The virtually complete capitulation of the American progressive left - Chomsky, Greens, SF Bay Guardian and so forth - to the Democrats was utterly predictable post-911 and the subsequent Bush rampage, especially after the crude bullying of the Nader/Green 2000 campaign. Predictiable, that is, to those of us who have taken its true measure.
But it is an utter disgrace. The progressive left, by folding its tent in this way, has handed the right wing, including Bush and the neocons, a huge victory. The left has shown that bullying works, that it can be safely ignored, and that there won't be an alternative at a critical historical juncture for the U.S.
The American progressive left is a desert.
Meanwhile, the Designated Loser looks to be on track to realize his predetermined destiny:
Mondo Washington by James Ridgeway John Kerry Must Go Note to Democrats: it's not too late to draft someone—anyone—else April 27th, 2004 11:45 AM
WASHINGTON, D.C.— With the air gushing out of John Kerry's balloon, it may be only a matter of time until political insiders in Washington face the dread reality that the junior senator from Massachusetts doesn't have what it takes to win and has got to go. As arrogant and out of it as the Democratic political establishment is, even these pols know the party's
got to have someone to run against George Bush. They can't exactly expect the president to self-destruct into thin air.
With growing issues over his wealth (which makes fellow plutocrat Bush seem a charity case by comparison), the miasma over his medals and ribbons (or ribbons and medals), his uninspiring record in the Senate (yes war, no war), and wishy-washy efforts to mimic Bill Clinton's triangulation gimmickry (the protractor factor), Kerry sinks day by day. The pros all know that the candidate who starts each morning by having to explain himself is a goner.
What to do? Look for the Dem biggies, whoever they are these days, to sit down with the rich and arrogant presumptive nominee and try to persuade him to take a hike. Then they can return to business as usual—resurrecting John Edwards, who is still hanging around, or staging an open convention in Boston, or both.
If things proceed as they are, the dim-bulb Dem leaders are going to be very sorry they screwed Howard Dean.
Among Democrats, Signs of Concern Over Kerry
By Terry M. Neal washingtonpost.com Staff Writer Friday, April 30, 2004; 8:04 AM
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A55531-2004Apr30.html
And of course, how could one discuss the Democrats and pass over the bloated ego of its Harkonen Lord, 'It's All About Me' Slick Willy Clinton, that perfect personification of the height of the Stock Market Bubble Years?
Kerry fears Clinton memoirs will steal his convention limelight
Suzanne Goldenberg in Washington Wednesday April 14, 2004 The Guardian http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,6109,1191379,00.html
R wrote:
>society may have improve in some ways during the 1960s, but much is rolled
>back and replaced by privatization, nonsense about "reverse discrimination,"
>deregulation, the "war" on drugs, the "war" on terror, et al. and jim crow
>once again rolls along.
This is one reason the left has so little broad appeal - there are deep reservoirs of pessimism, decline, depression, and fear in our discourse. We're literally hopeless, and can't even enjoy our victories. Cheer the fuck up.
Doug