I think it's safe to say that whomever gets into power would be inheriting a huge, tangled mess, one of the worst in American political history. Part of that mess derives from the near-total ineptitude of the current Administration, but much of it is planned chaos designed to mess up the social/political/economic system so badly as to hamstring the incoming president from being able to do much corrective or creative restoration of good government. The GOP hope is that the public will then take out their frustrations on the Democrats in power rather than on those who originally created the gawdawful situation domestically and in Iraq and probably Iran as well.
How many times must a sorely tempted Al Gore have asked himself: "Even if I could win the presidency in 2008, would I want it? Or is it better for me to sit this one out -- look and sound 'presidential' but not have to deal with any of the catastrophe left by Cheney and Bush with which no Democratic president, no matter how decent and inventive, probably can deal effectively?" Perhaps this is why Gore said no thanks.
Maybe Kucinich, or maybe even Edwards, if one of them were to have ascended to the White House, could have turned the CheneyBush policies on their heads, and really made a significant contribution to getting America back on track. But it would seem overly optimistic to think that Clinton (despite her reputed toughness) or Obama (despite all his rhetoric about unspecified "change") would be able, even if willing, to do much more than get the garbage-cleaning process started.
DIALING BACK OUR EXPECTATIONS
Yes, of course either Obama or Clinton is preferable when measured against McCain, and each would be willing to change significant things around the edges. But Obama and Clinton are centrist Democrats who are beholden to many of the same corporatist forces that pull the strings in Washington and have done so for decades.
Those who think the two contenders for the Democratic nomination would push for, and fight for, truly progressive legislation in the areas of universal health care, a major shift in American imperial policy abroad, immigration reform, globalization, public financing of elections, making elections transparent and honest once again, and so on, are likely to be disappointed.
Better to go into 2009 without wearing our usual rose-colored glasses.
A POSSIBILITY FOR REAL CHANGE
I'd be overjoyed to be proven wrong by a Democratic president and Congress willing to take the bold progressive moves that the country so desperately needs and, in many ways, wants. If the Democrats were to capture unstoppable majorities in both houses of Congress, along with the presidency, that might even be possible.
And it could happen: In 1932, FDR was believed to be, and campaigned as, a conservative. Events made him a social-action liberal. Roosevelt was a canny politican, who knew how the system required the right sort of practical-politics manipulation. He once told a liberal leader in essence: "I completely agree with you. Now go back and force me to do what we both want me to do."
Though it's not unusual for a political campaigner to jettison his promise-them-anything rhetoric once in office, who knows what might happen if Obama were to be elected? He might find that he's so inculcated the messages of "hope" and "change" that he won't be able to retreat. He might possibly turn out to be the very agent for significant change in politics he's been playing on TV. Stranger things have happened.
But I suspect that lowering one's expectations, at least for the first four post-CheneyBush years, is the more realistic approach that will be required. The mess they've left for their successors is simply so FUBAR that it probably would take a decade or more to undo just the top layers of damage.
OPPORTUNITIES AND SINKHOLES
Of course, all of us must work our asses off in trying to do more that just settle for what we can get. After eight years of CheneyBush, there are opportunies there for strong, positive leadership as well as plenty of sinkholes of inevitable despair.
So, what we're talking about here is to use the next four years to govern aggressively, yes. But also to educate and train and work for increasing the power and backbone of ordinary citizens and progressive/liberal candidates and office-holders. In addition, wealthy Democratic individuals must step forward to support and help establish the progressive superstructure of honest media, more liberal think tanks, grassroots activist training, solvent internet bloggers, and so on, to help the "restoration" take root and grow. All this will take infinite patience and unflinching determination.
If we had forgotten before CheneyBush, we've been sorely reminded (by their immoral war, moral and financial corruption, and desecration of the Constitution) that democracy has to be worked on day by day, fought for day by day, lest our apathy and acquiescence create an avenue for HardRightists to return to power, which could mean leading this country into even more domestic and foreign-policy disasters.
Bernard Weiner, Ph.D. in government & international relations, has taught at universities in California and Washington, worked for two decades as a writer-editor at the San Francisco Chronicle, and currently serves as co-editor of The Crisis Papers (www.crisispapers.org).
"Better to go into 2009 without wearing our usual rose-colored glasses."
This is the best suggestion I've read since these primaries began, although it might be too late. The rose-colored glasses are already fixed in place, I think.
Obama is not gonna lead Americans directly to the Promised Land. Nor is Clinton. What lies ahead for Americans is 40 years in the desert, so pick your Moses with that in mind. Pick one who knows that s/he "may not get there with you."
Pick one who's gonna start by restoring that old relic that's been gathering dust for lo these many decades -- namely, your constitution. There's nothing in that document that identifies Americans as the Chosen People; nor does it speak of global hegemony as America's Manifest Destiny. So question those candidates on exactly what they mean when they promise to "restore America to its rightful place in the world."
by
delia (0 articles, 1 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 111 comments)
on Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 10:12:54 AM
