The Democrat convention in Philadelphia is likely to be a spectacle worth watching. If things go the way they seem to be headed, the TV audience will be drawn to the event much in the same way people rubberneck on the highway next to a major accident. It's terrible to see, but we all have to look.
Bernie Sanders is setting things up for a series of major battles on the platform. No one really cares about what is in the platform, but nevertheless, it will produce fireworks. For example, the platform drafting committee will likely be split between supporting a $15/hour minimum wage (Bernie's position) and the lower one ($12) which is Hillary's position. The Hillary forces will win the floor vote, but Hillary will be stuck opposing a higher minimum wage before the whole country. There will also likely be a platform battle over America's alliance with Israel. The Bernie delegates named to the platform drafting committee include a majority that is clearly anti-Israel. In a floor fight, Hillary will prevail, but there will be millions of people watching at home as the Democrats denounce our closest ally in the Middle East; that is not a good thing for Hillary in November. We could also see battles over climate change, single payer national health, and limitations on big banks. Just imagine Hillary forced to rally the convention in favor of the Wall Street banks. It will reinforce all that Sanders ever said about Hillary being bought and paid for by Wall Street bankers.
Without a doubt, these platform battles will be scheduled in afternoon sessions in Philadelphia to avoid messing with the prime time infomercial that the convention is supposed to be. Most likely, the Sanders forces won't let that happen. They will rally their troops from the demonstration across the street and cause all sorts of chaos in the name of pushing the Democrats to truly "progressive" positions.
In a way, it is a lovely thought to imagine that Hillary will be done in by the very progressive forces that she has claimed as her own for so long. Bernie Sanders, you see, actually believes most of this stuff while Hillary has pushed it for years because she saw it as her path to power. No matter what, however, it will be these battles over the proper progressive position that are likely to do in Hillary's chances for the White House.
At least, let's hope that is so.
Bernie Sanders is setting things up for a series of major battles on the platform. No one really cares about what is in the platform, but nevertheless, it will produce fireworks. For example, the platform drafting committee will likely be split between supporting a $15/hour minimum wage (Bernie's position) and the lower one ($12) which is Hillary's position. The Hillary forces will win the floor vote, but Hillary will be stuck opposing a higher minimum wage before the whole country. There will also likely be a platform battle over America's alliance with Israel. The Bernie delegates named to the platform drafting committee include a majority that is clearly anti-Israel. In a floor fight, Hillary will prevail, but there will be millions of people watching at home as the Democrats denounce our closest ally in the Middle East; that is not a good thing for Hillary in November. We could also see battles over climate change, single payer national health, and limitations on big banks. Just imagine Hillary forced to rally the convention in favor of the Wall Street banks. It will reinforce all that Sanders ever said about Hillary being bought and paid for by Wall Street bankers.
Without a doubt, these platform battles will be scheduled in afternoon sessions in Philadelphia to avoid messing with the prime time infomercial that the convention is supposed to be. Most likely, the Sanders forces won't let that happen. They will rally their troops from the demonstration across the street and cause all sorts of chaos in the name of pushing the Democrats to truly "progressive" positions.
In a way, it is a lovely thought to imagine that Hillary will be done in by the very progressive forces that she has claimed as her own for so long. Bernie Sanders, you see, actually believes most of this stuff while Hillary has pushed it for years because she saw it as her path to power. No matter what, however, it will be these battles over the proper progressive position that are likely to do in Hillary's chances for the White House.
At least, let's hope that is so.
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