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Title: The Democrats are the Real Problem
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URL Source: http://www.counterpunch.org/whitney07212008.html
Published: Jul 21, 2008
Author: Mike Whitney
Post Date: 2008-07-21 18:37:33 by christine
Keywords: None
Views: 155
Comments: 22
Obama's candidacy is over; kaput. He's already stated that he has no intention of stopping the war, so he has disqualified himself. That's his prerogative; no one put a gun to his head. His op-ed in Monday's New York Times just removes any lingering doubt about the matter. What Obama proposes is moving the central theater of operation from Iraq to Afghanistan. Big deal. Why is it more acceptable to kill a man who is fighting for his country in Afghanistan than in Iraq? It's not; which is why Obama must be defeated and the equivocating Democratic Party must be jettisoned altogether. The Democrats are a party of blood just like the Republicans, they're just more discreet about it. That's why people who are serious about ending the war have to support candidates outside the two-party charade. The Democrat/Republican duopoly will not deliver the goods; it's as simple as that. The point is to stop the killing, not to provide blind support for smooth-talking politicos who try to mask their real intentions. Obama made his choice, now he can suffer the consequences. Nancy Pelosi is a perfect example of what the Democrats are all about. Just look at the way she brushed aside the people who got her elected. They mean nothing to her. In a matter of months, the "San Francisco liberal" has achieved what former-Speaker of the House Hastert could only dream of; she's driven the Congress' public approval ratings into single digits for the first time in history making her the worst speaker of all time. She rubber-stamped the FISA bill, concealed what she knew about the CIA's global torture programs, and vowed to stop any public effort to hold the administration accountable for its war crimes. (No impeachment) She has betrayed her most ardent supporters and singlehandedly transformed an already-emasculated congress into a purely ceremonial body incapable of doing the people's work. At least Bush never betrayed any of his supporters. Never. Pelosi is worse than Bush, much worse. And yet, liberals still insist that we should vote the Democratic ticket. In your dreams! What leftist or progressive is not totally fed-up with the Democrats cagey "bait-and-switch" hypocrisy? Voting the Democratic ticket is not a sign of "hope"; it's a sign of being a schmuck. The Democrats have done nothing to stop the war and will do nothing to stop the war. The Obama candidacy is merely a way to replace one group of genocidal maniacs with another. Who needs a charismatic, flannel-mouth glamor boy to lead us into battle when a senile fogy with "anger management" issues will do just fine. Voters of conscience should reject that choice altogether. Just as they should reject the "lesser of two evils" theory which does not apply when ordinance is being dumped daily on innocent civilians. It has to stop. Obama is not an antiwar candidate, that is merely a fiction maintained by his public relations team. In fact, he wants to beef up the military with 65,000 additional ground forces and 27,000 more marines. He's also stated that he will add “two additional combat brigades to Afghanistan” and encourage NATO to make “greater contributions—with fewer restrictions”. In his op-ed he boasted, "As president, I will make the fight against Al Qaeda and the Taliban the top priority that it should be. This is a war that we have to win.” He also added this ominous warning: “The greatest threat to that security lies in the tribal regions of Pakistan, where terrorists train and insurgents strike into Afghanistan. We cannot tolerate a terrorist sanctuary, and as president, I won’t. We need a stronger and sustained partnership between Afghanistan, Pakistan and NATO to secure the border, to take out terrorist camps and to crack down on cross-border insurgents. We need more troops, more helicopters, more satellites, more Predator drones in the Afghan border region. And we must make it clear that if Pakistan cannot or will not act, we will take out high-level terrorist targets like bin Laden if we have them in our sights.” Obama supporters should take their candidate at his word. What he is proposing is a dramatic escalation and expansion of the war into another sovereign country. How is this consistent with the demands of his base or the millions of Americans who believe that Obama represents real change. It's time for a reality check; the Democrats are the real problem not the Republicans. If the path to peace requires crushing the Democratic Party and its blood-thirsty candidates; so be it. The main thing is to stop the killing. If Obama won't do it; we'll find someone who will.
Poster Comment: Disclaimer: Please do not interpret my posting of this commentary to mean that I am a supporter of the republicans or McCain. Note the text I bolded and highlighted in red. ;)
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#1. To: christine (#0)
Oh, so you like McCain now? :p
I shall not vote for evil, lesser or otherwise.
Only error in the piece. What is happening now is the repeat of the sell out of 1994. That's when the "R" party told its small-government voters that they weren't 'needed' anymore. Just like the "D" are now throwing the anti-war movement under the bus.
"The more I see of life, the less I fear death." - Me. "If violence solved nothing, then weapons technology would have never advanced past crude clubs and rocks." - Me.
smarta$$ :)
Chrissy and McCain, sittin' in a tree...
Chrissy and McCain(with 40 lbs of viagra), sittin' in a tree...
I shall not vote for evil, lesser or otherwise.
You gotta be shittin me !!!
Resolve to serve no more, and you are at once freed. I do not ask that you place hands upon the tyrant to topple him over, but simply that you support him no longer; then you will behold him, like a great Colossus whose pedestal has been pulled away, fall of his own weight and break in pieces. De La Boétie
gack. that's an image i coulda done without. ;P
OK, how about Crissy and a critter sittin in a tree?
I shall not vote for evil, lesser or otherwise.
So, do you expect a people who polled recently only 19 percent or respondents cared about these wars? Most focus on the economy, and Obama is smart to move toward the center in his stated positions, including that in regards to the current two wars. It is hard to post in this forum on this, as most of you never really care to listen, unless it is an opinion coming from one of the main cliques here, so I am going to leave this at that for the moment. What I have seen here has hardened and deeply strengthened my support and respect for Barack Obama, and don't see much point in posting here too much this election season, frankly. And this is too bad. Most of the posters in here react to disagreement by shunning dialog with those they do not agree with, and this is your loss. Because I am here to tell you, many of you are right about some things, and drop dead wrong on many others, and dialog would be a good thing for you, and those who disagree with you who take time to take part in lively discussion. I have always supported the Afghanistan War from the start. But it has been mismanaged and handled very badly. A low intensity conflict like this one is far different from the invasion of Iraq, and there is nothing wrong with it if it fixes what is broken about that country, and has been so for many decades. I actually came out in support of this war as Bicycle Thug on the Free Republic, before I knew the extent of Bush/Cheney's criminal activities on 9-11. It is a war we need to finish properly, and a withdrawal would hurt that land and it's people in ways that is unacceptable. Quite unlike what a withdrawal in Iraq would do.
What? Unbelievable...I do not recall any such thing. Supporting foreign wars is insane.
Why?
Let's do a little substitution on this and see if it is accurate for the Repubs as well! Well now, we have a winner in this article...
"A leader, for a change." - Jimmy Carter, 1976 campaign slogan. Sound familiar? Here it comes again!
Question: Why the Afghanistan War - and what is the issue you have with it? My own personal view in light of the official reports from 9/11, is that given the official reports, Afghanistan was "required" whereas Iraq was "optional". Just curious as to how you see it and why.
"A leader, for a change." - Jimmy Carter, 1976 campaign slogan. Sound familiar? Here it comes again!
this has not been my observation, Mike. if we were to print out the pages of dialogue between the obama/democrat supporters and those against, i bet they'd go for miles. i think your frustration is probably more that, for the most part, minds have not been changed. i don't understand how you can continue to support obama on his expansionist plan for afghanistan and pakistan too. if you believe that he's going to be able to fix the economy or improve the country in other areas that are important to you, that's fine. i can certainly understand your hoping for something better than what we've had with this disastrous republican administration. otoh, certainly you can understand our cynicism and antipathy toward the two- party fraud? we cross posted, so ignore my post to you on the other thread. ;)
So the innocents killed in Afghanistan are "children of a lesser god" than those in Iraq? Neither of these wars were justified and neither was based on a declaration of war by Congress. That being the case, both of these conflicts could be considered war crimes and probably would have been treated as such if it had been some smaller, less powerful country doing it. If you look into it--not saying you haven't because I don't know if you know this or not--but we have not followed the Constitution in matters of war since World War II when Congress did in fact declare war and on a known (and knowable) enemy. This "war on terror" bs, or war on a tactic, is insane. Find and kill the perps through letters of marque and reprisal but don't sell the country into untold and unpayable debt so that some jackass can look good to fawning sympathizers who couldn't tell you that "from each according to his ability and to each according to his need" is a Marxist idea and that it is not found in the Bible or the Constitution.
Liberty is not a means to a higher political end. It is itself the highest political end. Never, ever, forget this: 09/11 was a crime -- NOT an act of war. And, 09/11 was a crime either actually perpetrated by Amerisreal or allowed to happen by Amerisrael.
AIPAC/PNAC/ADL/NAACP/FEDERAL RESERVE/SPLC/JINSA/ACLU/CHRISTIAN ZIONISTS/AEI/FEDERAL MEDIA & HOLLYWOOD: Think about it.
Hey... Cynicism is my gig, you can be ..antipathy.. Mike has gotten himself between a rock and a hard place. Supporting Obummer and the man has not been elected yet and is calling for 100,000 more men for the Army, 10,000 for Afghanistan and casting Pakistan is a "place of interest". People support McKooK and or Obummer and we ALL will have more bleeding and dying. Myself, I had enough long long ago. MY own opinion, it is morally wrong to support and or vote for either man.
The term “Democrats” should not be employed -- nor should the term “Republicans”. It is “they”. As in the “government”. There are no Democrats. There are no Republicans. There is merely an assembly of traitors and idiots with the transformation being complete upon a federally elected individual entering the Washington, DC beltway (save for one or two) whereupon a superceding allegiance to Israel and the American Big Business Elite is sworn to. The government has become the enemy of the American people. That is beyond clear. Our American military has become their private world wide mercenary force. Marine General Smedley Butler could not have been more accurate.
AIPAC/PNAC/ADL/NAACP/FEDERAL RESERVE/SPLC/JINSA/ACLU/CHRISTIAN ZIONISTS/AEI/FEDERAL MEDIA & HOLLYWOOD: Think about it.
w... Until ALL people realize that, there is no hope.
It is “they”. As in the “government”. There are no Democrats. There are no Republicans. There is merely an assembly of traitors and idiots with the transformation being complete upon a federally elected individual entering the Washington, DC beltway (save for one or two) whereupon a superceding allegiance to Israel and the American Big Business Elite is sworn to. The government has become the enemy of the American people. That is beyond clear. well said.
Outstanding thread, I suppose it could be said that the Communist Government was the enemy of the Russian people. Taking this view a step farther, the Republicrats are a greater enemy to the American people than Communism was to the Russians. After suffering terribly, it appears the Russian people have escaped the yoke of tyranny, Communism, Marxism, Bolshevik ism, Jews, or whatever. It does not appear that the American people will be so lucky. Black Obama and his Homeland Liberation Army will soon be coming to your neighborhood.
Life is a tragedy to those who feel, and a comedy to those who think.
#2. To: christine (#0)
At least Bush never betrayed any of his supporters. Never.
#3. To: christine (#0)
Nothing worse than a progressive, especially a new convert.
Socialism in progressive clothing
University Wire
10-11-2005
(Badger Herald) (U-WIRE) MADISON, Wis. -- Some call it progressivism. I prefer to identify it as socialism. Whatever the label, its seemingly apparent progressives are far more left than Jerry Falwell is right.
I recently attended an academic conference in Milwaukee where the panels discussed the role of government in society. The meeting, unsurprisingly, exposed one of the glaring weaknesses of the progressive movement -- an overly intrusive government.
Given this finding, it's easy to view Madison as the poster child for this faction.
Though the days of "Fighting Bob" La Follette and New Deal paternalism have long past, progressivism is indeed alive and well in our state capitol. But history demonstrates that ideas are never permanent. And there is a solution to the problem facing this city: the creation of an ownership society.
President Bush has described on numerous occasions his desire to return this nation to the principles established by the American founders and encompassed in an ownership society -- a society that stresses, in the Lockean tradition, individual responsibility, liberty, and private property. Bush has spoken of privatizing social security, school vouchers, and health care savings accounts, among others. These issues have one thing in common: non-morally reprehensible choice.
But perhaps in addition to Mr. Bush's increasing interest in an "ownership society," the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision in Kelo v. New London has brought the values of individual liberty and property back into the political spotlight.
Discourse on this subject is unfortunately absent in this city. I'm not surprised, given one of this city's rags, The Capital Times, proclaims itself as "Wisconsin's progressive newspaper." Nonetheless, there's hope. As Justice Louis Brandeis aptly wrote, "Sunlight is the best disinfectant."
Recent actions taken by the Madison Common Council confirm this city is far from an ownership society. Progressives are responsible for the city's exceedingly broad smoking ban, an increase in the city's minimum wage -- which forced the state legislature to raise the state's wage, and the adoption of mandatory inclusionary zoning, requiring affordable housing in almost all new housing developments in the city.
Government handouts and entitlement programs have always been the progressive's steadfast answer to our society's problems. With the recent tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, though, it became outwardly apparent such responses don't work. Those who suffered most were not necessarily the economically disadvantaged, but those who relied on the government for their basic necessities -- housing, food and health care to name a few.
Given this reliance, it should have been anticipated many would have cried foul when the federal government did not immediately provide the handouts and assistance they were accustomed to in the days after the hurricane made landfall.
The progressive actions of the federal government before the disaster only precipitated the mayhem present in New Orleans. The government decided to partake in the insurance business by providing subsidized flood insurance to those living in the Big Easy -- a flood prone area. Many of these homes and businesses would not have been built in the flood plain without this assistance.
Nonetheless, why should we be concerned with creating an ownership society in Madison? Individual responsibility is a good starting point. During grade school, we were often taught that we must own up to our own actions and subsequently accept the consequences -- whether good or bad. Shouldn't this principle apply to adults, too? When people take responsibility for their persons and property, they take better care of that they have control over.
Wisconsin's welfare system provides an opportunity for citizens to take individual responsibility for their income. The program has the objective that everyone is capable of doing something, and if you can work, you must. Therefore, people become less reliant on government and are able to return to society as productive citizens individually responsible for their subsistence.
Madison's progressive tradition goes against the grain of this successful program.
An ownership society promotes liberty. A free society is necessary for citizens to have control of their lives and property. Regrettably, the city's smoking ban does nothing more than stifle the principle of individual property rights by preventing a legal activity from occurring on private property. In keeping with the ownership society's promotion of choice, Madisonians should have a choice -- an individual choice to enter an establishment where smoking is allowed or prohibited.
In a column posted on the progressive website FightingBob.com, Mayor Dave Cieslewicz remarked, "I want Madison to be the most progressive city in America." He continued, "Cities are becoming the factories of progressive policies and Madison is becoming one of the leading producers of those policies in the Midwest."
Instead of worrying about the machinery needed to garner the "Most Progressive City" title he so desperately desires, Mr. Cieslewicz should be concerned with the problems both within and beyond this city's 76 square miles of unreality. If he did, he would see many of the troubles caused by a progressive society.
Though Progressive Dane and its ideas continue to maintain a strong hold on this city, an ownership society can and should eventually come to fruition. All that's needed is a little bit of sunlight to begin.
#4. To: Critter (#1)
#5. To: christine, Critter (#1)
Oh, so you like McCain now?
#6. To: Esso, christine (#5)
Chrissy and McCain, sittin' in a tree...
#7. To: christine (#0)
At least Bush never betrayed any of his supporters.
#8. To: Critter, Esso (#6)
#9. To: christine (#8)
#10. To: all, christine (#4)
"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." Robert F. Kennedy
#11. To: Ferret Mike (#10)
I have always supported the Afghanistan War from the start
#12. To: Ferret Mike (#10)
I have always supported the Afghanistan War from the start.
#13. To: christine (#0)
What leftist or progressive is not totally fed-up with the Democrats cagey "bait-and-switch" hypocrisy? Voting the Democratic ticket is not a sign of "hope"; it's a sign of being a schmuck.
What right-winger or conservative is not totally fed-up with the Republicans' cagey "bait-and-switch" hypocrisy? Voting the Republican ticket is not a sign of "hope"; it's a sign of being a schmuck.
#14. To: Ferret Mike (#10)
I have always supported the Afghanistan War from the start. But it has been mismanaged and handled very badly.
#15. To: Ferret Mike (#10)
(Edited)
Most of the posters in here react to disagreement by shunning dialog with those they do not agree with, and this is your loss.
#16. To: Ferret Mike (#10)
I have always supported the Afghanistan War from the start. But it has been mismanaged and handled very badly.
Lord Acton
#17. To: Ferret Mike (#10)
I have always supported the Afghanistan War from the start.
#18. To: christine, Ferret Mike (#15)
otoh, certainly you can understand our cynicism and antipathy toward the two- party fraud?
#19. To: mirage, Pissed Off Janitor, Christine, noone222, critter, Jethro Tull, James Deffenbach (#13)
(Edited)
The Democrats are the Real Problem
#20. To: wbales (#19)
The government has become the enemy of the American people. That is beyond clear.
#21. To: wbales (#19)
The term “Democrats” should not be employed -- nor should the term “Republicans”.
#22. To: christine, wbales (#21)
The government has become the enemy of the American people. That is beyond clear.
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