I’ve kind of had a long running conversation with someone I know about Democrats vs Republicans that’s gotten a little weird at times.
My contention has been that once you move beyond the rhetoric more than a few similarities abound – that the tit for tat of I know you are but what am I and the yes you did no I didn’t is more formulaic than anything else.
And the mea culpa that others have done the same ala a defense mounted for Anthony Weiner is and remains too childish to even consider entertaining.
The linked article provides something of an example in noting the lack of support for pipeline protesters among the elected of the Democratic Party.
DAPL was something to be avoided by then candidate Hillary Clinton and the party in general, issues like politically correct speech and who gets to use what public bathroom had a higher value and the party of yes we can became the party of we’re not sure if we want to or should.
The alleged party of the working class and marginalized found a greater comfort zone in attending fund raising soirees and pandering to celebrities – they only found it necessary to tepidly speak about the inequities that existed between Wall Street and middle America when forced to while assuring any among the establishment who may have felt uneasy that there really wasn’t cause for alarm, a campaign was going on and as such a certain amount of populist speech was a necessary evil.
They say you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, I’m not sure how accurate that is but the refusal to accept the lessons learned while striving to maintain the status quo among the party suggests those ensconced aren’t exactly enamored of the idea when it comes to dropping the trappings of an assumed entitlement in favor of who they purport to be.
For sure the party has advocated for addressing the issues of climate change but apparently believed the environmental impact of politically correct speech had a greater importance than the environmental impact of DAPL.
The focus became about breaking glass ceilings as opposed to breaking treaties, about bathroom rights and not offending the sensibilities of anyone instead of the risks associated with clean water DAPL represents and an ill advised declaration about “deplorable” people.
Clinton at one point when backed into a corner about polluted water in Michigan said she was on it, had a five year plan.
Five years? How many poisoned children does that amount to?
George Clooney in hosting a gala fundraiser at thousands of dollars a plate for the unqualified glass breaker allowed after being called out that yes it is a real shame that such things take place, but golly gee what’s a person to do other than play the game while ignoring the fact the game is eagerly played on both sides of the aisle and it’s a pick your poison sort of thing.
Cozy up to the establishment representative candidate of your choice and pony up some money, you may even get to stand next to the candidate and have your photo taken.
Bernie Sanders became the elephant in the room, the angry gray haired curmudgeon with needle in hand popping balloons wherever he went, an uncomfortable voice of fact and reason to contend with and be marginalized.
Enter Debbie Wasserman Schultz of the DNC and “journalists” like Barbara Brazile to aid and abet the woman who would be queen.
The woman close to five hundred members of the shameless Electoral College had pledged their votes to when her candidacy was barely in it’s infancy – now that’s democracy for you, that’s power to the people.
I like Elizabeth Warren, she’s something of a female version of Sanders advocating for the right things but missed the boat when it comes to DAPL, or for the politically correct word police we can say Sanders is a male version of Warren if it makes them feel better.
As a member of the self described people’s party Warren, Franken, Gabbard, and in fact multiple others should have at a minimum done one of those fact finding junkets to the front lines like their predecessor Bobby Kennedy did during the UFW protests in the fields of California.
They should have advised the pipeline growers to read the treaties as Kennedy admonished the Coachella growers to read the Constitution.
Hillary Clinton should have done that, but then to take a high profile in opposition to the drill baby drill lunacy may have affected donations and the relationship with Wall Street and corporate America – after all it is a game of thrones, a game of musical chairs and who will be left chairless.
The linked article stresses the importance of choosing a side and commitment – politicians are notorious for waffling, something that’s become know as “pivoting” and in some cases having “misspoke” or their words taken out context.
Rarely do they stand up and say they dropped the ball, now let’s roll up our sleeves and get busy.
It’s a given that Republicans don’t give a damn about the environment and apparently view oil and toxic spills as a form of jobs creation, sort of a silver lining, a fringe benefit that will contribute to making America great.
Dems on the other hand like to talk the talk, while walking the walk isn’t always seen as expeditious.
Hillary apparently seeks to emerge from her cocoon now with tweets and video messages gushing on about the importance of continuing the good fight and she’s got your back if you do.
A crafted message long on platitudes but seriously lacking substance – who knows maybe she’s got her eye on being the mayor of NYC.
Maybe if a proposed pipeline near her residence were to be the way of it she would find a common and vocal ground with water protectors – if not then in the interim I’m not exactly impressed.
Alliances are important, there’s a strategic value in them – alliances the nations formed in the past spoke to that though they weren’t as encompassing as they should have been, and alliances among the nations with the military on the basis of enemy of my enemy didn’t work out well.
In the aftermath of Standing Rock there will be a few days of media coverage till the next Trump generated story emerges or something really important occurs like a Kardashian selfie is posted or another awards ceremony takes place.
The environmentally disenfranchised, disgruntled? Big deal, let them eat cake and drink lead filled or ignitable water right? I mean really, come on now, who do they think they are?
I happened to run across an old television series on the net by the name of Dragnet and watched a couple of episodes.
The lead character had a penchant for saying “just the facts” when soliciting information from a victim or witness – it would go a long way in remediating a host of problems if politicians and everyone just stuck to the facts.
http://observer.com/2017/02/democrats-silent-dakota-access-pipeline-elizabeth-warren/