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Tag(s): AIPAC; Democratic; Government; Legislation; McCain; Media; Occupation; Politics; Polling; Thinking; Voter Disenfranchisement; War
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July 2, 2008 at 00:42:13

Headlined on 7/2/08:
What's A Voter to Do?

by Ron Jacobs Page 1 of 1 page(s)

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In the good ol' USA, I'm considered a white guy. Despite my leftist/anarcho politics and my preference for news that isn't filtered through the capitalist media, I'm a white guy as far as polling demographics go. I've got friends who fear immigrants and blacks, wear their rednecks a little too proudly, and genuinely like Lynyrd Skynyrd because of the band's politics. Despite this, I still tend to believe that most US residents are a bit more liberal than those particular friends. So I can't figure out why the hell someone like Barack Obama thinks he has to cater to their vote. These folks, if they do vote, are never going to vote for a Democrat anyhow since they are convinced that the party is composed of Satan's spawn.

However, like a good number of the rest of the white guys out there, when Obama starts dissing African-American fathers and catering to the Nixonian/Clintonian silent majority that is only silent because it doesn't exist, he loses me. Most US voters are cynical enough anyway about the entire electoral process and when Obama starts talking like ever other Democratic presidential candidate of the past twenty or so years, their desire to go vote decreases faster than George Bush's polling figures have over the past year. In other words, when the Democratic candidate starts trying to be the lite version of whatever type of lunatic the GOP is running, lots of folks don't bother to vote. After all, what the hell difference will it make?

The war in Iraq? Well, Obama is hedging his bets by telling the media that he would have to see what the facts on the ground are. Even worse, he has essentially stated that he would let the generals tell him what course to take if he gets elected. Now, isn't this exactly what George Bush is doing? Even more fundamentally, since when did the generals take on the role as the deciding factor in whether or not the US military will occupy a country and kill its people? I mean, come on, these generals have a vested interest in war. That's how they make their living for chrissake! It's always been my understanding that it is up to us, the American people, to decide whether or not we want to be destroying another nation with the men and women that wear the US uniform. Given that, it's my understanding most US residents oppose the occupation and war in Iraq (and possibly in Afghanistan, as well.) Obama should be asking the US people not the freakin' generals!

War on Iran? Obama is for that as well. Without getting into the particulars here, let me just say that I think this idea is one of the most stupid ideas to come out of Washington in my lifetime. It's not that I'm a fan of the Tehran government as far as that goes, but it really isn't any of my business how the Iranians run their country. In fact, from what I know about the place from Iranian friends and others is that Iran is not a giant monolith intent on building nuclear weapons and destroying all its perceived enemies. In fact, this is not even the desire of much of the Iranian government if any of it. In fact, from where I sit, this description seems to fit the government in Washington better than it does the one in Tehran. After all, which legislature is probably going to pass legislation very soon that enables the White House to put a naval blockade in place around Iran? You got it. The one in Washington, DC. The legislation is known as HR 362 and has garnered dozens of cosponsors demanding that the US carry out what is internationally recognized as an act of war against Iran. Guess who is pushing this legislation? That's right, AIPAC.

Which brings me to another Obama talking point. Why did he consider it necessary to talk before AIPAC and pledge that he would support Israel no matter what that nation's government does? I mean, he went and talked to AIPAC before he talked to any other group. Why? This is a lobby whose entire raison d'etre is to get tons of money from the US taxpayers to fund an illegal, immoral, brutal and politically questionable occupation. Last I looked, Israel was not part of the United States although it might as well be considering the amount of aid it gets from the Feds. Seems to me that they should either figure out how to survive without sucking off the Washington teat or demand statehood or territorial status. Not that I'm in favor of the latter, but we might as well certify the facts..

And then there's John Effin McCain. What's a voter going to do? Ralph Nader can't win and can probably only help Mr. Keating Five McCain win.

http://stillhomeron.blogspot.com/

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14 comments

I am a disabled man living in northern California who cares more about the future of our country than about party affiliation. I am distressed over the downward spiral in our social and political culture.
JOHN LORENZI am a disabled man living in northern California who cares more about the future of our country than about party affiliation. I am distressed over the downward spiral in our social and political culture.

I'd worry less about Obama and more about McCain

I'm less worried about Obama's so-called shifting positions (McCain has zillions of shifts more than Obama); than I am that a hyper consersative like McCain getting into office.If he does, the USA is finished and will be a Third World country very shortly thereafter;.

by JOHN LORENZ (15 articles, 61 quicklinks, 25 diaries, 121 comments) on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 5:13:42 AM

Having lived six decades now, I've had a lot of experiences! Grew up in a family often oppressed because of our faith - we stood for peace and against war, and for the rights of all regardless of ethnic background. Active from youth in peace and civil rights. Vietnam-era draft resister. Worked for a while for peace and social justice groups, and then became a civil servant. Felt a call to a consistent life ethic, and am currently serving as President of Consistent Life. All this is out of Chr...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Bill SamuelHaving lived six decades now, I've had a lot of experiences! Grew up in a family often oppressed because of our faith - we stood for peace and against war, and for the rights of all regardless of ethnic background. Active from youth in peace and civil rights. Vietnam-era draft resister. Worked for a while for peace and social justice groups, and then became a civil servant. Felt a call to a consistent life ethic, and am currently serving as President of Consistent Life. All this is out of Chr...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Vote honestly

What we have is the continuation of a duopoly in which the differences between the two sides of the duopoly are far less important than their similarities. There is a largely successful establishment effort to control the political process so that the range of options is severely limited. We have the outward semblance of democracy without the reality of it.

For example, studies show that a large majority of Americans, including majorities who identify with each major party, believe our national priorities are screwed up and we shouldn't be spending most of our resources on the military. But the Presidential candidates of both major parties, and probably at least 95% of the Congressional candidates, support the screwed up priorities. Obama and McCain have virtually identical positions calling for greater increases in the military budget and an increase in the active duty forces.

And despite rhetoric making it sound as if their positions are very different, when you look closely at the real positions of the candidates, there's very little difference on Iraq either. And both have consistently supported Bush's requests for funding the war.

AFAIK, in his entire political career, Obama has never once taken a position for anything that could be called meaningful change. And he's been backtracking on previous positions for even marginal change.

The establishment relies for their continued power on the people assuming you have to choose between the duopoly candidates. This guarantees that the establishment wins and the people lose.

We must stop trying to figure a lesser evil, and take a position of not voting for evil. We should be measuring them against our understanding of what this country needs, not against what another wing of the establishment is presenting.

If everyone who has to hold their nose in order to vote for a duopoly candidate, or who doesn't vote because of the poor choice offered by the duopoly, would march to the polls and vote for someone whom they think basically represents a sensible way forward, it might not prevent a duopoly candidate from being elected, but it would provide a powerful, tangible show of the vast amount of discontent at what the duopoly offers us.

What's a voter to do? Vote for someone who represents a real alternative to the duopoly establishment.

by Bill Samuel (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 227 comments) on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 7:48:01 AM

Ron Jacobs is a writer, library worker and anti-imperialist. He is the author of The Way the Wind Blew:A History of the Weather Underground (Verso 1997) His first novel, Short Order Frame Up, is now available at Amazon, and many other stores.
Ron JacobsRon Jacobs is a writer, library worker and anti-imperialist. He is the author of The Way the Wind Blew:A History of the Weather Underground (Verso 1997) His first novel, Short Order Frame Up, is now available at Amazon, and many other stores.

Obama

While McCain is the bigger problem, the fact remains that Obama has continued his rightward shift since he captured the Dem delegate vote. His turnaround on the eavesdropping bill is the most blatant exapmple of this. My question remains--why do the Democrats think they have to cater to the most regressive and warmongering elements of the US electorate?

by Ron Jacobs (57 articles, 0 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 16 comments) on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 7:57:22 AM

A concerned citizen and former mathematician/engineer now retired and living in rural Maine.
PrMaineA concerned citizen and former mathematician/engineer now retired and living in rural Maine.

Why?

I think it is based on the experience of past elections. The world may have change dramatically since the last election - I hope so - but past experience is what people have to go on.

As a progressive myself, I have to continually pinch and remind myself that progressives may not be in the majority in this country. There are a whole lot of people with conservative opinions out there, but most people probably think of themselves as moderates. At the very least, the uncommitted voters (who politicians believe hold the key to election) probably do consider themselves as moderates. They often are low-information voters who really don't follow events closely and are very subject to voting on the basis of slogans or rumors that they hear on the television.

It is not so unreasonable that a politician who wants to get elected will make every effort not to get branded by the talking heads on television as a dangerous radical leftist nut. Perhaps this kind of stratigic thinking is why Democrats tend to shift to the right after winning the nomination. A more interesting question is why Republicans don't seem to shift to the left after winning the nomination. Why is it that Rebublicans do not worry about being branded by the talking heads on television as a dangerous radical right-wing nut?

by PrMaine (8 articles, 5 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 278 comments) on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 10:19:35 AM

Richard Mynick is a US citizen who, despite the best efforts of the corporate media, noticed something disturbing about how the 2000 election was decided, & felt it augured poorly for democracy.
Richard MynickRichard Mynick is a US citizen who, despite the best efforts of the corporate media, noticed something disturbing about how the 2000 election was decided, & felt it augured poorly for democracy.

Why don't Repubs fear TV branding them as "right-wing nuts?"

Because the political position of TV is very near the right edge of the spectrum. The talking heads will only brand you a "right-wing nut" if you're to the right of where TV itself is. To offend the political sensibilities of talking heads on TV, you'd have to openly praise Nazis, the KKK, or call for military dictatorship. Doing those things will get you called "a dangerous radical right-wing nut," even on American TV.

But any kind of rightwing position short of that is pretty much OK on American TV, because that's where TV is.

The political spectrum of TV & the mainstream print media is America's "officially recognized range of opinion." It usually runs from Democrat to Republican, but there are only a handful of limited differences between these things. Fox is regarded as unusually rightwing, because it barely recognizes the legitimacy of Democrats. But even on Fox, you can't admire Hitler or the KKK.

Anything to the left of Democrat is treated by the MSM as "the fringe loony left." This range includes "wild ideas" like decreasing the Pentagon budget, criticizing US militarism, or even intimating that the US position in any conflict is anything but an expression of our magnificent democracy. It also includes any skepticism about the wisdom of the "free market."

by Richard Mynick (2 articles, 3 quicklinks, 1 diaries, 1104 comments) on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 1:20:49 PM

i am a former teacher of 30 years with a history and political science major.I started getting politically active when Ronnie Regan ended my social security hopes for teahers
liberalsrocki am a former teacher of 30 years with a history and political science major.I started getting politically active when Ronnie Regan ended my social security hopes for teahers

hold your nose and vote democratic

I agree with 2 0f the 3 above writers and the more Obama opens his mouth,the more I realize America is screwed no matter who they vote for.Nader can"t win and getting in as late as he did makes me wonder if he isn"t secretly a Republican stooge.Obama has totally sickened me with his support of Israel and Aipac.his support of wiretapping and his latest lets give money to support the fundamentalist and help the fundamentalist religion take over the US.Originally when Kucinich lost I was decided I wasn"t going to vote ,then i started liking Obama a little more,now I am seriously thinking of reverting back to my no vote position .We need a good third party to represent the american people instead of the 2 we have representing the corporations and Democracies destruction

by liberalsrock (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 113 comments) on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 8:40:01 AM

I'm an anti-civilizationist and election boycott advocate in San Diego. For reasons not to vote in faith-based elections with secret vote counts for candidates you cannot hold accountable if they fail to represent you, check out the discussions, articles, and videos on my website http://noinnovember.ning.com
Mark E. SmithI'm an anti-civilizationist and election boycott advocate in San Diego. For reasons not to vote in faith-based elections with secret vote counts for candidates you cannot hold accountable if they fail to represent you, check out the discussions, articles, and videos on my website http://noinnovember.ning.com

Liberalsrock?

If you were holding your nose against mere excrement, it might be forgiven, but to hold your nose against the stench of death from millions of innocent people killed in wars of aggression based on lies?

That's what the "good Germans" did.

Liberalssuck is more like it.

The answer is not to vote.

The candidates couldn't ensure that your votes were counted anyway, even if they wanted to, which they don't. They don't own the central tabulators that tally 80% of U.S. votes and allocate them however they've been preprogrammed to allocate them.

The reason that neither Congress nor the White House can be held accountable to the people is because the Constitution says that only Congress can impeach or remove a sitting member of Congress. We the people were not given that power.

If we want a citizen-owned transparent participatory democracy, we have to stop voting in rigged elections. The only way we can withdraw our consent from corporate/fascist misgoverment is to stop delegating our power to it.

Check this out

And this:

If you want a third stolen presidential election in a row, that's what you'll get. But don't expect anyone to feel sorry for you or respect you if you let it happen to you a third time. You KNOW what it going to happen, so if you allow it, you must like it.

by Mark E. Smith (21 articles, 29 quicklinks, 74 diaries, 952 comments) on Thursday, July 3, 2008 at 2:22:28 AM

Bill Cain is a professional travel photo-journalist who writes primarily for the Concord Monitor in Concord, New Hampshire. He's visited all seven continents, countless countries and his travel experiences have contributed to and are reflected in his world views.
Bill CainBill Cain is a professional travel photo-journalist who writes primarily for the Concord Monitor in Concord, New Hampshire. He's visited all seven continents, countless countries and his travel experiences have contributed to and are reflected in his world views.

Round and Round We Go

The mainstream is obsessed with this ridiculous popularity contest every four years, and much of the alternative media can't seem to wean itself from it, either.

NOTHING is going to change under the current system, regardless of who wins the popularity contest this year. Yet how many more articles are we going to be subjected to over the next few months that attempt to cast yet another light on these two phonies in order to uncover who they really are? They are LIARS, who have learned how the corrupt game is played!

A wiping of the slate is needed, and it's coming soon.

by Bill Cain (2 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 270 comments) on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 8:59:57 AM

I am a libertarian activist and writer. I believe in a free market, complete civil liberties and a non-interventionist foreign policy. We do not have anything like this at this time. I am a firece opponent of the Bush administration. Please see my web page.
Alice LillieI am a libertarian activist and writer. I believe in a free market, complete civil liberties and a non-interventionist foreign policy. We do not have anything like this at this time. I am a firece opponent of the Bush administration. Please see my web page.

Look at Bob Barr, Libertarian!

Barr is anti-war and opposed to immunity for telecoms.

Barr is opposed to the insane war on drugs.

He is a true alternative to the status quo. When Obama goes on and on about "change," it is certainly ironic, since the only change candidate is Barr!

See my blog to see what it is to be a libertarian: http://www.alicelillieandher.blogspot.com

by Alice Lillie (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 45 comments) on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 10:06:30 AM

Margaret Bassett is an 86-year old, currently living in senior housing, with a lifelong interest in political conumbrums. She hopes to hold out for one more presidential election. Bachelors from State University of Iowa (1944) and Masters from Roosevelt University (1975) help to unravel important requirements for modern communication. Early introduction to computer science (1966) trumps them. It's payback time. She's been "entitled" so long she hopes to find some good coming off the keyboa...

to see more of bio, click on member name
Margaret BassettMargaret Bassett is an 86-year old, currently living in senior housing, with a lifelong interest in political conumbrums. She hopes to hold out for one more presidential election. Bachelors from State University of Iowa (1944) and Masters from Roosevelt University (1975) help to unravel important requirements for modern communication. Early introduction to computer science (1966) trumps them. It's payback time. She's been "entitled" so long she hopes to find some good coming off the keyboa...

to see more of bio, click on member name

Don't worry. Being happy! Chicago politics is alive & well

For 22 years, from the time of the first Mayor Daley's election, I compared US politicking to "Chicago politics." Now after 30 years of offsite observation, I have a chance to participate in discussion with those who wonder where Barack Obama is coming from.

In Springfield where Abraham Lincoln is buried is a big statue. Lore has it that if you rub his nose you'll have good luck. Remember where the Senator started his campaign. He must have given that nose a good rub. Like Honest Abe, who took to the law and then to figuring out where commerce was heading, Obama recognizes things are changing.

To be president of all the people, The People get anxious for a say. And I suspect Obama realizes that the masses of little contributors are wondering if their hopes for change are his hopes for change.

Lincoln recognized railroads. Kennedy had outerspace to conquer. Clinton helped cyberCommerce exponientiate. So what do we need from a young man who wasn't even around to watch Chicago burn in the Sixties? As we say in Chicago, he is not "second-generation" which means he was not born in Chicago. However, he was spurred on by Harold Washington's mayorship, and the city needs to produce a president. Let them do it.

How many men does it take to change a light bulb? We all laughed as the cherrypicker came by. Well, don't laugh now. Because you may find you have a real Chicago politico sitting in the Oval Office. Jump on, everybody. Let's see who gets the best Cabinet and diplomatic posts. Will there be a brain trust? The last time we had a real Brain Trust, it helped in worst times.

by Margaret Bassett (21 articles, 1302 quicklinks, 26 diaries, 772 comments) on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 2:43:27 PM

I am a passionate 9/11 truther from the east coast. I feel that the only way to retrieve our country from the gnarled hands of the evil doers is to expose them as the criminals behind 9/11.

"Dissent is the Highest Form of Patriotism."
-Thomas Jefferson

"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth." - Albert Einstein
jersey girlI am a passionate 9/11 truther from the east coast. I feel that the only way to retrieve our country from the gnarled hands of the evil doers is to expose them as the criminals behind 9/11.

"Dissent is the Highest Form of Patriotism."
-Thomas Jefferson

"Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth." - Albert Einstein

It's time for REAL change

We need to all work for a viable third, fourth and fifth party. Without competition, the democrats will continue to take our votes for granted knowing how we fear the republican candidate. We have become little pawns in their game of corporate chess.

Aren't you tired of being used? I am. I'm voting third party this time around. Obama is not a leader. He is a panderer and will do anything to get elected. From his war like talk on Iran and Pakistan, his flip flopping on Nafta, his fawning aipac speech, the FISA compromise and now his wanting to expand bush's "faith based initiative is more than I can handle. He has decided to appease the evangelical base of the republican party and to distance himself from the progressive base of his own party.

The powers that be and the msm catapulted him to the nominee position and he has no intention of letting his benefactors down once he takes his position as the most powerful leader in the world. Change? Think again.

The man who stood for real change was marginalized by his own party and the msm. Those in power don't want a man of the people taking the helm. Dennis Kucinich doesn't sing their corporate tune. Obama not only sings it but marches to it as well.

by jersey girl (0 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 31 comments) on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 5:05:49 PM

Hater of Nazis above all. Hobbies include activism, military model building, military history, exciting and vital conversation with retired crooks. Retired
John HanksHater of Nazis above all. Hobbies include activism, military model building, military history, exciting and vital conversation with retired crooks. Retired

Agitate. Talk about smarts.

Explain the cons to everyone you know. Nothing is ever changed by pulling a lever.

by John Hanks (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 1047 comments) on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 6:21:06 PM

A sentient being trapped in the American political diorama.
coyoteA sentient being trapped in the American political diorama.

Voting is inherently disenfranchising

Here comes the common refrain:
"If you don’t vote, you have no right to complain about the outcome."

The opposite is true. By playing the game, voters agree to the rules. Only those who don’t play and withhold their consent have a right to complain about the outcome, especially since the winner will have his hand in the non-voter’s pocket.

Voting is not an act of political freedom. It is an act of political conformity. Those who refuse to vote are not expressing silence. They are screaming in the politician’s ear: "You do not represent me. This is not a process in which my voice matters. I do not believe you."

Non-voting has a rich and long history through which the dissenting electorate has expressed everything from religious convictions to political cynicism.

Who makes the decisions in our society?

Who writes public policy?

Years of social engineering has caused people to be deluded on this matter.

The White House and Congress don’t really make the decisions, Wall Street and the Pentagon do. Who wins the election makes no difference because all politicians must do what the elite want. Elections are a scam whose function is to neutralize resistance movements and dupe ordinary citizens into thinking they control and/or have a say in matters of the state.

by coyote (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 73 comments) on Wednesday, July 2, 2008 at 8:51:33 PM

For a living, I manage the design and construction of renewable energy projects. My hobby is sandwich repair; I also swap for parts.
JonmarkPFor a living, I manage the design and construction of renewable energy projects. My hobby is sandwich repair; I also swap for parts.

Gee, Daddy

Said the hopeful little boy, "Gee, Daddy, look at this huge barn full of manure. There must be a pony here somewhere!"

Progressives are to the Democrats as Evangelicals are to the Republicans: essential votes, a reliable source of dollars, and never to be taken seriously in policy decisions. You go right ahead and vote for Obama; I'll see you in the streets.

by JonmarkP (1 articles, 0 quicklinks, 0 diaries, 64 comments) on Thursday, July 3, 2008 at 3:38:31 AM

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