COMMENTARY
LAMBASTS SOFTBALL TARGET LIEBERMAN ON WAR
Apparently even ostrich-like Democratic Party politicians are starting to realize that as the 2006 elections are approaching the war in Iraq is the central axis of politics this season. Massachusetts Democratic U.S. Senator Kerry, punitive presidential candidate in 2004, has even got that message- a little. But, John, everybody and his brother (or sister) is running for cover on this one. There is not enough room on that train (now) for everyone. No one, apparently, wants to be the next Senator Lieberman.
Obviously, Senator Kerry is gearing up for another presidential run as the ‘born-again’ anti-war candidate. To bolster those credentials he recently took some pot-shots at his old friend Lieberman for being a lackey of the Bush Administration’s war policy. This, seemingly, is his bid for nomination for this year’s Profiles in Courage Award. Talk about ‘softball’ politics. Sure, Lieberman should be beaten down. And kicked when he is down. My point is that the beating should have come from real anti-war militants, not the aging yuppies of this world like John Kerry and Ned Lamont. Those of us who opposed this war from before its start should have very long memories. Make these fools run the gauntlet.
This writer makes no bones about the fact that he long ago gave up on the Democratic Party as a vehicle for progressive change. The fight against the Iraqi War has only emphasized how right that decision has been. However some readers may not see it that way. At a time when only the immediate Bush family appears to still support the war something more than verbal opposition to the war is necessary. On the parliamentary level the only real way to end this war is to cut off the war budget. I have been beating the drums on this theme throughout this series on the election cycle. I pose the question again here for anti-war militants. Ask Senator Kerry or any candidate for that matter -Will you vote against the war budget? Yes or No. To pose the question is to know the answer. It is high time to move on to other forms of political expression besides the neverending Republicrat cycle.
FORGET DONKEYS, ELEPHANTS AND GREENS- BUILD A WORKERS PARTY!
THIS IS PART OF A SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THE 2006-2008 ELECTION CYCLE UNDER THE HEADLINE- FORGET THE DONKEYS, ELEPHANTS, GREENS-BUILD A WORKERS PARTY!
The Democrats always have a lesser evil candidate, to fall back on.
ReplyDeleteNot only the Democratic Party in America but in Europe, especially during periods of labor unrest, the various labor, social democratic and communist parties have fallen all over themselves to provide some lesser evil program or candidate. For what purpose? In short, as a final safeguard to preserve capitalist society. As long as we know that problem we can struggle against them all. The point in America is that the Democratic party and its politicians have created so many illusions in so many people (mainly be default) about being progressive (particularly in comparison with the Neanderthal Republicans) that our struggle to forge a left workers party has to involve breaking thoughtful social democratic types around the Democratic party away. And I do not mean liberal bloggers, I mean those who have been out on the streets (at least in non-election years) fighting against this damn Iraq War and injustices. It is also a matter of self-preservation. If we do not break those open-minded-youth today they will show up later as nasty political opponents when and if social struggles intensify.
ReplyDeleteLet me give a personal example- In my youth and a little beyond I was a fervent Democrat. I even voted for Hubert Humphrey in 1968. That is before the Vietnam War caught me by the scruff and taught me a couple of lessons about the nature of bourgeois politics-all bourgeois politics. The point is that revolutionaries are not born but made. While it is not likely that any revolutionaries will come out of the Republican Party they certainly can come from the fringes of the Democratic Party. That is where the fight is today in the absence of any independent movement leftward. Any comments would be appreciated.