

I have recently read about, and personally experienced, women from older generations, prior Secretaries of State and acclaimed feminists alike, attacking younger women for their choice to support Bernie Sanders over Hillary Clinton in the upcoming election. 

"There’s a special place in hell for women who don’t support Hillary,” said Madeleine Albright. Gloria Steinem stated (and later apologized for saying) that “Young women support Bernie Sanders because they want attention from boys”. 

I have been accused of being unsupportive of women and ignorant to the history that made it possible for women to vote because of my choice to support Sanders over Clinton.

In light of these recent disturbing attacks on women of younger generations by (some) self-proclaimed feminists, let’s visit the meaning of the word feminist, shall we?

 Feminist: advocating social, political, legal, and economic rights for women equal to those of men

Interesting that “feminist” does not, in fact, mean "anti-man." Nor does it mean voting exclusively for women. 

The statement, “Young women support Bernie Sanders because they want attention from boys,” implies that young women aren’t smart enough to think for themselves when it comes to politics, and that their political motivations are not based on information and education but on their desire to have sex. It is a sexist and demeaning statement to all women of younger generations, and it seems remarkably similar to the despicable arguments used to keep women from having equal rights in the first place.

If there is, in fact, a “special place in hell for women who don’t support women,” wouldn’t there be one for you, Madeleine? Isn’t your statement expressing a blatant lack of support for young women to exercise the very rights that you fought for them to have? In an attempt to understand why older women would attack younger women in this way, I came up with this speculation. 

It seems the older generation feminists feel invalidated by younger women in their fight for equal rights. Perhaps the older generation, having fought for the right of a woman to even run for president, take offense to the choices of younger women to vote for anyone other than the woman who made it on the ballot. The fact that there is a woman on the ballot being enough reason to gain the vote of the generation who fought specifically for her right to be there.

I can see why things could get a little heated.

While the mere thought of a female candidate was seen as a far cry from reality in generations past, in current times, many of us have surpassed the novelty stage of "a woman in office." Therefore younger generations have the luxury of focusing on the issues, character, and agenda of the candidates without regard to gender. Believe it or not, this is progress!

The younger generation thinks less about this critical fight for women’s rights, not because it doesn’t matter, or because we’re a bunch of ignorant, uneducated snotbags, but because we now have this right. Since we have the right, we are no longer focused on fighting for it. This is not intended to be dismissive of the very real struggle that took place in order for us to gain this freedom. It is simply the natural progression of taking action on the issues that are present now. 

The irony is this: The very platform from which the younger generations are speaking from was built by the older generations. Think about it. This fight wasn’t fought so that women would be obligated to vote for women alone. It was fought so that women could partake in the political process. 

Well, We Are! 

As a woman of the younger generation to the older generation, I’m asking you, please stop criticizing us for standing on the platform that you built. Isn’t this why you built it? Stop berating us for speaking our minds and voting our conscience. You taught us to do just that. 

Stop insulting us with sexist comments about our political motivations. All your efforts are wasted if we become our own oppressor. 

Stop accusing us of being unsupportive of women simply because our opinions don’t always agree with yours. We have a different view of the world, and it is valuable, too. Instead of berating us for taking advantage of the liberties that your efforts afforded us, let’s celebrate the significant progress and accomplishment.

This is the freedom you fought for. Not the freedom for all women to have one opinion. Not to dictate whom she should vote for, but to have the freedom to vote in the first place. To be a part of the political process in the way we, as individuals, feel morally compelled to. 

While you had the issues of your time and faced them with determination and steadfast resolve, the younger generations have a whole new set of issues to contend with. Because of the progress you made in the fight for women’s equality, we can now face the fight on the broader issues of the world by educating ourselves and voting our conscience, the way you voted yours by fighting for our rights in the first place. 

Regardless of who we vote for, the point is that we have the freedom to vote. We, as American women of all generations, are standing up to do so.

Bio: Suki Liebow has been writing on the topic of emotional processing for over 20 years, and is preparing the release of her first full length book. Suki founded a unique method of emotional processing that facilitates productive communication leading to more successful relationships.

After a childhood wrought with challenges, Suki’s perseverance and dedication to this development have yielded a great many successes and admirable accomplishments. Through her Emotional Processing method, Suki brought herself from being alone on the streets as a thirteen year old girl, to founding multiple businesses, speaking as an invited guest around the country, and teaching classes. She continues to develop practical tools for personal development.
Suki lives in San Francisco, California.

 ***
Ohio Bernin'!

Ohio Bernie Supporters have been issued a challenge--we must turn out in record numbers and beat Michigan's voter turn out. We can't allow this challenge to go unanswered, so answer the call and tell all your friends and family to come out and vote for Bernie in Ohio on March 15. We can't let Team Bernie down! 

Illinois, Missouri, Florida and North Carolina--get out and vote, too. Everyone else--keep phone-banking, Facebanking and canvassing. We can do it! Team Bernie has a can do attitude!

My husband and I volunteered to help run  the extremely last minute Toledo rally for Bernie on Friday. Our photos are coming soon, but here's our friend Tim who got to shake Bernie's hand and snap a photo with our next president. Exciting, isn't it? #FeeltheBern Buckeyes and get out and vote! And here's a great commentary on the rally by Theresa Williams: BERNIE SANDERS RALLY, TOLEDO, OH:  I wanted to say something about the Bernie Rally today to hopefully counteract a lot of the negativity surrounding Bernie's campaign and his supporters. I was so proud of Toledo.  The rally was supposed to start at 3:30 with doors opening at 1:30. Allen and I got there at 12:30 and the line was already very long. It turned a corner around the building and kept going beyond. Everybody was patient, spending their time in small groups discussing the issues. When we finally rounded the corner, we saw two protesters on the other side of the road holding up signs, one of which said, "Socialism is not the answer." No one jeered or screamed at them. No one made rude gestures. Instead, one of the volunteers crossed the street, smiling, and engaged them in conversation. Both sides were listening to each other.  We got seated in the bleachers by 2:30. Bernie didn't speak until 5. It was a capacity crowd, but everyone was patient, yet excited. These were attentive, informed people. Bernie's speech was powerful and had all the things in it you've come to expect from Bernie but my take away was a sense of togetherness. Bernie brought us all together in a common cause, to make life better for everyone. He was completely inclusive.  I have had the pleasure of voting in many elections, but I have not felt so strongly about a candidate since I was 13 and following Bobby Kennedy. This man is authentic. He cares. He will make a great president. #BernieSandersToledo

Interested, Enthusiastic and Engaged Voters (This Woman is Bernie Strong!)

The New Hampshire primary has finally arrived, and "Berners" are more excited than ever. (Get out and #VoteTogether, N.H.!) Bernie supporters are the epitome of interested, enthused and engaged voters--the complete opposite of what establishment candidates expect or even want. Berners want to know what's going on, who's on the take from whom and for how much. (And what exactly is in those Goldman Sachs speech transcripts?)

This week we have some thought-provoking pieces from and about Bernie supporters who aren't about to accept the corporate candidates' status quo. First up, a new weekly feature I'm calling "This Woman is Bernie Strong!" If you're a woman who supports Bernie Sanders, we'd love to hear from you. A short testimonial (doesn't have to be very long) and a photo of you is all we need. Email it to thebernieblog2016@gmail.com and help stop the media reports saying that only "BernieBros" support Bernie's candidacy and to silence the recent insults made by Clinton supporters.

This Woman is Bernie Strong!

by Jessy Phares

I am a woman who believes in humanity. I am a woman who believes people's actions are louder than their words. I am a woman who does not forget even if I forgive. I am a woman who believes our planet and our children need much more help and attention than they are getting. I am a woman who has had to stand up for myself my whole life. I am a woman who intends to continue. I am a woman who is making sure she self-educates. As a woman, I am asking that you too, please become self-educated. There are far too many out there who would rather we remain ignorant. I am also a woman who believes just because someone has "done something for a long time" doesn't make it the right thing to do. I am a woman who thinks if there is truth being pointed out that you may not agree with it does not mean you can arbitrarily change the definition of the word "slander." I will not be shamed or bullied into voting for candidate(s) I do not feel have my best or even humanity's best interests at heart. While you are entitled to your opinion, I am entitled to mine as well. I, this woman, upon serious and thorough thinking will be supporting Bernie Sanders for our next president of the United States in 2016. He is the only one I see who is offering a platform founded on women's rights and worth. $15 an hour anyone? Full medical and time off anyone? No fracking or TPP anyone? 

As a woman, I have no time to waste on other people's games. We have a planet to save! #ThisWomanIs #BernieStrong

Interested, Enthusiastic – and Engaged!

by A.J. Matthews

Saturday evening saw us up in Toledo for the national Bernie Sanders campaign meeting there. Over the course of the thirty minutes before the meeting began Tremainsville Hall filled up to standing room only. People from all over the city and beyond came to learn more about Bernie Sanders' campaign and what they could do to promote it. To think the meeting was held on a Saturday evening with comparatively little notice, yet was full to overflowing shows the remarkable level of enthusiasm for Bernie's cause. I've been in a few political meetings on both sides of the Atlantic in my time, but not one of them approached the sheer degree of energy felt in Tremainsville Hall that evening.

A friend of ours arrived with a large quantity of campaign buttons she made, intending to  give them away in exchange for a campaign contribution. Whatever she had left over she would take to another meeting. Over the course of the evening she gave away all but a handful. Between us we could hardly keep up with the demand and the contributions.

 What we experienced that evening seems of a piece with the enthusiasm and sheer hope generated by Senator Bernie Sanders' bid for the presidency. We the people know that in him we have a genuine champion for our cause, a champion who will overcome wealth inequality, pry loose the cold greedy hands of corporate America from our lives, and restore and enhance the democratic values we need.

Evidence that his message is spreading far and wide can be seen in the aftermath of the recent Iowa caucus as seen in this Washington Post article.

An aide to the Democratic presidential hopeful said Tuesday that the campaign had raised $3 million since Monday night’s Iowa caucuses, in which Sanders finished right behind Hillary Clinton, according to Iowa Democratic Party figures.

“It’s been our best day ever,” Sanders communications director Michael Briggs said of the fund-raising haul.

He also benefited from new donors in the hour after his speech on Monday night. Four in ten who gave during that stretch had not contributed previously to the campaign, Briggs said. The campaign announced it raised an eye-popping $20 million in January alone. The past 24 hours have exceeded even that pace.

Whatever your thoughts about the apparent shenanigans connected to the Iowa caucuses (and I have a few not safe for work), the result shows the "business as usual" approach of the other candidates no longer resonates with Americans. Bernie Sanders is climbing in the polls in every state. The mainstream media is now forced to follow where social media has led the way – into recognizing in Senator Sanders the only person who should be president.

America is feeling the Bern!

Bio: A. J. Matthews is a Brit living in America, a writer, artist and enthusiastic Bernie Sanders supporter. He says he's ready for the political revolution. Keep feelin' the Bern!

Original artwork by Jaeil Cho 
www.jaeilchoart.bigcartel.com

Feel the Bern

a poem by Manus Brennan
 
Hours before the people decide
my heart is pumping with hope
for all that has brought us here
for all who believe your words
for the many who matter most                                        
for the labourers in the vineyard
those who have come to help
those who can't who are with us anyway, the young, the old, the women, the men, the black, the white, the brown, the red, the
colours of the rainbow you have drawn in our imaginations
and our hearts. 
Feel the Bern!

Bio:  Manus says, "I am a 59 year old retired teacher from County Donegal, Ireland, and I have come out to the U.S. for a month to volunteer on the Bernie Sanders campaign. I am working out of the Dover office. Keep up the good work!"

Don't forget to phone bank this week and continue to push Bernie's good news on all your social media sites. Share links, positive memes and messages. Soon everyone in the U.S.A. and the world will know who Bernie Sanders is!