Obama's choice (0.00 / 0)

All great crises carry within them the kernel for real change; in a way that our "ordinary" life, our "usual' thoughts, the "conventional" wisdom will not allow at other times. When there is little faith in our institutions it is a time when new edifices can  be built. That is why listening to our certified punditry or pandering to Republicans can be so shortsighted. Yes the language of inclusion, the rhetoric of our connections to each other, are of great importance both politically and in fact, nevertheless some truths (e.g. the failure of Republican/conservative ideology in guiding our economic decisions. the concentration of wealth as a result, the failure of neocon thought in guiding our foreign policy, the failure of Iraq/Afghanistan as a result). If the desire to change the political climate overrides the need for real change then Obama runs the real risk of failure and disaster by a rightwing that is still driven with ideological blinders and greed and contempt for the rest of us.

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by: VLaszlo @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 13:56:07 PM UTC

Address the politics of timing (4.00 / 3)

One theme I see constantly in online discussions revolves around the timing of progressive action.  In other words, progressives may not disagree about the goals, but do disagree about priorities and whether certain objectives are more likely to succeed if pushed now or later.

For example, I want those responsible for torture to be investigated and prosecuted.  But I personally don't want that to happen immediately, because I do think it could undermine other, higher priorities.  Ideally, I'd like to see such prosecutions occur 12-18 months from now. I feel the same way about fixing "don't ask, don't tell."

On a separate note, I think that a good progressive strategy is for Obama to commit funds in the stimulus that are downpayments on bigger programs, and which have the indirect effect of committing the state and fed government to making future expenditures for such programs.  

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by: Jim Neuman @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 14:23:53 PM UTC

Prosecutions occur 12-18 months from now, really? (0.00 / 0)

Prosecutions scheduled for political expedience or convenience, sounds like more of the same.

If DoJ is incapable of functioning except when the predetermined outcome is favorable to the administration, why is it called JUSTICE and why do they pretend that it's blind? Do they really think the populace is that stupid, or are they over fluorinating the water supply to obliterate our long term memory?

I'd like to Sirota bring up the impact of US attorney polarization and far right court packing on election interference prosecutions, the WAR on DRUGS, predominantly minority related court appointed attorney incompetence and death penalty appeals.

http://www.tampabay.com/news/c...

http://www.mediabistro.com/fis...

http://www.journalism.columbia...

http://www.AmnestyUSA.org/troy...

http://www.innocenceproject.or...

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/...

http://www.sho.com/site/schedu...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt10...
www.consortiumnews.com/2007/121007.html

http://www.democracynow.org/20...

http://www.solutionassoc.com/t... www.prisonplanet.com/articles/december2004/141204webbmurdered.htm

http://www.amazon.com/Dark-All...

http://www.amazon.com/Street-C...

http://www.fromthewilderness.c...

ALSO:
Eric Holder said at his confirmation hearing Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee that he supports renewing a section of the USA Patriot Act that allows FBI agents investigating international terrorism or espionage to seek records from businesses, libraries and bookstores. If not renewed by Congress, the provision will expire at the end of 2009.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/...

FINALLY:
How is he going to address DoD and CIA disinformation intended for foreigners from penetrating the US MEDIA, especially via the WH Gaggle? For example that Iran is providing Al Qaeda with weapons in Iraq.

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/N...

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/N...

http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/N...

What does this mean to you?

1. Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil
2. Become incredulous and indignant
3. Create rumor mongers
4. Use a straw man
5. Sidetrack opponents with name calling, ridicule
6. Hit and Run
7. Question motives
8. Invoke authority
9. Play Dumb
10. Associate opponent charges with old news
11. Establish and rely upon fall-back positions
12. Enigmas have no solution
13. Alice in Wonderland Logic
14. Demand complete solutions
15. Fit the facts to alternate conclusions
16. Vanish evidence and witnesses
17. Change the subject
18. Emotionalize, Antagonize, and Goad
19. Ignore facts, demand impossible proofs
20. False evidence
21. Call a Grand Jury, Special Prosecutor
22. Manufacture a new truth
23. Create bigger distractions
24. Silence critics
25. Vanish

Eight Traits of The Disinformationalist
1. Avoidance
2. Selectivity
3. Coincidental
4. Teamwork
5. Anti-conspiratorial
6. Artificial Emotions
7. Inconsistent ...

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by: epunum2009 @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 23:11:27 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

In some manner the greatest change is how we see ourselves. (0.00 / 0)

Dr. Martin Luther King's Dream is a about the America that would be the fruit of its mighty words.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

Barack Obama becoming President is marvellous, America becoming the nation that could elect Obama is staggering and humbling.

As 80% of America has confidence that with Obama in the White House all will be well, even allowing for partisan diatribes, America judges this man for the content of his Character.


--

The government has a defect: it's potentially democratic. Corporations have no defect: they're pure tyrannies. -Chomsky

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by: HousesofProgress @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 14:42:42 PM UTC

Fairness for all (4.00 / 2)

There are many opportunities for change, but the important ones all have to do with the need to restore fairness in our country.

Since Reagan took office, the Federal government - all 3 branches (4 if you count Cheney) - has become an advocate for the wealthy and for big business - at the expense of the huge majority of Americans.  This is a factual matter that can be proven by simply comparing the difference between 1980 and today, in terms of income, wealth, tax structure, civil liberties, union participation, small business erosion in many sectors, etc.

But re-establishing fairness - not just for Americans but in our outlook toward the rest of the world - means doing more than resetting laws, regulations, enforcement practices, and other tools of government to pre-Reagan norms.  

It also means cutting through the propaganda and doublespeak that has hidden the truth from average Americans - for those of us who get our news on the Net, that part has begun, but the Obama administration must reinforce, rather than combat the efforts of truth-tellers like you.

It also means not letting the bastards who raided the treasury, fed us lies and half-truths, and used our government to supress us for almost 30 years get away with it.  So investigating who authorized and practiced torture, where the money we can't account for in the Pentagon budget before and during the Iraq ware went, and where our $350B in tax dollars was spent in the TARP bailout are all important.

Equally important is payment for those crimes, not just to punish, not just to recover stolen assets (if that's possible), but especially for the deterrent value.  We must never allow our government to become a sanctioned criminal enterprise (to the degree that it became under W) again.

So I suggest "fairness" as the thematic umbrella for most of the important changes that the Obama administration has an opportunity to pursue.  We need such an umbrella theme (not just for your show appearance) in order to establish the core value around which our efforts must focus for the next 4/8 years.

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by: myxzptlk @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 14:46:42 PM UTC

"...the historic opportunity for change..." (0.00 / 0)

It's like saying that passengers on the Titanic had...

a historic opportunity to get wet.

An avalanche of big changes is on the way, whether we like it or not, and the near future is more likely to produce nostalgia for the way things are right now than a celebration of whatever influence Mr. Obama and his DLC cronies may exercise on the course of events.

Way back in 2006 James Galbraith warned most of Obama's future economic brain-trust in the Hamilton Project that "what should be taking our time and thought is to devise some new means of coping with the instability of the world financial system."

But Rubin and Orszag and the rest of Obama's Ivy-League suck-ups and one-trick wizards were still riding the wave, and preparing exactly the changes in employment and liquidity that have already overtaken us.

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by: Jacob Freeze @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 15:08:46 PM UTC

bank nationalizations (0.00 / 0)

I would like to see the idea of using bailout money for at least partial nationalization of the receiving financial instruments both in ownership and in direction. Instead of moaning about the banks failure to loosen lending we with an ownership role can insist on it.

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by: VLaszlo @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 16:05:01 PM UTC

most likely to raise lifestyle of vast majority (0.00 / 0)

Employee free choice act WILL be the hardest won and the most successfull at correcting the wealth distribution nightmare the radical right has inflicted on our nation. I believe it would be best to wait for Al to be seated, and for the rape-public-cans to feel the heat of their constituency on a few other issues first.... To help them understand the price to be paid for obstructing progress for the sake of political contributions. Hopefully the Obama political machine and improved communication with the people in general can result in enough pressure to sway some errent resisters of change. But with Obama at such a high % rate of approval, if they can block this, the election 2010 should eliminate some more of these servents of the wealthy from the decision making process.  

Government by organized money is just as dangerous as government by organized mob..... FDR

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by: reggiewhitefish @ Wed Jan 21, 2009 at 17:23:43 PM UTC