John Halle wrote:
> >
> > Date: Fri, 24 Dec 1999 23:33:13 -0800
> > From: michael perelman <michael at ecst.csuchico.edu>
> > Subject: Re: Hillary, centrist creep like her husband
> >
> > Like Jerry Brown in Cal, Clinton began with a fairly progressive agenda in
> > Ark., but got slammed and then turned to the right. Mind you, he never did
> > anything courageous.
> >
>
> Whether or not Clinton ever had any intention of pursuing a "progressive
> agenda" the important question is why Clinton, and other new Dems, gets
> "bashed" from the right when he moves left, but escapes bashing from the
> left when he moves right. I think the answer has to do with
>
> 1) his success in co-opting progressive leadership by giving them a
> token amount of "access"
>
> 2) the campaign of demonization waged by organs like the Nation
> which attempt to potray centrist repugs as wolves in moderate sheeps
> clothing. (They're at it again, as I mentioned in a previous posting.)
>
> 3) the willingness of liberals to excuse Clintons most egregious sell-outs
> based on 1) and also a religious faith (which some of us seem to share) in
> Clinton's "core" progressive values which will flower after he gets a
> democratic congress, wait no, after he mollifies the military, wait no,
> after he gets re-elected. . .
>
> 4) the inability of the left to impose punishment when Clinton
> triangulates us into insignificance.
>
> I'm sure others can add to the list. In any case, I think the lesson is
> clear-we have to be able to demonstrate that this sort of double
> dealing has consequences, which is why we all need to be in Los Angeles
> this summer-on the outside of the convention center, not on the inside-
> with gasmasks at the ready.
>
> I know I'll be there (maybe with the Santa brigade)-partly as penance for
> having missed Seattle-as most of us did, it appears-partly to demonstrate
> to myself that my committment to "revolutionary praxis" isn't just
> theoretical. Look forward to seeing you there.
>
> It would also be nice to have some discussion about how this event could
> be organized for maximum effectiveness, hopefully including some of the
> folks who brought us Seattle.
>
> Merry Christmas,
>
> John
-- Michael Perelman Economics Department California State University Chico, CA 95929
Tel. 530-898-5321 E-Mail michael at ecst.csuchico.edu