Those that attended the Democratic caucus here in Bath experienced a full-throated expression of “This is what democracy looks like!” The long serving voting venue was taxed to the max. So many turned out that starting had to be delayed so all could register. What was most striking was the presence of so many young enthusiastic voters. Feel the Bern was resoundingly expressed by an overwhelmingly majority. The Democrats again had a new charismatic rising star.

People across Maine, and across the nation, were swept up in “Bernie’s” vision of taking the “Hope” out of “Hope and Change” and instead concretely bringing about real, far reaching and inclusive fundamental change. What at first seemed a quixotic impossibility grew exponentially in its appeal, captivating 13 million voters, winning 22 states and 46% of pledged delegates. Then, just as the superdelegates were to cast their privileged deciding votes, the race was called off, the game ended with the clock still running. A once defiant coach threw in the towel. Team Bernie was welcomed to enjoy a very cold shower.

Last week, live-streamed to those already faithfully part of the choir, and all but ignored by the mainstream media, Bernie Sanders reappeared from his Vermont retreat to again rally his troops in bringing about the progressive change his historic presidential campaign passionately championed.

Hillary Clinton was mentioned, here and there, for the half measures she has been moved towards such as increasing funding for state health clinics instead of advocating for more sweeping universal health care. Mostly, Sanders’s address was a “Here’s how far we’ve come, but we have a long ways to go” restating of purpose. His bid for the presidency over, there would be no looking back, wondering what might have been, but only positive energy in moving an insurgent populism forward. There was no mention of Donald Trump. No ringing endorsement of Clinton. He had come to give his blessing upon the launching of “Our Revolution” and those that will run it, and then formally separated himself as its 501(c)(4) function required. The revolutionary baton was officially passed.

There was mention of the TPP and the destructive continuance of environmentally dangerous energy policies. There was no mention that Clinton was naming someone forcefully and publicly in favor of both to head up her White House transition team. There was mention of improved stewardship for the Democratic Party, but also mention of supporting any political candidate displaying a truly progressive political posture.

Bernie then named several candidates nationwide that Our Revolution should get behind in the coming election. Conspicuously absent from that list was Tim Canova, who’s battling Debbie Wasserman Schultz for her congressional seat, even though Sanders had previously aggressively endorsed him and the Our Revolution website lists him as one of their selected agents of change.

Absolutely no mention was made of presidential hopeful Jill Stein, whose campaign couldn’t be more perfectly aligned with Sanders’s vision of progressive social-economic and environmental justice. Both before and after the Democratic National Convention, Sanders was offered her position at the top of the Green Party ticket, but he declined to even respond.

Sanders still seemed at the top of his game, on subject as always and as visionary as ever. 350.org’s Bill McKibben introduced him as the most popular politician in America, and soon the fiery populism of Feel the Bern rekindled what only yesterday held such promise for a new and just tomorrow. Sanders still spoke about a “transformation of our society that will not have a handful of millionaires determining our lives.” He reminded all that those that had stood with him had “changed the conversation of the possibilities of what our country can be.” Such engagement in real democracy had created a major rift in the Democratic Party. Its rigged system of superdelegates and DNC favoritism had been called out, and “That is a very good thing.”

What remained an enigma was why Hillary Clinton was still being quasi-endorsed. Clinton, despite all pretensions otherwise, hardly reflects any serious alignment with Our Revolution objectives, which is exactly what necessitated the formation of Our Revolution. Our Revolution is a people’s end run around the very establishment with which Hillary Clinton finds no fundamental difficulty.

In that Our Revolution intends to recruit and/or endorse select progressive candidates for transformative change, and then canvas for and finance their campaigns, how does that differ from the definition of a political party? If it isn’t a de facto new political party, how does it differ from already well established progressive advocacy groups such as Democracy for America or MoveOn.org?

Here in the Midcoast, Bernie bumper stickers are still by far the most prevalent. She-Who- Must-Not-Be-Named will be our next president, yet, as with Lord Trump, few openly risk declaring their support via bumper stickers or letters to the editor.

Our Revolution asks those still optimistic of a continuing populist groundswell to support truly progressive politicians who vote as Bernie would and not as Hillary has. Attention Maine’s congressional delegation and all those vying for the Maine legislature: the leftmost side of the status quo isn’t enough.

Gary Anderson lives in Bath.