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jacob silverman's avatar

I don't like his windbreaker

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jacob silverman's avatar

+ this just in, from BBC's "newsbeat." OK, a few years ago. So what. Here you go with the link, readers: https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-63549826

Very nice article if I don't say so myself. But some people are too lazy to open a link, so it appears that Idi Amin threw the Indians OUT of country. But fifty years ago. OK, so then a few years later in 1997 the country of Uganda invites them back home. Is that close to the new progressive guy's time? I think so. So what did good old dictator Amin do? Well, that was like that Donald is doing. Do you get it peeps? That's what Donald is doing! Throwing all the immigrants out!!!! Idi Amin already tried the same stuff. Then another regime took over. They were officially invited back.

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jacob silverman's avatar

How badly do we need Indians and Chinese in this country? Well, pretty badly. They are far more precise. It's a matter of where the talent lies. All needed skills, e.g. precision, do not exculsively lie in any one group or ethnicity. We need other ethnic groups, e.g. Ugandan-Indians. So put your damn racism on hold. US/American are quite sloppy when they work. They are also stupid. So, we need immigrants and -mark me words, peeps! -pretty soon they all gonna be invited back... by our new president "What's His Name" from Uganda.

And yet the Ohio Barbarian has some problem with this. I will never figure you out.

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The Passionate Progressive's avatar

I see it differently, I would argue it's not about race/ethnicity (aka identity politics), it's about CLASS...And yes under the class criteria, we do need diversity.

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Ohio Barbarian's avatar

I have no problem with Mamdani's heritage or family history. I'm sure they were just people trying to do the best they could for their families. I don't give a shit about his ethnicity or his immigration status. I DO think his social and economic background is relevant to understanding his politics.

When it comes to race, I'm a classical Marxist. Economic class is everything. The white race is a concept created by English planters in North America in the 1630s so they could establish a class of working class whites to serve as a means to control their African slaves.

It is artificial. It isn't a thing in the real, material world. It is, as any Hindu should recognize, a creation of Mara, god of illusion.

I guess I have to spell it out. Obama's father was Kenyan, and Barack Hussein Obama was such an edgy name for Democrats back then. I know, because I was all in for Obama in 2008.

Barack himself was a half-black and half white banker's kid. He definitely did not grow up in poverty. He grew up with his future Treasury Secretary in Indonesia, in a resort-like setting. Mamdani grew up in private schools from South Africa to New England. I'm sure he was never what I would consider uncomfortable.

Zohran isn't white, which is a PLUS in Democrat circles due to their identity politics. White liberals can feel more righteous voting for him than they ever would for Mario Cuomo or any other white guy.

I just see an awful lot of parallels between Obama and Mamdani, and if I do, somebody in the DNC does, too.

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jacob silverman's avatar

Why would you NOT need to spell it out? Writing is effing hard work, man. And thanks ~ for clarifying. It is interesting to be getting to know you. A little better, every time. Which is the Beatles (NOT a fu*king white band!) A little better, bit by bit. As the Ro and Hamm song goes, “….getting to know you.”

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Ohio Barbarian's avatar

Thanks for the back story. I vaguely remember that from the time. More than likely the Mamdanis' ancestors settled there during the days of the British Empire. Indians were usually treated JUST a little better by the British than they did the Africans, and of course that led to resentments that could be exploited by an authoritarian asshole.

As you say, it should be a story familiar to any American.

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TedTheKitty's avatar

If it seems too good to be true…..

This should be an interesting Mayoral race to watch. If he’s voted in, I hope he won’t be just another “compatible left” politician like Obama.

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Jazzme's avatar

I am so with you in this commentary. I'm completely jaded with the DNC. Imho ,only 3rd party emergence into our political process gives us a chance of keeping democracy alive.

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The Passionate Progressive's avatar

Yes, you nailed this.and thank you for pointing it out...In my ancient age, I'm finally reading Lenin and then Marx with an ability to control my ADHD and 'process' what they had to say...This DNC ploy reminds me totally of (anti-war)Lenin's break with the Social Democrats for recognizing them as the frauds that they were....On another front I've heard Kshama Sawant is challenging a House incumbent...I would support her but alas, I'm not in Washington state so grab the popcorn as they say. https://www.kshamasawant.org/

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Ohio Barbarian's avatar

Sawant's consistent. As far as I can tell, she's the real deal. Who knows? By next year, she could win BECAUSE she has staunchly opposed Israel for her entire political career.

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The Watchman's avatar

For some reason made me think of an old song that I haven't heard or thought of in years - Bad Time (to be in Love) Grand Funk Railroad. Good song, wrong person!!!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mfg5j52oDA

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B. Kwax's avatar

After almost a decade I finally unsubscribed from the Bernie email list just a few weeks ago. I've been well to Bernie's left since I was in my mid teens, but I still always thought he was sincere and I just appreciated what it seemed like he was trying to do, despite everything. But after all the years of his capitulation and kowtowing to the DNC, calling people like Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell "friends" etc... coupled with his rhetoric on Palestine in the face of genocide, I just had to fully turn my back.

I hope Mamdani wins his election, but my expectations are very low in the grand scheme of things.

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Ohio Barbarian's avatar

I think that's the most rational way of looking at it. Even if Mamdani is already compromised, he could still make a far better mayor for NYC that either Cuomo or Adams, so I'm not about to chastise any New Yorkers who vote for him.

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letterwriter's avatar

What were the due dissidence people thinking about the requirement that all potential Obamas have native born, not naturalized, citizenship?

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Ohio Barbarian's avatar

Well, that does rule him out for President, doesn't it? A big oversight on my part, not that of Due Dissidence.

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letterwriter's avatar

He can still run for Congress! There's lots of influence to be had there.

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Ellie S.'s avatar

Andrew Cuomo. Mario was Andrew’s father and was a much more honorable man.

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Ohio Barbarian's avatar

That is often the case with political dynasties, is it not?

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Liz Burton's avatar

There’s one flaw in your analysis. Obama was clearly a DNC chosen at every stage of his career. They cleared his path, the exact opposite of what they’re doing with Momdani. Every oligarch doing business in and/or with NYC is tossing millions at Cuomo; that simply wouldn’t happen if he were the next Obama.

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Ohio Barbarian's avatar

You do have a point, but I think the DNC is hedging its bets with Mamdani for the simple reason that a pro-Zionist platform is going to be an albatross around a lot of politicians' necks next November.

They need new candidates, and at least some of them know it.

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Liz Burton's avatar

I’m going to guess that you haven’t seen the full extent of what the DNC is doing to stop him. I just saw an ad comparing him openly to the Nazis. Never underestimate the arrogant stupidity of the ruling class, especially when they’re being paid to hold the barricades till the new regime is solidly in control.

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Katherine Blair's avatar

God help us.

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Jacob Nathan's avatar

Mario Cuomo died in 2015, it’s Andrew Cuomo. The point is moot though as they’re both despicable corporatist goons.

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David Lentz's avatar

It’s amazing how controlled our political process is

Since the taxpayers actually pay for it is beautiful evil

Of course Hobson and Lenin researched this in great detail long ago

Maybe it’s best to just watch professional sports and chill

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The Revolution Continues's avatar

"Neither AOC nor Bernie Sanders would have endorsed him without permission from the DNC. Their cowardice and hypocrisy have been well-documented..."

Yeah, a Bernie endorsement makes me think twice about his "leftist" street cred, but an AOC endorsement really makes me think that Zohran isn't all he appears to be. Let's hope he's not that much of a corporate shill, but we'll have to wait and see if the Dems even let him win their primary.

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Boguslawa El Cheikh's avatar

I still envy us for having Zohran Mamdani, we in Germany have friedrich merz (he doesn’t deserve capital letters) who just said that Israel is doing dirty work for Germany by attacking Iran and even Angela Merkel said Israel didn’t breach international law with this attack. It’s German politics on its best this days. 🤦‍♀️

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Gina Klein's avatar

There may be hope for America yet.

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American Escapee's avatar

Yes. I too have my doubts. Ones that were cemented with the AOC endorsement. It was a great read. Let’s see if he wins.

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