[lbo-talk] Count Copula and the "yes we can" speech

[Jerry Monaco]

On Feb 6, 2008 2:16 PM,  <shag at cleandraws.com> wrote:
> >
> > I don't see this as first rate propaganda. I see it as pure schlock.
> > If I want first-rate propaganda, I'll watch Triumph of the Will.
>
> Obama is the Catherine MacKinnon for the oppressed white guy and nasa
> engineer. Remember last week when I said that his "yes we can" speech was
> premised on othering, and it made effective use of the copula? Well,
> watch, this is how he manages to be an empty signifier -- and you bet
> Monaco that I lay the blame at his feet. he knows precisely what he's
> doing with this -- that or his speechwriter:
>
>

Maybe he knows what he is doing.  I didn't say he didn't.  But since I
am not a mind reader and assume that most politicians are actually
know less about what they do than they let-on, I wouldn't know one way
or another.  But I don't think it matters.

All indications are that Kennedy knew what he was doing; Reagan
probably didn't.  Obama seems to be in the Kennedy and Reagan mold
though we know next to nothing about his real politics, which is
probably not good.

Will Obama be worse than Kennedy or Reagan as far as his actual
policies?  Maybe.  It would be quite hard to be worse than Kennedy as
far as destruction to Latin America, but who knows?

Will Obama be worse than Kennedy or Reagan as far as his fostering of
illusions?  Maybe.  But I am not sure if that will turn out to be good
or bad.  Illusions sometimes are turn out to be good for the left if
they eventually result in the right kind of disillusionment, i.e. the
kind of disillusionment that leads one to fight for non-illusory
social welfare and anti-imperialism.

I am only asking questions.  Nobody has explained to me would be worse
for the left than past presidents.  Is he more of a threat to civil
liberties, civil rights, social welfare or the environment than Reagan
or Kennedy?

Once you make the usual adjustments for the historical conjuncture Is
Obama even any different than Kennedy or Reagan?

Just wondering....

Jerry Monaco