I Want a House on Bernie Street

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Friday February 14, 2020 · 7:59 AM PST

2020/02/14 · 07:59

(Thanks everyone for putting this inspirational love song to Bernie on the Recommended List. )

Bernie Street was written by my nephew, Kurt, in the Spring of 2016. Kurt wrote this song in his home town of Green Bay, Wisconsin several weeks before his passing, struggling with severe mental illness for much of his adult life, eventually succumbing to his illness. He died on June 3, 2016. As a child and also as an adult, he was remembered by those who had the opportunity to know him as being the sweetest, most tender-hearted and unselfish young man you could be fortunate enough ever to meet.

For all of us, whether we are voting for Bernie or have another great candidate in mind, this is such a moving tribute to Bernie by a young man looking for the deeper meaning of how to live a good life. Like many who struggle more than the rest of us with disadvantages like mental illness, Bernie spoke to Kurt.

From his obituary: Kurt loved his woodworking projects and made many beautiful and useful creations. He enjoyed being up North, fishing and being in nature. Kurt was a sports enthusiast, especially enjoying baseball and the Badgers. While he was growing up he and his brother loved being ball boys at the UW-Green Bay men's basketball games and playing "noon ball" at the Phoenix Sports Center. Kurt wrote about sports and also enjoyed writing fiction. He was a talented singer, songwriter, and guitarist and loved music.

Every time I listen to Bernie Street. I am reminded of the struggle. The struggle that so many of us have, with too many lives cut short. We love you Kurt.

Embedded Content

(Marcher in the song refers to Bernie)

To everyone waiting to feel

Alive in a moment that is real

A marcher is running a race

Against a united, against a united disgrace

I want a house on Bernie street

Shake your hand when we meet

Walking tall and fighting fair

While my lungs breathe cleaner air

Want to live the Bernie dream

Be exactly what I see

Working hard to write the wrongs

While a soul sings victory songs

To everyone waiting to hear

Freedom bells ring in their ears

A marcher is speaking the truth

The brave way he did, the brave way he did in his youth

I want a house on Bernie street

Shake your hand when we meet

Walking tall and fighting fair

While my lungs breathe cleaner air

Want to live the Bernie dream

Be exactly what I see

Working hard to write the wrongs

While a soul sings victory songs

To everyone waiting to give

The kids’ lessons on how to live

A marcher is planting a tree

The shade of which he’ll never, he’ll never quite live to see

I want a house on Bernie street

Shake your hand when we meet

Walking tall and fighting fair

While my lungs breathe cleaner air

Want to live the Bernie dream

Be exactly what I see

Working hard to write the wrongs

While a soul sings victory songs

To everyone waiting to vote

A marcher is our antidote.

"Google search ad promoting Gov. Scott Walker linked to state's voter registration website"

wiprogressiveguy

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Wednesday October 31, 2018 · 7:35 AM PDT

2018/10/31 · 07:35

There is a link up about a Google ad search where people inquiring about registration are then told to vote for Walker. It just came up on the Madison.com website and I didn’t see a diary up about it and wanted to get it up here. I have not done a diary in years nor comment so forgive me if I don’t do this right.Link is here . You really have to watch these guys always trying to manipulate voters!

Marquette Law School Poll: Hillary up 15 in Wisconsin among likely voters..Feingold up 11

wiprogressiveguy

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Wednesday August 10, 2016 · 10:55 AM PDT

2016/08/10 · 10:55

Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton speaks during the National Association of Black Journalists(NABJ) and National Association of Hispanic Journalists(NAHJ) joint convention in Washington, DC, August 5, 2016. / AFP / SAUL LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)

This just came out. Haven’t seen it listed yet and I don’t do diaries usually so sorry if its not in the proper format. In latest Marquette Law School Poll Hillary is up 15 among likely voters and 10 among registered voter. Feingold is up 11 by likely voters and 6 for registered voters. I have thought all along that Wisconsin is out of reach to Trump. Johnson fares a bit better which is a trend among senators outperforming Trump.

Poll

Trump will have to find another path. I know, there isn’t one.

"I wanna house on Bernie Street"

wiprogressiveguy

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Saturday April 16, 2016 · 11:35 AM PDT

2016/04/16 · 11:35

Below are the lyrics and the link to the song from my nephew, Kurt Spielmann. Kurt is a young person and works at a coffee house. He also is a musician and writes songs in his spare time. When I heard the lyrics and the song, I asked him if I could put it up in a diary here, and he agreed. I was really touched by this song because it epitomized the idealism and the yearning for a truth that seems so elusive. I think this taps into why the young people are going so strongly for Bernie.

Note: My nephew does not follow Daily Kos. I really don’t know how he spends his time with regard to politics but is not involved in the wars that are rampant here. Please be kind. This is a diary for Bernie supporters or others who are truly interested and is not a place to unload. Please find another diary for that, it would be nice if this could be a “mean-free zone.”

Link: Bernie Street

Lyrics:

Bernie Street

to everyone waiting to feel
alive in a moment that's real
a marcher is running a race
against a united
against a united disgrace

i wanna house on bernie street
shake your hand when we meet
walkin tall and fightin fair
while my lungs breathe cleaner air
wanna live the bernie dream
be exactly what i seem
workin hard to right the wrongs
while my soul sings victory songs

to everyone waiting to hear
freedom bells ring in their ears
a marcher is speaking the truth
the brave way he did
the brave way he did in his youth

to everyone waiting to give
their kids lessons on how to live
a marcher is planting a tree
the shade of which he'll never
he'll never quite live to see

to everyone waiting to vote
the marcher is our antidote

credits

released April 14, 2016

Calling out people who recc'd diaries? Is this okay?

wiprogressiveguy

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Monday March 14, 2016 · 9:19 AM PDT

2016/03/14 · 09:19

While I’ve had an account for quite a while and actually had a previous account that i used prior to this one so I’m not new. But I come and go and came back here relatively recently. But if diarists are going to start listing usernames that recc’d a diary then I’m outta here. If you want to know who recc’d a diary you can go to that diary and view the names. In my opinion, there is no place in calling out people in a diary. Have you ever recc’d a diary because from a certain perspective you felt it had merit? That’s why we have diaries, that pull for perspectives. I have no problem with a diarist voicing a vociferous opposition to another diary. But you’re definitely going to scare newcomers and more timid Daily Kos users away. For me, whatever the diarist said is meaningless because the tactics that were used only served to silence dissent, to shame people that they recc’d a particular diary. This does not promote a healthy dialogue. So whatever the content of this diary is, it means nothing to me. Make your points without shaming, without individually calling others out who support a diary. You know nothing about them, how their mind works and why they recc’d a diary. Again, if this site condones listing usernames in another diary to shame and silence them, and when that information is already available for everyone to see, then I’m definitely in the wrong place. Am I?

Bernie Supporters: Take your Direction from Bernie

wiprogressiveguy

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Friday March 04, 2016 · 7:37 AM PST

2016/03/04 · 07:37

There are have been a number of diaries over the last few weeks that have talked about whether Bernie supporters would support Hillary if she were the nominee because there have been a handful of comments from people supporting Bernie suggesting they would not vote for Hillary. This is a lot of needless handwringing, admonitions, and probably some subterfuge as well. But rather than engaging in these ridiculous discussions, Bernie supporters should simply follow Bernie on this. If Hillary is the nominee in 2016, then like Hillary in 2008, Bernie will bring his supporters in line to support Hillary. What percentage of Bernie supporters do you imagine will not support Hillary, especially after Bernie does what he does best: speaking out on the behalf of ordinary Americans from all walks of life? We trust Bernie and we believe in what he says. So if Hillary becomes the nominee, and Bernie asks us to support Hillary, which he will, and passionately so, then we will, passionately so.

This is a no-brainer. Any Bernie supporter who does not support Hillary if she is the nominee after the primary season and after Bernie has spoken passionately about the need to come together, then any Bernie supporter who votes for Trump in the general election, was never going to vote for Hillary even if there wasn’t a Bernie. Emotions have a shelf-life and by October, there will be no “Bernie” problem.

Right now, do I need to remind people we are in the primary! Don’t fall for this! The more the discussion moves to the general the more it diminishes what is happening now, right now in the primary season. We need to keep the focus on the Bernie campaign and keep advancing our support of his policies and his transformational vision. Anything can still happen, three months is a lifetime in politics. Yes delegate math. Fine, but if politics were a purely statistical matter, and not a 24 hour news cycle where anything can happen, then we should just sit home and let the statistics take care of it all. I’m in Wisconsin and my primary is April 5th and I can’t wait to vote for Bernie! When is yours? Don’t fall for the trap. It isn’t over until Bernie says it’s over. So don’t let yourself start falling for this trap, take your lead from Bernie. Trust in Bernie. Whether he is the nominee or not the nominee, you can not err if you place your trust in Bernie. Just keep doing what you are doing, speaking out, sending money, canvassing, phone banking, and don’t engage in nonsense about whether Bernie supporters will support Hillary. If Hillary were to lose the general election if she were the nominee, and for the record I expect that she would win, handily at that, it would not be because of Bernie. Bernie will go all out for Hillary if she were the nominee and so will we, so Bernie would be the least of her problems if she were to lose. Okay, hopefully we can now move on from this because Bernie needs us. All hands on deck!

Move forward! All in for Bernie!

I Trust Bernie

wiprogressiveguy

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Thursday March 03, 2016 · 5:44 AM PST

2016/03/03 · 05:44

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 20: U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) participates in a "Don't Trade Our Future" march organized by the group Campaign for America's Future April 20, 2015 in Washington, DC. The event was part of the Populism 2015 Conference which is

I will not yield to the political pundits who say Bernie’s candidacy for President of the United States is lost. Nor Daily Kos diarists nor mathematicians. Never in my life (of 56 years) have I ever had the chance to be for, to believe in, to trust so implicitly in a candidate for President, as I do in Bernie. He is truly a once in a life time candidate and I will go wherever Bernie goes and asks me to go. He’s got my back, our backs, and I’ve got his.

Wisconsin does not hold its primary until April 5th and I am so ecstatic to cast my vote for him, I can’t contain myself with such child-like excitement to finally vote for a President I truly believe in. Note: Please don’t bring up Obama, yes he has been a great president and yes he has done great things. But he is no Bernie. (nothing intended beyond that, just that he is no Bernie).

The utter gall of anyone telling me to fall in line when I haven’t even voted yet and won’t do so for a month. (And by the way, Wisconsin’s going to go big for Bernie! And guess what? When he comes back to Madison, which I know he will, we will draw the largest crowd of all of his humongous crowds!)

The point is, say what you will about coalescing around a Democrat for the good of the party and for the fall general election, am I going to trust you, a Hillary supporter, or a “realist” Bernie “supporter”, or a very serious political commentary, or anyone else other than Bernie?

Hell no!

The only coalescing I will be doing is around Bernie.

I trust in Bernie. I trust Bernie above all others, whether you be running for President of the United States or you be commenting on it. Why would I listen to you or anyone else other than Bernie? The truth is if someone is not convinced after the countless diaries and comments, they just don’t get this once in a life time candidate. And so, I will go wherever Bernie takes me and do whatever he asks me. The only person that can get me to change my course of action and “coalesce” around another candidate is Bernie himself.

I saw Jane Sanders on MSNBC last night, so excited and engaged about the campaign, talking strategy, talking about when people get to know Bernie he does better, and talking about the fact that n the highest turnout states Bernie won those states. As I watched her on TV, I was struck by her supreme display of confidence in Bernie and in this campaign. Notice I didn’t say confident in what, just that she was supremely confident.

Do you think I’m going to turn my back on Bernie now, when Bernie, Jane, and countless supporters are out there fighting for all of us?

I heard Rachel Maddow saying last night that in the year 2016, nothing has been predictable, and nothing going forward will be predictable, and anything can happen and can still happen.

So you can throw me all your delegate math, and tell me why it’s over and I should fall in line, become a “realist” but you already know what I say to you, don’t you? That’s right,the only one that could ever get me to “fall in line” is Bernie himself. I am sorry I can’t change for you. I don’t really understand politics, but I do know one thing, I do know whose got our backs, and you can be sure as hell certain that I will have Bernie’s!

I trust in Bernie.

How Bernie Found Me and Never Lost Me

wiprogressiveguy

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday February 15, 2016 · 4:01 AM PST

2016/02/15 · 04:01

no image description available — You will never lose me Bernie.

I was completely lost.

I thought the problems in our world were a complex set of variables of which I really had no control that related to financial markets and economic issues of which smarter minds were entrusted to figure it out.

I knew we had a broken system and I thought it was simply due to Republicans obstructing common sense policies. Never in my wildest dreams, (yes I plead naive, ignorant, whatever you want to call me) did I think it had to do with anything other than which political party was in control as to why there were so many problems in our society.

Then Bernie woke me up, that the problems were systemically and irrevocably related to that age-old problem of corruption and cronyism. Damn! Fooled again!

The message: our problems were due to the pure greed of the gleeful sticky hands of 1 percent of Americans, or even 1/10th of 1 percent rigging the system to their advantage.

I needed a brick to hit me over the head.

Here comes the brick:

A rigged economy. Transfer of wealth over the last 40 years from the middle class to the top 1/10th of 1 percent. Financial interests buying elections to ensure their interests are prioritized: financial markets, fossil fuel industries, prisons, insurance and pharmaceutical companies , and weaponry-for-war industries crowding out basic human rights like health care, college education, clean air and water, good jobs, a livable wage, and not getting into endless war.

Brick landing on my head! Bam! Ouch!

Wow, did that wake me up. That’s it. Message received. Thank you Bernie.

What other message do people want to hear? Is it really more complex than pure greed? So hit this message over and over Bernie, I don’t care how simplistic it may seem to some of us, I know that one by one, we will wake up until there are enough of us to remove the sticky fingers of the 1/10th of 1 percent out of that exclusive pie fest.

And, sticky fingers should not be in charge of righting this ship.

No it is not more complex than that. Really.

You are brilliant Bernie. Your nimble campaign with its disciplined messaging, supreme confidence in that message (truth wins out), and fundraising prowess from ordinary citizens to broadcast your message loudly and clearly already proves your brilliance. You do not have to prove anything else to me Bernie. I’m in!

Thank you for finding me Bernie. You woke up me to the hard truth, and now the truth will set me and all of us free.

No matter how many times you say this message over and over, Bernie, you will never lose me. In fact, you only strengthen my resolve, our resolve.

I stand with you, Bernie. We stand with you, Bernie.

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