by William Skink
I may be cynical about what I suspect Bernie Sanders, the candidate, is going to do in the next few weeks, but I have to say it’s been damn impressive to see the relentlessness of his supporters smashing barriers intended to destroy any semblance of populism from threatening the corporate hold on the DNC.
One of those barriers has been cracking the cold shoulder of the corporate media. Just yesterday, for example, our very own Jon Tester got a well-placed quote in this piece by the Washinton Post (h/t Matthew Koehler):
“It’s the democratic process,” said Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) of Sanders’s plans to stump in Montana ahead of its June 7 primary. “He’s got every right to do that, but it’s already over with, and it would definitely be over with by then.”
Hear that Montana Bernie supporters? It’s already over with. And really you should thank Tester for taking a break from his corporate fundraising to explain the reality of the situation: Bernie’s toast.
The political manipulation we’ve been seeing with media coverage has been fascinating. From big platforms to local blogs, the cold shoulder persists as partisans gird their loins and hold their noses in preparation to accept Hillary.
Brian Maier and the rest of Bernie’s Montana supporters should take note. Thousands show up in Missoula two days ago and so far nothing from the “progressive” writers at Intelligent Discontent. This scant post has been up since May 9th at Moogirl, and there are still zero comments. And now the folksy farmer Montana Democrats were so elated to elect ten years ago is trying to further deflate the populist momentum threatening the DNC’s Queen Bee.
Do liberals realize their ideology is facing an existential crisis? Some do, like Thomas Frank, but his words and the words of plenty other astute critics don’t seem to be having the intended impact.
Liberalism is absolutely facing an existential crisis, and with every new indication of corruption and manipulation–like the growing Facebook scandal–the extreme right will get stronger and stronger, especially after an entire generation of politically awakening young people experience the disillusionment of a political revolution destroyed by the very people who claim to be representing their interests in DC.