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Laurie C Wright's avatar

I have listened to a couple of his tourist, speeches and he’s very good. But one thing I don’t hear enough of on Substack is that the Independent but Democratic caucus Senator Bernie Sanders warned about oligarchy as far back as 2010. Remember his filibuster? Bernie also on his tour, spoke to Republican districts in Arizona, Nevada, and other places warning them about the reconciliation Bill. So I’m just wondering, why is it that the Democratic Party has never listened to Bernie because he knew all about this long before all of the Democrats spoke up.

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Sarah Jones & Jason Easley's avatar

You are correct. Bernie has actually been talking about oligarchy since at least 2005. Bernie isn't the only one, but he was the first. Some Democrats have also been talking about this for years. People like Sheldon Whitehouse have been bringing this up too. In my mind, Ralph Nader was the first person I heard talk about it in the 90s. Bernie has been the most high profile and consistently outspoken, for sure.---Jason

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Gently, Jack Jones's avatar

And yet many Democrats have white hot hate for Sanders and Nader, and blame them for the election losses. Yet every election loss by the Democrats since 1990 has been a disaster for the country and has come about because the leadership continues to marginalize the wrong candidates and support the perennial moderate losers. Between the Democratic donors and the DNC moderates, the party has been hollowed out with few exceptions. Why doesn’t the party get fully and enthusiastically behind the candidates who excite voters, like Crockett or Sanders or AOC? Biden turned out to be a great leader but frankly neither he nor HRC engendered much enthusiasm in a large number of voters, and neither did Harris (who to be fair, was not given the time or support to develop a decent campaign).

Dems might despise Stinky but they (and we) all wish they would get behind a candidate who creates the same kind of enthusiasm that he does.

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Barb Miller-Webb's avatar

We can go back to 1980 and Reagan. Republicans raise the debt and Democrats reduce the debt. It is ironic that most of the country believes it is the other way around.

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Nora M's avatar

The leadership does not consider him one of them. They “know “ he can’t win because he’s a socialist. Somehow they miss the fact that the GOP just reflexively calls every Democrat a socialist. You tell me, does it still matter or have they driven it into the ground so much that nobody hears any more?

I am a strong Bernie supporter because he has a consistent moral core. He works on behalf of the people, unlike all too many of the others.

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Kathleen Jorde's avatar

Love this post of yours. Socialism is still seen so negatively because people inaccurately confuse it as Communism. So they must hate the Post office, police department, fire department, social services and any thing thatcgelps citizens. Am I right? But eliminate those andcthey'd be outraged.

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BkMama227's avatar

They won’t listen and haven’t listened because telling the truth cuts both ways. On the one hand, Bernie is warning about Republicans and oligarchs taking over our government. On the other hand, he has been calling out Democratic apathy for decades now. Democratic leadership got lulled to sleep by the Schumers and Pelosis of the world; the great conciliators. Everybody has tried to reach across the aisle to the GOP and sold a bit of themselves to do it. That is why Bernie’s message hasn’t been getting to the masses per se until now. They can no longer hide the fact that they have been collaborators, willingly or not. They can no longer hide that they’ve sold bits of themselves and their power down the river in an effort to be conciliatory and take the high road. So this is why the sword of truth cuts both ways and people have a hard time dealing with it.

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laura oshea's avatar

You are totally correct!

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Kathleen Jorde's avatar

Way to summarize. You should run as a candidate for office

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BkMama227's avatar

Maybe, one day I will.

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Kathleen Jorde's avatar

Would love to get to know you.

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laura oshea's avatar

Because of what the DNC and Hilary Clinton did to him in 2016

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HerHolyGrizzle's avatar

Which was ALSO bc of that Russian asset Krasnov

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Eileen Henderson's avatar

💯

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Ken Lowe 🇨🇦's avatar

Because the Democratic party is owned by the same mega doners that own the Republican party.

They donate to both sides to be assured influence.

Literal definition of hedging their bets.

We have campaign donation limits here in Canada and know that corporations are *not* people, and do not have protected free speech and donation rights.

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Kathy Kirkland's avatar

Bottom line, old guard Democrats did not support his platform and did not think he was telegenic enough to win.

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laura oshea's avatar

The DNC thought it was Hillary’s turn since she had unexpectedly lost to Obama. She and Bernie were going neck and neck in the primaries but the DNC didn’t like his chances. I would have liked a woman President and Hilary would have been adequate but I would have loved to vote for Bernie. Hilary got the nomination and ran the worst campaign ever. Obama beat her because he gave fantastic hopeful speeches. He is an outstanding orator. Hilary learned nothing from him. But the DNC thought she could beat any of the Repubs that were there. And then tRump got the nomination. The other thing the DNC and Hilary didn’t take into account was the extreme Republican animosity dumped on her because of Bill’s inadequacies.

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Kathy Kirkland's avatar

I mostly agree with you but at one point, Bernie’s momentum was far surpassing Hillary’s. They did him and us dirty. Period.

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Reading Off Into The Sunset's avatar

Only thing is: he was.

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Kathy Kirkland's avatar

I agree but the OGD did not.

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Reading Off Into The Sunset's avatar

They never liked him from the beginning. That’s why they drummed him out in the first place. He showed them.

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Kathleen Jorde's avatar

Bernie has been taljing abiutcall of this for a very long time but I think because Bernie has been invilved in politics for a very long time in the Senate and also because he's kinda like everyones Grandpa he can get away with more of the truthtelking without repercussions. Unfortunatelty not eveyone else may be able to withstand the backlash. Trump has some powerfulbbackers unfortunately.

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Nancy Crouse's avatar

Why is he not thinking of running for president in 2028? If Kamala were to run for Governor of California, then Tim Walz would be great. But what do I know, I'm 🍁. Tim Walz could relate to a large segment of the US. He's gold.

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Sarah Jones & Jason Easley's avatar

Democrats have a habit of banishing their losing tickets, so Walz has that going against him.---Jason

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Nancy Crouse's avatar

Be that as it may, looking from the outside in, it's time Democrats shook their heads.

We went through a period of being a 3rd party until Justine Trudeau came along. I'm just offering my humble opinion here. You could do a lot worse. You could package him as the guy who stood up for the little guy against all odds. He has personal experience regarding his son, his students and his community. I'm available for an advisory position. lol I'm a retired high school teacher.

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Gently, Jack Jones's avatar

As well as marginalizing candidates with potential. They’ve done it repeatedly in Kentucky and elsewhere, trying to come up with a Dem candidate that is as close to a Republican candidate as possible, usually at the expense of the more progressive candidate that is actually exciting people despite it being a red state. Dems fear their progressive wing yet that is clearly where their salvation lies - not necessarily because of the policies but because those candidates speak truth and don’t dumb it down or dilute it in order to appear more moderate. What people in red districts react to are those who tell the truth about the economic reality of America. Bernie did that and that’s the appeal.

And when it comes to having a Dem like Manchin or Sinema in office, who won’t go along with the party, what is the point? They might as well be Republicans.

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Kathleen Jorde's avatar

WOW! Well put! Everything I would have said but likey not as well as you just did!

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E2's avatar

Well, both parties have usually done so, apart from Trump. The last losing nominee to get another shot was Nixon in 1968, before modern primaries.

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Kathleen Jorde's avatar

Yes, I can see that is a possibility which is certainly a shame as he's a good person and effective leader. Hopefully he can overcome this. I hate to see him be missing from leadership roles.

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Kathleen Jorde's avatar

Yeah look how they treated Bernie and others. Valid point

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Nora M's avatar

Yes. Tim isn’t polished enough for the old guard in the Democratic Party (and he’s not corrupt enough for the Republicans), so he can run for senate and that’s it. I agree with you that he can speak to the same demographic that voted for Trump,and some of them are up for grabs as they watch their farms and small businesses get slaughtered by vacillations on tariffs.

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Nancy Crouse's avatar

I agree with your point. We have a different view of politics here but there are two Conservative Premiers (akin to Republicans) where they are corrupt as hell. Investigations are ongoing.

Speaking of tariffs, Trump has breached the trade agreement, but what else is new with that orange pos? He's the devil incarnate. There are petitions demanding PM Mark Carney bar him from the G7. He won't because Trump will really go off the deep end.

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Kathleen Jorde's avatar

So agree with you. Tim is super dependable and stable unlike some people in office that shouldn't be. I support Walz for any office he would desire to run for. He's an educator and very good at explaining things if people atually listen with an open mind.

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Bee T. Change's avatar

I totally agree! I think he could win 👍🏽

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Nancy Crouse's avatar

Thank you.

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Kate Madison's avatar

Tim Walz is the much-loved governor of Minnesota--where I lived during the COVID

pandemic. He personifies all that is right with America and speaks his truth no matter the

consequences. He does not change his tune according to the people to whom he is speaking, which MAGAs find rude and intolerable. I am still sad that he was "held in check" during the

2024 campaign by establishment Dems, who did not want him to go "off message." As if

speaking truth is not good politics. I still wonder had he been more authentic, and Kamala not been so programmed, they might have won.

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James Parker's avatar

The democrats need to shitcan all those inside the beltway consultants that run their shitty campaigns.

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Michelle's avatar

They Did win!

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Kate Madison's avatar

Yes, in our hearts and minds!

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G.G.'s avatar
Jun 1Edited

Kate Madison : Yes to everything you said regarding Tim Waltz except for the last few words. They may have indeed won the election. Let me explain.

I am haunted by the words I heard during a post election “rally” speech when the Shitler said, “I didn’t need the votes- they fixed it so I would win”. It was toward the end of a long winded ramble when many non MAGAts would have surely tuned it out—but I heard it & I have a screen recording that someone saved for me. I’ll find it & try to post it. Not that it will do anyone any good. Several of us called the White House to shed light on his admitted cheating & they brushed us off saying there was nothing that could be done. He won all the swing states. That alone should have been enough to warrant an investigation! But no. Nothing but crickets. IF we have another election, WE must turn out in numbers so large they can’t win even if they do cheat. Shitler must go.

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Kate Madison's avatar

Yikes! Please find that screenshot and post it.

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G.G.'s avatar

Found it. Have put it on my Substack. Trying to figure out how to post it in a reply to you…

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Gently, Jack Jones's avatar

You hit the nail on the head! Dems try to appeal based on demographics and careful positioning, which comes across as disingenuous, disrespectful and untrustworthy. It results in candidates with the subtle stench of phoniness.

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Kathleen Andrews's avatar

I like Governor Walz. I think he is someone worth listening to these days Preach on, Brother Walz.

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Nancy Taylor's avatar

You talked truth and those moderates Susan Collin’s need to be GONE! Thank you Tim.

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Kathi Jackson's avatar

This is SO awesome. I have been wondering when someone was going to go to Southern states and give speeches like Bernie has been giving out west. I hope Walz continues to do this. I love that he called out Susan Collins over her "fake concern" on so many issues, and how she always ends up caving when she votes. She's up for re-election in 2026, and I hope she is finally voted out.

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Michelle's avatar

🙏

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joanne brininstool's avatar

Tim Walz is a wonderful spokesman as he can relate to the average person.

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Phyllis Carlin, Miami's avatar

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻😎WHAT DO I THINK ABOUT TIM WALZ’ SPEECH? Well:

1) He gives a Helluva of a speech! Nearly 1 hour and not one bit of phantasmagorical nonsense about "the late great Hannibal Lector", having to hear about Trophy Wives or "The Snake". Never once did I say to myself, "What the H is he talking about?" or "He lies", or if I were at the speech in person tried to sneak out to get away from him droning on or trying to do a flaccid swaying dance.

2) He makes of lot of sense, is not namby pamby, is humble yet justifiably proud where he should be. He’s a realist, seasoned and ready to roll. He’s my kind of Democrat and yet, he can work across the aisle with reasonable people that are not cowards, abject Trump /MAGA toadies and stealing from the everyday Americans suffering whether they are Democrats or GOP or even voted for Trump one time too many & they know it.

2) Sounds like he’s running for Pres. AND HE SHOULD with Pete Buttigeg as VP. Both of them can put any MAGA opponent in their place.

Kamala as AG or S CT Justice.

Reps. Crockett, AOC, Gallegos as Senators.

Thank you for posting the whole speech! I can watch it over and over to feel energized and moving from despair to hope. (And BTW: read in NYT TODAY [6/1/25] Nicholas Kristoff's column about the 198 ACTIÒNS we can do to out down / disrupt a strong man. Those ideas came from a handbook and toolkit used and revered around the world. I will come back to this post with Toolkit author name and post the Kristoff and toolkit links.)

Oh yes, Chris Murphy as Sec. of State? He's got to fit in somewhere. Jamie Raskin as Senator.

And let’s fit Gov. Jay Pritzger in too: UN Ambassador? Security advisor?

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Phyllis Carlin, Miami's avatar

😾 One thing the Dems don’t need are pollyannas scared of their own shadows. So Gov. Walz is right we need to be meaner.

But let’s be a whole lot meaner and go about it strategically, efficiently and on a coordinated basis.

David Hogg was on to something, but just as with the statement of 60 years ago, “Don’t trust anyone over 30”, that can tend to work against time’s inevitable march.

I say pick the right people regardless of age. Pick those with “young thinking” in authentic ways. And build mentoring teams: don’t dismiss the wisdom, experience, institutional knowledge and history: work together.

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Michael Tunick's avatar

Spot on Phyllis. And you should be the new head of the DNC. LOL.

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Kathy Darby's avatar

Let's not get over our ski's folks. Midterms THEN an open primary. None of this, "it's their turn". Talking to you DNC. Also, no recycled consultants.

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Kristie's avatar

Tim Walz is showing great backbone! He's speaking up the way every democrat should be. I'd love to see him run again!

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Lynn D Englund's avatar

I know Tim Walz, I’ve never been so impressed with a politician, except Barack Obama. I live in MN so glad he is my Governor ❤️

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Jerryl A. Martin's avatar

I think Tim Waltz was point on about our Democratic Party. Being in Columbia, SC myself today, I have personally witnessed an influx of people attending Waltz’ Keynote Address to the Democratic Party. The time to come together and unite is now, but I still notice a high level of disorganization and complacency among Democrats. If we are really serious about winning in the midterms in 2026, the Democrats must be clear and persuasive in their messaging to regain the House of Representatives in 2026. While the corrupt and obstructionists Republicans clearly displayed so much chaos from 2022 to 2024 in Congress, it is incomprehensible why the American people still elected to keep them in the majority. Simply put, this should have never happened and the results have been devastating to the American people. Just like we rely on the Democrats to step up, the same expectations demand that the American people step up as well. Dems cannot do it alone and if the American people stay home and complain and not vote in 2026, we are going to get the same results as we got in 2024. So not only do we have to criticize the Democratic Party to do more, we must place even more responsibilities on ourselves as Americans to go out and vote! In order to change the direction that this country is going in, we must vote Democrats in office, and remove all of these spineless Republicans in Congress who are bending to the will of one man, Donald J. Trump. The preservation of democracy is in our hands and we must undo all of the damage that Trump and these spineless Republicans have done to our country. #VoteBlueIn2026

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Paul N's avatar

Howard Dean had a 50-state strategy. They dumped him and it. That was 20 or so years ago. He was right and the Dems gave up years of possible progress. It’s enough to make you scream LOL.

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James Parker's avatar

Rahm Emanuel should be banished from the party forever.

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Eleanor Duffield's avatar

I favor fresh blood. Chris Murphy perhaps. Let's not nominate anyone sure to fail: gay, Hindu, aged, been around the block already, former chiefs of staff. A presidential candidate might best be a former governor and senator for executive and foreign policy experience.

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Barb Miller-Webb's avatar

I'm not sure we should throw Waltz out with the rest. Like Bernie, he is doing the needful and speaking from an experienced head of state's perspective which is different from (most of) the rest. Don't get me wrong I like and respect many of the people being mentioned. I voted for Nader, it is a shame that he wasn't listen to. Also, Howard Dean would have been incredible, but we threw him out because of an ad, I would have voted for him. We need to send home those Dems who will not change, or challenge the status qoa. I think Waltz could bring an AOC or a Crockett (is she old enough) with him. As much as it is not right, there are too many people who are not ready (open minded enough) to vote for anyone other than a white man. But if we can get the right guy he can usher in more diversity, normalize doing the right think. He has experience, minimum baggage, he's not that old, and is well spoken in middle America. Then again, there are others who should be considered. IMHO

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Rue Ryuzaki's avatar

Enjoy hearing Tim

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Eric Perro's avatar

Walz should not have been running for VP. He should have run for POTUS. America simply isn't educated enough for a female black POTUS. ut Walz has that Jimmy Carter quality that would have clipped Vermin Trump IMO.

Having said that, Musk somehow rigged the 2024 election for Trump. Not sure exactly how yet but it sure smells rancid, especially in the swing states.

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