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Robert Borosage

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Robert L. Borosage is the president of the Institute for America's Future and co-director of its sister organization, the Campaign for America's Future. The organizations were launched by 100 prominent Americans to challenge the rightward drift in U.S. politics, and to develop the policies, message and issue campaigns to help forge an enduring majority for progressive change in America. Most recently, Borosage spearheaded the Campaign's 2006 issues book, StraightTalk 2006, providing activists and candidates with distilled messages on kitchen table concerns, from jobs to affordable health care. Borosage also helped to found and chairs the Progressive Majority Political Action Committee, developing a national base of small donors and skilled activists. Progressive Majority recruits, staffs, and funds progressive candidates for political office.

Mr. Borosage writes widely on political, economic and national security issues for a range of publications including The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. He is a Contributing Editor at The Nation magazine, and a regular contributor to The American Prospect magazine. He is a frequent commentator on television and radio, including Fox Morning News, RadioNation, National Public Radio, C-SPAN and Pacifica Radio. He teaches on presidential power and national security as an adjunct professor at American University's Washington School of Law.

A graduate of Yale Law School, with a graduate degree in International Affairs from George Washington University, Borosage left the practice of law to found the Center for National Security Studies in 1974. The Center focused on the tension between civil rights and the national security powers and prerogatives of the executive branch. It played a leading role in the efforts to investigate the intelligence agencies in the 1970s, curb their abuses, and hold them accountable in the future. At the Center, he helped to write and edit two books, The CIA File and The Lawless State.

In 1979, Borosage became Director of the Institute for Policy Studies, a research institute that drew its inspiration and fellowship from the major democratic movements of our time -- anti-war, women's, environmental and civil rights movements. Borosage helped to found and guide Countdown 88, which succeeded in winning the congressional ban on covert action against Nicaragua. Under Borosage's direction, the Institute expanded its fellowship, launched a successful publications program, and developed a new Washington School for congressional aides and public interest advocates.

In 1988, Borosage left the Institute to serve as senior issues advisor to the presidential campaign of the Reverend Jesse Jackson. He traveled the country with Jackson, writing speeches, framing policy responses, and providing debate preparation and assistance. He went on to advise a range of progressive political campaigns, including those of Senator Carol Moseley-Braun, Barbara Boxer and Paul Wellstone. "

www.ourfuture.org

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100 Dollar bills, From YouTubeVideos
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, April 3, 2020
We're Going to Need a Bigger Bailout Senate Democrats strengthened unemployment insurance for laid-off workers, covering more of them for longer and adding $600 a week to current state levels. They also targeted funds for hospitals and medical supplies -- bizarrely absent from the Republican draft -- and increased aid to schools, states, and localities.
Bernie Sanders, From FlickrPhotos
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, February 14, 2020
What We Already Owe to Bernie Sanders Whether Sanders gains the nomination or the presidency or not, the challenge will be whether the agenda that he has championed, the movement that he has helped to fuel, and the coalition that he has begun to forge can continue to build-and begin to force the fundamental reforms we so desperately need.
Ilhan Omar celebrates after her Minnesota congressional primary victory, From GoogleImages
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, November 7, 2018
The 2018 Election: A Blue Wave with a Harsh Red Undertow Trump dubbed himself the "magic man" the day after the election. Con man would be more accurate -- and Americans are increasingly not falling for the sting. The 2018 election exposed once more how divided the country is -- but it also showed the tide is running against Trump's hateful brand of politics and the party that he continues to deform.
Ohio Special Election Results (Plus MO, MI, KS & WA Primaries), From YouTubeVideos
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, August 11, 2018
Measures of Heat in Tuesday's Primaries Voters turned out in primary elections across Ohio, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri and Washington on Tuesday. Any conclusions drawn from primaries three months out from a midterm vote are written in the wind. That does not stop the press from naming "winners and losers," who's up and who's down.
From flickr.com: Donald Trump - Digital Painting, From Images
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, July 29, 2018
Bad Policies Just to Resist Trump Trump's Achilles heel is that, for all of his populist posturing, his actual agenda -- mostly drawn from the right-wing shibboleths of the Republican Congress -- offers no answers for working people. The answer to Trump's disruptions isn't an embrace of the failed policies and institutions of the past. It is to be clear about what progressives stand for, while relentlessly exposing Trump's false promises.
Body Language Shows Trump Could Not Hide His Fury, From YouTubeVideos
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, July 18, 2018
Will the Foreign-Policy Elite Learn From Trump? Right-wing populism, as trumpeted by a poser like Trump, can evolve into a frightening threat to democracy. Left-wing populism may be democracy's salvation. Trump's election was in many ways a warning to the establishment. The question is whether they heed that message. Thus far, the results are not encouraging.
Texas Democrat Laura Moser is running in her state's 7th Congressional District., From ImagesAttr
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, May 17, 2018
Why Primary Fights Are Good for the Democratic Party Over the past decade, Democrats lost control of both houses of Congress, 1,000 seats in statehouses across the nation, and the presidency to the most reviled candidate in history. The party committees haven't cleaned house or changed strategy. The same consultants, the same pollsters, the same operatives still are at the wheel.
From the Ground Up Activism, From YouTubeVideos
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, April 27, 2018
How to Build a Progressive Populist Movement From the Ground Up Traditional candidates depend on corporate and deep pocket donors. That makes them reluctant to call out the entrenched interests and big money that have rigged the rules. People's Action movement candidates -- supported by local volunteers and small donations -- will be able to name names and say what is what. The difference will be telling.
Anti-war protest, From GoogleImages
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, April 24, 2018
Tell Congress: Curb the President's War Powers This president -- like his predecessors -- claims the right to make war unilaterally, unrestrained by international law or the Constitution. The recent U.S. missile attack on Syria to punish the Assad regime for an alleged use of chemical weapons on civilians reveals the scope of presidential contempt for the law.
Trump Angrily Tweets About --Everything., From YouTubeVideos
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, April 14, 2018
The Real Deal on Trump's Trade Tantrums Best estimates suggest the "China shock" alone -- the result of running the largest deficits with one country in the history of the world -- caused the loss of 2.4 million U.S. jobs between 1999 and 2011. And the effect was much broader. Companies used the threat of moving abroad to bludgeon workers into accepting cuts in wages and benefits.
Democratic candidate Conor Lamb wins!, From YouTubeVideos
(7 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, March 17, 2018
Opening a New Way for Democrats to Run and Win Midterm elections are about passion and energy. Democrats need a sea change, and the resistance to Trump is lifting the tide. Lamb's victory shows is that Democrats don't need purity to come out in large numbers to take back the Congress and confront Trump. It also shows that Democratic candidates who champion a bold kitchen table agenda can win even in the reddest of districts.
Nancy Pelosi, From YouTubeVideos
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, March 9, 2018
The Progressive Challenge Resistance to Trump is necessary, but not sufficient. Getting it right is reassuring but not enough. Progressives must organize not simply to fight but to win the battle over America's future. This won't be easy. The establishment in both parties resists change. Big money corrupts our politics. Partisan posturing too often distracts from the debate that we need.
Democrats Descend into CIVIL WAR, From YouTubeVideos
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, March 5, 2018
Pushing for Real Change in the Democratic Party Will the Democratic Party open itself up to the new grassroots energy and activism that is rising in American politics, or will its insiders assume they can continue business as usual yet still reap the benefits of the resistance to Donald Trump?
Do Labor Unions Still Matter?, From YouTubeVideos
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, February 28, 2018
Janus: Billionaires Take on Public Employees and their Unions The Janus case represents the culmination of a relentless, multi-year, multi-faceted campaign of right-wing billionaires to cripple unions, particularly those of public employees. If they prevail, they will succeed in weakening unions, lowering wages and benefits for public employees, while exacerbating the savage inequality that already subverts our democracy.
Federal Reserve head Jerome Powell speaks., From FlickrPhotos
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, February 12, 2018
The Real Reason Workers Can't Get A Raise Despite Trump's boasts, the economy isn't taking off. The growth of real wages is near zero. The wage share of the economy is near record lows. Profit margins are near record highs. And as Paul Krugman notes, demand has been sustained not by rising business investment but by consumers drawing down their savings. Consumer debt reached record heights in 2017.
Democratic Donkey Wins!, From YouTubeVideos
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, February 7, 2018
Can Democrats Catch a Wave in 2018? All Democrats agree a clear statement of what the party stands for is vital for success. The question is whether their candidates will carry the populist agenda and message they need and the times demand, in spite of the same old big-money politics the party pros insist they cannot do without.
Donald Trump's state of the union speech, From YouTubeVideos
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, February 2, 2018
Menace and Mush: Trump's State of the Union Donald Trump's State of the Union drenched his audience in insipid invocations of unity. Laboriously reading from a teleprompter, for 90 minutes he celebrated family, faith, law and order, the military, our veterans, the national anthem, "one team, one people, one American family." He then purposefully preyed on our fears, plying the race-bait politics that he and his party have perfected.
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis unveils the Pentagon's National Defense Strategy, 1/19/18., From YouTubeVideos
(12 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, January 31, 2018
The Pentagon's Plan for Never-Ending War The military will be tasked with missions it cannot fulfill. It will get more money, but not nearly enough. The nuclear arms race will be revived. American lives will be lost in wars that continue endlessly, with the United States unwilling to lose and unable to win. We desperately need a new real security strategy, and a revolt against endless war to give it traction.
From flickr.com: NAZIS TAKE BABY STEPS AT FIRST --, From Images
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, January 25, 2018
The Shutdown Debacle: Trump and the Politics of Hate Trump wanted the shutdown so he could unleash his vile politics of hate. Republicans shamelessly joined in. This cannot be ignored or accepted. It is not politics as usual. It is an ugly and vicious posturing that will drive this country apart, and unleash furies that may benefit Trump and his Republican choir in the short term, but will subvert this country in the end.
Orange Intensity Aggressive, From GoogleImages
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, January 10, 2018
The Orange Menace and the Even More Dangerous Party That Stands With Him As he marks the end of his first year in office, Donald Trump, the self-proclaimed "very stable genius," stands astride the political world like a cartoon dybbuk, an orange menace of terrifying impulsiveness. With his tweet-spasms spewing venom on adversaries, his reckless fomenting of racial division, his unending lies, and his predilection for vulgar schoolyard taunts, Trump fuels rage and resistance.
Orange tennis ball head, From FlickrPhotos
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, December 4, 2017
It's Time To Change More Than Trump The extreme Republican Party is cutting away at the very sinews of our economy, the comity of our politics, and the quality of our most basic public services. Trump may sound different, but he's just the barker outside their big top. The grisly deed is being done on the inside.
Paul Ryan, From YouTubeVideos
(5 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, November 17, 2017
Republicans in Congress Think You're an Idiot The trees are ugly, but the forest is even worse. At a time when we desperately need to rebuild America, Republicans have ignored real, pressing unmet public needs to shovel more money to the rich and corporations. If this bill becomes law, it will force immediate cuts across the board, including a $25 billion cut to Medicare.
From flickr.com: Democratic Donkey - Caricature, From Images
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, November 15, 2017
Democrats Will Need More Than Resistance to Govern Resistance alone won't suffice to consolidate a governing majority, much less a mandate for the reforms this country desperately needs. That coalition can only be built if Democrats work to enlist working people across lines of race, reflect their anger at an economy rigged against them, challenge business as usual, and build a mandate for real change.
(8 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, November 7, 2017
The GOP Tax Bill Is an Attempt to Destroy Government Once the tax cuts are passed, Republicans will return to hectoring about deficits and debt. Their budget documents already call for brutal cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, education, and the entire range of public services. As crippling as America's public investment is today, passage of the Republican tax plan virtually insures that it will get far worse.
From commons.wikimedia.org: Paul Ryan, From Images
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, October 30, 2017
The Great American Tax Heist Repatriation and territoriality, those muscular terms resonating flag and country, are central to that, a wet kiss to the largest corporations, rewarding them for clever tax-avoidance bookkeeping. And that's what Trump and Republicans are using to sell the tax cuts. We can only imagine what is hidden in the small print that no one has seen yet.
Wall Street Democrats, From YouTubeVideos
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, October 25, 2017
Dems Need To Ignore Wall Street's Advice for the Party Can populist candidates raise enough money to compete in America's billion-dollar presidential races and million-dollar Senate and House races? Even though he started late, Sanders raised about $220 million, mostly in small donations. Elizabeth Warren, the scourge of Wall Street, has been notably successful in funding her campaigns.
Rep. Paul Ryan, From YouTubeVideos
(8 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, October 9, 2017
The Republican Plan to Rob America By a 41-28 margin, Americans know the rich will end up paying less, rather than more. Yet a plurality, 44 percent, thinks the tax cuts will have a "positive impact on the US economy," while only 24 percent think the tax cuts will have a negative impact. The big lie still works.
From flickr.com: Bernie Sanders, From Images
(5 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Bernie Sanders opens a new foreign-policy debate Sanders's speech opened a new debate. It doesn't close it. It is an invitation for others to join in elaborating alternative vision and policy. The most popular politician in America has now taken on the failed establishment consensus on national security as well as establishment domestic policy. It is vital that activists, policy analysts, and political leaders join in building that challenge.
Hillary Clinton's New Memoir, From YouTubeVideos
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, September 22, 2017
Hillary Clinton Tries to Explain "What Happened" Clinton accepts responsibility for her loss, and allows that she might have "missed a lot of chances." Most of the book, however, is about casting blame and settling scores: Putin did it, Comey did it, and so did Bernie, the media, Fox News, sexism, Clinton fatigue, Electoral College, partisan loyalty, voter suppression, and many other factors.
Trump's 'racist' statements spark nervousness within GOP, From YouTubeVideos
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, September 14, 2017
Donald Trump Is Just the Latest Republican to Stoke Racial Division Trump's racism is particularly outlandish and malignant. As president, his actions are destructive. He is stoking hatred and fears that he should be calming. But he isn't "radically different" than the Republican party of the past years.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, September 6, 2017
When the Parades Are Over, Who Stands With Unions? Trump is systematically reversing any Obama rule that aided workers. He signed legislation scrapping the rule that required federal contractors to disclose violations of workplace safety and employment and anti-discrimination laws. His Labor Secretary has announced his intention to strip millions of workers of the overtime pay they would have received under Obama DOL regulations.
From youtube.com: Is Trump Dumb or a Liar?, From Images
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, September 1, 2017
Trump's Tax Plan Is a Confidence Scam In a time of obscene inequality, tax reform should raise rates on the wealthy. It should make the corporations pay their fair share. It should tax activities we want to discourage -- like financial speculation and fossil fuels. It should tax the income of investors at the same rates as the income of workers. It should crack down on tax dodges, close loopholes and tax havens.
Steve Bannon resigns as President Donald Trump's chief strategist, From YouTubeVideos
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, August 24, 2017
Bannon's Exit Leaves Only His Worst Ideas Behind The right-wing Republican Congress will dominate domestic and budget policy. Trump will continue to waste lives and resources in endless wars without victory across the greater Middle East. He will continue to rack up massive trade deficits, undermining wages and security at home. And he'll likely continue to go full Bannon on issues of race and immigration.
From flickr.com: Democratic Donkey & Republican Elephant - Caricatures, From Images
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, August 17, 2017
Movements Are Driving Democratic Party Debate Democrats are having a big debate about what the party stands for. Defining issues -- Medicare for All, $15 minimum wage, curbing Wall Street, money and politics, balanced trade etc. -- are central to that debate. All this garment rending and hand wringing is excessive. Democrats need a major debate about values and policy. A bit of common sense is in order.
From flickr.com: Mitch McConnell, From Images
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, July 12, 2017
The Big Fix: Will the GOP Turn to Dems to Fix Obamacare? Democrats have remained remarkably unified in opposition to the GOP's obscene bills to "repeal and replace" Obamacare. This will be harder to sustain once bipartisan negotiations open up. Democrats must demand clear, popular amendments that demonstrate they are committed to extend the right to affordable health care, not reduce it.
Protest against the war in Afghanistan, From FlickrPhotos
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, July 10, 2017
There's Only One Way to End the War in Afghanistan We've spent $11 billion in equipping the Afghanistan National Army, which is still unable to defend itself. The United States has had as many as 63,500 "boots on the ground" in Afghanistan; about 8,800 remain today. Afghani casualties are estimated at over 225,000, with a staggering 2.6 million Afghani refugees abroad, and another 1 million displaced internally.
In Georgia's Sixth Congressional District Karen Handel declared winner, From YouTubeVideos
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, June 23, 2017
The Lessons We Learned From Jon Ossoff's Defeat Ossoff's win would have spread fears among Republicans worried about Trump's mad-hatter antics, corruption, and incompetence. Instead, Republicans sought to use the victory to forge new unity around their substantive agenda: Trumpcare, tax cuts, deregulation, and budget cuts.
Bernie Sanders Day in and day out, from sun up to sun down, volunteers and supporters all across this country have powered this political revolution., From YouTubeVideos
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, June 17, 2017
Infighting Is Good for the Democratic Party The populist revolt that is roiling politics here and abroad isn't going away. The Sanders-Warren wing of the party has energy and passion. They are armed with a narrative of what went wrong, a bold agenda for change, and a growing grassroots organizing and funding capacity. The debate within the party isn't a diversion or a liability. It is a necessary step to recovery.
From flickr.com: healthcare for all, From Images
(42 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, June 1, 2017
Will the GOP Health-Care Debacle Pave the Way for 'Medicare for All'? Will Republican efforts to repeal and replace Obamacare pave the way to Medicare for All? Only if progressives force the debate.
From ImagesAttr
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, May 19, 2017
For Democrats, Resistance Trumps Ideas Democratic Party luminaries and 2020 presidential mentionables gathered this week for an "ideas conference" organized by the Center for American Progress, the Democratic establishment's premier think tank. Its stated purpose was to focus not on "what could have been," said CAP Vice President Winnie Stachelberg introducing the day, but on "new, fresh, bold, provocative ideas that can move us forward."
From flickr.com: Democratic Donkey - Caricature, From Images
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Sunday, March 26, 2017
Democrats Should Focus More on Jobs, Less on Russia This is a question of focus. Democrats can and should pursue an independent, forceful investigation of Russian interference in our elections. But they, and the resistance that drives them, should concentrate their energy and resources not on the past election or Trump's constant circus but on the corrupted policies that he seeks to inflict on America.
Paul Ryan, From FlickrPhotos
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Republicans Keep Showing Us Who They Are The Congressional Budget Office's crushing report on the impact of the Republican health-care plan offers a moment of clarity. The Republican plan will deprive millions of health insurance, and raise the price for many more to pay for deep tax cuts for the rich. The math gives way to an obvious conclusion: This is the Republican mission.
From flickr.com: Donald Trump, From Images
(9 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, March 11, 2017
Foreign-Policy Elites Have No Answer For Trump A closeted elite provides a recipe for continued wars without end, for squandering resources and lives on interventions, overt and covert, large and small, in all corners of the earth. Mere defense of the United States is subsumed to the policing of an ever-elusive international order through the assertion of military dominance.
Donald Trump, From GoogleImages
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, January 23, 2017
Trump's Perverse Populism Trump talks about returning government to the people, but his focus isn't on empowering workers. He's not for redistributing the wealth that has been captured by the very few. He isn't talking about strengthening public education and making college tuition free. And he's surely isn't pushing to strengthen the democracy, curb money in politics, end voter suppression or gerrymandered districts.
Donald Trump, From GoogleImages
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, December 9, 2016
How to Expose Trump's Dastardly Bait-and-Switch Trump's show will get stale over time, particularly if the rip-offs are exposed, the divisive racial and gender politics are confronted, and working families learn that the crony capitalists on the inside are cleaning up while they are getting stiffed. Trump is a wily and experienced confidence man, but selling his remedy won't be easy once people realize it's the same old failed brew.
Nancy Pelosi, From FlickrPhotos
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, November 28, 2016
House Democrats: New Leadership, New Energy Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio) announced he would challenge Pelosi. Only one problem: Pelosi is virtually irreplaceable. She's the most skilled in unifying the caucus, and gearing it up to fight. She is experienced and whip smart, vital in the upcoming negotiations over budgets and the Trump agenda. She's the leader that the progressives in the caucus will trust to draw the right red lines.
Donald Trump, From GoogleImages
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, November 21, 2016
Taking on Trump: Lessons from the Reagan Years Democrats have to find a populist spine. Stand up clearly for poor and working people against the corporate lobbies and billionaire class that rig the economy against them. Expose the scams and corruptions. Show how efforts to drive us apart are central to the strategy of ripping us off. Trump has been elected despite losing the popular vote. He will take office. But there can be no business as usual.
From flickr.com/photos/22007612@N05/8566717881/: Donald Trump, From Images
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, November 16, 2016
How We Can Fight Trump Progressives in the House and Senate need to take over the Democratic Party's agenda and message. New populist energy can drive important reforms at the state and local level, and recruit and train a new generation of populist candidates. Democrats don't need to abandon their social liberalism; they need to develop their economic populism. If they do, the Trump era may turn out to be as short as his attention span.
Donald Trump accepts GOP nomination., From YouTubeVideos
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, November 9, 2016
Why Trump Won This morning, many awakened rightfully terrified about the country they are in. Progressives must reach out to stand with people of color, women, immigrant communities, Muslims. We are headed into four years of fierce battles over reactionary policies and choices on immigration, on Supreme Court justices, on voting rights and more.
(5 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, November 5, 2016
Why Is Washington Still Pushing the Trans-Pacific Partnership? Obama argues that the TPP is about free trade and leveling the playing field, but the TPP isn't really a trade deal -- tariffs are already low. And it doesn't level the playing field: It cuts special deals for global investors, including their own private legal system that gives global corporations rights that no citizen or small business enjoys.
Warmongers, From GoogleImages
(5 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, October 28, 2016
The Geniuses Who Brought You the Iraq War Are at It Again The "Blob" will publicly criticize Obama's "reluctance" to exercise America's military prowess and call for a more "muscular," "interventionist," assertive policy, from the South China Sea to the Russian border, but particularly in the Middle East. They are pumping for more war.
A Conservative Response to Income Inequality, From GoogleImages
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, October 14, 2016
Inequality Is Still the Defining Issue of Our Time Inequality remains a defining issue of our time. The advances made under Obama deserve applause, but the real work remains to be done. This presidential season has exposed the growing revolt against business as usual. Now activists must seize the opportunity to build on the energy after November.
From 5newsonline.com/2016/10/09/recap-of-trump-clinton-second-debate/: Trump, Clinton Second Debate, From Images
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, October 11, 2016
The Second Presidential Debate: Gutter-Ball Edition Trump whined repeatedly about bias, but their bias is less partisan than prurient. Americans tuned in looking for a spitball fight and the moderators were not about to disappoint them.The clash of ideas was a sideshow. This "debate" was an exchange of insults, egged on by the moderators. The only redeeming feature is that it will be hard to get lower than that.
Hillary Clinton vs Donald Trump, From GoogleImages
(13 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Why Is This Election So Close? Americans are suffering through a second "recovery" where most people are losing ground. The middle class is getting hollowed out. Good jobs are scarce. The banks blew up the economy and got bailed out. The richest few pocket most of the rewards of economic growth. To omit this is to miss the entire context for this election.
From commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Clinton_and_Trump_cartoon_illustration.jpg: Clinton and Trump, From Images
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, August 23, 2016
The Populist Uprising Isn't Over; It's Only Just Begun Americans are catching onto the game. They are working harder and losing ground. They suffered through the Great Recession, and have witnessed the wars without end and without victory. They've seen their kids graduate from college and come back home burdened by debt. Poor people of color are in many cities more segregated and in worse condition than they were in the Jim Crow South. They are casting about for a change.
Trump & Clinton, From Images
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, August 13, 2016
The Economic Debate and the Failed Consensus Americans deserve a debate worthy of the challenges facing this country. On the economy (as well as on national security) the old consensus has failed. Our politics are dysfunctional. The economy does not work for working people. The middle class is sinking. Inequality has reached obscene extremes, while poverty has deepened.
President Bill Clinton's Speech at Democratic National Convention, From YouTubeVideos
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, July 27, 2016
The Democratic Convention: The Big Dawg Still Can Howl Bill Clinton masterfully painted a human portrait of Hillary. The viewing audience has exceeded that of the Republican convention, with President Obama and the nominee yet to come. The Democratic show has made Trump and Republicans look like amateur hour. Clinton will surely surge out of the convention with a growing lead.
From flickr.com/photos/22007612@N05/19825096471/: Bernie Sanders, From Images
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, July 26, 2016
Sanders: The Struggle Continues Sanders voters were roused by his vision, his agenda and his integrity. Clinton's task is to make herself the forceful advocate for bold change, one clear and strong enough to overcome doubts about her commitment, concern about her compromises, discomfort with her money politics. Trump's vile excesses will clearly help Sanders mobilize his voters for Clinton, but only she can gain their trust and capture their energy.
From fox17online.com/2016/07/12/bernie-sanders-endorses-hillary-clinton/: Bernie Sanders endorses Hillary Clinton, From Images
(28 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, July 19, 2016
The Sanders Endorsement and the Political Revolution Sanders has it right. It will take a political revolution to transform our politics, revive our democracy, and make government the instrument of the many and not just the few. That is not a task of one campaign or one presidency. The movement has to build -- in fits and starts, waves and tides -- over time. Thrashing Donald Trump is the next step in that process.
Sen. Jeff Merkley, From GoogleImages
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, July 5, 2016
For Vice President: Senator Jeff Merkley Merkley offers real value. He's the sole senator who endorsed Bernie Sanders in the primaries, an act of remarkable courage. Putting him on the ticket would pay tribute to the millions of voters who backed the Sanders surge. His presence would excite the young and independent voters that were at the heart of the Sanders vote. It would reassure skeptical labor activists.
Trump & Clinton, From Images
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, June 25, 2016
Clinton on the Economy; Trump Ever Offensive Public investment to rebuild America green. Investment in education from preschool to debt-free college. Rules to curb corporate abuses. Tax hikes on Wall Street and the superrich. Lifting the floor under workers. Curbing the influence of "unaccountable" big money and special interests in politics. Clinton's agenda and rhetoric pay tribute to Bernie Sanders' victory in defining the agenda for change.
Bernie Sanders, From FlickrPhotos
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, June 15, 2016
What Will Bernie Do? Clinton will decide how she wants to run, what mandate she seeks, what coalition she wants to put together, but somehow it is Sanders responsibility to bale up his voters and deliver them to the nominee no matter what she decides. And if Clinton were somehow, unimaginably, to blow the election to Trump, no doubt Sanders will be blamed for not endorsing her soon enough or enthusiastically enough or loudly enough.
From ImagesAttr
(5 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, June 3, 2016
May Jobs Report: Ouch! The Jobs report also reinforces what already should have been clear. Voters will remain in a surly mood. They are not likely to be satisfied with a slow-growth economy that isn't offering much in terms of increased wages or increased security. Candidates who are the most plausible leaders of change will fare the best.
Bernie Sanders Blamed For Hillary's Sinking Poll Numbers Against Trump, From YouTubeVideos
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, June 1, 2016
Common Sense on the Democratic Presidential Race Even with the media declaring the race over, Sanders continues to draw stunning crowds. Young people continue to rally to his call. Democratic registration is soaring in California, as the Sanders campaign works to attract new voters.
Bernie Sanders, From FlickrPhotos
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, May 23, 2016
What Does Bernie Want? Clinton would be wise to embrace not only the Sanders energy, but to move to adopt many of his themes, and champion some of his major reforms. Sanders will no doubt endorse, if he loses the nomination. But how his followers respond -- the energy and enthusiasm they bring to the general election -- will be far more dependent on what Clinton does and how she runs than on his endorsement.
From flickr.com/photos/22007612@N05/19825435041/: Bernie Sanders, From Images
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, May 20, 2016
Ways Bernie Sanders Will Be A Force At The Democratic Convention An early exit by Sanders remains unlikely. He has defined his campaign as building a movement to transform the Democratic Party and change the direction of the nation. He has stated repeatedly that he will carry that argument into the convention.
Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, From YouTubeVideos
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, May 18, 2016
The Test of Leadership as Sanders Rolls in Oregon Clinton supporters and many pundits suggest that Sanders is "misleading his followers" by failing to "prepare them to lose" and to make the turn to supporting Clinton. The Clinton campaign has surrogates arguing that while Bernie "has done his job," but now "he is hurting Clinton" and should stand down.
Bernie Sanders, From FlickrPhotos
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, May 11, 2016
Bernie Takes West Virginia Sanders vows to keep going to the end. If he continues to win -- particularly if he culminates by winning the diverse Democratic vote in California, he'll make the case to Democratic super delegates that he would be the strongest candidate in the general. Sanders fares better than Clinton against Trump in poll after poll.
Bernie Sanders Wins Indiana Democratic Primary, From YouTubeVideos
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, May 5, 2016
Bernie Sanders Wins Indiana -- And The Political Debate Sanders has already been counted out in the mainstream media. But young voters, liberals flooded into the polling booths and swept Sanders to victory. Picking up a net of five delegates, Sanders may not be winning his struggle against the delegate math, as the mainstream media keeps reminding us, but he is winning the political debate.
Hillary Clinton, From FlickrPhotos
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, April 25, 2016
Clinton's Defense of Big Money Won't Cut It When Sanders questions Clinton about her funding from Wall Street, her speeches to big banks and other interests that brought her millions personally, and her array of super PACs, she charges Sanders with making "false character attacks." But the influence of campaign contributions isn't about character, it is about association, gratitude and access.
Bernie Sanders, From FlickrPhotos
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, April 11, 2016
Sanders Wins Wyoming, Surge Continues Despite winning by double digits in Wyoming, Sanders only got a split of pledged delegates -- seven to seven. The Democratic Party will face real trouble if superdelegates give Clinton the nomination over Sanders, particularly if he wins the majority of the pledged delegates.
Bernie Sanders, From FlickrPhotos
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, April 6, 2016
Wisconsin Adds Momentum To The Sanders Revolution Sanders has now won six contests in a row -- Wisconsin, Alaska, Hawaii, Washington, Utah and Idaho. He continues to cut Clinton's lead in pledged delegates. Pundits dismissing his chances say he has to win over 55 percent of the vote in remaining contests to catch up to Clinton. He's done that or better in each of the last six races.
Bernie Sanders Surges, Crushes Hillary In 6 Of Last 7 Contests, From YouTubeVideos
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, March 30, 2016
Bernie Sanders has Hillary Clinton right where he wants her Sanders just swept through the West, winning five of six contests by stunning margins. In addition, he isn't just a candidate -- he's a cause. Sanders seeks to build a movement that can make the political revolution needed to transform the country, not simply win the White House. That means a political movement powerful enough to both get big money out of politics and pass Sanders' agenda.
Bernie Sanders with supporters, From FlickrPhotos
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, March 28, 2016
Sanders Soars: The Democratic Race Is Closer Than The Republicans' Even as his candidacy gains traction, Sanders keeps spreading the word and rousing activists. A presidential campaign isn't a movement. At best, an insurgent can issue a call to action, elevate alternatives, and infuse millions with a sense that there is an alternative. Sanders is doing just that, particularly with young voters who fill his rallies and caucuses.
Hillary Clinton vs Bernie Sanders, From YouTubeVideos
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, March 23, 2016
The Presidential Race: The West Weighs in Sanders continues to draw the biggest crowds of the election, Donald Trump's claims notwithstanding. And Sanders continues to rise in the polls. The most recent CNN/ORC poll in mid-March showed Sanders closing to 51-44 percent among registered Democrats and Democratic leaning independents, substantially better than that poll's late February measure (55-38 percent Clinton).
Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, From YouTubeVideos
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, March 16, 2016
Mini-Super Tuesday: The Campaigns Remain Contested The punditry is already rushing to crown Clinton the Democratic winner. However, the growing divide among Democrats between the older and the younger deserves more attention. The Clinton campaign people are certain that the threat posed by Trump or Cruz will help mobilize Democratic turnout.
Bernie Sanders, From FlickrPhotos
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, March 7, 2016
Weekend Update: Sanders Still Rising; Republican Nightmare Worsens While the mainstream media -- egged on by the Clinton campaign -- edges towards calling the race over, Sanders keeps on rising. His expanding army of small donors continues to fuel his campaign. And he can look forward to growing support -- particularly in the contests after mid-March, as he introduces himself to more and more voters.
Job Search, From YouTubeVideos
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, March 4, 2016
Jobs Report: Sunny with Storm Clouds Looming Americans are still waiting to feel the rewards of growth. Wages are barely stirring; the average hourly wages of non-supervisory private sector workers remained unchanged from the previous month and is up little more than 2 percent (2.2 percent) over the year. The wealthiest 1 percent continue to capture virtually all of the income growth in the society.
Hillary Clinton, From FlickrPhotos
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, February 29, 2016
South Carolina: Clinton's "Firewall" Holds Voters across the country are looking for change. Clinton's efforts to present herself as the candidate of continuity worked in South Carolina, but may be more costly if she wins the nomination. The mainstream media used the Clinton victory in South Carolina to start posting funeral notices for the Sanders campaign. In reality, Sanders is still building.
Donald Trump, From FlickrPhotos
(13 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, February 25, 2016
Donald Trump Will Not Be President of the United States Sanders' clear integrity and independence will trump Trump's populist pose. And he'll enjoy wild energy from young voters as well as overwhelming margins from the voters Trump insults. Clinton would highlight Trump's lack on even elementary policy knowledge and experience. Donald Trump will not be president of the United States.
Republican Elephant & Democratic Donkey, From FlickrPhotos
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, February 23, 2016
South Carolina and Nevada: Populism Still Rising In Nevada, the Sanders surge fell just short of Clinton, but only after she donned much of Sanders' garb from getting "unaccountable money out of politics"; to making certain "Wall Street does not threaten Main Street again"; while promising to do even more to address "systemic racism," sexism, and immigration.
Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton, From YouTubeVideos
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, February 12, 2016
The Democratic Face-Off in Milwaukee: The Hammer and the Stiletto Clinton may want to dismiss Sanders' critique of our corrupted politics and rigged economy as a "single issue," but more and more Americans are coming to understand that this is the heart of the matter. Now we will see if that message resonates with communities and states where Sanders is just beginning to introduce himself.
Clinton and Sanders argue over who's progressive, From YouTubeVideos
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, February 5, 2016
At The New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Debate, Populism Wins Sanders' argument about the corrupting effects of money in politics and the need to break up the big banks was compelling. Clinton's profession of independence was less plausible. Clinton's foreign policy experience certainly showed. But Democrats have to be haunted by her taste for intervention and regime change (Iraq, Libya, Syria). And sadly, the push for a new cold war with Russia went unchallenged.
Move over -- we're headed to New Hampshire!, From YouTubeVideos
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, February 2, 2016
The Iowa Winnow The Iowa caucuses just supercharged the 2016 presidential race. Younger and lower-income voters drove Bernie Sanders into a head heat with Hillary Clinton. A record Republican turnout of white voters elevated an odd couple -- two first term Cuban-American Senators -- and deflated Donald Trump, the fear peddler.
Bernie Sanders, From FlickrPhotos
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, February 1, 2016
Iowa's Big Winner: Senator Bernie Sanders Sanders has already begun to shake the establishment, evidenced by increasingly vitriolic attacks on him and his ideas. Sanders is putting the powers that be on notice. This rigged system doesn't work for the vast majority of Americans. And the complacent politics of the establishment center offer no way out. The elites of both parties better figure out how to cut Americans a better deal--or Americans will demand a new dealer.
Hillary and Bernie, From YouTubeVideos
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, January 22, 2016
Hillary and Bernie: The Credibility Gap Hillary Clinton is a formidable candidate who has assembled a strong campaign. She will remain formidable even if Sanders exceeds expectations by doing well in Iowa and winning in New Hampshire. The panic among her supporters is both unseemly and excessive. Clinton's difficulties stem not from the attacks of Sanders -- the most courtly of opponents -- but from her own revealing choices.
GOP Clown Car Filling Up for 2016, From YouTubeVideos
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, December 15, 2015
The Republican Carnival Comes to Town Donald Trump will be center stage in CNN's Republican Presidential debate tonight, flanked this time by a surging, sinister Sen. Ted Cruz on his left and a flagging Dr. Ben Carson on his right. Once more Trump will claim the spotlight, with the others vying for time and attention.
Who Is Marco Rubio?, From YouTubeVideos
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, December 14, 2015
Marco Rubio: Foreign Policy Pretender ubio wants the U.S. to take more aggressive steps against Russia in Ukraine. He would send more arms and more aid to the corrupt Ukrainian government, virtually insuring an escalating war in the region. He'd move U.S. troops to Russia's border and increase sanctions on Russia. He does not explain why a harsh confrontation with Russia is in the U.S. interest.
Hillary Clinton, From TwitterPhotos
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, November 23, 2015
Who Impugns Hillary's Integrity? The big money going from Wall Street into the Clinton campaign reinforces doubts about the strength of her reform promises. But it isn't Sanders or O'Malley who impugn her integrity; it is her Wall Street donors themselves. They are sophisticated, cynical and paying attention. And they are confident her new-found populism is a campaign posture, not a real position.
Julian Bond, From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, August 17, 2015
In Praise of Julian Bond Julian Bond leaves us now. The race still unfinished, but his run has made a triumphant contribution, fulfilling his grandfather's charge of "greater efforts and grander victories." President Obama called Julian a hero and a friend, noting that "Julian Bond helped change this country for the better. And what better way to be remembered than that."
.Too Big to Fail. Bank Subsidies, From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Bank Reform Five Years Later: Still Incomplete Despite what the FBI called an epidemic of fraud, no major banker has been prosecuted. Banks paid the fines, while bankers walked away with their money intact. The SEC continues to grant favors to repeat offenders. Violating the law is too often simply a small cost of doing business.
SEC Chair Mary Jo White, From ImagesAttr
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, June 4, 2015
Warren to SEC Chair: "Step Up" (Or Step Down) No wonder financial lobbyists are buzzing. Warren has taken a stick to their cozy hive. Her indictment of White is measured and devastating. It is time for White to "step up" or step down. Warren is to be applauded for doing what senators should do: holding regulators' feet to the fire in the public's interest.
Bernie Sanders, From ImagesAttr
(6 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, May 1, 2015
The Sanders Challenge Sanders calls for an end to the corporate-defined trade and tax policies that have racked up unprecedented and ruinous trade deficits while shipping good jobs abroad. He is a leader in the effort to stop fast track and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which is supported by the Democratic president, the Republican congressional leadership and the business lobby.
Federal contract workers protest after walking off the job at the U.S. Capitol., From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, April 23, 2015
Government Sweatshops: A Time for the President to Act Carrying a sign reading "Hiring: A President who will sign a $15 +Union Executive Order," these workers are calling on President Obama to lead and put government on the side of workers. They want an executive order that would give preference in government procurement and licensing to companies that pay a living wage with benefits, and respect their workers' right to organize.
February Jobs Report Beats Expectations, From ImagesAttr
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, March 6, 2015
A Sober Look at the Good News in February Jobs Report The Fed's actions -- from bailing out the banks to its Quantitative Easing programs -- have boosted stocks and saved Wall Street, but the benefits have been slow to reach Main Street. Workers have not yet shared in the recovery. Household income is down, not up since the recession. The vast majority of Americans have not recovered the wealth lost in that calamity.
Clinton - Obama, From ImagesAttr
(5 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Why the Country Needs a Populist Challenger in the Democratic Primaries Polls show Democrats want a contest, not a coronation, for their presidential nomination. There are two compelling reasons for a challenge in the Democratic primaries: We need a big debate about the direction of the country, and a growing populist movement would benefit from a populist challenge to Hillary.
A third of Walmart's employees don't even come close to working full time and work less than 28 hours per week, often not qualifying for benefits, From ImagesAttr
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, December 6, 2014
Low Wage Workers: "We Can't Breathe" When people move, smart politicians listen. The demonstrations across the nation after Ferguson and Garner, the growing protests of low-wage workers risking jobs because they simply can't breathe suggest that people are starting to move. The question soon will be who stands with those in motion and who stands with a status quo that clearly cannot hold.
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, February 4, 2013
Warning: Deficit Delusions Endanger Your Job A three-month downturn is a caution, not a catastrophe. But Washington seems too wrapped in its deficit delusions to pay attention to the flashing yellow lights. Here's a cautionary guide.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, January 2, 2013
An Ugly, Ugly Deal No one should be fooled. This is an ugly deal, with foul implications for the coming months.
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, November 30, 2012
On the Fiscal Extortion; Just Say No The grand bargain is anything but a bargain. The annual deficit is down while income inequality has gone through the roof. Austerity on top of endless wars & climate change is the last thing we need.
From ImagesAttr
(6 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, May 19, 2012
The Austerity Trap and the Jobs Deficit Democrats need to argue on jobs first as part of building a new strategy for the economy. They must challenge Romney's hysteria and hypocrisy on debt not with a better austerity plan, but with a plan for an economy that works for working people. A mandate from voters for jobs first will be vital when the lame-duck Congress confronts the fiscal train wreck after the election, and jobs first is the only sensible solution.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, April 12, 2012
Invoking Fake Job Creators to Cut Taxes on the Rich When taxes were raised during Bill Clinton's presidency, conservatives predicted a deep recession. Instead, the economy boomed and private investment took off. When taxes were cut under President George W. Bush, private investment and job growth were disappointing. But conservatives won't let the facts get in the way of their gospel.
(6 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, October 8, 2011
Whose Side Are You On: The Moral Clarity of Occupy Wall Street Will this movement be a factor in the 2012 elections? It already is. Will it make clear demands? It already has. Whose side are you on? Wall Street or kids in the street? The top 1% or the 99%? It doesn't get clearer than that.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, September 20, 2011
The end of the middle class? Both sides fail to address the scope of our challenge. Republicans seem to believe that simply rolling back Obama's reforms and returning to former President George W. Bush's economy will set us straight. But those are the policies that drove us off the cliff. They weren't working for most Americans even when the economy was growing.
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, September 9, 2011
Jobs: ACTION NOW The White House cleverly surprised observers with the size of the program -- $450 billion over one year, a faster spending rate than the original Recovery Act. But no one should be confused; this is a modest plan, a first step at best. It is too small to have much effect on unemployment, and too limited to help put the economy on track.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, August 1, 2011
Obama's Capitulation to the Tea Party The raw deal sets a precedent that Republican leaders are already celebrating: from now on, they boast, every debt ceiling vote will be the occasion for holding the economy hostage to more extreme demands. A balanced budget constitutional amendment. A two-thirds vote for any tax hike on the rich. Privatization of Social Security. The demands will get more extreme over time.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Monday, July 25, 2011
Stop Disastrous Debt Deal. Save the American Dream Americans have learned in the past few days that conservative Republicans in Congress are willing to risk default on America's financial obligations, to protect the tax breaks for the rich and force cuts to our retirement security. Republicans would rather break our government's Social Security commitments, create chaos in the global financial markets and throw millions more out of work than accept any compromise.
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, June 25, 2011
Taking Back The American Dream: Us, Not The Politicians To set the country back on course, the American Dream Movement has to clean out the stables in Washington, challenging the money politics and the corporate lobbies that dominate our politics. Aroused citizens will have to debunk the lies and demand policies that work for working people once more.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, April 14, 2011
Obama's Deficits: Progressive Priorities, Conservative Context The only way out of this fix is for citizens to organize, for a movement to demand the common sense reforms the country needs and Washington avoids. We must call Washington to its senses, to defend the American dream, to put people back to work, and to make this economy work for working people once more.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, December 31, 2010
Bushwacking Obama: Conservatives Seek to Trap President on Social Security Reforming Social Security by raising the retirement age and cutting benefits -- however gaudily packaged to make the system more "progressive" -- is unpopular not just with liberals, but with independents, conservatives and Tea Partiers. Americans do not want politicians to mess with Social Security, the one secure leg left to retirement.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The Political Path for Progressives in the Face of Rabid Right-Wing Resistance America is headed into a period in which it must make choices. Will we make the commitment to provide every child a healthy start and a world-class education or will we rob some of their future? Will we choose to police the world or to rebuild America?
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, June 23, 2010
America Cowed: Are We Too Frightened to Forge Our Future? Conservatives of every type are paralyzing the country with fear.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Was Bernie Madoff the Exception or the Rule? Were the big banks all knowingly running Ponzi schemes? That's the question that arises from the stunning hearings held this week by the Senate Permanent Committee on Investigations, chaired by Senator Carl Levin, on the collapse of Washington Mutual, the largest thrift failure in the U.S. Faced with looking like fools or knaves, the barons of the big banks have chosen, not surprisingly, the fool.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Say It Ain't So, Joe: Joe Biden Talks to Labor About Jobs The Veep might be solidly pro-labor, but we've entered into strange days & labor has learned in painful & hard ways that if they don't take care of their interests the worker pays.
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Health Care: Let the Majority Be Heard
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Symbolic Blather: Washington's Congenital Disease The best example of this is the bill championed by Blue Dogs in the House and Senate""the conservative Democrats that the media labels "moderates"""called "paygo." Paygo is the Washington shorthand for a rule that requires the Congress to pay for any expansion of entitlements (guaranteed benefits like Social Security Medicare) or decrease in taxes. It's supposed to "discipline" the Congress on spending.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Gut Check Time on Shackling Wall St How much the banking lobby has already won! This is what the Administration's plan has left out: Nothing real is done about compensation schemes. Exotic derivatives and credit default swaps are not banned. Rating agencies are still paid by the financial houses they rate. Banks too big to fail are to be monitored, not broken up. Oversight of the system is left to the Fed which was designed to insulate banks from democracy.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Private Muscle and the Public Option in Health Care Republicans & those dedicated to for profit, privatized health care are pulling out the stops. We have the best government money can buy, will health care reform go the same way?
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Wall Street Journal Throws Citi Under The Bus "Resolving Citi--by either forcing it into a strategic partnership, if anyone will have it, or selling off its assets and breaking it up--wouldn't be cheap," the WSJ editorialist writes. But it would eliminate one of the leading "zombie" banks, end the "slow bleeding of taxpayer money.You don't have to believe in Vince Foster conspiracies to think this is a question that deserves a straight answer.
(3 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Federal Reserve Scrubs Its Image Facing congressional criticism for secreting the names of the banks that have benefited from the trillions in Fed guarantees, swaps, loans, and what have you, the Federal Reserve has decided to hire a public relations pro to scrub its image and soothe the legislators.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Making Change: Progressives in the Obama Moment Are progressives still supporting Obama or are they pushing him? Surely the answer to that choice is "yes." Progressives are both supporting him and challenging the limits of the current debate.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Betting on Failure: The Right's Story Cheney and Gingrich are worth paying attention to - not as presidential contenders but as very sophisticated conservative political combatants. Both are brass knuckled politicians, steeped in the Lee Atwater school of anything goes wedge politics. And both are laying down clear markers for the debate to come
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, May 20, 2009
The Health Care Lobby: Watch What They Do The HCAN report shows that after 400 mergers involving health insurers over the last 13 years, concentration has gone up in local markets across the country. The single largest provider of small group coverage (for small businesses, for example) controlled a median market share of 47 percent in 2008.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, May 13, 2009
What's Good for General Motors Is... Never Mind Is the Obama administration saving General Motors or is it saving auto industry jobs in the U.S.? The two aren't necessarily the same. The administration and Congress need to be clear about the real objective.
SHARE More Sharing        Saturday, May 9, 2009
Wrong Way Steny Wrong Way Riegels became a football legend when Roy Riegels, captain of the California football team in the 1929 Rose Bowl picked up a fumble and rumbled the wrong way down the field. He was prevented from scoring a touchdown for the opposing team only when one of his own players tackled him. Now we have the political equivalent: Wrong Way Steny Hoyer could become a political legend for going the wrong way on Social Security
(4 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, May 1, 2009
Obama's Grade at 100? What About Our Grade? Rather than just grading the president, I suggest we might profitably assess our own 100 days. Obama has stormed the national and world stages in his first weeks. But how have we done--particularly the progressives who have such a large stake in the success of this president--in relation to Obama? He has demonstrated remarkable mastery of the powers of the presidency to lead the country. Have we mastered the power of citizens?
SHARE More Sharing        Friday, April 24, 2009
Arm the COP on the Bank Beat Cynicism is easy. The Wall Street "financial services" sector has been by far the largest contributor in every U.S. election cycle for the last 20 years, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. Individual and political action committee donations from Wall Street in 2007 and 2008 totaled $463.5 million, compared with $163.8 million from the health-care industry and $75.6 million from energy companies.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Friday, April 17, 2009
Taxing Matters Fox News is flogging Astroturf "tea parties" underwritten by corporate lobbyists. The Wall Street Journal editorializes about the evils of the estate tax. Ari Fleischer, Daddy Bush's old flack, complains that "redistribution of income" through the tax code "is getting out of hand." Really? Here's the grim reality.
SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, April 9, 2009
Chris Dodd: Scourge or Casualty of Wall Street? Democratic Senator Chris Dodd is in deep trouble. According to Stuart Rothenberg [1], Dodd is the most vulnerable Senator up for re-election in 2010. Dodd's reputation has been sullied in the financial collapse. Chair of the Senate Banking Committee, he received special treatment from lender Countrywide Financial. As Chair, Dodd also was thrown under the bus by Treasury officials in the AIG bonus brouhaha.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, March 19, 2009
Time To Dog The Dogs [Editor's note: Mr Borosage is also promoting an action page for those who wish to protest] The most treacherous opponents of the reforms vital to get us out of the deep hole we are in come from within the Democratic Party itself""so-called "Blue Dog" conservatives in the House and their cousins in the Senate who are working to block the changes that we need.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Will Everyone Grab a Bucket? This Thing is Sinking We need every major economy--particularly those like Germany, Japan and China in the best position to do so""to help boost the global economy with bold national, deficit-financed, recovery plans. We can't do this alone. Our own stimulus""about 2 percent of GDP in 2009""is too small even to lift this economy. Everyone has to grab a bucket and start bailing.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Here's How Progressives Can Ensure Obama's Success. Not since Lyndon Johnson's Great Society and Ronald Reagan's conservative rollback has a president proposed anything this ambitious. If passed, it will mark a new era of progressive governance. And yet, in sad testament to how deeply we have fallen, its greatest weakness is that it is not bold enough.
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Obama's Next Gauntlet: Reviving the Middle Class The old economy is finishes. Middle and working class America is on the brink. Time to rally behind Obama and build a new economy.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Progressive Government: The New Center The man can give a speech. Confident, relaxed, bold, serious, President Obama made his case to the American people with boffo reviews from all who saw it no matter what their party allegiance.
SHARE More Sharing        Wednesday, February 18, 2009
The Real Grand Bargain Will President Obama defend Social Security from the folks who want to plunder it? That's the question Bill Grieder poses in a critically important article in the Nation Magazine.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Can't Get there From Here Obama has made perhaps his first big mistake. It's time to bring the rest of the country up to speed.
SHARE More Sharing        Monday, January 26, 2009
The Country Needs Your Help Conservatives are doing everything they can to delay and dilute the legislation. Yet quick, bold action on the economy is critical. Without positive pressure from the progressive majority, Congress will be vulnerable to right-wing obstructionist tactics, rendering the bill ineffective. Our voices are needed, now.Call Congress NOW at 1-866-544-7573, and demand immediate passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, September 30, 2008
After the Revolt Against Wall Street The fix was in. The leadership of both parties in Congress, both major presidential candidates, media poobahs, financial statesmen from Warren Buffett to Bob Rubin, all weighing in to support giving the Treasury Secretary a $700 billion revolving fund to bail out Wall Street.
(2 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Country First? Never Mind When McCain is willing to sign away the principle derived from what is the defining moment of his life, then the question is: what core of character remains?
(1 comments) SHARE More Sharing        Thursday, June 28, 2007
Matthews and Coulter: No Shame The disservice to the country is done by those who give Ann Coulter a public stage to parade her infamies. Need a ratings boost? Focus on Paris Hilton

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