tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340222.post8281369463423545718..comments2023-09-28T04:08:46.005-04:00Comments on The Hankster: National Organizer of Independents Speaks to the Lessons of MassachusettsNancy Hankshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17428253702914703243noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340222.post-76568008831118450922010-01-23T08:54:15.903-05:002010-01-23T08:54:15.903-05:00I agree, Nancy: smarter, better organized, and bet...I agree, Nancy: smarter, better organized, and better funded, ESPECIALLY now that SCOTUS has given big corporations carte blanche regarding campaign donations. This could kill all political parties completely and boil down to a battle only between the best-funded special interests---what a horrible ruling!Jack Jodellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02165430903903838990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340222.post-78503426496955767292010-01-21T22:47:26.589-05:002010-01-21T22:47:26.589-05:00Thanks for your thoughts on this Jack -- let's...Thanks for your thoughts on this Jack -- let's hope the Dems are listening! As for independents, we need to be much better organized to make a real difference. After all, the parties will put up their candidates through their corrupt process. Indies need to get smarter.Nancy Hankshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17428253702914703243noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340222.post-86342938319115100892010-01-21T21:38:04.377-05:002010-01-21T21:38:04.377-05:00An additional thought: Democrats need to stop nomi...An additional thought: Democrats need to stop nominating corporate, conservative Democrats. People don't want Republicans anymore, nor do they want Republican Lite Democrats. I hope independents nationwide will begin clearly demanding more progressive candidates instead of venting anger by electing more conservatives!Jack Jodellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02165430903903838990noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26340222.post-67567119214102335172010-01-21T21:34:09.945-05:002010-01-21T21:34:09.945-05:00You know, the country, and especially Massachusett...You know, the country, and especially Massachusetts, was rightfully fed up with 6 years of conservative Republican, for the wealthy only rule, so in 2006 they voted Republicans out of office. Two years later, they again rejected the conservatives by voting out even more Republicans and electing Barack Obama, who had a boatload of progressive, new ideas to offer. <br /><br />Then Obama got elected. He pushed hard for a stimulus bill, which was good. He signed an executive order to close Gitmo. That, too, was good. He initially pushed hard for a progressive health care bill including a public option, and that was good. But little by little he started moving away from his progressive platform. He allowed corporatist Democrats and conservative Republicans into accepting a pitiful, watered down Senate health care bill. He abandoned labor by accepting a tax on their health care plans in that bill. Gitmo remains open without a concrete closing date. Cap and Trade is stalled and will remain that way. The end result? Voter anger and progressive apathy.<br /><br />The Democrats achieved independent support and won two crucial elections by promising change, not collusion or soft-pedaling. Every single time they moderate and go Republican Lite it hurts them and kills the progressive agenda. THAT IS BAD FOR AMERICA.<br /><br />I fully understand independents' rejection of a corporatist Coakley. What I DON'T understand is their willingness to elect a reactionary friend of Wall Street and the status quo who is masquerading as a populist! It makes absolutely no sense at all. If this trend continues, any hope of any kind of progressive legislation being enacted over the next four to five years will be all but impossible. <br /><br />Electing Scott Brown in Massachusetts will prove to be a HUGE mistake, and, in my estimation, amounts to suicidally misdirected anger.Jack Jodellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02165430903903838990noreply@blogger.com