Post by robeiae on Dec 5, 2020 13:51:13 GMT -5
From Greenwald: After the Deep State Sabotaged His Presidential Bid, Bernie Sanders Mocks Those Who Believe it Exists
The conclusion:
It's an interesting read, but I'm not sure if I buy it all. Because I think Greenwald's dealing with a lot of his own sour groups and I think that a statement on twitter is not sufficient evidence to argue that someone has totally reversed themselves on a given issue. Still, there's something here, imo. Sanders is coming across like a whipped dog, imo.
The conclusion:
Joe Biden chose Neera Tanden as his Director of Office of Management and Budget: the party operative who did more than any single individual over the last five years to vilify and defame not only Sanders himself but his millions of most ardent supporters as racists, misogynists, and uniquely toxic poisons contaminating the body politic. Biden did so knowing that Sanders will be — depending on the outcome of the Georgia Senate run-offs next month — either the Chairman or ranking member of the Budget Committee, responsible for Tanden’s confirmation hearing.
They thus knowingly put Sanders in the position of having to play the good soldier by shepherding the nomination of a person who has spent years viciously attacking and lying about him and his most ardent followers. Did they do so without first consulting and obtaining the acquiescence of the Vermont Senator? Or did they simply assume that he will continue his subservient posture and do what he is told, even if it means debasing himself and betraying his voters by championing the confirmation of Neera Tanden?
Sanders has yet to speak one way or the other about this nomination, so it is unclear what he will do. It is very hard to imagine that he would vote against her if his vote were decisive. It is much easier to imagine him standing up in the Senate and saying something along these lines:
I do not know if that will be Sanders’ position. But the fact that it is so easy to imagine him speaking those words about one of the lowliest and most unscrupulous neoliberal operatives is revealing — and depressing. That, in the name of loyalty to Democratic Party propaganda, Sen. Sanders now mocks those who believe in the existence of the very weapons used twice to destroy his candidacy makes it all the likelier that he will do this and worse.
They thus knowingly put Sanders in the position of having to play the good soldier by shepherding the nomination of a person who has spent years viciously attacking and lying about him and his most ardent followers. Did they do so without first consulting and obtaining the acquiescence of the Vermont Senator? Or did they simply assume that he will continue his subservient posture and do what he is told, even if it means debasing himself and betraying his voters by championing the confirmation of Neera Tanden?
Sanders has yet to speak one way or the other about this nomination, so it is unclear what he will do. It is very hard to imagine that he would vote against her if his vote were decisive. It is much easier to imagine him standing up in the Senate and saying something along these lines:
As everyone knows, I have had my differences with my friend Neera Tanden over the years, but now is the time for us to unite as Democrats and Americans. Despite our differences, I believe she will do an outstanding job in this position — she has assured me she will steadfastly protect the entitlement programs on which so many Americans depend [ed: despite a long history of urging they be cut] — and I am therefore proud to support her nomination. Americans chose Joe Biden to be their President and he has the right to choose those whom he trusts for key positions. President Biden trusts Ms. Tanden for this office, and so do I.
I do not know if that will be Sanders’ position. But the fact that it is so easy to imagine him speaking those words about one of the lowliest and most unscrupulous neoliberal operatives is revealing — and depressing. That, in the name of loyalty to Democratic Party propaganda, Sen. Sanders now mocks those who believe in the existence of the very weapons used twice to destroy his candidacy makes it all the likelier that he will do this and worse.