Newshoggers Comments
I may be totally off on this but it seems that Blair has neutered the Labor party. This seemed most evident on debate, such as it has been, on the Iraq war. It was shocking to compare the passion shown by Labor party members in the debate about the "top-up fees" when contrasted with their almost servile behavior during the Iraq conversation. I am afraid Obama will not only cement the right wing position of the Democratic party but also stifle any possible stirrings in the progressive wing of the party. A wing that looks to gain some influence after the next elections.
Heh, Empty, you remember the Militant Tendency witch-hunts too? A lot of pseudo-Marxist idiotic ideologues were purged, and that was a good thing, but a lot of people who were simply troublesome Devil's advocates on the non-Blair Left of the party were purged too.
Yes, I'd agree that on several issues which used to be core ethical positions - NHS privatisation, education, trade unions, disarmament, corportate welfare, surveillance state - Blair and Brown have gutted dissent from their Left on their move to the Right. It was done in the interests of "electibility" and "party unity" but it left Labour without a strong internal debate which used to act as its social conscience. Blair didn't have a conscience at all - anything he thought would keep his clique in power was good. I had the misfortune of knowing some of his acolytes pretty well in the early 80's. Privately, they saw such moves as Thatcher's sequestration of union funds for trumped-up offenses against anti-union laws as good for them by weakening their internal competition.
Do I think Obama would help enable the elite of the Dem heirarchy to follow the same "Right in Left's Clothing" course? You betcha.
Regards, C
Okay, you've convinced me -- all three of them - McCain, Obama and Clinton - would be the ruin of the nation. Seriously.
Now what?
Kat
A write in for Bernie Sanders? 
Seriously, Kat, the answer is vote for the one you'll think will do least damage to keep the other two out. I suspect that's Obama for now in the same way I held my nose and voted for Blair his first time out. It's too late this time around. (I've not said you shouldn't vote for Clinton or Obama - just don't have any illusions when you do so.)
And then start seriously thinking about campaign finance reform, building third party eligibility and serious organising. That's going to be a job of herding cats. If you want to take US progressive politics back from special interests and corporate lobbying that's not a short-term project. Twenty years or more isn't an unrealistic timeline for such an effort. Anyone who can't see themselves working that long at it wants Harry Potter to wave his wand and make it so - they aren't serious about it.
Regards, C
Amen Cernig, I couldn't have said it better.
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