The Fraud Squad

The Dude knows the score in DC!

The Fraud Squad: 

Window Dressing for the DNC Store

by Coast Watcher

 

The Squad! It began with those wonderful, talented women who set out to challenge the Democratic Party’s centrist-right stance! How they were praised for their progressive values, their drive, their youthful vigor! How we hoped they would pick up the torch of socialism from Bernie Sanders and carry it forward into a bright Democratic Party future!

Well, guess what? It seems our idols have feet of clay.

There’s no denying the so-called Democratic Party detested them from the get-go for the very reasons I outlined above. The Squad became a burr under the saddle of business-as-usual and attracted brickbats and catcalls from those of a Democrat persuasion as much as they did from the GOP and Trumpanzees. Then the dirty Dems figured out how to tame the Squad and bend them to its will.

To take one member in particular, Alexandria Occasio-Cortez, she has progressed from a barkeep to Congresswoman and blazed a path into the headlines. Now she pulls in tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars in speaking fees per speech. AOC now can earn more in one night giving a speech than she possibly made in all those years of tending bar combined.

Has she forgotten what it’s like to scrimp and save, to worry about health care coverage or if she has enough money to cover rent and/or food this month? Possibly she has forgotten what it's like to be a struggling worker. Her new Congressional plan health care coverage is premium quality and for life, regardless if she continues in government or not. If she does depart her political career, there’s many a Big Business concern that would offer her a lucrative position on its board, complete with perks.

How does that old adage go? Oh yes, Power corrupts. I'm sure all that lobbyist money helps you sleep at night if your conscience bothers you, too.

So all the so-called Democratic Party had to do was wait until the delicious benefits of being a professional national level politician kicked in. Then the Squad would no longer have any desire to overthrow a system which works so well for them. Instead, their new job is to act as window dressing, something shiny to make it appear the Democratic administration-to-be of Joe Biden really is progressive in its values, when everyone admits that in stark reality "nothing will fundamentally change."

What the DNC store has to offer isn’t worth the time of anyone to the left of center. It’ll be the same old attack on civil liberties from Biden, a man who made a career out of formulating oppressive laws. It’ll be a program of austerity and tightened belts from a man who has wanted to cut Social Security for decades. Biden flat-out stated he’d never tolerate Medicare for All, and he would veto any such bill that reached his desk.

The #ForceTheVote movement, birthed by the new People's Party and other aligned groups, has pulled back the curtain and revealed who the real Wizard of DC truly is. Surprise--it's the health insurance industry! The Squad of brightly painted mannequins in the shop window has failed to fool anyone for long.

When AOC came under pressure from the public for not agitating and pressing for Medicare for All in the middle of this dreadful pandemic, she complained and whined like a child that people were acting "violent" toward her on Twitter for calling her out. 

 

So sorry, Alexandria! You chose to become a politician. That means you have to take the blows as well as the bouquets. And if you think you’re under pressure to provide health care and a decent stimulus package for your constituents now, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

In the recent vote for Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi gained re-election by the narrowest margin in modern history. Had even two of the Squad not voted for her then Pelosi, with all her neoliberal-centrist authoritarian attitude and praise for overthrowing democratically elected leaders of South American countries, would have been left high and dry. It seems the Squad’s main argument for following the Dem party line is that had they not voted for Pelosi then a Republican would have become Speaker of the House.

Like, there’s a difference? Since both parties receive funding and policy guidance from Big Business they are effectively one and the same. The so-called Democrats simply wear blue ties, the Republicans red.

Even a casual glance through social media shows a huge amount of anger at the way the Squad betrayed the working poor and the struggling across the country. The hashtag #FraudSquad has quickly trended. Has the window dressing failed to distract us? Are people sick of politics as usual? The rapid response of the American public via social media indicates this.

The United States seems to be at a crossroads. The neoliberals' happy fallacy that, "Things will be so much better once Trump is gone," is being shown for what it is. The divide between the rich and poor has never been so large and so clear to all.

Those bourgeoisie (who think nothing of spending their $600 stimulus check on a hair appointment before they go to brunch) keep telling us "Now isn’t the time to (insert urgent public need here)."  We're supposed to forget how the so-called Democratic Party screwed the Left—again—and move on, but they've underestimated the working classes. Soon they'll find a cold wind blowing through their lives, and the window dressing of the Squad won’t be able to save them.

BIO: Coast Watcher possesses Superman's super vision--he can see through the distractions of the neoliberal establishment and figure their game out. They enjoy the lobbyists' money they receive for simply being in office. They're not worried about dying in the Covid-19 pandemic since they know they'll get to go to the front of line at the hospital and the vaccination queue. We the struggling workers will have to become our own heroes and force a vote to gain what we and our families deserve, Medicare For All. The Squad and anyone else who tries to hold us up should get the hell out of our way.

Related Articles:

Dems Move On After Stimulus Check Standoff Ends 

https://www.salon.com/2020/12/31/stimulus-standoff-ends-in-democratic-surrender-after-mcconnell-blocks-2000-checks-dems-move-on_partner/ 

In 2021, the Best Way to Fight Neofascist Republicans is to Fight Neoliberal Democrats

https://readersupportednews.org/opinion2/277-75/67103-rsn-in-2021-the-best-way-to-fight-neofascist-republicans-is-to-fight-neoliberal-democrats

*** 

All right! An actual Socialist is running for governor of Virginia--Lee Carter. Virginians may be the first to enjoy universal health care in the US if he gets into office. Good luck, Lee!

https://youtu.be/kyawBhkeQ68

***

From Roots Action:

Too many of Biden’s cabinet nominees have deep industry ties and alarming track records. The predictable results would be nothing more than the status quo that landed us with President Trump in the first place.

RootsAction.org is organizing now to oppose the most problematic of Biden’s appointments. We have a real chance to prevent them from being confirmed by the Senate in early January -- but we need your help.

Fill out this short Action Survey to join our team of volunteers and help challenge Biden’s nominees.



Who is President-elect Biden nominating?

TOM VILSACK, also known as “Mr. Monsanto,” has (again) been nominated to head the USDA. During his first tenure as Agriculture Secretary, Vilsack racked up a grim record of protecting the interests of “Big Ag” over the needs of independent farmers, workers, consumers, and the environment. To top it all off, he’s currently serving as president and CEO for a major U.S. dairy lobby.

NEERA TANDEN is widely known as one of the most anti-progressive voices of the neoliberal establishment. She has been tapped to head the Office of Management and Budget, the department tasked with formulating the Biden administration’s spending plans -- an especially critical endeavor amid the current economic crisis. It is concerning that Tanden has, in the past, expressed support for cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid and has been a staunch opponent of Medicare for All and a $15 federal minimum wage.

We need your help to stop these confirmations in the Senate and ensure Biden’s appointees put the people’s interests over corporate interests. Sign up here to volunteer for the #NoHoneymoon campaign.

ANTONY BLINKEN has been nominated to serve as Secretary of State. He supported the war in Iraq, supported interventions in Libya and Syria, and co-founded WestExec Advisors -- a firm that provides “strategic consulting” for undisclosed clients in the tech and defense sectors, greasing the revolving door between industry and the federal government (i.e. the military-industrial complex).

AVRIL HAINES has been nominated to serve as Director of National Intelligence. She was the former deputy national security adviser and former deputy CIA director under Obama. Haines helped author the Presidential Policy Guidance that established the legal framework and normalization of the Obama administration’s use of drone strikes, and failed to discipline CIA officers who hacked Senate Intelligence Committee networks while the committee was compiling a report on CIA torture.

Given the records of these nominees, we can’t expect them to meet this political moment and do what needs doing for the American people. The push for better leadership in the Biden administration is a vital part of our #NoHoneymoon campaign. We invite you to join us in this effort.

In solidarity,

Norman Solomon and Jeff Cohen
Co-founders, RootsAction.org

P.S. Here are a few more actions you can take in under five minutes to amplify our campaign!

1. Join our Facebook Volunteer Network for volunteer opportunities and campaign updates.
2. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for regular updates on Activism and Pressure Campaigns.
3. Take Action at NoHoneymoon.org

Background
>>Vilsack
George Goehl, The Guardian: "Biden's pick for agriculture secretary raises serious red flags"
Claire Kelloway, The Intercept: "Tom Vilsack for USDA Secretary Is What’s Wrong With the Democratic Party"
>>Tanden
Walker Bragman, Daily Poster: "Biden Picks Budget Director Who Pushed Social Security Cuts"
>>Blinken
Stephen Zunes, Truthout: "Biden’s Pick for Secretary of State Has a Record of Militarism"
Bryan Bender and Theodoric Meyer, Politico: "The secretive consulting firm that’s become Biden’s Cabinet in waiting"
>>Haines
Sarah Lazare, In These Times: "Biden's Foreign Policy Picks Are From the Hawkish National Security Blob. That Is a Bad Sign."
Jerry Dunleavy, Washington Examiner: "Avril Haines, deputy of John Brennan and Susan Rice, named Biden’s future spy chief"

www.RootsAction.org

 ***

It's high time we turned around and started walking!  The Revolution Continues will be with you every step.

Five and a half years on, and we're still fighting the duopoly, and we're not ashamed to say that we need fellow revolutionaries like you to help us stay online and provide progressive insights. If you can spare some of your pocket change, please use the Paypal link below to donate to help fund our operations.

http://paypal.me/camatthews

Thanks for all you do in making the world a better place. Power to the people!

2020: The Year That Wasn't

 

2020: The Year That Wasn't

Most news programs/podcasts/web sites do a "news roundup" at this point in the year, and this year seems to really lend itself to this tried and true format. We started the year thinking 2020 would be one of "Perfect Vision" (https://bernie2016.blogspot.com/2019/12/perfect-vision-2020.html ) and perhaps even the beginnings of a people's revolution, but within three months we found ourselves entangled in the beginnings of a worldwide pandemic instead.

Disease and certain death certainly wasn't on the menu originally for 2020. In spite of the challenges of mask wearing and social distancing, progressives soldiered on and accomplished more than one might think in a year that kept families and lovers apart and shut down whole economies. They even managed to demonstrate how racism still exists in the US, why Black Lives Matter (https://bernie2016.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-long-flight-of-jim-crow.html ) and why we must #DefundThePolice (https://bernie2016.blogspot.com/2020/09/why-cities-burn.html ) .

So, without any further ado, welcome to the year that wasn't as observed and documented by the writers of The Revolution Continues. (Click on the links to read the articles mentioned.)

January 2020: This will be the year we finally acknowledge and do something constructive about the climate crisis to prevent major wildfires and other ecological disasters worldwide. https://bernie2016.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-whole-world-is-burning.html

February 2020: This will be the year the Democratic Party is completely reformed and recognizes the progressive wisdom and brave leadership of Senator Bernie Sanders, allowing him to win the presidential nomination and lead America into a golden age of Medicare For All and no more student loan debt. https://bernie2016.blogspot.com/2020/02/2020-year-that-will-shape-future-of.html

March 2020: This will be the year we get our act together as a people and our elected leaders will respect medical experts and pass generous legislation to help every American suffering without access to health care or a job because of the Covid-19 pandemic. https://bernie2016.blogspot.com/2020/03/life-down-rabbit-hole.html

April 2020: This will be the year we will free non-violent prisoners suffering under unhealthy conditions in for-profit prisons and overcrowded public ones, as well as openly acknowledge the multitude of sins of the "chosen" DNC nominee. https://bernie2016.blogspot.com/2020/04/why-i-adore-joe-biden.html

May 2020: This will be the year we will acknowledge at last that capitalism kills and that those who have billions of dollars in the bank couldn't care less about those whose work they obtain obscene profits from.  https://bernie2016.blogspot.com/2020/05/cannon-fodder-for-capitalism.html

This will also be the year we sit down and seriously contemplate why the rich are so afraid of the word "socialism."  https://bernie2016.blogspot.com/2020/01/why-are-rich-so-scared-of-socialism.html

June 2020: This will be the year that Americans of all social classes will learn to live together in peace and racial harmony--and our policing agencies will demonstrate fair and restorative justice techniques. https://bernie2016.blogspot.com/2020/06/this-is-revolution.html

July 2020: This will be the year that a person in uniform will earn the respect of the public by his/her actions. "Protect and serve" won't just always apply to the rich or the oligarchs and their sycophants: https://bernie2016.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-only-difference-is-uniform.html

August 2020: This will be the year that "lesser evil" voting becomes a thing of the past, allowing for a more diverse and responsive political system. Also, Americans will come to see who their true adversaries are (and how they make more money in less than one second than the average worker makes in one year). https://bernie2016.blogspot.com/2020/08/winners-and-losers.html

September 2020: This is the year that Americans recognize the signs of fascism in time so we won't be doomed to repeat history endlessly--especially the scary bits modeled by Hitler's Germany. https://bernie2016.blogspot.com/2020/09/a-history-of-fascism-in-america.html

October 2020: This will be the year that true democracy will be supported and a diversity of opinion and approaches (vocalized primarily by smaller political parties) will be praised and respected by the American electorate. Everyone will be able to vote and feel proud of their vote--not pressured! https://bernie2016.blogspot.com/2020/10/the-only-wasted-vote.html

November 2020: This will be the year Americans realize that we must fundamentally change of systems of governance and economics in order to provide a safe and healthy life for all people--and this will be reflected in our voting preferences, not our base fears. https://bernie2016.blogspot.com/2020/11/we-have-to-fundamentally-change.html

December 2020: This will be the year that the destructive path of neoliberalism will at last be outed and shunned for the horror that it is, allowing Medicare For All to finally pass among other programs so desperately needed. The "brunch crowd" will be no more in this new America free from classism, racism, sexism and "bubble bias." https://bernie2016.blogspot.com/2020/12/brunch-has-been-suspended-indefinitely.html

There you go--here's the "2020 perfect vision" we all hoped for a bare twelve months ago. At least we know for certain now what we all need to be working toward building in 2021, right?

Until we meet again, we wish a healthy and happy New Year to you and yours from all of us here at The Revolution Continues. Keep your masks on and keep fighting!

***

From Friends of the Earth:

The Southern Beaufort Sea polar bear population is dwindling. Less than 900 bears remain. Now, their habitat is at risk from the oil and gas industries. Take action to protect polar bears from Big Oil.

The Arctic Refuge is one of the most important onshore denning habitats for polar bears in the United States. Mother polar bears with their cubs have become increasingly reliant on denning in this area as sea ice melts due to climate change.

Now, oil and gas seismic testing in the coast plan could irreversibly damage this essential habitat. But the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has downplayed the impacts of seismic exploration and is moving forward with the permitting process. We need your help to stop it.

Take action to protect polar bears from the fossil fuel industry.

Sign Now

Polar bears are listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. The Arctic Refuge is vital to their survival.

Seismic exploration in their habitat could crush bears in their dens or force mother bears to abandon their cubs, leaving the little ones to perish.

Oil drilling in the last remnants of undeveloped coastal habitats in an increasingly warming Arctic could eradicate polar bears from the United States. We need your help to demand the BLM puts the lives of polar bears ahead of Big Oil profits.

Demand the Bureau of Land Management stop seismic testing in the Arctic.

Sign Now

Seismic testing utilizes acoustic waves that search for formations of oil deposits below the surface.

The delicate Arctic ecosystem still carries scars from testing conducted in the area thirty years ago. Modern seismic testing will only be worse. The testing will fill a space the size of South Carolina with a dense grid of crisscrossing tracks -- the equivalent of almost a full trip around the Earth. Thumper trucks, convoys, bulldozers, and tractors will roll over this fragile ecosystem 24 hours a day, 7 days a week -- for months on end!

The only reason for the BLM to go forward with this plan is to benefit the fossil fuel industry. It would harm polar bears, disrupt sensitive ecosystems, and impact local communities. We need your help to stop this plan before the December 30th deadline to comment.

Use your voice. Demand the BLM protect the Arctic’s vulnerable ecosystem.

Sign Now

Standing with you,

Nicole Ghio,
Senior fossil fuels program manager,
Friends of the Earth

  ***

This coming year will be a big one and you can help The Revolution Continues.

Five and a half years on, and we're still fighting, but it's tough. You as a fellow revolutionary can make it easier for the faithful editors/writers to stay on the job by simply sharing some of your pocket change now and then. Use the Paypal link below to donate.

 http://paypal.me/camatthews

Thanks for all you do in making the world a better place. Power to the people!

 

Celebrating Subversively

 

Celebrating Subversively

by C. A. Matthews

With the number of holiday seasons I've experienced, you'd think by now I'd have figured a few things out. But I'm a slow learner, and some lessons in life need repeating until they're finally stuck in your head.

The holidays are not about giving presents.

The holidays are about receiving a gift.

There is a difference.

Commercialism/capitalism tells us that the holidays (whichever ones you celebrate, be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, etc.) are all about buy, buy, buy! Supposedly the only way to profess your love for others is by purchasing lots of material things for them. And the more you buy, the greater your love is, or so says Wall Street and Madison Avenue.

It's an endless guilt-o-rama. Once you've climbed into that hamster wheel of consumerism, it's a difficult ride to come off of. Fortunately, some of us get thrown off the wheel--by losing our jobs, our incomes, our homes, our health, and/or our loved ones--and then we realize just how dizzying and soul-destroying that materialistic take on the holidays truly was and is. We begin to appreciate the things that last, and the pursuit of stuff is not one of them.

So, this holiday season I want to encourage you to celebrate subversively. Don't buy into anything the capitalists tell you to. Do the opposite. Give as much of your stuff away as you feel comfortable giving to others who are without and then give a little bit more. I promise it's not as bad as it sounds. Getting past your hoarding instincts can take some effort, but once you open your heart to the concept of gifting material possessions away to others, the more open you'll be to receiving the love and peace that is what the season is supposed to be about in the first place.

No, it's not a contest, and you won't "win" anything by doing so, except possibly the very necessary peace of mind gained from not equating the capitalist concept of accumulating wealth as the end-all and be-all of life.  You will "win" by simply being able to enjoy the season without the burden of trying to outdo your neighbors in the crass commercialism and orgy of endless trips to the shopping mall.

Remember, by staying out of big  public spaces you'll be less likely to catch or spread the coronavirus. And who knows? You might find yourself being gifted by others of a like mind. Thank them profusely and receive their gift in the generosity of spirit that it was given to you.

This year in particular, we all really do need to hear again the message of "Peace on Earth and Goodwill to All People."

In no culture's traditions does it say that peace and goodwill only come about by purchasing numerous consumer items that nobody really wants, needs, or can use when they're stuck on a ventilator gasping for oxygen. Nowhere does it say that destroying the planet we share and denying health care to others on the basis of an evil economic system will bring about peace and goodwill. Just the opposite.

So, relax and skip the gifts and open your heart instead. It's all hands on deck in 2021 to straighten this mess up, so let's help each other stay healthy, sane, fed and warm so we're all up for the task.

Have yourself a merry little Subversive Celebration this holiday season and a Healthy New Year.

 

Related articles to enlighten your season:

Jesus Was A Victim Of Empire

 https://truthout.org/articles/jesus-was-a-victim-of-empire-acknowledging-this-should-transform-christianity/

Dr. Cornel West interview where he talks about how Jesus stood up to the establishment (and how we should, too).  "It's never the wrong time to do the right thing."

https://youtu.be/VHLX2kH9_7k 

Concrete Liberation Narratives

https://www.patheos.com/blogs/socialjesus/2020/12/concrete-liberation-narratives-advent-part1/

Ads All Tell Us To Kill Our Future (Ethical Consumerism?)

https://scheerpost.com/2020/12/22/lee-camp-ads-all-tell-us-to-kill-our-future-worth-discussing/

*** 

 Don't Get Your Mouth Washed Out With Soap!

Speak Out, Act Up, and

Support The Revolution Continues! 

Send donations to http://paypal.me/camatthews 

 (Little Ralphie sends his thanks. Keep fighting in 2021 and stay well!)

***

From Faithful America:

On January 20, Donald Trump will leave the White House, and we thank God for that -- but our work as social-justice Christians is far from over.

We must remember that Trump was a symptom, not the actual disease. Yes, he lost, but with a whopping 74 million votes. The forces of white supremacy, Christian nationalism, and the religious right are still as strong as ever.

The past week tells the story. On Saturday, Catholic Archbishop Carlo Viganò and Bishop Joseph Strickland spoke to a right-wing rally in D.C., spreading QAnon theories in a desperate, ill-fated, final effort to undermine democracy and steal the election.

After the rally, the racist Proud Boys tore down and burned Black Lives Matter signs at two local Black churches. Yet instead of speaking out for the "religious freedom" of these churches like he does for anti-LGBTQ businesses, Franklin Graham wrote yet another lengthy Facebook post in praise of Donald Trump.

Make no mistake: The leaders of the religious right are enabling white supremacy, just as they are trying to enable Trump's failed attempted coup. But together, we social-justice Christians can do something about it.

Add your name: I pledge to spend 2021 putting my faith into action, standing for justice and reclaiming Christianity from the religious right

Where there is darkness, there is also light. Despite all of the religious right's lies and Republican attempts to stop people from casting their ballots, voters -- including social-justice Christians -- turned out in record numbers and sent Trump packing.

COVID-19 vaccines are finally becoming slowly available, with most faith leaders encouraging people to get one.

And just this week, Faithful America helped organize 45 organizations and 12,000 people of faith to loudly condemn racist attacks on the Black church in the Georgia Senate runoffs.

From stopping Trump's hateful nominees in the Senate to supporting asylum seekers and taking dangerous COVID-19 misinformation off the air, 2020 has been a year of big victories for this movement. We should never underestimate what we can accomplish when we stand together -- nor should we let our successes lull us into complacency, or the religious right will erase everything we have gained.

Pledge to keep taking action with Faithful America in 2021

Thank you for everything you have done and will keep doing to love your neighbor and reclaim your faith from the right wing!

In peace,
Rev. Nathan and the Faithful America team

 

"When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous, but dismay to evildoers." - Proverbs 21:15

 ***

From the GPUS:

After months of devastating delays, Congress' paltry new COVID relief package is a slap in the face of suffering Americans.

A $600 check won't get many families through the month, much less the winter.

Meanwhile, Congressional Democrats are shying away from promoting Medicare-For-All.

We. Will. Not. Stand. For. This.

Contact your representatives in Congress now using our action page if you want real solutions that can't wait! Tell them:

• We demand bold, decisive COVID relief to kick off the desperately-needed Green New Deal
• We demand bold support for Medicare-For-All, including floor votes, without delay. #ForceTheVote!
• Stop spending money on tax cuts and subsidies for billionaires and corporations, stop dumping money into our bloated war machine. Invest in the health, safety and future of our communities!

Then make sure you share the action page so Congress can't ignore these demands!

TAKE ACTION NOW

Like most Greens, you probably never had high hopes for what the Democrats would do with a Biden Presidency, but even we are taken aback by just how quickly they are trying to smack down any hope that their control of the House of Representatives and the White House might lead to some real relief from the ravages of capitalism.

That makes it even more important for the Green Party to reach the year-end goal of 100 new Monthly Sustainers. This pandemic has exposed our country's brutal inequality on a scale we haven't seen in a long time and the parties of War and Wall Street are carrying on with business as usual. And their "business" is selling you out.

Please become a Monthly Sustainer today at whatever level you can afford so you can support our Green candidates and campaigns throughout the whole year!

Monthly contributions from people just like you are the most powerful grassroots fundraising tool we have, since our political independence requires financial independence from corporate lobbyists and PACs.

If signing up for monthly contributions doesn't work for you right now, making a one-time contribution today will still go a long way toward fueling our grassroots campaigns for real COVID relief, a Green New Deal and an end to militarism and oppression in all its forms.

Michael O'Neil
Communications Manager
Green Party of the United States

DONATE

Green Party of the United States
http://www.gp.org/