Honeymooning in Moscow (or Havana, or Managua, or Caracas)

 

If you’re like me, you’re tempted to belt yourself in while watching the Democratic debates or, at the very least, have your significant other hide the remote to keep you from skipping to more riveting fare such as The Home Shopping Network or The Weather Channel.

However, I forced myself to watch Friday night’s debate to make yet another attempt to understand what, for me, has so far been incomprehensible: What accounts for this phenomenon of “Feeling the Bern”? I have to confess, I’m no closer than I was back in 2016. Who should we be focusing on more; Bernie Sanders or his supporters?

There are many things that put me off concerning Bernie Sanders (not the least of which has been the recent revelation of a few of his sexual fantasies). But there’s one question I simply can’t get past, “Who in their right mind spends his honeymoon in Moscow?” Even though Bernie himself describes those ten days in 1988 as “weird”, it does not answer how the USSR became his choice for the place in which to begin his marriage. One thought did occur to me. I do have friends who went on mission trips (as their honeymoons) to emphasize the role that faith was going to play in their marriages. So, was this sojourn by Bernie and his new wife meant to demonstrate their fealty to a faith that is far different from that of my friends?

During the last debate, and in several prior instances, I muted my TV each time Bernie spoke in order to attempt to get a read on his body language. When he is not behind a lectern he appears to be ill at ease; at times, clearly uncomfortable. When asked a question that puts him on the defensive, his jaw tightens and he gesticulates wildly. Even when he attempts a smile it comes out as a grimace.

But, more interestingly, is his demeanor when behind a lectern. Bent over, tightly gripping the lectern with both hands, he resembles a fundamentalist preacher (think “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”) more than a politician. And, perhaps, that is precisely what many of his supporters are looking for.

As I look into Bernie’s audiences, and from what I have read in the polls, the bulk of Bernie’s support appears to come from young people, 25 and below. Not to be excessively Freudian, but I could not help but wonder: Is Bernie the stern father (or grandfather) they never had?

In listening to interviews with Bernie’s supporters, I heard (from almost all of them) that “Bernie is real.” And, compared to his primary opponents, they are probably correct. When I listened to Warren, Buttigieg, Biden, and the rest, it was little more than a nonstop panderfest with each one trying to one-up the previous one in terms of promises to their fringe constituents. (I have to admit that Elizabeth Warren’s promise to have a transgender youth vet the next Secretary of Education has set the bar so high that it may never be topped.)

In a recent edition of National Review, there was an excellent piece on Bernie which emphasized that his politics “have been nothing if not consistent.” This, in itself, is not necessarily bad. However, as with a fervent religious convert, a Socialist like Bernie cannot disavow a single tenet of his “religion” without losing his identity (and his soul).

Just like the American Communists of the 1930s who swallowed their principles and unabashedly endorsed Stalin’s Nonaggression Pact with Nazi Germany, Bernie cannot go back on his previous endorsement of thugs such as Fidel Castro, Daniel Ortega or Evo Morales. When pressed on the actions of those tyrants, Sanders can do little more than make tepid criticisms (On Ortega’s presidency, “…he has become a dictator, and I think that’s unfortunate”.).

Even when faced with the terrible plight of those who lived in the former Soviet Union, Sanders still found much to praise about the dictatorship, “Why, they have cheap housing; there are no homeless.” Huh? Did he take a look at his surroundings? Did he realize that Soviet Citizens were squeezed into grim, soul-crushing concrete structures that made our own Cabrini-Green slums look like a Sandals Resort?

I believe that both Sanders and his supporters, in their heart of hearts, know the truth but I believe that there’s something more nefarious that’s come into play and that is the old saw that inside every progressive there is a totalitarian screaming to get out. It didn’t come as any shock to me that Sanders has been enthusiastically endorsed by the extreme ‘wingnut” section of the Democratic Party. If there had been an avowed Stalinist (or Anarchist) to declare for the Presidency, I believe that AOC and her cohorts would have been all in for that candidate.

No, I believe that inside Sanders and his supporters is the overarching belief that they are the “true believers”; that they, like their ideological forbearers in the Soviet Union, are destined to enjoy the fruits of their ideology (such as luxurious apartments in the city and spacious dachas in the country) while the rest of us unenlightened “proles” should be consigned to the lifeless, joyless existence that we deserve.

I believe that we all remember Valerie Jarrett’s remark to Tom Brokaw shortly before Barack Obama’s inauguration in 2008, “We will be ready to rule on day one.” Notice that she did not use the words “govern” or “lead” but “rule.” And, that’s what he attempted.

We should expect no less from Bernie and his followers. Make no mistake about it (and casually mention it to your never-Trumper friends). If you choose to “feel the Bern,” don’t be surprised if our constitution and republic are incinerated.

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  1. Ontheleftcoast Inactive
    Ontheleftcoast
    @Ontheleftcoast

    CACrabtree:

    During the last debate, and in several prior instances, I muted my TV each time Bernie spoke in order to attempt to get a read on his body language. When he is not behind a lectern he appears to be ill at ease; at times, clearly uncomfortable. When asked a question that puts him on the defensive, his jaw tightens and he gesticulates wildly. Even when he attempts a smile it comes out as a grimace.

    But, more interestingly, is his demeanor when behind a lectern. Bent over, tightly gripping the lectern with both hands, he resembles a fundamentalist preacher (think “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”) more than a politician. And, perhaps, that is precisely what many of his supporters are looking for.

    Muting the sound is a very useful thing to do, isn’t it?

    “Sinners in the hands of an angry Gaia” would probably be more how the Sandersites think.  The redemptive and purifying power of violence is in there somewhere, too. Bottom line: Sanders is leading a Jacobin political cult.

    I can’t write “Jacobin” without thinking of Norman Podhoretz’ essay, The Return of the “Jackal Bins.

     

    • #1
  2. Eustace C. Scrubb Member
    Eustace C. Scrubb
    @EustaceCScrubb

    “Authenticity” is cited as the top value, even by regular Joe Rogan. Even if his views are “authentically” evil and stupid. 

    • #2
  3. DonG (skeptic) Coolidge
    DonG (skeptic)
    @DonG

    It all starts with the bank bailouts under Bush.  That was the most unpopular thing Congress has ever done.  It spawned two anti-government movements:  the TEA party and Occupy Wall Street.   The two movements were anti-establishment.  The TEA party eventually lead to Trump and Occupy eventually lead to Bernie.  Trump and Bernie are both anti-establishment guys.  Two sides of the same coin.  Authentic and and promising to drain the swamp and take back the country.

    • #3
  4. Arahant Member
    Arahant
    @Arahant

    Your comparison to religion is correct. Their gods are not G-d, but they are most demanding.

    • #4
  5. Paul Stinchfield Member
    Paul Stinchfield
    @PaulStinchfield

    DonG (skeptic) (View Comment):
    Two sides of the same coin.

    Not exactly: the Tea Party types want a return to small limited government and the elimination of corruption and cronyism. The Occupy people are hard-core leftists who want not a “return” but a revolutionary transformation to a Marxist system. They don’t want to drain the swamp so much as make it enrich them and only them.

    • #5
  6. EJHill Podcaster
    EJHill
    @EJHill

    It starts and ends with the word “equality.”  It is a glorious righteous sword, that word.

    On the right edge it is equality before the law, an ideal that the rich and the powerful need to play by the same rules as everyone else. 

    On the left edge is equality of outcome, regardless of toil or talent, that no man is entitled to individual success and all men have a right to demand your labor enrich him as much as it enriches you. 

    One side is a weapon of hope and dignity, the other side is one of ignorance and envy. One word, two ideals. One calls for work and diligence and the other offers a siren song of the easy life without regard to the realities of human nature. 

    • #6
  7. Retail Lawyer Member
    Retail Lawyer
    @RetailLawyer

    I watched the entire debate with the sound off.  Bernie is the best of the lot with the sound off.  Try it.

    I blame the Bernie supporters on Hillary.  Almost everyone on the left knew Hillary was a fraud and a crook.  She has tainted the entire Democratic Party and so whats a proper liberal to do?  They think Trump is Hitler, ushering in some Handmaiden’s Tale, so where do they go?

    • #7
  8. Jon1979 Inactive
    Jon1979
    @Jon1979

    Bernie’s sort of an odd duck because his zeal always seems to hit a brick wall when he comes face-to-face with challenging other primary candidates. He wouldn’t confront Hillary even when prompted to at the 2016 debates, and he’s loathe to do the same in the current debate cycle, possibly because he doesn’t want any of the other candidates to get a real opening to pick apart his specific plans or go into his past history (in fact, that’s what makes what attacks there are between the Democratic candidates right now so lame, because thanks to the party’s special interest politics, virtually every remaining candidate has a vulnerability that the others won’t touch out of fear of being on the wrong side of wokeness).

    Sanders’ lameness at attacking anyone else, combined with his ineffectiveness as a Senator, likely means his real danger as President Bernie wouldn’t be so much from him as it would be from the take-no-prisoners True Believers a Sanders Administration would install in the key top bureaucratic positions. That would be where the real danger would come from, and as the jihad the Obama holdovers within the bureaucracy have waged against Trump for the past three years have shown, they can do damage not just while their guy is in the White House, but for years after their guy is gone.

    • #8
  9. CACrabtree Coolidge
    CACrabtree
    @CACrabtree

    Jon1979 (View Comment):

    Bernie’s sort of an odd duck because his zeal always seems to hit a brick wall when he comes face-to-face with challenging other primary candidates. He wouldn’t confront Hillary even when prompted to at the 2016 debates, and he’s loathe to do the same in the current debate cycle, possibly because he doesn’t want any of the other candidates to get a real opening to pick apart his specific plans or go into his past history (in fact, that’s what makes what attacks there are between the Democratic candidates right now so lame, because thanks to the party’s special interest politics, virtually every remaining candidate has a vulnerability that the others won’t touch out of fear of being on the wrong side of wokeness).

    Sanders’ lameness at attacking anyone else, combined with his ineffectiveness as a Senator, likely means his real danger as President Bernie wouldn’t be so much from him as it would be from the take-no-prisoners True Believers a Sanders Administration would install in the key top bureaucratic positions. That would be where the real danger would come from, and as the jihad the Obama holdovers within the bureaucracy have waged against Trump for the past three years have shown, they can do damage not just while their guy is in the White House, but for years after their guy is gone.

    You made some great points; especially your reference to True Believers going into the bureaucracy.  It would be a nightmare.

    • #9
  10. JD Rucker Inactive
    JD Rucker
    @JDRucker

    We took our honeymoon locally. Some of us have to work.

    • #10
  11. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    CACrabtree: (I have to admit that Elizabeth Warren’s promise to have a transgender youth vet the next Secretary of Education has set the bar so high that it may never be topped.)

    It’s too bad Marianne Williamson dropped out.  I think she would have found a way to top that.

    • #11
  12. CACrabtree Coolidge
    CACrabtree
    @CACrabtree

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    CACrabtree: (I have to admit that Elizabeth Warren’s promise to have a transgender youth vet the next Secretary of Education has set the bar so high that it may never be topped.)

    It’s too bad Marianne Williamson dropped out. I think she would have found a way to top that.

    I agree.  Ms. Williamson could have probably cleared that in street shoes.  

    • #12
  13. Randy Weivoda Moderator
    Randy Weivoda
    @RandyWeivoda

    CACrabtree (View Comment):

    Randy Weivoda (View Comment):

    CACrabtree: (I have to admit that Elizabeth Warren’s promise to have a transgender youth vet the next Secretary of Education has set the bar so high that it may never be topped.)

    It’s too bad Marianne Williamson dropped out. I think she would have found a way to top that.

    I agree. Ms. Williamson could have probably cleared that in street shoes.

    “Before anyone gets my nomination to be Secretary of the Interior, she will be vetted by an endangered specie, who will communicate with me psychically.”

    • #13
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