I find it very useful to think in terms of the "ideal". Since politics is typically a domain of horrendous compromise, it serves us well to imagine politics without compromise.
Barack Obama's election has given many people renewed hope in the future of this country and the world. I share some of that optimism, but am also gravely familiar with everything that could go wrong. We are already hearing various names that may be under consideration for Obama's cabinet. These names include Republicans such as Chuck Hagel, Dick Lugar, Robert Gates and Colin Powell. They also include members of Clinton's cabinet such as Robert Rubin and Larry Summers. This latter pair are directly responsible for much of the deregulation that occurred in the Clinton administration and which paved the way for the current financial crisis.
I hope these names are unfounded in reality, otherwise somebody ought to take Obama to one side and explain to him what "change" means. It certainly does not mean retaining elements of the Bush administration and the most culpable members of Clinton's cabinet.
"Fighting Bob Fest is an annual Chautauqua featuring progressive speakers, networking opportunities, and entertainment. Fighting Bob Fest carries on the tradition of Robert "Fighting Bob" La Follette by providing a forum for progressive ideas on issues facing Wisconsin and the nation."
"What would BobFest be if we stuck to the schedule?" -organizer Ed Garvey
BobFest is delivered as a series of short lectures rather than a set of parallel workshops/panels. I like this format. I think an event that's designed to reinforce and build a political movement should leave all participants with the impression that they had the same experience, rather than leaving all to their own. The organizers describe BobFest as a Chautauqua, but I'm uncertain of its relationship to the Chautauqua movement as such.
I must admit that the seven-year reign of Bush & Company makes me yearn for the years of Ronald Reagan, when the term "conservative" merely meant right wing, rather than full-tilt, bull-goose loopy.
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