I was really struck by this photo , which graced the cover of Tuesday's New York Times, showing Ariel Sharon, Condoleeza Rice and James Baker attending a memorial of the late Yitzhak Rabin in Israel. There's something in that picture...in Rice's face, jaw set, eyes hidden behind rockstar sunglasses...and how she is flanked on either side by two men who've played hard-ball power politics for decades: Ariel Sharon, peering beneath his furrowed brow and, always conscious he is being observed, gesturing and thinking...and James Baker, completely hidden behind a permanent dimplomatic mask, an impenetrable sphinx. Of course, that photo sends a powerful message to the world. Rice was in Israel to do serious business . The fact that she brought Baker with her meant that the full weight of the U.S. military-industrial complex... the old guard ...was with her. That trip to Israel was important; and I would guess that U.S. plans and actions regarding Syria were part of that
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Will the people be able to hold any Democrats with power to a human/humane agenda? If so, what is the carrot and what is the stick? If not, what is to be done in your opinion?
peace
That's so.....summer of '01.
9/11 changed everything.
Not trying to highjack, but spreading the word.
Maybe I should've been more precise. Try Democrats with a voice, or more power than two people on a blog.
So again, if the Dems are given more power, etc?
a) Democratic leadership that speaks to an idealistic vision, even as they speak to acountability. Leadership that speaks to equity and equality, justice and fairness for all citizens. (Obama, Edwards.)
b) Local Democratic candidates and "grass roots" Dems (ie. DFA, the blogs) pushing hard on local issues that dovetail with these ideals....and, at the same time, tying the local GOP to the national GOP's failures. Pragmatic district to district fights...and state house to state house.
c) renewed, grass roots movement politics. acting as the conscience...and the pressure valve / pressure cooker for justice struggle in this country.
ie. I think when the "left roots". (Which is not confined to the Democratic party by the way.) When the "left roots" speaks out in a positive, non-cynical manner.
When we push for our ideals, not simply cast a pox on both houses....it does put pressure on the Democratic leadership to live up to those ideals.
At any rate, I am most concerned with Democrats winning power...and with the "left roots" effectively making our case for deep change in the heart of this nation.
When we push for our ideals, not simply cast a pox on both houses....it does put pressure on the Democratic leadership to live up to those ideals.
Nice. How does this occur? I've heard Obama & Edwards, nice thoughts, well said, but how? What is the plan?
Again, k/o said: At any rate, I am most concerned with Democrats winning power...and with the "left roots" effectively making our case for deep change in the heart of this nation.
Where I live, NYC suburb, the Dems have plenty of power, yet the moneyed interests constantly win against the interests of the vast majority. What I'm saying is, are the people with the Dems (ideology included) or are dems in power because they're simply not Reps?
National single-payer Health Plans are what the vast majority of people would like as shown in poll after poll, yet we ain't even near getting it even when the Dems had more power. Why?
in the spirit of Nathan Rudy's Blue 7th linked on the right of the page. (which is targeting a GOP incumbant in NJ).
But make the blog about your Dem Congressperson. Publicize their votes...go to Progressive Punch and look up their voting records and scan for votes you disagree with...
That's the free press side of it.
On the other side. Join DFA, or form an action group like it. Folks from the DFA here ran and won seats in the local Democratic steering committees by showing up. They will help shape how Democratic politics works out of the East Bay...and they stick together...for true reform.
Those are two obvious things, if you're serious about it.
I'm already in over my head with this politics stuff, just not with the Dems in particular. Anyway thanks for the advice. Maybe some one else can use it.
Listen. Possibly I'm not being clear. From my pov(all politics is local) people are not satisfied, but they're not THAT dissatisfied. They are not willing to vote for "ideals" over bread(lots and lots of bread. I mean this is L.I.). So, again, what's the plan?...We already vote for Dems locally and nationally(I happen to live in the most liberal town in Western Suffolk Cnty), yet...yet it is never enough. People go with who is suppling the paycheck whether they like the "ideology" or not. Just the facts around here, and probably elsewhere as well.
peace