Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat-Massachusetts, the idol of liberals and progressives, endorsed neither Hillary Clinton nor Bernie Sanders until Clinton clinched the nomination, at which time Warren endorsed Clinton.
Warren said how proud she was “to be a Democrat in this election and how our Democratic values will beat Donald Trump . . . and why the Democratic Party’s vision for America will win in November.”
The heads of some of Sanders’ supporters exploded in a frenzy of Facebook fury:
Cheryl Lozano Whitten: We know the President has been bought but now you? You are so afraid of Trump that you compromised your values and principles to endorse someone who is clearly not suited for the highest office in the land. You've even come out numerous times against the banking industry, which the Clintons are in bed with? Are you aware of your hypocrisy? Do you have any idea what you have done to your Political future? It's over Liz and I was such an avid supporter, but no more. You have sold your soul to the devil of political games and the American people will never forget. This is a very sad day. You are not transparent; you are dishonest, corrupt and now immoral.
That’s quite a descent from a progressive icon to dishonest, corrupt and immoral. And to what circle of Hell will Sanders be cast when he, as expected, endorses Clinton?
Manders Marie Anderson: You just tied your name to one of the most corrupt politicians, this nation has ever seen. I'm surprised you trusted her enough to not completely decimate your positive image you worked so hard to build up, by making terrible choices like she is known to do. I guess it's easy to make bad decisions though, when you're paid off by the people who are destroying this planet, and don't give a rat's ass about the actual well being of Americans.
Question: If someone actually gave rat’s ass, would that be such a good thing? And just to be persnickety, decimate means to lose or destroy one-tenth of something. Virtually everybody misuses the word, so why should Anderson give a rat’s ass?
Now that Sanders’ crusade for the nomination is over, it is time for him to have a come-to-Bernie meeting with his supporters (the equivalent of a come-to-Jesus meeting but with a nosh), and to remind them that the real risk to the well being of Americans is Donald Trump. Clinton may not be the president they wished for, but she’d be much better than the president they could get.
And speaking of Bernie’s crusade, will it be one-and-done or will the hundreds of thousands of Millennials who flocked to his banner be willing to do the hard work necessary to bring the change they believe in (now where did that phrase come from?).
After all, Millennials have been termed “Generation Me,” characterized as being confident and tolerant but also having a sense of entitlement and narcissism. [Not taking sides, but perhaps their anger over Sanders losing to Hillary Clinton is the result of the belief that they were entitled to the nomination - just a thought].
Politics has become a debased word but working on a political campaign is fun and exciting. The hours can be impossibly long, the pay low (or non-existent if you’re a volunteer), the food – well, how do you feel about an endless diet of pizza – the work, drudgery.
On the other hand, you are working for a cause that’s greater than, and takes you beyond your personal, mundane concerns, with a chance to make a real difference. You will be working along side other idealistic, young men and women, all united and bonding in a common cause - in an exciting environment where the colors are brighter, the music louder, the expectations higher and the relationships more intense. Chances are you’ll get laid.
And attending political rallies with thousands of other like-minded people, cheering as one – a great collective of shared hope, desire and adulation for a distant figure on the podium who is promising a better day, a better future, a better America.
But when the campaign is done and there are no more rallies, what then?
Sanders promised nothing short of a political revolution. He pledged to reduce income and wealth inequality; make college tuition free; get big money out of politics; create a fair and humane immigration policy; fight for affordable housing; break up big banks; strengthen and expand Social Security; and reform Wall Street. That’s just a partial list.
As president, Sanders could begin chipping away at his to-do list, but invariably would never be able to me the expectations he raised among his supporters. He can still be strong, influential Democratic voice for change and reform in the Senate, although he’d probably have to become a Democrat, which might crush the hearts of some of his “Independent” supporters.
Will Sanders provide the leadership within and outside of the Senate to forward the movement he willed into existence? In truth, Sanders didn’t forge coalitions and alliances in the House or Senate to push the agenda that drew so many to his candidacy over the past year.
Sanders is also seventy-four years old. As my grandmother would have said, “May he live to be a one hundred and twenty.” Chances are he won’t, so after Sanders, who?
Senator Warren? After her apostasy, can Sanders’ true believers trust her?
But surely from within the Sanders campaign there must be people willing to carry on and convert his political campaign into an effective, national movement for change.
Perhaps someone will emerge from among the group of “misfits, radicals, rabble-rousers and rappers” that New York Daily News columnist Shaun King thanked Sanders for including in his inner circle.
Perhaps, even, the next Bernie Sanders.
