2010 vs 2012

[H2O Man]

“...Clinton ...strained to observe courtesies in the midst of warfare, but even he expressed shock at the disinterest in the political motives of Timothy McVeigh. Early profiles revealed the bomb suspect to be a survivalist from the militia movement, who demonized Washington as the tyrannical promoter of secularism, Jews, and racial minorities. ...Of course, the bomb triggered horror and revulsion instead. Americans were aghast over the terrorist carnage at home, and baffled by McVeigh, but commentators reacted shrilly against reasonable inquiry, and scorned even the president's appeals for civil discourse. ...The president said this was only the start. Within a week of discovering that Oklahoma City was the handiwork of anti-government zealots, his opponents decided the real issue was Waco, and they crusaded to extend investigations of the disastrous 1993 raid. ...Republican leaders scheduled new congressional hearings on Waco – not Oklahoma City.”
--Taylor Branch; The Clinton Tapes; 2009; pages 253-254.

I consider Taylor Branch's “The Clinton Tapes: Wrestling History with the President” to be one of the most important books published this year. And, as a bonus, it is an enjoyable read.

In 1992, I had organized a grass roots group, consisting primarily of human service workers, to engage in a voter education/registration campaign. A large part of that effort was to get out the vote for candidate Bill Clinton. But, it was also intended to benefit the poor neighborhoods that we focused our attention on. Having a group of psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers coming into their homes had the potential to both engage and empower them, as voters, on a number of levels. I suspect that was why the county attempted to put stumbling blocks in our way.

We engaged in a similar campaign in 1996. By this time, my view of Bill Clinton had changed, and although I rank him near the top in his ability to get many positive things accomplished, I passed up an opportunity to meet him when he passed through our area. Reading this book, I kind of wish that I had taken advantage of the opportunity to meet and talk with him, along with the others from our group, even though I know that he met many thousands of individuals who wanted to impress their special messages upon him.

Taylor Branch is the author of the three-part series of books on “America in the King Years.” They are each important books, and are helpful in documenting many of the lesser-known episodes of the civil rights era. And although there are numerous points where I disagree on his interpretation of those episodes, I'd strongly recommend those three books to anyone who loves history.

Perhaps my strongest “issue” with Branch is rooted in his relationship with Bernard Barker in the 1970s. Branch and George Crile, of “Charlie Wilson's War” fame, worked with Barker on the still unpublished 240-page book, “Cuban Terror and the CIA in the mid-70s. When pressure from Barker's former employer, the CIA, caused the project to end, Branch authored an August 1975 article for Harper's Magazine, that was supposed to be on the same topic, but avoided even mentioning Barker's curious role in those Bay of Pigs days, much less Watergate. Thus, when on page 379 of the new book on Clinton, Branch notes that he had become disillusioned in the '70s, due to “Vietnam, assassination plots, and constitutional scandals,” I'm reminded that he has still to fulfill his obligations as a historian.

I'm reminded of some of the most important information in his new book, such as the quote I used to open this essay, when I've read some of the debates on the approach that progressive and liberal democrats should take with the Obama administration. In particular, I'm thinking of the issue of the woman from FireDogLake, who is apparently uniting with a character I consider to be as morally bankrupt as Bernard Barker, in calling for investigations of one of President Obama's top aides. While I recognize that everyone has the same right and responsibility to identify what is right for them to do, I cannot support any effort that I believe could only be abused in a way that harms the Democratic Party's ability to advocate for positive change. I say this, without in any sense intending to express any support for the administration aide in question.

“The New Left has tried to create a sense of revolution by shouting slogans and marching up and down the streets. But when the hated establishment is left secure in its citadel, certain that it cannot be dislodged, then it has very little reason to pay attention to them and maintains the power to suppress them. The New Left should use the system to create uncertainty in the minds of Congressmen it dislikes so that all would change lest lightening strike them in their next election. ….If the system is to be changed, then those who would change it should pinpoint its weakest spot, its blockage points, and place all the pressure on that one point until the blockage is cleared.”
--Vine Deloria, Jr.; We Talk, You Listen; 1970; pages 65-66.

Over the years that I've participated on this forum, I've quoted from this general section of Deloria's book several times. The reason is that Deloria, a Standing Rock Sioux who was both an attorney and a progressive activist, was communicating a basic truth about grass roots political action. And, what was true in 1970 is just as true today.

Again, I do understand and appreciate the reasons that some members of the progressive and liberal left-wing of the Democratic Party would like to see a challenger in the 2012 democratic primary, even if it was to make a symbolic statement to express their strong opposition to President Obama's domestic and international policies. However, I believe that we should be focusing our attention on the 2010 democratic primaries. We need to be creating an awareness among those democrats in congress that not only can they ill afford to take our support for granted, but that lightening can strike them. That is the most promising blockage that we should be applying our pressure on today.

By selecting the appropriate targets in 2010, we send a much clearer message than if we instead opt to think of potential activities in 2012. We increase our options for tomorrow, by taking action today.

In peace,
H2O Man
Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party

[mmonk]

1. Yes, 2010 is the current election, thus the current fight.

Also, Congressional Democrats need to learn to think independently. That alone if successful will take care of any Rahm Emanuel strong arm tactics. Afterall, the legislative branch was given the most attention by the founding fathers in the Constitution in terms of amount written and duties and the responsibility of being the peoples' representatives. They must learn any lesson now concerning taking any of our votes for granted,

[OHdem10]

2. The Congressional Democrats (house and Senate) are the problem.

They have been here year after year. When did we see any of them
ever get out and really make the case for anything Democratic.
We have people whose main goal is to save their own job. Therefore
they are non-confrontational in order not to bring any attention
to themselves.

Too many people act as though the President is King. No he has
as much authority as the Congress will back him up. Say what you
may about those Republicans, GWB got his agenda through because
he has a Congress who were not a bunch of shrinking violets, yes
confrontational to the point of bullying at times, but it worked.


The biggest problem the Democratic Party has is the two decidely
different wings. The Conservative Wing and the Liberal/Progressive
Wing. Our Conservatives are really Moderate Republicans. We must
do a better job of finding candidates who are at least Democrats.
I will not take the time, but I could lay out a rational step by
step explanation as to how they are really Republicans. I am not being
over the top.

[mopinko]

3. my friend, i fear you are perfectly correct, but too late.

the illinois primary is feb 2. i do not know what the dates are in other states, but i think the time to mount winning campaigns against incumbents is past. perhaps there is still time to support promising candidates that are already in the race, and on the ballot. but here, the race within the party is all but over.

[blondeatlast]

4. A stronger Left presence in Congress would empower our President to make the changes I believe he

would like to see.

I'm in a hopelessly Red state, but will happily lend my efforts to any state that can produce a strong Left contender for a Republican seat.

[jaysunb]

5. Excellent assessment.

And, as you stated, " the quotes from Deloria in 1970 are as true now as they were then." Can't be repeated often enough.

:thumbsup: Happy Holidays

[Hutzpa]

6. What we are seeing happening

within the Democratic party is the rising of infiltrators, those who never, ever
believed in the Democratic party, until this is addressed, there will always be
some machismo plus egotistical juxtaposition going on within the party.

It's the GLADIO effect.....

[Me.]

7. 2010 Is The Perfect Opportunity To Get The Message Out

It will also be the time to let the DNC know how we feel. They will be calling, you know they will and I will be telling them that I am targeting my support in the next 2 elections. This means across the country and is not limited to my home state. We sent support to Franken and I still feel satisfaction from that. His fearlessness was a thing of beauty.

[Hekate]

8. Thanks H2O Man. As always, packed with things to think over.

Happy New Year!

Hekate

[Are_grits_groceries]

9. Taylor Branch is well worth a read.

I have problems with all the marching and hullabaloo when the endgame isn't thought out. We do need to band together and give our 'representatives' something to think about. IMHO we also need to know what we want when we do manage to change things. It's no use getting elected when you have no clear plan with concrete steps to move into the chaos that change brings. The opponents are masters at stepping in to twist situations as much as they can to benefit their causes.

As far as Grover Norquist is concerned, I would sleep in a box on the streets and eat poke salad before I ever joined with that man on any issue. He will use people like chess pieces to get what he wants. Norquist has been at his fight against the government for years, and he has tentacles everywhere. Jim DeMint is his disciple, and I have had a nose full of him.

RE keeping people off balance: You probably know this strategy. You don't have to rattle every cage every time. They get used to that. A golfer once bet a friend that if he would allow him to yell twice during the round, he would beat him. He said that he would wager $200. His friend took him up on it thinking it was found money. At the beginning of the round, the man yelled right when his friend was in the middle of his first shot off of the tee. His ball went into the wildeness. The man never yelled again, and his friend shot way over par and lost. The uncertainty of when the next shout would come undid him. That should be part of the plan.

[Me.]

10. K