American power & the world

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Bye Bye Barry

 

Joel S. Hirschhorn

 

The final results are in on this historic November day.  Despite the hundreds of millions of dollars he raised, Barack Obama has lost the 2008 presidential election.  American voters have boldly spoken truth to arrogance.  Turned out that all those pre-election opinion polls that showed Obama’s inability to get over 50 percent support were prescient.  Much of the public was never comfortable with Obama, though he clearly was so comfortable acting like he already was president.

 

Hillary and Bill Clinton are probably drinking champagne and having the sweetest time since Bill won his first presidential election.  Hillary must now bite her lip repeatedly and resist saying publicly that “I told you so!”  Hillary in 2012 will reveal that she learned her lessons well.

 

All that Obama audacity of arrogance from the smiling, glib politician finally died the death it so richly deserved.  Too many pundits will blame his loss on his blackness and racist voters.  But the larger truth is that sufficient voters saw through the many lies and deceptions.  Obama always had a hard time giving a simple, short straight answer to tough questions.  He was always mentally calculating exactly how to game his answers so that he would achieve all the benefits he had his eyes on.  He was simply too damn presumptuous and too smart for his own good.  In the end, Americans do not want the smartest person in the presidency or endless nuancing.  They want someone they can easily understand and trust, despite their skepticism.  There were many reasons not to trust the calculating Obama to do anything he promised to do or, for some people, to fear he might.

 

And now the bloviating pundits will also blame third party presidential candidates for siphoning votes from Obama, as if Americans have no right to exercise their political freedom and vote for someone they honestly think has the best policy positions and would most help restore American democracy.

 

Jon Stewart and other late-night comics will feast on these election results, as they should.  I can’t wait to hear jokes about Obama’s wife becoming a more vocal and militant critic of the good old USA, now that she has proof positive that so many Americans are stupid white racists.

 

Of course, now the nation must suffer through the ineptness, confusion and dementia-like dullness of the living-in-the-past John McCain, tough-talking but brain dead.  Will the McCain presidency look like an extension of the incredible terrible George W. Bush White House?  Of course.

 

Still living off a once-true characterization as a maverick, McCain must now surround himself with people who actually are smart and knowledgeable about myriad issues.  Should be no problem finding enough lobbyists.  Pundits will start speculating that McCain will be lucky just to stay alive for four years, but thankfully his vice-president seems more capable.  One thing for sure: the power plutocracy that really runs the country will have little trouble pulling the strings behind the scenes and keep the puppet McCain dancing to tunes written by corporate interests.

 

Ralph Nader summed up this way: “A large fraction of Americans know that we need a Jeffersonian political revolution to fix our corrupt system.  They were not fooled by the Obama rhetoric about change, not from someone that has been a product of and servant for the two-party plutocracy.  Yes, all the votes for me and the other third-party presidential candidates spelled the difference between Obama winning and losing.  Our voters correctly protested against the corrupt two-party system.  They did not elect McCain.  Only those who voted for McCain elected him, and that is something they must live with as they watch a McCain administration continue dismantling American democracy and budget-busting global warmongering.”

 

Cynthia McKinney wisely noted that “It is time to stop saying God bless America, and begin repeating God save America.  The good news is that we will build even greater public support for a true political revolution during the McCain presidency.  All too often things must get much worse before they can get better.  They will get worse.”

 

As to Obama, half-jokingly he said: “I may come back as a third-party candidate.”  Or did that reflect a calculation that Democrats had learned their lesson?  As to all the screaming from the left that the Republicans stole this election also, Obama immediately said “John won it fair and square.”  Thanks Barry, exactly what I expected from a phony change agent.

 

[Contact Joel S. Hirschhorn through www.delusionaldemocracy.com.]

There's been a great deal of speculation why Obama's pastor, having weathered the initial storm of controversy over racist comments consistent with his embracing Black Liberation Theology, would make a second round of stupid racist statements forcing Obama to finally grow a backbone and renounce him. Geraldine Ferraro speculated this was a coordinated effort between Wright and Obama to inoculate him by creating a rift between the two that will survive scrutiny in the fall. I’m not so sure.

HON. MAJOR R. OWENS OF NEW YORK IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Recognizing the Shared History of Slavery of France and the United States

Statement entered into the Congressional Record of the United States Congress by Representative Major R. Owens, 11th Congressional District, Brooklyn, New York. (Retired from Congress, December 2006)

It's becoming clear that a contentious Democrat primary is setting the stage for a Republican victory. Twenty-two percent of Obama supporters want Clinton to withdraw. The same percentage of Clinton supporters want Obama to withdraw and neither are likely to do so. More telling are the percentage of each groups supporters that will likely defect if their candidate loses the nomination. In fact, a shocking 32% of Clinton supporters will seek an alternative to Obama if Clinton is left at the Democrat altar. What would cement a Republican victory? Why a McCain-Rice ticket of course.

Fascinating article, even more amazing that its found in the NY Times, in which the times author notes Iraqis turning away from the empty future offered by their religious leaders towards a more promising future offered by their American liberators. Note that it is the NY Times that is describing American forces as "liberators" which is a significant change in tone. Could it be the Times recognizes the success of the surge and doesn't want to be caught on the side of the pessimists proclaiming its failure?

The military success of the surge is bandied about incessantly on these boards. Let's look to someone on the wrong end of the spear point for their analysis. Abu Tariq, a leader of al Queda in Iraq, gives his viewpoint:

http://terrordiary.notlong.com

I have agreed with both you and IM on many occasions. It is more that I fear that you do not share such open mindedness by virtue of having such a committed politico-philosophical stance.

I can't guess at IM's views so easily because there is a more of a cultural divide.

By no means am I starting this thread to poke Englishmen in the eye. Englishmen is clearly moderate (by American standards) in philosophy and I often examine my own positions against his as a kind of litmus test for reasonableness. Of course, my critical self-examination does not mean automatic acceptance either. Englishman highlights several important issues in the discussion of political philosophy. We come to the table with perceptions based on education, culture, and experience. We have ideas in our heads for the meaning of words and their implications---especially when evaluating the writings, speech, and even the motives of others. But those may or may not be correct. If we are to have any meaningful discussion, we must have a common lexicon; else we end up like Eric and Chris, punctuating our input with meaningless ad hominem attack and hyperbole. [And yes--that was a gratuitous shot across the bow.]

Halliday shows a lack of historical knowledge about how empire's fall. Their decline rarely, if ever, begins with an external challenge but with an erosion of the disciplines and ambitions that drove their success. They crumble from within. The US empire will almost certainly not be defeated by competitors but by the corruption of the ideals and the vision that made it great.

First Woman, First Black, First Latino, or First Honest President? Joel S. Hirschhorn The phrase honest politician has become an oxymoron. We should not be impressed by the prospect of having the first woman, first black or first Latino president. What would be far more radical would be to have the first honest president, if not ever, certainly in a very long time. Presidents in recent memory have been excellent liars, contributing mightily to our culture of dishonesty. Bill Clinton had the audacity to look right into the TV camera and blatantly lie to the American public. George W. Bush has probably set a record for official lying, though it might take many decades to fully document them. Carl M. Cannon saw the bigger truth: “posterity will judge [George W. Bush] not so much by whether he told the truth but whether he recognized what the truth actually was.” Things have gotten so bad that hardly anyone can even imagine an honest president. But if we don’t expect an honest president, how can we expect to trust government? Don Nash made these insightful observations, “If America was ever faced with a politician who spoke truth to the people, no-one would know what to make of the oddity. This politician could probably not get elected to office. Sadly, Americans can’t handle the truth.

CLUB NIGHT, 22 November: Thanksgiving - thanks for what? Whether it be questions about the president and his foreign policy, the dominance of Hollywood in our cinemas, the burgers and fries that make us all too fat, or the fact that Americans around the world just seem to talk so loud – it isn’t often these days that America is mentioned without a bit of a sneer. But America is also the 'Land of the Free' – the first great modern republic and the inspirer of revolution, a great economic power built on immigration, a dominant force in world culture and an artistic powerhouse. The next Manifesto Club Club Night is a chance to celebrate Thanksgiving – that time of the year when Americans eat turkey and mash and give thanks to the founding fathers. But in the spirit of the Manifesto Club, it’s also a time for some critical thinking: Thanksgiving – thanks for what?

CLUB NIGHT, 22 November: Thanksgiving - thanks for what? Whether it be questions about the president and his foreign policy, the dominance of Hollywood in our cinemas, the burgers and fries that make us all too fat, or the fact that Americans around the world just seem to talk so loud – it isn’t often these days that America is mentioned without a bit of a sneer. But America is also the 'Land of the Free' – the first great modern republic and the inspirer of revolution, a great economic power built on immigration, a dominant force in world culture and an artistic powerhouse. The next Manifesto Club Club Night is a chance to celebrate Thanksgiving – that time of the year when Americans eat turkey and mash and give thanks to the founding fathers. But in the spirit of the Manifesto Club, it’s also a time for some critical thinking: Thanksgiving – thanks for what?

The Grand Delusion Joel S. Hirschhorn With an endless, futile and costly Iraq war, a stinking economy and most Americans seeing the country on the wrong track, the greatest national group delusion is that electing Democrats in 2008 is what the country needs. Keith Olbermann was praised when he called the Bush presidency a criminal conspiracy. That missed the larger truth. The whole two-party political system is a criminal conspiracy hiding behind illusion induced delusion. Virtually everything that Bush correctly gets condemnation for could have been prevented or negated by Democrats, if they had had courage, conviction and commitment to maintaining the rule of law and obedience to the Constitution. Bush grabbed power from the feeble and corrupt hands of Democrats. Democrats have failed the vast majority of Americans. So why would sensible people think that giving Democrats more power is a good idea? They certainly have done little to merit respect for their recent congressional actions, or inaction when it comes to impeachment of Bush and Cheney.

Voting As Political Narcotic in America Joel S. Hirschhorn Fast forward to Election Day 2008: Network anchors, cable pundits, and state and local election officials are going nuts as evening hours pass and voter turnout is hardly approaching 20 percent nearly everywhere. “What’s going on?” everyone is asking incredulously. TV and computer screens all over the planet show Americans in streets celebrating and shouting things like “We’ve had enough political corruption. We’re not going to take anymore!” In contrast, news anchors are grim and aghast with little help from spin-fatigued and stammering Democratic and Republican spokespeople. At 2 A.M. on NBC Brian Williams sits with Tim Russett and Keith Olbermann, and sums up: “Americans have spoken and American politics have changed forever.” “It’s like the nightmare of entertainers: nobody shows up for their event,” says bemused Olbermann. Russett grimly observes, “We should have seen this coming; people have been fed up with both parties for a long time.” Meanwhile, the Internet is buzzing with talk of voiding the presidential and congressional election results, that President Bush may declare a national state of emergency, and that the Supreme Court might step in again. Did anyone think that the Constitution required a minimum voter turnout to make elections legit?

http://tinyurl.com/yqfaq3

(URL shortened by oD staff) 

 Israel conducts a super-secret and apparently successful airstrike against a partially-built reactor in Syria, and there's hardly any mention of it in the media. One reason is that Israel seems to have placed an effective blackout on information leaking to the press, and any other country in the know (read the U.S.) is following suit. More interesting, however, is Syria's relative silence on the matter, and that of the larger Arab world. While there are many questions left unanswered, a couple of things seem apparent in news stories on the event. The first is that the attack was well-planned, resulting in the destruction of the targeted site with apparently little to no collateral damage, and no losses to the Israeli aircraft involved. The second is that the Syrian reactor was apparently years away from being operational, and, given the apparent backward state of Syrian nuclear know-how, could not have been considered a large threat, either now or in the near future. It seems to me, then, that Israel's well-planned and well-executed strike was meant more as a demonstration for an audience in Tehran, who's nuclear program is, by all accounts, much more advanced and therefore much more of a threat, in comparison with Syria's. And the fact that neighboring Arab (and mostly Sunni) countries have maintained official silence about the attack could lead to the conclusion that, far from condemning Israel's actions, they wholeheartedly support the preemptive attack on Syria and, more to the point, the emphatic message sent Tehran's way. HH

Just think about it: Some of this week’s awards from the Nobel Committee went to people who must seem like the anti Christ to our pretentiously pious President, George W. Bush. For starters, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine went to Mario R. Capecchi, Martin J. Evans and Oliver Smithies who were recognized for a series of ground-breaking discoveries concerning embryonic stem cells! OH MY GAWD! And, of course, this morning, the darkest of dark news descended on the White House when Bush’s nemesis Al Gore shared the Nobel Peace Prize with the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change! ARMAGEDDON IS SURELY UPON US!

Illegal Immigration Spurs Constitutional Amendment Joel S. Hirschhorn Among the millions of Americans frustrated with the refusal by the federal government to forcefully control illegal immigration is South Carolina Senator Glenn McConnell. As President Pro Tempore of the Senate McConnell has explained why he is calling for the nation’s first use of the US Constitution’s Article V provision for a convention of state delegates to propose constitutional amendments. “While this action is unprecedented, I also believe that the danger facing our country is unprecedented. We need to act now. …Congress has refused or is incapable of acting, thereby leaving the states in the position of burning while Congress fiddles. …the problem of illegal immigration is one that has reached a boiling point,” said McConnell, a Charleston Republican.

The history of Rome was a society like no other. We are all part of the Roman conflict. Some how during the fall of Rome, every one of us in the great world of our survived the fall of Rome, the 700 years of complete destruction of society, infrastructures, library's from 2000 years of history and we all were either part of the rise of Christianity, survived Paganism in some parts of the world or became part of the last religion that followed in fear of Christianity, Islam. Although many great people have been part of the Islamic history, the greatest portion of Islam that still survives today is the reason it was established, to counter the fear of Christianity during the fall of the Roman empire in the East. Islam took 2000 years of history and destroyed it and has yet to advance its own people out of the dark ages and uses this as a motivation for destruction of Christianity. As Christianity moved forward in the West, Islam slowly declined until all it had left was to fight for land and take over Christianity and its money, power and strong following of Christians world wide. The history of Rome ended at the beginning of the rise of Islam and Christianity. Both religions believe in God therefore every soul believing in God has the possibility of being saved. The error in judgement is not on the people but on the false prophet. I have read about how a false prophet will rise and millions will follow this great leader. They will truly believe he is the leader or prophet of his people. Because Islam use's Sex to gain young mens souls to die for God, Because Islam use's fighting to convert instead of love and because Islam has a leader without a face because of the fear of looking into the eye's of a false prophet or that the man was just a man who used the poor people of the day to motivate them to steal the riches of Christianity and the fall of Rome. The false prophet is Islam and the leader of Islam. The Billions that follow the war, the 72 women that will be at the end of young men's suicide deaths is so easy to see it is false. Everyone I have ever talked to has admitted it can not be. So if it can't be that millions will die for a lie then how can the religion that believes illiteracy and only knowledge of the Koran is a good thing. How can Women be bound to home and hide be a blessing of God. Because of his own inability to control him self, covering women helped him succeed to be a better person. I have met many good Muslims yet never have I met a Muslim that truly has seen the light of day or the blessings of God.

The Withdrawal Crowd is in Retreat By J.R. Dunn [Excerpt Only] [quote]The surge has put the lid on all that, by revealing that public dissatisfaction was based on lack of progress against the Jihadis and not actual opposition to the war itself. After three months of Al-Queda and associates being chased from pillar to post, accompanied by an impressive drop in attacks and other incidents, the polls have begun to turn around despite everything the media, the Democrats and Brian de Palma can do to muddy the results. Support for withdrawal short of victory was soft in the first place and is growing softer every day.

MoveOn vs. Democrats Punishing Congressmen for reporting what they see in Iraq. Wednesday, September 5, 2007 12:01 a.m. EDT [Excerpt only] [quote]In the Hell Hath No Fury sweepstakes, groups like MoveOn.org are gearing up to take on a new set of perceived traitors in their midst--Democrats who have acknowledged some success from the troop surge in Iraq. Chief among the targets is Washington Congressman Brian Baird, whose indiscretion was recognizing progress on the ground, despite having initially opposed the surge and having opposed the war in the first place. After a recent trip to Iraq, Mr. Baird said: "One of the things that gets very little attention is that virtually every other country I visited says it would be a mistake to pull out now."