tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5214642.post4126536961618105005..comments2024-03-07T10:30:51.374-05:00Comments on down on the brown side.: Obama's SpeechRagehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10310102856263393174noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5214642.post-56008461709224108992008-04-04T21:56:00.000-04:002008-04-04T21:56:00.000-04:00I don't think you're being naive, brother. I can'...I don't think you're being naive, brother. I can't give up on local politics. In this time when some crazies are using the bully pulpit of city/town councils and county supervisors to legislate hate against immigrants, I know there are also places that have passed sanctuary laws and proudly holding themselves out on the other side of the frontline on this issue. <BR/><BR/>Hearts and minds, one small township/city/county/state/nation at a time. Thanks, Chedda, for the reminder.Ragehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10310102856263393174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5214642.post-1581028593865787152008-03-30T16:08:00.000-04:002008-03-30T16:08:00.000-04:00Your absolutely right in terms of more hope coming...Your absolutely right in terms of more hope coming from really local politics and organizing. <BR/><BR/>I also think that independent political parties that truly represent progressives have a real shot at winning local elections in terms of city council seats, etc, if we strategically organize. Once they win local city seats, why not county ones? State ones? I may just be naive, but thinking of starting movements from the local level first and expanding later seems much more "do-able" and understandable to me. <BR/><BR/>Keep writing and fighting, brother.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5214642.post-42796265473753192082008-03-29T13:26:00.000-04:002008-03-29T13:26:00.000-04:00I'll check out Hirschhorn. I'm still hopeful, but ...I'll check out Hirschhorn. I'm still hopeful, but I guess most of my hope stems from local (and really local) politics, more than anything else. Once people get to Washington, it feels like they can't hear the peoples' voices anymore.Ragehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10310102856263393174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5214642.post-55534486668912438682008-03-28T15:30:00.000-04:002008-03-28T15:30:00.000-04:00I feel you on how easy it is to fall into cynicism...I feel you on how easy it is to fall into cynicism/jadedness.<BR/><BR/>You ever heard of this guy Joel S. Hirschhorn? He's this old White political theorist who used to work for the government. Anyways, he's not perfect by any means, but he makes some really interesting points about how the two-party duopoly in this country is the source of much of our cynicism, and he presents some practical reforms to fight for that could pave the way for more third parties/independent candidates having a viable shot at winning elections, and thus broadening the spectrum of political thought/debate/choice in this country. <BR/><BR/>His book is called "Delusional Democracy: How to Fix the Republic Without Overthrowing the Government." If that doesn't work, we just might have to overthrow the government.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5214642.post-68849485505561692702008-03-28T13:27:00.000-04:002008-03-28T13:27:00.000-04:00The trouble is, the more you talk like them, the l...<I>The trouble is, the more you talk like them, the longer that you choose to talk like them, the more talking like them changes you.</I><BR/><BR/>Word. I can't write much to add to what you've said. I just wish I didn't have to feel so cynical. There's nothing bad about hope - I just guess I'm struggling with the transitions between hope, faith, and practice.Ragehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10310102856263393174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5214642.post-24105638805235879952008-03-28T13:01:00.000-04:002008-03-28T13:01:00.000-04:00Great points. That damn Israel comment! It is extr...Great points. <BR/><BR/>That damn Israel comment! It is extremely disturbing to me how much Obama has danced for AIPAC, and the man ran on a pro-Palestine platform in the Senate! What a sad refelection on the Israeli influence in Washington. <BR/><BR/>Aside from that though, I really liked this speech. It's never been in question that the man is a hell of an orator. My concern is more with what he chooses to not say, what he chooses to not confront, his willingness to "play the game" while at the same time preaching "change." I didn't think he was going to address the issue of race at all anymore in this campaign, so it was refreshing to see him be straightforward, to remember why progressives got excited about him to begin with.<BR/><BR/>I truly believe that Barack Obama has progressive principles. However, I am troubled by his willingness to dance for the lobbyists that rule Washington at this present time (AIPAC, the military, etc.). I am troubled by the state of the two-party duopoly in America that does not allow a Democratic candidate to be a true progressive (ie, Kucinich, McKinney, and even Obama himself), becaues the Democratic Party itself clearly has no intention of being a progressive vehicle.<BR/><BR/>He is choosing to "talk like them" in order to win. The trouble is, the more you talk like them, the longer that you choose to talk like them, the more talking like them changes you. I truly believe that. I hope Obama can bring about progressive change, lord knows we need it right now, but I am deeply troubled by what I have seen so far.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com