The Left Has Won — Unless We Lose It

I’ve been a supporter of Bernie Sanders right from the outset. His use of social media for two years before declaring his candidacy was brilliant and changed how many Americans think. He called for a political revolution, but was politically correct in doing so. And, more importantly, was correct.

He called out the 1 percent and 2 percent and made people focus on the gross abuses of income inequality. He showed how the other side uses big money to purchase elections and, as a result, ensure bad government. Just witness the idiotic Senate confirmation position taken by the Republicans as evidence of how screwed up things have become.

Bernie Sanders has raised our consciousness. Thank you!

Now I think it’s time to unite the Democrats to avoid losing the General election to whatever train-wreck ultimately runs from the GOP or the far-right as independents or both. The likelihood of a Bernie delegate win at this point is remote, even if all the stars align. And it will involve slogging it out to the convention.

A Democrat has to win this election. We cannot risk not getting a clear majority in the Electoral College because our vote was split. That should be the fate of the far right, UNLESS we mess it up.

Bernie has done a terrific job of energizing and changing the debate.
Hillary now uses his language and has adopted many of his positions. Bernie has moved the narrative of the Democratic race much more to the left, where it needed to go.

Now, with all the leverage he has, it’s time for Bernie to get assurances that Hillary will stand solidly on positions where she has moved in line with Bernie — then both candidates need to compromise. Both sides must be prepared to give up something to protect Bernie’s strong following, to help everyone understand that nobody wins the war if we keep trying to win each battle, to keep young voters active and motivated until the election in November and to ensure a massive turnout on Election Day of those who have been drawn to Bernie.

This is a must-win year for the Democrats, because if the right candidates run on the other side — the extremists like Trump and Cruz — their extremist views could trigger a swing in control of the entire Congress back to the Democrats. Bernie needs to keep up his fervor right through November, and focus his anger on the conservative and Tea Party GOP opposition.But not as the nominee. He needs to be seen as visibly aligned with Hillary and say so as much as possible.

And, then Bernie needs to be commended for saving this country.
By the conviction of his principles, Bernie Sanders has saved this country from racism and division and inequality — and has moved us closer to the kind of nation we should be. He has made us think seriously about spending more on health care and education than fighting pointless wars abroad. He has pushed Hillary where she needed to be in the first place on so many social issues.

But if Democrats fight it out to the end and smear each other, it simply will give the Right Wing Nutcases ammunition to use in the fall. It will turn off those who now are energized and it will cost the Democrats the Presidency. That cannot happen. We must keep crazy people from doing crazy things.

We have won the war. We don’t need to win any more battles. With Bernie in a position of visible influence and Hillary in the White House, we then can finish the job of protecting our moral integrity as a country.