| Progressive Front: Well Done, Thou Good and Faithful Servant |
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| Written by Chris Floyd | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thursday, 25 March 2010 15:38 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Dennis Kucinich is now reaping the reward for his high-profile bug-out on the Compulsory Corporate Profit Act of 2010, also known as "health care reform." And what a pearl of great price it is! Well worth selling out your heatedly avowed principles for! I mean, Mahatma Gandhi himself would traded his loincloth for a pinstripe suit to bag some bling like this! Check it out: "a giveaway to the insurance industry -- $70 billion a year, and no guarantees of any control over premiums, forcing people to buy private insurance. I just don't see that this bill is the solution."
On Tuesday, I ... witnessed an historic ceremony in the White House, where President Obama signed health care reform into law. I am pleased to have played a role in helping make this important moment possible.
Under current circumstances, though, using Kucinich makes perfect sense. He can appeal to liberals who might not open their wallets for a lot of other members of Congress, and his seal of approval can be used in an effort to convince Democrats who think the reform legislation doesn't go far enough that they should stay active with the party this year anyway.
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Comments (29)
nina
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tortured We got one of those emails. I was called over to gawk at my friend's monitor where the email displayed a photo of Dennis. The worst photo ever. He looks, well, beaten, drugged, not at all the smiley face we were used to seeing. The same disease that afflicted Obama once he got down with the power was passed on to Dennis. All ye who enter, take heed. Something happened, what it was exactly we don't really know. |
Sean O'Neil
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... Wee Denny the Big Liar needs big bucks to keep his trophy wife happy. They're both grasping yuppie social climbers. What a wonderful thumbnail sketch of America 2010. Humanist words, fascist deeds! |
john kelley
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... Dennis Kucinich is raising money to sustain his noble, warmongering Democrats. He clearly believes in more than UFOs. ....... Cynthia McKinney's is about the only believable voice I've heard in American politics in recent memory. She remains an active and devoted humanitarian. |
hal
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Who does that leave? Does Dennis' defection leave anyone else on the Left that has any integrity? Cynthia McKinney is no longer in congress. I can't really think of any. Benny Sanders in the senate, maybe. I live in Mississippi, and there is not even a possibility that we will ever have anything but war-mongering christian fascists as our representatives. Right wing christian radio here is frothing at the mouth and becoming apoplectic about the (so called) Health Care Reform: my only enjoyment out of this whole thing is watching and listening to them get all worked up. |
Mike Smith
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A Con "I don't believe in government. I don't believe in big business. I think it's a game. I think it's a racket and a game and a con." George Carlin |
derekmann
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one little quibble chris describes obama and company, kucinich included, as progressives; i disagree, they are liberals, and as heywood broun said "A liberal is a man who leaves the room when the fight starts". actually i have heard this quote attributed to helen keller, but it hardly matters, this is where our problem lies. the democrats are liberals, not progressives, and most certainly not socialists, no matter how many times the chattering classes repeat ths mantra. we should have seen it coming, i suspect chris did. |
philip
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... Give them hell Chris. To think i actually thought Kucinich would hang in there and fight. Stupid me. I thought i would take a break from commenting for a while but John Kelly got my blood up. Thanks for the Cynthia Mckinney comment John. My friends all roundly criticized me for voting for her. they said i had to be pragmatic, and support someone who could win. Lot of good it did them. HA. I am prouder than ever for that vote. She knows and was not afraid to speak about 9-11 truth. Her participation in trying to break the siege of Palestine won her my undying loyalty. Someone who puts her actions ahead of her words, almost at the cost of her life. And while i am at it supporting "viva Palestinia" is a great cause, worth of our support. |
Donald L. Smith
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Less Smoke, Fewer Mirrors It seems that the leaders of the republic no longer believe any effort is needed to hide the true nature of this criminal enterprise. Sell-outs, betrayal, lies beyond counting, all continue at an ever increasing pace. Little wonder that half the elligible voters don't even bother to show up at the polls. As the nation becomes more apathetic toward political systems in place, the economy and the harsh scourge of poverty are going to create another aspect of politics which this nation has not had to deal with since the thirties. Hunger is a great motivator. |
john kelley
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... philip, Yes, though symbolic, and for a system I do not believe in, I, too, cast my vote for Cynthia McKinney. We exercised, or should I say, exorcised, our 'right'. Cheers! |
mistah charley, ph.d.
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I'm disappointed with Dennis But they must have something on him - some combination of carrot and stick - and it doesn't have to be much - basically, as long as he's a member of the Democratic Party, he can't refuse to ask for money for the Democratic Party - so unless he's willing to cut loose, he's gotta do it - he knows that if he DOES leave the Party, they will do their damnedest to destroy him - and no doubt he is more optimistic than CF is about his chance for having any influence at all - they asked to use his image in their latest fundraising appeal, right? doesn't that PROVE that he matters? As has been said before, "This glass is three-sixteenths full." |
Michael B
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A socialist's perspective As one who long ago understood the depravity that is America and how thoroughly corrupt is each and every aspect of it's political structure there is nothing that surprises me. In my district I have one of the other "best of the best" progressives, Maurice Hinchey. I have had a few very hot personal confrontations with him and his staff and pointed discussions with those who continue to support Maurice. Most of these people took leave of their sense and climbed aboard the Obama crazy train. Now they are bleating and the same is happening to those who fawned at the feet of Brave Sir Dennis. Remember now that Dennis immediately got behind Obama and is first and foremost a Democrat hack and a true believer in American Exceptionalism. Having said all of that I read Kook's pandering rationalization, as it was posted at Common Dreams yesterday, and was pretty gape jawed at how poorly it came off. It's the sort of thing that in real life goes on too long and sounds as if the speaker stopped believing himself halfway through. The just response at that point would be a cavalcade of tomatoes which would force the speaker off the stage. Here's my initial response when I read Kucinich's whining self-idulgence yesterday: My how tolerant of tyranny we've become. This isn't so complicated. The emperor fattened the purses of the owners through officially recognized byzantine procedures. The faux rebel saw the writing on the wall and rather than spar further with the Emperor he chose the path of boot licking. He saved himself. And why? I would point to this quote from Upton Sinclair: "It is difficult to get a man to understand something when his salary depends upon his not understanding it." And what about the children here who continue to bleat, asking others for solutions and audaciously claim they are the ones being "practical?" Maybe the bottom line is whether or not we all seek the same depth of changes in our society. There is no doubt that whether under the control of Democrats or the Republicans, the number one beneficiary of political decisions, be they foreign policy or domestic, will be large industries/the extremely wealthy - that is, the general protection of the status quo, and the continuation of a capital-before-people mentality, the right of the US to impose its will on sovereign nations for the benefit of its corporations. If people are comfortable with this reality, if a slightly higher minimum wage and a slightly friendlier attitude toward minorities or some minor (and generally unenforced) efforts toward reducing environmental damage, if changes on that level are good enough, then I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. But if people are seeking significant change, if they want to see the current military occupations end, the power of the military-industrial complex diminish or disappear, and the rights of working people protected, health care for everyone, fair elections based on platforms rather than personalities, or other changes of that magnitude, then an honest analysis of the Dems' desire/ability to make those changes must be undertaken. And by all analyses I don't see these changes coming through them, ever. I wish it was a matter of pressuring them, writing letters, lobbying their offices, supporting certain candidates. But it has been shown time and time again that these measures don't work. And this is the question I still don't seem to have a clear answer for - what evidence is there (in this time of high-paid and high-powered corporate lobbyists, manipulated elections, pro-corporate media, etc) that the citizens of this country have any real influence over the politicians in Washington, or even that elections actually represent the will of the American people? If placating legislation here and there is good enough for you probably quickly forget that when it comes to the big national issues - war, health care, oil dependency, environment, there is little more than rhetoric and half-measures. It's the whole thing about doing the same things over and over and expecting different results....The main arguments I have seen for continuing to focus on the Dems as a force for real change are based on faith, not fact. As an aside, I have been doing a fair amount of reading about social uprisings, revolts, and revolutions lately. There is one thing I know for sure - people successfully demanding social change is NOT some impossible dream. It has happened throughout history, all over the globe. It is common, it is necessary, and, as far as I am concerned IT IS TIME. |
NomNomNom
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... Kucinich tried to take his name off the MI ballot as a political strategy along with BHO, Biden, Richardson, & Edwards. He was willing to disenfranchise millions of voters. That was the day he lost any support I would ever have for him. (I am another McKinney voter). The caving to party leadership in exchange for a pony plane ride should not have come as any sort of shock. |
blink
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... I am at the breaking point. Literally. Forget about Kucinich for a second. While he may be a damn sight better than the rest, he is and always has been a known lesser evil. The real enemies here are the Alex Koppelmann's, Joan Walsh's (check out her "Dennis Kucinich Speaks for Me" column right below Koppelmann's), Markos Moulittisistits', Digby's, Glenn Greenwald's, Hamsher's, Rachel Maddow's, etc. The completely unimaginative and perhaps just plain stupid "liberal" information gatekeepers who, in the end, sell-out and do a major disservice to themselves, their not very bright following and the country in general. Seriously. Their "work-within-the-system, more-and-better-democrats" plan to bring about change is a complete joke an always has been. The FDL crowd was raising money for Kucinich in the few days leading up to his sell-out and now they want their money back! I don't blame them but the problem is, they will do it all again at the next opportunity! They are literally insane. They meet Einstein's definition to a T. I don't blame Kucinich and the the rest of "our" bought-and-paid-for "representatives." They have made their choice. They are not representing "we, the people" in the least. They are a know quantity. I do blame the "liberal" information gatekeepers and their followers for thinking that stern letter writing, fund-raising, primary challenges, and then ultimate capitulation, over and over and over again, in the form of supporting the lesser of two evil Democrats is any plan for change at all. Because it isn't and they aren't just screwing themselves. They are screwing all of us. Those of us who know better and even the know-nothing fascist followers. We don't need better Politicians, we need better citizen leadership and smarter Americans! |
venuspluto67
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I've died and gone to the Twilight Zone What Michael B. and blink said. I sit here in stunned disbelief at the willingness of the Kostards to drink any Kool-Aid the Democratic Party establishment pours down their throats. Before this debacle, I had pretty much given up on the Democratic Party and felt vindicated in my vote for Cynthia McKinney in 2008. But now, I have also completely given up on the Democratic Party's supporters. They need to realize that they are in the grip of a codependent habit of mind without which they would be vastly better off. And you don't even need to be a radical leftist, a socialist, or an anarchist to realize these things. You just need to pull your head out of your rectal cavity! Unfortunately, the vast majority of Americans have a deep aversion to taking a good, long look in the mirror at themselves, so it's unlikely that there will be very many cranial extractions among the Kostard crowd anytime soon. I despair for this country, and wear that despair on my sleeve proudly, as should anyone with any capacity for honestly evaluating situations and circumstances. And as for the Tea Partiers who are making racist death-threats and breaking windows, I can certainly relate to their anger, but all those idiots are succeeding in doing is making those who passed this travesty of a law and their supporters look good by comparison. |
Sean O'Neil
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... The "Tea Partiers" you see in the "media" are perhaps 0.02% of the overall GOP population, and you'd have to be an idiot to think they have any influence whatever. They're not influencing anyone who matters. They're not representing what is happening in the Congress. They are there to push pawns around. Don't be a pawn. |
mistah charley, ph.d.
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It's a quote from the Bible Matthew 25, verse 21. The whole story: >>For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods. And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability; and straightway took his journey. Then he that had received the five talents went and traded with the same, and made them other five talents. And likewise he that had received two, he also gained other two. But he that had received one went and digged in the earth, and hid his lord’s money. After a long time the lord of those servants cometh, and reckoneth with them. And so he that had received five talents came and brought other five talents, saying, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me five talents: behold, I have gained beside them five talents more. His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. He also that had received two talents came and said, Lord, thou deliveredst unto me two talents: behold, I have gained two other talents beside them. His lord said unto him, Well done, good and faithful servant; thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the earth: lo, there thou hast that is thine. His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strawed: Thou oughtest therefore to have put my money to the exchangers, and then at my coming I should have received mine own with usury. Take therefore the talent from him, and give it unto him which hath ten talents. For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. |
mistah charley, ph.d.
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Dennis in fact did the best he could After re-reading this parable that Chris pointed us to, I now believe that Kucinich and the rest of the Progressive Caucus (their self-chosen name) were right to vote for the bill as it stood, even though it is NOT Medicare for All. It's a detour from that, but hopefully will be a step along the trip to that destination. Whether that happens or not depends on a lot of things; it's hard to make predictions, especially about the future. Dennis didn't hide his talent in the ground/abstain or vote with the Republicans; instead, he participated in victory over the status quo. See John Nichols' blog post and Kucinich's prepared remarks at tinyurl dot com slash yfjdb9n But that status quo is a tricky one. The old status quo is gone, but the new status quo is not so very different, and the similarity is a lot stronger than it needed to be. As Jon Walker says in "The Death of the Public Option: After Parade of Lies, Democratic Leadership Now Stands Naked", >>It is foolish to believe that a President, Senate Majority Leader, and Speaker of the House with historically large majorities couldn’t get a public option–which roughly 65% of the country supported–if they really wanted one. Clearly, if they all really wanted to include a public option, they could have done it using reconciliation. To accept their many different excuses of powerlessness requires one to completely suspend reality. Occam’s razor teaches us the simplest explanation is usually the correct one. Here, the simplest explanation is that, months ago, Obama promised to kill the public option as part of a secret deal with the for-profit hospital lobby, and that for months he lied to the American people about supporting the public option while working behind the scenes to stop it. So, when exactly does that changing the way Washington works thing start again? |
john kelley
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... Michael B said: "I wish it was a matter of pressuring them, writing letters, lobbying their offices, supporting certain candidates. But it has been shown time and time again that these measures don't work." And why should they work? It's a little simple, no? Kind of utopian. Kind of a gratuitous solution for civic duty. How much time or effort does it take to write a letter or cast a vote? Letters can be read/unread, shredded, forgotten. Votes can be counted/uncounted, switched, manipulated. And anyway, campaign promises can be ignored. Michael B again: "Maybe the bottom line is whether or not we all seek the same depth of changes in our society." This is the crux of the matter. Show me 50 or 100 million Americans who want real change and you'll see 50 or 100 million Americans stop paying their taxes, quit their jobs, stop buying shit they don't need...you'll see 50 or 100 million Americans get organized! Utopian? |
Thomas Rondy
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Tea Party pawns @Sean: I don't think the "TP" folks have any real influence, but the ones that are lashing out violently are making the Democrats look good in comparison. Though perhaps I waste my emotional energy in getting all discombobulated about it, because when you live in the freaking Twilight Zone, you really need to stop expecting anything to make sense, for the sake of your own well-being. But that's easier to say than to do. For instance, it occured to me while I was taking my shower this morning that the healthscare deform pill that was just enacted is virtually identical to what the Republicans proposed as an alternative to Pres. and Mrs. Clinton's inadequate healthcare reform proposals back in the Nineties. The Democrats this time received this essentially Republican plan as if it were Sweet Nectar from Olympus, and the Republicans opposed it as if it amounted to the imposition of a statist-communist dictatorship. I guess it doesn't matter in the practical sense, but it only goes to show how the politicians of both parties and their supporters are irrevocably committed to their respective moral bankruptcies. It boggles my mind what utter simpletons Middle Americans are. I also can't help but remark on the Kostard defense of their support of a bill in which the public option has been removed: "Maybe we'll get a public option...someday." As a recovering codependent, I know from experience that such "someday" talk is pure clinging to false hopes! |
Sean O'Neil
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... Thomas, I wasn't picking on you back there. I was simply stating what I believe is true about the furor over "Tea Partiers." If you see my comments in Mr Floyd's prior essay's thread, you will see what I think about the legitimacy of the Republican "opposition", which would include the frenzy over the "Tea Partiers." The whole point of the "Tea Partier" focus is DISTRACTION, and it works a treat with a Dembot or Pwoggie. As to being pawns, I'm simply saying don't be one. Whether someone is or isn't a pawn, I can't really know, but I can make educated guesses based on what they post, how they post that stuff, and where they say they're coming from when they offer such a post. Americans are, for the most part, inclined to be pawns. It's part of the national mythology, to have classes of Americans and to regard certain classes as entitled to be the chess-masters who push around the pawns. Of course the chess metaphor also includes rooks, knights, bishops, kings and queens, and it only takes a tiny bit of imagination to see who in American Politics fills the roles of those chess pieces. |
John Tinker
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feet of clay I think there is energy to be gained by accepting some seemingly cynical assumptions at the outset - the nature of class struggle, politics, and so on. We need to keep these understandings close-at-hand, while avoiding a constant re-hashing of them. "Heroes" and "leaders" will only take us so far, anyway, so we must not be too disappointed when they collapse or crumble. |
ScottSchneider
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Everyone Can Be Bought It's not just Kucinich. There's an old saying that the "fish stinks from the head". For more on this, see: http://scottschneider.dbetv.com/everyone-can-be-bought-174 http://scottschneider.dbetv.com/the-four-ring-circus-178 |
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