AOC shows the way to Bernie and the progressives: a third, fully independent party and a solid alliance with the Greens

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez finally scores against the establishment

globinfo freexchange

It seems as if the new star of the progressive movement, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, heard the alarm that we activated about two months ago.

As we wrote, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a critical factor for the outcome of the civil war inside the Democratic party. But if you consider this as a 90-minute football game that has started with her astonishing victory and will end at the day of the 2020 presidential election, we are only about nine minutes from the start of the game. And the establishment already scored three goals. With that rate of retreat, the progressives will be literally vanished by 2020.

Indeed, Cortez counterattacked decisively. It was her turn to score big against the establishment, inside the court of the corporate Democrats.

As the Intercept reported:

           Protesters with the environmental group Sunrise marched on Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi’s office on Tuesday. The group, made up of young people pushing for urgent action on climate change, planned to send a clear message to party leadership just one week after Democrats regained control of the House. But this was no ordinary protest for the Sunrise activists, who typically stand on the opposite side of politicians. This time, they were joined by Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who is just weeks away from being sworn into office. Rep.-elect Rashida Tlaib of Michigan joined the protesters in a rally at the Spirit of Justice Park near the Capitol on Tuesday morning, but she did not continue on to Pelosi’s office. “This is the most American thing you can do,” Tlaib said of the protest. Ocasio-Cortez and Tlaib also attended an event with the Sunrise activists on Monday night. Members of the progressive political group Justice Democrats also joined the protest, which was attended by more than 150 people.

Cortez’ move was not just symbolic. It was full of substantial political messages.

First of all, she sent a clear message to the Democratic establishment. That progressives will not join the Democratic party unconditionally. That they will stick to their agenda on critical issues like the environmental policy, healthcare, education, wages, etc.

Second, Cortez exhibited a part of her political power, which comes from her ability to communicate with people of her generation and the American youth. The message to the Democrats was that they can't win next time without taking the youth vote and mobilize people to participate in the political process. And to do that they have to change radically. They have to present a real program for the benefit of the majority of the Americans. Anti-Trump rhetoric won't work.

But at the same time, Cortez sent a message to the progressive political army too (whether she did it intentionally or not). She showed the road to strategy that Bernie Sanders and the progressives should follow for the 2020 presidential election in case of another dirty war by the corporate Democrats against them.

So far, we had quite clear indications that the establishment will do whatever it takes to make sure that the Democratic party will stay under the control of the corporate Democrats and that will not fall in the hands of the progressives.

We saw already various polls, by the establishment mechanisms, promoting pro-establishment figures as being the most suitable to beat Donald Trump, while they almost ignored Bernie Sanders. Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Kamala Harris and even a couple of "outsiders" - but pro-establishment figures - like Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey were recruited to undermine the possibility to see Bernie Sanders in the leadership of the Democrats. And all these, despite that he remains the most popular politician in the United States right now.

Debbie Wasserman Schultz has beaten Tim Canova in Florida while serious doubts have been raised about the legitimacy of the process. Normally, the Democratic party should have not allowed Schultz to participate at all after WikiLeaks revelations about her role in the dirty war against Bernie Sanders in the 2016 primaries.

Then we had Pelosi's empty speech through which she essentially attempted to send a signal to the wealthy donors of the corporate Democrats, assuring them that things won't change.

And then, we had the ultimate shock: the re-branding of Hillary Clinton by a part of the establishment press to run again for the 2020 presidential election! Obviously she considers the Democratic party her property and the corporate Democrats don't care. They are on the same side after all.

So, Cortez showed that there is a rising movement with a great momentum that will play a very critical role in shaping the US political landscape in the next years. The American youth will not compromise concerning sensitive issues which will determine its future and even the fate of the entire planet. Global warming and other environmental issues will play a key role to the political orientation of this rapidly rising movement, which may also adopt a more robust anti-war stance.

So, here is another proof that this is the perfect timing for Bernie and the progressives to make the big step. To build a third, fully independent party and a solid alliance with the Greens.