[lbo-talk] sprinting rightward

[turbulo at aol.com]

What we do know with some degree of certainty, though, is
that the Democrats are more susceptible to potential pressure from the
unions and the social groups they rely on for election than are the
Republicans, who respond to pressures from entirely the opposite 
direction.
In defining itself to the campaign, it seems to me it is that - not 
Obama's
perceived personal failings - which should be the salient starting 
point for
the US left.
------------------------------

The Dems respond mostly to pressure from capital too. Their game is to 
put over their responses on their base, which is different from the 
Republican one. They are therefore more skilled at talking the 
reformist talk at primary and election  time, and, it's true, a little 
more hesitant and temporizing in their pursuit of the neo-liberal/ 
imperialist agenda.  But the agenda differs only tactically. You say 
that the Dems are more susceptible to pressure, but what exactly are 
the mechanisms for exerting it? The old popular mass organizations 
(unions, black mass orgs., etc) have been reduced to a handful. There 
are no big strikes or freedom marches taking place.The main mechanism I 
can see is withholding votes--the very thing you argue against.

The larger problem with your kind of classical reform v.revolution 
arguments is that they are out of date--by decades. The choice is not 
between a party of reform and a party of stasis, but between a party of 
fast-track capitalist attack, and one of slower-track attack. But both 
are on the attack, and neither is a means of defense or a "salient 
starting point" for anything but further defeats.

Jim