Hillary was a hipster in the 60'sI'm not a Hillary hater. I'm very enthusiastic about Bernie Sanders, not because of who she is but because of who he is. And although at this point I can't imagine voting for her if she wins the primary, I know myself well enough to admit I'll be rooting for her over Bush or Trump or Walker or Cruz or whichever garbage wins the clown car derby. That said, I was shocked today when Hillary-- visiting New Hampshire progressive bastion Hanover-- told a medium-sized crowd, "I take a backseat to no one when you look at my record of standing up and fighting for progressive values." She's no dummy and she certainly knows what "progressive" means; apparently she doesn't care. There may be some good justifications for progressives to vote for her-- primarily to keep someone far worse, whether Webb or Rubio, out of the White House-- but her "progressive values" would not be among them. She's a cautious centrist with many of the most reactionary power-mongers within the Democratic Party on her team. If actual progressives like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Alan Grayson and Donna Edwards get "A" grades, it wouldn't be fair to grade Hillary anything more than a "C" or, at best, a B minus. On almost every progressive issue outside of specific women's issues she's been a laggard and a follower, never a leader, holding a wet finger to the wind.
Seeking the Democratic nomination, Clinton's focus has been on economic issues, the driving force behind Sanders' recent rise in polls. The senator describes himself as a democratic socialist and has won elections in Vermont as an independent. He has drawn large crowds around the country and reported raising $15 million since late April, about one-third of the $45 million Clinton has brought in. Sanders said on Friday in an email to supporters that he would release a series of policy proposals in the next few weeks "to address the major issues facing our nation." The campaign is seeking to ramp up its volunteer base and planning to hold organizing meetings across the nation on July 29.
This is a Bob Dylan song from 1965, his first Top 40 hit and the lead track from Bringing It All Back Home. The song references the conflict between the liberal firebrand Hillary supposedly really was at the time and the centrist she gradually turned herself into. It's worth listening to over and over until you know every word and understand every inference: Johnny’s in the basementMixing up the medicineI’m on the pavementThinking about the governmentThe man in the trench coatBadge out, laid offSays he’s got a bad coughWants to get it paid off Look out kid It’s somethin’ you didGod knows when But you’re doin’ it againYou better duck down the alley way Lookin’ for a new friend The man in the coon-skin cap By the big penWants eleven dollar billsYou only got tenMaggie comes fleet footFace full of black sootTalkin’ that the heat put Plants in the bed butThe phone’s tapped anywayMaggie says that many say They must bust in early MayOrders from the D.A.Look out kidDon’t matter what you didWalk on your tiptoesDon’t try “No-Doz” Better stay away from thoseThat carry around a fire hose Keep a clean nose Watch the plain clothesYou don’t need a weathermanTo know which way the wind blowsGet sick, get wellHang around a ink wellRing bell, hard to tellIf anything is goin’ to sellTry hard, get barred Get back, write brailleGet jailed, jump bailJoin the army, if you fail Look out kidYou’re gonna get hitBut users, cheaters Six-time losersHang around the theatersGirl by the whirlpool Lookin’ for a new foolDon’t follow leadersWatch the parkin’ meters Ah get born, keep warmShort pants, romance, learn to danceGet dressed, get blessed Try to be a successPlease her, please him, buy gifts Don’t steal, don’t liftTwenty years of schoolin’And they put you on the day shiftLook out kidThey keep it all hid Better jump down a manholeLight yourself a candleDon’t wear sandals Try to avoid the scandalsDon’t wanna be a bum You better chew gum The pump don’t work ’Cause the vandals took the handles