An interview with Chris Pearson, Senator of Vermont. Hosted by TYT founder and host, Cenk Uygur. Cenk and Pearson debate their opposing views on money and politics.
Pearson has no balls and is an Obama. A weak, scared or possibly corrupted politition that is backtalking progressive policy just like Obama. Pearson: “Oh really… conservitives can participate in democrocy too?”.
Progressive? I cannot see any progressive in this guy. Remind me of how he is not numbered amongst the “toothless” democrats? He has got no backbone, period.
I understand that Cenk feels passionately about this issue. However, it’s extremely annoying that he’s putting Pearson’s arguments for him – why bother to have someone on if you’re not going to let them talk? – and talking over him. It’s common courtesy to hear the person out, even if you do think they’re talking arrant nonsense, so you don’t come across as a bully.
I don’t know what effect it would have on the causal YouTube viewer but, as someone who agrees with Cenk, I find his aggression unappealing and I feel as though it undermines his argument.
To be balanced, the suggestions made by Pearson in the last five minutes are quite pathetic.
Should have hammered it over and over and over. If their fear was actually getting a convention, then why are they not targeting the other calls? Why only target this particularly (currently small) call for convention. That alone proves their excuses are total bullshit. Period.
Why is everyone hating on Chris so much? If he was bought out then he wouldn’t be voting the way that progressives are pushing to. I disagree that he should let fear of a runaway convention stop him, and there were definite times in there where he even showed agreement in that fact. A follow on segment with him and a few others in his position on the opposite side of the argument would be great to have.
He is voting to rescind the call for amendment to take money out of politics. How is he voting the way that progressives are pushing to? It is like if you claim being a Jew and eat pork!
Pearson’s idea for grassroots funding will always put progressives running Bernie style at a huge financial disadvantage. I really hate the idea of having to crowd source money to get good politicians.
I believe Pearson is genuinely fearful of the ramifications of a runaway convention, but as Cenk points out two-thirds of the states still need to ratify any amendment coming out of a convention, and two-thirds of the country aren’t going to outlaw abortion or whatever. His alternative, grass-roots activism, isn’t going to fix the system. Even in an ideal scenario it just leads to a perpetual tug-of-war between grass-roots organizations and special interests, and I’m sorry, but I don’t think grass-roots are going to win that fight.
Maybe what Pearson is saying is not that far fetched after all. Corporate America Is Just 6 States Short of a Constitutional Convention
If ALEC succeeds in rewriting the constitution to mandate a balanced budget, we’ll be stuck with supply-side economics for at least a generation. http://inthesetimes.com/article/18940/alec-balanced-budget-corporate-constitutional-convention
Senator Pearson, you cannot expect us to keep giving political contributions when it is such a burden, such a sacrifice to do so, when there is no hope that it is coming to an end. We cannot possibkly compete with the millionaires and billiionares who truly have most of the money for an extended time into the future. We are giving political contributions now because we are desperate because what you fear is already happening, is underway right now. The Democratic loss of vision and subsequent loss of power since Bill Clinton’s first election is dramatic. If we do not act now, our inaction will result in the loss of it all. Our power as regular Americans is dropping every day. The window of last opportunity is closing and the Democratic Party, my party, has worked against me, has made our chances be less. You do not want to act because you are fearful. You should be terrified because we are losing everything in the current circumstance of not acting.
fear. he just sat there and said it, repeated it. we must fear what “they” will do, therefore we cannot annoy them, except they are already doing what you fear. fear. there is NOTHING progressive about fear. If you are afraid to act in a substantive manner to get money out of politics, do us all a favor and step aside. nobody in this country needs any more fear dragging us further down the drain. very sad to listen to him speak about it as if it is the most logical path.
Since Chris is an elected senator he is a “they” insider. His expressed “fear” is his understanding of what the Establishment will do to protect and PRESERVE its power and status. Only by joining Chris as an ELECTED official will I VOTE for those who support the “progressive” cause of free and fair elections.
As much as I agree with his position, Cenk’s rants and rage against the corrupt establishment (myself included) are NOT heard by innocent bystanders because they fear his voice – an actual experience e. g. ANY Trump supporter?
As every conscious voter does, I have always VOTED in my own self interest. When I fail I corrupt the result. Believe me. I have no fear that I will be able to corrupt the dream of any progressive when that dream does not satisfy my own self-interest as long as I live. I will leave you to live your life as you wish after I am gone.
They “bystanders” you talk about who will not come in support of Cenk to take money out of politics are actually %90 of the American people based on the polls. Thank you by the way for bragging about how a conscious voter has to vote based on their own self interest. Very informing of who you are.
Pearson is just naive and Cenk was flattering him by calling him a true progressive. The way forward is through direct action in replacing the old school corporate democrats, all else will fail.
It is a fact that congress is in the hands of people born before 1960. Most people who vote were born before 1960.
I agree with Chris that it is very risky to taunt anyone born before 1960 with a death rattle constitutional convention where they are entitled to protect their self interest in “Other Business”. It is much more progressive to compassionately endure their age induced dementia and patiently ease their burden by replacing them with more active and more debt laden people born after 1960. As 86 year old Warren Buffett says, our grandchildren are blessed to have been born into world where untold wealth has been accumulated using compound interest to grow the “float” daily life generates. After all, those of us who were born before 1960 and have lived through this growth, are slowly running out of energy and are more than happy to let younger minds dream of pursuing life, liberty and happiness. Everyone who is born must realize that their VOTE MATTERS and sustains democracy until they are dead. I am giving you the responsibility of surviving my departure. I enjoyed every second of my liveliness.
This guy thinks the Convention would be bought out… because *he* is bought out. Come on. He sounds like Spicer up there trying to lie between his teeth. Disgusting.
Grass roots? Isn’t Wolf-PAC grass roots? Is there even one “large” non-grass roots organization in favor of this? Come on! You’ve gotta get into the fight to test their metal. Over 90% of AMERICANS want it out. If their senators try to block it, their voters will know and then we’ll run against them. That’s it.
If we get enough states behind this resolution, then it’s over for big money.
Vermont will vote him out if dares touch the call for wolf pac’s convention call.
There’s no room for cowardly progressives while we are getting mauled by corporate dems and republicans
Note: The Vermont House has yet to pass the resolution rescinding the call for a convention to get money out of politics. Let’s work on keeping it from passing.
“I mean, truly, do you honestly think this Congress is going to create a system that has a healthy and fair debate over the role of money in Congress and our politics? I just think that’s, that’s just, totally naive and wishful thinking. And I think the stakes where we are now you have seen in the last several years, a total disregard for decency and common sense out of national leaders, you know, with whether it’s a Supreme Court nomination, on and on and on and on.”
Why do you think we’re trying to get around Congress and call for a convention of states? It’s for just these reasons.
Jeez, Pearson comes across as so smug and self-assured here. Not only that, but he starts off a vacuous talking point with the word “truly”. You can tell with the grammar here that the wheels in his head are turning fast to say something that at least sounds halfway credible. Pearson comes across as totally insincere.
TYT needs to publish a transcript of this debate on their public website, available to members and non-members alike.
Chris Pearson is making zero sense here. We should rescind Vermont’s petition for a convention until 25 states suddenly come onboard and then “revisit” the issue? What the heck?
He’s also got such a whiny-sounding, patronizing voice. It’s like he doesn’t take Cenk seriously at all.
Comments
Pearson has no balls and is an Obama. A weak, scared or possibly corrupted politition that is backtalking progressive policy just like Obama. Pearson: “Oh really… conservitives can participate in democrocy too?”.
We don’t call a convention because things are going swimmingly. Let me see if I can get his logic on this.
We might loose…..We might fight and loose, so lets loose without fighting?
This scares me more than Republicans do. At least I know where they stand.
Progressive? I cannot see any progressive in this guy. Remind me of how he is not numbered amongst the “toothless” democrats? He has got no backbone, period.
This is not what I call an interview.
I understand that Cenk feels passionately about this issue. However, it’s extremely annoying that he’s putting Pearson’s arguments for him – why bother to have someone on if you’re not going to let them talk? – and talking over him. It’s common courtesy to hear the person out, even if you do think they’re talking arrant nonsense, so you don’t come across as a bully.
I don’t know what effect it would have on the causal YouTube viewer but, as someone who agrees with Cenk, I find his aggression unappealing and I feel as though it undermines his argument.
To be balanced, the suggestions made by Pearson in the last five minutes are quite pathetic.
Should have hammered it over and over and over. If their fear was actually getting a convention, then why are they not targeting the other calls? Why only target this particularly (currently small) call for convention. That alone proves their excuses are total bullshit. Period.
Also, great discussion by the way. If it ain’t at least slightly awkward then neither party is pushing hard enough! ????
Why is everyone hating on Chris so much? If he was bought out then he wouldn’t be voting the way that progressives are pushing to. I disagree that he should let fear of a runaway convention stop him, and there were definite times in there where he even showed agreement in that fact. A follow on segment with him and a few others in his position on the opposite side of the argument would be great to have.
He is voting to rescind the call for amendment to take money out of politics. How is he voting the way that progressives are pushing to? It is like if you claim being a Jew and eat pork!
Pearson’s idea for grassroots funding will always put progressives running Bernie style at a huge financial disadvantage. I really hate the idea of having to crowd source money to get good politicians.
I believe Pearson is genuinely fearful of the ramifications of a runaway convention, but as Cenk points out two-thirds of the states still need to ratify any amendment coming out of a convention, and two-thirds of the country aren’t going to outlaw abortion or whatever. His alternative, grass-roots activism, isn’t going to fix the system. Even in an ideal scenario it just leads to a perpetual tug-of-war between grass-roots organizations and special interests, and I’m sorry, but I don’t think grass-roots are going to win that fight.
Actually, 3/4 (three-fourths) of the states is needed to ratify. It’s in petitioning for the convention that you ned only 2/3 of the states.
Maybe what Pearson is saying is not that far fetched after all. Corporate America Is Just 6 States Short of a Constitutional Convention
If ALEC succeeds in rewriting the constitution to mandate a balanced budget, we’ll be stuck with supply-side economics for at least a generation.
http://inthesetimes.com/article/18940/alec-balanced-budget-corporate-constitutional-convention
And to stop their call for an amendment to balance the budget, we rescind the amendment to take money out of politics!!!
Senator Pearson, you cannot expect us to keep giving political contributions when it is such a burden, such a sacrifice to do so, when there is no hope that it is coming to an end. We cannot possibkly compete with the millionaires and billiionares who truly have most of the money for an extended time into the future. We are giving political contributions now because we are desperate because what you fear is already happening, is underway right now. The Democratic loss of vision and subsequent loss of power since Bill Clinton’s first election is dramatic. If we do not act now, our inaction will result in the loss of it all. Our power as regular Americans is dropping every day. The window of last opportunity is closing and the Democratic Party, my party, has worked against me, has made our chances be less. You do not want to act because you are fearful. You should be terrified because we are losing everything in the current circumstance of not acting.
Best comment on this topic that I’ve read. I’m 100% with you on all points.
fear. he just sat there and said it, repeated it. we must fear what “they” will do, therefore we cannot annoy them, except they are already doing what you fear. fear. there is NOTHING progressive about fear. If you are afraid to act in a substantive manner to get money out of politics, do us all a favor and step aside. nobody in this country needs any more fear dragging us further down the drain. very sad to listen to him speak about it as if it is the most logical path.
Since Chris is an elected senator he is a “they” insider. His expressed “fear” is his understanding of what the Establishment will do to protect and PRESERVE its power and status. Only by joining Chris as an ELECTED official will I VOTE for those who support the “progressive” cause of free and fair elections.
As much as I agree with his position, Cenk’s rants and rage against the corrupt establishment (myself included) are NOT heard by innocent bystanders because they fear his voice – an actual experience e. g. ANY Trump supporter?
As every conscious voter does, I have always VOTED in my own self interest. When I fail I corrupt the result. Believe me. I have no fear that I will be able to corrupt the dream of any progressive when that dream does not satisfy my own self-interest as long as I live. I will leave you to live your life as you wish after I am gone.
They “bystanders” you talk about who will not come in support of Cenk to take money out of politics are actually %90 of the American people based on the polls. Thank you by the way for bragging about how a conscious voter has to vote based on their own self interest. Very informing of who you are.
side note- this man’s wife was my high school history teacher.
I’d love to hear what Robert Reich has to say on this subject. He is on the board of Common Cause.
fuckin shitbaskets that was good work cenk, thank you
That’s how you do it! Awesome interview, Cenk. No wonder the Clintonites are avoiding TYT like hell. You should promote these more!
Pearson is just naive and Cenk was flattering him by calling him a true progressive. The way forward is through direct action in replacing the old school corporate democrats, all else will fail.
It is a fact that congress is in the hands of people born before 1960. Most people who vote were born before 1960.
I agree with Chris that it is very risky to taunt anyone born before 1960 with a death rattle constitutional convention where they are entitled to protect their self interest in “Other Business”. It is much more progressive to compassionately endure their age induced dementia and patiently ease their burden by replacing them with more active and more debt laden people born after 1960. As 86 year old Warren Buffett says, our grandchildren are blessed to have been born into world where untold wealth has been accumulated using compound interest to grow the “float” daily life generates. After all, those of us who were born before 1960 and have lived through this growth, are slowly running out of energy and are more than happy to let younger minds dream of pursuing life, liberty and happiness. Everyone who is born must realize that their VOTE MATTERS and sustains democracy until they are dead. I am giving you the responsibility of surviving my departure. I enjoyed every second of my liveliness.
Thank you for posting Gigi!!!!
This guy thinks the Convention would be bought out… because *he* is bought out. Come on. He sounds like Spicer up there trying to lie between his teeth. Disgusting.
Sorry Cenk, but this cocksucker was bought out.
Chris Pierson is the cow that thinks he’s okay now, just because he’s still walking up the plank to the slaughter house.
F-U-C-K-E-D!
When will this be up on youtube? I wanna share it with others who are not members.
Grass roots? Isn’t Wolf-PAC grass roots? Is there even one “large” non-grass roots organization in favor of this? Come on! You’ve gotta get into the fight to test their metal. Over 90% of AMERICANS want it out. If their senators try to block it, their voters will know and then we’ll run against them. That’s it.
If we get enough states behind this resolution, then it’s over for big money.
What an absolute fucking Jackass!
Chris, you’re a pussy. Steps aside and let someone with a God Damned spine do the fighting.
This country is absolutely and unbelievably FUCKED!
Vermont will vote him out if dares touch the call for wolf pac’s convention call.
There’s no room for cowardly progressives while we are getting mauled by corporate dems and republicans
The Vermont Senate, in which Chris Pearson serves, already did. It now goes to the House:
http://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2018/J.R.S.%2017
Note: The Vermont House has yet to pass the resolution rescinding the call for a convention to get money out of politics. Let’s work on keeping it from passing.
http://legislature.vermont.gov/bill/status/2018/J.R.S.%2017
Chris Pearson at 30:27:
“I mean, truly, do you honestly think this Congress is going to create a system that has a healthy and fair debate over the role of money in Congress and our politics? I just think that’s, that’s just, totally naive and wishful thinking. And I think the stakes where we are now you have seen in the last several years, a total disregard for decency and common sense out of national leaders, you know, with whether it’s a Supreme Court nomination, on and on and on and on.”
Why do you think we’re trying to get around Congress and call for a convention of states? It’s for just these reasons.
Jeez, Pearson comes across as so smug and self-assured here. Not only that, but he starts off a vacuous talking point with the word “truly”. You can tell with the grammar here that the wheels in his head are turning fast to say something that at least sounds halfway credible. Pearson comes across as totally insincere.
TYT needs to publish a transcript of this debate on their public website, available to members and non-members alike.
Chris Pearson is making zero sense here. We should rescind Vermont’s petition for a convention until 25 states suddenly come onboard and then “revisit” the issue? What the heck?
He’s also got such a whiny-sounding, patronizing voice. It’s like he doesn’t take Cenk seriously at all.