[lbo-talk] have to say it

[KJ]

Not so much "we are all Americans" but that the US in one marvellous act --
and given the race history, it was a marvellous act -- recovered a lot of
its "soft power", America as an idea, that which has been so attractive to
people all over. It lost it these past 8 years, and for a moment, there was
hope it would lose it forever. But that's the genius of "the system": when
it needed to, it got the one person who, at multiple levels, could recover
it. And almost regardless of what he does -- short of starting another war
-- it's got that back. Heck, he could even do a "humanitarian" intervention
and it wouldn't hurt.
A very bitter-sweet moment. The other pair was super toxic, yet they would
have cemented the loss of American "soft power" -- not least because who,
outside of the Republican al-Qaeda (the base), could seriously countenance
Palin as president. But who could wish to pay that price for that gain?

I think the thinking neo-cons all understood this, hence their support for
this pair, figuring that the system would keep them in line whatever their
own intentions. The victory speech was masterful, pulling on all the right
strings, even for a cynical hardened anti-imperialist. For others, it was
just masterful. Don't be dismissive of the "America as idea" notion -- it's
been well-honed, and it remains a brand with a powerful pull.

2008/11/6 Bill Bartlett <billbartlett at aapt.net.au>


> At 11:16 AM -0500 5/11/08, Doug Henwood wrote:
>
>  Anyway, let me be the first to say it: Today we are All Americans.
>>>
>>
>> My god. If you're saying this, this is pretty powerful medicine.
>>
>
> There's just the hint in there that I'm too cynical to be moved by a great
> speech and a great event. I'm a little hurt. I'm just stating what is
> obvious, the world is putty in his hands for a few months. You better be
> ready for that.
>
> Well most of us anyhow. There are no doubt a few recalcitrants in the
> mountains of Afghanistan who are unmoved. And Utah, sure, no getting through
> to that lot with appeals to hope either. But the rest of us are human.
>
> Bill Bartlett
> Bracknell Tas
>
>
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