The first time he came he could walk on water. Now, some are wondering whom he is carrying water for.
Is Obama carrying water for the rich people and the establishment he ran against? Or is he simply overcompensating for being called a radical and a socialist? The opposition has repeated that big lie so often and so loudly that it becomes believable to millions of otherwise sane people.
Ironically the more our President moves to the center trying to prove that he’s no radical, and certainly not a socialist, the more the right wing tea party Republicans move the center to the right. They’ve played this cynical game as long as I can remember when a real loser of a Senator, McCarthy of Wisconsin, learned he could flush a covey of liberals simply by waving a paper and bellowing that liberals were communists.
People who understand socialism know that Barack Obama is not a socialist. He is a centrist in every sense of the word. Moreover, he’s a centrist with a rightward lean. Europeans laugh when right-wingers call Hillary and Barack leftist.
A cartoon depicting a right-winger and a left-winger holding signs, had one saying, “I hate Obama. He’s a socialist.” And the other, “I hate Obama. He’s not a socialist. The recent midterm bloodletting begs the question - did running away from the dem record of achievement save any seats? No. Democrats could not possible have lost more seats and we may even have been able to save some. Independents might have given Obama and the Dems credit for at least standing their ground. But when Democrats ran away from their own accomplishments, how could independents and middle of the roaders stick with Obama, “the change artist.”
Adding insult to injury, far right Republicans gearing up for 2012 are now promising, “CHANGE.” Ignoring the fact that they obstructed every effort to save the country, cynical Republicans trumpet, “Obama couldn’t get the job done in 18 months, give us a chance and we will do better.”
Maybe one reason for Democratic capitulationism is the fact that liberals, progressives and left radicals failed to maintain pressure on Obama to do the right thing and stand up to the crazies. The administration also incredibly turned its back on young people, failing to assign anyone in government the task of continuing the mobilization that was so important to Obama’s victory.
The political spectrum in this country, after more than a century of red baiting, has now shifted so far to the right that the Republican Party itself is proving to be too liberal. Their tigers, Rush Limbaugh, Beck, Palin and Bachman, egged on by numerous crazies – the Delaware witch, etc. are so addicted to blood and political mayhem, that the tigers they’ve unleashed are likely to tear their handlers. Tan Man and mainstream Republicans are hanging on to the tiger’s tail for dear life. To mix the metaphor, will Dr. Frankenstein control the monster or vice versa? Old-line Republican leaders don’t seem to have the guts to stand against their crazies.
Do we, Mr. President?
Lead us Obama and we will have your back. We are whom we have been waiting for but we do require a leader. If you chicken out, and we chicken out, how long will it be before corporate fascism runs America from behind the Oz curtain?
We fell into this predicament because we were happy and relieved to see Obama elected. From jump we should have been on him to do the right thing. The things he promised during the campaign. We dare not make the same mistake between now and the presidential election in two years.
Bob Zellner
Southampton, NY.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Friday, December 10, 2010
Obama letter number 2, November 31, 2010: EAGLE, TURKEY OR JUST PLAIN CHICKEN?
Dear Mr. President,
When we called you a change artist we didn’t mean that YOU would change, we thought you were out to change the way politics are played. Were we wrong?
Like Dr. King we are dreamers, but I never dreamed it would come to this – that we are leading you. Why is it not the other way around? Even crass politics requires you to LOOK like you are leading and putting up a good fight. Nobody faults a politician for acting like a general to his army of supporters.
I don’t mean a violent fight, of course, because we touted you as the first nonviolent president - at least one with some understanding of the nonviolent movement. I remind you, however, that we practiced nonviolent DIRECT ACTION. There was nothing passive about it.
You are disappointing us, Sir, and I don’t mean the ones who gave up on you early, just waiting for an excuse to leave. We stayed when you escalated an unwinnable war claiming young lives to prop up Karzai and his criminal “family.” We stuck when you gave up public option prior to negotiations on health care. We swallowed hard when you didn’t close Guantanamo and failed to advocate strongly for repeal of don’t ask, don’t tell. We are the millions of long suffering supporters like the lady at town meeting who said she was exhausted defending you.
Do you intend to rain on this parade? Boy scout training teaches that a drip can kill a spark but a deluge cannot douse a conflagration. We hope you are not the drip putting out our spark. Remember HOPE?
As our champion confronting the giant, did you forget to pick up some rocks, maybe left your slingshot at home? Nonviolence is good, but this is ridiculous! In the movement we turn the other cheek, but we don’t ray our principles.
Even Jesus, the Prince of Peace, got mad. He believed in direct action. When he plaited a whip - look out scribes and Pharacese! And for God’s sake don’t be changing no money over at the temple!
Has politics become so cynical that a fighting spirit in defense of principles no longer plays well? It would be great for your base, and might even gain the respect of Independents and some moderate Republicans. As a radical, a progressive and an activist, I can’t help admiring heartless rightwing Republicans and crazy tea heads. They close ranks and fight for their cause. Tea partiers, to the small extend they are working class, should be organized by Democrats, not the lying right.
If Progressives don’t stand for something, will we stand for anything? You and your aids have given up on each political fight, even before taking the field. Unlike little David, your political advisor, Axelrod, went out to meet Goliar and Co. with his hands up. Weeks ago he said tax cut extensions for the richest 2% was on the table. We knew then that you were going to give it to them.
We can only imagine the confab he had with Tan Man and General McConnell.
Axelhead: Well fellas, what was it you unwashed, stinking, skin wearing barbarians wanted?
Boehner mumbles something about chicken crap.
Axelhead: Oh, uh, you want to extend tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires? Well, uh, my president certainly wants to get along and not be overly partisan. We can probably, uh… work something out…. I’ll get back to you.
Well, Mr. President, we will stay tuned and see what you work out.
Sincerely,
Bob Zellner
When we called you a change artist we didn’t mean that YOU would change, we thought you were out to change the way politics are played. Were we wrong?
Like Dr. King we are dreamers, but I never dreamed it would come to this – that we are leading you. Why is it not the other way around? Even crass politics requires you to LOOK like you are leading and putting up a good fight. Nobody faults a politician for acting like a general to his army of supporters.
I don’t mean a violent fight, of course, because we touted you as the first nonviolent president - at least one with some understanding of the nonviolent movement. I remind you, however, that we practiced nonviolent DIRECT ACTION. There was nothing passive about it.
You are disappointing us, Sir, and I don’t mean the ones who gave up on you early, just waiting for an excuse to leave. We stayed when you escalated an unwinnable war claiming young lives to prop up Karzai and his criminal “family.” We stuck when you gave up public option prior to negotiations on health care. We swallowed hard when you didn’t close Guantanamo and failed to advocate strongly for repeal of don’t ask, don’t tell. We are the millions of long suffering supporters like the lady at town meeting who said she was exhausted defending you.
Do you intend to rain on this parade? Boy scout training teaches that a drip can kill a spark but a deluge cannot douse a conflagration. We hope you are not the drip putting out our spark. Remember HOPE?
As our champion confronting the giant, did you forget to pick up some rocks, maybe left your slingshot at home? Nonviolence is good, but this is ridiculous! In the movement we turn the other cheek, but we don’t ray our principles.
Even Jesus, the Prince of Peace, got mad. He believed in direct action. When he plaited a whip - look out scribes and Pharacese! And for God’s sake don’t be changing no money over at the temple!
Has politics become so cynical that a fighting spirit in defense of principles no longer plays well? It would be great for your base, and might even gain the respect of Independents and some moderate Republicans. As a radical, a progressive and an activist, I can’t help admiring heartless rightwing Republicans and crazy tea heads. They close ranks and fight for their cause. Tea partiers, to the small extend they are working class, should be organized by Democrats, not the lying right.
If Progressives don’t stand for something, will we stand for anything? You and your aids have given up on each political fight, even before taking the field. Unlike little David, your political advisor, Axelrod, went out to meet Goliar and Co. with his hands up. Weeks ago he said tax cut extensions for the richest 2% was on the table. We knew then that you were going to give it to them.
We can only imagine the confab he had with Tan Man and General McConnell.
Axelhead: Well fellas, what was it you unwashed, stinking, skin wearing barbarians wanted?
Boehner mumbles something about chicken crap.
Axelhead: Oh, uh, you want to extend tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires? Well, uh, my president certainly wants to get along and not be overly partisan. We can probably, uh… work something out…. I’ll get back to you.
Well, Mr. President, we will stay tuned and see what you work out.
Sincerely,
Bob Zellner
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