Daily Archives: May 29, 2015


Trumka: Disappointment with Obama, a warning for Hillary

USA Today has the article and video Trumka: Disappointment with Obama, a warning for Hillary.

The nation’s most powerful labor leader, vowing to defeat President Obama’s key trade legislation in the House next month, warned Hillary Clinton of serious political consequences if she fails to take a stand against the Pacific trade pact that the president is campaigning for as a major part of his legacy.


I wonder how loudly labor has to speak in order to get the President’s attention. I am not sure Hillary is listening, either. Hillary and her supporters are going to have to learn that we are not going to take the usual crap from Democratic pretenders any more. If they don’t like it, then they should admit that they are really more comfortable in the Republican Party. They should put their efforts into fixing that party, and leave the Democratic party to us.


In Search of the Democratic Soul

Campaign For America’s Future has the article In Search of the Democratic Soul.

Progressive Democrats are often advised not to challenge their party’s leaders too firmly, because the Republican alternative is so terrible. “It is vital (for) Dems to figure out how to maintain maximum unity,” writes Ed Kilgore, “even as they disagree.” Similarly, independent progressives are often told it would be “irresponsible” not to vote for Democrats, even those of the Wall Street variety.

Democrats should be wooing progressives, not scolding them. By appealing to left-wing voters, Democrats will also be winning over the many Republicans and independents who agree with them on a broad range of issues.

The best way to find the soul of the Democratic Party is by seeking out the small-d “democratic” soul instead – that voice of the majority that so often goes unheard in today’s money-driven politics.

Part of the article remarks about how similar Hillary Clinton’s rhetoric is to that of Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. I tried leaving the following comment.

In Hillary Clinton’s Roundtable in New Hampshire, one of the panelists cast aspersions on Dodd-Frank twice, and Hillary Clinton did not say a word in response. She made no defense of it, nor did she acknowledge the complainants’ comments.

In fact, Elizabeth Warren has a video response to the issue, Elizabeth Warren: Statement on bill to roll back Dodd-Frank.

Hillary Clinton still uses the same economic advisers who started the ball rolling toward the great collapse of 2008/2009. She has yet to denounce them or the advice that they gave.

Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are actively engaged in fixing these problems in their day jobs. Clinton is all talk, and not very convincing talk at that.

If you want to equate what Hillary says with what Sanders and Warren actually do, then that’s your privilege. But I think you have your eyes closed to the reality.