Refuting TNR's Attack on Liberals

[Dr Ron]

The New Republic (http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?pt=m2g1OkLsg5TrkOFXtVxLYB%3D%3D) puts forth an "Argument for a New Liberalism" as it attacks what it sees as an overly anti-war left. The New Republic's argument is that the left, in criticizing Republicans, ignores a more serious threat to liberal values from Islamic fundamentalism.

While I'm sure there are some who this could apply to, in general it misstates the positions of many of us. I oppose the pandering of the GOP to the religious right because of the way they emulate the much greater evils seen in groups such as the Taliban. As for foreign policy, I oppose Bush's foreign policy not out of any dovish opposition to fighting the war on terrorism, but because of the damage to our national security we have suffered under Bush.

The remainder of my response is at the Unofficial Kerry for President Blog at:
http://kerryblog.blogspot.com/2004/12/tnr-misses-point.html

[catbert836]

1. Oh please. TNR is not attacking liberals.

I believe that its right in trying to help us, as we have largely lost our way.

[Dr.Phool]

3. We've largely lost our way

trying to pander to the Republican and Neocon agenda. As a recent Pentagon report stated, they hate us for our policies, not our freedoms. We'll never be anything as long as we keep leaning to the right with the DLC. Stand up for our ideals. Strong on Labor. Strong on universal healthcare. Stand up for civil rights, including voting rights.

TNR lost their way a long time ago. You can only tread water so long.
It's time to stand up and fight for the working American family. The middle and lower class.

I could get very profane at your attitude that "they're trying to help us", but the moderators would probably exile me.

[scarletwoman]

4. If TNR is advocating for "liberals", then count me as NOT a "liberal"

TNR advocates for the Ruling Class -- NOT for US.

That article is wrong on so many levels I hardly know where to begin. I've already posted on 2 other threads about this article, I won't bother repeating myself here.

TNR is NOT our ally!

sw

[Dr.Phool]

6. If TNR is liberal

I must be a goddamn radical!!!

WTF! The spawned Andrew Sullivan.

[catbert836]

13. Sorry, what I meant to say was

that just because they're trying to help us dosn't mean what they say will help us or that their help will be appreciated.
I'm against the DLC as much as the next guy on this site, and I'm growing increasingly worried that they are becoming the sole voice of the party.

[zacho]

2. Beinhart hit it on the dot.

He was so right.

The Democrats need to start by advocating a more active Iran policy.

[scarletwoman]

5. I hope you're being sarcastic... (n/t)

[Dr Ron]

7. Active Iran Policy

Active Iran policy is ok, as long as you mean finding ways to encourage reformers within the country along with taking necessary steps to reduce their nuclear threat. Europe seens to be making much more progress diplomatically than Bush on this.

We've tried controlling Iran in the past. Not only didn't it work, but it backfired.

[quaker bill]

8. This article is quite incomplete

The general assertion of the article is the notion that Islamic fundamentalism arises and is sustained in a vacuum. He treats it more as a self-sustaining religious movement. It follows the "they hate us for our freedoms" line of thought.

Most serious research I have read on the subject so far points to "they hate us for our policies". We have ardently supported repressive, murderous, and anti-democratic regimes in the middle east for many decades. This gave rise and purpose to Islamic Fundamentalism. I also think they hate us because we keep sending our troops to kill them.

I do agree with the notion posited of the "Kerry Compromise". To those enthusiastic for a more aggressive liberalism (ala PPI), Kerry's vote against the 87 billion was a problem, for others, his vote for IWR was a problem. In either case, the message was not as decisive as it could have been.

The author argues that Democrats should attempt to out right-wing the republicans. He may have been correct in the context of this election. There is no reason to believe that this will continue to be the correct course. Another 4 years of death and destruction could well change the political climate, and I expect that it will.

The most aggressive approach toward securing human rights is almost never the use of military force.

To accept a role as the world police is to accept a new American Imperialism, which in all honesty, cannot be sustained. We simply do not have the resources.

[The Zanti Regent]

9. Henry Wallace spins in his grave.

Once upon a time, Henry Wallace edited the New Republic. Under his editorship, TNR was actually to the left of THE NATION. It was really the only magazine that stood up to Joe Mc Carthy from the start.

TNR has sure gone downhill in the past 40 years. if Andrew Sullivan ran TNR during the Mc Carthy area, he would have been Mc Carthy's #1 ass kisser!

[AndyTiedye]

10. The Iraq War IS NOT The War on Terrorism

Iraq was a secular state. They were not involved in 9/11 or
any other attack on the US. The Iraq war has derailed the war on
terrorism militarily, destroyed most of the international cooperation
that had existed after 9/11, and likely been a big recruiting tool for
Al Quaeda.

Those who still insist that we must support the Iraq war as part of
the "war on terrorism" are not waging a war on terrorism. They are
on a Crusade.

[LimpingLib]

11. I pray every night TNR go's out of print.OOP.

Ive never seena bigger bunch of fake rascals than this bunch.

They are as bad as the DLC.

Ill give the rigth wing 10 more prominent publications if they promise to claim TNR instead of the covert op charade continuing.

News media outlets present this shit as the represenative publication of the left.Editors from this Trojian Horse get tons of air time usually to denounce Cynthia McKinney as a "disgrace of a congresswoman" , increased defence spending, anti labor legislation, or to promote the general direction of our nations foreign policy elite.

No magazine has ever caused me to pull my hair out of my head as often as this one.

[LimpingLib]

12. These fuckers flame the fire they created with Muslims.

Their solution to the "Islamic problem" is to continue policys that created it.

Anytime a minority or powerless minority is attacked, killed , or discriminated they join movements to combat the opressors.

These vile pieces of shit (TNR)would have though further persecution of Jews and outright murder was the solution to the communist problem (granted communist movements were made up mostly of none Jews but many Jews wisely supported the opportunity to combat the bigoted establishment).

Know thy enemy. TNR is as much of the enemy as one could imagine. Put yourselves in the shoes of Muslims or some other attacked people around the globe.

Nobody agrees with Islamic fundamentalism. Dont let them take one small out of context truth and use it to smear the whole group and certainly dont let them smear the few voices that oppose the further persecution from the land of cowardly attacks(the good ole USA).

THR thinks us progressive peace lovers are the moles or parasites (weakening the host nation that is the launch pad for racist attacks they seem to think is so noble). I say they are the parasites (if not outright enemy agents) that weaken the host being the majority party the Democratic party.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. Oh, come ON!

"the left, in criticizing Republicans, ignores a more serious threat to liberal values from Islamic fundamentalism."

Yeah, right, it's the Islamic fundamentalists cutting taxes on the rich, cutting services for the poor, trying to impose their religious beliefs into the public sphere in the U.S., and glossing over all those inconvenient aspects of the Bill of Rights.

But anyone who still thinks that The New Republic is a liberal magazine is about twenty years out of date. Those guys supported the Contras and urged bipartisanship during the Reagan administration. They've been Republicanite moles for a long time.

[LimpingLib]

15. Charles Krauthammer was Editor for cyring out loud!

Shouldnt that be a ringer or what?

This filthy rag needs to be thrown out , its good for nothing but making our cleansing attempt in whats left of our once majority party all the more difficult.