That's such a minor distinction. Standing in the background while someone else takes over your event is almost worse.

Not that my opinion counts for much, but just wanted to mention that pvn's posting has been on point recently.

It's just so ridiculous we are still even talking about this like it's a big deal

I mean it's a bunch of random people, but this happened as well:

http://time.com/3963692/bernie-sande...-lives-matter/

If you care about your movement or organization or whatever, either you come up with messaging that is mainstream or you need to deal with presidential candidates behind the scenes, keep the foot soldiers in line and assure them that their concerns are being addressed. A free-for-all may feel cathartic, but gives the opposition far too much ammunition.

BLM wanting the liberals to explicitly acknowledge the pro-blackness of their progressive policy pretty much for no concrete gain whatsoever is a massive political miscalculation given that lower-middle class whites have been duped for years into voting against progressive agenda on the mere suspicion that progressive = pro-black. This is especially unfortunate for the liberals given that progressive economic agenda for the first time in a while seemed destined to win big.

Maybe the stars are really aligning for Donald Trump - he's definitely closest to where the average voter is right now.

Bernie and Donald's ascension is a sign of a ton of angry white people who think protectionism is the answer to all are woes. Time to go full survivalist.

Well, since the Right has taken redistributionism and an expanded welfare state off the table, many people think "they took ar jerbs!" is the only viable alternative.

I seem to be in the extreme minority of people who are pro-trade, skeptical of regulation and increased minimum wage, and think the solution to inequality is a more equitable tax code and welfare state that includes basic protections. Wal-Mart paying a wage so low that their employees need government assistance doesn't bother me that much if (1) Wal-Mart is paying their fair share of taxes to fund that assistance, and (2) that government assistance is adequate.

But failing that, minimum wage laws and some measure of protectionism that cost some level of overall economic growth are probably preferable to the status quo.

Lou is this a daily or weekly thing where you post the exact same thing? Maybe mods could add a note in the op.

I don't think Bernie's trade policy is anywhere close to the top reasons for his popularity, and Trump supporters probably haven't the first clue about trade. I know you don't like either one of them, but their similarities pretty much end there. Well, that and the fact that neither will win their party's nomination - so don't lose too much sleep over them.

Not sure I'll let you know.

The link may not be trade. It is an important issue to me so that is what sticks out. How about anger? Trump fans are clearly pissed off, how about Bernie's. They seem mad.

Bernie is at 11 percent, Trump at 7 percent. http://www.predictwise.com/politics/2016DemNomination

Theoretically, you may have a point. But it's much much easier to get people to agree to the minimum wage + EITC than it is to get them to back a tax supported welfare state.

Other than healthcare, government benefits have been consistently rolled back in the US for the last 35 years. And mega-corps like Walmart lead the way in dodging taxes.

I'm @ the Bernie Sanders event in Downtown LA. It's being held at the LA colliseum where USC plays football. Turnout is ****ing insane with the line wrapping around close to the entire stadium. Thinking 25,000 people will be conservative turnout tonight. Pics coming soon

I'm a Bernie fan but I ain't mad. Can't speak for them in general, though.

There are many issues on which I agree with Senator Sanders unfortunately I don't think I could trust someone to defend the country as President if they are unable to keep one of their campaign rallies from be overtaken by a small number of overweight millennials.

Turnout in LA for Bernie's event is over 27,000

I agree. I'm a technocrat at heart, but when the chips are down, I'll side with the people who are repeatedly getting **** on even if it will hurt the 401(k) I'm getting screwed on anyway down the line.

I have a ton of problems with our entire system of government, but most of the "easy" solutions are so outside the realm of traditional politics that I have little hope they'll be instituted.

Walmart has an effective tax rate of 33 percent.

Walmart has $76Billion in Undisclosed Overseas Tax Havens

Tax avoidance of 3.5B over 6 years is not a big number for WMT. Apple has a 25 percent effective tax rate as a point of comparison.

Looks like they paid 32% of their net income as tax in 2014 (year ending 1/31/15). If their oversees havens saved them $3.6B over 6 years, as per the article, then I guess without the havens they could have paid 34% instead?

Mega-corps dodging taxes is a big issue, but Wal-Mart is not the one to worry about on that particular issue. If you want to get the talking point right, here again is a list of top offenders that Sanders has specifically called out.

I like the way you think. I would add that having the worlds highest marginal rate and the most complex code chock full of special interest breaks needs allowing some companies to pay very little needs reform.

Agreed but it probably wouldn't last, 1986 tax reform didn't. i don't see why it would now. Anyway not happening with the current crew inside the beltway.

It is a hard thing to accomplish. We came close with Simpson Bowles.

More Trump and Bernie similarities, going hard after China's currency management. Romney made it a theme in 2012 but it did not get much traction.

Bernie getting that all important Noam Chomsky endorsement

and rapper endorsement