April 9, 2008 at 14:36:19
Wake Up Call for Democrats
http://www.opednews.com/articles/1/opedne_alan_k_080408_wake_up_call_for...
by alan k
You've probably seen it. The other day I got sent an email, entitled: "10 things you should know about John McCain (but probably don't)"
Folks, don't take this the wrong way, but it's pretty pathetic when we've gotten to the point we have to make lists to disseminate about what's wrong with John McCain.
It should be inconceivable that this man (or any Republican) would have even a snowball's chance in hell of being elected...yet it's come (again) to this. On the surface, it makes little sense, but if you dig...
It is just further proof of the utter bankruptcy of the Democratic Party in principles, morals and strategy. At this very moment while the most corporate (thus worst) of its original potential candidates slug it out in public food fights, its members in Congress simply ignore (or worse, cower from) the the fact that the most egregious, even hideous acts have been taking place in the name of the United States citizens: mindless murder, terror (yes, the real thing), stealing of unaccounted for trillions by our Defense Department, massive use of mercenary armed forces, intimidation, draining of the economy, mortgaging of our grandchildren, spying on our citizens' mail and conversations, ignoring of federal and international laws, stacking of the judiciary, routine lying, refusal to obey subpoenas, gutting of social services, gutting of our treasury, ignoring the balance of powers, gutting of the dollar, shredding of our Constitution and Bill of Rights, manipulation and censorship of news stories, widespread criminal negligence as evidenced by Katrina and infrastructure failures...
So?
How do we criticize Dick Cheney now when our Congress has that same attitude: "So?"
In the face of all this (and more, I'm sure), you get someone like Debbie Wasserman Shultz mimicking Pelosi, saying Impeachment is off the table because it would interfere with other "important agenda issues". Right. Which ones? The ones she might propose for electoral appearance's sake even though they know W will veto them? Oh, those?
NONE of these vital things are even mentioned by the Democratic candidates, tiptoeing, triangulating, fearful of a Republican accusation of being "non-patriotic."
Well, they ARE non-patriotic, and spineless as well. They are ignoring their Oaths of Office to defend the Constitution. They are ENABLING ruthless, dictatorial fascists, and don't say "Boo."
I'd call THAT Bankruptcy. Their official logic? Get in in November. "Win".
What pathetic losers, unable to stand UP for all this country is supposed to stand FOR, willing to stand BY, however, completely ignoring Reality and watch it all go down the tubes so they can get their little piece of power -- perhaps -- in November.
With 70% of the nation wanting to end the Occupation, with nearly that many wanting Impeachment, the Short Road to Victory should be quite clear. But alas, there is more going on than that. The seemingly simple is made complex by what we're not supposed to see or to know.
This little drama is quite sick and getting very dangerous. It truly is as though the Dem leadership were delusional, unwilling to help America face an uncomfortable Reality, nor face it themselves. In fact, it is a total abdication of political and moral authority.
WORSE: Not only does it NOT address real, deep problems that threaten the very fabric of the nation, they make a point of DISTRACTING the Whole Public so that they don't see what's going on either!!! THAT, in my book, goes far beyond criminal negligence.
In fact, anyone who DOES speak out to these issues (whether inside or outside the party) is quickly dealt with by the official party apparatus, and marginalized, threatened or silenced with strong-arm tactics.
The quasi-heroic efforts of "progressive" stalwarts within the party, for the most part (oh, there are a few exceptions which prove the rule -- and keep folks hoping, groveling), have had little or no effect on the ship's course, and hasn't for decades: it's just marginal chit-chat, and keeps valuable, willing citizens all tied up in internal wrangling, preventing them from moving towards their dreams. Every four years it's "Oh, THIS time we'll elect a bunch of new progressives and that will change things." Right. Meanwhile those in charge do all they can to prevent that. Why must you battle your "leadership" who are abandoning their country and acting close to treason? The leadership (and thus the main thrust, efforts and global effects of the party) silences dissent, distracts the public and takes its marching orders from obscenely powerful campaign funders who hedge their bets funding both major parties.
The Party, like it or not is in the Corporate Hip Pocket. The mainstream Democrat's push for globalized corporate trade policies (which includes the neo-cons' sick wars of plunder and control in the Middle East) and which walks all over Labor and the right to self -govern tells it all: they are now proud members, part and parcel of the MegaCorporate Bain on Life-on-Earth-as-We-Know-It. Willing (paid) Partners.
No WONDER they didn't pay any attention to the vote of November 2006. No Wonder they pay no nevermind to pleadings of progressive elements inside. They are paid to represent Corporate Globalization, not the Citizens of the US, not those who "vote" for them.
THE VOTE, in fact, is just part of the Show. It serves to give false hopes to those still in their corral (to get their money), even though, as we've all seen, they don't even lift a finger to fight when the vote is STOLEN. That ALONE is proof of whom they really represent.
Oh, when they WANT to, they FIGHT: They fight to keep the war funding going. They fight to stop impeachment. They fight to prevent more democratically-minded dissenters from blocking Alito and Roberts and Bolton and Negroponte and Mukasey. They fight to keep people like Kucinich or McKinney marginalized or out of office. They fight to keep progressives from leadership positions. They fight to keep Greens and Nader off the ballots.
However, they DON'T FIGHT the outrageous abuses of power and of the Constitution by the Bush Administration. They DON'T fight to expose Truth when lies abound. They DON'T fight to lift the veils of secrecy surrounding the Hijacking of our Nation and the events of 911. They DON'T fight for YOU and ME and our right to participate in government decision-making through the ballot! They DON'T fight to defend our Constitution or our national dignity at a time of dire need.
And now, McCain worries them... Any wonder?
They are being betrayed by the very patrons they most diligently serve. Their need to serve "two masters" (in reality, only one, as serving the "people" is merely a slogan, a ruse) makes it impossible to come up with any coherent political Vision and Strategy that a free people needs to organize the fight for their destiny. It stifles legitimate participation. It only rewards the powerful and connected.
I don't mean to demean good-hearted folks who still want to believe the nostalgia-fed myths of their party (defenders of women, labor, and minorities, and so on...), but it is Wake-Up Time. All Hands On Deck. Time to be checking over the Lifeboats.
And so the Democratic Ship of State plows ahead, oblivious to America's problems and needs, and runs a course, once again close to disaster, worried about running into the McCain Shoals, but unworried about the faulty compass, the holes in the hull -- nor the safety of the crew.
How long can you afford to put up with this? Time for a new ship and a new course.
